Syntactic structures in motion: investigating word order variations in verb-final (Korean) and verb-initial (Tongan) languages.

This study explored sentence processing in two typologically distinct languages: Korean, a verb-final language, and Tongan, a verb-initial language. The first experiment revealed that in Korean, sentences arranged in the scrambled OSV (Object, Subject, Verb) order were processed more slowly than those in the canonical SOV order, highlighting a scrambling effect. It also found that sentences with subject topicalization in the SOV order were processed as swiftly as those in the canonical form, whereas sentences with object topicalization in the OSV order were processed with speeds and accuracy comparable to scrambled sentences. However, since topicalization and scrambling in Korean use the same OSV order, independently distinguishing the effects of topicalization is challenging. In contrast, Tongan allows for a clear separation of word orders for topicalization and scrambling, facilitating an independent evaluation of topicalization effects. The second experiment, employing a maze task, confirmed that Tongan's canonical VSO order was processed more efficiently than the VOS scrambled order, thereby verifying a scrambling effect. The third experiment investigated the effects of both scrambling and topicalization in Tongan, finding that the canonical VSO order was processed most efficiently in terms of speed and accuracy, unlike the VOS scrambled and SVO topicalized orders. Notably, the OVS object-topicalized order was processed as efficiently as the VSO canonical order, while the SVO subject-topicalized order was slower than VSO but faster than VOS. By independently assessing the effects of topicalization apart from scrambling, this study demonstrates that both subject and object topicalization in Tongan facilitate sentence processing, contradicting the predictions based on movement-based anticipation.

Antiobesity Effect of N-Acetylneuraminic Acid by Enhancing Antioxidative Capacity in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

The sialic acid N-acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), an essential factor in bioregulation, is a functional food component that is known to have beneficial health effects, but its antiobesity effect has not been clearly understood. Adipocyte dysfunction in obesity involves a decrease in the level of NANA sialylation. In this study, we investigated the antiobesity effect of NANA in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Male C57BL/6J mice were randomly divided into three groups and administered the following diets: a normal diet, an HFD, and an HFD with 1% NANA supplementation for 12 weeks. NANA supplementation significantly reduced body weight gain; epididymal adipose tissue hypertrophy; and serum lipid, fasting glucose, and aspartate transaminase levels compared with those in HFD mice. The percentage of lipid droplets in hepatic tissue was also decreased by NANA supplementation in HFD mice. The downregulation of Adipoq expression and upregulation of Fabp4 expression induced by HFD in epididymal adipocytes were improved by NANA supplementation. The downregulation of Sod1 expression and increase in malondialdehyde level were induced by HFD, and they were significantly improved in the liver by NANA supplementation, but not in epididymal adipocytes. However, NANA supplementation had no effect on sialylation and antioxidant enzyme levels in mouse epididymal adipocytes and 3T3-L1 adipocytes. Overall, NANA exerts antiobesity and antihypolipidemic effects and may be beneficial in suppressing obesity-related diseases.

Low-carbohydrate diets adversely impact the skin of a mouse model of photoaging exposed to ultraviolet B radiation.

The study results regarding the effects of low-carbohydrate (LC) diets remain controversial; hence further research is required to assess their safety. Here, we examined whether LC diets cause skin damage in C57BL/6J mice. Six-week-old female mice (n = 20) were fed an LC (protein/fat/carbohydrate energy ratio = 35:45:20) or control diet ad libitum for eight weeks, after which their backs were shaved, and a subset of the mice were exposed to ultraviolet B radiation thrice per week. Ultraviolet B irradiation induced wrinkle formation on the skin surface, and thickening of the epidermis, which was also noticeable in the LC diet-fed mice in the absence of ultraviolet B radiation. Meanwhile, the number of epidermal melanocytes and degree of horny layer keratosis increased in the LC diet-fed mice following ultraviolet B irradia-tion. mRNA expression analysis of the liver and skin showed decreased levels of the antioxidant enzyme superoxide dismutase 1 following ultraviolet B irradiation only in the LC diet-fed mice. Alternatively, the expression of pro-inflammatory cytokines, tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1ß, increased in response to ultraviolet B radiation and LC diet intake. Hence, LC diets may adversely affect skin morphology and exacerbate the effects of ultraviolet B irradiation, which may be associated with anti-oxidant dysfunction.

Low-Carbohydrate Diet Inhibits Different Advanced Glycation End Products in Kidney Depending on Lipid Composition but Causes Adverse Morphological Changes in a Non-Obese Model Mice.

Low carbohydrate diets (LC diets) have been noted for adverse health effects. In addition, the effect of lipid composition on an LC diet is unclear. In this study, we used an LC diet containing two different lipids, lard (LC group) and medium-chain triglyceride oil (MCT-LC group), to examine the effect of an LC diet in non-obese mice. Male C57BL/6J mice were fed the control diet or one of the experimental diets ad libitum for 13 weeks. Increased renal weight and glomerular hypertrophy, as well as enlargement of intraglomerular small vessels with wall thickening, were seen in the LC and MCT-LC groups. Renal AMP-activated protein kinase activity was significantly decreased only in the LC diet group. On the other hand, epididymal adipose tissue weight and adipocyte area were markedly decreased only in the MCT-LC group. A positive effect was also observed in the kidney, where different advanced glycation end products, Nε-(carboxyethyl)-lysine and Nε-(carboxymethyl)-lysine, were inhibited depending on the lipid composition of the LC diet. Our findings suggest that, in non-obese conditions, low dietary intake of carbohydrates had both positive and negative impacts. The safety of diets low in carbohydrates, including the effects of fatty acid composition, requires further investigation.

[Promotion of home shifts for terminal cancer patients through intervention of visitor palliative care team].

It has been recommended that terminal cancer patients be shifted from the hospital to their homes. In our hospital, a visitor palliative care team was started for the purpose of the early introduction of palliative care, and home shifts were promoted. The results of home shifts by the visitor palliative care team from 2008 to 2012 were examined. Home shifts were possible for 27 cases out of 108 cases intervened. In 12 cases, there were at-home deaths, and the median at-home period was 55 days. In the group that could not be shifted, the at-home death rate and application rate of nursing care insurance were low. Additionally, the length of stay (median) for patients who died in hospitalization was 8 days for the group that could be shifted and 17 days for the group that could not be shifted. It was felt that effective communication with local health care facilities is important for a successful home shift. Early and adequate preparations for the treatment and care of terminal cancer patients undergoing home shift are important, and in this regard, a review of the current provisions of nursing care insurance is necessary.

Roles of cyclin-dependent kinase 4 and p53 in neuronal cell death induced by doxorubicin on cerebellar granule neurons in mouse.

Cell cycle regulators such as cyclin-dependent kinases (Cdks) and their inhibitors (Ckis) have been reported to be involved in neuronal cell death (NCD) induced by a variety of insults such as ischemia, UV-irradiation, nerve growth factor (NGF)-withdrawal, and anticancer therapeutics. But their precise interactive regulation has still to be unveiled. In the present study, we focused on cell cycle regulators such as Cdk4, p21(WAF1) and p53 to clarify their regulatory mechanisms, using NCD induced by doxorubicin (D-NCD) in mouse cerebellar granule neurons as a model. Doxorubicin induced NCD in a dose-dependent manner, a typical feature of apoptosis as determined by TUNEL assay. Doxorubicin increased the protein expression of p53 in time- and dose-dependent manners. The protein expression of p21(WAF1), a Cki of Cdk4, was stimulated by doxorubicin at low concentrations, but it disappeared at high concentrations. Doxorubicin activated the kinase activity of Cdk4 without the enhancement of Cdk4 protein. 3-Amino-9-thio(10H)-acridone (3-ATA), the specific inhibitor of Cdk4, prevented D-NCD in a dose-dependent manner. Wortmannin, an inhibitor of ATM (ataxia telangiectasia, mutated) that has high homology with the phosphatidyl-inositol-3-kinase (PI3K) family and has protein kinase activity for the induction of p53 with specificity for serine and threonine residues, inhibited the activation of Cdk4 without the induction of p53 in D-NCD. These data suggest that (1) Cdk4 is one of the essential components for inducing NCD, that (2) p53 may prevent D-NCD through the induction of p21(WAF1) at low concentrations of doxorubicin, and that (3) Cdk4 might be activated by the same signal-molecules, like ATM, that are necessary for the activation of p53 in D-NCD.

Effect of fenofibrate on uric acid metabolism in Japanese hyperlipidemic patients.

Forty Type IIb or IV hyperlipidemic patients (serum triglyceride concentrations were higher than 150 mg/dl) were treated with fenofibrate (300 mg/day) for 12 weeks. Lipid profile and uric acid metabolism were evaluated before and after the treatment; the serum concentrations of total cholesterol and triglyceride respectively decreased from 224 +/- 41.9 mg/dl to 199 +/- 35.2 mg/dl and from 205 +/- 71.7 mg/dl to 134 +/- 67.5 mg/dl (p < 0.001). The uric acid concentrations in the serum also significantly decreased from 7.0 +/- 1.58 mg/dl to 5.2 +/- 1.57 mg/dl (p < 0.001). Fenofibrate treatment did not cause any change in the serum xanthine and hypoxanthine concentrations. Instead the urinary concentrations of uric acid decreased from 7.0 +/- 1.58 mg/dl to 5.2 +/- 1.57 mg/dl (p < 0.01), while the clearance ratio of uric acid and creatinin increased from 6.1 +/- 2.56 to 9.9 +/- 3.87 (p = 0.02) by the fenofibrate treatment. Fenofibrate decreases uric acid concentrations in the serum not as a result of inhibition of uric acid production but by increasing the urinary excretion of uric acid.

Visceral fat: higher responsiveness of fat mass and gene expression to calorie restriction than subcutaneous fat.

Visceral fat accumulation is accompanied by several metabolic disorders. Here, we investigate the improvement of visceral fat accumulation in the early phase of diet. Hyperlipidemic obese patients received a low-calorie diet (1000 kcal/day) for 14 days. Visceral and subcutaneous fat accumulation was analyzed using ultrasonography. After 14 days of the diet, the average visceral fat of obese patients obviously decreased (P < 0.05), as well as the visceral fat-related secreted proteins, whereas subcutaneous fat did not decrease in these patients. These results show that visceral fat is reduced significantly in the early phase of diet therapy in humans. Therefore, to clarify its mechanism, we analyzed the expression of lipid metabolism-related genes in visceral and subcutaneous fat using obese rats. The Long-Evans Tokushima Otsuka (LETO) rats, as an obese model, were divided into two groups: fasting and non-fasting. The gene expressions in visceral and subcutaneous fat were measured by reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The expression of beta(3)-adrenergic receptor (AR), hormone sensitive lipase (HSL), peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-gamma, and uncoupling protein (UCP)-2 genes increased by 3.2-, 2.3-, 2.2-, and 2-fold in visceral fat (P < 0.01), but remained almost unchanged in subcutaneous fat. Taken together, the responsiveness of lipid metabolism-related genes to fasting is more sensitive in visceral fat than in subcutaneous fat in rats, suggesting that the different responsiveness to calorie restriction in fat tissues is due to the different induction of metabolism-related gene expression.