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Masticatory function is thought to be related to various eating habits, but it is difficult to evaluate overall masticatory function by assessing complex eating habits. Maximum occlusal force is an important indicator of masticatory function that is affected by age and sex. This preliminary study focused on the maximum occlusal force of young women and their eating habits, excluding food and nutritional factors, and investigated whether individual eating habits and eating habit patterns predict maximum occlusal force. We measured the maximum occlusal force for the whole dentition of 53 healthy young women before they ate lunch. The participants also completed a 12-item questionnaire about their eating habits. Scores were determined from the relationship between each item and increased maximum occlusal force. We found a significant but weak relationship between maximum occlusal force and some questions. The total questionnaire scores for the participants’ eating habits showed an almost normal distribution (mean ± standard deviation: 22.7 ± 2.6, median: 23.0, mode: 23.0, range of total scores: 17–28). The accuracy of the linear regression between the total scores for eating habits and maximum occlusal force was high but not perfect ( β : standardized regression coefficient = 0.527, P < 0.001). Although further research is needed, our findings confirm that eating habit patterns are significantly associated with maximum occlusal force and may help predict occlusal force. Our results provide important information about eating patterns in humans.

We demonstrate label-free imaging of the functional and structural properties of microvascular complex in mice liver. The imaging was performed by a custom-built Jones-matrix based polarization sensitive optical coherence tomography (JM-OCT), which is capable of measuring tissue’s attenuation coefficient, birefringence, and tiny tissue dynamics. Two longitudinal studies comprising a healthy liver and an early fibrotic liver model were performed. In the healthy liver, we observed distinctive high dynamics beneath the vessel at the initial time point (0 h) and reappearance of high dynamics at 32-h time point. In the early fibrotic liver model, we observed high dynamics signal that reveals a clear network vascular structure by volume rendering. Longitudinal time-course imaging showed that these high dynamics signals faded and decreased over time.

Texture information plays a critical role in the rapid perception of scenes, objects, and materials. Here, we propose a novel model in which visual texture perception is essentially determined by the 1st-order (2D-luminance) and 2nd-order (4D-energy) spectra. This model is an extension of the dimensionality of the Filter-Rectify-Filter (FRF) model, and it also corresponds to the frequency representation of the Portilla-Simoncelli (PS) statistics. We show that preserving two spectra and randomizing phases of a natural texture image result in a perceptually similar texture, strongly supporting the model. Based on only two single spectral spaces, this model provides a simpler framework to describe and predict texture representations in the primate visual system. The idea of multi-order spectral analysis is consistent with the hierarchical processing principle of the visual cortex, which is approximated by a multi-layer convolutional network.

Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) derived from Porphyromonas gingivalis ( P . g .), which causes periodontal disease, contributes to the development of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). We investigated the role of Nrf2, an antioxidative stress sensor, in macrophages in the development of NASH induced by LPS from P . g . We generated macrophage-specific Nrf2 gene rescue mice ( Nrf2 -mRes), which express Nrf2 only in macrophages, using the cre/loxp system. Wild-type (WT) mice, whole body Nrf2 -knockout ( Nrf2 -KO) mice, and Nrf2 -mRes mice were fed a high-fat diet for 18 weeks, and LPS from P . g . was administered intraperitoneally for the last 6 weeks. Nrf2 -KO mice developed severe steatohepatitis with liver inflammation and fibrosis compared with WT mice, and steatohepatitis was ameliorated in Nrf2 -mRes mice. The mRNA expressions of Toll-like receptor ( Tlr ) -2 , which activates inflammatory signaling pathways after LPS binding, and α-smooth muscle actin ( αSma ), which promotes hepatic fibrosis, were reduced in Nrf2 -mRes mice compared with Nrf2 -KO mice. The protein levels of LPS-binding protein in livers were increased in Nrf2 -KO mice compared with WT mice; however, the levels were reduced in Nrf2 -mRes mice despite similar numbers of F4/80 positive cells, which reflect macrophage/Kupffer cell infiltration into the livers. Nrf2 in macrophages ameliorates NASH through the increased hepatic clearance of LPS.

The natural environment is filled with a variety of auditory events such as wind blowing, water flowing, and fire crackling. It has been suggested that the perception of such textural sounds is based on the statistics of the natural auditory events. Inspired by a recent spectral model for visual texture perception, we propose a model that can describe the perceived sound texture only with the linear spectrum and the energy spectrum. We tested the validity of the model by using synthetic noise sounds that preserve the two-stage amplitude spectra of the original sound. Psychophysical experiment showed that our synthetic noises were perceived as like the original sounds for 120 real-world auditory events. The performance was comparable with the synthetic sounds produced by McDermott-Simoncelli's model which considers various classes of auditory statistics. The results support the notion that the perception of natural sound textures is predictable by the two-stage spectral signals.

Many studies have identified the risk of polypharmacy, but physiological evidence and methods of evaluation in these studies were poor. The relationship between polypharmacy and heart rate variability in older adults remains unclear. We investigated the relationship between polypharmacy in older adults, including atomic bomb survivors, and heart rate variability. We surveyed 56 older adults who did not need nursing care assistance in the Hiroshima Atomic Bomb Survivors Recuperation Center. Chronic diseases, types of medication, and lifestyle were assessed, and heart rate variability at rest was measured. We calculated heart rate variability indices including standard deviation of normal-to-normal RR intervals (SDNN), total power (TP), and very low frequency (VLF) and analyzed the relationship between the number of daily medication types and heart rate variability indices in older adults. The differences in heart rate variability indices were analyzed using six medications as a cut-off point. Participants included 36 atomic bomb survivors and 20 non-atomic bomb survivors. The mean number of medication types was 3.6±3.4 (mean±standard deviation). SDNN, TP, and VLF decreased with an increased number of medications in all participants (P<0.01). When the standard of polypharmacy was set to more than six types of medications, SDNN, TP, and VLF were significantly lower in older adults who took six or more medications. Additionally, the mean number of medication types among atomic bomb survivors was higher than that of non-atomic bomb survivors (P = 0.008). The SDNN was significantly lower when atomic bomb survivors took six or more medications (P<0.001). We found that a lower heart rate variability in older adults, including atomic bomb survivors, is associated with polypharmacy. We showed physiological evidence of the influence of polypharmacy, which may be important for the healthy life expectancy and prognosis in older adults.

Background The transcription factor nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) inhibits lipid accumulation and oxidative stress in the liver by interfering with lipogenic pathways and inducing antioxidative stress genes. Methods The involvement of Nrf2 in defense against the development of steatohepatitis was studied in an experimental model induced by an atherogenic plus high-fat (Ath + HF) diet. Wild-type (WT) and Nrf2 -null mice were fed the diet. Their specimens were analyzed for pathology as well as for the expression levels of genes involved in fatty acid metabolism and those involved via the Nrf2 transcriptional pathway. Results In Nrf2 -null mice fed the diet, steatohepatitis developed rapidly, leading to precirrhosis. The Ath + HF diet increased hepatic triglyceride levels and changed fatty acid composition in both mouse groups. However, oleic acid (C18:1 n-9) predominated in the livers of Nrf2 -null mice. Correlating well with the pathology, the mRNA levels of the factors involved in fatty acid metabolism ( Lxr , Srebp - 1a , 1c , Acc - 1 , Fas , Scd - 1 , and Fatty acid transporting peptides 1 , 3 , 4 ), the inflammatory cytokine genes ( Tnf - α and IL - 1β ), and the fibrogenesis-related genes ( Tgf - β1 and α - Sma ) were significantly increased in the livers of Nrf2 -null mice fed the diet, compared with the levels of these factors in matched WT mice. Oxidative stress was significantly increased in the livers of Nrf2 -null mice fed the diet. This change was closely associated with the decreased levels of antioxidative stress genes. Conclusions Nrf2 deletion leads to the rapid onset and progression of steatohepatitis induced by an Ath + HF diet, through both up-regulation of co-regulators of fatty acid metabolism and down-regulation of oxidative metabolism regulators in the liver.

Masticatory function is associated with nervous function, including autonomic nervous function, and both functions are influenced by human habits. In a previous preliminary study of 53 young women, we found that eating habit patterns were associated with occlusal force as an indicator of masticatory function. Therefore, we hypothesized that relationships exist between occlusal force, the autonomic nervous system, and eating habit patterns. To test our hypothesis, we analyzed the relationship between heart rate variability measured before and after lunch in 53 young women, and measured and surveyed maximum occlusal force and eating habit patterns, respectively, in these participants. High occlusal force was associated with an increased high-frequency (HF) component (vagal tone index) of the heart rate variability index immediately before lunch (standardized regression coefficient ( ) = 0.417,  = 0.002). Each of the eating habit items surveyed in a questionnaire showed a similar tendency for the HF component immediately before lunch and maximum occlusal force; in particular, \"Habit of eating breakfast\" and \"Number of meals per day\" were significantly associated with both variables. Additionally, total eating habit scores related to higher maximum occlusal force were associated with an increase in the HF component immediately before lunch (  = 0.514,  < 0.001). The maximum occlusal force and the pre-eating HF component values were stratified by total eating habit scores (into low, medium, high categories), and the high scores were significantly higher than the medium or low scores. Occlusal force and the pre-eating cardiac vagal response of individuals were characterized by their common eating habit patterns, indicating that eating habits may be simultaneously associated with the development of masticatory function, nervous system development, and cardiovascular rhythm. Although further research is needed to investigate these relationships in detail, our findings provide insights that will inform the study of physical functions, neurodevelopment, habitual behaviors, and health in humans.

Background Artificial intelligence-based computer-aided detection (AI–CAD) for tuberculosis (TB) has become commercially available and several studies have been conducted to evaluate the performance of AI–CAD for pulmonary tuberculosis (TB) in clinical settings. However, little is known about its applicability to community-based active case-finding (ACF) for TB. Methods We analysed an anonymized data set obtained from a community-based ACF in Cambodia, targeting persons aged 55 years or over, persons with any TB symptoms, such as chronic cough, and persons at risk of TB, including household contacts. All of the participants in the ACF were screened by chest radiography (CXR) by Cambodian doctors, followed by Xpert test when they were eligible for sputum examination. Interpretation by an experienced chest physician and abnormality scoring by a newly developed AI–CAD were retrospectively conducted for the CXR images. With a reference of Xpert-positive TB or human interpretations, receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curves were drawn to evaluate the AI–CAD performance by area under the ROC curve (AUROC). In addition, its applicability to community-based ACFs in Cambodia was examined. Results TB scores of the AI–CAD were significantly associated with the CXR classifications as indicated by the severity of TB disease, and its AUROC as the bacteriological reference was 0.86 (95% confidence interval 0.83–0.89). Using a threshold for triage purposes, the human reading and bacteriological examination needed fell to 21% and 15%, respectively, detecting 95% of Xpert-positive TB in ACF. For screening purposes, we could detect 98% of Xpert-positive TB cases. Conclusions AI–CAD is applicable to community-based ACF in high TB burden settings, where experienced human readers for CXR images are scarce. The use of AI–CAD in developing countries has the potential to expand CXR screening in community-based ACFs, with a substantial decrease in the workload on human readers and laboratory labour. Further studies are needed to generalize the results to other countries by increasing the sample size and comparing the AI–CAD performance with that of more human readers.

Background The transcription factor nuclear factor-E2-related factor-2 (Nrf2) is a key regulator for induction of hepatic antioxidative stress systems. We aimed to investigate whether activation of Nrf2 protects against steatohepatitis. Method Wild-type mice (WT), Nrf2 gene-null mice ( Nrf2 -null) and Keap1 gene-knockdown mice ( Keap1 -kd), which represent the sustained activation of Nrf2, were fed a methionine- and choline-deficient diet (MCDD) for 13 weeks and analyzed. Results In Keap1 -kd fed an MCDD, steatohepatitis did not develop over the observation periods; however, in Nrf2 -null fed an MCDD, the pathological state of the steatohepatitis was aggravated in terms of fatty change, inflammation, fibrosis and iron accumulation. In WT mice fed an MCDD, Nrf2 and antioxidative stress genes regulated by Nrf2 were potently activated in the livers, and in Keap1 -kd, their basal levels were potently activated. Oxidative stress was significantly increased in the livers of the Nrf2 -null and suppressed in the livers of the Keap1 -kd compared to that of WT, based on the levels of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal and malondialdehyde. Iron accumulation was greater in the livers of the Nrf2 -null mice compared to those of the WT mice, and it was not observed in Keap1 -kd. Further, the iron release from the isolated hepatocyte of Nrf2 -null mice was significantly decreased. Sulforaphane, an activator of Nrf2, suppressed the pathological states and oxidative stress in the livers. Conclusions Nrf2 has protective roles against nutritional steatohepatitis through inhibition of hepatic iron accumulation and counteraction against oxidative stress-induced liver injury. Nrf2 activation by pharmaceutical intervention could be a new option for the prevention and treatment of steatohepatitis.