BACKGROUND: Deterioration in lifestyle associated with poor mental health could be an important concern during the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic. However, few studies have investigated the association between mental health status and lifestyle changes during the pandemic in nationwide Japanese general population. METHODS: This cross-sectional study was conducted using the data among 1,546 participants of the follow-up study of NIPPON DATA2010 in 2021. Recent mental status, as assessed using the Kessler 6 (K6) scale, and lifestyle changes compared to before the pandemic were determined using self-reported questionnaires. Some lifestyle changes such as decreased physical activity were defined as undesirable, whereas others such as decreased alcohol drinking were defined as desirable. The participants were divided into three groups based on the K6 scores: the K6<5, 5≤K6<9, and K6≥9 groups. The odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of the K6 groups for each lifestyle change compared with that in the K6<5 group were estimated after adjusting for possible confounders. RESULTS: The ORs of the K6≥9 group for all undesirable lifestyle changes were significantly high, especially increased alcohol drinking (OR 4.64; 95% CI, 2.71-7.93), and decreased physical activity (OR 4.63; 95% CI, 3.29-6.52). Among the desirable changes, the OR of the 5≤K6<9 group was significantly high for increased eating home cooking. CONCLUSIONS Poor mental health showed a significant association with undesirable lifestyle changes, especially increased alcohol drinking and decreased physical activity, in a nationwide general Japanese population during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Humans ; COVID-19/epidemiology* ; Japan/epidemiology* ; Male ; Female ; Mental Health/statistics & numerical data* ; Middle Aged ; Cross-Sectional Studies ; Life Style ; Adult ; Aged ; Exercise ; Alcohol Drinking/epidemiology* ; SARS-CoV-2 ; Pandemics ; East Asian People

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between reference planes and oral functions on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four subjects with no abnormalities in the maxillofacial region and oral functions were enrolled in this study. Relationships between angles between the reference plane (Frankfort horizontal plane, Camper’s plane, and occlusal plane) and masticatory performance, occlusal force, and occlusal contact area by chewing side were examined. Regarding the measurement of reference planes, a creatively modified three-plane measuring device was used to measure angles between the reference planes. Images were taken from the right and left sides and angles between reference planes were measured. Masticatory performance was examined by measuring the amount of glucose extracted from a gummy jelly on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides separately. Occlusal force and occlusal contact area were measured by occluding against pressure-sensitive film, and values on the habitual and nonhabitual chewing sides were calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: The angle between Camper’s plane and the occlusal plane correlated with masticatory performance on both the habitual chewing side (r = 0.47, P < .01) and the nonhabitual chewing side (r = 0.36, P < .05). A correlation was observed between masticatory performance and occlusal force on the habitual chewing side (r = 0.46, P < .01). CONCLUSION Masticatory performance became higher as occlusal plane inclination increased. This result represents essential knowledge for prosthetic treatment.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between reference planes and oral functions on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four subjects with no abnormalities in the maxillofacial region and oral functions were enrolled in this study. Relationships between angles between the reference plane (Frankfort horizontal plane, Camper’s plane, and occlusal plane) and masticatory performance, occlusal force, and occlusal contact area by chewing side were examined. Regarding the measurement of reference planes, a creatively modified three-plane measuring device was used to measure angles between the reference planes. Images were taken from the right and left sides and angles between reference planes were measured. Masticatory performance was examined by measuring the amount of glucose extracted from a gummy jelly on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides separately. Occlusal force and occlusal contact area were measured by occluding against pressure-sensitive film, and values on the habitual and nonhabitual chewing sides were calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: The angle between Camper’s plane and the occlusal plane correlated with masticatory performance on both the habitual chewing side (r = 0.47, P < .01) and the nonhabitual chewing side (r = 0.36, P < .05). A correlation was observed between masticatory performance and occlusal force on the habitual chewing side (r = 0.46, P < .01). CONCLUSION Masticatory performance became higher as occlusal plane inclination increased. This result represents essential knowledge for prosthetic treatment.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between reference planes and oral functions on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four subjects with no abnormalities in the maxillofacial region and oral functions were enrolled in this study. Relationships between angles between the reference plane (Frankfort horizontal plane, Camper’s plane, and occlusal plane) and masticatory performance, occlusal force, and occlusal contact area by chewing side were examined. Regarding the measurement of reference planes, a creatively modified three-plane measuring device was used to measure angles between the reference planes. Images were taken from the right and left sides and angles between reference planes were measured. Masticatory performance was examined by measuring the amount of glucose extracted from a gummy jelly on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides separately. Occlusal force and occlusal contact area were measured by occluding against pressure-sensitive film, and values on the habitual and nonhabitual chewing sides were calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: The angle between Camper’s plane and the occlusal plane correlated with masticatory performance on both the habitual chewing side (r = 0.47, P < .01) and the nonhabitual chewing side (r = 0.36, P < .05). A correlation was observed between masticatory performance and occlusal force on the habitual chewing side (r = 0.46, P < .01). CONCLUSION Masticatory performance became higher as occlusal plane inclination increased. This result represents essential knowledge for prosthetic treatment.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between reference planes and oral functions on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four subjects with no abnormalities in the maxillofacial region and oral functions were enrolled in this study. Relationships between angles between the reference plane (Frankfort horizontal plane, Camper’s plane, and occlusal plane) and masticatory performance, occlusal force, and occlusal contact area by chewing side were examined. Regarding the measurement of reference planes, a creatively modified three-plane measuring device was used to measure angles between the reference planes. Images were taken from the right and left sides and angles between reference planes were measured. Masticatory performance was examined by measuring the amount of glucose extracted from a gummy jelly on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides separately. Occlusal force and occlusal contact area were measured by occluding against pressure-sensitive film, and values on the habitual and nonhabitual chewing sides were calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: The angle between Camper’s plane and the occlusal plane correlated with masticatory performance on both the habitual chewing side (r = 0.47, P < .01) and the nonhabitual chewing side (r = 0.36, P < .05). A correlation was observed between masticatory performance and occlusal force on the habitual chewing side (r = 0.46, P < .01). CONCLUSION Masticatory performance became higher as occlusal plane inclination increased. This result represents essential knowledge for prosthetic treatment.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to investigate the relationships between reference planes and oral functions on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-four subjects with no abnormalities in the maxillofacial region and oral functions were enrolled in this study. Relationships between angles between the reference plane (Frankfort horizontal plane, Camper’s plane, and occlusal plane) and masticatory performance, occlusal force, and occlusal contact area by chewing side were examined. Regarding the measurement of reference planes, a creatively modified three-plane measuring device was used to measure angles between the reference planes. Images were taken from the right and left sides and angles between reference planes were measured. Masticatory performance was examined by measuring the amount of glucose extracted from a gummy jelly on the habitual and non-habitual chewing sides separately. Occlusal force and occlusal contact area were measured by occluding against pressure-sensitive film, and values on the habitual and nonhabitual chewing sides were calculated and analyzed. RESULTS: The angle between Camper’s plane and the occlusal plane correlated with masticatory performance on both the habitual chewing side (r = 0.47, P < .01) and the nonhabitual chewing side (r = 0.36, P < .05). A correlation was observed between masticatory performance and occlusal force on the habitual chewing side (r = 0.46, P < .01). CONCLUSION Masticatory performance became higher as occlusal plane inclination increased. This result represents essential knowledge for prosthetic treatment.

Purpose: To investigate the clinical significance of adaptive radiotherapy (ART) in locally advanced nasopharyngeal carcinoma treated with intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT). Materials and Methods: Eligible patients were treated with concurrent chemoradiotherapy using IMRT. Planning computed tomography in ART was performed during radiotherapy, and replanning was performed. Since ART was started in May 2011 (ART group), patients who were treated without ART up to April 2011 (non-ART group) were used as the historical control. The Kaplan-Meier method was used to calculate overall survival (OS), locoregional recurrence-free survival (LRFS), progression-free survival (PFS), and distant metastasis-free survival (DMFS). LRFS for the primary tumor (LRFS_P) and regional lymph node (LRFS_LN) were also studied for more detailed analysis. Statistical significance was evaluated using the log-rank test for survival. Results: The ART group tended to have higher radiation doses. The median follow-up period was 127 months (range, 10 to 211 months) in the non-ART group and 61.5 months (range, 5 to 129 months) in the ART group. Compared to the non-ART group, the ART group showed significantly higher 5-year PFS (53.8% vs. 81.3%, p = 0.015) and LRFS (61.2% vs. 85.3%, p = 0.024), but not OS (80.7% vs. 80.8%, p = 0.941) and DMFS (84.6% vs. 92.7%, p = 0.255). Five-year LRFS_P was higher in the ART group (61.3% vs. 90.6%, p = 0.005), but LRFS_LN did not show a significant difference (91.9% vs. 96.2%, p = 0.541). Conclusion Although there were differences in the patient backgrounds between the two groups, this study suggests the potential effectiveness of ART in improving locoregional control, especially in the primary tumor.

Background/Aims: Immune checkpoint blockade has recently been reported to be effective in treating microsatellite instability (MSI)-high tumors. Therefore, sufficient sampling of histological specimens is necessary in cases of unresectable pancreatic cancer (UR-PC). This multicenter study investigated the efficacy of endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle biopsy (EUS-FNB) using a Franseen needle for MSI evaluation in patients with UR-PC. Methods: A total of 89 patients with UR-PC who underwent endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle aspiration (EUS-FNA) or EUS-FNB using 22-G needles at three hospitals in Japan (2018–2021) were enrolled. Fifty-six of these patients (FNB 23 and FNA 33) were followed up or evaluated for MSI. Patient characteristics, UR-PC data, and procedural outcomes were compared between patients who underwent EUS-FNB and those who underwent EUS-FNA. Results: No significant difference in terms of sufficient tissue acquisition for histology was observed between patients who underwent EUS-FNB and those who underwent EUS-FNA. MSI evaluation was possible significantly more with tissue samples obtained using EUS-FNB than with tissue samples obtained using EUS-FNA (82.6% [19/23] vs. 45.5% [15/33], respectively; p<0.01). In the multivariate analysis, EUS-FNB was the only significant factor influencing the possibility of MSI evaluation. Conclusions EUS-FNB using a Franseen needle is desirable for ensuring sufficient tissue acquisition for MSI evaluation.

Objective: Breast cancer susceptibility gene 1 (BRCA1)-associated ovarian cancer patients have been treated with A poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) inhibitor, extending the progression-free survival; however, they finally acquire therapeutic resistance. Interleukin (IL)-34 has been reported as a poor prognostic factor in several cancers, including ovarian cancer, and it contributes to the therapeutic resistance of chemotherapies. IL-34 may affect the therapeutic effect of PARP inhibitor through the regulation of tumor microenvironment (TME). Methods: In this study, The Cancer Genome Atlas (TCGA) data set was used to evaluate the prognosis of IL-34 and human ovarian serous carcinoma. We also used CRISPR-Cas9 genome editing technology in a mouse model to evaluate the efficacy of PARP inhibitor therapy in the presence or absence of IL-34. Results: We found that IL34 was an independent poor prognostic factor in ovarian serous carcinoma, and its high expression significantly shortens overall survival. Furthermore, in BRCA1-associated ovarian cancer, PARP inhibitor therapy contributes to anti-tumor immunity via the XCR1+ DC-CD8+ T cell axis, however, it is canceled by the presence of IL-34. Conclusion These results suggest that tumor-derived IL-34 benefits tumors by creating an immunosuppressive TME and conferring PARP inhibitor therapeutic resistance. Thus, we showed the pathological effect of IL-34 and the need for it as a therapeutic target in ovarian cancer.