Although vitamin D has been experimentally reported to inhibit tumorigenesis, cell growth and prostate cancer invasion, epidemiologic data regarding prostate cancer risk are inconsistent, and some ...studies have suggested positive but nonsignificant associations. Further, the impact of vitamin D on prostate cancer between Western and Japanese populations may differ due to different plasma vitamin D levels.
We performed a nested case-control study within the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective (JPHC) Study in 14,203 men (40-69 years) who answered a self-administered questionnaire at baseline (1990-1994) and gave blood samples, and were followed until 2005. We identified 201 prostate cancers which are newly diagnosed during follow-up (mean 12.8 years). We selected two matched controls for each case from the cohort. We used a conditional logistic regression model to estimate the odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for prostate cancer with respect to levels of 25-hydroxy vitamin D (25(OH)D) in plasma.
We did not observe statistically significant association between 25(OH)D level and total prostate cancer (multivariate OR=1.13 (95%CI=0.66-1.94, P
=0.94) for the highest versus lowest tertile) However, 25(OH) levels were slightly positively associated with advanced cancer. The results remained substantially unchanged after stratification by intake of fish or calcium intake.
25(OH)D level showed no association with overall prostate cancer among Japanese men in this large cohort.
Summary
Sarcopenia is an age‐related loss of muscle mass and muscle strength or physical performance. There are limited data on the association between oral health and sarcopenia. To test the ...hypothesis that impaired dentition status was associated with sarcopenia, we conducted a cross‐sectional study. A total of 272 community‐dwelling Japanese adults aged ≥75 years for whom data were available from comprehensive health examinations conducted in 2015 were included in this study. During dental examination, the number of natural teeth and occluding pairs of natural teeth was counted. In denture wearers, the fit of the removable dentures was also evaluated. The criteria proposed by the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia were used to define sarcopenia. A multivariable logistic regression model was used to evaluate the association between dentition status and the presence of sarcopenia. The prevalence of sarcopenia was 25·7% (70/272). Compared to individuals with ≥10 occluding pairs of natural teeth, those with no occluding pairs of natural teeth had significantly higher risk of having sarcopenia (adjusted odds ratio, 3·37; 95% confidence interval, 1·07–10·61), after adjusting for possible confounders. In addition, compared to individuals with well‐fitting dentures, those with ill‐fitting dentures had significantly higher risk of having sarcopenia (adjusted odds ratio, 5·07; 95% confidence interval, 1·59–16·19). Our findings suggest that impaired dentition status is significantly associated with sarcopenia among community‐dwelling Japanese adults aged ≥75 years. Future longitudinal studies with larger, more diverse populations are necessary to validate our findings.
Sanita‐kun™ CC (coliform count) and EC (Escherichia coli/coliform count), sheet quantitative culture systems which can avoid chromogenic interference by lactase in food, were evaluated in comparison ...with conventional methods for these bacteria. Based on the results of inclusivity and exclusivity studies using 77 micro‐organisms, sensitivity and specificity of both Sanita‐kun™ met the criteria for ISO 16140. Both media were compared with deoxycholate agar, violet red bile agar, Merck Chromocult™ coliform agar (CCA), 3M Petrifilm™ CC and EC (PEC) and 3‐tube MPN, as reference methods, in 100 naturally contaminated food samples. The correlation coefficients of both Sanita‐kun™ for coliform detection were more than 0·95 for all comparisons. For E. coli detection, Sanita‐kun™ EC was compared with CCA, PEC and MPN in 100 artificially contaminated food samples. The correlation coefficients for E. coli detection of Sanita‐kun™ EC were more than 0·95 for all comparisons. There were no significant differences in all comparisons when conducting a one‐way analysis of variance (anova). Both Sanita‐kun™ significantly inhibited colour interference by lactase when inhibition of enzymatic staining was assessed using 40 natural cheese samples spiked with coliform. Our results demonstrated Sanita‐kun™ CC and EC are suitable alternatives for the enumeration of coliforms and E. coli/coliforms, respectively, in a variety of foods, and specifically in fermented foods.
Significance and Impact of the Study
Current chromogenic media for coliforms and Escherichia coli/coliforms have enzymatic coloration due to breaking down of chromogenic substrates by food lactase. The novel sheet culture media which have film layer to avoid coloration by food lactase have been developed for enumeration of coliforms and E. coli/coliforms respectively. In this study, we demonstrated these media had comparable performance with reference methods and less interference by food lactase. These media have a possibility not only to be useful alternatives but also to contribute for accurate enumeration of these bacteria in a variety of foods, and specifically in fermented foods.
Significance and Impact of the Study: Current chromogenic media for coliforms and Escherichia coli/coliforms have enzymatic coloration due to breaking down of chromogenic substrates by food lactase. The novel sheet culture media which have film layer to avoid coloration by food lactase have been developed for enumeration of coliforms and E. coli/coliforms respectively. In this study, we demonstrated these media had comparable performance with reference methods and less interference by food lactase. These media have a possibility not only to be useful alternatives but also to contribute for accurate enumeration of these bacteria in a variety of foods, and specifically in fermented foods.
Low concentrations of serum anti-oxidants, including ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol, are associated with higher risks of many inflammatory diseases that interrelate with oral health. The present ...study examined the longitudinal relationship of serum ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol to periodontal disease in 224 Japanese individuals, aged 71 yrs, for whom data were available for the years 1999-2007. Participants were classified by tertiles of serum ascorbic acid and of α-tocopherol. Full-mouth periodontal status, measured as clinical attachment level (CAL), was recorded at baseline and annual follow-up examinations. The number of teeth with a loss of CAL ≥ 3 mm at any site over the study period was calculated as ‘periodontal disease events’. Poisson regression analysis was conducted to assess predictors of periodontal disease events, with serum ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol as the primary predictors of interest. The multivariate adjusted relative risks (95% confidence intervals) in the highest, middle, and lowest tertiles were 1.00 (reference), 1.12 (1.01-1.26), and 1.30 (1.16-1.47) for ascorbic acid and 1.00 (reference), 1.09 (0.98-1.21), and 1.15 (1.04-1.28) for α-tocopherol, respectively. Our findings support the hypothesis that low serum levels of ascorbic acid and α-tocopherol may be a risk factor for periodontal disease in Japanese elderly.
Abstract
A small-momentum-width muon beam, so-called ultra-slow muon beam, can be generated by laser ionization of muonium. To realize efficient ultra-slow muon generation, the Lyman-alpha and below ...360 nm coherent light are required to resonantly excite the muonium from the ground state to 2
p
and sequentially ionizes excited muonium to the unbound state. At the J-PARC MLF Ultra-Slow Muon beamline, we have successfully generated Lyman-alpha coherent light exceeding 10 μJ using an all-solid-state laser and high-efficiency vacuum ultraviolet light generation technologies. In this paper, we will describe the intense Lyman-alpha light source.
Saturated fatty acids (SFAs) produce an inflammatory response. Hyperinflammation is now recognized as one of the key underlying etiologic factors in periodontal disease. The longitudinal relationship ...between dietary SFAs and periodontal disease in 264 Japanese individuals, aged 75 years, for whom data were available for the years 2003-2004, was investigated. SFA intake was assessed with a brief self-administered diet history questionnaire. Participants were classified by quartiles of SFA intake. Full-mouth periodontal status, measured as the clinical attachment level (CAL), was recorded at baseline and follow-up examinations. The number of teeth with a loss of CAL ≥ 3 mm at any site over a year was calculated as ‘periodontal disease events’. Poisson regression analysis was conducted, with dietary SFAs as the primary predictor of interest, to estimate their influence on periodontal disease events. High dietary SFA intake was significantly associated with a greater number of periodontal disease events among non-smokers. The multivariate adjusted relative risk (95% confidence intervals) in the 1st, 2nd, 3rd, and 4th quartiles of dietary SFAs was 1.00, 1.19 (0.72-1.97), 1.55 (0.95-2.52), and 1.92 (1.19-3.11), respectively. These findings suggest an independent association of dietary SFA intake to the progression of periodontal disease in older Japanese non-smokers.Abbreviations: saturated fatty acid (SFA); clinical attachment level (CAL); Toll-like receptor (TLR); lipopolysaccharide (LPS); brief self-administered diet history questionnaire (BDHQ); decayed, missing, and filled teeth (DMFT); clinical attachment level (CAL); body mass index (BMI); relative risk (RR); confidence intervals (CI); nuclear factor-kappa B (NF-κB).
We present a new measurement of the Λ4H hypernuclear lifetime using in-flight K− + 4He → Λ4H + π0 reaction at the J-PARC hadron facility. We demonstrate, for the first time, the effective selection ...of the hypernuclear bound state using only the γ-ray energy decayed from π0. This opens the possibility for a systematic study of isospin partner hypernuclei through comparison with data from (K−, π−) reaction. As the first application of this method, our result for the Λ4H lifetime, τ(HΛ4)=206±8(stat.)±12(syst.)ps, is one of the most precise measurements to date. We are also preparing to measure the lifetime of the hypertriton (Λ3H) using the same setup in the near future.
Abstract
Various factors influence each other in an ion source. Therefore, when operating an ion source, it is necessary to optimize and adjust various parameters. This time, we performed an ...experiment to automize adjustment that maximizes the brightness of the beam using machine learning. By automatically adjusting 4 parameters, we succeeded in finding a point with a beam brightness of 4.32 × 10
-6
mA/(imm mrad)
2
in 25 steps. This shows that automatic adjustment using Bayesian optimization is feasible.
The papers in this special section focus on modeling, analysis, and advanced control in motion-control systems. Precision, agility, robustness, efficiency, and intelligence are now becoming the ...design indexes for modern motion control systems. High control performance, intelligent functions, or efficiency improvements advance the level of motion control products or systems and bring a lot of benefits for companies. The difficulties for the control research academics and practicing engineers lie in various factors, such as nonlinearities, friction, complex internal dynamics, time-varying parameters in the system dynamics, external disturbances in the working environment, and complex work tasks. These make the control design a very challenging work. To employ advanced control algorithms and schemes, time-/frequency-domain modeling, system identification, observation for unmeasured states, estimation for pivotal parameters, and the corresponding analyses are often necessary.
Objective
Compared with western populations, the consumption of soy foods among Japanese is very high and the incidence of endometrial cancer very low. We evaluated the association of soy food and ...isoflavone intake with endometrial cancer risk in Japanese women.
Design
Prospective cohort study.
Setting
Ten public health centre areas in Japan.
Population
Forty nine thousand one hundred and twenty‐one women of age 45–74 years who responded to a 5‐year follow‐up survey questionnaire.
Methods
Intakes of soy foods as well as other covariates were assessed in 1995–1998 by a self‐administered food frequency questionnaire. Cox proportional hazards regression models were used to estimate hazard ratios (HR) and 95% confidence intervals (CI).
Main outcome measure
Incidence of endometrial cancer.
Results
During an average of 12.1 years of follow up, 112 newly diagnosed endometrial cancer cases were identified. Energy‐adjusted intakes of soy food and isoflavone were not associated with the risk of endometrial cancer. The multivariate‐adjusted HR per 25 g/day increase in the intake of soy food was 1.02 (95% CI 0.94–1.10), and the corresponding value for isoflavone intake per 15 mg/day was 1.01 (95% CI 0.84–1.22).
Conclusion
In this population‐based prospective cohort study of Japanese women, we observed no evidence of a protective association between soy food or isoflavone intake and endometrial cancer risk.
