Background
Rikkunshito, a standardized Japanese herbal medicine, is thought to accelerate gastric emptying and relieve dyspepsia, although no large‐scale, randomized, placebo‐controlled trials of ...rikkunshito have been conducted. This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of rikkunshito for treating functional dyspepsia (FD).
Methods
FD patients received 2.5 g rikkunshito or placebo three times a day for 8 weeks in this multicenter, randomized, placebo‐controlled, parallel‐group trial. The primary end point was the proportion of responders at 8 weeks after starting test drug, determined by global patient assessment (GPA). The improvement in four major dyspepsia symptoms severity scale was also evaluated. In addition, plasma ghrelin levels were investigated before and after treatment.
Key Results
Two hundred forty‐seven patients were randomly assigned. In the eighth week, the rikkunshito group had more GPA responders (33.6%) than the placebo (23.8%), although this did not reach statistical significance (p = 0.09). Epigastric pain was significantly improved (p = 0.04) and postprandial fullness tended to improve (p = 0.06) in the rikkunshito group at week 8. Rikkunshito was relatively more effective among Helicobacter pylori‐infected participants (rikkunshito: 40.0% vs placebo: 20.5%, p = 0.07), and seemed less effective among H. pylori‐uninfected participants (rikkunshito: 29.3% vs placebo: 25.6%, p = 0.72). Among H. pylori‐positive individuals, acyl ghrelin levels were improved just in rikkunshito group. There were no severe adverse events in both groups.
Conclusions & Inferences
Administration of rikkunshito for 8 weeks reduced dyspepsia, particularly symptoms of epigastric pain and postprandial fullness. (UMIN Clinical Trials Registry, Number UMIN000003954).
This study aimed to determine the efficacy and safety of rikkunshito, a standardized Japanese herbal medicine, for treating functional dyspepsia. The proportion of responders (GPA scores) and the proportion of participants with individual symptom relief (5‐point Likert scales) were compared between the rikkunshito and placebo groups by using the Fisher's exact test. Administration of rikkunshito for 8 weeks reduced dyspepsia (Responder rates: rikkunshito, 33.6%; placebo, 23.8%; p = 0.09), particularly symptoms of epigastric pain (rikkunshito, 44.0%; placebo 30.3%; p = 0.04) and postprandial fullness (rikkunshito, 50.4%; placebo 37.7%; p = 0.06). Weekly changes in these parameters in the two study groups were compared using the log‐rank test as shown here.
The Rare-RI Ring (R3) is a recently commissioned cyclotronlike storage ring mass spectrometer dedicated to mass measurements of exotic nuclei far from stability at Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory ...(RIBF) in RIKEN. The first application of mass measurement using the R3 mass spectrometer at RIBF is reported. Rare isotopes produced at RIBF-^{127}Sn, ^{126}In, ^{125}Cd, ^{124}Ag, ^{123}Pd-were injected in R3. Masses of ^{126}In, ^{125}Cd, and ^{123}Pd were measured whereby the mass uncertainty of ^{123}Pd was improved. This is the first reported measurement with a new storage ring mass spectrometry technique realized at a heavy-ion cyclotron and employing individual injection of the preidentified rare nuclei. The latter is essential for the future mass measurements of the rarest isotopes produced at RIBF. The impact of the new ^{123}Pd result on the solar r-process abundances in a neutron star merger event is investigated by performing reaction network calculations of 20 trajectories with varying electron fraction Y_{e}. It is found that the neutron capture cross section on ^{123}Pd increases by a factor of 2.2 and β-delayed neutron emission probability, P_{1 n}, of ^{123}Rh increases by 14%. The neutron capture cross section on ^{122}Pd decreases by a factor of 2.6 leading to pileup of material at A=122, thus reproducing the trend of the solar r-process abundances. The trend of the two-neutron separation energies (S_{2n}) was investigated for the Pd isotopic chain. The new mass measurement with improved uncertainty excludes large changes of the S_{2n} value at N=77. Such large increase of the S_{2n} values before N=82 was proposed as an alternative to the quenching of the N=82 shell gap to reproduce r-process abundances in the mass region of A=112-124.
We searched for the 6α-condensed state in 24Mg by measuring the C12+12C scattering with the SAKRA Si detector array at Ecm=17.5–25.0 MeV. By using the invariant-mass method for the detected 3α ...particles, the inclusive cross sections for the C12+12C→12C(02+)+X and C12(31−)+X reactions were determined. In addition, the missing-mass spectroscopy was successfully utilized to determine the excitation energy of the residual C12 nucleus and the exclusive cross sections for the C12+12C→12C(02+)+12C(01+), C12(02+)+12C(21+), and C12(02+)+12C(02+) reactions. In both the inclusive C12(02+)+X channel and the exclusive C12(02+)+12C(01+) channel, the cross section peaked at Ecm=19.4 MeV, which correspond to the excitation energy of Ex=33.3 MeV in 24Mg. This 19.4-MeV state is a candidate for the 6α-condensed state because of the agreement of the excitation energy with the theoretical value and its decay property. In the exclusive C12(02+)+12C(02+) channel, a broad state was observed at Ecm=22.5 MeV, which correspond to the excitation energy of Ex=36.4 MeV in 24Mg. From the angular distribution of the differential cross section, the spin and parity of this 22.5-MeV state was assigned to be 4+. In addition, a 2+ state was suggested at the low-energy side of the 22.5-MeV state. Because their excitation energies are higher than the theoretical value of the 6α-condensed state, these states might be excited states of the 6α-condensed state such as the 22+ and 41+ states in C12.
Construction of rare-RI ring at RIKEN RI Beam Factory Yamaguchi, Y.; Wakasugi, M.; Uesaka, T. ...
Nuclear instruments & methods in physics research. Section B, Beam interactions with materials and atoms,
12/2013, Letnik:
317
Journal Article
Recenzirano
An isochronous mass spectroscopy system using a newly constructed storage ring named the “rare-RI ring” is expected to be implemented at the RIKEN Nishina Center to determine the masses of ...short-lived rare nuclei including those in the r-process region with a relative precision of the order of 10-6 even for only one particle. In an isochronous storage ring, the mass is determined by measuring the revolution time of each nucleus. Our rare-RI ring consists of six magnetic sectors, and each sector consists of four bending magnets. To precisely optimize the isochronous conditions of the circulating particles for large acceptance, we install ten trim coils to half of the bending magnets. A fast-response and fast-charging kicker system enables selective and efficient injection of the produced rare nuclei into the ring one by one, along with facilitating efficient extraction of the circulating particles for time-of-flight measurement. Construction of the rare-RI ring was begun in the middle of the fiscal year 2012 at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory, and the ring is expected to be fully functional by 2015.
The in-flight particle separation capability of intermediate-energy radioactive ion (RI) beams produced at a fragment separator can be improved with the Cherenkov light detection technique. The cone ...angle of Cherenkov light emission varies as a function of beam velocity. This can be exploited as a velocity selector for secondary beams. Using heavy ion beams available at the HIMAC synchrotron facility, the Cherenkov light angular distribution was measured for several thin radiators with high refractive indices (n=1.9~2.1n=1.9~2.1). A velocity resolution of ~10 super(-3) was achieved for a super(56)Fe beam with an energy of 500 MeV/nucleon. Combined with the conventional rigidity selection technique coupled with energy-loss analysis, the present method will enable the efficient selection of an exotic species from huge amounts of various nuclides, such as uranium fission products at the BigRIPS fragment separator located at the RI Beam Factory.
•We have developed Time-of-flight detectors for the Rare-RI Ring.•Measurements to evaluate a time resolution and a detection efficiency have been performed using alpha particle and heavy ion ...beams.•Preliminary time resolution is about 130ps and detection efficiency is about 56% for the heavy ion beams.
A large time-of-flight (TOF) detector has been developed for the Rare-RI Ring. This detector consists of a Multi Channel Plate (MCP) and a carbon foil. Secondary electrons from the carbon foil are transported to the MCP by crossed electric and magnetic fields. In order to cover the beam size of the ring, a large and thin carbon foil (100mm×50mm2 and 60μg/cm2) is used as a sensitive material. The time resolution of σ≈130ps, the detection efficiency about 56% and a position dependence of the TOF about 1ns are obtained. A calculated position dependence of TOF adopting experimental (inhomogeneous) electric field and a homogeneous magnetic field is in agreement with the experimental one. These results suggest that the homogeneity of electric field is important to improve the time resolution in the large size detector.
•The heavy-ion storage ring project, the Rare-RI Ring, is ongoing at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory.•The Rare-RI Ring will enable precision isochronous mass spectrometry of r-process nuclei.•A resonant ...Schottky pick-up will be used for the precise tuning of isochronous optics of the storage ring.•Simulation results of 3D electromagnetic field calculations show a high sensitivity of stored single-ion detection.
The new heavy-ion storage ring project Rare-RI Ring at the RIKEN RI Beam Factory launched in 2012 aims at precision isochronous mass spectrometry for single ions of exotic nuclides. To precisely tune the storage-ring ion optical conditions to the isochronous field setting, Schottky noise pick-up technique will be employed. Pillbox-type resonant cavity, similar to the Schottky pick-up system successfully operating at the experimental storage ring ESR at GSI, is adopted for the pick-up probe. To determine the design values of the cavity, we systematically performed a simulation study of three-dimensional electromagnetic field calculations in the high frequency region. High shunt impedance obtained in the simulation will enable us to detect stored single ions with charge down to q≃15.
•Position-sensitive detectors were developed for storage-ring decay spectroscopy.•Fiber scintillation and silicon strip detectors were tested with heavy ion beams.•A new fiber scintillation detector ...showed an excellent position resolution.•Position and energy detection by silicon strip detectors enable full identification.
As next generation spectroscopic tools, heavy-ion cooler storage rings will be a unique application of highly charged RI beam experiments. Decay spectroscopy of highly charged rare isotopes provides us important information relevant to the stellar conditions, such as for the s- and r-process nucleosynthesis. In-ring decay products of highly charged RI will be momentum-analyzed and reach a position-sensitive detector set-up located outside of the storage orbit. To realize such in-ring decay experiments, we have developed and tested two types of high-resolution position-sensitive detectors: silicon strips and scintillating fibers. The beam test experiments resulted in excellent position resolutions for both detectors, which will be available for future storage-ring experiments.
•Precision total and partial charge-changing cross section measurements of medium-mass nuclides were performed.•Systematic reaction data of intermediate-energy heavy-ion beams were obtained.•A ...significant odd-even effect is found in the partial charge-changing cross sections.
Charge-changing interactions of stable and unstable medium-mass nuclides have been systematically investigated at intermediate energies. Secondary beams ranging from Ar to Ge isotopes produced by projectile fragmentation of 56Fe and 70Ge were irradiated onto a carbon target, and their total and partial charge-changing cross sections were precisely measured. A clear odd–even effect found in the partial charge-changing cross sections monotonically varies as a function of the Z/N ratio among the isotopes, and grows toward the neutron-deficient side. The total charge-changing cross sections are sensitive to the Z number of nuclides, and tend to gradually increase toward the neutron-deficient side in some isotopes.
