Pole Exercise on Thorax Cage and its Influence on the Flexibility in Low Back-pain Patients

Background: Low back pain (LBP) has been common clinical and neuromusculoskeletal disorders. Authors have continued clinical practice and research concerning LBP and rehabilitation, associated with the efficacy of pole exercise movement and application. Methods: Subjects were 18 LBP patients with 46.6 ± 5.8 years old. They were randomly assigned to two groups, which are pole exercise and control groups. Group 1 continued axial rotation, lateral bending and forward/backward rotation along Moriyasu method 10 times 3 sets per day for 2 weeks. Group 2 continued Slump Stretching and Gluteus Stretch in the same way. The biomarkers include Finger Floor Distance (FFD) and Numerical Rating Scale (NRS) before and after the intervention. Results: Both groups showed significant improved results in FFD and NRS between before and after the intervention. Group 1 showed significant improved results in FFD and NRS after intervention, which were 5.2 ± 9.4 cm vs. 15.7 ± 7.0 cm, and 3.0 ± 2.1 vs. 5.1 ± 1.3 respectively. Conclusion: The results suggested that continuous daily pole exercise would be effective for improved flexibility and motor function for thorax cage and vertebrae. Further study and comparative evaluation among LBP, pole exercise, FFD and other biomarkers will be expected in the future

Report on the method for determining the location of the polar vortex boundary region

To determine the boundary region of the polar vortex objectively using the PV distribution on isentropic surfaces, the equivalent latitude(Eql) of the polar vortex boundary was calculated using a slightly modified form of the technique of E.R. Nash et al.(J. Geophys. Res., 101D, 9471, 1996). Using the NCEP/NCAR reanal- ysis data, the Eql of the polar vortex boundary region in the winter of 1999/2000 was calculated, and compared with the ozone mixing ratio in the lower stratosphere over Eureka observatory(80°N , 86°W ). The results indicate that this method determines the boundary region of the polar vortex well

Pole exercise on the ROM of thoracic spine

Background: The stability of the spine and flexibility of the thoracic cage have been in discussion for long. Authors have continued clinical practice and rehabilitation for various subjects. Among them, we have developed the application of pole exercise for various subjects, leading to the improved flexibility of thoracic spine. Subjects and Methods: Enrolled subjects were 18 adults with an average age of 27.8 ± 2.9 years old. Methods included the continuation of pole exercise by two ways, which are performed on the shoulder and at the armpit. The range of motion (ROM) of thoracic upper/lower (U/L groups) thoracic cage was analyzed using the measurement apparatus, spinal mouse. Results: For the main effect between U/L groups, there was a significant difference in the range of the total ROM. For alternating effect between intervention condition and time, there was a significant difference in ROM (total, flexion, and extension). U-group showed larger ROM compared to the L-group. Discussion and Conclusion: There would be probable some reasons for the difference, which are (i) bucket-handle rotation about a dorsoventral axis, (ii) caliper rotation about a craniocaudal axis, and (iii) pump-handle rotation about a mediolateral axis. These results would become reference data, leading to further research in the future

Apparent stratospheric ozone loss rate over Eureka in 1994/95, 1995/96, and 1996/97 inferred from ECC ozonesonde observations

Many ECC-type ozonesondes were launched at the Canadian Arctic Eureka observatory(80°N , 86°W ), one of the most northern stations in the Arctic, during winters from 1993/94 to 2001/02, and the temporal evolutions of the vertical ozone profiles were obtained in detail. The lower stratospheric temperature over Eureka was very low inside the polar vortex and the largest ozone loss was observed in 1999/2000, as reported in a previous paper. Similarly, Eureka was often or persistently inside the vortex in the lower stratosphere(around the 470K isentropic surface level) in the winters of 1994/95, 1995/96, and 1996/97. Very low temperatures were observed inside the vortex in the lower stratosphere over Eureka, as indicated by detection of PSCs by Mie lidar. Observations of tracers(N_2O, total reactive nitrogen species(NOy), and others) inside the vortex during these winters using an ER-2 aircraft and balloons indicated that the effect of air parcel mixing across the vortex edge was minimal, based on the tracer-tracer relationship(e.g., Y. Kondo et al.; J. Geophys. Res., 104D, 8215, 1999). Therefore, significant decreases of the in-travortex ozone mixing ratio in the lower stratosphere were considered to be chemical ozone losses due to chlorine activation of PSCs following diabatic descent. The apparent ozone loss rate inside the vortex over Eureka was estimated for each year. The rates ranged from 0.01 to 0.03ppmv/day, less than that observed in 1999/2000(0.04ppmv/day). The observations were conducted at a single station; however, the apparent ozone loss rate over Eureka inside the vortex each year agrees with loss rates obtained in other studies

Dual functions of discoidinolysin, a cholesterol-dependent cytolysin with N-terminal discoidin domain produced from Streptococcus mitis strain Nm-76

Background: Some strains of Streptococcus mitis exhibit β-hemolysis due to the β-hemolytic activity of cholesterol-dependent cytolysin (CDC). Recently, a gene encoding an atypical lectinolysin-related CDC was found in S. mitis strain Nm-76. However, the product of this gene remains uncharacterized. We aimed to characterize this atypical CDC and its molecular functions and contribution to the pathogenicity of S. mitis strain Nm-76. Methods: Phylogenetic analysis of the CDC gene was conducted based on the web-deposited information. The molecular characteristics of CDC were investigated using a gene-deletion mutant strain and recombinant proteins expressed in Escherichia coli. Results: The gene encoding CDC found in Nm-76 and its homolog are distributed among many S. mitis strains. This CDC is phylogenetically different from other previously characterized CDCs, such as S. mitis-derived human platelet aggregation factor (Sm-hPAF)/lectinolysin and mitilysin. Because this CDC possesses an additional N-terminal domain, including a discoidin motif, it was termed discoidinolysin (DLY). In addition to the preferential lysis of human cells, DLY displayed N-terminal domain-dependent facilitation of human erythrocyte aggregation and intercellular associations between human cells. Conclusion: DLY functions as a hemolysin/cytolysin and erythrocyte aggregation/intercellular association molecule. This dual-function DLY could be an additional virulence factor in S. mitis

Visualization of cardiac dipole using a current density map : detection of cardiac current undetectable by electrocardiography using magnetocardiography

A close relationship exists between electric current and the magnetic field. However, electricity and magnetism have different physical characteristics, and magnetocardiography (MCG) may provide information on cardiac current that is difficult to obtain by electrocardiography (ECG). In the present study, we investigated the issue of whether the current density map method, in which cardiac current is estimated from the magnetic gradient, facilitates the visualization of cardiac current undetectable by ECG. The subjects were 50 healthy adults (N group), 40 patients with left ventricular overloading (LVO group), 15 patients with right ventricular overloading (RVO group), 10 patients with an old inferior myocardial infarction (OMI group), and 30 patients with diabetes mellitus (DM group). MCGs were recorded with a second derivative superconducting quantum interference device (SQUID) gradiometer using liquid helium. Isopotential maps and current density maps from unipolar precordial ECG leads and MCGs, respectively, were prepared, and the cardiac electric current was examined. The current density map at the ventricular depolarization phase showed one peak of current density in the N group. However, in the OMI group, the current density map showed multiple peaks of current density areas. In the RVO group, two peaks of current densities were detected at the right superior region and left thoracic region and these two diploles appeared to be from the right and left ventricular derived cardiac currents, respectively. Moreover, there was a significant correlation between the magnitude of the current density from the right ventricle and the systolic pulmonary arterial pressure. The current density map at the ventricular repolarization phase in the N group showed only a single current source. However, abnormal current sources in the current density maps were frequently detected even in patients showing no abnormalities on isopotential maps in the LVO, DM, and OMI groups. The findings herein suggest that opposing dipoles of the ventricular depolarization and repolarization vectors were summed and evaluated as a single dipole in the electrocardiogram. However, MCG facilitated the detection of multiple dipoles because of its superior spatial resolution as well as difference in physical properties between magnetic and electrical fields. Our results suggest that MCG with a current density map is useful for detecting cardiac current undetectable by ECG in an early stage

Evaluation of stress reactions during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy in elderly patients : assessment of mental stress using chromogranin A

Objective : Salivary chromogranin A (CgA) was recently reported to be a useful marker of mental stress. In this study, mental stress during upper gastrointestinal endoscopy was evaluated by measuring salivary CgA levels in young and elderly subjects. Methods : The subjects were 9 healthy subjects aged less than 50 years (young group) and 15 subjects aged 70 years or older (elderly group). The heart rate, blood pressure, blood oxygen saturation level, and salivary CgA concentration were measured before and after upper gastrointestinal endoscopy and compared. Results : In the young group, the CgA level decreased significantly (p<0.05) during endoscopy compared with the level during rest before endoscopy. In the elderly group, it also decreased significantly (p<0.05) during endoscopy compared with the level during rest before endoscopy. However, CgA levels were significantly higher (p<0.05) in the elderly group than in the young group both before and during endoscopy. The decrease in CgA levels was significantly greater (p<0.05) in the young group than in the elderly group. Conclusions : In this study, mental stress associated with endoscopy appears to be higher in elderly subjects than in younger subjects. Attention to complications due to increased stress is considered to be necessary in elderly patients during endoscopy

Results of the search for inspiraling compact star binaries from TAMA300's observation in 2000-2004

We analyze the data of TAMA300 detector to search for gravitational waves from inspiraling compact star binaries with masses of the component stars in the range 1-3Msolar. In this analysis, 2705 hours of data, taken during the years 2000-2004, are used for the event search. We combine the results of different observation runs, and obtained a single upper limit on the rate of the coalescence of compact binaries in our Galaxy of 20 per year at a 90% confidence level. In this upper limit, the effect of various systematic errors such like the uncertainty of the background estimation and the calibration of the detector's sensitivity are included.Comment: 8 pages, 4 Postscript figures, uses revtex4.sty The author list was correcte

The Japanese space gravitational wave antenna; DECIGO

DECi-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory (DECIGO) is the future Japanese space gravitational wave antenna. DECIGO is expected to open a new window of observation for gravitational wave astronomy especially between 0.1 Hz and 10 Hz, revealing various mysteries of the universe such as dark energy, formation mechanism of supermassive black holes, and inflation of the universe. The pre-conceptual design of DECIGO consists of three drag-free spacecraft, whose relative displacements are measured by a differential Fabry– Perot Michelson interferometer. We plan to launch two missions, DECIGO pathfinder and pre- DECIGO first and finally DECIGO in 2024

DECIGO pathfinder

DECIGO pathfinder (DPF) is a milestone satellite mission for DECIGO (DECi-hertz Interferometer Gravitational wave Observatory) which is a future space gravitational wave antenna. DECIGO is expected to provide us fruitful insights into the universe, in particular about dark energy, a formation mechanism of supermassive black holes, and the inflation of the universe. Since DECIGO will be an extremely large mission which will formed by three drag-free spacecraft with 1000m separation, it is significant to gain the technical feasibility of DECIGO before its planned launch in 2024. Thus, we are planning to launch two milestone missions: DPF and pre-DECIGO. The conceptual design and current status of the first milestone mission, DPF, are reviewed in this article