Search

The strontium-to-calcium ratio (Sr/Ca) in aragonitic shells and statoliths often depends on temperature, and has been investigated for its potential availability as a sclerochronological record of the temperatures experienced during the life of the animal. Only a few cephalopod species have been subjected to rearing experiments to validate the temperature dependence of statolith Sr/Ca despite the strong demand for estimating their historical ecology, particularly of migratory squid populations. In this context, we examined the relationship between temperature and statolith Sr/Ca in the spear squid, Heterololigo bleekeri, by maintaining wild-caught immature individuals at one of three constant temperatures: 12, 14 or 16°C. A portion of statolith precipitated during the experiment was optically identified by daily increment analysis, and then subjected to Sr/Ca measurement using an electron probe micro-analyser. Regression analysis (N = 29) demonstrated the dependence of statolith Sr/Ca on temperature and the relationship was estimated as an equation Y = 9.93 (±0.29) − 0.11 (±0.02) X. However, ~90% of the total residual variance was accounted for by the among-individual variation of statolith Sr/Ca within each temperature group. Consequently, the 95% confidence interval ranged over ± 7.85°C when the temperature was estimated by inserting a Sr/Ca value into this equation. The statolith Sr/Ca values are unlikely to provide reliable estimates for absolute temperatures, but it may allow reconstruction of a time-series of relative temperatures experienced by a particular individual.

Osteosarcoma is the most common bone sarcoma. Although surgery and chemotherapy are initially effective, the 5-year survival is approximately 60% to 80%, and has not improved over three decades. We have previously shown that methionine restriction (MR) induced by oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase), is effective against osteosarcoma in patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude-mouse models. In the present report, the efficacy of the combination of oral o-rMETase and methotrexate (MTX) was examined in an osteosarcoma PDOX mouse model.An osteosarcoma-PDOX model was previously established by implanting tumor fragments into the proximal tibia of nude mice. The osteosarcoma PDOX models were randomized into four groups: control; o-rMETase alone; MTX alone; combination of o-rMETase and MTX. The mice were sacrificed after 4 weeks of treatment.The combination of o-rMETase and MTX showed significantly higher efficacy compared to the control group (p=0.04). The combination also showed significantly higher efficacy compared to MTX alone (p=0.04). No significant efficacy of o-rMETase alone or MTX alone compared to control was shown (p=0.21, 1.00, respectively). Only the combination of o-rMETase and MTX reduced the cancer-cell density in the osteosarcoma tumor.rMETase converted an osteosarcoma PDOX from MTX-resistant to MTX-sensitive and thereby shows future clinical potential.

Attempts to selectively starve cancers in the clinic have been made at least since the time of Warburg beginning 100 years ago. Calorie-restriction or low-carbohydrate diets have had limited success with cancer patients. Methionine restriction is another strategy to selectively starve cancer cells, since cancers are addicted to methionine, unlike normal cells. Methionine addiction of cancer is termed the Hoffman effect. Numerous preclinical studies over the past half century have shown methionine restriction to be highly effective against all major cancer types and synergistic with chemotherapy. Low-methionine medical diets can be effective in lowering methionine and have shown some clinical promise, but they are not palatable and thereby not sustainable. However, selectively choosing among plant-based foods allows a variety of low-methionine diets that are sustainable. Our laboratory has developed a methioninase that can be administered orally as a supplement and has resulted in anecdotal positive results in patients with advanced cancer, including hormone-independent prostate cancer, and other recalcitrant cancers. The question is whether methionine restriction through a low-methionine diet, or even greater methionine restriction with methioninase in combination with a low-methionine diet, is ready for prime time in the clinic, especially in combination with other synergistic therapy. The question will hopefully be answered in the near future, especially for advanced cancer patients who have failed all standard therapy.

Background/Aim: Obesity is a major risk factor for colorectal cancer. The MC38 mouse colon-cancer cell line is a versatile syngeneic model of colon cancer in C57BL/6 mice. In the present study, the influence of a high-fat diet (HFD) on the growth of the MC38 mouse colon-cancer cell line was examined in an orthotopic-transplantation syngeneic model in C57BL/6 mice. Materials and Methods: Five 6-week-old C57BL/6 male mice were fed a control diet (CD, 6.5% fat) or HFD (34.3% fat) for eight weeks. Then, a 2 mm(3) fragment of a subcutaneous MC38 tumor was attached to the surface of the cecum of C57BL/6 mice with a single stitch using a 7-0 suture to establish an orthotopic-transplantation model. Each group continued their initial diet for 17 days. Results: The HFD group had more than twice the tumor volume and tumor weight than the CD group (p=0.021 and p=0.014, respectively). Conclusion: HFD-induced obesity strongly increased MC38 colon-cancer progression in a C57BL/6 orthotopic-transplantation mouse model. The present study emphasizes the detrimental effect of obesity on colon-cancer progression.

Background Matrix-producing breast carcinoma (MPBC) is a very rare and usually aggressive triple-negative breast cancer. We successfully established a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model from a patient with MPBC and used it to study tumor sensitivity to various agents. Case report A 40-year-old woman was diagnosed with MPBC with a triple-negative phenotype. Due to axillary lymph-node metastases found during radical mastectomy, the patient was subsequently treated with epirubicin, cyclophosphamide and paclitaxel. In addition, radiotherapy was directed to the chest wall and subclavicular fossa. A portion of the cancer tissue from the mastectomy was used to establish a PDOX nude-mouse model. The PDOX model was resistant to paclitaxel, bevacizumab, vinorelbine, cisplatinum and olaparib, and sensitive to eribulin. Metastases in mediastinal lymph nodes and the right ovary were observed in the patient 14 months after mastectomy. Thoracoscopic mediastinal lymph-node biopsy and laparoscopic oophorectomy were performed, and both confirmed breast-cancer metastasis. The patient was then treated with paclitaxel and bevacizumab but no response was observed, which correlated with the inability of these drugs to arrest tumor growth in the PDOX models of the patient's tumor. The patient was then given eribulin based on the PDOX-model result, but treatment had to be stopped because of rapid progression of metastasis into the cervical lymph nodes and thyroid gland. The patient was subsequently treated with atezolizumab and nab-paclitaxel. Unfortunately, the patient died of her cancer 8 months after recurrence. Conclusion The present study demonstrates that the PDOX model of a patient's triple-negative MPBC accurately predicted that paclitaxel and bevacizumab would not arrest the patient's tumor growth. Eribulin may have been effective if administered at an earlier stage of the patient's cancer course. Drug-screening results from PDOX models should be used as early as possible in order to improve patient outcome.

SummaryElectromyography (EMG) has been commonly used for precise identification of animal behavior. However, they are often not recorded together with in vivo electrophysiology due to the need for additional surgeries and setups and the high risk of mechanical wire disconnection. While independent component analysis (ICA) has been used to reduce noise from field potential data, there has been no attempt to proactively use the removed “noise”, of which EMG signals are thought to be one of the major sources. Here, we demonstrate that EMG signals can be reconstructed without direct EMG recording, using the “noise” ICA component from local field potentials. The extracted component is highly correlated with directly measured EMG, termed as IC-EMG. IC-EMG is useful for measuring an animal’s sleep/wake, freezing response and NREM/REM sleep states consistently with actual EMG. Our method has advantages in precise and long-term behavioral measurement in wide-ranged in vivo electrophysiology experiments.Highlights-EMG signals can be extracted from LFP signals without direct muscular recording-The extracted signal is highly correlated with direct EMG recording signals-The extracted signal is useful in measuring animal behaviors as well as actual EMG-This method contributes to precise and stable long-term behavior measurementIn briefOsanai et al. demonstrate electromyography (EMG) signals can be extracted from multi-channel local field potential (LFP) recordings using blind-source-separation technique without direct measurement of muscle activity. The proposed method adds precise and long-term behavioral measurements with EMG information in wide-ranged in vivo electrophysiology experiments.

Background/aim Primary osteosarcoma of the breast is an exceedingly-rare malignant tumor that shares histological characteristics with osteosarcoma of the bone. Since effective therapies have not yet been established, standard therapy for osteosarcoma of the bone was examined in the present study for efficacy against primary osteosarcoma of the breast in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude-mouse model. Materials and methods The PDOX mouse models were established by surgical implantation of the primary osteosarcoma of the breast specimen into the mammary gland of nude mice. Mice with tumors were randomized into four groups, each n=4: control group; cisplatinum (CDDP)-treatment group; doxorubicin (DOX)-treatment group; and CDDP/DOX-combination-treatment group. Mice were treated for twenty-one days, three weeks after implantation. Tumor size and body weight were measured during three weeks of treatment. Results Significant tumor growth inhibition was observed, compared to the control, in the CDDP-treatment group, the DOX-treatment group, and the combination-treatment-group. Only the combination treatment regressed the tumor. Conclusion CDDP and DOX which are standard first-line therapies for osteosarcoma, may be clinically effective against primary osteosarcoma of the breast, and in particular, their combination.

Background It is difficult to distinguish between a tumor and its liver segment with traditional use of indocyanine green (ICG) alone. In the present study, a method was used to limit ICG to the liver segment adjacent to a tumor. A spectrally-distinct fluorescently-labeled tumor-specific antibody against human carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell-adhesion molecules was used to label the metastatic tumor in a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft mouse model to enable color-coded visualization and distinction of a colon-cancer liver metastases and its adjacent liver segment. Materials and Methods Nude mice received surgical orthotopic implantation in the liver of colon-cancer liver metastases derived from two patients. An anti- carcinoembryonic antigen-related cell-adhesion molecules monoclonal antibody (mAb 6G5j) was conjugated to a near-infrared dye IR700DX (6G5j-IR700DX). After three weeks, mice received 6G5j-IR700DX via tail-vein injection 48 hours before surgery. ICG was intravenously injected after ligation of the left or left lateral Glissonean pedicle resulting in labeling of the segment with preserved blood-flow in the liver. Imaging was performed with the Pearl Trilogy and FLARE Imaging Systems. Results The metastatic liver tumor had a clear fluorescence signal due to selective tumor targeting by 6G5j-IR700DX, which was imaged on the 700 nm channel. The adjacent liver segment, with preserved blood-flow in the liver, had a clear fluorescence ICG 800 nm signal, while the left or left lateral segment had no fluorescence signal. Overlay of the images showed clear color-coded differentiation between the tumor fluorescing at 700 nm and the adjacent liver segment fluorescing at 800 nm. Conclusions Color-coding of a liver tumor and uninvolved liver segment has the potential for improved liver resection.

The genetic diversity of sperm and spermatangia stored by mated Japanese flying squid (Todarodes pacificus) was examined to better understand how this ommastrephid squid mates and stores sperm. Analyses were conducted using spermatangia implanted in the lips of immature squid collected in Tsugaru Strait, northern Japan, in July–August 2019, spermatangia implanted in the lips of mature squid collected in the East China Sea in April 2019, and sperm stored in the seminal receptacles of squid collected off Tosashimizu, Kochi Prefecture, Japan, in February 2019. DNA was extracted, microsatellite loci were amplified using five PCR primers, and allele peaks were analysed. Analysis of the spermatangia confirmed that females in the field mate with multiple males, suggesting that males transfer from 1 to at least 14 spermatangia in each mating. Analysis of the seminal receptacles showed that sperm from multiple males are mixed within individual sperm chambers. Spermatangia were also found implanted in the lips of males, providing evidence of same-sex sexual behaviour. To date, studies of cephalopod mating systems have focused on coastal species, and the results of this study add to our growing knowledge of more oceanic species.

The dentate gyrus (DG) plays critical roles in cognitive functions, such as learning, memory, and spatial coding, and its dysfunction is implicated in various neuropsychiatric disorders. However, it remains largely unknown how information is represented in this region. Here, we recorded neuronal activity in the DG using Ca 2+ imaging in freely moving mice and analyzed this activity using machine learning. The activity patterns of populations of DG neurons enabled us to successfully decode position, speed, and motion direction in an open field, as well as current and future location in a T-maze, and each individual neuron was diversely and independently tuned to these multiple information types. Our data also showed that each type of information is unevenly distributed in groups of DG neurons, and different types of information are independently encoded in overlapping, but different, populations of neurons. In alpha-calcium/calmodulin-dependent kinase II (αCaMKII) heterozygous knockout mice, which present deficits in spatial remote and working memory, the decoding accuracy of position in the open field and future location in the T-maze were selectively reduced. These results suggest that multiple types of information are independently distributed in DG neurons.

Advanced ovarian clear cell carcinoma (OCCC) is a recalcitrant disease, often resistant to the first-line platinum-based therapy. Using a novel patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) nude-mouse model of OCCC, we tested whether oral-recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) could enhance the efficacy of paclitaxel (PTX). The OCCC PDOX model was established and passaged in nude mice. The OCCC PDOX models were randomized into 5 groups. G1: untreated control; G2: paclitaxel (PTX) (20 mg/kg, intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, weekly); G3: o-rMETase (100 units, oral, daily); G4: PTX (20 mg/kg, i.p. injection, weekly) + carboplatinum (CBDCA) (40 mg/kg, i.p. injection weekly); G5: PTX (20 mg/kg, i.p. injection, weekly) + o-rMETase (100 units, oral, daily). The treatment period was 2 weeks. The combination of PTX and o-rMETase arrested OCCC tumor growth (relative tumor volume: 1.09 ± 0.63 (mean ± SD)) compared with the untreated control (relative tumor volume: 3.92 ± 1.04 (mean ± SD)) (p

The main subject of this article is to consider about the vocational qualification in field of sociology. There were fewer analyses about the vocational qualification than an educational qualification until now. The vocational qualification is not only related to the personal social status formation but affecting the industrial structure itself. In reference to precedent studies, for instance R.Collins and P.Bourdieu, I considered vocational qualification by using data and theory, from new two viewpoints. Two viewpoints are "vocational qualification for occupational cohort" and "vocational qualification for nation". As a result, the occupational cohort fights for acquisition of own occupational prestige in society, and because the nation gives national qualifications to workers, it promotes stability of the industrial structure. At the same time, there is the vocational qualification system in the possibility to contribute to immobilization and reproduction of the hierarchy. In late years, by a change of the labor circumstances, the meaning of the vocational qualification is changing, too. The vocational qualification raises one's social status by getting it. But, it is changing into a thing acquiring it as skill proof for continuing with one's work.

Physical function impairment in patients with low back pain (LBP) occurs due to the influence of psychosocial factors. Only a few studies have objectively evaluated physical function. We aimed to objectively assess the physical functions of individuals subjects with LBP, and clarify the association between physical function and psychosocial factors. We enrolled 411 individuals with LBP working in special needs schools. We examined their degree of pain, and the psychosocial factors strength through the STarT Back Tool, which categorized them into the low-risk, medium-risk, and high-risk groups. We assessed their abdominal muscle endurance, lower limb muscle strength, and hip joint flexibility. The relationships between these physical functions and psychosocial factors were analyzed by logistic regression models. Those in the high-risk group had significantly lower abdominal muscle and lower limb muscle strength (p

Background/aim Sarcomas are considered a heterogeneous disease with incomplete understanding of its molecular basis. In the present study, to further understand general molecular changes in sarcoma, patient-derived xenograft (PDX) mouse models of the three most common soft-tissue sarcomas: myxofibrosarcoma, undifferentiated pleomorphic sarcoma (UPS) and liposarcoma were established and the methylation status of histone H3 lysine marks was studied. Materials and methods Immunoblotting and immunohistochemical staining were used to quantify the extent of methylation of histone H3K4me3 and histone H3K9me3. Results In all 3 sarcoma types in PDX models, histone H3K4me3 and H3K9me3 were found highly over-methylated compared to normal muscle tissue. Conclusion Histone H3 lysine over-methylation may be a general basis of malignancy of the major sarcoma types.

Under the Organisation for Economic Co‐operation and Development (OECD), the Ministry of the Environment of Japan (MOE) added Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) to the test guideline fish short‐term reproduction assay (FSTRA) developed by the United States Environmental Protection Agency (US EPA) using fathead minnow (Pimephales promelas). The FSTRA was designed to detect endocrine disrupting effects of chemicals interacting with the hypothalamic–pituitary–gonadal axis (HPG axis) such as agonists or antagonists on the estrogen receptor (Esr) and/or the androgen receptor (AR) and steroidogenesis inhibitors. We conducted the FSTRA with Japanese medaka, in accordance with OECD test guideline number 229 (TG229), for 16 chemicals including four Esr agonists, two Esr antagonists, three AR agonists, two AR antagonists, two steroidogenesis inhibitors, two progesterone receptor agonists, and a negative substance, and evaluated the usability and the validity of the FSTRA (TG229) protocol. In addition, in vitro reporter gene assays (RGAs) using Esr1 and ARβ of Japanese medaka were performed for the 16 chemicals, to support the interpretation of the in vivo effects observed in the FSTRA. In the present study, all the test chemicals, except an antiandrogenic chemical and a weak Esr agonist, significantly reduced the reproductive status of the test fish, that is, fecundity or fertility, at concentrations where no overt toxicity was observed. Moreover, vitellogenin (VTG) induction in males and formation of secondary sex characteristics (SSC), papillary processes on the anal fin, in females was sensitive endpoints to Esr and AR agonistic effects, respectively, and might be indicators of the effect concentrations in long‐term exposure. Overall, it is suggested that the in vivo FSTRA supported by in vitro RGA data can adequately detect effects on the test fish, O. latipes, and probably identify the mode of action (MOA) of the chemicals tested., Fish short‐term reproduction assay (OECD, TG229) with Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes) was conducted for 16 reference chemicals including 4 estrogen receptor (Esr) agonists, 2 Esr antagonists, 3 androgen receptor (AR) agonists, 2 AR antagonists, 2 steroidogenesis inhibitors, 2 progesterone receptor agonists, and a negative substance, and confirmed the usability and the validity of the TG229 protocol.

Thyroid-hormone-disrupting chemicals are increasingly attracting attention because of their potential harmful effects on animal health, including on fishes. Here, we investigated the effects of exposure to the thyroid-hormone-disrupting chemicals 6-propyl-2-thiouracil (PTU) and tetrabromobisphenol A (TBBPA) on swim bladder inflation, eye development, growth, swimming performance, and the expression of thyroid-related genes in Japanese medaka (Oryzias latipes). PTU exposure resulted in reductions in eye size, growth, and swim bladder inflation, and these effects led to poorer swimming performance. These phenotypic effects were accompanied by increased expression of the thyroid-stimulating hormone subunit beta (tshβ) paralog tshβ-like, but there were no significant changes in expression for tshβ, deiodinase 1 (dio1), deiodinase 2 (dio2), and thyroid hormone receptor alpha (trα) and beta (trβ). For PTU exposure, we identified the key event (swim bladder inflation reduction) and an adverse outcome (swimming performance reduction). No significant effects from TBBPA exposure were seen on swim bladder inflation, eye development, growth, or swimming performance. However, expression of tshβ-like and tshβ (significantly enhanced) and trα and trβ (significantly reduced) were affected by TBBPA exposure albeit not in dose-dependent manners. There were no effects of TBBPA on the expression of dio1 and dio2. We thus show that the two thyroid-hormone-disrupting chemicals PTU and TBBPA differ in their effect profiles with comparable effects on the studied phenotypes and thyroid-related gene expression to those reported in zebrafish.

Background/aim The aim of the study was to determine if oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase) can sensitize an orthotopic bladder tumor in nude mice to low-dose cisplatinum (CDDP). Materials and methods The green fluorescent protein (GFP)-expressing UM-UC-3-GFP bladder cancer was surgically orthotopically implanted (SOI) to the bladder in nude mice. The treatment was initiated when the primary tumor volume reached 100 mm3 Mice were assigned to 3 groups: G1: Saline vehicle (0.1 ml per mouse, oral, twice per day); G2: low-dose CDDP (0.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal twice per week); G3: o-rMETase + low-dose CDDP (100 units per mouse, oral, twice per day + 0.5 mg/kg, intraperitoneal twice per week, respectively). Tumor volume and body weight were measured twice per week. The expression of Ki-67 was detected by immunohistochemistry to evaluate cell proliferation. Results The combination of o-rMETase and low-dose CDDP increased inhibition efficacy compared to low-dose CDDP monotherapy, on primary-tumor growth (p=0.032) and metastasis (p=0.002). Conclusion The combination of o-rMETase with low-dose CDDP has future clinical potential for bladder cancer.

Pancreatic cancer is one of the most recalcitrant cancers, and more effective therapy is needed. Pre-clinical studies have shown that patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) mouse models of pancreatic cancer are effectively treated with oral recombinant methioninase (o-rMETase).A 62-year-old woman diagnosed with stage IV pancreatic cancer was treated with the combination of 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatinum (FOLFIRINOX) every two weeks and o-rMETase twice a day as a supplement. The patient was also on a low-methionine diet. Disease progression was monitored by CA19-9 and computed tomography. The patient initially responded to FOLFIRINOX, shown by a great reduction in CA19-9 levels, with tumor shrinkage shown by computed tomography. The patient began taking o-rMETase and went on a low-methionine diet one year after diagnosis which she has maintained without side effects for 7 months. The patient's CA19-9 level and tumor size remain stable 19 months after diagnosis. The patient is alive and has maintained a high performance status. Historical data show that less than 5% of stage IV pancreatic-cancer patients on FOLFIRINOX have stable disease 1.5 years after diagnosis.The combination of o-rMETase and FOLFIRINOX may be synergistic in stage IV pancreatic cancer.

BACKGROUND/AIM In the present study, the breast cancer patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model was used to identify an effective drug for a highly aggressive triple negative breast cancer (TNBC). MATERIALS AND METHODS The TNBC tumor from a patient was implanted in the right 4th inguinal mammary fat pad of nude mice to establish a PDOX model. Three weeks later, 19 mice were randomized into the untreated-control group (n=10) and the eribulin treatment group (n=9, eribulin, 0.3 mg/kg, i.p., day 1). RESULTS On day 8, eribulin significantly inhibited tumor volume compared to the control group (p

Background/aim Matrix-producing breast carcinoma (MPBC) is a rare and usually aggressive triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC). In the present report, we determined the drug sensitivity for a triple-negative MPBC using a patient-derived orthotopic xenograft (PDOX) model. Materials and methods The PDOX model was established in the left 2nd mammary by surgical orthotopic implantation (SOI). MPBC PDOX models were randomized into 4 groups (6 mice per group) when the tumor volume became 80 mm3: G1, control group; G2, cisplatinum group [intraperitoneal (i.p.) injection, weekly, for 2 weeks]; G3, paclitaxel group (i.p., weekly, for 2 weeks); G4, eribulin group [intravenous (i.v.) injection, weekly, for 2 weeks]. All mice were sacrificed on day 15. Tumor volume and body weight were measured one time per week. Results The MPBC PDOX model was resistant to cisplatinum (p=0.800). Paclitaxel suppressed tumor growth compared to the control group (p=0.009). However, only eribulin regressed the tumor (p=0.001). Conclusion Eribulin has clinical potential for triple-negative MPBC patients.

Pierre Bourdieu who is a French sociologist discussed that Cultural capital (Capital culturel) is a factor along with Economic capital (Capital economique) of the social class. The Language capital (Capital linguistique) is one of the Cultural capital which was somaticized in growth environment varies according to a social class. The Language capital of upper class has a affinity for school language, therefore the child of the upper class adapts himself to school culture and gains success. On the other hand, the child of the lower class is reverse. About such a Cultural reproduction with the language capital, Basil Bernstein who is a British sociologist was a similar opinion. Cultural capital based on Language capital, it produces Educational background capital (Capital scolarie) and economic capital. There are few studies of this Cultural reproduction theory in Japan, but similar findings are reported. We must correct it if there is the inequity between social classes in a school system. To that end, Bourdieu performed it; is large, and the investigation for the long term is necessary. Educational inequality become a social problem now in Japan. The theory of Bourdieu is most suitable for the analysis of this social inequality. Saving the children having disadvantageous language capital, it makes a true meritocratic school system.

Background/aim obesity is a world-wide recalcitrant problem leading to many diseases. Dietary methionine restriction (MR) has been shown to prevent obesity, but it is an onerous regimen. The present study aimed to determine the effects of oral recombinant methionase (o-rMETase), on preventing obesity in mice on a high-fat diet. Materials and methods Male C57BL/6J mice in the control group were fed a control diet (CD) (+6.5% fat) for 25 days, and others were fed a high-fat (HF) diet (+34.3% fat) for 25 days. Then, the mice were divided into three dietary groups: 1) HF + phosphate buffered saline (PBS) group; 2) HF + o-rMETase group; and 3) untreated non-HF group. Results The mice on the CD increased in body weight by 14% during experimental period of 25 days; in contrast the mice in the HF+PBS group increased by 33%; however, the mice on the HF+o-rMETase group increased only by 14% (p=0.02, HF+PBS vs HF+o-rMETase). Conclusion The HF+ o-rMETase group had the same weight increase as untreated mice on a normal fat diet, demonstrating the potential for o-rMETase to eliminate the need for dieting to maintain normal body weight.