Effects of Outdoor Housing of Piglets on Behavior, Stress Reaction and Meat Characteristics

Yonezawa, Tomohiro,Takahashi, Asahi,Imai, Satomi,Okitsu, Aya,Komiyama, Sonomi,Irimajiri, Mami,Matsuura, Akihiro,Yamazaki, Atusi,Hodate, Koich Asian Australasian Association of Animal Productio 2012 Animal Bioscience Vol.25 No.6

Well-designed housing systems are important from the viewpoint of animal welfare and improvement of meat production. In this study, we investigated the effects of outdoor housing of pigs on their behavior, cortisol levels, and meat characteristics. Two groups that were born and raised in a spacious outdoor pen ($4{\times}10$ m for every two sows) or a minimum-sized standard pen in a piggery ($1.9{\times}2.2$ m for every sow) were studied. When their behaviors at the age of 2 to 3 wk were observed, the number of rooting episodes tended to be larger (p = 0.0509) and the total time of rooting tended to be longer (p = 0.0640) in the outdoor-housed piglets although the difference was not significant. Basal salivary cortisol levels of the outdoor piglets at the age of 4 wk were significantly lower than those of the indoor piglets ($5.0{\pm}0.59$ ng/ml vs. $11.6{\pm}0.91$ ng/ml, 30 min after treatment), although their plasma cortisol levels were similar ($53.3{\pm}3.54$ ng/ml vs. $59.9{\pm}4.84$ ng/ml, 30 min after treatment). When the ears were pierced at weaning, plasma and salivary cortisol levels were increased in both groups, even at 15 min after piercing. However, the increase in the outdoor-housed group was significantly less than that in the indoor-housed group. Throughout their lives, body weight and daily gain of the pigs were not significantly different between the two groups. In a meat taste preference test taken by 20 panelists, saltiness, flavor, and color of the outdoor-housed pork were found to be more acceptable. Moreover, when an electronic taste-sensing device was utilized, the C00 and CPA-C00 outputs ($3.78{\pm}0.07$ and $-0.20{\pm}0.023$), which correspond to compounds of bitterness and smells, respectively, were significantly lower in the outdoor-housed pork ($5.03{\pm}0.16$ and $-0.13{\pm}0.009$). Our results demonstrate that the outdoor housing system for piglets induces natural behaviors such as rooting and suppresses the strongest stress reaction of piglets, which could be important for animal welfare. Moreover, the outdoor housing system might change muscle characteristics and improve pork bitterness, flavor, and color. These changes may be preferred by consumers, increasing the sale of these meats.

Remote Cardiac Rehabilitation With Wearable Devices

Atsuko Nakayama,Noriko Ishii,Mami Mantani,Kazumi Samukawa,Rieko Tsuneta,Megumi Marukawa,Kayoko Ohno,Azusa Yoshida,Emiko Hasegawa,Junko Sakamoto,Kentaro Hori,Shinya Takahashi,Kaoruko Komuro,Takashi Hir 대한심장학회 2023 Korean Circulation Journal Vol.53 No.11

Although cardiac rehabilitation (CR) has been shown to improve exercise tolerance and prognosis in patients with cardiovascular diseases, there remains low participation in outpatient CR. This may be attributed to the patients’ busy schedules and difficulty in visiting the hospital due to distance, cost, avoidance of exercise, and severity of coronary disease. To overcome these challenges, many countries are exploring the possibility of remote CR. Specifically, there is increasing attention on the development of remote CR devices, which allow transmission of vital information to the hospital via a remote CR application linked to a wearable device for telemonitoring by dedicated hospital staff. In addition, remote CR programs can support return to work after hospitalization. Previous studies have demonstrated the effects of remote CR on exercise tolerance. However, the preventive effects of remote CR on cardiac events and mortality remain controversial. Thus, safe and effective remote CR requires exercise risk stratification for each patient, telenursing by skilled staff, and multidisciplinary interventions. Therefore, quality assurance of telenursing and multi-disciplinary interventions will be essential for remote CR. Remote CR may become an important part of cardiac management in the future. However, issues such as cost-effectiveness and insurance coverage still persist.

Effects of Geometrical Uncertainties on Whole Breast Radiotherapy: A Comparison of Four Different Techniques

Naoki Nakamura,Osamu Takahashi,Minobu Kamo,Shogo Hatanaka,Haruna Endo,Norifumi Mizuno,Naoto Shikama,Mami Ogita,Kenji Sekiguchi 한국유방암학회 2014 Journal of breast cancer Vol.17 No.2

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to quantify the targetcoverage, homogeneity, and robustness of the dose distributionsagainst geometrical uncertainties associated with fourwhole breast radiotherapy techniques. Methods: The study wasbased on the planning-computed tomography-datasets of 20patients who underwent whole breast radiotherapy. A total offour treatment plans (wedge, field-in-field [FIF], hybrid intensitymodulatedradiotherapy [IMRT], and full IMRT) were created foreach patient. The hybrid IMRT plans comprised two opposedtangential open beams plus two IMRT beams. Setup errors weresimulated by moving the beam isocenters by 5 mm in the anterioror posterior direction. Results: With the original plan, thewedge technique yielded a high volume receiving ≥107% of theprescription dose (V107; 7.5%±4.2%), whereas the other threetechniques yielded excellent target coverage and homogeneity. A 5 mm anterior displacement caused a large and significant increasein the V107 (+5.2%±4.1%, p<0.01) with the FIF plan, butnot with the hybrid IMRT (+0.4%±1.2%, p=0.11) or full IMRT(+0.7%±1.8%, p=0.10) plan. A 5-mm posterior displacementcaused a large decrease in the V95 with the hybrid IMRT (-2.5%±3.7%, p<0.01) and full IMRT (-4.3%±5.1%, p<0.01) plans, butnot with the FIF plan (+0.1%±0.7%, p=0.74). The decrease inV95 was significantly smaller with the hybrid IMRT plan than withthe full IMRT plan (p<0.01). Conclusion: The FIF, hybrid IMRT,and full IMRT plans offered excellent target coverage and homogeneity. Hybrid IMRT provided better robustness against geometricaluncertainties than full IMRT, whereas FIF provided comparablerobustness to that of hybrid IMRT

Risk Management on Radiation Under Prolonged Exposure Situation - Focusing on the Tokyo Metropolitan Area in Japan Under the TEPCO Fukushima dai-ich NPP Accident -

Iimoto, Takeshi,Hayashi, Rumiko,Kuroda, Reiko,Furusawa, Mami,Umekage, Tadashi,Ohkubo, Yasushi,Takahashi, Hiroyuki,Nakamura, Takashi The Korean Society of Safety 2012 International Journal of Safety Vol.11 No.1

Examples and experiences of risk management on radiation under prolonged exposure situation are shown. The accident of the Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant after the great east Japan earthquake (11 March, 2011) elevates background level of environmental radiation around the east Japan. For example, ambient dose equivalent rate around Tohkatsu area next to Tokyo located about 200 km-south from the plant, is about 0.1-0.6 micro-Sv $h^{-1}$ mainly due to $^{134}Cs$ and $^{137}Cs$ falling on the ground soil. This level is about double or up to ten times higher than the genuine natural level around the area. International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends how to face the existing exposure situation; that is the prolonged exposure situation. Referring to ICRP's reports and/or related international/domestic documents, we have been discussing and acting to gain public's safety and relief, who have a possibility to be exposed to prolonged lower-dose radiation. Here, we introduce our several experiences on risk management, especially focusing on risk communication, radiation education to public, and stakeholder involvements into making decision in local governments on radiation protection, relating to the accident.

Risk Management on Radiation Under Prolonged Exposure Situation -Focusing on the Tokyo Metropolitan Area in Japan Under the TEPCO Fukushima dai-ich NPP Accident-

( Takeshi Iimoto ),( Rumiko Hayashi ),( Reiko Kuroda ),( Mami Furusawa ),( Tadashi Umekage ),( Yasushi Ohkubo ),( Hiroyuki Takahashi ),( Takashi Nakamura ) 한국안전학회(구 한국산업안전학회) 2012 International Journal of Safety Vol.11 No.1

Examples and experiences of risk management on radiation under prolonged exposure situation are shown. The accident of the Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant after the great east Japan earthquake (11 March, 2011) elevates background level of environmental radiation around the east Japan. For example, ambient dose equivalent rate around Tohkatsu area next to Tokyo located about 200 km-south from the plant, is about 0.1-0.6 micro-Sv h-1 mainly due to 134Cs and 137Cs falling on the ground soil. This level is about double or up to ten times higher than the genuine natural level around the area. International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends how to face the existing exposure situation; that is the prolonged exposure situation, Referring to ICRP`s reports and/or related international/domestic documents, we have been discussing and acting to gain public`s safety and relief, who have a possibility to be exposed to prolonged lower-dose radiation. Here, we introduce our several experiences on risk management, especially focusing on risk communication, radiation education to public, and stakeholder involvements into making decision in local governments on radiation protection, relating to the accident.

Risk Management on Radiation under Prolonged Exposure Situation - Focusing on the Tokyo Metropolitan Area in Japan Under the TEPCO Fukushima Dai-ich NPP Accident -

Iimoto, Takeshi,Hayashi, Rumiko,Kuroda, Reiko,Furusawa, Mami,Umekage, Tadashi,Ohkubo, Yasushi,Takahashi, Hiroyuki,Nakamura, Takashi The Korean Society of Safety 2011 International Journal of Safety Vol.10 No.2

Examples and experiences of risk management on radiation under prolonged exposure situation are shown. The accident of the Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant after the great east Japan earthquake (11 March, 2011) elevates background level of environmental radiation around the east Japan. For example, ambient dose equivalent rate around Tohkatsu area next to Tokyo located about 200 km-south from the plant, is about 0.1-0.6 micro-Sv $h^{-1}$ mainly due to $^{134}Cs$ and $^{137}Cs$ falling on the ground soil. This level is about double or up to ten times higher than the genuine natural level around the area. International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends how to face the existing exposure situation; that is the prolonged exposure situation. Referring to ICRP's reports and/or related international/domestic documents, we have been discussing how to manage this situation and acting to gain safety and relief of public, who have a possibility to be exposed to prolonged lower-dose radiation. Here, we introduce our several experiences on risk management, especially focusing on risk communication, radiation education to public, and stakeholder involvements into decision making in local governments on radiation protection, relating to the accident.

Risk Management on Radiation under Prolonged Exposure Situation -Focusing on the Tokyo Metropolitan Area in Japan Under the TEPCO Fukushima Dai-ich NPP Accident-

( Takeshi Iimoto ),( Rumiko Elayashi ),( Reiko Kuroda ),( Mami Furusawa ),( Tadashi Iimekage ),( Yasushi Ohkubo ),( Hiroyuki Takahashi ),( Takashi Nakamura ) 한국안전학회(구 한국산업안전학회) 2011 International Journal of Safety Vol.10 No.2

Examples and experiences of risk management on radiation under prolonged exposure situation are shown. The accident of the Fukushima dai-ichi nuclear power plant after the great east Japan earthquake (II March, 2011) elevates background level of environmental radiation around the east Japan. For example, ambient dose equivalent rate around Tohkatsu area next to Tokyo located about 200 km-south from the plant, is about 0.1-0.6 micro-Sv h-1 mainly due to 134Cs and 137Cs falling on the ground soil. This level is about double or up to ten times higher than the genuine natural level around the area. International Commission on Radiological Protection (ICRP) recommends how to face the existing exposure situation; that is the prolonged exposure situation. Referring to ICRP`s reports and/or related intemational/ domestic documents, we have been discussing how to manage this situation and acting to gain safety and relief of public, who have a possibility to be exposed to prolonged lower-dose radiation. Here, we introduce our several experiences on risk management, especially focusing on risk communication, radiation education to public, and stakeholder involvements into decision making in local governments on radiation protection, relating to the accident.

Variation in the Resistance of Japanese Soybean Cultivars to Phytophthora Root and Stem Rot during the Early Plant Growth Stages and the Effects of a Fungicide Seed Treatment

Hajime Akamatsu,Masayasu Kato,Sunao Ochi,Genki Mimuro,Jun-ichi Matsuoka,Mami Takahashi 한국식물병리학회 2019 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.35 No.3

Soybean cultivars susceptible to Phytophthora root and stem rot are vulnerable to seed rot and damping-off of seedlings and young plants following an infection by Phytophthora sojae. In this study, the disease responses of Japanese soybean cultivars including currently grown main cultivars during the early growth stages were investigated following infections by multiple P. sojae isolates from Japanese fields. The extent of the resistance to 17 P. sojae isolates after inoculations at 14, 21, and 28 days after seeding varied significantly among 18 Japanese and two US soybean cultivars. Moreover, the disease responses of each cultivar differed significantly depending on the P. sojae isolate and the plant age at inoculation. Additionally, the treatment of ‘Nattosyo-ryu’ seeds with three fungicidal agrochemicals provided significant protection from P. sojae when plants were inoculated at 14-28 days after seeding. These results indicate that none of the Japanese soybean cultivars are completely resistant to all tested P. sojae isolates during the first month after sowing. However, the severity of the disease was limited when plants were inoculated during the later growth stages. Furthermore, the protective effects of the tested agrochemicals were maintained for at least 28 days after the seed treatment. Japanese soybean cultivars susceptible to Phytophthora root and stem rot that are grown under environmental conditions favorable for P. sojae infections require the implementation of certain practices, such as seed treatments with appropriate agrochemicals, to ensure they are protected from P. sojae during the early part of the soybean growing season.

Variation in the Resistance of Japanese Soybean Cultivars to Phytophthora Root and Stem Rot during the Early Plant Growth Stages and the Effects of a Fungicide Seed Treatment

Akamatsu, Hajime,Kato, Masayasu,Ochi, Sunao,Mimuro, Genki,Matsuoka, Jun-ichi,Takahashi, Mami The Korean Society of Plant Pathology 2019 Plant Pathology Journal Vol.35 No.3

Soybean cultivars susceptible to Phytophthora root and stem rot are vulnerable to seed rot and damping-off of seedlings and young plants following an infection by Phytophthora sojae. In this study, the disease responses of Japanese soybean cultivars including currently grown main cultivars during the early growth stages were investigated following infections by multiple P. sojae isolates from Japanese fields. The extent of the resistance to 17 P. sojae isolates after inoculations at 14, 21, and 28 days after seeding varied significantly among 18 Japanese and two US soybean cultivars. Moreover, the disease responses of each cultivar differed significantly depending on the P. sojae isolate and the plant age at inoculation. Additionally, the treatment of 'Nattosyo-ryu' seeds with three fungicidal agrochemicals provided significant protection from P. sojae when plants were inoculated at 14-28 days after seeding. These results indicate that none of the Japanese soybean cultivars are completely resistant to all tested P. sojae isolates during the first month after sowing. However, the severity of the disease was limited when plants were inoculated during the later growth stages. Furthermore, the protective effects of the tested agrochemicals were maintained for at least 28 days after the seed treatment. Japanese soybean cultivars susceptible to Phytophthora root and stem rot that are grown under environmental conditions favorable for P. sojae infections require the implementation of certain practices, such as seed treatments with appropriate agrochemicals, to ensure they are protected from P. sojae during the early part of the soybean growing season.

Suppressive Effect of Pioglitazone, a PPAR Gamma Ligand, on Azoxymethane-induced Colon Aberrant Crypt Foci in KK-A^у Mice

Ueno, Toshiya,Teraoka, Naoya,Takasu, Shinji,Nakano, Katsuya,Takahashi, Mami,Yamamoto, Masafumi,Fujii, Gen,Komiya, Masami,Yanaka, Akinori,Wakabayashi, Keiji,Mutoh, Michihiro Asian Pacific Journal of Cancer Prevention 2012 Asian Pacific journal of cancer prevention Vol.13 No.8

Obesity is an established risk factor for colorectal cancer. Pioglitazone is a peroxisome proliferator activated receptor$receptor{\gamma}$ ($PPAR{\gamma}$) agonist that induces differentiation in adipocytes and induces growth arrest and/or apoptosis in vitro in several cancer cell lines. In the present study, we investigated the effect of pioglitazone on the development of azoxymethane-induced colon aberrant crypt foci (ACF) in KK-$A^{\mathcal{Y}}$ obesity and diabetes model mice, and tried to clarify mechanisms by which the $PPAR{\gamma}$ ligand inhibits ACF development. Administration of 800 ppm pioglitazone reduced the number of colon ACF/mouse to 30% of those in untreated mice and improved hypertrophic changes of adipocytes in KK-$A^{\mathcal{Y}}$ mice with significant reduction of serum triglyceride and insulin levels. Moreover, mRNA levels of adipocytokines, such as leptin, monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 and plasminogen activator inhibitor-1, in the visceral fat were decreased. PCNA immunohistochemistry revealed that pioglitazone treatment suppressed cell proliferation in the colorectal epithelium with elevation of p27 and p53 gene expression. These results suggest that pioglitazone prevented obesity-associated colon carcinogenesis through improvement of dysregulated adipocytokine levels and high serum levels of triglyceride and insulin, and increase of p27 and p53 mRNA levels in the colorectal mucosa. These data indicate that pioglitazone warrants attention as a potential chemopreventive agent against obesity-associated colorectal cancer.