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A new MSR-ROM method for high density recording utilizes the difference in coercivity between 'rough' and 'smooth' areas in a disk. This method is advantageous for mass production and for the compatibility with erasable magneto-optical recording using MSR. A recording density of 5 Gbit/[inch.sup.2] is expected in this method, the same as the double mask type MSR technique in rewritable disk. This paper describes the principle of MSR-ROM and the results of a basic experiment.

Objectives: We investigated the effect of hydroxychloroquine (HCQ) on S100A8 and S100A9 serum levels in systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) patients with low disease activity receiving immunosuppressants. Methods: SELENA-SLEDAI, Cutaneous Lupus Erythematous Disease Area and Severity Index (CLASI) and serum levels of complement factors, anti-dsDNA antibodies, and white blood cell, lymphocyte, and platelet counts were used to evaluate disease activity, cutaneous disease activity, and immunological activity, respectively. Serum S100A8 and S100A9 were measured at HCQ administration and after 3 or 6 months using ELISA. Results: S100A8 and S100A9 serum levels were elevated at baseline and the magnitude of decrease from baseline at 3 and 6 months after HCQ administration was greater in patients with renal involvement than in those without (baseline: S100A8, p = 0.034; S100A9, p = 0.0084; decrease: S100A8, p = 0.049; S100A9, p = 0.023). S100 modulation was observed in patients with (n = 17; S100A8, p = 0.0011; S100A9, p = 0.0002) and without renal involvement (n = 20; S100A8, p = 0.0056; S100A9, p = 0.0012), and was more apparent in patients with improved CLASI activity scores (improved: S100A8, p = 0.013; S100A9, p = 0.0032; unimproved: S100A8, p = 0.055; S100A9, p = 0.055). No associations were observed for immunological biomarkers. Conclusion: HCQ may improve organ involvement in SLE by modulating S100 protein levels, especially in patients with renal or skin involvement. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PURPOSE: To investigate the use of the accelerometer-determined physical activity (PA) intensity variables as the objective PA variables for estimating VO2max in Japanese adult women. METHODS: The subjects of this study were 148 Japanese women aged 20 to 69 yr. Maximal oxygen uptake (VO2max) was measured with a maximal incremental test on a bicycle ergometer. Daily step counts (SC) and the amount spent in moderate to vigorous PA (MVPA) and vigorous PA (VPA) were measured using accelerometer-based activity monitors for 7 consecutive days. Using data of age, SC, MVPA, or VPA, and either body mass index (BMI) or waist circumference (WC), the nonexercise VO2max prediction models were derived as BMI models(MVPA), WC models(MVPA), BMI models(VPA), and WC models(VPA), and cross-validated by using two separate cross-validation procedures. RESULTS: SC, MVPA, and VPA were significantly related to VO2max (r = 0.43, r = 0.52, and r = 0.58, respectively). The multiple correlation coefficients for the BMI and WC models(MVAP) were 0.83 and 0.85, respectively, and for the BMI and WC models(VPA), they were 0.85 and 0.86, respectively. The SEE was 3.3 and 3.1 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1) for the BMI and WC models(MVPA), respectively, and it was 3.1 and 3.0 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1) for the BMI and WC models(VPA), respectively. All regression models demonstrated a high level of cross-validity supported by the minor shrinkage of the coefficient of determination and the increment of SEE in the predicted residual sum of squares procedure, and by small constant errors for the subgroups of age, SC, and VO2max between 25 and 35 mL x kg(-1) x min(-1). CONCLUSIONS: This study demonstrated that multiple regression models using data of MVPA or VPA were useful in predicting VO2max for Japanese adult women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

OBJECTIVE: We investigated the link between a reduction in waist circumference and metabolic syndrome. METHODS: 105 obese Japanese men were enrolled in this study with a 1-year follow-up. Anthropometric and body composition parameters, i.e. height, body weight, body fat percentage, waist circumference and hip circumference, blood pressure, triglyceride, HDL cholesterol and blood sugar, were evaluated. Metabolic syndrome was diagnosed using criteria developed in Japan. RESULTS: After a 1-year follow-up, the parameters of metabolic syndrome were significantly improved. The prevalence of metabolic syndrome was significantly reduced in subjects with at least 3 cm of waist circumference reduction (Group R). However, in subjects without such reduction (Group C), the prevalence of metabolic syndrome was similar to baseline levels. The prevalence of abdominal obesity, hypertension and dyslipidemia was also significantly reduced in Group R. In addition, there were remarkable differences of delta triglyceride (delta represents positive changes in parameters) and delta HDL cholesterol between Group R and Group C. CONCLUSION: At least 3 cm of waist circumference reduction may be beneficial for improving metabolic syndrome in obese Japanese men. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

SummaryA new device based on the plethysmographic measurement of body volume, named the BOD POD Body Composition System, was developed for the purpose of estimating body composition. The performance, reliability, validity, and clinical application of this system were evaluated in Japanese subjects. The coefficient variation (CV:%) in same-day tests was 2.48, in three separate-day tests it was 2.27, and for independent operators it was 4.53, respectively. There was a clear correlation between the results from BOD POD and those from dual energy X-ray absorptiometry (DEXA) (r = 0.910, p < 0.01). Finally, the fat body composition of 4489 subjects (1499 men, 2990 women) was clinically measured by BOD POD. The findings indicate that the BOD POD is a highly reliable and valid method for determining body fat percentage. This new method has several advantages, e.g. it is quick, simple to operate and may accommodate wide populations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract Background Galectin-9 (Gal-9) induces apoptosis in activated T helper 1 (TH1) cells as a ligand for T cell immunoglobulin mucin-3 (Tim-3). Gal-9 also inhibits the G1 phase cell cycle arrest and hypertrophy in db/db mice, the hallmark of early diabetic nephropathy, by reversing the high glucose-induced up-regulation of cyclin dependent kinase inhibitors such as p27Kip1 and p21Cip1. Methods We investigated the serum levels of Gal-9 in the patients with type 2 diabetes and various stages of chronic kidney disease (CKD) (n=182). Results Serum Gal-9 levels in the patients with type 2 diabetes were 131.9 ± 105.4 pg/ml and Log10Gal-9 levels significantly and positively correlated with age (r=0.227, p=0.002), creatinine (r=0.175, p=0.018), urea nitrogen (r=0.162, p=0.028) and osmotic pressure (r=0.187, p=0.014) and negatively correlated with estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (r=−0.188, p=0.011). Log10Gal-9 levels increased along with the progression of GFR categories of G1 to G4, and they were statistically significant by Jonckheere-Terpstra test (p=0.012). Log10Gal-9 levels remained similar levels in albuminuria stages of A1 to A3. Conclusion The elevation of serum Gal-9 in the patients with type 2 diabetes is closely linked to GFR and they may be related to the alteration of the immune response and inflammation of the patients with type 2 diabetes and CKD.

Abstract Background Visceral adipose tissue-derived serine proteinase inhibitor (vaspin) is an adipokine identified in genetically obese rats that correlates with insulin resistance and obesity in humans. Recently, we found that 7% of the Japanese population with the minor allele sequence (A) of rs77060950 exhibit higher levels of serum vaspin. We therefore evaluated the serum vaspin levels in Japanese chronic hemodialysis patients. Methods Healthy Japanese control volunteers (control; n = 95, 49.9±6.91 years) and Japanese patients undergoing hemodialysis therapy (HD; n = 138, 51.4±10.5 years) were enrolled in this study, and serum samples were subjected to the human vaspin RIA system. Results The measurement of the serum vaspin levels demonstrated that a fraction of control subjects (n = 5) and HD patients (n = 11) exhibited much higher levels (> 10 ng/ml; VaspinHigh group), while the rest of the population exhibited lower levels (< 3 ng/ml; VaspinLow group). By comparing the patients in the VaspinLow group, the serum vaspin levels were found to be significantly higher in the control subjects (0.87±0.24 ng/ml) than in the HD patients (0.32±0.15 ng/ml) (p Conclusions The creatinine levels are negatively correlated with the serum vaspin levels and were significantly reduced in the Japanese HD patients in the VaspinLow group.