Effects of eldecalcitol and ibandronate on secondary osteoporosis and muscle wasting in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis

Yuichi Ono,Naohisa Miyakoshi,Yuji Kasukawa,Hiroyuki Nagasawa,Hiroyuki Tsuchie,Manabu Akagawa,Itsuki Nagahata,Yusuke Yuasa,Chiaki Sato,Yoichi Shimada 대한골다공증학회 2018 Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia Vol.4 No.4

Objectives: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is characterized by chronic inflammation of the synovium, progressive erosion of the articular cartilage, and joint destruction. RA also causes secondary osteoporosis and muscle wasting. We investigated the effects of ibandronate (IBN), a bisphosphonate; eldecalcitol (ELD), an active vitamin D3 derivative; and combination treatment with both agents on secondary osteoporosis and muscle wasting using adjuvant-induced arthritis rats. Methods: Arthritis was induced in 8-week-old male Lewis rats. Rats were randomized into 4 treatment groups and an untreated normal control group: IBN (subcutaneously, once every 2 weeks,10 mg/kg), ELD (orally, once daily, 30 ng/kg/day), IBN þ ELD, vehicle, and control. Paw thickness measurements were performed for evaluation of arthritis. The femur was scanned using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry. Cross-sectional areas of left tibialis and anterior muscle fibers and the expression of MuRF1, atrogin-1, MyoD, and myogenin in the gastrocnemius muscle were measured to evaluate muscle wasting. Results: IBN and/or ELD increased bone mineral density (BMD) in the femur. In addition, there was an additiveeffect of combination treatment compared with single treatments for BMD. However, IBNand/or ELD did not inhibit muscle wasting in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats. Conclusions: Combination treatment with IBN and ELD may be effective for secondary osteoporosis associated with RA. Other treatments are necessary for muscle wasting associated with RA. Studies in humans are needed to confirm these findings.

Evaluation of Multimedia Distribution Systems in the Field of Foreign Language Acquisition

Yuichi Ono,Manabu Ishihara,Mitsuo Yamashiro 제어로봇시스템학회 2012 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2012 No.10

This paper makes an evaluation of the teaching models incorporating Multimedia Distribution System (MDS) into foreign language teaching in Japan. Our MDS consists of three types; shared courseware, browser-based podcasting, and mobile-based podcasting. These systems are utilized for listening and shadowing activities in the class. The results of students? questionnaire research revealed that the students feel that there is a statistic significance between shared courseware and browser-based podcasting. Mobile-based podcasting resembles browser-based podcasting in that factors like “easy to operate” and “friendliness” are abstracted through factor analysis, but these factors are more independent of each other in mobile-based podcasting. This implies that mobiles will have a great possibility to change learning environment because they will play an important role in blended-learning in a traditional classroom setting in the future.

Model following Adaptive Control based on Least Squares Method

Hiromitsu OGAWA,Manato ONO,Yuichi MASUKAKE,Yoshihisa ISHIDA 제어로봇시스템학회 2008 제어로봇시스템학회 국제학술대회 논문집 Vol.2008 No.10

This paper describes a design method of adaptive control based on least squares (LS) method to the second-order plant with known parameters. To use the LS algorithm properly, the system must be discretized by a zero-order hold. Although adaptive control based on LS without a parallel feedforward compensator (PFC) may be unstable, the proposed system tracks the reference model, and it has no steady-state error in the disturbance response. The PFC improves the plant based on the almost strictly positive real condition, and an integrator improves the steady-state response. Furthermore, the proposed system has the advantage of simpler design compared with the conventional simple adaptive control system. The proposed method does not require the satisfaction of the perfect model following condition.

Application Examples of CFD at the Planning Stage of High-Rise Buildings

Hiroto, Kataoka,Yoshiyuki, Ono,Kota, Enoki,Yuichi, Tabata,Satoko, Kinashi Council on Tall Building and Urban Habitat Korea 2022 International journal of high-rise buildings Vol.11 No.3

Application examples of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) in the planning stage of high-rise buildings are introduced. First, we introduce examples of applications in the environmental field. The pedestrian wind environment was one of the earliest practical examples of CFD. CFD was also employed to validate the heat island mitigation measures proposed as part of the new construction plan. Second, application examples of wind-force evaluations are introduced. Prediction examples are presented for the peak wind pressure around a complex-shaped building and the wind force evaluation for a base-isolated building. The results prove that the results of the proper execution of CFD are equivalent to those of the wind tunnel experiment. As examples of CFD applications of other issues related to high-rise building planning, we introduce snow accretion on outer walls and high-temperature exhaust from emergency generators. Finally, the future prospects for the use of CFD are discussed.

Bending fatigue strength of case-carburized helical gears (In the case of large helix angles)

Kengo Nojima,Kengo Ogata,Motomu Tanaka,Ryosuke Nishi,Yuichi Ono,Takao Koide 대한기계학회 2017 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.31 No.12

Case-carburizing enlarges the depth of the hardened layer at the tooth width end on the acute angle side of helical gears. For the helical gears with large helix angles (Exceeding 25°), this hardened layer may lower their bending fatigue strength. Therefore, we investigated the influence of this hardened layer on their bending fatigue strength through the bending fatigue tests. Our results suggest that this hardened layer might reduce the case-carburizing’s effect to enhance their bending fatigue strength. Thus, using only the maximum tooth root stress would be inadequate for evaluating their bending fatigue strength, and it would be necessary to consider the relationship between the hardened layer and the tooth root stress distribution (Especially, the stress applied at the tooth width end on the acute angle side) from the beginning of meshing to the end.

Bending fatigue strength and impact strength of case-carburized gears subjected to case-depth modification by additional heat treatments

Tomoaki Ikuta,Kazuyoshi Takahama,Kengo Nojima,Ryosuke Nishi,Yuichi Ono,Takao Koide 대한기계학회 2023 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.37 No.12

Discarding case-carburized gears with excessive case-depth causes financial and environmental losses. To save the losses, we experimentally investigated the applicability of case-depth modification by additional heat treatments (AHTs) to such gears in terms of bending fatigue and impact strength. The AHTs consisted of an intermediate softening treatment (IST) (vacuum normalizing, tempering, induction normalizing, or none) to case-carburized spur gears with an excessive case-depth, followed by induction heating and quenching. All the AHTs reduced the effective case-depth, maintained the surface residual stress, refined the microstructure near tooth root surfaces, and maintained the bending fatigue limit. Moreover, all the AHTs increased the impact limit because of the refinement of the microstructure, whereas omitting an IST reduced this increase. Thus, case-depth modification by AHTs is applicable in terms of bending fatigue and impact strength, and conducting an IST is highly recommended.

Surgical Results of Patients with Myelopathy due to Ossification of the Ligamentum Flavum with Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament or a Vertebral Fracture at the Same Level of the Thoracic Spine: A Retrospective Comparative Study

Yuji Kasukawa,Naohisa Miyakoshi,Michio Hongo,Yoshinori Ishikawa,Daisuke Kudo,Ryota Kimura,Yuichi Ono,Jumpei Iida,Chiaki Sato,Yoichi Shimada 대한척추외과학회 2019 Asian Spine Journal Vol.13 No.5

Study Design: Retrospective and comparative study. Purpose: We assessed surgical treatment outcomes in patients with thoracic myelopathy due to ossification of the ligamentum flavum (OLF), and OLF combined with ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) or vertebral fracture (VF) at the same level. Overview of Literature: OLF and OPLL cause severe thoracic myelopathy. Osteoporotic VF commonly occurs at the thoracolumbar junction. There have been no investigations of thoracic myelopathy due to OLF and VF. Methods: Forty patients were divided among three groups: the OLF group (n=23): myelopathy due to OLF, the OLF+OPLL group (n=12): myelopathy due to OLF and OPLL, and the OLF+VF group (n=5): myelopathy due to OLF and VF. We recorded OLF, OPLL, and VF sites and operative procedures. Each patient’s neurological status, according to the Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) score, and walking ability were evaluated pre- and postoperatively. Results: Patients in the OLF+OPLL group were significantly younger than those in the other two groups. The preoperative JOA score was significantly lower in the OLF+VF than OLF group. The final JOA score was significantly lower in the OLF+VF than OLF and OLF+OPLL groups. The JOA score recovery rate was significantly lower in the OLF+VF than OLF group. Final walking ability was significantly worse in the OLF+OPLL and OLF+VF groups than in the OLF group and significantly worse in the OLF+VF than OLF+OPLL group. Conclusions: Thoracic myelopathy due to OLF+VF occurs primarily in older females, who also exhibit worse preoperative and postoperative neurological status, and worse walking ability, than patients with thoracic myelopathy due to OLF or OLF+OPLL.

Bending fatigue strength of case-carburized helical gears with large helix angles up to 40 degrees

Mikiya Yamaoka,Motomu Tanaka,Masaya Kumada,Kengo Nojima,Ryosuke Nishi,Yuichi Ono,Takao Koide 대한기계학회 2019 JOURNAL OF MECHANICAL SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY Vol.33 No.12

Case-carburizing of helical gears with large helix angles may form too large hardened layers near the tooth width end on the acute angle side (ACUTE-END), and adversely affect the bending fatigue strength. We investigated the bending fatigue strength of casecarburized helical gears with large helix angles up to approximately 40° through a bending fatigue test, hardness test, and residual stress measurement. We found that the case-carburizing formed large hardened layers near ACUTE-END, reduced the compressive residual stress near ACUTE-END, and restricted the improvement of the bending fatigue strength in a meshing state where tooth root stress became large near ACUTE-END. Based on the obtained bending fatigue limits, we revealed that ISO 6336-3:2006 overestimated the rate of increase of the permissible circumferential loads for helix angles exceeding approximately 30°, and ISO/DIS 6336-3:2018 underestimated this rate for helix angles near 30°.

Effects of combined therapy of alendronate and low-intensity pulsed ultrasound on metaphyseal bone repair after osteotomy in the proximal tibia of glucocorticoid-induced osteopenia rats

Tetsuya Kawano,Naohisa Miyakoshi,Yuji Kasukawa,Michio Hongo,Hiroyuki Tsuchie,Chie Sato,Masashi Fujii,Masazumi Suzuki,Manabu Akagawa,Yuichi Ono,Yusuke Yuasa,Itsuki Nagahata,Yoichi Shimada 대한골다공증학회 2017 Osteoporosis and Sarcopenia Vol.3 No.4

Objectives: Glucocorticoid (GC) treatment inhibits activation of runt-related transcription factor 2 (Runx2), which is essential for osteoblast differentiation from stem cells. As a result, GC treatment results in bone loss, GC-induced osteoporosis (GIO), elevated fracture risk, and delayed bone healing. Bisphosphonates such as alendronate (ALN) are recommended for treating or preventing GIO, and lowintensity pulsed ultrasound (LIPUS) facilitates fracture healing and maturation of regenerated bone. Combined therapy with ALN and LIPUS may stimulate cancellous bone healing in GIO rats. Here, we examined the effect of ALN and LIPUS on cancellous bone osteotomy repair in the proximal tibia of GIO rats. Methods: Prednisolone (10 mg/kg body weight/day) was administered for 4 weeks to induce GIO in 6- month-old female Sprague-Dawley rats. Tibial osteotomy was then performed and daily subcutaneous injection of ALN (1-mg/kg body weight) was subsequently administered alone or in combination with LIPUS (20 min/day) for 2 or 4 weeks. Results: ALN significantly increased bone mineral density (BMD) at 2 and 4 weeks, and ALN þ LIPUS significantly increased BMD at 4 weeks. Bone union rates were significantly increased after 2 and 4 weeks ALN and ALN þ LIPUS treatment. Lastly, ALN and ALN þ LIPUS significantly increased the proportion of Runx2 positive cells at 4 weeks. Conclusions: ALN monotherapy and combined ALN and LUPUS treatment augmented BMD and stimulated cancellous bone repair with increased Runx2 expression at the osteotomy site in GIO rats. However, the combined treatment had no additional effect on cancellous bone healing compared to ALN monotherapy. © 2017 The Korean Society of Osteoporosis. Publishing services by Elsevier B.V. This is an open access article under the CC BY-NC-ND license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by-nc-nd/4.0/).