Estimation of the vitamin D (VD) status of pregnant Japanese women based on food intake and VD synthesis by solar UV-B radiation using a questionnaire and UV-B observations.

Although vitamin D (VD; serum 25 hydroxyvitamin D) deficiency (< 20 ng/mL) is widespread among Japanese women, the VD status among pregnant women is unknown. This study aimed to determine the VD status of pregnant Japanese women during different meteorological seasons and to determine the factors controlling VD status. A total of 309 pregnant Japanese women were recruited at 28 weeks of gestation at the gynecology department of a university hospital in Tokyo between August 2018 and October 2019. Blood samples were collected to measure serum 25(OH)D levels. Two questionnaires were completed: a brief self-administered dietary history questionnaire (BDHQ) and an outdoor exposure history questionnaire to determine skin sunlight exposure and the use of sunscreen. Among the recruited subjects, 268 were included in the statistical analysis. The average VD intake from food was 9.0 µg/day, the average VD synthesis from UV-B was 15.2 µg/day, and the average sum of VD intake and nominal VD synthesis was 24.1 µg/day; this exceeded the recommended 2011 Dietary Reference Intake for the USA and Canada (15.0 µg/day). However, the average serum 25(OH)D level (11.4 ng/mL) was very low, indicating widespread VD deficiency. Serum 25(OH)D and VD synthesis by solar UV-B were significantly correlated only during the high UV-B season. The 25(OH)D level was weakly correlated with the VD intake from food in all seasons. We obtained a statistically significant correlation between serum 25(OH)D level and VD intake from food using the BDHQ. We also obtained a statistically significant correlation between the serum 25(OH)D level and VD synthesis from solar UV-B exposure, especially during the high UV-B season. Our logistic regression analysis model predicted VD deficiency in 88.0% of subjects. Our method might be possible to be used to predict the VD status of pregnant Japanese women, although another validation cohort is needed to verify the ability of the estimation equation.

NMR and HPLC profiling of bee pollen products from different countries.

Bee pollen, a beehive product collected from flowers by honeybees, contains over 250 biological substances, and has attracted increasing attention as a functional food. However, commercial bee pollen products are often multifloral, and samples from different countries vary significantly. There is no universal standard for objective quality assessment of bee pollen based on its chemical composition. Here, we report metabolomic analysis of 11 bee pollen samples from Spain, China, and Australia for quality control. The characteristics of the samples depend on the sucrose, nucleoside, amino acid, and flavanol concentrations. Bee pollen samples from Spain and Australia had higher sucrose and adenosine concentrations, whereas those from China had higher trigonelline, uridine, and cytidine concentrations. Interestingly, acetic acid was only detected in samples from China. These components can be used to identify the country of origin. The obtained profiles of the samples will contribute to universal standard development for bee pollen products.

Pup exposure facilitates retrieving behavior via the oxytocin neural system in female mice.

Parental behavior in mammals is innate, but it is also facilitated by social experience, specifically social interactions between the parent and infant. Social interactions with infants also induce the alloparental behavior of virgin animals. Oxytocin (OT) plays an important role in mediating alloparental behavior. Although parental behavior is modulated by the medial preoptic area (MPOA) and adjacent regions, it is unclear how OT acts in these regions as a control mechanism of alloparental behavior promoted by adult-pup interaction. The aim of this study was to investigate the role of OT for facilitating effects of adult-pup interactions on alloparental behavior via neural activity of preoptic area (POA), including MPOA and adjacent area. For this purpose, we conducted behavioral tests and examined the neural activity of the OT system in POA. Virgin female mice that were repeatedly exposed to pups showed shorter retrieving latencies and higher number of c-Fos expressing neurons in POA, particular in lateral preoptic area (LPO) compared to control animals that were exposed to pups only one time. In addition, repeated pup exposure increased the proportion of OT neurons and OTR neurons expressing c-Fos in POA. The concentration of OT also significantly increased in the POA. Finally, infusion of an OT antagonist into the POA area blocked the facilitating effects of repeated pup exposure on retrieving behavior. These results demonstrated that the facilitating effects of repeated pup exposure on alloparental behavior occurred via an organizational role of the OT system.

Female Patients Require a Higher Propofol Infusion Rate for Sedation.

Sedation may minimize physiologic and behavioral stress responses. In our facility, the infusion rate of propofol is adjusted according to the bispectral index (BIS) in all cases of implant-related surgery; multivariate analysis of retrospective data enabled us to extract independent factors that affect the dose of propofol in sedation that are considered useful indicators for achieving adequate sedation. The study population comprised all patients undergoing implant-related surgery under intravenous sedation in Okayama University Hospital from April 2009 to March 2013. The infusion rate of propofol was adjusted to maintain the BIS value at 70-80. The outcome was the average infusion rate of propofol, and potential predictor variables were age, sex, body weight, treatment time, and amount of midazolam. Independent variables that affected the average infusion rate of propofol were extracted with multiple regression analysis. One hundred twenty-five subjects were enrolled. In the multiple regression analysis, female sex was shown to be significantly associated with a higher average infusion rate of propofol. Females may require a higher infusion rate of propofol than males to achieve adequate sedation while undergoing implant-related surgery.

Effect of a low dose of midazolam on high blood pressure in dental patients: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled, two-centre study.

Some patients have transient hypertension before dental treatment as a result of anxiety and stress. Midazolam is an anxiolytic, and thought to be effective for the management of this sort of transient hypertension. We have evaluated in a randomised, controlled trial whether a low dose of midazolam can lower blood pressure in dental patients to an acceptable level without excessive sedation. Suitable patients were randomised to be given midazolam (trial group) or physiological saline (control group) intravenously. Blood pressure, heart rate, degree of anxiety, and amount of sedation were measured before and after injection. After injection, blood pressure in the trial group significantly decreased to clinically acceptable levels compared with controls. The degree of anxiety in the trial group was also significantly less than that in the control group, but there were no significant differences in sedation. These results suggest that injection of a low dose of midazolam stabilises the blood pressure of dental patients with transient hypertension.

cDNA cloning of the immunoglobulin heavy chain genes in banded houndshark Triakis scyllium.

In this study, cDNAs encoding the secreted forms of the immunoglobulin (Ig) heavy chains of IgM, IgNAR, and IgW were cloned from the banded houndshark Triakis scyllium. Two clones for the IgM heavy chains encoded 569 and 570 amino acids, whose conserved (C) region showed 47-70% amino acid identities to those reported in other cartilaginous fish. Four clones for the IgNAR encoded 673-670 amino acids with conserved Ig-superfamily domains. The IgNAR C region showed 56-69% amino acid identities to those so far reported. High-throughput sequencing revealed that in most of the IgNAR sequences, the two variable regions (CDR1 and CDR3) each possess a cysteine residue. Three types of IgW were identified; one contained Ig-superfamily domains that are in other cartilaginous fish, one lacks the 3rd domain in the constant region, and one lacks the 3rd to 5th domains. Despite these differences, the IgW isoforms clustered with IgWs of other cartilaginous fishes and the C regions showed 47-89% amino acid identities. mRNAs for IgM and IgNAR were detected in various tissues, while IgW mRNA was mainly detected in pancreas. The banded hounded shark also has IgM, IgW and IgNAR as well as the other cartilaginous fish with unique IgW isoform.

Positive correlation between maternal serum coenzyme Q10 levels and infant birth weight.

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between the level of maternal serum coenzyme Q10 (CoQ10), which is a lipid-soluble antioxidant, maternal body weight gain, fat mass gain, and infant birth weight. A longitudinal observational study was conducted with 50 healthy pregnant women (average age: 31.1 years, average body mass index (BMI): 21.3 kg/m(2) at prepregnancy) at each trimester. CoQ10 levels were measured by high performance liquid chromatography. Maternal weight and body composition were measured by a bioelectrical impedance analysis. The CoQ10 levels significantly increased throughout pregnancy from the first trimester to the third trimester (P < 0.001), and correlated with not only the serum cholesterol levels (P < 0.01) but also with the serum acetoacetic acid levels (P < 0.05) in the third trimester. The CoQ10 levels correlated with the maternal weight gain (P < 0.05) and fat mass gain (P < 0.05) from the second to the third trimester, after adjusting for lipid markers, age, and smoking habits. The level of CoQ10 during the third trimester was also significantly associated with the infant birth weight (P < 0.05) after adjusting for gestational age, maternal prepregnancy BMI, and smoking habits. Therefore, it is concluded that the level of maternal CoQ10 is positively associated with fetal growth, balancing rapid metabolic changes in the last half of a normal pregnancy.