高齢者における日中光曝露が夜間尿中メラトニン分泌への与える影響 : 平城京スタディ横断解析

CONTEXT:Melatonin is involved in a variety of diseases, including cancer, insomnia, depression, dementia, hypertension, and diabetes; its secretion is influenced by environmental light. Although daylight exposure increases nocturnal melatonin secretion in a controlled laboratory setting, whether it increases nocturnal melatonin secretion in an uncontrolled daily life setting remains unclear.OBJECTIVE:We aimed to determine the association between daylight exposure in an uncontrolled daily life setting and urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion.DESIGN AND PARTICIPANTS:A cross-sectional study was conducted in 192 elderly individuals (mean age, 69.9 yr).MEASURES:We measured ambulatory daylight exposure using a wrist light meter in two 48-h sessions; furthermore, we measured overnight urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion, an index of melatonin secretion, on the second night of each session.RESULTS:The median duration of daylight exposure of at least 1000 lux was 72 min (interquartile range, 37-124). Univariate linear regression analysis showed marginal to significant associations between log-transformed urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion and age, current smoking status, benzodiazepine use, day length, log-transformed duration of daylight exposure of at least 1000 lux, and daytime physical activity. In a multivariate model, log-transformed duration of daylight exposure of at least 1000 lux was significantly associated with log-transformed urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion (regression coefficient, 0.101; 95% confidence interval, 0.003-0.199; P = 0.043). Furthermore, an increase in the duration of daylight exposure of at least 1000 lux from 37 to 124 min (25th to 75th percentiles) was associated with a 13.0% increase in urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion (6.8 to 7.7 μg).CONCLUSIONS:Daylight exposure in an uncontrolled daily life setting is positively associated with urinary 6-sulfatoxymelatonin excretion in the elderly.博士（医学）・乙第1308号・平成25年3月15日Copyright © 2012 by The Endocrine Societ

Relationship of tooth loss to mild memory impairment and cognitive impairment: findings from the fujiwara-kyo study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>This cross-sectional study investigated the relationship between the number of remaining teeth to mild memory impairment (MMI), which is a preclinical stage of dementia, and to cognitive impairment.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The subjects were aged 65 years or older and were grouped according to their score for the Mini-Mental State Examination (MMSE), the three-word delayed recall test in the MMSE, and the Geriatric Depression Scale into the control group (n = 3,696), the MMI group (n = 121), and the low MMSE score (23 or lower) group (n = 214). We collected data on the number of remaining teeth, the length of the edentulous period, health-related lifestyle, medical history, blood pressure, height, and body weight. Fasting venous blood samples were also obtained.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Multiple logistic regression analysis, adjusted for depressive symptoms, age, sex, length of education, and other explanatory variables, revealed that the odds ratios of 0-10 remaining teeth to 22-32 remaining teeth were 1.679 (95% CI 1.073-2.627) for MMI and 2.177 (95% CI 1.510-3.140) for a low MMSE score. A significant relationship was also found between the length of the edentulous period and the risk of a low MMSE score (odds ratio 3.102, 95% CI 1.432-6.720) (15 years or more/less than 15 years).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings suggest that tooth loss is associated with cognitive function.</p

The C-Terminal Fragment of Prostate-Specific Antigen, a 2331 Da Peptide, as a New Urinary Pathognomonic Biomarker Candidate for Diagnosing Prostate Cancer

Background and Objectives: Prostate cancer (PCa) is one of the most common cancers and leading cause of cancer-related deaths in men. Mass screening has been carried out since the 1990s using prostate-specific antigen (PSA) levels in the serum as a PCa biomarker. However, although PSA is an excellent organ-specific marker, it is not a cancer-specific marker. Therefore, the aim of this study was to discover new biomarkers for the diagnosis of PCa. Materials and Methods: We focused on urine samples voided following prostate massage (digital rectal examination [DRE]) and conducted a peptidomic analysis of these samples using matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization time-of-flight mass spectrometry (MALDI-TOF/MS_n). Urinary biomaterials were concentrated and desalted using CM-Sepharose prior to the following analyses being performed by MALDI-TOF/MS_n: 1) differential analyses of mass spectra; 2) determination of amino acid sequences; and 3) quantitative analyses using a stable isotope-labeled internal standard. Results: Multivariate analysis of the MALDI-TOF/MS mass spectra of urinary extracts revealed a 2331 Da peptide in urine samples following DRE. This peptide was identified as a C-terminal PSA fragment composed of 19 amino acid residues. Moreover, quantitative analysis of the relationship between isotope-labeled synthetic and intact peptides using MALDI-TOF/MS revealed that this peptide may be a new pathognomonic biomarker candidate that can differentiate PCa patients from non-cancer subjects. Conclusion: The results of the present study indicate that the 2331 Da peptide fragment of PSA may become a new pathognomonic biomarker for the diagnosis of PCa. A further large-scale investigation is currently underway to assess the possibility of using this peptide in the early detection of PCa

アタラシイ ニホンゴ ノウリョク シケン ノ タメノ ゴイ ヒョウ サクセイ ニ ムケテ

日本語能力試験の実施機関である国際交流基金と日本国際教育支援協会は「日本語能力試験の改善に関する検討会」を2005年に発足させたが、2009年からの新試験開始を目指して各分科会は日々調査研究を重ねている。本稿は、分科会の一つである出題基準分科会漢字表・語彙表部会が行っている語彙表作成作業の2007年9月現在の中間報告である。 部会の活動は、この2年間で4つの段階を経た。作成方針と選別方針を決定し、データベースに関する調査および整備をする第一段階、語彙の選別をする第二段階、語彙の再選別及び記述方法の検討をする第三段階、語彙の再選別と初出級の検討をする第四段階である。実際にどのようなデータベースを使い、どのような検討を重ね、どのような選別作業をしたのか。本稿ではそれぞれの段階ごとに具体的な例を挙げながら報告をする。また、それとともに今後考えていかなければならない課題についても言及する。The Japan Foundation and Japan Educational Exchanges and Services inaugurated an "Examination Committee on Improving Japanese Language Proficiency Test" in 2005, and have been conducting research on the New Test to be incorporated in 2009. There are various revisions to be made. This is an interim report as of September 2007, on the working of vocabulary list which has been made by the kanji and vocabulary list subdivision of the Test Content Specifications division. The activities of the subdivision have been divided into four stages during these two years. The first stage is for decisions on the policy for composition and selection, and research on the database. The second stage is for the selection of vocabulary. The third stage is for discussion on the re-selection and description of vocabulary. The forth stage is for re-selection of vocabulary and for each level to be decided

Endothelial Dysfunction, Increased Arterial Stiffness, and Cardiovascular Risk Prediction in Patients With Coronary Artery Disease: FMD‐J (Flow‐Mediated Dilation Japan) Study A

BackgroundThe usefulness of vascular function tests for management of patients with a history of coronary artery disease is not fully known.Methods and ResultsWe measured flow‐mediated vasodilation (FMD) and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in 462 patients with coronary artery disease for assessment of the predictive value of FMD and baPWV for future cardiovascular events in a prospective multicenter observational study. The first primary outcome was coronary events, and the second primary outcome was a composite of coronary events, stroke, heart failure, and sudden death. During a median follow‐up period of 49.2 months, the first primary outcome occurred in 56 patients and the second primary outcome occurred in 66 patients. FMD above the cutoff value of 7.1%, derived from receiver‐operator curve analyses for the first and second primary outcomes, was significantly associated with lower risk of the first (hazard ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.74; P=0.008) and second (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.79; P=0.01) primary outcomes. baPWV above the cutoff value of 1731 cm/s was significantly associated with higher risk of the first (hazard ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–3.44; P=0.04) and second (hazard ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–3.90; P=0.008) primary outcomes. Among 4 groups stratified according to the combination of cutoff values of FMD and baPWV, stepwise increases in the calculated risk ratio for the first and second primary outcomes were observed.ConclusionsIn patients with coronary artery disease, both FMD and baPWV were significant predictors of cardiovascular events. The combination of FMD and baPWV provided further cardiovascular risk stratification

FMD, PWV, and Cardiovascular Events

Background The usefulness of vascular function tests for management of patients with a history of coronary artery disease is not fully known. Methods and Results We measured flow‐mediated vasodilation (FMD) and brachial–ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in 462 patients with coronary artery disease for assessment of the predictive value of FMD and baPWV for future cardiovascular events in a prospective multicenter observational study. The first primary outcome was coronary events, and the second primary outcome was a composite of coronary events, stroke, heart failure, and sudden death. During a median follow‐up period of 49.2 months, the first primary outcome occurred in 56 patients and the second primary outcome occurred in 66 patients. FMD above the cutoff value of 7.1%, derived from receiver‐operator curve analyses for the first and second primary outcomes, was significantly associated with lower risk of the first (hazard ratio, 0.27; 95% confidence interval, 0.06–0.74; P=0.008) and second (hazard ratio, 0.32; 95% confidence interval, 0.09–0.79; P=0.01) primary outcomes. baPWV above the cutoff value of 1731 cm/s was significantly associated with higher risk of the first (hazard ratio, 1.86; 95% confidence interval, 1.01–3.44; P=0.04) and second (hazard ratio, 2.19; 95% confidence interval, 1.23–3.90; P=0.008) primary outcomes. Among 4 groups stratified according to the combination of cutoff values of FMD and baPWV, stepwise increases in the calculated risk ratio for the first and second primary outcomes were observed. Conclusions In patients with coronary artery disease, both FMD and baPWV were significant predictors of cardiovascular events. The combination of FMD and baPWV provided further cardiovascular risk stratification

The Racial and Ethnic Identity Formation Process of Second- Generation Asian Indian Americans: A Phenomenological Study

This phenomenological study elucidates the identity development processes of 12 secondgeneration adult Asian Indian Americans. The results identify salient sociocultural factors and multidimensional processes of racial and ethnic identity development. Discrimination, parental, and community factors seemed to play a salient role in influencing participants’ racial and ethnic identity development. The emergent Asian Indian American racial and ethnic identity model provides a contextualized overview of key developmental periods and turning points within the process of identity development

3D graph structure extraction of the gallery regions for X-ray CT images of wooden statues of buddha

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