Estudo do efeito da utilização de compostos de cristais liquidos colestericos como aditivos em sistemas binarios de cristais liquidos colestericos

Dissertação (mestrado) - Universidade Federal de Santa Catarina. Centro de Ciencias Fisicas e MatematicasNeste trabalho estudou-se o efeito de certos cristais líquidos colestéricos adicionados em sistemas binários de cristais líquidos colestéricos especialmente para melhorar suas características para mapeamento térmico. O sistema binário usado foi composto de 80% de hidrocinamato e 20% de benzoato de colesterila, com mesofase colestérica entre 60°C a 120°C. Os compostos adicionados foram cloreto, nonanoato e miristato de colesterila, constatando-se que tanto a sensibilidade como a temperatura de mesofase colestérica foram pouco alteradas. Em geral as curvas térmicas foram simplesmente deslocadas para menores comprimentos de onda e temperaturas. No caso do cloreto de colesterila (que tem helicidade oposta a dos compostos benzoato, nonanoato, hidrocinamato e miristato de colesterila) as curvas térmicas deslocaram-se para maiores comprimentos de onda. O efeito da purificação (por método de recristalização) foi estudado e constatou-se que para a maioria das aplicações envolvendo mapeamento térmico, torna-se desnecessária

Vari aspetti del nulla assoluto nelle filosofie di Nishida e Tanabe

This paper deals with the conception of Absolute Nothingness (zettai mu), one of the pivotal terms in Japanese contemporary philosophy. This idea is generally considered as the philosophical version of the Buddhist notion of Śūnyatā (emptiness). In the thinking of Nishida Kitarō and Tanabe Hajime, two leading philosophers of the so called Kyōto School, Absolute Nothingness becomes the fundamental tool to build a dialectics which is meant to overcome Hegelian system

Incision and suture to maintain motility

Background : Heineke-Mikulicz (HM) strictureplasty is commonly used to treat short stenoses in Crohn’s disease. However, the degree to which intestinal motility is maintained remains unclear. We compared the peristalsis and transport capacity of the sutured intestines with HM configuration and transverse (TS) and longitudinal (LS) incisions. Methods : The intestinal diameter, intraluminal pressure, and bead transit time of each sutured group were compared with that of the non-treatment (NT) group in the isolated proximal colon of rats. Propulsive contractions were induced using hydroxy-α-sanshool (HAS), a constituent of Japanese pepper. Results : There was no change in the intestinal diameter between HM, TS, and NT groups ; however, it was significantly narrowed at the suture site and its distal side in the LS group. After HAS administration, the intestinal diameter at the suture site in the HM group was higher than that in the LS group. The intraluminal pressure was higher and the transit time was shorter in the HM group compared to those in the LS group. Conclusions : The HM configuration, which widens the incision site and distal diameter and shortens the cut surface of the circular muscle in the longitudinal direction, may help maintain basal and HAS-induced intestinal peristalsis and motility

日本の伝統的な漢方薬である大建中湯は推進性の運動パターンを誘導することにより結腸輸送を促進する

Background: The traditional Japanese herbal medicine, daikenchuto (DKT), has been used to treat constipation and postoperative ileus. However, the precise mechanisms involved in the pharmacological effects of DKT remain uncertain. The aim of this study was to clarify the effect of DKT on motor patterns and transit activity in the isolated rat colon. Methods: The entire colon or segments of the proximal colon in rats were isolated and placed in Krebs solution. The motility of the colon was evaluated by analyzing spatiotemporal maps of diameter derived from video imaging and measuring the intraluminal pressure in the anal end of the proximal colon, and the transit time of a plastic bead through the entire isolated colon. Key Results: Several types of propagating contractions were observed in the isolated entire colon. When DKT was added to Krebs solution, the frequency of large‐extent anal propagating contractions increased. DKT treatment increased the intraluminal pressure in the isolated proximal colon, which was related to the propagating contractions. This effect was abolished by treatment with the neural blocker tetrodotoxin. These findings suggest DKT induced peristaltic contractions in the isolated colon. DKT accelerated colonic transit activity, which was related to peristaltic contractions induction in the colon. These effects were also observed in the colons treated with bethanechol and the active ingredient of DKT, hydroxy‐α‐sanshool. Conclusions and Inferences: Daikenchuto could enhance colonic transit activity by inducing peristaltic contractions, which may be mediated by the activation of the enteric nervous system in the colon

Discrepancies in perception of fall risk between patients with subacute stroke and physical therapists in a rehabilitation hospital: a retrospective cohort study

Objective: Falls are one of the most common complications of a stroke. This study aimed to clarify the discrepancy between the perceived fall risk of hospitalized patients with stroke and the clinical judgment of physical therapists and to examine the changes in discrepancy during hospitalization.Design: Retrospective cohort study.Patients: This study included 426 patients with stroke admitted to a Japanese convalescent rehabilitation hospital between January 2019 and December 2020.Methods: The Falls Efficacy Scale-International was used to assess both patients’ and physical therapists’ perception of fall risk. The difference in Falls Efficacy Scale-International scores assessed by patients and physical therapists was defined as the discrepancy in fall risk, and its association with the incidence of falls during hospitalization was investigated.Results: Patients had a lower perception of fall risk than physical therapists at admission (p < 0.001), and this trend continued at discharge (p < 0.001). The discrepancy in fall risk perception was reduced at discharge for non-fallers and single fallers (p < 0.001), whereas the difference remained in multiple fallers.Conclusion: Unlike physical therapists, patients underestimated their fall risk, especially patients who experienced multiple falls. These results may be useful for planning measures to prevent falls during hospitalization

Effects of Leg Motor Imagery Combined With Electrical Stimulation on Plasticity of Corticospinal Excitability and Spinal Reciprocal Inhibition

Motor imagery (MI) combined with electrical stimulation (ES) enhances upper-limb corticospinal excitability. However, its after-effects on both lower limb corticospinal excitability and spinal reciprocal inhibition remain unknown. We aimed to investigate the effects of MI combined with peripheral nerve ES (MI + ES) on the plasticity of lower limb corticospinal excitability and spinal reciprocal inhibition. Seventeen healthy individuals performed the following three tasks on different days, in a random order: (1) MI alone; (2) ES alone; and (3) MI + ES. The MI task consisted of repetitive right ankle dorsiflexion for 20 min. ES was percutaneously applied to the common peroneal nerve at a frequency of 100 Hz and intensity of 120% of the sensory threshold of the tibialis anterior (TA) muscle. We examined changes in motor-evoked potential (MEP) of the TA (task-related muscle) and soleus muscle (SOL; task-unrelated muscle). We also examined disynaptic reciprocal inhibition before, immediately after, and 10, 20, and 30 min after the task. MI + ES significantly increased TA MEPs immediately and 10 min after the task compared with baseline, but did not change the task-unrelated muscle (SOL) MEPs. MI + ES resulted in a significant increase in the magnitude of reciprocal inhibition immediately and 10 min after the task compared with baseline. MI and ES alone did not affect TA MEPs or reciprocal inhibition. MI combined with ES is effective in inducing plastic changes in lower limb corticospinal excitability and reciprocal Ia inhibition