Prevalence of medical factors related to aging among older car drivers: a multicenter, cross-sectional, descriptive study

Aim An increasing number of older adults in Japan are at an increased risk of road traffic crashes. This study aimed to investigate the prevalence of potential underlying medical factors that increase the risk of road traffic crashes among older people. Methods This cross-sectional observational study was conducted in 11 medical institutions in Japan using self-administered questionnaires and physical examination from January to May 2021. The background and social data, data on the use of nursing care insurance, and clinical data suggestive of polypharmacy, sarcopenia, cognitive impairment, and frailty/oral frailty were obtained. The prevalence of these factors was compared between everyday and occasional drivers. Results Data of 127 patients were collected; their median (interquartile range) age was 73 (70-78) years. Of the total participants, 82 were men (64.6%) and 45 were women (35.4%). There were 77 everyday drivers and 50 occasional drivers. Of these, 121 (95.3%) had not applied for nursing care insurance, but the numbers of those who required help 1 and 2 were 1 (0.8%) and 3 (2.4%), respectively. Prevalence of medical factors was as follows: polypharmacy, 27.6%; sarcopenia, 8.7%; dementia, 16.4%; frailty, 15.0%; and oral frailty, 54.3%; it was not significantly different between every day and occasional drivers. Intention to return the car license was significantly higher among the occasional drivers (2.6% vs. 14.0%; odds ratio: 6.7, 95% confidence interval: 1.2-70.6, p = 0.024). Conclusion We uncovered the prevalence of medical factors that can be associated with road traffic crashes among Japanese older people aged >= 65 years in our community

RNA Modification in Inflammatory Bowel Diseases

Inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) is a chronic inflammatory disorder characterized by damage to the intestinal mucosa, which is caused by a combination of factors. These include genetic and epigenetic alterations, environmental influence, microorganism interactions, and immune conditions. Some populations with IBD show a cancer-prone phenotype. Recent studies have provided insight into the involvement of RNA modifications in the specific pathogenesis of IBD through regulation of RNA biology in epithelial and immune cells. Studies of several RNA modification-targeting reagents have shown preferable outcomes in patients with colitis. Here, we note a new awareness of RNA modification in the targeting of IBD and related diseases, which will contribute to early diagnosis, disease monitoring, and possible control by innovative therapeutic approaches

Generation of four induced pluripotent stem cell lines (FHUi003-A, FHUi003-B, FHUi004-A and FHUi004-B) from two affected individuals of a familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus family

Four disease-specific induced pluripotent stem cell (iPSC) lines were respectively derived from peripheral blood mononuclear cells of two affected individuals in a family affected by familial neurohypophyseal diabetes insipidus carrying the c.314G>C mutation. The expression of pluripotency markers (NANOG, OCT4, and SOX2), maintenance of a normal karyotype, absence of episomal vectors used for iPSC generation, and presence of the original pathogenic mutation were confirmed for each iPSC line. The ability to differentiate into three germ layers was confirmed by a teratoma formation assay. These iPSC lines can help in disease recapitulation in vitro using organoids and elucidation of disease mechanisms

Redox oscillations in 18650-type lithium-ion cell revealed by in operando Compton scattering imaging

Compton scattering imaging using high-energy synchrotron x rays allows the visualization of the spatiotemporal lithiation state in lithium-ion batteries probed in operando. Here, we apply this imaging technique to the commercial 18650-type cylindrical lithium-ion battery. Our analysis of the line shapes of the Compton scattering spectra taken from different electrode layers reveals the emergence of inhomogeneous lithiation patterns during the charge-discharge cycles. Moreover, these patterns exhibit oscillations in time where the dominant period corresponds to the timescale of the charging curve.Peer reviewe

A study of collaboration between staff and physicians involved in prosthetic limb production

　本研究では，医学生が多職種連携を考える上で，義肢装具士との連携においてはどのようなことが必要であるかを調査・検討した。調査の結果，調査対象とした義肢装具士46名中，医師との連携で困っていると答えた人数は16名（35.6％）であった。アンケートとインタビューの内容から，患者，医師，義肢装具士の三者間の連携不足があることが明らかになった。これによって，義肢装具士が現場で抱える問題として，①医師との情報交換の頻度の少なさ，②義肢装具使用者の装着後のメンテナンスなどができていないなどの問題が挙げられた。また，医学生として学ぶべきことは，患者のQOLのために，患者だけでなく義肢装具士など他の職種とのコミュニケーションが重要であること，さらに，義肢装具士などの他の専門職種について医師が知らない領域があるということを認識し，積極的な情報共有の必要性を理解することである。以上のことから，医師の卒前または卒後教育の中で義肢装具に関する知識・技術の習得とともに，義肢装具士がチーム医療には必要であること，病院においては義肢装具士もカンファレンスに参加できる環境作りが急務であると考える。　This study conducted a survey to examine what medical students should consider in partnerships with prosthetists/orthotists from the perspective of interprofessional collaboration.The results of the survey revealed that 16 out of 46 prosthetists/orthotists, or 36%, surveyed said they had trouble working with physicians. The questionnaire and interviews revealed that there was a lack of collaboration among patients, doctors and prosthetists/orthotists. This led to problems faced by prosthetists/orthotists in their field, such as infrequent exchanges with physicians and poor maintenance by prosthetic users after fitting. It also indicated that what we as medical students must learn for better patient QOL is that communication not only with patients but also with other professionals such as prosthetists/orthotists is very important. Furthermore, we need to be aware that there are many other professional areas we know little about and understand that there is a need for positive information sharing. Based on the above, we realize that, in addition to acquiring the knowledge and skills related to prosthetic devices as part of the pre- and post-graduate education of physicians, we should also recognize that prosthetists/orthotists are an important part of team medicine and that there is an urgent need for hospitals to create an environment in which prosthetists/orthotists can participate in clinical team conferences

LDL-C/HDL-C Ratio Predicts Carotid Intima-Media Thickness Progression Better Than HDL-C or LDL-C Alone

High-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) are strong predictors of atherosclerosis. Statin-induced changes in the ratio of LDL-C to HDL-C (LDL-C/HDL-C) predicted atherosclerosis progression better than LDL-C or HDL-C alone. However, the best predictor of subclinical atherosclerosis remains unknown. Our objective was to investigate this issue by measuring changes in carotid intima-media thickness (IMT). A total of 1,920 subjects received health examinations in 1999, and were followed up in 2007. Changes in IMT (follow-up IMT/baseline IMT × 100) were measured by ultrasonography. Our results showed that changes in IMT after eight years were significantly related to HDL-C (inversely, P < 0.05) and to LDL-C/HDL-C ratio (P < 0.05). When the LDL-C/HDL-C ratios were divided into quartiles, analysis of covariance showed that increases in the ratio were related to IMT progression (P < 0.05). This prospective study demonstrated the LDL-C/HDL-C ratio is a better predictor of IMT progression than HDL-C or LDL-C alone

An Evaluative Survey of Cross-Cultural Learning through Video Materials

本報告は、日本の地域紹介番組が実際に米国の大学で活用された際の評価調査の結果である。番組自体に対する反応は概ね好意的であり、具体的な学習結果や番組の改善点に関する記述も得た。一方、学習評価の結果からは、まず番組中の日本人のイメージについて、先行イメージに比較して親しみ深さは上昇したが有能さは下降した。後者の結果は、非現実的に高かった日本人の有能さの評価が下方修正されたものと考えられる。また、視聴後、文化領域での日本への関心や日米両国間の類似性感覚が増大した。さらに、パス解析を行ったところ、事前の日本人イメージの肯定度と類似性感覚の大きさが学習成果にプラスに影響することが示唆された。An evaluative survey was held in the US regarding three video programs recently produced to facilitate understanding of the realities of ordinary Japanese life. The viewers evaluated these programs as having satisfactory educational qualities. In addition, the programs created significant learning effects on the viewers, who felt the Japanese were more understandable and easier to get along with, after seeing the films. But they also found the Japanese less intelligent, which may reflect a realistic modification of Americans\u27 high regard of Japanese industriousness. Moreover, the films increased the viewers\u27 cultural interest toward Japan, as well as their feelings of similarity between the two cultures. Path analysis suggested that positive images of the people and feelings of similarity contributed significantly in cross-cultural learning processes. Specific descriptions of learning outcome and suggestions for program improvement were also collected

Anti-podoplanin antibody against MPM

Podoplanin (aggrus) is highly expressed in several types of cancers, including malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM). Previously, we developed a rat anti-human podoplanin mAb, NZ-1, and a rat–human chimeric anti-human podoplanin antibody, NZ-8, derived from NZ-1, which induced antibody-dependent cellular cytotoxicity (ADCC) and complement-dependent cytotoxicity against podoplanin-positive MPM cell lines. In this study, we showed the antitumor effect of NZ-1, NZ- 8, and NZ-12, a novel rat–human chimeric anti-human podoplanin antibody derived from NZ-1, in an MPM orthotopic xenograft SCID mouse model. Treatment with NZ-1 and rat NK (CD161a+) cells inhibited the growth of tumors and the production of pleural effusion in NCI-H290/PDPN or NCI-H226 orthotopic xenograft mouse models. NZ-8 and human natural killer (NK) (CD56+) cells also inhibited tumor growth and pleural effusion in MPM orthotopic xenograft mice. Furthermore, NZ-12 induced potent ADCC mediated by human MNC, compared with either NZ-1 or NZ-8. Antitumor effects were observed following treatment with NZ-12 and human NK (CD56+) cells in MPM orthotopic xenograft mice. In addition, combined immunotherapy using the ADCC activity of NZ-12 mediated by human NK (CD56+) cells with pemetrexed, led to enhanced antitumor effects in MPM orthotopic xenograft mice. These results strongly suggest that combination therapy with podoplanin-targeting immunotherapy using both NZ-12 and pemetrexed might provide an efficacious therapeutic strategy for the treatment of MPM

キョウイクガク ノ パトス ロンテキ テンカイ ヲ ヨム １ サマザマナ リンショウ ノ シテン カラ

本稿は，日本教育学会・近畿地区理事会企画シンポジウム「『教育学のパトス論的転回』を読む」第一部の報告論文である。シンポジウムの趣旨は，岡部美香・小野文生編著『教育学のパトス論的転回』（東京大学出版会，2021年）の公開合評会を実施することにあった。これまで数多くの教育改革が実施されてきたにもかかわらず，今日の学校教育は，経済的な格差，マイノリティの排除，いじめを始めとする暴力といった問題を克服し得ないばかりか，むしろ，それらを再生産していると指摘される．この要因の一つに，実証的・合理的な成果を速やかに上げることのみをめざして教育改革が行われてきたことがあるのではないか。この問題意識の下，『教育学のパトス論的転回』では，そうした教育改革が看過してきた教育（学）のパトス的な側面を原理的に問うことを試みた。本書の内容をふまえ，上記シンポジウムの第一部では，教育学の理論的研究と同時に，それぞれ独自のフィールドで社会的に意義のある興味深い臨床的な実践および実践研究に取り組んでいる研究者に登壇していただき，それぞれの臨床から見たパトスの意義やそこに現象するパトス的なものについて論じていただいた。This is a report on the first part of the symposium “Interpreting The Pathological Turn of Education,” which was held on May 30, 2021, hosted by the Kinki-region board of directors of the Japanese Educational Research Association. The main purpose of this symposium was to hold a public joint-review meeting on the book The Pathological Turn of Education (University of Tokyo Press, 2021), edited by Mika OKABE and Fumio ONO. Despite the implementation of numerous educational reforms, it is said that school education has not only been ineffective in addressing problems such as economic disparities, exclusion of minorities, and bullying and other forms of violence, but rather reproduces them. One of the factors attributable to this is that educational reforms have been implemented only to achieve prompt, empirical, and rational results. From this perspective, The Pathological Turn of Education attempted to principally examine the pathological aspects of education and educational studies that such reforms have overlooked. In the first part of the symposium, five researchers jointly discussed the significance of pathos and its manifestations in their respective clinical fields. These researchers work on socially significant and interesting clinical practices and practical research in their respective fields. They are also engaged in theoretical pedagogical research

Control of excitatory hierarchical circuits by parvalbumin-FS basket cells in layer 5 of the frontal cortex: insights for cortical oscillations

The cortex contains multiple neuron types with specific connectivity and functions. Recent progress has provided a better understanding of the interactions of these neuron types as well as their output organization particularly for the frontal cortex, with implications for the circuit mechanisms underlying cortical oscillations that have cognitive functions. Layer 5 pyramidal cells (PCs) in the frontal cortex comprise two major subtypes: crossed-corticostriatal (CCS) and corticopontine (CPn) cells. Functionally, CCS and CPn cells exhibit similar phase-dependent firing during gamma waves but participate in two distinct subnetworks that are linked unidirectionally from CCS to CPn cells. GABAergic parvalbumin-expressing fast-spiking (PV-FS) cells, necessary for gamma oscillation, innervate PCs, with stronger and global inhibition to somata and weaker and localized inhibitions to dendritic shafts/spines. While PV-FS cells form reciprocal connections with both CCS and CPn cells, the excitation from CPn to PV-FS cells exhibits short-term synaptic dynamics conducive for oscillation induction. The electrical coupling between PV-FS cells facilitates spike synchronization among PV-FS cells receiving common excitatory inputs from local PCs and inhibits other PV-FS cells via electrically communicated spike afterhyperpolarizations. These connectivity characteristics can promote synchronous firing in the local networks of CPn cells and firing of some CCS cells by anode-break excitation. Thus subsets of L5 CCS and CPn cells within different levels of connection hierarchy exhibit coordinated activity via their common connections with PV-FS cells, and the resulting PC output drives diverse neuronal targets in cortical layer 1 and the striatum with specific temporal precision, expanding the computational power of the cortical network