A simplified method to quantitatively predict the effect of lenvatinib on hepatocellular carcinoma using contrast-enhanced ultrasound with perfluorobutane microbubbles

Contrast-enhanced computed tomography (CECT) is generally used to evaluate the response to treatment of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC); however, CECT is unsuitable for the early prediction of therapeutic effects and frequent monitoring. We aimed to investigate the usefulness of our simplified method for the quantification of tumor vascularity using contrast-enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) with perfluorobutane microbubbles [Sonazoid® (GE Healthcare, Oslo, Norway)] to predict the therapeutic effect of lenvatinib. Among the 13 patients studied, nine who had more than a 20% reduction in tumor vascularity within 2 weeks of starting treatment experienced complete response or partial response at 8-12 weeks as assessed by CECT. In contrast, three patients without reductions and one patient with only a slight decrease in tumor vascularity had a poor response to lenvatinib. Quantitative assessment of tumor vascularity by our simplified CEUS-based method could be a useful predictor of therapeutic responses to lenvatinib in patients with HCC

Frontal/Lateral Mandibular Translations-masticatory Movement Relationship

Objective: This study aimed to clarify whether crown restorations with adjusted occlusal surfaces that were formed using frontal/lateral mandibular translations, functioned without interference during mastication. Materials and Methods: In 10 adult volunteers who had healthy normal dentition, frontal and lateral border movement was measured during unilateral mastication and free mastication, using an ultrasound digital mandibular measuring system (ARCUS digma2). Additionally, precise impressions of the upper and lower dental arch were taken, and dental casts were made. These casts were measured using a CAD/CAM scanning system (ARCTICA). For the fabrication of crown restorations, the functionally generated path technique (FGP technique) was used on the monitor for the lower first and second molar. The movement of the opposite teeth on the occlusal surface during frontal and lateral border movement, during unilateral mastication, and during free mastication was considered the functional occlusal surface. The data of the functional occlusal surface generated by frontal/lateral mandibular translations and that of each of the masticatory functional occlusal surfaces were superimposed using three-dimensional data evaluation software (GOM). The difference between these surfaces was evaluated to determine the interference area, maximum interference difference, and average interference difference. Results: Interference was present for all functional occlusal surfaces created by mastication as well as those determined by frontal/lateral mandibular translations. The average interference values, in order of free masticatory movement, habitual masticatory side, and non-habitual masticatory side, were as follows. Interference area: 167.5±20.8 mm2, 121.9±28.5 mm2, 144.6±28.0 mm2; maximum interference distance: 345.0±43.1 μm, 189.0±39.9 μm, 309.0 ± 46.8 μm; average interference distance: 130.0±15.7 μm, 64.0±10.6 μm, 130.0±21.9 μm. Statistically significant differences were found for the maximum interference distance and average interference distance (both p<0.05). Conclusions: The functional occlusal surfaces for each form of mastication demonstrated interference with the functional surface of frontal/lateral mandibular translations. Thus, crown restorations of which the occlusal surfaces were adjusted and formed by frontal/lateral mandibular translations may interfere with mastication

Biotransformation of organic compounds in vivo using larvae of beetles (Allomyrina dichotoma) as biocatalysts

The biotransformation of organic compounds using the larvae of the Japanese rhinoceros beetle (Allomyrina dichotoma) as a biocatalyst is described. When phenyl alkanediones were administered by mouth (p.o) or subcutaneous injection (s.c) to the beetle, asymmetric reduction occurred to yield the corresponding diols in varying optical yields: 1-phenyl-1,2-propandione or 1-phenyl-1,3-butanedione reduced to (1R,2S)- and (1S,2S)-1,2-phenylpropanediols in high optical yields or (1R,3S)- and (1R,3R)-1-phenyl-1,3-butanediols in low to high optical yields, respectively. By administrating 1-phenyl-1-propanone, 1-phenyl-1-butanone or 4-phenyl-2-butanone, redox reactions occurred to give 1-phenyl-1,2-propanediols or 1-phenyl-1,3-butanediols in lower optical yields. The administrations of β-ionone and cinnamyl chloride resulted in regioselective allylic oxidations producing enone and cinnamic acid, respectively. However, when (R)-(-)-carvone was administered, regiospecific dihydroxylation at the isopropenyl group occurred to give (4R,8R)- and (4R,8S)-8,9-dihydroxy-8,9-dihydrocarvone as diastereoisomers. These results appear to demonstrate similar reaction tendency with the case of a microorganism. It is possible that these reactions were due in part to bacteria in the intestine of the larva: however, regio- and stereoselectivities of the reactions were sometimes unique. Thus, it is supposed that these biotransformations were accomplished by the ensemble of the larva׳s own enzymes with several bacteria. The results obtained in this study might show the possibility of using such enzymes derived from insects, including beetle larvae, as a biocatalyst

PETREL: Platform for Extra and Terrestrial Remote Examination with LCTF

A small satellite ”PETREL” for UV astronomy and remote sensing with ”tunable” multi-spectral cameras conducted by an academia-industrial collaboration is presented. This project was originally proposed by an astronomer who desired a satellite for exploration of explosive objects in ultraviolet. To avoid the earthshine the astronomical observations are scheduled only in the nighttime. To utilize the daytime more electively we conceived a plan of ”satellite sharing” with the industrial collaborators, that can also reduce the developing cost drastically. The daytime mission is spectroscopy that is one of the potential fields in terms of data business, because that can provide chemical and biological information on the surface of the earth. We employ multi-spectral cameras making use of liquid crystal tunable filters (LCTFs) that enable adaptive observations at the optimized wave-bands for each targets. In 2020, this remote-sensing project and ultraviolet astronomy mission were accepted as a small satellite project of JAXA’s Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration program and as an ISAS/JAXA’s small-scale program, respectively. This satellit

Application of artificial sunlight for the elderly as a possible environmental nursing practice

Aging and aged societies have arrived in many countries where significant development of medicine and the economy has been achieved. Japan is a highly aged society with a shortage of carers both at home and in long-term care settings. In fact, more persons of advanced age who do not need intensive care in hospitals strongly desire health care to be delivered in their own home with their family. Environmental nursing practice, which means that nurses improve the environment of patients or the elderly properly in accordance with healthcare considerations, is currently playing a more important role, not only to prevent the elderly from contracting various diseases, but also to provide a facility for supporting an aged person to live a fulfilling life, preferably one that includes independence. This approach will lead to a reduction in medical expenditure by increasing the number of aged people with healthy longevity without the need for hospitalization or intensive care. This short communication focuses on healthy lighting for the elderly based on our research and experience regarding the beneficial effects of artificial sunlight on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH), asthma and food allergy, and ulcerative colitis in experimental animal models and clinical settings. Then, we review other studies and discuss how artificial sunlight would be useful for the elderly as one of the environmental nursing practices

PETREL for Astrophysics and Carbon Business

A multi-purpose 50kg class microsatellite hosting astrophysical mission and earth remote sensing, PETREL , will be launched in 2023. In the night side, PETREL observe the ultra-violet sky with a wide-field telescope covering 50 deg^2 for surveying transient objects related to supernovae, tidal disruption events, and gravitational wave events. Our UV telescope can detect the early phase UV emission from a neutron star merger occurred within 150 Mpc. In addition to the satellite observation, PETREL sends a detection alert including the coordinate and brightness of the UV transient to the ground via the real time communication network within several minutes after detection to conduct follow-up observations with the collaborating ground based observatories over the world. In the day side, PETREL observes the surface of the earth by using the tunable multi-spectral cameras and a ultra-compact hyperspectral camera. Our potential targets are the tropical forests (Green Carbon) and coastal zones (Blue Carbon) in the tropical areas to evaluating the global biological carbon strages. For this purpose PETREL will conduct multiple scale mapping collaborating with drones and small aircraft not only satellite. The obtained data will be used for academical research and for business applications. The technical difficulty of this satellite is that carries out multi-purpose with different requirements, such as astronomical observations which requires a quite high attitude stability and the earth observations requiring a high pointing accuracy, with limited resources. If it is possible, a novel small satellite system or a business style can be realized that can share the payload with academia and industry. PETREL has been adopted as Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program No.3 led by JAXA, and development is underway with the aim of launching in FY2023

No association between CEL-HYB hybrid allele and chronic pancreatitis in Asian populations

International audienceA hybrid allele between the carboxyl ester lipase gene (CEL) and its pseudogene, CELP (called CEL–HYB), generated by non-allelic homologous recombination between CEL intron 10 and CELP intron 10′, was found to increase susceptibility to chronic pancreatitis in a case–control study of patients of European ancestry. We attempted to replicate this finding in 3 independent cohorts from China, Japan, and India, but failed to detect the CEL–HYB allele in any of these populations. The CEL–HYB allele might therefore be an ethnic-specific risk factor for chronic pancreatitis. An alternative hybrid allele (CEL–HYB2) was identified in all 3 Asian populations (1.7% combined carrier frequency), but was not associated with chronic pancreatitis

学生による看護学部導入教育の評価

報告Report導入教育の一部として看護学部1年次生に対して2005年度に実施された、基礎セミナーIの全体授業(講演)について受講学生より得た評価を報告する。全体授業は4回行われ、看護や介護に限定せずに広範な分野から考える素材が提供された。難易度が適当か、\u27元気\u27や\u27意欲\u27(など前向きのパワー)を与えるか、「大学在学中に学修する、あるいは将来に医療(看護)・保健の専門職として活躍する」という観点から有意義であるかという事項について全回を共通して評価したところ、何れの回についても良好な回答の割合が多かったので、基礎セミナーIの全体授業に係る目標は高い水準で達成されたと評価できた。また、各回に特異な事項についても良好な評価であった。全回に共通する事項、各回に特異な事項の両者とも、看護師の仕事や障害に挫けない生き方に関わる内容のものがとくに好評であった