Search

A liveable city is concerned with urban development and the living environment of residents. Bangkok could be considered one of the best destination cities in the world, with low prices, excellent service, and diverse tourist attractions. Although Bangkok is one of the best cities for tourism, the best city for tourism does not refer to a liveable city for the residents. This present study aimed to investigate the relationships between urban tourism, urban development, and liveable city in particular areas of Bangkok using data from the Traffy Fondue application. The study employs mixed methods, comprising questionnaires for foreign tourists in both English and Chinese, interviewing stakeholders, and searching for online open data from popular travel websites for popularity and satisfaction. For a liveable city for the residents, we employed the set of open source data from the Traffy Fondue application operated by the Bangkok Metropolitan Authority (BMA). The results demonstrated that an urban environment for tourists did not refer to a liveable city for the residents. Furthermore, additional elements – mobility facilities for tourists and residents were the most considerable challenges to urban environment improvement for both urban tourism and a liveable city in Bangkok.

Health care-associated infection (HCAI) is one of the leading causes of morbidity and mortality associated with clinical, diagnostic, and therapeutic procedures in healthcare organizations. Enhancement of hand hygiene practices among healthcare workers is recognized as a measure to decrease healthcare-associated infections. However, previous studies indicated that healthcare institutions' adherence to hand hygiene procedures was fragile. This cross-sectional descriptive correlational study aimed to examine the knowledge, attitude, and practice of hand hygiene following the five moments for hand hygiene and hand hygiene procedures of the Vietnamese Ministry of Health and their associations among 104 bachelor’s nursing students. Knowledge and attitude were examined using a self-structured questionnaire, while practice was evaluated by observation based on the hand hygiene checklist. The study findings showed that 44.2% and 66.3% of participants had good knowledge and a positive attitude regarding hand hygiene. An unsatisfied adherence of 5 moments of hand hygiene (57.5%) and 6 steps of hand hygiene procedure (42.8%) was revealed. Nursing students had significant associations between knowledge, attitude, and hand hygiene practices. In conclusion, unsatisfied levels of knowledge, attitude, and practices among nursing students were reported.

The kidneys play a vital role in eliminating wastes and maintaining electrolyte and acid balance in the human body. Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is a condition in which the kidney functions irreversibly decline and eventually requires hemodialysis or renal transplantation. This present study aimed to investigate the effects of an 8-week nutrition education program on self-care behavior and kidney functions in pre-dialysis CKD patients. Twenty-one patients diagnosed with pre-dialysis CKD in the CKD Clinic were appointed to the 8-week nutrition education program on basic kidney functions, CKD etiology, CKD delaying strategies, and dietary counseling. Primary outcomes were the knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores on pre-dialysis self-care. Secondary outcomes were the estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), blood urea nitrogen (BUN), serum creatinine (sCr), sodium, potassium, and phosphorus. Baseline and post-intervention scores of all outcomes were measured. Results show that most of the participants were female and aged ≥ 60. The nutrition education program significantly improved post-intervention knowledge, attitude, and behavior scores. Moreover, laboratory results of BUN, sCr, eGFR, and serum sodium levels were stable. Even though the mean potassium and phosphorus levels increased, there were improvements in the post-intervention measurements.

Pathogenesis of neurological diseases is associated with free-radical-mediated inflammatory processes. Phenolic compounds, saponin, and γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA) are nutraceuticals with neuroprotective properties. Lentinus squarrosulus is a mushroom with high proteins low calories, and nutraceuticals. This research aimed to investigate the nutraceutical contents of total phenolic compounds, saponins, γ-aminobutyric acid (GABA), and antioxidant activity in this mushroom after drying and frying for snack production. The nutraceutical contents and antioxidant activity were measured by Folin–Ciocalteu method and 2,2-diphenylpicrylhydrazyl (DPPH) assay, respectively. The stability of these nutraceuticals was also determined after drying and deep frying mushrooms in preparation for snack production. Results showed that the mushrooms after drying at 50 and 60 °C until the moisture content was below 12 % (according to Thai Community Products Standard) had water activity (aW) of 0.52 to 0.59. The dried mushrooms had lower lightness, redness, and yellowness with the increased drying temperature (p ≤ 0.05). The total phenolic content of dried mushrooms was not significantly different from that of fresh mushrooms, but saponin, GABA, and antioxidant activity were higher than in the fresh samples.

Schizophrenia is a psychiatric disease with neural lesion. Black sesame, medicinal plant enriched with micronutrients has been reported to boost brain functions, but its effects on schizophrenia symptoms have not been elucidated. This prospective one-group pretest-posttest quasi-experimental design was aimed to investigate effects of the black sesame-fortified soymilk (a daily serving size of 180-mL soymilk contained 3.5 g of black sesame seeds and 2 g of black sesame oil) for 3 weeks on psychotic symptoms (brief psychiatric rating scale (BPRS) score) in 63 patients with first-episode schizophrenia. At baseline, 46 had normal (≤ 36) and 17 had high (> 36) BPRS scores. The mean BMI in all subjects was 22.5±0.4 Kg/m2. Twelve participants were underweighted, 30 were normal, and 21 were overweight. BPRS scores measured at baseline (pretest) were normal (n = 46) and high BPRS (n = 17). After 3 weeks of intervention of black sesame-fortified soymilk (posttest), number of the normal-BPRS patients significantly increased from 46 to 60 whereas number of the high-BPRS patients significantly reduced from 17 to 3 persons (McNemar test < 0.001, Cramer’s V = 0.304). These results suggested that the 3-week black sesame-fortified soymilk was feasible to reduce the psychotic symptoms in schizophrenia patients.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus ((T2DM) is a global public health manifested by hyperglycemia due to insulin resistance. Rice is the main staple food for the world's population but has a high glycemia index (GI) value. Therefore, this research was aimed to produce resistance starch (RS) from black glutinous rice with different methods – autoclave and annealing, freeze-thawing, and acid methanol methods. The RS content, total phenolic compound content, antioxidant activity, and estimated GI (pGI) were investigated. Results showed that the autoclave and annealing method yielded highest RS content of 27.33±8.56%, followed by freeze-thawing, 15-day acid methanol, and 30-min acid methanol methods. The RS from the autoclave and annealing method also had highest total phenolic content (61.55±1.19 mg gallic acid/g sample) and antioxidant activity by 2,2-Diphenyil-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH, IC50 of 7.40±0.24 mg/ml) and ferric reducing antioxidant power (FRAP, 75.47±0.51 mg tocopherol equivalent/g extract). Moreover, The RS from the autoclave and annealing method also had the lowest pGI (57.32±0.74). In conclusion, the autoclave and annealing process gave the highest yield of RS with the highest total phenolic content and antioxidant activity; and with the lowest GI compared to the freeze-thawing and acid methanol methods.

This paper mainly studies the smartphone application for health vigilance in elderly adults, based on geographic information system (GIS) for village health volunteers (OSOMO in Thai) to monitor elderly's health. Eight areas from 4 provinces of 7th health territory (Roi Et, Khon Kaen, Maha Sarakham, and Kalasin) were employed for research. The smartphone application called "OSOMO Prompt" was created for both iPhone (iOS) and Android devices for 1,246 OSOMOs. The comparison results of the difference of mean scores of knowledge of before and after using the "OSOMO Prompt" smartphone application, showed that the trial group, 240 elderly participants had the mean scores after smartphone application use of 1.69, higher than before use smartphone application. The results also indicated a statistically significant difference (p-value.001) at 95%, confidence interval between 2.15-1.22. In conclusion, the "OSOMO Prompt" smartphone application was proved as a tool for village health volunteers to make health decision for the elderly persons. Moreover, the system was easy to use and could improve the quality of the elderly's healthcare.

The magnanimous functionalities and flexibility of smartphone device make them well suited for collecting field data, especially for the local healthcare professional. This paper describes the results of the acceptability and feasibilityfor community health workers (CHWs) after using smartphone application called 'OSOMO prompt' app. The results indicated that the comparison of means of one sample t-test responses to the questions on the perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use of 'OSOMO prompt' app. The CHWs found that the high average scores of using the 'OSOMO prompt' app were useful in their job (mean=3.97±.68) and easy to use (Mean=3.95±.62). The app also had high score point of improving the quality of CHWs work, easy to do CHWs job, clearly and stability app while all items of perceived usefulness and perceived ease of use were statistical significantly (p-value.001). In conclusion, challenging of smartphone 'OSOMO prompt' app was feasible and acceptable to CHWs.

Health care for older persons is important for their well-being. In Thailand, village health volunteers (VHVs) play a crucial role in communicating between the older persons and health care professionals. Traditionally, they record and submit a monthly report as papers. This project was aimed to design a geographical information system (GIS)-based mobile application for health care in older persons in rural community by the VHVs. As a part of the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model, health information obtained from 8,348 older persons and 1,125 VHVs living in rural community were analyzed and used for the for iPhone (iOS) and Android devices, and web browser. In summary, this mobile application allows the VHVs locate the older person's addresses and communicate with health care staff online in time-saving manner.

Health care for older persons is important for their well-being. In Thailand, village health volunteers (VHVs) play a crucial role in communicating between the older persons and health care professionals. Traditionally, they record and submit a monthly report as papers. This project was aimed to design a geographical information system (GIS)-based mobile application for health care in older persons in rural community by the VHVs. As a part of the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model, health information obtained from 8,348 older persons and 1,125 VHVs living in rural community were analyzed and used for the for iPhone (iOS) and Android devices, and web browser. In summary, this mobile application allows the VHVs locate the older person’s addresses and communicate with health care staff online in time-saving manner.

Hypertension is a cause of cardiovascular complications and premature death worldwide. Prevalence of hypertension is doubled older population. Close monitoring must be promptly equipped by healthcare team without delays to preserve intact cardiovascular system. In Thailand, village health volunteers (VHVs, OSOMO in Thai) are key healthcare personnel that co-ordinate health information between the older persons and health care professionals. The VHVs have been trained to measure blood pressure, record, and submit a report to health professionals in monthly basis. However, the blood pressure records in some health areas were still incomplete due to incontiguous data collection and difficult access to the older persons. This project was aimed to develop a geographical information system (GIS)-based mobile application for hypertension surveillance and monitoring in older persons in rural community by the VHVs using the analysis, design, development, implementation, and evaluation (ADDIE) model. Results showed that blood pressure data of 6,421 (76.92%) of the older persons were recorded. We employed the Google Map Application Programming Interface (API) to identify latitude and longitude of the older persons’ living locations. Other health data were also recorded.

Tooth loss is associated with both cognitive impairment and fall risk. However, the relationships between these variables are complex and bidirectional. Observed associations have been reported in separate studies but data on rural-dwelling older adults remain sparse. This cross-sectional study investigated socioeconomic and dental factors affecting cognitive functions, and the association between tooth loss, cognitive functioning, and fall risk. Two hundred and thirty-one rural-dwelling older adults (60–74 years old) were recruited from a single Dental Service Unit. Cognitive function and fall risk were assessed with the Mini-Mental State Examination and the Morse Fall Scale, respectively. Oral examinations were performed by a dentist using the Community Periodontal Index of Treatment Needs form. 38.1%, had >16 tooth loss. Socioeconomic data and health status were obtained from a questionnaire and interviews. Age, Activities of Daily Living (ADL) score, and the number of teeth lost was significantly associated with impaired cognitive function. Chi-square analysis showed that cognitive function was also associated with fall risk. Past research suggests that much cognitive impairment and fall risk is induced by tooth loss. Service planners need to be aware of the complex bidirectional relationships between these variables and give higher priority to dental services that can improve the general health status and social functioning of older rural adults.

Older adults are relatively physically active compared to other age group. A lack of physical activity (PA) can cause chronic diseases including osteoarthritis of knee (OA knee) and might eventually reduce quality of life (QOL). This present study was aimed to investigate association between levels of PA and OA knee with levels of QOL in community-dwelling older adults. One thousand and sixty-seven community-dwelling older persons were recruited to this descriptive study. PA activity questionnaire was invented. Standardized Oxford knee score and World Health Organization's Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to measure OA knee and QOL levels. Results showed that levels of PA in older adults were significantly associated with levels of OKS (χ2 = 78.565, P-value.001) and levels of OA knee in older adults were significantly associated with levels of overall QOL (χ2 = 57.738, P-value.001). Pearson's correlation also showed interrelation among PA, OA knee, and QOL. In conclusion, PA, OA knee, and QOL are interrelated. Therefore, close monitoring and design of proper PA activity should be implemented in community-dwelling older adults with OA knee.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is multifactorial disease. This cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate relationship between stress and risk for T2DM in college students. Seven-hundred participants (350 T2DM risk and 350 non-T2DM risk groups). Stress index levels and heart rate variability (HRV) were respectively measured as primary and secondary outcomes. Results showed that both T2DM-risk and non-T2DM-risk groups had temporary stress, but the T2DM-risk group had significantly higher level of psychological stress (P.001). For the HRV, the T2DM-risk group had significantly lower levels of parasympathetic proxies (lnHF, SDNN, and RMSSD) (P.001). Chi-square (χ2) test showed significant correlation of the stressful state with T2DM risk (χ2 = 159.372, P.001, odds ratio (OR) = 9.326). In conclusion, psychological stress is a risk factor for T2DM in college students. Early detection, monitoring, and treatments of psychological stress should be implemented in this group of population.

Older adults are relatively physically active compared to other age group. A lack of physical activity (PA) can cause chronic diseases including osteoarthritis of knee (OA knee) and might eventually reduce quality of life (QOL). This present study was aimed to investigate association between levels of PA and OA knee with levels of QOL in community-dwelling older adults. One thousand and sixty-seven community-dwelling older persons were recruited to this descriptive study. PA activity questionnaire was invented. Standardized Oxford knee score and World Health Organization’s Quality of Life scale (WHOQOL-BREF) were used to measure OA knee and QOL levels. Results showed that levels of PA in older adults were significantly associated with levels of OKS (χ2 = 78.565, P-value < .001) and levels of OA knee in older adults were significantly associated with levels of overall QOL (χ2 = 57.738, P-value < .001). Pearson’s correlation also showed interrelation among PA, OA knee, and QOL. In conclusion, PA, OA knee, and QOL are interrelated. Therefore, close monitoring and design of proper PA activity should be implemented in community-dwelling older adults with OA knee.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is multifactorial disease. This cross-sectional study was aimed to investigate relationship between stress and risk for T2DM in college students. Seven-hundred participants (350 T2DM risk and 350 non-T2DM risk groups). Stress index levels and heart rate variability (HRV) were respectively measured as primary and secondary outcomes. Results showed that both T2DM-risk and non-T2DM-risk groups had temporary stress, but the T2DM-risk group had significantly higher level of psychological stress (P < .001). For the HRV, the T2DM-risk group had significantly lower levels of parasympathetic proxies (lnHF, SDNN, and RMSSD) (P < .001). Chi-square (χ2) test showed significant correlation of the stressful state with T2DM risk (χ2 = 159.372, P < .001, odds ratio (OR) = 9.326). In conclusion, psychological stress is a risk factor for T2DM in college students. Early detection, monitoring, and treatments of psychological stress should be implemented in this group of population.

Knee joint stability is important for postural stability.Abnormal weight distribution is common in individualswith unilateral osteoarthritis of knee (OA knee) as compensatory mechanism for pain and joint malalignments.Various forms of conventional physiotherapy interventions have been used to prevent further degenerativeprocess. Star excursion balance test (SEBT) has been invented to assess dynamic postural stability. Thispresent study was aimed to investigate effects of SEBT as a postural control exercise training tool(SEBTx)in persons with unilateral OA knee. Fourteen participants were randomly assigned to control group (n = 7)and SEBTx group (n = 7). The control group received weekly routine physiotherapy interventions (jointmobilization, ultrasound therapy, transcutaneous electrical nerve stimulation, and taping). In addition tothe routine interventions, the SEBTxgroup was instructed to perform SEBTxfor 30 min/session, 3 sessions/week, for 4 weeks. Primary outcome (weight distributionon posturography in 8 directions – anterior, Rt.anterolateral, Rt.lateral, Rt. posterolateral, posterior, Lt. posterolateral, Lt. lateral, Lt. anterolateral)wasmeasured at baseline and4 weeks post-intervention. Secondary outcomes numeric pain rating scale (NPRS)and Timed Up and Go test (TUG) were used to assess pain and dynamic balance, respectively. Resultsshowed thatweight distribution inSEBTx group significantly improved in the Lt. posterolateral and posteriordirections post-intervention. Moreover, NPRS in SEBTx group significantly reduced from 47.9±7.4 to33.3±6.0. Lastly, TUG significantly reduced from 13.5±0.9 to 11.5±0.7 s in SEBTx group. In conclusion,the SEBTx should be applied to improve postural balance in individuals with unilateral (OA knee).

Low Back Pain (LBP) is a common disease found in every age that affects daily life. LBP may cause poor posture of the lumbar spine, and decrease muscle performance which leads to muscle fatigue, reduce blood circulation and reduce muscle oxygen saturation. Traditional Thai Massage (TTM) has been used to treat patients with LBP for a long time with some evidence that it could increase muscle flexibility, improve blood circulation and decrease pain. However, its effect on muscle oxygen saturation has not been explored. This study uses one group pretest-posttest design to preliminary determine this effect. Twenty-three subjects (6 males and 17 females) who had non-specific LBP participated. Each of them was measured on muscle oxygen saturation, visual analog scale (VAS) and Sorensen’s test before and immediately after having a 15-minute session of TTM. These measures were compared before and after those of a 15-minute rest period. The results showed significantly increase in muscle oxygen saturation (p < 0.01), increase endurance of back extension (p < 0.05), decrease pain intensity (3.46±2.65) (p < 0.01) and decrease anxiety level (4.04±2.30) (p < 0.01) after received TTM. In conclusion, TTM could improve muscle oxygen saturation level, decrease pain intensity, decrease anxiety level and increase the duration of hold while performing back muscle endurance tests.

Forward head posture (FHP) is a problem with muscle imbalance around neck and shoulder girdle. The FHP might be a silent threat for young adults in their later stages of life. An impact of the FHP on muscle activities in upright posture has been well established; however, how it influences neck and shoulder muscle activities in side lying-position has been still elusive. This study was aimed to investigate electrical muscle activities (% maximum voluntary contraction, %MVC) on both upper and lower sides of 4 neck and shoulder muscles—sternocleidomastoid (SCM), upper trapezius (UT), middle trapezius (MT) and lower trapezius (LT) using surface electromyography (EMG) in 34 participants (normal head posture (NHP) group, aged 21.24±0.97 years old, n=17; and FHP group, aged 20.83±1.20 years old, n=17). Each participant performed side-lying position with a self-selected pillow for 5-min of acclimatization and another 12-min for EMG recordings. Results showed that there was no significant difference between %MVC on upper and lower sides of all muscles in both groups. In contrast, the %MVC of the trapezius muscles on the upper side of the FHP group were significantly higher than the NHP group i.e., 1.26±0.76 vs 0.79±0.44 in UT; and 3.06±1.86 vs 1.74±1.14 in LT, respectively. Despite symmetrical activation of bilateral muscles can be seen in both groups; however, the FHP could induce over activation of UT and LT while resting in side-sleeping position. Therefore, selective technique to minimize muscle activation during resting position might be required as preventive regimen for this group of young adults

Health belief model (HBM) has been widely used to communicate with older persons in order to changetheir behaviors. This group of people have a higher risk of fall due to poor postural balance and inappropriatefall-related behaviors. Home-exercise programs like Otago exercise program (OEP) can ameliorate posturalbalance, but most of the older persons do not well comply with the program. This mixed methods researchstudy was aimed to investigate effects of a 12-week HBM-based OEP (HBM-OEP) on postural balance(Berg balance scale, BBS) and quadriceps torque in 72 healthy community-dwelling older persons (controlgroup, n = 36 and HBM-OEP group, n = 36). Levels of fall-related HBM domains (knowledge, perception,and behaviors) were also recorded at baseline and 12-week post-intervention. Results showed that the BBSincreased from 51.3±0.4 to 53.2±0.3 (p

Pesticides use in Southeast Asia has increased steadily, driven by the growth of large-scale commercial farming, as well as a desire to maximise food production in rural subsistence economies. Given that use of chemical pesticides, such as organophosphates and carbamates, has known potential health impacts, there are concerns about the safety of agricultural workers, and a need for a better evidence base to underpin regulation and worker education. This study, undertaken in 9 districts in Lao PDR, Thailand and Vietnam, will interview agricultural workers to investigate how they use pesticides, their knowledge of risks and self-protective practices, and their self-reported illness symptoms. In each district researchers will recruit and interview 120 participants engaged in vegetable farming, who have recently used pesticides, making a total of 1080 subjects divided equally between the three study countries. Workers’ degree of pesticides exposure will be determined from acetyl cholinesterase concentrations in capillary blood samples collected using field test kits, and these data will be analysed together with the interview findings. Country findings will be compared and contrasted, and general patterns noted. Knowledge gained about risky behaviours, self-protective practices and degree of association with serious pesticides exposure will assist policy makers and inform health improvement programmes.

Contains fulltext : 154292.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Closed access) Thrombin and its receptor (TR) are, respectively, expressed in osteoclasts and osteoblasts. However, their physiological roles on bone metabolism have not been fully elucidated. Here we investigated the bone microarchitecture by micro-computed tomography (muCT) and demonstrated increased trabecular and cortical bone mass in femurs of TR KO mice compared to WT littermates. Trabecular thickness and connectivity were significantly enhanced. The physiological role of TR on both inorganic and organic phases of bone is illustrated by a significant increase in BMD and a decrease in urinary deoxypyridinoline (DPD) crosslink concentration in TR KO mice. Moreover, TR KO cortical bone expanded and had a higher polar moment of inertia (J), implying stronger bone. Bone histomorphometry illustrated unaltered osteoblast and osteoclast number and surface in femoral metaphyses, indicating that thrombin/TR regulates osteoblasts and osteoclasts at functional levels. Serum analysis showed a decrease in RANKL and an increase in osteoprotegerin (OPG) levels and reflected a reduced RANKL/OPG ratio in the TR KO group. In vitro experiments using MC3T3 pre-osteoblasts demonstrated a TR-dependent stimulatory effect of thrombin on the RANKL/OPG ratio. This effect was blocked by TR antagonist and p42/p44-ERK inhibitor. In addition, thrombin also intensified p42/p44-ERK expression and phosphorylation. In conclusion, the thrombin/TR system maintains normal bone remodeling by activating RANKL and limiting OPG synthesis by osteoblasts through the p42/44-ERK signaling pathway. Consequently, TR deficiency inhibits osteoclastogenesis, resulting in a high bone mass phenotype. 01 maart 2015

A fall during walking is a common problem in diabetic patients due to neuromuscular complications of the foot, especially intrinsic foot muscles (IFMs). Short-foot exercise (SFE) has been reported to strengthen IFMs in healthy individuals. This present study was aimed to investigate effects of SFE on medial longitudinal arch integrity (navicular drop test, NDT) and dynamic postural control (star excursion balance test, SEBT). The SEBT values were measured on single-leg standing in 8 directions (anterior, anteromedial, medial, posteromedial, posterior, posterolateral, lateral, and anterolateral) at baseline, week 4, 8, and 12 (follow up) in 15 diabetic patients: control group (n = 7) and SFE group (n = 8). Results showed that NDT was reduced in SFE group compared to control at week 8 and follow up. The normalized SEBT values in SFE group was significantly higher than baseline only in medial direction and increased from baselines in anteromedial, medial, and posteromedial directions at week 4 and 8, respectively. At the follow-up point, only posteromedial direction showed an improvement of normalized SEBT in SFE group. In conclusion, 8-week SFE reduced foot pronation and improved dynamic postural control in a single-leg standing phase of diabetic foot. The SFE should be continuously applied to diabetic foot since the benefits were not well persistent in the follow-up phase.

Item does not contain fulltext Urinary proteins that leak through the abnormal glomerulus in nephrotic syndrome may affect tubular transport by interacting with membrane transporters on the luminal side of tubular epithelial cells. Patients with nephrotic syndrome can develop nephrocalcinosis, which animal models suggest may develop from impaired transcellular Ca(2+) reabsorption via TRPV5 in the distal convoluted tubule (DCT). In nephrotic-range proteinuria, filtered plasminogen reaches the luminal side of DCT, where it is cleaved into active plasmin by urokinase. In this study, we found that plasmin purified from the urine of patients with nephrotic-range proteinuria inhibits Ca(2+) uptake in TRPV5-expressing human embryonic kidney 293 cells through the activation of protease-activated receptor-1 (PAR-1). Preincubation with a plasmin inhibitor, a PAR-1 antagonist, or a protein kinase C (PKC) inhibitor abolished the effect of plasmin on TRPV5. In addition, ablation of the PKC phosphorylation site S144 rendered TRPV5 resistant to the action of plasmin. Patch-clamp experiments showed that a decreased TRPV5 pore size and a reduced open probability accompany the plasmin-mediated reduction in Ca(2+) uptake. Furthermore, high-resolution nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy demonstrated specific interactions between calmodulin and residues 133-154 of the N-terminus of TRPV5 for both wild-type and phosphorylated (S144pS) peptides. In summary, PAR-1 activation by plasmin induces PKC-mediated phosphorylation of TRPV5, thereby altering calmodulin-TRPV5 binding, resulting in decreased channel activity. These results indicate that urinary plasmin could contribute to the downstream effects of proteinuria on the tubulointerstitium by negatively modulating TRPV5.

Hyperprolactinemia leads to high bone turnover as a result of enhanced bone formation and resorption. Although its osteopenic effect has long been explained as hyperprolactinemia-induced hypogonadism, identified prolactin (PRL) receptors in osteoblasts suggested a possible direct action of PRL on bone. In the present study, we found that hyperprolactinemia induced by anterior pituitary transplantation (AP), with or without ovariectomy (Ovx), had no detectable effect on bone mineral density and content measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). However, histomorphometric studies revealed increases in the osteoblast and osteoclast surfaces in the AP rats, but a decrease in the osteoblast surface in the AP+Ovx rats. The resorptive activity was predominant since bone volume and trabecular number were decreased, and the trabecular separation was increased in both groups. Estrogen supplement (E2) fully reversed the effect of estrogen depletion in the Ovx but not in the AP+Ovx rats. In contrast to the typical Ovx rats, bone formation and resorption became uncoupled in the AP+Ovx rats. Therefore, hyperprolactinemia was likely to have some estrogen-independent and/or direct actions on bone turnover. Osteoblast-expressed PRL receptor transcripts and proteins shown in the present study confirmed our hypothesis. Furthermore, we demonstrated that the osteoblast-like cells, MG-63, directly exposed to PRL exhibited lower expression of alkaline phosphatase and osteocalcin mRNA, and a decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity. The ratios of receptor activator of nuclear factor kappaB ligand (RANKL) and osteoprotegerin (OPG) proteins were increased, indicating an increase in the osteoclastic bone resorption. The present data thus demonstrated that hyperprolactinemia could act directly on bone to stimulate bone turnover, with more influence on bone resorption than formation. PRL enhanced bone resorption in part by increasing RANKL and decreasing OPG expressions by osteoblasts.

Previous investigations showed that chronic metabolic acidosis (CMA) increased the paracellular permeability of ion and neutral hydrophilic molecules in the duodenum of rats and small intestinal-like cell lines. Since proteins of the claudin family have been known to regulate the paracellular transport in several epithelia, an increase in the paracellular permeability during CMA may have resulted from changes in the pattern of claudin expression. The present study aimed to investigate the expression profile of 22 claudins in the duodenum of female Sprague-Dawley rats given 1.5% NH(4)Cl for 21 days to induce CMA. Arterial blood gas analysis revealed plasma pH values of 7.40 in normal rats and 7.31 in acidotic rats. Blood chemistry showed increases in the total plasma calcium, free-ionized calcium and magnesium, indicating a typical adaptive response of animals to CMA. RT-PCR demonstrated mRNA expressions of claudin-1 to -12, -14, -15, -17 to -20, -22 and -23 in duodenum of normal rats. Claudin-16 was not expressed in normal duodenum, but was strongly expressed in the kidney. Claudin-13 expression was seen only in the cecum, colon, liver and kidney of mice. After 21-day CMA, mRNA expressions of claudin-2, -3, -6, -8, -11, -12, -14, -19 and -22 were significantly enhanced, whereas expressions of other claudins were not changed. Confocal laser-scanning microscopy demonstrated that duodenal enterocytes of normal rats expressed claudin-3 protein on the paracellular membrane. The distribution of claudin-3 protein along the paracellular membrane was markedly increased in CMA, especially near the apical surface. Our results, therefore, provided novel evidence that 21-day CMA markedly altered claudin profile in the duodenum of rats by upregulating specific claudin expression.

Chronic metabolic acidosis results in a negative calcium balance as a result of bone resorption and renal calcium loss. However, reports on the changes in intestinal calcium transport have been controversial. The present investigation therefore aimed to study the effects of chronic metabolic acidosis induced by 1.5% NH4Cl administration on the three components of duodenal calcium transport, namely, solvent drag-induced, transcellular active, and passive paracellular components, in rats using an in vitro Ussing chamber technique. The relative mRNA expression of genes related to duodenal calcium transport was also determined. We found that 21-day chronic metabolic acidosis stimulated solvent drag-induced and transcellular active duodenal calcium transport but not passive paracellular calcium transport. Our results further demonstrated that an acute direct exposure to serosal acidic pH, in contrast, decreased solvent drag-induced calcium transport in a pH-dependent fashion but had no effect on transcellular active calcium transport. Neither the transepithelial resistance nor duodenal permeability to Na+, Cl−, and Ca2+via the passive paracellular pathway were altered by chronic metabolic acidosis, suggesting that widening of the tight junction and changes in the charge-selective property of the tight junction did not occur. Thus the enhanced duodenal calcium transport observed in chronic metabolic acidosis could have resulted from a long-term adaptation, possibly at the molecular level. RT-PCR study revealed that chronic metabolic acidosis significantly increased the relative mRNA expression of duodenal genes associated with solvent drag-induced transport, i.e., the β1-subunit of Na+-K+-ATPase, zonula occludens-1, occludin, and claudin-3, and with transcellular active transport, i.e., transient receptor potential vanilloid family Ca2+channels 5 and 6 and plasma membrane Ca2+-ATPase isoform 1b. Total plasma calcium and free ionized calcium and magnesium concentrations were also increased, whereas serum parathyroid hormone and 1α,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3levels were not changed. The results indicated that 21-day chronic metabolic acidosis affected the calcium metabolism in rats partly through enhancing the mRNA expression of crucial duodenal genes involved in calcium absorption, thereby stimulating solvent drag-induced and transcellular active calcium transport in the duodenum.

Prolactin, having been shown to stimulate transcellular active and solvent drag-induced calcium transport in the duodenum of female rats, was postulated to improve duodenal calcium transport in estrogen-deficient rats. The aim of the present study was, therefore, to demonstrate the effects of long-term prolactin exposure produced by anterior pituitary (AP) transplantation on the duodenal calcium transport in young (9-week-old) and adult (22-week-old) ovariectomized rats. We found that ovariectomy did not alter the transcellular active duodenal calcium transport in young and adult rats fed normal calcium diet (1.0% w/w Ca) but decreased the solvent drag-induced duodenal calcium transport from 75.50 ± 10.12 to 55.75 ± 4.77 nmol·hr–1 cm–2 (P < 0.05) only in adult rats. Long-term prolactin exposure stimulated the transcellular active calcium transport in young and adult AP-grafted ovariectomized rats fed with normal calcium diet by more than 2-fold from 7.56 ± 0.79 to 16.54 ± 2.05 (P < 0.001) and 9.78 ± 0.72 to 15.99 ± 1.75 (P < 0.001) nmol·hr–1 cm–2, respectively. However, only the solvent drag-induced duodenal calcium transport in young rats was enhanced by prolactin from 95.51 ± 10.64 to 163.20 ± 18.03 nmol·hr–1 cm–2 (P < 0.001) whereas that in adult rats still showed a decreased flux from 75.50 ± 10.12 to 47.77 ± 5.42 nmol·hr–1 cm–2 (P < 0.05). Because oral calcium supplement has been widely used to improve calcium balance in estrogen-deficient animals, the effect of a high-calcium diet (2.0% w/w Ca) was also investigated. The results showed that stimulatory action of long-term prolactin on the transcellular active duodenal calcium transport in both young and adult rats was diminished after being fed a high-calcium diet. The same diet also abolished prolactin-enhanced solvent drag-induced duodenal calcium transport in young and further decreased that in adult AP-grafted ovariectomized rats. We concluded that the solvent drag-induced duodenal calcium transport in adult rats was decreased after ovariectomy. Long-term prolactin exposure stimulated the transcellular active duodenal calcium transport in both young and adult rats whereas enhancing the solvent drag-induced duodenal calcium transport only in young rats. Effects of prolactin were abolished by a high-calcium diet.

Contains fulltext : 132071.pdf (Publisher’s version ) (Open Access) Radboud Universiteit Nijmegen, 08 december 2014 Promotores : Hoenderop, J.G.J., Bindels, R.J.M.