Long-term intraocular pressure-lowering efficacy and safety of ripasudil-brimonidine fixed-dose combination for glaucoma and ocular hypertension: a multicentre, open-label, phase 3 study

PURPOSE

To evaluate the long-term efficacy and safety of ripasudil-brimonidine fixed-dose combination (RBFC), a new intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering medication for glaucoma and ocular hypertension (OHT).

METHODS

This prospective, multicentre (23 sites in Japan), open-label study enrolled patients with primary open-angle glaucoma (POAG), OHT or exfoliative glaucoma and assigned them to one of four combination therapy cohorts, based on previous treatment(s) received: prostaglandin (PG) analogue (Cohort 1); PG analogue and beta-adrenoceptor blocker (β-blocker) (Cohort 2); PG analogue, β-blocker and carbonic anhydrase inhibitor (Cohort 3); or other/no treatment (Cohort 4). After a ≥ 4-week screening period, eligible patients received twice-daily RBFC for 52 weeks in addition to the treatments they were already receiving. Efficacy was assessed by change in IOP from baseline through week 52. Adverse events and adverse drug reactions (ADRs) were monitored throughout.

RESULTS

In total, 179 patients from Cohort 1 (n = 48), Cohort 2 (n = 44), Cohort 3 (n = 41) and Cohort 4 (n = 46) entered the RBFC treatment period. For all cohorts, mean IOP was significantly reduced at 11:00 (2 h after instillation of RBFC) through week 52 with the changes from baseline at week 52 of - 2.7 to - 4.1 mmHg across cohorts; all p < 0.001. Common ADRs were conjunctival hyperaemia (58%), allergic conjunctivitis (18%) and blepharitis (17%), most of which were mild in severity.

CONCLUSION

These data demonstrated the long-term efficacy and safety of RBFC, both alone and in combination with other anti-glaucoma agents. RBFC may offer a new treatment option for the long-term management of glaucoma and OHT.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Japan Registry of Clinical Trials Identifier: jRCT2080225063.

DATE OF REGISTRATION

17 February 2020.

Crossover Randomized Study of Pharmacologic Effects of Ripasudil-Brimonidine Fixed-Dose Combination Versus Ripasudil or Brimonidine

INTRODUCTION

Multidrug regimens for glaucoma treatment often result in adherence issues due to inconvenience; these issues may be improved with fixed-dose combination drugs. The ophthalmic solution of ripasudil-brimonidine fixed-dose combination (RBFC; K-232) is the first treatment combining a Rho kinase inhibitor and an α2-adrenoceptor agonist, and has demonstrated ability to lower intraocular pressure (IOP) and have various effects on conjunctival hyperemia and corneal endothelial cell morphology. This study evaluates the pharmacologic effects of RBFC treatment versus its separate components-ripasudil or brimonidine.

METHODS

This single-center, prospective, randomized, open-label, blinded endpoint study with 3 × 3 crossover design randomly assigned healthy adult men to three groups (1:1:1) to undergo consecutive 8-day administration phases (with drug-free intervals of at least 5 days). Subjects received twice-daily instillation of RBFC → ripasudil → brimonidine (group A), ripasudil → brimonidine → RBFC (group B), or brimonidine → RBFC → ripasudil (group C). Endpoints included change in IOP, severity of conjunctival hyperemia, corneal endothelial cell morphology, pupil diameter, and pharmacokinetics.

RESULTS

Eighteen subjects were assigned in total (six to each group). RBFC significantly reduced IOP from baseline at 1 h post-instillation on days 1 and 8 (12.7 vs. 9.1 and 9.0 mmHg, respectively; both P < 0.001), and provided significantly greater IOP reductions than ripasudil or brimonidine at several time points. The most common adverse drug reaction with all three treatments was mild conjunctival hyperemia, which transiently increased in severity with RBFC or ripasudil, peaking at 15 min post-instillation. In post hoc analyses, conjunctival hyperemia scores were lower with RBFC than with ripasudil at several time points. Transient morphologic changes in corneal endothelial cells occurred for up to several hours with RBFC or ripasudil, but not with brimonidine. Pupil diameter did not change with RBFC.

CONCLUSION

RBFC significantly reduced IOP compared with each agent alone. A combination of each agent's pharmacologic profile was observed in that of RBFC.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Japan Registry of Clinical Trials; Registration No. jRCT2080225220.

Elastic, optoelectronic and photocatalytic properties of semiconducting CsNbO3: first principles insights

The cubic phase of CsNbO₃ (CNO) perovskite has been hypothesized to investigate the elastic, electronic, photocatalytic, and optical properties for various technological applications using first-principles method. The pressure dependent structural stability has been confirmed from computed elastic constants. Relatively high value of elastic moduli, large hardness and toughness suggested that CNO would be applicable to design industrial machineries. The ductile to brittle transition is noticed at 20 GPa. The indirect bandgap of CNO proclaims its suitability for photovoltaic and IR photodetector applications. The total and partial density of states are calculated to show in evidence the contribution of individual atomic orbitals in the formation of bands. The pressure changes orbitals hybridization which can be substantiated by the change in the bandgap. Strong covalency of the Nb-O bond and antibonding character of Cs-O have been anticipated by the Mulliken population analysis and by the contour maps of electron charge density. The low carrier effective mass and high mobility carriers predict the good electrical conductivity of the material. The calculated values of conduction and valance band edge potential illustrate the excellent water-splitting and environmental pollutants degradation properties of CNO.

Ripasudil-Brimonidine Fixed-Dose Combination vs Ripasudil or Brimonidine: Two Phase 3 Randomized Clinical Trials

PURPOSE

To confirm the superiority of the intraocular pressure (IOP)-lowering effect of the ripasudil-brimonidine fixed-dose combination (RBFC, K-232) to ripasudil 0.4% or brimonidine 0.1% ophthalmic solution.

DESIGN

Two prospective multicenter, randomized, double- or single-masked, active-controlled, phase 3 trials.

METHODS

Patients with primary open-angle glaucoma or ocular hypertension whose IOP level was ≥18 mm Hg during treatment with ripasudil or brimonidine alone were randomized to 2 groups (RBFC and ripasudil) in a 1:1 ratio in the ripasudil-controlled trial and to 3 groups (RBFC, brimonidine, and ripasudil-brimonidine combination) in a 2:2:1 ratio in the brimonidine-controlled trial. The allocated study drugs were instilled twice daily for 8 weeks. The primary efficacy endpoint was the change in IOP 2 hours after instillation (11 AM) from the baseline to weeks 4, 6, and 8.

RESULTS

There were 206 patients randomized in the ripasudil-controlled trial. Changes in IOP were -2.6 and -1.2 mm Hg in the RBFC and ripasudil groups, respectively, with a difference of -1.4 mm Hg (95% CI = -1.8 to -1.0 mm Hg; P < .001). There were 282 randomized patients in the brimonidine-controlled trial. Changes in IOP were -3.4 and -1.5 mm Hg in the RBFC and brimonidine groups, respectively, with a difference of -1.8 mm Hg (95% CI = -2.3 to -1.4 mm Hg; P < .001). The most frequent adverse event was conjunctival hyperemia.

CONCLUSIONS

The IOP-lowering effect of RBFC was superior to that of ripasudil or brimonidine.

Baloxavir safety and clinical and virologic outcomes in influenza virus-infected pediatric patients by age group: age-based pooled analysis of two pediatric studies conducted in Japan

BACKGROUND

Anti-influenza treatment is important for children and is recommended in many countries. This study assessed safety, clinical, and virologic outcomes of baloxavir marboxil (baloxavir) treatment in children based on age and influenza virus type/subtype.

METHODS

This was a post hoc pooled analysis of two open-label non-controlled studies of a single weight-based oral dose of baloxavir (day 1) in influenza virus-infected Japanese patients aged < 6 years (n = 56) and ≥ 6 to < 12 years (n = 81). Safety, time to illness alleviation (TTIA), time to resolution of fever (TTRF), recurrence of influenza illness symptoms and fever (after day 4), virus titer, and outcomes by polymerase acidic protein variants at position I38 (PA/I38X) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Adverse events were reported in 39.0 and 39.5% of patients < 6 years and ≥ 6 to < 12 years, respectively. Median (95% confidence interval) TTIA was 43.2 (36.3-68.4) and 45.4 (38.9-61.0) hours, and TTRF was 32.2 (26.8-37.8) and 20.7 (19.2-23.8) hours, for patients < 6 years and ≥ 6 to < 12 years, respectively. Symptom and fever recurrence was more common in patients < 6 years with influenza B (54.5 and 50.0%, respectively) compared with older patients (0 and 25.0%, respectively). Virus titers declined (day 2) for both age groups. Transient virus titer increase and PA/I38X-variants were more common for patients < 6 years.

CONCLUSIONS

The safety and effectiveness of single-dose baloxavir were observed in children across all age groups and influenza virus types. Higher rates of fever recurrence and transient virus titer increase were observed in children < 6 years.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Japan Pharmaceutical Information Center Clinical Trials Information JapicCTI-163,417 (registered 02 November 2016) and JapicCTI-173,811 (registered 15 December 2017).

POS0467 DERSIMELAGON, A NOVEL ORAL MELANOCORTIN 1 RECEPTOR AGONIST, DEMONSTRATES DISEASE-MODIFYING EFFECTS IN PRECLINICAL MODELS OF SYSTEMIC SCLEROSIS

Background

Activation of melanocortin 1 receptor (MC1R) is known to have broad anti-inflammatory and anti-fibrotic effects. The bleomycin (BLM)-induced skin fibrosis murine model is well-established for systemic sclerosis (SSc). α-melanocyte-stimulating hormone, an endogenous ligand of MC1R, inhibits skin fibrosis and MC1R knock-out enhances skin fibrosis in this model. These pieces of evidence suggest that MC1R agonism has potential in the treatment of SSc.

Objectives

Dersimelagon phosphate (MT-7117) is an investigational small molecule that is an orally administered, selective agonist for MC1R. The purpose of this study is to investigate the potential of MT-7117 as a therapeutic agent for SSc by evaluating its efficacy and mechanism of action in complementary preclinical models. The expression and distribution of MC1R in the skin of SSc patients was investigated.

Methods

The effects of MT-7117 on skin fibrosis and lung inflammation were evaluated in BLM-induced SSc murine models that were optimized for prophylactic and therapeutic evaluation. Microarray-based gene expression analysis and serum protein profiling were performed to investigate the mechanism of action of MT-7117 in the BLM-induced SSc models. The effect of MT-7117 on TGF-β-induced activation of human dermal fibroblasts was evaluated in vitro. Immunohistochemical analyses of MC1R expression in skin samples from SSc patients were performed.

Results

Prophylactic treatment with MT-7117 (≥0.3 mg/kg/day p.o.) significantly inhibited the increase in collagen content of the skin, the serum level of surfactant protein D, and the weight of the lungs from BLM-induced skin fibrosis and lung inflammation model. Therapeutic treatment with MT-7117 (≥3 mg/kg/day p.o.) significantly suppressed skin thickening and the numbers of myofibroblasts in pre-established BLM-induced skin fibrosis model. Gene array analysis using the BLM-induced SSc model demonstrated changes in numerous categories related to macrophages, monocytes, and neutrophils, followed by endothelial cell-related categories after treatment with MT-7117. In the analysis that focused on biological functions, categories of inflammatory response, activation of antigen-presenting cells, angiogenesis, atherosclerosis, vasculogenesis, and vaso-occlusion were suppressed by MT-7117. In the analysis that focused on molecular signaling pathways, triggering receptor expressed on myeloid cells-1, IL-6, and oncostatin M involved in inflammation, and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor that is related to fibrosis were all affected by MT-7117. Serum protein profiling using BLM-induced SSc model revealed that multiple SSc-related biomarkers including P-selectin, osteoprotegerin, cystatin C, growth and differentiation factor-15 and S100A9 were suppressed by MT-7117. MT-7117 inhibited the activation of human dermal fibroblasts by suppressing TGF-β-induced ACTA2 (encoding α-smooth muscle actin) mRNA elevation in vitro. Immunohistochemical analyses showed that MC1R positivity was observed in 40 of 50 diffuse cutaneous SSc patients. MC1R was expressed by monocytes/macrophages, neutrophils, blood vessels (endothelial cells), fibroblasts, and epidermis (keratinocytes) in the skin of SSc patients.

Conclusion

MT-7117 demonstrates disease-modifying effects in preclinical models of SSc. Investigations of its mechanism of action and target expression analyses indicate that MT-7117 exerts its positive effects by affecting the pathologies of inflammation, vascular dysfunction, and fibrosis through inflammatory cells, endothelial cells, and fibroblasts. In view of its potent beneficial impact on all these three main pathologies of SSc, MT-7117 is a potential therapeutic agent for the treatment of clinically challenging SSc, which has diverse and difficult to treat symptoms. A phase 2 clinical trial investigating the efficacy and tolerability of MT-7117 in patients with early, progressive diffuse cutaneous SSc is currently in progress.

Disclosure of Interests

Masahiro Kondo Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Tsuyoshi Suzuki Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Yuko Kawano Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Shinji Kojima Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Masahiko Miyashiro Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Atsuhiro Matsumoto Employee of: Mitsubishi Tanabe Pharma Corporation, Gabriela Kania: None declared, Przemyslaw Blyszczuk: None declared, rebecca ross: None declared, Panji Mulipa: None declared, Francesco Del Galdo Grant/research support from: Prof. F. Del Galdo received fees and research support from Abbvie, AstraZeneca, Boehringer-Ingelheim, Capella, Chemomab, Kymab, Janssen and Mitsubishi-Tanabe., Yun Zhang: None declared, Jörg H.W. Distler Grant/research support from: Prof. J.H.W. Distler received consulting fees, lecture fees, and/or honoraria from Actelion, Active Biotech, Anamar, ARXX, aTyr, Bayer Pharma, Boehringer Ingelheim, Celgene, Galapagos, GSK, Inventiva, JB Therapeutics, Medac, Pfizer, Sanofi-Aventis, RedX, RuiYi and UCB. J. H. W. Distler is stock owner of 4D Science and Scientific head of FibroCure.

Effect of Darkness on Intrinsic Motivation for Undirected Singing in Bengalese Finch (Lonchura striata Domestica): A Comparative Study With Zebra Finch (Taeniopygia guttata)

The zebra finch (ZF) and the Bengalese finch (BF) are animal models that have been commonly used for neurobiological studies on vocal learning. Although they largely share the brain structure for vocal learning and production, BFs produce more complex and variable songs than ZFs, providing a great opportunity for comparative studies to understand how animals learn and control complex motor behaviors. Here, we performed a comparative study between the two species by focusing on intrinsic motivation for non-courtship singing (“undirected singing”), which is critical for the development and maintenance of song structure. A previous study has demonstrated that ZFs dramatically increase intrinsic motivation for undirected singing when singing is temporarily suppressed by a dark environment. We found that the same procedure in BFs induced the enhancement of intrinsic singing motivation to much smaller degrees than that in ZFs. Moreover, unlike ZFs that rarely sing in dark conditions, substantial portion of BFs exhibited frequent singing in darkness, implying that such “dark singing” may attenuate the enhancement of intrinsic singing motivation during dark periods. In addition, measurements of blood corticosterone levels in dark and light conditions provided evidence that although BFs have lower stress levels than ZFs in dark conditions, such lower stress levels in BFs are not the major factor responsible for their frequent dark singing. Our findings highlight behavioral and physiological differences in spontaneous singing behaviors of BFs and ZFs and provide new insights into the interactions between singing motivation, ambient light, and environmental stress.

Contribution of Endocannabinoids to Intrinsic Motivation for Undirected Singing in Adult Zebra Finches

Songbirds, such as zebra finches, spontaneously produce many song renditions for vocal practice even in the absence of apparent recipients throughout their lives. Such “undirected singing” is driven by intrinsic motivation, which arises within individuals for internal satisfaction without immediate external rewards. Intrinsic motivation for undirected singing in adult zebra finches was previously demonstrated to be critically regulated by dopamine through D2 receptors. Here, we further investigate the mechanisms of intrinsic motivation for undirected singing by focusing on endocannabinoids, which modulate dopamine signaling and contribute to motivation and reward in mammals. In songbirds, endocannabinoids have been shown to be involved in the production of undirected songs, but whether they are involved in the intrinsic motivation for undirected singing remains unknown. Using latencies of the first song production following temporary singing suppression as a measure of intrinsic motivation for undirected singing, we demonstrate that systemic administration of the direct cannabinoid agonist WIN55212-2 decreases intrinsic motivation for singing and that those effects are largely reversed by the cannabinoid antagonist SR141716A co-administered with WIN55212-2. Administration of SR141716A alone or that of two indirect cannabinoid agonists did not significantly affect intrinsic singing motivation. These results suggest that endocannabinoids are critically involved in regulating intrinsic motivation for undirected singing and provide new insights into the neural mechanisms of intrinsically motivated motor behaviors.

Intrinsic motivation for singing in songbirds is enhanced by temporary singing suppression and regulated by dopamine

Behaviors driven by intrinsic motivation are critical for development and optimization of physical and brain functions, but their underlying mechanisms are not well studied due to the complexity and autonomy of the behavior. Songbirds, such as zebra finches, offer a unique opportunity to study neural substrates of intrinsic motivation because they spontaneously produce many renditions of songs with highly-quantifiable structure for vocal practice, even in the absence of apparent recipients (“undirected singing”). Neural substrates underlying intrinsic motivation for undirected singing are still poorly understood partly because singing motivation cannot be easily manipulated due to its autonomy. Also, undirected singing itself acts as an internal reward, which could increase singing motivation, leading to difficulty in measuring singing motivation independent of singing-associated reward. Here, we report a simple procedure to easily manipulate and quantify intrinsic motivation for undirected singing independent of singing-associated reward. We demonstrate that intrinsic motivation for undirected singing is dramatically enhanced by temporary suppression of singing behavior and the degree of enhancement depends on the duration of suppression. Moreover, by examining latencies to the first song following singing suppression as a measure of singing motivation independent of singing-associated reward, we demonstrate that intrinsic singing motivation is critically regulated by dopamine through D2 receptors. These results provide a simple experimental tool to manipulate and measure the intrinsic motivation for undirected singing and illustrate the importance of zebra finches as a model system to study the neural basis of intrinsically-motivated behaviors.

Multi-energy reconstructions, central electron temperature measurements, and early detection of the birth and growth of runaway electrons using a versatile soft x-ray pinhole camera at MST

A multi-energy soft x-ray pinhole camera has been designed, built, and deployed at the Madison Symmetric Torus to aid the study of particle and thermal transport, as well as MHD stability physics. This novel imaging diagnostic technique employs a pixelated x-ray detector in which the lower energy threshold for photon detection can be adjusted independently on each pixel. The detector of choice is a PILATUS3 100 K with a 450 μm thick silicon sensor and nearly 100 000 pixels sensitive to photon energies between 1.6 and 30 keV. An ensemble of cubic spline smoothing functions has been applied to the line-integrated data for each time-frame and energy-range, obtaining a reduced standard-deviation when compared to that dominated by photon-noise. The multi-energy local emissivity profiles are obtained from a 1D matrix-based Abel-inversion procedure. Central values of T_e can be obtained by modeling the slope of the continuum radiation from ratios of the inverted radial emissivity profiles over multiple energy ranges with no a priori assumptions of plasma profiles, magnetic field reconstruction constraints, high-density limitations, or need of shot-to-shot reproducibility. In tokamak plasmas, a novel application has recently been tested for early detection, 1D imaging, and study of the birth, exponential growth, and saturation of runaway electrons at energies comparable to 100 × T_e,0; thus, early results are also presented.

Supine Cycling Exercise Enhances Cerebral Oxygenation of Motor-Related Areas in Healthy Male Volunteers

It has been reported that the cardiovascular response in the supine position is different from that in the sitting position. However, there are few reports on the effects of posture on cerebral oxygenation during exercise. Cycling exercises change oxygenated hemoglobin (O₂Hb) and deoxygenated hemoglobin (HHb) levels in motor-related areas. Therefore, this study compared O₂Hb levels at motor-related areas during recumbent versus supine cycling. Eleven healthy young male performed a 30-min cycling exercise protocol at 50% of the maximal oxygen uptake (VO₂ max) in the recumbent and supine positions. Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) was used to measure exercise-induced O₂Hb and HHb changes in the right (R-PMA) and left premotor areas (L-PMA), supplementary motor area (SMA), and primary motor cortex (M1). In R-PMA, L-PMA and SMA, the O₂Hb obtained during supine cycling was significantly higher than that during recumbent cycling (R-PMA, 0.031 ± 0.01 vs. 0.693 ± 0.01; L-PMA, 0.027 ± 0.01 vs. 0.085 ± 0.013; SMA, 0.041 ± 0.011 vs. 0.076 ± 0.008 mM·cm, recumbent vs. supine position; p < 0.05). These results suggest that supine cycling exercise increases R-PMA, L-PMA, and SMA O₂Hb levels in healthy young men.

Effects of 20-Minute Intensive Exercise on Subjects with Different Working Memory Bases

Continuous moderate-intensity aerobic exercise improves cognitive function including working memory (WM). We aimed to determine the differences in the effects of exercise on WM based on pre-exercise WM function and oxyhemoglobin (O₂Hb) changes. We enrolled 12 healthy adult males who, after a 4-min rest and warm-up, performed a 20-min exercise regime at a workload corresponding to 50% of maximal oxygen consumption. They performed a pre- and postexercise two-back test, and the reaction times were recorded. Near-infrared spectroscopy was used to monitor the O₂Hb concentration in the left prefrontal cortex during the exercise. Based on the pre-exercise reaction time, the subjects were allocated into either a fast group (FG) or a slow group (SG). The pre- and postexercise changes in the reaction time and time-to-peak O₂Hb were compared. Further, we determined the relationship between the change in the reaction time and time-to-peak O₂Hb. There was no significant change in the reaction time of the FG; however, that in the SG decreased significantly. The time-to-peak O₂Hb in the FG was significantly less than that in the SG. These results showed differences in the changes of reaction time and O₂Hb changes between the FG and SG.

Sex differences in door-to-balloon time and long-term adverse events after percutaneous coronary intervention for acute coronary syndrome: a sub-study from the Prospective JAMIR study

Background

Shortening of onset to admission time (OAT) and door-to-balloon time (DBT) is associated with lower adverse cardiac event after primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) in patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI). Bleeding event also results in poor outcome in patients with AMI after primary PCI. Little is known about sex differences in DBT and ischemic, bleeding events after AMI.

Purpose

This study aimed to assess the sex differences of OAT, DTB and adverse cardiac event, incident of bleeding event after primary PCI in patients with AMI.

Methods

The Japan AMI Registry (JAMIR) is a multicenter, nationwide, prospective registry enrolling patients with AMI from 50 institutes between December 2015 and May 2017. Primary endpoints of this study were ischemic event (composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction and ischemic stroke) and bleeding event (BARC type 3 or 5,).Median follow-up period was 12 months.

Results

A total of 3,411 patients were enrolled at first. Among them, 329 patients without treated with PCI and 199 patients missing OAT time were excluded from this study. A total 2883 patients of men (n=2240, 77.7%) and women (n=643, 22.3%) were enrolled. OAT and DBT of women were significantly longer than that of men (OAT: 130min, interquartile range 62–300 min vs. 155 min, interquartile range 69–350 min, p=0.040, DBT: 67 min, interquartile range 50–95 min vs. 75 min, interquartile range 53–120 min, p&lt;0.001). There was no significant difference in ischemic events between men and women (7.1% vs. 7.5%, log-rank p=0.741, Figure 1). Multivariate Cox regression analysis showed female sex was significantly associated with lower ischemic event (hazard ratio 0.57; 95% confidence interval 0.38–0.85; p=0.007). Bleeding event of women was significantly higher than that of men (BARC type 3 or 5: 3.8% vs. 7.8%, p&lt;0.001, Figure 2).

Conclusion

The real-world database of the JAMIR showed that the female sex was significant factor for the delay in primary percutaneous coronary intervention and high incident of bleeding, however, ischemic event was lower than that of male sex. Sex difference appears to be associated with ischemic and bleeding event after acute myocardial infarction.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Long-term Devocalization of Zebra Finches

Songbirds, such as the zebra finch, are a popular animal model for studying the neural basis of vocal and complex skill learning. Adult male zebra finches produce courtship song toward females (referred to as 'directed song') and recording and analyzing sounds of directed song along with underlying neural activity is important for investigating behavioral and neural mechanisms of song production and learning. However, recording of directed song is easily contaminated by calls that are often as loud as directed songs and frequently produced by a female bird is presented in the same sound-recording chamber to elicit directed song. We developed a new surgical procedure to relatively easily and almost completely devocalize female zebra finches semi-permanently, without affecting other behaviors. This procedure enables researchers to record directed songs with almost no contamination by female calls. The procedure can also be used to devocalize male birds as well and, thus, has great potential for a variety of experimental purposes, such as long-term elimination of auditory feedback during singing in male birds.

Comparative Analysis of Brain Stiffness Among Amniotes Using Glyoxal Fixation and Atomic Force Microscopy

Brain structures are diverse among species despite the essential molecular machinery of neurogenesis being common. Recent studies have indicated that differences in the mechanical properties of tissue may result in the dynamic deformation of brain structure, such as folding. However, little is known about the correlation between mechanical properties and species-specific brain structures. To address this point, a comparative analysis of mechanical properties using several animals is required. For a systematic measurement of the brain stiffness of remotely maintained animals, we developed a novel strategy of tissue-stiffness measurement using glyoxal as a fixative combined with atomic force microscopy. A comparison of embryonic and juvenile mouse and songbird brain tissue revealed that glyoxal fixation can maintain brain structure as well as paraformaldehyde (PFA) fixation. Notably, brain tissue fixed by glyoxal remained much softer than PFA-fixed brains, and it can maintain the relative stiffness profiles of various brain regions. Based on this method, we found that the homologous brain regions between mice and songbirds exhibited different stiffness patterns. We also measured brain stiffness in other amniotes (chick, turtle, and ferret) following glyoxal fixation. We found stage-dependent and species-specific stiffness in pallia among amniotes. The embryonic chick and matured turtle pallia showed gradually increasing stiffness along the apico-basal tissue axis, the lowest region at the most apical region, while the ferret pallium exhibited a catenary pattern, that is, higher in the ventricular zone, the inner subventricular zone, and the cortical plate and the lowest in the outer subventricular zone. These results indicate that species-specific microenvironments with distinct mechanical properties emerging during development might contribute to the formation of brain structures with unique morphology.

Comparison of automated SARS-CoV-2 antigen test for COVID-19 infection with quantitative RT-PCR using 313 nasopharyngeal swabs, including from seven serially followed patients

In routine clinical practice, severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) infection is determined by reverse-transcription PCR (RT-PCR). In the current pandemic, a more rapid and high-throughput method is in growing demand. Here, we validated the performance of a new antigen test (LUMIPULSE) based on chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay. A total of 313 nasopharyngeal swabs (82 serial samples from 7 infected patients and 231 individual samples from 4 infected patients and 215 uninfected individuals) were analyzed for SARS-CoV-2 with quantitative RT-PCR (RT-qPCR) and then subjected to LUMIPULSE. We determined the cutoff value for antigen detection using receiver operating characteristic curve analysis and compared the performance of the antigen test with that of RT-qPCR. We also compared the viral loads and antigen levels in serial samples from seven infected patients. Using RT-qPCR as the reference, the antigen test exhibited 55.2% sensitivity and 99.6% specificity, with a 91.4% overall agreement rate (286/313). In specimens with > 100 viral copies and between 10 and 100 copies, the antigen test showed 100% and 85% concordance with RT-qPCR, respectively. This concordance declined with lower viral loads. In the serially followed patients, the antigen levels showed a steady decline, along with viral clearance. This gradual decline was in contrast with the abrupt positive-to-negative and negative-to-positive status changes observed with RT-qPCR, particularly in the late phase of infection. In summary, the LUMIPULSE antigen test can rapidly identify SARS-CoV-2-infected individuals with moderate to high viral loads and may be helpful for monitoring viral clearance in hospitalized patients.

Locomotor activity and histological changes observed in a mouse model of knee osteoarthritis

[Purpose] This study aimed to elucidate the changes in locomotor activity in a mouse model of knee osteoarthritis (OA). [Materials and Methods] Fourteen 20-week-old mice were divided into control and OA groups. Knee OA was surgically induced under anesthesia by destabilizing the meniscus. The OA group was reared normally for 8 weeks following surgery, during which OA was induced. Locomotor activity was measured every hour for 8 weeks using an infrared locomotor activity measurement device. Histological changes were evaluated according to the classification-system of Glasson. [Results] Locomotor activity in the OA group significantly decreased up to 2 weeks after surgery. Histological findings in the control group revealed an irregular cartilage surface in a portion of the tibia with no other abnormalities. Contrastingly, those in the OA group had eburnation of the medial femoral condyle, as well as fibrillation and fissures in the medial tibial plateau. Histological scores in the OA group were significantly higher than the control group. [Conclusion] Locomotor activity evaluations, in addition to histological scores and findings, are imperative for studies aiming to clarify the disease state and effect of interventions using mice models.

SUN-LB95 Developing a Highly Equivalent Non-Competitive Chemiluminescence Immunoassay Aldosterone Measurement to LC/MS

Background Measurement of plasma aldosterone and renin concentration, or activity, is useful for selecting antihypertensive agents anddetecting hyperaldosteronism in hypertensive patients. However, it takes several days to get results even if measured by inaccurateradioimmunoassay, or we must accept high-cost LC/MS, and development of a more rapid and accurate substitute has been long hoped. We havedeveloped a novel, fully-automated, high-quantitative noncompetitive chemiluminescence immunoassay (NC-CLEIA) for detecting aldosterone inserum and plasma, and its performance is evaluated as compared to LC/MS measurement. Methods Recently a unique anti-metatype antibody,which recognizes the immunocomplex of aldosterone and its monoclonal antibody, was established. Using this antibody for sensing permittedthe construction of non-competitive assay for the detection of aldosterone. The reaction protocol of novel aldosterone assay is the following. Inthe 1st reaction, aldosterone in patient’s sample is captured on anti-body coated magnetic particles. Alkaline phosphatase-conjugated antimetatypeantibody is added and incubated as 2nd reaction following a wash. Then substrate solution is added after washing immunocomplex.The resulting reaction signals are proportional to the amount of aldosterone in the sample allowing quantitative determination of in serum orplasma sample. The overall reaction is completed within 30 min. Results Limit of blank (LoB), limit of detection (LoD) and limit of quantitation(LoQ) of our NC-CLEIA aldosterone assay were 0.09 ng/dL, 0.21 ng/dL and 0.57 ng/dL, respectively. NC-CLEIA aldosterone measurements werelinearly well correlated with LC/MS aldosterone measurements (N = 130, y = 1.027x - 0.23 ng/dL, Spearman’s ρ = 0.996, P&lt; 0.0001). Bland-Altmanplot analysis between NC-CLEIA and LC-MS/MS of aldosterone revealed a bias of 0.40 ng/dL with the limits of agreement of -4.60 and 5.41 ng/dLwith 95% confidence interval. Conclusion Our novel NC-CLEIA aldosterone assay was well-correlated and had only a very low bias with LC-MS/MSmethod and also was able to accurately quantify low level samples even in essential hypertension patients. This aldosterone assay can be a most equivalent to LC-MS/MS measurement with a low cost of 12 $ and a short measuring time of 30 minutes.

g Factor of the ^{99}Zr (7/2^{+}) Isomer: Monopole Evolution in the Shape-Coexisting Region

The gyromagnetic factor of the low-lying E=251.96(9)  keV isomeric state of the nucleus ^{99}Zr was measured using the time-dependent perturbed angular distribution technique. This level is assigned a spin and parity of J^{π}=7/2^{+}, with a half-life of T_{1/2}=336(5)  ns. The isomer was produced and spin aligned via the abrasion-fission of a ^{238}U primary beam at RIKEN RIBF. A magnetic moment |μ|=2.31(14)μ_{N} was deduced showing that this isomer is not single particle in nature. A comparison of the experimental values with interacting boson-fermion model IBFM-1 results shows that this state is strongly mixed with a main νd_{5/2} composition. Furthermore, it was found that monopole single-particle evolution changes significantly with the appearance of collective modes, likely due to type-II shell evolution.

Daily and short-term application of joint movement for the prevention of infrapatellar fat pad atrophy due to immobilization

[Purpose] To mobilize the knee joint during cast fixation and to determine whether infrapatellar fat pad changes can be prevented. [Materials and Methods] We randomly allocated Wistar rats into 3 groups as follows: normal group, raised in normal conditions (n=5); contracture group, immobilized with cast fixation (n=5); and prevention group, treated with joint movement during immobilization (n=5). We immobilized the right hindlimb using cast fixation. Joint movement in the prevention group was accomplished by repeatedly pulling the right hindlimb caudally and then returning the leg to the bent position for 10 minutes every day for 2 weeks. We used a metronome to maintain a constant speed, with one set lasting 2 seconds (1-second traction and 1-second return). [Results] The contracture group had adipose cells of various sizes and fibrosis in the infrapatellar fat pad. These changes were also found in milder forms in the prevention group. We found significant differences in the cross section of adipose cells and in knee extension restriction between the groups. [Conclusion] Promoting joint movement may not only have a therapeutic effect on adipose cells but also a preventative effect.

P3615The number of coronary risk factors and mortality in patients with acute myocardial infarction from Japanese nation-wide real-world database

Background

Hypertension, diabetes, dyslipidemia and smoking are so-called coronary risk factors for coronary heart disease, which were established by extensive epidemiological research. However, in Japanese patients with acute myocardial infarction (AMI), the impact of number of coronary risk factors on in-hospital morality has not been elucidated.

Methods

The Japan Acute Myocardial Infarction Registry (JAMIR) is a nationwide real-world database integrated form 10 regional registries. We examined the association between number of coronary risk factors and in-hospital mortality from this JAMIR registry.

Results

The data were obtained from total of 20462 AMI patients (mean age, 68.8±13.3 years old; 15281 men, 5181 women). Figure 1 shows the prevalence of each coronary risk factors stratified by sex and decade. The prevalence of hypertension became higher with the advanced age while the prevalence of smoking became lower with the advanced age. Prevalence of diabetes and dyslipidemia were highest in middle age. Majority (76.9%) of the patients with AMI had at least 1 of these coronary risk factors and, 23.1% had none of them. Overall, except women under 50, number of coronary risk factor was relatively less in older age (Figure 2). In-hospital mortality by sex and decades was shown in figure 3. In-hospital mortality rates were 10.7%, 10.5%, 7.2%, 5.0% and 4.5% with 0, 1, 2, 3 and 4 risk factors, respectively (Figure 4A). After adjusting age and sex, there was an inverse association between the number of coronary risk factors and in-hospital mortality (adjusted odds ratio [1.68; 95% CI, 1.20–2.35] among individuals with 0 vs. 4 risk factors, Figure 4B).

Conclusion

In the present study of Japanese patients with AMI, who received modern medical treatment, in-hospital mortality was inversely related to the number of coronary risk factors.

Acknowledgement/Funding

Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research

Enhancing laser beam performance by interfering intense laser beamlets

Increasing the laser energy absorption into energetic particle beams represents a longstanding quest in intense laser-plasma physics. During the interaction with matter, part of the laser energy is converted into relativistic electron beams, which are the origin of secondary sources of energetic ions, γ-rays and neutrons. Here we experimentally demonstrate that using multiple coherent laser beamlets spatially and temporally overlapped, thus producing an interference pattern in the laser focus, significantly improves the laser energy conversion efficiency into hot electrons, compared to one beam with the same energy and nominal intensity as the four beamlets combined. Two-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations support the experimental results, suggesting that beamlet interference pattern induces a periodical shaping of the critical density, ultimately playing a key-role in enhancing the laser-to-electron energy conversion efficiency. This method is rather insensitive to laser pulse contrast and duration, making this approach robust and suitable to many existing facilities.

Enhanced coupling of laser energy to the target particles is a fundamental issue in laser-plasma interactions. Here the authors demonstrate increased photon absorption leading into higher laser to electron and proton energy transfer through the interference of multiple coherent beamlets.

Transitioning between preparatory and precisely sequenced neuronal activity in production of a skilled behavior

Precise neural sequences are associated with the production of well-learned skilled behaviors. Yet, how neural sequences arise in the brain remains unclear. In songbirds, premotor projection neurons in the cortical song nucleus HVC are necessary for producing learned song and exhibit precise sequential activity during singing. Using cell-type specific calcium imaging we identify populations of HVC premotor neurons associated with the beginning and ending of singing-related neural sequences. We characterize neurons that bookend singing-related sequences and neuronal populations that transition from sparse preparatory activity prior to song to precise neural sequences during singing. Recordings from downstream premotor neurons or the respiratory system suggest that pre-song activity may be involved in motor preparation to sing. These findings reveal population mechanisms associated with moving from non-vocal to vocal behavioral states and suggest that precise neural sequences begin and end as part of orchestrated activity across functionally diverse populations of cortical premotor neurons.

Sensory feedback independent pre-song vocalizations correlate with time to song initiation

The song of the adult male zebra finch is a well-studied example of a learned motor sequence. Song bouts begin with a variable number of introductory notes (INs) before actual song production. Previous studies have shown that INs progress from a variable initial state to a stereotyped final state before each song. This progression is thought to represent motor preparation, but the underlying mechanisms remain poorly understood. Here, we assessed the role of sensory feedback in the progression of INs to song. We found that the mean number of INs before song and the progression of INs to song were not affected by removal of two sensory feedback pathways (auditory or proprioceptive). In both feedback-intact and feedback-deprived birds, the presence of calls (other non-song vocalizations), just before the first IN, was correlated with fewer INs before song and an initial state closer to song. Finally, the initial IN state correlated with the time to song initiation. Overall, these results show that INs do not require real-time sensory feedback for progression to song. Rather, our results suggest that changes in IN features and their transition to song are controlled by internal neural processes, possibly involved in getting the brain ready to initiate a learned movement sequence.

Synthesis and characterization of a pair of O-fac/O-mer 12-P-6 alkyloxaphosphates with a P-O-C-C four-membered ring

The synthesis and characterization of a stereoisomer pair of 12-P-6 alkyloxaphosphates synthesised from pentacoordinate phosphoranes.

Structurally characterized hexacoordinate organophosphorus compounds remain rare due to their highly reactive nature and thermal instability. Herein we report the first synthesis of a pair of O-facial and O-meridional hexacoordinate oxaphosphates (5B and 5D) obtained from the O-apical and O-equatorial β-hydroxyalkylphosphoranes 3 and 4. This was achieved by using the bulky C₂F₅-groups on the ortho-substituted aryl backbone. Calculations of the relative energies of possible isomers indicate 5B and 5D are thermodynamic products. Although the mechanisms of their formation and the determining factor of stereo-selectivity are still unclear, their isolation and structure conformation contributes to a formulation of a viable strategy for diastereoselective synthesis of heteroleptic hexacoordinate organophosphates.

Changes in Bradykinin and Prostaglandins Plasma Levels during Dextran-sulfate Low-density-lipoprotein Apheresis

The negative charges of dextran-sulfate (DS) used for low-density-lipoprotein (LDL) apheresis initiate the intrinsic coagulation pathway in which plasma kallikrein acts on the high-molecular-weight kininogen to produce large amounts of bradykinin. This study was undertaken to assess whether bradykinin generated during DS LDL apheresis has any physiologic effects in vivo. The plasma levels of bradykinin, prostaglandins and cyclic guanosine monophosphate (cGMP) were compared, when either of two anticoagulants, heparin or nafamostat mesilate (NM), was used during DS LDL apheresis. Although anticoagulative action by NM depends on the inhibition of thrombin activity, this substance also inhibits the activity of plasma kallikrein. During apheresis using heparin, the plasma levels of prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) increased significantly (5.6 ± 1.2 (mean ± SE, n=4) pg/ml before apheresis and 33.4 ± 13.2 after apheresis, p < 0.05) in association with an increase in bradykinin levels (17.9 ± 2.6 pg/ml before apheresis and 470 ± 135 after apheresis, p < 0.01). Interestingly, these changes were suppressed during apheresis using NM. There were no appreciable changes in cGMP during DS LDL apheresis with either of the anticoagulants. This finding suggests that bradykinin generated during apheresis has some pathophysiological effects via activation of the prostaglandin system. Our results support the view that in patients taking angiotensin-convertingenzyme inhibitors, the anaphylactoid reaction occurring during apheresis may be caused by an excessive rise in the bradykinin levels.

Quantitative Estimation of Dietary Intake in Patients on Hemodialysis

A simple method to calculate the amount of dietary (protein, sodium and potassium) intake in hemodialyzed patients was developed. In 8 nutritionally stable patients, the amount of dietary intake was monitored conventionally by a dietary record method. In contrast, assuming that the amount of dietary intake was equal to the amount of accumulation in the body, the former was calculated as the change in the product of serum concentrations and total body fluid volume, which was estimated based on the sex and body build of each patient. The urea accumulation was converted to the protein intake. The interdialytic dietary protein and sodium intake calculated by this method, 120 ± 10 g and 240 ± 40 mEq, respectively, was not significantly different from that obtained by the dietary record, while the interdialytic potassium accumulation, 60 ± 7 mEq, was significantly smaller than the dietary intake, 110 + 9 mEq, obtained by the record method, though the correlation was significant. Thus, the amount of protein and sodium intake can be calculated simply without diet research or body fluid volume measurements. Although potassium intake can not be calculated exactly because of intestinal loss, this simple method gives us a rough estimate. In addition, multiple regression analysis showed that the amount of energy intake obtained by the record method may be explained by the protein and sodium intake estimated by simple calculation.

Total Body Fluid Volume Determination Based on Urea Kinetics in Hemofiltration as an Index of Basal Body Weight in Uremic Patients

Assuming that urea is distributed uniformly within the total body water, urea-space or total body fluid volume was determined in six uremic patients based on urea kinetics in hemofiltration.

The total body fluid volume before hemofiltration was 36.0 ± 3.6 L (61.8 ± 2.6% BW) and after hemofiltration 32.5 ± 3.4 L (59.3 ± 2.8% BW), suggesting that the total body fluid volume was nearly normalized by hemofiltration. It is concluded that urea-space, easily measurable based on urea kinetics during hemofiltration, is useful in evaluating the fluid balance in patients undergoing artificial kidney therapy.

Changes in Coagulation Factors by Passage through a Dextran Sulfate Cellulose Column during Low-Density Lipoprotein Apheresis

To determine the extent of adsorption of coagulation factors by a dextran sulfate cellulose column used for selective removal of low-density lipoprotein (LDL), various coagulation factors were measured before and after application to the column during LDL apheresis. The column almost completely adsorbed many coagulation factors. Although the bradykinin concentration was markedly increased by passing the plasma through the column, this increment was suppressed by nafamostat mesilate which inhibits the initial contact phase of the intrinsic coagulation pathway. The von Willebrand factor, which forms a complex with factor VIII in plasma, is reduced in apheresis with nafamostat mesilate to the same extent as in apheresis without nafamostat mesilate. Thus, coagulation factors seem to be adsorbed by different mechanisms which include activation of the initial contact phase by the negative charges of dextran sulfate and concomitant adsorption with the phospholipid portion of lipoproteins containing apolipoprotein B or with von Willebrand factor.

Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration and subsequent risk of total and site specific cancers in Japanese population: large case-cohort study within Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study cohort

OBJECTIVE

To evaluate the association between pre-diagnostic circulating vitamin D concentration and the subsequent risk of overall and site specific cancer in a large cohort study.

DESIGN

Nested case-cohort study within the Japan Public Health Center-based Prospective Study cohort.

SETTING

Nine public health centre areas across Japan.

PARTICIPANTS

3301 incident cases of cancer and 4044 randomly selected subcohort participants.

EXPOSURE

Plasma concentration of 25-hydroxyvitamin D measured by enzyme immunoassay. Participants were divided into quarters based on the sex and season specific distribution of 25-hydroxyvitamin D among subcohorts. Weighted Cox proportional hazard models were used to calculate the multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for overall and site specific cancer across categories of 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration, with the lowest quarter as the reference.

MAIN OUTCOME MEASURE

Incidence of overall or site specific cancer.

RESULTS

Plasma 25-hydroxyvitamin D concentration was inversely associated with the risk of total cancer, with multivariable adjusted hazard ratios for the second to fourth quarters compared with the lowest quarter of 0.81 (95% confidence interval 0.70 to 0.94), 0.75 (0.65 to 0.87), and 0.78 (0.67 to 0.91), respectively (P for trend=0.001). Among the findings for cancers at specific sites, an inverse association was found for liver cancer, with corresponding hazard ratios of 0.70 (0.44 to 1.13), 0.65 (0.40 to 1.06), and 0.45 (0.26 to 0.79) (P for trend=0.006). A sensitivity analysis showed that alternately removing cases of cancer at one specific site from total cancer cases did not substantially change the overall hazard ratios.

CONCLUSIONS

In this large prospective study, higher vitamin D concentration was associated with lower risk of total cancer. These findings support the hypothesis that vitamin D has protective effects against cancers at many sites.

High Density Culture of Immortalized Liver Endothelial Cells in the Radial-flow Bioreactor in the Development of an Artificial Liver

Liver endothelial cells are important components of the tissue along the hepatic sinusoid. They are responsible for microcirculation in the liver and scavenger functions. It would therefore be important to include these cells in any hybrid type of artificial liver in addition to hepatocytes. However, it is difficult to culture these cells in vitro. The development of a liver endothelial cell line, which maintains the characteristics of the primary culture, would thus be of great benefit in the development of an artificial liver. In the present study we established immortalized liver endothelial cells from the liver of an H-2Kb-tsA58 transgenic mouse, which harbors the SV40 TAg gene. Hepatic sinusoidal cells isolated from H-2Kd-tsA58 mouse proliferated In the presence of γ-interferon at 33°C. Four clones were established, out of which clone M1 had the highest amounts of PGI2 production, as well as plasminogen activator activity and internalized acetylated low density lipoprotein. On culture dishes the M1 cells grew individually and spread. Sieve plates on the cell surface were not readily visible, but small pores were detected under electron microscopic observation. These results suggest that M1 clone cells originated from liver endothelial cells. Moreover it was possible to culture the immortalized liver endothelial cells in a radial-flow bioreactor for 5 days, with a maximum 6-keto prostaglandin F1α production of 25 μg per day. This suggests that immortalized liver endothelial cells and a radial-flow bioreactor can prove useful tools in the development an artificial liver.

Guiding of relativistic electron beams in dense matter by laser-driven magnetostatic fields

Intense lasers interacting with dense targets accelerate relativistic electron beams, which transport part of the laser energy into the target depth. However, the overall laser-to-target energy coupling efficiency is impaired by the large divergence of the electron beam, intrinsic to the laser-plasma interaction. Here we demonstrate that an efficient guiding of MeV electrons with about 30 MA current in solid matter is obtained by imposing a laser-driven longitudinal magnetostatic field of 600 T. In the magnetized conditions the transported energy density and the peak background electron temperature at the 60-μm-thick target's rear surface rise by about a factor of five, as unfolded from benchmarked simulations. Such an improvement of energy-density flux through dense matter paves the ground for advances in laser-driven intense sources of energetic particles and radiation, driving matter to extreme temperatures, reaching states relevant for planetary or stellar science as yet inaccessible at the laboratory scale and achieving high-gain laser-driven thermonuclear fusion.

Solution structure analysis of the periplasmic region of bacterial flagellar motor stators by small angle X-ray scattering

The bacterial flagellar motor drives the rotation of helical flagellar filaments to propel bacteria through viscous media. It consists of a dynamic population of mechanosensitive stators that are embedded in the inner membrane and activate in response to external load. This entails assembly around the rotor, anchoring to the peptidoglycan layer to counteract torque from the rotor and opening of a cation channel to facilitate an influx of cations, which is converted into mechanical rotation. Stator complexes are comprised of four copies of an integral membrane A subunit and two copies of a B subunit. Each B subunit includes a C-terminal OmpA-like peptidoglycan-binding (PGB) domain. This is thought to be linked to a single N-terminal transmembrane helix by a long unstructured peptide, which allows the PGB domain to bind to the peptidoglycan layer during stator anchoring. The high-resolution crystal structures of flagellar motor PGB domains from Salmonella enterica (MotB_C2) and Vibrio alginolyticus (PomB_C5) have previously been elucidated. Here, we use small-angle X-ray scattering (SAXS). We show that unlike MotB_C2, the dimeric conformation of the PomB_C5 in solution differs to its crystal structure, and explore the functional relevance by characterising gain-of-function mutants as well as wild-type constructs of various lengths. These provide new insight into the conformational diversity of flagellar motor PGB domains and experimental verification of their overall topology.

Estimation of 134Cs activity by a new approximation referred to the sum-peak method via a well-type Ge detector

The activity of a sample containing ¹³⁴Cs and ¹³⁷Cs was estimated by means of a new approximation referred to the sum-peak method using a well-type Ge detector. The contribution of ¹³⁷Cs to the total count rate was estimated from its peak count rate, and subtracted from the total count rate. Then the total count rate originating from ¹³⁴Cs was estimated. Finally, the new method was applied and the ¹³⁴Cs activity was estimated.

Effect of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound therapy on a rat knee joint contracture model

[Purpose] Histopathological investigation of the effects of low-intensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) on joint components using a rat knee joint contracture model. [Subjects and Methods] Nineteen, 9-week-old Wistar male rats were divided into a control group (n=6) and an experimental group. Rats in the experimental group underwent cast immobilization of the right rear limb for 8 weeks. They were then randomly divided into a non-treatment group (n=6), which was raised under normal conditions for 4 weeks, and a treatment group (n=7), which underwent LIPUS for 4 weeks. LIPUS irradiation was performed at a frequency of 3 MHz, an intensity of 30 mW/cm², and a pulse rate of 20% duty cycle. Irradiation was performed once daily for 10 min, 5 days per week. At the end of this period, tissue specimens in which the knee sagittal plane could be observed were prepared and observed using an optical microscope. [Results] The extension-limiting angle of the knee joint was significantly less in the treatment group compared with the non-treatment group. The posterior joint capsule was significantly thicker only in the non-treatment group, and the density was 53.5 ± 7.5% for the control group, 77.2 ± 5.7% for the non-treatment group, and 69.2 ± 2.9% for the treatment group, with significant differences existing across all groups. [Conclusion] LIPUS may widen the space between collagen fiber bundles of the joint capsule, thereby improving the range of motion.

Electric field and aging effects of uniaxial ferroelectrics Sr x Ba1-x Nb2O6 probed by Brillouin scattering

Static and dynamic heterogeneity of disordered system is one of the current topics in materials science. In disordered ferroelectric materials with random fields, dynamic polar nanoregions (PNRs) appear at Burns temperature and freeze into nanodomain state below Curie temperature (T _C). This state is very sensitive to external electric field and aging by which it gradually switches into macrodomain state. However, the role of PNRs in such states below T _C is still a puzzling issue of materials science. Electric field and aging effects of uniaxial ferroelectric Sr _x Ba_1-x Nb₂O₆ (x = 0.40, SBN40) single crystals were studied using Brillouin scattering to clarify the critical nature of PNRs in domain states below T _C. On field heating, a broad anomaly in longitudinal acoustic (LA) velocity at low temperature region was due to an incomplete alignment of nanodomains caused by the interaction between PNRs. A sharp anomaly near T _C was attributed to the complete switching of nanodomain to macrodomain state owing to the lack of interaction among PNRs. After isothermal aging below T _C, the noticeable increase of LA velocity was observed. It was unaffected by cyclic temperature measurements up to T _C, and recovered to initial state outside of a narrow temperature range above and below aging temperature.