Using simple riboflavin related compounds as biomimetic catalysts, catalytic oxidation of various substrates with hydrogen peroxide or molecular oxygen can be performed selectively under mild ...conditions. The principle of these reactions is fundamental and will provide a wide scope for environmentally benign future practical methods.
Using simple riboflavin related compounds as biomimetic catalysts, catalytic oxidation of various substrates with hydrogen peroxide or molecular oxygen can be performed selectively under mild conditions. The principle of these reactions is fundamental and will provide a wide scope for environmentally benign future practical methods.
Previous studies have shown that blood flow‐restricted low‐intensity resistance training (BFR‐RT) causes muscle hypertrophy while maintaining arterial function in young adults. We examined the ...effects of BFR‐RT on muscle size and arterial stiffness in older adults. Healthy subjects (ages 61–84 years) were divided into BFR‐RT (n = 9) or non‐training control (CON; n = 10) groups. The BFR‐RT group performed 20% and 30%, respectively, of one‐repetition maximal (1‐RM) knee extension and leg press exercises, 2 days/wk for 12 weeks. The BFR‐RT group wore elastic cuffs (120–270 mmHg) on both legs during training. Magnetic resonance imaging‐measured muscle cross‐sectional area (CSA), 1‐RM strength, chair stand (CS) test, and cardio‐ankle vascular index testing (CAVI), an index of arterial stiffness, were measured before and 3–5 days after the final training session. Muscle CSA of the quadriceps (8.0%), adductors (6.5%), and gluteus maximus (4.4%), leg extension and leg press 1‐RM strength (26.1% and 33.4%), and CS performance (18.3%) improved (P < 0.05) in the BFR‐RT group, but not in the CON group. In CAVI testing, there were no changes in both two groups. In conclusion, BFR‐RT improves muscle CSA as well as maximal muscle strength, but does not negatively affect arterial stiffness or humeral coagulation factors in older adults.
We determined the clinical utility of the direct Coombs’ test in the absence of hemolytic anemia as an indicator of disease activity and therapeutic response in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). ...SLE patients without hemolytic anemia who visited our hospital from January 2016 to November 2016 were retrospectively evaluated with a direct Coombs’ test. Clinical features, including SLE disease activity index (SLEDAI), treatment and laboratory findings were analyzed. For patients with lupus nephritis, we additionally evaluated the cumulative complete renal response rate over one year after induction therapy. Among 182 patients evaluated, 10 (5.8%) patients had a positive direct Coombs’ test in the absence of hemolytic anemia. They had a higher SLEDAI (p < 0.01), higher circulating immune complex levels (p = 0.01), higher anti-DNA titers (p < 0.01) and a lower complete renal response rate (p = 0.03) compared with those who were negative. Multivariate analysis indicated that SLEDAI was an independent factor correlated with the direct Coombs’ test without hemolytic anemia (odds ratio 2.4, 95% confidence interval 1.66–4.98, p < 0.01). A positive direct Coombs’ test in the absence of hemolytic anemia may therefore represent a useful biomarker for assessing disease activity and therapeutic response.
We report Lee-Yang zeros behavior at finite temperature and density. The quark number densities, 〈n〉, are calculated at the pure imaginary chemical potential iμqI, where no sign problem occurs. Then, ...the canonical partition functions, ZC(n,T,V), up to some maximal values of n are estimated through fitting theoretically motivated functions to 〈n〉, which are used to compute the Lee-Yang zeros. We study the temperature dependence of the distributions of the Lee-Yang zeros around the pseudo-critical temperature region T/Tc=0.84-1.35.
In the distributions of the Lee-Yang zeros, we observe the Roberge-Weiss phase transition at T/Tc≥1.20. We discuss the dependence of the behaviors of Lee-Yang zeros on the maximal value of n, so that we can estimate a reliable infinite volume limit.
Highlights • Hypotension under spinal anesthesia for cesarean section is difficult to predict. • We investigated whether changes in heart rate variability predict hypotension. • Increased LF/HF ratio ...following postural changes was associated with hypotension. • Changes in heart rate variability due to postural changes may predict hypotension.
Abstract Background Liver fibrosis is the main predictor of the progression of nonalcoholic fatty liver disease. Transient elastography (FibroScan), which measures liver stiffness, is a novel, ...noninvasive method to assess liver fibrosis. Aim We investigated the usefulness of liver stiffness measurement in the evaluation of liver fibrosis in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Study population A total of 97 nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients. Methods Transient elastography was performed for liver stiffness measurement in 97 nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients. And the relationship between histological parameters and liver stiffness measurement was studied by multivariate analysis. Moreover, we investigated the relationship between liver stiffness measurement and the serum levels of hyaluronic acid and type IV collagen 7s domain. Results The liver stiffness was well correlated with the stage of liver fibrosis (Kruskal–Wallis test p < 0.0001). The areas under the receiver-operating characteristic curves were 0.927 for ≥F1, 0.865 for ≥F2, 0.904 for ≥F3, 0.991 for ≥F4. Only fibrosis stage was correlated significantly with liver stiffness measurement by multiple regression analysis. Liver stiffness was also strongly correlated with the serum levels of type IV collagen 7s domain ( r = 0.525, p < 0.0001) and hyaluronic acid ( r = 0.457, p < 0.0001). Conclusions Our results show a significant correlation between liver stiffness measurement and fibrosis stage in nonalcoholic fatty liver disease patients, as confirmed by the results of liver biopsy, which remains the gold standard for evaluation of the severity of liver fibrosis in patients with nonalcoholic steatohepatitis.
We examined the effects of blood flow‐restricted, low‐intensity resistance exercise (termed kaatsu) using an elastic band for resistance on muscle activation. Nine men performed triceps extension and ...biceps flexion exercises (four sets respectively) using an elastic band for resistance with blood flow restriction (BFR) or CON (unrestricted blood flow). During a BFR session, subjects wore pressure cuffs inflated to 170–260 mmHg on the proximal region of both arms. Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the triceps brachii and biceps brachii muscles, and mean integrated EMG (iEMG) was analyzed. Blood lactate concentration was obtained before (Pre) and immediately after two exercises (Post). During triceps extension and biceps flexion exercises, muscle activation increased progressively (P < 0.05) under BFR (46% and 69%, respectively) but not under CON (12% and 23%, respectively). Blood lactate concentration at Post was higher (P < 0.05) under BFR than under CON (3.6 and 2.1 mmol/L, respectively). Blood lactate concentration at Post was significantly correlated with increased iEMG in both triceps extension (r = 0.65, P < 0.01) and biceps flexion exercises (r = 0.52, P < 0.05). We conclude that kaatsu training using elastic bands for resistance enhances muscle activation and may be an effective method to promote muscle hypertrophy in older adults or patients with a low level of activity.
Backgrounds
Chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction (CIPO) is an intractable rare digestive disease manifesting persistent small bowel distension without any mechanical cause. Intestinal decompression ...is a key treatment, but conventional method including a trans‐nasal small intestinal tube is invasive and painful. Therefore, a less invasive and tolerable new decompression method is urgently desired. We conducted a pilot study and assessed the efficacy and safety of percutaneous endoscopic gastro‐jejunostomy (PEG‐J) decompression therapy in CIPO patients.
Methods
Seven definitive CIPO patients (2 males and 5 females) were enrolled. All patients received PEG‐J decompression therapy. The number of days with any abdominal symptoms in a month (NODASIM), body mass index (BMI), serum albumin level (Alb), and small intestinal volume before and after PEG‐J were compared in all patients.
Results
Percutaneous endoscopic gastro‐jejunostomy was well tolerated and oral intake improved in all patients. NODASIM has significantly decreased (24.3 vs 9.3 days/months) and BMI/Alb have significantly increased (14.9 vs 17.2 kg/m2 and 2.6 vs 3.8 g/dL, respectively), whereas total volume of the small intestine has not significantly reduced (4.05 vs 2.59 L, P=.18). Reflux esophagitis and chemical dermatitis were observed in one case but was successfully treated conservatively.
Conclusions & Inferences
Percutaneous endoscopic gastro‐jejunostomy decompression therapy can contribute greatly to improvement of abdominal symptoms and nutritional status in CIPO patients. Although sufficient attention should be paid to acid reflux symptoms, PEG‐J has the potential to be a non‐invasive novel decompression therapy for CIPO available at home. However, accumulation of more CIPO patients and long‐term observation are needed (UMIN000017574).
Chronic intestinal pseudo‐obstruction (CIPO) is an extremely severe motility disorder and appropriate intestinal decompression is required, but conventional treatment is invasive and painful.
Single proton emission computed tomography (SPECT) images are degraded by photon scatter making scatter compensation essential for accurate reconstruction. Reconstruction-based scatter compensation ...with Monte Carlo (MC) modelling of scatter shows promise for accurate scatter correction, but it is normally hampered by long computation times. The aim of this work was to accelerate the MC-based scatter compensation using coarse grid and intermittent scatter modelling. The acceleration methods were compared to un-accelerated implementation using MC-simulated projection data of the mathematical cardiac torso (MCAT) phantom modelling (99m)Tc uptake and clinical myocardial perfusion studies. The results showed that when combined the acceleration methods reduced the reconstruction time for 10 ordered subset expectation maximization (OS-EM) iterations from 56 to 11 min without a significant reduction in image quality indicating that the coarse grid and intermittent scatter modelling are suitable for MC-based scatter compensation in cardiac SPECT.
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