Accumulation of abdominal fat triggers metabolic syndrome, which is a cluster of metabolic abnormalities, such as dyslipidemia, glucose intolerance, insulin resistance or hyperinsulinemia, and hypertension, that leads to the development of diabetes and cardiovascular disease. Mushrooms have been used as a foodstuff and folk medicine worldwide. Among these mushrooms, Sparassis crispa (SC) is a relatively newly cultivated edible and medicinal mushroom, which has been reported to have anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive properties. However, little is known about the anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic properties of SC. In the present study, we investigated the effects of dietary SC on lipid metabolism and energy expenditure in Sprague-Dawley rats with diet-induced obesity and diabetes, and conducted respiratory gas analysis to determine how energy metabolism is altered by SC. After feeding periods of 3 and 7 weeks, dietary SC had significantly reduced hepatic triacylglycerol and cholesterol contents in a dose-dependent manner. These changes were attributable to suppression of fatty acid and cholesterol synthesis in the liver and increased insulin sensitivity in the body. In addition, after a feeding period of 6 weeks, dietary SC significantly increased energy expenditure through carbohydrate oxidation, reducing abdominal fat mass after 7 weeks. In conclusion, our results indicate that in addition to the previously reported anti-diabetic and anti-hypertensive activities, dietary SC exhibits anti-obesity and anti-hyperlipidemic activities that help protect against metabolic syndrome.

Purpose Inversion of chromosome 9 (inv[9]) is considered to be a normal variant, and the inv(9) in patients or husbands with recurrent pregnancy loss (RPL) is believed to be harmless. However, there are few reports concerning the outcomes of pregnancy in patients with RPL when the patient or their partner has inv(9). In this study, we analyzed the outcomes of pregnancy in this patient population. Methods Chromosomal karyotyping was performed for 2006 couples with RPL (two or more consecutive early pregnancy losses including non‐visualized cases) with their informed consent. The frequency of various chromosomal abnormalities in the patient population was then analyzed, and the outcomes of pregnancy in patients with inv(9) were investigated. Results The frequency of inv(9) in the overall population was 2.6% (52/2006). Thus far, 32 patients have conceived repetitively, resulting in live births in 23 cases and early pregnancy losses in nine cases. Four of the nine cases obtained a good outcome in the subsequent pregnancy. Thus, a successful outcome was obtained in 27 of the 32 (84.4%) cases. Conclusions This study suggests that inv(9) has no adverse influence on subsequent pregnancy.

Aim: Recently, it is widely recognized that positivity for anti-phospholipid antibodies is a causative factor for a range of reproductive failures. Anti-cardiolipin beta2 glycoprotein I antibody (anti-CL-beta2-GPI) is a representative anti-phospholipid antibody, which strongly correlates with the development of thrombotic events and diversity of adverse pregnancies. In this series, we aimed to elucidate effective treatment for patients with recurrent fetal losses positive for anti-CL-beta2-GPI using Japanese-modified Chinese herbal medicine.Methods: Twenty-one patients with recurrent fetal losses who were positive for anti-CL-beta2-GPI were treated with the Japanese-modified Chinese herbal medicine, Sairei-to (Chai-ling-tang), and low-dose aspirin with or without adrenal corticosteroid hormone. Of the 21 patients, the value of anti-CL-beta2-GPI ranged from 1.9 to 3.4 in 10 patients, and it was over 3.5 in 11 patients. Results: Of the 21 patients treated with the current protocol, the pregnancy successfully continued in 17 patients (success rate: 81.0%). Of the four patients who showed repeated abortion, chromosome abnormality of chorionic villi was observed in two; thus, the success rate would be 89.5% (17 of 19 cases) on excluding these cases from the evaluation. Conclusion: The efficacy of the current treatment adopting the modified Japanese version of the Chinese herbal medicine Sairei-to for patients with recurrent fetal losses positive for anti-CL-beta2-GPI was indicated.