Awakening the “sleeping beauty” of Japanese tableware : the roles of linguistic fetish and iconicity

This study demonstrates how a little known brand of traditional Japanese pottery, Hasami ware, has revitalised itself through visual representation in names, logos, and product designs. This successful case of brand revitalisation can be a model for the Japanese traditional craft industry, which has been struggling to enliven its business for a long time. In analysing brand names, the idea of “linguistic fetish” (Kelly-Holmes 2005; 2014), “the phenomenon of using languages for symbolic (fetishised) rather than utility (instrumental-communicative) purposes in commercial texts” (Kelly-Holmes 2014, 135), is adopted. In addition, the effects of the iconic resemblance between logotypes and products are also analysed. Finally, the newly revitalised brand image of Hasami ware is discussed

Leukemia autopsies in Japan

For the purpose to know whether the annual increase of leukemia incidence in Japan is due to some leukemogenic factors or due to the increased detection rate, the authors made some statistical survey of autopsy cases in which the diagnosis is reliable and not any type of leukemias escape the detection. The results showed that acute leukemias, which are found mostly in younger age, is actually increasing. In addition, it has been deduced that among the suspected factors the increase in ionizing radiation will be one of the most probable factors for the increase in leukemia incidence</p

イソプロテレノール誘導肥大心においてNHE-1阻害薬は、ラット左心室の筋スライスのCa2+トランジェントを正常化する

We previously reported that left ventricular (LV) slices from isoproterenol (ISO)-induced hypertrophied rat hearts showed an increase of energy expenditure due to remodeling of Ca2+ handling in excitation–contraction coupling, i.e., suppressed SERCA2a activity and enhanced Na+/Ca2+exchanger-1 (NCX-1) activity. Na+/H+ exchanger-1 (NHE-1) inhibitor (NHEI) has been demonstrated to exert beneficial effects in the development of cardiac remodeling. We hypothesized that a novel NHE-1 selective inhibitor, BIIB723 prevents remodeling of Ca2+ handling in LV slices of ISO-induced hypertrophied rat hearts mediated by inhibiting NCX-1 activity. The significant shortening in duration of multi-cellular Ca2+ transient in ISO group was normalized in ISO + BIIB723 group. The significant increase in amplitude of multi-cellular Ca2+ waves (CaW) generated at high [Ca2+]o of LV slices in ISO group was also normalized in ISO + BIIB723 group. However, the enhanced NCX-1 activity was not antagonized by BIIB723. We recently reported that ISO-induced down-regulation of a Ca2+ handling protein, SERCA2a, was normalized by BIIB723. Therefore, it seems likely that BIIB723 normalized shortened multi-cellular Ca2+ transient duration and increased CaW amplitude in LV slices mediated via normalization of SERCA2a activity. Furthermore, the results presented here suggest the multi-cellular Ca2+ transient duration and CaW amplitude in LV slices might be better indices reflecting SERCA2a activity than SERCA2a protein expression level.博士（医学）・甲618号・平成26年3月17

Associations between metal concentrations in whole blood and placenta previa and placenta accreta: the Japan Environment and Children’s Study (JECS)

Background: Placenta previa and placenta accreta associate with high morbidity and mortality for both mothers and fetus. Metal exposure may have relationships with placenta previa and placenta accreta. This study analyzed the associations between maternal metal (cadmium [Cd], lead [Pb], mercury [Hg], selenium [Se], and manganese [Mn]) concentrations and placenta previa and placenta accreta. Methods: We recruited 17,414 women with singleton pregnancies. Data from a self-administered questionnaire regarding the first trimester and medical records after delivery were analyzed. Maternal blood samples were collected to measure metal concentrations. The subjects were classified into four quartiles (Q1, Q2, Q3, and Q4) according to metal concentrations. Results: The odds ratio for placenta previa was significantly higher among subjects with Q4 Cd than those with Q1 Cd. The odds ratio for placenta previa was significantly higher for subjects with Q2 Pb than those with Q1 Pb. Conclusion: Participants with placenta previa had higher Cd concentrations. However, this study was crosssectional and lacked important information related to Cd concentration, such as detailed smoking habits and sources of Cd intake. In addition, the subjects in this study comprised ordinary pregnant Japanese women, and it was impossible to observe the relationship between a wide range of Cd exposure and placenta previa. Therefore, epidemiological and experimental studies are warranted to verify the relationship between Cd exposure and pregnancy abnormalities.This study was funded and supported by the Ministry of the Environment of Japan. The findings and conclusions of this article are solely the responsibility of the authors and do not represent the official views of this government agency

Pilot study of a basic individualized cognitive behavioral therapy program for chronic pain in Japan

Background: Chronic pain is a major health problem, and cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is its recommended treatment; however, efforts to develop CBT programs for chronic pain and assess their feasibility are remarkably delayed in Asia. Therefore, we conducted this pilot study to develop a basic individualized CBT for chronic pain (CBT-CP) and assessed its feasibility for use in Japan. Methods: Our study was an open-labeled before–after trial without a control group conducted cooperatively in five Japanese tertiary care hospitals. Of 24 outpatients, 15, age 20–80, who experienced chronic pain for at least three months were eligible. They underwent an eight-session CBT-CP consisting of relaxation via a breathing method and progressive muscle relaxation, behavioral modification via activity pacing, and cognitive modification via cognitive reconstruction. The EuroQol five-dimensional questionnaire five level (EQ5D-5 L) assessment as the primary outcome and quality of life (QOL), pain severity, disability, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms as secondary outcomes were measured using self-administered questionnaires at baseline, post-treatment, and 3-month follow-up. Intention-to-treat analyses were conducted. Results: Effect size for EQ5D-5 L score was medium from baseline to post-treatment (Hedge’s g = − 0.72, 90% confidence interval = − 1.38 to − 0.05) and up to the 3-month follow-up (g = − 0.60, CI = − 1.22 to 0.02). Effect sizes for mental and role/social QOL, disability, catastrophizing, self-efficacy, and depressive symptoms were medium to large, although those for pain severity and physical QOL were small. The dropout rate was acceptably low at 14%. No severe adverse events occurred. Conclusion: The findings suggest that CBT-CP warrants a randomized controlled trial in Japan

Predicting the course of hematopoietic neoplasm through oral bacterial examination

Many medical institutions have recently conducted studies on the relationship between patients with hematopoietic neoplasms and oral cavity. Statistical analysis of the bacterial populations was performed in this study to identify how oral microflora and health conditions （e.g., dental caries and periodontal diseases） affect the prognosis of patients with hematopoietic neoplasms. Patients undergoing inpatient treatment from January to December 2020 at the Department of Hematology at Showa University, Japan, who required perioperative oral management were included in the study. The oral health of the patients was examined at the initial dental visit, and oral bacterial samples were collected from the tongue, buccal mucosa, and palate of 47 patients who consented to participate after receiving an explanation about the study. Statistical analyses performed after dividing the subjects into two groups following the treatment course showed that Stenotrophomonas maltophilia and Gemella sanguinis were significantly more common in the poor-course group. However, no significant difference in bacterial examination results was noted among the four groups （myeloid neoplasm chemotherapy, myeloid neoplasm hematopoietic stem cell transplantation （HSCT）, lymphoid neoplasm chemotherapy, and lymphoid neoplasm HSCT groups） classified based on disease and treatment method. The detection rate of bacteria potentially causing infectious diseases at the initial dental examination tended to be higher in this study in the poor-course group. The findings of the current study suggest that early detection of pathogenic bacteria after commencing hematology treatment could predict the poor-course that may lead to mortality or severe infections

Effects of texture modification on the flavor of foods for elderly people with dysmasesis

The aroma and flavor of food before and during eating is a major determinant of the pleasure which drives us to eat. The aim of this study was to investigate how texture modification influences the aroma and flavor of two types of texture-modified teriyaki-based salmon foods (chopped salmon teriyaki and steamed salmon teriyaki-paste) as compared to original salmon teriyaki using gas chromatographyolfactometry and retronasal olfactometry analyses. The results indicated that the odor of soy sauce was weaker in the modified foods as compared to the original, with the past having even less odor than the chopped salmon teriyaki. The sensory evaluation corresponded with the gas chromatography results, and showed that odor was an important factor contributing to preference. Steamed salmon teriyaki-paste is suitable for elderly people with dysmasesis because it is easy to chew and swallow ; thus, optimal cooking conditions to improve its odor should be developed.研究ノー