Background: The potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 (KCNQ1) gene has recently received much attention as a candidate susceptibility gene for type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially in Asian populations. We previously reported that Kcnq1 mutant mice exhibit reduced insulin secretion and hyperglycemia due to a decrease in pancreatic β-cell mass. Through in vivo and in vitro analyses, we ascertained that this mechanism is the result of the downregulation of the non-coding RNA ‘Kcnq1ot1,’ which is expressed in the paternal allele of the Kcnq1 gene region, causing an increase in the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (Cdkn1c). It was found that decreased Kcnq1ot1 expression resulted in pancreatic β-cell failure; however, the degree of pancreatic β-cell volume reduction was not severe. Methods: We induced obesity in Kcnq1ot1 truncation mice by feeding them a high-fat diet and evaluated pancreatic β-cell mass. Results: In the present study, we reveal that CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ), which is expressed at higher levels in pancreatic β-cells in obese individuals, further increases the expression of Cdkn1c, which is upregulated by the Kcnq1 gene mutation. We found that simultaneous Cdkn1c hypomethylation and C/EBPβ overexpression in pancreatic β-cells causes a synergistic decrease in pancreatic β-cell mass. Conclusion This finding suggests that the synergistic effect of genetic factors such as Kcnq1 gene mutations and environmental factors such as obesity and overeating, which lead to increased expression of C/EBPβ, contribute to the regulation of pancreatic β-cell mass. This study is the first to show that the Kcnq1 gene is related to pancreatic β-cell mass through genetic-environment interactions.

Axillary skin dryness is a typical physical symptom of dehydration. This study was conducted to examine whether measuring axillary moisture with a simple skin hydrometer could be used as an objective indicator for dehydration assessment by nurses. The subjects were 86 patients aged 65 years or older admitted urgently to our hospital. Physical findings included observation of oral dryness, skin turgor, and sunken eyes and measurement of capillary refill time and axillary moisture. A simple commercially available skin hydrometer was used to measure axillary moisture. Blood tests were conducted to measure serum sodium levels, blood glucose, blood urea nitrogen, creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. Plasma osmolality was then calculated. In the dehydrated group, axillary moisture was lower, capillary refill time was delayed, and blood test results showed elevated sodium, blood urea nitrogen, and creatinine levels. There was consistency between plasma osmolality, axillary moisture and blood test values. Although the measurement accuracy of the simple hydrometer has not been validated, the quantification of axillary moisture using this instrument could be a simple diagnostic tool enabling objective nursing assessment of dehydration.

Introduction: This study aimed to identify issues and concerns involved in a community-based activity and to identify requirements for supporting its continuation. Methods: Between September and November 2021, interviews were conducted with 12 volunteer residents who manage a community-based activity. Deductive content analysis was used to analyze the data. Yrjö Engeström's activity system model was used as the analytical framework. Results: Within the components of the activity system, the following "contradictions" were identified: supporters were anxious to continue their activities, the number of new participants in the community-based activity was not increasing, and human relationship difficulties constituted a regional characteristic. Among the components, the following "contradictions" were identified: many older adults were unable to participate in the community-based activity because of age- or health-related reasons, many older adults worked, and there were various other activities that did not result in subsequent participation in the community-based activity. Conclusion: The model also identified the need to consider visualization of the benefits of the community-based activity, comprehensive publicity activities involving residents, creating a system that allows people of all health levels to participate, and ongoing support for health promotion for the younger generation with anticipation of old age.

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The Recaller app was developed to help individuals record their food intakes. This pilot study evaluated the usability of this new food picture application (app), which operates on a smartphone with an embedded camera and Internet capability. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Adults aged 19 to 28 years (23 males and 22 females) were assigned to use the Recaller app on six designated, nonconsecutive days in order to capture an image of each meal and snack before and after eating. The images were automatically time-stamped and uploaded by the app to the Recaller website. A trained nutritionist administered a 24-hour dietary recall interview 1 day after food images were taken. Participants' opinions of the Recaller app and its usability were determined by a follow-up survey. As an evaluation indicator of usability, the number of images taken was analyzed and multivariate Poisson regression used to model the factors determining the number of images sent. RESULTS: A total of 3,315 food images were uploaded throughout the study period. The median number of images taken per day was nine for males and 13 for females. The survey showed that the Recaller app was easy to use, and 50% of the participants would consider using the app daily. Predictors of a higher number of images were as follows: greater interval (hours) between the first and last food images sent, weekend, and female. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study provide valuable information for understanding the usability of the Recaller smartphone food picture app as well as other similarly designed apps. This study provides a model for assisting nutrition educators in their collection of food intake information by using tools available on smartphones. This innovative approach has the potential to improve recall of foods eaten and monitoring of dietary intake in nutritional studies.
Adult ; Eating ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Internet ; Male ; Meals ; Nutritionists ; Pilot Projects* ; Snacks

BACKGROUND/OBJECTIVES: The Recaller app was developed to help individuals record their food intakes. This pilot study evaluated the usability of this new food picture application (app), which operates on a smartphone with an embedded camera and Internet capability. SUBJECTS/METHODS: Adults aged 19 to 28 years (23 males and 22 females) were assigned to use the Recaller app on six designated, nonconsecutive days in order to capture an image of each meal and snack before and after eating. The images were automatically time-stamped and uploaded by the app to the Recaller website. A trained nutritionist administered a 24-hour dietary recall interview 1 day after food images were taken. Participants' opinions of the Recaller app and its usability were determined by a follow-up survey. As an evaluation indicator of usability, the number of images taken was analyzed and multivariate Poisson regression used to model the factors determining the number of images sent. RESULTS: A total of 3,315 food images were uploaded throughout the study period. The median number of images taken per day was nine for males and 13 for females. The survey showed that the Recaller app was easy to use, and 50% of the participants would consider using the app daily. Predictors of a higher number of images were as follows: greater interval (hours) between the first and last food images sent, weekend, and female. CONCLUSIONS: The results of this pilot study provide valuable information for understanding the usability of the Recaller smartphone food picture app as well as other similarly designed apps. This study provides a model for assisting nutrition educators in their collection of food intake information by using tools available on smartphones. This innovative approach has the potential to improve recall of foods eaten and monitoring of dietary intake in nutritional studies.
Adult ; Eating ; Female ; Follow-Up Studies ; Humans ; Internet ; Male ; Meals ; Nutritionists ; Pilot Projects* ; Snacks

Background : With the recent progression of the aging society in Japan, what is now seen as important is not simply treatment of disease alone, but also increased quality of life. We have investigated the correlation between the feeling of subjective health and mortality after mean 3.8 year among local residents.
Methods : In fiscal 2008, a self-recording questionnaire survey was conducted by mailing the questionnaire to 2,657 local residents. Correlation with deaths after mean 3.8 years was investigated based on the Resident Register. With regard to the evaluation items, as background factors related to death, social life conditions (gender·age), health conditions (history of cardiovascular disease, state of depression, subjective happiness, subjective health)and basic activities of daily living (BADL : walking, diet, excretion, bathing, dressing, and ambulation)were evaluated using a 4-point scale ranging from total assistance to completely independent. The Tokyo Metropolitan Institute of Gerontology (TMIG : instrumental independence, intellectual activity, and social role)was used to evaluate the lifestyle factors.
Results : Of 1825 subjects, 767 males (mean age : 67±13 years)and 1058 females (mean age : 68±11 years), could be analyzed. There were 91 deaths from 2008 to 2012. Investigation of factors that increased subjective health revealed that age, cardiovascular disease, state of depression, intellectual activities, and subjective happiness were items that showed significant correlation. Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that subjective health was a significant explanatory variable of death.
Conclusion : How one personally feels about one's state of health and how one recognizes that, are important. Though not seen physically, they can be considered as important parameters that predict prognosis.