A Study on the Influence on Mental Health of Participants of the Job Creation Project for the Japanese Elderly

This research aims to analyze the effects on the Subject’s mental health of the Job Creation Project for the elderly in Japan. The subjects of this survey in 2007 were about 1500 participants in the Job Creation Project of Silver Manpower Center in Japan, 970 cases of whom were dataanalyzed.The results of this research are as follows:First, as a result of descriptive statistics of mental health, it was unders food that the average of total mental health is 2.91. As a result of verification of mental health difference, the score of mental health showed significant difference statistically according to job type or motivation of participation, and no significant difference statistically according to satisfaction with job project or duration of participation. With respect to job types, mental health is higher in desk job ormanagement/inspection or technical work than in simple work. Also among the motivations of participation mental health is highest for participation in society than for income.Second, a hierarchical multiple regression analysis was performed by including populationsociological properties variables and four subordinate variables of actual conditions of participation in the Job Creation Project for the Elderly in order to analyze the variables which influence the participant mental health. According to the result of analyzing the effects on total mental health, male gender and better physical health condition were seen to have positive effects on total mental health.It is noted that among the motivations of participation, participation in society, and satisfaction with the Job Project, had positive influence

A Study on the Korean Senior Employment Promotion Project that Influence on the Quality of Participants --Focused on gender difference--

This study analyzes the Korean senior employment promotion projects influence on the quality of elderly peoples lives. This study is focused on the gender differences, and based on their identification it provides policy implications to use for senior job creation initiatives as a way to promote improved quality of their lives.For this study, university students who were trained about interview techniques from October, 2007 to January, 2008 visited 33 organizations in each of Seoul’s administrative districts including social welfare centers, senior centers, senior employment support centers and community senior clubs. Ten to thirty older people of each organization had face-to-face interviews with the interviewers, resulting in 595 questionnaires collected. After data cleaning, a total of 574 questionnaires were used for this study.SPSS 14.0 was used to conduct data analysis, and many analysis techniques were employed for the analysis: frequency analysis, independent samples t-test, one-way ANOVA, correlation analysis, hierarchical multiple regression analysis.The study uses regression analysis to find out the influence of variables on quality of life, and found that older men felt happier when they were early on in their retirement years, healthier and they participated in the project for an extended time. On the other hand, older women said they were happier when they were healthier and their job gave them more satisfaction when their job was not for public service or human resource dispatch

Identification of HLA-A*2402-restricted HCMV immediate early-1 (IE-1) epitopes as targets for CD8+ HCMV-specific cytotoxic T lymphocytes

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>To identify novel HLA-A*2402-restricted human cytomegalovirus (HCMV) immediate early-1 (IE-1) epitopes for adoptive immunotherapy, we explored 120 overlapping 15-amino acid spanning IE-1.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>These peptides were screened by measuring the frequency of polyclonal CD8+ T cells producing intracellular interferon-γ (IFN-γ) using flow cytometry and the epitopes were validated with a HCMV-infected target Cr release cytotoxicity assay.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Initial screening was performed with 12 mini-pools of 10 consecutive peptides made from 120 overlapping peptides15-amino acids in length that spanned IE-1. When peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) from HLA-A*2402 HCMV-seropositive donors were sensitized with each of the 12 mini-pools, mini-pools 1 and 2 induced the highest frequency of CD8+ cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTLs) producing IFN-γ. When PBMCs were stimulated with each of the twenty peptides belonging to mini-pools 1 and 2, peptides IE-1_1–15MESSAKRKMDPDNPD and IE-1_5–19AKRKMDPDNPDEGPS induced the greatest quantities of IFN-γ production and cytotoxicity of HLA-matched HCMV-infected fibroblasts. To determine the exact HLA-A*2402-restricted epitopes within the two IE-1 proteins, we synthesized a total of twenty-one overlapping 9- or 10 amino acid peptides spanning IE-1_1–15and IE-1_5–19. Peptide IE-1_3–12SSAKRKMDPD induced the greatest quantities of IFN-γ production and target cell killing by CD8+ CTLs.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>HCMV IE-1_3–12SSAKRKMDPD is a HLA-A*2402-restricted HCMV IE-1 epitope that can serve as a common target for CD8+ HCMV-specific CTLs.</p

Pacemaker Lead Endocarditis Caused by Achromobacter xylosoxidans

We report the case of a 35-yr-old patient who presented with high fever and chills. He had undergone a patch closure of the ventricular septal defect 18 yr before. One year later, a VVI pacemaker was implanted via the right subclavian vein because of complete heart block. Nine years after that, a new VVI pacemaker with another right ventricular electrode was inserted controlaterally and the old pacing lead was abandoned. Trans-thoracic and trans-esophageal echocardiogram identified the pacemaker lead in the right ventricle (RV) attaching hyperechoic materials and also a fluttering round hyperechoic mass with a stalk in the RV outflow tract. Cultures in blood and pus from pacemaker lead grew Achromobacter xylosoxidans. A diagnosis of pacemaker lead endocarditis due to Achromobacter xylosoxidans was made. In this regards, the best treatment is an immediate removal of the entire pacing system and antimicrobial therapy

PDbase: a database of Parkinson's Disease-related genes and genetic variation using substantia nigra ESTs

Background: Parkinson's disease (PD) is one of the most common neurodegenerative disorders, clinically characterized by impaired motor function. Since the etiology of PD is diverse and complex, many researchers have created PD-related research resources. However, resources for brain and PD studies are still lacking. Therefore, we have constructed a database of PD-related gene and genetic variations using the substantia nigra (SN) in PD and normal tissues. In addition, we integrated PD-related information from several resources. Results: We collected the 6,130 SN expressed sequenced tags (ESTs) from brain SN normal tissues and PD patients SN tissues using full-cDNA library and normalized cDNA library construction methods from our previous study. The SN ESTs were clustered in 2,951 unigene clusters and assigned in 2,678 genes. We then found up-regulated 57 genes and down-regulated 48 genes by comparing normal and PD SN ESTs frequencies with over 0.9 cut-off probability of differential expression based on the Audic and Claverie method. In addition, we integrated disease-related information from public resources. To examine the characteristics of these PD-related genes, we analyzed alternative splicing events, single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) markers located in the gene regions, repeat elements, gene regulation elements, and pathways and protein-protein interaction networks. Conclusion: We constructed the PDbase database to capture the PD-related gene, genetic variation, and functional elements. This database contains 2,698 PD-related genes through ESTs discovered from human normal and PD patients SN tissues, and through integrating several public resources. PDbase provides the mitochondrion proteins, microRNA gene regulation elements, single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) markers within PD-related gene structures, repeat elements, and pathways and networks with protein-protein interaction information. The PDbase information can aid in understanding the causation of PD. It is available at http://bioportal.kobic.re.kr/PDbase/. Supplementary data is available at http://bioportal.kobic.re.kr/PDbase/suppl.jsp. &#169; 2009 Yang et al; licensee BioMed Central Ltdclose

Effect of chitinase- 3- like protein 1 on glucose metabolism: In vitro skeletal muscle and human genetic association study

We investigated the effect of chitinase- 3- like protein 1 (CHI3L1) on glucose metabolism and its underlying mechanisms in skeletal muscle cells, and evaluated whether the observed effects are relevant in humans. CHI3L1 was associated with increased glucose uptake in skeletal muscles in an AMP- activated protein kinase (AMPK)- dependent manner, and with increased intracellular calcium levels via PAR2. The improvement in glucose metabolism observed in an intraperitoneal glucose tolerance test on male C57BL/6J mice supported this association. Inhibition of the CaMKK was associated with suppression of CHI3L1- mediated glucose uptake. Additionally, CHI3L1 was found to influence glucose uptake through the PI3K/AKT pathway. Results suggested that CHI3L1 stimulated the phosphorylation of AS160 and p38 MAPK downstream of AMPK and AKT, and the resultant GLUT4 translocation. In primary myoblast cells, stimulation of AMPK and AKT was observed in response to CHI3L1, underscoring the biological relevance of CHI3L1. CHI3L1 levels were elevated in cells under conditions that mimic exercise in vitro and in exercised mice in vivo, indicating that CHI3L1 is secreted during muscle contraction. Finally, similar associations between CHI3L1 and metabolic parameters were observed in humans alongside genotype associations between CHI3L1 and diabetes at the population level. CHI3L1 may be a potential therapeutic target for the treatment of diabetes.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162777/2/fsb220907.pdfhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/162777/1/fsb220907_am.pd

Safety, efficacy, and response predictors of anticoagulation for the treatment of nonmalignant portal-vein thrombosis in patients with cirrhosis: a propensity score matching analysis

Background/AimsPortal-vein thrombosis (PVT) develops in 10-25% of cirrhotic patients and may aggravate portal hypertension. There are few data regarding the effects of anticoagulation on nonmalignant PVT in liver cirrhosis. The aim of this study was to elucidate the safety, efficacy, and predictors of response to anticoagulation therapy in cirrhotic patients.MethodsPatients with liver cirrhosis and nonmalignant PVT were identified by a hospital electronic medical record system (called BESTCARE). Patients with malignant PVT, Budd-Chiari syndrome, underlying primary hematologic disorders, or preexisting extrahepatic thrombosis were excluded from the analysis. Patients were divided into two groups (treatment and nontreatment), and propensity score matching analysis was performed to identify control patients. The sizes of the thrombus and spleen were evaluated using multidetector computed tomography.ResultsTwenty-eight patients were enrolled in this study between 2003 and 2014: 14 patients who received warfarin for nonmalignant PVT and 14 patients who received no anticoagulation. After 112 days of treatment, 11 patients exhibited significantly higher response rates (complete in 6 and partial in 5) compared to the control patients, with decreases in thrombus size of >30%. Compared to nonresponders, the 11 responders were older, and had a thinner spleen and fewer episodes of previous endoscopic variceal ligations, whereas pretreatment liver function and changes in prothrombin time after anticoagulation did not differ significantly between the two groups. Two patients died after warfarin therapy, but the causes of death were not related to anticoagulation.ConclusionsWarfarin can be safely administered to cirrhotic patients with nonmalignant PVT. The presence of preexisting portal hypertension is a predictor of nonresponse to anticoagulation

PCR Marker-Based Evaluation of the Eating Quality of Japonica Rice (Oryza sativa L.)

Evaluation of eating quality in early breeding generations of rice is critical to developing varieties with better palatability. This paper reports DNA markers associated with eating quality of temperate japonica rice and an evaluation method aided by multiple regression analysis. A total of 30 markers comprising STSs, SNPs, and SSRs were tested for their association with palatability using 22 temperate japonica varieties with different palatability values. Eating quality-related traits of the 22 varieties were also measured. Of the 30 markers, 18 were found to be significantly associated with palatability and, consequently, a model regression equation with an R2 value of 0.99 was formulated to estimate the palatability by the marker data set. Validation of the model equation using selected breeding lines indicated that the marker set and the equation are highly applicable to evaluation of the palatability of cooked rice in temperate japonica varieties