Saga University

This study applied solution treatment under high pressure as 2 and 6 GPa to an Al-11.5mass%Cu alloy for increasing the solubility limit of Cu atoms. In-situ high-energy X-ray diffraction (XRD) analysis using a facility at SPring-8 in JASRI (Japan Synchrotron Radiation Research Institute) revealed dissolution behavior of θ-Al2Cu phase during the solution treatment. After the solution treatment under 6 GPa, all the Cu atoms in 11.5 mass% were dissolved in the Al matrix, almost twice as much as the solubility limit under ambient pressure, resulting in the increased Vickers microhardness to 148 HV. Further increase in Vickers microhardness to 206 HV was also obtained after aging at 190 ℃, and the aging behavior was also examined by the in-situ high-energy XRD analysis. In this study, the effect of ultrafine-grained structure produced by severe plastic deformation through high-pressure sliding method was also elucidated.

Background In postmenopausal women, lower levels of sex hormone-binding globulin (SHBG) have been linked to various metabolic conditions. The association between SHBG levels and the presence of dyslipidemia was investigated in comparison with other sex hormones. Methods Data from 570 postmenopausal women were analyzed. To assess the relationship between circulating sex hormone concentrations and dyslipidemia, logistic regression and receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analyses were performed to assess the relationships. Results Participants had a median age of 51.0 years (49.0–53.0). The multivariate analysis revealed that SHBG levels were significantly associated with dyslipidemia. Specifically, low SHBG levels correlated with hypertriglyceridemia and low high-density lipoprotein levels. The area under the curve (AUC) and the optimal SHBG level cutoff value for identifying the presence of dyslipidemia were 0.626 and 69.0 nmol/L, respectively. The AUCs for SHBG levels were highest for estradiol (E2), total testosterone (TT) and dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEAS) levels. Conclusions SHBG levels were significantly associated with dyslipidemia in postmenopausal women and outperformed E2, TT, and DHEAS levels. These findings highlight SHBG as a potential biomarker for dyslipidemia risk in postmenopausal women, warranting further research into its prognostic utility.

Aim The aging of the global population has made healthy aging and the extension of healthy life expectancy significant challenges for many societies. Mental health, including cognitive function, is critical to the quality of life of older adults. Oxytocin, a neuropeptide involved in social bonding and stress regulation, has been shown to exert neuroprotective effects, while S100B, a calcium‐binding protein, has been linked to neuroinflammation and neurodegenerative disorders, such as Alzheimer's disease. However, the relationship between oxytocin and S100B levels during aging remains unclear. This study investigated the association between serum oxytocin and S100B levels in community‐dwelling older adults. Methods This survey, conducted between November 2016 and September 2017 in Kurokawa‐cho, Imari, Saga Prefecture, Japan, included community‐dwelling older adults aged ≥65 years. Blood samples were collected to measure serum oxytocin and S100B levels using an enzyme‐linked immunosorbent assay. The relationships among serum oxytocin, S100B, and cognitive function (Mini‐Mental State Examination, Frontal Assessment Battery, and Clinical Dementia Rating) were analyzed using correlation and multiple regression analyses. Results A total of 95 participants (25 men, 70 women; mean age: 78.03 ± 5.12 years) were analyzed. Our analysis showed that serum oxytocin levels were negatively associated with serum S100B levels even after adjusting for age, sex, years of education, and body mass index. However, no significant correlations were found between these biomarkers and overall cognitive function. Conclusion These findings suggest that the neuroprotective effects of oxytocin may influence blood S100B levels, though its direct role in cognitive function remains unclear.

Strontium aluminate doped with the europium(II) ion (SrAl2O4:Eu²⁺) is a versatile material with phosphor mechanoluminescent applications and static electricity‐induced luminescence properties. Oxygen vacancies play a crucial role in the mechanism governing the luminescence of SrAl2O4:Eu²⁺. The present study uses first‐principles calculations to estimate the energy level distribution of oxygen vacancies in europium‐doped strontium aluminate while considering the valence states of the luminescent Eu²⁺ and Eu³⁺ centers in the emission process. The results indicate that the energy levels of the oxygen vacancies are distributed ≈ 2.5 eV for Eu²⁺ and above 2.5 eV for Eu³⁺. Regardless of the charge states of the oxygen vacancies, their energy levels exhibit a relatively broad distribution owing to structural relaxation. The energy levels ε(0/1+) and ε(0/2+) of the oxygen vacancies shift toward the conduction band for Eu³⁺ relative to Eu²⁺. This finding is valuable for understanding the re‐excitation of electrons trapped in oxygen vacancies through external stimuli, such as thermal, mechanical, or electrical effects.

In this study, we investigated the anti-inflammatory properties of ozonated polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFAs). Ozonated fatty acid ethyl esters were prepared by bubbling ozone gas into the sample solution, leading to the formation of ozonide structures. Upon treatment with RAW264 cells, ozonated fatty acid ethyl esters reduced the lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-induced nitric oxide (NO) production in a dose-dependent manner, with ozonated ethyl ester of α-linolenic acid (zLnEE) showing the strongest reduction among all samples. The mRNA expression levels of inflammatory factors, such as tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α), prostaglandin-endoperoxide synthase 2 (PTGS2), interleukin (IL) 1β and IL6, induced by the stimulation of LPS, were suppressed, while the oxidative stress response gene of hemeoxidase-1 (HO-1) was upregulated by zLnEE treatment. In the nuclear factor kappa B (NF-κB) reporter gene assay, NF-κB activation stimulated by TNF-α was inhibited by the addition of zLnEE. These results indicate that ozonated PUFAs have anti-inflammatory effects. Furthermore, the observed upregulation of the HO-1 mRNA levels suggests that the ozonide structure of zLnEE activates the nuclear factor erythroid 2-related factor 2 (Nrf2) - Kelch-like ECH-associated protein 1 (Keap1) pathway, thereby inducing its anti-inflammatory properties. However, the potential cytotoxic degradation products of ozonated PUFAs may be harmful to humans and further studies are needed to confirm the safety of ozonated oils. graphical abstract Fullsize Image

Arthroplasty is currently the only option for reconstruction of large articular cartilage defects, mainly due to osteoarthritis. However, reconstruction with artificial materials has several issues such as deterioration, foreign body reaction, and bacterial infection. This study established a new method for articular cartilage reconstruction that fundamentally solves the problems associated with artificial materials by creating scaffold-free cartilage constructs and implanting them into extensive osteochondral defects without artificial materials. Tubular cartilage constructs were fabricated using a completely scaffold-free Kenzan bio-three-dimensional printing method with chondrogenic spheroids generated from human induced pluripotent stem cell-derived mesenchymal stem/stromal cells (iPSC-MSCs). The constructs were partially cut open to form a patch and implanted into osteochondral defects in the femoral trochlear groove of immunodeficient miniature pigs. The cartilage constructs were elastic and easy to handle, and abundant glycosaminoglycans and collagens were observed in the grafted site after implantation, as well as in the articular cartilage. Cells at this site were positive for human vimentin, indicating that the cartilage constructs were successfully engrafted into the host subchondral bone. Scaffold-free human iPSC-MSC-derived cartilage constructs implanted into osteochondral defects contribute to the regeneration of extensive osteochondral defects in the absence of artificial materials.

This is the first multicenter survey to clarify occupational environments and health and stress status in various medical professionals (MPs). The survey questionnaire included the General Health Questionnaire (GHQ), Effort-Reward Imbalance (ERI), Quality of Working Life (QWL), medical incidents, and demographic data. We collected 3,335 questionnaires from 7,698 MPs and analyzed 3,036 of them. The MPs were categorized into 6 groups: nurses (n = 1,821); physicians (706); dentists (83); pharmacists (77); MPs involved in disease diagnoses (MP-diagnosis), including clinical laboratory technicians and radiographers (261); and MPs involved in patient treatment (MP-treatment), including physical therapists, occupational therapists, speech therapists, and other therapists (88). Working hours were the longest for physicians, and the night shift work was the greatest for nurses. Mental health (GHQ) was the worst in nurses and was the best in physicians. ERI was worse in nurses and MP-treatment than in other occupations. QWL in maintaining personal values was the worst in physicians. Different health/stress statuses must be considered when assisting MPs and forming policy guidelines.

Background and Aim This study aimed to compare the therapeutic effects and safety of lenvatinib (LEN) plus transcatheter arterial chemoembolization (LEN‐TACE) and atezolizumab plus bevacizumab (Atez/Bev) as the first‐line therapies in patients with intermediate‐stage hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) beyond the up‐to‐seven criteria. Methods We enrolled 768 patients with HCC treated with first‐line systemic therapy, and 154 patients were enrolled and categorized into either the LEN‐TACE therapy ( n = 42) or Atez/Bev ( n = 112) groups. After propensity score matching (PSM), 72 patients (LEN‐TACE group, n = 36; Atez/Bev group, n = 36) were analyzed. Results After PSM, the median progression‐free survival showed no significant differences between the LEN‐TACE and Atez/Bev groups (8.5 [95% confidence interval (CI): 6.1–10.7] months vs. 8.6 (95% CI: 5.3–12.1) months, respectively; p = 0.973). Regarding median overall survival (OS), no significant differences were noted between the LEN‐TACE and Atez/Bev groups (37.3 [95% CI: 31.2–60.2] months vs. 32.4 (95% CI: 19.5–NE) months, respectively; p = 0.183). Regarding adverse events (AEs) of grade ≥ 3, no significant difference was observed between the two groups. Multivariate analysis revealed that the ALBI grade 1 and low AFP levels were independent factors for OS. Conclusion LEN‐TACE therapy may be one of the effective treatment strategies in intermediate‐stage HCC patients beyond the up‐to‐seven criteria.

Biodiversity is predicted to decline due to the expansion of low dissolved oxygen waters following global warming. Because most benthic species with poor mobility must tolerate low-oxygen environments, identifying species capable of surviving under these conditions and understanding their survival duration can provide a basis for assessing changes in community composition and organism conservation. In this study, a simplified experimental system using a time-lapse camera was used to assess the low-oxygen tolerance of 10 bivalve species, including rare and endangered species, inhabiting the inner part of Ariake Bay, where seasonal hypoxia occurs. Survival curves were found to be significantly shorter under low-oxygen conditions without antibiotic compared to normoxic conditions for all species, indicating the feasibility of assessing tolerance to hypoxic treatment. The duration of survival (median lethal time: LT50) varied among the 10 species under low-oxygen conditions at 25°C, offering insights into which endangered species can endure oxygen depletion. This approach is expected to provide a simple and quick assessment of tolerance to low-oxygen conditions for the conservation of marine organisms.

The relationship between diet and brain functions has garnered attention. Previous studies have shown that ingesting a protease-treated porcine liver decomposition product (PLDP) improves cognitive function in humans. In this study, we investigated the effects of PLDP ingestion on cognitive and emotional functions in mice. Mice were fed a PLDP-enhanced diet for 16 weeks and subjected to various behavioral assessments. PLDP ingestion enhanced long-term memory in Barnes maze test. Moreover, mice fed the PLDP diet exhibited reduced anxiety- and depression-like behaviors as evidenced by their performance in open-field, elevated plus maze, marble-burying, and forced swim tests. They also increased locomotor activity. RNA sequencing analysis of the brain tissue revealed substantial changes in gene expression, particularly in pathways associated with learning, memory, and anxiety regulation. Collectively, these results suggest that PLDP induces changes in gene expression associated with brain function, potentially contributing to the enhancement of cognitive function and psychological health. Furthermore, our findings not only enhance our understanding of the relationship between nutrition and brain function but also indicate the potential of interventions utilizing dietary components, such as PLDP, to support cognitive function and psychological health.

mRNA and adenoviral vector vaccine platforms were used for the primary series of COVID-19 vaccines in many countries. However, the distinct immunogenic properties on these platforms remain less understood. We traced neutralizing antibodies, memory B cells, and T cells longitudinally in cohorts that received either mRNA (BNT162b2 or mRNA-1273) or adenoviral vector (ChAdOx1) vaccines with homologous or heterologous regimens (total 9 groups, n = 26–28 for each group) at 4 weeks interval. The priming and boosting effects on various immune parameters were comparably assessed between mRNA and adenoviral vector platforms. We found that initial priming by adenoviral vector vaccine elicited robust T cell responses, but B cell responses, including antibody titers, were relatively lower than those elicited by mRNA priming. The dissociation between T cell and antibody responses were exaggerated at greater extents after the homologous booster with the adenoviral vector vaccine, resulting in 5-19-fold lower antibody titers despite comparable spike-specific T cell numbers at day 28 after the boost. Robust IFN-γ and few IL-2 and IL-5 production characterized T cell functionality primed by adenoviral vector. Boosting with mRNA vaccines restored their IL-2 and IL-5 production at some extents, but the IL-5 T cell responses elicited by adenoviral vector/mRNA heterologous regimen waned faster than those by mRNA homologous regimen. Thus, our data revealed that the cytokine production of helper T cells was skewed by adenoviral vector priming, leading to the attenuated IL-2 and IL-5 responses which were prolonged even after mRNA boosting, suggesting an imprinting of T-cell functionality depending on the vaccine platform used for initial priming. These results highlight the importance of selecting vaccine platforms based on the immunogenic properties.

The polyene antifungal amphotericin B (AmB) can form giant helical aggregates. We show that microscopic and mesoscopic structural features of its aggregates can be revealed by Raman optical activity (ROA) and electronic circular dichroism (ECD), respectively. The ROA method, which senses molecular structure more locally, elucidates the conformation of the polyene chain of individual AmB molecules in an aggregated state. In turn, the ECD signal related to exciton coupling effects provides details about the arrangement of AmB molecules in the supramolecular structure. Thus, the use of both complementary methods will be crucial in future structural studies of chiral supramolecular systems.

The market for small-diameter vascular grafts (< 6 mm) used in cardiac and vascular surgery has not yet been fully established, as stable long-term patency has not been achieved. This paper focuses on the clinical development of tissue-engineered vascular grafts (TEVGs), especially those that have progressed to clinical trials, and introduces their current status with historical background and future directions. This review was created based on a translation of the Japanese review first reported in the Japanese Journal of Artificial Organs in 2023 (vol. 52, no. 3, pp. 161–166), with some modifications.

We reported that Glycyrrhiza uralensis inoculated with rhizobium tended to increase biomass production and glycyrrhizic acid (GL) production, in this study we have also achieved drastically increase in biomass and GL production in Glycyrrhiza glabra . At thirty days after inoculation (DAI), a significant increase in SPAD values was observed, and the expression of GL synthesis marker genes was also significantly increased. At 150 DAI, a significant increase in biomass was observed. Characteristically, it was also found that thick roots were enlarged by rhizobial inoculation. In addition, the expression of GL synthesis marker genes was also significantly increased. Moreover, GL content per unit root dry weight reached 4%, and GL production per plant increased six times compared to uninoculated plants. Moreover, we tried to reveal the mechanism of induction of GL production by rhizobial inoculation. Since it has been reported that the expression of jasmonic acid (JA) synthesis marker genes is increased by rhizobium in soybean, we investigated the expression of those genes in G. glabra , and found that GgMYC2 and GgJAR1 were up-regulated at Thirty DAI. Furthermore, methyl jasmonate treatment increased the expression of GL synthesis marker genes, suggesting that JA signaling is involved in the increased GL production due to rhizobial inoculation. These results aid in understanding the mechanism of increased GL production through the introduction of rhizobial symbiosis, and show the potential for providing a technology to significantly shorten the cultivation period for the production of Glycyrrhiza that meets the criteria for herbal medicines. Graphical abstract

The corrosion resistance of Fe24+xCo24−xCr15Mo14C15B6Y2 (x = 0, 2, 4, 6, 17) bulk amorphous alloys was investigated through electrochemical testing and neutral salt spray corrosion tests. The alloys exhibited a wide passivation region in 1 mol/L HCl, and their EIS spectra consisted of single capacitive loops, indicating good corrosion resistance. Analysis of polarization curves and AC impedance results showed that the corrosion resistance increased initially and then decreased with increasing Co content, peaking at a Co content of 20 at.% (x = 4). Energy dispersive spectroscopy (EDS) and atomic force microscopy (AFM) analysis of the neutral salt spray corrosion results indicated that the corrosion products mainly consisted of oxides and chlorides of iron and cobalt. The degree of corrosion of Fe–Co-based bulk amorphous alloys varied with Co content, with a similar trend observed in both salt spray and electrochemical corrosion tests.

For the bulk amorphous Fe24+xCo24−xCr15Mo14C15B6Y2(X = 0, 2, 4, 6 and 17) alloy, the corresponding corrosion properties associated with glass forming ability (GFA) have been carried out. Neutral salt spray corrosion test results show that the Fe28Co20Cr15Mo14C15B6Y2 alloy has the minimum corrosion rate, followed by Fe26Co22Cr15Mo14C15B6Y2, Fe24Co24Cr15Mo14C15B6Y2, Fe30Co18Cr15−Mo14C15B6Y2, Fe41Co7Cr15Mo14C15B6Y2 and Ti6Al4V alloys. Specifically, the Fe28Co20Cr15−Mo14C15B6Y2 alloy with the highest GFA also has the best corrosion resistance. With the increasing of Co addition, the corrosion resistance of the FeCo-based bulk metallic glasses first increases and then decreases, which has the same trend of GFA with the change of Co elements. Furthermore, corrosion morphology are different for FeCo-based BMGs with different Co content.