Optical security devices using nonuniform schlieren texture of UV-curable nematic liquid crystal.

We proposed and quantitatively evaluated an optical security device that provides nonuniform or random patterns of schlieren texture in nematic liquid crystal as unique identification information with a design by employing computer image processing and normalized cross correlation. Using the same photomask as the first author's university logo, the written patterns, which were composed of polymerized isotropic areas and polymerized nematic areas, were stable among different cells. Judging from the maximum correlation coefficient of 0.09, the patterns of the schlieren texture were unique in different cells. These results indicate that photocurable nematic liquid crystal materials have the potential to be applied to security devices for anticounterfeiting measures.

Rapid induction of an immune response in rat Peyer's patch after oral administration of Enterococcus faecalis strain EC-12.

A rapid and sharp immune response induced in Peyer's patches (PPs) by a single gavage of a heat-killed Enterococcus faecalis strain EC-12 (EC-12) was demonstrated. EC-12 was observed inside the PPs 2.5 h post administration and induction of TNF-α and CD69 gene expression was observed at the same time. The immune response in PPs disappeared 24 h post administration.

Activating transcription factor 3 constitutes a negative feedback mechanism that attenuates saturated Fatty acid/toll-like receptor 4 signaling and macrophage activation in obese adipose tissue.

Obese adipose tissue is markedly infiltrated by macrophages, suggesting that they may participate in the inflammatory pathways that are activated in obese adipose tissue. Evidence has suggested that saturated fatty acids released via adipocyte lipolysis serve as a naturally occurring ligand that stimulates Toll-like receptor (TLR)4 signaling, thereby inducing the inflammatory responses in macrophages in obese adipose tissue. Through a combination of cDNA microarray analyses of saturated fatty acid-stimulated macrophages in vitro and obese adipose tissue in vivo, here we identified activating transcription factor (ATF)3, a member of the ATF/cAMP response element-binding protein family of basic leucine zipper-type transcription factors, as a target gene of saturated fatty acids/TLR4 signaling in macrophages in obese adipose tissue. Importantly, ATF3, when induced by saturated fatty acids, can transcriptionally repress tumor necrosis factor-alpha production in macrophages in vitro. Chromatin immunoprecipitation assay revealed that ATF3 is recruited to the region containing the activator protein-1 site of the endogenous tumor necrosis factor-alpha promoter. Furthermore, transgenic overexpression of ATF3 specifically in macrophages results in the marked attenuation of proinflammatory M1 macrophage activation in the adipose tissue from genetically obese KKA(y) mice fed high-fat diet. This study provides evidence that ATF3, which is induced in obese adipose tissue, acts as a transcriptional repressor of saturated fatty acids/TLR4 signaling, thereby revealing the negative feedback mechanism that attenuates obesity-induced macrophage activation. Our data also suggest that activation of ATF3 in macrophages offers a novel therapeutic strategy to prevent or treat obesity-induced adipose tissue inflammation.

Improvement of bone strength and dermal thickness due to dietary edible bird's nest extract in ovariectomized rats.

Oral administration of edible bird's nest extract (EBNE) improved bone strength and calcium concentration in the femur of ovariectomized rats. Dermal thickness was also increased by EBNE supplementation, whereas EBNE administration did not affect the serum estradiol concentration. These results suggest that EBNE is effective for the improvement of bone loss and skin aging in postmenopause all women.

Alpha-linked galactooligosaccharide suppresses small intestinal eosinophil infiltration and improves growth performance in weaning pigs.

A healthy pig shows significant eosinophil infiltration in the lamina propria of the small intestine. Although the exact role of these infiltrated eosinophils in healthy pigs is unclear, eosinophil infiltration is a well-known phenomenon that is frequently observed during an allergic status. Alpha-linked galactooligosaccharide (GOS) reduces eosinophil infiltration into broncho-alveolar lavage fluid of an allergic airway eosinophilia model. We evaluated the effect of GOS oral administration on the suppression of eosinophil infiltration in the small intestine of healthy weaned pigs. Nine 21-day-old pigs were purchased and divided into three groups. One group was fed the basal diet supplemented with sucrose at 0.11% (C), one group was fed the basal diet supplemented with GOS at 1.17% (GOS A) and one group was fed the basal diet supplemented with GOS at 0.03% (GOS B). Each group was fed its respective diet throughout this study (10 days). The daily body weight gain from d3 to d10 was significantly bigger in the GOS B group than in the other groups. The feed conversion ratios from d0 to d10 were two times lower in the GOS B group than in the C group. Dietary GOS suppressed eosinophil infiltration in the small intestine. However, GOS administration had no effect on the organic acid level or microbial composition in the small and large intestinal digesta.

Improved isolation methods for mucosal leukocytes from small and large intestines in rats.

We optimized the isolation protocol for intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs) and lamina propria lymphocytes (LPLs) from the rat small intestine, and LPLs from even the rat large intestine. The major population of IELs in the small intestine was considered to be from the villus epithelia. The cytotoxicity of mucosal leukocytes was comparable among isolated fractions from both the small and large intestines, regardless of the population differences. Further analyses of the cells collected from other lymphoid tissues demonstrated that CD161(+) cells selectively accumulated in the intestinal lamina propria and did not recirculate through the lymph ducts. Our modified isolation protocol enables the collection of mucosal immune cells from the rat intestines without any deterioration of cell function and could contribute to a better understanding of dietary influences on the mucosal immune system.

Shiga toxin 2eB-transgenic lettuce vaccine is effective in protecting weaned piglets from edema disease caused by Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection.

Porcine edema disease (ED) is a toxemia that is caused by enteric infection with Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) and is associated with high mortality. Since ED occurs most frequently during the weaning period, preweaning vaccination of newborn piglets is required. We developed stx2eB-transgenic lettuce as an oral vaccine candidate against ED and examined its protective efficacy using a piglet STEC infection model. Two serially developed Stx2eB-lettuce strains, 2BN containing ingredient Stx2eB constituting a concentration level of 0.53 mg Stx2eB/g of powdered lettuce dry weight (DW) and 2BH containing ingredient Stx2eB constituting a concentration level of 2.3 mg of Stx2eB/g of powdered lettuce DW, were evaluated in three sequential experiments. Taken the results together, oral administration of Stx2eB-lettuce vaccine was suggested to relieve the pathogenic symptoms of ED in piglets challenged with virulent STEC strain. Our data suggested that Stx2eB-lettuce is a promising first oral vaccine candidate against ED.

Postnatal changes in the expression of genes for cryptdins 1-6 and the role of luminal bacteria in cryptdin gene expression in mouse small intestine.

Although there have been many fascinating studies on cryptdins, the information for each cryptdin isoform was not completely provided. In this study, the postnatal changes in the gene expression of cryptdin 1-6 were evaluated, and the patterns of change were compared between conventional and germ-free mice. Two patterns of postnatal change were observed: gene expression of cryptdins 1, 3 and 6 increased gradually, and that of cryptdins 2 and 5 increased rapidly. Gene expression of cryptdin 4 increased gradually in the ileum but rapidly in the jejunum. Conventional mice showed significantly higher gene expression for all isoforms than germ-free mice. Interestingly, the difference in the gene expression for cryptdin 2, 4 and 5 between the jejunum and ileum seemed to be increased by the presence of the luminal bacteria. The results indicate that cryptdin isoforms develop differently depending on the isoform type, and that the gene expression of all cryptdin isoforms was affected by the presence of the luminal bacteria.

Inclusion of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain TOA5001 in the diet of broilers suppresses the symptoms of coccidiosis by modulating intestinal microbiota.

Coccidiosis is an intestinal parasitic infection and one of the most prevalent and economically damaging diseases of chickens. Furthermore, coccidia-induced mucogenesis promotes secondary colonization by Clostridium perfringens, a major pathogen of chickens that causes necrotic enteritis. Our previous work found that supernatant of a culture of Bacillus amyloliquefaciens strain TOA5001 (BA) inhibited the growth of C. perfringens on Gifu anaerobic broth medium. Accordingly, we evaluated the effectiveness of dietary BA administration in inhibiting C. perfringens colonization of the intestine in broilers that were experimentally infected with coccidia. Ten healthy broilers from a BA-supplemented (2 × 105  colony-forming units/g of feed) broiler group and 10 from a non-treated group were challenged with Eimeria tenella and E. maxima (5000 oocysts of each species/chick) at 28 days old. At 36 days old, five chicks from each group were slaughtered, whereas the remaining five in each group were killed at 49 days old. Dietary BA administration into Eimeria-challenged birds reduced coccidial symptoms such as intestinal lesions. It also modified the cecal microbiota through suppressing C. perfringens and E. coli colonization, and inducing domination of Faecalibacterium prausnitzii, the Lactobacillus group and unknown Lachnospiraceae genera by bacterial DNA-based metagenome analyses. B. amyloliquefaciens TOA5001 supplementation suppressed the symptoms of coccidiosis by modulating cecal microbiota in Eimeria-challenged broilers.

Evaluation of the low dose level of a heat-killed and dried cell preparation of Enterococcus faecalis to prevent porcine edema disease using experimental infection model with enterotoxcemic Escherichia coli in weaning pigs.

Porcine edema disease (ED) is caused by Shiga toxin 2e-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). ED has become frequent in pig farms, and the use of antimicrobials has resulted in the development of antimicrobial-resistant STEC. Accordingly, the use of materials other than antimicrobials is requested for the prevention of ED. Oral administration of a heat-killed and dried cell preparation of Enterococcus faecalis strain EC-12 (EC-12) to weaning pigs was previously demonstrated to decrease animal mortality in a STEC-contaminated farm at 0.05% (w/w) dose level. In this study, pigs experimentally infected with STEC were used as a model for ED to evaluate the low dose level of EC-12 to prevent ED. Fifteen 21-day-old pigs were divided into 5 groups: STEC challenge with the basal diet, STEC challenge with EC-12 supplemented at 0.005, 0.01, or 0.05% (w/w) to the basal diet, and no STEC challenge with the basal diet. The challenge was carried out when the animals were 25, 26, and 27 days old using STEC contained in capsules resistant against gastric digestion. All pigs were euthanized at 32 days of age. The daily weight gain, feed conversion ratio, and palpebral edema were improved by supplementation with 0.05% EC-12, but not by the low dose levels. Accordingly, 0.05% level of supplementation was needed for EC-12 to improve clinical symptoms in weaning piglets infected by STEC.

Improved porcine model for Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli infection by deprivation of colostrum feeding in newborn piglets.

Porcine edema disease (ED) is a toxemia caused by enteric infection with Shiga toxin 2e (Stx2e)-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). ED occurs most frequently during the weaning period and is manifested as emaciation associated with high mortality. In our experimental infection with a specific STEC strain, we failed to cause the suppression of weight gain in piglets, which is a typical symptom of ED, in two consecutive experiments. Therefore, we examined the effects of deprivation of colostrum on the sensitivity of newborn piglets to STEC infection. Neonatal pigs were categorized into two groups: one fed artificial milk instead of colostrum in the first 24 h after birth and then returned to the care of their mother, the other breastfed by a surrogate mother until weaning. The oral challenge with 1011  colony-forming units of virulent STEC strain on days 25, 26 and 27 caused suppression of weight gain and other ED symptoms in both groups, suggesting that colostrum deprivation from piglets was effective in enhancing susceptibility to STEC. Two successive STEC infection experiments using colostrum-deprived piglets reproduced this result, leading us to conclude that this improved ED piglet model is more sensitive to STEC infection than the previously established models.

Experimental infection of enterotoxemic Escherichia coli associated with porcine edema disease and its pathologic characteristics in the intestine.

Edema disease (ED) has become frequent in Japan, but no effective method for experimental infection has been developed. We report here the use of a capsule that resistant against gastric digestion to induce the ED in piglets. Four 21-day-old piglets were used. Shiga toxin 2e-producing Escherichia coli (STEC) cell pellet was encapsulated and administered orally. Two pigs received 1.0x10(10) CFU for two days, and the others received 3.9x10(8) CFU for three days. The high-dose group caused the typical clinical ED signs (palpebral edema or neurologic impairment). Eosinophil infiltration, swollen lymphoid follicles, and edema were observed in the ileum. The kidney had the thrombus in the glomerulus.

Insulin-mediated effects of alcohol intake on serum lipid levels in a general population: the Hisayama Study.

To determine whether the beneficial effects of alcohol on lipid concentrations are mediated by insulin levels, we performed a cross-sectional analysis in 2103 nondiabetic men and women aged 40 to 79 years from a general Japanese population in Hisayama. The multivariate-adjusted sum of fasting and 2-hour postloading insulin levels and the insulin resistance index significantly decreased with elevating alcohol intake levels in men (P < 0.01 for the trend) but not in women. No dose-response relations between alcohol intake and glucose levels were observed. In both sexes, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDLC) significantly increased with elevated alcohol intake (P < 0.01), whereas total cholesterol and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) were inversely correlated with alcohol intake (P < 0.01). In contrast, triglycerides (TGs) levels in men showed a J-shaped relation to alcohol dose, with moderate drinkers (10-29 g/d) having the lowest levels. Estimates using regression models indicated that for men, 10% of the alcohol-induced increase in HDLC and 2% of the alcohol-induced decrease in LDLC were insulin mediated. It was also estimated for male subjects that 36% of the reduction in TGs due to low to moderate alcohol intake was mediated by low levels of insulin and that this insulin-mediated pathway reduced the positive alcohol-TG relation by 13% in cases of moderate to heavy drinking. Our data suggest that regular alcohol consumption dose-dependently increased insulin sensitivity among male nondiabetics, but the insulin-mediated beneficial effects of alcohol on lipid concentrations were relatively small.

An improved technique for the histological evaluation of the mucus-secreting status in rat cecum.

Mucin secreted into the alimentary tract often forms a mucus layer on the mucosa and is believed to protect the underlying epithelium against various factors in the lumen. We developed an improved histological technique for the evaluation of the mucus layer in the rat cecum. We used this technique to compare the effect of three nonstarch poly- and oligosaccharides on the status of mucus layer. Rats were divided into four groups (fiber-free [FF], cellulose [CEL], fructooligosaccharide [FOS], or guar gum [GG]). The frozen cecum with its contents was cut into cross-sections (5 mm thick) and fixed overnight in half-strength Bouin's solution. The sections were then transferred to 80% ethanol for 24 h. After being stained with alcian green, the mucus layers were clearly visualized in thin sections of the rat cecum, except for those that received FOS where the mucus layer had disappeared; the strong signal of mucus was seen in the cecal digesta of FOS-fed rats. Our histological method successfully provided information about the status of mucus layer that is important for an assessment of the epithelial state in the intestine.

Stimulation of butyrate production in the large intestine of weaning piglets by dietary fructooligosaccharides and its influence on the histological variables of the large intestinal mucosa.

Fructooligosaccharides (FOS) reach the large intestine and are fermented into short-chain fatty acids (SCFA), lactate, and carbon dioxide. As the major energy source for the epithelial cells of the large intestine, n-butyrate stimulates the proliferation of cells as well as mineral and water absorption from the lumen. We examined the effect of dietary FOS supplementation on luminal SCFA production and its influence on the morphometrical variables of mucosa of the large intestine in commercially available pigs. Six weaning piglets were used. After 7 d of adaptation, three pigs were given a test diet containing FOS (10%) ad libitum for 10 d. The other three remained on the basal diet and were used as controls. At the end of the experiment, their large intestines were removed, and the cecum, gyri centripetales, gyri centrifugales, and rectum were separated. The contents of each portion were collected and measured for SCFA concentration, pH, and moisture. A micrometer was used to measure the crypt depth. The numbers of epithelial and mitotic cells in the crypt columns were also counted. The concentration of SCFA was significantly higher in piglets fed FOS than in the controls. The concentration of n-butyrate was markedly stimulated by FOS. The number of epithelial. mitotic, and mucin-containing cells was higher in piglets fed FOS than in the controls. Accordingly, the crypt depth was larger in the FOS-fed piglets. The luminal n-butyrate concentration showed a significantly positive correlation with the crypt depth and the number of epithelial, mitotic, and mucin-containing cells.

Microscopic structure of the large intestinal mucosa in piglets during an antibiotic-associated diarrhea.

Antibiotic-associated diarrhea (AAD) is caused by the treatments of broad-spectrum antimicrobials that seriously affect the activity and composition of the large intestinal microflora. The pathogenic bacteria or low concentration of short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) has been repeatedly discussed in relation to AAD. Recently, we reported the detection of a large amount of succinate and lactate in the diarrheal feces in AAD-induced piglets. In this study, we investigated histologically the large intestinal mucosa in AAD-induced piglets, in which succinate and lactate were accumulated. AAD was induced in the piglets by an oral dose of polymyxin B sulfate (PL) or by an intra-muscular injection of enrofloxacin (ERFX). When the piglets were defecating diarrheal feces with a high concentration of succinate and/or lactate, the large intestine was removed and separated into four segments (cecum, gyri centripetales, gyri centrifugales, and rectum). Healthy piglets were used as the control. In the AAD-induced piglets, the lamina propria was edematous in the gyri centripetales. Piglets treated with ERFX were also edematous in gyri centrifugales. These edematous lamina propria contained larger amounts of inflammatory cells than observed in control tissues. ERFX-treated piglets had a more shallow crypt than PL-treated and control piglets. The mucosal tissue of the large intestine was more seriously damaged in the ERFX- than in the PL-treated piglets, which might have been caused by the high succinate and low SCFAs concentration in the digesta.

The preventive effect of Bacillus subtilus strain DB9011 against experimental infection with enterotoxcemic Escherichia coli in weaning piglets.

Porcine edema disease (ED) is caused by Shiga toxin 2e-producing Escherichia coli (STEC). Post-weaned piglets often suffer from ED as a result of intestinal infection with STEC, which causes impaired growth performance and high mortality. Antimicrobial therapy is a curative treatment for piglets infected with STEC, but the emergence of antimicrobial-resistant STEC has become a serious problem for Japanese pig farmers. Therefore, an alternative strategy other than antimicrobial therapy is needed for the prevention or treatment of ED. In this study, we evaluated the effect of oral administration of Bacillus subtilis DB9011 (DB9011) to prevent the experimental infection of STEC in weaning piglets. Eight 21-day-old piglets were divided into two groups: STEC challenge with the basal diet, and STEC challenge with DB9011 supplemented diet. The challenge was carried out when the animals were 25, 26 and 27 days old using STEC contained in capsules resistant against gastric digestion. All pigs were euthanized at 36 days of age. DB9011 improved the symptoms of ED and decreased the number of STEC in the ileal digesta and feces. Accordingly, oral administration of DB9011 in weaned piglets prevents ED through the suppression of the growth of STEC in the ileum.

Correlation between villous height and the disaccharidase activity in the small intestine of piglets from nursing to growing.

Early weaning induces villous atrophy in the small intestine. Reduction in villous height in the small intestine after weaning is associated with reductions in brush-border enzyme activity. Body weight gain after weaning is, therefore, correlated with villous height. This evidence suggested that the maintenance of small intestinal structure and function after weaning is important for the growth of young pigs. On the other hand, the relationship between villous height and the activity of the digestive enzymes in the small intestine has not been studied with piglets from the suckling to the growing period. Five suckling piglets, four piglets in the proximal stage of weaning, four pigs in the distal stage of weaning and four growing pigs were used. The activities of lactase (LA), sucrase (SA) and maltase (MA) were determined. LA showed a positive correlation with villous height in weaning. SA and MA were positively correlated with villous height from suckling to growing. In a previous study, non-infectious dyspeptic diarrhea was frequently observed in growing piglets on Japanese swine farms. The maintenance of villous height to retain disaccharidase activity may prevent dyspepsic diarrhea in this stage.

Dietary sodium gluconate protects rats from large bowel cancer by stimulating butyrate production.

Butyrate has an antitumorigenic effect on colorectal cancer cell lines. Dietary sodium gluconate (GNA) promotes butyrate production in the large intestine. Accordingly, we examined the effect of dietary GNA on tumorigenesis in the large intestine in rats. Male Fisher-344 rats (n = 32) were divided into 4 groups: 2 diets (with or without 50 g GNA/kg basal diet) x 2 treatments (with or without carcinogen administration). Colonic tumors were induced by 3 intraperitoneal injections of azoxymethane (15 mg/kg body wt, 1 time/wk) and dietary deoxycholic acid (2 g/kg basal diet). The experiment was conducted for 33 wk except for a few rats. Ingestion of GNA increased cecal butyrate concentration at the end of experiment (P < 0.01). No tumor development occurred in the untreated groups. Ingestion of GNA decreased the incidence of tumors in rats administered the carcinogen (37.5 vs. 100%, P < 0.05). Ingestion of GNA also decreased the mean number of tumors per rat (0.5 +/- 0.8 vs. 2.8 +/- 1.5, P < 0.01). beta-Catenin accumulation and TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL) positive cells in tumors were histochemically examined. The results of this study suggested that the antitumorigenic effect of GNA may involve the stimulation of apoptosis through enhanced butyrate production in the large intestine.

Alcohol intake and future incidence of hypertension in a general Japanese population: the Hisayama study.

BACKGROUND: The question remains as to whether light to moderate alcohol intake is associated with an increased risk of hypertension. METHODS: In 1978, a total of 1101 residents (433 men and 668 women) in a subrural community, Hisayama, in Japan, aged 40 years or more, with normal blood pressure, who were free from cardiovascular disease, were enrolled in a 10-year follow-up study. Inquiries regarding regular drinking were made in an interview based on a self-administered questionnaire. RESULTS: During the follow-up, 101 men and 166 women developed hypertension (blood pressure > or =140/90 mm Hg or use of antihypertensive drugs). The age-adjusted incidence of hypertension among current male drinkers increased significantly even with a light intake of alcohol (<23 g of ethanol per day). In women, the incidence was also significantly higher in drinkers than in nondrinkers. In multivariate analysis, alcohol intake, in addition to age and body mass index, remained a significant independent risk factor for hypertension in men, but not in women. In men, all three categories of current drinking were found to be significant risk factors for the development of hypertension after adjustment for age and body mass index [relative risk (RR), 2.00; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.07-3.76 for light drinking compared with nondrinking; RR, 2.60; 95% CI, 1.50-4.49 for moderate drinking (23-45 g per day); and RR, 2.24; 95% CI, 1.26-3.99 for heavy drinking (> or =46 g/day)]. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that alcohol intake, even light drinking, is a predictor of future hypertension among Japanese men.