高齢者気管支喘息における気道過敏性と温泉療法

Clinical effects of spa therapy were examined in 150 patients with asthma in relation tobronchial hyperresponsiveness and patient age. 1. The efficacy rate of spa therapy was larger as the patient age was higher: the rate was 73.3% in patients under age 49, 81.8% in those between the ages of 50 and 59, 86.4% in those between the ages of 60 and 69, and 90.6% in those over age 70. The mean of efficacy rates was 83.3% in all subjects. 2. The bronchial hyperresponsiveness (BH) was lower as patient age was higher: the BH in patients between the ages of 60 and 69 and in those over age 70 was significantly lower compared to the BH in those under age 49 (p < O.OOl). 3. Clinical effects of spa therapy tended to be lower in patients with increased bronchial hyperresponsiveness. The bronchial hyperresponsiveness showed a tendency to decrease after spa therapy in whom the therapy was effective, however, the BH did not change in patients with slight or no efficacy during spa therapy.1.温泉療法では,年齢が高くなるほどその有効率も高くなると言う傾向が見られ､49才以下の症例では73.3% ,50-59才の症例では81.8% , 60-69才の症例では86.4% ,70才以上では90.6% であり,全症例の平均有効率は73.3% であった｡　 2.気道過敏性は,年齢が高くなるほど低下する傾向が見られ,60-69才および70才以上の症例の気道過敏性は,49才以下の症例と比べ有 意に低い値を示した(P < 0.001)。　 3.温泉療法の臨床効果は,気道過敏性が強くなるにつれて低下する傾向が見られた｡また,温泉療法の著効例や有効例では,治療により 気道過敏性が低下してくるが､やや有効例や無効例では,気道過敏性はほとんど変化しないことが示された

サーモグラフィーによる体表面温度の測定 3.体表面温度の回復率と末消血流量との相関

The body surface peripheral circulation in 12 cases,　including 9 patients with　diabetes mellitus who were suffering coldness, numbness or pain in their feet, and 3 healthy volunteers was examined using Laser-Doppler blood flowmetry. At the same time, the body surface temperature was estimated by thermography. Thermographic results were analyzed quantitatively by calculating a recovery ratio as : Recovery ratio = [Total counts of thermography(Pixels) over temperature (T) after cold loading] ÷ [Initial counts over T before cold loading] x 100(%). The recovery ratio and the blood flow were correlated, r=0.68, p<O.01. The peripheral circulation of 16 patients with diabetes mellitus was observed at three different conditions including, l)placed at room temperature at 20℃for 15 min, 2) submerged and warmed for 5 min in a hot bath at 36℃(i.e. hot loading), and 3) submerged and cooled for 5 min in a water bath at 20℃ (i.e. cold loading). Three different baseline temperatures, 26℃, 27℃ and 28 ℃, were used in processing the　thermographic results into pictures. The highest correlation (r=0.59, p=0.0002) was obtained under the condition of cold loading using a baseline temperature limitation of27℃.The difference ratio (%) of blood flow was calculated as the blood flow at cold loading divided by the blood flow at hot loading in these 16 patients. The difference　ratio of the blood flow and the recovery ratio of thermography were correlated, r=0.46, p<O.OOO1. We found a strong correlation between the results of Laser-Doppler blood flowmetry and one of thermographic methods used to monitor peripheral circulation in patients with diabetes mellitus. Cold loading using a baseline temperature limitation of 27℃ were recommended for further examinations. Patients with low blood flow as well as　with large differences in their peripheral circulation between cold loading and hot　loading had severe coldness in their body surface temperature. We showed the usefulness of the results of thermography, when quantified by picture processing using computer software, in relation with the results of Laser-Doppler blood flowmetry.末梢神経障害を有する糖尿病患者の末梢循環障害の程度を数量的に検討する目的で､下肢に冷感ならびにしびれ感または疼痛を訴える糖尿病患者9症例と健常ボランティア3例の計12例(平均年齢59歳)についてサーモグラフィーを用いて体表面温度を測定した｡更に,サーモグラフィーで得られた結果と末梢皮膚血流量をレーザードプラー血流計を用いて測定して得られた結果と比較した｡サーモグラフィーによる測定で得られた結果は回復率として数量化して表示された｡回復率の算出方法は回復率= [冷水負荷後の特定温度27℃以 上の体表面温度のサーモグラフィーのPixelの総数]÷ [冷水負荷前の特定温度27℃以上の体表面温度のサーモグラフィーのPixelの総数]×100%で求めた｡レーザードプラ-血流計を用いて測定して得られた末梢血流量は左右それぞれ5カ所,計10カ所の測定値の平均で表示した｡その結果,末梢皮膚温度の回復率と末梢皮膚の血流量との問には正の相関関係(r=0.68,p<0.01)が認められた｡次に,末梢皮膚血流量について,室温20℃安静15分後,温水36℃浸水負荷10分後,冷水20℃浸水負荷30分後の異なる3条件について､またサーモグラフィーで得られた結果を,画像処理の過程で用いられた,26℃,27℃,28℃の3つの異なる特定温度との関連について検討を行なった｡対象は,下肢に冷感ならびにしびれ感または疼痛を訴える糖尿病患者16症例(平均年齢69歳,平均HbAIC9.6%)について測定した｡その結果,末梢皮膚 血流量は冷水20℃浸水負荷30分後に測定して得られた結果と,回復率は特定温度27℃で画像処理して得られた結果とが最も相関が高い(r=0.59,p=0.0002)ことが示された｡`次に,相関が高い条件は,室温20℃安静15分後に血流量を測定した場合(r=0.483,p=0.0002)であった｡そして温 水36℃浸水負荷10分後に測定して得られた結果とが最も相関関係が低い結果となった｡更に,冷水20℃浸水負荷30分後に測定して得られた結果を温水36℃浸水負荷10分後に測定して得られた結果で割った比を%で表示したところ回復率とこの比との間には正の相関関係(r=0.46,p<0.0001)が認められた｡このことから,温水36℃負荷時と,冷水20℃負荷時との差が大きい患者 において末梢皮膚温度の低下が著しいことが示された｡これまで悲観血的に測定されてきたサーモグラフィーによる末梢循環の数量的評価の試みは,レーザー血流計による結果と組み合わせることで,両者の間に正の相関関係が示されたことにより,今後,数量化された客観的評価を可能にした

足関節におけるキネシオテープ貼付が身体の重心動揺安定性に及ぼす影響

本研究では、足関節におけるキネシオテープが身体の重心動揺安定性に及ぼす影響について検討するため、重心動揺計及びバランスボードによる評価を行った。その結果、身体の重心動揺安定性に関しては、キネシオテープ貼付が閉眼時のバランス能力を改善させることが示唆された。また、キネシオテープ貼付はバランスボード上での総接地時間を低下させ、その傾向は、前後方向の重心動揺回数においてより顕著であった。以上の結果より、足関節におけるキネシオテープは身体の重心動揺安定性を改善させることが明らかになった

サーモグラフィーによる体表面温度の測定 2.温水負荷の効果

The body surface temperature of 41 patients suffering coldness, numbness or pain in their feet was examined using thermography. Thermographic results were analyzed quantitatively by calculating a recovery ratio as: Recovery ratio =[Total counts of thermography (Pixels) over temperature (T) after cold loading] ÷ [Initial counts over T before cold loading] x 100(%). Three different baseline temperatures, 26℃. 27℃ and 28℃, were used in processing the thermographic results into pictures. The recovery ratio was susceptible to temperature, and we recommend a baseline temperature limitation of 27℃ for clinical study. A bi-modal distribution of recovery ratio was observed in 18 patients with diabetes mellitus. One group (6 subjects) had high recovery ratio between 80%-100%, and another group (10 subjects) had a low recovery ratio between 0%-19%. The results of thermography were also influenced by weather. To reduce the effect of outside temperature, we used pre-loading with hot water at 36℃ for 5 min (hot loading).　A large difference in　recovery ratio between presence and absence of hot loading was observed in 6 of the 30 subjects. The difference was over-estimated in more than 20% of recovery ratio without hot loading as compared with hot loading in these 6 subjects. The effect of drugs on peripheral circulation, such as beraprost sodium and sarpogrelate hydrochloride, was clear and quantified using thermography under these conditions of hot loading.下肢に冷感ならびにしびれ感または疼痛を訴える患者41症例についてサーモグラフィーを用いて体表面温度を測定した｡測定で得られた結果は回復率として数量化して表示された｡回復率の算出方法は回復率=[冷水負荷後の特定温度T℃以上の体表面温度のサーモグラフィーのPixelの総数]÷[温水負荷前の特定温度T℃以上の体表面温度のサーモグラフィーのPixelの総数]× 100%で求めた｡サーモグラフィーで得られた結果と画像処理の過程で用いられた,26℃,27℃,28℃の3つの異なる特定温度T℃ との関連について検討を行なった｡その結果,回復率は特定温度T℃に影響を受けやすいことが明らかとなった｡下肢の体表面温度の低い臨床症例においては27℃の条件が適当と考えられた｡前述の41症例中の18症例の糖尿病患者について検討を行なった｡そのサーモグラフィーの結果は,比較的回復率の高い(80%～100%)群の6症例と比較的回復率の低い(0%～19%)群の10症例の2群に別れた｡わずかに残り2症例が20%から79%の間であった｡下肢の症状が気温の低い時期に出親しやすいためにサーモグラフィーの検査を冬期に行なう必要性が高まった｡しかし,天候の影響を受けやすいために冷水負荷前の測定領域の下肢が冷えすぎているために20℃の室温に15分間の安静時間では体表面温度が十分に暖まることが出来ず,27℃以上の領域として測定範囲全体を観察できない 問題に直面した｡この間温点を解決する手段として36℃の温水に5分間下肢を入れて暖める温水負荷を加えることにした｡そこで, 温水負荷を行なった症例30症例について,温水負荷を行なう前(室温)の回復率と温水負荷を行なった後の回復率について比較検討を行なったところ,20%にあたる6症例において温水負荷を行なわなかった場合に20%以上の回復率の過剰評価が認めら れた｡温水負荷を行なうことにより年間を通じて天候の影響を最小限にすることが可能となり,この結果,長期間の内服薬の末梢循環に及ぼす影響の測 定を行なった場合に,季節の影響を最小限にしてサーモグラフィーにより回復率を用いて数値化された測定結果を検討することが可能となった｡具体的に末梢循環の改善に薬効が有ると言われている薬剤であるベラプロストおよびサルポグレラートを3ヵ月間内服した場合の前後のサーモグラフィーで得られた回復率について検討を行なった｡その結果はベラプロストにおいては,6.9%から41.9%に上昇または回復率の6.1倍の上昇を認めた。サルポグレラートにおいては,1.9%から17.3%に上昇または回復率の9.1倍の上昇を認めた。以上より,温水負荷を加えたサーモグラフィーの測定結果の数値化は下肢に症状の有る患者の末梢循環の評価ならびに薬効の評価の比較に有用であることが表わされた

Sm表面上のFe薄膜におけるFe 2p XPSスペクトルの膜厚依存性

Eight Fe-films with a thickness different from one another have been prepared by deposited on clean Sm surfaces with accuracy of 0.1 nm (Fe(d nm)/Sm(10.0nm)(d＝0.3,0.5,0.7,1.0,1.5,2.0,5.0,10.0)),and the Fe 2p3/2XPS spectra of the films have been,in situ,measured at about 8K and room temperature. A shift in the binding energy position of the Fe 2p3/2lines is found to depend on the film thickness and the temperature. At both temperatures,the shift from a peak position of the Fe 2p3/2line in Fe(10.0nm)/Sm(10.0nm)is hardly found in the range of～1-10 nm,whereas it increases monotonously to the low binding energy side as the film thickness decreases in the range of 0.1-～1nm. The value of the shift at about 8K seems to be larger than that at room temperature slightly in the range of 0.1-～1nm. Comparing with the case of Sm(d nm)/Fe(10.0nm) from Chihiro IIJIMA and Makoto OKUSAWA (2010),this suggests that a change in an electronic state takes place in the vicinity of a Fe-Sm interface,and that a charge density on the Fe side becomes large and that on the Sm side small. Detailed discussion will be presented elsewher

Use of Short Inversion Time Inversion Recovery Imaging to Differentiate between Aplastic Anemia and Myelodysplastic Syndrome

The value of short inversion time inversion recovery (STIR) imaging in differentiating patients with aplastic anemia (AA) from those with myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) was investigated. Thirty-nine patients with pancytopenia were diagnosed hematologically as having AA or MDS. These patients and 95 volunteers without hematologic disorders were then examined with STIR imaging. Hyperintense posterior pelvis was present in 25 of the 29 patients with MDS, including 17 of the 19 patients with refractory anemia. In contrast, high intensity of the posterior pelvis was absent in 8 of the AA 10 patients. High intensity of the femoral elements was present in 6 of the 8 patients with severe MDS and 3 of the 19 patients with refractory anemia. High intensity in the femoral elements was absent in all 10 AA patients. STIR imaging was useful in differentiating patients with AA from those with MDS

Joint Degradation in a Monkey Model of Collagen-Induced Arthritis: Role of Cathepsin K Based on Biochemical Markers and Histological Evaluation

The role of cathepsin K in joint degradation in a model of collagen-induced arthritis (CIA) in cynomolgus monkey was examined using biochemical markers and histology. Joint swelling, urinary C-telopeptide of type II collagen (CTX-II), deoxypyridinoline (DPD), and N- and C-telopeptides of type I collagen (NTX and CTX-I, resp.) were analyzed. Immunohistochemistry of type II collagen, cathepsin K, and CTX-II were performed using joints. Joint swelling reached peak on day 42 and continued at this level. The CTX-II level peaked on day 28 and declined thereafter, while CTX-I, NTX, and DPD reached plateau on day 43. Joint swelling was positively correlated with CTX-II increases on days 20 and 42/43, with increases in CTX-I and NTX/Cr on days 42/43 and 84, and with DPD increases throughout the study period. Intense cathepsin K staining was observed in osteoclasts and in articular cartilage and synovial tissue in arthritic joints. CTX-II was present in the superficial layer of articular cartilage in CIA monkeys. Evidence from biochemical markers suggests that matrix degradation in the CIA model starts with degradation of cartilage, rather than bone resorption. Cathepsin K expressed in osteoclasts, articular cartilage, and synovial tissue may contribute to degradation of cartilage

Pictorial Essay Magnetic Resonance Imaging in Rheumatoid Arthritis and Related Disorders

In this pictorial essay we outline the role of MRI in the work-up of RA and related disorders, and discuss its strengths and limitations with the help of representative case presentations. MRI provides detailed information about the involvement of bones, joints and soft tissue, which may not be evident on radiography. Moreover, MRI often reveals changes consistent with the early inflammatory changes in the synovium and bone marrow. Contrast enhancement study, especially with fat-suppression technique, can be useful in providing objective and quantitative parameters to determine a disease activity and an effect of treatment

気管支喘息におけるアレルギー性鼻炎と花粉抗原に対するIgE抗体

IgE antibodies against inhalant allergens were estimated in 53 patients with bronchial asthma in relation to allergic rhinitis. Of them, 20 patients (37.7%) had allergic rhinitis. 1. Asthma + allergic rhinitis were often observed in patients between the ages of 0 and 39. In contrast, asthma alone in those over age 60. 2. A RAST score was positive in house dust mite (HDm)(50.9%), cockroach(24.5%), and Candida (26.4%) in these patients, and the positive rate was not different between patients with and without allergic rhinitis. 3. The frequency of positive RAST against Japanese cedar and rice plants was higher in patients with allergic rhinitis (42.9% and 18.5%) than in those without allergic rhinitis (28.6 and 3.7%), however, the each positive rate or RAST against the two allergens was not significantly different between those with AR and without AR. 4. The number of patients with AR induced by pollen alone (pollinosis) was not large ( 5/53, 9.4%) in the patients with asthma. It was clarified from the results that allergic rhinitis was often observed in asthma patients, but not pollinosis. and that IgE antibodies against Japanese cedar and rice plants were found even in patients without AR.気管支喘息53例を対象に,吸入抗原に対するIgE抗体とアレルギー性鼻炎の合併の有無との関連について若干の検討を加えた｡対象53例中20例(37.7%)にアレルギー性鼻炎の合併が見られた｡ 1.喘息+アレルギー性鼻炎の合併は,0-39才の年齢層で最も多い傾向であったが,一方,喘息単独は60才以上の症例に多く見られた｡2,IgE抗体の陽性率は,それぞれHDm50.9%,ごきぶり 24.5%,カンジダ26.4%であった｡これら抗原のRAST陽性率は,アレルギー性鼻炎合併例と非合併例の問に有意の差は見られなかった｡3.スギおよびイネ科の花粉に対するRAST陽性率はアレルギー性鼻炎合併例で(スギ42.9%,イネ科18.5%),非合併例に比べ(28.6%と3.7%)高い傾向が見られたが,両群間に有意の差は見られなかった｡4.花粉抗原によるアレルギー性鼻炎(花粉症)の頻度は9.4% (53例中5列)とあまり高くはなかった｡以上の結果より,気管支喘息患者でしばしばアレルギー性鼻炎の合併が見られること,(しかし, 花粉症は少ない),そして,スギおよびイネ科の花粉に対するIgE抗体は,アレルギー性鼻炎の合併のない症例においても観察されること,などが明らかにされた