Immunoglobulin free light chain-κ in association with NT-proBNP levels after smoking cessation.

Background: Smoking induces inflammation in the heart and intima layer of blood vessels by activating nuclear factor kappa B, which controls the transcription of immunoglobulin free light chain (FLC)-κ. FLC levels are indicative of higher mortality in the overall population and poorer prognoses in cardiovascular diseases. This study aimed to analyze the effect of smoking cessation (SC) on the levels of FLCs and markers of inflammation and heart failure.

Self-Reported Weight Gain After the Age of 20 and Risk of Steatotic Liver Disease.

: We aimed to identify questionnaire items associated with an increased risk of developing hepatic steatosis in the general population. : A total of 15,063 individuals aged ≥20 years who underwent general health checkups and had no hepatic steatosis at baseline were included. The relationship between questionnaire data at baseline and hepatic steatosis incidence over a median 4.

Phase Angle Is a Potential Novel Early Marker for Sarcopenia and Cognitive Impairment in the General Population.

Background: Sarcopenia is associated with an increased risk for dementia. This study aimed to elucidate the relationship between sarcopenia-related indices and cognitive decline in the general population.

Methods: This was a cross-sectional study involving 263 participants (163 men with a median age of 60 years [interquartile range = 53-70] and 100 women with a median age of 58 years [interquartile range = 49-68]) who underwent a general health examination.

In vivo evaluation of tissue damage from varying grasping forces using the Saroa surgical system.

Robot-assisted surgery can help to reduce patient burden and operator stress by enabling precise manipulations with multiple joint motions, but may also cause complications due to the lack of tactile sensation. The Saroa surgical system was developed with a haptic feedback function, and allows operators to adjust grasping forces as desired. In this study, we investigated tissue damage from varying grasping forces using the Saroa surgical system, and assessed the utility of this system.

Oral intake of degalactosylated whey protein increases peripheral blood telomere length in young and aged mice.

In order to elucidate novel actions of degalactosylated whey protein (D-WP) in comparison with intact whey protein (WP), the effects of oral intake of D-WP on peripheral blood telomere length and telomerase were examined in young and aged mice. In young mice, peripheral blood telomere length was significantly elongated following oral intake of D-WP for 4 weeks. mRNA expression of both telomerase reverse transcriptase (TERT) and telomerase RNA component (TERC) was significantly increased in the peripheral blood following oral intake of D-WP for 4 weeks.

Association between subjective walking speed and metabolic diseases in individuals with obesity: a cross-sectional analysis.

The association between subjective walking speed and metabolic diseases has received limited attention, particularly in individuals with obesity. We aimed to clarify this association using comprehensive health checkup data of participants with obesity. In total, 8578 individuals with a body mass index ≥ 25.

Post hoc analysis of the characteristics and treatment needs of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and their caregivers and their physicians' awareness of those treatment needs according to the duration after diagnosis of DLB.

Objectives: To investigate the differences in patient/caregiver characteristics, their treatment needs, and the attending physician's understanding of those treatment needs according to the duration after diagnosis of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB).

Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of a multicenter, cross-sectional, questionnaire survey study. A total of 263 patient-caregiver pairs were reclassified into two groups according to the median duration after diagnosis of DLB as follows: short (<24 months; S-group) and long (≥24 months; L-group) post-DLB diagnosis duration.

The Effects of Dietary Intervention and Macrophage-Activating Factor Supplementation on Cognitive Function in Elderly Users of Outpatient Rehabilitation.

Background: Age, genetic, and environmental factors are noted to contribute to dementia risk. Neuroplasticity, protection from degeneration and cell death, and early intervention are desirable for preventing dementia. The linkage between neurons and microglia has been a research focus.

Efficacy of highly bioavailable oral curcumin in asymptomatic or mild COVID-19 patients: a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled trial.

Introduction: Even after the peak of the COVID-19 pandemic, the number of mild cases remains high, requiring continuous control. Curcumin, owing to its anti-inflammatory properties, can suppress vital proliferation and cytokine secretion in animal models. We developed a highly absorbable curcumin, curcuRouge (cR), which is approximately 100 times more orally bioavailable than conventional curcumin.

Factors Associated with Quality of Life in Patients with Dementia with Lewy Bodies: Additional Analysis of a Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Quality of life (QOL) and treatment needs of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and their caregivers are important factors to consider when developing treatment strategies.

Objective: To investigate factors associated with QOL in patients with DLB, and to examine factors associated with activities of daily living (ADL) if ADL was associated with QOL.

Methods: We previously conducted a questionnaire survey study to investigate the treatment needs of patients with DLB and their caregivers.

Effect of degalactosylated bovine glycoprotein formulations MAF and M сapsules on lymphopenia and clinical outcomes in hospitalized COVID-19 patients: a randomized clinical trial.

Background: Targeting mucosal immunity of the gut, which is known to provide antigen processing, while avoiding excessive or unnecessary inflammation, was tested as a way to modulate COVID-19 severity.

Methods: Randomized open-label trial in 204 adults hospitalized with non-critical COVID-19 who received for 14 days in addition to standard of care (SOC) degalactosylated bovine glycoproteins formulations of either MAF capsules (MAF group) or M capsules (M group) or SOC only (control group).

Results: Median recovery time when patients did not require supplemental oxygen was 6 days in both study groups compared to 9 days in the control (MAF vs.

Five percent weight loss is a significant 1-year predictor and an optimal 5-year cut-off for reducing the number of obesity-related cardiovascular disease risk components: the Japan Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Study.

Objective: This study aimed to identify the amount of weight loss needed in patients with obesity to improve metabolic syndrome (MetS), a risk factor for cardiovascular disease (CVD), over a long period of time.

Methods: A total of 576 patients with obesity were enrolled in this study. Effects of continuous physician-supervised weight loss on the cumulative MetS components excluding abdominal circumference (defined as obesity-related CVD risk score) were investigated during a 5-year follow-up period.

Age-wise examination of the association of obesity based on body mass index and waist circumference with metabolic diseases in comprehensive health checkup participants.

Aim: Body mass index and waist circumference are used for obesity diagnosis and screening of visceral fat; however, their evidence in older adults is insufficient. This study investigated the age-specific association of body mass index and waist circumference with metabolic diseases, assessing their applicability as diagnostic criteria for individuals aged ≥65 years.

Methods: Analysis included 46,324 individuals aged ≥18 years, categorized into five age groups: 18-44, 45-54, 55-64, 65-74, and ≥75 years.

Differences in the treatment needs of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies and their caregivers and differences in their physicians' awareness of those treatment needs according to the clinical department visited by the patients: a subanalysis of an observational survey study.

Background: We investigated whether the treatment needs of patients with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB) and their caregivers, along with their attending physicians' perception of those treatment needs, differ according to the clinical department visited by the patients.

Methods: This was a subanalysis of a multicenter, cross-sectional, observational survey study. Data from the main study were classified according to the clinical department visited by the patient: psychiatric group (P-group), geriatric internal medicine group (G-group), and neurology group (N-group).

Impact of coronavirus disease 2019 on medical practice in endocrine and metabolic diseases in Japan: a nationwide surveillance study conducted by the Japan Endocrine Society.

We investigated the impact of the Coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on the management of endocrine and metabolic disorders in Japan. We conducted a cross-sectional nationwide questionnaire survey targeting board-certified endocrinologists under the auspices of the Japan Endocrine Society. The questionnaire consisted of multiple-choice questions and open-ended responses.

Eating problems in people with dementia with Lewy bodies: Associations with various symptoms and the physician's understanding.

Objectives: Eating problems frequently occur in people with dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB), but few studies have investigated the clinical background of this phenomenon. This study examined the relationship between eating problems and various symptoms of DLB and the relation between the treatment needs for DLB people with eating problems and the understanding of their eating problems by caregivers and physicians.

Design, Measurements, And Participants: This was a subanalysis of a cross-sectional, questionnaire-based survey study.

Imeglimin Exhibits Novel Anti-Inflammatory Effects on High-Glucose-Stimulated Mouse Microglia through ULK1-Mediated Suppression of the TXNIP-NLRP3 Axis.

Type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) is an epidemiological risk factor for dementia and has been implicated in multifactorial pathologies, including neuroinflammation. In the present study, we aimed to elucidate the potential anti-inflammatory effects of imeglimin, a novel antidiabetic agent, on high-glucose (HG)-stimulated microglia. Mouse microglial BV2 cells were stimulated with HG in the presence or absence of imeglimin.

Impact of smoking initiation age on nicotine dependency and cardiovascular risk factors: a retrospective cohort study in Japan.

Aims: Initiating smoking in early adolescence results in challenges with smoking cessation and is associated with high risk of cardiovascular disease. Recently, the initiation of smoking has transitioned from adolescence to young adulthood. However, there are few reports on the impact of initiating smoking at a later age.

Understanding impacts of COVID-19 restrictions on glycemic control for patients with diabetes in Japan.

Objective: This study evaluated the changes in the status of glycemic control and lipid management in patients with diabetes under COVID-19 containment restrictions, in order to better understand the impacts of events causing lifestyle restrictions. Patient characteristics with worsened glycemic control were also assessed.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective and observational cohort study using the electronic health records of 5,169 patients with diabetes seeking medical care in two healthcare centers.

A body shape index is useful for BMI-independently identifying Japanese patients with obesity at high risk of cardiovascular disease.

Background And Aim: Obesity with multiple metabolic syndrome (MetS) components and/or with skeletal muscle loss is at high risk of cardiovascular disease (CVD). This study aimed to clarify the utility of anthropometric indices for identifying patients with overweight/obese at high risk of CVD based on having multiple MetS components and skeletal muscle loss.

Methods & Results: This cross-sectional study included 188 overweight/obese (BMI ≥25 kg/m, Japanese patients; 73 men and 115 women, mean age 55.

Comparative efficacy and safety of adjunctive drugs to levodopa for fluctuating Parkinson's disease - network meta-analysis.

It remains unclear which adjunctive drug for Parkinson's disease (PD) in combination with levodopa is more effective, tolerable, and safe. We aimed to compare the efficacy, tolerability, and safety among anti-PD drugs from several classes in patients with fluctuating PD who received levodopa through network meta-analysis (NMA). Twelve anti-PD drugs belonging to 4 different drug classes (dopamine agonists, monoamine oxidase type B inhibitors, catechol-O-methyl transferase inhibitors, and an adenosine A2A receptor antagonist) were selected.

Differences in metabolic characteristics between Metabolically Healthy Obesity (MHO) and Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity (MUO) in weight reduction therapy.

Metabolically Healthy Obesity (MHO) is generally recognized as the absence of any metabolic disorders and cardiovascular diseases, including type 2 diabetes, dyslipidemia, and hypertension, in obese individuals; however, it is not clearly defined. Therefore, the present study investigated differences in metabolic characteristics between individuals with MHO and Metabolically Unhealthy Obesity (MUO) during weight reduction therapy. The key factors defining MHO and the importance of weight reduction therapy for MHO were also examined.

Novel pathological implications of serum uric acid with cardiovascular disease risk in obesity.

Aims: This cohort study intended to elucidate the association between serum uric acid (SUA) levels and cardiovascular disease events in Japanese patients with obesity.

Methods: Altogether, 450 obese Japanese outpatients were enrolled in a multicenter prospective cohort Japan, the Japan Obesity and Metabolic Syndrome Study. Primary analysis regarding the measurements of cardiovascular risk factors, including SUA levels, and the occurrence of macrovascular complications was based on following the participants over a 5-year period.