Relationship between the housing coldness/warmth evaluation by CASBEE Housing Health Checklist and psychological distress based on TMM Community-Based Cohort Study: a cross-sectional analysis.

OBJECTIVES: Previous studies have reported the relationship between housing environment and health, although due to cost and effort, it was difficult to conduct housing condition surveys on a large scale. The CASBEE Housing Health Checklist (the Checklist) made it possible to easily evaluate the housing condition from the resident's perspective. This study examined the relationship between housing coldness/warmth evaluation using the Checklist and psychological distress in a large-scale general Japanese population. STUDY DESIGN: A cross-sectional study. METHODS: We analysed data from 29,380 people aged ≥20 years who lived in Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. As an assessment of housing coldness/warmth, we used the Checklist. We classified participants' total scores on the Checklist related to coldness/warmth into quartiles. The Kessler 6 scale was used as an indicator of psychological distress. Multivariable logistic regression models were used to estimate the adjusted odds ratio (OR) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs). Adjusted OR and P-values for linear trends were calculated using the quartiles of the Checklists' score. RESULTS: Among participants in Q1 (i.e., poorer subjective house condition), the percentage of people with psychological distress was high. Compared to the highest quartile, Q1 showed poorer evaluation of housing coldness/warmth, and higher OR for psychological distress. The OR (95% CI) of psychological distress for Q3, Q2, and Q1 compared with Q4 were 1.93 (1.74-2.14), 2.82 (2.55-3.12), and 5.78 (5.25-6.35), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Housing coldness/warmth evaluation was significantly related to psychological distress. This finding suggests that maintaining a comfortable thermal environment at home could be important for residents' mental health.

Relationship between the combination of polyunsaturated fatty acids intake and psychological distress during pregnancy: The Tohoku Medical Megabank Project Birth and Three-Generation Cohort Study.

No studies have examined the association of the combination of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs) and n-6 PUFAs intake with psychological distress during pregnancy. To examine these associations, we divided Japanese pregnant women into 25 groups based on combining quintiles of n-3 PUFAs intake and quintiles of n-6 PUFAs intake. We conducted multivariable logistic regression analyses to assess the risk of psychological distress during pregnancy (Kessler Psychological Distress Scale ≥ 5 or 13). Compared to the third quintile of both n-3 PUFAs and n-6 PUFAs intake, the groups with unbalanced intake, high intake of both, and low intake of both were associated with a higher risk of both Kessler Psychological Distress Scale ≥ 5 and 13 in early and mid-pregnancy. Further research is needed to identify the precise combination of n-3 PUFAs and n-6 PUFAs intake associated with the lowest psychological distress during pregnancy.

Effect of tibial component alignment on knee kinematics and ligament tension in medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty.

OBJECTIVES: Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is one surgical option for treating symptomatic medial osteoarthritis. Clinical studies have shown the functional benefits of UKA; however, the optimal alignment of the tibial component is still debated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of tibial coronal and sagittal plane alignment in UKA on knee kinematics and cruciate ligament tension, using a musculoskeletal computer simulation. METHODS: The tibial component was first aligned perpendicular to the mechanical axis of the tibia, with a 7° posterior slope (basic model). Subsequently, coronal and sagittal plane alignments were changed in a simulation programme. Kinematics and cruciate ligament tensions were simulated during weight-bearing deep knee bend and gait motions. Translation was defined as the distance between the most medial and the most lateral femoral positions throughout the cycle. RESULTS: The femur was positioned more medially relative to the tibia, with increasing varus alignment of the tibial component. Medial/lateral (ML) translation was smallest in the 2° varus model. A greater posterior slope posteriorized the medial condyle and increased anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tension. ML translation was increased in the > 7° posterior slope model and the 0° model. CONCLUSION: The current study suggests that the preferred tibial component alignment is between neutral and 2° varus in the coronal plane, and between 3° and 7° posterior slope in the sagittal plane. Varus > 4° or valgus alignment and excessive posterior slope caused excessive ML translation, which could be related to feelings of instability and could potentially have negative effects on clinical outcomes and implant durability.Cite this article: K. Sekiguchi, S. Nakamura, S. Kuriyama, K. Nishitani, H. Ito, Y. Tanaka, M. Watanabe, S. Matsuda. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:126-135. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.83.BJR-2018-0208.R2.

Paternal height has an impact on birth weight of their offspring in a Japanese population: the Japan Environment and Children's Study.

This study examines the relationship between paternal height or body mass index (BMI) and birth weight of their offspring in a Japanese general population. The sample included 33,448 pregnant Japanese women and used fixed data, including maternal, paternal and infant characteristics, from the Japan Environment and Children's Study (JECS), an ongoing nationwide birth cohort study. Relationships between paternal height or BMI and infant birth weight [i.e., small for gestational age (SGA) and large for gestational age (LGA)] were examined using a multinomial logistic regression model. Since fetal programming may be a sex-specific process, male and female infants were analyzed separately. Multivariate analysis showed that the higher the paternal height, the higher the odds of LGA and the lower the odds of SGA in both male and female infants. The effects of paternal BMI on the odds of both SGA and LGA in male infants were similar to those of paternal height; however, paternal height had a stronger impact than BMI on the odds of male LGA. In addition, paternal BMI showed no association with the odds of SGA and only a weak association with the odds of LGA in female infants. This cohort study showed that paternal height was associated with birth weight of their offspring and had stronger effects than paternal BMI, suggesting that the impact of paternal height on infant birth weight could be explained by genetic factors. The sex-dependent effect of paternal BMI on infant birth weight may be due to epigenetic effects.

Earlier BMI rebound and lower pre-rebound BMI as risk of obesity among Japanese preschool children.

OBJECTIVES: Longitudinal growth data of children were analyzed to clarify the relationship between the timing of body mass index (BMI) rebound and obesity risk in later ages. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Of 54 558 children born between April 2004 and March 2005 and longitudinally measured in April and October every year in the preschool period, 15 255 children were analyzed wherein no longitudinal measurement is missing after 1 year of age. BMI rebound age was determined as the age with smallest BMI value across longitudinal individual data after 1 year of age. Rebound age was compared between overweight and non-overweight groups. The subjects were divided into groups based on the timing of rebound. The sex- and age-adjusted mean of the BMI, height and weight s.d. scores for age group, along with 6 months weight and height gain, were compared among groups using analysis of covariance. RESULTS: Among those who were overweight at 66-71 months of age, BMI rebound age obtained at approximately 3 years of age was compared with the non-overweight group, whose BMI rebound age was utmost 66 months or later (P<0.001). The comparison among BMI age group showed that earlier BMI rebound results in larger BMI (P<0.001) and larger weight and height gain after the rebound (P<0.001). Among the group with BMI rebound earlier than 30 months of age, low BMI was observed (P<0.001). Slight elevation of height and weight gain was observed before the BMI rebound among groups with rebound age earlier than 60 months of age (P<0.001). CONCLUSION: Earlier BMI rebound timing with pre-rebound low BMI leads to greater childhood obesity risk; hence, early detection and prevention is necessary for such cases.

Longitudinal changes in body mass index of children affected by the Great East Japan Earthquake.

BACKGROUND: The evacuation and disruption in housing caused by the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and following nuclear radiation may have influenced child health in many respects. However, studies regarding longitudinal childhood growth are limited. Therefore, in this study we aimed to explore the influence of the earthquake on longitudinal changes in body mass index in preschool children. METHODS: Participants were children from nursery schools who cooperated with the study in the Iwate, Miyagi and Fukushima prefectures. The exposed group consisted of children who experienced the earthquake during their preschool-age period (4-5 years old). The historical control group included children who were born 2 years earlier than the exposed children in the same prefectures. Trajectories regarding body mass index and prevalence of overweight/obesity were compared between the two groups using multilevel analysis. Differences in the changes in BMI between before and after the earthquake, and proportion of overweight/obesity was compared between the two groups. We also conducted subgroup analysis by defining children with specific personal disaster experiences within the exposed group. RESULTS: A total of 9722 children were included in the study. Children in the exposed group had higher body mass indices and a higher proportion of overweight after the earthquake than the control group. These differences were more obvious when confined to exposed children with specific personal disaster experiences. CONCLUSIONS: Children's growth and development-related health issues such as increased BMI after natural disasters should evoke great attention.

The effects of kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty on stress at the medial tibia: A case study for varus knee.

OBJECTIVES: Little biomechanical information is available about kinematically aligned (KA) total knee arthroplasty (TKA). The purpose of this study was to simulate the kinematics and kinetics after KA TKA and mechanically aligned (MA) TKA with four different limb alignments. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Bone models were constructed from one volunteer (normal) and three patients with three different knee deformities (slight, moderate and severe varus). A dynamic musculoskeletal modelling system was used to analyse the kinematics and the tibiofemoral contact force. The contact stress on the tibial insert, and the stress to the resection surface and medial tibial cortex were examined by using finite element analysis. RESULTS: In all bone models, posterior translation on the lateral side and external rotation in the KA TKA models were greater than in the MA TKA models. The tibiofemoral force at the medial side was increased in the moderate and severe varus models with KA TKA. In the severe varus model with KA TKA, the contact stress on the tibial insert and the stress to the resection surface and to the medial tibial cortex were increased by 41.5%, 32.2% and 53.7%, respectively, compared with MA TKA, and the bone strain at the medial side was highest among all models. CONCLUSION: Near normal kinematics was observed in KA TKA. However, KA TKA increased the contact force, stress and bone strain at the medial side for moderate and severe varus knee models. The application of KA TKA for severe varus knees may be inadequate.Cite this article: S. Nakamura, Y. Tian, Y. Tanaka, S. Kuriyama, H. Ito, M. Furu, S. Matsuda. The effects of kinematically aligned total knee arthroplasty on stress at the medial tibia: A case study for varus knee. Bone Joint Res 2017;6:43-51. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.61.BJR-2016-0090.R1.

LPP inhibits collective cell migration during lung cancer dissemination.

Lipoma preferred partner (LPP) is a LIM domain protein, which has multiple functions as an actin-binding protein and a transcriptional coactivator, and it has been suggested that LPP has some roles in cell migration or invasion, however, its role in cancer cells remains to be elucidated. Here, we showed that LPP degraded N-cadherin in lung cancer, PC14PE6 cells via regulating the expression of matrix metalloproteinase 15 (MMP-15), and loss-of-LPP increases collective cell migration (CCM) and dissemination consequently. Knockdown of LPP and its functional partner, Etv5, markedly restores the full-length N-cadherin and increases cell-cell adhesion. We investigated the common target of LPP and Etv5, and found that MMP-15 is transcribed as their direct transcriptional target. Furthermore, MMP-15 could directly digest the N-cadherin extracellular domain. LPP knockdown in PC14PE6 cells increases N-cadherin-dependent CCM in the three-dimensional collagen gel invasion assays, and promoted the dissemination of cancer cells when they were orthotopically implanted in nude mice. Immunohistochemistry of lung adenocarcinoma specimens revealed the heterogeneity of LPP intensity and complementary expression of LPP and N-cadherin in the primary tumors. These findings suggest that loss-of-LPP, Etv5 or MMP-15 can be a prognostic marker of increasing malignancy.

Asporin activates coordinated invasion of scirrhous gastric cancer and cancer-associated fibroblasts.

Scirrhous gastric cancer, which has the worst prognosis among the various types of gastric cancer, is highly invasive and associated with abundant stromal fibroblasts. Although cancer-associated fibroblasts (CAFs) have been proposed to generate a tumor-supportive extracellular matrix that promotes the expansion of this type of cancer, the molecular mechanisms by which CAFs assist cancer cells are not yet fully understood. Here, we show for the first time that Asporin, a small leucine-rich proteoglycan (SLRP), is predominantly expressed in CAFs, and has essential roles in promoting co-invasion of CAFs and cancer cells. CAFs of scirrhous gastric cancer possess high potential for invasion, and invasion by CAFs frequently proceeded invasion by cancer cells, both in vitro and in vivo. Expression of Asporin was induced in fibroblasts by exposure to gastric cancer cells. Asporin secreted from CAFs activates Rac1 via an interaction with CD44 and promotes invasion by CAFs themselves. Moreover, Asporin promoted invasion by neighboring cancer cells, via paracrine effects mediated by activation of the CD44-Rac1 pathway. These results suggest that Asporin is a unique SLRP that promotes progression of scirrhous gastric cancer and is required for coordinated invasion by CAFs and cancer cells. Therefore, Asporin may represent a new therapeutic target molecule for the development of drugs aimed at manipulating the cancer microenvironment.

PP083. Clinic and out-of-clinic blood pressure changes during pregnancy by parity: Boshi study.

INTRODUCTION: Nulliparity is believed to be one of the risk factors for hypertension during pregnancy. However, the relationship between parity and out-of-clinic blood pressure during pregnancy is still unknown. OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study was to evaluate clinic blood pressure and blood pressure measured at home during pregnancy among nulliparous and multiparous women. METHODS: This study was a prospective cohort study. We examined blood pressure measured in the clinic and at home among 530 normotensive pregnant women who received antenatal care at a maternity hospital in Japan. Clinic blood pressures were obtained by duplicate measurements at each antenatal care visit. The participants were also required to measure their own blood pressures every morning at home while they were pregnant. A linear mixed model was used for analysis of the blood pressure course throughout pregnancy [1]. The SAS package (version 9.2) was used for the statistical analyses. RESULTS: A total of 315 nulliparous and 215 multiparous women were entered into this study (mean ages 30.1±4.6years and 33.0±4.1years, respectively). Clinic blood pressure during pregnancy among nulliparous women was significantly higher than that among multiparous women (P=0.02/P<0.0001 for systolic/diastolic blood pressure), whereas there were no significant differences in blood pressure measured at home during pregnancy between them (P=0.42/P=0.22 for systolic/diastolic blood pressure). CONCLUSION: Out-of-clinic blood pressure levels during pregnancy have been shown not to differ between nulliparous and multiparous women, while clinic blood pressure during pregnancy among nulliparous women is higher than that among multiparous women.

Precipitating factors in the pathogenesis of peritonsillar abscess and bacteriological significance of the Streptococcus milleri group.

Peritonsillar abscess (PTA) is conventionally considered to be a complication of acute tonsillitis, but no pathogenical association has been demonstrated. To investigate the precipitating factors in the pathogenesis of PTA, the clinical status of 117 patients with PTA and 78 patients with peritonsillar cellulitis (PC) were reviewed, comparing them with 188 cases of acute tonsillitis as a control group. The period between the onset of symptoms and the date of starting hospitalized medication was 4 to 5 days in all the three groups, with no significant differences. Higher prevalence of smoking habit was noted in the PTA group (odds ratio, 1.92; 95% confidence interval, 1.17-3.16). Bacteriological culture revealed that 55 of 67 aerobic isolates were Streptococcus subspecies, with the Streptococcus milleri group (SMG) as the most common (20 isolates). Twenty-three anaerobic species were isolated. Only 51% of the patients with neither the SMG nor anaerobic bacteria were smokers, whereas 90% of the patients with both the SMG and anaerobic bacteria were smokers. We hypothesize that delay or failure to receive medical care do not contribute to the pathogenesis of PTA or PC, and that smoking is positively correlated with the occurrence of PTA, as well as the bacteriological character.

The association between neighborhood social capital and self-reported dentate status in elderly Japanese--the Ohsaki Cohort 2006 Study.

OBJECTIVES: Little is known about the influence of social capital on dental health. The aim of the present cross-sectional study was to determine the association between neighborhood social capital, individual social networks and social support and the number of remaining teeth in elderly Japanese. METHODS: In December 2006, self-administered questionnaires were sent to 31,237 eligible community-dwelling individuals (response rate: 73.9%). Included in the analysis were 21,736 participants. Five neighborhood social capital variables were calculated from individual civic networks, sports and hobby networks, volunteer networks, friendship networks and social support variables. We used multilevel logistic regression models to estimate the odds ratio (OR) of having 20 or more teeth according to neighborhood social capital variables with adjustment for sex, age, individual social networks and social support, educational attainment, neighborhood educational level, dental health behavior, smoking status, history of diabetes and self-rated health. RESULTS: The average age of the participants was 74.9 (standard deviation; 6.6) years, and 28.5% of them had 20 or more teeth. In the univariate multilevel model, there were statistically significant associations between neighborhood sports and hobby networks, friendship networks and self-reported dentate status. In the multivariable multilevel model, compared with participants living in lowest friendship network neighborhoods, those living in highest friendship network neighborhoods had an OR 1.17 (95% confidence interval, 1.04-1.30) times higher for having 20 or more teeth. CONCLUSIONS: There is a significant association between one network aspect of neighborhood social capital and individual dentate status regardless of individual social networks and social support.

Adiposity, adult weight change and breast cancer risk in postmenopausal Japanese women: the Miyagi Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: The role of adult weight change in breast cancer (BC) risk is unclear in Japanese women. METHODS: A total of 10,106 postmenopausal women aged 40-64 years (the Miyagi Cohort) were followed from 1990 to 2003, and 108 BC cases were identified. Hazard ratios (HRs) were estimated according to body mass index (BMI) at the current age and at the of age 20 years, and weight change since age 20 years. RESULTS: Higher current BMI was associated with an increased risk of BC (P for trend=0.02), whereas higher BMI at the age 20 years was inversely associated with this risk (P for trend=0.002). There was a significant association between weight change since age 20 years and BC risk (P for trend=0.0086). Compared with stable weight, HR was 0.35 for weight loss of 5 kg or more (P for weight loss trend=0.04) and 1.55 for weight gain of 12 kg or more (P for weight gain trend=0.05). CONCLUSION: Adiposity at younger and current age has differential effects on BC risk among postmenopausal women; weight gain in adulthood being associated with an increased, and weight loss with a decreased risk.

Fish consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer: the Ohsaki Cohort Study.

BACKGROUND: Evidence from laboratory and animal studies suggests that high fish consumption may reduce the risk of colorectal cancer, but the results of studies in humans have been inconsistent. The objective of this study was to prospectively examine the association between fish consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer incidence in Japan, where fish is widely consumed. METHODS: We analysed data from 39 498 men and women registered in the Ohsaki National Health Insurance Cohort Study who were 40-79 years old and free of cancer at the baseline. Fish consumption was assessed at the baseline using a self-administered food frequency questionnaire. RESULTS: During 9 years of follow-up, we identified 566 incident cases of colorectal cancer (379 men and 187 women). The hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for colorectal cancer incidence in the highest quartile of fish consumption compared with the lowest quartile were 1.07 (95% CIs; 0.78-1.46, P-trend=0.43) for men, and 0.96 (95% CIs; 0.61-1.53, P-trend=0.69) for women. CONCLUSION: The results of this prospective cohort study revealed no association between fish consumption and the risk of colorectal cancer.

Insulin resistance is a risk factor for the progression of chronic kidney disease.

OBJECTIVE: Insulin resistance may contribute to the pathogenesis of hypertension and progressive chronic kidney disease (CKD), however, few clinical studies have explored the role of insulin resistance in predicting the deterioration of renal function in CKD patients. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Enrolled in the study were non-diabetic hypertensive patients with CKD Stage 3. Insulin resistance was assessed by a homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance (HOMA-R) measured at the entry to the study. Patients were followed for 3 years and comparisons of renal and metabolic parameters were made in conjunction with HOMA-R between entry and the end of the study period. The insulin-resistant (IR) group was defined as patients with HOMA-R 2.0 and more, and the insulin-sensitive (IS) group as those with HOMA-R < 2.0. RESULTS: Blood pressure in both groups was equally controlled below 130/80 mmHg throughout the observation period. The degree of insulin resistance HOMA-R and immunoreactive insulin (IRI) remained unchanged in the IS group, however, both were ameliorated in the IR group (HOMA-R, from 3.4 +/- 1.5 - 3.0 +/- 1.1, p = 0.022 and IRI, from 14.4 +/- 6.1 microU/ml - 12.6 +/- 6.8 microU/ml, p = 0.012). Creatinine clearance (CCr) and estimated glomerular filtration rate (e-GFR) decreased and serum creatinine (Cr) concentration increased in all patients. The decline in CCr calculated as the slope of the reciprocal of serum Cr concentration (1/Cr) was greater in the IR group (0.007 +/- 0.004 (1/Cr/dl/mg/month) than in the IS group (0.003 +/- 0.002 (1/Cr/dl/mg/month), p < 0.001). Linear regression analysis showed that the slope of 1/Cr was negatively correlated with HOMA-R, IRI, BMI, respectively. Furthermore, stepwise regression analysis showed that the independent variables to explain the decline in renal function were HOMA-R and IRI. CONCLUSION: Insulin resistance is a significant risk factor for the deterioration of renal function in hypertensive non-diabetic patients with CKD.

Increase in body mass index category since age 20 years and all-cause mortality: a prospective cohort study (the Ohsaki Study).

BACKGROUND: It is still unclear whether weight gain from early to late adulthood affects longevity. Furthermore, no study has addressed its association with all-cause and cause-specific mortality in an Asian population. METHODS: We prospectively assessed the association between an increase in body mass index (BMI) category since age 20 years and risk of all-cause, cardiovascular disease (CVD) and cancer mortality. Self-reported information pertaining to BMI was collected from 38 080 Japanese men and women aged 40-79 years at study entry in 1994 after exclusion of participants with a BMI of <18.5 kg/m(2) at age 20 years or at study entry. We defined six patterns of increase in BMI category at age 20 years and study entry: stable normal, overweight and obese, normal to overweight or obese, and overweight to obese. RESULTS: During 7 years of follow-up, 2617 participants died. After adjustment for potential confounders, we observed a significantly increased risk of all-cause mortality for the pattern of normal weight at age 20 years and obese at study entry and of stable obese compared with stable normal in BMI category, the multivariate HRs (95% confidence interval (CI)) being 1.42 (1.08-1.88) and 2.26 (1.45-3.51), respectively. For the pattern of overweight at age 20 years and obese at study entry, the multivariate hazard ratio (95% CI) was 1.35 (0.92-1.98). In contrast, we did not observe an increased risk of all-cause mortality for normal weight at age 20 years and overweight at study entry, and stable overweight. For CVD and cancer mortality, these results were consistently observed. CONCLUSION: We observed an increased risk of all-cause mortality both among participants who had been persistently obese since early adulthood and participants who showed an increase in BMI category from normal to obese, compared with participants with a stable normal BMI category.

Quality of life of patients and medical cost of "half elemental diet" as maintenance therapy for Crohn's disease: secondary outcomes of a randomised controlled trial.

BACKGROUND/AIM: Quality of life (QOL) of the patients and medical costs are important in current medical treatments, especially those for chronic diseases. We have reported the effectiveness of 'half elemental diet (ED)' as maintenance therapy for patients with Crohn's disease (CD). The aim of this study was to evaluate the QOL of CD patients and medical costs of half-ED. METHODS: Fifty-one CD patients in remission were randomly assigned to a half-ED group (n=26) or a free diet group (n=25). The primary outcome measure was the occurrence of relapse during a 2-year period. This time, we investigated the QOL of the patients and medical costs of half-ED, as secondary outcomes. QOL was evaluated using the Japanese version of the IBDQ scoring system, and medical costs were calculated monthly from the receipts. RESULTS: IBDQ score was not significantly different between the two groups at 1 and 13 months after the start of maintenance treatment. Medical costs were not significantly different between them either. This study showed that half-ED therapy did not affect the treatment of CD patients, neither regarding their QOL nor medical costs. CONCLUSION: This study has confirmed this half-ED therapy is beneficial for patients with Crohn's disease.

Texture synthesis for mobile data communications.

This paper presents an approach to image coding that first paints a regularly arranged dotted pattern, using colors picked from a texture sample with features corresponding to the embedded data. It then camouflages the dotted pattern using the same texture sample while preserving quality comparable to that of existing synthesis techniques.

Sleep duration and the risk of breast cancer: the Ohsaki Cohort Study.

In a prospective study of 23 995 Japanese women, short sleep duration was associated with higher risk of breast cancer (143 cases), compared with women who slept 7 h per day, the multivariate hazard ratio of those who slept