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To develop a quantitative reaction simulator, data assimilation was performed using high-resolution time-of-flight mass spectrometry (TOF-MS) data applied to GaN metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy system. Incorporating ab initio knowledge into the optimization successfully reproduces not only the concentration of CH$_4$ (an impurity precursor) as an objective variable but also known reaction pathways. The simulation results show significant production of GaH$_3$, a precursor of GaN, which has been difficult to detect in TOF-MS experiments. Our proposed approach is expected to be applicable to other applied physics fields that require quantitative prediction that goes beyond ab initio reaction rates., Comment: 6 pages, 4 figures

Testicular aromatase catalyzes the synthesis of estradiol, which contributes to regulation of porcine Sertoli cell proliferation and postpubertal maintenance of Sertoli cell numbers. Although aromatase enzymatic activity decreases with age and is persistently reprogrammed by prepubertal treatment with the aromatase inhibitor letrozole, the molecular bases for regulation have not been identified. DNA methylation was examined as a potential regulatory mechanism using DNA from Leydig cells isolated from 16-, 40-, and 68-week-old boars and from 68- week-old littermates treated with the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole. Methylation levels of individual CpG dinucleotides located in the distal untranslated exon 1 of the relevant aromatase encoding gene, CYP19A3, were quite high in Leydig cell DNA, and increased further with maturity of boar (P

Porcine Sertoli cell number including number present at puberty is increased if testicular estradiol synthesis is reduced during the neonatal interval. Evaluating the changes in gene expression during the crucial interval of suppressed estradiol that leads to the increased Sertoli cell population will increase our understanding of Sertoli cell biology but this evaluation first required a more precise determination of the critical interval for treatment and timing of a detectable response. Previously, reduced testicular estrogens from 1 week of age were accompanied by increased Sertoli cell number at 6.5 weeks of age but the age at which Sertoli cell numbers were initially increased was unknown, one of the current objectives. Additional experiments were designed to further delineate the essential timing of treatment for the Sertoli cell response. Finally, changes in gene expression induced by the reduced estradiol synthesis were evaluated to elucidate molecular mechanisms. Experimental design typically consisted of one member of littermate pairs of boars treated with the aromatase inhibitor, letrozole, beginning at 1 week of age and the remaining member treated with canola oil vehicle. Weekly treatments continued through 5 weeks of age or tissue collection, whichever came first. Increases in Sertoli cell numbers were not detectable prior to 6.5 weeks of age and persistent treatment through 5 weeks of age was required to induce the increase in Sertoli cell numbers. This increase resulted from prolonging the first interval of Sertoli cell proliferation in the treated animals. Few genes exhibited dramatically altered transcription and similarities in pathway analysis or principal modified genes were quite limited in 2, 3, and 5-week-old boars. The critical timing and prolonged treatment required and the sequential changes in gene expression suggest a complex mechanism is involved in this model of increased proliferation of Sertoli cells.

Accepted: 2018-09-01, 資料番号: SA1180358000

The gut-associated lymphoid tissues (GALTs), including Peyer's patches (PPs), cryptopatches (CPs) and isolated lymphoid follicles (ILFs), establish a host-microbe symbiosis by the promotion of immune reactions against gut microbes. Microfold cell inducer (MCi) cells in GALTs are the recently identified mesenchymal cells that express the cytokine RANKL and initiate bacteria-specific immunoglobulin A (IgA) production via induction of microfold (M) cell differentiation. In the previous study, the Twist2-Cre driver was utilized for gene deletion in mesenchymal cells including MCi cells. In order to investigate MCi cells more extensively, it will be necessary to develop experimental tools in addition to the Twist2-Cre driver mice and characterize such drivers in specificity and efficiency. Here we show that M cell differentiation and IgA production are impaired in the targeted deletion of RANKL by the Col6a1-Cre driver. We compared Col6a1-Cre with Twist2-Cre in terms of the specificity for mesenchymal cells in GALTs. Col6a1-Cre CAG-CAT-EGFP mice exhibited EGFP expression in podoplanin+CD31– cells including MCi cells, while Twist2-Cre mice were shown to target endothelial cells and podoplanin+CD31– cells. Tnfsf11fl/Δ Col6a1-Cre mice exhibited the absence of M cells and severe IgA reduction together with an alteration in gut microbial composition. Moreover, we analyzed germ free mice to test whether changes in the microbiota are the cause of M cell deficiency. M cell differentiation was normal in the CPs/ILFs of germ free mice, indicating that MCi cells induce M cells independently of microbial colonization. This study demonstrates that Col6a1-Cre driver mice are as useful as Twist2-Cre driver mice for functional analyses of GALT-resident mesenchymal cells, including MCi cells. © 2017 Elsevier Inc.

Estrogen plays an important role in male reproduction, critical for sustained fertility in some species. Reducing estrogen's interaction with its receptor(s) in monkey and mouse models is associated with reduced sperm motility and, in some cases, documented elimination of sperm fertilizing ability, suggesting that normal epididymal function may be estrogen dependent. The objective of these experiments was to evaluate the effects of reduced endogenous estrogen on development of epididymal function in the pig, a species in which males have very high levels of endogenous estrogen. Letrozole, a potent inhibitor of estrogen synthesis, was administered to neonatal boars from 1 week of age and markedly suppressed estrogen production. Epididymal function assessed as acquisition of sperm fertilizing ability (in vitro fertilization of zona-free oocytes) was reduced in Letrozole-treated animals at 24 and 28 weeks of age (23% and 30% fertilization, respectively compared with 37% and 54% in vehicle controls) but had recovered by 32 weeks of age. Cauda epididymal sperm numbers were reduced in treated animals (35% of control values at 20 weeks of age) but appeared to be recovering at 32 weeks of age. Reduction of endogenous estrogen had no effect on other aspects of epididymal function (percentage of motile sperm, sperm motion parameters, sperm head morphometrics, or ability of sperm to undergo an acrosome reaction). Reducing endogenous estrogen during postnatal development appears to have transient effects on porcine epididymal function. These transient effects suggest that the pig, with its high endogenous estrogen, may respond differently than other species to reduced estrogen synthesis.

Patients with myasthenia gravis show sensitivity to non-depolarizing neuromuscular blocking drugs, but little is known about differences in this sensitivity between types of myasthenia. In 10 patients with ocular myasthenia gravis and 10 with generalized myasthenia gravis, twitch tension was monitored in the adductor pollicis muscle by supramaximal train-of-four stimulation of the ulnar nerve during anaesthesia with sevoflurane 2.5% and nitrous oxide 60%. After baseline measurement, an initial dose of vecuronium 10 microg kg(-1) was given. When the twitch height stabilized (maximum block after the first 10 microg kg(-1)), the next incremental dose of 10 microg kg(-1) was given and repeated until block, defined as [1-(first twitch/baseline first twitch)] x 100 reached 90%. Maximum block after the first dose of vecuronium in ocular patients was significantly less than that in generalized patients (median 51 vs 91%; P0.05). Onset of block after the first dose of vecuronium was significantly slower in ocular than in generalized myasthenic patients (mean 300 vs 200 s; P0.05). Doses required to attain a block of 90% or more were significantly higher in ocular than in generalized patients (median 20 vs 10 microg kg(-1); P0.05). Clinicians should consider the type of disease according to the Osserman classification when using non-depolarizing neuromuscular. blocking drugs in patients with myasthenia gravis.

We describe the anaesthetic management of a 72-year-old man with myasthenic syndrome. Pre-operatively, he was treated with 3,4-diaminopyridine and showed a strong hand grip. During general anaesthesia with nitrous oxide and sevoflurane in oxygen, a mechanomyograph and two accelerographs were set up for the hands and left foot to monitor neuromuscular function. Insufficient force and acceleration of contraction with 1 Hz stimulation was observed in the hands. In the foot, the twitches produced by 1 Hz and train-of-four stimulation could barely be detected using the accelerograph, and the train-of-four ratio fluctuated between 70 and 100%. No neuromuscular blocking drugs were used during surgery. After discontinuation of sevoflurane, responses to train-of-four stimulation remained small, but a strong response to tetanic stimulation was observed, with post-tetanic facilitation. Extubation was successful, and recovery from anaesthesia was uneventful. Tetanic stimulation and post-tetanic facilitation are important in monitoring neuromuscular function in patients with myasthenic syndrome whose train-of-four responses are insufficient.

Optical absorption spectra in the low-energy region 0.4–1.2 eV is reported for μc-Si:H using a photothermal deflection spectroscopy technique. Absorption coefficient spectra in the low-energy region contain important information related to defects and hydrogen. It is demonstrated that there is a good correlation between electron spin densities and integrated absorption coefficient spectra from 0.7 to 1.2 eV. The amount of the hydrogen molecules in microvoids is much larger in μc-Si:H than that in a-Si:H. Light illumination effects in PDS spectra has also been studied from a view point of photo degradation of the μc-Si:H.

The integrated intensity of the IR absorption mode near 640 cm−1 is directly proportional to hydrogen density while that around 2000–2100 cm−1 is not proportional to this. The crystallinity of a sample prepared by hot-wire assisted PECVD (HWAPECVD) is higher than that by PECVD. The hydrogen density of a sample prepared by HWAPECVD is smaller than that by PECVD. The mode near 840 cm−1 in IR absorption spectrum for a sample prepared by HWAPECVD is smaller than that by PECVD. The properties and the role of hydrogen in μc-Si:H are discussed.

We present an optical study of an In0.12Ga0.88N/GaN structure containing three quantum wells (QW) grown by metalorganic vapor phase epitaxy using mass transport. The mass-transport regions demonstr ...

This paper presents a fully monolithic 10 bit front end for CCD cameras which incorporates a 14 bit analog-to-digital converter (ADC) and a digital programmable gain amplifier (DPGA). With the adoption of a fully-digital amplification scheme, it solves almost all the problems associated with the conventional front-ends and attains low-noise, low-power and robust gain characteristic. Test results show a 79 dB SNR (@gain=0 dB) with the power consumption of 70 mW @18 MHz.

A photoinduced volume expansion phenomenon in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) films has been studied from a viewpoint of the initial stress in the film by using the optical-lever bending method. The dependence on deposition temperature for the photoinduced expansion and the initial stress is similar, that is, both have maximum stress at a deposition temperature of 300°C. On the other hand, little difference in the photoinduced expansion was observed among films prepared at the same substrate temperature which have different initial stresses. These results indicate that an internal stress does not affect the photoinduced expansion and that intrinsic stress due to the structure of a-Si:H is the origin of the phenomenon.

A new insight of the light induced metastable lattice volume change is presented for a-Si:H prepared by plasma enhanced chemical vapor deposition (PECVD). The laser optical-lever bending method is demonstrated for detecting a volume change of film semiconductors. The observed light-induced expansion is persistent after light soaking and is recovered by thermal annealing at 200°C for 2 h. The light exposure time dependence of the lattice expansion was the same dependence of the photoconductivity and light-induced defect density. A correlation between the light-induced expansion and the photolitic changes is obtained. The experimentally obtained light-induced expansions normalized by the initial volume, ΔV/V, are the order of 10−6–10−5, which is two orders smaller than for chalcogenide glasses such as a-As2S3. The ΔV/V has a maximum at deposition temperatures between 200°C and 300°C. The ΔV/V is a maximum at hydrogen dilution ratio with silane gas, r=∼12, but the microcrystalline silicon at r=39 has a negligible small ΔV/V. It is demonstrated that the light-induced expansion is from the structure of a-Si:H.

Application of a nano-crystalline GaN to thin-film transistors is demonstrated. Two types of TFT structures, a bottom gate type and a top gate type, are examined. The field effect mobilities of the former and the latter type TFTs were 6×10 −2 and 19 cm 2 /V s, respectively. There results are explained by the high-volume fraction of nano-crystal and the small deep gap state density at the free surface of nano-crystalline films from experimental results of structural, optical and electrical measurements. It is demonstrated that the nc-GaN TFT performance is not influenced by white light irradiation of 1.2 mW/cm 2 except for a slight increase in the off-current.

Regenerative medicine for patients with peripheral atherosclerosis attracts considerable attention around the world. However, ethical problems persist in gene therapy. This study evaluates the effect of alterative magnetic stimulation on peripheral circulation. The effect of magnetic stimulation as a medical treatment was examined using a thermograph for 11 healthy volunteers. The thermograph was used to measure the rise in skin temperature. The experimental results suggested an improvement in the peripheral circulation. The results of our study suggest the effectiveness of alternative magnetic stimulation on atherosclerosis. We intend to extend our study in order to establish a methodology for regenerative medical treatment for patients with peripheral atherosclerosis. Further, we wish to advance the current research in the field of angiogenesis.

In order to evaluate the EEG of patients with epilepsy, chaos analysis was performed for the subdural EEG time series data. The chaos attractor was reconstructed in the phase space and the correlation dimension. KS entropy calculated from the Lyapunov exponents was evaluated. Before the seizure attack, the KS entropy showed a lower value when compared with the time series data recorded during healthy condition. The results of our study suggest that it is possible to predict the seizure attack by the chaos analysis of the EEG signal. Further, we aim at developing an automatic control system for predicting a seizure attack by the use of local cooling of the focus with Peltier elements.

Accepted: 2016-06-16, 資料番号: SA1160104000

In order to analyze hemodynamic parameters during left ventricular assistance as an entity and not as decomposed parts, non-linear mathematical techniques were utilized. Pneumatically actuated ventricular assist systems (VAS) were implanted as left heart bypasses in acute animal experiments, using healthy adult mongrel dogs. By the use of the non-linear mathematical technique, the arterial blood pressure waveform (AP) was embedded into the four-dimensional phase space and projected into the three-dimensional phase space. The Lyapunov numerical method was used as an adjunct to the graphical analysis of the state space. The phase portrait of the attractor showed a complex structure; a three dimensional solid torus with a screw type structure as a part, suggesting deterministic chaos in the AP without left ventricular assistance. Positive lyapunov exponents confirmed the existence of chaos. During counterpulsation mode left ventricular assistance, the phase portrait of the attractor showed a more complex structure, and positive Lyapunov exponents suggested a greater dimensional deterministic chaos. However, non-structured patterns were seen in the phase space during internal mode VAS driving, suggesting the possibility of dissipative dynamics in the four dimensional phase space. These results suggest that the cardiovascular system with counterpulsation mode VAS driving is in a homeochaotic state, which is thought to be a flexible and intelligent control system. And there is greater dimensional complex dynamics in the circulatory regulatory system with VAD during internal mode assistance.

To assess the effect of a total artificial heart (TAH) on the autonomic nervous system a power spectral analysis of the hemodynamics in a TAH animal was done by the maximum entropy method. Two pneumatically driven sac-type ventricular assist devices were implanted as total biventricular bypass (BVB) in adult mongrel dogs to compare the differences between natural heart and TAH. Once the BVB was pumping, the natural heart was electrically fibrillated to constitute the BVB-type TAH model. In the arterial pressure waveform in animals with TAH, respiratory waves were not changed (97.7±24.6%) though Mayer waves were significantly decreased (47.5 ± 22.6%) compared with the animal with a natural heart. These results suggest that prosthetic hemodynamics in the TAH animal affect fluctuations in the cardiovascular system.

A sympathetic neurogram is potentially useful for the development of a real time total artificial heart (TAH) control system. We used sympathetic tone and hemodynamic derivatives to estimate the following cardiac output in acute animal experiments using adult mongrel dogs. Moving averages of the mean left atrial pressure and mean aortic pressure were used as parameters of the preload and afterload, respectively. Renal sympathetic nerve activity (RSNA) was employed as a parameter of sympathetic tone. Equations for the following cardiac output were calculated using multiple linear regression analysis of the time series data. A significant correlation was observed between the estimated and following measured cardiac output. These results suggest the potential usefulness of the sympathetic neurogram for the real time TAH automatic control system.

This paper is concerned with electrical energy transmission by measns of inductive coupling between two spiral coils with amorphous magnetic fibers. This method is designed for use in transcutaneous energy transmission to an electrically actuated implanted artificial heart. Analysis of the operation of the transmitting coils revealed the optimum operating conditions for efficient energy transmission. Calculated results indicate that the transmitting coils can transmit electric power with an efficiency of about 95% at operating frequencies between 100 and 200 kHz. An average rise in coil temperature of 2 to 3°C was observed when transmitting 20 W of power. We also conducted tests in which energy was transmitted to a vibrating electromagnetic pump simulating an artificial heart.

症例は19歳,男性,潰瘍性大腸炎.18歳の時,全大腸型潰瘍性大腸炎からの大量出血により,緊急に大腸亜全摘・直腸空置(粘液瘻作成)・回腸人工肛門造設術が行われた.術後1年7カ月目に,残存直腸切除,回腸肛門吻合術を行った.術前および術中所見にて回結腸動脈はすでに切離されており,さらに回腸係蹄は初回手術による広範囲の癒着のため短く,回腸を肛門まで延長することは困難であった.このため回腸間膜の血管系を切離し係蹄の延長を図うたが,腸間膜を広範囲に切離し,肛門まで牽引した場合,辺縁動脈のアーケイドが切れる恐れがあった.そこで,安全を期して,内腸骨動脈と回腸動脈の間に自家血管を遊離吻合することにより回腸係蹄を延長した.この余裕のある回腸でpouchを作成し,回腸肛門吻合を施行した.

The common mode current generated by an AFE (analog-front-end) of a modem is a main cause of emission from the external wires connected with the AFE. In this paper, the measurement and the calculation are carried out about the common mode current and the magnetic field generated from the AFE by the equivalent circuit that consists of a signal generator and an output transformer. As a result, it is confirmed by the calculation and the measurement that the common mode current increases according to the coupling capacitances between the primary and the secondary windings of the output transformer and the parasitic capacitances caused by traces, and that the magnetic field strength emitted from the signal wires is proportional to the common mode current. And then, an output transformer with a balun is proposed. It is clarified that the transformer with a balun is effective to reduce the common mode current and the magnetic field.

In order to reduce the radiated emissions from communication cables, we investigated a relation between the stray capacitance of a signal transformer and the common mode currents. From analysis and experimental results, it is confirmed that the stray capacitances of the signal transformer have strong correlation to the common mode currents and magnetic field strength. This indicates that the implementation design of transformer is an important factor to reduce the radiated emissions.

The growing of rice seeds (Oryza sativa L.) on a primary root stage are experimented under the condition with electric field at 28.5 kV/m varied electrode in horizontal direction and without electric field. This work is focused on the bending of the root direction were measurement the space angle after 8, 16 and 24 hour. These values with E-field and without E -field are compared. The result indicate that the majority direction of root is bended to negative electrode.

The near magnetic field radiated from a printed circuit board (PCB) including two multi-loops is studied in this paper. It is found that the magnetic field radiated from the PCB can be reduced by means of the parts layout making the current direction flowing through Vcc-GND pins of the adjacent IC to be opposite, based on the following phenomena of (1) and (2). (1) The total amounts of near magnetic field cannot always be obtained from addition of each near magnetic field from a single sub-circuit. (2) Digital IC can be characterized by the current model flowing from Vcc pin to GND pin.

This paper presents the analytical and experimental consideration of the common-mode noise generation in a single-switch (buck) converter comparison to a four-switch (full-bridge) converter by the viewpoint of circuit imbalance. The mechanism of the common-mode current (noise) generation in the buck converter and full-bridge converter can be explained by equivalent circuit of unbalanced model. Common-mode noise generation due to the effect of circuit imbalance of the buck and full-bridge converter is clarified by the experimental results.

General switching converter such as the simple high-side switching circuit inherently has unbalanced characteristics of impedance of transmission path, voltage at dc source and load terminals with respect to the frame ground. These unbalanced characteristic effects are the cause of unbalanced voltages at both dc source and load terminals. These unbalanced voltages will produce common-mode noise flowing through frame ground to the LISN during the active switch turn-off and on. This paper presents the analytical and experimental consideration of common-mode noise generation due to the unbalanced effect. The mechanism of common-mode noise generation due to unbalanced effect can be explained by equivalent circuit in both turn-off and turn-on time of the active switch. For common-mode noise reduction, the method for balancing the switching converter is also presented. Common-mode noise generated due to the effect of circuit imbalance is clarified by the experimental results. The balanced switching converter can greatly reduce the common-mode noise is also confirmed by the experimental results.

This research seeks to report the development of a 50kW output power atmospheric pressure turbine (APT), based on the Inverted Brayton Cycle, which puts new, distributed power generation technology to practical use by using as energy source gases at normal pressures and high temperature, from industrial furnaces, waste gasification furnaces, gas turbines, and fuel cells which work at high temperatures, (ex. MCFC: Molten Carbonate Fuel Cell, SOFC: Solid Oxide Fuel Cell) and attempts to save energy and reduce CO2. At the last conference (ASME Turbo Expo 2006 in Barcelona), we had presented a paper about the proposal of APT and the results of operation of a 3–5kw APT prototype. This paper describes the designing of a new 50kW output power APT, and shows performance analysis and a review of the effectiveness of its application to industrial furnaces and biomass gasification furnaces. This development is based on a 3–5 kW APT prototype we had built and operated, and evaluated results. The performance simulation results using a general process simulator “HYSYS” show that a new 50kW APT (with recuperating heat exchanger) has a net electric efficiency (LHV) of about 20%. Based on this simulation result, we calculated the power and economical performance of application to industrial furnaces and biomass boilers. The results of these calculations clarify the basic characteristics of a new APT, which can be used as a new system for distributed power generation using waste heat.Copyright © 2007 by ASME

This study experimentally clarifies that the causes by which the radio control clock sometimes fails to receive the standard time signal in the indoors are in the following two factors: (1) the shielding by the conductive materials (used for column, pillar, floor and so on) existing close to the radio control clock. (2) The missing of tuning and the change of Q of the antenna due to the closely existing conductive materials.

Photoinduced structural change in hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H) has been studied by a sensitive bending detection method using an optical lever. We observed that a-Si:H films show not only thermal expansion due to a photothermal effect but also residual and persistent expansion after light soaking. The volume change is recovered by thermal annealing at 200 °C. A dehydrogenated sample annealed at 550 °C and a microcrystalline sample, in which photoinduced defects are not created, show little photoinduced expansion. The photoinduced expansion and photoinduced defect density show identical time evolution. These results suggest that the photoinduced expansion is related to the photoinduced defect creation. A quantitative evaluation of the photoinduced expansion indicates that the photoinduced structural change is spread over several molecular volumes around a photocreated defect.

The limit values of the conductive noises on AC-mains are specified in normal operations of EUT by the regulation such as CISPR. Meanwhile, it has been said that the conductive noises generated on AC mains when AC power of EUT is turned on/off are larger than them in normal operations. In this paper, at first, it is shown that the conductive noises generated on AC-mains when AC power is turned on/off are lager than them in normal operations for commercially available equipments. Next, it is shown by using the proposed model circuit of EUT that one of the dominant factors for the conductive noises generated on AC-mains when AC power is turned on/off is the power factor of EUT.

Nowadays, a rotary blood pump can be used as not only for a bridge to transplantation (BTT) but also for a bridge to recovery (BTR) and a destination therapy (DT). In such cases, evaluation of the recovery level of the native heart provides useful infomation to improve the clinical strategy and decide adequate timing for removing of the RBP. In contrast, the indices for cardiac function have been studied. However, most of them do not consider the assistance with the RBP. In this study, we aimed at evaluating whether Emax, which is an index for cardiac function based on the pressure-volume relationships, is still valid during assistance with the RBP from an animal experiment. In the acute animal experiment with an adult goat, we mea- sured pressure-volume (P-V) loops while cardiac function was normal, augmented or diminished. The experimental results revealed that there were typical differences in the shapes of P-V loops when the cardiac function was altered, and Emax can still be used as an index for the cardiac function even if the assistance with the RBP is ongoing. I. INTRODUCTION A rotary blood pump (RBP) is a device to keep blood circulation of a cardiac patient instead of his/her weakened native heart. Clinical studies with the RBP have been per- formed widely, and they have revealed that the assistance with the RBP unloads a native heart and promotes its recovery. Nowadays, the RBP can be used as not only for a bridge to transplantation (BTT) but also for a bridge to recovery (BTR) and a destination therapy (DT)(1)(2). In such cases, evaluation of the recovery level of the native heart provides useful information to improve the clinical strategy and decide adequate timing for removing of the RBP. In addition, this information will be also helpful to realize the adaptive control algorithm for the RBP.

A 78-year-old man with old tuberculosis was pointed out the high CEA (347 ng/ml) and a mass shadow in right side of middle mediastinum. Examination by bronchoscopy showed no abnormal finding, cytological diagnosis of sputum was negative. In computed tomography (CT), there was tumor-like shadow in the right upper lobe and mass shadow in the right side of middle mediastinum, and we suspected of lung cancer. We performed a wedge resection in the right upper lobe with regional lymph node dissection. In the histological diagnosis, there were no malignant finding in the right lung, and mediastinal lymph nodes showed poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. In immunohistochemistry staining, CEA was positive, surfactant apoprotein and thyroid transcription factor-1 (TTF 1) were negative. Postoperative course was uneventful and 50 Gy radiotherapy were given. CEA was decreased to 2.1 ng/ml 6 months after the operation. This case was highly suspected to be a rare case of T0N2M0 lung cancer.

Atherosclerosis has been reported to progress rapidly after heart transplantation. A quantitative diagnosis is required for the diagnosis of atherosclerosis after heart transplantation. In this study, we compared brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) and cardio-ankle vascular index (CAVI) for the diagnosis. The average values of both baPWV and CAVI in the seven cases after heart transplantation were found to be signif-icantly large in comparison to the average values of the normal healthy people of the same age group. When comparisons were made before and after the heart transplantation in a particular case, CAVI was stable and baPWV changed sharply. A lot of parameters such as blood pressure, blood volume, etc. have been reported to influence baPWV. The results of this study suggested that CAVI was a stable parameter in comparison to baPWV even after heart transplantation. Thus, CAVI may be useful in the diagnosis of arteriosclerosis after heart transplantation.

Pulse wave velocity (PWV) is a well-known indicator of arterial stiffness and a marker of the presence of vascular lesions. Cardiovascular mortality in Russia has become the highest in the world. The Japanese are enjoying long lives, and the mortality caused by cardiovascular diseases has thus far remained at lower levels than that in Russia. In this study, we focused on brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity (baPWV) obtained from normal human subjects in Russia as well as in Japan, and compared their respective cardiovascular risks. We evaluated baPWV in 337 Japanese and 138 Russian healthy subjects. The baPWV was recorded using a PWV diagnosis device. BaPWV was measured between 2 locations of the arterial tree. The baPWV in the Russian group was significantly higher than that obtained in the Japanese of two groups categorized by age (40-59 years and 60- years). Further, body mass index (BMI), systolic blood pressure (SBP) and diastolic blood pressure in the Russian group were significantly higher than those obtained in Japanese in three age groups (under 39 years, 40-59 years, and 60- years). Moreover, the baPWV indicated a positive correlation with age, BMI and SBP in both Japanese and Russians, although the increasing trend of the baPWV against age of the Russian group had a larger value than that of the Japanese. Therefore, we suggest that arterial stiffness might be promoted earlier in the Russian group, which might be the main cause of the increased cardiovascular risk in Russia.