Before-after (1998 and 2008) trend analyses on regional clustering of clinical dentist-to-population ratio in all 1,976 municipalities of Japan

Purpose: The main purpose of this study was to obtain geographic clustering information in order to identify shortages (“cold spots”) and surpluses (“hot spots”) of dentists in all municipalities of Japan. Methods: Pretreatment steps were conducted to recover the lost comparability between pre-1998 and post-2008 data due to the large-scale merging of municipalities (42.1% reduction) in the Heisei era. Moran’s I, LISA and spatial multiple regression analyses with AIC were performed to verify regional clustering. Dependent variables of the regression analyses were the clinical dentist-to-population ratio in 2008 (Model 1) and the difference between 1998 and 2008 (Model 2). Results: The R2 was 0.8379 (p<0.0001) for Model 1 and 0.5832 (p<0.0001) for Model 2. The initial dentist-to-population ratio in 1998 showed the highest significance in both models. However, the coefficient of Model 2 was negative, which was exactly the opposite of that of Model 1. Furthermore, indices relating to urbanization and hospital dentist-to-population ratio in 1998 were also highly significant (p<0.01) after adjustment for confounding factors. High- High clustered municipalities are located in most urbanized areas, whereas Low-Low clustered municipalities are located in remote areas far from urbanized areas. This study revealed that factors which attract dental clinics are urbanization and hospitals with dental care capabilities. Conclusion: Clinical dentist-topopulation ratios have improved only in municipalities in urbanized areas in the past ten years. On the contrary, accessibility of dental treatment has not improved in remote/isolated areas

Late Holocene volcanic activity and environmental change in Highland Guatemala

We present a record of late Holocene volcanic eruptions with elemental data for a sequence of sampled tephras from Lake Amatitlan in Highland Guatemala. Our tephrochronology is anchored by a Bayesian P_Sequence age-depth model based on multiple AMS radiocarbon dates. We compare our record against a previously published study from the same area to understand the record of volcanism and environmental changes. This work has implications for understanding the effects of climate and other environmental changes that may be related to the emission of volcanic aerosols at local, regional and global scales

The Role of Sonic Hedgehog Signaling in Osteoclastogenesis and Jaw Bone Destruction.

Sonic hedgehog (SHH) and its signaling have been identified in several human cancers, and increased levels of its expression appear to correlate with disease progression and metastasis. However, the role of SHH in bone destruction associated with oral squamous cell carcinomas is still unclear. In this study we analyzed SHH expression and the role played by SHH signaling in gingival carcinoma-induced jawbone destruction. From an analysis of surgically resected lower gingival squamous cell carcinoma mandible samples, we found that SHH was highly expressed in tumor cells that had invaded the bone matrix. On the other hand, the hedgehog receptor Patched and the signaling molecule Gli-2 were highly expressed in the osteoclasts and the progenitor cells. SHH stimulated osteoclast formation and pit formation in the presence of the receptor activator for nuclear factor-κB ligand (RANKL) in CD11b+ mouse bone marrow cells. SHH upregulated phosphorylation of ERK1/2 and p38 MAPK, NFATc1, tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP), and Cathepsin K expression in RAW264.7 cells. Our results suggest that tumor-derived SHH stimulated the osteoclast formation and bone resorption in the tumor jawbone microenvironment

Plasma substance p levels in patients with persistent cough.

Background: Substance P (SP) is involved in the pathogenesis of cough in animal models. However, few studies in humans have been reported and the roles of SP in clinical cough remain obscure. Objectives: To clarify the relevance of plasma levels of SP in patients with persistent cough. Methods: We studied 82 patients with cough persisting for at least 3 weeks and 15 healthy controls. Patients were classified as having asthmatic cough (cough-variant asthma and cough-predominant asthma; n = 61) or nonasthmatic cough (n = 21; postinfectious cough, n = 6; gastroesophageal reflux disease, n = 5; idiopathic cough, n = 5, and others, n = 5). Correlations were evaluated between plasma SP levels as measured with ELISA and methacholine airway hyperresponsiveness (airway sensitivity and airway reactivity), capsaicin cough sensitivity, sputum eosinophil and neutrophil counts, and pulmonary function. Results: Plasma SP levels were significantly elevated in patients with both asthmatic and nonasthmatic cough compared with controls [31.1 pg/ml (range 18.0-52.2) and 30.0 pg/ml (range 15.1-50.3) vs. 15.4 pg/ml (range 11.3-23.7); p = 0.003 and p = 0.038, respectively] but did not differ between the two patient groups (p = 0.90). Plasma SP levels correlated with airway sensitivity (threshold dose of methacholine) in the patients with asthmatic cough (r = -0.37, p = 0.005) but not with airway reactivity, cough sensitivity, FEV(1) values, or sputum eosinophil and neutrophil counts in either group. Conclusions: Increased levels of SP in plasma are associated with persistent cough in humans and might be related to airway sensitivity in asthmatic cough

Temporal increase in muscle cross-sectional area as an acute effect of resistance exercise in resistance-trained and untrained individuals

The purpose of this study was to compare the temporal increase in muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) as the acute response of resistance exercise (RE) between resistance-trained and untrained groups, and investigate the factors that affect the muscle CSA. Resistance-trained (n = 14) and untrained (n = 14) subjects performed four kinds of triceps brachii RE. Muscle CSA and intracellular hydration (IH), were measured prior to and 5-, 30-, and 60-minute after RE. Pearson's correlation coefficient was calculated to clarify the relationships among percent increases in muscle CSA and IH, area under the Oyx-Hb curve, blood lactate concentration, and % maximum voluntary contraction (MVC)-root-mean-square (RMS) of electromyogram (EMG). At 5-minute after RE, muscle CSA increased significantly to 120.2 ± 6.3% in the resistance-trained group and 105.5 ± 2.3% in the untrained group (p < 0.01). However, neither group showed a significant difference between the values before and 30-minute after RE. In the resistance-trained group, there was a significant increase in IH at 5-minute post-RH (p < 0.01), and correlations were found between percent increases in muscle CSA and IH (r = 0.70, p < 0.01), area under the Oxy-Hb curve (r = 0.77, p < 0.01), and % MVC-RMS of EMG (r = 0.72, p < 0.01). The findings of this study suggest that measurements of muscle CSA in studies of muscle hypertrophy should be performed 30-minute or more after the last resistance exercise session, and muscle pump exercises should be conducted just before participation in bodybuilding, and physique contests

XRF ニヨル ショウワキチ タイキチュウ フユウリュウシジョウ ブッシツ ノ トクセイカ

本研究では,南極昭和基地に蛍光X線分析顕微鏡を持ち込んで大気中浮遊粒子状物質の分析を行い,各成分の季節変化を調査した.粒子状物質は海洋起源であるNa,Mg,S,Cl,K,Caを多く含むことが明らかとなった.また,ブリザードなどの強風時には土壌起源と考えられるSi,Feも検出されたことから,強風によって土壌成分が巻き上げられていることが示唆される.Sは夏季に増加し,冬季に減少する傾向を示した.S以外の海洋起源粒子は夏季に減少し,ブリザード時に増加する傾向を示した.The particle size distribution has been continuously measured by optical particle counter at Syowa Station. Physical and chemical properties of particulate matter have been analyzed in the laboratory after arriving in Japan. However, the properties of particles may be changed in this case. In the present work, the atmospheric particulate matter at Syowa Station, Antarctica was characterized by X-ray fluorescence spectroscopy (XRF) at Syowa Station. The advantages of this method have non destructive, rapid and simple analysis. The particle samples were collected on a Teflon filter; the obtained particles were measured by XRF (HORIBA, X-ray Analytical Microscope XGT-5000) on site soon for elemental analysis. The obtained results show that collected particles mainly contain sea salt (Na, Mg, Cl, K, Ca) and soil (Si, Fe) origin components. The particles from sea salt and soil origin increased under blizzard and strong wind condition. Sulfur increased in summer, and decreased in winter while particles from sea salt decreased in summer

ヘリウム マイクロハ ユウドウ プラズマ ハッコウ ブンセキホウ (He-MIP-AES) ニヨル ショウワキチ タイキチュウ エアロゾル ノ トクセイカ

本研究では南極昭和基地大気中のエアロゾルに関し,個々の粒子に関する粒径分布,成分組成,化学状態の情報が同時に得られるヘリウムマイクロ波誘導プラズマ発光分析装置(He-MIP-AES)を現地に持ち込み分析を行った.その結果,Na,Mg,Caの元素を含む粒子数が多く,海塩起源の粒子を多く含んでいることが明らかとなった.また,Si,Feなどが検出されていることから土壌起源粒子が含まれていることが明らかとなった.風速が強く,降雪があるときは,土壌成分の巻き上げや,雪氷からの海塩成分の飛散等により粒子数が増加する傾向にあった.Atmospheric aerosols at Syowa Station, Antarctica were characterized by helium microwave induced plasma atomic emission spectrometry (He-MIP-AES). The He-MIP-AES can be considered as a suitable method for the characterization of the atmospheric particulate matter since measurements of grain size distribution, elemental analysis for each particle, and chemical state analysis can be available simultaneously. Previous characterization methods such as XRF, PIXE and ICP-MS cannot provide in situ analysis and they need a long time to measure of the distribution of the particle diameter and elemental analysis of each particle. The particle samples in the atmosphere were collected on the membrane lter at Syowa Station in Antarctica. The obtained particles were analyzed by the He-MIP-AES (HORIBA, particle analyzer DP-1000). Elemental analysis, chemical state analysis, and grain diameter distribution analysis were performed. The collected particles mainly contain sea salt (Na, Mg and Ca) and soil origin constituents (Si and Fe). The counts of each element increase under blizzard and strong wind condition

Five-year quality of life assessment after carbon ion radiotherapy for prostate cancer

The aim of this study was to prospectively assess 5-year health-related quality of life (HRQOL) of patients treated with carbon ion radiotherapy (C-ion RT) for clinically localized prostate cancer. A total of 417 patients received carbon ion radiotherapy at a total dose of 63–66 Gray-equivalents (GyE) in 20 fractions over 5 weeks, and neoadjuvant and adjuvant androgen deprivation therapy (ADT) were administered for intermediate and high-risk patients. A HRQOL assessment was performed at five time points (immediately before the initiation of C-ion RT, immediately after, and at 12, 36 and 60 months after completion of C-ion RT) using Functional Assessment of Cancer Therapy (FACT) questionnaires. FACT-G and FACT-P scores were significantly decreased; however, the absolute change after 60 months was minimal. The transient decreases in the Trial Outcome Index (TOI) score returned to their baseline levels. Use of ADT, presence of adverse events, and biochemical failure were related to lower scores. Scores of subdomains of FACT instruments indicated characteristic changes. The pattern of HRQOL change after C-ion RT was similar to that of other modalities. Further controlled studies focusing on a HRQOL in patients with prostate cancer are warranted

Promotion of IL-4- and IL-5-dependent differentiation of anti-μ-primed B cells by ascorbic acid 2-glucoside

The stable ascorbic acid derivative 2-O-alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-L-ascorbic acid (AA-2G) was used to investigate the role of ascorbic acid (AA) in B cell differentiation in vitro. AA-2G is stable in a solution unlike AA but is hydrolyzed by cellular alpha-glucosidase to release AA. Mouse spleen B cells were primed for 2 days with an anti-mu antibody in the presence of interleukin (IL)-4 and IL-5 and then washed and recultured with AA-2G in the presence of IL-4 and IL-5. AA-2G, but not AA, dose-dependently increased IgM production, the greatest enhancement being 150% at concentrations of more than 0.5 mM. In the absence of IL-4 and IL-5, primed B cells produced a negligible amount of IgM, and AA-2G had no effect. AA-2G-induced IgM production in the presence of IL-4 and IL-5 was inhibited by the alpha-glucosidase inhibitor castanospermine. Intracellular AA content, depleted during the priming period, increased by adding AA-2G at the start of reculture. Treatment of B cells with AA-2G resulted in an increase in the number of IgM-secreting cells, CD138-positive cells and CD45R/B220-negative cells. The number of viable cells in untreated cultures decreased gradually, but the decrease was significantly attenuated by AA-2G, resulting in about 70% more viable cells in AA-2G-treated cultures. AA-2G caused a slight but reproducible enhancement of DNA synthesis and a slight decrease in the number of cells with a sub-G1 DNA content. These results demonstrated that AA released from AA-2G enhanced cytokine-dependent IgM production in anti-mu-primed B cells and suggest that its effect is caused through promoting the differentiation of B cells to plasma cells and attenuating the gradual decrease in the number of viable cells