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Purpose: To evaluate retrospectively the influence of percutaneous cryoablation for small renal tumors on total and affected kidney function and risk factors associated with worsening function of the affected kidney., Materials and Methods: Between April 2016 and March 2022, 27 patients who underwent cryoablation for small renal tumors at our institution participated in this study, which investigated time-dependent changes in postoperative renal function. We evaluated estimated glomerular filtration rates (eGFRs) and split renal function revealed by scintigraphy using 99 m technetium-mercaptoacetyltriglycine (99mTc-MAG3) before cryoablation and at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months after cryoablation. Numerous variables were analyzed to assess risk factors for worsening renal function., Results: Baseline eGFR (mean ± standard deviation) was 56.5 ± 23.7 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (mean ± SD; range, 20.5-112.5). Mean eGFRs at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months after cryoablation were 57.4 ± 24.5 (19.1-114.9), 57.1 ± 25.1 (21.5-114.9), and 53.8 ± 23.9 mL/min/1.73 m 2 (20.0-107.5), respectively. Changes were statistically insignificant (p = 1.0000, = 0.6749, and = 0.0761, respectively). Regarding split renal function, mean baseline contribution of the affected kidney determined by 99mTc-MAG3 was 49.7% ± 6.0% (38.8-63.3%); these rates at 1 week, 1 month, and 6 months after cryoablation were 43.7% ± 8.8 (29.1-70.6%), 46.2% ± 7.7% (32.6-70.3%), and 46.0% ± 8.5% (32.5-67.6%), respectively. Differences from baseline were significant for all periods (p < 0001, < 0001, = 0.0001, respectively). Serum C reactive protein and lactate dehydrogenase at 1 day following cryoablation, tumor's nearness to the collecting system or sinus, and volume of ablated normal renal parenchyma were significantly correlated with decreased contributions of the affected kidney by > 10% after cryoablation., Conclusion: Unlike total renal function, affected kidney function could worsen after cryoablation., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Ulcerative colitis (UC) is a refractory inflammatory bowel disease, which is known to cause psychiatric disorders such as anxiety and depression at a high rate in addition to peripheral inflammatory symptoms. However, the pathogenesis of these psychiatric disorders remains mostly unknown. While prior research revealed that the Enterococcus faecalis 2001 (EF-2001) suppressed UC-like symptoms and accompanying depressive-like behaviors, observed in a UC model using dextran sulfate sodium (DSS), whether it has an anxiolytic effect remains unclear. Therefore, we examined whether EF-2001 attenuates DSS-induced anxiety-like behaviors. Treatment with 2% DSS for seven days induced UC-like symptoms and anxiety-like behavior through the hole-board test, increased serum lipopolysaccharide (LPS) and corticosterone concentration, and p-glucocorticoid receptor (GR) in the prefrontal cortex (PFC), and decreased N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor subunit (NR) 2A and NR2B expression levels in the PFC. Interestingly, these changes were reversed by EF-2001 administration. Further, EF-2001 administration enhanced CAMKII/CREB/BDNF-Drebrin pathways in the PFC of DSS-treated mice, and labeling of p-GR, p-CAMKII, and p-CREB showed colocalization with neurons. EF-2001 attenuated anxiety-like behavior by reducing serum LPS and corticosterone levels linked to the improvement of UC symptoms and by facilitating the CAMKII/CREB/BDNF-Drebrin pathways in the PFC. Our findings suggest a close relationship between UC and anxiety., (© 2024. The Author(s).)

Purpose . The aim of this study was to assess the repeatability of the SUV normalized by liver volume (SUVL) between two liver receptor SPECT/CT studies performed on different days in patients with ICG-R15 values within normal range. Methods . 935 patients who underwent liver receptor scintigraphy between January 2010 and August 2018 were included. Patients who underwent liver resection, hepatic arterial embolization or had ICG-R15 >10% between scans were excluded, and 38 patients were finally included in the analysis. The repeatability of SUVL between scans was assessed using the intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) (1.1) between SUVLmax, SUVLpeak and SUVLmean at the first and second scan and the additive and proportional errors from the Bland-Altman analysis. Results . In ICC (1,1), SUVLmax, SUVLpeak and SUVLmean were all greater than 0.8, indicating almost perfect repeatability; neither additive nor proportional errors were observed in the Bland-Altman analysis. Conclusions . In patients with ICG-R15 values within the normal range, the SUV Liver (SUVL) between two liver receptor SPECT/CT studies performed on different days was repeatability over time. It was suggested that the SUVL of liver receptor scintigraphy could be an indicator that could be used for follow-up over time in the assessment of liver fibrosis., (© 2024 IOP Publishing Ltd.)

Background : In temporal lobe epilepsy (TLE), estimating the potential risk of language dysfunction before surgery is a necessary procedure. Functional MRI (fMRI) is considered the most useful to determine language lateralization noninvasively. However, there are no standardized language fMRI protocols, and several issues remain unresolved. In particular, the language tasks normally used are predominantly active paradigms that require the overt participation of patients, making assessment difficult for pediatric patients or patients with intellectual disabilities. In this study, task-based fMRI with passive narrative listening was applied to evaluate speech comprehension to estimate language function in Japanese-speaking patients with drug-resistant TLE. Methods : Twenty-one patients (six with intellectual disabilities) participated. Patients listened to passive auditory stimuli with combinations of forward and silent playback, and forward and backward playback. The activation results were extracted using a block design, and lateralization indices were calculated. The obtained fMRI results were compared to the results of the Wada test. Results: The concordance rate between fMRI and the Wada test was 95.2%. Meaningful responses were successfully obtained even from participants with intellectual disabilities. Conclusions: This passive fMRI paradigm can provide safe and easy presurgical language evaluation, particularly for individuals who may not readily engage in active paradigms.

Background: There has been a recent decrease in the prevalence of infectious diseases in children worldwide due to the usage of vaccines. However, the association between cesarean delivery and infectious diseases remains unclear. Here, we aimed to clarify the association between cesarean delivery and the development of infectious diseases., Methods: This study is a cross-sectional study. We used data from the Japan Environment and Children's Study, which is a prospective, nationwide, government-funded birth cohort study. The data of 104,065 records were included. Information about the mode of delivery, central nervous system infection (CNSI), otitis media (OM), upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), gastrointestinal infection (GI), and urinary tract infection (UTI) was obtained from questionnaires and medical records transcripts. Multiple logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between cesarean delivery and CNSI, OM, URTI, LRTI, GI, and UTI risk., Results: We included a total of 74,477 subjects in this study, of which 18.4% underwent cesarean deliveries. After adjusting for the perinatal, socioeconomic, and postnatal confounding factors, children born by cesarean delivery did not have an increased risk of developing CNSI (95% confidence interval [CI] 0.46-1.35), OM (95% CI 0.99-1.12), URTI (95% CI 0.97-1.06), LRTI (95% CI 0.98-1.15), GI (95% CI 0.98-1.11), or UTI (95% CI 0.95-1.45)., Conclusions: This nationwide cohort study did not find an association between cesarean delivery and CNSI, OM, URTI, LRTI, GI, and UTI. However, further studies are needed to evaluate the role of cesarean delivery in the development of infectious diseases., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2024 Maeda et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective: To evaluate the differences in FDG accumulation in arteries throughout the body between digital and standard PET/CT., Methods: Forty-six people who had FDG-PET examinations with a digital PET/CT scanner for health screening between April 2020 and March 2021 and had previous examinations with a standard PET/CT scanner were the study participants. FDG accumulation in arteries throughout the body was visually assessed in each segment. Scan was considered positive when arterial FDG accumulation was equal to or greater than that of the liver. The positivity rates for general arteries and each arterial segment were compared between the two kinds of scanners. If any one of the arterial segments was considered positive, the general arteries were classified as positive. Moreover, the rate of change in results from the standard PET/CT to the digital scanner in the same individual (negative to positive, positive to negative) was examined., Results: In the evaluation of general arteries, the positivity rates were 21.7% (10 cases) for the standard PET/CT, whereas positive rates were 97.8% (45 cases) for the digital PET/CT (p < 0.001). In all arterial segments, the positivity rate was significantly higher with the digital PET/CT compared to the standard PET/CT; those with the digital PET/CT were, respectively, 95.7%, 87.0%, 73.9%, 37.0%, 34.8%, and 21.7% in the femoral, brachial, aortic, subclavian, iliac, and carotid arteries. On the other hand, those with the standard PET/CT were 13.0%, 13.0%, 19.6%, 2.2%, 0%, and 4.4% in segments in the above order. Changes from negative to positive were shown in many cases; 35 cases (76.0%) of general arteries, 38 cases (82.6%) for the femoral artery, and 34 cases (73.9%) for the brachial artery. The exception was one case in which a change from positive to negative was confirmed in the carotid artery. In all arteries considered to be positive, FDG accumulation was not greater than but was equal to that in the liver with both scanners., Conclusions: Arterial FDG accumulation was significantly higher with digital PET/CT compared to conventional PET/CT. With digital PET/CT, an arterial FDG accumulation equal to the liver may not to be considered as abnormal accumulation., (© 2023. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine.)

This study explored the association of spousal support and marital satisfaction with the subjective well-being of fathers and mothers using a mediation analysis. Data were gathered from 360 fathers and 338 mothers (aged 25-50 years). Subjective well-being was measured as an outcome using the Japanese version of the World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index. Marital satisfaction was measured as a mediating variable using the Japanese version of the Marital Relationship Satisfaction Scale. Spousal social support (including instrumental, emotional, and appraisal support) was measured as an independent variable using four-point scales. Control variables were the father's and mother's ages, number of children, age of the youngest child, children going to nursery school or kindergarten, use of childcare services, self-evaluated low economic status, and weekday working hours. Among fathers, instrumental and emotional support had significant direct and indirect effects, with the latter mediated by the impact of marital satisfaction on subjective well-being; appraisal support had only significant indirect effects. Among mothers, instrumental support had significant direct and indirect effects; emotional and appraisal support had only significant indirect effects. Our findings indicate that social support from spouses has protective direct and indirect effects on subjective well-being among parents and suggest the need for mutual support between spouses to facilitate effective co-parenting.

Background: Tobacco exposure during pregnancy is associated with several adverse outcomes in infants. We investigated the association between tobacco exposure during pregnancy (both active and second-hand) and various infections in infants up to 1 year., Methods: This prospective cohort study used a fixed dataset (jecs-an-20180131) from the Japan Environment and Children's Study of registered births in Japan during 2011-2014 that included 104,065 fetal records from enrolled pregnant women. Based on the participants' responses to the questionnaire on smoking status, mothers were first divided into "never smoked," "quit smoking," and "current smoker" groups and then into "no second-hand smoking (SHS)" and "SHS" groups. Infectious diseases included central nervous system infection, otitis media (OM), upper respiratory tract infection (URTI), lower respiratory tract infection (LRTI), gastroenteritis (GI), and urinary tract infection. Adjusted odds ratios (aORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were calculated using logistic regression analysis and adjusted for maternal, socioeconomic, and postnatal confounding factors., Results: Among the 73,205 newborns enrolled, multivariable analysis revealed that the aOR of LRTI and GI was 1.20 (95% CI, 1.07-1.33) and 1.18 (95% CI, 1.04-1.35), respectively, for the "current smoker with/without SHS" group compared with the "never smoked without SHS" group. "Quit smoking without SHS" was not associated with the risk of LRTI. SHS was associated with an increased risk of OM, URTI, LRTI, and GI, especially with LRTI and GI., Conclusion: Exposure to tobacco smoke during pregnancy was associated with an increased risk of OM, URTI, LRTI, and GI in infants during their first year of life.

Purpose: This retrospective study aimed to investigate the validity and reliability of FDG-PET/CT visual assessment using Deauville criteria to predict pathological invasiveness of early lung adenocarcinoma prior to surgery., Materials and Methods: Between April 2020 and January 2022, 51 patients who underwent surgery for pathological stage 0/I lung adenocarcinoma were enrolled. The pulmonary lesions were divided into two groups according to pathological invasiveness: less invasive (including adenocarcinoma in situ and minimally invasive adenocarcinoma and invasive adenocarcinoma. We compared CT size (total and solid size), SUVmax, and Deauville score between the two groups. Furthermore, we investigated inter-rater and intra-rater agreements regarding the Deauville score. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify the diagnostic performance of each method., Results: Based on pathologic diagnoses, 51 lesions in the 51 patients were divided into 6 less invasive and 45 invasive adenocarcinoma lesions. According to quadratic-weighted Kappa statistics, inter-rater (k = 0.93) and intra-rater (k = 0.97) agreements among all five components of the Deauville score indicated high agreement. There was a statistically significant difference in CT solid size, SUVmax, and Deauville score between the two groups. There were no significant differences between CT solid size and FDG-PET/CT assessments (AUC = 0.93 for Deauville score and SUVmax, AUC = 0.84 for CT solid size)., Conclusion: FDG-PET/CT visual assessment using the Deauville score could assist in deciding upon minimally invasive surgery for early lung adenocarcinoma., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Introduction: Since soy isoflavones compensate for age-related estrogen reduction, adequate intake of soy products may prevent the decline in activities of daily living (ADL) due to estrogen reduction in women. However, it is unclear whether regular soy product intake prevents ADL decline. This study examined the effects of soy product consumption on basic/instrumental ADL (BADL/IADL) in Japanese women 75 years or older for 4 years., Materials and Methods: The subject population consisted of 1289 women aged 75 years or older living in Tokyo who underwent private health examinations in 2008. For 1114 (or 1042) participants without baseline BADL (or IADL) disability, we examined the association between baseline soy product consumption frequency and the BADL (or IADL) disabilities 4 years later using logistic regression analyses. The models were adjusted for baseline age, or further for dietary variety for food groups other than soy products, exercise and sport participation, smoking, pre-existing disease number, and body mass index., Results: Regardless of adjustment for potential confounding factors, less frequent soy product consumption was associated with higher BADL or IADL disability incidence. In the fully adjusted models, the trend toward a higher incidence of disabilities with less frequent soy product consumption was statistically significant for both BADL ( p  = 0.001) and IADL ( p  = 0.007)., Conclusions: Those who consumed soy products more frequently at baseline were less likely to develop BADL and IADL disabilities after 4 years than those who did not. The results show that daily soy product consumption may prevent functional ADL decline in older Japanese women., Competing Interests: No competing financial interests exist., (© Narumi Kojima et al., 2023; Published by Mary Ann Liebert, Inc.)

Purpose: We evaluated the reproducibility calculating volume-based FDG-PET/CT parameters, i.e., metabolic tumor volume (MTV) and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), in soft tissue tumors., Materials and Methods: Fifty-three cases with soft tissue tumors were analyzed retrospectively. The conditions determining the lower limit of MTV were fixed value SUV 2.5 or 30% of SUVmax. To investigate the agreement of the measurements by two radiologists, %difference, the correlation coefficients and Bland-Altman plot were analyzed. We compared these parameters in both intra- and inter-operator for evaluating the agreement in the measurements., Results: The values of % difference were excellent, 0.2-3.5%, in the intra-operator in all calculated volume-based parameters. In both inter- and intra-operator analysis, the values of % differences were lower in the parameters calculated by SUV 2.5 fixed value as a lower threshold compared with those calculated by 30% of SUVmax as a lower threshold. The correlation coefficient in MTV30% for inter-operator were 0.84 or 0.87, those were lower than values by the intra-operator evaluation. Nevertheless, the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.84 in every parameter. Particularly, correlation coefficient in the parameters calculated by SUV 2.5 fixed value was better than those calculated by 30% of SUVmax. The Bland-Altman plot analysis showed good agreement for all parameters, particularly in the intra-operator examinations. However, in the inter-operator study, some variances were noted in every condition., Conclusion: In conclusion, the reproducibility of measuring volume-based FDG-PET/CT parameters of soft tissue tumors was good, particularly, in the measurement by fixed lower limit value SUV 2.5 in the intra-operator., (© 2023. The Author(s).)

Objective　Paternal involvement in child-rearing is an action goal of Healthy Parents and Children 21 (Tier 2), and should be actively promoted. Clarifying the related factors may contribute to countermeasures for promoting paternal involvement in child-rearing. This study aimed to examine the association between fathers' gender role attitudes and social support from their spouses (i.e., the mothers of the children) and their involvement in child-rearing.Methods　We obtained the data of fathers involved in childcare (aged 25-50 years; all full-time workers) through an internet research company. The paternal involvement in childcare scale (11 items, 4-point scale, e.g., "taking care of children," "cooking") was used as the dependent variable. The independent variables were gender role attitude ("Husbands should work outside the home and wives should take care of the home," 4-point scale) and social support from the mothers of the children (including appraisal, emotional, and instrumental support). The control variables were father's age, mother's employment status, number of children, the age of the youngest child, children going to nursery school or kindergarten, use of childcare services, self-evaluation of low economic status, work hours on weekdays, and marital relationship satisfaction.Results　The data of 360 men were analyzed (mean age 36.8 years, standard deviation 5.6). The results of the multivariable regression analyses with interaction terms are as follows: gender role attitude was significantly associated with childcare (β=-0.103) and housework (β=-0.125); appraisal support was significantly associated with childcare (β=0.142) and housework (β=0.199); and the interaction between gender role attitude and instrumental support was significant (β=0.176), indicating that, in individuals with a high gender role attitude score, a higher level of instrumental support was related to a higher childcare score (β=0.242).Conclusions　Fathers with egalitarian gender role attitudes and those who receive appraisal support from the other parent are more likely to participate in childcare. In addition, fathers with traditional gender role attitudes who receive instrumental support from the other parent may tend to participate in childcare.

Preoperative assessment of the degree of liver fibrosis is important to determine treatment strategies. In this study, galactosyl human serum albumin single-photon emission-computed tomography and ethoxybenzyl (EOB) contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were used to assess the changes in hepatocyte function after liver fibrosis, and the standardized uptake value (SUV) was combined with gadolinium EOB-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid to evaluate its added value for liver fibrosis staging. A total of 484 patients diagnosed with hepatocellular carcinoma who underwent liver resection between January 2010 and August 2018 were included. Resected liver specimens were classified based on pathological findings into nonfibrotic and fibrotic groups (stratified according to the Ludwig scale). Galactosyl human serum albumin-single-photon emission-computed tomography and EOB contrast-enhanced MRI examinations were performed, and the mean SUVs (SUVmean) and contrast enhancement indices (CEIs) were obtained. The diagnostic value of the acquired SUV and CEIs for fibrosis was assessed by calculating the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve (AUC). In the receiver operating characteristic analysis, SUV + CEI showed the highest AUC in both fibrosis groups. In particular, in the comparison between fibrosis groups, SUV + CEI showed significantly higher AUCs than SUV and CEI alone in discriminating between fibrosis (F3 and 4) and no or mild fibrosis (F0 and 2) (AUC: 0.879, vs SUV [P = 0.008], vs. CEI [P = 0.023]), suggesting that the combination of SUV + CEI has greater diagnostic performance than the individual indices. Combining the SUV and CEI provides high accuracy for grading liver fibrosis, especially in differentiating between grades F0 and 2 and F3-4. SUV and gadolinium EOB-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-enhanced MRI can be noninvasive diagnostic methods to guide the selection of clinical treatment options for patients with liver diseases., Competing Interests: The authors have no conflicts of interest to disclose., (Copyright © 2023 the Author(s). Published by Wolters Kluwer Health, Inc.)

Background: Although disseminated intravascular coagulation (DIC) is a critical disease, its mortality in neonates is hard to predict. The aim of this study was to investigate underlying conditions associated with neonatal DIC to see if a scoring system could predict mortality., Methods: We retrospectively evaluated the DIC scores of neonates diagnosed on or after the second day of life, in conjunction with underlying conditions associated with DIC. The diagnosis of DIC was made according to Japan Society of Obstetrical, Gynecological & Neonatal Hematology (JSOGNH) 2016 neonatal DIC criteria., Results: Among 23 neonates with DIC, 8 had gastrointestinal perforation with necrotizing enterocolitis and 6 had congenital heart disease. Although factors such as birth weight, gestational age, D-dimer, and fibrinogen were not predictive of mortality, median PT-INR differed significantly between the two groups (survived 1.69 vs died 2.37, P = 0.004). Furthermore, median DIC scores differed significantly by survival outcome (P = 0.013)., Conclusion: DIC scores based on JSOGNH 2016 neonatal DIC criteria are predictive of mortality in infants diagnosed with DIC on or after the second day of life., (© 2022. Japanese Society of Hematology.)

The nuclear accident that accompanied the Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March, 2011, was also an information disaster. A serious problem that arose after the accident and persisted for a long time was the damage caused by harmful rumors (DCBHR). In 2016, a cross-sectional questionnaire survey on health and information was conducted in Fukushima. The eligible population of this survey was 2000 Fukushima residents, which included those in the evacuated areas. We received 861 responses. Data were analyzed using the responses to the question about perceived DCBHR as the objective variable and the sources of information residents trusted and the media they used as explanatory variables. A multiple logistic regression analysis revealed that those who trusted government ministries and local commercial TV were significantly associated with no effect. In contrast, those who used Internet sites and blogs were significantly associated with a negative effect. This study underlines the pivotal importance of media and information, literacy, and education and discusses how these should be improved to avoid DCBHR in the future. Furthermore, accurate information should be made available to all sections of the population to diminish DCBHR.

Background: Japan's health care system may be providing inpatient care inefficiently with a low number of physicians per hospital bed and a long average length of stay (LOS). The present study examined associations of acute medical care with hospital-level factors, such as the transfer and acceptance rates, and mediation effect of LOS, using medical service fees per day as an outcome measure for the provision of acute medical care in hospitals in a region with limited medical resources., Methods: To analyze the associations of acute medical care with hospital-level factors, this research used multilevel structural equation modeling (SEM) of a dataset that included 225,203 patients admitted to 99 hospitals in Fukushima, Japan. The characteristics of the patients, medical activities, and hospitals, such as the transfer and acceptance rates, were assumed to have both direct and indirect effects through LOS on medical service fees per day., Results: The final analysis used data from 165,413 patients discharged or transferred from 79 hospitals. After separating patient-level effects using multilevel SEM, the results revealed that, at the hospital level, the transfer rate had a significant and positive association with increased medical service fees per day, both directly (standardized coefficient [SC] = 0.215) and indirectly (SC = 0.057) through shortened LOS. The number of first hospitalized patients per physician had a significant and positive association with increased medical service fees per day only indirectly through shortened LOS (SC = 0.063). The acceptance rate had a significant and negative association with medical service fees per day only indirectly through prolonged LOS (SC = -0.078)., Conclusions: Hospital-level factors, such as enhanced transfer function, reduced acceptance function, and a large number of patients for treatment of acute episodes per physician, had positive associations with increased medical service fees per day, either directly or indirectly through LOS., Competing Interests: The authors have declared that no competing interests exist., (Copyright: © 2023 Idaka et al. This is an open access article distributed under the terms of the Creative Commons Attribution License, which permits unrestricted use, distribution, and reproduction in any medium, provided the original author and source are credited.)

Objective　Due to the rapid development of the internet, its overuse and addiction among the younger population have increased. Several studies have reported a relationship between the prolonged usage hours of the internet and other media among junior and senior high school students and certain lifestyle habits, such as no breakfast, no exercise routine, lack of sleep, and mental health decline. There is a growing concern that the students' health could be affected due to over usage of the internet and other networking media. Therefore, we have examined the relationship between media usage time and self-rated health (SRH) of the junior and senior high school students.Methods　We analyzed the data of the "Fukushima Citizens' Health and Lifestyle Survey" conducted on May 2016. The participants included in the survey were junior and senior high school students from Fukushima City. We randomly selected 1,633 students and conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey. Of the 1,589 respondents, survey data from 1,480 students (583 junior and 897 senior high school students) were used in the analysis. The analysis was performed in each junior and senior high school student, with SRH as the dependent variable, media usage time as the independent variable, and various lifestyle factors as the adjustment variables. Furthermore, the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) were estimated.Results　Fifty-two junior high school students (8.9%) and 123 senior high school students (13.7%) had poor SRH. Among the junior and senior high school students, those who used media for >3 h were more likely to have poor SRH, and the significant association was noted among high school students (OR; 2.30, 95% CI; 1.36-3.90). For both junior and senior high school students, the SRH was significantly associated with obesity, no exercise routine, and stress. Additionally, for the high school students, the SRH was significantly associated with late bedtime routine.Conclusion　Our findings suggest that junior and high school students who overuse media are more likely to have a poor SRH.

Objective: The purpose of this retrospective study was to investigate the utility of F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18F FDG-PET/CT) to predict spread through air spaces (STAS) in clinical stage I lung adenocarcinoma., Methods: Between April 2020 and January 2022, 52 patients (55 lesions) who underwent surgery for clinical stage I lung adenocarcinoma were enrolled. The lesions were divided into two groups according to the presence of STAS. 18F FDG-PET/CT parameters, specifically the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), and total lesion glycolysis (TLG), were calculated. The SUVmax, MTV, and TLG were compared between the two groups upon surgical pathological examination. Receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis was performed to identify a cut-off value., Results: Nineteen lesions (35%) were positive for STAS and 36 lesions were negative for STAS. According to the presence of STAS, significant differences were detected in the SUVmax (5.21 [range 1.52-16.50] vs. 2.42 [range 0.74-11.80], p = 0.0040) but not MTV (3.44 [range 0.65-24.36] vs. 2.95 [0.00-20.07], p = 0.20) and TLG (7.92 [range 0.93-47.82] vs. 5.63 [0.00-58.66], p = 0.14). SUVmax had an AUC value of 0.74 (95% CI 0.61-0.87) with a sensitivity of 89.5% and specificity of 52.8% at a cut-off of 2.48., Conclusions: SUVmax rather than MTV and TLG were shown to be valuable indices for the prediction of STAS in clinical stage I lung adenocarcinoma., (© 2022. The Author(s) under exclusive licence to The Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine.)

Inflammatory responses contribute to physical decline in older adults. Clinical studies have shown that the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR), a marker of inflammation, is associated with physical decline. However, its association with physical function in community-dwelling older people is still unclear. Hence, we used cross-sectional data to investigate the relationship between NLR and physical function in community-dwelling older adults. Specifically, we analyzed data corresponding to 818 individuals (336 men and 482 women) aged ≥ 75 years, all of whom participated in comprehensive health examinations, including face-to-face interviews, biochemical analyses, and physical function tests. Using these data, we performed multivariable logistic regression analysis to assess the relationship between NLR and physical function, adjusting for sex, age, education, alcohol consumption, smoking, instrumental activity of daily living, body mass index, chronic disease, physical activity, serum albumin level, and depressive mood. The results showed that a higher NLR was associated with a lower grip strength, lower knee extension strength, and slower walking speed. Importantly, the relationship between NLR and physical function was maintained after adjusting for the confounding factors. Thus, we showed a significant association between NLR and physical function, supporting the use of NLR as a marker of physical function in community-dwelling older adults.

This study explored the associations between personality traits and cognitive failure (including minor lapses and prospective and retrospective memory failure) among middle-aged and older adults living in Japan. The participants were 373 adults, aged 40-84 (167 men and 206 women). The 15-item Japanese version of the Short Inventory of Minor Lapses was used to evaluate minor lapses, and the 16-item Japanese version of the Prospective and Retrospective Memory Questionnaire was used to assess prospective and retrospective memory failure. The participants' variables evaluated for their association with cognitive failure were gender, age, education, paid work, social network, chronic disease, sleep quality, and the Big Five personality traits (i.e., neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness). Multivariable regression analyses demonstrated that sleep quality (β = -0.232), neuroticism (β = 0.163), and conscientiousness (β = -0.295) were related to minor lapses; age (β = 0.152), sleep quality (β = -0.168), and conscientiousness (β = -0.290) were associated with prospective memory failure; and age (β = 0.268), sleep quality (β = -0.146), and conscientiousness (β = -0.221) were associated with retrospective memory failure. These findings may facilitate the development of efficient strategies for the prevention of cognitive dysfunction and its adverse consequences for personal health.

Background: Polypharmacy is a serious concern among older adults and is frequently related to adverse outcomes, including health problems, reduced quality of life, and increased medical expenses. Although personality traits are associated with health behaviors and diseases, the effect of polypharmacy on personality traits is unclear. Therefore, we examined the association of personality traits with polypharmacy among community-dwelling older adults., Methods: This cross-sectional study analysed data on 836 community-dwelling older adults aged 69-71 years who participated in the Japanese longitudinal cohort study of Septuagenarians, Octogenarians, and Nonagenarians Investigation with Centenarians. Polypharmacy was defined as the intake of ≥ 5 medications concurrently. Personality traits were assessed using the Japanese version of the NEO-Five-Factor Inventory (NEO-FFI). A five-factor model of personality traits, including "neuroticism," "extraversion," "openness," "agreeableness," and "conscientiousness," was measured by the NEO-FFI., Results: The average number of medications was about 3 in both men and women. Among the participants, polypharmacy was observed in 23.9% of men and 28.0% of women. Multivariable logistic regression analysis showed that neuroticism (adjusted odds ratio [aOR] per 1 point increase = 1.078, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 1.015-1.144) in men and extraversion (aOR = 0.932, 95% CI = 0.884-0.983) in women were associated with polypharmacy., Conclusions: Higher neuroticism in men and lower extraversion in women were associated with polypharmacy. This study suggests that personality traits may be involved in the process leading to the development of polypharmacy. Information on individual personality traits may help medical professionals in decision-making regarding medication management for lifestyle-related diseases., (© 2022. The Author(s).)

Pancreatic β-cells are specialized to properly regulate blood glucose. Maintenance of the mature β-cell phenotype is critical for glucose metabolism, and β-cell failure results in diabetes mellitus. Recent studies provide strong evidence that the mature phenotype of β-cells is maintained by several transcription factors. These factors are also required for β-cell differentiation from endocrine precursors or maturation from immature β-cells during pancreatic development. Because the reduction or loss of these factors leads to β-cell failure and diabetes, inducing the upregulation or inhibiting downregulation of these transcription factors would be beneficial for studies in both diabetes and stem cell biology. Here, we discuss one such factor, i.e., the transcription factor MAFA. MAFA is a basic leucine zipper family transcription factor that can activate the expression of insulin in β-cells with PDX1 and NEUROD1. MAFA is indeed indispensable for the maintenance of not only insulin expression but also function of adult β-cells. With loss of MAFA in type 2 diabetes, β-cells cannot maintain their mature phenotype and are dedifferentiated. In this review, we first briefly summarize the functional roles of MAFA in β-cells and then mainly focus on the molecular mechanism of cell fate conversion regulated by MAFA.

Yes-associated protein 1 (YAP1) interacts with TEAD transcription factor in the nucleus and upregulates TEAD-target genes. YAP1 is phosphorylated by large tumor suppressor (LATS) kinases, the core kinases of the Hippo pathway, at 5 serine residues and is sequestered and degraded in the cytoplasm. In human cancers with the dysfunction of the Hippo pathway, YAP1 becomes hyperactive and confers malignant properties to cancer cells. We have observed that cold shock induces protein kinase C (PKC)-mediated phosphorylation of YAP1. PKC phosphorylates YAP1 at 3 serine residues among LATS-mediate phosphorylation sites. Importantly, PKC activation recruits YAP1 to the cytoplasm even in LATS-depleted cancer cells and reduces the cooperation with TEAD. PKC activation induces promyelocytic leukemia protein-mediated SUMOylation of YAP1. SUMOylated YAP1 remains in the nucleus, binds to p73, and promotes p73-target gene transcription. Bryostatin, a natural anti-neoplastic reagent that activates PKC, induces YAP1/p73-mediated apoptosis in cancer cells. Bryostatin reverses malignant transformation caused by the depletion of LATS kinases. Therefore, bryostatin and other reagents that activate PKC are expected to control cancers with the dysfunction of the Hippo pathway., (© 2022 The Authors. Cancer Science published by John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd on behalf of Japanese Cancer Association.)

A therapeutic strategy through the gut-brain axis has been proven to be effective in treatment for depression. In our previous study, we demonstrated that Enterococcus faecalis 2001 (EF-2001) prevents colitis-induced depressive-like behavior through the gut-brain axis in mice. More recently, we found that demyelination in the prefrontal cortex (PFC) was associated with depressive-like behavior in an animal model of major depressive disorder, olfactory bulbectomized (OBX) mice. The present study investigated the effects of EF-2001 on depressive-like behaviors in OBX mice and the underlying molecular mechanisms from the perspective of myelination in the PFC. OBX mice exhibited depressive-like behaviors in the tail-suspension, splash, and sucrose preference tests, and decreased myelin and paranodal proteins along with mature oligodendrocytes in the PFC. These behavioral and biochemical changes were all prevented by treatment with EF-2001. Further, EF-2001 treatment increased brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF) in the PFC. Interestingly, an immunohistochemical analysis revealed enhanced phospho (p) -cAMP-responsive element binding protein (CREB) expression in neurons, p-nuclear factor-kappa B (NFκB) p65 (Ser536) expression in astrocytes, and p-signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) (Ty705) expression in mature oligodendrocytes in the PFC of OBX mice. From these results, we suggest that EF-2001 administration prevents depressive-like behaviors by regulating prefrontal cortical myelination via the enhancement of CREB/BDNF and NFκB p65/LIF/STAT3 pathways. Our findings strongly support the idea that a therapeutic strategy involving the gut microbiota may be a promising alternative treatment for alleviating symptoms of depression., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Objectives　Posttraumatic growth (PTG) refers to a positive psychological transformation experienced as a result of struggling with a major life crisis or traumatic event. In recent times, PTG has been used as a form of psychological support for those who have experienced trauma. In this study, we classified the free descriptions of PTG in Fukushima residents who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). We examined the relationship between basic characteristics and PTG clusters, and between "recovery from radiation anxiety" and PTG clusters.Methods　A mail survey was conducted in August 2016 among 2,000 Fukushima residents, aged 20-79 years. We asked the participants for a free description of the specific content of their PTG. We also asked about their age, gender, and education, as well as about radiation anxiety immediately after the GEJE and at the time of the survey. Participants were divided into the following groups: "no anxiety," "recovered from anxiety," and "unrecovered from anxiety". The PTG free descriptions were classified into eight categories, including five dimensions based on the Posttraumatic Growth Inventory (Tedeschi & Calhoun, 1996) ("relating to others," "new possibilities," "personal strength," "spiritual change," and "appreciation of life") and three categories created according to Nishino et al. (2013) ("increased awareness of disaster prevention," "renewed recognition of nuclear-related issues," and "critical examination of information from authorities").Results　Of the 916 collected responses, data from 786 responses with no missing values were analyzed. Among women and young people, the proportion of those who answered "relating to others" and "appreciation of life" was high. For those with higher education, the proportion of those who answered "relating to others," "renewed recognition of nuclear issues," "critical examination of information from authorities," "personal strength," "spiritual change," and "appreciation of life" was high. In the "recovered from anxiety" group, the proportion of those who answered "renewed recognition of nuclear issues" was high.Conclusion　In assessing PTG, women and young people were more likely to report that they felt closely connected to family or friends, as well as to the community, and that they were grateful for their daily lives. Those with higher education tended to recognize that they have come to critically examine information provided by the national government, electric power companies, and national newspapers; they felt mental strength and growth after the earthquake. Those who recovered from radiation anxiety were more likely to report forming a heightened awareness of issues relating to nuclear power plants and energy.

This study examined older adults' subjective wellbeing and related factors in the coastal area of Soma City nine and a half years after the Great East Japan Earthquake (GEJE). Data were collected from 65- to 84-year-old residents and 1297 participants via a questionnaire from October to November 2020. The participants were divided into two groups: housing complexes and non-housing complexes. The dependent variable was subjective wellbeing assessed via Lawton's Philadelphia Geriatric Center Morale Scale (PGCMS). Using multivariate regression analysis, the factors most strongly related to a low PGCMS score for both groups were poor health conditions, difficulties resting while asleep, poor financial wellbeing, inability to chew certain foods, and fear of solitary death. The GEJE experience was further distinguished in the housing complex group by the loss of an important non-family individual; for the other group, important factors were female gender, junior high school education level or lower, limited social networks, and deterioration of a family member's health. Older adults' subjective wellbeing in Soma City was low after nine and a half years following the GEJE. For disaster victims and their families in both groups, it is crucial to implement measures such as long-term, continuous physical and mental health support.

Personality is one of the fundamental factors in determining longevity. We used a 14-year mortality surveillance to investigate the relationship between the Big Five personality traits and all-cause mortality among older adults dwelling in a Japanese community. Individuals over 65 years old (484 males and 743 females) were recruited for the study. We used the NEO Five-Factor Inventory to assess the Big Five personality traits: neuroticism, extraversion, openness, agreeableness, and conscientiousness. During the follow-up period, 502 persons (250 men and 252 women) had died. Cox proportional hazards regression controlling for covariates showed that extraversion (hazard ratio [HR] = 0.783, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.636 to 0.965 and HR = 0.757, 95% CI = 0.607 to 0.944 for the middle and highest tertiles, respectively), openness (HR = 0.768, 95% CI = 0.608 to 0.969 for the highest tertile), and conscientiousness (HR = 0.745, 95% CI = 0.607 to 0.913 and HR = 0.667, 95% CI = 0.530 to 0.840 for the middle and highest tertiles, respectively) were inversely associated with mortality when the five traits were analyzed separately. Our findings suggest that older adults who have a higher level of either extraversion, openness, or conscientiousness are more likely to live longer.

RASSF6, a member of the tumor suppressor Ras-association domain family (RASSF) proteins, regulates cell cycle arrest and apoptosis via p53 and plays a tumor suppressor role. We previously reported that RASSF6 blocks MDM2-mediated p53 degradation and enhances p53 expression. In this study, we demonstrated that RASSF6 has nuclear localization and nuclear export signals and that DNA damage triggers the nuclear accumulation of RASSF6. We found that RASSF6 directly binds to BAF53, the component of SWI/SNF complex. DNA damage induces CDK9-mediated phosphorylation of BAF53, which enhances the interaction with RASSF6 and increases the amount of RASSF6 in the nucleus. Subsequently, RASSF6 augments the interaction between BAF53 and BAF60a, another component of the SWI/SNF complex, and further promotes the interaction of BAF53 and BAF60a with p53. BAF53 silencing or BAF60a silencing attenuates RASSF6-mediated p53 target gene transcription and apoptosis. Thus, RASSF6 is involved in the regulation of DNA damage-induced complex formation, including BAF53, BAF60a, and p53.

The Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident in 2011 produced over 100000 evacuees. In order to deal with an increased need of mental health care, brief, transdiagnostic Telephonic Interventions (TI) have been provided for those at risk of different mental health problems identified based on results of the Mental Health and Lifestyle Survey (MHLS). This study aimed to examine usefulness of TI with focusing on evacuees' subjective estimation assessed in individual follow-up interviews. The sample comprised 484 persons who had been evacuated from 13 municipalities in Fukushima Prefecture to 8 safer regions in and out of Fukushima. We conducted semi-structured interviews for participants receiving TI (intervention group) and those not receiving TI despite being identified as high risk (non-intervention group). The intervention group was older, had a higher proportion of self-reported mental illness, and higher unemployment compared with the non-intervention group. The satisfaction proportion of those who underwent TI was as high as 74.6%. Satisfaction was significantly associated with advance knowledge of TI availability (OR = 3.00, 95% CI: 1.59-5.64), and advice on health-related practices (OR = 2.15, 95% CI: 1.12-4.13). Thus, TI is considered to be feasible and useful for public health management practices in major disasters.

Objective: Nurses working rotating shifts often suffer from insomnia or similar disorders because exposure to room lighting at night inhibits melatonin secretion, resulting in a disturbed circadian rhythm. This study investigated whether dark room lighting would be preferable to brighter rooms in terms of (1) fatigue and sleepiness while working, (2) quality of sleep and (3) non-interference with work performance among nurses., Methods: This study used a non-randomised open-label trial between night shifts using dark (110 lx) and bright (410 lx) room lighting on the desk surface. A total of 20 nurses were enrolled in the trial from November 2015 to February 2016 at a hospital in Japan. All participants worked first with dark room lighting and then with bright room lighting. The participants completed a self-administered questionnaire at enrolment, which was collected this at the end of the intervention., Results: Fatigue and sleepiness were significantly higher in dark room lighting than in bright room conditions (p<0.05). There were no significant differences in sleep quality between the dark and well-lit conditions. We detected no significant differences in the number of reported incidents or accidents comparing the two types of environments., Conclusion: Dark room lighting did not ameliorate fatigue and sleepiness during night shifts. Additionally, there was no evidence of improvement in sleep quality among nurses. These findings are important, however, in terms of managing hospital risk., Competing Interests: Competing interests: None declared., (© Author(s) (or their employer(s)) 2022. Re-use permitted under CC BY-NC. No commercial re-use. See rights and permissions. Published by BMJ.)

We examined the differences in the posttraumatic growth (PTG) free descriptions from clusters of Fukushima residents (evacuation and non-evacuation zones) who experienced the Great East Japan Earthquake, and the relationship between "recovery from radiation anxiety" and the PTG-free description classification in these regions. A mail survey was conducted in August 2016 among Fukushima residents aged 20-79 years for free descriptions of their PTG. Participants were then divided into the "no anxiety," "recovered from anxiety," and "unrecovered from anxiety" groups based on their "recovery from radiation anxiety." Data from 786 responses were analyzed. The PTG-free descriptions were classified into eight categories. Among those who lived in the evacuation zone versus those in the non-evacuation zone, "relating to others" (non-evacuation zone: 11.9% vs. evacuation zone: 18.4%) and "appreciation of life" (non-evacuation zone: 2.7% vs. evacuation zone: 9.8%) were significantly higher, and "increased awareness of disaster prevention" (non-evacuation zone: 20.4% vs. evacuation zone: 8.0%) was significantly lower. In the evacuation zone, "renewed recognition of nuclear issues" was significantly lower than the expected value in the no anxiety group (3.1%) and significantly higher than the expected value in the recovered group (22.9%). Further studies are needed to build support measures and potentially aid in preparing for future disasters.

Objectives　Nine years after the accident at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in March 2011, anxiety about the effects of radiation on future generations persists. We considered the possibility that information from mass media sources and the Internet might influence this anxiety. Thus, this study examined the relationship between information sources and anxiety; based on the results, we consider the necessary measures to reduce this anxiety.Methods　We conducted a mail-based survey by distributing an anonymous self-administered questionnaire to 2,000 Fukushima Prefecture residents aged 20 to 79. We randomly selected 500 residents from Aizu, Nakadori, Hamadori, and the evacuation areas, and compared the data obtained from Hamadori and the evacuation areas. The objective variable was anxiety about the effects (of radiation) on future generations, while the explanatory variables were trusted sources and media the respondents used to get information on radiation. Other variables assessed included health status and knowledge of radiation. We conducted univariate analysis of combined data to assess the relationship between anxiety and the questionnaire items. This was followed by multiple regression analysis with anxiety as the objective variable and those showing significant differences in the univariate analysis as the explanatory ones. We then conducted multiple regression analysis, that included the interaction means between explanatory variables and evacuation areas.Results　Of the 500, 201 respondents were from Hamadori (40.2%) and 192 from the evacuation areas (38.4%). Multiple regression analysis revealed that anxiety was significantly lower among those who trusted government ministries and those who were healthy. Anxiety was also significantly lower among those who correctly answered the question on the genetic influence of radiation, while it was significantly higher among those who correctly answered the question on the dose-response model of radiation-induced cancer. In Hamadori, anxiety was significantly higher among those who watched private national television. In the evacuation areas, the result was the same as that of the combined data.Conclusion　Different information sources and media were significantly associated with anxiety about the effects of radiation on future generations. Therefore, media sensationalism should be reduced to prevent anxiety among citizens. Our findings highlight the importance of selecting information sources and media that disseminate accurate information, as well as the need to improve media literacy among citizens. Furthermore, a dose-response model of radiation-induced cancer must be communicated in a way that is not misleading. Receiving accurate information on the genetic effects of radiation can reduce anxiety among citizens.

RASSF6 is a member of the tumor suppressor Ras association domain family (RASSF) proteins. We have reported using human cancer cell lines that RASSF6 induces apoptosis and cell cycle arrest via p53 and plays tumor suppressive roles. In this study, we generated Rassf6 knockout mice by CRISPR/Cas technology. Contrary to our expectation, Rassf6 knockout mice were apparently healthy. However, Rassf6-null mouse embryonic fibroblasts (MEF) were resistant against ultraviolet (UV)-induced apoptosis/cell cycle arrest and senescence. UV-induced p53-target gene expression was compromised, and DNA repair was delayed in Rassf6-null MEF. More importantly, KRAS active mutant promoted the colony formation of Rassf6-null MEF but not the wild-type MEF. RNA sequencing analysis showed that NF-κB signaling was enhanced in Rassf6-null MEF. Consistently, 7,12-dimethylbenz(a)anthracene (DMBA) induced skin inflammation in Rassf6 knockout mice more remarkably than in the wild-type mice. Hence, Rassf6 deficiency not only compromises p53 function but also enhances NF-κB signaling to lead to oncogenesis., (© 2021 Molecular Biology Society of Japan and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)

The 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and consequent Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station accident caused a large-scale evacuation, generating various health issues. Although residents gradually returned, their independence of daily living and associated factors remain unknown. This study examines the hypothesis that physical and mental status are associated with the instrumental activities of daily living (IADL) of older returnees (65 years and above) after the disaster. Older returnees to Kawauchi Village, Fukushima Prefecture, located 20-30 km southwest of the power plants, were recruited. IADL was assessed using the Japan Science and Technology Agency Index of Competence, physical function via the 30-s chair stand test, and mental health via the Japanese version of the World Health Organization Five Well-Being Index. To examine the association of IADL and possible factors, a t-test or Pearson's product-moment correlation coefficient was used, stratified by sex. The data of 29 participants (75.5 ± 7.4 years, 19 female) were analyzed. Physical function was associated with IADL in females. Mental health was associated with IADL in males and females. Taking measures to strengthen physical function in females, as well as to improve mental health in both sexes, for enhancing IADL ability could be beneficial.

Mob1/phocein family proteins are conserved from yeast to mammals. Human has four MOB genes, MOB1, 2, 3 and 4. Human MOB1 protein, which is a component of the Hippo pathway, is involved in the inhibition of yes-associated protein (YAP1) through large tumor suppressor (LATS) kinases and plays a tumor suppressive role. In contrast, MOB4 activates YAP1. Caernorhabditis elegans (C. elegans) also has four MOB genes. Moreover, C. elegans has homologues of YAP1 (Ce&#95;YAP-1) and LATS kinases (WTS-1). Nevertheless, our previous study revealed that the Hippo pathway is not conserved in C. elegans and that heat shock activates Ce&#95;YAP-1. We also reported that Ce&#95;YAP-1 is involved in the regulation of life span, healthy lifespan and thermotolerance. In this study, we raised a question whether and how C. elegans homologue of MOB4 (Ce&#95;MOB-4) is involved in the regulation of Ce&#95;YAP-1. Ce&#95;MOB-4 is ubiquitously expressed in adult worms. This expression pattern is similar to that of Ce&#95;YAP-1. mob-4 loss-of-function mutants show short life span, short health life span and compromise thermotolerance. However, heat shock activates Ce&#95;YAP-1 in mob-4 mutant. In conclusion, the role of MOB4 in the activation of YAP1 is not conserved in C. elegans., (© 2021 Molecular Biology Society of Japan and John Wiley & Sons Australia, Ltd.)