Experimental studies on coronary perfusion with pump-oxygenator

1. Methods of retrograde coronary perfusion and direct coronary artery perfusion in combination with a bubble oxygenator were investigated in dogs. 2. Ventricular fibrillation occurred more frequently during the operation in hypothermia than in the operation performed in combination with the extracorporeal circulation. 3. The optimal pressure of perfusion is considered to be 30 to 35 mm Hg in retroperfusion, whereas, 100 mm Hg in direct coronary artery perfusion. 4. Perfusion by the pressure bottle method is preferable to the gravity method because the fall of blood temperature in the irrigation tubing might cause ventricular fibrillation. 5. From the metabolic study of the methods is clear that there is a tendency to myocardial anoxia after 15 to 20 minutes of perfusion in both methods.</p

Experimental study on coronary perfusion with selective brain cooling for direct aortic surgery

1. Retrograde coronary perfusion in combination with selective brain cooling by irrigation was investigated in dogs, in comparison with direct coronary artery perfusion. 2. High incidence of ventricular fibrillation was seen in both methods in hypothermic state. Operation at the normal temperature using extracorporeal circulation is desirable, 3. In view of the above results optimal perfusion pressure appears 30 mm Hg. in retroperfusion, while 100 mm Hg. in direct coronary artery perfusion. 4. The right ventricle anoxia is an undesirable feature in retroperfusion, while the left ventricle showed a tendency to slight anoxia in both methods.</p

因果関係モデルによる腎移植レシピエントのQOLの分析

The purpose of this study is to analyze the structural relationship among the components of quality of life of kidney transplant recipients by using a causal model. The subjects were 329 recipients who had regular checks-up following transplantation in seven general hospitals in Tokyo, Gunma, Aichi, Okayama, and Hiroshima, and agreed to participate in this study. Ferrans and Powers's Quality of Life - Index Kidney Transplant version was used to measure perceived quality of life. The self-administered questionnaires were handed over to the subjects, who completed the instrument on the spot. After that, the answers were collected immediately. The factor analysis and the covariance structure analysis were used to make clear the structural relationship among the components of quality of life. The results of data analysis were as follows : (1) Five components of quality of life were extracted ; socio-economic functioning, family ties, emotional support, physical health, and peace & happiness. (2) The scores in the family ties dimension and the physical health dimension were higher than in the others, and the score in the socio-economic functioning dimension was the lowest. (3) The physical health showed the starting point in a causal model. (4) The physical health influenced the family ties and the socio-economic functioning. (5) The socio-economic functioning strongly influenced the peace & happiness and the emotional support. (6) The family ties influenced the socio-economic functioning, the emotional support, and the peace & happiness. Therefore, it was conceivable that it was particularly important to make approaches for the physical health, the family ties, and the socio-economic functioning dimensions to improve quality of life.本研究は，因果関係モデルによって，腎移植後レシピエントのQOLの構成要素間の関係を明らかにすることを目的としている。対象者は，東京，群馬，愛知，岡山，広島の7医療機関に外来通院中で，研究に同意が得られた329名の腎移植後のレシピエントである。レシピエントのQOLに関するデータは，Ferrans＆PowersのQuality of Life Index―Kidney Transplant versionの測定用具を用いて収集した。収集は外来受診時に行い，対象者に自己記入式質問紙を配布し，その場で記入してもらった後，直ちに回収した。データ分析は，QOLの構成要素と構成要素間の因果関係を明らかにするために，因子分析と共分散構造分析を行った。分析結果は以下の通りである。すなわち、(1)QOLの構成要素として，社会・経済的な機能，家族の絆，情緒的な支え，身体の健康，安らぎと幸福の5つが抽出された。(2)「家族の絆」と「身体の健康」についての得点が高く，「社会・経済的な機能」についての得点が最も低かった。(3)因果関係モデルにおいて，「身体的な健康」が原点となっていた。(4)「身体的な健康」は，「家族の絆」と「社会・経済的な機能」に影響を及ぼしていた。(5)「社会・経済的な機能」は，「安らぎと幸福」と「情緒的な支え」に強く影響を及ぼしていた。(6)「家族の絆」は，「社会・経済的な機能」，「情緒的な支え」，「安らぎと幸福」に影響を及ぼしていた。したがって、レシピエントのQOLを高めるために，「身体的な健康」，「家族の絆」，「社会・経済的な機能」の側面に働きかけていくことが特に重要であると考えられた

Longevity-associated NADH Dehydrogenase Subunit-2 237 Leu/Met Polymorphism Modulates the Effects of Daily Alcohol Drinking on Yearly Changes in Serum Total and LDL Cholesterol in Japanese Men

Reduced nicotinamide adenine dinucleotide (NADH) dehydrogenase subunit 2 237 leucine/methionine (ND2-237 Leu/Met) polymorphism, is reportedly associated with longevity in the Japanese population. The ND2-237Met genotype may exert resistance to atherogenic diseases, such as myocardial infarction or cerebrovascular disorders. To investigate whether ND2-237 Leu/Met polymorphism is associated with yearly changes in serum lipid levels, we conducted a longitudinal study of 107 healthy Japanese male subjects. Analysis of covariance revealed that the interaction between the ND2-237 Leu/Met genotypes and habitual drinking was significantly associated with yearly changes in serum total cholesterol (TC) and low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDLC) levels (p0.036 and p0.006, respectively). In multiple regression analysis, daily drinking was significantly and positively associated with yearly changes in serum LDLC levels in men with ND2-237Met (p0.026). After adjusting for covariates, yearly changes in serum LDLC levels were significantly lower in non-daily drinkers with ND2-237Met than in those with ND2-237Leu (p0.047). These results suggest that ND2-237Met has a beneficial impact on yearly changes in serum LDLC in non-daily drinkers but not in daily drinkers.</p

Soil Improvements of an Inhomogeneous Reclaimed Ground

A coal storage yard for an electric power plant was to be constructed on reclaimed land in northern Japan. As the reclaimed land consisted of loose sand and soft silt, a deep well excavation method, a dynamic compaction method and a sand compaction method were selected to improve clayey grounds, sandy grounds and intermediate grounds, respectively. After the improvement, no obvious settlement and no liquefaction has been induced

Trends in quality of life of in-unit hemodialysis patients

本研究の目的は,外来透析者の主観的な評価によりQOLを測定し,そのQOLの傾向を明らかにすることである。対象者は,名古屋･大阪･岡山･広島の4施設における外来透析者で,研究に同意を得られた341名とし,研究方法は,自己記入式質問紙法を用いた｡測定用具は,Ferrans & PowersのQuality of Life Index (QLI)を翻訳して用い,データ分析はプロマックス法による因子分析を行なった｡QLI項目を因子分析した結果,｢社会･経済的な機能｣｢家族･他者からの支え｣｢心の安寧｣｢身体の健康｣｢医療と教育｣の5因子が抽出された｡そして,｢家族･他者からの支え｣および｢医療と教育｣はQLI得点が高く,｢社会･経済的な機能｣および｢身体の健康｣は低いことが明らかになった｡従って,QOLを高めるためには,社会的側面や身体面をより重視して看護していくことが重要であると考えられた｡The purpose of this study is to clarify the quality of life (QOL) of in-unit hemodialysis patients. The subjects were 341 in-unit hemodialysis patients who agreed to participate in this study from four hospitals in Nagoya, Osaka, Okayama, and Hirosima. The Ferrans and Powers Quality of Life Index (QLI) Hemodialysis version (an authorised translation into Japanese) was used for measuring perceived quality of life. By factor analysis, 'socio-economic functioning', 'support from family and others', 'well-being of mind', 'physical health' and 'medical treatment and education' were extracted as five factors of the QOL. The QOL score on the 'support from family and others' was the highest of all, whereas 'physical health' and 'socio-economic functioning' were lower than other three factors. These results showed importance of physical and social dimensions in caring hemodialysis patients in clinical practice

Association of serum brain-derived neurotrophic factor with hepatic enzymes, AST/ALT ratio, and FIB-4 index in middle-aged and older women

Substantial evidence suggests an important role of liver function in brain health. Liver function is clinically assessed by measuring the activity of hepatic enzymes in the peripheral blood. Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) is an important regulator of brain function. Therefore, we hypothesized that blood BDNF levels are associated with liver function and fibrosis. To test this hypothesis, in this cross-sectional study, we investigated whether serum BDNF concentration is associated with liver enzyme activity, aspartate aminotransferase (AST)/ alanine aminotransferase (ALT) ratio, and fibrosis-4 (FIB-4) index in middle-aged and older women. We found that serum BDNF level showed a significant positive association with ALT and γ-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGT) activity and negative association with FIB-4 index, and a trend of negative association with the AST/ALT ratio after adjustment for age. Additionally, these associations remained statistically significant even after adjustment for body mass index (BMI) and fasting blood glucose level. These results demonstrate associations of serum BDNF levels with liver enzymes and hepatic fibrosis-related indices, which may underlie liver-brain interactions