Search

Internal exposure to actinides such as uranium and plutonium has been reduced using chelating agents for decorporation because of their potential to induce both radiological and chemical toxicities. This study measures uranium chemical forms in serum in the presence and absence of chelating agents based on X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The chelating agents used were 1-hydroxyethane 1,1-bisphosphonate (EHBP), inositol hexaphosphate (IP6), deferoxamine B (DFO), and diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA). Percentages of uranium–chelating agents and uranium–bioligands (bioligands: inorganic and organic ligands coordinating with uranium) dissolving in the serum were successfully evaluated based on principal component analysis of XAS spectra. The main ligands forming complexes with uranium in the serum were estimated as follows: IP6 > EHBP > bioligands > DFO >> DTPA when the concentration ratio of the chelating agent to uranium was 10. Measurements of uranium chemical forms and their concentrations in the serum would be useful for the appropriate treatment using chelating agents for the decorporation of uranium.

The pancreas contains exocrine glands, which release enzymes (e.g., amylase, trypsin, and lipase) that are important for digestion and islets, which produce hormones. Digestive enzymes and hormones are secreted from the pancreas into the duodenum and bloodstream, respectively. Growing evidence suggests that the roles of the pancreas extend to not only the secretion of digestive enzymes and hormones but also to the regulation of intestinal homeostasis and inflammation (e.g., mucosal defense to pathogens and pathobionts). Organ crosstalk between the pancreas and intestine is linked to a range of physiological, immunological, and pathological activities, such as the regulation of the gut microbiota by the pancreatic proteins and lipids, the retroaction of the gut microbiota on the pancreas, the relationship between inflammatory bowel disease, and pancreatic diseases. We herein discuss the current understanding of the pancreas-intestinal barrier axis and the control of commensal bacteria in intestinal inflammation.

体内にアクチニドなどの放射性物質が取り込まれると、生体内配位子がアクチニドと化合物を生成し、体内滞留の原因となりうる。本研究では、アクチニドを体外に排出させるためのキレート剤の結合性評価を行うため、キレート剤と結合した元素の局所構造をX線吸収分光法によって解析し結合力を評価した。プルトニウム模擬元素としてジルコニウム (Zr)、キレート剤として、EHBP (1-hydroxyethylidene-1,1-diphosphonate) 及びDTPA (diethylenetriaminepentaacetate) を用いた。ZrはEHBPと八面体構造の錯体を形成するとともに、Zr-EHBP錯体はZr-DTPA錯体より強い結合を有することが分かった。これらの知見は、放射性元素による内部被ばく線量評価や、放射性元素を体外に取り除くための適切な除染方法の提案につながる。

腸管は経口で摂取し消化された食物を吸収する器官で、脂質や蛋白分解物、金属元素など様々な物質を体内に取り込む入口となる。福島第一原子力発電所事故では放射性核種が環境中に放出され、放射性核種を含む食物の摂取による内部被ばくに関心が寄せられた。我々は内部被ばく核種の腸管動態を理解するための基礎研究として、マイクロPIXE（荷電粒子励起X線）分析による腸管組織の元素分布解析手法を検討した。試料としてポリプロピレン薄膜（6 μm厚）に付着させたマウスの腸管の凍結切片（10 μm厚）を用いた。ヘマトキシリン－エオシン染色を施した測定試料の隣接切片で腸管組織構造把握をして、空腸（上・中・下部）、回腸および大腸の5領域の腸管横断面について腸管基底部から管腔側にかけてマイクロPIXE分析を行い、リン、イオウ、塩素、カリウムについての明瞭な元素分布を得た。さらに詳細な分析を行ったところ、中・下部空腸では、絨毛および粘膜層基底部においてカリウム局在が見出された。本手法は腸管組織微細構造と対応した元素分布解析に有効であると考えられた。

STUDY QUESTION What technique can be used to successfully cryopreserve three or fewer ejaculated spermatozoa from cryptozoospermic men and is the physical and cognitive development of children born after this technique normal? SUMMARY ANSWER The modified cryopreservation method for three or fewer human spermatozoa from cryptozoospermic men showed a recovery rate above 95% and a survival rate just under 90%, and the physical and cognitive abilities of the children born after ICSI were comparable to those born after natural conception. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY Clinical outcomes of ICSI using cryptozoospermic men’s ejaculated spermatozoa are considered to be inferior to that using testicular spermatozoa from microsurgical testicular sperm extraction (Micro-TESE), possibly because the DNA fragmentation rate is higher in ejaculated spermatozoa than in testicular spermatozoa from Micro-TESE. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION Evaluation of the efficiency of cryopreservation of three or fewer spermatozoa was conducted retrospectively at St. Mother Clinic. The physical and cognitive development of children born after this method was studied between 2011 and 2018. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS This study included 28 cryptozoospermic men who had three or fewer morphologically normal and motile spermatozoa in their ejaculate after centrifugation and who preferred using cryopreserved spermatozoa to Micro-TESE. Control subjects were 31 cryptozoospermic patients using fresh spermatozoa from their ejaculates and 20 non-obstructive azoospermic patients with fewer than 10 spermatozoa obtained by TESE and vitrified. Clinical outcomes among three groups, vitrified spermatozoa from the ejaculate, fresh spermatozoa from the ejaculate and vitrified spermatozoa from the testis, were statistically analysed. For the 7-year follow up study of the 14 children born after ICSI using the ejaculated vitrified spermatozoa, the Japanese government-issued Boshi Kenko Techo (Mother-Child Handbook) and Kinder Infant Development Scale (KIDS scale) were used to determine whether their physical and cognitive development was comparable to that of naturally conceived children. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Recovery and survival rates were 97.8% (510/521) and 87.1% (444/510) for vitrified spermatozoa from the ejaculate and 92.7% (152/164) and 60.5% (92/152) for vitrified spermatozoa from the testis. Clinical pregnancies (%), miscarriages (%) and live birth rates (%), respectively, among the three groups were as follows: vitrified spermatozoa from the ejaculate: 15(25.0), 2(13.3), 13(21.7); fresh spermatozoa from the ejaculate: 26(24.3), 5(19.2), 20(18.7); and vitrified spermatozoa from the testis: 3(16.7), 0(0.0), 3(16.7). Among the groups, there were no statistically significant differences except for the sperm survival rate and the oocyte fertilisation rate, which were lower for vitrified spermatozoa from the testis compared with vitrified spermatozoa from the ejaculate. The 7-year follow-up study showed that the physical and cognitive development of 14 children born after ICSI using vitrified ejaculated spermatozoa from the ejaculate was comparable to that of naturally conceived children. LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTIONS The maximum number of spermatozoa to which this method can be applied successfully is about 10. When the number of aspirated spermatozoa is over 10, some of them change direction after colliding with each other inside the aspiration pipette and reach the mineral oil, and once this happens, they cannot be expelled out of the pipette. Even though we did not find evidence of DNA fragmentation, further studies with larger participant numbers and longer time periods are necessary. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS This technique is very useful for the cryopreservation of very small numbers of testicular spermatozoa (fewer than 10) in order to avoid or reduce Micro-TESE interventions. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) No external funding was received to undertake this study. There are no competing interests. TRIAL REGISTRATION NUMBER N/A

Purpose To analyze the therapeutic efficacy of a modified controlled ovarian stimulation (COS) protocol for polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS) that does not cause ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome (OHSS) while maintaining oocyte quality. Method This study is a retrospective cohort study of reproductive medicine at St. Mother Clinic. We analyzed ART clinical outcomes, embryonic development, and hormone levels in 175 PCOS patients treated with four COS (GnRH agonist based long protocol, Group A; GnRH antagonist protocol with HCG trigger, Group B; GnRH antagonist protocol with GnRH agonist trigger, Group C, and the modified COS group) between 2010 and 2021. Results Of 175 patients with PCOS, 45 and 130 patients underwent 47 and 136 oocyte retrieval cycles, 75 and 250 embryo transfer cycles with the modified COS, and with conventional methods, respectively. The cumulative pregnancy rate at one trial was a significantly higher result than in Group A and higher than in Groups B and C (cumulative pregnancy rate at one trial of Group A, B, C, and modified COS: 40.0%, 54.5%, 56.3%, and 72.3%, respectively). With this method, not clinically problematic OHSS and higher clinical outcomes than in conventional methods were observed. Conclusion This modified COS can significantly improve clinical outcomes and eliminate OHSS.

Study question How can we find an ovarian stimulation method that does not cause hyper stimulation syndrome but can produce a high pregnancy rate at one cycle? Summary answer This newly developed method for PCOS has a higher accumulative clinical outcome for one trial and no OHSS. What is known already Almost all conventional treatments for PCOS have managed to avoid OHSS by reducing the number of growing follicles, which are associated with high Estradiol levels and stimulate the production of vessel endothelial growth hormone (VEGF), leading to increased vessel permeability. Low dose FSH administration, In vitro maturation (IVM), Ovarian Drilling and Coasting have been performed to achieve this. However, their actual clinical outcome is still unsatisfactory. Study design, size, duration Evaluation of the efficiency of this method was conducted retrospectively at St. Mother Clinic. The embryonic development and the clinical outcome were studied for 34 PCOS patients during the period between November 2018 and December 2019. Participants/materials, setting, methods We started injections of FSH (150iu/ml), then we did ultrasound follicle monitoring. GnRH antagonist shots were started when the leading follicle reached 18mm and continued until the largest follicle was 22–24mm and the E2 value was over 4000pg/ml. Letrozole (2.5mg) and leuprorelin acetate (1.88mg) was injected as trigger. Two tablets each of Letrozole, Cabergoline and GnRH antagonist were given for 5 consecutive days after the oocyte retrieval. All embryos were cryopreserved. Main results and the role of chance Number of patients and cycles were 34 and 59. Average number of cryopreserved blastocysts was 6.12 (1–16). The frequencies of OHSS (mild, moderate, severe) were 29.4% (10/34), 0% (0/34), 0% (0/34). Average days between oocyte collection and withdrawal hemorrhage was 5.44(5–7). Cryopreservation rate was 100.0% (34/34). Clinical pregnancy rate and miscarriage rate was 42.3% (25/59) and 16.0% (4/25). The cumulative pregnancy rate was 73.7% (25/34). The four remaining unsuccessful cases still have 10,6,3 and 7 frozen embryos. So, there is a high possibility that they become successful, that would bring the cumulative pregnancy rate up to 82.3% (28/34). Limitations, reasons for caution This COS for PCOS seems promising, however it is premature to conclude that this method is established. This method requires caution monitoring for hormone level, follicle size and number and coagulant function. It also accompanied with the risk of ovarian hemorrhage on aspiration of a great number of oocytes. Wider implications of the findings: This COS seems viable for PCOS cases. It could control the cohort of antral follicles with different doses of Letrozole to find the optimal COH method and it could become the first option for COS of PCOS. Trial registration number N/A

Study question What technique can be used to successfully cryopreserve five or fewer testicular spermatozoa from non-obstructive azoospermic men? Summary answer This method for cryopreserving five or fewer spermatozoa from non-obstructive azoospermic men showed a recovery rate above 90% and a survival rate of about 70%. What is known already Clinical outcomes of ICSI when using only five or fewer testicular spermatozoa after cryopreservation have been unsuccessful and are considered to be inferior to those using testicular fresh spermatozoa from Micro-TESE. A possible cause of these poor results has been the lack of a successful freezing technique. In these cases, repeated Micro-TESE and simultaneous oocyte pick up has been the only available treatment. Study design, size, duration Evaluation of the efficiency of cryopreservation by modified permeable cryoprotectant-free vitrification method (HTF supplemented with 0.1M sucrose and 10% SPS) for five or fewer testicular spermatozoa from 113 non-obstructive azoospermic men using Micro-TESE was conducted retrospectively at St. Mother Clinic between 2011 and 2018. Participants/materials, setting, methods This study included 113 non-obstructive azoospermic men. Each motile spermatozoon was carefully aspirated tail first into the pipette, put into a 2-μl microdroplet media of the vitrification medium near the tip of the Cryotop (Kitazato Corporation, Tokyo, Japan) submerged in liquid nitrogen vapor for 2 min and then immediately plunged in liquid nitrogen. The vitrified spermatozoa were warmed by dipping them into a droplet media. Successfully recovered motile sperm were selected and used for ICSI. Main results and the role of chance Number of patients, transfer cycles and collected sperms were 113, 192 and 560. Mean age of patients and their wives were 32.0±3.7y and 28.4±5.8y. Clinical pregnancy rate, miscarriage rate, live birth rate and number of live offspring were 24.0% (46/192), 19.6% (9/46), 19.3% (37/192) and 37 (Male: Female = 17: 20). Sperm recovery rate and survival rate were 90.3% (506/560) and 70.4% (356/506). Fertilization rate and mean number of transferred embryos were 51.6% (99/192) and 1.73 (1–2). Mean gestational weeks and mean body weight at birth were 39.23±5.27w and 2852.31±314.28g. No congenital anomalies were observed in any of the babies. Limitations, reasons for caution The maximum number of spermatozoa to which this method can be applied successfully is about 10. When the number of aspirated spermatozoa is over 10, some of them change direction and reach the mineral oil, and once this happens, they cannot be expelled out of the pipette. Wider implications of the findings: This technique is very useful for the cryopreservation of very small numbers of testicular spermatozoa (fewer than 10) in order to avoid or reduce Micro-TESE interventions. Trial registration number N/A

Supplemental digital content is available in the text., Purpose Although exercising with others might have health benefits, no previous study has comprehensively examined associations of exercise arrangement with physical activity (PA), physical function (PF), and mental health (MH). We examined whether PA, PF, and MH are better when exercising with others than when exercising alone or not exercising. Methods We analyzed cross-sectional data from 7759 (4007 men and 3752 women) nondisabled residents age 65 to 84 yr. PA, PF, and MH were assessed with the International Physical Activity Questionnaire-Short Form (PA sufficiency defined as ≥150 min·wk−1 of moderate-to-vigorous PA), Motor Fitness Scale (higher PF defined as total score ≥12 in men and ≥10 in women), and World Health Organization-Five Well-Being Index (better MH defined as a total score ≥13), respectively. Exercise arrangement was classified as “nonexerciser,” “exercising alone,” and “exercising with others.” Using multilevel logistic regression analyses, we examined independent associations of exercise arrangement with PA, PF, and MH. Results Compared with exercising alone, the multivariate-adjusted odds ratios (95% confidence interval) among nonexercisers and those exercising with others were 0.21 (0.17–0.25) and 1.32 (1.04–1.67), respectively, for PA sufficiency, 0.47 (0.40–0.57) and 1.12 (0.94–1.34) for higher PF, and 0.69 (0.58–0.82) and 1.45 (1.17–1.79) for better MH, respectively, in men. In women, the corresponding odds ratios were 0.37 (0.30–0.46) and 1.31 (1.01–1.70) for PA sufficiency, 0.66 (0.54–0.80) and 1.08 (0.88–1.32) for higher PF, and 0.70 (0.58–0.85) and 1.27 (1.03–1.56) for better MH, respectively. Conclusions Exercising alone and with others were better than no exercise for maintaining better PA, PF, and MH in both sexes. Although exercise arrangement had little effect on maintaining PF, exercising with others appears to enhance PA levels and MH in both sexes.

Background Preventing and reducing frailty is an important challenge for Japan in the next decade, especially in metropolitan areas. We launched a community-wide intervention trial (the Ota Genki Senior Project) in 2016 to develop effective community-based strategies for frailty prevention in metropolitan areas. This report describes the study design and baseline survey. Methods This study is a community-wide intervention trial that integrates participatory action research into a cluster non-randomized controlled trial for adults aged 65 years or older living in Ota City, Tokyo. We allocated 3 of 18 districts to an intervention group and the other 15 to a control group. Using a mailed self-administered questionnaire, we conducted a baseline survey of 15,500 residents (8,000 and 7,500 in the intervention and control groups, respectively) from July through August 2016. In addition to socioeconomic status and lifestyle variables, we assessed frailty status (primary outcome) and physical, nutritional, and psychosocial variables (secondary outcomes). Based on the baseline findings, an intervention to improve outcomes will be implemented as participatory action research. Follow-up surveys will be conducted in the same manner as the baseline survey. Results A total of 11,925 questionnaires were returned (76.9% response rate; 6,105 [76.3%] and 5,820 [77.6%] in the intervention and control groups, respectively), and 11,701 were included in the analysis (mean age, 74.3 [standard deviation, 5.5] years; 48.5% were men). Conclusions This study is expected to contribute to development of a prototype of a community-wide frailty prevention strategy, especially in metropolitan areas in Japan. Trial registration UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000026515).

We consider the effect of the double trace deformation on the eternal black hole. On the boundary CFTs, the deformation can be considered the dissipation in the thermofield dynamics framework. In this framework, the entanglement operator describes the dissipation effect in boundary CFT. Corresponding to CFTs, the wormhole in spacetime and the defect in code subspace are formed as dissipative structures. These dissipative structures realize efficient processing through hierarchical information in the gravitational system. Further, the Fisher information metric renders the Lyapunov functional, which gives a criterion for the stability of the eternal black hole.

Nephrotoxicity is the primary health effect of uranium exposure. However, the renal transport and intracellular behavior of uranium remains to be clearly elucidated. In the present study, the intracellular uranium distribution was examined with the cell lines derived from the S3 segment of mouse renal proximal tubules, which is a toxic target site of uranium, using microbeam-based elemental analysis. Uranium exposure at 100 μM for 24 h (non-toxic phase) was performed in S3 cells. Two types of measurement specimens, including those that are adhesive cell specimens and cryosection specimens, were examined for the positional relationship of the intracellular localization of uranium. Based on the combined results of single-cell imaging from the two types of cell specimens, uranium was distributed inside the cell and localized in the cytoplasm near the cell nucleus. In some cells, uranium was colocalized with phosphorus and potassium. The amount of uranium accumulated in S3 cells was estimated using thin section-standards. The mean uranium content of three adhesive cells was hundreds of femtogram per cell. Thus, we believe that single-cell imaging would be useful for studies on renal uranium transportation and cellular behavior.

Simple methods for the determination of elements in biological fluids have been developed. It is important to quantify the accidental incorporation of radionuclides during the decommissioning work at nuclear power plants. Herein, we proposed the simple preparations and determination methods of uranium concentrations in urine for microbeam scanning particle induced X-ray emission (µ-PIXE) analysis in a rat model. A droplet (1 µL) of mixed solution of urine treated with a five-fold amount of concentrated nitric acid was placed on polypropylene film coated with perfluoroalkoxy alkanes (PFA) and dried at room temperature. The µ-PIXE imaging analysis revealed that successful condensation with homogeneous distribution of uranium in the specimen was achieved using by PFA coating. Uranium concentrations in the urine collected from uranium-injected rats were quantified. The obtained results were consistent with those determined by inductively coupled plasma mass spectrometry.

Actinoids are transition metallic radionuclides and the most of them are stable in the oxidation state at trivalent and tetravalent. When they penetrate into animal body, they coordinate with endogenous ligand in interstitial (extracellular) fluid, and stagnate in the infiltrated tissue. After the ligand substituted with migrative serum proteins that possess affinity with multivalent metal cation such as transferrin, they are translocated to circulation and dispersed whole body. A chelating agent, diethylenetriaminepentaacetate (DTPA) is used for internal decorporation therapy. The first process of the action mechanism of the chelating agent is that the injected DTPA molecule captures multivalent metal cation from bioorganic ligand. Subsequently, resulted stable chelate coordinated with metal translocates urinary excretion system. However, the practical chelate action is far complicated because the interstitial fluid in the body contains various bioorganic ligands which react with multivalent metal cation and chelate, and the coordination compounds affect on the bind-dissociation reaction each other. The biochemical data on reaction velocity using the interstitial fluid are necessary or more accurate estimation of the effect of chelate treatment on the committed effective dose in organ following internal exposure of tri-/tetravalent radionuclide. We studied metal substitution from serum proteins to chelate using Fe(III) model. 59Fe-bound serum prepared from mouse was treated in physiological condition with DTPA, ethylenediaminetetraacetate, or deferoxamine. The substitution velocity, obtained by the measurement of the amounts of chelate-59Fe and protein-59Fe after the separation by isoelectric focusing electrophoresis, were consistent with decorporation experiments in mice., 日本放射線影響学会第63回大会

We have previously reported that the levels of DNA damage-induced mRNA and lncRNA in blood cells from mouse irradiated with 10mGy class of low-dose ionizing radiation can be used as biodosimetric quantitative indicators of DNA damage, based on conventional molecular biological technique. The principle of the quantification is the measurement of cellular intermediate RNA products which are generated by known and unknown mechanism triggered by various type of DNA damage. The method is suitable for analysis after single and multiple irradiation in relatively short-time. However, method is not suitable for comparison of damage level followed by hours of continuous irradiation, by the low-dose rate effect. We aimed to establish alternative general method to quantitate DNA damage based on different principles that is applicable for low-dose rate irradiation in heterogenous cell population. Several histochemical procedures were compared using a mouse osteoclastoma cell line, RAW264.7. Among them, the quantitative indicator suitable for low dose irradiation was only gamma H2ax, double-strand break-indicator, and we established the universal methodology to quantify damages in the cell population. Several metallic organic compounds have been known to induced DNA damage. However, quantitative study to compare toxicity level between the compounds and ionizing radiation has not well-investigated. We simultaneously quantitated DNA damage-induced RNAs and gamma-H2ax levels in RAW 264.7 cells after treatment with irradiation or metal compounds. The difference in DNA-damage mechanism between radiation and metal compounds reflects the quantitative values of these indicators., 日本放射線影響学会第63回大会

Objectives This study aimed to examine the awareness of the term "frailty" and its correlates among older adults living in a Japanese metropolitan area.Methods We used baseline and 2-year follow-up data from a community-wide intervention on preventing frailty in Ota City, Tokyo. In July 2016, we conducted a self-administered questionnaire survey via mail to investigate the lifestyle and health status of 15,500 non-disabled residents aged 65-84 years from all 18 districts. In July 2018, we investigated the awareness of the term "frailty" in the same sample using a different questionnaire, and 10,228 people (4,977 men and 5,251 women) were included in the analyses. In addition, 9,069 people (4,347 men and 4,722 women) who responded to both 2016 and 2018 surveys were analyzed for correlates of awareness of the term "frailty." We categorized the responses "I know the meaning" or "I have heard of it but do not know the meaning" as awareness of the term. Decision tree and multilevel Poisson regression analyses were performed to examine the association of the following with awareness of "frailty": age, marital status, living situation, education, equivalent income, body mass index, number of chronic diseases, alcohol consumption, smoking status, Dietary Variety Score (DVS), and presence or absence of lower back and knee pains, depressive mood, exercise habits, social activity, social isolation, and frailty.Results Awareness of the term "frailty" was estimated as 20.1% in total (15.5% in men and 24.3% in women). The subgroup with the highest "frailty" awareness was women who exercised, were socially active, and had a DVS of 4 or more (awareness of 36.3%). Significant independent correlates of "frailty" awareness were age (as per year: multivariate-adjusted prevalence ratio=1.03, [95% confidence interval=1.02-1.04]), sex (women: 1.35 [1.21-1.51]), educational attainment (high school: 1.27 [1.11-1.45], higher than junior college/vocational schools: 1.47 [1.28-1.70]), equivalent income (more than 2.5 million yen/year: 1.12 [1.01-1.25]), exercise habits (presence: 1.26 [1.11-1.43]), DVS (6 points or more: 1.37 [1.21-1.55]), social activity (presence: 1.33 [1.20-1.49]), social isolation (presence: 0.75 [0.67-0.85]), and frailty (presence: 0.72 [0.62-0.84]).Conclusions Although many policies refer to "frailty," the level of awareness of the term among older adults was low. Older adults, especially women, who had higher socioeconomic status, better exercise and dietary habits, and stronger social connections, were significantly more aware of the term. In contrast, individuals who were socially isolated and/or frail did not know the term. Thus, it is crucial to develop specific measures to promote frailty prevention among high-risk individuals.

In this study, we have analytically considered a dislocation in three-dimensional Weyl semimetal and its holographic model. A quantum singularity that originated in the dislocation creates a defect in momentum space. This defect causes topologically protected zero-energy mode bound to the quantum singularity. The defect has two aspects: First, it prevents the formation of a topological winding number. Second, it provides another topological number around itself. The gauge field adjusts these effects of the defect, and it is possible to control the phase transition. Further, from holographic duality, the quantum singularity is mapped onto a domain wall of classical gravity. We find that the domain wall causes a violation of gauge invariance of bulk spacetime. We also demonstrate that the quantum singularity is comparable to the anomaly from the gauge invariance breaking of the bulk spacetime, and holographic entanglement entropy reveals the information encoded in the defect of momentum space., Comment: 16 pages, 4 figures

This article describes influence of symmetry breaking in topological insulators. In this study, we examined the effect of spatial symmetry breaking on the time-reversal invariant topological insulators with a rhombohedral crystal structure. This effect was verified by means of the Green function method. Breakdown of spatial symmetry brings the change of the topological number of the bulk. Accordingly, surface changes singular to nonsingular interface. In this process, fully gapped states are realized by violating the time-reversal symmetry, which leads to mass gap. Our results indicated that the surface acted as the interface of a topological phase transition.

Accumulating evidence from studies of human–animal interaction highlights the physiological, psychological, and social benefits for older owners of dogs and cats. This longitudinal study examined whether experience of dog/cat ownership protects against incident frailty in a population of community-dwelling older Japanese. Among 7881 non-frail community-dwelling adults aged 65 years or older who completed a mail survey in 2016, 6,197 (mean [SD] age, 73.6 [5.3] years; 53.6% women) were reevaluated in a 2018 follow-up survey. Frailty was assessed with the Kaigo-Yobo Checklist. Incident frailty was defined as a score of four or higher in the follow-up survey. Overall, 870 (14.0%) were current dog/cat owners, 1878 (30.3%) were past owners and 3449 (55.7%) were never owners. During the 2-year follow-up period, 918 (14.8%) developed incident frailty. Mixed-effects logistic regression models showed that the odds ratio for incident frailty among dog/cat owners, as compared with never owners, current owners were 0.87 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.69–1.09) and past owner were 0.84 (0.71–0.98), after controlling for important confounders at baseline. In stratified analysis, the risk of incident frailty was lower for past dog owners than for cat owners. Longer experience of caring for a dog requires physical activity and increases time outdoors spent dog walking and thus may have an important role in maintaining physical and social function and reducing frailty risk among older adults.

An 85-year-old woman underwent endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) for obstructive jaundice. Selective bile duct cannulation was unsuccessful because of periampullary diverticula (PAD). A pancreatic spontaneous dislodgement stent (PSDS) (5F diameter, 3 cm, straight type) was inserted to prevent post-ERCP pancreatitis. Three days after ERCP, she complained of abdominal pain, and computed tomography revealed retroperitoneal perforation because of PSDS migration to the PAD. If the papillary orifice is observed at the diverticular rim or in the diverticula, a pigtailed PSDS on the duodenal side or flanged stent on the pancreatic ductal side should be inserted in order to prevent this rare adverse event.

ラットの腸管組織の凍結切片を作製し、PIXE分析を行った。また一般金属染色を行いその有用性の検討を行った。

The objective of the present randomized, double-blind trial was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of daily washing with miconazole nitrate-containing soap for candidiasis at diaper-covered sites in elderly subjects under long-term inpatient care. To confirm the onset and disappearance of candidiasis, we microscopically evaluated the existence of the pseudohyphae and/or blastoconidia of Candida spp. We enrolled 75 elderly patients who wore diapers all day in the hospital or nursing home. Patients were randomly assigned to receive treatment with either miconazole soap or miconazole-free placebo soap, and 28 patients in the miconazole group and 27 patients in the placebo group were followed for 4 weeks. Although washing with miconazole soap did not affect the frequency of pseudohyphae/blastoconidia-positive patients, it significantly inhibited the positive conversion of pseudohyphae/blastoconidia compared with the placebo group. As a result, the frequency of patients positive for pseudohyphae/blastoconidia was significantly lower in the miconazole group than in the control group at 4 weeks (17.9% vs 44.4%). Clinically apparent diaper candidiasis did not develop in either group. Washing with miconazole soap was a significant independent factor for reducing the cases positive for pseudohyphae/blastoconidia, while diarrhea and heart failure were significant factors associated with an increase in the positive rate at the end-point. Severe adverse effects were not found in any patients. Thus, washing with miconazole soap is well-tolerated and can inhibit the positive conversion of Candida in patients wearing diapers. Therefore, maintenance of genital hygiene using this soap may prophylactically decrease the overall prevalence of patients with diaper candidiasis.

Dislocations in the three-dimensional topological insulator have a similar effect as a hole threading magnetic flux. In this study, we have analytically considered a dislocation in three-dimensional topological insulator using the Dirac and the modified Dirac equation. A quantum singularity that originated in the dislocation creates a defect in momentum space. This defect relates to a phase transition and causes topologically protected zero-energy mode bound to the quantum singularity.

Objectives This study aimed to investigate the practice of eating alone, including its frequency, among urban older Japanese adults and to clarify its association with dietary variety.Methods In June 2016, self-reported questionnaires were mailed to 15,500 men and women aged 65 years or older living in Ota City, Tokyo without nursing care certification. Of these, 11,925 questionnaires were returned (a 76.9% response rate), and responses from 8,812 subjects were analyzed (a 56.9% valid response rate). The frequency of eating alone, defined as the number of days per week eating alone for each meal, was reported as zero, one to three, four to six, or seven days. A Dietary Variety Score (DVS) was obtained based upon consumption frequencies per week of 10 food groups. Total points were calculated, and three or fewer points indicated low dietary variety. The association between eating alone and low dietary variety was analyzed by binomial logistic regression, with adjustments for potential confounding variables including age, body mass index (BMI), location, educational history, equivalent income, employment, living alone, medical history, and smoking and drinking habits.Results The results indicated that 47.1% of men and 48.5% of women ate alone at least one day per week, and 14.9% of men and 16.9% of women ate alone every day. For men, after adjusting for potential confounders (ORs=1.51-2.00), the odds ratios (ORs) of low DVSs were significantly higher among those who ate alone one to three days, four to six days, or seven days per week compared to those who ate with others. For women, adjusted ORs were not significant among those who ate alone every day (OR=1.15, 95% CI=0.92-1.43). Men and women who ate alone had significantly lower ORs of eating green or yellow vegetables, fruits, and fats/oils almost every day compared to those who ate with others.Conclusion Among urban Japanese older adults, about 50% of subjects reported eating alone. Eating alone was associated with lower dietary variety scores regardless of age, income, and family status. Therefore, the present findings might be useful for developing strategies for addressing undernutrition among urban older adults eating alone.