Women Physicians in Academic Medicine of Japan.

Japan is a well-qualified country in promoting scientific advancement, but female scientists are too few in academic medicine positions. The government of Japan announced that the share of women in leadership positions accounted to at least 30% by 2020 in all fields in society. The number of female students also increased, but it was not much higher than other Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) countries. Women students always have higher passing frequencies in national examination for medical practitioners in Japan. The potential gap between physician gender and academic advancement is mentioned in any medical fields. Women physicians in academic medicine position are still few. For women physicians, medical and familial situations are inversely affected by the coronavirus disease 2019. We propose the recommendations to support women physicians' right in academic medicine, accordingly to patients' benefit. Women may be stepping up and leading efforts without titles or positions in ways that are significant and meaningful for their group or organization.

Three-dimensional measurement for spherical and nonspherical shapes of contact lenses.

In recent years, with the development of precise lathe-cutting equipment, special shaped contact lenses (CL) have been crafted. However, while it is possible to manufacture such a lens, its shape evaluation has not been well-established. We conducted a basic optical experiment using special lenses to measure a spherical lens and nonspherical mold. As the measurement sample, a metal ball, special CL, and a toric-shaped mold were adopted. In order to accurately measure those real shapes, we proposed an algorithm in which the probe light is vertically incident to the sample surface within a numerical aperture of the optical probe. For this algorithm, we developed the specialized time-domain optical coherence tomography (TD-OCT), which was designed to conduct circular scanning while maintaining vertical incidence by driving a two-axis (vertical and horizontal) micro-electromechanical system mirror with a phase difference of 90°. The shape, thickness distribution, and curvature radii of both front and back surfaces of a CL were estimated with this OCT signal analysis and sphere fitting. The shape and curvature radius were evaluated by using the simulated data under the same experimental conditions. They were sufficiently accurate based on the resolution of this OCT. Also, a toric-shaped mold was evaluated by comparing the relationship between each coordinate and intensity of the interference signal. As a result, it is confirmed that the experimental result and the simulated matched well.

Measurement algorithm for real front and back curved surfaces of contact lenses.

The optical measurement algorithm for the real front and back surfaces of contact lenses from their center to periphery accurately and simultaneously is proposed. It is an algorithm that makes light incident vertically along the curved surfaces of contact lenses under the condition that the difference of curvature radii between the front and back surfaces is small enough within the NA of the optical probe. For this purpose, we adopted time-domain optical coherence tomography (OCT) with translation and rotation mechanisms. The shape, thickness distribution, and curvature radii of both surfaces were estimated with OCT signal analysis and circular approximation. The measured results were compared with the designed values and the measured data from a conventional shape measurement device. The curved shape of both surfaces and thickness were well matched with the designed values from lens center to periphery. In a curvature radius of the front surface, there was a proportional bias with a limit of agreement of -0.77% to -2.09%, and the correlation coefficient was 0.57. On the back surface, there was no systematic bias, and minimal detectable change was 0.178 mm, in a range of 95% confidential interval. The proposed algorithm well visualized the real shape and optical characteristics of the contact lens with enough accuracy to the design.

Neuroinflammation, Oxidative Stress, and Neurogenesis in a Mouse Model of Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and the Treatment with Kampo Medicine.

The diagnosis of chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) is mainly symptom-based, and the etiology is still unclear. Here, we evaluated the pathological changes in the brain of a mouse model of CFS and studied the effects of Kampo medicine. A mouse model of CFS was established through six repeated injections of Brucella abortus (BA) every two weeks for a period of 12 weeks. Neuroinflammation was measured by estimating interleukin (IL)-1ß, IL-6, and interferon-gamma (IFN-γ), and oxidative stress by nitrotyrosine (3-NT) and 4-hydroxynonenal (4-HNE) 6 weeks after the last injection. Hippocampal neurogenesis was evaluated through Ki-67, doublecortin (DCX), and 5-bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) assays. The effects of Kampo medicines (Hochuekkito (TJ-41) and Hachimijiogan (TJ-7)) on neuroinflammation during CFS were studied. The wheel-running activity of mice was decreased by about 50% compared to baseline at 6 weeks after the last BA injection. The levels of IL-1ß, IL-6, 3-NT, and 4-HNE were increased in both the cortex and the hippocampus of CFS mice at 6 weeks after the last BA injection. Hippocampal neurogenesis was unchanged in CFS mice. Treatment with TJ-41 and TJ-7 reduced the expressions of IL-1ß, IL-6, and IFN-γ in the hippocampus but not in the cortex. The results of the present study indicate that neuroinflammation and oxidative stress play important roles in the pathogenesis of CFS. The data further suggest that treatment with TJ-41 and TJ-7 could help reduce the inflammation associated with CFS in the hippocampus, but failed to improve the symptoms in CFS mice.