physical activity in heart failure patients

This study aimed that we were classification of physical activity in patients with heart failure categorized as New York Heart Association (NYHA) class I or II. We were a survey using a researcher- administered questionnaire, SF-8, the Specific Activity Scale (SAS), and the Scale to Measure Self-Care Behavior of Patients with Heart Disease. We included 70 patients who were treated in the Department of Cardiovascular Medicine at Hospital A. Regarding patient characteristics and clinical information after the cluster analysis, there were significant differences in the NYHA class (p = 0.001), BNP level (p = 0.012), self-management of medication adherence (p = 0.000), and exercise habits (p = 0.005). We summarized characteristics of each group as follows : Group A showed high tolerance to physical activity and near-perfect self-management; Group B showed moderate tolerance to physical activity but was not willing to commit to daily exercise and self-management; and Group C showed low tolerance to physical activity and often requested others to handle medication management. We needed that tolerance to physical activity and proposals for tailored instruction according to patient conditions, and needed that instructions tailored to the characteristics of heart failure patients in groups A–C

Usefulness of aqueous and vitreous humor analysis in infectious uveitis

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the role of intraocular fluid analysis as a diagnostic aid for uveitis. METHODS: Twenty-eight samples (27 patients including 3 HIV-infected patients) with active (n=24) or non-active (n=4) uveitis were submitted to aqueous (AH; n=12) or vitreous humor (VH) analysis (n=16). All samples were analyzed by quantitative PCR for herpes simplex virus (HSV), varicella zoster virus (VZV), cytomegalovirus (CMV), Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) and Toxoplasma gondii. RESULTS: The positivity of the PCR in AH was 41.7% (5/12), with 50% (2/4) in immunocompetent and 67% (2/3) in HIV+ patients. The positivity of the PCR in VH was 31.2% (5/16), with 13% (1/8) in immunocompetent and 50% (4/8) in immunosuppressed HIV negative patients. The analysis was a determinant in the diagnostic definition in 58% of HA and 50% of VH. CONCLUSION: Even in posterior uveitis, initial AH analysis may be helpful. A careful formulation of possible clinical diagnosis seems to increase the chance of intraocular sample analysis being meaningful

The Impact of Intergovernmental Transfers in the Japanese Local Government Fiscal System

Since the 1990s, a decline in local revenue caused by sluggish economic growth and an increased tendency for local governments to implement expansionary fiscal policies on behalf of Japan's central government have given rise to a growing gap between autonomous revenue and total expenditure. This has caused a rapid increase in various intergovernmental transfers, particularly to lowincome local governments, leading to excessive and unproductive spending. Within a cash-based settlement accounting system, the fiscal positions of low-income prefectures have become superior to those of high-income ones, giving the impression that the former are fiscally sounder than the latter. Decentralization initiatives should take these problems of the existing system into account. Copyright (c) 2006 The Earth Institute at Columbia University and the Massachusetts Institute of Technology.

Nucleotide Sequence of Conjugative and Integrating Plasmid pSLS from Streptomyces laurentii ATCC31255

The complete nucleotode sequence of a conjugative and inttegrative plasmid, pSLS, in the thiostrepton-production Streptomyces laurentii ATCC31255 was determined. The circular DNA molecule was 15,398 bp in length and contained 70.8% G+C content. Computer-assisted analysis indicated that pSLS contained 10 open reading frames (ORFs), orf1 to orf10, located on both strands of pSLS. The orf1 encoded for a predicted protein (200 aa) showed high similality to TraA protein of non-integrative plasmid pJV1 in Streptomyces involved in plasmid transfer and pock-formation. The orf2 coded for a protein of 660 aa that shared homology with TraB proteins encoded by other Streptomyces proteins, SpdBl, SpdB2 and SpdB3, respectively, which were also ivolved in plasmid spreading. The orf8 encoded a polypeptide of 458 aa that shared homology with Int protein of integrative plasmid pSAM2 in Streptomyces ambofacience. This report manifests that pSLS is unique chemeric episomal element that contains gene cluster from non-integrative plasmid and genes for site-specific integration from integrative plasmid