A Hybrid Lesion of Lung Cancer and Aspergillosis

A 74-year-old man presented with gradual wall thickening of a cystic lung lesion. Serologic tests indicated Aspergillus infection, but neither fungal organisms nor evidence of malignant disease were recovered from repeated sputum collections, a bronchoscopic lung biopsy specimen, or bronchial washings. Treatment with antifungal agents did not result in clinical improvement. Surgical resection of the lesion demonstrated both squamous cell carcinoma and aspergillosis. These distinct disorders share common radiologic manifestations that can present a diagnostic challenge, as in the present case

HT-FED2004-56812 RETRACTION AND BREAKUP OF AN INITIALLY STRETCHED LIGAMENT

ABSTRACT Unsteady motion of an initially stretched ligament in another immiscible fluid is studied numerically for the flow dominated by both inertia and viscosity. Numerical simulations were conducted using an axisymmetric version of a Front-Tracking / Finite Difference code. The ranges of the non-dimensional num

ErbB2 and NFκB Overexpression as Predictors of Chemoradiation Resistance and Putative Targets to Overcome Resistance in Muscle-Invasive Bladder Cancer

Radical cystectomy for muscle-invasive bladder cancer (MIBC) patients frequently impairs their quality of life (QOL) due to urinary diversion. To improve their QOL, a bladder-sparing alternative strategy using chemoradiation has been developed. In bladder-sparing protocols, complete response (CR) to induction chemoradiation is a prerequisite for bladder preservation and favorable survival. Thus predicting chemoradiation resistance and overcoming it would increase individual MIBC patients' chances of bladder preservation. The aim of this study is to investigate putative molecular targets for treatment aimed at improving chemoradiation response. Expression levels of erbB2, NFκB, p53, and survivin were evaluated immunohistochemically in pretreatment biopsy samples from 35 MIBC patients in whom chemoradiation sensitivity had been pathologically evaluated in cystectomy specimens, and associations of these expression levels with chemoradiation sensitivity and cancer-specific survival (CSS) were investigated. Of the 35 patients, 11 (31%) achieved pathological CR, while tumors in the remaining 24 patients (69%) were chemoradiation-resistant. Multivariate analysis identified erbB2 and NFκB overexpression and hydronephrosis as significant and independent risk factors for chemoradiation resistance with respective relative risks of 11.8 (P = 0.014), 15.4 (P = 0.024) and 14.3 (P = 0.038). The chemoradiation resistance rate was 88.5% for tumors overexpressing erbB2 and/or NFκB, but only 11.1% for those negative for both (P <0.0001). The 5-year CSS rate was 74% overall. Through multivariate analysis, overexpression of erbB2 and/or NFκB was identified as an independent risk factor for bladder cancer death with marginal significance (hazard ratio 21.5, P = 0.056) along with chemoradiation resistance (P = 0.003) and hydronephrosis (P = 0.018). The 5-year CSS rate for the 11 patients achieving pathological CR was 100%, while that for the 24 with chemoradiation-resistant disease was 61% (P = 0.018). Thus, erbB2 and NFκB overexpression are relevant to chemoradiation resistance and are putative targets aimed at overcoming chemoradiation resistance in MIBC

技術の人間化に基づいたサスティナブルデザイン/医とデザインセミナーをとおして

2014 年、政府は関西圏を国家戦略特区に位置付け、先端医療と関連産業の集積化を図り、人や資金が集積する国際ビジネス拠点構想を打ち出した。神戸市は高度医療技術の研究開発拠点を整備し、医療関連産業の集積を目指す「神戸医療産業都市構想」を表明。先端医療技術の研究開発拠点を整備、産学官の連携により、医療関連産業 の集積を図る神戸医療産業都市クラスターを推進している。世界に先駆けて高齢社会へ突入した我が国において、医療環境分野へのデザイン的側面からの支援を、早急に検討する必要に迫られている。芸術工学研究所では、一年半にわたる「医とデザイン」研究会を続けていく中で、プロダクトデザイン的側面から医療器具開発への支援だけでなく、映像・アニメーション・CG を含めた画像処理技術からの医療環境への提言や支援、より快適で緊張感を解く医療空間の設計や音響デザイン提案、快適でストレスの少ない医療用ユニフォームや、患者用コスチュームの提案など、本学として直接的に医療現場への研究や支援、提言がおこなえる環境を有している。2013 年9 月に大学としてMIKCS（注1）への加盟を果たし、教育機関として神戸大学医学部と共に医療環境へのデザイン教育と研究を推し進めていく環境整備を検討中である。併せて、芸術工学研究所として、各種医療関連メーカーに対するデザイン的側面からの支援を積極的におこない、「医とデザイン」における研究・実績を積み重ねることによって、医療デザイン教育・研究への足がかりとしたい。In 2014, Japanese government assigned Kansai area as National Strategic Special Zones and announced an idea to be an international center of business for gathering cutting-edge medicine and related-industries. Kobe city office also promoted an idea of “medicine-related industry city” for preparing research and development center of the cutting-edge medicine. They would like to welcome medicine-related industries to Kobe city by establishing the international center and collaborating industries ‐ universities‐government. Now, we are urged to support medicine related area facing to aging society of Japan. Research Institute of Design at Kobe Design University has been conducted series of seminar “Medicine and Design” for one and half year and offered environments not only for designing medical equipment, but also other aspects such as an imaging, animation, and computer graphics technique for comfortable medical environment, medical uniform, and wear design for patients. For developing design education and research in the medical field we joined MIKCS （Medical Innovation Kobe Community System） in September of 2013 to collaborate with faculty of medicine in Kobe University. In addition, we hope to develop education and research of medical design through a support of medical equipment related company from the aspect of design and accumulating achievements in the field of “medicine and design

筋肉の負担・疲労の新しい評価方法に基づいた機械・道具のデザイン

機械・道具の使いやすさを評価する場合、筋肉負担・疲労の軽減効果について検証を実施する必要がある。そこで、人間工学的な評価方法として、活動する筋肉の酸素動態を計測する装置を開発し、使いやすい機械・道具を研究した。近年、重量物の運搬、あるいは、高齢者や身体障がい者の介護作業現場で、筋肉の負担・疲労が軽減する機械・道具などの開発・デザインが始まっている。しかし、アシストスーツによる筋肉の負担・疲労の軽減効果について十分な検証がなされていない。そこで、本研究では、活動する筋肉における酸素動態を計測する近赤外分光装置(NIRS)を用いて、アシストスーツによる筋肉負担・疲労の軽減効果を検証した。従来のNIRSによる計測は筋肉の表層部に限られてきたので、今回は深層筋の酸素動態も計測した。結果として、アシストスーツ着用の有無にかかわらず、全身にかかる負担を示す酸素摂取量と心拍数は差がなかった。一方、アシストスーツを装着した場合、脊柱起立筋の負担が減少することが確認された。さらに、肩・上肢の負担と疲労を減らす提案として、ゴムバンドを肩と上肢に付けて、重量物持ち上げ時の筋力を補助することが挙げられた。今回の基礎的な資料がユニバーサルデザイン・福祉用具・スポーツウエア・作業服などのデザインにおいても、活用されることが望まれる。Objective evaluation of machine- and tools design is crucial to reduce muscular loads and fatigue. In the present study, as an ergonomic testing method, measurement system for oxygen dynamics of active muscle tissues was developed to design comfortable products for human use. Development and universal design activities for machine- and tools have been promoted to minimize the muscular loads and fatigue during care operation work for aged- and handicapped people. However, there exists a lack of objective evaluation on assisted gear for care operation work. Using near infra-red spectroscopy measurement for oxygen dynamics of active muscle tissues, the physiological strain of assisted gear were evaluated. In particular, both the superficial- and deep region muscles oxygen dynamics were measured continuously. As a result, there are no significant difference of whole-body oxygen uptake and heart rate between the conditions of wearing the gear and the control. However, the assisted gear reduced deoxygenation of muscle of erector spinae of the back. To minimize the muscular stressand increase the power of the upper extremities, attachment of rubber band on them are recommended

Pitavastatin Reduces Inflammation in Atherosclerotic Plaques in Apolipoprotein E-Deficient Mice with Late Stage Renal Disease

Objectives: Chronic renal disease (CRD) accelerates atherosclerosis and cardiovascular calcification. Statins reduce low-density lipoprotein-cholesterol levels in patients with CRD, however, the benefits of statins on cardiovascular disease in CRD remain unclear. This study has determined the effects of pitavastatin, the newest statin, on arterial inflammation and calcification in atherogenic mice with CRD. Methods and Results: CRD was induced by 5/6 nephrectomy in cholesterol-fed apolipoprotein E-deficient mice. Mice were randomized into three groups: control mice, CRD mice, and CRD mice treated with pitavastatin. Ultrasonography showed that pitavastatin treatment significantly attenuated luminal stenosis in brachiocephalic arteries of CRD mice. Near-infrared molecular imaging and correlative Mac3 immunostaining demonstrated a significant reduction in macrophage accumulation in pitavastatin-treated CRD mice. Pitavastatin treatment reduced levels of osteopontin in plasma and atherosclerotic lesions in CRD mice, but did not produce a significant reduction in calcification in atherosclerotic plaques as assesses by histology. CRD mice had significantly higher levels of phosphate in plasma than did control mice, which did not change by pitavastatin. In vitro, pitavastatin suppressed the expression of osteopontin in peritoneal macrophages stimulated with phosphate or calcium/phosphate in concentrations similar to those found in human patients with CRD. Conclusion: Our study provides in vivo evidence that pitavastatin reduces inflammation within atherosclerotic lesions in CRD mice

複合感覚の科学から捉えるデザインの快適性

デザインについては、意匠や使い易さだけではなく、科学的な視点からヒトにおける複合感覚と快適性の関係を考察する必要がある。快・不快の感覚は時間・場所・状況によって変動し、複合した環境刺激の影響を受けることが多い。また、心身の快適性を言語表現だけでは説明できない。感覚が複合する現実場面に立って、快適性科学の視点からデザインを検討することが重要である。今回は、温度と色彩の複合刺激がヒトの感覚に与える影響を主観的および客観的方法（生理指標）を用いて総合的に評価した。具体的には、異なる温度の環境下において色彩がヒトに与える影響を検討するために、「温冷感」・「快適感」と生理的な変化を計測した。その結果、常温環境における客観的指標と主観的指標の変化は一致しなかった。一方、高温環境下においては、色彩と温度による複合効果が見られた。とくに、高い温度刺激がもたらす心理的な負荷が青色刺激によって軽減され、さらに皮膚血管の収縮により熱の放散が抑制される可能性が示唆された。このように、種々の複合刺激がヒトの感覚に与える影響を検討する際には、主観的および客観的な方法を併用する必要がある。潜在的な欲求や意識されない気持ち良さ・イメージを捉えるには、複合刺激と感覚の関係を考察する必要がある。It is crucial for design activities to investigate relation between multiple sensation and comfort in human from scientific viewpoint, in addition to user-friendly concepts. Sensation of comfort/discomfort is influenced by time, place, and situation as well as complex stimuli of environment. Further, mental- and physical comforts cannot be explained only by verbal expressions.In the present study, using both subjective and objective methodologies we investigated effects of complex stimuli of ambient temperature and color on the human sensations. In particular, sensations of “cool-warm” and “comfort”, and physiological changes were measured in order to evaluate effects of color under different ambient temperatures.As results, in the normal temperature, the subjective measures were not consistent with the objective ones. In the hot temperature there were combined effects of ambient temperature and color on the measures. Especially, the temperature-induced mental loads were reduced by blue color, which suggests inhibition of heat dissipation due to skin vasoconstriction. Both subjective and objective methodologies are required for study of complex sensation

技術の人間化に基づいたサスティナブルデザイン/その5 「医とデザイン」の関係から考える

2015 年度の芸術工学研究所年間活動は、大きく以下の2 点を挙げることが出来る。 1 点目は「コンタクトレンズ洗浄を目的とした除菌装置の開発」を目指した教育・研究機関向け実験装置の開発に着手した。本開発に際しては、医療イノベーション神戸連携システム（MIKCS）・神戸大学・東京工業大学との連携を取りながら改良を重ね、概ね実験用装置としての完成をみた。 2 点目は本学において、「医とデザイン」というテーマで研究会の成果として、医療と教育・研究の視点にたったセミナーを開催した。2015 年度よりMIKCS への加盟を果たしている甲南大学、神戸市立工業高等専門学校から講師を招聘し、教育・研究と医療との関わりや、目的、現状の問題点、事例報告等について講演頂いた。両校共に積極的に「医」の産業分野への関連教育に取り組んでいる。In 2015, Research Institute of Arts and Design (RIAD) of Kobe Design University conducted the following activities: (1) Development of sterile filtration equipment for contact lens: RIAD has completed the experimental equipment associating with Medical Innovation Kobe Community System (MIKCS), Kobe University, and Tokyo Institute of Technology. (2) Research seminar for “Humanization of the technology” was held based on medical and design activities of RIAD. Invited speakers from Konan University and Kobe City College of Technology gave lectures on relationship between education/research and medical care, purpose, current problems and representative reports of MIKCS. The two universities have rigorously conducted related education to medical industries