Riboflavin has been suggested to act with folate to lower homocysteine (Hcy). However, these interactions may differ among the several known forms of folate. Therefore, we examined the effects of riboflavin interactio...Riboflavin has been suggested to act with folate to lower homocysteine (Hcy). However, these interactions may differ among the several known forms of folate. Therefore, we examined the effects of riboflavin interactions with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) and tetrahydrofolate (THF) on changes in Hcy and folate derivative levels, under conditions with and without methionine addition. Rat hepatocytes were cultured for 48 hours in medium with or without 2.64 μM riboflavin addition, under the following conditions: 1) without the addition of either methionine or folate;2) with addition of 2 μM folate derivatives [(A): 5-MTHF, (B): THF];3) with addition of both 5 mM methionine and 2 μM folate derivatives [(A): 5-MTHF, (B): THF]. The supernatants were collected at 0, 24, and 48 hours for Hcy and folate derivative measurements. The Hcy lowering effect of 5-MTHF, as well as inhibition of 5-MTHF reduction and THF elevation, appeared to be enhanced by riboflavin addition. THF addition did not lower the Hcy level, regardless of the presence of riboflavin and/or methionine, while THF and 5,10-methenyl THF levels were maintained. Further examination is needed to elucidate the interactive effects of riboflavin and folate derivatives on Hcy and folate metabolism.展开更多
A number of studies have demonstrated that sex differentially affects responses to stress and pain. In this study, sex-related differences in pain responding were investigated in a gravity-induced analgesia model, whe...A number of studies have demonstrated that sex differentially affects responses to stress and pain. In this study, sex-related differences in pain responding were investigated in a gravity-induced analgesia model, where the effects of stressful high-gravity loading (1.5G or 2.0G for 10 min) on nociceptive behavior in male and female rats were investigated. In each rat, eight sites (nose, both forepaws, upper and lower back, both hind paws and tail) were selected to apply noxious stimuli using a von Frey-type needle stimulator. The threshold values of the withdrawal responses were measured. In order to confirm the involvement of endogenous opioids in gravity-induced antinociceptive effects, naloxone-HCl (an opioid antagonist) was used. Effective analgesic effects could be induced by strong (2.0G) gravity loading, and clear sex differences were observed. Gravity-induced analgesic effects were more effective in males than in females, indicating that males are more sensitive to stress than females judging from nociceptive modulation. Naloxone-HCl produced a more pronounced suppression of nociceptive behavior in male rats, suggesting that gravity loading may activate endogenous opioids more readily in males than in females.展开更多
In sports sciences, blood lactate is commonly measured for performance testing or setting exercise intensity. Differences in measuring lactate concentration over time and across sampling sites during constant exercise...In sports sciences, blood lactate is commonly measured for performance testing or setting exercise intensity. Differences in measuring lactate concentration over time and across sampling sites during constant exercise are unknown. We aimed to compare blood lactate concentration across sampling sites during constant exercise. Eight participants performed three bouts of 20-min steady-state cycle exercise, consisting of 45, 60, and 75% of peak oxygen uptake (V . O2peak). Blood lactate levels were measured simultaneously from the fingertip and earlobe every 5 min during exercise. The time course analysis revealed that lactate level in the fingertip was significantly higher than in the earlobe at either work intensity (P < 0.05). A significant interaction effect (site x time) was observed at 60% V O2peak (P < 0.001), which indicated that the difference in samples across sampling sites decreased over time. The levels in the fingertip samples were higher at 5 min (P < 0.05);this difference was not noted after 10 min. Similarly, the fingertip values were significantly higher until 10 min (P < 0.05), but not after 15 min at 75% V O2peak. These findings suggest that the sampling site may affect the time course of change in lactate value under a constant workload.展开更多
Pachinko and pachislot are unique forms of entertainment that dominate gambling activities in Japan. In this study, a web survey and interview were conducted in order to adjust three scales (DSM-5, SOGS, and PGSI) to ...Pachinko and pachislot are unique forms of entertainment that dominate gambling activities in Japan. In this study, a web survey and interview were conducted in order to adjust three scales (DSM-5, SOGS, and PGSI) to pachinko/pachislot and explore an appropriate cutoff point for each of them. Using the assessment result in the interview as the outcome, the ROC curve of each scale was examined. The cutoff points were 4, 7, and 8 and the area under the curves (AUC) were 0.730, 0.783, and 0.724 for the DSM-5, SOGS, and PGSI, respectively. The study found that the type and situation of gambling influenced cutoff points in different ways depending on the questions asked in the scale.展开更多
To understand the reality of gambling disorder caused by playing pachinko/pachislot, a national pachinko/pachislot survey was conducted. Based on the survey result, we examined the appearance ratio and the characteris...To understand the reality of gambling disorder caused by playing pachinko/pachislot, a national pachinko/pachislot survey was conducted. Based on the survey result, we examined the appearance ratio and the characteristics of individuals with a suspected pachinko-pachislot playing disorder. The analysis result indicated that approximately 0.4% of survey respondents were suspected to have the disorder. This appearance ratio was comparable to the prevalence of gambling disorder in the general population. Those who had a suspected disorder were likely to be divorced, and have no savings. Meanwhile, no distinctive characteristics were found in their gender, annual household income, or the highest educational attainment.展开更多
The human intestinal microbiota that comprise over 1,000 species thrive in dark and anaerobic environments.They are recognized for the production of diverse low-molecular-weight metabolites crucial to human health and...The human intestinal microbiota that comprise over 1,000 species thrive in dark and anaerobic environments.They are recognized for the production of diverse low-molecular-weight metabolites crucial to human health and diseases.Carotenoids,low-molecular-weight pigments known for their antioxidative activity,are delivered to humans through oral intake.However,it remains unclear whether human intestinal bacteria biosynthesize carotenoids as part of the in-situ microbiota.In this study,we investigated carotenoid synthesis genes in vari-ous human gut and probiotic bacteria.As a result,novel candidates,the crtM and crtN genes,were identified in the carbon monoxide-utilizing gut anaerobe Eubacterium limosum and the lactic acid bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.mesenteroides.These gene candidates were isolated,introduced into Escherichia coli,which synthesized a carotenoid substrate,and cultured aerobically.Structural analysis of the resulting carotenoids re-vealed that the crtM and crtN gene candidates of E.limosum and L.mesenteroides mediate the production of 4,4′-diaponeurosporene through 15-cis-4,4′-diapophytoene.Evaluation of the crtE-homologous genes in these bacteria indicated their non-functionality for C40-carotenoid production.E.limosum and L.mesenteroides,along with the known carotenogenic lactic acid bacterium Lactiplantibacillus plantarum,were observed to produce no carotenoids under strictly anaerobic conditions.The two lactic acid bacteria synthesized detectable levels of 4,4′-diaponeurosporene under semi-aerobic conditions.The findings highlight that the obligate anaerobe E.limo-sum retains aerobically functional C30-carotenoid biosynthesis genes,potentially with no immediate self-utility,suggesting an evolutionary direction in carotenoid biosynthesis.(229 words)展开更多
文摘Riboflavin has been suggested to act with folate to lower homocysteine (Hcy). However, these interactions may differ among the several known forms of folate. Therefore, we examined the effects of riboflavin interactions with 5-methyltetrahydrofolate (5-MTHF) and tetrahydrofolate (THF) on changes in Hcy and folate derivative levels, under conditions with and without methionine addition. Rat hepatocytes were cultured for 48 hours in medium with or without 2.64 μM riboflavin addition, under the following conditions: 1) without the addition of either methionine or folate;2) with addition of 2 μM folate derivatives [(A): 5-MTHF, (B): THF];3) with addition of both 5 mM methionine and 2 μM folate derivatives [(A): 5-MTHF, (B): THF]. The supernatants were collected at 0, 24, and 48 hours for Hcy and folate derivative measurements. The Hcy lowering effect of 5-MTHF, as well as inhibition of 5-MTHF reduction and THF elevation, appeared to be enhanced by riboflavin addition. THF addition did not lower the Hcy level, regardless of the presence of riboflavin and/or methionine, while THF and 5,10-methenyl THF levels were maintained. Further examination is needed to elucidate the interactive effects of riboflavin and folate derivatives on Hcy and folate metabolism.
文摘A number of studies have demonstrated that sex differentially affects responses to stress and pain. In this study, sex-related differences in pain responding were investigated in a gravity-induced analgesia model, where the effects of stressful high-gravity loading (1.5G or 2.0G for 10 min) on nociceptive behavior in male and female rats were investigated. In each rat, eight sites (nose, both forepaws, upper and lower back, both hind paws and tail) were selected to apply noxious stimuli using a von Frey-type needle stimulator. The threshold values of the withdrawal responses were measured. In order to confirm the involvement of endogenous opioids in gravity-induced antinociceptive effects, naloxone-HCl (an opioid antagonist) was used. Effective analgesic effects could be induced by strong (2.0G) gravity loading, and clear sex differences were observed. Gravity-induced analgesic effects were more effective in males than in females, indicating that males are more sensitive to stress than females judging from nociceptive modulation. Naloxone-HCl produced a more pronounced suppression of nociceptive behavior in male rats, suggesting that gravity loading may activate endogenous opioids more readily in males than in females.
文摘In sports sciences, blood lactate is commonly measured for performance testing or setting exercise intensity. Differences in measuring lactate concentration over time and across sampling sites during constant exercise are unknown. We aimed to compare blood lactate concentration across sampling sites during constant exercise. Eight participants performed three bouts of 20-min steady-state cycle exercise, consisting of 45, 60, and 75% of peak oxygen uptake (V . O2peak). Blood lactate levels were measured simultaneously from the fingertip and earlobe every 5 min during exercise. The time course analysis revealed that lactate level in the fingertip was significantly higher than in the earlobe at either work intensity (P < 0.05). A significant interaction effect (site x time) was observed at 60% V O2peak (P < 0.001), which indicated that the difference in samples across sampling sites decreased over time. The levels in the fingertip samples were higher at 5 min (P < 0.05);this difference was not noted after 10 min. Similarly, the fingertip values were significantly higher until 10 min (P < 0.05), but not after 15 min at 75% V O2peak. These findings suggest that the sampling site may affect the time course of change in lactate value under a constant workload.
文摘Pachinko and pachislot are unique forms of entertainment that dominate gambling activities in Japan. In this study, a web survey and interview were conducted in order to adjust three scales (DSM-5, SOGS, and PGSI) to pachinko/pachislot and explore an appropriate cutoff point for each of them. Using the assessment result in the interview as the outcome, the ROC curve of each scale was examined. The cutoff points were 4, 7, and 8 and the area under the curves (AUC) were 0.730, 0.783, and 0.724 for the DSM-5, SOGS, and PGSI, respectively. The study found that the type and situation of gambling influenced cutoff points in different ways depending on the questions asked in the scale.
文摘To understand the reality of gambling disorder caused by playing pachinko/pachislot, a national pachinko/pachislot survey was conducted. Based on the survey result, we examined the appearance ratio and the characteristics of individuals with a suspected pachinko-pachislot playing disorder. The analysis result indicated that approximately 0.4% of survey respondents were suspected to have the disorder. This appearance ratio was comparable to the prevalence of gambling disorder in the general population. Those who had a suspected disorder were likely to be divorced, and have no savings. Meanwhile, no distinctive characteristics were found in their gender, annual household income, or the highest educational attainment.
文摘The human intestinal microbiota that comprise over 1,000 species thrive in dark and anaerobic environments.They are recognized for the production of diverse low-molecular-weight metabolites crucial to human health and diseases.Carotenoids,low-molecular-weight pigments known for their antioxidative activity,are delivered to humans through oral intake.However,it remains unclear whether human intestinal bacteria biosynthesize carotenoids as part of the in-situ microbiota.In this study,we investigated carotenoid synthesis genes in vari-ous human gut and probiotic bacteria.As a result,novel candidates,the crtM and crtN genes,were identified in the carbon monoxide-utilizing gut anaerobe Eubacterium limosum and the lactic acid bacterium Leuconostoc mesenteroides subsp.mesenteroides.These gene candidates were isolated,introduced into Escherichia coli,which synthesized a carotenoid substrate,and cultured aerobically.Structural analysis of the resulting carotenoids re-vealed that the crtM and crtN gene candidates of E.limosum and L.mesenteroides mediate the production of 4,4′-diaponeurosporene through 15-cis-4,4′-diapophytoene.Evaluation of the crtE-homologous genes in these bacteria indicated their non-functionality for C40-carotenoid production.E.limosum and L.mesenteroides,along with the known carotenogenic lactic acid bacterium Lactiplantibacillus plantarum,were observed to produce no carotenoids under strictly anaerobic conditions.The two lactic acid bacteria synthesized detectable levels of 4,4′-diaponeurosporene under semi-aerobic conditions.The findings highlight that the obligate anaerobe E.limo-sum retains aerobically functional C30-carotenoid biosynthesis genes,potentially with no immediate self-utility,suggesting an evolutionary direction in carotenoid biosynthesis.(229 words)
