Prevention of growth arrest-induced cell death of vascular smooth muscle cells by a product of growth arrest-specific gene, gas6

AbstractWe have purified Gas6 as a growth-potentiating factor for vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) [Nakano, T. et al. (1995) J. Biol. Chem. 270, 5702-57051. However, specific production of Gas6 in growth-arrested cells raises an intriguing question as to the physiological function of Gas6. In this study, we found that serum-starved VSMCs secreted some survival factors and depletion of the factors induced cell death of VSMCs. Finally, we demonstrated that cell death was prevented by the addition of Gas6, suggesting that one of the major biological activity of Gas6 is protection of growth-arrested VSMCs from death

Deepening Learning and Inspiring Rigor: Bridging Academic and Experiential Learning Using a Host Country Approach to a Study Tour

American students are increasingly incorporating study in a foreign country into their college educations, but many participate in short-term programs that limit their engagement with any more than the superficial aspects of the host culture. This article describes a short-term study abroad course for American students to Japan in which the authors drew on an “emic” host country model of group travel in an effort to combine high academic standards, personal growth, and deepened engagement with Japanese culture. The authors first consider the history of study tours in U.S. study abroad and then look at an alternative model provided by Japanese school trips. The authors explain the process by which their American students read, research, and work in groups to plan the itinerary for their study tour. The final section reports on their preliminary evaluations of the program and their plans for future excursions sponsored by the East Asian Studies program

Serum levels of retinol and other antioxidants for hearing impairment among Japanese older adults.

BACKGROUND: The objective of this study was to assess the relation between serum levels of retinol and other antioxidants and hearing impairment in Japanese older adults. METHODS: This is a community-based cross-sectional study comprising 762 residents aged 65 years or older in Kurabuchi, Gumma, Japan. We measured serum retinol and other antioxidants (alpha- and gamma-tocopherols, and carotenoids including beta-cryptoxanthin, alpha- and beta-carotenes, lycopene, and lutein plus zeaxanthin) by high-performance liquid chromatography and divided each measurement into quartiles. Hearing impairment was defined as a failure to hear a 30-dB hearing level (HL) signal at 1 kHz and a 40-dB HL signal at 4 kHz in the better ear in pure-tone audiometric tests. The odds ratios (OR) for hearing impairment were calculated for each of the upper three quartiles of retinol and other antioxidant levels relative to the lowest quartile. RESULTS: Crude analysis showed that serum levels of retinol and provitamin A carotenoids (beta-cryptoxanthin, and alpha- and beta-carotenes) were inversely related to the prevalence of hearing impairment. The multiadjusted ORs (95% confidence intervals) for the highest quartile of retinol and the provitamin A family (combinations of provitamin A carotenoids) compared with the lowest were 0.51 (0.26-1.00) and 0.53 (0.27-1.02), respectively. A dose-response relationship was observed for retinol (p = .03) and provitamin A (p = .09). CONCLUSION: Increased serum levels of retinol and provitamin A carotenoids were clearly associated with a decreased prevalence of hearing impairment

Pathological, Psychological and Anthropological Considerations on Child with Developmental Disorders

本研究は、発達障害の意味を問い、障害のある子どもの教育の可能性を人間学的考察によって明らかにする試みである。発達という概念は、生理学、病理学、心理学、教育学において、それぞれの観点から理解されている概念である。ここには、大きく分けると没価値的な意味と価値的な意味のものがある。これらが錯綜して、発達障害のある子どもの支援と教育に投げ込まれる。発達障害があるといわれる子どもも、子どもであることに変わりはない。人間学は子どもの現実を見る。この現実の理解から、子どもの可能性を発見しようとする。発達障害ということばは、そういう現実において、たまたま子どもに付着される用語である。したがって、この用語は人間学の観点からいえば決定的な意味をもたない。支援と教育の手がかりとして用いられる以上には、子どもを縛るものではない。だが、現実には発達障害という用語によって、子どもの可能性を縛ることになりやすい。このことを人間学は看過することはない