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To study the secretion of adrenocortical steroids, the renin releasing test and the angiotensin II analog (1-Sar, 8-Ala-Angiotensin II) infusion test was performed on four subjects with primary aldosteronism. The plasma renin activities of these subjects in the preoperative state were rather low, without any response to the renin releasing test. Plasma aldosterone was, however, significantly high and showed a tendency to declineits value when the subject was in an upright position. In the preoperative state, all the subjects lacked any alterations in plasma renin activity throughout the angiotensin II analog infusion test. Though slight elevations were observed in the blood pressure of three subjects, there was no demonstrable change in plasma aldosterone. In the other subject, though blood pressure did not change, plasma aldosterone exhibited a remarkable rise as did progesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone. From these data, it was suggested that in the latter subject the aldosterone secretion was sensitive to angiotensin in comparison with ACTH. Three weeks after the operation, it was observed that plasma aldosterone response decreased, while the response of plasma renin activity to the renin releasing test was normal. This is considered to be due to the diminished sensitivity of the glomerulosa of the nonadenomatous adrenal gland to angiotensin. The levels of 17 alpha-hydroxyprogesterone, 11-deoxycorticosterone and corticosterone were almost within the normal range in the pre- and postoperative state. The levels of plasma progesterone and 11-deoxycorticosterone, however, tended to be lower in the postoperative state compared with the preoperative state.

The cephalosporin beta-lactamase was purified from a strain of Proteus morganii that showed resistance to beta-lactam antibiotics and produced the enzyme constitutively. The purified enzyme preparation gave a single protein band on polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and consisted of a single polypeptide of molecular weight 38,000 to 40,000 from gel filtration of Sephadex G-100 and sodium dodecyl sulfate-acrylamide gel electrophoresis, its isoelectric point being pH 7.2 No cysteine residue was found in its amino acid composition. The specific activity was 190 mumol/min per mg of the purified enzyme protein for the hydrolysis of cephaloridine, the optimal pH was about 8.5 and the optimal temperature was 50 degrees C. Antibodies against the purified beta-lactamase inhibited not only the enzyme activity of the purified preparation, but also the enzyme activity of all of the other strains of P. morganii so far tested, regardless of whether the modes of their production were inducible or constitutive. None of the beta-lactamases produced by beta-lactam antibiotic-resistant strains of other species of Proteus was affected at all by the antibodies, thus showing that the purified cephalosporin beta-lactamase was of the species-specific type. The enzymological properties of the preparation have been compared with those of beta-lactamases derived from other gram-negative enteric bacteria.

Embryos of the Wistar strain and its F(1) cross (Wistar females mated with Brown Norway males) of rats were transferred nonsurgically to 48 Wistar, 17 F(1) cross and 20 Wistar-Imamichi recipients. The two types of embryos were transferred together to each recipient to compare the viability of the embryos. Pregnancy rate was 78.8% (67 85 ). The survival rate of fetuses to term was 11.5% (20 174 ) and 25.1% (42 168 ) for the Wistar and F(1) embryos, respectively. Placental weight differed significantly (P

This study was performed to investigate what kind of energy source or nitrogen source (amino acid solution) is recommendable in total parental nutrition (TPN) during the early postoperative period after esophageal cancer surgery. The study was composed of two parts. In study I, various energy sources were examined and in study II two kinds of amino acid solution were investigated.

The nature, mode of action, and neuroendocrine mechanisms of hypothalamic releasing hormones have been reviewed, LH releasing hormones can be used for (a) basic research in neuroendocrinology, (b) diagnostic tool to differentiate hypothalamic and pituitary disorders in clinical gynecology; and (c) to induce ovulation in mature and immature females. Prepubertal female rats of 28, 32 and 39 days of age were treated with a single dose 0–300 μg of LRF, and examined for oviductal ova 20 h later. Ovulation was not induced in all the females within 24 h. Doses less than 300 μg had no effect on ovarian and uterine weight. In 28 and 32 day old rats treated with 300 μg of LRF, an increase in ovarian and uterine weight was equivalent to the increase resulting from 1 mg of LH. To determine the effective dose of LRF for ovulation, 23 day old rats were primed with 5 I.U. of PMD, ovulation occurred 2 h following LRF treatment, as in rats injected with 1 mg of LH. In another experiment, rats 18–23-days of age were injected with 0–80 μg of LRF about 56 h following 5 i.u. of PMS injection. The response was age-dependent: 5μg of LRF caused ovulation in 21-day-old rats, whereas 10 μg evoked this response in 18-day-old rats. A possible relationship between folliculogenesis and LRF-induced ovulation was examined. Twenty-one and 25-day-old rats were primed with 5 I.U. of PMS and a single injection of LRF (40 μg) at 24, 30, 36 and 42 h after PMS treatment. The females were examined for ovulation 20 h later. Ovulation occurred only in a few 25-day olds when LRF treatment was given after 24 h of priming, whereas all ovulated when priming was done for 36 h after PMS treatment; however, ovulation was induced by 1 mg of LH. Only 20 and 50% of the rats showed ovulation when primed 30 and 36 h respectively. Estradiol has a stimulating effect on the release of LH in adult rats. Twenty-five-day-old rats were primed first with 10 μg of estradiol, and a single dose of LRF (0–100 μg) about 48 h, then autopsied 24 h later. Vaginal opening was observed in all of the rats but ovulation did not occur in all. The possible interaction between various doses of estrogen and the time of LRF injection after estrogen priming will be examined. Sexual maturity in the female involves an interaction between the synthesis and the release of hypothalamic releasing hormones and functional integrity of the hypothalamo-hypophysealovarian axis.

Cephamycins, which have a methoxy group at the 7 alpha position of their cephalosporin nuclei, were highly stable against hydrolysis by a beta-lactamase purified from a clinical isolate of Morganella morganii, whereas their 7 alpha-H analogs were rapidly hydrolyzed by the enzyme. The high stability of the cephamycins was not due to their low affinity for the enzyme, since the cephamycins strongly inhibited the enzyme in a competitive manner. In cases in which the 7 alpha-methoxy group was substituted by OC2H5, SCH3, CN, or CH3 groups, the substituted compounds still showed high stability against enzymatic hydrolysis but significantly reduced both their affinities for the enzyme and their antibacterial activities. These 7 alpha-substituted cephalosporins, except for cephamycins, also had greatly reduced affinities for target proteins, i.e., penicillin-binding proteins, of beta-lactam antibiotics. Therefore, the 7 alpha position of cephalosporins was considered to play an important role in both beta-lactamase stability and antibacterial activity.

Plasma RNase activity was studied in normal and females with gynecological malignancies. Basic experimental data of RNase showed linear regression to the incubation period up to 20 min., optimal pH at 8.0, maximal absorption at 260 nm and sufficient substrate concentration with 120 microgram/0.02 ml. Coefficient of variation was 6.2% (n = 15) intra-assay study. Mean plasma RNase of 32 normal subjects was 0.24 +/- 0.04 (mean +/- SD) delta OD/0.01 ml/20 min. Values deviating mean + 2SD (0.32) were regarded as abnormal. Mean value at pre-treatment was 0.27 +/- 0.04 for benign tumor and abnormal value rate was 11% (2/19). The values in cervical cancer patients were 0.29 +/- 0.06 [91.7% (11/12)] for recurrent cases. The values and abnormal rates raised as clinical stage advanced. The values were also high in advanced ovarian and endometrial cancer patients. It came into normal range with the complete surgery in early stage. Pre- and post-treatment RNase value were analysed on 29 advanced cervical, endometrial and ovarian cancer patients. Abnormal value rate was lowered from 60% (9/15) to 26.6% (4/15) in therapy-responding group, but were kept high in 14 therapy-resistant group. The value was raised again as the disease recurred. Evaluation of plasma RNase value is useful means in biochemical diagnosis and in prognosing gynecological malignancies.

Power Conditioning and Processing of voltage-fed series resonant inverters and converters using Static Induction Devices are actually performed in terms of operating frequency control or fixed frequency variable voltage control schemes by the authors. These control methods have disadvantages of either restricted power control range or unreliable switching operation. The authors propose a new combined control-based on the basis of a phase-shifting angle control-mode PWM strategy between left and right switching arms of the series resonant full-bridge inverter with an adaptive frequency servo regulation function for maintaining switching-device operating-mode in a reliable-and an efficient condition. Practical implementation of this control circuit is described that utilizes two channel phase-locked loop systems together with a frequency tracking system by a resonant zero-cross current detection scheme. A novel type of high-power series resonant PWM inverter using Static Induction-Transistors and-Thyristors, which stably operates in a frequency range of 30 KHz to 100 KHz or more, is demonstrated for induction-heating and-melting, and DC-DC Converter. The simulated results and its performance characteristics in steady-state are described as compared with the experimental results.

60kHz, 100kW and the DC to AC efficiency of 91%, Static Induction (SI) thyristor type voltage-controlled series resonant inverter is developed using the snubberless 1200V-300A class of the SI thyristors and the DC to final output efficiency of 82% is obtained as a result of dummy load test.

Effects of either a single dose or a long-term administration of an alpha-glucosidase inhibitor, acarbose, on blood glucose, cholesterol concentrations in serum lipoprotein fractions, triglycerides and free fatty acids were examined in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. In experiment 1, starch loading tests were performed with or without adding acarbose. The addition of acarbose (0.75 mg per kg of body weight or over) significantly reduced the elevation of blood glucose levels. In experiment 2, the animals were divided into three groups: Group A fed on a control diet, Group B fed on a diet containing 5 mg acarbose in 100 g of diet and Group C fed on a diet containing 20 mg acarbose in 100 g of diet. The food intake in Group C was significantly reduced by 22% as compared to Group A, while the food intake in Group B showed no change. The high dose of acarbose showed a tendency to lower fasting blood glucose levels, but the difference was statistically insignificant. However, postprandial glucose levels in Group C at each period examined and in Group B at 30 days were significantly lower than the counterparts in Group A. Acarbose caused a dose-dependent decrease in serum total cholesterol levels and HDL-cholesterol: total cholesterol ratios were elevated in Group B and C. Serum triglyceride levels in Group B and C were extremely lower than those in Group A on and after 20 days. These results indicate that the addition of acarbose to the diet induces a decrease in postprandial blood glucose levels and simultaneously causes an improvement in lipid metabolism of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats.

A 5kW, high frequency link DC to DC converter has been developed using a single SI (Static Induction) thyristor with a self cooling heat-pipe radiator fin as well as a 20kHz carrier frequency, thus assuring a DC to final output efficiency of 90%.

The possible antinociceptive activity of endotoxin was studied in mice. The antinociceptive properties of endotoxin (0.0003, 0.003, 0.03, 0.3 and 3 mg/kg, i.p.) were evaluated using the phenylbenzoquinone-induced writhing test. The antinociceptive activity of endotoxin was more potent than that of aminopyrine and morphine.

An approximate equivalent circuit of the piezoelectric v ibratory gyroscopic sensor is derived upon the equations of the gyro-motion, and is extended so as to deal with the effect of extra force f actors due to the shear in adhension of the piezoelectric ceramics to the resonator surfaces. New circuits for reducing the effect are proposed. The gyro characteristics were calculated, and were checked up experimentally. It is also made clear that an applied angular rate can be estimated not only by measuring the amplitude of output but also by measuring its phase shift.

Micromanipulation of embryos provide a new and valuable biological tool for animal agriculture and medical fields. Current techniques for embryo manipulation are in practice but some of techniques is still way off for application. The present status in new biotechnology applying to animal science and medicine is reviewed and its future is also discussed.

Very low-loss, very high speed and snubber-circuitless performance of the newly fabricated high power 1200V–300A class of the static induction (SI) thyristor is introduced and it is applied to the 60kHz–100kW high efficiency (90%) inverter for induction heating.

Meth-A fibrosarcoma (10(5) cells) was implanted into the thigh of BALB/c mice. After a predetermined interval, the mice were injected i.v. with FC-43 (artificial blood) with or without oxygen, treated by irradiation or a combination of injection and irradiation and the effect of these treatments was studied. The mear tumor weight of animals treated by irradiation plus oxygen was 6.57 g and 3.18 g in experiments 1 and 2, respectively. Treatment with irradiation plus FC-43 with oxygen resulted in a significant decrease of the mean tumor weight, 3.17 g and 1.59 g in experiments 1 and 2, respectively (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.02). FC-43 with oxygen may have a synergistic effect for radiation therapy. When the preirradiated tumors were small (4.8 mm2), this effect was not obvious.

Wie im Formelschema naher erlautert wird, werden durch Umsetzung halogenierter Benzoesauren mit 2 Mol Butyllithium/CO2 halogenierte Dicarbonsauren erhalten.

Groups of nulliparous pregnant rabbits were bilaterally ovariectomized on the third, fifth, sixth or seventh days of gestation; some groups were then treated daily with 40 mg of progesterone alone or with 4 mg progesterone alone or in combination with estradiol at a ratio of 1:400 or 1:4000. Animals ovariectomized 3 days post coitum (p.c.) were autopsied four days later; those ovariectomized five, six, or seven days p.c. were autopsied 24 hours later. The number of viable blastocysts per doe was greatly decreased following ovariectomy; however, the number was increased by treatment with progesterone alone or in combination with estradiol (1:400 or 1:4000). The weight of blastocyst and embryonic matter (trophoblast and embryonic disc), and the volume of blastocoelic fluid in the blastocyst at six or seven days p.c. were neither affected by ovariectomy nor by injection of 4 mg of progesterone. The weight of the blastocysts was significantly reduced when ovariectomy was performed seven days p.c. The concentration of the biochemical compounds in the blastocoelic fluid was not altered by ovariectomy at five or seven days p.c. In contrast, the concentration of glucose, lactic acid, protein N and nonprotein in the blastocyst was greatly lowered by ovariectomy at six days p.c., being partly alleviated by daily injections of progesterone, alone or in combination with estradiol. Ovariectomy at three days p.c. was no more detrimental than later ovariectomy if steroids were administrated.

Real time traffic is a predominant traffic type in the next generation communication IP networks and the future applications demand for 100% reliability and availability of networks. The guarantees of QoS expected can be achieved by connection oriented networks such as MPLS. The control plane and the data plane of MPLS are logically separated Therefore any failures in the control plane not necessarily should affect the communication sessions in the data plane. Label distribution protocol (LDP) which is preferred over RSVP as a control plane protocol in MPLS, uses TCP in the transport layer for most of its message transmissions. TCP resets all the participating peers, at any terminations of LDP sessions, leading the applications to terminate the corresponding data plane communications. If the keep alive timers of the LDP peers expire without receiving protocol data units (PDU) from the neighboring peers, it terminates the LDP session resulting in a network failure due to control plane failure. None of the existing restoration schemes distinguish this type of control plane failures from the normal data plane path/link failures. It is found that about 50% of the network failures are of this type and if they can be avoided without disturbing the data plane, it will improve the availability and the reliability of the connection oriented networks drastically. A novel idea of virtual path hopping (VPH) is proposed, which can avoid all the control plane failures from affecting the communications in the data plane. The computer simulations performed, prove that it is possible to avoid about 50% re-routings due to failures in the data plane and this explains that the control plane failures are looked after by the VPH concept.

Concerning the composition method of photonic networks with combination of wavelength division multiplex (WDM) and optical time division multiplex (OTDM), we studied on the dynamic bandwidth assignment algorithm for photonic burst networks. In this paper the dynamic bandwidth assignment algorithm, which has the two modes, real-time mode and reservation mode, is proposed. In this algorithm, the prioritization scheme for aggregating packets into optical burst at the edge node in regional networks is investigated. And its network performance through computer simulation is evaluated.

Active and passive millimeter wave imaging are investigated here. A neural network is successfully implemented in a 60 GHz active-mode imaging system in order to recognize objects which appear distorted under coherent millimeter wave illumination. Atmospheric effects on passive imaging (radiometry) are evaluated as well. Also, a novel type of scanning near-field mm-wave microscopy using a metal slit as a scanning probe is proposed, and demonstrated with an image resolution better than /spl lambda//20.