Role of 1,4-dimethylpiperazine in radical cyclizations

金沢大学医薬保健研究域薬学系Radical cyclization of o-ethenyltrichloroacetanilides in boiling 1,4-dimethylpiperazine was examined with a comparison of the mode of radical cyclizations under a Bu3SnH-mediated condition. It was found that an attack of a hydrogen atom on the cyclized radical intermediates occurred more rapidly in 1,4-dimethylpiperazine than under the Bu3SnH-mediated condition. This phenomenon was also observed in similar reactions of N- ethenyltrichloroacetamide. ©ARKAT USA, Inc

Multilevel–Multigroup Analysis Using a Hierarchical Tensor SOM Network

This paper describes a method of multilevel–multigroup analysis based on a nonlinear multiway dimensionality reduction. To analyze a set of groups in terms of the probabilistic distribution of their constituent member data, the proposed method uses a hierarchical pair of tensor self-organizing maps (TSOMs), one for the member analysis and the other for the group analysis. This architecture enables more flexible analysis than ordinary parametric multilevel analysis, as it retains a high level of translatability supported by strong visualization. Furthermore, this architecture provides a consistent and seamless computation method for multilevel–multigroup analysis by integrating two different levels into a hierarchical tensor SOM network. The proposed method is applied to a dataset of football teams in a university league, and successfully visualizes the types of players that constitute each team as well as the differences or similarities between the teams.23rd International Conference on Neural Information Processing, ICONIP 2016, October 16–21, 2016, Kyoto, Japa

Rapid Formation of Cerebral Microbleeds after Carotid Artery Stenting

Background: Recent studies reported that cerebral microbleeds (CMBs), i.e. small areas of signal loss on T2*-weighted gradient-echo (GE) imaging, could develop rapidly after acute ischemic stroke. We hypothesized that CMBs rapidly emerge after carotid artery stenting (CAS). Objective: We investigated the frequency of and predisposing factors for CMBs after CAS. Methods: We retrospectively examined MRI before and after CAS in 88 consecutive patients (average age: 71.7 ± 7.2 years, average rates of carotid stenosis: 72.6 ± 12.8%) who underwent CAS for carotid artery stenosis between March 1, 2009, and September 30, 2010. We defined new CMBs as signal losses that newly appeared on the follow-up GE. We examined the association of new CMBs with demographics, risk factors, and baseline MBs. Results: Among 88 patients, 18 (20.5%) had CMBs initially, and 7 (8.0%) developed new CMBs right after CAS. New CMBs appeared on the same side of CAS in all of the 7 patients. New CMBs appeared significantly more frequently in the CMB-positive group than in the CMB-negative one (22% vs. 4%, p = 0.03) on the pre-CAS MRI. Multivariate analysis also revealed that the presence of CMBs before CAS was an independent predictor of new development of CMBs after CAS (odds ratio: 8.09, 95% confidence interval: 1.39–47.1). Conclusion: CMBs can develop rapidly after CAS, especially in patients with pre-existing CMBs. Since the existence of CMBs prior to CAS suggests a latent vascular damage which is vulnerable to hemodynamic stress following CAS, particular attention should be paid to the prevention of intracerebral hemorrhage due to hyperperfusion after CAS

The bifurcation angle is associated with the progression of saccular aneurysms

The role of the bifurcation angle in progression of saccular intracranial aneurysms (sIAs) has been undetermined. We, therefore, assessed the association of bifurcation angles with aneurysm progression using a bifurcation-type aneurysm model in rats and anterior communicating artery aneurysms in a multicenter case-control study. Aneurysm progression was defined as growth by ≥ 1 mm or rupture during observation, and controls as progression-free for 30 days in rats and ≥ 36 months in humans. In the rat model, baseline bifurcation angles were significantly wider in progressive aneurysms than in stable ones. In the case-control study, 27 and 65 patients were enrolled in the progression and control groups. Inter-observer agreement for the presence or absence of the growth was excellent (κ coefficient, 0.82; 95% CI, 0.61-1.0). Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that wider baseline bifurcation angles were significantly associated with subsequent progressions. The odds ratio for the progression of the second (145°-179°) or third (180°-274°) tertiles compared to the first tertile (46°-143°) were 5.5 (95% CI, 1.3-35). Besides, the bifurcation angle was positively correlated with the size of aneurysms (Spearman's rho, 0.39; P = 0.00014). The present study suggests the usefulness of the bifurcation angle for predicting the progression of sIAs

Association of Habitual Physical Activity Measured by an Accelerometer with High-Density Lipoprotein Cholesterol Levels in Maintenance Hemodialysis Patients

After confirming the relationship between high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) levels and mortality in hemodialysis patients for study 1, we investigated the effect of physical activity on their HDL-C levels for study 2. In study 1, 266 hemodialysis patients were monitored prospectively for five years, and Cox proportional hazard regression confirmed the contribution of HDL-C to mortality. In study 2, 116 patients were recruited after excluding those with severe comorbidities or requiring assistance from another person to walk. Baseline characteristics, such as demographic factors, physical constitution, primary kidney disease, comorbid conditions, smoking habits, drug use, and laboratory parameters, were collected from patient hospital records. An accelerometer measured physical activity as the number of steps per day over five consecutive days, and multiple regression evaluated the association between physical activity and HDL-C levels. Seventy-seven patients died during the follow-up period. In study 1, we confirmed that HDL-C level was a significant predictor of mortality (P=0.03). After adjusting for patient characteristics in study 2, physical activity was independently associated with HDL-C levels (adjusted R2=0.255; P=0.005). In conclusion, physical inactivity was strongly associated with decreased HDL-C levels in hemodialysis patients

Designing the Relational Database System on Local Politics

　地方議会は，民主主義において重要な役割を担う存在である．しかしながら，日本の地方議会は，多くの市民から信頼されず，その役割を十分に果たしていないと考えられている．ところが，「地方議会が十分に役割を果たしていない」と主張するための定量的な根拠は，ほとんど示されていない．その原因の一つは，地方議会に関する膨大な資料から，適切なデータを取得するのが困難なことにある．そこで我々は，会議の開催状況や議案の審議過程，各議員の属性・発言内容・議案への賛否態度などを，定量データとして格納した地方議会データベースを開発した．本論文では，会議録や広報紙などから，どのようにデータテーブルを作成したかを説明するとともに，データベースを活用してどのような分析が可能になるかを紹介していく．Although the local assembly is one of the key organizations supporting the democratic system, many Japanese recognize that the local assemblies do not perform their expected roles. However, there is no quantitative evidence for this inadequate performance due to the difficulties in collecting quantitative data about the local assemblies. In this study, we explain the database system that we developed regarding local assemblies and present the data files for use in quantitative analysis

リョウヨウガタ ビョウトウ ニ ニュウインチュウ ノ コウレイシャ ノ ウンドウ キノウ セイシン キノウ ニ カンスル チョウサ

本研究では, 本院の療養病床に入院中である維持期の後期高齢者に対する運動機能・精神機能に関する調査を行った. 対象は本研究への協力に同意を得ることができた脳血管疾患・整形外科疾患の患者14名(男性2名, 女性12名, 平均年齢79.6±9.3歳)である. 評価は2007年3月から8月の6ヶ月間, 運動機能測定を月に1回, 精神機能測定とADLテストを2ヶ月に1回行った. 結果は4月と8月の10m歩行器歩行速度において有意な差がみられた. また, 8月の10m歩行器歩行速度と8月の自己効力感尺度には相関がみられた. 今回の調査結果から, 本院のような理学療法の対象が維持期の後期高齢者でも, 現在の運動機能の維持・改善また精神機能を維持する目的と廃用症候群の予防視点でも理学療法継続の必要性があると考えられたIn this research we examined motor and mental functions of post-septuagenarians (to be exact, the 75-plus age group) hospitalized in our extended care unit (convalescent ward). The subjects are 14 patients (2 men and 12 women) who are with cerebrovascular disease or under orthopedic treatment and agreed to take part in this research, and their age range is 79.6 (average) ±9.3. Their motor functions were tested once a month and mental functions and ADL tests were conducted every two months for six months from March to August 2007. Their 10-meter walking speed test with a walker showed significant difference between the result of April and that of August (p<0.05). Moreover, in August, there was a correlation between their 10-meter walking speed with a walker and their self-efficacy scores. This research indicates that physical therapy is effective in maintenance and improvement of motor functions as well as maintenance of mental functions and ADL of post-septuagenarians hospitalized in an extended care unit (a convalescent ward). Therefore, it is suggested that physical therapy should be continuously performed on these patients not only to maintain or improve motor and mental functions but also to prevent disuse syndrome

アオバオカビョウイン ニオケル カイゴ ヨボウ キョウシツ ノ ジッセンホウコク 4ネンカン ノ アンケート チョウサケッカ ト アタラシイ カイゴ ヨボウ キョウシツ ノ ココロミ

本院では, 地域住民の介護予防の取り組みとして医師, ケースワーカー, 理学療法士が中心となって介護予防教室を2006年より開始した. 本調査の目的は, 事業内容が参加者のニーズに沿っているかを調査し, 今後の介護予防教室の内容や, 地域医療のあり方を検討することである. 調査対象は, 全22回(2006年から2009年実施)の大阪府南河内の地域住民681名(有効回答者数597名)である. 2006年から始めた介護予防教室は一定の成果を上げながら, 2008年より, 一方向的な形式から, Elderly Status Assessment Set(以下, E-SAS)を用いた双方向的な形式に変えたことで, 参加者の満足度も高くなった. そして, 特に個別の健康指導のニーズが高いことがわかった. 今後も引き続き, 参加者の個別性をできるだけ重視した介護予防教室を展開し, さらに, 本院のこの事業が, 高齢者の健康づくりや地域活動への参加を拡大させる, 地域ネットワークの中核になれるよう, 発展させていきたいと考える.Our hospital has started preventive long-term care class since 2006. The purpose of this survey is to research if the services of our hospital are meeting demands of participants and to consider how we should operate the preventive long-term care class in the future and be engaged in community healthcare. 681 local residents in Minamikawachi District, Osaka (valid response : 597) were surveyed for 22 times in total (since 2006 to 2009). The preventive long-term care class which started since 2006 had achieved certain results, and since 2008 it changed the unilateral style into an interactive one using Elderly Status Assessment Set (E-SAS) to increase satisfaction level of participants. It also revealed particularly high demands of individual health consultation. We are going to continue operating the preventive long-term care class placing as much importance as possible on individualities of participants, and develop this service in our hospital into a central core of the local network which assists health promotion of elderly people and their participation in community activities

Sixty-year post-windthrow study of stand dynamics in two natural forests differing in pre-disturbance composition

We examined the dynamics of stand structure and composition over 60 years in two natural secondary forest plots in central Hokkaido, Japan, that had been severely disturbed by a stand-replacing windthrow in 1954. We determined temporal trends in tree density, species richness, species diversity, successional composition, and stand developmental stage. One of the plots contained a coniferous stand prior to the disturbance; the second plot contained a mixed stand. Tree density and species richness increased after the windthrow, and peaked in both stands in 1991, 37 years after the windthrow. Based on the dynamics of tree density and species richness, the stand development phase of both plots remained within the stand initiation stage until 1991, and then progressed to the stem exclusion stage by 2014, 60 years after the windthrow. Based on patterns of increasing tree density by species in both plots, vegetative regeneration was presumed to have contributed abundantly to the recovery of the stand after the windthrow. Species diversity increased after the windthrow as species richness increased in both stands; diversities peaked 23 or 32 years after the windthrow and declined slightly thereafter. Although the successional composition of the pre-disturbance coniferous stand regressed to an early stage under the influence of the windthrow, the relative importance of late-successional species approached the pre-disturbance value as the plot recovered. In contrast, the successional composition of the mixed conifer/hardwood plot was unaffected by the windthrow, but gradually changed to an early stage over several decades following the windthrow. The difference in successional composition between plots was likely a result of differences in pre-disturbance stand conditions between stands. Our 60-year permanent plot study determined stand and population dynamics, the duration of the stand initiation stage, and the interrelationships between diversity and species richness. Long-term permanent plot studies contribute crucial data for the interpretation of forest dynamics following disturbance