Young Japanese Men Research Articles

Erectile Function and Sexual Activity Are Declining in the Younger Generation: Results from a National Survey in Japan.

Twenty five years have passed since the first national survey on erectile dysfunction (ED) in Japan. The Japanese Society for Sexual Medicine conducted a nationwide survey on the actual status of sexual function targeting men over 20 years old in Japan using validated questionnaires commonly used in clinical practice. Japanese men aged 20 to 79 years participated in our online epidemiological study on sexual dysfunction. Erectile status was assessed by direct questioning and specific questionnaires. Risk factors and frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were assessed. The prevalence of these risk factors was compared between men with and without ED. Prevalence and frequencies were calculated for each 5-year age group. Main outcomes were the prevalence and number of patients with ED and simultaneous evaluation of age-related variations. Direct questioning of the men revealed that 13.0% felt troubled by ED. Although 81.0% of them had at least some ED symptoms based on a Sexual Health Inventory For Men score of ≤21, the prevalence of men with ED by Erection Hardness Score (EHS), the most appropriate questionnaire for Japanese with low sexual activity, was 30.9%, indicating that 14,012,596 men have ED. Most risk factors were related with ED, whereas frequencies of sexual intercourse, masturbation, nocturnal erections, and feeling sexual desire were affected by aging. However, the low frequency of these factors in the young generation was surprising. The EHS-based assessment revealed a prevalence of ED of 30.9%, which affected approximately 14 million men, and that the sexual desire, erection stiffness, orgasms, and satisfaction were lower than expected in young Japanese men, especially those aged 20 to 24 years, although those factors tended to worsen with aging. We believe that these findings actually reveal the current sexual status of men in Japan.

Longitudinal study on metabolic abnormalities and diabetes risk in normal-weight japanese adults.

Diabetes is a significant global health concern, with a growing prevalence in Japan. Individuals with normal body mass index who are metabolically unhealthy exhibit an elevated risk of diabetes onset. Investigating the relationship between Metabolically Unhealthy Normal-weight (MUNW) status and the risk of diabetes in non-diabetic individual is vital for implementing early preventive strategies. Using data from the NAGALA cohort, This study categorized 8,194 Japanese adults based on the score of metabolic syndrome (MetS) components they possessed. Cox proportional hazards regression models and multivariate logistic regression were used to assess the relationship between MUNW and the risk of developing diabetes, with analyses stratified by age and sex. During an average follow-up of 7.19 years, 123 participants (1.5%) were diagnosed with diabetes. Among the participants, 766 (9.35%) were classified as MUNW, and 157 (1.92%) as having MetS. Compared to those with no MetS components, individuals with 1, 2, and ≥3 MetS components had progressively higher adjusted hazard ratios (HRs) for developing diabetes, at 4.56, 8.79, and 25.16, respectively. Further stratified analysis revealed that men aged ≤40 years had the highest risk of developing diabetes. For men, the adjusted HRs for having 1, 2, and ≥3 MetS components were 5.61, 7.80, and 28.59, respectively, and for participants aged ≤40 years, the HRs were 12.31, 25.57, and 129.82, respectively. The prevalence of MUNW in non-diabetic individuals in Japan is 9.35%. The score of MetS components was positively correlated with the risk of diabetes. Early intervention and lifestyle modifications are crucial, especially for MUNW individuals and notably young Japanese men aged ≤40 years, for the prevention and management of diabetes.

Relationships Between Erectile Dysfunction, Depression, Anxiety, and Quality of Life in Young Japanese Men: A Cross-Sectional Study

Background: It is generally assumed that erectile dysfunction (ED) under the age of 40 is primarily driven by psychosocial factors. Aims This cross-sectional study evaluated ED, depression, anxiety, and quality of life among young Japanese men. Materials and Methods: We used an online survey to gather data from a wide range of community samples. ED was assessed by the IIEF-5 questionnaire, while depression, anxiety, and quality of life were assessed by the PHQ-9, GAD-7, and LISAT-8 questionnaires, respectively. Categorical data were evaluated by chi-square test and numerical data were estimated by one-way ANOVA. Post-hoc tests were conducted using the Holm method, which was used to control for type I errors. Cohen’s d index was calculated as effect sizes. Results: Valid responses from 329 individuals (age 33.93 ± 6.41 years) were obtained. According to IIEF-5 scores, the distribution of various severities of ED was as follows: non-ED, 37.39%; mild ED, 18.24%; mild to moderate ED, 27.36%; and moderate and severe ED, 17.02%. There were no significant differences in depression and anxiety between non-ED and ED men. In contrast, there were significant differences in quality of life between non-ED and ED men ( P < .01). Conclusions: We conclude that psychosocial factors may also be the cause of ED in young Japanese men besides depression and anxiety, and ED may reduce quality of life in various aspects. It is necessary to develop a Japanese version scale to measure ED-related psychosocial factors.

Raced to Death in 1920s Hawai‘i: Injustice and Revenge in the Fukunaga Case

Raced to Death in 1920s Hawai‘i: Injustice and Revenge in the Fukunaga Case

Prolonged α-thrombin-related activation and delayed active protein C-associated degradation confer mild phenotype in a patient with severe hemophilia A with F8 p.H118R.

In hemophilia A, bleeding mostly correlates with factor VIII activity (FVIII:C), although some patients show discrepancy in bleeding severity and FVIII:C. We report a novel procoagulant mechanism associated with F8 p.H118R (c.353A > G) in a young Japanese man with few bleeding episodes despite low levels of FVIII:C (< 1IU/dL). Plasma FVIII:C was < 1IU/dL measured by one-stage clotting assay (OSA) and chromogenic substrate assay (CSA), whereas FVIII antigen (FVIII:Ag) was 9.7%. The global coagulation assay showed higher max speed in clot waveform analysis (CWA), shorter clotting time in rotation thromboelastometry (ROTEM) (1605 vs. > 5000s), shorter lag time (4.87 vs. 12.47min) and larger ETP (207.9 vs. 53.3nM*min) in thrombin generation assay, compared with FVIII-deficient control. Expressed recombinant H118R mutant in culture media showed low FVIII:C (1-5IU/dL) by OSA, with non-hemophilia level of FVIII:Ag. Western blot analysis using recombinant H118R showed longer persistence of heavy-chain of H118R after incubation with α-thrombin, compared with wild-type. Incubation of H118R with activated protein C (APC) also showed longer persistence of A1-A2 domain. In conclusion, H118R showed prolonged activation by α-thrombin and delayed APC-related FVIII degradation. These properties may confer the procoagulant activity and few bleeding episodes despite low FVIII:C.

Desire and the Construction of Masculine Identities Among Young Japanese Men with International Experiences

This article uses qualitative interview data to analyse how young Japanese men with international experience spoke about (un)desirable masculine identities in relation to their sojourns. Specifically, this study investigates how ideas of desire and akogare (longing for something unattainable) were integral in the construction of ethno-national Japanese heterosexual male identities. By analysing intersections of race, ethnicity, gender, language and desire, this study argues that many participants perceived a hierarchy of desire abroad that elevated Western notions of hegemonic masculinity while simultaneously marginalizing heterosexual Asian masculinity. This was further complicated by participants who viewed host community women (who were often described as white native English speakers) as embodying ideal femininity. Japanese men’s subordinate masculinity was viewed as a barrier to romantic access to host community women, although for many participants, this group of women were seen as desirable romantic partners. This study also presents the stories of a small group of men who resisted marginalized masculine identities through criticism of the women in their host communities by assigning them a deviant femininity. This article illustrates how romantic desire can be used as a lens to analyse how Japanese male returned sojourners may replicate and challenge racial and gendered power structures.

Body height determines carotid stiffness following resistance exercise in young Japanese men.

Height is inversely associated with an increase in arterial stiffness after habitual resistance exercise (RE). Considering that RE is performed during exercise prescriptions, the association between height and the acute effects of RE on arterial stiffness should be clarified. We investigated the effects of height on arterial stiffness following transient RE. Thirty-nine young Japanese men were studied under parallel experimental conditions [sham control (seated rest) and RE (5 sets of 10 repetitions at 75% of one-repetition maximum)], which were randomly ordered on two separate days. The subjects were divided into tertiles of height (each group, n = 13). The β-stiffness index (index of arterial stiffness), assessed by carotid pulse pressure and distension, was measured in all subjects. A significant interaction between time, height, and RE was found for the β-stiffness index (P = 0.01). RE significantly increased the β-stiffness index in the lower-height group (P < 0.001), but not in the middle- and higher-height groups. Height was negatively associated with an increase in β-stiffness index following RE, even after controlling the confounders, including exercise volume and changes in heart rate and carotid pulse pressure (P = 0.003). The mediation analysis demonstrated a mediating effect of carotid distension on the relationship between height and changes in the β-stiffness index. These results suggest that short height individuals have increased arterial stiffness following RE due to decreased mechanical distension, rather than through the widening of pulsatile pressure.

The MOTS-c K14Q polymorphism in the mtDNA is associated with muscle fiber composition and muscular performance

Human skeletal muscle fiber is heterogenous due to its diversity of slow- and fast-twitch fibers. In human, slow-twitched fiber gene expression is correlated to MOTS-c, a mitochondria-derived peptide that has been characterized as an exercise mimetic. Within the MOTS-c open reading frame, there is an East Asian-specific m.1382A>C polymorphism (rs111033358) that changes the 14th amino acid of MOTS-c (i.e., K14Q), a variant of MOTS-c that has less biological activity. Here, we examined the influence of the m.1382A>C polymorphism causing MOTS-c K14Q on skeletal muscle fiber composition and physical performance. The myosin heavy chain (MHC) isoforms (MHC-I, MHC-IIa, and MHC-IIx) as an indicator of muscle fiber composition were assessed in 211 Japanese healthy individuals (102 men and 109 women). Muscular strength was measured in 86 physically active young Japanese men by using an isokinetic dynamometer. The allele frequency of the m.1382A>C polymorphism was assessed in 721 Japanese athletes and 873 ethnicity-matched controls. The m.1382A>C polymorphism genotype was analyzed by TaqMan SNP Genotyping Assay. Individuals with the C allele of the m.1382A>C exhibited a higher proportion of MHC-IIx, an index of fast-twitched fiber, than the A allele carriers. Men with the C allele of m.1382A>C exhibited significantly higher peak torques of leg flexion and extension. Furthermore, the C allele frequency was higher in the order of sprint/power athletes (6.5%), controls (5.1%), and endurance athletes (2.9%). Additionally, young male mice were injected with the MOTS-c neutralizing antibody once a week for four weeks to mimic the C allele of the m.1382A>C and assessed for protein expression levels of MHC-fast and MHC-slow. Mice injected with MOTS-c neutralizing antibody showed a higher expression of MHC-fast than the control mice. These results suggest that the C allele of the East Asian-specific m.1382A>C polymorphism leads to the MOTS-c K14Q contributes to the sprint/power performance through regulating skeletal muscle fiber composition.

Stature is negatively associated with increased arterial stiffness after high-intensity bicep curls training in young Japanese men

ABSTRACT Reports have indicated that high-intensity resistance training (RT) increases or does not change arterial stiffness. Meanwhile, higher stature has been suggested to have a protective effect on cardiovascular disease and arterial stiffness. Stature could explain the disagreement in the reported effects of RT on arterial stiffness. This study was aimed at investigating whether stature is related to RT-induced change in arterial stiffness. Thirty-six young Japanese men were assigned to the control (n = 15) and training groups (n = 21). RT programme consisted of supervised bicep curls 3 days per week for 4 weeks (5 sets of 10 repetitions at 75% of 1-repetition maximum). Arterial compliance (AC) and β-stiffness index (via combination of ultrasound and carotid pressure waveforms) were measured in all participants. To verify the effect of stature on RT-induced change in arterial stiffness, the training group was divided into tertiles of stature: lower, middle, and higher stature groups (each group, n = 7). RT significantly decreased AC and increased β-stiffness index in only the lower stature group (both, P < 0.05). Moreover, stature was positively associated with decreased AC and negatively associated with increased β-stiffness index, even after adjusting for confounders including changes in relative strength, pulse pressure, and arterial distension (P < 0.05). The present results suggest that short stature contributes to the increase in arterial stiffness induced by RT in young Japanese men. The present findings suggest that stature should be taken into consideration when designing/engaging in RT programme, due to potential implications for cardiovascular health. Highlights Participants were divided into 3 groups according to tertiles of statures, and arterial stiffness of lower stature group (range of stature: 161.0–169.8 cm) increased after resistance training in young Japanese men, but not middle and higher stature group. Stature was negatively associated with the changed arterial stiffness by resistance training. This study suggests that short stature contributes to the elevation in arterial stiffness elicited by resistance training.

Relationship Between Body Mass Index and Incidence of Atrial Fibrillation in Young Japanese Men - The Nishimura Health Survey.

The associations between body mass index (BMI) and incidence of atrial fibrillation (AF) in young men are scarce, especially in Asian countries, given the differences in BMI between Asians and Western populations. This study analyzed 17,865 middle-aged Japanese men without AF from a cohort of employees undergoing annual health examinations. AF incidence was evaluated during a follow-up period (median 4.0 years, interquartile range 2.0-7.1 years). Among young men aged 30-49 years, AF incidence was 0.64/1,000 person-years, whereas it was 2.54/1,000 and 7.60/1,000 person-years among men aged 50-59 and ≥60 years, respectively. Multivariable Cox regression analysis among young men revealed age (hazard ratio [HR] 3.28 by 10-years' increase, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.72-6.25, P<0.001), BMI (BMI-quadratic, HR 1.01, 95% CI 1.00-1.01, P<0.001, BMI-linear, HR 0.95, 95% CI 0.86-1.05, P=0.33), and electrocardiogram (ECG) abnormalities, such as PQ prolongation, supraventricular beat, and p wave abnormality (HR 8.79, 95% CI 3.05-25.32, P<0.001), were significantly associated with AF incidence. There was a reverse J-shaped association between BMI and AF incidence in young men, whereby the presence of ECG abnormality inversely influenced the BMI-incident AF relationship. A linear association between BMI and AF incidence in men aged 50-59 and ≥60 years was present. AF incidence displays a reverse J-shaped relationship with BMI in young men, but a linear association in men aged ≥50 years. The paradoxical relationship seen in young men only may reflect atrial electrical or structural abnormalities.

Significance of serum branched-chain amino acid to tyrosine ratio measurement in athletes with high skeletal muscle mass

BackgroundFew nutritional markers reflect the hypermetabolic state of athletes with high levels of skeletal muscle. Although branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) play crucial roles in protein metabolism in skeletal muscle, the relationship between skeletal muscle mass and amino acid imbalances caused by the metabolism of BCAA and aromatic amino acids remains unclear. The aim of this study is to test the hypothesis that athletes with high levels of skeletal muscle mass have plasma amino acid imbalances, assessed by serum BCAA to tyrosine ratio (BTR) which can be measured conveniently.MethodsThe study enrolled 111 young Japanese men: 70 wrestling athletes and 41 controls. None of them were under any medications, extreme dietary restrictions or intense exercise regimens. Each participant’s body composition, serum concentrations of albumin and rapid turnover proteins including transthyretin and transferrin, BTR, and thyroid function were assessed.ResultsCompared to the controls, the athletes had significantly higher skeletal muscle index (SMI) (p < 0.001), and lower serum albumin concentration (p < 0.001) and BTR (p < 0.001). Kruskal–Wallis tests showed that serum albumin concentration and BTR were significantly lower in the participants with higher SMI. Serum albumin concentration and BTR were inversely correlated with SMI by multiple regression analysis (logarithmic albumin, β = − 0.358, p < 0.001; BTR, β = − 0.299, p = 0.001). SMI was inversely and transthyretin was positively correlated with serum albumin (SMI, β = − 0.554, p < 0.001; transthyretin, β = 0.379, p < 0.001). Serum concentration of free 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (FT3) was inversely correlated with BTR, and, along with SMI and albumin, was independent predictor of BTR (SMI, β = − 0.321, p < 0.001; FT3, β = − 0.253, p = 0.001; logarithmic albumin, β = 0.261, p = 0.003). However, FT3 was not correlated with SMI or serum albumin. Serum concentrations of rapid turnover proteins were not correlated with BTR.ConclusionsIncreased skeletal muscle mass enhances the circulating amino acid imbalances, and is independently facilitated by thyroid hormones. Serum BTR may be a useful biomarker to assess the hypermetabolic state of wrestling athletes with high levels of skeletal muscle.

Association between skeletal muscle mass and serum concentrations of lipoprotein lipase, GPIHBP1, and hepatic triglyceride lipase in young Japanese men

BackgroundTwo important regulators for circulating lipid metabolisms are lipoprotein lipase (LPL) and hepatic triglyceride lipase (HTGL). In relation to this, glycosylphosphatidylinositol anchored high-density lipoprotein binding protein 1 (GPIHBP1) has been shown to have a vital role in LPL lipolytic processing. However, the relationships between skeletal muscle mass and lipid metabolism, including LPL, GPIHBP1, and HTGL, remain to be elucidated. Demonstration of these relationships may lead to clarification of the metabolic dysfunctions caused by sarcopenia. In this study, these relationships were investigated in young Japanese men who had no age-related factors; participants included wrestling athletes with abundant skeletal muscle.MethodsA total of 111 young Japanese men who were not taking medications were enrolled; 70 wrestling athletes and 41 control students were included. The participants’ body compositions, serum concentrations of lipoprotein, LPL, GPIHBP1 and HTGL and thyroid function test results were determined under conditions of no extreme dietary restrictions and exercises.ResultsCompared with the control participants, wrestling athletes had significantly higher skeletal muscle index (SMI) (p < 0.001), higher serum concentrations of LPL (p < 0.001) and GPIHBP1 (p < 0.001), and lower fat mass index (p = 0.024). Kruskal–Wallis tests with Bonferroni multiple comparison tests showed that serum LPL and GPIHBP1 concentrations were significantly higher in the participants with higher SMI. Spearman’s correlation analyses showed that SMI was positively correlated with LPL (ρ = 0.341, p < 0.001) and GPIHBP1 (ρ = 0.309, p = 0.001) concentration. The serum concentrations of LPL and GPIHBP1 were also inversely correlated with serum concentrations of triglyceride (LPL, ρ = − 0.198, p = 0.037; GPIHBP1, ρ = − 0.249, p = 0.008). Serum HTGL concentration was positively correlated with serum concentrations of total cholesterol (ρ = 0.308, p = 0.001), low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol (ρ = 0.336, p < 0.001), and free 3,5,3′-triiodothyronine (ρ = 0.260, p = 0.006), but not with SMI.ConclusionsThe results suggest that increased skeletal muscle mass leads to improvements in energy metabolism by promoting triglyceride-rich lipoprotein hydrolysis through the increase in circulating LPL and GPIHBP1.

Effects of oral fat stimulation on fat taste perception and preference among Japanese young men and women

Recent evidence suggests that oral chemoreception is involved in the detection of fat via its breakdown products, fatty acids. In addition, long‐term consumption of high‐fat diet was reported to decrease oral fatty acid sensitivity. However, it is unclear whether dietary fat temporarily modulates fat taste perception and preference. We examined whether dietary fat stimulation of lingual lipid sensors affects oral fatty acid sensitivity and fat preference, and compared the results with those of sucrose among healthy young Japanese men and women. In addition, we assessed the sex difference or effects of sex hormones on the basal level of oral fatty acid sensitivity, fat preference, and changes in their levels after dietary fat stimulation.Female subjects participated in laboratory experiments three times in a random order in the early and late follicular phases, and mid‐luteal phases during the menstrual cycle, and male subjects did so on an arbitrary day. To test oral fatty acid sensitivity, oleic acid (C18:1) detection thresholds were determined using a three‐alternative forced‐choice methodology. The fat preference test was carried out by choosing the preference for cottage cheese containing four different concentrations of food lipids. Measurements of oleic acid detection threshold and fat preference were repeated after a lingual stimulation by 5 min exposure of dietary fat or sucrose. After the experiments, subjects consumed a buffet‐style lunch where they ate various food items until comfortably full, and their energy intake, fat intake, and fat‐energy ratio was assessed. We analyzed the relationship between oleic acid sensitivity and fat preference, or energy intake and the effects of sex hormones on these variables.Oral oleic acid thresholds did not vary between men and women in the early follicular phase, but changed in three phases during the menstrual cycle in women. Short‐term lingual stimulation with dietary fat enhanced the oleic acid thresholds in both women and men. In addition, there was a correlation between the oleic acid threshold and energy intake after the stimulation. The present result suggests that oral fatty acid sensitivity decreases after dietary fat stimulation and mediates total energy intake in a meal. Additionally, ovarian hormones possibly affect energy intake through oral fatty acid sensitivity in women.This abstract is from the Experimental Biology 2019 Meeting. There is no full text article associated with this abstract published in The FASEB Journal.

Effects of Gender, Age, and Clot Formation on the Measurements of Tryptophan Metabolites in Blood

Background: Tryptophan metabolism plays important roles in health and diseases. Although simultaneous measurements of tryptophan metabolites are successfully measured, influences of age, gender, and clot formation on the measurements have not been reported. Methods: We took blood from young and old Japanese men and women and compared plasma levels of tryptophan metabolites. We also took plasma and serum from the blood of middle-aged men (n = 10). Metabolites analysis was performed by a liquid chromatograph tandem mass spectrometer, the LCMS-8060 quadrupole mass spectrometer combined with Nexera X2 liquid chromatograph system (Shimadzu Corporation, Kyoto, Japan). Body mass index (BMI) and TRP metabolites have been measured in healthy young men (n = 48), young women (n = 47), old men (n = 44), and old women (n = 39). TRP metabolites were measured by using the ultrahigh speed liquid chromatography-mass spectroscopy (Shimadzu Corporation). Results: Tryptophan and its metabolites such as serotonin, 5-hydroxyindole acetic acid, indole-3-acetic acid, kynurenine, anthranilic acid, were higher in young women and old men than young men and old women. Plasma levels of 3-hydroxykynurenine and xanthurenic acid were lower in young women and old men. Comparison of plasma and serum indicates that most of metabolites were higher in serum than plasma except for 3-hydroxy-kynurenine and quinolinic acid. Conclusion: Metabolites of the upper stream of degradation of tryptophan were higher in young women and old men than young men and old women, which suggests that the degradation of tryptophan was accelerated in young men and old women than young women and old men. Serum preparation may activate tryptophan degradation resulting in higher levels of metabolites in serum than in plasma.

Motehen: A Case Study of Shifting Perceptions of Japanese Masculinity and Desirability Through Study Abroad

Topics of gender, sexuality and desirability have become prominent themes in study abroad research, particularly when exploring the experiences of Japanese women overseas. However, little research has explored the gendered experiences of Japanese male international students. This paper presents the case study of Ki, a young Japanese man who studied abroad in the United States. During his sojourn, Ki experienced a significant shift in his perceptions of masculinity and desirability through clashes with essentialized Western romantic practices and gender norms. This article critically examines discriminatory discourses of Japanese heterosexual masculinity and argues that colliding with these discourses negatively altered Ki’s view of himself as a desirable romantic partner both during his sojourn and upon his return to Japan.

‘Yong lads of very good capacitie.’ Christopher and Cosmus, Anglo-Japanese pioneers

On 12 November 1588 two young Japanese men, known to posterity only by their English names Christopher and Cosmus, arrived in London with Thomas Cavendish, who had just completed the third known circumnavigation of the globe. Sources described them as intelligent and literate in Japanese, but also able to speak English, and hence they were consulted and celebrated by English scholars and courtiers; possibly also by Queen Elizabeth I. Three years later they attempted to sail with Thomas Cavendish for Japan via South America, but the English fleet failed to make it through the Strait of Magellan. Christopher and Cosmus almost definitely died on the voyage, along with most of their colleagues, although exactly where and when is not clear. This article attempts a research-based reconstruction of their lives and posits answers to outstanding questions, where did they come from in Japan, why were they on the Spanish galleon sailing to North America, and what was their legacy? It also looks at the aftermath, and later Anglo-Japanese relations.

Effects of levocetirizine and diphenhydramine on regional glucose metabolic changes and hemodynamic responses in the human prefrontal cortex during cognitive tasks.

ObjectiveAntihistamines often have sedative side effects. This was the first study to measure regional cerebral glucose (energy) consumption and hemodynamic responses in young adults during cognitive tests after antihistamine administration.MethodsIn this double‐blind, placebo‐controlled, three‐way crossover study, 18 healthy young Japanese men received single doses of levocetirizine 5 mg and diphenhydramine 50 mg at intervals of at least six days. Subjective feeling, task performances, and brain activity were evaluated during three cognitive tests (word fluency, two‐back, and Stroop). Regional cerebral glucose consumption changes were measured using positron emission tomography with [18F]fluorodeoxyglucose. Regional hemodynamic responses were measured using near‐infrared spectroscopy.ResultsEnergy consumption in prefrontal regions was significantly increased after antihistamine administration, especially diphenhydramine, whereas prefrontal hemodynamic responses, evaluated with oxygenated hemoglobin levels, were significantly lower with diphenhydramine treatment. Stroop test accuracy was significantly impaired by diphenhydramine, but not by levocetirizine. There was no significant difference in subjective sleepiness.ConclusionsPhysiological “coupling” between metabolism and perfusion in the healthy human brain may not be maintained under pharmacological influence due to antihistamines. This uncoupling may be caused by a combination of increased energy demands in the prefrontal regions and suppression of vascular permeability in brain capillaries after antihistamine treatment. Further research is needed to validate this hypothesis.

Pharmacokinetics and Pharmacodynamics of Anacetrapib Following Single Doses in Healthy, Young Japanese and White Male Subjects.

Anacetrapib is a cholesteryl ester transfer protein (CETP) inhibitor being developed for the treatment of mixed dyslipidemia. The aim of the study was to evaluate the pharmacokinetic, pharmacodynamic, and safety characteristics of anacetrapib following single doses in healthy, young Japanese men. In a double-blind, randomized, placebo-controlled, 3-panel, single-rising-dose study, 6 healthy young Japanese male or white male subjects (aged 19 to 44 years) received single oral doses of 5 to 500 mg anacetrapib, and 2 received placebo. Plasma and urine drug concentrations were measured 0-168 hours postdose, and plasma CETP inhibition was measured 0-24 hours postdose. Urinary anacetrapib levels were all below quantitation limits. Plasma concentrations of anacetrapib increased approximately less than dose-proportionally. Consumption of a traditional Japanese breakfast prior to dosing increased the plasma pharmacokinetics of anacetrapib in Japanese subjects compared with fasted conditions, to a similar extent as in white subjects. CETP activity measured over 0-24 hours postdose resulted in significant inhibition. Anacetrapib was generally well tolerated, and there were no serious adverse experiences. No clinically meaningful differences in PK and CETP inhibition parameters were found between Japanese and white subjects.

Contemporary Masculinity and Sexuality Identities Among Young Japanese Men

Although there are studies on masculinity in Japan (Nicolae, 2014; Kumagai, 2013), there is a paucity of research on the sexual expressions and masculine identities among young men in the changing social and psychological context of modern Japanese culture. The objective was to investigate sexual and masculine expressions among young Japanese men in regard to the societal context, based on qualitative data. The group of Japanese nationals aged 20-28 participated in the project. The data is still being collected and the expected number of participants will approximately reach 50 in total. An online questionnaire has been developed to collect the data and it required approximately 25 minutes for completion. Findings & discussion • The findings supported the hypothesis that participants defined masculinity in line with societal types presented to them through social messages and they followed the socially determined factors due to the gender schema theory.

Association of eating three meals irregularly with changes in BMI and weight among young Japanese men and women: A 2-year follow-up

ObjectiveEpidemiological longitudinal investigations of the association between not eating three meals regularly and changes in BMI and weight are scarce. The aim of this study was to investigate whether or not regularly eating three meals was associated with changes in BMI and weight in young Japanese men and women. MethodsStudy participants were 1241 men and 897 women aged 19.0±1.2 and 18.8±0.8years, respectively, who underwent health checkups at a university in Japan in 2001 as the baseline and subsequently in 2003. Weight and height were measured at baseline and 2years later. Whether an individual ate three meals regularly was determined by a self-report questionnaire in 2001. ResultsDuring the 2-year follow-up, the BMI gain was 0.347 for men and 0.067 for women. In the logistic regression analysis, for men, eating three meals irregularly was significantly associated with a 4% BMI gain (OR 1.60, CI 1.11–2.30), 6% BMI gain (OR 1.72, CI 1.12–2.63), 4kg weight gain (OR 2.01, CI 1.29–3.13), 6kg weight gain (OR 1.86, CI 1.02–3.37), and incidence of obesity (BMI ≧ 25)(OR 2.96, CI 1.22–7.17). For women, eating three meals irregularly was significantly associated with a 4% BMI loss (OR 1.99, CI 1.01–3.94), 6% BMI loss (OR 2.79, CI 1.29–6.03), 4kg weight loss (OR 3.85, CI 1.62–9.12), 6kg weight loss (OR 7.65, CI 2.06–28.46), and the incidence of underweight (OR 3.95, CI 1.32–11.89). ConclusionsThe current results suggested that eating three meals irregularly was associated with subsequent BMI and weight gains for men and subsequent BMI and weight losses for women; both groups were around 20years of age. Self-reported eating behavior in this study might be used to screen and evaluate young Japanese men and women at high risk for changes in BMI and weight in a practical clinical setting.