Functioning of psychiatric daycare users in Japan and the background factors that affect their abilities

The present study aimed to clarify the state of and background factors affecting functioning in Users of psychiatric daycare centers in Japan. A questionnaire survey based on the Self-Rating Scale for Functioning of Individuals with Mental Disorders was conducted on 1,176 Users and 916 psychiatric hospital outpatients between September 2008 and February 2009. The mean functioning score of Users was 91.4±19.1 points, which was higher than that of Patients. Functioning scores were higher in Users with goals compared to those without goals. Background factors that led to improvement in functioning scores of Users were short duration of daycare use, having a goal other than to control symptoms, high assertiveness, and doing most of the cleaning at hom

Stimulation of cannabinoid receptor agonist 2-arachidonylglycerol by chronic ethanol and its modulation by specific neuromodulators in cerebellar granule neurons

AbstractIn an earlier study, we reported that chronic ethanol (EtOH) stimulates the formation of anandamide in human SK-N-SH cells. In the present study, we investigated the effect of chronic EtOH on the formation of yet another cannabinoid receptor (CB1) agonist, 2-arachidonylglycerol (2-AG), in cerebellar granule neurons (CGNs). The formation of 2-[3H]AG without any stimulation was more pronounced in the older cultures than in younger cultures. Exposure of CGNs to EtOH led to a significant increase in the level of 2-[3H]AG (P<0.05). Incubation with the anandamidehydrolase inhibitor phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride and EtOH did result in an additive increase in 2-[3H]AG, but did not with E-6-(bromomethylene)tetrahydro-3-(1-naphthelenyl)-2H-pyran-2-one. The formation of 2-[3H]AG was enhanced by ionomycin in both the control and EtOH-exposed CGNs, and the ionomycin-stimulated 2-[3H]AG synthesis was inhibited by the intracellular chelating agent 1,2-bis(2-aminophenoxy)ethane-N,N,N′,N′-tetraacetic acid. Further, glutamate increased the formation of 2-[3H]AG only in control CGNs. MK-801 inhibited the EtOH-induced 2-[3H]AG synthesis, suggesting the participation of intracellular Ca2+ in EtOH-induced 2-[3H]AG synthesis. The dopamine receptor (D2) agonist did not modify the 2-AG synthesis in either the control or EtOH-exposed CGNs. However, the D2 receptor antagonist inhibited the EtOH-induced formation of 2-[3H]AG. The EtOH-induced 2-[3H]AG formation was inhibited by SR141716A and pertussis toxin, suggesting the CB1 receptor- and Gi/o-protein-mediated regulation of 2-AG. The observed increase in 2-AG level in CGNs is possibly a mechanism for neuronal adaptation to the continuous presence of EtOH. These findings indicate that some of the pharmacological actions of EtOH may involve alterations in the endocannabinoid signaling system

BODY SHAPE AND CENTER OF MASS ESTIMATION USING MULTI-VIEW IMAGES

This study presents a method for estimating human 3D body shape in action. We propose a method for estimating 3D human body shape motion that uses multiple view images and visual hulls. Related methods necessitated lengthier preparations, such as camera calibration, which would require several tries before actually capturing the image. We solve this issue by combining state-of-the-art computer vision methods to automatically process the required inputs and parameters, so that camera images are the only resource needed for estimation. In our experiments, we applied our method to a video of human subject kicking a soccer ball to left and right side of a goal; we successfully acquired the subject’s 3D body shape. In addition, we verified that the application’s automatically obtained body shape successfully provides the subject’s center of mass

Filipino Personality Traits and Values for Social Support : FOW as human resources for work life balance in Japan (1)

The purpose of this study is to help contribute to solving nursing care problems in Japan by studying the characteristics, personality traits and values of the Filipino people. Filipinos work as nurses and caregivers overseas,serving to be the largest supplier of human resources relating to socialsupport. Literary documents and books were analyzed to gather concrete examples of Filipino personality traits and values. Interview surveys were also conducted. The ten most depicted traits were the following:pakikisama, hiya, utang na loob, close family ties, bahala na, amor propio,bayanihan, hospitality, ningas cogon, and respect for elders. These traitsare analyzed from a social psychological viewpoint

The Characteristics and Skills of Filipino Caregivers : FOW as human resources for work life balance in Japan (2)

This study is a part of a social psychology research to compare work/life balance on an international basis, and to consider international mutual dependence of social support. Filipinos work all over the world as caregivers and behind the success of the Filipinos in the field of care service are the unique aspects of some skills and traits they bring along with them to foreign lands. Data was gathered to define the traits and cultural values most associated with Filipinos. The following are described in detail: deep respect for the elderly, close family ties, flexibility and creativity, hard work,pakikisama (getting along with others), and proficiency in the English language

Highly Invasive Intracranial Malignant Schwannoma in a Rat

A highly invasive intracranial malignant schwannoma containing several masses was detected in a 28-week-old male Crl:CD(SD) rat. Macroscopically, 3 masses were noted in the cranial cavity; one was present at the bottom of the cranial cavity and involved the trigeminal nerve, and the other two were in the parietal bone. Histologically, each mass consisted of fusiform cells with interlacing fascicular, wavy and nuclear pseudopalisading arrangements and round cells with cystic lesions. The tumor cells invaded not only the brain but also the parietal bone. In the brain, the tumor cells infiltrated diffusely into the leptomeningeal and perivascular spaces and parenchyma, in which the tumor cell morphology and invasive pattern closely resembled those of malignant astrocytoma and malignant reticulosis. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells in the masses showed positive reactions for both S-100 protein and GFAP, while those in the cerebral invasion sites were negative for GFAP and less positive for S-100 protein. Electron microscopically, a single basal lamina layer and short intricate cell processes were confirmed in the tumor cells. From these results, the present tumor was diagnosed as a malignant schwannoma arising in the cranial cavity, probably originating from the trigeminal nerve. The present tumor is considered to be a relatively unique malignant schwannoma based on its growth and invasion patterns

Integral Effects of Systemic Nitric Oxide Synthase Inhibition on Carotid Arterial Compliance

Decreased arterial compliance (increased arterial stiffness) is associated with cardiovascular events. Nitric oxide regulates vascular tone, which can influence arterial compliance. We previously investigated the effects of systemic nitric oxide synthase (NOS) inhibition on arterial compliance under the systemic α-adrenergic receptor blocking. In the present study, we investigated the effect of systemic NOS inhibition alone on central arterial compliance (via carotid arterial ultrasound imaging and applanation tonometry). Eighteen apparently healthy young adults (26±1 years) underwent intravenous infusions of NG-monomethyl-L-arginine (L-NMMA) or placebo (saline) on separate days. In the placebo control condition, no significant changes were observed in mean arterial pressure, cross-sectional compliance, and β-stiffness index. Mean arterial pressure increased significantly (84±2 vs. 96±3 mmHg) after the administration of L-NMMA, whereas there were no significant changes in cross-sectional compliance (0.11±0.01 vs. 0.12±0.01 mm2/mmHg), β-stiffness index (6.44±0.37 vs. 5.51±0.41 unit), or isobaric arterial compliance. Theses results in young healthy adults are not consistent with the idea that carotid arterial compliance is modulated by nitric oxide. Grant Support: This work was supported by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology of Japan (18300215, 18650186), JSPS Postdoctoral Fellowships for Research Abroad, and NIH grant AG20966

Mild Hypobaric Hypoxia Enhances Post-exercise Vascular Responses in Young Male Runners

It has been reported that sustained post-exercise vasodilation may be linked to exercise-induced angiogenesis. The present study aimed to evaluate whether mild hypobaric hypoxia enhances the post-exercise reduction in systemic vascular resistance in young male runners. Seven male intercollegiate runners (aged 19–21 years) performed maximal incremental treadmill running under conditions of hypobaric hypoxia (corresponding to 2,200 m above sea level, hereinafter referred to as HH) and normobaric normoxia (corresponding to sea level, hereinafter referred to as NN). A third exercise test was performed under NN conditions, consisting of submaximal exercise with the same absolute exercise volume as was achieved during HH (submaximal exercise under NN conditions, hereinafter referred to as NNsubmax). Blood pressure and cardiac output (CO) were measured before and at 15, 30, and 60 (p60) minutes after exercise. Compared with NN, exercise time was shorter in HH and NNsubmax conditions (p &lt; 0.05). Systolic blood pressure and mean blood pressure (MBP) were lower after exercise in HH conditions (p &lt; 0.05). No condition-related differences were found in CO. Total peripheral resistance (TPR, defined as the ratio of MBP to CO) was significantly lower after exercise compared to baseline for all conditions (p &lt; 0.05). However, the decrease in TPR was maintained longer after exercise in HH compared with NN and NNsubmax conditions (p &lt; 0.05). At p60, TPR was lower than baseline for HH conditions (p &lt; 0.05), whereas after exercise in NN, and NNsubmax conditions, TPR recovered to baseline by p60. Decreases in systemic vascular resistance after exercise were maintained longer under mild HH conditions compared with NN despite the lower exercise volume of the former

チイキ シャカイ ニ マナブ タイケンガタ ガクシュウ : ダイ7カイ コクサイ チントウ ガッカイ ト カンコク ノ チイキ カラ マナブ コト ノ イギ

大学における国際交流がさかんになってきたが、地域に学ぶことを目的とした大学問国際交流は、 地域学の意義を考える上で大きな意味がある。 今回韓国南部の珍島で関催された第7回国際珍島学会に参加して、韓国の珍島で活躍する地域社会人との交流の中から、地域に学ぶことの意義についての考察を行った。学会は主として珍島の地域社会人と韓国と日本の大学生の体験型学習の場として設定されており、様々な文化的背景を持った学生がお互いを知ると同時に、共に珍島という地域社会から学ぶ場という位置付けになっている。昨年に引き続き今年度のテーマは「葬礼」で、世界各国の葬礼文化を知ると同時に、韓国、日本を中心として世界の7カ国の学生と研究者が議論しながら地域学の意義についてお互いに学び合った