The relativistic kinetic dispersion relation: Comparison of the relativistic Bhatnagar-Gross-Krook model and Grad's 14-moment expansion

In this paper, we study the Cauchy problem of the linearized kinetic equations for the models of Marle and Anderson-Witting, and compare these dispersion relations with the 14-moment theory. First, we propose a modification of the Marle model to improve the resultant transport coefficients in accord with those obtained by the full Boltzmann equation. Using the modified Marle model and Anderson-Witting model, we calculate dispersion relations that are kinetically correct within the validity of the BGK approximation. The 14-moment theory that includes the time derivative of dissipation currents has causal structure, in contrast to the acausal first-order Chapman-Enskog approximation. However, the dispersion relation of the 14-moment theory does not accurately describe the result of the kinetic equation. Thus, our calculation indicates that keeping these second-order terms does not simply correspond to improving the physical description of the relativistic hydrodynamics.Comment: 20 pages, 22 figures, accepted for publication in Physica

Anti-fibrotic Effects of ONO-EF-345, a Specific Phosphodiesterase IV inhibitor, on Lung Fibroblasts

Phosphodiesterase (PDE) IV inhibitors have been shown to inhibit various inflammatory reactions in pulmonary diseases such as bronchial asthma and chronic obstructive lung diseases (COPD). However, there have been no studies evaluating the effect of PDE IV inhibitors on airway fibrosis, which is a critical feature of airway remodeling in asthma and COPD. We therefore examined whether ONO-EF-345 (ONO), a PDE IV inhibitor, affected the function of lung fibroblasts. ONO suppressed TGF-ß-induced type I collagen (COL1) mRNA expression in lung fibroblasts and also inhibited TGF-ß-induced a- smooth muscle actin (SMA) protein expression. ONO did not affect Smad2 phosphorylation or Smad7 expression. However, ONO reduced JNK and p38 activation, which regulates TGF-ß-induced COL1 expression. These results indicate that PDE IV inhibitors exert anti-fibrotic effects through the JNK and/or p38 pathways

Intracystic Papillary Carcinoma of Breast Harbors Significant Genomic Alteration Compared with Intracystic Papilloma: Genome-wide Copy Number and LOH Analysis Using High-Density Single-Nucleotide Polymorphism Microarrays.

Purpose: Intracystic papillary breast tumors consist of benign papilloma, carcinoma in situ and carcinoma with invasion. Using high-density single-nucleotide polymorphism arrays, this study aimed to determine the profile of genomic alterations in these lesions and to identify novel diagnostic criteria. Methods: Ten samples of intracystic papillary tumor, which included five papillomas (Pap), three papillary carcinomas in situ (PurePC) and two papillary carcinomas with invasion (PCinv), were studied. DNA was extracted from tumor and normal tissues that were microdissected from the same formalin-fixed paraffin embedded blocks. Using probe intensity and genotype data from high-density oligonucleotide SNP microarrays (AffymetrixR GeneChip Genome-wide Human 5.0), paired copy number and LOH analysis was performed using Partek Genomic Suite Software. Results: Quality control (QC) call rate, which is an index measuring the quality of a SNP microarray experiment, ranged from 70.75% to 91.93%, mean 80.72%. The mean total genomic alteration rate (sum of amplifications, deletions and copy-neutral loss of heterogeneity) with respect to the whole genome was 2.87%, 15.4% and 35.3% in Pap, PC and IDC, respectively, and was significantly different between samples (Kruskal-Wallis chi-squared test, p = 0.043). The most commonly altered regions (. 4/5) in papillary carcinoma were copy-neutral loss of heterogeneity at 3p21.31 and 3p14.2 and amplification at 20q13.13. Genes altered only in invasive carcinoma included genes concerned with transcription. Conclusions: Among intracystic papillary breast tumors, malignant tumors, including non-invasive tumors, which are difficult to diagnose histopathologically, harbor significant genomic alteration. Our findings may aid clinical management of these tumors and may provide insight into their carcinogenesis

IL-10 Inhibits Transforming Growth Factor-ß-Induction of Type I Collagen mRNA Expression via Both JNK and p38 Pathways in Human Lung Fibroblasts

Transforming growth factor-ß (TGF-ß) is a key factor for understanding the pathogenesis of fibrotic disorders such as idiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF). We have demonstrated that interleukin-10 (IL-10) suppresses TGF-ß-induced expression of type I collagen (COL1) mRNA in a human lung fibroblast cell line (WI-38). However, the inhibitory mechanism has not yet been clearly elucidated. Thus, in the current study, we investigate the effects of IL-10 blockade of TGF-ß signaling which regulates COL1 mRNA expression. In WI-38 cells, IL-10 inhibits TGF-ß-mediated phosphorylation of both, c-Jun HN2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38, but does not suppress TGF-ß- mediated phosphorylation of Smad2 or affect TGF-ß-upregulation of Smad7 mRNA expression. In addition, SP600125 and SB203580, specific inhibitors of JNK and p38, respectively, attenuate TGF-ß-induced COL1 mRNA expression in WI-38 cells. These results suggest that IL-10 inhibits TGF-ß-induced COL1 mRNA expression via both JNK and p38 pathways but not Smad pathways in WI-38 cells. This inhibitory mechanism may provide a novel insight into therapeutic strategies for fibrotic disorders such as IPF

Early gastric cancer detection in high-risk patients: a multicentre randomised controlled trial on the effect of second-generation narrow band imaging

Objective: Early detection of gastric cancer has been the topic of major efforts in high prevalence areas. Whether advanced imaging methods, such as second-generation narrow band imaging (2G-NBI) can improve early detection, is unknown. Design: This open-label, randomised, controlled tandem trial was conducted in 13 hospitals. Patients at increased risk for gastric cancer were randomly assigned to primary white light imaging (WLI) followed by secondary 2G-NBI (WLI group: n=2258) and primary 2G-NBI followed by secondary WLI (2G-NBI group: n=2265) performed by the same examiner. Suspected early gastric cancer (EGC) lesions in both groups were biopsied. Primary endpoint was the rate of EGC patients in the primary examination. The main secondary endpoint was the positive predictive value (PPV) for EGC in suspicious lesions detected (primary examination). Results: The overall sensitivity of primary endoscopy for the detection of EGC in high-risk patients was only 75% and should be improved. 2G-NBI did not increase EGC detection rate over conventional WLI. The impact of a slightly better PPV of 2G-NBI has to be evaluated further. Trial registration number: UMIN000014503

ヒドウジョウミャク オ オンゾン シタ ヒオンゾン ビソクスイ セツジョジュツ ショウカカン ニュウセン シュジュツゴ ノ ヒゾウ ノ タイセキ ヘンカ

Aim: There is a paucity of information about changes in splenic volume after surgery. The aim of this study was to investigate postoperative changes in splenic volume（SV）and the factors influencing SV after spleen-preserving distal pancreatectomy（SPDP）with conservation of the splenic artery and vein （CSAV）, and after surgery of the digestive tract and breast.Methods: We investigated 113 patients who underwent SPDP with CSAV（n=7）, breast surgery （n=24）, colorectal surgery（n=45）, distal gastrectomy（n=27）and total gastrectomy（n=10）. SV changes were determined for three years after surgery using volumetry based on computed tomographic imaging, and splenic vein diameter changes after SPDP with CSAV were also determined.Results: Splenic vein diameter after SPDP with CSAV did not change during 3 years. SV did not change significantly during 3 years after SPDP with CSAV and distal gastrectomy. After breast and colorectal surgery, and total gastrectomy, SV was decreased.Conclusions: Postoperative SV changes differed according to the type of surgery. SV did not change significantly during 3 years after SPDP with CSAV

Effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on osteoclasts: Analysis with goldfish scales as a model of bone

The effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on osteoclastogenesis were examined using fish scales that had both osteoclasts and osteoblasts. The binding of the receptor activator of NF-κB ligand (RANKL) in osteoblasts to the receptor activator of NF-κB (RANK) in osteoclasts induced osteoclastogenesis. Therefore, we focused on RANK/RANKL signaling. After 6 h of incubation following LIPUS treatment, mRNA expression of RANKL increased significantly. Resulting from the increased RANKL mRNA level, the expression of transcription-regulating factors significantly increased after 6 h of incubation, and then the mRNA expression of functional genes was significantly up-regulated after 12 h of incubation. However, the mRNA expression of osteoprotegerin (OPG), which is known as an osteoclastogenesis inhibitory factor, also significantly increased after 6 h of incubation and tended to further increase after 12 h of incubation. At 24 h of incubation, osteoclastic functional genes’ mRNA expression decreased to the level of the control. Furthermore, we performed an in vivo experiment with goldfish. Two weeks after daily LIPUS exposure, osteoclastic marker enzymes tended to decrease while osteoblastic marker enzymes were activated. The regeneration rate of the LIPUS-treated scales was significantly higher than that of the control scales. Thus, LIPUS moderately activates osteoclasts and induces bone formation. © 2017 Biomedical Research Foundation. All rights reserved

Generation of Intense Phase-Stable Femtosecond Hard X-ray Pulse Pairs

Coherent nonlinear spectroscopies and imaging in the X-ray domain provide direct insight into the coupled motions of electrons and nuclei with resolution on the electronic length and time scale. The experimental realization of such techniques will strongly benefit from access to intense, coherent pairs of femtosecond X-ray pulses. We have observed phase-stable X-ray pulse pairs containing more thank 3 x 10e7 photons at 5.9 keV (2.1 Angstrom) with about 1 fs duration and 2-5 fs separation. The highly directional pulse pairs are manifested by interference fringes in the superfluorescent and seeded stimulated manganese K-alpha emission induced by an X-ray free-electron laser. The fringes constitute the time-frequency X-ray analogue of the Young double-slit interference allowing for frequency-domain X-ray measurements with attosecond time resolution.Comment: 39 pages, 13 figures, to be publishe

Low-intensity pulsed ultrasound induces apoptosis in osteoclasts: Fish scales are a suitable model for the analysis of bone metabolism by ultrasound

Using fish scales in which osteoclasts and osteoblasts coexist on the calcified bone matrix, we examined the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on both osteoclasts and osteoblasts. At 3 h of incubation after LIPUS treatment, osteoclastic markers such as tartrate-resistant acid phosphatase (TRAP) and cathepsin K mRNA expressions decreased significantly while mRNA expressions of osteoblastic markers, osteocalcin, distal-less homeobox 5, runt-related transcription factor 2a, and runt-related transcription factor 2b, increased significantly. At 6 and 18 h of incubation, however, both osteoclastic and osteoblastic marker mRNA expression did not change at least present conditions. Using GeneChip analysis of zebrafish scales treated with LIPUS, we found that cell death-related genes were upregulated with LIPUS treatment. Real-time PCR analysis indicated that the expression of apoptosis-related genes also increased significantly. To confirm the involvement of apoptosis in osteoclasts with LIPUS, osteoclasts were induced by autotransplanting scales in goldfish. Thereafter, the DNA fragmentation associated with apoptosis was detected in osteoclasts using the TUNEL (TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling) method. The multi-nuclei of TRAP-stained osteoclasts in the scales were labeled with TUNEL. TUNEL staining showed that the number of apoptotic osteoclasts in goldfish scales was significantly elevated by treatment with LIPUS at 3 h of incubation. Thus, we are the first to demonstrate that LIPUS directly functions to osteoclasts and to conclude that LIPUS directly causes apoptosis in osteoclasts shortly after exposure. © 2016 Elsevier Inc.Embargo Period 12 month