Validity and reliability of Psychiatric Nurse Self-Efficacy Scales: cross-sectional study

OBJECTIVES

To develop the Psychiatric Nurse Self-Efficacy Scales, and to examine their reliability and validity.

DESIGN

We developed the Improved Self-Efficacy Scale (ISES) and Decreased Self-Efficacy Scale (DSES) using existing evidence. Statistical analysis was conducted on the data to test reliability and validity.

SETTING

The study's setting was psychiatric facilities in three prefectures in Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

Data from 514 valid responses were extracted of the 786 responses by psychiatric nurses.

OUTCOME MEASURES

The study measured the reliability and validity of the scales.

RESULTS

The ISES has two factors ('Positive changes in the patient' and 'Prospect of continuing in psychiatric nursing') and the DSES has three ('Devaluation of own role as a psychiatric nurse', 'Decrease in nursing ability due to overload' and 'Difficulty in seeing any results in psychiatric nursing'). With regard to scale reliability, the Cronbach's alpha coefficient was 0.634-0.845. With regard to scale validity, as the factorial validity of the ISES and DSES, for the ISES, χ²/df (110.625/37) ratio=2.990 (p<0.001), goodness-of-fit index (GFI)=0.962, adjusted GFI (AGFI)=0.932, comparative fit index (CFI)=0.967 and root mean square error of approximation (RMSEA)=0.062; for the DSES, χ²/df (101.982/37) ratio=2.756 (p<0.001), GFI=0.966, AGFI=0.940, CFI=0.943, RMSEA=0.059 and Akaike Information Criterion=159.982. The concurrent validity of the General Self-Efficacy Scale was r=0.149-0.446 (p<0.01) for ISES and r=-0.154 to -0.462 (p<0.01) for DSES, and the concurrent validity of the Stress Reaction Scale was r=-0.128 to 0.168 for ISES, r=0.214-0.398 for DSES (p<0.01).Statistical analyses showed the scales to be reliable and valid measures.

CONCLUSIONS

The ISES and DSES can accurately assess psychiatric nurses' self-efficacy. Using these scales, it is possible to formulate programmes for improving psychiatric nurses' feelings of self-efficacy.

Exploration of Mental Health Issues of Students among University Health Science Academics in Japan

Academic educators in universities are well positioned to detect early signs and symptoms of unexplained behaviour change in students that could be the beginning of mental health issues. The purpose of this research was to explore the attitudes, beliefs, knowledge and practices of university academics in Japan towards health science students with psychological/mental health issues. This study used a qualitative descriptive design. Three focus groups using a semi-structured interview guide were conducted with 15 academics teaching health science students. Data were collected between March to October 2019. Themes revealed three areas of interest: 1) Reflection on mental health issues in Japan with sub-themes "family issues"; "society expectations and changes", and "stigma"; 2) Reflection on students' mental health issues with sub-themes "student behaviors", "staff involvement", "barriers encountered"; and, 3) Potential supports with sub-themes "university assistance", "communication and connection", and "interventions and prevention." The findings provide insight and can benefit student populations across diverse cultural university settings. Further research to investigate academic staff support with early recognition of mental ill-health and ability to provide information and advice to students is warranted. Recommendations include mental health education for academics and for students to encourage healthy university campuses and well-being within the community.

Attitudes related to social distance between commissioned welfare volunteers (minsei-iin) and people with mental illness

Objective: This study explored the factors influencing commissioned welfare volunteers’ (CWVs) attitudes toward mental illnesses and how their attitudes correlated with their social distance from people with mental illness.

Materials and Methods: Data from 223 CWVs were analyzed statistically. Factor extractions for the Image for Mental Illness Scale (IMI) and Social Distance Scale (SDS) were calculated. We examined the relations between factors in IMI and SDS.

Results: CWVs’ attitudes were classified as Understanding (understanding of the condition), Secure (feelings of safety in the presence of those with mental illness), and Activity (reactions to the behaviors of people with mental illness). Social distance from those with mental illness was classified as Public and Private Interactions. CWVs’ interactions with people with mental illness were significantly influenced by feeling Secure in the presence of the latter. Low Public and Private Interactions were influenced by older age. CWVs’ “experience in providing consultations for mental illness” led to the avoidance of Private Interactions.

Conclusion: CWVs should feel safe when involved in Public or Private Interactions with individuals with mental illness. CWVs reported a preference for a higher level of social distance from people with mental illness.

1320Effectiveness of atrial flutter ablation line selection using SOUNDSTAR catheter

Background

Cavotricuspid isthmus (CTI) ablation for atrial flutter (AFL) shows a high success rate and effective for patients. However, operators experience difficulties in CTI ablation in some cases and need additional ablation for repeated recurrence. We investigated whether the SOUNDSTAR® (Biosense. Webster, Diamond Barr, CA, USA) catheter would be effective to select a CTI line of high therapeutic effect.

Methods

We have investigated the anatomy of around CTI by SOUNDSTAR® catheter and decided the CTI line using the anatomical information in AFL ablation (Figure1). We assumed two CTI lines of medial and lateral line. Medial CTI (M-CTI) line was more common and shorter line. Lateral CTI (L-CTI) line was uncommon and slightly longer line. We use 3.5mm tip catheter with NxT steerable introducer. The target Ablation Index (AI) was 400, and the target VisTtag™ interval was 6 mm or less.

Results

A total 30 of AFL ablated cases were investigated retrospectively. We surveyed 15 cases in M-CTI group and 15 cases in L-CTI group. Comparing the length of CTI in all cases, the length of M-CTI line was shorter than L-CTI line (M-CTI 32.1 ± 6.6mm vs. L-CTI 38.4 ± 8.3mm, n = 30, p &lt;0.01). The atrial wall thickness of midsection and tricuspid valve (TV) side were thicker in M-CTI line (Midsection: M-CTI 4.0 ± 1.2mm vs. L-CTI 3.3 ± 0.8mm, n = 30, p &lt;0.05, TV side: M-CTI 5.4 ± 1.4mm vs. L-CTI 4.3 ± 1.1mm, n = 30, p &lt;0.05,). There was no difference in the required number of points to complete initial line (M-CTI 8.4 ± 1.6 vs. L-CTI 8.1 ± 1.7, n = 15, ns). Eustachian ridge in IVC side was thicker and higher in the M-CTI group (3.4 ± 3.3mm vs. 0.9 ± 1.9mm, n =30, p &lt;0.01) and ablation on the Eustachian ridge showed instability of catheter placement. A lot of RF delivery was required on Eustachian ridge in M-CTI (2.6 ± 0.6 vs. 2.1 ± 0.7, n =15, p &lt;0.05) and AI had resulted lower in M-CTI (351 ± 42.8 vs. 381 ± 27.1, n =15, p &lt;0.05). Recurrence is more common in M-CTI group (9/15, 60% vs. 3/15, 20%). Recurrence sites in M-CTI group were distributed ((IVC side 3/9 (33%), midsection 5/9 (56%), TV side 5/9 (56%)) and multiple recurrences occurred in 3/9 (33%). Recurrence sites in L-CTI were only midsection of CTI (3/3, 100%).

Conclusions

CTI ablation at the shorter distance M-CTI, which is commonly selected, resulted in more recurrences due to the unevenness including Eustachian ridge and the myocardium thickness. However, ablation at slightly longer L-CTI line showed lower recurrence and effective for CTI ablation.

Abstract Figure 1

739SERCA2 Cys674 modification lead to ventricular arrhythmia due to impaired sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ handling

Background

Sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+-ATPase2 (SERCA2) plays an important role in intracellular Ca2+ handling. Under pathological conditions, oxidative stress leads to irreversible oxidation of Cys674 on SERCA2 which causes intracellular Ca2+ overload. Intracellular Ca2+ overload is known as the cause of ventricular arrhythmia, but the relation between SERCA2 function and ventricular arrhythmia remains unclear.

Purpose

To investigate the role of Cys674 on SERCA2 in the intracellular Ca2+ handling and the induction of ventricular arrhythmia.

Methods

We employed SERCA2 Cys674Ser heterozygote knock-in mice (SKI) which mimics oxidative modification of Cys674 on SERCA2. Continuous infusion of angiotensin (ANG) (3mg/kg/day) or distilled water were performed both in wild type mice (WT) and SKI for a week. After 1 week, electrophysiological study and intracellular Ca2+ transient measurement were performed.

Results

ANG elevated blood pressure and represented cardiac hypertrophy with fibrosis similarly both in WT and SKI. The mRNA expression of calcium/calmodulin-dependent protein kinase-II (CaMKII), ryanodine receptor (RyR) and sodium-calcium exchanger (NCX) was increased in SKI heart compared with WT. QTc interval was prolonged in SKI compared with WT, which was markedly prolonged with ANG infusion. Under programmed electrical stimulation, only SKI with ANG showed high incidence of pacing induced ventricular arrhythmia (0/11 in WT/SKI control, 0/14 in WT with ANG vs. 8/14 in SKI with ANG, P &lt; 0.01). In Ca2+ transient measurement, the peak Ca2+ transient amplitude (F/F0) was decreased (WT: 1.81 vs. SKI: 1.46, P &lt; 0.01) and the time to 50% of cytosolic Ca2+ extrusion (T50) was prolonged (WT: 152.6ms vs. SKI: 202.3ms, P &lt; 0.05) in SKI with ANG, suggesting decreased sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ content and impaired SERCA2 activity in SKI with ANG. Intraperitoneal administration of dantrolene sodium (DAN) which inhibit Ca2+ leakage from RyR receptor normalized decreased F/F0 and prolonged T50 in SKI with ANG (Fig. 1 A, B). DAN also prevented QTc prolongation and decreased the incidence of ventricular arrhythmia in SKI with ANG (8/14 in SKI with ANG vs. 2/13 in SKI with ANG + DAN, P &lt; 0.05) (Fig. 2).

Conclusions

The loss of thiol on Cys674 under pathological condition resulted in impaired Ca2+ handling and high incidence of ventricular arrhythmia which were ameliorated by inhibition of Ca2+ leakage through RyR. Oxidative modification of Cys674 on SERCA2 might contribute to Ca2+ mishandling and arrhythmogenesis.

Abstract Figure.

Exploration of the factors related to self-efficacy among psychiatric nurses

The average length of hospital stay in the psychiatric ward is longer, and the risk of patient-to-nurse violence is higher than that in other departments. Therefore, psychiatric nurses' work environment may differ from that of other nurses. The factors related to psychiatric nurses' self-efficacy may also differ from those of general workers or other nurses. Mental health care that considers the characteristics of psychiatric nurses requires exploration of self-efficacy unique to psychiatric nurses. This cross-sectional study aimed to explore the distinct factors related to psychiatric nurses' self-efficacy. The developed 24 items related to improvement in self-efficacy and 25 items related to decrease in self-efficacy were examined. The Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale was used to measure the validity of the factors. To extract the factors of self-efficacy, data from 132 nurses and assistant nurses who provided informed consent were analyzed, and the reliability and validity of the factors were calculated. The factors associated with improvement in self-efficacy were "Positive reactions by patients," "Ability to positively change nurse-patient relationship," and "Practicability of appropriate nursing." The factors associated with decrease in self-efficacy were "Uncertainty in psychiatric nursing" and "Nurses' role loss." The Cronbach's α for all factors exceeded .70. Of the five factors, four had significant weak-to-moderate correlations with the Japanese version of the Generalized Self-Efficacy Scale; therefore, the validity was quantitatively confirmed with four factors. Interventions based on these four factors may improve psychiatric nurses' self-efficacy. Additionally, it is possible that this tool assesses the unique facets of self-efficacy rather than psychiatric nurses' general self-efficacy. Interventions to improve psychiatric nurses' self-efficacy based on the characteristics of psychiatry are needed.

Development of the School Teachers Job Stressor Scale (STJSS)

Aim

Japanese teachers are not only responsible for students but also for tasks outside the classroom, including engagement with parents and the community, and maintaining safety. They work longer hours and have lower self‐efficacy than teachers in other countries. Thus, we aimed to develop an assessment scale for job stress in teachers and to evaluate its psychometric properties.

Methods

We developed the “School Teachers Job Stressor Scale (STJSS) Draft” comprising 45 items, based on previous anonymous self‐report questionnaires collected from 98 teachers in four elementary and middle schools in Miyazaki City, Japan. Subsequently, the scale draft and the previously validated Brief Job Stress Questionnaire (23‐item abridged version) were distributed to 2276 teachers from 73 elementary and middle schools in Miyazaki City. Finally, we analyzed data from 1300 participants. After excluding inappropriate data based on ceiling and floor effect analysis, we carried out a good‐poor, item‐total correlation, and exploratory factor analyses. We then verified construct validity, criterion‐related validity, and reliability using correlation analysis, confirmatory factor analysis, and Cronbach's alpha, respectively.

Results

After item‐total correlation analysis, five items were excluded. Exploratory factor analysis extracted five factors: “Time spent outside of work,” “Self‐assessment of one's ability as a teacher,” “Relationship with other teachers,” “Social interactions outside of teaching,” and “Duties outside of teaching.” The final version of the STJSS comprised 23 items and five factors.

Conclusion

The 23‐item STJSS developed to measure specific stressors in Japanese teachers to improve their mental health care could provide an accurate assessment tool with adequate reliability and validity.

We developed the 23‐item “School Teachers Job Stressor Scale (STJSS)” to measure specific stressors in Japanese teachers to improve their mental health care which could provide an accurate assessment tool with adequate reliability and validity.

Development of the Undergraduate Version of the Interprofessional Learning Scale

PURPOSE

The undergraduate version of the Interprofessional Learning Scale (UIPLS) was developed to evaluate students' competency in interprofessional education because the existing scales were too professional for entry-level students to understand and respond to effectively. In addition, existing scales have some noted problems with validity and reliability.

METHODS

An early 49-item version of the UIPLS was completed by 837 first-year students from two universities and one technical college, including departments for various professionals, in Hokkaido prefecture, Japan. The most common age group was 18-19 years (89.4%) and 61.2% were women. Ten items from the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory were used to exclude respondents who tended to create a socially favorable impression and/or a possible random and incorrectly scored profile. Kikuchi's Social Skills Scale (18 items) was also used as an external standard to demonstrate the convergent validity of the UIPLS.

RESULTS

Eighteen items across four factors were extracted by factor analysis: "reflection on group work," "attitude towards group work," "knowledge of interprofessional working," and "skill in group work." Internal consistency was confirmed by Cronbach's alpha coefficient (>0.75).

CONCLUSIONS

With good indicators of its validity and reliability, the UIPLS shows some promising aspects to evaluate students' competency for interprofessional working.

Probing ultrafast spin-relaxation and precession dynamics in a cuprate Mott insulator with seven-femtosecond optical pulses

A charge excitation in a two-dimensional Mott insulator is strongly coupled with the surrounding spins, which is observed as magnetic-polaron formations of doped carriers and a magnon sideband in the Mott-gap transition spectrum. However, the dynamics related to the spin sector are difficult to measure. Here, we show that pump-probe reflection spectroscopy with seven-femtosecond laser pulses can detect the optically induced spin dynamics in Nd2CuO4, a typical cuprate Mott insulator. The bleaching signal at the Mott-gap transition is enhanced at ~18 fs. This time constant is attributable to the spin-relaxation time during magnetic-polaron formation, which is characterized by the exchange interaction. More importantly, ultrafast coherent oscillations appear in the time evolution of the reflectivity changes, and their frequencies (1400-2700 cm-1) are equal to the probe energy measured from the Mott-gap transition peak. These oscillations can be interpreted as the interference between charge excitations with two magnons originating from charge-spin coupling.

Mott transition by an impulsive dielectric breakdown

The transition of a Mott insulator to metal, the Mott transition, can occur via carrier doping by elemental substitution, and by photoirradiation, as observed in transition-metal compounds and in organic materials. Here, we show that the application of a strong electric field can induce a Mott transition by a new pathway, namely through impulsive dielectric breakdown. Irradiation of a terahertz electric-field pulse on an ET-based compound, κ-(ET) ₂Cu[N(CN) ₂]Br (ET:bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene), collapses the original Mott gap of ∼30 meV with a ∼0.1 ps time constant after doublon-holon pair productions by quantum tunnelling processes, as indicated by the nonlinear increase of Drude-like low-energy spectral weights. Additionally, we demonstrate metallization using this method is faster than that by a femtosecond laser-pulse irradiation and that the transition dynamics are more electronic and coherent. Thus, strong terahertz-pulse irradiation is an effective approach to achieve a purely electronic Mott transition, enhancing the understanding of its quantum nature.

Job-related stress in psychiatric assistant nurses

Aim

We aimed to clarify how stress among psychiatric assistant nurses (PANs) differed from Registered Nurses (PRNs).

Design

Cross-sectional survey study was conducted with PRNs and PANs working in six psychiatric hospitals in Japan.

Methods

The Psychiatric Nurse Job Stressor Scale (PNJSS) and the job stressor and stress reaction subscales of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire measured stress in 68 PANs and 140 PRNs. The results were statistically analysed.

Results

Psychiatric assistant nurses had significantly higher scores than PRNs on the job stressor subscales in psychiatric nursing ability, interpersonal relations and in the stress reaction subscales of irritability and somatic symptoms. "Psychiatric nursing ability," "Communication" and "Use of techniques" were associated with almost all stress reactions in PANs than in PRNs.

[Current State of Studies on Job-related Stress among Psychiatric Social Workers and Insights into Future Research]

We studied the characteristics of psychiatric social workers (PSWs) and present research on job-related stress among them; we also provide insights into the future of such research. In recent years, studies on job-related stress among PSWs have been gaining interest. In particular, stress associated with the repeated revisions of related laws has increased. Subsequently, it was found that occupational stress in PSWs differs qualitatively and quantitatively depending on educational history, years of experience, and service department. However, no scale captures the specific characteristics of job-related stress among PSWs. Moreover, the development of a mental health care program for PSWs seems difficult. To develop a mental health care program that caters specifically to this group, future research should focus on developing a scale that determines the specific characteristics of job-related stress among PSWs, which should be evaluated on the basis of each PSW's educational history, years of experience, and service department.

Enhancement of Photoinduced Charge-Order Melting via Anisotropy Control by Double-Pulse Excitation in Perovskite Manganites: Pr_{0.6}Ca_{0.4}MnO_{3}

To control the efficiency of photoinduced charge-order melting in perovskite manganites, we performed femtosecond pump-probe spectroscopy using double-pulse excitation on Pr_{0.6}Ca_{0.4}MnO_{3}. The results revealed that the transfer of the spectral weight from the near-infrared to infrared region by the second pump pulse is considerably enhanced by the first pump pulse and that the suppression of crystal anisotropy, that is, the decrease of long-range lattice deformations due to the charge order by the first pump pulse is a key factor to enhance the charge-order melting. This double-pulse excitation method can be applied to various photoinduced transitions in complex materials with electronic and structural instabilities.

Novel electronic ferroelectricity in an organic charge-order insulator investigated with terahertz-pump optical-probe spectroscopy

In electronic-type ferroelectrics, where dipole moments produced by the variations of electron configurations are aligned, the polarization is expected to be rapidly controlled by electric fields. Such a feature can be used for high-speed electric-switching and memory devices. Electronic-type ferroelectrics include charge degrees of freedom, so that they are sometimes conductive, complicating dielectric measurements. This makes difficult the exploration of electronic-type ferroelectrics and the understanding of their ferroelectric nature. Here, we show unambiguous evidence for electronic ferroelectricity in the charge-order (CO) phase of a prototypical ET-based molecular compound, α-(ET)₂I₃ (ET:bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene), using a terahertz pulse as an external electric field. Terahertz-pump second-harmonic-generation(SHG)-probe and optical-reflectivity-probe spectroscopy reveal that the ferroelectric polarization originates from intermolecular charge transfers and is inclined 27° from the horizontal CO stripe. These features are qualitatively reproduced by the density-functional-theory calculation. After sub-picosecond polarization modulation by terahertz fields, prominent oscillations appear in the reflectivity but not in the SHG-probe results, suggesting that the CO is coupled with molecular displacements, while the ferroelectricity is electronic in nature. The results presented here demonstrate that terahertz-pump optical-probe spectroscopy is a powerful tool not only for rapidly controlling polarizations, but also for clarifying the mechanisms of ferroelectricity.

Association between airflow limitation severity and arterial stiffness as determined by the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity: a cross-sectional study

Objective Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is often associated with concomitant systemic manifestations and comorbidities, such as cardiovascular disease. There are limited data regarding airflow limitation (AL) and atherosclerosis in Japanese patients, and the potential association between AL and arterial stiffness has not yet been investigated in Japanese patients. Therefore, the purpose of this study was to investigate the association between AL severity and arterial stiffness using the brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV). Methods This cross-sectional study included 1,356 subjects aged 40-79 years without clinical cardiovascular diseases who underwent a comprehensive health screening that included spirometry, the baPWV measurement, and blood sampling during medical check-ups in 2009 at the Japanese Red Cross Kumamoto Health Care Center. AL was defined in accordance with the Global Initiative for COPD criteria (forced expiratory volume in one second / forced vital capacity of < 0.7). A cut-off baPWV value of >1,400 cm/s was used for risk prediction and screening. Results The average baPWV (SD) results were 1,578.0 (317.9), 1,647.3 (374.4), and 1,747.3 (320.1) cm/s in the patients with a normal pulmonary function, mild AL, and moderate-to-severe AL, respectively (p< 0.001). Using logistic regression models adjusted for the age, body mass index, smoking status, hypersensitive C-reactive protein levels, hypertension, hyperglycemia, and dyslipidemia, an increased baPWV (>1,400 cm/s) was significantly associated with moderate-to-severe AL compared with a normal pulmonary function (odds ratio=2.76; 95% confidence intervals, 1.37-5.55; p=0.004). Conclusion Our results indicated an association between AL and increased arterial stiffness. Arterial stiffness may therefore worsen with an increase in the severity of AL.

Job-related stress in psychiatric nurses in Japan caring for elderly patients with dementia

OBJECTIVES

We investigated the specificity and structures of job-related stress in psychiatric dementia nurses (PDNs) caring for elderly patients with serious behavioral and psychological symptoms of dementia who required substantial assistance with activities of daily living, in order to obtain fundamental knowledge toward providing mental health care for these nurses.

METHODS

Subjects were 244 nurses [63 PDNs and 181 other psychiatric nurses (OPNs)]

RESULTS

Analysis of covariance to examine the specificity of job-related stress in PDNs revealed physical workload and work environment to be more significant stressors, and irritability and anxiety to be more significant stress reactions in PDNs than in OPNs. An examination of PDNs' job-related stress structures established in a structural equation model with two stress reactions confirmed as specific outcomes for PDNs revealed a significant positive influence of work environment on irritability; utilization of techniques for anxiety and physical workload influenced both stress reactions.

CONCLUSIONS

Our findings highlight the importance of reducing physical workload and environment and establishing a structure for nursing techniques in psychiatric dementia wards to improve the mental health of PDNs.

Differences in job stress experienced by female and male Japanese psychiatric nurses

In psychiatric nursing, female nurses tend to spend more time building rapport with patients and developing cooperative working relationships with colleagues; they encounter more sexual harassment by patients. In contrast, male nurses respond to aggressive patients and tend to resist physically caring for female patients; they encounter more physical and verbal assault from patients. These gender differences might result in differences in job-related stress. We quantitatively examined gender differences in psychiatric nurses' job stress. The Psychiatric Nurse Job Stressor Scale and the Stress Reaction Scale of the Brief Job Stress Questionnaire were administered to 159 female and 85 male Japanese psychiatric nurses. The results indicated that female nurses had significantly higher stress levels than males related to psychiatric nursing ability, attitude towards nursing, and stress reactions of fatigue and anxiety. Moreover, the factors affecting stress reactions differed somewhat between sexes. In particular, male nurses reported that greater irritability was affected by patients' attitudes. Their anxiety and somatic symptoms were affected by their attitude towards nursing, and depressed mood was affected by psychiatric nursing ability. Knowledge of these differences can lead to better mental health-care interventions for psychiatric nurses.

Relaxation dynamics of photoexcited excitons in rubrene single crystals using femtosecond absorption spectroscopy

The relaxation dynamics of an exciton in rubrene was investigated by femtosecond absorption spectroscopy. Exciton relaxation to a self-trapped state occurs via the coherent oscillation with 78 cm(-1) due to a coupled mode of molecular deformations with phenyl-side-group motions and molecular displacements. From the temperature dependence of the decay time of excitons, the energy necessary for an exciton to escape from a self-trapped state is evaluated to be ~35 meV (~400 K). As a result, a self-trapped exciton is stable at low temperatures. At room temperature, excitons can escape from a self-trapped state and, subsequently, they are dissociated to charged species. The exciton dissociation mechanism is discussed on the basis of the results.

Development of the Psychiatric Nurse Job Stressor Scale (PNJSS)

AIMS

The aim of the present study was to develop a tool, the Psychiatric Nurse Job Stressor Scale (PNJSS), for measuring the stress of psychiatric nurses, and to evaluate the reliability and validity of the PNJSS.

METHODS

A total of 302 psychiatric nurses completed all the questions in an early version of the PNJSS, which was composed of 63 items and is based on past literature of psychiatric nurses' stress.

RESULTS

A total of 22 items from four factors, 'Psychiatric Nursing Ability', 'Attitude of Patients', 'Attitude Toward Nursing' and 'Communication', were extracted in exploratory factor analysis. With regard to scale reliability, the item-scale correlation coefficient was r = 0.265-0.570 (P < 0.01), the Cronbach alpha coefficient was 0.675-0.869, and the test-retest correlation coefficient was r = 0.439-0.771 (P < 0.01). With regard to scale validity, the convergent validity of the 'job stressor' scale was r = 0.172-0.420 (P < 0.01), and the predictive validity of the 'job reaction' scale was r = 0.201-0.453 (P < 0.01). The compatibility of the factor model to the data was 1.750 (χ(2) /d.f., 343.189/196, P < 0.01), the goodness of fit index was 0.910, the adjusted goodness of fit index was 0.883, the comparative fit index was 0.924, and the root mean square error of approximation was 0.050.

CONCLUSIONS

The PNJSS has sufficient reliability and validity as a four-factor structure containing 22 items, and is valid as a tool for evaluating psychiatric nurse job stressors.

Relationship between changes of bone mineral density over seven years and A1330V polymorphism of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 gene or lifestyle factors in Japanese female workers

A longitudinal study was conducted to investigate the relation between the changes of bone mineral density (BMD) over a seven-year period and A1330V polymorphism of the low-density lipoprotein receptor-related protein 5 (LRP5) gene or lifestyle factors. The subjects were 113 premenopausal female employees from a large-scale integrated manufacturing facility in Japan aged 25.6 ± 4.2 years (mean ± standard deviation) at baseline. BMD was measured at the radius by dual energy X-ray absorptiometry. Lifestyle information was obtained by a questionnaire. The genotype frequencies of LRP5 gene polymorphism were 52%, 39%, and 9% for AA, AV, and VV, respectively. After seven years, BMD showed a significant decrease (from 0.463 ± 0.045 to 0.456 ± 0.046 g/m²) in subjects with the AV or VV genotypes, but not in subjects with the AA genotype. Analysis of covariance with adjustment for age and body mass index showed that subjects who drank alcohol displayed a significantly greater change of BMD if they had the AV or VV genotype than if they had the AA genotype (F=4.547, p=0.036). Investigation of LRP5 A1330V polymorphism may be useful for identifying individuals who are susceptible to osteoporosis, allowing early preventive measures to be provided.

Analysis of acrylamide by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS in processed Japanese foods

Acrylamide concentrations in processed foods (63 samples covering 31 product types) from Japan were analysed by LC-MS/MS and GC-MS methods. The limit of detection and limit of quantification of acrylamide were 0.2 ng x ml(-1) (6 fmol) and 0.8 ng x ml(-1) (22 fmol), respectively, by LC-MS/MS, and those of 2,3-dibromopropionamide derived from acrylamide were 12 ng x ml(-1) (52 fmol) and 40 ng x ml(-1) (170 fmol), respectively, by GC-MS. Repeatability given as RSD was <5 and <15% for the LC-MS/MS and GC-MS methods, respectively. High correlation (r(2) - 0.946) was observed between values obtained by the two methods. Most potato crisps and whole potato-based fried snacks showed acrylamide concentrations >1000 microg x kg(-1). The concentrations in non-whole potato-based snacks, rice crackers processed by grilling or frying, and candied sweet potatoes were lower compared with those in the potato crisps and the whole potato-based fried snacks. One of the whole potato-based fried snacks, however, showed low acrylamide concentration (<50 microg x kg(-1)) suggesting the formation of acrylamide is strongly influenced by processing conditions. Acrylamide concentrations in instant precooked noodles and won-tons were <100 microg x kg(-1) with only one exception. Roasted barley grains for 'Mugi-cha' tea contained 200-600 microg x kg(-1) acrylamide.

(-)-Semivioxanthin, a new abscisic active compound against Hinoki cypress leaves isolated from Cryptosporiopsis abietina

The new naphthopyrone, (-)-semivioxanthin (1) was isolated from Cryptosporiopsis abietina. The structure of 1 was determined as the reversed optical isomer of semivioxanthin by comparing its spectroscopic data with those of semivioxanthin. Compound 1 exhibited abscisic activity against Hinoki cypress leaves and antifungal activity against Cladosporium herbarum.

Role of conserved histidine residues in D-aminoacylase from Alcaligenes xylosoxydans subsp. xylosoxydans A-6

D-Aminoacylase from Alcaligenes xylosoxydans subsp. xylosoxydans A-6 (Alcaligenes A-6) was strongly inactivated by diethylpyrocarbonate (DEPC). An H67N mutant was barely active, with a kcat/Km 6.3 x 10(4) times lower than that of the recombinant wild-type enzyme, while the H67I mutant lost detectable activity. The H67N mutant had almost constant Km, but greatly decreased kcat. These results suggested that His67 is essential to the catalytic event. Both H69N and H69I mutants were overproduced in the insoluble fraction. The kcat/Km of H250N mutant was reduced by a factor of 2.5 x 10(4)-fold as compared with the wild-type enzyme. No significant difference between H251N mutant and wild-type enzymes in the Km and kcat was found. The Zn content of H250N mutant was nearly half of that of wild-type enzyme. These results suggest that the His250 residue might be essential to catalysis via Zn binding.

Role of ovarian theca and granulosa cell interaction in hormone productionand cell growth during the bovine follicular maturation process

We have investigated the possible role of theca and granulosa cell interaction in the control of the hormone-producing activity and growth of granulosa and theca cells during bovine ovarian follicular development, using a coculture system in which granulosa and theca cells were grown on opposite sides of a collagen membrane. When follicular cells were isolated from small follicles (3-5 mm), theca cells reduced estradiol, progesterone, and inhibin production by granulosa cells to 14 +/- 5%, 64 +/- 6%, and 27 +/- 4%, respectively, of the production by granulosa cells cultured alone. On the other hand, when the cells were isolated from large follicles (15-18 mm), theca cells increased these levels to 253 +/- 34%, 156 +/- 24%, and 287 +/- 45%, respectively. Theca cells did not affect the growth of granulosa cells. Androstenedione production by theca cells was augmented by granulosa cells to 861 +/- 190% (in small follicles) and 1298 +/- 414% (in large follicles), respectively. The growth of theca cells was also augmented by granulosa cells (small follicle, 210 +/- 43%, and large follicle, 194 +/- 24%, respectively). These results indicate that theca cells secrete factor(s) inhibiting the differentiation of immature while promoting that of matured granulosa cells; they also suggest that granulosa cells secrete factor(s) promoting both the differentiation and growth of theca cells throughout the follicular maturation process.

Number and anatomical extent of lymph node metastases in gastric cancer: analysis using intra-lymph node injection of activated carbon particles (CH40)

BACKGROUND

The long-term survival of 200 patients with gastric cancer who underwent radical gastrectomy was analyzed with respect to the number and anatomical extent of lymph node metastasis. All of the patients received intra-lymph node injection of fine activated carbon particle solution (CH40) during surgery.

METHODS

The average number of resected lymph nodes increased in line with the anatomical level of lymph node dissection; 32.5 per patient in D1, 42.3 in D2, 3 and 66.3 in D4. The percentage of blackened lymph nodes without metastasis (42.4%) was slightly higher than that of lymph nodes containing metastasis (37.2%), but the difference was not statistically significant. Of the 200 patients, 61 (30.5%) had microscopic evidence of metastatic lymph node involvement. Twenty-two patients had between one and three metastatic lymph nodes, 19 had between four and nine and 20 patients had more than nine. The 5-year survival rate was 93.1% in patients without lymph node metastasis, 71.9% in patients with 1-8 metastatic nodes, 36.1% in patients with 4-9 nodes and 19.2% in patients with > 9 nodes.

RESULTS

The 5-year survival rate according to the anatomical extent of metastatic lymph nodes was 93.1% in n0, 63.1% in n1, 37.9% in n2, 27.8% in n3 and 0% in n4. The number of metastatic lymph nodes and also their anatomical extent were identified as independent prognostic factors for survival by multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

The number and anatomical extent of metastatic lymph nodes have similar impacts on prognosis in gastric cancer.

Slight promotion effects of intermittent administration of testosterone propionate and/or diethylstilbestrol on 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl-initiated rat prostate carcinogenesis

In order to determine the effects of intermittent hormonal manipulation on the promotion stage of rat prostate carcinogenesis, testosterone and/or estrogen were administered to F344 rats for 40 weeks after 20-weeks treatment with the prostate carcinogen, 3,2'-dimethyl-4-aminobiphenyl. For this purpose testosterone propionate (TP) and diethylstilbestrol (DES) were introduced into silastic tubes, 2- and 0.5-cm long, respectively, and implanted into the subcutis for seven repeated cycles of 30 days treatment and 10 days withdrawal. Intermittent administration of TP resulted in suppression of ventral prostate adenocarcinoma development and slight but non-significant increases in the incidences of invasive carcinomas of the lateral prostate and seminal vesicles. Intermittent administration of DES completely suppressed tumorigenesis in all sites and the combination of TP and DES generally inhibited prostate tumor development. Thus, under the present experimental conditions, no strong enhancing effects of cyclic hormonal manipulation were observed on rat prostate carcinogenesis. Indeed, the opposite appeared to be the case.

Highly metastatic hepatocellular carcinomas induced in male F344 rats treated with N-nitrosomorpholine in combination with other hepatocarcinogens show a high incidence of p53 gene mutations along with altered mRNA expression of tumor-related genes

The carcinogenic and metastatic processes are thought to consist of a sequence of steps, and animal models featuring highly metastatic lesions are clearly necessary to allow analysis of the whole process of transformation from preneoplastic changes to high grade metastatic tumors, and to access effectiveness of therapeutic treatments of advanced cancers in vivo. The purpose of the present study was to establish a model and to screen for reported genetic alterations in induced lesions. In the present study, it was confirmed that lung metastasis of hepatocellular carcinomas (HCCs) induced in male F344 rats by N-nitrosomorpholine (NNM), given in the drinking water at a dose of 120 ppm for 24 weeks, was significantly enhanced by additional carcinogenic pretreatments and that a single i.p. injection of 100 mg/kg body weight N-diethylnitrosamine (DEN) alone was sufficient for that purpose. Molecular biological analyses of the induced lesions revealed point mutations in the p53 gene in 60.9% of HCCs, and elevated expression of mRNAs for p53, c-myc, c-fos, TGF-alpha, TGF-beta1, alpha-fetoprotein, GST-P, and GGT, and decreased mRNA expression of EGF and EGFR in HCCs when compared to controls. No obvious association of gene alterations with metastatic potential of primary tumors was found except for an increase in the incidence of p53 mutations. Since the process of metastasis is thought to be sequential and selective, further comparative analysis of metastatic and primary lesions should clarify the mechanisms involved in the multi-step process of metastasis.

Analysis of vascular anatomy and lymph node metastases warrants radical segmental bowel resection for colon cancer

To determine the indications for limited colon cancer surgery in each location, we reviewed the arterial branching patterns and lymph node metastases along the course of specific vascular trunks in 344 colon cancer patients who had undergone preoperative angiography and colectomy with lymph node dissection. Our conclusions are follows: Because the ileocecal artery always arises from the superior mesenteric artery and lymph node metastases of cecum cancer were limited to nodes along the ileocolic artery, cecum cancer can be cured by ileocecal resection. The right colic artery has various origins, and ascending colon cancer shows various patterns of lymph node metastases. Therefore a right hemicolectomy should be performed for ascending colon cancer. The middle colic artery forks into right and left branches, and each branch has different branching variations. If the right colic and middle colic arteries have a common trunk, a right hemicolectomy should be performed for transverse colon cancer on the right side. If the left branch of the middle colic artery has an independent replaced origin, lymph node dissection should be modified according to the variant origin. If the left colic artery and the first sigmoidal artery have a common trunk, the lymph nodes along the common trunk should be removed for sigmoid colon cancer and for descending colon cancer. Of the patients with sigmoid colon cancer, 6.3% also had lymph node metastases along the superior rectal artery. Given that the lymph nodes along the superior rectal artery are skeletonized, sigmoid colon cancer can be also cured by partial sigmoidectomy.

Dose-dependent induction of mammary carcinomas in female Sprague-Dawley rats with 2-amino-1-methyl-6-phenylimidazol[4,5-b]pyridine

The dose-dependence of 2-amino-l-methyl-6-phenylimidazo[4,5-b]pyridine (PhIP) induction of mammary carcinomas was investigated in female Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats given PhIP in the diet for 48 weeks at concentrations of 0, 25, 100 and 200 ppm in experiment 1, and 0, 12.5, 50 in experiment 2. Yields of ductular lesions, including intraductal papillomas and carcinomas, as well as papillo-tubular and solid-tubular carcinomas, showed dependence on the dose, with the respective total incidences being 0, 4.8, 25, 72.2 and 0, 10 and 35%. There was thus no apparent carcinogen exposure threshold. The present results confirmed the carcinogenicity demonstrated in a previous study using F344 rats and revealed the SD rat strain to be more susceptible.

Chemical modification of histidine residue of N-acyl-D-Glutamate amidohydrolase from Pseudomonas sp. 5f-1

N-Acyl-D-glutamate amidohydrolase (D-AGase) from Pseudomonas sp. 5f-1 was inactivated by diethyl pyrocarbonate (DEP). The chemical modification by DEP showed a difference spectrum at 246 nm due to the N-carbethoxyhistidine residue. Removal of the carbethoxy group from inactivated enzyme with hydroxylamine restored enzyme activity. The inactivation by DEp proceeded with pseudo-first-order kinetics, and was protected in the presence of the substrate N-acetyl-D-glutamate (Glu), or the competitive inhibitor sodium alpha-ketoglutarate (alpha-KGA). These results suggest the presence of an essential histidine residue at or near of the active site of the enzyme.

[Single-dose toxicity studies of tazobactam/piperacillin and tazobactam]

Tazobactam (TAZ) is a newly developed beta-lactamase inhibitor. Tazobactam/Piperacillin (TAZ/PIPC) is a formulation consisting of TAZ and PIPC in a ratio of 1:4. Singe-dose toxicity studies in TAZ/PIPC and TAZ were carried out using mice and rats of both sexes and male dogs. The results were as follows. 1. A common clinical sign in mice and rats administered TAZ/PIPC or TAZ by all routes was soft stool. Other signs in mice and rats included a decrease in spontaneous motor activity and/or a decreased respiratory rate for the intraperitoneal (i.p.), subcutaneous (s.c.) or intravenous (i.v.) route. The animals administered by the i.v. route showed tremor for mice and clonic convulsion for rats before death. Hyperemia, hemorrhage or edema of the lung, and hemorrhage of the digestive tract were observed in these animals at necropsy. An enlargement of the spleen was seen in some of the surviving animals treated with TAZ/PIPC. 2. In dogs, TAZ/PIPC caused vomiting, and TAZ caused vomiting, respiratory abnormality, soft stool and diarrhea by the intravenous (i.v.) administration. 3. TAZ/PIPC or TAZ caused clinical signs such as the loss of hair at the injection site for the s.c. route, and necrosis of the tail for the i.v. route in mice and rats, also caused limping of the injected anterior limb in dogs. Necrosis and hemorrhage at the injection site, and peritonitis by the i.p. injection were observed at necropsy. These findings were due to the irritation of TAZ/PIPC or TAZ.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[A six-month intravenous repeated dose toxicity study of tazobactam/piperacillin and tazobactam in dogs]

Tazobactam (TAZ) is a newly developed beta-lactamase inhibitor. Tazobactam/Piperacillin (TAZ/PIPC) is a formulation consisting of TAZ and PIPC in a ratio of 1:4. A six-month intravenous repeated dose toxicity study of TAZ/PIPC and TAZ including a one-month recovery period were carried out using male and female dogs. The doses were 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/day for TAZ/PIPC, and 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg/day for TAZ. The results were as follows. 1. No test article-related deaths occurred during the study period. No effects on clinical findings, body weight and food consumption were evident. 2. No test article-related changes were noted in hematological, serum biochemical and urinalysis evaluations, and opthalmological and electrocardiographic examinations. 3. There were no test article-related changes in macroscopic findings or organ weight. 4. The histopathological examination revealed deposition of marked PAS-positive aggregates in liver cells of dogs given 400 mg/kg/day or more of TAZ/PIPC and 80 mg/kg/day or more of TAZ. Electron micrographs of hepatocytes revealed glycogen granules to be accumulated in the cytoplasm, and an increase of smooth endoplasmic reticulum. 5. After a one-month recovery period, the histopathological changes had generally disappeared, suggesting that they were reversible. 6. From the histopathological changes of liver, the no-toxic dose levels for TAZ/PIPC and TAZ were 200 mg/kg/day and 40 mg/kg/day, respectively.

[A six-month intraperitoneal repeated dose toxicity study of tazobactam/piperacillin and tazobactam in rats]

Tazobactam (TAZ) is a newly developed beta-lactamase inhibitor. Tazobactam/Piperacillin (TAZ/PIPC) is a formulation consisting of TAZ and PIPC in a ratio of 1:4. A six-month intraperitoneal repeated dose toxicity study of TAZ/PIPC and TAZ including a one-month recovery period were carried out using male and female rats. The doses were 200, 400 and 800 mg/kg/day for TAZ/PIPC, and 40, 80 and 160 mg/kg/day for TAZ. The results were as follows. 1. No test article-related deaths occurred during the study period. No effect on clinical finding of survival rats was evident. 2. There was no dose-related increases of food consumption in both the males and females given TAZ/PIPC and PIPC. Slight reductions in body weight gain occurred in males given 800 mg/kg/day of TAZ/PIPC. 3. Decreases in erythrocyte, hemoglobin and hematocrit, and increases in reticulocytes were seen only at study termination in the group given 800 mg/kg/day of TAZ/PIPC. Increases in reticulocytes were seen only at study termination in the females given 80 or 160 mg/kg/day of TAZ. 4. A decrease in triglyceride levels was observed in the males given 800 mg/kg/day of TAZ/PIPC or 160 mg/kg/day of TAZ. 5. The ophthalmoscopic examination or urinalysis show no test article-related changes. 6. Enlarged ceca in all groups of animals given TAZ/PIPC and in the females given 160 mg/kg/day of TAZ were observed. 7. An increase of relative organ weight in liver was noted in the males and females given 800 mg/kg/day of TAZ/PIPC, in the males given 80 or 160 mg/kg/day of TAZ and in the females given 160 mg/kg/day of TAZ. 8. In the hepatocytes, accumulation of PAS-positive materials which was identified histochemically and ultrastructurally as glycogen, was present in the males given 800 mg/kg/day of TAZ/PIPC and in the males given 80 or 160 mg/kg/day of TAZ. 9. After a one-month recovery period, the changes of liver had generally disappeared, suggesting that they were reversible. 10. From the histopathological changes of liver, the no-toxic dose level in both the males and females was 400 mg/kg/day and 40 mg/kg/day for TAZ/PIPC and TAZ, respectively.

Modification of carcinogenesis by alpha-tocopherol, t-butylhydroquinone, propyl gallate and butylated hydroxytoluene in a rat multi-organ carcinogenesis model

Effects of the dietary antioxidants alpha-tocopherol (alpha-Toc), t-butylhydroquinone (TBHQ), propyl gallate (PG) and butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT) were examined using a multi-organ carcinogenesis model. Groups of 20 F344 male rats were treated with a single intragastric administration of 100 mg/kg body weight N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, a single intragastric administration of 750 mg/kg body weight N-ethyl-N-hydroxyethylnitrosamine, two subcutaneous injections of 0.5 mg/kg body weight N-methylbenzyl-nitrosamine and four subcutaneous injections of 40 mg/kg body weight 1,2-dimethylhydrazine. At the same time the rats were given 0.1% N-dibutylnitrosamine for 4 weeks and then 0.1% 2,2'-dihydroxy-di-n-propylnitrosamine for 2 weeks in the drinking water, for a total carcinogen exposure period of 6 weeks. Starting 3 days thereafter the rats received 1% alpha-Toc, 1% TBHQ, 1% PG or 0.7% BHT in the diet, or basal diet alone. Further groups of 10-15 animals each were treated with antioxidant alone or basal diet alone as controls. Surviving animals were killed at the end of week 36. Histopathological examination showed that alpha-Toc increased the incidence of glandular stomach atypical foci but reduced the incidence and multiplicity of kidney atypical tubules. TBHQ significantly elevated the incidences of esophageal papillary or nodular (PN) hyperplasias and papillomas, as well as forestomach papillomas, but significantly decreased the multiplicity of colon adenocarcinomas. PG was only effective in reducing the multiplicity of kidney atypical tubules. BHT enhanced the development of thyroid hyperplasias, but strongly reduced the incidence and multiplicity of colon adenocarcinomas. This compound was also associated with lowered incidence and multiplicity of renal cell tumors. None of the agents studied was unequivocal in exerting either positive or negative influence.

[A 52-week chronic oral toxicity study of 6-amidino-2-naphthyl 4-[(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino] benzoate dimethanesulfonate (FUT-187) in dogs]

A chronic oral toxicity study of 6-amidino-2-naphthyl 4-[(4,5-dihydro-1H-imidazol-2-yl)amino] benzoate dimethanesulfonate (FUT-187), a new protease-inhibiting agent, was carried out using male and female beagle dogs. FUT-187 was orally administered to the dogs at dose levels of 7.5, 15, 30 and 60 mg/kg/day for 52 weeks, followed by 5 weeks' recovery period. Results are summarized as follows: 1. In general conditions, vomiting, salivation and the passage of mucousy stools were observed in dogs given 15 mg/kg/day or more, and diarrhea was observed at 30 mg/kg/day or more. One male given 15 mg/kg/day showed transient pallidity of the oral mucosa, and another male in the same group showed apnea and abdominal breathing. In addition, one male given 30 mg/kg/day was euthanatized due to extreme weakness, as weight loss and pallid oral mucosa, and another male in the same group died after showing acute toxic symptoms such as hyperpnea, tonic convulsion and ataxic gait. 2. Weight gain was slightly suppressed in females given 60 mg/kg/day. No significant changes in food consumption were observed. 3. Hematological examination revealed no statistically significant changes. Decreases in RBC counts, Ht values and Hb concentrations, and increased reticulocyte counts were observed in one male of 15 mg/kg/day group, which also showed pallid oral mucosa, and in one male of the 30 mg/kg/day group, which was euthanatized in a moribund state. 4. Blood biochemistry revealed increased GPT activity in males given 15 and 30 mg/kg/day and females given 60 mg/kg/day, which was accompanied by sporadic increases in GOT, A1P and/or gamma-GTP activities. Males given 30 mg/kg/day or more showed decreased total protein. 5. Hepatic function testing (ICG test) showed no statistically significant changes. One female given 60 mg/kg/day showed increased accumulating concentration of ICG. 6. There were no toxicological changes in urinalysis, fecal occult blood, renal function (PSP clearance), ophthalmological and electro-cardiographic examinations. 7. In pathological examination, inflammatory cell infiltration and microgranuloma formation in liver were noted periportally or perivenularly in both sexes given 15 mg/kg/day or more (except for 30 mg/kg/day males). In the some cases, atrophy, degeneration and necrosis of hepatocytes and/or fibrosis around inflammatory cells and microgranuloma were observed. In the spleen, one male given 15 mg/kg/day and one female given 60 mg/kg/day showed increased plasma cells in the red pulp. In the case sacrificed in a moribund condition, findings in the liver and spleen similar to those in surviving cases were detected, but were more severe, and the liver showed diffuse fibrosis.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

Object-oriented fuzzy expert system for on-line diagnosing and control of bioprocesses

An object-oriented fuzzy expert system to support on-line control of an automated fermentation plant is described. The major elements of the system consist of a fuzzy inference engine, a database, a knowledge base, and an expression evaluater. The expression evaluater calculates specific rates for growth, and substrate and product formation at different physiological states during the cultivation from the measured data. The specific rates are then compared with the standard target rates stored in the database. If differences outside the set tolerances were observed, the inference engine analyses the reasons for the faults on the basis of the knowledge represented in the form of a knowledge network and fuzzy membership functions of the process variables. The fuzzy expert system was developed on the basis of a shell constructed by using the object oriented Smalltalk/V Mac programming environment, with Lac-tobacillus casei lactic acid fermentation as the example of process application.

Enhancing effects of diallyl sulfide on hepatocarcinogenesis and inhibitory actions of the related diallyl disulfide on colon and renal carcinogenesis in rats

It has been reported that diallyl sulfide (DS) and diallyl disulfide (DDS), major volatile compounds in garlic (Allium sativum), exert anticarcinogenic activity in several organs in rodents. The modifying effects of these two chemicals were therefore assessed using two-step liver and multi-organ carcinogenesis models. In experiment 1, male F344 rats were given a single i.p. injection of N-diethylnitrosamine (200 mg/kg body wt) and then received DS or DDS by intragastric intubation at doses of 200 and 50 mg/kg body wt, respectively, three times a week for 6 weeks. All rats were subjected to two-thirds partial hepatectomy at experimental week 3. In experiment 2, male F344 rats were sequentially treated with five carcinogens with different organ target sites for 4 weeks, and then administered DS or DDS as in experiment 1 for 24 weeks. DS demonstrated clear enhancing effects on the development of glutathione S-transferase placental form positive foci in both experiments. On the other hand, an inhibitory potential in colon and renal carcinogenesis was observed in rats treated with DDS. Therefore, while DDS may act as a chemopreventive agent, DS may promote hepatocarcinogenesis.

[Single dose toxicity studies of suplatast tosilate (IPD-1151T)]

Single dose toxicity studies of suplatast tosilate (IPD-1151T) were carried out in mice, rats and dogs of both sexes. The results were as follows: 1. The LD50 values of IPD-1151T were as follows: Mice, 12,500 (both sexes) mg/kg or more in oral route (maximum dose for technical manner); Mice 81 (male) and 96 (female) mg/kg in intravenous route; Rats, 10,000 (both sexes) mg/kg or more in oral route (maximum dose for technical manner); Rats, 96 (male) and 93 (female) mg/kg in intravenous route; Dogs, 2,124 (male) and 2,660 (female) mg/kg in oral route. On the LD50 values, no sexual difference was apparent in all species, but the species difference was noted between the rodent and dog. LD50 values of dog were lower level than those of rodent. 2. As toxic signs, mucous diarrhea with specific smell was noted in orally administered rodent. In addition, rats showed soiled fur in the perianal. In intravenous route, the rodent showed dyspnea, tonic convulsion and lateral position and deaths occurred within 10 min in mice and within 30 min in rats after administration. Dog showed toxic signs similar to those in rodents and deaths occurred within 3 hours. 3. In pathological examinations, dead mice and dogs administered orally showed lung congestion, liver fading or slight hemorrhage in the endo-and/or exocardium. Dead rodent administered intravenously showed only slight hemorrhage and congestion in the lung. Alive mice, rats and dogs showed no remarkable changes. 4. The main cause of deaths seemed to be respiratory disturbance in all species.

[A thirteen-week oral repeated dose toxicity study of suplatast tosilate (IPD-1151T) in dogs]

A 13-week oral repeated dose toxicity study of suplatast tosilate (IPD-1151T), a new anti-allergic agent, as well as a 5-week recovery study were carried out at dose levels of 0 (control), 50, 150, 450 and 1350 mg/kg/day using male and female beagle dogs. The results were as follows: 1. In general conditions, soft feces and diarrhea with specific smell were dose-dependently observed in males and females given 450 mg/kg/day or more. Both sexes given 1350 mg/kg/day, revealed reeling with dropped head, abnormal gait, dysstasia, lying at lateral or prone position, sedation, and tremor, and one male and one female in this group died after showing respiratory depression, collapse and cyanosis. 2. There were no significant or remarkable changes in body weight, food consumption, water consumption, ophthalmology, electrocardiogram, urinalysis, hematology, biochemistry, fecal occult blood test, and absolute and relative organ weights. 3. Pathological examination in dead animals revealed hemorrhagic change in the heart and slight vacuolar changes in hepatocytes. In survived animals, there were no pathological changes attributable to the IPD-1151T. 4. In electron microscopic examination, there were no abnormalities in the liver and kidney attributable to the IPD-1151T. 5. After 5-week recovery period, above-mentioned changes disappeared. 6. From the above results, the non-effective dose level and the toxic dose level were estimated to be 150 mg/kg/day and 1350 mg/kg/day, respectively, and no sex differences were found.

[Three-month subacute oral toxicity study of mofezolac (N-22) in dogs]

Mofezolac (N-22) is a new developed analgesic and anti-inflammatory agent. A subacute oral toxicity test of N-22 was carried out at dose-levels of 0, 2, 6 and 20 mg/kg/day using male and female beagle dogs. Treatment for 3 months was followed by 1 month recovery period except in the case of both sexes receiving 20 mg/kg/day. The results obtained from the present study were as follows. 1. Observation of general conditions revealed vomiting, sporadic bloody feces, anemia, recumbency and hyposthenia in both sexes receiving 20 mg/kg/day. Anemia or erosion of tongue was observed in each female receiving 6 mg/kg/day. 2. Respectively 3 dogs of both sexes receiving 20 mg/kg/day died during dosing period. In these animals, perforating ulcers were observed in the pars pylorica ventriculi or duodenum, and loss of blood, peritonitis and aggravation of general exhaustion were considered as causes of death. 3. Body weight tended to decrease in both sexes receiving 20 mg/kg/day, and food and water consumption levels decreased in males receiving 2 mg/kg/day or above and females receiving 2 mg/kg/day. 4. Urinalysis demonstrated an increasing tendency for specific gravity of urine and a decreasing tendency for urine volume in males receiving 2 mg/kg/day or above. 5. Hematological examination showed decreases in red blood cell count and Hb concentration in males receiving 2 mg/kg/day or above, and in Ht values in males receiving 6 mg/kg/day or above. 6. Serum biochemical examination revealed decreases in total protein and albumin in both sexes receiving 20 mg/kg/day. 7. There were no remarkable changes in hepatic and renal function, ophthalmological findings or electrocardiogram. 8. In the organ weights, significant decrease in thymus weights was observed in the dead animals receiving 20 mg/kg/day. 9. Pathologically, the dead animals receiving 20 mg/kg/day were found to exhibit peritonitis with perforating ulcers in the pars pylorica ventriculi or duodenum. In the surviving animals of this group, scar ulcers in the pars pylorica ventriculi and small intestine were evident on necropsy, and histopathology revealed neutrophils infiltration and thrombosis in blood vessels in the thickened submucosal stomach tissues. Moreover, localized hepatocyte necrosis and intrasinusoidal cellular infiltration in liver, as well as interstitial cellular infiltration, degeneration and dilatation of the renal tubules in the kidney were observed. In females receiving 6 mg/kg/day, the changes in kidney were similar to those in surviving animals receiving 20 mg/kg/day, and male of the group showed atrophy of thymus.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Acute toxicity studies of propiverine hydrochloride]

Acute toxicity studies of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4) were carried out in mice, rats and dogs of both sexes. 1. The LD50 values of P-4 were as follows: Mice; 410 (male) and 323 (female) mg/kg in oral route, 223 (male) and 283 (female) mg/kg in subcutaneous route and 36 (male and female) mg/kg in intravenous route, Rats; 1000 (male) and 1092 (female) mg/kg in oral route, 1632 (male) and 1411 (female) mg/kg in subcutaneous route, and 22 (male) and 25 (female) mg/kg in intravenous route. On the LD50 values, no sexual difference was apparent but the species difference between mice and rats observed to be present in oral and subcutaneous routes. The approximate lethal doses of P-4 in dogs were 987-1137 mg/kg for male and 865-894 mg/kg for female in oral route, and the values were almost same as those in rats of oral route. 2. Major toxic signs such as clonic convulsion, bradypnoea, dyspnoea, decreased spontaneous activity and hematuria were observed in mice and rats. Furthermore mydriasis in rats, and transitory salivation and/or vocalization in mice and rats were observed. In some rats, sedation, salivation, soil at hypogastrium, rale and emaciation were detected from the next day of oral administration. In dogs, toxic signs such as vomiting, tremor, tonic and/or clonic convulsion, mydriasis and gasping were observed. 3. Pathological changes observed in dead animals were congestion of lungs, liver and kidneys in all routes, congestion and hemorrhage in digestive tracts in oral route, inflammatory changes at the injection site in subcutaneous route. In addition, retention of hematuria in urinary bladder in rats of oral and subcutaneous routes, the hemorrhagic changes of heart, atonia of urinary bladder and retention of urine in dogs were observed. 4. The main cause of death seemed to be respiratory disturbance in all species and the weakness in a few rats of oral route.

[Thirteen-week oral toxicity study of propiverine hydrochloride in dogs]

A subacute oral toxicity study of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4), a new anti-pollakiuria agent, was carried out at dose-levels of 0, 1, 3, 9, and 27 mg/kg/day using male and female beagle dogs. They were treated for 13 weeks, followed by 5 weeks recovery period. The results obtained from the present study were as follows. 1. In the observation of general symptoms, mydriasis was observed in females receiving 3 mg/kg/day or more and in males receiving 9 mg/kg/day or more, every day, intermittently or sporadically. The incidence of mydriasis varied greatly in individuals. However, this sign disappeared within administration period. 2. Body weight gain was slightly suppressed in males and females receiving 27 mg/kg/day. 3. There were no significant changes in food consumption, water consumption, hematology, urinalysis and fecal occult blood, and no remarkable changes in ophthalmology, electrocardiogram. 4. Serum biochemical findings showed a decrease in Total cholesterol (T. cho), Free cholesterol (F. cho), Triglyceride (TG), Phospholipid (PL), Total protein (TP), Albumin (ALB), alpha 1-Globulin (alpha 1-GLO) and Calcium (Ca), and an increase in Alkaline phosphatase (Al P), gamma-Glutamyltranspeptidase (gamma-GTP) activities and Choresterol ester ratio (EST/T) in males and females receiving 27 mg/kg/day. Further, a decrease in lipoprotein-T. cho, -TG and -PL were noted, on the other hand, lipoprotein-T. cho, -TG and -PL in the liver tissue increased. Similar slight changes were observed in males and females receiving 9 mg/kg/day. 5. Pathological examination revealed an enlargement of hepatocytes in a few animals receiving 3 mg/kg/day. In males and females receiving 9 mg/kg/day or more, yellowish liver, a increase in liver weights, an enlargement of hepatocytes with fatty degeneration and the appearance of eosinophilic inclusions in the hepatocytes were observed. Furthermore, some males and females receiving 27 mg/kg/day showed a slight cellular infiltration in glisson's sheaths, proliferation of the bile ducts and deposition of lipid droplets. Histochemical examination of liver tissue showed an increase in Al P and gamma-GTP activities in addition. Electronmicroscopically, the proliferation of smooth endoplasmic reticulum, increases in myelin-like inclusions and small lipid droplets in the hepatocytes were noted and these changes suggested the induction of drug-metabolizing enzyme in the liver. 6. After 5 weeks recovery period, above-mentioned changes were disappeared and it was suggested that these were reversible ones. 7. From the above results, the non-effective dose and the toxic one were estimated to be 1 mg/kg/day and 9 mg/kg/day for males and females, respectively.

[One-year chronic oral toxicity study of propiverine hydrochloride in dogs followed by one-month recovery]

The chronic oral toxicity of propiverine hydrochloride (P-4), a new anti-pollakiuria agent, was studied in beagle dogs. Groups of 6 males and 6 females were treated with P-4 at doses of 0, 0.3, 1, 3, 9 mg/kg/day for one year and thereafter 2 animals of both sexes in each group were placed on withdrawal for one month. During administration and recovery period, no death occurred in any dosed animals. As a toxic sign, only the frequency of vomiting was increased in animals of 1, 3 and 9 mg/kg/day groups. Body weight, food and water consumption were not affected by the P-4 administration. In serum chemical examinations, gamma-GTP activity was increased in both sexes of 9 mg/kg/day group at 6 month of administration. Further decrease in total and free cholesterol, triglyceride and phospholipid, increase in GPT activity were detected in some animals of 9 mg/kg/day group at 12 month of administration. In addition decreasing tendency in levels of albumin was noted in males of 9 mg/kg/day group at 9 and 12 month of administration. And also, a gradual increase in total protein level and a gradual decrease in alkaline phosphatase activity were seen in control group, but in females or males of 9 mg/kg/day group, those changes were mild. Urine pH rised slightly in females of 3 mg/kg/day group and in both sexes of 9 mg/kg/day group. No specific findings attributable to P-4 treatment were detected in ECG, heart rate, funduscopy, hematology, fecal occult blood test and necropsy. The absolute and/or relative liver weight in males of 3 and 9 mg/kg/day groups were significantly increased. Light-microscopically, the hypertrophy of hepatocytes characterized by homogenization and enlargement of cytoplasmic space, and concentric inclusions in hepatocytic cytoplasm were detected in both sexes of 3 and 9 mg/kg/day groups. Corresponding to these microscopical findings, the following changes were observed electron-microscopically, the proliferation of smooth surfaced endoplasmic reticulum in hepatocytes in both sexes of 1, 3 and 9 mg/kg/day groups, lamellar bodies in hepatocytes in females of 3 mg/kg/day group, and in both sexes of 9 mg/kg/day group, and annulate lamellae in hepatocytes were detected in one female of 9 mg/kg/day group. After the recovery period, the above mentioned abnormalities were markedly attenuated or disappeared except the changes in hepatocytes. From these results, it seemed that 9 mg/kg/day of P-4 might be safety dose.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)