Both the anaerobic pathway and aerobic desaturation are involved in the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids in Vibrio sp. strain ABE-1

AbstractVibrio sp. strain ABE-1 is a unique marine bacterium in terms of its ability to synthesize Δ9-trans-hexadecenoic acid and Δ7-cis-tetradecenoic acid (14:1(7c); Okuyama, H., Sasaki, S., Higashi, S. and Murata, N. (1990) J. Bacteriol. 172, 3515-3518). The present study, involving labeling with [1-14C]acetate, demonstrated that 14:1 is synthesized by the anaerobic pathway. When cells of this bacterium were grown in the presence of [1-14C]myristic acid (14:0), this compound was converted to palmitic (16:0) and hexadecenoic (16:1) acids but not to 14:1, under aerobic conditions. These results suggest that the incorporated 14:0 was elongated to 16:0 and then converted to 16:1 by the aerobic desaturation of 16:0. It appears that the anaerobic pathway and aerobic desaturation are both involved in the synthesis of unsaturated fatty acids during aerobic growth of Vibrio sp. strain ABE-1

Power efficiency improvement of a multi-oscillated current resonant type DC-DC converter

This paper deals with an improvement of a power efficiency of a multi-oscillated current resonant type DC-DC converter. The current resonant type converter employs generally the pulse frequency modulation and its magnetizing inductance is set relatively low. For this reason, the magnetizing current through the converter causes a power loss under a light load. In order to solve this problem, a multi-oscillated current resonant type DC-DC converter has been proposed, and revealed the advantage of its control method which can reduce power loss under light load and keep low switching noise. In this topology, output power is controlled by duty ratio and operating frequency is determined by resonant condition. In this paper, an analysis of power loss by focusing on switching devices in this converter to improve power efficiency was given. As a result, it was confirmed that the loss of diodes in secondary side occupies main loss. Adopting the synchronous rectifier in the secondary side, the maximum power efficiency is improved to 96.3%, and the average efficiency, which is averaged efficiency at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the rated load, reached 95.5%.INTELEC 2009 - 2009 International Telecommunications Energy Conference : Incheon, South Korea, 2009.10.18-2009.10.2

Power efficiency analysis of a multi-oscillated current resonant type DC-DC converter

This paper deals with an analysis of the power efficiency of a multi-oscillated current resonant type DC-DC converter. The current resonant type converter employs generally the pulse frequency modulation. For this reason, the magnetizing current through the converter causes not only a power loss under a light load, but also a loss during stand-by. In order to solve these problems, a multi-oscillated current resonant type DC-DC converter has been proposed, and revealed the advantage of its control method which can reduce power loss under light load and keep low switching noise. An analytical relationship of among states, operating mode and efficiency characteristics of this converter are defined. As a result, it was confirmed that for this converter, the output power depends on the voltage of resonant capacitor, and consequently, it is important to determine constants of resonant capacitor and inductance of transformer. The maximum efficiency is 95.4% with the magnetizing inductance 1.8 mH.2008 IEEE Power Electronics Specialists Conference - PESC 2008 : Rhodes, Greece, 2008.06.15-2008.06.1

MRマイクロイメージングとガドリニウム-デンドロン修飾ナノリポソーム造影剤を用いた3D微小血管およびナノ粒子分布の腫瘍内評価

The enhanced permeability and retention (EPR) effect is variable depending on nanoparticle properties and tumor/vessel conditions. Thus, intratumoral evaluations of the vasculature and nanoparticle distribution are important for predicting the therapeutic efficacy and the intractability of tumors. We aimed to develop a tumor vasculature evaluation method and high-resolution nanoparticle delivery imaging using magnetic resonance (MR) micro-imaging technology with a gadolinium (Gd)-dendron assembled liposomal contrast agent. Using the Gd-liposome and a cryogenic receiving coil, we achieved 50-μm isotropic MR angiography with clear visualization of tumor micro-vessel structure. The Gd-liposome-enhanced MR micro-imaging revealed differences in the vascular structures between Colon26- and SU-DHL6-grafted mice models. The vessel volumes and diameters measured for both tumors were significantly correlated with histological observations. The MR micro-imaging methods facilitate the evaluation of intratumoral vascularization patterns, the quantitative assessment of vascular-properties that alter tumor malignancy, particle retentivity, and the effects of treatment

Design and baseline characteristics of the finerenone in reducing cardiovascular mortality and morbidity in diabetic kidney disease trial

Background: Among people with diabetes, those with kidney disease have exceptionally high rates of cardiovascular (CV) morbidity and mortality and progression of their underlying kidney disease. Finerenone is a novel, nonsteroidal, selective mineralocorticoid receptor antagonist that has shown to reduce albuminuria in type 2 diabetes (T2D) patients with chronic kidney disease (CKD) while revealing only a low risk of hyperkalemia. However, the effect of finerenone on CV and renal outcomes has not yet been investigated in long-term trials. Patients and Methods: The Finerenone in Reducing CV Mortality and Morbidity in Diabetic Kidney Disease (FIGARO-DKD) trial aims to assess the efficacy and safety of finerenone compared to placebo at reducing clinically important CV and renal outcomes in T2D patients with CKD. FIGARO-DKD is a randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, event-driven trial running in 47 countries with an expected duration of approximately 6 years. FIGARO-DKD randomized 7,437 patients with an estimated glomerular filtration rate >= 25 mL/min/1.73 m(2) and albuminuria (urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio >= 30 to <= 5,000 mg/g). The study has at least 90% power to detect a 20% reduction in the risk of the primary outcome (overall two-sided significance level alpha = 0.05), the composite of time to first occurrence of CV death, nonfatal myocardial infarction, nonfatal stroke, or hospitalization for heart failure. Conclusions: FIGARO-DKD will determine whether an optimally treated cohort of T2D patients with CKD at high risk of CV and renal events will experience cardiorenal benefits with the addition of finerenone to their treatment regimen. Trial Registration: EudraCT number: 2015-000950-39; ClinicalTrials.gov identifier: NCT02545049

Impact of increased reimbursement for ambulance transportation on hospital acceptance in Japan: a difference-in-difference study

Objective Emergency medical services (EMS) often face difficulties in finding accepting hospitals in Japan. The universal medical insurance system in Japan increased the reimbursement for ambulance transportation acceptance at night, and on Sundays and holidays from 1 April 2016. This study investigated the effect of the reimbursement increase on the number of EMS calls, and transportation time from arrival at the scene to arrival at the hospital.Design A difference-in-difference study. The treatment group consisted of people who called an ambulance at night while the control group consisted of people who called an ambulance during the daytime.Setting The national ambulance records of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency in Japan from 1 April 2015 to 31 December 2016.Participants 7 625 463 ambulance dispatches were eligible for inclusion.Primary and secondary outcome measures The changes in EMS calls, transportation time and the number of ambulance transports per 1000 population in one month in a comparison of daytime and night-time transport.Results The treatment effect (night-time vs daytime) on the number of EMS calls was −0.013 (95% CI, −0.023 to −0.004), which was significant. The transportation time decreased slightly by 0.080 min (95% CI, −0.157 to −0.004). No impact was observed on the number of ambulance transports per 1000 population per month (0.00; 95% CI, −0.008 to 0.002).Conclusion An increase in reimbursement for ambulance transportation acceptance was associated with a decrease in the number of EMS calls. Further strategies for decreasing the number of EMS calls are needed to avoid delays in the treatment of emergency patients with critical illness

Power efficiency improvement of a multi-oscillated current resonant type DC-DC converter

This paper deals with an improvement of a power efficiency of a multi-oscillated current resonant type DC-DC converter. The current resonant type converter employs generally the pulse frequency modulation and its magnetizing inductance is set relatively low. For this reason, the magnetizing current through the converter causes a power loss under a light load. In order to solve this problem, a multi-oscillated current resonant type DC-DC converter has been proposed, and revealed the advantage of its control method which can reduce power loss under light load and keep low switching noise. In this topology, output power is controlled by duty ratio and operating frequency is determined by resonant condition. In this paper, an analysis of power loss by focusing on switching devices in this converter to improve power efficiency was given. As a result, it was confirmed that the loss of diodes in secondary side occupies main loss. Adopting the synchronous rectifier in the secondary side, the maximum power efficiency is improved to 96.3%, and the average efficiency, which is averaged efficiency at 25%, 50%, 75% and 100% of the rated load, reached 95.5%.INTELEC 2009 - 2009 International Telecommunications Energy Conference : Incheon, South Korea, 2009.10.18-2009.10.2

Factors associated with difficulty of hospital acceptance of patients suspected to have cerebrovascular diseases: A nationwide population-based observational study.

Although it is essential to shorten the interval to initial treatment in the care of acute ischemic stroke, some hospitals in Japan reject requests for hospital acceptance from on-scene emergency medical service personnel because of limited resources, which can cause delays in care. We aimed to assess the risk factors for difficulty of hospital acceptance of patients suspected to have cerebrovascular diseases. We conducted a retrospective analysis of the national ambulance records of the Fire and Disaster Management Agency in Japan in 2016. Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to assess the association between difficulty of hospital acceptance of patients suspected to have cerebrovascular diseases and prehospital factors. During the study period, a total of 222,926 patients were included, and 5283 patients (2.4%) experienced difficulties in hospital acceptance. In multivariable analysis, nights (adjusted odds ratio [AOR] 1.54, 95% confidence interval [CI] 1.45-1.64), weekends (AOR 1.32, 95% CI 1.24-1.40), <25 percentile ratio of emergency physicians and neurosurgeons to all physicians (AOR 1.13, 95% CI 1.03-1.23) (AOR 1.36, 95% CI 1.25-1.48), and mean age of physicians (AOR 1.06, 95% CI 1.05-1.07) were significantly associated with difficulties of hospital acceptance of patients suspected to have cerebrovascular disease. There was a marked regional variation in the difficulties of hospital acceptance. Among the national ambulance records of patients suspected to have cerebrovascular diseases, certain prehospital factors such as weekends were positively associated with difficulty of hospital acceptance. A comprehensive strategy for hospital acceptance of patients with cerebrovascular diseases considering regional variation is required