Relationship between blood pressure repeatedly measured by a wrist-cuff oscillometric wearable blood pressure monitoring device and left ventricular mass index in working hypertensive patients.

This study sought to evaluate the relationship between blood pressure (BP) taken by a new wrist-cuff oscillometric wearable BP monitoring device and left ventricular mass index measured by cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (cMRI-LVMI) in 50 hypertensive patients (mean age 60.5 ± 8.9 years, 92.

Quantitative stability of the folates highly accumulated in a non-Kyokai sake yeast.

Pressed sake cake, a by-product of sake brewing, is a rich dietary source of folates, which are important vitamins for humans. However, considerable losses of folates occur during storage and cooking. We have previously reported that Km67, the house sake yeast strain of Kiku-masamune sake brewery, can accumulate high folate levels.

The sake yeast allele contributes to the regulation of the tetrahydrofolate content in the folate synthetic pathway in sake yeast strains.

To elucidate the mechanism underlying tetrahydrofolate (THF) accumulation in sake yeast strains compared with that in laboratory yeast strains, we performed a quantitative trait locus (QTL) analysis. The results revealed that the sake yeast allele contributes to an increase in the ratio of THF to the total folate content in sake yeast.

Mechanism of high folate accumulation in a sake yeast other than Kyokai yeasts.

Folates are important vitamins in human nutrition. Pressed sake cake, a brewing by-product of sake, is a rich dietary source of folates derived from sake yeast (Saccharomyces cerevisiae). The National Research Institute of Brewing investigated 106 samples of pressed sake cake and revealed that three samples containing large amounts of folates were produced by Km67 yeast derived from the house sake yeast strain of Kiku-Masamune sake brewery.

Breeding of a cordycepin-resistant and adenosine kinase-deficient sake yeast strain that accumulates high levels of -adenosylmethionine.

Adenosine kinase ()-deficient mutants can be obtained from cordycepin-resistant strains, and the disruption of causes -adenosylmethionine (SAM) accumulation. To breed a high-SAM-accumulating yeast strain without genetic manipulation for industrial purposes, we bred a cordycepin-resistant strain using sake yeast kyokai No. 9 as the parent strain with a mutation in adenosine kinase () and acquired high-SAM-accumulating strain.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis induced by the α-glucosidase inhibitor miglitol.

Pneumatosis cystoides intestinalis (PCI) is a rare condition in which pneumocysts develop in the submucosa or subserosa of the colon. We report herein a case of PCI induced by the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor (alphaGI) miglitol. There have been 9 recorded cases of PCI induced by other alphaGIs, but this is the first report of miglitol causing PCI.

Novel angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory peptides derived from boneless chicken leg meat.

Four peptides that inhibit angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) were separated from the hydorlysate of boneless chicken leg meat digested with artificial gastric juice (pepsin). Two peptides were identified as the peptides encrypted in myosin heavy chain. The peptide P1 (MNVKHWPWMK) corresponds to the amino acid sequence from amino acids 825 to 834 of myosin heavy chain, and the peptide P4 (VTVNPYKWLP) corresponds to the amino acid sequence from amino acids 125 to 135 of myosin heavy chain.

Evaluation of vaccination strategies to suppress a novel influenza pandemic using an individual-based model.

Objectives: In this study, we aimed to evaluate vaccination strategies with regard to the impact of prioritization, coverage, and a delay in the vaccination program against a novel influenza pandemic with high-level fatality equivalent to Spanish flu using an individual-based model (IBM). Vaccination is one of the main measures to prevent infection, a serious condition, or death.

Methods: We constructed an IBM for the transmission of a novel influenza virus utilizing personal information on the basis of demographic data from Sapporo City, thereby resulting in a more realistic model.

Assessment of intervention strategies against a novel influenza epidemic using an individual-based model.

Objectives: The objective of this study was to assess intervention strategies against a novel influenza epidemic through simulations of various scenarios in Sapporo city, Hokkaido, Japan. A series of interventions were examined: administration of antiviral drugs by two approaches [targeted antiviral prophylaxis (TAP) and school-age targeted antiviral prophylaxis (STAP)], school closure, restraint, and combinations of these four interventions.

Methods: In order to generate a more realistic situation, we constructed an individual-based model (IBM) for the transmission of influenza in which each individual was assigned personal information on the basis of the National Census and Employment Status Survey of Sapporo city.

[Case of cardial varices rupture due to danaparoid sodium with portal venous thrombosis].

A 54-year-old man had been admitted to Nara city hospital because of hematemesis and dyspnea caused by physical exertion, and was given a diagnosis of esophago-cardial varices and portal venous thrombosis. He was transferred to our hospital for further examinations and treatments. Ultrasonography (US) and computed tomography (CT) revealed the progression of portal venous thrombosis.

The relationship between mastery and depression among Japanese family caregivers.

The present study examined the relationship between caregiver mastery and depressive symptoms among family stroke caregivers in western Japan (N = 100). Family caregivers were identified from a sample of rehabilitation hospitals; participation rate was 100 percent for all eligible caregivers. Caregivers with high mastery were found to have significantly fewer depressive symptoms than low mastery caregivers and were significantly more likely to use a respite caregiver.

Screening for late life depression: cut-off scores for the Geriatric Depression Scale and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia among Japanese subjects.

Background: Proper screening of depression among older adults depends on accurate cut-off scores. Recent articles have recommended the Geriatric Depression Scale (GDS) and the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) for this screening. However, there has been no investigation of the sensitivity and specificity of either scale using Japanese subjects.

Caregiver burden and health-related quality of life among Japanese stroke caregivers.

Objective: the present study had two main purposes: 1. To examine the relationship between caregiver burden and health-related quality of life in family caregivers of older stroke patients in Japan; and 2. To examine which characteristics of the caregiving situation significantly relate to increased burden.

Factor structure of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia among Japanese poststroke patients.

Background: the present study reports on the first translation and use of the Cornell Scale for Depression in Dementia (CSDD) (Alexopoulos, Abrams, Young, & Shamoian, 1988) among poststroke patients (n = 101) in Japan.

Objectives: the study had three main purposes: 1. To examine the factor structure of the CSDD among Japanese poststroke patients; 2.