Search

A transmissive optical system of a three-dimensional (3D) printer using the laser metal deposition (LMD) technique with a metal powder is proposed here, together with its design method. An f-number of the focused laser beam emitted from the optical system should be large enough for the laser beam not to be absorbed or reflected by the metal powder injection nozzle. On the other hand, owing to the Lagrange–Helmholtz relation, the f-number should be small enough to form a minute laser spot diameter for high-resolution building. A temperature rise induced by the high-power laser may cause damage or a thermal lens effect on the optical system, which can be reduced by using lenses having plano-surfaces contacting thermally with holders. A formula of the relationship of the thermal lens effect with an f-number of each lens is derived to determine the lens specifications. A formula of longitudinal spherical aberration (LSA) of these lenses is also derived, and the total LSA is shown to be able to be zero with an acceptable f-number of the focused laser beam. The prototype LMD 3D printer with 6 kW laser is fabricated and shows favorable properties, such as a minimum building width of 0.3 mm and a building speed of over 500 cc/h.

Ranitidine is a histamine 2 receptor antagonist, and daijokito is a Kampo (Chinese herbal medicine as practiced in Japan) formula, which is traditionally used for treating constipation and digestive trouble. Previous study demonstrated that daijokito significantly affected the pharmacokinetics of ranitidine in rats; however, the doses of ranitidine and daijokito in that study were higher than in clinical practice. Therefore, we examined the pharmacokinetic interaction between ranitidine and daijokito in clinical practice doses in healthy volunteers.This was a randomized, open label, two-period crossover study in healthy volunteers (n = 7). Volunteers received administrations of either a single dose of ranitidine 300 mg, or ranitidine 300 mg in combination with daijokito extract granules 2.5 g. Plasma concentrations of ranitidine were measured over 12 h by LC/MS/MS method.Plasma concentrations of ranitidine were lower with co-administration of daijokito compared with ranitidine alone. Co-administration of daijokito significantly decreased ranitidine area under the plasma concentration-time curve from 0 to 12 h (AUC0-12) and maximum plasma concentration (Cmax) with geometric mean (GM) ratio [90% confidence interval (CI)] for AUC0-12 of 0.609 (0.449, 0.826) and Cmax of 0.515 (0.345, 0.771).Co-administration of ranitidine with daijokito resulted in a significant decrease in plasma level of ranitidine in healthy volunteers.

Bofutsushosan is a well known Kampo, traditional Japanese medicine, based on ancient Chinese medicine mainly used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in Japan. We selected two Kampo formulas, Boiogito and Keishibukuryogan mainly used in the treatment of hypercholesterolemia in China to compare with Bofutsushosan and cholesterol absorption inhibitor ezetimibe.Hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver were induced by high cholesterol (containing 2% cholesterol and 0.5% cholic acid) diet in male Wistar rats for 6 and 12 weeks. Kampo formulas Boiogito, Bofutsushosan, Keishibukuryogan and ezetimibe were added to the high-cholesterol diet, respectively. After 6 and 12 weeks, body and liver weights, blood chemistry, cholesterol concentrations, fat-related and inflammatory-related factors were examined.High-cholesterol diet increased body and liver weights, and serum cholesterol concentrations. Boiogito and ezetimibe improved them. Serum ICAM-1 and RBP4 were increased in the high cholesterol diet group. Boiogito and ezetimibe improved them too. In the histological examinations of liver and adipose tissues, we observed a significant improvement after treatment. Immunostaining expression of ICAM-1 in aorta was improved by Boiogito, Bofutsushosan, Keishibukuryogan and ezetimibe. The mRNA expression of RBP4, HFABP, CFABP, MCP1 and CCR2 in liver and adipose tissue were decreased by Boiogito and ezetimibe.Boiogito has a protective effect on the progression of hypercholesterolemia and fatty liver induced by high-cholesterol diet in rats and more effective than Bofutsushosan and Keishibukuryogan. The lipid-lowering effect of Boiogito is not stronger than ezetimibe. But the anti-inflammatory (MCP1, CCR2) and anti-arteriosclerotic (ICAM-1) effects of Boiogito are more potent than ezetimibe.

We study supersonic flow of rarefied weakly ionized plasma at diverging magnetic field. While the flows of ions and neutral are treated by particle-based direct simulation Monte Carlo method, the electron is treated as a fluid, i.e., we carried out hybrid simulation. We calculate number density, velocity, temperature, and electric potential of charged particles and neutrals when the arc plasma flows out of the uniform magnetic field into lower pressure region in a steady state. We find the velocity increase just after passing the open magnetic field line, followed by deceleration due to collisions with residual molecules. We also find the temperature increase during the deceleration. In this acceleration/deceleration phenomena, the velocity difference between the neutrals and charged species are found, which also changes the electric potential. We discuss the mechanisms of potential formation along the plasma flow mainly by the pressure difference and the friction force between the charged particles and neutral species. The numerical results are, at least qualitatively, consistent with our previous experimental results.

Subcutaneous changes of 520d-5p-expressing HMV-I in a xenograft model. Subcutaneous changes of 520d-5p-expressing HMV-I in a xenograft model were recorded as criteria for tumor formation and metastasis. In HMV-I, the disappearance rate of tumors was greater than the outcome (12.5Â %) of therapeutic administration in vivo. (PDF 32 kb)

A representative gene expression profile of 520d/HMV-I. Upregulation of p53 and Nanog and downregulation of AICDA were observed in 520d/HMV-I cells in vitro, similar to the results for 520d/HLF cells. *, Pâ

The suppression rate (%) of tumor volume. The suppression rate (%) of tumor volume compared with the control each week is shown in Table 1. Greater than 85 % suppression 6 weeks after administration was observed in a xenograft model by subcutaneous injection. (PDF 92 kb)

The side effects of 520d/atelocollagen and the presence of tumor cells in the inoculated tumor in seven organs. Neither the presence of embolism induced by atelocollagen or evidence of micrometastases was detected pathologically in brain, liver, spleen, heart, lung, small intestine and kidney. (PDF 185 kb)

Representative gene expression in HMV-I tumors without suppression. When the animals were sacrificed, most tumors grew increasingly and the suppressive effect of 520d-5p on tumor growth could not be observed by RT-PCR. *: Pâ

Effective rate of tumor disappearance. Effective rate (%) of tumor disappearance by systemic administration compared with that of the control is shown in Table 1. Greater than 75 % of the tumor cells disappeared based on macroscopic and microscopic observation. (PDF 94 kb)

The sequences of primers used in this study. Primers used in this study are presented. (PDF 69 kb)

A representative case 24Â weeks after subcutaneous injection. A pathologist recognized adipose tissue and skeletal muscle thought to be the existing structure but could not confirm the clear tumor composition at the injection site (HE stain; top left, the perspective of the specimen; bottom, x40, x100 magnification). We did not identify any macroscopic tumors in this case. (PDF 341 kb)

An in vivo study using glioblastoma cells (T98G) treated with miR-520d-5p (520d/T98G). Three surviving mice were examined for human-derived gene expression in murine brain tissue 3 months after intracranial injection. a KSN/Slc mice were anesthetized with sodium pentobarbital (50 mg/kg intraperitoneally) and placed in a stereotaxic apparatus. During surgery, the animals’ body temperature was maintained at 37 °C using a heating pad. The skull was exposed, and a small craniotomy was made over the left striatum. A 30-gauge injection needle connected to a 10-μl Hamilton syringe through polyethylene tubing was used for 520d/T98G cell transplantation. The injection needle was inserted stereotaxically into the left striatum (A 2.0 mm, L 0.5 mm, D 1.2 mm from bregma) (left), and 1 μl of cell suspension (1 × 108 cells/μl) was pressure-injected (right). After injection, the needle was slowly withdrawn, and the skull hole was covered with dental cement. The incision was sutured with 6-0 Prolene. After recovery from surgery, the animals were returned to their home cage. b Immunohistochemistry was performed using anti-hGFAP antibody, and human-derived GFAP protein expression was confirmed in glial cells and vascular endothelial cells in the murine thalamus (left to right: x40, x200, x400 magnification). (PDF 203 kb)

We are studying supersonic helium plasma jet along a diverging magnetic field with low-ionization degree and low electron density. It had been experimentally found that the ion Mach number had its maximum about 3 at 1 cm downstream after passing the magnetic nozzle, and after that, the ion Mach number turned to decrease, and the plasma potential dropped. We numerically simulated the expanding plasma along the open magnetic field. Considering dimensionless numbers of the plasma flow, we chose hybrid scheme, i.e., Direct Simulation Monte Carlo (DSMC) method for neutral particles and ions, and fluid method for electrons. Residual molecules in the vacuum chamber were also included as particles. Consequently, we find the velocity increase just after passing the open field line, followed by deceleration due to collisions with residual molecules with temperature increase. In this acceleration-deceleration phenomenon, the velocity difference between neutrals and charged species are found, which also affects the space potential. We discuss the mechanisms of potential formation by the pressure difference and the friction force between the charged particles and neutral species. The numerical results are, at least qualitatively, consistent with our previous experimental results.