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This study aimed to compare the pre- and postoperative morphology of the median nerve using three-dimensional (3-D) MRI in patients with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS).We assessed 31 patients with CTS who underwent open carpal tunnel release and T2*-weighted MRI of the wrist preoperatively and at 6 months postoperatively. The median nerve morphology was evaluated on the basis of the cross-sectional areas (CSAs) and cross-sectional volumes (CSVs). The association between these MRI findings and nerve conduction studies was also evaluated.The mean preoperative CSA and CSV values at the proximal carpal tunnel level significantly decreased from 22.2 mmVisual confirmation of the median nerve morphology using 3-D MRI is useful when considering postoperative recovery and explaining the nerve condition to the patients.• The 3-D morphology of the median nerve after carpal tunnel release can be delineated using 3-D MRI. • Preoperative swelling of the median nerve in the 2-D and 3-D planes reflects the severity of carpal tunnel syndrome. • Visual confirmation of the median nerve morphology is useful when considering median nerve recovery after carpal tunnel release and for explaining the condition of the nerve to patients.

Canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) has an extremely poor prognosis, making it necessary to develop new systemic treatment methods. MicroRNA-214 (miR-214) is one of many microRNAs (miRNA) that can induce apoptosis in HSA cell lines. Synthetic miR-214 (miR-214/5AE), which showed higher cytotoxicity and greater nuclease resistance than mature miR-214, has been developed for clinical application. In this study, we evaluated the effects of miR-214/5AE on stage 2 HSA in a mouse model. Mice intraperitoneally administered with miR-214/5AE (5AE group) had significantly fewer intraperitoneal dissemination tumor foci (median number: 72.5 vs. 237.5; p 0.05) and a lower median foci weight (0.26 g vs. 0.61 g; p 0.05). Mice in the 5AE group had increased expression of p53 and cleaved caspase-3, and a significantly lower proportion of Ki-67-positive cells, than those in the non-specific miR group. Notably, no significant side effects were observed. These results indicate that intraperitoneal administration of miR-214/5AE exhibits antitumor effects in an intraperitoneal dissemination mouse model of HSA by inducing apoptosis and suppressing cell proliferation. These results provide a basis for future studies on the antitumor effect of miR-214/5AE for HSA.

Background: Although implant removal after clavicle fracture is usually conducted under general anesthesia, local anesthesia has mostly been used in our hospital. Hypothesis: Plate removal following clavicle fracture surgery is painful and distressing for patients if conducted under local anesthesia, and whether patients who have undergone this procedure would prefer it to be performed under general anesthesia should they require similar surgery in the future was conducted. Methods: The study participants were 56 patients who had undergone plate fixation of a distal clavicle fracture or clavicular shaft fracture in whom plate removal was conducted under local anesthesia at a university hospital, and 183 patients in whom plate removal was conducted under general anesthesia at an acute general hospital. The participants were asked to complete a questionnaire including a question on which method of anesthesia they would prefer should they have to undergo similar surgery in the future. Results: The patients of both groups responded that they would prefer the same method of anesthesia as before to be used (87.0% of the patients who underwent plate removal under local anesthesia, 78.9 % of the patients underwent plate removal under general anesthesia), with no significant difference between the groups (p > 0.33). Discussion: Patients who underwent surgery under local anesthesia preferred local anesthesia if they were to undergo it next, even though most of them felt some pain. While surgeons tend to focus only on the patient's distress during surgery, they also find that patients are often dissatisfied during the perioperative period, including bed rest and urinary catheters. Conclusion: Plate removal under local anesthesia, which was just as acceptable as general anesthesia for the patients. Level of evidence: Case-control study

INTRODUCTION We investigated the changes in MRI T2 mapping values in subjects with carpal tunnel syndrome (CTS) compared to healthy controls. METHODS We enrolled 71 patients with CTS and 26 healthy controls. Median nerve T2 values were measured at the distal carpal tunnel, hamate bone, proximal carpal tunnel, and forearm levels. These were compared between patients and controls and correlated with median nerve cross-sectional area (CSA) and nerve conduction measurements. RESULTS The mean T2 values at the proximal carpal tunnel levels were higher in the CTS group (56.7 ms) than in the control group (51.2 ms, P = .02) and also were higher than at the distal carpal tunnel (51.0 ms, P

Canine hemangiosarcoma (HSA) has extremely poor prognosis, making it necessary to develop new systemic treatment methods. MicroRNA-214 (miR-214) is one of many microRNAs (miRNA) that can induce apoptosis in HSA cell lines. Synthetic miR-214 (miR-214/5AE), which showed higher cytotoxicity and greater nuclease resistance than mature miR-214, has been developed for clinical application. In this study, we evaluated the effects of miR-214/5AE on stage 2 HSA in a mouse model. Mice intraperitoneally administered with miR-214/5AE (5AE group) had significantly fewer intraperitoneal dissemination tumor foci (median number: 80 vs. 233; p p

The prognosis for bile duct carcinoma in dogs is generally believed to be poor. However, only a few studies have evaluated the postoperative outcomes in such cases. The objective of this case series was to describe the postoperative outcomes of localized intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma in dogs. The electronic medical records of 16 dogs with bile duct carcinoma were reviewed, and 6 dogs were included in the study. All cases were diagnosed as bile duct carcinoma using postoperative pathology, and five of them had already been diagnosed using preoperative core biopsy. The tumors in all of the dogs were confirmed as completely resected on histopathological examination. Two dogs received toceranib following the surgery. The median follow-up time was 693 days (range, 420–1386 days), with a median survival time of 894 days (range, 420–1386 days). Local recurrence or distant metastases were detected in two of the six dogs (33%) on 354 and 398 days following surgery, respectively. The median progression-free survival was 492 days (range, 354–1386 days). In conclusion, dogs with localized intrahepatic bile duct carcinoma had a good prognosis following complete surgical resection.

The exchange flows in a buoyancy driven forced flow in vertical pipes of circular and square cross-sections were studied experimentally and the flow structure was examined by proper orthogonal decomposition (POD) analysis. The experiments were carried out in the vertical pipes issuing into a still brine water environment and the flow fields were visualized by the laser-induced fluorescence (LIF) technique. The flow visualization study showed that the critical inflow condition was deviated from the purging boundary due to the influence of hysteresis, and they are shifted to the high Froude numbers in the square pipe compared to the circular one. The POD analysis of the exchange flow indicates that the fluctuating energy is increased in the lower POD modes due to the formation of large-scale structure of the exchange flow. It is found from the analysis that the exchange flow in the low Reynolds number is promoted at the corners of the cross section in the square pipe, while it is randomly distributed in the circular pipe. This corresponds to an increased critical Froude number in the square pipe than that of the circular pipe, which is due to the presence of exchange flow through the corners. With increasing the Reynolds numbers, the flow becomes turbulent and the scale of the exchange flow is decreased and restricted to the near-wall region, while the location of the exchange flow becomes random along the pipe wall irrespective of the cross-sectional shape of the pipes.

The phase transition of pharmaceutical excipients that can be induced by humidifying or heating is well-known to increase the hardness of orally disintegrating tablets (ODTs). However, these conditions are not applicable to drug substances that are chemically unstable against such stressors. Here, we describe a system which enhances the hardness of tablets containing water-insoluble polymers by using high-pressure carbon dioxide (CO2). On screening of 26 polymeric excipients, aminoalkyl methacrylate copolymer E (AMCE) markedly increased tablet hardness (+155N) when maintained in a high-pressure CO2 environment. ODTs containing 10% AMCE were prepared and treatment with 4.0MPa CO2 gas at 25°C for 10min increased the hardness to +30N, whose level corresponded to heating at 70°C for 720min. In addition, we confirmed the effects of CO2 pressure, temperature, treatment time, and AMCE content on the physical properties of ODTs. Optimal pressure of CO2 gas was considered to be approximately 3.5MPa for an AMCE formula, as excessive pressure delayed the disintegration of ODTs. Combination of high-pressure CO2 gas and AMCE is a prospective approach for increasing the tablet hardness for ODTs, and can be conducted without additional heat or moisture stress using a simple apparatus.

The onset of exchange flow and the flow structure in a combined buoyancy and forced pipe flow are experimentally studied at Reynolds number up to 7000. The experiment is carried out in a vertical pipe flow of water issuing into a still brine water environment of various concentrations and flow rates. The critical Froude number for the onset of exchange flow is evaluated by the laser-induced fluorescence technique and the velocity fields near the pipe exit are measured by the particle-image velocimetry. The critical Froude number in the laminar regime increases with increasing the Reynolds number and the onset of inflow and the purging of the exchange flow are deviated due to the hysteresis effect, while it is not observed in the turbulent regime. It is found that the laminar exchange flow is characterized by the large-scale structure and the turbulent exchange flow is featured by the small-scale structure near the wall. The enhancement of velocity fluctuation near the pipe exit is clearly observed in the laminar regime due to the occurrence of exchange flow, while it is limited to the near-wall region in the turbulent regime.

Laser cutting has started to be used as an effective method for cutting out blanks from rolled sheet metals because of its high flexibility for cutting lines and high productivity. However, residual stresses, which are generated by laser cutting, have been the greatest obstacle for the popularization of laser cutting. One of the problems is the warp which appears in the sheet metal after being subjected to bending processes after laser cutting. The authors present a light press method for reducing residual stress generated by laser cutting. The method is to give a light press on the sheet metal edge and to reduce tensile residual stress generated near the laser cutting surface. In particular, this present paper especially focuses upon optimization of working conditions depending on mechanical properties of the blank and the effect of the heat affected zone in laser cutting. Experiments of U-bending after applying light press were conducted for usability of this method. The FEM analyses were carried out in order to investigate proper working conditions depending on various mechanical properties. As a result, the optimum press pressure of the light press method for various mechanical properties was found out for reducing residual stress which caused by laser cutting, by taking warp after U-bending as an evaluation parameter. The relationship between the optimum pressure and the proof stress was quantitatively and specifically clarified for several sets of mechanical properties. It was also found that the influence of heat-affected-zone area and intensity of residual stress by laser cutting on the optimum press pressure was small.

Tracer test is a useful method to investigate various phenomena in geological porous media including groundwater contaminant transport, sweep efficiency and retention time in oil reservoir, reservoir characterization, fractures orientation assessment, as well as geothermal reservoir evaluation. Numerical methods are powerful tools in interpreting tracer test results. However, they are limited by computational restrictions which include finer grid requirements and small calculation steps. In this study, an analog model of a quarter five-spot porous reservoir was simulated by using random walk particle tracking method. This scheme used ‘method of images’ with pairs of injector–producer potential flow to generate the velocity vectors instead of conventionally solving Darcy’s equation to obtain grid velocities. Simulated breakthrough concentration profiles and flow visualization were compared with both experimental results and Eulerian-grid based finite volume simulation. The predicted breakthrough curves of tracer concentration were found to agree with experimental data sets. In addition to be free from numerical errors as often encountered in grid-based simulation, the proposed particle tracking model showed a faster computational time. Unlike the conventional grid method, this technique provides inherently smooth and continuous flow field at arbitrary position within the reservoir model.

Sepantronium bromide (YM155) is a small molecule suppressant of survivin with time-dependent antitumor activity. In Phase II trials, the dosage form is a parenteral solution for continuous intravenous administration for 7 days. Although an oral YM155 formulation is required to improve patient convenience, oral bioavailability is low due to poor membrane permeability. Plasma concentrations of YM155 were significantly increased in intestinal loops pre-washed with phosphate buffered saline ( p p ® E) with HCl (E-FD) improved YM155 absorption in mice. In addition, E-FD suppressed the interaction between YM155 and mucin. These results suggest that E-FD improves YM155 absorption by reducing the interaction between YM155 and mucin. E-FD is therefore a promising candidate as an absorption-improving agent for the development of oral formulations of YM155.

This paper describes a research on the cause and prevention of electromagnetic noises in a molding factory mainly handling injection molding tools. Through the investigation of the electromagnetic environment and finding the root causes of the electromagnetic noises, it was found that the implementation of corrective actions on Electromagnetic Compatibility (EMC) issue can be possible even by engineers not specialized in electromagnetics by introducing two new perspectives.

This paper describes a study on the application of a decoration molding technology, one of the traditional techniques in the mold forming technology. The application of this decoration molding technology makes the design of antennas more desirable by adding new values, such as increased accuracy in dimensions and the capability to design antennas on three-dimensional surfaces.

Laser cutting has started to be used as an effective method for cutting out blanks from rolled sheet metals because of its high flexibility for cutting line and high productivity. However, residual stresses, which are generated by laser cutting, have been the greatest obstacle for the popularization of laser cutting. One of the problems is the warp which appears in the sheet metal, after being subjected to bending processes after laser cutting. The authors present a light indentation method for reducing residual stress generated by laser cutting. The method is to give light indentation on the sheet metal edge and to reduce tensile residual stress generated near the laser cutting surface. In particular, this present paper especially focuses upon optimization of working condition depending on mechanical properties of blank. Furthermore, the mechanism of transition of stress and effective strain in light indentation was examined. Experiments of U-bending after applying light indentation were conducted for usability of this method. The FEM analyses were carried out in order to investigate the effect of working condition in various mechanical properties. As a result, the optimum condition of light indentation method in various materials was found out, and the warp of bent sheet metals was drastically reduced.

In self-assembled monolayer, SAM, molecules are attracted each other to be closely packed. Such a structural feature causes the stable mechanical, chemical, and thermo-dynamical properties. In addition, recent preparation techniques allowed the direct electronic coupling between organic functionality and Si substrate. As the results, SAMs possess great potential in the fields of electrochemical sensors and molecular electronics. From the viewpoint of application, it is desirable to precisely estimate the molecular orientation in SAMs. In the present study, we propose the structural analysis using water drop angle. To form hexadecyl-SAMs, hydrogen-terminated Si substrate was soaked in 1-hexadecene under UV light for 2 hours. UV light is capable of breaking Si-H bond homolytically, which yields the Si dangling bonds that can act as the starting point for radical chain propagation. When a droplet is attached to SAM and the SAM surface is tilted little by little, the droplet will lunge forward and finally slide downward. The tilting angle when the droplet starts sliding is called ‘water drop angle’, WDA. We measured WDA by an original system, in which sample surface could be simultaneously tilted and rotated from 0 to 90 and from 0 to 360 degrees, respectively. Figure 1(a) shows the typical measurement results for the hexadecyl-SAMs. WDAs were found to considerably change with the rotation angles. In addition, the period in the WDA change was nearly equal to 180 degrees. Here in-plane rotation angle was defined the orientation flat of the wafer, Si(111), as 0 degree. We believe that the periodic change is in relation to the molecular orientation. Namely, when a sample is tilted in the direction as shown in Fig. 1(b), a droplet is hooked by the SAM molecules, resulting in the large WDAs. On the other hand, in the case of Fig. 1(c), the friction between a droplet and the SAM surface is expected to be weak, corresponding to the small WDAs. The maximum WDAs for the hexadecyl-SAMs were observed at the rotation angles about 210 degrees. To justify these experimental results, it is extremely important to notice that the sterific hindrance between the (Si-C-)C-H bonds of the SAM molecules and the surrounding unreacted Si-H bonds should be minimum in six molecular orientation. As a result, the WDA reasonably exhibited the maximum value at the rotation angles of 210 degrees. In the ECS meeting, we will indicate that our measurement method is useful to estimate the orientation direction of the molecules covalently-bonded to the solid surface. Figure 1

The objective of the present study was to determine the optimum composition for sustained-release of tamsulosin hydrochloride from microparticles intended for orally disintegrating tablets. Microparticles were prepared from an aqueous ethylcellulose dispersion (Aquacoa®), and an aqueous copolymer based on ethyl acrylate and methyl methacrylate dispersion (Eudragit®) NE30D), with microcrystalline cellulose as core particles with a fluidized bed coating process. Prepared microparticles were about 200 μm diameter and spherical. The microparticles were evaluated for in vitro drug release and in vivo absorption to assess bioequivalence in a commercial product, Harnal® pellets. The optimum ratio of Aquacoat® and Eudragit® NE30D in the matrix was 9:1. We observed similar drug release profiles in microparticles and Harnal® pellets. Higuchi model analysis of the in vitro drug release from microparticles was linear up to 80% release, typical of Fickian diffusion sustained-release profile. The in vivo absorption properties from microparticles were comparable to Harnal® pellets, and there was a linear relationship between in vitro drug release and in vivo drug release. In conclusion, this development produces microparticles in single-step coating, that provided a sustained-release of tamsulosin hydrochloride comparable to Harnal® pellets.

This study evaluated the immunogenicity and safety of a novel H1N1 2009 pandemic vaccine(A/California/7/2009) in Japanese adults.Following Dose 1, seroprotection rate (HI titre ≥1:40) was 95%, seroconversion rate was 94% and the geometric mean titre (GMT) was 230.3 (geometric mean fold rise [GMFR]: 26.3). Following Dose 2, seroprotection rate as well as seroconversion rate were 100%; HI antibody GMT rose to 485 (GMFR: 55.4). European and United States regulatory acceptance criteria for immunogenicity were met and exceeded following each dose of the vaccine. Solicited symptoms recorded during the 7-day post-vaccination follow-up period were of mild to moderate intensity (Grade 3: ≤4% of subjects). The most frequently reported solicited symptoms after both doses were pain at the injection site, fatigue and muscle ache. Unsolicited adverse events causally related to vaccination were reported in 18 subjects; none were of Grade 3 intensity. There were no serious adverse events.This open-label, single-group, multi-center Phase II study enrolled 100 healthy subjects aged 20-64 years(stratification [1:1] by age: 20-40 years and 41-64 years) to receive 21 days apart, two doses of a monovalent, split-virion AS03(A)-adjuvanted H1N1 2009 pandemic vaccine (3.75 μg hemagglutinin [HA]). Blood samples collected before vaccination and 21 days after each dose were analyzed using hemagglutination inhibition (HI) assay.A single dose of AS 03A-adjuvanted, 3.75 μg HA H1N1 2009 pandemic influenza vaccine was highly immunogenic in Japanese adults with a clinically acceptable safety profile, thereby making it a potential candidate for mitigating A/H1N1-associated morbidity and mortality.

This retrospective cohort study was designed to validate the reliability of measurement of the lateral capitellohumeral angle (LCHA), an index of sagittal angulation of the elbow, in healthy children. The results were compared to the Baumann angle (BA), which is a similar concept to LCHA. Sixty-two radiographs of the elbow in healthy children (range, 2–11 years) were reviewed by 6 examiners at 2 sessions. The mean value and reliability of the measurement of LCHA and BA were assessed. Intraobserver reliability and interobserver reliability were calculated using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICCs). The mean LCHA value was 45° (range, 22° to 70°) and the mean BA was 71° (range, 56° to 86°). The ICCs for intraobserver reliability of the LCHA measurements were almost perfect for 2 examiners, substantial for 3 examiners, and moderate for 1 examiner with a mean value of 0.77 (range, 0.57–0.95). For BA measurements, the ICCs were almost perfect for 1 examiner and substantial for 5 examiners with a mean value of 0.74 (range, 0.66–0.83). The ICCs for interobserver reliability between the first and second measurements were both moderate for LCHA (0.56 and 0.51) and for BA (0.52 and 0.50). LCHA showed almost the same reliability in measurement as BA, which is the gold standard assessment for coronal alignment of the elbow. LCHA showed moderate-to-good reliability in the evaluation of sagittal plane elbow alignment.

A “Salting-out Taste-masking System” generates a long lag time for numbness and bitterness masking, with subsequent immediate drug release to exert pharmacological effects. In this study, the effects of physicochemical properties of salting-out agents and water-soluble polymers in the salting-out layer on the dissolution behaviors of acetaminophen were investigated and predominant factors for lag time generation (Lag time index, hereafter LI) and subsequent drug release (Rapid release index, hereafter RI) were discussed. Each prepared formulation showed a different dissolution profile of acetaminophen with a lag time and subsequent immediate release. Significant correlations between both LI and RI and ΔCST (the salting-out power of salting-out agents) ( r 2 = 0.90, 0.67, respectively) and between both LI and RI and CST 1 (the sensitivity of water-soluble polymers to a salting-out effect) ( r 2 = 0.98, 0.71, respectively) were shown. These results suggest that the components showing a strong salting-out effect inside the beads lead to extended lag times and slow drug releases after the lag times. Results further suggest the use of CST 1 to evaluate suitable combinations of salting-out agents and water-soluble polymers in this system.

Salting-out effects were utilized for developing a multiparticulate system balancing numbness masking and high bioavailability. A "salting-out taste-masking system" consisting of a drug core containing acetaminophen as a model drug, a salting-out layer containing sodium carbonate (Na(2)CO(3)) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC), and a water-penetration-control layer consisting of cetanol was designed and prepared. The system successfully generated a long lag time while achieving immediate drug release. In the system, the Na(2)CO(3) release rate was slower and the lag time was longer than when the water-penetration-control layer was not present. During the release of Na(2)CO(3) from the system, the release of HPMC and drug was suppressed. These results indicated that the water-penetration-control layer maintained a high concentration of Na(2)CO(3), prevented HPMC's dissolution, and generated a long lag time of drug release. The system generated longer lag time and released drug more immediately than formulation containing the water-penetration-control layer of same thickness without the salting-out layers. These results indicated the salting-out layers were necessary for obtain a long lag time and subsequent immediate drug release. This novel taste-masking system has the potential to be a useful multiparticulate dosage form for effective, safe, and user-friendly drug therapy.

A “salting-out taste-masking system” is a multiparticulate system consisting of a drug core, a salting-out layer containing salts and water-soluble polymers, and a water-penetration control layer containing water-insoluble materials. The system generates a long lag time for numbness masking, with subsequent immediate drug release for high bioavailability. In this study, sodium carbonate (Na 2 CO 3 ) and hydroxypropylmethylcellulose (HPMC) were used as the salt and water-soluble polymer in the salting-out layer, respectively. The drug release rate from the formulation containing the HPMC layer was affected by the Na 2 CO 3 concentrations in the media used in the drug dissolution tests. The HPMC layer suppressed drug release in a medium with a high Na 2 CO 3 concentration, and subsequently increased the drug release rate in a medium with a low Na 2 CO 3 concentration. Drug release from the system was suppressed while Na 2 CO 3 remained in the formulations. Microscopic changes in HPMC in the salting-out layers correlated well with changes in the drug release rate. These results indicate that, in the salting-out taste-masking system, the drug release suppression and the immediate release are caused by insolubilization and dissolution of the water-soluble polymer respectively. These findings will allow for smarter formulation design.

Defatted rice bran was treated with subcritical water in the temperature range of 180–280 °C for 5 min using 117 mL and 9 mL vessels to produce the extracts. The total sugar and protein contents and radical scavenging activity of the extracts were then estimated for both vessels. The total sugar concentration of ca. 0.3 g/L-extract was the highest for the extracts at 200 °C, and it significantly decreased at the higher temperatures. The protein concentration and radical scavenging activity were higher at the higher temperatures. Extraction was also done at 200 °C and 260 °C for various times using the small vessel. The total sugar concentration decreased with the increasing extraction time, while the protein concentration and radical scavenging activity only slightly depended on the extraction time. The extracts at 200 °C or lower temperatures using the large vessel possessed the emulsifying and emulsion-stabilizing activities. The HPLC analysis of the extract at 260 °C for 5 min using the small vessel indicated that it contained both hydrophilic and hydrophobic substances. The hydrophilic fraction of the extract mainly contained low-molecular-mass substances.

Resist-free photocatalytic lithography has been studied. We attempted to etch aluminum (Al) thin films in deionized water using zinc oxide (ZnO) nanoislands as the photocatalyst deposited on Al thin films by reactive RF magnetron sputtering. The etching samples (ZnO/Al/glass) were irradiated with UV light in deionized water. We measured Al concentration in deionized water after UV irradiation and calculated Al etching rate. It was found that Al can be etched using ZnO nanoislands as the photocatalyst in deionized water and that Al etching rates were from 0.28 to 0.53 nm/min. These values were on the atomic size order. The activation energy of reaction for Al etching by photocatalysis of ZnO was 31.32 kJ/mol. Al etching rate can be increased by adding hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) to deionized water.

A novel cholesterol esterase with there and throughout to synthesisze steryl ester was obtained from the culture filtrate of a fungal strain Trichoderma sp. AS59 isolated from soil. The extracellular enzyme was a monomeric protein with a molecular mass of approximately 58 kDa and an isoelectric point of 4.3. The optimal temperature was between 35 degrees C and 40 degrees C, and the optimal pH was 7.0. The enzyme retained 75% of the initial activity after 18 h of incubation at 30 degrees C in the pH range of 3.5-7.5. Its relative hydrolytic activities on fatty acid cholesteryl esters were in the following order: butyrate (121%), linoleate (100%), caprylate (79%), myristate (42%), palmitate (38%), caproate (37%), and laurate (35%). Unlike mammalian pancreatic cholesterol esterase that is activated by primary cholates on hydrolysis of long-chain fatty acid cholesteryl esters, the enzyme from Trichoderma sp. AS59 displayed its basal activity and was not affected by cholate up to a concentration of 5 mM. At higher cholate concentrations the activity gradually decreased, but reincreased at about 40 mM to reach more than twice the basal activity at 100 mM. The enzyme exhibited a broad substrate specificity, being capable of hydrolyzing various fatty acid esters of not only cholesterol, but also methanol, glycerol, and p-nitrophenol. When incubated with a mixture of cholesterol and oleic acid of equal amounts, the enzyme achieved stoichiometrical esterification in 5 h, indicating its potential utility in food additives and liquid crystal devices.

The salting-out taste-masking system is a multiparticulate system consisting of a drug core, a salting-out layer containing salts and water-soluble polymers, and a water-penetration control layer containing water-insoluble materials. The system generates a long lag time (time when released drug is less than 1%) for numbness masking, and a subsequent immediate drug release for high bioavailability. Aiming to contain the system and drugs that cause numbness in oral disintegrating tablets, the system was optimized to reduce the particle size and contain drugs with high water solubility in this study. The amount of coating on the layers, the coating solvent, and the positioning of the components were also optimized. The findings in this study will lead to the provision of numbness-masked oral disintegrating tablets to patients.

Apodized grating, in which the groove depth was gradually and systematically changed, was carved on the surface of yttrium-iron-garnet (YIG) single crystal film by using high-precision dicing saw. Scanning probe microscope observation indicated that nano-order modulation was realized in the grating depth as designed. Both of the periodicity and linearity in the grating structure were also controlled well. These experimental results suggest that the mechanical process utilizing the dicing saw is promising as the micro-fabrication technique with the nano-order depth control. In comparison with the normal YIG grating filters, the ripples disappeared from the frequency response of the apodized YIG grating filters. The superb propagation characteristics are probably associated with the gentle change in impedance. (© 2008 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

Low-power design is important for extending the life of batteries and chips and simplifying cooling systems. In this paper, a low-power design method for FPGA using extra flip-flops is presented. Each of the extra flip-flops is driven by a phase-shifted clock, which makes the application of this method easier. We tested our method on an AES circuit, a DES circuit, an 8-bit multiplier, and a 16-bit multiplier. Power consumption reductions of up to 70.67, 15.69, 4.43, and 28.54%, respectively, were achieved. © 2007 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 90(8): 35–44, 2007; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.20376

Oral oil formulations have been reported to deliver drugs into the lymph. Lymphatic delivery of immunomodulatory drugs can more efficiently expose the drugs to T-cells in lymph, consequently induce higher efficacy and lower side effects. In this study, effects of tacrolimus oral oil formulations on drug blood exposure, and on inhibition of T-cell's interleukin-2 (IL-2) production were investigated in rats. Oil formulations (sunflower oil, cacao butter, medium chain triglyceride, and palm oil) dissolving tacrolimus showed lower drug blood concentration than a solid dispersion formulation (SDF). The sunflower oil, and cacao butter formulations suppressed drug blood exposure to 50% of the SDF, and inhibited T-cell's IL-2 production similar to the SDF. In vitro digestion tests indicated that slower digestion of the oils might reduce amount and rate of tacrolimus blood absorption. The cacao butter formulations showed 3.0 times more rapid tacrolimus absorption to lymphatic fluid than the SDF. Ratio of the rate constants of absorption into lymph to that into blood was higher in oil formulations (15 times in cacao butter, 15 times sunflower oil, and 3.5 times palm oil) than in the SDF. These results indicated that the oral oil formulations might be suitable for reduced tacrolimus blood concentration for low systemic side effects, and keep high lymph concentration for high efficacy in organ transplantation patients.

In order to improve the therapeutic efficacy of recombinant human interleukin 11 (rhIL11) and to reduce its frequency of administration, the feasibility of a sustained release formulation consisting of hyaluronic acid (HyA) was investigated. rhIL11 was mixed together with an aqueous solution of HyA or HyA and protamine, and the mixture was lyophilized. The resulting powder was compressed into pellet and was subcutaneously administered in the rats. The plasma profile of rhIL11 was determined by ELISA. The mean residence time and t max of rhIL11 were much prolonged by administration in an HyA pellet. The additional incorporation of protamine into the formulation further enhanced the plasma duration of the protein. Separately, peripheral platelet counts were measured for several rhIL11-containing solution and pellets. Platelet counts much increased after administration of rhIL11-containing pellets, whereas the effect of bolus subcutaneous administration of rhIL11 solution was limited. The degree of platelet increase in rats treated with the pellets was comparable to that for rats treated with 1- or 2-day continuous infusion from an osmotic mini-pump; these data reflect the importance of increased plasma duration of rhIL11. These data indicate that use of hyaluronic acid as a polymer matrix might enhance the therapeutic efficacy of rhIL11.

Patients were followed up for serum lipid levels after we changed their prescriptions from pravastatin to atorvastatin at our hospital. There was no significant decrease in the serum lipid levels of 17 patients who completed the follow up period on atorvastatin. However, replacing pravastatin with atorvastatin lowered total cholesterol (TC) levels from 260.9 mg/dL, a decrease of about 20% and a significant difference (p