Search

Haruhiko Nishida,1 Katsuko Onishi,1 Satoshi Kurose,1 Hiromi Tsutsumi,1 Takumi Miyauchi,2 Nana Takao,2 Sawako Yoshiuchi,2 Aya Fujii,2 Yutaka Kimura1,2 1Department of Health Science, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, Japan; 2Health Science Center, Kansai Medical University, Osaka, JapanCorrespondence: Haruhiko NishidaDepartment of Health Science, Kansai Medical University, 2-5-1 Shinmachi, Hirakata, Osaka 573-1010, JapanTel +81 72 804 2334Fax +81 72 804 2548Email nishidah@hirakata.kmu.ac.jpObjective: DNA methylation is an epigenetic mechanism that regulates gene expression. The obesity-related (FTO) gene is the first gene found to be associated with fat mass and obesity. However, no studies have examined the relationship between weight-loss intervention effect and FTO methylation in obese individuals with whole blood DNA. The purpose of this study was to quantify FTO whole blood DNA methylation and investigate the relationship between body composition, exercise capacity, and blood parameters with a 6-month weight-loss program intervention.Participants and Methods: Eighteen female participants (mean age, 50.6 ± 12.1 years, body mass index (BMI), 33.5 ± 6.2 kg/m2) who completed a 6-month weight-loss program at the obesity outpatient department at the Health Science Center of Kansai Medical University Hospital from March 2017 to October 2018 were included in the analysis. Participants were randomized into a normal treatment group (NTG) and a group with additional resistance training (RTG). Body composition, exercise tolerance and metabolic index were measured in each participant. DNA methylation status in whole blood samples was determined using pyrosequencing. All measurements were taken during the first visit and at the 6-month post-intervention visit.Results: The methylation rate was significantly decreased in the NTG in CpG1 (p=0.011) and total value of CpG (p=0.011), whereas in the treatment group containing resistance training (RTG), CpG3 (p=0.038) was increased significantly. Furthermore, the independent factors that determine %CpG3 of RTG were visceral fat area change rate (%VFA) (β = − 0.568, P = 0.007, R2 = 0.527) and resistance training (β = 0.517, P = 0.012, R2 = 0.527), which have been extracted.Conclusion: A 6-month weight-loss program, including resistance training, may be associated with decreased visceral fat area changes and increased RTG CpG3 methylation changes. However, further replication studies with larger sample sizes are warranted to verify the findings of this study.Keywords: epigenetics, obesity, body composition, resistance training

Yohei Tanaka,1–3 Yuichiro Tsunemi,2 Makoto Kawashima,2 Naoto Tatewaki,3 Hiroshi Nishida31Clinica Tanaka Plastic, Reconstructive Surgery and Anti-aging Center, Nagano, 2Department of Dermatology, Tokyo Women's Medical University, Tokyo, 3Department of Applied Life Sciences, Niigata University of Pharmacy and Applied Life Sciences, Niigata, JapanBackground: Near-infrared has been shown to penetrate deeper than optical light sources independent of skin color, allowing safer treatment for the Asian skin type. Many studies have indicated the efficacy of various types of devices, but have not included a sufficiently objective evaluation. In this study, we used three-dimensional imaging for objective evaluation of facial skin tightening using a water-filtered near-infrared device.Methods: Twenty Japanese patients were treated with the water-filtered near-infrared (1,000–1,800 nm) device using a contact-cooling and nonfreezing gel stored in a freezer. Three-dimensional imaging was performed, and quantitative volume measurements were taken to evaluate the change in post-treatment volume. The patients then provided their subjective assessments.Results: Objective assessments of the treated cheek volume evaluated by a three-dimensional color schematic representation with quantitative volume measurements showed significant improvement 3 months after treatment. The mean volume reduction at the last post-treatment visit was 2.554 ± 0.999 mL. The post-treatment volume was significantly reduced compared with the pretreatment volume in all patients (P < 0.0001). Eighty-five percent of patients reported satisfaction with the improvement of skin laxity, and 80% of patients reported satisfaction with improvement of rhytids, such as the nasolabial folds. Side effects, such as epidermal burns and scar formation, were not observed throughout the study.Conclusion: The advantages of this water-filtered near-infrared treatment are its high efficacy for skin tightening, associated with a minimal level of discomfort and minimal side effects. Together, these characteristics facilitate our ability to administer repeated treatments and provide alternative or adjunctive treatment for patients, with improved results. This study provides a qualitative and quantitative volumetric assessment, establishing the ability of this technology to reduce volume through noninvasive skin tightening.Keywords: objective evaluation, quantitative volume measurement, skin laxity, three-dimensional imaging, rhytids

The use of a cusp magnetic field is studied to improve the thrust performance of small electrodeless radio frequency (RF) plasma thrusters based on a theoretical analysis of a magnetized inductively coupled plasma. In this type of thruster, electrons play a critical role in determining the thrust performance. The electron energy probability function (EEPF) and two-dimensional profiles of the plasma parameters in the cusp-type magnetic field RF thruster are investigated to characterize the plasma flow. Non-Maxwellian EEPFs were obtained, which correspond to the pressure and plasma potential profiles in the plasma plume. In addition, the axial ion velocity was measured, and the presence of ion flux in the downstream direction is revealed, indicating ideal ion acceleration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The changing climate during the Cenozoic affected the diversity of plants in Patagonia, as species richness tends to increase during warm periods and decrease during cold periods. Precipitation is a significant factor shaping diversity, as shown in the case of central Chile during the Miocene. This study presents a reconstruction of the climate and vegetation in Tierra del Fuego Island, located approximately 52°S, using fossil flora recovered from the Filaret Formation to understand the Miocene epoch, characterized by contrasting global climatic changes. Filaret flora comprises twenty‐seven morpho‐taxa, including nine Nothofagus species and other Gondwanan and Neotropical families, such as Atherospermataceae and Anacardiaceae, in agreement with a forest habitat. Leaf physiognomy climate reconstruction suggests microthermal conditions, with a mean annual temperature of 9.4–11°C and annual precipitation ranging from 985 to 1,130 mm. These conditions are warmer and wetter than the modern record of the area, with a MAT of 6°C and mean annual precipitation of 300 mm. As the Filaret fossil record suggests, the forest habitat under a microthermal climate is consistent with the global climatic reconstruction of the Early Miocene. This Miocene landscape on Tierra del Fuego was possible because the Andes could not rain‐shadow humid westerly winds by this timeframe. Key Points: During the Miocene, southernmost Patagonian had a warmer and wetter climate than today, as evidenced by leaf physiognomic analysisThe now‐day steppe region was occupied by Nothofagus forests during the Miocene, accompanied by other Gondwana and Neotropical taxaLandscape and climate reconstruction by the Miocene suggests the Andes could not rain‐shadow humid westerly winds in Tierra del Fuego [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: Metformin, a medicine used for the treatment of type 2 diabetes, was previously reported to suppress age-dependent hyperproliferation of intestinal stem cells in Drosophila. Here, we aimed to investigate its anti-aging effects on other tissues, such as adult muscle and elucidate the mechanisms underlying the anti-ageing effect. MATERIALS AND METHODS: To evaluate the anti-muscle ageing effect of Metformin, we visualized ubiquitinated protein aggregates accumulated in adult muscle as the flies age by immunostaining and measured the total pixel size of the aggregates. We altered gene expression in the muscle by induction of dsRNA against the relevant mRNAs or mRNAs encoding the constitutively active mutant proteins using the Gal4/UAS system. We determined the mRNA levels by quantitative Real Time-Polymerase Chain Reaction (QRTPCR). RESULTS: Continuous metformin feeding significantly extended the lifespan of Drosophila adults. Furthermore, the feeding suppressed the aging-dependent accumulation of ubiquitinated aggregates in adult muscle. To delineate the mechanism through which metformin influences the muscle aging phenotype, we induced the constitutively active AMPK specifically in the muscles and found that the activation of the AMPK-mediated pathway was sufficient for the anti-aging effect of Metformin. Furthermore, the AMPK-mediated downregulation of Tor-mediated pathways, subsequent induction of an eIF-4E inhibitor were involved in the effect. These genetic data suggested that the metformin effect is related to the partial suppression of protein synthesis in ribosomes. Furthermore, metformin stimulated autophagy induction in adult muscles. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that metformin can be regarded as an anti-aging compound in Drosophila muscle. The stimulation of autophagy was also involved in the anti-ageing effect, which delayed the progression of muscle aging in Drosophila adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Pregnancy and the postpartum period involve several physiological adaptations crucial for offspring care. Recent research has highlighted reproduction-related brain plasticity in human mothers. Associations with aspects of maternal caregiving suggest adaptive changes that facilitate a woman's transition to motherhood. However, the dynamic changes that affect a woman's brain are not merely adaptive, and they likely confer a vulnerability for the mental disorders. To elucidate the pathophysiology of psychiatric problems that occur during the perinatal period, gaining insights into the physiological changes in brain function due to pregnancy is crucial. Objectives: Although it has been hypothesized that pregnancy enhances social cognitive functions in mothers to adapt to the offspring care, there are few reports to support this hypothesis. This study aims to investigate whether social cognitive functions change during the first pregnancy, with a focus on maternal adaptation to offspring care. Methods: The study included a first pregnancy group and a never-pregnant control group. We conducted a prospective study comparing pregnant women between two-time points (T1, T2); at less than 21 weeks of gestation [T1] and those after 30 weeks of gestation [T2]. To assess the effects of pregnancy and gestational age (< 21 weeks or 30 weeks or more), both the control (never-pregnant) group and pregnant group were evaluated at two time points with similar intervals. The Emotion Recognition Task [ERT] of the Cambridge Neuropsychological Test Automated Battery (CANTAB) was performed to examine the emotion recognition of six basic emotions in facial expressions. We analyzed a cohort of 26 participants in the pregnant group and 25 in the control group. We performed a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance with pregnancy status and gestational period (T1, T2) as independent variables. Results: Significant interactions between group and time points (T1, T2) were observed only for Unbiased Hit Rate Anger (p<0.01); facial recognition accuracy for anger increased with the progression of pregnancy. There were no significant interactions for Unbiased Hit Rate Sadness, Happiness, Fear, Disgust, or Surprise. Conclusions: This is the first study to demonstrate that facial recognition of anger enhances with the progression of pregnancy, utilizing never-pregnant women as a never-pregnant control group. The results of this study contribute to the physiological effects of pregnancy on the brain and cognitive function and have potential for further study of perinatal mental health problems. Disclosure of Interest: None Declared [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A discharge plasma simulation based on a three-fluid model is generally utilized to understand the physical mechanism in a dielectric barrier discharge (DBD) plasma actuator. In this study, the influence of chemical reactions considered in a numerical model on the simulation results is investigated from the viewpoint of electrohydrodynamic (EHD) force generation in the DBD plasma actuator. Positive and negative streamers are simulated utilizing three types of models considering different reactions and species, and the investigation is conducted in two steps. In the first step, where the influence of the neutralization process is investigated, the electron recombination with a cluster ion (O4+) plays an important role; it contributes to the decrease in seed electron production and effective coefficient of ionization for the positive streamer, and the decrease in negative ion production for the negative streamer; as a result, the propagation length and EHD force generation decrease. In the second step, where the influence of the production process is investigated, the stepwise ionization from metastable states has little influence owing to quite low production rates. Therefore, the simulation results indicate that the numerical model needs to consider the electron recombination with O4+ to accurately predict the streamer propagation and EHD force generation, while it is unnecessary to take into account the metastable molecules. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]