Changes in hamstring flexibility and muscle strength during the menstrual cycle in healthy young females.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to elucidate changes in flexibility and muscle strength during the menstrual cycle in detail and to investigate the relationship between flexibility and muscle strength. [Participants and Methods] Sixteen healthy young female and eight male participants were measured during the follicular, ovulation and luteal phases. Range of motion, passive torque at the onset of pain, passive stiffness and muscle strength were measured using an isokinetic dynamometer.

Effects of yogurt as a deglutition aid on disintegration and dissolution of oral tablets.

Patients with dysphagia have difficulty swallowing oral medications. Swallowing aid foods, such as deglutition aid jellies and food thickeners, are often used to help such patients take oral medications. Yogurt is occasionally used to help swallow medications.

Different Types of Screen Behavior and Depression in Children and Adolescents.

The purpose of this study was to examine the associations between different types of screen behavior and depression, taking into account exercise and sleep among children and adolescents. A total of 23,573 Japanese children and adolescents (aged 8-15 years) participated in this cross-sectional study. Different types of screen behavior, weekly exercise time, sleep duration, and prevalence of depression were assessed using a questionnaire.

Factors associated with SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers and prognosis of breakthrough infection in hemodialysis patients.

Background: The mortality rate of Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) is extremely high in hemodialysis patients (HDP). These patients also develop lower antibody titers after vaccination. Therefore, factors associated with antibody titers and vaccine efficacy in HDP with breakthrough infection need to be investigated.

The function of SARS-CoV-2 spike protein is impaired by disulfide-bond disruption with mutation at cysteine-488 and by thiol-reactive N-acetyl-cysteine and glutathione.

Viral spike proteins play important roles in the viral entry process, facilitating attachment to cellular receptors and fusion of the viral envelope with the cell membrane. Severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) spike protein binds to the cellular receptor angiotensin converting enzyme-2 (ACE2) via its receptor-binding domain (RBD). The cysteine residue at position 488, consisting of a disulfide bridge with cysteine 480 is located in an important structural loop at ACE2-binding surface of RBD, and is highly conserved among SARS-related coronaviruses.

Taurine supplementation enhances endurance capacity by delaying blood glucose decline during prolonged exercise in rats.

Taurine enhances physical performance; however, the underlying mechanism remains unclear. This study examined the effect of taurine on the overtime dynamics of blood glucose concentration (BGC) during endurance exercise in rats. Male F344 rats were subjected to transient treadmill exercise until exhaustion following 3 weeks of taurine supplementation or non-supplementation (TAU and CON groups).

[Evaluation of the Pharmaceutical Properties of Clobetasol Propionate Ointments and Base Stability of the Mixture with Heparinoid Oil Based Creams].

Clobetasol propionate ointment (CLP) formulations have been classified as members of the "strongest" steroidal efficacy group, with eight of these formulations currently marketed in Japan. Evaluations of pharmaceutical properties of each formulation revealed three classification types: droplet dispersion type containing propylene glycol (PG) and surfactant, type with surfactant but not PG, and other types. These rheological properties were diverse, with no correlation found between viscosity and ointment type.

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.

Throwing kinematics and elbow varus torque relative to ball size in junior baseball players.

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate changes in the shoulder and elbow joint angles, upper limb angular velocities, and elbow varus torque when throwing balls of two different sizes. [Participants and Methods] The pitching motion of 26 junior baseball players was analyzed using an optical motion capture system. The balls used were a standard baseball and a small ball of equal weight.

Acute liver damage and interaction of cisplatin with silver nanoparticles depend on particle size.

Nanomaterials are innovative materials that have novel properties that differ from those of macroscale materials in terms of response to stimuli such as heat, light, and voltage. However, the potential unknown effects of nanomaterials on living organisms have raised concerns. There are few reports describing the effects of silver nanoparticles on living organisms and the effects of nanoparticle interactions with chemical substances such as pharmaceuticals.

[Effect of Cooking and Processing on Quantitation of Soybean Proteins].

We examined the effects of cooking and processing on the quantitation of soy protein in various soy-based foods. For the phosphate-buffered saline (PBS) extraction, the total protein content was measured by bicinchoninic acid assay, and the buffer extraction containing sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS) and 2-mercaptoethanol (ME) was measured by the 2-D Quant Kit, and SDS-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis (SDS-PAGE) of each extraction was performed. Furthermore, measurements were performed by various ELISAs.

Effects of transdiagnostic group treatment for sleep disturbances in adult attention-deficit/hyperactivity disorders and autistic spectrum disorder: a pilot study.

Although adult patients with attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) and autism spectrum disorder (ASD) often have sleep problems, few studies have verified the effect of a psychological approach specific to sleep-wake rhythms on these sleep disturbances. Therefore, the aim of this pilot study was to develop a trans-diagnostic approach with sleep scheduling and regularity of sleep duration as core modules, and to examine the effect of the intervention in adult ADHD and/or ASD subjects with sleep disturbances. This was a within-group pilot study.

Relationship between inferior fascicle of anterior talofibular ligament and articular capsule in lateral ankle ligament complex.

Purpose: The lateral ankle ligament complex (LALC) is composed of anterior talofibular (ATFL), calcaneofibular (CFL), and posterior talofibular (PTFL) ligaments, all of which have a connection/continuous fiber. However, the structural link between the LALC and the articular capsule remains unknown. The goal of our study was to determine the connection between ATFL's inferior fascicle and the articular capsule.

Isolated neutropenia caused by copper deficiency due to jejunal feeding and excessive zinc intake: A case report.

Background: Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy with jejunal extension (PEG-J) is often used to treat patients with neurological impairment and difficulty in swallowing. However, these patients often develop copper deficiency. This report describes a case of isolated neutropenia, which is a rare manifestation of copper deficiency.

Effect of a 1-year intervention comprising brief counselling sessions and low-dose physical activity recommendations in Japanese adults, and retention of the effect at 2 years: a randomized trial.

Background: In an effort to increase people's adherence to active lifestyles, contemporary physical activity (PA) guidelines now include low-dose PA.

Methods: PA was evaluated in 583 participants of the Nutritional and Physical Activity Intervention Study (NEXIS) cohort (30-65 years old); 349 inactive participants (MVPA, 2.7 ± 1.

Effect of antipsychotics on serum lithium levels and white blood cell counts.

Lithium carbonate is used to increase white blood cell counts as a means of counteracting leukopenia caused by the administration of antipsychotic drugs. To evaluate the effect of antipsychotics on the leukocyte-enhancing effect of lithium, we compared white blood cell counts, serum lithium levels, and lithium dosage in patients receiving antipsychotics and lithium in combination and patients receiving lithium alone. Chlorpromazine equivalent values were used as an indicator of the antipsychotic dose.

The Association of Body Image Self-Discrepancy With Female Gender, Calorie-Restricted Diet, and Psychological Symptoms Among Healthy Junior High School Students in Japan.

Body image self-discrepancy reflects a preference for weight loss regardless of normal body size and is a distorted cognition that may be a precursor to eating disorders. The aim of this study was to investigate factors associated with body image self-discrepancy among healthy junior high school students in Japan. This cross-sectional study was conducted at one junior high school in Saitama, Japan, in December 2016.

Injury pattern based on player positions in Japanese university handball: a cross-sectional study of 2056 players.

Background: Although it is evident that the risk of injury in handball varies according to player position, it is unclear whether the characteristics of these injuries also differ. The aim of this study was to characterize and compare the position-associated injury profiles of university handball players in Japan.

Methods: A total of 2056 participants who played in the 2018 and 2019 Japanese National University Handball Championships were included in this cross-sectional study.

Phenotypic and genotypic changes in obesity and type 2 diabetes of male KK mice with aging.

Research into the prevention and treatment of age-related metabolic diseases are important in the present-day situation of the aging population. We propose that an elderly diabetic mouse model may be useful to such research as it exhibits deterioration of glucose and lipid metabolism. Although the KK mouse strain is commonly used as a model of moderate obesity and type 2 diabetes, the utility of this strain as an elderly obese and diabetic model mouse for research into aging remains unclear.

Influence of pitching grip on shoulder and elbow injuries in junior baseball players, focusing on hand length and the metacarpophalangeal joint angle.

[Purpose] We investigated the relationship of pitching grip with hand length and index finger metacarpophalangeal joint angle. [Participants and Methods] A total of 650 junior baseball players divided into two groups according to whether they experienced shoulder or elbow pain were divided into two groups based on their pitching grip, i.e.

Changes in dynamic and static structures of the HIV-1 p24 capsid protein N-domain caused by amino-acid substitution are associated with its viral viability.

HIV-1 capsid is comprised of over a hundred p24 protein molecules, arranged as either pentamers or hexamers. Three p24 mutants with amino acid substitutions in capsid N-terminal domain protein were examined: G60W (α3-4 loop), M68T (helix 4), and P90T (α4-5 loop), which exhibited no viability for biological activity. One common structural feature of the three p24 N-domain mutants, examined by NMR, was the long-range effect of more β-structures at the β2-strand in the N-terminal region compared with the wild-type.