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Biomedical subjects

S Fukuda

Publications and source records attributed to S Fukuda.

At least 19 recordsLinked to original sources
PubMed2006

Psychological effects of forest environments on healthy adults: Shinrin-yoku (forest-air bathing, walking) as a possible method of stress reduction.

OBJECTIVES: Shinrin-yoku (walking and/or staying in forests in order to promote health) is a major form of relaxation in Japan; however, its effects have yet to be completely clarified. The aims of this study were: (1) to evaluate the psychological effects of shinrin-yoku in a large number of participants; and (2) to identify the factors related to these effects. METHODS: Four hundred and ninety-eight healthy volunteers took part in the study. Surveys were conducted twice in a forest on the same day (forest day) and twice on a control day. Outcome measures were evaluated using the Multiple Mood Scale-Short Form (hostility, depression, boredom, friendliness, wellbeing and liveliness) and the State-Trait Anxiety Inventory A-State Scale. Statistical analyses were conducted using analysis of variance and multiple regression analyses. RESULTS: Hostility (P<0.001) and depression (P<0.001) scores decreased significantly, and liveliness (P=0.001) scores increased significantly on the forest day compared with the control day. The main effect of environment was also observed with all outcomes except for hostility, and the forest environment was advantageous. Stress levels were shown to be related to the magnitude of the shinrin-yoku effect; the higher the stress level, the greater the effect. CONCLUSIONS: This study revealed that forest environments are advantageous with respect to acute emotions, especially among those experiencing chronic stress. Accordingly, shinrin-yoku may be employed as a stress reduction method, and forest environments can be viewed as therapeutic landscapes. Therefore, customary shinrin-yoku may help to decrease the risk of psychosocial stress-related diseases, and evaluation of the long-term effects of shinrin-yoku is warranted.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Pattern of dietary fiber intake among the Japanese general population.

OBJECTIVES: To evaluate the dietary fiber (DF) intake pattern among the Japanese general population. DESIGN: We performed a dietary survey among the general population in northern Japan to evaluate the intake patterns. DF intake was calculated by substituting the DF content of each food in the Dietary Fiber Table for the intake of each food from this dietary survey. SUBJECTS: Five hundred and seventy-seven subjects participated in the study, 198 men and 379 women. RESULTS: In subjects with higher DF intakes the origins of the DF that were from all food groups, but with the notable exception of rice. The contribution of the seaweed group was of particular interest. From multiple regression analysis, as for food group, seaweeds showed the highest positive correlation with DF intake in both genders, followed by vegetables, pulses, fruits. On the other hand, rice showed the negative correlation with DF intake in both genders. As for life factor, body mass index showed the negative correlation with DF intake in women. CONCLUSION: Seaweed, a typical Japanese food, was most related to the increase in DF intake for the Japanese general population, whereas rice, the Japanese staple, had a small influence on decreased DF intake.

Adult↗
PubMed2006

Molecular epidemiology of subgenus F adenoviruses associated with pediatric gastroenteritis during eight years in Hiroshima Prefecture as a limited area.

We have studied the prevalence of the subgenus F adenoviruses and the molecular characteristics of adenovirus type 41 in Hiroshima Prefecture, Japan, as a limited area during the period of 1997-2004. Subgenus F adenoviruses were detected in 30 (3.4%) of 892 fecal specimens by enzyme immunoassay (EIA), and 80.0% (24 of 30) of positive patients were <36 months old. One (3.3%) and 29 (96.7%) of the 30 EIA-positive specimens were adenoviruses type 40 (Ad40) and 41 (Ad41), respectively. The genomes of Ad41 strains amplified by PCR were divided into two genomic type clusters (GTC1 and GTC2) based on the hexon gene as described by Li et al. (J Clin Microbiol 42: 4032-4039, 2004.). Twenty-one (95.5%) of 22 Ad41 strains detected between 2000 and 2004 belonged to GTC1, whereas all seven strains detected between 1997 and 1999 belonged to GTC2. These genomic typings were the same for the hexon and fiber genes except for one strain. This strain contained a hexon gene belonging to GTC1 and a fiber gene belonging to GTC2 and was considered to be a recombinant between adenoviruses of these types.

Adenoviridae↗
PubMed2006

Clinical diagnostic indicators of renal and bone damage in rats intramuscularly injected with depleted uranium.

The toxic effects and changes in biochemical markers related to kidney and bone in depleted uranium (DU)-injected rats were examined in order to clarify the relation between clinical biochemical markers and the degree of damage in these organs. Male Wistar rats received a single injection in the femoral muscles of 0.2, 1.0 or 2.0 mg kg(-1) of DU which was dissolved in nitric acid solution adjusted to pH 3.2, for comparison with the group injected with nitric acid solution, and the control group. Urine and faeces were collected periodically over a 24 h period. Thereafter, the rats were killed at 28 d after DU injection. The body weights of the DU-injected groups decreased dose-dependently for the first 3-7 d, and then began to increase. The DU concentrations in the urine and faeces decreased rapidly within 3-7 d after DU injection. Urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG)/creatinine peaked at the third day after DU injection, with a high correlation to the injected DU doses. There were high correlations among the injected DU doses, DU concentrations in the kidney and urinary NAG/creatinine values that were obtained at 28 d, respectively. The blood urea nitrogen (BUN) and creatinine in the serum also showed a high correlation with the DU-injected doses. The results indicated that urinary NAG/creatinine, BUN and creatinine in serum were useful indicators to diagnose the renal damage by DU, as well as to estimate the DU intake and concentration in the kidney when the intake is >2 mg kg(-1) DU. The total bone mineral density of the proximal metaphysis of the tibia decreased in the 2 mg kg(-1) DU group. In addition, alterations of the trabecular bone structure by inhibiting bone formation and promoting bone resorption were observed by bone histomorphometery. The bone biochemical markers osteocalcin, tartrate-resistance acid phosphatase, pyridinoline and rat-parathyroid hormone increased in all the DU injected groups, indicating that these markers were useful as sensitive indicators for diagnosing bone damage, even if the DU dose injected is low.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Microarray analysis of a reversible model and an irreversible model of anti-Thy-1 nephritis.

A single intravenous injection of anti-Thy-1 monoclonal antibody (mAb) 1-22-3 is known to cause reversible mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis. However, mAb 1-22-3 injection followed by unilateral nephrectomy leads to progressive glomerulosclerosis and tubulointerstitial change with an irreversible course. To identify genes that play an important role in the irreversible progression of renal injury, we used microarray technology to identify differences in gene expression between these models. Rats were intravenously injected with mAb 1-22-3 1 week after unilateral nephrectomy (irreversible model) or a sham operation (reversible model), and rats were killed on days 4, 7, 14, 42, and 56 after the injection. complementary DNA probes prepared from kidney messenger RNAs were hybridized with oligonucleotide microarrays containing 4854 rat genes. The microarray identified 189 differentially expressed genes, having at least a two-fold difference in expression level between the two models, and they were classified into five clusters. One of the clusters consisted of genes whose expression was markedly upregulated in the irreversible model. This cluster included the genes encoding osteopontin, kidney injury molecule-1, and thymosin beta10. Increased expression of thymosin beta10 was localized mainly in macrophages in the fibrotic interstitium, and upregulation of thymosin beta10 expression was also observed in a unilateral ureteral obstruction model. The microarray analysis yielded information on the molecular mechanisms responsible for the difference in disease progression between the reversible and irreversible model of anti-Thy-1 nephritis. Thymosin beta10 may play an important role in the progression of kidney disease.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

Isolation of a novel strain of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens that isomerizes linoleic acid to conjugated linoleic acid without hydrogenation, and its utilization as a probiotic for animals.

AIM: Isolation of a new strain of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens possessing great capacity to produce conjugated linoleic acid (CLA) in order to utilize as a probiotic for animals. METHODS AND RESULTS: A novel strain (MDT-5) was isolated from the goat rumen, which exclusively converted linoleic acid (LA) to CLA, because of its high LA isomerase activity with virtually no CLA reductase activity. MDT-5 also converted linolenic acid to conjugated linolenic acid that may be more bioactive than CLA. The oral administration of MDT-5 every other day to mice for 2 weeks resulted in increased amounts of CLA in the contents of the large intestine (2.5-fold), as well as in adipose tissue (threefold). Feeding a high-LA diet, as well as prolonging the period of MDT-5 administration, further increased the CLA content in body fat. CONCLUSIONS: MDT-5 has by far greater ability to produce CLA than any other known bacteria. Administration of MDT-5 to mice increases CLA production in the large intestine, which results in increased CLA absorption. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: MDT-5 may be useful in pet animals as a probiotic to provide CLA continuously.

Adipose Tissue↗
PubMed2006

Augmentation of vaccenate production and suppression of vaccenate biohydrogenation in cultures of mixed ruminal microbes.

To increase ruminal outflow of trans-vaccenic acid (t-VA), a new strain of Butyrivibrio fibrisolvens (MDT-10) was isolated that has a great ability to hydrogenate linoleic acid (LA) to t-VA. When strain MDT-10 was added to the batch cultures of mixed ruminal microbes (1% of the total number of viable ruminal bacteria), LA conversion to t-VA increased greatly; after 3 h, t-VA levels were > 4-fold higher than the control. By 10 h, all of the t-VA was hydrogenated to stearic acid. However, when a new strain of Bifidobacterium adolescentis (HF-11), which has a high capacity for incorporation of t-VA, was added in conjunction with MDT-10 (1% of the total number of ruminal bacteria), t-VA levels after 10 h were 6 times higher than with MDT-10 alone. These results suggest that t-VA produced by MDT-10 was incorporated into HF-11 cells, resulting in protection of t-VA from t-VA-hydrogenating microbes. Similar results were obtained in a continuous culture of mixed ruminal microbes in which addition of HF-11 simultaneously with MDT-10 increased the amount of t-VA in the effluent 2.5-fold. Both MDT-10 and HF-11 appeared to grow readily in the presence of mixed ruminal microbes. Sixty-two percent of t-VA incorporated by HF-11 was present in the free form, whereas 19, 15, and 3%, respectively, were incorporated into monoacylglycerol, glycerophospholipid, and diacylglycerol fractions. Because these lipids can be digested in the small intestine, it is likely that most t-VA in HF-11 cells is absorbed. Thus, introduction of MDT-10 and HF-11 simultaneously to the rumen might increase the amount of t-VA absorbed and might consequently increase the conversion of t-VA to conjugated linoleic acid in tissue.

Animals↗
PubMed2006

[Long-term results of conventional aortic valve replacement for small aortic annulus].

We studied cardiac function, clinical outcome and quality of life (QOL) long after aortic valve replacement for pure aortic stenosis. Forty-four patients in small group [St. Jude Medical (SJM) 17 HP, 19 A], and 69 patients in non-small group (19 HP, 21 A, 23 A) operated on from 1984 to 2004 were enrolled in this study. We assessed the clinical data, aortic pressure gradient, left ventricular mass index (LVMI), and ejection fraction (EF) by preoperative and postoperative echocardiography. Moreover to evaluate QOL after the operation, we performed SF-36 used for the evaluation of health and QOL worldwide. Mean follow-up is 7.1 +/- 4.8 years in small group, and 6.8 +/- 4.6 years in non-small group. There were 2 hospital deaths in small group, and 1 in non-small group. The actual survival rate at 10-year were 89.2% in small group, and 85.6% in non-small group. There was no significant difference in hospital mortality, LVMI, long-term survival rate, and the scores of SF-36 between the 2 groups. The use of small sized prosthetic valves in patients with small aortic annulus might be justified when there is no patient-prosthesis mismatch.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Moderate hypothermia, but not calpain inhibitor 2, attenuates the proteolysis of microtubule-associated protein 2 in the hippocampus following traumatic brain injury in rats.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The degradation of the cytoskeletal protein microtubule-associated protein 2 (MAP2), by calpain has been known to occur following traumatic brain injury. We examined the therapeutic potential of calpain inhibitor 2, compared with that of moderate hypothermia in traumatic brain injury produced by weight drop in rats. METHODS: An inhibitor treated group (n = 8) received calpain inhibitor 2 intravenously (i.v.) for 5 min before and for 6 h after injury (total 2 micromol); a hypothermic (HT) group (n = 8) was maintained at 30 degrees C (temporalis muscle temperature) for 45 min prior to and 60 min after injury; an untreated (UT) group (n = 8) received an infusion of inactive vehicle. Eight rats (sham group) underwent surgery without brain injury. Histopathological (haematoxylin and eosin staining) and MAP2 (immunohistchemistry and western blotting) evaluations were performed at 6 h after injury. RESULTS: Ipsilateral cortical damage was marked in the injured groups. In the hippocampus, marked pyramidal neuronal damage was observed in the UT and calpain inhibitor treated (CI) groups, while these neurons were better preserved in the HT group. The hippocampal MAP2 levels in the UT, CI and HT groups were significantly decreased to 13 +/- 9%, 28 +/- 33% and 62 +/- 25% of the sham contol, respectively. MAP2 concentration in the HT group was significantly higher than in UT and CI groups (P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: The results suggest that moderate hypothermia, but not calpain inhibitor 2 with the tested regime, attenuates cytoskeletal damage in the ipsilateral hippocampus at 6 h after traumatic brain injury.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

Effect of vascularity on canine distracted tibial callus consolidation.

In the consolidation period of distraction osteogenesis, mineralization occurs before corticalization. We hypothesized that the increased rate of bone mineral density correlates to the density of vascularity in the callus. We unilaterally lengthened the tibia in eight adult beagles. After a waiting period of 7 days, tibiae were lengthened for 30 days. After a consolidation period of an additional 60 days, all animals were euthanized. Just before euthanasia, blood vessels were perfused with 50% w/v barium sulfate solution, and soft radiographs of the distracted callus and the control tibiae were taken. Bone mineral density of the regenerated bones was measured preoperatively by quantitative computed tomography on Days 37, 68, and 98. Increases of the percent bone mineral density (from Day 37 to Day 98 and from Day 68 to Day 98) correlated with the blood vessel volume density ratios on Day 98. Our results suggest that preservation of the higher density of blood vessels in the consolidation period could lead to the better mineralization of the distracted callus.

Angiography↗
PubMed2005

Improved bioluminescent enzyme immunoassay for the rapid detection of Salmonella in chicken meat samples.

AIMS: To evaluate an improved bioluminescent enzyme immunoassay (BEIA) using biotinylated firefly luciferase for the rapid detection of Salmonella in naturally contaminated chicken meat samples. METHODS AND RESULTS: Capture agents and lipopolysaccharide (LPS) extraction reagents for Salmonella were investigated to improve the sensitivity of the BEIA. Also, the use of Oxoid SPRINT (Simple Pre-enrichment and Rapid Isolation New Technology) as a pre-enrichment and selective medium for 26-h BEIA detection of Salmonella in chicken meat samples was examined. The use of polymyxin B as a capture agent on solid support and 3-[(3-Cholamidopropyl) dimethylammonio] propanesulfonic acid (CHAPS) for extraction of the LPS facilitated sensitive detection of Salmonella. Of 120 chicken meat samples, 25 samples were positive using the improved BEIA with the SPRINT and 25 samples were positive using the SPRINT followed by the standard isolation methods. CONCLUSIONS: The improved BEIA, in which polymxin B was used as a capture agent and CHAPS was used for extraction of the antigen, had a sensitivity of 96.0% and a specificity of 98.9% for the detection of Salmonella in chicken meat. SIGNIFICANCE AND IMPACT OF THE STUDY: The improved BEIA combined with the SPRINT medium for the detection of Salmonella in chicken meat samples produced comparable results to the culture methods in 26 h.

Animals↗
PubMed2005

[Early and long-term results of valve replacement in patients on chronic hemodialysis].

Cardiac valve replacement carries a high-risk in hemodialysis patients and has been questioned for its results. The purpose of this study is to focus on the early and long-term results in our institution. We retrospectively analyzed the data from 41 hemodialysis patients who underwent valve replacement in our unit from July 1978 to March 2004. Bioprosthetic valves were used in 5 patients (12.2%). The overall operative mortality (30 days) was 17%. The in-hospital death rate was 22%. Late survival rate was 68% at 2 years, 54% at 3 years, 49% at 5 years, and 27% at 10 years for all patients. The incidence of major bleeding and stroke was 41%.

Adult↗
PubMed2005

[Mitral valve repair for commissural prolapse due to infective endocarditis].

A 65-year-old man and a 51-year-old man underwent mitral valve repair for commissural prolapse due to infective endocarditis. On the occasion of repairing, folding plasty technique was employed to avoid relatively large annular plication after leaflet resection. Postoperative echocardiography showed no residual regurgitation and sufficient orifice area of the mitral valve. Folding plasty technique appeared to be simple and useful for repairing commissural prolapse due to infective endocarditis.

Aged↗
PubMed2005

Development of a high-efficiency H2 feeder for bioremediation.

An electrochemical dissolved hydrogen feeder equipped with a multi-cathode system and a high-rate recirculation pump was developed in order to examine its feasibility for bioremediation. Results showed that the feeding efficiency was remarkably higher than that in former studies. The reason for the enhanced hydrogen dissolution rate was thought to be due to the large cathode area by applying multiple granular activated carbon electrodes resulting in low current density. Two mass balance equations were formulated and applied to analyze the performance of the apparatus theoretically. The hydrogen dissolution rate calculated from the equations was in fairly good agreement with observed results. It was suggested that the electrochemical H2 feeder would be a competitive alternative as a hydrogen feeding method for bioremediation.

Bacteria↗
PubMed2004

Search for electron neutrino appearance in a 250 km long-baseline experiment.

We present a search for electron neutrino appearance from accelerator-produced muon neutrinos in the K2K long-baseline neutrino experiment. One candidate event is found in the data corresponding to an exposure of 4.8 x 10(19) protons on target. The expected background in the absence of neutrino oscillations is estimated to be 2.4+/-0.6 events and is dominated by misidentification of events from neutral current pi(0) production. We exclude the nu(micro) to nu(e) oscillations at 90% C.L. for the effective mixing angle in the 2-flavor approximation of sin((2)2theta(microe)( approximately 1/2sin((2)2theta(13))>0.15 at Deltam(2)(microe)=2.8 x 10(-3) eV(2), the best-fit value of the nu(micro) disappearance analysis in K2K. The most stringent limit of sin((2)2theta(microe)<0.09 is obtained at Deltam(2)(microe)=6 x 10(-3) eV(2).

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Limits on the neutrino magnetic moment using 1496 days of Super-Kamiokande-I solar neutrino data.

A search for a nonzero neutrino magnetic moment has been conducted using 1496 live days of solar neutrino data from Super-Kamiokande-I. Specifically, we searched for distortions to the energy spectrum of recoil electrons arising from magnetic scattering due to a nonzero neutrino magnetic moment. In the absence of a clear signal, we found micro(nu)</=(3.6x10(-10))micro(B) at 90% C.L. by fitting to the Super-Kamiokande day-night spectra. The fitting took into account the effect of neutrino oscillation on the shapes of energy spectra. With additional information from other solar neutrino and KamLAND experiments constraining the oscillation region, a limit of micro(nu)</=(1.1x10(-10))micro(B) at 90% C.L. was obtained.

Journal Article↗
PubMed2004

Negative regulatory effect of an oligodendrocytic bHLH factor OLIG2 on the astrocytic differentiation pathway.

In the developing vertebrate nervous system, multipotent neural stem cells produce both neurons and glia. OLIG2 is a basic helix-loop-helix transcription factor that plays critical roles in oligodendrocyte and motor neuron development; however, its role in astrocytic development remains elusive. In this study, we analyzed an effect of OLIG2 on cytokine-induced astrocytic differentiation from mouse telencephalic neuroepithelial cells. We show that the presence of OLIG2 protein leads to inhibition of the promoter activation of astrocyte-specific glial fibrillary acidic protein gene. We found that OLIG2 abolishes complex formation between a transcriptional coactivator p300 and a transcription factor, signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3), which is activated by astrocytic differentiation-inducing cytokines, such as leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF). The enforced expression of OLIG2 in neuroepithelial cells inhibits the LIF-induced astrocytic differentiation. We also show that the OLIG2 protein in the nuclei of neural precursor cells disappears in accordance with astrocytic differentiation during culture with LIF. Together, these results reveal a novel molecular function of OLIG2 on the astrocyte development. Cell Death and Differentiation (2004) 11, 196-202. doi:10.1038/sj.cdd.4401332 Published online 24 October 2003

Animals↗