Background factors of chemical intolerance and parent–child relationships

Abstract Background Chemical intolerance is a widespread public health problem characterized by symptoms that reportedly result from low-level exposure to chemicals. Although several studies have reported factors related to chemical intolerance in adults, the impact of family members has not been reported. In the present study, we investigated the background factors related to chemical intolerance in family members and parent–child relationships. Methods We distributed a self-reported questionnaire to 4325 mothers who were invited to visit the Kishiwada Health Center in Kishiwada City, Osaka, between January 2006 and December 2007 for the regular health checkup of their three-and-a-half-year-old children. Results The prevalence of chemical intolerance in the 3-year-old children was almost one eighteenth of that reported by their mothers. Multiple logistic regression analyses revealed that cold sensitivity [odds ratio (OR), 1.89; 95% confidence interval (CI), 1.04–3.44], past bronchial asthma (OR, 2.84; 95% CI, 1.46–5.53), and any past allergies (OR, 2.21; 95% CI, 1.36–3.60) were significantly associated with chemical intolerance in the mother. The presence of indoor cat during childhood (OR, 1.99; 95% CI, 1.08–3.69) was significantly associated with chemical intolerance in the mother; however, the association was weak compared with cold sensitivity and past asthma and allergies. The current chemical intolerance of the mother was significantly associated with allergic rhinitis (OR, 2.32; 95% CI, 1.19–4.53), bronchial asthma (OR, 3.66; 95% CI, 2.00–6.69), and chronic bronchitis (OR, 3.69; 95% CI, 1.04–13.03) in her 3-year-old child. Conclusions The results suggest that inherent physical constitution and childhood housing environment are associated with a risk of acquiring chemical intolerance. Children of mothers with chemical intolerance have a possible risk of respiratory hypersensitivity or inflammation. Further investigation is recommended to determine the inherent physical constitution and background environmental factors associated with the risk of acquiring chemical intolerance. The impact of having mothers with chemical intolerance on the health of children also requires further study

Clinical features of a toddler with bilateral bullous retinoschisis with a novel RS1 mutation

Purpose: To report the clinical and genetic findings of a male toddler who presented bilateral bullous retinoschisis with a novel RS1 mutation. Observations: This is an observational case report of a patient referred to our hospital with esotropia. A comprehensive ophthalmic examination was performed with the boy (age, 1 year 4 months) under general anesthesia that included fundus examinations, fluorescein angiography (FA), swept-source optical coherence tomography (SS-OCT), and full-field electroretinography (FF-ERG). Genetic analysis of the coding region in the RS1 gene was performed by Sanger sequencing for the patient and mother. There was a family history of X-linked retinoschisis (XLRS). Fundus examinations and FA showed bullous retinoschisis bilaterally in the inferior retina. The SS-OCT images showed two kinds of schisis in the inner nuclear layer (INL) and more proximally. In general, the inner plexiform layer, ganglion cell layer, and retinal nerve fiber layer are in the proximal INL; however, in this case there was hyperreflective tissue with a rough surface instead of normal retinal layers. In addition, in the schisis cavity between the hyperreflective tissue and separated retina, a number of hyperreflective fiber-like strands arose from the hyperreflective tissue and extended to the schisis cavity. During the follow-up period, the bullous retinoschisis collapsed spontaneously in the right eye. FF-ERG showed a reduced b-wave and relatively preserved a-wave in all components. Genetic analysis showed a novel RS1 mutation (c.185_186insT, p.E62DfsX24 in exon 4) in the patient and mother. Conclusions and importance: We report the detailed retinal structure in a genetically identified case of bullous retinoschisis. The notable finding was that the cavity of bullous retinoschisis contained a number of fiber-like strands as observed in the cavity of typical retinoschisis

数学と華道の総合に関する授業実践 : 作品の再現課程におけるモデル化に焦点をあてて

数学と華道の総合にあたり、作品に対する華道の全体的な見方に着目して、数学の分析的な見方との対照を行った。華道は日本の芸術を代表する1つとして位置づけられる。華道の全体的な見方が織りなす目本独特の「非対称の美」を再現するために、正投影法による数学の分析的な見方を作品の鑑賞に取り入れた。華道の「非対称の美」は、例えばガーデニングの設計に見られる「対称の美」とは異なる特徴の1つである。高等学校3年の女子生徒を対象とした授業実践では、各グループ毎に最も良い作品の選定し、その作品の再現について話し合いを行った、その結果、デジタルカメラを用いて正投影法による撮影を行い、撮影された画像をもとに花や茎をそれぞれ円や直線へと抽象化したモデルを描き、そのモデルを参照しながら作品の再現を試みた。そして、作品の再現に必要なことがらについて、各班毎にディスカッションを行った。ディスカッションの結果、完全に同じ作品を再現することは不可能であるという結論に至った、その一方で、正投影法によって描かれた作品のモデルを参照することで、類似した作品を再現することは可能となる。その際、華道の全体的な見方と数学の分析的な見方を総合することが、作品を再現するために近づくために有効な手段となり得る。実際、一連の活動を終えて、正投影法による見方が作品の鑑賞に反映されていた。けれども、作品の再現を試みるためには、それ以上に、作品の製作者の気持ちに近づく努力が大切であることを多くの生徒が強調していた