It is believed that dogs began living with humans between 30,000 and 50,000 years ago. The question of when, where, and how dogs began living with humans is still debated and is one of the topics that fascinates researchers around the world. However, during this long history of cohabitation, dogs have undergone various changes, and today there are over 400 breeds of dogs in the world, making them the animal that has most successfully coexisted with human society. During this process of evolution and domestication, dogs acquired cognitive functions similar to those of humans and became able to communicate with humans through eye contact. They also changed their behavior and their nutritional metabolism systems, acquiring the ability to metabolize food resources similar to humans, i.e., omnivory. Genetic changes are thought to be behind these changes in metabolic function, and several responsible genes have been identified. However, the genes that enable dogs to live in harmony with humans have yet to be identified, such as candidate genes include oxytocin, which is associated with sociality, and cortisol, which is associated with aggression and anxiety. In this paper, we will review the research that has been done on the evolution and domestication of dogs, and we will present the genes that have made dogs special, and in particular, the functions of the genes that are thought to have evolved in parallel with humans.

　Oxytocin is a peptide hormone consisting of nine amino acids that is synthesized in the hypothalamus and secreted from the posterior pituitary gland. In recent years, it has been clarifed that oxytocin is secreted and functions during affection, building bond, and positive emotions. Therefore, there is a high demand for oxytocin measurement not only in research, but also in the service industry, such as medical institutions and elderly care facilities, and the manufacturing industry, including food, and its concentration and fluctuations are expected to be evaluated. Accurate oxytocin measurement systems have been developed so far, but they have not yet been established worldwide, and the standard level of oxytocin has not been determined. We have established a new accurate oxytocin measurement ELISA system that makes it possible to quantify various samples. Here, we introduce the established oxytocin ELISA and report the scientific evaluation of the positive emotions obtained when using Oshibori.

　This paper describes the effects of oxytocin from two aspects: touching and daily life. Touching has many important functions for human beings and animals, such as bond formation and healing. And its effects are mainly brought about by oxytocin. Oxytocin builds attachment bonds between parents and children during childhood, and skin-to-skin contact plays an important role in this process. This is because the nerve fibers involved in skin-to-skin contact cause the secretion of oxytocin. Therefore, if children do not have proper physical contact with their caregivers during childhood and are under excessive stress, oxytocin nerve development may be impaired and oxytocin receptor DNA may be methylated, resulting in suppression of oxytocin secretion even in adulthood.

　Second, in the diet, oxytocin secretion is stimulated by the consumption of sweetened foods, which suppresses the reward value of food. Thus, oxytocin has a suppressive effect on craving for snacks. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the skin barrier function was higher in people with higher levels of happiness. This may be because people with higher levels of happiness had higher levels of oxytocin, and oxytocin stimulated the production of substances such as hyaluronic acid from the fibroblasts of the skin. It was also found that the oxytocin secretion was enhanced by touching soft and smooth fabrics. Oxytocin secretion is known to be increased by pleasant stimulation of the 5 senses. Finally, as a result of a 3-month program to increase physical contact at a nursery school in Kakegawa City, oxytocin secretion increased in the children, and improvements in attachment and social skills were observed. It is assumed that activities which help to increase oxytocin secretion in daily life will contribute to improving people's health and sense of well-being.

　The purpose of this study is to clarify the dietitian's work for smooth progress in nutrition guidance.

　A web-based questionnaire was distributed to dietitians with experience of outpatient nutrition guidance in hospital. The content of the questions includes three themes: situation chosen to report directly to the doctor (study1), difficult situations with patients and their family (study2-1) and useful response in overcoming the difficult situation (study2-2), and points to note in family attending consultation (study3).

　We were able to obtain responses from 26 dietitians. Descriptive answers were categorized by KJ method.

　Study1 was organized into five categories; client's behavior interfering their recovery, difficulty in continuing the guidance itself, information that the doctor doesn't know, and confirmation of the instruction, recommendation to make changes in the instruction.

　Study2-1 was divided into six categories; poor communication in the family, defensive attitude of the client, highly specialized dialogue, consultation beyond the expertise of dietitian, normalization of the problem, poor changes due to the client's working style and/or financial situation.

　Study2-2 was organized into five categories; supportive approach, active involvement, reset of the goal, cooperation with other professionals involved, and starting communication from surrounding topic.

　Study3 was grouped into four categories; to consider and include the family's point of view, to consider the cultivated relationship between client and their family, to put the client in center, and to treat all family members and the client even.

　The category was illustrated for each research and the relationship was examined. The results suggest that dietitians were actively and continuously assessing the client, cooperating with the doctor, and integrating the client and their family's opinion, to support the client's dietary modification.

　食事性タンパク質とアミノ酸は，mammalian target of rapamycin complex 1（mTORC1）の活性化を介してタンパク質合成を促進する。特に，ロイシンはmTORC1の強力な活性化因子であると考えられている。しかし，経口摂取したロイシンが他のアミノ酸よりもmTORC1活性化とタンパク質合成促進により効果的であるかは報告されていない。そこで，本研究では，mTORC1活性化作用が報告されているアルギニンやリジンよりもロイシンがmTORC1活性化とタンパク質合成促進により効果的であるかどうか検討した。C57BL/6Jマウスへ各アミノ酸を1.35 mg/g体重で経口投与し，タンパク質合成レベルを測定するため，アミノ酸投与30分後にピューロマイシンを腹腔内投与した。その後，採取した腓腹筋と肝臓をウェスタンブロッティング法により解析した。mTORC1の標的分子であるeukaryotic initiation factor 4E-binding protein 1および70-kDa ribosomal protein S6 kinase 1のリン酸化は，腓腹筋，肝臓の両組織においてロイシン摂取により最も増加した。しかし，タンパク質合成はロイシン摂取により腓腹筋においてのみ増加し，肝臓では増加しなかった。これらの結果は，経口摂取60分後においてロイシンがmTORC1活性化においてアルギニンやリジンより効果的であり，特定の組織におけるタンパク質合成を促進することを示唆している。そのため，本研究結果は，主にin vitroおよび非経口摂取における研究結果と，経口摂取による研究結果の間のギャップを埋めることに貢献できるものと考えられる。

　We hypothesized self-evaluation of nutritional intakes was one of the relevant factors of malnutrition among the elderly, and aimed to evaluate validity of self-evaluation of dietary intakes and examine an association between self-evaluation and nutritional status. The self-administered questionnaires on dietary intakes were conducted with the community-dwelling elderly people in Japan. Among those, 36 people who were aged above 65 years-old and completed the questionnaires were included in the study. We compared self-evaluation of dietary intakes with actual intakes estimated by Food Frequency Questionnaire based on Food Group to see the concordance, and analyzed associations between self-evaluation, actual intakes, and nutritional status by using Fishers exact test and multiple logistic regression analysis (OR=95%CI). The results showed that the mean of concordance rates was below 60%, and that those who evaluated protein and carbohydrate intakes as within normal range were more likely to be at risk of malnutrition (p＜0.05). A multiple logistic regression analysis also showed that self-evaluation of protein intake was associated with risk of malnutrition (OR=11.69, 95%CI; 1.11-123.40, p＜0.05). The study concluded that the validity of self-evaluation of dietary intakes was low, and the discrepancy between self-evaluation and actual intakes could be one of the causes of malnutrition, especially among the elderly. We suggest that the benchmark of malnutrition for the elderly and the information of proper intakes should be provided through every possible opportunity including Specific Health-Checkup and Specific Health Guidance.