BackgroundThis study investigated the effect of fermented milk supplementation on glucose metabolism associated with muscle damage after acute exercise in humans.MethodsEighteen healthy young men participated in each of the three trials of the study: rest, exercise with placebo, and exercise with fermented milk. In the exercise trials, subjects carried out resistance exercise consisting of five sets of leg and bench presses at 70–100% 12 repetition maximum. Examination beverage (fermented milk or placebo) was taken before and after exercise in double-blind method. On the following day, we conducted an analysis of respiratory metabolic performance, blood collection, and evaluation of muscle soreness.ResultsMuscle soreness was significantly suppressed by the consumption of fermented milk compared with placebo (placebo, 14.2 ± 1.2 score vs. fermented milk, 12.6 ± 1.1 score, p < 0.05). Serum creatine phosphokinase was significantly increased by exercise, but this increase showed a tendency of suppression after the consumption of fermented milk. Exercise significantly decreased the respiratory quotient (rest, 0.88 ± 0.01 vs. placebo, 0.84 ± 0.02, p < 0.05), although this decrease was negated by the consumption of fermented milk (0.88 ± 0.01, p < 0.05). Furthermore, exercise significantly reduced the absorption capacity of serum oxygen radical (rest, 6.9 ± 0.4 μmol TE/g vs. placebo, 6.0 ± 0.3 μmol TE/g, p < 0.05), although this reduction was not observed with the consumption of fermented milk (6.2 ± 0.3 μmol TE/g).ConclusionThese results suggest that fermented milk supplementation improves glucose metabolism and alleviates the effects of muscle soreness after high-intensity exercise, possibly associated with the regulation of antioxidant capacity.

Colorectal cancer was the third most commonly diagnosed malignant tumor and the fourth leading cause of cancer deaths worldwide in 2012. A human colorectal cancer cell line, RCM-1, was established from a colon cancer tissue diagnosed as a well-differentiated rectum adenocarcinoma. RCM-1 cells spontaneously form "domes" (formerly designated "ducts") resembling villiform structures. Two sulphur-containing compounds from Cucumis melo var. conomon (Katsura-uri, or Japanese pickling melon), referred to as

Correlations of calves' temperament with carcass traits were estimated to clarify the genetic relationships between them in Japanese Black cattle. The temperament records for 3128 calves during auction at a calf market were scored on a scale of 1 (calm) to 5 (nervous) as temperament score (TS), and the TS were divided into two groups (TSG): TS 1 and 2 comprised TSG 1, and 3 to 5 constituted TSG 2. Carcass data were obtained from 33 552 fattened cattle. A threshold animal model was used for analyzing the underlying liability for TSG, whereas a linear one was used for TS and carcass traits. The heritability estimates for TS and TSG were 0.12 and 0.11, respectively. On the other hand, moderate to high heritability estimates were obtained for carcass traits (0.40 to 0.68). The temperament scores were negatively correlated with carcass weight, rib thickness and subcutaneous fat thickness (-0.13 to -0.59). In contrast, weak to moderate positive correlations were found between the temperament scores and rib eye area or yield estimate (0.16 to 0.45). The temperament scores and beef marbling score had no correlation. These results showed that it is possible to improve temperament and carcass traits simultaneously.

In this study, we compared the developmental ability of somatic cell nuclear transfer (SCNT) embryos reconstructed with three bovine somatic cells that had been synchronized in G0-phase (G0-SCNT group) or early G1-phase (eG1-SCNT group). Furthermore, we investigated the production efficiency of cloned offspring for NT embryos derived from these donor cells. The G0-phase and eG1-phase cells were synchronized, respectively, using serum starvation and antimitotic reagent treatment combined with shaking of the plate containing the cells (shake-off method). The fusion rate in the G0-SCNT groups (64.2 ± 1.8%) was significantly higher than that of eG1-SCNT groups (39.2 ± 1.9%) (P < 0.05), but the developmental rates to the blastocyst stage of SCNT embryos per fused oocytes were similar for all groups. The overall production efficiency of the clone offspring in eG1-SCNT groups (12.7%) per recipient cow was higher than that in G0-SCNT groups (3%) (P < 0.05). The mean birth weight of cloned calves and the average calving score in the G0-SCNT groups (48.1 ± 3.4 kg and 3.3 ± 0.3, respectively) was significantly higher (P < 0.05) than those of eG1-SCNT groups (37.2 ± 2.1 kg and 2.3 ± 0.2, respectively). Results of this study indicate that synchronization of donor cells in eG1-phase using the shake-off method improved the overall production efficiency of the clone offspring per transferred embryo.

Endogenous nicotine was confirmed to be present in tea plants (Camellia sinensis L.) by liquid chromatography-tandem mass spectrometry of tea samples from tea-producing regions in six Asian countries. All samples contained nicotine (0.011–0.694 μg g−1 dry weight). Nicotine contents remained constant during manufacturing of green, oolong and black teas, implying that nicotine is stable against heating, drying, enzymatic oxidation and mechanical damage during processing. Flower buds and seeds of cultivar Yabukita also contained nicotine (0.030–0.041 μg g−1 dry weight). A comparison of two cultivars revealed that higher nicotine contents were found in the black tea cultivar Benifuki. All plant parts of hydroponic Yabukita contained nicotine (0.003–0.013 μg g−1 dry weight). Tea cells cultured in B5 medium as well as roots and stems of tea seedlings contained nicotine levels similar to those of new leaves from field-grown plants. Although the levels of endogenous nicotine in tea plants are extremely low and sample contamination cannot be discounted, these levels exceed the maximum acceptable limit in Japan (0.01 μg g−1 dry weight).

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PurposeWe investigated the effect of Katsura-uri (Japanese pickling melon; Cucumis melo var. conomon) on energy metabolism during exercise in human and animal studies.MethodsEight healthy men (mean age, 21.4 ± 0.7 years) participated in a single-blind, crossover study. Thirty minutes after ingesting the Katsura-uri drink or placebo drink, they exercised on a cycle ergometer at 40% maximal heart rate for 30 min. Respiratory gas analysis was performed during exercise to examine oxygen consumption and substrate utilization. Blood biochemical parameters were evaluated during exercise. In the animal study, the effect of methylthioacetic acid (MTA), a Katsura-uri derived component was examined in mice. Immediately after running at 25 m/min for 30 min, biochemical parameters in the hind limb muscle and blood of mice were measured.ResultsOxygen consumption during exercise was higher in the Katsura-uri condition (19.8 ± 3.5 mL/kg/min) than the placebo condition (18.6 ± 3.0 mL/kg/min) (P < 0.05). The elevation of blood lactate was lower in the Katsura-uri condition (1.7 ± 0.4 mM) than the placebo condition (2.2 ± 0.6 mM) 15 min after beginning exercise (P < 0.05). There was a higher positive correlation between lactate concentration and carbohydrate oxidation during exercise in the Katsura-uri condition (R2 = 0.86) compared to the placebo condition (R2 = 0.47). The decrease in intermuscular pH and the increase in blood lactate following exercise were prevented by MTA supplementation (250 ppm) with significant differences in the MTA-supplemented group compared to the control group.ConclusionsThese results suggest that the ingestion of Katsura-uri and/or MTA improves glucose metabolism and acidification in skeletal muscles during exercise in human and animal studies.