Evaluation of Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity in Kampo Medicine

Antioxidant capacity of food has come to be shown in terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) mainly on vegetables or fruit. However, the evaluation of Kampo in terms of ORAC has not yet been accomplished. It is important that such an investigation is also conducted for Kampo medicine. We measured the ORAC value of almost all the available Kampo formulas used in the Japanese National health insurance system and examined the ORAC value both for the daily prescription, and also the crude herb ingredients. The ORAC value of Kampo medicine ranged 4.65–5913 units/day. The ORAC value was high in Kampo formulas including Rhei Rhizoma, and was relatively high in Kampo formulas including anti-inflammatory herbs other than Rhei Rhizoma. The ORAC value was also high in Kampo formulas including crude herbs that have relaxation effects. The ORAC value of a crude herb would seem to not be fixed but be dependent on combination with other crude herbs from the comparison of different herbs added to the basic Kampo medicine. These results suggest variability and complexity of the antioxidant capacity of Kampo medicine within the similar range of food. On the other hand, investigation of the compound changes of various crude herbs with ORAC may lead to the elucidation of the action mechanism of Kampo medicine

ANCA-associated vasculitis with scleritis, corneal melt, and perforation rescued by rituximab: Case report and literature review

Key Clinical Message: Patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis, specifically with myeloperoxidase (MPO)-ANCA, would have a risk for developing corneal melt and perforation abruptly in a short period. It is desirable to have a team of collaboration of rheumatologists and other specialties. Abstract: An 80-year old man who had been diagnosed 5.5 years previously as ANCA-associated vasculitis by temporal artery biopsy developed corneal melt and perforation with scleritis in both eyes. He underwent successful cataract surgery and retained ambulatory vision with the aid of intravenous rituximab. Two additional patients with similar manifestations were found in the literature

Right ventricular function evaluated by volumetric analysis during left heart bypass in a canine model of postischemic cardiac dysfunction

AbstractRight ventricular function during left heart bypass was evaluated by volumetric analysis with a conductance catheter in 12 dogs with postischemic cardiac dysfunction. The conductance catheter was used to assess the volumetric status of the right ventricle and thereby allowed a right ventricular pressure-volume curve to be obtained, in which transient volume loading on the right ventricle was applied. The following right ventricular properties during left heart bypass were assessed and compared with properties measured without left heart bypass, by means of load-independent parameters: maximum elastance, stroke work/end-diastolic volume relation, end-diastolic pressure/volume relation, and stroke work/end-diastolic pressure relation. The stroke volume derived from the conductance catheter and the electromagnetic flow probe showed good linear correlation (r2 = 0.733 to 0.975). After initiation of left heart bypass, maximum elastance did not change significantly, although volume intercept significantly increased, from 1.2 ± 7.3 to 3.6 ± 7.9 ml ( p < 0.05). End-diastolic pressure/volume relation was well fitted to the exponential curve (EDP = e (k1 · EDV+k2) ) and was shifted to the right and downward during left heart bypass; the slope k1 significantly decreased, from 0.12 ± 0.06 to 0.10 ± 0.07 ( p < 0.01). Stroke work/end-diastolic volume relation and stroke work/end-diastolic pressure relation were closely fitted to the linear regression, and their slopes were significantly increased during left heart bypass, from 0.14 ± 0.08 to 0.18 ± 0.08 ( p < 0.05) and from 0.22 ± 0.15 to 0.34 ± 0.19 ( p < 0.01), respectively. These results suggest that the decompression of the left ventricle and septal shifting by left heart bypass provide good diastolic compliance and good systolic performance because of afterload unloading of the right ventricle. Thus the left heart bypass improved the overall right ventricular performance, particularly at higher end-diastolic pressures, in dogs with postischemic cardiac dysfunction. (J THORAC CARDIOVASC SURG 1995;109:796-803

Original Article Evaluation of Oxygen Radical Absorbance Capacity in Kampo Medicine

Antioxidant capacity of food has come to be shown in terms of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC) mainly on vegetables or fruit. However, the evaluation of Kampo in terms of ORAC has not yet been accomplished. It is important that such an investigation is also conducted for Kampo medicine. We measured the ORAC value of almost all the available Kampo formulas used in the Japanese National health insurance system and examined the ORAC value both for the daily prescription, and also the crude herb ingredients. The ORAC value of Kampo medicine ranged 4.65-5913 units/day. The ORAC value was high in Kampo formulas including Rhei Rhizoma, and was relatively high in Kampo formulas including anti-inflammatory herbs other than Rhei Rhizoma. The ORAC value was also high in Kampo formulas including crude herbs that have relaxation effects. The ORAC value of a crude herb would seem to not be fixed but be dependent on combination with other crude herbs from the comparison of different herbs added to the basic Kampo medicine. These results suggest variability and complexity of the antioxidant capacity of Kampo medicine within the similar range of food. On the other hand, investigation of the compound changes of various crude herbs with ORAC may lead to the elucidation of the action mechanism of Kampo medicine

Near-optimal stochastic MIMO signal detection with a mixture of t-distribution prior

Multiple-input multiple-output (MIMO) systems will play a crucial role in future wireless communication, but improving their signal detection performance to increase transmission efficiency remains a challenge. To address this issue, we propose extending the discrete signal detection problem in MIMO systems to a continuous one and applying the Hamiltonian Monte Carlo method, an efficient Markov chain Monte Carlo algorithm. In our previous studies, we have used a mixture of normal distributions for the prior distribution. In this study, we propose using a mixture of t-distributions, which further improves detection performance. Based on our theoretical analysis and computer simulations, the proposed method can achieve near-optimal signal detection with polynomial computational complexity. This high-performance and practical MIMO signal detection could contribute to the development of the 6th-generation mobile network.Comment: to be published in the 2023 IEEE Global Communications Conference (GLOBECOM

Enhancement of astaxanthin production in Xanthophyllomyces dendrorhous by efficient method for the complete deletion of genes

Additional file 1. DNA seuence of primers used in this study

Successful Treatment of Staphylococcus schleiferi Infection after Aortic Arch Repair: In Situ Aortic Arch Replacement and Domino Reconstruction of the Debranching Graft using Autologous Iliac Artery

A 62-year-old Japanese male presented with graft infection by Staphylococcus schleiferi 50 days after debranching of the left subclavian artery and frozen elephant trunk repair for the entry closure of a Stanford type B aortic dissection. The graft was removed, and the patient was successfully treated using in situ reconstruction of the arch with omental flap coverage, removal of the debranching graft, autologous iliac artery grafting, and longterm antibiotics. Domino reconstruction of the infected debranching graft using autologous external iliac artery and a Dacron graft can thus be a good option in similar cases

Modeling of the inherence of feedback regulation and stem cell behavior in granulopoiesis

金沢大学医学部附属病院小児科Long-standing controversies in hematopoiesis are the mechanisms of self-maintenance and differentiation commitment of the hematopoietic stem cells (HSC), and regulation of the peripheral control of hematopoiesis. In the present study, we have applied a threedimensional cellular automaton (CA) model to granulopoiesis in order to identify the internally generative theoretical relationship between microscopic mechanisms and macroscopic behavior of hematopoietic processes. The number of mitotic event of the cells in a proliferating phase, the transit time of each of 15 differential stages from HSC to mature cells (designated as Tl to Tl 5, and Tdup for HSC duplication time), and the neighborhood rules for HSC self-renewal were incorporated in this model system as analytical parameters. Homeostatic granulopoiesis was achieved when the following inequalities for the transit times were fulfilled: Tl > Z Tn (n = 2 to 15) and Tdup > 1/2 Tl. Importantly, stabilization of the cell production was induced in a negative feedback manner following external perturbation of the peripheral granulocyte numbers. The Tdup of individual HSC was dramatically fluctuated to produce the offspring responding to this perturbation. A single cell kinetic analysis demonstrated that symmetrical or asymmetrical cell division of the HSC was recruited in a transitional manner resulting in generation of the regulatory effect on the lineage-commitment processes. The inherence of feedback regulation would be a characteristic feature of the emergent dynamical property in the hematopoietic system. The CA modeling will provide the framework to analyze the behavior of HSC and to understand abnormal kinetics of the cells such as minimal residual disease in the treatment of leukemias

Biomechanical Analysis of a Pedicle Screw-Rod System with a Novel Cross-Link Configuration

Study DesignThe strength effects of a pedicle screw-rod system supplemented with a novel cross-link configuration were biomechanically evaluated in porcine spines.PurposeTo assess the biomechanical differences between a conventional cross-link pedicle screw-rod system versus a novel cross-link instrumentation, and to determine the effect of the cross-links.Overview of LiteratureTransverse cross-link systems affect torsional rigidity, but are thought to have little impact on the sagittal motion of spinal constructs. We tested the strength effects in pullout and flexion-compression tests of novel cross-link pedicle screw constructs using porcine thoracic and lumbar vertebrae.MethodsFive matched thoracic and lumbar vertebral segments from 15 porcine spines were instrumented with 5.0-mm pedicle screws, which were then connected with 6.0-mm rods after partial corpectomy in the middle vertebral body. The forces required for construct failure in pullout and flexion-compression tests were examined in a randomized manner for three different cross-link configurations: un-cross-link control, conventional cross-link, and cross-link passing through the base of the spinous process. Statistical comparisons of strength data were analyzed using Student's t-tests.ResultsThe spinous process group required a significantly greater pullout force for construct failure than the control group (p=0.036). No difference was found between the control and cross-link groups, or the cross-link and spinous process groups in pullout testing. In flexion-compression testing, the spinous processes group required significantly greater forces for construct failure than the control and cross-link groups (p<0.001 and p=0.003, respectively). However, there was no difference between the control and cross-link groups.ConclusionsA novel cross-link configuration that features cross-link devices passing through the base of the spinous processes increased the mechanical resistance in pullout and flexion-compression testing compared to un-cross-link constructs. This configuration provided more resistance to middle-column damage under flexion-compression testing than conventional cross-link configuration

Plasma S100A12 Levels and Peripheral Arterial Disease in End-Stage Renal Disease

Background: S100A12 is an endogenous ligand of the receptor for advanced glycation end products (RAGE). Plasma S100A12 levels are high in end-stage renal disease (ESRD) patients undergoing maintenance hemodialysis (HD). Peripheral arterial disease (PAD) is common in HD patients and is associated with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality rates in this population. To date, however, no study has specifically assessed the relationship between plasma S100A12 and PAD in HD patients. Methods: We conducted a cross-sectional study of 152 HD patients in our affiliated hospital. We investigated PAD history and patient characteristics and quantified plasma S100A12 levels in all participants. Results: HD patients with PAD (n = 26; 21.9 [13.6–33.4] ng/ml) showed significantly higher plasma S100A12 levels than HD patients without PAD (n = 126; 11.8 [7.5–17.6]ng/ml; p Conclusion: These results suggest that plasma S100A12 levels are strongly associated with PAD prevalence in ESRD patients undergoing HD