Young Japanese College Students with Dysmenorrhea Have High Frequency of Irregular Menstruation and Premenstrual Symptoms

In this study, to estimate the current status of young women with menstrual disorders, the relation among dysmenorrhea, irregular menstruation and premenstrual symptoms was investigated by a questionnaire. Subjects ranging from 18 to 20 years old were recruited from 522 female students at Ashiya College in Japan. The intensity of dysmenorrhea was classified into 3 grades (score 1, not requiring analgesic; score 2, painful, requiring analgesic; score 3, painful, not relieved by analgesic). All participants were further divided into subsequent groups as having premenstrual symptoms or not and those having regular or irregular menstruation. Dysmenorrhea scores in the students with premenstrual symptoms or irregular menstruation were significantly higher than those without these symptoms (1.66±0.66 vs 1.41±0.59; 1.62±0.68 vs 1.49±0.61, respectively). There was no significant relation in the incidence between premenstrual symptoms and irregular menstruation. These findings suggest that considerable numbers of young women with dysmenorrhea are associated with premenstrual symptoms

Single ingestion of soy β-conglycinin induces increased postprandial circulating FGF21 levels exerting beneficial health effects

Soy protein β-conglycinin has serum lipid-lowering and anti-obesity effects. We showed that single ingestion of β-conglycinin after fasting alters gene expression in mouse liver. A sharp increase in fibroblast growth factor 21 (FGF21) gene expression, which is depressed by normal feeding, resulted in increased postprandial circulating FGF21 levels along with a significant decrease in adipose tissue weights. Most increases in gene expressions, including FGF21, were targets for the activating transcription factor 4 (ATF4), but not for peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α. Overexpression of a dominant-negative form of ATF4 significantly reduced β-conglycinin-induced increases in hepatic FGF21 gene expression. In FGF21-deficient mice, β-conglycinin effects were partially abolished. Methionine supplementation to the diet or primary hepatocyte culture medium demonstrated its importance for activating liver or hepatocyte ATF4-FGF21 signaling. Thus, dietary β-conglycinin intake can impact hepatic and systemic metabolism by increasing the postprandial circulating FGF21 levels.UTokyo Research掲載「大豆のタンパク質1回摂取で代謝を改善する因子が急増」 URI: http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/ja/utokyo-research/research-news/single-ingestion-of-soy-protein-improves-metabolism.htmlUTokyo Research "Single ingestion of soy protein improves metabolism" URI: http://www.u-tokyo.ac.jp/en/utokyo-research/research-news/single-ingestion-of-soy-protein-improves-metabolism.htm

4-Hydroxyderricin inhibits osteoclast formation and accelerates osteoblast differentiation

4-Hydroxyderricin (4-HD) is a major polyphenol of Angelica keiskei (Japanese name Ashitaba), exhibiting anti-allergic, anti-diabetic, anti-oxidant, and antitumor effects. The present study was designed to evaluate the effects of 4-HD on bone formation and maintenance by using cultured osteoclasts and osteoblasts. 4-HD did not affect cell proliferation of stromal ST2 cells and preosteoblast MC3T3-E1 cells at concentrations of 1–10 μM. This compound inhibited the formation of multinucleated osteoclasts from mouse splenic cells, and we identified a molecular pathway of osteoclast differentiation mediated by 4-HD, which led to inhibition of the expression of receptor activator of nuclear factor-κB ligand and macrophage-colony stimulating factor in ST2 cells. By contrast, 4-HD enhanced indices of osteoblast differentiation, such as alkaline phosphatase activity and calcium deposition by osteoblastic MC3T3-E1 cells, at concentrations of 1–10 μM. Furthermore, we found that 4-HD at 1 μM attenuated H2O2 levels in MC3T3-E1 cells. Our findings indicate that 4-HD may have critical effects on bone formation and maintenance

First Data Release of the Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program

The Hyper Suprime-Cam Subaru Strategic Program (HSC-SSP) is a three-layered imaging survey aimed at addressing some of the most outstanding questions in astronomy today, including the nature of dark matter and dark energy. The survey has been awarded 300 nights of observing time at the Subaru Telescope and it started in March 2014. This paper presents the first public data release of HSC-SSP. This release includes data taken in the first 1.7 years of observations (61.5 nights) and each of the Wide, Deep, and UltraDeep layers covers about 108, 26, and 4 square degrees down to depths of i~26.4, ~26.5, and ~27.0 mag, respectively (5sigma for point sources). All the layers are observed in five broad bands (grizy), and the Deep and UltraDeep layers are observed in narrow bands as well. We achieve an impressive image quality of 0.6 arcsec in the i-band in the Wide layer. We show that we achieve 1-2 per cent PSF photometry (rms) both internally and externally (against Pan-STARRS1), and ~10 mas and 40 mas internal and external astrometric accuracy, respectively. Both the calibrated images and catalogs are made available to the community through dedicated user interfaces and database servers. In addition to the pipeline products, we also provide value-added products such as photometric redshifts and a collection of public spectroscopic redshifts. Detailed descriptions of all the data can be found online. The data release website is https://hsc-release.mtk.nao.ac.jp/.Comment: 34 pages, 20 figures, 7 tables, moderate revision, accepted for publication in PAS

The Hyper Suprime-Cam SSP survey: Overview and survey design

Hyper Suprime-Cam (HSC) is a wide-field imaging camera on the prime focus of the 8.2-m Subaru telescope on the summit of Mauna Kea in Hawaii. A team of scientists from Japan, Taiwan, and Princeton University is using HSC to carry out a 300-night multi-band imaging survey of the high-latitude sky. The survey includes three layers: the Wide layer will cover 1400 deg2 in five broad bands (grizy), with a 5 σ point-source depth of r ≈ 26. The Deep layer covers a total of 26 deg2 in four fields, going roughly a magnitude fainter, while the UltraDeep layer goes almost a magnitude fainter still in two pointings of HSC (a total of 3.5 deg2). Here we describe the instrument, the science goals of the survey, and the survey strategy and data processing. This paper serves as an introduction to a special issue of the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japan, which includes a large number of technical and scientific papers describing results from the early phases of this survey

Differences between sexes in factors influencing awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives: In Japan, large-scale natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and floods frequently occur, often having devastating effects on people\u27s lives. For this reason, it is imperative that people be prepared for disasters at an individual, family and community level in Japan. This study aims to evaluate factors associated to individual disaster preparedness among nursing university students in Japan. Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among nursing university students in July, 2017 in Japan. The questionnaire was prepared based on questions used in previous studies by the Cabinet Office, which included perception of natural disasters and actual behaviors related to disaster preparedness. Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 215 nursing university students, and 170 were analyzed in this study. Although 91.4% of respondents showed concern for disasters and 81.2% respondents for disaster preparedness, only 50.0% respondents were aware of the location of evacuation area closest to their current residential area and 17.6% respondents had some prearranged communication method with family in the event of disaster. Respondents living alone were less likely to know the location of evacuation area (AOR: 0.217; 95% CI: 0.103, 0.459; P<0.001) than respondents who lived with their family, and respondents with experience of training/lecture on disaster preparedness were more likely to know the location of evacuation area (AOR: 3.418; 95% CI: 1.448, 8.064; P=0.005). Respondents who recognized the importance of disaster preparedness (AOR: 4.084; 95% CI: 1.430, 11.683; P=0.009) were more likely to have arranged with their family how to communicate with each other in the event of disaster. Conclusions: Participating in training/lecture regarding disaster preparedness contributed to actual disaster preparedness such as knowing the location of evacuation area. However, there was no contribution of participation in training/lectures on other behaviors of preparedness such as prearrangement of communication methods with family, preparation of emergency items, and registration in disaster notification services. As persons whose professional skills will be sought in pre- and post-disasters, it is essential to strengthen the capabilities of nursing university students through training on disaster preparation in order that they can effectively prepare for future disasters

Differences between sexes in factors influencing awareness of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Objectives: In Japan, large-scale natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and floods frequently occur, often having devastating effects on people's lives. For this reason, it is imperative that people be prepared for disasters at an individual, family and community level in Japan. This study aims to evaluate factors associated to individual disaster preparedness among nursing university students in Japan. Methods: An anonymous self-administered questionnaire survey was conducted among nursing university students in July, 2017 in Japan. The questionnaire was prepared based on questions used in previous studies by the Cabinet Office, which included perception of natural disasters and actual behaviors related to disaster preparedness. Results: The questionnaire was distributed to 215 nursing university students, and 170 were analyzed in this study. Although 91.4% of respondents showed concern for disasters and 81.2% respondents for disaster preparedness, only 50.0% respondents were aware of the location of evacuation area closest to their current residential area and 17.6% respondents had some prearranged communication method with family in the event of disaster. Respondents living alone were less likely to know the location of evacuation area (AOR: 0.217; 95% CI: 0.103, 0.459; P<0.001) than respondents who lived with their family, and respondents with experience of training/lecture on disaster preparedness were more likely to know the location of evacuation area (AOR: 3.418; 95% CI: 1.448, 8.064; P=0.005). Respondents who recognized the importance of disaster preparedness (AOR: 4.084; 95% CI: 1.430, 11.683; P=0.009) were more likely to have arranged with their family how to communicate with each other in the event of disaster. Conclusions: Participating in training/lecture regarding disaster preparedness contributed to actual disaster preparedness such as knowing the location of evacuation area. However, there was no contribution of participation in training/lectures on other behaviors of preparedness such as prearrangement of communication methods with family, preparation of emergency items, and registration in disaster notification services. As persons whose professional skills will be sought in pre- and post-disasters, it is essential to strengthen the capabilities of nursing university students through training on disaster preparation in order that they can effectively prepare for future disasters