It has been reported that animals exposed to prior stress exhibit enhanced, reduced or equivalent hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) response to a subsequent acute stressor. We demonstrated previously that a long-duration restraint stress (RTS) evoked adaptive change, characterized by transient increase and gradual recovery to basal level in c-fos mRNA/c-fos protein (Fos) expression in the hypothalamic paraventricular nucleus (PVN) and in plasma adrenocorticotropin (ACTH) levels, although circulating corticosterone (CORT) remained at a high level. In order to investigate the HPA response to another stressor during the adaptive phase of long-duration RTS, we superimposed acute cold stressor (CS) to 16 hours RTS rats. Superimposed CS-induced re-expression of c-fos mRNA/Fos in the parvocellular region of the PVN (PVNpv) was observed in 16 hours RTS rats. The degree of expression of c-fos gene in superimposed CS rats was the same as those observed in single CS rats. The plasma ACTH levels induced by superimposed CS in 16 hours RTS rats were significantly higher compared with those in single CS rats. On the other hand, there were no significant differences between plasma CORT levels induced by superimposed CS in 16 hours RTS rats and those in single CS rats, and between plasma CORT levels before and after additional CS exposure in 16 hours RTS rats. The present study indicated that c-fos gene expression in PVN induced by superimposed CS was normo-responsive, ACTH secretion was hyper-responsive (facilitation), CORT secretion was slightly increased, but not hyper-responsive in long-duration RTS rats. These findings suggest that stress response induced by superimposed CS during long-duration RTS may occur in a different way at each level of the HPA.

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cRNAs for wild type and a functionless mutant of sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca²⁺-ATPase were co-injected into Xenopus oocytes in various molar ratios. SR Ca²⁺-ATPase activity of the microsomal fraction prepared from the injected oocytes increased linearly with increasing amounts of wild type cRNA. This result suggests that monomers are functional units of membrane-bound SR Ca²⁺-ATPase.

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We present a case of a patient with Brugada syndrome and aborted sudden cardiac death in whom the typical Brugada sign (coved-type ST segment elevation in the precordial leads V₁ through V₃) was always reproduced by the precordial leads recording on the second intercostal space even after the typical sign had disappeared. The finding indicates that recordings of precordial leads on the higher intercostal spaces are important to unmask the ST elevation in suspected patients with Brugada syndrome.

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Lithium addition to neuroleptic treatment brought about some improvement in 6 schizophrenic inpatients. In 3 of them, however, enhancement of daily activity did not parallel improvement in psychiatric symptoms. This suggests that lithium addition may enhance daily activity independently of psychiatric symptoms, and that lithium effects should also be assessed from the viewpoint of daily activity.

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We investigated the prevalence of musculoskeletal disorders (MSD) and skin disease within a Japanese compact disk (CD) manufacturing plant. For this study, a stratified cross-section of workers completed self-reported questionnaires distributed over a 6-month time period. Low back pain (LBP) was the most commonly reported category (affecting 20.1%), followed by MSD of the shoulder (15.4%), neck (10.1%) and head (5.4%). Dermatitis was the most frequent skin disease (affecting 8.1%), followed by eczema (3.4%), acne (3.4%) and xerosis (2.7%). The odds of suffering neck MSD was 10.8 times higher among staff who sat in a chair all day (95%CI 1.8–112.8, P<0.05). Standing all day was also a risk factor for this condition (OR 8.2, 95%CI 1.2–81.7, P<0.05). Female gender increased the risk of shoulder MSD 4.3 fold (95%CI 1.4–13.7, P<0.05), as did alcohol consumption (OR 3.3, 95%CI 1.1–11.9, P<0.05). The odds of suffering any skin disease were significantly enhanced by working longer than 12 months in one's current job (OR 10.7, 95%CI 1.5–7.3, P<0.05) and having a history of atopic disease (OR 7.2, 95%CI 2.6–21.4, P<0.001). Overall, the staff within our study reported generally lower levels of MSD and skin disease than in previous investigations of other workplaces.

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Frequency characteristics of an electro-hydraulic vibrator were measured using two kinds of test signals. First, sine signals had theoretically 1.0 m/s² (root-mean-square) in the frequency range from 1 to 16 Hz at single axis. The frequency characteristics were flat from 1 to 12 Hz, but 14, 16 Hz was considerably poor. Second, the vibrator was excited when using a complex signal consisting of 12 components in the frequency range from 1 to 12 Hz at single axis. The overall acceleration was 3 and 1 m/s². Flat characteristics were seen in the tested frequency range. Acceleration distortion was recognized in a higher frequency than the target frequency. This second method is effective for the efficiency of experimental procedure.

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Most of chemical carcinogens are metabolized and activated in vivo by phase I enzymes including the microsomal cytochromes P450 (CYP) and epoxide hydroxylases. The carcinogens and their metabolites are detoxified by the phase Ⅱ enzymes that include various transferases such as glutathion-S-transferases (GST). Some studies have demonstrated the association of the polymorphisms in CYP2E1 genes with the susceptibility to lung cancer. Subsequently, the polymorphisms appear to be important biomarkers that provide information for assessments of exposure and total burden of environmental carcinogens. Therefore, the investigation of the polymorphisms in these genes will provide information not only for the prediction of individual cancer risks but also for the prevention of cancer. In this review, we will summarize the polymorphisms in the CYP2E1 genes and their relationship to the lung cancer susceptibility and prognosis. Gene polymorphisms such as CYP2E1 will contribute to the evidence based prevention (EBP).

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When we commonly evaluate the thyroid function, we measure TSH, free T₃ and free T₄. However, there are some cases that are difficult to diagnose because of the existence of thyroid hormone autoantibodies. We experienced a case of a 14-year-old girl with diffuse struma whose TSH, free T₃ and free T₄ were elevated by detected with Amerlex M free T₃ and free T₄ kits, although she did not have any symptoms. As the free T₄ level was low by the equilibrium dialysis method, we diagnosed this case as hypothyroidism due to chronic thyroiditis. Because we found thyroid hormone antibodies in her serum, we thought that this case presented pseudoelevations of free T₃ and free T₄ by the analogue method.

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This is a report from the 5^th academic meeting of the Japan Society for Medical English Education held at Kawasaki University of Medical Welfare on August 3^ｒｄ and 4^th of 2002. It also includes a course description of our English courses, their problems and some suggestions for improvement.
First, I report several papers presented at the meeting that are useful and suggestive for the English education at our university in order to bring them to everyone's attention and to improve our English program. The topics of the papers include; what "Medical English" is; reports of English courses taught by medical doctors; reports of English courses for developing specific proficiencies such as listening, writing summaries and delivering oral presentations. Next, I give a course description of our present English program and point out some problems that should be dealt with. In this connection, I make several suggestions for future improvement. Lastly, I refer to the "strategies to educate the Japanese who can use English", which were proposed recently by the Ministry of Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology and suggest our improvement be in line with these strategies.

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In Japan, a light scattering type digital dust monitor is most commonly used for dust concentration measurement in a working environment. In this study, the calibration factors of a digital dust monitor (K-factor) for several welding fumes were measured in a laboratory. During the experiment, fumes were generated from CO₂ arc welding performed by an automatic welding robot. The examined welding wires were JIS Z 3312, Z 3313, Z 3315, Z 3317 and Z 3320. The mass and relative concentrations of the welding fumes were measured simultaneously by a total/respirable (TR) dust sampler and a digital dust monitor at a welding current of 100 A, 150 A, 200 A, 250 A and 300 A. The particle size distributions of welding fumes were measured by a low pressure impactor at a welding current of 100 A and 300 A. A significant effect of the welding current on the K-factor was recognized for all the examined wires. In the most remarkable case, a four-fold difference in the K-factors was found when the fumes were generated from a flux cored wire for mild steel (JIS Z 3313). The particle size distributions of fumes were also affected by the welding current. The coefficients of variation in the measured K-factor were 7.8-40.5%.

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