The environment-induced cracking of as-annealed Ni3(Si,Ti) and Ni3(Si,Ti) with 2Mo in sodium chloride solutions

Accepted manuscript version. The final publication is available at Springer via http://doi.org/10.1186/s40712-015-0046-7.Background The environment-induced cracking (EIC) of as-annealed Ni3(Si,Ti) and Ni3(Si,Ti) with 2Mo has been researched as functions of applied stress, chloride ion concentration, test temperature, and pH. Methods The investigation of EIC was carried out by applying a constant method in NaCl solutions. Results The EIC susceptibility of both intermetallic compounds increased with increasing test temperature and Cl− ion concentration and increased with decreasing pH. The fracture surface morphologies of Ni3(Si,Ti) was intergranular while Ni3(Si,Ti) with 2Mo was a mixture of intergranular and transgranular, and the relationship between log t f (time to failure) and log l ss (steady-state elongation rate) became the identical straight line irrespective of applied stress, chloride ion concentration, test temperature, and pH, which means that l ss becomes a relevant parameter for predicting t f. The EIC susceptibility of Ni3(Si,Ti) with 2Mo was lower than that of Ni3(Si,Ti), which showed the advantageous effect of Mo. Conclusions From the results acquired, EIC of both the compounds was indicated to take place by hydrogen embrittlement (HE)

Pitch Count Limit for Youth Baseball Pitchers

Background: Reducing the number of pitches thrown is regarded as the most effective way to prevent throwing injuries in youth baseball pitchers. However, few studies have compared the effectiveness of limiting the pitch count versus the limiting the number of innings pitched in terms of elbow injuries. Hypothesis: We hypothesized that, compared with inning limits, pitch count limits would lead to greater decreases in elbow pain, range of motion deficits, positive moving valgus stress test results, and the risk of capitellar osteochondritis dissecans (OCD). Study Design: Cohort study; Level of evidence, 3. Methods: This study retrospectively reviewed baseball pitchers aged 8 to 12 years in 2017 and 2018. Inning and pitch count limits in games were set to a daily maximum of 7 innings in 2017 and 70 pitches in 2018. Elbow pain, range of motion, and moving valgus stress test results were evaluated. The presence of capitellar OCD was assessed on ultrasonographic and radiographic images. Results: A total of 352 pitchers in 2017 and 367 pitchers in 2018 participated. The mean pitch count per game was lower in the pitch count limit (CL) group (52.5 ± 16.0) than in the inning limit (IL) group (98.2 ± 19.5) (P < .001). Compared with the IL group, the CL group had significantly lower rates of elbow pain (40.9% vs 31.9%, respectively; P = .01) and reduced flexion (19.0% vs 10.6%, respectively; P = .001). Multivariate analysis revealed a significant association between elbow pain and age in both the IL and the CL groups (P < .0001 and P = .02, respectively) and between OCD and elbow pain in the CL group (P = .04). Conclusion: A pitch count limit of ≤70 pitches per day for baseball pitchers ≤12 years could be more protective against elbow pain and reduced flexion than a limit of ≤7 innings per day, but it may not be effective for reducing the risk of capitellar OCD

A New Method of Magnification Correction for Accurately Measuring Retinal Vessel Calibers From Fundus Photographs

METHODS. The focusing condition of the subject eye fundus camera optical system was individually determined by constructing an optical model of each eye applying its refractive error, corneal curvature, and axial length (AL) to Gullstrand&apos;s schematic eye, and by adjusting the position of the camera&apos;s focusing lenses using each eye&apos;s refractive error. Once the focusing condition of the entire optical system was fulfilled, magnification of the fundus images was calculated using paraxial ray tracing. Measurements of CRAE (CRVE) were performed in an annular area centered on the optic disc with magnification-corrected diameter from 1.8 to 2.7 mm. Reproducibility of the measurements of the results using the new method and comparison with those using interactive vessel analysis (IVAN) were performed in normal Japanese eyes. RESULTS. Intra-and interexaminer intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) for CRAE (CRVE) measurements was greater than 0.978. CRAE (CRVE) using the new method averaged 148.9 6 10.9 lm (225.0 6 13.9 lm; mean 6 SD, N ¼ 99). Differences between the new method and IVAN were greater with increasing AL (P &lt; 0.001). The new method yielded CRAE (CRVE) in good agreement with IVAN in eyes with AL of approximately 24 mm. However, the new method yielded smaller values in eyes with shorter AL and vice versa. CONCLUSIONS. A new accurate and reproducible method to measure CRAE (CRVE) from fundus photographs was reported

Novel Oral Derivative UD-017, a Highly Selective CDK7 Inhibitor, Exhibits Anticancer Activity by Inducing Cell-Cycle Arrest and Apoptosis in Human Colorectal Cancer

Objective: This study aimed to investigate the anticancer profile of a new cyclin-dependent kinase 7 (CDK7) inhibitor, UD-017, by examining its mechanism of action using HCT-116 colorectal cancer cells. Methods: The anticancer properties of UD-017 were assessed using several assays, including in vitro kinase, proliferation, and apoptosis assays, western blot analysis, and an in vivo xenograft mouse model. Results: UD-017 significantly inhibited CDK7 activity (IC50 = 16 nM) with high selectivity in an in vitro kinase assay testing a panel of over 300 proteins and lipid kinases. UD-017 also inhibited the growth of HCT-116 cells (GI50 = 19 nM) and inhibited the phosphorylation of various downstream mediators of CDK7 signaling. In cell cycle and apoptosis assays using HCT-116 cells, UD-017 increased the number of cells in both G1 and G2/M phases and induced apoptosis. In vivo, UD-017 inhibited tumor growth in an HCT-116 xenograft mouse model by 33%, 64%, and 88% at doses of 25, 50, and 100 mg/kg, respectively, with clear dose-dependency. Co-administration of 5-FU and 50 mg/kg UD-017 had a strong synergistic effect, as reflected in the complete inhibition of tumor growth. Conclusion: CDK7 may play a major role in colorectal cancer growth by regulating the cell cycle and apoptosis. UD-017 is a promising candidate therapeutic agent for the treatment of cancer involving CDK7 signaling

Noninvasive prediction of shunt operation outcome in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a syndrome characterized by gait disturbance, cognitive deterioration and urinary incontinence in elderly individuals. These symptoms can be improved by shunt operation in some but not all patients. Therefore, discovering predictive factors for the surgical outcome is of great clinical importance. We used normalized power variance (NPV) of electroencephalography (EEG) waves, a sensitive measure of the instability of cortical electrical activity, and found significantly higher NPV in beta frequency band at the right fronto-temporo-occipital electrodes (Fp2, T4 and O2) in shunt responders compared to non-responders. By utilizing these differences, we were able to correctly identify responders and non-responders to shunt operation with a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of 88%. Our findings indicate that NPV can be useful in noninvasively predicting the clinical outcome of shunt operation in patients with iNPH

Polymorphisms and Body Mass Index Across Life Course

Background: Obesity is a reported risk factor for various health problems. Genome-wide association studies (GWASs) have identified numerous independent loci associated with body mass index (BMI). However, most of these have been focused on Europeans, and little evidence is available on the genetic effects across the life course of other ethnicities. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study to examine the associations of 282 GWAS-identified single nucleotide polymorphisms with three BMI-related traits, current BMI, BMI at 20 years old (BMI at 20), and change in BMI (BMI change), among 11,586 Japanese individuals enrolled in the Japan Multi-Institutional Collaborative Cohort study. Associations were examined using multivariable linear regression models. Results: We found a significant association (P < 0.05/282 = 1.77 × 10−4) between BMI and 11 polymorphisms in or near FTO, BDNF, TMEM18, HS6ST3, and BORCS7. The trend was similar between current BMI and BMI change, but differed from that of the BMI at 20. Among the significant variants, those on FTO were associated with all BMI traits, whereas those on TMEM18 and HS6SR3 were only associated with BMI at 20. The association of FTO loci with BMI remained, even after additional adjustment for dietary energy intake. Conclusions: Previously reported BMI-associated loci discovered in Europeans were also identified in the Japanese population. Additionally, our results suggest that the effects of each loci on BMI may vary across the life course and that this variation may be caused by the differential effects of individual genes on BMI via different pathways