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We conducted a cross-sectional survey to assess the prevalence of physical pain in Japanese major depressive disorder (MDD) and schizophrenia (SZ) patients as well as in healthy controls (HCs). We also examined the association between their psychopathology and characteristics of pain according to a face-to-face survey by an experienced psychiatrist and psychologist. We analyzed 233 HCs, 94 MDD patients, and 75 SZ patients using the McGill Pain Questionnaire (MPQ) and SF-8 (all participants), the Hamilton Depression Rating Scale 21 items (MDD patients), and the Positive and Negative Symptom Scale (SZ patients). Although MDD patients experienced more pain than HCs, there was no difference in the prevalence of pain between SZ patients and HCs. Moreover, HCs with pain did not have higher SF-8 total scores than those without pain, whereas both MDD and SZ patients with pain had higher SF-8 total scores than those without pain. The severity of psychopathology in MDD and SZ patients was also positively associated with both the prevalence of pain and MPQ scores. MPQ scores were also associated with positive symptoms in SZ patients. Considering these results, physicians need to query MDD patients about physical pain during examination if they are to ensure a favorable and quick response to treatment. The severity of positive symptoms (i.e., clinical status) in SZ patients might also be associated with pain sensitivity, and warrants further investigation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The combination of a dipeptidyl peptidase-4 (DPP-4) inhibitor and a long-acting insulin analogue is widely used in clinical practice. However, some patients fail to achieve lower postprandial hyperglycemia. Mitiglinide, a short-acting insulinotropic sulfonylurea receptor ligand, is effective for postprandial hyperglycemia. Recently, it has been reported that the combination therapy of mitiglinide with a DPP-4 inhibitor could improve glycemic control. However, the efficacy of those under long-acting insulin analogue therapy remains to be investigated. Thus, we conducted a prospective single-center study of eight Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus receiving mitiglinide added to the combination therapy of sitagliptin and insulin glargine, and evaluated its efficacy and safety by continuous glucose monitoring (CGM). Participants' (four men and four women) mean age was 70.3 ± 10.6 years. Their mean body mass index, HbA1c level, and urinary C-peptide level were 22.0 ± 2.8 kg/m², 9.2 ± 1.2%, and 50.0 ± 31.4 µg/day, respectively. CGM showed that as compared with the combination of only sitagliptin and insulin glargine, mitiglinide in combination with sitagliptin and insulin glargine significantly reduced glycemic fluctuation indices, total area for the range of 24-h glycemic fluctuations (p = 0.04), mean amplitude of glycemic excursions (p = 0.03), and the proportion of time in hyperglycemia (p = 0.02) without significant difference in the proportion of time in hypoglycemia (p = 0.18). Hence, we have demonstrated the efficacy and safety of the add-on treatment with mitiglinide in type 2 diabetic patients, receiving the combination therapy of sitagliptin and insulin glargine. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this study, we present the preparation of zinc oxide (ZnO) and zinc hydroxide (Zn(OH)2) single nanosheets for the first time. ZnO nanosheet was prepared by delamination of layered ZnO film intercalated with the dodecyl sulfate (DS−) ion which was synthesized by cathodic electrodeposition process. In this case, the addition of La3誉 into the electrolyte was very critical for the further delamination process. On the other hand, Zn(OH)2nanosheet was prepared by delamination of layered Zn(OH)2intercalated with the DS−ion that was prepared by a soft solution process using hexamethylenetetramine (HMT). The thicknesses of the ZnO and Zn(OH)2nanosheets were about 0.7 and 1.0 nm, respectively. The structures of the nanosheets were discussed with the results of transmission electron microscopy (TEM) and selected area electron diffraction (SAED) images. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Localized surface plasmon resonance (LSPR) attracts attention for the fabrication of a biosensor because it can be used easily and is highly sensitive to the change in surface reflective index. Anodic aluminum oxide (AAO) has self-assembled nanoholes and is fabricated easily all over the Al substrate. The depth and diameter of the nanoholes are easily controlled by changing the etching solution and applied voltage. By depositing a Au thin film on the AAO substrate, the sensitivity of the sensor chip was affected by both optical interference and LSPR. In this study, the optical property of the AAO-based LSPR sensor chip was characterized on the basis of the nanostructure. We presented a biosensing application of the AAO-based LSPR sensor chip. The highest sensitivity of the sensor chip was observed at the AAO nanohole diameter of 75 nm and the AAO nanohole depth of 0.5 µm, when bovine serum albumin (BSA) adsorbed on the sensor chip. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We use first-principles quantum mechanics to simulate the transient electrical response through carbon nanotube-based conductors under time-dependent bias voltages. The dynamic admittance and time-dependent charge distribution are reported and analyzed. We find that the electrical response of these two-terminal molecular devices can be mapped onto an equivalent classical electric circuit and that the switching time of these end-on carbon nanotube devices is only a few femtoseconds. This result is confirmed by studying the electric response of a simple two-site model device and is thus generalized to other two-terminal molecular electronic devices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]