Effects of lunges inserted in walking (eccentric walking) on lower limb muscle strength, physical and cognitive function of regular walkers.

Introduction: Walking is a popular exercise but does not increase lower limb muscle strength and balance. We hypothesized that muscle strength, physical and cognitive function would be improved by inserting lunges in conventional walking.

Methods: Eleven regular walkers (54-88 years) who had more than 5000 steps in exercise walking a day at least 5 days a week participated in this study.

The association between exposure to hate speech or perceived discrimination and mental health problems among Korean residents in Japan.

This study evaluated the effect of perceived discrimination and racism on the mental health state of Korean residents in Japan, with a particular focus on the risk of post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD), depression, and psychological distress. Surveys were sent to Korean residents in Japan and a total of 240 valid responses were received. The valid response rate was 27.

Modular Design Platform for Activatable Fluorescence Probes Targeting Carboxypeptidases Based on ProTide Chemistry.

Carboxypeptidases (CPs) are a family of hydrolases that cleave one or more amino acids from the C-terminal of peptides or proteins and play indispensable roles in various physiological and pathological processes. However, only a few highly activatable fluorescence probes for CPs have been reported, and there is a need for a flexibly tunable molecular design platform to afford a range of fluorescence probes for CPs for biological and medical research. Here, we focused on the unique activation mechanism of ProTide-based prodrugs and established a modular design platform for CP-targeting florescence probes based on ProTide chemistry.

Factors Associated with Refraining from Health Checkups during the COVID-19 Pandemic in Japan.

This study aimed to determine the characteristics of people who refrained from having regular checkups due to the spread of the novel coronavirus 2019 (COVID-19) infection and the factors associated with this behavior. We conducted a nationwide internet survey of 4593 males and females aged 20-69 in Japan regarding their health checkups from April 2020 to March 2021, when COVID-19 was widespread. Individuals who received checkups during this time were "the receiving group"; those who did not were "the refraining group".

Matcha green tea beverage moderates fatigue and supports resistance training-induced adaptation.

Background: Resistance training adaptively increases muscle strength and mass, contributing to athletic performance and health promotion. Dietary intervention with natural foods provides nutrients that help accelerate muscle adaptation to training. Matcha green tea contains several bioactive factors such as antioxidants, amino acids, and dietary fibers; however, its effect on muscle adaptation is unclear.

Antiobesity Effect of -Acetylneuraminic Acid by Enhancing Antioxidative Capacity in Mice Fed a High-Fat Diet.

The sialic acid -acetylneuraminic acid (NANA), an essential factor in bioregulation, is a functional food component that is known to have beneficial health effects, but its antiobesity effect has not been clearly understood. Adipocyte dysfunction in obesity involves a decrease in the level of NANA sialylation. In this study, we investigated the antiobesity effect of NANA in mice fed a high-fat diet (HFD) and in 3T3-L1 adipocytes.

Five cluster classifications of long COVID and their background factors: A cross-sectional study in Japan.

Purpose: The long-term symptoms of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), i.e., long COVID, have drawn research attention.

A randomized, double-blinded study evaluating effect of matcha green tea on human fecal microbiota.

Matcha green tea is made from powdered green tea leaves. Unlike regular green tea, Matcha green tea is believed to exert beneficial effects on the gut microbiota, as it is richer in nutrients such as tea catechins and insoluble dietary fiber. In the present study, we aimed to investigate the effects of consumption of Matcha green tea on the gut microbiota.

The levels of serum soluble CD86 are correlated with the expression of CD86 variant 3 gene and are prognostic indicators in patients with myeloma.

We previously showed that cell-surface CD86 expressed on multiple myeloma (MM) cells contributed to not only tumor growth but also antitumor cytotoxic T-lymphocyte responses mediated by induction of IL-10-producing CD4 T cells. The soluble form of CD86 (sCD86) was also detected in serum from patients with MM. Thus, to determine whether sCD86 levels are a useful prognostic factor, we investigated the association of serum sCD86 levels with disease progression and prognosis in 103 newly diagnosed patients with MM.

Negative E-cadherin expression on bone marrow myeloma cell membranes is associated with extramedullary disease.

The loss of E-cadherin expression and the induction of N-cadherin are known as hallmarks of the epithelial-to-mesenchymal transition, an essential initial step in the process of metastasis in solid tumors. Although several studies have reported expressions of these cadherins in patients with multiple myeloma (MM), their clinical significance is unknown as MM cells are non-epithelial. In this study, we examined the expression of E- and N-cadherins by immunohistochemistry using bone marrow (BM) biopsy specimens from 31 newly diagnosed MM patients and in subsequent biopsy specimens from six of these.

Health state utilities of patients with hepatitis B and C and hepatitis-related conditions in Japan.

Health state utilities are global measurements of quality of life and have been used to evaluate health outcomes for the cost-utility analysis. This study aimed to estimate the health state utilities of patients with hepatitis B (HB), hepatitis C (HC), and hepatitis-related diseases in Japan. We distributed a self-administered questionnaire, including the EuroQol 5-Dimension 5-Level (EQ-5D-5L), to 9,952 outpatients with several clinical conditions caused by HB or HC virus infection (such as asymptomatic chronic hepatitis, chronic hepatitis, compensated cirrhosis, and decompensated cirrhosis) and estimated the condition-specific utilities of patients with HB or HC.

Working conditions contribute to fertility-related quality of life: a cross-sectional study in Japan.

Research Question: Is there an association between employment conditions and fertility-related quality of life among women undergoing fertility care?

Design: The study was a cross-sectional survey of 721 women in Japan recruited via an online social research panel. Participants included women aged 25-44 years with paid employment who were undergoing fertility diagnosis or treatment. They completed online questionnaires to assess fertility quality of life (FertiQoL) and job stress based on the demand-control-support model (Brief Job Stress Questionnaire).

Quantitative Real-Time RT-PCR Systems to Detect SARS-CoV-2.

Since the outbreak of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) on the Diamond Princess cruise ship docked at Yokohama Port on February 3, 2020, real-time reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) testing using nasopharyngeal swab samples from symptomatic and asymptomatic COVID-19 individuals has been the main way to detect severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) RNA in almost all clinical laboratories in Japan. With the diffusion of sets containing the primers and probe, the gold standard real-time RT-PCR test has permeated throughout the country. To prevent the spread of infection, real-time RT-PCR testing is important to confirm whether people are positive, asymptomatic, or negative for COVID-19.

[Childcare and housework performed by fathers with infants and related factors].

Objective　The aim of this study was to identify the status regarding childcare and housework performed by fathers with infants (one and two years old, first child), as well as related factors.Method　An online survey of fathers with infants across Japan was administered in October 2020. The survey items encompassed basic attributes, work conditions, and child-rearing information, as well as items from the Quality of Marriage Index (QMI), Work-Family Conflict Scale (WFCS), and a Japanese version of the K6 screening tool.

Development of a fluorescent probe library enabling efficient screening of tumour-imaging probes based on discovery of biomarker enzymatic activities.

Fluorescent probes that can selectively detect tumour lesions have great potential for fluorescence imaging-guided surgery. Here, we established a library-based approach for efficient screening of probes for tumour-selective imaging based on discovery of biomarker enzymes. We constructed a combinatorial fluorescent probe library for aminopeptidases and proteases, which is composed of 380 probes with various substrate moieties.

Rapid imaging of lung cancer using a red fluorescent probe to detect dipeptidyl peptidase 4 and puromycin-sensitive aminopeptidase activities.

Rapid identification of lung-cancer micro-lesions is becoming increasingly important to improve the outcome of surgery by accurately defining the tumor/normal tissue margins and detecting tiny tumors, especially for patients with low lung function and early-stage cancer. The purpose of this study is to select and validate the best red fluorescent probe for rapid diagnosis of lung cancer by screening a library of 400 red fluorescent probes based on 2-methyl silicon rhodamine (2MeSiR) as the fluorescent scaffold, as well as to identify the target enzymes that activate the selected probe, and to confirm their expression in cancer cells. The selected probe, glutamine-alanine-2-methyl silicon rhodamine (QA-2MeSiR), showed 96.

Low-carbohydrate diets adversely impact the skin of a mouse model of photoaging exposed to ultraviolet B radiation.

The study results regarding the effects of low-carbohydrate (LC) diets remain controversial; hence further research is required to assess their safety. Here, we examined whether LC diets cause skin damage in C57BL/6J mice. Six-week-old female mice ( = 20) were fed an LC (protein/fat/carbohydrate energy ratio = 35:45:20) or control diet for eight weeks, after which their backs were shaved, and a subset of the mice were exposed to ultraviolet B radiation thrice per week.

Descriptive epidemiology of injuries in Japanese collegiate men's basketball: 2013/2014 to 2019/2020.

Background: Basketball is one of the most played sports in the world. However, only a few studies have examined the epidemiology of Japanese collegiate men's basketball injuries. This study investigated the incidence of injury among Japanese collegiate men's basketball from the 2013/2014 to the 2019/2020 seasons and identified unique patterns by comparing our data with the National Collegiate Athletic Association (NCAA) men's basketball data.

Prevalence of COVID-19 and the Continued Citizen-Based Control in Japan.

Since an outbreak of COVID-19 was detected among the crew and passengers of the Diamond Princess cruise ship in early 2020, the total number of cases of SARS-CoV-2 has surpassed 440,000 in Japan. However, that number remains small compared with other countries, such as the United States, a few European countries, and China. Despite the Japanese government not imposing a lockdown or implementing large-scale testing at the municipal level, the country has managed to contain the smaller outbreaks.

PKCδ deficiency inhibits fetal development and is associated with heart elastic fiber hyperplasia and lung inflammation in adult PKCδ knockout mice.

Protein kinase C-delta (PKCδ) has a caspase-3 recognition sequence in its structure, suggesting its involvement in apoptosis. In addition, PKCδ was recently reported to function as an anti-cancer factor. The generation of a PKCδ knockout mouse model indicated that PKCδ plays a role in B cell homeostasis.

Rapid and Accurate Visualization of Breast Tumors with a Fluorescent Probe Targeting α-Mannosidase 2C1.

Accurate detection of breast tumors and discrimination of tumor from normal tissues during breast-conserving surgery are essential to reduce the risk of misdiagnosis or recurrence. However, existing probes show substantial background signals in normal breast tissues. In this study, we focus on glycosidase activities in breast tumors.

Levels of Physical Fitness and Weight Status in Children and Adolescents: A Comparison between China and Japan.

This study compared the physical fitness level and weight status of children and adolescents in China and Japan. Children and adolescents aged 7-18 years were recruited (China: = 5660; Japan: = 5660). Physical fitness was assessed using seven core items-grip strength, 30-s sit-ups, standing long jump, sit-and-reach, 20-s repeated straddling, 20-m shuttle run test, and 50-m dash.

Comparison of growth and nutritional status of Chinese and Japanese children and adolescents.

Background: The difference in growth and nutritional status, both important indices of population quality, between Chinese and Japanese children and adolescents is unknown.

Aim: This study aimed to compare growth and nutritional status between Chinese and Japanese children and adolescents.

Subjects And Methods: The height-for-age and BMI-for-age distribution of 9,226 children and adolescents aged 7-18 years from China and Japan were described with the Lambda Mu and Sigma method.