Potential Beneficial Effects of Crab-Flavored Seafood Intake in Young Rats.

Background: Crab-flavored seafood is a well-known traditional Japanese product that is sold as "imitation crab" worldwide. Although it is a low-cost, low-fat, high-protein food, there are few data on its potential health benefits. Here, we have assessed the effects of crab-flavored seafood consumption on organ weight and serum biomarkers levels in rats.

Rapid response to a COVID-19 outbreak at a nightclub in Kagoshima prefecture, Japan, in the early phase of the COVID-19 pandemic, June and July 2020: A descriptive epidemiological study.

Introduction: During COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, nightclubs were identified as high-risk locations for COVID-19 outbreaks, but an outbreak investigation in this setting is challenging because of the anonymous and opportunistic nature of interactions.

Methods: The joint rapid response team collected epidemiological data, conducted descriptive epidemiology to determine the characteristics of cases associated with the nightclub, and implemented countermeasures. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) tests were performed by the Local Institute of Public Health, Kagoshima University, and several commercial laboratories.

Consumption of fish balls "tsumire" may help prevent liver function deterioration in aged rats.

Possible health benefits of fish balls tsumire consumption on human health have been deduced based on the results of our earlier study investigating tsumire consumption by young (6-weeks-old) Sprague-Dawley rats. The objectives of this study were to evaluate the effect of tsumire intake on aged rats by feeding them a diet containing 5% dried tsumire. Biomarker levels and organ weight of 80-weeks-old Sprague-Dawley rats that were fed with tsumire were examined for potential health benefits.

Effect of fish paste products, fish balls 'tsumire', intake in Sprague-Dawley rats.

The fish paste product, fish balls 'tsumire', is a traditional type of Japanese food made from minced fish as well as imitation crab, kamaboko and hanpen. Although tsumire is known as a high-protein and low-fat food, there is a lack of scientific evidence on its health benefits. Hence, we aimed to investigate the effects of tsumire intake on organ weight and biomarker levels in Sprague-Dawley rats for 84 d as a preliminary study.

SARS-CoV-2 Genome Analysis of Japanese Travelers in Nile River Cruise.

Japan has reported 26 cases of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) linked to cruise tours on the River Nile in Egypt between March 5 and 15, 2020. Here, we characterized the severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) genome of isolates from 10 travelers who returned from Egypt and from patients possibly associated with these travelers. We performed haplotype network analysis of SARS-CoV-2 isolates using genome-wide single-nucleotide variations.