Green tea consumption and cerebral white matter lesions in community-dwelling older adults without dementia.

This study investigated the association between green tea or coffee consumption with cerebral white matter lesions and hippocampal and total brain volumes among 8766 community-dwelling participants recruited from the Japan Prospective Studies Collaboration for Aging and Dementia between 2016 and 2018. A Food Frequency Questionnaire was used to assess green tea and coffee consumption, whereas brain magnetic resonance imaging was performed to assess cerebral white matter lesions, hippocampal volume, and total brain volume. Multivariable-adjusted analysis revealed significant correlations between fewer cerebral white matter lesions and higher green tea consumption, whereas no significant differences were found between green tea consumption and hippocampal or total brain volume.

Improved Sensitivity of a Taste Sensor Composed of Trimellitic Acids for Sweetness.

Currently, lipid/polymer membranes are used in taste sensors to quantify food taste. This research aims to improve sweetness sensors by more selectively detecting uncharged sweetening substances, which have difficulty obtaining a potentiometric response. Lipid/polymer membranes with varying amounts of tetradodecylammonium bromide (TDAB) and 1,2,4-benzene tricarboxylic acid (trimellitic acid) were prepared.

Sox17 and Other SoxF-Family Proteins Play Key Roles in the Hematopoiesis of Mouse Embryos.

During mouse development, hematopoietic cells first form in the extraembryonic tissue yolk sac. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs), which retain their ability to differentiate into hematopoietic cells for a long time, form intra-aortic hematopoietic cell clusters (IAHCs) in the dorsal aorta at midgestation. These IAHCs emerge from the hemogenic endothelium, which is the common progenitor of hematopoietic cells and endothelial cells.

Mini nutritional assessment short form as a predictor of mortality among older adults with dementia residing in group homes: A 5-year longitudinal study.

Background & Aims: Many people with dementia frequently experience various health-related problems and are known to have poor nutritional status. However, very few studies have examined the nutritional status of dementia residents in group homes, which play an important role in a society-wide system of support for people with dementia, or the relationship between nutritional status and long-term prognosis. This study was conducted to determine the nutritional status of group-home residents and to examine the relationship between nutritional status and the 5-year survival rate.

Development of a Bitterness Sensor Using Partially Dissociated Amine Compounds.

This study focused on developing an advanced bitterness sensor designed to minimize interference from common anions such as nitrate (NO) and iodide (I) by incorporating partially dissociated amine compounds into the sensor membrane. The conventional bitter sensor (C00) uses fully dissociated quaternary ammonium salt tetradecyl ammonium bromide (TDAB), which typically exhibits high responses to these anions, leading to inaccurate bitterness assessments. To address this issue, we explored the use of three partially dissociated amines-oleylamine (OAm), dioctadecylamine (DODA), and tridodecylamine (TDA)-as lipids in the membrane components.

Plasma vitamin D levels are correlated with the pathogenesis of human T-cell leukemia virus type 1-associated diseases.

The active form of vitamin D (VD) exerts hormonal effects by regulating the expression of genes involved in T-cell activity, cell differentiation, and proliferation. Human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) is a causative agent of life-threatening diseases, adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) and HTLV-1-associated myelopathy (HAM). Among ATL patients, hypercalcemia is one of the most serious complications due to bone resorption.

Inhibitory effects of extracts from Eucalyptus gunnii on α-synuclein amyloid fibrils.

Amyloid fibril formation is associated with various amyloidoses, including neurodegenerative diseases such as Alzheimer's and Parkinson's diseases. Despite the numerous studies on the inhibition of amyloid formation, the prevention and treatment of a majority of amyloid-related disorders are still challenging. In this study, we investigated the effects of various plant extracts on amyloid formation of α-synuclein.

Taste Sensor Assessment of Bitterness in Medicines: Overview and Recent Topics.

In recent decades, taste sensors have been increasingly utilized to assess the taste of oral medicines, particularly focusing on bitterness, a major obstacle to patient acceptance and adherence. This objective and safe method holds promise for enhancing the development of patient-friendly medicines in pharmaceutical companies. This review article introduces its application in measuring the intensity of bitterness in medicine, confirming the achievement of taste masking, distinguishing taste differences between branded and generic medicines, and identifying substances to suppress bitterness in target medicines.

Robustanic acid as a glutaminase and Na, K-ATPase inhibitor from leaves of .

This study was to compare glutaminase and Na, K-ATPase inhibitory activities of 20 herbal extracts and investigate the isolation, structural elucidation and those inhibitory activities of three triterpenes from the selected extract of Labill. Three triterpenes, ursolic acid (), robustanic acid () and ursolic acid lactone (), were identified by analyzing their NMR and MS spectral data and comparison of these with reported data. The IC values of - and the control compound against glutaminase, 6-diazo-5-oxo-l-norleucine (DON), were 443 μM, 334 μM, 963 μM and 134 μM, respectively.

Microcirculatory disturbance in acute liver injury is triggered by IFNγ-CD40 axis.

Background: Acute liver failure (ALF) is a life-threatening disorder that progresses from self-limiting acute liver injury (ALI). Microcirculatory disturbance characterized by sinusoidal hypercoagulation and subsequent massive hypoxic hepatocyte damage have been proposed to be the mechanism by which ALI deteriorates to ALF; however, the precise molecular pathway of the sinusoidal hypercoagulation remains unknown. Here, we analyzed ALI patients and mice models to uncover the pathogenesis of ALI with microcirculatory disturbance.

Assessment of Bitterness in Non-Charged Pharmaceuticals with a Taste Sensor: A Study on Substances with Xanthine Scaffold and Allopurinol.

Taste sensors with an allostery approach have been studied to detect non-charged bitter substances, such as xanthine derivatives, used in foods (e.g., caffeine) or pharmaceuticals (e.

Levels and spatial profile of per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances in edible shrimp products from Japan and neighboring countries; a potential source of dietary exposure to humans.

Exposure to per- and polyfluoroalkyl substances (PFAS) is of great concern for human health because of their persistence and potentially adverse effects. Dietary intake, particularly through aquatic products, is a significant route of human exposure to PFAS. We analyzed perfluoroalkyl sulfonic acid (PFSA with carbon numbers from 6 to 8 and 10 (C-C, C)) and perfluorooctanesulfonamide (FOSA), and perfluoroalkyl carboxylic acid (PFCA with carbon numbers from 6 to 15 (C-C)) in 30 retail packs of edible shrimps, which included seven species from eight coastal areas of Japan and neighboring countries.

Association between grip strength and electrical properties measured by bioimpedance spectroscopy in women with dementia aged 77 to 97 years living in group homes.

Electrical properties estimated from the electrical resistance of the human body can serve as indicators of muscle tissue status and the risk of developing sarcopenia; however, to date, at least to the best of our knowledge, no studies have performed such an assessment in older individuals with advanced dementia. The present study examined the associations between grip strength, body composition and electrical properties using bioimpedance spectroscopy (BIS) in women aged 77-97 years residing in dementia group homes. A total of 33 participants were enrolled with an average age of 88.

Brain atrophy in normal older adult links tooth loss and diet changes to future cognitive decline.

Several studies have found associations between poor oral health, particularly tooth loss and cognitive decline. However, the specific brain regions affected by tooth loss and the probable causes remain unclear. We conducted a population-based longitudinal cohort study in Nakajima, Nanao City, Japan.

Jogging football: a new concept optimizing internal/external demand for recreational football.

Background: The present investigation aimed to examine the movement patterns and cardiometabolic demand during jogging football (JF), which is a new concept of recreational football that allows walking and jogging with limiting running behavior.

Methods: Twenty-three collegiate soccer players played soccer for 10 minutes while following three different rules: 1) the players moved by walking only (walking football [WF]); 2) the players moved by walking or jogging (JF); and 3) the players moved freely, i.e.

Acute kidney injury is an unfavorable prognostic factor in acute liver failure and is associated with tumor necrosis factor-alpha.

Acute kidney injury (AKI) is a common complication of acute liver failure (ALF); but its pathogenesis is unknown. ALF was divided into 2 subgroups; ALF with hepatic coma, which corresponds to ALF in the US and Europe, and ALF without hepatic coma. AKI has been shown to worsen the prognosis of ALF patients with hepatic coma; however, its prognostic significance in ALF without hepatic coma remains unknown.

Fructooligosaccharide feeding during gestation to pregnant mice provided excessive folic acid decreases maternal and female fetal oxidative stress by increasing intestinal microbe-derived hydrogen gas.

Fructooligosaccharide (FOS) is fermented by intestinal microbes to generate intestinal microbe-derived hydrogen gas (IMDH). Oxidative stress increases during gestation, whereas hydrogen gas has antioxidant effects with therapeutic benefits. We have previously reported that the offspring from a pregnant, excessive folic acid mouse model (PEFAM) had abnormal glucose metabolism after growth.

Association between an Antioxidant-Rich Japanese Diet and Chronic Kidney Disease: The Ohasama Study.

Aims: Although physiological effects of hydrophilic- (H-) and lipophilic- (L-) antioxidant capacities (AOCs) are suggested to differ, the association of an antioxidant-rich diet and chronic kidney disease (CKD) incidence has not been examined. We therefore explored the association between the H- or L-AOC of a whole Japanese diet and CKD risk in a general population.

Methods: A total of 922 individuals without CKD (69.

A Sox17 downstream gene Rasip1 is involved in the hematopoietic activity of intra-aortic hematopoietic clusters in the midgestation mouse embryo.

Background: During mouse embryonic development, definitive hematopoiesis is first detected around embryonic day (E) 10.5 in the aorta-gonad-mesonephros (AGM) region. Hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) arise in the dorsal aorta's intra-aortic hematopoietic cell clusters (IAHCs).

GABase and glutaminase inhibitory activities of herbal extracts and acylated flavonol monoglycosides isolated from the leaves of L.

This study was to compare GABase [a mixture of -aminobutyric acid (GABA) aminotransferase and succinic semialdehyde dehydrogenase] and glutaminase inhibitory activities of 20 herbal extracts and investigate the isolation, structural elucidation and those inhibitory activities of three acylated flavonol monoglycosides from the selected extract of L. (laurel). On the basis of the NMR spectroscopic data and the ESI MS spectra together with the comparison with the literature values, three compounds were identified as kaempferol-3--(4″---coumaroyl)--l-rhamnopyranoside (), kaempferol-3--(3″,4″-di---coumaroyl)--l-rhamnopyranoside () and kaempferol-3--(2″,4″-di---coumaroyl)--l-rhamnopyranoside (), respectively.

A nationwide questionnaire survey of physicians regarding the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on patients and treatment system of psychosomatic medicine.

Background: The coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic has affected the treatment system of medical institutions across the world. Studies of the populations and patients have reported mental health problems caused by the pandemic. However, there are few large-scale studies that have examined the effects of the COVID-19 on diseases from the perspective of psychosomatic medicine.