Ability of Three Temperate Grasses to Compete with \u3cem\u3ePhalaris arundinacea\u3c/em\u3e L.

Weeds with rhizomes have become an ever-increasing problem in the grasslands of Hokkaido in northern Japan. Many meadows in the Tenpoku region, located in the northernmost part of Hokkaido, have been invaded by Phalaris arundinacea L., a grass with aggressive colonising ability known as the primary and most difficult to control weed in the Tenpoku region. However, dairy farmers in the grasslands of the Tenpoku region most commonly cultivate Phleum pratense L., in spite of its low competitive ability. The Tenpoku region frequently experiences years of low rainfall or drought, but P. pratense has low tolerance to drought (Okamoto et al., 2012; Okamoto and Furudate, 2010). Lolium perenne L. and Dactylis glomerata L. are also cultivated in the Tenpoku region, where they are used as rough forages; however, they are much less commonly cultivated than P. pratense. These species are thought to possess not only higher competitive ability than other grasses, but also higher drought tolerance than P. pratense, and thus may be more suitable for cultivation in some parts of the Tenpoku region. Therefore, we suggest that farmers choose a grass species suitable for their land. To further develop this concept, it is necessary to elucidate the differences among the abilities of these species to compete with invading P. arundinacea. Therefore, the objective of this study was to evaluate and compare the competitive ability of these temperate grass species (L. perenne, D. glomerata, and P. pratense) with those of P. arundinacea

Dynamics of rheumatoid joint

In the present communication the recent works done by the Rheumatism Research Group of Department of Orthopedic Surgery, Okayama University, are described. The principal findings may briefly be summarized as follows. 1. Pathohistological pictures of the synovial membrane are classified into six types. Among them, Fibrinoid type and Follicular-Fibrosis type are the representative ones of chronic rheumatoid arthritis. 2. For the evaluation of the systemic as well as the local activities in rheumatoid arthritis and for judging the therapeutic effect, some indices have been established. 3. Injection of steroid hormones into the local joints fails to give satisfactory results in advanced, chronic rheumatoid arthritis. In such instances the flushing of the joint with physiological saline solution is effective. 4. In the case of chronic rheumatoid arthritis where the inflammation of hand and phalangeal joints is marked, RA-test gives rapid and more intense reaction, and most of such cases are of Follicular-Fibrosis type. 5. When lymph follicles appearing in the synovial membrane are stained when methyl green pyronine, the arrangement of lymphoid cells and plasma cells becomes distinctly clear. By micro-autoradiographic observations it can be seen that ³H-thymindine injected into the joint cavity is mostly ingested by the lymphoid cells in lymph follicles. 6. In the observation by the fluorescent antibody method multinuclear leucocytes found in the joint fluid and in the peripheral blood react with 19S and 7S-gamma-globulins. 7. When the serum and the joint fluid of the patient with rheumatoid arthritis are fractionated, they separate into three peaks at 19S, 7S, and 4S. Both S. S. C. A.-test and L. F. T. tests reveal the peak at 19S. The serum of chronic hepatitis positive to RA-test and the serum of rheumatoid arthritis are found to react immunologically the same to anti-&#946;2 M globulin sheep serum. 8. When the reticulo-endothelial system of rat is blocked by 900,000 molecules of poly-vinyl-pyrroridon, the ability of antibody production is diminished. 9. Chemical synovectomy of injecting osmic acid is effective to FibrinoidCoating type. Its action mechanism lies in the complete cleaning of the surface of synovial membrane. 10. By radiating synovectomy with 193Au a fairly good result can be expected. 198Au is ingested by those cells in the surface layer of the synovial membrane and also by histiocytes in the synovial membrane. When 5 mc of 198Au are injected into the knee joint, a marked necrosis of the synovial membrane occurs. When 198Au is added to the ascites cells of rabbit during the tissue culture, in the concentration of over 14 &#956;C degeneration of these cells can be recognized. 11. From the examination results of prognosis on those 25 cases with 41 rheumatoid knee joints after surgical synovectomy, it is considered that this method is indicated for Follicular-Fibrosis type. Ones with rheumatoid knee joint of Fibrinoid-Coating type gold sol treatment should be resorted to. In the cases of hand joints, surgical synovectemy is to be recommended at a relatively early stage.</p

A proposed core curriculum for dental English education in Japan

Background: Globalization of the professions has become a necessity among schools and universities across the world. It has affected the medical and dental professions in terms of curriculum design and student and patient needs. In Japan, where medicine and dentistry are taught mainly in the Japanese language, profession-based courses in English, known as Medical English and Dental English, have been integrated into the existing curriculum among its 83 medical and 29 dental schools. Unfortunately, there is neither a core curriculum nor a model syllabus for these courses. Methods: This report is based on a survey, two discussion forums, a workshop, and finally, the drafting of a proposed core curriculum for dental English approved by consensus of the participants from each university. Results: The core curriculum covers the theoretical aspects, including dental English terms and oral pathologies; and practical aspects, including blended learning and dentist-patient communication. It is divided into modules and is recommended to be offered for at least two semesters. Conclusions: The core curriculum is expected to guide curriculum developers in schools where dental English courses are yet to be offered or are still in their early development. It may also serve as a model curriculum to medical and dental schools in countries in Asia, Europe, Africa, and Central and South America, where English is not the medium of instruction

Psychological and weight-related characteristics of patients with anorexia nervosa-restricting type who later develop bulimia nervosa

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Patients with anorexia nervosa-restricting type (AN-R) sometimes develop accompanying bulimic symptoms or the full syndrome of bulimia nervosa (BN). If clinicians could predict who might change into the bulimic sub-type or BN, preventative steps could be taken. Therefore, we investigated anthropometric and psychological factors possibly associated with such changes.</p> <p>Method</p> <p>All participants were from a study by the Japanese Genetic Research Group for Eating Disorders. Of 80 patients initially diagnosed with AN-R, 22 changed to the AN-Binge Eating/Purging Type (AN-BP) and 14 to BN for some period of time. The remaining 44 patients remained AN-R only from the onset to the investigation period. Variables compared by ANOVA included anthropometric measures, personality traits such as Multiple Perfectionism Scale scores and Temperament and Character Inventory scores, and Beck Depression Inventory-II scores.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>In comparison with AN-R only patients, those who developed BN had significantly higher current BMI (p < 0.05) and maximum BMI in the past (p < 0.05). They also scored significantly higher for the psychological characteristic of parental criticism (p < 0.05) and lower in self-directedness (p < 0.05), which confirms previous reports, but these differences disappeared when the depression score was used as a co-variant. No significant differences were obtained for personality traits or depression among the AN-R only patients irrespective of their duration of illness.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present findings suggest a tendency toward obesity among patients who cross over from AN-R to BN. Low self-directedness and high parental criticism may be associated with the development of BN by patients with AN-R, although the differences may also be associated with depression.</p

Mikulicz ビョウ ノ チリョウ チュウ ニ カン ショウガイ デ ハッショウ シタ ジコ メンエキセイ スイエン ノ 1レイ

69 歳,女性.2004 年に他院耳鼻科にてシェーグレン症候群と診断され治療中であった.2010 年5月に肝機能障害を指摘されたために当科を受診した.初診時に両側上眼瞼の腫脹と両側耳下腺の腫大(約1 cm)を認めた.血液生化学検査では胆道系酵素の上昇を認め,またIgG は2308 mg/dl,IgG4 は498 mg/dl と高値を呈した.造影CT では膵はびまん性に腫大していた.内視鏡的逆行性膵胆管造影で膵管に特徴的な狭細像を認めたため自己免疫性膵炎と診断した.本症例の眼瞼腫脹と顎下腺腫脹は現在の診断基準ではMikulicz 病と診断が可能である.Mikulicz 病と自己免疫性膵炎の合併は少なくないものの,本邦における文献報告例は本例で11 例目である.A 69-year-old woman presented with a chief complaintof liver dysfunction in May 2010. Both palpebrae superiorand the parotid gland had been swollen for six years. Bloodtests showed increased levels of biliary system enzymesand serum IgG and IgG4. Enhanced computed tomographyrevealed a diffusely enlarged pancreas. A narrowed pancreaticduct revealed by endoscopic retrograde cholangio-pancreatographywas diagnosed as autoimmune pancreatitis.The swollen eyelid and enlarged submandibular gland indicateda diagnosis of Mikulicz\u27s disease. Case reports of Mikulicz\u27sdisease complicated with autoimmune pancreatitisare very rare