A cross-sectional epidemiological study of the relationship between sleep duration, quality, and rhythm and presenteeism in workers.

This study aims to examine the relationship of sleep (sleep duration, sleep quality, and sleep rhythm) with presenteeism in workers while controlling for other confounding factors. A total of 2375 workers of six Japanese companies received self-administered questionnaires from June to November 2018. Information on sleep duration was used to evaluate sleep quantity, the Athens Insomnia Scale (AIS) was used to evaluate sleep quality, and workers' engagement in shift work was used to determine their sleep rhythms.

Acquisition of novel ball-related skills associated with sports experience.

Some individuals can quickly acquire novel motor skills, while others take longer. This study aimed to investigate the relationships between neurophysiological state, sports experience, and novel ball-related skill acquisition. We enrolled 28 healthy collegiate participants.

A nationwide cross-sectional study of difficulty waking up for school among adolescents.

Study Objectives: To determine the prevalence of and risk-factors for difficulty waking up for school among adolescents.

Methods: We used a self-administered questionnaire (140 junior high schools [JHSs]; 124 senior high schools [SHSs]) selected randomly in 2012 from throughout Japan.

Results: Total response rate: 60.

Integrating Behavior of Children with Profound Intellectual, Multiple, or Severe Motor Disabilities With Location and Environment Data Sensors for Independent Communication and Mobility: App Development and Pilot Testing.

Background: Children with profound intellectual and multiple disabilities (PIMD) or severe motor and intellectual disabilities (SMID) only communicate through movements, vocalizations, body postures, muscle tensions, or facial expressions on a pre- or protosymbolic level. Yet, to the best of our knowledge, there are few systems developed to specifically aid in categorizing and interpreting behaviors of children with PIMD or SMID to facilitate independent communication and mobility. Further, environmental data such as weather variables were found to have associations with human affects and behaviors among typically developing children; however, studies involving children with neurological functioning impairments that affect communication or those who have physical and/or motor disabilities are unexpectedly scarce.

[Prevalence of frailty and its related factors in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly adults in Settsu and Hannan cities in Osaka prefecture].

Objectives　The purpose of this study was to examine the prevalence of frailty and its associated factors in community-dwelling middle-aged and elderly adults in Settsu and Hannan cities, which are located in the north and south of Osaka prefecture, respectively.Methods　We conducted a mailed, self-administered, questionnaire survey of individuals aged 40 years and older in Settsu city in 2019 and Hannan city in 2020. There are 10 primary school districts in Settsu city and 8 districts in Hannan city, from each of which 1,000 people were selected according to the age and sex structures of the districts.

Bifidobacterium response to lactulose ingestion in the gut relies on a solute-binding protein-dependent ABC transporter.

This study aims to understand the mechanistic basis underlying the response of Bifidobacterium to lactulose ingestion in guts of healthy Japanese subjects, with specific focus on a lactulose transporter. An in vitro assay using mutant strains of Bifidobacterium longum subsp. longum 105-A shows that a solute-binding protein with locus tag number BL105A_0502 (termed LT-SBP) is primarily involved in lactulose uptake.

Factors associated with sarcopenia screened by finger-circle test among middle-aged and older adults: a population-based multisite cross-sectional survey in Japan.

Background: Previous epidemiological studies have demonstrated the prevalence and relationship of various factors associated with sarcopenia in older adults; however, few have examined the status of sarcopenia in middle-aged adults. In this study, we aimed to, 1) evaluate the validity of the finger-circle test, which is potentially a useful screening tool for sarcopenia, and 2) determine the prevalence and factors associated with sarcopenia in middle-aged and older adults.

Methods: We conducted face-to-face surveys of 525 adults, who were aged 40-91 years and resided in Settsu City, Osaka Prefecture, Japan to evaluate the validity of finger-circle test.

Subcortical deafness as a subtype of auditory agnosia after injury of bilateral auditory radiations caused by two cerebrovascular accidents - normal auditory brainstem responses with I-VII waves and abolished consciousness of hearing.

Background: In central auditory disorders caused by damage of the cerebral hemispheres, there are cortical deafness and auditory agnosia. Although clinical cases of cortical deafness have been reported, little is known about the hearing problems and localized lesions associated with cortical deafness.

Aims/objectives: The aims of our research are to elucidate lesion sites associated with cortical deafness and to clarify why patients with cerebral lesions are not aware of any sound at all.

Lactulose ingestion causes an increase in the abundance of gut-resident bifidobacteria in Japanese women: a randomised, double-blind, placebo-controlled crossover trial.

The genus comprises various bacterial species, and the complement of species within the human intestinal tract differs from individual to individual. The balance of these bifidobacterial species remains poorly understood, although it is known that the abundance of bifidobacteria increases following the ingestion of prebiotics. We previously conducted a randomised, placebo-controlled, double-blind, crossover study of 2 g/day lactulose ingestion for 2 weeks in 60 Japanese women.

Simulating the Impact of Long-Term Care Prevention Among Older Japanese People on Healthcare Costs From 2020 to 2040 Using System Dynamics Modeling.

This study examined how healthcare costs might change by reducing long-term care needs among older Japanese people. A simulation model was constructed comprising two aging chains for independent and dependent people aged ≥65 years by sex. Changes in the base run from 2020 to 2040 were compared with those in two hypothetical scenarios: a 2% annual reduction in death rates (S1), and S1 plus a 2% annual reduction in the proportion of dependent people aged 65 years and in transition rates from the independent to dependent state for people aged ≥65 years (S2).

Diet quality and household income level among students: 2014 National Health and Nutrition Survey Japan.

Background/objectives: Although higher diet quality is related to higher socioeconomic status among adults, it is unclear whether this result could be generalized to children. Elementary and junior high school lunch programs may contribute to the reduction of socioeconomic disparities in diet quality. We examined the association between diet quality and household income level in school children in Japan according to age subgroups.

Isolation and characterization of a motility-defective mutant of .

is a green photosynthetic microalga that swims using its flagellum. This species has been used as a model organism for over half a century to study its metabolism and the mechanisms of its behavior. The development of mass-cultivation technology has led to application as a feedstock in various products such as foods.

Medium-Chain Triglycerides (8:0 and 10:0) Increase Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE) Score in Frail Elderly Adults in a Randomized Controlled Trial.

Background: Supplementation with medium-chain triglycerides (MCTs) was previously shown to increase muscle function in frail elderly individuals.

Objective: We aimed to assess effects of MCTs on cognition in such individuals.

Methods: We enrolled 64 elderly nursing home residents (85.

Changes in expression of genes related to glucose metabolism in liver and skeletal muscle of rats exposed to acute hypoxia.

The aim of this study was to determine changes in gene expression associated with glucose metabolism in the liver and soleus muscles of rats exposed to hypoxia to improve work capacity under high altitude conditions. Rats were divided into normobaric normoxia (control) and normobaric hypoxia (hypoxia) groups ( = 7 each), and the hypoxia group was exposed to 10.5% oxygen for 90 min.

An educational intervention improved knowledge of dietary supplements in college students.

Background: We have previously reported on the prevalence of dietary supplements among college students; it was deduced that their intake of supplements increased according to their grade (i.e., 13.

Coleus forskohlii Extract Attenuated the Beneficial Effect of Diet-Treatment on NASH in Mouse Model.

Obesity is one of the main causes of non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), which is associated with impaired liver functions including drug metabolism. Coleus forskohlii extract (CFE) is a popular ingredient of weight loss dietary supplements in Japan. In this study, we examined the effect of CFE on the treatment of NASH.

[Proficiency Testing Schemes for Food Nutrition Analysis in Japan (2017-2018)].

This paper deals with proficiency testing schemes for food nutrition analysis in Japan. In schemes in 2017 and 2018, 65 and 73 organizations participated, respectively, and more than 70% of the participants were public organizations responsible for a nutrition-labeling compliance test. The food matrices were pork and chicken sausages, and analytes were protein, fat, ash, moisture, carbohydrate, energy, sodium, salt equivalent, calcium (2018 only), and iron (2018 only).

[Method Verification for Vitamin D Analysis in Processed Foods Based on the Analytical Manual for the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan 2015 (Seventh Revised Edition)].

Considerable amounts of processed foods contain vitamin D (ergocalciferol (D) and cholecalciferol (D)) as food additives. For field surveys on food additives, the analytical method for vitamin D should be well-validated. However, the current official method in Japan cannot separately determine the concentrations of D and D, whereas the method for the Standard Tables of Food Composition in Japan 2015 (STFC method) can.

Green Nut Oil or DHA Supplementation Restored Decreased Distribution Levels of DHA Containing Phosphatidylcholines in the Brain of a Mouse Model of Dementia.

Dementia is a major public health concern nowadays. Reduced levels of brain docosahexaenoic acid (DHA) and DHA-phosphatidylcholines (DHA-PCs) in dementia patients were reported previously. Recently, we have reported that supplementation of green nut oil (GNO) or DHA improves memory function and distribution levels of brain DHA in senescence accelerated mice P8 (SAMP8).

Association between reduced serum BDNF levels and insomnia with short sleep duration among female hospital nurses.

Objective: Previous studies have suggested that brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is associated with sleep regulation in humans. However, its relationship with self-reported sleep problems has not been clarified. The aim of the present study was to examine the association between serum BDNF levels and sleep problems among hospital nurses.

A composite measure of sleep health is associated with symptoms of depression among Japanese female hospital nurses.

Background: Individual dimensions of sleep health, including satisfaction, sleepiness/alertness, timing, efficiency, and duration, are associated with depression. We investigated whether a composite sleep health score is associated with symptoms of depression among Japanese female hospital nurses.

Methods: Participants were nurses (n = 2482, all women, age 31.

Comparison of CYP Induction by Coleus forskohlii Extract and Recovery in the Small Intestine and Liver of Mice.

We examined CYP induction and recovery at various doses of Coleus forskohlii extract (CFE) to assess potential drug interactions by a mechanism involving intestinal CYP. Mice were administered diets with various doses of CFE up to 0.5% (equivalent to 700-800 mg/kg body weight) for 2 weeks, then CFE was withdrawn for 3 d.

Dietary Intake of Green Nut Oil or DHA Ameliorates DHA Distribution in the Brain of a Mouse Model of Dementia Accompanied by Memory Recovery.

Docosahexaenoic acid (DHA), an omega-3 polyunsaturated fatty acid, has significant healthbenefits. Previous studies reported decreased levels of DHA and DHA-containing phosphatidylcholines inthe brain of animals suffering from Alzheimer's disease, the most common type of dementia; furthermore,DHA supplementation has been found to improve brain DHA levels and memory efficiency in dementia. Oilextracted from the seeds of (green nut oil; GNO) is also expected to have DHA like effectsas it contains approximately 50% α-linolenic acid, a precursor of DHA.

Identification of Compounds in Coleus forskohlii Extract Involved in the Induction of Hepatic CYP and Fatty Liver in Mice.

Coleus forskohlii extract (CFE), a popular weight-loss herbal product, induces hepatic cytochrome P450 (CYP) and fatty liver in mice; however, its main bioactive ingredient, forskolin, does not show such effects. To ensure the safety of CFE as a dietary supplement, identification of the compounds implicated in the induction of hepatic CYP and fatty liver is required. In this study, we separated a crude CFE extract into 5 fractions (Fr.