In 1997, we conducted a vegetation survey in three semi-arid natural grasslands （steppes） with different livestock grazing intensities in Southwest Heilongjiang Province, China, The dominant grassland species was th...In 1997, we conducted a vegetation survey in three semi-arid natural grasslands （steppes） with different livestock grazing intensities in Southwest Heilongjiang Province, China, The dominant grassland species was the grass Stipa baicalensis Roshev. Grasslands with light, intermediate, and heavy grazing intensities were located 10, 5, and 2 km from a village, respectively. Villagers use the steppe to raise cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. Each of the three grasslands was surveyed by placing 100 quadrats （50 cm×50 cm） along a 50 m line transect. Each quadrat was divided into four equal areas （25 cm×25 cm; S-quadrats） and all plant species occurring in each of these smaller areas were identified and recorded. These data were summarized into frequency distributions and the percentage of S-quadrats containing a given species and the variance of each species were estimated. The power law was applied to these estimates. The power law was used to evaluate the spatial heterogeneity and frequency of occurrence for each species in the grassland community. The lightly grazed grassland exhibited high spatial heterogeneity （caused by large plant size）, the highest species diversity, and a high occurrence of S. baicalensis. In contrast, the heavily grazed grassland exhibited high spatial heterogeneity （caused by patchy populations of small plant size）, low species diversity, and a low occurrence of S. baicalensis. We judged that the heavily grazed grassland was overgrazed and exclusion of livestock from the degraded areas is necessary for recovery.展开更多
Spatial heterogeneity and stability are fundamental indices for describing vegetation communities. The spatial distribution characteristics of the vegetation in Nenjiang region of northeastern China were evaluated usi...Spatial heterogeneity and stability are fundamental indices for describing vegetation communities. The spatial distribution characteristics of the vegetation in Nenjiang region of northeastern China were evaluated using a variance power-law model. The data fits the model well with estimates given for the levels of heterogeneity for not only single species but also the community as a whole. The linear regression indicates that the species in the community exhibit a consistently organized spatial pattern, as is often discovered in field surveys but rarely seen in artificial systems. The species deviations from the regression line, which exhibit a leptokurtic distribution, may reflect the variability of the community. Thus, the model provides a general tool for management and regulation of ecosystems, especially where there is human disturbances.展开更多
Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) represents an important factor in the development of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastric cancer. Eradication of H. pylori has been reported to prevent gastric ca...Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) represents an important factor in the development of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastric cancer. Eradication of H. pylori has been reported to prevent gastric cancer only in cases without atrophy or IM. However, histological changes with eradication have yet to be fully clarified. We evaluated 38 H. pylori-positive cases before and after eradication at the gland level;pyloric glands were classified as showing gastric proper (G) and IM gland types, with the latter including gastric-and-intestinal mixed IM (GI-IM) and solely intestinal IM (I-IM), depending on the remaining gastric phenotypes. On eradication, acute and chronic inflammation attenuated rapidly and gradually, respectively, whereas levels of MUC5AC and MUC6 expression were not markedly altered. Gland width, size of nuclei and cytoplasm and their ratio in surface foveolar epithelium, the number of Ki-67-positive cells and the length of the proliferating zone in each gland were significantly decreased in G glands after eradication compared with those in GI-IM and I-IM. The number of mitotic phase cells, positive for phosphorylated histone H3 at serine 28, was increased in both types of IM compared to that in G glands in the H. pylori-infected state, but unexpectedly remained unchanged with eradication. These results suggest that GI-IM, as the beginning of IM, could represent a histological irreversible point with eradication and be considered as a “histological point of no return”.展开更多
Backgrounds: Health does not only physical health, therefore, we need to study it from various viewpoints. Many Japanese female complain of a Hie or a low back pain (LBP), which they reduce their subjective well-being...Backgrounds: Health does not only physical health, therefore, we need to study it from various viewpoints. Many Japanese female complain of a Hie or a low back pain (LBP), which they reduce their subjective well-being. We analyze. Those patients often have acupuncture therapy. In this study, we analyze the characteristics of Hie and LBP, the satisfaction level of alternative therapy and we pursue a tip to improve subjective well-being. Methods: Of 1000 women, Hie (+)/Hie (−) or LBP (+)/LBP (−), we compared their body temperature (BT) (axilla) and body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, the Chi test identified ten factors of “body” and seven “mind” information. Results: In the result of BT (axilla) while LBP indicated a significant difference. Both Hie and LBP showed difference in the opposite direction. Hie did now show such clear differences in “body” information. However, interestingly, all seven questions in the “mind” information showed statistical difference. Discussion and conclusion: One reason why those patients have acupuncture therapy may acupuncture therapy traditionally has not separate “mind” and “body” and it has the concept of “mind-body unity”. To improve subjective well-being, first we need to focus on “Mind” as well as “mind-body unity”. Mental-health support is important for patients with Hie or LBP to reduce physiological stress.展开更多
Musculoskeletal pain is common. Because pain is subjective, objectively describing it is crucial. However, pain assessment may cause distress in patients;therefore, physical therapists (PTs) should conduct these tests...Musculoskeletal pain is common. Because pain is subjective, objectively describing it is crucial. However, pain assessment may cause distress in patients;therefore, physical therapists (PTs) should conduct these tests quickly and accurately. Simple and clear instructions are recommended for pain assessment. However, few studies have provided evidence to support this hypothesis. Correspondingly, this study aimed to confirm the effectiveness of specific verbal instructions for pain location during five consecutive Passive Straight Leg Raise (PSLR) tests. The 28 asymptomatic participants (age 27.4 ± 9.6 years) who provided informed consent received five consecutive PSLR tests: three without and two with specific verbal instructions to ascertain pain intensity, quality, and location. The participants drew pain locations on a body chart and described the pain intensity and quality after each test. All participants were interviewed regarding the differences they noted in the presence and absence of specific verbal instructions. Each pain location was classified into one of ten areas for statistical analysis. The proportion of participants who changed the pain location was compared between the tests using McNemar’s test, and the kappa coefficient was confirmed for consistency of pain location. There was a significant difference in the proportion of participants who changed their pain location between the second and third tests and from the third to the fourth test (McNemar’s test: p = 0.003). Kappa coefficients had low consistency (κ = 0.28) just after receiving the specific verbal instructions in the fourth test compared to the third test. Consistency improved in the fifth test (κ = 0.57);93% of the participants answered that the pain location had become clearer. This study revealed the effects of specific verbal instructions in identifying pain locations. This detailed information may help PTs provide appropriate treatment and contribute to reducing pain in clinical settings.展开更多
[Purpose] Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (CRET) is becoming prevalent in sports settings. CRET is effective for improving pain and healing injured tissue;however, its influence on muscle function and morph...[Purpose] Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (CRET) is becoming prevalent in sports settings. CRET is effective for improving pain and healing injured tissue;however, its influence on muscle function and morphology is still unclear. This study confirmed the immediate effects of CRET on the duration of muscular stiffness and range of motion (ROM). [Method] This study describes the protocol for a single-arm trial with the non-blinding of participants and researchers. Twenty-four healthy men participated in the study. They received CRET therapy for their low back areas. The muscular stiffness of the multifidus muscle (superficial and deep) and the ROM using the active straight leg raise (ASLR) test were measured pre-intervention, post-intervention (immediately), and 15 and 30 min post-intervention. We compared these parameters using a one-way analysis of variance and Dunnett’s test (multiple comparison tests for subtests). [Results] The muscular stiffness of the superficial and deep multifidus muscles was significantly decreased, and the ASLR test showed a significant increase compared with the test performed pre-intervention. In addition, these effects persisted for 30 min. [Conclusion] Warm-up is vital for improving muscular stiffness and increasing the ROM. CRET is a useful device for achieving these aims, particularly as a passive warm-up method in sports settings.展开更多
We have experienced three inverted Meckel’s diverticula with ileus that are diagnosed before surgery and treated with laparoscopic surgery. The patients were 22, 26, and 29 years of age. The history of ileus for each...We have experienced three inverted Meckel’s diverticula with ileus that are diagnosed before surgery and treated with laparoscopic surgery. The patients were 22, 26, and 29 years of age. The history of ileus for each patient differed, being the first experience for one patient, the second for another, and the third experience for the remaining patient. None of these patients had a history of abdominal surgery. Conservative therapy eventually improved the existing symptoms, but the cause of past ileus remained unclear. Elective surgery was performed 12 days from the onset of symptoms on two of the patients after improving the ileus by inserting a long tube into the bowel. Emergency surgery was performed on the same day of admission on the remaining case that involved moderate expansion of intestine. In these patients, the first trocar was inserted into the umbilicus region. Laparoscopic surgery was then performed with three trocars. The patients were discharged upon favorable outcome after surgery. No recurrence of ileus was noted post-surgery. Laparoscopy was useful both to diagnose and treat ileus of a Meckel’s diverticulum.展开更多
The most prevalent issue in physical therapy is pain. Due to the subjective nature of pain, assessment tools are essential in understanding it as objective data. However, assessment of pain may result in distress for ...The most prevalent issue in physical therapy is pain. Due to the subjective nature of pain, assessment tools are essential in understanding it as objective data. However, assessment of pain may result in distress for the patient. A physical therapist (PT) should conduct these tests as quickly and accurately as possible. Straightforward instructions are vital in such cases. This study aimed to clarify the effect of verbal instructions for pain assessment during a passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test for participants with chronic low back pain (CLBP). This study included 22 participants who provided informed consent and received three consecutive PSLR tests with measurement of the hip flexion range of motion (HFROM) and were instructed to cease the test at submaximal pain before the first test. Following the second and third tests, participants were given specific verbal instructions to remember pain intensity, quality, and location. After each test, participants were to circle the pain location on the body chart and rate their pain intensity on a numeric rating scale (NRS) and pain quality. All participants were then interviewed about the differences between having and not having specific verbal instructions. The results of HFROM, NRS, and pain extent were not significantly different between the first and second tests or between the second and third tests using a paired t-test. Eleven changes in pain location were found in the second test compared to those in the first test. In the third test, only three participants circled a different area than in the second test. Ten participants showed similar changes with pain location in pain quality in the three PSLR tests. This study revealed the effect of specific verbal instructions prior to PSLR tests. Particularly, participants could notice exact pain location. Our findings may help PT to understand pain cause and reduce patients’ stress during pain assessment in clinical settings.展开更多
Bilateral Cochlear implants (CIs) improved speech intelligibility, speech perception in background noise, and sound localization in quiet and noisy situations. However, it is unclear whether these advantages essential...Bilateral Cochlear implants (CIs) improved speech intelligibility, speech perception in background noise, and sound localization in quiet and noisy situations. However, it is unclear whether these advantages essentially result in binaural integration of acoustic stimuli from each ear. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of binaural integration by bilateral CIs placement using binaural hearing tests and subjective auditory perceptual assessment. A 61-year-old bilateral CIs subject underwent the following four tests:the Japanese Hearing in Noise Test (HINT-J), the dichotic listening test (DLT), the Rapidly Alternating Speech Perception (RASP) test, and subjective auditory perceptual assessment. The HINT-J score was significantly higher for bilateral CIs than for a unilateral CI. However, DLT and the RASP test revealed contradictory results. Subjective auditory perceptual assessment revealed active and bright impressions for bilateral hearing, which were also noisy and strong compared with those for unilateral hearing. The results of this study revealed that bilateral CIs improved speech perception in background noise and an improved auditory impression, although the bilateral integration abilities were not improved. This was probably because the patient was required to combine information from the two ears into a single perception in DLT and the RASP test. More longitudinal data should be collected and analyzed in future studies to evaluate the long-term effects of bilateral CIs. Copyright ? 2016, PLA General Hospital Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Production and hosting by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).展开更多
Animals excrete feces during grazing. The uneven distribution of feces causes a spatial heterogeneity in grassland communities. In this study, we attempted to clarify the effects of feces on spatial distribution patte...Animals excrete feces during grazing. The uneven distribution of feces causes a spatial heterogeneity in grassland communities. In this study, we attempted to clarify the effects of feces on spatial distribution patterns of plant species. A field study was conducted on four grasslands each grazed by a single cow. These four grasslands were defined as Poa pratensis （Kentucky bluegrass） dominated grassland without feces （PoF-）, Poa pratensis dominated grassland with feces （PoF＋）, Zoysia japonica Steud. （Japanese lawngrass） dominated grassland without feces （ZyF-）, and Zoysia japonica Steud. dominated grassland with feces （ZyF＋）. A 50 m line that transects 100 equally spaced quadrats （L-quadrats） was drawn on each of the four grasslands. Each quadrat was 0.50 m × 0.50 m in size and consisted of four equal-area cells of 0.25 m ×0.25 m （S-quadrats）. The occurrences of all plant species were recorded in each S-quadrat. The binomial distribution （BD） and beta-binomial distribution （BBD） were used to represent the variation in spatial patterns. The BBD provided a significant description of the frequency distribution of plants per quadrat. A power law was used to calculate the spatial heterogeneity of each species together with the community heterogeneity. The results revealed that the plants on each of the four grasslands were aggregatively distributed. The ZyF＋ exhibited greater spatial heterogeneity than the ZyF-due to the uneven deposition of feces by cows grazing on the grasslands. Additionally we also found that the feces had effect on the heterogeneity inZyF＋ and did not have effect in PoF＋.展开更多
Spatial patterns of plant species and patchy community are important properties in grasslands.However,research regarding spatial patterns of formed patches with various species has not fully advanced until now.Our pur...Spatial patterns of plant species and patchy community are important properties in grasslands.However,research regarding spatial patterns of formed patches with various species has not fully advanced until now.Our purpose is to clarify differences in spatial pattern formed by species and community constructed under shady and terrace habitats.The three common Kobresia-Carex patches(Size 1,0.6–0.9 m^(2);Size 2,3.0–3.8 m^(2) and Size 3,6.5–8.8 m^(2))were selected in shady and terrace on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,and corresponding quadrats of 1m1m,2m2m and 3m3m were placed for S1,S2 and S3 patches,respectively.The surveyed quadrats were divided into 20cm20cm large cells(L-cells),and further divided into four 10cm10cm small cells(S-cells).We used the binary occurrence system(presence/absence data)to record occurrences of all species in S-cells.The analysis shows that the power law model was well able to determine the spatial distribution pattern of species or patchy community in shady and terrace.All species and patches show aggregated distribution in shady and terrace habitats.In the shady habitat,the relative spatial heterogeneity(ε)of individual plant species was lowest at presence frequency(P)of 0.1–0.3,whereas in the terrace habitatεwas lowest at P<0.1,andεincreased monotonically with increasing P.For most dominant species,P andεvalues were higher in terrace than those in shady.We concluded that the dominant species largely determine spatial heterogeneity of the Kobresia-Carex patches,while companion and rare species have weak influence on the community-level heterogeneity in shady and terrace habitats.展开更多
An active anode material for Li-ion batteries was synthesized using a simple mechanochemical process to minimize the large change in Si volume observed during charge-discharge operation and to compensate for the assoc...An active anode material for Li-ion batteries was synthesized using a simple mechanochemical process to minimize the large change in Si volume observed during charge-discharge operation and to compensate for the associated irreversible loss of Li or irreversible capacity loss, which are obstacles to achieve high-performance electrochemical properties during charge-discharge. The composite was mechanochemically milled with Si, lithium oxide, and copper oxide as raw materials;the composite contains Si nanoparticles, amorphous silicon monoxide, and Si-Li or Si-Cu alloy compounds, and it exhibits improved electrochemical properties. In particular, this composite achieved a better capacity retention, higher coulombic efficiency (over 100%), and longer cycling performance than Si alone, indicating considerable optimization of the electrical and ionic conductivity in the composite. The developed method allowed for control of the Li content to compensate for the lack of Li ions in the composite, and the cycling performance was optimized using the Cu alloy, oxide, and Li compounds within the composite.展开更多
Objective:To investigate the expression of osteopontin(OPN)and caudal-related homeobox gene 2(CDX2)in advanced gastric cancer,and to correlate them with clinicopathological features.Method:One-hundred and nine patient...Objective:To investigate the expression of osteopontin(OPN)and caudal-related homeobox gene 2(CDX2)in advanced gastric cancer,and to correlate them with clinicopathological features.Method:One-hundred and nine patients suffered from gastric cancer recruited.Expression of OPN and CDX2 and other molecular markers were determined using immunohistochemistry method.Results:Total positive rate of OPN expression was 46.79%,and related with depth of cancer invasion and different phenotype(P<0.001),no association with the patient's age,gender,tumor histological type and lymph node metastasis.In different phenotypes of gastric cancers,OPN frequently expressed in CDX2-negative-expressed G and N type(16/109 and 21/109,respectively),and in CDX2-positive-expressed GI and I types expression level were lower.OPN expression reversely correlated with cdx-2 expression(P<0.001).Patients with OPN positive expression had worse 5-year survival,and patients with OPN negative,5-year survival time better(P<0.001).Further analysis revealed patients with OPN-/CDX2+ had better 5-year survival than other three groups including OPN+/CDX2-,OPN-/CDX2-and OPN+/CDX2+.With multivariate analysis for 5-year survival,it suggested that OPN was the most significant predictor of poor prognosis in gastric cancer(P =0.0043),with lymph node metastasis and tumor depth of invasion were also independent indicators(P =0.0359 and P =0.0315,respectively).Conclusion:Osteopontin is a useful prognostic marker in gastric cancer,and combined with CDX2,it may be much more useful for predicting the survival time in advanced gastric cancer patients.Furthermore it also gave us a clue that in gastric cancer,CDX2 may be a transcription factor modulating the expression of osteopontin.展开更多
An 80-year-old woman underwent a bilateral lung resection for metastases originating from follicular thyroid cancer. The resection was performed 30 years after right hemithyroidectomy to remove the follicular adenoma....An 80-year-old woman underwent a bilateral lung resection for metastases originating from follicular thyroid cancer. The resection was performed 30 years after right hemithyroidectomy to remove the follicular adenoma. Chest X-ray revealed a 30-mm mass shadow in the right lower lung filed. Chest computed tomography revealed a 32-mm mass shadow in right lung segment 10 (S10) and a 15-mm nodular shadow in left S10. Another partial lung resection of left S10 and a right lower lobectomy were performed 3 months later. Although rarely performed, resection of bilateral pulmonary metastases arising from follicular thyroid cancer was conducted for this patient.展开更多
Peatland in Southeast Asia has an important function in the provision of ecosystem services such as carbon sink, climate regulation, water supply, biodiversity, and others. Recurrent fires in the peatland, especially ...Peatland in Southeast Asia has an important function in the provision of ecosystem services such as carbon sink, climate regulation, water supply, biodiversity, and others. Recurrent fires in the peatland, especially in Indonesia, have changed peatland functions from carbon sequestration to carbon emission, causing severe environmental and economic problems. Fire prevention requires an understanding of the factors affecting fire in peatland. We compared fire occurrences in 2014 between different land cover types, land management systems, landholders, and proximity to roads and canals in Riau Province, Indonesia. Remote sensing and field data were collected and analyzed. Shrubland was the most fire-prone land cover, while plantations and mangrove forests were the least. Shrubland has high fire occurrence regardless of land management and landholder type. Peat swamp forests that are allowed to be utilized were more fire-prone than conserved peat swamp forests. Oil palms from unregistered companies had more fires than those from registered companies and smallholders. Coconut and sago plantations from companies had more fires than smallholder cultivation. Proximity to roads and canals affects the occurrence of fires in peat swamp forests;however, proximity had less of an effect on fire occurrence in shrubland. The high percentage of burned areas in shrubland showed that land cover was a major factor that affects fire in peatland, followed by land management, landholders, and proximity to roads and canals. These findings indicate the importance of law enforcement and land management systems, management schemes by different landholders, and the spatial arrangement of land cover, roads, and canals for integrated peatland management and restoration of shrubland into peat swamp forest and other fire-resistant land cover types with sustainable production.展开更多
An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of tarry stool with iron deficiency anemia. Her past history included autoimmune hepatitis. Esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy was performed to investigate the b...An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of tarry stool with iron deficiency anemia. Her past history included autoimmune hepatitis. Esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy was performed to investigate the bleeding source and revealed multiple linear gastric vascular malformations in the antrum and cardia, compatible with Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE). Endoscopic ablation was carried out with the tip of the hot biopsy forceps without opening at soft coagulation mode of 80W. The patient tolerated the procedure well and there were no complications associated with endoscopic therapies. After two sessions of endoscopic ablation her anemia improved to around 10 g/dL, an increase of 3.6 g/dL. Various endoscopic treatments have been described to manage GAVE. The most popular is argon plasma coagulation (APC), although APC is associated with over-distension induced by the argon plasma gas. To avoid over-distension and to reduce the abdominal discomfort/pain of this patient,we have used hot biopsy forceps instead of APC. Our case suggests that this procedure is effective, easy and convenient,as no special equipment or skill is necessary.展开更多
文摘In 1997, we conducted a vegetation survey in three semi-arid natural grasslands （steppes） with different livestock grazing intensities in Southwest Heilongjiang Province, China, The dominant grassland species was the grass Stipa baicalensis Roshev. Grasslands with light, intermediate, and heavy grazing intensities were located 10, 5, and 2 km from a village, respectively. Villagers use the steppe to raise cattle, horses, sheep, and goats. Each of the three grasslands was surveyed by placing 100 quadrats （50 cm×50 cm） along a 50 m line transect. Each quadrat was divided into four equal areas （25 cm×25 cm; S-quadrats） and all plant species occurring in each of these smaller areas were identified and recorded. These data were summarized into frequency distributions and the percentage of S-quadrats containing a given species and the variance of each species were estimated. The power law was applied to these estimates. The power law was used to evaluate the spatial heterogeneity and frequency of occurrence for each species in the grassland community. The lightly grazed grassland exhibited high spatial heterogeneity （caused by large plant size）, the highest species diversity, and a high occurrence of S. baicalensis. In contrast, the heavily grazed grassland exhibited high spatial heterogeneity （caused by patchy populations of small plant size）, low species diversity, and a low occurrence of S. baicalensis. We judged that the heavily grazed grassland was overgrazed and exclusion of livestock from the degraded areas is necessary for recovery.
基金Supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (No. L-02711)
文摘Spatial heterogeneity and stability are fundamental indices for describing vegetation communities. The spatial distribution characteristics of the vegetation in Nenjiang region of northeastern China were evaluated using a variance power-law model. The data fits the model well with estimates given for the levels of heterogeneity for not only single species but also the community as a whole. The linear regression indicates that the species in the community exhibit a consistently organized spatial pattern, as is often discovered in field surveys but rarely seen in artificial systems. The species deviations from the regression line, which exhibit a leptokurtic distribution, may reflect the variability of the community. Thus, the model provides a general tool for management and regulation of ecosystems, especially where there is human disturbances.
文摘Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) represents an important factor in the development of atrophic gastritis, intestinal metaplasia (IM), and gastric cancer. Eradication of H. pylori has been reported to prevent gastric cancer only in cases without atrophy or IM. However, histological changes with eradication have yet to be fully clarified. We evaluated 38 H. pylori-positive cases before and after eradication at the gland level;pyloric glands were classified as showing gastric proper (G) and IM gland types, with the latter including gastric-and-intestinal mixed IM (GI-IM) and solely intestinal IM (I-IM), depending on the remaining gastric phenotypes. On eradication, acute and chronic inflammation attenuated rapidly and gradually, respectively, whereas levels of MUC5AC and MUC6 expression were not markedly altered. Gland width, size of nuclei and cytoplasm and their ratio in surface foveolar epithelium, the number of Ki-67-positive cells and the length of the proliferating zone in each gland were significantly decreased in G glands after eradication compared with those in GI-IM and I-IM. The number of mitotic phase cells, positive for phosphorylated histone H3 at serine 28, was increased in both types of IM compared to that in G glands in the H. pylori-infected state, but unexpectedly remained unchanged with eradication. These results suggest that GI-IM, as the beginning of IM, could represent a histological irreversible point with eradication and be considered as a “histological point of no return”.
文摘Backgrounds: Health does not only physical health, therefore, we need to study it from various viewpoints. Many Japanese female complain of a Hie or a low back pain (LBP), which they reduce their subjective well-being. We analyze. Those patients often have acupuncture therapy. In this study, we analyze the characteristics of Hie and LBP, the satisfaction level of alternative therapy and we pursue a tip to improve subjective well-being. Methods: Of 1000 women, Hie (+)/Hie (−) or LBP (+)/LBP (−), we compared their body temperature (BT) (axilla) and body mass index (BMI). Furthermore, the Chi test identified ten factors of “body” and seven “mind” information. Results: In the result of BT (axilla) while LBP indicated a significant difference. Both Hie and LBP showed difference in the opposite direction. Hie did now show such clear differences in “body” information. However, interestingly, all seven questions in the “mind” information showed statistical difference. Discussion and conclusion: One reason why those patients have acupuncture therapy may acupuncture therapy traditionally has not separate “mind” and “body” and it has the concept of “mind-body unity”. To improve subjective well-being, first we need to focus on “Mind” as well as “mind-body unity”. Mental-health support is important for patients with Hie or LBP to reduce physiological stress.
文摘Musculoskeletal pain is common. Because pain is subjective, objectively describing it is crucial. However, pain assessment may cause distress in patients;therefore, physical therapists (PTs) should conduct these tests quickly and accurately. Simple and clear instructions are recommended for pain assessment. However, few studies have provided evidence to support this hypothesis. Correspondingly, this study aimed to confirm the effectiveness of specific verbal instructions for pain location during five consecutive Passive Straight Leg Raise (PSLR) tests. The 28 asymptomatic participants (age 27.4 ± 9.6 years) who provided informed consent received five consecutive PSLR tests: three without and two with specific verbal instructions to ascertain pain intensity, quality, and location. The participants drew pain locations on a body chart and described the pain intensity and quality after each test. All participants were interviewed regarding the differences they noted in the presence and absence of specific verbal instructions. Each pain location was classified into one of ten areas for statistical analysis. The proportion of participants who changed the pain location was compared between the tests using McNemar’s test, and the kappa coefficient was confirmed for consistency of pain location. There was a significant difference in the proportion of participants who changed their pain location between the second and third tests and from the third to the fourth test (McNemar’s test: p = 0.003). Kappa coefficients had low consistency (κ = 0.28) just after receiving the specific verbal instructions in the fourth test compared to the third test. Consistency improved in the fifth test (κ = 0.57);93% of the participants answered that the pain location had become clearer. This study revealed the effects of specific verbal instructions in identifying pain locations. This detailed information may help PTs provide appropriate treatment and contribute to reducing pain in clinical settings.
文摘[Purpose] Capacitive and resistive electric transfer (CRET) is becoming prevalent in sports settings. CRET is effective for improving pain and healing injured tissue;however, its influence on muscle function and morphology is still unclear. This study confirmed the immediate effects of CRET on the duration of muscular stiffness and range of motion (ROM). [Method] This study describes the protocol for a single-arm trial with the non-blinding of participants and researchers. Twenty-four healthy men participated in the study. They received CRET therapy for their low back areas. The muscular stiffness of the multifidus muscle (superficial and deep) and the ROM using the active straight leg raise (ASLR) test were measured pre-intervention, post-intervention (immediately), and 15 and 30 min post-intervention. We compared these parameters using a one-way analysis of variance and Dunnett’s test (multiple comparison tests for subtests). [Results] The muscular stiffness of the superficial and deep multifidus muscles was significantly decreased, and the ASLR test showed a significant increase compared with the test performed pre-intervention. In addition, these effects persisted for 30 min. [Conclusion] Warm-up is vital for improving muscular stiffness and increasing the ROM. CRET is a useful device for achieving these aims, particularly as a passive warm-up method in sports settings.
文摘We have experienced three inverted Meckel’s diverticula with ileus that are diagnosed before surgery and treated with laparoscopic surgery. The patients were 22, 26, and 29 years of age. The history of ileus for each patient differed, being the first experience for one patient, the second for another, and the third experience for the remaining patient. None of these patients had a history of abdominal surgery. Conservative therapy eventually improved the existing symptoms, but the cause of past ileus remained unclear. Elective surgery was performed 12 days from the onset of symptoms on two of the patients after improving the ileus by inserting a long tube into the bowel. Emergency surgery was performed on the same day of admission on the remaining case that involved moderate expansion of intestine. In these patients, the first trocar was inserted into the umbilicus region. Laparoscopic surgery was then performed with three trocars. The patients were discharged upon favorable outcome after surgery. No recurrence of ileus was noted post-surgery. Laparoscopy was useful both to diagnose and treat ileus of a Meckel’s diverticulum.
文摘The most prevalent issue in physical therapy is pain. Due to the subjective nature of pain, assessment tools are essential in understanding it as objective data. However, assessment of pain may result in distress for the patient. A physical therapist (PT) should conduct these tests as quickly and accurately as possible. Straightforward instructions are vital in such cases. This study aimed to clarify the effect of verbal instructions for pain assessment during a passive straight leg raise (PSLR) test for participants with chronic low back pain (CLBP). This study included 22 participants who provided informed consent and received three consecutive PSLR tests with measurement of the hip flexion range of motion (HFROM) and were instructed to cease the test at submaximal pain before the first test. Following the second and third tests, participants were given specific verbal instructions to remember pain intensity, quality, and location. After each test, participants were to circle the pain location on the body chart and rate their pain intensity on a numeric rating scale (NRS) and pain quality. All participants were then interviewed about the differences between having and not having specific verbal instructions. The results of HFROM, NRS, and pain extent were not significantly different between the first and second tests or between the second and third tests using a paired t-test. Eleven changes in pain location were found in the second test compared to those in the first test. In the third test, only three participants circled a different area than in the second test. Ten participants showed similar changes with pain location in pain quality in the three PSLR tests. This study revealed the effect of specific verbal instructions prior to PSLR tests. Particularly, participants could notice exact pain location. Our findings may help PT to understand pain cause and reduce patients’ stress during pain assessment in clinical settings.
文摘Bilateral Cochlear implants (CIs) improved speech intelligibility, speech perception in background noise, and sound localization in quiet and noisy situations. However, it is unclear whether these advantages essentially result in binaural integration of acoustic stimuli from each ear. In this study, we investigated the effectiveness of binaural integration by bilateral CIs placement using binaural hearing tests and subjective auditory perceptual assessment. A 61-year-old bilateral CIs subject underwent the following four tests:the Japanese Hearing in Noise Test (HINT-J), the dichotic listening test (DLT), the Rapidly Alternating Speech Perception (RASP) test, and subjective auditory perceptual assessment. The HINT-J score was significantly higher for bilateral CIs than for a unilateral CI. However, DLT and the RASP test revealed contradictory results. Subjective auditory perceptual assessment revealed active and bright impressions for bilateral hearing, which were also noisy and strong compared with those for unilateral hearing. The results of this study revealed that bilateral CIs improved speech perception in background noise and an improved auditory impression, although the bilateral integration abilities were not improved. This was probably because the patient was required to combine information from the two ears into a single perception in DLT and the RASP test. More longitudinal data should be collected and analyzed in future studies to evaluate the long-term effects of bilateral CIs. Copyright ? 2016, PLA General Hospital Department of Otolaryngology Head and Neck Surgery. Production and hosting by Elsevier (Singapore) Pte Ltd. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).
文摘Animals excrete feces during grazing. The uneven distribution of feces causes a spatial heterogeneity in grassland communities. In this study, we attempted to clarify the effects of feces on spatial distribution patterns of plant species. A field study was conducted on four grasslands each grazed by a single cow. These four grasslands were defined as Poa pratensis （Kentucky bluegrass） dominated grassland without feces （PoF-）, Poa pratensis dominated grassland with feces （PoF＋）, Zoysia japonica Steud. （Japanese lawngrass） dominated grassland without feces （ZyF-）, and Zoysia japonica Steud. dominated grassland with feces （ZyF＋）. A 50 m line that transects 100 equally spaced quadrats （L-quadrats） was drawn on each of the four grasslands. Each quadrat was 0.50 m × 0.50 m in size and consisted of four equal-area cells of 0.25 m ×0.25 m （S-quadrats）. The occurrences of all plant species were recorded in each S-quadrat. The binomial distribution （BD） and beta-binomial distribution （BBD） were used to represent the variation in spatial patterns. The BBD provided a significant description of the frequency distribution of plants per quadrat. A power law was used to calculate the spatial heterogeneity of each species together with the community heterogeneity. The results revealed that the plants on each of the four grasslands were aggregatively distributed. The ZyF＋ exhibited greater spatial heterogeneity than the ZyF-due to the uneven deposition of feces by cows grazing on the grasslands. Additionally we also found that the feces had effect on the heterogeneity inZyF＋ and did not have effect in PoF＋.
基金funded by The Second Tibetan Plateau Scientific Expedition and Research (STEP)program (Grant No.2019QZKK0305)Youth Science and Technology Fund Program of GanSu (Grant No.22JR5RA083)the National Natural Science Foundation of China (Grant No.31971466).
文摘Spatial patterns of plant species and patchy community are important properties in grasslands.However,research regarding spatial patterns of formed patches with various species has not fully advanced until now.Our purpose is to clarify differences in spatial pattern formed by species and community constructed under shady and terrace habitats.The three common Kobresia-Carex patches(Size 1,0.6–0.9 m^(2);Size 2,3.0–3.8 m^(2) and Size 3,6.5–8.8 m^(2))were selected in shady and terrace on the Qinghai-Tibetan Plateau,and corresponding quadrats of 1m1m,2m2m and 3m3m were placed for S1,S2 and S3 patches,respectively.The surveyed quadrats were divided into 20cm20cm large cells(L-cells),and further divided into four 10cm10cm small cells(S-cells).We used the binary occurrence system(presence/absence data)to record occurrences of all species in S-cells.The analysis shows that the power law model was well able to determine the spatial distribution pattern of species or patchy community in shady and terrace.All species and patches show aggregated distribution in shady and terrace habitats.In the shady habitat,the relative spatial heterogeneity(ε)of individual plant species was lowest at presence frequency(P)of 0.1–0.3,whereas in the terrace habitatεwas lowest at P<0.1,andεincreased monotonically with increasing P.For most dominant species,P andεvalues were higher in terrace than those in shady.We concluded that the dominant species largely determine spatial heterogeneity of the Kobresia-Carex patches,while companion and rare species have weak influence on the community-level heterogeneity in shady and terrace habitats.
文摘An active anode material for Li-ion batteries was synthesized using a simple mechanochemical process to minimize the large change in Si volume observed during charge-discharge operation and to compensate for the associated irreversible loss of Li or irreversible capacity loss, which are obstacles to achieve high-performance electrochemical properties during charge-discharge. The composite was mechanochemically milled with Si, lithium oxide, and copper oxide as raw materials;the composite contains Si nanoparticles, amorphous silicon monoxide, and Si-Li or Si-Cu alloy compounds, and it exhibits improved electrochemical properties. In particular, this composite achieved a better capacity retention, higher coulombic efficiency (over 100%), and longer cycling performance than Si alone, indicating considerable optimization of the electrical and ionic conductivity in the composite. The developed method allowed for control of the Li content to compensate for the lack of Li ions in the composite, and the cycling performance was optimized using the Cu alloy, oxide, and Li compounds within the composite.
文摘Objective:To investigate the expression of osteopontin(OPN)and caudal-related homeobox gene 2(CDX2)in advanced gastric cancer,and to correlate them with clinicopathological features.Method:One-hundred and nine patients suffered from gastric cancer recruited.Expression of OPN and CDX2 and other molecular markers were determined using immunohistochemistry method.Results:Total positive rate of OPN expression was 46.79%,and related with depth of cancer invasion and different phenotype(P<0.001),no association with the patient's age,gender,tumor histological type and lymph node metastasis.In different phenotypes of gastric cancers,OPN frequently expressed in CDX2-negative-expressed G and N type(16/109 and 21/109,respectively),and in CDX2-positive-expressed GI and I types expression level were lower.OPN expression reversely correlated with cdx-2 expression(P<0.001).Patients with OPN positive expression had worse 5-year survival,and patients with OPN negative,5-year survival time better(P<0.001).Further analysis revealed patients with OPN-/CDX2+ had better 5-year survival than other three groups including OPN+/CDX2-,OPN-/CDX2-and OPN+/CDX2+.With multivariate analysis for 5-year survival,it suggested that OPN was the most significant predictor of poor prognosis in gastric cancer(P =0.0043),with lymph node metastasis and tumor depth of invasion were also independent indicators(P =0.0359 and P =0.0315,respectively).Conclusion:Osteopontin is a useful prognostic marker in gastric cancer,and combined with CDX2,it may be much more useful for predicting the survival time in advanced gastric cancer patients.Furthermore it also gave us a clue that in gastric cancer,CDX2 may be a transcription factor modulating the expression of osteopontin.
文摘An 80-year-old woman underwent a bilateral lung resection for metastases originating from follicular thyroid cancer. The resection was performed 30 years after right hemithyroidectomy to remove the follicular adenoma. Chest X-ray revealed a 30-mm mass shadow in the right lower lung filed. Chest computed tomography revealed a 32-mm mass shadow in right lung segment 10 (S10) and a 15-mm nodular shadow in left S10. Another partial lung resection of left S10 and a right lower lobectomy were performed 3 months later. Although rarely performed, resection of bilateral pulmonary metastases arising from follicular thyroid cancer was conducted for this patient.
文摘Peatland in Southeast Asia has an important function in the provision of ecosystem services such as carbon sink, climate regulation, water supply, biodiversity, and others. Recurrent fires in the peatland, especially in Indonesia, have changed peatland functions from carbon sequestration to carbon emission, causing severe environmental and economic problems. Fire prevention requires an understanding of the factors affecting fire in peatland. We compared fire occurrences in 2014 between different land cover types, land management systems, landholders, and proximity to roads and canals in Riau Province, Indonesia. Remote sensing and field data were collected and analyzed. Shrubland was the most fire-prone land cover, while plantations and mangrove forests were the least. Shrubland has high fire occurrence regardless of land management and landholder type. Peat swamp forests that are allowed to be utilized were more fire-prone than conserved peat swamp forests. Oil palms from unregistered companies had more fires than those from registered companies and smallholders. Coconut and sago plantations from companies had more fires than smallholder cultivation. Proximity to roads and canals affects the occurrence of fires in peat swamp forests;however, proximity had less of an effect on fire occurrence in shrubland. The high percentage of burned areas in shrubland showed that land cover was a major factor that affects fire in peatland, followed by land management, landholders, and proximity to roads and canals. These findings indicate the importance of law enforcement and land management systems, management schemes by different landholders, and the spatial arrangement of land cover, roads, and canals for integrated peatland management and restoration of shrubland into peat swamp forest and other fire-resistant land cover types with sustainable production.
文摘An 80-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of tarry stool with iron deficiency anemia. Her past history included autoimmune hepatitis. Esophagogastroduodenal endoscopy was performed to investigate the bleeding source and revealed multiple linear gastric vascular malformations in the antrum and cardia, compatible with Gastric antral vascular ectasia (GAVE). Endoscopic ablation was carried out with the tip of the hot biopsy forceps without opening at soft coagulation mode of 80W. The patient tolerated the procedure well and there were no complications associated with endoscopic therapies. After two sessions of endoscopic ablation her anemia improved to around 10 g/dL, an increase of 3.6 g/dL. Various endoscopic treatments have been described to manage GAVE. The most popular is argon plasma coagulation (APC), although APC is associated with over-distension induced by the argon plasma gas. To avoid over-distension and to reduce the abdominal discomfort/pain of this patient,we have used hot biopsy forceps instead of APC. Our case suggests that this procedure is effective, easy and convenient,as no special equipment or skill is necessary.
