Key factors affecting the integration of interprofessional education into human resources for health reform: a Lao People's Democratic Republic case study.

Lao People's Democratic Republic (Lao PDR) with a population of 6.8 million is a low middle-income country in Southeast Asia. Despite economic development, Lao PDR is still characterized by a weak health system.

The VLDL receptor plays a key role in the metabolism of postprandial remnant lipoproteins.

A new concept to account for the process of postprandial remnant lipoprotein metabolism is proposed based on the characteristics of lipoprotein particles and their receptors. The characteristics of remnant lipoprotein (RLP) were investigated using an immuno-separation method. The majority of the postprandial lipoproteins increased after fat intake was shown to be VLDL remnants, not chylomicron (CM) remnants, based on the significantly high ratio of apoB100/apoB48 in the RLP and the high degree of similarity in the particle size of the apoB48 and apoB100 carrying lipoproteins, which fluctuate in parallel during a 6 h period after fat intake.

Changes in attitudes of undergraduate students learning interprofessional education in the absence of patient safety modules: evaluation with a modified T-TAQ instrument.

Communication underpinning well-functioning teamwork is a key mechanism for patient safety. Undergraduate interprofessional education (IPE) provides students with a basic understanding of the psychological factors contributing to teamwork. To develop IPE fostering a collaborative mindset for patient safety, attitudinal changes of students for patient safety were evaluated.

Hypothesis II: The majority of VLDL-apoB48 remnants in postprandial plasma are derived from the liver, not from the intestine.

We have long thought that remnant lipoproteins (RLP) in the postprandial plasma contain CM remnants (exogenous remnants; RLP-apoB48) and VLDL remnants (endogenous remnants; RLP-apoB100) of different origin, i.e. produced in the intestine and liver, respectively.

Hypothesis: Postprandial remnant lipoproteins are the causal factors that induce the insulin resistance associated with obesity.

We have long thought that remnant lipoproteins (RLP) in plasma are significantly increased as the result of disturbed lipoprotein metabolism followed by obesity and insulin resistance. Therefore, it was believed that insulin resistance causes and enhances RLP formation. In contrast, this hypothesis states that RLP induces insulin resistance as the result of obesity associated with the excessive fat intake.

Detection of Fucoidan in Urine after Oral Intake of Traditional Japanese Seaweed, Okinawa mozuku (Cladosiphon okamuranus Tokida).

Seaweed has been considered an indigestible food. Fucoidan, which is found abundantly in seaweed, especially in Cladosiphon okamuranus (Okinawa mozuku), has a high molecular weight and has been long believed to be hardly absorbed in the human digestive system due to a lack of certain digestive enzymes. We previously reported that fucoidan can be detected in serum and urine after oral intake of purified fucoidan in humans and rats.

Health science students' attitudes towards healthcare teams: A comparison between two universities.

There have been few studies comparing the attitudes towards healthcare teams between different universities. This study analysed the differences in attitudes towards healthcare teams between health science students at Gunma University, Japan, which implements a comprehensive interprofessional education (IPE) programme, and Kanazawa University, a similar national university. Study populations were first- and third-year students at the Gunma University School of Health Sciences and the Kanazawa University School of Health Sciences.

The effect of combined diet and exercise intervention on body weight and the serum GPIHBP1 concentration in overweight/obese middle-aged women.

Background: The relationship between the effects of diet and exercise intervention and the body weight associated with the serum lipoprotein lipase (LPL), hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL) and glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored high density lipoprotein binding protein 1 (GPIHBP1) concentrations has not been elucidated.

Methods: Sixty-six overweight/obese middle aged women were assigned to the diet and exercise intervention for 4months. They were divided into 2 groups followed by the body mass index (BMI) decreased >3% (n=41) and <3% (n=25).

Non-alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease Is a Risk Factor for Type 2 Diabetes in Middle-aged Japanese Men and Women.

Objective Emerging studies have focused on the association between non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and the risk of type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM). We aimed to investigate whether NAFLD diagnosed by ultrasonography could predict the risk of future T2DM in a Japanese middle-aged health check population. Methods We conducted a 10-year observational study in a health checkup population of middle-aged Japanese men and women at Hidaka Hospital from 2004 to 2013.

Triglyceride content in remnant lipoproteins is significantly increased after food intake and is associated with plasma lipoprotein lipase.

Background: Previous large population studies reported that non-fasting plasma triglyceride (TG) reflect a higher risk for cardiovascular disease than TG in the fasting plasma. This is suggestive of the presence of higher concentration of remnant lipoproteins (RLP) in postprandial plasma.

Methods: TG and RLP-TG together with other lipids, lipoproteins and lipoprotein lipase (LPL) in both fasting and postprandial plasma were determined in generally healthy volunteers and in patients with coronary artery disease (CAD) after consuming a fat load or a more typical moderate meal.

Lipoprotein lipase does not increase significantly in the postprandial plasma.

Background: Previous reports have shown that lipoprotein lipase (LPL) activity significantly increases in the postprandial plasma associated with the increase of TG-rich lipoproteins. Therefore, we have reexamined those relationships using newly developed LPL assay with the different kinds of food intake.

Methods: Standard meal (n=81), 50g of fat (n=54), 75g of glucose (n=25) and cookie (25g fat and 75g carbohydrate fat) (n=28) were administered in generally healthy volunteers.

Impact of the Visceral Fat Area Measured by Dual Impedance Method on the Diagnostic Components of Metabolic Diseases in a Middle-aged Japanese Population.

Objective The aim of this study was to examine the associations between the visceral fat area (VFA) and the subcutaneous fat area (SFA) as estimated by the dual impedance method with a body composition monitor (BCM) and the diagnostic components of metabolic syndrome in a middle-aged Japanese population. Methods The subjects included 303 men (average age 51.3±9.

A plan for embedding an interprofessional education initiative into an existing programme in a Southeast Asian university.

An interprofessional education (IPE) initiative was recently launched at the University of Health Sciences in the Lao People's Democratic Republic, a country located in southeast Asia. During the process of reviewing the current curriculum, it was realised that the university has been providing a kind of IPE programme for more than a decade. Medical, pharmacy, dentistry, and nursing students were participating together in a community education programme.

Professional identity acquisition process model in interprofessional education using structural equation modelling: 10-year initiative survey.

The mandatory interprofessional education (IPE) programme at Gunma University, Japan, was initiated in 1999. A questionnaire of 10 items to assess the students' understanding of the IPE training programme has been distributed since then, and the factor analysis of the responses revealed that it was categorised into four subscales, i.e.

Attitudes of nursing school deans toward interprofessional education in Western Pacific Region countries.

A previous survey distributed to medical school deans in the Western Pacific Region (WPR) showed positive attitudes toward collaborative practice and interprofessional education (IPE). This study aimed to clarify the present state of IPE and the attitudes of nursing school deans in the WPR. The modified Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale (ATHCTS) and the modified Readiness of healthcare students for Interprofessional Learning Scale (RIPLS) were used.

Small dense LDL cholesterol measured by homogeneous assay in Japanese healthy controls, metabolic syndrome and diabetes patients with or without a fatty liver.

Background: Serum small dense LDL-cholesterol (sdLDL-C) levels in healthy controls and the cases with diabetes (T2DM) and metabolic syndrome (MetS) with or without a fatty liver in a large, typical Japanese population was determined.

Methods: The plasma lipids and lipoproteins, including sdLDL-C by homogeneous assay, were determined in controls, MetS and T2DM patients (n=5255). The cases with MetS and preliminary MetS (pre-MetS) as well as T2DM and preliminary T2DM (pre-DM) were selected based on the Japanese criteria for MetS and T2DM.

Repeated cross-sectional study of the longitudinal changes in attitudes toward interprofessional health care teams amongst undergraduate students.

The interprofessional education (IPE) program at Gunma University, Maebashi, Japan, uses a lecture style for first-year students and a training style for third-year students. To investigate the comprehensive implications of IPE, the change pattern of attitudes toward health care teams was examined longitudinally in pre-qualified students. The modified Attitudes Toward Health Care Teams Scale (mATHCTS) was used.

Plasma adiponectin is a more specific marker of fatty liver than a marker of metabolic syndrome in Japanese men.

Background: The association of plasma cardiovascular risk markers and metabolic syndrome (MetS) with non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) has not been well defined.

Methods: Japanese men (n = 809) had standard anthropometric measurements done, and had their liver fat quantitated by ultrasound. Three groups were identified: (1) normal controls without significant disease, (2) preliminary-metabolic syndrome (pre-MetS) cases and (3) MetS cases.

Identification of alkylbenzene sulfonate surfactants leaching from an acrylonitrile butadiene rubber as novel inhibitors of calcineurin activity.

Calcineurin (CN) is a Ca(2+)/calmodulin (CaM) dependent serine/threonine protein phosphatase and plays important role in several cellular functions in both higher and lower eukaryotes. Here we report inhibition of CN by linear alkylbenzene sulfonate. The clue to the finding was obtained while identifying the inhibitory material leaching from acrylonitrile butadiene rubber used for packing.

Determination of metallothionein-3 by a competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay in experimental animals.

An easy and specific enzyme-linked immunoassay (ELISA) for the determination of metallothinein-3 (MT-3) in experimental animals for the research of heavy metal and chemical toxicity has not been reported yet. Therefore, we have developed a competitive ELISA, using a specific monoclonal antibody raised against human recombinant MT-3 (rMT-3). The epitope mapping of the antibody was conducted using mouse, rat, and human MT-3s and peptide fragments of human MT-3.

The characteristics of remnant lipoproteins in the fasting and postprandial plasma.

Background: Remnant-like lipoprotein particles (RLP) have been measured by cholesterol as RLP-C for CHD risk assessment in the fasting plasma. However, RLP-triglyceride (TG) is a better marker of the characteristics of remnant lipoproteins in the postprandial plasma, especially in plasma with TG concentrations <150 mg/dl.

Method: The RLP-TG and RLP-C concentrations in subjects undergoing a health check-up and in volunteers receiving an oral fat load were determined in the fasting and postprandial plasma.

Postprandial lipoprotein metabolism: VLDL vs chylomicrons.

Since Zilversmit first proposed postprandial lipemia as the most common risk of cardiovascular disease, chylomicrons (CM) and CM remnants have been thought to be the major lipoproteins which are increased in the postprandial hyperlipidemia. However, it has been shown over the last two decades that the major increase in the postprandial lipoproteins after food intake occurs in the very low density lipoprotein (VLDL) remnants (apoB-100 particles), not CM or CM remnants (apoB-48 particles). This finding was obtained using the following three analytical methods; isolation of remnant-like lipoprotein particles (RLP) with specific antibodies, separation and detection of lipoprotein subclasses by gel permeation HPLC and determination of apoB-48 in fractionated lipoproteins by a specific ELISA.

Particle size of apoB-48 carrying lipoproteins in remnant lipoproteins isolated from postprandial plasma.

Background: Particle size of apoB-48 carrying lipoproteins in remnant-like lipoprotein particles (RLP) in postprandial plasma has not been well characterized.

Methods: Plasma lipids, lipoproteins and apolipoproteins in 12 healthy subjects were analysed after an oral fat load. RLP isolated by immunoaffinity gel from plasma of a normolipidaemic and a hyperlipidaemic subject in four hours after an oral fat load was fractionated by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) and monitored by total cholesterol (TC), triglycerides (TG), apoB-48 and apoB-100.