Background: This study examined how the frequency of in-person, telephone, text-based communication, and video interactions with non-cohabiting family and friends relates to loneliness among older adults in Japan. Methods: We analyzed data from 6,786 adults aged ≥65 in the 2024 Japan COVID-19 and Society Internet Survey (JACSIS) study. Interaction frequency with non-cohabiting family and friends was categorized into none (reference), monthly, and weekly or more. Loneliness was measured using the 3-item UCLA Loneliness Scale and dichotomized at ≥4, indicating loneliness; a ≥7 cut-off was used in sensitivity analyses. Logistic regression models adjusted for sociodemographic, lifestyle, and health-related factors. Results: For family, significant associations with lower loneliness were observed only at weekly frequencies—in-person (adjusted odds ratio [aOR]=0.764, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.664–0.879), text (aOR=0.747, 95% CI 0.659–0.846), and telephone (aOR=0.624, 95% CI 0.543–0.718), whereas for friends, significant associations were observed at monthly frequencies—in-person (aOR=0.621, 95% CI 0.549–0.701), text (aOR=0.881, 95% CI 0.778–0.997), and telephone (aOR=0.734, 95% CI 0.659–0.819). Video calls were associated with lower odds of severe loneliness (score ≥7) in sensitivity analyses—weekly calls with family (aOR=0.736, 95% CI 0.547–0.991) and monthly calls with friends (aOR=0.656, 95% CI 0.470–0.917). Conclusion Interactions with friends show associations with lower levels of loneliness at lower frequencies than family contact. While text and phone calls are broadly associated with reduced loneliness, video calls showed an association specifically with a lower prevalence of severe loneliness, underscoring the potential for tailored communication strategies.

Because of an increased number of Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) along with associated disease burdens, medical professionals have become more aware of this pathogen in recent years. In this study, by analyzing both the nuclear 18S small subunit ribosomal RNA (18S rRNA) and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene loci, 27 clinical Acanthamoeba strains that caused AK in Japan were classified into 3 genotypes, T3 (3 strains), T4 (23 strains), and T5 (one strain). Most haplotypes were identical to the reference haplotypes reported from all over the world, and thus no specificity of the haplotype distribution in Japan was found. The T4 sub-genotype analysis using the 16S rRNA gene locus also revealed a clear sub-conformation within the T4 cluster, and lead to the recognition of a new sub-genotype T4i, in addition to the previously reported sub-genotypes T4a-T4h. Furthermore, 9 out of 23 strains in the T4 genotype were identified to a specific haplotype (AF479533), which seems to be a causal haplotype of AK. While heterozygous nuclear haplotypes were observed from 2 strains, the mitochondrial haplotypes were homozygous as T4 genotype in the both strains, and suggested a possibility of nuclear hybridization (mating reproduction) between different strains in Acanthamoeba. The nuclear 18S rRNA gene and mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene loci of Acanthamoeba spp. possess different unique characteristics usable for the genotyping analyses, and those specific features could contribute to the establishment of molecular taxonomy for the species complex of Acanthamoeba.
Acanthamoeba/classification/genetics/growth & development/*isolation & purification ; Acanthamoeba Keratitis/*parasitology ; Cell Nucleus/*genetics ; DNA, Mitochondrial/*genetics ; DNA, Protozoan/genetics ; Humans ; Japan ; Molecular Sequence Data ; Phylogeny ; RNA, Ribosomal, 16S/*genetics ; RNA, Ribosomal, 18S/*genetics

We investigated the relationship between body weight reduction and intensity of daily physical activities assessed with 3-dimensional accelerometer during a 3-month exercise program. Twenty-six middle-aged women (58.1±7.4 yrs.) participated in this study. Participants underwent a 90-min endurance exercise intervention once a week, and a 3-dimensionsal accelerometer was attached through the program. Body weight (BW), body mass index, fat mass and percent body fat were reduced significantly (p<0.001), while diastolic blood pressure (p<0.01) and shuttle stamina walking test (p<0.05) improved significantly after the exercise intervention. Moreover, a significant negative correlation was observed between the changes in BW and total activity time (TAT) per day of more than 3METs (TAT≥3METs)(r=−0.580, p<0.01) and TAT≥4METs (r=−0.627, p<0.001). To the contrary, the daily steps and the TAT≥2METs were not related to the changes in BW. After adjusting daily steps, TAT≥3METs (β=−0.630, p<0.01) and TAT≥4METs (β=−0.659, p<0.01) were still significantly related to the changes in BW. These results indicate that weight reduction has a much closer relationship with exercise intensity than daily steps. It is important to keep both quantity and intensity of exercise in the unsupervised exercise program aimed at weight reduction.