¹³C/¹⁹F high-resolution solid-state NMR studies on layered carbon-fluorine compounds

¹³C/¹⁹F high-resolution solid-state NMR was applied to examine local structures of a stage-1 layered carbon-fluorine compound (C₂.₈). Four ¹⁹F(F1∼F4) and two ¹³C signals (C1 and C2) unraveled by high magnetic field (14 T) and fast magic-angle spinning (>35 kHz) were examined by various two-dimensional correlation experiments. In addition to “through space” ¹³C-¹⁹F and ¹⁹F-¹⁹F dipolar correlation, which reveals distance proximity among ¹³C/¹⁹F spins, we examined feasibility of applying the J interaction for examination of “through bond” correlation. These experiments led assignment of two of the four F signals (F2 and F3) to F directly covalent bonded to sp³ carbon and an interleaving domain for the local structure of the minor C2-F3 group among the major domain composed of C2-F2 and sp² carbon (C1). The other two ¹⁹F signals (F1 and F4) were assigned to as CF₂ and F ions, respectively. A spectroscopic evidence for the C-F bond being the σ bond is given by the observation of a non-zero one-bond J value (193 ± 4 Hz) for C2-F. Further, the similar JCF = 197 Hz for C-F in poly(carbon fluoride) confirmed that the so-called “semi-ionic/semi-covalent” C-F bond in C₂.₈F is actually a “standard” covalent C-F bond

2014ネンド チョウタンキ プログラム アカデミック ジャパニーズ ノ キソ ノ ジッセン ホウコク

本稿では、2015年2月に国際教育交流センターにおいて3週間余で実施した、韓国の2大学（ソウルと釜山）在籍の日本語能力試験N 2合格以上の学部生12名を対象とした超短期プログラム「アカデミック・ジャパニーズの基礎」の教育実践について報告する。本プログラムでは、上級レベルのリーディング、ライティング、オーラルコミュニケーションの能力を総合的に向上させることを目的とした。それらの養成過程では、大学での研究活動のあり方を意識化させ、かつ、将来研究職や企業での実務で活躍できる人材となるための準備に資するものとし、ビジネスコミュニケーションの特別講義も設けた。プログラムの最後には、ブック・レポートをもとにした発表会を実施した。本プログラムにおける種々の協働的タスク活動はいずれも学習者各自の気づきを促進し、一定の評価を得た

Hochuekkito (TJ-41), a Kampo Formula, Ameliorates Cachexia Induced by Colon 26 Adenocarcinoma in Mice

Cachexia, a major cause of cancer-related death, is characterized by depletion of muscle and fat tissues, anorexia, asthenia, and hypoglycemia. Recent studies indicate that secretions of proinflammatory cytokines such as interleukin-6 (IL-6) play a crucial role in cachexia development, and that these cytokines are secreted from not only cancer cells but also host cells such as macrophages. In this study, we investigated the therapeutic effects of hochuekkito, a Kampo formula, on cachexia induced by colon 26 adenocarcinoma in mice. Hochuekkito treatment did not inhibit tumor growth, but significantly attenuated the reduction in carcass weight, food and water intake, weight of the gastrocnemius muscle and fat tissue around the testes, and decrease of serum triglyceride level compared with controls. Furthermore, hochuekkito treatment significantly reduced serum IL-6 level and IL-6 expression level in macrophages in tissues surrounding the tumor. In vitro studies showed that hochuekkito suppressed the production of IL-6 by THP-1 or RAW264.7 macrophage cells, although it did not affect IL-6 production by colon 26 carcinoma cells. These results suggest that hochuekkito inhibits the production of proinflammatory cytokines, particularly IL-6, by host cells such as macrophages. Therefore, hochuekkito may be a promising anticachectic agent for the treatment of patients with cancer

Successful amnioinfusion for severe fetal growth restriction with umbilical cord complications: two case reports.

Background:There is no established treatment for fetal growth restriction during pregnancy. We report two cases that represent an example of an amnioinfusion-based management strategy for severe fetal growth restriction with umbilical cord complications.Case presentation:We encountered two cases of fetal growth restriction with abnormal fetal Doppler velocity. In one case, fetal ultrasound revealed a hypercoiled umbilical cord with a single umbilical artery and oligohydramnios, while fetal Doppler revealed a reversed end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery and reversed a-waves of the ductus venosus. Umbilical cord compression was confirmed at 22 weeks and 2 days of gestation, and nine amnioinfusions were performed to relieve the umbilical cord compression. A cesarean section was performed at 31 weeks and 2 days of gestation because of severe preeclampsia. The Asian infant is now a normally developed 6-month-old. In another Asian case, fetal ultrasound revealed a hypercoiled cord, while fetal Doppler revealed a reversed end-diastolic flow in the umbilical artery and intermittent reversed a-waves of the ductus venosus. Umbilical cord compression was confirmed at 24 weeks and 5 days of gestation, and seven amnioinfusions were performed. A cesarean section was performed at 31 weeks and 1 day of gestation because of nonreassuring fetal status. At the age of 1 month, the Asian infant was stable on respiratory circulation. In both cases, fetal Doppler findings improved significantly following amnioinfusions.Conclusions:Amnioinfusion is a symptomatic treatment for umbilical cord compression. However, to determine the therapeutic effect of amnioinfusion, complete resolution of the umbilical cord compression should be ascertained by ultrasonography

Decreased Fertility in Women with Cesarean Scar Syndrome Is Associated with Chronic Inflammation in the Uterine Cavity.

Chronic inflammation in cesarean scar defect contributes to secondary infertility in women with cesarean scar syndrom; however, it remains unclear about the situation of inflammation in uterine cavity in women with cesarean scar syndrome. This ambidirectional cohort study aimed to explore the effect of inflammation in the uterine cavities of women with cesarean scar syndrome on infertility at a single university hospital. The frequency of chronic endometritis in infertile patients was retrospectively compared between the cesarean scar syndrome group and non-cesarean scar syndrome group. The frequency of endometriosis was also investigated in patients with cesarean scar syndrome who underwent laparoscopy. The level of tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β in the uterine cavity was prospectively evaluated in the cesarean scar syndrome group and in women with a history of cesarean section (control group) using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. There was a significant difference in the incidence of chronic endometritis between the cesarean scar syndrome and non-cesarean scar syndrome groups (65.8% and 46.0%, respectively, p = 0.0315). Endometriosis was detected in 51 (70%) patients with laparoscopy. Tumor necrosis factor-α and interleukin-1β levels in the cesarean scar syndrome group were significantly higher than those in the control group (p = 0.0002 and p = 0.0217, respectively). Our findings suggest that one cause of secondary infertility in women with cesarean scar syndrome is embryo implantation failure-associated chronic endometritis, endometriosis, and chronic inflammation in the uterine cavity

Gallbladder torsion in pregnancy: a case report and literature review.

Gallbladder torsion is a rare disease that requires immediate surgical intervention to avoid maternal and/or foetal sepsis and death. However, preoperative diagnosis is challenging because the disease has no specific symptoms. A 37-year-old pregnant woman at 34 weeks of gestation presented with severe epigastric pain. Ultrasonography and computed tomography scan findings showed a distended gallbladder without stones, floating from the hepatic bed, and laboratory examination demonstrated normal liver function; therefore, we made a diagnosis of gallbladder torsion and performed a caesarean section and an open cholecystectomy under general anaesthesia. This is the first report wherein gallbladder torsion in pregnancy was diagnosed preoperatively. Gallbladder torsion should be considered as a differential diagnosis in case of such imaging findings

Acute supplementation with an amino acid mixture suppressed the exercise-induced cortisol response in recreationally active healthy volunteers: a randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover study

Background Few studies have demonstrated the suppressive effects of amino acids (AAs) on the level of cortisol during exercise in humans. We hypothesized that an AA mixture containing arginine, which promotes lipid metabolism, valine, which effectively decreases the level of glucocorticoid, and serine, a substrate in the production of phosphatidylserine that is reported to blunt increases in cortisol, would suppress the exercise-induced cortisol response by combining the positive effects of the AAs synergistically. Methods A randomized, double-blinded, placebo-controlled crossover trial was conducted. Twenty healthy recreationally active males ingested either an AA mixture containing 1.8 g of arginine, 1.1 g of valine, and 0.1 g of serine or a placebo. Thirty minutes after ingestion, subjects performed an exercise trial on a cycle ergometer for 80 min at 50% maximal oxygen consumption. Plasma cortisol and other blood parameters immediately before and after the exercise were evaluated. Results Plasma cortisol concentrations after exercise were significantly higher than those before exercise in the placebo condition (9.51 ± 0.85 vs 14.39 ± 2.15, p < 0.05), while there was no significant difference in the AA condition (9.71 ± 0.93 vs 9.99 ± 1.23, p = 0.846). In addition, the increase in plasma cortisol before and after exercise was significantly lower in the AA condition than in the placebo condition (0.28 [− 2.75, 3.31] vs 4.87 [0.89, 8.86], p < 0.05). For the level of adrenocorticotropin, there was a significant difference between before and after exercise only in the placebo condition (24.21 ± 2.91 vs 53.17 ± 6.97, p < 0.01) but not in the AA condition (27.33 ± 3.60 vs 46.92 ± 10.41, p = 0.057). Blood glucose, plasma lactate, plasma ammonia, serum creatine phosphokinase, serum total ketone body, and serum free fatty acid were also significantly changed by the exercise load in both conditions, but no significant differences were observed between the two conditions. Conclusions The present study demonstrated that the AA mixture suppressed the cortisol response during exercise without affecting exercise-related biological parameters such as glucose or lipid metabolism. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, UMIN000023587. Registered 19 August 2016