Novel Screening Tool Using Non-linguistic Voice Features Derived from Simple Phrases to Detect Mild Cognitive Impairment and Dementia

Appropriate intervention and care in detecting cognitive impairment early are essential to effectively prevent the progression of cognitive deterioration. Diagnostic voice analysis is a noninvasive and inexpensive screening method that could be useful for detecting cognitive deterioration at earlier stages such as mild cognitive impairment. We aimed to distinguish between patients with dementia or mild cognitive impairment and healthy controls by using purely acoustic features (i.e., nonlinguistic features) extracted from two simple phrases. Voice was analyzed on 195 recordings from 150 patients (age, 45-95 years). We applied a machine learning algorithm (LightGBM; Microsoft, Redmond, WA, USA) to test whether the healthy control, mild cognitive impairment, and dementia groups could be accurately classified, based on acoustic features. Our algorithm performed well: area under the curve was 0.81 and accuracy, 66.7% for the 3-class classification. Thus, our vocal biomarker is useful for automated assistance in diagnosing early cognitive deterioration.

Nanoscale defect evaluation framework combining real-time transmission electron microscopy and integrated machine learning-particle filter estimation

Observation of dynamic processes by transmission electron microscopy (TEM) is an attractive technique to experimentally analyze materials’ nanoscale phenomena and understand the microstructure-properties relationships in nanoscale. Even if spatial and temporal resolutions of real-time TEM increase significantly, it is still difficult to say that the researchers quantitatively evaluate the dynamic behavior of defects. Images in TEM video are a two-dimensional projection of three-dimensional space phenomena, thus missing information must be existed that makes image’s uniquely accurate interpretation challenging. Therefore, even though they are still a clustering high-dimensional data and can be compressed to two-dimensional, conventional statistical methods for analyzing images may not be powerful enough to track nanoscale behavior by removing various artifacts associated with experiment; and automated and unbiased processing tools for such big-data are becoming mission-critical to discover knowledge about unforeseen behavior. We have developed a method to quantitative image analysis framework to resolve these problems, in which machine learning and particle filter estimation are uniquely combined. The quantitative and automated measurement of the dislocation velocity in an Fe-31Mn-3Al-3Si autunitic steel subjected to the tensile deformation was performed to validate the framework, and an intermittent motion of the dislocations was quantitatively analyzed. The framework is successfully classifying, identifying and tracking nanoscale objects; these are not able to be accurately implemented by the conventional mean-path based analysis.

POS0822 HYPERTROPHIC PACHYMENINGITIS IN ANTINEUTROPHIL CYTOPLASMIC ANTIBODY-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS: A MULTICENTER SURVEY IN JAPAN

Background

Hypertrophic pachymeningitis (HP), characterized by an inflammatory disorder indicating intracranial or spinal thickening of dura mater, is found to develop as a neurological involvement in antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). Meanwhile, the previous studies focusing on HP in AAV have been reported as a single-institution study, and the analyses were performed in a small number of patients because HP is a rare neurological disorder. Therefore, neither etiological nor clinical characteristics of HP in AAV have been adequately elucidated.

Objectives

This study clarified the characteristics of HP in AAV by analyzing the information of multicenter study in Japan (Japan collaborative registry of ANCA-associated vasculitis: J-CANVAS).

Methods

We analyzed the clinical information from 541 Asian patients with AAV enrolled in J-CANVAS. Of them, newly diagnosed and relapsed AAV were included in 448 and 93, respectively. The epidemiological and clinical findings were compared between patients with and without HP. Clinical manifestations related to AAV were evaluated based on the Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score version 3. To elucidate independent factors in HP development, logistic regression analyses were additionally performed.

Results

Of the total 541 patients (mean age: 71±14 years, M:F = 1:1.2), HP was demonstrated in 28 (5.17%), including 17 (3.79%) in newly diagnosed AAV and 11 (11.8%) in relapsed AAV. The classification of granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) was significantly higher in patients with HP than those without HP (50% vs. 21%, p = 0.0007). In newly diagnosed AAV, patients with HP significantly had higher GPA classification and higher positivity for PR3-ANCA than those without HP (53% vs. 17%, p = 0.001; 29% vs. 9%, p = 0.015, respectively). Conversely, positivity for MPO-ANCA was significantly higher in patients with HP than those without HP in relapsed AAV (91% vs. 55%, p = 0.025), despite not significantly different in the classification of AAV. Headache and cranial neuropathies were significant neurological symptoms in patients with HP compared to those without HP (82% vs. 6.6%, p < 0.0001; 32% vs. 2.9%, p < 0.0001, respectively). Besides, ear, nose and throat (ENT) and mucous membranes/eyes were significantly higher involvements in patients with HP than in those without HP (54% vs. 26%, p = 0.003; 29% vs. 9%, p = 0.003, respectively). Moreover, higher complications of “conjunctive hearing loss” and “sudden visual loss”, which are included in the categories of ENT and mucous membranes/eyes involvement, respectively, were significantly indicated in patients with HP than those without HP (39% vs. 7.2%, p < 0.0001; 21% vs. 1.2%, p < 0.0001, respectively). Multivariable logistic regression analysis identified that ENT (odds ratio [OR] 1.28, 95% confident interval [CI] 1.09 to 1.49, p = 0.002) and mucous membranes/eyes involvement (OR 1.37, CI 1.14 to 1.65, p = 0.0006), as well as conjunctive hearing loss (OR 4.52, CI 1.56 to 13.05, p = 0.005) and sudden visual loss (OR 1.84, CI 1.12 to 3.00, p = 0.015), were independent related factors in patients with HP.

Conclusion

GPA could be significantly classified in patients with HP. Notably, patients with HP significantly showed higher positivity for PR3-ANCA than those without HP in newly diagnosed AAV. Furthermore, sudden visual loss and conjunctive hearing loss might be implicated in HP development.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

AB0625 Association between Cytomegalovirus Reactivation and Renal Prognosis during Remission Induction Therapy for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis

Background

Cytomegalovirus (CMV) has been associated with atherosclerosis in patients with chronic renal failure, and may cause secondary nephrotic syndrome. Therefore, we hypothesized that the reactivation of CMV by immunosuppressive therapy in patients with vasculitis may affect renal function.

Objectives

The purpose of this study was to investigate relationships between CMV infection and renal function during ANCA-associated vasculitis remission induction therapy.

Methods

This retrospective cohort study enrolled microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA), and eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis patients at 25 sites in Japan who had a first or severe relapse between January 2017 and June 2020. Of these, patients with MPA or GPA who had a positive renal lesion score on BVAS (version 3) at baseline, or vasculitis findings on renal biopsy, CMV assayed by 48 weeks of treatment, were included. Patients were divided into two groups based on the presence or absence of a positive CMV antigen test during the remission induction phase (0–48 weeks of treatment). Outcomes were the rate of change in estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) at 48 weeks after initiation of treatment in both groups, as determined by (eGFR at 48 weeks - eGFR at the initiation of treatment)/eGFR at the initiation of treatment; where lower values were associated with worse renal function. General linear models adjusted for age, gender, presence of diabetes or chronic kidney disease, and the use of rituximab or cyclophosphamide were generated.

Results

A total of 387 patients had CMV antigen measured during ANCA-associated vasculitis treatment, of which 164 had renal involvement and eGFR measured at 48 weeks. Seventy-seven (47.0%) were male and the median age was 75 years (range 69–80 years). CMV reactivation was observed in 44 patients (26.8%). The beta coefficient of multiple regression analysis with CMV positive as 1 and negative as 0 was 0.08 (95% confidence interval -0.13 to 0.29) (p = 0.47). The rate of change in eGFR was higher in the CMV positive group, but not statistically significantly.

Conclusion

Contrary to our hypothesis, renal prognoses tended to be better when CMV reactivation was observed. The patients in the CMV reactivation group may have been treated more aggressively, and some patients with a poor prognosis who were not followed up for 48 weeks dropped out. Further research investigating the adjustment of treatment methods is required.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

POS0247 GLUCOCORTICOID TAPERING STRATEGY FOR ANCA-ASSOCIATED VASCULITIS: ADDRESSING THE GAP BETWEEN RECOMMENDATIONS AND REAL-WORLD PRACTICE

Background

Antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody -associated vasculitis (AAV) is usually treated with combination of high-dose glucocorticoid (GC) and immunosuppressive agents, followed by tapering GC dose. Although the European League Against Rheumatism (EULAR) has specific recommendations for tapering the GC dose, clinicians often taper it slower than recommended due to concerns of potential disease relapse. However, such slower taper may prolong GC exposure for the patients, increasing the risk of adverse events, particularly infection.

Objectives

The aims of our study were (1) to clarify GC dose tapering in the treatment of AAV in a real-world setting, in contrast to the EULAR recommendation of 2015 and (2) to compare the incidence of AAV relapse and severe infection between patients underdoing EULAR-recommended tapering and those undergoing slower tapering than the recommendation.

Methods

In this multicenter (25 sites in Japan), observational, retrospective study of AAV, 541 patients who had initial or severe relapse were enrolled between January 2017 and June 2020. Of these, 349 patients with microscopic polyangiitis (MPA) or granulomatosis with polyangiitis (GPA) who entered in GC tapering phase after successful induction treatment were included. These patients were then grouped on the pace of GC tapering, defined as the GC dose at 12 weeks after treatment initiation: (1) EULAR group: 7.5-10 mg/day of GC, according to the EULAR recommendation of 2015, and (2) SLOWER group: >10 mg/day of GC. Their baseline characteristics and clinical outcomes were compared. Primary outcome was defined as relapse-free days from treatment initiation, whereas secondary outcome included the incidence of infectious events requiring hospitalization within 48 weeks from treatment initiation. Multivariable analysis was performed to assess the relationship between tapering pace and clinical outcomes.

Results

There were 44 patients (12.6%) in the EULAR group and 290 (83.2%) in the SLOWER group. Regarding baseline characteristics, compared with the EULAR group, the SLOWER group had significantly higher serum C-reactive protein level (EULAR, 5.89 ± 6.89 mg/dL vs SLOWER, 7.56 ± 6.01 mg/dL; p = 0.03), as well as a trend toward higher Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score (version 3) (EULAR, 11.80 ± 7.01 SLOWER, 13.93 ± 7.06; p = 0.08) We did not observe any significant differences in the frequency of relapses between the two groups (EULAR, 8/44, 18.2% vs SLOWER, 55/290, 19.0%; p = 0.63). Multivariable Cox proportional hazard analysis revealed no relationship GC dose at 12 weeks from treatment initiation and incidence of relapse. However, upon logistic regression analysis, the SLOWER group was found to have significant higher risk of a severe infectious event within 48 weeks from treatment initiation (p = 0.046; hazard ratio, 1.27; 95% confidence interval, 1.004 – 1.601).

Conclusion

Our finding indicates that clinicians tended to taper GC slower for patients with higher disease activity. However, slower GC taper was not found to reduce the frequency of relapse. In addition, slower GC taper was found to increase the risk of a severe infection. Hence, clinicians should pay attention not only relapsing but also late GC taper resulting in the risk of serious infection, especially in patients with higher disease activity of AAV.

References

[1]Eur J Clin Invest 2015;45 (3): 346–368.

[2]Rheumatology (Oxford). 2021 Dec 24;61(1):205-212.

[3]Arthritis Res Ther. 2021 Mar 20;23(1):90.

[4]Scand J Rheumatol. 2022 Jan 20;1-13.

[5]J Rheumatol. 2018 Apr;45(4):521-528.

[6]Rheumatol Adv Pract. 2021 Mar 9;5(3):rkab018.

[7]Ann Rheum Dis. 2016 Sep;75(9):1583-94.

Figure 1.

Acknowledgements

We would like to thank Editage (www.editage.com) for English language editing.

Disclosure of Interests

None declared

Polymer Brush Formation Assisted by the Hierarchical Self-Assembly of Topological Supramolecules

The development of methods for the polymer brush layer formation on material surfaces to improve the surface properties has been researched for decades. Here, we report a novel approach for the formation of a polymer brush layer on materials and the alteration of the surface properties using a pseudo-polyrotaxane nanosheet (PPRNS). In the PPRNS, β-cyclodextrin (CD) selectively covered the central poly(propylene oxide)₂₉ segment of the carboxyl-terminated poly(ethylene oxide)₇₅-b-poly(propylene oxide)₂₉-b-poly(ethylene oxide)₇₅ (COOH-EO₇₅PO₂₉EO₇₅) triblock copolymer to form columnar crystals. The EO chains of COOH-EO₇₅PO₂₉EO₇₅ then adopt polymer brush conformations and exhibit an oil-repellent property on the material surfaces. Based on the flexibility derived from the nanosheet structure, the PPRNS showed high adhesion to the Blu-ray disk substrate (1D bending), polystyrene spherical beads (2D bending), and random rough surface of pork skin. The PPRNS is expected to become a new method for obtaining polymer brush layers and improving the surface properties irrespective of the material type.

In vitro thrombus formation and in vivo hemostasis mediated by platelets irradiated with bactericidal ultraviolet C from xenon flash under flow conditions

BACKGROUND

We previously reported a flow path-ultraviolet C (UVC) irradiation system for platelet concentrates (PCs) with platelet additive solution (PAS) to minimize contamination by bacteria. Here, we investigated functionalities of irradiated platelets (PLTs) in in vitro thrombus formation and in vivo hemostasis.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

PAS-PCs were irradiated with flash UVC using the flow path system. Their variables (PLT count, mean platelet volume, pH, glucose, lactate, glycoprotein [GP] Ib, and activated integrin αIIbβ3) were evaluated. Static adhesion to collagen or fibrinogen was analyzed using fluorescent microscopy. Thrombus formation under flow conditions was assessed using a collagen-coated bead column. Adenosine diphosphate (ADP)-induced Akt phosphorylation was determined by western blot. In vivo hemostasis and circulatory survival of PLTs were assessed with a rabbit bleeding model.

RESULTS

All variables, except for GPIb expression, were slightly, but significantly, impaired after flash UVC irradiation throughout the 6-day storage period. No difference was observed in static adhesion to either collagen or fibrinogen between irradiated and nonirradiated PAS-PCs. In vitro thrombus formation of flash UVC-irradiated PAS-PCs was significantly greater than that of nonirradiated PAS-PCs. ADP-induced Akt phosphorylation was enhanced in irradiated PAS-PCs. In vivo hemostatic efficacy was comparable between the groups on Day 1. The efficacy declined in nonirradiated PAS-PCs on Day 5, while it was retained in flash UVC-irradiated PAS-PCs. Circulatory survival of PLTs was lower in irradiated PAS-PCs.

CONCLUSIONS

PAS-PCs irradiated with UVC from xenon flash have favorable properties to achieve hemostasis compared with nonirradiated PAS-PCs.

Correlation between platelet thrombus formation on collagen-coated beads and platelet aggregation induced by ADP

BACKGROUND

The thrombus-forming ability is a critical in vitro parameter to assess platelets (PLTs), but flow-based methods using collagen-coated materials generally require multistep, proficiency, and advanced analysis.

STUDY DESIGN AND METHODS

Commercially available collagen-coated bead columns were examined to assess thrombus-forming ability of PLTs. The retention rate as an index of thrombus formation was calculated using the PLT count before and after column passage. Thrombi were imaged by anti-CD41 using a fluorescent microscope. PLT aggregation was measured by light-transmitting aggregometry.

RESULTS

The retention rate was low when apheresis-collected PLT concentrates (PCs) were suspended in plasma either with or without Ca²⁺. Reconstitution of PCs with red blood cells (RBCs) increased the retention rate with good reproducibility on repeated-measurements, and therefore, PLT samples were reconstructed with RBCs in subsequent experiments. The retention rate of PCs varied widely in a product-dependent manner, and was correlated with the aggregation rate induced by ADP, but not that by collagen. Using platelet-rich-plasma, antagonists of P2Y₁ or P2Y₁₂ receptors for ADP reduced both the retention and aggregation of PLTs. Acetylsalicylic acid reduced retention, although it had no effect on ADP-induced aggregation. Prostaglandin E₁ significantly inhibited both retention and aggregation. These anti-PLT reagents resulted in reduced or no thrombus formation on the beads.

CONCLUSION

The collagen-coated bead column was useful to readily examine the thrombus-forming ability of PLTs. Variance of the PLT retention rate was correlated with responsiveness to ADP. Results from anti-PLT reagents revealed that thrombus formation on collagen-coated beads was similar to in vivo thrombus development.

Autoimmune arthritis deteriorates bone quantity and quality of periarticular bone in a mouse model of rheumatoid arthritis

This study showed that autoimmune arthritis induces especially severe osteoporosis in the periarticular region adjacent to inflamed joints, suggesting that arthritis increases the fragility fracture risk near inflamed joints, which is frequently observed in patients with RA.

INTRODUCTION

Periarticular osteoporosis near inflamed joints is a hallmark of early rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Here we show that rheumatic inflammation deteriorates the bone quality and bone quantity of periarticular bone, thereby decreasing bone strength and toughness in a mouse model of RA.

METHODS

Female BALB/c mice and SKG mice, a mutant mouse model of autoimmune arthritis on the BALB/c background, were used. At 12 weeks of age, BALB/c mice underwent either Sham surgery or bilateral ovariectomy (OVX), and SKG mice underwent intraperitoneal injection of mannan to induce arthritis. Eight weeks later, the mice were killed and the femurs and tibias were subjected to micro-computed tomography, Fourier transform infrared (FTIR) spectroscopic imaging, X-ray diffraction, histology, and mechanical testing.

RESULTS

SKG mice developed significant trabecular bone loss in both the distal metaphysis of the femur and the lumbar vertebral body, but the extent of the bone loss was more severe in the distal metaphysis. Neither SKG nor OVX mice exhibited changes in the geometry and matrix properties of the diaphysis of the femur, whereas SKG mice, but not OVX mice, did exhibit changes in these properties in the distal metaphysis of the femur. Bone strength and fracture toughness of the distal metaphysis of the tibia adjacent to the inflamed ankle joint were significantly decreased in SKG mice.

CONCLUSIONS

Autoimmune arthritis induces periarticular osteoporosis, characterized by deterioration of cortical bone geometry and quality as well as by trabecular bone loss, leading to severe bone fragility in periarticular bone adjacent to inflamed joints.

Adhesive-free adhesion between polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and isobutylene–isoprene rubber (IIR) via heat-assisted plasma treatment

A polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) surface was modified using atmospheric pressure plasma treatment under heating (heat-assisted plasma treatment) to promote its direct adhesion to isobutylene–isoprene rubber (IIR) without any adhesives.

Correction: Adhesive-free adhesion between polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and isobutylene–isoprene rubber (IIR) via heat-assisted plasma treatment

Correction for ‘Adhesive-free adhesion between polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) and isobutylene–isoprene rubber (IIR) via heat-assisted plasma treatment’ by Y. Ohkubo et al., RSC Adv., 2017, 7, 6432–6438.

Washing of platelets can be fully automated using a closed-system cell processor and BRS-A platelet additive solution

This study evaluated the in vitro properties of platelets (PLTs) washed with BRS-A additive solution in the Haemonetics ACP215 automated processing system. Two washing modes, 'manually/automatically adding ACD-A to BRS before/during the washing process', represented the control and test groups, respectively. Outcomes were compared over 7 days of storage (n = 7, for both). PLT recovery following washing processing (26-27 min) was 86·2 ± 1·7% and 86·0 ± 2·2% and plasma protein removal was 98·8 ± 0·3% and 99·0 ± 0·2% in the control and test groups, respectively (not significant). Both groups exhibited comparable in vitro properties.

Relationship among cervical, thoracic, and lumbopelvic sagittal alignment in healthy adults

PURPOSE

To evaluate the association between cervical sagittal alignment and thoracic/lumbopelvic sagittal alignment in healthy Japanese adults.

METHODS

30 male and 22 female healthy adults aged 22 to 50 years were recruited. Spinal parameters were measured on radiographs, including the cervical sagittal vertical axis, sagittal vertical axis, C7 tilt angle, Ishihara index for cervical lordosis, thoracic kyphosis, lumbar lordosis, sacral slope, pelvic tilt, and pelvic incidence.

RESULTS

The C7 tilt angle positively correlated with the Ishihara index (r=0.52, p<0.0001) and thoracic kyphosis (r=0.53, p<0.0001). The Ishihara index positively correlated with thoracic kyphosis (r=0.34, p=0.01) and C7 tilt angle (r=0.52, p<0.0001). Pelvic incidence positively correlated with sacral slope (r=0.45, p=0.001), lumbar lordosis (r=0.26, p=0.07), and pelvic tilt (r=0.29, p=0.03). Compared with men, women had a smaller Ishihara index (0.07 vs. 0.001, p=0.03), thoracic kyphosis (30.5º vs 24.1º, p=0.02), and C7 tilt angle (23.1º vs. 16.8º, p=0.02). Women had less cervical lordosis and thoracic kyphosis, that is, a straighter cervico-thoracic sagittal alignment.

CONCLUSION

In healthy Japanese adults, cervical sagittal alignment is associated with thoracic sagittal alignment but not with lumbopelvic alignment.

Measurement and comparison of individual external doses of high-school students living in Japan, France, Poland and Belarus-the 'D-shuttle' project

Twelve high schools in Japan (of which six are in Fukushima Prefecture), four in France, eight in Poland and two in Belarus cooperated in the measurement and comparison of individual external doses in 2014. In total 216 high-school students and teachers participated in the study. Each participant wore an electronic personal dosimeter 'D-shuttle' for two weeks, and kept a journal of his/her whereabouts and activities. The distributions of annual external doses estimated for each region overlap with each other, demonstrating that the personal external individual doses in locations where residence is currently allowed in Fukushima Prefecture and in Belarus are well within the range of estimated annual doses due to the terrestrial background radiation level of other regions/countries.

Lessons learned from Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident: efficient education items of radiation safety for general public

The Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant (FNP-1) accident, while as tragic as the tsunami, was a man-made disaster created by the ignorance of the effects of radiation and radioactive materials. Therefore, it is important that all specialists in radiation protection in medicine sympathize with the anxiety of the general public regarding the harmful effects of radiation and advise people accordingly. All questions and answers were collected related to inquiries from the general public that were posted to reliable websites, including those of the government and radiation-related organizations, from March 2011 to November 2012. The questions were summarized and classified by similarity of content. (1) The total number of questions is 372. The content was broadly classified into three categories: inquiries for radiation-related knowledge and about health effects and foods. The questions asked to obtain radiation-related knowledge were the most common, accounting for 38 %. Thirty-six percentage of the questions were related to health effects, and 26 % involved foods, whereas 18 % of the questions were related to children and pregnancy. (2) The change over time was investigated in 290 questions for which the time of inquiry was known. Directly after the earthquake, the questions were primarily from people seeking radiation-related knowledge. Later, questions related to health effects increased. The anxiety experienced by residents following the nuclear accident was caused primarily by insufficient knowledge related to radiation, concerns about health effects and uncertainties about food and water safety. The development of educational materials focusing on such content will be important for risk communication with the general public in countries with nuclear power plants. Physicians and medical physicist should possess the ability to respond to questions such as these and should continue with medical examinations and treatments in a safe and appropriate manner.

STAT3 integrates cooperative Ras and TGF-β signals that induce Snail expression

The epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT) is a crucial morphological event that occurs during the progression of epithelial tumors. EMT can be induced by transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) in certain kinds of cancer cells through the induction of Snail, a key regulator of EMT. We have previously found that TGF-β remarkably induces Snail expression in cooperation with Ras signals; however, the underlying mechanism of this synergism has not yet been determined. Here, we demonstrate that signal transducer and activator of transcription 3 (STAT3) acts as a mediator that synergizes TGF-β and Ras signals. The overexpression of STAT3 enhanced Snail induction, whereas siRNA-mediated knockdown of STAT3 inhibited it. The STAT3-YF mutant, which has Tyr 705 substituted with Phe, did not enhance Snail induction. Several STAT3 mutants lacking transcriptional activity also failed to enhance it; however, the putative STAT3-binding elements in the Snail promoter regions were not required for STAT3-mediated Snail induction. Protein inhibitor of activated STAT3 (PIAS3) inhibited the enhanced Snail promoter activity induced by TGF-β and Ras. The interaction between PIAS3 and STAT3 was reduced by TGF-β in cells harboring oncogenic Ras, whereas TGF-β promoted the binding of PIAS3 to Smad3, a crucial mediator of TGF-β signaling. Therefore, these findings suggest that STAT3 enhances Snail induction when it is dissociated from PIAS3 by TGF-β in cooperation with Ras signals.

Hyperspectroscopic imager for baby fibers

Hyperspectral imaging system for diagnosing digestive diseases was newly developed in order to obtain information on pathology beyond morphology of lesions. In order to guide light reflected from a lesion, a baby fiber, which can be inserted in a forceps channel of the electronic endoscope, was also developed. The performance of the system was evaluated by animal experiment. Obtained hyperspectral data were found to have sufficient quality endurable to practical use. Harmful phenomena to a living body were not observed within the experiment. It was considered from the animal experiment that the present system could be practically used for humans.

Effects of washing of the face with a mild facial cleanser formulated with sodium laureth carboxylate and alkyl carboxylates on acne in Japanese adult males

BACKGROUND/PURPOSE

Washing the face with a mild cleanser is generally recommended for acne care. Occasionally, the general public has the misconception that acne is exacerbated by cleansers and furthermore it has concerns about inducing skin irritation and xerosis by intensive washing. Recently, we developed a new cleanser based on sodium laureth carboxylate and alkyl carboxylates (AEC/soap) that cleans sebum well without penetrating the stratum corneum.

METHODS

We designed a controlled clinical trial conducted on adult Japanese males with moderate or less acne. Twenty subjects washed their faces with AEC/soap base cleanser twice a day for 4 weeks. Assessment of the efficacy was conducted prior to the start of the study, and at the end of weeks 2 and 4.

RESULTS

Significant improvement of the acne was observed within 2 weeks, and acne lesions were not detectable in 25% of the subjects at week 4. Sebum secretion levels on the skin significantly increased on the forehead, but significantly decreased on the cheek which correlated with the improvement. No complaints of dryness or irritation occurred during the study.

CONCLUSION

Washing the face twice a day with facial cleanser based on AEC/soap is an effective care for moderate or less grade facial acne.

High Resolution Microwave Spectra of Pyridine-N-oxideanda-Picoline-N-oxide

The rotational spectra of pyridine-N-oxide and x-picoline-N-oxide ( = 2-methvlpyridine-N-oxide) have been observed by means of pulsed microwave spectroscopy. For both molecules, the 14N quadrupole coupling constants have been obtained. For α-picoline-N-oxide. in addition the parameters of the internal rotation motion and the centrifugal distortion constants have been determined.

Three-dimensional surface figure measurement of high-accuracy spherical mirror with nanoprofiler using normal vector tracing method

Processing technology using an extreme ultraviolet light source, e.g., next-generation lithography, requires next-generation high-accuracy mirrors. As it will be difficult to attain the degree of precision required by next-generation high-accuracy mirrors such as aspherical mirrors through conventional processing methods, rapid progress in nanomeasurement technologies will be needed to produce such mirrors. Because the measuring methods used for the surface figure measurement of next-generation mirrors will require high precision, we have developed a novel nanoprofiler that can measure the figures of high-accuracy mirrors without the use of a reference surface. Because the accuracy of the proposed method is not limited by the accuracy of a reference surface, the measurement of free-form mirrors is expected to be realized. By using an algorithm to process normal vectors and their coordinate values at the measurement point obtained by a nanoprofiler, our measurement method can reconstruct three-dimensional shapes. First, we measured the surface of a concave spherical mirror with a 1000-mm radius of curvature using the proposed method, and the measurement repeatability is evaluated as 0.6 nm. Sub-nanometer repeatability is realized, and an increase in the repeatability would be expected by improving the dynamic stiffness of the nanoprofiler. The uncertainty of the measurement using the present apparatus is estimated to be approximately 10 nm by numerical simulation. Further, the uncertainty of a Fizeau interferometer is also approximately 10 nm. The results obtained using the proposed method are compared with those obtained using a Fizeau interferometer. The resulting profiles are consistent within the range of each uncertainty over the middle portions of the mirror.

Optimal timeline for emergency surgery in patients with strangulated groin hernias

PURPOSE

This retrospective study evaluates the clinical course and outcomes of patients who underwent surgery for strangulated hernias.

METHODS

Among 520 groin hernias from 2001 to 2012, 51 inguinal and 42 femoral hernias were strangulated and operated emergently at a tertiary referral center. Perioperative factors, patient profiles, and time interval to surgery (T total = time from onset to surgery, T 1 = time from onset to initial evaluation, T 2 = time from the first hospital to the tertiary center, T 3 = time from admission at the tertiary center to surgery, T total = T 1 + T 2 + T 3) were analyzed in patients with strangulation, then compared between two groups, the bowel resection (BR) group and the non-bowel resection (NBR) group.

RESULTS

T 1, T 2 and T total in the bowel resection group were significantly longer than those in the non-bowel resection group (P < 0.05). Patients who presented initially to the tertiary center (T 2 = 0) had a significantly lower resection rate than patients transported from other hospitals (24 vs. 44 %, P = 0.048). There was no significant difference in morbidity between the BR and NBR groups (35 vs. 24 %, P = 0.231).

CONCLUSIONS

The elapsed time from onset to surgery, especially T 1 and T 2, is the most important prognostic factor in patients with strangulated groin hernias. Early diagnosis and transportation are essential for good outcomes.