Development of a food frequency questionnaire to estimate habitual dietary intake in Japanese children

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Food frequency questionnaires (FFQ) are used for epidemiological studies. Because of the wide variations in dietary habits within different populations, a FFQ must be developed to suit the specific group. To date, no FFQ has been developed for Japanese children. In this study, we developed a FFQ to assess the regular dietary intake of Japanese children. The FFQ included questions regarding both individual food items and mixed dishes.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Children (3-11 years of age, n = 621) were recruited as subjects. Their parents or guardians completed a weighed dietary record (WDR) for each subject in one day. We defined FOOD to be not only as a single food item but also as a mixed dish. The dieticians conceptually grouped similar FOODs as FOOD types. We used a contribution analysis and a multiple regression analysis to select FOOD types.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We obtained a total of 586 children's dietary data (297 boys and 289 girls). In addition, we obtained 1,043 FOODs. Dieticians grouped into similar FOODs, yielding 275 FOOD types. A total of 115 FOOD types were chosen using a contribution analysis and a multiple regression analysis, then we excluded overlapping items. FOOD types that were eaten by fewer than 15 subjects were excluded; 74 FOOD types remained. We also added liver-based dishes that provided a high amount of retinol. A total of 75 FOOD types were finally determined for the FFQ. The frequency response formats were classified into four type categories: seven, eight, nine and eleven, according to the general intake frequency of each FOOD type. Information on portion size was obtained from the photographs of each listed FOOD type in real scale size, which was the average amount of the children's portion sizes.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Using both a contribution analysis and a multiple regression analysis, we developed a 75-food item questionnaire from the study involving 586 children. The next step will involve the verification of FFQ reproducibility and validity.</p

Feasibility of using a handheld tissue hardness meter to quantify uterine contractions and its clinical application for obstetric bleeding management

Postpartum haemorrhage (PPH) is a potentially life-threatening condition. Women undergoing caesarean section (CS) are at particular risk, and improvements in the management of PPH during CS are required. We investigated the use of a tissue hardness metre to quantify uterine contractions during CS with a view to its application for obstetric bleeding management. Fifty pregnant women at term who underwent elective CS were recruited. Using a tissue hardness metre, we measured uterine hardness twice during CS: after placental removal and before peritoneum closure. Each measurement was conducted at two standardised points: fundus and corpus uteri. Concurrently, obstetricians subjectively graded uterine contractions as weak, medium, or strong. The hardness metre accurately quantified the degree of uterine contraction assessed by the obstetricians, and could be an effective clinical tool for early recognition of intra-operative massive bleeding.IMPACT STATEMENT What is already known on this subject? Maintaining adequate uterine contraction leads to prevention of excessive blood loss, which decreases the incidence and severity of PPH. However, the assessment of uterine contraction is currently judged by obstetricians, who manually and subjectively evaluate uterine contraction according to uterine hardness. Therefore, uterine atony remains a clinical diagnosis without a universal definition. What do the results of this study add? The present study investigated the use of a tissue hardness metre to quantify uterine contractions during CS with a view to its application for obstetric bleeding management. The hardness metre was able to quantify the degree of uterine contraction perceived by obstetricians. Quantifying uterine hardness during CS correlates with the amount of intra-operative bleeding and is useful for early recognition of massive haemorrhage. What are the implications of these findings for clinical practice and/or further research? To improve the management of atonic PPH and avoid serious complications, the tissue hardness metre should be considered as a potential clinical tool during CS

Efficacy and safety of daikenchuto (TJ-100) in pregnant women with constipation

AbstractObjectiveConstipation is common and a significant problem in pregnant women. The purpose of this study was to examine the efficacy and the safety of daikenchuto in pregnant women with constipation.Material and methodsThis was a prospective study, and a total of 20 patients were registered between February 2010 and August 2012. The patients received 7.5 g/d of daikenchuto for 28 days from the day of registration. All enrolled patients were asked to complete the constipation assessment scale (CAS) every day. In addition, we measured the aspartate transaminase, alanine transaminase, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels to assess the adverse effects of daikenchuto.ResultsThe CAS scores were significantly lower at 28 days after daikenchuto treatment (p = 0.019), with a significant effect achieved on Day 1. The impact of the therapy was greatest in the second trimester (p = 0.043). No significant adverse effects of daikenchuto were observed, and the rates of preterm birth and pregnancy-induced hypertension were 10% and 5%, respectively, which are similar to previously reported values.ConclusionWe herein demonstrated the efficacy and safety of daikenchuto in pregnant women with constipation. We hope that our findings will aid in the management of constipation in pregnant women

Trend changes in age-related body mass index gain after coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic in Japan: a multicenter retrospective cohort study

Abstract Background Accumulating studies suggest that strict lockdown with enforcement including segregation to control the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic is associated with excess weight gain, but the such lockdown was not practiced in Japan. We aimed to compare the age-related weight gain before and after the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan where achieved epidemic control based on individual voluntary action. Methods This multicenter retrospective cohort study used electronic data from annual health checkups for workers from January 2015 to December 2021 at four facilities belonging to the Central Clinic Group, Aichi, Japan. We defined pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods as January 2015–December 2019 and January 2020–December 2021, respectively. Participants were grouped by sex, age, and body mass index (BMI) stratus as of 2015, and the pre-pandemic and post-pandemic age-related BMI changes in overall individuals and each specific group were compared using a paired t-test. Results The total number of eligible participants was 19,290. During the pre-pandemic period, the mean BMI increased linearly in every group. The mean age-related BMI changes in females’ pre-pandemic and post-pandemic periods were + 0.11 and + 0.02 kg/m2/year, respectively. This significant decrease was also shown in males, + 0.11 in the pre-pandemic and − 0.02 kg/m2/year in the post-pandemic periods. The reduction was consistently observed in all age strata. Furthermore, a significant reduction was also observed in the normal-weight females of reproductive ages aged 15–44 years. Conclusions This is the first report showing that age-related weight gain was reduced after the COVID-19 pandemic in Japan, which could affect the reproductive age of females