How has the 'customary nature' of Japanese fisheries reacted to Covid-19? An interdisciplinary study examining the impacts of the pandemic in 2020.

Like many other countries, the economy and society of Japan have been deeply affected by the Covid-19 outbreak, and the fishery sector is no exception. This study takes an interdisciplinary approach to analyze the economic and social impacts of the pandemic on Japanese fisheries, gauging the extent and nature of the damages incurred from Covid-19 while helping to provide tailored post-recovery recommendations for the industry. Using results from an online survey questionnaire (N = 429) and compiling additional economic information from public sources, this study revealed the overwhelmingly negative changes in sales figures and overall financial security that survey participants experienced when compared to a year earlier. High-value and fresh fish species were also significantly affected in 2020 across Japan, in line with similar trends across the developed world. Aquaculture businesses were shown to be more vulnerable to the spread of Covid-19 than small-scale fishing operations, which tend to be more diverse and flexible. Bonding social capital was also shown to be important for mutual help and human well-being, especially among small-scale fishers. This "customary nature" of Japanese fisheries, at the same time, can be seen as a barrier to the transformation of the industry. Given these results, several policy implications are discussed to help fisheries stakeholders and their communities build back better from the Covid-19 pandemic.

Synthesis of low-molecular weight fucoidan derivatives and their binding abilities to SARS-CoV-2 spike proteins.

Fucoidan derivatives 10-13, whose basic sugar chains are composed of repeating α(1,4)-linked l-fucopyranosyl residues with different sulfation patterns, were designed and systematically synthesized. A structure-activity relationship (SAR) study examined competitive inhibition by thirteen fucoidan derivatives against heparin binding to the SARS-CoV-2 spike (S) protein. The results showed for the first time that 10 exhibited the highest inhibitory activity of the fucoidan derivatives used. The inhibitory activity of 10 was much higher than that of fondaparinux, the reported ligand of SARS-CoV-2 S protein. Furthermore, 10 exhibited inhibitory activities against the binding of heparin with several mutant SARS-CoV-2 S proteins, but was found to not inhibit factor Xa (FXa) activity that could otherwise lead to undesirable anticoagulant activity.

Retention of bone strength by feeding of milk and dairy products in ovariectomized rats: involvement of changes in serum levels of 1alpha, 25(OH)2D3 and FGF23.

The current study compared the effects of milk, yogurt or whey on the bone strength, body composition and serum biomarkers. Forty 12-week-old female Sprague-Dawley rats were ovariectomized (OVX), and another nine rats received a sham operation (Sham-Cont). After a 1-week recovery period, the OVX rats were divided into four dietary groups: OVX-control group (OVX-Cont), 17% skimmed milk powder diet group (OVX-Milk), 17% powdered fermented milk diet group (OVX-Yogurt) and 12% whey powder and 6% whey protein extract diet group (OVX-Whey) (n=10 in each group). The protein, nitrogen, fat, calcium and phosphorus contents of the experimental diets were adjusted to be similar to the control diet (AIN-93M). Eighty-four days after the beginning of the experimental diet, the total bone mineral density and bone mineral contents of lumbar vertebrae were significantly higher in the OVX-Milk and OVX-Whey groups than in the OVX-Cont group. Furthermore, the level of 1alpha, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D3 [1alpha, 25(OH)2D3] was significantly lower, while the serum level of FGF23 was significantly higher in the OVX-Milk, OVX-Yogurt and OVX-Whey groups than in the OVX-Cont group. These findings suggest that milk and the dairy products could improve bone metabolism in a postmenopausal animal model at least partly through changing the balance between 1alpha, 25(OH)2D3 and FGF23.

A study of the association between serum bone-specific alkaline phosphatase and serum phosphorus concentration or dietary phosphorus intake.

Alkaline phosphatase (ALP) hydrolyzes a variety of monophosphate esters into phosphoric acid and alcohol at a high optimum pH (pH 8-10). Human ALPs are classified into four types: tissue-non specific (TNSALP, liver/bone/kidney), intestinal, placental, and germ cell types. Based on studies of hypophosphatasia (HPP), which is a systemic bone disease caused by the presence of either one or two pathologic mutations in ALPL that encodes TNSALP, TNSALP was suggested to be indispensable for skeletal mineralization. In this study, we explored the possibility that dietary nutrients contribute to regulate serum bone-specific ALP (BAP) activity. Serum biochemical parameters, such as serum ALP, BAP, osteocalcin, and fibroblast growth factor 23 (FGF23), were measured in healthy young subjects (n=193). Dietary nutrient intakes were measured based on 3-d food records before the day of blood examinations. The presence of a carrier of the deletion of T at nucleotide 1559 (c.1559delT), which has been reported to be the most frequent in Japanese HPP, was not detected in any subject. By the analysis of BAP activity and other biochemical parameters or dietary nutrient intakes, we obtained significant correlations between BAP activity and serum phosphorus (r=-0.165, p=0.022), calcium intake (mg/1,000 kcal/d) (r=-0.186, p=0.010), or phosphorus intake (mg/1,000 kcal/d) (r=-0.226, p=0.002). Further study on the regulation of BAP activity and calcium and/or phosphorus homeostasis will provide useful data for improving skeletal health.