OBJECTIVES: To assess the complex interaction of apolipoprotein (apo) E polymorphisms and environmental factors on lipoprotein profile in centenarians. DESIGN: Cross‐sectional analysis. SETTING: Tokyo metropolitan area. PARTICIPANTS: Seventy‐five centenarians and 73 healthy older volunteers (mean age 63.1 ± 10.0) living in the Tokyo metropolitan area. MEASUREMENTS: Plasma lipids and lipoproteins, cholesteryl ester transfer protein mass, apo E phenotype, body mass index, nutritional indices (serum albumin, prealbumin, transferrin), dietary intake, inflammation markers (C‐reactive protein (CRP), interleukin‐6 (IL‐6)), activities of daily living, and cognitive function. RESULTS: In comparison with older people, the centenarians had low concentrations of total and low‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL‐C) and a relative predominance of high‐density lipoprotein 2 cholesterol. No environmental factor, except the number of apo E ε2 alleles, was a significant determinant of LDL‐C and apo B, suggesting that the low apo B–containing lipoprotein in centenarians may be attributable to a genetic cause. Centenarians had elevated levels of lipoprotein (a) and decreased high‐density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL‐C), which seem to be an unfavorable lipoprotein profile. Lower levels of HDL‐C in the centenarians were associated with decreased serum albumin, elevated CRP and IL‐6 levels, and cognitive impairment, suggesting that HDL‐C could be a sensitive marker for frailty and comorbidity in the oldest old. CONCLUSIONS: Low levels of apo B–containing lipoproteins attributable to a genetic cause may be advantageous for longevity. Lipoprotein profiles in centenarians were consistently related to the subjects' nutritional status, inflammation markers, and apo E polymorphisms. The results provide evidence for the importance of maintaining nutritional status in the very old.
We believe that FE analysis technique education by which one can learn how to use FE analysis program is effective and necessary, concerning that general purpose FE analysis programs are widely used in every engineering field. In this study, we proposed the contents of FE analysis technique education and the analysis exercises using general purpose FE analysis program for students who had already learned basic theory of FEM, in case of using it on purpose of structure analysis. Then, we practiced the analysis exercise lecture for the third grade students of Tokyo Gakugei University, decided criterions for evaluation and examined their student's achievement level according to it. As a result, all most students were able to obtain the good evaluation for the criterions. The proposed contents of education and analysis exercises made the students acquire a basic FE analysis technology.
SYSTEMS TECHNOLOGY, the IEEE Control Systems Society publishes high-quality papers on technological advances in the design, realization, and operation of control systems.Submissions should emphasize novel contributions to the solution of control engineering problems arising in specific application areas.The official scope can be found at the following link: http://ieeexplore.ieee.org/xpl/aboutJournal.jsp?punumber=87#AimsScope.This TRANSACTIONS is published bimonthly.Three types of contributions are regularly considered:1) Papers-Presentation of significant research, development, or application of control systems technology.2) Brief Papers-Concise descriptions of a contribution to a specific aspect of design, realization, or operation of control systems technology.3) Letters-Significant remarks of interest to control systems engineers, and comments on previously published papers.In addition, special papers (tutorials, surveys, and perspectives on the current trends in control systems technology) are solicited.
When we estimate the fatigue life of lead-free solder joints under cyclic temperature load, we have to get equivalent inelastic strain range accurately. In this study, in order to show the example of using our previously proposed constitutive model, which can describe stress strain curves, stress strain hysteresis loops and stress relaxation curves, with these temperature dependencies and these rate dependencies, we conducted FE analysis of the chip component under thermal cycle using the constitutive model. We also conducted fatigue tests of Sn3.5Ag0.5Cu0.07Ni0.01Ge lead-free solder using micro test pieces and estimated the fatigue life.
Solder joints under temperature changes are destroyed by low cycle fatigue. So, it is important that evaluations of thermal fatigue life of the lead-free solder joints are performed. Evaluations of thermal fatigue life of the solder joints are done by next process. First, low cycle fatigue properties of the solder are got by conducting mechanical fatigue examinations. Second, equivalent inelastic strain range is got by conducting the FE structural analysis of the solder joints. At last, the fatigue life of lead-free solder joints is got from the properties and the equivalent inelastic strain range. Therefore, when we estimate the fatigue life of solder joints, we have to get accurate low cycle fatigue properties of the solder. There, the size effects, the interface influences and direction of stress on solder joints have to be considered. Therefore, in this study, an acquisition way of inelastic strain range by lead-free solder lap joint type shear specimen was proposed. Next, we conducted a tension-compressive test using Sn3.5Ag0.5Cu0.07Ni0.01Ge lead-free solder lap joint type shear specimen and got equivalent inelastic strain range for the low cycle fatigue properties actually.
The delayed outward rectifier K+ channel has a role in the increase in automaticity of myocytes under pathophysiological conditions. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the effect of blockade of outward recitifier K+ channels by a class III antiarrhythmic drug, E4031, on ischemia- and reperfusion-induced arrhythmias. Ion fluxes, energy metabolites and cardiac function were measured and the epicardial electrocardiograms of Langendorffperfused rat hearts were recorded during initial perfusion, global or regional ischemia and reperfusion. 10-7M of E4031 administered during the initial perfusion did not prolong the QT interval, but slowed the heart rate (Control: 222, E4031: 183bpm, p<0.05), increased myocardial 45Ca2+ uptake (Control: 2.1, E4031: 2.9μmol/g dwt, p<0.05) and attenuated the loss of intracellular K+ during ischemia (Control: 238, E4031: 248μmol/g dwt, p<0.05). E4031 tended to reduce ischemia-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias (Control: 60, E4031: 30%, n. s.), but reperfusion-induced ventricular tachyarrhythmias were sustained longer by the administration of E4031 (Control: 255, E4031: 623sec, p<0.05). Prior exposure to E4031 decreased the depletion of high energy phosphates during ischemia, but suppressed their recovery during reperfusion. These results suggest that the attenuated loss of K+ from the ischemic myocardium and the decrease in heart rate by E4031 contributed to the reduction of ischemia-induced arrhythmias. However, the increase in myocardial Ca2+ uptake and altered energy metabolism may be responsible for the increase in reperfusion-induced arrhythmias.(Jpn HeartJ 1998; 39: 183-197)
We have previously reported that centenarians (persons≥100 y old) in Tokyo prefer dairy products. Dietary preferences may be associated with longevity. The aim of the present study was to investigate the relationship between dietary patterns and further survival in centenarians. During 1992-1999, we examined the dietary practices of 104 centenarians (29 men and 75 women; mean age, 100.3±0.9 y) who lived in the Tokyo metropolitan area. Dietary patterns were classified by k-means cluster analysis. As clinical co-variables, we considered activities of daily living, cognitive function, nutritional status, presence of important disease, gender, and age at the time of the initial survey. Survival data were recorded yearly until 2001, and then tested with Kaplan-Meier analysis and the log rank statistic. Four dietary patterns were identified a pattern preferring vegetables (n=33), a pattern preferring dairy products (n=26), a pattern preferring beverages (n=10), and a pattern preferring cereals (n=35). No clinical variables differed between the four dietary patterns. In 2001, 28 centenarians were still alive. The survival rate for those preferring dairy products was the highest of the four dietary patterns; in particular, being significantly higher than the pattern preferring beverages (p=0.048). A dietary pattern preferring dairy products was associated with increased survival in Tokyo-area centenarians.
Background. Centenarians are sometimes said to be representative of lifelong healthy aging. Whether they are, in fact, examples of healthy aging remains a subject of debate. The existence of heterogeneity in functional status has been reported repeatedly in previous studies of centenarians. However, there is as yet no standardized classification system with which to describe their functional phenotype.
A number of studies have been published which have attempted to define the electrocardiographic (ECG) changes with aging, but most of them were obtained from cross-sectional studies. To distinguish ECG changes related to physiological aging from those associated with arteriosclerosis, we assessed the ECG changes of 500 apparently healthy subjects, aged 60 years and older in 1992, who had been followed at the Keio Health Consulting Center for over 15 years. All subjects had no overt cardiovascular diseases in 1992. We compared the ECG in 1992 with that taken over 15 years ago. Changes in ECG during that period were also reviewed. With aging, the mean axis deviated to the left, the mean QTc interval was shortened, and the mean PR interval was prolonged. ST segmental change, atrial overloading, bundle branch block developed newly in 16%, 8% and 7% of, respectively. There were no relationships among axis deviation, PR interval change, or QTc shortening and coronary risk factors. QTc prolongation and ST segmental change were strongly related to hypertension or impaired glucose tolerance. When ECG changes in those under 65 years old were compared with those over 80 years old, the incidence of ST segmental change in those over 80 years old was significant higher. This study was not a prospective study but suggested each type of ECG change related to aging was affected by physiological and/or pathological factors in a distinct way and had different phases of development and progression.
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