Association of disaster-related damage with inflammatory diet among older survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami.

Traumatic experiences from disasters have enduring effects on health, both directly and indirectly by influencing health behaviours. Among potential pathways, the impact of disaster-related trauma on dietary patterns has been understudied. This study investigated the relationship between disaster-related trauma and dietary inflammatory index (DII®), and how these relationships differed by gender and whether they prepare meal by themselves or not among older survivors of the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami (n 1375). Dietary data were collected in 2020 using a brief-type self-administered diet history questionnaire, from which we derived a dietary inflammatory index (DII®) based on twenty-six food/nutrient items, where higher scores indicate pro-inflammatory (i.e. unhealthy) diet. We found that the experience of housing damage due to the earthquake and tsunami was associated with slightly higher DII scores (coef. = 0·38, 95 % CI -0·05, 0·81). Specifically, women who cooked by themselves tended to have higher DII when they experienced housing damage (coef. = 1·33, 95 %CI -0·63, 3·28). On the other hand, loss of friends was associated with a lower DII score (coef. = -0·28, 95 % CI -0·54, -0·01). These findings highlight the importance of providing support to groups who are at increased risk of deterioration in dietary quality in the aftermath of disasters.

Association between meal context and meal quality: an ecological momentary assessment in Japanese adults.

PURPOSE: The purpose was to assess the relationship between the quality of meals and its context. METHODS: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 222 Japanese adults aged 30-76 years in 2021. The following information was obtained from the 4-d weighed dietary records: the recording day (working or not), meal type (breakfast, lunch, or dinner), eating companions (alone or with someone), eating location (at home or away from home), and screen-based activity (yes or no). The nutritional quality of each meal was evaluated using the Healthy Eating Index 2020 (HEI-2020). RESULTS: The analysis included 1,295 meals for males and 1,317 for females. The mean HEI-2020 ranged from 43.0 (lunch) to 51.9 (dinner) in males and from 45.7 (breakfast) to 52.0 (dinner) in females. Multilevel linear regression showed that, in males, lunch had a significantly lower HEI-2020 score compared to breakfast (ß = -1.81, 95% confidence interval [CI]: -3.42, - 0.20), while dinner had a significantly higher HEI-2020 score (ß = 6.77, 95% CI: 5.34, 8.20). Eating with someone was significantly associated with a higher HEI-2020 score (ß = 2.22, 95% CI: 0.76, 3.67). Among females, dinner had a higher HEI-2020 score than breakfast (ß = 5.21, 95% CI: 3.72, 6.70). Eating away from home was associated with higher HEI-2020 scores (ß = 2.14, 95% CI: 0.04, 4.24). CONCLUSION: Meal type, location, and eating companions were associated with meal quality in this population, with differences between males and females. Incorporating these factors in nutrition education and interventions can enhance diet quality.

Nut consumption during pregnancy is associated with decreased risk of peer problems in 5-year-old Japanese children.

OBJECTIVES: Nuts are nutrient-dense foods rich in unsaturated fatty acids, protein, dietary fiber, vitamins, and minerals. The present prebirth cohort study examined the association between maternal nut intake during pregnancy and the risk of childhood behavioral problems in 5-year-old Japanese children. METHODS: Study subjects were 1199 mother-child pairs. Dietary intake was assessed using a diet history questionnaire. Emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, peer problems, and low prosocial behavior were assessed using the parent-reported version of the Strengths and Difficulties Questionnaire. Adjustments were made for a priori-selected nondietary confounders and potentially related dietary factors. RESULTS: Compared with mothers who had not eaten nuts during pregnancy, mothers who had eaten nuts had a significantly reduced risk of peer problems in children; the adjusted odds ratio was 0.64 (95% confidence interval: 0.42-0.97). There were no measurable associations between maternal consumption of nuts during pregnancy and the risk of childhood emotional problems, conduct problems, hyperactivity problems, and low prosocial behavior. CONCLUSIONS: Maternal consumption of nuts during pregnancy may be associated with a decreased risk of peer problems in 5-year-old children.

Identification and estimation of the intake of fermented foods and their contribution to energy and nutrients among Japanese adults.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have reported intakes of fermented foods with their clear definitions. This study aimed to identify fermented foods and beverages consumed in Japan based on international definitions and to estimate their intake and contribution to energy and nutrients. DESIGN: Data from a 16-days (four 4 non-consecutive days within each season at 3-month intervals) semi-weighted dietary record (DR) was used. To identify "entirely fermented foods" and "partially fermented foods", a literature search on food processing and ingredients was conducted for all foods that appeared in the DR. For "partially fermented foods", only the weight of the fermented food component was included in the estimation of total fermented food intake. SETTING: Four regions in Japan: Osaka, Nagano, Tottori, and Okinawa. PARTICIPANTS: Two-hundred forty-two apparently healthy Japanese adults aged 31-81 years. RESULTS: Of the 1,396 kinds of unique foods that appeared in the DR, 101 were "entirely fermented foods" and 104 were "partially fermented foods". The mean intake of fermented foods was 438 g/day per person (17% of the total weight). They were mainly derived from beer, coffee, bread, and yogurt. The mean contribution of fermented foods to the total energy intake was 18%. For nutrients, the contribution to total intake was high to sodium (46%), magnesium (22%), and calcium (20%). CONCLUSIONS: Fermented foods account for approximately one-fifth of the total weight and energy of dietary intake, and are important contributors to some nutrients in Japanese adults.

Maternal fat intake in pregnancy and risk of depressive symptoms in Japanese adolescents: the Kyushu Okinawa Maternal and Child Health Study.

The current prebirth cohort study investigated the association between maternal intake of specific types of fatty acids during pregnancy and adolescent depressive symptoms based on the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression Scale. Subjects were 873 mother-child pairs. Dietary intake during the preceding month was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. The risk of depressive symptoms was 23.3% among the 873 adolescents at 13 years of age. Higher maternal saturated fatty acid intake during pregnancy was independently associated with a reduced risk of depressive symptoms in adolescents. Maternal intake of total fat, monounsaturated fatty acids, n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids, α-linolenic acid, eicosapentaenoic acid, docosahexaenoic acid, n-6 polyunsaturated fatty acids, linoleic acid, arachidonic acid and cholesterol during pregnancy was not significantly related to depressive symptoms in adolescents. Higher maternal intake of saturated fatty acids during pregnancy may be inversely associated with adolescent depressive symptoms.

[Actual usage of Dietary Reference Intakes for Japanese among individuals engaged in work related to food and nutrition: Comparison between workplaces].

Objective　The aim of this study was to compare how Dietary Reference Intakes for the Japanese (DRIs), which are dietary guidelines proposing reference values for the intake of energy and nutrients by healthy Japanese people, are used by personnel whose work involves diet, food, or nutrition.Methods　A web-based questionnaire survey was conducted in July 2023 among those involved in work closely related to diet, food and/or nutrition. The frequency of the use of DRIs in daily work and the details of use, including the chapter used, difficulty of use, information source for revisions, and interest in a revised version, were compared among workplaces (e.g., medical institutions; school and welfare facilities; government institutions; dietitian training schools; companies; and freelancer in community and others).Results　Among 1,030 participants, 58% (n=597) used DRIs "very often" or "often" in their daily work. For example, DRIs were used to prepare institutional meals and facilitate nutrition management and guidance in medical institutions; prepare institutional meals in schools and welfare facilities; ensure nutrition management and guidance for citizens and prepare courses/materials for government institutions; and prepare courses/materials for dietitian training schools. Regarding the main parts of the DRIs used, most respondents chose the chapters entitled "Energy" (66%) and "Macronutrients" (72%). For all participants (n=1,030), the main difficulties in the use of DRIs were "a large number of sentences in the DRIs and an insufficient time to read" (stated by 54% of all respondents; the proportion did not significantly differ among workplaces). The main source of information on revised DRIs was "seminars and workshops by the Japan Dietetic Association" (70% of all respondents). However, many respondents in the government and dietitian training institutions also identified "workshops or public information by the Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare" as major sources. Regarding participants' main interest in the revised version of the DRIs, general policy (77%) and revised reference values (74%) generated the highest levels of interest. Those working at dietitian training schools had a greater interest in change related to scientific evidence for each reference value than those working elsewhere.Conclusions　DRIs are frequently used by those involved in work related to food and nutrition. In this study, DRI use and related interests differed based on the workplaces surveyed. In future revisions of DRIs, the addition of further descriptions or appendices in line with their use in workplaces may be needed.

Evaluation of protein requirements using the indicator amino acid oxidation method: a scoping review.

BACKGROUND: The indicator amino acid oxidation (IAAO) method has been accepted as an approach to evaluate habitual protein requirements under free-living conditions. OBJECTIVES: This scoping review reports on literature that evaluated protein requirements in humans using the IAAO methods. METHODS: Three databases (PubMed/Medline, Web of Science, and ProQuest) were systematically searched to identify studies that evaluated protein requirements using the IAAO method published in English until 5 June, 2023. We evaluated the study quality using previously developed criteria. We extracted the characteristics of the study design and the results of protein requirements. Two reviewers conducted both reviews and quality assessments independently; any differences among them were resolved by consensus or agreement of all team members. RESULTS: We extracted 16 articles targeting children, young adults (including pregnant women, resistance training athletes, endurance-training athletes, and team sports), and older adults. In quality assessment, 14 studies were evaluated "strong," but the remaining 2 were "moderate." These studies were conducted in only 3 countries and did not include all sexes or life stages. The range of the estimated average protein requirements of each life stage was 1.30 g/kg body weight/d for children, 0.87 to 2.10 (0.87-0.93 for general young adults, 1.22-1.52 for pregnant women, 1.49-2.00 for resistance-trained athletes, 1.65-2.10 for endurance athletes, and 1.20-1.41 for team sports athletes) g/kg body weight/d for young adults, and 0.85 to 0.96 g/kg body weight/d for older adults. CONCLUSIONS: Protein requirements in 14 studies were higher than the current reference for each sex, life stage, and physical activity that are related to protein requirements. In the future, protein requirements of various populations including sex and life stage could be assessed using the IAAO methods worldwide.

Development of a Diet Quality Score for Japanese and Comparison With Existing Diet Quality Scores Regarding Inadequacy of Nutrient Intake.

BACKGROUND: Few studies have explored optimal diet quality scores in Japan. OBJECTIVES: We developed a Diet Quality Score for Japanese (DQSJ) and examined the associations of DQSJ and existing diet quality scores with inadequacy of nutrient intake in Japanese adults. METHODS: Candidate components of the DQSJ were extracted from well-established diet quality scores: Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015), Alternate Healthy Eating Index-2010 (AHEI-2010), Alternate Mediterranean Diet score (AMED), and Dietary Approaches to Stop Hypertension (DASH). From candidates, we selected the components of the DQSJ, considering potential health effects of the components (from the Global Burden of Disease Study) and dietary intake in Japan. The DQSJ included 10 components: fruits, vegetables, whole grain, dairy, nuts, legumes, fish, red and processed meat, sugar-sweetened beverages, and sodium. We calculated the DQSJ, HEI-2015, AHEI-2010, AMED, DASH, and Japanese Food Guide Spinning Top score (JFGST) based on 4-d dietary records of 392 Japanese aged 20-69 y. Inadequate intakes of 21 nutrients were assessed using the DRIs for Japanese. Logistic regression was used to examine the prevalence of inadequate nutrient intake according to quartiles of the scores. RESULTS: All examined scores except the JFGST were moderately to strongly correlated with each other (Spearman correlation coefficients: 0.52-0.84). They were inversely associated with the prevalence of inadequate intake of most nutrients (n = 16 for DQSJ and HEI-2015, n = 13 for AHEI-2010 and DASH, n = 17 for AMED, compared with n = 4 for JFGST). AMED was also positively associated with the prevalence of inadequate sodium intake, whereas no such associations were observed for the other scores. CONCLUSIONS: Similar to HEI-2015, AHEI-2010, and DASH, the DQSJ was generally associated with the low prevalence of inadequate intake of most nutrients in Japanese adults. Further evaluations against biomarkers and health outcomes are warranted.

The association of highly processed food consumption with food choice values and food literacy in Japanese adults: a nationwide cross-sectional study.

BACKGROUND: Highly processed food (HPF) consumption is increasing globally and has become a prominent public health concern. However, the relationship between HPF consumption and food choice values and food literacy is unknown. This study aimed to examine the association of HPF consumption with food choice values and food literacy. METHODS: This cross-sectional study used data from a nationwide questionnaire survey conducted in 2018 among 2232 Japanese adults aged 18-80 years. We assessed eight food choice values (accessibility, convenience, health/weight control, tradition, sensory appeal, organic, comfort, and safety) using a 25-item scale, and food literacy characterised by nutrition knowledge (using a validated 143-item questionnaire), cooking and food skills (using 14- and 19-item scales, respectively), and eight eating behaviours (hunger, food responsiveness, emotional overeating, enjoyment of food, satiety responsiveness, emotional undereating, food fussiness, and slowness in eating, using the 35-item Adult Eating Behavior Questionnaire). HPF consumption was estimated using a validated brief diet history questionnaire. The associations between HPF consumption and age, body mass index, energy intake, and each score on food choice values and food literacy were evaluated by multiple linear regression. RESULTS: In males, one standard deviation increase in scores for cooking skill and satiety responsiveness was associated with an increase in HPF consumption by 22.1 g/4184 kJ (95% confidence interval (CI): 6.6 to 37.5) and 15.4 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: 6.0 to 24.7), respectively. In females, one standard deviation increase in age and scores for safety and nutrition knowledge corresponded to a decrease in HPF consumption by - 16.4 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: - 23.4 to - 9.3), - 9.9 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: - 19.1 to - 0.7), and - 11.1 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: - 17.0 to - 5.3), whereas one standard deviation increase in the satiety responsiveness score corresponded to an increase in HPF consumption by 13.1 g/4184 kJ (95% CI: 6.8 to 19.4). CONCLUSIONS: This cross-sectional study suggests that several aspects of food choice values and food literacy were associated with HPF consumption in Japanese adults. Further studies are needed to confirm our findings in a broader context.

The nutritional profile of commercial complementary foods in Japan: comparison between low- and high-price products.

Despite the increasing market share of commercial complementary foods, their nutritional characteristics and those associated with the price of products are still unknown in Japan. We compared the nutritional characteristics of commercially available complementary foods of different price levels in Japan. Data were obtained from the websites of Japanese brands of infant and young children's food. Nutrient profiles (unit/100 g), ingredients and food additives were compared between low- and high-priced products by product type. Sixty-three dry meals, 425 soft meals, 187 snacks and sweets, and 60 drinks were analysed. One-fifth of meals and snacks exceeded the CODEX-defined limit (200 mg Na/100 g). Most products lacked content information on nutrients non-mandated to be indicated. High-priced soft meals contained more protein (2·5 v. 1·9 g/100 g) and less Na (0·18 v. 0·46 g/100 g), less frequently used ≥ 1 added sugar (23 % v. 82 %), and less frequently used food additives than low-priced products; however, they had a lower variety of ingredients. The prevalence of products containing ≥ 1 added sugar was higher in low-priced snacks and sweets (91 % v. 77 %) but lower in drinks (48 % v. 84 %) than in their high-priced counterparts. High Na content is a concern among commercial complementary foods in Japan. Nonetheless, the relationship between the price and nutritional profile of these foods differs by product type. High-priced soft meals might be more favourable regarding nutrient content but not the variety of ingredients than low-priced counterparts. These findings elucidate the nutritional characteristics of commercial complementary foods in Japan.

Relative validity of the online Meal-based Diet History Questionnaire for evaluating the overall diet quality and quality of each meal type in Japanese adults.

The aim of this study was to examine the relative validity of the online Meal-based Diet History Questionnaire (MDHQ) for assessing the overall diet quality and quality of each meal type (breakfast, lunch, dinner and snacks). In total, 222 Japanese adults (111 for each sex) aged 30-76 years completed the online MDHQ and then the 4-non-consecutive-day weighed dietary record (DR). The diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) and Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9.3 (NRF9.3). For the HEI-2015, compared with the DR, the MDHQ provided high median values for breakfast (in women only) and dinner and low median values for snacks. There were no significant differences observed for overall diet and lunch. For the NRF9.3, the MDHQ provided higher median values for breakfast and dinner and a lower median value for overall diet than the DR in women, with no significant differences for lunch and snacks. In men, no significant difference was observed, except for overall diet (the MDHQ providing a lower median value). For the HEI-2015, median Spearman correlation coefficient was 0·43, with a range from 0·12 (snacks in women) to 0·68 (breakfast in men). For the NRF9.3, median Spearman correlation coefficient was 0·47, with a range from 0·26 (snacks in men) to 0·65 (breakfast in men). Bland-Altman plots showed wide limits of agreement and, in some cases, proportional bias. In conclusion, the online MDHQ showed an acceptable ability for ranking individuals according to the quality of overall diet, breakfast, lunch and dinner, but not snacks.

Associations of food choice values and food literacy with overall diet quality: a nationwide cross-sectional study in Japanese adults.

To date, a limited number of studies have examined aspects of food choice values and food literacy in relation to some aspects of dietary behaviours. The aim of this cross-sectional study was to comprehensively examine the associations of food choice values and food literacy with diet quality. In total, 2231 Japanese adults aged 19-80 years completed questionnaires asking about food choice values (accessibility, convenience, health/weight control, tradition, sensory appeal, organic, comfort and safety) and food literacy characterised by nutrition knowledge, cooking skills, food skills and eating behaviours (hunger, food responsiveness, emotional overeating, enjoyment of food, satiety responsiveness, emotional undereating, food fussiness and slowness in eating). As a measure of diet quality, the Healthy Eating Index-2015 (HEI-2015) was calculated using a brief-type diet history questionnaire (BDHQ) or a food combination questionnaire (FCQ). In males, after adjustment for potential confounding factors (including age, BMI and the ratio of reported energy intake to estimated energy requirement), the HEI-2015 derived from BDHQ and that derived from FCQ were associated significantly (P ≤ 0·02) and positively with the food choice values of organic and inversely with food fussiness. In females, the HEI-2015 showed positive associations with the food choice values of health/weight control, nutrition knowledge and cooking skills and an inverse association with food fussiness, irrespective of the dietary assessment questionnaire (P ≤ 0·03). In conclusion, this study suggests that several aspects of food choice values and food literacy were associated with diet quality, and the aspects related differed between males and females.

Damage protection from focused ion beam process toward nanocavity-implemented compound semiconductor nanowire lasers.

A focused ion beam (FIB) can precisely mill samples and freely form any nanostructure even on surfaces with curvature, like a nanowire surface, which are difficult to implement by using conventional fabrication techniques, e.g. electron beam lithography. Thus, this tool is promising for nanofabrication; however, fabrication damage and contamination are critical issues, which deteriorate optical properties. In this work, we investigated the protective performance of Al2O3against the FIB process (especially by a gallium ion). Nanowires were coated with Al2O3as a hard mask to protect them from damage during FIB nanofabrication. To estimate the protective performance, their emission properties by photoluminescence measurement and time-resolved spectroscopy were compared with and without Al2O3coating conditions. From the results, we confirmed that the Al2O3coating protects the nanowires. In addition, the nanowires also showed lasing behavior even after FIB processing had been carried out to implement nanostructures. This indicates that their optical properties are well maintained. Thus, our study proves the usefulness of FIBs for future nanofabrication.

Consumption of highly processed foods in relation to overall diet quality among Japanese adults: a nationwide study.

OBJECTIVE: To (i) examine the consumption of highly processed foods (HPF) in relation to diet quality among Japanese adults and (ii) compare the results when dishes prepared away home are disaggregated into food ingredients before classification by processing levels and the results when they are not. DESIGN: Cross-sectional analysis using 4-day dietary record data. Foods were categorised by level of processing using the framework developed by the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill. Specifically, dishes prepared away from home were classified at both the food level (classified after disaggregation into ingredients) and dish level (classified without disaggregation). Diet quality was assessed using the Healthy Eating Index-2015 and Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9·3. SETTING: Twenty areas in Japan. PARTICIPANTS: Adults aged 20-69 years (n 388). RESULTS: Energy contribution of HPF was higher when dishes prepared away from home were classified at dish level than food level (48·3 % v. 32·9 %, P < 0·0001). Regardless of the classification method, cereals and starchy foods were the top food groups contributing to total energy intake from HPF. After adjusting for potential confounders, participants in higher tertiles of the energy contribution of HPF had lower total scores for Healthy Eating Index-2015 and Nutrient-Rich Food Index 9·3 (P for trend ≤ 0·007 for all), irrespective of the food- or dish-level classification. CONCLUSIONS: HPF accounted for at least one-third of energy intake of Japanese adults. Regardless of the classification methods for dishes prepared away from home, higher consumption of HPF was associated with lower diet quality.

Are popular books about diet and health written based on scientific evidence? A comparison of citations between the USA and Japan.

OBJECTIVES: To describe and compare the references cited in popular books about diet and health between the USA and Japan. DESIGN: Books were selected based on their best-seller rankings in the diet and health category of online bookstores. We identified references throughout all pages of the books and examined the number of references, reference format (identifiable or not) and presence of specific types of references, such as systematic reviews of human research. We compared the characteristics of references between the two countries and examined related factors to citation. SETTING: Cross-sectional study. PARTICIPANTS: Books (n 100 in each country). RESULTS: Among 100 books from each country, sixty-five US and sixty-six Japanese books had references. Forty-five US books cited more than 100 references, against only five Japanese books. The number of books that cited systematic reviews of human research differed between the USA (n 49) and Japan (n 9). Additionally, the number of books that provided identifiable information for all references was significantly higher in the USA (n 63) than in Japan (n 42). Books whose first authors have licences of medical doctors were more likely to cite references than those without in both countries. CONCLUSIONS: Two-thirds of books about diet and health cited references in both the USA and Japan, but Japanese books cited fewer references and were less likely to cite systematic reviews and provide identifiable references than US books. Further research into the scientific reliability of information in books about diet and health is warranted.

Misreporting of height and weight by primary school children in Japan: a cross-sectional study on individual and environmental determinants.

BACKGROUND: Appropriate body constitution during childhood is important for future health. However, it has been suggested that thinness is increasing among adolescent girls and boys in Japan. Since misreporting of height/weight may be a possible reflection of the child's ideal body image, we investigated the magnitude and direction of height/weight misreporting and its determinants among Japanese young adolescents. METHODS: A total of 1019 children in public primary schools were included in the analysis. Both measured and self-reported values of height/weight were obtained. Misreporting of height/weight was calculated by subtracting the measured value from the self-reported value. The association between misreporting and several variables such as the BMI z-score of individuals and body constitution of surrounding children was explored by multivariate linear mixed models. RESULTS: As BMI z-score increased, 'overreporting' of height by boys and 'underreporting' of height by girls became larger (p = 0.06 in boys, p = 0.02 in girls). Both boys and girls with a larger body size tended to underreport their weight (p < 0.01 in boys, p < 0.01 in girls). Boys who belonged to a school with a larger average BMI z-score were more likely to overreport their weight. This tendency was not observed for girls. CONCLUSIONS: Self-reported height/weight was generally accurate in Japanese primary school children. However, even primary school children misreported their height/weight intentionally like adults, possibly due to social pressure to lose weight or that not to stand out. Thus, health education about appropriate body constitution should be provided from the beginning of adolescence, particularly for girls.

Characteristics of women who dropped out from pregnancy register in Okinawa, Japan: Findings from a retrospective cohort study.

AIM: There is little evidence regarding women who cannot register live births after pregnancy. We aimed to clarify the difference in baseline characteristics between women who registered live births and those who did not (i.e., dropout). METHODS: We assessed the birth cohort data of 1976 Japanese women who registered their pregnancies between July 2013 and March 2014 in Naha and Urasoe City, Okinawa, Japan. The database consisted of anthropometric data, reproductive history, sociodemographic characteristics, and dietary intake. We estimated the prevalence ratio to examine the associations of baseline characteristics with dropout by multivariable-adjusted Poisson regression with robust standard error estimation. RESULTS: We identified 272 dropouts (13.8%) in the pregnancy registry. About 15% of women reported experience of alcohol drinking preceding 1 month of pregnancy registration. Most participants' vitamin B1 (92.1%) and folate (74.7%) consumption was inadequate considering the dietary reference intake for Japanese pregnant women, but it was not associated with a high prevalence of dropout. The prevalence of dropout was significantly higher in teenagers (prevalence ratio [PR] = 2.06, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.38-3.07) and early 20s (PR = 1.42, 95% CI 1.04-1.93) than in women in late 20s. In addition, alcohol consumption was potentially associated with a high prevalence of dropout (adjusted prevalence ratio [aPR] = 1.31, 95% CI 0.99-1.73). Participants who experienced one or more live births (aPR = 0.43, 95% CI 0.28-0.66) were less likely to dropout. CONCLUSION: We found that the potential risk factors for dropout from pregnancy registration were young maternal age, no childbirth experience, and alcohol consumption.

Prediction of the Physical Activity Level of Community-Dwelling Older Japanese Adults with a Triaxial Accelerometer Containing a Classification Algorithm for Ambulatory and Non-Ambulatory Activities.

Accurate methods for the prediction of the total energy expenditure and physical activity level (PAL) in community-dwelling older adults have not been established. Therefore, we examined the validity of estimating the PAL using an activity monitor (Active style Pro HJA-350IT, [ASP]) and proposed correction formulae for such populations in Japan. Data for 69 Japanese community-dwelling adults aged 65 to 85 years were used. The total energy expenditure in free-living conditions was measured with the doubly labeled water method and the measured basal metabolic rate. The PAL was also estimated from metabolic equivalent (MET) values obtained with the activity monitor. Adjusted MET values were also calculated with the regression equation of Nagayoshi et al. (2019). The observed PAL was underestimated, but significantly correlated, with the PAL from the ASP. When adjusted using the Nagayoshi et al. regression equation, the PAL was overestimated. Therefore, we developed regression equations to estimate the actual PAL (Y) from the PAL obtained with the ASP for young adults (X) as follows: women: Y = 0.949 × X + 0.205, mean ± standard deviation of the prediction error = 0.00 ± 0.20; men: Y = 0.899 × X + 0.371, mean ± standard deviation of the prediction error = 0.00 ± 0.17.

Dental prosthesis use is associated with higher protein intake among older adults with tooth loss.

BACKGROUND: Tooth loss is associated with reduced protein intake, which leads to sarcopenia and frailty in older adults. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the protective effect of dental prostheses on decreased protein intake in older adults with tooth loss. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was based on a self-reported questionnaire targeting older adults. Data were obtained from the Iwanuma Survey of the Japan Gerontological Evaluation Study. We used % energy intake (%E) of total protein as the outcome and the use of dental prostheses and number of remaining teeth as explanatory variables. We estimated the controlled direct effects of tooth loss by fixing the use/non-use of dental prostheses based on a causal mediation analysis, including possible confounders. RESULTS: Among 2095 participants, the mean age was 81.1 years (1SD = 5.1), and 43.9% were men. The average protein intake was 17.4%E (1SD = 3.4) of the total energy intake. Among participants with ≥20, 10-19 and 0-9 remaining teeth, the average protein intake was 17.7%E, 17.2%E/17.4%E and 17.0%E/15.4%E (with/without a dental prosthesis), respectively. Compared to participants with ≥20 remaining teeth, those with 10-19 remaining teeth without a dental prosthesis did not have a significantly different total protein intake (p > .05). Among those with 0-9 remaining teeth without a dental prosthesis, total protein intake was significantly low (-2.31%, p < .001); however, the use of dental prostheses mitigated the association by 79.4% (p < .001). CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that prosthodontic treatment could contribute to maintaining protein intake in older adults with severe tooth loss.

Craniofacial Characteristics and Orthodontic Treatment of Diamond Blackfan Syndrome: Two Case Reports.

Diamond Blackfan anemia (DBA) is a chronic congenital form of erythrocytic hypoplasia in which erythroid precursor cell levels are low. DBA reflects ribosomal dysfunction and is accompanied by hematopoietic cell apoptosis, anemia, and various somatic symptoms. We report the characteristic symptoms of the craniofacial region and the orthodontic treatments of two DBA cases. Case 1 was a 12-year-old female. The typical physical and facial characteristics of DBA were lacking. On initial examination, she exhibited a skeletal Class II jaw and end to end molar relationships and a large overjet. An edgewise appliance was placed after extraction of the first maxillary premolars. After 3 years and 11 months, an appropriate overjet and overbite, rigid intercuspation, and an acceptable profile were evident without any clinical adverse effects. Case 2 was a 13-year-old female. She exhibited a skeletal Class I jaw relationship, a spaced dental arch, the maxillofacial dysplasia characteristic of Binder syndrome, hypoplasia of the right mandibular condyle, and labial protrusions of the maxillary and mandibular incisors. We placed an edgewise appliance and after 1 year and 7 months, the occlusion was optimal in the absence of any adverse effects. Our two DBA cases exhibited a broad spectrum of physical and dentofacial symptoms. Patients with DBA are often prescribed combined steroid/bisphosphonate therapies. Both agents are likely to affect alveolar bone remodeling after tooth extraction and orthodontic tooth movement. Careful consideration of medication with reference to various dentofacial characteristics is necessary.