Oligonol,a new lychee fruit‐derived low‐molecular form of polyphenol,enhances lipolysis in primary rat adipocytes through activation of the ERK1/2 pathway

The effect of Oligonol, a phenolic product from lychee fruit polyphenol (LFP) containing catechin‐type monomers and lower oligomers of proanthocyanidin, on lipolysis in primary adipocytes was investigated in order to examine the possible mechanism underlying the regulation of in vivo metabolism in fat. Oligonol significantly increased lipolysis, which was accompanied by both activation of extracellular signaling‐related kinase 1/2 (ERK1/2) and down‐regulation of perilipin protein expression, without an increase in intracellular cAMP production. The increase in lipolysis with Oligonol was prevented completely by pretreatment with either PD98059 or U0126, selective ERK1/2 inhibitors, which also prevented the reduction in the expression of perilipin protein. Tumor necrosis factor‐α also down‐regulated the expression of perilipin protein. However, there was no significant alteration in the expression of Gαi protein with Oligonol. These findings indicate that Oligonol enhances lipolysis in primary adipocytes, independent of cAMP production, but its effect is dependent on activation of the ERK1/2 pathway, leading to down‐regulation of perilipin protein expression. Copyright © 2009 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Association between board-certified physiatrist involvement and functional outcomes in sarcopenic dysphagia patients: a retrospective cohort study of the Japanese Sarcopenic Dysphagia Database

Objective: Dysphagia rehabilitation is an important area in geriatric nutrition due to the commonality of sarcopenic dysphagia in older adults. However, there have been no reports on the efficacy of treatment by board-certified physiatrists (BCP) in patients with sarcopenic dysphagia. This study therefore aimed to investigate whether intervention by board-certified physiatrists affects the functional prognosis of patients with sarcopenic dysphagia.Materials and Methods: Of 467 patients enrolled in the Japanese Sarcopenic Dysphagia database between November 2019 and March 2021, 433 met the study eligibility criteria. The patients were divided into two groups based on whether or not they received intervention by a BCP. The clinical characteristics and outcomes of the two groups were compared. Statistical analyses were performed by inverse probability weighting (IPW).Results: BCPs were involved in the management of 57.0% of patients with sarcopenic dysphagia. These patients had a significantly higher increase in the Barthel index both before and after IPW correction than those not managed by a BCP (P=0.001 and P=0.016, respectively). However, sarcopenic dysphagia significantly improved in the non-BCP group before IPW correction (P<0.001), although there was no significant difference after IPW correction (P=0.301).Conclusion: BCP management was significantly associated with higher activities of daily living (ADL), but not with an improvement in sarcopenic dysphagia. To provide and manage effective rehabilitation, it is necessary to familiarize patients with the management and training of sarcopenic dysphagia rehabilitation for BCP in order to cope in regions with few rehabilitation units.     

Differentiation to myeloid cells of lymphoblastoid cells established from myelomonocytic leukemia

Summary It has been previously reported that a lymphoblastoid cell line (Mono-1) established from the peripheral blood of a patient with acute myelomonocytic leukemia (AMML) consisted of reticulum cells, possessing properties that were more characteristic of monocytes and macrophages than those which are traditionally attributed to lymphocytes. These cells (Mono-1-207) exhibit myeloid cell properties when cultured in arginine-deficient medium and after treatment with DNA synthetic inhibitors. A comparison has been made with lymphoblastoid cell lines derived from other types of disease.During culture in arginine-deficient condition, decreased DNA synthesis is accompanied by the appearance, at 48 h, of perinuclear pink cytoplasmic blushes; nuclear lobulation had developed by about the fifth day. At 12–14 days, the cytoplasmic granules developed from blushes could not be distinguished from azurophilic granules. Electron microscopy indicated that these granules were due to the development of lysosomes in which acid phosphatase was strongly present but which lacked any peroxidase activity. Mono-1-207 also has phagocytic activity. It is considered that the induction of differentiation of these cells in response to DNA synthesis by arginine-deficiency is related to possession of the characteristics described: they are hemopoietic precursor cells, and differentiate to myeloid cells.This work was supported by a cancer research grant 51101 and 52004 from Kawasaki Medical School.     

Rehabilitation Nutrition for Iatrogenic Sarcopenia and Sarcopenic Dysphagia

The journal of nutrition, health & aging - Sarcopenia is a very important issue in rehabilitation medicine and nutritional care. The prevalence of sarcopenia in older people is approximately...     

Pneumolabyrinth in perilymphatic fistula: report of three cases

In three patients with perilymphatic fistula, exploratory tympanotomy revealed air bubbles emerging through the ruptured round window membrane. Review of the literature disclosed three case reports in which air was demonstrated in the labyrinth in association with perilymphatic fistula. Experimental evidence that air could enter the labyrinth through a defect of the round window membrane was described in two articles. In our patients, the perilymphatic fistula was produced by implosive force. When a perilymphatic fistula was produced by implosive force, or in the case of a pre-existing perilymphatic fistula, we assume, air may enter the scala tympani through the defect of the round window membrane if the middle ear pressure rises beyond a certain limit. Sudden onset of deafness and reversibility of hearing in perilymphatic fistula could be attributable to the presence of air bubble in the scala tympani--pneumolabyrinth--which might disturb propagation of the traveling wave of the basilar membrane.