The high prevalence of obesity has become a pressing global public health problem and there exists a strong association between increased BMI and mortality at a BMI of 25 kg/m 2 or higher. The prevalence of obesity is higher among middle-aged adults than among younger groups and the combination of aging and obesity exacerbate systemic inflammation. Increased inflammatory cytokines such as interleukin 6 and tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNFα) are hallmarks of obesity, and promote the secretion of hepatic C-reactive protein (CRP) which further induces systematic inflammation. The neuropeptide oxytocin has been shown to have anti-obesity and anti-inflammation effects, and also suppress sweet-tasting carbohydrate consumption in mammals. Previously, we have shown that the Japanese herbal medicine Kamikihito (KKT), which is used to treat neuropsychological stress disorders in Japan, functions as an oxytocin receptors agonist. In the present study, we further investigated the effect of KKT on body weight (BW), food intake, inflammation, and sweet preferences in middle-aged obese mice. KKT oral administration for 12 days decreased the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines in the liver, and the plasma CRP and TNFα levels in obese mice. The effect of KKT administration was found to be different between male and female mice. In the absence of sucrose, KKT administration decreased food intake only in male mice. However, while having access to a 30% sucrose solution, both BW and food intake was decreased by KKT administration in male and female mice; but sucrose intake was decreased in female mice alone. In addition, KKT administration decreased sucrose intake in oxytocin deficient lean mice, but not in the WT lean mice. The present study demonstrates that KKT ameliorates chronic inflammation, which is strongly associated with aging and obesity, and decreases food intake in male mice as well as sucrose intake in female mice; in an oxytocin receptor dependent manner.
Frailty is defined as an age-related decline in physiological reserve and increased vulnerability to stress. As frailty is a multifaceted condition, there is no effective pharmacotherapy for it yet. Ninjin’yoeito (NYT) and Kamikihito (KKT), traditional Japanese medicines (Kampo medicines), are promising in treating multifaceted conditions of frailty including fatigue and mental anxiety. However, their effects are still unclear. In this study, the effects of NYT and KKT on different types of frailty in naturally aged mice were explored by survival, physical aspects (Frailty Assessment Scores and muscle strength measurements), psychological aspects (sucrose splash test for motivation-related behavior), and social aspects (rescue-like behavior test for prosocial behavior). Mice aged 22-months were fed a diet containing 3% NYT or 3%KKT for 13 weeks until the age of 25 months. Behavioral alterations in old mice were compared with those in adult mice (five months old). Throughout the study period, Old-control mice showed frailty-like symptoms, including elevation of frailty assessment score, reduction of muscle strength and motivation for self-care, and rescue-like behavior compared to adult mice. NYT increased the survival rate of old mice and suppressed the declines in their frailty assessment score, muscle strength, and motivation for self-care. KKT reduced decreases in the frailty assessment score, motivation for self-care, and rescue-like behavior in old mice. These results suggest that NYT and KKT alleviate general frailty-like symptoms in old mice. Additionally, NYT may extend lifespan. These findings suggest that NYT and KKT may be helpful for improving the multifaceted symptoms of frailty.
This paper, we examined the technology to maximize the use of renewable energy. The passive ventilation system is expected to reduce the energy consumption of the fan power and the maintenance burden. In addition, the wall-mounted solar air heater can supply thermal energy without using any energy at all. Therefore, we propose a "passive ventilation system with a solar air heater" that combines a passive ventilation system with solar air heater to preheat the air supply and reduce the ventilation load. To evaluate the solar air heater performance in a real environment, we developed a simulation for calculating the heat collection capacity of the solar air heater, and then implemented the system in a real building for verification. Based on the measurement results, the effects of heating load reduction and prediction methods are presented.
Abstract Oxaliplatin, a widely used chemotherapeutic agent, induces peripheral neuropathy that manifests itself as two distinct phases: acute cold hyperesthesia and chronic peripheral hypoesthesia/dysesthesia. The latter is a serious dose-limiting side effect that can often lead to withdrawal of treatment. We have developed a rat model expressing both phases and used the model to investigate the action of goshajinkigan (GJG), a traditional Japanese herbal medicine, which was reported to ameliorate oxaliplatin-induced neuropathy in a placebo-controlled double-blind randomized phase II study. In this study, neuropathy was induced by injection of oxaliplatin twice weekly for 8 wks. The maximum level of cold hyperesthesia was observed at 4 wks with heat hypoesthesia developing later. Microscopy studies revealed atrophy of axons of myelinated sciatic nerve fibers in oxaliplatin-treated rats at 8 wks. Co-administration of GJG ameliorated both abnormal sensations as well as histological damage to the sciatic nerve. A pharmacokinetic study revealed numerous neuroprotective components of GJG that are rapidly absorbed into the blood. GJG and some of its components attenuated the generation of oxaliplatin-induced reactive oxygen species, which is a possible mechanism of oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity. The present study provides a useful animal model for oxaliplatin-induced neurotoxicity as well as a promising prophylactic agent.
Development of materials for electrochemical energy conversion requires a deep understanding of the factors governing chemical and physical rates at submicron length scales. Many workers have sought to develop chemically sensitive in situ or operando imaging techniques targeting these length scales. However, current methods focus on steady-state or stepwise response. To probe electrode processes both spatially and temporally, we have developed a frequency-resolved implementation of X-ray absorption imaging (FR-XAS) that can measure local electrochemical response in operando during a global sinusoidal impedance measurement. Frequency-resolved 1-D images of the oxygen vacancy distribution in a thin film SOFC cathode material ($La_{1-x}Sr_xCoO_{3- \delta}$) reveal, for the first time experimentally, the defect concentrations associated with a Warburg and Gerischer impedance. Analysis of these images allows direct extraction of diffusion and kinetic rate parameters, independent of the global impedance.
In this paper, the authors examined the technology to maximize the use of renewable energy. Passive ventilation systems are expected to reduce the energy consumption of the fan and the maintenance burden. In addition, the wall-mounted solar air heater can supply thermal energy without using any energy at all. Therefore, this paper presents a “passive ventilation system with a solar air heater” that combines a passive ventilation system with the solar air heater to preheat the air. This system can reduce the ventilation load. To evaluate the solar air heater performance in a real environment, we developed a simulation for calculating the heat collection capacity of the solar air heater, and then the system was implemented in a real building for verification. The simulation performs hourly unsteady calculations, allowing for accurate evaluation of the annual simulation. Based on the measurement results, the effects of heating load reduction and prediction methods are presented. The solar air heater reduced the monthly ventilation load by up to 50% or more, and by at least 15%. It was also confirmed that there was a high correlation between the actual measurements and the simulation results.
Abstract Rehabilitative training incorporating forced limb use (FLU) following intracerebral hemorrhagic stroke (ICH) enhances functional recovery of skilled reaching in rats. Given that Ninjin'yoeito (NYT) influences both cerebral and muscular systems, this study aimed to investigate whether the combined application of FLU and NYT could yield superior functional recovery compared to FLU alone. The ICH model was established by collagenase injection, and the subject was administered FLU from day 1 after ICH (D1) for 7 days and 1% NYT chow until D56. The combination of FLU and NYT resulted in significantly enhanced functional recovery in motor deficit scores at D28 and D56 compared with ICH only, although the score was comparable to that of the FLU group. The combination group exhibited increased total walking distance and a higher number of center entrances in the open-field test at D28. Retrograde labeling of corticospinal neurons after ICH with FluoroGold (FG) revealed no significant increase in FG-positive cells in the cortex of the combination group compared to the FLU group. Anterograde labeling with biotinylated dextran amine demonstrated increased bouton-like varicosities in the red nucleus, similar to that in the FLU group, although NYT alone did not increase the number of positive cells. Specific atrophy of MHC IIb-positive muscles after ICH was mitigated in the combination group, although no significant changes were observed in either the FLU or NYT groups. These findings indicate that the combination of FLU and NYT contributes to the functional recovery of FLU following ICH, mitigating atrophy of fast-twitch muscles.
Oxaliplatin-induced peripheral neuropathy (OIPN) occurs at extraordinarily high frequency, but no effective treatment for this disorder has been established. Goshajinkigan (GJG), a traditional Japanese medicine known as Kampo, is known to reduce OIPN in both basic and clinical studies. However, its molecular mechanisms remain largely unknown. Here, we elucidate the mechanisms underlying the therapeutic effects of GJG against OIPN and the therapeutic benefits of combining GJG with bushi, a herbal medicine derived from the processed Aconiti tuber. Oxaliplatin (4 mg/kg) was injected into mice twice a week for up to 4 and 3 weeks, respectively. OIPN was assessed using pain behavioral tests, such as those testing cold hypersensitivity, thermal hyperalgesia, and mechanical allodynia, as well as a reduction of the current perception threshold (CPT). GJG (0.3 or 1 g/kg) and bushi (0.1 or 0.3 g/kg) were orally administered 5 times a week for 4 weeks. Behavioral analysis was performed 24 h after the final dose. Oxaliplatin induced cold hypersensitivity and mechanical allodynia but not thermal hyperalgesia and reduced CPT of Aδ- and Aβ-fibers but not C-fibers. All these effects were counteracted by GJG. Bushi, an ingredient of GJG that shows analgesic effect, reduced oxaliplatin-induced cold hypersensitivity but had no effect on oxaliplatin-induced mechanical allodynia. However, bushi significantly accentuated the effects of GJG when co-administered with GJG. GJG reduces OIPN by counteracting the sensitization of Aδ- and Aβ-fibers and shows analgesic effects against cold hypersensitivity and mechanical allodynia. These effects are potentiated by bushi. The combination of GJG with bushi has high potential for preventing OIPN.
