Leucine supplementation after mechanical stimulation activates protein synthesis via L-type amino acid transporter 1 in vitro.

Branched-chain amino acid supplements consumed following exercise are widely used to increase muscle mass. Although both exercise (ie, mechanical stimulation) and branched-chain amino acid leucine supplementation have been reported to stimulate muscle protein synthesis by activating the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) signaling pathway independently, the mechanisms underlying their synergistic effects are largely unknown. Utilizing cultured differentiated C2C12 myotubes, we established a combination treatment model in which the cells were subjected to cyclic uniaxial mechanical stretching (4 h, 15%, 1 Hz) followed by stimulation with 2 mM leucine for 45 min.

Food-based diet quality score in relation to depressive symptoms in young and middle-aged Japanese women.

Only a few studies have focused on the association between overall diet, rather than intakes of individual nutrients or foods, and depressive symptoms in Japanese. This cross-sectional study examined associations between a diet quality score and depressive symptoms in 3963 young (age 18 years) and 3833 middle-aged (mean age 47·9 (sd 4·2) years) Japanese women. Dietary information was collected using a diet history questionnaire.

Higher dietary glycemic index, but not glycemic load, is associated with a lower prevalence of depressive symptoms in a cross-sectional study of young and middle-aged Japanese women.

Objective: Epidemiologic evidence on the associations between dietary glycemic index (GI) and glycemic load (GL) and depressive symptoms is not only limited, particularly in Asian populations where dietary GI and GL are typically higher than in Western countries, but also inconclusive. This cross-sectional study examined these associations in Japanese women.

Methods: Subjects were 3963 young (age 18-years) and 3826 middle-aged (mean age 47.

High-dose thiamine prevents brain lesions and prolongs survival of Slc19a3-deficient mice.

SLC19A3 deficiency, also called thiamine metabolism dysfunction syndrome-2 (THMD2; OMIM 607483), is an autosomal recessive neurodegenerative disorder caused by mutations in SLC19A3, the gene encoding thiamine transporter 2. To investigate the molecular mechanisms of neurodegeneration in SLC19A3 deficiency and whether administration of high-dose thiamine prevents neurodegeneration, we generated homozygous Slc19a3 E314Q knock-in (KI) mice harboring the mutation corresponding to the human SLC19A3 E320Q, which is associated with the severe form of THMD2. Homozygous KI mice and previously reported homozygous Slc19a3 knock-out (KO) mice fed a thiamine-restricted diet (thiamine: 0.

Nutritional correlates of monetary diet cost in young, middle-aged and older Japanese women.

Studies in many Western countries have consistently shown that monetary diet cost is positively associated with diet quality, but this may not necessarily be the case in Japan. This cross-sectional study examined the nutritional correlates of monetary diet cost among 3963 young (all 18 years old), 3800 middle-aged (mean age 48 years) and 2211 older (mean age 74 years) Japanese women. Dietary intakes were assessed using a comprehensive self-administered diet history questionnaire for young and middle-aged women and a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire for older women.

Development of a food-based diet quality score for Japanese: associations of the score with nutrient intakes in young, middle-aged and older Japanese women.

Several previous studies have shown that a diet score based on the Japanese food guide Spinning Top (the original score) is associated with both favourable and unfavourable dietary intake patterns. We developed a food-based diet quality score (the modified score) and examined associations with nutrient intakes. Subjects were 3963 young (all aged 18 years), 3800 middle-aged (mean age 47·7 (sd 3·9) years) and 2211 older (mean age 74·4 (sd 5·2) years) Japanese women.

Multilocus coalescent species delimitation to evaluate traditionally defined morphotypes in Hydrangea sect. Asperae (Hydrangeaceae).

The number of species recognized in section Asperae of the flowering plant genus Hydrangea differs widely between subsequent revisions. This variation is largely centered around the H. aspera species complex, with numbers of recognized species varying from one to nearly a dozen.

Heterologous expression of the Pleurotus ostreatus MnP3 gene by the laccase gene promoter in Lentinula edodes.

Lentinula edodes (shiitake), which have a powerful ligninolytic system, is one of the most important edible mushrooms in Asia. In this study, we introduced the manganese peroxidase (MnP, EC 1.11.

Development of Plasmonic CuO/Cu Composite Arrays as Visible- and Near-Infrared-Light-Driven Plasmonic Photocatalysts.

We describe efficient visible- and near-infrared (vis/NIR) light-driven photocatalytic properties of hybrids of CuO and plasmonic Cu arrays. The CuO/Cu arrays were prepared simply by allowing a Cu half-shell array to stand in an oxygen atmosphere for 3 h, which was prepared by depositing Cu on two-dimensional colloidal crystals with a diameter of 543 or 224 nm. The localized surface plasmon resonances (LSPRs) of the arrays were strongly excited at 866 and 626 nm, respectively, at which the imaginary part of the dielectric function of Cu is small.

Effect of alkaline pretreatment on mesophilic and thermophilic anaerobic digestion of a submerged macrophyte: Inhibition and recovery against dissolved lignin during semi-continuous operation.

The long-term effect of alkaline pretreatment on semi-continuous anaerobic digestion (AD) of the lignin-rich submerged macrophyte Potamogeton maackianus was investigated using mesophilic and thermophilic conditions. In pretreated reactors, dissolved lignin accumulated to high levels. CH production under the pretreated condition was higher than that of the untreated condition, but decreased from Days 22 (mesophilic) and 42 (thermophilic).

Effects of Mild and Severe Vitamin B Deficiencies on the Meiotic Maturation of Mice Oocytes.

We investigated the effects of vitamin B deficiency on the meiosis maturation of oocytes. Female Crl:CD1 (ICR) mice were fed a 20% casein diet (control group) or a vitamin B-free diet (test group). The vitamin B concentration in ovary was approximately 30% lower in the test group than in the control group.

A Mechanism Underlying Preventive Effect of High-Intensity Training on Colon Cancer.

Introduction: We examined effects of high-intensity training on chemically induced aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in rat colon. We also investigated mechanisms that may underlie the results obtained, with a focus on secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC), which has been proposed as an exercise-related factor of colon cancer prevention.

Methods: After an administration of 1,2-dimethylhydrazine, F344 rats executed high-intensity intermittent swimming training (HIIST) (twelve 20-s swimming with a weight [16% body weight] with 10-s pauses between the bouts) 5 d·wk for 4 wk.

Relationship between dietary patterns and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity among middle-aged adults in Japan.

Background And Objectives: Arterial stiffness is a leading cause of cardiovascular disease (CVD), and it is considered to be affected by dietary intake. However, few studies have examined the relationship between major dietary patterns and brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) among Japanese middle-aged subjects. We studied whether major dietary patterns were associated with baPWV in this population.

Vagus nerve is involved in the changes in body temperature induced by intragastric administration of 1,8-cineole via TRPM8 in mice.

Transient Receptor Potential Melastatin 8 (TRPM8) is a cold receptor activated by mild cold temperature (<28°C). TRPM8 expressed in cutaneous sensory nerves is involved in cold sensation and thermoregulation. TRPM8 mRNA is detected in various tissues, including the gastrointestinal mucosa, and in the vagal afferent nerve.

Higher dietary acid load is associated with a higher prevalence of frailty, particularly slowness/weakness and low physical activity, in elderly Japanese women.

Objective: Epidemiologic evidence on the potential effects of dietary acid load on frailty is lacking. This cross-sectional study examined the association between dietary acid load and frailty.

Methods: This study was based on self-reported data obtained from 2176 Japanese women aged 65-94 years.

Experimental evidence suggests that specular reflectance and glossy appearance help amplify warning signals.

Specular reflection appears as a bright spot or highlight on any smooth glossy convex surface and is caused by a near mirror-like reflectance off the surface. Convex shapes always provide the ideal geometry for highlights, areas of very strong reflectance, regardless of the orientation of the surface or position of the receiver. Despite highlights and glossy appearance being common in chemically defended insects, their potential signalling function is unknown.

Effect of operating temperature on anaerobic digestion of the Brazilian waterweed Egeria densa and its microbial community.

To develop an effective treatment for the globally invasive Brazilian waterweed Egeria densa, anaerobic digestion was observed at 37 °C, 55 °C, and 65 °C. The average methane production rate at 55 °C was 220 mL L day, which was two-fold that at 37 °C and 65 °C. Volatile fatty acid accumulation was detected under thermophilic conditions; however, although there was methane production, the system did not shutdown.

Taxonomic tools for the identification of g n. sp. (Digenea: Hemiuroidea: Derogenidae) from of Rohilkhand, India based on light and scanning electron microscopic studies.

The stomach of the freshwater snakehead murrel, (n = 250) collected from fresh water habitats of Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh, India revealed , a trematode parasite (Plagiorchiida: Derogenidae). An illustrated account of light (Olympus BX-53 with Cellsens software imaging system) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM) (Neo JCM-6000) of n. sp.

High salinity leads to accumulation of soil organic carbon in mangrove soil.

Although mangrove forests are one of the most well-known soil organic carbon (SOC) sinks, the mechanism underlying SOC accumulation is relatively unknown. High net primary production (NPP) along with the typical bottom-heavy biomass allocation and low soil respiration (SR) have been considered to be responsible for SOC accumulation. However, an emerging paradigm postulates that SR is severely underestimated because of the leakage of dissolved inorganic carbon (DIC) in groundwater.

Subtypes of Ovarian Cancer and Ovarian Cancer Screening.

Ovarian cancer is the foremost cause of gynecological cancer death in the developed world, as it is usually diagnosed at an advanced stage. In this paper we discuss current issues, the efficacy and problems associated with ovarian cancer screening, and compare the characteristics of ovarian cancer subtypes. There are two types of ovarian cancer: Type I carcinomas, which are slow-growing, indolent neoplasms thought to arise from a precursor lesion, which are relatively common in Asia; and Type II carcinomas, which are clinically aggressive neoplasms that can develop de novo from serous tubal intraepithelial carcinomas (STIC) and/or ovarian surface epithelium and are common in Europe and the USA.

Folic Acid Deficiency Does Not Adversely Affect Oocyte Meiosis in Mice.

Spindle defect and chromosome misalignment occuring in oocyte meiosis induce nondisjunction. Nondisjunction causes Down syndrome, also known as trisomy 21. Folic acid (FA) is an essential nutrient composition for fetal growth and development.

Different Psychosocial Factors Are Associated With Different Intention and Self-Efficacy Toward Eating Breakfast Among Japanese Breakfast Skippers.

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 7593 adults to clarify lifestyle and psychosocial characteristics of breakfast skippers with different intention and self-efficacy toward eating breakfast. Data were obtained from Japan's national survey in 2009. Multinomial logistic regression analyses were performed to examine the characteristics of each breakfast skipper (having intention and self-efficacy toward eating breakfast [IS], having intention but not self-efficacy [INS], and not having intention to eat breakfast [NI]) compared with breakfast eaters.

Qualitative and Quantitative Analyses of Glycogen in Human Milk.

Identification as well as a detailed analysis of glycogen in human milk has not been shown yet. The present study confirmed that glycogen is contained in human milk by qualitative and quantitative analyses. High-performance anion exchange chromatography (HPAEC) and high-performance size exclusion chromatography with a multiangle laser light scattering detector (HPSEC-MALLS) were used for qualitative analysis of glycogen in human milk.