Friction Drive Simulation of a Surface Acoustic Wave Motor by Nano Vibration

A physical analysis model of a surface acoustic wave (SAW) motor which is driven by frictional force resulted in nano meters elastic vibration has been proposed. In case of the SAW motor, the vibraition ampllitude is from several nano meters to 30 nm at most. The vibraion amplitude is almost same as the elastic deformation caused by preload between a slider and stator. In the analysis model, the elastic defomation, stick and slip were considered. Dynamic simulation was carried out successfuly. Experimental results of 9.6 MHz opration frequency SAW motor were compared to the simulation results. It was understood that smaller slider projection slider with a lot of projections has high contact surface stiffness, so that superior performances are obtained in speed and thrust

Clinical Study Alendronate as an Effective Treatment for Bone Loss and Vascular Calcification in Kidney Transplant Recipients

Kidney transplant recipients develop secondary osteoporosis induced by immunosuppressive medication, with a high risk of fracture, and abdominal aortic calcification (AC) is a known predictor of cardiovascular mortality. In this study of 12 stable kidney recipients, we estimated the preventive effect of bisphosphonate treatment on bone loss and progression of AC. We randomly divided the subjects into a treatment group with alendronate (group A: 5 subjects) and a control group (group C: 7 subjects). Group A patients received 35 mg/week of alendronate over 24 months, while group C patients were not administered with any bisphosphonates. Two major endpoints were established: (1) the time-dependent change in bone mineral density (BMD) estimated with DEXA and (2) progression of abdominal AC, calculated twice as an index (ACI) using computed tomography data. Over the 2-year study period, group A patients showed significantly increased BMD of 1.86 ± 0.85% ( = 0.015 versus baseline), and almost complete inhibition of ACI progression (38.2 ± 24.2% to 39.6 ± 24.3%), but group C patients showed a decrease in BMD decline with bone loss and progression of ACI (32.8 ± 25.0% to 37.8 ± 29.2%, = 0.061). In conclusion, alendronate therapy was an effective treatment in kidney transplant recipients for secondary osteoporosis and vascular calcification as ectopic calcification. This clinical trial is registered with number JMA-IIA00155 of JMACCT CTR

PPARα Activation Protects against Anti-Thy1 Nephritis by Suppressing Glomerular NF-κB Signaling

The vast increase of chronic kidney disease (CKD) has attracted considerable attention worldwide, and the development of a novel therapeutic option against a representative kidney disease that leads to CKD, mesangial proliferative glomerulonephritis (MsPGN) would be significant. Peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor α (PPARα), a member of the steroid/nuclear receptor superfamily, is known to perform various physiological functions. Recently, we reported that PPARα in activated mesangial cells exerted anti-inflammatory effects and that the deficiency of PPARα resulted in high susceptibility to glomerulonephritis. To investigate whether PPARα activation improves the disease activity of MsPGN, we examined the protective effects of a PPARα agonist, clofibrate, in a well-established model of human MsPGN, anti-Thy1 nephritis, for the first time. This study demonstrated that pretreatment with clofibrate (via a 0.02% or 0.1% clofibrate-containing diet) continuously activated the glomerular PPARα, which outweighed the PPARα deterioration associated with the nephritic process. The PPARα activation appeared to suppress the NF-κB signaling pathway in glomeruli by the induction of IκBα, resulting in the reduction of proteinuria and the amelioration of the active inflammatory pathologic glomerular changes. These findings suggest the antinephritic potential of PPARα-related medicines against MsPGN. PPARα-related medicines might be useful as a treatment option for CKD

The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiotherapy delivery in Japan: An observational study based on the national database

Tamari K., Kishigami M., Nagata Y., et al. The impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on radiotherapy delivery in Japan: An observational study based on the national database. Cancer Medicine 12, 21032 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1002/cam4.6661.Background: This study analyzed the impact of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic on radiotherapy delivery in Japan using a high-quality Japanese national database based on universal health coverage. Methods: We performed a retrospective observational study using National Database of Health Insurance Claims and Specific Health Checkups of Japan open data focused on radiotherapy between fiscal year (FY) 2019 and FY2020 and the number of COVID-19 cases from the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare. We statistically analyzed the relationship between the number of COVID-19 cases and the number of radiotherapy deliveries in Japan as a whole and by prefecture. Results: The total number of external beam radiotherapy (EBRT) fractions was 4,472,140 in FY2019 and 4,227,673 in FY2020 (−5.8%). EBRT courses were 250,395 in FY2019 and 240,329 in FY2020 (−4.0%), stereotactic radiotherapy courses were 27,619 in FY2019 and 31,786 in FY2020 (+15.1%), and single-fraction palliative radiotherapy courses were 4124 in FY2019 and 5255 in FY2020 (+21.5%). The total number of breast and prostate hypofractionated radiotherapy (HFRT) fractions was 155,773 and 48,188 in FY2019, and 200,256 and 84,230 in FY2020 (+28.6% and +74.8%), respectively. In the Pearson correlation analysis, EBRT fractions were lower, and breast HFRT fractions were higher in prefectures with more COVID-19 cases. Conclusions: Overall, radiotherapy delivery in Japan was relatively stable after the pandemic, with an increase in HFRT. Also, EBRT fractions decreased, and breast HFRT were more likely to be used in prefectures with more COVID-19 cases

Relationship between burnout and yutori of mind in new nurses

New nurses’ experience of burnout leads to turnover; therefore, reducing burnout has been attracting attention. It can be presumed that the yutori of mind may reduce burnout. In addition, emotion regulation strategies including reappraisal and distraction are assumed to mediate relationships between the yutori of mind and burnout. The present study aims to examine these unclear possibilities. A total of 73 new Japanese nurses completed questionnaires, which consisted of questions about the scales of the yutori of mind, reappraisal, distraction, and burnout. As a result of the path analysis, yutori of mind was shown to have a negative correlation with burnout, especially emotion exhaustion and depersonalization. However, there was no significant correlation between yutori of mind and personal accomplishment factors in burnout. Moreover, the mediating effects of reappraisal and distraction on the relationship between yutori of mind and burnout were not observed. Although the process underlying the relationship between yutori of mind and burnout remains unclear, yutori of mind may reduce burnout in new nurses

Fundamental modeling of vehicle power network system using VHDL-AMS

The vehicle system is a multi-domain system that requires many branches of science and engineering. Therefore the development of the vehicle system requires the use of design methodologies that utilize simulations, which have grown increasingly sophisticated in recent years. This paper describes how VHDL-AMS was used to model the powertrain, alternator and battery system that are the basic elements of the vehicle power network system, and examines the simulation results with the aim of realizing a system simulation whose scope covers the entire vehicle.2010 International Symposium on Power Electronics, Electrical Drives, Automation and Motion (SPEEDAM 2010) : Pisa, Italy, 2010.06.14-2010.06.1

Kidney dysfunction induced by protein overload nephropathy reduces serum sulfatide levels in mice

We recently proposed serum sulfatides as a novel biomarker for cardiovascular disease in patients with end-stage renal failure (ESRF), based on the possible antithrombotic properties of this molecule. In this earlier study, the level of serum sulfatides was gradually decreased in parallel with kidney dysfunction; however the precise mechanism underlying this decrease was unknown. The aim of the present study was to investigate the mechanism underlying the decrease in serum sulfatide levels caused by kidney dysfunction in an experimental animal model. To produce a kidney dysfunction animal model, we prepared a mouse model of protein overload nephropathy. Using high-throughput analysis combined with matrix-assisted laser desorption ionisation time-of-flight mass spectrometry, we measured the levels of sulfatides in the sera, livers, small intestines and kidneys of protein overload nephropathy mice. As the disease progressed, the levels of sulfatides in sera decreased. Also, the levels in livers and small intestines decreased in a similar manner to those in sera, to approximately 60% of the original levels. On the contrary, those in kidneys increased by approximately 1.4-fold. Our results indicate that kidney dysfunction affects the levels of sulfatides in lipoprotein-producing organs, such as livers and small intestines, and lowers the levels of sulfatides in sera.ArticleNEPHROLOGY. 14(7):658-662 (2009)journal articl

A Case of Chronic Calcium Oxalate Nephropathy due to Short Bowel Syndrome and Cholecystectomy

Background: Oxalate nephropathy is a rare disease. Especially chronic oxalate nephropathy still has many unknown aspects as compared to acute oxalate nephropathy with relatively well-known causality. Case Presentation: The patient was a 70-year-old woman who had a history of small bowel resection 25 years before, cholecystectomy 10 years before, and renal stones (calcium oxalate stones) 7 years before. She had been suffering from chronic diarrhea and had been treated by a local physician. The patient was found to have renal dysfunction (creatinine 3.09 mg/dL, eGFR 12.3 mL/min/1.73 m2, hemoglobin 7.8 g/dL) and was referred to our department. The patient was admitted to our hospital for further investigation. Renal ultrasound showed hepatorenal echo contrast in an opposite manner and clear contrast between the renal cortex and medullary pyramid. Renal biopsy was performed, and histological examination showed tubulointerstitial disorder due to deposition of calcium oxalate. Daily urinary excretion of calcium oxalate was significantly increased. The patient was encouraged to drink water and administered vitamin B6, citric acid, K and Na hydrate. Thereafter, her symptoms improved. Conclusion: Case reports of chronic oxalate neuropathy are rare in the literature, and its underlying mechanism has not been understood. Our patient had a history of small bowel resection and cholecystectomy. We considered that her short bowel syndrome had influenced the development of calcium oxalate nephropathy

Chemical Pleurodesis Could Exacerbate Lymphedema of Yellow Nail Syndrome

Chemical pleurodesis is sometimes performed for the management of intractable pleural effusion. We describe a woman with yellow nail syndrome (YNS), which is characterized by yellow discoloration of the nails, lymphedema, and pleural effusion. At the age of 43, she was hospitalized with edema of the lower limbs. Despite a number of medical treatments, massive lymphedema of lower limbs developed over a period of three years, resulting in skin cracks and subsequent infection, septicemia and multiple organ failure. At autopsy, abnormally dilated lymph and blood vessels were evident in soft tissue throughout the whole body. She had undergone chemical pleurodesis at 36 years of age for reduction of pleural effusion associated with YNS. Our case illustrates possible complication of chemical pleurodesis to YNS, which resulted in accumulation of lymph flow into the lower half of the body

Role of neurosteroid allopregnanolone on age-related differences in exercise-induced hypoalgesia in rats

The beneficial effects of physical activity for pain are denominated exercise-induced hypoalgesia (EIH). Here, we examined the age-related change and potential role of the neurosteroid allopregnanolone (ALLO) on EIH in rats. Adult and aged rats were randomly divided into one of three groups; non-exercise control, Low-exercise, and High-exercise. The animals in the Low- and High-exercise groups were subjected to a 10-minute treadmill workout at 40% and 80% maximum oxygen intake intensity, respectively. In the Low-exercise groups, a significant EIH response was observed in aged but not in adult rats. The pre-treatment with ALLO synthesis inhibitor finasteride, but not opioid-receptor antagonist naloxone, inhibited the Low-exercise induced EIH response in aged rats. Furthermore, the Low-exercise increased brain ALLO levels in aged animals compared with controls, which was correlated with the mechanical pain sensitivity. On the other hand, High-exercise could induce EIH response in both adult and aged animals, but it was more effective in adult rats. The pre-treatment with naloxone, but not finasteride, reduced the EIH observed after High-exercise in both adult and aged rats. Our findings demonstrated that effective EIH can be achieved even by mild-intensity exercise in aged animals via an increase of the brain ALLO levels