Brief Questioning by Nursing Staffs before Endoscopic Examination May Not Always Pick Up Clinical Symptoms of Endoscopic Reflux Esophagitis

The clinical features of patients reflux esophagitis without any symptoms have not been clearly demonstrated. This study evaluated the clinical features of patients with endoscopy-positive reflux esophagitis, who did not complain of symptoms, as detected by brief questioning by nursing staffs. Eight thousand and thirty-one patients not taking medication for gastrointestinal disease, were briefly asked about the presence of heartburn, dysphagia, odynophagia and acid regurgitation by nursing staffs before endoscopy for assessment of esophagitis utilizing the Los Angeles Classification. Endoscopically, 1199 (14.9%) patients were classified as positive for reflux esophagitis. The endoscope positive subjects who complain heartburn were 539/1199 (45.0%).The endoscope positive subjects who do not complain symptoms were 465 in 1199 positive reflux esophagitis (38.8%). We compared endoscopic positive subjects without any complain by brief question by nursing staffs to endoscopic positive subjects with heartburn. Male gender, no obesity, absence of hiatus hernia, and low-grade esophagitis were associated with endoscopy-positive patients who do not complain of symptoms. The results of this study indicated correct detection of clinical symptoms of reflux esophagitis might be not easy with brief questioning by nursing staffs before endoscopic examination

Novel protein extraction approach using micro-sized chamber for evaluation of proteins eluted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded tissue sections

We describe a novel antigen-retrieval method using a micro-sized chamber for mass spectrometry (MS) analysis to identify proteins that are preferentially eluted from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded (FFPE) samples. This approach revealed that heat-induced antigen retrieval (HIAR) from an FFPE sample fixed on a glass slide not only improves protein identification, but also facilitates preferential elution of protein subsets corresponding to the properties of antigen-retrieval buffers. Our approach may contribute to an understanding of the mechanism of HIAR

モノクローナル抗体を用いた殺菌剤クロロタロニルに対する酵素免疫測定法の開発

Chlorothalonil (tetrachloroisophthalonitrile) is a compound which has been widely used as germicide. A competitive enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) was developed for the detection of residual chlorothalonil in crops. Three monoclonal antibodies, mAbs 12E, 9A, and 11D were generated against bovine serum albumin-comjugated pentachlorophenol as a homologue of chlorothalonil. By using these mAbs, a direct competitive ELISA has been done. Detectable range of chlorothalonil in the ELISA was 1-3ng/ml for mAb 12E and 0.3-3ng/ml for both mAbs 11D and 9A. MAb 9A reacted with chlorothalonil 3 times stronger than another structurally related germicide fthalide, while mAb 11D reacted with fthalide 5 times stronger than chlorothalonil. The proposed ELISA with mAb 9A would be useful for convenient monitoring of residual chlorothalonil in crops

Lipopolysaccharide induces bacterial autophagy in epithelial keratinocytes of the gingival sulcus.

BACKGROUND:Interactions of resident bacteria and/or their producing lipopolysaccharide (LPS) with sulcular epithelial keratinocytes may be regulated by autophagy in the gingival sulcus. In this study, we investigated an induction of bacterial autophagy in exfoliative sulcular keratinocytes of the gingival sulcus and cultured keratinocytes treated with Porphyromonas gingivalis-originated LPS (PgLPS).RESULTS:Exfoliative sulcular keratinocytes showed an induction of autophagy, in addition to increased expression of LPS-mediated factors including lipopolysaccharide-binding protein and toll-like receptors (TLRs), leading to co-localization of bacteria with autophagosomes. In contrast, exfoliative keratinocytes from the free gingiva did not show similar autophagy. Autophagy activity in human cultured keratinocyte cells (HaCaT) was induced by PgLPS, which was dependent partially on the AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) pathway via increased intracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) and was in association with an activation of TLR4 signaling. After incubation of cultured keratinocytes with E.coli BioParticles following PgLPS stimulation, co-localization of bioparticles with autophagosomes was enhanced. Conversely, blockage of autophagy with 3-methyladenin and LPS-binding with polymyxin B led to significant reduction of co-localization of particles with autophagosomes.CONCLUSION:These findings indicate that PgLPS-induced autophagy is at least partially responsible for interaction between bacteria and sulcular keratinocytes in the gingival sulcus.福岡歯科大学2018年

Oxidative Stress-induced Interaction between Autophagy and Cellular Senescence in Human Keratinocytes

福岡歯科大学2017年

Assessment of combined exposure to intermediate-frequency electromagnetic fields and pulsed electromagnetic fields among library workers in Japan

ObjectiveTo assess exposure levels to electromagnetic fields (EMFs) among library workers in Japan, focusing on co-exposure to intermediate-frequency EMF (IF-EMF) and pulsed EMF, to propose a new epidemiological research methodology.MethodsThe evaluated exposure sources were an electromagnetic type-electronic article surveillance gate (EM-EAS, IF-EMF (operating frequency 220 Hz-14 kHz)) and an activator/deactivator of anti-theft tags termed as “book check unit” (BCU, pulsed EMF). Short-term exposures were: (E1) whole-body exposure from the EAS gate when sitting within 3 m; (E2) local exposure to transient IF-EMF while passing through or beside the EAS gate; and (E3) local exposure to a pulsed magnetic field on BCU use. E1–E3 were evaluated based on exposure levels relative to magnetic flux density at the occupational reference level (RL; E1) or as per occupational basic restrictions (BR; E2 and E3) delineated by the International Commission on Non-Ionizing Radiation Protection (ICNIRP) 2010 guidelines. Exposure indices based on mid-term exposure (D1–D3), assuming exposure according to employment on a weekly basis, were used to assess exposure in actual working conditions. D1 represents continuous exposure from an EAS gate when sitting within 3 m of the gate. D2 and D3 represent repeated transient exposures occurring during gate pass or on the operation of a BCU. A link to a web-based questionnaire was distributed to librarians working at all libraries where the authors had mailed institutional questionnaires (4,073 libraries). Four exposure patterns were defined according to various exposure scenarios.ResultsWe obtained information on exposure parameters and working conditions from the 548 completed questionnaires. The ICNIRP guideline levels were not exceeded in any of the E1–E3 scenarios. Median of the D1 (% ICNIRP RL × hour/week) was 1, and >85% respondents had values <10. However, the maximum value was 513. Altogether, these results indicate that continuous exposure was low in most cases. The same tendency was observed regarding repeated transient exposure from EM-EAS gates (i.e., the median value for D2 (% ICNIRP BR × gate pass) was 5). However, there were several cases in which D1 and D2 values were >10 times the median. The median of D3 (% ICNIRP BR × BCU operation) was 10, and most respondents' D3 values were greater than their D2 values, although the derived results depended on the assumptions made for the estimation.ConclusionWe conducted an assessment of combined exposures to IF-EMF and pulsed EMF among library workers in Japan by evaluating both short-term exposures (E1–E3) and exposure indices based on mid-term exposures (D1–D3) assuming actual working conditions per questionnaire results. These results provide useful information for future epidemiological studies

道路ネットワークの接続性強化に向けた防災拠点の重要度ランクの推定

金沢大学理工研究域地球社会基盤学系As ‘network reliability’, road networks are required to connect important bases even in large-scale disasters for life-saving and quick recovery. Many studies proposed the methodologies for evaluating the network reliability, however only a few studies answered “Which base should be used for evaluation as important one?” In this paper, the problems of the current disaster prevention base are organized, and the priority ranks of disaster prevention base are estimated. At first, from the viewpoint of road network reliability, the current state of disaster prevention base designation in the regional disaster prevention plan across the country was arranged. As a results, we presented that there is no criterion for disaster prevention bases designation and the type of designated bases are different between prefectures. Based on that, we estimated the simple priority ranks of disaster prevention bases which stably obtained with many areas / assumptions. By clarifying this estimated ranks as the national unity standard, we will be able to improve the network reliability efficiently.防災拠点は，被害の拡大阻止と生活機能の迅速な復旧のために，災害時においても拠点間をつなぐ連絡・輸送体制が確保されていることが求められる．本研究では，まず，道路ネットワークの耐災害機能強化の視点から，全国各地の地域防災計画における防災拠点指定の現状を整理した．その結果，防災拠点の種類や機能についての全国統一の基準はなく，都道府県ごとに指定の状況が大きく異なり，広域で拠点間の接続性強化を検討することがそもそも困難であることが分かった．その課題を踏まえて，アンケート調査結果から多くの地域・想定で安定的に得られる防災拠点の接続優先度（重要度）ランクを推定した．この重要度ランクに基づいて，道路リンクの耐災害能力強化の優先順位を策定することで，より効率的に防災拠点間の接続性強化を進めることが可能となる

ジドウヨウ ノ シヒツバン セルフ エスティーム センザイ レンゴウ テスト : ジッシ ノ テジュン ト サイテン ホウホウ ノ ショウサイ ノ ショウカイ ソシテ カダイ ジュンジョ カウンター バランス ノ サクジョ カノウセイ ノ ケントウ

本研究は，自律的セルフ・エスティームを測定するための児童用紙筆版セルフ・エスティーム潜在連合テスト（SE-IAT-C）の実施の手順および採点方法の詳細を紹介するとともに，学校現場での簡便な使用のためにSE-IAT-Cの組み合わせ課題のカウンターバランスの必要性について検討した。調査は小学生581名（男児281名，女児300名）と担任教員10名に行った。その結果，妥当性はカウンターバランスの有無にかかわらず，横嶋ら（2017）と同様の結果が確認された。信頼性は自分と快刺激の組み合わせ課題で始まるパターンよりも，自分と不快刺激の組み合わせ課題で始まるパターンの方が比較的に安定していた。学校教育の場等でSE-IAT-Cを実施する場合は，冊子作成や採点の時間的コストを削減するために，上記の構成でカウンターバランスを取らずに実施することが可能であると考えられた。The present paper aimed to depict the implementation procedure and scoring method of the Paper and Pencil Version of Self-Esteem Implicit Association Test for Children (SE-IAT-C) , along with an examination of the possibility for omitting the counterbalance in the task orders for simple implementation at schools. The SE-IAT-C is a measure to autonomous self-esteem. Participants were 581 children (281 males and 300 females) and 10 home room teachers in two public elementary schools. Results revealed the same level of validity as Yokoshima et al. (2017) no matter whether the counterbalance. The reliability was relatively more stable when the task is started from the self and unpleasant task compared with the self and pleasant task. Therefore, the results suggested that the SE-IAT-C is possible to implement without the counterbalance, starting from the self and unpleasant task, which would lead to reducing the burden for teachers in terms of the time and labor costs to prepare the questionnaire and score the results at schools