Combined resistant dextrin and low-dose Mg oxide administration increases short-chain fatty acid and lactic acid production by gut microbiota.

The consumption of resistant dextrin improves constipation, while its fermentation and degradation by the intestinal microbiota produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFA) and lactic acid, which have beneficial effects on host metabolism and immunity. Mg oxide (MgO) is an important mineral that is used to treat constipation. Therefore, resistant dextrin and MgO are often administered together to improve constipation. However, limited information is available regarding the effect of this combination on SCFA and lactic acid production. Crl:CD1(ICR) mice were fed a Mg-free diet with 5% resistant dextrin, followed by oral administration of MgO. We collected the cecum contents and measured SCFA and lactic acid levels. Additionally, the human subjects received resistant dextrin and Mg supplements as part of their habitual diet. The results of this study demonstrate that intestinal microbiota cannot promote SCFA and lactic acid production in the absence of Mg. In a mouse model, low doses of MgO promoted the production of SCFA and lactic acid, whereas high doses decreased their production. In humans, the combined consumption of resistant dextrin and Mg supplements increased the production of SCFA and lactic acid. The production of SCFA and lactic acid from dietary fiber may be augmented by the presence of MgO.

Association of breakfast styles such as Japanese, Western, and cereals with sleeping habits, eating habits, and lifestyle in preschool and elementary school children.

Introduction: In Japan, breakfast styles are categorized into five groups; Japanese breakfast (JB; rice and miso soup), Western breakfast (WB; bread and milk), Japanese-Western breakfast (J-WB; alternative daily serving), cereal breakfast (CB), and breakfast skipping. In our recent studies, breakfast style was highly associated with the daily sleep-wake phase (chronotype), and healthy eating habits. In contrast with other breakfast style consumers, JB-consumers were positively associated with the morning chronotype and healthy eating habits such as a high consumption of a variety of protein sources, vegetables, and dietary fibers, and low consumption of sweetened juices. These previous studies included only adult participants; hence, in the current study, we investigated whether similar observations can be made in children. Methods: Preschool (aged 3-5 years) and elementary school children (6-8 years) (N = 6,104, 49.87% boys, 50.13% girls, mean body mass index 15.39 ± 0.03 kg/m2 for preschoolers and percentage of overweight -2.73 ± 0.22 for elementary school children) participated in this cross-sectional online survey on lifestyle, including eating and sleep habits, through their mother's responses. Results: The results showed that the morning-evening type index values (chronotype indicator, smaller indicates morning type) were negatively correlated with JB intake (-0.05, p < 0.01) and positively correlated with WB (0.03, p < 0.05) and CB intake (0.06, p < 0.01), suggesting that the JB group exhibited the morning chronotype and the WB and CB groups exhibited the evening chronotype. The JB group consumed a variety of protein sources (mean ± SE; days/week) with more frequency (fish 2.95 ± 0.038 p < 0.001, soy 3.55 ± 0.043 p < 0.001, egg 3.82 ± 0.044 p < 0.001) compared with the WB group (fish 2.58 ± 0.033, soy 3.00 ± 0.038, egg 3.49 ± 0.039). On the other hand, the JB group consumed snacks (5.48 ± 0.042 p < 0.001) and sweetened juice (2.50 ± 0.050 p < 0.001) less frequently than the WB group (snacks; 5.80 ± 0.037 and sweetened juice; 2.74 ± 0.049). Discussion: JB-eating children with a morning chronotype exhibited better sleep and eating habits than WB-eating children with an evening type pattern. The results suggest that JB eating habits may be associated with good eating and sleeping lifestyles, even among preschool and elementary school children.

Ultrasound-Guided Glossopharyngeal Nerve Block for an Awake Intubation in a Patient Predicted to Have a Difficult Airway: A Case Report.

A peripheral nerve block may be used to improve patient tolerance of awake intubation. During an awake intubation, the glossopharyngeal, superior laryngeal, and recurrent laryngeal nerves can mediate discomfort, pain, cough, glottic closure, and gag reflexes. We describe the use of ultrasound-guided superior laryngeal, recurrent laryngeal, and glossopharyngeal nerve blocks to facilitate awake intubation in a patient predicted to have a difficult airway. The glossopharyngeal nerve block was performed via the parapharyngeal space approach targeting the distal glossopharyngeal nerve. This procedure resulted in an uneventful awake intubation.

Effects of Additional Granola in Children's Breakfast on Nutritional Balance, Sleep and Defecation: An Open-Label Randomized Cross-Over Trial.

The contribution of breakfast to daily nutrient intake is low, particularly among children, at only about 20%, and it is difficult to determine whether children are receiving adequate nutrients at breakfast. Although alterations in breakfast content are considered to affect lifestyle habits such as sleep and defecation, there have been few intervention studies in children. The relationship between nutritional balance, dietary intake, and lifestyle habits in children remains unclear. We conducted an intervention study on elementary school children's breakfasts and observed the effects of improving the nutritional balance of breakfast on sleep parameters and defecation status. An intervention study was conducted with 26 elementary school students in Tokyo. The study design was an open-label randomized cross-over trial. Subjects consumed their usual breakfast during the control period and a granola snack containing soy protein in addition to their usual breakfast during the intervention period. Questionnaires regarding breakfast, sleep, and bowel movements were administered during each period. Based on the answers to these questionnaires, we compared the nutritional sufficiency of macronutrients, vitamins, and minerals (29 in total), as well as changes in sleep parameters and defecation status. The additional consumption of granola snacks increased the breakfast intake of 15 nutrients. The changes were particularly significant for iron, vitamin B1, vitamin D, and dietary fiber. During the intervention, sleep duration was decreased and wake-up time became earlier. In terms of defecation, the intervention did not change stool characteristics, but the frequency of defecations per week increased on average by 1.2 per week. These results suggest that the nutritional balance and the amount of breakfast are linked to sleep and defecation and that improving breakfast content can lead to lifestyle improvements in children.

Effects of intake of four types of snack with different timings on postprandial glucose levels after dinner.

PURPOSE: It has been reported that the consumption of fruit granola (FG), mulberry leaves, and barley cookies as an afternoon snack suppresses the postprandial increase in glucose levels at dinner. However, there have been no reports on the second-meal effect of snacking on popular snacks, such as potato chips (PC), roasted sweet potato (SP), and black beans (BB), or on the interval between snacking and dinner. METHOD: The present study was an open-label randomized crossover trial of five study groups (PC, SP, BB, FG, and no snack) regarding the second-meal effects with different intervals between snacks and dinner. The subjects consumed prescribed meals for lunch and dinner at 12:00 and 19:00, and a snack fixed at 838 kJ (= 200 kcal) at 15:00 or 17:00. RESULTS: When the participants snacked at 15:00, the postprandial glucose elevation at dinner was suppressed in the FG and SP groups, and the area under the curve (AUC) was also low. When they snacked at 17:00, the postprandial glucose elevation was suppressed in all the groups. The AUCs for PC, FG, and SP were lower than those for no snacking. On the other hand, carbohydrate intake increased with snacking, but the total AUC of snacks and dinner did not differ in any of the groups. The duration of hyperglycemia decreased with snack intake, as did the glucose amplitude. CONCLUSION: We believe that the intake of carbohydrates and soluble fiber in snacks is an important factor in the second-meal effect at dinner. These results will contribute to the development of snacking and research into the second-meal effect.

Effect of lunch with different calorie and nutrient balances on dinner-induced postprandial glucose variability.

AIM: This study aimed to examine the effect of lunches with different caloric contents (Study 1) and nutrient balances (Study 2) on dinner-induced postprandial glucose fluctuation. METHODS: Energy trial (Study 1): Thirteen healthy young participants (n = 10 men, n = 3 women) were investigated to determine the effects of different caloric intakes at lunch on glucose level variability. The study was comprised of four trials (no lunch, low lunch, standard lunch, and high-energy lunch). Energy balance trial (Study 2): Fourteen healthy young adults (n = 8 men, n = 6 women) were investigated to determine the effect of different nutrient balances during lunch on glucose level variability. The study consisted of four trials (standard, protein-rich, fat-rich, and carbohydrate-rich). In studies 1 and 2, each trial was spaced at least 24 full hours apart, and breakfast and dinner were tested as meals. The mealtimes for each trial were then aligned. Continuous glucose monitoring was used to assess the blood glucose fluctuations. RESULTS: Study 1: The no-lunch (95% CI 95.5-149.7) and low-energy lunch (95% CI 90.8-143.1) trials had significantly higher values in the incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of postprandial blood glucose at dinner compared to the standard (95% CI 55.4-90.0) and high-energy lunch (95% CI 29.3-54.6) trials (P = 0.006, P = 0.001 vs. none), (P = 0.004, P = 0.001 vs. low-energy trial). Study 2: A significantly higher postprandial blood glucose iAUC for dinner was found in the fat-rich trial (95% CI 58.5-114.0) than that in the protein-rich (95% CI 25.6-63.9) and standard (95% CI 25.6-112.4) trials, (P = 0.006, P = 0.035 vs. fat-rich trial). CONCLUSIONS: Our findings indicate that skipping lunch and low-calorie or high-lipid intake increased postprandial blood glucose levels after dinner.

Analysis of conductive olfactory dysfunction using computational fluid dynamics.

Conductive olfactory dysfunction (COD) is caused by an obstruction in the nasal cavity and is characterized by changeable olfaction. COD can occur even when the olfactory cleft is anatomically normal, and therefore, the cause in these cases remains unclear. Herein, we used computational fluid dynamics to examine olfactory cleft airflow with a retrospective cohort study utilizing the cone beam computed tomography scan data of COD patients. By measuring nasal-nasopharynx pressure at maximum flow, we established a cut-off value at which nasal breathing can be differentiated from combined mouth breathing in COD patients. We found that increased nasal resistance led to mouth breathing and that the velocity and flow rate in the olfactory cleft at maximum flow were significantly reduced in COD patients with nasal breathing only compared to healthy olfactory subjects. In addition, we performed a detailed analysis of common morphological abnormalities associated with concha bullosa. Our study provides novel insights into the causes of COD, and therefore, it has important implications for surgical planning of COD, sleep apnea research, assessment of adenoid hyperplasia in children, and sports respiratory physiology.

Effect of a High Protein Diet at Breakfast on Postprandial Glucose Level at Dinner Time in Healthy Adults.

This study aimed to examine the effect of high protein breakfast diet with or without lunch on the postprandial glucose level during the day. A randomized, crossover design that recruited 12 healthy young participants (three men and nine women) was performed and four trials (normal breakfast + skipped lunch, high protein breakfast + skipped lunch, normal breakfast + lunch, and high protein breakfast + lunch) were conducted in two weeks. During each trial, breakfast, lunch, and dinner on the trial day, and dinner before the trial day, were provided as test meals, and the meal timing was fixed. Continuous glucose monitoring (CGM) was used to assess the blood glucose level during the whole experiment. Incremental area under the curve (iAUC) of the postprandial glucose level was calculated. The results suggested that compared with normal breakfast, high protein breakfast suppressed the 3 h iAUC of postprandial glucose level after breakfast (p < 0.05 or p < 0.0001) and 1.5 h iAUC after lunch (p < 0.01). During lunch, high protein breakfast diet suppressed the dinner and overall day postprandial glucose level (p < 0.05 vs. normal breakfast), but no significant difference was observed when skipping lunch. Our findings indicate that high protein breakfast could suppress the breakfast postprandial glucose level, as well as following lunch and dinner, but this effect on dinner was attenuated when skipping lunch.

Refined Auditory Brainstem Response Measurement Identified Potential Models of Congenital Deafness in Laboratory Mouse Strains.

INTRODUCTION: To detect congenital hearing loss in mice, an objective measure is needed other than mouse behavioral observation. This study aimed to refine the methodology of auditory brainstem response measurement and identify potential congenital hearing loss models in laboratory mouse strains. METHODS: Mice were anesthetized and fitted with head electrodes. Each mouse underwent four ABR measurements according to four testing conditions: A - no chamber; conventional tone; B - chamber; conventional tone; C - no chamber; short tone; D - chamber; short tone. Potential congenital hearing loss models were identified using 10 mice from each strain (C57BL, BALB/c, CH3, ICR, and ddY) through sound-attenuated ABR measurements with short-tone bursts. Potential congenital hearing loss models exhibited hearing thresholds ≥30 dB in both ears. Data were analyzed for normal distribution and variance homogeneity using the D'Agostino-Pearson/Kolmogorov-Smirnov and F value tests, respectively. One-way analysis of variance (ANOVA), with the Tukey-Kramer test, was used to conduct parametric analysis, and the Kruskal-Wallis/Friedman test, with a Dunn's test for post hoc analysis, was used to perform non-parametric analysis. RESULTS: The simultaneous use of a sound-attenuating chamber and short-tone bursts provided clearly defined wave patterns, even at lower sound intensities. Inbred strains, especially C57BL/6 sub-strains, constitute suitable congenital hearing loss models. CONCLUSIONS: Our study shows that environmental factors should be addressed in animal studies of hearing function. Potential congenital hearing loss models may be found amongst commercially available inbred strains.

Clinical and Microbiological Characteristics of Candida guilliermondii and Candida fermentati.

A total of 46 clinical isolates of Candida guilliermondii and Candida famata were reidentified genetically, resulting in 27 C. guilliermondii and 12 Candida fermentati strains. The majority of C. guilliermondii strains, but not C. fermentati strains, were isolated from blood cultures. C. fermentati was more sensitive to antifungals, hydrogen peroxide, and killing by murine macrophages than was C. guilliermondii The C. guilliermondii isolates were echinocandin susceptible in vitro but resistant to micafungin in a murine model of invasive candidiasis.

[Chrono-nutrition and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid].

Circadian clock system has been widely maintained in many spices from prokaryote to mammals. "Circadian" means "approximately day" in Latin, thus circadian rhythm means about 24 hour rhythms. The earth revolves once every 24 hours, and our circadian system has been developed for adjusting to this 24 hour cycles, to get sun light information for getting their foods or for alive in birds or mammals. We have two different circadian systems so-called main oscillator located in the suprachiasmatic nucleus (SCN) of the hypothalamus, and local oscillator located in the various peripheral organ tissues such as liver, kidney and skeletal muscle. The SCN is directly entrained by light-dark information through retinal-hypothalamic tract, and then organizes local clock in peripheral tissues via many pathways including neural and hormonal functions. On the other hand, peripheral local clocks are entrained by feeding, exercise and stress stimuli through several cell signaling. Foods (protein, carbohydrate, and lipid) are important regulator of circadian clocks in peripheral tissues. Thus, controlling the timing of food consumption and food composition, a concept known as chrononutrition, is one area of active research to aid recovery from many physiological dysfunctions. In this review, we focus on molecular mechanisms of entrainment and the relationships between circadian clock systems and n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid. We concentrate on experimental data obtained from cells or animals and humans and discuss how these findings translate into clinical research, and we highlight the latest developments in chrononutritional studies.

Fish Oil Accelerates Diet-Induced Entrainment of the Mouse Peripheral Clock via GPR120.

The circadian peripheral clock is entrained by restricted feeding (RF) at a fixed time of day, and insulin secretion regulates RF-induced entrainment of the peripheral clock in mice. Thus, carbohydrate-rich food may be ideal for facilitating RF-induced entrainment, although the role of dietary oils in insulin secretion and RF-induced entrainment has not been described. The soybean oil component of standard mouse chow was substituted with fish or soybean oil containing docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and/or eicosapentaenoic acid (EPA). Tuna oil (high DHA/EPA), menhaden oil (standard), and DHA/EPA dissolved in soybean oil increased insulin secretion and facilitated RF-induced phase shifts of the liver clock as represented by the bioluminescence rhythms of PER2::LUCIFERASE knock-in mice. In this model, insulin depletion blocked the effect of tuna oil and fish oil had no effect on mice deficient for GPR120, a polyunsaturated fatty acid receptor. These results suggest food containing fish oil or DHA/EPA is ideal for adjusting the peripheral clock.