A digital scheme of human trials for the evaluation of functional foods.

In this study, we designed a method for conducting a human study by the following process. (1) The host computer stores the subject information. (2) The sample preparer prepares a food sample. (3) The subject (healthy human volunteer) sends the information of an intake of the food sample to the host computer, which creates an event entry for the event. (4) The medical professional (typically a physician) collects and stores the subject's blood sample in a container with the subject's identification (e.g., ID number). (5) The sample analyst analyzes the blood biochemical profiles. (6)The host computer stores the blood biochemical data, and by matching the blood biochemical data with the subject IDs, a final analysis report will automatically be created. In this study, we also run a test case, based on this design, where we obtained a blood biochemical dataset from healthy volunteers. This scheme can reduce the cost of human trials for functional foods and will help acquiring the scientific basis of functional foods.

Inhibition of Neutrophil Adhesion and Antimicrobial Activity by Diluted Hydrosol Prepared from Rosa damascena.

Hydrosol prepared from the flowers of Rosa damascena (rose water) has been traditionally used for various health-related issues, including skin troubles such as erythema, itchiness, swelling. For the care of these skin troubles caused by microbial infection, both antimicrobial and antiinflammatory effects are required. Here, we investigated the effects of rose water on the growth of Candida albicans and methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), which cause skin infections, and on the function of neutrophils, which play a major role in the regulation of inflammatory reactions. To assess its modulatory effects on neutrophils, the effects of rose water against neutrophil adhesion response were evaluated. Rose water inhibited mycelial growth of C. albicans at a concentration of ca. 2.2%, and reduced viability of MRSA within 1 h. Rose water suppressed neutrophil activation induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS), tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α), and N-formyl-Met-Leu-Phe (fMLP) at 5-15%. It also reduced the LPS- and TNF-α-induced cell surface expression of the adhesion-related molecule, cluster of differentiation (CD) 11b, but did not affect the migratory capacity of neutrophils with or without chemoattractant. These results suggest that rose water may reduce the pathogenicity of microbes, and attenuate neutrophil stimulation, which is involved in inflammatory responses. These findings suggest that rose water has a potential effect to inhibit skin inflammation caused by microbes.

Muscle strength and walking ability after laparoscopic hernioplasty versus conventional repair.

PURPOSE: We examined muscle strength and walking ability after hernia repair to compare the effects of laparoscopic hernioplasty and conventional repair. METHODS: Twenty-seven patients with primary inguinal hernias were randomly divided into two groups according to the surgical procedure: 15 patients were treated with laparoscopic hernioplasty and 12 with conventional repair. Two types of muscle testing around the inguinal region, one by manual examination and one using a musculator, were done preoperatively and 1 week postoperatively. Walking exercise tests were performed at the same time as muscle testing. RESULTS: Manual examination showed that the postoperative muscle strength of the iliopsoas muscle was decreased in six patients from the conventional repair group, but not in any of those from the laparoscopic hernioplasty group. The musculator showed decreased strength of the iliopsoas muscle after conventional repair, but not after laparoscopic hernioplasty. The walking exercise test showed that conventional hernia repair influenced walking. CONCLUSION: A decline in muscle strength of the iliopsoas muscle and walking ability was evident after conventional repair, but not after laparoscopic hernioplasty. Thus, laparoscopic hernioplasty is superior to conventional repair from the perspective of muscle testing and walking ability.

Hand-assisted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy in pigs using our original hand device (Lap Disc).

We analyzed the safety and feasibility of a hand-assisted laparoscopic distal pancreatectomy (HALDP) in pigs. We performed HALDP in five cases using our original hand device (Lap Disc). The procedures in all cases were successfully performed. The Lap Disc was very useful for performing HALDP because of its compact design and simple usage. This preliminary experience suggests that this device could be used to perform HALDP as well as other procedures in humans.