Rheology of SiO2/(Acrylic Polymer/Epoxy) Suspensions. I. Linear Viscoelasticity

Linear viscoelastic properties of SiO2/(AP/EP) suspension with various SiO2 volume fractions (φ) in a blend of acrylic polymer (AP) and epoxy (EP) were investigated at various temperatures (T). The AP/EP contained 70 vol% of EP. The SiO2 particles were treated with epoxy silane coupling agent. The effects of the SiO2 particles are more pronounced in the terminal zone: a transition from viscoelastic liquid (φ ≤ 30 vol %) to viscoelastic solid (φ ≥ 40 vol %) was observed which can be interpreted as a critical gelation occurring at a critical particle content and critical gel temperature. The SiO2/(AP/EP) systems exhibited a critical gel behavior at φ ≅ 35 vol % and T ≅ 100 °C characterized with a power-law relationship between the storage and loss moduli (G′ and G″) and frequency (ω); G′ = G″/tan(nπ/2) ∝ ωn. The critical gel exponent (n) was estimated to be about 0.45. The gelation occurred with increasing T

Long-term QiGong practice is associated with improved self-perceived health and quality of life

In cross-sectional studies, we examined the long-term practice effects of QiGong exercise on perceived health and quality of life (QoL) in middle-aged (over 50 years) Japanese individuals. In Study 1, Japanese adults (n = 320) who practised QiGong responded to a questionnaire concerning the perceived benefits of QiGong practice and QoL. In Study 2, we collected data from QiGong participants who attended a QiGong conference (n = 799). Participants in Study 1 perceived that QiGong affords physical, psychological, and social benefits and QiGong duration in years correlated strongly with QoL. In Study 2, those who practised QiGong for 0–3 years vs. 13+ years reported a greater likelihood of perceived palpitation, insomnia, a lack of vigour, and attention deficit (odd ratios 1.56–2.60, all p  .05). QiGong is a multi-component form of physical activity, which – if practised for prolonged periods – affords motor, cognitive, social, and QoL benefits

The effect of 1,3:2,4-bis-O-(p-methlbenzylbenzylidene)-D-sorbitol(PDTS) on uniaxial elongational viscosity of polypropylene

We investigated the dynamic viscoelasticity and elongational viscosity of polypropylene (PP) containing 0.5wt% of 1,3:2,4-bis-O-(p-methylbenzylidene)-D-sorbitol (PDTS). The PP/PDTS system exhibited a sol-gel transition (Tgel) at 193 °C. The critical exponent n was nearly equal to 2/3, in agreement with the value predicted by a percolation theory. This critical gel is due to a three-dimensional network structure of PDTS crystals. The elongational viscosity behavior of neat PP followed the linear viscosity growth function 3η+(t), where η+(t) is the shear stress growth function in the linear viscoelastic region. The elongational viscosity of the PP/PDTS system also followed the 3η+(t) above Tgel, but did not follow the 3η+(t) and exhibited strong strain-softening behavior below Tgel. This strain-softening can be attributed to breakage of the network structure of PDTS with a critical stress (σc) of about 104 Pa

Rationale and design of a randomized trial to test the safety and non‑inferiority of canagliflozin in patients with diabetes with chronic heart failure : the CANDLE trial

Background: Because type 2 diabetes mellitus is associated strongly with an increased risk of cardiovascular diseases, the number of patients with diabetes with chronic heart failure is increasing steadily. However, clinical evidence of therapeutic strategies in such patients is still lacking. A recent randomized, placebo-controlled trial in patients with type 2 diabetes with high cardiovascular risk demonstrated that the SGLT2 inhibitor, empagliflozin, reduced the incidence of hospitalization for heart failure. Because SGLT2 inhibitors cause a reduction in body weight and blood pressure in addition to improving glycemic control, they have the potential to exert beneficial effects on the clinical pathophysiology of heart failure. The aim of the ongoing CANDLE trial is to test the safety and non-inferiority of canagliflozin, another SGLT2 inhibitor, compared with glimepiride, a sulfonylurea agent, in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus and chronic heart failure. Methods: A total of 250 patients with type 2 diabetes who are drug-naïve or taking any anti-diabetic agents and suffering from chronic heart failure with a New York Heart Association classification I to III will be randomized centrally into either canagliflozin or glimepiride groups (1: 1) using the dynamic allocation method stratified by age (<65, ≥65 year), HbA1c level (<6.5, ≥6.5 %), and left ventricular ejection fraction (<40, ≥40 %). After randomization, all the participants will be given the add-on study drug for 24 weeks in addition to their background therapy. The primary endpoint is the percentage change from baseline in NT-proBNP after 24 weeks of treatment. The key secondary endpoints after 24 weeks of treatment are the change from baseline in glycemic control, blood pressure, body weight, lipid profile, quality of life score related to heart failure, and cardiac and renal function. Discussion: The CANDLE trial is the first to assess the safety and non-inferiority of canagliflozin in comparison with glimepiride in patients with type 2 diabetes with chronic heart failure. This trial has the potential to evaluate the clinical safety and efficacy of canagliflozin on heart failure

Microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1 in both cancer cells and hosts contributes to tumour growth, invasion and metastasis

mPGES-1 (microsomal prostaglandin E synthase-1) is a stimulus-inducible enzyme that functions downstream of COX (cyclo-oxygenase)-2 in the PGE2 (prostaglandin E2)-biosynthesis pathway. Although COX-2-derived PGE2 is known to play a role in the development of various tumours, the involvement of mPGES-1 in carcinogenesis has not yet been fully understood. In the present study, we used LLC (Lewis lung carcinoma) cells with mPGES-1 knockdown or overexpression, as well as mPGES-1-deficient mice to examine the roles of cancer cell- and host-associated mPGES-1 in the processes of tumorigenesis in vitro and in vivo. We found that siRNA (small interfering RNA) silencing of mPGES-1 in LLC cells decreased PGE2 synthesis markedly, accompanied by reduced cell proliferation, attenuated Matrigel™ invasiveness and increased extracellular matrix adhesion. Conversely, mPGES-1-overexpressing LLC cells showed increased proliferating and invasive capacities. When implanted subcutaneously into wild-type mice, mPGES-1-silenced cells formed smaller xenograft tumours than did control cells. Furthermore, LLC tumours grafted subcutaneously into mPGES-1-knockout mice grew more slowly than did those grafted into littermate wild-type mice, with concomitant decreases in the density of microvascular networks, the expression of pro-angiogenic vascular endothelial growth factor, and the activity of matrix metalloproteinase-2. Lung metastasis of intravenously injected LLC cells was also significantly less obvious in mPGES-1-null mice than in wild-type mice. Thus our present approaches provide unequivocal evidence for critical roles of the mPGES-1-dependent PGE2 biosynthetic pathway in both cancer cells and host microenvironments in tumour growth and metastasis