Physiological and Ultrastructural Studies on the Origin of Activator Calcium in Body Wall Muscles of Spoon Worms

To examine the origin of activator Ca and its translocation during contraction in body wall muscles (BWM) of spoon worms, Urechis unicinctus , physiological and ultrastructural studies, including cytochemistry, were performed. The potassium (K-) contracture tension was significantly reduced by the removal of external Ca, and by the application of Mn, La and verapamil. On the other hand, caffeine induced a prolonged contraction. The removal of Ca and Mg from the external solution, and the rapid cooling caused an irregular or oscillatory contraction. These results suggested that, in BWM fibers, the activator Ca is supplied partially from both external solution and intracellular Ca-accumulating structures. Ultrastructural observations revealed that the muscle fibers contain a relatively large amount of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR). The fractional volume of the SR relative to the fiber volume was 2~5% in all fibers of three muscle layers. To demonstrate the Ca localization, the muscle fibers were fixed by pyroantimonate (PA) methods at resting and contracting states. In the resting fibers, the PA precipitates were exclusively localized in the SR and the inner surface of plasma membrane. On the other hand, in the contracting fibers, they were diffusely distributed in the central regions of myoplasm, and had disappeared from the SR and plasma membrane. X-ray microanalysis revealed that the PA precipitates contain Ca. With the results of physiological experiments, these results indicate that the activator Ca originates not only from the external solution, but also from the intracellular Ca-accumulating structures, the SR and the inner surface of plasma membrane.Full-Length Pape

Characteristics according to K6 score (n = 10,025).

<p>Numbers vary because of missing data, perceived symptom; male (55) female (91), economic status; male (12) female (15), relocation; male (23) female (29), and social network; male (76) female (125). No case (K6; 0–4), MMHP, mild mental health problem (K6; 5–12), SMHP, severe mental health problem (K6; 13–24).</p

Mental Health and Related Factors after the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami

<div><p>Mental health is one of the most important issues facing disaster survivors. The purpose of this study is to determine the prevalence and correlates of mental health problems in survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami at 6–11 months after the disaster. The questionnaire and notification were sent to the survivors in three municipalities in the Tohoku area of the Northern part of Honshu, Japan’s largest island, between September 2011 and February 2012. Questionnaires were sent to 12,772, 11,411, and 18,648 residents in the Yamada, Otsuchi, and Rikuzentakata municipalities, respectively. Residents were asked to bring the completed questionnaires to their health check-ups. A total of 11,124 or (26.0%) of them underwent health check-ups, and 10,198 were enrolled. We excluded 179 for whom a K6 score was missing and two who were both 17 years of age, which left 10,025 study participants (3,934 male and 6,091 female, mean age 61.0 years). K6 was used to measure mental health problems. The respondents were classified into moderate (5–12 of K6) and serious mental health problems (13+). A total of 42.6% of the respondents had moderate or serious mental health problems. Multivariate analysis showed that women were significantly associated with mental health problems. Other variables associated with mental health problems were: younger male, health complaints, severe economic status, relocations, and lack of a social network. An interaction effect of sex and economic status on severe mental health problems was statistically significant. Our findings suggest that mental health problems were prevalent in survivors of the Great East Japan Earthquake and Tsunami. For men and women, health complaints, severe economic status, relocations, and lack of social network may be important risk factors of poor mental health. For men, interventions focusing on economic support may be particularly useful in reducing mental health problems after the disaster.</p></div

Multivariate multinomial regression of mental health by sex.

<p>Abbreviations: COR, crude odds ration; AOR, adjusted odds ratio; CI, confidential interval; MMHP, mild mental health problem; SMHP, severe mental health problem. OR are calculated by using a multinomial logistic regression model with no case (K6; 0–4) as a reference group. Adjusted OR were adjusted for the effect of all other variables shown in the table and municipality.</p

Study Design, Sample Selection, and Description of the Study Population.

<p>Study Design, Sample Selection, and Description of the Study Population.</p

Demographic characteristics of the sample, 2011 (n = 10,025).

<p>Numbers vary because of missing data, perceived symptom; male (55) female (91), economic status; male (12) female (15), relocation; male (23) female (29), and social network; male (76) female (125).</p><p>No case (K6; 0–4), MMHP, mild mental health problem (K6; 5–12), SMHP, severe mental health problem (K6; 13–24).</p