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An outbreak of enterohaemorrhagic Escherichia coli O157 occurred in multiple prefectures of Japan in November 2009. We conducted two case–control studies with trace-back and trace-forward investigations to determine the source. The case definition was met by 21 individuals; 14 (66.7%) were hospitalised, but no haemolytic uraemic syndrome, acute encephalopathy or deaths occurred. Median age was 23 (range 12–48) years and 14 cases were male (66.7%). No significant associations with food were found in a case–control study by local public health centres, but our matched case–control study using Internet surveys found that beef hanging tender (or hanger steak), derived from the diaphragm of the cattle, was significantly associated with illness (odds ratio = 15.77; 95% confidence interval, 2.00–124.11). Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis analysis of isolates from patients and the suspected food showed five different patterns: two in faecal and food samples, and another three in patient faecal samples only, although there were epidemiological links to the meat consumed at the restaurants. Trace-back investigation implicated a common food processing company from outside Japan. Examination of the logistics of the meat processing company suggested that contamination did not occur in Japan. We concluded that the source of the outbreak was imported hanging tender. This investigation revealed that Internet surveys could be useful for outbreak investigations.

The coordination of small molecules and ions at the sixth position of ferric myoglobins (Mb) from the heart muscle of two species of shark,Lamna ditropis (LD) andPrionace glauca (PG), was studied in frozen solution by electron paramagnetic resonance (EPR) and electron-nuclear double resonance (ENDOR) spectroscopy. The results were compared with those of horse heart Mb (EQMb). From our preliminary studies of the absorption spectra and partial amino acid sequences of PGMb and LDMb, we expected PGMb to have glutamine (Gln E7) in place of the distal His E7 that is highly conserved in most animals and present in LDMb. Here, we have used proton ENDOR to show that a water molecule coordinates to the ferric ion in both LDMb and PGMb at pH 6.3. The observed proton hyperfine coupling constant of the coordinating water molecule of PGMb is smaller than those of LDMb and EQMb, which suggests weaker coordination of the water molecule in PGMb, consistent with the absent distal His (E7). Coordination of several exogenous ligands at the distal site was examined by EPR. PGMb showed a coordination behavior different from that of LDMb and EQMb for 1-methylimidazole, 4-methylimidazole and SCN−, suggesting that its distal site is less sterically hindered. On the basis of the ENDOR and EPR results, we assigned the distal residues of PGMb and LDMb as Gln and His, respectively.

This case report describes a patient with a history of epileptic seizures who showed unusual decreases in the Bispectral Index (BIS) attributable to the induction of abnormal slow electroencephalographic (EEG) waves by photic stimulation, without any associated decrease in his level of consciousness. After starting anticonvulsive therapy, photic stimulation no longer induced abnormal EEG activity nor decreased BIS values. These findings suggest that BIS values may not accurately reflect a patient's actual level of consciousness in the presence of epilepsy-related abnormal EEG activity and that the BIS monitor may be able to track such EEG changes.

We have measured polarized absorption and photoluminescence (PL) spectra of an organic-inorganic semiconductor single crystal, C 10 H 7 CH 2 NH 3 PbI 3 , at low temperatures down to 5 v; K. The temperature and time dependences of the PL intensities have been measured. From these results, it is concluded that quasi-1D excitons are photogenerated in the PbI 3 chain, and some of them are transferred to a triplet exciton in the organic and the others are relaxed to a self-trapped exciton in the PbI 3 chain. The triplet exciton, however, is not transferred to the self-trapped exciton. The lifetimes of the triplet exciton and the self-trapped exciton are estimated to be 1.2 v; ms and 52 v; ns, respectively, at low temperature range, and the former and the latter thermal activation energies are obtained as 9.7 v; meV and 18 v; meV, respectively.

We study current-induced magnetization switching properties of a magnetic tunnel junction with junction diameter of 19 nm and resistance-area product of 6 Ωμm2 in the nanosecond regime with and without in-plane magnetic field. At zero field, for both parallel (P)-to-anti-parallel (AP) and AP-to-P switchings, the probability of switching PSW approaches unity with the increase of pulse voltage duration τP. However, under in-plane magnetic field, PSW for P-to-AP switching starts to saturate at a value lower than unity with increasing τP, while AP-to-P switching remains the same as in the absence of in-plane magnetic field. This in-plane field dependence of PSW can be partially explained by the influence of electric-field modulation of magnetic anisotropy.

It is widely believed that depletion force causes formation of colloidal crystal or flocculation in the stable colloidal suspension mixed with nonadsorbing polymers. This force works between a colloidal particle and plane, which can be regarded as a sphere with infinite radius. We report a novel technique that enables us to measure the depletion force working between a colloidal particle and a glass surface using laser radiation pressure. We found that the observed force almost coincides with the predicted one. {copyright} {ital 1997} {ital The American Physical Society}

Polycrystalline 10 μm thick W foil has been used as a reflection type moderator for the remission of slow positrons in a high intensity slow positron beam system using a cyclotron which produces various kinds of positron sources. The stability of the moderation efficiency has been reviewed in different annealing conditions and gas environment for the practical usage. The moderation efficiency of W foil (2.0 x 10 4 ) starts to be saturated above an in-situ annealing temperature of 2100 °C. Gas treatment with O 2 and H 2 has not been effective for the improvement of the moderation efficiency of W foil. In addition the efficiency has been degraded by 18% of the initial efficiency after the moderator was exposed to air for 12 h and the efficiently recovered after re-annealing at 2100 °C.

The structural properties of sputtered CoCrPt at levels of 0.1, 0.3, 0.5, and 1 kW sputtering power were measured by x‐ray diffraction, small‐angle x‐ray scattering (SAXS), x‐ray absorption fine structure, and transmission electron microscope (TEM). XRD indicated a continuous increase in the intensity of the peak of hcp(002) orientation, as sputtering power increases. SAXS, on the other hand, in the range of 0.5°–3°, indicated the presence of scattering center for the 0.1 and 0.3 kW samples alone, not for the others. Similarly discontinuous were the spectra produced by x‐ray absorption near‐edge structure of Co K edge. Only the 0.1 kW sample showed a spectrum different from the others. This means that the electronic state for 0.1 kW sample is different from that for the others. TEM observation, carried out to examine the structural morphology, indicated a clear small‐grain structure for the 0.1 kW sample, less clearly defined grains for the 0.3 kW sample, and no observable grains for the others after chemical etching pretreatment. The grain size for the 0.1 and 0.3 kW samples are about 100 and 200 A, respectively. The grain is considered to consist of a Co‐rich boundary and Pt‐rich inside region from the chemical analysis of the solvent. The sputtering power dependence of the structural properties is able to be explained consistently as follows. As the sputtering power decreases, the segregated grain structure appears and affects SAXS. When the segregated grain size becomes smaller, it affects the electronic state. The different sputtering power dependence of structural properties comes from the different correlation lengths included in the measurements. Therefore, to understand the relationship between the magnetic and structural properties, structural investigation should include various range orders.

We investigated whether long-term infusion of kallikrein would attenuate renal injury in salt-induced hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive rats. A subdepressor dose of purified rat urinary kallikrein (700 ng/d IV) was infused by osmotic minipump for 4 weeks in male Dahl salt-sensitive rats fed a high salt (2% NaCl) diet. This dose did not affect the time-dependent elevation of blood pressure; however, urinary protein excretion was significantly decreased, and glomerular filtration rate was increased. These beneficial effects were reflected morphologically by an attenuation of glomerulosclerotic lesions and tubular injury seen in the hypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats. Kallikrein infusion increased urinary excretion of bradykinin and stimulated excretion of cyclic GMP, suggesting that the kallikrein-kinin-prostaglandin and nitric oxide axes were enhanced by rat urinary kallikrein infusion. The alterations induced by kallikrein infusion were potentiated by the concomitant administration of the angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitor alacepril. These studies indicated that long-term replacement with rat tissue kallikrein attenuates renal injury in hypertensive Dahl salt-sensitive rats.

The relationship between growth processes and strain relaxation has been investigated on Si1−xGex (0≤x≤1) films grown on (100)Si‐(2×1) surfaces by gas source molecular beam epitaxy using Si2H6 and GeH4. It has been found that the critical film thicknesses for the formation of an (8×2) superstructure, {811}‐faceted islands, and {311}‐faceted islands in the growth process have been found to obey power laws of xn with exponents (n) of approximately −2, −3, and −3 in the range of 0.25≤x≤1.0, respectively. This result indicates that the relaxation of the film strain energy brings about a change into faceted structures and occurs at two steps of {811} and {311} faceting with the film growth. It has been also clarified that the incorporation ratio of Si and Ge atoms into the films is determined by the rate constant ratio of the dissociative adsorption of the hydride compounds, the value of which is six for the Si2H6/GeH4 system.

Growth processes in the initial stage of Ge films on (311)Si substrate surfaces by gas source molecular beam epitaxy using GeH4 have been studied by in-situ observations of reflection high-energy electron diffraction and by replica electron microscopy. It has been found that clean (311)Si surfaces have a (3 × 2) superstructure at substrate temperatures below 500°C and a (3 × 1) superstructure at 600°C. The growth mode of Ge films is of Stranski-Krastanov type and at the final step of two-dimensional (2D) growth a (1 × 2) structure is formed on both the (311)Si−(3 × 2) and −(3 × 1) surfaces. However, a c(4 × 2) structure is observed at the initial stage of growth only below 500°C. At the island growth step, Ge faceted islands have an ordinary shape below 400°C and a long rectangular shape parallel to [ 2 33] above 500°C. The growth behavior of the 2D domains is considered to be connected with the atomic arrangement and the bonding configuration of (311)Si surfaces.

The structure and saturation induction (B/sub s/) of Co/sub 90-x/Ni/sub 10/Fe/sub x/ (8/spl les//spl times//spl les/40) electroplated films have been studied with a view to their use as high-density write-core materials. The B/sub s/ of the films were slightly larger than those of CoNiFe powders and were increased into the 1.8 to 2.1 T range by controlling the Fe composition and the amount of bcc phase. The latter was achieved by controlling the plating conditions, i.e., the current density and bath temperature. The hyperfine field of the films was about 34 T, slightly larger than that of the powders (33 T), suggesting that their magnetic moments were slightly larger than those of equivalent bulk alloys. The B/sub s/ values were increased by increases of the amount of bcc phase relative to the equilibrium phase with increasing the magnetic moments. A band calculation showed that the bcc phase had a larger magnetization than the fcc phase although the difference between the total energies of the two phases was fairly small. This confirmed our results.

The growth process in the initial stage of growth of Ge films oa Si(111) substrates by gas-source molecular beam epitaxy using GeH4 has been studied by in situ reflection high-energy electron diffraction observations. It has been found that the growth process changes remarkably near 450°C, and that the growth rate of Ge films on Si(111) is one-hundredth as large as that on Si(100). At the first step of growth, δ-7 × 7 and 1 × 1 structures are observed at substrate temperatures below 450°C and, on the other hand, they are not observed above 450°C. In spite of the difference in the first step between the two temperature ranges, Ge films with a 5 × 5 superstructure are finally grown, however, the growth kinetics of the 5 × 5 domains differ between the two temperature ranges. It is considered that the formation of the δ-7 × 7 and 1 × 1 structures and the difference of the growth kinetics are due to the adsorption of hydrogen atoms decomposed from GeH4 molecules.

Processes of structural and morphological changes of Ge films grown on (100)Si substrates by thermal annealing at 700°C have been studied by in-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction and by replica electron microscopy. It has been found that an {811}-faceted structure with a 〈111〉 doubly-ordered structure formed on {111} planes parallel to the side planes of 〈011〉 steps on {8101} facets and an (87×2) surface superstructure with an eightfold periodicity in a 〈011〉 direction are eventually formed by annealing. These ordered and surface structures are considered to be caused by the mixing between Ge and Si, and are found to be stable structures composed of Ge and Si atoms not only at growth stages but also at the postannealing stages.

We examined the effect of cGMP on Na+/Ca2+ exchange in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in primary culture. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) was raised by adding ionomycin to VSMCs incubated at high extracellular pH (pH0) (pH0 = 8.8) and high extracellular Mg2+ (Mg2+0) (Mg2+0 = 20 mM), conditions that inhibit activity of the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump. 45Ca2+ efflux observed under these conditions was mostly extracellular Na+ (Na+0)-dependent and thus presumably catalyzed by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. Brief treatment of VSMCs with 8-bromo-cGMP or atrial natriuretic peptide increased this Na+0-dependent 45Ca2+ efflux by about 50%. The 8-bromo-cGMP treatment did not significantly influence total cell Na+, membrane potential, and cell pH. Conversely, when VSMCs were loaded with Na+ and then exposed to a Na+0-free medium, the rate of 45Ca2+ uptake into VSMCs increased as cell Na+ increased. Prior treatment of VSMCs with 8-bromo-cGMP accelerated 45Ca2+ uptake by up to 60% without influencing Na+ loading itself. Treatment of VSMCs with 25 microM 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone, an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, induced a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i. 8-Bromo-cGMP stimulated the rate of recovery phase of this Ca2+ transient measured in the high pHo/high Mg2+o medium. All these results indicate that cGMP stimulates Na+/Ca2+ exchange in VSMCs.

The formation of an (8 × 2) surface superstructure has been found by in-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction observations in the initial growth stages of Ge(100) films on Si(100) substrate surfaces by gas source molecular beam epitaxy using GeH 4 . The (8 × 2) superstructure has an eight-fold periodicity in a 〈011〉 direction and it is formed in the first growth stage at substrate temperature of 300 to 600°C. The formation of the superstructure is followed by the growth of Ge islands having {811} facets and a doubly ordered structure in 〈111〉 directions. The ordered structure is formed on {111} planes parallel to step side planes constructing {811} facets of Ge growing islands. These results suggest a close connection between the (8 × 2) superstructure and the formation of {811}-faceted islands with the 〈111〉-ordered structure.

We have measured the reflection and luminescence spectra of synthetic two-dimensional semiconductor crystals of H3N(CH2)6NH3PbI4 for E∥〈010〉 and E∥〈100〉 polarizations at low temperatures. There appear two absorption bands related to excitons with polarization vectors parallel and oblique to the inorganic layer. From the temperature dependence of the free exciton luminescence intensity, the exciton binding energy is obtained as 0.33 eV, the value of which is consistent with the energy distance between the n=1 and n=2 exciton absorption bands. This very large binding energy is characteristic of layered perovskite crystals.

We analyzed particle motions in colloidal crystals by digital video microscopy, and obtained the dispersion relations of amplitude and relaxation time for normal relaxation modes of particle dynamics. Because the observed crystals were soft, the soft mode which had larger amplitude and longer relaxation time appeared in Γ‐M. Such soft mode, however, could not be reproduced at all by a simple overdamped Langevin theory in which the hydrodynamic interaction and long‐range interaction were not incorporated. Therefore we attempted to introduce the influence of flow into the equation of motion by using the Oseen tensor. The results of the modified model were in quantitative agreement with the experimental results. We also found that it was essential to consider the negative force constant between 3rd‐nearest neighbor particles for explaining the soft mode.

The growth process in the initial stage of growth of Ge films on (811)Si substrate surfaces by GeH4 source molecular‐beam epitaxy has been studied by in situ reflection high‐energy electron diffraction observation. It has been found that a strained film by the monolayer overgrowth mode is formed initially with an epitaxial relationship of the parallel orientation, and that plate‐shaped Ge islands with (811) facets are grown early in the growth, but that the predominant facet changes to {311} and the (100) planes with further growth. These growth processes are similar to those of Ge films on (100)Si surfaces reported previously. It is concluded that Ge islands with {811} facets are energetically stable in the initial stage of the island growth on the (811)Si surfaces as well as on the (100)Si surfaces.

Growth process in the initial stages of deposition of Ge films on (100)Si surfaces by GeH 4 source MBE has been studied by in-situ reflection high energy electron diffraction (RHEED) observation. The growth mode is of the Stranski-Krastanov type, and the strained monolayer overgrowth on the substrate surfaces takes place over the observed temperature range of 300–600 C. The growth behavior in the nucleation and island growth stages is found to change strikingly near 500 ° C. The activation energy of the growth rate above 500 ° C (0.24 eV) is 10 times as large as than that below 500 ° C (0.023 eV). In spite of these marked differences, the predominant facets of the growing islands is {8111} Ge planes initially and this changes to {311} Ge eventually with growth in the two temperature ranges. Half-order streaks associated with a (2×1) structure are observed to incline to 〈811〉 Ge in the diffraction patterns. This analysis gives information on the atomic arrangement of {811} Ge .

Rupture of a fibrous strand of a tricuspid aortic valve is extremely rare. We describe a patient with aortic regurgitation due to spontaneous rupture of the fibrous strands that suspend the aortic valve leaflets. The fibrous strands were recognized between the left and right coronary cusps, and between the left coronary and non-coronary cusps during the operation. The fibrous strand between the left coronary and non-coronary cusps had been ruptured, and thus the left coronary and non-coronary cusps were prolapsed into the left ventricle. Since a degenerative change was observed histologically in the resected specimen, these fibrous strands were considered to be an embryonic remnant of the aortic valve.

We propose a new bioartificial liver (BAL) system equipped with a high performance hemodialyzer to act as an immunoisolation device. We discuss the design of the BAL system using a mathematical kinetic model with the experimentally obtained mass-transfer performances of various hemodialyzers. The mass transfer resistances of the hemodialyzers did not adversely influence the ammonia-removal and bioactive-substance-supply performances of the BAL system. A suitable hemodialyzer for the BAL system is available even at present using an engineering design. The remaining problems to be overcome before realizing clinical use of the BAL system are to increase the rate constant of the first order reaction of the BAL for ammonia metabolism and to develop a new method of blood access that can be used safely with long term reliability at a high blood flow rate (ca. 556 ml/min).

In this paper we propose simple neural networks for the visual-tracking task which are inspired from biological eye-movement systems. Although the proposed system is very simple, the system can pursue the visual objects in the presence of background images. The proposed system consists of velocity sensing circuits, competitive neural circuits and motor control circuits which are contrived to be suitable for a large-scale analog circuit implementation. Results of extensive numerical and SPICE simulations indicate that the proposed circuit can produce the appropriate motor signal for moving visual objects and pursue the object in the presence of background images.

We propose simple analog MOS circuits producing one-dimensional optical flows aiming at the realization of compact motion-sensing circuits. In the proposed circuit, the optical flow is computed by a number of local motion sensors, as in biological motion-sensing systems. Mimicking the structure of biological motion detectors made the circuit structure quite simple, compared with conventional velocity sensing circuits. Extensive simulation results using SPICE and experimental results indicated that the proposed circuits could compute local velocities of a moving light spot and showed direction selectivity for the moving spot, which implies that a high-resolution motion-sensing chip can be realized using standard analog very large-scale integration technology.

In plastic and reconstructive surgery, postoperative drug therapy with prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) has been widely used to prevent flap necrosis and to extend flap surviving area. In the present study, we assessed the effects of intra-arterial administration of PGE1 on microcirculation. The left cremaster muscle of male Wistar rats were used to measure microcirculatory hemodynamic parameters. The values of internal vessel diameter and erythrocyte velocity were measured by using the confocal laser-scanning microscope (CLSM) system and fluorescent dyes. The blood flow rate was calculated from measured internal vessel diameter and erythrocyte velocity. Internal vessel diameter and flowing erythrocytes were satisfactorily visualized by using the CLSM system. The blood flow rate of arteriole, venule and capillary were dose dependently increased by the intra-arterial administration of PGE1 from the minimum dose of 0.01 ng/kg/min. It is suggested that the intra-arterial administration of PGE1 is a more effective way of postoperative drug therapy than intravenous injection for flap surgery.

The hemodynamic actions of insulin in skeletal muscle microvasculature are not yet well elucidated. In the present study, we investigated the effects of systemic insulin injection on arteriole and capillary diameter and blood flow rate in rat cremaster muscle, using intravital real-time confocal laser-scanning microscope system in combination with selective fluorescent labeling. Subcutaneous insulin injecbon (1 U/kg) significantly increased serum insulin levels at 15 minutes as compared with saline injection. At 15 and 30 minutes after insulin injection, blood glucose levels were significantly lower compared to saline injected controls. Arteriolar diameter was significantly increased at 15 and 30 minutes by insulin. Arteriolar erythrocyte flow velocity was significantly increased at 15 and 30 minutes. In addition, capillary erythrocyte flow velocity was increased at 15 and 30 minutes. These results demonstrated that calculated blood flow rates in capillary and arteriole increased after insulin injection.

It is recently reported that among chronic renal dialysis patients myocardial infarction accounts 7.4% of all the cause of death in Japan. In order to improve the mortality of dialysis patients the treatment of ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major problem. We review previous reports and discuss about the treatment of IHD in dialysis patients. The collected data from the previous reports written about CABG in dialysis patients shows that the mortality of CABG is 7.8% (30/387), the probability of perioperative myocardial infarction (PMI) 8.6% (21/243), brain infarction 1.6% (4/243) and major infection 5.8% (14/243). 3-year and 5-year mortality rate after CABG is reported to be 69-80% and 48-56%, respectively. The result of CABG is excellent and shows that this procedure improves the mortality of dialysis patients with IHD. The procedural mortality of PTCA is 5.6% (8/143), the probability of PMI is 7% (10/143). Many reports shows the high probability of the recurrence of chest pain (60-86%). This procedure when performed in dialysis patients is incomplete because of the calcification of the coronary artery. Even among the dialysis patients it is preferable to perform CABG positively.

An ordered structure with the double periodicity in a 〈111〉 direction has been found by in situ reflection high‐energy electron diffraction observation in the initial stage of Ge films grown on (100)Si and (811)Si substrate surfaces by GeH4 gas source molecular beam epitaxy. The ordered structure is formed on {111} planes parallel to the side planes of 〈011〉 steps on {811} facets of Ge growing islands on both substrates. The formation is observed at substrate temperatures of 300–700 °C and is considered to result from solid phase reactions at the interfaces during growth.

A 31-year-old man with type A chronic aortic dissection associated with annuloaortic ectasia underwent the concomitant graft replacement of the total aortic root and the transverse aortic arch. The two coronary arteries were reconstructed using the Carrel patch method. The false lumen of right coronary artery was closed by injection of GRF glue into the dissected space and compressing the dissected layers. Postoperative course was uneventful, and the patient has returned to normal daily life 2 months after surgery. Remarkable progression of the right coronary artery ostial stenosis was observed by coronary angiography 6 months after surgery. The remarkable progression of stenosis may occur in association with injection of GRF glue into the dissected space, although the exact etiology of the progressive stenosis remains obscure.

Normothermic cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) is being increasingly used at some institutions. Patients undergoing normothermic CPB have a higher systemic oxygen demand and may be at higher risk for ischemic injury. This study was designed to confirm the clinical efficacy and safety of tepid hypothermic CPB. Thirty-six patients undergoing open heart surgery between June 1993 and August 1994 were divided into two groups: tepid (n = 18, 32 degrees C) and moderate (n = 18, 26 degrees C) hypothermic CPB. There were no significant differences in preoperative and perioperative patients characteristics between the two groups. The mean aortic cross-clamp time did not differ between two groups, but the mean CPB time was significantly shorter in tepid hypothermic patients. Serum lactate after CPB and lactate/pyrvate ratio during CPB in tepid hypothermic patients were significantly lower than in moderate hypothermic patients. The mixed venous oxygen saturation in tepid hypothermic patients was significantly lower however, it was maintained at levels more than 70% during CPB. This study suggests that tepid hypothermic CPB is a safe and effective alternative to moderate hypothermic CPB for patients undergoing open heart surgery. Previous reports have documented that patients undergoing normothermic CPB are at greater risk for cerebral desaturation. We should evaluate cerebral venous oxygen saturation during tepid hypothermic CPB before the induction of normothermic CPB.

We experienced a case of primary anterior mediastinal liposarcoma with a heterotopic mass in the pericardium of same histology. Twenty reported cases in Japan were also studied. The patient was a 50-year-old male who visited the hospital because of an abnormal shadow on a chest X-ray. The diagnosis of anterior mediastinal tumor was confirmed by a chest CT. The patient underwent a complete resection of the mediastinal and intrapericardial masses. The histologic diagnosis was a well differentiated liposarcoma of Enzinger's classification. No evidence of recurrence or metastasis was detected in the third postoperative year. Liposarcoma is rarely seen in the mediastinum. Since radiotherapy and chemotherapy are ineffective therapeutic modalities, surgery would be the treatment of choice and complete surgical resection is mandatory.

A 23-year-old man, diagnosed as ventricular septal defect in childhood, was hospitalized with right-sided infective endocarditis. He developed acute respiratory failure following septic pulmonary emboli and underwent urgent surgical treatment, because vigorous medical treatment was ineffective. Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation was performed to maintain arterial blood oxygen tension after cardiopulmonary bypass and the patient was weaned from ECMO after 36 hours. Postoperatively, mechanical ventilation for respiratory failure was needed continuously and pleural leaks due to lung injuries were increased. The reduction of pleural leaks by surgical closure of fistula and plication of the cyst decreased gas exchange impairment. To our knowledge, application of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for septic pulmonary emboli is unprecedented.

To visualize the blood flow in the neovasculature of a solid tumor tissue, we utilized an intravital microscope system equipped with real-time confocal laser scanning optics. Fluorescent labeling of the blood cells and blood plasma enabled quantitative measurements of microhemodynamic parameters such as flow velocity, blood cell flux and vessel diameter in both the normal and tumor microvasculature.

A case of successfully treated traumatic aneurysm of the thoracic aorta with severe major air way compression was reported. A 38-year-old man, who had a history of blunt chest trauma in a traffic accident twenty years ago, complained of asthma-like coughing chest CT scan and angiogram showed a saccular aneurysm of desending aorta compressing the isthmus of the trachea and the esophagus severely. Resection of the aneurysm and prosthetic graft replacement was undertaken successfully with the aid of F-F bypass. The trachea and the esophagus were well decompressed and the patient recovered well with no complaints.

Vibration phenomena of a guide vane seem to be generated by a fluid exciting force working on the guide vane in unsteady flow field. Thus, in order to understand the vibration mechanism of the guide vane, it is important to reveal unsteady field inside a bend having the guide vane. In this paper, vibration phenomena of the guide vane inside the bend were considered by using numerical simulation. In order to decide analysis conditions of Large Eddy Simulation (LES), the results of LES were compared to the ones of Particle Image Velocimetry (PIV) for the downscaling model. Moreover, Fluid-Structure Interaction (FSI) analysis was conducted for the mitre bend having the guide vane modelled in actual scale. As a result, stress fluctuation at the centre of the trailing edge of the guide vane was largest. This result indicates that vibration phenomena are possible to occur on the trailing edge of the guide vane.

We characterized Ca2+ entry in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (SMCs) maintained in primary culture by measuring uptake of 45Ca2+ or Mn2+ from a normal balanced salt solution and the extracellular Ca(2+)-induced increase in the intracellular Ca2+ concentration ([Ca2+]i) in a medium [high pH (pH 8.8)/high Mg2+ (20 mM) medium containing a sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase inhibitor, thapsigargin] that inhibits removal of Ca2+ from the cytoplasm. Such measurements in the presence or absence of a dihydropyridine (DHP) calcium channel antagonist (PN200-110) or hyperpolarizing agent (valinomycin) revealed that DHP-sensitive voltage-gated Ca2+ channels (VGCCs) are activated in these SMCs under resting conditions and that DHP-sensitive Ca2+ entry occurs mostly via these VGCCs. We found that receptor stimulation by endothelin-1 in these SMCs resulted in activation of neither DHP-sensitive nor -insensitive Ca2+ entry, but rather resulted in marked suppression of the former. Utilizing the DHP-sensitive extracellular Ca(2+)-induced increase in [Ca2+]i as a monitor of activity of the DHP-sensitive VGCCs, we investigated the effects of protein kinase activators and phosphatase inhibitors on the regulation of these VGCCs. We found that the DHP-sensitive VGCCs were inhibited by endothelin-1 through the activation of protein kinase C. We also found that they were inhibited by 8Br-cGMP, okadaic acid, and calyculin A.

To investigate whether and how renin-angiotensin inhibition attenuates renal injury seen in salt-induced hypertension in Dahl salt-sensitive (Dahl-S) rats.Dahl-S rats fed a high-salt (4% sodium chloride) diet for 6 weeks were treated with the angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor alacepril or the angiotensin receptor antagonist losartan for 4 weeks. Functional and morphological alterations in the kidney were investigated.Alacepril decreased systolic blood pressure (SBP). This SBP reduction was associated with the attenuation of cardiac and aortic wall hypertrophy and that of proteinuria and urinary N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase excretion. Kidney injuries, e.g. glomerular, arterial and tubular damage, were improved with alacepril treatment. Losartan decreased SBP to the same extent as alacepril, but neither renal function nor morphological structure was improved as was the case with alacepril. The response of the renal eicosanoid system to alacepril was inadequate, but cyclic GMP excretion, an indicator of nitric oxide formation, was significantly enhanced and lipid peroxidation in the kidney was decreased.The beneficial effects of ACE inhibition on the renal injury in Dahl-S rats outrange those induced by the receptor antagonism. This might be due to multiple factors including an increased vasodepressor eicosanoid system, enhanced nitric oxide formation and possible inhibition of oxygen radical generation in the injured renal tissues.

We investigated the role of the vasoconstrictors endothelin-1 (ET-1) and thromboxane in renal protection by the beta 1-selective adrenoceptor antagonist, bisoprolol, in Dahl salt-sensitive rats (Dahl S) and salt-resistant rats (Dahl R). Six-week bisoprolol treatment (20 mg/kg chow) reduced systolic blood pressure (SBP) by 14% in Dahl S rats fed a high-salt (4% NaCl) diet. This BP reduction was accompanied by a decrease in aortic wall thickness. ET-1 and thromboxane released from renal cortex was significantly decreased by 17 and 30% with bisoprolol, respectively. Other prostaglandin synthesis was unaffected. Renal function such as proteinuria, N-acetyl-beta-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) excretion, and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) was not influenced by bisoprolol. Morphologic investigation showed that bisoprolol significantly improved glomerular sclerosis by 29% and attenuated arterial damage by 71%, although tubular injury was not affected. The more severe the glomerulosclerotic lesions, the greater the generation of thromboxane and ET. The arterial lesions were positively correlated to thromboxane generation. These data indicate that long-term bisoprolol treatment reduces vasoconstrictive ET-1 and thromboxane generation and that these alterations may be partly responsible for the amelioration of glomerular and arterial injury in Dahl S rats.

Plasma concentration, tissue distribution, and metabolism of amitriptyline (AMI) in rats pretreated with AMI (20 mg/kg/day, ip dose, for 7 days; treated) were compared with control rats. Plasma concentrations of AMI after intravenous administration (2 and 10 mg/kg) to the treated rat were significantly higher than those to the control rat in both doses. The difference in the plasma concentration between both groups may be caused by a change of tissue distribution of AMI, because the blood cell-to-plasma concentration ratio and the tissue-to-blood concentration ratio values for various tissues in the treated rat were smaller than those in the control, respectively. The plasma unbound fraction of AMI in the treated rat was significantly smaller (p0.05). alpha 1-Acid glycoprotein concentration in plasma of the treated rat was approximately twice that in the control rat. These results suggest that the decrease of tissue distribution of AMI in the treated rat may be caused by the decrease in the plasma unbound fraction of AMI with the increase of alpha 1-acid glycoprotein in plasma. The area under the plasma concentration-time curve for AMI and its main metabolite, nortriptyline, in the treated rat after intraportal administration of AMI was 1/3 and 3-fold those in the control rats, respectively. On the other hand, the hepatic intrinsic clearance (CLH,Int) of the unbound drug in the treated rat was approximately twice that of the control, suggesting that the increase of the (CLH,Int) by repeated administration of AMI may result in the induction of oxidative metabolism.

Endothelial cell monolayer, which lines the inner surface of the blood vessel, plays an important role in controlling the vascular permeability to a wide variety of solutes to be exchanged between blood and tissues. At the same time, this endothelial monolayer is an unique tissue that ceaselessly is exposed to fluid mechanical stimuli caused by the blood flow. Consequently, the physiological functions of vascular endothelial cells must be discussed taking into consideration numerous factors related to their environment as a whole. Such factors include not only the soluble humoral factors but also mechanical stimuli as fluid-imposed shear stress or cyclic stretch of the vessel wall.

Effects of extracellular matrices (ECMs) and fluid-imposed shear stress on the cell shape and the cytoskeletal structure of microfilaments were studied in cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells (PAECs). The PAECs were cultured until confluent on non-coated or on ECM-coated glass coverslips. The components of ECM used were type IV collagen, heparan sulfate, chondroitin sulfate and dermatan sulfate. The PAECs cultured on the mixed ECMs showed marked elongation and segmental orientation with randomly distributed cell axis even under a no-flow static condition, and the microfilaments were mostly observed in parallel with the cell axis. After shear flow exposure (2 Pa, 24-48 hrs), the PAECs on non-coated glass were significantly elongated and oriented to the flow direction, however the PAECs on ECM-coated glass showed more retarded responses than the ones on non-coated glass, indicating that the anchorage to the substrate was enhanced by ECMs. The stress fibers were reorganized in accordance with the cell shape and oriented to the flow direction. These findings suggest that ECM may act together with shear stress to modify and maintain the endothelial cell configuration.

Changes in patterns of microfilament distribution were analyzed using cultured porcine aortic endothelial cells under shear flow. Within the elongated endothelial cells after shear flow exposure (20 dyne/cm2, 0-24 h), F-actin filaments were mainly observed as stress fibers. After 24 h exposure, the fluorescence intensity of rhodamine-phalloidin-stained cells was enhanced, indicating the increase in F-actin content. It was suggested that not only F-actin distribution but also the content may be affected by shear stress at the early stage of exposure.

Aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic regurgitation (AR) results in the reduction of left ventricular dimensions. But postoperative death or congestive heart failure may occur in patients with left ventricular dysfunction. Pre- and postoperative stress (ESS)-volume (ESVI) relationship by M-mode echocardiography was examined in 30 patients undergoing AVR. Postoperatively, 23 patients (Group A) achieved a normal left ventricular dimension (LVDd less than 55 mm, LVDs less than 45 mm) and 7 patients (Group B) had persistent left ventricular dilation (LVDd greater than or equal to 55 mm, LVDs greater than or equal to 45 mm). Correlation between preoperative ESS and ESVI was significant (r = 0.92, p less than 0.001), and the ESS/ESVI was greater in Group A of 1.62 +/- 0.29 kdy/cm2/ml/m2 than in Group B of 1.18 +/- 0.19 kdy/cm2/ml/m2 (p less than 0.001). Three patients with ESVI greater than 180 ml/m2 and ESS/ESVI less than 1.2 kdyn/cm2/ml/m2 died after operation. Echocardiographic variables correlated with ESS/ESVI were ESVI (r = -0.57), FS (r = -0.53) and CSA (r = -0.47). The changes in LVDs (delta Ds) after AVR correlated with ESS/ESVI in 12 patients with severe left ventricular dilatation. Postoperative left ventricular function could be predicted by ESS-ESVI relationship by preoperative DBcAMP infusion test. ESS/ESVI is sensitive to changes in the left ventricular contractility. The patients with ESVI greater than 180 ml/m2 and ESS/ESVI less than 1.2 kdyn/cm2/ml/m2 may result in poor prognostic outcome.

We examined the effect of cGMP on Na+/Ca2+ exchange in rat aortic smooth muscle cells (VSMCs) in primary culture. The intracellular Ca2+ concentration [( Ca2+]i) was raised by adding ionomycin to VSMCs incubated at high extracellular pH (pH0) (pH0 = 8.8) and high extracellular Mg2+ (Mg2+0) (Mg2+0 = 20 mM), conditions that inhibit activity of the sarcolemmal Ca2+ pump. 45Ca2+ efflux observed under these conditions was mostly extracellular Na+ (Na+0)-dependent and thus presumably catalyzed by the Na+/Ca2+ exchanger. Brief treatment of VSMCs with 8-bromo-cGMP or atrial natriuretic peptide increased this Na+0-dependent 45Ca2+ efflux by about 50%. The 8-bromo-cGMP treatment did not significantly influence total cell Na+, membrane potential, and cell pH. Conversely, when VSMCs were loaded with Na+ and then exposed to a Na+0-free medium, the rate of 45Ca2+ uptake into VSMCs increased as cell Na+ increased. Prior treatment of VSMCs with 8-bromo-cGMP accelerated 45Ca2+ uptake by up to 60% without influencing Na+ loading itself. Treatment of VSMCs with 25 microM 2,5-di-(tert-butyl)-1,4-benzohydroquinone, an inhibitor of the sarcoplasmic reticulum Ca(2+)-ATPase, induced a transient elevation of [Ca2+]i. 8-Bromo-cGMP stimulated the rate of recovery phase of this Ca2+ transient measured in the high pHo/high Mg2+o medium. All these results indicate that cGMP stimulates Na+/Ca2+ exchange in VSMCs.

Effects of leukocyte adhesion and emigration on the microvascular permeability were analyzed by the combined use of high resolution transilluminated intravital microscopy and the epiilluminated fluorescent tracer imaging. After stimulating leukocytes by topical application of PAF-LPS or fMLP solution on the mesentery of a rat, a dynamic process of leukocyte emigration was visualized under high resolution transilluminated microscopic observation. When considerable emigration of leukocytes was observed, the same microvasculature was subjected to a permeability study to visualize the diffusional process of the FITC-labeled macromolecules under an epiilluminated fluorescent microscope. Dye diffusion was accelerated in the PAF-LPS or fMLP-treated group, and also a distinctly spotty leakage was observed in venules where successive adhesion and emigration of leukocytes were observed.

Interposition graft technique had been used exclusively in 8 consecutive patients with AAE and AR. Two patients with severely dilated left ventricle (CTR 65, 80%, LVDd 93, 83 mm, LVDs 86, 68 mm), and 1 patient complicated with the postoperative mediastinitis died in the perioperative period, 10, 145 and 135 days after surgery, respectively. In the remaining 5 patients, excellent clinical improvement was observed with the reduction of CTR and echo-cardiographic findings without formation of hematoma, pseudoaneurysm, and leak from the suture lines on DSA and CT.