Hansen's disease (HD) is a chronic infectious disease caused by the Mycobacterium leprae, which parasitizes skin macrophages and Schwann cells of peripheral nerves. Left untreated, leprosy can be progressive, causing permanent damage to the skin, nerves, limbs and eyes due to sensory disturbance and neuritis. Many HD patients suffer from refractory neuralgia for which neither painkillers nor other western medicine are usually effective. Here, we will report the case of an 85 year-old male, whose refractory neuralgia remarkably improved with goreisan. The mechanisms by which goreisan was effective may be as follows : (1) neuralgia pathology is an interstitial edema of peripheral nerves, and can explain as a local Sui-doku, a specific Sho for goreisan ; (2) peripheral nerve ischemia, caused by scar formation from chronic inflammation, leads to dysfunction of Na⁺/K⁺ ATPase, and extracellular potassium concentration increases. This environmental change leads a neural hypersensitivity, and goreisan is known to decrease extracellular potassium concentrations. This case suggests goreisan might be worth considering for use in refractory neuralgia, not only in HD patients, but also in other neuropathies.

In this article, we describe the use of the home page of “Digestion” for self-learning and review by third-year students of our medical school. A home page should provide an overview of the site for easy navigation and present a briefexplanation of important or difficult terms. The page should minimize previously unseen information but should use multiple colors and animation to keep the student's attention. We propose that a nationwide collection of educational materials be established to avoid copyright problems.

This study analyzed the effects of various body surface areas being cooled by water-perfused suits (WPS) on thermoregulatory response during exercise in a hot environment. Seven male subjects, dressed in clothing with low moisture permeability (rain coats) over WPS covering the whole body surface except for the face, hands, and feet, performed three sessions of 20-min cycling at low intensity (250w/m²) in a room maintained at 30℃ under six conditions of body surface cooling : whole body (WB), upper body (UB), lower body (LB), lower body except lower legs (LBEL), head and neck (HN), and no body cooling (NBC). The coolant temperature at the inlet was 20℃ for all conditions, and heat extraction (HE) was estimated by the difference between inlet and outlet water temperatures and water flow rate. Esophageal (Tes) and deep thigh temperatures (T-d.thigh) and heart rate (HR) during exercise were significantly (p＜0.01) higher for NBC and HN, and forearm skin blood flow (SkBF) and dehydration (DEH) were significantly (p＜0.01) lower for WB than for other conditions. There was a similar tendency concerning Tes and T-d.thigh among WB, LBEL, and LB ; however, T-d.thigh for UB was significantly (p＜0.01) higher than for WB, LBEL, and LB. In comparison with resting levels, the mean skin temperature (Tsk) and thermal sensation (TS) significantly (p＜0.01) increased for NBC and HN, and decreased for UB and WB, but remained constant for LBEL and LB during exercise. Under all conditions, increases in Tes (ΔTes) and T-d.thigh (ΔT-d.thigh) at the end of exercise were significantly (p＜0.01) increased when less than 40% of the body surface was cooled (Tsk : above 35.8℃, HE : less than 110W). Furthermore, ΔTes at the end of the exercise was related to ΔTsk×SkBF, while the slope of the regression line between those parameters was steeper when ΔTsk×SkBF values were negative, as opposed to positive values. These results suggest that during light exercise under different body surface cooling conditions : 1) UB leads to a high T-d.thigh while Tes, Tsk, and TS are as low as those for WB, 2) critical levels of body surface cooling area causing a decrease in core temperature elevation might exist, and 3) changes in blood circulation due to body cooling might be affecting temperature responses at the end of exercise.

From January 1982 to August 1993, 23 cues of advanced renal cell carcinoma with tumor thrombus in the inferior vena cava (IVC) were treated surgically. In terms of clinical stage, 12 cases were in stage III and 11 cases were in stage IV. The 23 cases were divided into three groups according to the location of the tumor thrombus in the IVC. In two cases, the tumor thrombus extended to near the right atrium or the hepatic vein, and in six cases, the thrombus extended to the hepatic IVC. All these tumor thrombus with invasion to the IVC wall were removed under partial cardiopulmonary bypass. In 15 cases, tumor thrombus were limited to near the junction of the renal vein, which were removed by balloon catheter or finger after clamping of proximal and distal side of IVC and renal vein. Direct suture of the IVC wall in 12, patch repair with EPTFE in 10 and graft replacement with EPTFE graft in 1 were performed. Eight patients who had distant metastasis, regional lymph node metastasis and extracapsular invasion died within one year, but 4 patients were alive more than four years. Survival rate at three years and five years according to the Kaplan-Meier method was 37.5% and 18.8%, respectively. In conclusion 1) partial cardiopulmonary bypass was useful and could control bleeding when tumor thrombus in the IVC extended to the junction of the hepatic vein or right atrium. 2) long term survival cases were recognized in cases with no distant metastasis, no regional lymph node metastasis and no extracapsular tumor invasion. 3) nephrectomy associated with tumor thrombectomy in the IVC was valuable on the basis of long-term prognosis.

Object To study the isolation and purification of a polysaccharide, obtained from Paecilomyces tenuipes Samson, its molecular weight, sugar composition, and mode of linkage Methods Crude polysaccharide was extracted by water at ambient temperature and purified on Sephadex G 100 column Its monosaccharide composition was determined by ionic ion exchange column after complete hydrolysis with acid Their mode of linkage was determined by methylation and glycosidic linkage established by IR and NMR spectra Results HPLC spectrum showed that the polysaccharide was of homogeneous composition, which was also proved latter by GC MS and NMR Conclusion Polysaccharide obtained from P tenuipes Samson is ? (1→6) linked and composed of only D glucose The molecular weight was 2 05?10 4

To clarify the effect of sports wear on exercise-heat stress, we analyzed quantitative differences in thermoregulatory responses among baseball uniforms (BB), soccer uniforms (SC), and swimming trunks (NU) during exercise in a hot environment. Eight male subjects performed three sessions of 20-min cycling at light intensity (250W/m²) wearing BB, SC and NU in a room maintained at 28°C (wet-bulb globe temperatures, WBGT) . Esophageal (Tes), mean skin (Tsk), and mean body temperatures (Tb), heart rate (HR), thermal sensation (TS), and total sweat loss (m_SW) were measured during the exercise. Increases in Tes, Tsk, Tb, HR, and TS during exercise were significantly (p<0, 05) higher, and m_SW, was significantly (p<0.001) greater for BB than SC and NU. The increase in Tes at the end of the exercise was 3.0 times higher for BB than NU ; and also 2.0 times higher for SU than NU. Under all conditions, the increase in Tes significantly correlated with Tsk (r=0.634, p<0, 001) and HR (r=0.854, p<0.001) ; m_SW also significantly correlated with Tb (r=0.683, p<0.001) at the end of the exercise. These findings suggest that quantitative differences regarding the increase in Tes among BB, SC and NU relate to Tsk elevation due to attenuation of heat dissipation depending on sports wear ; body temperature elevation also relates to the increase in HR and m_SW during light exercise in a hot environment.

Objectives: The aim of this study was to identify characteristic lifestyles in children with obese parents. Methods: 8,030 children (4,072 males and 3,958 females) aged 6 to 7 years were investigated. A questionnaire relating to the lifestyles of children was distributed through elementary schools for completion by parents. The heights and weights of parents were self-reported. A parent with a body mass index (weight in kilograms divided by the square of height in meters) greater than the 90th percentile for gender (26.7 kg/m2 for fathers and 24.3 kg/m2 for mothers) was defined as an obese parent. A chi-square test for each trend was applied to evaluate an increasing trend in the frequency or level of each lifestyle in children with obese parents. Results: Children with obese parents were significantly associated with increasing trends in the proportions categorized by irregular intake of breakfast, faster eating, longer TV watching, and shorter sleeping hours. Conclusions: These lifestyles are considered to be possible risk factors for the development of obesity. These characteristic lifestyles observed in children with obese parents could strengthen the relationship between child and parental body compositions, in addition to the genetic predisposition to obesity in children with obese parents. These findings indicate that education with lifestyle modification for obese parents will be required to prevent further weight gain in children with obese parents.
Child ; Parents ; Life Style ; seconds ; trends

To clarify the effects of varying skin temperature due to several types of clothing on temperature responses and heat-stress during exercise, we analyzed thermoregulatory responses while wearing various types of sportswear including soccer (SC), baseball (BB), and fencing uniforms (FU), and while wearing water-perfused suits (WS) and vests (WV) during exercise in a hot environment. We also compared these results with those obtained under a semi-nude condition (NU). Eight male subjects performed three 20-min cycling sessions at light intensity (250W/m²) in a room maintained at 28°C (wet-bulb globe temperature, WBGT). The experiment was performed under ten conditions, with six sets of clothing, WS and WV at 14°C (WS14, WV14), 20°C (WS20, WV20) and 26°C (WS26, WV26), and FU, SC, BB or NU. While wearing sport-swear, increases in esophageal (ΔTes), mean skin (Tsk), mean body (Tb) temperature, heart rate (HR), thermal sensation (TS) at the end of exercise, and total sweat loss (m_{sw, tot}) during exercise were significantly (p<0.01) higher in BB and FU than in NU. In comparison to WS or WV conditions, ΔTes was significantly (p<0.01) higher under WV conditions than under NU, while there was no significant difference in ΔTes between WS and NU. Tsk, Tb, HR, TS and m_{sw, tot} tended to be lower in WS14 and 20, and higher in WV26 than in NU. Under all conditions at the end of exercise, the ΔTes markedly increased when Tsk exceeded 34°C ; and ΔTes was significantly correlated with Tsk (r=0.861, p<0.01) for all conditions except WS14 and 20. For Tsk less than 34°C, however, ΔTes remained constant. ΔTes, Tsk, and Tb significantly correlated with HR (r=0.932, p<0.001), TS (r=0.888, p<0.001), and m_{sw, tot} (r=0.961, p<0.001), respectively. These results show that during light exercise under hot conditions, 1) in several types of clothing, a critical level of skin temperature causing core temperature elevation may exist, 2) cooling the skin temperature can alleviate heat-stress due to body temperature elevation, and 3) the semi-nude condition is the simplest method of alleviating core temperature elevation without using body cooling materials such as WS or WV.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to develop and evaluate a training program for facilitators operating a support group (SG) for cancer patients. Methods: The training program was structured and implemented as a two-day program for members of the nursing profession with experience in providing care for cancer patients. An original questionnaire, developed to ascertain knowledge regarding SG operation, and for evaluating anxiety and self-efficacy was designed for use before and after going through the program to allow for comparative evaluation. The subjects of this analysis were 58 nurses taking part in the program. Results: As a result, the knowledge of how to operate SG increased significantly (p<0.05) following participation. Of the 12 items addressing anxiety and self-efficacy regarding SG operation, lessening of anxiety was noted in 3 items, and self-efficacy was seen to improve significantly in 7 items. Motivation and resolve concerning SG operation following participation in the program also increased significantly. Conclusion: This was a useful training program for facilitators operating support groups for beginners.

Background: Sulfated polysaccharides have specific antiviral activities, which biological mechanism is assumed to the electrostatic interaction between (+)-charged virus surface glycoproteins and (-)-charged sulfate groups. Objective: For the elucidation of the mechanism, several oligopeptides referenced by the sequence of Human Immunodeficiency Virus glycoprotein 120 (HIV gp120) and hemagglutinin (HA) of influenza A and B were synthesized by a peptide synthesizer and the interaction with structurally distinct sulfated polysaccharides such as curdlan sulfate and dextran sulfate was analyzed by SPR. Method: In this study, six oligopeptides were synthesized from the sequence of the V3 loop, C-terminus, and CD4 binding domain in the HIV gp120. Oligopeptide A from the V3 loop comprises 20 amino acids with seven positively charged lysine and arginine in the sequence. The basic amino acids were relatively dispersed along the sequence compared with that of oligopeptide B. Likewise, oligopeptide B from the C–terminus comprises seven lysine and arginine, also oligopeptide of Influenza A/Yamagata HA and Influenza A/Brisbane HA comprises 23 amino acids with eight positively charged lysine and arginine in the sequence. Oligopeptide C from the CD4 binding domain and Influenza B /Hong Kong from the HA comprises one lysine and next to the biotin. The biotinylated peptides were synthesized by a microwave assisted solid phase peptide synthesizer using Fmoc protected amino acids. The peptides were purified by RP-HPLC and identified the structure by using MALDI TOF MS. Result: Peptides A and B from HIV gp120 were found to have interacted strongly with dextran and curdlan sulfates, however, the peptide C without positively charged amino acids showed no interaction. These results suggest that the interaction was due to the electrostatic interaction between negatively charged sulfate groups and positively charged amino groups of the peptides. The results of influenza HAs, influenza A (Yamagata and Brisbane) and B (Hong Kong) viruses, are also presented. Conclusion Curdlan and dextran sulfates were found to increase the interaction with increasing the molecular weights and degree of sulfation (DS), which were found to be important factors for the antiviral activity of sulfated polysaccharides. Based on the above, suggesting the antivirus mechanism of sulfated polysaccharides to be the electrostatic interaction of negatively charged sulfated polysaccharides and virus surface glycoprotein at the positively charged amino acid regions.