Disrupters:Three Women of Color Tell Their Stories

This essay is an amplified version of the presentation we made at the 7th Biennial Seneca Falls Dialogues. Our aim is to story back into the world our first experiences and motivations for investing in suffrage and democratic activism. We are three American professors of disciplines in the humanities, who for decades have taught and lived across the United States and have traveled the world. Yuko Kurahashi’s essay tells the story of how Raichō Hiratsuka and Fusae Ichikawa, Japanese activists in their suffrage and peace movements, helped shape her personal and professional life. Denise Harrison talks about the first wave of Black suffragists, the precursors of today’s powerful black women activists who inspire her. Dulce María discusses how Latina writers and activists modeled personal political power and activism and helped her define her hybrid identity. By presenting our stories, we want to highlight issues that most women of color address: We hope that this essay fosters deep thinking about how each of us can harness and multiply the power of our life circumstances to engage in activist work for social justice. We want to speak our truths in the hope that other people, including young women of color, begin to examine how they can use their own stories and identities to help empower the disenfranchised and impoverished, and thereby to question the past, disrupt the present, and contribute to building a more equitable future

Factors Predicting Adhesion between Renal Capsule and Perinephric Adipose Tissue in Partial Nephrectomy

In minimally invasive partial nephrectomy (MIPN), it is important to preoperatively predict the degree of difficulty of tumor resection. When severe adhesions occur between the renal capsule and perinephric adipose tissue, detachment can be difficult. Preoperative prediction of adhesion is thought to be useful in the selection of surgical procedure. Subjects were 63 patients of a single surgeon who had received MIPN between April 2008 and August 2013 at Okayama University Hospital. Of these patients, this study followed 47 in whom the presence or absence of adhesions between the renal capsule and perinephric adipose tissue was confirmed using intraoperative videos. Data collected included: sex, BMI, CT finding (presence of fibroids in perinephric adipose tissue), comorbidities and lifestyle. Adhesion was observed in 7 patients (14.9%). The mean operative time was 291.6min in the adhesion group, and 226.3min in the group without. The increased time in the adhesions group was significant (p＜0.05). Predictive factors were a positive CT finding for fibroid structure and comorbidity of hypertension (p＜0.05). In MIPN, difficulty of surgery can be affected by the presence of adhesion of the perinephric adipose tissue. Predicting such adhesion from preoperative CT is thus important

Effect of β-Cyclodextrin on Physicochemical Properties of an Ionic Liquid Electrolyte Composed of N-Methyl-N-Propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide

Ionic liquids (ILs) are promising electrolyte materials for developing next-generation rechargeable batteries. In order to improve their properties, several kinds of additives have been investigated. In this study, β-cyclodextrin (β-CD) was chosen as a new additive in IL electrolytes because it can form an inclusion complex with bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (TFSA) anions. We prepared the composites by mixing N-methyl-N-propylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide/LiTFSA and a given amount of triacetyl-β-cyclodextrin (Acβ-CD). The thermal behaviors and electrochemical properties of the composites were analyzed by several techniques. In addition, pulse field gradient NMR measurements were conducted to determine the self-diffusion coefficients of the component ions. The addition of Acβ-CD to the IL electrolytes results in the decrease in the conductivity value and the increase in the viscosity value. In contrast, the addition of Acβ-CD to the IL electrolytes induced an improvement in the anodic stability because of the formation of an inclusion complex between the Acβ-CD and TFSA anions. CDs are potential candidates as additives in IL electrolytes for electrochemical applications

#BlackLivesMatter: Intersectionality, Violence, and Socially Transformative Art

This paper is designed to elicit dialogue on the impact of the #Blacklivesmatter (BLM) movement and be a call to action in the wake of murder and sustained oppression of the Black body in America. The paper focuses on the intersectionality of the BLM movement using art, “racial” analysis, creative pedagogy, and the theatre of the oppressed. Included is a monologue of a mother whose child has been murdered by a “peace officer” that leads the audience on an emotional journey. In addition, sobering statistics of documented murders of Black transgender women are presented, as are the health effects of discrimination. The language of oppression and its use in the media are explored, as is a discussion of socially transformative art. Finally, recommendations are made to continue to use art and theatre as tools to raise awareness of injustice and to promote social resistance

A hydrolase enzyme inactivating endogenous ligands for cannabinoid receptors

Cannabinoids are psychoactive components of marijuana, and bind to specific G protein-coupled receptors in the brain and other mammalian tissues. Anandamide (arachidonoylethanolamide) was discovered as an endogenous agonist for the cannabinoid receptors. Hydrolysis of anandamide to arachidonic acid and ethanolamine results in the loss of its biological activities. The enzyme responsible for this hydrolysis was solubilized, partially purified from the microsomes of porcine brain, and referred to as anandamide amidohydrolase. In addition to the anandamide hydrolysis, the enzyme preparation catalyzed anandamide synthesis by the condensation of arachidonic acid with ethanolamine. Several lines of enzymological evidence suggested that a single enzyme catalyzes both the hydrolysis and synthesis of anandamide. This reversibility was confirmed by the use of a recombinant enzyme of rat liver overexpressed in COS-7 cells. However, in consideration of the high Km value for ethanolamine as a substrate for the anandamide synthesis, the enzyme was presumed to act as a hydrolase rather than a synthase under physiological conditions. The recombinant enzyme acted not only as an amidase hydrolyzing anandamide and other fatty acid amides but also as an esterase hydrolyzing methyl ester of arachidonic acid. 2-Arachidonoylglycerol, which was found recently to be another endogenous ligand, was also efficiently hydrolyzed by the esterase activity of the same enzyme. The anandamide hydrolase and synthase activities were detected in a variety of rat organs, and liver showed by far the highest activities. A high anandamide hydrolase activity was also detected in small intestine but only after the homogenate was precipitated with acetone to remove endogenous lipids inhibiting the enzyme activity. The distribution of mRNA of the enzyme was in agreement with that of the enzyme activity

Basal insulin ratio of type 1 diabetes

Aims/Introduction: To investigate the basal insulin requirement in patients with type 1 diabetes who are on multiple daily injections (MDI) and to assess the patient characteristics that affect the percent of total daily basal insulin dose to the total daily insulin dose (%TBD/TDD). Materials and Methods: The subjects of this study were 67 inpatients with type 1 diabetes who were served diabetic meals of 25–30 kcal/kg standard body weight during several weeks of hospitalization. The basal insulin requirement was adjusted to keep the blood glucose level from bedtime to before breakfast within a 30 mg/dL difference. The bolus insulin dose before the meal was adjusted to keep the blood glucose level below 140 and 200 mg/dL before and 2 h after each meal, respectively. The total daily insulin dose (TDD), the percent of total daily basal insulin dose (TBD) to TDD (%TBD/TDD), and clinical characteristics were collected. Results: The median (Q1, Q3) of TDD was 33.0 (26.0, 49.0) units, and the %TBD/TDD was 24.1 ± 9.8%. The %TBD/TDD was positively correlated with the body mass index (BMI) and negatively correlated with the age at the onset and at the examination according to a univariate analysis. However, the %TBD/TDD was dependent on the BMI (β = 0.340, P = 0.004) and the age at examination (β = −0.288, P = 0.012) according to the multiple regression analysis. Conclusions: The average %TBD/TDD in patients with type 1 diabetes on MDI was approximately 24% under inpatient conditions. The basal insulin requirement was dependent on the BMI and the age at examination

A case of isolated ACTH deficiency that required 6 months for the diagnosis from onset

A 53-year-old man noticed anorexia, nausea, and arthralgia of the upper limbs in April, 201X. Since these symptoms persisted, he visited general hospital and clinic and was examined for blood chemistry, ECG, echocardiography and so on. However, he did not get a definitive diagnosis and was followed up with drip infusion of saline. The symptoms did not subside and fatigue and syncope with hypotension developed. Furthermore, he also suffered weight loss of 10 kg in few months and was referred to our hospital for more detailed examinations in October, 201X. Upon the initial examination, all his symptoms matched those of adrenal insufficiency and notable decreases of both plasma ACTH and serum cortisol level were observed. Prompt glucocorticoid supplementation improved his symptoms and the abnormal laboratory data immediately. He was diagnosed adrenal insufficiency due to isolated ACTH deficiency from the results of CRH loading test and insulin tolerance test. Since most of the symptoms and laboratory findings are non-specific, diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency is often delayed. However, adrenal insufficiency could worsen when the patient is under stress (e.g. infection) and often be life-threatening. Glucocorticoid replacement therapy should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. Furthermore, educating patients and his families plays a very important role in the management of chronic adrenal insufficiency, in particular to the prevention of adrenal crisis

CHH with Early-Onset CAD

The patient with congenital hypogonadotropic hypogonadism (HH) shows low serum levels of androgen, which is a group of sex hormones including testosterone, caused by the decreased gonadotropin release in the hypothalamus. Recent reports showed androgens exert protective effects against insulin resistance or atherosclerotic diseases, such as diabetes mellitus or coronary artery disease. However, whether the juvenile hypogonadism affects the diabetes or cardiovascular disease is unclear. We report a case of a middle-aged man with congenital HH who had severe coronary artery disease complicated with metabolic disorders

A case of Cushing’s syndrome detected by repeated fragility fractures

A ３８-year-old woman had suffered from an avulsion fracture of the left cuboid bone, a rib fracture, a fatigue fracture of the left second metatarsal bone and a pubic fracture within the last ４ years. She also realized that her face was getting rounded and became aware of edema on extremities. She had repeated fragile fractures before menopause and was referred to our department on suspicion of secondary osteoporosis. The patients showed physical signs of moon face, central obesity, and abdominal violaceous striae. Cushing’s syndrome was suspected, therefore confirmatory studies were performed. Circadian variation of cortisol : serum cortisol１９．３μg／dL（at７：００）, ２１．４μg／dL（at２３：００）, urinary free cortisol :２４７．４μg／２４h, ACTH :２．５pg／mL. Low-dose（１mg） dexamethasone did not suppress cortisol level（１８．９μg/dL）. Based on these findings, we diagnosed as Cushing’s syndrome and glucocorticoid excess seemed to be the cause of secondary osteoporosis. Abdominal CT identified a ２．７ cm tumor in the left adrenal gland, and in-phase T１‐weighted MRI showed decreased signal compared to out-phase, suggesting an adrenocortical adenoma. She underwent laparoscopic left adrenalectomy. Postoperative fasting serum cortisol decreased to２．２ μg/dL, and glucocorticoid replacement therapy was started. It is necessary to find out any secondary causes for premenopausal women with fragility fractures. It is well known that endocrine disorders including Cushing’s syndrome are the most frequent associated diseases in patients with premenopausal osteoporosis. Cushing’s syndrome should be considered as a causative disease in premenopausal women with osteoporosis

Novel method for detection of pancreatic beta cell death using cell-free DNA

In people with type１ diabetes（T１D）, biomarkers that can sensitively and quantitatively evaluate injury of pancreatic beta cell are required in order to predict the onset of the disease at an early stage and to provide interventions to prevent the progression of the disease. We developed a new method for quantifying pancreatic beta cell-derived insulin DNA in circulation that combines bisulfite conversion and Amplification Refractory Mutation System（ARMS）PCR, which can be performed using a conventional real-time PCR system. We applied this method to T１D patients and healthy adults, both could be detected in about ３０％ of cases. The results in healthy adults indicate that this method may have sensitivity to detect the turnover of pancreatic beta cells at physiological conditions. In post-onset T１D patients, there were many negatives because the amount of residual pancreatic beta cells was extremely small. However, in some cases with a short duration of the disease, pancreatic beta cell-derived insulin DNA was detected in negative correlation between the duration of the disease, that suggested the residual pancreatic beta cells continue to be slowly destroyed. It was demonstrated that the time course of pathophysiology in T１D could be understood using this method