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Behçet’s disease is a chronic, relapsing, inflammatory disorder. This case report describes how use of an improvised topical negative pressure (TNP) device in a patient with a non-healing para-ileostomal ulcer with Behçet’s disease

The Japanese Society of Chemotherapy (JSC) conducted the first nationwide surveillance of bacterial respiratory pathogens during the period from January to August 2006. With the cooperation of 32 medical institutions throughout Japan, a total of 924 strains belonging to seven clinically relevant bacterial species were collected from adult patients with well-diagnosed respiratory tract infections (RTIs). Antimicrobial susceptibility testing of the 887 evaluable strains (205 Staphylococcus aureus, 200 Streptococcus pneumoniae, 9 Streptococcus pyogenes, 165 Haemophilus influenzae, 91 Moraxella catarrhalis, 74 Klebsiella pneumoniae, and 143 Pseudomonas aeruginosa) to 42 antibacterial agents was conducted at the Central Laboratory of the Research Center for Anti-infective Drugs of the Kitasato Institute, according to recommendations issued by the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI). The antibacterial agents employed were 25 beta-lactams, three aminoglycosides, four macrolides (including one azalide and one ketolide), one lincosamide, one tetracycline, two glycopeptides, five fluoroquinolones, and one oxazolidinone. The incidence of methicillin-resistant S. aureus (MRSA) was 63.4%, and the incidences of penicillin-intermediately resistant S. pneumoniae (PISP) and penicillin-resistant S. pneumoniae (PRSP) were 35.0% and 4.0%, respectively. Among H. influenzae, 21.2% of the strains were found to be beta-lactamase-nonproducing ampicillin (ABPC)-intermediately resistant (BLNAI), 29.1% to be beta-lactamase-nonproducing ABPC-resistant (BLNAR), and 4.8% to be beta-lactamaseproducing ABPC-resistant (BLPAR) strains. The incidence of extended-spectrum beta-lactamase-producing K. pneumoniae was 2.7% (2 of 74 strains). Three (2.1%) of the 143 P. aeruginosa strains were found to be metallo-beta-lactamaseproducing, including 1 (0.7%) multidrug-resistant strain. Through the nationwide surveillance, we obtained fundamental antimicrobial susceptibility data of clinically relevant bacterial pathogens in adult RTI to various antibacterial agents. These data will be a useful reference for future periodic surveillance studies, as well as for investigations to control antimicrobial-resistant pathogens.

ObjectivesThe aim of this study was to evaluate the long-term effects of living-donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) for critically ill patients with pulmonary arterial hypertension (PAH) who failed in epoprostenol treatment.BackgroundAlthough continuous epoprostenol infusion has markedly improved survival in patients with PAH, some patients do not benefit from this therapy.MethodsFrom July 1998 to December 2003, 28 consecutive PAH patients who were treated with epoprostenol and accepted as candidates for lung transplantation were enrolled. All data were prospectively collected. As of July 2006, LDLLT was performed in 11 of those patients whose condition was deteriorating. Cadaveric lung transplantation (CLT) was performed in 2 patients. Medical treatment was continued in 15 patients.ResultsThere was no mortality in patients receiving LDLLT during a follow-up period of 11 to 66 months (average 48 months), and all patients returned to World Health Organization functional class I. Mean pulmonary artery pressure decreased from 62 ± 4 mm Hg to 15 ± 2 mm Hg (p < 0.001) at discharge and remained normal at 3 years. One CLT patient died of primary graft failure. Among medically treated patients, 6 patients died of disease progression. The survival rate was 100% at 5 years for patients receiving LDLLT, and 80% at 1 year, 67% at 3 years, and 53% at 5 years for patients medically treated (p = 0.028). All living donors have returned to their previous lifestyles.ConclusionsThese follow-up data support the option of LDLLT in patients with PAH who would die soon otherwise.

As an alternative to cadaveric transplantation, living donor lobar lung transplantation (LDLLT) has been applied in critical patients with end-stage pulmonary disease because of the mismatch between the supply and demand of lungs for transplantation. However, it is unclear whether two pulmonary lobes can provide adequate long-term pulmonary function and satisfactory clinical outcome in recipients.Between October 1998 and September 2004, 28 females and 3 males, including 5 children, underwent LDLLT at Okayama University Hospital. Their mean age was 31.8 years, and the mean observation period was 53.8 months. One patient who underwent single-lung transplantation and another who died peri-operatively were excluded from further analyses.The most common indication for transplantation was pulmonary arterial hypertension (32.3%). The overall survival rate was 93.6%. Seven recipients (22.6%) developed bronchiolitis obliterans syndrome after LDLLT. The mean percent predicted forced vital capacity (FVC) and forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV1) improved between 12 and 24 months after transplantation (71.8 +/- 12.9% and 65.8 +/- 17.2% at 12 months vs 77.4 +/- 16.6% and 72.8 +/- 14.6% at 24 months; p0.005 and p0.05, respectively). The actual recipient FVC ultimately reached 123.0% of the estimated graft FVC of two donor lobes (calculated based on the donor FVC and number of segments implanted) at 36 months after LDLLT.Although LDLLT may be associated with the limitation of size mismatch, it holds promise for providing well-functioning pulmonary lobar grafts to critically ill patients with poor life expectancy.

Hardness of oxide scales on Fe-(0, 0.5, 1.5, 3.0)Si alloys was studied at room temperature after oxidation at 1273 K for 18 ks in oxygen, and at 1073 and 1273 K for 180 and 1080 ks in dry air, by micro-Vickers hardness measurements. After oxidation at 1273 K for 18 ks, high-temperature hardness of oxide scales on Fe-(0, 1.5, 3.0)Si alloys was also measured at 1273 K. Oxide scales on Fe-Si alloys were mainly Fe2O3, Fe3O4, FeO and Fe2SiO4. Hardness of Fe2O3, Fe3O4 and FeO on Fe was 6.7, 4.0 and 3.5 (GPa), respectively, and hardness of Fe2O3 on Fe-Si alloys slightly increased with increasing silicon content at room temperature. At 1273 K, hardness of Fe3O4 and FeO on Fe was 0.08 and 0.05 (GPa), respectively, and hardness of Fe2O3 on Fe-1.5Si alloy was 0.32 (GPa), and that of Fe2O3 and Fe2SiO4 on Fe-3.0Si alloy was 0.53 and 0.63 (GPa), respectively.

Carbonate apatite (CO3Ap) was synthesized at 60+1°C and pH 7.4+0.2, to develop a new biodegradable scaffold biomaterial. The synthetic CO3Ap was mixed with a neutralized collagen gel and the CO3Ap-collagen mixtures with different kinds of CO3Ap contents and porosity were frozen and dried in lyophilized into the sponges. CO3Ap-collagen mixtures were also lyophilized into sponges in a HAp frame ring with 0.5 mm pores. To examine the degree of cell invasion, mouse MC3T3-E1 cells were grown in αMEM with 10% heat-inactivated FBS in 96-well plates containing the CO3Ap-collagen sponges at 37°C in a 5% humidified atmosphere. Under pentobarbital anesthesia, samples of UV-irradiated CO3Ap-collagen sponges with frames were surgically implanted beneath the periosteum cranii of rats. SEM observation of CO3Ap-collagen sponges showed favorable pores for cell invasion. Approximately 50~300 µm size pores seemed to continue into the deep bottom. X-ray high-resolution microtomography revealed a clear image of 3D structure of the sponges. 70 wt% CO3Ap-collagen sponge seemed to be most favorable biomaterial from the viewpoint of the natural bone properties. Then, to avoid the shrinkage of the sponges, we successfully made a hybridized CO3Ap-collagen sponge with a frame. When these sponge-frame complexes were implanted beneath the periosteum cranii of rats, newly created bone was observed toward the inner core of the complex from the surface of the periosteum cranii.

We experienced three cases of nocardiosis by Nocardia farcinica in the same ward within a six-month period. The result of gene analysis by randomly amplified polymorphic DNA gave the same pattern. Thus, these three cases were considered to be caused by the same strain of N. farcinica, implying the presence of nosocomial infection.

The improvement of bioanalytical imaging techniques for biological samples such as single cells is an important theme in biological research. We have investigated handling of the ice protective film in techniques such as gallium focused ion beam (Ga-FIB) fabrication, SIMS analysis and microscopic observation, which is necessary for the three-dimensional (3D) microscale analysis of freeze-non-dried biological samples in its freshly frozen state. To bring about this 3D microscale analysis, we carried out the following four experiments: (i) Microscopic observation by Ga-FIB under a water vapor environment; (ii) Evaluation of the balance between the growth rate of the protection film and the sputtering rate in SIMS analysis; (iii) Fabrication of an ice grain with shave-off scan with no water vapor jet on the sample; (iv) Secondary ion mapping of the ice. The results show that it is possible to carry out the study of 3D microscale analysis of biological samples in their fresh frozen state with the ice protective film.

Adherence of oxide scale formed on Fe–20Cr–4Al (standard: 4 ppmS), Fe–20Cr–4Al (FZ

Titanium alloy matrix composites (TMCs) have received considerable interest as structural materials for aeronautical applications, because of their higher specific strength and stiffness. When applying TMCs at elevated temperatures, high temperature isothermal low-cycle fatigue (LCF)failure is one of critical issues to be concerned. A unidirectionally reinforced SCS-6/ SP-700 composite is a tentative target in this work, where the matrix alloy, SP-700 is a new generation high strength Titanium alloy developed by NKK Inc., and the SCS-6 is a beta-SiC fiber developed by Textron Specially Materials, respectively. A merit to employ the SP-700 is that this alloy enables to reduce a fabrication temperature, because of its capability for superplasticity at relatively lower temperatures. The 7-plies composite specimen was produced by hot isostatic pressing (HIP) at 800°C for 0.5 hrs. in vacuum, alternating layers of thin-foils of the SP-700 and the green tapes of the SCS-6 fibers, so that the fibers were uniformly distributed as a hexagonal array in the matrix. The volume fraction of the fibers in the composite is about 28 %. In this work, the following articles in a unidirectionally reinforced SCS-6/SP-700 composite have been studied and evaluated: (i)mechanical properties of the SCS-6/SP-700 composite and the matrix alloy at temperatures ranged between room temperature and 450°C; (ii) LCF lives and the failure modes of the composite and the matrix alloy at room temperature and 450°C; (iii) fiber push-out tests at elevated temperatures ranged between room temperature and 600°C, to represent the fiber/matrix interfacial strength; and (iv) observation and the characterization of the interfacial reaction zone by means of a transmission electron microscope (TEM) and an energy dispersive X-ray spectrometer (EDS). Based on these experimental results, the effects of temperature and the loading frequency on LCF failure of the SCS-6/SP-700 composite were discussed.

Of 175 patients with 181 aneurysms initially treated with Guglielmi Detachable Coils (GDC), 25 were retreated. All retreatments except one were performed on previously ruptured aneurysms. Thirteen aneurysms were retreated because of recurrence, and 12 aneurysms were retreated to complete initial insufficient embolization. Sixteen patients underwent re-embolization and 9 patients were operated upon surgically. No complications related to the retreatment were experienced. We consider that repeat embolization should be attempted before considering surgical treatment in case that additional therapy is required. However, it is difficult to retreat aneurysms having wide necks. In regard to surgical clipping, aneurysms without a coil in the neck are easier to treat with primary clipping, whereas aneurysms with a coil mass in the neck are difficult to surgical clip. We have never used temporary clipping and coil extraction if the distance between the coil and the parent artery was wider than 2 mm. Emerging new embolic agents or devices and technical improvement might decrease the need for retreatment and increase long-term efficacy after endovascular treatment.

Periodontal ligament tissue is remodeled on both the tension and compression sides of moving teeth during orthodontic tooth movement. The present study was designed to clarify the hypothesis that the expression of MMP-8 and MMP-13 mRNA is promoted during the remodeling of periodontal ligament tissue in orthodontic tooth movement. We used the in situ hybridization method and semi-quantitative reverse-transcription/polymerase chain-reaction analysis to elucidate the gene expression of MMP-8 and MMP-13 mRNA. Expression of MMP-8 and MMP-13 mRNA transiently increased on both the compression and tension sides during active tooth movement in vivo. The gene expression of MMP-8 and MMP-13 was induced by tension, while compression indirectly promoted the gene expression of MMP-8 and MMP-13 through soluble factors in vitro. Thus, we concluded that the expression of MMP-8 and MMP-13 is differentially regulated by tension and compression, and plays an important role in the remodeling of the periodontal ligament.

We have carried out a bulk-sensitive high-resolution photoemission experiment on Mn5Si3. The measurements are performed for both core level and valence band states. The Mn core level spectra are deconvoluted into two components corresponding to different crystallographic sites. The asymmetry of each component is of noticeable magnitude. In contrast, the Si 2p spectrum shows a simple Lorentzian shape with low asymmetry. The peaks of the valence band spectrum correspond well to the peak positions predicted by the former band calculation., To be published in: Solid State Communications

An in vitro experimental technique was performed to measure the viscoelastic properties of the bovine disc. Thirteen TMJ discs from young cattle (3-year-old) were used. Each disc was divided into five specimens of anterior, central, posterior, lateral and medial regions, and they were used for compression tests. A series of stress-relaxation tests was conducted for each specimen from 5% strain up to 20% strain with 5% intervals. The stress-relaxation was monitored over a period of 5 min. Each region exhibited a different biomechanical behavior, which is presumably related to the organization and distribution of proteoglycans that indirectly modulate the stiffness of the collagen network. It is suggested that an improved understanding of the viscoelastic properties of the disc under function may guide consideration for design and selection of biomaterials for TMJ reconstruction.

Granule cells with recurrent basal dendrites (RBDs) were previously reported in both control and epileptic rats. RBDs are dendrites that arise from the basal half of granule cell bodies and curve toward and extend into the molecular layer. They are increased in frequency in the pilocarpine model of epilepsy. The present study was undertaken to analyze the distribution and morphology of granule cells with RBDs and the synaptic connections of RBDs. Granule cells were labeled by retrograde transport of biocytin. Those with an RBD were found throughout the granule cell layer, but were most numerous at the hilar border. The morphology of these cells varied in the different depths of the granule cell layer; the angle of their cell body's long axis was mainly vertical at the hilar margin, and changed to virtually horizontal close to the molecular layer border. Quantitative data on the distribution of granule cells with RBDs and the angle of the cell body's long axis confirmed these descriptions. At the electron microscopic level, RBDs showed the typical features of dendrites and formed numerous axodendritic and axospinous synapses with labeled and unlabeled axon terminals. These results showed that RBDs of granule cells from epileptic rats are postsynaptic to axon terminals, including mossy fibers, and thus are involved in a similar synaptic circuitry as apical dendrites of granule cells from these animals.

It is important to control the interface strength of coatings and composite materials; a feature that has been noted for many years. However, how can interface strength be evaluated and controlled? In order to explore this aspect, subcritical fatigue crack growth behaviour was investigated along the interface of a CoNiCrAlY coated Ni-Base superalloy. According to the traditional fatigue test methodology, fatigue crack propagation tests were carried out, using double cantilever beam specimens. The resistance to the fatigue crack propagation was successfully evaluated by a fracture mechanics approach. Particular attention was given to the effects of surface finish of the substrate as a coating parameter, the test temperature, and long-term thermal ageing after the coating.

In many persons with temporal lobe epilepsy, dentate granule cells form an interconnected synaptic network. This recurrent mossy fiber circuit mediates reverberating excitation that may facilitate seizure propagation by synchronizing granule cell discharge. The involvement of specific glutamate receptors in granule cell epileptiform activity evoked by stimulating the mossy fibers was investigated with use of rat hippocampal slices superfused with bicuculline, with or without increasing [K+](o) to 6 mM. The occurrence of short-latency mossy fiber-evoked granule cell epileptiform activity in slices from pilocarpine-treated rats correlated with the presence and extent of recurrent mossy fiber growth. Blockade of AMPA receptors nearly abolished the orthodromic component of the response; subsequent antagonism of kainate receptors as well appeared to have no further action. Antagonism of NMDA receptors reduced the duration of epileptiform discharge, but increased the amplitude of population spikes within the evoked burst. Thus AMPA and NMDA, but perhaps not kainate, receptors play an important role in this type of epileptiform activity. Activation of type II metabotropic glutamate receptors, which inhibits the release of glutamate from mossy fiber boutons, reduced the magnitude of epileptiform discharge. This action was reversed by a partial agonist of these receptors. However, neither an agonist nor an antagonist of type III metabotropic glutamate receptors significantly altered the response. Considering the importance of synchronous granule cell discharge for seizure propagation from the entorhinal cortex to the hippocampus, agonists of type II metabotropic glutamate receptors may be useful in suppressing such discharge both experimentally and clinically.

Analysis of the nucleotide sequence of the mitochondrial 12S ribosomal RNA gene of 27 species or sub-species of bitterlings showed that bitterlings comprise an Acheilognathus clade and a Tanakia-Rhodeus clade, partially supporting an earlier classification based on morphology and karyology. The monophyly of Acheilognathus is confirmed, but that of Tanakia and Rhodeus remains poorly resolved. Within the Tanakia–Rhodeus clade, all species or sub-species having a diploid chromosome number of 46 form a monophyletic group. Results support the hypothesis that evolutionary trends of bitterling karyotypes involve reduction from 2n=48 to either 2n=44 (by Robertsonian translocation) or 2n=46 (by non-Robertsonian translocation).

Mossy fiber sprouting into the inner molecular layer of the dentate gyrus is an important neuroplastic change found in animal models of temporal lobe epilepsy and in humans with this type of epilepsy. Recently, we reported in the perforant path stimulation model another neuroplastic change for dentate granule cells following seizures: hilar basal dendrites (HBDs). The present study determined whether status epilepticus-induced HBDs on dentate granule cells occur in the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy and whether these dendrites are targeted by mossy fibers. Retrograde transport of biocytin following its ejection into stratum lucidum of CA3 was used to label granule cells for both light and electron microscopy. Granule cells with a heterogeneous morphology, including recurrent basal dendrites, and locations outside the granule cell layer were observed in control preparations. Preparations from both pilocarpine and kainate models of temporal lobe epilepsy also showed granule cells with HBDs. These dendrites branched and extended into the hilus of the dentate gyrus and were shown to be present on 5% of the granule cells in pilocarpine-treated rats with status epilepticus, whereas control rats had virtually none. Electron microscopy was used to determine whether HBDs were postsynaptic to axon terminals in the hilus, a site where mossy fiber collaterals are prevalent. Labeled granule cell axon terminals were found to form asymmetric synapses with labeled HBDs. Also, unlabeled, large mossy fiber boutons were presynaptic to HBDs of granule cells. These results indicate that HBDs are present in the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy, confirm the presence of HBDs in the kainate model, and show that HBDs are postsynaptic to mossy fibers. These new mossy fiber synapses with HBDs may contribute to additional recurrent excitatory circuitry for granule cells.

Ultrahigh-speed wavelength-division-multiplexing transmission at 5times320 Gb/s/single channel is successfully demonstrated over 525 km using time-domain optical Fourier transformation (OFT). The modulation format is optical time-division multiplexing/differential phase-shift keying. We first suppressed signal distortions by using dispersion management and principal state of polarization launch, where the power penalty was 3.3-4.2 dB. Then, by further applying OFT, the transmission performance was greatly improved, in which a power penalty as small as 1.3-2.1 dB was achieved for all channels without using forward-error correction.

The all-optical demultiplexing of a 640-Gb/s single- polarization optical time-division-multiplexing signal is successfully demonstrated by using a symmetric Mach-Zehnder switch incorporating semiconductor optical amplifiers. An ultrafast switching gate as narrow as 1.4 ps is realized by using a low-jitter, subpicosecond pulse train as a control pulse, which facilitates low-penalty demultiplexing.

A 38-year-old woman with Eisenmenger's syndrome underwent bilateral living-donor lobar lung transplantation and simultaneous closure of atrial septal defect. The grafts were a right lower lobe from her husband and a left lower lobe from her brother. Although only 2 lobes were implanted, the dramatic improvement in pulmonary hemodynamics has been well maintained for more than 5 years. Living-donor lobar lung transplantation and simultaneous cardiac repair may be one of the therapeutic options for patients with adult Eisenmenger's syndrome with simple congenital heart disease.

GABAB-receptor–mediated inhibition was investigated in anatomically identified inhibitory interneurons located at the border between the dentate gyrus granule cell layer and hilus. Biocytin staining was used to visualize the morphology of recorded cells. A molecular layer stimulus evoked a pharmacologically isolated slow inhibitory postsynaptic current (IPSC), recorded with whole cell patch-clamp techniques, in 55 of 63 interneurons. Application of the GABAB receptor antagonists, CGP 35348 (400 μM) or CGP 55845 (1 μM) to a subset of 25 interneurons suppressed the slow IPSC by an amount ranging from 10 to 100%. In 56% of these cells, the slow IPSC was entirely GABAB-receptor–mediated. However, in the remaining interneurons, a component of the slow IPSC was resistant to GABAB antagonists. Subtraction of this antagonist resistant current from the slow IPSC isolated the GABAB component (IPSCB). This IPSCB had a similar onset and peak latency to that recorded from granule cells but a significantly shorter duration. The GABAB agonist, baclofen (10 μM), produced a CGP 55845-sensitive outward current in 19 of 27 interneurons. In the eight cells that lacked a baclofen current, strong or repetitive ML stimulation also failed to evoke an IPSCB, indicating that these cells lacked functional GABABreceptor-activated potassium currents. In cells that expressed a baclofen current, the amplitude of this current was ∼50% smaller in interneurons with axons that projected into the granule cell dendritic layer (22.2 ± 5.3 pA; mean ± SE) than in interneurons with axons that projected into or near the granule cell body layer (46.1 ± 10.0 pA). Similarly, the IPSCBamplitude was smaller in interneurons projecting to dendritic (9.4 ± 2.7 pA) than perisomatic regions (34.3 ± 5.1 pA). These findings suggest that GABAB inhibition more strongly regulates interneurons with axons that project into perisomatic than dendritic regions. To determine the functional role of GABAB inhibition, we examined the effect of IPSPB on action potential firing and synaptic excitation of these interneurons. IPSPB and IPSPA both suppressed depolarization-induced neuronal firing. However, unlike IPSPA, suppression of firing by IPSPB could be easily overcome with strong depolarization. IPSPB markedly suppressed N-methyl-d-aspartate but not AMPA EPSPs, suggesting that GABAB inhibition may play a role in regulating slow synaptic excitation of these interneurons. Heterogeneous expression of GABAB currents in hilar border interneurons therefore may provide a mechanism for the differential regulation of excitation of these cells and thereby exert an important role in shaping neuronal activity in the dentate gyrus.

Recurrent mossy fiber pathway in rat dentate gyrus: synaptic currents evoked in presence and absence of seizure-induced growth. A common feature of temporal lobe epilepsy and of animal models of epilepsy is the growth of hippocampal mossy fibers into the dentate molecular layer, where at least some of them innervate granule cells. Because the mossy fibers are axons of granule cells, the recurrent mossy fiber pathway provides monosynaptic excitatory feedback to these neurons that could facilitate seizure discharge. We used the pilocarpine model of temporal lobe epilepsy to study the synaptic responses evoked by activating this pathway. Whole cell patch-clamp recording demonstrated that antidromic stimulation of the mossy fibers evoked an excitatory postsynaptic current (EPSC) in ∼74% of granule cells from rats that had survived >10 wk after pilocarpine-induced status epilepticus. Recurrent mossy fiber growth was demonstrated with the Timm stain in all instances. In contrast, antidromic stimulation of the mossy fibers evoked an EPSC in only 5% of granule cells studied 4–6 days after status epilepticus, before recurrent mossy fiber growth became detectable. Notably, antidromic mossy fiber stimulation also evoked an EPSC in many granule cells from control rats. Clusters of mossy fiber-like Timm staining normally were present in the inner third of the dentate molecular layer at the level of the hippocampal formation from which slices were prepared, and several considerations suggested that the recorded EPSCs depended mainly on activation of recurrent mossy fibers rather than associational fibers. In both status epilepticus and control groups, the antidromically evoked EPSC was glutamatergic and involved the activation of both AMPA/kainate and N-methyl-d-aspartate (NMDA) receptors. EPSCs recorded in granule cells from rats with recurrent mossy fiber growth differed in three respects from those recorded in control granule cells: they were much more frequently evoked, a number of them were unusually large, and the NMDA component of the response was generally much more prominent. In contrast to the antidromically evoked EPSC, the EPSC evoked by stimulation of the perforant path appeared to be unaffected by a prior episode of status epilepticus. These results support the hypothesis that recurrent mossy fiber growth and synapse formation increases the excitatory drive to dentate granule cells and thus facilitates repetitive synchronous discharge. Activation of NMDA receptors in the recurrent pathway may contribute to seizure propagation under depolarizing conditions. Mossy fiber-granule cell synapses also are present in normal rats, where they may contribute to repetitive granule cell discharge in regions of the dentate gyrus where their numbers are significant.

Standard reference ranges for all laboratory test values are mandatory. This study was designed to establish a reference range for blood vitamin B1 levels, since the normal range has not been determined in the Japanese population. We founded the Japan Committee for Vitamin Laboratory Standards, which was incorporated with the Vitamin Society of Japan and the Japanese Society of Nutrition and Food Science. We standardized whole blood vitamin B1 levels using three HPLC techniques (post-column reverse-phase HPLC, pre-column reverse-phase HPLC, and precolumn GP-HPLC). The reference range was obtained in 54 volunteers administered a 1,800 kcal diet with 2 mg of vitamin B1 (1.74 mg measured) daily to avoid marginal vitamin B1 deficiency in the population. The range for each assay was 26-47, 28-51, and 28-56 ng/ml, respectively. Our data suggest that 26-28 ng/ml is the lower limit of normal for whole blood vitamin B1, but further studies in a larger population are needed in order to obtain more definitive results.

A 160-Gb/s single-polarization differential phase-shift-keying transmission using time-domain optical Fourier transformation (OFT) was demonstrated over a 200-km installed fiber link with large polarization-mode dispersion (PMD). First, we suppressed differential group delay (DGD) by coupling to the principal state of polarization (PSP) launch, where the power penalty was 2.8 dB. Then, by further applying OFT, which enables us to reduce time-dependent DGD and second-order PMD that cannot be removed with the PSP launch alone, excellent error-free performance with a power penalty of 1.5 dB has been successfully achieved.

A 320-Gb/s single-polarization differential phase-shift keying transmission is successfully demonstrated over a 525-km straight transmission line using time-domain optical Fourier transformation (OFT). The tolerance to higher order polarization-mode dispersion is greatly improved and long-term stable transmission performance is achieved with OFT.

We report that stimulated Brillouin scattering (SBS) plays an important role in ultrahigh-speed bitwise phase-controlled optical time-division multiplexing transmissions such as in-phase and carrier-suppressed return-to-zero (RZ). We show that the optical power can easily exceed the SBS threshold for such high-speed coherent RZ signals. The SBS-induced performance limitation in a 160-Gb/s-520 km transmission is described in detail.

A straight-line 160-Gb/s 1000-km differential phase-shift keying transmission was successfully demonstrated with time-domain optical Fourier transformation (OFT) without employing polarization multiplexing or Raman amplification. The OFT greatly reduced the transmission impairments caused by linear perturbations, and transmission performance close to the amplified spontaneous emission limit was achieved.

Three patients with angiographically invisible aneurysms found after attempted fibrinolytic therapy are presented. One aneurysm bled during the procedure with a tragic result. All of aneurysms were located distal to the occluded arteries. Aneurysms were preexisting and invisible distal to the occluded artery, or they developed rapidly after the fibrinolysis. These aneurysms were at a risk for rupture during and after fibrinolytic therapy.

Interneurons located near the border of the dentate granule cell layer and the hilus were studied in hippocampal slices using whole-cell current clamp and biocytin staining. Because these interneurons exhibit both morphological and electrophysiological diversity, we asked whether passive electrotonic parameters or repetitive firing behavior correlated with axonal distribution. Each interneuron was distinguished by a preferred axonal distribution in the molecular layer or granule cell layer, and four groups could be discerned, the axons of which arborized in (1) the granule cell layer, (2) the inner molecular layer, (3) the outer molecular layer, and (4) diffusely in the molecular layer. In our sample, interneurons with axons arborizing diffusely in the molecular layer were most frequent, and those with axons restricted to the granule cell layer were least frequent. Resting potential, input resistance, time constant, electrotonic length, and spike frequency adaptation (SFA) were not significantly different among the four groups, and the variability in SFA between cells with similar axonal distributions was striking. Clear differences in action potential morphology and afterhyperpolarizations, however, emerged when nonadapting interneurons were compared with those exhibiting SFA. Interneurons exhibiting SFA had characteristically broader spikes, progressive slowing of action potential repolarization during repetitive firing, and slow afterhyperpolarizations that distinguished them from nonadapting interneurons. We propose that the variability in repetitive firing behavior and morphology exhibited by each of these interneurons makes each interneuron unique and may provide a high level of fine tuning of inhibitory control critical to information processing in the dentate.

Extracellular products of group A streptococci isolated from patients with streptococcal toxic shock syndrome (STSS) were examined. The outline of the discussion of the 3 products are as follows; streptolysin O (SLO), proteinase and erythrogenic toxin. SLO and proteinase showed a relatively large amount of products more than erythrogenic toxin. SLO produced by group A streptococci isolated from the patient with STSS had an isoelectric point (pI) of 6.0 and a molecular weight of 64,000 and showed hemolytic activity in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol (2-ME). Furthermore, the hemolytic activities of all components were inhibited by gamma-globulin and cholesterol. Proteinase had pIs of 8.7 and 8.9, and a molecular weight of 21,000. These data suggest that STSS clinical criteria probably reflects a characteristic of a large amount of products of individual S. pyogenes isolates.

Pyrochlore-type molybdates R 2 Mo2O7 (R = rare earth elements and Y), showing a ferromagnetic metal (FM) to spin-glass insulator (SGI) transition as a function of R, have been studied by means of photoemission spectrosocpy (PES) and soft X-ray magnetic circular dichroism (XMCD) with focusing on the role of the strong correlation of the Mo 4d electrons. Bulk sensitive PES was performed by utilizing the high-resolution soft X-ray from SPring-8. The PES spectra are compared with the band structure calculation. The XMCD spectra are analyzed by means of the sum-rule (Mo 3 p → 3 d XMCD) and by comparison with atomic calculation (R 3 d → 4 f XMCD) in order to estimate separately the Mo and R magnetic moments.

Aqueous NMMO solutions containing NMMO above 50% are good solvents for syndiotacticity-rich poly(vinyl alcohol) (s-PVA). Although water is not a good solvent and dissolves s-PVA at temperatures above 100°C, the mixtures dissolve it at temperatures below 100°C. s-PVA fibers were prepared through get-spinning of s-PVA/NMMO/water (NMMO : water = 70 : 30) mixtures in cold water and wet-spinning of the solution in methanol. The mechanical properties and fine structure of the drawn fibers were examined based on the results of measurements of tensile properties, thermal properties, birefringence, and optical and electron microscopic observations. The strength and Young's modulus of the drawn fibers were approximately to 2.0 and 45 GPa, respectively. The reason why the fibers with theoretical mechanical properties could not be prepared was surmised to be related to the structure of the amorphous regions.

Biological apatites present in the mineral phases of normal and pathological calcifications contain magnesium, Mg, and carbonate, CO3. As a consequence of fluctuations in the composition of the micro-environment, these apatites may sometimes form by heterogeneous precipitation. The purpose of this study was to investigate the properties of (Mg, CO3)-apatites formed heterogeneously in the presence of fluoride, F. Two types of fluoridated (Mg, CO3)-apatites formed from solutions with low and high levels of Mg were prepared at 80°C, pH 7.4. We prepared FMgCO3-MgCO 3AP (Type 1) by adding the F-containing solution to those containing calcium, Mg, and phosphate ions during the first half of the precipitation period. We prepared MgCO3-FMgCO3Ap (Type 2) by adding the F-containing solution during the final half of the period. The apatites were analyzed by x-ray diffraction (XRD), infrared absorption spectroscopy, and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). SEM and XRD analyses showed evidence of mixed crystals in the heterogeneous apatites. The presence of Mg inhibits, while F promotes, apatite crystal growth. In addition, Mg incorporation increased with increasing fluoride concentration. The extent of dissolution in acid buffer of both types of heterogeneous apatites increased with Mg: Type 1 > Type 2. These results suggest that the crystal and dissolution properties of heterogeneous fluoridated (Mg, C03)-apatites are greatly affected by the mode of F incorporation and Mg concentrations in the environment.

The capacity of various growth factors to induce c-fos expression is diminished with senescence. Because adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP)-mediated responses are also blunted with aging, we wondered whether cAMP-induced c-fos gene expression might be impaired with senescence. Using IMR fibroblasts, we found that prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) and forskolin, stimulators of cAMP accumulation in young and senescent cells, increased abundance of c-fos and junB mRNA more in young than senescent cells. The abundance of the cAMP response element binding protein (CREB), a transcription factor which enhances gene expression when phosphorylated by protein kinase A, was markedly decreased in both whole cell and nuclear extracts of senescent cells, in both Western blotting and in gel retardation assays. Also, PGE1-induced phosphorylation of CREB by protein kinase A was markedly attenuated in senescent cells. There is a marked decrement in expression of CREB with senescence, and the results suggest the possibility that the diminished expression of CREB may contribute to altered cAMP-mediated regulation of gene expression with senescence.

An activated carbon was oxidized by HNO3 at boiling temperature. The influence of acidic surface oxides of the activated carbon was experimentally studied on the adsorption characteristics of eleven different gases or vapors. In the adsorption of cyclohexane, benzene, 2-propanol and 2-butanol, the adsorption capacity decreased greatly with oxidizing the carbon by 13.2 N HNO3. This was because the surface area and micropore volume had decreased by the strong oxidation as suggested by the t-plot analysis of oxidized carbons. When methanol, ethanol, acetone, acetonitrile and sulfur dioxide were adsorbed on the carbons, it was found that the isotherms on the carbon oxidized by 13.2 N HNO3 were much lower than those on the original carbon except in the low partial pressure range. On the other hand, the adsorption capacity of ammonia or water increased greatly with increasing surface oxides on the carbon. Especially, ammonia was strongly adsorbed on the surface oxides, and irreversible adsorption appeared. The experimental results suggest that the adsorption sites increase greatly with the surface oxides for the polar molecules whose polarizability is very small.

The technique of endoscopic excision of large capsulated lipomas is presented and the versatility of this method is discussed based on our clinical experience. We have applied this new technique in 6 cases. In all cases the lipoma was completely removed in one piece through a single incision, up to 1.5 cm in length. The endoscope made it possible to view the lipoma through a narrow space with a wide range of vision on a TV monitor. We stress that this method is not only appropriate as treatment for benign lipomas but also effective from a cosmetic point of view. The applications of the endoscope should widen in plastic surgery when the advantages of it are recognized and new operative approaches for using it are developed.

An advanced three-level interconnect technology for 0.25 μm design rule has been developed for a 256M DRAM process, that provides increased circuit density, improved manufacturability and reduced cost. The process includes a polycide gate stack, self-aligned bitline contacts, a tungsten bitline, an Al-stitched wordline for the second level of metal and an Al global wiring level. Chemical-mechanical polishing (CMP) has been extensively used to improve planarity which increases the process window for lithography and etch. This metallization concept has been implemented on a 256M DRAM within the framework of a process architecture including a BuriEd STrap (BEST) trench memory cell and shallow trench isolation (STI). Five novel processes are discussed in detail. A self-aligned array contact using a highly selective etch process for SiO 2 Si 3 N 4 , low ∈ IMD of fluorosilicate glass (FSG) deposited in a dual-frequency plasma CVD process (D-FSG) in comparison to HDP CVD and an alternative low-cost monolithic stud-wire concept using high temperature Al-PVD and planarization by a non-corrosive Al CMP. The “Dual Damascene” interconnects show improved electromigration resistance compared to RIE-patterned Al-sandwich structures on W studs.

The effects of acute exposure to cigarette smoke and systemic administration of nicotine on intestinal propulsion were investigated in rats. The propulsive activity was measured as migration of charcoal powder in the intestine. This activity was suppressed by acute exposure (10 min) to cigarette smoke and by nicotine (0.5 mg/kg x 2, s.c.) administration. This intestinal suppression was more marked in the rats given nicotine than in those exposed to cigarette smoke, whereas the plasma concentrations of nicotine in both rats were similar. These results suggest that acute exposure to cigarette smoke and nicotine administration delay gastric emptying and/or suppress intestinal propulsion, and that some components other than nicotine contained in cigarette smoke may attenuate the suppression of intestinal propulsion induced by nicotine.

Transformation CO 2 into cell organic matter and cell CaCO 3 (coccoliths) by coccolithophorids is one of the useful ways to remove CO 2 indirectly in fluegas generated at thermal power plants in addition to the reduction of atmospheric CO 2 . To examine the effects of 100% CO 2 on the growth, determined as cell organic carbon and cell inorganic carbon (coccoliths), in the two coccolithophorids species, Pleurochrysis carterae and Pleurochrysis haptonemofera , the cultures with race way method were carried out by maintaining pH with intermittent supply of 100% CO 2 . Furthermore, the results of the growth under 100% CO 2 were compared with that of the growth under atmospheric CO 2 concentration (0.04% CO 2 ). As a result, the growth rates of both species were increased remarkably by supply of 100% CO 2 , and the growth rates and the maximum yields with 100% CO 2 of P. haptonemofera were 1.5 times and 2 times higher than those of P. carterae , respectively.

The application of a superconductor to a fault current limiter in a power system has been researched. The authors developed a magnetic shielding type superconducting fault current limiter using a Bi2212 thick film cylinder. This limiter consists of a primary winding on a superconducting cylinder for generating an AC magnetic field, the cylinder for shielding the field, an iron core for magnetic members and a control ring for controlling fault currents. When a fault occurs, the superconductive cylinder quenches and a magnetic circuit is formed inside the cylinder. As a result, the limiter has a high impedance to limit the fault current. The present study shows the limiting and recovery characteristics of the fault current limiter. >

Time Synchronization is a pertinent field of study to fulfill the OS requirements in many distributed applications. In this work, we implemented the IEEE 1588 protocol - Precision Time Protocol - for the EPOS operating system to deliver the clock time among the network. For test purposes, we choose a topology consisted of one master clock and another slave clock. We made two configurations: one in which we have two previously synchronized clocks, to evaluate their behavior among time after some synchronizations. On the other configuration, we delayed the slave clock in some hours and analysed the behavior of the protocol after some iterations. With the results obtained we can ensure the viability of the protocol implementation to the EPOS operating system and consequently to embedded systems.

For the gate last approach of a high K metal gate scheme used in advanced CMOS technology, various materials were tested as wetting layers to allow Aluminum (Al) gap fill at gate widths of10 to 45 nanometers. In this study, Titanium (Ti) and Cobalt (Co) were investigated as a wetting layer for Al gap fill. It was discovered that Al-Ti and Al-Co alloys were formed during high temperature Al deposition. Alloys were characterized using XRD. Alloy’s impacts on line resistivity and subsequent Al Chemical Mechanical Polish (Al CMP) were also investigated. In addition, a model was established to predict the alloy type and alloy mole% with respect to feature size. The predicted Al mole% by this model correlated very well with 1) line resistivity trend and 2) morphologies. The model also predicted that due to Al lower electro-chemical potential than Ti, Co or its alloys, galvanic corrosion could take place depending on the chemical environment in the Al CMP slurry. Different slurry or cleaning chemical may reduce or increase the risk of galvanic corrosion. The knowledge gained with the help of the model provides clear directions on selection criteria for wetting layers, optimization for deposition processes and Al CMP consumable design to meet the challenges.

While growth of blood vessels is important in hypertension, relatively little is known about the contribution of catecholamines. Using isolated rat aorta and cultured smooth muscle cells, we examined adrenergic stimulation of gene expression. Phenylephrine, a selective alpha 1 adrenergic receptor agonist, caused a rapid and transient increase in c-fos mRNA accumulation which was inhibited by prazosin, an alpha 1 receptor antagonist. Similarly, phenylephrine stimulated c-jun and c-myc mRNA accumulation. Chloroethyl-clonidine, a compound which irreversibly blocks alpha 1B receptors, completely blocked the phenylephrine-induced increase in c-fos mRNA. RNase protection experiments demonstrated that rat aorta prominently expressed mRNA for alpha 1B and alpha 1A/D receptors. Phenylephrine-induced c-fos mRNA was partially inhibited by H-7, a protein kinase C inhibitor, and by nifedipine, a Ca2+ channel blocker; these two compounds together had additive effects. In situ hybridization showed that expression of c-fos mRNA induced by phenylephrine was localized to aorta's medial layer. These results suggest that alpha 1 receptor-induced increase in c-fos mRNA in aorta is mediated by a chloroethyl-clonidine-sensitive receptor subtype signaling via increasing intracellular Ca2+ concentrations and activating protein kinase C.