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Background. Although joint space width on weight-bearing radiographs of the knee is critical for early diagnosis and grading knee osteoarthritis, the optimal method with which to accurately measure this value remains controversial. The purpose of this study was to investigate and quantify the effects of the radiographic technique on joint space width in medial knee osteoarthritis. Materials and Methods. We compared maximum plateau gaps and minimum joint space widths on bilateral weight-bearing plain radiographs acquired using three different methods in 31 patients with medial knee osteoarthritis (56 knee joints): standing with the knee extended (standard imaging); SynaFlexer method; and Rosenberg method. Measured values were compared statistically, with values of P < 0.05 considered significant. Results. Maximum plateau gap in the medial compartment was significantly lower with the SynaFlexer method (3.2 ± 1.5 mm) and Rosenberg method (2.2 ± 1.2 mm) than with standard imaging (4.7 ± 2.2 mm; P < 0.05 each). Minimum width of the medial joint space was also significantly lower with the SynaFlexer method (3.1 ± 1.4 mm) and Rosenberg method (2.3 ± 1.4 mm) than with standard imaging (4.1 ± 1.4 mm; P < 0.05 each). Conclusion. The Rosenberg method appears beneficial for diagnosing early knee osteoarthritis, while the SynaFlexer method seems more appropriate for assessing disease severity or progression in patients with painful intermediate to severe knee osteoarthritis., Acta medica Nagasakiensia, 65(3), pp.123−129; 2022

Investigate the relationships among the experience of imaginary companions (either current or past), anthropomorphism, lonliness, mental stress in adults (university students)

Supplemental material, sj-pdf-1-ica-10.1177_02762366211034402 for Did Children Interact With Their Personified Objects During the COVID-19 Pandemic? by Masanori Yamaguchi and Yusuke Moriguchi in Imagination, Cognition and Personality

To make clear factors affecting Fe elution into molten Mg during sponge titanium production process and reasons why Fe elution from the steel vessel in the first use is high while it considerably reduces in the second use in the actual mill, immersion experiments into molten Mg at 950ºC were conducted using specially designed specimens simulating the first and the second uses of the vessel, and microstructure change of the steel during the use was investigated in detail. TiFe, TiFe2 and Ti-diffused steel layers formed on the surface of the steel specimen after the treatment similar to the first use of the vessel. The outermost portion of Ti-diffused steel contained 3mass% Ti, which should have transferred to the α phase at this temperature. Fe elution from TiFe and TiFe2 was almost zero, while Fe elution from Fe-3mass%Ti was 1/4 of that from the unused steel. By taking the information on the phases appeared on the surface of the actual vessel into account, Fe elution from the vessel at the second use was estimated as 1/16 of that at the first use, which is well consistent with the value in the actual production mill.

application/pdf, Chronic ultraviolet （UV） radiation results in photoaged skin characterized by deep wrinkle formation. Recent studies suggest that diminishment of anchoring fi brils（ AF）, stabilizing the association of the basement membrane to the underlying dermis, are involved in photoaged skin. Expression of COL7A1, encoding type VII collagen that is a major component of AF, is also decreased in photoaged skin. In this study, we have investigated COL7A1 transcription by UV and UV-related cytokines involved in photoaged skin. Nuclear run-on assay, luciferase assay and gel shift assay revealed that UV and UV-related cytokines（ TNF-α, IL-1β） tissue specifi cally downregulated COL7A1 transcription in epidermal keratinocytes, whereas COL7A1 transcription was upregulated by each modulator in dermal fi broblasts. The responsive element of each modulator was located between nucleotide -524 and -22 of COL7A1 promoter and AP-1 and NF-κB families band to this region. Taken together, these data strongly suggest that the downregulation of COL7A1 transcription in epidermal keratinocytes, main cells expressing COL7A1 in the skin, and subsequent diminishment of AF are involved in photoaged skin. We also have discussed relation between these results and pathophysiology of wrinkle formation, characteristic feature of photoaged skin., 弘前医学. 59(Suppl.), 2007, p.S154-S161

We report the inhibitory effect of 4-methylesculetin (ME), a 4-methylumbelliferone derivative, on hyaluronan (HA) synthesis by pancreatic cancer cells, and its resulting anticancer action. First, HA in cell culture was analyzed using competitive inhibition with hyaluronic acid-binding protein (HABP) to study HA synthesis by the human pancreatic cancer cell line KP1-NK, and cell-surface HA was visualized using a particle-exclusion assay to study the synthesis of extracellular matrix HA. We also analyzed the inhibitory effect of ME on cell adhesion and invasion, which play a role in the invasion, growth and metastasis of human pancreatic cancer. Furthermore, we examined HA in human pancreatic cancer cells transplanted into the hypodermis of nude mice to study the inhibitory effect of ME on HA synthesis. Moreover, pancreatic cancer cells were also transplanted into the abdomen of nude mice to study whether ME would have the potential to prolong the survival of patients with end-stage pancreatic cancer. ME at 10 muM did not inhibit the growth of human pancreatic cancer cells, but inhibited HA synthesis in cell culture by 40%, adhesion by 44% and invasion by 40%. ME inhibited the proliferation of subcutaneous tumors and HA synthesis (by 50%) of pancreatic cancer transplanted into the hypodermis of nude mice. ME also prolonged the survival time of nude mice bearing abdominally transplanted pancreatic cancer cells. ME inhibited pancreatic cancer growth and metastasis by inhibition of HA synthesis. These results suggest that ME may prolong the survival time of patients with end-stage pancreatic cancer.

We report the ultra-low energy electron beam (EB) irradiation system as a key tool in order to develop new electrolyte membranes for direct methanol fuel cells (DMFC) applying a barrier strategy. The system called Min-EB consists of EB tube, EB housing and high voltage power supply. Electron beam created from hot tungsten filament by thermionic emission mechanism in the high vacuum tube. EB is passed through the silicon base membrane and emitted into EB irradiation region such as reactor chamber or atmospheric space. Low energy electron beam penetrates only the top surface of electrolyte membranes and improves the characteristics of the membranes.

The energetic researches for an alternative process of the Hunter and Kroll Processes have been continued since titanium was first produced commercially. In the spring of 2004, Kraft reported that 20 activities around the world were seeking to provide lower cost-titanium by new extraction methods. The authors updated their status and reviewed 5 additional proposals based on the latest information from the four international conferences, which were held in the summer and the autumn of 2005. Also in Japan a new process developed by the JTS, and it initiated the four-year project using METI grant.

Recent progress in the treatment of Nafion®117 film by low dose electron beam (EB) exposure is described. The effect of EB exposure between 0 and 400 μC cm−2 doses is discussed on a structural level and a dual reaction mechanism, involving cleavage of the hydrophilic side chain and subsequent formation of -CO2H units at the site of the polymer backbone, proposed for this system. This work was extended by consideration of the effects of EB irradiation in the presence of different oxygen concentrations, 50 ppm, 550 ppm and 2000 ppm. From these studies we conclude that low dose EB exposure facilitates replacement of the sulfuric acid moieties, located at the terminus of the Nafion® side chain, with carboxylic acid units as the dominant hydrophilic group found in the pores of the ion channels at the Nafion® surface. It has been demonstrated that by increasing the degree of carboxylic acid formation at the site of the polymer backbone the conductivity of the resultant material can be buffered sufficiently so as to compensate for the effect of the subsequent cleavage of the hydrophilic side chains. This result not only confirms the irradiation mechanism postulated but allows significant advantages in the development of membranes with properties optimised for DMFC performance.