Determination of QCD phase diagram from the imaginary chemical potential region

We test the reliability of the the Polyakov-loop extended Nambu-Jona-Lasinio (PNJL) model, comparing the model result with the lattice data at nonzero imaginary chemical potential. The PNJL model with the vector-type four-quark and scalar-type eight-quark interactions reproduces the lattice data on the pseudocritical temperatures of the deconfinement and chiral phase transitions. The QCD phase diagram in the real chemical potential region is predicted by the PNJL model. The critical endpoint survives, even if the vector-type four-quark interaction is taken into account.Comment: 8 pages, 12 figure

Chiral phase transition in an extended NJL model with higher-order multi-quark interactions

The chiral phase transition is studied in an extended Nambu--Jona-Lasinio model with eight-quark interactions. Equations for scalar and vector quark densities, derived in the mean field approximation, are nonlinear and mutually coupled. The scalar-type nonlinear term hastens the restoration of chiral symmetry, while the scalar-vector mixing term makes the transition sharper. The scalar-type nonlinear term shifts the critical endpoint toward the values predicted by lattice QCD simulations and the QCD-like theory.Comment: 11pages, 7 figure

Design of Potent Inhibitors of Human RAD51 Recombinase Based on BRC Motifs of BRCA2 Protein: Modeling and Experimental Validation of a Chimera Peptide

We have previously shown that a 28-amino acid peptide derived from the BRC4 motif of BRCA2 tumor suppressor inhibits selectively human RAD51 recombinase (HsRad51). With the aim of designing better inhibitors for cancer treatment, we combined an in silico docking approach with in vitro biochemical testing to construct a highly efficient chimera peptide from eight existing human BRC motifs. We built a molecular model of all BRC motifs complexed with HsRad51 based on the crystal structure of the BRC4 motif-HsRad51 complex, computed the interaction energy of each residue in each BRC motif, and selected the best amino acid residue at each binding position. This analysis enabled us to propose four amino acid substitutions in the BRC4 motif. Three of these increased the inhibitory effect in vitro, and this effect was found to be additive. We thus obtained a peptide that is about 10 times more efficient in inhibiting HsRad51-ssDNA complex formation than the original peptide

The association between embedded catheter implantation and hospitalization costs for peritoneal dialysis initiation: a retrospective cohort study

Background: Compared with the conventional peritoneal dialysis (PD) catheter insertion, embedding PD catheter implantation is one of the procedures for planned PD initiation. However, facilities where embedded PD catheter implantation is available are limited, and the impact of embedded PD catheter implantation on hospitalization cost and length of hospitalization is unknown. Methods: This retrospective single-center cohort study included 132 patients with PD initiation between 2005 and 2020. The patients were divided into two groups: 64 patients in the embedding group and 68 patients in the conventional insertion group. We created a multivariable generalized linear model (GLM) with the gamma family and log-link function to evaluate the association among catheter embedding, the duration and medical costs of hospitalization for PD initiation. We also evaluated the effect modification between age and catheter embedding. Results: Catheter embedding (β coefficient − 0.13 [95% confidence interval − 0.21, − 0.05]) and age (per 10 years 0.08 [0.03, 0.14]) were significantly associated with hospitalization costs. Catheter embedding (− 0.21 [− 0.32, − 0.10]) and age (0.11 [0.03, 0.19]) were also identified as factors significantly associated with length of hospitalization. The difference between the embedding group and the conventional insertion group in hospitalization costs for PD initiation (P for interaction = 0.060) and the length of hospitalization (P for interaction = 0.027) was larger in young-to-middle-aged patients than in elderly patients. Conclusions: Catheter embedding was associated with lower hospitalization cost and shorter length of hospitalization for PD initiation than conventional PD catheter insertion, especially in young-to-middle-aged patients.The version of record of this article, first published in Clinical and Experimental Nephrology, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s10157-023-02416-

Promotion of clinical trials before / after CTA

Background : Enforcement of the 2018 Clinical Trials Act (CTA) in Japan resulted in strict and complicated regulations surrounding intervention studies. Few Japan-specific measures have been developed to promote intervention studies in Japan despite concerns about CTA’s negative influence on such studies. Therefore, this study examined the changes in academic investigators’ interest in conducting clinical studies before and after enforcement of the CTA to determine measures to promote specified clinical trials. Methods : We conducted a questionnaire survey with investigators belonging to the Institute of Biomedical Sciences, Tokushima University Graduate School, before and after enforcement of the CTA. Results : Investigators had lesser interest in intervention studies in the post-questionnaire survey (post) group than in the pre-questionnaire survey (pre) group. Their desire for “project management” was significantly higher in the post-group than in the pre-group. Their desire for “support for preparing documents when conducting specified clinical trials” was significantly higher in the group interested in conducting specified clinical trials than that in the not-interested group. Conclusion : We revealed that investigators were highly interested in “project management” and “support for preparing documents when conducting specified clinical trials” after enforcement of the CTA. Measures for these desires may promote specified clinical trials

膵癌術後予防肝動注におけるリザーバー留置術の検討 : 従来法とcoaxialシステムの比較

PURPOSE: Previous reports have shown the effectiveness of adjuvant hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy (HAIC) in pancreatic cancer. However, percutaneous catheter placement is technically difficult after pancreatic surgery. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the feasibility and outcome of HAIC using a coaxial technique compared with conventional technique for postoperative pancreatic cancer. MATERIALS AND METHODS: 93 consecutive patients who received percutaneous catheter-port system placement after pancreatectomy were enrolled. In 58 patients from March 2006 to August 2010 (Group A), a conventional technique with a 5-Fr indwelling catheter was used and in 35 patients from September 2010 to September 2012 (Group B), a coaxial technique with a 2.7-Fr coaxial catheter was used. RESULTS: The overall technical success rates were 97.1 % in Group B and 86.2 % in Group A. In cases with arterial tortuousness and stenosis, the success rate was significantly higher in Group B (91.7 vs. 53.8 %; P = 0.046). Fluoroscopic and total procedure times were significantly shorter in Group B: 14.7 versus 26.7 min (P = 0.001) and 64.8 versus 80.7 min (P = 0.0051), respectively. No differences were seen in the complication rate. The 1 year liver metastasis rates were 9.9 % using the conventional system and 9.1 % using the coaxial system (P = 0.678). The overall median survival time was 44 months. There was no difference in the survival period between two systems (P = 0.312). CONCLUSIONS: The coaxial technique is useful for catheter placement after pancreatectomy, achieving a high success rate and reducing fluoroscopic and procedure times, while maintaining the safety and efficacy for adjuvant HAIC in pancreatic cancer.博士（医学）・乙第1380号・平成28年7月8日© Springer Science+Business Media New York and the Cardiovascular and Interventional Radiological Society of Europe (CIRSE) 2016The final publication is available at Springer via http://dx.doi.org/10.1007/s00270-016-1292-

Ubiquitous organic molecule-based free-standing nanowires with ultra-high aspect ratios

ごくありふれた有機分子からナノ細線をつくり立たせて埋めつくす --立体電子回路や超高感度センサーへ--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2021-06-30.The critical dimension of semiconductor devices is approaching the single-nm regime, and a variety of practical devices of this scale are targeted for production. Planar structures of nano-devices are still the center of fabrication techniques, which limit further integration of devices into a chip. Extension into 3D space is a promising strategy for future; however, the surface interaction in 3D nanospace make it hard to integrate nanostructures with ultrahigh aspect ratios. Here we report a unique technique using high-energy charged particles to produce free-standing 1D organic nanostructures with high aspect ratios over 100 and controlled number density. Along the straight trajectory of particles penetrating the films of various sublimable organic molecules, 1D nanowires were formed with approximately 10~15 nm thickness and controlled length. An all-dry process was developed to isolate the nanowires, and planar or coaxial heterojunction structures were built into the nanowires. Electrical and structural functions of the developed standing nanowire arrays were investigated, demonstrating the potential of the present ultrathin organic nanowire systems