Granulocyte and monocyte adsorptive apheresis induces apoptosis of neutrophils and release of a novel chemoattractant for desensitization of interleukin-8 response - In vitro and in vivo results.

Objective: Apoptotic cells participate in maintenance of homeostasis of the adaptive immune system. Granulocyte/monocyte adsorptive apheresis (GMA) performed with an Adacolumn has been shown to have clinical efficacy together with immunomodulatory effects for immune-mediated disorder cases, such as inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) or psoriatic arthritis. Although induction of apoptosis in neutrophils by GMA has been observed, the detailed mechanism remains unclear.

Whole-exome sequencing in a Japanese pedigree implicates a rare non-synonymous single-nucleotide variant in BEST3 as a candidate for mandibular prognathism.

Mandibular prognathism is a phenotype of facial deformity seen in populations around the world, but with higher incidence among East Asian populations. Five genome-wide nonparametric linkage analyses and a genome-wide association study to identify susceptibility loci of the phenotype have shown inconsistent results. To explore variants related to mandibular prognathism, we undertook whole-exome sequencing in a Japanese pedigree.

Antimicrobial efficacy of a novel povidone iodine contact lens disinfection system.

Purpose: Contact lens (CL) wear is a risk factor for the acquisition of microbial keratitis. Accordingly, compliance to manufacturers' recommended hygiene and disinfection procedures are vital to safe (CL) use. In this study we evaluated a novel povidone-iodine (PI) (CL) disinfection system (cleadew, Ophtecs Corporation, Japan) against a range of bacterial, fungal and Acanthamoeba.

Genome-wide association study for mandibular prognathism using microsatellite and pooled DNA method.

Introduction: The purpose of this study was to extend an association study from chromosome 1 to the whole genome (genome-wide association study) to find susceptibility loci of mandibular prognathism.

Methods: Two hundred forty patients diagnosed with mandibular prognathism and 360 healthy controls of Japanese descent were recruited. The typing of microsatellites covering the whole genome was conducted using a pooled DNA method.

Decomposition pathways of polytetrafluoroethylene by co-grinding with strontium/calcium oxides.

Waste polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) could be easily decomposed by co-grinding with inorganic additive such as strontium oxide (SrO), strontium peroxide (SrO) and calcium oxide (CaO) by using a planetary ball mill, in which the fluorine was transformed into nontoxic inorganic fluoride salts such as strontium fluoride (SrF) or calcium fluoride (CaF). Depending on the kind of additive as well as the added molar ratio, however, the reaction mechanism of the decomposition was found to change, with different compositions of carbon compounds formed. CO gas, the mixture of strontium carbonate (SrCO) and carbon, only SrCO were obtained as reaction products respectively with equimolar SrO, excess SrO and excess SrO to the monomer unit CF of PTFE were used.

Evaluation of the maxillofacial morphological characteristics of Apert syndrome infants.

Apert syndrome is a rare craniosynostosis syndrome characterized by irregular craniosynostosis, midface hypoplasia, and syndactyly of the hands and feet. Previous studies analyzed individuals with Apert syndrome and reported some facial and intraoral features caused by severe maxillary hypoplasia. However, these studies were performed by analyzing both individuals who had and those had not received a palate repair surgery, which had a high impact on the maxillary growth and occlusion.

Mechanochemical processing of molybdenum and vanadium sulfides for metal recovery from spent catalysts wastes.

This work describes the mechanochemical transformations of molybdenum and vanadium sulfides into corresponding molybdate and vanadate, to serve as a new environment-friendly approach for processing hazardous spent hydrodesulphurization (HDS) catalysts solid waste to achieve an easy recovery of not only molybdenum and vanadium but also nickel and cobalt. Co-grinding the molybdenum and vanadium sulfides with oxidants and sodium carbonate stimulates solid-state reactions without any heating aid to form metal molybdates and vanadates. The reactions proceed with an increase in grinding time and were enhanced by using more sodium carbonate and stronger oxidant.

A novel process utilizing mechanochemical sulfidization to remove lead from cathode ray tube funnel glass.

Unlabelled: A novelprocess ofmechanochemical sulfidization for the treatment of cathode ray tube (CRT)funnel glass has been investigated by co-grinding with the element sulfur The ground samples were characterized by means of a set of analytical methods, including scanning electron microscopy (SEM), x-ray diffraction (XRD), x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy (XPS), Raman spectroscopy, and thermogravimetric analysis (TG). The analytical results showed that during the co-grinding of the CRTfunnel glass with sulfur, the Si-O-Pb bond in glass and S-S bond broke and recombined into lead sulfide (PbS). The sulfidizing reaction proceeded with an increase in grinding time and the amount of the added sulfur.

Lead recovery from cathode ray tube funnel glass with mechanical activation.

Unlabelled: In the disposal of electronic waste, cathode ray tube (CRT) funnel glass remains an urgent environmental problem because of its high lead content. This research developed mechanical activation as a pretreatment process, and it proved to be an effective method for extracting lead from CRT funnel glass. The effects of mechanical activation on the structural changes of CRT funnel glass were investigated using X-ray diffraction (XRD), particle size analysis, specific surface area (SSA), and a scanning electron microscope (SEM).

Innovated application of mechanical activation to separate lead from scrap cathode ray tube funnel glass.

The disposal of scrap cathode ray tube (CRT) funnel glass has become a global environmental problem due to the rapid shrinkage of new CRT monitor demand, which greatly reduces the reuse for remanufacturing. To detoxificate CRT funnel glass by lead recovery with traditional metallurgical methods, mechanical activation by ball milling was introduced to pretreat the funnel glass. As a result, substantial physicochemical changes have been observed after mechanical activation including chemical breakage and defects formation in glass inner structure.

Correlation of thin fibrous cap possessing adipophilin-positive macrophages and intraplaque hemorrhage with high clinical risk for carotid endarterectomy.

Object: Preoperative clinical risk classification of carotid artery (CA) stenosis anticipates the outcome of CA intervention. A higher incidence of neurological morbidity was noted after CA stenting (CAS) in patients with medical risks than in those without risks. However, little is known about the correlation between clinical risks and plaque composition.

Three-dimensional craniomaxillary characteristics of the mouse with spontaneous malocclusion using micro-computed tomography.

The aim of this study was to clarify the morphological characteristics of craniomaxillary deviations in BALB/c-bm/bm mice with a spontaneous malocclusion (incisal transverse crossbite) using three-dimensional (3D) morphological measurements. Sixty female mice aged 13 and 25 weeks were divided into the following groups: control (BALB/c-+/+ mice, n = 20), norm (BALB/c-bm/bm mice with a normal occlusion, n = 20), and mal (BALB/c-bm/bm mice with a malocclusion, n = 20). Various points in the skull were selected and the distances between two points were measured using 3D micro-computed tomography (CT) images.

Generation of high-purity hydrogen from cellulose by its mechanochemical treatment.

Cellulose was mixed with the hydroxides of lithium and nickel and the mixture was milled, followed by heating to produce hydrogen. Several analytical methods of X-ray diffraction (XRD), thermogravimetry/mass spectrometry (TG/MS) and gas chromatography (GC) were used to characterize the samples. Hydrogen was emitted when heating the milled sample around 400 degrees C together with low concentrations of methane, carbon monoxide and carbon dioxide.

Generation of hydrogen from polyvinyl chloride by milling and heating with CaO and Ni(OH)2.

This work discusses an alternative process option for the treatment of polyvinyl chloride (PVC) by producing hydrogen (H(2)) gas, at the same time fixing chlorine for proper environmental control. In the first-stage, a milling operation is performed in a planetary ball mill to obtain a mixture of PVC sample with CaO and Ni(OH)(2) to be used as feed in the second-step, involving heating of the milled product. Analyses by thermogravimetry-mass spectroscopy (TG-MS) and gas chromatography (GC) showed H(2), CH(4), CO and CO(2) as main constituents.

Cardiac resynchronization and cardioverter defibrillation therapy in a patient with isolated noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium.

Isolated noncompaction of the ventricular myocardium (INVM) is an unclassified cardiomyopathy and is thought to be due to arrest of myocardial morphogenesis. Left ventricular failure and ventricular arrhythmias may occur in approximately half of the patients and account for half of the death in this disorder. In this report, we describe a patient with INVM in whom cardiac resynchronization and cardioverter defibrillation therapy was effective for the improvement of left ventricular function and for the prevention of ventricular arrhythmias.

Improvement in photocatalytic activity of TiO2 under visible irradiation through addition of N-TiO2.

This work is focused on improvement in photocatalytic activity of anatase-TiO2 (a-TiO2) photocatalyst under visible-light irradiation by adding nitrogen-doped TiO2 (N-TiO2) for depression of recombination rate between photoexcited electron and hole. The composites (a-TiO2/N-TiO2) were prepared by grinding in ethanol solvent at 200 rpm for 15 min with change in weight ratio of N-TiO2. In addition to the characterizations by X-ray diffraction and X-ray photoelectron spectroscopy, measurements of existing singlet oxygen by chemiluminescens method and photocatalytic activity by using NO(x) decomposition were conducted.

Alcohol produces imbalance of adrenal and neuronal sympathetic activity in patients with alcohol-induced neurocardiogenic syncope.

Background: The mechanism of alcohol-induced syncope is unknown.

Methods And Results: Head-up tilt tests (HUT: upright at 80 degrees for 30 min) were performed before and after alcohol consumption in 25 patients with unexplained syncope after drinking alcohol. Plasma levels of epinephrine (P-E) and norepinephrine (P-NE) were measured in a supine position and during HUT (at 15 min).

Basic autonomic nervous function in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope.

Basic autonomic nervous function was evaluated in patients with neurocardiogenic syncope (NCS). Atropine, isoproterenol, propranolol, phenylephrine, and phentolamine were administered successively, and parasympathetic nerve activity and beta- (and alpha-) activity, sensitivity, and secretion of the sympathetic nerve were determined in patients with NCS and control subjects. In patients with NCS, beta- and alpha- sensitivity were higher and beta-activity and beta- and alpha-secretion lower than in control subjects.

Renoprotective effect and cost-effectiveness of using benidipine, a calcium channel blocker, to lower the dose of angiotensin receptor blocker in hypertensive patients with albuminuria.

In hypertensive patients with chronic renal disease, angiotensin receptor blockers (ARBs) are among the first-line drugs, and calcium channel blockers (CCBs) are recommended as a second line. We examined the effects of two therapeutic strategies using ARBs and benidipine, a CCB, on blood pressure (BP), urinary albumin excretion (UAE), and cost-effectiveness in hypertensive patients with albuminuria. Patients whose BP was 140/90 mmHg or higher despite treatment with low- or medium-dose ARBs were assigned randomly to two groups.

Role of the low amplitude potential in the initial P wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram [corrected] in sick sinus syndrome.

Background: The cause of abnormally low amplitude of the initial P wave signal-averaged electrocardiogram (P-SAECG) in patients with sick sinus syndrome (SSS) is unknown.

Methods And Results: Thirteen normal patients (Group C) and 33 with SSS (Group S) were examined. The root mean square amplitude for the initial 30 ms (EP30) and the duration of below-4 microV signals of the filtered P waves (ED4) were measured using the P-SAECG.

Mechanochemical decomposition of PVC by using La2O3 as additive.

A polyvinyl chloride (PVC, [CH2CHCl]n) sample was ground with one of the following oxide samples, lanthanum oxide (La2O3) and calcium oxide (CaO), as a reference, to investigate its mechanochemical (MC) decomposition. According to the XRD patterns for the ground products, peaks of lanthanum oxy-chloride, LaOCl which is water insoluble, were observed to appear in the patterns of the mixture samples at a molar ratio of (PVC: La2O3 = 1:2) and (1:4), after 20 min grinding, while the patterns of the ground PVC-CaO mixtures show the formation of CaOHCl, which is water soluble, in the products after 2 h grinding. TG patterns taken for the PVC-La2O3 mixtures ground for different periods of time do not indicate significant weight loss in the range from 200 to 300 degrees C, and this suggests that La2O3 is more effective additive than CaO in the MC decomposition for PVC.

Evaluation of povidone-iodine as a disinfectant solution for contact lenses: antimicrobial activity and cytotoxicity for corneal epithelial cells.

Povidone-iodine (PVP-I) possesses broad-spectrum antimicrobial activity and is used clinically as a disinfectant. We evaluated the disinfectant properties and safety of PVP-I for use as a contact lens solution. The concentrations of PVP-I required to reduce the number of Staphylococcus aureus or Candida albicans by 3 log units were lower than were those of hydrogen peroxide, polyhexamethylene biguanide (PHMB), and benzalkonium chloride (BAK).

A soft-solution process for recovering rare metals from metal/alloy-wastes by grinding and washing with water.

We have developed a novel process for recovering metals from alloy-wastes by using a mechanochemical (MC) reaction. The process consists of co-grinding both alloy and polyvinyl chloride (PVC) samples, followed by washing with water and filtration. The co-grinding of the wastes causes a solid-state MC reaction to form metal chlorides and hydrocarbon in the product.