Contributions of Anthropometrics and Lifestyle to Blood Pressure in Japanese University Students : Investigation by Annual Health Screening.

Background : High blood pressure (BP) is a healthcare problem in young persons. There are racial differences in anthropometrics, dietary habit and lifestyle relating to BP. Therefore, this study investigated the relationship between anthropometrics, lifestyle and BP obtained in the Japanese university students.

Mental health in Japanese members of the United Nations peacekeeping contingent in the Golan Heights: effects of deployment and the Middle East situation.

This study evaluates the mental health of Japan Self-Defense Force (JSDF) members of the peacekeeping contingent in the Golan Heights before and since the Second Gulf War between 1998 and 2003. Before the war, the General Health Questionnaire 30 (GHQ30) scores during and after duty tended to be lower than those before duty; all scores were lower than those of adult Japanese men in general. After the war, GHQ30 scores did not significantly change between before, during, and after duty.

Effectiveness of CT for clinical stratification of occupational lung edema.

We treated two occupational lung diseases in different situations during military training. The purpose of this study is to investigate the availability of CT scanning for the evaluation of inhalation pulmonary edema. Two soldiers suffered severe lung edema after using a spray for the daily maintenance of their firearms.

In vitro gene transfer to mammalian cells by the use of laser-induced stress waves: effects of stress wave parameters, ambient temperature, and cell type.

Laser-mediated gene transfection has received much attention as a new method for targeted gene therapy because of the high spatial controllability of laser energy. We previously demonstrated both in vivo and in vitro that plasmid DNA can be transfected by applying nanosecond pulsed laser-induced stress waves (LISWs). In the present study, we investigated the dependence of transfection efficiency on the laser irradiation conditions and hence stress wave conditions in vitro.

Expression of endothelin-1 in the brain and lung of rats exposed to permanent hypobaric hypoxia.

High-altitude hypoxia causes pulmonary hypertension in humans and animals. Endothelin-1 (ET-1) is a novel and long-lasting vasoconstrictor. However, no study has dealt with the effects of a hypobaric hypoxic environment (HHE) on ET-1 activity in the brain.

Gene transfer into mammalian cells by use of a nanosecond pulsed laser-induced stress wave.

Plasmid DNA has been successfully delivered to mammalian cells by applying a nanosecond pulsed laser-induced stress wave (LISW). Cells exposed to a LISW were selectively transfected with plasmids coding for green fluorescent protein. It was also shown that transient, mild cellular heating (approximately 43 degrees C) was effective in improving the transfection efficiency.

Expressions of adrenomedullin mRNA and protein in rats with hypobaric hypoxia-induced pulmonary hypertension.

Experimental pulmonary hypertension induced in a hypobaric hypoxic environment (HHE) is characterized by structural remodeling of the heart and pulmonary arteries. Adrenomedullin (AM) has diuretic, natriuretic, and hypotensive effects. To study the possible effects of HHE on the AM synthesis system, 150 male Wistar rats were housed in a chamber at the equivalent of a 5,500-m altitude level for 21 days.

Long-term staining of live Merkel cells with FM dyes.

Live Merkel cells in the skin and hair follicles are known to incorporate a fluorescence dye, quinacrine, which has been utilized to identify and dissect the cells for experiments. Quinacrine fluorescence of the cells is, however, quickly lost and quinacrine-stained Merkel cells soon become difficult to identify in tissue culture. To find dyes that remain in the cells for a long period of time, we tested many fluorescence dyes and found that FM dyes (such as FM1-43) are useful markers for live Merkel cells.