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Tennis has a peculiar scoring system. The purpose of this study was clarify the importance of counting one game in tennis matches by studying data from actual games, comprising 42 men's singles matches (907 games) during the Kyushu collegiate tennis championships held in 1997 and 1998. The main criterion for the analysis was the relationship between point-winning at each score and game-winning. It was found that (1) the rate of point-winning by game-winning players was 67.0%, and that the rate of point-winning by opponents was 33.0%. The game-winning players obtained 2/3 of all points. Furthermore (2), the rate of point-winning by players with a leading score was comparatively high at the time of either leading, such as in an up count or a down count, as well as when there was a difference in points at game-point. In particular, the rate of point-winning by game-winning players was significantly high on 0-15 and 15-30. (3) At scores of 30-30 and deuce (i.e. even count), the rate of point-winning by game-winning players was significantly high. These scores led an even count to game-point. These scores also showed a high frequency, and were the key to winning the game. These results suggest that scores of 30-30 and deuce are keys to game-winning, when gaining one point can lead to victory.

Epidemiological studies have shown that playing a computer game at night delays bedtime and shortens sleeping hours, but the effects on sleep architecture and quality have remained unclear. In the present study, the effects of playing a computer game and using a bright display on nocturnal sleep were examined in a laboratory. Seven male adults (24.7+/-5.6 years old) played exciting computer games with a bright display (game-BD) and a dark display (game-DD) and performed simple tasks with low mental load as a control condition in front of a BD (control-BD) and DD (control-DD) between 23:00 and 1:45 hours in randomized order and then went to bed at 2:00 hours and slept until 8:00 hours. Rectal temperature, electroencephalogram (EEG), heart rate and subjective sleepiness were recorded before sleep and a polysomnogram was recorded during sleep. Heart rate was significantly higher after playing games than after the control conditions, and it was also significantly higher after using the BD than after using the DD. Subjective sleepiness and relative theta power of EEG were significantly lower after playing games than after the control conditions. Sleep latency was significantly longer after playing games than after the control conditions. REM sleep was significantly shorter after the playing games than after the control conditions. No significant effects of either computer games or BD were found on slow-wave sleep. These results suggest that playing an exciting computer game affects sleep latency and REM sleep but that a bright display does not affect sleep variables.

The authors' aim was to evaluate the efficacy of immunosuppression with monoclonal anti-CD40 ligand antibodies (aCD40L) or nonspecific polyclonal intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIG) in the pig-to-rat islet xenotransplantation model.Fetal porcine islet-like cell clusters were transplanted under the kidney capsule of nondiabetic rats. All antibodies were administered alone or in combination with cyclosporine A (CsA). In addition, some animals were administered antibodies plus tacrolimus (TAC) or sirolimus (SIR). Twelve days after transplantation, islet xenograft survival and rejection were evaluated using immunohistochemistry.aCD40L plus CsA had a pronounced inhibitory effect on islet xenograft rejection for up to 12 days after transplantation. Unexpectedly, treatment with a monoclonal control antibody (anti-keyhole limpet hemocyanin [aKLH]) plus CsA had a similar inhibitory effect. Furthermore, a similar inhibition of islet xenograft rejection was observed also in animals administered IVIG plus CsA. Monotherapy with aCD40L, aKLH, IVIG, or CsA had no effect on the rejection process. Also, when aCD40L or aKLH was administered together with TAC, islet xenograft rejection was inhibited. There was no marked difference compared with rats treated with aCD40L or aKLH and CsA. Immunosuppression with aCD40L or aKLH in combination with SIR also inhibited pig-to-rat islet xenograft rejection, but the protective effect was not as pronounced.Immunosuppression with high doses of antibodies, monoclonal or polyclonal, in combination with CsA or TAC inhibits pig-to-rat islet xenograft rejection. No specific effect of co-stimulatory blockade with aCD40L could be observed. Instead, the results indicate a nonspecific immunosuppressive effect of high doses of antibodies in this model.

Fibroblast growth factor-23 (FGF-23), a novel phosphate-regulating factor, was elevated in hypophosphatemic patients with X-linked hypophosphatemic rickets/osteomalacia and also in patients with chronic kidney disease. These observations suggested the pathophysiological importance of FGF-23 on phosphate homeostasis. However, regulation of FGF-23 production is still unclear. We investigated effects of both dietary phosphorus and 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) (1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3)) on circulating FGF-23 in vivo Administration of. 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) dose-dependently increased serum FGF-23 in thyroparathyroidectomized rats without correlating with serum inorganic phosphorus or serum parathyroid hormone. On the other hand, vitamin D receptor null mice had very low serum FGF-23 and did not respond to the 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) administration. These observations suggested 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) directly or indirectly regulates circulating FGF-23. Serum FGF-23 had a strong correlation with serum inorganic phosphorus controlled by dietary phosphorus in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. High phosphate diet elicited a 5-fold increase in serum FGF-23 compared with sham-operated rats, whereas serum FGF-23 did not correlate with serum calcium or serum creatinine in 5/6 nephrectomized rats. Administration of 1alpha,25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) also elicited a severalfold increase in serum FGF-23 in the uremic rats. Taken together, this shows that both serum phosphorus and 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3) regulate circulating FGF-23 independent of each other. Therefore, we proposed there was a feedback loop existing among serum phosphorus, 1alpha,25(OH)(2)D(3), and FGF-23, in which the novel phosphate-regulating bone-kidney axis integrated with the parathyroid hormone-vitamin D(3) axis in regulating phosphate homeostasis.

This article assesses the effects of banking on tradable emission permit markets and, in particular, the role of uncertainty in permit markets that allow banking. In such markets, current and future spot trade markets are linked: An increase in uncertainty about future spot markets at first lowers spot prices due to the presence of unregulated agents but soon spurs an increase in spot prices.

The pig pancreas is considered to be one of the most suitable sources of islets for clinical xenotransplantation. However, after producing α1-3galactosyltransferase knockout pigs, most of the organs of these pigs showed less antigenicity to the human body. Wild-type adult pig islets (APIs) that originally produced negligible levels of α-Gal, different from neonatal porcine islet-like cell clusters, showed a clear antigenicity to human serum. Concerning the so-called non-Gal epitopes, many studies related to glycoproteins and glycolipids are ongoing in efforts to identify them. However, our knowledge of non-Gal glycoantigens remains incomplete. In our previous study, N-glycans were isolated from APIs, and the structures of 28 of the N-glycans were detected. In this study, to identify additional structures, further analyses were performed by liquid chromatography-mass spectrometry (LC-MS). N-glycans were isolated from APIs by the method described by O'Neil et al with minor modifications and LC-MS-based structural analyses were then performed. The detected N-glycan peaks in the LC-MS spectra were selected using the FLexAnalysis software program and the structures of the glycans were predicted using the GlyocoMod Tool. The API preparation contained 11 peaks and 16 structures were then nominated as containing N-linked sugars. Among them, 5 sulfated glycans were estimated, confirming the existence of sulfate structures in N-glycans in API. In addition, these data may supplement several N-glycan structures that contain two deoxyhexose units, such as fucose, to our previous report. The data herein will be helpful for future studies of antigenicity associated with API.

Freeze-dried tendon allograft sterilized with gamma irradiation could be a reasonable option for ligament substitute. In the current study, the effects of freezing or freeze-drying followed by gamma irradiation on remodeling were analyzed biomechanically in a rat patellar tendon transplantation model at the time of harvest and during a 24-week healing period. The grafts were divided into four groups: fresh-freezing, freeze-drying, fresh-freezing followed by gamma irradiation, and freeze-drying followed by gamma irradiation. Before transplantation, the fresh-frozen grafts and the freeze-dried grafts showed significantly greater tensile strength than the gamma-irradiated grafts. However, at 4 weeks, the tensile strength of each group decreased to the equivalent level, which was approximately 20% of the tensile strength at Time 0, then increased gradually with time. At 24 weeks, the mean tensile strength of each transplanted graft achieved as much as 50% of the tensile strength at Time 0. The change in the tangent modulus with time followed a similar pattern as changes in the tensile strength. This study assumed that the extraarticular tendon transfer model was suitable for evaluating anterior cruciate ligament graft healing. These data suggest that the freeze-dried tendon allografts sterilized by gamma radiation could be a suitable substitute for anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, if care is taken to protect the graft during the early stage after transplantation (< 4 weeks).

Pancreas and islet transplantation is the only treatment that can cure type 1 diabetes mellitus (DM). With the recent advances of operative procedure and immunosuppression, pancreas graft survivals have become better than before, but some problems still remain. It is extremely difficult to establish tolerance and to reverse rejection once it has been initiated because the pancreas graft itself has a strong immunogenicity. It is also known that pancreatic graft failure is sometimes due to autoimmune recurrence. In the clinical situation, however, these immunologic events actually coexist within the pancreatic graft. Thus, it is rather difficult to analyze each of them independently, but possible to delineate each of these immunologic mechanisms with using animal models of type 1 DM such as BB (BioBreeding) rats or NOD (nonobese diabetic) mice. In the current study, we reviewed the immunological characteristics in pancreas transplantation (PTx) based on our experimental experiences together with that of others and investigated the possibility of tolerance induction in PTx.

A new murine model of porcine islet-like cell cluster (ICC) xenograft rejection, avoiding interference of unspecific inflammation, was introduced and used to investigate rejection mechanisms. Athymic (nu/nu) mice were transplanted with syngeneic, allogeneic, or xenogeneic islets under the kidney capsule. After the original transplantation, immune cells in porcine ICC xenografts undergoing rejection in native immunocompetent mice were transferred to the peritoneal cavity of the athymic mice. At defined time points after transfer, the primary grafts were evaluated by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative RT-PCR to estimate cytokine and chemokine mRNA expression. Transfer of immunocompetent cells enabled athymic (nu/nu) mice to reject a previously tolerated ICC xenograft only when donor and recipient were matched for major histocompatibility complex (MHC). In contrast, allogeneic and syngeneic islets were not rejected. The ICC xenograft rejection was mediated by transferred T-cells. The main effector cells, macrophages, were shown to be part of a specific immune response. By day 4 after transplantation, there was an upreglation of both Th1- and Th2-associated cytokine transcripts. The transferred T-cells were xenospecific and required MHC compatibility to induce rejection. Interaction between the TCR of transferred T-cells and MHC on host endothelial cells and/or macrophages seems necessary for inducing ICC xenograft rejection.

Adenovirus-mediated CTLA4Ig gene transfer has been reported to enhance graft survival in several rodent transplantation models. In this study, we investigated the efficacy of ex vivo and systemic transfer of the CTLA4Ig gene by adenoviral vectors in pancreatic islet allo-transplantation. Islet grafts from BN rats were transplanted to chemically induced diabetic LEW rats. First, ex vivo CTLA4Ig gene transfer into isolated islets was performed prior to transplantation. Survival of transduced grafts under the kidney capsule was slightly prolonged (8.6+/-1.3 days) compared with survival of untransduced grafts (6.7+/-1.2 days); when combined with a short course of FK506, graft survival was further extended (32.6+/-10.7 days vs. 13.7+/-1.0 days with FK506 alone). Secondly, systemic gene transfer was accomplished by intravenous administration immediately after the transplantation procedure. In these animals, islet grafts under the kidney capsule survived longer (15.2+/-3.3 days) than in controls (6.7+/-1.2 days), and when FK506 was administered perioperatively, all the islet grafts survived for more than 100 days. In systemically transduced recipients, the survival of islet grafts transplanted into the liver was not significantly different from that of the grafts placed under the kidney capsule. In order to examine organ-specific immunogenicity, heterotopic BN cardiac grafts were transplanted to LEW rats intra-abdominally, with the virus transferred systemically as in the islet model. In contrast to the islet grafts, all the cardiac grafts were accepted for longer than 100 days, even without FK506 therapy. Finally, the LEW recipients with long-surviving islet or cardiac grafts were re-transplanted with islet grafts from the same donor strain (BN) on day 100. The second islet grafts survived longer than 100 days in half of the cardiac recipients, but consistently failed in the islet recipients. We conclude that in this transplant model, CTLA4Ig gene transfer and FK506 treatment synergistically improved islet graft survival, systemic transfer of the gene was more effective than ex vivo transfer to the islets, and donor-specific tolerance could not be achieved for islet transplantation but was achieved for cardiac transplantation.

This paper offers an analytical model of emission permit markets in which a large number of regulated emitters participate, and derives formulae that estimate the degree of market distortion. These formulae clearly show the entire dependence of the ratio of market prices to competitive levels on the permit initial distribution as well as the existence of a threshold for effective market power. While the findings challenge a well-known conception of the Coase Theorem, they have significant policy implications vis-a-vis the Kyoto Protocol and the related policy debates on excess emission rights known as “hot air.”

目的:脳腫瘍細胞診において比較的容易に組織型を判断しうる包括的な見方を考案したので報告する.対象と方法:日常遭遇する機会の多い良性星膠腫, 悪性星膠腫, 膠芽腫, 毛状星膠腫, 上衣腫, 稀突起膠腫, 髄芽腫, 髄膜腫, 神経鞘腫, 下垂体腺腫, そして転移性腫瘍を選んだ. それら検体の圧挫法によるPapanicolaou染色標本を低倍率で観察し, 細胞出現パターン別に包括的に分類した. 同時に, 各型に属する腫瘍間の鑑別に有用な所見を探索した.結果:出現パターンは集合型, 孤立散在型, そしてその両者の混在する混合型に分けられた. 集合型には, 密着塊状集塊と, ライトグリーン淡染性基質に平面的結合を示す集塊があった. 前者には髄膜腫, 神経鞘腫, 上衣腫 (乳頭型) が, そして後者には良性星膠腫, 悪性星膠腫, 膠芽腫, 髄膜腫, 神経鞘腫 (変性部分) が該当した. 孤立散在型には稀突起膠腫, 髄芽腫, 髄膜腫, 下垂体腺腫が, また混合型には膠芽腫, 髄膜腫, 転移性腫瘍が該当した. 核線は, 神経上皮由来の腫瘍に出来やすいが, その他の原発性腫瘍にはほとんどなく, その存在は組織型の鑑別に役立った. また, 星膠腫における良性・悪性の鑑別には血管間質や細胞・核の形状差が有用であった.結論:本観察法は簡便で, 一般臓器・組織細胞診と同じ感覚で脳腫瘍細胞診を行える特長がある.

Purpose: To biomechanically evaluate a new fixation device, DSP (Double Spike Plate; Meira Corp, Nagoya, Aichi, Japan), for pullout graft fixation. Type of Study: Biomechanical study. Methods: A porcine tibia in which 8-mm diameter drill holes had been made from the medial tibial metaphysis to the anterior cruciate ligament attachment was rigidly fixed to a tension analyzer. A quadrupled graft consisting of 2 double-looped bovine tendons was prepared with No. 3 polyester sutures placed distally. The graft was passed through the drill hole, and its proximal loop ends were rigidly fixed to a load cell for monitoring graft tension. The graft's distal ends were connected to the DSP by tying the sutures to the top hole in the DSP. The graft tension was predetermined at 49 N (n = 5) or 98 N (n = 5). This tension was maintained for 5 minutes with a suture passed through the bottom hole of the DSP. The plate was fixed to the tibia by hammering its spikes into the bone under the index tension. Finally, the fixation was completed by inserting a screw. Results: Although the graft tension immediately increased to 69 ± 11 N or 133 ± 14 N during hammering, it gradually reduced to 49 ± 10 N or 100 ± 7 N 5 minutes later. Conclusions: This study shows that graft fixation under a predetermined tension can be achieved with the DSP. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 18, No 8 (October), 2002: pp 908–911

Atopic dermatitis is regarded as mediated by Th2-type immunity. In fact, it frequently coincides with the elevation of immunoglobulin (Ig)-E in patients' sera. Due to the pivotal role of interleukin (IL)-4 in regulation of IgE, we hypothesized if atopic dermatitis represents a hyper-reactive condition in response to IL-4 when it coincides the higher serum level of IgE. To address this possibility, peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) isolated from patients with atopic dermatitis with the high serum IgE level, from those with psoriasis or from healthy volunteers were stimulated with recombinant IL-4 and analyzed for activation of transcription factors including activator protein (AP)-1 or signal transducers and activators of transcription (STAT)-6 by employing electrophoretic mobility shift assays. Although no significant difference between atopy patients and other groups was observed in the STAT-6 binding activity in IL-4-stimulated PBMC, it over-activated the binding of AP-1 in PBMC of the patients with atopic dermatitis. The AP-1 binding was interfered by the use of an antibody directed against JunB. This is the indication that IL-4-overactivated AP-1 is composed of JunB. Furthermore, semi-quantitative RT-PCR analyses revealed marked down-modulation of a Th1 cytokine, interferon (IFN)-gamma, in IL-4-stimulated PBMC derived from atopy patients, but not that from healthy individuals. Together, our present study indicates that AP-1 is over-activated by IL-4 in PBMC of the atopic patients with the higher IgE level, thereby implying that IL-4-induced over-activation of AP-1 might be one of pathogenic factors in atopic dermatitis.

In the original publication, the fifth author name was erroneously published as "Patmika Jiaravuthiasan". The correct author name should read as, "Patmika Jiaravuthisan". The original article was corrected.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of longer immobilization following primary shoulder dislocation in young rugby players for the prevention of recurrence. We sent a questionnaire regarding shoulder dislocation to all senior high school and college rugby teams in the southwest region of Japan. We received replies from 5476 players in 196 teams (i.e., answers were received from 76% of the teams). Based on the answers from the 79 rugby players who had undergone shoulder dislocations and who were eligible for the study, we divided them into two groups; group I: immobilization for 0-3 weeks at the time of the initial dislocation (n = 61), and group II: immobilization for 4-7 weeks (n = 18). We compared the time-course from primary dislocation to recurrence between the two groups, using the Kaplan-Meier method. The age range at the time of the primary dislocation was 14-23 years (average, 16.7 years). The probability of recurrence in groups I and II, respectively, was 78% and 44% after 1 year; and 85% and 69% after 2 years. The median period from return to rugby to recurrence was 4 months in group I and 14 months in group II. The symptom-free period was extended when immobilization was carried out for 4 weeks or more, in comparison with the symptom-free period in those who had immobilization for 3 weeks or less.

The purpose of this study was to clarify the differences between adolescent and collegiate baseball pitchers in the kinematic and kinetic profiles of the trunk and lower limbs during the pitching motion. The subjects were thirty-two adolescent baseball pitchers aged 12-15 years (APG) and thirty collegiate baseball pitchers aged 18-22 years (CPG). Three-dimensional motion analysis with a comprehensive lower-extremity model was used to evaluate kinematic and kinetic parameters during baseball pitching. The ground reaction forces (GRFs) of the pivot and stride legs during pitching were determined using two multicomponent force plates. The joint torques of hip, knee, and ankle were calculated by the inverse-dynamics computation of musculoskeletal human models using motion-capture data. To eliminate any effect of variation in body size, kinetic and GRFs data were normalized by dividing them by body mass. The velocity of a pitched ball was significantly higher (p0.01) in CPG (35.2 ± 1.9 m·s(-1)) than in the APG (30.7 ± 2.7 m·s(-1)). Most kinematic parameters for the lower limbs were similar between the CPG and the APG. Maximum Fy (toward the throwing direction) on the pivot leg and Fy and resultant forces on the stride leg at ball release were significantly greater in the CPG than in the APG (p0.05). Hip and knee joint torques on the lower limbs were significantly greater in the CPG than in the APG (p0.05). The present study indicates that the kinematics of lower limbs during baseball pitching are similar between adolescent and collegiate pitchers, but the momentum of the lower limbs during pitching is lower in adolescent pitchers than in collegiate ones, even when the difference in body mass is considered. Key pointsCollegiate baseball pitchers can generate the hip and knee joint torques on the pivot leg for accelerating the body forward.Collegiate baseball pitchers can generate the hip and knee joint torques to control/stabilize the stride leg in order to increase momentum on the stride leg during the arm acceleration phase.The kinematics of the lower limbs during baseball pitching are similar between adolescent and collegiate pitchers, but the momentum of the lower limbs during pitching is lower in adolescent pitchers than in collegiate ones, even when the difference in body mass is considered.Adolescent baseball pitchers cannot generate the hip and knee joint torques in the pivot and stride leg for transfer of the energy of trunk and the arm.

The a-Gal epitope (Gal a1-3Galb1-4 GlcNAc-R), which is biosynthesized by the action of a1,3galactosyltransferase (a1,3GT), is closely associated with hyperacute rejection (HAR) in pig to human xenotransplantation. On the other hand, the Hanganutziu-Deicher (H-D) epitope, which is produced by cytidine monophospho-N-acetylneuraminic acid hydroxylase (CMAH) and contains N-glycolylneuraminic acid (NeuGc), and other currently unknown non-Gal epitopes are also factors in the xenotransplantation field. At present, a1,3GT/CMAH knockout pigs have already been produced. Avariety of strategies have been pursued to reduce or eliminate the a-Gal epitope from pig tissues. In addition to knocking out a1,3GT/CMAH by nuclear transplantation techniques from the targeted somatic cells, other strategies, such as enzyme competition of a1,3GTwith a1,2-fucosyltransferase (a1,2FT), control of sugar processing by b-D-mannoside b1,4-N-acetylglucosaminyltransferase III (GnT-III), and digesting a-Gal epitopes by cleaving the b-galactosidic linkage, have provided very interesting insights into the downregulation of the xenogeneic epitope. Some of the above strategies continue to be downregulating the non-a-Gal epitopes in transgenic animals after a1,3GT and CMAH are eliminated. In addition, porcine endogenous retrovirus (PERV) contains a ligand with an N-linked sugar. Modification of the glycosylation pattern of the PERV ligand appears to be associated with regulating PERV infectivity.

Objective To quantitatively evaluate the effects of body support with a cane on postural sway by measuring gravity-center sway of patients with stroke who reside at home. Design The subjects were 41 patients with stroke and 36 healthy independent elderly people. Each subject stood in the standard Romberg position on a gravicorder under two conditions: without support and with a cane. Results In both groups, the largest area of gravity-center sway occurred when the subjects stood without support. The area of gravity-center sway of the patients with stroke was significantly greater than that of the healthy independent elderly. In the patients with stroke group, the percentage decrease in the standing position with the cane was 58.0% in the men and 53.9% in the women, as opposed to 67.7% in the men and 67.8% in the women in the group of healthy independent elderly. Conclusion The authors quantitatively evaluated the effects of body support with a cane on postural sway of patients with stroke. The effect of body support with cane on postural sway of patients with stroke was more effective than that of healthy independent elderly.

Objective : Diurnal variations in EEG activity and subjectively rated sleepiness while performing repeated vigilance tasks were examined. Methods : Nine diurnally active healthy males underwent repeated vigilance tasks at 08:00, 11:00, 14:00, 17:00 and 20:00 h. An electroencephalogram (EEG) was taken while the subjects performed the tasks with their eyes open. The alpha power spectra (8.6–13.3 Hz) of EEG was integrated. Subjectively rated sleepiness, reaction time and oral temperature were also measured. Results : Significant diurnal variations were found for alpha power, subjectively rated sleepiness and oral temperature. The alpha power was significantly smaller at 08:00 than at 11:00, 14:00, 17:00 and 20:00 h. The subjectively rated sleepiness was significantly larger at 08:00 than at 11:00, 17:00 and 20:00 h. The diurnal variation in alpha power did not correspond to that in subjectively rated sleepiness. On the other hand, repeated vigilance tasks increased the alpha power, subjectively rated sleepiness and reaction time at each time of day. The increase in alpha power was significantly greater at 14:00 than at 08:00 and 20:00 h. Conclusions : The diurnal variation was found in alpha power while performing vigilance tasks. Furthermore, the increase in alpha power with repetition of the task depended on the time of day.

Genetic variants of interleukin-3 (IL-3), a well-studied cytokine, may have a role in the pathophysiology of rheumatoid arthritis (RA); but reports on this association sometimes conflict. A case-control study was designed to investigate association between RA and a single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) in the IL-3 promoter region. Comparison of cases of RA versus control individuals yielded a chi(2) value of 14.28 (P=.0002), with a genotype odds ratio of 2.24 (95% confidence interval [95%CI] 1.44-3.49). When female cases with earlier onset were compared with female control individuals, the SNP revealed an even more significant correlation, with chi2=21.75 (P=.000004) and a genotype odds ratio of 7.27 (95%CI 2.80-18.89). The stronger association that we observed in this clinically distinct subgroup (females with early onset), within a region where linkage disequilibrium was not significantly extended, suggested that the genuine RA locus should locate either within or close to the IL-3 gene. Combined genotype data on SNPs on eight other candidate genes were combined with our IL-3 results, to estimate relationships between pairs of loci and RA, by maximum-likelihood analysis. The utility of combining the genotype data in this way to identify possible contributions of various genes to this disease is discussed.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the hypothesis that EEG values match other comprehensive activities of daily living (ADL) evaluations between stroke survivors and normal controls. Various functions related to ADL were examined by means of ADL assessments (Measurement of Competence in the Elderly Living at Home, Barthel Index, Stroke Impairment Assessment Set, time needed to walk 10 metres) and biosocial synchronization (the questionnaire on biosocial rhythms of daily living). EEG was undertaken using a computer-assisted portable EEG recorder. The power spectra were computed using a fast Fourier transformation analysis (FFT). The absolute and relative powers (percent of the total EEG power) of 5 frequency bands (delta, theta, alpha 1, alpha 2 and beta) and the peak frequency were analyzed. In comparing stroke survivors and the independent elderly, the latter had higher scores than the former in assessments of various functions related to ADL. The absolute and relative power of the delta band were lower in normal controls, and the relative power of the alpha (2) band and the peak frequency were higher than those of stroke survivors. Among the correlations between EEG and ADL assessments, the absolute and relative power of the alpha (2) band correlated significantly with ADL assessments of stroke survivors with right hemiplegia. The peak frequency was significantly increased in cases with high ADL scores. In conclusion, significant correlations were identified between the quantitative EEG data of stroke survivors in the chronic stage, living in the community, and ADL-related functions. Computer-assisted portable EEG recording is a potentially useful screening tool for objectively evaluating the functional levels of stroke survivors in field work.

Most hypopigmenting reagents target the inhibition of tyrosinase, the key enzyme involved in melanin synthesis. In this issue, Choi et al. report that NADPH:quinone oxidoreductase-1 (NQO1) increases melanin synthesis, probably via the suppression of tyrosinase degradation. Because NQO1 was identified by comparing normally pigmented melanocytes with hypopigmented acral lentiginous melanoma cells, these results suggest various hypotheses regarding the carcinogenic origin of the latter.

Objective To evaluate the reliability and validity of the modified physical performance tests for stroke survivors who live in a community. Design The subjects included 40 stroke survivors and 40 apparently healthy independent elderly persons. The physical performance tests for the stroke survivors comprised two physical capacity evaluation tasks that represented physical abilities necessary to perform the main activities of daily living, e.g., standing-up ability (time needed to stand up from bed rest) and walking ability (time needed to walk 10 m). Results Regarding the reliability of tests, significant correlations were confirmed between test and retest of physical performance tests with both short and long intervals in individuals after stroke. Regarding the validity of tests, the authors studied the significant correlations between the maximum isometric strength of the quardriceps muscle and the time needed to walk 10 m, centimeters reached while sitting and reaching, and the time needed to stand up from bed rest. Conclusions The authors confirmed that there were significant correlations between the instrumental activity of daily living and the time needed to stand up from bed rest, along with the time needed to walk 10 m for the stroke survivors. These physical performance tests are useful guides for evaluating a level of activity of daily living and physical frailty of stroke survivors living in a community.

Although it is now widely recognized that tobacco smoke has negative effects on the skin, the molecular mechanisms underlying its skin-aging effects remain uncertain. Epidemiological studies indicate that tobacco smoking is a strong independent predictor of facial wrinkle formation and other aspects of premature skin aging. Recent in vivo studies in humans and mice provided the first direct evidence that tobacco smoke causes premature skin aging, and they have begun to reveal the molecular changes in the skin that occur in response to it. Water-soluble tobacco smoke extract, which predominantly produces oxidative stress when applied topically to cultured skin fibroblasts, impairs collagen biosynthesis. Matrix metalloproteinases, which degrade collagen, are induced dose-dependently by tobacco smoke extract as well as by other constituents that trigger the aryl hydrocarbon receptor (AhR), a ligand-dependent transcription factor that mediates the toxicity of several environmental contaminants, including photoproducts in the body generated by UVB radiation. Tobacco smoke also contains many non-water-soluble constituents that activate the AhR pathway. Our most recent studies using hexane-soluble tobacco extract indicate that activation of the AhR pathway may play a role in the premature skin-aging effects of tobacco smoke exposure.Journal of Investigative Dermatology Symposium Proceedings (2009) 14, 53-55; doi:10.1038/jidsymp.2009.13.

OBJECTIVE—To evaluate secular trends in the incidence and prevalence of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) in Japan. METHODS—The incidence and prevalence of RA were determined in a longitudinal population based study in the Kamitonda district, Wakayama, Japan, from 1965 to 1996. RESULTS—In the study area consisting of about 3000 inhabitants, 16 incident cases, satisfying definite RA by the Rome criteria were detected during the study period. The age and sex adjusted incidence in both men and women combined and the age adjusted incidence in women significantly decreased (p

Summary: The efficacy of the Caspari technique using a combination of absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures was compared with that of using only absorbable sutures. Forty-four patients (45 shoulders) underwent our modified Caspari technique for traumatic anterior shoulder instability and were followed-up for 2 to 3 years postoperatively. The average age at operation was 22 years. Among 27 patients treated using all absorbable PDS sutures, 7 patients had recurrent instability (success rate, 74%). Among 18 patients treated using both PDS and nonabsorbable polypropylene sutures, only one showed apprehension after a direct blow to the shoulder sustained by falling from a height (success rate, 94%). The mean stability score according to Rowe's criteria was significantly higher in the combination of absorbable and nonabsorbable group ( P = .0412). External rotation increased more slowly in the combination of absorbable and nonabsorbable group than in the absorbable group. The mean limitation of external rotation was 8.4° and 2.7°, respectively ( P = .0129). The modified Caspari technique using both absorbable and nonabsorbable sutures achieved excellent stability according to Rowe's criteria and external rotation showed more gradual improvement compared to repair with absorbable sutures alone. Arthroscopy: The Journal of Arthroscopic and Related Surgery, Vol 15, No 4 (May-June), 1999: pp 400–407

In this study, a device is developed for the measurement and adjustment of resultant graft tension of the anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) reconstructed knee in vitro. This device is attached to the tibial surface at the distal end of the drill hole for ACL reconstruction. It measures the graft tension via a suture coming from the graft and fixed at one end of the device positioned on the axis of the drill hole, by using strain gauges. A hollow bolt-nut pair at the end of suture fixation site provides a level adjusting mechanism for the initial tension adjustment of the graft. The calibration test showed a good linearity and sensitivity, and the effect of the device is examined through the knee extension test and the anterior-posterior (A-P) drawer test for four human cadaveric knees. The graft tension observed by the device showed the ACL / graft tension characteristics that is consistent with those in past reports by several authors, and it is confirmed that the developed device enables us to study the graft tension under the practical situation of ACL reconstruction quantitatively.

Graft recurrence of insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (IDDM) was examined. Islet transplantation or pancreas-alone transplantation excluding the duodenum and peripancreatic lymph nodes was compared with whole pancreaticoduodenal transplantation. A Wistar Furth (WF; RT1(u), RT6.2) to major histocompatibility complex (MHC)-compatible diabetes-prone (DP; RT1(u), RT6.1 gene carrier)-biobreeding (BB) rat transplantation model was used. Only DP recipients that had been transplanted with whole pancreaticoduodenal grafts were free from IDDM recurrence (>60 days postgrafting) when treated with anti-intercellular adhesion moluecule-1 (ICAM)-1/leukocyte function-associated antigen-1 (LFA-1) monoclonal antibodies (mAbs). In the spleen cells of the DP rats that had accepted pancreatic grafts (60 days postgrafting), flow cytometric analysis showed that NKR-P1(+)TCRalphabeta(+) (NKT) cells had proliferated markedly, with the proportion of 12.8 +/- 1.7% in the total splenic T cells, most of which (86.2%) were derived from the donor (RT6.2(+)). By enzyme-linked immunonosorbent assay (ELISA), serum interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) was not detected (

To identify hydrocarbon components suitably blended in the M85 (Methanol: 85 vol%, Gasoline: 15 vol%) fuel while maintaining high emission control performance of the catalyst, the effects of various hydrocarbons on the methanol conversion efficiency were investigated. Saturated hydrocarbons having about 5–7 carbon atoms did not inhibit the methanol conversion efficiency. In contrast, unsaturated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons inhibited the methanol conversion efficiency. It was concluded that low saturated hydrocarbons such as light-naphtha were suitable for hydrocarbons mixed with methanol fuel.

Objective: To evaluate the effectiveness of body support in compensating for decreased standing balance stability in elderly persons with visual impairment. Design: Standing balance was measured in a cross-section of elderly persons from two nursing homes—one for aged individuals with visual impairment, the other for aged individuals without visual impairment. Participants: The subjects were 44 visually impaired persons with a mean age of 79. Oyrs and 39 people without visual impairment, mean age 76.3yrs. Outcome Measures: The area of gravity-center sway was measured with subjects standing on a gravicorder for 30sec in three positions: (1) without support, (2) with cane, (3) with light support by touching a wall. Results: Both men and women in the visually impaired group swayed more than their sighted counterparts when standing without support, the only statistically significant difference between the two groups. For all subjects, the greatest degree of sway occurred when subjects stood unsupported, and the least sway occurred when subjects touched a wall for support. Conclusion: In visually impaired elderly persons, touching a wall for body support while standing is more effective than using a cane.

CD95 ligand (CD95L) potently induces apoptosis by activating CD9 5 on target cells. It has recently been reported that melanoma cells in vivo express a significant amount of CD95L, thereby being immediately able to kill CD95-bearing immunocompetent cells specific for cancer antigens. which infiltrate the lesions. In this study, we employed immunohistochemistry using an antibody directed against CD95L to investigate at which stage the melanoma CD95L expression is turned on. Skin biopsies of 49 lesions from 46 patients were assessed. These included benign and dysplastic naevi. melanoma in situ, stage I melanomas (Clark's level 2 or 3), advance-phase melanomas (Clark's level 4 or 5 ) and lymph node metastases. CD9 5L was expressed in all of the advance-phase melanomas as well as lymph node metastases of cutaneous origin, whereas neither melanoma in situ, benign naevi nor dysplastic naevi reacted positively with the antibody. To investigate a link between positivity and tumour size. the data were analysed on the basis of Breslow thickness. and indicated that expression was observed only when tumours were thicker than 0.75 mm. We next compared expression of CD95L and HMB-45. CD9 5L was positive only in melanomas in a more advanced phase than stage I, whereas HMB-4 5 was not only expressed in melanoma cells but also in benign pigmented naevi. This indicated the advantage of CD9 5L staining to diagnose melanoma. The present study indicates the significant correlation between tumorigenicity and expression of CD95L, and thereby raises the possibility that CD9 5L may be a useful diagnostic marker for malignant melanomas.

In electric power supply, railway, and other companies with many facilities, facility management is a laborious task. To realize a computerized facility management system, numerous paper-based facility maps should be stored in a database. In this paper, we present a system that constructs a facility management database by interpretation of paper-based facility maps. This system can automatically recognize structured figures with variable shapes on maps, while conventional methods cannot recognize these figures. And this system can easily generate relational data between facilities and character strings on maps. We compare our recognition method of structured figures with variable shapes with a conventional recognition method, and show the effectiveness of our system.

To repair a full-thickness articular cartilage defect in rabbit knees, we developed a technique of using a collagen gel hardened by cultured allogeneic chondrocytes in it. The gel-chondrocyte composite accumulated an intense metachromatic matrix, and had elasticity and stiffness enough to be shaped easily after 2 weeks' culture in vitro. It was implanted into full-thickness articular cartilage defects. Histologic evaluation was performed up to 6 months after surgery, using a histologic grading scale composed of 5 categories. In the gel-chondrocyte composite implanted group, good repair was observed from as early as 1 day up to 6 months. On the other hand, in the empty control group, no repair was observed 1 day to 2 weeks after the defects were made. At 4 weeks, some repair occurred, but even at 6 months the repair was not good.

This study was conducted to explore whether anthropometric indices of obesity are associated with atherogenic risk factors in young adult working women in Japan. The subjects were 492 women in an occupational setting. Predictor variables were body mass index (BMI), the sum of triceps and subscapular skinfold thickness (SFT), and the waist to hip ratio (WHR). Outcome variables were serum total cholesterol, triglyceride and blood pressures. The average age of the subjects was 26.3 (SD 3.9) years. The upper quartiles of BMI and SFT were significantly associated with all atherogenic risk factors, while the upper quartiles of WHR were not. Multiple comparisons revealed the 4th quartiles of BMI (> 22.25) and SFT (> 39 mm) to have significantly higher values for all atherogenic risk factors. We found that BMI and skinfold thickness were more relevant to the prediction of atherogenic risk factors than WHR in young adult Japanese women.

The effects of night shift schedules on circadian time structure of blood pressure were studied in seven healthy young subjects by continuous monitoring of blood pressure every 30 min for 72 h. In the control experiment, subjects were instructed to sleep at regular times with the light off at 00.00 h and the light on at 07.00 h. In the shift experiment, they were instructed to go to bed at 06.00 h and wake up at 11.00 h. The circadian rhythm of blood pressure rapidly phase delayed by 3.5 h in the second night shift day as a group phenomenon. Individual differences in changes in power spectral patterns of blood pressure were found in the night shift schedule. Ultradian rhythmicity of blood pressure was more pronounced in three subjects, whereas the circadian rhythmicity was maintained in four subjects. These findings held when the adaptation to shift work was taken into account.

Proposed here is a method of drawing recognition that allows correct separation and recognition of lines, even when many similar lines form dense and complicated intersections. With previous techniques for line recognition, tracing-type methods based on such line properties as straightness are generally employed. As to junctions and intersections between graphic objects, trial-and-error methods have been studied that offer line recognition by means of repetitive generation of hypotheses based on some global constraints, and verification of these hypotheses. Such methods prove to be poor, however, at recognition of relations between lines within complicated intersection areas. In this paper, geometric patterns of line intersection areas are modeled under certain constraints, and it is made clear that these patterns may be considerably reduced in number by using border points between an intersection area, and its incoming and outgoing lines. Using this intersection model, a method is proposed to recognize line drawings, and efficiency of the method is verified by evaluation tests.

This study was conducted to clarify the seasonal difference in body temperature in summer and winter, and to document the thermal environment of the elderly living in nursing homes. The subjects were 57 healthy elderly people agedor = 63 years living in two nursing homes in Japan. One of the homes was characterized by subjects with low levels of activities of daily living (ADL). Oral temperatures were measured in the morning and afternoon, with simultaneous recording of ambient temperature and relative humidity. Oral temperatures in summer were higher than in winter, with statistically significant differences (P0.05) of 0.25 (SD 0.61) degree C in the morning and 0.24 (SD 0.50) degree C in the afternoon. Differences between oral temperatures in summer and winter tended to be greater in subjects with low ADL scores, even when their room temperature was well-controlled. In conclusion, the oral temperatures of the elderly are lower in winter than summer, particularly in physically inactive people. It appears that those with low levels of ADL are more vulnerable to large changes in ambient temperature.

The differences in remodeling among frozen allografts, frozen autografts, and fresh autografts were investigated using a patellar tendon transplantation model in 2 different strains of rats. In this study, isografting (transplantation among the same strain inbred animals) was adopted as an autograft model. This method makes it possible to set up a frozen autograft model. Evaluation included mechanical properties determined during tensile failure tests, cross sectional area, histologic findings, and collagen fibril distribution. Recipient rats were euthanized at 4, 8, 12, and 24 weeks after transplantation (n = 5, in each group and in each period). The frozen allografts showed significantly less tensile strength than did the frozen autografts at 4 weeks, but this difference was transient and diminished by 8 weeks. The tensile strength of the fresh autografts was significantly greater than that of the frozen autografts at 8 weeks or the frozen allografts at 8 and 12 weeks. It was suggested that freeze thawing has adverse effects on the remodeling of fresh autografts in this extraarticular graft model. The cross sectional area for each type of graft at each posttransplantation period was about twice as large as that before transplantation. The collagen fibril profile of the frozen allografts was similar to that of the frozen autografts. However, the fresh autografts showed a greater number of large diameter fibrils and a lesser number of small diameter fibrils than did the other 2 frozen groups.

The purpose of this paper is to provide an optimum indication for individualized education for many students in a WWW environment by developing an intelligent CAI system, which provides the information response to the student corresponding to the understanding degree by using fuzzy inference.In fuzzy inference, it is important to find the boundary values for the fuzzy parameter. In this paper, the attention coefficient which depends on the student's score and the time needed to complete the given problem, is derived by applying a statistical analysis on a S-P table. This coefficient is then applied to find the boundary value for the fuzzy parameter. By using this method, wedeveloped an intelligent CAI system and made courseware of electromagnetic field exercises for an example of the system. We have described how the CAI system can efficiently manage a database for many students, and practice the individualized education.