The Characteristics of Apathy in University Students and Issues in Education The Effect on Clinical Training of Attitude and Results (GPA) Prior to Clinical Training, and Forecast Training Results

Background: In recent years, the apathetic attitude of students has been a frequent problem in clinical training. Objectives: To consider the effects on students' results for the clinical training element of their course of their attitude and grade point average (GPA) prior to clinical training, and to examine educational issues within the university. Method: The study focused on 43 fourthyear students in this university's Department of Occupational Therapy. In order to survey students' attitudes and results prior to undertaking clinical training, we looked at three criteria: their GPA at the university prior to clinical training, an Apathy scale and a locus of control. Thereafter, using Spearman rank order correlations and multiple logistic regression analysis, we undertook a comparison, at a significance level of 5%, of the relationship between attitude and results prior to the two eight-week periods of clinical training (Clinical Training III) undertaken by the students. Results: With regard to the training results in the field of mental disability, there was a significant correlation between GPA and Apathy. In particular, those with a sense of physical fatigue and those suffering from a disrupted lifestyle tended to have bad results for their training in this field. In the field of geriatric care as well, there was a significant correlation where those with a disrupted lifestyle were concerned. On the other hand, unlike in other fields, results for training in the field of physical disability showed a significant correlation with regard to lack of effort. Looking at the training by period, GPA had an effect on results for the first period of training, but no correlation was seen with regard to results for the second period. On the other hand, the locus of control and Apathy total were related to results for the second period of training. Multiple logistic regression analysis showed us that it was possible to predict the probability that results for training in the field of mental disability would be in the lower two groups from the rise in the total for lifestyle disruption prior to clinical training (odds ratio 2.40; 95% confidence interval, 1.03～5.57, p=0.04). Furthermore, we discovered that it was possibly to predict the probability that results for training in the field of mental disability would be in the top group from the rise in the total for physical fatigue prior to clinical training (odds ratio 0.62; 95% confidence interval, 0.40～0.95, p=0.03). Conclusions: Items where there was a correlation with clinical training results can generally be said to be expressions of attitude or drive. In other words, even if the low expression of attitude or drive can be covered up in the first period of training by academic work completed prior to the training, it is likely that a apathetic attitude will have an effect on results for clinical training during the second period. The point on which we would particularly like to focus is the fact that, based on the results of multiple logistic regression analysis, we were able to calculate that it was possible to predict results for training in the field of mental disability from the totals for lifestyle disruption and physical fatigue prior to clinical training

Tephra-stratigraphical study of the 1988-1989 eruption of Tokachi-dake Volcano, central Hokkaido

Twenty-three small-scale eruptions took place at Tokachi-dake from December 16, 1988 to March 5, 1989. The pyroclastic fall deposits, ballistic fragments, and pyroclastic surge and flow deposits were dispersed over the flank and leeward areas of the volcano. Because the pyroclasts of each eruption were well-preserved in snow during the winter, the stratigraphy and distribution of these deposits could be studied in detail. The volume of the pyroclastic fall deposits are nearly equal to those of the pyroclastic surge and flow deposits. The total volume of these pyroclasts is estimated to be 7.4×105 m3. Judging from the sequential changes of the volume and composition of the pyroclasts, the characteristic features of the eruption can be summarized as follows: At first, a vent was opened by ejection of altered rock fragments in December, 1988. Then, essential fragments were ejected in January, 1989. Finally the activity level of magma declined and the altered rock fragments content increased again in February to March, 1989

The Influence of indoor Air on Personal Exposure to Volatile Organic Compounds and Its Risk Estimation

揮発性有機化合物18種類について、東京とつくばにおいて個人暴露量調査を行い、個人暴露量と一般大気濃度及び室内空気濃度の関係を比較した。また、個人暴露量の値から健康リスク評価を行ったところ、水道水の塩基消毒や漂白殺菌剤として使用される次亜塩素酸塩により生成されるクロロホルム、タバコ煙や自動車排気ガス由来のベンゼン及び防虫剤や消毒剤として使用されているパラジクロロベンゼンに注意を要することが示された

Observations on the occurrence of exacerbations in clinical course of systemic lupus erythematosus

Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a chronic disease that is characterized by an undulating course of exacerbations and remissions, and a major determinant of long-term prognosis is organ damage consequent to tissue injury that accompanies disease activity and toxicity of therapy. In this study, we evaluated which patients with SLE will develop an exacerbation and whether factors can be identified to predict the development of an exacerbation. Fifty-seven SLE patients (52 females) were included in this study. The exacerbation of SLE was found in 15 patients (26.3%). A relatively increased incidence of an exacerbation was found in younger SLE patients. An increased percentage of patients who had lupus nephritis at the time of diagnosis of SLE was found in patients with a subsequent exacerbation when compared with that in those without it. Increased incidence of an exacerbation was observed in patients who had decreased number of WBC and platelets, decreased level of C3 and CH50, and the presence positivity of anti-Sm antibodies at the time of the diagnosis. This study suggests that age, renal involvement, and the presence of decreased number of WBC and platelets, decreased level of complements anti-Sm antibodies are predictors of exacerbation

Comparison of clinical course of polymyositis and dermatomyositis : a follow-up study in Tokushima University Hospital

Polymyositis (PM) and dermatomyositis (DM) are systemic inflammatory disorders affecting skeletal muscles and other organs, and are associated with high morbidity and mortality rates. In this study, we studied the prevalence, clinical features and its comparative outcome of PM/DM, comparing PM and DM. Twenty-three PM/DM patients (9 PM and 14 DM) were included in this study. The complication of interstitial pneumonia (IP) was found in 17 patients (74%). HRCT showed that non-specific interstitial pneumonia pattern was the most common in patterns of lung involvement. Twenty-one patients (91%) with PM/DM received high dose of prednisolone therapy. The percentage of patients who received methylprednisolone (mPSL) pulse and cyclosporin A was higher in DM patients than in PM patients. The percentage of patients who received mPSL pulse and cyclosporin A was higher in later (after Apr 2004) patients than in former (before Mar 2004) patients. Malignant diseases appeared in 3 patients with DM which consisted of breast cancer, epipharyngeal cancer and gastric cancer. We observed 2 deaths in DM patients during the course of therapy ; one was due to IP, and the other due to miliary tuberculosis. This study showed that a poorer prognosis was observed in patients with DM when compared with those with PM, and immunosuppressive medications may be implicated at least partially in increased risk of infections and malignancies in PM/DM patients especially DM patients, indicating that patients with PM/DM may require careful monitoring during the clinical course

Imatinib ameliorates bronchiolitis obliterans via inhibition of fibrocyte migration and differentiation

Background: Imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor, has been proposed as a potential anti-fibrotic agent for fibroproliferative diseases, including bronchiolitis obliterans (BO). However, the underlying anti-fibrotic mechanisms of the agent remain unclear. We evaluated whether bone (BM)-derived progenitor cells, fibrocytes, might be a target of imatinib in the attenuation of BO. Methods: We used a murine BO model induced by heterotopic tracheal transplantation and assessed the origin of fibroblasts by using green fluorescent protein-BM chimeric mice. We also evaluated the effects of imatinib on luminal obstruction and fibrocyte accumulation. The effects of imatinib on fibrocyte migration and differentiation were assessed by culturing fibrocytes in vitro. Results: In the murine BO model, tracheal allografts showed epithelial injury and developed complete luminal occlusion 28 days after transplantation. Most of the mesenchymal cells that had accumulated in the tracheal allograft were derived from BM cells. Imatinib treatment ameliorated the airway luminal occlusion and significantly reduced the number of fibrocytes in the allografts. In vitro studies showed that imatinib inhibited migration of cultured blood fibrocytes via the platelet-derived growth factor/platelet-derived growth factor receptor axis. Imatinib also inhibited differentiation of fibrocytes via suppression of c-Abl activity that was essential for the differentiation of monocytes to fibrocytes. Conclusions: Imatinib prevents airway luminal obstruction by inhibiting the migration and differentiation of fibrocytes. Fibrocytes may be a novel target in the prevention and treatment of BO. © 2016 International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation.Embargo Period 12 month

Epidermal growth factor receptor-tyrosine kinase inhibitor (gefitinib) augments pneumonitis, but attenuates lung fibrosis in response to radiation injury in rats

Background : Gefitinib, an inhibitor of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) tyrosine kinase, has been reported to be associated with interstitial lung disorders, and their high incidence and mortality have become a matter of great concern, especially in Japan. In this study, we investigated the effect of gefitinib on different phases of radiationinduced lung disorders in an experimental model. Methods : The thoraxes of Wistar rats were irradiated on day 1 with a single X-ray dose of 20 Gy, and gefitinib (50 mg/kg/day) was orally administered from day 1 to 14. The rat lungs were harvested on days 15 and 57 and the bronchoalveolar lavage (BAL) was performed. Results : Gefitinib treatment increased the infiltration of inflammatory cells, which produced more pro-inflammatory cytokines (IL-6, IL-1β), in the lungs of the irradiated rats on days 15 and 57, while gefitinib treatment reduced collagen content of the lungs in irradiated rats and decreased proliferation and EGFR expression in the lung fibroblasts from irradiated rats on day 57. Conclusions : In irradiated rats, gefitinib treatment augmented lung inflammation, including inflammatory cell infiltration and pro-inflammatory cytokine expression, while gefitinib treatment attenuated fibrotic lung remodeling due to the inhibition of lung fibroblast proliferation

Thymidine catabolism promotes NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) signalling in KB and yumoto cells

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the thymidine catabolic pathway. TP is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and contributes to tumour angiogenesis. TP induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhances the expression of oxidative stress-responsive genes, such as interleukin (IL)-8. However, the mechanism underlying ROS induction by TP remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that TP promotes NADPH oxidase-derived ROS signalling in cancer cells. NADPH oxidase inhibition using apocynin or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) abrogated the induction of IL-8 and ROS in TP-expressing cancer cells. Meanwhile, thymidine catabolism induced by TP increased the levels of NADPH and intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Both siRNA knockdown of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a rate-limiting enzyme in PPP, and a G6PD inhibitor, dihydroepiandrosterone, reduced TP-induced ROS production. siRNA downregulation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate (DR5P) aldolase, which is needed for DR5P to enter glycolysis, also suppressed the induction of NADPH and IL-8 in TP-expressing cells. These results suggested that TP-mediated thymidine catabolism increases the intracellular NADPH level via the PPP, which enhances the production of ROS by NADPH oxidase and activates its downstream signalling

CXCL10 REGULATION BY THYMIDINE PHOSPHORYLASE IN RA

The sworn affidavit of Stephen R. Wee and attachment, Establishment of the Coeur d\u27Alene Indian Reservation and the Transformation of Coeur d\u27Alene Land and Water Use, From Contract Through Allotment, in support thereof