Preliminary study on heartbeats and swimming behavior of free-ranging fish, red sea bream Pagrus major, measured with newly developed micro data-logger

To estimate the physiological condition or metabolic rate simultaneously with swimming behavior, we recorded a continuous electrocardiogram (ECG) in freely swimming fish, red sea bream Pagrus major, in a net pen during a 24h period. Swimming speed, swimming depth, and the bioelectric potential of the heart in the test fish were recorded with a micro data-logger. It is difficult to eliminate electric noise while recording ECGs of actively swimming fish. In the present experiment, we attached electrodes to two points on the ventral surface and successfully obtained data. Two types of micro data-loggers (one for recording ECG and another for swimming speed and depth) were attached to the dorsal side of the fish. The red sea bream swam slowly ( <1 total length/s) and stayed deeper in the net pen during most of the day, except for frequent burst of speed and vertical movements around dawn. An analysis of heartbeat variability, showed that high-frequency components, representing vagal (parasympathetic) nerve activity, rose only around midnight

カム カラダ ト トモニ イキル : キツオン ジジョ ソシキ デノ カタリ ニ ミル キツオン タイショホウ ノ イミ

This study focused on the narratives of individuals who stutter to examine the process by which their self-image is improved in a self-help group. According to previous sociological studies, individuals who stutter tend to remain silent to protect their dignity, as stuttering violates the turn-taking rules of natural conversation. However, the participants in the group spoke freely with one another at meetings. It appeared to the observer as if the participants were not self-conscious about their stuttering. We analyzed the content of conversations at meetings as well as the life histories of 13 participants who had been enduring the stigmatization of their stuttering since childhood. Their conversations appeared to focus on practical issues regarding how to cope with their suffering rather than on functional questions about how to correct stuttering. Participants tried to speak continuously in the meeting despite their stuttering, and such conversations enabled them to practice coping tactics and fight stigma

Steady Rotation of Micropolar Fluid Sphere in Concentric Spherical Container

AbstractThe problem of slow steady rotation of a micropolar fluid sphere in concentric spherical container filled with viscous fluid is studied. The appropriate boundary conditions are taken on the surface of the sphere. The hydrodynamic couple and wall correction factor exerted on the micropolar fluid sphere is obtained. The dependence of the wall correction factor on the micropolarity parameter and spin parameter is presented graphically and discussed. The hydrodynamic couple acting on a solid sphere in a cell model and on a solid sphere in an unbounded medium are obtained from the present analysis

Role of Gut Microbiota in Bile-Acid Metabolism

The role of the gut microbiota in modifying the pathophysiology of various diseases, including neurodegenerative diseases, is increasingly becoming clear. Bile acids have been shown to be endogenous factors that affect gut microbiota, and bile-acid metabolites directly or indirectly affect host physiology and pathophysiology. The development of metagenomic analysis for gut microbiota and systematic bile-acid measurement using LC–MS/MS has triggered a breakthrough for research in this field. Clinically, an inhibitor of the ileal bile-acid transporter (Elobixibat) was used as a therapeutic agent for chronic constipation, which also paved the way for progress in bile-acid signal research. Additionally, this review emphasizes the importance of gut microbiota-bile acid-receptor signals when considering nutritional approaches to promote healthy longevity

Characteristics of 2 Different Commercially Available Implants with or without Nanotopography

The aim of this study was to assess histologically and histomorphometrically the early bone forming properties after 3 weeks for 2 commercially available implants, one supposedly possessing nanotopography and one without, in a rabbit femur model. Twenty-four implants divided equally into 2 groups were utilized in this study. The first group (P-I MICRO+NANO) was a titanium oxide (TiO2) microblasted and noble gas ion bombarded surface while the second group (Ospol) was anodic oxidized surface with calcium and phosphate incorporation. The implants were placed in the rabbit femur unicortically and were allowed to heal for 3 weeks. After euthanasia, the samples were subjected to histologic sectioning and bone-implant contact and bone area were evaluated histomorphometrically under an optical microscope. The histomorphometric evaluation presented that the P-I MICRO+NANO implants demonstrated significantly higher new bone formation as compared to the Ospol implants. Within the limitations of this study, the results suggested that nanostructures presented significantly higher bone formation after 3 weeks in vivo, and the effect of chemistry was limited, which is indicative that nanotopography is effective at early healing periods

The N- or C-terminal cytoplasmic regions of P4-ATPases determine their cellular localization

Mammalian P4-ATPases specifically localize to the plasma membrane and the membranes of intracellular compartments. P4-ATPases contain 10 transmembrane domains, and their N- and C-terminal (NT and CT) regions face the cytoplasm. Among the ATP10 and ATP11 proteins of P4-ATPases, ATP10A, ATP10D, ATP11A, and ATP11C localize to the plasma membrane, while ATP10B and ATP11B localize to late endosomes and early/recycling endosomes, respectively. We previously showed that the NT region of ATP9B is critical for its localization to the Golgi apparatus, while the CT regions of ATP11C isoforms are critical for Ca2+-dependent endocytosis or polarized localization at the plasma membrane. Here, we conducted a comprehensive analysis of chimeric proteins and found that the NT region of ATP10 proteins and the CT region of ATP11 proteins are responsible for their specific subcellular localization. Importantly, the ATP10B NT and the ATP11B CT regions were found to harbor a trafficking and/or targeting signal that allows these P4-ATPases to localize to late endosomes and early/recycling endosomes, respectively. Moreover, dileucine residues in the NT region of ATP10B were required for its trafficking to endosomal compartments. These results suggest that the NT and CT sequences of P4-ATPases play a key role in their intracellular trafficking

Emotional work stress reactions of emergency medical technicians involved in transporting out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients with “do not attempt resuscitation” orders

Background Emergency medical technicians (EMTs) may be subjected to emotional stress during patient treatment/transport. In Japan, dispatched EMTs must attempt resuscitation in all cases of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest (OHCA), including patients with “do not attempt resuscitation” (DNAR) orders and patients whose families do not support resuscitation. We described the characteristics, prevalence, and outcomes of OHCA/DNAR patients, and aimed to identify factors associated with EMT stress when treating them. Methods We included OHCA patients transported by EMTs in the city of Okayama from 2015 to 2019. We identified patients with DNAR orders based on emergency medical service (EMS) records, then EMTs completed questionnaires regarding the management of those patients and EMTs’ emotions. Results Among 3079 eligible OHCA patients, 122 patients (4%) had DNAR orders (DNAR group), and 2957 (96%) patients had no DNAR orders (no DNAR group). Based on responses from 243 EMT participants involved in OHCA/DNAR transports, we divided EMTs into high stress (73/243, 30%) and low stress (170/243, 70%) groups. EMTs experienced emotional stress from treating patients with family physician orders to transport (AOR: 4.74, 95% CI: 2.35–9.56) and those for whom prehospital defibrillation was performed (AOR: 20.7, 95% CI: 3.10–137.9). Conclusions Approximately 30% of EMTs providing resuscitation to OHCA/DNAR patients experienced high levels of stress. Establishment of a prehospital emergency system incorporating physician medical direction and updated guidelines for treating patients with DNAR orders may reduce the psychosocial stress of EMTs

Higher enhanced computed tomography attenuation value of the aorta is a predictor of massive transfusion in blunt trauma patients

Objective Several scoring systems have been developed to identify patients who require massive transfusion (MT) after major trauma to improve survival. The primary goal of this study was to investigate the usefulness of enhanced computed tomography attenuation values (CTAVs) of major vessels to determine the need for MT in patients with major blunt trauma. Methods This single-center retrospective cohort study evaluated patients aged 16 years or older who underwent contrast-enhanced computed tomography scan of the torso after major blunt trauma. The CTAVs of six major vessel points in both the arterial and portal venous phases at initial computed tomography examination were assessed and compared between the MT and the no MT group. The capability of enhanced CTAVs to predict the necessity for MT was estimated based on the area under the receiver operating characteristic curve. Results Of the 254 eligible patients, 36 (14%) were in the MT group. Patients in the MT group had significantly higher CTAVs at all sites except the inferior vena cava in both the arterial and portal venous phases than that in the no MT group. The descending aorta in the arterial phase had the highest accuracy for predicting MT, with an AUROC of 0.901 (95% confidence interval, 0.855 to 0.947; P<0.001). Conclusion Initial elevation of enhanced CTAV of the aorta is a predictor for the need for MT. A higher CTAV of the aorta should alert the trauma surgeon or emergency physician to activate their MT protocol