Bicuspid aortic valves undergo excessive strain during opening: A simulation study

ObjectiveThe objective of this study was to examine the influence of the morphologic characteristics of the bicuspid aortic valve on its disease progression by comparing the motion, stress/strain distribution, and blood flow of normal and stenotic tricuspid valves using simulation models.MethodsBicuspid, stenotic tricuspid with commissural fusion or thickened leaflet, and normal aortic valves were modeled with internal blood flow. Blood flow and the motion of aortic valve leaflets were studied using fluid–structure interaction finite element analysis, and stress/strain (curvature) distributions were calculated during the cardiac cycle. To mimic disease progression, we modified the local thickness of the leaflet where the bending stress was above a threshold.ResultsTransvalvular pressure gradient was greater in the bicuspid valve compared with the stenotic tricuspid valve with a similar valvular area. The bending strain (curvature) increased in both stenotic tricuspid and bicuspid valves, but a greater increase was observed in the bicuspid valve, and this was concentrated on the midline of the fused leaflets. During disease progression analysis, severity of the stenosis increased only in the bicuspid aortic valve model in terms of valvular area and pressure gradient.ConclusionsThe characteristic morphology of the bicuspid valve creates excessive bending strain on the leaflets during ventricular ejection. Such mechanical stress may be responsible for the rapid progression of this disease

Fgf20b is required for the ectomesenchymal fate establishment of cranial neural crest cells in zebrafish.

In cranial skeletal development, the establishment of the ectomesenchymal lineage within the cranial neural crest is of great significance. Fgfs are polypeptide growth factors with diverse functions in development and metabolism. Fgf20b knockdown zebrafish embryos showed dysplastic neurocranial and pharyngeal cartilages. Ectomesenchymal cells from cranial neural crest cells were significantly decreased in Fgf20b knockdown embryos, but cranial neural crest cells with a non-ectomesnchymal fate were increased. However, the proliferation and apoptosis of cranial neural crest cells were essentially unchanged. Fgfr1 knockdown embryos also showed dysplastic neurocranial and pharyngeal cartilages. The present findings indicate that Fgf20b is required for ectomesenchymal fate establishment via the activation of Fgfr1 in zebrafish

Electrochemical preparation of Cobalt-Samarium nanoparticles in an aprotic ionic liquid

Electrochemical preparation of Co-Sm nanoparticles was conducted in an aprotic room temperature ionic liquid, 1-butyl-1-methylpyrrolidinium bis(trifluoromethylsulfonyl)amide (BMPTFSA) containing Co(TFSA)2 and Sm(TFSA)3. The cyclic voltammetry on a glassy carbon (GC) electrode indicated the electrochemically generated Sm(II) reacted with Co(II) at 25 °C. Potentiostatic cathodic reduction on a GC electrode in BMPTFSA containing 30 mM Co(TFSA)2 and 5 mM Sm(TFSA)3 at 25 °C gave the deposits, which were found to be composed of Co and Sm by energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy (EDX). The deposits were found to be the aggregates of SmCo7 nanoparticles by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS). The formation of SmCo7 nanoparticles dispersed in the ionic liquid was also confirmed by TEM. SmCo7 nanoparticles were considered to form by the disproportionation reaction of Sm(II) in the presence of elementary Co, which was formed by the reduction of Co(II) by Sm(II)

モルモットにおける抗原誘発咳感受性亢進および気道過敏性亢進に対するカルボシステインの効果

取得学位 : 博士（医学）, 学位授与番号 : 医博乙第1545号 , 学位授与年月日 : 平成14年2月6日, 学位授与大学 : 金沢大

Relationship between Sedentary Behavior and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

We explored the relationship between sedentary behavior and the health-related quality of life (HRQOL) in patients on chronic hemodialysis. A total of 60 outpatients, aged 71.1±12.0 years, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Sedentary behavior was measured using a tri-accelerometer and HRQOL was evaluated by the Euro-QOL questionnaire (EQ-5D). The relationship between the patients’ sedentary behavior and HRQOL was evaluated by simple and multiple correlation analyses. The relative sedentary behavior (%) for total days was 73.7±12.9% and the EQ-5D scores were 0.688±0.233. Relative sedentary behavior (%) was negatively correlated with EQ-5D scores for total days, hemodialysis days and non-hemodialysis days. The relative light-intensity physical activity (LPA) (%) and relative moderately vigorous-intensity physical activity (MVPA) (%) were correlated with EQ-5D scores. Multiple regression showed that the relative sedentary behavior (%) had a clinical impact on EQ-5D scores after adjusting for confounding factors for total, hemodialysis and non-hemodialysis days. Sedentary behavior is closely linked to HRQOL, and reducing sedentary behavior may be beneficial to improve the HRQOL of patients on chronic hemodialysis

Relation between Prolonged Sedentary Bouts and Health-Related Quality of Life in Patients on Chronic Hemodialysis

This study aimed to investigate the link between prolonged sedentary bouts and health-related quality of life (QOL) in patients on chronic hemodialysis (CHD). A total of 84 outpatients on CHD, aged 71.6±11.8 years, were enrolled in this cross-sectional study. Parameters for prolonged sedentary bouts [i.e., ≧ 30 min (% and bout) and ≧ 60 min (% and bout)] were measured using a triaxial accelerometer. Health-related QOL (HRQOL) was evaluated by the Euro-QOL (EQ-5D). Clinical parameters were obtained from medical records. Relatively prolonged sedentary bouts (%) were 44.0±18.2 (≧ 30 min) and 29.8±16.5 (≧ 60 min) for total days. Prolonged sedentary bouts (bouts) were 6.2±2.7 (≧ 30 min) and 2.7±1.6 (≧ 60 min) for total days. EQ-5D scores were 0.728±0.220. All prolonged sedentary bout parameters were negatively correlated with EQ-5D scores, except for prolonged sedentary bouts (≧ 60 min) (min) and relatively prolonged sedentary bouts (%) on hemodialysis days. Multiple regression analysis showed that prolonged sedentary bout parameters were an important factor in EQ-5D scores even after adjusting for confounding factors for total and non-hemodialysis days. Our results suggested that prolonged sedentary bouts were closely associated with HRQOL in patients on CHD, especially on non-hemodialysis days

Effects of macrolides on antigen-induced increases in cough reflex sensitivity in guinea pigs

金沢大学医薬保健研究域医学系Background: Macrolides are antibiotics that have anti-inflammatory activities. Hence, they are used for both acute and chronic inflammatory airway diseases. However, the effects of these agents on allergic airway disorders presenting with an isolated chronic cough, such as non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis and eosinophilic tracheobronchitis with cough hypersensitivity (atopic cough), still remain to be elucidated. Objective: To determine if macrolides are effective in the management of chronic cough caused by eosinophilic airway inflammation. Methods: The cough reflex sensitivity to inhaled capsaicin was measured at 48 h after challenge with an aerosolized antigen in actively sensitized guinea pigs. The 14-, 15- or 16-membered macrolides (erythromycin, azythromycin, or josamycin, respectively) were given intraperitoneally every 12 h after the antigen challenge. Bronchoalveolar lavage and the resection of the tracheal tissue were performed immediately after the measurement of the cough response to capsaicin. Results: The antigen-induced increase in the number of coughs elicited by capsaicin inhalation was significantly reduced by treatments with erythromycin and azythromycin, but not with josamycin. Erythromycin dose-dependently inhibited the increases in the substance P, prostaglandin E2 and leukotriene B4 levels, but not the histamine levels, in the bronchoalveolar lavage fluid. However, erythromycin did not influence the antigen-induced decrease in the neutral endopeptidase (NEP) activity in the tracheal tissue. Conclusions: Both 14- and 15-membered, but not 16-membered, macrolides could reduce the antigen-induced cough reflex hypersensitivity by inhibiting the antigen-induced release of the afferent sensory nerve sensitizers. These macrolides may be therapeutically useful for the treatment of isolated chronic cough based on cough reflex hypersensitivity in allergic airway diseases such as non-asthmatic eosinophilic bronchitis and atopic cough. © 2009 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved

The Recognition of The Childminder Choice Student about The Information Appliance Utilization in The Preschool Education

In this study, we clarified how a childminder choice student understood the use of the information appliance for preschool education. Specifically, we performed a cluster analysis based on student responses that we obtained by Silent Dialogue, and analyzed the answers both quantitatively and qualitatively. Based on the results, we considered methods for increasing effectiveness of future practice. In addition, for training subjects such as“preschool education methods,” we piloted some concrete practices to consider the best approaches for teaching. Finally, the results of this study are discussed and future problems are described