Ultra Low-Dose Radiation: Stress Responses and Impacts Using Rice as a Grass Model

We report molecular changes in leaves of rice plants (Oryza sativa L. - reference crop plant and grass model) exposed to ultra low-dose ionizing radiation, first using contaminated soil from the exclusion zone around Chernobyl reactor site. Results revealed induction of stress-related marker genes (Northern blot) and secondary metabolites (LC-MS/MS) in irradiated leaf segments over appropriate control. Second, employing the same in vitro model system, we replicated results of the first experiment using in-house fabricated sources of ultra low-dose gamma (γ) rays and selected marker genes by RT-PCR. Results suggest the usefulness of the rice model in studying ultra low-dose radiation response/s

Development of early neutropenic fever, with or without bacterial infection, is still a significant complication after reduced-intensity stem cell transplantation

AbstractLittle information is available on the clinical characteristics of infectious complications that occur in the early period after reduced-intensity stem cell transplantation (RIST). We retrospectively investigated the clinical features of neutropenic fever and infectious episodes within 30 days after RIST in 76 patients who had received fluoroquinolones as part of their antibacterial prophylaxis. Preparative regimens included cladribine 0.66 mg/kg or fludarabine 180 mg/m2 plus busulfan 8 mg/kg. All but 1 patient survived 30 days after transplantation, and 75 patients (99%) became neutropenic within a median duration of 9 days. Neutropenic fever was observed in 29 patients (38%), and bacterial infection was confirmed in 15 (20%) of these, including bacteremia (n = 13), bacteremia plus pneumonia (n = 1), and urinary tract infection (n = 1). The causative organisms were gram-positive (n = 9) and gram-negative organisms (n = 7), with a mortality rate of 6%. Neither viral nor fungal infection was documented. Multivariate analysis showed that the presence of neutropenia at the initiation of preparative regimens was an independent risk factor for subsequent documented bacterial infections (P = .026; 95% confidence interval, 1.25–35.1). We conclude that neutropenic fever and bacteremia remain common complications in RIST

大阪市立聾唖学校教師たちの手話についての考え方

Since 1925, from last years of Taisyo to early years of Showa, a movement of pure oral method appeared on the stage of deaf school. An idea of pure oral method is that signs must be prohibited and only speech is encouraged in the education of deaf children. This way of thinking took place more and more popular in Japan. At the same time, signs were strictly banned in every deaf school, because of being an obstacle for acquiring oral language. But teachers of Osaka City school for the Deaf insisted on using sign language. They began to defend against an attack of pure oralists. They organized a group for the study of sign language. Some of them also set up Kurumaza Theater of Drama. Why they defend against rigid pure oralist to use sign language? We concluded that (1) the principle of the Osaka City School was cultivation of religious mind, and teachers thought life of deaf children and communication of deaf people very important. There are many deaf staff in the member of teachers. (2) some of teachers were enthusiastic for Drama Art. In drama, sign language was necessary for its expression. Mr. Matsunaga, one of teachers, mentioned that substance of deaf people\u27s drama is different from hearing people