世界におけるナイトライフ研究の動向と日本における研究の発展可能性

東京五輪開催（2020）に始まる都市観光活性化の動きのなか，ナイトライフ観光への注目が高まりつつある。本研究は，プレ五輪，ポスト五輪における東京の夜間経済や夜間観光の発展可能性を視野に，世界のナイトライフ研究・ナイトライフ観光研究の動向とその具体性に関して展望を行った。その結果，同研究は2010年代以降増加しつつあるが，アジア圏と欧米圏とでナイトライフの語義が異なり，前者はより広義であるのに対し，後者ではナイトクラブやバーといった特定の観光資源を意味する点，また飲酒やパーティ等の観光行動と結び付くため若者集団に特徴的な観光形態として広く認知されている点，観光地域により観光形態は個人・ツアー観光など多様である点等が明らかとなった。プレ五輪における風営法改正や，ポスト五輪のMICE観光振興・IR推進法成立の背景には観光を巡る都市間競争の熾烈化も窺え，東京のナイトライフ観光は今後より一層変化を遂げる可能性がある

High working memory performers have efficient eye movement control systems under Reading Span Test

Controlled eye movements are critical in performing highly goal oriented behavior such as text reading. Previous studies have examined the relationship between working memory capacity and eye movement control during working memory task. However, the results were inconsistent, due to a methodological issue including the predictability of target location. In the present study, we used Japanese version of reading span test, where the position of to-be-remembered word is not predictable so that more efficient attentional control is required, and investigated how working memory capacity contributes to eye movement control during reading span test. Results based on total fixation time revealed that highworking memory performers efficiently control or shift their attention under high memory load

<フォーラム>『アーバンスタディーズ』より「序論：都市の夜の地理」

本稿は，アメリカSAGE 社の発刊する月刊学術査読誌『Urban Studies』52 巻3 号（2015 年）に掲載された特集号「都市の夜の地理学」の巻頭論文を和訳したものである。同特集号には，「都市の夜」に関連する13 本の論文が掲載された。巻頭論文である本稿の和訳に当たり，本訳者解題で同特集号の概要を示し，次いで巻頭論文・特集号に示されている議論を参照しつつ，世界および日本国内の夜間経済・ナイトライフ観光に係る議論の動向について若干の議論を行う

Endothelial Progenitor Cells Promote Directional Three-Dimensional Endothelial Network Formation by Secreting Vascular Endothelial Growth Factor

Endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) transplantation induces the formation of new blood-vessel networks to supply nutrients and oxygen, and is feasible for the treatment of ischemia and cardiovascular diseases. However, the role of EPCs as a source of proangiogenic cytokines and consequent generators of an extracellular growth factor microenvironment in three-dimensional (3D) microvessel formation is not fully understood. We focused on the contribution of EPCs as a source of proangiogenic cytokines on 3D microvessel formation using an in vitro 3D network model. To create a 3D network model, EPCs isolated from rat bone marrow were sandwiched with double layers of collagen gel. Endothelial cells (ECs) were then cultured on top of the upper collagen gel layer. Quantitative analyses of EC network formation revealed that the length, number, and depth of the EC networks were significantly enhanced in a 3D model with ECs and EPCs compared to an EC monoculture. In addition, conditioned medium (CM) from the 3D model with ECs and EPCs promoted network formation compared to CM from an EC monoculture. We also confirmed that EPCs secreted vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF). However, networks cultured with the CM were shallow and did not penetrate the collagen gel in great depth. Therefore, we conclude that EPCs contribute to 3D network formation at least through indirect incorporation by generating a local VEGF gradient. These results suggest that the location of EPCs is important for controlling directional 3D network formation in the field of tissue engineering

フォトダイオードアレイ検出HPLC を用いた微分クロマトグラフ法によるカフェインの定量

We assessed caffeine levels in bathwater and diluted urine samples by derivative processing of chromatograms obtained through the use of HPLC with photodiode array detection. Chromatograms were differentiated on the basis of d（Abs）/d（min）．The peak position of the target analyte, caffeine, was observed to shift depending on the derivative order applied, but was constant when applying the same derivative order, such that retention times were constant even after differentiation. When the method detection limit was examined using standard solutions, the varying absorption of acetonitrile during a linear gradient elution from 1 to 100 % acetonitrile was shown to have an effect, such that the linearity of the peak height deteriorated if caffeine was present at low concentrations. Recovery of caffeine from real samples was optimized in the case of both linear gradient elution and isocratic elution（ 10 % acetonitrile）when applying the second derivative and using a detection wavelength of 259 nm. Interestingly, this does not correspond to the maximum absorption of caffeine. Thus the optimum wavelength for use with this differential chromatographic method is one that is not affected by the absorbance of the eluent and at which the target analyte shows significant absorbance, even if it is not the maximum absorbance. Such conditions were found to be necessary for the high-sensitivity measurement of caffeine. It is believed that this method is applicable to the HPLC analysis of compounds other than caffeine and this technique is expected to be effective when applied to an automated analyzer and should be helpful to analysts unfamiliar with HPLC.フォトダイオードアレイ検出HPLC を用いた微分クロマトグラフ法による希釈尿あるいは風呂水からのカフェインの回収について検討した。通常のクロマトグラムを微分（d（Abs）/d（min））し，微分クロマトグラムを得る。目的の化合物のピーク位置は，微分次数によるずれるが，同じ微分次数で比較すると一定しており，保持時間による定性能は微分後も維持されていた。標準溶液を用いた定量下限値は，リニアグラジエント溶出（1 → 100 ％アセトニトリル）では溶離液として用いたアセトニトリルの吸収が影響を与え，カフェインが低濃度の場合にはピーク高さとの直線性が悪化した。実試料からのカフェインの回収は，波長259 nm，2 次微分実行時にリニアグラジエント溶出，アイソクラティック溶出（10 ％アセトニトリル）共最適であった。この条件は必ずしもカフェインが極大吸収を持つ波長，微分次数ではない。本結果は微分クロマトグラフ法での検出条件として，1）溶離液吸収の影響を受け難い波長を選択すること，2）目的物質であるカフェインの吸光度が極大でなくてもある程度大きいことが高感度測定に必要であることを示す。今回の結果はカフェインのみならず，他の化合物をHPLC 分析する場合，特にHPLC に不慣れな使用者が条件検討する場合や自動分析装置に応用する場合にも利用可能な知見であると考えられる

Follow-up nationwide survey on predictive genetic testing for late-onset hereditary neurological diseases in Japan

A follow-up nationwide survey on predictive genetic testing for late-onset neurological diseases in Japan was conducted. A questionnaire was sent to 89 institutional members of the Japan's National Liaison Council for Clinical Sections of Medical Genetics, and was returned by 60 (67.4%). A total of 301 clients with an interest in predictive testing were accumulated from April 2006 to March 2011. The greatest interest was shown for spinocerebellar degeneration (SCD, n = 110), followed by myotonic dystrophy type 1 (DM1, n = 69), Huntington's disease (HD, n = 52) and familial amyloid polyneuropathy (FAP, n = 35). The ratios of clients who actually underwent predictive testing were: SCD, 21.8%; DM1, 39.1%; HD, 26.9%; and FAP, 74.3%, indicating that predictive testing was conducted very cautiously for untreatable neurological diseases in Japan. Clinical geneticists were predominantly involved in genetic counseling, whereas the participation of non-medical doctor (non-MD) staff, including nurses, clinical psychologists and genetic counselors, was not common. Lack of non-MD counseling staff was one of the most serious issues in conducting predictive testing, which has not been improved since the previous survey performed in 2006. Institutional arrangements, such as revision of medical insurance system regarding genetic testing and counseling, might be necessary to resolve this issue.ArticleJOURNAL OF HUMAN GENETICS. 58(8):560-563 (2013)journal articl

Iduronate-2-sulfatase fused with anti-hTfR antibody, pabinafusp alfa, for MPS-II : a phase 2 trial in Brazil

In Hunter syndrome (mucopolysaccharidosis II [MPS-II]),systemic accumulation of glycosaminoglycans (GAGs) dueto a deficiency of iduronate-2-sulfatase (IDS), caused by mu-tations in theIDSgene, leads to multiple somatic manifesta-tions and in patients with the severe (neuronopathic)phenotype, also to central nervous system (CNS) involve-ment. These symptoms cannot be effectively treated withcurrent enzyme-replacement therapies, as they are unableto cross the blood-brain barrier (BBB). Pabinafusp alfa, anovel IDS fused with an anti-human transferrin receptorantibody, was shown to penetrate the BBB and to addressneurodegeneration in preclinical studies. Subsequent phase1/2 and 2/3 clinical studies in Japan have shown markedreduction of GAG accumulation in the cerebrospinalfluid(CSF), along with favorable clinical responses. A 26-week,open-label, randomized, parallel-group phase 2 study wasconducted in Brazil to further evaluate the safety and efficacyof intravenously administered pabinafusp alfa at 1.0, 2.0,and 4.0 mg/kg/week in MPS-II patients. The safety profilesin the three dosage groups were similar. Neurodevelopmentalevaluation suggested positive neurocognitive signals despite arelatively short study period. The 2.0-mg/kg group, whichdemonstrated marked reductions in substrate concentrationsin the CSF, serum, and urine, was considered to provide thebest combination regarding safety and efficacy signals

Efficacy and Complications of Emergent Transcatheter Arterial Embolization for the Management of Intractable Uterine Bleeding

Objective：Transcatheter arterial embolization（TAE）, including uterine artery embolization（UAE）, is effective for the management of obstetric and gynecologic hemorrhage. Some adverse effects have been reported with TAE, such as amenorrhea, endometrial trauma, and subsequent infertility. Herein we report the efficacy and complications of emergent TAE for the management of severe intractable uterine bleeding at our institute.Methods：From 2010 to 2019, thirty-eight patients underwent emergent TAE for intractable uterine bleeding. We evaluated the efficacy and complications of TAE, including a change in menstruation, fertility, and pregnancy outcomes in perinatal patients（group A；n＝23）, and in patients with gynecologic hemorrhage（group B；n＝15）.Results：In group A, 7 cases of retained placenta, 4 cases of postpartum hemorrhage, 2 cases of placenta accrete, 2 cases of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm, 2 cases of cervical pregnancy, 1 case of cesarean scar pregnancy, and 5 cases of unexplained hemorrhage were included. The median age of the group A was 37. In group B, 4 cases of uterine artery pseudoaneurysm, 2 cases of uterine arteriovenous malformation, 3 cases of uterine fibroids, 1case of adenomyosis, and 5 cases of unexplained hemorrhage were included. The median age of the group B was 39. The first attempt at TAE successfully controlled hemorrhage in 33 of 38 patients （86.8％）without major complications, and the remaining 5 patients required an additional attempt at TAE to control hemorrhage. One patient（2.6％）had transient buttock pain and foot ischemia. Among the 33 patients who had adequate follow-up care, all patients resumed regular menstruation. The median time to resume regular menstruation after TAE was 3 months （range, 1-13 months）in group A（n＝20）and 1 month（range, 1-6 months）in group B（n＝13）. Four of patients had 6 pregnancies in total：3 full-term live births, 2 missed abortions, and 1 artificial abortion. Among the 13 patients who desired pregnancy, 3（23％）conceived spontaneously.Conclusions：This retrospective study showed that emergent TAE may be effective and safe in treating intractable uterine bleeding with a high success rate. Ovarian and endometrial function were preserved based on the relatively early return of menstruation. Further prospective investigations with large number of patients are needed to confirm the preservation of ovarian function, fertility, and pregnancy outcome in reproductive-aged women

Association of automated carotid IMT measurement and HbA1c in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease

AIMS: The purpose of this study was to evaluate whether carotid IMT (cIMT) identified using automated software is associated with HbA1c in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease. METHODS: 370 consecutive patients (males 218; median age 69 years±11) who underwent carotid-US and first coronary angiography were prospectively analyzed. After ultrasonographic examinations were performed, the plaque score (PS) was calculated and automated IMT analysis was obtained with a dedicated algorithm. Pearson correlation analysis was performed to calculate the association between automated IMT, PS and HbA1c. RESULTS: The mean value of cIMT was 1.00±0.47mm for the right carotid and 1.04±0.49mm for the left carotid; the average bilateral value was 1.02±0.43mm. No significant difference of cIMT was detected between men and women. We found a direct correlation between cIMT values and HbA1c (p=0.0007) whereas the plaque score did not correlate with the HbA1c values (p>0.05) CONCLUSION: The results of our study confirm that automated cIMT values and levels of HbA1c in Japanese patients with coronary artery disease are correlated whereas the plaque score does not show a statistically significant correlation