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Yuji Yamamoto, Keisuke Miki, Takanori Matsuki, Kiyoharu Fukushima, Yohei Oshitani, Hiroyuki Kagawa, Kazuyuki Tsujino, Kenji Yoshimura, Mari Miki, Hiroshi Kida Department of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Osaka Toneyama Medical Center, Osaka, JapanCorrespondence: Keisuke MikiDepartment of Respiratory Medicine, National Hospital Organization Osaka Toneyama Medical Center, 5-1-1 Toneyama, Toyonaka, Osaka 560-8552, JapanTel +81-6-6853-2001Fax +81-6-6853-3127Email miki.keisuke.pu@mail.hosp.go.jpBackground: Oscillometry is a tool to measure respiratory impedance that requires minimal patients’ effort. In patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), the correlation of respiratory impedance at rest with exertional ventilatory parameters, including exercise tolerance, has scarcely been reported. In addition, the utility of oscillometric parameters might differ between the inspiratory and expiratory phases due to airflow obstruction during expiration, but the hypothesis had not been validated. The aim of the present study was to investigate whether oscillometric parameters are associated with exertional ventilatory parameters in patients with COPD.Methods: Fifty-five subjects with COPD who attended clinics at the National Hospital Organization Osaka Toneyama Medical Center performed spirometry, oscillometry, and cardiopulmonary exercise testing (CPET) within 2 weeks. The correlations between parameters of spirometry, oscillometry, and CPET were analyzed using Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient, univariate, and multivariate analyses.Results: Respiratory reactance had better correlations with the CPET parameters than respiratory resistance. Moreover, inspiratory reactance at rest correlated with the CPET parameters stronger than expiratory reactance. In particular, inspiratory resonant frequency (Fres-ins) correlated with peak oxygen uptake (rS=− 0.549, p< 0.01) and dead space to tidal volume ratio at peak exercise (rS=0.677, p< 0.01) and the best predicted expiratory tidal volume (VT ex) at peak exercise of all the oscillometric parameters (rS=− 0.679, p< 0.01). However, the correlation between Fres-ins and VT ex at peak exercise became weak in subjects with severe and very severe COPD during exercise.Conclusion: Measurement of respiratory reactance is useful for the effortless evaluation of not only exertional ventilatory parameters but exercise tolerance in patients with COPD. The correlation of respiratory impedance with exertional ventilatory parameters can become weak in patients with advanced COPD; thus, the measurement of oscillometry might not be appropriate for evaluating exertional ventilatory parameters of patients with advanced COPD.Keywords: dyspnea, dynamic hyperinflation, airflow obstruction, resonant frequency, tidal volume

Keisuke Miki,1 Ryoji Maekura,1 Seigo Kitada,1 Mari Miki,1 Kenji Yoshimura,1 Hiroshi Yamamoto,2 Toshiko Kawabe,2 Hiroyuki Kagawa,1 Yohei Oshitani,1 Akitoshi Satomi,1 Kohei Nishida,1 Nobuhiko Sawa,1 Kimiko Inoue2 1Department of Respiratory Medicine, 2Department of Rehabilitation Medicine, National Hospital Organization, Toneyama National Hospital, Toyonaka, Japan Background: COPD patients undergoing pulmonary rehabilitation (PR) show various responses. The purpose of this study was to investigate the possible mechanisms and predictors of the response to PR in COPD patients.Methods: Thirty-six stable COPD patients underwent PR including a 4-week high-intensity exercise training program, and they were evaluated by cardiopulmonary exercise testing. All patients (mean age 69 years, severe and very severe COPD 94%) were classified into four groups by whether the exercise time (Tex) or the peak oxygen uptake (VO2) increased after PR: two factors increased (both the Tex and the peak VO2 increased); two factors decreased; time only increased (the Tex increased, but the peak VO2 economized); and VO2 only increased (the Tex decreased, but the peak VO2 increased). Within all patients, the relationships between baseline variables and the post-to-pre-change ratio of the time–slope, Tex/(peak minus resting VO2), were investigated.Results: Compared with the two factors increased group (n=11), in the time only increased group (n=18), the mean differences from pre-PR at peak exercise in 1) minute ventilation (VE) (P=0.004), VO2 (P

A superconducting fault current limiting transformer is proposed and the operating characteristics are reported.

Abstract: A full-length cDNA encoding 11β-hydroxysteroid dehydrogenase type 2 (11β-HSD2) was cloned from testis of air-breathing catfish, Clarias gariepinus which showed high sequence homology to zebrafish and eel. The open reading frame of 11β-HSD2 was then transfected to COS-7 cells, which converted 11β-hydroxytestosterone (11-OHT) to 11-ketotestosterone (11-KT). Using NAD+, 11β-HSD2 from testicular microsomes oxidized 11-OHT with apparent K m 56±4nM and V max 55±6pmol/h/mgprotein values. Tissue distribution analysis revealed prominent expression in testis, anterior kidney, liver and gills. Expression of 11β-HSD2 in testis and serum levels of 11-KT were high in the prespawning phase. Administration of human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) during prespawning and resting phases revealed initial rise in 11β-HSD2 transcript at 4h followed by gradual increase at 8h, 12h and peaking at 24h, only in testis of prespawning phase. Rate of conversion of 11-OHT to 11-KT by testicular microsomes during different testicular phases and after hCG administration corroborated well with the expression of 11β-HSD2. Ontogeny study indicated that this enzyme is expressed during testicular development. Thus the spatio-temporal expression supported with putative dehydrogenase activity and circulating 11-KT levels clearly suggest a major role for 11β-HSD2 during testicular differentiation and seasonal testicular cycle in catfish. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Aims: To investigate the difference between Lancefield group C Streptococcus dysgalactiae (GCSD) strains isolated from diseased fish and animals by sequencing and phylogenetic analysis of the sodA gene. Methods and Results: The sodA gene of S trep. dysgalactiae strains isolated from fish and animals were amplified and its nucleotide sequences were determined. Although 100% sequence identity was observed among fish GCSD strains, the determined sequences from animal isolates showed variations against fish isolate sequences. Thus, all fish GCSD strains were clearly separated from the GCSD strains of other origin by using phylogenetic tree analysis. In addition, the original primer set was designed based on the determined sequences for specifically amplify the sodA gene of fish GCSD strains. The primer set yield amplification products from only fish GCSD strains. Conclusions: By sequencing analysis of the sodA gene, the genetic divergence between S trep. dysgalactiae strains isolated from fish and mammals was demonstrated. Moreover, an original oligonucletide primer set, which could simply detect the genotype of fish GCSD strains was designed. Significance and Impact of the Study: This study shows that S trep. dysgalactiae isolated from diseased fish could be distinguished from conventional GCSD strains by the difference in the sequence of the sodA gene. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A Lancefield group C streptococcal (GCS) infection caused by Streptococcus dysgalactiae that is characterized by severe necrotic lesions of the caudal peduncle has been an increasing cause of mortality in farmed fish such as amberjack, Seriola dumerili, and yellowtail, Seriola quinqueradiata, in the southern part of Kyushu, Japan. In this study, enzymatic profiles of GCS strains from fish and mammals were investigated using the API ZYM system, and genotypic characterization of GCS strains was performed using biased sinusoidal field gel electrophoresis (BSFGE). The partial sequence of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region of the GCS strain isolates from fish and mammals was also compared. The API ZYM test indicated that it is difficult to differentiate isolates of S. dysgalactiae from fish and animals based on enzymological variations. In the BSFGE analysis, the macrorestriction profiles, which were obtained using SmaI or ApaI as a restriction enzyme, revealed variations between the fish and animal isolates. The partial sequence of the 16S-23S rDNA intergenic spacer region of all the tested fish isolates differed from all mammalian isolates in one or two nucleotides. The possibility of a clonal expansion of S. dysgalactiae strains in farmed fish was also suggested by the BSFGE profiles of fish isolates. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Heart muscle cells and cerebral neurons are known to lose the ability to proliferate and are called terminally differentiated cells. They are generated in appropriate numbers during embryogenesis and retained throughout adult life without turnover. We are interested in such a long-lived DNA. We isolated DNA from chick heart and cerebrum and compared it with DNA from other organs after incubation with DNase I. Single-strand breaks were assessed using a reaction system composed of DNA and Escherichia coli DNA polymerase. The DNA of both organs was relatively resistant to DNase I, and DNA modification occurred during embryogenesis. CIMS (chemical ionization mass spectrometry) indicated that the molecular mass of the deoxynucleoside of both DNAs was larger than that of the corresponding canonical deoxyribonucleoside by m/z 28 (or 30 for the protonated form). The difference between these deoxynucleosides is based on a difference in sugar constituents. Cerebral deoxynucleotides were analyzed by 13C NMR. An extra signal near 173 ppm was observed, which was assigned to the amide carbonyl. We propose a model of the deoxynucleoside where a carbonyl residue exists between the base and the 2-deoxyribose moiety of the canonical deoxyribonucleoside. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Artificial reproduction and subsequent improved culture of the Japanese eel Anguilla japonica have not yet been achieved, but are expected in the near future. To allow the development of aquaculture activities, chromosome manipulation techniques are necessary for the genetic improvement of the eel. In the present paper suitable conditions were determined for heat shock treatment for the induction of triploidy. This was done using fertilized eggs obtained from gametes of cultured eels that were induced to mature by repeated injections of salmon pituitary extract, followed by an injection of 17α,20β-dihydroxy-4-pregnen-3-one to induce ovulation in the female eels and by repeated injections of human chorionic gonadotropin in the male eels. Three variables (i.e. timing after fertilization, temperature, and duration of the shock) were varied to maximize the yield of triploid larvae by examining hatching and triploid rates of treated groups. Ploidy was determined by DNA content flow cytometry and/or chromosome counting. The triploid yield was the highest (70%), when a 37°C heat shock was applied for 3 min, 10 min after fertilization. Under such conditions the rate of triploidy reached 70–100% and the rate of hatching was 5.2–24.6% when the control hatching rate was 28.5% on average. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN: Cross-sectional study comparing trained spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects (lesion level: L1 - T6) with healthy young subjects (CONT). OBJECTIVE: To investigate the kinetics of response in oxygen uptake (VO(2)) in human upper-body skeletal muscles, nine trained SCI subjects underwent submaximal supine arm exercises. METHOD: The SCI subjects underwent an incremental arm exercise test until exhaustion. The days after this first round of testing, breath-by-breath VO(2) and beat-by-beat heart rate (HR) on- and off-kinetics were determined during three repetitions of constant exercise at 50% of VO(2peak). The overall time course of response was determined from the half time (t(1/2)). Increased capillary blood lactate production (delta[La]b) at the onset of exercise was defined as the difference between at rest and at the end of exercise. Cardiac output (Q) was measured using the acetylene rebreathing method during the steady state of exercise. In accordance with the Fick principle, the difference in arterial-venous O(2) content (Ca-vO(2)) was defined as VO(2)/Q. RESULTS: During the steady state of the submaximal arm exercise, a more significant increase in the steady state of Q was obtained in the CONT subjects than in the trained SCI subjects: respectively, 14.9+/-1.4 l/min versus (12.7+/-0.8 l/min). There was no difference in the steady state of VO(2) between the two groups; as a result, SCI subjects had the greater Ca-v(2). Meanwhile, VO(2) on- and off-kinetics became much faster in the trained SCI subjects than in the CONT subjects. In addition, t(1/2) HR on-kinetics was not significantly different between the SCI and CONT groups. Increased Delta[La]b was closely related to larger t(1/2) VO(2) on-kinetics (r = 0.624, P < 0.05). CONCLUSION: It is concluded that the acceleration of VO(2) on- and off-kinetics in the trained SCI subjects was observed even though there was no difference in HR on- and off-kinetics between the SCI and CONT groups and a lower steady state of Q in the trained SCI subjects. VO(2) kinetics would therefore be the limiting factor in oxidative phosphorylation in the upper skeletal muscles, thereby providing a lower lactic O(2)-deficit (ie delta[La]b). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN:: Cross-sectional study comparing trained spinal cord injured (SCI) subjects (lesion level: L1∼T6) with healthy young subjects (CONT). OBJECTIVE:: To investigate the kinetics of response in oxygen uptake (&Vdot;O2) in human upper-body skeletal muscles, nine trained SCI subjects underwent submaximal supine arm exercises. METHOD:: The SCI subjects underwent an incremental arm exercise test until exhaustion. The days after this first round of testing, breath-by-breath &Vdot;O2 and beat-by-beat heart rate (HR) on- and off-kinetics were determined during three repetitions of constant exercise at 50% of &Vdot;O2peak. The overall time course of response was determined from the half time (t1/2). Increased capillary blood lactate production (Δ[La]b) at the onset of exercise was defined as the difference between at rest and at the end of exercise. Cardiac output () was measured using the acetylene rebreathing method during the steady state of exercise. In accordance with the Fick principle, the difference in arterial-venous O2 content (Ca-vO2) was defined as &Vdot;O2/. RESULTS:: During the steady state of the submaximal arm exercise, a more significant increase in the steady state of was obtained in the CONT subjects than in the trained SCI subjects: respectively, 14.9±1.4 l/min versus (12.7±0.8 l/min). There was no difference in the steady state of &Vdot;O2 between the two groups; as a result, SCI subjects had the greater Ca-v2. Meanwhile,&Vdot;O2 on- and off-kinetics became much faster in the trained SCI subjects than in the CONT subjects. In addition, t1/2 HR on-kinetics was not significantly different between the SCI and CONT groups. Increased Δ[La]b was closely related to larger t1/2 &Vdot;O2 on-kinetics (r=0.624, P<0.05). CONCLUSION:: It is concluded that the acceleration of &Vdot... [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We have been developing a superconducting fault current limiting transformer (SFCLT) with 3-phase, 500/275 kV, 625 MVA and optimized the main parameters by EMTP simulation. In this paper, we designed and fabricated an experimental scale-down model of SFCLT with 3-phase, 275/105 V, 6.25 kVA, using NbTi superconducting wire. We introduced the experimental model SFCLT into a transient network analyzer consisted of synchronous generators, transformers, transmission lines, circuit breakers and an infinite bus. It was revealed that experimental model had effective function-parameters as was simulated and experimental results clarified the effectiveness of SFCLT having both functions of the fault current suppression and the system stability improvement in a future superconducting power system. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]