Objective: In this study, we evaluated to examine the short-term educational effects for drug abuse prevention, including lectures and students’ awareness of drug abuse.
Method: A questionnaire consisting of eleven items and SD method-based image survey were conducted three times, prior to and following the lectures and after the summer vacation for first-year students of the Department of Pharmacy.
Results: The numbers of responses to the questionnaire surveys conducted prior to and following the summer vacation were 323 (response rate: 95.8%) and 332 (response rate: 97.9%), respectively.  When asked: “Do you think that people should be allowed to use cannabis (illegal herbal drugs) as long as they do not cause any trouble to others”, 2.8 (3.4) and 6.9 (6.6)% of students answered “Yes” after the lectures prior to the summer vacation and following it, respectively; there were both increased.  Following the summer vacation, 28.6% of students answered “Yes” to the question: “Have you ever seen or heard of people using cannabis or illegal herbal drugs ?”  A total of 2.1% of students had been “solicited to use cannabis or illegal herbal drugs”, and all of them stated that it would be “easy to obtain illegal herbal drugs”.  As the reason for drug abuse by young people, 140 students (42.2%) cited “curiosity”, and 81.6%, or 271 students, stated that they would “refuse” to use any illegal drugs even if they were asked to do so.  The results of the SD method-based image survey suggested significant changes in students’ awareness of drug abuse during the summer vacation; they had the image of little risk on drug abuse prevention following the vacation.
Conclusion: The effects of learning were not maintained in some first-year students because they faced a variety of temptations during the short summer vacation and their normative consciousness and images of drug abuse easily changed.  Therefore, it is necessary to provide lectures for new students to help them acquire accurate knowledge of drug abuse, enhance their normative consciousness, and increase their self-awareness as health care professionals, develop curriculums on a continuing basis, and deploy specialists so that students with psychological problems as identified by the survey, including stress, escapism, mental weakness, and anxiety, can consult them.

Fetal development of the face involves a specific type of cornification in which keratinocytes provide a mass or plug to fill a cavity. The epithelial-mesenchymal interaction was likely to be different from that in the usual skin. We examined expression of intermediate filaments and other mesenchymal markers beneath cornification in the fetal face. Using sections from 5 mid-term human fetuses at 14–16 weeks, immunohistochemistry was conducted for cytokeratins (CK), vimentin, nestin, glial fibrilary acidic protein, desmin, CD34, CD68 and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). Fetal zygomatic skin was composed of a thin stratum corneum and a stratum basale (CK5/6+, CK14+, and CK19+) and, as the intermediate layer, 2–3 layered large keratinocytes with nucleus. The basal layer was lined by mono-layered mesenchymal cells (CD34+ and nestin+). Some of basal cells were PCNA-positive. In the keratinocyte plug at the external ear and nose, most cell nuclei expressed PCNA, CK5/6, CK14, and CK19. Vimentin-positive mesenchymal cells migrated into the plug. The PCNA-positive nucleus as well as mesenchymal cell migration was not seen in the lip margin in spite of the thick keratinocyte layer. The lingual epithelium were characterized by the CK7-positive stratum corneum as well as the thick mesenchymal papilla. CD68-positive macrophages were absent in the epidermis/epithelium. Being different from usual cornification of the skin, loss of a mesenchymal monolayer as well as superficial migration of mesenchymal cells might connect with a specific differentiation of keratinocyte to provide a plug at the fetal nose and ear.
Cell Movement ; Cell Nucleus ; Desmin ; Ear ; Ear, External ; Epidermis* ; Epithelium* ; Fetal Development ; Fetus ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intermediate Filaments ; Keratinocytes ; Keratins ; Lip ; Macrophages ; Nestin ; Nose ; Proliferating Cell Nuclear Antigen ; Skin ; Vimentin

Precision cancer surgery is a system that integrates the accurate evaluation of tumor extension and aggressiveness, precise surgical maneuvers, prognosis evaluation, and prevention of the deterioration of quality of life (QoL). In this regard, nerve-sparing radical hysterectomy has a pivotal role in the personalized treatment of cervical cancer. Various types of radical hysterectomy can be combined with the nerve-sparing procedure. The extent of parametrium and vagina/paracolpium excision and the nerve-sparing procedure are tailored to the tumor status. Advanced magnetic resonance imaging technology will improve the assessment of the local tumor extension. Validated risk factors for perineural invasion might guide selecting treatment for cervical cancer. Type IV Kobayashi (modified Okabayashi) radical hysterectomy combined with the systematic nerve-sparing procedure aims to both maximize the therapeutic effect and minimize the QoL impairment. Regarding the technical aspect, the preservation of vesical nerve fibers is essential. Selective transection of uterine nerve fibers conserves the vesical nerve fibers as an essential piece of the pelvic nervous system comprising the hypogastric nerve, pelvic splanchnic nerves, and inferior hypogastric plexus. This method is anatomically and surgically valid for adequate removal of the parametrial and vagina/paracolpium tissues while preserving the total pelvic nervous system. Local recurrence after nerve-sparing surgery might occur due to perineural invasion or inadequate separation of pelvic nerves cutting through the wrong tissue plane between the pelvic nerves and parametrium/paracolpium. Postoperative management for long-term maintenance of bladder function is as critical as preserving the pelvic nerves.

We examined morphological differences between the sublingual and submandibular glands with special reference to their innervation. The sublingual gland contained abundant periodic acid Schiff-positive mucous acini: some lobules were composed of purely mucous acini, while others were purely serous or mixed. However, in the submandibular gland, the area of mucous acini was very limited. Notably, in the sublingual gland, immunohistochemistry for neuron-specific enolase demonstrated that the serous acini carried a higher density of nerve elements than the mucous acini. However, no such difference was evident in the submandibular gland, possibly due to the small areas of the mucous acini. In both types of gland, neuronal nitric oxide synthase-positive parasympathetic nerves as well as tyrosine hydroxylase-positive sympathetic nerves were observed in the interlobular tissue, but we were unable to trace these thin fibers to the acini. Myoepithelial cells expressed smooth muscle actin, but were negative for S100B protein, glial fibrillary acidic protein and neuron-specific enolase. However, antibody against S100A stained some of the myoepithelial cells and ductal cells in the sublingual gland. Cells positive for peripheral myelin protein 22 were seen in some of the ductal cells in the submandibular gland, but not in the sublingual gland. Therefore, with regard to the neurogenic features of the gland cells, S100B reactivity might disappear first in postnatal life, whereas S100A reactivity is likely to remain as aging progresses. The sublingual gland in elderly individuals seems to provide a good model for comparison of the nerve supply between mucous and serous acini.
Actins ; Aged* ; Aging ; Cadaver* ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans ; Immunohistochemistry ; Muscle, Smooth ; Myelin Sheath ; Neurons ; Nitric Oxide ; Periodic Acid ; Phosphopyruvate Hydratase ; Sublingual Gland* ; Submandibular Gland ; Tyrosine

To determine the proportion of nerve fibers in the hypogastric nerve (HGN) and pelvic splanchnic nerve (PSN), small tissue strips of the HGN and PSN from 12 donated elderly cadavers were examined histologically. Immunohistochemistry for neuronal nitric oxide synthase (NOS), vasoactive intestinal peptide (VIP), and tyrosine hydroxylase (TH) was performed. More than 70% of fibers per bundle in the HGN were positive for TH at the level of the sacral promontory. In addition, NOS- (negative) and/or VIP+ (positive) fibers were observed in small areas of each nerve bundle, although the proportion of each was usually less than 10%. In the PSN near the third sacral nerve root, the proportion of nerve fibers positive for NOS and/or VIP (or TH) was below 30%. In both the HGN and PSN, the number of VIP+ fibers was usually greater than that of NOS+ fibers, with frequent co-localization of NOS and VIP. More fibers in both nerves were positive for TH than for these other markers. In contrast to pelvic plexus branches, there were no differences in the proportions of NOS+ and VIP+ fibers between nerve bundles in each of the tissue strips. Thus, target-dependent sorting of nerve fibers was not apparent in the HGN at the level of the sacral promontory or in the PSN near the third sacral nerve root. The NOS+ and/or VIP+ fibers in the HGN were most likely ascending postganglionic fibers to the colon, while those in the PSN root may be preganglionic fibers from Onuf's nucleus.
Aged* ; Cadaver* ; Colon ; Humans ; Hypogastric Plexus ; Immunohistochemistry ; Nerve Fibers* ; Nitric Oxide Synthase ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Splanchnic Nerves* ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

The frontal nerve is characterized by its great content of sympathetic nerve fibers in contrast to cutaneous branches of the maxillary and mandibular nerves. However, we needed to add information about composite fibers of cutaneous branches of the nasociliary nerve. Using cadaveric specimens from 20 donated cadavers (mean age, 85), we performed immunohistochemistry of tyrosine hydroxylase (TH), neuronal nitric oxide synthase (nNOS), and vasoactive intestinal polypeptide (VIP). The nasocilliary nerve contained abundant nNOS-positive fibers in contrast to few TH- and VIP-positive fibers. The short ciliary nerves also contained nNOS-positive fibers, but TH-positive fibers were more numerous than nNOS-positive ones. Parasympathetic innervation to the sweat gland is well known, but the original nerve course seemed not to be demonstrated yet. The present study may be the first report on a skin nerve containing abundant nNOS-positive fibers. The unique parasympathetic contents in the nasocilliary nerve seemed to supply the forehead sweat glands as well as glands in the eyelid and nasal epithelium.
Cadaver ; Eyelids ; Forehead ; Humans* ; Immunohistochemistry ; Mandibular Nerve ; Nasal Mucosa ; Nerve Fibers ; Nitric Oxide Synthase Type I ; Skin ; Sweat Glands ; Tyrosine 3-Monooxygenase ; Vasoactive Intestinal Peptide

The raphe of the human penis and scrotum is considered to develop secondarily after disappearance of the initial midline seam by fusion of the bilateral genital folds. However, the fetal development was still obscure. We examined histological sections of 30 fetuses (17 males and 13 females) at 10-15 weeks. In male fetuses, the scrotum was not yet clearly identified because of no descent of testis. The perineal raphe was thin and wavy at 10 weeks, and it was continuous with and took a direction same as the inferior wall of the closed penile urethra after physiological hypospadias. Depending on growth of the bulbospongiosus muscle and corpus spongiosus penis, the midline intermuscular septum obtained a connection to the subcutaneous wavy raphe and made the latter thick and straight at 12-15 weeks. Notably, the perineal raphe extended posteriorly to attach to the external anal sphincter. In female fetuses, an epithelial fusion occurred along a short distance at the posterior end of the vestibule. However, in front of the external anal sphincter, a large midline mesenchymal tissue from the urorectal septum did not contain a raphe-like structure. Moreover, since the bilateral bulbospongiosus muscles were separated widely by the vestibule, they did not provide a midline septum. Fetal development of the perineal raphe was accelerated by reinforcement from the muscular septum. In contrast, without such a muscular support, the female raphe could not maintain its growth even if the seed appeared at the posterior end of the vestibule.
Anal Canal* ; Female ; Fetal Development ; Fetus* ; Humans* ; Hypospadias ; Male ; Muscles ; Penis ; Scrotum ; Testis ; Urethra

Carbonic anhydrase type IX (CA9) is known to express in the fetal joint cartilage to maintain pH against hypoxia. Using paraffin-embedded histology of 10 human fetuses at 10-16 weeks of gestation with an aid of immunohistochemistry of the intermediate filaments, matrix components (collagen types I and II, aggrecan, versican, fibronectin, tenascin, and hyaluronan) and CA9, we observed all joints and most of the entheses in the body. At any stages examined, CA9-poisitive cells were seen in the intervertebral disk and all joint cartilages including those of the facet joint of the vertebral column, but the accumulation area was reduced in the larger specimens. Glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP), one of the intermediate filaments, expressed in a part of the CA9-positive cartilages. Developing elastic cartilages were positive both of CA9 and GFAP. Notably, parts of the tendon or ligament facing to the joint, such as the joint surface of the annular ligament of the radius, were also positive for CA9. A distribution of each matrix components examined was not same as CA9. The bone-tendon and bone-ligament interface expressed CA9, but the duration at a site was limited to 3-4 weeks because the positive site was changed between stages. Thus, in the fetal entheses, CA9 expression displayed highly stage-dependent and site-dependent manners. CA9 in the fetal entheses seemed to play an additional role, but it was most likely to be useful as an excellent marker of mechanical stress at the start of enthesis development.
Aggrecans ; Anoxia ; Carbon* ; Carbonic Anhydrases* ; Cartilage ; Elastic Cartilage ; Fetal Development* ; Fetus ; Fibronectins ; Glial Fibrillary Acidic Protein ; Humans* ; Hydrogen-Ion Concentration ; Immunohistochemistry ; Intermediate Filaments ; Intervertebral Disc ; Joints* ; Ligaments* ; Pregnancy ; Radius ; Spine ; Stress, Mechanical* ; Tenascin ; Tendons* ; Versicans ; Zygapophyseal Joint

PURPOSE: It is still unclear whether the longitudinal anal muscles or conjoint longitudinal coats (CLCs) are attached to the vagina, although such an attachment, if present, would appear to make an important contribution to the integrated supportive system of the female pelvic floor. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Using immunohistochemistry for smooth muscle actin, we examined semiserial frontal sections of 1) eleven female late-stage fetuses at 28-37 weeks of gestation, 2) two female middle-stage fetus (2 specimens at 13 weeks), and, 3) six male fetuses at 12 and 37 weeks as a comparison of the morphology. RESULTS: In late-stage female fetuses, the CLCs consistently (11/11) extended into the subcutaneous tissue along the vaginal vestibule on the anterior side of the external anal sphincter. Lateral to the CLCs, the external anal sphincter also extended anteriorly toward the vaginal side walls. The anterior part of the CLCs originated from the perimysium of the levator ani muscle without any contribution of the rectal longitudinal muscle layer. However, in 2 female middle-stage fetuses, smooth muscles along the vestibulum extended superiorly toward the levetor ani sling. In male fetuses, the CLCs were separated from another subcutaneous smooth muscle along the scrotal raphe (posterior parts of the dartos layer) by fatty tissue. CONCLUSION: In terms of topographical anatomy, the female anterior CLCs are likely to correspond to the lateral extension of the perineal body (a bulky subcutaneous smooth muscle mass present in adult women), supporting the vaginal vestibule by transmission of force from the levator ani.
Anal Canal/*anatomy & histology/embryology ; Female ; Fetus/anatomy & histology ; Humans ; Male ; Muscle, Smooth/*anatomy & histology/embryology ; Pelvic Floor/anatomy & histology ; Sex Characteristics ; Vagina/*anatomy & histology/embryology

Because the ureter arises from the mesonephric or Wolffian duct (WD), the WD opening should migrate inferiorly along the urogenital sinus or future urethra. However, this process of descent has not been evaluated morphometrically in previous studies and we know little about intermediate morphologies for the descent. In the present work, serial sagittal sections of 15 specimens at gestational age 6–12 weeks and serial horizontal sections of 20 specimens at 6–10 weeks were analyzed. Monitoring of horizontal sections showed that, until 9 weeks, a heart-, lozenge- or oval-shape of the initial urogenital sinus remained in the bladder and urethra. Thus, the future bladder and urethra could not be distinguished by the transverse section or plane. The maximum width of the urogenital sinus or bladder at 6–10 weeks was 0.8 mm, although its supero-inferior length reached 5 mm at 10 weeks. During earlier stages, however, the medial shift of the WD was rather evident. Depending on the extent of upward growth of the bladder smooth muscle, the descent of the vas deferens became evident at 10–12 weeks. Development of the urethral rhabdosphincter likely resulted in the differentiation of urogenital sinus into the urethra and bladder before formation of the bladder neck with 3-layered smooth muscles. Development of the prostate followed these morphological changes, later accelerating the further descent of the WD opening. Because of their close topographical relationships, slight anomalies or accidents of the umbilical cord at 10–12 weeks may have a significant effect on normal anatomy.
Embryonic Structures* ; Fetus* ; Gestational Age ; Human Development ; Humans* ; Muscle, Smooth ; Neck ; Prostate ; Umbilical Cord ; Ureter ; Urethra ; Urinary Bladder ; Vas Deferens* ; Wolffian Ducts*