Adolescents\u27 and young adults\u27 moral thinking in typical everyday-life moral dilemmas

This research examined adolescents\u27 and young adults\u27 practical moral judgments, specifically their unique moral thinking in two interpersonal moral dilemmas. The basic philosophical frameworks (deontological and consequentialist principles) were employed as tools for psychological analysis. In Study 1, 42 preliminary groups of adolescents and young adults (14-16 years and 18-21 years) provided moral dilemmas that they had experienced during a past year. Among 42 dilemmas, two dilemmas (the homework and the video dilemmas), including different types of conflicting moral issues, were selected as materials for Study 2. In Study 2, 234 participants (76 aged 14-16, 90 aged 18-19, and 68 aged 20-21) resolved the two moral dilemmas on the paper-based questionnaire, in which questions were framed into two ways. Thus, the participants provided 1) their spontaneous decisions and its reasoning from perspectives of imagined moral agents and 2) their choices from nine fixed reasoning alternatives. The different types of moral dilemmas and the differently framed questions elicited age- and/or gender-related trends of young people\u27s moral judgments. Selected interesting results include: 1) The female participants showed a unique decision style: restructuring the moral dilemmas/situations, and 2) The participants showed their relativistic thinking only when they were asked to select from nine reasoning alternatives, and relativistic thinking was evidenced more in younger (aged 18-19) female college students. Age- and gender-related developmental implications were further proposed

Prognostic value of RKIP and p-ERK in gastric cancer

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) signaling pathway participates in several steps of tumour development and is considered a prominent therapeutic target for the design of chemotherapeutic agents. We evaluated the expressions of extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK), mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK), an upstream regulator of ERK, and Raf kinase inhibitor protein (RKIP), and investigated correlations of these expressions with clinicopathological features and outcomes in gastric cancer.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Tumour samples were obtained from 105 patients with gastric adenocarcinomas who underwent radical gastrectomy. The expressions of phosphorylated ERK (p-ERK), phosphorylated MEK (p-MEK), and RKIP were analysed by immunohistochemical staining.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Expression of RKIP, p-MEK, and p-ERK was found in 69 (66%), 54 (51%), and 64 (61%) of all tumours, respectively. RKIP expression negatively correlated with the depth of invasion (p < 0.001), lymph node involvement (p = 0.028), and Union for International Cancer Control (UICC) stage (p = 0.007). RKIP expression was associated with significantly longer relapse-free survival (RFS) (p = 0.0033), whereas p-MEK was not (p = 0.79). Patients with p-ERK expression had slightly, but not significantly shorter RFS than those without such expression (p = 0.054). Patients with positive p-ERK and negative RKIP expression had significantly shorter RFS than the other patients (p < 0.001). The combination of RKIP and p-ERK expression was an independent prognostic factor (hazard ratio, 2.4; 95% confidence interval, 1.3 - 4.6; p = 0.008).</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our results demonstrated that loss of RKIP was associated with tumour progression and poor survival. Negative RKIP expression combined with positive p-ERK expression was an independent predictor of poor outcomes in patients with gastric cancer.</p

Vaginal stimulation enhances ovulation of queen ovaries treated using a combination of eCG and hCG

Follicular changes throughout the oestrous phase have been poorly documented in queens because of the location and the small size of ovaries. We investigated follicular development in queens treated with a combination of equine chorionic gonadotropin (eCG) and human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) and evaluated the effects of vaginal stimulation by a tomcat on ovulation induction. A hormonal treatment was administered using a simple crossover design. Four queens were administered 150 IU of eCG (day 1) and 250 IU of hCG on day 5 and 6. Half of the queens were mated with a vasectomised tomcat for 3 days after hCG injection. Ultrasound imaging of the ovaries clamped at a subcutaneous site was performed once a day from day 1 to 7, and on day 13, and the serum concentrations of oestradiol and progesterone were examined on day 1, 5, 7 and 13. The mean number of follicles gradually increased with the eCG treatment and decreased after hCG injection. The ovulation rate of follicles was significantly higher in the vaginal stimulation group (70.0%) than in the control group (42.6%). During the hormonal treatments, the serum concentration of oestradiol and progesterone did not differ between the two groups. Ultrasound imaging of the ovaries clamped at a subcutaneous site showed that eCG and hCG treatment promoted the follicular growth and corpus luteum formation, respectively. The combination of hCG injection with vaginal stimulation by a vasectomised tomcat enhanced the ovulation rate of follicles

Endoscopic ultrasound-guided immunotherapy

AbstractAnti-tumoral endoscopic ultrasound-guided fine-needle injection (EUS-FNI), with its minimally invasive access for anti-tumoral agent delivery, is the most exciting field of intervention EUS. Pancreatic cancer is regarded as a systemic disease even if imaging modalities reveal no visible metastasis. From that perspective, immunological therapy is performed. To date, several reports have described immunotherapy under EUS-guidance. The first report of EUS-FNI intended for immunotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer was published in 2000. In that study, an allogeneic mixed-lymphocyte culture was injected into tumors of eight patients with unresectable local pancreatic adenocarcinoma. The study of dendritic cells (DCs) for cancer has continued to develop in recent years. Actually, DCs are potent antigen-presenting cells for the induction of primary T-cell dependent immune response. When injected intratumorally, DCs acquire and process tumor antigens in situ, migrate to regional lymphoid organs, and initiate a strong tumor-specific immune response. To date, three reports have described EUS-FNI of DCs into pancreatic cancer: two for unresectable and one for pre-surgical operations. Every study has indicated the feasibility and safety. Furthermore, these reports showed that EUS-guided DCs injection might be an important option for treating advanced pancreatic cancer. EUS-guided immunotherapy is a very exciting field in interventional EUS for obstinate cancers

Effects of chlorogenic acid on porcine oocytes

Chlorogenic acid (CGA) is a quinic acid conjugate of caffeic acid, and a phytochemical found in many fruits and beverages that acts as an antioxidant. The present study investigated the effects of CGA supplementation during in vitro maturation, on in vitro development of porcine oocytes, in order to improve the porcine in vitro production (IVP) system. Oocytes were matured either without (control) or with CGA (10, 50, 100, and 200 µM). Subsequently, the matured oocytes were fertilised, and cultured in vitro for 7 d. The rates of maturation, fertilisation, and blastocyst formation of oocytes matured with 50 µM CGA was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than those of the control oocytes. Hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) is one of the reactive oxygen species and induces DNA damage in porcine oocytes. When oocytes were matured with 1 mM H2O2 to assess the protective effect of CGA, 50 µM CGA supplementation improved the maturation rate and the proportion of DNA-fragmented nuclei in oocytes compared with control oocytes matured without CGA. Moreover, when oocytes were matured with either 50 µM CGA (control) or caffeic acid (10, 50, and 100 µM), the rates of maturation, fertilisation, and the blastocyst formation of oocytes matured with 50 µM CGA were similar to those of oocytes matured with 10 and 50 µM caffeic acid. Our results suggest that CGA has comparable effects to caffeic acid, and in vitro maturation with 50 µM CGA is particularly beneficial to in vitro production of porcine embryos and protects oocytes from DNA damage induced by oxidative stress. Supplementation of CGA to the maturation medium has a potential to improve porcine IVP system

Left atrial diastasis strain slope is a marker of hemodynamic recovery in post-ST elevation myocardial infarction: the Laser Atherectomy for STemi, Pci Analysis with Scintigraphy Study (LAST-PASS)

BackgroundLeft atrial (LA) mechanics are strongly linked with left ventricular (LV) filling. The LA diastasis strain slope (LADSS), which spans between the passive and active LA emptying phases, may be a key indicator of the LA–LV interplay during diastole.AimThis study aimed to investigate the LA–LV interdependencies in post-ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI), with particular focus on the LADSS.Materials and methodsPatients with post-anterior STEMI who received primary percutaneous coronary intervention underwent contrast cardiac magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) during acute (5–9 days post-STEMI) and chronic (at 6 months) phases. The LADSS was categorized into three groups: Groups 1, 2, and 3 representing positive, flat, and negative slopes, respectively. Cross-sectional correlates of LADSS Group 2 or 3 compared to Group 1 were identified, adjusting for demographics, LA indices, and with or without LV indices. The associations of acute phase LADSS with the recovery of LV ejection fraction (LVEF) and scar amount were investigated.ResultsSixty-six acute phase (86.4% male, 63.1 ± 11.8 years) and 59 chronic phase cardiac MRI images were investigated. The distribution across LADSS Groups 1, 2, and 3 in the acute phase was 24.2%, 28.9%, and 47.0%, respectively, whereas in the chronic phase, it was 33.9%, 22.0%, and 44.1%, respectively. LADSS Group 3 demonstrated a higher heart rate than Group 1 in the acute phase (61.9 ± 8.7 vs. 73.5 ± 11.9 bpm, p &lt; 0.01); lower LVEF (48.7 ± 8.6 vs. 41.8 ± 9.9%, p = 0.041) and weaker LA passive strain rate (SR) (−1.1 ± 0.4 vs. −0.7 [−1.2 to −0.6] s−1, p = 0.037) in the chronic phase. Chronic phase Group 3 exhibited weaker LA passive SR [relative risk ratio (RRR) = 8.8, p = 0.012] than Group 1 after adjusting for demographics and LA indices; lower LVEF (RRR = 0.85, p &lt; 0.01), higher heart rate (RRR = 1.1, p = 0.070), and less likelihood of being male (RRR = 0.08, p = 0.058) after full adjustment. Acute phase LADSS Groups 2 and 3 predicted poor recovery of LVEF when adjusted for demographics and LA indices; LADSS Group 2 remained a predictor in the fully adjusted model (β = −5.8, p = 0.013).ConclusionThe LADSS serves both as a marker of current LV hemodynamics and its recovery in post-anterior STEMI. The LADSS is an important index of LA–LV interdependency during diastole.Clinical Trial Registrationhttps://clinicaltrials.gov/, identifier NCT03950310

Can Pallidal Deep Brain Stimulation Rescue Borderline Dystonia? Possible Coexistence of Functional (Psychogenic) and Organic Components

The diagnosis and treatment of functional movement disorders are challenging for clinicians who manage patients with movement disorders. The borderline between functional and organic dystonia is often ambiguous. Patients with functional dystonia are poor responders to pallidal deep brain stimulation (DBS) and are not good candidates for DBS surgery. Thus, if patients with medically refractory dystonia have functional features, they are usually left untreated with DBS surgery. In order to investigate the outcome of functional dystonia in response to pallidal DBS surgery, we retrospectively included five patients with this condition. Their dystonia was diagnosed as organic by dystonia specialists and also as functional according to the Fahn and Williams criteria or the Gupta and Lang Proposed Revisions. Microelectrode recordings in the globus pallidus internus of all patients showed a cell-firing pattern of bursting with interburst intervals, which is considered typical of organic dystonia. Although their clinical course after DBS surgery was incongruent to organic dystonia, the outcome was good. Our results question the possibility to clearly differentiate functional dystonia from organic dystonia. We hypothesized that functional dystonia can coexist with organic dystonia, and that medically intractable dystonia with combined functional and organic features can be successfully treated by DBS surgery

AKARI infrared imaging of reflection nebulae IC4954 and IC4955

We present the observations of the reflection nebulae IC4954 and IC4955 region with the Infrared Camera (IRC) and the Far-Infrared Surveyor (FIS) on board the infrared astronomical satellite AKARI during its performance verification phase. We obtained 7 band images from 7 to 160um with higher spatial resolution and higher sensitivities than previous observations. The mid-infrared color of the S9W (9um) and L18W (18um) bands shows a systematic variation around the exciting sources. The spatial variation in the mid-infrared color suggests that the star-formation in IC4954/4955 is progressing from south-west to north-east. The FIS data also clearly resolve two nebulae for the first time in the far-infrared. The FIS 4-band data from 65um to 160um allow us to correctly estimate the total infrared luminosity from the region, which is about one sixth of the energy emitted from the existing stellar sources. Five candidates for young stellar objects have been detected as point sources for the first time in the 11um image. They are located in the red S9W to L18W color regions, suggesting that current star-formation has been triggered by previous star-formation activities. A wide area map of the size of about 1 x 1 (deg^2) around the IC4954/4955 region was created from the AKARI mid-infrared all-sky survey data. Together with the HI 21cm data, it suggests a large hollow structure of a degree scale, on whose edge the IC4954/4955 region has been created, indicating star formation over three generations in largely different spatial scales.Comment: 23 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication in PASJ AKARI special issu

Abdominal wall and thigh abscess resulting from the penetration of ascending colon cancer.

An unusual case is described in which an abdominal wall and thigh abscess was an initial symptom of ascending colon cancer. A 76-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for investigation of fever and abdominal and thigh swelling. Computed tomography revealed a right abdominal wall, retroperitoneal, psoas and thigh abscess formation suspected to be caused by colon perforation. Due to the patient's poor general condition, local drainage of the abscess was performed on the following day of hospitalization. Histological examination of necrotic tissues removed form the retroperitoneal cavity demonstrated adenocarcinoma of the colon. The patient subsequently underwent right hemicolectomy with lymph nodal dissection after 19 days of the drainage procedure and was transferred to another hospital on the 49th day following the second surgery.</p

Long term prognosis of ventriculoatrial shunt for idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus in the elderly

Objective: A retrospective study was conducted to access the long-term prognosis of inserting the Ventriculoatrial (VA) shunt in the elderly for the idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH). Material and Methods: Retrospective data is collected from April 2004 to August 2015, and 1065 patients were selected. Patients who underwent surgical examination or surgery in suspected iNPH were included. Tap test is done in all cases and found to be effective for 968 cases and 656 VA shunts for 614 cases. Out of 614 cases there are 440 cases in which patient age were over 75 years. Of these 440 cases only 141 cases were able to observe 03 years or more after the surgery, 37 deaths and 05 cases with survival and unknown prognosis were found among them. So we analyzed this group mainly in 99 cases that the prognosis after 03 years was known. We access the outcome of VA shunt by the modified Rankin scale (mRS), iNPH grading scale (iNPHGS) and complications in the operative 656 cases and in 03 years follow up of 141 patients. Results: Of 141, there are 78 males and 63 females. Age at the time of VA shunt insertion was 81.5±4.1 years and age at final follow-up was 85.2±4.4 years. The proportion of patients who achieved a favorable outcome by complications was 97.9% in 03 years follow-up period and 87.7% in which follow-up is less than 03 years. At the time of VA shunt insertion out of 141, 57 patients lies between 75-79 years, 57 between 80-84, 24 between 85 to 89, and only 03 were found to be 90 years or more. At the time of final follow-up at 03 years, 15 patients lies between 75 to 79 years, 56 between 80 to 84 years, 57 between 85 to 89 years and 23 patents were found to be 90 years or greater. 70 cases or almost 50% exceeded 85 years. At the time of VA shunt 1, 11, 39, 51, 36, 3, 0 patients were in 0 to 6 modified Rankin Scale Score respectively and at 03 years follow-up 8, 19, 32, 29, 9, 2, 37 were in 0 to 6 mRS respectively. Comparison of the study is done with SIPHONI study on VP shunt and LP shunt. Conclusion: Patients suspected of having idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus were treated by VA shunt and found no significant difference in serious adverse effects. This study shows that VA shunt is an effective choice for iNPH in the late elderly population, but it needs more randomized control trial to establish its efficacy