A Longitudinal Investigation of Associations Between Boys’ Pubertal Timing and Adult Behavioral Health and Well-Being

To extend research linking pubertal timing and adolescent health outcomes, this study examines boys’ pubertal timing and subsequent interpersonal success and health behaviors in mid adulthood. Past research has shown that boys’ pubertal timing is associated with both positive and negative developmental outcomes in the short term, and so it is unclear how pubertal timing is consequential for adjustment across the long term. Data from 460 boys from the Terman Life-Cycle Study were examined over a 39-year period to relate age of pubertal onset to later marital success, career success, and adult health behaviors. Boys who reached puberty earlier than their peers achieved greater success in their careers and experienced more satisfaction in their marriages. Early-developing boys were not found to be more likely than their peers to smoke cigarettes or drink alcohol as adults. Findings are discussed in terms of the importance of pubertal timing for life-span development.Keiko Taga is a doctoral student at the Department of Psychology at University of California, Riverside. Her major research interests are social and psychological predictors of health and longevityCharlotte Markey is an Assistant Professor of Psychology at Rutgers University. She received her Ph.D. from the University of California at Riverside in 2002. Her research focuses on social and personality influences on healthHoward S. Friedman is Distinguished Professor of Psychology at the University of California, Riverside, where he directs a large project on health and longevity across the life-span. He has authored or edited ten books, with a focus on health psychology, personality, and nonverbal charisma     

Effect of toluene inhalation on astrocytes and neurotrophic factor in rat brain

Toluene, an abused substance in Japan, is a neurotoxic chemical that has been shown to have neurobehavioral and electrophysiological effects. In previous work, both acute and chronic effects of toluene on cells have been studied extensively. However, although glial cells are thought to play an important role in the survival of neurons in the brain, the effect of toluene on glial cell function has not yet been characterized. To elucidate this, the effect of toluene inhalation on astrocytes in rat brain was examined. Toluene exposure (1500 ppm for 4 h on 4-10 days) augmented glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) immunoreactivity, particularly in the hippocampus and cerebellum. Quantitative analysis showed that toluene inhalation markedly enhanced GFAP expression in the hippocampus and cerebellum. In both regions, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) showed no obvious changes, but glutamine synthetase (GS)-immunoreactive cells were markedly increased by toluene exposure. Thus, the elevation of GFAP expression was induced by astrocyte activation rather than by cell proliferation. If toluene exposure activates astrocytes, astrocytes may play a role in the neurophysiological changes observed in toluene intoxication. A neurotrophic factor, basic fibroblast growth factor (b-FGF) was observed immunohistochemically in the capillary vessel walls in the hippocampus and the cerebellum of toluene-intoxicated rats. Basic-FGF may have induced GFAP expression both in the hippocampus and the cerebellum. So, other neurotrophic factors may affect the difference of GFAP elevation between the hippocampus and the cerebellum. These differences may relate to neurobehavioral function of each brain part after toluene exposure.     

A single fatal penetrating chest wound caused by a dagger-shaped fragment of broken door glass

A 19-year-old woman ran against a glass door, and, breaking it, was struck in the left anterior chest by a single dagger-like fragment of broken door glass. This fragment deeply penetrated her chest and wounded the anterior wall of the left ventricle of her heart. She rapidly died from loss of blood. The majority of single fatal penetrating chest wounds seen at postmortem examinations are caused by firearms and bladed weapons. While penetrating chest wounds occasionally result from fragments of glass, most severe and fatal wounds from glass result from one's falling into or through plate glass and sustaining wounds of the head, face, abdomen, or extremities. A single fatal wound from a dagger-shaped piece of glass is distinctly uncommon. To prevent such an accident from occurring, safety glass must be used in front doors of public institutions.     

Studies on asphyxia: lipids in the alveoli of rats in hypoxic state

Biochemical characterization in alveolar lavage fluids of rats which had inhaled 5% oxygen, carbon dioxide and carbon monoxide was studied in comparison with control rats. The protein content, consisting mainly of serum albumin, markedly increased in the hypoxic states. The phospholipid content also increased one and a half to two times as much as in the control rats. The phospholipids which increased in the alveoli were mainly pulmonary surfactant phospholipids, i.e. phosphatidylcholine and phosphatidylglycerol. The phospholipid profiles did not appear to be affected by the leakage of plasma lipids. These findings indicate that pulmonary surfactant phospholipids accumulate in the alveoli of rats in the hypoxic states examined here.     

Cross-reactivities of various phenethylamine-type designer drugs to immunoassays for amphetamines, with special attention to the evaluation of the one-step urine drug test Instant-View™, and the Emit® assays for use in drug enforcement

Cross-reactivities of 76 kinds of phenethylamine-type designer drugs and related compounds to the urine drug tests Instant-View ? (IV) (the Methamphetamine (MA) test, the Amphetamine 300 test, and the MDMA test) have been investigated. An on-site urine test kit consisting of these three IV tests has been evaluated for the on-site screening of MA users, and the kit has been found to have satisfactory specificity for drug enforcement purposes by separately detecting both MA and its metabolite amphetamine. The cross-reactivity profiles of Emit(?) II Plus Amphetamines Assay, Emit(?) II Plus Ecstasy assay, and Emit(?) d.a.u.(?) Amphetamine Class assay have also been investigated and discussed.     

A frozen newborn infant: froth in the air-passage after thawing

We performed an autopsy on a frozen newborn infant who was found in a freezer at -18 degrees C. After thawing, froth emerged from the nostrils and was present in the trachea. Sometimes froth may be seen in the air-passage in cases of strangulation and drowning. In our case, however, there was neither proof of asphyxia due to strangulation nor drowning. The existence of the froth indicates that the infant was probably in a state of respiratory distress before death. Histologic findings of the lung showed that the infant did not suffer from respiratory disorders such as respiratory distress syndrome. Karyopyknosis and vacuolation of the keratinocytes, shrinkage of the hepatocytes, dilatation of the sinusoid, spaces between heart muscle fibers and deep staining of the nuclei and hemolysis were characteristic in our case. This case shows that froth persists in the internal air-passage for a long time as a result of freezing. Moreover, the froth in the air-passage, along with the findings of the lungs, demonstrates that the newborn infant was born alive.     

中日两国女学交流起点新探--以成濑仁藏《女子教育论》的著译流传为中心

十九、二十世纪之交,日本教育家成濑仁藏完成并出版《女子教育论》,掀起了日本女子高等教育的革新运动。不久,该书被中国学人译成中文,推动了中国女子教育近代化的起步。该书的著译、流传,凸显了美国-日本-中国的女子教育传播格局。但是,该书曾形成的中日女学交流起点的作用,竟然在其后的历史进程中被两国学界同时淡忘。文章尝试将历史考证方法和跨国视角相结合,在重新唤醒这段历史记忆的基础上,重建面向未来的两国女学发展脉络。     

Paraquat myopathy: report on two suicide cases.

We describe two suicide cases in which old paraquat was ingested. In conjunction with lung involvement a pronounced degeneration was observed in skeletal muscle of one who died on the 14th day after the ingestion. The following sarcoplasmic or endoplasmic reticulum Ca2+ ATPase (SERCA) monoclonal antibodies were used for skeletal muscle fiber typing by an immunohistochemical method: NCL-SERCA1, reactive with type 2 fiber (fast-twitch), and NCL-SERCA2, reactive with type 1 fiber (slow-twitch). The examination revealed that the remarkably degenerated fibers belonged to type 1 muscle fibers. This case showed an abrupt increase of plasma CK levels (1796 mU/ml) on the fifth day after the ingestion. The authors presume that the damage to the skeletal muscle had occurred in this period. The degeneration of the muscle seemed to be attributable to the long retention of paraquat in the tissue because these findings were not observed in the other case who died on the fifth day. Paraquat-induced myopathy may develop in prolonged paraquat poisoning. The examination of CK levels in plasma will be useful for diagnosis of damage of skeletal muscle.     

A Case of Sudden Infant Death Due to Incomplete Kawasaki Disease

Although Kawasaki disease (KD) is a self‐limiting disease, it may cause sudden cardiac death. Diagnosis of KD is principally based on clinical signs; however, some infant cases do not meet the criteria. Such cases are identified as incomplete KD. The sudden death risk in incomplete KD cases is similar to conventional KD. In our 5‐month‐old case, he had been admitted to a hospital for a fever and suppuration at the site of Bacille de Calmette et Guerin (BCG) vaccination. However, after discharge from the hospital, his C‐reactive protein (CRP) levels declined, he got indisposed and died suddenly. A medico‐legal autopsy revealed myocarditis, coronaritis, platelet‐aggregated emboli in coronary arteries, and myocardial degeneration, suggesting that the fatal myocardial infarction was due to thrombus emboli in the coronary arteries. Forensic pathologists therefore should pay attention to the cardiac pathology originated from incomplete KD as a potential cause in cases of sudden infant death.