Chiral azabicyclo-N-oxyls mediated enantioselective electrooxidation of sec-alcohols

Enantiomerically pure azabicyclo-N-oxyls were prepared from l-hydroxyproline. They mediated enantioselective electrooxidation of racemic sec-alcohols to afford optically active sec-alcohols with moderate to high s value (up to 21)

Population health and regional variations of disease burden in Japan, 1990–2015:a systematic subnational analysis for the Global Burden of Disease Study 2015

BackgroundJapan has entered the era of super-ageing and advanced health transition, which is increasingly putting pressure on the sustainability of its health system. The level and pace of this health transition might vary across regions within Japan and concern is growing about increasing regional variations in disease burden. The Global Burden of Diseases, Injuries, and Risk Factors Study 2015 (GBD 2015) provides a comprehensive, comparable framework. We used data from GBD 2015 with the aim to quantify the burden of disease and injuries, and to attribute risk factors in Japan at a subnational, prefecture-level.MethodsWe used data from GBD 2015 for 315 causes and 79 risk factors of death, disease, and injury incidence and prevalence to measure the burden of diseases and injuries in Japan and in the 47 Japanese prefectures from 1990 to 2015. We extracted data from GBD 2015 to assess mortality, causes of death, years of life lost (YLLs), years lived with disability (YLDs), disability-adjusted life-years (DALYs), life expectancy, and healthy life expectancy (HALE) in Japan and its 47 prefectures. We split extracted data by prefecture and applied GBD methods to generate estimates of burden, and attributable burden due to known risk factors. We examined the prefecture-level relationships of common health system inputs (eg, health expenditure and workforces) to the GBD outputs in 2015 to address underlying determinants of regional health variations.FindingsLife expectancy at birth in Japan increased by 4·2 years from 79·0 years (95% uncertainty interval [UI] 79·0 to 79·0) to 83·2 years (83·1 to 83·2) between 1990 and 2015. However, the gaps between prefectures with the lowest and highest life expectancies and HALE have widened, from 2·5 to 3·1 years and from 2·3 to 2·7 years, respectively, from 1990 to 2015. Although overall age-standardised death rates decreased by 29·0% (28·7 to 29·3) from 1990 to 2015, the rates of mortality decline in this period substantially varied across the prefectures, ranging from -32·4% (-34·8 to -30·0) to -22·0% (-20·4 to -20·1). During the same time period, the rate of age-standardised DALYs was reduced overall by 19·8% (17·9 to 22·0). The reduction in rates of age-standardised YLDs was very small by 3·5% (2·6 to 4·3). The pace of reduction in mortality and DALYs in many leading causes has largely levelled off since 2005. Known risk factors accounted for 34·5% (32·4 to 36·9) of DALYs; the two leading behavioural risk factors were unhealthy diets and tobacco smoking in 2015. The common health system inputs were not associated with age-standardised death and DALY rates in 2015.InterpretationJapan has been successful overall in reducing mortality and disability from most major diseases. However, progress has slowed down and health variations between prefectures is growing. In view of the limited association between the prefecture-level health system inputs and health outcomes, the potential sources of regional variations, including subnational health system performance, urgently need assessment.FundingBill & Melinda Gates Foundation, Japan Ministry of Education, Science, Sports and Culture, Japan Ministry of Health, Labour and Welfare, AXA CR Fixed Income Fund and AXA Research Fund

Efficient oxidation of alcohols electrochemically mediated by azabicyclo-N-oxyls

Preparation of azabicyclo-N-oxyls and the electrochemical oxidation of alcohols using them as mediators have been exploited. This oxidation was applicable to a transformation of sterically hindered secondary alcohols into the corresponding ketones in high yields

Chemistry of Secondary Polyphenols Produced during Processing of Tea and Selected Foods

This review will discuss recent progress in the chemistry of secondary polyphenols produced during food processing. The production mechanism of the secondary polyphenols in black tea, whisky, cinnamon, and persimmon fruits will be introduced. In the process of black tea production, tea leaf catechins are enzymatically oxidized to yield a complex mixture of oxidation products, including theaflavins and thearubigins. Despite the importance of the beverage, most of the chemical constituents have not yet been confirmed due to the complexity of the mixture. However, the reaction mechanisms at the initial stages of catechin oxidation are explained by simple quinone–phenol coupling reactions. In vitro model experiments indicated the presence of interesting regio- and stereoselective reactions. Recent results on the reaction mechanisms will be introduced. During the aging of whisky in oak wood barrels, ellagitannins originating from oak wood are oxidized and react with ethanol to give characteristic secondary ellagitannins. The major part of the cinnamon procyanidins is polymerized by copolymerization with cinnamaldehyde. In addition, anthocyanidin structural units are generated in the polymer molecules by oxidation which accounts for the reddish coloration of the cinnamon extract. This reaction is related to the insolubilization of proanthocyanidins in persimmon fruits by condensation with acetaldehyde. In addition to oxidation, the reaction of polyphenols with aldehydes may be important in food processing

Changes in epidemiological characteristics and sero-prevalence against the varicella zoster virus in school-age children after the introduction of a national immunization program in Japan

A national immunization program using two doses of live attenuated varicella vaccine was introduced for children aged one to two years in Japan in October 2014. Varicella cases declined after 2014, and immunological status against varicella among vaccinated children changed in post-vaccination era. A retrospective observational study of anti-varicella antibody seroprevalence, varicella vaccination status, and history of varicella among 528 students in the first grade of elementary school was conducted. The percentage of students who received at least a single dose of varicella vaccination increased from 67% (187 of 279 students) in 2007–2008 to 91% (226 of 249 students) in 2017. Students with a history of varicella decreased from 114 of 279 (41%) in 2007–2008 to 48 of 249 (19%, P < .01) in 2017. Among them, the rate of breakthrough varicella after a single dose of vaccine in students with a history of varicella significantly increased from 38% (43 of 114 students) in 2007–2008 to 58% (28 of 48 students) in 2017 (P < .05). The antibody-positive rate significantly decreased from 50% among subjects without varicella zoster who received a single dose (95%CI: 41–58%) in 2007–2008 to 29% (95%CI: 21–38%) in 2017 (P < .01). The antibody-positive rate among students without varicella history who received two doses of vaccine was only 43% (95%CI: 32–55%) in 2017. The number of varicella infections and antibody-positive rate among students without history of varicella who received varicella vaccination decreased after the introduction of a national immunization program

Discussion on regional revitalization using woody biomass resources as renewable energy

Expanding the use of renewable energy is a matter of concern in many countries. Many Japanese local municipalities are attempting to promote business creation using renewable energy as an opportunity for regional revitalization based on the policy of the Japanese government. Renewable energy makes significant contributions to the region in terms of energy security, stable energy supply, and job creation. However, the most important contribution is enhancing residents' attachment to their community and supporting actions that appeal to the community through renewable energy utilization. Residents should actively participate in regional revitalization, which leads to sustainable prosperity of the region. However, the current measures of local municipalities seem to be lacking such a viewpoint. This study aims to analyse the environmental and economic aspects as well as the social acceptance of establishing a bathing business that utilizes woody biomass as its heat source. This study also discussed how the generation of heat from woody biomass contributes to regional revitalization. The case study area was Kobe and Mt. Rokko, Japan. First, heat production and utilization was assumed for the forest resources in Mt. Rokko, and the annual biomass energy production potential was estimated. The annual costs of lumber cutting, transportation, and chipping, and the annual CO2 reduction by substituting bunker A with woody biomass for heat production were also estimated. A questionnaire survey was conducted to determine community awareness of energy production using woody biomass from Mt. Rokko. Principal component analysis, contingent valuation method, and path analysis were used to quantify respondents' awareness

Carnitine deficiency is associated with decreased exercise activity in hemodialysis patients

Abstract Background and aim Carnitine deficiency is common and associated with muscle atrophy in hemodialysis (HD) patients. We investigated whether carnitine levels could be an independent predictor for exercise capacity in these patients. Method A total of 37 patients (mean age, 55.9 ± 13.4 years) who underwent HD three times a week were enrolled in this study. Carnitine fraction levels were measured by the enzyme cycling method. Univariate and multiple stepwise regression analyses were performed to determine the correlation between free carnitine levels and the value of exercise capacity examined by the time-up-and-go test (TUG), knee extension strength, functional reach test (FRT), and 10-m walk test, and thigh and calf circumferences as markers of muscle mass. Results Serum free carnitine levels were significantly decreased in HD patients. Free carnitine levels were associated with TUG (inversely; r 2 = 0.120, P = 0.035), knee extension strength (r 2 = 0.129, P = 0.029), FRT (r 2 = 0.246, P = 0.002), and the 10-m walk test (inversely; r 2 = 0.149, P = 0.018). Multiple stepwise regression analysis revealed that free carnitine was an independent predictor for FRT (β = 0.369, P < 0.001). There was no correlation between free carnitine levels and thigh and calf circumferences. Conclusion Low serum free carnitine levels were associated with decreased exercise capacity in HD patients, suggesting that carnitine deficiency may be a promising therapeutic target for HD-associated muscle weakness in HD patients. This study was retrospectively registered