Charge Transfer Cross Sections for Multiply Charged Slow Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe Ions on Various Gas Targets : I. Rare Gas Targets

Observed charge transfer cross sections are compiled in an energy region from a few to tens keV for multiply charged Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe ions on rare gas targets, where projectile ions are produced by using an “ion-impact ion source” (IIIS). The values are compared with the results of other research workers

Salivary Mucocele in a Laboratory Beagle

The histologic characteristics of a salivary mucocele in a beagle used in a toxicity study are described in this report. A pale yellowish cyst under the mandibular skin containing frothy mucus was observed at necropsy. Microscopically, numerous villous projections arose from the internal surface of the cyst and were lined by stratified epithelial-like macrophages, which were immunopositive for macrophage scavenger receptor A. A ruptured sublingual interlobar duct connected to the lumen was observed near the cyst. Luminal amorphous material showed a positive reaction with Alcian blue and periodic acid-Schiff staining as did mucin in the sublingual gland. Ultrastructurally, the epithelial-like macrophages had numerous vacuoles containing electron-lucent material, which was presumed to be lysosomal in origin, and had pseudopods on their cell surfaces interdigitating with those on the adjacent cells. This case report helps to understand the diversity of the background findings in beagles used in toxicity studies

Charge Transfer Cross Sections for Multiply Charged Slow Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe Ions on Various Gas Targets : II. Molecular Gas Targets

Observed charge transfer cross sections are compiled, similarly to Part I, for multiply charged Ne, Ar, Kr and Xe ions on several molecular targets in an energy region from a few to tens keV. The projectiles are recoil ions produced by using our “ion-impact ion source” (IIIS). The values are compared with the results of other research workers

Thermoelectric Performance of p-Type Mg 2 Si 0:25 Sn 0:75 with Li and Ag Double Doping

The single-phase of p-type Mg 2 Si 0:25 Sn 0:75 with Li and Ag double doping were prepared by the liquid-solid reaction and hot-pressing methods. All samples thus obtained were identified by XRD as single-phase solid solutions with an anti-fluorite structure. The effects of Li and Ag double doping on thermoelectric performance were investigated at temperature differences (ÁT) of 0 to 500 K. The thermoelectromotive force (E) of the Li-25000 ppm single-doped sample was determined to be 88 mV at ÁT ¼ 500 K. For the Li-20000 ppm and Ag-5000 ppm double-doped sample, the E value became larger (92 mV) after Ag substitution. A maximum E value of 97 mV was obtained for the Ag-25000 ppm single-doped sample and the Li-5000 ppm and Ag-20000 ppm double-doped sample. Mean resistivity (r m ) at ÁT ¼ 500 K decreased by double doping and showed a minimum value of 2:94 Â 10 À5 m for the Li-5000 ppm and Ag-20000 ppm double-doped sample. The maximum effective power (P ¼ E 2 =4r m ) increased with ÁT. The P values of single-doped samples at ÁT ¼ 500 K were 38 Wm À1 for Li singledoped and 72 Wm À1 for Ag single-doped samples. P for the Li-20000 ppm and Ag-5000 ppm double-doped sample was 64 Wm À1 , which was an improvement of about 90% compared with the Li single-doped sample. The maximum value of P at ÁT ¼ 500 K was 80 Wm À1 for the Li-5000 ppm and Ag-20000 ppm double-doped sample, which was an improvement of about 10% compared with the Ag single-doped sample

Effects of hydrophilic polymer-coated polysulfone membrane dialyzers on intradialytic hypotension in diabetic hemodialysis patients (ATHRITE BP Study) : a pilot study

Background: Intradialytic hypotension (IDH) is a common clinical manifestation associated with poor prognosis in hemodialysis (HD) patients. HD patients who suffer from diabetic nephropathy (DN) are increasing and diabetes is a major cause of IDH. Effective interventional treatments for IDH have yet to be fully evaluated. The aim of this multicenter prospective study is to clarify the effect of biocompatible hydrophilic polymer-coated polysulfone (PS) membrane, TORAYLIGHT® NV (NV) dialyzers on IDH. Methods: This is a prospective stratified-randomized multicenter trial. Forty DN patients undergoing HD and receiving two or more times of treatments for IDH per month were enrolled in this study. They were stratified by the number of treatments for IDH and divided to two groups using NV or conventional PS/polyethersulfone (PES) dialyzers. The number of treatments for IDH and changes in systolic blood pressure (SBP) were monitored for 6 months. Patients’ demographic and clinical characteristics were also collected at enrollment and the last month of the observation period. In order to clarify the patient characteristics that induced preferable effects by using NV dialyzers, responders were defined as the patients whose average SBP falls in 1 month improved from over 30 mmHg to no more than 30 mmHg. Results: The total number of treatments for IDH decreased significantly in NV group, even though pre-dialysis body weight and ultrafiltration volume were similar. In addition, patients using NV had significantly higher post-dialysis SBP and the lowest SBP during HD at sixth month compared as those in PS/PES group. NV responders had valuables suggesting malnutrition and microinflammation, and better lipid profiles than non-responders. However, the representative markers related to nutritional status, arteriosclerosis, and inflammation were not improved by NV treatment. Conclusions: NV had preferable effects on IDH in DN HD patients. Our results suggest the usefulness of NV as a possible method to deal with IDH. Further studies are needed to clarify the mechanism of NV effects on hemodynamic status

Cooperative Clinical Trial of Photodynamic Therapy for Early Gastric Cancer With Photofrin Injection® and YAG-OPO Laser

Background and Objective: Photodynamic therapy (PDT) treats malignant tumors using photosensitizers and light. We employed a new pulse laser as the excitation light source for PDT, i.e. an optical parametric oscillator (OPO) system pumped by a Q-switched Nd:YAG laser, because it provides extremely high peak power

Pathological analysis of spermatic dysfunction following testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury\n

　Introduction & Objectives: Torsion, which may result in testicular ischemia, requires emergency surgery to restore testicular blood flow. However, the risk of spermatic dysfunction remains even if surgery is performed. The pathology of spermatic dysfunction in testicular ischemia-reperfusion injury (TIRI) remains unclear. A previous study showed the relevance of inflammation and oxidative stress in the other organs of ischemia-reperfusion injury. We hypothesized that inflammation and oxidative stress play key roles in causing spermatic dysfunction following TIRI. We investigated the pathophysiology of spermatic dysfunction in TIRI focusing on inflammatory changes using TIRI model mice.　Materials and Methods: The study used C57BL/6J male mice aged 10 to 15 weeks. To create TIRI model mice, the unilateral (left side) testicular vessels were clamped using Dieffenbach clamps (Bulldog clamps) for 1 hour and de-clamped. The bilateral testes were removed at 0 (ischemic state), 1, 3, and 5 weeks after creating the TIRI model mice. Spermatic changes following TIRI were investigated by analyzing the histology of the testes and semen and assessing levels of inflammation and oxidative stress. Semen was collected from the bilateral cauda epididymites and investigated using the sperm motility analysis system (SMAS).　Results: Histological analysis after hematoxylin-eosin staining showed tissue thickening in interstitial tissues at week 1 and 3 on the left (affected) testis, and week 1, 3 and 5 on the right (unaffected) testis. The infiltration of lymphocytes-predominant inflammatory cells were observed at week 1 and week 3 on the left (affected) testis. The destruction of ductal structures and giant cells were observed at weeks 3 and 5 on the left (affected) testis and week 5 on the right (unaffected) testis. SMAS showed significantly decreased spermatic concentration and motility in both testes of TIRI model mice compared with those of sham-operated mice at weeks 1, 3 and 5. Inflammation analysis using an inflammation-related proteome assay showed significantly increased levels of cytokines (IL-2, IL-3, IL-17A, and IL-23) and chemokines (CCL2, CCL5, CXCL1, and CX3CL1) at weeks 1, 3, and 5 in both testes of TIRI model mice. For the assessment of oxidative stress, enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA) for 8-hydroxy-2’-deoxyguanosine (8-OHdG) was performed, which showed that levels of 8-OHdG were significantly increased in the left (affected) testis of TIRI model mice compared with that of sham-operated mice at all observation periods. Meanwhile, ELISA showed that levels of 8-OHdG in the right (unaffected) testis were significantly increased in TIRI model mice at weeks 3 and 5 compared with that of sham-operated mice.　Conclusions: Spermatic dysfunction following TIRI is induced by inflammation and oxidative stress. Inflammation and oxidative stress may be novel regulatory factors to prevent spermatic dysfunction following TIRI

Pathophysiological analysis of detrusor overactivity following partial bladder outlet obstruction

　Introduction: Detrusor overactivity (DO) following partial bladder outlet obstruction (PBOO) is a common urological condition in humans, with 50-70% patients with PBOO complicated with DO. The pathological mechanisms of DO following PBOO are largely unknown, but inflammatory changes may play a key role. We hypothesized that inflammation is important in the earlier pathophysiological phase before overproduction of oxidative stress in DO following PBOO. Therefore, we investigated the relationships among bladder function, ischemia, oxidative stress and inflammation in DO following PBOO in PBOO model mice.　Materials and Methods: C57BL/6J male mice aged 10 to 15 weeks were used in the study. PBOO model mice were created surgically by ligation of the proximal urethra with 5-0 nylon suture under inhalation anesthesia. Sham-operated mice were used as controls. Pathophysiological changes in the bladder at 1, 3 and 5 weeks after creation of the PBOO model mice were compared with those in sham-operated mice using functional, histological, biochemical and immunohistochemical analyses.　Results: Functional analysis using a pressure flow study showed increased maximum detrusor pressure at 1 week and DO from 3 to 5 weeks after creation of the PBOO model. Histological analysis using hematoxylin-eosin and Masson-Trichrome staining showed greater invasion of inflammatory cells and fibrosis in PBOO model mice compared with sham-operated mice at 3 and 5 weeks. Inflammatory cells were mainly present in interstitial tissue, and fibrosis gradually infiltrated from interstitial tissue to the muscular layer. Ischemia analysis showed significantlyincreased HIF-1α in PBOO model mice at all time points. Oxidative stress analysis indicated significantly increased levels of ROS from 1 week and 8-OHdG from 3weeks in PBOO model mice. An inflammation-related proteome assay showed high levels of colony stimulating factor (CSF) family proteins at 1 week and IL-2, IL-3, IL-17A, IL-23, MMP-3, MMP-9 and periostin from 3 to 5 weeks in PBOO model mice.　Conclusions: Oxidative stress and inflammatory changes showed contemporaneous increase in pathophysiology of detrusor overactivity following partial bladder outlet obstruction. Especially, CSF family and ROS changes are showed in the early stage, and might be a predict marker in the pathophysiology of DO following PBOO at the early stage

Preventive effect of indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 inhibition on lipopolysaccharide-induced prostatitis

　Introduction and Objectives: Bacterial infections are the main cause of acute prostatitis and are treated with appropriate antimicrobial therapy. However, approximately 5% of patients continue to have inflammatory symptoms even after receiving antibacterial therapy, leading to refractory conditions. Bacterial prostatitis requires additional therapy, focusing on inflammatory changes. Indoleamine 2,3-dioxygenase 1 (IDO1) catalysis is the first rate-limiting step of tryptophan metabolism. IDO1 is expressed in the prostate and plays a key role in the immune response. As the first step in investigating the relationship between acute prostatitis and IDO1, we investigated the preventive effect of IDO1 inhibition on lipopolysaccharide (LPS)- induced prostatitis using IDO knockout (Ido1 −/−) mice in this study.　Materials and Methods: The study used Ido1 −/− and wild-type (Ido1 +/+) C57BL/6J malemice aged 10–15 weeks. LPS Escherichia coli O26 (100μg/PBS, 100μL) was administered transurethrally into the lower urinary tract to create a mouse model of LPS-induced prostatitis. The prostates were removed 1, 3, 5, and 7 days after creating the model mice. Histological, immunohistochemical, and biochemical analyses were used to compare the preventive effect in Ido1 −/− mice compared with that in Ido1+/+ mice.　Results: HE staining showed suppression of ductal destruction following infiltration of inflammatory cells in Ido1 −/− mice compared with Ido1 +/+ mice. The enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) method was used for kynurenine pathway analysis, which showed significantly maintained tryptophan levels and decreased L-kynurenine levels in Ido1 −/− mice compared to Ido1 +/+ mice. The IDO1 assay in Ido1 +/+ mice showed significantly increased levels during all observation periods after creating the model compared with that under normal conditions. Immunofluorescent staining using five types of cytokines and chemokines (IL-2, IL-4, IL-17, CCL2, and CCL3) related to the pathophysiology of acute prostatitis showed decreased expression of these cytokines and chemokines in Ido1 -/- mice compared with Ido1 +/+ mice. Inflammation-related proteome assays showed decreased levels of IL-1β, IL-4, IL-5, IL-6, IL-17, CCL2, CCL3, CXCL1, CXCL11, and tissue inhibitor of matrix metalloproteinases (TIMP)-1 in Ido1 −/− mice compared with Ido1 −/− mice during all observation periods after model creation.　Conclusions: IDO1 is involved in LPS-induced prostatitis through cytokines and chemokines. IDO1 inhibition contributes to the prevention of LPS-induced prostatitis. IDO1 inhibition has the potential to serve as an additional therapy for acute prostatitis

Treatment outcomes of laparoscopic radical prostatectomy at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital

　Laparoscopic radical prostatectomy (LRP) was carried out in 196 patients with prostate cancer between December 2009 and November 2017 at Kawasaki Medical School Hospital, and the therapeutic outcomes were assessed. An extraperitoneal approach was used in all cases except 1 and the median follow-up period was 55 months (range, 10-117 months). The median patient age was 69 years (range, 56-79 years), median body mass index was 23.3 kg/m2 (range, 15.2-33.2 kg/m2 ), and median prostate-specific antigen (PSA) level at diagnosis was 7.4 ng/mL (range, 2.2-42.0 ng/mL). Clinical stages of T1c, T2a, T2b, T2c, T3a, and T3b accounted for 63, 43, 31, 57, 1, and 1 case, respectively, while Gleason scores at biopsy of ≥ 6, 7, and ≥ 8 accounted for 26, 138, and 32 cases, respectively. The median prostate volume was 22.0 mL (range, 7.3-65.6 mL), median operating time was 266 minutes (range, 142-540 minutes), and median blood loss (including in urine) was 650 mL (range, 10-5,800 mL). During the initial induction period, 94 patients received autologous blood transfusion and 7 received allogeneic blood transfusion. Nerve-sparing prostatectomy was performed in 17 cases (bilateral in 3, unilateral in 14). Capsular invasion was observed in 57 cases (29.1%) and positive resection margins were observed in 51 cases (26.4%). The median indwelling catheter duration was 6 days (range, 4-26 days) and the median hospital stay after surgery was 11 days (range, 8-34 days). The main complications were intraoperative rectal injury in 7 cases (3.6%), postoperative inguinal hernia in 28 (14.3%), and urethral stenosis in 8 (4.1%). The rate of urinary incontinence at ≥ 1 year after surgery was 32.7% and the rate of PSA recurrence was 15.8%. The overall survival rate was 95.6% at 5 years and 94.7% at 10 years. In conclusion, the oncological outcomes were similar to that reported by previous reports, but postoperative stress urinary incontinence and complications were slightly worse. In the future, further improvement of the surgical technique was desired