Search

Objectives To explore the outcome of monochorionic monoamniotic (MCMA) twin pregnancies affected by twin-to-twin transfusion syndrome (TTTS). Methods MEDLINE and EMBASE databases were searched for studies reporting the outcome of MCMA twin pregnancies complicated by TTTS. The primary outcome was intrauterine death (IUD); secondary outcomes were miscarriage, single IUD, double IUD, neonatal death (NND), perinatal death (PND), survival of at least one twin, survival of both twins and preterm birth (PTB) before 32 weeks' gestation. Outcomes were assessed in MCMA twins affected by TTTS not undergoing intervention and in those treated with amniodrainage, laser therapy or cord occlusion. Subgroup analysis was performed including cases diagnosed before 24 weeks. Random-effects meta-analysis of proportions was used to analyze the data. Results Fifteen cohort studies, including 888 MCMA twin pregnancies, of which 44 were affected by TTTS, were included in the review. There was no randomized trial comparing the different management options in MCMA twin pregnancies complicated by TTTS. In cases not undergoing intervention, miscarriage occurred in 11.0% of fetuses, while the incidence of IUD, NND and PND was 25.2%, 12.2% and 31.2%, respectively. PTB complicated 50.5% of these pregnancies. In cases treated by laser surgery, the incidence of miscarriage, IUD, NND and PND was 19.6%, 27.4%, 7.4% and 35.9%, respectively, and the incidence of PTB before 32 weeks' gestation was 64.9%. In cases treated with amniodrainage, the incidence of IUD, NND and PND was 31.3%, 13.5% and 45.7% respectively, and PTB complicated 76.2% of these pregnancies. Analysis of cases undergoing cord occlusion was affected by the very small number of included cases. Miscarriage occurred in 19.2%, while there was no case of IUD or NND of the surviving twin. PTB before 32 weeks occurred in 50.0% of these cases. Conclusions MCMA twin pregnancies complicated by TTTS are at high risk of perinatal mortality and PTB. Further studies are needed in order to elucidate the optimal type of prenatal treatment in these pregnancies. Copyright © 2019 ISUOG. Published by John Wiley & Sons Ltd.

The daggertooth pike conger, Muraenesox cinereus (Forsskal), has become an important fish resource in the western Seto Inland Sea, Japan, since the 1990s. However, introducing sustainable fisheries resource management for this species is difficult in this region because stock assessments have not been performed, and official fisheries statistics for this stock were discontinued after 2007. This study used existing limited data sets to compile the first report for fisheries resource management for this M. cinereus stock. Yield-per-recruit analyses showed that increasing fishing pressure above current levels would provide only a minimal increase in expected catch levels. Hence, the current harvest level is considered to represent the upper limit of fishing pressure. Age composition in a given year could potentially be used to forecast landing abundance for the following 2 years. This study provides a basis for establishing effective fisheries resource management strategies for M. cinereus.

Summary To compare the distributions of Raffaelea quercivora hyphae within seedlings of a susceptible species, Quercus crispula, and a resistant species, Q. glauca, we examined water conductance at transverse sections. Raffaelea quercivora was inoculated into the stems of seedlings in July (summer) and October (autumn) and observed by light and fluorescence microscopy at 1 and 2 weeks after inoculation. The hyphal distribution patterns expressed as the Iδ index differed between the species at each occasion. The hyphal growth was wider in Q. crispula than in Q. glauca in July inoculation, but did not differ in October inoculation. Non-conductive sapwood in Q. crispula in transverse section was wider than that in Q. glauca at each occasion. The differences of hyphal growth and hyphal distribution patterns between species as little as 1 week after inoculation reflect differences in host susceptibility to the fungus.

Summary To reveal the relationship between the susceptibility of Fagaceae species to Raffaelea quercivora Kubono et Shin-Ito and the tangential expansion of regions of discoloured and non-conductive sapwood among the species, we inoculated branches of three Quercus species and one Castanopsis species with the fungus. The sapwood around the inoculation hole in all four species became non-conductive in response to the infection before the discolouration. The expansion of the region of non-conductive sapwood ceased within 2 weeks after the inoculation. The region of non-conductive sapwood in Q. crispula and Q. serrata was larger than that in Q. glauca and C. cuspidata var. sieboldii. These results suggest that the region of non-conductive sapwood expanded soon after the infection by R. quercivora. It was also clear that the transverse non-conductive sapwood has close relationship with the susceptibility among Fagaceae species to R. quercivora.

We report a novel method to construct a two-dimensional network of gold nanoparticles and metal complex molecules. Terpyridine derivatives having a thiol group are adsorbed on a gold nanoparticle surface through formation of a gold-sulfur bond. A monolayer of nanoparticles is then formed on the water surface, then transferred onto a Si/SiO 2 substrate. The introduction of Fe 2+ from a Fe(BF 4 ) 2 solution forms an iron(II) bis(terpyridine) complex, which simultaneously forms a network where the complex molecules interlink adjacent nanoparticles. The conductivity of the network, formed by the conjugated terpyridine derivative, is 4 or 5 orders of magnitude higher than that of non-conjugated derivatives. Conductivity is modulated by gate voltage when a conjugated derivative is used but not when a non-conjugated derivative is used.

The change in the structural and physical properties of the components assembled in a fuel cell stack, when being compressed, is important for performance evaluation. The physical properties of Gas Diffusion Layer (GDL) materials, such as thickness, through plane resistivity and gas permeability and pore size data are presented as a function of compressive force. The data obtained are correlated with fuel cell performance data. Beyond the materials and components specific properties the behaviour of combinations of BPP and GDL materials, which are manufactured by SGL Technologies GmbH, are evaluated and presented. Through plane resistance of a GDL-BPP-GDL sandwich is evaluated for varied compression forces and materials permutations.

The effect of salt-vinegar curing on mackerel meat was investigated. In salt curing, the firmness of the meat increased concomitantly with the decrease in water content and the increase in insolubilization of sarcoplasmic protein of phosphorylase. In subsequent vinegar curing, the firmness and cohesiveness of the meat increased concomitantly with the increase in insolubilization of the sarcoplasmic proteins of enolase, creatine kinase, aldolase, and glyceraldehydephosphate dehydrogenase. No apparent proteolytic breakdown was detected in the salt-vinegar curing. The findings suggested that the precipitation of substantial amounts of sarcoplasmic proteins might contribute to the texture change caused by salt-vinegar curing.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) is known to require a suitable carrier to induce ectopic bone formation in vivo. Hydroxyapatite ceramics have been reported to be effective in some forms but ineffective in others as a carrier of BMP-induced bone formation. In this study we compare three geometrically different forms of hydroxyapatite to examine their functions as carriers of BMP-induced bone formation. A fraction containing all the active BMPs (BMP cocktail) was partially purified from a 4M guanidine extract from bovine bone by a three-step chromatographic procedure. The BMP cocktail was combined with each of three forms of hydroxyapatite--solid particles (SPHAP), porous particles (PPHAP), and coral-replicated porous tablets (coral-HAP)--and implanted subcutaneously into rats. Both the PPHAP and coral-HAP systems induced osteogenesis 2 weeks after implantation, as evidenced by morphological and biochemical observations. Details of the osteogenetic process were followed by double-fluorescence labeling in the coral-HAP system to confirm bone formation on the surface of hydroxyapatite. However, there was no evidence of osteogenesis or chondrogenesis in the SPHAP system. The results indicate that the geometry of the interconnected porous structure in PPHAP and coral-HAP create spaces for vasculature that lead to osteogenesis while the smooth structure and close contact of particles in SPHAP inhibit vascular formation and proliferation of mesenchymal cells, preventing bone and cartilage formation. It was concluded that the geometrical structure in hydroxyapatite ceramics that induces vasculature is crucial as a carrier for BMP-induced bone formation.

A patient with von Willebrand's disease presenting for dental treatment requires thorough evaluation prior to the determination of a proper course of treatment. In this case report, a patient with von Willebrand's disease presented to the emergency room with dental trauma. A modified treatment plan, taking into account the severity of the patient's systemic illness and the need for medical management, yielded successful results.

Novel classes of heterocycles, [1,4]-dioxepino [5,6-c] pyridine, [1,5]-dioxocino [2,3-c] pyridine, [1,4]-dioxepino-[6,5-b] pyridine and pyrido [4,3-f] [1,4] oxazepine, were synthesized from pyridoxine and pyridoxamine

Contemporary reference values for assessing skeletal maturity have been obtained for the Japanese population. These were used to compare skeletal maturation with populations from the UK. Belgium, North India and South China. Japanese children were found to attain skeletal maturity, based on measurements of the radius, ulna and short bones of the left hand and wrist, 1 or 2 years earlier than present-day European and Chinese children. A relative lack of data for the North Indian population made comparison impossible.

[1,2,4]Triazino[3,2-f]purines 3a-e and [1,2,4]triazepino[3,2-f]purine 5 were synthesized by the reaction of 7,8-diamino-1,3-dimethylxanthine 1 with diketones such as glyoxal, diacetyl, dibenzoyl, pyruvic aldehyde dimethyl acetal, phenylglyoxal or acetylacetone in acetic acid in the presence of boric acid or polyphosphoric acid.

A case with persistent atrial standstill is presented which developed from atrial fibrillation associated with rheumatic combined valvular heart disease. In addition to clinical and electrocardiographic findings, electrophysiological and histological studies by using microelectrode technique and electron microscopy, respectively, were carried out on specimens from the right atrial appendage resected at mitral valve surgery. Scattered but severe loss of myocardial cells in the atria and deterioration of the action potential of these poorly sustained myocardial cells were confirmed. The suggestive evidence is also shown that the deteriorated action potential observed by micro-electrode technique in this case may be composed of calcium current.

A vocational rehabilitation project for chronically ill schizophrenic male patients at Hawaii State Hospital involved the comparison of two groups of patients: (a) 32 who underwent a program of work conditioning plus vocational rehabilitation services, and (b) 19 who received only the regular hospital vocational therapy. By means of work-tolerance and adequate-vocational-personality tests, it was possible to assess the patient's ability to adjust to community placement. Placement in a job in the community involved follow-up assessments at twelve and eighteen months. The results of this study support the concept that vocational rehabilitation programs for patients with chronic schizophrenia can increase their chances for discharge from the hospital and can enable them to maintain themselves in the community if provided with vocational rehabilitation services and follow-up. Work-conditioning did not seem to be the prime factor in this success. The study also illustrates the cooperation of both private and governmental agencies in the use of manpower, facilities and funds to reduce the schizophrenic patient's difficult transition from the hospital to the community.

A single crystal of indium antimonide (zinc blende type InSb) was evaluated as an X-ray monochromator. The long 2d spacing of 7.481 A makes it possible to diffract Si K α in an ordinary X-ray emission spectrometer. The indium antimonide data were compared with crystals of EDDT, Ge and LiF. Indium antimonide shows seven times higher Si Kα intensity than EDDT. It also has very low second order reflection. A low coefficient of thermal expansion (4.9 × 10−6 °C−1), together with its very stable chemical nature will facilitate high precision measurement ranging from 14Si to 46Pd(Kα), 38Sr to 92U(Lα) and 74W to 92U(Mα).

[1,2,4]Triazino[3,2-f]purines 3a-e and [1,2,4]triazepino[3,2-f]purine 5 were synthesized by the reaction of 7,8-diamino-1,3-dimethylxanthine 1 with diketones such as glyoxal, diacetyl, dibenzoyl, pyruvic aldehyde dimethyl acetal, phenylglyoxal or acetylacetone in acetic acid in the presence of boric acid or polyphosphoric acid.