Issues in the Education for the Health-impaired in Japan

The education for the health-impaired, which is categorized as special education, has a rather long history in Japan. However, little public attention has been paid to this educational field and, mainly because of the problem of privacy, there have been very few research studies so far. The major purpose of this paper is to explain the system and historical background of the education for the health-impaired in Japan. Then future research directions are also discussed. As for a research method. I would like to emphasize the usefulness of ethnographic method for the research in this field. Theoretically, systems theory and social support theory are supposed to be relevant to the reality of this educational field

An Ethnographic Approach to Teacher Practices at an In-hospital School

The purpose of this study is to describe what the education at an in-hospital school is like, and to clarify the characteristics of education there. In order to accomplish this purpose, an ethnographic method was adopted. The qualitative data obtained from 6-months fieldwork, which consisted of participant observation, formal and informal interviews, and document materials, was analyzed according to Grounded Theory Approach. Consequently, it is suggested that an in-hospital school is a composite place that has 6 educational characteristics: characteristics of special schools, normal schools, small schools, pre-schools, family education and special education for the health-impaired. These composite characteristics should be taken into consideration when the expertise of in-hospital teachers is discussed

Robot-Assisted Total Hysterectomy of Extremely Unusual Pelvic Anatomy: A Case Report and Literature Review

We report a case of robot-assisted total hysterectomy in a patient with extremely rare pelvic anatomy. Robot-assisted total laparoscopic hysterectomy was performed for lobular endocervical glandular hyperplasia on the left side of the uterus. The sigmoid colon was present between the two uterine corpora of a uterine didelphys and was attached to the bladder via the mesentery and fat. During surgery, the surgeon left the console and confirmed the magnetic resonance images. The surgery was then completed safely after the surgeon understood the anatomy. The postoperative condition was good, and the patient was discharged on postoperative day 5. Robot-assisted surgery has various advantages, including a good field of view, accuracy of instrument movement, and ease of viewing information in the medical record by pausing the operation. Robot assisted surgery improves not only safety and operational precision but also intraoperative convenience. Further studies are needed regarding the specific anatomy seen in this case

キノウテキ ヒキノウテキ ジコ チュウモク ノ ジゾク ト フアン ヨクウツ ノ カンレン

The purpose of this study was to examine the relationships among functional and dysfunctional self-focused attention, namely, self-reflection and rumination, and anxiety and depression. A survey was administered to 226 undergraduate students on self-rumination, self-reflection, self-focused attention, anxiety, and depression. The analysis showed that partial correlation between self-rumination and anxiety was significant while controlling for depression, same as self-focused attention and anxiety. Regression analysis revealed that self-focused attention predicted anxiety and depression. Results of this study showed that self-focused attention had a stronger association with anxiety. This study suggested that self-focused attention influences mental health regardless of motives, such as self-rumination and self-reflection. Future analysis needs to examine interventions in characteristics of self-focused attention

Endometrial Cancer Arising in Adenomyosis That Could Not Be Diagnosed by Endometrial Biopsy: A Case Report

Uterine adenomyosis is an estrogen-dependent tumor and one of the most common benign diseases in sexually mature women. The frequency of endometrial cancer associated with adenomyosis has been reported to be 18%–66%. On the other hand, endometrial cancer arising in adenomyosis (EC-AIA) is extremely rare. EC-AIA is now considered a different entity from and has a worse prognosis than endometrial cancer with adenomyosis (EC-A). In the present study, we report a case of endometrial cancer with adenomyosis in which endometrial biopsy failed to provide a definitive diagnosis. A 63-year-old female patient presented with endometrial thickening. Endometrial cytology was positive, and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed small lesions suggestive of endometrial cancer with shallow invasion and adenomyosis. However, an endometrial biopsy showed only metaplasia, and careful follow-up was initiated. Subsequent endometrial cytology showed enlarged and round nuclei, uniform chromatin distribution, no thickening of nuclear margins, and abundant cytoplasm appearing in a sheet-like arrangement, suggesting atypical cells of endometrial glands with metaplasia. Three suspicious positive results and one positive result were observed, but repeated biopsies did not lead to the diagnosis of malignancy. The patient underwent diagnostic hysterectomy 19 months after the initial visit. The postoperative histopathological diagnosis was stage IA endometrial cancer (endometrioid carcinoma G1). This case of endometrial cancer associated with adenomyosis was difficult to diagnose. Our findings demonstrate that EC-AIA should be considered even if no lesions were detected by endometrial biopsy

小麦粉加工品に及ぼすホエータンパク質の影響

本研究ではホエータンパク質を小麦粉加工品に利用することを目的として、ホエータンパク質を小麦粉加工品に添加しその物性を調べた。うどんにホエータンパク質を添加したところ、茄で麺の硬さおよび引張り強度が増加した。ホエータンパク質を添加したパンは、無添加に比べ硬さが増加し、弾性率が大きな値を示し、歯ごたえのある物性を示した。また、饅頭にホエータンパク質を添加した結果、弾性率、粘着性は高くなり、弾力のある饅頭ができた。また、饅頭にホエータンパク質を添加することにより、饅頭の表面の皮がひび割れず、つやがあり、見た目もよく、商品価値の高い製品となった。クッキーはホエータンパク質を添加することにより、破断応力および破断エネルギーが高くなり、歯ざわりのよい食感のものとなった。官能評価の結果、すべての小麦粉加工品の硬さ、歯ごたえにおいて、ホエータンパク質を添加した方が高い評価が得られ、ホエータンパク質は小麦粉加工品の生地改良剤として有効であることが示唆された。When udon(Japanese noodles) was prepared from flour containing whey protein,the hardness,tensile and strength of the boiled noodles increased. The bread made from flour containing whey protein was harder and more elastic when chewed. Manju made from flour containing whey protein had higher elasticity and viscosity as compared to manju made from flour without whey protein. In the whey protein added group, the surface of manju remained glossy,without undergoing cracking,and had a better appearance,thus elevating the value of manju as merchandise.Cookie containing whey protein was higher hardness and resists the teeth more comfortably and crispy when chewd.In the organoleptic test,all food products manufactured from wheat flour containing whey protein were appraised better than those free of whey protein

いんげん豆の機能性と調理食品の開発

いんげん豆の一般成分の測定、 ポリフェノールの測定、 抗酸化活性および豆料理の検討を行った。 いんげん豆の水分は約16%、 たんぱく質は約20%、 脂質は約 2%、 炭水化物は約58〜59%、 灰分は約3.5%であった。 いんげん豆はミネラルが豊富で、 栄養価の高い食品であった。 いんげん豆のポリフェノール量は多く、 さらに抗酸化作用もあり、 食品機能性が高かった。 ポリフェノール量および抗酸化作用の結果は、 外皮の色に関与すると考えられた。 いんげん豆の四季の簡単な 4種類の料理を考えた。The author measured the main ingredients of kidney beans, including polyphenols and antioxidant activity. The water, protein, lipid, carbohydrate, and ash contents were approximately 16%, 20%, 2%, 58-59%, and 3.5%, respectively. Kidney beans had abundant minerals and high nutritive value. They also had high polyphenol content, which provides antioxidant activity and high food functionality. The polyphenol content and antioxidant activity may be responsible for their crustal color. The author thought about 4 kinds of simple dishes containing the 4 seasons of kidney beans

乾燥落花生の機能性と調理および加工食品の開発

乾燥落花生の機能性について検討したところ、 ポリフェノール量、 抗酸化作用があった。 さらに、 乾燥落花生はビタミンE、 ナイアシンなどのビタミンB群、 ミネラル類、 食物繊維などが豊富で、 アミノ酸組成もよく、 栄養のバランスが良い食品であった。 著者は、 乾燥落花生をもっと利用してもらうためには、 落花生の料理を考案し、 普段の食生活に取り入れられるような工夫が必要であると考えた。 乾燥落花生を用い、 調理、 加工品を考案した。The author examined the functionalities of dried Peanut, focusing on polyphenol content and antioxidant activity. In addition, vitamin B group vitamin E, such as Niacin, minerals, dietary fiber and are rich in peanut drying, amino acid composition is good, and it was a food nutritional balance is good. The author assumed that in order to get more use out of dry peanuts, that it is necessary to devise cooking of peanut, such as those incorporated in the diet everyday. Using the dried peanuts was devised cooking, confectionery, processed products

The Action of D-Dopachrome Tautomerase as an Adipokine in Adipocyte Lipid Metabolism

Adipose tissue is a critical exchange center for complex energy transactions involving triacylglycerol storage and release. It also has an active endocrine role, releasing various adipose-derived cytokines (adipokines) that participate in complex pathways to maintain metabolic and vascular health. Here, we found D-dopachrome tautomerase (DDT) as an adipokine secreted from human adipocytes by a proteomic approach. DDT mRNA levels in human adipocytes were negatively correlated with obesity-related clinical parameters such as BMI, and visceral and subcutaneous fat areas. Experiments using SGBS cells, a human preadipocyte cell line, revealed that DDT mRNA levels were increased in an adipocyte differentiationdependent manner and DDT was secreted from adipocytes. In DDT knockdown adipocytes differentiated from SGBS cells that were infected with the adenovirus expressing shRNA against the DDT gene, mRNA levels of genes involved in both lipolysis and lipogenesis were slightly but significantly increased. Furthermore, we investigated AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) signaling, which phosphorylates and inactivates enzymes involved in lipid metabolism, including hormonesensitive lipase (HSL) and acetyl-CoA carboxylase (ACC), in DDT knockdown adipocytes. The AMPK phosphorylation of HSL Ser-565 and ACC Ser-79 was inhibited in DDT knockdown cells and recovered in the cells treated with recombinant DDT (rDDT), suggesting that down-regulated DDT in adipocytes brings about a state of active lipid metabolism. Furthermore, administration of rDDT in db/db mice improved glucose intolerance and decreased serum free fatty acids levels. In the adipose tissue from rDDT-treated db/db mice, not only increased levels of HSL phosphorylated by AMPK, but also decreased levels of HSL phosphorylated by protein kinase A (PKA), which phosphorylates HSL to promote its activity, were observed. These results suggested that DDT acts on adipocytes to regulate lipid metabolism through AMPK and/or PKA pathway(s) and improves glucose intolerance caused by obesity