Human change and adaptation in Antarctica: Psychological research on Antarctic wintering-over at Syowa station.

An Antarctic wintering-over station is a unique environment, as a small isolated society facing extreme survival margins. Psychological surveys have been done over ten years, including the Baum test, the Positive and Negative Affect Schedule (PANAS), the Coping Orientation to Problems Experienced (COPE), Subjective Health Complaints Inventory (SHC), the Two-Sided Personality Scale (TSPS) and medical consultations in Syowa Station, a Japanese Antarctic station to reveal the mental status of team members. Team members experienced fewer physical health risks in Antarctica than in Japan.

A Novel PEGylation Method for Improving the Pharmacokinetic Properties of Anti-Interleukin-17A RNA Aptamers.

The obstacles to the development of therapeutic aptamers for systemic inflammatory diseases, such as nuclease degradation and renal clearance, have not been fully overcome. Here, we report a novel PEGylation method, sbC-PEGylation, which improves the pharmacokinetic properties of RNA aptamers that act against interleukin-17A (IL-17A) in mice and monkeys. sbC-PEGylated aptamers were synthesized by coupling the symmetrical branching molecule 2-cyanoethyl-N,N-diisopropyl phosphoroamidite to the 5' end of the aptamer, before conjugating two polyethylene glycol (PEG) molecules to the aptamer.

Inhibitory effects of ZSTK474, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor, on adjuvant-induced arthritis in rats.

Objective: We examined the effects of ZSTK474, a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K) inhibitor, on adjuvant-induced arthritis (AIA).

Methods: AIA was induced in Lewis rats by subcutaneous administration of Freund's complete adjuvant at the base of the tail on day 0. ZSTK474 was orally administered once daily from day 10.

Coronary artery revascularization before peripheral vascular surgery in patients with peripheral arterial disease.

The prevalence of coronary artery disease (CAD) in patients with peripheral arterial disease (PAD) approaches 50%. The incidence of perioperative cardiac complications is high in patients undergoing peripheral vascular surgery (PVS). However, the long-term efficacy of coronary artery revascularization in patients with PAD prior to PVS remains controversial.

Coronary perforation during percutaneous coronary intervention.

Coronary perforation is an undesirable complication during percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). We reviewed the cases of overt coronary perforation in our institute and analyzed their clinical backgrounds, the characteristics of the target lesion, management, and clinical outcomes. Between 1991 and 2005, we experienced 12 cases (0.

Characteristics of Staphylococcus intermedius isolates from diseased and healthy dogs.

Staphylococcus intermedius isolates from diseased and healthy dogs were examined for production of extracellular enzymes and toxins, and phage patterns. There were no significant differences between the two groups of isolates in the production rates of DNase, protease, lipase, gelatinase, hyaluronidase, hemolysins, protein A, and TSST-1, or in phage patterns. But the production rate of enterotoxins in isolates from diseased dogs was significantly higher than that in isolates from healthy dogs.

Cloning of a nitrate reductase inactivator (NRI) cDNA from Spinacia oleracea L. and expression of mRNA and protein of NRI in cultured spinach cells.

The spinach ( Spinacia oleracea L. (cv. Hoyo) nitrate reductase inactivator (NRI) is a novel protein that irreversibly inactivates NR.

Isolation and species distribution of staphylococci from animal and human skin.

From April 1999 to December 2000, a survey was made on the distribution of Staphylococcus species on the skin of 7 kinds of animals and humans. Staphylococci were isolated from 12 (100%) of 12 pigs, 17 (89.5%) of 19 horses, 30 (100%) of 30 cows, 73 (90.