[Continuation Participation Factor to Interchange Activity Such as the Golden Age Club of the Elderly Man].

The present study examined exchange activities, such as the elderly club(hereinafter referred to as"exchange activities"). In older men who continued their participation, we clarified the factors that enabled them to continue participation and provided opportunity to have participated in the"exchange activities."Data were collected from semi-structured interviews and analyzed. As a result, older men after retirement were found to have no connection with the local community, and they joined local"exchange activities"out of a desire for interaction with other locals. In addition, expectations and evaluation of the achievement and the area of self-realization have been suggested as factors that allow continued participation in "exchange activities".

[Examination of integrated consultation support system that enabled the senior citizen's continuous home recuperation].

We held a case study for an integrated consultation support system that enabled the senior citizen's continuous home recuperation. We had two purposes: One was to clarify a problem and then solve the problem for the senior citizens to continue a home recuperation. An effective support method was suggested. The other was to consider an ideal way to assign nursing staffs. Through the case study and its analysis,the effective support system should have these six points: (1) Construct a mutual trust with senior citizens,(2) Help them to improve a self-management ability of daily life,(3) Improve the family and relative's nursing capabilities which enable the senior citizens to live at home,(4) Advise to the neighbors who support the senior citizens,(5) Align a support schedule for the neighbors and relatives who may live far away,(6) Support the senior citizens to have their own roles,and lead them a life worth living. The Nursing staff roles are as follows: (1) Support the senior citizens who are ready to leave the hospital for home recuperation with a consistent policy,(2) Examine the case with a best use of three occupational specialties,(3) Try to make a community where the senior citizens' hope will be enabled.

ATF-1 transcription factor regulates the expression of ccg-1 and cat-1 genes in response to fludioxonil under OS-2 MAP kinase in Neurospora crassa.

The ATF/CREB family transcriptional factors are regulated by stress-activated MAP kinase in yeast. The disruptants of the atf-1 gene, which encodes an ATF/CREB family transcriptional factor, were isolated and characterized in Neurospora crassa. The characteristic phenotypes in the os-2 MAP kinase strain, such as osmotic sensitivity and fludioxonil resistance, were not observed in the Deltaatf-1 strain; however, like the os-2 strain, up-regulation of the catalase gene cat-1 and the clock-controlled gene ccg-1 by treatment with fludioxonil (1 microg/mL) or 4% NaCl was almost completely abolished in the Deltaatf-1 strain. A gel shift assay indicated that ATF-1 bound to the cat-1 and ccg-1 promoters probably through the CRE motifs. The enzyme activity of large-subunit catalase CAT-1, the major conidial catalase, was not detected in the Deltaatf-1 strain, suggesting that the production of CAT-1 during formation of conidia is largely dependent on ATF-1. Among 11 clock-controlled genes, the expression of ccg-1, ccg-9, ccg-13, and ccg-14 was induced by fludioxonil in an OS-2-dependent manner; however, induction of ccg-13 and ccg-14 was observed in the Deltaatf-1 strain, suggesting the existence of another transcription factor regulated by OS-2. The homozygous cross between the Deltaatf-1 strains produced perithecia and ascospores; however, their ascospores never germinated. These findings suggest that ATF-1 acts as one of the transcriptional factors downstream of the OS-2 MAP kinase and probably regulates some genes involved in conidiation, circadian rhythm, and ascospore maturation in N. crassa.

OS-2 mitogen activated protein kinase regulates the clock-controlled gene ccg-1 in Neurospora crassa.

OS-2 MAP kinase is involved in osmoadaptation in Neurospora crassa. Clock-controlled genes ccg-1, bli-3, and con-10 were induced by osmotic stress in an OS-2 dependent manner. In contrast, osmotic stress did not affect the expression of clock genes frq, wc-1, and wc-2 or of clock-controlled genes ccg-2 and bli-4. These results suggest that OS-2 participates in the regulation of certain circadian-clock output genes.

[Analysis of basic activity of electroencephalogram in patients with carbon monoxide intoxication for monitoring efficacy of treatment].

Electroencephalography (EEG) should be used in carbon monoxide intoxication on the basis of its clinical significance. The aim of this study was to analyze basic activity of EEG in acute carbon monoxide intoxication and clarify its significance for monitoring the efficacy of treatment. Thirty-six cases with acute carbon monoxide intoxication were treated with either hyperbaric or normobaric oxygenation. EEG was performed every 2 weeks for a total of three times in each case. Basic activity in the first EEG revealed slow waves (slow alpha, theta or delta) and normal waves (9-11 Hz) in 11, and 25 cases, respectively. When changes of the basic activity of EEG were analyzed, they were classified into 3 patterns: pattern A (faster over 2 Hz), B (stable) and C (slower over 2 Hz) in 7, 27 and 2 cases, respectively. Three cases with the pattern B turned to be an intermittent type of carbon monoxide intoxication. Two cases of pattern C were related with poor prognosis and death. In conclusion, the patterns in the basic activity change of EEG at the interval of 2 weeks in acute carbon monoxide intoxication are useful in monitoring efficacy of treatment.