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HATA, T.,et al.: Autonomic Modulation of Sinus and Atrioventricular Nodes in Premature Low-Birth-Weight Infants. Respiratory vagal activity is expressed by heart rate variability (HRV) at approximately 1 month of age in premature low-birth-weight infants (PLBWI). However, the autonomic inputs into the sinus node (SAN) and atrioventricular node (AVN) in PLBWI are unclear. We evaluated the variability in PP and PR intervals at day zero (day 0) and 1 month (1 month) after birth in 16 PLBWI (gestation 32.3± 1.3 weeks, birth weight 1.578± 257 g). The polygraph was recorded during sleep on day 0 and at 1 month. PP and PR intervals and the number of respiratory cycles were measured, and frequency analysis was performed by auto-correlation fast Fourier transforms. Power spectral density (PSD: ms2) was calculated for the low frequency domain (LF: 0.036∼0.146 Hz), high frequency domain (HF: 0.146∼0.390 Hz), total frequency (TF: 0.036∼2.000 Hz), and respiratory sinus arrhythmia (RSA: frequency bandwidth of 0.3 Hz with peak respiratory frequency as median), and the PSD ratio in the PP and PR intervals (LF/HF, RSA/TF) were compared. Compared with day 0, a decrease in the LF/HF ratio and an increase in the RSA/TF ratio in PP intervals were observed at 1 month, consistent with expression of respiratory vagal activity. For PR intervals, on the other hand, the LF/HF ratio increased, indicative of accentuated sympathetic activity. However, the respiratory vagal input was weak, and the RSA/TF ratio remained unchanged. These observations suggest that, in PLBWI at 1 month, AVN conduction was not predominatly influenced by respiratory-related vagal activity, but was controlled by autonomic regulation, independent of the SAN.(PACE 2005; 28:S288–S291) [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Investigates the differences in the coagulation and fibrinolytic system of rats fed a fish oil-based diet and fed a soybean oil-based diet. Growing interest in the functionality of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids to modulate health and disease; Lipid-lowering activity of fish oil; Effects of n-3 polyunsaturated fatty acids on the level of eicosanoids; Reduction of fibrinolysis.

Presents information on a study which estimated the effects of deregulation of labor standards on employment and business activities in Japan. Globalization of markets; Methodology; Results.

Focuses on the preparation of the two kinds of 1:1 manganese complexes of bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonato)manganese(II) which were coordinated with diazodi(4-pyridyl) methane. Measurement of the magnetic susceptibilities of both crystals before and after irradiation; Estimation of the antiferromagnetic exchange coupling parameters in the photolyzate of complexes; Information on these complexes.

Analyzes the formation of ferromagnetic chains by photolysis of 1:1 complex of bis(hexafluoroacetylacetonato)copper(II) with diazodi-4-pyridylmethane. X-ray crystal and molecular structure analysis; Temperature dependence of molar magnetic susceptibility; Field dependence of magnetization.

1. Small amounts of Ca2+ cause an ATP-dependent activation of state 3 oxidation of succinate in rat liver mitochondria in vitro. 2. The Ca2+-induced, ATP-requiring activation of uncoupled oxidation of succinate (the Ca2+ effect) is blocked by ruthenium red, tetracaine, or high concentrations of K+. It is not blocked by La3+ or Pr3+. 3. The Ca2+ effect is demonstrable in mitochondria treated with hyposmotic shock (mitochondria devoid of the outer membrane), freezing-and-thawing or aging. Treatment with detergents (sodium deoxycholate and Triton X) causes a loss of the Ca2+ sensitivity. 4. For Ca2+ to produce the effect a much longer latent period (several minutes at room temperature) is needed than for ATP or succinate. 5. The Ca2+ effect is ATP dose-related and maximum response is obtained with 0.2 mM ATP. 6. The Ca2+ effect is observed in the absence of mitochondrial accumulation of Ca2+ and is Ca2+ dose-related with external Ca2+ between 0.5 and 50 µM. The half-maximum response is obtained at about 1 µM. 7. The Ca2+ effect is not accompanied by an increase in the penetration of succinate across the mitochondrial membrane as judged from the swelling experiment of Chappell and Crofts, but is accompanied by the activation of succinate dehydrogenase. 8. The Ca2+ effect is demonstrable not only in the presence of external oxaloacetate or malonate, but also in conditions where endogenous oxaloacetate accumulation is prevented by the addition of rotenone and glutamate. 9. From the above results, a model is proposed in which cytosol Ca2+ alters mitochondrial metabolism by activating succinate dehydrogenase through a change of membrane conformation produced by the Ca2+ interaction with low affinity Ca2+-binding sites on the outer surface of the inner mitochondrial membrane. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

There is a growing acknowledgement by scholars both within and outside Japan that traditional patterns of human resource management are now under structural pressures to change. The author, from a labour economics perspective, examines the dimensional shifts that are now occurring in the Japanese labour market, both empirically and in the context of Weitzman's model of the share economy. She concludes that, in HRM terms, the current situation exhibits a combination of responses to change that are characterized by both innovative and traditional practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

An abstract of the article "Plantar loading in an amputee runner using running-specific prostheses with a rubber sole" by Hiroaki Hobara and colleagues is presented.

Understanding the characteristics of ground reaction forces (GRFs) on both limbs during sprinting in unilateral amputees wearing running-specific prostheses would provide important information that could be utilized in the evaluation of athletic performance and development of training methods in this population. The purpose of this study was to compare GRFs between intact and prosthetic limbs during sprinting in unilateral transfemoral amputees wearing running-specific prostheses. Nine sprinters with unilateral transfemoral amputation wearing the same type of prosthesis performed maximal sprinting on a 40-m runway. GRFs were recorded from 7 force plates placed in the center of the runway. Peak forces and impulses of the GRFs in each direction were compared between limbs. Peak forces in vertical, braking, propulsive, and medial directions were significantly greater in intact limbs than those in prosthetic limbs, whereas there were no significant differences in peak lateral force between limbs. Further, significantly less braking impulses were observed in prosthetic limbs than in intact limbs; however, the other measured impulses were not different between limbs. Therefore, the results of the present study suggest that limb-specific rehabilitation and training strategies should be developed for transfemoral amputees wearing running-specific prostheses.

Correlations between umbilical cord blood concentration of stress response hormone cortisol and prolactin, and delivery duration were examined. Thirty-three cases were selected in which both mothers and neonates were healthy, and the neonates were delivered at full term. The umbilical cord blood was collected at the time of delivery and concentrations of cortisol and prolactin were measured. The cortisol level was significantly higher after vacuum-assisted delivery than after spontaneous delivery (p=0.044). Significant positive correlations (p=0.0289) were observed between cortisol level and delivery duration. In particular, the duration of the second stage of delivery showed stronger positive correlation (p=0.0304) with the cortisol level. The prolactin level showed weak correlation with the duration of full delivery and the second stage of delivery. The findings suggest that foetuses may respond to stress by uterine contraction during delivery.

Objective: An all-patient postmarketing surveillance program was conducted to evaluate the safety and effectiveness of tocilizumab (TCZ) for rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in the real-world clinical setting in Japan., Methods: Patients received 8 mg/kg TCZ every 4 weeks and were observed for 28 weeks. Data were collected on patient characteristics, and drug safety and effectiveness., Results: A total of 7901 patients were enrolled. Percentages of total and serious adverse events (AE) were 43.9% and 9.6%, respectively. The most common serious AE were infections (3.8%). Logistic regression analysis identified the following risk factors for the development of serious infection: age ≥ 65 years, disease duration ≥ 10 years, previous or concurrent respiratory disease, and concomitant corticosteroid dose > 5 mg/day (prednisolone equivalent). The incidence rate of serious infections in patients with ≥ 3 risk factors was 11.2%, compared with 1.2% for patients without risk factors. The Week 28 rates of 28-joint Disease Activity Score-erythrocyte sedimentation rate remission, Boolean remission, and European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) Good Response were 47.6%, 15.1%, and 59.4%, respectively. Contributing factors for effectiveness were body weight ≥ 40 kg, less advanced RA, no previous biologics, no concomitant corticosteroids or nonsteroidal antiinflammatory drugs, and low disease activity at baseline. From the benefit-risk balance analysis, patients with a high probability of remission and a low probability of developing serious infection were most likely to have less advanced RA and to have not received biologics previously., Conclusion: These data confirm the safety and effectiveness of TCZ in patients with RA in the real-world clinical setting in Japan and identify factors that contribute to the successful use of TCZ for RA.

We examined the developmental change by which autonomic neural activity associated respiration modulates spontaneous firing rate of sinus (SA) node and atrioventricular (AV) conduction in premature infants born with low birth weight (LBWI). The purpose of this study was to clarify whether variation of PR is correlated with that of PP or those are independent in LBWI with immature autonomic nervous system. We investigated, therefore, whether there are spontaneous functional differences in the innervation of SA and AV nodes. Further, we evaluated the maturation of autonomic nervous system progressing in the period, on the day of birth (Day 0) to approximately one month after the birth (Month 1). This study was performed in thirteen LBWI during deep sleep. EEG, EOG, ECG, respiratory waves were digitized on line, spontaneous firing cycle of SA node (PP), and AV nodal conduction time (PR) that were recorded on Day 0 and Month 1. Then, the data were analyzed as follows: 1) correlations among the means and standard deviations (SD) of PP, PR and RR, 2) variance evaluation of PP and PR intervals by Lorenz plot analysis method, 3) correlation analysis among PP, PR and RR intervals by linear regression method and 4) frequency analysis for PP and PR intervals by high-speed Fourier transform method (FFT) and determination of frequency density. The PP interval decreased as growing in the period. Contrary PR interval increased. In LBWI, the automatic nervous activities including parasympathetic nerve activity for spontaneous firing cycle of SA node and ventricular excitation cycle on Month 1 were higher than Day 0. It was assumed that the vagal nerve activity for the AV conduction was enhanced. However, there was no significant change in linear regression slope for the spontaneous firing cycle of SA node and the AV conduction time. Postnatal LF/HF changes for PP and PR obtained by frequency analysis, were opposite. Therefore, it was suggested that the maturity of autonomic nervous system progresses in the period, Day 0 to approximately Month 1, but the variations in PP and PR are independent each other.

A slow oscillation of sympathetic vasoconstriction (Mayer waves) which is affected by the respiratory movements seems to appear as the fluctuation of pulse wave amplitude (PPG.P-P) in the frequency domain (0.1 Hz). Whether the vasomotor in low frequency has appeared in the pulse wave of the neonate and whether Mayer waves appear as the pulse wave oscillation of the immature low-birth-weight neonate are not fully understood from the point of autonomic nerve regulation mechanism. We therefore analyzed the frequency characteristics of PPG.P-P, respiration wave and its amplitude (RW.P-P) together with the heart rate variability (HRV) to examine the relationships between the frequency spectra.