Turning Point for Newspaper Media － Reconstruction of Journalism

2014 年は新聞メディアにとって歴史的な１年となった。これまで新聞ジャーナリズムをリードしてきたと自認する朝日新聞が大きな誤報を認め社長が謝罪記者会見するという事態が起きた。しかも、同年掲載の分と、過去に遡っての記事取り消し問題もあり２つの誤報を認めるという状況となった。同年はまた、メディア業界全体が反省を促された松本サリン事件の報道から20 年という節目の年でもあった。インターネットを軸に進むＩＴ革命の中でメディアの多様化が進んでいる。最強のメディアと言われるスマートホンの普及の中で、オールドメディアとしての新聞は厳しい立場に立たされている。しかし培った取材力と分析力、論評するというジャーナリズムの力は新聞がいまだに大きな存在力がある。その力をＩＴ社会とどう融合させていくかが求められている中で、業界のリーダー的な存在の朝日新聞が犯した誤りは新聞メディア全体としてどのように教訓として残すかが問われている。松本サリン事件の場合はすべてのメディアが同じ誤りに陥った。福島第一原発の政府事故調査委員会の「吉田調書」報道を検証しながら誤報を防ぐためにいま何をすべきか。ジャーナリズムの再構築に向けて今、何ができるかを論じていきたい

Impact ionization coefficients of 4H silicon carbide

Anisotropy of the impact ionization coefficients of 4H silicon carbide is investigated by means of the avalanche breakdown behavior of p+n diodes on (0001) and (11[overline 2]0) 4H silicon carbide epitaxial wafers. The impact ionization coefficients are extracted from the avalanche breakdown voltages and the multiplication of a reverse leakage current, due to impact ionization of these p+n diodes. The breakdown voltage of a p+n diode on a (11[overline 2]0) wafer is 60% of that on a (0001) wafer, and the extracted impact ionization coefficients of 4H silicon carbide show large anisotropy. We have shown that the anisotropy of the impact ionization coefficients is related to the anisotropy of carrier heating and drift velocity, which are due to the highly anisotropic electronic structure of 4H silicon carbide

DNA Lesions Induced by Replication Stress Trigger Mitotic Aberration and Tetraploidy Development

During tumorigenesis, cells acquire immortality in association with the development of genomic instability. However, it is still elusive how genomic instability spontaneously generates during the process of tumorigenesis. Here, we show that precancerous DNA lesions induced by oncogene acceleration, which induce situations identical to the initial stages of cancer development, trigger tetraploidy/aneuploidy generation in association with mitotic aberration. Although oncogene acceleration primarily induces DNA replication stress and the resulting lesions in the S phase, these lesions are carried over into the M phase and cause cytokinesis failure and genomic instability. Unlike directly induced DNA double-strand breaks, DNA replication stress-associated lesions are cryptogenic and pass through cell-cycle checkpoints due to limited and ineffective activation of checkpoint factors. Furthermore, since damaged M-phase cells still progress in mitotic steps, these cells result in chromosomal mis-segregation, cytokinesis failure and the resulting tetraploidy generation. Thus, our results reveal a process of genomic instability generation triggered by precancerous DNA replication stress

Family-based association testing of OCD-associated SNPs of SLC1A1 in an autism sample

Reports identified the neuronal glutamate transporter gene, SLC1A1 (OMIM 133550, chromosome 9p24), as a positional and functional candidate gene for obsessive–compulsive disorder (OCD). The presence of obsessions and compulsions similar to OCD in autism, the identification of this region in a genome-wide linkage analysis of individuals with autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), and the hypothesized role of glutamate in ASDs make SLC1A1 a candidate gene for ASD as well. To test for association between SLC1A1 and autism, we typed three single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs, rs301430, rs301979, rs301434) previously associated with OCD in 86 strictly defined trios with autism. Family-Based Association Tests (FBAT) with additive and recessive models were used to check for association. Additionally, an rs301430–rs301979 haplotype identified for OCD was investigated. FBAT revealed nominally significant association between autism and one SNP under a recessive model. The G allele of rs301979 was undertransmitted (equivalent to overtransmission of the C allele under a dominant model) to individuals with autism ( Z =−2.47, P =0.01). The G allele was also undertransmitted in the T–G haplotype under the recessive model ( Z =−2.41, P =0.02). Both findings were also observed in the male-only sample. However, they did not withstand correction for multiple comparisons.Peer Reviewedhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/58657/1/11_ftp.pd

中枢性尿崩症患者の全身麻酔経験

The central diabetes insipidus is a disease which causes the parasecretion of antidiuretic hormone through the degeneration of hypothalamus and the posterior-lobe-of-hypophysis system, and makes polyuria, the polyposia, and dipsesis the cardinal symptoms. For this reason, a critical complication may be caused to into the trap from the edema because of the water intoxication by oliguria, a generalized seizure, and the electrolyte imbalance by polyuria. We experienced the general anesthesia management of a patient who has central diabetes insipidus. A 25-year-old male patient (height 168cm, weight 50kg), diagnosed with a left side fracture of the mandible, was scheduled for open reduction pexia under general anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with propofol and maintained with N_2O, O_2 and sevoflurane. During the operation the patient was kept on controlled ventilation monitoring by percutaneous SpO_2, arterial blood gas analysis, etc., and furthermore, had the central venous pressure meosured as one of the indexes of body fluid management. But the oliguria trend was accepted during the operation. So self-sustaing administration of the prostagrandin E1 and the furosemide of the diuretic of a loop system was prescribed for the patient, because the oliguria has not improved although management through a transfusion load was tried. It is important to take great care of the management of a patient with diabetes insipidus with regard to fluid balance, urine volume and electrolytes management

Prefrontal Cortex Glutamate Correlates with Mental Perspective-Taking

Background: Dysfunctions in theory of mind and empathic abilities have been suggested as core symptoms in major psychiatric disorders including schizophrenia and autism. Since self monitoring, perspective taking and empathy have been linked to prefrontal (PFC) and anterior cingulate cortex (ACC) function, neurotransmitter variations in these areas may account for normal and pathological variations of these functions. Converging evidence indicates an essential role of glutamatergic neurotransmission in psychiatric diseases with pronounced deficits in empathy. However, the role of the glutamate system for different dimensions of empathy has not been investigated so far. Methodology/Principal Findings: Absolute concentrations of cerebral glutamate in the ACC, left dorsolateral PFC and left hippocampus were determined by 3-tesla proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS) in 17 healthy individuals. Three dimensions of empathy were estimated by a self-rating questionnaire, the Interpersonal Reactivity Index (IRI). Linear regression analysis showed that dorsolateral PFC glutamate concentration was predicted by IRI factor ‘‘perspective taking’’ (T = 22.710, p = 0.018; adjusted alpha-level of 0.017, Bonferroni) but not by ‘‘empathic concern’ ’ or ‘‘personal distress’’. No significant relationship between IRI subscores and the glutamate levels in the ACC or left hippocampus was detected. Conclusions/Significance: This is the first study to investigate the role of the glutamate system for dimensions of theory of mind and empathy. Results are in line with recent concepts that executive top-down control of behavior is mediated b

重度慢性閉塞性肺疾患患者に対して全身麻酔中に投与したアミノフィリンにより心室性期外収縮が発生した一例

Aminophylline, which is a potent and effective bronchodilator, is most useful for the treatment of bronchial spasms in pre- and intraoperative management. But it is well-known that the combination of aminophylline and inhalation often cause a severe ventricular arrhythmia. We reported that we suspected a premature ventricular constraction (PVC) was caused by administering intravenously aminophylline for controlled ventilation of a patient with severe chronic obstructive lung disease during general anesthesia. A 77-year-old male (height 155 cm, weight 54 kg) patient, diagnosed with right maxillary cyst, was scheduled for a right maxillary cyst extirpation under general anesthesia. Anesthesia was induced with thiopental sodium and maintained with N_2O, O_2 and sevoflurane. During the operation the patient was kept on controlled ventilation monitoring by per cutaneous SpO_2, arterial blood gas analysis, etc. without any complications. But it was suspected PVC occurred about five minutes after the intravenous administration of aminophylline given to prevent hypoxemia. It is important to take great care in administering medication, because drug-induced reactions, anesthetic stage and operative invasion may coincide to cause unexpected events

三尖弁閉鎖症を合併した歯科治療患者の鎮静管理経験 : 近赤外線酸素モニターの応用

We experienced intravenous sedation management of a patient who had the tricuspid atresia (TA, 1b) and also investigated the change in intracerebral oxygen environment during intravenous sedation using a near-infrared oxygen monitor (NIRO). A 21-year-old male (height 160cm, weight 61kg) patient, diagnosed with horizontal eruption of wisdom teeth in lower jaw left-hand side, was scheduled for extraction under intravenous sedation. He was diagnosed with tricuspid atresia just after birth. Balloon atrioseptostomy (BAS) was done at 24 days, Blalock-Taussing shunt operation at 4 years old, and Gleen operation at 2 years old. He had cyanosis and clubbed fingers, SPO_2 by pulse oximetry showed 82 to 85% oxygen saturation with room air in everyday life. The ampicillin natrium (2g) was administered 60 minutes before the start of anesthesia intravenously. Intravenous sedation was maintained with 41/min oxygen, midazolam (2.0mg) and propofol (0.6～1.2μg/ml) to relieve anxiety and procedural stress leading to possible changes in his hemodynamic state. His hemodynamics were almost stable. The oxygenation index (TOI) by NIRO was changed 68.8 to 76.2% within normal range and may not have been a clinical problem. Tricuspid atresia is a disease with a poor prognosis. So we have needed a grasp of sick reserve force and careful caution for the complications in anesthetization management. Moreover, it was suggested that NIRO is effective for safe perioperative management in intravenous sedation management