Background: The potassium voltage-gated channel subfamily Q member 1 (KCNQ1) gene has recently received much attention as a candidate susceptibility gene for type 2 diabetes mellitus, especially in Asian populations. We previously reported that Kcnq1 mutant mice exhibit reduced insulin secretion and hyperglycemia due to a decrease in pancreatic β-cell mass. Through in vivo and in vitro analyses, we ascertained that this mechanism is the result of the downregulation of the non-coding RNA ‘Kcnq1ot1,’ which is expressed in the paternal allele of the Kcnq1 gene region, causing an increase in the expression of the cell cycle inhibitor cyclin dependent kinase inhibitor 1C (Cdkn1c). It was found that decreased Kcnq1ot1 expression resulted in pancreatic β-cell failure; however, the degree of pancreatic β-cell volume reduction was not severe. Methods: We induced obesity in Kcnq1ot1 truncation mice by feeding them a high-fat diet and evaluated pancreatic β-cell mass. Results: In the present study, we reveal that CCAAT/enhancer binding protein beta (C/EBPβ), which is expressed at higher levels in pancreatic β-cells in obese individuals, further increases the expression of Cdkn1c, which is upregulated by the Kcnq1 gene mutation. We found that simultaneous Cdkn1c hypomethylation and C/EBPβ overexpression in pancreatic β-cells causes a synergistic decrease in pancreatic β-cell mass. Conclusion This finding suggests that the synergistic effect of genetic factors such as Kcnq1 gene mutations and environmental factors such as obesity and overeating, which lead to increased expression of C/EBPβ, contribute to the regulation of pancreatic β-cell mass. This study is the first to show that the Kcnq1 gene is related to pancreatic β-cell mass through genetic-environment interactions.

The purpose of this research was to develop a reflection program to support the practice of end-of-life care for nurses and to examine its effectiveness and feasibility. We developed and examined the effectiveness of a facilitator-based reflection program (FRP) and card-based reflection program (CRP). Average scores for both the FRP and CRP were measured using a Knowledge, Attitude and Difficulty Scale for palliative care and Self-education Ability Scale implemented before, immediately after, and 3 months after the program. The changes in scores were compared. This research was conducted with approval from the ethics review committee. Nine people participated in the FRP, and 15 in the CRP. FRP significantly reduced difficulty concerning palliative care compared to CRP. FRP significantly increased knowledge compared to CRP. Similar results were obtained within the FRP group. Both FRP and CRP were considered highly feasible because the program evaluation was high. In the future, it is necessary to clarify the effect of the reflection program by reviewing the research design.

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship between white matter tracts and cognitive symptoms in children with high-functioning autism spectrum disorder (ASD). METHODS: We examined the cognitive functions of 17 children with high-functioning ASD and 18 typically developing (TD) controls and performed diffusion tensor imaging (DTI) tractography. We compared the results between the groups and investigated the correlations between the cognitive scores and DTI parameters within each group. RESULTS: The Comprehension scores in the ASD group exhibited a positive correlation with mean diffusivity (MD) in the forceps minor (F minor). In the TD group, the Comprehension scores were positively correlated with fractional anisotropy (FA) in the right inferior fronto-occipital fasciculus (IFO) and left anterior thalamic radiation (ATR), and negatively correlated with MD in the left ATR, radial diffusivity (RD) in the right IFO, and RD in the left ATR. Additionally, a positive correlation was observed between the Matching Numbers scores and MD in the left uncinate fasciculus and F minor, and RD in the F minor. Furthermore, the Sentence Questions scores exhibited a positive correlation with RD in the right inferior longitudinal fasciculus. Relative to TD controls, the specific tract showing a strong correlation with the cognitive scores was reduced in the ASD group. CONCLUSION: Our findings indicate that white matter tracts connecting specific brain areas may exhibit a weaker relationship with cognitive functions in children with ASD, resulting in less efficient cognitive pathways than those observed in TD children.
Anisotropy ; Autism Spectrum Disorder ; Autistic Disorder ; Brain ; Child ; Cognition ; Comprehension ; Diffusion Tensor Imaging ; Humans ; Neurobehavioral Manifestations ; Surgical Instruments ; White Matter

Relationships between physicians and pharmaceutical companies have received considerable attention regarding the professionalism of health care professionals in recent years. Pharmacists may also have a conflict of interest if they are provided some benefits from pharmaceutical companies. We conducted a survey of pharmacists in hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies in mid 2011. The response rate was 58.8％（235/400）. Most pharmacists（94％） reported some type of relationship with pharmaceutical companies, which included receiving ballpoint pens and notebooks（88.5％）, or receiving food in a meeting（56.6％）. Managerial level pharmacists received more “textbooks and guidelines”, “gifts” than other pharmacists. The results of this survey indicate that relationships between pharmacists and companies is common. The formulation of guidelines and more responsible behaviors are needed.

  In our hospital the palliative care committee has been held once a month since 2000. In 2007, a total of 1,583 cancer patients were admitted to our hospital orreceived medical care at home. The average length of hospital stay was 24 days. Of the total number of patients, 88.4% was informed that they had cancer. In the latter half of the year it increased to 92.6% because the palliative caretakers gave doctors accurate information on patients' psychology and social background. In October 2007 a questionnaire survey was conducted on those who visited our palliative care section on the occasion of the hospital festival. A total of 46 responded to our survey about the knowledge of palliative care, physician's precise explanation about the illness, image of opioids, desirable place of death and so on. Twenty-eight respondents (60.9%) did not know anything about palliative care. Forty-four (95.7%) wanted precise explanation of cancer. Thirty-four (73.9%) said they had had a night image of opioids after reading the panel. Twenty-eight (60.9%) responded they would rather stay at home until death. We should give healthy people more information about palliative care and opioids.

The aim of this study is to clarify the relations between the hearing impairment of farmers and exposure to noise generated by agricultural machines. Some studies have revealed that the equivalent continuous sound level (Leq) from agricultural machines exceeds 80dB (A). But the noise -induced hearing loss experienced by farm machine operators has not received much attention, probably because they are self-employed and their working hours are irregular.
We surveyed 1, 368 farmers, aged 17 to 76 (male 828, female 480), about working hours. We also tested their hearing levels at 1kHz and 4kHz. It was found that 22.3% of the farmers (305 of 1, 368) had some hearing impairment. In the hearing-impaired group, the mean length of working hours on tracters or other machines was 24, 689 ± 21, 155.13 hours. In the healthy group, the mean length of working hours was 16, 077. 65 ± 17, 623. 69 hours. A statistically significant difference was evident in the above results. As the operating hours increased, the incidence of the hearing impairment also increased. To avoid the biases of aging, we examined the results according to each age group. In the 40, 50, and 60-year-old age groups, the operating hours of the hearing impaired group were longer than those of the healthy group. We concluded that the amount of noise exposure probably affects farmers' hearing.

A clinical study was carried out on 336 patients diagnosed with nasal allergic symptoms in Otolaryngological Clinic of Obihiro Kousei Hospital from April 1993 to July 1995. The diagnosis was made based on their history, numbers of eosinophils in the peripheral blood and nasal secretion and the results of the radioallergosorbent test (RAST).
House dust and mites were the most frequent allergens, as reported by almost all clinics in Hokkaido. On the other hand, in this Tokachi district, pollinosis allergens include birch pollinosis in 98 patients (40.8%), orchard grass pollinosis in 66 patients (27.5%), regweed pollinosis in 75 patients (31.6%) and timothy pollinosis in 77 patients (32.1%).
It seems that Pecatnres are due to the local characteristics such as cllimate, geographical features and plant distribution in the Tokachi area.