Risk factors for fracture by same-level falls among workers across sectors: a cross-sectional study of national open database of the occupational injuries in Japan.

OBJECTIVES: The hospitalisation rate for work-related injuries among older workers is double that of younger workers; however, the risk factors for same-level fall fractures sustained during industrial accidents remain unclear. This study aimed to estimate the influence of worker age, time of day and weather conditions on the risk of same-level fall fractures in all industrial sectors in Japan. STUDY DESIGN: This was a cross-sectional study. METHODS: This study used the population-based national open database of worker death and injury reports in Japan. In total, 34,580 reports of occupational same-level falls between 2012 and 2016 were used in this study. Multiple logistic regression analysis was performed. RESULTS: In primary industries, workers aged ≥55 years had a 1.684 times greater risk of fracture (95% confidence interval [CI]: 1.167-2.430) compared with workers aged ≤54 years. In tertiary industries, relative to the odds ratio (OR) of injuries recorded at 0:00-2:59 a.m., the ORs recorded at 6:00-8:59 p.m., 6:00-8:59 a.m., 9:00-11:59 p.m. and 0:00-2:59 p.m. were 1.516 (95% CI: 1.202, 1.912), 1.502 (95% CI: 1.203-1.876), 1.348 (95% CI: 1.043-1.741) and 1.295 (95% CI: 1.039-1.614), respectively. The risk of fracture increased with a 1-day increase in the number of snowfall days were per month in secondary (OR = 1.056, 95% CI: 1.011-1.103) and tertiary (OR = 1.034, 95% CI: 1.009-1.061) industries. The risk of fracture decreased with every 1-degree increase in the lowest temperature in primary (OR = 0.967, 95% CI: 0.935-0.999) and tertiary (OR = 0.993, 95% CI: 0.988-0.999) industries. CONCLUSIONS: With the increasing number of older workers and changing environmental conditions, the risk of falls in the tertiary sector industries is increasing, particularly just before and just after shift change hours. These risks may be associated with environmental obstacles during work migration. It is also important to consider the weather-associated risks of fracture.

Semi-aquatic spider silks: transcripts, proteins, and silk fibres of the fishing spider, Dolomedes triton (Pisauridae).

To survive in terrestrial and aquatic environments, spiders often rely heavily on their silk. The vast majority of silks that have been studied are from orb-web or cob-web weaving species, leaving the silks of water-associated spiders largely undescribed. We characterize transcripts, proteins, and silk fibres from the semi-aquatic spider Dolomedes triton. From silk gland RNAseq libraries, we report 18 silk transcripts representing four categories of known silk protein types: aciniform, ampullate, pyriform, and tubuliform. Proteomic and structural analyses (scanning electron microscopy, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, contact angle) of the D. triton submersible egg sac reveal similarities to silks from aquatic caddisfly larvae. We identified two layers in D. triton egg sacs, notably a highly hydrophobic outer layer with a different elemental composition compared to egg sacs of terrestrial spiders. These features may provide D. triton egg sacs with their water repellent properties.

Successful live birth in a patient who underwent cranial radiotherapy and systemic chemotherapy by implantation of a cryopreserved blastocyst on day 7.

Preservation of fertility has been recommended for cancer-bearing patients of reproductive age before undergoing cancer treatment. However, there are many considerations and it is difficult to preserve fertility for all patients undergoing therapy for malignancies. Female cancer survivors had lower pregnancy and live birth rates compared with others that underwent assisted reproductive technologies (ARTs). We should continue to consider the issue of infertility in patients who underwent therapies for malignancies. This is the first report of a successful live birth in a patient with a cranial tumor who underwent radiotherapy and chemotherapy after implantation of an autologous embryo. The patient was a 27-year-old Japanese woman. She was diagnosed with suprasellar germinoma at 13 years of age, and she developed panhypopituitarism after radiotherapy and chemotherapy. At 27 years of age, she began infertility treatment with in-vitro fertilization (IVF). The level of anti-Mallerian hormone (AMH) was 4.29 ng/ml. After ovarian stimulation by high purified human menopausal gonadotropin (HP-hMG), she obtained two blastocysts and became pregnant by implantation of a cryopre- served blastocyst. At 37 gestational weeks, she delivered a healthy female baby by cesarean section.

Sigmoid-vaginal fistula during bevacizumab treatment diagnosed by fistulography.

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE: There have been several reports describing rectovaginal fistula development after bevacizumab treatment, and these fistulas were diagnosed by CT scan or colonoscopy. We report a case of sigmoid-vaginal fistula diagnosed by fistulography. CASE DESCRIPTION: The case is a 53-year-old woman who was treated for chronic myelogenous leukaemia and gynaecological cancers 8 years previously. At 52 years of age, she was diagnosed with colon cancer and had a partial colectomy performed. One year after surgery, colon cancer recurred, and she was treated with anticancer agents, including bevacizumab. During chemotherapy, she complained of a foul smelling discharge from the vagina. Fistulography revealed a sigmoid-vaginal fistula. WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSION: This is the first report of vaginal fistulography performed on a patient who was treated with bevacizumab. Fistulography may be useful for detecting sigmoid-vaginal fistula.

Candidate egg case silk genes for the spider Argiope argentata from differential gene expression analyses.

Orb-web weaving spiders produce a variety of task-specific silks from specialized silk glands. The genetics underlying the synthesis of specific silk types are largely unknown, and transcriptome analysis could be a powerful approach for identifying candidate genes. However, de novo assembly and expression profiling of silk glands with RNA-sequencing (RNAseq) are problematic because the few known gene transcripts for silk proteins are extremely long and highly repetitive. To identify candidate genes for tubuliform (egg case) silk synthesis by the orb-weaver Argiope argentata (Araneidae), we estimated transcript abundance using two sequencing methods: RNAseq reads from throughout the length of mRNA molecules, and 3' digital gene expression reads from the 3' region of mRNA molecules. Both analyses identified similar sets of genes as differentially expressed when comparing tubuliform and nonsilk gland tissue. However, incompletely assembled silk gene transcripts were identified as differentially expressed because of RNAseq read alignments to highly repetitive regions, confounding interpretation of RNAseq results. Homologues of egg case silk protein (ECP) genes were upregulated in tubuliform glands. This discovery is the first description of ECP homologues in an araneid. We also propose additional candidate genes involved in synthesis of tubuliform or other silk types.

Identification and dynamics of polyglycine II nanocrystals in Argiope trifasciata flagelliform silk.

Spider silks combine a significant number of desirable characteristics in one material, including large tensile strength and strain at breaking, biocompatibility, and the possibility of tailoring their properties. Major ampullate gland silk (MAS) is the most studied silk and their properties are explained by a double lattice of hydrogen bonds and elastomeric protein chains linked to polyalanine ß-nanocrystals. However, many basic details regarding the relationship between composition, microstructure and properties in silks are still lacking. Here we show that this relationship can be traced in flagelliform silk (Flag) spun by Argiope trifasciata spiders after identifying a phase consisting of polyglycine II nanocrystals. The presence of this phase is consistent with the dominant presence of the -GGX- and -GPG- motifs in its sequence. In contrast to the passive role assigned to polyalanine nanocrystals in MAS, polyglycine II nanocrystals can undergo growing/collapse processes that contribute to increase toughness and justify the ability of Flag to supercontract.

Minor ampullate silks from Nephila and Argiope spiders: tensile properties and microstructural characterization.

The mechanical behavior and microstructure of minor ampullate gland silk (miS) of two orb-web spinning species, Argiope trifasciata and Nephila inaurata, were extensively characterized, enabling detailed comparison with other silks. The similarities and differences exhibited by miS when compared with the intensively studied major ampullate gland silk (MAS) and silkworm (Bombyx mori) silk offer a genuine opportunity for testing some of the hypotheses proposed to correlate microstructure and tensile properties in silk. In this work, we show that miSs of different species show similar properties, even when fibers spun by spiders that diverged over 100 million years are compared. The tensile properties of miS are comparable to those of MAS when tested in air, significantly in terms of work to fracture, but differ considerably when tested in water. In particular, miS does not show a supercontraction effect and an associated ground state. In this regard, the behavior of miS in water is similar to that of B. mori silk, and it is shown that the initial elastic modulus of both fibers can be explained using a common model. Intriguingly, the microstructural parameters measured in miS are comparable to those of MAS and considerably different from those found in B. mori. This fact suggests that some critical microstructural information is still missing in our description of silks, and our results suggest that the hydrophilicity of the lateral groups or the large scale organization of the sequences might be routes worth exploring.

Review: Pathogen-induced inflammation at sites distant from oral infection: bacterial persistence and induction of cell-specific innate immune inflammatory pathways.

A hallmark of infection with the gram-negative pathogen Porphyromonas gingivalis is the induction of a chronic inflammatory response. P. gingivalis induces a local chronic inflammatory response that results in oral inflammatory bone destruction, which manifests as periodontal disease. In addition to chronic inflammation at the initial site of infection, mounting evidence has accumulated supporting a role for P. gingivalis-mediated periodontal disease as a risk factor for several systemic diseases including, diabetes, preterm birth, stroke, and atherosclerotic cardiovascular disease. A growing number of in vitro studies have demonstrated that P. gingivalis infection stimulates cell activation commensurate with expected responses paralleling inflammatory atherosclerotic-type responses. Furthermore, various mouse models have been used to examine the ability of P. gingivalis to stimulate chronic inflammatory plaque accumulation and recent studies have pointed to a pivotal role for innate immune signaling via the Toll-like receptors in the chronic inflammation associated with P. gingivalis infection. In this review we discuss the pathogen and host cell specificity of these responses and discuss possible mechanisms by which this oral pathogen can induce and maintain a chronic state of inflammation at sites distant from oral infection.

Supercontraction of dragline silk spun by lynx spiders (Oxyopidae).

Supercontraction is commonly considered as a functional adaptation of major ampullate gland (MA) silk to its role as the main structural material in orb-webs. However, the observation of supercontraction in the dragline silk of a lynx spider species, as it is shown in this work, offers a strong support to the hypothesis that the appearance of supercontraction preceded the advent of capture webs. Moreover, the absence of proline in the sequence of dragline silk spidroin in Oxyopidae and related spiders indicates that the presence of this amino acid may not be required for the existence of supercontraction. In this regard, the presence of particular subrepeats--in orb-web and non-orb-web building spiders--adds new clues for the understanding of supercontraction and associated effects.

Histological evaluation of alveolar ridge augmentation using injectable calcium phosphate bone cement in dogs.

Alveolar ridge augmentation is an important procedure to restore tooth loss. Several types of graft materials have been used for augmenting the alveolar ridge. An injectable calcium phosphate cement (CPC) has been applied to periodontal bone defects and has shown favourable results. Thus, this CPC may work as an effective graft material for alveolar ridge augmentation. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of the CPC for large-scaled (about 7 x 8 x 6 mm) ridge augmentation in dogs. Alveolar ridge defects were created bilaterally in the maxilla of six beagle dogs. The CPC was applied to one of the bilateral maxillary defects. The untreated defect on the contralateral side served as control. The animals were sacrificed at 6 months after surgery and decalcified histological specimens of the alveolar ridge were prepared histometrically and evaluated under a light microscope. Newly formed and reconstructed alveolar ridges covering the CPC were observed in all experimental sites. In the control sites, only slight newly bone formation was observed. Histomorphometrical analysis indicated that the CPC grafted group exhibited significantly (P = 0.0001) increased area and height in new bone formation compared with those of the control group. The results indicate that the CPC appears to be an effective material for alveolar ridge augmentation and may act as a space maintainer to conduct new bone formation.

Charge-density-wave destruction and ferromagnetic order in SmNiC2.

X-ray scattering and electrical resistivity measurements were performed on SmNiC2. Satellite peaks characterized by an incommensurate wave vector (0.5, eta, 0) appear below 148 K, at which the resistivity shows an anomaly. The temperature dependence of thermal diffuse scattering above 148 K suggests critical phonon softening. These results indicate the formation of a charge-density-wave. The satellite peaks abruptly disappear and the resistivity sharply decreases when a ferromagnetic transition takes place at 17.7 K.

Effect of rhBMP-2 with PLGA/gelatin sponge type (PGS) carrier on alveolar ridge augmentation in dogs.

Recombinant human bone morphogenetic protein-2 has been shown to promote bone formation because of its osteoinductive property. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of rhBMP-2 delivered on a poly (D, L-lactic-co-glycolic acid) copolymer/gelatin sponge (PGS) in vertical alveolar ridge augmentation on height-reduced edentulous mandible to verify the retention of rhBMP-2 withstanding the pressure of soft tissues. Coronal defects of the alveolar bone were created in six adult beagle dogs. After a healing period of 9 weeks, PGSs with or without rhBMP-2 (0 or 0.4 mg mL(-1)) were implanted on the defects(6 mm in height, 30 mm in length, 8 mm in width). Sixteen weeks after implantation, the bone mineral content (BMC) and the total bone area were measured by peripheral quantitative computed tomography. The BMC and the total bone area of the defect sites with rhBMP-2 group were significantly greater (133+/-33 mg mm(-1), 277+/-54 mm2, respectively) than those of the control group (80+/-19 mg mm(-1), 155+/-49 mm2, respectively) (P<0.01, P<0.0001, respectively; paired t-test). From the histological analyses, the height of newly formed bone in the experimental group was greater than that of the control group (4.3+/-0.9 mm, 0.22+/-0.28 mm, P<0.0001, n=6, paired t-test). These results indicate that PGS has characteristics of effective bone graft substitutes for implantation of rhBMP-2 on vertical alveolar ridge augmentation in huge defect of mandibles in dogs.

Aplicação de métodos diretos e indiretos para produção de populações monossexuais na tilapicultura / Direct and indirect methods applied to the production of monosexual populations in tilapia breeding programs

No cultivo de tilápias, as espécies ao gênero Oreochromis apresentam maior importância devido a sua fácil adaptabilidade às condições de cultivo, rusticidade, altas taxas de crescimento e também à grande aceitação de sua carne pelo mercado consumidor. Apesar de suas vantagens, um grande problema existente com relação ao cultivo destes peixes está relacionado com sua maturidade sexual precoce e elevada prolificidade, o que pode levar à ocorrência de superpopulação em condições de cultivo. Este fato pode provocar grandes prejuízos aos cultivos devido à redução das taxas de crescimento dos animais envolvidos na reprodução, competição dos filhotes com os adultos pelo alimento e, em casos extremos, mortalidade devido à queda de qualidade da água. Tendo em vista esta problemática, diversas técnicas de produção de propulações monosexo têm sido estudadas. Dentre estas técnicas pode-se considerar aquelas que fazem o controle endógeno direto e indireto do sexo fenotípico. As técnicas de controle direto são aquelas que envolvem a masculinização, feminilização ou esterilização a partir da utilização de hormônios, antiestrógenos, inibidores enzimáticos e compostos esterilizantes. Os tratamentos indiretos utilizam manipulação ambiental, genética ou endócrina para a produção de indivíduos com gametas monosexuais. Atualmente a técnica mais difundida é o método direto, onde se utilizam tratamentos com o hormônio 17 a metiltestosterona incorporado à ração. Contudo, já existe uma tendência de utilização das técnicas indiretas e diretas que não utilizam hormônios esteróides, devido à preocupação do mercado consumidor com a utilização dos hormônios esteróides nestes cultivos.

The effects of two kinds of mask (with or without exhaust valve) on clothing microclimates inside the mask in participants wearing protective clothing for spraying pesticides.

AIM: The study aimed at discovering the effects of wearing two types of protective mask on the clothing microclimate (temperature, humidity) inside the mask, physiological parameters and subjective sensations. METHOD: Five healthy female students performed intermittent step exercise while wearing the protective clothing in a climate chamber at 28 degrees C and 60% relative humidity (RH). One mask was made of non-woven fabric and had no exhaust valve (mask A), and the other had an exhaust valve (mask B). RESULTS: (1) Clothing microclimate temperature inside the mask was significantly lower in mask B than in mask A. The final values were 35.5 +/- 0.3 degrees C in mask A and 34.6 +/- 0.8 degrees C in mask B. (2) Clothing microclimate humidity inside the mask was significantly lower in mask B than in mask A. The final values were 37.9 +/- 0.9 g/m3 in mask A and 35.7 +/- 2.0 g/m3 in mask B. (3) Cheek skin temperature inside the mask was kept significantly lower in mask B than in mask A. (4) Clothing microclimate humidity at trunk level increased more slowly with mask B than with mask A for four participants. (5) Rectal temperature increased more slowly with mask B than with mask A for three participants. (6) Tympanic temperature increased more slowly with mask B than with mask A for two out of four participants. DISCUSSION: We discussed these findings from the viewpoint that the dry and wet heat loss was accelerated through the nose under the influence of a reduced level of clothing microclimate inside mask B, having probably helped selective brain cooling by cooling more effectively the vein circulating blood through the nose.

A test model of hip brace for prevention of dislocation after total hip arthroplasty (Zetton Band).

Hip dislocations remain an intractable problem in patients with soft tissue impairment, particularly in those with muscle weakness around the hip, such as those who have undergone revision total hip arthroplasty (THA). At the authors' hospital, postoperative dislocations were observed in 10 of 154 hips between January 1985 and June 1988. Five hips required re-replacement. Conventional measures to prevent or treat post-THA dislocations have been anti-dislocation pants for soft fixation and a cast or abduction-forcing braces for firm fixation. However, the anti-dislocation pants for soft fixation were not as effective as indicated by the above 10 postoperative dislocations. The firm fixation techniques are considered to cause a reduction in muscle strength, causing psychological stress and poor activity of daily living (ADL). The authors devised a soft brace for easy application and prepared its test model to prevent muscle weakening, allow stability of the hip during rotation and avoid restrictions in ADL. This brace was applied to a patient who had 3 dislocations in a short period after being discharged who sustained a postoperative dislocation and achieved good results.

[Effects of stress on allergic reaction].

The purpose of the present study was to investigate the effects of stress on allergic reaction. We studied changes in the contact hypersensitivity reaction (CHR) of mice exposed to foot shock (FS) stress or psychological (PSY) stress induced by the communication box. CHR was elicited by applying antigen (2,4-dinitrofluorobenzene, DNFB) to the ear of the mice at 4 days after DNFB sensitization. In acute stress experiments, DNFB-sensitized mice were exposed for 2 h to FS or PSY stress after contact challenge with DNFB. Acute FS stress significantly inhibited CHR immediately after the end of the stress period (3 h after DNFB-challenge), and a significant enhancement of the CHR was observed at 5 h after DNFB-challenge. The concentration of the serum corticosterone level of the mice exposed to acute FS stress significantly increased compared to the control mice, immediately after stress loading. Both CHR and serum corticosterone levels after acute PSY stress loading were almost the same as those of the control groups. The temporary decrease of the inflammatory reaction at CHR caused by acute FS stress loading may have been correlated with serum corticosterone produced by the stress, and the increase of corticosterone may act as a trigger of enhancement of the CHR (delayed-type hypersensitivity). Chronic stress experiments were designed to expose mice to FS or PSY stress 2 h daily after sensitization with DNFB. These chronic stresses caused a significant reduction in the body weight of mice. The temporary decrease effect on the CHR of chronic FS stress-loaded mice was similar to the acute FS stress-loaded mice. In contrast, no significant enhancement of the CHR (late phase) at 24 h and 48 h after challenge was observed. Although the changes in body weight suggested that mice were influenced by chronic PSY stress, no significant difference from the control group for the CHR of mice exposed to chronic PSY stress was found, as in the case of acute PSY stress loading. The correlation between chronic PSY stress and CHR remains to be ascertained.

New thiocholine ester substrates for the assay of human serum cholinesterase.

BACKGROUND: Several thiocholine alkanoyl esters were newly synthesized and explored as substrates for the assay of human serum cholinesterase after being subjected to the Ellman reaction (Arch Biochem Biophys 1958;74:443-50 and Arch Biochem Biophys 1959;82:70-7). METHODS: We synthesized thiocholine ester iodides by the method of Renshow et al. (J Am Chem Soc 1938;60:1765-70). We examined solubility in H(2)O, substrate specificity serum for cholinesterase, (spontaneous) self-hydrolysis, storage stability, and reaction conditions for measurement of the activity of the enzyme. RESULTS: Isobutyryl and cyclohexane-carboxyl esters showed the best efficiency for the specific and stable assay of human serum cholinesterase. Aqueous solubility of each was >10 mmol/L, and the reactivity with acetylcholinesterase was negligible. For isobutyryl and cyclohexane-carboxyl esters, respectively, spontaneous hydrolysis in the aqueous phase was approximately 1/25 and approximately 1/175 slower than the enzymatic hydrolysis, and assays with these substrates were linear to 1800 and 3000 U/L, respectively. The K(m) values of these acylthiocholines with human cholinesterase were almost equivalent (6.9 x 10(-3) mmol/L). The substrates were stable in aqueous solution and in the solid state as the iodides for at least 5 years at 5 degrees C. CONCLUSIONS: The isobutyrate and cyclohexane-carboxylate of thiocholine are suitable for the specific assay of human serum cholinesterase.

Spider flagelliform silk: lessons in protein design, gene structure, and molecular evolution.

Spiders spin multiple types of silks that are renowned for their superb mechanical properties. Flagelliform silk, used in the capture spiral of an orb-web, is one of the few silks characterized by both cDNA and genomic DNA data. This fibroin is composed of repeating ensembles of three types of amino acid sequence motifs. The predominant subrepeat, GPGGX, likely forms a beta-turn, and tandem arrays of these turns are thought to create beta-spirals. These spring-like helices may be critical for the exceptional ability of capture silk to stretch and recoil. Each ensemble of motifs was found to correspond to a different exon within the flagelliform gene. The pattern of sequence similarity among exons indicates intragenic concerted evolution. Surprisingly, the introns between the iterated exons are also homogenized with each other. This unusual molecular architecture in the flagelliform silk gene has implications for the evolution and maintenance of spider silk proteins.