Effects of Lutein and Astaxanthin Intake on the Improvement of Cognitive Functions among Healthy Adults: A Systematic Review of Randomized Controlled Trials.

BACKGROUND: Fruits and vegetables are generally rich in antioxidants such as carotenoids. Consumption of carotenoids is expected to have benefits on cognitive functions in humans. However, previous randomized controlled trials (RCT) using carotenoids have reported inconsistent results. Therefore, this systematic review (SR) aimed to summarize the effect of carotenoid intake on cognitive functions in humans. METHOD: PubMed, Cochrane Library, Web of Science, and PsychoINFO were searched for research papers on carotenoid intake with the criteria that 1) oral carotenoid intake was evaluated using RCTs, 2) participants were healthy young, middle-aged, or older, and 3) cognitive functions were measured using RCTs. RESULTS: Five studies using lutein and two studies using astaxanthin met the inclusion criteria. Consumption of lutein and its isomer showed consistent results in selective improvement of visual episodic memory in young and middle-aged adults while inhibition was observed in middle-aged and older adults. One of the two included astaxanthin studies reported a significant improvement of verbal episodic memory performance in middle-aged adults. CONCLUSION: This SR showed that the 10 mg lutein per day for twelve months can lead to improvement of cognitive functions. Due to the small number of studies, it is difficult to conclude whether astaxanthin would have a positive effect on cognitive functions.

Oral administration of Japanese sake yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae sake) promotes non-rapid eye movement sleep in mice via adenosine A2A receptors.

We have demonstrated previously that Japanese sake yeast improves sleep quality in humans. In the present study, we examined the molecular mechanisms of sake yeast to induce sleep by monitoring locomotor activity, electromyogram and electroencephalogram in mice. Oral administration of Japanese sake yeast (100, 200, and 300 mg kg-1 ) decreased the locomotor activity by 18, 46 and 59% and increased the amount of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep by 1.5-, 2.3- and 2.4-fold (to 37 ± 6, 57 ± 8, and 60 ± 4 min from 25 ± 6 min in the vehicle-administered group, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner for 4 h after oral administration. However, Japanese sake yeast did not change the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the electroencephalogram power density during NREM sleep or show any adverse effects, such as rebound of insomnia, during 24 h postadministration and on the next day. An intraperitoneal pretreatment with an adenosine A2A receptor-selective antagonist, ZM241385 (15 mg kg-1 ), reduced the amount of NREM sleep of sake yeast-administered mice to the basal level, without changing basal amount of sleep. Conversely, an A1 receptor-selective antagonist, 8-cyclopentyltheophylline (10 mg kg-1 ), did not affect the sleep-promoting effect of Japanese sake yeast. Thus, Japanese sake yeast promotes NREM sleep via activation of adenosine A2A but not A1 receptors.

Japanese sake yeast supplementation improves the quality of sleep: a double-blind randomised controlled clinical trial.

Activation of adenosine A2a receptors in cerebral neurons induces sleep in various mammals. It was previously found that Japanese sake yeast enriched in adenosine analogues activates A2a receptors in vitro and induces sleep in mice. Here it is reported that sake yeast activated A2a receptors in a cultured human cell line and improved human sleep quality in a clinical trial. Sake yeast activated A2a receptors in HEK cells in a dose-dependent manner with an EC50 of 40 µg mL(-1), and the activation was attenuated almost completely by the A2a receptor antagonist ZM241385 with an IC50 of 73 nm. In a double-blind placebo-controlled crossover clinical study, 68 healthy participants ingested tablets containing either 500 mg of sake yeast powder or a placebo (cellulose) 1 h before sleep for 4 days. Electroencephalograms were recorded during sleep at home with a portable device for 4 week days. Electroencephalogram analyses revealed that sake yeast supplementation significantly (P = 0.03) increased delta power during the first cycle of slow-wave sleep by 110%, without changing other sleep parameters. Sake yeast supplementation also significantly increased growth hormone secretion in the urine on awakening by 137% from 3.17 ± 0.41 (placebo) to 4.33 ± 0.62 (sake yeast) pg mg(-1) creatinine (P = 0.03). Subjective sleepiness (P = 0.02) and fatigue (P = 0.06) in the morning were improved by sake yeast. Given these benefits and the absence of adverse effects during the study period, it was concluded that sake yeast supplementation is an effective and safe way to support daily high-quality, deep sleep.

Pyridone alkaloids from a marine-derived fungus, Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum, and their activities against azole-resistant Candida albicans.

Four new 4-hydroxy-2-pyridone alkaloids, didymellamides A-D (1-4), were isolated from the marine-derived fungus Stagonosporopsis cucurbitacearum. The structures of 1-4 were elucidated from spectroscopic data (NMR, MS, and IR), and the absolute configuration of 1 was determined by X-ray diffraction analysis. Didymellamide A (1) exhibited antifungal activity against azole-resistant Candida albicans.

Measurement of skin permeation/penetration of nanoparticles for their safety evaluation.

The aim of the present study was to quantitatively evaluate the skin permeation/penetration of nanomaterials and to consider their penetration pathway through skin. Firstly, penetration/permeation of a model fluorescent nanoparticle, Fluoresbrite®, was determined through intact rat skin and several damaged skins. Fluoresbrite® permeated through only needle-punctured skin. The permeation profiles of soluble high molecular compounds, fluorescein isothiocyanate-dextrans (FITC-dextrans, FDs), with different molecular weights were also measured for comparison. The effects of molecular sizes and different skin pretreatments on the skin barrier were determined on the skin penetration/permeation of Fluoresbrite® and FDs. Fluoresbrite® was not permeated the intact skin, but FDs were permeated the skin. The skin distribution of titanium dioxide and zinc oxide nanoparticles was also observed after topical application of commercial cosmetics. Nanoparticles in sunscreen cosmetics were easily distributed into the groove and hair follicles after their topical application, but seldom migrated from the groove or follicles to viable epidermis and dermis. The obtained results suggested that nanoparticles did not permeate intact skin, but permeated pore-created skin. No or little permeation was observed for these nanomaterials through the stratum corneum.

[Safety and skin penetration of nanoparticles].

Human beings are exposed or otherwise a subjected to a various chemical compounds. Various nanomaterials are contained in the chemical compounds which are used in many fields. Nanomaterials are also used in cosmetics: titanium dioxide and zinc oxide are examples. Consumers who apply cosmetics to their skin as well as workers at industrial plants may thus be exposed to these nanoparticles. Therefore, it is of great importance to evaluate the safety of these nanoparticles. In this review, we describe the possibility of nanoparticle penetration to skin following exposure, which makes it urgent to evaluate the safety factors. In general, it is necessary to take account of the desquamation rate of the stratum corneum and the permeation pathway and size of nanoparticles when considering such penetration. One layer of the human stratum corneum is peeled off per day. Therefore, a chemical compound of which the skin penetration is lower than the desquamation rate does not permeate through the skin, when the compound infiltrates the stratum corneum. Hence, compounds with a molecular weight of more than 500 Daltons do not permeate through the stratum corneum. However, we must also pay attention to the appendage routes, although the aforementioned layer is the primary permeation route of nanoparticles. The contribution of appendage routes must be taken into consideration.

[Use of temporary aortic balloon occlusion of the abdominal aorta was useful during cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta].

We describe the use of an abdominal aortic occlusion balloon catheter to control excessive blood loss at cesarean hysterectomy for placenta accreta. Prophylactic abdominal aortic occlusion balloon catheter was placed in the angiography suite under local anesthesia before surgery. The 38-year-old parturient was anesthetized with propofol, sevoflurane, ketamine, remifentanil and fentanyl under close monitoring and appropriate respiratory management. The occlusion balloon was inflated after the infant had been delivered, and bleeding at the placenta required cesarean hysterectomy. There was a sudden and dramatic reduction in blood loss, and hysterectomy was performed uneventfully. An aortic occlusion was sustained for 25 min. Intraoperative blood loss was 1,800 g, and 300 g of autologous blood and 4 units of red cell concentrates were transfused. The postoperative course was uneventful. The present case suggests that prophylactic insertion of an aortic occlusion balloon catheter seems to be a safe and an effective method in controlling anticipated bleeding for caesarean hysterectomy in a parturient with placenta accreta.

Permeation pathway of macromolecules and nanospheres through skin.

The permeation pathway of macromolecules and nanospheres through skin was evaluated using fluorescent isothiocyanate (FITC)-dextran (average MW, 4 kDa) (FD-4) and nanospheres (500 nm in diameter) in hairless rat abdominal skin and porcine ear skin as well as a three-dimensional cultured human skin model (cultured skin model). A low molecular hydrophilic compound, sodium fluorescein (FL) (MW, 376 Da), was used for comparison. FL penetrated the stratum corneum and permeated the viable epidermis of hairless rat skin, whereas less permeation of FL was observed through the cultured skin model, suggesting that the primary permeation pathway for the hydrophilic material may be skin appendages through the rat skin. A macromolecular compound, FD-4, was distributed through the hair follicles of the rat skin. In addition, nanospheres were detected in the hair follicles of porcine skin, although no skin permeation was detected. These findings suggest that appendage routes such as hair follicles can be a penetration pathway of macromolecules and nanospheres through skin.

Safety evaluation of titanium dioxide nanoparticles by their absorption and elimination profiles.

If titanium dioxide nanoparticles are inert and non-biodegradable, they must be evaluated similarly to fullerenes, carbon nanotubes and asbestos. We surveyed the titanium level in typical raw food materials, and then intravenously injected titanium dioxide nanoparticles (primary particle diameter: 15 nm; secondary particle size: 220 nm) in mice and determined their tissue distribution and elimination. As a result, an unexpectedly high titanium concentration was observed in several foods. It was also detected in blood and tissues of healthy mice without administration of titanium dioxide nanoparticles. Then, forced i.v. injection of the nanoparticles was performed in mice. The titanim level was significantly increased in blood and tissues, but no increase was found in the brain after i.v. injection. Most titanium was concentrated in the liver after injection, but the liver level decreased over time (ca. 30% decrease in 1 month). These data show that titanium must be eliminated from the body, and suggest that we should reconsider an evaluation method for toxicity of titanium dioxide nanoparticles.

Left ventricular geometry and myocardial contractility in patients with essential hypertension evaluated by myocardial velocity profile.

BACKGROUND: Left ventricular (LV) systolic function in the hypertensive heart has been evaluated considering geometric differences. The maximal systolic myocardial velocity gradient (Gmax) obtained from myocardial velocity profile can evaluate regional myocardial contractility. The purpose of this study was to assess LV myocardial contractility in the hypertensive heart using Gmax regarding geometric differences. METHODS: The study included 93 patients with essential hypertension. Gmax was correlated with relative wall thickness and LV mass index. LV myocardial contractility was assessed by classifying patients into normal geometry, concentric remodeling (CR), eccentric hypertrophy, and concentric hypertrophy (CH). RESULTS: Gmax has shown significant negative relationship with LV end-diastolic dimension. LV end-diastolic dimension in CH and eccentric hypertrophy groups was significantly greater than that in normal geometry and CR groups (CH vs CR, 4.9 vs 4.2 cm, P < .001). LV mass index was significantly greater in CH and eccentric hypertrophy groups than in the other groups (CH vs CR, 196 vs 122 g/m2, P < .001). Although there was no difference in relative wall thickness between CH and CR groups, Gmax was significantly smaller in CH than in CR group (1.8 vs 2.8 s(-1), P < .05). CONCLUSIONS: In patients with essential hypertension, LV myocardial contractility worsened corresponding to increase in LV dimension with similar wall thickness. Gmax obtained from myocardial velocity profile detected depressed myocardial contractility in patients with increased LV dimension.

Losartan improves regional left ventricular systolic and diastolic function in patients with hypertension: accurate evaluation using a newly developed color-coded tissue doppler imaging technique.

BACKGROUND: Angiotensin II receptor antagonists have recently been accepted as antihypertensive therapy. Tissue Doppler imaging (TDI) has been developed as a noninvasive tool to assess quantitatively regional myocardial motion abnormalities. This study was designed to determine whether our newly developed technique of color-coded TDI may be a useful means of quantifying the improvement in regional left ventricular (LV) myocardial contractility and relaxation after treatment with losartan in patients with hypertension. METHODS AND RESULTS: Losartan (50 to 100 mg) was administered for 6 months to 37 previously untreated patients with essential hypertension. Averaged myocardial velocity profiles (MVPs) for color-coded TDI were recorded in the ventricular septum and LV posterior wall before and after treatment. Peak myocardial velocities and peak myocardial velocity gradients (MVGs) in the LV walls were determined during systole and early diastole. The plasma concentration of transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 also was measured in all patients. Blood pressure and plasma TGF-beta1 level decreased after initiation of losartan therapy. The LV mass index and LV meridional end-systolic wall stress also decreased after treatment with losartan. LV geometry changed from a pattern consistent with concentric hypertrophy to normal geometry in 10 patients and to a pattern consistent with concentric remodeling in 5 patients, and from concentric remodeling to normal geometry in 5 patients after treatment with losartan. The ratio of early to late diastolic filling for the transmitral flow velocity increased after losartan treatment. The peak systolic and early diastolic myocardial velocities and MVGs in the ventricular septum and LV posterior wall increased after treatment with losartan, although the values 6 months after treatment with losartan were still lower than those in normal individuals. There were good correlations between changes in plasma TGF-beta1 level and changes in systolic and early diastolic MVGs 6 months after losartan. However, there were no significant correlations between changes in the systolic blood pressure and LV end-systolic wall stress and changes in the TDI parameters. CONCLUSION: Losartan improves regional LV function in patients with hypertension. Our newly developed averaged MVP and MVG measurements may be useful for accurately evaluating regional LV myocardial contractility and relaxation in these patients.