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A 72-year-old lady with atrial fibrillation and chronic renal failure was hospitalized due to bradycardic shock with electrocardiographic QRS prolongation. She had experienced limb shaking two days before hospitalization, and additionally developed hallucinations one day before admission. Pilsicainide intoxication was diagnosed from a review of her medications and electrocardiographic findings. Consequently, continuous hemodiafiltration was performed resulting in a resolution of the hallucinations and the QRS prolongation. This is a rare case of psychiatric symptoms caused by pilsicainide intoxication. It is important to know the mode of excretion of a drug and to adjust its dose, so that such drug-related incidents can be avoided.

The recalcitrant fraction of marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in carbon storage on the earth’s surface. Bacterial production of recalcitrant DOM (RDOM) has been proposed as a carbon sequestration process. It is still unclear whether bacterial physiology can affect RDOM production. In this study, we conducted a batch culture using the marine bacterial isolate Alteromonas macleodii, a ubiquitous gammaproteobacterium, to evaluate the linkage between bacterial growth and DOM production. Glucose (1 mmol C L-1) was used as the sole carbon source, and the bacterial number, the DOM concentration in terms of carbon, and the excitation-emission matrices (EEMs) of DOM were monitored during the 168-hour incubation. The incubation period was partitioned into the exponential growth (0–24 hours) and stationary phases (24–168 hours) based on the growth curve. Although the DOM concentration decreased during the exponential growth phase due to glucose consumption, it remained stable during the stationary phase, corresponding to approximately 4% of the initial glucose in terms of carbon. Distinct fluorophores were not evident in the EEM at the beginning of the incubation, but DOM produced by the strain exhibited five fluorescent peaks during exponential growth. Two fluorescent peaks were similar to protein-like fluorophores, while the others could be categorized as humic-like fluorophores. All fluorophores increased during the exponential growth phase. The tryptophan-like fluorophore decreased during the stationary phase, suggesting that the strain reused the large exopolymer. The tyrosine-like fluorophore seemed to be stable during the stationary phase, implying that the production of tyrosine-containing small peptides through the degradation of exopolymers was correlated with the reutilization of the tyrosine-like fluorophore. Two humic-like fluorophores that showed emission maxima at the longer wavelength (525 nm) increased during the stationary phase, while the other humic-like fluorophore, which had a shorter emission wavelength (400 nm) and was categorized as recalcitrant, was stable. These humic-like fluorophore behaviors during incubation indicated that the composition of bacterial humic-like fluorophores, which were unavailable to the strain, differed between growth phases. Our results suggest that bacterial physiology can affect RDOM production and accumulation in the ocean interior.

The recalcitrant fraction of marine dissolved organic matter (DOM) plays an important role in carbon storage on the earth’s surface. Bacterial production of recalcitrant DOM (RDOM) has been proposed as a carbon sequestration process. It is still unclear whether bacterial physiology can affect RDOM production. In this study, we conducted a batch culture using the marine bacterial isolate Alteromonas macleodii, a ubiquitous gammaproteobacterium, to evaluate the linkage between bacterial growth and DOM production. Glucose (1 mmol C L-1) was used as the sole carbon source, and the bacterial number, the DOM concentration in terms of carbon, and the excitation–emission matrices (EEMs) of DOM were monitored during the 168-h incubation. The incubation period was partitioned into the exponential growth (0–24 h) and stationary phases (24–168 h) based on the growth curve. Although the DOM concentration decreased during the exponential growth phase due to glucose consumption, it remained stable during the stationary phase, corresponding to approximately 4% of the initial glucose in terms of carbon. Distinct fluorophores were not evident in the EEMs at the beginning of the incubation, but DOM produced by the strain exhibited five fluorescent peaks during exponential growth. Two fluorescent peaks were similar to protein-like fluorophores, while the others could be categorized as humic-like fluorophores. All fluorophores increased during the exponential growth phase. The tryptophan-like fluorophore decreased during the stationary phase, suggesting that the strain reused the large exopolymer. The tyrosine-like fluorophore seemed to be stable during the stationary phase, implying that the production of tyrosine-containing small peptides through the degradation of exopolymers was correlated with the reutilization of the tyrosine-like fluorophore. Two humic-like fluorophores that showed emission maxima at the longer wavelength (525 nm) increased during the stationary phase, while the other humic-like fluorophore, which had a shorter emission wavelength (400 nm) and was categorized as recalcitrant, was stable. These humic-like fluorophore behaviors during incubation indicated that the composition of bacterial humic-like fluorophores, which were unavailable to the strain, differed between growth phases. Our results suggest that bacterial physiology can affect RDOM production and accumulation in the ocean interior.

Purpose – The authors develop a program, named eBraille, to translate Japanese text into braille and thereby generate braille documents easily. Public access to this program is provided to anyone via the Internet. The paper aims to evaluate the translation accuracy of the eBraille program.Design/methodology/approach – eBraille is a CGI program that is accessible via a web browser. The core of the program is a braille translating engine called the Kobe University Intelligent Braille Engine for ChaSen (KUIC). It is based on Japanese Braille Transcription Rules (Japanese Braille Committee, 2001). To evaluate the translation accuracy of eBraille, a corpus was utilized that was created from ordinary text and braille newspaper articles.Findings – The paper finds that eBraille translation accuracy is equivalent to or better than that of other stand‐alone braille translation programs. This result suggests that the program achieved the goal of being applicable for practical use. In addition, the program is utilize...

[Purpose] The purpose of this study was to investigate the durability of the effect on the dynamic control structure after performance of the Approximation technique (ApT) administered to the lower extremity. Body sway was measured on a stabilometer under two conditions: one without a stimulus, and the other with a disturbance stimulus. [Subjects] The subjects were 38 healthy males, 19 to 27 years of age. [Methods] Participants in the experimental group stood on two scales, and we performed ApT from the iliac crests toward the long axes direction of lower extremities on each leg for one minute in turn and confirmed the approximation with a 10 kg load. Experimental group performed the stabilometer in an unstable environment and we measured the center of gravity sway after the intervention. The control group was measured without performing the maneuver. [Results]Significant differences in Area of Ellipse (AoE) and locus length per unit area (L/A) after ApT for lasted for 70 minutes. [Conclusion] We conclude ApT is a useful improved stability of center of gravity for 70 minutes.

まず後藤より、鍼灸師が国民医療の担い手として機能する条件を満たしていくための卒後教育、そして卒前教育も同時に考える必要があるという視点からの提言と、社会へのアピールとしても免許更新性を考えたらどうかと提案した。山田は、鍼灸治療の本質は「不定愁訴の治療」であり、「家庭鍼灸師」になるべきと提案があり、卒後教育は、学校、業界、学会が一体で具現化することが必要と発言した。北小路は、明治鍼灸大学附属病院と鍼灸センターの有機的連携により構築された、卒後教育システムの紹介をした。内容は、医療との連携にても通用する卒後研修であった。小川は、自身の治療院でのスタッフ教育と、教員養成施設での経験から、開業免許などの新しい制度を考えるべきと提案した。山岡は、愛媛県立中央病院東洋医学研究所での卒後研修プログラムについて、お灸によるケア技術、全人的病人把握法としての時系列分析法等の紹介があった。フロアからは、卒後研修の内容や、卒前教育における改善等についての発言があった。

We have been investigating the molecular efficacy of electroacupuncture (EA), which is one type of acupuncture therapy. In our previous molecular biological study of acupuncture, we found an EA-induced gene, named acupuncture-induced 1-L (Aig1l), in mouse skeletal muscle. The aims of this study consisted of identification of the full-length cDNA sequence ofAig1lincluding the transcriptional start site, determination of the tissue distribution ofAig1land analysis of the effect of EA onAig1lgene expression. We determined the complete cDNA sequence including the transcriptional start site via cDNA cloning with the cap site hunting method. We then analyzed the tissue distribution ofAig1lby means of northern blot analysis and real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction. We used the semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to examine the effect of EA onAig1lgene expression. Our results showed that the complete cDNA sequence ofAig1lwas 6073 bp long, and the putative protein consisted of 962 amino acids. All seven tissues that we analyzed expressed theAig1lgene. In skeletal muscle, EA induced expression of theAig1lgene, with high expression observed after 3 hours of EA. Our findings thus suggest that theAig1lgene may play a key role in the molecular mechanisms of EA efficacy.

This study tested the hypothesis that the determinants of mild liver injury are prerequisites for more severe idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity. This study verified whether the possible risk factors for rare idiosyncratic valproic acid (VPA)-induced hepatotoxicity, VPA clearance and/or serum carnitine concentrations are common to those for a mild elevation in transaminases in VPA-treated patients. VPA clearance was calculated in 172 Japanese patients with epilepsy, using a non-linear mixed-effects regression program. Carnitine concentrations were determined in a subset of 60 patients. The relationships between VPA clearance, carnitine concentration and levels of transaminases and ammonia were evaluated by Pearson's correlation coefficients. The final model of VPA apparent clearance (CL/F) was as follows: CL/F (L h−1) = 0.012 × (BW/40)0.34 × dose0.55 × 0.90gender × 1.32PHT × 1.11CBZ × 1.12PB, where BW = total body weight (kg); gender = 1 if female, 0 if male; PHT/CBZ/PB = 1 if phenytoin, carbamazepine, or phenobarbital, respectively, is coadministrated, otherwise 0. Either a higher VPA clearance or acyl/free carnitine ratio and a lower total and/or free carnitine concentration, but not VPA concentration, were associated with the mild elevation in transaminases or ammonia. These results support the initial hypothesis, while also helping to clarify the mechanism of severe idiosyncratic hepatotoxicity with VPA.

Complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) may provide patients with an alternative to traditional medicine, but an assessment of its efficacy is required. One CAM method, electroacupuncture (EA) treatment, is a maneuver that utilizes stimulation of acupuncture needles with a low-frequency microcurrent. To study the effect of short-term EA, we evaluated the differential expression of genes induced by EA in mouse skeletal muscle for up to 24 h. We then used RT-PCR to confirm the expression patterns of six differentially expressed genes. Bioinformatics analysis of their transcription control regions showed that EA-inducible genes have numerous common binding motifs that are related to cell differentiation, cell proliferation, muscle repair, and hyperplasia. These results suggested that EA treatment may induce cell proliferation in skeletal muscle. To verify this possibility, we used EA to stimulate mouse skeletal muscle daily for up to 1 mo and examined the long-term effects. Immunohistochemical analysis showed that nuclei of muscle cells treated with EA for 1 mo, especially nuclei of satellite cells, reacted with anti-human PCNA. Also, expression of the gene encoding myostatin, which is a growth repressor in muscle satellite cells, was suppressed by daily EA treatment for 1 wk; EA treatment for 1 mo resulted in more marked suppression of the gene. These molecular findings constitute strong evidence that EA treatment suppresses myostatin expression, which leads to a satellite cell-related proliferative reaction and repair in skeletal muscle.

Fine structure with endochondral ossification of the calcifying cartilage and bone matrix in the nucleus of ossification were investigated by a scanning electron microscope, using fracture surfaces of the nucleus in the cartilagious sternum of the fetus.The chondrocyte lacunar wall in the superficial layer of the nucleus of ossification was formed by numerous calcospherites, and its surface was rough. The longitudinal septa of the hypertrophic layer was strand-shaped and calcified. The calcifying cartilage matrix in the part of the center of the trabeculae of the layer of ossification was mostly formed by dense calcified matrix. The gap of the calcospherites was formed by collagen fibrils. The calcifying cartilage matrix of the layer of ossification was highly calcified. There were many osteocyte lacunae showing irregularly arranged in the bone matrix of the fracture surface. The osteocyte lacunar wall was formed with dense networks of collagen fibrils.

Disophrol Chronotab, an oral constrictive agent of mucous membrane of upper respiratory tract was given to 23 patients. The results suggest that Disophrol Chronotab is a very valuable drug for treating allergic, hypertrophic rhinitis.Side effects were noted in 38% of patients, but there was no severe condition.