Environmental risk assessment support system based on multiple domain knowledge

Thesis (Ph.D. in Urban and Regional Planning)--University of Tsukuba, (A), no. 1300, 1994.5.3

Effect of low-dose human atrial natriuretic peptide on postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing pulmonary resection for lung cancer: A double-blind, placebo-controlled study

ObjectivesWe previously reported that patients with preoperative B-type natriuretic peptide levels of 30 pg/mL or more have increased risk of postoperative atrial fibrillation after pulmonary resection. This study evaluated the effects of human atrial natriuretic peptide on postoperative atrial fibrillation in patients undergoing pulmonary resection for lung cancer.MethodsA prospective, randomized study was conducted with 40 patients who had preoperative elevated B-type natriuretic peptide (≥30 pg/mL) and underwent a scheduled pulmonary resection for lung cancer. Results were compared between patients who received low-dose human atrial natriuretic peptide and those who received a placebo. The primary end point was the incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation during the first 4 days after surgery.ResultsThe incidence of postoperative atrial fibrillation was significantly lower in the human atrial natriuretic peptide group than in the placebo group (10% vs 60%; P < .001). Patients in the human atrial natriuretic peptide group also showed significantly lower white blood cell counts and C-reactive protein levels after surgery.ConclusionsContinuous infusion of low-dose human atrial natriuretic peptide during lung cancer surgery had a prophylactic effect against postoperative atrial fibrillation after pulmonary resection in patients with preoperative elevation of B-type natriuretic peptide levels. A larger sample size is needed to establish the safety and efficacy of this intervention

Mobilization of Volunteers and Usage of ICT by Environmental Citizen Groups in Japan

It has been said that the spread of social networking services (SNSs) has changed the style of social movements. One of these changes has involved gathering participants, and has been called “the revolution of mobilization.” However, the membership of many Japanese environmental movements are aging and decreasing in number. They are faced with a labor shortage, so how far is “the revolution of mobilization” progressing? This study examines how environmental citizen groups in Japan are using information and communications technology (ICT) to expand their membership and how ICT is changing citizen movements. We interviewed six nationwide environmental citizen groups, three local environmental citizen groups, three nationwide intermediate support organizations, and three local intermediate support organizations. Since these environmental citizen groups possess minimum manpower required to sustain their activities, though they are prepared to use ICT, they are unable to organize, strengthen, or expand. Although the aging membership and shortage of staff are recognized as a big problem, they are unable to solve these problems fully. Although new movements are born from younger generations and big cities, the existing groups have not sufficiently engaged with ICT to develop their movement. In the present situation, existing groups cannot avoid the reduction and aging of their membership, and their activities may decline. Filling the generational gap and regional gap in citizen movements therefore remains a problem.本研究の遂行にあたっては科研費助成金（基盤研究C：25350440：ボランティア参加の機構解明とそれを活用したボランティア獲得の為の情報システム開発：代表前田恭伸）を受けている

Mobilization of Volunteers and Usage of ICT by Environmental Citizen Groups in Japan

It has been said that the spread of social networking services (SNSs) has changed the style of social movements. One of these changes has involved gathering participants, and has been called “the revolution of mobilization.” However, the membership of many Japanese environmental movements are aging and decreasing in number. They are faced with a labor shortage, so how far is “the revolution of mobilization” progressing? This study examines how environmental citizen groups in Japan are using information and communications technology (ICT) to expand their membership and how ICT is changing citizen movements. We interviewed six nationwide environmental citizen groups, three local environmental citizen groups, three nationwide intermediate support organizations, and three local intermediate support organizations. Since these environmental citizen groups possess minimum manpower required to sustain their activities, though they are prepared to use ICT, they are unable to organize, strengthen, or expand. Although the aging membership and shortage of staff are recognized as a big problem, they are unable to solve these problems fully. Although new movements are born from younger generations and big cities, the existing groups have not sufficiently engaged with ICT to develop their movement. In the present situation, existing groups cannot avoid the reduction and aging of their membership, and their activities may decline. Filling the generational gap and regional gap in citizen movements therefore remains a problem.本研究の遂行にあたっては科研費助成金（基盤研究C：25350440：ボランティア参加の機構解明とそれを活用したボランティア獲得の為の情報システム開発：代表前田恭伸）を受けている

Prenatal Diagnosis of Ventriculocoronary Communication in a Fetus with Pulmonary Atresia with Intact Ventricular Septum : a Case Report

純型肺動脈閉鎖（pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum：以下PAIVS）の治療方針の決定には右室の大きさ，肺動脈の閉鎖様式に加え，冠動脈が右室内腔と繋がる異常交通（類洞交通）の有無や程度が重要とされる．今回胎児期に類洞交通を評価できたPAIVSの一例を経験したので報告する． 超音波検査にて胎児の右室が小さいことを指摘され妊娠23週に紹介となった．初診時の超音波検査にてPAIVSと診断した．また右室心尖部に心筋を貫通する両方向性血流を認め，類洞交通の存在が疑われた．その後冠動脈を起始部から系統的に描出することで，左冠動脈前下行枝からの大きな類洞交通であることを確認した．右室が高度の低形成でかつ大きな類洞交通があることから単心室修復が必要となることが予想された．児は出生後，心臓超音波検査，心臓血管造影にて同様の診断がなされ，単心室修復に至った． 胎児超音波で冠動脈を起始部から系統的に観察することで，類洞交通の評価が可能となりそれにより，出生前から治療方針の検討ができ，家族への説明に有用であった．Abnormal coronary connections between the ventricles and aorta can have significant impacts on myocardial perfusion and consequently on the approach for surgical intervention．Presence of ventriculocoronary communication（VCC），or ventriculo-coronary fistula，may be critical to peri- and postpartum management．We report the prenatal diagnosis of VCC associated with pulmonary atresia with intact ventricular septum（PAVIS）． A24-year-old woman was referred to our institution at 23＋3weeks’ gestation because of an abnormally small right ventricle（RV）in the fetus．Fetal echocardiography showed a small RV with trivial diastolic filling flow，an intact ventricular septum，and a hypoplastic pulmonary trunk with retrograde perfusion through the ductus arteriosus．Color and pulsed Doppler sonography revealed bidirectional flow at the right ventricular apex，which was confirmed as large VCC between the left anterior descending（LAD）coronary artery and RV by delineating coronary arteries from the aortic origin with color Doppler sonography． A3，070g male infant was vaginally delivered at 40＋1 weeks’ gestation．Postnatal echocardiography，computed tomography and angiography confirmed PAIVS and large VCC between the LAD coronary artery and RV．A BIalock-Taussig shunt was placed on postnatal day 11．Subsequently，a Glenn shunt was inserted at the age of 13 months，and Fontan procedure was performed at the age of 3 years． In summary，we accurately diagnosed fetal PAIVS and VCC accurately by meticulous echocardiography．Thus，we could provide appropriate counseling to parents and optimize peri- and postpartum management

Solitary Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyps in the duodenum are not always associated with a low risk of cancer: two case reports

INTRODUCTION: A hamartomatous polyp without associated mucocutaneous pigmentation or a family history of Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome is diagnosed as a solitary Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyp. As compared with Peutz-Jeghers Syndrome, Peutz-Jeghers type hamartomatous polyps are diagnosed with a lower risk of cancer and are regarded as a different disorder. CASE PRESENTATION: In case one, we describe an 84-year-old Japanese man with a 14 mm duodenal polyp. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed and histological examination showed findings suggestive of a hamartomatous polyp with a focus of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma. In case two, we describe a 76-year-old Japanese man who had been treated for prostate, rectal and lung cancer. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a duodenal polyp measuring 15 mm in diameter. Endoscopic mucosal resection was performed, and histological examination showed findings suggestive of a hamartomatous polyp. Liver and thyroid cancers were found after the endoscopic treatment. CONCLUSION: Although duodenal solitary hamartomatous polyps are associated with a lower risk of cancer, four patients, including our cases, have been diagnosed with cancerous polyps. Patients with duodenal solitary hamartomatous polyps should be treated by endoscopic or surgical resection and need whole-body screening

Biology and genome of a newly discovered sibling species of Caenorhabditis elegans

A ‘sibling’ species of the model organism Caenorhabditis elegans has long been sought for use in comparative analyses that would enable deep evolutionary interpretations of biological phenomena. Here, we describe the first sibling species of C. elegans, C. inopinata n. sp., isolated from fig syconia in Okinawa, Japan. We investigate the morphology, developmental processes and behaviour of C. inopinata, which differ significantly from those of C. elegans. The 123-Mb C. inopinata genome was sequenced and assembled into six nuclear chromosomes, allowing delineation of Caenorhabditis genome evolution and revealing unique characteristics, such as highly expanded transposable elements that might have contributed to the genome evolution of C. inopinata. In addition, C. inopinata exhibits massive gene losses in chemoreceptor gene families, which could be correlated with its limited habitat area. We have developed genetic and molecular techniques for C. inopinata; thus C. inopinata provides an exciting new platform for comparative evolutionary studies

Early effect of oral administration of omeprazole with mosapride as compared with those of omeprazole alone on the intragastric pH

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The ideal medication for acid-related diseases should have a rapid onset of action to promote hemostasis and cause efficient resolution of symptoms. The aim of our study was to comparatively investigate the inhibitory effect on gastric acid secretion of a single oral administration of omeprazole plus mosapride with that of omeprazole alone.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Ten Helicobacter pylori-negative male subjects participated in this randomized, two-way crossover study. Intragastric pH was monitored continuously for 6 hours after a single oral administration of omeprazole 20 mg or that of omeprazole 20 mg plus mosapride 5 mg (the omeprazole being administered one hour after the mosapride). Each administration was separated by a 7-days washout period.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The average pH during the 6-hour period after administration of omeprazole 20 mg plus mosapride 5 mg was higher than that after administration of omeprazole 20 mg alone (median: 3.22 versus 4.21, respectively; <it>p </it>= 0.0247).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In H. pylori -negative healthy male subjects, an oral dose of omeprazole 20 mg plus mosapride 5 mg increased the intragastric pH more rapidly than omeprazole 20 mg alone.</p

The ASTRO-H X-ray Observatory

The joint JAXA/NASA ASTRO-H mission is the sixth in a series of highly successful X-ray missions initiated by the Institute of Space and Astronautical Science (ISAS). ASTRO-H will investigate the physics of the high-energy universe via a suite of four instruments, covering a very wide energy range, from 0.3 keV to 600 keV. These instruments include a high-resolution, high-throughput spectrometer sensitive over 0.3-2 keV with high spectral resolution of Delta E < 7 eV, enabled by a micro-calorimeter array located in the focal plane of thin-foil X-ray optics; hard X-ray imaging spectrometers covering 5-80 keV, located in the focal plane of multilayer-coated, focusing hard X-ray mirrors; a wide-field imaging spectrometer sensitive over 0.4-12 keV, with an X-ray CCD camera in the focal plane of a soft X-ray telescope; and a non-focusing Compton-camera type soft gamma-ray detector, sensitive in the 40-600 keV band. The simultaneous broad bandpass, coupled with high spectral resolution, will enable the pursuit of a wide variety of important science themes.Comment: 22 pages, 17 figures, Proceedings of the SPIE Astronomical Instrumentation "Space Telescopes and Instrumentation 2012: Ultraviolet to Gamma Ray