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健常な雑種成犬28頭について、ファイバーオプティック圧モニター法による脳脊髄液圧の測定を検討した。ファイバーオプティックカテーテルは、経皮的に穿刺針を用いて頸部および腰部脊髄のクモ膜下腔に挿入した。頸部の脳脊髄液圧は最高12.0 mmHg、最低2.0 mmHg、平均値±標準偏差6.11±0.54 mmHgの値を示し、従来から報告されている測定値と近似した値であった。一方、腰部の脳脊髄液圧は最高12.0 mmHg、最低2.0 mmHg、平均値±標準偏差5.93±0.55 mmHgであった。頸部と腰部の脳脊髄液圧間には正の相関が認められたが、それぞれの脳脊髄圧と平均動脈圧との間には相関性は認められなかった。また、エピネフリン投与による動脈圧上昇に伴う脳脊髄液圧の変化を観察した。動脈圧の上昇に伴った頸部と腰部の脳脊髄液圧の有意な変化は認められなかった。以上の結果から、犬における頸部および腰部脊髄の脳脊髄液圧は、ファイバーオプティック圧モニター法により安定的かつ連続的に測定することが可能と推察された。

Renal transplantation is a potential treatment for irreversible renal failure in pet cats. Our aim is to reduce warm ischemic time by using nonpenetrating vascular closure staples (VCS), thereby improving graft survival. Experimental cats were divided into the VCS group (n = 4; autotransplantation) or suture group (n = 6; allotransplantation). The renal artery was anastomosed with the external iliac artery in an end-to-end fashion, and the renal vein was attached to the external iliac vein in an end-to-side fashion. Warm ischemic time as well as arterial and venous anastomotic times were measured. Cats in the suture group were administrated cyclosporine and prednisolone orally after transplantation. Ischemic and anastomotic times in the VCS group were significantly reduced compared with the suture group. Two of 6 allografts had a ureteral anastomotic stricture, and 4 allografts were rejected. Histological findings of autografts showed normal structure. In conclusion, VCS staples were useful in feline renal transplantation.

The purpose of this paper is to point out the limitations of the existing theoretical frameworks on the relationship between globalization and transformation of popular cultures, and to propose a new model called “the dynamic multi-layered moral conflict model” to describe the dynamism of today's globalization through analyzing the development of club culture.

今回猫の腎移植において、ドナーとして用いた実験猫の左腎動脈は2本で、2本とも腹部大動脈から直接分岐していた。分岐部の腹部大動脈を筒状に切離して左腎を摘出した。摘出した腹部大動脈壁を形成した後、レシピエントの切離した外腸骨動脈分岐部と外径を合致させ、端々吻合した。再灌流後、ドナー、レシピエント共に血流はよく、術後の後肢の麻痺も観察されなかった。以上より、猫の腎移植において、様々な症例に対応するための高度なマイクロサージカルテクニックが必要であることが示された。

Background and Purpose— The purpose of this study was to determine the safety and efficacy of intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (0.6 mg/kg alteplase) within 3 hours of stroke onset in Japanese patients outside the indications in the European license. Methods— Of the 600 patients who were treated with recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator, 422 met the inclusion criteria of the European license (IN group) and 178 did not (OUT group). Results— The OUT group was inversely associated with any intracerebral hemorrhage (adjusted OR, 0.50; 95% CI, 0.29–0.84), positively associated with an unfavorable outcome (2.48; 1.55–3.94) and mortality (2.04; 1.02–4.04), and not associated with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage (0.53; 0.11–1.79) or complete independency (0.65; 0.40–1.03) after multivariate adjustment. Conclusions— Functional and vital outcomes 3 months after low-dose recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator in patients outside the European indications were less favorable compared with those included in the indications; however, the risk of intracerebral hemorrhage was not.

Focal nodular hyperplasia of the liver is a lesion characterized by a well-circumscribed region of hyperplastic liver parenchyma and contains a stellate fibrous scar. The lesion is thought to be because of liver-cell hyperplasia that is caused by focal circulatory disturbances. We describe here a pediatric case of this lesion that provided direct histopathologic evidence of circulatory disturbances. We identified arterial and portal thrombi, as well as recanalization of arteries in the nodule. Hepatic necrosis was also seen in the lesion. We speculate that thrombosis of the hepatic artery and/or portal vein was the cause of hepatic necrosis and that reperfusion following hepatic arterial recanalization resulted in nodule formation. Although there was no stellate scar present in our case, the presence of bile ductular proliferation at the periphery of the nodule was helpful in distinguishing this lesion from adenoma and hepatocellular carcinoma. The early stage of nodular formation may explain the lack of a stellate scar in our case. The patient was treated earlier with actinomycin D and vincristine following surgical excision of Wilms' tumor. It is possible that such chemotherapy contributed to thrombosis in our case.

Genes of the IL-1 family encode three different peptides, IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, and IL-1Ra, respectively. IL-1 operates through IL-1RI, and is involved in airway inflammation in asthmatic subjects, whereas IL-1Ra appears to be a specific competitive inhibitor of IL-1. All genes are on chromosome 2q12-21 where genomewide searches have identified linkage for asthma. To test whether variants of IL-1 relate to asthma, we conducted a genetic association study in a Japanese population. We show that the A2 allele of IL1RN (encoding IL-1Ra) associates with nonatopic asthma [OR = 5.71, 95% CI: 1.63-19. 8, Pc = 0.007]. Both atopic and nonatopic asthmatics with the A2 allele had significantly lower serum IL-1Ra levels in both types of asthmatics. Peripheral blood cells from asthmatics with A2 alleles, however, produced as much IL-1 as did those with A1 homozygotes. Since Th1 and Th2 cytokines differentially regulate the ratio between IL-1beta and IL-1Ra, these findings suggest that dysregulation of IL-1beta/IL-1Ra, probably due to interaction between epithelium and immuno-competent cells in the airway, is important in asthma inflammation.

The present case was an elderly man with a history of gastric cancer, diffuse biliary duct stenosis and liver cirrhosis. He had markedly elevated IgG, suggesting chronic infection or inflammatory changes in the biliary duct. He developed weakness in his arms and became unable to use his hands within one month and 2 weeks later, he had difficulty walking. Based on his progressive disease course, elevated serum IgG, nerve conduction study and enhanced MRI findings, we diagnosed him as suffering from immune-mediated subacute polyradiculoneuropathy with polyclonal gammopathy, which might be related to Guillain-Barré syndrome. Intravenous immunoglobulin (IVIg) was dramatically effective in this patient. In the follow-up 6 months later he was stable and could walk without a cane. Even in patients with polyclonal gammopathy in chronic inflammatory disease of another organ, IVIg may be effective and beneficial for the patients's quality of life.

We previously reported a simple and easy-to-use device, Scratch Monitor for evaluation of nocturnal scratching In the present study, the effect of an antihistamine (azelastine hydrochloride) on atopic dermatitis was investigated using this device. In 40 patients with atopic dermatitis, nocturnal scratching was measured by the monitor, when taking the drug and while off medication. Neither the ‘sleeping time’ nor the ‘pre-asleep time’ differed significantly, but there was a significant difference in ‘scratch rate’, ‘minute scratch records’, ‘hourly awake number’ and ‘awake rate’, which indicated that this drug alleviated nocturnal scratching and sleep disturbance. The difference was most prominent especially in patients with a serum IgE≧1000 IU/ml as well as in patients with mild symptoms and normal serum lactate dehydrogenase levels. The drug was more effective for nocturnal scratching in the early period, when the ‘sleeping time’ was divided into three equal parts (early, mid and late periods) and each period was compared.

A statistical survey based on laboratory records was performed on the number of indirect restorations fabricated at the dental hospital of Tokyo Medical and Dental University from April 1 to September 30, 1997. A comparison was also carried out with a previous survey, which had been carried out in 1986, in order to detect any change and possible alterations in the near future. Based on the results of this statistical survey, the conclusions were as follows:1. A total of 9, 126 indirect restorations were fabricated during the six month period in 1997; among them, 8, 007 (87.7%) restorations were covered by health insurance and 1, 119 (12.3%) restorations were not.2. The most common restoration was the cast post and core (28.6%), followed by full crowns (18.5%) and removable partial dentures (15.6%) . On the other hand, the least number were post crowns (0.03%) and resin jacket crowns (0.2%) .3. When making a comparison with the data in 1986, an increase in the number of removable partial dentures and a decrease in the number of inlays were the most distinctive features.4. For anterior teeth, resin-veneered crowns were most common, especially for lower teeth. The percentage of restorations, which were not covered by health insurance, decreased from 45.0% (in 1986) to 12.3% (in 1997) .

A statistical survey based on laboratory records was performed on the number of fixed and removable partial dentures fabricated at the dental hospital of Tokyo Medical and Dental University from April 1 to September 30, 1997. A comparison was also performed with a previous survey, which had been carried out in 1986, in order to detect any change and possible alterations in the near future. From the findings of this statistical survey, the conclusions were as follows: 1. A total of 2,478 fixed and removable partial dentures were fabricated during the six month period in 1997. 2. The 3-unit fixed partial denture (bridge) was most common (63.1%) and the number of bridges decreased as the number of units increased. 3. For the single missing tooth, a fixed bridge was more popular (81.0%) than a removable partial denture. 4. For two missing teeth, there was no difference between the number of fixed bridges and removable partial dentures. 5. The percentage of fixed and removable partial dentures, which were not covered by health insurance, decreased to a large extent in comparison with the survey in 1986.

We have developed an interlocking intramedullary nail method for the treatment of femoral and tibial fractures and used this method for the treatment of 7 cats and 6 dogs with these fractures. The interlocking nails, with a diameter of 4-6 mm and length of 60-140 mm, have holes at 10 mm intervals for screwing. The nail placed on the insertion device was inserted into the marrow cavity from the end of the fractured bone in the usual procedures for intramedullary fixation, then fixed by screws at the distal and proximal ends with a jig which was also attached to the insertion device. Animals were able to bear weight on the treated legs within three days, and the prognosis was excellent.

We tried to evaluate the role of IgG antibodies in the wheal and flare reaction of infantile atopic dermatitis by in vivo skin-sensitizing methods. Sera from 49 patients under 6 years of age were heated at 56 °C for 30 min to inactivate IgE antibodies, according to previous reports. Two-fold serial dilutions of the heated serum were injected intracutaneously in both forearms of a non-allergic recipient. One hour later, the whole egg antigen (1:1000) was injected in the serum transfer sites of an arm and the reaction was read at 15 min (IgG Prausnitz-Kustner (P-K) test). Immediately afterwards, a raw hen's egg was swallowed by the recipient and the serum transfer sites of the other arm were observed for 2 h (oral IgG P-K test). Three patients under 1 year of age showed an immediate wheal and flare reaction in the IgG P-K test, but none of the patients showed a positive reaction in the oral IgG P-K test. The patients with a positive IgG P-K test had an IgE radioallergosorbent test (RAST) score > 4 to egg white and a positive IgE P-K titer of > 2 8 to whole egg antigen. Two patients showed a positive reaction to the oral IgE P-K test to raw egg ingestion. Ovalbumin-specific IgG, lgG 3 and lgG 4 antibodies were assayed in 20 patients. IgG, and lgG 3 antibodies were significantly increased in two patients with a positive IgG P-K test, while levels of the lgG 4 antibody in positive patients were not significantly increased in comparison with levels in negative patients. In conclusion, these results suggest that the IgG antibody may play a role in the immediate type allergic reaction in infantile atopic dermatitis.

外科的侵襲時, グルタミン (Gln) は腸粘膜細胞などのエネルギー源になると言われている.しかし, 臨床例での侵襲時血漿Gln値の報告は少ない.今回, 消化器外科手術を受けた39例, 外科的侵襲を伴った長期間絶食の10例における血漿Gln値の変動を測定した.外科的侵襲により血漿Gln値の低下率は1日目に最大となり, 4日目には0に近づいた.手術侵襲下の完全静脈栄養管理 (TPN) は血漿Gln値の低下を抑制する傾向を示したが経口摂取以外に血漿Gln値は上昇しなかった.また2週間以上外科的侵襲が続くとTPN下でも血漿Gln値の低下が著しかった.以上より, 外科的侵襲によるGlnの消費が筋肉からの供給に追いつくには3日から4日かかるが, 2週間以上の絶食で筋肉内量も低下し, 供給が追いつかなくなることが示唆され, Gln供給の必要があると思われた.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: Fluid-attenuated inversion recovery vascular hyperintensities (FVH) is often seen in patients with acute ischemic stroke attributable to arterial stenosis or occlusion. However, clinical significance of FVH in patients with transient ischemic attack (TIA) remains understudied. METHODS: Consecutive patients with TIA who underwent brain MRI within 24 hours of onset were studied. The frequency, relative factors, and time course of FVH were determined. Large artery atherosclerosis (LAA) was defined as more than 50 % stenosis or occlusion of the cervicocranial artery presumably due to atherosclerosis. RESULTS: Of 202 patients enrolled (76 women, 69.0±13.2 years old, median onset-to-arrival time 98 min [IQR 60-200], none undergoing thrombolysis), FVH was identified in 41 (20%). Atrial fibrillation (AF, 49% vs. 19%, P CONCLUSION: FVH was identified in 20% of acute TIA patients. AF and LAA were positively associated with FVH; AF seems to be associated with transient FVH and LAA does with persistent FVH.

Background and Purpose— The present study determines associations between early blood pressure (BP) variability and stroke outcomes after intravenous thrombolysis. Methods— In 527 stroke patients receiving intravenous alteplase (0.6 mg/kg), BP was measured 8 times within the first 25 hours. BP variability was determined as ΔBP (maximum-minimum), standard deviation (SD), coefficient of variation, and successive variation. Results— The systolic BP course was lower among patients with modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 0 to 1 than those without ( P Conclusions— Early systolic BP variability was positively associated with symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage and death after intravenous thrombolysis.

Optimal blood pressure (BP) control in acute intracerebral hemorrhage (ICH) remains controversial. We determined the effects of SBP lowering to 160 mmHg or more using intravenous nicardipine for acute ICH patients.This is a prospective, multicenter, observational study conducted in Japan, with the lack of control groups. Patients with supratentorial ICH within 3 h of onset, admission SBP 180 mmHg or more, Glasgow Coma Scale (GCS) 5 or more, and hematoma volume less than 60 ml were initially treated with intravenous nicardipine to maintain SBP between 120 and 160 mmHg with 24-h frequent BP monitoring. The primary endpoints were neurological deterioration within 72 h [GCS decrement ≥ 2 points or National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale (NIHSS) increment ≥ 4 points; estimated 90% confidence interval (CI) on the basis of previous studies: 15.2-25.9%] and serious adverse effects (SAE) to stopping intravenous nicardipine within 24 h (1.8-8.9%). The secondary endpoints included hematoma expansion more than 33% at 24 h (17.1-28.3%), modified Rankin Scale (mRS) 4 or more (54.5-67.9%) and death at 3 months (6.0-13.5%).We enrolled 211 Japanese patients (81 women, 65.6 ± 12.0 years old). At baseline, BP was 201.8 ± 15.7/107.9 ± 15.0 mmHg. Median hematoma volume was 10.2 ml (interquartile range 5.6-19.2), and NIHSS score was 13 (8-17). Neurological deterioration was identified in 17 patients (8.1%), SAE in two (0.9%), hematoma expansion in 36 (17.1%), mRS 4 or more in 87 (41.2%), and death in four (1.9%). All the results were equal to or below the estimated lower 90% CI.SBP lowering to 160 mmHg or less using nicardipine appears to be well tolerated and feasible for acute ICH.

A 66-year-old right-handed man suddenly developed left hemiplegia after an opponent thrust at his neck with a bamboo sword during a practice game of Kendo (Japanese swordsmanship; Figure 1). Fifty minutes later, he visited our emergency service. His blood pressure was 77/55 mm Hg in the left arm but could not be measured in the right arm; his right radial artery was initially pulseless but became palpable 1 hour later. He was somnolent and had left unilateral spatial neglect, left complete hemiplegia, and left-sided sensory disturbance. Enhanced computed tomography (CT) showed an occlusion 15 mm distal to the origin of the right common carotid artery (CCA) without any abnormal findings at the aorta and innominate and right subclavian arteries. On emergent carotid ultrasonography, an intraluminal filling defect occupied the right CCA and swung back and forth with pulsation. He was …

This study examined outcomes of patients with acute ischemic stroke (AIS) with major cerebral artery occlusion after the approval of intravenous recombinant tissue-type plasminogen activator (IV rt-PA) but before approval of the MERCI retriever. We retrospectively enrolled 1170 consecutive patients with AIS and major cerebral artery occlusion (496 women; mean age, 73.9 ± 12.3 years) who were admitted within 24 hours after the onset of symptoms to 12 Japanese stroke centers between October 2005 and June 2009. Cardioembolism was a leading cause of AIS in this group (68.2%). The occlusion sites of the major cerebral arteries included the common carotid artery and internal carotid artery (ICA; 29.6%), middle cerebral artery (52.2%), and basilar artery (7.6%). Recanalization therapy (RT) was performed in 32.0% of patients (IV rt-PA, 20.0%; neuroendovascular therapy, 9.4%; combined, 2.5%). Symptomatic intracerebral hemorrhage within 36 hours with a ≥ 1-point increase in the National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score occurred in 5.3% of the patients. At 3 months (or at hospital discharge), 29.3% of the patients had a favorable outcome (based on a modified Rankin scale score of 0-2), 23.8% were bedridden, and 15.6% died. After multivariate adjustment, RT was positively associated with a favorable outcome and negatively associated with death, whereas age, baseline National Institutes of Health Stroke Scale score, and ICA occlusion were negatively associated with a favorable outcome and positively associated with death. One-third of the patients with AIS and major cerebral artery occlusion were treated with RT, which was independently associated with favorable outcomes and death. However, 40% of the patients became bedridden or died during the post-alteplase, pre-MERCI era in Japan.

Introduction: Diabetes Mellitus (DM) and hypertension (HT) have been proven to be risk factors for cardiovascular diseases and stroke. However, few studies have examined the relationships of carotid artery intima-media thickness (IMT) with combination of glucose abnormality and blood pressure (BP) categories in a general population. We assessed the hypothesis that the effect of the risks of these factors on carotid atherosclerosis was more accentuated with combination of higher categories on glucose and BP in a general urban Japanese population. Methods: Participants (35-93 years of age; 1,844 women and 1,602 men) who gave written informed consent were randomly selected from a general urban population (between 2002 and 2004). Carotid atherosclerosis was evaluated by high-resolution ultrasonography (7.5MHz) with atherosclerotic indexes of IMT in the common carotid artery (CCA), carotid artery bulb (Bulb), and internal and external carotid arteries. Mean IMT was defined as the mean of the IMT of the proximal and distal walls for both sides of the CCA at a point 10 mm proximal to the beginning of the dilation of each Bulb. Maximum IMT was assessed in the entire scanned area. Stenosis (>=25%) was defined as a condition in which a plaque occupied more than 25% of the lumen circumference of an artery on a cross-sectional scan. Serum glucose categories (normoglycemia, impaired fasting glucose [IFG] and DM) were defined according to the 2003 ADA recommendations. BP categories (optimal, normal, high-normal BP and HT) were defined on the basis of the ESH-ESC 2007 criteria. The association of serum glucose categories with the carotid atherosclerotic indexes was investigated through logistic regression analysis considering potential confounding risk variables including BP category. Results: Compared with normoglycemic subjects, the mean and maximum IMTs were significantly greater in women with DM (mean: 0.836 vs 0.802 p=0.001, maximum: 1.370 vs 1.205 p Conclusion: Compared with normoglycemic subjects, the mean and maximum IMTs were significantly greater in women with DM and in men with IFG and DM and stenosis was significantly greater in subjects with DM. The impact of each glucose category on the stenosis was more evident in subjects with a higher BP category.

The authors have been investigating degradation process of Au plated slip ring and Ag-Pd brush system. In almost all cases the lifetime of the sliding system ends, when Au plating layer is worn out, the ring surface is oxidized to be black in color and contact resistance becomes very high. However, the lifetime is greatly changed case by case, while it is very short without lubricant. Even with lubricant the lifetime is varied from about 1000 hours to almost 7000 hours in the past experiments. It is an important issue where such variation comes from. In this paper the effect of lubricant on degradation process of contact resistance is focused on. In the past tests the lubricant is supplied only once before the test. In this test the lubricant is regularly supplied almost every 900 operation hours. The followings can be made clear. Just after the supply of the lubricant the contact resistance fall down just for a short time, but it comes back to the similar value before the supply. However the operation more than 8000 hours is realized. In addition the contact voltage drop increase gradually until 2600 hours and after that it stays almost constant around 70mV. It probably means that the Au plating layer is gradually worn out at the stage of increasing voltage drop, while the Ni base plating layer is totally exposed at the stage of constant voltage drop. The reason of long operation seems to be that the lubricant not only decreases wear but also suppresses oxidation of the Ni layer.

生後9ヵ月の日本猫の総胆管断裂の症例に遭遇し, 第6病日に総胆管の再建手術を実施して, 良好な結果が得られた。再建手術時のステントは断裂した総胆管の探査に使用でき, さらに猫の総胆管の内腔サイズに適している雄猫用尿道カテーテルを使用した。胆汁の排出を妨げず, ステントの自然排出を容易にするため, カテーテルの先端は十二指腸側に向け, さらにカットガットにて総胆管とステントを支持縫合した。術後の経過もきわめて良好で, 早期に診断がつけば, 総胆管の再建が可能である。

Background: Failure to detect the sphenoidal segment of the middle cerebral artery (M1) on transcranial color-coded sonography (TCCS) results from either M1 occlusion or an insufficient temporal bone window (TBW). We sought to identify a simple indicator on B mode images for M1 evaluation. Methods: Consecutive acute ischemic stroke patients with an intact M1 segment underwent prospective TCCS evaluation. Visibilities of the contralateral temporal bone (CTB), midbrain (MB) and lesser sphenoid wing (LSW) on B mode images were defined as follows: ‘invisible’, ‘poor’ if the contour was less than 50% visible, ‘fair’ if more than 50% visible and ‘good’ if totally visible. M1 detectability on color Doppler images was defined as follows: ‘INVISIBLE’, ‘POOR’ if the M1 was detected as color dots, ‘FAIR’ if linearly but discontinuously detectable, and ‘GOOD’ if linearly and continuously detectable. The relationship between each structure’s visibility and M1 detectability was assessed. Results: Seventy-six patients with 152 TBWs were evaluated. The CTB was ‘invisible’ in 2%, ‘poor’ in 22%, ‘fair’ in 36% and ‘good’ in 40%. Visibility of the MB was 36, 24, 26 and 14%, respectively. Visibility of the LSW was 16, 22, 29 and 32%, respectively. The M1 was ‘INVISIBLE’ in 51%, ‘POOR’ in 7%, ‘FAIR’ in 7% and ‘GOOD’ in 35%. Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient between each structure’s visibility and M1 detectability was 0.68 for the CTB, 0.66 for the MB and 0.80 for the LSW, respectively (p < 0.001 for all). Conclusion: Visibility of the LSW on B mode appears to be a better indicator than other structures for M1 evaluation.

Hypogeusia, a condition with diminished sense of taste, is caused by several conditions, including zinc deficiency and as a side-effect of drugs, but is not common in neurological disorders. A 55-year-old Japanese man with a 30-year history of chronic inflammatory demyelinating polyradiculoneuropathy (CIDP) presented with hypogeusia during hospitalization for a recurrence of CIDP. The hypogeusia improved after treatment with high-dose intravenous methylprednisolone (HIMP). Two years later, hypogeusia developed again. A complete taste deficit was revealed by a filter paper test. Brain MRI showed enhancement of the bilateral facial nerve ganglia. Hypogeusia was partially ameliorated after extensive immunosuppressive therapy with repeated HIMP and plasma exchange. Improvement was more prominent in the area innervated by the chorda tympani nerve than that innervated by the glossopharyngeal nerve. To our knowledge, this is the first report of recurrent hypogeusia, which might be caused by cranial nerve injury associated with CIDP.

正常犬5頭ならびに脊髄損傷犬1頭に, 脊髄機能の診断法である脊髄誘発電位 (SCEP) を応用した。その結果, 椎弓切除術中に露出された硬膜外腔へ直接電極を挿入した場合, ならびに透視下で経皮的に硬膜外針を用いて電極を挿入した場合のいずれにおいても, 犬における基本的波形が得られた。また, 実験的に脊髄を圧迫した場合, これらのSCEPはわずかな圧迫に対して明確に変化することが明らかとなった。脊髄損傷の症例でもその変化が確認されたことから, 本法は小動物臨床の脊髄機能診断法として有用であることが示唆された。

An electric sliding system is used to transfer electrical power or signal between a moving object and a stationary object. Long life time and improvement of contact reliability are required for electric sliding systems. Contact resistance and wear of sliding material are important factors. We have been investigating the sliding quality and the deterioration process of the system of Au plated slip-ring and Ag-Pd brush, which is used mainly in the chip-mounter, to get stable long life time. Through the three times previous tests, the lifetime is dependent on load current and others. However, the deterioration process is almost same, independent of long or short lifetime. When the Au and Ni plated layers are worn out, the base material of the ring, bronze is exposed and the surface starts to be oxidized. In this stage the contact resistance rapidly increases and then the lifetime is over. The lifetime is decided mainly by the surface wear rate. Further, in the third test, additional experimental results are presented, which are performed to clarify factors affecting the sliding lifetime. We got interesting results of about 6000 hours life corresponding to 144,000,000 rotations, which is the longest lifetime in our tests. In this test, we have the forth test which is intended to research the effect of lubricant and temperature of the surface on lifetime.

Renal transplantation (RTx) has been a potential treatment for renal failure in pet cats. We developed a training protocol for the microsurgical skills required for feline RTx using rat vessels, which are the same size as the feline renal artery and vein. Using interrupted sutures, the transected abdominal aorta was reestablished in an end-to-end fashion. Venous anastomosis was performed with a continuous running suture in an end-to-side fashion between the portal vein and inferior vena cava. In the arterial anastomotic model, technical errors were checked by postoperative hemorrhaging. Those failures in the venous anastomotic model, technical errors were confirmed by the rat's death. Histological examinations of the epithelialization at the anastomotic site were evaluated in both groups. After training, nine cases of feline RTx were performed safely, using an adequate microsurgical technique.

Sliding contact is still an important mechanism to transmit current or electric power from a stationary equipment to a moving device. A power supply slip-ring used in a chip mounter is presently 20 millions rotations in life, but expected to have longer life time. In this paper a slip-ring with Au plated on Ni base-plated layer is investigated in reliability against AgPd brush. Test conditions are 400rpm in rotation speed and 0-5A in operation current. Contact resistance and surface morphology are observed with operation time. Consequently, the lifetime is dependent on load current, with or without lubricant and sample, while the surface deterioration process is almost same. Namely firstly the Au plated layer is worn out, secondly the Ni base-plated layer and finally the wear reaches the bulk metal. At that time the contact resistance sharply increases and the life is over. At the final stage of the lifetime the contact surface is covered with black film which is estimated to be an oxide of a constituent element of the bulk metal by EPMA analysis.

Sir,Acute sensory ataxic neuropathy (ASAN) is a relativelyrare syndrome characterized by acute onset of sensoryataxia with areflexia. Recently, ASAN has been recognizedas a subtype of Guillain-Barre´ syndrome [3]. We report apatient with ASAN showing enhancement of dorsal roots inthe acute phase and T2-high lesion in the dorsal column incervico-thoracic MRI 3 months after onset suggestingWallerian degeneration.A healthy 33-year-old woman developed paresthesia ofher hand and foot and felt numbness in both feet. Therewas no history of an antecedent infection. She graduallyfelt neck and lumbar root pain, and she had a severeunsteady gait because positional sensation in allextremities was abolished. She was admitted to ourdepartment 10 days after the first symptom. Neurologicalexamination revealed impaired vibratory sensation andjoint positional sensation over all extremities with glove-and stocking-type sensory disturbance. She could notstand at all although her muscle power was intact. Deeptendon reflexes were totally abolished. No cranial nervepalsy was observed. Cerebrospinal fluid study revealedmarked elevated protein (172 mg dl