The Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI): development of a Japanese version.

Introduction: A valid and reliable self-administered scale to measure multidimensional aspects of female sexual function is needed in Japan, as sexual dysfunction is quite common in Japanese women.

Aim: The aim of this paper is to develop a Japanese translation of the Female Sexual Function Index (FSFI-J), 3-month version, and to measure its psychometric reliability and validity.

Methods: Following a language validation process and pilot tests, we modified the scale by adding some instructions and answer options.

DNA damage and estrogenic activity induced by the environmental pollutant 2-nitrotoluene and its metabolite.

Objectives: The environmental pollutant 2-nitrotoluene (2-NO(2)-T) is carcinogenic and reproductively toxic in animals. In this study, we elucidated the mechanisms of its carcinogenicity and reproductive toxicity.

Methods: We examined DNA damage induced by 2-NO(2)-T and its metabolite, 2-nitrosotoluene (2-NO-T), using (32)P-5'-end-labeled DNA.

Incidence of chemotherapy-induced amenorrhea in premenopausal patients with breast cancer following adjuvant anthracycline and taxane.

Background: The purpose of this study was to determine the incidence of amenorrhea among breast cancer patients aged 40 years and younger following adjuvant chemotherapy.

Methods: A follow-up questionnaire survey was conducted with premenopausal women with breast cancer who were treated with adjuvant anthracycline and taxane-based chemotherapy.

Results: In total, 66 women were retrospectively reviewed.

Partial involvement of NMDA receptors and glial cells in the nociceptive behaviors induced by intrathecally administered histamine.

The involvement of spinal glial cells in the nociceptive behaviors induced by 800 pmol of histamine was determined in mice. Histamine at 800 pmol injected intrathecally (i.t.

Mode of action and biosynthesis of the azabicycle-containing natural products azinomycin and ficellomycin.

Only a handful of aziridine-containing natural products have been identified out of the more than 100,000 natural products characterized to date. Among this class of compounds, only the azinomycins (azinomycin A and B) and ficellomycin contain an unusual 1-azabicyclo[3.1.

Neurobehavioral effects of combined prenatal exposure to low-level mercury vapor and methylmercury.

We evaluated the effects of prenatal exposure to low-level mercury (Hg(0)) or methylmercury (MeHg) as well as combined exposure (Hg(0) + MeHg exposure) on the neurobehavioral function of mice. The Hg(0) exposure group was exposed to Hg(0) at a mean concentration of 0.030 mg/m(3) for 6 hr/day during gestation period.

Distinct responses of the mitochondrial respiratory chain to long- and short-term high-light environments in Arabidopsis thaliana.

In order to ensure the cooperative function with the photosynthetic system, the mitochondrial respiratory chain needs to flexibly acclimate to a fluctuating light environment. The non-phosphorylating alternative oxidase (AOX) is a notable respiratory component that may support a cellular redox homeostasis under high-light (HL) conditions. Here we report the distinct acclimatory manner of the respiratory chain to long- and short-term HL conditions and the crucial function of AOX in Arabidopsis thaliana leaves.

Relationship between nursing workloads and patient safety incidents.

Objective: To evaluate the relationship between nursing workloads and patient safety incidents in inpatient wards of a general hospital.

Methods: A retrospective data analysis was conducted involving the internal medicine wards in a teaching hospital in Japan between July 1st and December 31st, 2006. To assess associations between nursing workloads and patient safety incidents, we analyzed the following: the relationships between the level of patients' dependency and the number of incident reports; and the relationships between the presence of accidental falls and the presence of patients transferred from the intensive care unit to the wards.

Effect of shoulder abduction angle on biomechanical properties of the repaired rotator cuff tendons with 3 types of double-row technique.

Background: After rotator cuff repair, the shoulder is immobilized in various abduction positions. However, there is no consensus on the proper abduction angle.

Purpose: To assess the effect of shoulder abduction angle on the biomechanical properties of the repaired rotator cuff tendons among 3 types of double-row techniques.

Increased expression of lipocalin-type-prostaglandin D synthase in ulcerative colitis and exacerbating role in murine colitis.

The pathogenesis of ulcerative colitis (UC) is unclear, but enhancement of disease activity by usage of nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs suggests involvement of prostanoid in its pathophysiology. However, biological effect of prostaglandin (PG) D(2) on intestinal inflammation remains unknown. We investigated the expression of enzymes for PGD(2) synthesis, prostaglandin D synthase (PGDS), and its relation to the activity of colitis in UC patients.

Involvement of glial cells in the nociceptive behaviors induced by a high-dose of histamine administered intrathecally.

The involvement of spinal glial cells in the nociceptive behaviors induced by 1600 pmol of histamine was determined in mice. Histamine injected intrathecally (i.t.

Genetic characterization and susceptibility on poultry and mammal of H7N6 subtype avian influenza virus isolated in Japan in 2009.

From February to March 2009, six strains of H7N6 subtype avian influenza virus were isolated from quails in three farms in Aichi prefecture in Japan. The isolates were shown to be low pathogenic for chicken by the examination performed using the "Manual of Standards for Diagnostic Tests and Vaccines" by World organisation for Animal Health (OIE). The deduced amino acid sequence at the cleavage site was PE (I/Q/L) PKRR (nucleotide sequences were cct gaa (a/c) (t/a) a cc (a/g) aaa aga aga), suggesting persistence in domestic poultry for some time.

Milk, revealed "silent" chemistry: new mode of cycloretinal synthesis.

Bovine milk is by far the most commonly consumed milk in the western world. The protein composition in milk consists of casein and whey proteins, of which β-lactoglobulin (BLG) is the principal constituent of the latter. Here we provide biochemical evidence that this milk protein, in purified form and in pasteurized store-bought milk, promotes the formation of cycloretinal (all-trans retinal dimer), and a variety of other cycloterpenals of biological relevance [Fishkin et al.

Evidence for a nitrate-independent function of the nitrate sensor NRT1.1 in Arabidopsis thaliana.

NRT1.1 is a putative nitrate sensor and is involved in many nitrate-dependent responses. On the other hand, a nitrate-independent function of NRT1.

Involvement of mouse μ-opioid receptor splice variants in the spinal antinociception induced by the dermorphin tetrapeptide analog amidino-TAPA.

The involvement of the mouse μ-opioid receptor (mMOR-1) splice variants in the antinociceptive effect of intrathecally (i.t.) administered N(α)-amidino-Tyr-D-Arg-Phe-β-Ala (amidino-TAPA) and [D-Ala(2),N-MePhe(4),Gly-ol(5)]enkephalin (DAMGO) was investigated in mice by monitoring the recovery from acute antinociceptive tolerance to amidino-TAPA and DAMGO.

Influence of preparation design on failure risks of ceramic inlays: a finite element analysis.

Purpose: To assess the influence of preparation design on failure risk of ceramic inlays by means of finite element (FE) analysis.

Materials And Methods: Both 2D and 3D models of the maxillary first premolar were constructed. MOD ceramic inlays were designed with an isthmus width of 1.

Synthesis and structures of (dialkylsilylene)bis(phosphine)-nickel, palladium, and platinum complexes and (η(6)-arene)(dialkylsilylene)nickel complexes.

A series of dialkylsilylene-group 10 metal complexes (R(H)(2)Si)(Me(3)P)(2)M (M = Ni, Pd, Pt, R(H)(2) = 1,1,4,4-tetrakis(trimethylsilyl)butane-1,4-diyl) and novel (η(6)-arene)(dialkylsilylene)nickel complexes (η(6)-arene)(R(H)(2)Si)Ni were synthesized and characterized by NMR spectroscopy and X-ray analysis. The perpendicular geometry around the Si-M bond and the short Si-M distances of (R(H)(2)Si)(Me(3)P)(2)M complexes indicate the significant back donation from the metal to the silylene ligand.

Endogenous luminal surface adenosine signaling regulates duodenal bicarbonate secretion in rats.

Luminal ATP increases duodenal bicarbonate secretion (DBS) via brush border P2Y receptors. Because ATP is sequentially dephosphorylated to adenosine (ADO) and the brush border highly expresses adenosine deaminase (ADA), we hypothesized that luminal [ADO] regulators and sensors, including P1 receptors, ADA, and nucleoside transporters (NTs) regulate DBS. We measured DBS with pH and CO(2) electrodes, perfusing ADO ± adenosine receptor agonists or antagonists or the cystic fibrosis transmembrane conductance regulator (CFTR) inhibitor CFTR(inh)-172 on DBS.

[Usefulness of ultrasonography for diagnosis and treatment in case of superior mesenteric artery (SMA) syndrome].

A 37-year-old man, who had been admitted to another facility because of integration dysfunction syndrome suffered from postprandial epigastric pain, vomiting and weight loss. He was referred to our hospital for further examinations and treatment. Ultrasound examination revealed gastric and duodenal dilatation, reduction of the distance between the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) and aorta and to-and-fro movement in his duodenum, suggesting SMA syndrome.

Lack of a rewarding effect and a locomotor-enhancing effect of the selective μ-opioid receptor agonist amidino-TAPA.

Rationale And Objectives: Psychological dependence is one of the worst side effects of morphine. It limits the clinical availability of morphine and non-patient morphine users suffer from addiction. An analgesic, which is more potent than morphine but without the liability of psychological dependence, has long been sought in the clinic.

Interferon-α increases monocyte migration via platelet-monocyte interaction in murine intestinal microvessels.

The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of interferon (IFN)-α on recruitment of platelets and monocytes within the murine small intestinal venular endothelium. Monocytes were isolated from bone marrow of C57B6 mice. Platelets were collected from murine blood.

Lemon grass (Cymbopogon citratus) ameliorates murine spontaneous ileitis by decreasing lymphocyte recruitment to the inflamed intestine.

Objective: Aberrant leukocyte migration has been implicated in the pathogenesis of inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Lemon grass is a natural herb that contains citral, which suppresses lymphocyte expression of gut homing molecules by inhibiting retinoic acid formation. We therefore hypothesized that lemon grass intake could ameliorate excess migration of leukocytes to the inflamed intestine in chronic ileitis.

An interpretation of positional displacement of the helix12 in nuclear receptors: preexistent swing-up motion triggered by ligand binding.

Positional displacement of helix12 (H12) in the estrogen receptor alpha, which belongs to the nuclear receptor (NR) superfamily, is studied by the molecular dynamics (MD) simulation and the linear response theory. Tendency of the H12 to swing up upon ligand binding, which is consistent with X-ray structures and earlier MD simulations, is reproduced by the calculation of the conformational fluctuation in apo state and the response to the external perturbation. Our study thus provides an interpretation of the positional change of the H12 such that it is derived by the preexistent swing-up motion where the ligand binding works only as a trigger.