Public awareness of risk factors for cancer among the Japanese general population: A population-based survey

BACKGROUND: The present study aimed to provide information on awareness of the attributable fraction of cancer causes among the Japanese general population. METHODS: A nationwide representative sample of 2,000 Japanese aged 20 or older was asked about their perception and level of concern about various environmental and genetic risk factors in relation to cancer prevention, as a part of an Omnibus Survey. Interviews were conducted with 1,355 subjects (609 men and 746 women). RESULTS: Among 12 risk factor candidates, the attributable fraction of cancer-causing viral and bacterial infection was considered highest (51%), followed by that of tobacco smoking (43%), stress (39%), and endocrine-disrupting chemicals (37%). On the other hand, the attributable fractions of cancer by charred fish and meat (21%) and alcohol drinking (22%) were considered low compared with other risk factor candidates. For most risk factors, attributable fraction responses were higher in women than in men. As a whole, the subjects tended to respond with higher values than those estimated by epidemiologic evidence in the West. The attributable fraction of cancer speculated to be genetically determined was 32%, while 36% of cancer was considered preventable by improving lifestyle. CONCLUSION: Our results suggest that awareness of the attributable fraction of cancer causes in the Japanese general population tends to be dominated by cancer-causing infection, occupational exposure, air pollution and food additives rather than major lifestyle factors such as diet

Behavioral analysis of the effects of long-term treatment with L-ornithine in mice

L-ornithine has recently received considerable attention as an anxiolytic-like or antifatigue agent in both human and animal studies. However, most previous results were obtained from a single administration of L-ornithine. Accordingly, this study was designed to clarify the effects of long-term L-ornithine treatment on psychological stress and locomotor activity in mice using a variety of behavioral pharmacology methods. In a stress-induced hyperthermia test, 10 days of L-ornithine treatment induced hyperthermia elevation. Pentobarbital-induced sleep time was shortened by the treatment. However, no significant effects were detected in the elevated plus-maze, running wheel, or forced swim tests. These results suggest that long-term treatment with L-ornithine elevates stress sensitivity and arousal level in mice

The Effect on Intracytoplasmic Sperm Injection Outcome of Genotype, Male Germ Cell Stage and Freeze-Thawing in Mice

BACKGROUND: Intracytoplasmic sperm injection (ICSI) has been widely used to study the mechanisms of mammalian fertilization and to rescue male-factor infertility in humans and animals. However, very few systematic analyses have been conducted to define factors affecting the efficiency of ICSI. In this study, we undertook a large-scale series of ICSI experiments in mice to define the factors that might affect outcomes. METHODOLOGY/PRINCIPAL FINDINGS: We used a 5 x 3 x 2 factorial design with the following factors: mouse genotype (ICR, C57BL/6, DBA/2, C3H/He, and 129/Sv strains), type of male germ cells (epididymal sperm, elongated or round spermatids), and their freeze-thawing treatment. The efficiencies (parameters) of each developmental step were analyzed by three-way ANOVA (significance level P<0.01). The type of male germ cells affected all the four parameters observed: oocyte survival after injection, cleavage of oocytes, implantation, and birth of offspring. Genotype affected the oocyte survival, cleavage and birth rates, whereas freeze-thawing had no effects on any of the parameters. There were significant genotype/cell type interactions for oocyte survival and cleavage, indicating that they were determined by a combination of strain and germ cell maturity. Multiple comparisons revealed that spermatozoa and elongated spermatids gave better implantation and birth rates than did round spermatids, while spermatozoa and elongated spermatozoa were indistinguishable in their ability to support embryonic development. The best overall efficiency (birth rate per oocytes injected) was obtained with frozen-thawed DBA/2 strain elongated spermatids (23.2+/-4.2%). CONCLUSIONS/SIGNIFICANCE: The present study provides the first comprehensive information on ICSI using the mouse as a model and will contribute to the efficient use of materials, time, and efforts in biomedical research and clinics involving ICSI

A49T, V89L and TA repeat polymorphisms of steroid 5α-reductase type II and breast cancer risk in Japanese women

BACKGROUND: Breast cancer is hormone related, as are cancers of the endometrium, ovary, and prostate. Several studies have suggested that higher extracellular levels of androgens are associated with breast cancer risk, while biological evidence indicates that androgens are protective. The codon 49 alanine to threonine substitution (A49T), codon 89 valine to leucine substitution (V89L) and TA repeat polymorphisms of the steroid 5α-reductase type II (SRD5A2) gene are considered functional with respect to enzyme activity converting testosterone into dihydrotestosterone. To test the hypothesis that these three polymorphisms are associated with risk of breast cancer, a case–control study was conducted with patients of Aichi Cancer Center Hospital. METHODS: The cases were 237 patients histologically diagnosed with breast cancer, and the controls were 185 noncancer outpatients. DNA from peripheral blood was genotyped by PCR methods. RESULTS: The threonine allele of A49T was not found in our subjects. Compared with the V/V genotype of V89L, the L/L genotype was associated with a decreased risk (crude odds ratio [OR] = 0.61, 95% confidence interval [CI] = 0.36–1.05). This was also the case for the TA(9/9) genotype, with an OR of 0.58 (95% CI = 0.13–2.63) relative to TA(0/0). Among women with the TA(0/0) genotype, however, the OR for the L/L genotype was 0.46 (95% CI = 0.24–0.88) compared with the V/V genotype, and those with the V/V and TA(0/0) genotypes had the highest risk. The haplotype with the L and TA(9) repeat alleles was not found. CONCLUSION: This study is the first to our knowledge focusing on Japanese women, suggesting that SRD5A2 polymorphisms might have an association with breast cancer risk. Further large-sample studies will be required to confirm the association and to assess any interactions with environmental factors

Fatigue behavior and crack initiation of CAD/CAM resin composite molar crowns

Objective: The aim of this study was to evaluate long-term fatigue behavior using an in vitro step-stress accelerated life test (SSALT), and to determine the crack initiation point using in silico finite element analysis for computer-aided designed and manufactured (CAD/CAM) molar crowns fabricated from three commercial CAD/CAM resin composite blocks: Cerasmart (CS; GC, Tokyo, Japan), Katana Avencia Block (KA; Kuraray Noritake Dental, Niigata, Japan), and Shofu Block HC (HC; Shofu, Kyoto, Japan). Methods: Fifty-one mandibular first molar crowns luted on a resin core die were embedded in acrylic resin and covered with a polyvinyl chloride tube. Single compressive tests were performed for five crowns. SSALT was conducted for 36 crowns using three profiles and reliabilities at 120,000 cycles, and a Weibull analysis was conducted. The maximum principal strain of each CAD/CAM resin composite crown model was analyzed by three-dimensional finite element analysis. Results: Fracture loads of CS and KA (3784 ± 144 N and 3915 ± 313 N) were significantly greater than that of HC (2767 ± 227 N) (p < 0.05). Fracture probabilities at 120,000 cycles were 24.6% (CS), 13.7% (KA), and 14.0% (HC). Maximum principal strain was observed around the mesiolingual cusps of CS and KA and the distobuccal cusp of HC. Significance: CAD/CAM resin composite molar crowns containing nano-fillers with a higher fraction of resin matrix exhibited higher fracture loads and greater longevity, suggesting that these crowns could be used as an alternative to ceramic crowns in terms of fatigue behavior.Yamaguchi S., Kani R., Kawakami K., et al. Fatigue behavior and crack initiation of CAD/CAM resin composite molar crowns. Dental Materials 34, 1578 (2018); https://doi.org/10.1016/j.dental.2018.07.002

Impact of population aging on trends in diabetes prevalence : A meta-regression analysis of 160,000 Japanese adults

Aims/IntroductionTo provide age- and sex-specific trends, age-standardized trends, and projections of diabetes prevalence through the year 2030 in the Japanese adult population. Materials and MethodsIn the present meta-regression analysis, we included 161,087 adults from six studies and nine national health surveys carried out between 1988 and 2011 in Japan. We assessed the prevalence of diabetes using a recorded history of diabetes or, for the population of individuals without known diabetes, either a glycated hemoglobin level of 6.5% (48mmol/mol) or the 1999 World Health Organization criteria (i.e., a fasting plasma glucose level of 126mg/dL and/or 2-h glucose level of 200mg/dL in the 75-g oral glucose tolerance test). ResultsFor both sexes, prevalence appeared to remain unchanged over the years in all age categories except for men aged 70years or older, in whom a significant increase in prevalence with time was observed. Age-standardized diabetes prevalence estimates based on the Japanese population of the corresponding year showed marked increasing trends: diabetes prevalence was 6.1% among women (95% confidence interval [CI] 5.5-6.7), 9.9% (95% CI 9.2-10.6) among men, and 7.9% (95% CI 7.5-8.4) among the total population in 2010, and was expected to rise by 2030 to 6.7% (95% CI 5.2-9.2), 13.1% (95% CI 10.9-16.7) and 9.8% (95% CI 8.5-12.0), respectively. In contrast, the age-standardized diabetes prevalence using a fixed population appeared to remain unchanged. ConclusionsThis large-scale meta-regression analysis shows that a substantial increase in diabetes prevalence is expected in Japan during the next few decades, mainly as a result of the aging of the adult population.Peer reviewe

PEMANFAATAN MODEL KELAS SEBAGAI SUMBER BELAJAR DALAM PEMBELAJARAN IPS UNTUK MENGEMBANGKAN KARAKTER DAN KECERDASAN EMOSIONAL SISWA KELAS IV SEKOLAH DASAR NEGERI 74 KOTA BENGKULU

Penelitian ini bertujuan untuk : (1) Mengembangkan model kelas sebagai sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran IPS, (2) Mengembangkan karakter siswa melalui pemanfaatan model kelas sebagai sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran IPS, (3) Mengembangkan kecerdasan emosional siswa melalui pemanfaatan model kelas sebagai sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran IPS, dan (4) Meningkatkan hasil belajar kognitif siswa melalui pemanfaatan model kelas sebagai sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran IPS. Metode yang digunakan yaitu Penelitian Tindakan Kelas (PTK). Penelitian ini dilaksanakan secara kolaboratif antara 2 orang dosen PGSD, 2 orang guru SD, da 5 orang mahasiswa PGSD. Hasil penelitian menunjukkan bahwa : (1) Pengembangan model kelas sebagai sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran IPS dilakukan melalui empat tahap yaitu : orientasi, elaborasi dan interpretasi, aplikasi ide dan evaluasi, (2) Pemanfaatan model kelas sebagai sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran IPS dapat mengembangkan karakter siswa, (3) Pemanfaatan model kelas sebagai sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran IPS dapat mengembangkan kecerdasan emosional siswa, dan (4) Pemanfaatan model kelas sebagai sumber belajar dalam pembelajaran IPS dapat meningkatkan hasil belajar kognitif siswa. Saran yang disampaikan yakni : (1) Guru dan calon guru diharapkan memanfaatkan model kelas dalam pembelajaran IPS, dan (2) Kepala sekolah diharapkan mendorong guru untuk selalu menerapkan pembelajaran dengan memanfaatkan model kelas

Hobby engagement and risk of disabling dementia

BACKGROUND: The association between hobby engagement and risk of dementia reported from a short-term follow-up study for individuals aged ≥65 years may be liable to reverse causation. We examined the association between hobby engagement in age of 40-69 years and risk of dementia in a long-term follow-up study among Japanese including individuals in mid-life, when the majority of individuals have normal cognitive function. METHODS: A total of 22,377 individuals aged 40-69 years completed a self-administered questionnaire in 1993-1994. The participants answered whether they had hobbies according to the three following responses: having no hobbies, having a hobby, and having many hobbies. Follow-up for incident disabling dementia was conducted with long-term care insurance data from 2006 to 2016. RESULTS: During 11.0 years of median follow-up, 3,095 participants developed disabling dementia. Adjusting for the demographic, behavioral, and psychosocial factors, the multivariable hazard ratios (95% confidence intervals) of incident disabling dementia compared with "having no hobbies" were 0.82 (0.75-0.89) for "having a hobby" and 0.78 (0.67-0.91) for "having many hobbies". The inverse association was similarly observed in both middle (40-64 years) and older ages (65-69 years). For disabling dementia subtypes, hobby engagement was inversely associated with the risk of dementia without a history of stroke (probably non-vascular type dementia), but not with that of post-stroke dementia (probably vascular type dementia). CONCLUSIONS: Hobby engagement in both mid-life and late-life was associated with a lower risk of disabling dementia without a history of stroke