Effect of Bakumondo-to on cytochrome P450 activities in rat liver microsomes

AbstractBakumondo-to is a traditional herbal medicine. It has been widely used for the treatment of chronic airway diseases. Recently, it was reported that several herbal medicines affected cytochrome P450 (CYP). However, there is little information about the effects of Bakumondo-to on CYP activities. In this study, we evaluated the effects of Bakumondo-to on CYP activities in rat liver microsomes. Rats were orally treated twice a day with Bakumondo-to at doses of 2.0g/kg body weight/day for 4days. CYP activities were determined in liver microsomes isolated from treated rats. CYP1A2, CYP2C, and CYP3A activities were measured using their specific substrates [7-methoxyresorufin, 7-methoxy-4-(trifluoromethyl)-coumarin, and 7-benzyloxyquinoline, respectively]. Bakumondo-to decreased CYP1A2 activity by 42.5±7.8%, increased CYP2C activity by 158.0±29.6%, and decreased CYP3A activity to 81.5±7.8% of the control level. Activities were expressed as percentages of the control.Bakumondo-to induced CYP2C activity and decreased CYP1A2 activity; it may cause drug-herbal interactions. It is suggested that combinations of Bakumondo-to and drugs that are metabolized by CYP1A2 and CYP2C should be carefully used in clinical settings

Leukocyte-depleted terminal blood cardioplegia provides superior myocardial protective effects in association with myocardium-derived nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production for patients undergoing prolonged aortic crossclamping for more than 120 minutes

AbstractObjectivesThis study was designed to examine the myocardial protective effect of leukocyte-depleted terminal blood cardioplegia in association with nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production, especially for patients undergoing prolonged aortic crossclamping.MethodsFifty-four patients (34 men, 20 women, mean age 56.7 ± 12.7 years) undergoing aortic valve replacement were randomly allocated to one of two groups; group LDTC (n = 27) received 10 minutes of leukocyte-depleted terminal blood cardioplegic solution, and group CONT (n = 27) served as controls. Each group was subdivided into 2 groups: aortic crossclamping for less than 120 minutes in groups LDTC-S (n = 13) and CONT-S (n = 14); aortic crossclamping for 120 minutes or more in groups LDTC-L (n = 14) and CONT-L (n = 13).ResultsAfter aortic unclamping, group LDTC-L showed higher incidence of spontaneous defibrillation (78.6% vs 30.8%, P = .0213), higher plasma nitrate + nitrite in the coronary sinus effluent (32.5 ± 4.1 vs 28.7 ± 3.0 μmol/L, P = .0013), lower differences between coronary sinus effluent and arterial blood in the percentage ratio of nitrotyrosine to tyrosine (myocardium-derived peroxynitrite; 2.987% ± 0.576% vs 3.951% ± 0.952%, P = .0036), and plasma polymorphonuclear-elastase (113.9 ± 21.3 vs 155.5 ± 41.6 μg/L, P = .0029) and malondialdehyde (2.75 ± 0.67 vs 4.02 ± 0.96 μmol/L, P = .0005) than group CONT did. Postoperatively, group LDTC-L showed lower human-heart fatty acid–binding protein (111.4 ± 25.2 vs 156.4 ± 38.6 IU/L, P = .0013), lower creatine kinase–muscle and brain (19.2 ± 4.7 vs 24.8 ± 6.5 IU/L, P = .0120), and smaller requirement of catecholamine (5.44 ± 2.29 vs 8.45 ± 3.42 μg · kg−1 · min−1, P = .0122). There were no significant differences in these parameters between groups LDTC-S and CONT-S.ConclusionsThis study demonstrated that leukocyte-depleted terminal blood cardioplegia provided superior myocardial protective effects and regulated myocardial-derived nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production only for patients undergoing aortic crossclamping for more than 120 minutes. The results suggest that prolonged aortic crossclamping deteriorates the tolerance to leukocyte-mediated myocardial injury accompanied by endothelial dysfunction associated with nitric oxide and peroxynitrite production

The reliability and validity of the Questionnaire - Children with Difficulties (QCD)

Background: The aim of this study was to evaluate the reliability and validity of the Questionnaire-Children with Difficulties (QCD), which was developed for the evaluation of children's daily life behaviors during specified periods of the day. Methods: The subjects were 1,514 Japanese public elementary and junior high school students. For the examination of reliability, Cronbach's alpha was calculated to assess the internal consistency of the questionnaire. With regard to validity, correlation coefficients were calculated to examine whether QCD scores correlated with those of the ADHD-Rating Scale (ADHD-RS) and the Oppositional Defiant Behavior Inventory (ODBI). Results: Cronbach's alpha coefficient for the total score of the QCD was .876. The correlation coefficients of the QCD score with ADHD-RS and ODBI scores were -.514 and -.577, respectively. Conclusions: The internal consistency and validity of the QCD were demonstrated. The QCD is a reliable and valid instrument for evaluating daily life problems for children during different time periods of the day.ArticleCHILD AND ADOLESCENT PSYCHIATRY AND MENTAL HEALTH. 7:11 (2013)journal articl

Development of an autonomous surface vehicle for monitoring underwater vehicles

JAMSTEC has developed and operated several AUVs (Autonomous Underwater Vehicle) as platform for scientific investigation and explorations of seabed mineral resources. Conventionally, a support vessel monitors only one AUV during its whole dive for safety and positioning. We propose an operation of multiple AUVs using an ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle) to improve survey efficiency. For this purpose, JAMSTEC has been developing an ASV “MAINAMI” with a length of 6 meters since 2013. It has a diesel engine, two thrusters and a rudder. The vehicle is equipped with an acoustic communication device and a satellite one, in order to relay information between an AUV and operators on a ship or on land.Date of Conference: 19-22 October 2015http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/kaiyo/ky15-e01/

Dives of cruising-AUV "JINBEI" to methane hydrate area on Joetsu knoll and Umitaka Spur

Autonomous Underwater Vehicle "JINBEI", constructed in 2012, is a cruising type AUV with a weight of 2 ton and a length of 4.0m. The major purposes are observation of underwater CO2 distribution in deep sea and exploration of seabed mineral resources. It has four rear-thrusters, two mid-ship azimuthal thrusters, and a rear X-rudder. The AUV is equipped with three main sensors; a multi-beam echo sounder, a side scan sonar, and a hybrid CO2-pH sensor. During KY12-10 cruise in August 2012, we deployed "JINBEI" at a methane hydrate area in Joetsu knoll and Umitaka Spur, Japan Sea. The depth of the area is 850-950m. The vehicle cruised over the methane hydrate area at a speed of 2 knots. We obtained high-resolution side scan images of hydrate mounts as well as methane plumes. At same time, the CO2-pH sensor detected the methane plumes indirectly. Through the dives, we confirmed that the cruising AUV "JINBEI" is one of powerful tool for survey of scientific observations.Date of Conference: 23-27 September 2013http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/kaiyo/ky12-10/

資源探査AUVのデザインコンセプトと開発状況

第29回日本ロボット学会学術講演会（2011年9月7日～9日, 芝浦工業大学豊洲キャンパス

Virological characteristics of the SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 variant

SARS-CoV-2オミクロンBA.2.75株（通称ケンタウロス）のウイルス学的性状の解明. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-10-12.The SARS-CoV-2 Omicron BA.2.75 variant emerged in May 2022. BA.2.75 is a BA.2 descendant but is phylogenetically distinct from BA.5, the currently predominant BA.2 descendant. Here, we show that BA.2.75 has a greater effective reproduction number and different immunogenicity profile than BA.5. We determined the sensitivity of BA.2.75 to vaccinee and convalescent sera as well as a panel of clinically available antiviral drugs and antibodies. Antiviral drugs largely retained potency but antibody sensitivity varied depending on several key BA.2.75-specific substitutions. The BA.2.75 spike exhibited a profoundly higher affinity for its human receptor, ACE2. Additionally, the fusogenicity, growth efficiency in human alveolar epithelial cells, and intrinsic pathogenicity in hamsters of BA.2.75 were greater than those of BA.2. Our multilevel investigations suggest that BA.2.75 acquired virological properties independent of BA.5, and the potential risk of BA.2.75 to global health is greater than that of BA.5

ASV MAINAMI for AUV monitoring and its sea trial

JAMSTEC has proposed an operation of multiple AUVs using an ASV (Autonomous Surface Vehicle) to improve survey efficiency. For this purpose, an ASV “MAINAMI” with a length of 6 meters has been developed since 2013. The vehicle is equipped with an acoustic communication device and a satellite one, in order to relay information between an AUV and operators on a ship or on land. In February 2016, its sea trials were carried out at Suruga-Bay. The performance of its solo navigation was verified through the sea trial. And, the ASV succeeded in tracking of a deep-tow as a simulated curing-type AUV

Working-AUV "Otohime" and its sea trials at Sagami Bay

Since October 2010, JAMSTEC has developed two autonomous uderwater vehicles (AUVs); a cruising-AUV "Jinbei" and a working-AUV "Otohime". Their major purposes are to observe underwater CO2 distribution around carbon dioxide capture and storage field, and to explore seabed mineral resources in Japan's EEZ. The cruising-AUV performs wide area survey with sonars and chemical sensors. According to the survey results, the working-AUV "Otohime" accesses feature points and observes seafloor in detail, with its chemical sensors, cameras, and a manipulator. In this paper, we introduce the newly developed AUV "Otohime" and its sea trials at Sagami Bay. Through two dives at the depth of 80-120m for total 3 hours operation, we verified the performance of the overall hardware / software systems.IEEE International Symposium on Underwater Technology (UT2013, 5-8 March 2013, University of Tokyo, Japan)http://www.godac.jamstec.go.jp/darwin/cruise/kaiyo/ky12-05/