Personality of seasonal affective disorder analyzed by Tri-dimensional Personality Questionnaire

BACKGROUND: Although there have been numerous reports in personality of mood disorders, there have been few reports in regard with personality of winter seasonal affective disorder (SAD). Furthermore, no reports have been published concerning summer SAD personality characteristics. Thus, this study was conducted to assess the personality of winter and summer SAD using Tri-dimensional Personality Questionnaire (TPQ) that have been used in a variety of mental disorders. METHODS: A total of 6135 Japanese were evaluated with TPQ, the Seasonal Pattern Assessment Questionnaire (SPAQ) and the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS). Winter, summer and non-SAD groups were classified by SPAQ. We compared the difference of personality trait among these three groups in consideration of gender, age and SDS score influence. RESULTS: Winter SAD demonstrated higher "Novelty Seeking" and "Harm Avoidance"; summer SAD showed higher "Harm Avoidance" than the non-SAD group. "Harm Avoidance" in both SAD groups was re-analyzed using SDS score as a covariate, and "Novelty Seeking" in winter SAD using age as a covariate. As a result, the significance of high "Novelty Seeking" and high "Harm Avoidance" in winter SAD was excluded. However, "Harm Avoidance" remained the significant difference between summer and non-SAD. LIMITATION: SAD was diagnosed only by SPAQ and not by interview. The state-dependency of "Harm Avoidance" was not confirmed in identical patients over lapse of time. CONCLUSION: Patients with winter SAD have high "Harm Avoidance" dependent on the depressive state that is in accordance with non-seasonal depression. Patients with summer SAD have high "Harm Avoidance" possibly independent from the depressive state.     

Effect of evaluative observation during mental tasks on cardiovascular responses

The effect of evaluative observation on cardiovascular responses was assessed in 20 female undergraduate students. All participants performed a mental arithmetic (MA) task, and a mirror drawing (MD) task, with or without evaluative observation. Heart rate, blood pressure (BP), admittance plethysmography, and task performance were recorded for each task. Both tasks increased blood pressure, but the hemodynamic response patterns were distinct. The MA task induced enhanced cardiac response, whereas the MD task induced a vascular dominant response. Evaluative observation substantially increased BP during both tasks, but it always enhanced cardiac output and reduced total peripheral resistance. The hemodynamic responses changed significantly from vascular dominant to cardiac dominant, particularly during the MD task. The similarity of responses during evaluative and competitive situations is discussed. The significance of interpersonal factors in psychophysiological studies is emphasized.     

A Consideration on the new classification of latest lung ventilators

Concerning the classification of ventilators, Elam (1958), Faireley (1959), and Hunter (1961) reported some simple ones such as pressure limited, volume limited, pressure preset, or volume preset models. Mapleson (1969) also classified them by the generating force or cycling together with the above-mentioned types.The latest ventilators applicable to patients with respiratory failure usually have some cut-off function at high airway pressures as a safety measure. Therefore, all of them belong to the pressure limited type. Some ventilators are of two types such as the time cycled and pressure cycled type.Therefore, we attempted to classify ventilators into four groups, i.e. the time cycled, volume cycled, pressure cycled and selective time-pressure cycled types according to the fundamental mode of ventilator function, the so-called change of cycling from inspiration to expiration. Each group was further divided into subgroups according to preset dials such as respiratory rate, I/E ratio, inspiration time, expiration time, tidal volume, flow rate and airway pressure.By this method, fifty one ventilators on the market in Japan can be classified without overlapping. Although this classification seems complex, it will be of use in selecting ventilators by emphasizing preset dials according to the users needs, ability or both.(Goto Y, Takahashi K, Harada J et al.: A consideration on the new classification of latest lung ventilators. J Anesth 1: 178–182, 1987)     

Association between Vitamin D and Heart Failure Mortality in 10,974 Hospitalized Individuals

A broad range of chronic conditions, including heart failure (HF), have been associated with vitamin D deficiency. Existing clinical trials involving vitamin D supplementation in chronic HF patients have been inconclusive. We sought to evaluate the outcomes of patients with vitamin D supplementation, compared with a matched cohort using real-world big data of HF hospitalization. This study was based on the Diagnosis Procedure Combination database in the Japanese Registry of All Cardiac and Vascular Datasets (JROAD-DPC). After exclusion criteria, we identified 93,692 patients who were first hospitalized with HF between April 2012 and March 2017 (mean age was 79 ± 12 years, and 52.2% were male). Propensity score (PS) was estimated with logistic regression model, with vitamin D supplementation as the dependent variable and clinically relevant covariates. On PS-matched analysis with 10,974 patients, patients with vitamin D supplementation had lower total in-hospital mortality (6.5 vs. 9.4%, odds ratio: 0.67, p < 0.001) and in-hospital mortality within 7 days and 30 days (0.9 vs. 2.5%, OR, 0.34, and 3.8 vs. 6.5%, OR: 0.56, both p < 0.001). In the sub-group analysis, mortalities in patients with age < 75, diabetes, dyslipidemia, atrial arrhythmia, cancer, renin-angiotensin system blocker, and β-blocker were not affected by vitamin D supplementation. Patients with vitamin D supplementation had a lower in-hospital mortality for HF than patients without vitamin D supplementation in the propensity matched cohort. The identification of specific clinical characteristics in patients benefitting from vitamin D may be useful for determining targets of future randomized control trials.     

Validation and reliability of a Japanese version of the Shoulder Pain and Disability Index: A cross-sectional study

BackgroundThe Shoulder Pain and Disability Index (SPADI) is a simple disease specific questionnaire that is used to evaluate the impact of shoulder disorders. The purpose of this study was to translate the SPADI into Japanese (SPADI-Jp) and evaluate its reliability and validity in Japanese patients with shoulder disorders.MethodsCross-cultural adaptation of the SPADI was performed according to international guidelines. A total of 100 patients with shoulder disorders participated in this study. Each participant was asked to finish the SPADI-Jp, Disability of Arm, Shoulder and Hand (DASH), and the Short-Form 36 (SF-36) at the initial visit. Thirty-four patients repeated the SPADI-Jp to assess the test–retest reliability. The test–retest reliability was quantified using the interclass correlation coefficient (ICC), while Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess the internal consistency. The construct validity was assessed using Spearman's rank correlation coefficients.ResultsInternal consistency in the SPADI-Jp was very high (0.969), as measured by the Cronbach's alpha. The ICC of the SPADI-Jp was 0.930. There was a strong, positive correlation between the DASH and the SPADI-Jp (r = 0.837, p < 0.001). The SPADI-Jp was significantly correlated with most of the SF-36 subscales. The correlations of the SPADI-Jp with physical subscales of the SF-36 were stronger than those with the other subscales.ConclusionsWe demonstrated that the SPADI-Jp is a reliable and valid self-assessment tool. Because cross-cultural adaptation, validation, and reliability of the disease-specific questionnaire for shoulder pain and disability have not been evaluated in Japan, the SPADI-Jp can be useful for evaluating such patients in the Japanese population.     

Effects of MEK on kinetics ofn-hexane metabolites in serum

The neurotoxicity ofn-hexane is thought to be caused ultimately by 2,5-hexanedione (2,5-HD), one of then-hexane metabolites. The potentiation ofn-hexane neurotoxicity by co-exposure with MEK, therefore, is suspected to be related to kinetics of 2,5-HD in blood. To clarify the kinetics ofn-hexane metabolites in the mixed exposure ofn-hexane and MEK, rats were exposed to 2000 ppmn-hexane or a mixture of 2000 ppmn-hexane and 2000 ppm MEK, and the time courses of serumn-hexane metabolites were determined. 2,5-HD in serum increased until 2 h after the end of exposure, when serum 2,5-HD concentration reached a peak of 16.35 g/ml in then-hexane-alone group. In contrast, 2,5-HD in the mixed exposure group increased much more slowly during and after exposure than in then-hexane-alone group. It reached a peak of 2.12 g/ml at 8 h after the end of exposure. Serum MBK, a precursor of 2,5-HD in the co-exposure group, was about half in then-hexane-alone group during exposure. However, MBK decreased more slowly in the co-exposure group than in then-hexane-alone group after the end of the exposure. The results suggest that co-exposed MEK might inhibit oxidation ofn-hexane and decrease clearance ofn-hexane metabolites. Co-exposed MEK did not increase serum 2,5-HD, which was considered a main neurotoxic metabolite. Therefore the enhancement of neurotoxicity could not be attributed to increased serum 2,5-HD in the co-exposed group. The mechanism of enhancement of neurotoxicity ofn-hexane by MEK should be studied further.     

Impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on pathological autopsy practices in Japan

During the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic, autopsies have provided valuable insights into the pathogenesis of COVID-19. The precise effect of this pandemic on autopsy procedures in Japan, especially in instances unrelated to COVID-19, has not yet been established. Therefore, we conducted a questionnaire survey from December 2020 to January 2021 regarding the status of pathological autopsy practices in Japan during the first year of the COVID-19 pandemic. The questionnaire was sent to 678 medical facilities with pathologists, of which 227 responded. In cases where a confirmed diagnosis of COVID-19 was not made at the time of autopsy, many facilities counted them as suspected COVID-19 cases if pneumonia was suspected clinically. At around half of the sites, autopsies were prohibited for suspected COVID-19 cases. In addition, the number of autopsies of non-COVID-19 cases during the pandemic period was also investigated, and a significant decrease was observed compared with the incidence in the pre-pandemic period. The COVID-19 pandemic has affected not only the autopsies of COVID-19 cases but also the entire practice of pathological autopsies. It is necessary to establish a system that supports the implementation of pathological autopsy practices during the pandemic of an emerging infectious disease.     

Renal Disposition of Recombinant Human Interleukin-11 in the Isolated Perfused Rat Kidney

Purpose. To clarify the mechanism of the renal clearance of recombinant human interleukin-11 (rhIL-11), we investigated the renal disposition characteristics of rhIL-11 in the perfused rat kidney. Methods. The disposition characteristics of ¹¹¹In-labeled rhIL-11 were analyzed using a single-pass indicator dilution technique and statistical moment analysis in the perfused rat kidney under filtering and nonfiltering conditions. Results. Steady-state distribution volume (V _d ) calculated from the venous outflow patterns of rhIL-11 at the doses of 0.3 to 10 g/kidney was between 0.35 and 0.40 ml/g kidney. However, V _d at the highest dose decreased to a value almost identical to that of bovine serum albumin, suggesting that there is a reversible and saturable interaction between the capillary wall and rhIL-11 molecule. In filtering kidney, a remarkable accumulation of rhIL-11 was observed while its urinary excretion was highly restricted at all doses. In nonfiltering kidney, rhIL-11 showed a decreased but still significant renal uptake. Taken together, the marked renal uptake of rhIL-11 may be explained by both efficient tubular reabsorption and significant uptake from the capillary side. These processes were not saturable within the tested dose range. These characteristics of rhIL-11 are likely based on non-specific electrostatic interaction with the tissues due to its cationic charge in the cytokine. Conclusions. The renal disposition processes of rhIL-11 were clarified at organ level in a quantitative manner. These findings agree well with previous observations in an in vivo disposition study in mice.     

The effects of tensile load on the metabolism of cultured chondrocytes

The effect of cyclic tensile load on articular cartilage metabolism was investigated experimentally using 12 Japanese White rabbits. Chondrocytes obtained from the knee joints were cultured on plates with flexible silicone rubber bases. They were subjected to a cyclic (3 seconds on and 3 seconds off) tensile load for 24 hours with a maximum increase in area of 17%. Proteoglycan synthesis, collagen synthesis, and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases production by the chondrocytes under the load were quantified and compared with those produced by the control cells in an unloaded condition. The cultured chondrocytes under the cyclic tensile load perpendicularly aligned to the direction of the tensile load. Collagen synthesis and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinases production increased significantly under the cyclic tensile load, although no significant change in proteoglycan synthesis was observed. These results suggested that the cyclic tensile load on the chondrocytes contribute to the regulation of articular cartilage metabolism in part.     

Portal blood flow and liver regeneration in auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation in a canine model

Functional competition has been shown to lead to a detrimental outcome in auxiliary liver transplantation. We evaluated the interaction in auxiliary partial orthotopic liver transplantation between the native liver and the graft in terms of portal flow and regeneration. The need for diversion of the portal flow to the graft was also assessed. Reduced-size liver grafts were transplanted orthotopically after partial hepatectomy in beagles. There were two groups: the preserved group, where portal inflow to the native liver was preserved, and the ligated group, where it was interrupted. Portal flow was measured serially and liver regeneration was evaluated on postoperative day 5. Functional competition was not observed in the preserved group. On the other hand, ligation of the native liver portal vein had no obviously detrimental effects on the remnant native liver. This leads to the conclusion that the portal vein to the native liver can be safely ligated to prevent functional competition.