Reliability and Validity of the Japanese Version of the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale in Kidney Transplant Recipients

A valid and reliable instrument that can measure adherence is needed to identify nonadherent patients and to improve adherence. However, there is no validated Japanese self-report instrument to evaluate adherence to immunosuppressive medications for transplant patients. The purpose of this study was to determine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Basel Assessment of Adherence to Immunosuppressive Medications Scale (BAASIS).; We translated the BAASIS into Japanese and developed the Japanese version of the BAASIS (J-BAASIS) according to the International Society of Pharmacoeconomics and Outcomes Research task force guidelines. We analyzed the reliability (test-retest reliability and measurement error) and validity of the J-BAASIS (concurrent validity with the medication event monitoring system and the 12-item Medication Adherence Scale) referring to the COSMIN Risk of Bias checklist.; A total of 106 kidney transplant recipients were included in this study. In the analysis of test-retest reliability, Cohen's kappa coefficient was found to be 0.62. In the analysis of measurement error, the positive and negative agreement were 0.78 and 0.84, respectively. In the analysis of concurrent validity with the medication event monitoring system, sensitivity and specificity were 0.84 and 0.90, respectively. In the analysis of concurrent validity with the 12-item Medication Adherence Scale, the point-biserial correlation coefficient for the "medication compliance" subscale was 0.38 (; P; < 0.001).; The J-BAASIS was determined to have good reliability and validity. Using the J-BAASIS to evaluate adherence can help clinicians to identify medication nonadherence and institute appropriate corrective measures to improve transplant outcomes

Leptospirosis in Squirrels Imported from United States to Japan

We diagnosed leptospirosis in 2 patients exposed to southern flying squirrels imported from the United States to Japan. Patients worked with exotic animals in their company. Leptospira isolates from 1 patient and 5 of 10 squirrels at the company were genetically and serologically identical and were identified as Leptospira kirschneri

Exotic Small Mammals as Potential Reservoirs of Zoonotic Bartonella spp.

To evaluate the risk for emerging human infections caused by zoonotic Bartonella spp. from exotic small mammals, we investigated the prevalence of Bartonella spp. in 546 small mammals (28 species) that had been imported into Japan as pets from Asia, North America, Europe, and the Middle and Near East. We obtained 407 Bartonella isolates and characterized them by molecular phylogenetic analysis of the citrate synthase gene, gltA. The animals examined carried 4 zoonotic Bartonella spp. that cause human endocarditis and neuroretinitis and 6 novel Bartonella spp. at a high prevalence (26.0%, 142/546). We conclude that exotic small mammals potentially serve as reservoirs of several zoonotic Bartonella spp

Plant viruses and viroids in Japan

An increasing number of plant viruses and viroids have been reported from all over the world due largely to metavirogenomics approaches with technological innovation. Herein, the official changes of virus taxonomy, including the establishment of megataxonomy and amendments of the codes of virus classification and nomenclature, recently made by the International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses were summarized. The continued efforts of the plant virology community of Japan to index all plant viruses and viroids occurring in Japan, which represent 407 viruses, including 303 virus species and 104 unclassified viruses, and 25 viroids, including 20 species and 5 unclassified viroids, as of October 2021, were also introduced. These viruses and viroids are collectively classified into 81 genera within 26 families of 3 kingdoms (Shotokuvirae, Orthornavirae, Pararnavirae) across 2 realms (Monodnaviria and Riboviria). This review also overviewed how Japan’s plant virus/viroid studies have contributed to advance virus/viroid taxonomy

食品、食塩、化学薬品及び炭酸塩鉱物中のリチウム含有量

The trace lithium content of different kinds of samples was determined by flame photometry using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer with air-acetylene flame at the optimum instrumental conditions, after the decomposition of a sample with nitricperchloric acid mixture or the decomposition of a freeze-drying food sample with nitric-perchloric-hydrofluoric acid mixture. In the highpurity chemicals lithium content as impurity was considerably higher in calcium salt (metal: 39500ng/g, oxide: 21500ng/g, carbonate: 13700〜14400ng/g) than in magnesium (11〜67ng/g), sodium (198〜634ng/g) and potassium salt (196〜361ng/g). In the carbonate minerals the content was higher in aragonite (av. 21970ng/g) and calcite (av. 14100ng/g) than in dolomite (av. 9959ng/g) depending on calcium content as a matrix component. In the table-salt samples of sea-, lake- and rock-salt the content was 934, 724 and 870ng/g, respectively, and the lithium content was summarized to be 900ng/g as mean for all the 34 samples. In the rice the content was three times higher than in unpolished rice av. 12.7ng/g than in polished rice av. 5.2ng/g. Finally in the cow\u27s milk the content was almost constant to be av. 23.7ng/g regardless with the different fat-content, pasteurized temperature and manufactured district (Prefecture in Japan). In addition to an annual variation of the lithium content of a same brand of cow\u27s milk the content was also almost constant to be av. 24.3ng/g, regardless of four seasons.The trace lithium content of different kinds of samples was determined by flame photometry using the atomic absorption spectrophotometer with air-acetylene flame at the optimum instrumental conditions, after the decomposition of a sample with nitricperchloric acid mixture or the decomposition of a freeze-drying food sample with nitric-perchloric-hydrofluoric acid mixture. In the highpurity chemicals lithium content as impurity was considerably higher in calcium salt (metal: 39500ng/g, oxide: 21500ng/g, carbonate: 13700〜14400ng/g) than in magnesium (11〜67ng/g), sodium (198〜634ng/g) and potassium salt (196〜361ng/g). In the carbonate minerals the content was higher in aragonite (av. 21970ng/g) and calcite (av. 14100ng/g) than in dolomite (av. 9959ng/g) depending on calcium content as a matrix component. In the table-salt samples of sea-, lake- and rock-salt the content was 934, 724 and 870ng/g, respectively, and the lithium content was summarized to be 900ng/g as mean for all the 34 samples. In the rice the content was three times higher than in unpolished rice av. 12.7ng/g than in polished rice av. 5.2ng/g. Finally in the cow\u27s milk the content was almost constant to be av. 23.7ng/g regardless with the different fat-content, pasteurized temperature and manufactured district (Prefecture in Japan). In addition to an annual variation of the lithium content of a same brand of cow\u27s milk the content was also almost constant to be av. 24.3ng/g, regardless of four seasons

Plasma Corticosterone Activates SGK1 and Induces Morphological Changes in Oligodendrocytes in Corpus Callosum

Repeated stressful events are known to be associated with onset of depression. Further, stress activates the hypothalamic–pituitary–adrenocortical (HPA) system by elevating plasma cortisol levels. However, little is known about the related downstream molecular pathway. In this study, by using repeated water-immersion and restraint stress (WIRS) as a stressor for mice, we attempted to elucidate the molecular pathway induced by elevated plasma corticosterone levels. We observed the following effects both, in vivo and in vitro: (1) repeated exposure to WIRS activates the 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase (PDK1)–serum glucocorticoid regulated kinase (SGK1)–N-myc downstream-regulated gene 1 (NDRG1)–adhesion molecule (i.e., N-cadherin, α-catenin, and β-catenin) stabilization pathway via an increase in plasma corticosterone levels; (2) the activation of this signaling pathway induces morphological changes in oligodendrocytes; and (3) after recovery from chronic stress, the abnormal arborization of oligodendrocytes and depression-like symptoms return to the control levels. Our data strongly suggest that these abnornalities of oligodendrocytes are possibly related to depression-like symptoms

Association of Transcription Factor Gene LMX1B with Autism

Multiple lines of evidence suggest a serotoninergic dysfunction in autism. The role of LMX1B in the development and maintenance of serotoninergic neurons is well known. In order to examine the role, if any, of LMX1B with autism pathophysiology, a trio-based SNP association study using 252 family samples from the AGRE was performed. Using pair-wise tagging method, 24 SNPs were selected from the HapMap data, based on their location and minor allele frequency. Two SNPs (rs10732392 and rs12336217) showed moderate association with autism with p values 0.018 and 0.022 respectively in transmission disequilibrium test. The haplotype AGCGTG also showed significant association (p = 0.008). Further, LMX1B mRNA expressions were studied in the postmortem brain tissues of autism subjects and healthy controls samples. LMX1B transcripts was found to be significantly lower in the anterior cingulate gyrus region of autism patients compared with controls (p = 0.049). Our study suggests a possible role of LMX1B in the pathophysiology of autism. Based on previous reports, it is likely to be mediated through a seretoninergic mechanism. This is the first report on the association of LMX1B with autism, though it should be viewed with some caution considering the modest associations we report

高齢者に対する膀胱留置カテーテル抜去後の排尿管理 : 超音波膀胱内尿量測定の有効性

膀胱留置カテーテル抜去後の高齢者の排尿自立に向けた援助を検討するために、手術目的等で膀胱内留置カテーテルを留置した７名の高齢患者を対象に、カテーテル抜去後に超音波膀胱内尿量測定器「ゆりりん」による残尿測定を行った。留置期間が１～5日の場合、抜去後6時間以内に自然排尿があり、残尿は少なかった。留置期間が9日、23日となった患者では抜去後6時間以内の自然排尿がなく、「ゆりりん」での測定で残尿を認め、導尿を行った。3名の「ゆりりん」による測定値と導尿による尿量を比較した結果、誤差は20ml～70ml、誤差率5％～26％であったことから、超音波膀胱内尿量測定」はカテーテル抜去後の残尿測定において有用であることが示唆された