There have been an apparent trend in the decline of back-lift strength of young people during recent years. The purpose of this study was to investigate the cause-effect relationship of such a trend using young peoples and university students. In order to examine the characteristics of activities in the lumber back muscles during various physical activities, the surface electromyography (EMG) was obtained from the trapezius, latissimus dorsi, and elector spinae muscles for individuals with poor back-lift strength (5 male children and 4 university male students) and individuals with relatively strong back-lift strength (5 male children and 2 male university students) . The children with poor back-lift strength had significantly less EMG activities in both the trapezius and elector spinae muscles during the measurement of back-lift strength using a dynamometer than the strong back-lift strength children. The former children also had a less EMG activities in elector spinae muscle and a greater EMG activities in trapezius muscle during cycling the bicycle elgometer. Such a trend became more distinct when the load was increased. The university students with poor back-lift strength had a less EMG activity in the elector spinae muscle during the measurement of back-lift strength than those with strong back-lift strength. During running, there was not a distinct difference in the EMG activities of the muscles in the back between the poor and strong strength students. However, as the running speed increased, a greater EMG activity in the trapezius muscle or the latissimus dorsi muscle were observed for the poor back-lift strength students than the stronger back-lift strength students.
These results indicated that the individuals with poor back-lift strength relied more on the upper portion of the back muscle group than the lower portion of the back muscle group during both static and dynamic activities, suggesting that the trend in the decline of back-lift strength of children and students was due to a lack of opportunity to use the lower back muscles in the daily physical activities.

We aimed to assess whether patients with hemifacial microsomia can be quantitatively identified using bone mineral density information. Mandibular bone mineral density was studied using computer assisted analysis between the nonaffected (r) and the affected (l) sides with an orthopantomograph in a patient with hemifacial microsomia with median mandibular cleft, and four patients who suffered from hemifacial microsomia in the left side. Fifty controls without bone diseases were randomly selected. Bone mineral density r/l ratios in the controls ranged from 0.479 to 2.064, and those in two patients that were associated with and without median mandibular cleft were higher than those in the controls, with a maximum of 8.622 in a particular male with median mandibular cleft after bone graft, whereas the r/l ratios in the other three cases were similar to the controls. Our findings indicate that the quantitative character in the case with median mandibular cleft reveals a large discrepancy of bone mineral density between the nonaffected and the affected sides. This may suggest a compensatory mechanism for bone hypertrophy from regulated bone mineral density with underdevelopment in hemifacial microsomia.

Introduction: We perform our trials in Tsurumi ward, Yokohama city aiming at reducing the number of “cancer refugees” to zero. State: There are many patients who receive cancer therapy outside their hometown. Once their treatment is finished due to progressive disease or deteriorating condition, they are told to leave the hospital and to get palliative care in their district. And they become so-called “cancer refugees”. The beds of palliative care units are limited so the ability to accept patients in case of emergencies is poor. In Tsurumi ward, here are a lot of home care clinics providing palliative care but the place patients want to be or receive palliative care when their condition deteriorates isn't fixed. We organized the “Tsurumi Homecare Network” as the core of medical cooperation, and have worked on improving palliative care and increasing patients who die at home. Specifically, our hospital has played a central role as a special place for palliative care, we send out our original questionnaire to home care clinics to find out how they perform palliative care and introduce patients to the appropriate clinic. Patients who are in need of hospitalization are assured acceptance. On the other hand, we propose the cancer treatment hospitals to follow their patients together with us from their early stage of cancer treatment. Problem: To maintain a good relationship for regional palliative care, improving the management for outpatients, strict and timely backup system, advanced quality of homecare-supporting staff for palliative care and cooperation between home care clinic doctors are necessary.

Two new thiodiketopiperazines (TDKPs), designated graphiumins I (1) and J (2), were isolated from the culture broth of the marine-derived fungus Graphium sp. OPMF00224 by solvent extraction, silica gel column chromatography, and HPLC. Their absolute structures were elucidated by spectroscopic analyses (1D and 2D NMR data, ROESY correlations, and CD data) and chemical methods. They were found to be structurally rare TDKPs with a phenylalanine-derived indolin substructure. Compounds 1 and 2 inhibited yellow pigment production by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA) with IC50 values of 63.5 and 76.5 microg/ml, respectively, without inhibiting its growth, even at 250 microg/ml.
Chromatography ; Chromatography, High Pressure Liquid ; Fungi* ; Inhibitory Concentration 50 ; Methicillin-Resistant Staphylococcus aureus ; Silica Gel

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the accuracy and precision of continuous, non-invasive blood pressure obtained using the ClearSight system by comparing it with invasive arterial blood pressure, and to assess the hemodynamic changes using invasive methods and the ClearSight system in patients undergoing cesarean section. Methods: Arterial pressure was measured invasively with an intra-arterial catheter and non-invasively using the ClearSight system during cesarean section in patients with placenta previa or placenta accreta. Blood pressure measurements obtained using these two means were then compared. Results: Total 1,277 blood pressure measurement pairs were collected from 21 patients. Under Bland-Altman analysis, the ClearSight system demonstrated an acceptable accuracy with a bias and standard deviation of 8.8±13.4 mmHg for systolic blood pressure, -6.3±7.1 mmHg for diastolic blood pressure, and -2.7±8.0 mmHg for median blood pressure. Cardiac index levels were significantly elevated during fetal delivery and 5 minutes after placental removal, and systemic vascular resistance index levels were significantly decreased during fetal delivery and 40 minutes after placental removal. Conclusion In patients undergoing cesarean section, the ClearSight system showed excellent accuracy and precision compared to that of the currently used invasive monitoring system.