リチウム空気電池正極へのグラフェンナノシートとハイブリッドカーボンナノファイバー-カーボンブラックの適用による電気化学特性向上

筑波大学 (University of Tsukuba)201

Production of Radiation-Induced Compounds in Irradiated Raw and Cooked Meats

The objective of this study was to determine the best irradiation markers in irradiated meat. Raw and cooked beef loins, pork loins and chicken thighs were irradiated at 0 or 5 kGy. The amounts of hydrocarbons, 2-alkylcyclobutanones, and sulfur volatiles were determined after 0 and 6 months of frozen storage. Two hydrocarbons (8-heptadecene (C17:1) and 6,9-heptadecadiene (C17:2)) and two 2- alkylcyclobutanones (2-dodecylcyclobutanone (DCB) and 2-tetradecylcyclobutanone (TCB)) were detected only in irradiated raw and cooked meats. Although pre-cooked irradiated meats produced more hydrocarbons and 2- alkylcyclobutanones than the irradiated cooked ones, the amounts of individual hydrocarbons and 2- alkylcyclobutanones, such as 8-heptadecene, 6,9- heptadecadiene, DCB, and TCB, were sufficient enough to identify whether the meat was irradiated or not. Dimethyl disulfide and dimethyl trisulfide were detected only in irradiated meats, but dimethyl trisulfide disappeared after 6 months of frozen storage under oxygen permeable packaging conditions. This indicated that only dimethyl disulfide could be used as an irradiation marker for the meat stored in frozen conditions for a long time

Effect of olmesartan and amlodipine on serum angiotensin-(1–7) levels and kidney and vascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension

Background Recent studies suggest that angiotensin-converting enzyme 2 (ACE2) and angiotensin-(1–7) [Ang-(1–7)] might have beneficial effects on the cardiovascular system. We investigated the effects of olmesartan on the changes in serum ACE2 and Ang-(1–7) levels as well as kidney and vascular function in patients with type 2 diabetes and hypertension. Methods This was a prospective, randomized, active comparator-controlled trial. Eighty participants with type 2 diabetes and hypertension were randomized to receive 20mg of olmesartan (N = 40) or 5mg of amlodipine (N = 40) once daily. The primary endpoint was changes of serum Ang-(1–7) from baseline to week 24. Results Both olmesartan and amlodipine treatment for 24weeks decreased systolic and diastolic blood pressures significantly by > 18mmHg and > 8mmHg, respectively. Serum Ang-(1–7) levels were more significantly increased by olmesartan treatment (25.8 ± 34.5pg/mL → 46.2 ± 59.4pg/mL) than by amlodipine treatment (29.2 ± 38.9pg/mL → 31.7 ± 26.0pg/mL), resulting in significant between-group differences (P = 0.01). Serum ACE2 levels showed a similar pattern (6.31 ± 0.42ng/mL → 6.74 ± 0.39ng/mL by olmesartan treatment vs. 6.43 ± 0.23ng/mL → 6.61 ± 0.42ng/mL by amlodipine treatment; P < 0.05). The reduction in albuminuria was significantly associated with the increases in ACE2 and Ang-(1–7) levels (r =  − 0.252 and r =  − 0.299, respectively). The change in Ang-(1–7) levels was positively associated with improved microvascular function (r = 0.241, P < 0.05). Multivariate regression analyses showed that increases in serum Ang-(1–7) levels were an independent predictor of a reduction in albuminuria. Conclusions These findings suggest that the beneficial effects of olmesartan on albuminuria may be mediated by increased ACE2 and Ang-(1–7) levels. These novel biomarkers may be therapeutic targets for the prevention and treatment of diabetic kidney disease. Trial registration: ClinicalTrials.gov NCT05189015.This research was funded by Daiichi Sankyo Co., Seoul, South Korea through a subcontract with SNUBH (Seongnam, Republic of Korea). The funding agency had no role in the study design, data collection and analysis, decision to publish, or preparation of the manuscript

The additive effect of herbal medicines on lifestyle modification in the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease: a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction: Non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) is difficult to manage because of its complex pathophysiological mechanism. There is still no effective treatment other than lifestyle modification (LM) such as dietary modifications, regular physical activity, and gradual weight loss. Herbal medicines from traditional Chinese Medicine and Korean Medicine have been shown to be effective in the treatment of NAFLD based on many randomized controlled trials. This systematic review and meta-analysis aims to evaluate the additive effects of herbal medicines on LM in the treatment of NAFLD.Methods: Two databases (PubMed and Cochrane library) were searched using keywords related to NAFLD and herbal medicines. Then the randomized controlled trials (RCTs) evaluating the therapeutic effects of herbal medicines combined with LM were selected. The pooled results were analyzed as mean difference (MD) with 95% confidence interval (CI) for continuous data, and risk ratio (RR) with 95% CI for dichotomous data.Results and Discussion: Eight RCTs with a total of 603 participants were included for this review study. Participants were administered with multi-herbal formulas (Yiqi Sanju Formula, Tiaogan Lipi Recipe, and Lingguizhugan Decoction) or single-herbal extracts (Glycyrrhiza glabra L., Magnoliae offcinalis, Trigonella Foenum-graecum L. semen, Portulaca oleracea L., and Rhus Coriaria L. fructus) along with LM for 12 weeks. The meta-analysis showed a significant improvement in ultrasoundbased liver steatosis measured by odds ratio (OR) in the herbal medicine group than those with LM alone (OR = 7.9, 95% CI 0.7 to 95.2, p &lt; 0.1). In addition, herbal medicines decreased the levels of aspartate transferase (MD -7.5, 95% CI -13.4 to −1.7, p = 0.01) and total cholesterol (MD -16.0, 95% CI -32.7 to 0.7, p = 0.06) more than LM alone. The meta-analysis partially showed clinical evidence supporting the additive benefits of herbal medicines for NAFLD in combination with LM. Whereas, it is necessary to provide a solid basis through higher-quality studies using a specific herbal medicine

Delayed Infrarenal Aortic Pseudoaneurysm Treated by Endovascular Stent Graft in Pyogenic Spondylitis

A 61-year-old male patient with pyogenic spondylodiscitis and epidural and psoas abscesses underwent posterior decompression, debridement, and instrumented fusion, followed by anterior debridement and reconstruction. Sudden onset flank pain was diagnosed 7 weeks postoperatively and was determined to be a pseudoaneurysm located at the aorta inferior to the renal artery and superior to the aortic bifurcation area. An endovascular stent graft was applied to successfully treat the pseudoaneurysm. Postoperative recovery was uneventful and infection status was stabilized

Hypofractionated High-Dose Intensity-Modulated Radiotherapy (60 Gy at 2.5 Gy per Fraction) for Recurrent Renal Cell Carcinoma: A Case Report

A patient with renal cell carcinoma (RCC) developed synchronous bone metastasis with metachronous relapses to the bone and renal fossa. The primary lesion was initially removed surgically, and the metastatic bone lesions and locally recurrent tumours were treated by a high-fractional dose and high-total-dose intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT, 60 Gy at 2.5 Gy per fraction) without significant side effects. All the grossly relapsed tumors underwent complete remission (CR) within a short time after IMRT. To date, CR has been maintained for more than two years. This case study reports the successful treatment of radioresistant RCC using a new scheme that involves a fractionation regimen with a high precision radiotherapy