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PurposeTo analyse the relationship between the results of the phenylephrine test and postoperative eyelid droop in transcutaneous aponeurotic repair using epinephrine-containing local anaesthetic for aponeurotic blepharoptosis.Patients and methodsWe retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 66 eyelids from 40 patients who underwent transcutaneous aponeurotic repair. A positive phenylephrine test result was defined as an increase in margin reflex distance-1 (MRD-1) ≥0.5 mm after application of phenylephrine eye drops. The patients were divided into a positive phenylephrine response group (Group A, 16 patients) and a negative phenylephrine response group (Group B, 24 patients). The ΔMRD-1 was calculated by subtracting the 3-month postoperative value from the intraoperative value. Patient age, sex, pre- and intraoperative MRD-1s, levator function, and phenylephrine response were investigated as factors potentially influencing the ΔMRD-1. The relationship between these factors and ΔMRD-1 was analysed using single and multiple regression analysis.ResultsThe ΔMRD-1 in Group A (0.68±0.52 mm) was significantly greater than that in Group B (0.17±0.56 mm; P=0.004). A moderate correlation was found between phenylephrine response and ΔMRD-1 in the total patient group (YΔMRD-1=0.441 Xphenylephrine+0.358; r=0.462; r2=0.213; P=0.002).ConclusionsAlthough the ΔMRD-1 in Group B was quite small, the ΔMRD-1 in Group A was considerable, and there was a moderate positive correlation between phenylephrine response and the ΔMRD-1 overall. This indicates that the degree of postoperative eyelid droop can be estimated by the phenylephrine test results in transcutaneous aponeurotic repair.

Byline: N. Fukushima, R. Shirakura, N. Taenaka, S. Nakano, H. Matsuda Author Affiliation: Osaka, Japan Article History: Received 27 October 1995; Accepted 30 October 1995 Article Note: (footnote) [star] From the First Department of Surgery,a Department of Intensive Care,b Osaka University Medical School, Osaka, Japan., [star][star] 0022-5223/96 $5.00 + 0, a Address for reprints: Norihide Fukushima, MD, First Department of Surgery, Osaka University Medical School, 2-2 Yamada-Oka, Suita, Osaka 565, Japan., aa 12/54/70333

We have developed computer-assisted procedures for mapping minor light elements and their chemical bond information from a set of soft X-ray transmission images of biological specimens. Minor light elements such as Ca, S and P play an important role in the biological function and structure in a cell. Contact X-ray microscopy with an electric zooming tube covering wide wavelength range from the K absorption edge of S to the L absorption edge of P is applied to elemental mapping. The procedure of elemental mapping depends basically on the subtraction of the contribution of major elements such as C, O and N in intracellular absorption spectra to find the presence of the absorption edges of minor elements. The results of simulation experiments were presented. Chemical bond imaging utilizes a XANES spectrum corresponding to a specific chemical bond. Since the intensity is relatively low for minor elements, the ratio between absorption at the peak and at the bottom, which represents the chemical bond distribution, becomes small. We developed the computer program for the enhancement of very small ratio value. This procedure was applied to the S-S and S-C bond imaging at the S-K absorption edge.

Vasculopathy, such as an aneurysm, stenosis, rupture, or arteriovenous fistula, in patients with neurofibromatosis type I (NF-1; von Recklinghausen disease) is well recognised. However, there has been no report regarding treatment for a ruptured lumbar artery aneurysm associated with NF-1. We present the first report of successful endovascular treatment by coil embolisation for a ruptured lumbar artery aneurysm in a patient with NF-I.

Pulsed electric current pressure sintering (PECPS) makes it possible to produce novel monolithic and composite materials with well controlled microstructure or nanostructure, which has not been realised before. ZrO2based ceramics containing 25 mol.-%Al2O3and 0·90–1·125 mol.-%Y2O3, i.e. ZrO2(1·2–1·5 mol.-%Y2O3)–25 mol.-%Al2O3, revealing high bending strength sb=1 GPa and high fracture toughness KIC=15·5 MPa m1/2simultaneously, have been fabricated by PECPS of cubic ZrO2solid solution (ss) powders containing both Al2O3and Y2O3prepared via a sol–gel process. Tetragonal ZrO2(t-ZrO2) phase composite ceramics sintered at 1573 to 1623 K (1300–1350°C) for 10 min under 60 MPa in Ar were composed of ~f200 nm grains with high relative density =97·5%. Transmission electron microscopy observation cleared that these mechanical properties might originate from homogeneous distribution of a-Al2O3particles in the dense t-ZrO2matrix; the precipitation of a-Al2O3could be achieved by adopting the ss powders and PECPS.

The design concepts and properties of three unique high strength steel sheets developed utilising nanoengineering are reviewed. The first steel is developed by optimising the distribution of nanoprecipitates and exhibits low yielding ratio in spite of being strengthened by grain refinement and precipitation hardening. The second is the ferrite single phase tensile strength 780 MPa grade advanced high strength steel sheet utilising the thermally stable nanosized precipitates, which possesses significantly well balanced elongation and stretch flangeability. These two were already commercialised. The last is the ultrahigh strength steel, of which the formability is enhanced by optimising the combination of hard phases. The steel consists of bainite, retained austenite and tempered martensite and exhibits 35 of elongation with 1470 MPa of tensile strength. Although further optimisation of the composition and the processing are needed to produce and commercialise the steel, the results indicate that the approach has the potential to improve formability dramatically.

Contribution of SCF auto‐production to neoplastic growth of mast cells. Mastocytosis is a disease accompanied by the abnormal expansion and accumulation of mast cells. Although the D816V mutation is detected in most cases of systemic mastocytosis, the mutation is rarely observed in other forms of mastocytosis, such as cutaneous mastocytosis and mast cell leukemia/sarcoma, for which the mechanism of tumorigenesis remains unknown. In this study, we demonstrated a novel mechanism of mast cell tumorigenesis via SCF autocrine/paracrine release. SCF was highly expressed in a WT KIT‐expressing HRMC line, contributing to the phosphorylation of KIT. Neutralization of external SCF using a neutralizing antibody or suppression of SCF production by RNA interference inhibited the growth of HRMC cells, indicating the essential role of SCF in cell proliferation. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report to determine the significant contribution of SCF autoproduction to neoplastic proliferation of mast cells. These results indicate the possibility that targeting SCF production may become a novel treatment for mast cell malignancies.

The effect of sample collection site on semen parameters in ten men aged between 22 and 24 years was investigated. Sperm was collected at two sites: in a university hospital restroom for general use and in a one-person hospital room. Samples were collected from the same individual twice, with an interval of two weeks between collections. Semen parameters for the two sites were compared. Samples were collected after a minimum of three days and not longer than seven days of sexual abstinence. Sperm concentration did not differ significantly between the university hospital restroom location (86.8 ± 25.4 × 106/ml; mean ± standard deviation) and the private hospital room (97.1 ± 72.0 × 106/ml). There was no difference in the total motile sperm count or daily sperm production between the collection sites. These results suggest that the collection site has little effect on semen parameters.

In recent years overexploitation and collapse of several biological resources have been seen in fisheries, forestry and wildlife. This is due to unconventional and indiscrete harvesting of the resources. Consequently there is much current concern to find principles for the control and management of resources, particularly in those circumstances where both prey and predator species are being exploited. This work illustrates the use of harvesting efforts as a control to obtain strategies for the control of a prey–predator system with Holling type III functional response.

Because evidence-based data regarding the quality of video-assisted thoracoscopic thymectomy for the treatment of myasthenia gravis are lacking, a prospective trial comparing three different operative approaches was conducted to evaluate their efficacy.This prospective study enrolled 20 consecutive patients with nonthymomatous myasthenia gravis. A series of three approaches for bilateral video-assisted thoracoscopic extended thymectomy (VATET) using the anterior chest wall–lifting method (original), the original method with a flexed-neck position (modified), and the original method with a transcervical approach (final) were prospectively performed in each patient for quantitative and pathologic evaluation of the residual thymus after each approach.Complete VATET required 242 ± 48 min, with the transcervical procedure requiring 23 ± 12 min. After the modified method, the residual thymus in the cervical region was 1.5 cm in size and weighed 0.8 g (0.8% of the entire thymus), as compared with a size of 2.2 cm and a weight of 1.3 g (3.2%) after the original method. Each value is the result of comparison with the final method. Histopathologic studies showed residual tissue in the germinal center as well as Hassall’s corpuscles in more than 70% of cases.The findings show that VATET without the transcervical approach could be an immunologically incomplete treatment for myasthenia gravis. Therefore, the transcervical approach should be included in VATET procedures to ensure radicality.

Electroless plating can uniformly plate a material on irregular and non-conducting surfaces. Consequently, it has been utilized widely for printed circuit boards in the electronics industry. During the plating process, internal stress is frequently incorporated into the film and this often results in detachment from the substrate. In order to investigate the origins of stress in the films, measurements of film stress are required during the early stages of growth. In this study, TV holography, which can capture holographic images at TV frame rates, was used to sensitively measure the deflection of the cantilever beam during deposition. By substituting the deformation data in Stoney’s equation, it is possible to calculate internal stresses in-situ. The internal stress created by electroless plating from a Cu plating solution on a Be-Cu substrate is discussed. It is assumed that the internal stress is generated in the initial stage in which the plating grains with a thickness of about 0.01µm deposit. This paper shows that the present method can be very useful for in-situ measurement of initial internal stress.

Bioprostheses currently used for replacement of diseased cardiovascular tissue are preserved and partially protected from immune rejection through chemical fixation. However, after implantation, chemically preserved (fixed) material has limited durability and lacks the ability to revitalize through cellular ingrowth and remodeling. As an alternative to fixation, we aimed at thoroughly removing antigens from tissue, leaving an intact scaffold, suitable for integration and revitalization in the host. Extensive washing of porcine heart valves with a mixture of two detergents (SDS and Triton X-100) yielded an intact matrix devoid of cells and depleted of soluble proteins that was minimally immunogenic in rabbits. A detailed characterization of the biomechanics and durability of the tissue is under way. If the lack of immunogenicity is confirmed in primates, our results would suggest that a detergent-washed, unfixed porcine heart valve can be an attractive non-inflammatory scaffold for heart valve regeneration in humans.

Abstract: Background: Bowel distention after colonoscopy has been considered as a cause of blood flow disturbance. Carbon dioxide (CO2), with its higher absorbability and vasodilating effect, may reduce parietal blood flow disturbance of distended colon when used for intraluminal insufflation instead of air. The purpose of this study was to assess parietal blood flow of the colon distended with intraluminal air/CO2 insufflation. Methods: A 5-cm segment of rat colon was insufflated with either air (air group) or CO2 (CO2 group). Two insufflation methods were employed: temporary insufflation up to an intraluminal pressure of 60 mmHg and continuous insufflation at a pressure of 5, 15, and 30 mmHg. Bowel distention and parietal blood flow measured by laser Doppler imaging were evaluated. Results: For temporary insufflation, bowel distention was prolonged in the air group, whereas it rapidly resolved in the CO2 group. Parietal blood flow decreased in both groups; however, it recovered within 5 min in the CO2 group. For continuous insufflation, under 5 mmHg insufflation, blood flow decreased in the air group, whereas it increased in the CO2 group. Blood flow decreased in both groups under 15 mmHg insufflation; however, it decreased less in the CO2 group. There was a reverse relationship between insufflation pressure and blood flow difference. Inhibition of nitric oxide synthase, ATP-sensitive K+ channel, or heme oxygenase was ineffective against a CO2-induced increase in blood flow. Conclusion: CO2 insufflation preserved parietal blood flow not only by rapid resolution of bowel distention but also by its potential vasodilative effect.

The methanolic extract and its n-butanol-soluble fraction from the flowers of the tea plant (Camellia sinensis) were found to suppress serum triglyceride elevation in olive oil-treated mice. From the n-butanol-soluble fraction, three new acylated oleanane-type triterpene oligoglycosides, floratheasaponins A−C (1−3), were isolated together with several flavonol glycosides and catechins. The structures of 1−3 were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence as 21-O-angeloyl-22-O-acetyltheasapogenol B 3-O-[β-d-galactopyranosyl(1→2)][β-d-xylopyranosyl(1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid, 21,22-di-O-angeloyl-R1-barrigenol 3-O-[β-d-galactopyranosyl(1→2)][β-d-xylopyranosyl(1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid, and 21-O-angeloyl-22-O-2-methylbutyryl-R1-barrigenol 3-O-[β-d-galactopyranosyl(1→2)][β-d-xylopyranosyl(1→2)-α-l-arabinopyranosyl(1→3)]-β-d-glucopyranosiduronic acid, respectively. Floratheasaponins (1−3) showed inhibitory effects on serum triglyceride elevation, with their activities being more potent than those of theasaponins E1 (4) and E2 (5) obtained previously from the seeds of C. sinensis.

Oncomelania nosophora (Gastropoda: Pomatiopsidae) is the intermediate host of Schistosoma japonicum in Japan. Although most of the snails were eliminated during the 20th century, they are still found in two areas in Japan. One area is in the Kofu Basin, including Nirasaki City, in Yamanashi Prefecture. The other is the Obitsu River Basin in Kisarazu City, Chiba Prefecture. Snails collected in Nirasaki and Kisarazu were exposed to 3 geographical strains of S. japonicum originating from Japan, China, and the Philippines. Both isolates of O. nosophora showed high susceptibility to the Japanese strain of S. japonicum (74·0%–82·2% for the Nirasaki isolate and 58·0%–56·0% for the Kisarazu isolate) and low susceptibility to the Chinese strain (0·0%–1·3% and 1·4%–7·9% respectively). In contrast, the susceptibility of the snails to the Philippine strain was significantly different (P<0·01) between the isolates (3·3%–6·6% for the Nirasaki isolate and 31·9%–75·9% for the Kisarazu isolate). To examine the differences in infectivity in detail, we conducted histological observations of snails exposed to the Philippine strain at 3 h, 1, 3, and 15 days after miracidial exposure. We found differences in the development of the parasite between the isolates of snails from early after exposure.

We have developed an autocatalytic plating solution for pure nickel deposits using hydrazine as a reducing agent. The solution is characterized by its extended lifetime, high deposition rate and high deposit brightness. In this study, we have found that a simple solution consisting of nickel acetate and hydrazine can deposit black nickel films with stability. The deposition rate was 0.79 nm/sec. The addition of a small amount of formaldehyde to the plating solution gave bright nickel films. The purity of the deposited nickel was higher than 99.7%. Its electrical conductivity increased with purity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The cDNA encoding human cystatin C (HCC) was subjected to site-specific substitution of alanine for serine at the position 37, to obtain the Asn35-Lys36-Ser37 sequence that is a signal for asparagine-linked (N-linked) glycosylation of protein in eukaryotes, and was transformed into Pichia pastoris X33. As a result, 1.2 mg/L oligomannosyl HCC with a carbohydrate chain of Man10GlcNAc2 was produced by the Pichia transformant. The oligomannosyl HCC was more stable at the low ionic strength condition of 50 mM potassium phosphate buffer, pH 7.0, than the wild-type. In addition, the oligomannosylation substantially improved the molecular stability of cystatin against an aspartic proteinase, cathepsin D, in which the susceptibility decreased to less than 50% of nonglycosylated one. The anti-rotavirus activity of HCC was substantially enhanced by the site-directed glycosylation using the yeast expression system. A MA-104 cell line was used as a host cell for human rotavirus type-2 Wa strain in this study, to which both the wild-type and oligomannosyl HCCs did not show cytotoxicity at a concentration of 100 μg/mL. More than 80% viability of the host cell infected with 1.0 × 10⁵ PFU/mL of rotavirus was conserved under the condition coexisting with 75 μg/mL of the oligomannosyl HCC, which was 15.2% higher than that of wild-type HCC. Thus, the in vitro anti-rotavirus assay indicated that the supplement of a proper amount of the oligomannosyl HCC could be used as an anti-rotavirus agent.

Individual variation in semen parameters was investigated in healthy young volunteers. Semen samples were collected approximately once a month over a one-year period for a total of 93 samples (5 to 10 samples per subject) from 12 volunteers in their twenties. Semen analysis was carried out according to the WHO Manual. The amount of variation in each semen variable was calculated for each subject by dividing the maximum value by the minimum value. The results showed that the semen volume varied by 1.9 ± 0.8 fold (1.3 to 4.2 fold), the sperm concentration by 4.8 ± 4.3 fold (1.5 to 17.2 fold), the percentage of sperm with forward progression by 2.8 ± 1.4 fold (1.6 to 6.4 fold), the percentage of sperm with rapid linear progression by 3.4 ± 2.6 fold (1.7 to 10.9 fold), the percentage of sperm with normal morphology by 1.9 ± 0.4 fold (1.3 to 2.4 fold), and the percentage of live sperm by 1.5 ± 0.4 fold (1.1 to 2.6 fold). A between-group comparison showed significant differences in all of the variables except the percentage of sperm with normal morphology. These results suggest multiple and considerable semen analyses are needed when evaluating semen parameters.

Abstract

The 80% aqueous methanolic extract from the bulbs of Crinum yemense showed a potent inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. Three new crinine-type alkaloids, yemenines A (1), B (2), and C (3), were isolated from the herbal extract together with six known alkaloids. The absolute configurations of 1−3 were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. The effects of the isolated alkaloids on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages were examined, and several alkaloids, e.g. 1, (+)-bulbispermine (6), (+)-crinamine (7), (+)-6-hydroxycrinamine (8), and (−)-lycorine (9), showed inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production and induction of inducible nitric oxide synthase.

The relationship between the number-average sequence length and the melting temperature of the block copolyesters prepared by quench after the transesterification reaction between poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(butylene terephthalate) was reported. The number-average sequence length was determined by the triad sequence analysis in a solvent system of o-chlorophenol/deuterated chloroform mixture (75/25 v/v) at 80 °C using 600 MHz ¹H NMR. The melting temperature was observed using a differential scanning calorimeter. The linear correlation between the melting temperature and the inverse of the number-average sequence length was observed for the transesterification products with composition of PET/PBT from 20/80 to 80/20 mol %. This correlation was confirmed by the measurement of the long period using small-angle X-ray scattering. For the transesterification products obtained under definite conditions such as the quench after the transesterification reaction, it was confirmed that the number-average sequence length measured by NMR can be approximately used instead of the lamellae thickness in Gibbs−Thomson equation that has been well-known as the relationship between the melting temperature and the lamellae thickness. The decrease in the ratio of the relative peak area of the methylene carbon of the butylene glycol and ethylene glycol units, IPBT/IPET, in the solid-state ¹³C NMR spectra was observed as the progress of the transesterification. This seems due to change in the local motion of each segment reflecting the decrease of the crystalline size.

Six new sesquiterpenes, cyperusols A1 (1), A2 (2), B1 (3), B2 (4), C (5), and D (6), together with two monoterpenes and 13 sesquiterpenes were isolated from an Egyptian herbal medicine, the whole plants of Cyperus longus. The stereostructures of the new sesquiterpenes were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. In addition, the principal constituents were found to exhibit inhibitory activity on d-galactosamine-induced cytotoxicity in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes.

Excess molar enthalpies for a series of ethylene glycol + alkanol (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, 2-propanol, 1-butanol, and 2-butanol) systems were measured over the entire molar composition range at (298.15, 308.15, and 323.15) K under atmospheric pressure using a flow-type isothermal microcalorimeter. The values of H^E increase slightly with increasing temperature for all of the ethylene glycol + n-alkanol (methanol, ethanol, 1-propanol, and 1-butanol) systems over the entire composition range. In addition, a dependence of H^E on the chain length of the n-alkanol was observed. However, the same temperature dependency as in the ethylene glycol + n-alkanol systems was not observed for ethylene glycol + 2-alkanol (2-propanol and 2-butanol) systems. The experimental results were compared with values correlated using the Redlich−Kister equation.

Pentad-level sequence analysis of a copolyester derived from two diacids and two diols, poly(ethylene/trimethylene terephthalate/2,6-naphthalate), which was prepared by transesterification between poly(ethylene terephthalate) and poly(trimethylene 2,6-naphthalate), was reported in a solvent system of o-chlorophenol/deuterated chloroform mixture (75/25 v/v) at 80 °C using 600 MHz ¹H NMR. The well-resolved alcoholic CH2 proton peak of the glycol units was observed, which made the detailed sequence analysis possible. Many peaks were split into the pentad sequence centered on the glycol units and could be assigned by a comparison of the spectra of the model copolymers and by a two-dimensional heteronuclear multiple bond correlation observation. The pentad sequences determined here gave more detailed information on the change in the molar fractions of the sequences with increasing the transesterification reaction time. The discrimination among the different copolymerization state was performed on the basis of the pentad sequence analysis. Furthermore, the larger percentage of transesterification of the polymers was obtained than the value determined from the triad level analysis.

Four new dolabellane-type diterpene alkaloids, nigellamines A1 (1), A2 (2), B1 (3), and B2 (4), were isolated from the seeds of Nigella sativa. Their absolute stereostructures were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. Nigellamines A1 (1), B1 (3), and B2 (4) were found to show potent lipid metabolism promoting activity in primary cultured mouse hepatocytes, and their activities were equivalent to that of a PPAR-α agonist, clofibrate.

SUMMARYThis paper describes the formation process and chemical state of adsorbates produced during the two-step catalysation pre-treatment prior to electroless deposition. Tin species adsorbed during sensitisation are divided into two types, namely one that adsorbs weakly and one that adsorbs strongly. The former exists in equilibrium with Sn2+in the sensitising solution. It easily desorbed from the substrate during the following HCl immersion, and the loss is recovered during an ensuing sensitising step. The latter is not desorbed during the HCl immersion step. A dry process after sensitisation, which should promote oxidation, induces the transition from Sn2+to Sn4+. In the activating step, two reactions proceed independently of each other; that is, an oxidation-reduction reaction between Sn2+and Pd2+takes place, which produces Pd0and Sn4+. Simultaneously, some Sn2+is desorbed from the substrate. XPS analysis confirms that tin oxide (or hydroxide) and metallic palladium are the final products in the two-step catalysation pre-treatment.

To make it possible to share a normal database in single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) studies, we developed a new method for converting a SPECT image in one physical condition to that in another condition for data acquisition and reconstruction. A Hoffman 3-dimensional brain phantom experiment was conducted to determine systematic differences between collimators and reconstruction processes. SPECT images for the brain phantom were obtained using fan-beam collimators with scatter and attenuation corrections and using parallel-hole collimators without any correction. Dividing these two phantom images after anatomical standardization by Statistical Parametric Mapping 99 (SPM99) created a 3-dimensional conversion map. This conversion map was applied to convert an anatomically standardized SPECT image using parallel-hole collimators without any correction to that using fan-beam collimators with scatter and attenuation corrections in eleven subjects who underwent sequential SPECT measurements using different collimators after injection of 99mTc ethyl cysteinate dimer. The SPM99 demonstrated adequate validity of this conversion in comparative analyses of these sequential SPECT images with different collimators. This may be a promising approach for further sharing of a normal database in SPECT imaging between different cameras.

Benign mammary mixed tumors in dogs resemble human salivary pleomorphic adenomas with regard to their histogenesis, including the occurrence of cartilaginous or bony metaplasia as well as the expression pattern of cytoskeletal proteins in proliferative myoepithelial cells. Recently, a monoclonal antibody specific for class II β-tubulin has been developed. The epitope it recognizes was determined to be the hepta-peptide Glu-Glu-Glu-Glu-Gly-Glu-Asp, which is the common sequence found among the canine, rat, mouse, and human class II β-tubulin-specific regions. We carried out immunohistochemical studies on mammary mixed tumors obtained from three female dogs using this the monoclonal antibody. The antibody to class II β-tubulin reacted intensely with proliferative myoepithelial cells in canine mammary mixed tumors, whereas staining was barely detectable in normal myoepithelial cells surrounding alveoli and alveolar ducts within the tumor and adjacent normal tissue. Proliferative myoepithelial cells also expressed vimentin, but α-smooth muscle actin (αSMA) staining was barely detectable. Immunoblot analysis showed that class II β-tubulin and vimentin were expressed in myoepithelial cell lines prepared from the three mammary mixed tumors. On the other hand, only one cell line, which was negative for αSMA, produced cartilage-specific type II collagen. These results suggest that class II β-tubulin could be a new molecular marker of proliferating myoepithelial cells in canine mammary mixed tumors and that differential expression of cytoskeletal components is associated with cartilaginous metaplasia of proliferative myoepithelial cells in mixed mammary tumors.

Reductive decomposition of spent CaSO4 was studied using a packed-bed reactor to regenerate an alternative CaO sorbent. The reactor was operated at various process conditions including an increasing CO concentration, CO/CO2 concentration ratio (0.067−1), and temperature (1123−1273 K). In all cases, N2 was used as a balancing gas. The regeneration of CaO from CaSO4 was found to be most effective in the CO−CO2−N2 atmosphere and strongly depended on the CO/CO2 concentration ratio. At 1273 K, an apparent conversion value of 0.91 for the decomposition of CaSO4 to CaO was obtained in a 2 vol % CO and 30 vol % CO2 atmosphere. On the other hand, in a CO−N2 atmosphere, CaS was predominantly produced. The SO2 absorption capacity of CaO regenerated from CaSO4 was higher than that of limestone-calcined CaO. A larger pore diameter of the regenerated CaO was considered to be responsible for the higher SO2 absorptivity.

Three new friedelane-type triterpenes named salasones A (1), B (2), and C (3), a new norfriedelane-type triterpene, salaquinone A (4), and a new acylated eudesmane-type sesquiterpene, salasol A (5), were isolated from the 80% aqueous methanolic extract of the stems of Salacia chinensis collected in Thailand. Their stereostructures were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. In addition, six constituents, 3β,22β-dihydroxyolean-12-en-29-oic acid, tingenone, tingenine B, regeol A, triptocalline A, and mangiferin, were found to show an inhibitory effect on rat lens aldose reductase.

The dyad sequence analysis of Technora (copolyamide prepared from terephthaloyl chloride, p-phenylenediamine, and 3,4‘-diaminodiphenyl ether) was reported using ¹³C NMR in trifluoromethanesulfonic acid at 100 °C. For the detailed peak assignment, some model copolymers were synthesized and the ¹³C NMR spectra were observed. Well-resolved carbonyl carbon peaks of the terephthalic units of Technora were observed, which made it possible to analyze the p-phenylenediamine units and the 3,4‘-diaminodiphenyl ether units at dyad level. The information on the head-to-head, tail-to-tail, and head-to-tail sequences of the 3,4‘-diaminodiphenyl ether units was also obtained. It was concluded that the sequence of Technora was completely random.

Donor-specific immunosuppression is important in transplant surgery. We examined the effect of intraportal donor-specific bone marrow transplantation on heterotopic small bowel transplantation in the high responder rat combination, ACI to Lewis. The study comprised five treatment groups: untreated controls (group 1); FK506 alone (group 2); low-dose predonine + FK506 (group 3); high-dose predonine + FK506 (group 4); and intraportal donor-specific bone marrow transplantation + FK506 (group 5). Intraportal transplantation was performed pre-operatively and FK506 and predonine given post-operatively. Intestinal allograft survival and changes of intragraft cytokine expression were analysed using the reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction. Allograft survival (mean ± SD) was lowest in group 1 and greatest in group 5. The group 5 treatment regimen also down-regulated interferon-γ and interleukin-2 transcription in the transplanted intestine. Intraportal donor bone marrow transplant combined with FK506 immunosuppression was found therefore to be the most beneficial treatment regimen

Background: With the technical advances of recent years, the number of operative manipulations in the abdominal cavity by laparoscopic surgery is now considered to be the same as that using classical open surgery. The question has been raised whether laparoscopic colorectal surgery with lymphadenectomy improves the recovery compared to open surgery. Methods: We compared patients’ physical activity for 7 days postoperatively as measured with an accelerometer between laparoscopic-assisted colorectal resection (LAC, n = 32) and classical open colorectal surgery (OC, n = 30). Results: Physical activity expressed as cumulative acceleration was significantly higher in the LAC than in the OC group on each postoperative day. The recovery time, defined as the day on which the cumulative acceleration recovered to 90% of the preoperative level, was significantly shorter ( p < 0.05) in the LAC (3.4 ± 1.2 days) than in the OC group (6.8 ± 1.7 days). Conclusion: Our results showed that the duration of convalescence with LAC was significantly shorter than that with the OC procedure. Laparoscopic colorectal surgery appears to allow an earlier recovery after the operation than the classical open procedure, and it is less invasive as assessed by convalescence.

A laser light scattering technique was used for the determination of mutual solubilities at moderate pressure (saturated vapor pressure of a mixture) in four high-viscosity binary systems:  aniline + methylcyclohexane, phenol + heptane, phenol + octane, and glycerol + 1-pentanol. The liquid−liquid solubility data were measured up to the upper critical solution temperature. The experimentally determined solubility data were satisfactory correlated by the NRTL equation and Tsuboka−Katayama's modification of the Wilson equation.

The saponin fraction from the flower buds of Panax notoginseng exhibited protective effect on liver injury induced by d-galactosamine and lipopolysaccharide. From the saponin fraction with hepatoprotective effect, five new dammarane-type triterpene saponins, notoginsenosides-O (1), -P (2), -Q (3), -S (4), and -T (5), were isolated together with nine known protopanaxadiol oligoglycosides. The structures of the new saponins were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. The principal dammarane-type triterpene saponins from the roots and flower buds of Panax notoginseng were found to show potent hepatoprotective effects.

The aqueous acetone extract from the roots of a Chinese herbal medicine, Rubia yunnanensis, showed a potent inhibitory effect on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages. Five new arborinane-type triterpenes, rubianols-a (1), -b (2), -c (3), -d (4), and -e (5), and a new arborinane-type triterpene glycoside, rubianoside I (6), were isolated from the herbal crude extract together with 10 known compounds. The absolute stereostructures of 1−6 were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence, including the application of the modified Mosher's method. The effects of the isolated constituents on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages were examined, and several triterpenes were found to show inhibitory activity.

Background: Little is known about the effectiveness of laparoscopic microwave coagulation therapy (L-MCT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in patients with liver cirrhosis and poor hepatic reserve. Here, we analyzed the usefulness of laparoscopic MCT by comparing the serum levels of IL-6, cytokine antagonists, and C-reactive protein (CRP) following L-MCT with those following MCT with the open method (O-MCT). Methods: Sixteen patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) were separated into L-MCT and O-MCT groups according to ICGR15 (ICGR15 30%<:L-MCT, 30%> :O-MCT). Nine patients with poorer hepatic reserve received L-MCT, while seven patients with relatively good hepatic reserve received O-MCT. Serum levels of cytokine antagonists (interleukin-6, IL-6; interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, IL-1ra; soluble tumor necrosis factor receptor type I, sTNF-R55) and C-reactive protein (CRP) were simultaneously measured on serial postoperative days (POD) by immunoassay. Results: Postoperative serum levels of IL-6, IL-1ra, and CRP were significantly elevated on POD-1 and returned to the preoperative levels on POD-7 in both L-MCT and O-MCT groups. In contrast, no significant elevation of sTNF-R55 was found during the period in both groups. In addition, no statistical differences were found in the levels of IL-6, IL-1ra, sTNF-R, and CRP between the groups, except that the level of IL-6 on POD-1 in L-MCT group was significantly lower than that in the O-MCT group. Conclusion: These results suggested that the surgical stress by L-MCT in patients with poorer hepatic reserve were almost equal to that by O-MCT in patients with relatively good hepatic reserve, indicating the usefulness of L-MCT for HCC patients with poorer hepatic reserve. We recommend the laparoscopic approach for future patients with the criterion that ICGR15 is over 30%.

Three new cyclic diarylheptanoids, acerosides B1 and B2 and aceroketoside, were isolated together with 20 known compounds from a Japanese folk medicine, the stem bark of Acer nikoense. The absolute stereostructures of the new compounds were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. In addition, the principal diarylheptanoid constituents were found to exhibit inhibitory activity on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages.

In this paper, a laser light scattering method was used for the determination of mutual solubilities in the systems of methanol + cyclohexane, aniline + heptane, and phenol + hexane at moderate pressures. Liquid−liquid equilibria (LLE) were measured from the region of solid−liquid equilibria (SLE) to the upper critical solution temperature. Freezing points in these systems were determined by a cooling curve method. The experimentally determined cloud points were satisfactory correlated by three local-composition models (NRTL, Tsuboka−Katayama's modification of the Wilson, and the modified complete local composition suggested by Nagata and Tamura). We also attempted to predict the SLE by means of these models with the parameters obtained from the LLE data.

Five new oleanane-type triterpene saponins, albiziasaponins A−E (1−5), were isolated from the stems of Albizia myriophylla collected in Thailand, together with two known triterpene saponins, licorice-saponin F3 and yunganoside B1. The structures of the new compounds were elucidated on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. In addition, when sensory tests were performed on sweetness, albiziasaponin B (2), with a carbonyl group at the C-30 position, was found to show a potent sweetness intensity relative to sucrose (600 times).

We analysed the host response to hepatectomy by simultaneous measurement of various cytokines and their antagonists in the portal vein, caval vein and radial artery in 10 patients with hepatocellular carcinoma. Concentrations of tumour necrosis factor-α (TNF), interleukin (IL) 1β, IL-2, IL-6, IL-10, soluble TNF receptor type I (sTNF-R), soluble IL-2 receptor (sIL-2R), IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra), soluble CD14 (sCD14) and endotoxin were determined just before and 1 h after hepatectomy. The values of IL-6, sTNF-R and IL-1ra were significantly increased after hepatectomy at each sampling site. In contrast, the levels of sIL-2R and sCD14 after hepatectomy were significantly decreased, and the levels of IL-1β, IL-2 and IL-10 were below the detection limits. Differences in cytokine concentrations between sampling sites revealed that the surgical stress of hepatectomy induced significant IL-1ra production in the liver and sTNF-R and IL-6 production in the lungs. These results suggest that hepatic resection is followed by the production of cytokine antagonists, such as IL-1ra, sTNF-R and IL-6, which could represent an important regulatory mechanism against surgical stress.

The 80% aqueous acetone extract and the ethyl acetate-soluble portion from the dried fruit of Alpinia oxyphylla MIQUEL were found to show inhibitory effects on nitric oxide production in lipopolysaccharide-activated macrophages and antigen-induced degranulation in RBL-2H3 cells. A new eudesmane-type sesquiterpene, oxyphyllol A, and two eremophilane-type sesquiterpenes, oxyphyllols B and C, were isolated from the ethyl acetate-soluble portion, together with 16 known constituents. The absolute stereostructures of oxyphyllols A, B, and C were determined on the basis of chemical and physicochemical evidence. The effects of isolated components on nitric oxide production were examined, and nine constituents including oxyphyllol A and nootkatone were found to show inhibitory activity. On the other hand, five constituents inhibited the release of β-hexosaminidase from RBL-2H3 cells.