Missing Dwarf Problem in Galaxy Clusters

We investigated the formation and evolution of CDM subhalos in galaxy-sized and cluster-sized halos by means of N-body simulations. Our aim is to make clear what the ``dwarf galaxy problem'' is. It has been argued that the number of subhalos in simulated galaxy-sized halos is too large compared to the observed number of dwarfs in the local group, while that in cluster-sized halos is consistent with observed number of galaxies in clusters such as the Virgo cluster. We simulated nine halos with several different mass resolutions and physical scales. We found that the dependence of the cumulative number of subhalos N_c on their maximum circular velocity V_c is given by N_c \propto V_c^-3, down to the reliability limit, independent of the mass of the main halo. This implies that simulations for cluster-sized halos give too many halos with V_c ~ 140km/s or less. Previous comparisons of cluster-sized halos gave much smaller number of subhalos in this regime simply because of their limited resolution. Our result implies that any theory which attempts to resolve the missing dwarf problem should also explain the discrepancy of the simulation and observation in cluster-sized halos.Comment: 10 pages, 20 figures, submitted to PAS

Early-phase changes of extravascular lung water index as a prognostic indicator in acute respiratory distress syndrome patients

Background: The features of early-phase acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) are leakage of fluid into the extravascular space and impairment of its reabsorption, resulting in extravascular lung water (EVLW) accumulation. The current study aimed to identify how the initial EVLW values and their change were associated with mortality. Methods: This was a post hoc analysis of the PiCCO Pulmonary Edema Study, a multicenter prospective cohort study that included 23 institutions. Single-indicator transpulmonary thermodilution-derived EVLW index (EVLWi) and conventional prognostic factors were prospectively collected over 48 h after enrollment. Associations between 28-day mortality and each variable including initial (on day 0), mean, maximum, and Δ (subtracting day 2 from day 0) EVLWi were evaluated. Results: We evaluated 192 ARDS patients (median age, 69 years (quartile, 24 years); Sequential Organ Failure Assessment (SOFA) score on admission, 10 (5); all-cause 28-day mortality, 31%). Although no significant differences were found in initial, mean, or maximum EVLWi, Δ-EVLWi was significantly higher (i.e., more reduction in EVLWi) in survivors than in non-survivors (3.0 vs. ?0.3 mL/kg, p = 0.006). Age, maximum, and Δ-SOFA scores and Δ-EVLW were the independent predictors for survival according to the Cox proportional hazard model. Patients with Δ-EVLWi > 2.8 had a significantly higher incidence of survival than those with Δ-EVLWi ? 2.8 (log-rank test, χ2 = 7.08, p = 0.008). Conclusions: Decrease in EVLWi during the first 48 h of ARDS may be associated with 28-day survival. Serial EVLWi measurements may be useful for understanding the pathophysiologic conditions in ARDS patients. A large multination confirmative trial is required

HMG-CoA Reductase Inhibitors Suppress High Glucose-induced Excessive O2⁻ production in J-774 Cells

Statins (HMG-CoA reductase inhibitors) have so-called pleiotropic effects, which directly reduce neoinitial inflammation of atherosclerosis, and one possible mechanism is the attenuation of oxidative stress. Although an increase in oxidant stress is suggested to cause and aggravate arteriosclerosis in diabetes, the origin of oxidant stress and effects of statins on the oxidant stress in diabetes are not clearly delineated. We evaluated in this study the effect of high glucose on superoxide anion (O_2^-) production in the J-774 macrophage-like cell line, and the effect of various statins (cerivastatin, fluvastatin, and nisvastatin) on it. The basal and 12-O-tetradecanoylphor-bol 13-acetate (TPA)-stimulated O_2^- productions were measured by chemiluminescence (CL) amplified with a Cypridina luciferin analog. Both basal CL and TPA-stimulated CL (TPA-CL) in J-774 cells cultured with high glucose were apparently increased in dose and time dependent manners, and the increments were clearly suppressed by a NADPH oxidase inhibitor (diphenyleneiodonium chloride) or a protein kinase C inhibitor (GF-109803 X). Three statins significantly inhibited the high glucose-induced excessive O_2^- production in a dose dependent manner. Furthermore, co-incubation with mevalonic acid and the metabolites, geranylgeranyl pyrophosphate and farnesyl pyrophosphate, partially prevented the statin-induced suppression of TPA-CL. These data suggest that in J-774 cells high glucose causes excessive O_2^- production through NADPH oxidase and protein kinase C pathways, and statins suppress the excessive O_2^- generation. This effect of statins could be, in part, dependent on the inhibition of synthesis of isoprenoid intermediates. Statins may be useful as a drug to prevent arteriosclerosis by inhibiting oxidative stress in poorly controlled diabetic patients

Effect of Poly (ADP-ribose) Polymerase Inhibitors on Hypoadiponectinemia Caused by Chronic Blockade of Nitric Oxide Synthesis in Rats

Oxidant stress-induced activation of poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP) contributes to the pathogenesis of various cardiovascular diseases. Adiponectin is an adipocyte-derived anti-atherogenic protein. In the present study, we investigated the role of PARP in the development of hypoadiponectinemia caused by chronic blockade of nitric oxide synthesis with N^ω-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME) in rats. Decreased production of NO and increased production of O_2^- were observed in aortas from L-NAME-treated rats. Plasma adiponectin levels and adiponectin mRNA levels within adipose tissue were markedly decreased in L-NAME-treated rats. Concurrent administration of potent PARP inhibitors, INO-1001 or PJ34, with L-NAME did not restore plasma adiponectin levels or fat adiponectin mRNA levels. Thus, the cardiovascular protective effects of PARP inhibitors are not associated with adiponectin levels. Therefore, drugs which increase adiponectin levels may be beneficial alongside PARP inhibitors in the treatment of cardiovascular disease

コウジョウセン クリーゼ 20レイ ノ チリョウ ト ヨゴ : コウジョウセン クリーゼ シンダン キジュン オ モチイタ ケントウ

日本甲状腺学会から甲状腺クリーゼの診断基準が2008 年に発表された.2004 年4 月から2009 年3月に当院で臨床的に甲状腺クリーゼと診断,治療した20 症例を,その診断基準にあてはめ,治療と予後等について解析した.基礎疾患は全例バセドウ病だった.誘因として服用不規則や中断が9 例,感染症6 例,糖尿病性ケトアシドーシス3 例,情動ストレス2 例,脳血管障害1 例,外傷1 例だった.診断基準で確定診断例が15例,疑い例が1 例,除外症例が4 例だった.症状では中枢神経症状が疑い・確定診断例では11 例,脈拍130/分以上は12 例認められたが,除外例では認められなかった.治療としてはチアマゾールが全症例に使用されていた.ヨードは13 例,b ブロッカーは17 例,ステロイドは12 例の症例で使用されており全例救命できた.服用不規則や中断,感染症が誘引となりやすく,症状では中枢神経症状・脈拍が特にクリーゼの診断には重要と考えられた.後遺症を残す重症例は6 例で全て新診断基準によって確定診断された症例であり,新診断基準は予後への有用性も期待できると考えられた.The Japan Thyroid Association established diagnosticcriteria for thyroid crisis in 2008. Using these criteria, weanalyzed 20 cases clinically diagnosed as thyroid crisis andtreated in our hospital from April 2004 to March 2009. Allpatients had Basedow\u27s disease at the basal disease. Thecauses were irregular compliance or interruption of treatment(9 cases), infection (6 cases), diabetic ketoacidosis (3cases), emotional stress( 2 cases), stroke( 1 case), and trauma(1 case). Fifteen cases were confirmed as thyroid crisis,1 case was suspected as thyroid crisis, and 4 cases were rejectedas thyroid crisis according to the diagnostic criteria.Central nervous symptoms were observed in 11 cases, andtachycardia (over 130 beats/min) in 12 cases in the definitiveand suspicious cases, although there were no centralnervous symptoms or tachycardia in the excluded cases.Thiamazole was administered to all patients. In addition, iodine(13 cases), b -blocker (17 cases), and corticosteroids(12 cases) were administered. All patients were recovered.Irregular internal use, stopping treatment, and infectionwere likely to induce thyroid crisis. In paticular, centralnervous symptoms and tachycardia were important factorsfor diagnosis. As 6 serious cases with aftereffect were diagnosedas definitive cases of thyroid crisis according to thenew criteria, these new criteria may be useful to predictthe prognosis