Comparison between DXA and MRI for the Visceral Fat Assessment in Athletes.

The use of dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA) may be invalid for assessing athletes with larger bodies, larger lean body mass, and thicker trunks. This study compared the athletes' visceral adipose tissue (VAT) assessed using DXA and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Eighty-two Japanese male collegiate athletes from 18 sports participated in this study.

Longitudinal Change of Psychological Distress among Healthcare Professionals with and without Psychological First Aid Training Experience during the COVID-19 Pandemic.

This study aimed to compare longitudinal change of the psychological distress of a group with psychological first aid (PFA) experience and a group without PFA experience among physicians and other healthcare professionals from before the novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic to during the pandemic. The baseline survey was conducted in January 2020 (T1). The respondents in T1 were invited to participate in March (T2) and November 2020 (T3).

Older assistant workers in intermediate care facilities, and their influence on the physical and mental burden of elderly care staff.

Background: As there is a shortage of care staff in elderly care homes, seniors are expected to work as assistants to help the care staff. This study examined the influence of older assistant workers in intermediate elderly care facilities on care staff, specifically focusing on emotional exhaustion which is a sign of burnout. These facilities provide long-term nursing and supportive care to older residents.

Longitudinal change in depressive symptoms among healthcare professionals with and without COVID-19 vaccine hesitancy from October 2020 to June 2021 in Japan.

This study aimed to compare the longitudinal change in depressive symptoms among healthcare professionals in Japan who are willing to receive novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) vaccination and those who are unwilling to receive COVID-19 vaccination. The baseline survey was conducted in October 2020 (Survey time 1: T1); respondents in T1 were invited to participate in May 2021 (Survey time 2: T2). Depressive symptoms were assessed by the Patient Health Questionnaire-9 (PHQ-9).

Association Between Physical Function and Neighborhood Environment in Healthy, Older Adults: An Exploratory Study Using Regression Tree Analysis.

The aim of this study was to perform an exploratory investigation of the individual characteristics of older adults that affect the relationships between physical function and neighborhood environment. A total of 624 community-dwelling older adults living independently, aged ≥65 years, participated in this cross-sectional study. Physical function was assessed by muscle strength (grip strength and knee extension strength) and physical performance (5-m walking time and Timed Up and Go Test).

Cross-sectional examination of 24-hour movement behaviours among 3- and 4-year-old children in urban and rural settings in low-income, middle-income and high-income countries: the SUNRISE study protocol.

Introduction: 24-hour movement behaviours (physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep) during the early years are associated with health and developmental outcomes, prompting the WHO to develop Global guidelines for physical activity, sedentary behaviour and sleep for children under 5 years of age. Prevalence data on 24-hour movement behaviours is lacking, particularly in low-income and middle-income countries (LMICs). This paper describes the development of the protocol, designed to address this gap.

Development and validation of a simple anthropometric equation to predict appendicular skeletal muscle mass.

Background & Aims: A limited number of studies have developed simple anthropometric equations that can be implemented for predicting muscle mass in the local community. Several studies have suggested calf circumference as a simple and accurate surrogate maker for muscle mass. We aimed to develop and cross-validate a simple anthropometric equation, which incorporates calf circumference, to predict appendicular skeletal muscle mass (ASM) using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA).

Applied Improvisation Enhances the Effects of Behavioral Activation on Symptoms of Depression and PTSD in High School Students Affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

Background: The education system can serve as a community-based resource to support the provision of long-term follow-up care after large-scale disasters. While school-based interventions conducted after a disaster have been confirmed to reduce symptoms of depression and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD), adolescents often exhibit low treatment motivation. Traditional methods used to encourage treatment motivation include fun activities, such as applied improv (AIM).

Discrepancies in persons with dementia, family members, and physician perspectives of dementia treatment: a descriptive study.

Background: This study aims to reconsider diagnostic approaches to dementia where pharmacological approaches are not available to reverse the pathological changes caused by dementia.

Methods: A questionnaire survey was conducted with 524 physicians specialising in dementia management in Aichi, Japan, with 163 (31.1%) valid responses.

Physical Frailty and Future Costs of Long-Term Care in Older Adults: Results from the NCGG-SGS.

Introduction: Frailty is associated with adverse outcomes, but few studies have determined associations between the frailty phenotype and measures of healthcare burden, including long-term care insurance (LTCI) costs, in older community-dwelling populations.

Objective: The aim of this study was to examine the association between frailty status and subsequent LTCI costs in Japanese community-dwelling older adults.

Methods: The prospective data were from a cohort study (National Center for Geriatrics and Gerontology-Study of Geriatric Syndromes [NCGG-SGS]).

Effect of financial incentives for participation in dementia prevention and support activities: results of a web survey with persons aged 60 and older.

Background: This study aims to elucidate the impact of financial incentives on the motivation to participate in dementia prevention activities and to provide support to people with dementia.

Methods: An online survey was completed by 1500 men and women, aged 60 or above, from the general community in Japan. When responding to questions regarding motivation for participating in dementia prevention activities and providing support to people with dementia, respondents were randomly assigned different incentive conditions.

A Substituent Effect on Two-Photon Absorption of Diphenylacetylene Derivatives with an Electron-Donating/Withdrawing Group.

Two-photon absorption for diphenylacetylene derivatives with an electron-donating (ED) or electron-withdrawing (EW) group (DPA-Rs) was investigated by high-sensitivity optical-probing photoacoustic spectroscopy. Two-photon absorption spectra and two-photon absorption cross sections σ for DPA-Rs were successfully obtained. Two-photon absorption spectra of DPA-Rs with stronger ED or EW groups display more significant red-shifts and larger σ values.

Cognition and Implementation of Disaster Preparedness among Japanese Dialysis Facilities.

Introduction: Few quantitative studies have explored disaster preparedness in dialysis facilities worldwide. This study examined the levels of disaster preparedness and their related factors in dialysis facilities in Japan.

Methods: We conducted a mail survey using a self-administered questionnaire for key persons responsible for disaster preparedness in dialysis facilities ( = 904) associated with the Japanese Association of Dialysis Physicians.

Urinary incontinence onset predictors in community-dwelling older women: A prospective cohort study.

Aim: We aimed to investigate whether physical function was associated with urinary incontinence (UI) onset in community-dwelling older Japanese women.

Methods: This was a 4-year prospective cohort study. After excluding participants with UI and missing data in the baseline survey, we included 890 participants in the analyses.

Excited States of Thio-2'-deoxyuridine Bearing an Extended π-Conjugated System: 3',5'-Di--acetyl-5-phenylethynyl-4-thio-2'-deoxyuridine.

A new thio-2'-deoxyuridine with an extended π-conjugated group was successfully synthesized: 3',5'-di--acetyl-5-phenylethynyl-4-thio-2'-deoxyuridine. The thio-2'-deoxyuridine derivative has a large red-shifted absorption band in the UVA region and also shows fluorescence, a rare photo-property among thionucleobases/thionucleosides. The triplet-triplet absorption spectrum and the rate constants (the intrinsic decay rate constant of the triplet state, the self-quenching rate constant, and the quenching rate constant of the triplet state by an oxygen molecule) of the thio-2'-deoxyuridine were obtained by transient absorption spectroscopy.

The relationship between sleep habits, lifestyle factors, and achieving guideline-recommended physical activity levels in ten-to-fourteen-year-old Japanese children: A cross-sectional study.

The current focus of meeting the physical activity guidelines for children and young people include preventing conditions such as high blood cholesterol, high blood pressure, metabolic syndrome, obesity, low bone density, depression, and injuries. However, the relationship between sleep habits and meeting physical activity guidelines is still unclear. This study aimed to assess this relationship among fifth- to eighth-grade (ages 10-14) Japanese children.

Visceral fat and cardiorespiratory fitness with prevalence of pre-diabetes/diabetes mellitus among middle-aged and elderly Japanese people: WASEDA'S Health Study.

The relationships between cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) measurements not confounded by adiposity and the prevalence of pre-diabetes mellitus (pre-DM) and diabetes mellitus (DM) are not well known. Thus, we aimed to investigate the associations of visceral fat (VF) and CRF with the prevalence of pre-DM/DM among Japanese adults. The study included 970 individuals (327 women and 643 men) who were 40-87 years old and had complete health examinations, abdominal fat area, and fitness data from WASEDA'S Health Study during 2015-2018.

Cut-offs for calf circumference as a screening tool for low muscle mass: WASEDA'S Health Study.

Aim: To re-evaluate the suitability of calf circumference as a surrogate marker of low muscle mass measured by both bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) and dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). We also examined the effects of obesity and age on low muscle mass screening using calf circumference.

Methods: In total, 1239 adults participated in this cross-sectional study.