Organic agriculture and teikei in Japan after nuclear plant explosion in March, 2011

The contamination of radioactive matters to the fields by nuclear accident gave severe damage to organic farming because it put importance on the safety and environment. Besides the loss of income, there were various uncountable damages that cannot be easily compensated. Under such severe situation, various supports among organic farmers and between consumers were tried

Astringency of Peach Fruit in Different Fruit Parts, Trees and Orchards

モモ果実における渋味の発生要因ならびにその防止策を確立するための基礎資料を得ることを目的として,果樹園,樹体ならびに果実によるポリフェノール含量の違いを調査した.また,ポリフェノール含量の果実内での部位による違い,ならびにポリフェノール含量に及ぼす袋掛けの影響について調査した.成熟果実のポリフェノール含量は果実間や樹体間よりも果樹園間での差が大きかった.全フェノール含量と屈折計示度および高分子フェノール含量との間に各々1%レベルで正の相関が認められた.ポリフェノール含量は果皮で最も多く,果底部と縫合線部がこれに次ぎ,果肉中央部で最も少なかった,また,ポリフェノール含量は有袋果よりも無袋果で多かった.これらの結果をもとに,モモ果実の渋味発生と栽培条件との関係ならびにフェノール化合物の生成や蓄積について考察した

Comparison of Mortality between Japanese Peritoneal Dialysis and Hemodialysis Patients: A 5-Year Multicenter Follow-Up Study

To examine the relationship between dialysis modality and prognosis in Japanese patients, we conducted a prospective multicenter observational study. We recruited 83 background-matched peritoneal dialysis (PD) and 83 hemodialysis (HD) patients (average age, 64.9 years; men, 53.6%; diabetic patients, 22.9%; median duration of dialysis, 48 months in all patients) and followed them for 5 years. During the follow-up period, 27 PD patients (16 cardiovascular and 11 non-cardiovascular deaths) and 27 HD patients died (14 cardiovascular and 13 non-cardiovascular deaths). There were 8 PD patients switched to HD, and 6 PD patients received renal transplantation. Kaplan-Meier analysis revealed that the crude survival rate was not significantly different at the end of 5 years (PD 67.5% versus 67.5%, log-rank P = 0.719). The difference in cardiovascular and non-cardiovascular mortalities between PD and HD was not statistically significant. Multivariate Cox analysis showed that the independent predictors for death were age and serum albumin levels, but not the dialysis modality. This study showed that the overall mortality was not significantly different between PD and HD patients, which suggests that dialysis modality might not be an independent factor for survival in Japanese patients

Pyridoxal in the Cerebrospinal Fluid May Be a Better Indicator of Vitamin B6–dependent Epilepsy Than Pyridoxal 5′-Phosphate

Background We aimed to demonstrate the biochemical characteristics of vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy, with a particular focus on pyridoxal 5′-phosphate and pyridoxal in the cerebrospinal fluid. Methods Using our laboratory database, we identified patients with vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy and extracted their data on the concentrations of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate, pyridoxal, pipecolic acid, α-aminoadipic semialdehyde, and monoamine neurotransmitters. We compared the biochemical characteristics of these patients with those of other epilepsy patients with low pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations. Results We identified seven patients with pyridoxine-dependent epilepsy caused by an ALDH7A1 gene abnormality, two patients with pyridoxal 5′-phosphate homeostasis protein deficiency, and 28 patients with other epilepsies with low cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations. Cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal and pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations were low in patients with vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy but cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal concentrations were not reduced in most patients with other epilepsies with low cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations. Increase in 3-O-methyldopa and 5-hydroxytryptophan was demonstrated in some patients with vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy, suggestive of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate deficiency in the brain. Conclusions Low cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal concentrations may be a better indicator of pyridoxal 5′-phosphate deficiency in the brain in vitamin B6–dependent epilepsy than low cerebrospinal fluid pyridoxal 5′-phosphate concentrations. This finding is especially helpful in individuals with suspected pyridoxal 5′-phosphate homeostasis protein deficiency, which does not have known biomarkers

Local government disaster risk communication: examination of disaster risk communication model for local governments

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