Search Results (10)

The digestion behavior of a food bolus comprising bread particles in the presence of gastric peristalsis remains poorly understood. This study systematically investigated the effect of bread type on in vitro gastric digestion behavior using a human gastric digestion simulator (GDS) that is capable of quantitatively simulating gastric peristalsis. A food bolus consisting of 60 g of bread (white bread, bagel, German bread, French bread, or croissant), 15 mL of a simulated salivary fluid, and 240 mL of a simulated gastric fluid was used for gastric digestion in vitro using the GDS for 3 h at 37 °C. Direct observation of the gastric digestion behavior in the GDS vessel demonstrated that the structure and composition of breads considerably influenced the physical digestion processes of bread particles. These processes include their fracture, rubbing, disintegration, swelling owing to the penetration of gastric fluid, and release of fat from their surface. Fluorescence microscopy enabled an improved understanding of the variations in the microstructure and major component distribution of the breads during the gastric digestion in vitro. The results showed how the different breads influenced gastric digestibility in vitro through quantitative gastric peristalsis. The GDS can also be applicable to studying gastric digestibility in vitro of other types of bread. Full article

Antimicrobial-resistant (AMR) bacteria affect human and animal health worldwide. Here, CTX-M-14-producing Escherichia coli isolates were isolated from Siberian weasels (Mustela sibirica) that were captured on a veterinary campus. To clarify the source of bacteria in the weasels, we examined the domestic animals reared in seven facilities on the campus. Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing E. coli were isolated on deoxycholate hydrogen sulfide lactose agar, containing cephalexin (50 μg/mL) or cefotaxime (2 μg/mL), and were characterized with antimicrobial susceptibility testing, pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE), replicon typing, and β-lactamase typing analyses. Next-generation sequencing of the ESBL-encoding plasmids was also performed. CTX-M-14 producers isolated from both domestic animals and weasels were classified into six clusters with seven PFGE profiles. The PFGE and antimicrobial resistance profiles were characterized by the animal facility. All CTX-M-14 plasmids belonged to the IncI1 type with a similar size (98.9–99.3 kb), except for one plasmid that was 105.5 kb in length. The unweighted pair group method with arithmetic mean (UPGMA) revealed that the CTX-M-14 plasmid in the weasel isolates might have the same origin as the CTX-M-14 plasmid in the domestic animals. Our findings shed further light on the association of antimicrobial resistance between wild and domestic animals. Full article

pH is one of the most important properties associated with an aqueous solution and various pH measurement techniques are available. In this study, Azure A-modified poly(methacrylic acid) (AA-PMA) was synthesized used to prepare a layer-by-layer deposited film with poly(allylamine hydrochloride) (PAH) on a glassy carbon electrode via electrostatic interactions and the multilayer film-immobilized electrode was used to measure pH. Cyclic voltammetry (CV) and differential pulse voltammetry (DPV) measurement were performed. Consequently, the oxidation potential of AA on the electrode changed with pH. As per Nernst’s equation, because H⁺ ions are involved in the redox reaction, the peak potential shifted depending on the pH of the solution. The peak potential shifts are easier to detect by DPV than CV measurement. Accordingly, using electrochemical responses, the pH was successfully measured in the pH range of 3 to 9, and the electrodes were usable for 50 repeated measurements. Moreover, these electrochemical responses were not affected by interfering substances. Full article

We previously showed that ergosterol has an inhibitory effect on bladder carcinogenesis. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the molecular mechanism by which ergosterol inhibits bladder carcinogenesis using a rat model of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine-induced bladder cancer. The messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) expression level of the cell cycle-related gene cyclin D1 and inflammation-related gene cyclooxygenase-2 in bladder epithelial cells was significantly increased in the carcinogenesis group compared with the control group. In contrast, in ergosterol-treated rats, these increases were significantly suppressed. Ergosterol did not affect the plasma testosterone concentration or the binding of dihydrotestosterone to androgen receptor (AR). The mRNA expression levels of 5α-reductase type 2 and AR were higher in the carcinogenesis group than in the control group but were significantly decreased by ergosterol administration. These results suggest that ergosterol inhibits bladder carcinogenesis by modulating various aspects of the cell cycle, inflammation-related signaling, and androgen signaling. Future clinical application of the preventive effect of ergosterol on bladder carcinogenesis is expected. Full article

Regorafenib eye drops were developed for treating age-related macular degeneration. This study aimed to investigate the effects of this multi-kinase inhibitor on intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb formation, and conjunctival changes in a canine filtration surgery model. Glaucoma filtration surgery models were created in 24 eyes of 24 beagles. In experiment 1 (Ex 1), regorafenib eye drops (regorafenib group: n = 6) or a vehicle (control group, n = 6) were instilled twice daily for 4 weeks postoperatively. In experiment 2 (Ex 2), regorafenib eye drops were instilled as in Ex 1 (regorafenib group: n = 6) for 12 weeks while conventional intraoperative mitomycin-C (MMC) was utilized (MMC group: n = 6), In Ex 1, only the regorafenib group showed significant IOP reduction with a significantly higher bleb score. Subconjunctival area, collagen density, vessels, and cells showing proliferation and differentiation were lower in subconjunctival tissue in the regorafenib group. In Ex 2, no significant difference was found in IOP reduction and bleb formation between the regorafenib and MMC groups; bleb walls were significantly thicker and collagen density and vessels were higher in the regorafenib group; and no differences were observed in the above-mentioned cells. Thus, regorafenib might be a better alternative to MMC for creating thicker and less ischemic blebs in glaucoma filtration surgery. Full article

While irinotecan (CPT-11) has a potent anti-cancer effect, it also causes serious diarrhea as an adverse reaction. In this study, we analyzed the pathogenic mechanism of CPT-11-induced delayed diarrhea by focusing on water channel aquaporin-3 (AQP3) in the colon. When rats received CPT-11, the expression level of AQP3 was reduced during severe diarrhea. It was found that the expression levels of inflammatory cytokines and the loss of crypt cells were increased in the colon when CPT-11 was administered. When celecoxib, an anti-inflammatory drug, was concomitantly administered, both the diarrhea and the reduced expression of AQP3 induced by CPT-11 were suppressed. The inflammation in the rat colon during diarrhea was caused via activated macrophage by CPT-11. These results showed that when CPT-11 is administered, the expression level of AQP3 in the colon is reduced, resulting in delayed diarrhea by preventing water transport from the intestinal tract. It was also suggested that the reduced expression of AQP3 might be due to the inflammation that occurs following the loss of colonic crypt cells and to the damage caused by the direct activation of macrophages by CPT-11. Therefore, it was considered that anti-inflammatory drugs that suppress the reduction of AQP3 expression could prevent CPT-11-induced delayed diarrhea. Full article

In this present study, we investigated the effect of a controlled release of anti-transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) antibody on intraocular pressure (IOP), bleb formation, and conjunctival scarring in a canine glaucoma filtration surgery model using gelatin hydrogel (GH). Glaucoma surgery models were made in 14 eyes of 14 beagles and divided into the following two groups: (1) subconjunctival implantation of anti-TGF-β antibody-loaded GH (GH-TGF-β group, n = 7), and (2) subconjunctival implantation of GH alone (GH group, n = 7). IOP and bleb features were then assessed in each eye at 2- and 4-weeks postoperative, followed by histological evaluation. We found that IOP was significantly reduced at 4-weeks postoperative in the two groups (p < 0.05) and that IOP in the GH-TGF-β-group eyes was significantly lower than that in the GH-group eyes (p = 0.006). In addition, the bleb score at 4-weeks postoperative was significantly higher in the GH-TGF-β group than in the GH group (p < 0.05), and the densities of fibroblasts, proliferative-cell nuclear antigen (PCNA)-positive cells, mast cells, and TGF-β-positive cells were significantly lower in the GH-TGF-β group than in the GH group. The findings of this study suggest that, compared with the GH-group eyes, implantation of anti-TGF-β antibody-loaded GH maintains IOP reduction and bleb formation by suppressing conjunctival scarring due to the proliferation of fibroblasts for a longer time period via a sustained release of anti-TGF-β antibody from GH. Full article

An 80-year-old woman with normal-tension glaucoma was transferred to our clinic 9 years ago. She exhibited progressive visual field defect despite intraocular pressure in both eyes remaining stable in the low teens after treatment with prostaglandin-derivative eye drops. Increased short-term fluctuation in optic nerve head (ONH) blood flow was detected using laser speckle flowgraphy. After the patient was administered kallidinogenase tablets, the fluctuation was reduced and her visual field defect was ameliorated. However, the fluctuation increased and the visual field defect deteriorated after the patient discontinued the medication. The increased short-term fluctuation in ONH blood flow seemed to be associated with the development of glaucomatous visual field defect in this case. Full article

Laser speckle flowgraphy (LSFG) allows for quantitative estimation of blood flow in the optic nerve head (ONH), choroid and retina, utilizing the laser speckle phenomenon. The basic technology and clinical applications of LSFG-NAVI, the updated model of LSFG, are summarized in this review. For developing a commercial version of LSFG, the special area sensor was replaced by the ordinary charge-coupled device camera. In LSFG-NAVI, the mean blur rate (MBR) has been introduced as a new parameter. Compared to the original LSFG model, LSFG-NAVI demonstrates a better spatial resolution of the blood flow map of human ocular fundus. The observation area is 24 times larger than the original system. The analysis software can separately calculate MBRs in the blood vessels and tissues (capillaries) of an entire ONH and the measurements have good reproducibility. The absolute values of MBR in the ONH have been shown to linearly correlate with the capillary blood flow. The Analysis of MBR pulse waveform provides parameters including skew, blowout score, blowout time, rising and falling rates, flow acceleration index, acceleration time index, and resistivity index for comparing different eyes. Recently, there have been an increasing number of reports on the clinical applications of LSFG-NAVI to ocular diseases, including glaucoma, retinal and choroidal diseases. Full article