セミパラチンスク核実験場近郊被曝証言の日本語版全文データベース化

The present paper is an initial report of the project for a full-text Japanese database of the testimonies of those exposed to radiation near the nuclear test site of Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan. 139 testimonies were gathered in four villages near Semipalatinsk in 2002. We translated them into Japanese from Russian and Kazakh, and created a full-text database by using a Japanese text retrieval program, KR. In this paper, we attempt to show how the database can be used to understand tragic realities of the effects of exposure to radiation from nuclear tests. In the attempt, we try to demonstrate that radiation exposed residents near the test site are affected physically and mentally, by citing retrieved testimonies complaining illness and bad health, environmental pollution, and mental disorder, resulting finally in suicide. We also try to clarify differences between experiences in Semipalatinsk, and those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki

Weak antilocalization induced by Se substitution in layered BiCh2_2-based (Ch = S, Se) superconductors LaO1−x_{1-x}Fx_xBiS2−y_{2-y}Sey_y

We report transport properties for layered BiCh2-based (Ch = S, Se) superconductors LaO1-xFxBiS2-ySey (x = 0.2, 0.5, y = 0-1.05) and the observation of weak antilocalization (WAL). Electrical resistivity and Hall coefficients for the Se-poor samples increase with decreasing temperature. The increase becomes less pronounced with increasing Se concentration indicating a loss of insulating behavior. Interestingly, the moderately Se-substituted samples exhibit metallic behavior in the high-temperature region and a weak increase in the resistivity in the low-temperature regions, which indicates the existence of carrier localization. The heavily Se-substituted compounds show metallic behavior in the entire-temperature region. Sign changes of the Hall coefficients are observed for the x = 0.2 samples, which possibly is related to a charge-density wave (CDW). Magnetoresistance measurements indicate that WAL is realized in the heavily Se-substituted systems. The WAL behavior is weakened by the changes in F and Se concentrations. A crossover state of the WAL and WL emerges around the moderately F-doped and Se-free LaO0.8F0.2BiS2. The change of the resistivity behavior by the F and Se substitution clearly correlates to the difference of the magnetoconductance. Moreover, the localization regions of the WAL-WL crossover and weak WAL states are possibly associated with the CDW. We propose that the BiCh2-based system is a good platform for studying relationship between WAL, superconductivity, and electronic ordering because those states are tunable by element substitutions with bulk single crystals

International Medical Cooperation for the Radiation Exposed Population (Hibakusha) in Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan : A Challenge from Hiroshima, the City of the World's First Atomic Bombing 【Report】

The main objective of this report is to describe the activities of a non-governmental organization(NGO), the Hiroshima Semipalatinsk Project (hereafter the Hiro-Semi Project or the Project), that sup-ports medical aid to those who were exposed to radiation from the nuclear bomb tests in Kazakhstan.The Project has carried out medical cooperation activities five times and dispatched medical missions ofdoctors, nurses, and medical technicians four times. In this report, we attempt to show the purpose of the foundation of the Hiro-Semi Project. In addition, we show the final goal of the Project. We also reporton the medical activities of the Hiro-Semi Project and touch upon the medical items provided by theHiro-Semi Project and the medical examinations from the medical missions sent by the Project. As isgenerally known, medical cooperation is an important part of international cooperation. For example,the activities of Medecins Sans Frontieres Japonand The Association of Medical Doctors of Asia arewell known. It is possible for those who are not medical doctors to conduct medical cooperation. In fact,the Hiro-Semi Project plans and conducts medical aid and dispatches medical missions. The mostimportant matter is to establish a strong cooperative relationship with specialists or experts in that field.The Hiro-Semi Project endeavors to establish such a relationship. As people concerned with internation-al cooperation, we should pay more attention to the activities of medical cooperation done by grass rootsmovements, keeping in mind that there are many approaches to international cooperation. This reportwill outline one approach and one possibility of international cooperation

A full-text english database of testimonies of those exposed to radiation near the Semipalatinsk nuclear test site, Kazakhstan

The present paper is a sequel to the initial report (Kawano et al 2003a) of the project for a full-text Japanese database of the testimonies of those exposed to radiation near the nuclear test site of Semipalatinsk, Kazakhstan. 139 testimonies were gathered in four villages near Semipalatinsk in 2002. We translated them into English from Russian and Kazakh, and created a full-text database by using a Latin script text retrieval program, TERESA. The present paper attempts at essentially the same thing as our first report mentioned above, using the English version of the database. We attempt to show how the database can be used to understand tragic realities of the effects of exposure to radiation from nuclear tests. In the attempt, we try to demonstrate that radiation exposed residents near the test site are affected physically and mentally, by citing retrieved testimonies which complain of illness and bad health, environmental pollution, and mental disorder, resulting finally in suicide. We also try to demonstrate differences between experiences in Semipalatinsk, and those in Hiroshima and Nagasaki. Besides, we add our conceptual and methodological premises for conducting this kind of research, as well as some new findings concerning the radiation exposure in Semipalatinsk

Atomic Bomb Fallout and “Black rain” at Manose District (Hirama-cho) Located Northeast of Nagasaki City

Plutonium atomic bomb (A-bomb) was exploded at 503 meters height above Nagasaki City on August 9, 1945. Many studies on radioactive contamination, radiation dose, effect to people and so on have been conducted until now. Local fallout from the A-bomb mainly spread a lot in the east direction centering on Nishiyama area located about 4 km east of the hypocenter. Like the Hiroshima A-bomb, black rain accompanied by radioactive materials fell shortly after the explosion, but relationship between local fallout fall zone and black rain fall area has not been sufficiently elucidated, which has enhanced the concerns on radiation exposure to the A-bomb survivor. Concerning the black rain due to the Nagasaki A-bomb, it has been said that black rain did not fall across a wide area in a comprehensive way, except for the heavily contaminated Nishiyama area, but fell at various areas with conditions of light rain and/or soaking after the explosion. Among many villages or towns, especially in the Manose District where is a small intermountain village about 7.5 km northeast of the hypocenter, it had always been heard and known that the residents living there encountered black rain and experienced hair loss. In this district, the hair loss of inhabitants occurred actually with high probability, but its reason has not been elucidated well. Therefore, in order to reevaluate the local fallout level in the Manose District by the A-bomb, residual long-lived radionuclides 137Cs and Pu isotopes were measured for soil samples collected at the Manose District including the surrounding areas in July, 2011. As a result, accumulated levels of 137Cs and 239,240Pu in the Manose District were not so high, each being nearly background (BG) level. The dispersion of local fallout Pu from the A-bomb was reconfirmed by 240Pu/239Pu atomic ratios measured in soil samples at the same time, and was found to be primarily limited in the east direction, especially around the Nishiyama area. Those results were consistent with results obtained so far. Further researches are needed for understanding scientifically the cause of the high incidence rate of hair loss in this district.This research was supported by JSPS KAKENHI Grants Numbers 23406002 (April 2011-March 2014) and 26257501 (April 2014-March 2018)

Dynamic three-dimensional shoulder kinematics in patients with massive rotator cuff tears: a comparison of patients with and without subscapularis tears

Background Massive rotator cuff tears (MRCTs) with subscapularis (SSC) tears cause severe shoulder dysfunction. In the present study, the influence of SSC tears on three-dimensional (3D) shoulder kinematics during scapular plane abduction in patients with MRCTs was examined. Methods This study included 15 patients who were divided into two groups: supraspinatus (SSP) and infraspinatus (ISP) tears with SSC tear (torn SSC group: 10 shoulders) or without SSC tear (intact SSC group: 5 shoulders). Single-plane fluoroscopic images during scapular plane elevation and computed tomography (CT)-derived 3D bone models were matched to the fluoroscopic images using two-dimensional (2D)/3D registration techniques. Changes in 3D kinematic results were compared. Results The humeral head center at the beginning of arm elevation was significantly higher in the torn SSC group than in the intact SSC group (1.8±3.4 mm vs. −1.1±1.6 mm, p<0.05). In the torn SSC group, the center of the humeral head migrated superiorly, then significantly downward at 60° arm elevation (p<0.05). In the intact SSC group, significant difference was not observed in the superior-inferior translation of the humeral head between the elevation angles. Conclusions In cases of MRCTs with a torn SSC, the center of the humeral head showed a superior translation at the initial phase of scapular plane abduction followed by inferior translation. These findings indicate the SSC muscle plays an important role in determining the dynamic stability of the glenohumeral joint in a superior-inferior direction in patients with MRCTs

Preventive effect of statin pretreatment on contrast-induced acute kidney injury in patients undergoing coronary angioplasty: Propensity score analysis from a multicenter registry

BackgroundThe prophylactic benefit of statins in reducing the incidence of contrast-induced acute kidney injury (CI-AKI) has been investigated in several studies with conflicting results. We sought to investigate whether statin pretreatment prevents CI-AKI in coronary artery disease (CAD) patients undergoing percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).MethodsA total of 2198 CAD patients who underwent PCI, except for those undergoing dialysis or who died within 7 days after angioplasty, were analyzed from the ICAS (Ibaraki Cardiovascular Assessment Study) multicenter registry. Analyzed subjects were divided into 2 groups according to statin pretreatment: statin pretreatment (n = 839) and non-statin pretreatment (n = 1359). Selection bias of statin pretreatment was adjusted by propensity score-matching method: pretreatment statin (n = 565) and non-statin pretreatment (n = 565). CI-AKI was defined as an increase in serum creatinine of ≥ 25% or 0.5 mg/dl from baseline within 1 week of contrast medium exposure.ResultsA total of 192 (8.7%) patients developed CI-AKI. No significant differences were observed in baseline patient characteristics between the statin and non-statin pretreatment groups after propensity score matching. In the propensity score-matched groups, the incidence of CI-AKI was significantly lower in patients with statin pretreatment than in those without statin pretreatment (3.5% vs.10.6%, odds ratio [OR]: 0.31, 95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.18–0.52, P < 0.001). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that statin pretreatment remained an independent negative predictor of CI-AKI (OR: 0.31, 95% CI: 0.18–0.53, P < 0.001) among propensity score-matched subjects.ConclusionsStatin pretreatment was associated with a significant decrease in the risk of CI-AKI in CAD patients undergoing PCI in the ICAS Registry

Environmental radioactive contamination in settlements around the former Soviet Union’s Semipalatinsk nuclear test site: Sarzhal, Karaul and Kainar settlements, and some settlements located south of the Pavlodar Region

More than 450 nuclear atomic explosions including atmospheric, aboveground and underground nuclear tests had been conducted by the former Soviet Union (USSR) at the Semipalatinsk Nuclear Test Site (SNTS) over the past 40 years. Since 1994, we have concentrated our energies on assessing the human health and environmental impacts of nuclear testing. Especially, residual long-lived radionuclides such as 137Cs and Pu isotopes have been measured for soil samples from various areas. The studies focused on the evaluation of radioactive contamination in the settlements where the Semipalatinsk historical cohort resided. In October 2005, detailed soil sampling was carried out around Dolon settlement to estimate the width and position of center-axis of the fallout plume associated with the first USSR atomic bomb on 29 August 1949, and provided useful information on the efforts to estimate radiation dose in Dolon settlement as reliably as possible. Such studies were, next, devoted more time and attention to the Sarzhal and Karaul settlements located in the southeastern direction from the SNTS. The local fallout from the fist thermonuclear event on 12 August 1953 (30 m in height, 400 kt in scale) heavily affected those settlements. Here, laying stress on Sarzhal and Karaul settlements, the accumulated levels and spatial distribution of soil contamination by 137Cs and 239,240Pu have been excessively investigated since 2007. Besides, the radionuclides 236U and 237Np derived from bomb materials themselves were also measured together with the induced radionuclides, 152Eu and 60Co, in some soil samples. Based on those data obtained, radiation doses in air in two settlements were first reconstructed. As a result, adsorbed doses in air in case of the evacuation (non-evacuation) for inhabitants in Sarzhal and Karaul settlements were evaluated to be 20〜100 mGy (210〜530 mGy) and 10〜75 mGy (120〜380 mGy), respectively, as our tentative estimate for 1-year cumulative external doses mainly due to the local fallout from the first USSR hydrogen bomb test in August 1953. Apart from the above researches, in the Kainar village, one of the villages where the historical cohort resides, located south of the SNTS, and in the Pavlodar District located in the adjust north direction of the SNTS in which data were very limited, accumulated levels of 137Cs and Pu isotopes in soils have been measured for evaluating 137Cs and Pu inventories and their spatial distributions. The inventories of 137Cs found out both inside and outside of the Kainar village were in a wide range of 130〜7,500 Bq/m2. A clear shape similar to a Gaussian function along the center-axis of the radioactive plume, which has been found in Dolon, Sarzhal and Karaul settlements, was not observed in their spatial distributions, indicating a wider and uniformly close contamination of this region. On the other hand, in Pavlodar District, the 137Cs inventories ranged from 1,000 to 3,000 Bq/m2 for soil samples. As a whole, Pavlodar areas that the surveys have been conducted were found not to be contaminated so highly, compared with the northeastern areas including Dolon settlement contaminated heavily by the first nuclear atomic explosion in August 1949. The obtained data were also compared with all the data from other areas where we have surveyed until now. The obtained data will be useful for future residents' exposure dose assessmentAbstract… 1 Ⅰ．はじめに… 2 Ⅱ．サルジャール及びカラウル集落… 3 Ⅲ．カイナル集落及びパブロダール州南部の集落…16 Ⅳ．これまでに調査したセミパラチンスク全地域の137Cs及び239,240Pu蓄積量と 　　239,240Pu/137Cs及び238Pu/239,240Pu放射能比の比較… 24 Ⅴ．全体のまとめ…24 参考文献…26 Appendix…29本研究は、長期に渡る文部省の科学研究費助成金（基盤研究（A,B）: 海外、代表者 : 星 正治、山本政儀、川野徳幸） No.22404004、19404005、23406002、20406002、26257501、24310044、23310183、15H03137の助成を受けて行われた

Study protocol for a multi-center, randomized controlled trial to develop Japanese denture adhesive guidelines for patients with complete dentures : the Denture Adhesive Guideline trial : study protocol for a randomized controlled trial

Background: Denture adhesives, characterized as medical products in 1935 by the American Dental Association, have been considered useful adjuncts for improving denture retention and stability. However, many dentists in Japan are hesitant to acknowledge denture adhesives in daily practice because of the stereotype that dentures should be inherently stable, without the aid of adhesives. The aim of this study is to verify the efficacy of denture adhesives to establish guidelines for Japanese users. The null hypothesis is that the application of denture adhesives, including the cream and powder types, or a control (isotonic sodium chloride solution) would not produce different outcomes nor would they differentially improve the set outcomes between baseline and day 4 post-application. Methods: This ten-center, randomized controlled trial with parallel groups is ongoing. Three hundred edentulous patients with complete dentures will be allocated to three groups (cream-type adhesive, powder-type adhesive, and control groups). The participants will wear their dentures with the denture adhesive for 4 days, including during eight meals (three breakfasts, two lunches, and three dinners). The baseline measurements and final measurements for the denture adhesives will be performed on the first day and after breakfast on the fourth day. The primary outcome is a general satisfaction rating for the denture. The secondary outcomes are denture satisfaction ratings for various denture functions, occlusal bite force, resistance to dislodgement, masticatory performance, perceived chewing ability, and oral health-related quality of life. Between-subjects comparisons among the three groups and within-subjects comparisons of the pre- and post-intervention measurements will be performed. Furthermore, a multiple regression analysis will be performed. The main analyses will be based on the intention-to-treat principle. A sample size of 100 subjects per group, including an assumed dropout rate of 10 %, will be required to achieve 80 % power with a 5 % alpha level. Discussion: This randomized clinical trial will provide information about denture adhesives to complete denture wearers, prosthodontic educators, and dentists in Japan. We believe this new evidence on denture adhesive use from Japan will aid dentists in their daily practice even in other countries