Far -Infrared Study of Two-Dimensional Air-Rod Photonic Crystals : Band Gap, Uncoupled Mode and Wavevector Mismatch

Two-dimensional photonic crystals both of square and triangular lattices composed of circular air-rods with the lattice constant of 170 μm were fabricated. The photonic band structures were studied by far-infrared transmission measurements. The clear opaque regions due to the band gap and due to the non coupling between photonic mode and external wave were observed in both lattices. The uncoupled modes can not be excited by an external mode because their wave functions are anti-symmetric under the relevant mirror reflection defined on the lattice. Furthermore, some regions with very low transmittance were found, where exist only a band whose dominant plane-wave component in eigen-function has wavevector not parallel to the propagating direction of the external incident wave. These low transmittance are considered to be caused by wavevector mismatch between photonic modes and external incident waves. The observed spectra are discussed compared with the results of band structure calculated by means of a plane-wave expansion method as well as of the symmetry consideration.Article信州大学理学部紀要 31(2): 89-104(1997)departmental bulletin pape

Expression Profiling without Genome Sequence Information in a Non-Model Species, Pandalid Shrimp (Pandalus latirostris), by Next-Generation Sequencing

While the study of phenotypic variation is a central theme in evolutionary biology, the genetic approaches available to understanding this variation are usually limited because of a lack of genomic information in non-model organisms. This study explored the utility of next-generation sequencing (NGS) technologies for studying phenotypic variations between 2 populations of a non-model species, the Hokkai shrimp (Pandalus latirostris; Decapoda, Pandalidae). Before we performed transcriptome analyses using NGS, we examined the genetic and phenotypic differentiation between the populations. Analyses using microsatellite DNA markers suggested that these populations genetically differed from one another and that gene flow is restricted between them. Moreover, the results of our 4-year field observations indicated that the egg traits varied genetically between the populations. Using mRNA extracted from the ovaries of 5 females in each population of Hokkai shrimp, we then performed a transcriptome analysis of the 2 populations. A total of 13.66 gigabases (Gb) of 75-bp reads was obtained. Further, 58,804 and 33,548 contigs for the first and second population, respectively, and 47,467 contigs for both populations were produced by de novo assembly. We detected 552 sequences with the former approach and 702 sequences with the later one; both sets of sequences showed greater than twofold differences in the expression levels between the 2 populations. Twenty-nine sequences were found in both approaches and were considered to be differentially expressed genes. Among them, 9 sequences showed significant similarity to functional genes. The present study showed a de novo assembly approach for the transcriptome of a non-model species using only short-read sequence data, and provides a strategy for identifying sequences showing significantly different expression levels between populations

Emphysematous Cystitis in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

A 62-year-old woman with a history of poorly controlled type 2 diabetes mellitus was admitted to our hospital with a 3-week history of mild fever, vomiting, and anorexia. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) showed bilateral hydronephrosis and gas accumulation in the urinary bladder wall and left ureter. Laboratory tests showed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein level. Urine culture showed heavy growth of Escherichia coli. The final diagnosis was emphysematous cystitis. The patient was treated with systemic antibiotics and drainage using a urethral catheter. The clinical and radiographic findings resolved rapidly, and she was discharged from the hospital on day 28. Emphysematous cystitis is a relatively rare urinary tract infection associated with gas formation, and has the potential for a serious outcome if untreated. Early detection by imaging studies such as CT is important in providing prompt treatment and favorable clinical outcome

Longitudinal observation of insulin secretory ability before and after the onset of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes mellitus: A report of two cases

Immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes mellitus is a rare immune-related adverse event. This report illustrates clinical data and insulin secretory ability before and after the onset of immune checkpoint inhibitor-induced diabetes

Visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio is a possible prognostic factor for type 1 endometrial cancer

[Background] Associations have been observed between obesity defined by the body mass index (BMI) and the incidence of endometrial cancer. However, the impact of obesity on the prognosis of endometrial cancer is not yet clear. Recently, visceral fat has been considered to have a greater impact on malignant disease in obese patients than subcutaneous fat. In this study, we investigated the association between prognostic factors of type 1 and type 2 endometrial cancer and obesity parameters. [Methods] The impacts of clinical factors on the progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were analyzed retrospectively in 145 primary endometrial cancer patients. The factors included age, BMI, pathological findings, Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stage, status of lymph node metastasis, and the amounts of visceral and subcutaneous fat obtained from computed tomography (CT) data. [Results] Only the visceral-to-subcutaneous fat ratio (V/S ratio) (cutoff value 0.5) corresponded to a significant difference in OS and PFS in type 1 endometrial cancer (p = 0.0080, p = 0.0053) according to the results of log-rank tests of Kaplan–Meier curves. The COX regression univariate analysis revealed that only the V/S ratio was a significant prognostic factor for PFS, but not OS (p = 0.033 and p = 0.270, respectively). [Conclusion] A V/S ratio > 0.5 is a possible factor for poor prognosis in type 1 endometrial cancer. Further research is needed to investigate the preventive and therapeutic effects of reducing visceral fat on the prognosis of this type of cancer

Thermoluminescence of chondrules in primitive ordinary chondrites,Semarkona and Bishunpur

The spatial distribution of the induced thermoluminescence (TL) and TL glow curves of the primitive ordinary chondrites, Semarkona (LL3.0) and Bishunpur (LL3.1), were investigated over a wide range of wavelengths using a TL spatial distribution readout system. Although bulk samples of Semarkona and Bishunpur have very low TL sensitivity, individual chondrules show a wide variety of induced TL intensity and glow curve shape. Chondrules with anorthite-normative mesostases have especially high induced TL intensity, and their TL is produced at wavelengths >480nm, compared with <480nm for the sensitivity range of the usual TL measuring systems. Some of the metamorphism-dependent TL sensitivity of type 3 ordinary chondrite therefore results in changes in the spectrum of the light produced

Effects of Highly Absorbable Curcumin in Patients with Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Non-Insulin-Dependent Diabetes Mellitus

Oxidative stress is enhanced by various mechanisms. Serum oxidized low-density lipoprotein (LDL) is a useful prognostic marker in diabetic patients with coronary artery disease. To examine the effects of Theracurmin®, a highly absorbable curcumin preparation, on glucose tolerance, adipocytokines, and oxidized LDL, we conducted a double-blind placebo-controlled parallel group randomized trial in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. We randomly divided the patients with impaired glucose tolerance or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus and stable individuals into the placebo group and the Theracurmin® (180 mg daily for 6 months) group. Of the 33 patients analyzed, 18 (14 males and 4 females) were administered placebo and 15 (9 males and 6 females) were administered Theracurmin®. The patient characteristics did not differ between the two groups. The primary endpoint, HbA1c, did not differ significantly between the two groups. However, the level of α1-antitrypsin-low-density lipoprotein (AT-LDL), the oxidized LDL, significantly increased (p = 0.024) in the placebo group from the beginning of the trial up to 6 months, although there was no such change in the Theracurmin® group. The percentage change in BMI from the beginning of the trial up to 6 months tended to be higher in the Theracurmin® group than in the placebo group. Patients in the Theracurmin® group tended to have a larger percentage change in adiponectin and LDL-C than those in the placebo group. Patients in the Theracurmin® group showed a smaller percentage change in AT-LDL than those in the placebo group. This study suggests that the highly absorbable curcumin could potentially inhibit a rise in oxidized LDL in patients with impaired glucose tolerance or non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus. This trial is registered with UMIN000007361

Integrating Cancer Patients’ Satisfaction with Rescue Medication in Pain Assessments

A patient’s pain intensity rating alone is insufficient grounds for determining the pain medication and dosage to administer daily. This study aimed to investigate whether a convenient assessment method could be developed that would reflect the effectiveness of an opioid analgesic on cancer patients’ pain management. We investigated pain intensity （worst, least, average, current） and the effectiveness of the opioid rescue medication in terms of patient satisfaction. This study used Spearman’s rank correlation coefficients to evaluate the relationships between patient satisfaction with rescue medication and both pain intensity and the medication’s perceived effectiveness. Data from 60 participants with a mean age of 60.5±11.4 years （range: 31-79 years） were analyzed. Thirty-eight （63.3%） participants were male, and 22 （36.7%） were female. The correlations found between rescue medication satisfaction and both the worst numerical rating scale （NRS） rating （r＝−0.15, P＝0.16） and the average NRS rating （r＝−0.13, P＝0.13） were not statistically significant. A significant positive correlation was observed between rescue medication satisfaction and the medication’s perceived effectiveness （r＝0.79, P＜0.0001）. Patient satisfaction with their rescue medication can be routinely assessed without imposing a significant burden on the patient. A new assessment method incorporating rescue medication satisfaction and pain intensity measures could allow routine pain assessments to reflect both pain intensity and the effectiveness of opioid analgesics. This new assessment method is potentially preferable to self-reported pain intensity and can identify patients for whom treatment is a priority. It also facilitates rapid dose adjustments and reduces the side effects of overdose due to unnecessary increases in opioid analgesics

High-absorption curcumin reduces BNP in hypertensive heart disease

Aims Hypertension is a strong risk factor for heart failure with preserved ejection fraction. Curcumin has p300-specific histone acetyltransferase inhibitory activity, suppresses cardiomyocyte hypertrophy and fibrosis, and significantly reduces myocardial brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) expression without altering blood pressure in a rat model of hypertensive heart disease. This double-blind, placebo-controlled, randomized study, for the first time, aimed to examine the efficacy of a high-absorption curcumin for the prevention of hypertensive heart disease in humans. Methods and results Patients exhibiting initial signs of hypertensive heart disease with left ventricular ejection fraction ≥60% and stable blood pressure <140/90 mmHg orally took a double-blinded capsule (either a 90 mg curcumin capsule or placebo) twice daily for 24 weeks. The primary endpoint was per cent changes in left ventricular diastolic function (E/E′) from baseline to 6 months after administration. The secondary endpoint was the per cent change in plasma BNP levels. The E/E′ ratio per cent change from baseline to 6 months after administration was similar between the placebo (n = 69) and the curcumin (n = 73) groups. The per cent change in plasma BNP levels was significantly lower in the curcumin group than in the placebo group. In patients <65 years, BNP per cent changes were significantly lower in the curcumin group than in the placebo group, but similar between groups in ≥65 years (<65 vs. ≥65 years: P for interaction = 0.011). Conclusions A high-absorption curcumin agent did not affect the E/E′ ratio, rather it significantly inhibited the increase in plasma BNP levels in patients with initial signs of hypertensive heart disease