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The condition of being underweight is a social problem in Japan among women. However, there is a lack of evidence for dietary guidance for underweight women because there has been no comparison of lipids or HbA1c among underweight, normal weight, and overweight women in different age groups. We analyzed the effect of body size and age on the serum lipid and hemoglobin A1c levels in Japanese women in a cross-sectional study. A total of 26,118 women aged >20–65 years underwent physical examinations between 2012 and 2022. Seventeen percent of women aged >20–29 years were underweight, and 8% of those aged 50–65 years were underweight. Total cholesterol and non-HDL-C concentrations increased with age, but the difference between underweight and overweight individuals was lowest among women aged 50–65 years. On the other hand, the differences in HDL-C, TG, and HbA1c levels between underweight and overweight subjects were greatest in the 50–65 age group, but the differences between underweight and normal weight subjects were much smaller. Considering that, unlike HDL-C, TG, and HbA1c, TC and non-HDL-C increase to levels comparable to overweight levels in underweight women in aged 50–65 years, educating people about a diet that lowers non-HDL-C is necessary even in young underweight women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We assessed whether the impact of cabotegravir plus rilpivirine on inflammation reduction differs from that of oral antiretrovirals, using real-world data. Inflammatory biomarkers and lipid profiles were followed from baseline to 8 months after switching. Seventy-eight participants were analyzed. The CD4/CD8 ratio and C-reactive protein did not change. There were transient decreases in CD8 and CD4 counts in the group that switched from the dolutegravir-based regimen, but not in the tenofovir alafenamide-based regimen group. High-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol increased, resulting in a decrease in the total-cholesterol to HDL cholesterol ratio, whereas there was no significant change in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Long-term high-fat feeding results in intramyocellular lipid accumulation, leading to insulin resistance. Intramyocellular lipid accumulation is related to an energy imbalance between excess fat intake and fatty acid consumption. Alternating current electromagnetic field exposure has been shown to enhance mitochondrial metabolism in the liver and sperm. Therefore, we hypothesized that alternating current electromagnetic field exposure would ameliorate high-fat diet-induced intramyocellular lipid accumulation via activation of fatty acid consumption. C57BL/6J mice were either fed a normal diet (ND), a normal diet and exposed to an alternating current electromagnetic field (ND+EMF), a high-fat diet (HFD), or a high-fat diet and exposed to an alternating current electromagnetic field (HFD+EMF). Electromagnetic field exposure was administered 8 hrs/day for 16 weeks using an alternating current electromagnetic field device (max.180 mT, Hokoen, Utatsu, Japan). Tibialis anterior muscles were collected for measurement of intramyocellular lipids, AMPK phosphorylation, FAT/CD-36, and carnitine palmitoyltransferase (CPT)-1b protein expression levels. Intramyocellular lipid levels were lower in the HFD + EMF than in the HFD group. The levels of AMPK phosphorylation, FAT/CD-36, and CPT-1b protein levels were higher in the HFD + EMF than in the HFD group. These results indicate that alternating current electromagnetic field exposure decreases intramyocellular lipid accumulation via increased fat consumption. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

3,6-Epidioxy-1,10-bisaboladiene (EDBD) is a bisabolane sesquiterpene endoperoxide that was isolated from an edible wild plant in Japan, Cacalia delphiniifolia. It showed partially apoptotic cell death through caspase activation against HL-60 cells. However, almost all of the cells had necrotic morphology. Thus, we examined the mechanism of action of EDBD on necrotic cell death. EDBD induced ferrous ion-dependent cell death which causes cell membrane damage, and its cell death form was like H2O2-induced necrosis in HL-60 cells. The oxidative stress-induced necrosis inhibitor IM-54 prevented EDBD-induced cell death, but it was not blocked by either caspase inhibitor, z-VAD-fmk, or necroptosis inhibitor, necrostatin-1. Furthermore, EDBD induced lipid peroxidation in a time- and dose-dependent manner and was inhibited with both ferrostatin-1 and α-tocopherol. EDBD also downregulated GPX4, the primary cell defense protein against lipid peroxidation, and decreased GSH levels. Taken together, these results suggest that EDBD induces ferrous ion-dependent ferroptosis-like cell death through lipid peroxidation. EDBD induces cell death accompanied by cell membrane damage. EDBD caused lipid peroxidation against HL-60 cells and cell death is suppressed by inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. EDBD-induced lipid peroxidation was potentiated by adding ferrous ions and relieved by adding iron chelators or inhibitors of lipid peroxidation. EDBD downregulated the protein expression of GPX4 and decreased intracellular GSH levels. Overall, EDBD-induced cell death is characterized as ferroptosis-like cell death. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the management of diabetes mellitus, one of the most important goals is to prevent its micro- and macrovascular complications, and to that end, multifactorial intervention is widely recommended. Intensified multifactorial intervention with pharmacotherapy for associated risk factors, alongside lifestyle modification, was first shown to be efficacious in patients with microalbuminuria (Steno-2 study), then in those with less advanced microvascular complications (the Anglo-Danish-Dutch Study of Intensive Treatment In People with Screen Detected Diabetes in Primary Care [ADDITION]-Europe and the Japan Diabetes Optimal Treatment study for 3 major risk factors of cardiovascular diseases [J-DOIT3]), and in those with advanced microvascular complications (the Nephropathy In Diabetes-Type 2 [NID-2] study and Diabetic Nephropathy Remission and Regression Team Trial in Japan [DNETT-Japan]). Thus far, multifactorial intervention led to a reduction in cardiovascular and renal events, albeit not necessarily significant. It should be noted that not only baseline characteristics but also the control status of the risk factors and event rates during intervention among the patients widely varied from one trial to the next. Further evidence is needed for the efficacy of multifactorial intervention in a longer duration and in younger or elderly patients. Moreover, now that new classes of antidiabetic drugs are available, it should be addressed whether strict and safe glycemic control, alongside control of other risk factors, could lead to further risk reductions in micro- and macrovascular complications, thereby decreasing all-cause mortality in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: To determine the association of fasting glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) and glucose dependent insulinotropic polypeptide (GIP) with dyslipidemia in newly diagnosed diabetes (NDD). Method: This collaborative prospective interventional clinical study was carried out by the Biochemistry Department, at the University of Karachi-Pakistan, Baqai Institute of Diabetology and Endocrinology, Karachi-Pakistan and Kansai Electric Power Medical Research Institute, Osaka, Japan. The study duration was from March 2019 to May 2020. Participants were identified on the basis of oral glucose tolerance test (OGTT) results. Of 34 participants, 17 were NDD and 17 were healthy. Demographics and anthropometric details were noted on a predesigned questionnaire. Blood samples were collected at fasting state for plasma glucose, lipid profile, HbA1c, and hormones (GIP and GLP-1). Results: The healthy participants included nine males and eight females, and the NDD participants included ten males and seven females. Mean age was 50.78±2.44 years and BMI was 28.41±0.76 kg/m2. Among healthy participants, both GIP and GLP-1 showed non-significant weak correlation for biochemical parameters. In NDD participants, GIP showed significantly negative moderate correlation with age and non-HDL and positive moderate correlation with LDL only. However, GLP-1 showed significantly positive moderate correlation with total cholesterol (r = 0.564, p = 0.018), LDL (r = 0.498, p = 0.042), HDL (r = 0.50, p = 0.041) and non-HDL (r = 0.503, p = 0.047) in NDD participants. Conclusion: The effect of GIP and GLP-1 measures on dyslipidemia were substantially different among NDD participants in our population. In the NDD group, GLP-1 is significantly moderately associated with dyslipidemia compared to GIP. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Inadequate sleep durations (short or long) are related to worsening of lipid/glucose metabolism, leading to atherosclerotic cardiovascular diseases (ASCVD). Few data exist on sex differences in this relationship that, to date, has been scarcely reported. This cross-sectional study included 6678 men and 4700 women at the Health Planning Center of Nihon University Hospital, located in the center of Tokyo, between September 2015 and October 2016. The prevalence of diabetes and dyslipidemia in the participants was 3.3% and 6.5%, respectively. Sleep duration was divided into five categories: < 5 h, 5–6 h, 6–7 h, 7–8 h, and ≥ 8 h. We examined the odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence interval (CI) of lipid/glucose metabolism-related markers for the reference value defined in each guideline with 6–7 h as the reference of comparison. In men, a sleep duration of < 5 h was associated with ORs of 1.32 and 1.33 (95% CI, 1.01–1.73 and 1.02–1.74) for LDL-C level ≥ 120 mg/dL and non-HDL-C level of ≥ 150 mg/dL (defined as "borderline hyper" by the Japan Atherosclerosis Society Guidelines for Prevention of ASCVD 2017), respectively. Moreover, a sleep duration of < 5 h was associated with an OR of 1.77 (1.33–2.35) for fasting blood glucose of ≥ 100 mg/dL (defined as "high" by a specialized lifestyle checkup program in Japan). In women, sleep duration of < 5 h was associated with an OR of 1.70 (1.24–2.33) for HbA1c level of ≥ 5.6% (defined as "high" by a specialized life style checkup program in Japan). However, there was no association between sleep duration and serum lipid profile. Inadequate short sleep duration was as a potential risk factor of adverse lipid and/or glucose metabolism in both sexes. However, there were sex differences in associations between sleep duration and lipid/glucose metabolism in urban Japan. To further reduce risks of ASCVD, it is of particular importance to emphasize adequate sleep duration in both sexes. Trial registration UMIN (http://www.umin.ac.jp/) Study ID: UMIN000037643 retrospectively registered on August 9, 2019. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background. Helicobacter pylori (HP) is a causative factor for several gastrointestinal diseases. A HP seropositive antibody titer (i.e., ≥10 U/mL), a threshold indicating an HP infection, is known to be associated with changes in lipid metabolism. There is evidence that HP infection can be found in some individuals with HP antibody titer of between 3 and 9.9 U/mL (termed as "negative-high titer"). However, it is unknown about the relationship between HP negative-high titer and lipid metabolism. The present study aimed to quantify the association between HP negative-high antibody titer and lipid profiles. Materials and Methods. We surveyed 2,478 people who underwent a Ningen Dock examination and had serological HP antibody data, from May 2016 to December 2020 at National Center for Global Health and Medicine, Tokyo, Japan. Multiple regression models were used to quantify the association between HP antibody titer and serum lipid levels. Results. The adjusted odds ratio (95% confidence interval [CI]) for dyslipidemia in HP negative-high and positive titer was 1.24 (0.96, 1.79) and 1.36 (1.10, 1.68), respectively, compared with HP negative-low titer; p trend =0.005. The adjusted mean (95% CI) of high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) in HP negative-low, negative-high, and positive titer was 58.78 (57.86–59.71), 55.30 (53.70–56.91), and 53.76 (52.90–54.63) mg/dL, respectively; p trend <0.001. Higher HP antibody titers were also associated with higher ratio of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) to HDL-C, but not triglycerides, or total cholesterols. Conclusion. The present cross-sectional study suggests that a HP negative-high antibody titer may be associated with dyslipidemia, HDL-C, and LDL-C to HDL-C ratio among Japanese Ningen Dock's participants. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Lactoferrin (bLF) is an iron-binding multifunctional protein that is abundant in milk. In mice, it inhibits catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) activity and increases blood levodopa levels. However, the clinical effects are unknown. Objective: The objective of this study was to determine the effect of bLF on the kinetics of levodopa in blood. Design: The effects of the concomitant administration of a combined formulation of levodopa and an aromatic amino acid decarboxylase inhibitor and bLF on the concentration of levodopa in blood and its metabolism were assessed in eight healthy subjects. In addition, we analyzed the association with clinical factors and evaluated whether clinical factors affected the COMT inhibitory activity of bLF in vitro. Results: Although not statistically significant, the peak plasma concentration (Cmax) of levodopa increased by 18.5%. From the results of the stratified analysis of total cholesterol, a relationship with ΔCmax was predicted. Therefore, bLF was reacted with cholesterol in the presence of lecithin and sodium deoxycholate in vitro to evaluate COMT inhibitory activity, and an increase in inhibitory activity was observed. By contrast, the ester compound cholesteryl oleate had no effect. The inhibitory activity of free fatty acids, which are known to interact with bLF, was also enhanced. Conclusion: The COMT inhibitory activity of bLF is not effective in elevating blood levodopa levels. However, in humans with high lipid levels, such as cholesterol, interactions may enhance the inhibitory effect, resulting in the enhanced absorption of levodopa. Trial registration: ID, UMIN000026787, registered 30 March 2017; URL, Trial registration: UMIN Japan identifier: UMIN000026787 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Rapeseed contains high levels of glucosinolates (GSLs), playing pivotal roles in defense against herbivores and pests. As their presence in rapeseed reduces the value of the meal for animal feeding, intensive efforts to reduce them produced low-seed GSL cultivars. However, there is no such variety suitable for the south part of Japan. Here, we tested the effects of cold oxygen plasma (oxygen CP) on seed germination and GSL and lipid content, in 3 rapeseed cultivars. According to the cultivars, oxygen CP slightly stimulated seed germination and modified the GSL levels, and decreased GSL levels in Kizakinonatane but increased those in Nanashikibu. In contrast, it negligibly affected the lipid content and composition in the 3 cultivars. Thus, oxygen CP modulated seed GSL levels without affecting seed viability and lipid content. Future optimization of this technique may help optimize rapeseed GSL content without plant breeding. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Although accumulating evidence suggests the benefits of cardiorespiratory fitness and muscular fitness, little knowledge exists on how other physical fitness (PF) components are associated with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk markers in children. Additionally, much of the relevant evidence is from longitudinal studies with CVD risk markers at a single time point (i.e., baseline) rather than changes in PF. The purpose of the present study was to examine whether initial 1-year changes in different performance measures of PF (i.e., endurance performance, muscular strength/endurance, flexibility, agility, and speed) can predict the subsequent changes (2-year change) in blood lipid concentrations in children. This 2-year longitudinal study included a total of 251 Japanese children (mean age 9.2 ± 0.4). PF tests were performed to comprehensively evaluate the participant's fitness levels (handgrip strength [upper body muscular strength], bent-leg situps [muscular endurance], sit-and-reach [flexibility], side-step [agility], 20-meter shuttle run [endurance performance], 50-meter sprint [speed], standing long jump [lower body muscular strength], and softball throw [explosive arm strength and throwing ability]). Fasting lipid profile was assayed for triglyceride (TG), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and non-HDL-C concentration. Multilevel linear regressions were used to examine the associations between the preceding changes (over 1-year) in PF and subsequent changes (over 2-years) in blood lipid concentrations. We also examined the simultaneous associations between 2-year changes in PF and 2-year changes in blood lipid concentrations. For boys, preceding improvement in handgrip strength was negatively associated with TG concentration (β = -0.260, p = 0.030); improvements in bent-leg sit-ups were negatively associated with clustered lipid scores (β = -0.301, p = 0.038) and non-HDL-C (β = -0.310, p = 0.044); and improvements in 50m sprinting were associated with subsequent changes in non-HDL-C (β = 0.348, p = 0.006) and LDL-C (β = 0.408, p = 0.001). For girls, improvements in handgrip strength was negatively associated with TG concentration (β = -0.306, p = 0.017); and improvements in standing long jump were negatively associated with non-HDL-C (β = -0.269, p = 0.021) and LDL-C (β = -0.275, p = 0.019). For boys and girls, there were no significant simultaneous associations between 2-year changes in PF and 2-year changes in blood lipid concentrations. In conclusion, preceding change in physical fitness in relation to change in blood lipid concentration likely reflect a physiological adaptation to growth and maturation since these associations diminished in the subsequent year. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Obesity in children is a public health concern in Japan. To evaluate the current state of the obesity problem and inform future directions, we aimed to provide an updated account of secular trends in the percentage of overweight (POW) children by gender and school grade, and evaluate changes in POW after participation in the obesity health screening. Methods: The current study utilized aggregated data from the Setagaya Ward, Tokyo, public elementary and middle school populations from 2009 to 2018. Data on the percentage of overweight ≥ 30% (POW‐30) and percentage of abnormal blood test results were examined by year, gender, and school grade level. Individual‐level data from 2015 to 2017 in children who participated in a follow‐up obesity health screening were evaluated for changes in median POW. Results: A decreasing trend in students with a POW‐30 was observed from 2009 to 2011, with rates stabilizing thereafter. The highest proportions of POW‐30 were observed in 2010 (4.8% in middle school boys; 2.8% in middle school girls). From third grade, the difference in percentage by gender appeared to get increasingly larger until the beginning of middle school. Among obesity health screening participants, abnormal blood tests for total cholesterol and triglycerides showed a slightly increasing trend over time, and changes in POW after screening were greatest for middle school students. Conclusions: Increases in obesity were not observed in Setagaya Ward public school students since 2010, but disparities exist by gender and grade level, suggesting that tailored intervention strategies may be useful to optimize aspects of the obesity health screening program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The Life Science Symposium held by the Nutrition Research Committee of the International Life Sciences Institute (ILSI) Japan in 2018, "Fusion of Nutrition and Exercise Sciences Leading to Extension of Healthy Life Expectancy," covered current topics in the science of nutrition and exercise to address extending healthy life expectancy. Presentation topics included (1) lifestyle and gut microbiota; (2) how to use lipids in sports nutrition; (3) the effect and molecular mechanism of improvement of arteriosclerosis by exercise and nutrition; (4) physical activity and nutrition that support brain function; (5) skeletal muscles and food ingredients that support healthy longevity; (6) measures against sarcopenia by exercise and nutrient intake; (7) physical activity/exercise for disease prevention; (8) nutritional epidemiology research for the Japanese population; (9) new developments in health science in viewed from nutrition and intestinal flora; (10) why do Asians develop nonobese metabolic disease?; and (11) social implementation of the health promotion program by ILSI Japan. The speakers emphasized the promotion of research on exercise and nutrition interactions and encouraged social implementation of the research results in public and private sectors. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Pediatric obesity is associated with clustered cardiometabolic risk and the future incidence of cardiovascular disease. However, few studies have determined the effect of pediatric obesity in Asia, where obesity is less common than in Western countries. We aimed to clarify whether weight status including underweight and slightly overweight is associated with metabolic risk factors in Japanese adolescents.Methods and Study Design: We performed a cross-sectional analysis of 2241 adolescents aged 13-14 years. Participants were classified as underweight, normal weight, slightly overweight, overweight, or obese according to the International Obesity Task Force. The clustered cardiometabolic risk (Z-CMR) was estimated by summing standardized sex-specific Z scores of mean arterial pressure (MAP), non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non-HDLC), and HbA1c.Results: Linear regression analysis showed that MAP, non-HDL-C, and Z-CMR were higher in the slightly overweight, overweight, and obese groups than in the normal weight group after adjusting for confounders. Compared with the normal weight group, the slightly overweight, overweight, and obese groups had higher prevalence of high BP [odds ratios (ORs): 1.38 (95% CI, 1.03, 1.85); 2.63 (1.77, 3.91); and 2.39 (1.57, 3.64), respectively]. Compared with the normal weight group, underweight boys, but not girls, had a lower prevalence of high Z-CMR [OR=0.20 (0.05, 0.84)].Conclusions: Adolescents classified as slightly overweight had higher levels of BP, serum lipids, and clustered cardiometabolic risk than those classified as normal weight. This observation showed significant associations between weight status and cardiometabolic risk factors during adolescence even in East Asians. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: Approximately 15%-20% of patients with Guillain-Barré syndrome (GBS) are unable to walk independently at 6 months from the onset of neurological symptom. The modified Erasmus GBS outcome score (mEGOS) has been reported as a prognostic tool.Herein we investigated the association between a poor outcome, inability to walk independently at 6 months and presence of antiganglioside antibodies.Methods: The clinical and serological data of 177 patients with GBS were retrospectively collected in Japan to assess the associations between a poor outcome and serum IgG antibodies against each ganglioside (GM1, GD1a, GalNAc-GD1a, GQ1b and GT1a). In addition, we investigated whether the combination of mEGOS and serum IgG antibodies against gangliosides is useful in predicting a poor outcome.Results: The patients with IgG anti-GD1a antibodies more frequently showed poor outcomes than those without these antibodies (9 (36%) of 25 vs 8 (6%) of 127 patients, p<0.001). Particularly, 80% showed a poor outcome when they had both serum IgG anti-GD1a antibody and a high mEGOS of ≥10 on day 7 of admission.Conclusions: The combination of serum IgG anti-GD1a antibodies and a high mEGOS could help in making a more accurate prognosis of patients than mEGOS alone, especially for predicting poor outcomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: It is unclear whether habitual intake of soy or isoflavones induces long-term changes in the concentrations of blood lipids and glycaemia. We examined the associations of soy food and isoflavone consumption with changes in blood lipids and HbA1c concentrations over 5 years among Japanese adults. Methods: This cohort study included 7252 subjects with no known history of major chronic disease at baseline. Soy intake was measured using a food frequency questionnaire; while the concentrations of serum lipids and HbA1c were measured using standard laboratory methods. We used multivariable linear mixed-effects models to examine the associations of changes in lipids and HbA1c concentrations with intakes of soy food and isoflavones. Results: Among the participants, mean age was 61 years, 67% were females and median intakes of soy and isoflavones were 95.3 g/day and 47.4 mg/day, respectively. Soy food and isoflavone intakes were not associated with 5-year changes in blood lipids or HbA1c concentrations. However, stratified analyses showed inverse associations between fermented soy intake and serum lipids among obese/overweight subjects. In particular, intake of 20 g/day of natto was associated with a reduction of 1.4 (95% CI 0.3, 2.5) mg/dL in TC, 1.5 (95% CI 0.4, 2.6) mg/dL in non-high-density lipoprotein cholesterol, 1.0 (95% CI − 0.0, 2.0) mg/dL in low-density lipoprotein cholesterol and 4.0 (95% CI 0.6, 7.5) mg/dL in triglycerides. Conclusions: Overall, habitual consumption of soy or isoflavones was not associated with changes in serum lipids or HbA1c concentrations. The negative associations between intake of natto and changes in serum lipids among overweight/obese subjects deserve further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Triglyceride (TG) is a tri-ester composed of a glycerol and 3 fatty acids. Degradation of TG in adipose tissue is increased in the fasting state but inhibited in the postprandial state. Although insulin suppresses adipose TG degradation, patients with insulin resistance have high concentrations of insulin and free glycerol (FG) in the fasting state. We examined whether the fasting FG concentration reflects visceral obesity and insulin sensitivity in middle-aged Japanese men. We measured the fasting serum FG concentration in 72 males aged 30 to 50 years using a simple enzymatic method. The subjects were divided into tertiles according to their homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-IR). Besides routine glucose- and lipid-related parameters, we determined insulin sensitivity as the rate of glucose disappearance in a 2-step hyperinsulinemic-euglycemic clamp and the abdominal visceral fat area (VFA) by magnetic resonance imaging. The highest HOMA-IR tertile group had a higher fasting FG concentration than the middle- and lowest-tertile groups (0.077 ± 0.024 vs 0.063 ± 0.017 and 0.061 ± 0.016 mmol/L, P <.05 and P <.01). The FG concentration was positively correlated with VFA (rs = 0.36; P <.01) and the HOMA-IR score (rs = 0.26, P <.05) but negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity (rs = −0.26, P <.05). Multivariate regression analysis revealed that the FG concentration is independently associated with VFA and insulin sensitivity. The fasting FG concentration reflects VFA and insulin sensitivity in middle-aged Japanese men. The fasting FG concentration may be a potential surrogate marker of visceral obesity and insulin resistance in outpatients. • We measured the fasting free glycerol (FG) levels in 72 middle-aged Japanese men. • The fasting FG level was positively correlated with visceral fat area. • The fasting FG level was negatively correlated with insulin sensitivity. • The fasting FG concentration reflects visceral obesity and insulin resistance. • The fasting FG level may be a surrogate marker of visceral fat area and insulin resistance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: This study investigated the efficacy of 5-year testosterone replacement therapy (TRT) on lipid profile and glucose tolerance in Japanese hypogonadal men.Methods: Fourteen patients, who received continuous TRT for 5 years, and 22 controls with 5-year observations were enrolled. The patients in the TRT group had received intramuscular injections of testosterone enanthate (250 mg) every month for 5 years. We collected the following data: blood pressure, fasting blood sugar (FBS), hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c), total cholesterol, triglyceride (TG), high density lipoprotein-Chol values, and prostate specific antigen (PSA) level at baseline, 1-, 3-, and 5-years from initial intervention. These data were compared between the two groups.Results: There were no statistically significant differences in any other baseline characteristic, excluding SBP, between the two groups. FBS was significantly improved at 3- and 5-year visits in the TRT group compared to the control group. Furthermore, the HbA1c level and TG value demonstrated a significant decrease at 1-, 3-, and 5-years in the TRT group. However, no significant difference in changes to PSA levels from baseline in both groups was observed.Conclusions: Five-year TRT could improve FBS, HbA1c, and TG levels among Japanese hypogonadal men with no significant increase in PSA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In 2018, the dietary exposure bioaccumulation fish test of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development Test Guideline No. 305 was introduced into Japan's Chemical Substances Control Law. The Japanese government has adopted a single definitive testing criterion for the absence of high bioaccumulation: the growth-corrected kinetic dietary magnification factor (BMF K g ) must be less than 0.007. The aim of this study was to decrease regulatory restrictions in order to increase newly developed chemical substances and their subsequent approval of their manufacture and import, i.e., the present study was motivated by concerns over the criterion being too restrictive, rather than scientific concerns, such as uncertainty in criterion. We used statistical post-processing to assess the possibility of expanding the criteria for not being highly bioaccumulative. Based on our results, we proposed the criterion that the test substance should be considered not highly bioaccumulative if the following two conditions are met: (1) The ratio of the maximum to the minimum measured 5% lipid-standardized biomagnification factor at the end of the uptake phase (BMF 5% , n = 5) for the test substance and reference substance should be less than 3.0, and (2) For the measured BMF 5% of the test substance (n = 5), the probability that the next (the sixth) BMF 5% values should only be applied for non-ionizable lipid soluble compounds. Application of our suggested approach to Japan implies that the criterion for chemical substances that are not highly bioaccumulative in the dietary exposure bioaccumulation fish test would be increased from 0.007 to 0.0149.5% values should only be applied for non-ionizable lipid soluble compounds. Application of our suggested approach to Japan implies that the criterion for chemical substances that are not highly bioaccumulative in the dietary exposure bioaccumulation fish test would be increased from 0.007 to 0.0149., (© 2023. The Author(s), under exclusive licence to Springer Science+Business Media, LLC, part of Springer Nature.)

Brown adipose tissue (BAT) is responsible for non-shivering thermogenesis and is an attractive therapeutic target for combating obesity and related diseases. Human BAT activity has been evaluated by 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose-positron emission tomography/computed tomography (18FDG-PET/CT) under acute cold exposure, but the method has some serious limitations, including radiation exposure. Infrared thermography (IRT) may be a simple and less-invasive alternative to evaluate BAT activity. In the present study, to establish an optimal condition for IRT, using a thermal imaging camera, skin temperature was measured in the supraclavicular region close to BAT depots (Tscv) and the control chest region (Tc) in 24 young healthy volunteers. Their BAT activity was assessed as the maximal standardized uptake value (SUVmax) by 18FDG-PET/CT. Under a warm condition at 24–27°C, no significant correlation was found between the IRT parameters (Tscv, Tc,, and the difference between Tscv and Tc,, Δtemp) and SUVmax, but 30–120 min after cold exposure at 19°C, Tscv and Δtemp were significantly correlated with SUVmax (r = 0.40–0.48 and r = 0.68–0.76). Δtemp after cold exposure was not affected by mean body temperature, body fatness, and skin blood flow. A lower correlation (r = 0.43) of Δtemp with SUVmax was also obtained when the participant’s hands were immersed in water at 18°C for 5 min. Receiver operating characteristic analysis revealed that Δtemp after 30–60 min cold exposure can be used as an index for BAT evaluation with 74% sensitivity, 92% specificity, and 79% diagnostic accuracy. Thus, IRT may be useful as a simple and less-invasive method for evaluating BAT, particularly for large-scale screening and longitudinal repeat studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aim: Sorafenib is used as a first-line treatment for advanced hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). However, hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) has also gained acceptance, but only in Japan. We explored the role of body composition as a factor affecting the survival benefit of HAIC compared to sorafenib for the treatment of advanced HCC. Methods: We conducted a retrospective study using the clinical records of 133 patients with advanced HCC treated either with HAIC or sorafenib. Prior to treatment induction, skeletal muscle index and visceral fat area (VFA) were measured at the third lumbar vertebral and umbilical levels, respectively, using computed tomography. Muscle depletion and high-VFA (H-VFA) were defined using published cut-offs. We analyzed clinical parameters, including body composition as prognostic factors. Results: In the HAIC group, multivariate analysis identified a positive response to HAIC (hazard ratio [HR], 0.438; p = 0.022), and conversion from HAIC to sorafenib (HR, 0.374; p = 0.008) as favorable prognostic factors for survival. In contrast, tumor number < 7 (HR, 0.475; p = 0.008), absence of extra-hepatic spread (HR, 0.511; p = 0.015), absence of muscle depletion (HR, 0.555; p = 0.044), and H-VFA (HR, 0.483; p = 0.015) were studied in the sorafenib group. Conclusions: Body composition was identified as a prognostic factor for patient survival after treatment with sorafenib, but not for HAIC, and may be used as a biomarker when selecting between HAIC or sorafenib treatment of patients with advanced HCC. Additionally, conversion to sorafenib in patients receiving HAIC could improve survival regardless of response status. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In the current meta-analysis, we aimed to systematically review and summarize the eligible studies evaluating the association between dietary acid load in terms of potential renal acid load (PRAL) and net-endogenous acid production (NEAP) with anthropometric parameters and serum lipids in adult population. Methods: In a systematic search from PubMed, Scopus, Web of Sciences and Cochrane electronic databases up to December 2018, relevant studies were included. Cross-sectional, case control or cohort studies evaluating the association between PRAL and NEAP with the mean values of body mass index (BMI), waist circumference (WC), low and high density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL, HDL), triglyceride (TG), total cholesterol (TC) and the prevalence of obesity were included. Results: According to our results, having higher dietary acid load content in terms of high PRAL scores was associated with higher triglyceride concentrations (weighted mean difference (WMD): 3.468; confidence interval (CI): -0.231, 7.166, P = 0.04) and higher obesity prevalence (30% and 27% in highest versus lowest categories). Accordingly, being in the highest category of NEAP was associated with higher prevalence of obesity (25% and 22% in highest versus lowest category). In subgroup analysis, higher PRAL scores was associated with higher BMI in women (WMD: 0.122; CI: -0.001, 0.245; P = 0.049) and higher NEAP in men (WMD: 0.890; CI: 0.430, 1.350; P < 0.001). There was no association between dietary acid load and other studied parameters. Conclusions: In the current meta-analysis, high dietary acid load content was associated with higher serum triglyceride concentrations and higher obesity prevalence. Reducing dietary acid load content might be a useful preventive strategy against obesity and metabolic disorders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Shiitake (Lentinula edodes) extract, eritadenine, has been shown to reduce cholesterol levels, and its hypocholesterolemic actions are involved in the metabolism of methionine. However, the mechanisms by which eritadenine affects cholesterol metabolism in animals fed a high-fat diet containing different sources of lipids have not yet been elucidated in detail. This study was conducted to investigate the effects of shiitake supplementation on serum lipid concentrations in rats fed a diet including a high amount of a plant oil (HO [high oil] and HOS [high oil with shiitake] groups), animal fat (HF [high fat] and HFS [high fat with shiitake] groups), or MCT- (medium-chain triglyceride-) rich plant oil (HM [high MCT] and HMS [high MCT with shiitake] groups). Rats in the HOS, HFS, and HMS groups were fed shiitake. When rats were fed a diet containing shiitake, serum triglyceride, cholesterol levels, and LCAT (lecithin-cholesterol acyltransferase) activities were lower in rats given MCT-rich plant oil than in those that consumed lard. The lipid type in the diet with shiitake also affected serum cholesterol levels and LCAT activities. The diet containing MCT-rich plant oil showed the greatest rates of decrease in all serum lipid profiles and LCAT activities. These results suggest that shiitake and MCT-rich plant oil work together to reduce lipid profiles and LCAT activity in serum. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endotoxin research in recent years at the molecular level has required chemically synthesized lipid A without contamination by other bioactive components. Total synthesis of Escherichia coli-type lipid A was achieved in the 1980s by the challenging spirits of the scientists at Osaka University, Japan. They clarified the role of lipid A in the immunological activities of endotoxin in collaboration with Japanese and German researchers, based on the friendships that existed between them. This article introduces the great contributions made by three generations of professors, Tetsuo Shiba, Shoichi Kusumoto, and Koichi Fukase, at the Laboratory of Natural Product Chemistry at Osaka University, to the study over four decades of endotoxin. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Assessment of infection-related mortality remains inadequate in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. This study was performed to develop a risk model for predicting the 2-year infection-related mortality risk in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. Methods: The study cohort comprised 606 patients who started and continued peritoneal dialysis for 90 at least days and was drawn from the Fukuoka Peritoneal Dialysis Database Registry Study in Japan. The patients were registered from 1 January 2006 to 31 December 2016 and followed up until 31 December 2017. To generate a prediction rule, the score for each variable was weighted by the regression coefficients calculated using a Cox proportional hazard model adjusted by risk factors for infection-related mortality, including patient characteristics, comorbidities, and laboratory data. Results: During the follow-up period (median, 2.2 years), 138 patients died; 58 of them of infectious disease. The final model for infection-related mortality comprises six factors: age, sex, serum albumin, serum creatinine, total cholesterol, and weekly renal Kt/V. The incidence of infection-related mortality increased linearly with increasing total risk score (P for trend <0.001). Furthermore, the prediction model showed adequate discrimination (c-statistic = 0.79 [0.72–0.86]) and calibration (Hosmer–Lemeshow test, P = 0.47). Conclusion: In this study, we developed a new model using clinical measures for predicting infection-related mortality in patients undergoing peritoneal dialysis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Arsenolipid concentrations were measured in 17 food composites prepared from 152 food items purchased in Shizuoka city, Japan, to (1) determine the food contributing to daily intake of arsenolipids, and (2) estimate the daily intake of arsenolipids. Analysis of arsenolipids was performed by high performance liquid chromatography-inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry/electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (HPLC-ICP-MS/ESI-MS-MS). Arsenic containing hydrocarbons (AsHCs), arsenic containing fatty acids (AsFAs), and arsenosugar phospholipids (AsSugPLs) were detected only in “algae” and “fish and shellfish” of the 17 food composites in a concentration range of 4.4–233 ng As/g fresh weight (fw). Two cytotoxic arsenolipids, AsHC332 and AsHC360, were detected in “algae” and “fish and shellfish” in the concentrations range of 33–40 ng As/g fw. The estimated average daily intake of AsHC332 and AsHC360 was ca 3000 and 360 ng As/person/day, or 50 and 6.0 ng As/kg bw/day, respectively. The present study indicated that arsenolipids from “algae” and “fish and shellfish” consumption contributed to the daily intake of toxic AsHCs, though the margin of exposure for the AsHC332 and AsHC360 does not appear to pose a health risk for the general Japanese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: To examine the independent and combined associations of cardiorespiratory fitness (CRF) and muscular fitness (MF) with cardiometabolic risk factors in Japanese adolescents. Methods: A cross‐sectional study including 993 Japanese adolescents (aged 13‐14 years) was undertaken. Height, body mass, blood pressure, lipid profile (non‐fasting), and HbA1c were measured. The physical fitness (PF) test included measurements of CRF (20 m multistage shuttle run test), upper limb strength (hand grip strength), lower limb strength (standing long jump), and muscular endurance (sit‐ups). The clustered cardiometabolic risk (CCMR) was estimated by summing standardized Z‐scores of body mass index (BMI), mean arterial pressure (MAP), non‐high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (non‐HDL‐C), and HbA1c. Results: Linear regression analysis showed that all PF factors except for muscular endurance were inversely correlated with CCMR (P < .001). Among metabolic risk components, HbA1c was unrelated to PF, while non‐HDL‐C was inversely associated with CRF (B = −2.40; P < .001), upper limb strength (B = −1.77; P < .05), and lower limb strength (B = −1.53; P < .05) after adjustment for lifestyle factors. Logistic regression showed that the probability of having high CCMR (≥1SD) was synergistically higher in those with the lowest tertiles of both CRF and upper limb strength (P for interaction = .001); however, a substantially lower likelihood of having high CCMR was observed among individuals with the lowest tertile of upper limb strength but moderate CRF. Conclusions: Lower CRF and MF were significantly and synergistically associated with an unhealthier metabolic risk profile. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Quercetin is a polyphenol found in food that has numerous health benefits. This study investigated the relationship between quercetin metabolism, gut microbiota composition, and dietary intake in elderly Japanese subjects. A food frequency questionnaire was used to assess dietary intake during the week prior to stool sample collection. Fecal suspensions from 56 subjects were anaerobically incubated with quercetin and fecal microbiota composition was analyzed by next-generation sequencing. Inter-individual variations in quercetin concentration and fecal microbiota composition at family level suggested differences in microbial quercetin metabolism. The abundance of Sutterellaceae (r = −0.292) and Oscillospiraceae (r = −0.334) was negatively correlated whereas that of Fusobacteriaceae (r = 0.361) and Enterobacteriaceae (r = 0.321) was positively correlated with quercetin concentration. Niacin (r = −0.313), vitamin B6 (r = −0.297), vitamin B12 (r = −0.266), vitamin D (r = −0.301), and ratio of animal protein to total protein (r = −0.27) were also negatively correlated with quercetin concentration. Bacterial abundance was positively or negatively related to intake of food components. This is the first report describing the relationship between fecal quercetin metabolism, human microbiota, and dietary intake in the elderly. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background and Objectives: Total fat intake is linked to the intake of other nutrients. Little data are available on the extent to which total fat affects diet quality in Japanese people. We investigated the relationship between total fat intake and other nutrient intake using INTERLIPID/ INTERMAP data on Japanese people living in Japan.Methods and Study Design: The participants included 371 men and 401 women with a healthy body mass index and between the ages of 40 and 59 from 4 population samples in Japan. Nutrient intake data were based on four in-depth 24-hour dietary recalls per person.Results: Analysis of covariance adjusted for age revealed that total fat intake was positively related to intakes of calcium, thiamine, riboflavin, meat, eggs, and milks and dairy products for both sexes. Total fat intake was inversely associated with carbohydrate and cereals intake for both sexes. On average, men with total fat intake between 25.0 and 27.4% of total energy had saturated fatty acids above 7%, which is the upper limit recommended for preventing lifestyle-related diseases. Men with total fat intake less than 20% of total energy had a higher risk of not meeting the Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese (2015) for some nutrients.Conclusions: Total fat intake was positively associated with calcium, thiamine, and riboflavin intakes and inversely associated with carbohydrate intake. Our results suggest that in 40-59-year-old men with a healthy body mass index, total fat intake between 20 and 27% of total energy may best support adequate intake of other nutrients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: As the toxicity associated with the α-GalCer-pulsed dendritic cell (DC) therapy could be considered to be negligible, its addition to postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy would be expected to greatly improve the therapeutic effect, and could result in prolonged survival. The aim of the present study is to compare the therapeutic efficacy of alpha-galactosylceramide-pulsed DC therapy in patients who have undergone a complete resection of stage II-IIIA non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) followed by postoperative adjuvant therapy with cisplatin plus vinorelbine, to that in patients who did not receive additional treatment (surgical resection plus postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy only).Methods: Subsequent to the complete resection of NSCLC, followed by the administration of cisplatin plus vinorelbine dual-agent combination adjuvant chemotherapy, patients who satisfy the inclusion criteria will be randomly allocated to either the α-GalCer-pulsed DC immune therapy group, or the standard treatment group. In total, 56 patients will be included in the study. The primary endpoint is recurrence-free survival, and the secondary endpoints are natural killer T-cell-specific immune response, the frequency of toxic effects and safety, and overall survival.Discussion: In order to determine the efficacy of α-GalCer-pulsed DC therapy, the present study compares patients with stage II-III NSCLC who underwent complete surgical resection followed by postoperative adjuvant therapy with cisplatin plus vinorelbine, to those who did not receive additional treatment (surgical resection plus postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy only).Trial Registration: UMIN000010386 ( R000012145 ). Registered on 1 April 2013. UMIN-CTR is officially recognized as a registration site which satisfies ICMJE criteria. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: A meta-analysis showed an inverse association of a prudent/healthy dietary pattern with all-cause mortality and no association of a western/unhealthy dietary pattern. However, the association of distinctive dietary patterns of Japanese population with mortality remains unclear. We prospectively investigated the association between dietary patterns and all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality among Japanese adults. Methods: Participants were 36,737 men and 44,983 women aged 45–74 years who participated in the second survey of the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study (1995–1998) and who had no history of serious disease. Dietary patterns were derived from principal component analysis of the consumption of 134 food and beverage items ascertained by a food frequency questionnaire. Hazard ratios of death from the second survey to December 2012 were estimated using cox proportional hazard regression analysis. Results: A prudent dietary pattern, which was characterized by high intake of vegetables, fruit, soy products, potatoes, seaweed, mushrooms, and fish, was significantly associated with decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality for the highest versus lowest quartile of the prudent dietary pattern score were 0.82 (0.77 to 0.86) and 0.72 (0.64 to 0.79), respectively (P for trend <0.001 in both). A Westernized dietary pattern, characterized by high intake of meat, processed meat, bread, and dairy products, was also inversely associated with risk of all-cause, cancer, and cardiovascular disease mortality. A traditional Japanese dietary pattern was not associated with these risks. Conclusions: The prudent and Westernized dietary patterns were associated with a decreased risk of all-cause and cardiovascular disease mortality in Japanese adults. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We determined the polychlorinated biphenyl (PCB) congeners in 101 marine fish obtained from tsunami-stricken areas following the Great East Japan Earthquake in 2011. In particular, to determine the degree of PCB contamination in the fish, we investigated the concentration of total PCB (∑PCB) and the proportions of 209 individual PCB congeners by high-resolution gas chromatography/high-resolution mass spectrometry. The ∑PCB concentration was 1.7–33 ng/g in fat greenling (n = 29), 0.44–25 ng/g in flounder (n = 36), and 1.6–86 ng/g in mackerel (n = 36), all values being much lower than the provisional regulatory limit in Japan. In the congener analysis, tetra-, penta-, hexa-, and hepta-chlorinated PCB congeners dominated in all samples (comprising over 86% of the ∑PCB). The proportions of the chlorinated PCB congeners were similar to the contamination patterns derived from Kanechlor in the environment, implying that the marine fish were not contaminated with fresh PCBs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: In(Lu) is characterized by a reduced expression of antigens in the Lutheran blood group system as well as other blood group antigens. Mutations of the erythroid transcription factor, KLF1, have been reported to cause the In(Lu) phenotype, and we investigated Japanese In(Lu) to estimate the prevalence of the phenotype and KLF1 polymorphism.Study Design and Methods: Blood samples were screened by monoclonal anti-CD44 and the In(Lu) phenotype was confirmed by tube tests including adsorption and elution tests using anti-Lua and anti-Lub . KLF1, LU, and A4GALT genes were analyzed by polymerase chain reaction and sequencing.Results: We identified 100 of 481,322 blood donors (0.02%), and the previously characterized 20 donors, who had the In(Lu) phenotype with the LUB/LUB genotype. A total of 100 of the 120 In(Lu) individuals had mutant KLF1 alleles, and we identified 13 known and 21 novel alleles. The mutant KLF1 alleles with c.947G>A (p.Cys316Tyr), c.862A>G (p.Lys288Glu), or c.968C>G (p.Ser323Trp) were major in the In(Lu) individuals. The P1 antigen of 29 In(Lu) (two P1 /P1 , 27 P1 /P2 ) showed significantly weakened expression by hemagglutination.Conclusions: The prevalence of the In(Lu) phenotype in the Japanese population was 0.02%, and we identified 13 known and 21 novel KLF1 alleles. The KLF1 mutations cause the reduced expression of the P1 antigen. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel Vibrio strain, JCM 31412T, was isolated from seawater collected from the Inland Sea (Setonaikai), Japan, and characterized as a Gram-negative, oxidase-positive, catalase-negative, facultatively anaerobic, motile, ovoid-shaped bacterium with one polar flagellum. Based on 16S rDNA gene identity, strain JCM 31412T showed a close relationship with type strains of Vibrio brasiliensis (LMG 20546T, 98.2% identity), V. harveyi (NBRC 15634T, 98.2%), V. caribbeanicus (ATCC BAA-2122T, 97.8%) and V. proteolyticus (NBRC 13287T, 97.8%). The G+C content of strain JCM 31412T DNA was 46.8%. Multi-locus sequence analysis (MLSA) of eight loci (ftsZ, gapA, gyrB, mreB, pyrH, recA, rpoA and topA; 5535bp) further clustered strain JCM 31412T in the Nereis clade, genus Vibrio. Phenotypically, strain JCM 31412T differed from the closest related Vibrio species in its utilization of melibiose and raffinose, and its lack of casein and gelatin hydrolysis. It was further differentiated based on its fatty acid composition, specifically properties of C12:03OH and summed features, which were significantly different from those of V. brasiliensis, V. nigripulchritudo and V. caribbeanicus type strains. Overall, the results of DNA-DNA hybridization, and physiological and biochemical analysis differentiated strain JCM 31412T from other described species of the genus Vibrio. Based on these polyphasic taxonomic findings, it was therefore concluded that JCM 31412T was a novel Vibrio species, for which the name Vibrio japonicus sp. nov. was proposed, with JCM 31412T (= LMG 29636T = ATCC TSD-62T) as the type strain. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Little data exist on the clinical features of patients with an extremely low level of high-density lipoprotein (HDL) cholesterol (<20 mg/dL). Objective To assess the clinical characteristics of Japanese patients with extremely low HDL cholesterol levels. Methods In this observational study of 429 patients with extremely low HDL cholesterol levels among 43,368 subjects whose HDL cholesterol was measured for any reason at Kanazawa University Hospital from April 2004 to March 2014, we investigated the presence of coronary artery disease, chronic kidney disease, the potential causes of reduced HDL cholesterol, their prognosis, and the cause of death. Results Most patients (n = 425, 99%) exhibited secondary causes, including malignancies (n = 157, 37%), inflammatory diseases (n = 219, 51%), or other critical situations, such as major bleeding (n = 58, 14%). During the median 175-day follow-up period, 106 patients died. The causes of death in 80 (75%) patients were malignancies, inflammatory diseases, or major bleeding, in contrast to a relatively low incidence of death from atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease (n = 10, 10%). Multiple regression analysis showed that the presence of malignancy and HDL cholesterol was independently associated with death, in addition to age. The cumulative survival curve revealed that patients with an HDL cholesterol of <15 mg/dl, determined using the receiver-operating characteristic curve, had significantly higher mortality than those whose HDL cholesterol level was ≥15 mg/dL. Conclusions Extremely low HDL cholesterol levels could be a useful marker for poor prognosis, not necessarily related to cardiovascular diseases. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Human exposure to persistent organic pollutants (POPs) is reflected by POP concentrations in breast milk. Many studies of POPs in breast milk have been performed in Japan, but insufficient information is available about some legacy POPs (e.g., mirex and toxaphenes, included in the Stockholm Convention in 2001) and novel POPs (e.g., dicofol and endosulfans, included in the Stockholm Convention in 2019 and 2011, respectively). In this study, dicofol, endosulfan, mirex, and toxaphene concentrations in breast milk from 10 prefectures in Japan were determined. The samples were collected between 2005 and 2010, before Stockholm Convention restrictions on endosulfans and mirex were implemented. Common POPs (e.g., polychlorinated biphenyls) were also analyzed to allow the contamination statuses to be compared. The α-endosulfan and β-endosulfan concentrations were 0.26-13 and 0.012-0.82 ng/g lipid, respectively. The toxaphene #26 and #50 concentrations were <0.08-5.6 and < 0.1-8.5 ng/g lipid, respectively. The dicofol concentrations were <0.01-4.8 ng/g lipid. The mirex concentrations were <0.2-3.5 ng/g lipid. The α- and β-endosulfan concentrations on a lipid weight basis negatively correlated with the lipid contents of the milk samples (ρ = -0.65, p < 0.01 for α-endosulfan; ρ = -0.58, p < 0.01 for β-endosulfan). The toxaphene concentrations positively correlated with the lipid contents. The mirex concentrations positively correlated with the maternal age but negatively correlated with the maternal body mass index. No correlations between the dicofol concentrations and the factors were found. Principal component analysis divided the data into four groups, (1) chlordanes, dichlorodiphenyltrichloroethanes and related compounds, hexachlorobenzene, hexachlorocyclohexanes, hexachloroethane, and polychlorinated biphenyls, (2) endosulfans, (3) dicofol, dieldrin, and toxaphenes, and (4) bromodiphenyl ether 47. This indicated that bromodiphenyl ether 47, dicofol, endosulfans, and toxaphenes have different exposure routes or different kinetics to the other legacy POPs., Competing Interests: Declaration of competing interest The authors declare that they have no known competing financial interests or personal relationships that could have appeared to influence the work reported in this paper., (Copyright © 2022 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.)

Background: In the Great East Japan Earthquake of 11 March 2011, an earthquake and accompanying tsunami struck the Tohoku region of northeastern Japan. Buildings collapsed and the tsunami spread waste, including hazardous materials. This study aimed to determine the concentrations of persistent organic pollutants (POPs) in the breast milk of mothers living in the disaster-affected area of Sendai 1 year after the earthquake. Temporal trends in the POPs concentrations were evaluated by comparison with previous studies., Methods: One hundred breast milk samples were obtained from lactating mothers at a hospital in Sendai in 2012. The results were compared with those from other years to examine whether there were changes in the POPs concentrations after the earthquake. We measured polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) and organochlorine pesticides, such as chlordanes, using gas chromatography-mass spectrometer (GC-MS) with negative chemical ionization, and dichlorodiphenyl trichloroethane (DDT) and its metabolites using GC-MS with electron impact ionization., Results: The mean total PCBs (11 congeners), total chlordane, and total DDT concentrations were 76.2 ng/g lipid, 39.8 ng/g lipid, and 73.5 ng/g lipid, respectively. For the samples collected in 2012, the concentrations of POPs in breast milk showed minimal changes compared with results from previous years for samples collected at the same hospital in Sendai., Conclusions: Our study demonstrates that 1 year after the earthquake and tsunami, the concentrations of chlorinated POPs in breast milk had not changed substantially.

Aims: To determine the threshold intrahepatic lipid (IHL) content separating metabolically normal from abnormal in a Japanese population based on proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy ((1)H-MRS).Methods: A total of 305 Japanese subjects aged 20-69years were investigated. The subjects underwent general examination, blood tests, and (1)H-MRS of the liver after an overnight fast. They completed a questionnaire about daily drinking habits and their daily alcohol intake was calculated.Results: The median IHL content was 4.7% in men and 1.7% in women, and it increased along with the number of features of metabolic syndrome (MetS). The optimum IHL cut-off value for separating normal subjects from those with at least one feature of MetS was 6.5% in men (AUC of ROC: 0.727, 95%-CI: 0.649-0.804) and 1.8% in women (0.765, 0.685-0.844). Alcohol intake was not correlated with the IHL content according to multiple logistic regression analysis.Conclusion: This study demonstrated a close association of IHL with features of MetS and identified IHL content cut-off values for metabolic normality in Japanese subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Serum uric acid (UA) has strong anti-oxidant properties. Muscle strength and mass decrease with age, and recently, this decrease has been defined as sarcopenia. Sarcopenia may be triggered by oxidative stress. We investigated whether serum UA is associated with handgrip strength (HGS), which is a useful indicator of sarcopenia, among Japanese community-dwelling elderly persons. The present study included 602 men aged 72 ± 7 years and 847 women aged 71 ± 6 years from a rural village. We examined the cross-sectional relationship between serum UA and HGS. In both genders, HGS increased significantly with increased serum UA levels. A multiple linear regression analysis using HGS as an objective variable and various confounding factors as explanatory variables showed that in men age, drinking status, high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and estimated glomerular filtration ratio (eGFRCKDEPI) were independently and significantly associated with HGS, and in women, serum UA as well as age, body mass index, drinking status, diastolic blood pressure, and eGFRCKDEPI were independently and significantly associated with HGS. In women, age and multivariate-adjusted HGS were significantly higher in the Quartile-3 (4.8–5.4 mg/dL) and Quartile-4 groups (5.5–9.3 mg/dL) of serum UA than in the lower groups (0.7–4.7 mg/dL). These results suggest that serum UA may have a protective role in aging-associated decline in muscle strength in community-dwelling elderly women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Diminishing yellow color, evaluated by coronary angioscopy, is associated with plaque stabilization and regression. Our aim was to assess the effect of aggressive lipid-lowering therapy with rosuvastatin on plaque regression and instability. Thirty-seven patients with stable angina or silent myocardial ischemia who planned to undergo elective percutaneous coronary intervention and had angioscopic yellow plaques of grade 2 or more were randomized to high-dose (group H, 20 mg/day, n = 18) or low-dose (group L, 2.5 mg/day, n = 19) rosuvastatin therapy for 48 weeks. Yellow plaque was graded on a 4-point scale of 0 (white) to 3 (bright yellow) by angioscopy, and plaque volume was determined by intravascular ultrasound for plaques with a length of 5 to 15 mm. Color and volume were assessed at baseline and after 48 weeks by the investigators blinded to the rosuvastatin dosage, and were compared between the 2 dosing groups. The level of low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol decreased from 130.3 ± 25.5 mg/dl to 61.7 ± 16.5 mg/dl (-50 ± 19%: high intensity) in group H (p <0.001) and from 130.9 ± 28.5 mg/dl to 89.7 ± 29.0 mg/dl (-30 ± 22%: moderate intensity) in group L (mean ± SD, p <0.001). The average color grade of yellow plaques decreased from 2.0 to 1.5 in group H (p <0.001) and from 2.0 to 1.6 in group L (p <0.001) after 48 weeks. Plaque volume decreased significantly in group H but not in group L. The percent change in plaque volume was significantly larger in group H than in group L (p = 0.005). In conclusion, both high-dose and low-dose rosuvastatin increased plaque stability. However, high-dose rosuvastatin was more effective than low-dose rosuvastatin in inducing plaque volume regression. Clinical Trial Registration No: UMIN-CTR, UMIN000003276. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Low birthweight is associated with increased risk for cardiovascular disease (CVD) in later life, but whether premature birth is also a risk factor for CVD has not been fully determined. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between gestational age and risk factors for CVD at school age. Methods: Using medical check-up data of school children, the relationship between gestational age and height, weight, body mass index, blood pressure, and lipid profiles at ages 9 and 12 years were investigated in children born preterm and admitted to neonatal intensive care unit at birth (n = 182; 115 boys and 67 girls). These data were also compared between preterm small for gestational age (SGA) children and preterm appropriate for gestational age (AGA) children. Results: Gestational age was positively associated with height, and inversely associated with systolic blood pressure at school age. Preterm SGA children were significantly shorter and lighter at 9 and 12 years of age compared with preterm AGA children, but there were no significant differences in any CVD risk factors between the groups. Conclusions: In preterm infants, a shorter duration of gestation is associated with higher systolic blood pressure at school age. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose The purpose of the current study was to investigate the effects of a 12-week home-based bench step exercise program on inflammatory cytokines and lipid profiles in elderly females. Methods Sixty-two postmenopausal females (65–85 years of age) were randomized to either the bench step exercise group ( n = 31) or the control group ( n = 31). The subjects in the bench step exercise group were instructed to perform bench step exercises at the exercise intensity corresponding to lactate threshold (LT), three times per day 10–20 min each session, for a goal of ≥140 min/week at home for 12 weeks. At baseline and 12 weeks, circulating levels of nine inflammatory cytokines (high-molecular-weight adiponectin, interleukin-4 [IL-4], IL-5, IL-6, IL-8, IL-15, tumor necrosis factor-α [TNF-α], TNF-β and interferon-γ [IFN-γ]) and serum lipids including high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) were measured. Results The bench step training at the LT significantly increased HDL-C levels and decreased IFN-γ concentrations in the subjects with lower (< 63 mg/dL) baseline HDL-C levels ( p < 0.05). The change in IFN-γ inversely correlated with the change in HDL-C in the exercise group ( ρ = −0.56, p < 0.01), whereas this association was not observed in the control group. Additionally, principal component analysis-derived index of what we called “inflammatory status factor” was inversely associated with the changes in HDL-C in the exercise group. Conclusion The bench step exercise-induced reduction in the IFN-γ levels may partially explain the degree of improvement in the HDL-C levels with the exercise program. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Angiotensinogen ( AGT) and angiotensin-converting enzyme ( ACE) are recognized as important regulators of body mass index ( BMI) and systemic blood pressure ( BP). An association between these single nucleotide polymorphisms ( SNP) of AGT and ACE genes and obesity or hypertension has been established. This study examined relationships between the molecular variants of the AGT and ACE genes and bodyweight or BP in children treated with glucocorticoids for nephrotic syndrome. Methods Twenty Japanese children (male, n = 14; female, n = 6; age, 2-13 years) were genotyped for AGT polymorphisms ( M235T and A-6G) and the ACE polymorphisms (insertion/deletion: I/ D and rs4341). All of the children studied were treated with daily prednisolone 2 mg/kg for 4 weeks and thereafter alternate-day prednisolone for 8 weeks. BMI, BMI z-scores, blood lipids, renal function and BP in each group were evaluated during the study period. Results BMI and BMI z-scores during the glucocorticoid therapy were significantly higher in the TT genotype of the AGT M235T polymorphisms and the AA genotype of the AGT A-6G polymorphisms compared to other genotypes ( P < 0.05). In contrast, the molecular variant of ACE I/D and rs4341 genotypes did not change bodyweight during the glucocorticoid exposure. It was evident, however, that the BP and blood lipids and renal function were not significantly influenced by the AGT and ACE polymorphisms. Conclusions The TT genotype of the AGT M235T and the AA genotype of the A-6G polymorphisms may predispose children to bodyweight gain when initially treated with glucocorticoids for nephrotic syndrome. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims: We assessed 27-year trends in obesity and blood lipid levels of 10-year-old children to estimate the risk of metabolic syndrome in adulthood., Methods: Based on a screening program for lifestyle-related diseases in school children in Oita City, Japan, we evaluated secular trends in height, weight, percentage of overweight (POW), total cholesterol (TC), triglyceride (TG), HDL cholesterol (HDL-C), and non-HDL cholesterol (non-HDL-C) of fifth graders (median age: 10.8 years) in Oita City from 1991 to 2017. We focused on the secular trend in the percentage of children with inappropriate serum levels of each lipid. We also evaluated the long-term trends in the 95 th , 50 th , and 5 th percentiles for each parameter, as dependent variables, with the calendar year as an independent variable. Percentages of children with mild obesity (POW-20), moderate obesity (POW-30), and severe obesity (POW-50) were set as dependent variables., Results: A total of 58,699 boys and 56,864 girls were evaluated during the study period. The percentage of children with severe obesity (POW-50) consistently increased during these years, and the 95 th percentile of degree of obesity significantly increased in both boys and girls. The plot of percentages of children with inappropriate levels of TC, TG, and non-HDL-C showed a mild inverted U shape during the study period. The HDL-C level typically decreased in the study period, and the TC, TG, and non-HDL-C levels were markedly higher while the HDL level was lower in obese children than in non-obese children., Conclusion: The number of children with severe obesity increased, and obese children had higher percentages of inappropriate lipid levels than non-obese children. The rate of dyslipidemia with low HDL levels gradually increased in all children in Oita City, Japan, over the past 27 years.

The associations between blood lipids, including total cholesterol (TC), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C), triglycerides, and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and colorectal cancer risk are controversial. We evaluated potential causal relationships between blood lipids and colorectal cancer risk. Using the baseline data from the Japanese Consortium of Genetic Epidemiology studies, we estimated the single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP)-exposure associations (n = 34,546 for TC, n = 50,290 for HDL-C, n = 51,307 for triglycerides, and n = 30,305 for LDL-C). We also estimated the SNP-outcome associations in another Japanese dataset (n = 7,936 colorectal cancer cases and n = 38,042 controls). We conducted Mendelian randomization (MR) analyses for the association between each blood lipid type and the risk of colorectal cancer using an inverse variance-weighted method. The total variances explained by the selected SNPs in TC (68 SNPs), HDL-C (50 SNPs), log-transformed triglycerides (26 SNPs), and LDL-C (35 SNPs) were 7.0%, 10.0%, 6.2%, and 5.7%, respectively. The odds ratios for colorectal cancer were 1.15 [95% confidence interval (CI), 1.01-1.32] per 1 standard deviation (SD; 33.3 mg/dL) increase in TC, 1.11 (95% CI, 0.98-1.26) per 1 SD (15.4 mg/dL) increase in HDL-C, 1.06 (95% CI, 0.90-1.26) per 1 SD (0.5 log-mg/dL) increase in log-transformed triglycerides, and 1.17 (95% CI, 0.91-1.50) per 1 SD (29.6 mg/dL) increase in LDL-C. Sensitivity analyses consistently suggested the positive association between TC and colorectal cancer, whereas results of each lipid component were inconsistent. In conclusion, this large MR study of a Japanese population showed a potentially causal association between high TC and colorectal cancer risk, although the association between each lipid component and colorectal cancer remained inconclusive., Prevention Relevance: In this large MR analysis of a Japanese population, a positive association was found between genetically predicted high total cholesterol (TC) levels and an increased risk of colorectal cancer. Therefore, lowering TC levels by lifestyle modifications or medications may be justified for the purpose of preventing colorectal cancer., (©2022 American Association for Cancer Research.)

Background To assess dyslipidemia, measurement of low-density lipoprotein cholesterol via either Friedewald equation (LDL-F) or direct assay (LDL-D), and non–high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (non–HDL-C) are recommended with some guidelines showing preference to direct over calculated measurements. However, direct comparisons of their respective associations with cardiovascular disease (CVD) risk are currently unavailable. Objective In this study, we evaluated the clinical effectiveness of LDL-F and non–HDL-C vs LDL-D and their associations with CVD. Methods This retrospective cohort study comprised apparently healthy Japanese individuals who underwent an annual health check-up between 2005 and 2007 and completed a 5-year follow-up visit. The incidence of CVD, including coronary and cerebrovascular diseases, during a 5-year follow-up period was evaluated using multivariate logistic regression. Results At baseline, 26,739 participants (mean age, 47 years; 49.0% men) were enrolled, and 292 (1.09%) incidents of CVD were identified at follow-up. Baseline LDL-F, LDL-D, and non–HDL-C were all significantly associated with CVD, although the effect appeared higher for LDL-F, particularly for coronary heart disease. Increased risks of CVD were observed for high LDL-F (≥130 mg/dL), despite being categorized into the lower LDL category based on LDL-D (odds ratio [OR], 1.85; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.19–2.87) and non-HDL-C (OR, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.22–2.52). Without high LDL-F, no CVD associations were found for high LDL-D ( P = .62) or non-HDL-C ( P = .93). Conclusion Despite growing availability of direct assays and increasing evidence of non-HDL-C utility, the Friedewald equation may offer better clinical utility for CVD prevention, especially in the screening of apparently healthy individuals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Work ability is based on the balance between personal resources and work demand. This study focused on the personal resources component of work ability. The aims of this study were to elucidate the association between work ability and cardiovascular (CV) risk factors, particularly oxidative stress, and to estimate the effect of a community-implemented lifestyle modification programme on work ability and CV risk factors. Urinary 8-iso-prostaglandin F2α(PGF2α), a biomarker of oxidative stress, was negatively correlated with psychological resources, as measured by the Work Ability Index (WAI). Overall WAI score was unchanged following the programme, while CV risk factors and antioxidative activity improved. A reduction in PGF2αlevels was correlated with an improvement in subjective work ability relative to job demands, as assessed by a WAI item. Taken together, the results suggest that lifestyle modification programmes enhance the personal resources component of work ability and are associated with a reduction in oxidative stress. Practitioner Summary:We demonstrated the capacity of a lifestyle modification programme to augment personal resources by reducing CV risk factors such as oxidative stress. In addition, since the community-implemented lifestyle modification programme minimally affected work ability, ‘worksite’ health promotion programmes might more effectively enhance personal resources. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article reports the concentration and composition of the isomers of cis-icosenoic acid (20:1) in the fatty acids of various species of Japanese marine animals. The main purpose of this study is to reveal the distribution of a positional isomer, cis-7-20:1 ( c7-20:1), in marine animals. Because this isomer overlaps with the c9-20:1 isomer in gas chromatography (GC) on the commonly used polar capillary columns, less information is available on its occurrence and distribution. In this study, the monounsaturated fatty acids isolated by argentation thin-layer chromatography were analyzed by GC using a highly polar capillary column, SLB-IL111 (100 m long), with the highest polarity among the commercially available GC columns. A clear separation between the c7-20:1 and c9-20:1 isomers enabled the analysis of all the isomers of 20:1 present in marine animals. The results confirmed that the c7 isomer was a minor component in the 20:1 in the pelagic fish, which is rich in the c9 and/or c11 isomers as reported previously. In contrast, the c7 isomer was one of the major isomers in flatfish, shellfish, crabs, and brittle stars. In these samples, the c13 isomer also occurred at higher concentrations rather than the c9 isomer. Because such a specific pattern of the 20:1 positional isomers was generally observed in both benthic fish and its dietary animals, the c7 isomer in the benthic fish probably originated from its diet. These marine animals are used as food in Japan, and therefore the c7-20:1 isomer is consumed by humans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]