Publications by authors named "Hiromasa Tsujiguchi"

Context: Oxytocin supplementation improves obstructive sleep apnea (OSA), and animal studies suggest involvement of oxytocin in respiratory control. However, the relationship between endogenous oxytocin signaling and human sleep status remains undetermined.

Objective: In this study, we approached the contribution of the intrinsic oxytocin-oxytocin receptor (OXTR) system to OSA by genetic association analysis.

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Aims/introduction: Leukocyte cell-derived chemotaxin 2 (LECT2) is an obesity-associated hepatokine that causes skeletal muscle insulin resistance. Since LECT2 is up-regulated by the inactivation of the energy sensor AMPK in the liver, we hypothesized that LECT2 has potential as a biomarker for metabolic dysfunction-associated steatotic liver disease (MASLD). Therefore, we investigated whether circulating LECT2 levels are associated with insulin sensitivity, liver enzymes, and MASLD.

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Background: Low-grade systemic inflammation may be a key player in the immune activation that has been reported for mental health deterioration. We hypothesised that elevated serum levels of inflammatory cytokines increase neuroinflammation and exacerbate depressive symptoms.

Methods: The participants were part of a cohort study for whom data was available for both 2015 and 2019.

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  • The study investigates how trace mineral intake (specifically zinc, copper, and manganese) relates to coronary artery disease (CAD) in individuals with and without dyslipidaemia (DL).
  • Conducted in Shika town, Japan, the research involved 895 middle-aged and older adults after excluding those genetically predisposed to high cholesterol.
  • Findings indicate that low intake of these trace minerals is linked to a higher risk of CAD in individuals with DL, suggesting a potentially significant relationship that needs further research over time.
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  • * Factors linked to elevated IgG4 included male sex, older age, lower lipid and polyunsaturated fatty acid intake, and higher carbohydrate intake in both genders, with additional specific associations for men related to kidney function and blood sugar levels.
  • * The findings suggest that elevated serum IgG4 levels are connected to age, gender, and diet, which may reflect similar patterns seen in IgG4-related disease (IgG4-RD).
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Metabolic abnormalities play a pivotal role in various pathological conditions, necessitating the quantification of specific metabolites for diagnosis. While mass spectrometry remains the primary method for metabolite measurement, its limited throughput underscores the need for biosensors capable of rapid detection. Previously, we reported that pillar[6]arene with 12 carboxylate groups (P6AC) forms host-guest complexes with 1-methylnicotinamide (1-MNA), which is produced in vivo by nicotinamide -methyltransferase (NNMT).

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  • - Hyperuricemia (HUA), characterized by high uric acid levels, is linked to conditions like gout, hypertension, and chronic kidney disease, and is influenced by gut microbiota (GM).
  • - A study involving 478 participants used advanced sequencing and machine learning to analyze gut microbiomes, revealing that those with HUA had lower microbial diversity, especially notable in the genera Collinsella and Faecalibacterium.
  • - The findings suggest that a higher abundance of the gut bacteria Collinsella correlates with increased blood uric acid levels, indicating a potential predictive relationship between specific gut microbes and HUA.
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Background: Concerns regarding the impact of screen-based sedentary behavior on health have been increasing. Therefore, the present study investigated the longitudinal relationship between multiple screen time and nutrient intake in children and adolescents.

Methods: The present study was conducted utilizing 3 years longitudinal data.

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Objective: To investigate the relationship between oral frailty (OF), nutrient intake and calf circumference (CC) in middle-aged and older adults.

Design: Cross-sectional study.

Setting: Residents of four model districts of Shika town, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan, using data from November 2017 to February 2018.

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  • Immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4) is a crucial protein in the immune system, with elevated levels linked to various IgG4-related diseases that cause inflammation in organs, predominantly affecting males.
  • The study analyzed the relationship between gut microbiota and serum IgG4 levels in a population of 191 men and 207 women aged 40 and older, utilizing advanced genetic sequencing methods.
  • Results indicated that different gut microbiota patterns significantly influence IgG4 levels differently for men and women, highlighting the need for a gender-specific approach in understanding these levels and their implications for health.
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Objective: We explored the relationship of dietary intake of fatty acids with chronic kidney disease (CKD) according to glycemic status in Japanese people.

Methods: A total of 1031 participants aged ≥40 y were included in this population-based, cross-sectional study. A validated self-administered diet history questionnaire was used to measure the dietary intakes of fat and fatty acids, including omega-3 and omega-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids.

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Unlabelled: Understanding the mechanisms linking steatosis to fibrosis is needed to establish a promising therapy against nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD). The aim of this study was to clarify clinical features and hepatic gene expression signatures that predict and contribute to liver fibrosis development during the long-term real-world histological course of NAFLD in subjects with and without diabetes. A pathologist scored 342 serial liver biopsy samples from 118 subjects clinically diagnosed with NAFLD during a 3.

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Background: Recent genome-wide association studies have revealed that nonalcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is correlated with genetic polymorphisms. However, the effects of genetic variation on nutritional metabolism and NAFLD are complex and further studies are still needed.

Objectives: This study aimed to assess the nutritional characteristics interacting with the correlation between genetic predisposition and NAFLD.

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  • - The RAAS is a key endocrine system mechanism linked to diseases like hypertension and kidney and heart issues, while the gut microbiota (GM) has been connected to various diseases mainly in animal studies.
  • - A study involving 377 individuals aged 40 and older in Shika-machi, Japan, investigated the relationship between RAAS and GM, using methods like plasma renin activity analysis and 16S rRNA sequencing.
  • - Findings indicated specific bacteria, such as Blautia and Bacteroides, are associated with RAAS parameters, and there is a causal link between Blautia and plasma aldosterone concentration, suggesting that targeting the gut microbiota may offer new strategies for preventing and treating hypertension and kidney diseases. *
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Although nutrient intake and alcohol consumption are both closely associated with the incidence of diabetes, their interrelationships remain unclear. Therefore, we herein have investigated the interrelationships among nutrient intake, alcohol consumption, and the incidence of diabetes using longitudinal data. This study included 969 residents ≥40 years living in Japan.

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Although depression and body weight have individually been associated with chronic pain (CP), it currently remains unclear whether the combination of depressive symptoms (DS) and being underweight/overweight is related to CP. Therefore, we herein investigated the relationships among depression, body mass index (BMI), and CP in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly individuals. Participants comprised 2216 inhabitants of Shika town in Ishikawa prefecture, Japan, including 1003 males (mean age of 68.

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  • The study investigated risk factors for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in overweight and obese patients, focusing on the interaction between obesity-related conditions and CVD development.
  • Conducted with 318 eligible patients from the Japan Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome study, it found that lower cystatin C-based estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFRcys) levels were significantly linked to CVD in patients with high fasting plasma glucose (HFPG).
  • The research concluded that tracking eGFRcys levels might be a more reliable predictor of CVD in these patients compared to traditional measures like creatinine-based eGFR (eGFRcr).
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  • A cross-sectional study in Shika, Japan, explored the link between oral frailty (OFr) and systemic functions such as bone mineral density (BMD) and renal function in adults aged 40 and older.
  • The study included 400 participants and evaluated OFr through a health checklist, measuring factors like the number of teeth and brushing frequency, while assessing renal function and bone health using glomerular filtration rates and osteo-sono assessments.
  • Results showed that lower BMD was significantly associated with reduced renal function in individuals with oral frailty, suggesting that oral health impacts systemic health, warranting further longitudinal research for confirmation.
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  • * A genome-wide association study (GWAS) with 814 Japanese participants identified 14 significant genetic variants linked to serum amylase levels and found that the diploid copy number of the AMY1 gene had a strong association with these levels.
  • * The analysis revealed that AMY1 copy number variations significantly influence serum amylase levels, but they did not show a significant correlation with body mass index (BMI).
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The relationship between calcium intake and bone strength in older Asian individuals, including Japanese, is controversial; therefore, we herein investigated this relationship in older Japanese populations. We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 314 participants older than 65 years who voluntarily participated in a medical examination and responded to questionnaires. The osteo-sono assessment index (OSI) measured at the right calcaneus using a quantitative ultrasonic device was used as an indicator of bone strength.

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Epidemiological studies reported that resilience, generally regarded as the ability to manage stress in the face of adversity, correlates with mental health in middle-aged and older adults. Currently, there is limited information on eating habits that affect resilience. Therefore, this cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between vitamin intake and resilience based on sex in community-dwelling middle-aged and older individuals in Shika town, Ishikawa Prefecture, Japan.

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Although the relationship between hypertension and depression is influenced by several physiological factors, including body weight and other lifestyle factors, such as eating behavior, the specific involvement of depression in hypertension remains unclear. Therefore, this epidemiological study examined the role of body weight in the relationship between hypertension and depressive symptoms among the middle-aged and elderly living in the community of Shika town. In total, 1141 males and 1142 females with mean ages of 69.

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  • The study aimed to investigate the relationship between endocannabinoids (eCBs) levels, specifically anandamide (AEA) and 2-arachidonoylglycerol (2-AG), and the intake of polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) in women with varying levels of depressive symptoms.
  • The research involved 208 female participants aged 40 and older in Japan, where 14 had high depressive symptoms and 10 had low depressive symptoms, with depressive symptoms assessed using the CES-D scale.
  • Results showed that high depressive participants had a significantly higher ratio of serum AEA levels to arachidonic acid (ARA) intake, suggesting that depressive individuals may convert ARA to AEA more rapidly, although
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Dyslipidemia (DL) is one of the most common lifestyle-related diseases. There are few reports showing the causal relationship between gut microbiota (GM) and DL. In the present study, we used a linear non-Gaussian acyclic model (LiNGAM) to evaluate the causal relationship between GM and DL.

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Background: Strokes may lead to increased dependency, which may impact the daily lives of patients with stroke and their family caregivers. Caring for a poststroke family member in Indonesia may differ from other countries in terms of extending beyond the provision of hands-on care. Contradictions and gaps in the factors affecting caregiver depression have been highlighted in a review of the relevant literature.

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