Identification of Salty Dietary Patterns of the Japanese Macroregion.

Objective: The traditional Japanese dietary pattern, "Washoku," is considered to provide an ideal nutritional balance. However, it tends to have a high salt intake. To reduce population-level salt intake, it is important to review the overall dietary patterns over a wide area.

Regional Differences in Height, Weight, and Body Composition may Result from Photoperiodic Responses: An Ecological Analysis of Japanese Children and Adolescents.

This ecological study examined whether geographical differences in the physique of Japanese children and adolescents can be explained from the perspective of photoperiodicity induced by effective day length (light duration exceeding a certain threshold of illuminance) using prefecture-level anatomical data and Mesh Climatic Data. Multiple regression analysis for height prediction demonstrated that when controlled by weight, effective day lengths of the longest and shortest months were inversely correlated with height distribution. Conversely, for weight prediction, when controlled by height, the effective day lengths of the longest and shortest months were positively correlated with weight distribution.

CD28 confers CD4+ T cells with resistance to cyclosporin A and tacrolimus but to different degrees.

Background: Cyclosporin A (CSA) and tacrolimus (TAC) suppress T-cell activation and subsequent proliferation by inhibiting calcineurin. Though they have the same target, CSA and TAC have quite different molecular structures, indicating quantitative and/or qualitative differences in their effects.

Objective: CD28 is a costimulatory molecule that enhances T-cell activation.