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We report the structural and electrochemical characteristics of lithium (Li)-ion battery (LIB) electrolyte solutions using an ethylene sulfite (ES) solvent that is used as an electrolyte additive for LIBs. From dilute to highly concentrated ES solutions with lithium bis(fluorosulfonyl)amide (LiFSA), the formation of Li-ion complexes was investigated using a combined Raman and infrared spectroscopy study with the aid of density functional theory (DFT) calculations to quantitatively determine their solvation and ion-pair structures depending on the Li salt concentration (

A general and efficient vanadium-catalyzed oxidation of tert-butyl N-hydroxycarbamate to tert-butyl nitrosoformate using alkyl hydroperoxides as terminal oxidants has been developed. The intermediate nitroso compound was trapped by in situ Diels–Alder reaction with simple and functionalized dienes, providing general access to a variety of functionalized 3,6-dihydro-2H-1,2-oxazines.

In order to consider the energy saving methods of oil fired water heating in Hokkaido households, an actual condition investigation on conventional and latent heat recovery water heaters, was performed. The following results were obtained: 1)Latent heat recovery heaters heated water 10-12% more efficiently than conventional heaters. 2)The water heating requests lasting under 30 seconds had little influence on the daily efficiency of hot water heaters. 3)As a result of case study, lowering the hot water heating temperature by 2.0 degrees centigrade reduced energy use by 5.9%.

In order to search trends in further energy saving in highly insulated and airtight houses in Hokkaido, Japan, an actual-condition investigation on a central-heating system fitted in five such houses, each with different methods of construction, was performed. The results were obtained as follows.:1)The equivalent leakage area value of a steel frame construction was 3.2cm2/m2 that was less than a two-by-four construction(0.33cm2/m2) and a conventional wood construction(1.1-1.7cm2/m2) .It is important to be improved air-tightness of steel frame construction houses by various construction methods. 2) Heat loss coefficient estimated from these experimental results was 0.94 -1.59W/(m2•K). To reduce energy consumption for heating,it will become more important to improve thermal-insulation properties and air tightness.3) The heating-system efficiency obtained from these experimental results was in the range of 72 to 93%. Although the ratio of actual boiler capacity to demanded heat-source capacity extrapolated from actual measurements ranges from two to three times,the effect on system efficiency was less than 10%.However it is necessary to include this 10% in the task of planning a heating system.

This study shows the actual measurement and simulation results of heat flow through a solid floor in contact with the ground and with a vertical layer of edge insulation. The rate of heat flow was estimated to be about 3-5 W/m2 in summer, which was about twice as large as one by a wooden floor. The results also show that the improvement of insulation over the current is not always effective except the outside insulation of the foundation. The use of an overall layer of insulation under the concrete must be studied by the thermal property of the ground under the floor.

The utility of 111In-DTPA-IgG imaging for the detection of intrathoracic lesions was evaluated in 10 patients with the suspicion of inflammatory or infectious diseases. They were intravenously administered 40 or 80 MBq of 111In-DTPA-IgG, and scanned after 24 or 48 hours. Of these, 8 cases, consisted of 4 cases with pneumonia and 2 cases with lung abscess and one case of pulmonary tuberculosis and one of a tuberculous pleuritis, showed true positive results. Others were one false negative case of pneumonia and one true negative case of lung cancer. Overall sensitivity and specificity were 88.9% and 100%, respectively. There were no cases which showed side effects or abnormal laboratory findings caused by the radiopharmaceuticals administered. Thus, 111In-DTPA-IgG imaging is a useful tool for the detection of intrathoracic infectious lesions.

Cell kinetic parameters were measured in four cases of meningioma showing regrowth. The cell cycle time (Tc) and tumor doubling time (Td) were established by histological evaluation of the biopsy specimens and calculation of the growth curve based on computed tomography (CT)/magnetic resonance (MR) images. MIB-1 mouse monoclonal antibody, which recognizes an epitope of the Ki-67 antigen, was used to establish the MIB-1 staining index (SI) (MIB-1-positive nuclei⁄5000 tumor cells) for each tumor. The changes in tumor volume were calculated from CT/MR images, and the Td was estimated from the growth curve. The Tc was calculated using Steel''s formula from the MIB-1 SI and tumor volume. MIB-1 SI varied from 0.0055 to 0.0468, Td from 270 to 1429 days, and Tc from 10.4 to 15.9 days. Furthermore, the potential doubling time (Tp) was calculated using the corresponding Tc and MIB-1 SI (growth fraction) for the four cases; these values varied from 197 to 1645 days and were very close to the Td values. This method of evaluation of tumor Tc and calculation of Tp may be useful for predicting the postoperative course in meningiomas.

The vanadium-catalyzed oxidation of carbamate (II), followed by alkyl hydroperoxides as terminal oxidants, affords an intermediate nitroso compound.

A 63-year-old male presented with a rare epithelial cyst in the left cerebellopontine angle manifesting as left facial nerve paresis and left cerebellar signs. Computed tomography revealed a well-defined cystic mass of homogeneous low density with no enhancement. Magnetic resonance imaging also demonstrated a cystic mass appearing as low intensity on T1-weighted images and high intensity on T2-weighted images. The cyst content was clear fluid. The cyst wall consisted of nonciliated, columnar epithelial cells, showing a pseudostratified arrangement in focal areas. Positive staining by periodic acid-Schiff, Alcian blue, and carcinoembryonic antigen suggested that the cyst was an enterogenous cyst of endodermal origin. Cysts in this location often cause cranial nerve impairment, but the symptoms are usually resolved by surgical treatment.

Intestinal absorption and tissue distribution of water-soluble lignins which had both immunomodulating and antiviral activities were investigated using the isotope tracer techniques. Three types of water-soluble lignins with different molecular weights, i.e., EP3 (av. mol. wt., 3.2 × 105D) and SB1000 (mol. wt., 103—104D), both of which were fractionated from LEM (an extract of culture medium of Lentinus edodes mycelia), and PLS(purified lignosulfonate, av. mol. wt., 2 × 104D) were used after being labeled with 14C-HCHO.After p. o. administration, every [14C] lignin was absorbed and reached maximum levels in the tissues, especially, kidney cortex, lymph node, liver and vertebra within 6 hr. 14C-EP3, the sample of the highest molecular weight, showed the lowest absorption, whereas it remained in cortex for a longer period. By summing up the isotope amount in urine and tissues, the absorption extents of 14C-EP3, 14C-PLS and 14C-SB1000 were estimated to be approximately 0.8%, 5.9% and 8.0% of radioactivity, respectively. Absorption and prolonged remain of 14C-EP3 in the lymph node and vertebra suggest that the in vitro immunological activities of this lignin would be linked to those in vivo.

In recent years research and development on 'compatibility' in the area of collision safety has been proceeding. It is a big issue how to prevent an increase in the severity of injuries of occupants in a weaker vehicle. With regard to FUP (Front Underrun Protector), we consider it possible to further lessen the severity of injuries of car occupants by simultaneously studying the requirement for collision safety on the passenger car as well as the requirement for strength stipulated by the ECE regulation. Therefore we develop the study method for collision safety structure using an optimizing method. (A) For the covering abstract see ITRD E121867.

A rare case of acute epidural hematoma originating from a hepatocellular carcinoma metastasis to the skull in a 52-year-old male is reported. The skull metastasis and epidural hematoma were completely removed, but he died of large liver tumor. Histological examination of the removed tumor showed many sinusoid-like blood vessels, which probably lead to hemorrhage and formation of epidural hematoma.

Thirteen cases of medulloblastoma were experienced. All of the patients were operated on and the diagnosis was confirmed histologically. Nine were then treated with cranial and spinal irradiation. Three patients received incomplete irradiation and one died without it. A one year-old and a 14 year-old boys among the nine patients with completed scheduled irradiation showed no recurrence or metastasis; the former for seven years and four months and the latter for five years. In the other seven cases, five had local recurrences and six had spinal metastasis. Four of these patients also showed second recurrences and/or metastasis. There were three spinal, one frontal, one extracranial metastases and two local recurrences. Recurrences and/or metastases in three of these seven cases were aggressively treated with re-irradiation and combined-chemotherapy (vincristine, procarbazine and predonisolone, including methtrexate occasionally). Patients with recurrence and/or metastasis after one year or with survival times of more than three years were found to be older, had radical operations and received less primary dosis in the posterior fossa and a higher dosis in the spinal canal, compared with patients with early recurrence and/or metastasis or with short survival periods. Three patients who received re-irradiation and combined chemotherapy and one patient who was treated with antibiotics for meningitis are alive at present. It was clear that not only the age of patients and operative procedures, but the spinal irradiation dosis influenced the time of recurrence or metastasis and survival. Primary spinal irradiation doses were below 2, 500 rads in seven of the nine cases who completed initial cranial and scheduled spinal irradiation. It seems that a low dosis in the spinal canal decreased the survival rate compared with those in other institutions using higher spinal doses. Complete irradiation of the entire CNS at certain doses (whole brain: 4, 000-5, 000 rads, posterior fossa: 4, 500-5, 000 rads, and spinal: 3, 000-3, 500 rads) and early postoperative chemotherapy are recommended, and aggressive treatment including re-operation, re-irradiation and long term combined-chemotherapy is indispensable to combat recurrence and metastasis.

We report our experience and technique of prefabrication method for cranioplasty, using heat-cured methyl methacrylate (MMA). Recently, an autopolymerizing MMA has been a very popular material for cranioplasty. But an autopolymerizing MMA is so irritable to vital tissue that subgaleal effusion has been frequently noted after cranioplasty. And for a large cranial defect, it is difficult to get a good cosmetic result from the one-stage autopolymerizing MMA method. So, we have used a heat-cured MMA as a material of cranioplasty, and a prosthesis was formed preoperatively using an impression technique. In this method, the subgaleal effusion was markedly decreased and excellent cosmetic result was obtained even to a large cranial defect in a shortened operative time. The histological reactions to the autopolymerizing MMA and the heat-cured MMA were evaluated experimentally embedding each piece of the two materials in the subcutaneous tissue of the rat. The inflammatory reactions including appearance of foreign body giant cells were far less observed in the subcutaneous tissue around the heatcured MMA. This experimental result emphasized the advantage of heat-cured MMA method over autopolymerizing MMA.

肺癌の縦隔リンパ節転移に対する評価は, sensitivityとspecificityについてそれぞれCTが89.5%, 58.8%, 67Gaシンチが36.1%, 79.6%, 気管支動脈造影が56%, 71.6%であった.CTはsensitivityが高く術前評価に有用で, 67Gaシンチはsensitivityは低いがspecificityが高いので大きいリンパ節を有する肺癌の縦隔の評価に効果的で, また気管支動脈造影は67Gaシンチとほぼ同等の評価が得られたが侵襲的検査法のため67Gaシンチほどには実施されなくなるものと考えられた.

例の原発性非小細胞性肺癌患者に対してcisplatin 25mgの気管支動脈内注入 (BAI) を行なった.BAI施行2週間後において50%以上の腫瘍縮小効果を示した例はなく, 20%以上の縮小を3例に認めたのみで, vincristine併用mitomycinC投与群に比して, 縮小率は有意に劣っていた.以上より, cisplatinをBAIの対象薬剤として使用するには, 今後, 投与量やcisplatinの代謝機構の問題等をより詳細に検討する必要があると考えられた

A clinical survey of intracranial malignant lymphoma was conducted based on 10 cases experienced in our department during the past 15-year period. The following diagnostic clues considered characteristic to malignant lymphoma are presented : 1) The peak of incidence was patients in their thirties to fifties. Neurological deficits and increased intracranial pressure developed within one to 3 months. 2) Cerebrospinal fluid showed increased protein content of 100-250 mg/dl without pleocytosis and occasionally increased Ig-M, Ig-A and Ig-G appeared in immunoelectrophoresis. 3) Association of paraproteinemia was frequently found, which may indicate the generalization of this tumor. 4) Angiography showed mostly avascular masses and occasionally tumor stain. Cerebral deep medullary veins were shown in the capillary phase. 5) Radioisotope brain scan revealed hot spots in all cases. 6) Computed tomography was the most reliable method for definite diagnosis showing iso-density or slightly high density, nodular lesion in plain scan and homogenous enhancement by contrast medium. 7) The frequent sites of this tumor were subcortical white matter of the cerebrum, basal ganglia, corpus callusum, and cerebellum.

Twenty supratentorial malignant astrocytoma cases were examined to determine the relationship between clinical characteristics and survival time, using maltivariate analysis. Inclusion of the S-phase cell percentage and polyploid cell percentage, obtained from DNA histograms by cytofluorometry was found to be important for predicting the survival time. The six most important characteristics for predicted survival were; location of tumor, Karnofsky scale at discharge, S-phase cell percentage, number of operations, polyploid cell percentage, and the extent of tumor removal. Using this mathematical model, the predicted survival times were calculated for three additional cases and were compared with the actual survival times; the respective results were 10 months and 11.45 months (Case 1), 13 months and 16.45 months (Case 2), and 21 months and 21 months (Case 3, still alive). The clinical importance of these prognostic factors are discussed.

One male case of a congenital arteriovenous aneurysm in the neck was described. It was fed by a distal branch of the external carotid artery and drained into the external jugular vein. A swelling of the neck and a bruit of the ear disappeared following resection of this malformation. Nine published cases are summarized and briefly discussed.

Inhibition of the infectivity and cytopathic effect of human immunodeficiency virus type 1 (HIV-1) by the immunoactive fractions obtained from LEM, which is an extract of the culture medium of Lentinus edodes mycelia, is reported. A purified fraction, EPS4, obtained from LEM by ethanol precipitation followed by hydrophobic chromatography and gel filtration chromatography completely inhibited the HIV-1 induced cytopathic effect in vitro at concentrations of > 10 μg/ml. Chemical and spectral analysis revealed that EPS4 is composed of water-soluble lignins containing minor amounts of protein (3.2%) and sugars (12.2%). Taken together with the previously reported observation that EPS4 promotes the activation of macrophages and the proliferation of bone marrow cells, the fraction appears to possess both an immunostimulating activity and an anti-HIV effect in vitro .

The antitumor effect of human leukocyte interferon was investigated on ten patients with malignant brain tumor. In eight cases of primary tumor, IFN alone was administered when their recurrent sign was evident. A dose of 3 X 10(6) IU or 1 X 10(6) IU of IFN was injected intramuscularly two or three times a week in high-dose group, while a dose of 5 X 10(4) IU once a week in low-dose group. No remarkable side effects including bone marrow depression were noted. Natural killer activity was enhanced and immunologic skin reaction manifested. Partial remission of more than 50% decrease of tumor volume calculated on CT scan was seen in two cases in the low-dose group for about 3-6 months. Complete remission could not be obtained by IFN alone. Our pilot study has shown that IFN alone will not be effective against progressive malignant brain tumors by general administration. Further investigation should be carried out to improve the use of IFN therapy in malignant brain tumor.

Fifty-eight patients with supratentorial malignant astrocytoma were analyzed statistically to evaluate the factors most important for predicting postoperative survival. Clinical information such as age, sex, duration of preoperative symptom, Karnofsky score at admission and at discharge, location of tumor, amount of tumor removal, number of operations, and postoperative survival in months, together with data on radiation and chemotherapy were analyzed by chi square test, t-test, and multivariate analysis. Cytofluorometric DNA quantification using paraffin embedded specimens was also performed in 20 cases and these data were also evaluated. Multiple correlation coefficient, and therefore the total statistical accuracy, increased to 0.824 when data of DNA quantification, percentages of S phase cells and of polyploid cells, were included. Multivariate analysis revealed that 6 items were the major factors for predicting postoperative survival, i.e. the location of tumor, the Karnofsky score at discharge, the percentage of S phase cells, the number of operations, the percentage of polyploid cells, and the amount of tumor removed. Based on this analysis, the estimated survival time could be expressed as a formula.