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As a part of sequential work developing new lead-free piezoelectric ceramics, the solid solution system (1-x)LiTaO3-xCaTiO3, 0 ≤ x ≤ 0.20, has been investigated. Samples sintered at 1250°C for 5 h in air have resulted in dense and white ceramics with single phase lithium niobate structure. The Curie temperature of LiTaO3 was lowered with increasing CaTaO3 content, accompanying with a feature of diffused phase transition. The ceramics showed clear vibration resonance in radial and thickness modes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: In lithium niobate single crystals, striae of planar defect lying on nearly ( ) were formed during the Czochralski growth. A stria was a small angle tilt boundary including a set of undissociated edge dislocations with the Burgers vector of a/3[ ], arranged at similar intervals of about . The dislocations extended perpendicular to the growth interface, leaving from the basal plane, presumably for the reduction of their strain energy during the growth. The formation process was discussed in terms of thermal stress at the growth interface during crystallization. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Abstract: Defects related to oxygen and other impurities in piezoelectric langasite (La3Ga5SiO14; LGS) single crystals grown by the vertical Bridgman (VB) method was investigated. The resistivity of an LGS crystal grown in an Ar atmosphere was about one-order higher than that grown in air. However, after annealing in air it decreased to the same level as that of LGS crystal grown in air. The results of optical transmission spectra showed a broad adsorption peak around 500nm, corresponding to 2.5eV of energy level, in LGS crystals grown in air and grown in an Ar atmosphere. Since VB-grown LGS crystal was p-type, excess interstitial oxygen atoms, not oxygen vacancies, operate as an acceptor in the VB-LGS crystal. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Setting: Côte d'Ivoire is a country with a high incidence of TB. The control of TB infection is focused on high-risk patients but has limited implementation., Objective: Cost-benefit analysis of TB infection (TBI) screening of household contacts in Côte d'Ivoire to evaluate economic implications of the implementation of interferon-gamma release assays (IGRAs) and the tuberculin skin test (TST)., Design: We compared the effectiveness of QuantiFERON-TB Gold Plus (QuantiFERON) with the TST using an economic model previously evaluated in medium TB incidence settings. Principal outcomes relating to TBI screening, as well as the lifetime costs and benefits of the patient cohort, were captured using a decision tree, followed by a Markov model., Results: QuantiFERON proved to be both more effective and less costly than TST. Compared to QuantiFERON, TST use leads to an approximate 33% increase in the lifetime risk of developing active TB., Conclusions: For household contacts of active TB cases in Côte d'Ivoire, QuantiFERON is cost-effective when compared with TST. R shiny interactive interface enables model customisation for different scenarios, settings, risk groups and TBI screening methods. Further research should be conducted in similar settings to generalise the results., Competing Interests: Competing interests: Data collection and scientific writing for this study was partially supported by QIAGEN. QIAGEN had no role in the study design, data analysis, or interpretation of results. Authors have no other conflicts of interests to declare., (© 2024 The Authors.)

After tooth extraction, the alveolar ridge is absorbed and changes shape. Recently, socket preservation has been proposed to prevent alveolar ridge absorption. However, there are few reports of socket preservation in a model without the periosteum, and alveolar bone regeneration and resorption inhibitory effects in this type of model remain unclear. Therefore, in this study, we conducted socket preservation at the bone defect without the periosteum using a canine model. Ten beagle dogs were extracted. A 5 mm × 7 mm × 4 mm bone defect was created without the periosteum. Defects were filled with beta-tricalcium phosphate (β-TCP)/collagen (Col), β-TCP, collagen, or left intact (Control). The observation periods were 4 and 8 weeks (n = 5 per group). Evaluations were made of the newly formed bone area, residual granular area, horizontal width and vertical dimensional change. The newly formed bone area at 4 weeks after surgery in TCP/Col, Collagen, β-TCP, and Control groups was 21.50%, 17.26%, 18.22%, and 17.47%. Compared to the control group, the TCP/Col group showed a significant difference in bone regeneration and horizontal width. TCP/Col is suggested to be effective for bone regeneration and suppression of alveolar ridge resorption in the bone defect periosteum removal model.

Aims: We aimed to assess whether vitamin D supplementation improves glucose metabolism in adults with type 2 diabetes., Methods: PubMed and Cochrane database were searched up to July 1st 2016 for randomized controlled trials that assessed the relationship between vitamin D supplementation and glucose metabolism (change in hemoglobin A1C (HbA1C) and fasting blood glucose (FBG)) among adults with type 2 diabetes., Results: Twenty nine trials (3324 participants) were included in the systematic review. Among 22 studies included in the meta-analysis, 19 reported HbA1C, 16 reported FBG outcomes and 15 were deemed poor quality. There was a modest reduction in HbA1C (-0.32% [-0.53 to -0.10], I 2 =91.9%) compared to placebo after vitamin D supplementation but no effect on FBG (-2.33mg/dl [-6.62 to 1.95], I 2 =59.2%). In studies achieving repletion of vitamin D deficiency (n=7), there were greater mean reductions in HbA1C (-0.45%, [-1.09 to 0.20]) and FBG (-7.64mg/dl [-16.25 to 0.97]) although not significant., Conclusions: We found a modest reduction of HbA1C after vitamin D treatment in adults with type 2 diabetes albeit with substantial heterogeneity between studies and no difference in FBG. Larger studies are needed to further evaluate the glycemic effects of vitamin D treatment especially in patients with vitamin D deficiency., (Copyright © 2017 Elsevier Inc. All rights reserved.)

No guidelines for supportive drug therapy have been established for oral mucositis occurring during cancer chemotherapy. We retrospectively examined the progression of oral mucositis in 91 patients with breast cancer who received the 5-fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide (FEC)-100 regimen between September 2007 and August 2008. Daily rebamipide was administered to patients with oral mucositis as per hospital protocol to evaluate the hypothesized preventive and mucosal protective effects of rebamipide(Mucosta®). Oral mucositis was observed in 43 patients (47%)during 4 courses of FEC. The median age of the patients was 55 years(range, 32-76 years). Of the 91 patients, 49 patients who did not receive rebamipide during the 4 FEC courses were classified as group A, 14 patients who received rebamipide before the start of FEC were classified as group B, and 28 patients who received rebamipide after developing oral mucositis were classified as group C. The incidence of oral mucositis at the start of FEC with or without rebamipide administration was observed in 5 patients in group B (36%) and 38 patients in groups A and C (49%) (p=0.3472). The mucositis grade was G1 in 4 patients and G2 in 1 patient in group B, and G1 in 20 patients and G2 plus G3 in 18 patients in groups A and C (p=0.2467). In group C, the grade decreased in 25 patients (89%) and did not occur (G0) in 17 patients (61%) during the next course, and 15 patients (54%) continued to the final course without any occurrence of mucositis. These results suggest that rebamipide is effective for the treatment of oral mucositis. Although significant differences were not observed in the groups, rebamipide has the potential to prevent development of oral mucositis and alleviate its symptoms, and seems promising as a new supportive drug therapy. We hope to verify the preventive and protective effects of rebamipide by conducting a prospective, randomized trial while treating oral mucositis with basic oral care and appropriate interventions provided by a multidisciplinary team.

RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1) is a novel molecule implicated in the regulation of RB1 (retinoblastoma 1) expression. However, information about the RB1CC1 gene is limited and its function remains somewhat obscure. The present study analyzes the expression and promoter activities of RB1CC1 in developing murine and human tissues. Rb1cc1 was abundantly expressed from an early stage of the mouse embryo throughout development. Immunohistochemical analyses revealed that Rb1cc1 was ubiquitous in the mouse, rather than in the human embryo, especially in the musculoskeletal system, heart and neural tissues. Promoter activity was highest in a region located about 300 bp immediately upstream of exon 1 in both the mouse and human RB1CC1 genes, suggesting that this region is a core promoter. The promoter activity of RB1CC1 was generally higher in mice than in humans, and suppressive with intron 1, especially in humans. These results suggested that more Rb1cc1 is expressed throughout developing murine than in human tissues, and that RB1CC1 expression is controlled more stringently by modification at intron 1 in humans than in mice.

We previously reported mast cell increases in H. pylori gastritis. To determine the mechanism, we investigated the kinetics of mast cells and mast cell growth factor (stem cell factor, SCF) in H. pylori-positive and -negative gastric mucosa. Biopsy specimens from 12 H. pylori-negative and 28 positive subjects were examined. Sections were stained for mast cells, proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA), and SCF. Densities of mast cells, PCNA-positive mast cells, and SCF-positive cells were significantly greater in H. pylori-positive than -negative subjects. SCF was expressed in mast cells and fibroblasts. The density of SCF-positive fibroblasts increased in H. pylori-positive gastritis and decreased after cure of infection. SCF mRNA was detected in H. pylori-positive gastric mucosa. Fibroblasts isolated from the normal gastric mucosa expressed SCF mRNA after incubation with H. pylori water extract. SCF may be one of the factors for mast cell increase. Fibroblasts may participate in mast cell increase and inflammation in H. pylori infection.

Chemotherapy for malignant neoplasms sometimes causes unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia in the absence of liver dysfunction. We analyzed the association of chemotherapy-induced hyperbilirubinemia with mutations of the bilirubin uridine-5'-diphosphate (UDP)-glucuronosyltransferase gene (UGT1A1) from two leukemic patients in whom chemotherapy resulted in a hyperbilirubinemic response. We isolated genomic DNA from peripheral blood samples and amplified UGT1A1 by polymerase chain reaction. The amplified DNA fragments were analyzed by direct sequencing. The genes of the two patients revealed an identical heterozygous missense mutation in exon 1 (211G-->A: G71R). This UGT1A1 mutation may be the basis of chemotherapy-induced unconjugated hyperbilirubinemia.

We could perform endotracheal intubation in three patients whose ventilation had been anticipated possible preoperatively but endotracheal intubation impossible, using a fiberoptic bronchoscope while ventilating via Patil-Syracuse mask. This method is an alternative in a "can ventilate/cannot intubate" situation.

To study the growth control of human thyroid cells in different stages of differentiation, we established two human thyroid cell lines of adenomatous goiter and papillary carcinoma. A 59-year-old female patient with adenomatous goiter was operated in September 1991, and a 27-year-old female patient with papillary carcinoma in May 1990. The thyroid cell lines were established by successive passage without cellular or genetic manipulations such as fusing other cell lines or oncogenic viral infection. These cell lines, human adenomatous goiter cells (hAG) and human papillary thyroid carcinoma cells (hPTC), exhibited a flattened polygonal shape and proliferated as a monolayer in cell culture. The doubling time of the hAG cells was 60 h in Ham's F12 medium supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum, and that of the hPTC cells, 18 h in the same medium. Both cell lines expressed mRNA for TSH receptor and secreted cAMP into the medium during incubation with thyrotropin (TSH) at concentrations as low as 0.01 mU/mL. The effects of activators of protein kinase A (PKA), protein kinase C (PKC), tyrosine kinase (TK), and estradiol (E2) on proliferation of the hAG cells and the hPTC cells were assessed by measuring cellular DNA content in 24-well plates with diaminobenzoic acid. TSH stimulated proliferation of the hAG cells, but it inhibited proliferation of the hPTC cells. Since TSH activates two signaling pathways, the adenyl cyclase-PKA system and phospholipase C-PKC system, we tested effects of dibutylyl cAMP (dBC) and phorbol myristate 13-acetate (PMA), separately. dBC stimulated proliferation of the hAG cells, but it inhibited that of the hPTC cells.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We established a cell line (hPTC) from the tissue of papillary thyroid cancer surgically excised from a 27-year-old female patient. Synthesis of cAMP by the hPTC cells was stimulated by TSH. This cell line has continued to divide as a monolayer in a tissue culture for three years. We assessed growth regulation of the hPTC cells by protein tyrosine kinase and cAMP-dependent protein kinase by measuring the DNA content of the hPTC cells in 24-well plates with 3,5-diaminobenzoic acid after incubation in various growth factors. Basic fibroblast growth factor (FGF), epidermal growth factor (EGF), and insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1), all of which bind to their respective receptors with tyrosine kinase activity, stimulated DNA synthesis in the hPTC cells. Neutralizing antibodies to basic FGF and EGF suppressed the growth stimulation by basic FGF and EGF, respectively. Genistein, a specific protein tyrosine kinase inhibitor, inhibited proliferation of the hPTC cells. On the other hand, thyrotropin, dibutyryl cAMP (dBC) and forskolin inhibited proliferation. KT5720, a specific cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor, restored the growth of the hPTC cells even in the presence of dBC. This study shows that stimulation of the protein tyrosine kinase activity by basic FGF, EGF, and IGF-1 promoted DNA replication by the human thyroid cancer cell line. However, activation of the cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibited proliferation of this cell line.