Physical exercise during pregnancy and its related factors: An observational study in Japan

This study aimed to investigate the exercise habits of pregnant women in the third trimester (N = 303). We assessed participation in physical activities, including exercise or sports, using the Japanese version of the Pregnancy Physical Activity Questionnaire. A total of 183 (60.4%) pregnant Japanese women participated in some form of exercise and 87 (28.7%) exercised for 2 hours or more, per week, in the third trimester. Multiple logistic regression analyses indicated that women who set themselves a gestational weight gain target (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] = 8.10, 95% CI [2.82, 23.4], p\u3c .001), were more likely to participate in exercise or sports. In contrast, multiparous women (AOR = 0.44, 95% CI [0.26, 0.72], p = .001), and those whose pre-pregnancy body weights suggested obesity (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.30 0.87], p = .013) were less likely to participate in such activities. We found a relationship between non-participation for 2 hours or more, per week, to being multiparous (AOR = 0.33, 95% CI [0.18, 0.94], p\u3c .001) and the presence of anemia in the second trimester (AOR = 0.51, 95% CI [0.28, 0.94], p = .031). Working status, seasonal differences, concerns about being overweight, and individual dietary nutritional guidance were not related to participation in exercise or sports. While setting a target for gestational weight gain may motivate participation in exercise or sports, women who were multiparous and those who perceived themselves as obese before pregnancy, showed a negative association with participation

Validity and reproducibility of folate and vitamin B12 intakes estimated from a self-administered diet history questionnaire in Japanese pregnant women

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>No validated dietary questionnaire for assessing folate and vitamin B₁₂intakes during pregnancy is available in Japan. We evaluated the validity and reproducibility of intakes of folate and vitamin B₁₂estimated from a self-administered diet history questionnaire (DHQ) in Japanese pregnant women.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>A sample of 167 healthy subjects with singleton pregnancies in the second trimester was recruited at a private obstetric hospital in metropolitan Tokyo from June to October 2008 (n = 76), and at a university hospital in Tokyo from June 2010 to June 2011 (n = 91). The dietary intakes of folate and vitamin B₁₂were assessed using the DHQ. The serum concentrations of folate and vitamin B₁₂were measured as reference values in the validation study. To assess the reproducibility of the results, 58 pregnant women completed the DHQ twice within 4-5 week interval.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Significantly positive correlations were found between energy-adjusted intakes and serum concentrations of folate and vitamin B₁₂(r = 0.286, <it>p </it>< 0.001 and r = 0.222, <it>p </it>= 0.004, respectively). After excluding the participants with nausea (n = 121), the correlation coefficient for vitamin B₁₂increased to 0.313 (<it>p </it>= 0.001). When participants were classified into quintiles based on intakes and serum concentrations of folate and vitamin B₁₂, approximately 60% were classified in the same or adjacent quintile. The intraclass correlation coefficients of the two-time DHQ were 0.725 for folate and 0.512 for vitamin B₁₂.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study indicated that the DHQ had acceptable validity and reproducibility for assessing folate and vitamin B₁₂intakes in Japanese pregnant women.</p

Guidelines for Physical Activity During Pregnancy: Comparisons From Around the World

Introduction. Women attain numerous benefits from physical activity during pregnancy. However, because of physical changes that occur during pregnancy, special precautions are also needed. This review summarizes current guidelines for physical activity among pregnant women worldwide. Methods. We searched PubMed (MedLINE) for country-specific governmental and clinical guidelines on physical activity during pregnancy through the year 2012. We cross-referenced with articles referring to guidelines, with only the most recent included. An abstraction form was used to extract key details and summarize. Results. In total, 11 guidelines were identified from 9 countries (Australia, Canada, Denmark, France, Japan, Norway, Spain, United Kingdom, United States). Most guidelines supported moderate-intensity physical activity during pregnancy (10/11) and indicated specific frequency (9/11) and duration/time (9/11) recommendations. Most guidelines provided advice on initiating an exercise program during pregnancy (10/11). Six guidelines included absolute and relative contraindications to exercise. All guidelines generally ruled-out sports with risks of falls, trauma, or collisions. Six guidelines included indications for stopping exercise during pregnancy. Conclusion. This review contrasted pregnancy-related physical activity guidelines from around the world, and can help inform new guidelines as they are created or updated and facilitate the development of a worldwide guideline. © 2013 The Author(s)

The SNP rs6508974 in AXL is a functional polymorphism and a promising biomarker for gefitinib treatment

Somatic mutations in epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) found in lung adenocarcinomas are used as biomarkers for the treatment with EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitors, including gefitinib. The bypass tracks with amplification of AXL is one of the mechanisms underlying the resistance to gefitinib. We, therefore, carried out a candidate gene approach method to identify AXL polymorphisms associated with the effectiveness of gefitinib. EGFR mutations were first dentified by mutantenriched PCR-restriction fragment length polymorphism (RFLP), and then 2 tag single nucleotide olymorphisms (SNPs) of AXL were examined by PCR-RFLP in 62 Japanese patients with advanced lung adenocarcinoma and treated with gefitinib in two general hospitals in Nagasaki. Subsequently, the association of EFGR mutations and the AXL polymorphism with the effectiveness of gefitinib was examined in these patients. We next examined the effect of the AXL polymorphism on the expression and function of this gene. It is worthy of note that EGFR mutations and the AXL polymorphism rs6508974 independently contributed to the effectiveness of gefitinib, and the polymorphism was proved to be a possible biomarker for selecting non-responders and responders to gefitinib treatment even in the absence of EGFR mutations. Furthermore, this SNP increased the transcriptional activity of the AXL transcript variant 3, one of the three AXL transcript variants, which to some extent increased the epithelial-mesenchymal transition in cancer cells. Taken together, AXL is one of the genes that determine the effectiveness of gefitinib and a biomarker for selecting non-responders and responders among lung adenocarcinoma patients with no EGFR mutations, suggesting that rs6508974 in AXL might be a functional SNP in lung denocarcinoma

マウス胸腺脂肪化時期の検討

The thymus has an important role in the immune reaction. The lymphocytes localized both in thymic cortex and in medulla, known as T cells, proliferate in an environment of the epithelial reticular cells. T cells educated to react against non-self materials enter the circulation and function in peripheral immunity. Thymus of the mouse has almost developed and grown to its natal size by the 18 days gestation. After the birth thymus grows at a somewhat slower rate until puberty. It subsequently shows a decrease both in size and in weight. That is due to the decrease in the lymphocyte-accumulated region and to the partial replacement by fat tissue. The process is so-called age"involution". Fat cells are classified as connective-tissue cells. They must develop and proliferate in the capsule or in the trabecula of the thymus after birth, because no typical fat cells containing lipid droplets are observed at birth.We examined when fat cells appeared in the thymus after the birth. Fat cells are known to express leptin, so that the appearance of leptin mRNA was detected by the PCR method. The expression of leptin was detected as early as in the thymus of the 3 week-old mouse and increased with the age. It is sugested that fat tissue development begins immediately after the birth and precedes to the age involution in the thymus, although that the cortex and medulla develops until puberty

Association between Dietary Nutrient Intake and Depressive Symptoms among Japanese Postpartum Women: An Observational Cross-sectional Study

Background: Low dietary nutrient intake may be associated with depressive symptoms. However, few such studies have been conducted among postpartum women and results have been controversial. Purpose: To investigate the association between dietary nutrient intake and depressive symptoms among Japanese one-month postpartum women. Methods: This cross-sectional study was conducted at a university hospital in Tokyo from June 2015 to September 2016. We recruited healthy women with healthy babies at their postpartum check-up. Dietary nutrient intake was assessed using a validated, brief-type, self-administered diet history questionnaire. Depressive symptoms were defined as a score of ? 9 on the Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed to identify if dietary nutrient intake was associated with depressive symptoms. Variables with P-values < 0.10 in the bivariate analysis and factors identified as important, based on the literature review, were included. P < 0.05 was considered significant. Results: Data from 246 participants were analyzed. Depressive symptom prevalence was 19.5%. Participants with an educational level above university level comprised 69.1%, and 68.3% of participants had a household income of ? 7 million Japanese yen. In the multivariate analysis, dietary nutrient intake was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms. However, higher educational level and need for emotional support as assessed by midwives or nurses were significantly associated with an increased risk of depressive symptoms. Conclusion: Dietary nutrient intake was not significantly associated with depressive symptoms in this high socioeconomic status population. Further research is needed to identify the relationship between dietary intake and depressive symptoms among more socioeconomically diverse postpartum women. Additionally, it may be important for postpartum depression support systems to pay attention to highly-educated women and to undertake continued follow-up for women who are assessed by midwives or nurses as needing emotional support either during pregnancy or while in the hospital