Researchers in Japan have announced a major step forward in efforts to find a cure for Parkinson's disease. In a world first, they say they've successfully transplanted iPS cells into a patient's brain.
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has congratulated US President Donald Trump on the Republican Party maintaining its Senate majority in the midterm elections.
Japan's trade minister says he will make efforts to conclude an early agreement on a free trade pact in the Asia-Pacific region.
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/upld/medias/en/radio/news/20181109200000_english_1.mp3
Key words : researchers in Japan disease
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_43/
Researchers in Japan have announced a major step forward in efforts to find a cure for Parkinson's disease. In a world first, they say they've successfully transplanted iPS cells into a patient's brain.
Researchers at Kyoto University say they carried out the groundbreaking operation last month. They say the patient is recovering well.
Parkinson's disease affects nerve cells in the brain.
Normally, the cells produce a substance called dopamine, which transmits signals from the brain to other parts of the body. But Parkinson's causes nerve cells to deteriorate and affects their ability to produce dopamine, leading to poor coordination, tremors and eventually paralysis.
Kyoto University researchers say they transplanted 2.4 million iPS cells into the brain of a man in his 50s.
They will now monitor the patient over the next 2 years to see if the procedure successfully counters the debilitating effects of Parkinson's.
The development is considered a breakthrough because there's currently no cure for the disease.
Globally, millions of people suffer from Parkinson's, including an estimated 150,000 in Japan. In the long run, the team wants this type of treatment to become available under Japan's health insurance system.
Kyoto University professor Jun Takahashi said that they hope to mass-produce cells together with various companies to lower the costs.
iPS cells can theoretically replicate any type of body tissue. They were developed by Shinya Yamanaka, who won a Nobel Prize for his work in 2012.
A number of scientists in Japan are exploring other treatment methods using iPS cells. One group is laying the groundwork to treat serious eye diseases. The government has also approved a plan to use the cells to treat heart conditions.
Key words : parkinson usually affect functioning
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_80/
The Kyoto University team developed dopamine-producing nerve cells from iPS cells to transplant into the patient's brain.
A one-centimeter-wide hole was made in his forehead to inject the cells.
The researchers' plan calls for transplanting around 5 million cells into the patient, but they injected only half the amount this time, to ensure safety in the procedure.
They intend to transplant the rest if no problems are found for 6 months.
The team also plans to conduct transplants on 6 more patients.
The members are to collect data for 2 years after the procedures and use it to review the transplants' safety and effectiveness with outside experts.
Parkinson's disease usually affects people aged 50 and over, but it can strike younger people as well.
The nervous system disorder occurs in every one to 1.5 in 1,000 people. An estimated 150,000 people have the disease in Japan. Patients gradually lose the ability to move, and it's not uncommon for them to become bedridden.
The disease is caused by an abnormality in nerve cells that produce the chemical dopamine. Normal nerve cells deliver instructions from the brain to the other parts of the body by transmitting dopamine.
Although the exact cause is unknown, some dopamine-producing cells stop functioning normally.
Scientists believe that lower dopamine levels cause the limbs to tremble or the body to become rigid.
The main treatment is helping the nerve cells produce more dopamine through medication or through surgery to implant electrodes in the brain.
But scientists have yet to find a way to stop the disease's progression.
Key words : Kyoto 5 million also plans
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_80/
The Kyoto University team developed dopamine-producing nerve cells from iPS cells to transplant into the patient's brain.
A one-centimeter-wide hole was made in his forehead to inject the cells.
The researchers' plan calls for transplanting around 5 million cells into the patient, but they injected only half the amount this time, to ensure safety in the procedure.
They intend to transplant the rest if no problems are found for 6 months.
The team also plans to conduct transplants on 6 more patients.
The members are to collect data for 2 years after the procedures and use it to review the transplants' safety and effectiveness with outside experts.
Parkinson's disease usually affects people aged 50 and over, but it can strike younger people as well.
The nervous system disorder occurs in every one to 1.5 in 1,000 people. An estimated 150,000 people have the disease in Japan. Patients gradually lose the ability to move, and it's not uncommon for them to become bedridden.
The disease is caused by an abnormality in nerve cells that produce the chemical dopamine. Normal nerve cells deliver instructions from the brain to the other parts of the body by transmitting dopamine.
Although the exact cause is unknown, some dopamine-producing cells stop functioning normally.
Scientists believe that lower dopamine levels cause the limbs to tremble or the body to become rigid.
The main treatment is helping the nerve cells produce more dopamine through medication or through surgery to implant electrodes in the brain.
But scientists have yet to find a way to stop the disease's progression.
Key words : member of patient
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_35/
A member of a group of Parkinson's patients welcomed a new treatment for the neurological disease. It involves transplanting iPS cells into a patient's brain.
70-year-old Hisao Hiramine is a senior member of the 9,000-member group.
Hiramine was diagnosed with the degenerative disease 12 years ago.
His condition has worsened over the past 5 years. He now has difficulty using his hands and his voice has become hoarse.
He used to love taking walks in a neighborhood park, but now he seldom goes there.
Hiramine said medication becomes less effective over time and some group members are now bedridden. He added that the lack of a cure is a source of frustration.
He said the new treatment won't be widely available anytime soon, so he may not be able to receive it. But he said he hopes the transplant method will cure younger patients.
Key words : Abe congratulate
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_20/
Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has congratulated US President Donald Trump on the Republican Party maintaining its Senate majority in the midterm elections.
The 2 leaders spoke on the phone for about 10 minutes on Friday morning.
Trump thanked Abe and said he would like to continue cooperating with him. He told Abe to phone him at any time.
Trump also mentioned Vice President Mike Pence's planned visit to Japan. Pence will make a courtesy call on Abe on Tuesday. Trump expressed hope that Pence and Abe will have close talks next week.
Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga told reporters that the 2 leaders did not discuss North Korea or bilateral trade issues.
Key words : pence will visit Japan third trip
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_18/
US Vice President Mike Pence will visit Japan for talks with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe next week.
The White House said on Thursday that Pence will also call on Singapore, Australia and Papua New Guinea during his trip from November 11th to 18th. It will be his third trip to the region as vice president.
Pence will meet Prime Minister Shinzo Abe during his visit to Tokyo on Monday and Tuesday.
He will represent President Donald Trump in a summit meeting with the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and the East Asia Summit in Singapore, as well as the Asia-Pacific Economic Cooperation meetings in Papua New Guinea.
National Security Advisor John Bolton will join Pence in the meetings in Singapore and Papua New Guinea.
The White House says Pence will reaffirm the president's commitment to the final, fully verified denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula.
It says Pence will also deliver the message that authoritarianism, aggression and disregard for other nations' sovereignty by any nation in the Indo-Pacific will not be tolerated by the United States.
Key words : trade minister early agreement
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_23/
Japan's trade minister says he will make efforts to conclude an early agreement on a free trade pact in the Asia-Pacific region, called RCEP.
Ministers from nations in the area are gathering in Singapore on Monday to discuss the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership. They represent 16 countries, including Japan, China and India.
Japanese trade minister Hiroshige Seko said, "I will negotiate with my counterparts to reach a 'substantial conclusion' on a beneficial deal by the end of this year."
Seko said that differences among participants are narrowing, but crucial issues that require political decisions are unresolved.
If RCEP goes ahead, it will account for 30 percent of global gross domestic product and trade volume.
So far, the countries have spent 5 years negotiating the deal.
Key words : Seko says
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_02/
Japan's trade minister Hiroshige Seko says Japan, the United States, and the European Union will jointly submit proposals to reform the World Trade Organization.
Seko explained the proposals in his meeting with WTO Director-General Roberto Azevedo in Japan on Thursday.
The proposals call for requiring member countries to increase their funding of the WTO if they set up or boost subsidies for domestic industries without reporting them to the organization.
The proposals are believed to have been crafted to deal with measures taken by emerging economies.
Japan hopes to gain support from member nations at a WTO gathering in Switzerland next week.
Seko told Azevedo that Japan will lead discussions on reforming the WTO. Azevedo underscored the need for action, noting that global free trade is threatened.
Calls for reforming the organization are rising due to such issues as the trade friction between the US and China.
Key words : Trump new measure
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_31/
US President Donald Trump's administration has announced new measures to deny asylum to migrants who enter the country illegally.
Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen and Acting Attorney General Matthew Whitaker unveiled the new rules in a joint statement on Thursday.
A senior administration official says migrants would only be eligible for asylum if they come through official ports of entry and that the screening of asylum applications would be tightened.
Individuals are currently allowed to file the applications even after crossing the border illegally.
The official says the president is granted by US law the authority to limit immigration. Trump is expected to announce as early as Friday that he will exercise the power.
US media report that the American Civil Liberties Union plans to challenge the Trump administration's move in court, saying that US law guarantees individual rights for asylum regardless of where they cross.
The latest crackdown on illegal immigration comes as a caravan of prospective immigrants from Central America is heading north to seek refuge in the United States, fleeing poverty and poor security.
The US government estimates the size of the caravan at 6,500 people -- 3,500 in Mexico and 3,000 near the Mexico-Guatemala border.
Key words : thousands of dismissal
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_19/
Thousands of people in the United States have protested President Donald Trump's dismissal of Attorney General Jeff Sessions and called for the continuation of the Russia probe.
The protests were held across the country on Thursday evening.
Trump fired Sessions and appointed Matthew Whitaker as the acting attorney general on Wednesday.
Whitaker has been critical of the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into Russia's alleged meddling in the 2016 US presidential election.
In Washington, about 500 people gathered in front of the White House. They held up signs that read "Nobody is above the law" along with other slogans. They also chanted "Protect law and democracy."
One of the protesters said he is very worried that Trump could end Mueller's investigation. He said the probe should continue until it finds out whether the President is guilty or not.
The Washington Post reported on Thursday that Mueller may issue a subpoena to have Trump testify before a grand jury. But the report quoted people close to Whitaker as saying they do not believe he would approve any subpoena.
Key words : Akihito hosted working hard
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_39/
Japan's Emperor Akihito and Empress Michiko have hosted their annual autumn garden party. It was the last such event before the Emperor's planned abdication in April next year.
More than 1,800 guests gathered at the Akasaka Imperial Gardens in Tokyo on Friday despite a light rainfall.
The Emperor and Empress shared an umbrella as they talked with the guests.
The couple was joined by other members of the Imperial family. Crown Princess Masako, who is recuperating from poor health, attended the event for the duration for the first time in 15 years.
Among the guests were 4 medalists from this year's PyeongChang Winter Paralympics, including alpine skier Momoka Muraoka and snowboarder Gurimu Narita.
The Emperor congratulated Muraoka, who won 5 medals including one gold. She replied that she owes the result to people who provided her with warm support. The Empress told the Paralympian that her skiing was beautiful.
Also in attendance were astronaut Norishige Kanai who returned from a mission on the International Space Station in June, and screenwriter Koki Mitani who has produced numerous TV drama and movie hits.
The Emperor inquired about Kanai's health. The astronaut said that he's back in shape and working hard for his next mission.
The garden party is held every year in the spring and autumn. The one next spring has been canceled as its date is close to the Emperor's abdication.
Next year's autumn party is also expected to be called off, due to a series of rituals planned at the time to mark the enthronement of Crown Prince Naruhito.
Key words : Naomi
https://www3.nhk.or.jp/nhkworld/en/news/20181109_32/
Japanese tennis star Naomi Osaka has been praised for her phenomenal success this season in her father's home country of Haiti.
Haitian President Jovenel Moise presented Osaka with a tennis racket and a commemorative plaque at a ceremony in the capital, Port-au-Prince, on Thursday.
Osaka won the US Open in September. She's the first Japanese singles player to claim a Grand Slam title.
Osaka told reporters that she's very excited to see more of Haiti, which she said is her father's homeland and half of who she is.
The 21-year-old is visiting the Caribbean country with her father and Japanese mother.
She tweeted a photo of herself being welcomed by a throng of reporters at the airport, with the message, "So I'm in Haiti right now."
Osaka is due to visit schools, sports facilities and her father's hometown during her 5-day visit.
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