Validation of the Japanese Version of the Multidimensional Stress Questionnaire for Couples : Factor Structure, Validity and Reliability

We validated the Japanese version of the Multidimensional Stress Questionnaire for Couples (MSQ, Multidimensionaler Stressfragebogen für Paare) and examined construct validity and reliability. We conducted an online longitudinal survey of 300 husbands and 300 wives in 2017. The Japanese version of the MSQ had a two-factor structure centered on internal and external stressors. The internal-stressor factor showed sufficient validity and reliability making it suitable for measuring marital stressors and the external-stressor factor also did show acceptable validity in both husbands and wives. The MSQ-J will be useful not only for the research but also for the clinical practice

WIVES’ SELF-VERIFICATION IN JAPAN

People seek self-verification from others. Previous studies suggest that striving for self-verification (e.g., the disclosure of accurate self-information and the preservation of a sense of coherence about oneself in social relationships) functionalizes couple relationships in Western cultures. However, there has been little research on couples in Asian cultures. The aim of this study is to address this gap by examining 46 heterosexual Japanese couples. Attitudes and behaviors regarding striving for self-verification, stress communication, and trust in marital relationships were assessed using a questionnaire. In contrast to previous Western studies, Japanese couples striving for self-verification had a stronger association between the attitudes of wives regarding striving for self-verification and their own trust and stress communication than that of their husbands. The role of Asian wives is also discussed

Purification, identification and phosphorylation of annexin I from rat liver mitochondria.

Annexin was purified from rat liver mitochondria to an apparent homogeneity with a molecular weight of 35 kDa as determined by sodium dodecyl sulfate polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The purified mitochondrial annexin (AXmito) was identified as annexin I by an immunoblot analysis using anti-annexin I antibody. The inhibitory effect of AXmito I on porcine pancreatic phospholipase A2 activity was as potent as that of bovine lung annexin I. The presence of annexin I in mitochondria was confirmed by an electron-microscopic study. AXmito I was shown to be phosphorylated by intrinsic protein tyrosine kinases on its tyrosine residues. This annexin was also phosphorylated by protein kinase C.</p

うつ症状が室温低値と血圧高値の関連に及ぼす影響

Objectives: Cold exposure accounts for more than 7% of all-cause mortality worldwide, and cold-induced blood pressure (BP) elevation and consequent cardiovascular events are partially responsible. For prevention, it is important to identify risk factors for exaggerated temperature-sensitivity of BP but this is not fully understood. This study investigated whether depressive symptoms affect the relationship between indoor temperature and BP. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional analysis of 1076 community-based individuals who were at least 60 years of age. Depressive symptoms were assessed using the 15-item Geriatric Depression Scale at a cutoff point of 4/5. We performed ambulatory BP monitoring and indoor temperature measurement on two consecutive days during the cold season in Nara, Japan. Results: When using daytime SBP as a dependent variable, multilevel linear regression analyses showed that lower daytime indoor temperature was significantly associated with higher daytime SBP in the depressive group (n = 216, β = -0.804, P < 0.001) but not in the nondepressive group (n = 860, β = -0.173, P = 0.120); moreover, a significant interaction between depression and daytime indoor temperature was observed (P = 0.014). These relationships were independent of potential confounders including age, gender, BMI, medications, and physical activity. Similar results were obtained for morning SBP, nocturnal SBP dipping, and morning BP surge. Conclusion: The results suggest that depressive participants are more likely to have cold-induced BP elevation than nondepressive participants. Further longitudinal studies are warranted to determine whether people with depressive symptoms are at a high risk for cold-related cardiovascular events.博士（医学）・甲第859号・令和5年3月15

Evaluation of Therapeutic Effects of Astaxanthin on Impairments in Salivary Secretion

The involvement of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in the pathophysiology of Sjögren’s syndrome (SS), an autoimmune disorder, and irradiation-induced impairments in salivary secretion has been reported. Meanwhile, the strong antioxidant astaxanthin (Ast) has been suggested to have therapeutic effects on various diseases. In the present study, we examined the ROS scavenging capacity of Ast using a human salivary gland epithelial cell line (HSY) and investigated the effects of Ast on salivary secretion in a mouse model of irradiation-induced salivary gland dysfunction. Furthermore, we performed a clinical study of Ast in six SS patients and six normal individuals, quantifying the volume of saliva secretion and the level of oxidative stress markers in the saliva. Ast partially suppressed hydrogen peroxide-induced ROS in HSY cells. The mouse model demonstrated that the pre-administration of Ast resulted in the suppression of irradiation-induced hyposalivation. Furthermore, the administration of Ast appeared to increase salivary output in both the SS and normal groups. The level of oxidative stress marker, hexanoyl-lysine, in the saliva was reduced after Ast intake. These results suggest that Ast might act as an ROS scavenger, providing benefits to SS patients with impaired salivary secretion

Asymptotic stability, concentration, and oscillation in harmonic map heat-flow, Landau-Lifshitz, and Schroedinger maps on R^2

We consider the Landau-Lifshitz equations of ferromagnetism (including the harmonic map heat-flow and Schroedinger flow as special cases) for degree m equivariant maps from R^2 to S^2. If m \geq 3, we prove that near-minimal energy solutions converge to a harmonic map as t goes to infinity (asymptotic stability), extending previous work down to degree m = 3. Due to slow spatial decay of the harmonic map components, a new approach is needed for m=3, involving (among other tools) a "normal form" for the parameter dynamics, and the 2D radial double-endpoint Strichartz estimate for Schroedinger operators with sufficiently repulsive potentials (which may be of some independent interest). When m=2 this asymptotic stability may fail: in the case of heat-flow with a further symmetry restriction, we show that more exotic asymptotics are possible, including infinite-time concentration (blow-up), and even "eternal oscillation".Comment: 34 page