Leisure-time, occupational, and commuting physical activity and risk of type 2 diabetes in Japanese workers: a cohort study

Table S1. Association between moderate-intensity and vigorous-intensity exercise during leisure and risk of type 2 diabetes. Table S2. Risk of type 2 diabetes associated with specific type of leisure-time exercise. (DOCX 47 kb

WIDGET: System Performance and GRB Prompt Optical Observations

The WIDeField telescope for Gamma-ray burst Early Timing (WIDGET) is used for a fully automated, ultra-wide-field survey aimed at detecting the prompt optical emission associated with Gamma-ray Bursts (GRBs). WIDGET surveys the HETE-2 and Swift/BAT pointing directions covering a total field of view of 62 degree x 62 degree every 10 secounds using an unfiltered system. This monitoring survey allows exploration of the optical emission before the gamma-ray trigger. The unfiltered magnitude is well converted to the SDSS r' system at a 0.1 mag level. Since 2004, WIDGET has made a total of ten simultaneous and one pre-trigger GRB observations. The efficiency of synchronized observation with HETE-2 is four times better than that of Swift. There has been no bright optical emission similar to that from GRB 080319B. The statistical analysis implies that GRB080319B is a rare event. This paper summarizes the design and operation of the WIDGET system and the simultaneous GRB observations obtained with this instrument.Comment: 19 pages, 11 figures, Accepted to appear in PAS

Prospective association of soft drink consumption with depressive symptoms.

OBJECTIVE: Consumption of soft drinks has become a serious public health issue worldwide. However, prospective evidence is limited regarding the relationship between soft drink consumption and depression, especially in Asia. The aim of this study was to investigate the prospective association between soft drink consumption and the development of depressive symptoms. METHODS: We evaluated an occupational cohort of 935 adults in Japan (2012-2016), who were free from depressive symptoms at baseline and attended a 3-y follow-up assessment. Soft drink consumption was assessed using a self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the Center for Epidemiologic Studies Depression scale. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) were estimated from multivariate logistic regression analysis controlling for sociodemographic, lifestyle, dietary, and occupational covariates. RESULTS: Over the 3-y study period, 16.9% (158 cases) of the study participants reported depressive symptoms. Higher soft drink consumption was associated with higher odds of depressive symptoms. The multivariable-adjusted OR was 1.91 (95% CI, 1.11-3.29; Ptrend = 0.015) when comparing soft drink consumption of ≥4 cups/wk with consumption of <1 cup/wk. CONCLUSION: The present results suggested that greater consumption of soft drinks would increase the likelihood of exhibiting depressive symptoms.This study was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grant Numbers 25293146, 25702006, Practical Research Project for Life-Style related Diseases including Cardiovascular Diseases and Diabetes Mellitus (15ek0210021h0002) from the Japan Agency for Medical Research and Development, and the Industrial Health Foundation. F.I. was funded by the Medical Research Council Epidemiology Unit, United Kingdom (MC_UU_12015/5)

Dysbindin Regulates the Transcriptional Level of Myristoylated Alanine-Rich Protein Kinase C Substrate via the Interaction with NF-YB in Mice Brain

BACKGROUND: An accumulating body of evidence suggests that Dtnbp1 (Dysbindin) is a key susceptibility gene for schizophrenia. Using the yeast-two-hybrid screening system, we examined the candidate proteins interacting with Dysbindin and revealed one of these candidates to be the transcription factor NF-YB. METHODS: We employed an immunoprecipitation (IP) assay to demonstrate the Dysbindin-NF-YB interaction. DNA chips were used to screen for altered expression of genes in cells in which Dysbindin or NF-YB was down regulated, while Chromatin IP and Reporter assays were used to confirm the involvement of these genes in transcription of Myristoylated alanine-rich protein kinase C substrate (MARCKS). The sdy mutant mice with a deletion in Dysbindin, which exhibit behavioral abnormalities, and wild-type DBA2J mice were used to investigate MARCKS expression. RESULTS: We revealed an interaction between Dysbindin and NF-YB. DNA chips showed that MARCKS expression was increased in both Dysbindin knockdown cells and NF-YB knockdown cells, and Chromatin IP revealed interaction of these proteins at the MARCKS promoter region. Reporter assay results suggested functional involvement of the interaction between Dysbindin and NF-YB in MARCKS transcription levels, via the CCAAT motif which is a NF-YB binding sequence. MARCKS expression was increased in sdy mutant mice when compared to wild-type mice. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that abnormal expression of MARCKS via dysfunction of Dysbindin might cause impairment of neural transmission and abnormal synaptogenesis. Our results should provide new insights into the mechanisms of neuronal development and the pathogenesis of schizophrenia

A multi band study of the optically dark GRB 051028

Observations were made of the optical afterglow of GRB 051028 with the Lulin observatory's 1.0 m telescope and the WIDGET robotic telescope system. R band photometric data points were obtained on 2005 October 28 (UT), or 0.095-0.180 days after the burst. There is a possible plateau in the optical light curve around 0.1 days after the burst; the light curve resembles optically bright afterglows (e.g. GRB 041006, GRB 050319, GRB060605) in shape of the light curve but not in brightness. The brightness of the GRB 051028 afterglow is 3 magnitudes fainter than that of one of the dark events, GRB 020124. Optically dark GRBs have been attributed to dust extinction within the host galaxy or high redshift. However, the spectrum analysis of the X-rays implies that there is no significant absorption by the host galaxy. Furthermore, according to the model theoretical calculation of the Ly$\alpha$ absorption to find the limit of GRB 051028's redshift, the expected $R$ band absorption is not high enough to explain the darkness of the afterglow. While the present results disfavor either the high-redshift hypothesis or the high extinction scenario for optically dark bursts, they are consistent with the possibility that the brightness of the optical afterglow, intrinsically dark.Comment: 5page, 5 figures, 1 table, accepted for publication in PASJ Letter. PASJ styl

Preventative Effect of a Flavonoid, Enzymatically Modified Isoquercitrin on Ocular Symptoms of Japanese Cedar Pollinosis

ABSTRACTBackgroundFlavonoids are nutrients that exert anti-allergic effects. We investigated the preventative effect of enzymatically modified isoquercitrin (EMIQ), a flavonoid, to relieve the symptoms of Japanese cedar pollinosis.MethodsIn a parallel-group, double-blind placebo-controlled study design, 24 subjects with Japanese cedar pollinosis took 100 mg EMIQ or a placebo for 8 weeks, starting 4 weeks prior to the onset of pollen release. Subjective symptoms, ADL scores and the usage of drugs were recorded daily, and the QOL score was obtained every 4 weeks. Blood sampling was performed before and after the study to measure serum levels of IgE and flavonoids.ResultsDuring the entire study period, ocular symptom + medication score for the EMIQ group was significantly lower (p < 0.05) than that of the placebo group. When limited to the period, ocular symptom scores (p < 0.05, weeks 5–6), and ocular congestion scores (p < 0.05, weeks 5–6) for the EMIQ group was significantly lower than that for the placebo group while other scores for the EMIQ group, such as ocular itching scores (p = 0.09, weeks 4–5), lacrimation scores (p = 0.07, weeks 5–6), and ocular congestion scores (p = 0.06, weeks 45), all tended to be lower. However no significant differences were found in nasal symptoms between the two groups. Serum concentrations of IgE were not significantly downregulated but the serum concentrations of quercetin and its derivatives were elevated significantly by the intake of EMIQ.ConclusionsIntake of the quercetin glycoside EMIQ proved to be effective for the relief of ocular symptoms caused by Japanese cedar pollinosis