It has been reported that adipocytes accumulate triglycerides and concurrently produce adiponectin, a beneficial adipocytokine, to assist insulin function, and conversely produce unbeneficial adipokines, which have negative effects on the organism. We previously reported that the production of fumaric acid increases under hyperglycemic conditions due to mitochondrial stress and that fumaric acid reacts with the thiol group of cysteine residue to form S-(2-succinyl)cysteine (2SC), which inhibits adiponectin secretion and modifies a variety of proteins, resulting in the dysfunction of adipocytes. Therefore, we considered that a simple measurement of fumaric acid produced by adipocytes would enable rapid evaluation of metabolic abnormalities in adipocytes, and investigated a measurement system for this purpose. After culturing adipocytes for 4 days, a decrease in pH was observed due to the production of organic acids. Hydroxylamine hydrochloride and iron (III) chloride, a reagent for carboxylic acid detection, reacted with fumaric acid, malic acid, and citric acid. Similarly, fumaric acid levels by the enzymatic method and organic acids were found to be elevated by the carboxylic acid qualitative reagent in the medium in which adipocytes were cultured. Therefore, it was confirmed that functional abnormalities of adipocytes can be easily evaluated by the carboxylic acid qualitative reagent.

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The process of ageing is currently seen as chronic progressive, unstoppable and irreversible changing of the living being's structures and functions, which leads to the decline of its adaptive capacities and increased risk for injuries, diseases and death. The ageing process can be broken down into two closely interwoven components: biological, i.e. normal or physiological ageing, driven by a defined epigenetic/genetic program, and pathological or accelerated ageing, defined by the influence of primarily chronic uncontagious diseases. Presently, a number of theories are trying to answer the crucial questions, how and why this inevitable and complex biological process takes place in all living beings. On one side there are different variations of the programmed ageing theory, and on the other side there are ageing theories based on chronic damage of organism structures and functions that through time lead to irreparable damage, decline of adaptive capacities, weakening of a number of vital functions and in the end inevitable death. It is important to mention the currently actual theories: theory of reactive oxygen species effects (ROS), theory of long protein molecule cross-linking (cross linking theories), mutation theory, autoimune theory, theory of free radical effects (Harman's free radical theory of ageing), non-enzymatic glycation theory of ageing (advanced glycation end product [AGE] compounds), and the above mentioned programmed ageing theory. The most recent experimental research emphasizes epigenetics as the crucial factor in this compound, unstoppable and essentially purposeful process.The close connection between the process of ageing and Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the role of low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein1 (LRP1) receptor, and the receptor for AGEs (RAGE) in this degenerative disease imply the question of the possible role of these two outstanding multifunctional receptors with numerous ligands in the ageing process. The LRP1 receptor is particularly sensitive to epigenetic factors. Due to abundant methylation, its gene (location 12q13.3), is suppressed with the transcription drop, accompanied by the disorder of its many functions, especially those linked to the drainage of harmful, toxic macromolecules from the brain. The continuing strong DNA methylation of the LRP1 gene promoter progressing during the life cycle, could be the crucial factor in the weakening of numerous processes, all of which have an impact in the accelerated ageing course of living beings. The exceptionally weak methylation of the RAGE promoter, also has a strong impact on the ageing acceleration. This study primarily deals with the essence of the normal biological, i.e. physiological ageing, and tries to avoid as much as possible the impact of the other component, pathological ageing.

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Purposes This study aimed to investigate the impact of continuous intake of polyphenols from water chestnut pericarp on thinning hair and the decline in hair-related quality of life (QOL) in healthy middle-aged and older Japanese subjects. The study employed a randomized, placebo-controlled, double-blinded, parallel-group design. Methods The participants in this 24-week study were healthy Japanese males and females aged 40 to 64 years. They were randomly assigned to either the Trapa bispinosa Roxb. pericarp polyphenol (TBPP)-containing food group (containing 25 mg of polyphenols from water chestnut pericarp) or a placebo food group. The primary outcome was the hair-related quality of life assessed by the Skinex29 score. Secondary outcomes included a visual analogue scale (VAS) questionnaire, assessment of hair and scalp condition, evaluation of scalp moisturization, and measurement of advanced glycation endproducts (AGEs) in blood plasma. Results The TBPP group showed significant improvement in the composite score of Skindex 29, VAS questionnaire regarding hair volume, hair diameter, and the amount of pentosidine (one of AGEs) in blood plasma compared to the placebo group. Moreover, the TBPP group exhibited a significant decrease in the amount of carbonylated protein compared to pre-ingestion. No adverse events were reported during the TBPP-containing food intake period. Conclusion Polyphenols derived from water chestnut pericarp prove to be an effective food material that enhances health by addressing thinning hair and improving QOL in middle-aged and older males and females.

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Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a chronic metabolic disease characterized by hyperglycemia. Persistent hyperglycemia causes various complications and vascular damage. Increased production of advanced glycation end products (AGEs) via glycation is involved in DM onset. Previous reports have demonstrated the therapeutic effects of zinc (Zn) complexes on diabetic model mice in vivo. In this study, we aimed to investigate the in vitro anti-glycation effects of the Zn(O₄) type Zn complexes, [Zn(mal)₂], [Zn(emal)₂], [Zn(trp)₂], and [Zn(hkt)₂]. We determined the effects of the Zn(O₄) coordination type complexes on glycation via screening tests of their suppressive effects on fluorescent AGE formation and pentosidine, a fluorescent AGE. The screening test was performed using a phosphate buffer (pH 7.4) at 60°C for 40 h. Then, pentosidine was extracted from the supernatant using MonoSpin AG and quantified using high-performance liquid chromatography-fluorescence analysis. The tested Zn(O4)-type complexes significantly suppressed fluorescent AGE formation more than the positive control, aminoguanidine. Moreover, pentosidine levels were decreased by Zn(O₄) complexes with a 7-member troponoide structure, [Zn(trp)₂] and [Zn(hkt)₂]. To the best of our knowledge, this study is the first to demonstrate the suppressive effects of Zn complexes on glycation reactions in vitro.

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Objective: To study the clinical observation of diabetes mellitus based on the determination of meridian thermal sensitivity. Methods: A total of 1,426 patients who were admitted to Doshisha University Japan, and Chengxintang Clinic in Xi 'an from March 2019 to March 2023 were selected for observation and analysis. Among them, 600 patients with symptoms (18 patients with diabetes) and 826 patients with no symptoms were observed. The sensitivity and specificity of twelve meridians were analyzed and compared according to the test results of thermal sensitivity. The results showed that the values of the sanjiao, heart, liver, bladder, and kidney meridians were useful for diagnosis. By combining these meridians, we were able to improve diagnostic accuracy. In conclusion, this method can be used to diagnose and differentiate diabetes and can guide prescription and acupoints selection. Further studies are needed for investigating the relation between pathogenesis of diabetes and alterations in meridian thermal sensitivity.

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Purpose: Chicken (especially breast meat) is a popular food for health-conscious people due to its low fat and high protein content. In this study, we focused on ostrich meat (OM), which is attracting attention from the perspective of Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs), and examined changes in blood amino acid composition after consumption, and compared it with blood composition after consuming chicken meat (CM). Methods: The subjects were 9 healthy men and women (2 men, 7 women, 23.0 ± 1.2 years old, BMI 20.1 ± 2.2). The test foods were OM food and CM (breast meat) food with adjusted protein content (20 g). CM food was consumed for the first 7 days and after a 1-month rest period, the subjects started taking OM for the latter 7 days. Blood tests were then performed at 1 day and 7 days after intake, respectively. Results: Seven days after ingesting the test food, the plasma amino acid composition showed a significant increase in taurine with OM intake, and a slight increase in citrulline and 3-methylhistidine with CM intake, while there was no difference in the total amino acid content. There was no difference in plasma aldehyde (3-deoxyglucosone, glyoxal, methylglyoxal) between the two groups, showing no difference in aldehyde trapping effect. Peripheral blood tests showed that the red blood cell count, hemoglobin content, and hematocrit value decreased by 3 to 5% when CM was ingested due to iron loss by blood sampling, whereas this was alleviated when OM, which has a high iron content, was ingested. No adverse events were observed during the study period. Conclusion: Among high-protein, low-fat bird meats, ostrich meat is richer in taurine and iron than chicken breast, making it a useful food for health-conscious people.

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