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The integration of theory and data drives progress in science, but a persistent barrier to such integration in ecology and evolutionary biology is that theory is often developed and expressed in the form of mathematical models that can feel daunting and inaccessible for students and empiricists with variable quantitative training and attitudes towards math. A promising way to make mathematical models more approachable is to embed them into interactive tools with which one can visually evaluate model structures and directly explore model outcomes through simulation. To promote such interactive learning of quantitative models, we developed EcoEvoApps, a collection of free, open‐source, and multilingual R/Shiny apps that include model overviews, interactive model simulations, and code to implement these models directly in R. The package currently focuses on canonical models of population dynamics, species interactions, and landscape ecology. These apps help illustrate fundamental results from theoretical ecology and can serve as valuable teaching tools in classroom settings. We present data from student surveys which show that students rate these apps as useful learning tools, and that using interactive apps leads to substantial gains in students' interest and confidence in working with mathematical models. This points to the potential for interactive activities to make theoretical models more accessible to a wider audience, and thus facilitate the feedback between theory and data across ecology and evolutionary biology. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Key points: The mature functioning of the primary visual cortex depends on postnatal visual experience, while the orientation/direction preference is established just after eye‐opening, independently of visual experience.In this study, we find that visual experience is required for the normal development of spatial‐frequency (SF) preference in mouse primary visual cortex.We show that age‐ and experience‐dependent shifts in optimal SFs towards higher frequencies occurred similarly in excitatory neurons and parvalbumin‐positive interneurons.We also show that some excitatory and parvalbumin‐positive neurons preferentially responded to visual stimuli consisting of very high SFs and posterior directions, and that the preference was established at earlier developmental stages than the SF preference in the standard frequency range.These results suggest that early visual experience is required for the development of SF representation and shed light on the experience‐dependent developmental mechanisms underlying visual cortical functions. Early visual experience is crucial for the maturation of visual cortical functions. It has been demonstrated that the orientation and direction preferences in individual neurons of the primary visual cortex are well established immediately after eye‐opening. The postnatal development of spatial frequency (SF) tuning and its dependence on visual experience, however, has not been thoroughly quantified. In this study, macroscopic imaging with flavoprotein autofluorescence revealed that the optimal SFs shift towards higher frequency values during normal development in mouse primary visual cortex. This developmental shift was impaired by binocular deprivation during the sensitive period, postnatal 3 weeks (PW3) to PW6. Furthermore, two‐photon Ca2+ imaging revealed that the developmental shift of the optimal SFs, depending on visual experience, concurrently occurs in excitatory neurons and parvalbumin‐positive inhibitory interneurons (PV neurons). In addition, some excitatory and PV neurons exhibited a preference for visual stimuli consisting of particularly high SFs and posterior directions at relatively early developmental stages; this preference was not affected by binocular deprivation. Thus, there may be two distinct developmental mechanisms for the establishment of SF preference depending on the frequency values. After PW3, SF tuning for neurons tuned to standard frequency ranges was sharper in excitatory neurons and slightly broader in PV neurons, leading to considerably attenuated SF tuning in PV neurons compared to excitatory neurons by PW5. Our findings suggest that early visual experience is far more important than orientation/direction selectivity for the development of the neural representation of the diverse SFs. Key points: The mature functioning of the primary visual cortex depends on postnatal visual experience, while the orientation/direction preference is established just after eye‐opening, independently of visual experience.In this study, we find that visual experience is required for the normal development of spatial‐frequency (SF) preference in mouse primary visual cortex.We show that age‐ and experience‐dependent shifts in optimal SFs towards higher frequencies occurred similarly in excitatory neurons and parvalbumin‐positive interneurons.We also show that some excitatory and parvalbumin‐positive neurons preferentially responded to visual stimuli consisting of very high SFs and posterior directions, and that the preference was established at earlier developmental stages than the SF preference in the standard frequency range.These results suggest that early visual experience is required for the development of SF representation and shed light on the experience‐dependent developmental mechanisms underlying visual cortical functions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

For most marine organisms, species richness peaks in the Central Indo- Pacific region and declines longitudinally, a striking pattern that remains poorly understood. Here, we used phylogenetic approaches to address the causes of richness patterns among global marine regions, comparing the relative importance of colonization time, number of colonization events, and diversification rates (speciation minus extinction). We estimated regional richness using distributional data for almost all percomorph fishes (17 435 species total, including approximately 72% of all marine fishes and approximately 33% of all freshwater fishes). The high diversity of the Central Indo-Pacific was explained by its colonization by many lineages 5.3-34 million years ago. These relatively old colonizations allowed more time for richness to build up through in situ diversification compared to other warm-marine regions. Surprisingly, diversification rates were decoupled from marine richness patterns, with clades in low-richness cold-marine habitats having the highest rates. Unlike marine richness, freshwater diversity was largely derived from a few ancient colonizations, coupled with high diversification rates. Our results are congruent with the geological history of the marine tropics, and thus may apply to many other organisms. Beyond marine biogeography, we add to the growing number of cases where colonization and time-for-speciation explain large-scale richness patterns instead of diversification rates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Because a synoptic overview facilitates understanding of the temporal and spatial changes in the global distribution of greenhouse gases, we developed a statistical spatial estimation method using kriging. Level 3 (L3) data products for the Greenhouse Gases Observing Satellite (GOSAT) Thermal And Near infrared Sensor for Carbon Observation (TANSO) Fourier Transform Spectrometer (FTS) Short Wave Infrared (SWIR) were generated from column-averaged, dry-air mole fractions of carbon dioxide (XCO2) and methane (XCH4) TANSO-FTS SWIR Level 2 (L2) products using this method. Although there have been some reports on the use of kriging for analysing GOSAT products, the kriging method used in this research was specifically adapted to the statistical characteristics of GOSAT L2 products. In the context of using data for atmospheric research, spatially interpolated data (GOSAT L3 products) cannot be more accurate than model-simulated global distributions of gas concentrations (GOSAT Level 4B (L4B) products), which are generated using an atmospheric tracer transport model. However, the L3 product takes much less time to generate than the L4B. It would take about a year to produce the L4B after generation of an L2 product. The great advantage of the L3 product is that it gives a comprehensive and reasonable monthly global distribution of gas concentrations with little delay. The L3 product using the kriging method can be generated on a monthly basis by estimating global semi-variogram curves from the L2 products for each month and interpolating spatially within a region with a radius of 1000 km from existing L2 data locations. The main purpose of this paper is to describe the methodology and characteristics of kriging used to generate the GOSAT L3 product, not for strictly scientific use of the estimated values, but for a reasonable global map of gas concentrations derived statistically from the sparsely observed L2 products within a short time frame. The characteristics of this method are compared to XCO2products simulated with an atmospheric tracer transport model. The results show that the method proposed in this study is of practical use for generating L3 products from L2 products. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

We investigated the association between the Val158Met polymorphism of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) gene, the Val66Met polymorphism of the brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) gene, and white matter changes in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) and healthy subjects using diffusion tensor imaging (DTI). We studied 30 patients with MDD (17 males and 13 females, with mean age ± standard deviation [SD] =44±12 years) and 30 sex- and age-matched healthy controls (17 males and 13 females, aged 44±13 years). Using DTI analysis with a tract-based spatial statistics (TBSS) approach, we investigated the differences in fractional anisotropy, radial diffusivity, and axial diffusivity distribution among the three groups (patients with the COMT gene Val158Met, those with the BDNF gene Val66Met, and the healthy subjects). In a voxel-wise-based group comparison, we found significant decreases in fractional anisotropy and axial diffusivity within the temporal lobe white matter in the Met-carriers with MDD compared with the controls (P<0.05). No correlations in fractional anisotropy, axial diffusivity, or radial diffusivity were observed between the MDD patients and the controls, either among those with the BDNF Val/Val genotype or among the BDNF Met-carriers. These results suggest an association between the COMT gene Val158Met and the white matter abnormalities found in the temporal lobe of patients with MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dendritic spines are postsynaptic structures that receive excitatory synaptic input from presynaptic terminals. Actin and its regulatory proteins play a central role in morphogenesis of dendritic spines. In addition, recent studies have revealed that microtubules are indispensable for the maintenance of mature dendritic spine morphology by stochastically invading dendritic spines and regulating dendritic localization of p140Cap, which is required for actin reorganization. However, the regulatory mechanisms of microtubule dynamics remain poorly understood. Partitioning-defective 1b (PAR1b), a cell polarity-regulating serine/threonine protein kinase, is thought to regulate microtubule dynamics by inhibiting microtubule binding of microtubule-associated proteins. Results from the present study demonstrated that PAR1b participates in the maintenance of mature dendritic spine morphology in mouse hippocampal neurons. Immunofluorescent analysis revealed PAR1b localization in the dendrites, which was concentrated in dendritic spines of mature neurons. PAR1b knock-down cells exhibited decreased mushroom-like dendritic spines, as well as increased filopodia-like dendritic protrusions, with no effect on the number of protrusions. Live imaging of microtubule plus-end tracking proteins directly revealed decreases in distance and duration of microtubule growth following PAR1b knockdown in a neuroblastoma cell line and in dendrites of hippocampal neurons. In addition, reduced accumulation of GFP-p140Cap in dendritic protrusions was confirmed inPAR1b knock-down neurons. In conclusion, the present results suggested a novel function for PAR1b in the maintenance of mature dendritic spine morphology by regulating microtubule growth and the accumulation of p140Cap in dendritic spines. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: A mutation in the ANTHOCYANINLESS2 (ANL2) gene of Arabidopsis thaliana causes the formation of several extra cells called intervening cells (IV cells) between the cortical and epidermal layers of the primary root. The origin and character of IV cells were examined. Microscopic observation of serial sections of the root tissue showed that IV cells developed from epidermal cells, and the outer cells overlying the epidermal cells developed into epidermal-like cells. The IV cells expressed the marker gene for cortical cells, which indicated that the IV cells were cortical in nature. IV cells were primarily observed in a cleft between two cortical cells or between a cortical and an IV cell, which suggests the involvement of positional information between cortical and epidermal cells. Ectopic root hairs were formed, and the expression patterns of β-glucuronidase driven by the GL2 and CPC promoters were irregular in the primary root of the anl2 mutant. These results indicate that ANL2 is required for the maintenance of epidermal cell lineage. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Depletion of intracellular calcium (Ca2+) stores induces store-operated Ca2+ (SOC) entry across the plasma membrane (PM). STIM1, a putative Ca2+ sensor in the endoplasmic reticulum (ER), has been recently shown to be necessary for SOC channel activation. Here we show that STIM1 dynamically moves in tubulovesicular shape on the ER and its subcompartment in resting living cells, whereas, upon Ca2+ store depletion, it is rapidly redistributed into discrete puncta that are located underneath, but not inserted into the PM. Normal constitutive movement of STIM1 is mediated through the coiled-coil and Ser/Thr-rich C-terminal domains in the cytoplasmic region of STIM1, whereas subsequent inducible puncta formation further requires the sterile α motif domain protruding into the ER lumen. Each of these three domains (coiled-coil, Ser/Thr-rich, and sterile α motif) was essential for activating SOC channels. Hence, our findings based on structure-function experiments suggest that constitutive dynamic movement of STIM1 in the ER and its subcompartment is obligatory for subsequent depletion-dependent redistribution of STIM1 into puncta underneath the PM and activation of SOC channels. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Trypsins, TR-S and TR-P, from the viscera of true sardine (Sardinops melanostictus) and from the pyloric ceca of arabesque greenling (Pleuroprammus azonus), respectively, were purified by gel filtration and anion-exchange chromatography. Final enzyme preparations were nearly homogeneous in sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS–PAGE) and the molecular weights of both enzymes were estimated to be 24,000 Da by SDS–PAGE. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the TR-S, IVGGYECKAYSQPWQVSLNS, and TR-P, IVGGYECTPHTQAHQVSLNS, were found. The TR-S and TR-P had maximal activities at around pH 8.0 for hydrolysis of N α-p-tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester. Optimum temperature of the TR-S and TR-P were 60 and 50°C, respectively. The TR-S and TR-P were unstable at above 50 and 30°C, respectively, and below pH 5.0. Both TR-S and TR-P were stabilized by calcium ion. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Carboxypeptidase B was purified from the pyloric ceca of the starfish, Asterina pectinifera. The final enzyme preparation was nearly homogeneous in sodium dodecyl sulfate–polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and its molecular weight was estimated as approximately 34,000. The value of the specificity constant (k cat/K m) for hydrolysis of benzoyl-glycyl-l-arginine by the purified enzyme was 1.72×105 M−1 s−1. The optimal pH and the optimal temperature of the enzyme were pH 7.5 and 55°C, respectively. The enzyme was unstable above 50°C and below pH 5.0. The enzyme was activated by Co2+, and inhibited by EDTA. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of the enzyme was determined as ATFDYNKYHSYQEIMDWVTN. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

An innovative sodium-cooled fast reactor has been investigated in a feasibility study of fast breeder reactor cycle systems in Japan. A compact reactor vessel and a column-type upper inner structure with a radial slit for an arm of a fuel-handling machine (FHM) are adopted. Dipped plates are set in the reactor vessel below the free surface to prevent gas entrainment. We performed a one-tenth-scaled model water experiment for the upper plenum of the reactor vessel. Gas entrainment was not observed in the experiment under the same velocity condition as the reactor. Three vortex cavitations were observed near the hot-leg inlet. A vertical rib on the reactor vessel wall was set to restrict the rotating flow near the hot leg. The vortex cavitation between the reactor vessel wall and the hot leg was suppressed by the rib under the same cavitation factor condition as in the reactor. The cylindrical plug was installed through the hole in the dipped plates for the FHM to reduce the flow toward the free surface. It was effective when the plug was submerged into the middle height in the upper plenum. This combination of two components had a possibility to optimize the flow in the compact reactor vessel. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Phospholipase A (PLA) activities in the pyloric ceca and viscera from seven species of marine invertebrates (four starfish, one sea urchin, and two shellfish) were determined. Relatively high PLA specific activities were found in the pyloric ceca of two species of starfish (Coscinasterias acutispina and Plazaster borealis). Phospholipase A2s (PLA2s) were partially purified from the pyloric ceca of the starfish, C. acutispina PLA2 (C-PLA2) and P. borealis PLA2 (P-PLA2). The C-PLA2 and P-PLA2 mainly released oleic acid from 1-palmitoyl-2-oleoyl-sn-glycero-3-phosphocholine. Temperature optima of the C-PLA2 and P-PLA2 were at around 60 °C and 50 °C, respectively, and pH optima of the C-PLA2 and P-PLA2 were both at around pH 10.0. The activities of the C-PLA2 and P-PLA2 were enhanced by sodium deoxycholate and 1 mM or higher concentration of Ca2+. The C-PLA2 and P-PLA2 did not show the fatty acid specificity for hydrolysis of phosphatidylcholine. Unlike porcine pancreatic PLA2, the C-PLA2 and P-PLA2 hydrolyzed phosphatidylcholine more effectively than phosphatidylethanolamine. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Two isozymes of trypsin (TR-I and TR-II) were purified from the viscera of Japanese anchovy (Engraulis japonica ) by gel filtration and anion-exchange chromatography. Final enzyme preparations were nearly homogeneous in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis (SDS-PAGE), and the molecular weights of both enzymes were estimated to be 24,000 Da by SDS-PAGE. The N-terminal amino acid sequences of the TR-I, IVGGYECQAHSQPHTVSLNS, and TR-II, IVGGYECQPYSQPHQVSLDS, were found. Both TR-I and TR-II had maximal activities at around pH 8.0 and 60C for hydrolysis of Nα-p-tosyl-L-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride. The TR-I and TR-II were unstable at above 50C and below pH 5.0 and were stabilized by calcium ion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Restenosis is the major clinical problem of angioplasty. We have previously shown that neointima formation is strikingly suppressed in midkine (MK)-deficienL mice. Neointima formation is restored if MK protein is administrated to the deficient mice. MK is a heparin-binding growth factor and implicated in the migration of inflammatory cells and vascular smooth muscle cells. Consistently, the suppression of neointima formation in the deficient mice is accompanied by suppression of recruitment of inflammatory cells into the vascular wall. Here, we evaluated the potential of MK antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) for the prevention of restenosis. We cloned the cDNA of rabbit MK, which showed a strongly conserved sequence in mammals. The balloon injury induced MK expression, with the maximum level occurring 7–14 days after angioplasty, in the rabbit carotid artery. Two antisense ODNs suppressed the production of MK in a rabbit kidney cell line, RK13 cells, one of which was then transfected into the arterial wall by means of lipofection immediately after balloon treatment. The antisense ODN suppressed MK induction in vivo and consequently suppressed neointima formation to 60% of the control level. These results suggest that MK is a candidate molecular target for the therapy for vascular restenosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Carboxypeptidase B was purified from the pyloric ceca of the starfish Asterias amurensis. The final enzyme preparation was nearly homogeneous in polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and its molecular weight was estimated as approximately 34 000. The optimum pH and temperature of the enzyme for hydrolysis of benzoyl-glycyl-l-arginine were at approximately pH 7.5 and 55 °C, respectively. The enzyme was unstable at above 50 °C and at below pH 5.0. The enzyme was activated by Co2+, but was inhibited by EDTA and Hg2+. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of A. amurensis carboxypeptidase B was ASFDYNVYHSYQEIMNWITN. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Trypsin was purified from pyloric ceca of the starfish Asterina Pectinifera by ammonium sulfate precipitation, gel filtration, and cation-exchange chromatography. Final enzyme preparation was nearly homogeneous in sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and its molecular weight was estimated as approximately 28 000. Optimum pH and temperature of A. pectinifera trypsin for hydrolysis of Nα-p-Tosyl-l-arginine methyl ester hydrochloride were approximately pH 8.0 and 55 °C, respectively. A. pectinifera trypsin was unstable at above 50 °C and below pH 5.0, and was not activated by adding Ca2+. The N-terminal amino acid sequence of A. pectinifera trypsin, IVGGHEF, was found. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Tests the photodiodetector-chemiluminescence-flow injection analysis (PD-CL-FIA) system for the direct measurement of hypoxanthine (Hx) levels in fish flesh. Use of a sardine and a grunt twice with the same fish; Chemiluminescence reaction of luminol; Effect of flow rate of dialysate solution; Response time in direct measurement of hypoxanthine.

Presents information on mammalian pancreatic trypsin, a serine protease synthesized by acinar cells. Assessment of enzymes contained in it; Analysis of trypsin-like enzymes from starfish; Overview of the alignment of amino acid sequences of starfish.

Non-heat-treated Al–Mg-based die casting alloys have been developed for the structural parts of automobiles. In previous studies, alloy compositions with at least 1.0%Si have been proposed to reduce the hot tearing susceptibility (HTS). On the other hand, the increase in the Si content reduces the ductility. For some automotive body structures, Al–Mg alloy die castings with Si content exceeding 1.0% should not have the required ductility. This study aims to develop an Al–Mg alloy with both high ductility and low HTS by investigating the following three characteristics of an Al–4.5Mg–1.0Mn alloy with 0.2%Si added: (1) additional elements to reduce the HTS, (2) the associated mechanical properties (requirements for the automotive company: 0.2% proof stress ≥ 140 MPa and fracture elongation ≥ 15%), and (3) the mechanism of decreasing the HTS. It was revealed that the co-addition of 0.025%Sr, 0.08%Ti, and 0.016%B reduced the HTS when the hydrogen content of the melt was 0.5–1.0 mL/100 g Al. Furthermore, the 0.2% proof stress and fracture elongation of a lower link arm produced via HPDC with the above composition were found to achieve the requirements. It was also indicated that the mechanism of decrease in the HTS by the Sr addition should result from the decrease in the thermal tensile load due to the formation of hydrogen porosity at a lower solid fraction than that without Sr. It is suggested that when 0.025%Sr, 0.08%Ti, and 0.016%B are added to the Al–4.5Mg–1.0Mn–0.2Si alloy, non-heat-treated automotive structural parts with both high ductility and low HTS will be obtained by high-pressure die casting. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The axon initial segment ( AIS) is a specialized domain essential for neuronal function, the formation of which begins with localization of an ankyrin-G (AnkG) scaffold. However, the mechanism directing and maintaining AnkG localization is largely unknown. In this study, we demonstrate that in vivo knockdown of microtubule cross-linking factor 1 ( MTCL1) in cerebellar Purkinje cells causes loss of axonal polarity coupled with AnkG mislocalization. MTCL1 lacking MT-stabilizing activity failed to restore these defects, and stable MT bundles spanning the AIS were disorganized in knockdown cells. Interestingly, during early postnatal development, colocalization of MTCL1 with these stable MT bundles was observed prominently in the axon hillock and proximal axon. These results indicate that MTCL1-mediated formation of stable MT bundles is crucial for maintenance of AnkG localization. We also demonstrate that Mtcl1 gene disruption results in abnormal motor coordination with Purkinje cell degeneration, and provide evidence suggesting possible involvement of MTCL1 dysfunction in the pathogenesis of spinocerebellar ataxia. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Linac-based fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy (fSRT) and stereotactic radiosurgery (SRS) are increasingly being used to manage patients with multiple metastases. This retrospective cohort study aimed to compare the outcomes after linac-based fSRT and SRS between three patient groups classified based on the number of brain metastases (BMs): 1 BM, 2–4 BM, 5–10 BM. Methods: The data of consecutive patients with 1–10 BMs treated with fSRT or SRS between July 2016 and June 2018 at a single institution were collected. Patients with previous whole-brain radiotherapy (WBRT), concurrent use of WBRT, or surgical resection were excluded from the analysis. A total of 176 patients were classified into three groups according to the number of BMs: 78, 67, and 31 patients in 1 BM, 2–4 BM, and 5–10 BM, respectively. The Kaplan–Meier method was used to estimate overall survival (OS) curves, and the cumulative incidence with competing risks was used to estimate local control (LC), distant intracranial failure (DIF), and radiation necrosis (RN). Results: Median OS was 19.8 months (95% confidence interval [CI] 10.2–27.5), 7.3 months (4.9–11.1), and 5.1 months (4.0–9.0) in 1 BM, 2–4 BM, and 5–10 BM, respectively. Compared to 2–4 BM, 1 BM had significantly better OS (hazard ratio [HR] 0.59, 95% CI 0.40–0.87; p = 0.0075); however, 5–10 BM had comparable OS (HR 1.36, 95% CI 0.85–2.19; p = 0.199). There was no significant difference in LC, DIF, and RN between tumor number groups, but DIF was lower in 1 BM. RN of grade 2 or higher occurred in 21 patients (13.5%); grade 4 and 5 RN were not observed. Conclusions: The linac-based fSRT and SRS for patients with 5–10 BMs is comparable to that for patients with 2–4 BMs in OS, LC, DIF, and RN. It seems reasonable to use linac-based fSRT and SRS in patients with 5–10 BMs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We reported a case with late-onset Tourette's disorder (TD) in whom motor tics and emotional instability improved with 18 mg/day of aripiprazole treatment. Plasma HVA levels, but not MHPG levels, were altered during the treatment. In contrast, serum BDNF levels remained consistently low during the treatment course. The present case suggests that aripiprazole might ameliorate tics and emotional instability via influencing dopaminergic neurons in late-onset TD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A compact sodium-cooled reactor is an important candidate as a fast breeder reactor (FBR) and has been investigated in the feasibility study of FBR cycle. Due to the compact sizing of the reactor vessel, gas entrainment at the free surface of sodium coolant becomes one of the significant issues for reactor design, and it is required to clarify the criterion of gas entrainment at free surface and the tolerance. In the present study, some visualization experiments were performed in a water-air system focusing on the gas entrainment due to surface vortex and its transient phenomena. Influences of horizontal velocity were clarified by the visualization. The gas entrainment due to the surface vortex occurs intermittently. Time trends of circulation and length of gas core for the intermittent surface vortices were measured by the particle image velocimetry and visualization. It was found that the gas core length extends with time delay to the increase of circulation around the vortex. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In order to study the feasibility of a carbon nanotube-based electron gun for small and portable betatrons, the characteristics of electron emission from carbon nanotubes were measured at around ≉1×10-4Pa, a typical pressure in the vacuum chamber of such betatrons. The sample cathodes were made from powders of single-walled nanotube (SWNT) and multi-walled nanotube (MWNT) that were fixed on the stainless steel plate with gold paste. We found that the emission was weaker at the lower vacuum for both MWNT and SWNT. However, when the vacuum level was restored to ≉1×10-4 Pa after being kept at 4.0×10-4Pa for 15minutes, the emission-current recovered to some extent but did not fully come back to the original value. The observed current densities from SWNT and MWNT are 550 and 540μA/mm2, respectively, at the high-voltage we tried: 2kV for SWNT and 1.1kV for MWNT across a 300μm gap. It is likely that the carbon nanotube, under the pulsed operation, has advantages over the thermal cathode for the electron emitters of portable betatrons. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Connective tissue growth factor (CTGF) is a newly described protein that stimulates transforming growth factor-beta1 (TGF-beta1). We evaluated the expression of CTGF mRNA in operative biopsy specimens from biliary atresia (BA) patients and normal controls to assess the role of CTGF in BA. Liver biopsy specimens were taken from BA patients at the time of portoenterostomy (n=22) and compared with specimens taken from normal controls (n=6). In situ hybridization was used to stain CTGF mRNA in all specimens. The distribution of collagen type IV (C-IV) was also assessed in the same specimens as an indicator of the severity of fibrosis present at the time of biopsy. Results were analyzed to determine whether there was any correlation between CTGF and C-IV and outcome. Of the 22 postoperative BA patients, eventual outcome was good in 17 (group I), and five (group II) subsequently required liver transplantation. Control specimens (n=6) had no apparent CTGF mRNA expression, and median C-IV positive immunoreactivity was 1.23+/-0.25%. CTGF mRNA was weakly expressed in hepatic stellate cells (HSC) and hepatocytes in specimens from group I, and median C-IV-positive immunoreactivity was 3.18+/-0.86%. However, in specimens from group II, there was increased CTGF mRNA in HSC and hepatocytes. Median C-IV-positive immunoreactivity was 6.31+/-0.96%. There was a significant correlation between CTGF mRNA intensity and the amount of C-IV, which implies that CTGF expression reflects prognosis. This study provides the first evidence that CTGF is strongly expressed in BA, in particular in HSC and hepatocytes, suggesting that they may be a source of CTGF. The strong correlation with C-IV indicates that CTGF plays a major role in the pathogenesis of progressive fibrosis in BA. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: This study evaluated the locations of lymph node recurrence and their association with irradiation fields used for radiotherapy after adjuvant chemoradiotherapy following endoscopic resection for superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma. Methods: Medical records of 96 consecutive patients with superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinoma who underwent adjuvant chemoradiotherapy following endoscopic resection were reviewed. Computed tomography was used to identify whether nodal recurrences were within the elective nodal irradiation field. The cumulative incidence of recurrence was calculated, accounting for death as a competing risk. Univariate and multivariate analyses identified factors predicting nodal recurrence. Results: The median follow‐up period was 61 months (range: 6‐137 months). Seven patients (7.3%) developed lymph node recurrence only; two patients (2.1%) developed nodal plus local recurrence. Six of the seven cases without local recurrence involved the elective nodal irradiation field, with five cases involving the recurrent nerve lymph nodes. The 5‐year cumulative incidence of lymph node recurrence was higher for T1b tumors with lymphovascular invasion than for T1a tumors with lymphovascular invasion (17.6% vs 6.2%, P = 0.086; HR: 3.74, 95% CI: 0.80‐17.52, P = 0.094) and T1b tumors without lymphovascular invasion (17.6% vs 3.3%, P = 0.031; HR: 6.78, 95% CI: 0.80‐57.63, P = 0.080). Conclusions: Lymph node recurrence frequently involved the elective nodal irradiation field, with recurrent nerve lymph nodes being common metastasis sites. The high incidence of nodal recurrence for T1b tumors with lymphovascular invasion highlights a need for new strategies for treating this subset of superficial esophageal squamous cell carcinomas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Compact phased-array antennas embedded in flip-chip ball grid array (BGA) packages are proposed to operate over the unlicensed 60 GHz frequency band. Radiation properties are enhanced by designing novel corrugated soft-surface structures and implementing them using the low-temperature co-fired ceramic process with no extra cost and fabrication complexity. This is achieved by adjusting via land diameters of periodic grounded vias in top four layers of the package, which in fact create perfect magnetic boundaries between the phased-array antenna elements to modify the electric near-field distributions and consequently improve far-field characteristics including gain, cross polarization, sidelobe level, and beam steering. Low-loss transitions from flip-chip IC to antenna elements are designed with less than 0.1 dB amplitude and 2° phase imbalance over 50–70 GHz. Prototypes with/without soft-surface structures are fabricated to work with flip-chip ICs with/without switches. A USB-interface adapter and a waveguide-interface module with a compact vertical power combiner are proposed for the first time to experimentally evaluate the phased-array antenna while connected to the flip-chip RF IC. Significant miniaturizations and improvements are achieved over the wide frequency range of 56–67 GHz, demonstrating up to 7 dB reduction in sidelobe level, up to 4 dB reduction in cross polarization, and up to 3 dB enhancement in gain at different directions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

B Correction to: Radiation Oncology (2022) 17:213 b https://doi.org/10.1186/s13014-022-02185-1 After publication of this article [[1]], the authors reported that (1) In Table 1, first column, under "RPA", 3 lines should start with '1, 2, 3', respectively (instead of "12, 3, blank"); (2) In 5 spots the value "x cm [3]" should have read "x cm SP 3 sp ". Reference 1 Hirata M, Yasui K, Oota N, Ogawa H, Onoe T, Maki S, Ito Y, Hayashi K, Asakura H, Murayama S, Mitsuya K, Deguchi S, Nakamura K, Hayashi N, Nishimura T, Harada H. Feasibility of linac-based fractionated stereotactic radiotherapy and stereotactic radiosurgery for patients with up to ten brain metastases. [Extracted from the article]

The effect of the catechol-O-methyltransferase (COMT) Val158Met polymorphism on brain morphology has been investigated but remains controversial. We hypothesized that a comparison between Val/Val and Val/Met individuals, which may represent the most different combinations concerning the effects of the COMT genotype, may reveal new findings. We investigated the brain morphology using 3-Tesla magnetic resonance imaging in 27 Val/Val and 22 Val/Met individuals. Voxel-based morphometry revealed that the volumes of the bilateral caudate and posterior cingulate cortex were significantly smaller in Val/Val individuals than in Val/Met individuals [right caudate: false discovery rate (FDR)-corrected p = 0.048; left caudate: FDR-corrected p = 0.048; and bilateral posterior cingulate cortex: FDR-corrected p = 0.048]. This study demonstrates that interacting functional variants of COMT affect gray matter regional volumes in healthy subjects. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Catechol- O -methyltransferase (COMT) is a methylation enzyme engaged in the degradation of dopamine and noradrenaline by catalyzing the transfer of a methyl group from S -adenosylmethionine. An association was found between the Valine (Val) 108/158Methionine (Met) COMT polymorphism (rs4680) and major depressive disorder (MDD). The authors prospectively investigated the relationship between the Val108/158Met COMT genotype and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) findings for patients with first-episode and treatment-naïve MDD and healthy subjects (HS). Participants comprised 30 MDD patients and 48 age- and sex-matched HS who were divided according to the COMT genotype. Effects of diagnosis, COMT genotype, and the genotype–diagnosis interaction in relation to brain morphology in the Val/Met and Val/Val individuals were evaluated using a VBM analysis of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging findings. Among the Val/Met individuals, the volume of the bilateral caudate was significantly smaller for MDD patients than for HS. In the Val/Val individuals, the caudate volume was comparable between MDD patients and HS. Significant genotype–diagnosis interaction effects on brain morphology were noted in the right caudate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective In major depressive disorder (MDD) patients, higher morning cortisol levels due to a hyperactive hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis have been reported. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the relationship between cortical thinning and the serum cortisol levels during the first depressive episode in drug-naïve MDD patients using an automated surface-based morphometry (SBM) method. Methods The institutional review board approved this prospective study. MR imaging data were obtained using a 3T scanner by a three-dimensional fast-spoiled gradient recalled acquisition with steady state (3D-FSPGR). Thirty drug-naïve patients with MDD and 41 age- and gender-matched healthy subjects (controls) were enrolled. We then used the SBM method (Freesurfer) to generate cortical thickness maps, and measured the cortical thickness in each subject. Morning blood samples were drawn from all participants for cortisol measurements. Results We found the serum cortisol levels were significantly higher in the MDD patients than in the controls. The MDD patients manifested significant thinning of the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex compared with the controls. There was a significant negative linear correlation between the thickness of the left lateral orbitofrontal cortex and the serum cortisol levels in the MDD patients. Conclusions In the early stage of MDD, the thickness of the lateral orbitofrontal cortex was significantly reduced, and also showed a significant inverse correlation with the serum cortisol levels. Since the lateral orbitofrontal cortex contains a high concentration of glucocorticoid receptor, glucocorticoid receptor-mediated signaling transductions could contribute to neurotoxicity, which might occur when there are high cortisol levels in patients with MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) relates to basic neuronal functions, such as cell survival, axonal outgrowth, and dendritic growth. The Val66Met polymorphism of the BDNF gene may affect genetic susceptibility to major depressive disorder (MDD). We prospectively investigated the relationship between the Val66Met BDNF genotype and voxel-based morphometry (VBM) findings for first episode and drug-naïve MDD patients and healthy subjects (HS). Participants comprised 38 MDD patients and 42 age- and sex-matched HS were divided into groups based on their BDNF genotype. The effects of diagnosis and genotype, as well as the genotype–diagnosis interaction, in relation to brain morphology were evaluated using a voxel-by-voxel statistical analysis of high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings. Among the Met-carriers, the volume of the left middle frontal gyrus (composition of the prefrontal cortex [PFC]) was significantly smaller for MDD patients than for the HS, i.e., there was a significant genotype–diagnosis interaction effect on brain morphology noted in the left PFC. The BDNF polymorphism was associated with atrophy of the PFC in MDD patients, which suggests that the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism may play an important role in the pathogenesis of early stages of MDD. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background/Aims: We examined sex differences in prevalence, progression, and improvement in early-stage chronic kidney disease (CKD). Methods: We analyzed data from 533 participants who took 4 consecutive annual CKD detection tests. Results: Urine albumin-creatinine ratio (ACR), estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and hemoglobin (Hb) at baseline in men with and without CKD and in women with and without CKD were 8.3±6.1, 149.2±310.4, 10.2±5.8, and 96.7±246.8 mg/g Cr; 83.4±14.7, 63.8±18.8, 79.9±13.0, and 69.4±20.0 mL/min/1.73 m2; and 14.8±1.2, 14.3±1.4, 13.0±1.0, and 13.0±1.2 mg/dL, respectively. ACR levels decreased significantly over time in men and women with CKD and they increased significantly over time in men and women without CKD. eGFR levels in men and women with CKD did not significantly change over time, but they decreased significantly over time in men and women without CKD. CKD prevalence and progression rate were not significantly different between sexes. Among the CKD participants, significantly more women had a 'cured' status at 3 years (39.1% vs. 19.4%, P<0.01). Most whose eGFR increased to >60 mL/min/1.73 m2 at 3 years had values just below those at baseline. Regression analysis showed that change in eGFR correlated significantly with ACR in men with CKD (change in eGFR = -1.707+0.022×ACR, P<0.001, r2=0.201) and with Hb and ACR in women with CKD (change in eGFR = 48.870-3.803×Hb + 0.018×ACR, P<0.05, r2=0.134). Conclusions: These results suggest that the slight decrease of Hb within a normal range and mild anemia can be managed in women with early-stage CKD. The key baseline for eGFR is 60 mL/min/1.73 m2. © 2014 S. Karger AG, Basel [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Mesangial cell migration, regulated by several growth factors, is crucial after glomerulopathy and during glomerular development. Directional migration requires the establishment of a polarized cytoskeletal arrangement, a process regulated by coordinated actin dynamics and focal adhesion turnover at the peripheral ruffles in migrating cells. Here we found high expression of the actin cross-linking protein EPLIN (epithelial protein lost in neoplasm) in mesangial cells. EPLIN was localized in mesangial angles, which consist of actin-containing microfilaments extending underneath the capillary endothelium, where they attach to the glomerular basement membrane. In cultured mesangial cells, EPLIN was localized in peripheral actin bundles at focal adhesions and formed a protein complex with paxillin. The MEK-ERK (extracellular signal-regulated kinase) cascade regulated EPLIN-paxillin interaction and induced translocalization of EPLIN from focal adhesion sites to peripheral ruffles. Knockdown of EPLIN in mesangial cells enhanced platelet-derived growth factor-induced focal adhesion disassembly and cell migration. Furthermore, EPLIN expression was decreased in mesangial proliferative nephritis in rodents and humans in vivo. These results shed light on the coordinated actin remodeling in mesangial cells during restorative remodeling. Thus, changes in expression and localization of cytoskeletal regulators underlie phenotypic changes in mesangial cells in glomerulonephritis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In the present study, we aimed to investigate the difference in white matter between smokers and nonsmokers. In addition, we examined relationships between white matter integrity and nicotine dependence parameters in smoking subjects. Nineteen male smokers were enrolled in this study. Eighteen age-matched non-smokers with no current or past psychiatric history were included as controls. Diffusion tensor imaging scans were performed, and the analysis was conducted using a tract-based special statistics approach. Compared with nonsmokers, smokers exhibited a significant decrease in fractional anisotropy (FA) throughout the whole corpus callosum. There were no significant differences in radial diffusivity or axial diffusivity between the two groups. There was a significant negative correlation between FA in the whole corpus callosum and the amount of tobacco use (cigarettes/day; R = − 0.580, p = 0.023). These results suggest that the corpus callosum may be one of the key areas influenced by chronic smoking. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: The association between smoking and psychiatric disorders (PD) has been known for many years. Support for smoking cessation among patients with PD is provided in advanced nations, but there is a little support for smoking cessation among patients with PD in Japan, where few studies have investigated the smoking rate. The aim of the present study is to determine the smoking rate and smoking habits of Japanese patients with PD. The subjects included outpatients who visited the outpatient psychiatric clinic at a University hospital between January and March of 2011. They answered a questionnaire consisting of questions about their sociodemographic background and smoking habits. In an analysis of 733 subjects, the overall smoking rate was 25.1%. The smoking rates among the patients with schizophrenia and depression were 17.3% and 23.9%, respectively, and these rates were lower than the results of previous studies. Among the current smokers, 43.4% had experienced smoking cessation, and only 26.1% were not interested in smoking cessation. Of the current smokers, 37.5% spent between US$128.88 and US$257 per month on cigarettes. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Objective: Electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) has proven to be effective in treatment-resistant depression (TRD). In recent reports, 70% to 90% of patients with TRD responded to ECT. However, post-ECT relapse Is a significant problem. There are no studies investigating risk factors associated with reintroducing ECT in depressive patients after remission previously achieved with former ECT. The aim of the present study is to examine such risk factors using a sample of TRD patients. Methods: We conducted a chart review to examine patient outcomes and adverse events over short- and long-term periods. Forty-two patients met the criteria for major depressive disorder. Results: The response rate was 85.7% (36/42). There were no significant differences in the baseline characteristics of patients exhibiting remission, response or non-response. The rate of adverse events was 21.4% (9/42). Among 34 patients who were available for follow-up, 18 patients relapsed (relapse rate, 52.9%), and 6 patients were reintroduced to ECT. The patients' age and age of onset were significantly higher In the re-ECT group than non re-ECT group. Conclusion: Our results suggest that older age and older age of onset might be considered for requirement of re-ECT after remission previously achieved with former ECT. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective. We hypothesized that an excessive dose of antipsychotic drug and/or a larger number of antipsychotic drug worsens cognitive functions in schizophrenia patients. To confirm the hypothesis, we compared several cognitive functions in the patients taking a second-generation antipsychotic drug (SGA) only (SGA monotherapy group) with those in patients taking more than two kinds of antipsychotic drugs (polypharmacy group). Methods. The cognitive functions of 136 chronic schizophrenia patients were evaluated using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia, Japanese-language version (BACS-J). Results. A significantly negative correlation was found between the composite score in the BACS-J and the chlorpromazine equivalence of doses of antipsychotic drugs in whole patients ( r = -0.43, P < 0.001). Schizophrenia patients in the polypharmacy group had lower composite scores than those in the SGA monotherapy group in the BACS-J. No difference was observed in the composite score and the primary score in each item in the BACS-J between patients with first- plus second-generation antipsychotic drug (FGA + SGA group) and those with two kinds of SGA (SGA + SGA group). Conclusion. These results suggest that an excessive dose of antipsychotic drugs regardless of FGA and SGA might cause the deterioration of cognitive functions in chronic Japanese schizophrenia patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: We investigated the effects of the atypical antipsychotics risperidone, olanzapine, and aripiprazole on the cognitive functions of Japanese patients with schizophrenia with respect to dosage amounts and dosing schedules. We performed a cross-sectional survey using the Brief Assessment of Cognition in Schizophrenia – Japanese Language Version (BACS-J) to evaluate the neurocognitive functions of 101 schizophrenic patients who took the same dose of one of the three aforementioned antipsychotics for at least 3 months. The BACS-J composite score correlated negatively with the prescribed dosages of risperidone and olanzapine. In contrast, we did not find a correlation between the BACS-J composite score and the prescribed dosage of aripiprazole. Moreover, the primary scores for verbal learning, motor function, and attention and processing speed were significantly lower among the patients who were taking the prescribed dosage of risperidone. The scores for verbal learning and motor function were also significantly lower when correlated with the prescribed dosage of olanzapine. We did not find a correlation between any of the primary scores on the BACS-J and the prescribed dosage of aripiprazole. In fact, the results suggest there is no linear relationship between the dose of aripiprazole and cognitive impairment, which may be due to its unique pharmacological profile. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Introduction: Our hypothesis is that varenicline decreases the plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites; such a decrease is associated with the main mechanisms of smoking cessation and leads to a depressive state. To confirm the hypothesis, we investigated the association of plasma homovanillic acid (HVA) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG) levels in patients with nicotine dependence in comparison with nonsmokers. Methods: To confirm the hypothesis, we investigated the association of plasma HVA and MHPG levels in patients with nicotine dependence in comparison with nonsmokers. In addition, we also examined the plasma HVA and MHPG levels before (T0) and 8 weeks after the varenicline treatment (T8). Results: Seventeen of 20 smokers (85.0%) stopped smoking during the 12 weeks of treatment. Plasma HVA levels and MHPG levels in the patients at T0 (HVA 5.1 ± 2.1 ng/ml, MHPG 2.2 ± 0.6 ng/ml) were significantly higher than those of the control group (HVA 3.0 ± 1.0 ng/ml, MHPG 1.6 ± 1.4 ng/ml; HVA p = .0012, MHPG p = .0069). In this study, the plasma HVA and MHPG levels were not changed after treatment with varenicline, although the smokers had already quitted. Conclusions: These results suggest that varenicline sustains higher catecholamine levels. The findings that the treatment with varenicline did not decrease the plasma levels of catecholamine metabolites can explain why none of the smokers had become depressed after the varenicline treatment. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Objective: To study the effects of treatment with atypical antipsychotic drugs on brain levels of glutamate plus glutamine in early-stage first-episode schizophrenia. Participants: Sixteen patients (eight males, eight females; aged 30 ± 11 years) completed the study. Methods: We used administered 6 months of atypical antipsychotic drugs and used proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy to evaluate the results. Results: We found that the administration of atypical antipsychotic drugs for 6 months decreased the glutamate plus glutamine/creatine ratio in the frontal lobe. These results suggest that the administration of atypical antipsychotic drugs for at least 6 months decreased glutamatergic neurotransmissions in the frontal lobe in early-stage first-episode schizophrenia, but there was no difference in frontal-lobe levels between patients and control subjects before administration. Conclusion: Taking these findings into account, the glutamatergic and GABAergic neurons are implicated in early-stage first-episode schizophrenia, but in complex ways. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective We investigated the effects of aripiprazole on plasma levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and catecholamine metabolites in first-episode untreated schizophrenia patients. Methods The subjects were 50 Japanese first-episode untreated schizophrenia patients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders Text Revision criteria and were treated with aripiprazole monotherapy. Twenty-nine were males, and 21 were females. The age ranged from 21 to 42 years (mean ± SD; 30.8 ± 5.3 years). Plasma BDNF and catecholamine metabolites were measured by ELISA and HPLC, respectively. Psychiatric symptoms were evaluated using by Positive and Negative Syndrome Scale. Results Treatment with aripiprazole for 8 weeks significantly increased plasma BDNF levels. It also changed plasma levels of homovanillic acid and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol. A negative correlation was also observed between duration of psychosis and plasma BDNF levels. No correlation was observed however between plasma BDNF levels and the dose of aripiprazole. Conclusions To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report showing that aripiprazole increases plasma BDNF levels in first-episode untreated schizophrenia patients. Furthermore, the BDNF Val66Met polymorphism was independent of the response to aripiprazole. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background Depression is a risk factor for coronary heart disease. Nitric oxide (NO) plays an important role in both coronary heart disease and depression. Methods Fifty-one inpatients and outpatients who met the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders-Fourth Edition criteria for major depressive disorder (MDD) in the university hospital of the University of Occupational and Environmental Health and 58 age-matched and sex-matched healthy controls enrolled in this study. We investigated the association between the three polymorphisms of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene (single-nucleotide polymorphism (SNP); rs2070744, rs1799983, variable number tandem repeat (VNTR) in intron 4) and scores on the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression, plasma metabolites of NO (NOx) or ankle brachial index in patients with MDD and healthy controls. Results We did not find significant differences in the genotype distributions between patients with MDD and healthy volunteers. No associations were observed between any of the polymorphisms of the eNOS gene and the Hamilton Rating Scale for Depression or ankle brachial index in patients with MDD. However, plasma NOx level was significantly associated with a polymorphism of the eNOS gene (rs207044 and variable number tandem repeat in intron 4). Conclusion These results suggest that the direct association was not observed between the polymorphisms of the eNOS gene and the pathogenesis of depression. Copyright © 2011 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: If the factors affecting the mental health status of adolescents and their association with sleep status could be clarified, this information would be helpful for formulating lifestyle and healthcare guidance for the promotion of healthy growth and the prevention of mental problems in these individuals. The purpose of this study was to clarify (1) the factor structure of the 12-item General Health Questionnaire (GHQ-12), and (2) the associations between the factors extracted from this questionnaire and lifestyle, in particular sleep status, by using a representative sample population of Japanese adolescents. One hundred three thousand sixty hundred fifty self-administered questionnaires were collected from students enrolled in junior high and high schools in Japan. Of these questionnaires, 99,668 were analyzed. Sleep duration, subjective sleep assessment, bedtime, and insomnia symptoms of these students over the past month were studied to investigate sleep status. The factor analyses yielded two factors: depression/anxiety and loss of positive emotion. Sleep duration of less than 7h was found to be associated with both depression/anxiety and loss of positive emotion, whereas sleep duration of 8h or more was associated only with loss of positive emotion. Subjective sleep assessment and insomnia symptoms were associated with both depression/anxiety and loss of positive emotion. It was demonstrated that two underlying factors of mental health status were associated with differences in sleep status. In order to improve the mental health status of adolescents, it is important to provide guidance about sleep and lifestyle habits according to the mental health status of the individual. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

To confirm the efficacy of the treatment regimen with oral levofloxacin (LVFX) 500 mg once daily for 7 days for patients with non-gonococcal urethritis (NGU), we evaluated the microbiological and clinical outcomes of the regimen in those patients. We finally evaluated 53 patients with symptomatic NGU and 5 patients with asymptomatic NGU. As a result of microbiological examinations, 19 of the symptomatic patients were diagnosed as having non-gonococcal chlamydial urethritis (NGCU); 13 had non-gonococcal non-chlamydial urethritis (NGNCU), and 21 had urethritis without any microbial detection. Five of the asymptomatic patients were diagnosed as having NGCU. Microbiological cure was achieved in 91% of the 32 patients with symptomatic NGU and in 80% of the 5 patients with asymptomatic NGCU. Clinical cure was obtained in 92% of the 53 patients with symptomatic NGU. The microbiological eradication rate for Chlamydia trachomatis was 92% in 24 patients. As for other organisms, the microbiological eradication rate for Mycoplasma genitalium was 60% in 5 patients and that for Ureaplasma urealyticum was 100% in 10. The microbiological and clinical efficacy of oral LVFX 500 mg once daily for 7 days for the patients with NGU was the same for the azithromycin (AZM) 1,000 mg single dose that we previously reported. The eradication rates of C. trachomatis and U. urealyticum in the treatment regimen with LVFX 500 mg were high enough in the clinical setting; however, for M. genitalium, the rate was relatively inferior to that with AZM. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The objective of the present prospective study was to compare the safety and efficacy of a 12-h method to a 6-h method in chronic cancer pain management.Materials and Methods: Randomized, prospective clinical trial was conducted between December 2007 and June 2009, enrolling 90 patients with chronic cancer pain. Patients with chronic cancer pain were randomly assigned to the conversion from continuous intravenous infusion to transdermal fentanyl using two-step taper of the continuous intravenous infusion in 12 h (12-h method) or the conversion in 6 h (6-h method). The parameters assessed in the present study included pain intensity (on a scale of 0 to 10) and bolus use frequency, and the adverse effects were assessed with National Cancer Institute Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events version 3.Results: Pain intensity and the number of boluses during conversion remained stable in both arms. The incidence of adverse events was 25.6% in the 12-h method group and 2.3% in the 6-h method group (95% confidence interval, 0.01-0.55; p = 0.002). Adverse events occurred in four patients at 6-12 h, five patients at 12-18 h, two patients at 18-24 h, and one patient at 24-48 h after application.Conclusions: Excellent safety profile and sustained efficacy are shown for the 6-h conversion method. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: There is growing evidence that blood levels of brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) and 3-methoxy-4-hydroxyphenylglycol (MHPG), a major metabolite of noradrenaline, are related to depression-associated personality traits as well as to depressive, suicidal and anxious states. Psychological job stress is well known to lead to symptoms of depression, anxiety and suicide. We have recently reported that psychological job stress among hospital employees altered blood levels of BDNF and MHPG (Mitoma et al., 2008). In the present study, we re-examined the effects of social adaptation and personality traits, as well as those of psychological job stress, on plasma levels of BDNF and MHPG in healthy employees (n =269, male/female=210/59, age=49±10years) working in a publishing company in Japan. The values (mean±SD) of scores on the Stress and Arousal Check Lists (s-SACL and a-SACL), Social Adaptation Self-evaluation Scale (SASS), plasma MHPG levels and plasma BDNF levels were 6.0±3.4, 5.7±2.3, 33.7±6.8, 5.8±4.3 and 4.6±3.1ngml–1, respectively. A positive correlation was found between plasma MHPG levels and scores on the s-SACL, but not the a-SACL. A positive correlation was also found between SASS scores and plasma MHPG levels and between SASS scores and plasma BDNF levels. A negative correlation was found between plasma BDNF levels and s-SACL scores. Furthermore, a positive correlation between NEO-Five factor Inventory (Openness) scores and plasma MHPG levels was observed, as well as between NEO-Five factor Inventory (Extroversion) scores and plasma BDNF levels. These results suggest that levels of plasma BDNF and plasma MHPG might be associated with psychological job stress and certain personality traits among employees in the publishing industry in Japan. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]