Huge right ventricle–right coronary artery fistula compromising right ventricular function in a patient with pulmonary atresia and intact ventricular septum: A case report

AbstractJ Thorac Cardiovasc Surg 2001;122:1030-

Two-Photon AMPK and ATP Imaging Reveals Metabolic Recovery in Mouse Rod Photoreceptor Cells

The title of publisher's version: Two-photon AMPK and ATP imaging reveals the bias between rods and cones in glycolysis utility.In vertebrates, retinal rod and cone photoreceptor cells rely significantly on glycolysis. Lactate released from photoreceptor cells fuels neighboring retinal pigment epithelium cells and Müller glial cells through oxidative phosphorylation. To understand this highly heterogeneous metabolic environment around photoreceptor cells, single-cell analysis is needed. Here, we visualized cellular AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK) activity and ATP levels in the retina by two-photon microscopy. Transgenic mice expressing a hyBRET-AMPK biosensor were used for measuring the AMPK activity. GO-ATeam2 transgenic mice were used for measuring the ATP level. Temporal metabolic responses were successfully detected in the live retinal explants upon drug perfusion. A glycolysis inhibitor, 2-deoxy-d-glucose (2-DG), activated AMPK and reduced ATP. These effects were clearly stronger in rods than in cones. Notably, rod AMPK and ATP started to recover at 30 min from the onset of 2-DG perfusion. Consistent with these findings, ex vivo electroretinogram recordings showed a transient slowdown in rod dim flash responses during a 60-min 2-DG perfusion, whereas cone responses were not affected. Based on these results, we propose that cones surrounded by highly glycolytic rods become less dependent on glycolysis, and rods also become less dependent on glycolysis within 60 min upon the glycolysis inhibition

ANALYSIS OF MATCH ACTIVITIES IN HIGH SCHOOL SOCCER PLAYERS USING A MOBILE GPS AND VTR METHODS

The purposes of this study were to obtain the match activity of high school soccer player, and to examine the measured value between GPS and VTR methods during a match play. The players' match activity ratios of total distance covered were walking 37.8%, jogging 16.6%, running 32.2%, sprinting 6.8%, back-walking 3.9% and back-running 3.1%, respectively. The total distance covered by GPS method was 5140.7 ± 476.6 m, and by VTR method was 5105.6 ± 459.8 m. As for the total distance covered, no significant difference was found between GPS and VTR methods. These finding,s gave suggestion that the distance covered by soccer player could be used with mobile GPS receiver. In the near future, more new accurate data will be got with GPS technique of new receiver in high quality

A novel interplay between the Fanconi anemia core complex and ATR-ATRIP kinase during DNA cross-link repair.

When DNA replication is stalled at sites of DNA damage, a cascade of responses is activated in the cell to halt cell cycle progression and promote DNA repair. A pathway initiated by the kinase Ataxia teleangiectasia and Rad3 related (ATR) and its partner ATR interacting protein (ATRIP) plays an important role in this response. The Fanconi anemia (FA) pathway is also activated following genomic stress, and defects in this pathway cause a cancer-prone hematologic disorder in humans. Little is known about how these two pathways are coordinated. We report here that following cellular exposure to DNA cross-linking damage, the FA core complex enhances binding and localization of ATRIP within damaged chromatin. In cells lacking the core complex, ATR-mediated phosphorylation of two functional response targets, ATRIP and FANCI, is defective. We also provide evidence that the canonical ATR activation pathway involving RAD17 and TOPBP1 is largely dispensable for the FA pathway activation. Indeed DT40 mutant cells lacking both RAD17 and FANCD2 were synergistically more sensitive to cisplatin compared with either single mutant. Collectively, these data reveal new aspects of the interplay between regulation of ATR-ATRIP kinase and activation of the FA pathway

脳シンチグラフィ用剤としての99mTc-グルコネイトの有用性-特に腫瘍と非腫瘍性疾患の鑑別に関して-

金沢大学大学院医学系研究

Hybrid anode design of polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis cells for ultra-high current density operation with low platinum group metal loading

Reducing platinum group metal (PGM) loading and high current density operation are both essential for minimizing the capital expenditure (CAPEX) of polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM) electrolyzers. Catalyst-integrated porous transport electrodes (PTEs) in which iridium acts as both a catalyst and a conductive coating on porous transport layer (PTL) surfaces, enable the preparation of Pt-coating-free PTLs, but can also result in relatively high activation and ohmic overvoltages. Here, a novel hybrid anode design combining an intermediate catalyst layer and a catalyst-integrated PTE is developed. This hybrid anode demonstrates that Ir on PTL can contribute to the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) and exhibits comparable electrolysis performance to a conventional anode consisting of Pt-coated PTL with the same Ir loadings despite Pt-coating-free on the PTL of the hybrid anode. This novel anode eliminates the need for a Pt coating whilst also enabling ultra-high current density operations up to 20 A cm−2 with a total PGM loading of only around 0.6 mg cm−2 on the anode side. This paper proposes a next-generation anode structure with new functions of PTLs for ultra-high current density operation with low PGM loading to significantly reduce green hydrogen costs

Ru-core Ir-shell electrocatalysts deposited on a surface-modified Ti-based porous transport layer for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis

Novel Ru-core Ir-shell catalyst-integrated porous transport electrodes (PTEs) for polymer electrolyte membrane water electrolysis (PEMWE) cells are prepared, in which Ru-core Ir-shell catalyst nanostructures are directly deposited onto a porous transport layer (PTL) via arc plasma deposition (APD). The PTL has a nanostructured TiO2 surface prepared via NaOH etching, acting as a catalyst support. The performance and durability of these Ru-core Ir-shell catalysts depend strongly on the ratio of Ir and Ru. The current-voltage (I–V) characteristics of PEMWE cells were improved by applying these core-shell catalysts with a low Ir loading of around 0.1 mg cm−2. The core-shell catalyst-integrated PTEs can operate at current densities of up to 10 A cm−2 without exhibiting limiting current behavior. This unique combination of the core-shell catalyst and the PTE structure enables PEMWE cell operation with low iridium loading and high current density, potentially reducing the cost of green hydrogen

Inhibition of Hepatitis C Virus Replication and Viral Helicase by Ethyl Acetate Extract of the Marine Feather Star Alloeocomatella polycladia

Hepatitis C virus (HCV) is a causative agent of acute and chronic hepatitis, leading to the development of hepatic cirrhosis and hepatocellular carcinoma. We prepared extracts from 61 marine organisms and screened them by an in vitro fluorescence assay targeting the viral helicase (NS3), which plays an important role in HCV replication, to identify effective candidates for anti-HCV agents. An ethyl acetate-soluble fraction of the feather star Alloeocomatella polycladia exhibited the strongest inhibition of NS3 helicase activity, with an IC50 of 11.7 µg/mL. The extract of A. polycladia inhibited interaction between NS3 and RNA but not ATPase of NS3. Furthermore, the replication of the replicons derived from three HCV strains of genotype 1b in cultured cells was suppressed by the extract with an EC50 value of 23 to 44 µg/mL, which is similar to the IC50 value of the NS3 helicase assay. The extract did not induce interferon or inhibit cell growth. These results suggest that the unknown compound(s) included in A. polycladia can inhibit HCV replication by suppressing the helicase activity of HCV NS3. This study may present a new approach toward the development of a novel therapy for chronic hepatitis C

Cold start cycling durability of fuel cell stacks for commercial automotive applications

System durability is crucial for the successful commercialization of polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFCs) in fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Besides conventional electrochemical cycling durability during long-term operation, the effect of operation in cold climates must also be considered. Ice formation during start up in sub-zero conditions may result in damage to the electrocatalyst layer and the polymer electrolyte membrane (PEM). Here, we conduct accelerated cold start cycling tests on prototype fuel cell stacks intended for incorporation into commercial FCEVs. The effect of this on the stack performance is evaluated, the resulting mechanical damage is investigated, and degradation mechanisms are proposed. Overall, only a small voltage drop is observed after the durability tests, only minor damage occurs in the electrocatalyst layer, and no increase in gas crossover is observed. This indicates that these prototype fuel cell stacks successfully meet the cold start durability targets for automotive applications in FCEVs

Accelerated durability testing of fuel cell stacks for commercial automotive applications : a case study

System durability is crucially important for the successful commercialization of fuel cell electric vehicles (FCEVs). Conventional accelerated durability testing protocols employ relatively high voltage to hasten carbon corrosion and/or platinum catalyst degradation. However, high voltages are strictly avoided in commercialized FCEVs such as the Toyota MIRAI to minimize these degradation modes. As such, conventional durability tests are not representative of real-world FCEV driving conditions. Here, modified start-stop and load cycle durability tests are conducted on prototype fuel cell stacks intended for incorporation into commercial FCEVs. Polarization curves are evaluated at beginning of test (BOT) and end of test (EOT), and the degradation mechanisms are elucidated by separating the overvoltages at both 0.2 and 2.2 A cm-2. Using our modified durability protocols with a maximum cell voltage of 0.9 V, the prototype fuel cell stacks easily meet durability targets for automotive applications, corresponding to 15-year operation and 200,000 km driving range. These findings have been applied successfully in the development of new fuel cell systems for FCEVs, in particular the second-generation Toyota MIRAI