Abstract. Fucoxanthin, a characteristic carotenoid of brown algae, has been reported to exert an anti-diabetic effect in an obese murine model. Wakame (Undaria pinnatifida), an edible seaweed, is rich in fucoxanthin. This study examined the anti-obesity and anti-diabetic effects of fucoxanthin-rich wakame lipids (Wls) on high fat (HF) diet-induced obesity in mice. Mice were fed a high fat control (HF c ) or normal fat control (nF c ) diet for 10 weeks. The HF diet-fed group was administered a HF diet containing Wls for a further 5 weeks. Parameters related to diabetes and obesity conditions were evaluated and compared. The HF-Wl diet, which was rich in fucoxanthin, significantly suppressed body weight and white adipose tissue (WaT) weight gain induced by the HF diet. dietary administration of the HF diet resulted in hyperglycemia, hyperinsulinemia and hyperleptinemia in the mouse model. These perturbations were completely normalized in the HF-Wl diet-fed group. increased expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (McP-1) mrna expression was observed in HF c mice, but was normalized in the HF-Wl groups. Moreover, the HF-Wl diet promoted mrna expression of β3-adrenergic receptor (adrb3) in WaT and glucose transporter 4 (gluT4) mrna in skeletal muscle tissues. These results suggest that dietary Wls may ameliorate alterations in lipid metabolism and insulin resistance induced by a HF diet. There is therefore a biochemical and nutritional basis for the application of fucoxanthin-rich Wls as a functional food to prevent obesity and diabetes-related disorders. IntroductionThe modern-day tendency to consume nutritionally rich diets coupled with irrational dietary habits create physiological disorders. These lead to the accumulation of visceral fat, and finally result in obesity and related disorders, such as diabetes mellitus, hypertension, dyslipidemia and cardiovascular disease (1,2). long-term consumption of a high fat (HF) diet accelerates the development of obesity (3); hence, strategies to prevent obesity are of great importance. Fucoxanthin is a characteristic carotenoid of brown algae including edible species such as Undaria pinnatifida and Hijikia fusiformis. We recently reported the suppression of the development of white adipose tissue (WaT) by fucoxanthin in obese/diabetic kk-A y mice (4,5). expression of uncoupling protein 1 (ucP1), which plays an important role in energy expenditure, was induced by dietary fucoxanthin in WaT but not in brown adipose tissue; this ucP1 expression was responsible for the antiobesity effect of fucoxanthin. Furthermore, dietary fucoxanthin regulated adipocytokine secretion, thus preventing hyperglycemia in a type 2 diabetes kk-A y mouse model (5). The adipocyte as an endocrine cell has recently been recognized for its role in the secretion of biologically active mediators, termed adipokines/chemokines, including leptin, adiponectin, resistin, tumor necrosis factor-α (TnF-α) and monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (McP-1) (6-8). Some adipokines are reported to alter insulin...

A 68-year-old man had a pigmented tumour in the breast. Although the clinical picture suggested a malignant melanoma, histology revealed that the tumour was a primary ductal carcinoma of the breast. There was no pagetoid cell proliferation in the epidermis. However, tumour nests contained numerous dendritic melanocytes that could survive in the tumour nests without the existence of epidermal keratinocytes. Further immunohistochemical study employing antibodies to melanocyte growth factors demonstrated that anti-basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) antibody was the only reagent to show a positive staining for tumour cells. This indicated that the breast cancer cells produced bFGF, which enabled survival of melanocytes within the tumour mass.

These data suggest that mast cells play an important role in the onset of airway hyperreactivity but do not play a role in the production of IL-5 and eosinophilia. Furthermore, indicate that the inhibition of IL-5 is not always associated with a reduction in antigen-induced airway hyperreactivity in mice.

A 29-year-old man presented with 7×4 cm tumour of the glans penis, with phimosis. A red papule on the glans noticed 2 years earlier had increased rapidly over several months before his first visit to our clinic. On retracting the prepuce, a darkly reddened polypoid tumour was apparent. The tumour had a narrow pedicle on the left dorsolateral surface of the glans ( Fig.

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We aim to make it easier and more comfortable to input text via a TV remote control device. Our proposal is a character input method based on detecting the tilt of the device. Users can easily acquire reflex-level typing skills. Experiments confirm the feasibility of the method..