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Background Rapid reduction of heart rate (HR) is the most evident physiological response of vagal nerve stimulation (VNS). Since HR reduction is the most potent factor to decrease myocardial oxygen consumption rate (MVO2), the appropriate VNS can exert cardio-protective effects. It is also known that VNS reduces inflammation, oxidative stress, and sympathetic overload. In addition, the VNS during ischemia-reperfusion is known to attenuate myocardial damage by studies in various animal species. Despite the presence of preclinical evidence of VNS benefits, the lack of the device has limited the translation of this technology to clinical practice. We have recently developed an intravenous VNS catheter (JOHAKU, Neuroceuticals Inc.) that can stimulate the right vagal nerve via superior vena cava (SVC) (Figure 1) on temporary basis. Purpose We aimed to confirm the feasibility of JOHAKU as a device to modulate heart rate and MVO2 rapidly by a canine experiment. Methods In eight beagle dogs, JOHAKU was inserted from the right femoral vein and placed at the SVC level. The stimulation intensity was adjusted to 10–20 V (20 Hz). We simultaneously recorded electrocardiogram and intraarterial blood pressure (BP). In three of eight dogs, we measured the left anterior descending coronary artery flow and oxygen saturations of arterial and coronary sinus blood to calculate MVO2. We compared HR, BP, and MVO2 during JOHAKU stimulation to ones at baseline. Results As shown in Figure 2, JOHAKU attenuated HR immediately after stimulation. Compared with baseline, JOHAKU significantly reduced HR (baseline: 135±13 vs. 5 min on stimulation: 107±13 bpm, p Conclusion JOHAKU rapidly attenuated cardiac metabolism burden via the rapid HR reduction. The controllability of HR by JOHAKU without affecting BP enables us to apply the VNS even for patients with hemodynamic instability, such as heart failure and acute myocardial infarction. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Public grant(s) – National budget only. Main funding source(s): Japan Agency for Medical and Research Development

Oligometastatic prostate cancer (omPCa) is a novel intermediate disease state characterized by a limited volume of metastatic cells and specific locations. Accurate staging is paramount to unmask oligometastatic disease, as provided by prostate-specific membrane antigen-positron emission tomography. Driven by the results of prospective trials employing conventional and/or modern staging modalities, the treatment landscape of omPCa has rapidly evolved over the last years. Several treatment-related questions comprising the concept of precision strikes are under development. For example, beyond systemic therapy, cohort studies have found that cytoreductive radical prostatectomy (CRP) can confer a survival benefit in select patients with omPCa. More importantly, CRP has been consistently shown to improve long-term local symptoms when the tumor progresses across disease states due to resistance to systemic therapies. Metastasis-directed treatments have also emerged as a promising treatment option due to the visibility of oligometastatic disease and new technologies as well as treatment strategies to target the novel PCa colonies. Whether metastases are present at primary cancer diagnosis or detected upon biochemical recurrence after treatment with curative intent, targeted yet decisive elimination of disseminated tumor cell hotspots is thought to improve survival outcomes. One such strategy is salvage lymph node dissection in oligorecurrent PCa which can alter the natural history of progressive PCa. In this review, we will highlight how refinements in modern staging modalities change the classification and treatment of (oligo-)metastatic PCa. Further, we will also discuss the current role and future directions of precision surgery in omPCa.

A 2-D analysis of OFF-state breakdown characteristics of AlGaN/GaN HEMTs with a high- ${k}$ passivation layer is performed as a function of gate-to-drain distance ${L} _{\text {GD}}$ . The relative permittivity of the passivation layer $\varepsilon _{\text {r}}$ is changed from 1 to 60, and ${L} _{\text {GD}}$ is changed from 1.5 to $10~\mu \text{m}$ . It is shown that, in all cases with different ${L} _{\text {GD}}$ , the breakdown voltage ${V} _{\text {br}}$ increases as $\varepsilon _{\text {r}}$ increases. When a deep-acceptor density in an Fe-doped buffer layer ${N} _{\text {DA}}$ is $10^{{17}}$ cm $^{-{3}}$ and the gate length is $0.3~\mu \text{m}$ , ${V} _{\text {br}}$ is determined by buffer leakage current at $\varepsilon _{\text {r}} \ge30$ before impact ionization dominates. Hence, ${V} _{\text {br}}$ is similar at ${L} _{\text {GD}} =3$ – $10~\mu \text{m}$ , and the increase rate in ${V} _{\text {br}}$ from ${L} _{\text {GD}} = 1.5\,\,\mu \text{m}$ is about 50% even at $\varepsilon _{\text {r}} =60$ . However, when ${N} _{\text {DA}}$ is $2\times 10^{{17}}$ cm $^{-{3}}$ , ${V} _{\text {br}}$ is determined by impact ionization of carriers even at $\varepsilon _{\text {r}} \ge30$ because the buffer leakage current is reduced. ${V} _{\text {br}}$ becomes about 500, 930, 1360, and 1650 V for ${L} _{\text {GD}} =1.5$ , 3, 5, and $7~\mu $ m, respectively, at $\varepsilon _{\text {r}} =60$ . These voltages correspond to gate-to-drain average electric fields of about 3.3, 3.1, 2.7, and 2.3 MV/cm, respectively. Particularly, for short ${L} _{\text {GD}}$ , the electric field profiles between the gate and the drain are rather uniform. However, in the case of ${L} _{\text {GD}} = 10\,\,\mu \text{m}$ , ${V} _{\text {br}}$ is about the same as that (1650 V) of ${L} _{\text {GD}} = 7\,\,\mu \text{m}$ , suggesting that the electric field at the drain edge of the gate becomes a critical value before the high electric field region extends to the drain enough. This may be a limitation to increase ${V} _{\text {br}}$ by using a high- ${k}$ passivation layer in this case. However, it can be said that, to improve ${V} _{\text {br}}$ further at long ${L} _{\text {GD}}$ , such as $10~\mu \text{m}$ , the combination of field plate or using a higher $\varepsilon _{\text {r}}$ material may be effective because both of them decrease the electric field at the drain edge of the gate.

In order to elucidate the electronic conduction mechanism and defect chemical model of LaNi 0.4 Fe 0.6 O 3 − δ at high temperatures, electrical conductivity ( σ ), Seebeck coefficient ( S ), and oxygen vacancy concentration ( δ ) of LaNi 0.4 Fe 0.6 O 3 − δ were measured as a function of oxygen partial pressure ( p (O 2 )) and temperature. Relatively large σ and small positive S values are observed, which indicates the contribution of ionic conduction is negligibly small to thermoelectric power and the major electronic carrier is a hole. From the analysis of σ and S , it is expected that the LaNi 0.4 Fe 0.6 O 3 − δ has small polaron hopping conduction mechanism where an electron is localized on the Fe. The slope of δ vs p (O 2 ) shows a minimum value near the stoichiometric composition and the δ increases as p (O 2 ) reduces and temperature increases. The relationship between δ vs. log p (O 2 ) is analyzed by a localized electron model and the behavior of the oxygen nonstoichiometry of LaNi 0.4 Fe 0.6 O 3 − δ can be explained.

Summary Background Given the unique phenotype of type 2 diabetes in Japanese patients, novel therapies such as oral semaglutide require evaluation in this population. PIONEER 9 aimed to assess the dose-response of oral semaglutide and to compare the efficacy and safety of oral semaglutide with placebo and a subcutaneous GLP-1 receptor agonist in a Japanese population. Methods PIONEER 9 was a 52-week, phase 2/3a, randomised, controlled trial done at 16 sites (clinics and university hospitals) in Japan. Japanese patients aged 20 years or older with uncontrolled type 2 diabetes managed by diet or exercise or with oral glucose-lowering drug monotherapy (washed out) were randomly assigned (1:1:1:1:1) to receive double-blind once-daily oral semaglutide (3 mg, 7 mg, or 14 mg) or placebo, or open-label subcutaneous once-daily liraglutide 0·9 mg. The primary endpoint was change in HbA1c from baseline to week 26 with the trial product (primary) estimand (which assumes all patients remained on trial product without rescue medication use) in all randomly assigned patients. This trial is registered with ClinicalTrials.gov , NCT03018028 . Findings Between Jan 10, and July 11, 2017, 243 patients were randomly assigned to oral semaglutide 3 mg (n=49), 7 mg (n=49), or 14 mg (n=48), or placebo (n=49), or to liraglutide 0·9 mg (n=48). Changes in HbA1c from baseline (mean 8·2%) to week 26 were dose-dependent with oral semaglutide (mean change −1·1% [SE 0·1] for oral semaglutide 3 mg, −1·5% [0·1] for 7 mg, and −1·7% [0·1] for 14 mg), −0·1% (0·1) with placebo, and −1·4% (0·1) with liraglutide 0·9 mg. Estimated treatment differences for change in HbA1c compared with placebo were −1·1 percentage points (95% CI −1·4 to −0·8; p Interpretation This study showed that oral semaglutide provides significant reductions in HbA1c compared with placebo in a dose-dependent manner in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes, and has a safety profile consistent with that of GLP-1 receptor agonists. Funding Novo Nordisk.

Purpose To characterize the preoperative use of alpha-1 adrenergic receptor (AR) blockers and investigate its impact on the outcome of single-session extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy (SWL) for a ureteral calculus in male patients. Methods We conducted a retrospective single-center cohort study involving 193 patients who underwent SWL for a single ureteral calculus between 2006 and 2016. We reviewed their medical records to obtain the data on the preoperative use of alpha-1 AR blocker and, if any, the reason for the prescription. The primary outcome was treatment success after single-session SWL, defined as complete stone clearance or residual fragments

The aim of this study was to analyze the impact of dementia with differential levels of locomotive function on heavier care burden. A cross-sectional study was conducted to analyze 10,150 persons aged 65 years or older (male, 33.6%) with officially certified care necessity during April 2009 and March 2014 in a suburban city in Japan. Heavier care burden was defined as estimated duration of daily care requirement 70 minutes or longer. Dementia was judged based on the standardized physicians’ classification II or greater, which was validated by a comparison with neuropsychiatrists’ diagnoses defined by the International Psychogeriatric Association. Locomotive function of each study participant was evaluated based on one’s ability to stand-up, walk, sit, and roll over on a bed. Those high discrimination abilities were confirmed by item-response theory analyses, and we could divide their mobility into four categories: higher, high, low, and lower. The proportion of dementia among persons who were certified care necessity was 30.3%. Using logistic regression analyses with stratified by the locomotive function group, calculated sex- and age-adjusted odds ratios of dementia for heavier care burden in higher, high, low, and lower mobility group were 9.4 (95% confidential intervals: 6.2–14.0), 5.3 (3.8–7.5), 4.1 (3.5–4.7), 8.5 (5.8–12.4), respectively, compared to no dementia. Heavy care burden of dementia, which requires communicational assistance more than physical assistance generally, was observed among the elderly with physically independent as well as bed-bound with/without high medical needs.

Internet of Things has inhibited many parts of our modern day lifestyles impacting the simplest to the most complex of our daily activities. Ranging from smart homes, smart water and even smart living, now even farming have been made easier by the intervention of technology. By focusing on pest control in smart farming, we apply the usage of sound alarms, passive infrared sensor, light dependent resistor sensor and Bluetooth connectivity to enhance the performance of pest control farmers have currently. The research deploys a sequential mix mode to collect primary data and experimental validation.

We previously found that ziram, a carbamate fungicide, significantly induced apoptosis and necrosis in human NK-92MI, a natural killer cell line. To investigate whether other carbamate pesticides also induce apoptosis and necrosis in human natural killer cell, we conducted further experiments with NK-92CI, a human natural killer cell line using a more sensitive assay. NK-92CI cells were treated with ziram, thiram, maneb or carbaryl at 0.031-40 microM for 2-24 h in the present study. Apoptosis and necrosis were determined by FITC-Annexin-V/PI staining. To explore the mechanism of apoptosis, intracellular levels of active caspases 3 and mitochondrial cytochrome-c release were determined by flow cytometry. We found that ziram and thiram also induced apoptosis and necrosis in a time- and dose-dependent manner; however, maneb and carbaryl induced apoptosis and necrosis only at higher doses in NK-92CI cells. The strength of the apoptosis-inducing effect differed among the pesticides, and the order was as follows: thiramziram greater than maneb greater than carbaryl. NK-92CI was more sensitive to ziram than NK-92MI. Moreover, ziram and thiram significantly increased the intracellular level of active caspase 3 in NK-92CI and caspase inhibitor significantly inhibited the apoptosis. Ziram and thiram significantly caused mitochondrial cytochrome-c release in NK-92CI. These findings indicate that carbamate pesticides can induce apoptosis in natural killer cells, and the apoptosis is mediated by both the caspase-cascade and mitochondrial cytochrome-c pathways.

Oxygen reaction kinetics was investigated with a dense film of (La,Sr)CoO3−δ on ceria based electrolytes. The rate determining step for a highly Sr doped sample was confirmed to be the surface reaction that included at least two series processes, i.e. oxygen adsorption from the gas phase and oxygen transfer across the sub surface layer of the electrode. The reaction rates of those processes were determined separately by using a porous oxygen sensor (POS) which measures the surface oxygen potential on the working electrode. Empirical equations and the kinetic parameters were obtained. The sub surface oxygen transfer process had higher activation energy, and became important in lower temperature applications.

The Saccharomyces cerevisiae VIG9 gene encodes GDP-mannose pyrophosphorylase, which synthesizes GDP-mannose from GTP and mannose-1-phosphate. Although the null mutant was lethal, the vig9 mutants so far obtained showed no growth defect but immature protein glycosylation and drug hypersensitivity. During our search for cell-wall mutants, we found a novel temperature-sensitive mutant, JS30, which required an osmotic stabilizer for viability. JS30 excreted cell surface proteins in the medium without any indication of cell lysis. Although conventional genetic analysis using mating was impossible, by detailed characterization of JS30 including an in vitro enzyme assay and nucleotide sequencing, we found the defect of JS30 was due to a mutation in the VIG9 gene. These results indicated a critical role of GDP-mannose in maintenance of cell-wall integrity.

A method to mitigate the SAR data interfered by the ground radars is introduced. This filtering method suppresses the interfered component of SAR raw data using the statistical power spectrum analysis. The filtered SAR raw data is shown well correlated and to be useful.

A relative measurement of total cross-sections is reported for polyethylene, marble, iron, and lead targets for the inclusive charged-current reaction nu(mu) + N --> mu- + X. The targets, passive blocks of similar to100 kg each, were exposed simultaneously to the CERN SPS wide-band muon-neutrino beam over a period of 18 weeks. Systematic effects due to differences in the neutrino flux and detector efficiency for the different target locations were minimised by changing the position of the four targets on their support about every two weeks. The relative neutrino fluxes on the targets were monitored within the same experiment using charged-current interactions in the calorimeter positioned directly downstream of the four targets. From a fit to the Z/A dependence of the total cross-sections a value is deduced for the effective neutron-to-proton cross-section ratio.

The alleged poor sinterability of (doped) ceria was studied for the application as a fuel cell solid electrolyte, and a solution has been proposed. Yttria doped ceria (YDC) powder Ce{sub 0.667}Y{sub 0.333}O{sub 1.833} was prepared by oxalate coprecipitation through addition of a concentrated yttrium-cerium nitrate solution to a dilute aqueous on of a concentrated oxalic acid solution at neutral pH. The precipitate was washed with alcohol and calcined at 700 C. Coprecipitation conditions were critical for the quality of the resulting oxide powder, of which the average particle size was a key parameter. Compacted into pellets, relative densities attained >95% and >98% of theoretical after firing for 4 hours at 1,300 C and 1,500 C respectively. Sample ``embedding`` with YDC powder further improved the final density. Standard conductivity behavior of the samples was observed. The powder could equally be tape cast and sintered to dense films.

An active-matrix a-Si thin-film transistor liquid-crystal display (TFT-LCD) with 720 × 480 pixel resolution has been developed as a projector, enabling the display of sharp images on extended definition TV (EDTV) and computer monitors that support a full range of multimedia applications. To enhance picture quality, an LC transmission-voltage (T-V) correction circuit has been developed that incorporates a nonlinear video signal amplifier based on curve-fitting. To extend the panel's capabilities so that it can project images on computer display monitors, a ew drive circuits have been developed that incorporate 8-MHz analogue driver LSIs and sample-and-hold circuits.

We previously reported that forest bathing trips enhanced human NK activity, number of NK cells, and intracellular anti-cancer proteins in lymphocytes, and that the increased NK activity lasted for more than 7 days after the trip in male subjects. In the present study, we investigated the effect of forest bathing trip on human NK activity in female subjects. Thirteen healthy nurses, age 25-43 years, professional career 4-18 years, were selected with informed consent. The subjects experienced a three-day/two-night trip to forest fields. On day 1, the subjects walked for two hours in the afternoon in a forest field; on day 2, they walked for two hours each in the morning and afternoon in two different forest fields; and on day 3, the subjects finished the trip and returned to Tokyo after drawing blood and completing a questionnaire. Blood and urine were sampled on the second and third days during the trip, and on days 7 and 30 after the trip. NK activity, numbers of NK and T cells, and granulysin, perforin, and granzymes A/B-expressing lymphocytes in the blood samples, the concentrations of estradiol and progesterone in serum, and the concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline in urine were measured. Similar control measurements were made before the trip on a normal working day. The concentrations of phytoncides in the forests were measured. The forest bathing trip significantly increased NK activity and the numbers of NK, perforin, granulysin, and granzymes A/B-expressing cells and significantly decreased the percentage of T cells, and the concentrations of adrenaline and noradrenaline in urine. The increased NK activity lasted for more than 7 days after the trip. Phytoncides, such as alpha-pinene and beta-pinene were detected in forest air. These findings indicate that a forest bathing trip also increased NK activity, number of NK cells, and levels of intracellular anti-cancer proteins in female subjects, and that this effect lasted at least 7 days after the trip. Phytoncides released from trees and decreased stress hormone levels may partially contribute to the increased NK activity.

Chlamydomonas reinhardtii, a unicellular green microalga, could grow to a stationary phase having optical density of 2.0-2.5 at 750 nm in Tris-acetate-phosphate (TAP) medium containing 0.1% D-alanine. D-alanine has no inhibitory effect on growth and induced alanine racemase activity 130-fold more than without D-alanine in the green alga. Although C. reinhardtii cultured in the TAP medium showed alanine racemase activity, the content of free D-alanine was only 0.14%. The enzyme was partially purified by ammonium sulfate fractionation followed by three kinds of liquid chromatography using DEAE Toyopearl, Phenyl Sepharose, and TSK G3000 SWXL columns. The specific activity for L-alanine of the partially purified alanine racemase was 3.8 micromol/min/mg. The molecular weight of the enzyme was determined to be approximately 72,000 by gel filtration. The enzyme showed a maximum activity at 45 degrees C and pH 8.4 and requires pyridoxal 5'-phosphate as a coenzyme.

Cell-phones are now incorporating the functions necessary for them to be used as mobile IT devices. In this paper, we present our results of the evaluation of cell-phones as the mobile IT device to assist workers in industrial plants. We use waterworks and sewage plants as examples. By employing techniques to squeeze the SCADA screen on CRT into a small cell-phone LCD, we have made it easier for a plant's field workers to access the information needed for effective maintenance, regardless of location. An idea to link SCADA information and the plant facility information on the cell-phone is also presented. Should an accident or emergency situation arise, these cell-phone-based IT systems can efficiently deliver the latest plant information, thus the worker out in the field can respond to and resolve the emergency.

We used cyclooxygenase-1 (COX-1)–deficient mice to test the hypothesis that COX-1 regulates blood pressure (BP) and renal hemodynamics. The awake time (AT) mean arterial pressures (MAPs) measured by telemetry were not different between COX-1 +/+ and COX-1 −/− (131±2 versus 126±3 mm Hg; NS). However, COX-1 −/− had higher sleep time (ST) MAP (93±1 versus 97±2 mm Hg; P P −/− had higher MAP (109±5 versus 124±4 mm Hg; P −1 · min −1 · g −1 ; P P −/− had a 89% reduction ( P 2 , a 76% reduction ( P 2 , a 40% reduction ( P 1α (6keto), a 27% reduction ( P 2α (11β), a 35% reduction ( P P +/+ (6.9±0.9 versus 3.2±0.6 g · g −1 creatinine · 10 −3 ; P −/− (5.1±0.9 versus 4.9±0.7 g · g −1 creatinine · 10 −3 ; NS). Urine collection during ST showed lower excretion of 6keto, 11β, NOx, aldosterone, sodium, and potassium than during AT in both COX-1 +/+ and COX-1 −/− , and there were positive correlations among these parameters (6keto versus NOx; P P P

We investigated the hypothesis that thromboxane A2(TxA2)-prostaglandin H2receptors (TP-Rs) mediate the hemodynamic responses and increase in reactive oxygen species (ROS) to ANG II (400 ng·kg−1·min−1sc for 14 days) using TP-R knockout (TP −/−) and wild-type (+/+) mice. TP −/− had normal basal mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) and glomerular filtration rate but reduced renal blood flow and increased filtration fraction (FF) and renal vascular resistance (RVR) and markers of ROS (thiobarbituric acid-reactive substances and 8-isoprostane PGF2α) and nitric oxide (NOx). Infusion of ANG II into TP +/+ increased ROS and thromboxane B2(TxB2) and increased RVR and FF. ANG II infusion into TP −/− mice reduced ANG I and increased aldosterone but caused a blunted increase in MAP (TP −/−: +6 ± 2 vs. TP +/+: +15 ± 3 mmHg) and failed to increase FF, ROS, or TxB2but increased NOx and paradoxically decreased RVR (−2.1 ± 1.7 vs. +2.6 ± 0.8 mmHg·ml−1·min−1·g−1). Blockade of AT1receptor of TP −/− mice infused with ANG II reduced MAP (−8 mmHg) and aldosterone but did not change the RVR or ROS. In conclusion, during an ANG II slow pressor response, AT1receptors activate TP-Rs that generate ROS and prostaglandins but inhibit NO. TP-Rs mediate all of the increase in RVR and FF, part of the increase in MAP, but are not implicated in the suppression of ANG I or increase in aldosterone. TP −/− mice have a basal increase in RVR and FF associated with ROS.

This paper presents an advanced leg module developed for HRP-2, a new humanoid robotics platform, which has been developed in phase two of the Humanoid Robotics Project (HRP), a five year program sponsored by the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry of Japan (METI) from 1998FY to 2002FY. The biped locomotion ability of HRP-1, the humanoid robotics platform developed in phase I is to be improved so that HRP-2 can cope with rough terrain and can prevent possible damage to the robot body caused by tipping over. In this paper, the mechanisms and specifications of the leg module, the electrical system, the simulation results utilized for deciding specifications, and some experimental results are presented.

In discordant xenotransplantation, the recipientOs blood initiates hyperacute xenorejection (HXR). We hypothesized that HXR-related lung edema may be reduced if a new xenograft is perfused by blood which previously has perfused another xenograft. In a syngeneic control group (n = 6), a rat lung (lung XR) was perfused by rat blood (blood AR), following which the blood was collected (blood BR). After another rat lung (lung YR) was perfused by blood BR, the blood was collected (blood CR). In a xenogeneic experimental group (n = 6), a guinea pig lung (lung XG) was perfused by rat blood (blood AG), and the blood was collected (blood BG). Then, another guinea pig lung (lung YG) was perfused by blood BG, and once more the blood was collected (blood CG). White blood cells (WBC), polymorphonuclear leukocytes (PMN), red blood cells (RBC), hemoglobin, hematocrit, and complement (CH50) in the blood were measured pre- and post-perfusion. The wet/dry weight ratio (W/D) of the lung was calculated after the perfusion. WBC and PMN were higher in blood CR/BR than in blood BR/AR. CH50 was higher in blood CG/BG than in blood BG/AG. RBC, hemoglobin, and hematocrit were not different among the blood AR, BR, CR, AG, BG, and CG. The W/D was not different between lung XR and lung YR. The W/D of lung YG was lower than lung XG. In conclusion, the lung edema associated with HXR is reduced when blood which has perfused another xenograft is used to perfuse the new xenograft without anemia, and complement plays a critical role in reducing lung edema.

Asymptomatic spontaneous pneumothorax (ASPT) is an uncommon condition. Between January 1, 1989 and December 31, 1997, 269 patients were admitted to our department with spontaneous pneumothorax. Of the 269 patients, 5 had no symptoms at the time of discovery. Their ages ranged from 15 to 61 years (mean, 37.8 years), and all of them were male. Of the 5 patients with no complaints, 2 had bilateral metachronous pneumothoraces and 3 had hemilateral pneumothorax. All of these ASPTs were revealed by chest roentgenographs taken during medical examinations or follow-up studies relating to other diseases. The mean value of body mass index (BMI) was 19.96 +/- 1.4 (range 18.7 - 22.1). Two of the 5 patients underwent bilateral partial lung resection. Histopathological examination of the resected specimens showed elastofibrosis, scar formation, and an interruption of the elastic fiber of the pleura. In these 5 cases, clinical courses were uneventful, and relapse of the pneumothorax did not occur. Clinical physicians should be aware of the possibility of asymptomatic pneumothorax, as well as the optimal radiographic techniques for revealing small pneumothoraces.

The development of word processing in Japan and the special problems involved in dealing with Japanese characters are described. These included the need to compile word lists as well as statistical surveys of newspapers, business documents, and secondary school textbooks to determine the frequency of word use, working with unlimited numbers of words and characters possible, and the large memory required by the complex software used. The prospects of voice-input processors are discussed. >

The effect of chronic administration of medium-chain triglycerides (MCT) on swimming endurance (swim capacity) was investigated in male Std ddY mice. The mice were fed a diet containing 80 g MCT + 20 g long-chain triglycerides (LCT)/kg diet for 6 wk; mice fed diet containing 100 g LCT/kg diet were used as controls. After being accustomed to swimming, the mice were subjected to forced swimming every 2 d in the current water pool that we had developed, and the total swimming period until exhaustion was measured. The total swimming period was used as the index of swim capacity. The group fed MCT showed significantly greater swim capacity than the control group (89.5 +/- 2.5 vs. 80.2 +/- 2.0 min). In another experiment, after 4 wk of MCT diet consumption, significantly greater swim capacity was found in untrained mice. The major metabolic consequences of the adaptations of muscle to prolonged MCT administration during endurance training were higher activities of 3-oxo acid CoA-transferase (P0.01), citrate synthase (P0.1) and malate dehydrogenase (P0.1). These findings suggest that increases in the enzyme activities of the tricarboxylic acid cycle and ketone body utilization associated with the chronic administration of an MCT-containing diet enhance swim capacity in mice.

We have developed the most upstream dipole magnet K1.1D1 for a new secondary beam line at the hadron experimental hall in J-PARC. It is placed downstream of a production target and is close to the K1.8D1 magnet. Indirectly cooled coils using mineral insulation cables have been adopted for high radiation resistance. The coils have a slanting saddle shape in order to minimize the interference of the magnetic field between the two magnets. It has been operated during the beam time in the autumn of 2010 without any problems.

The effects of lacidipine (LC), a new dihydropyridine calcium antagonist, were studied in comparison with those of nifedipine (NF) in isolated arteries of the dog (DG-AR) and isolated aorta (GP-AO), left and right atria (GP-LA, GP-RA) and ventricular papillary muscles (GP-PM) of the guinea pig. In DG-AR precontracted with high K+, LC and NF produced a concentration-dependent relaxation. The relaxant effect of LC was most potent in the basilar artery. The calcium antagonistic effects of LC was 8.7 and 2.1 times more potent than those of NF, in GP-AO and GP-LA, respectively. Thus, LC was about 4 times more selective towards vascular smooth muscles than NF. The negative chronotropic effects in GP-RA and the negative inotropic effect in GP-PM of NF were more pronounced than those of LC. NF was more potent in inhibiting the action potential of GP-PM than LC both in normal polarized and depolarized conditions. The effects of LC were long-lasting. These results suggest that LC is a potent, highly vascular-selective calcium antagonist with little cardiodepressant effects and as such may be suitable for the treatment of hypertension.

To assess the importance of anti-adrenergic and anti-serotonergic activities of bunitrolol for its efficacy as an antihypertensive and antianginal agent, effects of this substance on the binding of adrenergic and serotonergic agents to the respective receptors of the rat brain, rat heart, dog brain, and/or dog aorta were examined using the radioligand binding assay methods. In addition, the pA2 values of bunitrolol as an antagonist against the positive chronotropic and inotropic actions (beta 1-adrenoceptor) of isoproterenol were also determined by pharmacological methods using the isolated guinea pig atria. To assess the specificity, pA2 values were also obtained in the isolated trachea (beta 2-adrenoceptor) using isoproterenol as an agonist and in the isolated aorta from the guinea pig and the rat using phenylephrine as an agonist (alpha 1-adrenoceptor). A strong inhibition by bunitrolol of 3H-dihydroalprenolol (3H-DHA) binding to beta-adrenoceptors was observed, while the inhibition of 3H-prazosin binding to alpha 1-adrenoceptors, 3H-serotonin binding to 5HT1-receptors. 3H-p-aminoclonidine binding to alpha 2-adrenoceptors, and 3H-ketanserin binding to 5HT2-receptors were found to be very weak. The rank order of antagonistic potencies of bunitrolol against the adrenergic receptors as assessed with pA2 values were beta 1 greater than beta 2 much greater than alpha 1. From these two different types of experiments, it is clear that the antihypertensive and antianginal effects of bunitrolol are mainly due to its beta-blocking actions, with the alpha 1-blocking action of this drug playing a minor role.

In a previous paper from this laboratory, protective effects of YNG solution on the myocardial mechanical function and metabolism of the heart arrested at 10 degrees C ascribable to the presence of Mg2+ were demonstrated. In order to further clarify the role played by Mg2+ in the protection, the present experiment was conducted using the isolated perfused guinea pig heart arrested at 30 degrees C. While the time to arrest of the contraction was equally short both with YNG (K+ + Mg2+) and K (K+) solutions, the time to resumption of contraction was significantly longer with K solution than with YNG solution, and the regular contraction was not resumed with the former solution. The recovery of the coronary flow, left ventricular pressure and dp/dt after reperfusion was around 100% with YNG solution, while the recovery was significantly poorer with K solution. Although the mitochondrial function was well maintained during the arrest both with YNG and K solution, the recovery of the mitochondrial function after reperfusion was observed only with YNG solution; severe damage was noted in mitochondria of the hearts arrested with K solution. There was a good correlation between the changes in mitochondrial function and those in cardiac function.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Dense micrometric La0.8Sr0.2Ga0.8Mg0.2O3-δ (LSGM) films were deposited by spin-coating on porous LSGM scaffolds characterized by homogeneous pore structure. Porous anodes were infiltrated with aqueous nickel and nickel/copper nitrate solutions, dried and fired at 700 °C. Homogeneous metal coating with proper interconnection was observed by SEM, chemical stability confirmed by XRD, and electrical characterization of anodic substrates was performed. Catalytic activity of different anodes was evaluated ex-situ in a quartz micro-reactor fed with CH4:CO2 mixture at range 650 and 700 °C. To investigate the redox properties of the metallic phases, the anodic substrates were subjected to redox ageing cycles and characterized by H2-TPR.