Faculty Profiles - ASAKAWA Akihiro

Papers - ASAKAWA Akihiro

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Amitani H, Sakato T, Asakawa A . Resolution of Long COVID and myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome symptoms following kanshoho, a low-pressure muscle relaxation technique: A case report. . Explore (New York, N.Y.)22 ( 3 ) 103374 2026.3

Nishi R, Sagiyama K, Fukumoto T, Amitani H, Asakawa A . Heterogeneity in the Study of Peppermint in Aromatherapy on Cognition and Attention: A Critical Scoping Review. . Complementary medicine research 1 - 9 2025.3

Language：English Publisher：Complementary Medicine Research

Introduction: Aromatherapy has not accrued enough evidence to be integrated into standardized clinical medicine. If high-quality evidence supports the effects of aromatherapy, it will be handled as a parallel option to standardized medical treatment. The aromatherapeutic impact of peppermint (Mentha × piperita L.) essential oil has been researched to a certain extent, such as on pain, anxiety, fatigue, or depression. Considering the rising expenditure on dementia care, the potential effects of peppermint scents on cognition have become increasingly significant. Therefore, we performed a scoping review of the studies on the impact of peppermint scents on cognition and attention. Methods: We focused on human research, and the effects of peppermint scents were required to be inhaled. According to the inclusion criteria, searching from PubMed, Scopus, and Gale Academic OneFile, we identified a total of 115 studies. Finally, eight references were selected for review. The risk of bias was analyzed according to the Strengthening the Reporting of Observational Studies in Epidemiology (STROBE) criteria. Results: Each reviewed reference had its own strength in investigating the effects of peppermint scents. However, as most studies have noted, the impact of peppermint scent should be assessed from multiple perspectives, including psychological, physiological, neurological, and pharmacological factors. The risk of bias was not found to be severe (high risk of bias rate: 35.7 ± 3.4%); our critical review elucidated the heterogeneity of the reviewed studies. Conclusion: In summary, drawing a definitive conclusion at this stage is premature. Therefore, more carefully designed studies are needed to confirm this hypothesis.

DOI： 10.1159/000543974

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PubMed

Nishi R., Sagiyama K., Suzuki H., Amitani M., Amitani H., Asakawa A. . Psychological well-being, gender, and age-specific difference on objectively recorded smartphone screen time in Japanese adults: A regression and clustering analysis . Computers in Human Behavior Reports17 2025.3

Language：Japanese Publisher：Computers in Human Behavior Reports

Background: Smartphones have become an integral part of our daily lives. Although many scales can assess smartphone usage, they rely on respondents' subjective self-reports and suffer from considerable cognitive bias. Therefore, quantitative measurement of smartphone's recorded screen time is an effective way to assess smartphone usage. Objective: This study assesses the effects of age, gender, and subjective psychological factors (depression, social anxiety, sleep quality, stress perseverance, and loneliness) on smartphone usage. Based on previous research, we hypothesized that there would be (1) gender-, (2) age-, and (3) psychological state-specific differences in smartphone usage. Methods: We conducted psychological tests, obtained participants’ weekly screen times, and performed ordinary least squares (OLS) regression and k-means clustering. Results: Twenty-four female participants and 25 male participants were analyzed. Only the subjective loneliness indicated statistical significance between genders. OLS regression analysis indicated that among females, age showed a negative coefficient (age, −76.5), and both the social anxiety (LSAS-J, 20.0) and loneliness (UCLA-LS, −44.5) had significant coefficients. In contrast, among males, age had no significant coefficients, and only the depression (BDI-III, 77.7) showed a significant positive relationship. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that smartphone users' motivations and practicalities differ by gender and age group. To support these findings, further studies with larger sample sizes and more variables should be conducted.

DOI： 10.1016/j.chbr.2025.100612

Scopus

Shimizu R, Asakawa A, Suzuki H, Amitani M, Kawano K, Amitani H, Hirahara M, Matsushita K, Horikiri Y, Toshimichi O, Nishio Y, Yonemori K . A Case Report of Pheochromocytoma Presenting With a Tongue Sign Indicative of Blood Deficiency. . Cureus17 ( 3 ) e79880 2025.3

志水倫子, 河野恵子, 網谷真理恵, 浅川明弘 . 柴胡桂枝湯が奏功した顎関節症の1例 . 日本東洋医学雑誌76 ( 1 ) 20 - 23 2025.1

Language：Japanese Publisher：(一社)日本東洋医学会

今回,罹病期間が長期に及び精神神経症状を伴った顎関節症患者に対し,柴胡桂枝湯を投与したところ著効した症例を経験した。患者は,79歳女性で,10年前より両顎関節周囲の疼痛があり,顎関節症と診断された。消炎鎮痛剤投与やオーラルアプライアンス治療を受けていたが症状は改善しなかった。増悪因子はストレスであり心理社会的因子の関与が示唆されたが,精神療法を受けることは希望されず,漢方内科を受診した。胸脇苦満と両側上腹部の腹直筋の緊張,心下支結(中かんの圧痛)といった腹候に着眼して柴胡桂枝湯を処方した。柴胡桂枝湯を5.0g/日,2週間の投与であったが顎関節症の症状は速やかに改善し,精神症状の改善も得られた。本症例のように心理社会的因子の関与が強い顎関節の治療には漢方治療が有用な選択肢となりうるし,随証治療を行うことで,速やかに症状を改善できる可能性がある。(著者抄録)

Tagawa Noriko, Kato Ikuo, Asakawa Akihiro, Satoh Atsushi, Tanaka-Mizuno Sachiko . Development of a Specific Competitive ELISA for Plasma Adropin Levels and Its Application to Investigating Energy Homeostasis in Mice . Biological and Pharmaceutical Bulletin48 ( 9 ) 1325 - 1334 2025

Language：English Publisher：The Pharmaceutical Society of Japan

Adropin is a 43-amino acid peptide that is highly conserved among mammals. First identified in the mouse liver in 2008, adropin is broadly expressed throughout the body and has been implicated in various pathological conditions, including obesity, altered food intake, insulin resistance, glucose intolerance, and other disorders related to energy metabolism. However, its precise physiological role remains unclear. In this study, we developed a specific competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for adropin using an in-house generated anti-adropin polyclonal antibody. We then examined plasma adropin levels in mice under different energy metabolic conditions: fed a normal diet, subjected to short-term fasting, and fed a long-term high-fat diet. In addition, we assessed hepatic and hypothalamic expression of Enho mRNA, which encodes adropin. We observed a wide range of plasma adropin levels, spanning from those in normal healthy mice on a high-fat diet to preclinical and obese diabetic mice. Both plasma adropin concentrations and hepatic Enho mRNA expression increased in response to feeding and high-fat diet intake. Multiple regression analysis revealed a significant negative correlation between plasma adropin and plasma glucagon concentrations. These findings suggest that adropin secretion is modulated by the peripheral hormone glucagon and may contribute to the maintenance of energy metabolic homeostasis. In conclusion, the ELISA developed in this study provides a useful and reliable tool for investigating the mechanisms underlying energy metabolism.

DOI： 10.1248/bpb.b25-00392

Scopus

PubMed

CiNii Research

Obo T, Hashiguchi H, Matsuda E, Kawade S, Ogiso K, Iwai H, Ataka K, Yasuda O, Arimura A, Deguchi T, Morino K, Asakawa A, Nishio Y . The Anti-Obesity Effect of Fish Oil in Diet-Induced Obese Mice Occurs via Both Decreased Food Intake and the Induction of Heat Production Genes in Brown but Not White Adipose Tissue. . International journal of molecular sciences26 ( 1 ) 2024.12

Language：English Publisher：International Journal of Molecular Sciences

Omega-3 (ω-3) polyunsaturated fatty acids in fish oil have been shown to prevent diet-induced obesity in lean mice and to promote heat production in adipose tissue. However, the effects of fish oil on obese animals remain unclear. This study investigated the effects of fish oil in obese mice. C57BL/6J mice were fed a lard-based high-fat diet (LD) for 8 weeks and then assigned to either a fish oil-based high-fat diet (FOD) or continued the LD for additional 8 weeks. A control group was fed a standard diet for 16 weeks. Mice fed the FOD showed weight loss, reduced adipose tissue mass, and lower plasma insulin and leptin levels compared to those fed the LD. Rectal temperatures were higher in the FOD and LD groups compared to the control group. Energy intake was lower in the FOD group than the LD group but similar to the control group. The FOD and LD groups exhibited increased expression of heat-producing genes such as Ppargc1a, Ucp1, Adrb3, and Ppara in brown adipose tissue but not in white adipose tissue. The FOD reduced food consumption and increased rectal temperature and heat-producing genes in brown adipose tissue. Fish oil may therefore be a potential therapeutic approach to obesity.

DOI： 10.3390/ijms26010302

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PubMed

Iizasa E., Iwai H., Oyamada Y., Hamashima K., Nishi R., Ataka K., Amitani H., Ohinata K., Kato I., Asakawa A. . A plant-derived δ opioid receptor agonist rubiscolin-6 ameliorates sickness behavior in mice with cancer cachexia . Journal of Functional Foods119 2024.8

Language：Japanese Publisher：Journal of Functional Foods

Cancer cachexia, which encompasses a range of sickness behaviors such as anorexia, reduced locomotor activity, and depression, diminishes quality of life and increases mortality in cancer patients. Rubiscolin-6 is a hexapeptide derived from ribulose-1,5-bisphosphate carboxylase/oxygenase (Rubisco), a major plant leaf protein. Previous reports have demonstrated that rubiscolin-6 functions as an agonist of the δ opioid receptor, inducing diverse effects such as orexigenic, antinociceptive, and antidepressant-like effects. In this study, we investigated the effects of rubiscolin-6 on sickness behavior in colon26-bearing cachexia model mice. Intraperitoneal administration of rubiscolin-6 enhanced food intake in cachexic mice with chronic anorexia. It also increased locomotor activity, which decreased in cachexic mice, as assessed by the open field test. Moreover, the tail suspension test revealed that rubiscolin-6 alleviated depression-like behavior in mice with cachexia. These findings imply that rubiscolin-6 could be used to ameliorate the sickness behavior associated with cancer cachexia.

DOI： 10.1016/j.jff.2024.106297

Scopus

Amitani H, Nishi R, Fukumoto T, Hamada K, Kato R, Yamamoto T, Fuku Y, Sagiyama K, Asakawa A . Severe fibromyalgia alleviated by the unique muscle relaxation method of applying low force: A case report. . Medicine103 ( 16 ) e37929 2024.4

Yoshimura T, Hirano Y, Hamada T, Yokoyama S, Suzuki H, Takayama H, Migita H, Ishida T, Nakamura Y, Ohsawa M, Asakawa A, Ishihata K, Tanimoto A . Exercise Suppresses Head and Neck Squamous Cell Carcinoma Growth via Oncostatin M. . Cancers16 ( 6 ) 2024.3

Language：English Publisher：Cancers

Major advances have been made in cancer treatment, but the prognosis for elderly cancer patients with sarcopenia and frailty remains poor. Myokines, which are thought to exert preventive effects against sarcopenia, have been reported to be associated with the prognosis of various cancers, but their effect on head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC) is unknown. The aim of this study was to clarify the influence of exercise on the control of HNSCC and to examine the underlying mechanism involved. Mice were injected with HSC-3-M3 cells, a human cell line of highly metastatic and poorly differentiated tongue cancer, at the beginning of the study. Just prior to transplantation, blood was collected from the mice, and the levels of myokines were measured by ELISA. Oncostatin M (OSM), a selected myokine, was added to HSC-3-M3 cells, after which the cell proliferation ability, cell cycle, and protein expression were analyzed in vitro. Tumor cell viability was lower (control: 100%, exercise: 75%), tumors were smaller (control: 26.2 mm3, exercise: 6.4 mm3), and survival was longer in the exercise group than in the control group in vivo. OSM inhibited HSC-3-M3 cell proliferation in a concentration-dependent manner in vitro. The addition of OSM increased the proportion of cells in the G0/G1 phase, decreased the proportion of cells in the G2/M phase, and increased the expression of the CDK inhibitors p21 and p27. These results indicate that exercise may directly inhibit the proliferation of HNSCC cell lines via OSM.

DOI： 10.3390/cancers16061187

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PubMed

西龍星, 浅川明弘 . 指定難病最前線(Volume149)　シトリン欠損症 . 新薬と臨牀73 ( 3 ) 248 - 254 2024.3

Kawazu S, Amitani M, Suzuki H, Amitani H, Monuki T, Wada M, Toyohira S, Hamada K, Yamamoto T, Yoshimura T, Mizuma K, Nishida Y, Watanabe H, Hirose M, Tagawa K, Ota K, Asakawa A, Owaki T . An exploratory cluster-randomized controlled trial on mindfulness yoga's effectiveness in school-refusing children: reductions in SCAS-C physical injury fears and pulse rate. . Frontiers in human neuroscience18 1468729 2024

Language：English Publisher：Frontiers in Human Neuroscience

Introduction: School refusal is one of the serious problems with children’s mental health, and various studies have examined its prevalence and factors among students. Although many studies suggested that anxiety and depression are deeply associated with school refusal, there is little agreement as to effective interventions. The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy and safety of mindfulness yoga intervention in children with school refusal. Method: This study is a multicenter, exploratory, open cluster-randomized controlled trial. 43 participants aged 10–15 years with school refusal were randomly assigned to a non-yoga group with treatment as usual (TAU) which includes cognitive behavioral therapy based on self-monitoring, or a yoga group (4-week mindfulness yoga program provided by video sessions + TAU). The primary outcome was symptoms of anxiety evaluated by Spence Children’s Anxiety Scale-Children (SCAS-C). Participants were assessed in four time periods: a 2-week baseline (Day −14), a baseline (Day 1), a post-test after 4 weeks of treatment (Day 29), and an 8-week follow-up (Day 85). Statistical analysis was conducted by a linear mixed effect model using SAS version 9.4. Results: 43 participants were included in the Full-analysis set (FAS) (21 in the mindfulness yoga group and 22 in the non-yoga group). The estimates of SCAS-C at post-test adjusted for baseline values in each treatment group were 39.9 in the mindfulness yoga group and 39.4 in the non-yoga group. The between-group difference for the estimates was 0.4 (80%CI −4.8 to −5.6, p = 0.54), which indicated mindfulness yoga program has no significant effect on anxiety compared with TAU. However, on an exploratory analysis of the subscale of SCAS-C, significant improvement was observed on the Physical Injury Fears subscale. The pulse rate was significantly lower in the yoga group compared to the non-yoga group. Conclusion: This study indicated the safety of a mindfulness yoga intervention for children with school refusal, but the effectiveness of the intervention for anxiety was limited. Further research is needed to determine the long-term effects of yoga and how it can best be integrated with other therapies.

DOI： 10.3389/fnhum.2024.1468729

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PubMed

Nishi R, Sagiyama K, Hamada K, Fukumoto T, Kato R, Yamamoto T, Fuku Y, Amitani H, Asakawa A . Macrocytic anemia induced by selenium deficiency in the course of anorexia nervosa: A case report. . Medicine102 ( 51 ) e36740 2023.12

Language：English Publisher：Medicine (United States)

Rationale: Anorexia nervosa is characterized by an extreme fear of weight gain. Clinicians often prescribe meal replacement shakes if patients are unable or unwilling to consume typical foods. However, these shakes sometimes lack essential micronutrients, such as selenium, which may lead to health risks. Moreover, selenium deficiency induces macrocytic anemia. Herein, we present a case of a patient with anorexia nervosa with macrocytic anemia due to selenium deficiency, which was alleviated by selenium supplementation. Patient concerns: An 18-year-old female was admitted to our hospital. The patient was diagnosed with anorexia nervosa. Ultimately, she was unable to walk independently because of fatigue and electrolyte disturbances. Clinical findings: On admission, the height, weight, and body mass index of the patient were 158.5 cm, 27.1 kg, and 10.8, respectively. Our treatment for anorexia nervosa showed relative effectiveness, and the patient's body weight recovered to 29.2 kg by day 60. However, the mean corpuscular volume increased from day 20, suggesting macrocytic anemia. Diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes: Despite our vitamin B12 and folic acid supplementation interventions, the mean corpuscular volume continued to rise. On day 60, the patient was diagnosed with selenium deficiency, and selenium administration of 100 μg/day was initiated. Outcomes: The macrocytic anemia in the patient was alleviated, and treatment for anorexia nervosa was continued in our hospital. Lessons: To the best of our knowledge, this is the first case of macrocytic anemia induced by selenium deficiency with anorexia nervosa comorbidity, underscoring the importance of selenium supplementation in patients with anorexia nervosa, especially in those with macrocytic anemia.

DOI： 10.1097/MD.0000000000036740

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PubMed

Amitani H, Nishi R, Sagiyama K, Fukumoto T, Funakoshi K, Takayanagi N, Watanabe H, Hirose M, Tagawa K, Ota K, Ito YM, Asakawa A . The effect of lavender aroma for anxiety disorder: a study protocol for a multicenter, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. . BMC complementary medicine and therapies23 ( 1 ) 397 2023.11

Language：English Publisher：BMC Complementary Medicine and Therapies

Background: Anxiety disorder is the most prevalent psychiatric disorder. Benzodiazepines, which are often used for anxiety in patients with anxiety disorder, have various side effects. Lavender, one of the most commonly used essential oils in aromatherapy, has the potential to reduce benzodiazepine use for anxiety disorders. Methods: This study is a multicenter, double-masked, randomized, placebo-controlled clinical trial. The study will recruit patients aged 20–59 years old with generalized anxiety disorder and panic disorder among anxiety disorders. The bottle containing the test solution (lavender aroma essential oil or distilled water) will be given to the patients. Patients will carry the bottles with them in their daily life and use the drops on tissue paper when anxious. The primary endpoint is the number of times anxiolytics used in 28 days. Discussion: If the use of benzodiazepines could be reduced by sniffing lavender aroma, which is inexpensive and safe, it would contribute not only to the risks associated with benzodiazepine use but also to the health care economy and could even be added as a standard treatment. Trial registration: University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN-CTR), ID: UMIN000034422 Registered 17 January 2019.

DOI： 10.1186/s12906-023-04231-1

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PubMed

Fukumoto T, Amitani H, Nishi R, Wada M, Oishi N, Asakawa A . Correlation between trait emotional intelligence and prefrontal activation during a verbal fluency task: A functional near-infrared spectroscopy study. . Medicine102 ( 29 ) e34418 2023.7

Language：English Publisher：Medicine (United States)

Stress is inevitable in humans and stress changes our physical and mental states. Stress has been studied epidemiologically, biologically, and psychologically. First defined in 1990, emotional intelligence (EI) affects psychological stress management. In contrast, the prefrontal cortex (PFC) is suggested to play a vital role in stress management. Human PFC activity can be inferred from the balance of oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin in cerebral blood flow, which can be measured and calculated using functional near-infrared spectroscopy (fNIRS). An important cognitive activation task to activate the PFC is the verbal fluency task (VFT). Therefore, if the PFC is activated by the VFT and monitored by fNIRS, and the activity correlates with EI, fNIRS can be used to measure EI. In this study, Psychological tests using the self-rating depression scale, state-trait anxiety inventory (STAI), and trait emotional intelligence questionnaire-short form (TEIQue-SF) were conducted to evaluate the correlation with VFT performance. Relative oxygenated and deoxygenated hemoglobin concentrations were measured using an fNIRS device, and their correlation with VFT performance was tested. Spearman correlation coefficient was used to determine correlations. Results were as follows. Although VFT performance did not correlate with the oxygenated hemoglobin concentration ([Oxy-Hb]) changes, [Oxy-Hb] was elevated in all channels. VFT performance was significantly negatively correlated with the Zung self-rating depression scale (ρ = 0.063, P =.759), trait anxiety or anxiety level as a personal characteristic of STAI (ρ = 0.243, P =.232), and state anxiety or anxiety about an event of STAI (ρ = -0.138, P =.500), whereas no correlation was found with the TEIQue-SF (ρ = 0.303, P =.132). Healthy individuals PFC activity is not severely affected by their mental state and cognitive activation successfully activates the PFC, supporting the hypothesis that EI is correlated with frontal cortical activation during the VFT in a nonclinical population. EI may play a vital role in reducing stress associated with depression and anxiety in our social lives. Although we failed to show a statistical correlation between TEIQue-SF and [Oxy-Hb] due to a sample size shortage, our preliminary study was the first to attempt to show the PFC activity of EI through a hemodynamic response. Future research may elucidate the role of EI in reducing psychological stress in social life.

DOI： 10.1097/MD.0000000000034418

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PubMed

Hamada K, Sagiyama K, Nishi R, Fukumoto T, Kato R, Fuku Y, Amitani H, Asakawa A . Unpredictable refeeding syndrome with severe hypophosphatemia in borderline personality disorder comorbidity: A case report. . Medicine102 ( 25 ) e34103 2023.6

Language：English Publisher：Medicine (United States)

Rationale: Refeeding syndrome (RS) is a fatal condition caused by rapid calorie intake during starvation. Self-neglected fasting in psychiatric disorders is associated with RS. However, overeating resulting from circumventing the clinician's instructions does not have a reportedly high risk of RS. Patient concerns: A 47-year-old undernourished woman with borderline personality disorder was hospitalized for nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea. Clinical findings: She had not eaten much for 10 days and had lost weight (56.5-51.1 kg) over 3 weeks. No abnormalities were indicated on physical examination and imaging examinations. Diagnoses, interventions, and outcomes: Infectious diseases and malignancies were excluded from the differential diagnosis. On the third day of admission, the patient's serum phosphorus level significantly decreased to 0.7 mg/dL, and additional sodium phosphate was administered intravenously. On the fourth day, despite our instructions, the patient was found to be eating nonhospital food from the first day of admission. In conjunction with her history, a final diagnosis of RS was made. After appropriate treatments, the patient was discharged on the 15th day of hospitalization. The patient's nausea, vomiting, and diarrhea were improved. Lessons: When undernourished patients have psychiatric disorders, including borderline personality disorder or schizophrenia, the occurrence of RS should be considered based on the patients' poor adherence to physicians' instructions.

DOI： 10.1097/MD.0000000000034103

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PubMed

Nishi R, Fukumoto T, Asakawa A . Possible effect of natural light on emotion recognition and the prefrontal cortex: A scoping review of near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy. . Advances in clinical and experimental medicine : official organ Wroclaw Medical University 2023.4

Nishi R, Amitani H, Hamada K, Fukumoto T, Kato R, Yamamoto T, Fuku Y, Sagiyama K, Asakawa A . Esophageal achalasia, diagnosed through the repeated manometry, alleviated using benzodiazepine: A case report. . Medicine102 ( 14 ) e33494 2023.4

Tagawa N, Ogura H, Miyawaki H, Asakawa A, Kato I . Intraperitoneal administration of nesfatin‑1 stimulates glucagon‑like peptide‑1 secretion in fasted mice. . Molecular medicine reports27 ( 1 ) 2023.1

Kusumoto J, Ataka K, Iwai H, Oga Y, Yamagata K, Marutani K, Ishikawa T, Asakawa A, Miyawaki S . Malocclusion impairs cognitive behavior via AgRP signaling in adolescent mice. . Frontiers in neuroscience17 1156523 2023

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Papers - ASAKAWA Akihiro