Association between physical activity and the N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide in a middle-aged Japanese population: The interaction with alcohol consumption, 2005-2006.

Objective: Higher N-terminal pro-brain natriuretic peptide (NT-proBNP) levels are a strong risk factor for cardiovascular disease. The current study aimed to clarify the cross-sectional association of physical activity (PA) with NT-proBNP and to identify the interaction of PA with alcohol consumption or cigarette smoking in middle-aged individuals.

Methods: The study included 4613 individuals (1824 men and 2789 women) (November 2005-November 2006).

Relationship between jump height and lower limb joint kinetics and kinematics during countermovement jump in elite male athletes.

This study aims to identify the relationship between jump height and the kinetic and kinematic parameters of the hip, knee, and ankle joints during countermovement jump (CMJ) in elite male athletes. Sixty-six elite male athletes from various sports (strength and power, winter downhill, combat, ball game, and aquatic) performed maximal effort CMJs with hands and arms crossed against their chests on force platforms. Jumping motion in the sagittal plane was recorded using video analysis and the peak torque, power, and angular velocity of the right hip, knee, and ankle joints were calculated during the propulsive phase.

Factors affecting the future employment of new graduate nurses as home-visiting nurses: a cross-sectional study in Japan.

In Japan, home-visiting nurse (HVN) stations are at the frontline of providing home-based medical care and end-of-life care. The nursing authorities aim to establish an education program that allows new graduate nurses to become home-visiting nurses. However, previous studies have indicated gaps in education between new graduates recently employed as HVNs and experienced home-visiting nurses.

Moderate-to-vigorous Physical Activity and Sedentary Behavior Are Independently Associated With Renal Function: A Cross-sectional Study.

Background: Little is known about whether insufficient moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) and longer sedentary behavior (SB) are independently associated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) and chronic kidney disease (CKD), whether they interact with known risk factors for CKD, and the effect of replacing sedentary time with an equivalent duration of physical activity on kidney function.

Methods: We examined the cross-sectional association of MVPA and SB with eGFR and CKD in 66,603 Japanese cohort study in 14 areas from 2004 to 2013. MVPA and SB were estimated using a self-reported questionnaire, and CKD was defined as eGFR <60 mL/min/1.

Sedentary time, physical activity, and serum SPARC in a middle-aged population.

The influence of habitual physical activity (PA) on the circulating levels of secreted protein acidic and rich in cysteine (SPARC) remains unclear. The purpose of the current study was to clarify the effects of sedentary time, light-intensity PA (LPA), and moderate- to vigorous-intensity PA (MVPA) on the serum SPARC in a general middle-aged population. The current study is a cross-sectional study of 4,000 men and 6,040 women (40-69 years).