The Effects of Font Type on Reading Accuracy and Fluency in Japanese Children with Developmental Dyslexia

We administered rapid reading tasks in Japanese children (32 with typical development and 24 with developmental dyslexia), and investigated the effects of two different font types: Rounded-Gothic and Mincho style font. In the experiment, we used four kinds of stimuli: two scripts (paragraphs and random kana character non-words) in two font types (Rounded-Gothic and Mincho style font). In this experiment, the duration time, the number of errors and the number of self-corrections were measured during reading. Participants were asked which font type was easier to read. There was no significant difference in the duration time, the number of errors and the number of self-corrections between two types of fonts among the 56 participants. On the other hand, regarding subjective readability, the developmental dyslexia group reported that the Rounded-Gothic font was easier to read. There was a difference between objective and subjective readability. In this study, there was no difference in reading performance of Rounded-Gothic and Mincho style fonts in Japanese children with developmental dyslexia

A Case of Severe Esophageal Intramural Pseudodiverticulosis Whose Symptoms Were Ameliorated by Oral Administration of Anti-Fungal Medicine

Esophageal intramural pseudodiverticulosis (EIPD) is a rare disease of unknown etiology that displays multiple pseudodiverticula radiologically, leading to benign esophageal stricture. Dysphagia, which sometimes slowly progresses, is the main symptom in the majority of cases. We here report a 59-year-old male EIPD patient who suffered from severe dysphagia. Radiography and endoscopy of this patient disclosed a severe constriction in the upper thoracic esophagus. Although we tried several endoscopic procedures including frequent endoscopic balloon dilatation (EBD), the effect was very limited and his dysphagia relapsed shortly after the treatments. During the procedures, we noticed some white, thick, creamy liquid emerging from the orifices of EIPD, and PAS staining of biopsy specimens revealed infection with Candida albicans. Hence, the patient was given anti-fungal medicine in addition to EBD. The additional treatment with anti-fungal medicine dramatically improved his symptoms and the esophageal constriction. This case suggests that anti-fungal treatment is an effective first-line therapy even against a severe form of esophageal constriction in EIPD

Antitumor effects of α-bisabolol against pancreatic cancer.

In the present study, we investigated whether α-bisabolol, a sesquiterpene alcohol present in essential oils derived from a variety of plants, has antitumor effects against pancreatic cancer. α-Bisabolol induced a decrease in cell proliferation and viability in pancreatic cancer cell lines (KLM1, KP4, Panc1, MIA Paca2), but not in pancreatic epithelial cells (ACBRI515). α-Bisabolol treatment induced apoptosis and suppressed Akt activation in pancreatic cancer cell lines. Furthermore, α-bisabolol treatment induced the overexpression of early growth response-1 (EGR1), whereas EGR1 siRNA decreased the α-bisabolol-induced cell death of KLM1 cells. Tumor growth in both subcutaneous and peritoneal xenograft nude mouse models was significantly inhibited by intragastric administration of 1000 mg/kg of α-bisabolol, once a week for three weeks. The results indicate that α-bisabolol could be a novel therapeutic option for the treatment of pancreatic cancer

Study on Electrical Discharge Machining Characteristics of Coated Electrodes

Low electrode wear EDM is attained by the adhesion of heat resolved carbon made from kerosine type machining fluid to the electrode end surface. This phenomenon, however, occurs only under long pulse duration. Therefore, the low electrode wear EDM under finishing condition is impossible so far. In the previous paper, the authors developed a turbostratic carbon electrode whose structure is very similar to the heat resolved carbon generated in EDM process and made it clear that the low electrode wear EDM was possible by using the electrode even under finishing condition. In this study, a carbon coated electrode and a SiC coated one which can be made rapidly at low cost were developed and their EDM characteristics were investigated. Experimental analysis pointed it out that both electrodes were effective in reducing electrode wear under finishing condition

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiotherapy delivery in Japan: An observational study based on the national database

Tamari K., Kishigami M., Nagata Y., et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiotherapy delivery in Japan: An observational study based on the national database. Cancer Medicine 12, 21032 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.6661.Background: This study analyzed the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on radiotherapy delivery in Japan using a high-quality Japanese national database based on universal health coverage. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study using National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan open data focused on radiotherapy between fiscal year (FY) 2019 and FY2020 and the number of COVID-19 cases from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. We statistically analyzed the relationship between the number of COVID-19 cases and the number of radiotherapy deliveries in Japan as a whole and by prefecture. Results: The total number of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) fractions was 4,472,140 in FY2019 and 4,227,673 in FY2020 (−5.8%). EBRT courses were 250,395 in FY2019 and 240,329 in FY2020 (−4.0%), stereotactic radiotherapy courses were 27,619 in FY2019 and 31,786 in FY2020 (+15.1%), and single-fraction palliative radiotherapy courses were 4124 in FY2019 and 5255 in FY2020 (+21.5%). The total number of breast and prostate hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) fractions was 155,773 and 48,188 in FY2019, and 200,256 and 84,230 in FY2020 (+28.6% and +74.8%), respectively. In the Pearson correlation analysis, EBRT fractions were lower, and breast HFRT fractions were higher in prefectures with more COVID-19 cases. Conclusions: Overall, radiotherapy delivery in Japan was relatively stable after the pandemic, with an increase in HFRT. Also, EBRT fractions decreased, and breast HFRT were more likely to be used in prefectures with more COVID-19 cases