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Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) is highly contagious and continues to spread worldwide. To avoid the spread of infection, it is important to control its transmission routes. However, as methods to prevent airborne infections are lacking, people are forced to take measures such as keeping distance from others or wearing masks. Here, we evaluate the antiviral activity of propylene glycol (PG), which is safe, odorless, and volatile. PG showed pronounced antiviral activity against the influenza virus (IAV) at concentrations above 55% in the liquid phase. Given its IAV inactivation mechanism, which involves increasing the fluidity of the viral membrane, PG is expected to have a broad effect on enveloped viruses. PG showed antiviral activity against SARS-CoV-2. We also developed a system to evaluate the antiviral effect of PG in spray and volatilized forms. PG was found to be effective against aerosol IAV in both forms; the effective PG concentration against IAV in the vapor phase was 87 ppmv (0.27 mg/L). These results demonstrate that PG is an effective means for viral inactivation in various situations for infection control. This technology is expected to control the spread of current and future infectious diseases capable of causing outbreaks and pandemics.

Background: This randomized controlled study was undertaken to investigate the efficacy of intravenous tranexamic acid (TXA) administration in reducing perioperative blood loss in patients undergoing medial open-wedge distal tibial tuberosity osteotomy (MOWDTO). It was hypothesized that TXA would reduce perioperative blood loss in MOWDTO. Methods: A total of 61 knees in 59 patients who underwent MOWDTO during the study period were randomly assigned to either of the groups with intravenous TXA administration (TXA group) or without TXA administration (Control group). In the TXA group, patients received 1000 mg of TXA intravenously before skin incision and 6 hours after the first dose. The primary outcomes was the volume of perioperative total blood loss which calculated using the blood volume and hemoglobin (Hb) drop. The Hb drop was calculated as the difference between preoperative Hb and postoperative Hb at day1,3,and 7. Results: The perioperative total blood loss was significantly lower in the TXA group (543±219 ml vs 880±268 ml, P < 0.001). The Hb drop were significantly lower at postoperative days 1, 3 and 7 in the TXA group than in the control group (Day 1: 1.28 ± 0.68 g/dl vs 1.91 ± 0.69 g/dl, P = 0.001; Day 3: 1.54 ± 0.66 g/dl vs 2.69 ± 1.00 g/dl, P < 0.001; Day 7: 1.74 ± 0.66 g/dl vs 2.83 ± 0.91 g/dl, P < 0.001). Conclusion: Intravenous TXA administration in MOWDTO could reduce the perioperative blood loss. Trial registration: The study was approved by the institutional review board. (Registered on 26/02/2019 Registration Number 3136). Level of Evidence: Level I, randomized controlled trial.

Luteolin, an abundant flavonoid in the leaves of Capsicum annuum, has antioxidant activity and is, thus, a key chemical for promoting plant residue utilization, especially for the development of healthcare products. We assessed the inhibitory effect of luteolin and its glycosides on osteoclastic differentiation in human cells and found that the differentiation was effectively inhibited at noncytotoxic concentrations. We also screened 47 varieties of C. annuum for the accumulation of luteolin and apigenin to determine the prevalence of luteolin in diverse cultivars and identify varieties with high and/or selective luteolin production. The glycosides of luteolin and apigenin were found in all the tested varieties, with luteolin predominant over apigenin in most varieties. The identification and characterization of highly productive varieties of C. annuum is expected to be beneficial for the effective development of useful luteolin-based products from plant residues.

To prevent the loss of grains in stored products due to pests, an alternative pest control technique to insecticide spraying is required. The use of natural materials for this purpose can be beneficial, and in this context, we screened 21 plants and found that an Iteaceae plant inhibited the growth of lepidopteran insect larvae. Accordingly, following purification and analysis of the plant extract from I. virginica leaves, allitol and d-allulose (psicose) were identified as growth inhibitors against larvae of the Mediterranean flour moth, Ephestia kuehniella Zeller (Lepidoptera: Pyralidae). The contents of allitol and d-allulose in I. virginica leaves were estimated to be 14.4 and 4.17 mg/g fr. wt, respectively, and their half-maximal effective concentration (EC50) values were 15.7 and 30.3 mg/g diet, respectively. Therefore, the growth inhibition activity in I. virginica leaves was mainly attributed to the presence of allitol. However, both compounds may be used in insecticidal reagents, and in particular, since the safety of d-allulose has already been confirmed, it could allow this pest management reagent to be directly mixed with stored-product foods.

Background The purpose of this study was to examine the status of cartilage repair by second-look arthroscopy following double-level osteotomy (DLO) performed for osteoarthritic knees with severe varus deformity. Methods Forty-seven consecutive knees in 33 patients who underwent DLO were included in the study. The surgical technique used was a minimally invasive DLO procedure combining lateral closed-wedge distal femoral and medial open-wedge high tibial osteotomies. In the second-look arthroscopic evaluation, the following grading system proposed by Koshino was adopted: Stage A, no repair; stage B, pink fibrous tissue with or without partial coverage with white fibrocartilage; and stage C, total coverage with cartilage. The findings corresponding to stage B or C were considered as repaired. Arthroscopic assessment was performed for each compartment. Clinical outcomes were evaluated using the validated outcome measures. Results The mean age at surgery was 62.8 ± 6.2 years (range: 45–75 years), and the mean time period from DLO to second-look arthroscopy was 17.1 ± 5.0 months (range: 12–33 months). Cartilage repair to some extent was identified in over 90% of the medial femoral and tibial condyles, and 12.8% of the patellar facet. As for clinical scores, both Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the International Knee Documentation Committee Subjective Knee Form (IKDC) subjective scores significantly improved after surgery (P Conclusions Evaluation of the present study subjects showed that DLO could induce cartilage repair in the majority of the affected femoral and tibial articular surfaces with significant clinical improvement. In the patellar facet, however, cartilage repair could be identified in only 12.8% of cases.

Purpose To compare the clinical utility of tibial tubercle-midepicondyle (TT-ME) and tibial tubercle-trochlear groove (TT-TG) distances in predicting the risk for recurrent instability after isolated MPFL reconstruction. Methods A consecutive series of patients with recurrent patellar dislocation who underwent isolated MPFL reconstruction made up the study population. The patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. In assessment of surgical outcome, the patient was deemed to exhibit “postoperative recurrent patellar instability” when ≥1 of the following 3 conditions was identified: redislocation, positive apprehension sign, and positive J-sign (manifestation of abnormal patellar tracking). As for radiological parameters for position of the tibial tubercle, TT-ME distance (transverse distance between the tibial tubercle and midpoint of the transepicondylar line) and TT-TG distance were measured on axial computed tomography images. The clinical utility as a factor to predict the outcome of MPFL reconstruction was compared between the 2 distances using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. In addition, various radiological indices potentially influencing the surgical outcome were subjected to multivariable logistic regression analysis. Results We examined 38 knees in 38 patients with a mean age at surgery of 17.6 years. Postoperative recurrent patellar instability was encountered in 8 of the 38 knees. The ROC curve analysis showed the TT-ME distance to be a significantly better indicator in predicting surgical outcome than the TT-TG distance (P = .001). The univariate analysis for radiological factors demonstrated that the TT-ME distance was significantly associated with postoperative recurrent patellar instability (odds ratio 1.42, P = .012) whereas all other factors including the TT-TG distance did not correlate with recurrent instability. The multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that only the TT-ME distance was significantly associated with recurrent instability (P = .035). Conclusions Analysis of our patient population undergoing isolated MPFL reconstruction showed that the TT-ME distance was a significantly better indicator than the TT-TG distance to predict the risk for recurrent instability after isolated MPFL reconstruction performed for patellar instability. Level of Evidence Level IV, therapeutic case series.

The purpose of this study was to examine the radiological features of hinge fracture occurring at the distal medial femoral cortex in knees undergoing biplanar lateral closed-wedge distal femoral osteotomy (LCW-DFO) in double-level osteotomy (DLO) based on pre- and postoperative CT image analyses. It was hypothesised that medial hinge fractures in LCW-DFO would occur with a similar incidence to that in high tibial osteotomy, and its occurrence would affect the clinical/radiological outcomes and induce unintended change in alignment depending on the fracture type (direction of the fracture). A consecutive series of 36 knees (31 patients) with primary varus osteoarthritis undergoing DLO comprised the study population. The mean age at surgery was 62.0 ± 5.9 years. Presence of hinge fracture was assessed on radiographs and CT images at 1 week. The fracture type was classified depending on the direction of the fracture line: crack propagation in line with the osteotomy (type 1) and fractures extending proximally (type 2) or distally (type 3) from the tip of the wedge. Computer-assisted assessments of bony limb alignment and bony geometry were conducted on a full-length weight-bearing radiograph and CT images using image analysis software. In addition, subjective clinical results were evaluated using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS). Radiological and clinical follow-up results at 1 and 2 years were compared to the preoperative data, while comparative analysis was made between the subjects with and without a hinge fracture. Postoperative image examinations revealed type 1 and 2 medial femoral hinge fractures in 4 and 7 knees, while no type 3 fracture was identified in the study population. Consequently, the overall incidence of the hinge fracture was 30.6% (11 of the 36 knees). Four of those 11 fractures (36.4%) could not be detected on plain radiographs. CT image analysis for three-dimensional bony geometry showed greater increase in internal rotation of the distal bony segment (increased femoral antetorsion by 9.5° on average) after surgery compared to the knees without a hinge fracture (P = 0.01). Clinical evaluation using the KOOS at 2 years showed no significant difference between the groups with and without hinge fractures. In LCW-DFO, medial femoral hinge fractures occurred in 30.6% of the cases. Knees with type 1 hinge fracture exhibited significantly greater increase in femoral antetorsion as compared to those without hinge fracture. In this case series, postoperative weight-bearing protocol was delayed for knees with hinge fracture. Consequently, surgical results were not affected by the occurrence of hinge fracture for up to 2 years. IV (case series)

Background: In previous studies examining the relationship between graft size and failure rate after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR), graft size was determined as diameter of the bone tunnel, and graft failure was defined as revision surgery. Consequently, the correlation between graft size and postoperative recurrent instability could not be assessed. Purpose: (1) To intraoperatively measure the cross-sectional area (CSA) of the hamstring tendon (HT) autograft and compare the CSA of the autograft with the bone tunnel and (2) to assess the effect of the graft CSA on postoperative graft failure among patients who underwent double-bundle ACLR. Study Design: Case-control study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: The study included 129 patients who underwent double-bundle ACLR using an HT autograft (mean ± SD age, 16.7 ± 1.7 years; all with a Tegner activity level ≥6). All patients had a minimum follow-up of 2 years. During surgery, the graft CSA was measured using an area micrometer, combining the anteromedial (AM) and posterolateral (PL) grafts. The total area of the bone tunnel was defined as the combined CSAs of the AM and PL tunnels as calculated by the diameter of the drill. The relationship between the CSAs of the combined HT graft and the bone tunnel was statistically compared, as was the relationship between graft CSAs and graft failure, defined as reinjury, recurrent instability manifested as quantitative laxity measurement, or revision ACLR. Results: The CSAs of the midsubstance of the combined AM and PL graft significantly correlated with those of the bone tunnels (femoral side, R 2 = 0.334, P < .0001; tibial side, R 2 = 0.421, P < .0001). As for the relationship between the graft CSA and ACLR failure, there was no significant difference in the graft CSAs between the groups with and without graft failure in any of the failure criteria ( P = .188). Conclusion: The graft CSA was not a predictor of early failure after double-bundle ACLR using an HT autograft in this patient population.

Green tea catechin ingestion or gargling exhibit anti-viral activity against upper respiratory infection. We hypothesized that retention in the oral cavity could improve the anti-viral effects of catechins. The present study investigated the oral retention of catechins in humans and the effect of catechin beverage viscosity on oral retention. Two intervention studies with different test beverages, beverage-C (40 mL, containing 73.4 mg of catechins) and beverage-XT (40 mL, beverage-C containing 100 mg xanthan gum) were conducted in 20 healthy volunteers (mean age 38.7 years). Catechin concentrations were measured in buccal mucosa samples collected at 10 min, 40 min, and 60 min after ingesting test beverages, and the catechin variability of the tissue after intake was compared between test beverages. As a result, the mean (SEM) concentrations of EGCG were 99.9 (27.2), 58.2 (16.6), and 22.3 (5.7) ng/mg-mucosa at 10, 40, and 60 min, respectively, after ingestion of beverage-XT. Similarly, the catechin concentrations were 86.1 (20.3), 32.2 (5.3), and 27.8 (5.9) ng/mg-mucosa after ingestion of beverage-C. The total retention volume over 60 min tended to be slightly higher after ingestion of beverage-XT, though the difference was not statistically significant. Additional studies are needed to confirm the effect of xanthan gum on improving oral retention of catechins.

The purpose of this study was to examine the results of meniscal repair performed for symptomatic degenerative medial meniscal tears. Twenty-four knees in 24 patients with symptomatic degenerative medial meniscal tears (mostly complex horizontal tears) who underwent isolated arthroscopic repair combined with autologous fibrin clot implantation were included in this study. The patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years. The overall clinical outcome was evaluated using the Lysholm score, while the activity level was graded on the Tegner Activity Scale. The assessment of healing status at the repair site was based on clinical signs/symptoms and follow-up MRI examination results. In addition, the effects of the patient’s clinical and radiological factors on healing of the repaired menisci were analyzed. The mean age of the study subjects was 47.0 ± 8.1 years with a mean follow-up period of 39.3 ± 11.6 months. The Lysholm score significantly improved after surgery (P

It is unclear whether double-level osteotomy (DLO) combining closed-wedge osteotomy in the distal femur and open-wedge osteotomy in the proximal tibia deformity can prevent change in leg length and excessive coronal inclination of the tibial articular surface in surgical correction of the severe varus knee. The purpose of this study was to examine the postoperative change in leg length as well as radiological and clinical outcomes following DLO compared with the results obtained from knees undergoing isolated open-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OW-HTO).In cases of severe varus knee deformity (hip-knee-ankle angle (HKA) 10°) 29 patients undergoing DLO and 35 patients undergoing OW-HTO were included. If the predicted mechanical medial proximal tibial angle (mMPTA) was 95° or greater or the wedge size was 15 mm or greater in the surgical simulation, then DLO was considered as the surgical of option. In cases where these criteria were not met, OW-HTO was selected. All patients were followed up for a minimum of 2 years.The changes in the length of the whole leg in the DLO and OW-HTO groups averaged 2.3 ± 4.8 mm and 9.3 ± 7.2 mm, respectively (P 0.001). mMPTA of more than 95° was found in no knee in the DLO group.This study showed that DLO could avoid leg length change and non-physiologic joint lines when performed in patients with varus HKA 10°, and the predicted mMPTA was 95° or greater or the wedge size was 15 mm or greater in the surgical simulation.

Background To the best of our knowledge, arthroscopic treatment for symptomatic mucoid degeneration of the posterior cruciate ligament in young athletes has not been reported before. Case presentation An 18-year-old Asian male college soccer player presented with a 3-month history of right knee pain without episodes of trauma. Despite conservative treatment over the preceding 3 months, his symptoms persisted. Physical examination of the right knee revealed full range of motion, though posterior knee pain was induced when the knee approached full flexion. On ligament examination, posterior sagging and Lachman test were negative, and no clinical finding indicative of ligament insufficiency was noted. Magnetic resonance imaging showed a diffusely thickened posterior cruciate ligament with increased signal intensity on the T2-weighted sequence. A few intact fibers were observed with continuous margin from origin to insertion. Based on the patient's history and the magnetic resonance imaging findings, we suspected mucoid degeneration of the posterior cruciate ligament as the cause of the patient’s symptoms. Since conservative treatment had failed to relieve the symptoms, arthroscopic treatment was indicated. Arthroscopic examination revealed yellowish crumbly tissues along the thickened posterior cruciate ligament. Tension and bulk of the posterior cruciate ligament were well preserved. Curettage of degenerative tissue and decompression of the posterior cruciate ligament resulted in symptom relief without instability of the knee joint. The patient returned to play at 3 months. At 12 months, postoperative magnetic resonance imaging showed no evidence of recurrence and indicated that the remaining posterior cruciate ligament was thicker than before the surgery. At 2 years follow-up, the patient remained asymptomatic and could play soccer at the same level as before the onset of pain. Conclusions Arthroscopic decompression of the posterior cruciate ligament may relieve knee pain and facilitate early return to play with good functional results.

Background Correction of coronal plane deformity by osteotomies around the knee is theoretically three-dimensional (3D) and can be associated with changes in other planes. It has been shown that 3D rotational changes are induced by biplanar high tibial osteotomy; however, relevant information in biplanar lateral closed-wedge distal femoral osteotomy (LCW-DFO) has not been reported in literatures. This study aimed to investigate rotational changes in axial and sagittal planes in LCW-DFO using computer-aided design (CAD) simulations. Methods LCW-DFO is composed of three cuts: one ascending cut and two transverse cuts. In the simulations, the following geometrical parameters were adopted as factors potentially influencing 3D changes occurring in the osteotomy. The ascending cut angle measured as the angle between the edge of the ascending cut and the edge of the transverse cut in the lateral view, and the ascending cut obliquity measured as the angle corresponding to anterior/posterior inclination of the ascending cut with reference to the posterior condylar tangent line in the axial view. In the analysis, the effects of these bony cut angles on associated rotational changes in the axial and sagittal planes (internal/external rotation and flexion/extension) were calculated. Variation of wedge size ranged from 2 to 8 mm. Results The degree of the ascending cut obliquity substantially correlated with associated change in the sagittal plane (extension/flexion) while inducing only minimal change in rotation in the axial plane (internal/external rotation). When the osteotomy was made without ascending cut obliquity, the change in knee extension/flexion was minimal for the conditions analyzed while coupled internal rotation of the distal bony segment was induced. Conclusions In biplanar LCW-DFO, the ascending cut angle substantially influenced the amount of internal rotation of the distal bony segment with little effect on flexion/extension angles. By contrast, ascending cut obliquity in the axial plane yields an effect on flexion/extension angles and little effect on internal rotation of the distal bony segment.

To examine the incidence of and risk factors for deep vein thrombosis (DVT) among different types of osteotomies around the knee. It was hypothesized that DVT would be detected at a substantial rate after the osteotomy, and there would be differences in the incidences among the different osteotomy procedures. Consecutive patients who underwent knee osteotomies for varus osteoarthritis and met the inclusion criteria were included in the study. Ultrasonographic evaluation was performed to detect DVT on bilateral whole leg at 1 month before and 7 days after surgery. Statistical comparison of the demographic and clinical parameters between the patients with and without DVT as well as multivariate analysis using logistic regression was conducted to identify risk factors related to the incidence of postoperative DVT. The study subjects comprised 159 knees in 135 patients with medial opening wedge high tibial osteotomy (MOW-HTO), 93 knees in 78 patients with lateral closed wedge high tibial osteotomy (LCW-HTO), and 74 knees in 54 patients with double level osteotomy (DLO). In the postoperative evaluation, DVT was detected in 19 of 159 knees (11.9%) in MOW-HTO, 21 of 93 knees (22.6%) in LCW-HTO, and 5 of 74 knees (6.8%) in DLO. The incidence of DVT was significantly higher after LCW-HTO than after MOW-HTO and DLO (p

Objective To examine the clinical and functional outcomes for a series of patients who underwent meniscal repair for isolated meniscal tears focusing the study population on athletes. Methods This study represents a case series of 46 athletes who underwent repair of isolated meniscal lesions of the knee from 2010 to 2015. Cases of discoid meniscal lesions and combined ligament injuries were excluded. The mean age of the patients was 22.9 years ranging from 12 to 50 years. Arthroscopic inside-out repair was primarily a procedure of option. For repair of tears with degeneration and inferior vascularity, autogenous fibrin clot was implanted to the repair site for healing enhancement. The mean follow-up period of all patients was 19.8 ± 6.8 months (range; 12 months–33 months). Results In total, 37 of 46 patients (80%) could go back to their original sports activities. During the follow-up period, re-tear was encountered in 4 of 46 knees (8.7%). No significant differences in clinical/functional outcomes and re-tear rate were detected between the medial and lateral meniscal repairs. Conclusion In our expanded repair indication for isolated meniscus repair for athletes, the rate of satisfactory return to sports was 91.3% in total (88.9% for the medial meniscus group; 92.9% for the lateral meniscus group). During the follow-up period ranging from 12 to 33 months (mean, 19.8 months), re-tear of the repaired site was encountered in 4 of the 46 knees (8.7%).

We hypothesized that patient treated with OWHTO who participate in high-impact sports would attain satisfactory outcome. The purpose of this study was to examine the clinical and radiological outcomes in a consecutive series of opening-wedge high tibial osteotomy (OWHTO) in highly active patients. Seventy-seven consecutive patients who underwent OWHTO with varus osteoarthritic knees were included in the study. The mean age of the study population was 56.1 years. All patients were followed for a minimum of 2 years. Clinical and radiological evaluations were performed at 12 and 24 months after surgery. The clinical results were evaluated using the Knee Injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS) and the International Knee Documentation Committee (IKDC) Subjective Score. In regards to radiological assessment, the following parameters were measured in full-length weightbearing radiographs both pre- and postoperatively; mechanical tibiofemoral angle (mTFA), mechanical lateral distal femoral angle (mLDFA), and weight bearing line (WBL) ratio. Fifty-eight patients (75.3%) returned to the same high-impact sports activities as before surgery, with a mean time to return of 8.7 ± 2.7 months (6–14 months). In the clinical assessments, the IKDC subjective score and KOOS both improved from the mean preoperative scores of 38.4 and 217.4 points to the mean postoperative scores of 74.5 and 421.6 points, respectively. The mean pre-symptomatic Tegner activity scale was 5.3 ± 0.6 and significantly decreased to 4.8 ± 1.2 at 2 years postoperative (p

Green tea consumption reduces influenza incidence in human populations. However, where and how green tea exerts its anti-viral activities remain unclear. Here, we examined the adsorption of green tea catechins on the pharyngeal mucosa at 3–60 min after ingestion of green tea extract (GTE) and the role this adsorption plays in preventing influenza A virus (IAV) infection in BALB/c mice. Green tea catechins were adsorbed on the pharyngeal mucosa for up to 60 min after GTE ingestion. The anti-IAV activity of GTE was dose dependent (p

Epidemiological studies suggest that green tea extracts (GTEs), including catechins such as epigallocatechin gallate and epicatechin gallate, have a beneficial effect on obesity, hyperglycemia, insulin resistance, endothelial dysfunction, and inflammation. Although several studies have shown that catechins directly modulate the cellular and molecular alterations in the liver tissue, the contributions of indirect mechanisms underlying these systemic effects of catechins remain unclear. In this study, we report that, in the C57BL/6J mouse liver, GTEs reduce high-fat diet-induced increases in the levels of hepatokines, liver-derived secretary proteins such as leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 and selenoprotein P production, which have been shown to induce systemic adverse effects, including several metabolic diseases. These findings suggest that the systemic effects of GTEs involve the regulation of hepatokine production as an indirect mechanism.

A novel amorphous solid dispersion (ASD) of poorly water-soluble nobiletin (Nob) with highly water-soluble methyl hesperidin (MeHes) was developed. Mixtures of Nob and excipients (MeHes, cellulose derivatives, and synthetic polymers) were processed by hot-melt extrusion (HME). Powder X-ray diffraction analysis proved that most of the HME products were fully amorphized. In dissolution studies, Nob-MeHes ASD showed a prominently higher Nob concentration than other HME products with polymeric excipients. Nob concentration upon dissolution of Nob-MeHes ASD was 400 and 7.5 times higher than that upon dissolution of crystalline Nob and a Nob-MeHes physical mixture, respectively. In addition, Nob-MeHes ASD showed good preservation stability for 6 months under an accelerated condition of 40 °C and 80% relative humidity. Permeation studies using a Caco-2 cell monolayer showed that Nob-MeHes ASD markedly increased the amount of Nob transported. In mice, the plasma Nob concentration and accumulated amount of Nob in various tissues drastically increased after administration of Nob-MeHes ASD. This is the first successful application of MeHes, with a relatively low glass-transition temperature, as an excipient for an ASD formulation prepared by hot-melt extrusion. The drastic improvement in Nob concentration with a small-molecule excipient may be an important finding.

1,2-Diacylglycerol with short chain fatty acids is an endogenous activator of protein kinase C (PKC), which involved in multiple cellular processes implicated in cancer. The aim of the present study was to assess the effects of dietary α-linolenic acid-rich diacylglycerol (ALA-DAG) oil on PKC activation in the rat digestive tract and lingual mucosa in comparison with the effects of α-linolenic acid-rich triacylglycerol (ALA-TAG) oil, and common dietary oil. Membranous PKC activity in the lingual mucosa of male Wistar rats was significantly activated by treatment of the tongue with 1,2-tetradecarnoylphorbol-13-acetate (100 μM) twice in 1 day. In contrast, animals consuming a diet containing either ALA-DAG oil (7.5% or 30%), ALA-TAG oil (7.5% or 30%), or rapeseed oil (30%) for 4 weeks exhibited no significant differences in the cytosolic and membrane PKC activity in the lingual, esophageal, gastric, small intestinal, and colonic mucosa. Dose-related increases in PKC activity were not observed in the ALA-DAG oil-fed groups. Thus, the effects of dietary ALA-DAG oil on PKC activation in the digestive tract and lingual mucosa was similar to those of the ALA-TAG and rapeseed oils. These findings suggest that replacement of common dietary oil with ALA-DAG oil would not increase the risk of carcinogenesis.

Muscle atrophy (loss of skeletal muscle mass) causes progressive deterioration of skeletal function. Recently, excessive intake of fats was suggested to induce insulin resistance, followed by muscle atrophy. Green tea extracts (GTEs), which contain polyphenols such as epigallocatechin gallate, have beneficial effects on obesity, hyperglycemia, and insulin resistance, but their effects against muscle atrophy are still unclear. Here, we found that GTEs prevented high-fat (HF) diet-induced muscle weight loss in senescence-accelerated mouse prone-8 (SAMP8), a murine model of senescence. SAMP8 mice were fed a control diet, an HF diet, or HF with 0.5% GTEs (HFGT) diet for 4 months. The HF diet induced muscle weight loss with aging (measured as quadriceps muscle weight), whereas GTEs prevented this loss. In HF diet-fed mice, blood glucose and plasma insulin concentrations increased in comparison with the control group, and these mice had insulin resistance as determined by homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). In these mice, serum concentrations of leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2), which is known to induce insulin resistance in skeletal muscle, were elevated, and insulin signaling in muscle, as determined by the phosphorylation levels of Akt and p70 S6 kinases, tended to be decreased. In HFGT diet-fed mice, these signs of insulin resistance and elevation of serum LECT2 were not observed. Although our study did not directly show the effect of serum LECT2 on muscle weight, insulin resistance examined using HOMA-IR indicated an intervention effect of serum LECT2 on muscle weight, as revealed by partial correlation analysis. Accordingly, GTEs might have beneficial effects on age-related and HF diet-induced muscle weight loss, which correlates with insulin resistance and is accompanied by a change in serum LECT2.

In this study, a driver model with the multiple regression and the neural network is constructed to analyze the relationship between the driver's control action and the information that includes data of vehicle behavior and environment. Using these models, effectiveness of the information to control the action of a driver is examined. To evaluate the intelligent driver support systems, Mental Work Load (MWL) model is constructed with the multiple regression and the neural network. MWL is expressed as Heart Rate Variability (HRV). Measured HRV data and calculated HRV data with MWL model show good agreement. Effectiveness of information is examined using the MWL model. From these results, it is shown that the analytical method with the driver's MWL can be used to assess and improve the intelligent driver support systems as the next stage of this research.

Dasatinib is a highly potent BCR-ABL kinase inhibitor with established efficacy and safety in imatinib-resistant or -intolerant patients with chronic myeloid leukemia (CML) and Philadelphia chromosome-positive acute lymphoblastic leukemia. In the global phase III DASISION trial in patients with newly diagnosed chronic phase CML (CML-CP), dasatinib was found to have an acceptable safety profile and demonstrated significantly faster and higher rates of complete cytogenetic response (CCyR) and major molecular response (MMR) compared with imatinib. Here, we report the results of a subset analysis of Japanese patients enrolled in the DASISION trial, showing safety and efficacy profiles generally consistent with patients enrolled worldwide, including higher response rates (CCyR, MMR) with dasatinib compared with imatinib and similar high rates of progression-free and overall survival with both therapies. However, the small sample size of the present study limits the strength of these conclusions, and further exploration is needed to confirm any differences observed in Japanese patients compared with the total treated population. These findings support the use of dasatinib 100 mg QD as a first-line treatment in Japanese patients with newly diagnosed CML-CP.