Glycerol as a Superior Electron Source in Sacrificial H₂ Production over TiO₂ Photocatalyst

Biodiesel fuel (BDF) has gained much attention as a new sustainable energy alternative to petroleum-based fuels. BDF is produced by transesterification of vegetable oil or animal fats with methanol along with the co-production of glycerol. Indeed, transesterification of vegetable oil (136.5 g) with methanol (23.8 g) was performed under heating at 61°C for 2 h in the presence of NaOH (0.485 g) to produce methyl alkanoate (BDF) and glycerol in 83.7 and 73.3% yields, respectively. Although BDF was easily isolated by phase separation from the reaction mixture, glycerol and unreacted methanol remained as waste. In order to construct a clean BDF synthesis, the aqueous solution of glycerol and methanol was subjected to sacrificial H2 production over a Pt-loaded TiO2 catalyst under UV irradiation by high-pressure mercury lamp. H2 was produced in high yield. The combustion energy (ΔH) of the evolved H2 reached 100.7% of the total ΔH of glycerol and methanol. Thus, sacrificial agents such as glycerol and methanol with all of the carbon attached to oxygen atoms can continue to serve as an electron source until their sacrificial ability was exhausted. Sacrificial H2 production will provide a promising approach in the utilization of by-products derived from BDF synthesis

Is blood flow-restricted training effective for rehabilitation of a pianist with residual neurological symptoms in the upper limbs? A case study

[Purpose] We investigated whether blood flow-restricted training known as KAATSU training, was effective for rehabilitation of a pianist with residual neurological symptoms in the upper limbs. [Participant and Methods] A pianist with residual neurological symptoms in the upper body played “Revolutionary Etude” under two conditions: piano performance with (Piano-blood flow-restricted) and without (Piano-control) the restriction of blood flow to the upper limbs. In the Piano-blood flow-restricted exercise, a pressure of 130–170 mmHg was applied around the most proximal portion of both arms. The changes in upper limb circumference and muscle strength were measured before, immediately after, and 15 min after the performance. The impression of the piano performance was recorded after the Piano-blood flow-restricted exercise. [Results] Immediately after the piano performance, the forearm and upper arm circumferences had increased significantly in both arms, and the change was greater in the Piano-blood flow-restricted than in the Piano-control condition. The handgrip strength for the right arm also showed greater changes in the former than the latter. However, there were no significant differences between the two conditions regarding the handgrip strength of the left arm. [Conclusion] There is a high possibility that blood flow-restricted training is effective for rehabilitation of the pianist with residual neurological symptoms in the upper limbs

Muscle Thickness of Anterior Mid-Thigh in Hospitalized Patients : Comparison of Supine and Standing Postures

Objectives: To compare the magnitude changes in muscle thickness (MTH) of the anterior mid-thigh between the supine and standing postures.Design: Experimental.Setting: University hospital laboratory.Participants: Inpatients (N=283) between the ages of 29 and 93 years (193 men, 90 women) with cardiovascular disease who volunteered for this study.Interventions: Not applicable.Main Outcome Measures: MTH of the anterior mid-thigh was measured with a 10 MHz ultrasound probe while the participants stood or lay supine in a relaxed position with their arms extended and by their sides.Results: Age and percentage of body fat were greater (P<.01) in women than in men (74.3±12.3 vs 67.7±12.1y and 32.6±10.3% vs 27.4±7.4%, respectively), but standing height, body weight, and body mass index were greater (P<.01) in men than in women (164.9±6.3 vs 149.1±7.5 cm, 65.4±12.7 vs 49.5±11.1 kg, and 23.8±3.9 vs 22.1±4.4 kg/㎡, respectively). Correlations were found between the standing posture and supine position in the anterior-mid thigh MTH for both men (r=0.85; P<.01) and women (r=0.82; P<.01). In the anterior-mid thigh for men and women, MTH was greater in the standing posture (3.7±1.0 vs 2.5±0.7 cm) than in supine position (3.1±0.8 vs 2.1±0.7 cm) (both P<.01).Conclusions: In this study, MTH of the anterior mid-thigh during prolonged hospitalization was approximately 16% higher in men than in women regardless of posture, and was approximately 32% higher in standing posture than in the supine position regardless of sex

Thigh muscle size and vascular function after blood flow-restricted elastic band training in older women

We examined the effect of elastic band training with blood flow restriction (BFR) on thigh muscle size and vascular function in older women. Older women were divided into three groups: low-intensity elastic band BFR training (BFR-Tr, n = 10), middle- to high-intensity elastic band training (MH-Tr, n = 10), and no training (Ctrl, n = 10) groups. BFR-Tr and MH-Tr groups performed squat and knee extension exercises using elastic band, 2 days/week for 12 weeks. During BFR-Tr exercise session, subjects wore pressure cuffs around the most proximal region of both thighs. The following measurements were taken before (pre) and 3-5 days after (post) the final training session: MRI-measured muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) at mid-thigh, maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) of knee extension, central systolic blood pressure (c-SBP), central-augmentation index (c-AIx), cardio-ankle vascular index testing (CAVI), ankle-brachial pressure index (ABI). Quadriceps muscle CSA (6.9%) and knee extension MVIC (13.7%) were increased (p < 0.05) in the BFR-Tr group, but not in the MH-Tr and the Ctrl groups. Regarding c-SBP, c-AIx, CAVI and ABI, there were no changes between pre- and post- results among the three groups. Elastic band BFR training increases thigh muscle CSA as well as maximal muscle strength, but does not decrease vascular function in older women

Effects of detraining after blood flow-restricted low-load elastic band training on muscle size and arterial stiffness in older women

Background: We examined the effects of detraining after blood flow-restricted (BFR) low-load elastic band training on muscle size and arterial stiffness in older women.Findings: Fourteen women were divided into BFR training (BFR-T) or non-BFR training (CON-T). Each group participated in 12 weeks of arm curl and press down training using an elastic band either with (BFR-T) or without BFR (CON-T). Muscle cross-sectional area (CSA) and maximum voluntary isometric contraction (MVIC) for upper arms and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) were evaluated before and after the 12-week training period and also after 12 weeks of detraining. CSA and MVIC were higher at post and detraining (CSA: 16.3% (p 0.05) for elbow extension; MVIC: 7.3 and 3.9% (both p > 0.05) for elbow flexion and 17.6 and 15.1% (both p < 0.01) for elbow extension) than at pre for the BFR-T, but not for the CON-T. There was no change in CAVI for the two groups.Conclusions: Increased muscle strength/size following 12 weeks of elastic band BFR-T was well maintained with a low risk of arterial stiffness after 12 weeks of detraining in older women

Use and safety of KAATSU training : Results of a national survey in 2016

[Purpose] We examined the use and safety of KAATSU training by a national survey in 2016.[Methods] We provided a questionnaire survey (web input) to attendees of the annual academic meeting of the Japan KAATSU Training Society and on the website of the academic society on October 29, 2016. The reply deadline was set at to about approximately 2 months.[Results] Responses were received from KAATSU leaders or instructors of 232 facilities. KAATSU training has been applied for various types of situations; health promotion (87% of total facilities), diet (85%), beauty and anti-aging (70%), increase of muscle strength (71%), muscle hypertrophy (72%), and improvement of sports performance (53%), and for other situations. In addition, it has been used for rehabilitation (38%); orthopedic disease (38%), obesity (17%), diabetes (12%), cerebrovascular disease (11%), cardiovascular disease (8%), depression (7%), infertility (6%), neuromuscular diseases (5%), and immune diseases (3%). The ratio of the effectiveness or improvement of more than five tenths accounted for 92% of the total. The specific symptoms noted were as follows: dizziness, subcutaneous hemorrhage, drowsiness, numbness, nausea, itchiness and others. There were no serious side effects, such as cerebral hemorrhage, cerebral infarction, thrombosis, or rhabdomyolysis.[Conclusion] Facilities under the guidance of appropriate KAATSU training leaders or instructors can achieve safe and beneficial effects, regardless of subject age, gender, or physical condition in 2016 just as back in 2006

Open MRI Operating Room with Automatic Electronic Recording of Medical Equipment Provided by Wireless LAN - Anesthesia Care Experience of ２５ Cases in Hiroshima University Hospital

オープンMRI設置手術室で25例の麻酔を経験した。MRI設置手術室では術中にMRI画像を判断材料として手術をすすめるため，MRI画像へのノイズ混入対策が必要である。また，MRI磁場の影響で術中にモニター機器や麻酔器が誤動作を起こす可能性があるため，MRI非対応機器からの画像ノイズの遮断対策として，電子機器から発生するノイズの軽減には特殊シールドボックスやイキソルメッシュを使用し，手術室外からのノイズには手術室全体にシールド工事を行った。MRIが発生させる磁場による電子機器の誤動作・故障対策は，オープンMRIの磁場が5ガウス以下となる範囲に電子機器や手術器具を置くことで対応した。問題の克服に加えて，医療機器からのデータの無線通信により，ケーブル類をなくすことでMRI撮影時の患者移動の簡素化をはかり，安全性を高めることができた。We provided anesthesia care for 25 patients in an open MRI operating room and summarized here our experience. When surgeons use MRI during surgery, the presence of noise in the images caused by other electronic equipment in the area often hinders accurate diagnosis.　In addition, malfunction of monitoring and anesthesia equipment during surgery due to the MRI magnetic field created during an MR examination can occur. In order to prevent imaging interference affecting equipment not compatible with MRI, we utilized 2 specially prepared shield boxes and wrapped the personal computer used for coordinating the data with a mesh-like cloth made by Ixol-mesh.　In addition, we prepared a shielded operating room in order to block noise from the outside. To prevent malfunction of the surgical and electronic instruments, we kept them outside the magnetic field of 5 Gauss or lower to minimize the magnetic effect generated with MRI.　Furthermore, patient safety during MRI imaging was improved by establishing a wireless communication system to feed data from medical devices, which allowed elimination of cabling

LINE-1 hypomethylation status of circulating cell-free DNA in plasma as a biomarker for colorectal cancer.

Colorectal cancer (CRC) is a serious public health problem and non-invasive biomarkers improving diagnosis or therapy are strongly required. Circulating cell-free DNA (cfDNA) has been a promising target for this purpose. In this study, we evaluated the potential of long interspersed nuclear element-1 (LINE-1) hypomethylation as a blood biomarker for CRC. LINE-1 hypomethylation level in plasma cfDNA in 114 CRC patients was retrospectively examined by absolute quantitative analysis of methylated alleles real-time PCR, and was expressed using LINE-1 hypomethylation index (LHI) [unmethylated copy number/ (methylated copy number + unmethylated copy number)]. Greater LHI values indicated enhanced hypomethylation. In our clinicopathological analysis, CRC patients with large tumors (≥6.0 cm), advanced N stage (≥2), and distant metastasis (M1) had statistically significantly higher cfDNA LHI than other CRC patients, suggesting cfDNA LHI as a disease progression biomarker for CRC. Furthermore, early stage I/II (n = 57) as well as advanced stage III/IV (n =57) CRC patients had significantly higher cfDNA LHI than healthy donors (n=53) [stage I/II: median 0.369 (95% confidence interval, 0.360-0.380) vs. 0.332 (0.325-0.339), P \u3c 0.0001; stage III/IV: 0.372 (0.365-0.388) vs. 0.332 (0.325-0.339), P \u3c 0.0001]. The receiver operating characteristic analysis showed that cfDNA LHI had the detection capacity of CRC with area under the curve(AUC) of 0.79 and 0.83 in stage I/II and stage III/IV CRC patients, respectively. The present study demonstrated for the first time the potential of plasma cfDNA LHI as a novel biomarker for CRC, particularly for early stage detection

Effectiveness of an erbium-doped:yttrium, aluminum and garnet laser for treatment of peri-implant disease : clinical, microbiological, and biochemical marker analyses

The effectiveness of an erbium-doped: yttrium, aluminum and garnet (Er: YAG) laser (EYL) for the treatment of peri-implant disease (PID) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to compare non-surgical EYL therapy for PID with locally delivered minocycline hydrochloride (MC) ointment therapy by evaluating clinical, microbiological, and biochemical markers. Thirty-seven patients with PID were randomly assigned to either the EYL group (n = 18) or the MC group (n = 19). The clinical, microbiological, and biochemical markers at baseline and at 1 and 3 months after treatment were compared between the two groups. Subgingival plaque and peri-implant crevicular fluid (PICF) were collected from the diseased pockets. In the EYL group, probing pocket depth (PPD) was significantly decreased after treatment when compared with baseline. On the other hand, in the MC group, there was no significant decrease in PPD after treatment. Specific bacteria associated with PID were not determined. The counts of both Gram-positive and -negative species did not significantly decrease in the EYL group at 3 months after treatment. In the MC group, the counts of almost all bacterial species were significantly decreased after treatment. Biochemical marker analysis of PICF revealed significantly lower levels of metalloproteinase (MMP)-9 in the EYL group, as compared with the MC group at 3 months after treatment (p= 0.009). Non-surgical therapy with an EYL for PID was clinically effective, with decreased MMP-9 levels in PICF, which may lead to reduced peri-implant tissue destruction