Persistent High Numbers of Clostridium perfringens in the Intestines of Japanese Aged Adults

TSN agar was applicable for enumeration of Clostridium perfringens in fecal samples of adults but not in those of infants. It was demonstrated using TSN agar that some healthy aged adults had persistently carried C. perfringens at levels ranging from 10⁷ to 10⁹, while some others ranged from 10³ to 10⁶ per ml volume of fecal sample although all of these adults had the same diets. In the test for agglutinability of isolates of C. perfringens collected from two elderly adults, a younger adult and a baby, it was demonstrated that most of the isolates obtained from an aged adult of high levels for 19 months belonged the same serotype, while rapid alteration of serotypes could be observed in three other persons with high or low levels. In spite of as many as 10⁹ C. perfringens per ml of feces, no trace of α-toxin could be detected in the fecal samples. In in vitro tests, fecal suspension suppressed the production of α-toxin although it allowed the organism to grow sufficiently.     

T-maze Forced Alternation and Left-right Discrimination Tasks for Assessing Working and Reference Memory in Mice

Forced alternation and left-right discrimination tasks using the T-maze have been widely used to assess working and reference memory, respectively, in rodents. In our laboratory, we evaluated the two types of memory in more than 30 strains of genetically engineered mice using the automated version of this apparatus. Here, we present the modified T-maze apparatus operated by a computer with a video-tracking system and our protocols in a movie format. The T-maze apparatus consists of runways partitioned off by sliding doors that can automatically open downward, each with a start box, a T-shaped alley, two boxes with automatic pellet dispensers at one side of the box, and two L-shaped alleys. Each L-shaped alley is connected to the start box so that mice can return to the start box, which excludes the effects of experimenter handling on mouse behavior. This apparatus also has an advantage that in vivo microdialysis, in vivo electrophysiology, and optogenetics techniques can be performed during T-maze performance because the doors are designed to go down into the floor. In this movie article, we describe T-maze tasks using the automated apparatus and the T-maze performance of α-CaMKII+/- mice, which are reported to show working memory deficits in the eight-arm radial maze task. Our data indicated that α-CaMKII+/- mice showed a working memory deficit, but no impairment of reference memory, and are consistent with previous findings using the eight-arm radial maze task, which supports the validity of our protocol. In addition, our data indicate that mutants tended to exhibit reversal learning deficits, suggesting that α-CaMKII deficiency causes reduced behavioral flexibility. Thus, the T-maze test using the modified automatic apparatus is useful for assessing working and reference memory and behavioral flexibility in mice.     

Indoor environmental study and post occupancy evaluation in an office environment

1. 1. The objective of this paper is to investigate the indoor environment from the viewpoint of interaction between physical environment and the human responses. The field survey has been conducted over 1 year.

2. 2. A continuous measurement has been carried out for 1 week and distribution of variables have been measured for 1 day.

3. 3. The attitude of workers was investigated by a questionnaire.

4. 4. As the result, average luminance represented more than 1000 lx in the new building, in contrast with less tha 300 lx in the existing building.

5. 5. There was a significant difference of the occupants' response to the light environment between the two buildings.

6. 6. Measured thermal conditions are on the edge of the ASHRAE comfort envelope in summer, and in the neighborhood of the lower dry limit of the envelope in spring.

7. 7. The occupants' evaluations were remarkably changed before and after the moving. The office environment is better than that of the factory.

Vismodegib Suppresses TRAIL-mediated Liver Injury in a Mouse Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis

Hedgehog signaling pathway activation has been implicated in the pathogenesis of NASH. Despite this concept, hedgehog pathway inhibitors have not been explored. Thus, we examined the effect of vismodegib, a hedgehog signaling pathway inhibitor, in a diet-induced model of NASH. C57BL/6 mice were placed on 3-month chow or FFC (high saturated fats, fructose, and cholesterol) diet. One week prior to sacrifice, mice were treated with vismodegib or vehicle. Mice fed the FFC diet developed significant steatosis, which was unchanged by vismodegib therapy. In contrast, vismodegib significantly attenuated FFC-induced liver injury as manifested by reduced serum ALT and hepatic TUNEL-positive cells. In line with the decreased apoptosis, vismodegib prevented FFC-induced strong upregulation of death receptor DR5 and its ligand TRAIL. In addition, FFC-fed mice, but not chow-fed animals, underwent significant liver injury and apoptosis following treatment with a DR5 agonist; however, this injury was prevented by pre-treatment with vismodegib. Consistent with a reduction in liver injury, vismodegib normalized FFC-induced markers of inflammation including mRNA for TNF-α, IL-1β, IL-6, monocyte chemotactic protein-1 and a variety of macrophage markers. Furthermore, vismodegib in FFC-fed mice abrogated indices of hepatic fibrogenesis. In conclusion, inhibition of hedgehog signaling with vismodegib appears to reduce TRAIL-mediated liver injury in a nutrient excess model of NASH, thereby attenuating hepatic inflammation and fibrosis. We speculate that hedgehog signaling inhibition may be salutary in human NASH.     

Ability of Three Kind of Imidazole Dipeptides,Carnosine, Anserine,and Balenine,to Interact with Unsaturated Fatty Acid-Derived Aldehydes and Carbohydrate-Derived Aldehydes

International Journal of Peptide Research and Therapeutics - Imidazole dipeptides (IDPs) such as carnosine (CAR), anserine (ANS), and balenine (BAL) are widely distributed in the skeletal muscle of...     

Enhanced skeletal muscle glycogen repletion after endurance exercise is associated with higher plasma insulin and skeletal muscle hexokinase 2 protein levels in mice: comparison of level running and downhill running model

Journal of Physiology and Biochemistry - To identify factors that influence post-exercise muscle glycogen repletion, we compared the glycogen recovery after level running with downhill running, an...     

Demersal fish resources in the east china and yellow seas

Demersal fish resources in the East China and Yellow Seas were reviewed. A current and historical survey of the fishery was made. The distribution and migration of demersal fish were characterized, and an assessment of fishery resources was provided. The standardization of fishing efforts and resources management were also examined.     

Novel c.2216T > C (p.I739T) Mutation in Exon 13 and c.1481T > A (p.L494X) Mutation in Exon 8 of MUT Gene in a Female with Methylmalonic Acidemia

We report herein a 1.5-year-old girl with methylmalonic acidemia (MMA) in whom two missense mutations were found: a novel I739T mutation located in exon 13 and the L494X mutation in exon 8. The results of organic acid test showed a pronounced increase in methylmalonate excretion with increased methylcitrate and 3-OH-propionate excretion, leading to a diagnosis of MMA, and Vitamin B12 administration was started. Analysis of the mut gene confirmed a T-to-A substitution at nucleotide position 1481 in exon 8 and a T-to-C substitution at nucleotide position 2216 in exon 13, leading to the amino acid isoleucine at position 739 being changed to threonine, resulting in c.2216T > C (p.I739T). The patient has now been on high-dose oral administration of Vitamin B12 and carnitine therapy (900 mg of levocarnitine chloride) for 5 years without experiencing further attacks, and her cognitive and motor development is normal. Further tests on residual enzyme activity, as well as experience with more cases, may shed light on the relationship between gene mutations and phenotypes in MMA.     

Novel DNA Damage Mediated by Oxidation of Various Modified Nucleotide Residues

Abstract

Permanganate reaction of DNA oligomers containing an 8-oxoadenine or 5hydroxyuracil residue was studied, and the results were compared with those for an 8-oxoguanine-containing oligomers. We obtained similar results and found that the nucleotide residues neighboring the modified base were damaged and that the novel damage was induced by the oxidation of the modified base.