心と体の両面と人間関係に対応する「体ほぐし運動」プログラムの提案 : 中学バレーボール単元を素材にして

A new course of study started in 2002 in both elementary and junior high schools in Japan. It set itself the goal of "integrating mind and body" by means of the techniques contained in "karadahogushi". Various exercises found in "karadahogushi" lead to an awareness of the interconnectedness of mind and body. However, these "karadahogushi" are limited only to a "karadatsukuri" unit (i.e., body regulation for sport by exercises for training skills and physical fitness). Moreover they are performed for only 6 hours a year. Seeing their Importance, we propose that we go continue "karadahogushi" for about 5 minutes as a means of warming up in physical education classes. The reasons are as follows : 1) to condition and prepare the body 2) to prepare the mind (to ease communication with classmates) 3) to foster good interpersonal relations We included the above in the volleyball program in junior high school. For this 12-hour program we proposed an "activity plan", "interpersonal relations" and the "main aims" during each hour. The nature of the activities pursued comprise the individual, pairs, teams of 3, group and class. The interpersonal relations portion includes self-understanding, fostering team spirit, and establishing relations. The aims are those of "karadahogushi" : (1) awareness of the body, (2) body control and (3) good interpersonal relations. The program outlined here is only one example. It is natural that this program will be altered and modified as need be, given the nature of interpersonal relationships. Here we give an example of how to use it. Teachers need to understand the changing nature of student relationships involved. Putting the "karadahogushi" program in place is worthwhile for this reason

Cardiac Reshaping Net for Dilated Cardiomyopathy

Dilated cardiomyopathy (DCM) is an intractable disease that progressively worsens with cardiac enlargement and heart failure. There are approximately 20,000 patients designated with intractable disease who have moderate or severe heart failure symptoms even with appropriate medical treatment, making it the most common target disease for heart transplantation in Japan. Sixty percent of designated DCM patients are over the age of 60. If we can extend their healthy life expectancy by 5 to 10 years, we can reduce the number of patients who are candidates for heart transplantation. We have developed a patient-specific cardiac reshaping net (PS-CRN) to prevent progressive cardiac enlargement (=cardiac remodeling), which is the major factor in worsening heart failure. We have conducted three first-in-human clinical trials. The past and present of the “cardiac support net therapy” will be reviewed

RNA binding protein Caprin-2 is a pivotal regulator of the central osmotic defense response

In response to an osmotic challenge, the synthesis of the antidiuretic hormone arginine vasopressin (AVP) increases in the hypothalamus, and this is accompanied by extension of the 3′ poly(A) tail of the AVP mRNA, and the up-regulation of the expression of RNA binding protein Caprin-2. Here we show that Caprin-2 binds to AVP mRNAs, and that lentiviral mediated shRNA knockdown of Caprin-2 in the osmotically stimulated hypothalamus shortens the AVP mRNA poly(A) tail at the same time as reducing transcript abundance. In a recapitulated in vitro system, we confirm that Caprin-2 over-expression enhances AVP mRNA abundance and poly(A) tail length. Importantly, we show that Caprin-2 knockdown in the hypothalamus decreases urine output and fluid intake, and increases urine osmolality, urine sodium concentration, and plasma AVP levels. Thus Caprin-2 controls physiological mechanisms that are essential for the body's response to osmotic stress. DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.7554/eLife.09656.00

中学、高校の体育授業における「体つくり運動」等の指導内容

The purpose of this study was to examine teaching contents for "Exercise to promote physical fitness" etc. in physical education classes of junior and senior high schools, where the subjects conducted a teaching practicum. The subjects were senior students who finished a teaching practicum of health and physical education during the spring term of 2002. They responded to a questionnaire presented following completion of the teaching practicum. The number of responses was 320 (87.4%). The findings were as follows: 1) Teaching contents for "Warm-up and cool-down exercise" containing elements of "Exercise to enhance physical fitness" such as "gymnastics" and "resistance training," were practiced in many schools. 2) Concerning "Karadahogushi (Relaxing and healing) exercise" "Stretching," "Games," "Gymnastics" and "Leapfrogging" were practiced often. However, approximately 30 percent answered "not practiced." More over, approximately 60 percent did not answer. 3) Concerning "Exercise to enhance physical fitness," "Resistance-training," "Leapfrogging" and "Running" were popular. In addition, there were game-type contents such as "Rock-paper-scissors while hand crafting," "long rope jumping" and "pushing sumo." However, approximately 20 percent answered "not practiced," while approximately 50 percent did not answer. 4) "Leapfrogging" should be noted not only as an "Exercise to enhance physical fitness" but also as a "Karadahogushi (Relaxing and healing) exercise.

Identification of amino acid residues responsible for von Willebrand factor binding to sulfatide by charged-to-alanine-scanning mutagenesis

von Willebrand factor (VWF) performs its hemostatic functions through binding to various proteins. The A1 domain of VWF contains binding sites of not only physiologically important ligands, but also exogenous modulators that induce VWF-platelet aggregation. Sulfatides, 3-sulfated galactosyl ceramides, that are expressed on oligodendrocytes, renal tubular cells, certain tumor cells and platelets, have been suggested to interact with VWF under some pathological conditions. The binding of VWF to sulfatide requires the A1 domain, but its binding sites have not been precisely identified. Here, we report that alanine mutations at Arg1392, Arg1395, Arg1399 and Lys1423 led to decreased VWF–sulfatide binding. These sites have been reported to be the binding sites for platelet membrane glycoprotein (GP) Ib and/or snake venom botrocetin, and, interestingly, are identical to the monoclonal antibody (mAb) NMC4 epitope previously reported to inhibit the VWF-GPIb interaction. We observed that NMC4 also inhibited VWF interaction with sulfatides in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, we conclude that VWF binding sites of sulfatide overlap those of platelet GPIb and botrocetin

Curcumin: novel treatment in neonatal hypoxic-ischaemic brain injury

Hypoxic-ischaemic encephalopathy (HIE) is a major cause of mortality and morbidity in neonates, with an estimated global incidence of 3/1000 live births. HIE brain damage is associated with an inflammatory response and oxidative stress, resulting in the activation of cell death pathways. At present, therapeutic hypothermia is the only clinically approved treatment available for HIE. This approach, however, is only partially effective. There is therefore an unmet clinical need for the development of novel therapeutic interventions for the treatment of HIE. Curcumin is an antioxidant reactive oxygen species scavenger, with reported anti-tumour and anti-inflammatory activity. Curcumin has been shown to attenuate mitochondrial dysfunction, stabilise the cell membrane, stimulate proliferation, and reduce injury severity in adult models of spinal cord injury, cancer, and cardiovascular disease. The role of curcumin in neonatal HIE has not been widely studied due to its low bioavailability and limited aqueous solubility. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of curcumin treatment in neonatal HIE, including time of administration and dose-dependent effects. Our results indicate that curcumin administration prior to HIE in neonatal mice elevated cell and tissue loss, as well as glial activation compared to HI alone. However, immediate post-treatment with curcumin was significantly neuroprotective, reducing grey and white matter tissue loss, TUNEL+ cell death, microglia activation, reactive astrogliosis and iNOS oxidative stress when compared to vehicle-treated littermates. This effect was dose-dependent, with 200µg/g body weight as the optimal dose-regimen, and was maintained when curcumin treatment was delayed by 60min or 120min post-HI. Cell proliferation measurements showed no changes between curcumin and HI alone, suggesting that the protective effects of curcumin on the neonatal brain following HI are most likely due to curcumin’s anti-inflammatory and antioxidant properties, as seen in the reduced glial and iNOS activity. In conclusion, this study suggests curcumin as a potent neuroprotective agent with potential for the treatment of HIE. The delayed application of curcumin further increases its clinical relevance

Recent advances and perspectives on starch nanocomposites for packaging applications

Starch nanocomposites are popular and abundant materials in packaging sectors. The aim of this work is to review some of the most popular starch nanocomposite systems that have been used nowadays. Due to a wide range of applicable reinforcements, nanocomposite systems are investigated based on nanofiller type such as nanoclays, polysaccharides and carbonaceous nanofillers. Furthermore, the structures of starch and material preparation methods for their nanocomposites are also mentioned in this review. It is clearly presented that mechanical, thermal and barrier properties of plasticised starch can be improved with well-dispersed nanofillers in starch nanocomposites