Chiba Prefecture is located in the east of Tokyo Metropolis. A large scale development of industrial and residential areas began in the late 1950s until then the main industries of the prefecture were agriculture and ...Chiba Prefecture is located in the east of Tokyo Metropolis. A large scale development of industrial and residential areas began in the late 1950s until then the main industries of the prefecture were agriculture and fisheries. During the past 30 years rapid industrialization and urbanization took place resulting in occurrence of various environmental problems.In an attempt to establish a better environment condition towards 21st century Chiba Prefecture has made Environmental Plan which all the municipal governments, enterprises and inhabitants should observe to realize better environment.展开更多
With the development of fast communication technology between ego vehicle and other traffic participants,and automated driving technology,there is a big potential in the improvement of energy efficiency of hybrid elec...With the development of fast communication technology between ego vehicle and other traffic participants,and automated driving technology,there is a big potential in the improvement of energy efficiency of hybrid electric vehicles(HEVs).Moreover,the terrain along the driving route is a non-ignorable factor for energy efficiency of HEV running on the hilly streets.This paper proposes a look-ahead horizon-based optimal energy management strategy to jointly improve the efficiencies of powertrain and vehicle for connected and automated HEVs on the road with slope.Firstly,a rule-based framework is developed to guarantee the success of automated driving in the traffic scenario.Then a constrained optimal control problem is formulated to minimize the fuel consumption and the electricity consumption under the satisfaction of inter-vehicular distance constraint between ego vehicle and preceding vehicle.Both speed planning and torque split of hybrid powertrain are provided by the proposed approach.Moreover,the preceding vehicle speed in the look-ahead horizon is predicted by extreme learning machine with real-time data obtained from communication of vehicle-to-everything.The optimal solution is derived through the Pontryagin’s maximum principle.Finally,to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm,a traffic-in-the-loop powertrain platform with data from real world traffic environment is built.It is found that the fuel economy for the proposed energy management strategy improves in average 17.0%in scenarios of different traffic densities,compared to the energy management strategy without prediction of preceding vehicle speed.展开更多
Owls exhibit remarkably silent flight,largely attributed to trailing-edge(TE)serrations on their wings.Inspired by this biological adaptation,TE serrations have become promising passive-noise-control strategies for ae...Owls exhibit remarkably silent flight,largely attributed to trailing-edge(TE)serrations on their wings.Inspired by this biological adaptation,TE serrations have become promising passive-noise-control strategies for aerodynamic devices,including drones and wind turbines.However,conventional designs typically feature single-scale geometries—Such as sawtooth or sinusoidal serrations—that fail to replicate the owl’s inherently dual-scale morphology:Macro-scale waviness formed by feather tips combined with micro-scale morphology.Here,we introduce and evaluate a hybrid TE serration design that incorporates both macro-scale wave patterns and micro-scale fringe-like elements to closely emulate the owl wing structure.Using large-eddy simulations coupled with the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings acoustic analogy,we assess three configurations:A smooth baseline,a conventional wavy serration,and the proposed hybrid serration.Our results indicate that the hybrid configuration achieves an overall noise reduction of about 12 dB relative to the smooth baseline,surpassing the conventional wavy configuration by approximately 2.5 dB,while preserving aerodynamic performance as measured by lift-to-drag ratio.Flow-field analyses further reveal that dual-scale serrations effectively suppress TE pressure fluctuations,highlighting a key aeroacoustic advantage of the owl-inspired hybrid approach.These insights advance our understanding of bioinspired noisecontrol mechanisms and provide practical guidelines for designing quieter aerodynamic systems.展开更多
BACKGROUND Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)has an extremely poor prognosis.Preoperative chemoradiotherapy(CRT)can significantly prolong survival,especially in those who achieve pathological complete r...BACKGROUND Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)has an extremely poor prognosis.Preoperative chemoradiotherapy(CRT)can significantly prolong survival,especially in those who achieve pathological complete response(pCR).However,the pretherapeutic prediction of pCR remains challenging.AIM To predict pCR and survival in ESCC patients undergoing CRT using an artificial intelligence(AI)-based diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging(DWI-MRI)radiomics model.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 70 patients with ESCC who underwent curative surgery following CRT.For each patient,pre-treatment tumors were semi-automatically segmented in three dimensions from DWI-MRI images(b=0,1000 second/mm^(2)),and a total of 76 radiomics features were extracted from each segmented tumor.Using these features as explanatory variables and pCR as the objective variable,machine learning models for predicting pCR were developed using AutoGluon,an automated machine learning library,and validated by stratified double cross-validation.RESULTS pCR was achieved in 15 patients(21.4%).Apparent diffusion coefficient skewness demonstrated the highest predictive performance[area under the curve(AUC)=0.77].Gray-level co-occurrence matrix(GLCM)entropy(b=1000 second/mm²)was an independent prognostic factor for relapse-free survival(RFS)(hazard ratio=0.32,P=0.009).In Kaplan-Meier analysis,patients with high GLCM entropy showed significantly better RFS(P<0.001,log-rank).The best-performing machine learning model achieved an AUC of 0.85.The predicted pCR-positive group showed significantly better RFS than the predicted pCR-negative group(P=0.007,log-rank).CONCLUSION AI-based radiomics analysis of DWI-MRI images in ESCC has the potential to accurately predict the effect of CRT before treatment and contribute to constructing optimal treatment strategies.展开更多
Flying insects demonstrate remarkable control over their body movements and orientation,enabling them to perform rapid maneuvers and withstand external disturbances in just a few wing beats.This fast flight stabilizat...Flying insects demonstrate remarkable control over their body movements and orientation,enabling them to perform rapid maneuvers and withstand external disturbances in just a few wing beats.This fast flight stabilization mechanism has captured the interest of biologists and engineers,driving the exploration of flapping-wing flight control systems and their potential applications in bioinspired flying robots.While many control models have been developed within a rigorous mathematical framework using linear feedback systems,such as proportional(P),integral(I),and derivative(D)-based controllers,the exact mechanisms by which insects achieve the fastest stabilization-despite constraints such as passive aerodynamic damping and feedback delay-remain unclear.In this study,we demonstrate that flying insects employ a novel strategy for fast flight stabilization by minimizing the restoration time under external perturbations.We introduce a versatile PD-based control model that solves the closed-loop dynamics of insect flight and optimizes flight stabilization within a mathematical framework.Our findings reveal that passive aerodynamic damping plays a crucial role in stabilizing flight,acting as derivative feedback without delay,whereas feedback delay hinders stabilization.Additionally,we show that minimizing the restoring time leads to the fastest flight stabilization.Hovering flight analyses of fruit flies,honeybees,hawkmoths,and hummingbirds suggest that restoring time minimization through dynamic oscillatory modes rather than closed-loop time constants is a common strategy among small bioflies for effective maneuvering against disturbances.This strategy,which spans a broad range of Reynolds numbers(on the order of 102 to 104),could offer valuable insights for designing flight controllers in bioinspired flying robots.展开更多
The cutaneous ridges on dolphin skin have long been believed to effectively reduce friction drag, thereby contributing to overall drag reduction. However, since these skin ridges are oriented perpendicular to the swim...The cutaneous ridges on dolphin skin have long been believed to effectively reduce friction drag, thereby contributing to overall drag reduction. However, since these skin ridges are oriented perpendicular to the swimming direction, they also generate additional pressure drag, raising questions about the impact of the shape-induced pressure forces on swimming. Inspired by the microvibrations observed on dolphin skin, we hypothesize that the microstructure on dolphin skin is not static but dynamically oscillates in the form of Longitudinal Micro-Ultrasonic Waves (LMUWs). To explore this, we carried out a series of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations based on Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model to investigate the impact of pressure drag on the total drag acting on an oscillating skin surface under realistic turbulent flow conditions. The results indicate that the dynamic skin oscillations induce a new dynamic Stokes boundary layer, which has the potential to convert pressure drag into a negative force, thereby reducing total drag under the influence of traveling LMUW excitations. Furthermore, a relative velocity ξ, defined as the difference between the wave speed c and the external flow speed U, is introduced to evaluate the drag-reduction effect dominated by pressure. The findings reveal that pressure drag remains negative when ξ > 0. As ξ increases, the thrust effect induced by negative pressure becomes increasingly significant, ultimately counteracting friction drag and eliminating total drag. This pressure-dominated drag reduction mechanism thus demonstrates a novel strategy for the drag reduction technology and the potential of unveiling the mysteries behind dolphin swimming.展开更多
BACKGROUND Elobixibat reportedly improves bowel movements in patients with chronic constipation.However,its effect on bowel movements in elderly patients with chronic constipation in clinical settings has not been exa...BACKGROUND Elobixibat reportedly improves bowel movements in patients with chronic constipation.However,its effect on bowel movements in elderly patients with chronic constipation in clinical settings has not been examined.AIM To examine bowel movement frequency and stool form before and after elobixibat administration in elderly patients with chronic constipation at our clinic.METHODS A total of 10 mg elobixibat was administered to 35(<65 years old)patients and 45(≥65 years old)patients with chronic constipation.The frequency of bowel movements and stool forms,assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale(BSFS),were compared between the two groups 1 week before and after elobixibat administration.RESULTS In patients aged<65 years with chronic constipation,the pre-elobixibat frequency of bowel movements and BSFS scores were 2.167±0.732 and 2.286±0.742,respectively.After elobixibat administration,the frequency of bowel movements and BSFS scores improved to 2.389±0.502 and 3.995±0.566,respectively,showing a significant improvement in bowel movement status.In patients aged≥65 years with chronic constipation,the pre-elobixibat frequency of bowel movements and BSFS scores were 2.003±0.733 and 2.217±0.758,respectively.After elobixibat administration,the frequency of bowel movements and BSFS scores improved to 4.402±1.346 and 3.800±0.704,respectively,indicating an improvement in bowel movement status(P<0.001).No significant differences were observed in the frequency and improvement status of bowel movements or BSFS scores between patients with chronic constipation aged≥65 years and<65 years.Adverse events due to the administration of elobixibat occurred in 16 cases(20%).No significant differences were found in the incidence of adverse events between patients with chronic constipation aged<65 years(8 cases,22.9%)and those aged≥65 years(8 cases,17.8%).CONCLUSION Elobixibat is effective in improving bowel movement status in patients with chronic constipation.No significant differences were found in the improvement of bowel movement status or the incidence of adverse events between patients with chronic constipation aged<65 years and≥65 years,suggesting that the drug may be safely used in elderly patients.展开更多
BACKGROUND Early anal canal cancer is frequently treated with endoscopic submucosal dis-section(ESD)to preserve anal function.However,if the lesion is in the anal canal,then significant difficulties such as bleeding a...BACKGROUND Early anal canal cancer is frequently treated with endoscopic submucosal dis-section(ESD)to preserve anal function.However,if the lesion is in the anal canal,then significant difficulties such as bleeding and challenges associated with scope manipulation can arise.CASE SUMMARY A 70-year-old woman undergoing follow-up after transverse colon cancer surgery was diagnosed with anal canal cancer extending to the dentate line.The patient underwent a combination of ESD and transanal resection(TAR).The specimen was excised in pieces,which resulted in difficulty performing the pathological evaluation of the margins,especially on the anal side where TAR was performed and severe crushing was observed.Careful follow-up was performed,and local recurrence was observed 3 years postoperatively.Because the patient had super-ficial cancer without lymph node metastasis,local resection was performed again.The second treatment attempt was improved as follows:(1)TAR and ESD were performed appropriately based on the situation by the same physician;(2)A needle scalpel was used during TAR to prevent tissue crushing;and(3)The lesion borders were marked using ESD techniques before treatment.Complete resection was performed without complications.CONCLUSION Anal canal lesions can be safely and reliably removed when ESD and TAR are used appropriately.展开更多
Cancer immunotherapy has long been established as an important treatment option for cancers.In particular,Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor(ICI)has been reported to be effective against various gastrointestinal cancers(esop...Cancer immunotherapy has long been established as an important treatment option for cancers.In particular,Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor(ICI)has been reported to be effective against various gastrointestinal cancers(esophageal cancer,gastric cancer,colorectal cancer);however,the treatment phase in which ICI should be used and how it should be incorporated into the treatment strategy vary depending on the cancer type being treated.Multiple clinical trials and basic research on ICIs are currently underway,and new insights from these results will continue to change the clinical treatment strategy of gastrointestinal cancers.While it is desirable to have an increasing number of treatment strategy options for gastrointestinal cancers,it is necessary to organize increasingly complex treatments and select more appropriate ICI-based treatments.In addition,as gastrointestinal cancers are being controlled through multidisciplinary treatment using ICI-based treatment,local control by conversion surgery is becoming an important treatment option.We may soon see an era in which gastrointestinal cancers can be systematically controlled with ICIbased treatment,while difficult-to-control lesions can be removed by conversion surgery.In this review,we summarize the evidence of ICI-based treatment for gastrointestinal cancers and provide an overview of the treatment strategies currently underway.展开更多
We propose a method of full-color,scan-free,and natural-light motion-picture holography for full-color 4D(3D+time)imaging and develop a portable natural-light motion-picture holographic camera that can be set on a mov...We propose a method of full-color,scan-free,and natural-light motion-picture holography for full-color 4D(3D+time)imaging and develop a portable natural-light motion-picture holographic camera that can be set on a movable table without any antivibration structure.Full-color motion-picture holograms of objects illuminated by natural light are obtained at the frame rate of an image sensor.We perform the single-shot natural-light full-color 3D imaging of objects illuminated by sunlight and the full-color 4D imaging of a moving object.This holographic camera is capable of full-color 4D imaging of objects ranging in size from the centimeter order to the 10-m order.This opens up a new stage in holographic imaging,overcoming the limitations of conventional holographic imaging despite the portability of this camera.展开更多
Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system.While the spleen may influence neuropathic pain,its role has been poorly understood.This study demonstrates that the spleen...Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system.While the spleen may influence neuropathic pain,its role has been poorly understood.This study demonstrates that the spleen plays a crucial role in regulating neuropathic pain through the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis(BNST)-paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus(PVN)neural circuit in a chronic constriction injury(CCI)mouse model.Splenectomy,splenic denervation,or splenic sympathectomy significantly increased the mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)and reduced macrophage infiltration in the dorsal root ganglia(DRG)of CCI mice.Pseudorabies virus injections into the spleen revealed connections to the BNST and PVN in the brain.Chemogenetic inhibition of the BNST-PVN circuit increased macrophage infiltration in the DRG and decreased the MWT;these effects were reversed by splenectomy,splenic denervation,or sympathectomy.These findings underscore the critical role of the spleen,regulated by the BNST-PVN circuit,in neuropathic pain.展开更多
Driven by the urgent demands for information technology,energy,and intelligent industry,third-generation semiconductor GaN has emerged as a pivotal component in electronic and optoelectronic devices.Fundamentally,piez...Driven by the urgent demands for information technology,energy,and intelligent industry,third-generation semiconductor GaN has emerged as a pivotal component in electronic and optoelectronic devices.Fundamentally,piezoelectric polarization is the most essential feature of GaN materials.Incorporating piezotronics and piezo-phototronics,GaN materials synergize mechanical signals with electrical and optical signals,thereby achieving multi-field coupling that enhances device performance.Piezotronics regulates the carrier transport process in micro-nano devices,which has been proven to significantly improve the performance of devices(such as high electron mobility transistors and microLEDs)and brings many novel applications.This review examines GaN material properties and the theoretical foundations of piezotronics and phototronics.Furthermore,it delves into the fabrication and integration processes of GaN devices to achieve state-of-the-art performance.Additionally,this review analyzes the impact of introducing three-dimensional stress and regulatory forces on the electrical and optical output performance of devices.Moreover,it discusses the burgeoning applications of GaN devices in neural sensing,optoelectronic output,and energy harvesting.The potential of piezotroniccontrolled GaN devices provides valuable insights for future research and the development of multi-functional,diversified electronic devices.展开更多
文摘Chiba Prefecture is located in the east of Tokyo Metropolis. A large scale development of industrial and residential areas began in the late 1950s until then the main industries of the prefecture were agriculture and fisheries. During the past 30 years rapid industrialization and urbanization took place resulting in occurrence of various environmental problems.In an attempt to establish a better environment condition towards 21st century Chiba Prefecture has made Environmental Plan which all the municipal governments, enterprises and inhabitants should observe to realize better environment.
文摘With the development of fast communication technology between ego vehicle and other traffic participants,and automated driving technology,there is a big potential in the improvement of energy efficiency of hybrid electric vehicles(HEVs).Moreover,the terrain along the driving route is a non-ignorable factor for energy efficiency of HEV running on the hilly streets.This paper proposes a look-ahead horizon-based optimal energy management strategy to jointly improve the efficiencies of powertrain and vehicle for connected and automated HEVs on the road with slope.Firstly,a rule-based framework is developed to guarantee the success of automated driving in the traffic scenario.Then a constrained optimal control problem is formulated to minimize the fuel consumption and the electricity consumption under the satisfaction of inter-vehicular distance constraint between ego vehicle and preceding vehicle.Both speed planning and torque split of hybrid powertrain are provided by the proposed approach.Moreover,the preceding vehicle speed in the look-ahead horizon is predicted by extreme learning machine with real-time data obtained from communication of vehicle-to-everything.The optimal solution is derived through the Pontryagin’s maximum principle.Finally,to verify the effectiveness of the proposed algorithm,a traffic-in-the-loop powertrain platform with data from real world traffic environment is built.It is found that the fuel economy for the proposed energy management strategy improves in average 17.0%in scenarios of different traffic densities,compared to the energy management strategy without prediction of preceding vehicle speed.
基金supported by a Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research of KAKENHI,Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(Grant Nos.23H01373 and 23K26068)support from the Japanese Government MEXT scholarship and the Excellent International Student Scholarship provided by Chiba University。
文摘Owls exhibit remarkably silent flight,largely attributed to trailing-edge(TE)serrations on their wings.Inspired by this biological adaptation,TE serrations have become promising passive-noise-control strategies for aerodynamic devices,including drones and wind turbines.However,conventional designs typically feature single-scale geometries—Such as sawtooth or sinusoidal serrations—that fail to replicate the owl’s inherently dual-scale morphology:Macro-scale waviness formed by feather tips combined with micro-scale morphology.Here,we introduce and evaluate a hybrid TE serration design that incorporates both macro-scale wave patterns and micro-scale fringe-like elements to closely emulate the owl wing structure.Using large-eddy simulations coupled with the Ffowcs Williams-Hawkings acoustic analogy,we assess three configurations:A smooth baseline,a conventional wavy serration,and the proposed hybrid serration.Our results indicate that the hybrid configuration achieves an overall noise reduction of about 12 dB relative to the smooth baseline,surpassing the conventional wavy configuration by approximately 2.5 dB,while preserving aerodynamic performance as measured by lift-to-drag ratio.Flow-field analyses further reveal that dual-scale serrations effectively suppress TE pressure fluctuations,highlighting a key aeroacoustic advantage of the owl-inspired hybrid approach.These insights advance our understanding of bioinspired noisecontrol mechanisms and provide practical guidelines for designing quieter aerodynamic systems.
文摘BACKGROUND Advanced esophageal squamous cell carcinoma(ESCC)has an extremely poor prognosis.Preoperative chemoradiotherapy(CRT)can significantly prolong survival,especially in those who achieve pathological complete response(pCR).However,the pretherapeutic prediction of pCR remains challenging.AIM To predict pCR and survival in ESCC patients undergoing CRT using an artificial intelligence(AI)-based diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging(DWI-MRI)radiomics model.METHODS We retrospectively analyzed 70 patients with ESCC who underwent curative surgery following CRT.For each patient,pre-treatment tumors were semi-automatically segmented in three dimensions from DWI-MRI images(b=0,1000 second/mm^(2)),and a total of 76 radiomics features were extracted from each segmented tumor.Using these features as explanatory variables and pCR as the objective variable,machine learning models for predicting pCR were developed using AutoGluon,an automated machine learning library,and validated by stratified double cross-validation.RESULTS pCR was achieved in 15 patients(21.4%).Apparent diffusion coefficient skewness demonstrated the highest predictive performance[area under the curve(AUC)=0.77].Gray-level co-occurrence matrix(GLCM)entropy(b=1000 second/mm²)was an independent prognostic factor for relapse-free survival(RFS)(hazard ratio=0.32,P=0.009).In Kaplan-Meier analysis,patients with high GLCM entropy showed significantly better RFS(P<0.001,log-rank).The best-performing machine learning model achieved an AUC of 0.85.The predicted pCR-positive group showed significantly better RFS than the predicted pCR-negative group(P=0.007,log-rank).CONCLUSION AI-based radiomics analysis of DWI-MRI images in ESCC has the potential to accurately predict the effect of CRT before treatment and contribute to constructing optimal treatment strategies.
基金supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science, Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research (Grant Nos. 19H02060 , 23H01373 , and 23K26068)the Excellent International Student Scholarship provided by Chiba University
文摘Flying insects demonstrate remarkable control over their body movements and orientation,enabling them to perform rapid maneuvers and withstand external disturbances in just a few wing beats.This fast flight stabilization mechanism has captured the interest of biologists and engineers,driving the exploration of flapping-wing flight control systems and their potential applications in bioinspired flying robots.While many control models have been developed within a rigorous mathematical framework using linear feedback systems,such as proportional(P),integral(I),and derivative(D)-based controllers,the exact mechanisms by which insects achieve the fastest stabilization-despite constraints such as passive aerodynamic damping and feedback delay-remain unclear.In this study,we demonstrate that flying insects employ a novel strategy for fast flight stabilization by minimizing the restoration time under external perturbations.We introduce a versatile PD-based control model that solves the closed-loop dynamics of insect flight and optimizes flight stabilization within a mathematical framework.Our findings reveal that passive aerodynamic damping plays a crucial role in stabilizing flight,acting as derivative feedback without delay,whereas feedback delay hinders stabilization.Additionally,we show that minimizing the restoring time leads to the fastest flight stabilization.Hovering flight analyses of fruit flies,honeybees,hawkmoths,and hummingbirds suggest that restoring time minimization through dynamic oscillatory modes rather than closed-loop time constants is a common strategy among small bioflies for effective maneuvering against disturbances.This strategy,which spans a broad range of Reynolds numbers(on the order of 102 to 104),could offer valuable insights for designing flight controllers in bioinspired flying robots.
基金supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS KAKENHI No.23H01373).
文摘The cutaneous ridges on dolphin skin have long been believed to effectively reduce friction drag, thereby contributing to overall drag reduction. However, since these skin ridges are oriented perpendicular to the swimming direction, they also generate additional pressure drag, raising questions about the impact of the shape-induced pressure forces on swimming. Inspired by the microvibrations observed on dolphin skin, we hypothesize that the microstructure on dolphin skin is not static but dynamically oscillates in the form of Longitudinal Micro-Ultrasonic Waves (LMUWs). To explore this, we carried out a series of Computational Fluid Dynamics (CFD) simulations based on Large Eddy Simulation (LES) model to investigate the impact of pressure drag on the total drag acting on an oscillating skin surface under realistic turbulent flow conditions. The results indicate that the dynamic skin oscillations induce a new dynamic Stokes boundary layer, which has the potential to convert pressure drag into a negative force, thereby reducing total drag under the influence of traveling LMUW excitations. Furthermore, a relative velocity ξ, defined as the difference between the wave speed c and the external flow speed U, is introduced to evaluate the drag-reduction effect dominated by pressure. The findings reveal that pressure drag remains negative when ξ > 0. As ξ increases, the thrust effect induced by negative pressure becomes increasingly significant, ultimately counteracting friction drag and eliminating total drag. This pressure-dominated drag reduction mechanism thus demonstrates a novel strategy for the drag reduction technology and the potential of unveiling the mysteries behind dolphin swimming.
文摘BACKGROUND Elobixibat reportedly improves bowel movements in patients with chronic constipation.However,its effect on bowel movements in elderly patients with chronic constipation in clinical settings has not been examined.AIM To examine bowel movement frequency and stool form before and after elobixibat administration in elderly patients with chronic constipation at our clinic.METHODS A total of 10 mg elobixibat was administered to 35(<65 years old)patients and 45(≥65 years old)patients with chronic constipation.The frequency of bowel movements and stool forms,assessed using the Bristol Stool Form Scale(BSFS),were compared between the two groups 1 week before and after elobixibat administration.RESULTS In patients aged<65 years with chronic constipation,the pre-elobixibat frequency of bowel movements and BSFS scores were 2.167±0.732 and 2.286±0.742,respectively.After elobixibat administration,the frequency of bowel movements and BSFS scores improved to 2.389±0.502 and 3.995±0.566,respectively,showing a significant improvement in bowel movement status.In patients aged≥65 years with chronic constipation,the pre-elobixibat frequency of bowel movements and BSFS scores were 2.003±0.733 and 2.217±0.758,respectively.After elobixibat administration,the frequency of bowel movements and BSFS scores improved to 4.402±1.346 and 3.800±0.704,respectively,indicating an improvement in bowel movement status(P<0.001).No significant differences were observed in the frequency and improvement status of bowel movements or BSFS scores between patients with chronic constipation aged≥65 years and<65 years.Adverse events due to the administration of elobixibat occurred in 16 cases(20%).No significant differences were found in the incidence of adverse events between patients with chronic constipation aged<65 years(8 cases,22.9%)and those aged≥65 years(8 cases,17.8%).CONCLUSION Elobixibat is effective in improving bowel movement status in patients with chronic constipation.No significant differences were found in the improvement of bowel movement status or the incidence of adverse events between patients with chronic constipation aged<65 years and≥65 years,suggesting that the drug may be safely used in elderly patients.
文摘BACKGROUND Early anal canal cancer is frequently treated with endoscopic submucosal dis-section(ESD)to preserve anal function.However,if the lesion is in the anal canal,then significant difficulties such as bleeding and challenges associated with scope manipulation can arise.CASE SUMMARY A 70-year-old woman undergoing follow-up after transverse colon cancer surgery was diagnosed with anal canal cancer extending to the dentate line.The patient underwent a combination of ESD and transanal resection(TAR).The specimen was excised in pieces,which resulted in difficulty performing the pathological evaluation of the margins,especially on the anal side where TAR was performed and severe crushing was observed.Careful follow-up was performed,and local recurrence was observed 3 years postoperatively.Because the patient had super-ficial cancer without lymph node metastasis,local resection was performed again.The second treatment attempt was improved as follows:(1)TAR and ESD were performed appropriately based on the situation by the same physician;(2)A needle scalpel was used during TAR to prevent tissue crushing;and(3)The lesion borders were marked using ESD techniques before treatment.Complete resection was performed without complications.CONCLUSION Anal canal lesions can be safely and reliably removed when ESD and TAR are used appropriately.
文摘Cancer immunotherapy has long been established as an important treatment option for cancers.In particular,Immune Checkpoint Inhibitor(ICI)has been reported to be effective against various gastrointestinal cancers(esophageal cancer,gastric cancer,colorectal cancer);however,the treatment phase in which ICI should be used and how it should be incorporated into the treatment strategy vary depending on the cancer type being treated.Multiple clinical trials and basic research on ICIs are currently underway,and new insights from these results will continue to change the clinical treatment strategy of gastrointestinal cancers.While it is desirable to have an increasing number of treatment strategy options for gastrointestinal cancers,it is necessary to organize increasingly complex treatments and select more appropriate ICI-based treatments.In addition,as gastrointestinal cancers are being controlled through multidisciplinary treatment using ICI-based treatment,local control by conversion surgery is becoming an important treatment option.We may soon see an era in which gastrointestinal cancers can be systematically controlled with ICIbased treatment,while difficult-to-control lesions can be removed by conversion surgery.In this review,we summarize the evidence of ICI-based treatment for gastrointestinal cancers and provide an overview of the treatment strategies currently underway.
基金supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science(JSPS)(Grant Nos.JP23K26579 and JP23K17364)the Mitsubishi Foundation(Grant No.202111007)+3 种基金Precursory Research for Embryonic Science and Technology(PRESTO)(Grant No.JPMJPR16P8)the Cooperative Research Program of“Network Joint Research Centre for Materials and Devices”(Grant Nos.20234030 and 20240411)the JST CREST(Grant No.JPMJCR23A1)the JST FOREST(Grant No.JPMJFR206K).
文摘We propose a method of full-color,scan-free,and natural-light motion-picture holography for full-color 4D(3D+time)imaging and develop a portable natural-light motion-picture holographic camera that can be set on a movable table without any antivibration structure.Full-color motion-picture holograms of objects illuminated by natural light are obtained at the frame rate of an image sensor.We perform the single-shot natural-light full-color 3D imaging of objects illuminated by sunlight and the full-color 4D imaging of a moving object.This holographic camera is capable of full-color 4D imaging of objects ranging in size from the centimeter order to the 10-m order.This opens up a new stage in holographic imaging,overcoming the limitations of conventional holographic imaging despite the portability of this camera.
基金supported by the National Natural Science Foundation of China(82201549)the Hubei Provincial Natural Science Foundation of China(220100579)the Guangdong Basic and Applied Basic Research Foundation(2021B1515120050 and 2023A1515110107).
文摘Neuropathic pain is a chronic condition caused by damage or dysfunction in the nervous system.While the spleen may influence neuropathic pain,its role has been poorly understood.This study demonstrates that the spleen plays a crucial role in regulating neuropathic pain through the bed nucleus of the stria terminalis(BNST)-paraventricular nucleus of the hypothalamus(PVN)neural circuit in a chronic constriction injury(CCI)mouse model.Splenectomy,splenic denervation,or splenic sympathectomy significantly increased the mechanical withdrawal threshold(MWT)and reduced macrophage infiltration in the dorsal root ganglia(DRG)of CCI mice.Pseudorabies virus injections into the spleen revealed connections to the BNST and PVN in the brain.Chemogenetic inhibition of the BNST-PVN circuit increased macrophage infiltration in the DRG and decreased the MWT;these effects were reversed by splenectomy,splenic denervation,or sympathectomy.These findings underscore the critical role of the spleen,regulated by the BNST-PVN circuit,in neuropathic pain.
基金the support from the National Natural Science Foundation of China(Grant Nos.52173298,52192611 and 61904012)the National Key R&D Project from Minister of Science and Technology(2021YFA1201603)+1 种基金Beijing Natural Science Foundation(Z230024)the Fundamental Research Funds for the Central Universities。
文摘Driven by the urgent demands for information technology,energy,and intelligent industry,third-generation semiconductor GaN has emerged as a pivotal component in electronic and optoelectronic devices.Fundamentally,piezoelectric polarization is the most essential feature of GaN materials.Incorporating piezotronics and piezo-phototronics,GaN materials synergize mechanical signals with electrical and optical signals,thereby achieving multi-field coupling that enhances device performance.Piezotronics regulates the carrier transport process in micro-nano devices,which has been proven to significantly improve the performance of devices(such as high electron mobility transistors and microLEDs)and brings many novel applications.This review examines GaN material properties and the theoretical foundations of piezotronics and phototronics.Furthermore,it delves into the fabrication and integration processes of GaN devices to achieve state-of-the-art performance.Additionally,this review analyzes the impact of introducing three-dimensional stress and regulatory forces on the electrical and optical output performance of devices.Moreover,it discusses the burgeoning applications of GaN devices in neural sensing,optoelectronic output,and energy harvesting.The potential of piezotroniccontrolled GaN devices provides valuable insights for future research and the development of multi-functional,diversified electronic devices.
