Young Japanese People\u27s Views On Civic (Dis)Engagement

本稿は社会参加に関する意識調査を目的とする記述式アンケートに回答した日本の青年151名の意見を報告し、その社会参加に消極的な理由を解明すると共に、状況是正への提言を行うものである。In this article, we report on opinions held by 151 Japanese youth who responded to open-ended questions about civic engagement. The study sheds light on some reasons for Japanese youths\u27 civic disengagement and concludes with suggestions to remedy the situation

Prognostic Factors for the Postoperative Improvement of Spinal Cord-Related Neuropathic Pain in Patients with Degenerative Cervical Myelopathy

Introduction: The number of patients with degenerative cervical myelopathy (DCM) requiring surgical treatment has markedly increased in today's aging society. Such patients often exhibit impaired activities of daily living because of motor dysfunction as well as neuropathic pain (NeP). Although many studies have demonstrated the safety and efficacy of surgical treatment for DCM, residual postoperative NeP has not been well described. Therefore, this study aimed to identify the predictors of postoperative NeP improvement in patients with DCM. Methods: This retrospective study included 92 outpatients with postoperative chronic NeP (3 months) related to DCM. Data were obtained from clinical information, magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings, and patient-based questionnaires using the Neuropathic Pain Symptom Inventory (NPSI) and the Brief Scale for Psychiatric Problems in Orthopaedic Patients. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed for patients with NPSI improvement rates <30% and 30% to identify prognostic factors. Results: Among 92 patients, 61 (66.3%) had residual NeP, with a low improvement rate even after surgery. The independent negative prognostic factors for NeP improvement after surgery were older age at operation (odds ratio (OR): 0.932), longer symptom duration before surgery (OR: 0.589), and higher preoperative NPSI score (OR: 0.932). The cut-off value of symptom duration before surgery for postoperative NeP improvement was 1 year. By contrast, the preoperative Japanese Orthopaedic Association score and MRI findings, including signal intensity change and the degree of spinal cord compression, were not associated with postoperative NeP improvement. Moreover, even in patients with an NPSI improvement rate 30%, the NPSI subscores for deep pain and paresthesia/dysesthesia remained high. Conclusions: Discrepancies between physician- and image-based assessments and patient-based assessments were identified as factors associated with improvement in postoperative NeP. Our findings are important for both spine surgeons and patients to manage patient expectations with respect to recovery during the postoperative course

Podocyte-specific deletion of tubular sclerosis complex 2 promotes focal segmental glomerulosclerosis and progressive renal failure.

Obesity can initiate and accelerate the progression of kidney diseases. However, it remains unclear how obesity affects renal dysfunction. Here, we show that a newly generated podocyte-specific tubular sclerosis complex 2 (Tsc2) knockout mouse model (Tsc2Δpodocyte) develops proteinuria and dies due to end-stage renal dysfunction by 10 weeks of age. Tsc2Δpodocyte mice exhibit an increased glomerular size and focal segmental glomerulosclerosis, including podocyte foot process effacement, mesangial sclerosis and proteinaceous casts. Podocytes isolated from Tsc2Δpodocyte mice show nuclear factor, erythroid derived 2, like 2-mediated increased oxidative stress response on microarray analysis and their autophagic activity is lowered through the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR)-unc-51-like kinase 1 pathway. Rapamycin attenuated podocyte dysfunction and extends survival in Tsc2Δpodocyte mice. Additionally, mTOR complex 1 (mTORC1) activity is increased in podocytes of renal biopsy specimens obtained from obese patients with chronic kidney disease. Our work shows that mTORC1 hyperactivation in podocytes leads to severe renal dysfunction and that inhibition of mTORC1 activity in podocytes could be a key therapeutic target for obesity-related kidney diseases

「withitness」を踏まえたインクルーシブな学級経営の創出（２） : 小学校教師による教室での状況認識の実際

The purpose of this study was to identify the specifics of situational awareness in the classroom by elementary school teachers. In the lower grades, based on their approach to children's growth, they emphasized the accumulation of diverse experiences by each child and the sharing of diverse experiences by the whole class. In the middle grades, based on the close relationship with the children's growth, emphasis was placed on the promotion of awareness of the existence of oneself and others. In the upper grades, they emphasized awareness of the speaker and listener during presentations, awareness as a member of the class, and learning from each other. In the special-needs classes, the teachers took into consideration the characteristics of each child, created an original environment, and emphasized the further development of interests