Search

Catalytic properties of ultrafine particles (UFP), composed of both iron and copper for liquid phase Fischer-Tropsch synthesis were investigated. Potassium-promoted iron—copper UFP which were prepared by the liquid phase reduction method showed very high catalytic activities and selectivities for liquid hydrocarbons even at a high temperature (300°C). Furthermore, amounts of deposited carbon on the potassium-promoted iron—copper UFP catalysts were considerably less than those on the potassium-promoted iron UFP catalysts. Similar results were also achieved over copper-promoted iron UFP catalysts which were obtained by chemical deposition of copper on iron UFP prepared by the gas evaporation method.

The effect of the oxidative pretreatment of ultrafine particles (UFP) of iron on their catalytic properties in the liquid phase Fischer—Tropsch synthesis has been investigated. Although similar product distributions were obtained, whether preoxidized or not, the catalytic activities of the preoxidized catalysts, which were prepared by exposure of the iron UFP to an atmosphere of nitrogen containing the predetermined amounts of oxygen, were higher than that of the untreated iron UFP. The catalytic activity is discussed in relation to the sintering of the UFP catalyst under the reaction conditions used.

Two novel monoterpenes, named (±)-asarinol A, (±)-asarinol B, together with the known (±)-car-3-ene-2,5-dione, (−)-asarinin, (−)-sesamin, methyleugenol and elemicin have been isolated from the roots of asiasari Radix. On the basis of chemical and spectral analyses and X-ray crystallography, the structures of new compounds have been established as (±)- rel -(1 R ,5 S ,6 S )-car-3-en-2-on-5-ol, (±)- rel -(1 R ,3 S ,4 S ,5 S ,6 S )-4,5-epoxycaran-2-on-3-ol.

A 76-year-old woman presented with sudden massive melena, and superior mesenteric arteriography showed an aneurysm in the middle colic artery (MCA). Because she had a history of right hemicolectomy and ligation of the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) during open abdominal aortic aneurysm repair, embolization of the MCA aneurysm was considered to pose a risk comparable to that of colonic ischemia. A microballoon occlusion test during occlusion of the MCA confirmed retrograde visualization of the IMA branches through the collateral arteries by way of the left internal iliac artery, and embolization was successfully performed using microcoils. No colonic ischemia or aneurysm rupture occurred after embolization.

The purpose of this study was to compare features of computed tomography (CT) and histologic features of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) of up to 2 cm in diameter with the immunohistochemical staining pattern of claudin-10, a recently identified prognostic factor for resected HCC. Twelve cases of resected HCC of up to 2 cm in diameter were assessed retrospectively. Preoperative dynamic CT was reviewed, and three enhancement patterns were identified. Type I (n=6) was defined as a pattern of hyperenhancement throughout the tumor in early-phase CT, decreasing to hypoenhancement in late-phase CT (high-low), a finding characteristic of HCC. Type II tumors (n=2) appeared as an area of hyperenhancement in early-phase CT, and an area of hyperenhancement in late-phase CT (low-high). Histologically, type II tumors were considered unusual types, and included combined hepatocellular-cholangiocarcinoma and scirrhous HCC. In type III tumors (n=4), high-low, low-high and low-low components were observed. Type III tumors showed multinodular-type morphology and comprised both moderately and poorly differentiated HCC with marked necrosis and fibrosis. Each nodule was divided by fibrous septa. In three of the four type III cases, recurrence occurred within 6 months after resection. Immunohistochemistry of claudin-10 showed positivity in five of the 12 cases, including four type III cases. Results of this study suggest that type III tumors have greater malignant potential than the other tumor types.

The heteronuclear Ln[Fe(CN) 6 ]·nH 2 O (Ln=La, Gd, and Lu) complexes were synthesized by the mixing of (NH 4 ) 3 [Fe(CN) 6 ] and Ln(NO 3 ) 3 methanol solutions as a new method. Their thermal decomposition products were then investigated. Although the yield of the Ln[Fe(CN) 6 ].nH 2 O complexes was ca. 20% for the well-known method in a water solution, it was improved to ca. 90% using this new method. The X-ray diffraction (XRD) patterns of the complexes agreed with those of the Ln[Fe(CN) 6 ]·nH 2 O single phase for all the examined Ln systems. The LnFeO 3 single phase was obtained by the thermal decomposition of the synthesized heteronuclear complexes for Ln = La, Gd, and Lu.

The intrinsic interactive forces between two free colloidal particles suspended in aqueous solutions have been measured as a function of the separation by applying the optical trapping technique to a monodispersed polystyrene latex of a mean diameter 2.13 μm. For this purpose, specific technology for the precise measurement of the surface-to-surface separation and force strength has been developed. The results were in excellent agreement with the prediction of the DLVO theory in a variety of electrolyte concentrations.

Influence of adrenergic and serotonergic stimulation on glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) gene expression in rat C6 glioma cells was first examined as an in vitro model experiment for investigating the neuronal regulation of glial cell differentiation. Stimulation of these cells with isoproterenol and serotonin elevated GFAP mRNA levels followed by an increase in its protein contents, thus suggesting that both adrenergic and serotonergic stimulation might induce the differentiation of the glioma cells. In addition, progesterone and its 5alpha-reduced metabolite dihydroprogesterone also elevated GFAP mRNA levels in rat C6 glioma cells, consistent with their stimulatory actions on GFAP gene expression observed in rat astrocytes. Further studies showed that the elevation of GFAP mRNA levels induced by isoproterenol and serotonin as well as progesterone was abolished by pretreatment of the glioma cells with finasteride, an inhibitor of 5alpha-reduced steroid production. Moreover, the stimulatory actions of isoproterenol and serotonin on GFAP gene expression were inhibited by pretreatment with a GABA(A) receptor antagonist bicuculline and a progesterone receptor antagonist RU486. These findings suggest that both adrenergic and serotonergic stimulation may indirectly activate GFAP gene expression probably through the production of 5alpha-reduced steroid metabolites in rat C6 glioma cells, proposing the possibility that 5alpha-reduced neurosteroids may play a potential role in the neuronal regulation of glial cell differentiation.

Smooth muscle cells (SMCs) are exposed to both platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and type I collagen (CNI) at the time of arterial injury. In these studies we explore the individual and combined effects of these agonists on human saphenous vein SMC proliferation. PDGF-BB produced a 5.5-fold increase in SMC DNA synthesis whereas CNI stimulated DNA synthesis to a much lesser extent (1.6-fold increase). Alternatively, we observed an 8.3-fold increase in DNA synthesis when SMCs were co-incubated with CNI and PDGF-BB. Furthermore, stimulation of SMCs with PDGF-BB produced a significant increase in ERK-2 activity whereas CNI alone had no effect. Co-incubation of SMCs with PDGF-BB and CNI resulted in ERK-2 activity that was markedly greater than that produced by PDGF-BB alone. In a similar fashion, PDGF-BB induced phosphorylation of the PDGF receptor beta (PDGFRbeta) and CNI did not, whereas concurrent agonist stimulation produced a synergistic increase in receptor activity. Blocking antibodies to the alpha2 and beta1 subunits eliminated this synergistic interaction, implicating the alpha2beta1 integrin as the mediator of this effect. Immunoprecipitation of the alpha2beta1 integrin in unstimulated SMCs followed by immunoblotting for the PDGFRbeta as well as Src family members, pp60(src), Fyn, Lyn, and Yes demonstrated coassociation of alpha2beta1 and the PDGFRbeta as well as pp60(src). Incubation of cells with CNI and/or PDGF-BB did not change the degree of association. Finally, inhibition of Src activity with SU6656 eliminated the synergistic effect of CNI on PDGF-induced PDGFRbeta phosphorylation suggesting an important role for pp60(src) in the observed receptor crosstalk. Together, these data demonstrate that CNI synergistically enhances PDGF-induced SMC proliferation through Src-dependent crosstalk between the alpha2beta1 integrin and the PDGFRbeta.

The systemic activity of simeconazole (RS-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-3-trimethylsilylpropan-2-ol) in plants was compared with those of eight other sterol demethylation inhibitor (DMI) fungicides. Simeconazole prevented the infection of Blumeria graminis (DC) Speer f sp hordei Marchal on barley leaves within a radius of several centimeters from the edge of local treatment on the leaves when the compound was separated from the leaves by glass coverslips. This reveals that simeconazole has prominent vapour-phase activity. Simeconazole showed excellent curative activity against barley powdery mildew when treated 1–3 days after inoculation. Furthermore, this indicates that simeconazole has notable translaminar activity because, when the compound was applied onto either the adaxial or abaxial leaf surface, it showed excellent efficacy against powdery mildew on the opposite side of the leaf surface of barley and cucumber. Simeconazole also showed excellent efficacy against barley powdery mildew by soil drench 24 h after inoculation. This suggests that simeconazole was absorbed very quickly into the barley plant after treatment. The permeability of the compound through cuticular membranes prepared from tomato fruits was about 20% at 22 h after the treatment and was much superior to that of the other DMI fungicides tested. Copyright © 2004 Society of Chemical Industry

The systemic activity of simeconazole (RS-2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-3-trimethylsilylpropan-2-ol) and a number of its derivatives in plants has been investigated to establish which portion of the structure of the molecule contributes to this outstanding activity. The results revealed that the hydroxyl group of the simeconazole moiety is essential for vapour-phase activity and translocation from roots of the compound. They showed that the presence of a fluorine atom in the structure was not indispensable for vapour-phase activity or translocation from roots, although the fluorine atom contributed to these systemic movements. In addition, it was found that the fungicidal activity of simeconazole against Rhizoctonia solani Kuhn and Blumeria graminis DC fsp hordei Marchal is potentiated by the fluorine atom, since the activity of a compound which lacked fluorine in the 4-position of the phenyl ring was inferior to that of simeconazole. A compound in which the silicon atom of simeconazole was replaced by a carbon atom showed lower antifungal activity than simeconazole, while phytotoxicity was caused in rice plants by soil drench of the compound. Therefore, the silicon atom of simeconazole may contribute to its selectivity between fungi and plants.

A new series of azole derivatives of 1-triazolyl-4-trimethylsilyl-2-butanol and 1-triazolyl-5-trimethylsilyl-2-pentanol were synthesized and evaluated for fungicidal activities against rice blast, sheath blight, and powdery mildew on barley. The derivatives of 2,4-difluorobenzene exhibited high antifungal activities when applied by spray, but exhibited no fungicidal activity by submerged application.

We previously demonstrated that sustained disturbance of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation and poor distal runoff in ischemic limbs were critical factors affecting the neointimal development of autologous vein grafts (VGs). Also, we recently showed the superior therapeutic potential of basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF/FGF-2) boosted by the recombinant Sendai virus (SeV) for severe limb ischemia compared with that of vascular endothelial growth factor. Here, the effect of FGF-2 on neointimal hyperplasia of VGs was examined in a rabbit model of poor-runoff limbs. Two weeks after initial surgery for the induction of poor-runoff, SeV-expressing human FGF-2 (SeV-hFGF2) or that encoding firefly luciferase (109plaque-forming units/head) was injected into the thigh and calf muscle. At that time, the femoral vein was implanted in the femoral artery in an end-to-end manner in some groups. FGF-2 gene-transferred limbs demonstrated significantly increased blood flow assessed not only by laser Doppler flow image but also by ultrasonic transit-time flowmeter (USTF). USTF also showed a significant increase in the blood flow ratio of the deep femoral artery to external iliac artery, indicating that collateral flow was significantly restored in the thigh muscles ( P < 0.01). Reduction of neointimal hyperplasia was also observed in the VGs treated by SeV-hFGF2; these grafts demonstrated significant restoration of endothelium-dependent vasorelaxation. These findings thus extend the indications of therapeutic angiogenesis using SeV-hFGF2 to include not only limb salvage but also prevention of late graft failure.

Approaches to high-speed and high-load driving capability of bipolar logic gates are discussed. Several circuits are investigated. It is shown that the Emitter Coupled Logic (ECL) with FET pull-down emitter-followers has a 3-5 times greater capability of driving capacitive loads than the conventional one. The performance improvement is drastically enhanced when applied to GaAs LSIs. >

A novel concept for +or-50-ps-skew clock distribution LSIs for use in large computers is presented. The keys for obtaining this are the separated distribution of the frequency and phase of the master clock, and the detailed design of self-phase-adjustment circuits. The basic idea of the method is described, with emphasis on design formulae for clock signal delay times. Bipolar clock LSIs have been designed and tested. A clock skew time of +or-50 ps has been obtained with an adjustable phase range of 3.7 ns. >

We report a case in which weekly paclitaxel (TXL) administration was effective for gastric cancer with malignant ascites. TXL (80 mg/m2) was infused over 1 hour after short premedication on an outpatient basis. Administration was continued for 3 weeks followed by 1 week rest. The patient was a 49-year-old woman who suffered from non-resectable gastric cancer, staged intraoperatively as having severe lymph node metastasis and malignant ascites. As an outpatient treatment, she was first treated with 5-fluorouracil combined with high-dose Leucovorin for 4 cycles. However, she complained of abdominal fullness and ascites, and received weekly TXL administration as the second line treatment. The ascites had completely disappeared 3 months after administration. The toxic events were anemia (grade 1) and alopecia (grade 2). No major adverse effects such as hypersensitivity reaction, leukopenia or peripheral neuropathy were observed.

Alteromonas sp. strain O-7 secretes several proteins in response to chitin induction. We have found that one of these proteins, designated AprIV, is a novel chitin-binding protease involved in chitinolytic activity. The gene encoding AprIV ( aprIV ) was cloned in Escherichia coli . DNA sequencing analysis revealed that the open reading frame of aprIV encoded a protein of 547 amino acids with a calculated molecular mass of 57,104 Da. AprIV is a modular enzyme consisting of five domains: the signal sequence, the N-terminal proregion, the family A subtilase region, the polycystic kidney disease domain (PkdD), and the chitin-binding domain type 3 (ChtBD3). Expression plasmids coding for PkdD or both PkdD and ChtBD (PkdD-ChtBD) were constructed. The PkdD-ChtBD but not PkdD exhibited strong binding to α-chitin and β-chitin. Western and Northern analyses demonstrated that aprIV was induced in the presence of N -acetylglucosamine, N -acetylchitobiose, or chitin. Native AprIV was purified to homogeneity from Alteromonas sp. strain O-7 and characterized. The molecular mass of mature AprIV was estimated to be 44 kDa by sodium dodecyl sulfate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. The optimum pH and temperature of AprIV were pH 11.5 and 35°C, respectively, and even at 10°C the enzyme showed 25% of the maximum activity. Pretreatment of native chitin with AprIV significantly promoted chitinase activity.

As an application of the gel-sol procedure for the synthesis of monodispersed particles in large quantities, uniform particles of ZnS:Cu were prepared by different methods from concentrated Zn-chelate solutions of nitrilotriatic acid (NTA) with thioacetamide (TAA), in which the dopant copper ion was introduced as a coexisting mixed chelate with Zn-NTA (Method A), a Cu-NTA complex in a separate solution continuously added to a system of Zn-NTA and TAA (Method B), or a Cu(NO3)2 solution infiltrated into a dry powder of ZnS prepared by Method A (Method C). All powders thus prepared were annealed before the test of fluorescent properties. The main roles of annealing were to remove the grain boundaries of such particles as nonradiative recombination centers of excited electrons and holes and to achieve uniform distribution of dopants. However, the initial intraparticle distribution of the dopant, controlled by the different methods, decisively affected the fluorescent particles, even after the conversion of the polycrystalline particles to single-crystal particles by annealing.

A new series of silicon-containing derivatives of 2-aryl-3-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)propanenitriles were synthesized and evaluated for fungicidal activities against rice sheath blight and powdery mildew on cucumber. These derivatives exhibited higher efficacy than reference fungicides.

The surgical approach to patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and gastrointestinal malignancy remains controversial. We experienced two cases with abdominal aortic aneurysm and gastric cancer, which were treated by a one-stage operation using a different approach. At first, the operation for the aneurysm was done through a retroperitoneal approach and then, a partial gastrectomy for gastric cancer was done through a transperitoneal approach. The postoperative course of both cases was uneventful. The patients were discharged on the 19th and 21st postoperative days, respectively. This one-stage operation using different isolated approaches, such as the retroperitoneal approach for abdominal aortic aneurysm and transperitoneal approach for gastric cancer, was useful for the patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm and particularly early gastric cancer in terms of preventing an infection of the prosthetic graft.

A new series of azole derivatives containing silicon were synthesized and evaluated for fungicidal activity against rice sheath blight by submerged application. Among them, 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-3-trimethylsilylpr opan-2-ol (9a) exhibited satisfactory efficacy at 12.5 grams per 10 ares.

A new series of azole derivatives containing silicon were synthesized and evaluated for fungicidal activity against rice sheath blight by submerged application. Among them, 2-(4-fluorophenyl)-1-(1H-1,2,4-triazol-1-yl)-3-trimethylsilylpr opan-2-ol (9a) exhibited satisfactory efficacy at 12.5 grams per 10 ares.

A double shielded objective lens has been developed for an electron beam lithography (EBL) system. The lens structure consists of outer magnetic circuit of permalloy and inner ferrite pole-piece, and the ferrite is isolated from the permalloy by a gap. This gap provides high magnetic resistance and reduces a magnetic flux from the permalloy to the ferrite. Therefore, this lens structure is expected to shield inside against outside magnetic field. Computer simulations showed that the magnetic field along the optical axis from the external magnetic field was reduced to less than 15% in the new lens compared with the previous lens. To evaluate the shielding effect experimentally, the change in the beam position on the stage was measured when an external magnetic field was applied. The shielding ability of the new lens was 50 times as large as the previous lens for the horizontal magnetic field. The double-shield structure was proven to be effective to shield the external magnetic field. Furthermore, in order to confirm shielding ability of the practical system, the positional vibration was measured as intensity fluctuation of a back-scattered electron signal from a tungsten mark edge. The beam vibration caused by an environmental field was reduced to 40% compared with the previous system. Thus, it is clarified that the double shielded objective lens is a valuable means of improving the positional accuracy.

Ultrafine particles (UFP) of Cu were prepared by reduction in a w/o emulsion system, in which Cu(II) ions dissolved in aqueous droplets were reduced by a reducing agent. This method gave a very narrow particle size distribution. Moreover, the average size of UFP could be controlled by choosing the concentration of Cu ions.

It has been found that not only inorganic anions such as sulfate and phosphate, but also organic reagents such as dihydroxybenzenes, dihydroxynaphthalenes, ethylenediamine tetraacetic acid (EDTA), and nitrilotriacetic acid (NTA) can be used as a shape controller for forming ellipsoidal hematite (alpha-Fe2O3) particles in the gel-sol system. Specifically, this paper focuses on the formation process of monodisperse ellipsoidal hematite particles with hydroxybenzenes. Interestingly, while 1,3-dihydroxybenzene had no effect on the shape of hematite, 1,4- and 1,2-dihydroxybenzenes could produce ellipsoidal particles. However, 1,4-dihydroxybenzene (hydroquinone) itself turned out to have no ability of adsorption to hematite. It was finally concluded that hydroquinone was oxidatively polymerized to form a kind of humic compound during aging at 100 degreesC for the growth of hematite particles, controlling the anisotropic growth by adsorption of the polymerized species. In addition, a considerable amount of the adsorbed polymer was found to be retained in the internal grain boundaries of the subcrystals, as revealed from XPS, XRD, and FT-IR analyses. Lastly, the mechanism of shape control by 1,2-dihydroxy-3,5-benzenedisulfonic acid disodium salt (Tiron) which is directly adsorbed to growing hematite particles is also discussed. Copyright 1998 Academic Press.

A 66-year-old Japanese male, who suffered from persistent proteinuria and leg edema, underwent renal biopsy. Light microscopy revealed marked narrowing of the glomerular capillary lumen with a diffuse accumulation of weakly PAS-positive material. By electron microscopy, abundant abnormal collagen fibers were observed predominantly in the subendothelial space and occasionally in the mesangial matrix. The fibers had a periodicity of about 60 nm and were immunoreactive for anti-type III collagen. Subendothelial electron-dense deposits were also found in some of the capillary walls. The serum level of procollagen III peptides was elevated and changed in parallel with the amount of proteinuria during the patient’s clinical course. On the basis of these findings, a diagnosis of the collagenofibrotic glomerulonephropathy was made. A review of the literature, including 29 similar or identical cases, failed to reveal the etiology and pathogenesis of this disease. We suggest that this disease may be divided into two different clinical subtypes, an adult-onset type and a pediatric type.

Neutral alpha-mannosidase was purified to homogeneity from hen oviduct. The molecular mass of the enzyme was 480 kDa on gel filtration, and the 110-kDa band on SDS-PAGE in the presence of 2-mercaptoethanol indicated that it is composed of four subunits. The activated enzyme hydrolyzed both p-nitrophenyl alpha-D-mannoside and high mannose-type sugar chains. This substrate specificity is almost the same as that reported for the neutral a-mannosidase from Japanese quail oviduct [Oku and Hase (1991) J. Biochem. 110, 982-989]. Manalpha1-6(Manalpha1-3)Manalpha1-6(Manalpha1-3) Manbeta1-4GlcNAc (Km =0.44 mM) was hydrolyzed four times faster than Manalpha1-6(Manalpha1-3)Manalpha1-6(Manalpha1-3) Manbeta1-4GIcNAcbeta1-4GlcNAc, and Manalpha1-6(Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-2Manalpha1-3)++ +Manbeta1-4GlcNAc was obtained as the end product from Man9GlcNAc on digestion with the activated alpha-mannosidase. The enzyme was activated 24-fold on preincubation with Co2+. The activation with other metal ions, like Mn2+, Ca2+, Fe2+, Fe3+, and Sr2+, was less than 5-fold, and Zn2+, Cu2+, and Hg2+ inhibited the enzyme activity. The optimum pHs for both the enzyme activity and activation with Co2+ were around 7. The cobalt ion contents of the purified, EDTA-treated, and Co2+-activated enzymes were 1.5, 0.0, and 3.9, respectively, per molecule. Since the Co2+-activated enzyme gradually lost its activity on incubation with EDTA and the activity was restored promptly on the addition of Co2+, the binding of Co2+ to the enzyme seems to be essential for its activation. The results obtained with protease inhibitors together with those of the SDS-PAGE before and after activation, showed that the proteolytic cleavage reported for the activation of monkey brain alpha-mannosidase seems not to be involved.

Probucol is used to treat hypercholesterolemia and also has an anti-atherogenic effect. The effects of probucol on intimal thickening of autologous vein graft in hyperlipidemic rabbits with poor distal run-off were investigated. A poor distal run-off model was prepared in the right hindlimb of 18 rabbits allocated to four groups depending on diet: normolipidemic commercial diet, (NL group, n = 5); hyperlipidemic diet (HL group, n = 5); commercial diet with 1% probucol (NP group, n = 4); and hyperlipidemic diet with 1% probucol (HP group, n = 4). After 4 weeks the femoral vein grafts were implanted into normal (n = 18) or poor (n = 18) runoff limbs. Vein grafts were harvested 4 weeks after implantation. Intimal thickening of the graft was measured and macrophages therein examined immunohistochemically. The serum cholesterol level was not reduced by probucol treatment. The mean flow rate of the graft was significantly reduced in the poor run-off limb. On histological examination intimal thickening in the poor run-off limb was significantly greater than that of controls, while intimal thickening in the HL and HP groups was enhanced compared with that in the NL and NP groups, respectively. Mean intimal thickening in each limb in HP group rabbits was significantly lower than that in HL rabbits (microm): control (HL/HP): 99.4(7.4)/58.8(0.7) (P < 0.05); poor run-off (HL/HP): 155.3(9.6)/130.3(7.3) (P < 0.O5). There was no difference between NL and NP (microm): control (NL/NP): 44.6(24.7)/31.5(12.8); poor run-off (HL/HP): 115.3(13.8)/97.5(34.0). In addition, enhanced intimal thickening due to poor distal run-off was not suppressed. Immunohistochemical staining showed intimal macrophage infiltration in the HL and HP groups; however, macrophage infiltration in grafts in the HP group was less than in the HL group. In conclusion, under hyperlipidemic conditions, probucol decreased intimal thickening enhancement of the vein graft, and suppressed intimal macrophage infiltration. These findings were similar to the anti-atherogenic effect of probucol in the native artery. Hence, probucol administration after vascular reconstruction with vein grafts in patients with hyperlipidemia may be beneficial.

Uniform spindle-type titania (TiO2) particles were prepared by a novel gel-sol method. A mixed solution of titanium(IV) isopropoxide and triethanolamine at molar ratio 1:2 prepared in a drybox was mixed with doubly distilled water to make the final concentration of titanium(IV) 0.50 mol dm-3. The mixture was further mixed with an equal volume of 2.0 mol dm-3 ammonia solution, and the resulting solution was aged for 24 h at 100deg;C. By this aging a highly viscous gel was formed, but there was no sign of nucleation of titania at this stage. The gel was then aged at 140deg;C for 3 days to nucleate and grow the titania particles. The gel network formed in the first aging played a decisive role in the second aging to produce the uniform particles of titania, as a reservoir of the metal ions to lower the supersaturation for preventing extensive nucleation and as an anticoagulant fixing the growing particles in the matrix. The product was identified by XRD as anatase particles elongated in the direction of the c-axis. The aspect ratio, as well as the size of the resulting particles, was reduced as the concentration of ammonia was decreased. Copyright 1997Academic Press

Purpose: Smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration is an essential feature of the intimal hyperplastic process that so frequently limits the patency of vascular reconstructions. The purpose of this investigation was to evaluate the effect of a series of integrins, or cell surface receptors that mediate cellular attachment, on platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) and extracellular matrix (ECM) protein-induced migration of human SMCs. Methods: Immunofluorescence staining was used to search for various integrins and subunits on the surface of SMCs derived from human saphenous vein. Chemotaxis and haptotaxis of SMCs to various matrix proteins and PDGF were assayed using a 48-well microchemotaxis chamber in the presence or absence of antibodies that blocked the function of these integrins. Results: Several subunits (β1, α2, α5) and one integrin (αvβ3) were identified in saphenous vein SMCs. The β1 integrin antibody inhibited chemotaxis to collagen I and IV, laminin, and PDGF. The α2 integrin antibody inhibited collagen I and IV, and laminin-induced chemotaxis. The α5 integrin antibody had no effect on SMC migration. The αvβ3 integrin antibody inhibited chemotaxis to PDGF but not to the ECM proteins. Conclusion: Integrins are necessary for SMC migration induced by PDGF and ECM proteins. The integrin or subunits responsible for facilitating migration varies with the stimulant. Agonists designed to inhibit integrin function might be used to suppress SMC migration and suppress the formation of intimal hyperplasia. (J Vasc Surg 1997;25:1061-9.)

The purpose of this study was to determine whether or not a lumbar sympathectomy would modulate the functions of the endothelium, in terms of endothelium-derived relaxing factor (EDRF), under poor distal runoff conditions. First, a poor distal runoff model was developed in the canine right and left femoral arteries. After 5 weeks, a unilateral left sympathectomy was performed from L-3 to L-6. In experiment I, changes in blood flow and endothelium-dependent responses were examined in the canine femoral artery 5 weeks after the lumbar sympathectomy. In experiment II, 5 weeks after the development of a poor runoff model, a unilateral left sympathectomy was performed and both femoral veins were also grafted to the femoral arteries on both sides. Then after 4 weeks, endothelium-dependent responses and intimal thickening of both autogenous vein grafts were examined. The endothelium-dependent responses were examined by mechanical tension recording. In both experiments, the mean blood flow of the left femoral arteries (denervated, 92.2 +/- 47.1 ml/min) and vein grafts (denervated, 100.0 +/- 35.4 ml/min) was significantly higher than that of the right femoral arteries (innervated, 46.9 +/-25.7 ml/min) and vein grafts (innervated, 50.0 +/- 20.1 ml/min) (P < 0.01). In experiment I, the endothelium-dependent relaxations to acetylcholine, ADP, and A23187 were comparable between the right and left femoral arteries. In experiment II, the endothelium-independent contractions to acetylcholine and endothelium-dependent relaxations to ADP and A23187 were all comparable between the right and left vein grafts. In addition, the intimal thickening of the vein graft was comparable between the two groups (denervated, 95.6 +/- 10.8 microm; innervated, 105.0 +/- 15.0 microm). In both experiments, the NE-induced contractions and SNP-induced relaxations were closely similar between the two groups, irrespective of the flow change. These results suggest that lumbar sympathectomy does not alter endothelial function in terms of EDRF, although mean blood flow of the denervated femoral arteries and vein grafts was significantly higher than that of the innervated femoral arteries and vein grafts. These results suggest that continuous vasodilation following sympathectomy may be a more potent factor with respect to regulation of vascular tonus than physiologic regulation of EDRF.

The new electron beam (EB) mask writing system based on both the HL-700MIII and HL-800D systems is developed. This system has been developed for semiconductor mass production of 0.25 μm design rule. To improve critical dimensions (CD), higher accelerated voltage of 50 kV is adopted with a variable shaped beam exposure method. Further, EB proximity correction hardware using a pattern area density map, which is the same as that of HL-800D, has been adopted for the improvement of pattern width linearity. In the mechanical system, continuously moving stage, three axis active vibration-isolation and three-point mask supporting are used to improve positioning accuracy and stitching accuracy. In addition, a new mask handling system using a robot realizes full-automatic mask loading. The results of CD uniformity for 1 .tm line pattern are better than 0.025 μm(3σ) and pattern linearity is within ± 0.03 μm. Positioning overlay accuracy among three masks is 0.038 μm(3σ). In addition, a stitching accuracy of 0.037 μm(mean + 3δ) is obtained.

A new electron beam (EB) mask writing system based on both the Hitachi HL-700MIII and HL-800D systems is developed. The target of the system is a 0.25 micrometers design rule in semiconductor mass-production. To improve critical dimensions (CD) to better than 0.03 micrometers , an acceleration voltage of 50 kV is used with a variable shaped beam method. Further, EB proximity correction using a pattern area density map which is the same as that of HL-800D has been adopted for the improvement of pattern width linearities. This correction system, which consists of hardware only, covers the entire mask area. In the mechanical system, continuously moving stage with constant velocity and three-axis active vibration- isolation are used to improve positioning accuracy to better than 0.04 micrometers . In addition, a new mask handling system in which a robot carries the mask realizes automatic transportation without human assistance. Some experiments to evaluate the new system have been performed. In particular, the characteristics of masks written with an EB accelerated to 50 kV have been investigated. The results of CD pattern uniformity for a 1 micrometers line pattern over the entire mask area are better that 0.025 micrometers . In addition, pattern linearity using EB proximity correction is within +/- 0.03 micrometers . A stitching accuracy of 0.037 micrometers is obtained.

The purpose of this study is to move a flexible structure, such as conveyance equipment that moves periodically, quickly and accurately by controlling its vibration. In order to reduce the vibration of a flexible structure actively, a hydraulic actuator is arranged on the motion transmission path between a drive system and a flexible structure. Generally, it is possible to obtain good effects for reducing a residual vibration by using feedback control. However, the vibration displacement in motion is mainly forced vibration which is caused by motion acceleration, so it is difficult to reduce the vibration displacement by using feedback control. Thus, by considering that the flexible structure is driven periodically, we use the repetitive control method to reduce the vibration displacement in motion. In this study, the repetitive control method with the step response, which does not need model identification, is shown. Furthermore, the validity of this method is examined by simulation and experiment.

As novel rodlike liquid crystalline ester compounds exhibiting blue phases (BPs), chiral 4-(4′-alkoxyphenyl)phenyl 4-(4′-alkoxyphenyl)benzoate derivatives (R–C6H4–C6H4–OCO–C6H4–C6H4–R′), 1 (R = R′ = (R)-1-methylheptyloxy, BP range: 1.6 K on heating), 2 (R = (R)-1-methylheptyloxy, R′ = n-octyloxy, BP range: 0.8 K on heating), 4 (R = (R)-1-methylheptyloxy, R′ = H, BP range: 1.0 K on heating), were synthesized and their phase behaviors were investigated. Further, the BP of 1 was stabilized by addition of its achiral homologue ester compound 3 (R = R′ = n-octyloxy). In the range of the composite ratio of 1 : 3 from 10 : 0 to 0 : 10, the BP temperature range became wider with increase of the content of 3 in the mixture. At the ratio of 6 : 4, the BP indicated the widest temperature range in the mixing experiment (5.0 K on heating and 6.0 K on cooling).

Purpose: Most aneurysms are generally presumed to be atherosclerotic in origin. Endothelium-dependent dilations were impaired in the cases of atherosclerosis. It is not clear whether the endothelial function of the peripheral arteries in humans with abdominal aortic aneurysm is impaired. The purpose of this study is to characterize endothelium-dependent relaxations in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm. Methods: Responses of external iliac artery blood flow to acetylcholine (30 μg/min: an endothelium-dependent vasodilator) and sodium nitroprusside (10 μg/min: a direct dilator of smooth muscle) were examined by electromagnetic blood flow meter in a group of 13 patients consisting of six patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, six patients with colorectal cancer, and one patient with abdominal aortic aneurysm and rectal cancer. Results: The mean blood flow before administration of drugs was comparable between the two groups. In the patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, infusion of acetylcholine did not significantly increase the mean blood flow, whereas in the patients with colorectal cancer, acetylcholine increased the blood flow significantly. The increases of blood flow by an infusion of sodium nitroprusside were comparable between the two groups. In one patient with abdominal aortic aneurysm and rectal cancer, acetylcholine did not alter the blood flow, and sodium nitroprusside increased the blood flow, which was similar to what the patient with abdominal aortic aneurysm experienced. Conclusions: These results suggest that in patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm, the endothelium-dependent vasodilations of the peripheral artery were impaired without changing the smooth muscle property. (J VASC SURG 1994;20:803-7.)

Poor distal runoff and hyperlipidemia are factors affecting the fate of an implanted graft. In the present study, combined effects of poor distal runoff and hyperlipidemia on intimal hyperplasia (IH) of the vein graft were examined in a newly developed poor distal runoff model in rabbits. A poor distal runoff model was prepared in the right hindlimb of 30 rabbits. These animals were divided into two groups, depending on the diet provided; normolipidemic diet group (Group NL, n = 14) and hyperlipidemic 1% cholesterol diet group (Group HL, n = 16). Four weeks after preparing the poor runoff model, the femoral vein was implanted into the ipsilateral femoral artery. At 2, 4 and 6 weeks, the grafts were harvested. IH of the graft was measured and macrophages in the IH were examined immunohistochemically. Intimal cell proliferation was also determined by bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. IH of the vein graft was significantly accelerated in cases of poor distal runoff and hyperlipidemia. There were no macrophages in the IH in the NL group. In the HL group, macrophages infiltrated the outer layer of IH, sometimes just above the internal elastic lamina, and increased with time. In the poor distal runoff limbs at 6 weeks, macrophages also appeared in the subendothelial layer but were absent in that layer in the controls. Intimal cell proliferation expressed as the BrdU labeling index (LI) was maximum at 2 weeks. In the HL group, BrdU LI of IH in the poor distal runoff limb was higher than in the control at 2 and 4 weeks. Throughout the experiments, BrdU LIs in the HL group were significantly higher than in the NL. Hyperlipidemia accelerates intimal cell proliferation to a greater extent, then does IH. In cases of a poor distal runoff, the enhancement of cell proliferation by hyperlipidemia is augmented. These responses, in the presence of a hyperlipidemia, may be closely related to the migration of macrophages.

To investigate the correlation between the long-term results of an extra-anatomic bypass and operative flow waveform analysis, we retrospectively reviewed 32 axillofemoral and 21 femorofemoral bypasses for between 1 and 5 years after surgical repair. For the grafts with a type O or I flow waveform pattern, the patency at 3 years (83%) and at 5 years (83%) was superior to grafts with a type II flow waveform (69 and 60%). For the axillofemoral bypass grafts with a type O or I waveform, the patency rate was 92% at 5 years. In contrast with the type II flow, the patency rate was 70% at 5 years. For the femorofemoral bypass with a type O or I and a II flow waveform, the patency at 4 years was 67 and 46%, respectively. In cases with concomitant superficial femoral artery occlusion, the flow waveform was type O or I in 23% and type II in 77%. The patency rate at 5 years was 85% for cases with a patent superficial femoral artery, and 51% for an occluded superficial femoral artery (p0.05). These results suggest that the long-term outcome of extra-anatomic bypass correlates with the operative flow wave analysis. In addition, good long-term results and an accurate flow wave pattern depend on the distal run-off, particularly the presence of a patent superficial femoral artery.

Selecting the most appropriate surgical approach for patients with abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and gastrointestinal malignancy remains controversial. In an attempt to develop guidelines for the management of patients with these two simultaneous lesions, a retrospective review of patients who had concomitant AAA and gastrointestinal malignancy was undertaken. During the period from January 1985 to February 1993, 229 patients with AAA were admitted to our hospital. Among these, 19 patients (8%) had a gastrointestinal malignancy together with AAA and were divided into 2 groups. Group I was composed of 11 patients who underwent either a 1- or a 2-stage operation for both lesions. Group II was composed of eight patients who either underwent an operation for one lesion (six patients) or did not have any operation (two patients). Among group I, six patients underwent the two-stage operation. In four of the six patients, the malignancy was resected first. In the remaining two patients, the aneurysmectomy was performed first, because, in one patient, the aneurysm was more than 6 cm in diameter, and, in the other patient, the aneurysm was a saccular type. Among group I, five patients (two patients with gastric cancer, and one patient each with esophageal cancer, rectal cancer, and malignant lymphoma of the stomach) underwent a one-stage operation. In three of the five patients (two patients with gastric cancer and one patient with esophageal cancer), simultaneous resection was carried out by using segregated approaches, namely, the retroperitoneal approach for AAA and the transperitoneal approach for malignancy. Although the clinical characteristics of the patients were different, 8 of the 11 patients (73%) in group I are still alive, whereas only 1 of the 8 patients (13%) in group II is still alive. The principles of our surgical approaches for concomitant AAA and gastrointestinal malignancy are as follows: (1) The lesion that absolutely indicated urgent surgery was resected first. (2) If both lesions were asymptomatic, the malignancy was resected first. (3) Simultaneous resection using different approaches was useful in some patients with concomitant upper early gastrointestinal malignancy. (4) Both lesions need to be resected eventually for better long-term survival.