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Volume 56, Issue 2
Displaying 1-4 of 4 articles from this issue
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REVIEW
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Noriyuki Seta, Masataka Kuwana2007 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 41-47
Published: 2007
Released on J-STAGE: July 09, 2007
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSCirculating monocytes are believed to be committed precursors for phagocytes, such as macrophages and dendritic cells. Recently, we have reported a primitive human cell population called monocyte-derived multipotential cells (MOMC), which has a fibroblast-like morphology and a unique phenotype positive for CD14, CD45, CD34, and type I collagen. This novel cell type exhibits mixed morphologic and phenotypic features of monocytes, endothelial cells, and mesenchymal cells. MOMC are derived from circulating CD14+ monocytes, and their differentiation requires binding to fibronectin and exposure to one or more soluble factors derived from peripheral blood CD14- cells. MOMC contain progenitors with capacity to differentiate into a variety of non-phagocytes, including bone, cartilage, fat, skeletal and cardiac muscle, neuron, and endothelium. Recent studies by others have also described several distinct human cell populations that are originated from circulating monocytes and have capacity to differentiate into non-phagocytes. These observations together indicate that circulating monocytes are more multipotential than previously thought. In addition, cell transplantation therapies using circulating monocytes are a potential approach for tissue regeneration.View full abstractDownload PDF (686K)
ORIGINAL ARTICLES
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Tetsumi Honda, Toshihiko Maruta, Kumiko Takahashi2007 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 48-52
Published: 2007
Released on J-STAGE: July 09, 2007
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSWe performed single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) of the brain in 15 patients with chronic pain (males, 7; females, 8; average age 49.1 ± 17.9 years) and identified the locus of cerebral blood flow reduction by a new analytical method (easy Z-score Imaging System: eZIS) to clarify the functional neuroanatomical basis of chronic pain. Of the 15 patients, 6 had backache, 2 neck pain, 2 gonalgia, and 5 pain at other sites, with an average Visual analog scale of pain (VAS) value of 6.1 ± 1.9.
In comparison with a information on a data base on physically unimpaired persons, the dorsolateral prefrontal area (both sides, right dominant), medial prefrontal area (both sides), dorsal aspect of the anterior cingulate gyrus nociceptive cortex (both sides) and the lateral part of the orbitofrontal cortex (right side) were found to have blood flow reduction in the group of patients with chronic pain. As for chronic pain and its correlation with clinical features such as a depressive state, anticipation anxiety, PTSD, and conversion hysteria, the mechanism in the brain that was suggested by this study should be followed-up by functional neuroimaging studies.View full abstractDownload PDF (508K) -
Naoki Shimada, Michiko Miyakawa, Masayuki Tatemichi, Yumi Otahara, Tak ...2007 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 53-60
Published: 2007
Released on J-STAGE: July 09, 2007
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSNumerous epidemiologic studies have revealed that smoking is a significant risk factor of many diseases. Some studies reported increase in medical expenditure by smoking using odds or hazard ratios between smoking and diseases in epidemiologic studies. The purpose of the present study is to investigate the ratios of mean medical expenditures between smokers and nonsmokers from studies conducted observing medical expenditure directly in Japan. We collected 11 published articles of studies conducted observing medical expenditures of smokers and nonsmokers directly in Japan. The weighted geometric mean of ratios between age-adjusted mean medical expenditures for smokers and nonsmokers of National Health Insurance and Government-Managed Health Insurance beneficiaries which included many elderly individuals was somewhat greater than 1.0, while the value of Society-Managed Health Insurance that included a small number of elderly people was less than 1.0. Smoking and smokers' indifference to health increase the medical expenditure of the smokers, especially elderly smokers. It was not determined, however, whether the mean medical expenditure of smokers is actually greater than that of nonsmokers.View full abstractDownload PDF (416K)
OPINION
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How reform is changing the landscapeAlan R. Teo2007 Volume 56 Issue 2 Pages 61-63
Published: 2007
Released on J-STAGE: July 09, 2007
JOURNAL FREE ACCESSA number of Western physicians have highlighted shortcomings in Japanese medical education over the years. In recent years, however, there has been dramatic change in the system of medical education in Japan that renders some of these observations inaccurate and others worthy of several caveats. Using a recent review article in the Keio Journal of Medicine as a starting point for discussion, the author responds to a number of historical concerns about medical education in Japan and includes updated information on recent reforms.View full abstractDownload PDF (296K)
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