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This paper describes a model called “FC-CBK” developed to represent the combustion histories of individual coal particles with a minimum amount of laboratory support. The FC-CBK model is a combination model of FLASHCHAIN model, one of the network depolymerization devolatilization models, and CBK8 model, a mechanism for char oxidation that quantitatively represents the latest stages of combustion. Each simulation represents the entire combustion history of particles injected into hot oxidizing gas, including drying, devolatilization, volatiles combustion with energy feedback to the particle, heterogeneous char ignition, thermal annealing, quasi-steady char oxidation with simultaneous reductions in particle density and size, and mineral effects during the char combustion. Whereas these mechanisms involve numerous reaction rate constants and physical properties, all the parameters in FC-CBK model may be specified from the proximate and ultimate analyses of the coals. In this paper, the outline of FC-CBK model, the result of the test predictions and the required input data are described.

症例は56歳の女性. 夕食に鰯の酢の物を摂取したが, 翌朝心窩部痛および嘔吐が出現したため来院した. 当初は急性胃腸炎との診断にて保存的治療を行ったが, 翌日の腹部US, CTにて空腸に同心円状の層状構造をみとめ腸重積症と診断し緊急手術を行った. 手術所見では, トライツ靱帯から約10cmの空腸に順行性に腸重積症を認めた. 用手的に整復を行ったが, 腸管の浮腫が高度であったため約30cmの空腸を切除した. 切除標本では口側端に発赤した浮腫状の粘膜を認めたのみであったが, 病理組織学的検査で粘膜下層に虫体の迷入と著明な好酸球の浸潤を認め小腸アニサキス症と診断した. 腸アニサキス症はまれではあるが腸重積症も引き起こすことがあることも念頭に置き, 詳細な病歴の聴取, 検査成績, 画像診断など総合的に判断し診療に当たることが重要であると思われた.

In this paper, an improved rooftop mirror is proposed and its characteristics are evaluated by numerical analysis. First, it is shown by FDTD analysis that it is not easy to obtain a high reflection characteristic with fundamental mode incidence in the conventional structure. Next, the reflection characteristics are analyzed for an improved structure in which the incident single-mode waveguide is connected to a multimode interference waveguide inside the rooftop. In such a process, comparison with the results obtained by FDTD analysis demonstrates that the simple guided mode propagation method neglecting the radiation mode is effective for design of a mode interference section. A reflectivity of 96% is attained by introduction of the mode interference section for both fundamental TE and TM mode incidence. Further, the wavelength characteristics of the reflection coefficient are studied. The effects of misalignment of the waveguide axis and shift of the apex angle of the rooftop on the reflection characteristics are discussed. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 87(1): 1–8, 2004; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.10172

Background: No accepted therapy has been established for progressive immunoglobulin A (IgA) nephropathy. Methods: A prospective, randomized, controlled trial of low-dose prednisolone therapy was performed in patients with IgA nephropathy with moderate histological characteristics. Forty-three patients in the steroid group and 47 patients in the control group were included in the study. The initial dose of prednisolone was 20 mg/d, gradually tapered to 5 mg/d during 2 years. Results: Baseline urine protein-creatinine ratio (UP-UCR) was significantly greater in the steroid group than in controls. Follow-up duration was 65 ± 25 months in the steroid group and 64 ± 23 months in controls. Changes in UP-UCR from baseline, ie, UP-UCR at last follow-up minus UP-UCR at baseline, were significantly lower in the steroid group than in controls (steroid group, −0.84 ± 1.78; controls, 0.26 ± 1.65; P = 0.0034). Kidney survival was similar in both groups. Patients were divided into two subgroups according to clinical course. There were 28 improved patients and 15 unimproved patients in the steroid group and 27 improved patients and 20 unimproved patients in the control group. In the steroid group, UP-UCR was significantly greater in the unimproved than improved subgroup (3.1 ± 2.6 versus 1.8 ± 1.5). Conclusion: These data suggest that our protocol had an antiproteinuric effect, but could not improve kidney survival. Because the effect of steroid therapy to prevent the progression of IgA nephropathy is believed to be linked closely to reduction in urinary potein, an insufficient dose of prednisolone in our protocol may be the reason for the discrepancy between the effect on proteinuria and kidney survival.

A modified finite-difference formula including the boundary condition of the field is applied to the eigenmode and propagation analysis of optical waveguides. First, in order to show the effectiveness of the modified finite-difference formula, the eigenmode solver is formulated using the imaginary axis method based on the Yee lattice. The fundamental mode of a two-dimensional step-index slab is computed. It is proved that the discontinuous field at the dielectric interface can be evaluated accurately. Further, a circular fiber is analyzed and its converged field is obtained with a lattice spacing larger than that in the conventional method. Finally, by using the finite-difference time-domain method, the propagating wave in a slanted waveguide is analyzed. It is pointed out that the quantization error caused by the staircase approximation can be reduced by the application of the modified finite-difference formula. © 2002 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 2, 85(12): 1–9, 2002; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecjb.10078

We analyzed the spatial frequency of images generated with multi-slice CT (Z-axis) and estimated the definition and noise characteristics. The noise characteristics were calculated with Wiener spectra from multi planar reconstruction (MPR) images, and, in the evaluation of definition characteristics, the modulation transfer function (MTF) was calculated using section sensitivity profile (SSP) with the base method. The Wiener spectra showed a tendency for noise to decrease from a low frequency domain as the effective slice thickness increased. In addition, Wiener spectra were not much different in helical pitch because effective slice thickness became thicker with increases in helical pitch. Examination results suggest that quantitative analysis of the characteristics of image noise and resolution in multi-slice CT images may provide an optical parameter for improving the quality of images in clinical data.

The benefit of La-Al-O higher-k gate dielectrics is maximized by optimizing the Al/(La+Al) atomic ratio. The Al/(La+Al) atomic ratio modulates the band gap, dielectric constant, and interface dipoles, resulting in change of energy band alignment. The La-Al-O film with an Al/(La+Al) atomic ratio of 0.25 yields a maximum leakage current reduction exceeding HfO2 and La2O3, owing to the optimized band alignment structure. Moreover, a SiON underlayer instead of SiO2 enables additional equivalent oxide thickness scaling down to 7.4 Å while maintaining the fully reduced leakage current with a gate-first process.

Recently, a generally applicable screening method for multiresidue pesticide analysis, which is simple, quick, and accurate and has a reliable performance, is becoming increasingly important for food safety and international trade. This paper proposes a high-throughput screening methodology that enables the detection of multiresidue pesticides using supercritical fluid chromatography coupled to a high-performance benchtop quadrupole Orbitrap mass spectrometry (SFC/Q Exactive) and an automated library-based detection. A total of 444 chemicals covering a wide polarity range (logPow from -4.2 to 7.7) and a wide molecular weight range (from 99.0 to 872.5) were analyzed simultaneously through a combination of high mass resolution (a value of m/Δm = 70000), high mass accuracy (5 ppm) with positive/negative polarity switching, and highly efficient separation by SFC. A total of 373 pesticides were detected in QuEChERS spinach extracts without dispersive solid phase extraction at the 10 μg kg(-1) level (provisional maximum residue limits in Japan). In conclusion, the developed analytical system is a potentially useful tool for practical multiresidue pesticide screening with high throughput (time for data acquisition, 72 samples per day; and time for data processing of 72 samples, approximately 45 min).

Background We previously demonstrated short length of rest with a cervical orthosis obtained a decreased tendency for neck or shoulder pain, neck stiffness, and impairment of cervical alignment after cervical laminoplasty. Postoperative maintenance of cervical motion may result in intervertebral instability and poor surgical outcomes. Objective The purpose of this study was to compare the postoperative fusion rate, range of motion (ROM), vertebral listhesis, and surgical outcomes with the duration of rest with a cervical orthosis. Methods We conducted cervical laminoplasty on 66 patients with spondylotic myelopathy. All patients were followed for at least two years. Patients remained in bed for two weeks and wore a cervical orthosis for eight weeks postoperatively, postoperative bed rest for seven days and use of an orthosis for four weeks, or postoperative bed rest for five days followed by use of an orthosis for two weeks were assigned. Results Long rest with a cervical orthosis produced multiple unions and limitation of cervical ROM, resulting in postoperative neck pain. Short rest maintained motion at multiple disc levels. There was no marked difference in neurogenic outcomes between short and long rest. Conclusions A short rest period with a cervical orthosis is recommended to maintain cervical motion free from neck pain.

Perigraft seroma is a very rare postoperative complication following abdominal aortic aneurysm repair. A 74-year-old man with history of esophageal cancer surgery, underwent Gore-Tex graft replacement for an abdominal aortic aneurysm. A 50-mm perigraft seroma was noted one year later, increasing to over 70 mm in the next 6 months. We resected the Gore-Tex graft and replaced it with a Dacron graft via a repeat laparotomy. We observed the resected Gore-Tex graft in detail using electron microscopy to investigate the mechanism of perigraft seroma.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary bone malignancy and accounts for more than half of primary skeletal malignancies in children and young adults. Although vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) expression in osteosarcoma has been associated with poor outcome, its role in the pathogenesis of osteosarcoma remains controversial. Here, VEGF and VEGFR1 expression in both human and murine osteosarcoma cells associated with increasing malignant potential. Autocrine VEGF/VEGFR1 signaling resulted in constitutive activation of VEGFR1 in highly aggressive osteosarcoma cells. In addition, survival and proliferation of highly aggressive osteosarcoma cells was dependent on autocrine VEGF/R1 signaling in vitro. The effect of VEGFR1 expression on in vivo tumor growth and angiogenesis was evaluated by immunoselecting subpopulations of osteosarcoma cells that express high or low levels of VEGFR1. Cell enriched for high VEGFR1 expression showed increased VEGF production, tumor growth, tumor angiogenesis, and osteolysis in vivo. In addition, it was demonstrated that VEGF and VEGFR1 are coexpressed by a subset of tumor cells in human osteosarcoma, similar to what was observed in the murine osteosarcoma cells. These results suggest that autocrine VEGF/VEGFR1 signaling in a subpopulation of tumor cells plays a pivotal role in osteosarcoma progression. Implications: Aggressive osteosarcoma phenotypes are mediated by autocrine VEGF/VEGFR1 signaling and improved stratification measures and novel anti-angiogenic strategies may benefit this specific tumor type. Mol Cancer Res; 12(8); 1100–11. ©2014 AACR.

To examine the complications of arthroscopic knee surgeries conducted in the Sports Medicine and Knee Center of our hospital.In this prospective study, a total of 2,623 patients (1,396 men and 1,227 women) who underwent arthroscopic knee surgeries in our center between January 2006 and March 2013 (7 years and 3 months) were studied. The ages at surgery ranged 7-96 years (mean 33.5 years). Arthroscopy was conducted because of sports injuries in 1,653 patients (63.0 %). The main diagnoses included meniscal injury in 920 patients, discoid meniscus in 64 patients, anterior cruciate ligament injury in 580 knees, posterior cruciate ligament injury in 30 knees, loose body in 61 knees, and intraarticular fracture in 33 knees. Arthroscopic procedures included meniscectomy in 987 knees, meniscal suture repair in 262 knees, and anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction in 508 knees. Intraoperative and postoperative complications in these cases were investigated.The rate of complication was 7 in 2,623 cases (0.27 %). Intraoperative complications comprised three cases of intraarticular instrument breakage and one case of meniscal injury. Postoperative complications consisted of two cases of septic arthritis and one case of superficial infection, and reoperation was necessary in the two cases of septic arthritis. There were no neural, vascular and ligament injuries during surgery, and no complex regional pain syndrome, symptomatic deep vein thrombosis, and pulmonary embolism were observed.Arthroscopic knee surgeries are considered to be minimally invasive, and are conducted relatively safe with low complication rates. In this series, however, seven cases of complications occurred, including two cases (0.08 %) of septic arthritis. Furthermore, symptomatic thromboembolism has been reported to occur also in arthroscopic surgery. The risk of severe complications has to be acknowledged.

Osteosarcoma is the most common primary malignant tumor of bone and accounts for half of all primary skeletal malignancies in children and teenagers. The prognosis for patients who fail or progress on first-line chemotherapy protocols is poor, therefore, additional adjuvant therapeutic strategies are needed. A recent feasibility study has demonstrated that the nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate zoledronic acid (ZOL) can be combined safely with conventional chemotherapy. However, the pharmacodynamics of bisphosphonate therapy is not well characterized. Osteosarcoma is a highly angiogenic tumor. Recent reports of the anti-angiogenic effects of bisphosphonates prompted us to determine whether nitrogen-containing bisphosphonate (ZOL and alendronate) treatment attenuates osteosarcoma growth by inhibition of osteoclast activity, tumor-mediated angiogenesis, or direct inhibitory effects on osteosarcoma. Here, we demonstrate that bisphosphonates directly inhibit VEGFR2 expression in endothelial cells, as well as endothelial cell proliferation and migration. Additionally, bisphosphonates also decrease VEGF-A expression in osteosarcoma (K7M3) cells, resulting in reduced stimulation of endothelial cell migration in co-culture assays. ZOL also decreases VEGFR1 expression in aggressive osteosarcoma cell lines (K7M3, 143B) and induces apoptosis of these cells, but has negligible effects on less aggressive osteosarcoma cell lines (K12 and TE85). In vivo ZOL treatment results in significant reduction in osteosarcoma-initiated angiogenesis and tumor growth in a murine model of osteosarcoma. In conclusion, bisphosphonates have diverse growth inhibitory effects on osteosarcoma through: (1) activation of apoptosis and inhibition of cell proliferation, (2) inhibition of VEGF-A and VEGFR1 expression by tumor cells, (3) inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis, and (4) direct inhibitory actions on endothelial cells.

Acute allograft glomerulopathy (AAG) characterized by hypercellularity, enlargement of endothelial cells, infiltration of glomeruli by mononuclear cells and webs of PAS-positive material has been reported as an unusual but distinct form of acute rejection in kidney transplant recipients. We present a case of persistent AAG proven by serial biopsies. The patient was 53 years old when she received kidney transplantation from her mother. The immunosuppressants were methylprednisolone, azathioprine and FK506. She developed several acute rejections and received antirejection therapy. The patient transferred to our hospital 15 months after transplantation. Serum creatinine was 2.11 mg/dL. The level of serum creatinine was gradually elevated from 2.11 mg/dL to 3.09 mg/dL. Graft biopsy, performed 16.5 months after transplantation, represented prominent intraglomerular infiltration of mononuclear cells, segmental thickening of glomerular basement membrane (GBM) with double contour, grade 1 tubulitis, marked accumulation of mononuclear cells in peritubular capillaries and margination of mononuclear cells in a small artery. It was diagnosed as acute allograft glomerulopathy (AAG). Intravenous methylprednisolone pulse therapy, discontinuation of FK506 and administration of cyclosporin (CYA) resulted in decrease of serum creatinine. To evaluate histological evolution of AAG we performed two subsequent biopsies over 3 yr. Severe glomerulitis persisted as a prominent feature 8 months later and still existed 53.4 months after transplantation with decreased severity. The extent of GBM reduplication also decreased, but the percentage of glomerular sclerosis increased gradually. Multi-layering of basement membrane of peritubular capillary and interstitial fibrosis also increased. The prominence of infiltration of mononuclear cells in peritubular capillary was unchanged. At the last follow-up, i.e. 71 months after transplantation, her serum creatinine was 1.34 mg/dL. Neither proteinuria nor haematuria was observed. We consider that our immunosuppressive treatment has been successful so far, because the patient is still maintaining stable graft function since the transplantation over 6 yr ago. It is thus suggested that AAG per se probably has no influence on acute 2 aggravation of graft function, but AAG and capillaritis in peritubular capillaries may cause an evolution of chronic allograft nephropathy, resulting in a slowly progressive deterioration of graft function.

We have previously reported an infiltration of renal interstitial gammadelta T cells in Adriamycin-induced progressive glomerulosclerosis in the rat kidney. The TCR repertoire and sequences used by these gammadelta T cells have now been studied. Two injections of Adriamycin 14 days apart caused segmental glomerulosclerosis, massive interstitial infiltration of mononuclear cells, and end-stage renal failure. Flow cytometry of lymphocyte subpopulations with Abs to CD3, the gammadelta TCR, and the alphabeta TCR showed that gammadelta T cells as a proportion of CD3(+) cells were increased in Adriamycin-treated kidneys (8.5 +/- 5.4%), but not in lymph nodes (1.3 +/- 0.4%). A semiquantitative score of glomerular damage (r = 0.65; p < 0.01) and creatinine (r = 0.62; p < 0.01) correlated significantly with the presence of gammadelta T cells. TCR Vgamma repertoire analysis by RT-PCR and Southern blotting showed that Vgamma2 was the dominant subfamily in lymph nodes, whereas Vgamma4 became the predominant subfamily in advanced stages of the rat Adriamycin-treated kidney. Sequencing of the Vgamma4-Jgamma junctional region showed an invariant sequence. The amino acid sequence of the junctional region of the Vgamma4 TCR was the same as the reported mouse canonical Vgamma4 TCR sequence. Analysis of the kidney Vdelta repertoire showed dominant expression of Vdelta1, and sequencing again revealed the selective expression of a canonical Vdelta1 gene. Semiquantitative RT-PCR for cytokine gene expression showed that gammadelta T cells from the kidneys expressed TGF-beta, but not IL-4, IL-10, or IFN-gamma. These results suggest that the predominant gammadelta T cells in the Adriamycin kidney use an invariant Vgamma4/Vdelta1 receptor.

Chicken ovalbumin upstream promoter-transcription factor (COUP-TF), DAX-1, and steroidogenic factor-1 (SF-1) are orphan members of the nuclear hormone receptor superfamily. COUP-TF and DAX-1 have been shown to negatively regulate the transcriptional activity of SF-1, a steroidogenic cell-specific activator of various steroidogenic cytochrome P450 genes. We therefore examined the expression levels and immunolocalization of COUP-TF, DAX-1, and SF-1 in human adrenal gland (NL) and adrenocortical adenomas, and compared the results with CYP17 expression levels and its enzyme activities to study their potential correlation with adrenocortical steroidogenesis. In NL (n = 10), expressions of COUP-TF, DAX-1, and SF-1 were detected in the nuclei of adrenocortical cells, but not in the medulla. In cortisol-producing adenomas causing Cushing syndrome (CS, n = 20), CYP17 expression was upregulated (298 +/- 2% vs NL 98 +/- 4%), whereas expression levels of both COUP-TFs (COUP-TFI, 52 +/- 5% vs NL 98 +/- 4%; COUP-TFII, 18 +/- 4% vs NL 98 +/- 4%) and DAX-1 (42 +/- 4% vs NL 100 +/- 4%) were reduced. In deoxycorticosterone-producing adenomas (DOC, n = 2), on the other hand, CYP17 expression was extremely reduced (8 and 12% vs NL 98 +/- 4%), whereas DAX-1 expression increased markedly (350 and 360% vs NL 100 +/- 4%). Expression levels of SF-1 did not differ between NL (100 +/- 8%) and CS (106 +/- 10%), but its expression appeared to be decreased in DOC (25 and 20%). These results showed CYP17 expression to be upregulated and downregulated in CS and DOC, respectively, in a manner reciprocal to that of its repressors, COUP-TF and/or DAX-1. In summary, the results indicate that co-localization of COUP-TF, DAX-1, and SF-1 in NL was lost in adrenocortical tumors and that these orphan receptors play an important role in the regulation of steroidogenesis in human adrenals.

Enantioselective synthesis and absolute configuration of (-)-1-(benzofuran-2-yl)-2-propylaminopentane ((-)-BPAP), which is a highly potent and selective catecholaminergic activity enhancer (CAE) substance, are described. The synthetic approach consists of the coupling reaction of benzofuran with (R)-N-tosyl-2-propylazirizine or (R)-N-methoxy-N-methylnorvaliamide, followed by appropriate modifications of the resulting coupling products. As the results, (-)-BPAP turned out to have the R configuration, which was finally confirmed by X-ray crystallographic analysis.

The significance of increases in the expression of apoptosis-suppressing genes such as bcl-2 and mcl-1/EAT in human adrenal tumors has not yet been fully elucidated. Furthermore the roles of these genes in cell proliferation may involve interaction with steroidogenesis in the tumors via intracellular second messengers. Cyclic AMP (cAMP) caused human adrenocortical H295R cells to overexpress hCYP17 resulting in hypersecretion of cortisol. At the same time, however, expression of bcl-2, which has a cAMP response element (CRE), was not affected. Furthermore, in vivo Bcl-2 protein analysis showed its down-regulation in adrenal hyperplasia of Cushing's disease despite ACTH stimulation. Exogenous addition of glucocorticoid did not affect the expression of bcl-2 family genes. Expressions of Mcl-1/EAT and Bax did not differ markedly among human adrenal glands affected by various pathologies. In conclusion the down-regulation of Bcl-2 in Cushing's disease did not agree with no induction of this gene by cAMP in H295R cells, suggesting that expression of Bcl-2 protein was not regulated mainly by cAMP-protein kinase (PKA) pathways in human adrenal hyperplasia.

CYP17 gene transcription is activated by SF-1 binding to a cyclic AMP-responsive sequence within the promoter region of the gene, and its transcription is inhibited by COUP-TF binding to the sequence. Another orphan receptor, DAX-1, is shown to act as a suppressor of SF-1-mediated transcription. We examined the expression level of these orphan receptors in adrenocortical tumors and compared the results with CYP17 expression. CYP17 was highly expressed in cortisol-producing adenomas, whereas COUP-TF and DAX-1 expression levels were very low. In deoxycorticosterone-producing adenomas, on the other hand, CYP17 expression was extremely low, whereas DAX-1 was highly expressed and SF-1 expression was slightly decreased. In conclusion, the reciprocal expression of CYP17 and the transcriptional repressors COUP-TF and DAX-1 indicates that these orphan receptors have a pathophysiologic role in the excessive hormone production in cortisol- and deoxycorticosterone-producing adrenocortical tumors.

Gastroepiploic artery aneurysm is a rare entity and presents a great deal of difficulty in preoperative diagnosis. Most cases of the disease which been reported so far presented with some symptoms due to the rupture. This time, we experienced a case of unruptured right gastroepiploic artery aneurysm, which was incidentally detected during preoperative examinations for a gallbladder tumor and successfully resected together with the gallbladder under laparoscopy. A 51-year-old man was admitted to the hospital for the treatment of a gallbladder tumor which was found at a medical chekup. Abdominal angiography revealed aneurysm cystic aneurysm in 1cm diameter in the right gastroepiploic artery. So a laparoscopic cholecystectomy was performed, followed by a removal of the aneurysm after intraoperative frozen section diagnosis of the gallbladder tumor was confirmed to be benign. The disease in which the artery can be exposed easily would be a good indication for laparoscopic surgery. Since the laparoscopic surgery is generally used, is less invasive, and can be easily accepted by patients, the procedure might be the therapy of choice for unruptured gastroepiploic artery aneurysm.

Purpose. Previously, we suggested that alkylglucoside can be aneffective vector for renal-specific drug delivery (Suzuki et al., J. Pharmacol.Exp. Ther., 288:57–61, 1999). The purpose of the present study is tocharacterize the membrane protein which is recognized by thisalkylglucoside.

We present a novel metal gate/high-k complementary metal-oxide-semiconductor (CMOS) integration scheme with symmetric and low threshold voltage (V"t"h) for both n-channel (nMOSFET) and p-channel (pMOSFET) metal-oxide-semiconductor field-effect transistors. The workfunction of pMOSFET is modulated by oxygen in-diffusion ('oxygenation') through the titanium nitride metal gate without equivalent oxide thickness (EOT) degradation. A significant V"t"h improvement by 420mV and an aggressively scaled capacitance equivalent thickness under channel inversion (T"i"n"v) of 1.3nm is achieved for the pFET by using a replacement process in conjunction with optimized oxygenation process. Immunity of nMOSFET against oxygenation process is demonstrated.

Background. Urinary mononuclear cells (UMCs) were studied in IgA nephropathy (IgAN) in relation to clinical and histopathological parameters. Methods. A two-color flow-cytometry analysis was used to phenotype and quantitate UMCs in patients with IgAN (n = 37) and those with other kidney diseases (n = 27). Results. The IgAN patients had higher numbers of UMCs than the patients with other kidney diseases. Macrophages (CD14+; P < 0.0001) and T lymphocytes (CD3+; P = 0.0001; CD4+, P < 0.0001) were predominantly found. In the IgAN patients, the quantities of urinary CD3+, CD14+ cells correlated with impaired renal function; namely, serum creatinine, creatinine clearance, and urinary protein excretion. The UMCs were associated with histopathological changes such as glomerular segmental lesions (r = 0.511; P < 0.01 for CD3+; r = 0.623, P < 0.0001 for CD4+, and r = 0.552; P < 0.001 for CD14+) and the index of glomerular hypercellularity (r = 0.405; P = 0.01 for CD3+ T cells and r = 0.392, P = 0.01 for CD14+ macrophages). Moreover, the UMCs reflected the severity of pathology, as estimated by the glomerular score (r = 0.424; P < 0.01 for CD3+; r = 0.458; P < 0.01 for CD4+; r = 0.500, P = 0.001 for CD14+ cells). UMCs were weakly correlated with tubulointerstitial changes. Conclusion. UMCs were associated with the clinical stage of IgAN and mirrored the extent of histopathology in the kidney. Flow-cytometry analysis of UMCs may help to predict the course of the disease.

In the presence of a nonlethal concentration of Cu(II), washed Escherichia coli ATCC11775 cells were killed by (-)-epigallocatechin (EGC) and (-)-epicatechin (EC). Cell killing was accompanied by a depletion in both the ATP and potassium pools of the cells, but the DNA double strand was not broken, indicating that the bactericidal activity of catechins in the presence of Cu(II) results from damage to the cytoplasmic membrane. Induction of endogenous catalase in E. coli cells increased their resistance to being killed by the combination of catechins and Cu(II). In all cases studied, EGC and EC with Cu(II) were found to generate hydrogen peroxide, but its concentration was too low to account for the bactericidal activity. The bactericidal activity of EGC in the presence of Cu(II) was completely suppressed by ethylenediaminetetraacetate, bathocuproine, catalase, superoxide disumutase (SOD), heated catalase, and heated SOD, but not by dimethyl sulfoxide. When catalase, either heated or unheated, was added to the cells incubated with EGC in the presence of Cu(II), it completely inhibited further killing of the cells. These findings suggest that recycling redox reactions between Cu(II) and Cu(I), involving catechins and hydrogen peroxide on the cell surface, must be important in the mechanism of the killing.

Comparison between sonolysis and photolysis of bromotrichloromethane in the presence and absence of 1-alkenes was performed to elucidate the characteristics of homogeneous sonochemistry. Results indicate that the photolysis of BrCCl3 generates radicals in a homogeneous and dispersed state, while sonolysis generates them in a heterogeneous and localized state. In the photochemical reaction the BrCCl3-adduct was obtained over a wide range of mole fractions of BrCCl3, whereas in the sonochemical reaction the yield of the BrCCl3-adduct showed a sharp maximum in a range of high mole fractions of BrCCl3. This may be attributed to the large variation in surface tension.

Perforation of the digestive tract by an ingested fish bone is relatively rare, and presents difficulty in pre-operative diagnosis. In this paper, three operated cases of perforation of the digestive tract by ingested fish bones are clinically studied. In Case 1, CT revealed a tumor in the subhepatic space and a laparotomy was performed for probable cystic tumor. A fish bone was found in the resected tumor. The definite diagnosis of abdominal abscess caused by perforation of the transverse colon due to the fish bone was made. In Case 2, an ingested fish bone was visualized as well defined linear structure on ultrasonography (US) and CT. Preopera-tive diagnosis of ileocecal tumor caused by perforation of the intestine due to the fish bone was successfully made. In Case 3, an emergency laparotomy was performed because intraabdominal free air was noted. During operation, a fish bone about 7cm in length was present in the Douglas'pouch, but perforated site was obscure. Two out of three patients underwent a laparotomy for unknown cause, however, it was possible to diagnose retrospectively based on CT that revealed a linear density in them.

Purpose. We have previously shown Glc-S-C7-Me (octyl β-D-thioglucoside) exhibits renal targeting potential in vivo in addition to its specific binding to the renal membrane fraction in vitro. Thus, 'alkylglycoside' is considered to be a novel targeting vector for the kidney (1,2). The present study is designed to clarify the structural requirements for alkylglycoside as a renal targeting vector.

This paper proposes a control method of a rigid body motion system which includes unknown nonlinearity by using motion learning.Defining the motion learning as achievement of objective motion control by obtaining the model of motion system, the proposed control structure consists of feedback controllers to stabilize the unstable motion system, a motion learning system to obtain nonlinear model and to linearize the motion system by using the obtained nonlinear model, and an inverse motion system to generate inputs to be applied to the linearized motion system.The obtained model is described as series of weighted basis functions, and the explicit learning rules of weights are derived by using Popov's hyperstable theory.The tuning rules of feedback gains are determined by using the obtained nonlinear models.Futher, this paper shows the high performance of the proposed method by demonstrating an experiment of the tracking desired trajectory in the electromagnetic levitation and positioning system.

A B16 melanoma-specific CD8+ T cell line (AB1) was established from the spleen cells of C57BL/6 mice cured of B16 melanoma with interleukin (IL)-12 treatment. The AB1 line exclusively used T cell receptor Vbeta11. The AB1 cells exhibited a cytolytic activity against both syngeneic B16 melanoma and allogeneic P815 mastocytoma, whereas a cold inhibition assay revealed specificity of the AB1 cells against B16 melanoma. Their lostability to kill a class I loss variant of B16 melanoma was restored by the transfection of H-2Kb gene. In addition, their interferon (IFN)-gamma production was significantly suppressed by the addition of anti-H-2Kb monoclonal antibody, and RT-PCR analysis showed that the AB1 line expressed the mRNA encoding IFN-gamma, but not IL-4 or IL-10. The experiment using synthetic peptides of tyrosinase-related protein-2 (TRP-2) revealed that the AB1 cells could recognize TRP-2(181-188) peptide. Moreover, the AB1 cells showed an in vivo antitumor effect against established pulmonary metastases of B16 melanoma. Overall, these results indicate that the Tc1-type Vbeta11+ AB1 cells exert an antitumor activity against syngeneic B16 melanoma through recognition of TRP-2(181-188) peptide in an H-2Kb-restricted manner.

Pulverization-activation method was employed to accelerate solid-state organic reactions. Crushing and grinding of solid mixtures of hydrogen halide-treated silica gels, iodosobenzene and organic substrates in the absence of a solvent brought about smooth and rapid reactions to give halogenated and/or oxidized products in good yields. Various sulfides were smoothly converted to sulfonyl chlorides in one step in excellent yields. The surface of silica gel activated by pulverization serves as a reaction field on which reagent molecules can effectively encounter with each other.

Iodine was found to be an efficient catalyst for the aziridination of alkenes utilizing Chloramine-T (N-chloro-N-sodio-p-toluenesulfonamide) as a nitrogen source. For example, when two equivalents of styrene were added to Chloramine-T in the presence of a catalytic amount of iodine in a 1 : 1 solvent mixture of acetonitrile and neutral buffer, the corresponding aziridine 1 was obtained in 91% yield. The reaction could be applied to other acyclic and cyclic alkenes such as 1-octene and cyclohexene. The aziridination of p-substituted styrene derivatives 2–5 with Chloramine-T showed that electron-rich alkenes reacted faster than electron-poor ones. Several Chloramine-T analogs were also examined and were found to give the corresponding aziridines 8–10 in only moderate yields.

SUMMARY: The effects of a high salt diet on renal destruction and the therapeutic effects of amiloride (Na+/H+ exchanger inhibitor) and furosemide (Na+K+/2Cl− exchanger inhibitor) were examined in 5/6-nephrectomized rats fed a high salt diet. A simultaneous analysis of the effects of a high salt intake on the renal expression of Na+/H+ exchanger-1 (NHE-1), transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) or platelet-derived growth factor-B (PDGF-B) mRNA was performed in this model. the 5/6-nephrectomized Sprague-Dawley rats were given a diet containing 8 or 1% sodium chloride for 5 weeks. This high salt diet accelerated the elevation of blood pressure and aggravated both glomerulosclerosis and interstitial fibrosis in 5/6-nephrectomized rats. the daily administration of amiloride was found to be protective against the elevation of blood pressure, glomerular hypertrophy and the aggravation of renal histology which were induced by a high salt diet. the expression of TGF-β1 and PDGF-B mRNA was up-regulated by a high salt diet, but the expression of NHE-1 mRNA was not. the overexpression of TGF-β1 and PDGF-B mRNA was reduced by the daily administration of amiloride but not by furosemide. In conclusion, the destructive effects of a high salt diet on the kidneys may be mediated through hypertension, glomerular hypertrophy and the overexpression of the growth factors. Amiloride may thus be more protective for high salt induced renal aggravation than furosemide, although the expression of NHE-1 mRNA did not show any substantial increase due to a high salt diet.

This paper reviews the expression and localization of proteins of the TGF-beta system in the kidney, i.e. TGF-beta isoforms, latent TGF-beta binding protein, and receptors. There is heterogeneity of TGF-beta isoforms, binding proteins and receptors. TGF-betas are more evenly distributed among different segments of the nephron than TGF-beta receptors, and are expressed by almost all cell types in the kidney. The spatial distribution of TGF-beta and its signaling receptor may help to better understand the biologic function of TGF-beta in the kidney.

The effect of initial CO 2 concentration on NO destruction and regeneration was investigated as part of our ongoing research on NO emission from CO 2 recycled coal combustion, which could realize easy CO 2 recovery and drastic N() reduction simultaneously. Experiments were carried out in a flat flame burner for CH 4 /O 2 /Ar/NO/CO 2 flame at various excess oxygen ratios (from 0.6 to 1.2) and CO 2 concentrations (from 0% to 48%). It was found that CO 2 has a pronounced negative effect on the destruction of NO under fuel-rich condition. In contrast, under fuel- lean condition, the effect of CO 2 becomes smaller even at high CO 2 concentrations. Kinetic modeling showed that a large part of NO is regenerated through the reaction N+CO 2 = NO+CO at high CO 2 concentrations. The effect of CO 2 is not so significant under fuel-lean condition because this reaction is no longer competitive with other NO formation reactions in this case.

Aziridination of alkenes proceeds successfully using Chloramine-T (N-chloro-N-sodio-p-toluenesulfonamide). When anhydrous Chloramine-T was added to an acetonitrile solution of alkenes in the presence of various CuCl catalysts and MS-5A, the corresponding aziridines were obtained in moderate to good yields.

The mechanism of the generation and the quantitative analysis of singlet oxygen (1O2) formed by the exposure of a hematoporphyrin derivative (HpD) to light was re-evaluated by electron spin resonance (ESR) combined with 2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-4-piperidine (TMPD). The change from TMPD to 2,2,6,6,-tetramethyl-4-piperidine-N-oxide (TAN) has been reported to depend on singlet oxygen. However, we confirmed that this reagent also react with superoxide anion (O2-) and hydroxyl radicals (OH). Therefore, the reactions between TMPD and 1O2, O2- and OH were re-examined using a kinetic approach. We found that the generation of TAN was proportional to the concentration of TMPD and HpD, as well as to the duration and strength of the illumination. The generation of TAN was not inhibited by dimethyl-sulfoxide (DMSO) or superoxide dismutase (SOD). The reaction rate between TMPD and 1O2 was determined to be 5.0 x 10(-7) M min-1. The generation of 1O2 from HpD was 2.7 x 10(-7) M min-1 under our conditions. The competitive reaction observed between 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) and TMPD for O2- or OH shows that TMPD reacts with both forms of active oxygen, but gave no ESR signal. The second-order reaction rate constant of TMPD between O2- and OH was calculated as 73 M-1 s-1 and 1.5 x 10(9) M-1 s-1, respectively. The photochemical generation of 1O2 from methylene blue, another sensitizer, was also demonstrated by this method. These results show that ESR signal of TAN can be used for the highly selective monitoring of 1O2.

We report a case of recurrent breast cancer to the anterior chest wall 19 years after a radical mastectomy for a left breast cancer (T2n0M0, Stage I). A 67-year-old woman was seen at the hospital because of a gradually enlarging tumor in the anterior chest wall which strated 8 months before when she first noticed it. A needle biopsy cytology revealed class V and she was diagnosed as hoving recurrent breast cancer. After one cource of chemotherapy into the left internal thoracic artery and irradiation at 50Gy, a total layer resection of the chest wall involving the sternal body was carried out. The defect in the chest wall was reconstructed with Marlex mesh, acrylic resion and myocutaneous flap made of the pectoralis major muscle. Postoperative course was uneventful and there has been no sign of infection. It is thought that our procedure described here should be actively considered for the patient with local recurrence of breast cancer to the chest wall.