エスニック・ビジネスの立地要因－コミュニティ研究から経済地理学的研究へ－

　本稿では，エスニック・ビジネスの立地要因について，日本におけるブラジル系ビジネスの，同一エスニック集団の「異なる地域」における立地展開の差異，同一エスニック集団の同一地域における「異なる時期」における立地展開の差異，展開される業種ごとの差異の3つの側面から検討し分析した。その結果，エスニック・ビジネスの立地要因は，エスニックな要素が大きく関わる「エスニック立地因子」と，外部一般経済と同様の，いわゆる一般因子に近い「非エスニック立地因子」の2種があること，そしてこれら2種の立地因子が組み合わさりエスニック・ビジネスの立地や集積がもたらされることを明らかにした。　また，本稿では，エスニック・ビジネスをとりまく「ホスト社会における機会構造」もあわせて検討し，エスニック集団のホスト社会への同化やエスニック集団の生活空間の縮小といった「負の機会構造」と，エスニック集団の集住や核店舗・核施設の存在といった「正の機会構造」の存在を提示し，これら2つの機会構造のバランスにより，エスニック・ビジネスは盛衰し，また，その立地場所や集積の様態を変化させることを明らかにした。In this paper, I first organized geographical studies on ethnic business and locations by three aspects 1) ones related to the identity or representation of ethnic businesses in the area where they are located or clustered, 2) ones related to the possibilities of the area where ethnic businesses cluster, and 3) ones related to the patterns of ethnic business locations and clusters. In many cases, previous studies position ethnic business as an extension of ethnic community studies—as an indication of mature ethnic community in the host society or as part of ethnic town facilities that an ethnic group formed in the host society. Therefore, there has not been much progress with studies on ethnic business location, particularly on locational factor. Therefore, this paper examined the clustering process and location expansion patterns of Brazilian business in Japan from two perspectives: 1) expansion of ethnic business location by the same ethnic group in different regions and 2) expansion of ethnic business location by the same ethnic group in the same region in different time periods. Based on these, I analyzed the differences in clusters by region, development period, and business type in terms the factors for ethnic business location. The results showed that there were two types of factors for ethnic business location, including ethnic location factors which largely involve ethnic elements and non-ethnic location factors which are close to general factors, so to speak, just as in an external general economy. These two types of location factors are combined to drive the location and clustering of ethnic businesses. As a note, regional differences were observed in location factors and the patterns of location expansion for ethnic business even within the same country. They significantly differ by development period, business type, and the strategy of the business even within the same region as well. In particular, it became clear that the “familiar location” factor, which is a non-ethnic location factor, weighs more during the initial stage of ethnic business expansion and, as the expansion progresses, the weight of the “cheap rent” factor—another non-ethnic location factor—and the “clustering of ethnic business” factor—an ethnic location factor—increases. Furthermore, this paper also examined the opportunity structures surrounding the factors of ethnic business location in the host society, presented the existence of negative opportunity structures, such as ethnic group’s assimilation to the host society and reduced living spaces, and positive opportunity structures, such as collective living of ethnic group and the presence of anchor stores and facilities, and demonstrated that ethnic businesses rise and fall as well as change their locations and clustering patterns based on the balance between these two types of opportunity structures

Involvement of oxidative stress and mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 (MAdCAM-1) in inflammatory bowel disease

The pathophysiology of inflammatory bowel disease involves excessive immune effects of inflammatory cells against gut microbes. In genetically predisposed individuals, these effects are considered to contribute to the initiation and perpetuation of mucosal injury. Oxidative stress is a fundamental tissue-destructive mechanisms that can occur due to the reactive oxygen species and reactive nitrogen metabolites which are released in abundance from numerous inflammatory cells that have extravasated from lymphatics and blood vessels to the lamina propria. This extravasation is mediated by interactions between adhesion molecules including mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1 and vascular cell adhesion molecule-1 on the surface of lymphocytes or neutrophils and their ligands on endothelial cells. Thus, reactive oxygen species and adhesion molecules play an important role in the development of inflammatory bowel disease. The present review focuses on the involvement of oxidative stress and adhesion molecules, in particular mucosal addressin cell adhesion molecule-1, in inflammatory bowel disease

Utility of a Fluorescence Microscopy Imaging System for Analyzing the DNA Ploidy of Pathological Megakaryocytes Including 5q- Syndrome

To investigate megakaryocyte (MK) DNA ploidy in various hematological diseases, fluorescence microscopy imaging system (FMI) can be used to analyze DNA ploidy with cell morphology at the single-cell level by using specialized image-processing software. Here we compared DNA ploidy obtained by FMI measured with that obtained flow cytometry (FCM). With FMI, we could evaluate the DNA ploidy in long-term preserved bone marrow smear samples after staining. We next analyzed the MK DNA ploidy in 42 bone marrow smear samples including 26 myeloid neoplasm cases, and we compared the DNA ploidy and platelet counts in the patients' peripheral blood; the production of platelets was significantly high compared to DNA ploidy in the myeloproliferative neoplasms group. The FMI method revealed that the patients with 5q- syndrome exhibited relatively low DNA ploidy despite high platelet counts, and this result suggested that increased DNA ploidy is not indispensable to abundant platelet production. The FMI method for DNA ploidy will be a useful tool to clarify the relationship between DNA ploidy and platelet production by MKs

Reactivity of CA19-9 and CA125 in Histological Subtypes of Epithelial Ovarian Tumors and Ovarian Endometriosis

Previous reports have shown that some ovarian endometrioid adenocarcinomas and ovarian clear cell adenocarcinomas derive from ovarian endometriosis (OE), and that endocervical-like mucinous borderline ovarian tumors are associated with OE. We examined the relationship between the staging and histological subtypes of OE or epithelial ovarian tumors (EOT) and the serum levels of carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) and carbohydrate antigen 125 (CA125) to evaluate the potential of these markers for preoperative diagnosis. First, we analyzed the preoperative serum levels of CA19-9 and CA125 in 195 patients who were histopathologically diagnosed with OE or EOT. We then performed a case-control study in which 308 women were enrolled, the 195 women described above and 113 healthy women as control subjects. Serum CA19-9 and CA125 levels were found to be useful in differentiating between OE and serous adenocarcinoma, but not between OE and other EOT. Moreover, serum CA19-9 levels were useful for preoperative assessment between OE and stage I mucinous borderline ovarian tumors, with or without the interstitial infiltration. In addition, considering that the serum CA19-9 levels in stage I mucinous borderline ovarian tumors were elevated via the interstitial infiltration of leukocytes and that precancerous lesions are associated with a cancerous glycosylation disorder in the process of inflammatory carcinogenesis, the CA19-9 level may be considered a suitable biomarker for estimating drug susceptibility

Changes in 12-Year First-Line Eradication Rate of Helicobacter pylori Based on Triple Therapy with Proton Pump Inhibitor, Amoxicillin and Clarithromycin

A triple therapy based on a proton pump inhibitor (PPI), amoxicillin (AMPC), and clarithromycin (CAM) is recommended as a first-line therapy for Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication and is widely used in Japan. However, a decline in eradication rate associated with an increase in prevalence of CAM resistance is viewed as a problem. We investigated CAM resistance and eradication rates over time retrospectively in 750 patients who had undergone the triple therapy as first-line eradication therapy at Nagoya City University Hospital from 1995 to 2008, divided into four terms (Term 1: 1997–2000, Term 2: 2001–2003, Term 3: 2004–2006, Term 4: 2007–2008). Primary resistance to CAM rose significantly over time from 8.7% to 23.5%, 26.7% and 34.5% while the eradication rate decreased significantly from 90.6% to 80.2%, 76.0% and 74.8%. Based on the PPI type, significant declines in eradication rates were observed with omeprazole or lansoprazole, but not with rabeprazole. A decrease in the H. pylori eradication rate after triple therapy using a PPI + AMPC + CAM has been acknowledged, and an increase in CAM resistance is considered to be a factor. From now on, a first-line eradication regimen that results in a higher eradication rate ought to be investigated

A Novel Strategy in Production of Oligosaccharides in Digestive Tract: Prevention of Postprandial Hyperglycemia and Hyperinsulinemia

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of oral administration of transglucosidase (TG) on postprandial glucose concentrations in healthy subjects. A randomized placebo-controlled three-way crossover trial was separated by a washout period of more than 3 days. Twenty-one normal healthy volunteers, aged 30–61 years old (17 males and 4 females) were selected for this study. The subjects’ health was assessed as normal by prestudy screening. All subjects received 3 types of test meals (3 rice balls: protein, 14.4 g; fat, 2.1 g; and carbohydrate, 111 g: total energy, 522 kcal) with 200 ml water in which 0 mg, 150 mg, or 300 mg of TG was dissolved. Blood samples for estimating plasma glucose and insulin concentrations were collected before and every 30 min after the experiment. As compared to no TG treatment, TG administration tended to prevent a postprandial increase in plasma glucose (p = 0.069: 150 mg of TG vs control) but there were no significant difference among three groups. With regard to the 17 subjects who were suggested to have impaired glucose tolerance, TG significantly decreased the postprandial blood glucose (p<0.05: 150 mg and 300 mg of TG vs control) and marginally decreased insulin concentrations (p = 0.099: 300 mg of TG vs control). These results suggest that TG may be useful for preventing the progression of type 2 diabetes mellitus

Self-monitoring of blood glucose: usefulness and problems

　近年，自己血糖測定器(SMBG器：self-monitoring blood glucose)は急速に技術開発が進み，迅速，簡便に血糖値を測定できるようになった。糖尿病の患者が在宅で使用し，多くの病院や施設において血糖値の指標として利用頻度が高まっている。この研究の目的は，グルコースデヒドロゲナ ー ゼ（glucose dehydrogenase: GDH）酵素電極法である SMBG 器（グ ル テ ス ト ミ ン ト：glutestmint）を用いて基礎的検討を行い，また新しい２機種のSMBG器（グルテストミント，.free style libre）を用いて，温度変化による血糖値への影響を検討することである。基礎的検討において，グルテストミントによる3種類グルコース検体の血糖値の 変動係数（Coefficient of variation：CV）は1.4～1.8％となり同時再現性は良好であった。キシロース添加検体では，10 mg/dl以上において血糖値の増加傾向が見られた。さらに，SMBG器本体保存温度を変えて血糖値への影響を検討した。室温（25℃）より，低温（15℃）保存によって血糖値の変化は，２機種ともに各血糖値濃度（低，中，高）でそれぞれ有意な増加を示した。一方，血糖値は室温（25℃）より，高温（37℃）ではグルコース添加検体において有意な減少を示した。使用時には，SMBG器の特徴をよく理解して血糖検査することが重要である。季節や保管場所による温度変化がある場合の血糖検査は，十分注意が必要であると考えられる。　Recently, the technology for self-monitoring of blood glucose (SMBG) has advanced rapidly, and it is now possible to measure blood glucose levels easily. Diabetes patients use these devices at home, and their frequency of use has also been increasing in many hospitals and institutions. This study aimed to investigate a basic examination of SMBG using Glutestmint (a glucose dehydrogenase: GDH enzyme electrode method), and to examine the effects of temperature changes on measured blood glucose levels by two SMBG devices (Glutestmint and Free style libre). In a basic examination with interference product, the coefficient of variation (% CV) of values in testing of blood glucose specimens at 3 concentrations by using SMBG: Glutestmint was 1.4% to 1.8%, and good results were obtained about the repeatability. In the case of samples to which xylose had been added, there was tendency toward an increase of 10 mg/dL or more in blood glucose levels. We also examined the effects of SMBG device storage temperature on recorded blood glucose levels for the two SMBG meters (glutestmint and free style libre). When the two devices were kept at a lower temperature (15℃) than room temperature (25℃), they both gave significant increases in each blood glucose level (low, intermediate, high). In contrast, when the devices were kept at a higher temperature (37 ℃) than room temperature (25℃), there was a significant decrease in blood glucose levels in each of the glucose addition samples. It is important to have a good understanding of the characteristics of SMBG and to perform blood glucose testing regularly. In such testing, the influences of seasonal temperature changes and changes in temperature with different storage conditions need to be taken into account

Nuclear translocation of the cytoplasmic domain of HB-EGF induces gastric cancer invasion

BACKGROUND: Membrane-anchored heparin-binding epidermal growth factor-like growth factor (proHB-EGF) yields soluble HB-EGF, which is an epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) ligand, and a carboxy-terminal fragment of HB-EGF (HB-EGF-CTF) after ectodomain shedding. We previously reported that HB-EGF-CTF and unshed proHB-EGF which has the cytoplasmic domain of proHB-EGF (HB-EGF-C), translocate from the plasma membrane to the nucleus and regulate cell cycle after shedding stimuli. However, the significance of nuclear exported HB-EGF-C in human gastric cancer is unclear. METHODS: We investigated the relationship between intracellular localization of HB-EGF-C and clinical outcome in 96 gastric cancer patients treated with gastrectomy. Moreover, we established stable gastric cancer cell lines overexpressing wild-type HB-EGF (wt-HB-EGF) and mutated HB-EGF (HB-EGF-mC), which prevented HB-EGF-C nuclear translocation after shedding. Cell motility between these 2 gastric cancer cell lines was investigated using a transwell invasion assay and a wound healing assay. RESULTS: Of the 96 gastric cancer cases, HB-EGF-C immunoreactivity was detected in both the nucleus and cytoplasm in 19 cases (19.8 %) and in the cytoplasm only in 25 cases (26.0 %). The nuclear immunoreactivity of HB-EGF-C was significantly increased in stage pT3/4 tumors compared with pT1/2 tumors (T1/2 vs. T3/4: 11.1 % vs. 36.4 %, P < 0.01). The growth of wt-HB-EGF- and HB-EGF-mC-expressing cells significantly increased compared with control cells, but the growth of HB-EGF-mC-expressing cells was significantly decreased compared with wt-HB-EGF-expressing cells. Gastric cancer cell invasion obviously increased in wt-HB-EGF-expressing cells, but invasion in HB-EGF-mC-expressing cells showed a slight increase compared with control cells. Moreover, wt-HB-EGF overexpression increased the effectiveness of wound healing, but had no significant effect in HB-EGF-mC-expressing cells. CONCLUSIONS: Both the function of HB-EGF as an EGFR ligand and a novel signal for HB-EGF-C nuclear translocation induce gastric cancer growth, whereas HB-EGF-C nuclear translocation independently plays a critical role in gastric cancer invasion. The present study demonstrated that HB-EGF-C nuclear translocation might be crucial in gastric cancer invasion. HB-EGF-C nuclear translocation may offer a prognostic marker and a new molecular target for gastric cancer therapy

Rebamipide suppresses TLR-TBK1 signaling pathway resulting in regulating IRF3/7 and IFN-α/β reduction

TANK-binding kinase 1 (TBK1) regulates the interferon regulatory factor (IRF) 3 and IRF7 activation pathways by double strand RNA (dsRNA) via Toll-like receptor (TLR) 3 and by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) via TLR4. Rebamipide is useful for treating inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Although IBD is associated with nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB), any association with the TBK1-IRF pathway remains unknown. How rebamipide affects the TBK1-IRF pathway is also unclear. We analyzed the relationship between IBD (particularly ulcerative colitis; UC) and the TLR-TBK1-IRF3/7 pathway using human colon tissue, a murine model of colitis and human colonic epithelial cells. Inflamed colonic mucosa over-expressed TKB1, NAP1, IRF3, and IRF7 mRNA compared with normal mucosa. TBK1 was mainly expressed in inflammatory epithelial cells of UC patients. The expression of TBK1, IRF3, IRF7, IFN-α and IFN-β mRNA was suppressed in mice given oral dextran sulfate-sodium (DSS) and daily rectal rebamipide compared with mice given only DSS. Rebamipide reduced the expression of TBK1, IRF3 and IRF7 mRNA induced by LPS/dsRNA, but not of NF-κB mRNA in colonic epithelial cells. Rebamipide might suppress the TLR-TBK1 pathway, resulting in IRF3/7-induction of IFN-α/β and inflammatory factors. TBK1 is important in the induction of inflammation in patients with UC. If rebamipide represses the TLR-TBK1 pathway, then rectal administration should suppress inflammation of the colonic mucosa in patients with UC