The origin of universal shadow education: what the supplemental education phenomenon tells us about the postmodern institution of education

Izumi Mori 서울대학교 교육연구소 2010 Asia Pacific Education Review Vol.11 No.1

Prodigious growth in out-of-school, private educational activities meant to supplement formal schooling is observed worldwide. Why has shadow education expanded, and what does it mean for the future of education in postmodern society? Illustrated by the historical development and recent changes in the Japanese shadow education industry, it is suggested that shadow education follows the institutional logic of formal education. And as this logic has become more homogenized and expansive globally, so have the forms and goals of shadow education. Because of its focus on learning and achievement, which are central to formal education, it is predicted that shadow education will be increasingly incorporated into the broader culture of education.

Electroconvulsive Therapy for Parkinson’s Disease with Depression and Neuroleptic Malignant Syndrome: A Case Report

Yuhei Mori,Itaru Miura,Michinari Nozaki,Yusuke Osakabe,Ryuta Izumi,Takahiro Akama,So Kimura,Hirooki Yabe 대한정신약물학회 2021 CLINICAL PSYCHOPHARMACOLOGY AND NEUROSCIENCE Vol.19 No.3

Parkinson’s disease is often complicated by psychiatric symptoms. Psychiatrists are caught in a dilemma between such symptoms and physical treatment since Parkinson’s disease sometimes shows treatment resistance based on pharmacological treatment-induced dopamine dysfunction. Here, we report on a 64-year-old woman with a 15-year history of Parkinson’s disease with stage IV severity based on the Hoehn and Yahr scale. She was admitted to our hospital with a diagnosis of major depressive disorder with psychotic features. Unfortunately, her treatment course for depression was complicated by neuroleptic malignant syndrome. Because we were concerned about the persistence of her depressive symptoms, the risk of psychotropic drugs causing adverse effects, and progressive disuse syndrome, we administered modified electroconvulsive therapy. Her symptoms of neuroleptic malignant syndrome and depression sufficiently improved after five sessions of modified electroconvulsive therapy. Additionally, the primary motor symptoms of her Parkinson’s disease also markedly improved. The improvement of neuroleptic malignant syndrome and her motor symptoms based on dopamine dysfunction can be explained by electroconvulsive therapy’s effectiveness in activating dopamine neurotransmission. Besides, the marked improvement of her depressive episode with psychotic features was presumed to involve dopamine receptor activation and regulation. Because advanced Parkinson’s disease can sometimes be refractory to treatment based on pharmacological treatment-induced dopamine dysfunction, psychiatrists often have difficulty treating psychiatric symptoms; electroconvulsive therapy may stabilize the dopaminergic system in such cases, presenting a possible non-pharmacologic treatment option for Parkinson’s disease.

Low-Dose Pegylated Interferon α-2b Plus Ribavirin for Elderly and/or Cirrhotic Patients with Genotype 2 Hepatitis C Virus

Hideyuki Tamai,Naoki Shingaki,Yoshiyuki Mori,Kosaku Moribata,Akira Kawashima,Yoshimasa Maeda,Toru Niwa,Hisanobu Deguchi,Izumi Inoue,Takao Maekita,Mikitaka Iguchi,Jun Kato,Masao Ichinose 거트앤리버 소화기연관학회협의회 2016 Gut and Liver Vol.10 No.4

Background/Aims: This study aimed to predict sustained viral response (SVR) to low-dose pegylated interferon (PEGIFN) plus ribavirin of elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 hepatitis C virus (HCV) using viral response within 2 weeks. Methods: Low-dose PEG-IFN-α-2b plus ribavirin was administered to 50 elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 HCV for 24 weeks. The dynamics of HCV RNA and HCV core antigen levels within 2 weeks were measured. Results: The patients’ median age was 66 years. There were 21 male and 29 female patients. The median baseline HCV RNA level was 5.7 log IU/mL. Rapid viral response was achieved in 17 patients (34%), SVR in 28 (56%), and two (4%) discontinued treatment. Univariate analysis of factors contributing to SVR showed significant differences for sex, baseline virus level, and response within 4 weeks. When 40 fmol/L was set as the cutoff value for the core antigen level at 1 week, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy for predicting SVR were 93%, 75%, 84%, 88%, and 85%, respectively. Conclusions: Low-dose PEG-IFN plus ribavirin was a safe and costeffective treatment for elderly and/or cirrhotic patients with genotype 2 HCV, and the viral response within 2 weeks was a useful predictor of SVR.

Prediction of a Null Response to Pegylated Interferon α-2b Plus Ribavirin in Patients with High Viral Load Genotype 1b Hepatitis C

( Yuki Wada ),( Hideyuki Tamai ),( Akira Kawashima ),( Naoki Shingaki ),( Yoshiyuki Mori ),( Masanori Kawaguchi ),( Kosaku Moribata ),( Hisanobu Deguchi ),( Kazuki Ueda ),( Izumi Inoue ),( Takao Maeki 대한소화기학회 2014 Gut and Liver Vol.8 No.4

Background/Aims: The present study aimed to clarify whether virological response within 2 weeks after therapy initiation can predict a null response to pegylated interferon α-2b plus ribavirin therapy in patients with high viral load genotype 1b hepatitis C. Methods: The participants consisted of 72 patients with high viral load genotype 1b. The dynamics of viral load within 2 weeks were measured. Results: Significant differences between null responders and nonnull responders were noted for interleukin (IL)-28B genotype, amino acid 70 substitution, α-fetoprotein, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol, hyaluronic acid, and viral response. The area under the curve (AUC) for the receiver operating characteristic curve of the hepatitis C virus (HCV) RNA level decline at 2 weeks (AUC=0.993) was the highest among the factors predicting the null response. When the cutoff value for the HCV RNA level decline at 2 weeks was set at 0.80 log, the sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, negative predictive value, and accuracy in predicting a null response were 82%, 96%, 82%, 96%, and 94%, respectively. In comparison, values for the non-TT and mutant type of amino acid 70 substitution were similar to those for HCV RNA level decline at 2 weeks. Conclusions: Virological response at 2 weeks or the combination of IL-28B and amino acid 70 substitution are accurate predictors of a null response. (Gut Liver 2014;8:421-427)

Efficacy and safety of adding mizoribine to standard treatment in patients with immunoglobulin A nephropathy: A randomized controlled trial

( Keiji Hirai ),( Susumu Ookawara ),( Taisuke Kitano ),( Haruhisa Miyazawa ),( Kiyonori Ito ),( Yuichirou Ueda ),( Yoshio Kaku ),( Taro Hoshino ),( Honami Mori ),( Izumi Yoshida ),( Kenji Kubota ),( Y 대한신장학회 2017 Kidney Research and Clinical Practice Vol.36 No.2

Background: Mizoribine (MZR) is an immunosuppressive drug used in Japan for treating patients with lupus nephritis and nephrotic syndrome and has been also reportedly effective in patients with immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. However, to date, few randomized control studies of MZR are performed in patients with IgA nephropathy. Therefore, this prospective, open-label, randomized, controlled trial aimed to investigate the efficacy and safety of adding MZR to standard treatment in these patients, and was conducted between April 1, 2009, and March 31, 2016, as a multicenter study. Methods: Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receiving standard treatment plus MZR (MZR group) or standard treatment (control group). MZR was administered orally at a dose of 150 mg once daily for 12 months. Results: Primary outcomes were the percentage reduction in urinary protein excretion from baseline and the rate of patients with hematuria disappearance 36 months after study initiation. Secondary outcomes were the rate of patients with proteinuria disappearance, clinical remission rate, absolute changes in estimated glomerular filtration rate from baseline, and the change in daily dose of prednisolone. Forty-two patients were randomly assigned to MZR (n = 21) and control groups (n = 21). Nine patients in MZR group and 15 patients in the control group completed the study. No significant differences were observed between the two groups with respect to primary and secondary outcomes. Conclusion: The addition of MZR to standard treatment has no beneficial effect on reducing urinary protein excretion and hematuria when treating patients with IgA nephropathy.

MPK9 and MPK12 function in SA-induced stomatal closure in <i>Arabidopsis thaliana</i>

Khokon, Md. Atiqur Rahman,Salam, Mohammad Abdus,Jammes, Fabien,Ye, Wenxiu,Hossain, Mohammad Anowar,Okuma, Eiji,Nakamura, Yoshimasa,Mori, Izumi C.,Kwak, June M.,Murata, Yoshiyuki Informa UK (TaylorFrancis) 2017 Bioscience, Biotechnology, and Biochemistry Vol.81 No.7

<P>Salicylic acid (SA) induces stomatal closure sharing several components with abscisic acid (ABA) and methyl jasmonate (MeJA) signaling. We have previously shown that two guard cell-preferential mitogen-activated protein kinases (MAPKs), MPK9 and MPK12, positively regulate ABA signaling and MeJA signaling in Arabidopsis thaliana. In this study, we examined whether these two MAPKs are involved in SA-induced stomatal closure using genetic mutants and a pharmacological, MAPKK inhibitor. Salicylic acid induced stomatal closure in mpk9 and mpk12 single mutants but not in mpk9 mpk12 double mutants. The MAPKK inhibitor PD98059 inhibited SA-induced stomatal closure in wild-type plants. Salicylic acid induced extracellular reactive oxygen species (ROS) production, intracellular ROS accumulation, and cytosolic alkalization in the mpk9, mpk12, and mpk9 mpk12 mutants. Moreover, SA-activated S-type anion channels in guard cells of wild-type plants but not in guard cells of mpk9 mpk12 double mutants. These results imply that MPK9 and MPK12 are positive regulators of SA signaling in Arabidopsis guard cells.</P>