A study was conducted to investigate the contribution of physical fitness evaluated by speed at onset of blood lactate accumulation (OBLA-SP), sex hormones and sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) on high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-c) in 12 young male endurance athletes. These athletes has a higher level and wide range of intraindividual variance (44 to 93 mg/dl) for HDL-c. The serum estradiol level was significantly and positively correlated with the level of apoprotein AI (Apo AI), and serum testosterone level was significantly and positively associated with the levels of both HDL3-c and apoprotein All (Apo All) . The SHBG level was positively associated with the levels of both HDL-c and HDL2-c. Age, certain anthropometric parameters such as percentage body fat, body mass index, and body fat distribution evaluated by waist to hip ratio, and physical fitness levels were not associated with HDL-c and other lipids and apoproteins. These results suggest that the HDL-c level in endurance athletes is strongly associated with not only male but also female hormones, and SHBG, being independent of age, body composition and physical fitnesss level.

Objective: The purpose of this study was to confirm the effect of feeding Okara fermented by Bacillus coagulans on cecum microflora in rat. Method: Three groups of SD rat of 8 weeks old were used in the experiment. The experimental animals were fed control diet, 2% okara diet, 2% fermented okara diet in each group for two weeks. The experimental diet and water were provided ad libitum. Food intake was measured every day. After 24 hours fast, we performed drawing blood with heparin after the experimental period. After drawing blood, several organs were removed for measuring their weight. In addition, we removed cecum after drawing blood about each three groups and studied their microflora. We also measured about plasma albumin, ALT, AST, ALP, LDH, total cholesterol, triacylglycerol, glucose, and cytokine level. Result: Bifidobacteria of cecum and blood IFN-g levels significantly increased in the fermented okara group. The total cholesterol level in blood significantly decreased. Conclusion: Okara fermented by Bacillus coagulans had an influence on not only intestinal microflora but also the immune system in rat, suggesting that the fermented okara can expect development as functional materials.

Immunobiological roles of schistosome eggs during murine experimental infection were investigated with special reference to the induction of basophilic leukocytes. After single- or bisexual infection with Schistosoma mansoni in BALB⁄c mice, splenomegaly and liver granulomas were observed only in bisexual infection in parallel with deposition of mature parasite eggs. Comparison of the kinetics of basophil response revealed a marked increase in number in the bone marrow of mice with bisexual infection at the 7^th week post infection as opposed to a marginal increase in single- sex infections. In the spleen, bimodal response was observed in the basophil responses; a small but repeatable peak at the 4^th week after infection, increasing again at the 8^th week, which corresponded to the initiation and maturation of parasite eggs in the affected organs of infected mice. The same time course was observed for IL-4 production by the splenocytes from mice of bisexual infection. To obtain more concrete evidence of the role of eggs in the induction of basophils, we tested using the intravenous egg injection model. Injection of eggs induced basophilia, and it was accompanied by the up-regulation of IL-4 production in splenocytes from the 8^th day. Basophils induced in this model showed a high level of IL-4 production confirmed by flow cytometry, while faint levels of IL-4 production were observed for CD4⁺ T cells at this time point. In addition, we demonstrate that egg deposition is the trigger of basophil induction and activation in the murine experimental model of S. mansoni infection, which might play an essential role in the initiation of Th1⁄2 conversion during the course of S. mansoni infection in vivo.

Background/Aims: There are few published registry studies from Asia on pediatric inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Registry network data enable comparisons among ethnic groups. This study examined the characteristics of IBD in Japanese children and compared them with those in European children. Methods: This was a cross-sectional multicenter registry study of newly diagnosed Japanese pediatric IBD patients. The Paris classification was used to categorize IBD features, and results were compared with published EUROKIDS data. Results: A total of 265 pediatric IBD patients were initially registered, with 22 later excluded for having incomplete demographic data. For the analysis, 91 Crohn’s disease (CD), 146 ulcerative colitis (UC), and 6 IBD-unclassified cases were eligible. For age at diagnosis, 20.9% of CD, 21.9% of UC, and 83.3% of IBD-unclassified cases were diagnosed before age 10 years. For CD location, 18.7%, 13.2%, 64.8%, 47.3%, and 20.9% were classified as involving L1 (ileocecum), L2 (colon), L3 (ileocolon), L4a (esophagus/stomach/duodenum), and L4b (jejunum/proximal ileum), respectively. For UC extent, 76% were classified as E4 (pancolitis). For CD behavior, B1 (non-stricturingon-penetrating), B2 (stricturing), B3 (penetrating), and B2B3 were seen in 83.5%, 11.0%, 3.3%, and 2.2%, respectively. A comparison between Japanese and European children showed less L2 involvement (13.2% vs. 27.3%, P< 0.01) but more L4a (47.3% vs. 29.6%, P< 0.01) and L3 (64.8% vs. 52.7%, P< 0.05) involvement in Japanese CD children. Pediatric perianal CD was more prevalent in Japanese children (34.1% vs. 9.7%, P< 0.01). Conclusions Upper gastrointestinal and perianal CD lesions are more common in Japanese children than in European children.

BACKGROUND: The facial expression of medical staff has been known to greatly affect the psychological state of patients, making them feel uneasy or conversely, cheering them up. By clarifying the characteristics of facial expression recognition ability in patients with Lewy body disease, the aim of this study is to examine points to facilitate smooth communication between caregivers and patients with the disease whose cognitive function has deteriorated. METHODS: During the period from March 2016 to July 2017, we examined the characteristics of recognition of the six facial expressions of "happiness," "sadness," "fear," "anger," "surprise," and "disgust" for 107 people aged 60 years or more, both outpatient and inpatient, who hospital specialists had diagnosed with Lewy body diseases of Parkinson's disease, Parkinson's disease with dementia, and dementia with Lewy bodies. Based on facial expression recognition test results, we classified them by cluster analysis and clarified features of each type. RESULTS: In patients with Lewy body disease, happiness was kept unaffected by aging, age of onset, duration of the disease, cognitive function, and apathy; however, recognizing the facial expression of fear was difficult. In addition, due to aging, cognitive decline, and apathy, the facial expression recognition ability for sadness and anger decreased. In particular, cognitive decline reduced recognition of all of the facial expressions except for happiness. The test accuracy rates were classified into three types using the cluster analysis: "stable type," "mixed type," and "reduced type". In the "reduced type", the overall facial recognition ability declined except happiness, and in the mixed type, recognition ability of anger particularly declined. CONCLUSION There were several facial expressions that the Lewy body disease patients were unable to accurately identify. Caregivers are recommended to make an effort to compensate for such situations with language or body contact, etc., as a way to convey correct feeling to the patients of each type.
Aged ; Aged, 80 and over ; Cluster Analysis ; Cognition ; physiology ; Emotions ; Facial Expression ; Facial Recognition ; physiology ; Female ; Humans ; Lewy Body Disease ; physiopathology ; psychology ; Male ; Middle Aged