The impact of acceptance of self and others and knowledge on attitudes toward people with developmental disabilities

In this study, we considered the impact of acceptance of self and others, and knowledge of definition of developmental disabilities (basic knowledge) and knowledge to correspond to people with developmental disabilities (practical knowledge), on the university students’ attitudes toward people with developmental disability. 107 adolescences (46 men and 61 women, 18-25 years old) of this questionnaire survey completed the acceptance of self and others scale, questions of basic knowledge and practical knowledge, and attitudes toward people with disabilities scale. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that attitude toward integrated education became negative, if practical knowledge is high, and acceptance of others is low. It was suggested that the personality characteristic that it is difficult to be able to accept others different from the their own, and empirical or potential negative images on the developmental disabilities due to low practical knowledge provide the negative impact on attitudes towards integrated education

Factors Affecting Burnout in Nursery Teachers : Focusing on Knowledge of Developmental Disabilities

In this study, we considered the impact of awareness of the knowledge of developmental disabilities and getting social support on the influence of nursery stressor on burnout. 191 nursery teachers (2 men, 188 women and 1 unknown, 20-80 years old) of this questionnaire survey completed the instrumental support scale, knowledge of developmental disability scale, scales of nursery stressor, the sense of burden scale in special needs education and the burnout tendency scale. The results of hierarchical multiple regression analysis showed that the state of imbalance in knowledge of developmental disorders instrumental support strengthens burnout. On the other hand, it was suggested that when both sides are high, even if the burden of childcare requiring special consideration is great, it can be overcome, and it prevents challenges and a sense of accomplishment from decreasing for childcare

Acetyl-L-carnitine enhances myelination of regenerated fibers of the lateral olfactory tract

It is well known that acetyl-L-carnitine (ALC) has various neuroprotective effects against neurodegenerative diseases. In addition, it has been reported that ALC facilitates myelination of regenerated axons after peripheral nerve injuries. We previously reported that spontaneous regeneration of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT), the main fiber tract of the central olfactory system, consistently occurred in newborn rats and a majority of these regenerated fibers were unmyelinated in neonatally LOT-transected young adult rats. To investigate the effects of ALC treatment on myelination in LOT, neonatal rats were treated with ALC after LOT transection. Immunohistochemistry for myelin basic protein showed more positive areas in ALC-treated rats than in control rats. Moreover, the number of myelinated axons of regenerated fibers was assessed using electron microscopy and was found to be statistically higher in ALC-treated rats compared to control rats. The study revealed that ALC accelerates myelination of regenerated fibers in neonatally LOT-injured young adult rats. (C) 2017 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.ArticleNEUROSCIENCE LETTERS.653:215-219(2017)journal articl

Functional correlation between olfaction and various sectioning of the lateral olfactory tract

信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成24年3月31日授与（甲第915号）・関口泰之The lateral olfactory tract (LOT) is a central olfactory pathway, and efferent projections from the olfactory bulb are conveyed to the olfactory-related cortical structures via the LOT. The purpose of the present study is to determine the exact site of the LOT causing functional impairment in animals. After ablation of the right olfactory bulb, rats received rostrocaudal transection injuries on the left LOT at different levels between the olfactory bulb and the middle cerebral artery. Olfactory function of LOT-transected rats was studied by examining their olfactory ability to discriminate between the smell of water and cycloheximide solution, a strong repellent for rodents. Rats were divided into two groups based on their olfactory discriminative abilities. The olfaction positive (+) group achieved 83% +/- 1% correct responses and the distances of the LOT-transected sites from the middle cerebral artery of this group ranged between 0.8 and 2.4 mm (n = 8). The olfaction negative (-) group achieved 48% +/- 1% correct responses and the distances of the LOT-transected sites from the middle cerebral artery ranged between 2.5 and 4.2 mm (n = 10). From these data, we concluded that the site of the LOT critical for olfactory function is located approximately 2.5 mm from the middle cerebral artery. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.ArticleNEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH. 73(1):17-23 (2012)journal articl

Simultaneous Screening of 24 Target Genes of Foodborne Pathogens in 35 Foodborne Outbreaks Using Multiplex Real-Time SYBR Green PCR Analysis

A set of 8 multiplex real-time SYBR Green PCR (SG-PCR) assays including 3 target primers and an internal amplification control (IAC) primer was simultaneously evaluated in 3 h or less with regard to detection of 24 target genes of 23 foodborne pathogens in 7 stool specimens of foodborne outbreak using a 96-well reaction plate. This assay, combined with DNA extraction (QIAamp DNA Stool Mini kit), offered detection of greater than 103-104 foodborne pathogens per g in stool specimens. The products formed were identified using melting point temperature (Tm) curve analysis. This assay was evaluated for the detection of foodborne pathogens in 33 out of 35 cases of foodborne outbreak, using 4 different PCR instruments in 5 different laboratories. No interference from the multiplex real-time SG-PCR assay, including IAC, was observed in stool specimens in any analysis. We found multiplex real-time SG-PCR assay for simultaneous detection of 24 target genes of foodborne pathogens to be comprehensive, rapid, inexpensive, accurate, of high selectivity, and good for screening probability

Analysis of spontaneous regeneration of olfactory structures with emphasis on myelination and re-innervation of cortical areas

Regeneration of the lateral olfactory tract (LOT) occurs spontaneously after transection in developing rats. In neonatally LOT-transected rats, we observed a newly formed myelinated tract near the rhinal sulcus. The aim of this study was to analyze the precise re-innervated cortical areas and to demonstrate ectopic LOT myelination in neonatally LOT-transected rats. Neonatal rats were subjected to unilateral LOT transection and simultaneous injection of a retrograde fluorescent tracer into the posterior olfactory cortex to evaluate the degree of transection. After 8 weeks, bilateral olfactory bulbs of the rats were subjected to multiple injections of an anterograde neuronal tracer to determine the extent of the regenerated fibers. In the completely LOT-transected rats, the regenerated fibers were distributed in the anterior olfactory cortices: the anterior olfactory nucleus, the olfactory tubercle, and the rostral part of the piriform cortex. Ectopic myelination of LOT was evident immediately below the rhinal sulcus in the completely and incompletely LOT-transected rats. We concluded that the regenerated bulbar fibers were confined to the regions of the anterior olfactory cortices and that ectopic myelination of the regenerated LOT occurred only at a specific site near the rhinal sulcus.ArticleNEUROSCIENCE LETTERS. 537:35-39 (2013)journal articl

Effects of repeated crush injuries on motor functional recovery of the sciatic nerve

信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成25年1月30日授与（乙第1153号）・伊坪 敏郎Objectives: The present study was conducted to examine whether repeated crush injuries have significant effects on motor functional recovery of peripheral nerves. Methods: Repeated crush injuries of the sciatic nerve were inflicted on adult rats at 1-week intervals, and functionality of the sciatic nerve was assessed by the static sciatic index each week for 8 weeks after the final injury. To determine the effects of repeated crush injuries on motor functional recovery of the sciatic nerve, tibialis anterior muscle fibers from single and triple crush injuries were examined, and fiber size and fiber reinnervation during the 2- to 4-week period after the final injury were measured. Results: Compared to single crush injuries, which completely recovered by post-injury week 4, double crush injuries resulted in retarded, but complete recovery by post-injury week 6, whereas triple crush injuries resulted in marked retardation in the regenerative process with incomplete recovery during week 8 of the experimental period. Muscle fiber size for rats with triple crush did not recover to normal range at post-injury week 4, despite its normal size for rats with single crush. The rate of reinnervation increased prominently between post-injury weeks 2 and 3 in both injuries, but the rate with triple crush was lower than that with single crush at post-injury week 3. Discussion: These results, which contradict those of a previous study that reported early functional recovery, indicate that repeated crush injuries inhibit motor functional recovery of the damaged sciatic nerve, as evidenced by delayed and incomplete regeneration, atrophied muscle fibers, and delayed reinnervation.ArticleNEUROLOGICAL RESEARCH. 34(9):908-914 (2012)journal articl

Functional correlation between olfaction and various sectioning of the lateral olfactory tract

信州大学博士（医学）・学位論文・平成24年3月31日授与（甲第915号）・関口泰之The lateral olfactory tract (LOT) is a central olfactory pathway, and efferent projections from the olfactory bulb are conveyed to the olfactory-related cortical structures via the LOT. The purpose of the present study is to determine the exact site of the LOT causing functional impairment in animals. After ablation of the right olfactory bulb, rats received rostrocaudal transection injuries on the left LOT at different levels between the olfactory bulb and the middle cerebral artery. Olfactory function of LOT-transected rats was studied by examining their olfactory ability to discriminate between the smell of water and cycloheximide solution, a strong repellent for rodents. Rats were divided into two groups based on their olfactory discriminative abilities. The olfaction positive (+) group achieved 83% +/- 1% correct responses and the distances of the LOT-transected sites from the middle cerebral artery of this group ranged between 0.8 and 2.4 mm (n = 8). The olfaction negative (-) group achieved 48% +/- 1% correct responses and the distances of the LOT-transected sites from the middle cerebral artery ranged between 2.5 and 4.2 mm (n = 10). From these data, we concluded that the site of the LOT critical for olfactory function is located approximately 2.5 mm from the middle cerebral artery. (c) 2012 Elsevier Ireland Ltd and the Japan Neuroscience Society. All rights reserved.ArticleNEUROSCIENCE RESEARCH. 73(1):17-23 (2012)journal articl

Dust from Comet 209P/LINEAR during its 2014 Return: Parent Body of a New Meteor Shower, the May Camelopardalids

We report a new observation of the Jupiter-family comet 209P/LINEAR during its 2014 return. The comet is recognized as a dust source of a new meteor shower, the May Camelopardalids. 209P/LINEAR was apparently inactive at a heliocentric distance rh = 1.6 au and showed weak activity at rh < 1.4 au. We found an active region of <0.001% of the entire nuclear surface during the comet's dormant phase. An edge-on image suggests that particles up to 1 cm in size (with an uncertainty of factor 3-5) were ejected following a differential power-law size distribution with index q=-3.25+-0.10. We derived a mass loss rate of 2-10 kg/s during the active phase and a total mass of ~5x10^7 kg during the 2014 return. The ejection terminal velocity of millimeter- to centimeter-sized particles was 1-4 m/s, which is comparable to the escape velocity from the nucleus (1.4 m/s). These results imply that such large meteoric particles marginally escaped from the highly dormant comet nucleus via the gas drag force only within a few months of the perihelion passage.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, accepted on 2014 December 11 for publication in the Astrophysical Journal Letter

精神科病院入院患者における身体合併症発症のハイリスク群のスクリーニング

摂食・嚥下機能と排尿機能、肥満度の調査により、身体合併症発症のハイリスク状態の患者をスクリーニングし、実態を把握すると共に、予防的取り組みについて考察することを目的とした。A県内にある公立精神科病院に入院中もしくはデイケアに通所中の精神疾患患者93名のスクリーニングを実施した。反復唾液嚥下テストにおいて、嚥下障害が強く疑われた患者は89名中14名（15.7％）であった。尿排出困難が強く疑われた患者は82名中44名（53.7％）であり、向精神薬の影響が考えられた。肥満者は92名中44名（47.8％）、ウエスト周囲径が男性85cm以上・女性90cm以上だった割合は、85名中64名（75.3％）であり、上半身肥満体型が多いことが示唆された。また、糖尿病が強く疑われる割合は、57名中13名（22.8％）という結果であった