Development of an early detection scale for intimate partner violence to occur in relationships under power and control.

Aim: This study aimed to develop a detection scale for intimate partner violence (DS-IPV), excluding physical and sexual violence, and to validate the scale.

Methods: A cross-sectional survey was undertaken using an anonymous 26-item self-administered questionnaire with volunteer women aged 18-59 residing in one prefecture in Japan. A total of 1,937 responses were obtained, and 1,915 were valid.

Development of a clinical nurse recognition scale for female intimate partner violence patients.

Aim: We aimed to develop a Recognition Scale for Female Intimate Partner Violence (IPV) Patients (RS-FIPVP); measure the levels and clarify the structure of IPV recognition among clinical nurses; and confirm the validity and reliability of the scale.

Methods: A cross-sectional, anonymous, self-administered questionnaire was administered to clinical nurses (n = 2570) at seven clinical settings in Okinawa, Japan. As a result, 1855 valid responses were obtained and used in the analysis.

Unnecessary Dieting Intention and Behavior among Female Students in Naha City, Japan.

Weight concerns and dieting are prevalent among female adolescents both in Western and Asian countries. They can result in negative psychological and physiological consequences. This study aimed to examine the relative importance of social and personal factors in the decision to diet among female adolescent students in Japan, applying the Theory of Planned Behavior.

Regioselectivity in the formation of di- and tri-6-O-mesitylenesulfonates of α-cyclodextrin.

The quantitative analysis of the reaction products for α-cyclodextrin (α-CD) with mesitylenesulfonyl chloride (MessCl) showed that di- and tri-mesitylenesulfonylation of the primary hydroxy groups of α-CD is regioselective. The reaction of mono-6-O-mesitylenesulfonyl-α-CD with MessCl in pyridine gave less 6(A),6(C)-di-O-mesitylenesulfonyl-α-CD than 6(A),6(B)-di-O-mesitylenesulfonyl-α-CD. The reaction of 6(A),6(D)-di-O-mesitylenesulfonyl-α-CD with MessCl gave less 6(A),6(B),6(E)-tri-O-mesitylenesulfonyl-α-CD than 6(A),6(B),6(D)-tri-O-mesitylenesulfonyl-α-CD.

Structural stability of E. coli trigger factor studied by synchrotron small-angle X-ray scattering.

Solution small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS) is an effective technique for quantitatively measuring the compactness and shape of proteins. We use SAXS to study the structural characteristics and unfolding transitions induced by urea for full length Escherichia coli trigger factor (TF) and a series of truncation mutants, obtaining and comparing the radiuses of gyration (Rg), the distance-distribution function (P(r) function) and integrated intensity of TF variants in native and unfolding states. The C-terminal 72-residue truncated mutant TF360 exhibited dramatic structural differences and reduced stability compared with the whole TF molecule, while the N-domain truncated mutant MC maintained its compact structure with reduced stability.

α-helix formation rate of oligopeptides at subzero temperatures.

In 1999, Clarke et al. ((1999) Proc. Natl.

Development of competence scale for senior clinical nurses.

Aim: The aim of this study was to develop a new scale, the Competence Scale for Senior Clinical Nurses (CS-SCN), to assess and evaluate senior clinical nurses in hospitals, and to confirm the validity and reliability of the scale.

Method: A cross-sectional questionnaire survey was undertaken at a hospital in Japan, using an anonymous self-administered questionnaire administered to clinical nurses (n=374). A useable sample of 218 was achieved, which was used in the analysis.

Transient helical structure during PI3K and Fyn SH3 domain folding.

A growing list of proteins, including the β-sheet-rich SH3 domain, is known to transiently populate a compact α-helical intermediate before settling into the native structure. Examples have been discovered in cryogenic solvent as well as by pressure jumps. Earlier studies of λ repressor mutants showed that transient states with excess helix are robust in an all-α protein.

A palmtop-sized microfluidic cell culture system driven by a miniaturized infusion pump.

A palmtop-sized microfluidic cell culture system is presented. The system consists of a microfluidic device and a miniaturized infusion pump that possesses a reservoir of culture medium, an electrical control circuit, and an internal battery. The footprint of the system was downsized to 87 × 57 mm, which is, to the best of our knowledge, the smallest integrated cell culture system.

alpha-Helical burst on the folding pathway of FHA domains from Rad53 and Ki67.

We investigated refolding processes of beta-sheeted protein FHA domains (FHA1 domain of Rad53 and Ki67 FHA domain) by cryo-stopped-flow (SF) method combined with far-ultraviolet (far-UV) circular dichroism (CD, the average secondary structure content) and small angle X-ray scattering (SAXS, measuring the radius of gyration). In case of FHA1 domain of Rad53, no detectable time course was observed except the initial burst on its refolding process at 4 degrees C, suggesting that the FHA1 domain of Rad53 was already refolded to its native state within the dead time of the SF apparatus and the rate of the refolding is too fast to be observed at this temperature. In contrast, there was an observable alpha-helical burst at -15 degrees C and -20 degrees C in the presence of 45% ethylene glycol (EGOH) by CD-SF.

Plasma midkine level is a prognostic factor for human neuroblastoma.

Neuroblastoma is the third-most-common solid tumor of childhood. To date, no reliable blood marker for neuroblastoma has been established. The growth factor midkine is highly expressed in human carcinomas and its knockdown leads to tumor growth suppression in animal models.

Conformational analysis of the leukocyte-specific EF-hand protein p65/L-plastin by X-ray scattering in solution.

p65/L-Plastin is a leukocyte-specific EF-hand protein which plays a vital role in organizing the actin cytoskeleton. Since its overall structural information has been largely unknown, we employed the X-ray scattering technique to elucidate the structure. Kratky plots of p65/L-plastin showed one peak, indicating that the protein takes compact globular conformations.

A stable alpha-helix-rich intermediate is formed by a single mutation of the beta-sheet protein, src SH3, at pH 3.

Recently, we have found a transient intermediate on the folding pathway of src SH3. Intending to investigate the structure of the transient intermediate, we tested a mutant of src SH3, named A45G, using circular dichroism, fluorescence and X-ray solution scattering, and incidentally found that it forms a stable alpha-helix-rich intermediate (I(eq)) (different from the native beta-sheet-based secondary structure) at pH 3.0, but contains only beta-sheets at pH 6.

An alpha-helical burst in the src SH3 folding pathway.

Src SH3 is a small all-beta-sheet protein composed of a single domain. We studied the folding behavior of src SH3 at various conditions by circular dichroism (CD), fluorescence, and X-ray solution scattering methods. On the src SH3 folding pathway, an alpha-helix-rich intermediate appeared not only at subzero temperatures but also above 0 degrees C.

[Evaluation of an immunochromatography test using enzyme immunoassay for rapid detection of influenza A and B viruses].

We evaluated the performance of an improved version of Espline Influenza A & B-N (Fujirebio Inc., Japan), an immunochromatography test using enzyme immunoassay for rapid diagnosis of influenza A and B. The test produced positive results for four strains of influenza viruses and thirty-one influenza viral antigens and negative results for all of thirty strains of other respiratory viruses that were tested.

Health education for nurses in Japan to combat child abuse.

A health education program for nurses was conducted to address the complex problem of child abuse, which has reached epidemic proportions. In Japan, the number of consultations has risen 23-fold over the past 11 years. Maltreatment of children is a public health problem as perilous as any contagious disease.

Factors contributing to tooth retention among elderly women.

The purpose of this study is to identify factors contributing to tooth retention. A questionnaire was prepared which includes 22 main items concerning oral health care. The questionnaire was answered by 144 females in their 80's at 4 Health and Welfare Centers for the Aged in the City of Naha in July 1995 through interview format.

Seasonal variation in mortality from ischemic heart disease and cerebrovascular disease in Okinawa and Osaka: the possible role of air temperature.

Okinawa is located in a subtropical area and is well-known for low mortality due to ischemic heart disease (IH-D) and cerebrovascular disease (CVD). However, the factors that contribute to these low mortality rates remain unclear. We examined the seasonal variation in the mortality due to IHD and CVD among Okinawa and Osaka residents, aged 45 to 84 years, between 1992 and 1996.

Effect of dietary vitamin E supplementation on murine nasal allergy.

Background: Although many studies have reported the effects of dietary vitamin E on the immune response, none so far has assessed its role in nasal allergy.

Methods: Female BALB/c mice were randomized into two groups and fed a 20% casein diet (control group, 50 mg vitamin E/kg diet) or this diet supplemented with 535 mg vitamin E/kg diet (vitamin E group, 585 mg vitamin E/kg diet) for 4 weeks. During the fifth week, the mice in each group were divided into two subgroups to form a total of four treatment groups: group A (control), group B [control + toluene diisocyanate (TDI) sensitization], group C (vitamin E supplementation), and group D (vitamin E supplementation + TDI sensitization).

Cisplatin in combination with irinotecan in the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma: a pilot phase II clinical trial and pharmacokinetic profile.

Background: The purpose of this study was to assess the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of cisplatin and irinotecan (CPT-11) in the treatment of patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma and to characterize the pharmacokinetic profiles of CPT-11 and its active metabolite, 7-ethyl-10-hydroxycamptothecin (SN-38).

Methods: Fifteen previously untreated patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma were treated with cisplatin (60 mg/m2 on Day 1) and CPT-11 (60 mg/m2 on Days 1, 8, and 15) administered intravenously and followed by a 1-week rest period. The course of treatment was repeated every 28 days.

Prevalence and clinical features of hepatitis delta virus infection in the Miyako Islands, Okinawa, Japan.

The aims of this study were twofold: (1) to determine the prevalence and clinical features of hepatitis delta virus (HDV) infection among subjects positive for hepatitis B surface antigen (HBsAg) living in the Miyako Islands, Okinawa Prefecture, Japan, and (2) to clarify the relationship between HDV-RNA level and severity of HDV-related liver disease. One hundred and ninety-nine HBsAg-positive subjects (123 asymptomatic carriers [ASCs], 3 patients with acute hepatitis [AH], 50 patients with chronic hepatitis [CH], 15 patients with liver cirrhosis [LC], and 8 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma [HCC], were tested for antibody to HDV (anti-HDV) by radioimmunoassay. Anti-HDV-positive individuals were examined to determine semi-quantified HDV-RNA level by polymerase chain reaction (PCR).

Interleukin 6 and its relationship to clinical parameters in patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma.

The relationship between interleukin 6 (IL-6) levels and clinical parameters was studied in 25 patients with malignant pleural mesothelioma. The serum levels of IL-6, C-reactive protein, alpha1-acid glycoprotein and fibrinogen were significantly higher in mesothelioma than in lung adenocarcinoma with cytology-positive pleural effusion. Serum IL-6 levels correlated with the levels of the acute-phase proteins.