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In order to clarify the prognosis of myocarditis and the relationship between myocarditis and idiopathic cardiomyopathy, 20 patients with myocarditis (one with Coxsackie B; one with rubella and 18 with idiopathic myocarditis) were followed up for a long period using echocardiography and Holter electrocardiographic monitoring. The follow-up period was 49.1 +/- 39.3 months (mean +/- SD). Subjects were classified into the following 4 groups according to their prognoses, left ventricular end-diastolic dimensions (LVDd) and the presence of absence of life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias: Group I with a fatal prognosis, Group II with LVDd greater than or equal to 55 mm, Group III with LVDd less than 55 mm but associated with life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias, and Group IV with LVDd less than 55 mm and with no life-threatening ventricular arrhythmias. Patients of Group I (2 cases) had a marked left ventricular dilatation and a poor left ventricular function just before death. Patients of Group II (5 cases) had left ventricular and left atrial dilatation, and 2 of them had serious ventricular arrhythmias. All 3 patients of Group III had ventricular arrhythmia (ventricular tachycardias, coupled premature ventricular contractions and multifocal premature ventricular contractions, respectively), and 2 of them had asymmetric septal hypertrophy. All 10 patients of Group IV had no residual cardiac abnormalities. In conclusion, 50% of 20 myocarditis patients had residual cardiac abnormalities; 6 patients (2 of Group I and 4 of Group II) were complicated by left ventricular dilatation, simulating dilated cardiomyopathy, and 3 (one of Group II and 2 of Group III) showed asymmetric septal hypertrophy, simulating hypertrophic cardiomyopathy.

The paper describes a concept of a modular robots system and a methodology of parameter identification of the system. The system helps humans to perform tasks by cooperation of modules placed distributively in a working area. Modules of the system have one function (e.g. sensor or actuator) and cooperate based on radio communication. Generally it is difficult and troublesome for users to set up distributed system, because of measuring many parameters (e.g. position and orientation of modules) in practical use. To identify these parameters, motion design algorithm is presented by evaluating influence of errors of sensing and positioning by dead-reckoning for the case of a mobile robot and a ceiling camera module.

Carbon isotopic composition of sterols in marine Holocene sediments, marine sinking particles, tree leaves, and soils were determined. δ13C values of algae-derived sterols such as 24-methylcholesta-5, 22-dien-3β-ol and dinosterol in the marine sediments range from −22.1 to −25.2‰, while those of 24-ethylcholest-5-en-3β-ol (24-ethylcholesterol) range from −22.6 to −24.3‰. We conclude that 24-ethylcholesterol in the marine sediments derives from marine algae, because their δ13C values are markedly different from those of the leaves of C3 (∼−29‰) and C4 (−14‰) plants and similar to those of the algal sterols.

SUMMARY. The relationship between the antigen release from formulations in vitro and the antibody response after administration of water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W) emulsion vaccines containing Haemophilus paragallinarum (Hpg) was studied in chickens. Increases of sorbitan sesquioleate volume in the formulation led to slower antigen release and tended to induce higher hemagglutination-inhibition (HI) antibody titers. In addition, the vaccines prepared with internal aqueous phase: oil phase:external aqueous phase (A: 0: A) ratios of 3:4:3 and 3:3:4 also showed slower release of antigen and higher HI antibody titer compared with those of an A:O:A ratio of 3:2:5. Vaccines prepared with polyoxyethylene (POE)(10) hydrogenated castor oil or POE(40) hydrogenated castor oil instead of sorbitan sesquioleate showed higher release and lower antibody HI titers. As a result, HI antibody titers at 6 wk after vaccination were inversely related to antigen release, as determined by the release test. The correlation coefficient was 0.942. In infectious coryza W/O/W emulsion vaccines, the slow release of antigen from the formulation induced and maintained high HI antibody titers of Hpg.