Mitch

We have met this kitty, later named Mitch, on a street when we took a walk. It was in an evening late in fall about 5 or 6 years ago. She seemed to be lost and to have had an injury on legs, which later turned out to be a fracture in hip bone.  At first, she went away from us. In a few seconds, as if having thought better of it, she returned to us for help. Cats seldom behave that way.

 

In a few weeks, having been welcomed by the other two cats in the family, she has become completely well. She was a little bit different from the ordinary cats. She always walked after us outside. Like a dog. She won't, however, go out of the entrance road to the street. Maybe, she has remembered the tragedy of a traffic accident she might have had. She has been loved by everyone in the family.

 

One day, in a couple of years, she has suddenly disappeared from us. We have looked for her everywhere. Mostlikelily, she might have dived into a small transportation truck, which carried something to us. She always enjoyed coming into a place unknown to her. Especially, into a narrow one.

 

No news of her since then. Hopefully, she might be spending a happy life at another family. I am sure she would be loved by people owing to her friendly character.     

  

 

 

 

 

 

How to use neuraminidase inhibitors for Influenza infection

Neuraminidase inhibitors:NIs are new drugs specific for Influenza virus, which have been in wide use for the past several years. Cases of NIs resisitent Influenza A virus have been reported in Hokkaido recently. No wonder there could be such a resistent strain appearing since Influenza viruses are prone to occur mutation frequently. 

 

The review paper quoted below questions using this kind of medicine easily. On the other hand, CDC web site recommends early administration of NIs to Influenza cases. But what the latter definitely tells is that NIs shorten the duration of fever and symptoms. It says only that NIs may improve the complication, mortality or hospitalization.

 

Even though it is often difficult to judge at the outpatient what case is destined for compliacted and severe course, it may be necessary for us to use NIs only for limited cases. It should be left as the only trump card for the severe or high risk cases. 

 

 

quote:

 

PLoS One. 2013;8(4):e60348. doi: 10.1371/journal.pone.0060348. Epub 2013 Apr 2.

The value of neuraminidase inhibitors for the

prevention and treatment of seasonal influenza:

a systematic review of systematic reviews.

Michiels B, Van Puyenbroeck K, Verhoeven V, Vermeire E, Coenen S.

Author information

• Department of Primary and Interdisciplinary Care Antwerp, Centre for General Practice, Faculty of Medicine and Health Sciences, University of Antwerp, Antwerp, Belgium. barbara.michiels@ua.ac.be

Abstract

Controversy has arisen regarding the effectiveness of neuraminidase inhibitors (NIs), especially against influenza-related complications. A literature search was performed to critically assess the evidence collected by the available systematic reviews (SRs) regarding the benefits and disadvantages of NIs (oseltamivir, zanamivir) compared to placebos in healthy and at-risk individuals of all ages for prophylaxis and treatment of seasonal influenza. A SR was done using the Cochrane Database of Systematic Reviews, Health Technology Assessment Database, Database of Abstracts of Reviews of Effects, and Medline (January 2006-July 2012). Two reviewers selected SRs based on randomized clinical trials, which were restricted to intention-to-treat results, and they assessed review (AMSTAR) and study quality indicators (GRADE). The SRs included (N = 9) were of high quality. The efficacy of NIs in prophylaxis ranged from 64% (16-85) to 92% (37-99); the absolute risk reduction ranged from 1.2% to 12.1% (GRADE moderate to low). Clinically relevant treatment benefits of NIs were small in healthy adults and children suffering from influenza-like illness (GRADE high to moderate). Oseltamivir reduced antibiotic usage in healthy adults according to one SR, but this was not confirmed by other reviews (GRADE low). Zanamivir showed a preventive effect on antibiotic usage in children (95% (77-99);GRADE moderate) and on the occurrence of bronchitis in at-risk individuals (59% (30-76);GRADE moderate). No evidence was available on the treatment benefits of NIs in elderly and at-risk groups and their effects on hospitalization and mortality. In oseltamivir trials, nausea, vomiting and diarrhea were significant side-effects. For zanamivir trials, no adverse effects have been reported. The combination of diagnostic uncertainty, the risk for virus strain resistance, possible side effects and financial cost outweigh the small benefits of oseltamivir or zanamivir for the prophylaxis and treatment of healthy individuals. No relevant benefits of these NIs on complications in at-risk individuals have been established.

Ham radio was a hobby for youth those days

An old picture taken in '60s was found in the storage. We, local ham friends, have gone to a mountain in the western part of Tokyo. I am on the left edge. The most right guy is JA1RHL, Ara, currently, VK1ARA. Ham radio was a hobby for teenage boys or young guys those days. I won't hear them except for Ara on the air any longer.

 

The antenna packed in the box might be a beam for 6 meters. I could not remember what radio I carried myself.

 

 

The motto this year

This afternoon, 2 hours before sunset, 40m sounded very quiet. I have met 3 old friends in a row. This path is surely familiar to me. I used to enjoy QSOs with statesside long time ago. It was a real fun for me to listen to them in the upcoming condition. The band was always getting better in some time. The signals were not very loud. Nevertheless, it was fun to talk to the old friends.

Bob, K6RR, an old doctor, told me he had got macular degeneration, which prevented him from working as before for now. He told me it might be the good time for him to retire. He is 84 years old. I wished him quick recovery or, at least, slowed progression of his vision problem. I agreed with him about his retirement.

Dick, K4XU, who has just retired last month, seemed to enjoy his retirement. His wife gives him a big list of chores to do. IT is good for him to have things to do or he would get too lazy and get plumpuy soon. When I told him I was thinking to attend the FOC gathering in Seattle, he told me he would go there as well and kindly invited to visit them in Bend on the way. I replied to him our schedule was not dtetermined yet but I would keep it in my mind. I have met him for 3 times in the past, once at our home in '80s, at Tokyo Ham Fair in '00s and lastly at FOC gathering in Seattle a couple of years ago.

The last guy who called me after the QSO with Dick was Bill, W1YC. The signal was not very loud so that our QSO was only for a few minutes. I was very happy to hear him because I haven't met him for a year or two. We used to work often on 40m when he was in the bay area in '80s. He must be around 79 years old and has retired a couple of years ago. He is now in \Nevada. Since his wife was still working in parttime, he was doing the house chores now. I told him "Let's discuss how to cook dinner soon".

What a fun to talk to such old friends on 40m in the rising condition! It is my first love in ham radio in '60s. After Steve, KF7YRL, says in his bio in the QRZ. com, I would keep the motto "tell me your story" this year. It will make my life meaningful.

Bach's manuscript

I have been learning the Unaccompanied Suites for Violincello by Bach with an edition by Maurice Gendron. Gendron's indication of bowing seemed to me as quite technical and complicated at first. For example, the 1st bar of the prelude in the 1st suite was often indicated to play in one down bow. Gendron's edition tells us to play only first 3 of 1/16 notes in a slur. The rests in the bar are played in one bow for each note. Here is the manuscript of this piece. The former has long been familiar to my ears.

Recently, I have had a chance to look the manuscript of this work by Bach himself. I was surprised to know Bach had indicated detailed bowing in each piece. Gendron's edition has adopted the original indication by Bach. Bowing is essential for expression with any string instrument. Lately, before investigating Bach's manuscript thoroughly, I have become feeling this apparently complicated bowing for this work by Gendron had been musically very expressive and excellent. I was very happy to know it might had been because I listened to what Bach himself thought in his composition.

And, imagining what Bach thought and felt while composing a particular phrase, I go on practising it.

PS: I have misunderstood as if the manuscript had been written by Bach himself. It was by his wife, Anna Magdalena. It still, I believe, reflect Bach's idea on bowing. Some cellists insist that this manuscript is not perfect but has some evident mistakes. But, when I practise the prelude of the 3rd suite, I feel the bowing by Anna Magdalena through Gendron expresses something very excellent. In my view, the bowing technique Anna Magalena employs serves to materialize Bach's intention.

What Yasukuni shrine means

The problem of worship by our prime minister or by the other ministers in the cabinet to Yasukuni shrine is not in the fact that they deify the victimized soldiers in and before the WWII and the JSDF soldiers dead in the service after the WWII. But Yasukuni shrine has been doing it without any permission of the victims or of their families.

There has been a political movement to establish this shrine as the national religion for the imperialism. This way of defying is against the principle of the human rights for freedom in religion, idea and thoughts our constitution provides. This violation to the fundamental right is to recruit the people into any war in the future. The authority had done the same thing for the people until the end of the WWII.

Of course, the history of this shrine was political from the beginning. It has been establshed by Meiji Emperor to deify the casuaities of the soldiers dead for his name. It has worked as an institution to recruit the soldiers for the imperialism from the people, who have worked to invade the neighbor countries in WWII. Automatically deifying those victims means the government has administered the deads. Through that system of administration, the government has dominated as well as controlled the people. It has worked as a political institution in this way.  

It won't matter if the politicians worship the shrine in private or in public form. In either way, when politicans worship there, it means public in nature. The present conservative politicians aim at reestablishing the shrine to be the national religion. They have repeatedly tried to legislate a law to do this without success. It was against the principle of the separation between the religion and the politics. Now they are intending, in stead, to repeat worships to the shrine even if there are any oppositions to that in or out of the country. They seem to believe it is the only way to nationalize the institution as they have intended for years. It would become, in their belief, a spiritual center of the people. The founding rule of the shrine contains description how to accept "new" souls to the shrine, that is, new caualties of soldiers.

Remebering those dead in the WWII is not the same as worshipping at this shrine at all. Remembering them is a matter in our mind but not a matter in a forced religion. The politicians should never intend to unite the people under this political shrine.

A Happy New Year

I have had a good time with my wife and daughter at home for the New Year's Eve. Practising own instruments, having dinner together, watching a TV program of Beethoven's 9th Symphony, chatting a few friends on 40m and going asleep while reading a book of our country's history. Getting up at 7AM, I found a fine and crisp morning for the New Year's Day. My wife has prepared a traditional breakfast with soup named Zouni; soup with rice cakes, chicken and vegetables. A very good one. It seems to be a time in a year for a house husband to be able to take some rest.

For New Year's Resolution, I would like to summarize as an article on the subject how we read and send Morse code for conversation. It would be basically a psychological description based on some neuroscience findings. Morse code reception is an interesting process in our mind/brain. Not as a professional researcher at all but as an amateur enjoying that process, I would like to write about it. It might be a hint to understand how we perceive the symbols with tone.

I am going to start a piano trio again. I am very afraid my bad vision and worsened ability in rhythm etc would make my partners unhappy. But there is only limited time left for me in my life to enjoy such activity so that I would enjoy it feeling thankful to the lovely partners

I could not help thinking of the decline of our country in economy, politics and something like the ethos of the public. Actually, the population is decreasing in number as well as the economic activities. The politics seem to aim at the anachronism of the imperialism days while some of the people express their hatred for the minorities and the weak in the society. In this situation, the people, I am afraid, would seek something they could rely on as well as depend on. Some value where they don't need judge things by themselves. Even giving up the freedom of idea and thoughts, they would need a sense of values which would free them from judging things by themselves while requiring their obedience. The economy should recede badly in the near future when the transient  effect of the quantitative easing is gone. What a mess will happen in that situation? I would go on watching what occurs.

Attending some FOC gathering is another goal this year. It may depend on my wife's work schedule. Since we  haven't been used to go for a long trip, it would be a big project. Hopefully, it comes true this year, though.

Thanks again for visiting this blog. Any comment would be the vitamine for me to continue it. Your words are really appreciated. Wishing you a very healthy and happy new year again.

Shin
JA1NUT