Measurement reliability of current perception threshold and pain threshold in parallel with blood sampling.

The irritation and pain associated with oral blood sampling necessary to monitor glycemic control can alter oral sensation, but no studies have measured the reliability of oral sensation testing when performed concurrently with blood sampling. The primary and secondary aims of this study were to verify the measurement reliability of current perception threshold (CPT) and pain threshold (PT) tests performed before and after blood sampling and to investigate the differences in CPTs/PTs obtained from the oral cavity, hand, and foot, respectively. CPT/PT measurements were obtained from the oral mucosa and the tips of fingers and toes of 18 volunteers (10 males and 8 females, average age = 26.3 years) using electrical stimulation at frequencies of 5, 250, and 2,000 Hz. Participants also provided blood samples by pricking their own index fingers with a small needle. All subjects completed the following 3 conditions at once-weekly intervals as follows: (a) sensory measurements followed by blood sampling (SB block); (b) blood sampling followed by sensory measurements (BS block); (c) sensory measurements without blood sampling (CO control block). Cronbach's α coefficients were over 0.78 for the SB, BS, and CO blocks, and are considered to be acceptable for assuring measurement reliability. The oral cavity had significantly lower CPT/PTs than both hands and feet, such that the threshold increased in the order oral cavity < hand < foot. CPT and PT measurements performed concurrently with blood sampling are both reliable and region specific, and for which the oral cavity is the most sensitive testing region.

Caecal environment of rats fed far East Asian-modelled diets.

To clarify the effect of type of foods on the intestinal environment, Far East Asian- (FEA; rich in rice starch, soy protein and soy oil) and Far East Asian marine- (FEAM; rich in rice starch, fish meal, fish oil and brown alga) modelled diets and sucrose, casein and beef tallow-rich (SCB) diet were prepared. After the 2-week administration of diets in rats, caecal organic acids and putrefactive compounds (ammonia, indole, phenol and H2S, which are regarded as putative risk factors for tumours) were determined. The caecal microbiota was also analyzed using denaturing gradient gel electrophoresis and pyrosequencing with bar-coded primers targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. Levels of n-butyrate, acetate, indole and phenol were high in rats fed FEA. On the other hand, H2S was clearly suppressed by both FEA and FEAM comparing with SCB. These results suggest that FEAM is preferable to FEA for optimal intestinal environment and host health. Both microbial analyses showed that the diversity of microbiota in the FEAM group was lower than in the other diet groups. Ratio of Firmicutes, Bacteroidetes and Proteobacteria in the SCB group was about 5:4:1. Firmicutes, particularly Lachnospiraceae, was promoted by FEA and FEAM.

Caecal fermentation, putrefaction and microbiotas in rats fed milk casein, soy protein or fish meal.

To clarify the effect of soy protein (SP) and fish meal (FM), compared to milk casein (MC), on the intestinal environment, we examined caecal environment of rats fed the test diets. Four-week-old rats were fed AIN-76-based diet containing 20 %, w/w MC, SP or FM for 16 days. Caecal organic acids were analysed by HPLC. Caecal putrefactive compounds (indole, phenol, H2S and ammonia) were analysed by colorimetric assays. Caecal microflora was determined by 16S rRNA gene-DGGE and pyrosequencing with bar-coded primers targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. n-Butyric and lactic acid levels were high in rats fed SP and FM, respectively. Butyrate-producing bacteria, such as Oscillibacter, and lactate-producing bacteria, such as Lactobacillus, were detected in each diet group. Also, the putrefactive compound contents were high in rats fed SP and FM. In this study, both DGGE and pyrosequencing analyses were able to evaluate the dynamics of the intestinal microbiota. The results indicate that dietary proteins can alter the intestinal environment, affecting fermentation by the intestinal microbiota and the generation of putrefactive compounds.

FLX pyrosequencing analysis of the effects of the brown-algal fermentable polysaccharides alginate and laminaran on rat cecal microbiotas.

Edible brown algae are used as major food material in Far East Asian countries, particularly in South Korea and Japan. They contain fermentable dietary fibers, alginic acid (uronic acid polymer) and laminaran (ß-1,3-glucan), that are fermented into organic acids by intestinal bacteria. To clarify the effect of edible algae on the intestinal environment, the cecal microbiotas of rats fed diets containing no dietary fiber (control) or 2% (wt/wt) sodium alginate or laminaran for 2 weeks were analyzed using FLX amplicon pyrosequencing with bar-coded primers targeting the bacterial 16S rRNA gene. The most abundant phylum in all groups was Firmicutes. Specifically, Allobaculum was dominant in all diet groups. In addition, Bacteroides capillosus (37.1%) was abundant in the alginate group, while Clostridium ramosum (3.14%) and Parabacteroides distasonis (1.36%) were only detected in the laminaran group. Furthermore, rats fed alginate showed simplified microbiota phylotypes compared with others. With respect to cecal chemical compounds, laminaran increased cecal organic acid levels, particularly propionic acid. Alginate increased total cecal organic acids. Cecal putrefactive compounds, such as indole, H(2)S, and phenol, were decreased by both alginate and laminaran. These results indicate that edible brown algae can alter the intestinal environment, with fermentation by intestinal microbiota.

[Comparative analysis of learning effect for students who experienced both lecture-based learning and problem-based learning in a complete denture course].

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to analyze the difference in educational effect on students who experienced both lecture-based learning (LBL) and problem-based learning (PBL) in a complete denture course. The analysis focused on differences between the two methods concerning self study, ability to understand clinical inference, and appraisal of class contents and tutors. METHODS: In the complete denture preclinical course, the class of 2003 received LBL in 3rd grade and PBL in 4th grade. PBL was planned to present five cases in five consecutive classes. Group discussion was carried out for each case, and a summary was required to be produced two times as a group, two times as an individual report and one time by group presentation. A questionnaire regarding the educational effect of LBL and PBL and assessment of tutors was administered. Factor analysis was carried out to classify the questionnaire items and each item was analyzed between LBL and PBL (Paired-t test). RESULTS: Factor analysis revealed that the questionnaire items could be classified into four components. Comparing lecture type and PBL: "study attitude" (4 out of 7 items), "clinical inference ability" (all items), "class contents" (5 out of 7 items) and "tutor appraisal" (2 out of 5 items) showed significant assessment with PBL. Eighteen of 27 items (66.6%) indicated the significant usefulness of PBL. CONCLUSION: PBL improves the educational effect of self study and clinical inference ability, in comparison with LBL. However, since students are passive about taking the same system class repeatedly, a strategy to improve their attitude needs to be considered.