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Nobuhiro Kato, Masatoshi Haruta, Kei Furushima, Rikki Arai, Yu Matsuo, Shigeo Yoshida Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, JapanCorrespondence: Masatoshi Haruta, Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, Japan, Tel +81 942 31 7574, Fax +81 942 37 0324, Email haruta_masatoshi@med.kurume-u.ac.jpPurpose: Intravitreal injections of anti-vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) agents such as brolucizumab and aflibercept are used widely to treat neovascular age-related macular degeneration (nAMD); however; they may theoretically affect the ocular blood flow. We investigated the short-term changes in the ocular blood flow between eyes with nAMD treated with intravitreal brolucizumab injections (IVBr) and intravitreal aflibercept injections (IVA).Methods: This study included 21 eyes of 21 Japanese patients with nAMD treated with either IVBr or IVA at Kurume University Hospital from April 2021 through June 2022. The rates of ocular blood flow at the optic nerve head (ONH mean blur rate [MBR]-vessel) and at the choroid (CHOR MBR) were analyzed before and 30 minutes after injections using laser speckle flowgraphy.Results: In the IVBr-treated group, the ONH MBR-vessel and CHOR MBR rates decreased significantly by 10.6% and 16.9% from baseline to 30 minutes after IVBr, respectively. In the IVA-treated group, ONH MBR-vessel and CHOR MBR rates decreased significantly by 9.4% and 6.1% from baseline to 30 minutes after IVA, respectively. There was no significant difference in the rates of decrease in the ONH MBR-vessel or CHOR MBR between the IVBr-treated and IVA-treated groups.Conclusion: Intravitreal injections of brolucizumab and aflibercept in eyes with nAMD cause significant decreases in ocular blood flow at the ONH and the choroid 30 minutes after injection. The rate of decrease in ocular blood flow was not significant between the eyes treated with brolucizumab and aflibercept. However, 3 of 10 eyes treated with brolucizumab but none of 11 eyes treated with aflibercept had more than a 30% decrease in the ocular blood flow at the choroid 30 minutes after injection.Keywords: anti-vascular endothelial growth factor agents, choroid, laser speckle flowgraphy, mean blur rate, optic nerve head

Fermentation of kamaboko in koji with wheat (KW), rice (KR), brown rice (KB), or soybean (KS) was performed by simulation of tofuyo processing. Moisture and protein content decreased with fermentation, while other detected compounds increased significantly. Ash content increased from 12.9 g/100 g in kamaboko to 17.9–20.2 g/100 g (KW, KR, and KB) and 26.8 g/100 g (KS) after 4 weeks of fermentation. Mineral and fatty acid composition varied. After 8 weeks of fermentation, KW, KR, and KB exhibited total free amino acids, sugar, and phenolic content of 2804–3396 mg/100 g, 43.5–55.3 g/100 g, and 207–263 mg/100 g, while KS showed 12,300 mg/100 g, 11.3 g/100 g, and 539 mg/100 g, respectively. Radical scavenging and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity increased significantly following fermentation. KS showed the strongest 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) and 2,2′-azino-bis(3-ethylbenzothiazoline-6-sulfonic acid) (ABTS) radical scavenging activity and ACE inhibition. Sensory analysis revealed that KW, KR, and KB were significantly more favorable than KS, with significantly stronger sweetness and weaker smell, saltiness, and aftertaste. These results indicate that wheat, rice, and brown rice koji-fermented products are acceptable as food, and that the soybean koji-fermented product is a useful source of bioactive compounds such as peptides and phenolics.

Objectives There is no standard chemotherapy for advanced pancreatic cancer (APC) after gemcitabine plus nab-paclitaxel (GP) failure. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of FOLFIRINOX (5-Fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) (5-Fluorouracil, leucovorin, irinotecan, and oxaliplatin) (FFX) and modified FFX (mFFX) for APC patients after GP failure. Methods We retrospectively evaluated the efficacy and safety of FFX in APC patients who were refractory or intolerant of GP. Results Between July 2014 and October 2018, 23 patients received FFX after failure of GP. The overall response rate (RR) was 23%, and the disease control rate (DCR) was 68%. The median progression-free survival (PFS) was 5.3 months (95% confidence interval, 2.5-8.9), and the median overall survival (OS) was 12.1 months (95% confidence interval, 4.0-14.2). Twelve patients received FFX, and 11 patients received mFFX. In the FFX group, the RR was 9%, the DCR was 73%, the PFS was 5.3 months, and the OS was 6.9 months. In the mFFX group, the RR was 23%, the DCR was 64%, the PFS was 4.3 months, and the OS was 12.8 months. There was no significant difference between the groups. Conclusions FOLFIRINOX has potential activity for patients with APC in whom GP failed.

β-MoSi2 is one of the expected silicide candidates for thermoelectric material because of its semi-conductive and metastable characteristics. However, it is not easy to fabricate β-MoSi2 phase under low temperature condition as easily anticipated from the equilibrium Mo-Si binary phase diagram. In this study, the formation of β-MoSi2 by electrochemical silicification of a Mo substrate with a thickness of 0.5 mm in CaCl2-based melts containing SiO2 has been confirmed. Throughout XRD analysis, the formation of metastable β-MoSi2 phase was identified on a Mo substrate by potentiostatic electrolysis below 973 K. The results of TEM combined with EDS analysis at the Mo/β-MoSi2 interface showed the inverse concentration gradients of Mo and Si in the width of ca. 25 nm. In addition, we examined the growth process of β-MoSi2 by using a partially Pt-coated Mo substrate since the reduction of Si ions does not proceed at the Pt-coated area. The cross-sectional SEM image of the substrate demonstrated that a homogeneous film of β-MoSi2 was grown with almost the same thickness on both sides of the Mo substrate and the melt region. The results indicated that the growth of β-MoSi2 was caused by the mutual diffusion of Mo and Si atoms.

Traditional Japanese koji-fermented tofu (tofuyo) processing was simulated to make fermented seafood. The koji fermentation process at room temperature was applied to steamed surimi and kamaboko to develop new types of food, extend their shelf life and improve their health-promoting effects. Extractive nitrogen and sugar contents, 2,2-diphenyl-1-picrylhydrazyl (DPPH) radical scavenging, copper-reducing activities, and angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitory activity significantly increased after fermentation. These increases were the highest in kamaboko. Kamaboko fermented for 6 months had the highest DPPH radical scavenging, copper-reducing activities, and ACE inhibition. Kamaboko fermented for 6 months showed statistically the same copper-reducing power and ACE inhibition to tofuyo, but significantly higher DPPH radical scavenging activity. Size-exclusion chromatography showed the same peak(s) analyzed as Lowry-reactive substances, ninhydrin-reactive substances, sugar, and DPPH radical scavenging activity. The most antioxidative fraction had a molecular weight of 900–1300 and a sugar and amino acid structure(s). There was no specific ACE inhibitory fraction(s). The koji fermentation process at room temperature did not need additional energy, led to different foods with a sweet and a umami-rich taste and a soft texture. Additionally, koji fermented steamed surimi and kamaboko effectively prolonged best-before periods of up to 6 months.

Metal silicides are attracting attention as environment-friendly functional materials because they are composed of abundant elements in the earth’s crust. However, conventional processes for preparing silicides from SiO2 as the starting material consume a lot of energy and utilize hazardous materials through the reduction process of SiO2. Against this background, the electrochemical process in molten salt become key technology for fabricating silicon materials in an environmentally friendly, simple, and inexpensive process. We have already reported the electrodeposition of metallic silicon films from SiO2 in high temperature molten salt. This process has the potential to develop environmentally friendly and sustainable systems for fabricating silicon materials by combining non-consumable oxygen-evolving anodes. In this study, we focused on the electrochemical formation of molybdenum silicide from SiO2 in molten chloride because the molybdenum silicide are promising materials for ultra-high temperature protective coating, heating element, and thermoelectric conversion element. We report here the electrochemical formation of molybdenum silicide in CaCl2-based molten chloride containing SiO2 system. A Mo substrate was used as the working electrode. From the results of characterization by XRD, SEM, and EDS analysis, a metastable β-MoSi2 phase and stable α-MoSi2 phase were obtained by controlling applied potentials during potentiostatic electrolysis. In addition, since the nucleation and growth process of the silicide is very important to control its structure, composition and morphology, the electrolytic time transient between molybdenum substrate/molten chloride interface were carefully observed by SEM analysis. The fundamental research on formation process of silicides in molten salt will greatly contribute to materials science in high temperature environment and developing the novel rout for fabricating silicon materials.

Yu Matsuo,1 Masatoshi Haruta,1 Yumi Ishibashi,1 Koki Ishibashi,1 Kei Furushima,1 Nobuhiro Kato,1 Kenta Murotani,2 Shigeo Yoshida1 1Department of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, Kurume, Japan; 2Biostatistics Center, Kurume University, Kurume, JapanCorrespondence: Masatoshi HarutaDepartment of Ophthalmology, Kurume University School of Medicine, 67 Asahi-machi, Kurume, Fukuoka, 830-0011, JapanTel +81 942 31 7574Fax +81 942 37 0324Email haruta_masatoshi@med.kurume-u.ac.jpPurpose: Patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) may develop large submacular hemorrhages (SMHs), which may result in severe visual loss. This study was performed to determine the visual outcomes and prognostic factors of large SMHs secondary to PCV.Patients and Methods: We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of patients diagnosed with PCV who developed a large SMH. The best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) data were collected at the SMH development, 1 month, 1 year after the SMH development, and at the final visit. Patients’ medical information also were collected and included age, gender, systemic hypertension, current regular use of an anticoagulant or antiplatelet medication, the initial area of the SMH, breakthrough vitreous hemorrhage, ocular treatment, and fellow eye status. Univariate and multiple regression analyses were performed to determine the prognostic factors for the BCVA 1 year after the development of large SMHs.Results: Thirty eyes of 29 patients were included in this study. The mean area of the SMHs at the development was 17.0 disc areas. The mean follow-up period after the development of SMHs was 53.5 months. The mean BCVA at the development, 1 month, and 1 year after the development, and at the final visit were 20/151, 20/263, 20/138, and 20/152, respectively. Multiple regression analyses indicated that a SMH 20 disc areas or larger was a significant negative factor, and the BCVA 1 month after the development was a significant positive factor affecting the BCVA 1 year after the development of large SMHs.Conclusion: The increase in the initial area of SMH was correlated inversely with the BCVA 1 year after the development of SMH. The BCVA 1 month after the development may predict the BCVA 1 year after the development of a large SMH.Keywords: anti-vascular endothelial growth factor therapy, indocyanine green angiography, multiple regression analyses, optical coherence tomography, pneumatic displacement

Bulky hard peel of Citrus natsudaidai is discarded and not utilized enough in Japan. In this study, the nutritional composition and volatile components of three cultivars of C. natsudaidai peel were determined. Considering the proximate composition and minerals, C. natsudaidai peels showed good carbohydrate and potassium content. The peel color varied probably due to the difference of cultivars. C. natsudaidai peels were extracted and analyzed for free amino acids and for fatty acids and volatile compounds. The amount of free amino acids in the extracts was not enough to affect the taste of extracts. The proportion of individual fatty acid was not comparable to other plant oils, however, typical aroma compounds with citrusy smell were identified. C. natsudaidai extracts could contribute for the utilization as flavoring additives without affecting taste.

A 59-year-old woman was admitted because of cyanosis and dyspnea on exertion and at rest. In her childhood, she was suspected of having ventricular septal defect (VSD), but she refused to undergo cardiac catheterization and operation. Dyspnea on exertion gradually developed after adolescence. On admission, chest roentgenography demonstrated enlarged cardiac silhouette with elevated cardiac apex, a right aortic arch, and enlargement of the main pulmonary arteries and their major branches with increased pulmonary arterial vascularity (Figure 1). Echocardiography revealed a large VSD which lay beneath the dilated aorta that overrides the interventricular septum, hypertrophied right ventricle, and the blind outflow tract of the right ventricle …