H2S Sensing Properties and Mechanism of Macroporous Semiconductor Sensors

Macroporous (mp-) In2O3-based films with and without 1 wt% CuO loading were fabricated by a modified sol-gel technique employing polymethylmethacrylate microspheres as a template and their sensor responses to H2S and the reaction behavior of H2S over the sensor materials were investigated. Introduction of macropores into an In2O3 film and simultaneous loading of CuO on the In2O3 surface were enormously effective in improving the H2S response. The large surface area of mp-In2O3 loaded with CuO, which increased the reactivity of CuO with H2S, is probably the most important factor to enhance the H2S response.214th ECS Meeting : Honolulu, HI, October 12 - October 17, 200

Lattice-patterned collagen fibers and their dynamics in axolotl skin regeneration

The morphology of collagen-producing cells and the structure of produced collagen in the dermis have not been well-described. This lack of insights has been a serious obstacle in the evaluation of skin regeneration. We succeeded in visualizing collagen-producing cells and produced collagen using the axolotl skin, which is highly transparent. The visualized dermal collagen had a lattice-like structure. The collagen-producing fibroblasts consistently possessed the lattice-patterned filopodia along with the lattice-patterned collagen network. The dynamics of this lattice-like structure were also verified in the skin regeneration process of axolotls, and it was found that the correct lattice-like structure was not reorganized after simple skin wounding but was reorganized in the presence of nerves. These findings are not only fundamental insights in dermatology but also valuable insights into the mechanism of skin regeneration

Assessment of drug needs and contributions of pharmacists in the aftermath of the 2011 triple disaster in Fukushima, Japan: A combined analysis

After a major disaster, drug logistics are crucial for maintaining medical care. Although pharmacists play a vital role in healthcare institutions, their role is not well defined, and their recognition from other healthcare professionals is lacking. This was evident at Minamisoma Municipal General Hospital in Fukushima, Japan, which was affected by the Great East Japan earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear power plant accident. The supply of drugs and related information was severely disrupted. In response, two pharmacists were interviewed and the data was analyzed through a thematic approach. Additionally, prescription data collected by pharmacists was analyzed quantitatively. The results from the qualitative survey showed that pharmacists made efforts to supply drugs and collect information, despite facing various psychological challenges, such as confidence, responsibility, anguish, and conflicts. The “leadership” of the hospital's upper managers was instrumental in supporting the pharmacists. The prescription data revealed that drug supply continued for approximately one month without interruption, and the demand for antihypertensive and psychiatric drugs increased. A majority (72.3 %) of the patients (N = 3,518) were 60 years of age or older, which might have contributed to the demand for chronic disease drugs. This study provides an example of the role of pharmacists and drug logistics during major disaster situations, including nuclear accidents

Monocyte chemiluminescence and macrophage precursors in the aged.

Age-related alterations in the host defense system have been vigorously investigated because of increased susceptibility to infection and neoplasms in the aged. Although monocyte-macrophages form a major part of the cellular defense against microorganisms, the majority of investigations has been limited to neutrophils and lymphocytes. The present study, designed to determine the influence of age on mononuclear phagocytes, revealed no significant decrease in the absolute number of blood monocytes, but did reveal a tendency for the chemiluminescence of blood monocytes to decrease (p less than 0.10) and a significant decrease in the numbers of macrophage precursors (p less than 0.05) in the aged (over 70 year old), in comparison with controls (under 40 years old). On the basis of these findings, functional alterations of monocyte-macrophages seem to participate in the increased susceptibility to infection in the aged.</p

Tooth Loss and Carotid Intima-Media Thickness in Relation to Functional Atherosclerosis: A Cross-Sectional Study

Structural arterial stiffness can be evaluated with carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT). Functional arterial stiffness can be evaluated with cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI). A positive association between CIMT and tooth loss has been reported, but no studies have evaluated the association between CIMT and tooth loss in relation to functional arterial stiffness (functional atherosclerosis). A cross-sectional study of 1235 Japanese individuals aged 40–89 years was conducted. Tooth loss was defined as being in the lowest tertile for the number of remaining teeth (≤20 in men and ≤19 in women). Functional atherosclerosis was defined as CAVI ≥ 9.0. Independent of known confounding factors, CIMT was positively associated with tooth loss only in participants without functional atherosclerosis. Adjusted odds ratios for tooth loss and a 1 standard deviation increment in CIMT were 1.27 (1.04–1.55) for participants without functional atherosclerosis and 0.99 (0.77–1.26) for participants with functional atherosclerosis. CIMT and functional atherosclerosis had a significant effect on tooth loss; the fully adjusted p-value for the interaction on tooth loss was 0.019. Independent of known confounding factors, CIMT is positively associated with tooth loss only in participants without functional atherosclerosis. This finding helps clarify the influence of the progression of arterial stiffness on tooth loss because the progression of structural atherosclerosis might have a beneficial influence on the maintenance of the microcirculation

VEGF Polymorphism rs3025039 and Human T-Cell Leukemia Virus 1 (HTLV-1) Infection among Older Japanese Individuals: A Cross-Sectional Study

Previous studies have reported a close correlation between vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), which plays an important role in angiogenesis, and human T-cell leukemia virus 1 (HTLV-1). However, an association between genetic characteristics related to VEGF and HTLV-1 infection has not yet been reported. Because the VEGF polymorphism rs3025039 is inversely associated with serum concentrations of VEGF, we focus on rs3025039 in the present study. To clarify the association between the VEGF polymorphism rs3025039 and HTLV-1 infection, a cross-sectional study of 1924 Japanese individuals aged 60–79 years who participated in general health check-ups was conducted. Using logistic regression, odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for HTLV-1 infection in relation to rs3025039 genotype were calculated with adjustment for known confounders. Compared with rs3025039 CC-homozygotes, (T) allele carriers had a significantly lower OR for HTLV-1 infection. The adjusted OR and 95% CI for HTLV-1 infection was 0.70 (0.54–0.91) (p = 0.009). Genetic characteristics related to lower angiogenesis activity might be associated with a lower chance of establishing HTLV-1 infection. Although further investigation is necessary, angiogenesis might play a crucial role in the establishment of HTLV-1 infection

Mortality risk associated with nuclear disasters depends on the time during and following evacuation of hospitals near nuclear power plants: An observational and qualitative study

This study aimed to examine the factors correlated with emergency evacuations on patients’ prognosis in hospitals severely affected by the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FDNPP) accident in March 2011, and to recommend measures mitigating potential health risks among them in future disasters. Seven hospitals within a 20-km radius of the FDNPP were designated as the evacuation zone, of which three hospitals located within a 5-km radius were examined. Information regarding hospital emergency evacuation among the three hospitals from previous literature and official reports were integrated and interview outcomes of staff at each hospital were qualitatively analyzed using thematic analysis. Our thematic analysis identified four themes: insufficient preparedness for disaster, difficulty of patient evacuation, insufficient materials, and insufficient information. Comparison of the three hospitals located within a 5-km radius of the FDNPP revealed that hospitals with several patients or those with a high proportion of bedridden or critically ill patients faced more difficulty in emergency evacuation and experienced higher fatalities. In addition to individual evacuation plans, for future preparedness, external and public organizations should prepare disaster responses such as procedures to integrate information on the status of each medical facility and measures to support them individually