後藤 健介

This study investigated the impact of emergency food temperature variation andthe presence of privacyon stress with the aim of potentially reducing the stress of living in an evacuation center during large-scale disasters. Salivary amylase activity of the subjects was measured. Results showed no statistically significant impact on stress due to variations in the temperature of emergency food or privacy. However, the survey noted points for improvement, including experiment settings and relationships between subjects, which highlighted the need for future research and surveys. This study is expected to aid with initiatives that reduce stress in evacuation centershowever, more detailed condition settings are required in order to eliminate individual stress level differences.

The earthquakes in Kumamoto (2016) and Osaka (2018) in Japan revealed grave repercussions of collapsed block walls, causing fatalities and severe damage. These incidents underscored the need for understanding and mitigating the risk posed by these structures. In response, this study focused on assessing block walls collapse risk. Surveys across Nagasaki, Tokyo, and Chiba scrutinized various factors like rebar presence, wall appearance, and maintenance status using a Japan Concrete Block Association chart. Results revealed alarming statistics: 38% of block walls in Nagasaki posed a danger, with factors like lack of rebar and wall age significantly impacting collapse risk. Comparing regions, earthquake-experienced Kanto had 19% risky block walls versus 38% in less-experienced Kyushu, emphasizing the influence of earthquake awareness on residents perception of block wall risks. Lack of rebar emerged as a primary risk factor across all areas. Considering block walls have a lifespan of 20-30 years, deteriorating rebar due to corrosion poses imminent risks. Urgent surveys and awareness campaigns, especially along school routes, are crucial to prevent tragedies like the young girls death in Osaka. The study emphasizes scholars responsibility to disseminate accurate information about block wall risks during earthquakes. However, challenges persist, such as unclear property ownership, hindering countermeasures even after identifying high-risk walls. Looking ahead, national diagnostic surveys are essential to address the looming danger, especially considering potential seismic events like the Nankai Trough Earthquake. Disaster education must prioritize teaching children about the risks of block walls during earthquakes to ensure their safety.

Female sand fleas (Tunga penetrans Linnaeus, 1758, Siphonaptera: Tungidae) cause a severe parasitic skin disease known as tungiasis. T. penetrans is a small flea, measuring less than 1 mm in length. The females of this species burrow into the skin of human and animal hosts and mostly affect the feet. This has led to the anecdotal assumption that T. penetrans, unlike its relatives in the Siphonaptera family, would have a limited jumping ability potentially not reaching higher body parts. However, there is no data supporting this. This study evaluated the jumping capabilities of T. penetrans for height and distance using sticky tapes. The vertical jump of the female T. penetrans ranged from 4.5 to 100 mm with a mean of 40 mm whereas the vertical jump of the male T. penetrans ranged from 1.2 to 138 mm with a mean of 46 mm. The horizontal jump of the female T. penetrans ranged from 18 to 138 mm with a mean of 64 mm and that of the male ranged from 9 to 251 mm with a mean of 80 mm. Based on the literature, fleas of various species have been described as jumping vertically 50-100 times their size and horizontally 5-100 times their size. In this respect, sand fleas appear to have equal expert jumping abilities to their relatives. Their aggregation on people's feet is not likely a result of their poor jumping ability but might be an adaptation to the host's behavior which would require further investigations.

INTRODUCTION: Snakebites are a major cause of permanent injury and death among poor, rural populations in developing countries, including those in East Africa. This research characterizes snakebite incidence, risk factors, and subsequent health-seeking behaviors in two regions of Kenya using a mixed methods approach. METHODS: As a part of regular activities of a health demographic surveillance system, household-level survey on snakebite incidence was conducted in two areas of Kenya: Kwale along the Kenyan Coast and Mbita on Lake Victoria. If someone in the home was reported to have been bitten in the 5 years previous to the visit, a survey instrument was administered. The survey gathered contextual information on the bite, treatment-seeking behavior and clinical manifestations. To obtain deeper, contextual information, respondents were also asked to narrate the bite incident, subsequent behavior and outcomes. RESULTS: 8775 and 9206 households were surveyed in Kwale and Mbita, respectively. Out of these, 453 (5.17%) and 92 (1.00%) households reported that at least one person had been bitten by a snake in the past 5 years. Deaths from snakebites were rare (4.04%), but patterns of treatment seeking varied. Treatment at formal care facilities were sought for 50.8% and at traditional healers for 53.3%. 18.4% sought treatment from both sources. Victims who delayed receiving treatment from a formal facility were more likely to have consulted a traditional healer (OR 8.8995% CI [3.83, 20.64]). Delays in treatment seeking were associated with significantly increased odds of having a severe outcome, including death, paralysis or loss of consciousness (OR 3.47 95% CI [1.56; 7.70]). CONCLUSION: Snakebite incidence and outcomes vary by region in Kenya, and treatment-seeking behaviors are complex. Work needs to be done to better characterize the spatial distribution of snakebite incidence in Kenya and efforts need to be made to ensure that victims have sufficient access to effective treatments to prevent death and serious injury.

Tungiasis is a cutaneous parasitosis caused by an embedded female sand flea. The distribution of cases can be spatially heterogeneous even in areas with similar risk profiles. This study assesses household and remotely sensed environmental factors that contribute to the geographic distribution of tungiasis cases in a rural area along the Southern Kenyan Coast. Data on household tungiasis case status, demographic and socioeconomic information, and geographic locations were recorded during regular survey activities of the Health and Demographic Surveillance System, mainly during 2011. Data were joined with other spatial data sources using latitude/longitude coordinates. Generalized additive models were used to predict and visualize spatial risks for tungiasis. The household-level prevalence of tungiasis was 3.4% (272/7925). There was a 1.1% (461/41,135) prevalence of infection among all participants. A significant spatial variability was observed in the unadjusted model (p-value < 0.001). The number of children per household, earthen floor, organic roof, elevation, aluminum content in the soil, and distance to the nearest animal reserve attenuated the odds ratios and partially explained the spatial variation of tungiasis. Spatial heterogeneity in tungiasis risk remained even after a factor adjustment. This suggests that there are possible unmeasured factors associated with the complex ecology of sand fleas that may contribute to the disease's uneven distribution.

INTRODUCTION: Tungiasis is a ectopic skin disease caused by some species of fleas in the Tunga genus, most notably T. penetrans. The disease afflicts poor and marginalized communities in developing countries. Transmission of tungiasis comprises a complex web of factors including domesticated animals and wildlife. This research explores animal and environmental risk factors for tungiasis in an area adjacent to a wildlife reserve in Kwale, Kenya. METHODS: A two-stage complex sampling strategy was used. Households were selected from three areas in and around Kwale Town, Kenya, an area close to the Kenyan Coast. Households were listed as positive if at least one member had tungiasis. Each household was administered a questionnaire regarding tungiasis behaviors, domesticated animal assets, and wild animal species that frequent the peridomiciliary area. Associations of household tungiasis were tests with household and environmental variables using regression methods. RESULTS: The study included 319 households. Of these, 41 (12.85%) were found to have at least one person who had signs of tungiasis. There were 295 (92.48%) households that possessed at least one species of domesticated animal. It was reported that wildlife regularly come into the vicinity of the home 90.59% of households. Presence of dogs around the home (OR 3.85; 95% CI 1.84; 8.11) and proximity to the park were associated with increased risk for tungiasis infestation in humans in a multivariate regression model. CONCLUSIONS: Human tungiasis is a complex disease associated with domesticated and wild animals. Canines in particular appear to be important determinants of household level risk.

平成 28 年 4 月 14 日の前震、および同年 4 月 16 日の本震が熊本県地方を襲った平成 28年熊本地震は、2 度の震度 7 の大地震が観測されたことに加え、度重なる余震によって、死者 211 名、全壊建物 8,682 棟を出すなど甚大な被害となった。本論では、人的被害、建物被害、ライフライン被害、交通インフラ被害など、多方面において深刻な影響を与えたこの地震について、現地調査や種々の資料収集を実施した結果を整理し、今回の地震災害の特徴を被害状況とともに把握するとともに、今回の地震被害を教訓とする今後の減災への課題について検討した。The large earthquake occurred twice in Kumamoto, Japan in April 14th and 16th, 2016, with record seismic intensity. By this large earthquake, we had serious damages, 211 peoples died, and 8,682 households were destroyed completely. We have conducted some field surveys, and have grasped from various angles some characteristics of the damage situation of this large earthquake, related to loss of lives, building damage, lifeline damage, transportation infrastructure damage, and so on. To summarize, we have investigated about the issues of natural disaster reduction from characteristics of damage situation in 2016 Kumamoto Earthquake.

HIV is still a major health problem in developing countries. Even though high HIV-risk-taking behaviors have been reported in African fishing villages, local distribution patterns of HIV infection in the communities surrounding these villages have not been thoroughly analyzed. The objective of this study was to investigate the geographical distribution patterns of HIV infection in communities surrounding African fishing villages. In 2011, we applied age-and sex-stratified random sampling to collect 1,957 blood samples from 42,617 individuals registered in the Health and Demographic Surveillance System in Mbita, which is located on the shore of Lake Victoria in western Kenya. We used these samples to evaluate existing antibody detection assays for several infectious diseases, including HIV antibody titers. Based on the results of the assays, we evaluated the prevalence of HIV infection according to sex, age, and altitude of participating households. We also used Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic to test for HIV clustering in the study area. The prevalence of HIV at our study site was 25.3%. Compared with the younger age group (15-19 years), adults aged 30-34 years were 6.71 times more likely to be HIV-positive, and the estimated HIV-positive population among women was 1.43 times larger than among men. Kulldorff's spatial scan statistic detected one marginally significant (P = 0.055) HIV-positive and one significant HIV-negative cluster (P = 0.047) in the study area. These results suggest a homogeneous HIV distribution in the communities surrounding fishing villages. In addition to individual behavior, more complex and diverse factors related to the social and cultural environment can contribute to a homogeneous distribution pattern of HIV infection outside of African fishing villages. To reduce rates of transmission in HIV-endemic areas, HIV prevention and control programs optimized for the local environment need to be developed.

In recent times, tsunamis and typhoons have threatened Japan's coastal lands with increased flooding and salinity. Using satellite data, we monitored the effect of increased salinity on vegetation health in the coastal area of southern Japan, which was affected by flooding following Typhoon 9918 in 1999. An index of plant activity called the Normalized Difference Vegetation Index (NDVI) was evaluated before and after the typhoon, and the change in NDVI was computed as a comparison measure. The results were then correlated with electric conductivity, which is a measure of soil salinity. A strong negative correlation was found between NDVI ratio and salt concentration (r = - 0.7731, n = 50, p &lt; 0.0001), indicating that the reduced NDVI values were attributable to increased salinity from the flooding. These results not only provide useful insight into a rapid method of assessing large-scale flood impacts using satellite data, but also validate the monitoring of NDVI as an indicator of salinity damage to vegetation. To summarise, by understanding the changes in vegetation health following natural disasters such as flooding (as revealed by NDVI), we can potentially develop improved management strategies.

The Mbita Health and Demographic Surveillance System (Mbita HDSS), located on the shores of Lake Victoria in Kenya, was established in 2006. The main objective of the HDSS is to provide a platform for population-based research on relationships between diseases and socio-economic and environmental factors, and for the evaluation of disease control interventions. The Mbita HDSS had a population of approximately 54 014 inhabitants from 11 576 households in June 2013. Regular data are collected using personal digital assistants (PDAs) every 3 months, which includes births, pregnancies, migration events and deaths. Coordinates are taken using geographical positioning system (GPS) units to map all dwelling units during data collection. Cause of death is inferred from verbal autopsy questionnaires. In addition, other health-related data such as vaccination status, socio-economic status, water sources, acute illness and bed net distribution are collected. The HDSS has also provided a platform for conducting various other research activities such as entomology studies, research on neglected tropical diseases, and environmental health projects which have benefited the organization as well as the HDSS community residents. Data collected are shared with the community members, health officials, local administration and other relevant organizations. Opportunities for collaboration and data sharing with the wider research community are available and those interested should contact. shimadam@nagasaki-u.ac.jp or mhmdkarama@yahoo.com. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of the International Epidemiological Association © The Author 2013 all rights reserved.

In tropical and subtropical regions of eastern and South-eastern Asia, dengue fever (DF) and dengue hemorrhagic fever (DHF) outbreaks occur frequently. Previous studies indicate an association between meteorological variables and dengue incidence using time series analyses. The impacts of meteorological changes can affect dengue outbreak. However, difficulties in collecting detailed time series data in developing countries have led to common use of monthly data in most previous studies. In addition, time series analyses are often limited to one area because of the difficulty in collecting meteorological and dengue incidence data in multiple areas. To gain better understanding, we examined the effects of meteorological factors on dengue incidence in three geographically distinct areas (Ratnapura, Colombo, and Anuradhapura) of Sri Lanka by time series analysis of weekly data. The weekly average maximum temperature and total rainfall and the total number of dengue cases from 2005 to 2011 (7 years) were used as time series data in this study. Subsequently, time series analyses were performed on the basis of ordinary least squares regression analysis followed by the vector autoregressive model (VAR). In conclusion, weekly average maximum temperatures and the weekly total rainfall did not significantly affect dengue incidence in three geographically different areas of Sri Lanka. However, the weekly total rainfall slightly influenced dengue incidence in the cities of Colombo and Anuradhapura. © 2013 Goto et al.

Background: Identification of malaria vector breeding sites can enhance control activities. Although associations between malaria vector breeding sites and topography are well recognized, practical models that predict breeding sites from topographic information are lacking. We used topographic variables derived from remotely sensed Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) to model the breeding sites of malaria vectors. We further compared the predictive strength of two different DEMs and evaluated the predictability of various habitat types inhabited by Anopheles larvae. Methods. Using GIS techniques, topographic variables were extracted from two DEMs: 1) Shuttle Radar Topography Mission 3 (SRTM3, 90-m resolution) and 2) the Advanced Spaceborne Thermal Emission Reflection Radiometer Global DEM (ASTER, 30-m resolution). We used data on breeding sites from an extensive field survey conducted on an island in western Kenya in 2006. Topographic variables were extracted for 826 breeding sites and for 4520 negative points that were randomly assigned. Logistic regression modelling was applied to characterize topographic features of the malaria vector breeding sites and predict their locations. Model accuracy was evaluated using the area under the receiver operating characteristics curve (AUC). Results: All topographic variables derived from both DEMs were significantly correlated with breeding habitats except for the aspect of SRTM. The magnitude and direction of correlation for each variable were similar in the two DEMs. Multivariate models for SRTM and ASTER showed similar levels of fit indicated by Akaike information criterion (3959.3 and 3972.7, respectively), though the former was slightly better than the latter. The accuracy of prediction indicated by AUC was also similar in SRTM (0.758) and ASTER (0.755) in the training site. In the testing site, both SRTM and ASTER models showed higher AUC in the testing sites than in the training site (0.829 and 0.799, respectively). The predictability of habitat types varied. Drains, foot-prints, puddles and swamp habitat types were most predictable. Conclusions: Both SRTM and ASTER models had similar predictive potentials, which were sufficiently accurate to predict vector habitats. The free availability of these DEMs suggests that topographic predictive models could be widely used by vector control managers in Africa to complement malaria control strategies. © 2013 Nmor et al licensee BioMed Central Ltd.

MINEMATSU, K., M. NOGUCHI, S. MURAKI, R. FUKUDA, K. GOTO, K. TAGAMI, M. YUASA, E. MARUI, and N. TSUNAWAKE. Effect of Exercise on Bone Status and Body Composition in Japanese Students. Med. Sci. Sports Exerc., Vol. 44, No. 7, pp. 1382-1387, 2012. Purpose: We evaluated the effect of exercise on stiffness and fat-free mass (FFM), which consists of bone and muscle, in Japanese students. It is uncertain whether exercise or sports activities will help to accumulate overall peak bone mass in Japanese adolescents. Methods: A total of 710 Japanese students (age = 15-20 yr) were enrolled. Students who regularly engage in physical exercise were assigned to an exercise group; other students were assigned to a nonexercise group. Body composition, including height, weight, waist circumference, hip circumference, body mass index, and waist-to-hip ratio, were measured and calculated. Lung volume, body volume, and body fat percentage were evaluated by air displacement plethysmography. Fat mass and FFM were derived from body fat percentage and body weight. Bone status, such as speed of sounds, broadband ultrasound attenuation, and stiffness, which is defined as bone density, was assessed by quantitative ultrasound. Results: In both sexes, height, weight, body mass index, circumferences, waist-to-hip ratio, lung volume, and body volume between the exercise and nonexercise groups did not show any significant differences. FFM, speed of sounds, broadband ultrasound attenuation, and stiffness in the exercise group were statistically higher than those in the nonexercise group (P &lt; 0.05). Although stiffness positively correlated with age with the exception of the nonexercise group in females (P &lt; 0.01), stiffness correlated with FFM in the exercise and nonexercise groups in both sexes (P &lt; 0.01). Conclusions: Ours is the first analysis of a trend in peak bone mass, including the effect of exercise in Japanese students. For Japanese pubertal females who did not have a history of regular exercise, stiffness slowly decreased with age. Exercise habits in early childhood are important in the relationship between stiffness and FFM.

Background: The Health and Demographic Surveillance System (HDSS) is a longitudinal data collection process that systematically and continuously monitors population dynamics for a specified population in a geographically defined area that lacks an effective system for registering demographic information and vital events. Methods: HDSS programs have been run in 2 regions in Kenya: in Mbita district in Nyanza province and Kwale district in Coast Province. The 2 areas have different disease burdens and cultures. Vital events were obtained by using personal digital assistants and global positioning system devices. Additional health-related surveys have been conducted bimonthly using various PDA-assisted survey software. Results: The Mbita HDSS covers 55 929 individuals, and the Kwale HDSS covers 42 585 individuals. In the Mbita HDSS, the life expectancy was 61.0 years for females and 57.5 years for males. Under-5 mortality was 91.5 per 1000 live births, and infant mortality was 47.0 per 1000 live births. The total fertility rate was 3.7 per woman. Data from the Kwale HDSS were not available because it has been running for less than I year at the time of this report. Conclusions: Our HDSS programs are based on a computer-assisted survey system that provides a rapid and flexible data collection platform in areas that lack an effective basic resident registration system. Although the HDSS areas are not representative of the entire country, they provide a base for several epidemiologic and social study programs, and for practical community support programs that seek to improve the health of the people in these areas.

During a comparison of the infectivity of mNDK, a CD4-independent human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) strain, to various cell lines, we found that HeLa cells were much less susceptible than 293T and TE671 cells. Hybridoma cells between HeLa and 293T cells were as susceptible as 293T cells, suggesting that cellular factors enhance the mNDK infection in 293T cells. By screening a cDNA expression library in HeLa cells, cystatin C was isolated as an enhancer of the mNDK infection. Because cathepsin B protease, a natural ligand of cystatin C, was upregulated in HeLa cells, we speculated that the high levels of cathepsin B activities were inhibitory to the CD4-independent infection and that cystatin C enhanced the infection by impairing the excessive cathepsin B activity. Consistent with this idea, pretreatment of HeLa cells with 125 mu M of CA-074Me, a cathepsin B inhibitor, resulted in an 8-fold enhancement of the mNDK infectivity. Because cathepsin B is activated by low pH in acidic endosomes, we further examined the potential roles of endosomes in the CD4-independent infection. Suppression of endosome acidification or endocytosis by inhibitors or by an Eps15 dominant negative mutant reduced the infectivity of mNDK in which CD4-dependent infections were not significantly impaired. Taken together, these results suggest that endocytosis, endosomal acidification, and cathepsin B activity are involved in the CD4-independent entry of HIV-1.

The present study was designed to develop a simple predictive equation for the percent body fat (%BF) in Japanese adults based on variables collected during health examinations. We hypothesized that a benchmark for defining metabolic syndrome and obesity could be based on %BF, which was measured by underwater weighing (UW) as a gold standard for body composition assessment. Thus, we developed a predictive equation for %BF derived from UW that may contribute to the assessment of obesity status, characterized by an excess accumulation of visceral or subcutaneous fat. The subjects were 810 Japanese participants (283 men, 527 women, ages 18-59 years). Anthropometric variables, including height, weight, 7 circumferences, and 8 skinfold thicknesses, were measured. The developed predictive equation was as follows: %BF = 10.558 x sex (1 for men; 2 for women) + 0.069 x age + 0.667 x body mass index + 0.314 x abdominal circumference - 35.881. The coefficient of determination (r(2)) was 0.69. The predicted %BF derived from this equation was highly correlated with LW-measured values and did not show underestimation or overestimation in either sex. These data suggested that this predictive equation for %BF can be used for all Japanese adults and does not require the use of medical equipment and special measurement techniques. By combining the equation for %BF developed in this study with a %BF cutoff value of metabolic syndrome and obesity (&gt; 25.0% in men and &gt; 30.0% in women), all Japanese adults can easily and conveniently assess obesity status. (C) 2011 Elsevier inc. All rights reserved.

Background: Measles remains a serious vaccine preventable cause of mortality in developing nations. Vietnam is aiming to achieve the level of immunity required to eliminate measles by maintaining a high coverage of routine first vaccinations in infants, routine second vaccinations at school entry and supplementary local campaigns in high-risk areas. Regular outbreaks of measles are reported, during 2005-2009. Methods: National measles case-based surveillance data collected during 2005-June 2009 was analyzed to assess the epidemiological trend and risk factors associated with measles outbreak in Vietnam. Results: Of the 36,282 measles suspected cases reported nationwide, only 7,086 cases were confirmed through laboratory examination. Although cyclical outbreaks occurred between 2005 and 2009, there was no definite trend in measles outbreaks during these periods. Overall, 2438 of measles confirmed cases were among children &lt;= 5 years and 3068 cases were among people &gt;= 16 years. The distribution with respect to gender skewed towards male (3667 cases) significant difference was not observed (P= 0.1693). Unsurprisingly, 4493 of the confirmed cases had no history of vaccination (X(2) &lt; 0.01). The northern and highland regions were identified as the main endemic foci and the spatial distribution changed with time. The occurrence of cases, in a considerable proportion of vaccinated population, is not only a reflection of the high vaccination coverage in Vietnam but also portrays a possibility of less than 100% vaccine efficacy. More so, in order to prevent measles in adults, high-risk groups must be identified and catch-up for selected groups selected. Conclusions: This study therefore reinforces the need for continued improvement of surveillance system and to probe into the possible role of changes in age-distribution of cases if the effective control of measles is to be achieved.

The amount of yellow dust that reaches Japan has recently increased. This increase could worsen asthma attacks. However, it is difficult to conduct quantitative research because yellow dust is widely dispersed. Therefore, very few epidemiological studies regarding yellow dust and asthma have been conducted. Given that, we applied a monitoring method that can investigate the amount of incoming yellow dust by using satellite data to this epidemiological study. This study attempts to shed light on such an important public health issue in Asia where cross boundary air pollution problems are increasing in recent years, by using remotely sensed satellite data and to examine the influx of yellow dust and its association with bronchial asthma mortality in Western Japan. We evaluated the relationship between the annual average amount of incoming yellow dust obtained from satellite data and the annual average mortality rate from asthma. Spearman's rank correlation result revealed no significant correlation (r = 0.268, n = 8, P > 0.05). However, we were able to conduct a quantitative analysis on the influx of yellow dust conditions using satellite data collected over a period of 10 years. This confirms the applicability of use of satellite data in assessing future epidemiological research regarding yellow dust and air polluted related diseases.

Objective: The incidence of obesity has been increasing in the Asia-Pacific region, but many areas do not have access to expensive medical devices for evaluating body composition. Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA) can precisely and easily estimate percentage body fat (%BF), regardless of social environment. The purpose of this study was to evaluate differences in body composition among ethnic groups living in rural areas in the Asia-Pacific region, and to analyze associations between body mass index (BMI) and %BF as measured by BIA. Methods: A total of 869 middle-elderly adults (Japanese: 131 men, 435 women; Palauan: 42 men, 49 women; Thai: 106 men, 106 women; mean age. 58 years; range. 40-69 years) were recruited from rural areas in Thailand, Koror Island in Palau, and Goto Island in Japan. Weight and %BF were estimated using BIA. Height was measured and BMI was calculated. Results: Weight. BMI, and %BF clearly differed among ethnic groups and by gender (p&lt;0.000l). In each ethnic group, %BF was significantly correlated with BMI for each sex (men: Japanese, r=0.691, p&lt;0.000l; Palauan, r=0.892, p&lt;0.000l; Thai, r=0.842, p&lt;0.000l; women: Japanese, r=0.892, p&lt;0.000l; Palauan, r=0.892, p&lt;0.000l; Thai, r=0.779, p&lt;0.000l). Conclusions: BIA offers a reliable option for measuring %BF and a strong association exists between %BF and BMI for individuals in rural areas of the Asia-Pacific region, regardless of ethnicity.

Recently it has been reported that a cathepsin B inhibitor, CA-074Me, attenuates ecotropic murine leukemia virus (Eco-MLV) infection in NIH3T3 cells, suggesting that cathepsin B is required for the Eco-MLV infection. However, cathepsin B activity was negative or extremely low in NIH3T3 cells. How did CA-074Me attenuate the Eco-MLV infection? The CA-074Me treatment of NIH3T3 cells inhibited cathepsin L activity, and a cathepsin L specific inhibitor, CLIK148, attenuated the Eco-MLV vector infection. These results indicate that the suppression of cathepsin L activity by CA-074Me induces the inhibition of Eco-MLV infection, suggesting that cathepsin L is required for the Eco-MLV infection in NIH3T3 cells. The CA-074Me treatment inhibited the Eco-MLV infection in human cells expressing the exogenous mouse ecotropic receptor and endogenous cathepsins B and L, but the CLIK148 treatment did not, showing that only the cathepsin L suppression by CLIK148 is not enough to prevent the Eco-MLV infection in cells expressing both of cathepsins B and L, and CA-074Me inhibits the Eco-MLV infection by suppressing both of cathepsins B and L. These results suggest that either cathepsin B or L is sufficient for the Eco-MLV infection. (C) 2009 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.