Do Cattle Choose Preferred Plant Species Without Visual Sense? (Advanced Studies on Sustainable Animal Production: Interrelationships among Human, Animal and Environment, 8th International Symposium of Integrated Field Science)

Poster Sessio

Quantification of Bite Size, Bite Rate and Intake Rate in Cattle Foraging Japanese Native Grasses (Advanced Studies on Sustainable Animal Production: Interrelationships among Human, Animal and Environment, 8th International Symposium of Integrated Field Science)

Poster Sessio

Survey for teachers about picture book that convey the significance of class activities (1)

This study examined the usefulness of picture book that convey the significance of class activities for teachers. From the results, the developed picture book is (1) the teacher feels that the child may lead to the understanding of the consensus building process and the meaning of cooperation, and (2) teachers feel that it is particularly useful for third and fourth graders, but also for other grades., and (3)it was shown that many teachers considered using it for future practice and found it useful as a tool for learning teachers' guidance and advice.These results suggested a certain usefulness of it.この研究は，日本学術振興会科学研究費助成事業 基盤研究（C）課題番号18K02758：多様性に富む共生社会構築に向けた小学校用「多様性把握シート」の作成と活用（代表若松昭彦）によって行われた

Risk for Progression to Overt Hypothyroidism in an Elderly Japanese Population with Subclinical Hypothyroidism

Background: Few population-based studies report the changes with time in thyroid function tests in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. We compared the risk for developing overt hypothyroidism in patients with subclinical hypothyroidism and euthyroid controls from the same population of elderly Japanese. We also sought associations of selected parameters with the development of overt hypothyroidism in the subclinical hypothyroid and euthyroid groups. Methods: We measured thyrotropin (TSH) and free thyroxine (T4) levels at baseline examinations performed from 2000 to 2003 in the cohort of Japanese atomic-bomb survivors and identified 71 patients with spontaneous subclinical hypothyroidism (normal free T4 and TSH >4.5 mIU/L without a history of thyroid treatment, mean age 70 year) and 562 euthyroid controls. We re-examined TSH and free T4 levels an average of 4.2 years later (range, 1.9-6.9). Results: The risk for progression to overt hypothyroidism was significantly increased in subclinical hypothyroid patients (7.0%) compared with control subjects (1.6%) after adjusting for age and sex (odds ratio, 4.56; p=0.009). Higher baseline TSH levels were associated with progression from subclinical to overt hypothyroidism (p=0.02) in the multivariate analysis, including age, sex, antithyroid peroxidase antibody, and ultrasonography (US) findings. The analysis using binary TSH data suggested that a TSH level >8 mIU/L was a predictive value for development of overt hypothyroidism (p=0.005). On the other hand, serum TSH levels spontaneously normalized in 38 (53.5%) of the patients with subclinical hypothyroidism. In the multivariate analysis, normalization of TSH levels was associated with lower baseline TSH levels (p=0.004) and normal and homogenous thyroid US findings (p=0.04). Atomic-bomb radiation dose was not associated with subclinical hypothyroidism or its course. Conclusions: Subclinical hypothyroidism was four times more likely to be associated with development of overt hypothyroidism than euthyroid controls in the sample population of Japanese elderly. TSH levels in half of the patients normalized spontaneously when assessed after an average follow-up period of 4.2 years. Baseline TSH level and thyroid US findings are potential predictors of future thyroid function in subclinical hypothyroidism

Factors Associated with Dietary Change since the Outbreak of COVID-19 in Japan

In Japan, dietary habits have greatly changed since the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak; we examined factors related to dietary changes. An online cross-sectional questionnaire survey was conducted in November 2020 among 6000 Japanese adults (aged 20–64 years) registered with a research company and gathered data on demographics, socioeconomic factors, medical history, COVID-19 status of the respondent’s family and neighbors, fear of COVID-19, and changes in lifestyle and dietary habits since the COVID-19 outbreak. To the question “Have you made healthier changes to your dietary habits compared with the dietary habits before the spread of COVID-19 (1 year ago, November 2019)?”, 1215 (20.3%), 491 (8.2%), and 4294 (71.6%) participants answered that their dietary habits were healthier, unhealthier, and unchanged, respectively. Healthier and unhealthier dietary habits were associated with greater fear of COVID-19, altered exercise and sleep times, and smoking. Unhealthy habits were positively associated with living alone, decreasing household income, colleagues with COVID-19, stress, and weight loss/gain. Annual household income, changing household income, COVID-19 in friends, health literacy, exercise frequency, weight loss, and starting smoking were positively associated with healthier dietary changes. The generalizability of these results and strategies to inculcate healthy diets in this “new normal” should be investigated

Cases of Pediatric Pyelonephritis: A Single-Center Retrospective Study from an Extended-Spectrum β-Lactamase-Producing Escherichia coli Endemic Area in Japan

Background: Extended-spectrum β-lactamase (ESBL)-producing Escherichia coli has been increasingly recognized as the cause of upper urinary tract infection (UTI) in children. We have been using flomoxef at our department since 2017 as the first-line empiric therapy for children diagnosed with UTIs, and we avoid using carbapenems, which are considered the first-line treatment for ESBL-producing E. coli. However, reports on the use of flomoxef for UTIs are limited, especially for pediatric patients. The presence of vesicoureteral reflux at the onset of pyelonephritis is a concern. Severe vesicoureteral reflux can lead to repeated UTI and future deterioration of renal function, but the indication for voiding urethrography, which closely examines the presence of vesicoureteral reflux complications, is controversial. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the laboratory findings, treatment, and clinical course of 96 pyelonephritis cases experienced at our department over a 7-year period from April 2014 to March 2021. Results: ESBL-producing E. coli were identified as the cause of pyelonephritis in 51% of cases, and this value was significantly higher (88%) in 2017. No significant differences were found in the febrile period or recurrence rate between the flomoxef-initiated group and other antibiotics groups. We also examined clinical indicators to predict vesicoureteral reflux and found no significant differences in ultrasonographic findings of hydronephrosis. Conclusion: In the present series, 51% of all pyelonephritis cases were found to be caused by ESBL-producing E. coli, with a significant increase in recent years. Flomoxef may be a useful alternative to carbapenem for ESBL-producing E. coli and the initial antibiotic of choice for upper UTIs in children. The indication for voiding cystourethrography should be carefully determined