Establishment of combined analytical method to extract the genes of interest from transcriptome data.

Techniques for analyzing genome-wide expression profiles, such as the microarray technique and next-generation sequencers, have been developed. While these techniques can provide a lot of information about gene expression, selection of genes of interest is complicated because of excessive gene expression data. Thus, many researchers use statistical methods or fold change as screening tools for finding gene sets whose expression is altered between groups, which may result in the loss of important information. In the present study, we aimed to establish a combined method for selecting genes of interest with a small magnitude of alteration in gene expression by coupling with proteome analysis. We used hypercholesterolemic rats to examine the effects of a crude herbal drug on gene expression and proteome profiles. We could not select genes of interest by using standard methods. However, by coupling with proteome analysis, we found several effects of the crude herbal drug on gene expression. Our results suggest that this method would be useful in selecting gene sets with expressions that do not show a large magnitude of alteration.

Protective effects of coenzyme Q10 against angiotensin II-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells.

Angiotensin II is the major effector in the renin-angiotensin system, and angiotensin II-induced oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction are profoundly implicated in the pathogenesis of hypertension and cardiovascular disease. In the present study, we investigated the effect of an antioxidant reagent, coenzyme Q10, on angiotensin II-induced oxidative stress in human umbilical vein endothelial cells (HUVEC) to assess its potential usefulness for antioxidant therapy. Treatment of HUVEC with coenzyme Q10 (1-10µM) increased its intracellular levels in a concentration-dependent manner. Coenzyme Q10 (10µM) prevented the actions of angiotensin II (100nM): overproduction of reactive oxygen species, increases in expression of p22(phox) and Nox2 subunits of NADPH oxidase, and inhibition of insulin-induced nitric oxide production. In addition, coenzyme Q10 prevented angiotensin II-induced upregulation of intercellular adhesion molecule 1 (ICAM-1) and vascular cell adhesion molecule 1 (VCAM-1) in HUVEC, and inhibited their adhesion to U937 monocytic cells. Moreover, treatment of HUVEC with coenzyme Q10 effectively ameliorated angiotensin II-induced increases in expression of Nox2 subunit of NADPH oxidase, ICAM-1, and VCAM-1. These results provide the first in vitro evidence that coenzyme Q10 is an efficient antioxidant reagent to improve angiotensin II-induced oxidative stress and endothelial dysfunction, possibly relevant to the causes of cardiovascular disease.

[Effects of resistance training on physical fitness, muscle strength, and natural killer cell activity in female university students].

OBJECTIVES: The health benefits of resistance training for women have been well documented. However, few investigations have been reported on the immune responses to resistance training among young people. To determine the effects of resistance training on natural killer cell activity (NKCA) in young people, a study was conducted among healthy female university students. METHODS: The study was conducted with 22 healthy non athlete female university students (aged 19.8+/-1.3 years) who volunteered to participate in the study. Six women were assigned to exercise group (a) that carried out resistance training five or six times a week, another six women were assigned to exercise group (b) that carried out resistance training three or four times a week, and the remaining ten comprised, the control group (non exercise group). The exercise groups carried out resistance training for both the upper and lower parts of the body using ankle and wrist weights for 8 weeks. Blood samples were obtained at the onset of the study (before the start of any activity in the exercise groups) and at the conclusion of the training (8 weeks later) in order to determine NKCA. A physical fitness test and a muscle strength test were conducted on the subjects to assess the strength of the upper and lower parts of the body, muscular endurance, and flexibility. RESULTS: The mean NKCA at the conclusion of the training showed a significant increase in exercise group (b), even though there was no significant difference in NKCA in the non exercise group or in exercise group (a) between before and after the training. An improvement in physical fitness and muscle strength was observed in exercise group (a) and exercise group (b). CONCLUSIONS: This study showed that resistance training improved physical fitness, muscle strength, and NKCA in young female subjects. Regarding the effects of exercise frequency on NKCA, this study suggests that exercise carried out three of four times a week might be associated with an increase in NKCA.

[Relationship between lifestyle and hemorheology among university students--comparisons between females and males].

OBJECTIVES: To determine the relationship between lifestyle and hemorheology among young people, a study was conducted among healthy university students. Because few investigations have been reported on the relationship between lifestyle factors and hemorheology by gender in young people, we analyzed the effects of lifestyle on hemorheology by administering an assessment questionnaire and by measuring whole blood passage time using MC-FAN (Micro Channel array Flow ANalyzer) and hematological and blood biochemical variables for female and male university students. METHODS: The study was conducted with 40 healthy nonathlete subjects (20 females aged 19.9+/-1.3 years and 20 healthy males aged 20.6+/-1.4 years) who volunteered to participate in the study. The smoking, alcohol drinking, eating, and other habits of the subjects were investigated using a questionnaire. Blood was obtained to determine whole blood passage time and hematological and blood biochemical variables. RESULTS: The mean value of whole blood passage time was significantly shorter in females (43.4+/-5.2 sec/100 microl) than in males (58.2+/-13.6 sec/100 microl). The mean values of RBC, Hb, Ht, MCHC, Alb, TG, Cr, UA, K, Ca, Fe, AST and ALT were significantly lower in females than in males, and the mean value of HDL-C was significantly higher in females than in males. In females, Spearman's correlation coefficient showed a positive correlation between whole blood passage time and RBC, and a negative correlation between whole blood passage time and TG It also showed a positive correlation between whole blood passage time and Plt, and a negative correlation between whole blood passage time and Alb in males. Among the lifestyle factors, the mean value of whole blood passage time in females who consumed salt lightly was significantly longer than that in females who consumed salt moderately. The mean value of whole blood passage time in males who liked sweets was significantly longer than that in males who were neutral to sweets. CONCLUSIONS: The present study showed that whole blood passage time is shorter in females than in males for young people. This conforms to the pattern shown in previous studies which investigated blood passage time among the elderly and people in their prime of life. It is conceivable that females have a higher fluidity than males in all age brackets. Regarding the effects of lifestyle on hemorheology, the present study suggests that several lifestyle factors are related to whole blood passage time and their effects differ according to gender.

An antidepressant effect of Sho-ju-sen, a Japanese herbal medicine, assessed by learned helplessness model in mice.

The antidepressant effect of Sho-ju-sen, a Japanese herbal medicine composed of extracts of three herbs; kumazasa leaf (Sasa Kurinensis Makino et Sibata), Japanese red pine leaf (Pinus densiflora Sieb. et Zucc) and ginseng radix (Panax ginseng C.A. Meyer), was assessed using a learned helplessness model in mice. The learned helplessness was produced by presenting 120 unavoidable/inescapable shocks for 3 days to the mouse in a shuttle box, and the avoidance training was carried out on day 4. Compared with the control group given tap water, free consumption of Sho-ju-sen (1%, 3% and 10%) for 21 days resulted in a significant amelioration of the response rate at 1% and 3%, and both the response rate and % avoidance at 10%. Although Sho-ju-sen (10%) caused no significant effect following the 7-day intake, it ameliorated the response rate following the 14-day intake. The extract of Japanese red pine leaf, but not kumazasa leaf or ginseng radix, mildly improved the response rate. Learned helplessness was significantly and dose-dependently reduced by imipramine (10 and 30 mg/kg i.p.), while only mildly by diazepam (1 mg/kg p.o.). These results suggest that a long-term consumption of Sho-ju-sen is effective for the amelioration of depression, and the effectiveness is derived mainly from the extract of Japanese red pine leaf.