Nutritional Status and Nutritional Management Implementation for Residents with Disabilities in Welfare Facilities: A Nationwide Survey in Japan.

In Japan, fees for nutritional management (NM) was introduced in April 2009 to improve nutritional care for persons with disabilities residing in welfare facilities. The present study aimed to clarify (1) the nutritional status as well as eating-related functions and behaviors of such residents and (2) status of incorporating claim fees for NM and oral maintenance in facilities supporting persons with disabilities. This cross-sectional study approached 2,510 welfare facilities for persons with disabilities across Japan.

Blood Pressure Elevation of Tubular Specific (P)RR Transgenic Mice and Lethal Tubular Degeneration due to Possible Intracellular Interactions between (P)RR and Alternative Renin Products.

The prorenin/renin receptor ((P)RR) is a multifunctional protein that is widely distributed in various organs. Despite intensive research for more than 20 years, this receptor has not been fully characterized. In this study, we generated mice overexpressing the tubular epithelial (P)RR gene ((P)RR-TG mice) to test the previously reported functional role of (P)RR by Ramkumar et al.

Regulators of Epithelial Sodium Channels in Aldosterone-Sensitive Distal Nephrons (ASDN): Critical Roles of Nedd4L/Nedd4-2 and Salt-Sensitive Hypertension.

Ubiquitination is a representative, reversible biological process of the post-translational modification of various proteins with multiple catalytic reaction sequences, including ubiquitin itself, in addition to E1 ubiquitin activating enzymes, E2 ubiquitin conjugating enzymes, E3 ubiquitin ligase, deubiquitinating enzymes, and proteasome degradation. The ubiquitin-proteasome system is known to play a pivotal role in various molecular life phenomena, including the cell cycle, protein quality, and cell surface expressions of ion-transporters. As such, the failure of this system can lead to cancer, neurodegenerative diseases, cardiovascular diseases, and hypertension.

Effects of luminance contrast and character size on reading speed.

Both luminance contrast and character size are critical factors affecting reading performance. Previous studies reported on the effect of luminance contrast on the reading-speed function, that is, the relationship between reading speed and character size. In particular, when contrast was reduced, the critical print size (CPS) was found to shift to a larger character size even though the maximum reading speed and function shape did not change [Japanese Journal of Ophthalmology 52(1) (2008) 44-47].

High Concentration of Serum Aspartate Aminotransferase in Older Underweight People: Results of the Kanagawa Investigation of the Total Check-Up Data from the National Database-2 (KITCHEN-2).

Background: Aspartate aminotransferase (AST) is pivotal in amino acid metabolism. However, the serum activity of AST, which leaks from multiple organs, including liver and skeletal muscle, is unknown in older underweight people, who are at high risk of skeletal muscle mass loss. Therefore, we measured the serum activities of AST and alanine aminotransferase (ALT), a liver-specific transaminase, in a large, community-based cross-sectional study.

High Incidence of Diabetes in People with Extremely High High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol: Results of the Kanagawa Investigation of Total Checkup Data from the National Database-1 (KITCHEN-1).

Background: It is unknown whether extremely high high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) has a protective effect against diabetes, which plays a key role in cardiovascular disease.

Methods: In a community-based cohort study of 387,642 subjects (40⁻68 years old) without diabetes, the incidence of diabetes 6 years later was determined according to baseline HDL-C (≤39, 40⁻49, 50⁻59, 60⁻69, 70⁻79, 80⁻89, 90⁻99, 100⁻109, or ≥110 mg/dL).

Results: At baseline, HDL-C ≥100 mg/dL was present in 12,908 subjects (3.

Kanagawa Investigation of the Total Check-up Data from the National database (KITCHEN): protocol for data-driven population-based repeated cross-sectional and 6-year cohort studies.

Introduction: The unmitigated incidence of cardiometabolic diseases, such as type 2 diabetes and metabolic syndrome, has gained attention in Japan. 'Big data' can be useful to clarify conflicting observations obtained from studies with small samples and about rare conditions that are often neglected. We epidemiologically address these issues using data from health check-ups conducted in Kanagawa Prefecture, the prefecture with the second largest population in Japan, in the Kanagawa Investigation of the Total Check-up Data from the National Database (KITCHEN).

Eplerenone-Resistant Salt-Sensitive Hypertension in Nedd4-2 C2 KO Mice.

The epithelial sodium channel (ENaC) plays critical roles in maintaining fluid and electrolyte homeostasis and is located in the aldosterone-sensitive distal nephron (ASDN). We previously found that Nedd4-2 C2 knockout (KO) mice showed salt-sensitive hypertension with paradoxically enhanced gene expression in ASDN under high oral salt intake. Eplerenone (EPL), a selective aldosterone blocker, is a promising therapeutic option for resistant or/and salt-sensitive hypertension.

Fibrotic focus: An important parameter for accurate prediction of a high level of tumor-associated macrophage infiltration in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

Our group and others have previously reported that a fibrotic focus is a very useful histological factor for the accurate prediction of the outcome of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. We classified 258 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma into those with and those without a fibrotic focus to investigate whether the presence of a fibrotic focus was significantly associated with the degree of tumor-associated macrophage (CD68, CD163 or CD204-positive) infiltration or whether the presence of tumor-associated macrophage infiltration heightened the malignant potential of invasive ductal carcinoma with a fibrotic focus. Multiple regression analyses demonstrated that a fibrotic focus was the only factor that was significantly associated with a high level of CD68-, CD163- or CD204-positive tumor-associated macrophage infiltration.

Perioperative nutrition management as an important component of surgical capacity in low- and middle-income countries.

Needs for surgical care are growing in low- and middle-income countries. Existing surgical care capacity indicators, focusing on the availability of equipment, personnel, and operation and anaesthetic skills, are not intended to evaluate perioperative nutrition management, which influences surgical outcomes. In this narrative review, we describe the prevalence of malnutrition and its clinical consequences among surgical patients in low- and middle-income countries, suggest potential measures to improve nutrition management and discuss the necessity of considering nutrition management as a component of surgical care capacity.

Grouped factors of the 'SSADE: signs and symptoms accompanying dementia while eating' and nutritional status-An analysis of older people receiving nutritional care in long-term care facilities in Japan.

Background: Behavioural and psychological symptoms of dementia (BPSD) are very common among older people, and previous studies showed that BPSD affects eating behaviour negatively, possibly resulting in undernutrition. In a previous study, we constructed a set of 11 items based on direct observations of older people with dementia during mealtime and named them 'SSADE: signs and symptoms accompanying dementia while eating'.

Aims: This study aimed to conduct a factor analysis to clarify the structure of the set of 11 SSADE items and to analyse the relationship of the SSADE with nutritional status.

Neoadjuvant triweekly nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel followed by epirubicin and cyclophosphamide for Stage II/III HER2-negative breast cancer: evaluation of efficacy and safety.

Objective: Nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel (nab-PTX) is a solvent-free paclitaxel coupled to human albumin without an associated increase in toxicity. The neoadjuvant study of primary breast cancer was planned to evaluate tumor response and safety of triweekly nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel.

Methods: Patients with Stage II/III HER2-negative primary breast cancer received four courses of nanoparticle albumin-bound paclitaxel 260 mg/m(2) every 3 weeks (q3w), followed by four courses of epirubicin 90 mg/m(2) plus cyclophosphamide 600 mg/m(2) q3w.

Grading system for blood vessel tumor emboli of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast.

We previously reported that the number of mitotic and apoptotic figures in tumor cells in blood vessel tumor emboli had the greatest significant power for the accurate prediction of the outcome of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. The purpose of the present study was to devise a grading system for blood vessel tumor emboli based on the mitotic and apoptotic figures of tumor cells in blood vessel tumor emboli, enabling accurate prediction of the outcome of patients with invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. We classified 263 invasive ductal carcinomas into the following 3 grades according to the numbers of mitotic and apoptotic figures in tumor cells located in blood vessels within 1 high-power field: grade 0, no blood vessel invasion; grade 1, absence of mitotic figures and presence of any number of apoptotic figures, or 1 mitotic figure and 0 to 2 apoptotic figures; and grade 2, 1 mitotic figure and 3 or more apoptotic figures, or 2 or more mitotic figures and 1 or more apoptotic figures.

Safety and feasibility of adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 in Japanese breast cancer patients after primary systemic chemotherapy: a feasibility study.

Background: Advanced breast cancer patients have a higher risk of postoperative recurrence than early-stage breast cancer patients. Recurrence is believed to be caused by the increase in micrometases, which were not eradicated by preoperative or postoperative chemotherapy. Therefore, a new therapeutic strategy that can improve treatment efficacy is mandatory for advanced breast cancer.

Signature-tagged mutagenesis of Vibrio vulnificus.

Vibrio vulnificus is the causative agent of primary septicemia, wound infection and gastroenteritis in immunocompromised people. In this study, signature-tagged mutagenesis (STM) was applied to identify the virulence genes of V. vulnificus.

[Factors associated with malnutrition in community-dwelling disabled elderly--the KANAGAWA-AICHI Disabled Elderly Cohort (KAIDEC) Study].

Aim: This study aimed to identify factors associated with malnutrition in community-dwelling disabled elderly.

Methods: A cross-sectional study of baseline data for 1,142 community-dwelling elderly (81.2±8.

National survey of the prevalence of swallowing difficulty and tube feeding use as well as implementation of swallowing evaluation in long-term care settings in Japan.

Aim: The present study was carried out to clarify tube feeding utilization and the prevalence of swallowing difficulty among residents in geriatric long-term settings, and to elucidate the implementation of swallowing assessment at four different types of facilities in Japan.

Methods: We mailed a questionnaire to a total of 4334 facilities.

Results: We received responses from 1137 (26.

[Successful treatment of trastuzumab-resistant HER2-positive breast cancer with extensive liver metastases using the combination of trastuzumab and capecitabine - a case report].

We report a case of a trastuzumab-resistant human epidermal growth factor receptor-2(HER2)-positive breast cancer patient with extensive liver metastases and associated impaired liver function, who showed an excellent response to the combination of trastuzumab and capecitabine. The patient was a 59-year-old postmenopausal woman with multiple liver metastases at first examination. She first received anthracycline-based chemotherapy, and after progression was followed up with a combination of trastuzumab and paclitaxel.

[Prognostic prediction of the functional capacity and effectiveness of functional improvement program of the musculoskeletal system among users of preventive care service under long-term care insurance].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of the Functional Improvement Program of the Musculoskeletal System among users of Preventive Care Service under Long-Term Care Insurance.

Methods: A total of 3,073 subjects were analyzed. We used the prediction formula to estimate the predicted value of the Kihon Checklist after one year, and calculated the measured value minus the predicted value.

[Activities in daily life and changes in care level among users of Preventive Care Service under Long-Term Care Insurance].

Objectives: The aim of this study was to investigate the association between social roles (engaged in working outside or house work) or hobbies and changes in care level among users of Preventive Care Service under Long-Term Care Insurance.

Methods: A total of 8,734 Preventive Care Service users were analyzed. The assessment was conducted between February 2007 and December 2008.

Axillary ultrasound examination is useful for selecting patients optimally suited for sentinel lymph node biopsy after primary systemic chemotherapy.

Background: Controversy surrounds the reliability of sentinel lymph node biopsy after primary systemic chemotherapy. In this study, we assessed axillary ultrasound for selecting patients most likely to optimally benefit from biopsy.

Methods: The study included 87 patients who received primary systemic chemotherapy and underwent a sentinel lymph node biopsy followed by axillary lymph node dissection.

Role of the long form leptin receptor and of the STAT3 signaling pathway in colorectal cancer progression.

Although a number of recent studies have reported the involvement of leptin in colorectal carcinogenesis, findings are contradictory and difficult to interpret. Our group has previously reported that leptin signaling might have an important role in the development of colorectal adenomas. In this study, we investigated leptin signaling in colorectal carcino-genesis focusing in particular on the differences in leptin signaling between colorectal adenoma and cancer.

Leptin acts as a growth factor for colorectal tumours at stages subsequent to tumour initiation in murine colon carcinogenesis.

Background And Aims: Obesity increases the risk of colorectal cancer (CRC). Serum leptin levels are markedly elevated in obese individuals, but the involvement of leptin in CRC growth remains unclear. We explored the hypothesis that leptin signalling regulates the growth of CRC, by examining the effects of leptin deficiency on murine colon tumour growth.

[Generation of appraisal standards for functional measurements in the frail elderly and persons aged 40 and older requiring light assistance in daily living].

Objective: The purpose of this study was to generate appraisal standards for functional measures in independent elderly people with physical frailty, "Tokutei", or persons aged 40 and older who require light assistance, "Youshien".

Methods: A total of 3,852 subjects for whom functional measures were available, including grasp strength, one-leg standing time, timed up & go (TUG) , and 5-m walking time, were analyzed from a database obtained from the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare. The upper limit and lower limit of each quintilededuced from the functional measurements were adopted to construct the appraisal standard.

Relationship between estrogen, vasomotor symptoms, and heart rate variability in climacteric women.

The present study investigated resting cardiac autonomic function in Japanese climacteric women using heart rate variability (HRV) power spectral analysis to evaluate the relationship between HRV indices and estrogen, as well as the ability of each HRV index to predict vasomotor symptoms. Forty-five peri- and postmenopausal women completed a questionnaire about the presence of vasomotor symptoms (hot flashes, sweating). To analyze the relationship between HRV and hot flashes or sweating, we classified subjects into groups based on symptoms and combinations of symptoms: no hot flashes (H1), hot flashes (H2), non-sweating (S1), sweating (S2), neither hot flashes nor sweating (V1), either hot flashes or sweating (V2), and both hot flashes and sweating (V3).