The Hammett correlation between distyrylbenzene substituents and chemiluminescence efficiency providing various ρ-values for peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence of several oxalates

Peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) was investigated using eight oxalates with various phenol moieties and the distyrylbenzene (DSB) fluorophores with various substituents. The ρ-values in the Hammett correlation between the substituent constants (σp+) of the DSBs and the singlet chemiexcitation yields (ΦS) for the PO-CL reactions varied from −0.50 to −1.01 depending on the oxalate structure, and the reactive oxalates tended to afford the higher absolute ρ-values but with a few exceptions. Based on the CIEEL mechanism, these experimental observations suggest that the aryloxy groups still remain in the 1,2-dioxetanones (DOTs), which are the postulated high-energy intermediates, and control the electronic properties of DOTs as electron-acceptors. The LUMO energies of the DOTs calculated by the ab initio method with a B3LYP/6-31g(d) basis set reveal that the lower the DOT-LUMO energies, the higher the absolute ρ-values were provided for the corresponding oxalates, as predicted by the frontier molecular orbital (FMO) theory. Thus, the chemical species interacting with the DSBs would be not unitary and will be DOTs.ArticleJournal of Photochemistry and Photobiology A: Chemistry. 252:222-231 (2013)journal articl

Relationship between acetaldehyde concentration in mouth air and characteristics of microbiota of tongue dorsum in Japanese healthy adults: a cross-sectional study

Acetaldehyde, associated with consumption of alcoholic beverages, is known to be a carcinogen and to be related to the tongue dorsum. ObjectiveThe aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between acetaldehyde concentration in mouth air and bacterial characteristics on the tongue dorsum. Methodology: Thirty-nine healthy volunteers participated in the study. Acetaldehyde concentrations in mouth air were evaluated by a high-sensitivity semiconductor gas sensor. A 16S rRNA gene sequencing technique was used to compare microbiomes between two groups, focusing on the six samples with the highest acetaldehyde concentrations (HG) and the six samples with lowest acetaldehyde concentrations (LG). Results: Acetaldehyde concentration increased in correlation with the increase in bacterial count (p=0.048). The number of species observed in the oral microbiome of the HG was higher than that in the oral microbiome of the LG (p=0.011). The relative abundances of Gemella sanguinis, Veillonella parvula and Neisseria flavescens in the oral microbiome of the HG were higher than those in the oral microbiome of the LG (p<0.05). Conclusion: Acetaldehyde concentration in mouth air was associated with bacterial count, diversity of microbiome, and relative abundance of G. sanguinis, V. parvula, and N. flavescens

Chemically-induced geometrical isomerization of stilbenes during peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence reaction: revisit to 'photochemistry without light'

The chemically-induced isomerization of stilbenes during the peroxyoxalate chemiluminescence (PO-CL) reactions was reinvestigated. The PO-CL reactions using bis(2,4,6-trichlorophenyl) oxalate in the presence of several stilbenes (type A reaction) produced cis-stilbenes in 0-4% yields, which was dependent on the singlet excitation energy of the stilbenes. On the other hand, the PO-CL reactions of the oxalates, containing the stilbene moieties in the molecules (type B reaction), produced cis-stilbenes 0-9.3% yields, some of which were much more effective than the type A reactions considering the amount of the oxalate moiety as the energy supplier.ArticleTETRAHEDRON LETTERS. 55(3):619-622 (2014)journal articl

The Utility of Serum IgG4 Concentrations as a Biomarker

IgG4-related disease is a new disease entity involving IgG4 in its clinical presentation and having 6 characteristic features: (1) systemic involvement; (2) solitary or multiple lesions showing diffuse or localized swelling, masses, nodules, and/or wall thickening on imaging; (3) high serum IgG4 concentration >135 mg/dL; (4) abundant infiltration of lymphoplasmacytes and IgG4-bearing plasma cells; (5) a positive response to corticosteroid therapy; and (6) complications of other IgG4-related diseases. To date, most IgG4-related diseases have been recognized as extrapancreatic lesions of autoimmune pancreatitis. This paper will discuss the utility of IgG4 as a biomarker of IgG4-related diseases, including in the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis and its differentiation from pancreatic cancer, in the prediction of relapse, in the long-term follow-up of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis and normal or elevated IgG4 concentrations, and in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis and extrapancreatic lesions, as well as the role of IgG4 in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease

Increase of QQ-Factor of RF Magnetic Thin Film Inductor by Introducing Slit-Patterned Magnetic Thin Film and Multiline-Conductor Spiral Coil

In order to increase Q-factor of radio-frequency (RF) magnetic thin film inductor integrated in chip-size-package RF-ICs, two schemes have been investigated experimentally. For suppressing the in-plane eddy current of the magnetic thin film, a slit-patterned structure was introduced, and it was found that the slit-patterned magnetic thin film is very effective for increasing Q-factor. On the other hand, for suppressing alternating current (ac) copper loss, a multiline-conductor spiral coil was introduced, and it was found that the multiline coil is effective for improving decrease of inductance at high frequencies. By introducing the two schemes, a maximum Q-factor of 18 at 1.5 GHz was obtained in a spiral inductor with a bottom slit-patterned CoFeSiO/SiO granular multilayer film and triple-line-conductor spiral coil.ArticleIEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS. 47(10):3196-3199 (2011)journal articl

Increase of Q-Factor of RF Magnetic Thin Film Inductor by Introducing Slit-Patterned Magnetic Thin Film and Multiline-Conductor Spiral Coil

In order to increase Q-factor of radio-frequency (RF) magnetic thin film inductor integrated in chip-size-package RF-ICs, two schemes have been investigated experimentally. For suppressing the in-plane eddy current of the magnetic thin film, a slit-patterned structure was introduced, and it was found that the slit-patterned magnetic thin film is very effective for increasing Q-factor. On the other hand, for suppressing alternating current (ac) copper loss, a multiline-conductor spiral coil was introduced, and it was found that the multiline coil is effective for improving decrease of inductance at high frequencies. By introducing the two schemes, a maximum Q-factor of 18 at 1.5 GHz was obtained in a spiral inductor with a bottom slit-patterned CoFeSiO/SiO granular multilayer film and triple-line-conductor spiral coil.ArticleIEEE TRANSACTIONS ON MAGNETICS. 47(10):3196-3199 (2011)journal articl

Mechanisms of Lower Bile Duct Stricture in Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Objectives We attempted to clarify the mechanism underlying lower bile duct stricture in autoimmune pancreatitis. Methods Imaging and histologic finding of the bile duct were assessed for 73 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis to clarify whether IgG4-related biliary inflammation or pancreatic head swelling is associated with lower bile duct stricture. Results Lower bile duct stricture was found in 59 (81%) patients. Pancreatic head swelling was significantly more frequent among patients with lower bile duct stricture than those patients without lower bile duct stricture (53 [90%] vs 4 [29%]; P < 0.01). Intraductal ultrasonography findings revealed lower bile duct wall thickening in 21 (95%) of the 22 patients with lower bile duct stricture, and the lower bile duct wall of the patients with pancreatic head swelling was significantly thicker than those patients without pancreatic head swelling (P = 0.028). Among the 38 patients with lower bile duct biopsies, 14 (37%) exhibited abundant IgG4-bearing plasma cell infiltration. Among the patients with lower bile duct stricture, an IgG4-related inflammation seemed to exert a dominant effect under limited conditions, including concomitant middle bile duct stricture and neither pancreatic swelling nor pancreatic duct stricture in the head region. Conclusions Both pancreatic head swelling and IgG4-related biliary inflammation affect lower bile duct stricture, which may be included in IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis. Pancreatic head swelling affects IgG4-related biliary wall thickening.ArticlePANCREAS. 43(2):255-260 (2014)journal articl

Relationship between Psychological Stress Determined by Voice Analysis and Periodontal Status: A Cohort Study

In modern society, evaluation and management of psychological stress may be important for the prevention of periodontal disease. The purpose of this study was to examine the relationship between psychological stress (vitality and mental activity) evaluated by Mind Monitoring System (MIMOSYS) and periodontal status. Forty students of Okayama University underwent the oral examination and self-reported questionnaire on the first day (baseline) and the 14th day (follow-up). Voice recording was performed every day with the MIMOSYS app during the whole study period. The participants completed the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ)-9 and Beck Depression Inventory (BDI) at baseline and at follow-up. Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was used to determine the significance of correlations among variables. The PHQ-9 and BDI scores were negatively correlated with vitality in the morning. Change in vitality in the morning was significantly correlated with changes in periodontal inflammation. Mental activity was significantly correlated with change in mean probing pocket depth. This result shows that measurement of psychological stress using a voice-based tool to assess mental health may contribute to the early detection of periodontal disease