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Background Vascular inflammation has been recognized as one of the key factors in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Peri-coronary adipose tissue (PCAT) attenuation by computed tomography angiography (CTA) has emerged as a marker specific for coronary artery inflammation. We examined the relationship between clinical presentation and coronary artery inflammation assessed by PCAT attenuation and coronary plaque characteristics. Methods Patients with ACS or stable angina pectoris (SAP) who underwent pre-intervention coronary CTA and optical coherence tomography (OCT) were enrolled. PCAT attenuation was measured around the culprit lesion and in the proximal 40 mm of all coronary arteries. PCAT attenuation and OCT findings were compared between patients with ACS versus SAP. Results Among 471 patients (ACS: 198, SAP: 273), PCAT attenuation was higher in ACS patients than in SAP patients both at the culprit plaque level (−67.5±9.6 Hounsfield unit [HU] vs. −71.5±11.0 HU, p Conclusions PCAT attenuation at culprit plaque, culprit vessel, and pan-coronary levels was higher in ACS patients than in SAP patients. Vascular inflammation appears to play a crucial role in the development of ACS. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

Background An incidence of cardiovascular events increases with age in women. The relationship between cardiovascular risk factors, and the underlying pathology and the prevalence of lipid plaques has not been systematically studied in different age groups in women presented with acute coronary syndromes (ACS). Purpose We investigated the underlying pathology and the prevalence of lipid plaques in culprit lesions by optical coherence tomography (OCT) in women with different risk factors. Methods A total of 382 women who underwent pre-intervention OCT imaging were included. The underlying pathology and the prevalence of lipid plaques in the culprit lesion was compared between women with and without cardiovascular risk factors (i.e. hypertension, smoking, hyperlipidemia, diabetes mellitus, family history and chronic kidney disease) in three different age groups (70 yr). Results The relative prevalence of plaque erosion was higher in younger women ( Conclusion The prevalence of plaque erosion was higher in younger women ( Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Foundation.

In recent years, dry sludge powder has attracted attention for reducing environmental impact as a method of reusing ready mixed concrete waste. Manufacturing process of the dry sludge powder is different from the ordinary portland cement. In the manufacturing process, there is drying process, and it is performed at high temperature. A characteristic of dry sludge powder is that it contains hydration products. However, few studies have focused on the effects of high temperature treatment and the hydration products contained in dry sludge powder. Therefore, in this study, we focused on the influence of hydration products contained in dry sludge powder and the high temperature treatment on hydration reaction. Firstly, we analyzed hydration products contained in the dry sludge powder. Next, the progress of hydration was examined by measuring the rate of heat of hydration. In addition, a sample was prepared by simulating the dry sludge powder process and it was treated at different temperatures and times. By examining this sample, the relationship between hydration product and hydration reaction was investigated. As a result, it was found that, as the amount of calcium hydroxide in the dry sludge powder decrease, the strength development becomes easier. Furthermore, the hydration potential of the dry sludge powder, can be derived by subtracting the ignition loss value of the raw dry sludge powder state from the measured ignition loss value.

Aims Cryoballoon ablation (CBA) is effective for atrial fibrillation (AF), however acute silent cerebral infarction (SCI) is not uncommon after CBA. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between the morphology of LAA and SCI. Methods and results From 2015 to 2019, 207 consecutive patients (65.1±11.4 years, 26.6% of female, 31.4% of persistent AF) who underwent CBA for AF at our hospital were enrolled. All patients were evaluated with computed tomography for LAA before CBA and divided into two groups as chicken wing (CW) group and non-CW group. SCI was evaluated with magnetic resonance imaging at the following day after CBA. As a result, 18.4% of patients have occurred SCI after CBA. Although the patients' background didn't differ between the two groups, the Hounsfield scale (LAA/Aorta ratio) was lower (non-CW vs. CW = 0.68±0.12 vs. 0.73±0.11, p=0.004), and LAA orifice size tended to be larger (16.9±4.6 vs. 15.8±4.1, p=0.053) in non-CW group. SCI significantly occurred in non-CW group (29.5% vs. 11.6%, p=0.003), especially in cauliflower shape of 45.0%. In multivariate analysis, non-CW (p=0.002, Odds ratio 3.2, 95% of CI 1.5–7.0), skipped DOAC before CBA (p=0.04, Odds ratio 6.1, 95% of CI 1.1–115.4), and touch-up ablation in left atrium (p=0.02, Odds ratio 2.8, 95% CI 1.2–6.5) were independent predictors of SCI. Conclusions SCI was not rare after CBA for AF. Morphology of LAA was strongly associated with SCI. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding source: None

Phenotypic screening is one of the most practical approaches to the identification of mediators of behaviour, since it is difficult to model brain function in vitro, at a cellular level. We used a zebrafish (Danio rerio) behavioural assay to discover novel, natural, neuroactive compounds.A zebrafish behavioural assay was performed for seven natural compounds, obtained from plants. The behavioural profiles were compared to those of known psychoactive drugs. We characterised a natural compound exhibiting a behaviour profile similar to that of suvorexant, using in silico, in vitro and microarray expression analysis.The behavioural analysis performed in this study classified central nervous system drugs according to their mechanism. Zebrafish treated with a natural compound, 8b-(4'-Hydroxytigloyloxy) costunolide (8b), showed behaviour profiles similar to those of zebrafish treated with suvorexant, a known orexin antagonist. This behavioural assay was validated using in silico and in vitro assays, which revealed that the new compound was a dual orexin receptor antagonist. In addition, transcriptome analysis suggested that 8b might regulate the nuclear factor-κB (NF-κB) related pathway.We conclude that zebrafish phenotypic screening, combined with in silico assays and gene expression profiling, is a useful strategy to discover and characterize novel therapeutic compounds, including natural products.

Background Although Right Ventricular dysfunction (RVD) is one of the predictor of poor prognosis, it is believed that ischemic RVD after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for acute coronary syndrome (ACS) restores quickly. Because right ventricular perfusion has more ischemic preconditioning compared with left ventricle, due to their complex perfusion system. However, little is known about the time courses of RVD after ACS-PCI andtheir prognosis. We evaluated the relationship between right ventricular branch slow flow phenomenon (RVB-SF) post ACS-PCI in right coronary artery (RCA) and RVD at 6–8 months follow-up. Method We retrospectively analyzed consecutive 82 patients who underwent PCI for ACS in proximal or mid portion of RCA from August 2011 to March 2018 in our institution. Finally, both baseline and follow-up data were obtained from 70 patients. We analyzed TIMI frame count (TFC) to confirm the presence of RVB-SF (TFC ≥40 frame) after PCI. We also analyzed right ventricular fractional area change (RVFAC) at baseline and follow-up using echocardiography to detect sustained RVD (RVFAC ≤35%). Result We divided the patients into two groups (RVB-SF: 36 patients, RVB non-SF: 34 patients). Patient clinical characteristics were similar in both groups (sex, age, risk factors, medication, onset to balloon time, left ventricular stroke volume, max creatine kinase). Baseline RVFAC and follow-up RVFAC was significantly smaller in RVB-SF than in RVB non-SF, respectively. (27.1±1.7% vs. 38.3±1.8%, 31.4±1.0% vs. 48.7±1.1%, P Conclusion RVB-SF findings after ACS-PCI for RCA could predict sustained RVD at mid-term follow-up, which may indicate future prolonged RVD.

Background Silent cerebral thromboembolism (CE) in catheter ablation for atrial fibrillation (AF) is not rare. Prior our study has reported lower incidence of silent CE in AF radiofrequency (RF) ablation using irrigated-tip catheter than conventional 4 or 8mm-tip catheter. In addition, the incidence of silent CE in AF ablation under direct oral anticoagulant (DOAC) was equivalent to continuous therapeutic warfarin. Recently pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) using cryoballoon (CB) has emerged as an alternative technique to RF ablation because some studies suggested that the efficacy for PVI by CB was equivalent to RF. However, incidence of silent CE in CB ablation under the use of DOAC is unknown. Objective We aimed to evaluate the incidence new silent CE in AF ablation using CB system compared with irrigated RF system under the use of DOAC. Methods 322 consecutive patients with paroxysmal or persistent AF (155 using CB system, 167 using RF system) who underwent the first AF ablation were taking DOAC more than one month prior to the procedure. Throughout AF ablation procedure, heparin was administered to maintain activated clotting time (ACT) between 300 and 400 seconds. Head MRI was performed in all patients within 24 hours after the procedure. Results In 14 (9.0%) patients using CB and in 20 (12.0%) patients using RF, head MRI showed new embolic lesions without neurological symptom (P=0.469). Although the amount of heparin during the procedure in group CB was significantly less than in group RF (16134±3125 U vs. 18689±5222 U; P Conclusions The incidence of silent CE in AF ablation using CB system was lower than RF system, although it was not a significant difference between different ablation techniques for AF. In AF ablation, the use of CB may be preferred rather than RF as ablation system in regard to risk reduction of thromboembolic complications.

Background Dual-antiplatelet therapy (DAPT) after second-generation drug eluting stent (2-DES) implantation reduced the risk of stent thrombosis and subsequent ischemic events, with an increase in bleeding risk. Although chronic kidney disease patients have high ischemic and bleeding risk, little is known about both risks in hemodialysis patients after 2-DES implantation during DAPT. Method From July 2009 to March 2017, we retrospectively analyzed post-discharge major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular events [MACCE: cardiac death, myocardial infarction, target vessel revascularization (TVR) and cerebral infarction] and bleeding events in 644 consecutive patients during DAPT after 2-DES implantation. We divided them into 2 groups [102 hemodialysis (HD) and 518 non-hemodialysis (Non-HD) patients, mean age, 71±10 years] after excluding 24 patients (lost to follow up and peritoneal dialysis). Follow-up period was 49±24 months. Median DAPT duration was 12 months. The primary endpoint was MACCE. The secondary endpoint was bleeding events according to the Bleeding Academic Research Consortium (BARC) type 2, 3, or 5. MACCE and bleeding events were compared between HD and Non-HD by using the propensity score-matching (PSM) method. Results Among the 620 eligible patients, the primary and secondary events occurred in 207 (33.3%) and 76 (12.3%) patients, respectively. The rates of unadjusted MACCE [HD vs Non-HD: 53.9% vs 29.3%; Hazard ratio (HR) 2.39, p After 1-to-1 propensity score adjustment for baseline differences (hypertension, diabetes mellitus, low ejection fraction, low albumin, anemia, and high C-reactive protein), a total of 160 patients (80 HD vs 80 Non-HD) was created. The rate of MACCE [HD vs Non-HD: 52.5% vs 31.3%; adjusted HR 2.04, p Conclusions As a result of PSM, HD was shown to contribute to ischemic risk rather than bleeding risk. Even in the 2-DES era, HD was an independent risk factor of cardiac death and TVR. Therefore, further study on the current regimen of DAPT would be necessary while balancing both ischemic and bleeding risk.

Background Because soluble (or secreted) amyloid precursor protein-β (sAPPβ) and -α (sAPPα) possibly reflect pathological features of Alzheimer’s disease (AD), they are potential biomarker candidates for dementia disorders, including AD and mild cognitive impairment (MCI) due to AD (MCI-AD). However, controversial results have been reported regarding their alterations in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) of AD and MCI-AD patients. In this study, we re-assessed the utility of sAPPα and sAPPβ in CSF as diagnostic biomarkers of dementia disorders. Methods We used a modified and sensitive detection method to analyze sAPPs levels in CSF in four groups of patients: AD (N = 33), MCI-AD (N = 17), non-AD dementia (N = 27), and disease controls (N = 19). Phosphorylated tau (p-tau), total tau, and Aβ42 were also analyzed using standard methods. Results A strong correlation was observed between sAPPα and sAPPβ, consistent with previous reports. Both sAPPα and sAPPβ were highly correlated with p-tau and total tau, suggesting that sAPPs possibly reflect neuropathological changes in the brain. Levels of sAPPα were significantly higher in MCI-AD cases compared with non-AD and disease control cases, and those of sAPPβ were also significantly higher in MCI-AD and AD cases relative to other cases. A logistic regression analysis indicated that sAPPα and sAPPβ have good discriminative power for the diagnosis of MCI-AD. Conclusions Our findings collectively suggest that both sAPPs are pathologically relevant and potentially useful biomarkers for early and accurate diagnosis of dementia disorders. We also suggest that careful measurement is important in assessing the diagnostic utility of CSF sAPPs. Electronic supplementary material The online version of this article (10.1186/s40364-017-0108-5) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

The present study aimed to examine the effects of rice particles in test foods and their visual appearance on oral textural perceptions. One original and three filtered Amazake (a traditional Japanese beverage made from malted rice) preparations were used as test foods. Three physical measurements of the test foods were conducted at room temperature: linear spread test, viscosity, and concentration of rice particles. Results of these three measurements formed two groups with lesser and more filtered test foods. Sensory evaluation experiments using a paired comparison test in 32 healthy young participants revealed the following: 1) the estimates of “grittiness in the mouth” (mouth feel) and “grittiness at a glance” of the test foods also comprised two groups, similar to the results of the physical measurements, 2) estimates of textural “smoothness” resulted in two groups, with a half-range of two items of “grittiness”, and 3) estimates of “sweetness” and “odor intensity” were similar to each other than to the other three items. Functional relationships between physical properties and characteristics of the test foods and sensory evaluation of their grittiness (oral, textural, and visual) of Amazake are discussed.

Soluble amyloid-β (Aβ) oligomers (AβOs), which elicit neurotoxicity and synaptotoxicity, are thought to play an initiating role in the pathology of Alzheimer's disease (AD). Since AβOs are a key therapeutic target, we attempted to identify natural agents that reduce AβO neurotoxicity. Using an assay system in which primary cultured neurons are treated with AβOs, we found that Rhodiola rosea extracts and one of its main constituents, tyrosol, significantly inhibited AβO-induced caspase-3 activation. We then assessed the in vivo efficacy of tyrosol by oral administration of the compound into AD model (5XFAD) transgenic and non-transgenic mice from either 2 or 4 to 7 months of age. In both paradigms, tyrosol treatment did not affect body weights of mice. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the immunoreactivity of spinophilin, a dendritic synaptic protein, was significantly reduced in three hippocampal subregions of vehicle-treated AD mice compared with non-transgenic mice, which was reversed in tyrosol-treated AD mice. Tyrosol treatment also prevented the enhancement of 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal immunoreactivity in the hippocampal CA3 region of AD mice. By contrast, tyrosol administration did not affect Aβ accumulation, as evaluated by immunohistochemical and biochemical analyses. Moreover, the Barnes maze test showed that tyrosol administration modestly mitigated spatial memory impairment in AD mice. These findings collectively indicate that the natural agent tyrosol protects neurons against AβO neurotoxicity in vitro and ameliorates synaptic disturbance, oxidative stress responses, and cognitive impairment in vivo. We thus suggest that tyrosol is potentially an effective, safe, and unique drug candidate for AD.

Electronic states of a free-standing hydrogenated monolayer boron (HB) sheet were studied via soft X-ray spectroscopies at the B K-shell absorption edge and first-principles calculations. The HB sheet is semimetallic with electron and hole pockets at the Y and Γ points, respectively. The electron band results from the B-H-B bonds formed during synthesis from a MgB2 crystal, while the hole band is kept through the process and originates from a honeycomb lattice boron layer or borophene in MgB2. Our results suggest that the HB sheet is a promising two-dimensional material for realizing new boron-based or superconducting nanodevices.

The authors have designed and microfabricated millimetre-scale wing-shaped hybrid microstructures composed of rigid structures of single crystal silicon (SCS) substrates and flexible polyimide (PI) membranes. The wing-shaped microstructures mimicking insect flapping flight have been newly designed using a fluid-structure interaction analysis, and the hybrid microstructures based on the design method have been successfully microfabricated using a simple process flow with SCS substrates coated with PI membranes. Shape of the SCS parts in the hybrid microstructures have been successfully fabricated using deep reactive ion etching of the SCS substrate with small etching rate, and the wing plates of PI membranes have been prepared with the photolithography and the curing processes. The flexibility of the PI membranes of the fabricated hybrid microstructures was also confirmed using the bending test of the PI membranes.

We have designed and microfabricated millimeter-scale wing-shaped hybrid microstructures composed of rigid structures of single crystal silicon (SCS) and flexible polyimide (PI) membranes. The wing-shaped microstructures mimicking insect flapping flight have been designed using a fluid-structure interaction analysis, and have been microfabricated using microfabrication technologies with the SCS substrates coated with photosensitive polyimide membranes. The shape of the SCS parts of the hybrid microstructures have been fabricated using deep reactive ion etching (D-RIE) process. The flexible parts of PI membranes have been prepared using photolithography and the subsequent curing process of the micro-patterned photosensitive PI thin film. The wing-shaped hybrid microstructures fabricated have been observed, and the flexibility of the PI membrane part of the hybrid microstructures was also confirmed using the bending test of the PI membrane., 12th Annual IEEE International Conference on Nano/Micro Engineered and Molecular Systems (IEEE-NEMS 2017), April 9-12, 2017, UCLA Meyer & Renee Luskin Conference Center, Los Angeles, California, USA