Development of a program to prevent sexual violence among teens in Japan: education using DVD video teaching materials and web-based learning.

BACKGROUND: This study aimed to develop an education system using DVD video-based teaching materials or web-based learning to reduce sexual violence among teens in Japan. METHODS: During the first stage, June 2018 to March 2019, an education program using DVD video teaching materials was carried out at three high schools and four universities with research consent from the director of the facility. From 1337 high school students and first- and second-year university students, subjects in their teen years were targeted for analysis. A survey was conducted at baseline and after the DVD video teaching. During the second stage, November 2019 to March 2020, web-based learning using improved video teaching materials was developed and carried out. From the adolescents who participated in the web-based learning, subjects in their teen years were targeted for analysis. A survey was conducted at baseline and after the web-based learning. RESULTS: In the first stage, 876 students consented to and participated in the education using DVD video teaching materials and baseline and after surveys (collection rate 65.5%). Among these, the number of respondents in their teens both baseline and after education was 705 persons (valid response rate 80.4%). In the second stage, the number of respondents in their teens both baseline and after education was 250 respondents in their teens who received web-based learning using the improved video teaching materials (valid response rate 87.1%). The improvement effect of the two programs was observed in attitudes that lead to physical violence, attitudes that lead to mental violence, attitudes that promote healthy conflict resolution, and dangerous attitudes that lead to sexual violence from persons in the community or through the Internet. The web-based learning program achieved an improvement of preventive attitudes toward sexual violence. CONCLUSIONS: The education program using DVD video teaching materials or web-based learning may help prevent sexual violence among teens in Japan.

Factors associated with recognition of the signs of dating violence by Japanese junior high school students.

OBJECTIVES: This study investigated factors associated with the ability of Japanese junior high school students to recognize the signs of dating violence. METHODS: During a period of 20 months (from June 2011 to January 2013), a survey was distributed to 3340 students aged 13-15 years in the second and third grades at 18 junior high schools in a Japanese prefecture. The survey examined gender, recognition of the signs of dating violence, knowledge of dating violence, self-esteem, attitudes toward sexual activity, attitudes toward an equal dating relationship, and relationships with school teachers. Multiple linear regression analyses were performed to identify predictors of the ability of boys and girls respondents to recognize the signs of physical and psychological dating violence. Binary multiple logistic regression analysis was also performed to identify predictors of the ability of boys and girls respondents to recognize the sign of sexual dating violence. The Ethics Committee of Saga University Medical School approved the study protocol. RESULTS: A total of 3050 (91.3%) students participated in this study (1547 boys and 1503 girls). Gender differences were noted with regard to the scores for some of the variables measured. The results indicated that boys who had more knowledge of dating violence, who focused on an equal dating relationship, and had a positive relationship with their teachers showed a greater ability to recognize the signs of dating violence. In addition, boys with a conservative attitude toward sexual activity showed a greater ability to recognize the signs of physical and sexual violence. Furthermore, girls with more knowledge of dating violence had a conservative attitude toward sexual activity, and girls who focused on an equal dating relationship showed greater ability to recognize the signs of dating violence. CONCLUSIONS: These findings suggest that education programs to prevent dating violence should promote understanding about dating violence with consideration of gender differences and should foster better relations between students and teachers, as well as promoting the establishment of an equal dating relationship between boys and girls.

Sensitive and selective liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry analysis of hydrochlorothiazide in rat plasma.

A sensitive and selective method for the determination of hydrochlorothiazide (HCTZ) concentrations in rat plasma was developed using high performance liquid chromatography-electrospray ionization tandem mass spectrometry (LC-MS/MS). An aliquot of plasma (50 microl) was mixed with the solution of internal standard, hydrofluorothiazide (HFTZ), and extracted with tert-butyl methyl ether. The reconstituted extract was applied to the LC-MS/MS system with a reversed phase C8 column and eluted with distilled water/acetonitrile (85/15, v/v). To enhance negative ionization of HCTZ and HFTZ in the multiple reaction monitor (MRM), the solution consisting of acetonitlile/1% (v/v) ammonia solution (95/5, v/v) was delivered after column separation. This additional technique, so-called the post-column addition, increased sensitivity of HCTZ and HFTZ about 500- and 200-fold, respectively. The calibration curve showed good linearity (r = 0.999) over the range of 4-1000 ng/ml. Acceptable accuracy (100.8-113.1%) and precision (0.28-16.4%) were confirmed in the intra- and the inter-day analyses. It is indicated that this LC-MS/MS method is useful for pharmacokinetic studies of HCTZ in small animals, because it enabled the serial determination of plasma level of HCTZ in rats.

Hepatobiliary transport of a nonpeptidic endothelin antagonist, (+)-(5S,6R,7R)-2-butyl-7-[2((2S)-2-carboxypropyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-5-(3,4-methylenedioxyphenyl) cyclopentenol[1,2-b]pyridine-6-carboxylic acid: uptake by isolated rat hepatocytes and canalicular membrane vesicles.

PURPOSE: Hepatobiliary excretions of drugs from the blood to the bile include two essential transmembrane processes: uptake into hepatocytes and secretion from hepatocytes. The purpose of this study was to clarify the transport mechanisms underlying these processes for a new non-peptide endothelin antagonist, (+)-(5S,6R,7R)-2-butyl-7-[2((2S)-2-carboxypropyl)-4-methoxyphenyl]-5-(3,4-methylenedioxy-phenyl)cyclopentenol[1,2-b]pyridine-6-carboxylic acid (J-104132). METHODS: Biliary excretion of J-104132 was assessed in rats after intravenous injection. To evaluate the hepatic uptake process, J-104132 was incubated with freshly isolated rat hepatocytes and the uptake of J-104132 was calculated. To evaluate the biliary secretion process, the uptake of J-104132 into rat canalicular membrane vesicles that were isolated from normal Sprague-Dawley rats or Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats was measured. RESULTS: After intravenous injection, J-104132 was recovered from the bile quantitatively (99.7 +/- 1.3%) as its intact form. J-104132 was taken up by isolated rat hepatocytes in a time- and temperature-dependent manner. The uptake was saturable with Km and Vmax of 5.7 microM and 564 pmol/min/10(6) cells, respectively. The uptake was Na+ independent and was reduced in the presence of ATP depleters (rotenone and carbonyl cyanide-p-(trifluoromethoxy)-phenylhydrazone), organic anions (dibromosulfophthalein, indocyanine green, BQ-123, and pravastatin), and bile acids (taurecholate and cholate). In Sprague-Dawley rats, J-104132 was taken up by canalicular membrane vesicle ATP-dependently with Km and Vmax values of 6.1 microM and 552 pmol/min/mg protein, respectively. However, ATP-dependent uptake disappeared in Eisai hyperbilirubinemic rats. CONCLUSIONS: These data suggest that energy-dependent and carrier-mediated transport systems play important roles in hepatobiliary excretion of J-104132 (both uptake and secretion processes), which is the main excretion route in rats. As for the secretion process of J-104132, an involvement of mrp2 was demonstrated.