Bose-Fermi mixed condensates of atomic gas with Boson-Fermion quasi-bound state

The phase structures of the boson-fermion (B and F) mixed condensates of atomic gas are discussed under the existence of boson-fermion composite fermions (quasi-bound states) BF from the equilibrium in B+F -> BF. Especially we discuss the competitions between the BF degenerate states and the Bose-Einstein condensates (BEC) in low-T. The criterion for the BEC realization is obtained from the algebraically-derived phase diagrams at T=0.Comment: 2 pages, 3 figure

A Novel Animal Model of Nonalcoholic Steatohepatitis (NASH): Hypoxemia Enhances the Development of NASH

Recent reports described a high incidence of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) in patients with obstructive sleep apnea. Accordingly, we hypothesized that recurrent and intermittent hypoxemia plays an important role in the pathogenesis of NASH. Our objective was construction of a practical and accurate experimental model to reproduce the key features of NASH in humans. Chemical hypoxemia through methemoglobinemia was induced by daily intraperitoneal injection of sodium nitrite (40 mg/kg) for 4 weeks in rats with fatty liver. The later was induced by 4-week feeding a choline-deficient high-fat diet (CDHF). Besides, the normal chow diets feeding groups were prepared with in the same manner except for CDHF feeding. The animal experiment was performed in four groups; Normal control, Hypoxemia, CDHF, and CDHF + hypoxemia. Nitrite was given for the later 4 weeks to each rat of Hypoxemia and CDHF + hypoxemia. CDHF + hypoxemia rats were confirmed to develop histological changes that resemble those of patients with NASH, together with biochemical liver dysfunction, while CDHF group was limited in mild steatosis, and Hypoxemia group liver was normal. Present study established a reproducible and useful NASH model resembling the main features of NASH in humans, and showed first that recurrent and intermittent hypoxemia aggravate fatty liver to steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis

Beneficial Effects of Fermented Green Tea Extract in a Rat Model of Non-alcoholic Steatohepatitis

Oxidative stress is frequently considered as a central mechanism of hepatocellular injury in non-alcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). The aim of this study was to investigate the effects of fermented green tea extracts (FGTE) on NASH. Rats were fed a choline-deficient high-fat diet for 4 weeks to nutritionally generate fatty livers. NASH was induced chemically by oxidative stress using repeated intraperitoneal injections of nitrite. Rats with NASH developed steatohepatitis and liver fibrosis after 6-week of such treatment. At 10 weeks, blood and liver samples were collected from anesthetized animals and assessed for extent of OS injury and effects of FGTE, by biochemical, histological and histochemical analyses. FGTE reduced serum levels of liver enzymes, lipid peroxidation and production of mitochondrial reactive oxygen species. In addition, FGTE showed inhibition of progressions of cirrhosis. Our findings suggest that our FGTE have strong radical scavenging activity and may be beneficial in the prevention of NASH progression

Water Extract of Vitis coignetiae Pulliat Leaves Attenuates Oxidative Stress and Inflammation in Progressive NASH Rats

This study aimed to investigate the therapeutic effects of the water extract of leaves of Vitis coignetiae Pulliat (VCPL) on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH) with advanced fibrosis, as our previous study exhibited its preventive effect on NASH. The NASH animal model [PCT/JP2007/52477] was prepared by loading recurrent and intermittent hypoxemia stress to a rat with fatty liver, which resembled the condition occurring in patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) and fatty liver, who have a high incidence of NASH. Intermittent hypoxemia stress is regarded as a condition similar to warm ischemia followed by re-oxygenation, which induces oxidative stress (OS). The daily 100 or 300mg/kg VCPL administrations were performed for 3 weeks perorally beginning at the time of detection of advanced liver fibrosis. The therapeutic efficacy of VCPL on NASH was demonstrated by the reduction of the leakage of hepato-biliary enzymes and the amelioration of liver fibrosis. The OS elevation in NASH rats was measured based on the derivation of reactive oxygen species from liver mitochondrial energy metabolism and on the decrease in plasma SOD-like activity. The aggravation of inflammatory responses was demonstrated by the neutrophil infiltration (elevated myeloperoxidase activity) and the progression of fibrosis in the livers of NASH rats. In addition, the NASH rats without VCPL treatment also exhibited activation of nuclear factor-κB, a key factor in the link between oxidative stress and inflammation. All of these changes were reduced dose-dependently by the VCPL administration. These findings indicate that VCPL may improve hepatic fibrosis or at least suppress the progression of NASH, by breaking the crosstalk between OS and inflammation

Beneficial effects of Vitis coignetiae Pulliat leaves on nonalcoholic steatohepatitis in a rat model

Vitis coignetiae Pulliat (Yamabudo) is used as a health juice and wine based on the abundant polyphenols and anthocyanins in its fruit. However, it is not known whether the leaves of this plant confer similar benefits. This study investigated the hepatoprotective effects of aqueous extracts from Vitis coignetiae Pulliat leaves (VCPL) in an animal model of nonalcoholic steatohepatitis (NASH). Rats were fed a choline-deficient high-fat diet for four weeks to generate fatty livers. NASH was induced by oxidative stress loading. Ten weeks later, blood and liver samples were collected from anesthetized animals and assessed biochemically, histologically, and histochemically to determine the extent of oxidative stress injury and the overall effects of VCPL. Six-week VCPL extract supplementation reduced serum levels of liver enzymes, decreased CYP2E1 induction, increased plasma antioxidant activities and delayed the progression of liver fibrosis. The findings suggested that VCPL has strong radical-scavenging activity and may be beneficial in preventing NASH progression.</p

Effects of audio and visual distraction on patients’ vital signs and tolerance during esophagogastroduodenoscopy : a randomized controlled trial

Background: Esophagogastroduodenoscopy (EGD) provides an indispensable and unambiguous inspection allowing the discovery upper gastrointestinal lesions. However, many patients are anxious about undergoing EGD. Few studies have investigated the influence on patients’ vital signs and tolerance during EGD using subjective and objective assessments. This study was a prospective randomized controlled study that investigated the influence of audio and visual distraction on EGD. Methods: We randomly divided 289 subjects who underwent EGD into 4 groups (control group, audio group, visual group, combination group) and examined their vital signs, heart rate variability (HRV), psychological items, and acceptance of distraction. Results: Pulse rate (PR) at post-distraction and post-EGD in the 3 distraction groups were significantly lower than those of control group (p< 0.001 and p < 0.01, respectively). Blood pressure (BP) during and post-EGD was significantly higher than that at pre-EGD in control group (p < 0.05), but no significant elevation of BP was observed during the latter half of EGD and post-EGD in the 3 distraction groups. BP at post-distraction improved significantly compared to pre-distraction in the 3 distraction groups (p < 0.05). There was a significant difference in the low-frequency (LF) power/ high-frequency (HF) power at post-distraction and post-EGD among the 4 groups (p< 0.001 and p < 0.001, respectively). The LF power/HF power at post-distraction and post-EGD in the 3 distraction groups was significantly lower than that in control group (p < 0.05). Several items of profile of mood states (POMS) and the impression of EGD at post-distraction improved significantly compared to those at pre-distraction among the 3 distraction groups (p < 0.05). Visual analog scale (VAS) of willingness for the next use of distraction in the 3 distraction groups was excellent because VAS was more than 70. Conclusions: Distractions effectively improved psychological factors, vital signs and some of HRV at pre and post-EGD. Distractions may suppress BP elevation during the latter half of EGD and lead to stability of HRV on EGD

Short-Term Effects of Acupuncture on Open-Angle Glaucoma in Retrobulbar Circulation: Additional Therapy to Standard Medication

Background. The relation between glaucoma and retrobulbar circulation in the prognosis has been indicated. Purpose. To investigate the effects of acupuncture on retrobulbar circulation in open-angle glaucoma (OAG) patients. Methods. Eleven OAG patients (20 eyes with OAG) who were treated by topical antiglaucoma medications for at least 3 months were enrolled. Acupuncture was performed once at acupoints BL2, M-HN9, ST2, ST36, SP6, KI3, LR3, GB20, BL18, and BL23 bilaterally. Retrobulbar circulation was measured with color Doppler imaging, and intraocular pressure (IOP) was also measured at rest and one hour after rest or before and after acupuncture. Results. The Δ value of the resistive index in the short posterior ciliary artery (P < .01) and the Δ value of IOP (P < .01) were decreased significantly by acupuncture compared with no acupuncture treatment. Conclusions. Acupuncture can improve the retrobulbar circulation and IOP, which may indicate the efficacy of acupuncture for OAG

X-Ray Analysis Literatures 2011

2011年に出版されたX線分析関連文献，X線に関連した情報のなかで，編集委員がX線分析技術の発展に寄与し重要であると選抜した文献を総説としてまとめた．調査対象はe-ジャーナル，web マガジンを含む学術誌20誌，制定された規格およびX線関連メーカーの新技術情報である．各雑誌について，全体的な論評，X線分析に関する傾向から，いくつかの論文について論評を記した．The selected literatures about advances in X-ray analysis and X-ray analysis-related informations published in 2011 were reviewed on the basis of analytical chemistry, physics, techniques, optics, instrumentation and so forth. The 20 kinds of academic journals including web-magagines, Japanease Industrial Standard (JIS), and websites of companies related with X-ray tools and/or X-ray apparatus were researched. The trend of publications related to X-ray analysis for each journal was overviewed, and some of noticeable literatures were commented

X-Ray Analysis Literatures 2010

本総説は，2010年に学術雑誌に掲載されたX線分析関連の論文において，注目すべき論文を厳選し紹介する．調査した学術雑誌は19件（和雑誌2件含む）であり，X線分析の発展に寄与しているものを対象としているが，分析化学の分野だけでなく，分光学や物理学の分野も網羅している．各雑誌に関して，X 線分析手法や測定された試料の傾向，分析技術や要素開発に関するトピックスの他に，特筆すべき論文には論評も記している．日本工業規格（JIS）におけるX線分析関連の規格の制定や改訂についてまとめている．X線関連メーカーのウェブサイトを紹介し，掲載している技術レポートの情報も得られる．　In this article, the interesting X-ray analysis-related literatures, which are published on academic journals during the year 2010, are summarized. The number of the researched journals is 19, including two Japanese journals, which contribute the advance of the X-ray analysis in the field not only of analytical chemistry but also of spectroscopy and physics. In every journal, the trend of the X-ray analysis methods and of the measured specimens, the topics of analytical technique and of the developed components of the X-ray analysis apparatus, and the comments for the nortable articles are mentioned. The constitution and revision of standards of X-ray analysis on Japanease Industrial Standard (JIS) are shown. The websites of the company related with X-ray tools or X-ray apparatus are also shown, and the information on technical reports is available

Researches in Japan on heavy ion inertial fusion

Recent research activities in Japan are presented in this paper in heavy ion inertial fusion (HIF) [1]: shown are particle accelerator developments, beam dynamics researches, interaction between heavy ions and target materials, ion source developments, and illumination schemes of heavy ion beams (HIBs) in HIF..