Effects of perceived job stress on depressive symptoms in blue-collar workers of an electrical factory in Japan

This three-year prospective study on the effects of job stress on depressive symptoms over time was conducted among male blue-collar workers in an electrical factory in Japan. Data were collected at yearly intervals by means of postal questionnaires. Initially ten job stress variables, five major covariates, and depressive symptoms (Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale) were measured. In the yearly examinations, depressive symptoms were measured for a total of 468 respondents. The results indicated that job unsuitability was a significant predictor of depressive symptoms in the second and third year, after control for the initial covariates and depressive symptoms. Lack of control over workplace and poor human relations at the workplace were significantly associated with depressive symptoms after one and two years, respectively. Job unsuitability and poor human relations at the workplace seem to be risk factors for long-lasting depressive symptoms in Japanese blue-collar workers.

Intraoperative ultrasonography of extramedullary spinal tumours

Intraoperative spinal sonography (IOSS) was performed in 28 patients with extramedullary spinal tumours. Images were obtained of 31 tumours, because 2 patients had multiple tumours. There were 17 neurilemmomas, 9 meningiomas and 2 dermoid cysts. All tumours appeared well-defined and highly echogenic. There was no difficulty differentiating extramedullary spinal tumours from intramedullary masses excepting case, a big neurilemmoma at the conus medullaris. All images were assessed with reference to the surface of the lesions, the existence of cysts, and movement. Neurilemmomas had smooth surfaces, some cysts, and exhibited a "floating" movement. Meningiomas had irregular surfaces, were more highly echogenic than neurilemmomas, and adhered tightly to the dura mater. However, some neurilemmomas and meningiomas did not have these, and it was not always possible to differentiate them. Although IOSS has limitations of resolution, it gave useful information about the size of the tumours, the degree of displacement of the spinal cord, and even about the type of tumour in some cases. It was extremely helpful to the surgeon.

Intraoperative sonography of intramedullary spinal cord tumours

Intraoperative spinal sonography was performed 23 times in 20 patients with intramedullary spinal cord tumours, and the sonographic features were examined. Eight cases of astrocytoma were classified into three types: type 1, seen in 3 children, had intramedullary, circular or oval, hyperechogenic multiple tumour shadows; type 2 presented inter-multimyelomere, relatively well-defined single tumour shadows corresponding to grade III and I for two juvenile and aged cases each, respectively; and type 3 appeared ill-defined and diffusely infiltrating. The relationships between these types, the ages of patients and histological grades were considered a potential clue to mechanisms of occurrence and infiltration of astrocytoma. All 7 ependymomas had syrinxes, of three types; central canal was very large, the tumour lying within it like an island; or the tumour was in contact with a cephalocaudal side part of the syrinx; or the tumour had a syrinx or cyst. Sonographic images thus differ according to the tumour, but differential diagnosis is currently limited. Development of sonographic equipment, with upgrading its resolving power are hoped for.

Changes seen on magnetic resonance imaging in the intervertebral disc space after chemonucleolysis: a hypothesis concerning regeneration of the disc after chemonucleolysis

Measurements of the intervertebral disc space were made by magnetic resonance imaging and plain film examinations over a period of 2 years in 26 patients who had undergone chemonucleolysis. The height of the posterior portion of the disc decreased after 3 months and never recovered; the height of the anterior portion also decreased but recovered slightly over the same period. The angle of lordosis and the range of motion in the treated segment were decreased, but recovered. Marked decrease in signal from the disc was observed after 2 weeks which did not recover till 2 years after chemonucleolysis. We suspect that the disc degenerated markedly after chemonucleolysis and changed into a type of scar tissue, maturation of which could stabilize the affected segment.

Central nervous system effects and visual fatigue in VDT workers

To assess central nervous system effects and visual fatigue induced by work with visual display terminals (VDT), symptom frequency was assessed and visual evoked potential (VEP), critical flicker fusion (CFF) and near-point distance were measured in 24 female keypunchers before and after 2.5 h of VDT work and in 6 non-VDT-exposed subjects at the same intervals. Each keypuncher had been engaged in data entry for 1-7 (mean, 4) years. After VDT work, the number of complaints of subjective fatigue as well as an objective measure of near-point distance were significantly increased as compared with those before work; also, the N75, P100 and N145 latencies of VEP were significantly prolonged. The change of P100 latency during VDT work was inversely correlated with the number of years worked in data entry. No significant change was seen in any of these tests in the non-VDT-exposed subjects. The changes in N75 latency and subjective fatigue related to drowsiness and dullness in the keypunchers were significantly larger than those in the non-VDT-exposed subjects. The CFF was significantly lower in keypunchers than in non-VDT-exposed subjects in both the first and the second tests. These data suggest that VDT work is associated with impairment of the visual nervous system function, that VEP latencies appear to be a sensitive indicator of visual fatigue, at least transiently, and that CFF appears to be a good parameter for estimations of chronic visual fatigue.

Adherent synovial cells from nonrheumatoid arthritis do not release interleukin 1 beta and prostaglandin E2 spontaneously in longterm culture

Adherent synovial cells from both 13 patients without rheumatoid arthritis (RA) (gout, osteoarthritis and meniscal lesion) and 8 patients with RA consisted of dendritic cells, macrophage-like cells and fibroblast-like cells after cloning in a similar fashion as reported in our previous paper. All the adherent synovial cells from patients without RA did not release interleukin 1 (IL-1) beta and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) spontaneously, while those cells released comparable amounts of IL-1 beta, but not PGE2 to RA cells after type II collagen stimulation. Only the synovial cells from RA, irrespective of morphology and cloning, released IL-1 beta and PGE2 without stimulation. Nonrheumatoid synovial cells may differ functionally from RA cells.

[Frequency of psychiatric patients visiting non-psychiatrist's outpatient clinic and its correlates]

To examine the frequency of psychiatric patients who visit outpatient clinic of non-psychiatrists in Japan, a mailed questionnaire survey was conducted of 200 non-psychiatrists randomly selected from the 703 registered members of the Kawasaki-city Medical Association, Kanagawa prefecture. Responses from 124 or 62% were received and data for 112 male respondents were analyzed. 1) The median number of psychiatric patients treated per month by respondents was 4, and the median proportion of the total outpatients that were psychiatric patients was 0.7%. 2) Sixty-one internists saw significantly greater numbers and proportions of psychiatric patients than the other 51 doctors. 3) The internists saw a higher proportion of mild anxiety, depression, alcohol-drug dependency and psychosomatic problems among all psychiatric patients than did other doctors. 4) For the internists a significant inverse correlation was observed between the total number of outpatients and the proportion of psychiatric patients. This was the result of a group of physicians who saw a relatively small number of outpatients but had a higher proportion of psychiatric patients among outpatients.

[Factors affecting death at home in bedridden elderly people]

To examine factors which affect death at home in bedridden elderly people, relatives of bedridden elderly people, in three areas of Japan, who had died, were interviewed, and demographic, medical, social and familial factors were compared between 136 persons who died at home and 132 persons who died in the hospital. 1) In all three geographical areas, significantly more subjects who died at home had physicians who made home visits than in those who died at hospital (p less than 0.01). 2) The mean age at death was significantly higher in the elderly people who died at home than in those who died in the hospital in all three areas (p less than 0.01). 3) The results of multiple logistic regression analysis indicated that physician's home visits and death age were significantly related independently to death at home. This relation was independent of confounding factors such as residential area, disease type, or use of social services.

Heterogeneity of anti-B monoclonal antibodies in reactivity to erythrocytes and saliva samples from various B secretor individuals

In order to study the heterogeneity of anti-B monoclonal antibodies under the same conditions, twelve different types were produced from a mouse immunized with human blood group B erythrocytes, all of which were IgM antibodies that exhibited strong and specific agglutination activity for normal blood group B erythrocytes. However, analysis of the agglutination titer for blood group B2, B3, and rabbit erythrocytes revealed some qualitative differences among these antibodies. These differences were further clarified by comparing the inhibition pattern of the monoclonal antibody with saliva from B individuals, with that of ordinary human antiserum to show remarkable differences among individuals.

Phase-Specific Polypeptides and Poly(A) RNAs during the Cell Cycle in Synchronous Cultures of Catharanthus roseus Cells

This study shows an overall analysis of gene expression during the cell cycle in synchronous suspension cultures of Catharanthus roseus cells. First, the cellular cytoplasmic proteins were fractionated by two-dimensional gel electrophoresis and visualized by staining with silver. Seventeen polypeptides showed qualitative or quantitative changes during the cell cycle. Second, the rates of synthesis of cytoplasmic proteins were also investigated by autoradiography by labeling cells with [(35)S]methionine at each phase of the cell cycle. The rates of synthesis of 13 polypeptides were found to vary during the cell cycle. The silverstained electrophoretic pattern of proteins in the G(2) phase in particular showed characteristic changes in levels of polypeptides, while the rates of synthesis of polypeptides synthesized during the G(2) phase did not show such phase-specific changes. This result suggests that posttranslational processing of polypeptides occurs during or prior to the G(2) phase. In the G(1) and S phases and during cytokinesis, several other polypeptides were specifically synthesized. Finally, the variation of mRNAs was analyzed from the autoradiograms of in vitro translation products of poly(A)(+) RNA isolated at each phase. Three poly(A)(+) RNAs increased in amount from the G(1) to the S phase and one poly (A)(+) RNA increased preferentially from the G(2) phase to cytokinesis.

Senescence-specific increase in cytosolic glutamine synthetase and its mRNA in radish cotyledons

Changes in the levels of cytosolic and chloroplastic isoforms of glutamine synthetase were examined in senescing radish (Raphanus sativus L. cv Comet) cotyledons by immunoblotting analysis using antibodies raised separately against maize glutamine synthetase isoforms. Translatable mRNAs for these isoforms were also examined by analyzing translation products from poly(A)(+) RNA in a wheat germ system with the antibodies. The relative content of cytosolic isoform (GS(1)) increased twofold in the cotyledons that were placed in the dark for 72 hours to accelerate senescence, while that of chloroplastic isoform (GS(2)) declined to half of its initial level. The dark-treatment also increased the relative level of translatable mRNA for GS(1) sevenfold after 72 hours, and decreased rapidly that for GS(2) and for other nuclear-coded chloroplast proteins as well. Cotyledons also accumulated GS(1) mRNA when they became senescent after a lengthy growth period under continuous light. These observations suggested that GS(1) genes were activated, while those for GS(2) were repressed, and eventually the population of the enzyme was altered in senescent cotyledonary cells. The role of increased cytosolic enzyme is discussed in relation to the nitrogen metabolism in senescent leaves.

[A clinical study on the morphological restoration of the spinal cord in cervical myelopathy by CT-myelography and ultrasonography]

The relationship between the pattern of spinal restoration and the degree of clinical improvements after posterior decompression for cervical myelopathy was evaluated by CT-myelography (CTM) and ultrasonography. On the basis of preliminary comparison between CTM and ultrasonographic images, the cross-sectional area, sagittal diameter, and frontal diameter of the cervical spinal cord were determined by CTM (before and 1 month after decompression) and ultrasonography (immediately after decompression during the operation). The spinal cord restoration occurred quickly just after decompression and then more slowly, and its pattern was classified into 4 types: Type 1 for neither quick nor slow restoration; type II for only quick restoration; type III for only slow restoration; and type IV for both restorations observed simultaneously. From the degree of clinical improvement in each restoration type, slow restoration appeared to be more closely related to such improvement than quick restoration despite their morphological similarities.

Prediction of peptide retention times

A new approach for predicting the retention times of peptides, either with isocratic or gradient elution is described. The isocratic capacity factors of peptides are correlated with their molecular weights and with their hydrophobicities. Given the experimental conditions, and the amino acid composition, it is possible to calculate the retention time of a peptide eluted by a gradient, for any slope of gradient, flow-rate and column length.

Gallium citrate, a new sensitizer of cells to hyperthermia

The killing effects of heat were studied on cultured mammalian cells (L5178Y) pre-incubated with gallium (Ga) citrate, which is a popular tumor-imaging diagnostic agent. The cells showed higher sensitivity to heat when they were pre-incubated with Ga-citrate. The pre-incubated cells showed decreased ATP levels, and this may be responsible for the heat-sensitizing effect.

[Time course and prognosis of industrial workers with major depression]

To investigate the time course and the prognosis of patients with depressive disorder in industry, 60 workers with major depression (DSM-III) selected from two companies were interviewed. Average follow-up years for subjects after returning to their job was 3.5, ranging from 1 to 8. About half of the subjects relapsed and two-thirds changed their job within 5 yr after returning to their job. One case committed suicide. Subjects tended to relapse within the first 4 yr and under the same precipitating situation as at their onset phase. Fifty percent of the subjects indicated "very good" or higher social adjustment according to Axis V (DSM-III). Enough rest days at the onset and no relapse significantly correlated with higher social adjustment in the subjects within 2 yr after the return. In the subjects followed-up for 3 yr or more, marital status, education, no higher occupational status, fewer relapses, and support for them by both industrial health services and worksite supervisors were found to be significant predictors of higher adjustment. The results suggested that, in order to prevent relapses and improve social adjustment of workers with major depression, the mental health team in industry should provide continuous and careful support for them, for at least 4 yr after returning to their job.

[Relationship between health practices and depressive mood among industrial workers]

In order to investigate the relationship between health practices and depressive mood, a survey was made by mail questionnaire on 3,987 industrial workers, which included items on 8 health practices and Zung Self-rating Depression Scale (Zung SDS). A total of 3,160 or 79.3% responded to the questionnaire. Multivariate analysis was employed to control the effects of possible confounders, such as demographic, job- and health-related variables. As the results, the following four health practices were found to be significantly related to low depressive score in male cases (N = 2,779): eating breakfast regularly, habitual physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption, and obesity not less than -10%. The following three health practices were found in female cases (N = 381) to be significantly related to low depression score: sleeping regularly 7-8 h per night, habitual physical activity, and non-smoker. It is considered that these health practices might decrease depressive mood, but further analysis is needed to determine their causal relationships because of the cross-sectional design of the present study.

Relation of clinical activity of rheumatoid arthritis to immune complexes, complement components and anti-immunoglobulins

Circulating immune complexes by fluid phase Clq binding assay, complement components and anti-immunoglobulin levels were studied in sera of 35 patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). In 23 of the 35 sera (65.7%), circulating immune complexes were positive, and the mean +/- SD of Clq binding activity (ClqBA), 44.5 +/- 19.4%, was significantly high compared to that of healthy persons, 17.4 +/- 8.2%. Antigenic determination of complement components revealed that Clq, C3, C5, C9, factor B and Cl esterase inhibitor (ClINH) were significantly high in sera of RA, but C4 and properdin were not. The disease activity correlated with ClqBA, IgG- and IgM-anti-immunoglobulins, C9 and serum IgG. On the other hand, ClqBA correlated with both IgG- and IgM-anti-immunoglobulin levels but not with complement components.