Tottori University of Environmental Studies

We evaluated the long-term outcomes of children undergoing thoracotomy lung resection for congenital lung malformations in terms of lung function, complications, and health-related quality of life (HRQOL). We retrospectively reviewed 27 children who underwent thoracotomy at Osaka University Hospital (1992-2017) with at least five years of follow-up and postoperative lung function testing after six years of age. We compared the percent predicted vital capacity (%VC), percent predicted forced expiratory volume in 1s (%FEV1), and FEV1 to FVC ratio (FEV1/FVC) as indicators of the lung function. Longitudinal changes in the lung function, pulmonary and musculoskeletal morbidities, and HRQOL were assessed using the Pediatric Quality of Life Inventory. %VC and FEV1/FVC remained within the normal range but were significantly lower than the controls; %FEV1 was below the normal range. No significant longitudinal changes in the lung function were observed. Asthma‑like symptoms appeared in 37.0% of the patients and persisted beyond adolescence. Musculoskeletal morbidities occurred in 33.3% of the patients, with five pectus excavatum cases requiring correction. HRQOL did not differ from that of the healthy controls. In our study, children undergoing thoracotomy lung resection for congenital lung malformations exhibited a significantly lower lung function than the healthy controls, and these impairments persisted over an extended follow-up period. Long-term complications and a reduced lung function were not reflected in the subjective HRQOL.

ObjectiveTo determine the prevalence of abnormal scar formation after cesarean section and evaluate its effects on quality of life (QoL) and postpartum depression risk.MethodsA nationwide cross‐sectional study of 991 women aged 18–45 years at 6–18 months post‐cesarean section was conducted in Japan. Participants completed validated measures of scar assessment (Dermatology Life Quality Index [DLQI]) and postpartum depression risk (Edinburgh Postnatal Depression Scale [EPDS]).ResultsAmong participants, 66.0% Abnormal scarring has been reported to occur more frequently in Asian and Black populations than in White populations, consistent with previous epidemiological studies. (654/991) developed abnormal scars (64.4% hypertrophic, 1.6% keloid). The abnormal scar group showed significantly higher DLQI scores, indicating worse QoL (median 1, interquartile range 0–2 vs median 0, interquartile range 0–1; P < 0.001). Women with keloid formation showed elevated EPDS scores, indicating higher depression risk.ConclusionAbnormal scar formation is highly prevalent, abnormal scars impair maternal quality of life, and keloid formation is linked to an increased risk of postpartum depression.

Nucleic acid molecules within viral genomes can fold into noncanonical structures, such as G-quadruplexes (G4s), which play crucial roles in regulating viral gene expression. These genomes are confined within capsid environments that vary in dimensions and ionic compositions. Structural transitions in RNA or DNA within these confined environments are essential for modulating viral biological functions; however, these transitions remain poorly understood. In this study, we demonstrated that an RNA sequence derived from the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV-1) genome adopts a dynamic equilibrium between G4 and hairpin (Hp) structures modulated by ionic conditions. The equilibrium shifts toward the G4 conformation in the presence of potassium (K⁺) and magnesium (Mg2⁺) ions. Using reverse micelles (RMs) as mimetics of the intracapsid environment, we showed that the size of the RM water pool influences significantly this equilibrium: smaller water pools favor G4 formation, whereas larger pools prefer the Hp structure owing to variations in the dielectric constant. Notably, the addition of Mg2⁺ ions alters the size-dependent effects of RMs by stabilizing the G4 structure. These findings highlight the critical roles of environmental confinement and ionic conditions in regulating viral RNA structural dynamics, offering new insights into RNA-based regulatory mechanisms and their impact on viral gene expression.

【目的】脂肪肝疾患（Steatotic Liver Disease：SLD）は，肝疾患のみならず2型糖尿病や心血管疾患と関連が指摘されており，早期発見が重要である．本研究では，地域住民を対象とした健康啓発活動の一環として，Point-of-Care Ultrasound（POCUS） を活用した脂肪肝チェックの有用性を検討した．【対象と方法】2023年10月～2024年3月の期間に，市民対象イベント計3回でブースを設営し，携帯型超音波装置を用いたPOCUS脂肪肝スクリーニングを実施した．脂肪肝の判定は，超音波検査士および超音波専門医が肝腎コントラストを基準に評価した．さらに，被検者には聞き取り形式のアンケート調査を行った．【結果と考察】検査対象123例（男性75例，女性48例）のうち，脂肪肝は43例（35％）であった．脂肪肝群はBMIが有意に高く（25.3 vs 21.2 kg/m2，p < 0.001），運動習慣のない割合も高い傾向があった（66.7％ vs 44.3％，p = 0.065）．また，53例（43.1％）は超音波検査を初めて受ける症例であった．【結論】POCUS脂肪肝スクリーニングは，一般市民を対象とした健康啓発活動において，超音波検査未経験者への機会提供と脂肪肝の発見に有用と示された．今後，地域医療や予防医学の分野において，POCUSの活用が期待される．

The present study is part of a series aimed at enhancing the reliability of JIS B 1759, ”Estimation of tooth bending strength of cylindrical plastic gears.” This study examined the stress correction factor converting the nominal tooth bending stress into the local one. The current version has a problem with underestimating the load capacity of internal gears, but considering the contact ratio under load has alleviated the problem. Nevertheless, some issues remain, which led the present paper to determine an alternative stress correction factor through finite element analyses of internal virtual spur gears. Before discussing the alternative factor, examining the fillet profile of injection-molded internal spur gears led to proposing a single circular arc as the standard fillet. Based on that, FEAs of internal virtual spur gears with a single circular fillet determined the modified stress correction factor, which can relieve JIS B 1759 of the underestimations. The modified factor enables the standard to estimate load capacity regardless of external or internal gears, which improves the reliability of the standard.

Abstract This study comprehensively examines the medical needs and experiences of the lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender/transsexual, and queer/questioning (LGBTQ) population—also referred to as sexual minorities—in Japan. It aims to bridge the existing gap in understanding the experiences of LGBTQ populations in accessing healthcare, and inform future healthcare reforms. In November 2022, a cross-sectional, web-based, anonymous survey was conducted targeting LGBTQ populations across Japan who had previously visited a medical institution. Participants were recruited through a private, web-based, survey company. Inclusion criteria included being 20 years old or above, having a record of medical visits, and experiencing distress or discomfort related to gender identity, gender, or sexual orientation. Survey items were developed based on previous research and preliminary interviews, to assess demographic characteristics, experiences with medical care, and preferences for end-of-life care. A total of 103 respondents with a diverse demographic profile from across Japan participated in the survey. Among sexual minorities whose gender identity differed from their birth assignment, significant challenges were reported, including distressful experiences related to assigned hospital rooms and difficulties accessing certain medical departments. LGBTQ individuals with non-heterosexual orientations also faced barriers to partner involvement in medical decision-making and care. This study underscores the need for healthcare reforms to address the challenges faced by LGBTQ individuals in Japan. Healthcare providers should create a more equitable and affirming healthcare system for all individuals, irrespective of sexual orientation or gender identity.

Mutualism profoundly affects the morphology and ecological evolution of both hosts and symbionts involved. Heterocyathus is a solitary scleractinian coral that lives on soft substrata, and sipunculan worms live symbiotically in the tube-like cavities (orifice) inside the coral skeletons. This habitat provides protection to the sipunculan worms against predators and—owing to the mobility of the worms—prevents the coral from being buried with sediments. The orifice growth is closely related to the symbiont sipunculan worms; however, this has not been previously elucidated. Here, we clarified the growth process of scleractinian coral orifices and the influence of sipunculan activity on this. The orifices were originally formed by rapid accretion deposits. The coral soft tissue enveloping the growth edge of the orifice repeatedly retreated to the outer side due to direct damage to the soft part and/or excessive stress caused by the rubbing of the sipunculan through locomotion, excretion, and feeding behaviour. This resulted in a toppled-domino microskeletal structure appearance and maintenance of the orifice growth. These outcomes demonstrate the first example of the direct influence of symbionts on the skeletal morphogenesis of scleractinian corals. The mutualism between the two organisms is maintained by the beneficial confrontation in forming orifices.

本研究は、鳥取市市街地を流れる袋川の歴史的変遷と現在の整備状況を踏まえ、印象評価調査を通じて景観保全の方向性を探ることを目的としている。袋川緑地の緑視率、プロフィール分析、主成分分析を組み合わせることで、歩きやすさ、親しみやすさ、緑の豊かさなどの属性が景観評価に重要な影響を与えていることが明らかになった。また、都市空間の社会的・機能的な質と自然環境的な質のシナジーが重要であることが示された。緑視率が高い河川緑地も、適切な植生管理と歩道の整備がなければ、好印象にはつながらない。本調査では限られた数の写真と回答者を用いたが、今後の調査で対象を拡大することで、より一般化された高評価の河川緑地空間形成に寄与することが期待される。