Properties of Magnetic Garnet Films for Flexible Magneto-Optical Indicators Fabricated by Spin-Coating Method

Non-destructive testing using a magneto-optical effect is a high-resolution non-destructive inspection technique for a metallic structure. It is able to provide high-spatial resolution images of defects. Previously, it has been difficult to fabricate flexible magneto-optical sensors because thermal treatment is necessary to crystallize the magnetic garnet. Therefore, it was not possible to apply magneto-optical imaging to complicated shapes in a test subject, such as a curved surface. In this study, we developed a new process for deposition of the magnetic garnet on the flexible substrate by applying the magnetic garnet powders that have already undergone crystallization. In this new process, as it does not require thermal treatment after deposition, flexible substrates with low heat resistance can be used. In this paper, we report our observations of the optical properties, magnetic hysteresis loop, crystallizability and density of the particles on the flexible substrate deposited by the spin-coating method.     

Neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders-related axonal degeneration in Parkinson's disease

Neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders have significant consequences for quality of life in patients with Parkinson's disease (PD). In the current study, we evaluated microstructural white matter (WM) alterations associated with neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders in PD using neurite orientation dispersion and density imaging (NODDI) and linked independent component analysis (LICA). The indices of NODDI were compared between 20 and 19 patients with PD with and without neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders, respectively, and 25 healthy controls using tract-based spatial statistics and tract-of-interest analyses. LICA was applied to model inter-subject variability across measures. A widespread reduction in axonal density (indexed by intracellular volume fraction [ICVF]) was demonstrated in PD patients with and without neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders, as compared with healthy controls. Compared with patients without neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders, patients with neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders exhibited more extensive (posterior predominant) decreases in axonal density. Using LICA, ICVF demonstrated the highest contribution (59% weight) to the main effects of diagnosis that reflected widespread decreases in axonal density. These findings suggest that axonal loss is a major factor underlying WM pathology related to neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders in PD, whereas patients with neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders had broader axonal pathology, as compared with those without. LICA suggested that the ICVF can be used as a useful biomarker of microstructural changes in the WM related to neurocognitive and psychiatric disorders in PD.     

Effect of the level of basic activities of daily living on home caregiver burnout

To relieve the stress of caregivers, it is critical to identify and classify the burden factors in the elderly patients. In order to determine the factors that exhaust caregivers, a cross sectional survey was done. The study employed a self-recording questionnaire form which included the Pines' burnout scale and the level of patient's basic activities of daily living (BADL). Seventy-three caregivers filled in the questionnaire. They reported the difficulty of care for an elderly patient in the home, and the degree of the difficulty correlated well with the burnout score (r = -0.517; p < 0.001). The caregivers' burnout score did not correlate so well with the level of their patient's BADL (r = -307; p = 0.014). Among the factors in BADL, aid for toilet use, feeding, sitting, and transferring raised the burnout scale. On the other hand, assistance for bathing and dressing did not correlate with the burnout score. On multiple regression analysis using the background factors for the burnout score as explanatory variables, aid for feeding and sitting were significant independent contributing factors. Since it became clear that the caregivers in the home were almost burnt out owing to the aid they need to give for the elderly person's BADL, attempts should be done to reduce their burden as soon as possible.     

Association Between Pulse Wave Velocity and a Marker of Renal Tubular Damage (N‐Acetyl‐β‐D‐Glucosaminidase) in Patients Without Diabetes

The authors assessed the association between the ratio of urinary activity of N‐acetyl‐β‐D‐glucosaminidase (NAG) to creatinine and the brachial‐ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) in patients without overt diabetes mellitus (DM). This was a cross‐sectional study of 233 patients who had an estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) ≥30 mL/min/1.73 m² and no history of kidney disease. Patients were divided into two groups: high NAG group (>5.8 U/g creatinine) and low NAG group (≤5.8 U/g creatinine). Mean baPWVs of the high NAG group were significantly higher than those of the low NAG group in both the eGFR ≥30 and <60 tertiles and the eGFR ≥60 and <90 tertiles. The baPWV was positively correlated with NAG in all patients (r=0.341, P<.001). Stepwise multivariate regression analysis showed that the baPWV was significantly related with NAG, age, and systolic blood pressure. Elevated NAG is related to elevated arterial stiffness in patients without DM.     

Improving effects of the mushroom Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus) on mild cognitive impairment: a double-blind placebo-controlled clinical trial

A double-blind, parallel-group, placebo-controlled trial was performed on 50- to 80-year-old Japanese men and women diagnosed with mild cognitive impairment in order to examine the efficacy of oral administration of Yamabushitake (Hericium erinaceus), an edible mushroom, for improving cognitive impairment, using a cognitive function scale based on the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R). After 2 weeks of preliminary examination, 30 subjects were randomized into two 15-person groups, one of which was given Yamabushitake and the other given a placebo. The subjects of the Yamabushitake group took four 250 mg tablets containing 96% of Yamabushitake dry powder three times a day for 16 weeks. After termination of the intake, the subjects were observed for the next 4 weeks. At weeks 8, 12 and 16 of the trial, the Yamabushitake group showed significantly increased scores on the cognitive function scale compared with the placebo group. The Yamabushitake group's scores increased with the duration of intake, but at week 4 after the termination of the 16 weeks intake, the scores decreased significantly. Laboratory tests showed no adverse effect of Yamabushitake. The results obtained in this study suggest that Yamabushitake is effective in improving mild cognitive impairment.     

Association of adiponectin mutation with type 2 diabetes: a candidate gene for the insulin resistance syndrome

Adiponectin, also referred to as AdipoQ or ACRP30, is a plasma protein produced and secreted exclusively from adipose tissue. The protein contains a collagen-like domain and a C1q-like globular domain. A protease-generated globular segment enhances fatty acid oxidation in muscles, thereby modulating lipid and glucose metabolism. Plasma adiponectin levels are inversely correlated with the severity of insulin resistance. A recent genome-wide scan study mapped a susceptibility locus for type 2 diabetes and the metabolic syndrome to chromosome 3q27, where the adiponectin gene is located. Here, we screened Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes and age- and BMI-matched nondiabetic control subjects for mutations in adiponectin gene. We identified four missense mutations (R112C, I164T, R221S, and H241P) in the globular domain. Among these mutations, the frequency of I164T mutation was significantly higher in type 2 diabetic patients than in age- and BMI- matched control subjects (P < 0.01). Furthermore, plasma adiponectin concentrations of subjects carrying I164T mutation were lower than those of subjects without the mutation. All the subjects carrying I164T mutation showed some feature of metabolic syndrome, including hypertension, hyperlipidemia, diabetes, and atherosclerosis. Our findings suggest that I164T mutation is associated with low plasma adiponectin concentration and type 2 diabetes.