Effect of Inositol Hexaphosphate (IP6) on Serum Uric Acid in Hyperuricemic Subjects: a Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled, Crossover Study.

Inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), a food constituent with various health benefits, has been shown to suppress postprandial elevations of serum uric acid (SUA) levels in healthy adults by inhibiting purine nucleoside and base absorption. Here, we investigated the effect of repeated intake of IP6 on fasting SUA levels in hyperuricemic subjects. This randomized double-blind placebo-controlled crossover design study included 31 asymptomatic hyperuricemic subjects (fasting SUA level > 7.0 but <9.0 mg/dL). Subjects ingested placebo or IP6 drinks (600 mg twice daily) during two 2-week intervention periods with a 2-week washout period. The primary outcome was fasting SUA level; the secondary outcome was the urinary uric acid to creatinine ratio. Fasting SUA levels in the IP6 group were lower than those in the placebo group (p < 0.05). The urinary uric acid to creatinine ratio did not change between the placebo and IP6 groups (p > 0.05). This study showed that a 2-weeks supplementation period of 600 mg IP6 twice daily can improve fasting SUA levels in hyperuricemic subjects.

Prognostic significance of Wilms tumor 1 mRNA expression levels in peripheral blood and bone marrow in patients with myelodysplastic syndromes.

BACKGROUND: This present study was designed to follow up 82 patients among 115 MDS patients registered in study ODK-0801 for 5 years, to analyze the relationship between the WT1 mRNA expression level and prognosis. OBJECTIVE: This study aimed to investigate the clinical utility of WT1 mRNA expression levels. METHODS: After study ODK-0801, we investigated the conditions of the same patients once a year, including any clinical and laboratory findings supporting the diagnosis, and treatment among the living patients. RESULTS: When we assessed the survival time of 82 MDS patients by WT1 mRNA expression level, there were significant differences between the < 500 and ≥ 104 copies/µ g RNA groups and between the 500-104 and ≥ 104 copies/µ g RNA groups for BM levels (p < 0.01). Examination of the time of freedom from acute myeloid eukemia (AML) transformation indicated that a high WT1 mRNA expression level (> 104 copies/µ g RNA) was a strong prognostic factor for a short time to AML transformation. CONCLUSION: The results indicate that the tumorigenesis of MDS is likely to originate at the stem cell level, suggesting that the WT1 mRNA level measurement in the BM is an effective prognostic marker in patients with MDS.

Blood metabolomics analysis identifies abnormalities in the citric acid cycle, urea cycle, and amino acid metabolism in bipolar disorder.

BACKGROUND: Bipolar disorder (BD) is a severe and debilitating psychiatric disorder. However, the precise biological basis remains unknown, hampering the search for novel biomarkers. We performed a metabolomics analysis to discover novel peripheral biomarkers for BD. METHODS: We quantified serum levels of 116 metabolites in mood-stabilized male BD patients (n = 54) and age-matched male healthy controls (n = 39). RESULTS: After multivariate logistic regression, serum levels of pyruvate, N-acetylglutamic acid, α-ketoglutarate, and arginine were significantly higher in BD patients than in healthy controls. Conversely, serum levels of ß-alanine, and serine were significantly lower in BD patients than in healthy controls. Chronic (4-weeks) administration of lithium or valproic acid to adult male rats did not alter serum levels of pyruvate, N-acetylglutamic acid, ß-alanine, serine, or arginine, but lithium administration significantly increased serum levels of α-ketoglutarate. CONCLUSIONS: The metabolomics analysis demonstrated altered serum levels of pyruvate, N-acetylglutamic acid, ß-alanine, serine, and arginine in BD patients. GENERAL SIGNIFICANCE: The present findings suggest that abnormalities in the citric acid cycle, urea cycle, and amino acid metabolism play a role in the pathogenesis of BD.

Effect of cooked white rice with high ß-glucan barley on appetite and energy intake in healthy Japanese subjects: a randomized controlled trial.

White rice is a dominant grain-based food in Japan, but excess intake of polished rice may cause obesity. Barley is a grain-based food, similar to white rice, but it has the potential to control appetite and reduce energy intake. We investigated the effect of cooked white rice with high ß-glucan barley on appetite and energy intake. The study was conducted as a randomized crossover design with twenty-one healthy Japanese women [mean ± standard deviation body mass index (BMI) 23.3 ± 0.7 kg/m(2)]. Subjects consumed a breakfast of cooked white rice with high ß-glucan barley (BAR) or white rice (WR), followed by an ad libitum lunch and dinner. Energy intake was measured at the lunch and the dinner using plate waste. Subjects' perception scores on hunger, fullness, satiety, and prospective food consumption were assessed using a visual analogue scale (VAS) before and after the breakfast, lunch and dinner. BAR significantly reduced the VAS scores of hunger and prospective food consumption, and increased fullness before lunch compared to WR (P = 0.032, 0.019 and 0.038, respectively). Energy intake at lunch and the cumulative energy intake (lunch + dinner) subsequent to BAR consumption were significantly lower than WR (P = 0.035 and 0.021, respectively). BAR was able to modulate appetite and reduce energy intake. The combination of white rice with high ß-glucan barley could play a beneficial role in preventing and treating obesity and other obesity-related metabolic diseases.

The effects of Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 and appropriate physical training on salivary secretory IgA levels in elderly adults with low physical fitness: a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effects of Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 (b240) intake and appropriate physical training on salivary secretory immunoglobulin A secretion in elderly adults with low physical fitness. Elderly adults with low physical fitness (daily step count below 3,500 steps) were divided into 2 groups: a b240 intake + exercise group (b240 group) and a placebo intake + exercise group (placebo group). Each subject continued intake of b240 or placebo and moderate-intensity resistance exercise for 12 weeks. Before and 4, 8, and 12 weeks after the start of intervention, each subject underwent saliva sampling. Before and after intervention, physical fitness tests and step count were measured. Our results showed that secretory immunoglobulin A secretion in 57 subjects during the b240/placebo intake period was significantly greater in the b240 group than in the placebo group (p<0.05). There were no significant changes in physical fitness tests before and after intervention in the 2 groups. The daily amount of walking increased significantly after intervention in both groups (p<0.05). These results suggest that in elderly adults with low physical activity and fitness, intake of b240 with appropriate physical exercise elevate salivary secretory immunoglobulin A secretion.

Immunoprotective effects of oral intake of heat-killed Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 in elderly adults: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial.

Oral intake of Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 (b240) has been shown to enhance the secretion of salivary secretory IgA in elderly adults. However, its clinical benefits remain to be determined. We tested the hypothesis that b240 exerts a protective effect against the common cold in elderly adults. The design of the present study was a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled trial (RCT) with parallel three-group comparison. For this purpose, 300 eligible elderly adults were randomly allocated to one of three groups, namely a placebo, low-dose or high-dose b240 group. Participants in the low-dose and high-dose b240 groups were given tablets containing 2 × 10(9) or 2 × 10(10) cells, respectively, of heat-killed b240, while those in the placebo group were given tablets without b240. Each group consumed their respective tablets once daily for 20 weeks. The common cold was assessed on the basis of a diary. Change in quality of life was evaluated using the SF-36. Of the total participants, 280 completed the 20-week RCT. The accumulated incidence rate of the common cold was 47·3, 34·8 and 29·0 % for the placebo, low-dose b240 and high-dose b240 groups, respectively (P for trend = 0·012). Lower incidence rates were consistently observed throughout the experimental period in the b240 groups (log-rank test, P= 0·034). General health perception, as determined by the SF-36®, dose-dependently increased in the b240 groups ( P <0·025). In conclusion, oral intake of b240 significantly reduced the incidence rate of the common cold in elderly adults, indicating that b240 might be useful in improving resistance against infection through mucosal immunity.

Comparison of salivary IgA secretion rate collected by the aspiration method and swab method.

Salivary immunoglobulin A (IgA) is used as an immunity marker, as saliva can be easily collected, noninvasively with little stress. However, several saliva collection methods can be used. Our comparison between samples collected using different methods demonstrated that the salivary IgA secretion rate in samples collected using an aspiration method was significantly correlated with that in samples collected using a swab method. Moreover, the significant circadian variation in salivary IgA secretion rate in the aspirated saliva suggested that the aspiration method does not suppress salivary IgA secretion rate variability compared with the swab method. Therefore, the aspiration method should be considered as the preferable saliva collection method.

Differences in blast immunophenotypes among disease types in myelodysplastic syndromes: a multicenter validation study.

We conducted a multicenter, flow cytometry study to validate differences in immunophenotypes among disease types in melodysplastic syndromes (MDS). The data obtained from 115 patients were combined into three groups according to disease grade, i.e., low-grade MDS, refractory anemia with excess blasts, and acute leukemia transformed from MDS (AL-MDS). The data comparison showed that with the progression of disease grade, the immunophenotypes of CD34(+) myeloblasts were more immature, with an increase and a decrease in CD7 and CD15 expression, respectively, and the percentages of CD34(+) B-progenitors among total CD34(+) cells and the granularity of granulocytes decreased. Logistic regression analyses showed that, in addition to myeloblast percentages, the expression of CD7 and B7-H1 on myeloblasts was independently associated with AL-MDS patients.

Oral intake of Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 accelerates salivary immunoglobulin A secretion in the elderly: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind trial.

BACKGROUND: Immunoglobulin A (IgA) secretion in saliva decreases with age and may be the cause of increased vulnerability of the elderly to respiratory infections. The effect of oral intake of lactic acid bacteria on salivary secretory IgA (SIgA) in the elderly has not been reported. The objective of this study was to demonstrate the acceleration of salivary SIgA secretion by oral intake of Lactobacillus pentosus strain b240 (b240) in the elderly. RESULTS: A total of 80 healthy elderly individuals were randomly allocated to either an intervention (i.e., b240) or a control (i.e., placebo) group. The elderly individuals in the b240 group were given a sterile water beverage (125 mL) containing heat-killed b240 (4 × 109 cells), while those in the placebo group were given only a sterile water beverage (125 mL); both groups received their respective beverages once daily for 12 weeks. Saliva was collected before initiation of the study and every 2 weeks thereafter. Saliva flow rate and SIgA concentration were determined, and the SIgA secretion rate was calculated. The mean salivary SIgA secretion rate in the b240 group steadily increased until week 4 (exhibiting a 20% elevation relative to that at week 0), and then remained stable until week 12. Changes in SIgA secretion rate over the intervention period were significantly greater in the b240 group than in the placebo group. The treatment groups exhibited no significant differences in adverse events. CONCLUSIONS: Oral intake of L. pentosus strain b240 for 12 weeks significantly accelerated salivary SIgA secretion, thereby indicating its potential utility in the improvement of mucosal immunity and resistance against infection in the elderly.