Propensity-matched comparisons of factors negatively affecting research activities during the COVID-19 pandemic between nursing researchers working in academic and clinical settings in Japan.

Aim: To determine the factors associated with reduced research activities during the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020 by comparing nursing researchers working in academic and clinical settings.

Methods: This was a secondary analysis of data collected by the Japan Academy of Nursing Sciences, which conducted a cross-sectional online survey when the pandemic began. We included respondents who worked in either academic or clinical settings and responded that the pandemic negatively affected their research activities.

Carnosine synthase deficiency in mice affects protein metabolism in skeletal muscle.

Carnosine and anserine are abundant peptides found in the skeletal muscle and nervous system in many vertebrates. Several in vitro and in vivo studies have demonstrate that exogenously administered carnosine improves exercise performance. Furthermore, carnosine is an antioxidant and antifatigue supplement.

Influence of Nutritional Intakes in Japan and the United States on COVID-19 Infection.

The U.S. and Japan are both democratic industrialized societies, but the numbers of COVID-19 cases and deaths per million people in the U.

The Body Fat Percentage Rather Than the BMI Is Associated with the CD4 Count among HIV Positive Japanese Individuals.

Maintenance of the cluster of differentiation 4 (CD4) positive lymphocyte count (CD4 count) is important for human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) positive individuals. Although a higher body mass index (BMI) is shown to be associated with a higher CD4 count, BMI itself does not reflect body composition. Therefore, we examined the association of body weight, body composition and the CD4 count, and determined the optimal ranges of CD4 count associated factors in Japanese HIV positive individuals.

Development of a predictive model for vitamin D deficiency based on the vitamin D status in young Japanese women: A study protocol.

Background: Vitamin D deficiency (VDD) is associated with an increased risk for lifestyle-related diseases. In Japan, VDD is quite prevalent in all age groups, with its high risk in young women. Furthermore, its association during pregnancy with gestational hypertension and low birth weight has also been reported.

Dose-response relationships of sarcopenia parameters with incident disability and mortality in older Japanese adults.

Background: Sarcopenia-related parameters may have differential impacts on health-related outcomes in older adults. We examined dose-response relationships of body composition, muscle strength, and physical performance with incident disability and mortality.

Methods: This prospective study included 1765 Japanese residents (862 men; 903 women) aged ≥65 years who participated in health check-ups.

The relationship between blood pressure and cognitive function.

Background: Although an elevated systolic blood pressure (SBP) is associated with cognitive dysfunction, BP may decrease with advanced cognitive dysfunction; therefore, we attempted to identify the turning point in the relationship between cognitive function and SBP in elderly subjects.

Methods: In pooled datasets of general populations and outpatient clinics (age>65 years), in which the risk of frailty or cognitive dysfunction was assessed (N = 4076), the relationship between SBP and the Mini Mental State Examination (MMSE) score was examined.

Results: Mean age was 72.

Cognitive function, daily function and physical and mental health in older adults: A comparison of venue and home-visit community surveys in Metropolitan Tokyo.

Purpose: We conducted surveys in older people at a venue and in home-visits, and compared cognitive and health status between the two groups to assess their cognitive and everyday functioning.

Methods: Among 7,614 persons aged 70 years and older living in an urban area, 5,430 responded to a mail survey for sociodemographic characteristics and self-rated questionnaires including the Geriatric Depression Scale-short form (GDS-15). Of these, 1,360 agreed to attend a venue survey, and 693 agreed to take a home-visit survey.

Relationship between Eating Alone and Poor Appetite Using the Simplified Nutritional Appetite Questionnaire.

One prominent factor associated with malnutrition is poor appetite. In Japan, the number of older adults living alone has increased annually. Those living alone tended to eat alone, which may lead to poor appetite.

An Earlier First Meal Timing Associates with Weight Loss Effectiveness in A 12-Week Weight Loss Support Program.

Recent studies have reported that meal timing may play an important role in weight regulation, however it is unknown whether the timing of meals is related to the amount of weight loss. This study aimed to examine the relationship between indices of meal timing and weight loss during weight loss intervention in adults. A 12-week weight loss support program was conducted for 97 adults (age: 47.

Administration of mucuna beans (Mucuna pruriences (L.) DC. var. utilis) improves cognition and neuropathology of 3 × Tg-AD mice.

Alzheimer's disease (AD) is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by the accumulation of extracellular amyloid-beta peptides (Aβ) resulting in senile plaques and intracellular hyperphosphorylated tau protein resulting in neurofibrillary tangles (NFTs). Mucuna beans (Mucuna pruriences (L.) DC.

Plasma Angiopoietin-Like Protein 2 Levels and Mortality Risk Among Younger-Old Japanese People: A Population-Based Case-Cohort Study.

Aging is an important medical and social problem. Excessive angiopoietin-like protein (ANGPTL)-2 signaling causes chronic tissue inflammation, promoting development and progression of aging-related diseases. Moreover, circulating ANGPTL2 levels reportedly predict the risk of some aging-related diseases and subsequent death.

Combined Impacts of Physical Activity, Dietary Variety, and Social Interaction on Incident Functional Disability in Older Japanese Adults.

Background: This 3.6-year prospective study examined combined impacts of physical activity, dietary variety, and social interaction on incident disability and estimated population-attributable fraction for disability reduction in older adults.

Methods: Participants were 7,822 initially non-disabled residents (3,966 men and 3,856 women) aged 65-84 years of Ota City, Tokyo, Japan.

Identifying the specific associations between participation in social activities and healthy lifestyle behaviours in older adults.

Objectives: To examine the longitudinal association between participation in social activities and healthy lifestyle behaviours.

Study Design: This 2-year follow-up study used data from 6168 older adults (73.5 ± 5.

Factors Influencing Changes in Food Preparation during the COVID-19 Pandemic and Associations with Food Intake among Japanese Adults.

The primary aim of this study was to evaluate factors associated with changes in food-preparation practices during the Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic in Japan and its associations to food-group intake. To examine this, a cross-sectional online survey was conducted in July 2020. Participants were 2285 adults aged 20-69 years who resided in any of 13 prefectures in Japan where specific COVID-19 regulations had been implemented.

Studies on urinary excretion and variability of dietary iodine in healthy Japanese adults.

The daily consumption of iodine in Japan is higher than in most countries, and there are few reports on iodine metabolism and variance of habitual iodine ingestion in an iodine-sufficient area. To elucidate the patterns of short-term urinary iodine excretion (UIE) and long-term variability of habitual iodine intake, the urinary iodine excretion process after a high dietary iodine load of 3 mg was observed in eight Japanese adults under strict supervision with complete urine collections for three days. In addition, estimated UIE and dietary iodine intake (DII) were assessed in 24 university students using repeated spot urine samples of ten consecutive days and a food frequency questionnaire in each of the four seasons.

Effect of workplace dietary intervention on salt intake and sodium-to-potassium ratio of Japanese employees: A quasi-experimental study.

Objectives: Excess salt intake is a major risk factor for hypertension and cardiovascular disease. Modifying workplace environments has been recognized to be important for reducing salt intake. However, studies examining the effects of improving the workplace environment regarding salt reduction are limited.

Age-Related Decline in Physical Activity Level in the Healthy Older Japanese Population.

The Dietary Reference Intakes 2020 divided the older population into those aged 65-74 y and those over 75 y old. However, physical activity level in each age group was not specified. This study examined age-related differences in physical activity level among healthy Japanese older people, and the effect of lifestyles on these differences.