Anaerobic plasmalogen production in recombinant Escherichia coli carrying plasmalogen synthase gene from Selenomonas ruminantium.

Escherichia coli expressing SrPlsAR from Selenomonas ruminantium produces plasmalogen, comprising almost 60% of the total phospholipid content under anaerobic conditions. Both plasmenylethanolamine and plasmenylglycerol were detected, and the major acyl aldehyde derived from sn-1 vinyl ether was C16:1. Plasmalogen synthesis is affected by mutations in ATP-binding sites and Cys expected to be involved in the formation of the [4Fe-4S] cluster.

Measurement of Mucinase Activity.

Mucinase consists of some proteases, glycosidases, sulfatases, and sialidases. It is not practical to measure individual enzyme activities when measuring mucinase activity. In this method, mucinase activity is measured using porcine gastric mucin as a substrate and feces as an enzyme source.

Extraction of Mucin from Rodent Feces and Determination of O-Linked Oligosaccharide Chain Equivalent Derived from Fecal Mucin.

Since the core protein of mucin in the digesta of the stomach and small intestine, which is less affected by bacteria, remains intact, mucin content can be measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA). However, the mucin core protein in bacteria-rich colon digesta and feces is partially hydrolyzed by bacterial enzymes and not fully recognized by mucin antibodies, so mucin cannot be accurately quantified by ELISA. This method quantifies the glycan content linked to the mucin core protein and expresses mucin content in the colon digesta and feces as the equivalent of O-linked oligosaccharide chain.

Anti-Inflammatory Effects of Dietary Polyphenols through Inhibitory Activity against Metalloproteinases.

Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent metalloproteinases that play important roles in a variety of diseases, including cancer, cardiovascular disease, diabetes, obesity, and brain diseases. Dietary polyphenols are thought to have a variety of beneficial effects on these diseases characterized by inflammation. Clinical studies have demonstrated that MMPs are in most cases upregulated in various inflammatory diseases, including osteoarthritis, rheumatoid arthritis, inflammatory bowel disease, and Alzheimer's disease.

Analysis of IGHA1 and other salivary proteins post half marathon in female participants.

Background: High-intensity exercise (HIE), such as that in marathons and triathlons, suppresses transient local and systemic immunity. Serum and salivary immunoglobulin heavy constant alpha 1 (IGHA1) are major markers of immunosuppression by HIE. Although much is known about the systemic immunosuppressive response, little is known about its local response in the oral cavity, lungs, bronchial tubes, and skin.

Effects of Epigallocatechin-3-Gallate on Matrix Metalloproteinases in Terms of Its Anticancer Activity.

Epidemiological studies have shown that the consumption of green tea has beneficial effects against cancer. Basic studies have provided evidence that epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG) is a major contributor to these effects. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs) are zinc-dependent metalloproteinases with the ability to degrade the extracellular matrix proteins and are involved in various diseases including cancer in which MMPs have a critical role in invasion and metastasis.

Health and well-being in small island communities: a cross-sectional study in the Solomon Islands.

Objectives: This study explored the health problems of inhabitants of small South Pacific Islands under the influence of climate change, focusing on three communities in the Solomon Islands.

Design: Cross-sectional study of the Solomon Islands' populations.

Setting: A field survey was conducted in Taro Island, a small, urbanised island with a whole-community relocation plan; Manuopo community of Reef Islands, a small remote island on an atoll environment and Sasamungga, an intermediately urbanised community on a larger island.

Inhibited maturation of astrocytes caused by maternal -3 PUFA intake deficiency hinders the development of brain glial cells in neonatal rats.

The brain is rich in long-chain PUFA, which play an essential role in its development and functions. Here, we examined the impact of maternal -3 PUFA intake deficiency during gestation and lactation on the development of glial cells in the pup's developing cerebral cortex. In addition, using myelination as indicator and the anti-myelin basic protein as measurement to establish the relationship between the number of glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive cells and the development of oligodendrocytes, we determined the myelination state of the somatosensory cortex at postnatal day 14.

[The Strength of the Sense of Shame of the Aged in Care Scenes: Comparison Between Whether or not There is Anyone Else Around Them].

Medical staff in a hospital or nursing facility should take care of aged individuals with dignity and respect. We conducted a survey on aged individuals to derive under what care circumstances they had a sense of shame, using 12 illustrations, drawn by ourselves, which were common daily care scenes where nurses and patients meet. This survey was conducted at 4 care facilities in A prefecture, Japan.

Pain management in community-dwelling older adults with moderate-to-severe dementia.

Background: This study explored visiting nurses' knowledge and beliefs regarding pain management in community-dwelling older adults with moderate-to-severe dementia.

Methods: A cross-sectional study design was used to collect data in 2019. A questionnaire was mailed to nursing managers at 1037 home-visiting nursing stations in Japan.

An exploratory analysis of the relationship between paternal age at pregnancy and difficulties symptomatic of specific learning disorders among Japanese undergraduate students.

Causes and risk factors of neurodevelopmental disorders originate in the prenatal and perinatal periods. Several studies have demonstrated a relationship between prenatal and perinatal medical records, including maternal and paternal age at pregnancy, and the neurodevelopmental disorders, especially attention deficit/hyperactivity disorder and autism spectrum disorder. However, previous studies showed an association between specific learning disorders and environmental toxins such as lead and tobacco smoke, but not parental age.

Applications of a Standardized Green Tea Catechin Preparation for Viral Warts and Human Papilloma Virus-Related and Unrelated Cancers.

Most cell-based and animal experiments have shown that green tea catechins (GTC) exhibit various health benefits. In human experimental and epidemiological studies, there are conflicting results, and more precise investigations are required. One of the most effective ways to prove beneficial health effects in humans might be clinical intervention studies.

Genetic influences on prefrontal activation during a verbal fluency task in children: A twin study using near-infrared spectroscopy.

Objective: The genetic and environmental influences on prefrontal function in childhood are underinvestigated due to the difficulty of measuring prefrontal function in young subjects, for which near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) is a suitable functional neuroimaging technique that facilitates the easy and noninvasive measurement of blood oxygenation in the superficial cerebral cortices.

Method: Using a two-channel NIRS arrangement, we measured changes in bilateral prefrontal blood oxygenation during a category version of the verbal fluency task (VFT) in 27 monozygotic twin pairs and 12 same-sex dizygotic twin pairs ages 5-17 years. We also assessed the participant's full-scale intelligence quotient (FIQ) and retrieved parental socioeconomic status (SES).

Beneficial Effects of Green Tea Catechins on Neurodegenerative Diseases.

Tea is one of the most consumed beverages in the world. Green tea, black tea, and oolong tea are made from the same plant (L.) O.

Transplantation of High Hydrogen-Producing Microbiota Leads to Generation of Large Amounts of Colonic Hydrogen in Recipient Rats Fed High Amylose Maize Starch.

The hydrogen molecule (H₂), which has low redox potential, is produced by colonic fermentation. We examined whether increased hydrogen (H₂) concentration in the portal vein in rats fed high amylose maize starch (HAS) helped alleviate oxidative stress, and whether the transplantation of rat colonic microbiota with high H₂ production can shift low H₂-generating rats (LG) to high H₂-generating rats (HG). Rats were fed a 20% HAS diet for 10 days and 13 days in experiments 1 and 2, respectively.

The importance of the concept and histological criteria of "intraepithelial squamous cell carcinoma" of the esophagus: in comparison between Western and Japanese criteria.

Background: There are differences in the histological diagnostic criteria for early stage gastrointestinal carcinoma between Western and Japanese pathologists. Western histological criteria of carcinoma are "presence of stromal invasion of neoplastic cells", while Japanese criteria are "the degree of cytological and structural abnormality of neoplastic cells, regardless of stromal invasion". The aim of the present study is to clarify and review the present status of the Western and Japanese histological criteria of early stage esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and also to clarify their significance and accuracy.

[Nursing Education Trial Using a Virtual Nightingale Ward].

Nursing department students are expected to correctly grasp the entire concept of nursing through their education. The authors created a movie of a Nightingale ward (virtual ward, hereafter) with an architectural computer design software for education. The students' reaction to the virtual ward was categorized into three viewpoints: that of nurses, of patients, and of nurses and patients in common.

Relationship between type A behavior patterns and risk of temporomandibular disorder in Japanese undergraduate students.

Several studies have demonstrated the relationship between temporomandibular disorder (TMD) and emotional stress. Nonetheless, few surveys have examined the relationship between type A behavior patterns and TMD. The aim of this study was to clarify the relationships among TMD, type A behavior patterns, bruxism, and emotional stress in Japanese undergraduate students.

Sufficient intake of high amylose cornstarch maintains high colonic hydrogen production for 24 h in rats.

Colonic hydrogen (H) can suppress oxidative stress and damage in the body. We examined the minimum requirement of high amylose cornstarch (HAS) to maintain high colonic H production for 24 h. Ileorectostomized and sham-operated rats were fed a control diet supplemented with or without 20% HAS for 7 days.

Isomaltodextrin, a highly branched α-glucan, increases rat colonic H₂ production as well as indigestible dextrin.

Colonic hydrogen (H2) protects against inflammation-induced oxidative stress. We examined the effect of a new highly branched α-glucan, isomaltodextrin (IMD), on colonic H2 production in rats. Rats were fed a 16.

Naringin attenuates the cytotoxicity of hepatotoxin microcystin-LR by the curious mechanisms to OATP1B1- and OATP1B3-expressing cells.

Microcystin-LR, which is an inhibitor of serine/threonine protein phosphatase (PP)1 and PP2A, induces liver injury by its selective uptake system into the hepatocyte. It is also thought that microcystin-LR induces reactive oxygen species (ROS). We tried to establish the chemical prevention of microcystin-LR poisoning.

Serum DJ-1 level is positively associated with improvements in some aspects of metabolic syndrome in Japanese women through lifestyle intervention.

DJ-1 is a protein that is associated with Parkinson disease and cancer, and the reduction of DJ-1 function and expression is also thought to be a cause of diabetes and hypertension. However, little is known about the association between the plasma concentration of DJ-1 and risk of metabolic syndrome. We hypothesized that a lifestyle intervention would increase serum DJ-1 and that up-regulated DJ-1 functions will result in the prevention of metabolic syndrome.

Structural abnormalities of corpus callosum and cortical axonal tracts accompanied by decreased anxiety-like behavior and lowered sociability in spock3- mutant mice.

Spock3/Testican-3 is a nervous system-expressed heparan sulfate proteoglycan belonging to a subgroup of the BM-40/SPARC/osteonectin family, the role of which in brain development is unclear. Because Spock1, a member of the Spock family, inhibits their attachment to substrates and the neurite outgrowth of cultured neuronal cells, Spock3 is also thought to be similarly involved in the neuronal development. In the present study, we established a Spock3-mutant mouse harboring a deletion extending from the presumptive upstream regulatory region to exon 4 of the Spock3 locus and performed histological and behavioral studies on these mutant mice.

Colonic hydrogen generated from fructan diffuses into the abdominal cavity and reduces adipose mRNA abundance of cytokines in rats.

Hydrogen (H2) protects against inflammation-induced oxidative stress. Nondigestible saccharides (NDSs) enhance colonic H2 production. We examined whether colonic H2 transfers to tissues in the abdominal cavity and whether it affects expression of proinflammatory cytokines.