Large Mass Scale by Strong Gauge Dynamics with Infrared Fixed Point

We consider a mechanism for realizing the desired decoupling of strongly-coupled sector which is supposed to generate hierarchical structure of the Yukawa couplings. In our mechanism, the same strongly-coupled sector is responsible for generating a sufficiently flat potential and a large vacuum expectation value (VEV) of a gauge-singlet scalar field by suppressing its soft scalar mass and self-coupling. Vacuum instability is caused by supersymmetry-breaking A-term of order 10 TeV. We explicitly demonstrate the infrared convergence of soft scalar masses due to strongly-coupled dynamics and show the soft mass of the singlet is at most comparable to soft masses of squarks and sleptons, which are much suppressed than the A-term. The physical mass scale of the decoupling is calculated in a self-consistent way. We also reinterpret the result in terms of a RG-improved effective potential.Comment: 18 pages, 4 figures, 1 table, LaTeX (PTPTeX style

Occurrence of thiamin pyrophosphate-dependent 2-oxoglutarate decarboxylase in mitochondria of Euglena gracilis

Abstract2-Oxoglutarate decarboxylase which catalyzes the conversion of 2-oxoglutarate into succinate semialdehyde occurs in mitochondria of Euglena gracilis which lacks a 2-oxoglutarate dehydrogenase complex. The enzyme reaction required thiamin pyrophosphate, MgCl2, 2-mercaptoethanol and NADP+ for the maximum activity, and was not affected by pyruvate and oxalacetate. In the reaction, the enzyme consumed 2-oxoglutarate, evolved CO2 and formed succinate semialdehyde in stoichiometric relationship. The maximum enzyme activity was found at pH 7.0 and 40° C, and Km values for 2-oxoglutarate and thiamin pyrophosphate were 0.33 and 0.056 mM, respectively. These results indicate that the thiamin pyrophosphate-dependent Euglena decarboxylase belongs to a new type of decarboxylase to be designated as 2-oxoglutarate decarboxylase. The probable role of the new decarboxylase in Euglena mitochondria is discussed with regard to the tricarboxylic acid cycle

Studies on Electrocardiograms of Fishes : I. Test of method to detect the ECG from fish

病態生理学的な目的で魚類のECGを解析する場合に最も適当な導出方法を得る為，従来の各種導出方法について吟味した. 露出心臓表面からのECG単極導出法 1) コイの露出心臓表面から単極導出法よりECGを記録した. 2) コイの露出心臓表面から得られたECGはP，QS群，Tの各波からなっており，その他の波は記録されなかった. 3) 心臓表面の各部位から得られたECGの波形と心室運動が停止した場合のECGに見られるQRS群，及びT波の消失から，P波は心房に，QRS群，及びT波は心室に由来する事を確認した. 体表面からのECG単極及び双極導出法 1) 麻酔したコイの体表面から単極導出法によって，比較的明瞭なECGを導出する事ができた. 2) 麻酔液を含む水を鰓に還流したコイの両胸鰭から双極導出法により，個体差の比較的少ない，安定したECGが得られた.従ってこの両胸鰭からの双極導出法は病態生理学的研究に用いる事が可能であろう. 体内(囲心腔)からのEC双極導出法 1) 電極をコイ，ニジマス，フナ，ハマチ，マダイの囲心腔内に挿入し，双極導出法によりECGを導出した. 2) 各魚種とも基線の動揺が少なく安定したECGが得られ，その波形はコイの胸鰭からの双極導出の場合と良く類似した. 3) この方法3)，6)は電極を挿入する場合に魚体を傷つける，電極の挿入位置を正確に定める事が難しいなどの欠点があるが，心臓起電力が小さい魚や游泳状態にある魚からも安定したECGの導出が可能であり，魚類の病態生理学的研究，或は運動生理学的研究，さらには生態学的研究に現在，用いる事ができる最適の方法であるといえよう.Examinations have been made to find out the suitable method of detecting the ECG from fish for the purpose of pathological physiology study. The results obtained can be summarized as follows; Unipolar leads of ECG from the surface of the heart. ECGs, directly recorded on the surface of the Carp heart, consisted of P wave followed by QRS complex and a T wave (Fig. 4). Other waves derived from the heart could not be detected. Unipolar lead and bipolar lead of ECG from the body surface. i) ECG could be recorded from almost all the body surface of Carp by using unipolar lead. The amplitude of the QRS complex was about 40 µV in the vicinity of the heart. ii) ECGs obtained by using bipolar leads from pectoral fins of Carp were stable and the QRS complex appeared as a QS type ordinarily and exceptionally as a QR type. This method may be useful for the pathological physiology study of fish. The amplitude of QRS complex was 70 µV on the average. Bipolar lead of ECG from within the body. Electrodes were inserted into the chest with operation. ECGs by this method were easily detected from Carp, Crucian carp, Rainbow trout, Yellow tail, Sea bream under swimming condition in aquariums. The patterns of ECGs from the chest cavity were similar to those from pectoral fins of Carp. The amplitudes of the QRS complex were 1.12 mV in Carp, 0.40 mV in Crucian carp, 1.15 mV in Rainbow trout, 0.88 mV in Yellow tail, 0.12 mV in Sea bream. From the above results, it is apparent that the bipolar lead from the chest cavity is the most useful and suitable method to study fish ECG pathophysiologically and ecologically

Detection of Male Hypogonadism in Patients with Post COVID-19 Condition

The pathogenesis and prognosis of post COVID-19 condition have remained unclear. We set up an outpatient clinic specializing in long COVID in February 2021 and we have been investigating post COVID-19 condition. Based on the results of our earlier study showing that "general fatigue" mimicking myalgic encephalomyelitis/chronic fatigue syndrome (ME/CFS) is the most common symptom in long COVID patients, a retrospective analysis was performed for 39 male patients in whom serum free testosterone (FT) levels were measured out of 61 male patients who visited our clinic. We analyzed the medical records of the patients' backgrounds, symptoms and laboratory results. Among the 39 patients, 19 patients (48.7%) met the criteria for late-onset hypogonadism (LOH; FT = 8.5 pg/mL). Among various laboratory parameters, blood hemoglobin level was slightly, but significantly, lower in the LOH group. Serum level of FT was positively correlated with the levels of blood hemoglobin and serum total protein and albumin in the total population, whereas these interrelationships were blurred in the LOH group. Collectively, the results indicate that the incidence of LOH is relatively high in male patients, even young male patients, with post COVID-19 and that serum FT measurement is useful for revealing occult LOH status in patients with long COVID

Relationship between patients' characteristics and efficacy of calcimimetics for primary hyperparathyroidism in the elderly

Calcimimetic treatment has been reported to be effective for primary hyperparathyroidism (PHPT). Nine elderly PH PT patients who had been treated with calcimimetics were retrospectively analyzed. It was found that calcimimetics can reduce elevated serum calcium levels in elderly PHPT patients with low femoral DEXA %YAM and low urinary cAMP levels

Serial Changes of Long COVID Symptoms and Clinical Utility of Serum Antibody Titers for Evaluation of Long COVID

Background: Various symptoms persist even after the acute symptoms in about one third of patients with COVID-19. In February 2021, we established an outpatient clinic in a university hospital for patients with long COVID and started medical treatment for sequelae that persisted one month or more after infection. Methods: To determine the key factors that affect the onset and clinical course of sequelae, a retrospective analysis was performed at Okayama University Hospital (Japan) between February and July 2021. We focused on changes in the numbers of symptoms and the background of the patients during a three-month period from the first outpatient visit. We also examined the relationship with SARS-CoV-2 antibody titers. Results: Information was obtained from medical records for 65 patients. The symptoms of sequelae were diverse, with more than 20 types. The most frequent symptoms were general malaise, dysosmia, dysgeusia, sleeplessness, and headache. These symptoms improved in about 60% of the patients after 3 months. Patients who required hospitalization and had a poor condition in the acute phase and patients who received oxygen/dexamethasone therapy had higher antibody titers at the time of consultation. Patients with antibody titers >= 200 U/mL showed significantly fewer improvements in long COVID symptoms in 1 month, but they showed improvements at 3 months after the first visit. Conclusion: Long COVID symptoms were improved at 3 months after the initial visit in more than half of the patients. Serum antibody titers were higher in patients who experienced a severe acute phase, but the serum antibody titers did not seem to be directly related to the long-term persistence of long COVID symptoms