The Hollowing Out Phenomenon In Japan

This paper examined the ‘hollowing out’ (de-industrialization) phenomenon in Japan. We collected time series data for twenty years to investigate the home country impact of outward FDI and a weakening manufacturing sector. We used descriptive statistics and econometric techniques to show that de-industrialization is indeed taking place. We also showed that domestic factors such as low inflation, high wage rates and an increasing number of firms were associated with a more dynamic manufacturing sector. However, the persistent unemployment and long recession point to the need for policies that will invigorate domestic industrial activity if Japan is to return to a strong growth path

脳卒中片麻痺患者の足関節背屈機能障害に対する視覚性運動錯覚の効果：ABABシングルケースデザイン

ABSTRACT The purpose of this study was to investigate the effect of simultaneous intervention with the kinesthetic illusion induced by visual stimulation (KiNvis) and voluntary exercise on ankle dorsiflexion dysfunction in a patient with right-sided stroke hemiparesis. Within an ABAB single-case design, we conducted two phases each lasting five days. Phase A represented the baseline during which only voluntary ankle dorsiflexion (VAD) was performed. Phase B involved simultaneous performance of VAD and KiNvis. We measured the angle of ankle joint dorsiflexion (AJD), and the 10 m maximum walking speed (10MWS). AJD and 10MWS were significantly improved in phase B.東京都立大学学位論文甲第1066号副論

Involvement of endothelins in neuroprotection of valosin-containing protein modulators against retinal ganglion cell damage

We have previously shown that Kyoto University Substances (KUSs), valosin-containing protein (VCP) modulators, suppress cell death in retinal ganglion cells of glaucoma mouse models through alterations of various genes expressions. In this study, among the genes whose expression in retinal ganglion cells was altered by KUS treatment in the N-methyl-D-aspartic acid (NMDA) injury model, we focused on two genes, endothelin-1 (Edn1) and endothelin receptor type B (Ednrb), whose expression was up-regulated by NMDA and down-regulated by KUS treatment. First, we confirmed that the expression of Edn1 and Ednrb was upregulated by NMDA and suppressed by KUS administration in mice retinae. Next, to clarify the influence of KUSs on cell viability in relation to the endothelin signaling, cell viability was examined with or without antagonists or agonists of endothelin and with or without KUS in 661W retinal cells under stress conditions. KUS showed a significant protective effect under glucose-free conditions and tunicamycin-induced stress. This protective effect was partially attenuated in the presence of an endothelin antagonist or agonist under glucose-free conditions. These results suggest that KUSs protect cells partially by suppressing the upregulated endothelin signaling under stress conditions

Application of hot spring pool training in outpatients with chronic diseases and its clinical evaluation

1996年4月より6月までの3ヵ月間に,三朝分院内の温泉プールで水泳ないし歩行訓練を受けた内科外来患者は延べ2109例(実数213例)で,外来患者総数(延べ6848例)に対する利用率は30.8%であった｡これらの対象症例について,リハビリテーション受診カードにより,性別,年令別,疾患別の検討を行った｡その結果,性別では女性が多く(72.3%),年齢別では50才以上の患者が多い(80.3%)傾向が見られた｡また,地域別検討では,鳥取県内からの患 者が多い(88.3%)傾向であった。さらに,1996年12月より1997年1月へかけて,アンケート調査を行い(集計数;64例)継続期間,利用回数,効果を感じた期間,効果のあった症状などについて疾患別に比較検討した｡その結果,慢性閉塞性肺疾患を主とした呼吸器疾患では,週に1～2回の利用回数(50.0%)で長期間(3年以上:52.9%)続けている患者が多い傾向であった｡また慢性関節リウマチ,腰痛などの慢性疼痛性疾患では,訓練期間は比較的短期間であっ たが（3年以下:52.9%),利用回数は週に3～5回(38.0%)と多い傾向が見られた。温泉プール訓練では,疾患本来の症状改善に加えて,全身状態の改善,精神的リラックス,気分転換などを感じていることが示唆された｡For three months from April to June in 1996, 2109(30.8%) of 6848 outpatients (the total number) had swimming and walking traning in a hot spring pool. Of the 213 patients (the actual number), the numbers of female patients (72.3%), of patients over the age of 50 (80.3%), and of those coming inside Tottori prefecture (88.3%) were larger in analysis by the consultation cards for rehabillitation. The results of questionnaire from the patients performed from December 1996 to January 1997 demonstrated that patients with chronic respiratory disease had pool training 1 to 2 times a week (50.0%) and for longer term (more than 3 years, 52.9%), and patients with chronic pain disease had the training 3 to 5 times a week (38.0%) and for shoter term (less than 3 years, 61.9%). It was suggested from the results that tha training in a hot spring pool improved subjective and objective symptoms of each disease, and, furthermore, brought about improvement of general condition, psychological relaxation, and a change of feeling

Oral hygiene orientation and caries experience for cerebral palsy patients using oral medication

A presença de prejuízos associados à paralisia cerebral (PC) requer muitas vezes o uso de medicamentos de uso contínuo e por longos períodos de tempo. Dentre os efeitos colaterais adversos destes medicamentos destacam-se a diminuição do fluxo salivar e aumento do risco para doença cárie. Objetivo: Verificar se os responsáveis pelos pacientes com PC receberam orientações quanto à realização da higiene bucal após a administração dos medicamentos de uso contínuo via oral e a experiência de cárie nos pacientes com PC. Método: Participaram deste estudo transversal, 205 crianças com diagnóstico médico de PC, de ambos os gêneros, com idades entre 0 a 12 anos (6,6 ± 2,9) que frequentavam um programa de prevenção em Odontologia numa instituição de referência em reabilitação em São Paulo-SP. Os dados relativos ao gênero, desordem do movimento e padrão clínico da PC foram coletados dos prontuários. Sob a forma de entrevista, os responsáveis relatavam se a criança fazia uso ou não de algum medicamento de uso contínuo, e, em caso afirmativo, qual a forma de apresentação dos mesmos; se os responsáveis haviam recebido orientação prévia sobre a importância da realização higiene bucal após a utilização dos medicamentos, quem realizava a higiene bucal da criança, e com que frequência esta era realizada. A experiência de cárie foi registrada segundo o índice de dentes cariados (C, c) perdidos (P, e) ou obturados (O, o) por dente (D, d) (CPOD). Foram constituídos dois grupos segundo o uso (grupo 1: G1) ou não (grupo 2: G2) de medicamentos sob a forma contínua. Foram usados os testes do Qui-quadrado e teste t de Student. Fixou-se o nível de significância em 5%. Resultados: Os grupos G1 (n = 110) e o G2 (n = 95) eram homogêneos quanto ao gênero (p = 0,343) e a idade (p = 0,514). Entretanto diferiram significantemente em relação ao padrão clínico, apresentando G1 porcentagens significantemente maiores de pacientes com tetraparesia (p < 0,001). Analisando apenas o G1, observou-se que os subgrupos em uso de medicamentos sob a forma solução oral (solução; n = 65) ou em uso de comprimidos (comprimido; n = 45) diferiram significantemente quanto à orientação prévia para a realização da higiene bucal (p = 0,013), apresentando o grupo solução maior porcentagem dos responsáveis orientados. Com relação à realização da higiene oral, o subgrupo solução apresentou porcentagens significantemente maiores (p = 0,044) de crianças que requeriam supervisão e realização da higiene bucal dos responsáveis quando comparado ao grupo comprimido. A comparação da experiência de cárie entre os grupos G1 e G2 mostrou que o G1 apresentou valores significantemente maiores para o valor do índice CPOD (p = 0,048), e menor número de pacientes livres de cárie (p = 0,016) quando comparado a G2. Conclusão: Embora os responsáveis pelos pacientes que recebiam medicamento sob a forma de solução oral sob a forma contínua fossem os mais orientados quanto à realização da higiene bucal após a administração dos medicamentos, estes pacientes apresentavam maior experiência de cárie.The presence of damage associated with cerebral palsy (CP) often requires the long-term continuous use of prescription drugs. Among the adverse side effects of these drugs are decreased salivary flow and increased risk for caries. Objective: To determine whether those responsible for CP patients received orientation regarding the necessity of oral hygiene after the administration of drugs of continuous oral use and the caries experience in patients with CP. Method: Participating in this study were 205 children with medical diagnosis of CP, of both genders, aged 0-12 years (6.6 ± 2.9) attending a preventive program in dentistry in a reference institution of rehabilitation in São Paulo-SP. The data regarding gender, movement disorder and clinical types of CP were collected from medical records. In an interview format, the caregivers reported whether there was use of any continuous medicine. They were asked what form it took, whether the caregivers had received prior guidance on the importance of oral hygiene after the use of medicines, who performed the oral child’s hygiene, and how often it was done. Their caries experience was recorded based on whether a given tooth was decayed (D, d) missing (M, m) or filled (F, f) (DMFT). The sample was divided into two groups according to whether they used continuous drugs (group 1: G1) or did not (group 2: G2). The Chi-square test and Student’s t test were used, with the level of significance set up at 5%. Results: G1 (n = 110) and G2 (n = 95) were similar in terms of gender (p = 0.343) and age (p = 0.514). However, they differed significantly in relation to the clinical pattern, with G1 presenting significantly higher percentages of patients with tetraparesis (p < 0.001). Considering only the G1, it was observed that the subgroup that used medicine in oral solution form (solution, n = 65) differed significantly from that using tablets (tablets, n = 45) in relation to their previous orientation for hygiene oral (p = 0.013), in that the solution subgroup had been better oriented. With regard to oral hygiene, the solution subgroup had significantly higher percentages (p = 0.044) of children requiring supervision and completion of the oral hygiene when compared to the tablet group. The comparison of caries experience between G1 and G2 showed that the G1 had significantly higher values for their DMF index (p = 0.048), and fewer caries-free patients (p = 0.016) when compared to G2. Conclusion: Although those responsible for the patients receiving medication in the form of oral solution were better oriented, these patients presented higher values of caries experience

Increase of DC-LAMP+ mature dendritic cell subsets in dermatopathic lymphadenitis of mycosis fungoides

Background: Little is known about the immunological milieu of the skin-draining lymph nodes (LNs) in mycosis fungoides (MF). Objectives: We studied dendritic cell (DC) subsets in the dermatopathic lymphadenitis of MF patients. Methods: We immunohistochemically examined DC subsets and their distribution in 16 LN samples from 14 patients with MF (N1 LN, eight patients; N2, four; and N3, four), and we compared them with non-metastatic sentinel LNs from eight patients with melanoma. Results: The number of S-100 protein+ DCs was markedly increased in the LNs from the MF patients and the major component was DC-LAMP+ mature DCs in the outer and paracortex areas, where DC-SIGN+ immature DCs were relatively decreased in proportion. In contrast, DC-SIGN+ cells were relatively increased in proportion compared to DC-LAMP+ cells in the medulla. Although no significant difference was observed in the proportions of CD1a+ or Langerin+ DCs among the N1, N2, and N3 nodes, CD163+ M2-type macrophages were increased in number in the N2 and N3 nodes. Conclusions: Our observations indicate that mature DCs accumulate in the outer and paracortex areas in dermatopathic lymphadenitis and M2-type macrophages might increase in number during disease progression

足関節の視覚性運動錯覚中に活動する脳領域

Abstract. [Purpose] This study sought to localize the brain activity prompted by visual motor illusion (VMI) of the ankle movement. [Participants and Methods] We randomly applied VMI condition to the left and right lower limbs of 13 healthy subjects. The VMI condition required watching a video to induce VMI; the recording featured an ankle dorsiflexion movement on the non-measuring side in the first-person perspective. The left and right VMI conditions were measured three sets using a rest-task-rest block design using functional near-infrared spectroscopy. Oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy - Hb) during rest and task was measured under two conditions. Oxy - Hb of the two conditions were calculated average values of three sets and compared left and right VMI condition. During the VMI condition, a visual analog scale (VAS) was evaluated the degree of kinesthetic illusion. VAS of both VMI condition was compared using t test. [Results] VAS of the left VMI condition was higher when compared with the right VMI condition. In both conditions, oxy - Hb in the premotor area was significantly increased during the VMI condition. [Conclusion] VMI of the ankle movement induces increased oxy - Hb in the premotor area of healthy subjects.東京都立大学学位論文甲第1066号副論

Enhancing effects of salicylate on tonic and phasic block of Na+ channels by class 1 antiarrhythmic agents in the ventricular myocytes and the guinea pig papillary muscle

AbstractObjective: To study the interaction between salicylate and class 1 antiarrhythmic agents. Methods: The effects of salicylate on class 1 antiarrhythmic agent-induced tonic and phasic block of the Na+ current (INa) of ventricular myocytes and the upstroke velocity of the action potential (Vmax) of papillary muscles were examined by both the patch clamp technique and conventional microelectrode techniques. Results: Salicylate enhanced quinidine-induced tonic and phasic block of INa at a holding potential of −100 mV but not at a holding potential of −140 mV; this enhancement was accompanied by a shift of the h∞ curve in the presence of quinidine in a further hyperpolarized direction, although salicylate alone did not affect INa. Salicylate enhanced the tonic and phasic block of Vmax induced by quinidine, aprindine and disopyramide but had little effect on that induced by procainamide or mexiletine; the enhancing effects were related to the liposolubility of the drugs. Conclusions: Salicylate enhanced tonic and phasic block of Na+ channels induced by class 1 highly liposoluble antiarrhythmic agents. Based on the modulated receptor hypothesis, it is probable that this enhancement was mediated by an increase in the affinity of Na+ channel blockers with high lipid solubility to the inactivated state channels