Masakazu Washio

Background: Brain-derived neurotrophic factor (BDNF) may play a role in glucose and lipid metabolism as well as mental health. We previously reported a negative association between BDNF levels and mental health in hemodialysis (HD) patients. Cardiovascular disease (CVD) is a common cause of death in patients undergoing HD. However, we have not yet evaluated the associations between serum BDNF levels and risk factors for CVD in HD patients. Methods: A cross-sectional study was conducted to evaluate the factors associated with serum BDNF levels in HD patients without active mental disorders. Seventy-seven HD patients were divided into two groups according to their serum BDNF levels: (i) the high BDNF group (BDNF > 12 ng/mL: n = 39), and (ii) the low BDNF group (BDNF ≤ 12 ng/mL: n = 38). Demographic and laboratory parameters were compared between the two groups. Results: The values for total cholesterol, low-density lipoprotein (LDL) - cholesterol, body mass index, white blood cell count and platelet count were higher in the high BDNF group than in the low BDNF group. Higher serum total cholesterol levels, white blood cell counts and platelet counts were associated with an increased risk of higher serum BDNF levels even after controlling for age and sex. Furthermore, a higher platelet count remained a significant risk factor for higher BDNF levels even after controlling for higher total serum cholesterol levels and white blood cell counts. Conclusions: Since platelets are suggested to play important roles not only in the initiation but also in the progression of atherosclerosis, BDNF might play a role in the development of atherosclerosis in patients on HD.

The ablation threshold fluence and crater morphology of amorphous and crystalline SiO ₂ glass were analyzed in the regime of an extreme ultraviolet femtosecond pulse. Despite the difference between the densities (or optical penetration depths) of amorphous and crystalline SiO ₂ glass, the ablation threshold fluences and crater morphologies were found to be comparable. In addition, we compared our experimental results at a 10.3 nm wavelength with those in a previous work at a 13.5 nm wavelength. We conclude that the impact of the difference in density or optical penetration depth of several tens of percent on the ablation process is limited.

Smoking is a risk factor for adult-onset Crohn’s disease (CD). Although passive smoking from family members is a major concern, especially in pediatric CD, the number of existing epidemiological studies is limited. This multicenter case–control study aimed to assess the effects of familial smoking on pediatric CD. We examined 22 pediatric CD cases and 135 controls. The subjects’ mothers were given a self-administered questionnaire about family smoking before disease onset in the CD group or the corresponding period in the control group. Univariable logistic regression model was used to calculate odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs), whereas dose–response relationship analyses were performed for more in-depth evaluations. Univariable analyses indicated that passive smoking from the mother (OR, 2.09; 95% CI, 0.61–7.10) was not a significant, but a candidate risk factor for developing pediatric CD. In contrast, the dose–response relationship analyses revealed that passive smoking from the mother (OR, 1.17; 95% CI, 1.04–1.31) was significantly associated with pediatric CD. Therefore, passive smoking from the mother may be predominantly associated with the development of pediatric CD. Further follow-up studies comprising environmental measurements of passive smoking exposure doses and genetic factors interaction analysis are necessary.

Epidemiology is the study of the frequency and distribution of diseases and factors related to the development of diseases. Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) is a rare, chronic inflammatory autoimmune disease that affects many tissues and organs, whose female-to-male incidence ratio is 6:10 for childbearing age. Its chronic intractable nature has a significant impact on medical care utilization, activities of daily living, and quality of life. However, the etiology of SLE has not yet been elucidated in detail, although genetic factors as well as environmental factors are thought to play a role in its development. In this chapter, we introduce the incidence and the prevalence of SLE as well as factors related to the development of SLE and discuss how to prevent the development of SLE.

Uniaxially stretched high density polyethylene (HDPE), low density polyethylene (LDPE) and ultra-high molecular weight polyethylene (UHMWPE) were studied by positron annihilation lifetime spectroscopy (PALS). The pick-off annihilation lifetime of ortho-positronium (o-Ps) was progressively shortened by stretching. This shortening is due to development of anisotropy in sub-nm size open space (free volume) for o-Ps localization. Simple analysis by an extended Tao-Eldrup model suggests that the hole anisotropy is much less than the bulk anisotropy possibly due to structural relaxation. Correlation between the o-Ps relative intensity and lifetime points to one-stage deformation of LDPE and UHMWPE, and multiple-stage deformation of HDPE, respectively. A recently commercialized positron lifetime spectrometer, which permits PALS to be performed with a single specimen, was found to be applicable to stretched polymers.

A triple chemotherapeutic regimen including docetaxel, oxaliplatin, and S-1 (DOS) for a neoadjuvant setting has a promising efficacy for locally advanced adenocarcinoma of the esophagogastric junction (AEG). However, the optimal dose of each drug in Japanese population remained to be clarified. The aim of this phase I study is to determine a recommended dose for a triweekly combination neoadjuvant DOS chemotherapy for patients with locally advanced AEG. Patients with cT3 or more advanced AEG without distant metastasis were eligible for this study. The planned dosages of docetaxel (mg/m², day 1), oxaliplatin (mg/m², day 1), and S-1 (mg/day, days 1–14) were 50/100/80–120 at level 1, and 60/100/80–120 at level 2. The treatment cycle was repeated every 3 weeks, and patients were assessed for response to the treatment after 2 and 3 cycles. This study was registered with UMIN Clinical Trial Registry (UMIN 000022210). Twelve patients with locally advanced AEG were enrolled in this study. At dose level 1, one of six patients experienced dose-limiting toxicity (DLT) of grade 3 febrile neutropenia. At dose level 2, two of the next six patients experienced the same DLT of need for withdrawal of chemotherapy due to serious adverse events. Based on these results, level 2 was considered the recommended dose for this regimen. Total or proximal gastrectomy plus lower esophagectomy, or subtotal esophagectomy was performed in all the 12 patients with the R0 resection rate of 92% (11/12). Histological response evaluation based on the classification defined by Japanese Gastric Cancer Association revealed four patients with grade 1a, two with grade 1b, three with grade 2, and three with Grade 3. Recommended doses for a neoadjuvant DOS chemotherapy regimen for locally advanced AEG were determined as Docetaxel: 60 mg/m², Oxaliplatin: 100 mg/m² on day 1, S-1: 1.5m², 120 mg twice a day on days 1–14. DOS chemotherapy showed good preliminary efficacy with acceptable toxicity in this study warranting a further phase II trial to investigate the efficacy of the DOS regimen. UMIN 000022210. The authors. Has not received any funding. All authors have declared no conflicts of interest.

A photocathode with a high quantum efficiency (Q.E.) and long lifetime can be fabricated by evaporating a protective layer onto a high Q.E. semiconductor photocathode. In this study we tried to improve the stability and lifetime of a Cs-Te photocathode by coating a CsBr protective layer of 20 nm in thickness over the surface. After the protective layer was applied, we measured the Q.E. of the photocathode and the lifetime in the evaporation chamber. The Q.E. of the coated Cs-Te was confirmed to be about 0.80% and to remain unchanged for a period of longer than 25 d. The effectiveness of the protective layer against exposure of the Cs-Te photocathode to oxygen gas was also confirmed for the first time. Our experiments were the first to show a lifetime improvement of a photocathode installed inside an rf gun compared to the same type of photocathode with no protective coating.

培養細胞と体内組織の親和性向上，細胞培養時の立体的な方向制御のため，温度応答性細胞培養膜表面への微細構造導入を試みた。電子線グラフト重合法とµmオーダーの格子状Si-maskを用い，Ethylene-tetrafluoroethylene copolymer （ETFE）にPoly（N-isopropylacrylamide）（PNIPAAm）を部分付与した。共焦点レーザー顕微鏡により電子線拡散とグラフト鎖伸長による丸みのある3 µmの凹凸を観察し，顕微FT-IR測定により凹凸とPNIPAAm付加分布の対応を確認した。PNIPAAmの下限臨界溶解温度（LCST）前後の接触角評価から濡れ性が変化し，細胞接着剥離の制御性が示唆された。

At present, there are few reports that have clarified the effectiveness of 23-valent pneumococcal polysaccharide vaccine (PPSV23) against all-cause pneumonia or pneumococcal pneumonia in community-acquired pneumonia (CAP) in older individuals in Japan. We conducted a hospital-based matched case-control study to investigate separately the preventive effects of PPSV23 and trivalent influenza vaccine (TIV) on all-cause CAP and pneumococcal CAP in older individuals in Japan. Cases were individuals aged 65 years or older who were newly diagnosed with CAP from October 2010 to September 2014. Two control patients with a different disease (one respiratory medicine and one non-respiratory medicine) matched for sex, age, date of outpatient visit, and medical institution were selected for each case. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) of PPSV23 and TIV for the occurrence of all-cause CAP and pneumococcal CAP were calculated using conditional and unconditional logistic regression models. The analysis included 161 cases and 308 controls from the 4-year period. The adjusted OR for the occurrence of all-cause CAP was 0.76 (95%CI = 0.44–1.32) with PPSV23 vaccination and 0.79 (95%CI = 0.50–1.25) with TIV vaccination compared with unvaccinated individuals. When the outcome index was restricted to pneumococcal CAP, the adjusted OR significantly decreased to 0.23 (95%CI = 0.08–0.66) with PPSV23 vaccination, but not with TIV vaccination (adjusted OR = 0.65, 95%CI = 0.31–1.36). PPSV23 vaccination is likely effective in reducing incidence of pneumococcal CAP in older individuals, although its preventive effect for all-cause CAP has not been achieved.