Effect of Vitamin-Containing Amino Acid Supplements on Menopausal Symptoms and Age-Related Skin Changes: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Study.

INTRODUCTION: Women aged ≥ 45 years are known to experience various menopausal symptoms due to reduced oestrogen levels. Changes associated with cutaneous ageing, such as wrinkles and sagging, are also prominent in women in this age group. Numerous studies have evaluated the usefulness of individual basic nutrients and essential components, such as amino acids and vitamins, in menopausal women. The aim of this study was to comprehensively assess the effects of supplements containing amino acid and vitamin combinations on menopausal symptoms and age-related changes in the skin. METHODS: This is a randomised, placebo-controlled study on the effects of a supplement containing three types of amino acids [leucine, glutamine and arginine (LGA)] and 11 types of vitamins in 37 middle-aged women. The participants ingested either the test substance or a placebo twice daily for 8 consecutive weeks, at the end of which time the efficacy and safety of the test substance were assessed based on subjective symptoms of fatigue, Simplified Menopausal Index (SMI) score, the grade and number of wrinkles at the corners of the eyes, results of an analysis of the stratum corneum of the cheek and blood test results. RESULTS: None of the participants experienced adverse events, and all items assessed in our survey of subjective symptoms of fatigue showed a significant decrease in the test substance group (LGA group). Additionally, the SMI score of the LGA group was significantly lower than that of the placebo group. The LGA group showed significant improvement in the grade of the wrinkles in the corners of the eyes and the number of wrinkles, and the stratum corneum cell area declined significantly in the LGA group compared to the placebo group at the end of the study. CONCLUSION: These results indicate that the vitamin-containing amino acid supplement improved menopausal symptoms and age-related changes in the skin (wrinkles). TRIAL REGISTRATION: UMIN000029830.

A case of facial cellulitis caused by group B streptococcus in an extremely low birthweight infant.

Group B streptococcus (GBS) is an important pathogen that causes neonatal sepsis and meningitis, which have high mortality and morbidity. Cellulitis is a rare presentation of late-onset neonatal GBS infection. We report the case of an extremely low birthweight infant with facial cellulitis caused by late-onset GBS infection. A 590-g male neonate was delivered by Cesarean section at 23 gestational weeks due to intrauterine GBS infection. Although he was effectively treated with 2 weeks of antimicrobial therapy for early-onset GBS sepsis, he subsequently developed facial and submandibular cellulitis caused by GBS at 44 days of age. He was treated with debridement and antibiotic therapy, and after 2 months his facial involvement had improved, but cosmetic issues remained. Neonatal GBS infection requires a prompt sepsis workup followed by the initiation of empiric antibiotic therapy. Additionally, lifesaving surgical debridement is sometimes necessary for cellulitis, even in premature infants.

Characteristics and influence of Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma cultures in amniotic fluid on perinatal outcomes.

AIM: To investigate the effects of Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma cultured in amniotic fluid on perinatal characteristics in preterm delivery between 22 and 33 weeks of gestation. METHODS: The study was conducted in a tertiary perinatal center and involved 38 pregnant women who had undergone amniocentesis to evaluate intrauterine infection due to preterm labor or premature rupture of membranes. The subjects were divided into three groups based on the culture results: negative (Negative Group, n = 24), positive for Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma (M/U Group, n = 6), and positive for other pathogens (Other Pathogens Group, n = 8). One-way analysis of variance was used to compare the three groups. RESULTS: The incidence of histological chorioamnionitis and neonatal sepsis was significantly different among the three groups (the Negative Group and the Other Pathogens Group, P < 0.01; the M/U Group and the Other Pathogens Group, P = 0.03). In the M/U Group, no infants had sepsis, severe intraventricular hemorrhage, cystic periventricular leukomalacia, or poor neurological outcomes, but one infant developed bronchopulmonary dysplasia and needed home oxygen treatment. Although one died of gastrorrhexis, the remaining five patients had normal brain magnetic resonance imaging findings and developed normally. CONCLUSION: The presence of Mycoplasma/Ureaplasma isolated from amniotic fluid did not cause neonatal sepsis or poor prognosis. In some infants, there was no histological chorioamnionitis in the placenta. These pathogens thus seem to be less invasive than any other microbes with respect to perinatal outcomes.

Human TRPA1 activation by terpenes derived from the essential oil of daidai, Citrus aurantium L. var. daidai Makino.

Daidai (bitter orange, Citrus aurantium) is characterized by its fresh citrus scent. In Japanese cuisine, its juice is an important ingredient. As tons of industrial waste is obtained while processing the daidai juice, additional utilization of this waste has great social value. In our study, we prepared the essential oil from the waste obtained during daidai juice processing and demonstrated that the oil activates human TRPA1 (hTRPA1). This oil contains 10 types of terpenes, all of which activated hTRPA1 with an EC50 value of 6-167 µM. To our knowledge, this study is the first to show a hTRPA1 activation by five terpenes: linalyl acetate, geranyl acetate, osthole, geranyl propionate, and neryl acetate. Because physiological benefits of TRPA1 agonists, such as enhancement of energy metabolism and promotion of skin barrier recovery, have been reported, the oil could be a promising ingredient for anti-obesity food products and cosmetics.

Intrapartum fetal heart rate patterns preceding terminal bradycardia in infants (>34 weeks) with poor neurological outcome: A regional population-based study in Japan.

AIM: Intrapartum fetal bradycardia necessitates immediate operative delivery. Our aim was to investigate the hypothesis that some non-reassuring fetal heart rate (FHR) patterns were present before the onset of terminal bradycardia in infants who developed subsequent brain damage. MATERIAL AND METHODS: From a population-based study of 65,197 deliveries, 190 stillbirths, 115 neonatal deaths, and 136 neurologically high-risk infants were registered by the Miyazaki Perinatal Conference. There were 15 cases of neurologically high-risk infants born at >34 weeks of gestation exhibiting intrapartum terminal bradycardia. Focusing on the brain-damaged infants, we retrospectively analyzed FHR patterns for at least 1 h prior to the bradycardia. RESULTS: Brain damage (cerebral palsy [n = 11] and mental retardation [n = 2]) was diagnosed at 2 years old in 13 out of 15 neurologically high-risk infants. Two infants had bradycardia on admission. In the remaining 11 infants, FHR patterns were reassuring in six (55%) and non-reassuring in five (45%), including late decelerations (n = 4) and variable decelerations (n = 2). Clinically relevant factors in the non-reassuring group included intrauterine infection (n = 3), malpresentation with umbilical cord coiling (n = 1), and unknown causes (n = 1). Clinically relevant features in the reassuring group included cord prolapse (n = 1), vaginal breech delivery (n = 1), shoulder dystocia (n = 1), rupture of membranes (n = 1), and unknown causes (n = 2). CONCLUSION: More than half of the brain-damaged infants born at >34 weeks of gestation who exhibited intrapartum terminal bradycardia had unremarkable FHR patterns before abrupt-onset bradycardia. For those with non-reassuring patterns preceding bradycardia, intrauterine infection was the major sentinel event.

Did antepartum hypoxic insult caused by fetal vessel thrombosis influence the procalcitonin level in umbilical blood? A case report.

We report a case of marked elevation of the procalcitonin level in umbilical blood and neonatal blood at birth. The mother did not perceive fetal motion. Antepartum fetal heart rate monitoring showed a loss of variability and absence of acceleration. No fetal breathing movement, fetal movement, or fetal tone were observed by ultrasonography. The female neonate was delivered by cesarean section at 25 weeks of gestation, with birthweight 774 g. The umbilical arterial pH value at birth was 7.29. Mild elevation in interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-α in umbilical blood were observed. Cytochrome c showed a high level in umbilical and neonatal blood at birth. Placental histopathology revealed multiple fetal vessel thrombosis in the large stem villi and chorionic vessels. The neonate showed no infectious signs throughout the neonatal period. Computed tomography at 3 months of age revealed atrophy in the cerebrum and cerebellum. At 1 year after birth, the infant showed spastic quadriplegia. In this case, antepartum asphyxia due to fetal vessel thrombosis may have influenced the elevation of procalcitonin level in umbilical blood and neonatal blood at birth.

Perinatal morbidity and mortality for extremely low-birthweight infants: A population-based study of regionalized maternal and neonatal transport.

AIM: The aim of this study was to clarify the mortality and long-term outcomes of extremely low-birthweight infants according to the process of maternal or infant transport and indications for maternal transport. MATERIAL AND METHODS: We conducted a population-based study between 2005 and 2009. The collected data included the process and indications for maternal or neonatal transport, maternal and infant characteristics and the prognosis of extremely low-birthweight infants. Intergroup comparisons were made using the Mann-Whitney U-test, while multiple group comparisons were made using the Kruskal-Wallis test followed by the post-hoc paired t-test according to the Dunn procedure. Comparisons of the cumulative survival rates based on postnatal age according to the process of maternal or neonatal transport were performed using a Kaplan-Meier survival analysis and the log-rank test. RESULTS: The study subjects included 195 infants from 189 mothers following 50,632 deliveries during the study period. Overall, 32 (16.4%) infants died and 33 (20.2%) infants had neurological impairments. The rates of mortality and handicaps among the infants in the maternal transport group were 15.2% and 23.2%, respectively, compared to 25% and 44%, respectively, in the neonatal transport group. There were no differences in the prognoses of the infants according to the process of maternal transport, although more premature neonates were managed in the tertiary center. There were no differences in the cumulative survival rates based on the institution that managed the neonate. The incidence of a poor prognosis was significantly higher among the infants born from mothers transported to the tertiary center due to bulging membranes (P = 0.047). All mothers with placental abruption were transported to the nearest secondary center. CONCLUSION: The morbidity and mortality of extremely low-birthweight infants demonstrated a low incidence following the regionalization of high-risk pregnancies in our region. Further reductions in severe neonatal morbidities may depend on reducing the rate of neonatal transport.

Data on Wistar Hannover rats from a general toxicity study.

The aim of this study was to collect data on chronological changes in clinical laboratory tests, pathological examinations, and hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes from Wistar Hannover rats at 8, 10, 19, and 32 weeks of age. The serum triglyceride concentration and the serum LDL cholesterol level were higher in males than in females at all ages. In contrast, serum total protein and creatinine concentrations and cholinesterase activity were lower in males than in females. In addition, sex differences were confirmed in pituitary weight and hepatic CYP3A2 and CYP2C11 activities. In conclusion, the general toxicological data noted in clinical laboratory tests, pathological examinations, and hepatic drug-metabolizing enzymes relating to chronological changes and sex differences may be useful in assessing drug-related toxicity in this strain.

Congenital infantile fibrosarcoma in a very low-birth-weight infant.

We describe a prenatally diagnosed case with congenital infantile fibrosarcoma, which is a rare malignant tumor, of which there have been only 14 cases reported in the English literature. A giant mass on the left thigh was detected at 24 weeks' gestation by prenatal ultrasonography. Because of its rapid growth and nonreassuring fetal status in utero, the baby was delivered by cesarean delivery at 27 weeks' gestation. The case was complicated by hemorrhagic anemia, coagulopathy, and cardiac failure, and a tumor resection was performed on day 3. As of age 2.5 years, he was healthy without evidence of recurrence. Because some fetal cases with congenital infantile fibrosarcoma have a poor prognosis, termination of pregnancy at an appropriate time and postnatal early treatment are crucial for successful treatment.

Data on Wistar Hannover rats from an immunotoxicity study.

The aim of this study was to collect data on immunological parameters from Wistar Hannover rats at 8, 10, 19, and 32 weeks of age. Low leukocyte parameter cell counts, serum globulin concentration, and T, B, and NK lymphocyte counts in peripheral blood at each time point; low T, B, and NK splenocyte counts; and high, or tendencies toward high, thymocyte counts at 10 weeks of age were noted in females when compared with males. KLH-specific antibody production increased gradually with age in both sexes. The immunological data noted for leukocyte parameters, the serum globulin concentration, and immunophenotyping (peripheral blood, spleen, and thymus) relating to chronological changes and sex differences may be useful in assessing drug-related immunotoxicity in this strain.

Low Fluence Q-Switched Nd: YAG Laser Toning and Q-Switched Ruby Laser in the Treatment of Melasma:A Comparative Split-Face Ultrastructural Study.

BACKGROUND: Melasma still presents as a difficult entity to treat, especially in the Asian skin phe-notype. Recently laser toning with the Q-switched Nd:YAG has attracted attention. The present study investigated the efficacy of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser toning for melasma, with a histopathological comparison with the Q-switched ruby laser. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: Eight Japanese females (41-57 yr, mean 52.5 yr) with Fitzpatrick skin type III and bilateral melasma participated in the study. One half of each subject's face (randomly chosen) was treated with Q-switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser toning (pulse width 5-20 ns; spot size, 6 mm diameter; fluence, 3.0 J/cm(2), 5-7 passes, once/week, 4 weeks: QS:YAG group), and the contralateral half with a single treatment using a Q-switched ruby laser (694.5 nm, pulse width 20 ns, spot size 4 mm diameter; fluence 4.0 J/cm2, 1 pass with approximately 20% overlap: QS:Ruby group). Skin biopsies were taken immediately after the 4(th) Nd:YAG session and the single ruby session, and histopathological comparison was performed with light- and transmission electron microscopy (TEM). RESULTS: Improvement in melasma pigmentation was seen in both the QS:YAG- and QS:Ruby-treat-ed sides, and this was well-maintained in the QS:YAG group. Ultrastructurally, melanin granules were destroyed in both groups, but there was considerably more morphological epidermal and dermal damage in the QS:Ruby specimens compared with minimal epidermal disruption and cellular damage in the QS:YAG specimens. CONCLUSIONS: Q-switched 1064 nm Nd:YAG laser toning offered superior results in the treatment of melasma in the Japanese skin type compared with the Q-switched ruby laser, both ultrastructurally with less immediately post-treatment cellular damage and macroscopically, and a longer recurrence-free interval.