Staff Support for Family Relationship and Life Story Work for Children at Residential Care Facilities for Children with Disabilities in Japan.

This study aimed to identify the social care support provided by life story work and children's family relationships for children with disabilities in medical-type residential care facilities for children in Japan and the challenges thereof. The participants were 12 staff from residential care facilities for children with disabilities experienced in providing ongoing support to children admitted for social care purposes. Semi-constructive interviews on the life story work and support for family relationships practiced with children admitted to a residential care facility for children with disabilities for social care were conducted with the participants. The interviews were recorded and analyzed using thematic analysis. The analysis resulted in 32 codes, 10 sub-themes, and four main themes. The main themes were family form, children's thoughts on their family, support for family relationships, and readiness for life story work. In some cases, children were not informed about their negative situation, that is, the reason for admission or their family situation. This was due to the lack of a unified view on life story work among staff and insufficient organizational readiness. The results suggest the need for a unified understanding throughout the organization, as well as the need to disseminate the methodology of life story work for children with disabilities.

Hydroarylation of 2-Aryloxybut-1-en-3-ynes via Pd/Acid-Catalyzed C-H Bond Activation: A Concise Synthesis of 2,3-Bismethylene-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans.

An intramolecular exo-hydroarylation of 2-aryloxy-1,4-disilylbut-1-en-3-ynes via ortho-C-H bond activation under palladium(0) and acid catalysis was found to give 2,3-bis(silylmethylidene)-2,3-dihydrobenzofurans. The two silyl groups present probably promoted the reaction and played a key role in stabilizing the diene moiety in the product. The products readily led to functionalized condensed cycles by a Diels-Alder reaction.

Annulation of Alkynyl Aryl Ethers with Allyl Pivalates To Give 2,3-Bismethylenechromanes through Double C-H Bond Cleavage.

The treatment of silylethynyloxyarenes with allylic pivalates in the presence of a palladium catalyst led to efficient C-H bond cleavage in both substrates and a novel annulation reaction to give 2,3-bismethylenechromanes. When ortho-allylated silylethynyloxybenzenes were used as the substrates, the same products were obtained. This result shows that site-selective intramolecular hydrovinylation is involved in the annulation reaction. The synthetic utility of the products was demonstrated by the construction of condensed polycycles.

Blood lactoferrin release induced by running exercise in normal volunteers: antibacterial activity.

BACKGROUND: The aim of this study was to determine serum lactoferrin concentrations and serum antibacterial activity before and after running exercise. METHODS: Twenty-four healthy young men were randomly assigned to high, middle, or low intensity of exercise groups (5000 steps running at 180, 130, and 80 steps/min, respectively). Blood samples were collected at baseline and immediately, 1 and 4 h after exercise. Concentrations of circulating neutrophils, serum lactoferrin, iron in whole blood, and serum iron were measured. Antibacterial activity of serum was evaluated using live Micrococcus luteus. RESULTS: The numbers of circulating neutrophils were increased by 20.0% and 15.5% 1 h after exercise in high and middle groups (both P<0.01), respectively. Serum lactoferrin concentrations were significantly increased immediately after exercise by 48.3% and 33.0% in the high and middle groups (both P<0.01), respectively. No significant changes in total iron or serum iron concentrations were observed during the study. Antibacterial activities of serum collected immediately after exercise in the high and middle groups were significantly stronger than those before exercise, by 31.2% and 25.4% (both P<0.05), respectively. CONCLUSIONS: Serum lactoferrin concentrations are increased immediately after running exercise and may play an antibacterial role in host defenses before mobilization of neutrophils into the circulating pool.

Inhibition of liver metastasis by targeting of immunomodulators using mannosylated liposome carriers.

Mannosylated liposomes were prepared by incorporating cholesten-5-yloxy-N-(4-((1-imino-2-beta-D-thiomannosylethyl)amino)butyl)formamide (Man-C4-Chol) into small unilamellar liposomes consisting of cholesterol and distearoyl phosphatidylcholine (DSPC). The biodistribution of liposomes labeled with [3H]cholesteryl hexadecyl ether was examined in mice. The rate and extent of the hepatic uptake of those [3H]liposomes increased proportionally on increasing the mixing ratio of Man-C4-Chol. Their hepatic uptake was reduced by increasing the administered dose due to the limited number of mannose receptors. The liver uptake of [3H]Man-liposomes was preferentially mediated by liver non-parenchymal cells (NPC) and significantly inhibited by co-injection with an excess of Man-BSA, indicating the involvement of a mannose receptor-mediated mechanism in the hepatic uptake of Man-liposomes. Muramyl dipeptide (MDP), an immunomodulator, was also incorporated into the liposomes and its inhibitory effect in an experimental liver metastasis model was examined. In contrast to free MDP treatment, which showed little effect on the inhibition of metastasis, liposomal MDP significantly reduced the number of metastatic colonies in the liver. Active targeting of MDP to liver NPC by Man-liposomes resulted in more effective inhibition than delivery of MDP by liposomes without mannose. Treatment with MDP/Man-liposomes further increased the survival of the tumor-bearing mice. These results suggest that Man-liposomes are effective carriers for targeted delivery of bioactive compounds to liver NPC.