Japanese VLBI Network observations of radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies

We performed phase-reference very long baseline interferometry (VLBI) observations on five radio-loud narrow-line Seyfert 1 galaxies (NLS1s) at 8.4 GHz with the Japanese VLBI Network (JVN). Each of the five targets (RXS J08066+7248, RXS J16290+4007, RXS J16333+4718, RXS J16446+2619, and B3 1702+457) in milli-Jansky levels were detected and unresolved in milli-arcsecond resolutions, i.e., with brightness temperatures higher than 10^7 K. The nonthermal processes of active galactic nuclei (AGN) activity, rather than starbursts, are predominantly responsible for the radio emissions from these NLS1s. Out of the nine known radio-loud NLS1s, including the ones chosen for this study, we found that the four most radio-loud objects exclusively have inverted spectra. This suggests a possibility that these NLS1s are radio-loud due to Doppler beaming, which can apparently enhance both the radio power and the spectral frequency.Comment: 8 pages, 2 figures, accepted for publication in PAS

Type I Angiotensin II Receptor Blockade Reduces Uremia-Induced Deterioration of Bone Material Properties

Chronic kidney disease (CKD) is associated with a high incidence of fractures. However, the pathophysiology of this disease is not fully understood, and limited therapeutic interventions are available. This study aimed to determine the impact of type 1 angiotensin II receptor blockade (AT-1RB) on preventing CKD-related fragility fractures and elucidate its pharmacological mechanisms. AT-1RB use was associated with a lower risk of hospitalization due to fractures in 3276 patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis. In nephrectomized rats, administration of olmesartan suppressed osteocyte apoptosis, skeletal pentosidine accumulation, and apatite disorientation, and partially inhibited the progression of the bone elastic mechanical properties, while the bone mass was unchanged. Olmesartan suppressed angiotensin II-dependent oxidation stress and apoptosis in primary cultured osteocytes in vitro. In conclusion, angiotensin II-dependent intraskeletal oxidation stress deteriorated the bone elastic mechanical properties by promoting osteocyte apoptosis and pentosidine accumulation. Thus, AT-1RB contributes to the underlying pathogenesis of abnormal bone quality in the setting of CKD, possibly by oxidative stress. © 2020 The Authors. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research published by Wiley Periodicals LLC on behalf of American Society for Bone and Mineral Research (ASBMR).Wakamatsu T., Iwasaki Y., Yamamoto S., et al. Type I Angiotensin II Receptor Blockade Reduces Uremia-Induced Deterioration of Bone Material Properties. Journal of Bone and Mineral Research, 36, 1, 67. https://doi.org/10.1002/jbmr.4159

Do TSH, FT3 and FT4 impact BAT visualization of clinical FDG-PET/CT images?

[Objectives] Several researchers have reported that type 2 idothyronine deiodinase (D2) is considered to be important for the synergism of thyroid hormone (TH) and to be required to generate the T3 from T4 in the BAT, which maintains the normal acute thermogenic function of BAT. However, to date, details about the relationship between visualization of BAT on FDG-PET/CT and the effect of TH remain unknown. In this study, we retrospectively analyze BAT visualization on FDG-PET/CT in patients with various conditions and TH levels. [Methods] In this retrospective investigation, we reviewed images from all patients who underwent clinical FDG-PET/CT studies from October 2010 to July 2015, and categorized patients in 5 groups: (i) Thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) group; (ii) Recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) group; (iii) Hypothyroidism group; (iv) hyperthyroidism group; and (v) BAT group. Total of sixty-two FDG-PET/CT imaging studies in fifty-nine patients were performed. A total of sixty-two FDG-PET/CT imaging studies in fifty-nine patients were performed. To compare each group; gender; age; body weight; serum TSH, FT3, FT4 levels; and outside temperature were evaluated. [Results] No significant visualization of BAT was noted in any of the images in the THW, rhTSH, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism groups. Serum TSH level was significantly high in the rhTSH group and significantly low in the hyperthyroidism group. Elevated serum TSH was noted in the THW and hypothyroidism group. All patients in the BAT group were in a euthyroid state. When the BAT-negative and -positive patient groups were compared, it was noted that the minimum and maximum temperature on the day of the PET study and maximum temperature of the one day before of the PET study were significantly lower in BAT positive group than in all others those of other groups. [Conclusions] Elevated TSH condition before RIT, hyperthyroidism orhypothyroidism did not significantly impact BAT visualization of clinical FDG-PET/CT images

Do TSH, FT3, and FT4 Impact BAT Visualization of Clinical FDG-PET/CT Images?

Objective. We retrospectively analyzed activated BAT visualization on FDG-PET/CT in patients with various conditions and TH levels to clarify the relationships between visualization of BAT on FDG-PET/CT and the effect of TH. Methods. Patients who underwent clinical FDG-PET/CT were reviewed and we categorized patients into 5 groups: (i) thyroid hormone withdrawal (THW) group; (ii) recombinant human thyrotropin (rhTSH) group; (iii) hypothyroidism group; (iv) hyperthyroidism group; and (v) BAT group. A total of sixty-two FDG-PET/CT imaging studies in fifty-nine patients were performed. To compare each group, gender; age; body weight; serum TSH, FT3, and FT4 levels; and outside temperature were evaluated. Results. No significant visualization of BAT was noted in any of the images in the THW, rhTSH, hypothyroidism, and hyperthyroidism groups. All patients in the BAT group were in a euthyroid state. When the BAT-negative and BAT-positive patient groups were compared, it was noted that the minimum and maximum temperature on the day of the PET study and maximum temperature of the one day before the PET study were significantly lower in BAT-positive group than in all those of other groups. Conclusions. Elevated TSH condition before RIT, hyperthyroidism, or hypothyroidism did not significantly impact BAT visualization of clinical FDG-PET/CT images