Microstructure and mechanical behavior of Ti-25Nb-25Zr alloy prepared from pre-alloyed and hydride-mixed elemental powders

A study has been undertaken on the feasibility of the powder-metallurgy manufacturing process to fabricate β-type Ti-25Nb-25Zr alloy (mass%) for biomedical applications. The Ti-25Nb-25Zr alloy was fabricated from a mixture of TiH2 with constituent elemental powders, and from a pre-alloyed Plasma Rotating Electrode Processed (PREP) Ti-25Nb-25Zr powder, separately. It is shown that different processing methods led to different microstructures and mechanical properties. The Ti-25Nb-25Zr compact prepared by pre-alloyed powder exhibits poor strength whereas TiH2 processed Ti-25Nb-25Zr compact exhibits comparatively ultra-fine grained microstructure with significantly improved strength. The proposed fabrication method may have several opportunities to fabricate metallic alloys with enhanced mechanical properties.Sharma B., Vajpai S.K., Kawabata M., et al. Microstructure and mechanical behavior of Ti-25Nb-25Zr alloy prepared from pre-alloyed and hydride-mixed elemental powders. Materials Transactions 61, 562 (2020); https://doi.org/10.2320/matertrans.MT-MK2019001

Impaired bone quality characterized by apatite orientation under stress shielding following fixing of a fracture of the radius with a 3D printed Ti-6Al-4V custom-made bone plate in dogs

Custom-made implants have recently gained attention in veterinary medicine because of their ability to properly fit animal bones having a wide variety of shapes and sizes. The effect of custom-made implants on bone soundness and the regeneration process is not yet clear. We fabricated a 3D printed Ti-6Al-4V custom-made bone plate that fits the shape of the dog radius, and placed it into the radius where an osteotomy had been made. The preferential orientation of the apatite c-axis contributes to the mechanical integrity of the bone and is a reliable measure of bone quality. We determined this parameter as well as the bone shape and bone mineral density (BMD). The bone portion which lies parallel to the bone plate exhibited bone resorption, decreased BMD, and significant degradation of apatite orientation, relative to the portion outside the plate, at 7 months after the operation. This demonstrates the presence of stress shielding in which applied stress is not transmitted to bone due to the insertion of a stiff bone plate. This reduced stress condition clearly influences the bone regeneration process. The apatite orientation in the regenerated site remained different even after 7 months of regeneration, indicating insufficient mechanical function in the regenerated portion. This is the first study in which the apatite orientation and BMD of the radius were evaluated under conditions of stress shielding in dogs. Our results suggest that assessment of bone repair by radiography can indicate the degree of restoration of BMD, but not the apatite orientation.Impaired bone quality characterized by apatite orientation under stress shielding following fixing of a fracture of the radius with a 3D printed Ti-6Al-4V custom-made bone plate in dogs. Keiichiro Mie et al. PLOS ONE. 2020. 9(2) doi.org/10.1371/journal.pone.023767

脂質過酸化物により劣化させられたチューブリンのGTPase活性に対するSH基還元剤(グルタチオン・システイン)の回復効果

Tubulin, which is a main component of the cytoskeleton, plays various important roles in cellular processes such as axonal transport, ciliary and flagellar movement, cell division, and cell segregation in the form of microtubules. The aim of the present study was to examine the effect of SH reductants on phospholipid peroxides-induced inhibition of tubulin GTPase activity. Lipid peroxides were prepared by photooxidation of lipoid S100 of phospholipid obtained from soybean. Tubulin GTPase activity was most inhibited by lipid photooxidized for 24 hours among ones for 16 and 24 hours. The more the amount of lipid peroxides is added, the more the activity is inhibited. Tubulin GTPase activity was lowered even in the presence of a slight amount of lipid peroxides. This suggests that the presence of a slight amount of lipid peroxides influences cellular functions in vivo. Prepared lipid peroxides was identified as a monohydroperoxide by an electrochemical detection through HPLC and a mass spectrometry. Glutathione and cysteine was used as water soluble reductants. Tubulin GTPase activity deteriorated by lipid peroxides was restored by the addition of water soluble reductants. The results presented above suggest that glutathione and cysteine have a protective effect on cellular aging by the reduction of materials oxidized in vivo

Applications of reconstituted inflammasomes in a cell-free system to drug discovery and elucidation of the pathogenesis of autoinflammatory diseases

Abstract The inflammasome, typically consisting of a Nod-like receptor, apoptosis-associated speck-like protein, and pro-caspase-1, has recently been identified as a huge intracellular complex, which plays a crucial role in interleukin-1 maturation or specific physiological functions. Two Nod-like receptors, such as nucleotide-binding oligomerization domains-containing protein (Nod)1 and Nod2, interact with the receptor-interacting protein serine-threonine kinase (RIPK)2 accompanied by Iκ-B kinase (IKK) complexes to construct the nodosome, leading to nuclear factor (NF)-κB activation. The aberrant activation of inflammasomes or nodosomes causes autoinflammatory diseases. Therefore, inflammasomes may be attractive targets to treat autoinflammatory diseases. Our aim is to develop reconstituted inflammasomes in a cell-free system to discover specific molecular-target drugs and elucidate the molecular pathogenesis of autoinflammatory diseases. In this review, we describe reconstituted inflammasomes in a cell-free system

Incarcerated Gravid Uterus: Spontaneous Resolution Is Not Rare

Aim: Incarcerated gravid uterus is a rare obstetrical complication that leads to adverse outcomes, especially if the uterus remains incarcerated and the condition goes undiagnosed until delivery. However, there is no consensus regarding the optimal management of this complication because of its rarity. In this study, we aimed to elucidate the incidence of incarcerated gravid uterus, as well as its natural courses and perinatal outcomes. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed medical records of patients who had incarcerated gravid uterus and managed at Osaka City University Hospital between April 2011 and March 2021. Incarcerated gravid uterus was defined as a retroverted or retroflexed uterus after 16 weeks of gestation. Results: There were 14 incarcerated cases among 6958 pregnant women, and 13 of them had some kind of gynecological complication and/or history. Spontaneous resolution of incarcerated gravid uterus after 16 gestational weeks was observed in six cases before the late second trimester and five cases at the late second trimester to early third trimester. Three cases remained incarcerated at term or near-term. One case with adenomyosis had severe abdominal pain, although it was difficult to ascertain whether the cause of pain was triggered by adenomyosis and/or incarceration. One case was misdiagnosed as placenta previa, and the uterine cervix was subsequently injured during cesarean delivery, resulting in massive hemorrhaging. Conclusions: Approximately 1 in 2300 pregnancies continued to be in an incarcerated condition at term or near-term, and 78.5% of cases showed a spontaneous resolution after 16 weeks of gestation. Expectant management with careful attention to the incarcerated gravid uterus may be one option in situations where there are no severe symptoms related to the incarceration itself

Reply to Orsi, M.; Somigliana, E. Incarceration of the Gravid Uterus: Proposal for a Shared Definition. Comment on “Tachibana et al. Incarcerated Gravid Uterus: Spontaneous Resolution Is Not Rare. <i>Diagnostics</i> 2021, <i>11</i>, 1544”

We appreciate the interest in our paper, and we are grateful for the comment by Orsi et al. [...

Placental Types and Effective Perinatal Management of Vasa Previa: Lessons from 55 Cases in a Single Institution

Background: We aimed to identify clinical characteristics and outcomes for each placental type of vasa previa (VP). Methods: Placental types of vasa previa were defined as follows: Type 1, vasa previa with velamentous cord insertion and non-type 1, vasa previa with a multilobed or succenturiate placenta and vasa previa with vessels branching out from the placental surface and returning to the placental cotyledons. Results: A total of 55 cases of vasa previa were included in this study, with 35 cases of type 1 and 20 cases of non-type 1. Vasa previa with type 1 showed a significantly higher association with assisted reproductive technology, compared with non-type 1 (p = 0.024, 60.0% and 25.0%, respectively). The diagnosis was significantly earlier in the type 1 group than in the non-Type 1 group (p = 0.027, 21.4 weeks and 28.6 weeks, respectively). Moreover, the Ward technique for anterior placentation to avoid injury of the placenta and/or fetal vessels was more frequently required in non-type 1 cases (p &lt; 0.001, 60.0%, compared with 14.3% for type 1). Conclusion: The concept of defining placental types of vasa previa will provide useful information for the screening of this serious complication, improve its clinical management and operative strategy, and achieve more preferable perinatal outcomes

Preliminary Outcomes of Cervical Cerclage for Shortened Cervix with Decidual Polyp

The aim of this study was to elucidate the nature of decidual polyp (DP) and to compare DP outcomes treated with cervical cerclage for a shortened cervix with the outcomes of cases treated with cervical cerclage without DP. The medical records of pregnant women who were complicated with cervical polyps were retrospectively reviewed. Cervical cerclage was considered for those cases with a shortened cervical length of under 25 mm and before 25 gestational weeks. We also reviewed pregnant women who had no cervical polyps, and who underwent cervical cerclage during the same study period, and defined them as the control group. A total of 56 pregnant women with cervical polyps were identified. All of the polyps in the 14 cases that had undergone cervical cerclage migrated into the cervical canal. Of the thirty seven cases with cervical polyps that did not necessitate cervical cerclage, eight women delivered preterm and six of these cases were diagnosed as DP. In all of the women studied, polyp migration was observed in 68.6 %. Cervical cerclage was performed significantly earlier in the DP group than in the control group of 46 cases (p &lt; 0.001; 18.4 weeks vs. 21.4 weeks, respectively). Cervical cerclage is effective in DP cases with a shortened cervical length and polypectomy should not be performed during pregnancy because of the risk of miscarriage

The Hematopoietic Effect of Ninjinyoeito (TJ-108), a Traditional Japanese Herbal Medicine, in Pregnant Women Preparing for Autologous Blood Storage

Background and Objectives: There are no reports showing the hematopoietic effect of TJ-108 on pregnant women. The aim of this study was to investigate the effect of TJ-108 on the hemoglobin and hematocrit levels, and white blood cell and platelet counts of pregnant women complicated with placenta previa who were managed with autologous blood storage for cesarean section. Materials and Methods: We studied two groups of patients who were complicated with placenta previa and who underwent cesarean delivery. Group A consisted of women who were treated with oral iron medication (100 mg/day), and Group B consisted of women who were treated with TJ-108 at a dose of 9.0 g per day, in addition to oral iron medication, from the first day of blood storage until the day before cesarean delivery. To evaluate the effect of TJ-108, the patients’ red blood cell (RBC); Hb; hematocrit (Ht); white blood cell (WBC); and platelet count (PLT) levels were measured 7 days after storage and at postoperative days (POD) 1 and 5. Results: The study included 65 individuals, 38 in group A and 27 in group B. At the initial storage, a 0.2 g/dL reduction in Hb levels was observed, as compared to the initial Hb levels, in the TJ-108 treated patients, whereas a 0.6 g/dL reduction in Hb levels was observed in the non-TJ-108 treated group. On the other hand, regarding the second and subsequent storages, no significant difference was found in the decrease in the Hb levels of both groups. Conclusions: This study is the first report showing the effect of TJ-108 on improving anemia in pregnant women, presumably by its boosting effect on myelohematopoiesis. Therefore, the combined administration of both iron and TJ-108 is effective as a strategy for pregnant women at a high risk of PPH due to complications such as placenta previa