Combustion Study of Different Transitional Metal Oxide based on AN/MgAl Composites Gas Generators

Ammonium nitrate (AN)-based composite gas generator have attracted a considerable amount of attention because of the clean burning nature of AN as an oxidizer. However, ammonium nitrate-based gas generator has several major problems, namely, poor ignitability, a low burning rate, low energy, and high hygroscopicity. The addition of different transitional metal oxides and MgAl mechanical alloyed proved to be effective in improving the burning characteristics of AN-based gas generator. In this research work, combustion study of different transition metal oxide based on AN/MgAl composites gas generators was studied. Gas generators were combusted at the pressure of 1 MPa, 3 MPa and 5 MPa in the combustion chamber and the burning rates were determined. It was stated that the addition of metal oxides into the composition of the gas generators improves ignition at low pressure and increases the burning rate. The use of the mechanical MgAl alloys as a fuel allowed the ignition of the gas generator at a lower temperature. The method of thermogravimetric/differential thermal analyzer (TG/DTA) was used to investigate the effect of metal oxides addition on the AN/MgAl-based gas generators thermal decomposition characteristics.

Combustion Characteristics of HAN-based Green Propellant Assisted with Nanoporous Active Carbons

Combustion of hydroxylammonium nitrate (95 wt.% HAN) ‒ water solution in presence of high specific surface area activated carbons is investigated in a constant-pressure bomb within the pressure range of 1‒6 MPa. The linear burning rate increased for the system of HAN admixed with activated carbons compared to those of the HAN alone. Moreover, the thermal decomposition of HAN (95 wt.%) ‒ water solution spiked with activated carbons was assessed by DTA – TG method. In the presence of activated carbons, the ability to trigger the decomposition at a lower temperature (86 °C vs 185 °C) was observed. The volatile products formed in the course of thermal decomposition of HAN, spiked with activated carbons were characterized by electron ionization mass spectrometry analysis. Primary products of HAN decomposition: m/z = 33 (NH2OH) and m/z = 63 (HNO3), which are further responsible for the formation of secondary products such as N2O, NO, HNO2, NO2, O2 etc. Significant reduction of NOx emissions during thermal decomposition of HAN (95 wt.%) ‒ water solution was observed (ca. 30%) in presence of activated carbons.

Development of a novel algorithm for detecting glucocorticoid-induced diabetes mellitus using a medical information database

WHAT IS KNOWN AND OBJECTIVE

Glucocorticoid-induced diabetes mellitus (GIDM) increases the risk of diabetes mellitus (DM)-related complications but is generally difficult to detect in clinical settings. The criteria for diagnosing GIDM have not been established. Recently, medical information databases (MIDs) have been used in post-marketing surveillance (PMS) studies. We conducted a pharmacoepidemiological study to develop an algorithm for detecting GIDM using MID.

METHODS

We selected 1214 inpatients who were newly prescribed with a typical glucocorticoid, prednisolone, during hospitalization from 2008 to 2014 from an MID of Hamamatsu University Hospital in Japan. GIDM was screened based on fasting blood glucose (FBG) and haemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) levels according to the current Japan Diabetes Society (JDS) DM criteria, and its predictability was evaluated by an expert's review of medical records. We investigated further candidate screening factors using receiver operating characteristics analysis.

RESULTS

Sixty-three inpatients were identified by the JDS DM criteria. Of these, 33 patients were definitely diagnosed as having GIDM by expert's review (positive predictive value = 52·4%). To develop a highly predictive algorithm, we compared the characteristics of inpatients diagnosed with definite GIDM and those diagnosed as non-GIDM. The maximum levels of HbA1c in patients with GIDM were significantly higher than those of patients with non-GIDM (66·9 mmol/mol vs. 58·7 mmol/mol, P < 0·001). The patients with GIDM had significantly higher relative increase in maximum level of HbA1c (RIM-HbA1c) than those with non-GIDM (0·3 vs. 0·03, P < 0·001). However, we did not observe a significant difference in those of fasting blood glucose (FBG) levels. We applied the RIM-HbA1c as a second screening factor to improve the detection of GIDM. It showed that a 13% increase in RIM-HbA1c separated patients with from patients without GIDM.

WHAT IS NEW AND CONCLUSIONS

Patients with GIDM had significantly higher RIM-HbA1c than patients with non-GIDM. There was a 13% increase in RIM-HbA1c in patients with GIDM compared to the others. Our detection algorithm for GIDM using an MID achieved high sensitivity and specificity, and was superior to one based only on the current JDS DM criteria. Our results suggest that monitoring changes in HbA1c levels is important for detecting GIDM and adds to current diagnostic criteria for type 2 DM.

Influence of Human Jaw Movement on Cerebral Blood Flow

Temporal changes in cerebral blood flow induced by jaw movement have yet to be investigated. To assess the influence of pattern and intensity of muscle contraction during jaw movement on task-induced change in cerebral blood flow, we performed bilateral transcranial Doppler ultrasound examination during clenching, gum chewing, and tooth tapping in healthy volunteers. A random-effects model analysis revealed a significant increase in middle cerebral artery blood flow velocity during clenching (high muscle activity) and gum chewing (moderate muscle activity), compared with the preceding rest period; however, such an increase was not detected during tooth tapping (low muscle activity). Cerebral blood flow was greater on the working side during the intensive isometric contraction of the masseter muscle in clenching. These results suggest that task-induced change in cerebral blood flow during jaw movement is influenced by the change in peripheral circulation evoked by muscle contraction.

Coordination of Tongue Pressure and Jaw Movement in Mastication

The tongue plays an important role in mastication and swallowing by its contact with the hard palate. Using an experimental palatal plate with 7 pressure sensors, and recording jaw movement using mandibular kinesiography, we assessed, in healthy subjects, the coordination of tongue and jaw movements during the entire masticatory sequence of solids, by measuring tongue pressure against the hard palate. Tongue pressure appeared during the occlusal phase, reached a peak near the start of opening, and disappeared during opening. Specific patterns in order, duration, and magnitude of tongue pressure were seen at the 7 pressure sensors in each chewing stroke. Magnitude and duration were significantly larger in the late stage of chewing (8 strokes before initial swallowing) than in the early stage (until 8 strokes after starting mastication). The normal pattern of tongue contact against the hard palate, control of tongue activity, and coordination with jaw movement during mastication is described.

Validation of the distress and impact thermometer and the changes of mood during the first 6 months of treatment in gynecological cancer patients: a Kansai Clinical Oncology Group (KCOG)-G1103 prospective study

PURPOSE

To verify distress and impact thermometer (DIT) for screening emotional distress in gynecological cancer patients by Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale total (HADS-T) as gold standard and to assess emotional changes by DIT and HADS-T.

METHODS

A prospective study was conducted in newly diagnosed gynecological cancer patients during the peri-treatment period after the cancer diagnosis followed by 6-month. We defined a HADS-T score of ≥11 as being indicative of emotional distress.

RESULTS

117 patients were enrolled between May 1, 2011 and March 31, 2012, and 95 were eligible. The median age was 54 years (range 31-77). (1) From the baseline to 3-month, distress (DIT-D) ≥4 with Impact (DIT-I) ≥2 exhibited sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value (PPV), and negative predictive values (NPV) of 0.776 [95 % confidential interval (CI) 0.688, 0.850], 0.889 (95 % CI 0.824, 0.954), 0.868 (95 % CI 0.792, 0.949), and 0.808 (95 % CI 0.731, 0.886), respectively. (2) At 6-month, DIT-D ≥2 with DIT-I ≥1 exhibited sensitivity, specificity, PPV and NPV of 0.893 (95 % CI 0.778, 1), 0.825 (95 % CI 0.707, 0.942), 0.781 (95 % CI 0.638, 0.928), and 0.917 (95 % CI 0.826, 1). (3) At 6-month, the HADS-T, DIT-D, and DIT-I scores in individual patients were significantly reduced by a mean of 4.57 (p < 0.0001), 2.34 (p < 0.0001), and 1.10 (p = 0.0031), respectively, compared with those scores of baseline (Student's paired t test), but still remained high.

CONCLUSIONS

(1) On acute phase within 3-month setting, DIT; DIT-D ≥4 with DIT-I ≥2, is a reliable cut-off to screen emotional distress among gynecological cancer patients. (2) The patients' moods had improved, but not completely recovered at 6-month after the diagnosis.

Gynandroblastoma of postmenopausal women: a case report

Gynandroblastoma, an extremely rare ovarian tumour that usually consists of both Sertoli stromal cell and granulosa cell tumours, often produces both androgenic and estrogenic effects. The authors herein report a case of gynandroblastoma with the longest disease-free period reported to date. A 66-year-old woman without metrorrhagia or hirsutism presented with abdominal pain and slightly elevated serum estradiol levels. Her uterus was enlarged, and endometrial curettage performed to reduce endometrial thickness prior to laparotomy led to a diagnosis of atypical endometrial hyperplasia. She was diagnosed of ovarian tumour. The pathology report revealed that the right ovarian tumour was a "gynandroblastoma". Such lesions are classified as borderline malignant. Postoperative adjuvant therapy was not administered in this case because only a few recurrent or fatal cases have been reported. The lesion was classified as pTlaN0M0 according to Union for International Cancer Control (UICC). The patient is alive and has been disease-free for 77 months post-surgery.

Proton pump inhibitor after endoscopic resection for esophageal squamous cell cancer: multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial

BACKGROUND

Whether proton pump inhibitors (PPIs) relieve heartburn or precordial pain after endoscopic resection (ER) for esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (ESCC) remains unclear. The aim of this study was to investigate the efficacy of PPI therapy for these symptoms after ER for ESCC.

METHODS

We conducted a multicenter prospective randomized controlled trial among 15 hospitals in Japan. In total, 229 patients with cT1a ESCC were randomly assigned to receive PPI therapy for 5 weeks after ER (the PPI group, n = 115) or follow-up without PPI therapy (the non-PPI group, n = 114). The primary end point was the incidence of gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD)-like symptoms after ER from a self-reported questionnaire (Frequency Scale for Symptoms of GERD). Secondary end points were ulcer healing rate at 5 weeks, incidence of pain, improvement rate of symptoms in those who started PPI therapy because of GERD-like symptoms in the non-PPI group, and adverse events.

RESULTS

No significant difference was observed in the incidence of GERD-like symptoms after ER between the non-PPI and PPI groups (30 % vs 34 %, respectively). No significant differences were observed in the ulcer healing rate at 5 weeks (84 % vs 85 %) and incidence of pain within 1 week (36 % vs 45 %). In nine of ten patients (90 %) who started PPI therapy because of GERD-like symptoms in the non-PPI group, PPI administration relieved GERD-like symptoms. No adverse events related to PPI administration were observed.

CONCLUSION

PPI therapy is not efficacious in reducing symptoms and did not promote healing of ulcers in patients undergoing ER for ESCC.

Tongue pressure production during swallowing in patients with mandibular prognathism

Abnormalities of swallowing in patients with mandibular prognathism have not been evaluated quantitatively. The aim of this study was to compare tongue pressure production for bolus transfer between volunteers with normal occlusion and patients with mandibular prognathism. The control group had 10 female volunteers with normal occlusion, and the patient group had 10 women with mandibular prognathism. Tongue pressure was measured by a palatal sensor sheet at five sites on swallowing 4 mL of a tasteless and odourless jelly.

RESULTS

The tongue pressure waveform differed between the control and patient groups. The incidence of a double-peak tongue pressure waveform was more frequent in the patient group. In both groups, the exertion of tongue pressure began at the anterior point of the sensor sheet, followed by the peripheral parts. Although the order of expression of tongue pressure was the same for the two groups, maximum tongue pressure at all parts of the sensor sheet was lower in the patient group than in the control group. Furthermore, swallowing time was longer in the patient group than in the control group at the peripheral parts of the palate. These results clearly show the difference in tongue pressure production during swallowing between patients with mandibular prognathism and volunteers with normal occlusion. The current findings suggest that maxillofacial morphology may affect tongue movement during swallowing.

Reticulate evolution in the apogamous Dryopteris varia complex (Dryopteridaceae, subg. Erythrovariae, sect. Variae) and its related sexual species in Japan

Apogamous fern species are often difficult to distinguish from related species because of their continuous morphological variations. To clarify the genetic relationships among the members of the Dryopteris varia complex, we analyzed the nucleotide sequences of the plastid gene rbcL and the nuclear gene PgiC. We also analyzed the diploid sexual species D. caudipinna and D. chinensis, which have not been included in the complex, but were recently shown to be closely related to the complex in a molecular phylogenetic study. The PgiC sequences of the diploid sexual species, D. varia, D. saxifraga, D. sp. 'protobissetiana' (undescribed diploid sexual species), D. caudipinna, and D. chinensis, were well differentiated and hence designated A, B, C, D, and E, respectively. Thus, the PgiC constitution of apogamous species in the complex was as follows: D. bissetiana, B + C; D. kobayashii, B + C + E); D. pacifica, A + C, A + B + C, or A + C + D; D. sacrosancta, A + C + E; and D. saxifragivaria, B + C. These results suggest that these apogamous species are formed by hybridizations of species including not only the three diploid sexual species of the D. varia complex (A, B, and C) but also the two diploid sexual species D. caudipinna (D) and D. chinensis (E), which do not belong to the complex.

Environmental radiation at Izu-Oshima after the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident

Environmental radiation at Izu-Oshima Island was observed 6 months after the accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (F1-NPP). A car-borne survey of the dose rate in air was conducted over the entire island and the results were compared with measurements performed in 2005 (i.e. before the accident). The activity concentrations of (134)Cs and (137)Cs were also measured using a germanium detector. The dose rate in air was found to be 2.9 ± 1.2 times higher than that in 2005 and (134)Cs was detected on Izu-Oshima Island. These results are attributed to the accident at the F1-NPP.

Functional-characterization of developing tumor vascular system and drug delivery (review)

This review summarizes our recent experiments on the process of tumor vascularization and character of tumor vessels. By vitalscopic observation with transparent chambers in rats, we found that the sites where tumor vessels originated were usually terminal portions of terminal arterioles and that an intricate tumor vascular network was constructed from incorporated preexisting vessels and newly formed vessels by three different modes, i.e., sprouting, cross-connecting and splitting. Observation and hydrogen clearance studies showed that tumor blood flow changed remarkably during the development of the tumor vascular network. At an early stage of tumor growth, there were some regions of high flow in the tumor. At an advanced stage, however, there was a rapid increase in low-flow or no-flow areas which were resistant to access of anticancer drugs and oxygen. Angiotensin II-induced hypertension produced a several-fold increase in tumor blood flow without increasing tissue blood flow of normal tissues. These good conditions for drug delivery to tumor tissue are able to enhance therapeutic effects of chemotherapy, irradiation, antibody and photodynamic therapy.