Yuko Maeda

Catalytic Enantioselective 1,3-Dipolar Cycloaddition of C,N-Cyclic Azomethine Imines with α,β-Unsaturated Aldehydes

A yet-unexploited class of azomethine imines, C,N-cyclic azomethine imines, could be successfully employed in highly enantioselective 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition with enals catalyzed by titanium-BINOLate to give pharmaceutically attractive tetrahydroisoquinoline and piperidine motifs.

Public perception of and willingness to perform bystander CPR in Japan

AIM Immediate bystander cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is the most essential factor for life saving in out-of-hospital cardiac arrest patients. We investigated the characteristics associated with willingness to attempt CPR among the Japanese general population. METHODS We randomly selected 2400 persons from all over Japan and conducted a questionnaire survey regarding their knowledge, experiences of and attitudes toward CPR. We performed descriptive statistics followed by multivariable logistic regression analyses. RESULTS A total of 1132 persons (47%) completed the questionnaire. Only 13% of the subjects were willing to attempt bystander CPR for their families and friends, and 7% were willing to attempt bystander CPR for strangers. Willingness to attempt CPR was independently associated with office workers or skilled workers [odds ratio (OR) 1.8; 95% confidence interval (CI): 1.1-2.7], having trained in CPR [OR: 3.1; 95% CI: 2.1-4.6], actual experience with CPR [OR: 3.8; 95% CI: 1.7-8.3], and having friends with heart diseases [OR: 1.8; 95% CI: 1.05-3.0]. Having trained in CPR was independently associated with younger age [OR: 1.6; 95% CI: 1.2-2.1], office workers or skilled workers [OR: 1.5; 95% CI: 1.1-2.0], having drivers license [OR: 1.7; 95% CI: 1.2-2.4] and awareness of AED placement in a public space [OR: 2.1; 95% CI: 1.4-3.1]. CONCLUSION Experience of CPR training closely associated with willingness to attempt CPR, and awareness of AED in a public space are significant factors in CPR training. AED placement might call attention to CPR training and develops willingness to attempt CPR.

Asymmetric Cyclopropanation of Alkenes with Dimethyl Diazomalonate Catalyzed by Chiral Diene–Rhodium Complexes

Significance: Many well-developed dirhodium(II) carboxamidates and carboxylates exist for highly enantioselective cyclopropanations of alkenes with diazo compounds (see Review below). Due to often low reactivity and enantioselectivity no highly asymmetric cyclopropanation using diazomalonates exists. The authors discovered that chiral cyclopropane gem-diesters can be prepared in good yields and enantioselectivies by using a cationic chiral rhodium–diene complex.

Chiral Diene-Phosphine Tridentate Ligands for Rhodium-Catalyzed Asymmetric Cycloisomerization of 1,6-Enynes

Asymmetric cycloisomerization of nitrogen-bridged 1,6-enynes proceeded in the presence of a cationic rhodium complex coordinated with a chiral diene/phosphine tridentate ligand to give high yields of chiral 3-azabicyclo[4.1.0]heptenes with high enantioselectivity.

Methamphetamine use and correlates in two villages of the highland ethnic Karen minority in northern Thailand: a cross sectional study

BackgroundThe prevalence of methamphetamine use and human immunodeficiency virus (HIV) incidence are high in lowland Thai society. Despite increasing social and cultural mixing among residents of highland and lowland Thai societies, however, little is known about methamphetamine use among ethnic minority villagers in the highlands.MethodsA cross-sectional survey examined Karen villagers from a developed and a less-developed village on February 24 and March 26, 2003 to evaluate the prevalence and social correlates of methamphetamine use in northern Thailand. Data were collected in face-to-face interviews using a structured questionnaire.ResultsThe response rate was 79.3% (n = 548). In all, 9.9% (males 17.6%, females 1.7%) of villagers reported methamphetamine use in the previous year. Methamphetamine was used mostly by males and was significantly related to primary or lower education; to ever having worked in town; to having used opium, marijuana, or heroin in the past year; and to ever having been diagnosed with a sexually transmitted infection (STI).ConclusionSince labor migration to towns is increasingly common among ethnic minorities, the prevention of methamphetamine use and of HIV/STI infection among methamphetamine users should be prioritized to prevent HIV in this minority population in Thailand.

Mortality rates of foreign national residents in Japan: comparison with the Japanese population and a possible healthy migrant effect

Objectives　This study clarified the health status of foreign nationals residing in Japan by comparing their current mortality rates with those of the Japanese population.Methods　We focused on foreign national residents and used official statistical data from 2010. Due to the possible overestimation of published death rates (PDRs), we computed calculated death rates (CDRs) for foreign national residents, using the number of registered foreign national residents as the denominator. We obtained this number from the Statistics on Foreign National Residents provided by the Ministry of Justice.Results　The all-cause age-adjusted mortality rates (per 100,000 population) of foreign national residents were 571.5 for men and 316.1 for women. The ratios with reference to the mortality rates of the Japanese population were 1.1 and 1.0 for men and women, respectively, indicating that the age-adjusted mortality rates for foreign national residents were similar to those of the Japanese population. However, the rate ratios by age group were 0.3-0.5 for those aged 20-34 years, 0.6-1.0 for those aged 35-59 years, and 1.0-1.4 for those aged ≥60 years, suggesting that the mortality rate of foreign national residents increases with age when compared to that of the Japanese population. Although the foreign population are thought to be disadvantaged in many ways, the mortality rates of the young and middle-aged groups were lower than those of the Japanese population. A similar tendency was observed in the cause-specific mortality rates of the young and middle-aged groups of foreign national residents, except the rates of mortality due to accidents and suicide in the middle-aged group, which were higher than those of the Japanese population. In those aged ≥60 years, the mortality rates were higher than those of the Japanese population overall, especially the mortality rates due to suicide.Conclusion　These results suggest that young and middle-aged foreign national residents are relatively healthy and that a healthy migrant effect exists in Japan. Because this health advantage may either decrease or converge with that of the native population after long-term residence as a previous research reported; without intervention, these lower mortality rates in the young and middle-aged foreign national residents may eventually increase or even exceed those of the Japanese population. More attention should be paid to middle-aged foreign national residents who have higher rates of mortality due to accidents and suicide as well as foreign national residents aged ≥60 years, who have an extremely high mortality rates due to suicide. Although overestimations and underestimations are still possible, CDRs are considered more appropriate than PDRs, since the impact is smaller. Future investigations should focus on the healthy migrant effect in Japan in order to address current and upcoming health issues among foreign national residents.