Gender differences in the use of transportation services to community rehabilitation programs

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Prevention and reduction of disability among community-dwelling older adults have been an important health policy concern in Japan. Moreover, it has also become a gendered issue due to the recent rapid growth in older females than males with disability living in their own homes. The aim of this study is to examine whether there is a gender difference in the use of community rehabilitation programs in Japan, and if so, whether the lack of transportation services and accompanying caregivers are the reasons for the gender difference.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>This study was based on surveys of the program administrators and the primary caregivers of the program participants from 55 randomly selected community rehabilitation programs (CRP) in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Questions included sociodemographic characteristics of program participants, types of transportation services provided by the CRP, caregiver's relationship to participant, and the nature of family support. Bivariate statistical analysis was conducted.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although there were more females than males with disability residing in communities, our findings showed that females were less likely to use CRP than males (1.3% and 2.3%, respectively; <it>X</it>²= 93.0, p < 0.0001). Lower CRP use by females was related to lower availability of transportation services (36% without transportation service and 46% door-to-door services) and fewer caregivers accompanying the participants to CRP.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>This study builds on previous research findings, which suggest gender inequality in access to CRP.</p

Cavity-Enhanced Raman Spectroscopy in the Biosciences: In situ, Multicomponent and Isotope Selective Gas Measurements to Study Hydrogen Production and Consumption by Escherichia coli

Recently we introduced cavity-enhanced Raman spectroscopy (CERS) with optical feedback cw-diode lasers as a sensitive analytical tool. Here we report improvements made on the technique and its first application in the biosciences for in situ, multicomponent, and isotope selective gas measurements to study hydrogen production and consumption by Escherichia coli. Under anaerobic conditions, cultures grown on rich media supplemented with D-glucose or glycerol produce H2 and simultaneously consume some of it. By introducing D2 in the headspace, hydrogen production and consumption could be separated due to the distinct spectroscopic signatures of isotopomers. Different phases with distinctly different kinetic regimes of H2 and CO2 production and D2 consumption were identified. Some of the D2 consumed is converted back to H2 via H/D exchange with the solvent. HD was formed only as a minor component. This reflects either that H/D exchange at hydrogenase active sites is rapid compared to the rate of recombination, rapid recapture of HD occurs after the molecule is formed, or that the active sites where D2 oxidation and proton reduction occur are physically separated. Whereas in glucose supplemented cultures, addition of D2 led to an increase in H2 produced, while the yield of CO2 remained unchanged; with glycerol, addition of D2 led not only to increased yields of H2, but also significantly increased CO2 production, reflecting an impact on fermentation pathways. Addition of CO was found to completely inhibit H2 production and significantly reduce D2 oxidation, indicating at least some role for O2-tolerant Hyd-1 in D2 consumption

Total Syntheses of Amphidinolide H and G

Eureka! The first conquest of the exceptionally potent cytotoxic agent amphidinolide H, which exhibits activity in the picomolar range against human epidermoid cancer cells, was long overdue. The successful route critically hinges upon the scrupulous optimization of the fragment-coupling events (see picture; RCM=ring-closing metathesis) and on the careful adjustment of the peripheral protecting-group pattern

Modulation of Gene Expression by Human Cytosolic tRNase ZL through 5′-Half-tRNA

A long form (tRNase ZL) of tRNA 3′ processing endoribonuclease (tRNase Z, or 3′ tRNase) can cleave any target RNA at any desired site under the direction of artificial small guide RNA (sgRNA) that mimics a 5′-half portion of tRNA. Based on this enzymatic property, a gene silencing technology has been developed, in which a specific mRNA level can be downregulated by introducing into cells a synthetic 5′-half-tRNA that is designed to form a pre-tRNA-like complex with a part of the mRNA. Recently 5′-half-tRNA fragments have been reported to exist stably in various types of cells, although little is know about their physiological roles. We were curious to know if endogenous 5′-half-tRNA works as sgRNA for tRNase ZL in the cells. Here we show that human cytosolic tRNase ZL modulates gene expression through 5′-half-tRNA. We found that 5′-half-tRNAGlu, which co-immunoprecipitates with tRNase ZL, exists predominantly in the cytoplasm, functions as sgRNA in vitro, and downregulates the level of a luciferase mRNA containing its target sequence in human kidney 293 cells. We also demonstrated that the PPM1F mRNA is one of the genuine targets of tRNase ZL guided by 5′-half-tRNAGlu. Furthermore, the DNA microarray data suggested that tRNase ZL is likely to be involved in the p53 signaling pathway and apoptosis

Total Syntheses of Amphidinolides B1, B4, G1, H1 and Structure Revision of Amphidinolide H2

Nature is a pretty unselective “chemist” when it comes to making the highly cytotoxic amphidinolide macrolides of the B/G/H series. To date, 16 different such compounds have been isolated, all of which could now be approached by a highly convergent and largely catalysis-based route (see figure). This notion is exemplified by the total synthesis of five prototype members of this family. Dinoflagellates of the genus Amphidinium produce a “library” of closely related secondary metabolites of mixed polyketide origin, which are extremely scarce but highly promising owing to the exceptional cytotoxicity against various cancer cell lines. Because of the dense array of sensitive functionalities on their largely conserved macrocyclic frame, however, these amphidinolides of the B, D, G and H types elapsed many previous attempts at their synthesis. Described herein is a robust, convergent and hence general blueprint which allowed not only to conquest five prototype members of these series, but also holds the promise of making “non-natural” analogues available by diverted total synthesis. This notion transpires for a synthesis-driven structure revision of amphidinolide H2. The successful route hinges upon a highly productive Stille–Migita cross-coupling reaction at the congested and chemically labile 1,3-diene site present in all such targets, which required the development of a modified chloride- and fluoride-free protocol. The macrocyclic ring could be formed with high efficiency and selectivity by ring-closing metathesis (RCM) engaging a vinyl epoxide unit as one of the reaction partners. Because of the sensitivity of the targets to oxidizing and reducing conditions as well as to pH changes, the proper adjustment of the protecting group pattern for the peripheral -OH functions also constitutes a critical aspect, which has to converge to silyl groups only once the diene is in place. Tris(dimethylamino)sulfonium difluorotrimethylsilicate (TASF) turned out to be a sufficiently mild fluoride source to allow for the final deprotection without damaging the precious macrolides

Te covered Si(001): a variable surface reconstruction

At a given temperature, clean and adatom covered silicon surfaces usually exhibit well-defined reconstruction patterns. Our finite temperature ab-initio molecular dynamics calculations show that the tellurium covered Si(001) surface is an exception. Soft longitudinal modes of surface phonons due to the strongly anharmonic potential of the bridged tellurium atoms prevent the reconstruction structure from attaining any permanent, two dimensional periodic geometry. This explains why experiments attempting to find a definite model for the reconstruction have reached conflicting conclusions.Comment: 4 pages, 3 gif figure

Relationship between home care service use and changes in the care needs level of Japanese elderly

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>With the introduction of long-term care insurance (LTCI) in Japan, more home care services are available for the community-dwelling elderly. To deliver effective home care services, it is important to know the effects of service use. In this study, as the first step to determine this, we sought to describe different home service use in the sustained/improved group and deteriorated group in their care needs levels, and to report the relationship between the use of home care services and changes in care needs levels.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The participants included 624 of a total of 1,474 users of LTCI services in one city in Japan. Home care service users were stratified into a 'lower care needs level subgroup' and a 'higher care needs level subgroup' based on the baseline care needs level. Simple statistical comparison and multiple logistic regression analyses in which the change in care needs level was set as a dependent variable were performed. Gender, age, and baseline care needs level were designated as control variables. Home based services were treated as independent variables. In this study, home care services consisted of home help, home bathing services, a visiting nurse, home rehabilitation, nursing home daycare, health daycare, loan of medical devices, respite stay in a nursing home, respite stay in a health care facility, respite stay in a sanatorium-type medical care facility, and medical management by a physician.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In the lower care needs level subgroup, age (OR = 1.04, CI, 1.01-1.08), use of respite stay in a nursing home (OR = 2.55; CI, 1.43-4.56), and the number of types of long-term care services (OR = 1.33; CI, 1.02-1.74) used during an 11 month period were significantly related to a deterioration of the user's care needs level. In the higher care needs level subgroup, use of medical management by a physician (OR = 6.99; CI, 1.42-41.25) was significantly related to a deterioration of the user's care needs level. There were no home based services significantly related to sustaining or improving the user's care needs level.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There were different home service use in two groups (the sustained/improved group and the deteriorated group). Respite stay in a nursing home service use and more types of service use were related to experiencing a deterioration of care needs level in lower care needs level community-dwelling elderly persons in Japan. Further, medical management by a physician service was related to experiencing a deterioration of care needs level in higher care needs level community-dwelling elderly persons.</p

“I don’t want to live too long!”: Successful ageing and the failure of longevity in Japan

This chapter examines ‘successful aging’ through its impacts on formal care workers in Japan. It is based on one year of fieldwork conducted in urban Japan and examines the affective, ethical, and cultural forces that result at times in resilience, compassion, and intimacy between carers and elderly clients, and at other times, in violence, abuse, and abandonment. I argue that locating the source of this divergence in individuals (i.e., adverse coping strategy) reproduces the same neoliberal model of success for care workers as it does for the elderly. Instead, care and abuse in formal care settings can be seen as symptoms of broader political and economic transformations that have been occurring in Japan since the 1990s