Relationship between psychosomatic complaints and circadian rhythm irregularity assessed by salivary levels of melatonin and growth hormone

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In university health care settings, students with psychosomatic complaints often have chronotypic problems. For this reason, we investigated a potential connection between psychosomatic complaints and circadian rhythm irregularity assessed by salivary levels of melatonin and growth hormone.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Fifteen healthy students between 21 and 22 years of age were examined for physiological parameters of chronotypes based on melatonin and growth hormone secretion patterns, using a fluorescence enzyme immunoassay. Salivary samples were collected from subjects at home five times each day (20:00, 24:00, 04:00, 08:00, and 12:00 h). In addition, the subjects rated their psychosomatic symptoms twice (at 08:00 and 20:00 h).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>A group with irregular circadian rhythm of melatonin (ICR) showed more psychosomatic complaints than a group with the regular circadian rhythm (RCR), especially for anxiety.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Psychosomatic symptoms, particularly anxiety, may be associated with irregularity in melatonin and growth hormone rhythms, which can be altered by basic lifestyle habits even in healthy students.</p

Effect of electro-acupuncture stimulation of different frequencies and intensities on ovarian blood flow in anaesthetized rats with steroid-induced polycystic ovaries

BACKGROUND: Maintenance of ovarian blood flow (OBF) is suggested to be important for regular ovulation in women with polycystic ovaries (PCO). The purpose of the present study was to investigate whether electro-acupuncture (EA) of different frequencies and intensities can improve the OBF of anaesthetized rat in the animal model of PCO. METHODS: PCO was experimentally induced by a single intramuscular (i.m.) injection of estradiol valerate (EV) in rats. Control rats were given i.m. injection of oil. The involvement of the two ovarian sympathetic nerves; superior ovarian nerve (SON) and plexus ovarian nerve (OPN), in OBF responses was elucidated by severance of SON and OPN in both control and PCO rats. How systemic circulatory changes affect OBF was evaluated by continuous recording of the blood pressure. OBF was measured on the surface of the ovary-using laser Doppler flowmetry. Acupuncture needles were inserted bilaterally into the abdominal and hind limb muscles and connected to an electrical stimulator. Two frequencies – 2 Hz (low) and 80 Hz (high) – with three different intensities – 1.5, 3, and 6 mA – were applied for 35 s. RESULTS: Low-frequency EA at intensities of 3 and 6 mA elicited significant increases in OBF in the Control group compared to baseline. In the PCO group the increases in OBF were significant only when stimulating with low-frequency EA at 6 mA. After severance of the ovarian sympathetic nerves, the increased response of OBF that had been induced by low-frequency EA in both the Control and PCO group was abolished, indicating that the OBF response is mediated via the ovarian sympathetic nerves. High-frequency EA at 6 mA significantly decreased OBF and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) in the Control group compared to baseline. In the PCO group, the same stimulation produced similar decreases in MAP, but not in OBF. CONCLUSION: Low-frequency EA stimulation with a strong intensity (6 mA) increases OBF in rats with steroid-induced PCO whereas less strong intensity (3 mA) induces similar changes in control rats. Severance of the ovarian sympathetic nerves, abolish this OBF increase in both study groups, which suggests that the responses of OBF to EA are mediated via the ovarian sympathetic nerves

A Study on the Development of the Practice in Early Childhood Care and Education to Improve Both the Way to Grasp Its Goals and the Practice Itself Qualitatively

今日の保育園には，保育課程経営の実現が求められている。保育課程経営とは，保育課程開発の各段階とそれに対応する経営活動をPDCAサイクルにのせて推進し，より豊かな園の保育を実現しようとする営みであるといえる。その実現のためのアクション・リサーチが，私立御南保育園において実施されている。同リサーチでは，実効のある保育目標の明確化過程をとおして，保育目標の明確化手順を開発し､その上で，所属保育士有志が，実効のある保育目標を達成するためのより発展的な保育実践を開発しようとする取り組みを行っている。本研究では，その過程の分析をとおして，実効のある保育目標を前提にした保育実践開発が，保育目標のとらえ方と保育実践の両者を質的に向上させる可能性があることとその実現のための課題について考察している

Heritability and Environmental Correlation of Phase Angle with Anthropometric Measurements: A Twin Study

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)-derived phase angle (PhA) is a valuable parameter to assess physical health. However, the genetic and environmental aspects of PhA are not yet well understood. The present study aimed to estimate the heritability of PhA and investigate the relationships between PhA and anthropometric measurements. PhA and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were examined using multi-frequency BIA in 168 Japanese twin volunteers (54 males and 114 females; mean age = 61.0 ± 16.5 years). We estimated the narrow-sense heritability of these parameters and the genetic and environmental relationships between them using a genetic twin modeling. For the PhA, 51% (95% confidence interval: 0.33, 0.64) of the variance was explained by additive genetic effects, and 49% (95% confidence interval: 0.36, 0.67) was explained by unique environmental effects. The heritability of PhA was lower than the height, body weight, and body mass index. PhA shared almost no genetic variation with anthropometric measurements and SMI but shared an environmental variation (14%) with SMI. These findings suggest that the genes affecting PhA are different than those affecting anthropometric measurements and SMI. The correlation between PhA and SMI is caused by common environmental factors

Heritability and Environmental Correlation of Phase Angle with Anthropometric Measurements: A Twin Study

Bioelectrical impedance analysis (BIA)-derived phase angle (PhA) is a valuable parameter to assess physical health. However, the genetic and environmental aspects of PhA are not yet well understood. The present study aimed to estimate the heritability of PhA and investigate the relationships between PhA and anthropometric measurements. PhA and skeletal muscle mass index (SMI) were examined using multi-frequency BIA in 168 Japanese twin volunteers (54 males and 114 females; mean age = 61.0 ± 16.5 years). We estimated the narrow-sense heritability of these parameters and the genetic and environmental relationships between them using a genetic twin modeling. For the PhA, 51% (95% confidence interval: 0.33, 0.64) of the variance was explained by additive genetic effects, and 49% (95% confidence interval: 0.36, 0.67) was explained by unique environmental effects. The heritability of PhA was lower than the height, body weight, and body mass index. PhA shared almost no genetic variation with anthropometric measurements and SMI but shared an environmental variation (14%) with SMI. These findings suggest that the genes affecting PhA are different than those affecting anthropometric measurements and SMI. The correlation between PhA and SMI is caused by common environmental factors

ベトナム ノ ニッケイ ノウキギョウ ニヨル ジンテキ シゲン カンリ ト ジュウギョウイン マンゾクド ニ カンスル ケンキュウ

These days, numerous Japanese investors looked to land in Vietnam as an alluring goal. So as, to put resources into a far-off nation, there are various challenges which they must face with. One component plays an important role for the success or failure of organizations which is human resources (HR), particularly in multi country organizations. This paper aims to study the general issues of Japanese farm businesses in Vietnam in human resource management (HRM) that influence employee’s job satisfaction and working conditions of the employee in these businesses. We found that there are differences in employee’s job satisfaction of the labourers in these businesses due to dissimilarities in how the farm are managed. Our comparison demonstrates advantages in some aspects as (1) Salary and Allowance (2) Management Method (3) Recruitment method (4) Training (5) Working hours (6) Human relation and (7) Working atmosphere of HRM of these organizations having higher employees’ job satisfaction evaluation. Finally, based on the results of qualitative and quantitative evidence as well of the comprehensive interview, some suggestions were given to HRM in Japanese farm businesses on some problems they could meet in employee management. In more detail, in order to improve businesses’ effectiveness, efficiency and meet new challenges in the future, a higher educated agricultural workforce in these companies is required as well as companies must enhance their managerial capacity

A Report on Overseas Teaching Practicum by Graduate Students in Elementary/Secondary Schools in the United States (XIII)

This paper reports on the overseas teaching practicum in the U.S. and the international forum in which we exchanged ideas on “next-generation global teacher education.” This year, four graduate school students participated in the overseas teaching practicum, and we found the change of their lessons from “information-giving” style in the previous years to “experiencing”, “exchanging”, and “creating” type of lessons this year. The participants reported that it became an excellent opportunity for them to consider a better and comprehensible way to explain something to children since there was “the English barrier”, they noticed the power of visual and other means to convey messages. In the international forum, held earlier in July in Hiroshima, two participants of the previous year’s overseas teaching practicum program reported how their perspectives toward education and the actual lessons had been changed from the experience. The speakers from the U.S. introduced how international exchange at their schools work to broaden the students’ eyes and their global-mind

Clinical Significance of Septal Malalignment for Transcatheter Closure of Atrial Septal Defect

Background. Septal malalignment is related to erosion and device embolization in transcatheter closure of atrial septal defect (ASD), but limited information is available. Objectives. This study aimed to assess clinical significance of septal malalignment and to determine appropriate evaluation of ASD diameter, including the selection of device size. Methods. Four hundred and seventeen patients with ASD who underwent transcatheter closure were enrolled. Septal malalignment was defined as separation between the septum primum and the septum secundum on transesophageal echocardiography. Results. One hundred and eighty-four patients had septal malalignment. The frequency of septal malalignment increased with age reaching around 50% in adult patients. Septal malalignment was related to aortic rim deficiency. The distance of separation between the septum primum and the septum secundum was 5 +/- 2 mm (range, 1-11 mm). In patients with septal malalignment, the ASD diameter measured at the septum primum was 19 +/- 6 mm, while the ASD diameter measured at the septum secundum was 16 +/- 6 mm. There was a difference of 4 +/- 2 mm (range, 0-8 mm) between the ASD diameter measured at the septum primum and that measured at the septum secundum. For transcatheter closure, the Amplatzer Septal Occluder device size 2-3 mm larger and the Occlutech Figulla Flex II device size 4-7 mm larger than the ASD diameter measured at the septum primum were frequently used. During the study period, erosion or device embolization did not occur in all of the patients. Conclusions. Septal malalignment is highly prevalent in adult patients with aortic rim deficiency. The measurement of ASD diameter at the septum primum can be valuable for the selection of device size in patients with septal malalignment