Finger Tapping Test for Assessing the Risk of Mild Cognitive Impairment.

Aim: A testing method for early diagnosis of Mild cognitive dementia (MCI) that can be easily applied in clinical practice was investigated in this study. We examined whether MCI risk can be determined through finger movements. Methods: Between 2013 and 2020, 1097 individuals were screened. After applying propensity-score matching to adjust for variability between the groups, 173 individuals each in the mild cognitive impairment and control groups were selected. Thereafter, differences between groups in mean values of parameters extracted from finger tap movements were determined using unpaired t-test and effect size. Furthermore, area under the curve, sensitivity, and specificity were calculated from the receiver operating characteristic curve for parameters with significant difference. Results: A significant difference was observed, especially in the number of taps in the MCI group compared with that in the control group (p < .001; 95% CI, -12.7 to -8.8; r = 0.51). A cut-off value of 30 taps was applied (sensitivity, 0.77; specificity, 0.67; AUC, 0.79). Significant differences were also observed in rhythm-related parameters. Conclusions: These parameters might be useful for capturing MCI risk. Finger taps are easily measured and may be suitable for screening large populations. This tool might be used as a supplemental method to increase the sensitivity of traditional cognitive tests.

Late-maturing cooking rice Sensyuraku has excellent properties, equivalent to sake rice, for high-quality sake brewing.

Low protein content and sufficient grain rigidity are desired properties for the rice used in high-quality sake brewing such as Daiginjo-shu (polishing ratio of the rice, less than 50%). Two kinds of rice, sake rice (SR) and cooking rice (CR), have been used for sake brewing. Compared with those of SR, analyses of CR for high-quality sake brewing using highly polished rice have been limited. Here we described the original screening of late-maturing CR Sensyuraku (SEN) as rice with low protein content and characterization of its properties for high-quality sake brewing. The protein content of SEN was lower than those of SR Gohyakumangoku (GOM) and CR Yukinosei (YUK), and its grain rigidity was higher than that of GOM. The excellent properties of SEN with respect to both water-adsorption and enzyme digestibility were confirmed using a Rapid Visco Analyzer (RVA). Further, we confirmed a clear taste of sake produced from SEN by sensory evaluation. Thus, SEN has excellent properties, equivalent to those of SR, for high-quality sake brewing.

Polishing properties of sake rice Koshitanrei for high-quality sake brewing.

The Japanese high-quality sake Daiginjo-shu is made from highly polished rice (polishing ratio, less than 50%). Here we showed that the sake rice Koshitanrei (KOS) has an excellent polishing property. Rice grains of KOS had the same lined white-core region as the sake rice Yamadanishiki (YAM). The grain rigidity/hardness of KOS was higher than that of the sake rice Gohyakumangoku (GOM). The loss ratio of KOS after high polishing by an industrial polishing machine was lower than that of GOM. Further, a clear taste of sake produced from KOS was confirmed by sensory evaluation.

Effects of angiotensin II receptor blockade on glucose metabolism via AMP-activated protein kinase in insulin-resistant hypertensive rats.

AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) mediates metabolic responses of muscle to exercise and is involved in improvement of insulin resistance by endurance exercise. Recent studies have suggested that the renin-angiotensin system (RAS) might negatively modulate insulin-mediated actions, but there has been little investigation of the correlation between RAS and AMPK. To determine the correlations between insulin resistance, the RAS, and AMPK, we performed glucose clamp studies using both insulin and 5-aminoimidazole-4-carboxamide 1-beta-D-ribofuranoside (AICAR) to investigate the effects of various hypotonics on insulin and AMPK sensitivities. Six-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats were divided into two groups: those fed a standard chow (SD) and those fed a fructose-rich chow (fructose-fed rats [FFRs]) for 6 weeks. FFRs were treated either with a vehicle or with valsartan or hydralazine for the last 2 weeks. We also performed Western blotting for AMPK, phospho-AMPK, and stimulating glucose transporter (GLUT)-4 proteins in each group. The glucose infusion rate for insulin (GIR(I)) was significantly lower in FFRs (10.5 +/- 1.8 mg/kg/min) than in SD (15.5 +/- 0.4 mg/kg/min), and GIR(I) was improved by valsartan (13.0 +/- 1.0 mg/kg/min) but not by hydralazine (8.3 +/- 1.6 mg/kg/min). The glucose infusion rate for AICAR (GIR(A)) in FFRs (11.1 +/- 2.2 mg/kg/min) was significantly lower than that in SD (15.5 +/- 2.8 mg/kg/min), and GIR(A) was improved by valsartan (17.5 +/- 3.1 mg/kg/min) but not by hydralazine in FFRs (11.8 +/- 1.5 mg/kg/min). Serum triglyceride level was significantly higher in FFRs; however, no difference was observed in serum triglyceride level after AICAR infusion among the groups. The amounts of AMPKalpha protein and the amounts of phospho-AMPK protein in the soleus muscle in basal conditions were not different among SD, FFRs, and FFRs treated with valsartan. There was no difference in the levels of phosphorylation of AMPK in the soleus muscle by AICAR among these three groups. No difference was observed in acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC) protein or phospho-ACC in both the basal condition and after AICAR infusion between SD and FFRs. Treatment with valsartan significantly increased GLUT-4 content of the soleus muscle compared with that in FFRs. These results suggest that the RAS has a significant role in the AMPK system and that impairment of response to AICAR in FFRs could be downstream of AMPK or ACC phosphorylation.

Synthesis and SAR of novel parenteral anti-pseudomonal cephalosporins: discovery of FR264205.

We describe herein the synthesis and biological evaluation of a series of novel cephalosporins with potent activity against Pseudomonas aeruginosa. Introduction of various amino groups to the 4-position of a 3-amino-2-methylpyrazole cephalosporin 3-side chain resulted in enhanced MIC values against multiple Pseudomonas aeruginosa strains and ultimately led to the discovery of FR264205 (15) with excellent anti-bacterial activity and weak convulsion effect by direct intracerebroventricular injection assay.

Electrogastrographic activity in patients who received proximal gastrectomy plus jejunal interposition or total gastrectomy plus jejunal interposition.

Electrogastrograms (EGGs) were recorded in patients both before and after receiving proximal gastrectomy plus jejunal interposition (PGJI) or just after receiving total gastrectomy plus jejunal interposition (TGJI). Intraluminal pressure was also recorded in some postoperative patients. The EGG 3 cpm component (2.5-4.9 cpm) remained after PGJI, but subsequently decreased with a significant reduction in the preoperative to postoperative ratio of the 3 cpm components (P<0.05). The mean frequency of the 3 cpm components increased significantly after PGJI (P<0.05) and its instability factor increased. The EGG 10 cpm components became relatively dominant compared to other frequency components in 2 out of 8 of patients having PGJI but the mean amplitude of 10 cpm decreased. In TGJI patients, only the 10 cpm component was conspicuous in EGG as in the case of total gastrectomy and Roux en Y anastomosis procedures. The spectral frequencies of intraluminal pressure in the interposed jejunum were similar to the EGG of 10 cpm components both in the case of PGJI and TGJI patients. In conclusion, surface EGG could record the electrical activities of the interposed jejunum more easily in patients having had TGJI than in PGJI.

Aberrant transcription of FHIT gene in intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinomas induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine in hamsters.

Aberrant transcription of the fragile histidine triad (FHIT) gene was investigated in intrahepatic cholangiocellular carcinomas (ICCs) induced by N-nitrosobis(2-oxopropyl)amine (BOP) in female Syrian golden hamsters. The animals received 70 mg/kg of BOP followed by repeated exposure to an augmentation pressure regimen consisting of a choline-deficient diet combined with DL-ethionine and then L-methionine and administration of 20 mg/kg BOP. A total of 14 ICCs were obtained 10 weeks after the beginning of the experiment and total RNAs were extracted from each for assessment of aberrant transcription of the FHIT gene by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction analysis. Aberrant transcripts were detected in four out of 14 ICCs (28.6%), as absence in the regions of nucleotides (nt) -75 to 279, nt -75 to 348 and nt -75 to 447. These results suggest that alteration of the FHIT gene may play a role in a small fraction of ICCs induced by BOP in the hamster.