Takashi Yamane

Bio: Takashi Yamane is an academic researcher from Kobe University. The author has contributed to research in topics: Impeller & Centrifugal pump. The author has an hindex of 21, co-authored 166 publications receiving 2113 citations. Previous affiliations of Takashi Yamane include National Institute of Advanced Industrial Science and Technology & Japanese Ministry of International Trade and Industry.

Mammalian Clock Gene Cryptochrome Regulates Arthritis via Proinflammatory Cytokine TNF-α

Abstract: The mammalian clock genes, Period and Cryptochrome (Cry), regulate circadian rhythm. We show that circadian rhythmicity and rhythmic expression of Period in the nuclei of inflammatory synovial cells and spleen cells are disturbed in mouse models of experimental arthritis. Expressions of other clock genes, Bmal1 and Dbp, are also disturbed in spleen cells by arthritis induction. Deletion of Cry1 and Cry2 results in an increase in the number of activated CD3(+) CD69(+) T cells and a higher production of TNF-alpha from spleen cells. When arthritis is induced, Cry1(-/-)Cry2(-/-) mice develop maximal exacerbation of joint swelling, and upregulation of essential mediators of arthritis, including TNF-alpha, IL-1beta and IL-6, and matrix metalloproteinase-3. Wee-1 kinase is solely upregulated in Cry1(-/-)Cry2(-/-) mice, in line with upregulation of c-Fos and Wee-1 kinase in human rheumatoid arthritis. The treatment with anti-TNF-alpha Ab significantly reduced the severity and halted the progression of the arthritis of Cry1(-/-)Cry2(-/-) mice and vice versa, ectopic expression of Cry1 in the mouse embryonic fibroblast from Cry1(-/-)Cry2(-/-) mice significantly reduced the trans activation of TNF-alpha gene. Thus, the biological clock and arthritis influence each other, and this interplay can influence human health and disease.

Artificial heart pump

Abstract: An artificial heart pump comprises a cylindrical stator provided between the inner surface of a casing and a rotor so as to establish a blood flow channel between the outer surface of the stator and the inner surface of the casing, and a rotating magnet and a stationary magnet differing in length in their N-S pole directions provided on the rotor and the stator with their N-S pole directions aligned parallel with the axis of rotation, the boundary between the N and S poles of the rotating magnet being positioned closer to a pivot than the boundary between the N and S poles of the stationary magnet.

Mixed flow artificial heart pump with axial self-bearing motor

Abstract: With the objective of developing a small blood pump with a levitated rotor, we propose a design scheme for an axial-type self-bearing motor. The axial type motor, which is basically composed of a disc motor and an axial magnetic bearing, controls both the rotation and the axial translation of the rotor. The proposed motor is similar to the bidirectional disc motor, except for changing the magnitudes of both sides of the flux to control the axial attractive force. However, the radial and tilt directions rely on passive stability, and, therefore, the rotor has poor damping which might cause damage to blood constituents. The design includes a hydrodynamic bearing for improving radial support properties. Finally, to confirm its functionality, an experimental prototype of the proposed motor has been constructed and incorporated into a mixed flow blood pump. The results indicated that the bidirectional axial-type self-bearing motor had high efficiency as a small continuous flow blood pump, delivering sufficient flow rate and pressure head.

Computational fluid dynamics analysis to establish the design process of a centrifugal blood pump: second report.

Abstract: To establish an efficient design process for centrifugal blood pumps, the results of computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis were compared to the results of flow visualization tests and hemolysis tests, using the Nikkiso centrifugal blood pump. CFD analysis revealed that the radial gap greatly affected the shear stress in the outlet diffuser. The hemolysis study also indicated a similar tendency. To see the flow behind the impeller, we conducted a comparative study between models with and without washout holes using the CFD technique. CFD analysis indicated that flow and pressure distributions behind the impeller were different between both models, and a particle was observed to remain longer behind the impeller in the model without washout holes. In the future, CFD analysis could be a useful tool for developing blood pumps in comparison to flow visualization tests and hemolysis tests.

American Society for Testing and Materials

Abstract: The American Society for Testing and Materials (ASTM) is an independent organization devoted to the development of standards.

Dysregulation of Inflammatory Responses by Chronic Circadian Disruption

Abstract: Circadian rhythms modulate nearly every mammalian physiological process. Chronic disruption of circadian timing in shift work or during chronic jet lag in animal models leads to a higher risk of several pathologies. Many of these conditions in both shift workers and experimental models share the common risk factor of inflammation. In this study, we show that experimentally induced circadian disruption altered innate immune responses. Endotoxemic shock induced by LPS was magnified, leading to hypothermia and death after four consecutive weekly 6-h phase advances of the light/dark schedule, with 89% mortality compared with 21% in unshifted control mice. This may be due to a heightened release of proinflammatory cytokines in response to LPS treatment in shifted animals. Isolated peritoneal macrophages harvested from shifted mice exhibited a similarly heightened response to LPS in vitro, indicating that these cells are a target for jet lag. Sleep deprivation and stress are known to alter immune function and are potential mediators of the effects we describe. However, polysomnographic recording in mice exposed to the shifting schedule revealed no sleep loss, and stress measures were not altered in shifted mice. In contrast, we observed altered or abolished rhythms in the expression of clock genes in the central clock, liver, thymus, and peritoneal macrophages in mice after chronic jet lag. We conclude that circadian disruption, but not sleep loss or stress, are associated with jet lag-related dysregulation of the innate immune system. Such immune changes might be a common mechanism for the myriad negative health effects of shift work.