Impact of the Tohoku Earthquake and Tsunami on Pneumonia Hospitalisations and Mortality Among Adults in Northern Miyagi, Japan: A Multicentre Observational Study

Background On 11 March 2011, the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami struck off the coast of northeastern Japan. Within 3 weeks, an increased number of pneumonia admissions and deaths occurred in local hospitals. Methods A multicentre survey was conducted at three hospitals in Kesennuma City (population 74000), northern Miyagi Prefecture. All adults aged ≥18 years hospitalised between March 2010 and June 2011 with community-acquired pneumonia were identified using hospital databases and medical records. Segmented regression analyses were used to quantify changes in the incidence of pneumonia. Results A total of 550 pneumonia hospitalisations were identified, including 325 during the pre-disaster period and 225 cases during the post-disaster period. The majority (90%) of the post-disaster pneumonia patients were aged ≥65 years, and only eight cases (3.6%) were associated with near-drowning in the tsunami waters. The clinical pattern and causative pathogens were almost identical among the pre-disaster and post-disaster pneumonia patients. A marked increase in the incidence of pneumonia was observed during the 3-month period following the disaster; the weekly incidence rates of pneumonia hospitalisations and pneumonia-associated deaths increased by 5.7 times (95% CI 3.9 to 8.4) and 8.9 times (95% CI 4.4 to 17.8), respectively. The increases were largest among residents in nursing homes followed by those in evacuation shelters. Conclusions A substantial increase in the pneumonia burden was observed among adults after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Although the exact cause remains unresolved, multiple factors including population aging and stressful living conditions likely contributed to this pneumonia outbreak

DNA Methylation of Colon Mucosa in Ulcerative Colitis Patients: Correlation with Inflammatory Status

Background: Although DNA methylation of colonic mucosa in ulcerative colitis (UC) has been suggested, the majority of published reports indicate the correlation between methylation of colon mucosa and occurrence of UC-related dysplasia or cancer without considering the mucosal inflammatory status. The aim of this study was to verify whether mucosal inflammation-specific DNA methylation occurs in the colon of UC. Methods: Of 15 gene loci initially screened, six loci (ABCB1, CDH1. ESR1, GDNF, HPP1, and MYOD1) methylated in colon mucosa of UC were analyzed according to inflammatory status using samples from 28 surgically resected UC patients. Results: Four of six regions (CDH1, GDNF, HPP1, and MYOD1) were more highly methylated in the active inflamed mucosa than in the quiescent mucosa in each UC patient (P = 0.003, 0.0002, 0.02, and 0.048, respectively). In addition, when the methylation status of all samples taken from examined patients was stratified according to inflammatory status, methylation of CDHI and GDNF loci was significantly higher in active inflamed mucosa than in quiescent mucosa (P = 0.045 and 0.002, respectively). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that active inflammation was an independent factor of methylation for CDHI and GDNF. DNA methyltransferase 1 and 3b were highly expressed in colon epithelial cells with active mucosa] inflammation, suggesting their involvement in inflammation-dependent methylation. Conclusions: Methylation in colonic mucosa of UC was correlated with mucosal inflammatory status, suggesting the involvement of methylation due to chronic active inflammation in UC carcinogenesis

〔資 料〕アメリカ初等教育演習(春季ボストン教育研修)の紹介とポートフォリオ調査による分析

Abstract The Boston Spring Educational Program was implemented by the Department of Elementary Education at Showa Women\u27s University as the main part of its American Elementary Education Seminar in 2009. The program provides students with experience and education beginning with pre-training in Tokyo, Japan followed by practice-training in Boston, USA. In the pre-training, students learn basic classroom English, how to make self-introductions, and English activities that can be used with children. In addition, they have opportunities to visit and practice at the British School in Tokyo. In the practice-training, the students observe classes, assist teachers and children, and engage in activities using English to the full extent of their abilities. The results of a quantitative questionnaire survey in the first year, and qualitative portfolio research in the second year reveal the educational and cultural significance of the program. They showed that students were highly motivated and ready to communicate with and teach foreign children as a part of their pre-training. The practice-training allowed them to experience teaching American children. Their positive feedback about the activities in which they participated indicate that their confidence in their own ability increased. The program triggered in students new perspectives which they can use as a foundation for their own educational philosophy

Impact of the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami on pneumonia hospitalisations and mortality among adults in northern Miyagi, Japan: a multicentre observational study

Background: On 11 March 2011, the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami struck off the coast of northeastern Japan. Within 3 weeks, an increased number of pneumonia admissions and deaths occurred in local hospitals. Methods: A multicentre survey was conducted at three hospitals in Kesennuma City (population 74 000), northern Miyagi Prefecture. All adults aged ≥18 years hospitalised between March 2010 and June 2011 with community-acquired pneumonia were identified using hospital databases and medical records. Segmented regression analyses were used to quantify changes in the incidence of pneumonia. Results: A total of 550 pneumonia hospitalisations were identified, including 325 during the pre-disaster period and 225 cases during the post-disaster period. The majority (90%) of the post-disaster pneumonia patients were aged ≥65 years, and only eight cases (3.6%) were associated with near-drowning in the tsunami waters. The clinical pattern and causative pathogens were almost identical among the pre-disaster and post-disaster pneumonia patients. A marked increase in the incidence of pneumonia was observed during the 3-month period following the disaster; the weekly incidence rates of pneumonia hospitalisations and pneumonia-associated deaths increased by 5.7 times (95% CI 3.9 to 8.4) and 8.9 times (95% CI 4.4 to 17.8), respectively. The increases were largest among residents in nursing homes followed by those in evacuation shelters. Conclusions: A substantial increase in the pneumonia burden was observed among adults after the Tohoku earthquake and tsunami. Although the exact cause remains unresolved, multiple factors including population aging and stressful living conditions likely contributed to this pneumonia outbreak

Copper ore density separations by float/sink in a dry sand fluidised bed dense medium

C1 - Journal Articles Referee