Short-Term Program on Three-Dimensional Printed Self-Help Devices for Occupational Therapy Students: A Pre-Post Intervention Study

Despite the increasing importance of digital fabrication, of which three-dimensional printing is an important aspect, educational programs in this area have not been fully developed. To utilize three-dimensional printing optimally, occupational therapists need to be familiar with this new technology, understand its scope of application, and possess certain levels of skills for producing. The purpose of this study was to examine the effectiveness of a short-term program for occupational therapy students to increase the acceptance of three-dimensional printed devices by acquiring the basic knowledge and skills of making three-dimensional printed self-help devices. The research involved an intervention study with a pre-post design. Participants comprised 112 entry-level occupational therapy students. The program consisted of two 90-minute sessions during 2019 and 2020. It included a three-part lecture series and two types of practice. The conducted pre-post questionnaires were structured into four categories: I. student profile; II. knowledge about digital fabrication technology; III. ideas and attitudes toward three-dimensional printed self-help devices; and IV. impressions and thoughts. After the program, the number of students who acquired basic knowledge of digital fabrication and who felt confident about making three-dimensional printed self-help devices significantly increased (p \u3c 0.05). The study suggested that the program was effective and assisted occupational therapy students to understand the usefulness of this new technology and be comfortable using it

Combined Influences of Gradual Changes in Room Temperature and Light around Dusk and Dawn on Circadian Rhythms of Core Temperature, Urinary 6-Hydroxymelatonin Sulfate and Waking Sensation Just after Rising

The present experiment aimed at knowing how a gradual changes of room temperature (Ta) and light in the evening and early morning could influence circadian rhythms of core temperature (Tcore), skin temperatures, urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate and waking sensation just after rising in humans. Two kinds of room environment were provided for each participant: 1) Constant room temperature (Ta) of 27 °C over the 24 h and LD-rectangular light change with abrupt decreasing from 3,000 lx to100 lx at 1800,abrupt increasing from 0 lx to 3,000 lx at 0700. 2) Cyclic changes of Ta and with gradual decrease from 3,000 lx to 100 lx onset at 1700 (twilight period about 2 h), with gradual increasing from 0 lx to 3,000 lx onset at 0500 (about 2 h). Main results are summarized as follows: 1) Circadian rhythms of nadir in the core temperature (Tcore) significantly advanced earlier under the influence of gradual changes of Ta and light than no gradual changes of Ta and light. 2) Nocturnal fall of Tcore and morning rise of Tcore were greater and quicker, respectively, under the influence of gradual changes of Ta and light than no gradual changes of Ta and light. 3) Urinary 6-hydroxymelatonin sulfate during nocturnal sleep was significantly greater under the influence of gradual changes of Ta and light. 4) Waking sensation just after rising was significantly better under the influence of gradual changes of Ta and light. We discussed these findings in terms of circadian and thermoregulatory physiology

シュウマツキ ガン ショウレイ ニオケル コウカルシウム ケッショウ ノ ケントウ

Hypercalcemia develops in patients with advanced cancer and severely deteriorates their quality of life. This study aimed to evaluate the influence of hypercalcemia on the clinical course of patients with end-stage cancer. This retrospective study included data on ２５３ patients who had cancer and died in the palliative care unit at Kondo-Naika Hospital in ２００８ and ２００９. Of these patients, １６（６．３％） developed hypercalcemia during hospitalization before death. These １６ patients included５patients with lung cancer ;４ with esophageal cancer ;２ with pancreatic cancer ; and１patient each with liver cancer, breast cancer, gall bladder cancer, renal cancer, or gastric cancer. The incidence of esophageal cancer in the patients with hypercalcemia was significantly higher than that in the patients who did not have hypercalcemia（p＜０．０１）. Of the １６ patients with hypercalcemia,１０had bone metastasis, whereas the other６patients had hypercalcemia even without bone metastasis. The main symptom of hypercalcemia was drowsiness in７patients, delirium in６patients, and general fatigue in ３patients. Fifteen patients were treated using bisphosphonates. After the hypercalcemia was detected, the １６patients survived for only a short time, with a mean survival time of １６．９ days. In particular, the mean survival time of ７ patients who did not respond to treatment for hypercalcemia was only ６．０days, and１patient with a calcium level of １９．１ mg／dl died the day after zoledronic acid hydrate therapy was initiated. Thus, hypercalcemia in patients with end-stage cancer seems to indicate extremely critical conditions with the worst prognosis

Association study of the vesicular monoamine transporter 1 (VMAT1) gene with schizophrenia in a Japanese population

BACKGROUND: Vesicular monoamine transporters (VMATs) mediate accumulation of monoamines such as serotonin, dopamine, adrenaline, and noradrenaline from the cytoplasm into storage organelles. The VMAT1 (alternatively solute carrier family 18: SLC18A1) regulates such biogenic amines in neuroendocrine systems. The VMAT1 gene maps to chromosome 8p21.3, a locus with strong evidence of linkage with schizophrenia. A recent study reported that a non-synonymous single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) of the gene (Pro4Thr) was associated with schizophrenia. METHODS: We attempted to replicate this finding in a Japanese sample of 354 schizophrenics and 365 controls. In addition, we examined 3 other non-synonymous SNPs (Thr98Ser, Thr136Ile, and Val392Leu). Genotyping was performed by the TaqMan allelic discrimination assay. RESULTS: There was no significant difference in genotype or allele distribution of the three SNPs of Pro4Thr, Thr136Ile, or Val392Leu between patients and controls. There was, however, a significant difference in genotype and allele distributions for the Thr98Ser polymorphism between the two groups (P = 0.01 for genotype and allele). When sexes were examined separately, significant differences were observed in females (P = 0.006 for genotype, P = 0.003 for allele), but not in males. The Thr98 allele was more common in female patients than in female controls (odds ratio 1.69, 95% CI 1.19–2.40, P = 0.003). Haplotype-based analyses also provided evidence for a significant association in females. CONCLUSION: We failed to replicate the previously reported association of Pro4Thr of the VMAT1 gene with schizophrenia. However, we obtained evidence for a possible role of the Thr98Ser in giving susceptibility to schizophrenia in women

Pemafibrate Prevents Rupture of Angiotensin II-Induced Abdominal Aortic Aneurysms

Background: Abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) is a life-threatening disease that lacks effective preventive therapies. This study aimed to evaluate the effect of pemafibrate, a selective peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor alpha (PPAR alpha) agonist, on AAA formation and rupture. Methods: Experimental AAA was induced by subcutaneous angiotensin II (AngII) infusion in ApoE(-)(/)(-) mice for 4 weeks. Pemafibrate (0.1 mg/kg/day) was administered orally. Dihydroethidium staining was used to evaluate the reactive oxygen species (ROS). Results: The size of the AngII-induced AAA did not differ between pemafibrate- and vehicle-treated groups. However, a decreased mortality rate due to AAA rupture was observed in pemafibrate-treated mice. Pemafibrate ameliorated AngII-induced ROS and reduced the mRNA expression of interleukin-6 and tumor necrosis factor-alpha in the aortic wall. Gelatin zymography analysis demonstrated significant inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase-2 activity by pemafibrate. AngII-induced ROS production in human vascular smooth muscle cells was inhibited by pre-treatment with pemafibrate and was accompanied by an increase in catalase activity. Small interfering RNA-mediated knockdown of catalase or PPAR alpha significantly attenuated the anti-oxidative effect of pemafibrate. Conclusion: Pemafibrate prevented AAA rupture in a murine model, concomitant with reduced ROS, inflammation, and extracellular matrix degradation in the aortic wall. The protective effect against AAA rupture was partly mediated by the anti-oxidative effect of catalase induced by pemafibrate in the smooth muscle cells

Cyclin-dependent kinase-specific activity predicts the prognosis of stage I and stage II non-small cell lung cancer

BACKGROUND: Lung cancer is one of the leading causes of cancer death worldwide. Even with complete resection, the prognosis of early-stage non-small cell lung cancer is poor due to local and distant recurrence, and it remains unclear which biomarkers are clinically useful for predicting recurrence or for determining the efficacy of chemotherapy. Recently, several lines of evidence have indicated that the enzymatic activity of cyclin-dependent kinases could be a clinically relevant prognostic marker for some cancers. We investigated whether the specific activity of cyclin-dependent kinases 1 and 2 could predict recurrence or death in early non-small cell lung cancer patients. METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed, pathologically confirmed non-small cell lung cancer were entered into this blinded cohort study. The activity of cyclin-dependent kinases was determined in 171 samples by the C2P® assay, and the results were subjected to statistical analysis with recurrence or death as a clinical outcome. RESULTS: The Cox proportional hazards model revealed that the activity of cyclin-dependent kinase 1, but not 2, was a predictor of recurrence, independent of sex, age, and stage. By contrast, cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activity was a predictor of death, independent of sex and stage. CONCLUSION: This study suggested the possible clinical use of cyclin-dependent kinase 1 as a predictor of recurrence and cyclin-dependent kinase 2 as a predictor of overall survival in early-stage non-small cell lung cancer. Thus, a combination of activity of cyclin-dependent kinases 1 and 2 is useful in decision-making regarding treatment strategies for non-small cell lung cancer after surgery. ELECTRONIC SUPPLEMENTARY MATERIAL: The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/1471-2407-14-755) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users

Alopecia Diffusa while Using Interleukin-17 Inhibitors against Psoriasis Vulgaris

We report two cases of alopecia diffusa during the treatment of psoriasis vulgaris with interleukin (IL)-17 inhibitors. Psoriasis is one of the most common immune-mediated chronic skin diseases, strongly associated with IL-17A. Clinically, the monoclonal antibodies to IL-17A or its receptor, IL-17R, show a dramatic effect against psoriasis. Alopecia is also an IL-17-mediated autoimmune disease, and IL-17 inhibitors have been expected to be the gold standard for the treatment of alopecia; therefore, the complication of alopecia while using IL-17 may be regarded as an unexpected “paradoxical reaction.” T helper (Th)17 cells are not cytotoxic enough by themselves to undermine the hair follicle under normal circumstances, they need the coexistence of CD8+ cytotoxic Th1 cells. Th17 cells may be the initiator of the damage of the hair follicle, but CD8 T cells or more powerful Th1 cells are required as followers. The Th17/Th1 axis might convert into a Th1-dominant immune status using IL-17 inhibitors, and the destruction of the hair follicle might result in alopecia. An accumulation of cases is to be expected

NOS2 polymorphisms associated with the susceptibility to pulmonary arterial hypertension with systemic sclerosis: contribution to the transcriptional activity

Systemic sclerosis (SSc) is a connective tissue disease characterized by tissue fibrosis. One of several complications of SSc, pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) can be refractory to treatment, both novel and established. In the present study we investigated the ratio of circulating nitric oxide to endothelin-1 in patients with both SSc and PAH, and determined whether polymorphisms in NOS2 (the nitric oxide synthase 2 gene) are associated with susceptibility to PAH. Endothelin-1 in plasma and nitric oxide metabolites (nitrate and nitrite) in serum were measured. The nitric oxide/endothelin-1 ratio was significantly lower in patients with both SSc and PAH than in patients with SSc only or in healthy control individuals. We confirmed the presence of two single nucleotide polymorphisms at positions -1,026 and -277 and a pentanucleotide repeat (CCTTT) at -2.5 kilobases. There were significant differences in single nucleotide polymorphisms between patients with SSc who had PAH and those who did not, and between patients with both SSc and PAH and healthy control individuals. The CCTTT repeat was significantly shorter in patients with both SSc and PAH than in patients with SSc only or in healthy control individuals. Transcriptional activity were analyzed using the luciferase reporter assay. The transcriptional activity of NOS2 was much greater in fibroblasts transfected by a vector with a long allele of the CCTTT repeat than in those transfected by a vector with a short allele. Polymorphisms in the NOS2 gene are associated with transcriptional activity of the NOS2 gene and with susceptibility to SSc-related PAH

Deficiency of CD44 prevents thoracic aortic dissection in a murine model

Thoracic aortic dissection (TAD) is a life-threatening vascular disease. We showed that CD44, a widely distributed cell surface adhesion molecule, has an important role in inflammation. In this study, we examined the role of CD44 in the development of TAD. TAD was induced by the continuous infusion of beta-aminopropionitrile (BAPN), a lysyl oxidase inhibitor, and angiotensin II (AngII) for 7 days in wild type (WT) mice and CD44 deficient (CD44(-/-)) mice. The incidence of TAD in CD44(-/-) mice was significantly reduced compared with WT mice (44% and 6%, p<0.01). Next, to evaluate the initial changes, aortic tissues at 24hours after BAPN/AngII infusion were examined. Neutrophil accumulation into thoracic aortic adventitia in CD44(-/-) mice was significantly decreased compared with that in WT mice (5.7 +/- 0.3% and 1.6 +/- 0.4%, p<0.01). In addition, BAPN/AngII induced interleukin-6, interleukin-1 beta, matrix metalloproteinase-2 and matrix metalloproteinase-9 in WT mice, all of which were significantly reduced in CD44(-/-) mice (all p<0.01). In vitro transmigration of neutrophils from CD44(-/-) mice through an endothelial monolayer was significantly decreased by 18% compared with WT mice (p<0.01). Our findings indicate that CD44 has a critical role in TAD development in association with neutrophil infiltration into adventitia