Phase equilibrium temperature and dissociation enthalpy in the tri-n-butylalkylphosphonium bromide semiclathrate hydrate systems

Semiclathrate hydrate (SCH) is one of the phase change materials suitable for cold storage. The thermodynamic properties of SCHs, such as an equilibrium temperature and a dissociation enthalpy, depend on the size and shape of guest substances. In this study, to reveal the effect of cation size and shape on the thermodynamic properties, tri-n-butylalkylphosphonium bromide (P444R-Br) SCHs, where the alkyl group was n-propyl (R = 3), n-butyl (R = 4), n-pentyl (R = 5), i-butyl (R = i-4), i-pentyl (R = i-5), or allyl (R = Al)), were investigated. The branched alkyl groups (R = i-4 or i-5) raised the equilibrium temperature, whereas the shorter alkyl groups (R = 3 or Al) lowered one. Except for P4445-Br and P444(Al)-Br SCHs, the other P444R-Br SCHs had the same orthorhombic structure. Among the orthorhombic systems in the present study, the semiclathrate hydrate with a higher equilibrium temperature had a larger dissociation enthalpy

Immunosuppressants Tacrolimus and Sirolimus revert the cardiac antifibrotic properties of p38-MAPK inhibition in 3D-multicellular human iPSC-heart organoids

Immunosuppressive regimens after a heart transplant can hamper good therapeutic progressions in fibrosis. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-11-15.より本物の心臓に近い心臓オルガノイドによる薬剤の効果を評価するシステム --細胞間コミュニケーションを研究できるツールの開発--. 京都大学プレスリリース. 2022-11-21.Cardiac reactive fibrosis is a fibroblast-derived maladaptive process to tissue injury that exacerbates an uncontrolled deposition of large amounts of extracellular matrix (ECM) around cardiomyocytes and vascular cells, being recognized as a pathological entity of morbidity and mortality. Cardiac fibrosis is partially controlled through the sustained activation of TGF-β1 through IL-11 in fibroblasts. Yet, preclinical studies on fibrosis treatment require human physiological approaches due to the multicellular crosstalk between cells and tissues in the heart. Here, we leveraged an iPSC-derived multi-lineage human heart organoid (hHO) platform composed of different cardiac cell types to set the basis of a preclinical model for evaluating drug cardiotoxicity and assessing cardiac fibrosis phenotypes. We found that the inhibition of the p38-MAPK pathway significantly reduces COL1A1 depositions. Yet, concomitant treatment with organ-rejection immunosuppressant drugs Tacrolimus or Sirolimus reverts this effect, opening new questions on the clinical considerations of combined therapies in reducing fibrosis after organ transplantation

イ ジョウコウ ケッチョウ チョクチョウ ノ 3 チョウフクガン ニ タイシテ イッキテキ ニ フククウキョウカ シュジュツ オ シコウ シタ 1レイ

A ５１-years-old man was admitted with anemia. The upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed ０-IIa＋IIc lesion in the middle body of the stomach. The colonoscopy revealed type ３ lesion by Borrmann classification with advanced stenosis. Computed tomography of the abdomen revealed the tumor in the ascending colon. We diagnosed a synchronous gastric, ascending colon, and rectal cancer. After neoadjuvant chemotherapy, we performed the laparoscopic operation for the synchronous cancer. There were no remarkable complications due to the collaboration. Laparoscopic approach for synchronous triple cancer is feasible as safety and minimally invasive surgery

Mesh-Airtight-Preperitoneum : a simple method for confirming mesh placement in transabdominal preperitoneal repair of inguinal hernia

We devised a method for confirming the position of mesh placed during transabdominal preperitoneal repair (TAPP) of an inguinal hernia. The preperitoneum is sufficiently detached, and the mesh is fixed in place as usual. Before completely closing the peritoneum, pressure is applied from outside the body and inside the abdominal cavity to remove as much air as possible from the detached preperitoneum ; the peritoneum is then sutured using a V-LocTM closure device so that it does not constrict. By releasing the pressure all at once, the airtightness of the preperitoneum is maintained, and the position of the mesh can be observed through the translucent peritoneum. This method, called Mesh-Airtight-Preperitoneum (MAPP), could become widely used as a simple technique for confirming mesh position in TAPP

キョウセン ヒテイケイテキ カルチノイド ノ 1セツジョレイ

Background. Thymic carcinoids are rare disease to account for ２-４％ of anterior mediastinal tumors. So, the clinicopathologic characters are not known enough. Case. A ６７ years old man was followed up old myocardial infarction, and he was taken chest CT scan for evaluate coronary artery. It revealed three anterior mediastinal tumors and we diagnosed thymoma by needle biopsy. We treated by neoadjuvant chemotherapy（CAMP therapy）, but it was ineffective. We performed thoracoscopic thymothymomectomy, and the pathological diagnosis was thymic atypical carcinoid. He is free of clinically event recurrence one year and a half after treatment. Conclusions. When we found an anterior mediastinal tumor, and if the clinical course is usually different, we should consider the possibility of a thymic carcinoid

Short-Term Outcomes of Laparoscopic Distal Gastrectomy for Advanced Gastric Cancer

The purpose of this study was to investigate the oncologic outcomes of laparoscopic distal gastrectomy (LDG) for advanced gastric cancer (AGC). Between April 2003 and March 2014, LDG was performed for 392 patients, 91 patients (23.2%) had histopathologically diagnosed AGC beyond T2 depth. The clinicopathological features, postoperative outcomes, mortality, morbidity, recurrence rate, and survivals of those patients were reviewed. The TNM stages of the tumor were IB in 26 patients (28.5%), IIA in 20 (21.9%), IIB in 18 (19.7%), IIIA in 13 (14.2%), IIIB in 6 (6.5%), IIIC in 6 (6.5%), and IV in 2 (2.1%). Major morbidity occurred in 14 patients (15.3%), with no postoperative mortality. Median follow-up was 24.5 months ; 10 patients developed recurrence during the follow-up period, and 10 patients died, including 6 cancer deaths. The 5-year overall and disease-free survival rates were 76.8% and 72.6%, respectively. By stage, OS/DFS was 92.3%/91.8% in stage IB, 85.4%/85.4% in stage II, and 49.3%/26.9% in stage III. Oncologic outcomes were good in patients with AGC, especially with stage IB-IIB, who underwent LDG. LDG appears to be an effective approach for treating stage IB and II gastric cancer

Cross-Country Student Perceptions about Online Medical Education during the COVID-19 Pandemic

(1) Introduction: Most educational institutions around the world have shifted from traditional face-to-face to online education amid COVID-19. This change may particularly impact medical students, whose education is heavily influenced by clinical learning experiences. Accordingly, we investigated medical students’ perceptions about positive and negative aspects of online medical education in Japan and overseas during the COVID-19 pandemic. (2) Methods: In-depth online interviews were conducted among 13 Japanese medical students and five medical students from Slovakia, Norway, and Hungary. Interviews were conducted from 23rd September to 3rd October 2020 using the snowball sampling method. Questions were focused on five main areas: Q1 the type of online education; Q2 advantages and disadvantages of online education; Q3 any changes in the relationship with teachers, friends, and family; Q4 any opinions about further improvements in online education; and Q5 any needs for affiliation with a particular university. Then thematic analysis was conducted. (3) Results: The results of the thematic analysis revealed the following four themes that represent the positive and negative aspects of online medical education; Theme 1: Timesaving and Flexibility; Theme 2: Technical problems and lack of digital skills; Theme 3: Unstandardized teaching skills; Theme 4: Lack of experience beyond medical school lectures. (4) Conclusions: While online education was found useful in terms of saving time and creating a flexible learning environment, many important drawbacks were noted such as internet and computer problems and unstandardized teaching skills, and lack of quality assurance. In addition, experiences outside the classroom such as making relationships with faculty and friends, conducting research and participating in extracurricular activities were missed, which they normally enjoy in college life