Orthodontic aligner incorporating Eucommia ulmoides exerts low continuous force: In vitro study

The aim of this study was to investigate the orthodontic force exerted by thermoplastic orthodontic appliances incorporating Eucommia ulmoides in terms of usefulness as the aligner-type orthodontic device. Erkodur, Essix C+®, Eucommia elastomer, and edgewise brackets were used (n = 3, each; thickness = 1.0 mm, each). The orthodontic force on the upper right incisor was measured every 24 h for two weeks using a custom-made measuring device. The force of the Eucommia elastomer (4.25 ± 0.274 N) and multi bracket system (5.32 ± 0.338 N) did not change from the beginning to the end (p > 0.01). The orthodontic force exerted by the Eucommia elastomer was lower than that of the multi-bracket orthodontic appliance from the beginning to the end. The force of Erkodur significantly decreased from the beginning to 24 h (6.47 ± 1.40 N) and 48 h (3.30 ± 0.536 N) (p < 0.01). The force of Essix C+® significantly decreased from the beginning (13.2 ± 0.845 N) to 24 h (8.77 ± 0.231 N) (p < 0.01). The thermoplastic orthodontic appliance made of Eucommia elastomer continuously exerted a constant orthodontic force for two weeks under water immersion conditions. The orthodontic force of Eucommia elastomer was found to be similar to the orthodontic force exerted by the multi-bracket orthodontic appliance with 0.019 x 0.025 in nickel-titanium wire. These results suggest that the Eucommia elastomer has possibly become one of the more useful materials to form thermoplastic orthodontic appliance exerting low continues orthodontic force.Inoue S., Yamaguchi S., Uyama H., et al. Orthodontic aligner incorporating Eucommia ulmoides exerts low continuous force: In vitro study. Materials 13, 4085 (2020); https://doi.org/10.3390/ma13184085

Effect of pH on water durability of cellulose nanofiber-reinforced starch film

The continuous use of single-use petrochemical-based plastics has created a global crisis with a significant buildup of plastic pollution. The use of biomass resources as a replacement source of plastic constituents, namely cellulose and starch, may contribute to alleviating the crisis. In this study, cellulose nanofiber-reinforced starch films were produced and studied for their pH response in terms of their swelling behavior and wet tensile strength in both freshwater and seawater conditions. Mechanically fibrillated cellulose nanofibers (MCNFs) were blended with dialdehyde starch (Di-aldS) and made into MCNF/Di-aldS films. The films were found to swell more and had a lower wet tensile strength at pH of 9. The film’s strength reduced to 1.60 MPa in basic conditions, 80% less than in acidic environment. This is related to hemiacetal crosslinking, resulted from the interactions between the modified moieties of the starches and cellulose nanofibers. Such bioplastics enhance the reusability of cellulose nanofibers and have the potential to replace conventional petrochemical plastics to create a carbon–neutral circular society.The version of record of this article, first published in Journal of Material Cycles and Waste Management, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10163-023-01828-

CPAPアドヒランスの予測因子としてのCPAP装着下覚醒時の呼吸不規則性

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVE: The standard therapy for obstructive sleep apnoea (OSA) is continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) therapy. However, long-term adherence remains at ~50% despite improvements in behavioural and educational interventions. Based on prior work, we explored whether regularity of breathing during wakefulness might be a physiologic predictor of CPAP adherence. METHODS: Of the 117 consecutive patients who were diagnosed with OSA and prescribed CPAP, 79 CPAP naïve patients were enrolled in this prospective study. During CPAP initiation, respiratory signals were collected using respiratory inductance plethysmography while wearing CPAP during wakefulness in a seated position. Breathing regularity was assessed by the coefficient of variation (CV) for breath-by-breath estimated tidal volume (VT ) and total duration of respiratory cycle (Ttot). In a derivation group (n = 36), we determined the cut-off CV value which predicted poor CPAP adherence at the first month of therapy, and verified the validity of this predetermined cut-off value in the remaining participants (validation group; n = 43). RESULTS: In the derivation group, the CV for estimated VT was significantly higher in patients with poor adherence than with good adherence (median (interquartile range): 44.2 (33.4-57.4) vs 26.0 (20.4-33.2), P 34.0 confirmed to be predicting poor CPAP adherence (sensitivity, 0.78; specificity, 0.83). CONCLUSION: At the initiation of therapy, breathing regularity during wakefulness while wearing CPAP is an objective predictor of short-term CPAP adherence.博士（医学）・乙第1391号・平成29年3月15日© 2016 Asian Pacific Society of RespirologyThis is the peer reviewed version of the following article: Respirology Vol.22 No.2 p.386-393 (2017 Feb), which has been published in final form at http://dx.doi.org/10.1111/resp.12900. This article may be used for non-commercial purposes in accordance with Wiley Terms and Conditions for Self-Archiving

Effect of Laughter Yoga on Pulmonary Rehabilitation in Patients with Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease.

Objective: To evaluate the clinical usefulness of laughter yoga for patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) in a pulmonary rehabilitation setting. Design: Pilot study, with randomization of participants. Setting: This study was conducted by the Yoshino-cho National Health Insurance Yoshino Hospital Department of Internal Medicine. Participants: Stable outpatients with COPD (7 men and 1 woman, age 64 to 84 years) participated in the pulmonary rehabilitation program during a 2-week period. Intervention : The patients were divided into two groups based on a sealed envelope randomization method. The laughter yoga group had a 10-min laughter yoga session before exercise training. Patients in both groups had exercise training, educational programs, lung physiotherapy, and nutrition counseling. Outcome Measures: Health-related quality of life using the St. George's Respiratory Questionnaire (SGRQ) and the Medical Research Council (MRC) Health Survey Short Form 36-item (SF-36), depression scores using the Self-rating Depression Scale (SDS), anxiety scores using State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), and spirometry, the 6-minute walk test and mMRC dyspnea scale results were evaluated before and at 2 weeks after the program in both groups. Results: There were significant improvements in the SGRQ impacts domain and the SF-36 general health domain in the laughter yoga group, while the SF-36 physical functioning domain significantly improved in the control group. SDS and STAI result did not significantly change in either group. Spirometry, the 6-minute walk test, and MRC dyspnea scale results did not significantly change in either group. Conclusion: Laughter yoga may improve the psychological quality of life in patients with COPD

Diaper-zero program in nursing home

With an aging population, the number of older adults admitted to nursing homes has increased. Diapers are often used to manage nursing home resident urinary incontinence, yet only one-third of these required assistance from caregivers to urinate. Unnecessary diaper use was reported in 23.9% of people, mostly for precautionary purposes. In this study, the Diaper-zero program caregivers asked residents regularly (every 2-3 h) whether they required voiding and prompted them to void. Over 11 months, the effects on 38 nursing home residents’ diaper use, nursing care level, physical activity, daily energy, and water intake were measured. A higher rate of diaper wearing was initially observed with lower daily energy and water intakes at the beginning of the Diaper-zero program, but this association was not observed after 11 months of the program. The diaper usage rate decreased significantly from 71.1% to 47.4% after 11 months. During this period, for all subjects, nursing care level, physical activity, and total daily intakes of energy and water were unchanged. In conclusion, this program enhances the desire to void, minimizing diaper usage, thus protecting the human dignity of nursing home residents

In situ synthesis of CuO nanoparticles over functionalized mesoporous silica and their application in catalytic syntheses of symmetrical diselenides

A versatile and novel catalyst, CuO nanoparticles immobilized over functionalized mesoporous silica (nCuO-FMS), has been synthesized over an organically modified mesoporous silica framework following a facile synthetic route. The surface of the silica support (SBA-15) is first grafted with the 3-aminopropyl silane group and then further functionalized with tris(4-formylphenyl)amine. The reaction is performed in such a way that a few –CHO groups remain free for further functionalization. Finally, the CuO nanoparticles immobilized on mesoporous silica are obtained by a one pot reaction between the functionalized silica, 2-aminophenol and CuCl2. The product obtained has been used as a catalyst for the syntheses of symmetrical diselenides in the presence of KOH as the base and dimethyl sulphoxide (DMSO) as the solvent. The materials have been characterized thoroughly by X-ray powder diffraction, nitrogen adsorption–desorption studies, transmission electron microscopy, thermal analysis and different spectroscopic techniques. The Cu content of the sample has been determined by atomic absorption spectrophotometry (AAS). The products of the catalytic studies have been identified and estimated by NMR spectroscopy. Almost 78% isolated yield could be achieved at 363 K within 3 hours of the reaction and the catalyst, nCuO-FMS, can be recycled at least up to five catalytic cycles

A case of locally advanced adenosquamous carcinoma of the cecum with long-term survival

A 63-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with a right lower abdominal mass and general fatigue. Preoperative examination suggested a large ovarian tumor or cecal carcinoma. However, her intraoperative diagnosis was colon cancer; we therefore performed an ileocecal resection with oophorectomy. The tumor was pathologically diagnosed as adenosquamous carcinoma T4bN1M-stage IIIa. We administrated CapeOX adjuvant chemotherapy for 6 months. Adenosquamous carcinoma is extremely rare, at around 0.1% of all colorectal cancers, and usually has a poor prognosis. The patient is still alive without recurrence after 84 post-operative months, even with later developments of metachronous early colorectal cancer and breast cancer. We herein report a rare case of cecal ASC with good prognosis

Subaru/HiCIAO HKsHK_{\rm s} imaging of LkHα\alpha 330 - multi-band detection of the gap and spiral-like structures

We present $H$- and $K_{\rm s}$-bands observations of the LkH$\alpha$ 330 disk with a multi-band detection of the large gap and spiral-like structures. The morphology of the outer disk ($r\sim$0\farcs3) at PA=0--45$^\circ$ and PA=180--290$^\circ$ are likely density wave-induced spirals and comparison between our observational results and simulations suggests a planet formation. We have also investigated the azimuthal profiles at the ring and the outer-disk regions as well as radial profiles in the directions of the spiral-like structures and semi-major axis. Azimuthal analysis shows a large variety in wavelength and implies that the disk has non-axisymmetric dust distributions. The radial profiles in the major-axis direction (PA=$271^\circ$) suggest that the outer region (r\geq0\farcs25) may be influenced by shadows of the inner region of the disk. The spiral-like directions (PA=10$^\circ$ and 230$^\circ$) show different radial profiles, which suggests that the surfaces of the spiral-like structures are highly flared and/or have different dust properties. Finally, a color-map of the disk shows a lack of an outer eastern region in the $H$-band disk, which may hint the presence of an inner object that casts a directional shadow onto the disk.Comment: 12pages, 16 figures, 2 tables, accepted for publication in A