Melting Spectral Functions of the Scalar and Vector Mesons in a Holographic QCD Model

We investigate the finite-temperature spectral functions of heavy quarkonia by using the soft-wall AdS/QCD model. We discuss the scalar, the pseudo-scalar, the vector, and the axial-vector mesons and compare their qualitative features of the melting temperature and growing width. We find that the axial-vector meson melts earlier than the vector meson, while there appears only a slight difference between the scalar and pseudo-scalar mesons which also melt earlier than the vector meson.Comment: 27 pages, 10 figure

Long-term effect of cinacalcet hydrochloride on abdominal aortic calcification in patients on hemodialysis with secondary hyperparathyroidism

Background: Secondary hyperparathyroidism (SHPT) is one of the common complications in dialysis patients, and is associated with increased risk of vascular calcification. The effects of cinacalcet hydrochloride treatment on bone and mineral metabolism have been previously reported, but the benefit of cinacalcet on vascular calcification remains uncertain. The aim of this study was to evaluate the impact of cinacalcet on abdominal aortic calcification in dialysis patients. Subjects and methods: Patients were on maintenance hemodialysis with insufficiently controlled SHPT (intact parathyroid hormone [PTH] >180 pg/mL) by conventional therapies. All subjects were initially administered 25 mg cinacalcet daily, with concomitant use of calcitriol analogs. Abdominal aortic calcification was annually evaluated by calculating aortic calcification area index (ACAI) using multidetector computed tomography (MDCT), from 12 months before to 36 months after the initiation of cinacalcet therapy. Results: Twenty-three patients were analyzed in this study. The mean age was 59.0±8.7 years, 34.8% were women, and the mean dialysis duration was 163.0±76.0 months. After administration of cinacalcet, serum levels of intact PTH, phosphorus, and calcium significantly decreased, and mean Ca × P values significantly decreased from 67.4±7.9 mg2/dL2 to 52±7.7 mg2/dL2. Although the ACAI value did not decrease during the observation period, the increase in ACAI between 24 months and 36 months after cinacalcet administration was significantly suppressed. Conclusion: Long-term administration of cinacalcet was associated with reduced progression of abdominal aortic calcification, and achieving appropriate calcium and phosphorus levels may reduce the rates of cardiovascular events and mortality in patients on hemodialysis

Associations of sedentary and physically-active behaviors with cognitive-function decline in community-dwelling older adults: compositional data analysis from the NEIGE study

BACKGROUND: Physical activity can help to protect against cognitive decline in older adults. However, little is known about the potential combined relationships of time spent in sedentary behavior (SB), light-intensity physical activity (LPA), and moderate-to-vigorous physical activity (MVPA) with indices of cognitive health. We examined the cross-sectional associations of objectively-determined sedentary and physically-active behaviors with an indicator of cognitive function decline (CFD) in older adults. METHODS: A randomly-recruited sample of 511 Japanese older adults (47% male; aged 65-84 years) wore a tri-axial accelerometer (HJA-750C, Omron) for seven consecutive days in 2017. Cognitive function was assessed by interviewers using the Japanese version of Mini-Mental State Examination, with a score of ≤23 indicating CFD. Associations of sedentary and physically-active behaviors with CFD were examined using a compositional logistic regression analysis based on isometric log-ratio transformations of time use, adjusting for potential confounders. RESULTS: Forty one (9.4%) of the participants had an indication of CFD. Activity compositions differed significantly between CFD and normal cognitive function (NCF); the proportion of time spent in MVPA was 39.1% lower, relatively to the overall mean composition in those with CFD, and was 5.3% higher in those with NCF. There was a significant beneficial association of having a higher proportion of MVPA relative to other activities with CFD. LPA and SB were not associated with CFD when models were corrected for time spent in all activity behaviors. CONCLUSIONS: Larger relative contribution of MVPA was favorably associated with an indicator of CFD in older adults

A computational framework for bioimaging simulation

Using bioimaging technology, biologists have attempted to identify and document analytical interpretations that underlie biological phenomena in biological cells. Theoretical biology aims at distilling those interpretations into knowledge in the mathematical form of biochemical reaction networks and understanding how higher level functions emerge from the combined action of biomolecules. However, there still remain formidable challenges in bridging the gap between bioimaging and mathematical modeling. Generally, measurements using fluorescence microscopy systems are influenced by systematic effects that arise from stochastic nature of biological cells, the imaging apparatus, and optical physics. Such systematic effects are always present in all bioimaging systems and hinder quantitative comparison between the cell model and bioimages. Computational tools for such a comparison are still unavailable. Thus, in this work, we present a computational framework for handling the parameters of the cell models and the optical physics governing bioimaging systems. Simulation using this framework can generate digital images of cell simulation results after accounting for the systematic effects. We then demonstrate that such a framework enables comparison at the level of photon-counting units.Comment: 57 page

外側環軸関節の関節症性変化のリスク増加に関連する要因; 後ろ向き研究

Purpose Atlantodens osteoarthritis and atlantoaxial osteoarthritis cause neck pain and suboccipital headaches. Currently, knowledge on the risk factors for atlantoaxial osteoarthritis is lacking. This study aimed to investigate the factors related to the increased risk of atlantoaxial osteoarthritis. Methods We analyzed computed tomography (CT) images of the upper cervical spine of 1266 adult trauma patients for whom upper cervical spine CT was performed at our hospital between 2014 and 2019. The degree of atlantoaxial osteoarthritis was quantified as none-to-mild (not having osteoarthritis) or moderateto- severe (having osteoarthritis). Risk factors associated with atlantoaxial osteoarthritis were identified using univariate and multivariable logistic regression analyses. Results The study group included 69.4% men, and the overall average age of the study population was 54.9 ± 20.4 years. The following factors were independently and significantly associated with atlantoaxial osteoarthritis in the multivariable logistic regression analysis: age in the sixth decade or older (odds ratio [OR], 20.5; 95% confidence interval [CI], 6.2‒67.2, p < 0.001), having calcific synovitis (OR, 4.9; 95% CI, 2.4‒9.9, p < 0.001), women sex (OR, 3.3; 95% CI, 1.9‒5.7, p = 0.002), and not having atlantodens osteoarthritis (OR, 2.1; 95% CI, 1.2‒3.8, p = 0.014). Conclusion In the multivariable logistic regression analysis, age in the sixth decade or older, calcification of the transverse ligament, being women, and not having atlantodens osteoarthritis were found to be significantly associated with atlantoaxial osteoarthritis. Delayed diagnosis and treatment can be avoided by focusing on these risk factors.博士（医学）・甲第873号・令和5年3月15