Fatty Acid-Binding Protein 4 (FABP4): Pathophysiological Insights and Potent Clinical Biomarker of Metabolic and Cardiovascular Diseases

Over the past decade, evidences of an integration of metabolic and inflammatory pathways, referred to as metaflammation in several aspects of metabolic syndrome, have been accumulating. Fatty acid-binding protein 4 (FABP4), also known as adipocyte FABP (A-FABP) or aP2, is mainly expressed in adipocytes and macrophages and plays an important role in the development of insulin resistance and atherosclerosis in relation to metaflammation. Despite lack of a typical secretory signal peptide, FABP4 has been shown to be released from adipocytes in a non-classical pathway associated with lipolysis, possibly acting as an adipokine. Elevation of circulating FABP4 levels is associated with obesity, insulin resistance, diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cardiac dysfunction, atherosclerosis, and cardiovascular events. Furthermore, ectopic expression and function of FABP4 in several types of cells and tissues have been recently demonstrated. Here, we discuss both the significant role of FABP4 in pathophysiological insights and its usefulness as a biomarker of metabolic and cardiovascular diseases

Pressure–Temperature Phase Diagram of Ta-H System up to 9 GPa and 600 °C

室温で5 GPa以上の水素雰囲気下での加圧によりTaHからTaH2が生成することが近年報告された。高温高圧下での相関係が未報告であり、本研究では放射光その場観察によりTa-H系の相関係を決定した。得られた結果はTaを含む新規水素化物の合成に有用な知見となる

In situ synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction measurements of Fe–Mo alloy hydrides formed under high pressure and high temperature

難水素化金属から構成される合金の高圧水素化反応により、複数の新規水素化物が合成されているが、これらの水素化反応のメカニズムの解明は進んでいない。筆者らは難水素化金属から構成される合金の水素化反応メカニズム解明を目的として、Fe-Mo合金の水素化反応を合金組成を変えて調べた。水素化反応は組成により3種類に分類でき、構成元素単体の水素化物の性質と組成を考慮することでそれぞれの反応を説明できることを明らかにした

Physical Activity during Winter in Old-Old Women Associated with Physical Performance after One Year: A Prospective Study

Background. The aim of this study was to evaluate whether the decline of physical activity during winter influences physical performances (after 1 year) in old-old women. Methods. Fifty-three Japanese women (mean age: 78.4 ± 3.2 years) participated in this study. Data of physical activity was collected by using an accelerometer at baseline and 3-month follow-up, and participants who decreased step counts in this period were defined as declining groups. We measured grip strength, knee extensor strength, total length of the center of gravity, hip walking distance, and maximum walking speed to evaluate physical performances at baseline and 1-year follow-up. Repeated-measures analysis of variance determined the difference in physical performance between declining groups and maintenance group with maintained or improved step counts. Results. Daily step counts for 22 older women (41.5%) decreased during winter. A statistically significant interaction effect between group and time was found for maximum walking speed (F(1,50)=5.23, p=0.03). Post hoc comparisons revealed that walking speed in the maintenance group significantly increased compared with baseline (p=0.01); the declining group showed no significant change (p=0.44). Conclusion. Change of physical activity during winter influences the physical performance level after 1 year in community-dwelling old-old women, particularly its effect on maximum walking speed

Formation of Fe-Mo alloy hydrides under high pressure and high temperature

Fe–Mo合金の6 GPa, 750℃における水素化反応の組成依存性を調べた。水素化反応は組成に応じて3種類に分類可能であることが明らかとなった。それぞれの水素化反応はFeに富む組成ではFe-H系の、Moに富む組成ではMo-H系の性質が表れやすく、中間の組成ではFe-HとMo-Hの中間の性質を示すことが明らかとなった。Material Research Meeting 202