Predictors of short-term repetition of self-harm among patients admitted to an emergency room following self-harm: A retrospective one-year cohort study.

We conducted a retrospective chart-review study, examining predictors of the repetition of short-term self-harm (<1 month and <6 months) among the patients who were admitted to an emergency department in Japan following self-harm. A total of 405 patients were enrolled and were followed-up for a subsequent one year. The incidence of repeated self-harm within one- and six- months were 6.4% and 13.1%, respectively. Cox's proportional hazards model analyses demonstrated that history of self-harm and comorbid physical illness were associated with repeated self-harm within one month. The patients who lived alone and who were directly discharged from the emergency room after referral to a psychiatrist were at higher risk for repeated self-harm within both one and six months. Living on public assistance and having been discharged from psychiatric wards within the past 12 months were associated with repetition within six months. These risk factors should be incorporated into routine assessment at an emergency room, and elaborate follow-up plan should be provided to the patients with these risk factors upon discharge from the emergency room. Further prospective studies are warranted, addressing more comprehensive factors that are associated with short-term risk for self-harm and suicide.

[Medical intervention for attempted suicide patients in emergency room].

Emergency department is an important location for suicide prevention activities. Past history of attempted suicides or deliberate self-harms is a predictable risk factor for future suicide completion. In Japan, most of the attempted suicide patients (ASP) are transported to the emergency hospitals. Therefore, the more improvement of intervention skills for ASP are needed. Emergency medical staffs are expected to communicate patients with warm and calm attitudes. To confirm the presence or absence of suicidal ideation, risk factors are important. If patients are suicidal, emergency physicians should not hesitate to consult to the psychiatrist.

Effect of chronic ethanol treatment on µ-opioid receptor function, interacting proteins and morphine-induced place preference.

RATIONALE: Both the acute and chronic consumption of ethanol have been reported to modify several molecular events in the central nervous system, and the endogenous µ-opioid receptor system is involved in the reinforcing/rewarding effects of ethanol. OBJECTIVES: The present study was designed to clarify the effects of chronic ethanol treatment on cellular processes involving µ-opioid receptor and the development of morphine-induced rewarding effects. METHODS: Male C57BL/6J mice were continuously treated with a liquid diet containing 3.0 w/v ethanol. The direct involvement of µ-opioid receptor functions in the activation of G-proteins and changes in protein levels in the lower midbrain of mice after chronic treatment with ethanol were investigated by a [(35)S] GTPγS binding assay and Western blotting, respectively. The rewarding effects of morphine (5 mg/kg) under treatment with ethanol were measured by the conditioned place preference paradigm. RESULTS: The function of µ-opioid receptor was increased by treatment with ethanol in the lower midbrain using [(35)S] GTPγS binding assay. Furthermore, the GRK2 protein level was significantly increased by treatment with ethanol. Chronic treatment with ethanol enhanced the rewarding effects of morphine. On the other hand, this enhancement of the rewarding effects of morphine by ethanol treatment was significantly inhibited by the GRK2 inhibitor ß-adrenergic receptor kinase 1 inhibitor. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that chronic treatment with ethanol enhanced the rewarding effects of morphine by up-regulating functional changes in µ-opioid receptor, mediated by GRK2.

Infrared laser-mediated gene induction in targeted single cells in vivo.

We developed infrared laser-evoked gene operator (IR-LEGO), a microscope system optimized for heating cells without photochemical damage. Infrared irradiation causes reproducible temperature shifts of the in vitro microenvironment in a power-dependent manner. When applied to living Caenorhabditis elegans, IR-LEGO induced heat shock-mediated expression of transgenes in targeted single cells in a more efficient and less deleterious manner than a 440-nm dye laser and elicited physiologically relevant phenotypic responses.

Two-dimensional simulation of holographic data storage medium for multiplexed recording.

In this paper, we propose a new analysis model for photopolymer recording processes that calculate the two-dimensional refractive index distribution of multiplexed holograms. For the simulation of the photopolymer medium, time evolution of monomer diffusion and polymerization need to be calculated simultaneously. The distribution of the refractive index inside the medium is induced by these processes. By evaluating the refractive index pattern on each layer, the diffraction beams from the multiplexed hologram can be read out by beam propagation method (BPM). This is the first paper to determine the diffraction beam from a multiplexed hologram in a simulated photopolymer medium process. We analyze the time response of the multiplexed hologram recording processes in the photopolymer, and estimate the degradation of diffraction efficiency with multiplexed recording. This work can greatly contribute to understanding the process of hologram recording.

Analytical solution to compensate for thermal expansion change in photopolymer volume holograms using a tunable laser.

For holographic data storage, it is necessary to adjust the wavelength and direction of the reading beam if the reading and recording temperature do not match. An analytical solution for this adjustment is derived using first-order approximations in a two-dimensional model. The optimum wavelength is a linear function of the temperature difference between recording and reading, and is independent of the direction of the reference beam. However, the optimum direction of incidence is not only a linear function of the temperature difference, but also depends on the direction of the reference beam. The retrieved image, which is produced by a diffracted beam, shrinks or expands slightly according to the temperature difference.

Tunable blue laser compensates for thermal expansion of the medium in holographic data storage.

A tunable laser optical source equipped with wavelength and mode-hop monitors was developed to compensate for thermal expansion of the medium in holographic data storage. The laser's tunable range is 402-409 nm, and supplying 90 mA of laser diode current provides an output power greater than 40 mW. The aberration of output light is less than 0.05 lambdarms. The temperature range within which the laser can compensate for thermal expansion of the medium is estimated based on the tunable range, which is +/-13.5 degrees C for glass substrates and +/-17.5 degrees C for amorphous polyolefin substrates.

Littrow-type external-cavity blue laser for holographic data storage.

An external-cavity laser with a wavelength of 405 nm and an output of 80 mW has been developed for holographic data storage. The laser has three states: the first is a perfect single mode, whose coherent length is 14 m; the second is a three-mode state with a coherent length of 3 mm; and the third is a six-mode state with a coherent length of 0.3 mm. The first and second states are available for angular-multiplexing recording; all states are available for coaxial multiplexing recording. Due to its short wavelength, the recording density is higher than that of a 532 nm laser.

Improved performance in coaxial holographic data recording.

We describe a coaxial holographic recording system for achieving high recording density. We implement several techniques, such as an objective lens with high numerical aperture (NA), high capacity page data format, a random binary phase mask, and an optical noise reduction element. Our system successfully realizes a hologram recording/retrieving at a low diffraction efficiency less than 2.0 x 10(-3) and achieves a raw data density of 180 Gbit/in.(2), thus demonstrating the potential of a coaxial holographic system for high-density optical storage systems.

Experimental analysis in recording transmission and reflection holograms at the same time and location.

Holographic recording media with a reflection layer are useful because they make it possible to maintain backward compatibility with CDs and DVDs, and a conventional servo system is easily attachable. The incident beam is fed back to the recording layer by the reflection layer, so there are four beam pairs to record the transmission and reflection holograms. We analyze the basic property of the transmission and reflection holograms and evaluate the problem when the transmission and reflection holograms are recorded at the same time. It is shown that the shrinkage in the photopolymer medium has a different effect on each hologram, so the readout image from the two holograms is misaligned. Those diffraction beams make the interference pattern, and the signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) of the output image decreased. Taking into account the difference in wavelength selectivity between the transmission and the reflection holograms, we propose a way to select one hologram to get the diffraction beam and eliminate the interference pattern using the tuning readout wavelength. By using this method, we can eliminate the diffraction beam from the reflection hologram and keep a high SNR.