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L-tryptophan (TRP), one of the essential amino acids in humans, is a precursor of serotonin, and hence its intake is closely related to the suppression of depressed and anxious moods. We did a systematic review of RCTs to examine the effects of tryptophan intake on the mood of healthy adults by searching PubMed, the Cochrane Library, and Ichu-shi according to PRISMA guidelines. As a result, 11 RCTs met the criteria and were accepted. Four RCTs showed the effects of tryptophan intake on negative feelings and happy feelings in healthy individuals, with significant differences between the treatment and the control groups. This suggests that TRP intake may be an effective approach to decrease anxiety and increase positive mood in healthy individuals. On the other hand, the effectiveness of TRP for aggressive feelings was not recognized. Reviewing these 11 RCTs, we concluded that taking 0.14-3

A shortage of donors poses a serious problem for organ transplantation around the world. In response, the concept of the expanded criteria donor (ECD) has been defined to include donors with traditionally less favorable characteristics. That definition has now been accepted and is being applied in kidney transplantation in the United States and Europe. However, the ECD has not yet been defined for deceased donor kidney transplantation in Japan.We analyzed data on graft survival and relevant risk factors in patients who received deceased donor kidney transplants through the East Japan Branch of the Japan Organ Transplant network (n = 1051). Recipients were divided into two groups: the standard-function group (estimated glomerular filtration rate [eGFR] ≥20 mL/min/1.73 mThe 10-year survival rate was significantly lower in the poor-function group than in the standard-function group (85.5% vs 22.5%; P .0001). The two groups differed significantly in recipient and donor risk for graft failure. Recipient risk factors were length of time on dialysis before renal transplantation and incidence of acute rejection after transplantation. Donor risk factors were donor category (heart death), age, history of hypertension, presence of cerebrovascular disease, mean urine output, and donor creatinine level immediately before donor nephrectomy, total ischemic time, and warm ischemic time.Data from deceased donor transplantation should be analyzed in depth to determine which factors influence renal function after transplantation. In addition, ECD standards should be reconsidered for use in a Japanese context.

Background and aims Analgesic efficacy of quadratus lumborum block (QLB) has been proven for lower abdominal surgery but not for other types of abdominal surgeries. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to compare QLB and epidural anesthesia (EA) with respect to postoperative analgesic effect for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy. Methods After institutional review board approval and informed consent, we reviewed the medical charts of 111 ASA-PS 1–2 patients who underwent robot-assisted partial nephrectomy under general anesthesia with QLB using 0.125–0.25% levobupivacaine 20–40 ml or EA between October 2015 and September 2018. We performed propensity-score matching by using patient characteristics. The primary outcome was the additional analgesic requirement within the first 24 hours. The secondary outcomes included intraoperative fentanyl and remifentanil requirements, incidence of PONV, and first ambulation times. The QLB and EA groups were compared using Mann-Whitney U test or chi-square test, where appropriate. A p Results There were 59 cases of QLB and 52 cases of EA during the study period. After matching, 52 cases each were analyzed. Even after matching, the fraction of QLB patients who received postoperative patient-controlled intravenous administration of fentanyl was small compared to the EA patients who received postoperative continuous epidural fentanyl (23.1% vs. 51.9%, p=0.004). Compared to EA group, QLB group requested additional analgesics more often (median 1 [IQR 0–2] vs. 0[0–0], p Conclusions QLB does not appear to provide an advantage over EA regarding analgesia for robot-assisted partial nephrectomy.

Background and aims Equinus foot due to damage of the common peroneal nerve is a dreaded complication after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) and high tibial osteotomy (HTO) but can also occur after sciatic nerve block (SNB). We have previously reported the risk factors of equinus foot after TKA with SNB and introduced selective tibial nerve block (STNB) instead of SNB. The aim of this retrospective cohort study was to compare STNB and SNB with respect to the postoperative equinus foot incidence in HTO. Methods After institutional review board approval and informed consent, we reviewed the medical charts of 198 consecutive ASA-PS 1–2 patients who underwent HTO under general anesthesia with SNB using 0.125% levobupivacaine 10–40 ml or STNB using the same less than 10 ml. The primary outcome was the incidence of postoperative equinus foot incidence using Fischer’s exact test. A p Multivariable logistic regression analysis was used to determine significant equinus foot predictors. Results There were 171 cases of SNB and 27 cases of STNB during the study period. While equinus occurred in 17 cases after SNB and none after STNB, this difference did not reach statistical significance (p=0.136). Logistic regression analysis revealed that the amount of local anesthetics was significantly associated with the occurrence of postoperative equinus foot (odds ratio 1.18 [95% confidence interval: 1.02–1.38]). Conclusions No postoperative equinus foot was observed after STNB. This may be because of the use of smaller amount of local anesthetic.

Wind farms along the migration route of birds act as unnatural barriers, and avoiding them during flight may require the expenditure of extra energy. Information regarding cumulative effects of barriers on migrating birds is generally lacking, mainly because of the complexities of monitoring the number of encounters of migratory birds with wind farms and their flight path for avoiding these barriers. It would be desirable to develop a general method for monitoring the rate at which migratory birds encounter wind farms. In this study, we attempted to assess the potential cumulative barrier effects on 17 eastern buzzards (Buteo japonicus) and eight Oriental honey-buzzards (Pernis ptilorhynchus) using global positioning system (GPS) tracking data. We obtained the location data of wind turbines in Japan and migration paths of the birds using GPS loggers and assumed four scenarios that birds could use to avoid the wind turbines along their routes. Although the number of studied individuals was limited and the impact of the cumulative effects are inconclusive at the present stage, the estimated additional distance, time, and energetic cost during one migration were no more than 31.97 km, 75.74 min and 132 kJ, respectively, which were relatively small. Additionally, we showed the possibility that GPS tracking could provide information on migration episodes of birds associated with wind farms and could be a promising method for addressing the cumulative barrier effects. We expect that a higher sampling frequency of locations would enable precise measurement of avoidance flights and energetic costs.

By using a p-type (La, Ba, Ga, Ti)1(Fe, Co)4Sb12 skutterudite with a dimensionless figure of merit, ZT, = 0.75 at 500°C and an n-type (Yb, Ca, Al, Ga, In)0.7(Co, Fe)4Sb12 skutterudite with ZT = 1.0 at 500°C, we fabricated a thermoelectric power-generation module capable of working at high temperatures (up to 600°C). When its hot and cold sides were at 600°C and 30°C, respectively, the power output of a 50 mm × 50 mm × 7.6 mm skutterudite module was 34 W and its thermoelectric conversion efficiency was 8%. In a durability test with the module’s hot and cold sides continuously maintained at 600°C and 80°C, respectively, for 8000 h, power generation first decreased by approximately 6% in the initial 300 h then remained constant.

Sumitomo Electric has been developing the silver-sheathed Bi2223 multi-filamentary wires since the discovery of Bi-based superconductors. DI-BSCCO (Dynamically-Innovative BSCCO) is the high performance wires produced with the controlled-overpressure (CT-OP) sintering technique. The recent R&D activities have enabled to produce the 1000 m-long wires with I c of 200 A and the maximum I c reached 250 A at 77 K by short sample. Besides, the fine control of the carrier density with the non-stoichiometric oxygen enhanced the in-field I c performances at lower temperature. At a magnetic field of 3 T applied normal to wire surface, the I c of 280 A at 30 K, and 420 A at 20 K were successfully achieved. To meet the growing needs for various high temperature superconducting applications, Type HT wire with high mechanical strength and Type G wire with low thermal conductivity have been developed.

Background: The basic and clinical implications of evaluating plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP) concentration in calves are unknown. Objective: To investigate the relationship between the plasma ANP concentration and left ventricular end-diastolic pressure (LVEDP) in healthy calves subjected to volume overload (Study 1), and to compare the plasma ANP concentration in calves with or without heart disease (Study 2). Animals: Six healthy calves were used in Study 1; disease calves and sick calves with (n = 9) and without congenital heart disease (CHD) (n = 9) were used in Study 2. Methods: In Study 1, LVEDP in anesthetized calves was manipulated by IV administration of acetated Ringer's solution (rate of 100 mL/kg/h for 20 minutes) and furosemide. In Study 2, disease calves were identified by blood examination and echocardiography or pathological examination. The plasma ANP concentration was determined by a chemiluminescence enzyme immunoassay for human α-ANP. Results: In Study 1, preloading significantly increased the plasma ANP concentration (36 ± 20–185 ± 156, P < .01) and LVEDP (−11 ± 7–2 ± 12, P < .01) from the baseline. Furthermore, plasma ANP concentrations were strongly correlated with LVEDP (r= 0.61). In Study 2, the plasma ANP concentration was significantly higher in the calves with CHD than in the calves without heart disease (220 [67–970] versus 31 [10–86]; mean [range], P < .001). Conclusions and Clinical Importance: Measurement of plasma ANP concentrations in calves can provide additional information useful for predicting hemodynamic abnormalities.

We studied the fine needle aspiration (FNA) cytology of high grade peripheral T-cell lymphomas from eight human T-lymphotropic virus-1 (HTLV-1) positive patients. FNA smears from seven lymphomas showed a distinctive cytologic pattern with a dominance of rounded cells with irregular nuclei and a moderately basophilic cytoplasm. Irregular cells with a pale abundant cytoplasm were present in varying amounts. Some smears contained a few giant cells with cerebriform nuclei. In addition, plasma cells and eosinophils were found. Epithelioid cells were an inconstant finding. On histology these seven lymphomas were assigned to the pleomorphic medium-large cell subtype and all but one were of T-helper phenotype with rearrangements of the T-cell receptor. FNA smears from a lymph node in a patient with a previous histological diagnosis of lymphomatoid papulosis of the gingiva showed a monotonous pattern of large immunoblastic cells with some binucleated variants consistent with a diagnosis of high grade immunoblastic lymphoma, which was confirmed histologically. Our results show that peripheral T-cell lymphomas from HTLV-1 positive patients have cytological patterns which are distinctive enough to allow a conclusive diagnosis of high grade T-cell lymphoma. However, we do not think that the cytology of HTLV-1 positive lymphomas can be differentiated from that of virus-unrelated high grade T-cell lymphomas.

Primary paraovarian cancer is a rare tumor occurring in the female pelvis. Magnetic resonance imaging features of paraovarian cancer have not been previously reported. In the present report, we describe a case of paraovarian cancer coexisting with cancer of the fallopian tube and the magnetic resonance features.

In situ observation experiments of semiconductor solution growth using a near-infrared microscope have been performed to investigate an influence of surface orientation of a substrate crystal upon the morphological change of the S/L interface. The orientation dependence of step kinetic coefficient at the interface in GaP/GaP growth was obtained under a reduced convection condition in order to evaluate a behavior of macrosteps during the growth. A morphological change of S/L interface at the early stage of GaAs x P 1-x /GaP hetero-LPE growth was also discussed from the view point of the surface orientation dependence.

Recent progress in the physics and engineering design study for the modification programme of JT-60 is presented. In order to achieve a steady state high-β plasma operation, which is the dominant issue of this programme, physics design for the MHD control and the stability analysis is investigated. Engineering design and the R & D for the superconducting coils, irradiation shield are performed well towards the mission of programme.

The purpose of this study is to develop a non-contact method to evaluate the heart and respiratory rates simultaneously using a single optical sensor which can be used without the removal of clothes before a decontamination procedure in biochemical hazards. We measured the heart and respiratory rates with and without clothes to assess the vital sign monitoring before decontamination. In order to monitor the heart and respiratory rates of rabbits simultaneously, the respiratory and cardiac peaks were separated using fast Fourier transform from a 5 mW helium-neon laser (wavelength 632.8 nm) reflected off the chest walls of rabbits. A cloth (50 mm x 50 mm, 2 mm thick) was placed on the chest of the rabbits to simulate the vital sign monitoring with clothes. The heart rate measured using this method agreed with the rate derived from an electrocardiogram (r = 0.82, p0.05). The respiratory rate correlated with the manually measured respirator rate (r = 0.93, p0.05). This method appears promising as a non-contact method for monitoring the heart and respiratory rates of patients under biochemically hazardous conditions.

In order to investigate the connection between the bubble and the spiral form of vortex breakdown, experiments were conducted: an external disturbance in the form of an azimuthally spinning waveform was imposed in a pipe. The azimuthal wave number was varied by adjusting the phase difference among four oscillating pistons mounted circumferentially on the pipe. By imposing a disturbance of zero azimuthal wave number, a spiral was transformed into a bubble, and this occurred only for selective piston frequencies; the vortex breakdown which altered from the spiral to the bubble moved upstream, where it remained as a bubble as long as the external disturbance remained. Once the disturbance was removed, the bubble returned to a spiral. By imposing a disturbance of azimuthal wave number +1 (the first circumferential mode rotating in the same direction as the mean swirl), a bubble was transformed into a spiral for selective piston frequencies, and the spiral moved downstream. These preferred frequencies were found to be the same as the unexcited frequencies observed in the spiral in its natural state. As long as the external disturbance was imposed, the breakdown altered from the bubble to the spiral remained as a spiral; once the disturbance was removed, the spiral reverted to a bubble. By imposing a disturbance with azimuthal wave number –1 (the first circumferential mode rotating in the opposite direction to the mean swirl), no change was detected in either a bubble or a spiral. By imposing a disturbance with azimuthal wave number 2 (the second circumferential mode), for selective piston frequencies a bubble was transformed into what appears to be the so-called two-tailed type. Thus, it appears that hydrodynamic instability plays a role in interchanging vortex breakdown types, and a comparison with available stability theories is discussed.

Investigators have used positron emission tomography with 18F-fluoro-D-deoxyglucose to obtain information not only for the diagnosis of cancers, but also for researching physiology in skeletal muscles. The aim of this study was to evaluate the activities of the jaw and tongue muscles during gum-chewing. Five volunteers aged 32-61 years were studied by positron emission tomography. They were requested to chew two pieces of chewing gum for 30 min after intravenous injection of 18F-fluoro-D-deoxyglucose. 18F-fluoro-D-deoxyglucose uptake in the intrinsic tongue muscle was significantly (p < 0.05) higher than that in the masseter, temporal, and medial pterygoid muscles. Heterogeneous uptake of 18F-fluoro-D-deoxyglucose was observed in the masticatory muscles. In addition, the tongue exhibited higher activity than the masticatory muscles. In conclusion, positron emission tomography with 18F-fluoro-D-deoxyglucose appeared to be a useful technique for investigating the physiologic activities of the skeletal muscles, which have been difficult to examine by conventional methods.

This paper describes an experimental investigation of the coagulation of particles in oil under the action of an a.c. electric field. The investigation is carried out to acquire fundamental data to develop an electrostatic liquid filter with higher performance. The coagulation process of spherical silica particles in oil is observed by tracking a certain particle arbitrarily chosen and using a video-microscope with a charge coupled device (CCD) camera under various mechanical conditions. The observations show that particles are coagulated by approaching one another, in particular, owing to the velocity gradient of flow and entering the region where attractive forces are exerted among them, and that the velocity gradient in the direction of the electric field is more effective for particles to be coagulated than that in the direction perpendicular to the electric field. The experiment shows that a certain frequency of the a.c. electric field at which the coagulation is most promoted exists, and that the frequency increases with increase in the strength of the a.c. electric field and the zeta potential of particles. The experimental results suggest that the mean amplitude of oscillation of particles in the direction of the a.c. electric field may dominate the degree of coagulation.

Some connective tissue diseases are characterised by specific autoantibodies. Although anticentromere or antikinetochore antibodies (ACA), and antitopoisomerase-I or anti-Scl-70 antibodies (ATA), have disease-specific meanings for systemic sclerosis and its CREST variant, respectively, the clinical significance of their concurrent existence has not been clarified. We investigated this condition in our case and with reference to the literature. For this purpose published reports between 1980 and 1998, where both ACA and ATA were measured simultaneously, were analysed by a MEDLINE search. In 10 papers 24 patients had both antibodies. In a further 25 reports, covering 3509 subjects who had either ACA or ATA, no concurrent existence was found. Prevalences of ACA (P(ACA)) and ATA (P(ATA)) in exclusive cases varied from 8.8% to 54.5%, and from 11.8% to 87.5%, respectively, whereas P(ACA) varied from 20.0% to 56.6%, and P(ATA) from 16.8% to 63.7% in the reports with patients positive for both. The actual prevalence of simultaneous presence was between 0.7% and 5.6%, significantly lower than the expected probabilities if both antibodies were to occur independently (p

Ultraviolet laser light of sufficient power can induce focal œdema in the brain. The formation of ultraviolet-induced vasogenic \kdema was monitored by observing real-time changes in the integrity of the blood–brain barrier. The brain surface of guinea-pigs injected with Evans blue was exposed to light from a continuous wave argon laser at 351 nm, delivered via an optical fibre. The integrity of the blood–brain barrier was evaluated by measuring surface reflectance using a separate probing light. The brain was then sectioned and examined using light and electron microscopy. Extravasation of Evans blue following vasodilatation was observed when the irradiation intensity was greater than 0.64 W/cm2. The extent of glial and vascular damage could be correlated with the laser power. Irradiated vascular endothelium exhibited lipping at the tight junction, vacuolation and mitichondrial swelling. These results suggest that disruption of the blood–brain barrier induced by ultraviolet light is preceded by vasodilatation.

To determine whether there is a seasonal variation in the onset of acute, massive submacular haemorrhage associated with age-related macular degeneration.Sixty eyes of 59 patients diagnosed between April 1998 and March 2005, were studied retrospectively. For each patient, the month and season of onset of the submacular haemorrhage and the mean monthly ambient temperature in Nagoya were analysed. Any history of systemic hypertension was also recorded, and the seasonal variations were also investigated in hypertensive and non-hypertensive groups.The number of cases peaked in winter with a trough in summer, and this seasonal variation was significant (Roger's R = 12.03, p0.01). The monthly incidence was inversely correlated with the temperature (Spearman's rank correlation coefficient r = 0.89, p0.01). The seasonal variations were significant in the hypertensive group but not in the non-hypertensive group.The considerable seasonal variations suggests that the mechanism for the haemorrhage is strongly correlated with the systemic blood pressure.

The ductile fracture tests are carried out using compact type (CT) specimen, three point bend specimen and center cracked tension (CCT) specimens made of A533B steel and aluminum alloy with different crack lengths. The effect of the crack tip constraint on the microscopic fracture behavior is studied by the scanning electron microscope (SEM). It is shown that the apparent J IC . value increases due to the decrease of the crack tip constraint. It is pointed out that the increase of the apparent J IC . value is partly due to the error of the conventional equation to estimate the J value. Based on the FEM analyses, these apparent J IC . values are corrected and are compared with the valid J IC . values. The good co-relation between apparent J IC . value and the Q factor, proposed by O'Dowd and Shih, is shown for all the specimens. The FEM analyses based on the Gurson's constitutive equation is also carried out. The effect of the constraint on the crack tip field is discussed.

This article is a response to the Office of Energy Research of the US DOE from the Fusion Energy Advisory Committee on a review of major US magnetic confinement facilities. This response was solicited in response to one of the suggestions made as part of the advisory report `A Restructured Fusion Energy Sciences Program` submitted to the US DOE in early 1996.

We report an unusual case of idiopathic internal and external jugular vein thrombosis. Positron emission tomography (PET) using (18)F-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose (FDG), which was conducted to assess subclinical malignancy, revealed intense uptake of FDG, corresponding to thrombus within the left internal and external jugular veins. Although FDG-PET is widely used in differentiating between malignant and benign diseases, we should bear in mind that this benign entity can demonstrate high accumulation of FDG.

The relationship between serum angiotensin I-converting enzyme (ACE) activity, a possible marker of pulmonary endothelial injury, and the occurrence of pulmonary hypertension (PH) in patients with mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) was investigated. Before corticsteroid therapy, the mean serum ACE level was 26.4 +/- 14.0 mU/ml in patients with MCTD and PH (n = 6), 16.8 +/- 4.1 mU/ml in patients with MCTD but without PH (n = 18), 16.8 +/- 4.1 mU/ml in patients with undifferentiated connective tissue disease (n = 14), and 16.5 +/- 3.9 mU/ml in controls (n = 18). No significant difference in the enzyme activity was found among the groups. However, 4 patients with MCTD showed increased ACE levels (> 28.3 mU/ml), and all of them had PH. Our results suggest that elevation of serum ACE activity may be related to the occurrence of PH in patients with MCTD.

The fracture surface topographic analysis (FRASTA) technique is applied to investigate the propagating process of fatigue crack in a model vessel made of type 304 stainless steel due to repetitive thermal shocks for 1000 cycles. FRASTA is a procedure for reconstructing the process of crack extension by comparing topographic features of coupled areas of opposing fracture surfaces via computer. Based on the result, fracture mechanics analysis is made to estimate the relationship between crack depth and applied number of thermal cycles. During the thermal transient test, acoustic emission (AE) is monitored using four channel AE sensors. The estimated number of initiating cycles and propagating behavior of macroscopic crack by fracture mechanics analysis is compared with the result of AE monitoring examination, and the usefulness of the FRASTA technique is discussed.

32例の食道静脈瘤直達手術術後に, 血中エンドトキシソ (Et) をNew perchloric acid (New PCA) 処理後エンドスペシー (生化学工業) を用いて測定し, polymyxin B sulfate (PL-B), tinidazol (TDZ) 投与の直腸内細菌, 血中Etに及ぼす効果を調べた.症例を非投与 (A) 群13例と, PL-B300万単位 (B) 群9例, PL-B600万単位 (C) 群5例, PL-B300万単位, TDZ 1,000mg (D) 群5例に分け, 術前に3日間投与した.投与前 (手術3日前), 術後1, 3, 5病日と, 投与群では術前日 (投与後) にも末梢血を採取しEtを測定した.A群は術前5.8 (平均, pg/ml) から第1病日に7.4に増加し, その後漸減した.B群では投与後に16%の減少がみられ, 術後も同じレベルで推移した.一方, C, D群は投与後に30%以上減少したが術後はB群に比し高値であった.PL-B投与は, 術後血中Etの増加を抑制したが, PL-B増量やTDZ併用は必ずしもEt濃度の減少を来さず, 細菌叢の変化あるいは死滅した細菌が放出したEtの増大が考えられた.

食道静脈瘤術後にみられたトキシカラーとエンドスペシー (ともに生化学工業, 東京) のエンドトキシン (以下, Et) 値の相違に関して検討を加えた.症例 (13例) において手術前後にNew PCA (過塩素酸) 法前処理で測定したトキシカラーとエンドスペシーとの値の差 (G因子活性化因子値, 以下G値) は, 術後46.3 (平均, pg/ml) より術後第1病日140.6に有意に上昇した (p

Light scattering signal, which is sensitive to cellular/subcellular structural integrity, is a potential indicator of tissue viability in brain, because metabolic energy is used in part to maintain the structure of the cells. We performed near-infrared scattering imaging of rat brain during hypoxia followed by reoxygenation to examine spatiotemporal scattering change due to anoxic depolarization and its correlation with tissue reversibility. For imaging change in light scattering of rat brain, NIR light was transmitted from a halogen lamp with a bandpass filter (800 ± 70 nm) and it was incident onto the entire cortex through the intact skull at an oblique angle; diffusely reflected light from the brain was imaged with a charge-coupled device. About 2 min after starting hypoxia, scattering waves were generated focally in the bilateral outermost regions in the cortex and spread toward the midline at a rate of ~6 mm/min. When reoxygenation was started before the leading edges of scattering waves reached the midline of the brain, the scattering waves disappeared gradually and the tissue was saved. Reoxygenation when scattering wave reached the midline did not save the brain. These results suggest that the coverage of the scattering waves determine the brain tissue reversibility after hypoxia.

Photoacoustics has been widely studied as a combined imaging modality of both optical and acoustical methods. The merits of the photoacoustic imaging are realizing the full potentials of pulsed laser-tissue interaction. As the photoacoustic waves can be induced at chromophores by pulsed lased irradiation through a thermoelastic process, it covers a wide range of frequency. In order to take advantages of the wide range frequency characteristics, we employed not PZT, but piezoelectronic copolymer film, P(VDF/TrFE) film, with various thickness ranging from 20 to 100 μm as photoacoustic transducers. Because blood vessels play a key role in homeostasis, we experimentally demonstrated blood vessels phantom using second harmonic generation of Q-switched Nd:YAG laser and Ti:sapphire nanosecond laser pulses through optical fiber transmission. The detected photoacoustic waveforms showed distinctive time-of-flight signals. The photoacoustic signals were sensitive to temperature, absorption coefficients of chromophores, and diameters of the phantom vessels. Hemoglobin oxygen saturation could be easily derived from the multi wavelength photoacoustic signals using differential optical absorption characteristics. These results proved the functional quantitative photoacoustic imaging using the signal characteristics. A multivariate photoacoustic imaging approach must be promising to convenient diagnosis.

Our goal is to develop a photo-acoustic imaging (PAI) system which offers functional image of living tissues and organs with high resolution. In order to obtain high resolution image, we implemented the Fourier transform reconstruction algorithm which determines an optical absorption distribution from photo-acoustic (PA) signals. However, resolutions of reconstructed images were restricted by the sensor directionality, finite scan width and frequency band width. There was an essential requirement to optimize the sensor specification. In this study, we demonstrated relationship between image resolution and sensor specification by simulation and experiment. In our experimental system, PA signals were acquired by line scanning of our fabricated P(VDF/TrFE) film sensor. As results of simulations and experiments, lateral resolutions of PA images were restricted by the directionality of sensor. Furthermore, by limiting scan width and frequency band width, lateral resolution is decreased at deep region. The optimum sensor specification depends on the imaging region due to some trade-offs, for example, a sensor with wider directionality has less sensitivity, wider scan in same step increases acquisition time. Therefore, the results could indicate the possibility of optimizing sensor directionality, scan width and frequency band width for various depths and volumes of imaging region.

The phased‐array antenna system for Electron Cyclotron/Bernstein Wave Heating and Current Drive experiments has been developed in the QUEST. The antenna was designed to excite a pure O‐mode wave in the oblique injection for the O‐X‐B mode conversion experiments, and its good performances were confirmed at a low power level. The plasma current (

Levels of plasma tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) were determined consecutively in 42 patients with burns > 20 per cent of the total body surface area using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. In the early period after injury (including the period of burn shock), 24 patients had detectable TNF-alpha levels in their plasma. However, the plasma TNF-alpha levels at the time of admission were very low and did not correlate with the extent of the burn or the prognosis. In contrast, the maximum plasma TNF-alpha level over the whole clinical course was significantly correlated with the area of the burn and the prognosis. No correlation was found between the plasma TNF-alpha and plasma endotoxin levels. TNF-alpha may be produced locally in infected burns and monitoring of plasma TNF-alpha levels may be a useful prognostic indicator for burns patients.

巨細胞封入体を生検組織中に認めた潰瘍性大腸炎重篤例を報告した,症例は73歳の女性で,平成3年5月下痢症状を主訴に近医受診し,精査の結果初めて潰瘍性大腸炎と診断された.2カ月後,症状は再燃増悪し,直腸から下行結腸に至る高度の炎症性変化と生検組織中の巨細胞封入体が認められた.全身的にウィルス学的検索を行ったが,全身感染は証明されず,ulcerative colitis(以下UCと略す)に併発した大腸のサイトメガロ限局感染と考えた,サイトメガロ感染はUC症状増悪の原因と考え,抗ウィルス療法を併用し,症状の改善をみた.

Background and Study Aims: Endoscopic variceal ligation (EVL) is an alternative to sclerotherapy for the treatment of esophageal varices, but is associated with higher rates of recurrence and subsequent bleeding than sclerotherapy. To prevent recurrence of varices after EVL, we have developed a low-dose diode laser therapy combined with the injection of indocyanine green, which allows enhanced tissue absorption of the laser beam selectively around varices. In this study we investigated the efficacy and safety of this technique. Patients and Methods: Eight patients with F2 or F3 esophageal varices were enrolled. At 1 week after EVL, indocyanine green solution (1 mg/ml) was injected sub-mucosally around the remaining varices. A diode laser (power 10 watts) was applied to the surface from the esophagogastric junction to 5 cm above it. The spot size was kept to 5 mm in diameter. Results: Laser irradiation was performed safely, without bleeding from the varices, or perforation. There were no major complications. Endoscopy 1 month later showed F0 forms in seven patients, F1 in one patient, and no red color sign in any patient. No recurrence of varices has been observed in any of the patients during the follow-up period of at least 12 months. Conclusion: This technique may provide a simple, safe and effective procedure, as an additional treatment to EVL, for the prevention of recurrence of esophageal varices.

The Bi-based oxide superconducting wire is one of the most promising materials for practical uses such as electric power transmission, electromagnets and so on. For the higher performances required in these applications, it is necessary to increase the critical current (Ic). We have carried out synchrotron radiation X-ray diffraction analysis to improve our manufacturing processes and thus to achieve higher Ic. We have performed in situ X-ray diffraction measurements during the sintering and cooling processes, and observed the decrease of Bi-2223(=(Bi,Pb)2Sr2Ca2Cu3Ox) phase during the cooling process. We have also evaluated the distribution of the crystal orientation in whole wire thickness, by measuring the rocking curves. We have observed that the distribution of the crystal orientation is improved by a refinement of the process conditions.

Plasma endotoxin concentrations were determined in 42 patients with burns covering more than 20 per cent of the body surface area, using the endotoxin-specific Endospecy assay and treatment of plasma by a new method developed by ourselves. The normal endotoxin level was 9.8 pg/ml or less. In the early period after injury when no infection was present, very few patients had an endotoxin level above 9.8 pg/ml and endotoxin levels did not correlate with the area of the burns or with prognosis. However, later in the clinical course, endotoxin levels were correlated significantly with the burned area and with the prognosis.