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The gross structure of the digital artery distal to the proximal interphalangeal joint is significantly different from its proximal portion. Previous research in this laboratory has revealed that over half of all fingers exhibit marked tortuosity of this artery in juxtaposition to the distal interphalangeal joint. Any structure with a large amount of bending will have the properties of a spring. An understanding of these properties may help in creating tension-free anastomoses during finger tip replantation. The elastic strength and energy storage capacities of the distal digital artery were measured in 26 cadaver arteries.

We found that α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 placed under the pressure above 15kbar is a semiconductor with an extremely narrow gap (gap energy might be as low as several kelvins). The Hall coefficient which varies 6 orders of magnitude between 300K and 1K, and a temperature independent conductivity are key properties to understand this material. No such organic conductors nor inorganic conductors are ever known. Anomalous magnetotransport phenomena were observed at low temperatures.

One of the recent progresses in the field of investigation of organic conductors, is the discovery of a zero-gap conductor α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3. Under high pressure, this material exhibits mysterious transport behavior. For example, the resistance in the absence of magnetic field is nearly constant in a wide region of temperature. Now, we are in a stage where we can understand the behavior of α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 based on the knowledge of zero-gap conductors. Quite recently, we found that, as out-of-plane magnetic field is applied, the Hall resistance, ρxy increases linearly with B and is saturated at a value h/e2(/number of layers). The saturation occurs in the field where zero-mode Landau carriers dominate the transport. We believe this is one of the key phenomena to characterize the transport of zero-gap conductors. In this work, we intend to make it clear if this characteristic behavior of ρxy is universal to zero-gap conductors. α-(BEDT-STF)2I3 has a crystal structure similar to that of α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3. The electron energy structures resemble each other. A serious diαerence, however, exists between these two materials. α-(BEDT-STF)2I3 contains 'intrinsic' lattice imperfections due to unsymmetrical molecular structure of BEDT-STF so that carries receive strong scattering. The purpose of this work is to answer the question whether the carriers in dirty zero-gap conductors shows transport phenomena similar to α-(BEDT-STF)2I3. The answer is yes.

The strain in an organic field-effect channel was controlled using a pressure-sensitive organic superconductor κ-(BEDT-TTF)2Cu[N(CN)2]Br [BEDT-TTF=bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathia-fulvalene]. The difference in thermal properties between the channel and the substrate induced strain with cooling, resulting in a phase transition. An unshrinkable SiO2∕Si substrate was used to strain the subject material to the insulating state at low temperature, whereas a shrinkable polymer-based substrate allowed it to be a superconductor. The strain-induced insulating phase on SiO2∕Si is at the vicinity of the phase boundary with the superconducting phase, actualizing field-effect transistor behavior.

We have investigated the temperature dependence of the Hall coefficient and the resistivity of an organic Mott insulator, beta '-(BEDT-TTF)(2)ICl2 under ambient and hydrostatic pressures up to 2GPa. The charge gap, Delta, the effective mass, m*, and the scattering lifetime of carriers on Mott Hubbard bands were evaluated by analyzing these transport properties. We found that m* and Delta are written approximately as 1/m* infinity (1 - Delta/U-eff) in the low-pressure region and obtained the value of the effective on-site Coulomb energy, U-eff, of similar to 445meV. Moreover, we reveal that the effective scattering lifetime is proportional to the average distance between carriers in the two-dimensional plane, which suggests the existence of a scattering process attributable to carrier-carrier umklapp scattering in the Mott insulating state. Copyright (C) EPLA, 2008.

We investigated an out-of-plane resistivity of quasi two-dimensional conductors, κ(BEDT-TSeF) 2 FeX 4 (X=Cl, Br) which have an elliptical in-plane Fermi surface. The resistivity under a magnetic field parallel to conducting layers was found to obey a simple formula, \(\rho_{zz}(B,\phi)=\rho_{zz}(0)\sqrt{1+(\beta(\phi)B/\rho_{zz}(0)){}^{2}}\), where B is a field strength and φ is an angle specifying the field direction. β(φ) is a parameter that is inversely proportional to the Fermi wave number in a direction normal to the magnetic field. We showed that we can map the in-plane Fermi surface, using φ dependence of β. This method is convenient because it works at high temperatures and in low magnetic fields where other methods to map the Fermi surface do not work.

A zero-gap state with the Dirac cone-type energy dispersion was found in an organic conductor α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 under high hydrostatic pressures. This is the first two-dimensional zero-gap state discovered in bulk crystals with layered structures. In contrast to the case of graphene, the Dirac cone in this system is highly anisotropic. The present system, therefore, provides a new type of massless Dirac fermions with anisotropic Fermi velocity. From the galvano-magnetic measurements, the density and mobilities of electrons and holes were determined in the temperature region between 77 K and 2 K. In this region, the carrier density (n) depends on temperature (T) as n∝T2 and decreases by about four orders of magnitude. On the other hand, the sheet resistance per BEDT-TTF layer (RS) stays almost constant in the region. The value is written as RS=gh/e2 in terms of the quantum resistance h/e2=25.8 kΩ, where g is a parameter that depends weakly on temperature.

We succeeded in deriving an analytical expression that yields the electrical conductivity for quasi-one-dimensional electron systems, when the current is in the least conductive direction and the magnetic field is perpendicular to it. This formula is valid for the magnetic field along an arbitrary direction in the conducting layers and the field strength from zero to higher fields, where ωτ≫1. We verified the applicability of the formula using the experimental results for an organic quasi-one-dimensional layered metal (TMTSF) 2 ClO 4 . The formula was found to reproduce the experimental results fairly well.

We review the transport phenomena in an organic conductor α-(BEDT-TTF) 2 I 3 . It exhibits various types of transport depending on the circumstance in which it is placed. Under the ambient pressure, it is a charge-ordered insulator below 135 K. When high hydrostatic pressures are applied, it changes to a new type of narrow gap (or zero gap) semiconductor. The conductivity of this system is nearly constant between 300 and 1.5 K. In the same region, however, both the carrier (hole) density and the mobility change by about six orders of magnitude, in a manner so that the effects just cancel out giving rise to the temperature independent conductivity. The temperature ( T ) dependence of the carrier density n obey n ∝ T 2 below 50 K. When it is compressed along the crystallographic a -axis, it changes from the charge ordered insulator to a narrow gap semiconductor. At the boundary between these phases, there appears a superconducting phase. On the other hand, when compressed in the b -axis, the system changes ...

We investigated the magnetoresistance effect on an organic conductor, (ET) 3 Cl(DFBIB), which has a quasi-two-dimensional electron system. The out-of-plane resistivity in transverse magnetic fields...

We have investigated magnetoresistance and Hall effect of α-(BEDT-TSeF)2I3 at low temperatures on samples under high pressure ( 14 kbar ). Positive magnetoresistance in low magnetic field (H ∼ 0.5 T) and negative magnetoresistance in high field (H > 1 T) are observed at 1.3 K. Hall effect which is nonlinear to the magnetic field is observed.

Pressurization of θ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 I 3 has been shown to expand the cross-sectional area of small three-dimensional Fermi surface viewed along the b m -axis. At room temperature, θ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 I 3 has been found to undergo a transition at about 5 kbar to a new phase ( θ h -phase), whose electric behavior is similar to that of the α-phase. The temperature dependence of the Hall coefficient of θ-(BEDT-TTF) 2 I 3 has been interpreted by taking account of the thermal effect on large two-dimensional Fermi surface.

Electrochemical properties of various DHTTF derivatives and electrical conductivities of their radical cation salts have been investigated. Among their radical cation salts, the electrical resistance of (MDHT)2AuI2 [MDHT = methylenedithio(dihydro)tetrathiafulvalene] on a single crystal exhibited the metallic temperature dependence.

We found that α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3 crystal under high pressures and at low temperatures has a carrier system with high mobility and extremely low density. This system was found to be very sensitive to the magnetic field. Three stepwise changes in the transport properties were observed, when the magnetic field is increased or the temperature were decreased. We ascribed the changes in the state to the change in the mass of the carriers.

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the clinical results of operations using a new spinal instrumentation for posterior fixation, called segmental square spinal (3-S) instrumentation. The 3-S instrument consists of two pairs of hooks to clasp the interarticular portion of the lamina bilaterally, two horizontal bars to connect the hooks on the right and left, and rods to connect the hooks side by side on the top and bottom. Twenty-seven patients who had degenerative lumbar disorders underwent operations with the 3-S instrument. Rigid fixation was obtained in all cases immediately after the operation. Bone union rates were 91% (21/23) with posterolateral fusion. The 3-S instrument seems to be suitable for spinal disorders in which anterior spinal fusion is not necessary, especially for degenerative spinal disorders.

The cases who twice underwent surgery for tuberculosis of the spine are reported. Both patients received radical surgical treatment and chemotherapy with isoniazid, rifampicin and streptomycin. In the first case spondylitis recurred five months after the first operation. In the second case it recurred one month after. The tubercle bacillus of the first was found to have resistance to rifampicin, para-aminosalicylic acid and streptomycin. That of the second case was found to have resistance to rifampicin, ethanbutal, kanamycin and streptomycin.Each patient received a second operation. In the first case antituberclous drugs were changed to isoniazid, ethanbutal and kanamycin, and in the second case antituberclous drugs were changed to isoniazid and ethionamide. Both patients have recovered and are doing well with solid fusion noted.

Radiographic studies of the lower cervical spine in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) were performed to investigate the influence of the fusion of the upper cervical spine upon the lower. Twenty of 54 patients treated operatively were examined. Fourteen cases with atlanto-axial anterior subluxation were treated with McGraw's procedure and 6 cases with atlanto-axial vertical subluxation were treated with occipito-atlanto-axial fusion. Normal subjects of control were 50 patients who were diagnosed as classical RA and treated conservatively.In each case, narrowing of intervertebral space without osteophyte, end-plate erosion, facet erosion, collapse of vertebral body and anterior subluxation were investigated from four roentgenograms (anteroposterior, lateral including neutral, flexion and extension). Collapse and anterior subluxation were more frequently by seen in cases of occipito-atlanto-axial fusion than in cases of McGraw's procedure and non-operative treatment. This result suggests that the fixation of occipitoatloid joint adds great force to the lower cervical spine.

Seven patients treated surgically with spinal cord tumor were examined by Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI). Of the seven patients, four turned out to be neurinomas, one meningioma, one ependymoma and one lipoma. We tried to compare the MRI findings with the operative findings. The involved level of the tumors in spine, their expanse and the size were similar to the operative findings. The extradural tumor had a low intensity band between the tumor and the spinal cord. In the extradural tumor the direction the tapering of the cerebro-spinal fluid at the level of the tumor in the spine tended to be medial. These two findings were useful to discriminate between the extradural and intradural tumors. We could not discriminate between the intramedullary tumor and extramedullary tumor, because the present MRI apparatus had low resolution and thick slice. The examination by MRI is non-invasive and can be done as an outpatient. The examination by MRI is useful not only for close examination, but also as a screening examination.

The three dimensional intervertebral movements of fourteen patients with lumbar instability were measured. These movements of a group of six normal subjects were also measured. The CT scan in rotation to the left and to the right was used to investigate the axial rotational instability of the lumbar spine. MRI was used to determine the grade of disc degeneration. The relations between the axial rotational instability and other dimensional movements, the grade of disc degeneration and physical signs were analyzed. The facet of the lumbar spine with rotational instability showed hypertrophy, subluxation and joint laxity. The intervertebral disc of the lumbar spine with rotational instability showed the grade 3-4 disc degeneration. When facet degeneration increases in addition to disc degeneration, rotational instability may occur, and then rotational deformity may narrow the lumbar canal.

Haemoperfusion and oxygen saturation were studied by tissue reflection spectra on the dural sac of dogs, Experimentally, decompression laminectomy and external pressure on the dural sac were carried out. Haemoperfusion and oxygen saturation were investigated in the open state, and after an external pressure was applied. After the application of external pressure, paraplegia occurred. The tissue Spectrum Analyser 'TS-200' (Sumitomo Electric Industries Co. Ltd, Japan) was used for the measurement of haemoperfusion and oxygen saturation. With this apparatus, an optical fibre probe is applied to irradiate tissue with white light, and the absorption spectrum of the reflected light from tissue is analysed. It has been confirmed that oxygen saturation was not changed in either state, however, haemoperfusion was decreased when external pressure was applied.

Five patients treated with chymopapain injection was evaluated by clinical, radiological and MRI method. The mean age was 34.6 years. Four of them had satisfactory results but recurrent pain resulted in one case. Clinical outcome by Japanese Orthopaedic Association (J. O. A.) score after 12 months was 73.9%. Disc space height was gradually decreased except for one case. Disc herniation was observed to gradually diminish in size for 4 cases, whereas disc bulging resulted in one acute disc height decrease. As the result, it was confirmed that degree of disc degeneration might be related to disc space height after chemonucleolysis and to be important to judge which disc herniation segment was dissolved by chymopapain. It seemed that discography and MRI were most excellent preinjection examination.

Ten patients from 11 to 19 years of age having idiopathic Scoliosis underwent electromyography of the paraspinal muscles using surface electrodes. The study was conducted with the patients both standing and hanging. In the standing position most of the patients had electrical silence on both the concave and convex side of the curvature. In the hanging position, 7 patients had asymmetrical activity on EMG and their Cobb angles improved much more than that of the patients who had electrical silence. An asymmetrical activity at thoracic curvature was observed with a preponderance of activity on the convex side. The electromyographic evaluation in hanging position for idiopathic scoliosis was more valuable.

We have been using the hanging appearance for the screeing and the medical examination of the scoliosis. This paper reports the stripes and patterns of the Hanging Moire topography for normal dorsal forms of 70 cases and scoliotic dorsal forms of 51 cases (Cobb angle more than 15 degrees).The results are summerized as follows:1) The Hanging Moire patterns were classified into three types which were the infrascapular type (Pattern I), the scapular type (Pattern II) and the bilateral type (Pattern III) by the line of the lower borders of the scapula and furthermore two subtypes which had one apex (Pattern B) or two ones (Pattern A) under infrascapular line. We concluded that Pattern A was not found in these scoliotic patients and Pattern B suggested the possibility of the rigid scoliosis.2) The Hanging Moire topography was useful for the check of the spinal flexibility. It was thought that an appropriate cutting point was 7.5mm.

Recently, patients with scoliosis seem to be diagnosed earlier due to progression in its screening method. Therefore, the importance of conservative treatment, especially brace therapy has increased gradually. We investigated 37 patients with scoliosis who were followed up for between six months and three years in some aspects. We divided them into three groups (A, B, C) accoding to Cobb's angle.A group: 10°-19°with flexibility-ExerciseB group: 20°-29°-Exercise and underarm braceC group: 30°--EDF casting and underarm braceThe results were as follows:1) Generally, both A and B groups tended to decrease the Cobb's angle, while C group tended to increase it.2) Approximately, half of both A and B groups were recognised as “improvement”, while in C group only a few. On the contrary, about a half of C group were recognised as “exacerbation”.3) In the curve type of thoracic scoliosis and in the period of so-called growth spurt, the scoliosis showed “exacerbation” in C group.

In evaluating the circulatory condition of the lower extremity in patients with the lumbar spinal canal Stenosis (L. C. S.), we used reflectance spectrophotometry in 20 cases of L. C. S. and 10 cases of control.The results were summarized as follows:1) Concerning O2-saturation and hemoglobin concentration, the rate of increase after walking was smaller in L. C. S group than in control.2) The circulatory disturbance of the lower extremity was found in L. C. S.3) The reflectance spectrophotometry was useful in evaluating the circulatory condition of L. C. S.

Fourteen patients with low back pain were studied using MRI (magnetic resonance imaging). The findings being concerned in the operation, myelogram, metrizamide CT and the plain roentgenogram were compared with MRI.Saturation recovery (TR=500msec) and calculated T1 image (T1=200msec, TR=1000msec) were mainly used.The results are as follows.1) Intervertebral disc herniation seems to be able to be diagnosed.2) Lumbar canal stenosis was difficult to diagnose because of the low signal intensity of the posterior elements of the vertebrae.3) Caudal tumor was differentiated from the caudal nerves.4) MRI will be able to take the place of myelography and CT.

We tried to fix the bone graft of rabbits with fibrin glue and to examine the radiological and histological changes at 1, 3 and 5 weeks. The operation was performed in 12 rabbits. We had no finding as to obstruction of wound healing and immunological reaction. Fibrin Glue namely seems to be a safe and useful adhesive. On the other hand, we did not find fibrin glue to have osteogenetic potency we had expected at this experiment. Fibrin glue was thought to act at early stage of wound healing.

Hemoperfusion and oxygen saturation were investigated by tissue reflection spectra in forty-one cases with rheumatoid arthritis and osteo-arthritis who received intraarterial injection. Forty-one cases were classified into three groups based on the method of intraarterial injection; 20ml of 20% glucose and active VB1 (10mg) through the femoral artery (Group A), and cubital artery (Group B), and 20ml of physiological saline solution and active VB1 (10mg) through the femoral artery (Group C). It has been confirmed that initial I-SO2 (Index of SO2) of Group B is more than 2 times as high as those of Group A and Group C (P

It is expected that there will be an increase in the number of patients suffering from aortic aneurysm due to the increase in the aged group. Aortic aneurysms sometimes destroy vertebral.We experienced a case who suffered from aneurysm of the aorta, destruction of lumbar vertebral and gangrene of the left leg. This report describes the details and briefly reviews the literature on this subject.

Between April 1978 and December 1982, 14 patients were re-operated for treatment of lumber spinal lesion.At the time of initial operation, nine of these patients were diagnosed as lumbar disc hernia (LDH) and five as lumbar spinal canal stenosis (LSCS). The initial operations were performed using Love's Method on all the LDH patients, whereas four of the LSCS patients were operated by laminectomy and one by spinal canal enlargement method. On the average, the time period preceding the re-operation was 1.4 years with LDH and 3.1 years with LSCS.The re-operations were performed by laminectomy plus postero-lateral fusion (PLF) on the LDH patients, as well as on the LSCS patients except for one instance. Causes leading to the re-operation included the inadequate cleaing (four cases), recurrence (two cases), adhesion (two cases), and ligament fiavum kinking plus adhesion (one case) with LDH, and the adhesion (two cases), instability (one case), LDH plus adhesion (one case), and oppression by lamina (one case) with LSCS.When judged in accordance with konoo's Classification Method, the post-operation recovery was rated excellent or good in five cases (55.0%) of LDH and in three cases (60%) of LSCS. Studies of the causes for re-operation and the post-operation recovery performance showed that the inadequate cleaning and recurrence tended to be more prevalent than the adhesion. In terms of degree of satisfaction, “Satisfactory” accounted for 57.1% and “Unsatisfactory” for 42.9%, with the re-operations being performed within a short period of the initial operations at Nagasaki Mitsubishi Hospital.88.9% of the LDH patients and 80% of the LSCS patients were found to have successfully reported back to work.

A new frame is designed for back surgery. The frame consists of three supports (sternum and anterior superior iliac spines). The iliac crest is positioned at the center of the support, and hips and knees are semi-flexed. If the frame gives adequate support with suitable adjustment, the lumbar area of the back of the patient is a flat plane, his abdomen hangs free, and his femoral vessels and inferior vena cava are not compressed.Oxygen intake and vital capacity were measured on seven healthy men and intraosseous pressure in the spinous process of the lumbar spine on another seven patients in this frame and other type five frames. It may be concluded as follows: (1) the patient can be made comfortable, (2) there is no restriction to chest and abdomen, and (3) there is no congestion of the epidural venous plexus.

I In response to questionnaires sent to 10, 116 male workors, effective answers were obtained from 8, 055 employees.The 8, 055 respondents were classified into either “A” group consisting of 4, 684 shop workers or “B” group consisting of 3371 clerical workers, who were further classified into four categories by severity of back pain as follows:1) Those who have no back pain at all and are capable of heavy labor.2) Those who are capable of daily work but have occasional back pain when performing heavy labor.3) Those who have difficulty performing work in the stooped position due to a bad back.4) Those who have difficulty even performing daily routines due to a bad back.Defining, in narrow terms, only (3) and (4) above as bad backs, 7.3% of the “A” group workers and 5.3% of the “B” group workers were found to fall into these categories. It was observed that with both the “A” group and “B” group, the number of workers complaining about bad backs would increase with age. Of the 520 workers falling into the narrow (3) and (4) categories, 140 were given direct physical examinations, faring poorly on the objectivecomment scale as compared with what they scored on the subjective-symptom and daily-life-activity scales.

1206 subjects of ages 10 to 16 in Miyazaki district were studied for a scoliosis examination in 1979 and 1980.Initial screening was performed with the physical examination by orthopedic surgens and the moire topography at standing position. The scoliosis of childrens with a Cobbs angle of over 11 degree was found 1.3 percent roentgenographycally. Especially 3 cases of them (0.3 percent) were over 20 degree.Moire topography at anterior flexed position seemed to emphasize the rib hump and to be useful to document it objectively.