RAISE-3 for Agile On-Orbit Demonstration of Innovative Satellite Technologies: Mission Definition and Conceptual Design

The Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA) has selected on-orbit demonstration missions for the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-3 project in May 2020, as part of the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration Program. Seven on-orbit demonstration missions were selected in a category of parts, components and subsystems and those missions will be demonstrated onboard the RApid Innovative payload demonstration SatellitE-3 (RAISE-3). This 100kg-class satellite developed by JAXA is a flagship of the Innovative Satellite Technology Demonstration-3 fleet. This paper describes an overview of the demonstration missions and system specifications of RAISE-3, as well as results of conceptual design of the satellite and a partial application of digital development process to an initial phase of the project. Further, project plan and technical challenges to be studied in a project implementation phase are also discussed

Texture Indices of 18F-FDG PET/CT for Differentiating Squamous Cell Carcinoma and Non-Hodgkin’s Lymphoma of the Oropharynx

We assessed the role of 18F-FDG PET/CT texture indices for the differentiation of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) and non-Hodgkin’s lymphoma (NHL) in the oropharynx. 18F-FDG PET/CT data for 27 patients with SCC and 25 patients with NHL in the oropharynx were investigated. The maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), metabolic tumor volume (MTV), total lesion glycolysis (TLG), and six texture indices (homogeneity, entropy, short-run emphasis, long-run emphasis, low gray-level zone emphasis [LGZE], and high graylevel zone emphasis [HGZE]) were derived from PET images. PET/CT parameters of the SCC patients were compared with those of the NHL patients. The diagnostic accuracy of the indices for differentiating SCC from NHL was calculated by a receiver operating characteristic curve analysis. 18F-FDG uptake in the oropharynx was observed in all of the patients. The SUVmax, MTV, and TLG did not differ significantly between the SCC and NHL groups, but two of the six texture indices (LGZE [p=0.004] and HGZE [p=0.03]) showed significant differences between the groups. LGZE was the best discriminative index for the differentiation of SCC and NHL (55.6% sensitivity, 88.0% specificity). The LGZE and HGZE texture indices derived from 18F-FDG PET/CT images may be useful in differentiating SCC and NHL in the oropharynx

Attenuation of conduction delay by ischemic preconditioning reduces ischemia-induced ventricular arrhythmias.

Ischemic preconditioning has been acknowledged as a powerful method of decreasing ischemic injury. However, the antiarrhythmic mechanism of ischemic preconditioning during ischemia is unclear. We studied the effects of ischemic preconditioning on arrhythmias and cardiac electrophysiology during ischemia in Langendorff rat hearts (n = 44). In the non-preconditioned group (PC(-); n = 24), the hearts underwent 5-min zero-flow global ischemia without any prior ischemic preconditioning. In the preconditioned group (PC(+); n = 20), the hearts were preconditioned by three cycles of 3-min zero-flow global ischemia and 5-min reperfusion before undergoing 5-min global ischemia. Ischemic preconditioning reduced the incidence of ischemia-induced arrhythmias (PC(-); 38.9%, PC(+): 8.3%, p < 0.05), shortened monophasic action potential duration (MAPD, P < 0.05), attenuated conduction delay (conduction time; PC(-): 234.2%, PC(+): 173.4%, P < 0.05) and increased the ventricular fibrillation threshold. Although the shortening of MAPD in PC(-) hearts was not influenced by the presence or absence of arrhythmias, conduction time prolongation at 3-min was more obvious in PC(-) hearts with arrhythmia than in PC(-) hearts without arrhythmia (PC(-) with arrhythmia: 220.2%, PC(-) without arrhythmia: 190.7%, P < 0.05). We concluded that ischemic preconditioning could protect the rat hearts from ischemia-induced arrhythmias and postulated that attenuation of conduction delay during ischemia might be an important factor in the antiarrhythmic action of ischemic preconditioning.</p

Remarkable features of ovarian morphology and reproductive hormones in insulin-resistant Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Zucker fatty (fa/fa) rats are a well-understood model of obesity and hyperinsulinemia. It is now thought that obesity/hyperinsulinemia is an important cause of endocrinological abnormality, but to date there have been no reports on the changes in ovarian morphology or the ovarian androgen profile in rat models of obesity and insulin resistance.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In this study we investigated the effects of obesity and hyperinsulinemia on ovarian morphology and the hormone profile in insulin-resistant Zucker fatty rats (5, 8, 12 and 16 weeks of age, n = 6-7).</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Ovaries from 5-week-old fatty rats had significantly greater total and atretic follicle numbers, and higher atretic-to-total follicle ratios than those from lean rats. Ovaries from 12- and 16-week-old fatty rats showed interstitial cell hyperplasia and numerous cysts with features of advanced follicular atresia. In addition, serum testosterone and androstenedione levels significantly declined in fatty rats from age 8 to 16 weeks, so that fatty rats showed significantly lower levels of serum testosterone (12 and 16 weeks) and androstenedione (all weeks) than lean rats. This may reflect a reduction of androgen synthesis during follicular atresia. Serum adiponectin levels were high in immature fatty rats, and although the levels declined significantly as they matured, it remained significantly higher in fatty rats than in lean rats. On the other hand, levels of ovarian adiponectin and its receptors were significantly lower in mature fatty rats than in lean mature rats or immature fatty rats.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Our findings indicate that ovarian morphology and hormone profiles are significantly altered by the continuous insulin resistance in Zucker fatty rats. Simultaneously, abrupt reductions in serum and ovarian adiponectin also likely contribute to the infertility seen in fatty rats.</p

An Adult Case of Nasal Chondromesenchymal Hamartoma: Imaging Characteristics Including Diffusion-Weighted Images

Nasal chondromesenchymal hamartoma (NCMH), a rare, benign, nasal cavity tumor, typically occurs in children. Differential diagnosis is difficult because NCMH often presents with non-specific findings, including cystic components and invasion of the surrounding area on T2-weighted magnetic resonance images. Here, we present a rare adult case of NCMH, with no clear hyperintensity on diffusion-weighted images (DWI), and bone remodeling on the tumor margins on computed tomography. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of DWI on NCMH, and these findings, which suggest benign disease, may be useful in diagnosing NCMH

心不全を合併した心房細動患者のカテーテルアブレーション後の長期予後 : 左室駆出率に基づいた心不全のサブタイプ間における比較

Aims: Heart failure (HF) prognosis has been reported similar in patients with preserved vs. reduced left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF). This study compared the long-term prognosis of HF patients undergoing radiofrequency catheter ablation (RFCA) for atrial fibrillation (AF). Methods and results: Among 5010 patients undergoing RFCA in Kansai Plus AF registry, 656 patients (13.1%) with a documented history of HF were enrolled in the study before RFCA. The primary endpoint was a composite of all-cause death, HF hospitalization, and stroke or systemic embolism. Patients with reduced (<40%), mid-range (40-49%), and preserved (≥50%) LVEF were 98 (14.9%), 107 (16.3%), and 451 (68.8%) patients, respectively. The prevalence of ischaemic heart disease and cardiomyopathies was higher among patients with reduced as compared with preserved LVEF (27.6% vs. 10.0%, P < 0.05 and 36.7% vs. 15.3%, P < 0.05, respectively). The median follow-up period was 2.9 years. The 3-year cumulative risk for the primary endpoint was higher in patients with reduced LVEF (32.7%) compared to those with mid-range (11.7%) or preserved (11.6%) LVEF (P < 0.001). Reduced LVEF was the most significant independent risk factor for primary endpoint (hazard ratio, 2.83; 95% confidence interval 1.74-4.61, P < 0.001). The 3-year arrhythmia recurrence rate was similar among the groups (48.2%, 42.8%, and 47.3%, respectively, P = 0.75). Conclusion : This study raises hypothesis that patients with HFrEF and AF had approximately three times higher risk for a composite of all-cause death, HF hospitalization, and stroke or systemic embolism after AF ablation compared with patients with HFmrEF or HFpEF.博士（医学）・甲第802号・令和3年12月21日Copyright: © Published on behalf of the European Society of Cardiology. All rights reserved. © The Author(s) 2021.This is a pre-copyedited, author-produced version of an article accepted for publication in Europace following peer review. The version of record "Europace Online ahead of print (2021 Aug 31;euab201) is available online at: https://doi.org/10.1093/europace/euab201.発行元が定める登録猶予期間終了の後、本文を登録予定（2022.08

Time-Dependent Interaction between Differentiated Embryo Chondrocyte-2 and CCAAT/Enhancer-Binding Protein ␣ Underlies the Circadian Expression of CYP2D6 in Serum- Shocked HepG2 Cells

ABSTRACT Differentiated embryo chondrocyte-2 (DEC2), also known as bHLHE41 or Sharp1, is a pleiotropic transcription repressor that controls the expression of genes involved in cellular differentiation, hypoxia responses, apoptosis, and circadian rhythm regulation. Although a previous study demonstrated that DEC2 participates in the circadian control of hepatic metabolism by regulating the expression of cytochrome P450, the molecular mechanism is not fully understood. We reported previously that brief exposure of HepG2 cells to 50% serum resulted in 24-h oscillation in the expression of CYP3A4 as well as circadian clock genes. In this study, we found that the expression of CYP2D6, a major drug-metabolizing enzyme in humans, also exhibited a significant oscillation in serum-shocked HepG2 cells. DEC2 interacted with CCAAT/enhancer-binding protein (C/EBP␣), accompanied by formation of a complex with histone deacetylase-1, which suppressed the transcriptional activity of C/EBP␣ to induce the expression of CYP2D6. The oscillation in the protein levels of DEC2 in serum-shocked HepG2 cells was nearly antiphase to that in the mRNA levels of CYP2D6. Transfection of cells with small interfering RNA against DEC2 decreased the amplitude of CYP2D6 mRNA oscillation in serumshocked cells. These results suggest that DEC2 periodically represses the promoter activity of CYP2D6, resulting in its circadian expression in serum-shocked cells. DEC2 seems to constitute a molecular link through which output components from the circadian clock are associated with the time-dependent expression of hepatic drug-metabolizing enzyme

Prolyl Isomerase Pin1 Regulates Mouse Embryonic Fibroblast Differentiation into Adipose Cells

isomerase, Pin1, regulates insulin signal transduction. Pin1 reduces responses to insulin stimulation by binding CRTC2 (CREB-regulated transcriptional co-activator 2) and PPARγ (peroxisome prolifereator- activated receptor γ), but conversely enhances insulin signaling by binding IRS-1 (insulin receptor substrate-1), Akt kinase, and Smad3. Therefore, it is still unclear whether Pin1 inhibits or enhances adipose cell differentiation. mice was restored by increasing expression of Pin1. We found that Pin1 binds to phosphoThr172- and phosphoSer271-Pro sites in CREB suppress the activity in COS-7 cells.Pin1 enhanced the uptake of triglycerides and the differentiation of MEF cells into adipose cells in response to insulin stimulation. Results of this study suggest that Pin1 down-regulation could be a potential approach in obesity-related dysfunctions, such as high blood pressure, diabetes, non-alcoholic steatohepatitis