Usefulness of Tc-DTPA galactosyl human serum albumin liver scintigraphy for evaluating hepatic functional reserve after Kasai procedure.

Background/purpose: We investigated whether Tc-DTPA galactosyl human serum albumin (GSA) liver scintigraphy could help evaluate post-Kasai procedure hepatic functional reserve in order to inform therapeutic strategies, including liver transplantation.

Methods: GSA scintigraphy was performed post-Kasai procedure. Patients were classified as having favorable (native liver survival) or poor (liver transplantation or death) prognoses.

Co-Creation Learning Procedures: Comparing Interactive Language Lessons for Deaf and Hearing Students.

This paper discusses co-creation learning procedures of second language lessons for deaf students, and sign language lessons by a deaf lecturer. The analyses focus on the learning procedure and resulting assessment, considering the disability. Through questionnaires ICT-based co-creative learning technologies are effective and efficient and promote spontaneous learning motivation goals.

Advances in food composition tables in Japan-Standard Tables Of Food Composition in Japan - 2015 - (Seventh Revised Edition).

The latest version of the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan-2015- comprises the main food composition table (Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan-2015-[Seventh revised Edition)) and three supplementary books. The supplementary books are Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan - 2015 - (Seventh Revised Edition) - Amino Acids -, Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan - 2015 - (Seventh Revised Edition) - Fatty Acids - and Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan - 2015 - (Seventh Revised Edition) - Available Carbohydrates, Polyols and Organic Acids-. We believe understanding these food composition tables can give greater insight into Japan's gastronomic culture and changes in eating habits.

Comparison of cognitive and brain grey matter volume profiles between multiple sclerosis and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder.

Objective: Brain regions responsible for cognitive dysfunction in MS and neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) are not known. Our aim of this study was to investigate whether cognitive function and brain volume differed between MS and NMOSD in Japanese patients.

Methods: Brain MRI and neuropsychological tests including the Wechsler Adult Intelligence Scale-III (WAIS-III), Wechsler Memory Scale-Revised (WMS-R), Trail Making Test (TMT) and Clinical Assessment for Attention (CAT) were performed.

Change in oral health status associated with menopause in Japanese dental hygienists.

Objectives: Oral symptoms such as xerostomia and burning mouth syndrome have been recognized to increase associated with menopause. The purpose of this study was to clarify the changes in oral health as well as systemic health due to menopause and their relations with hormonal change and mental status.

Methods: Ninety-seven female dental hygienists aged 40-59 years were assigned to premenopausal, menopausal and post-menopausal groups based on self-reported menstrual condition.

Suppression of Oral Sweet Taste Sensation with Gymnema sylvestre Affects Postprandial Gastrointestinal Blood Flow and Gastric Emptying in Humans.

An oral sweet taste sensation (OSTS) exaggerates digestive activation transiently, but whether it has a role after swallowing a meal is not known. Gymnema sylvestre (GS) can inhibit the OSTS in humans. We explored the effect of the OSTS of glucose intake on gastrointestinal blood flow, gastric emptying, blood-glucose, and plasma-insulin responses during the postprandial phase.

Intentions and Factors Regarding Selection of Workplace by Postgraduate Dental Trainees after Clinical Training.

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the reasons governing selection of geographical location of workplace by postgraduate dental trainees. We believe that such data would aid in the development of measures aimed at reducing regional disparities in the number of dentists. A total of 10 dental colleges and faculties in Japan were invited to participate in the study.

Effects of Dietary Fish Oil and Apple Polyphenol on the Concentration Serum Lipids and Excretion of Fecal Bile Acids in Rats.

We studied the effects of fish oil and apple polyphenol combined with a high cholesterol diet in rats, and assessed serum and liver lipids concentrations, serum oxidative stress and fecal bile acid excretion. Young male rats were fed a diet containing the control (Control), apple polyphenol (AP), fish oil (FO) or fish oil+apple polyphenol (FO+AP) for 4 wk. The control diet contained a lard component.

Carbohydrate intake during early pregnancy is inversely associated with abnormal glucose challenge test results in Japanese pregnant women.

Background: In East Asian countries, which have a high prevalence of underweight individuals, there is little information about the association between dietary factors and abnormal glucose tolerance during pregnancy. We examined the association between carbohydrate intake and moderately abnormal glucose tolerance in Japanese pregnant women.

Methods: We conducted a prospective study on 325 Japanese pregnant women without a diagnosis of diabetes mellitus prior to pregnancy.

Attitudes, knowledge and behavior of Japanese physical therapists with regard to evidence-based practice and clinical practice guidelines: a cross-sectional mail survey.

[Purpose] This study aimed to investigate Japanese physical therapists' attitudes of evidence-based practice and clinical practice guidelines. [Subjects and Methods] In 2014, a cross-sectional postal mail survey using a self-administered questionnaire was conducted. Of 2,982 physical therapists belonging to the Chiba Prefecture Physical Therapist Association, 1,000 were randomly selected.

Physical Activity: A Viable Way to Reduce the Risks of Mild Cognitive Impairment, Alzheimer's Disease, and Vascular Dementia in Older Adults.

A recent alarming rise of neurodegenerative diseases in the developed world is one of the major medical issues affecting older adults. In this review, we provide information about the associations of physical activity (PA) with major age-related neurodegenerative diseases and syndromes, including Alzheimer's disease, vascular dementia, and mild cognitive impairment. We also provide evidence of PA's role in reducing the risks of these diseases and helping to improve cognitive outcomes in older adults.

Sagittal plane spinal mobility is associated with dynamic balance ability of community-dwelling elderly people.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to clarify the correlation between the range of spinal mobility on the sagittal plane and the dynamic balance ability of elderly people living in communities. [Subjects and Methods] The persons studied were 31 healthy elderly people living in the community (16 females and 15 males). The range of mobility of the participants' spines in the sagittal plane was measured by using a spinal mouse.

Analysis of the expression of human bitter taste receptors in extraoral tissues.

The 25 bitter taste receptors (T2Rs) in humans perform a chemosensory function. However, very little is known about the level of expression of these receptors in different tissues. In this study, using nCounter gene expression we analyzed the expression patterns of human TAS2R transcripts in cystic fibrosis bronchial epithelial (CuFi-1), normal bronchial epithelial (NuLi-1), airway smooth muscle (ASM), pulmonary artery smooth muscle (PASM), mammary epithelial, and breast cancer cells.

Dietary tofu intake and long-term risk of death from stroke in a general population.

Background & Aim: Although dietary soy intake is linked with health benefits, a relation with stroke has not been established. The present study examined the association between the intake of tofu, the richest source of dietary soy, with stroke mortality in a general population cohort of Japanese men and women.

Methods: Data comprise 9244 Japanese enrolled in the National Nutrition Survey of Japan in 1980.

Diagnosis and treatment of bone metastasis: comprehensive guideline of the Japanese Society of Medical Oncology, Japanese Orthopedic Association, Japanese Urological Association, and Japanese Society for Radiation Oncology.

Diagnosis and treatment of bone metastasis requires various types of measures, specialists and caregivers. To provide better diagnosis and treatment, a multidisciplinary team approach is required. The members of this multidisciplinary team include doctors of primary cancers, radiologists, pathologists, orthopaedists, radiotherapists, clinical oncologists, palliative caregivers, rehabilitation doctors, dentists, nurses, pharmacists, physical therapists, occupational therapists, medical social workers, etc.

Development of an oral health-related self-efficacy scale for use with older adults.

Aim: Self-efficacy is considered to be an important factor influencing behavior change; however, there are no existing tools to measure self-efficacy in the context of oral health among older adults. The purpose of the present study was to develop the Geriatric Self-Efficacy Scale for Oral Health (GSEOH) for use with older adults, and to evaluate its reliability and validity.

Methods: The self-administered questionnaire was completed by 646 Japanese older people.

Dietary sodium-to-potassium ratio as a risk factor for stroke, cardiovascular disease and all-cause mortality in Japan: the NIPPON DATA80 cohort study.

Objectives: To evaluate the impact of dietary sodium and potassium (Na-K) ratio on mortality from total and subtypes of stroke, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and all causes, using 24-year follow-up data of a representative sample of the Japanese population.

Setting: Prospective cohort study.

Participants: In the 1980 National Cardiovascular Survey, participants were followed for 24 years (NIPPON DATA80, National Integrated Project for Prospective Observation of Non-communicable Disease And its Trends in the Aged).

Association of eating three meals irregularly with changes in BMI and weight among young Japanese men and women: A 2-year follow-up.

Objective: Epidemiological longitudinal investigations of the association between not eating three meals regularly and changes in BMI and weight are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not regularly eating three meals was associated with changes in BMI and weight in young Japanese men and women.

Methods: Study participants were 1241 men and 897 women aged 19.

Validity of a food frequency questionnaire in a population with high alcohol consumption in Japan.

Background And Objectives: Alcohol consumption has a relatively large impact on energy intake in drinkers, and several studies reported different dietary habits from non-drinkers. However, few studies have investigated the influence of alcohol consumption on the validity of the Food Frequency Questionnaire (FFQ). To investigate its influence, we conducted a validity test in a population with high alcohol consumption.

Development and evaluation of the Japanese version of the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life for patients with diabetes.

Objectives: Our objective was to undertake linguistic validation and cultural adaptation of the Japanese version of the Audit of Diabetes-Dependent Quality of Life (JP-ADDQoL) and to evaluate its psychometric properties when completed by Japanese patients with diabetes.

Methods: We followed the standard linguistic validation procedure and subsequently evaluated the reliability (internal consistency) and construct validity (exploratory and confirmatory factor analyses) of the translated version by surveying 239 Japanese patients with diabetes.

Results: We translated 19 items for the JP-ADDQoL.

Effectiveness of a cognitive behavioural therapy-based anxiety prevention programme for children: a preliminary quasi-experimental study in Japan.

Background: As children's mental health problems become more complex, more effective prevention is needed. Though various anxiety and depression prevention programmes based on cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) were developed and evaluated in Europe, North America, and Australia recently, there are no programmes in Japan. This study developed a CBT programme for Japanese children and tried to verify its effectiveness in reducing anxiety.

Organ Specificity and Functional Relevance of the Arterial Structure: A Comparative Study in the Kidney and the Skeletal Muscle with Electron Microscopy.

The differences in circulation among various organs are well known, but the structural differences have only been poorly investigated. In the present study the wall structure of arteries was observed with electron microscopy in rat kidney and skeletal muscle. The wall thickness was almost equal in both organs at about 40 μm in luminal diameter, while it was relatively thin in the larger arteries and thick in the smaller arteries in the kidney compared with that in the skeletal muscle.

Why Is Creating a Healthy Food Environment So Crucial to Making Improvements in Diet-Related NCDs?

Non-communicable diseases (NCDs) such as cardiovascular diseases, cancers, chronic respiratory diseases, and diabetes are the leading cause of death worldwide. To decrease the global burden of NCDs and strengthen national efforts to combat NCDs, the World Health Organization (WHO) released the Global Action Plan for the Prevention and Control of NCDs 2013-2020. This plan provides established procedures and several policy options for member countries and other partners.