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A geological survey was conducted in a small valley along the Sanriku coast, and the grain compositions of both autochthonous gravels and the 2011 tsunami deposit from the Tohoku-oki earthquake were investigated to reveal the depositional form of the tsunami deposits on the ria-type coast. The features of autochthonous gravels in the beach, riverbed, and slope areas are characterized by a combination of their rock type and roundness. The roundness values of the beach and slope gravels are large (0.8–0.9) and small (0.1–0.2), respectively, regardless of rock type, and the riverbed gravels are typically granite rocks with an intermediate roundness (0.4–0.5). The 2011 tsunami deposits along the survey transect include the above autochthonous gravels and show several characteristic features, such as a sharp erosional contact with the underlying peaty soil, normal and/or inverse grading structures, mud sheets, and richness in gravels in the lower unit, while the thickness shows no systematic changes with the distance from the coast. The presence of slope gravels suggests high tsunami inundation and flux, which eroded bare rock and talus and transported them to the valley plain by backwash current. The mixture of beach and riverbed deposits implies the formation of both an upstream current from the beach, which transported beach pebbles inland, and a backwash current along the channel, which accumulated sub-angular riverbed gravels around the river mouth. The characteristics of the 2011 tsunami deposit on the Sanriku coast, where narrow valleys are surrounded by high cliffs with steep slopes, are significantly different from those of sandy tsunami deposits in Sendai Plain, where a flat plain develops within several kilometers of the coastline. The differences among sedimentary facies are affected by the topography and autochthonous deposits. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective Fibrous dysplasia of bone (FD) is a benign developmental disorder of bone in which normal bone is replaced by fibrous tissue, containing trabeculae of immature woven bone. This disease has been classified into three types: monostotic (MFD), polyostotic (PFD), and McCune–Albright syndrome (MAS). Occurring in multiple adjacent craniofacial bones (craniofacial FD) is considered to be an MFD lesion. Surgical reduction is performed for form revision after having observed the progress until adulthood, but postoperative recurrence cases are not rare, there is a report of malignant progression to osteosarcoma, and the clinical phenotypes are generally various. This study aimed to identify the relationship between clinical futures of FD and expression of bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) subtypes. Methods We studied 10 cases (9 MFD cases and 1 McCune–Albright syndrome case) diagnosed with fibrous dysplasia in our hospital, and immunohistochemical examinations of the excised sample from each case with anti-BMP-2, 4, 6, and 7 antibodies were performed. Results 5 MFD cases and 1 MAS case underwent reoperation, and the case that had the most number of operations was 9 times in the MFD case. Malignant transformations were not identified. BMP-4, 6, and 7 expressions were positive in all cases, but the expression of BMP-2 was positive only in 6 MFD cases. BMP-2 negative cases tended to undergo reoperation. Conclusions The variable expression of BMP-2 demonstrated in the current study was suggested to be a useful indication for clinical activity and convalescence of the lesions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Maxillofacial dysmorphogenesis is found in 5% of the population. To begin to understand the mechanisms required for maxillofacial morphogenesis, we employed the inhibitors of the differentiation 2 (Id2) knock-out mouse model, in which Id proteins, members of the regulator of basic helix–loop–helix (bHLH) transcription factors, modulate cell proliferation, apoptosis, and differentiation. We now report that spatially-restricted growth defects are localized at the skull base of Id2 KO mice. Curiously, at birth, neither the mutant Id2 KO nor wild-type (WT) mice differed, based upon cephalometric and histological analyses of cranial base synchondroses. In postnatal week 2, a narrower hypertrophic zone and an inhibited proliferative zone in presphenoid synchondrosis (PSS) and spheno-occipital synchondrosis (SOS) with maxillary hypoplasia were identified in the Id2 mutant mice. Complementary studies revealed that exogenous bone morphogenetic proteins (BMPs) enhanced cartilage growth, matrix deposition, and chondrocyte proliferation in the WT but not in the mutant model. Id2-deficient chondrocytes expressed more Smad7 transcripts. Based on our results, we assert that Id2 plays an essential role, acting downstream of BMP signaling, to regulate cartilage formation at the postnatal stage by enhancing BMP signals through inhibiting Smad7 expression. As a consequence, abnormal endochondral ossification was observed in cranial base synchondroses during the postnatal growth period, resulting in the clinical phenotype of maxillofacial dysmorphogenesis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Background: In current Gynecologic Oncology Group studies, serum creatinine level is adjusted to 0.6 mg/dL in patients with levels < 0.6 mg/dL (Adjusted-Jelliffe formula). The purpose of this study is to evaluate whether this adjustment is suitable. Patients and Methods: Carboplatin clearance was estimated in 115 patients with serum creatinine < 0.6 mg/dL who received carboplatin-based chemotherapy for gynecologic malignancies between January 1996 and August 2004. The clearance was estimated using the Cockroft-Gault, Jelliffe, and Adjusted-Jelliffe formulae. The 3 estimations were then compared with each other using the post hoc Wilcoxon signed rank test. Bias was assessed by mean percentage error (MPE), and precision was assessed by mean absolute percentage error (MAPE). The relationships between body surface area (BSA) and ratios of estimated carboplatin clearance (Jelliffe formula/Cockroft-Gault formula and Adjusted-Jelliffe formula/Cockroft-Gault formula) were evaluated by simple regression analysis. Results: The carboplatin clearance calculated by the Jelliffe formula was significantly larger than the other 2 formulae (P < .0001). Although MPE was reduced from +20 to +6 by adjustment of serum creatinine, MAPE was barely reduced from 21 to 14. The simple regression line represents correlation between BSA and ratios of estimated carboplatin clearance was merely translated to below by adjusting the serum creatinine level, and the bias by BSA was not corrected. Conclusion: Despite adjusting the serum creatinine level, the Adjusted-Jelliffe formula overestimates the creatinine clearance when compared with the Cockcroft-Gault formula. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the role of zinc in food intake regulation using rats during early-stage zinc deficiency without decreased zinc concentrations in plasma and tissues. Plasma, liver, and hypothalamic zinc concentrations were not affected in male Sprague-Dawley rats fed a zinc-deficient (Zn-Def) diet for 3 d compared with the pair-fed control group, which was fed a zinc-sufficient diet to the intake of the Zn-Def diet. Zinc sulfate at a dose of 19μmol/kg body weight was orally or intraperitoneally (i.p.) administered to rats fed a Zn-Def diet for 3d and food intake was measured. We found that zinc stimulated food intake after oral but not p. administration. The mRNA expression of neuropeptide Y (NPY) and orexin in the hypothalamus significantly increased 3 h after oral but not i.p. administration of zinc. Pretreatment with an antagonist for the NPY Y1 receptor or the orexin OX1 receptor blocked orexigenic activity after oral administration of zinc. The stimulation of food intake by oral administration of zinc was abolished by vagotomy. Taken together, orally administered zinc may stimulate food intake via orexigenic peptides coupled to the afferent vagal stimulation in rats after short-term treatment with a Zn-Def diet. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) has found ischemic lesions in the brain after cardiac surgery. However, preoperative cerebral injury has not been studied closely. In this study, we used DWI to assess the prevalence of abnormalities in patients scheduled for cardiac surgery. Methods: We used conventional magnetic resonance imaging and DWI to study 247 consecutive patients scheduled for elective cardiac surgery. Clinical characteristics, neuropsychological test performance, and radiographic data were collected and compared with a group of patients who had normal findings on DWI. Results: Eleven of the 247 patients (4.5%) had cerebral ischemic lesions on DWI before surgery. Compared with patients who had normal findings on DWI, patients who had abnormalities had significantly higher rates of history of cerebrovascular disease (64% versus 12%), cardiac catheterization within 14 days before DWI (91% versus 54%), preoperative cerebral infarctions (45% versus 5%), carotid artery stenosis (36% versus 5%), and preoperative cognitive impairment (55% versus 9%). Of the 11 patients with DWI abnormalities, 5 had delayed elective surgery and follow-up image studies; of these 5, 4 showed no relevant ischemic lesion on preoperative follow-up imaging. Among the other 6 patients, 1 had an infarction due to expansion of the same lesion that was detected on the preoperative DWI. There was no significant difference with regard to the incidence of postoperative stroke and cognitive dysfunction. Conclusions: In all, 4.5% of cardiac surgery patients had existing cerebral ischemic lesions on DWI without obvious neurologic defects. Further studies are required to determine whether the lesions are associated with postoperative cognitive dysfunction or stroke. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: PurposeTo evaluate the tear film stability of patients before and after laser in situ keratomileusis (LASIK) using the tear film stability analysis system (TSAS).: DesignProspective observational case series.: MethodsNew videokeratography software for a topographic modeling system (TMS-2N) was developed that can automatically capture consecutive corneal surface images every second for 10 seconds. Thirty-four subjects (64 eyes) who underwent myopia LASIK were enrolled in this study. All subjects were examined with the new system before LASIK and at 1 week, 1 month, 3 months, and 6 months after the surgery. Corneal topographs were analyzed for tear breakup time (TMS breakup time) and breakup area (TMS breakup area). Based on pre-LASIK TSAS analysis, subjects were separated into normal and abnormal TSAS value groups. The criteria for the normal group were either TMS breakup time more than 5 seconds or TMS breakup area less than 0.2. The percentage of the occurrence of superficial punctuate keratitis was compared between the two groups with regard to subject''s dry eye signs and symptoms.: ResultsTear film stability decreased significantly during the early period after LASIK, as indexed by decreased TMS breakup time and increased TMS breakup area. Tear film instability resolved at 6 months after surgery. Before LASIK, 22 subjects (43 eyes) had normal TSAS evaluation and 12 subjects (21 eyes) were abnormal. After LASIK, among normal TSAS value eyes, 8 of 43 (18.6%) eyes developed superficial punctuate keratitis. In sharp contrast, 14 of 21 (66.7%) eyes in the abnormal group displayed superficial punctuate keratitis, correlating well with the patients'' dry eye symptoms. The difference in the presence of superficial punctuate keratitis after LASIK between normal and abnormal TSAS value groups was statistically significant (P < .001). Subjects with abnormal TSAS evaluation also displayed resistance to dry eye treatment and had extended period of recovery.: ConclusionsTear film stability analysis can be a useful means for screening LASIK candidates before surgery and for prognosticating dry eye symptoms thereafter. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The filamentary Sm123 precursor was prepared by a solution spinning method. The precursor was partially melted in flowing 0.1%O2 + Ar and 1%O2 + Ar. The transport Jc value for the filamentary Sm123 superconductors was examined at 77 K in applied magnetic fields up to 10 T. The Jc value higher than 104 A/cm2 was maintained up to 4 T for the samples melted in flowing 1%O2 + Ar. The Jc value gradually decreased with increasing applied magnetic fields from 4 to 6 T and the superconductivity rapidly deteriorated by applying the fields above 8 T. On the contrary, the Jc values drastically decreased for the samples melted in flowing 0.1%O2 + Ar by applying the fields higher than 1 T, and the superconductivity at 77 K was disappeared around 4 T. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: BackgroundArteriosclerosis of the ascending aorta is an important risk factor for cerebral embolism. However, the association between arteriosclerosis of the ascending aorta and neurologic dysfunction after coronary artery surgery has not been evaluated prospectively.: MethodsWe examined whether varying degrees of arteriosclerosis in the ascending aorta, assessed by epiaortic ultrasonography, increased the incidence of neuropsychologic dysfunction and stroke in 463 elderly patients (≥ 60 years old) after coronary artery surgery.: ResultsPatients with severe arteriosclerosis (n = 76) had higher rates of postoperative neuropsychologic dysfunction (26%) and intraoperative stroke (10.5%); the moderately atherosclerotic patients (n = 57) had rates of 7% and 1.8%, respectively; whereas control patients (almost normal or mild arteriosclerosis, n = 330) had rates of 8% and 1.2%, respectively (all p < 0.001). Univariate analysis indicated that multiple small infarctions or broad infarctions, cerebral arterial stenosis, circulatory arrest, maximal thickness of intima around the site of aortic manipulation, and deformities due to clamp or cannulation were associated significantly with intraoperative strokes in patients with severe arteriosclerosis.: ConclusionsSevere arteriosclerosis of the ascending aorta significantly increased the risk of postoperative neuropsychologic dysfunction and stroke after coronary artery bypass grafting. If a thick plaque is noted near the manipulation site, a nontouch method of the ascending aorta should be applied to reduce the incidence of neurologic dysfunction. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

: PurposeTo report a new tear film stability analysis system using videokeratography.: DesignObservational case series.: MethodsNew videokeratography software for TMS-2N (topographic modeling system; TOMEY Corporation, Nagoya, Japan) was developed that can automatically capture consecutive corneal surface images every second for 10 seconds. Forty-eight adult volunteers (80 eyes) were recruited for this study, and all subjects were examined with the new system. Corneal topographs were analyzed for tear breakup time (TMS-BUT) and the ratio of breakup area to entire color-code area (TMS-BUA) was calculated. Routine methods for tear film breakup time evaluation using slit-lamp microscope and fluorescence staining (SLE-BUT) were performed for comparison purposes. Regressive correlations of TMS-BUT or TMS-BUA with SLE-BUT were analyzed. Based on SLE results, subjects were separated into two groups with normal and short BUT, respectively. TMS-BUT and TMS-BUA were compared with SLE-BUT data with regard to the sensitivity and specificity of evaluation of dry eye symptoms.: ResultsTopographic modeling system–tear breakup time (TMS–BUT) had a positive correlation with SLE-BUT (R = 0.7219, P < .0001), whereas TMS-BUA showed a negative correlation (R = 0.6317, P < .0001). Among 34 eyes with normal SLE-BUT, 11 eyes (32.35%) displayed abnormal TMS-BUT, 9 (81.82%) of which were associated with dry eye symptoms. The sensitivities of TMS-BUT and TMS-BUA were 97.5% and 95%, respectively, significantly higher than that of SLE-BUT (75%), with P = .008 and 0.01, respectively. Topographic modeling system–BUT and TMS-BUA displayed a similar rate of specificity in comparison with SLE-BUT.: ConclusionsThis new videokeratography system is a noninvasive and objective method with increased sensitivity for tear film stability analysis. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

In order to reduce thermal inputs through many measuring copper leads, we intended to fabricate a measuring leads unit using very fine YBa2Cu3O7 filaments. The long YBa2Cu3O7 filaments were prepared by a textile fiber spinning method for the oxide precursor. The 60 filaments with a size of 100 μm in diameter and 60 mm in length were attached onto three fiber-reinforced polymers, and were covered with epoxy resin. Both ends of the YBa2Cu3O7 filament were soldered with pin connectors through copper leads with 0.1 mm in diameter. The YBa2Cu3O7 measuring leads unit of 60 terminals was cooled by a pulse tube cryocooler. The newly developed YBa2Cu3O7 measuring leads unit demonstrates the extremely small heat loads of 1/10 in comparison with conventional copper measuring leads. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

The effects of zinc deficiency on taste sensitivity were examined in rats by recording the electrophysiological responses of the chorda tympani (CT) nerve and by use of a preference test. Male 4-wk-old Sprague-Dawley rats were given free access to a diet containing 2.2 (zinc-deficient), 4.1 (low zinc) or 33.7 (zinc-sufficient) mg zinc/kg diet. A fourth group was pair-fed the zinc-sufficient diet (with respect to the zinc-deficient rats). A two-bottle preference test using 0.15 mol/L NaCl and water revealed that NaCl preference was greater in the zinc-deficient and low zinc groups than in the control groups (zinc-sufficient and pair-fed) after 4 d of feeding. In the case of quinine hydrochloride solution (0.01 mmol/L), the preference was greater in zinc-deficient rats than in the other groups after 9 d, and the low zinc rats never showed a preference. Electrophysiological recording indicated that in the zinc-deficient rats, the CT nerve response to 0.20 mol/L NaCl was significantly less than that in the control rats after 21 d of feeding. In the low zinc rats, this response was significantly less than in the control rats after 35 d. The responses to quinine hydrochloride (0.02 mol/L), L-glutamic acid, HCl (0.01 mol/L) and NH(4)Cl (0.25 mol/L) in the zinc-deficient rats were not significantly reduced until d 42. These findings suggest that long-term zinc deficiency decreases taste sensitivity at the level of the CT nerve and that the change in NaCl preference due to zinc deficiency occurs before any change in NaCl taste sensitivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Vitamin K is essential for blood coagulation and bone metabolism in mammals. This vitamin functions as a cofactor in the posttranslational synthesis of γ-carboxyglutamic acid (Gla) from glutamic acid residues. However, other functions of vitamin K have been reported recently. We previously found that vitamin K suppresses the inflammatory reaction induced by lipopolysaccharide (LPS) in rats and human macrophage-like THP-1 cells. In this study, we further investigated the mechanism underlying the anti-inflammatory effect of vitamin K by using cultures of LPS-treated human- and mouse-derived cells. All the vitamin K analogues analyzed in our study exhibited varied levels of anti-inflammatory activity. The isoprenyl side chain structures, except geranylgeraniol, of these analogues did not show such activity; warfarin did not interfere with this activity. The results of our study suggest that the 2-methyl-1,4-naphtoquinone ring structure contributes to express the anti-inflammatory activity, which is independent of the Gla formation activity of vitamin K. Furthermore, menaquinone-4, a form of vitamin K₂, reduced the activation of nuclear factor κB (NFκB) and inhibited the phosphorylation of IKKα/β after treatment of cells with LPS. These results clearly show that the anti-inflammatory activity of vitamin K is mediated via the inactivation of the NFκB signaling pathway. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Carbon nanohorn (CNH) doping in MgB2 wire prepared by suspension spinning was studied to enhance flux pinning. The mixed powders of MgB2 and CNH with nominal composition of (MgB2)0.95C0.05 were suspended in a mixed poly(vinyl alcohol) solution. The as-drawn filaments were hot-pressed under 20MPa at 200°C for 8h. The samples were enveloped by an iron sheet with a pellet of mixed powder of Mg and B and vacuum-sealed in a fused quartz tube, and then sintered at the temperature ranging from 885°C to 900°C for 2–3h. The superconductivity of the samples was studied by electrical resistivity and SQUID method. Serious deterioration of T c was not observed for the doped sample. The CNH doping resulted in enhancement of the transport J c values at 4.2K in high fields ranging from 6T to 10T by sintering at 885°C for 2h. The superconductivity at 4.2K was maintained by applying the field of 14T for the doped sample sintered at 900°C for 3h. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]