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Introduction: Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a complex autoimmune disease with increased mortality, and interstitial lung disease (ILD) is a major cause of death. There are no recent epidemiological data on SSc and SSc-associated ILD (SSc-ILD) in Japan and little is known about how patients with these diseases are treated. Methods: The incidence rate and prevalence of SSc and SSc-ILD in Japan were estimated using the Japanese Medical Data Centre (JMDC) database. The demographic and clinical characteristics of patients and the immunomodulatory medications they received were also assessed using JMDC and the Medical Data Vision (MDV) databases. All analyses were descriptive. Results: The overall incidence rates of SSc and SSc-ILD per 100,000 person-years were 6.6 (95% confidence interval [CI] 6.2–7.1) and 1.9 (95% CI 1.6–2.1), respectively, and the overall prevalence per 100,000 persons was 37.0 (95% CI 35.6–38.5) and 13.9 (95% CI 13.0–14.8), respectively. ILD was the most common comorbidity in patients with SSc present in approximately 30% of patients (JMDC, 29.3%; MDV, 30.1%). The immunomodulatory medications prescribed were similar in patients with SSc and SSc-ILD, and each of the medications in this analysis was prescribed in less than 15% of patients. Conclusion: We have demonstrated that estimates of prevalence and incidence rates of SSc and SSc-ILD in Japan are comparable to similar database studies conducted in the USA, using a medical claims database. Only a small proportion of patients were receiving immunomodulatory treatments, suggesting undertreatment in Japan. 1RuJte-TpW5MHYHPumDxgr Incidence Rate and Prevalence of Systemic Sclerosis and Systemic Sclerosis-associated Interstitial Lung Disease in Japan: Analysis Using Japanese Claims Databases—A Video Abstract. (MP4 68892 KB) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to examine whether an inclination towards exercise and the level of physical activity influences quality of life (QOL) of predialysis patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD). [Subjects] The subjects were 74 predialysis CKD patients. [Method] We investigated age, gender, employment, physical activities (International Physical Activity Questionnaire), QOL (SF-36 health survey), inclination towards exercise in these individuals, and looked for relationships among the items. The patients were divided into 2 groups, namely, the high physical activity group and the low physical activity group, on the basis of the amount they exercised and the exercise standard 2006. We compared age, gender, employment, physical activity, renal function, and QOL measures between the 2 groups. [Result] There were no significant correlations between physical activities, inclination towards exercise and QOL. Notably, however, the age and mental components of QOL were significantly higher among patients in the high physical activity group than among patients in the low physical activity group. [Conclusion] These results suggest that a high level of physical activity may affect the mental component of QOL in predialysis CKD patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Five bisbenzyl isoquinolines ( 1- 5), three benzyl isoquinolines ( 6- 8), four isoquinoline alkaloids ( 9- 12), and two unclassified compounds ( 13 and 14) from Popowia perakensis and Phaeanthus crassipetalus were evaluated for their vasorelaxant effect on rat aortic arteries. In aortic rings pre-contracted with phenylephrine (PE, 0.3 μM), some of the bisbenzyl isoquinoline alkaloids, benzyl isoquinoline alkaloids, and isoquinoline alkaloids showed clearly vasorelaxant effects at 30 μM. The action of (−)-limacine ( 4) was deduced to be mediated through the increased release of NO from endothelial cells, and that of pecrassipine A ( 7) and backebergine ( 12) partly mediated by NO release. Further, the action of pecrassipine A ( 7) and backebergine ( 12) may be attributed to their inhibition of the voltage-dependent Ca channel and receptor-operated Ca channel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This article surveys the history of English studies and education in Japan, paying special attention to the role of literary texts and stylistics. Firstly, the role of literature and stylistics in Japan is discussed from a pedagogical point of view, including both English as a foreign language and Japanese as a native language. Secondly, the way in which stylistics has contributed to literary criticism in the country is examined, with reference to the history of literary stylistics since 1980. Finally, this article considers further applications of stylistics to language study in Japan, offering two examples: analysis of thought presentation in Yukio Mishima’s Megami (2006[1955]), and the teaching of an English poem and a Japanese haiku to Japanese EFL students. The overall aim of this article is to demonstrate that literature as language teaching material and stylistics as a critical and teaching method are significant not only in understanding English, but also in appreciating our own native language if it is not English. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]