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We observed trends in the height of children aged 3 to 6 in Japan using data from the National Growth Survey on Preschool Children in the years 1990, 2000, and 2010. Average standard deviation (SD) scores of height decreased from 0.39 (SD 1.02) in 1990 (n = 3,684) to 0.37 (SD 1.05) in 2000 (n = 2,981) and 0.33 (SD 1.07) in 2010 (n = 2,027). Mothers of children in later waves were taller, older, and more likely to be primiparous; children in later waves had shorter gestational age, lower birth weight, and were less likely to have been fed less with formula or solid foods before 6 mo. The only factor that consistently contributed to a reduction in children’s height for both 1990–2000 and 2000–2010 was a reduction in birthweight SD score (indirect effect on height –1.5 [95% CI: –1.9, –1.1] mm for 1990–2000 and –1.2 [95% CI: –1.8, –0.8] mm for 2000–2010). Factors that contributed, although not significantly or consistently between the two periods, were changes in pre-pregnancy BMI, smoking during pregnancy, multiple pregnancies, gestational age, BMI at birth, and use of formula and solid foods before 6 mo. Secular increases in maternal age, height, and primiparity contributed to increasing children’s height.

In contrast to most of the other olefin polymerization catalysts, the Cr/SiO2 Phillips catalyst does not need any activator to develop its activity. However, it is known that the addition of a small amount of metal-alkyls has drastic effects on the catalyst performance, and it is one of the strategies adopted in industrial practice to tailor the properties of the polyethylene produced. In this work, we conducted a systematic investigation on the effect of triethylaluminum on the Cr(VI)/SiO2 catalyst, with the ultimate goal to determine the properties of the Cr sites at a molecular level and to correlate them to the properties of the obtained polyethylene. To this aim, we coupled kinetic tests, spectroscopic methods (diffuse reflectance UV–vis–near-infrared, electron paramagnetic resonance, Fourier-transform infrared spectroscopy of probe molecules), and different polymer characterization techniques. We found that, at an Al/Cr ratio of 2:1, only ca. 50% of the original Cr(VI) sites are reduced to a variety...

Recessive mutations in the Myosin regulatory light chain 2 (MYL2) gene are the cause of an infantile-onset myopathy, associated with fatal myocardial disease of variable macromorphology. We here present the first Japanese family affected with recessive MYL2 myopathy. Affected siblings manifested typical features and the proband's autopsy findings were compatible with the diagnosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy. The rapidly progressive clinical course of this recessive MYL2 cardiomyopathy highlights the crucial role of c-terminal tails in MYL2 protein in maintaining cardiac morphology and function.

Objectives Sicca syndrome is characterized by dry mouth and eyes and results in a reduction of the patient's quality of life. Various natural plants, including certain herbs, have long been employed to alleviate such symptoms. Rooibos grown in South Africa is one of the potent herbal plants used for the treating dry mouth. However, the precise mechanism of action by which rooibos alleviates symptoms of dryness remains unclear. Methods The in vivo effects of rooibos extract (RE), which comprises eriodictyol-6-C-glucoside, on the secretory function of saliva and tears were analyzed after intraoral RE administration using wild-type C57BL/6 (B6) mice. In addition, the mechanisms of RE were investigated after administration of a muscarinic acetylcholine receptor 3 (M3R) antagonist. Results Tear and saliva volumes in mice increased significantly and in a dose-dependent manner following intraoral RE administration compared to those in mice in the control group administered H2O. An experiment performed using darifenacin administration revealed that the effects of RE on secretory function were exerted via M3R. Conclusion These results suggest that RE administration is an effective treatment for symptoms of dryness and may be used in clinical settings against sicca syndrome.

We previously discovered that rooibos extract activates the M3 muscarinic acetylcholine receptor (M3R), a key component of exocrine secretion. In this study, we examined the rooibos extract for active components in vitro and monitored its fast-acting effects against dryness in humans. Our in vitro analysis demonstrated that the M3R-stimulating effect of rooibos extract was similar to that of eriodictyol-6-C-β- d -glucoside (E6CG), whereas other rooibos constituents (aspalathin, orientin, isoorientin or eriodictyol-8-C-β- d -glucoside) were not active. In a placebo-controlled, double-blinded crossover clinical trial, 36 subjects with dryness at the mouth, eyes, and skin consumed a daily dose of either 100 mg rooibos or placebo tablets for three days. Rooibos extract ingestion increased resting-saliva content, tear volume, and stratum corneum moisture content, and reduced the dryness symptoms. In conclusion, rooibos extract contains E6CG as an M3R activator and stimulates exocrine gland secretion, which relieves dryness at the mouth, eyes, and skin in humans.

Recessive mutations in the Myosin regulatory light chain 2 (MYL2) gene are the cause of an infantile-onset myopathy, associated with fatal myocardial disease of variable macromorphology. We here present the first Japanese family affected with recessive MYL2 myopathy. Affected siblings manifested typical features and the proband's autopsy findings were compatible with the diagnosis of noncompaction cardiomyopathy. The rapidly progressive clinical course of this recessive MYL2 cardiomyopathy highlights the crucial role of c-terminal tails in MYL2 protein in maintaining cardiac morphology and function.

Several spectroscopic techniques have been applied in a concerted way to investigate the local structure and the function of the chromium sites in a series of Cr[CH(SiMe3)2]3/SiO2 catalysts for ethene polymerization that differ in chromium loading and to correlate them with the microstructure of the produced polyethylene (PE). According to previous studies, the density of the produced PE is proportional to the Cr loading: the higher the Cr loading, the lower the PE density, because of an increase in the content of short-chain branching. Here, the nature of the branches and their enchainment in the polymer have been further investigated to determine the different properties of the produced polymers, and the differences detected have been traced back by spectroscopic analysis to the presence of two different types of Cr sites working in tandem: monografted SiO Cr[CH(SiMe3)2]2 species that are responsible for ethene oligomerization, and bis-grafted ( SiO )2CrCH(SiMe3)2 species that account for ethene homo- and co-polymerization. The relative abundance of the two species depends on the chromium loading. Moreover, we have also found that carbon monoxide selectively poisons the sites responsible for ethene oligomerization, indicating a possible strategy for the fine regulation of the properties of the produced PE.

We have demonstrated previously that Japanese sake yeast improves sleep quality in humans. In the present study, we examined the molecular mechanisms of sake yeast to induce sleep by monitoring locomotor activity, electromyogram and electroencephalogram in mice. Oral administration of Japanese sake yeast (100, 200, and 300 mg kg-1 ) decreased the locomotor activity by 18, 46 and 59% and increased the amount of non-rapid eye movement (NREM) sleep by 1.5-, 2.3- and 2.4-fold (to 37 ± 6, 57 ± 8, and 60 ± 4 min from 25 ± 6 min in the vehicle-administered group, respectively) in a dose-dependent manner for 4 h after oral administration. However, Japanese sake yeast did not change the amount of rapid eye movement (REM) sleep, the electroencephalogram power density during NREM sleep or show any adverse effects, such as rebound of insomnia, during 24 h postadministration and on the next day. An intraperitoneal pretreatment with an adenosine A2A receptor-selective antagonist, ZM241385 (15 mg kg-1 ), reduced the amount of NREM sleep of sake yeast-administered mice to the basal level, without changing basal amount of sleep. Conversely, an A1 receptor-selective antagonist, 8-cyclopentyltheophylline (10 mg kg-1 ), did not affect the sleep-promoting effect of Japanese sake yeast. Thus, Japanese sake yeast promotes NREM sleep via activation of adenosine A2A but not A1 receptors.