Effects of repeated oral intake of a quercetin-containing supplement on allergic reaction: a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel-group study.

OBJECTIVE: The present study aimed to investigate the effects of a 4-week repeated oral intake of a quercetin-containing supplement on allergen-induced reactions and relative subjective symptoms in Japanese adults who complained of discomfort in the eyes and nose. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: A randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blind parallel-group study was conducted on 66 subjects (22-78 years old) with allergic symptoms of pollinosis. The subjects were given the test product (200 mg quercetin) or the control product (vehicle) daily for 4 weeks. The Japanese Rhino-conjunctivitis Quality of Life Questionnaire (JRQLQ) scores and other tests were examined in each subject before and after starting the product intake. A new food-grade bioavailable formulation of quercetin, Quercetin phytosome®, was used. RESULTS: At 1:4 weeks after the start of the supplement intake, several scores of JRQLQ, including allergic symptoms, such as eye itching, sneezing, nasal discharge, and sleep disorder, were significantly improved in the quercetin-containing supplement group compared with the placebo group. Furthermore, the quality of life of these subjects significantly improved based on the original questionnaire and visual analog scale. Minor notable adverse effects were noted throughout the study. CONCLUSIONS: The results indicated that oral intake of quercetin-containing supplements might effectively reduce some allergy symptoms derived from pollinosis.

Effect of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 on loose stools in healthy volunteers.

Ingestion of Bacillus subtilis C-3102 spores (C-3102) has relieved the symptoms of diarrhoea in piglets and changed the composition of gut microbiota in humans. Recently, it was suggested that the composition of the human gut microbiota affects stool consistency. In this study, a double-blind, randomised, placebo-controlled trial was conducted to assess the preventive effects of chronic diarrhoea in healthy volunteers with loose stools by ingestion of C-3102. The results showed that oral doses of C-3102 tablets significantly decreased the Bristol Stool Scale score and stool frequency, and also significantly improved abdominal sounds. With regard to gut microbiota, the relative abundance of Lachnospira, Actinomyces and SMB53 were significantly changed. This study shows that C-3102 could be effective for treating loose stools (Trial registration: UMIN000022583, http://tinyurl.com/ya4refqn ).

Small bowel transplantation. The effect of intraportal donor-specific transfusion 24 hours pretransplant and low-dose cyclosporine.

We tested the synergy of donor-specific transfusion (DST) and cyclosporine (CsA) in small bowel transplantation by comparing the systemic versus portal route of DST administration in a fully allogeneic rat model. The protocol is relevant to cadaveric transplantation by conditioning only 24 hr before allografting. A 1 ml intraportal DST day -1 and low-dose CsA significantly prolonged survival (MST 53.7 +/- 17.5 days) when compared with systemic DST day -1 and low-dose CsA (MST 18.4 +/- 5.6 days). This suggests that intraportal DST can be beneficial in cadaveric SBT, as only a 24-hr induction period is necessary. We speculate that antigen trapping in the liver and interaction of the DST with Kupffer cells is central to the portal DST effect.

[Binocular functions in amblyopia and strabismus].

Regarding the changing trends in the concept, definition, etiological classification, and criteria for diagnosis of amblyopia, we reviewed a total of 4,693 cases of amblyopia seen during the past 37 years. The amblyopia was divided into four types: strabismic, anisometropic, ametropic, and form vision deprivative. There was a definite trend for the incidence to decrease and for the diagnosis to be made during earlier age in recent years. Although favorable recovery of visual acuity is obtained after treatment of amblyopia and strabismus, there are difficulties in obtaining good binocular functions in early-onset amblyopia and strabismus. This feature was evaluated in regard to motion perception asymmetry (MPA) and binocular depth from motion (DFM). Many cases of early-onset amblyopia and strabismus showed no disparity stereopsis, or position stereopsis, in spite of the presence of DFM. The MPA appeared to be closely related to early-onset esotropia regardless of age, while it disappeared and motion perception became symmetric 4 to 5 months after birth in normal infants. The DFM seemed to play an important role in maintaining good motor alignment for several years after surgery. I developed a checkerboard pattern stimulator in 1978. This method proved to be useful in developing binocular functions and motor alignment by applying simultaneous bifoveolar stimulation and anti-suppression. Extensive exposure to the stimulation was essential for therapeutic success.

Continuous passive motion applied to whole joints stimulates chondrocyte biosynthesis of PRG4.

UNLABELLED: Continuous passive motion (CPM) is currently a part of patient rehabilitation regimens after a variety of orthopedic surgical procedures. While CPM can enhance the joint healing process, the direct effects of CPM on cartilage metabolism remain unknown. Recent in vivo and in vitro observations suggest that mechanical stimuli can regulate articular cartilage metabolism of proteoglycan 4 (PRG4), a putative lubricating and chondroprotective molecule found in synovial fluid and at the articular cartilage surface. OBJECTIVES: (1) Determine the topographical variation in intrinsic cartilage PRG4 secretion. (2) Apply a CPM device to whole joints in bioreactors and assess effects of CPM on PRG4 biosynthesis. METHODS: A bioreactor was developed to apply CPM to bovine stifle joints in vitro. Effects of 24h of CPM on PRG4 biosynthesis were determined. RESULTS: PRG4 secretion rate varied markedly over the joint surface. Rehabilitative joint motion applied in the form of CPM regulated PRG4 biosynthesis, in a manner dependent on the duty cycle of cartilage sliding against opposing tissues. Specifically, in certain regions of the femoral condyle that were continuously or intermittently sliding against meniscus and tibial cartilage during CPM, chondrocyte PRG4 synthesis was higher with CPM than without. CONCLUSIONS: Rehabilitative joint motion, applied in the form of CPM, stimulates chondrocyte PRG4 metabolism. The stimulation of PRG4 synthesis is one mechanism by which CPM may benefit cartilage and joint health in post-operative rehabilitation.

[Continuous intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy for inoperable retroperitoneal liposarcoma--a case report].

A case of an inoperable recurrent retroperitoneal liposarcoma, histologically diagnosed as being a mixed myxoid type and a round cell type, which was treated by continuous intra-arterial infusion chemotherapy, is reported. The authors applied this treatment method using adriamycin and 5-FU via the feeding arteries, i.e., the superior and the inferior mesenteric arteries. The tumor showed remarkable regression with no severe complications, even though general chemotherapy using adriamycin proved to be ineffective. This infusion method was thus evaluated as highly effective.