Shape Estimation of Defects on Steam Generator Tubes

Most of the nuclear power plants(NPPs) now in service in Japan are based on either of two reactor technologies — PWR and BWR. While the PWR plant requires steam generators(SG), the BWR plant needs no separate SG because of its capability to produce steam directly. On one hand, the need for installation of SG makes the size of the PWR plant larger than that of the BWR plant, while on the other, separate SG installation offers an advantage in that the controlled area in the PWR plant can be limited, resulting in easier plant maintenance, compared with the BWR plant. Accordingly SG maintenance to preclude radioactive substances from flowing out into the secondary system is one of the most important tasks in operating PWR plants

Inhibition of Phospholipase A2 and Platelet Aggregation by Grycyrrhizin, an Anti-inframmation Drug

We studied the effect of glycyrrhizin, a compound known as an anti-inflammatory and antiallergic drug, on the membrane permeability change induced by phospholipase A2 (PLA2) and on platelet aggregation. Glycyrrhizin was found to inhibit the PLA2-induced carboxyfluorescein (CF) release from D,L-dipalmitoyl phosphatidylcholine (DPPC) liposomes. Part of this inhibitory effect of glycyrrhizin on PLA2 is accounted for by the physical state of the substrate, the DPPC liposome membrane. Glycyrrhizin also inhibited collagen-induced platelet aggregation in a concentration dependent manner, which may in part account for its inhibitory effect on PLA2.</p

Heart Failure-Inducible Gene Therapy Targeting Protein Phosphatase 1 Prevents Progressive Left Ventricular Remodeling

BACKGROUND: The targeting of Ca(2+) cycling has emerged as a potential therapy for the treatment of severe heart failure. These approaches include gene therapy directed at overexpressing sarcoplasmic reticulum (SR) Ca(2+) ATPase, or ablation of phospholamban (PLN) and associated protein phosphatase 1 (PP1) protein complexes. We previously reported that PP1β, one of the PP1 catalytic subunits, predominantly suppresses Ca(2+) uptake in the SR among the three PP1 isoforms, thereby contributing to Ca(2+) downregulation in failing hearts. In the present study, we investigated whether heart-failure-inducible PP1β-inhibition by adeno-associated viral-9 (AAV9) vector mediated gene therapy is beneficial for preventing disease progression in genetic cardiomyopathic mice. METHODS: We created an adeno-associated virus 9 (AAV9) vector encoding PP1β short-hairpin RNA (shRNA) or negative control (NC) shRNA. A heart failure inducible gene expression system was employed using the B-type natriuretic protein (BNP) promoter conjugated to emerald-green fluorescence protein (EmGFP) and the shRNA sequence. AAV9 vectors (AAV9-BNP-EmGFP-PP1βshRNA and AAV9-BNP-EmGFP-NCshRNA) were injected into the tail vein (2×10(11) GC/mouse) of muscle LIM protein deficient mice (MLPKO), followed by serial analysis of echocardiography, hemodynamic measurement, biochemical and histological analysis at 3 months. RESULTS: In the MLPKO mice, BNP promoter activity was shown to be increased by detecting both EmGFP expression and the induced reduction of PP1β by 25% in the myocardium. Inducible PP1βshRNA delivery preferentially ameliorated left ventricular diastolic function and mitigated adverse ventricular remodeling. PLN phosphorylation was significantly augmented in the AAV9-BNP-EmGFP-PP1βshRNA injected hearts compared with the AAV9-BNP-EmGFP-NCshRNA group. Furthermore, BNP production was reduced, and cardiac interstitial fibrosis was abrogated at 3 months. CONCLUSION: Heart failure-inducible molecular targeting of PP1β has potential as a novel therapeutic strategy for heart failure

Shape Estimation of Defects on Steam Generator Tubes

Most of the nuclear power plants(NPPs) now in service in Japan are based on either of two reactor technologies — PWR and BWR. While the PWR plant requires steam generators(SG), the BWR plant needs no separate SG because of its capability to produce steam directly. On one hand, the need for installation of SG makes the size of the PWR plant larger than that of the BWR plant, while on the other, separate SG installation offers an advantage in that the controlled area in the PWR plant can be limited, resulting in easier plant maintenance, compared with the BWR plant. Accordingly SG maintenance to preclude radioactive substances from flowing out into the secondary system is one of the most important tasks in operating PWR plants.</p

Epidemiological characteristics of nontuberculous mycobacteriosis and bronchiectasis: comparative study using national mortality statistics from 1970 to 2015 in Japan

Background This study assessed longitudinal national data on mortality due to nontuberculous mycobacteriosis (NTMosis) and bronchiectasis and the association between the two diseases. Methods We analysed the national death statistics of Japan from 1970 to 2015. The International Classification of Disease (ICD) codes were used to extract the relevant data. Crude mortality, age-adjusted mortality and standardised mortality rates were calculated using vital statistics and the population in 2000. We also identified domestic publications related to NTMosis and bronchiectasis with an internet-based search system. Results The total number of bronchiectasis-related deaths remained at the same level, which was approximately 1000, for 45 years, although the number of deaths has consistently decreased in males but increased in females since the mid-1990s. A substantial increasing trend in females was also observed for NTMosis in the same period. The age-adjusted mortality data showed an increase in mortality in women due to NTMosis and confirmed the trend in bronchiectasis in women. The patterns in the number of domestic reports showed a recent slight increase in bronchiectasis and a marked increase in NTMosis. Conclusions The trends in bronchiectasis-related mortality differed by sex. The epidemiological trends in the two diseases were associated, especially in elderly females since the mid-1990s. It is suggested that pulmonary NTMosis without pre-existing bronchiectasis might be a leading cause of postinfectious bronchiectasis in Japan