Toxicological analysis of thiamylal in biological materials by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

A reliable and sensitive method to analyze thiamylal in biological materials was developed, using gas chromatography/mass spectrometry (GC/MS). A quantitative determination was made by use of mass fragmentography with the lower detection limit of 0.01 microgram/g. Thiopental was used as the internal standard. Distribution of the drug in the blood and body tissues of rats was examined. The method was then used to detect thiamylal in tissues from an autopsied patient and concentration of this drug in the body materials was evaluated, from medico-legal aspects.     

Japan’s Political Economy and Koizumi’s Structural Reform: A Rise and Fall of Neoclassical Economic Reform in Japan

For five years of his premiership, Jun’ichiro Koizumi bravely fought against politicians, bureaucrats, and interest groups to promote his structural economic reform. Fortunately, by the time he retired, Japanese economy got out of the depression. But the tide changed. In the July 2007 Upper House elections, the public was opposed to structural reform that Koizumi and Abe had advocated. Now it is not clear where Japanese political economy is likely to go. This paper will take a long-term view on the evolution of Japan’s political economy, and try to understand Jun’ichiro Koizumi’s structural reform in that long-term context.

Specifying "Interests": Japan's Claim to the Northern Territories and Its Implications for International Relations Theory

Theories of international relations commonly rely upon strong assumptions about state preferences, or derive them from ancillary theories that themselves make strong assumptions about the sources of state preferences. By means of a detailed explanation of interest-formation and interest-specification in a particular case (the Japanese interest in the recovery of the Northern Territories), supplemented by comparative discussion, this paper argues that national "interests" are idiosyncratic and best treated exogenously. It assesses the implications for international relations theory and addresses some common objections.     

Japan and Africa: A Historical Review of Interaction and Future Prospects

This article has four points of contention. First, it argues that time is ripe for the Japanese model of ODA (Official Development Assistance) to work in Africa. The recent positive changes seem to be creating an enabling environment in Africa for the Japanese model of ODA—an economic-development oriented ODA that once has contributed to the dynamic development of Asia—to work, at least in some African countries and in some areas. Second, it is contended that despite recent positive changes, Africa is still faced with huge developmental challenges, and Japan is ready to support its African partners especially in agriculture, industry, human resource development and in nurturing political stability and security, while taking advantage of its strengths and traditions. Third, the changes happening in Japan, combined with those happening in Africa, are opening a new era of Afro-Nippon cooperation, which is much more broad-based and encompassing wider areas of cooperation. And fourth, it concludes by arguing that what Japan has been doing and what it intends to do in and for Africa must be taken not in the context of diplomatic rivalry between Japan and other actors but in the context of Japan’s willingness to fulfill its international responsibilities and hence to serve its broad and long-term national interests.     

Feeling a Real Tibet

<正>When I visited China last year as a delegation member from Japan-China Friendship Association, I expressed to the Chinese Association for International Understanding (CAFIU) that I wish I     

Double replica electroblotting for the simultaneous phenotyping of C6 and C7, and its application to the examination of bloodstains

A new reliable and reproducible technique for the simultaneous determination of C6 and C7 types is presented, which employs double replica electroblotting after isoelectric focusing. It permitted clear discrimination of both C6 and C7 components, and the patterns were nearly comparable to those demonstrated separately. The population data obtained by this new technique fitted the genetic hypothesis. The present double replica electroblotting method was successfully applied to the combined phenotyping of C6 and C7 from bloodstains which were stored at room temperature for up to 4 weeks. The method is quite suitable for medicolegal examination of bloodstains particularly for the saving in the amount of sample.     

Extractive alkylation and gas chromatographic analysis of sulfide

A sensitive analysis of sulfide in blood was established, using an extractive alkylation technique. Pentafluorobenzyl bromide was used as the alkylating agent, tetradecyldimethylbenzylammonium chloride as the phase-transfer catalyst, and potassium dihydrogenphosphate as the buffer to suppress the formation of sulfide. Mass fragmentography was used to identify the sulfide derivative and gas chromatography with an electron capture detector was used for quantitative determination, with the lowest limit of detection being about 0.01 microgram/g. The blood level of rats exposed to hydrogen sulfide was also determined.     

Studies on the frequencies of PGM1, PGM3 and Es-D types from hair roots in Japanese subjects and the determination of these types from old hair roots

The frequencies in Japanese subjects are reported of hair roots type PGM₁, PGM₃ and Es-D, and the determination of these types from old hair roots. The gene frequencies were: PGM₁¹, 0.762; PGM₁², 0.230; PGM₁⁷, 0.008; PGM₃¹, 0.621; PGM₃², 0.379; Es-D¹, 0.625; and Es-D², 0.375. The old hair roots were analysed after storage at 25 °C, 4 °C and ?80 °C; the enzyme activities were detected and typed at 25 °C within PGM₁ 10 days, PGM₃ 4 days, and Es-D 4 days.     

Forensic toxicological analysis of tetrahydrofuran in body materials

Routine analysis of tetrahydrofuran (THF) in biologic materials has become feasible using GC and GC/MS and the headspace method. Problems of the headspace method and this substance which has a high water- and lipid-solubility were overcome by using the salting-out technique. Identification was made by mass spectral examination, in case of concentrations over 5 micrograms per sample. For quantitative determinations, tetrahydropyran (pentamethylene oxide) was used as an internal standard in GC, and a stable isotopic substance, octadeuterated THF (TDF) in GC/SIM. THF was detected in 1 microgram per sample by GC, and 0.1 microgram per sample by GC/SIM. THF blood levels in laboratory animals reached their highest values about 1 h after the oral administration, and the half-life was about 5 h. Ratios of tissue levels to blood were ca. 1.5-2 in the adipose tissue and kidney, and fairly equal in the brain, liver, spleen, and muscle.     

Forensic toxicologic analysis of methamphetamine and amphetamine in body materials by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry

Qualitative and quantitative analysis of methamphetamine and amphetamine in biologic materials was carried out by gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. A deuterium-labeled methamphetamine was employed as an internal standard with a detection limit of 50 pg and absolute stability and reproducibility. Blood was found to be the best material for estimation of the toxicity of the stimulant drug. It can be replaced by muscle which contains methamphetamine concentrations close to those of blood. The authors' classification of the toxic blood levels of methamphetamine from therapeutic to fatal doses was confirmed by additional data obtained from new case studies.