Metabolic characteristics involved in the tolerance of bivalves to marine hypoxia: Verification by inter-and intraspecific comparisons of species with different hypoxia tolerance.

Bivalves survive exposure to hypoxic water through anaerobic metabolism. However, the characteristics of anaerobic metabolism that determine the differences in hypoxic tolerance observed between and within species remain unclear. In this study, we examined three species belonging to the superfamily Arcoidea (Anadara kagoshimensis, Tegillarca granosa, and Estellacar olivacea) with differences in hypoxia tolerance as well as one species (A.

Efficacy of the unified protocol for transdiagnostic cognitive-behavioral treatment for depressive and anxiety disorders: a randomized controlled trial.

Background: The efficacy of the unified protocol of the transdiagnostic treatment for emotional disorders (UP) has been poorly studied in patients with depressive disorders. This study aimed to examine the efficacy of UP for improving depressive symptoms in patients with depressive and/or anxiety-related disorders.

Methods: This assessor-blinded, randomized, 20-week, parallel-group, superiority study compared the efficacy of the UP with treatment-as-usual (UP-TAU) wait-list with treatment-as-usual (WL-TAU).

Affective styles and their association with anxiety and depression in a Japanese clinical sample.

Affective styles are assumed to play an important role in maintaining negative affect, including anxiety and depression. However, little is known about the longitudinal relationship between affective styles and symptoms. Therefore, we conducted a longitudinal study to examine the influence of affective styles, assessed using the Affective Style Questionnaire, on anxiety and depression among clinical populations in Japan.

Alantolactone is a natural product that potently inhibits YAP1/TAZ through promotion of reactive oxygen species accumulation.

Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) and its paralogue PDZ-binding motif (TAZ) play pivotal roles in cell proliferation, migration, and invasion, and abnormal activation of these TEAD transcriptional coactivators is found in diverse cancers in humans and mice. Targeting YAP1/TAZ signaling is thus a promising therapeutic avenue but, to date, few selective YAP1/TAZ inhibitors have been effective against cancer cells either in vitro or in vivo. We screened chemical libraries for potent YAP1/TAZ inhibitors using a highly sensitive luciferase reporter system to monitor YAP1/TAZ-TEAD transcriptional activity in cells.

A Combination of Magnetic Resonance Imaging Techniques to Localize the Dural Defect in a Case of Superficial Siderosis-A Case Report.

Superficial siderosis is a progressively disabling disease caused by recurrent subarachnoid hemorrhage with accumulation of hemosiderin in the surface of the central nervous system. Although a wide variety of conditions may cause superficial siderosis, approximately half of the cases are reported to be associated with a defect in the ventral spinal dura mater, in which case treatment entails surgical repair of the defect. Here, we report a case of superficial siderosis and report on our method to pinpoint the dural defect using a combination of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) techniques.

Role of focusing on the positive side during COVID-19 outbreak: Mental health perspective from positive psychology.

This paper discusses how positive emotions can help maintain and improve mental health during the COVID-19 outbreak, taking into account examples of social interaction and positive psychology research efforts in Japanese context. (PsycInfo Database Record (c) 2020 APA, all rights reserved).

An Evaluation of Family-Based Treatment for OCD in Japan: A Pilot Randomized Controlled Trial.

Although family involvement in the treatment of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) produces a reduction in OCD symptoms and has significant effects on global functioning, few studies have focused on family intervention as part of OCD treatment in Japan. This study aims to examine the feasibility and efficacy of the family-based exposure and response prevention (FERP) program for adult patients with OCD and their family members. Randomized controlled pilot study.

Identification of HUHS190, a human naftopidil metabolite, as a novel anti-bladder cancer drug.

We carried out structure-activity relationship study on anti-cancer effects of naftopidil (1) and its metabolites, resulted in identification of 1-(4-hydroxy-2-methoxyphenyl)piperazin-1-yl)-3-(naphthalen-1-yloxy) propan-2-ol (2, HUHS190), a major human metabolite of 1, which exhibited the most selective toxicities between against normal and cancer cells (Table 1). 2 was more hydrophilic compared to 1, was enough to be prepared in high concentration solution of more than 100 μM in saline for an intravesical instillation drug. Moreover, serum concentration of 2 was comparable to that of 1, an oral preparation drug, after oral administration at 32 mg/kg (Fig.

Spontaneous Improvement of Visual Acuity in a 13-Year-Old Boy with Neuromyelitis Optica Spectrum Disorder.

Ophthalmic and MRI evaluations of a 13-year-old boy who reported loss of visual acuity in his right eye demonstrated the presence of unilateral optic neuritis. After serological tests showed positivity for anti-aquaporin 4 antibody, he was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder. Encephalopathy and myelitis were not observed.

Successful Certolizumab Pegol Treatment of Chronic Anterior Uveitis Associated with Psoriasis Vulgaris.

This report presents details on a 45-year-old male Japanese patient with chronic and refractory anterior uveitis associated with psoriasis vulgaris who was administered certolizumab pegol (CZP), which is an anti-tumor necrosis factor alpha (TNF-α) monoclonal antibody. Although CZP has only been formally approved for rheumatoid arthritis treatment in Japan, a clinical trial allowed us to assess CZP effectiveness in this patient. The grade 3+ anterior chamber inflammation (for both the cells and flare) observed at baseline improved to grade 0 at 3 months post-treatment.

Positive emotion in distress as a potentially effective emotion regulation strategy for depression: A preliminary investigation.

Objectives: Emotion regulation utilizing positive emotion during negative emotional states might be one of the effective ways to alleviate depression and anxiety problems among people with emotional disorders. This study examined the psychometric properties and incremental validity of the Positive Emotion In Distress Scale (PEIDS), a newly developed self-report scale, in a sample of university students in Japan.

Design And Methods: To examine the psychometric properties of the PEIDS, the scale was completed by Japanese university students (396 men and 363 women; mean age of 19.

Key volatile compounds in red koji-shochu, a Monascus-fermented product, and their formation steps during fermentation.

Red koji, which refers the solid culture grown koji mold on the steamed rice, is one of the ingredients of Asian fermented foods including the Japanese spirit shochu. This study was aimed at elucidating the characteristic flavor and key volatile compounds of red koji-shochu as well as the mechanism of their formation. Sensory evaluation showed that red koji-shochu has the distinctive flavors cheese, sour, milky, and oily.

Family empowerment and quality of life of parents raising children with Developmental Disabilities in 78 Japanese families.

Objectives: The families of these children experience distress both at the time of diagnosis and afterward. A top priority is to understand family empowerment, family function, and family members' quality of life (QoL) and to effectively support these families in Japan. The objective of this study was to assess the actual conditions of families living with children having DDs and to explore the factors associated with family empowerment and parents' QoL.

Difficulties in Daily Life and Associated Factors, and QoL of Children with Inherited Metabolic Disease and Their Parents in Japan: A Literature Review.

To assess the quality of life (QoL) of children in Japan with inborn errors of metabolism (IEM) as well as of their parents, we reviewed 23 previous studies published in Japanese and 1 published in English, focusing on the difficulties they encounter in daily life, the factors associated with these difficulties, and their QoL. We divided the difficulties and associated factors into three developmental stages. At the infant stage, individuals with IEM tend to be at high risk of hypercatabolism.

Consumer preferences for reduced packaging under economic instruments and recycling policy.

This study was conducted using a web-based survey and bidding game in contingent valuation method to evaluate consumer preferences for packaging with less material. Results revealed that people who live in a municipality implementing unit-based pricing of waste have a higher willingness-to-pay (WTP) for a product. Economic instruments can affect the purchase of products with reduced packaging because a higher disposal cost increases the attractiveness of source reduction.

Characterisation of Maillard reaction products derived from LEKFD--a pentapeptide found in β-lactoglobulin sequence, glycated with glucose--by tandem mass spectrometry, molecular orbital calculations and gel filtration chromatography coupled with continuous photodiode array.

Maillard reaction peptides (MRPs) contribute to taste, aroma, colour, texture and biological activity. However, peptide degradation or the cross-linking of MRPs in the Maillard reaction has not been investigated clearly. A peptide of LEKFD, a part of β-lactoglobulin, was heated at 110 °C for 24h with glucose and the reaction products were analysed by HPLC with ODS, ESI-MS, ESI-MS/MS and HPLC with gel-filtration column and DAD detector.

Antioxidant/anti-inflammatory activities and total phenolic content of extracts obtained from plants grown in Vietnam.

Background: Medicinal plants have been used to treat various diseases since ancient times. Their specific activities, such as antioxidant, anti-inflammatory and anti-cancer, have been studied intensively. In particular, plants grown in Vietnam have attracted considerable attention among food chemists as ideal sources of natural medicinal chemicals.

The effects of high hydrostatic pressure treatment on the flavor and color of grated ginger.

High hydrostatic pressure (HHP) was applied to grated ginger in order to inactivate quality-degrading enzymes in a non-thermal manner. The effects of HHP treatment on the flavor and the color of the grated ginger were investigated just after treatment and during storage. After HHP treatment (400 MPa, 5 min), geraniol dehydrogenase (GeDH) was inactivated to less than 5%, but the activity of polyphenol oxidase (PPO) was reduced only to 37%.

Effect of oral rehydration solution on fatigue during outdoor work in a hot environment: a randomized crossover study.

Objectives: The effects of an oral rehydration solution (ORS) on fatigue were studied in workers engaged in manual work during the summer.

Methods: One hundred and fifty-three workers engaged in loading cargo onto aircraft at Tokyo International Airport who consented to participate in the study were the subjects. The study was carried out on two summer days with fine weather during the daytime shift.

Association of lifestyle factors, polymorphisms in adiponectin, perilipin and hormone sensitive lipase, and clinical markers in Japanese males.

According to recent genome-wide association studies, a number of single nucleotide polymorphisms is reported to be associated with diseases or several clinical markers. Among them, adiponectin (ADIPOQ) and perilipin (PLIN) polymorphisms are major factors of obesity. However, the association between lifestyle factor, these polymorphisms and obesity-related clinical markers in Japanese is not well researched.

Protective and anticataract effects of the aqueous extract of Cleistocalyx operculatus flower buds on beta-cells of streptozotocin-diabetic rats.

The aim of the present study was to examine whether an aqueous extract of Cleistocalyx operculatus flower buds (COB) had protective and anticataract effects on beta-cells in experimental streptozotocin (STZ)-induced diabetes in rats. After 9 weeks of COB supplementation (500 mg/kg bw), the COB group had a significantly more stable insulin level as compared with the control diabetic group. Increased staining of insulin and preservation of islet cells were apparent in the COB-treated diabetic rats, whereas islet cell degeneration and weak insulin immunohistochemical staining were observed in the control diabetic rats.

Effects of salt concentration on the reaction rate of Glc with amino acids, peptides, and proteins.

The reaction between the amino group and the carbonyl group is important in food quality control. Furthermore, advanced glycation end products from foods are considered to relate to aging and diabetes. Thus, it is important to control this reaction.

An event study on the concealment of the blending ratio of waste paper.

We conducted an event study on the concealment of the blending ratio of waste paper with virgin pulp in Japan. By investigating 10 companies in the paper industry between May 30, 2007 and January 18, 2008, we clearly show that stock prices of the relevant companies were affected by the news on the concealment of the blending ratio of waste paper. In addition, the impact of the second event was found to be greater than that of the first event.

Antimicrobial peptides from the skin of the Japanese mountain brown frog Rana ornativentris: evidence for polymorphism among preprotemporin mRNAs.

A previous study led to the isolation of antimicrobial peptides belonging to the temporin and brevinin-2 families from a pooled extract of the skin of adult specimens of the Japanese mountain brown frog Rana ornativentris Werner 1903. In order to ascertain whether individual frogs expressed the full complement of temporin genes, we individually cloned cDNAs encoding the temporin precursors from total RNA extracted from the skins of 12 frogs by RT-PCR using a set of preprotemporin-specific primers. All the specimens examined contained mRNAs directing the synthesis of the novel, but inactive, temporin-1Oe (ILPLLGNLLNGLL x NH2).