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BackgroundSerum Krebs von den Lungen-6 (KL-6) levels has much evidence as a biomarker about the progression and prognosis of interstitial lung disease (ILD), including systemic sclerosis (SSc)-associated ILD1-4. However, serum KL-6 levels often fluctuate regardless of the progression of ILD. This sometimes mislead the evaluation of the disease activity, however, the reason for the fluctuation has not been clarified.ObjectivesWe tested the hypothesis that serum KL-6 levels are affected by ambient temperature in patients with SSc.MethodsWe defined the warm season（May–October）as the period when the ambient temperature was above the Tokyo metropolitan average ambient temperature announced by the Japan Meteorological Agency, and the cold season (November–April）as the period when the ambient temperature was below the average. ILD was classified based on chest CT findings. Among SSc patients who had visited our department since May 2018, we selected those who had data of serum KL-6 levels at least 3 times in warm and cold seasons from October 2014 to September 2021, respectively. Patients having malignancy were excluded after confirmation of the onset of malignancy using medical record retrospectively. The difference in serum KL-6 levels between warm and cold seasons was evaluated by Wilcoxon’s rank-sum test.ResultsIn total, 252 patients with SSc were included. Median age was 66.3 years, with median disease duration of 13.5 (8.9–19.2）years, diffuse cutaneous type of 94 (37.3%）patients, and concomitant ILD of 120（47.6%）patients (Table 1). The median follow-up was 6.4 (4.4–6.8）years, with median KL-6 measurement of 24（14–39）times. Serum KL-6 levels were significantly higher in the cold season than that in the warm season, with a greater difference in the group with ILD（536 IU/L vs. 492 IU/L, p = 0.0012 in the group with ILD, 364 IU/L vs. 345 IU/L in the group without ILD, p = 0.0028）.Table 1.Patients characteristicsWith ILD (n=120)Without ILD (n=132)P valueFemale, n (%)110 (43.7)128 (52.4)0.1Age, years (IQR)65.8(56.1–73.4)66.4(56.0–72.5)0.77Disease duration, years (IQR)14.0 (9.8-21.0)13.0 (8.7-18.0)0.23Modified Rodnan skin score (IQR)10 (4-15)6 (2-11)0.0017Diffuse SSc, n (%)53 (40.2)27 (20.5)Pulmonary hypertension, n (%)4 (3.3)3 (2.3)0.71ANA positive, n (%)98 (81.7)112 (84.8)0.50SSc-related autoantibody, n (%)98 (81.7)112 (84.8)0.50Anti-centromere antibody, n (%)17 (14.2)86 (71.7)Anti-topoisomeraseⅠ antibody, n (%)63 (52.5)8 (6.1)Anti-RNA polymerase Ⅲ antibody, n (%)7 (5.8)11 (8.3)0.62Anti-U1-RNP antibody, n (%)15 (12.5)13 (9.8)0.54KL-6, IU/L (IQR)548 (384–876.8)233 (191.3–302)KL-6 measurement, times (IQR)33.5(20-45)18.5(12.3-28)Steroid use, n (%)68 (56.7)22 (16.7)Cyclophosphamide, n (%)44 (36.7)12 (9.1)Other Immunosuppressive agents, n (%)31 (25.8)0.002ConclusionOur results suggest that cold ambient temperature may affect serum KL-6 levels in patients with SSc.References[1]Distler O, et al. Eur Respir J.2020;55:1902026.[2]Kuwana M et al. J Rheumatol 2016;43:1825-31[3]Volkmann et al. Arthritis Rheumatol.2019;71:2059-2067[4]Elhai M et al. Arthritis Rheumatol. 2019;71:972-982.Figure 1.Disclosure of InterestsHikaru Hirose Grant/research support from: Bayer Yakuhin, Ltd, Tomoaki Higuchi: None declared, Kae Takagi: None declared, Akiko Tochimoto: None declared, Yasushi Kawaguchi: None declared, Masayoshi Harigai Speakers bureau: AbbVie Japan, Ayumi, Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai, Eisai, Eli Lilly Japan, GlaxoSmithKline, Kissei, Pfizer Japan Inc, Takeda, Teijin, Consultant of: AbbVie Japan, Boehringer Ingelheim Japan, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Kissei, Teijin, Grant/research support from: AbbVie Japan, Asahi Kasei, Astellas, Ayumi, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Chugai, Daiichi-Sankyo, Eisai, Kissei, Mitsubishi Tanabe, Nippon Kayaku, Sekisui Medical, Shionogi, Taisho, Takeda, Teijin

We have produced 90mNb and 99mTc in the reactions of natZr(p,xn)90mNb and 100Mo(γ,n)99Mo, followed by disintegration to 99mTc, respectively, and measured the half-lives of these nuclides by using a reference source method. In order to determine the short half-lives of 90mNb precisely, an on-line gas-jet system has been employed. As a result, the half-lives of these nuclides were determined with good precision on the order of magnitude of 0.1%.

20 Topic: Research Notes Key Author: Koichi Takimoto Correspondence Address: Faculty of Agriculture Yamaguchi University Yoshida 1677-1 Yamaguchi 753-8515 Japan E-mail: tkoichi@yamaguchi-u.ac.jp Authors: J. Mano, T. Nakahara, Y. Torii, H. Hirose, J. Miyakoshi and K. Takimoto Seed deterioration due to high humidity at high temperature is suppressed by extremely low frequency magnetic fields Pages: 188-192 The germination of seeds of Arabidopsis thaliana, Lactuca sativa and Zinnia elegans were decreased by a 8-21 day-incubation in 90% relative humidity at 37°C. An extremely low frequency magnetic field (ELFMF; 60 Hz, 5 mT) applied to the seeds during the incubation suppressed these decreases in the germination. The ELFMF suppressed irreversible deterioration of the seeds, rather than dormancy, probably preventing water absorption. ELFMF can be helpful for the storage of humidity-vulnerable seeds.

Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that is often used for treatment of ketosis in dairy cattle in Japan. An intravenous xylitol tolerance test (IVXTT, 0.1 g/kg, bolus injection through the jugular vein) was performed in 4 non-lactating cows (n = 4) and the results were compared with those of an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) performed under equivalent conditions. The serum xylitol concentration reached a peak value (41.4±9.0 mg/dl) at 5 min, and then rapidly decreased and almost disappeared within 2 h. The C 0 for xylitol was 56.9±16.6 mg/dl and the t 1/2was 8.5±0.9 min. The administration of xylitol appeared to cause similar secretion of insulin to that caused by glucose. There was also a reduction in the concentration of free fatty acids. It seems that xylitol has value for the treatment of ketosis. However, rapid administration of xylitol appeared to have an osmotic diuretic action and might be a cause of dehydration.

The electronic structure of p-type semiconducting Sr2Cu2ZnO2S2 (SCZOS) was examined experimentally and theoretically. The band gap of SCZOS estimated by the optical absorption of its thin film was 2.7 eV, which is relatively large in chalcogenide semiconductors. Normal and inverse photoemission spectra were measured to observe the valence band or conduction band structure of this material. The observed band structure revealed that the Fermi level of SCZOS was located at the top of the valence band, and the bottom of the conduction band was approximately 2.5 eV above the Fermi level. These results demonstrate the wide-gap and p-type semiconducting nature of SCZOS. Comparison of the photoemission spectra with the density of states calculated by the tight-binding method led to the conclusion that the top of the valence band is mainly composed of a hybridized (Cu 3d)−(S 3p) band, and the bottom of the conduction band primarily consists of a dispersed Zn 4s band.

The effect of endotoxin on follicular growth and on secretion of LH, estradiol-17beta, progesterone and cortisol during the proestrous phase in cattle was investigated. Holstein heifers were treated with PGF2alpha at 11-13 d after ovulation to induce luteolysis. At 42 hr after PGF2alpha treatment, heifers were administered either lipopolysaccharide (LPS; Escherichia coli, O111:B4, 5 microg/kg, n = 6) or saline (control; n = 6) by i.v. bolus injection. Ovarian structures were monitored daily by transrectal ultrasonography, and blood samples were collected at various times for hormonal analysis. The duration from PGF2alpha treatment to ovulation was significantly longer in the LPS group (8.0 +/- 1.3 d) than in the control group (4.2 +/- 0.2 d). LPS significantly reduced the pulse frequency of LH for 6 hr after the administration, and increased the mean concentration and pulse amplitude of LH from 3 to 6 hr after the administration. The plasma concentrations of progesterone and cortisol were transiently increased after LPS administration. The plasma concentration of estradiol-17beta was significantly decreased at 24 hr after LPS administration compared to that in the controls. Five of six LPS-treated heifers exhibited no preovulatory LH surge until 120 hr after PGF2alpha treatment and the remaining heifer exhibited the surge at 108 hr after PGF2alpha treatment, while the LH surge was observed at 54-78 hr after PGF2alpha treatment in control heifers. These results suggest that endotoxin disrupts progression of the proestrous phase of cattle, interrupting the preovulatory estradiol rise and thus delaying the LH surge and the subsequent ovulation.

A number of pellets with nominal concentration ratio of Y:Ba:Cu =2:1:1 have been sintered in air at temperatures between 800°C and 1400°C for 1 min ~24 h. The heat-treated samples were quenched to room temperature and the crystal growth rates of Y 2 BaCuO y≃5 were measured using ESR of Cu 2+. Systematic data on the growth rates were taken as a function of heat-treatment temperature and period.

Three different strains of pseudorabies (Aujeszky's disease) virus were inoculated into ligated closed loops in the jejunum and ileum of five specific-pathogen-free pigs. Infected areas were compared with respect to distribution of histologic lesions and pseudorabies virus antigen. Two wild-type strains of pseudorabies virus produced enteric lesions consisting of necrosis of the subepithelial macrophages in the basilar crypt epithelium, necrosis of the lymphoid follicles in the Peyer's patches, degeneration of the epithelial cells in the crypt and villi, degeneration of the neuronal cells in the myenteric plexuses, and formation of intranuclear inclusion bodies on postinoculation days 2–4. Pseudorabies virus antigen was initially detected in subepithelial macrophages of the dome of Peyer's patches on postinoculation day 2 and subsequently extended to superficial epithelium and deeper into the lymphoid follicles and myenteric plexuses on postinoculation days 3–4. Many pseudorabies virus particles were also detected in the center of their necrotic foci. However, 1 mutant strain (ara-T-resistant) of pseudorabies virus did not produce enteric lesions. The results suggest that the primary target of infection by wild-type strains of pseudorabies virus might be the macrophages distributed in the subepithelial area of the dome Peyer's patches.

The purposes of this study were monitoring and regulating latissimus dorsi muscle (LDM) performance with muscle internal pressure and thickness, and with burst stimulation parameters, respectively. The unconditioned LDM flap of a pig was connected to a measurement system to examine force and contraction length. Internal pressure was measured using a catheter pressure transducer with a fluid-filled balloon inserted into the muscle, and correlated linearly with force during both contraction and relaxation. During contraction, thickness change correlated linearly with contraction length and the area enclosed within an internal pressure-thickness curve, and the X-axis was correlated linearly with muscle work. Stroke work increased incrementally according to the pulse width up to 6.72 msec or burst rate up to 120 Hz, and then plateaued at 240 Hz. The authors conclude that muscle work during contraction could be monitored with internal pressure and thickness, and that stroke work could be regulated with pulse width or burst rate.

Development of a novel and compact x-ray source is described. The first direct evidence of L-shell x-ray transport through an Al foil target was determined by observing the soft x-ray spectra from the rear side and this is explained in terms of ionization hurnthrough. Contrary to the other works, the x-ray spectral protile from the rear side of the target obtained in this experiment was similar to that from the front side and hence was quite simple in comparison to that reported elsewhere. Our experimental results show that x-rays from the rear side of the target will be a very attractive x-ray source. Some advantages and its application to an x-ray microscopy are suggested.

To elucidate the mechanisms of insensitivity of hormone secretion to glucose in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rat islets, we investigated the effects of acetylcholine (ACh) and norepinephrine on insulin and glucagon secretion in response to changes in glucose concentration, using perfused pancreas preparations. Basal insulin secretion at a blood glucose level of 5.6 mmol/l was significantly higher and basal glucagon secretion significantly lower in streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats than in controls, and neither high (16.7 mmol/l) nor low (1.4 mmol/l) blood glucose concentrations influenced insulin or glucagon secretion. Addition of 10(-6) mol/l ACh to the perfusate increased glucose-stimulated insulin secretion. Also, 10(-6) mol/l ACh, 10(-7) mol/l norepinephrine, as well as a combination of both, induced marked glucagon secretion, this was suppressed by high blood glucose level. Although simultaneous addition of 10(-6) mol/l ACh and 10(-7) mol/l norepinephrine induced only a slight increase in glucagon secretion in response to glucopenia, there was a significant increase in glucagon secretion in conjunction with an ambient decrease in insulin. Histopathological examination revealed a marked decline in acetylcholinesterase and monoamine-oxidase activities in the islets of streptozotocin-induced diabetic rats. We speculate that reduction of the potentiating effects of ACh and norepinephrine lessens glucose sensitivity of islet beta and alpha cells in this rat model of diabetes.

Following cryo surgery for retinal hole repair, visual effects in the senior author's eyes were caused by an epiretinal membrane. Subjectively, metamorphopsia was noted, and entoptically perceived radial striae were observed centred near fixation. After subsequent cataract surgery, metamorphopsia was not detectable. Several months later, the centre of the striate entoptic pattern was observed to be centered several degrees from fixation. Concurrently, loss of contrast in the central visual field was noted. In time, both the entoptic pattern and the contrast effects became less visible (contrast improved much faster). The epiretinal membrane had spontaneously separated from the fovea. Repeated measurements of aniseikonia were obtained before cataract surgery, and after cataract surgery both prior to, and after the separation of the epiretinal membrane. Inferences are drawn.

This paper introduces a successful maximum likelihood parameter estimation scheme for the three kinds of extreme-value distributions (the Weibull, Gumbel, and Frechet) using the generalized extreme...

We used components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), which plays an important role in neuronal development, as coating materials for culture dishes. Components used were fibronectin (FN), laminin (LN), heparan sulfate proteoglycan (HSPG), type I collagen (COL-I), type IV collagen (COL-IV), and type VIII collagen (COL-VIII). We obtained highly neuron-enriched primary cultures from embryonic mouse whole brain by careful handling of materials, improvement of serum-free medium components, and reduction of seeding cell density. Neuronal cells were well differentiated with ECM (FN: 63.8%, LN: 76.2%, HSPG: 75.3%, COL-I: 63.3%, COL-IV: 55.4%, COL-VIII: 72.2%, respectively, on Day 5 in culture as assessed by determining percentages of neurite-bearing cells), whereas glial fibrillary acidic protein-positive cells remained minimized (FN: 3.6%, LN: 3.2%, HSPG: 2.8%, COL-I: 2.1%, COL-IV: 3.1%, respectively, on Day 5 in culture).

Electrocardiographic and pneumographic observations at critical moments were carried out on five calves that died suddenly following experimental infections with Strongyloides papillosus. Time which elapsed during these critical moments was calculated from the time of observation of ventricular flutter (VF) to the appearance of accelerated respiration and cessation of respiration. The beginning of accelerated respiration ranged from −19 to 41 s after VF. Time (minutes:seconds) of cessation of respiration ranged from 2:10 to 3:50 after VF. The results of the experiment suggested sudden cardiac death as the cause of death in calves following infection with Strongyloides papillosus.

Three hundred and thirty-eight children (age range 3-5 years) were examined for the presence of mutans streptococci in their saliva. They were divided into four groups according to the prevalent species that were isolated: (1) Streptococcus mutans and Streptococcus sobrinus group (S. mutansor = 10(3) CFU/ml and S. sobrinusor = 10(3) CFU/ml); (2) S. mutans group (S. mutansor = 10(3) CFU/ml but S. sobrinus10(3) CFU/ml); (3) S. sobrinus group (S. sobrinusor = 10(3) CFU/ml but S. mutans10(3) CFU/ml), and (4) children with mutants streptococci absent or barely detectable (mutants streptococci10(3) CFU/ml). The previous caries experience was compared among the groups, as was the caries increment during a 6-month period after the bacterial examination. The subjects in the S. sobrinus group had both higher caries and higher decayed teeth and surface increments than the S. mutans group. The mean decayed smooth-surface increment (delta d-surface) for the S. sobrinus group was 2.6 and was significantly higher than 0.8 for the S. mutans group. For the subjects with delta d-surfaceor = 4, the mean number of S. sobrinus in the saliva was 4.29 x 10(5) CFU/ml and was significantly higher than 0.32 x 10(5) CFU/ml for the subjects without delta d-surface. There was no significant difference in the mean number of S. mutants in saliva between the subjects with and without delta d-surface. The prevalence of S. sobrinus in saliva was more closely associated with future caries activity, especially with smooth-surface caries increment, than the prevalence of S. mutants.

The electronic structure of p-type semiconducting Sr2Cu2ZnO2S2 (SCZOS) was examined experimentally and theoretically. The band gap of SCZOS estimated by the optical absorption of its thin film was 2.7 eV, which is relatively large in chalcogenide semiconductors. Normal and inverse photoemission spectra were measured to observe the valence band or conduction band structure of this material. The observed band structure revealed that the Fermi level of SCZOS was located at the top of the valence band, and the bottom of the conduction band was approximately 2.5 eV above the Fermi level. These results demonstrate the wide-gap and p-type semiconducting nature of SCZOS. Comparison of the photoemission spectra with the density of states calculated by the tight-binding method led to the conclusion that the top of the valence band is mainly composed of a hybridized (Cu 3d)−(S 3p) band, and the bottom of the conduction band primarily consists of a dispersed Zn 4s band.

We analyze synchronization phenomena in a dynamical hysteresis neural network. The dynamical hysteresis neural network accounts a phase difference in each neuron to be an information. Based on this result, we propose an application for solving 2-colorable graph coloring problems.

We report the clinical results of 799 cases of isolated coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) performed during the recent 5 years. We performed off-pump CABG (OPCAB) as standard operation, in which arterial grafts were mainly used. The mean number of distal anastomoses was 3.6 +/- 1.4 per patient Four hundred and fifty-five cases (57.0%) were done only with arterial grafts. Bilateral internal thoracic arteries were used in 326 cases. The mean number of saphenous vein grafts was 1.6 +/- 0.8 per patient. Continuous hemodiafiltraion (CHDF) was performed in 22 cases (2.8%) postoperatively. Among the OPCAB cases, 10 cases (1.3%) were converted to on-pump CABG. There were 7 cases (0.9%) of hospital death. The mean length of postoperative hospital stay was 10.2 +/- 5.3 days. The ratio of the patients with left main trunk disease and that of the patients who required postoperative CHDF increased year by year. The mean length of postoperative hospital stay decreased every year, and the reduced length was 2.7 days in the 5 years (8.7+/- 3.6 days in 2007). It is expected that patients who have severe calcified lesions or who are on hemodialysis may increase in the near future. In such cases, CABG rather than percutaneous catheter intervention may be suitable for revascularization. Therefore, not only appropriate choice of treatment strategies, but also accurate surgical techniques may become more importance.

A new type of sewage sludge incinerator that combines a pressurized fluidized bed combustor and a turbocharger driven by flue gas was proposed. This plant has four main advantages. (l) The combustion rate can be improved since the oxygen partial pressure in the combustor is increased by the pressurization. The incinerator volume can be substantially smaller than that of an atmospheric incinerator with the same incineration capacity. Thus, the amount of supplementary fuel can be reduced because the heat loss from the incinerator can be decreased. (2) Because the maximum operating pressure is O.3 MPa (absolute pressure), which matches the pressure required for the turbocharger, a pressure vessel is unnecessary. (3) An energy savings of more than 40% can be achieved compared with a conventional plant since the FDF and the IDF are unnecessary. (4) Because steam in the flue gas becomes the working fluid of the turbocharger, the turbocharger can generate surplus air in addition to the combustion air. The surplus air can be used in other processes, such as aeration, in sewage works. We constructed a demonstration plant (4.32 tid scale) at a sewage works in Japan. The operation and combustion characteristics of the plant were clarified, and the design data of a commercial plant was obtained.

Biopsies of 18 patients with lung cancer and cellular specimens of 21 lung cancer patients were analyzed with human monoclonal antibody HB4C5-clone 3 using avidin-biotin-peroxidase techniques. Analyses with the biopsies showed that HB4C5-clone 3 reacted with 16 of 18 biopsy specimens at a high rate of about 90% and reacted with all specimens of five adenocarcinoma tissues, five of six squamous cell carcinomas, two of three large cell carcinomas, both specimens of small cell carcinomas, and both of the other types of carcinomas. In all the reactive cases, the monoclonal antibody was reactive with greater than 50% of cancer cells. With cellular specimens of lung cancer patients, HB4C5-clone 3 reacted with 7 of 13 adenocarcinoma specimens, two of six squamous cell carcinomas, and one of two small cell carcinomas. The immunoreaction with HB4C5-clone 3 was observed in sites of the cytoplasm of cancer cells. From these data, HB4C5-clone 3 is considered to be of potential use in diagnoses of tissues and cellular specimens of lung cancer.

Cytochrome c from various sources, such as Candida krusei, yeast, horse, and cattle, was found to be recognized by human monoclonal antibody HB4C5 specific to lung cancer. Therefore, the cytochrome c was applied to the measurement of antibody amount in patient sera with a similar reactivity to the antibody HB4C5 for serodiagnosis of cancer. The cytochrome c from Candida krusei was most valuable for the serodiagnosis of various cancers, and the yeast cytochrome c was also useful. However, horse and bovine cytochrome c did not react with antibody of the cancer patients. By using Candida cytochrome c lung, bile duct, esophagus, and liver cancers were detected at high rates of more than 50%. In the case of lung cancer, the detection rates of small-cell, squamous, large-cell and adenocarcinoma were 78%, 63%, 100%, and 34%, respectively. The rate for small-cell carcinoma was higher than that with the currently used NSE assay system, and the rate for squamous carcinoma was comparable to that with the SCC assay system, although the system using cytochrome c did not show similar reactivity to that with the SCC system. Furthermore, lung cancer was detected at early stages by using cytochrome c, and even in the case of adenocarcinoma, the rate at early stages with the cytochrome c system was higher than that with the CEA assay system. On the other hand, false positive rates of benign diseases and normal were low--8% and 2%, respectively.

Sera from calves which had been transported for 48 h resulted in impaired mitogen-stimulated blastogenesis of bovine lymphocytes and cytochrome c reduction activity of bovine alveolar macrophages. Sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis analysis revealed the appearance of 33 kDa and 20 kDa proteins in most of the sera after transportation. The proteins could have been related to the serum suppression.

A series of amino acid amides of 2-[(2-aminobenzyl)sulfinyl]benzimidazole were prepared and found to possess gastric antisecretory activity on oral administration. (Glycylaminobenzyl)sulfinyl compound 23a, stable in artificial gastric juice (pH 1.2), was given orally to dogs. It was absorbed efficiently and converted into aniline derivative 7a which showed a very high plasma concentration. Compound 23a was hydrolyzed by the action of aminopeptidase present in plasma or the brush border fraction of the small intestine to release the terminal glycine. o-Aniline derivatives showed good activity in in vitro, H + K + -ATPase inhibition as well as in the inhibition of histamine stimulated acid secretion in isolated bullfrog gastric mucosa. Although these o-aniline derivatives showed no or weak gastric antisecretory activity in rat by id administration, they were active when administered ip. Therefore, these amino acid amides were considered to be acid stable prodrugs of proton pump inhibiting o-aniline derivatives. The mechanism of H + K + -ATPase inhibition of 7a was also examined.

The effect of sera from calves stressed due to cortisol administration was investigated on cytochrome c (CytC) reduction, chemotaxis and random migration under agarose of bovine neutrophils. CytC reduction was significantly suppressed by the sera, whereas the other two function indicators were unaffected. The serum suppressive factor(s) of CytC reduction remained unidentified following analysis using ultrafiltration and sodium dodecyl sulphate-polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis.

A multicenter, randomized, prospective trial was conducted to determine the clinical efficacy of ticlopidine, an antiplatelet agent, in the prevention of graft occlusion following vascular reconstructive surgery of the lower extremity for arteriosclerosis obliterans. Ticlopidine was administered for two years to one group of patients (112 reconstructed arterial segments) while a control group received no antithrombotic therapy (108 segments). There was no significant difference between the treated and control groups in the overall cumulative patency rates for both suprainguinal and infrainguinal reconstructions. In the treated group, however, there was a significant reduction of occlusions in pa tients with rest pain or ischemic gangrene (p < 0.1) and in those with hyperlipi demia (p < 0.05). Ticlopidine-treated patients with infrainguinal arterial reconstructions developed more occlusions than controls between three and twelve months after surgery, but the controls had more occlusions both immedi ately after surgery and in the second postoperative year. It appeared, therefore, that ticlopidine reduced graft failure due to neointimal fibrous hyperplasia or progression of the underlying condition but caused an adverse effect by delaying graft healing. The clinical usefulness of antiplatelet therapy is limited, but it may be effective in the prevention of graft occlusion when administered to the selected patient groups above mentioned. Controversy about antiplatelet ther apy and future research on adjuvant drug therapy after arterial reconstruction are discussed.

Extensive Raman-scattering investigations in the cleaved cross-sections of molecular-beam-epitaxy-grown Al x Ga 1− x As / GaAs multilayer structures on GaAs or silicon substrates have been carried out by micro-Raman spectroscopy. The structures of the epitaxial layers are Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As/Al 0.2 Ga 0.8 As/Al 0.1 Ga 0.9 As/GaAs (type A) and Al 0.1 Ga 0.9 As/Al 0.2 Ga 0.8 As/Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As/GaAs (type B). The largest residual stress was observed in the Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As layer of the type B structure on GaAs substrate and the value was estimated to be about 1.5 × 10 10 dyn cm −2 in the compressive mode. It was also found that the mode of the residual stress in the substrates differed according to the epitaxial structures grown on them. A model of residual stress in Al x Ga 1− x As / GaAs multilayers grown on GaAs or silicon substrates is proposed: namely, if a substrate exists on the Al 0.1 Ga 0.9 As side, compressive stress acts on the substrate, and on the Al 0.3 Ga 0.7 As side, tensile stress acts.

In both superficial and deep femoral artery involvement, where angioplasty of the former is not suitable or feasible, angioplasty of the latter seems to be the method of choice and is a less invasive and efficient treatment particularly for limb threatening ischemia, an appropriate obstruction morphology provided. The authors describe a case of a 73-year-old man, with a rest pain of the foot and intermittent cyanosis of the toe, who underwent stent placement with transluminal angioplasty for severe stenosis in the deep femoral artery with the occluded superficial femoral and popliteal artery. The patient's ankle brachial index was remarkably increased from 0.25 to 0.61, and the preoperative symptoms were improved.

A Ku-band 40W high efficiency solid-state power amplifier (SSPA) has been developed. In order to achieve high efficiency, a Ku-band high efficiency internal-matched HFET and a small size and a low loss wave-guide combiner are developed and employed. The developed HFET achieves a power-added efficiency (PAE) of 37.5% and P1dB of 41.8dBm at base temperature (Tb) of 40degC. The source and load impedance of the HFET are matched to the optimum impedances for high temperature. The developed HFET achieves PAE of 33.8% and P1dB of 41.1 dBm over temperature range from -15 to 100 degC. The developed wave-guide combiner achieves insertion loss of less than 0.1dB. A Ku-band SSPA has been developed by using these components. It achieves an output power of 47.3 dBm (53.7W) and PAE of 25.6% at 14.2GHz and Tb of 25 degC, and achieves an output power of 46.4 dBm (43.6W), PAE of more than 21.9% and a linear gain of 36 dB at 14.0-14.4GHz over the temperature range from -15 to 95degC.

The improvement of adhesion characteristics is important in electric motor coach. We have already proposed the anti-slip/skid re-adhesion control system based on disturbance observer and sensor-less vector control. The effectiveness of the proposed method has been confirmed by the experiment and the numerical simulation using the tested bogie system of electric motor coach. In this paper, we apply the proposed method to the actual electric multiple units, which is Series 205-5000 of East Japan Railway Company. In the experimental results of Series 205-5000, this paper discusses that the proposed anti-slip/skid re-adhesion control system has the desired driving wheel torque response and the desired anti-slip control performance.

Xylitol is a five-carbon sugar alcohol that is often used for treatment of ketosis in dairy cattle in Japan. An intravenous xylitol tolerance test (IVXTT, 0.1 g/kg, bolus injection through the jugular vein) was performed in 4 non-lactating cows (n = 4) and the results were compared with those of an intravenous glucose tolerance test (IVGTT) performed under equivalent conditions. The serum xylitol concentration reached a peak value (41.4+/-9.0 mg/dl) at 5 min, and then rapidly decreased and almost disappeared within 2 h. The C0 for xylitol was 56.9+/-16.6 mg/dl and the t(1/2) was 8.5+/-0.9 min. The administration of xylitol appeared to cause similar secretion of insulin to that caused by glucose. There was also a reduction in the concentration of free fatty acids. It seems that xylitol has value for the treatment of ketosis. However, rapid administration of xylitol appeared to have an osmotic diuretic action and might be a cause of dehydration.

To investigate the effect of continued stretching of affected arms in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD), F-wave was tested from the abductor pollicis brevis (APB) during relaxation (trial 1) and 3 different continued stretches: stretched position with shoulder abduction (trial 2), stretched position with shoulder abduction and elbow extension (trial 3), and stretched position with shoulder abduction, elbow extension and wrist extension (trial 4) of the affected arm for 1 min. in 20 hemiparesis patients with moderate hypertonus (modified Ashworth scale of 2 or 3) caused by CVD (mean age of 49.5 years). Persistence and amplitude ratio of F/M in trial 2 were the same as those in trial 1. Persistence and amplitude ratio of F/M in trials 3 and 4 were significantly lower than those in trial 1. It was suggested that excitability of spinal neural function of the distal part, the APB, of the affected arm was reduced during continued stretching of the proximal part, shoulder and elbow joints, or all of the shoulder, elbow and wrist joints in hemiparesis patients with moderate hypertonus caused by CVD.

The first 3 V video LSI has been successfully developed using bipolar technology. This new LSI has contributed to a 3 V camcorder system, it's low power consumption less than 4 W, dry-battery operation, and improvement of performance. Further work to lower power and cost using another fine bipolar process is in progress for use with next generation camcorder. We believe that these techniques described here will play an important role in the other consumer products.

A small sized, high performance linearizer has been developed. This linearizer consists of only one FET and simple matching circuits and is useful in a very broadband from 2 to 12 GHz. The linearizer has been adopted into an SSPA for the GLOBALSTAR program, and a 2 dB NPR improvement has been achieved at the 3 dB output backoff point.

We experienced H-reflex may be evoked with supramaximal stimulation in patients with cerebrovascular disease (CVD). In this study, we investigated the relationship between the characteristic appearances of H-reflex and F-wave with increased stimulus intensity and neurological signs. We examined the H-reflex and F-wave of the affected arm with increased stimulus intensity during muscle relaxation in 31 patients (17 males and 14 females) with hemiparesis caused by CVD. Mean patient age was 56.0 (range 30-82) years. 30 healthy subjects, mean age of 56.2 (range 28-80) were investigated using the same method as controlled group. H-reflex and F-wave with increased stimulus intensity after the median nerve stimulation at the wrist were recorded from the opponence pollicis muscle on the affected side in patients with CVD or right arm in the healthy subjects. Appearance patterns of the H-reflex and F-wave with increased stimulus intensity was separated into four types. Type 1: F-wave appeared with increased stimulus intensity, but there was no H-reflex. Type 2: H-reflex and F-wave both appeared with increased stimulus intensity, but the F-wave followed disappearance of the H-reflex with increased stimulus intensity. Type 3: H-reflex and F-wave both appeared with increased stimulus intensity, but the F-wave appeared during the H-reflex with increased stimulus intensity. Type 4: Only the H-reflex appeared with increased stimulus intensity, but there was no F-wave. Neurological findings including muscle tone and tendon reflex were also evaluated. Findings on muscle tone and tendon reflex were classified into increased (markedly, moderately and slightly), normal and decreased. Results were analyzed as follows; 1) The characteristic appearances of H-reflex and F-wave in the healthy subjects and 2) The relationship between characteristic appearances of waves with increased stimulus intensity and neurological signs in patients with CVD. 1) Pattern of the H-reflex and F-wave with increased stimulus intensity in all healthy subjects were type 1. 2) Patterns of the H-reflex and F-wave with increased stimulus intensity in patients with markedly increased muscle tone and tendon reflex were almost always type 4. Those with moderately increased signs in this parameter demonstrated type 2 or 3. Those with slightly increased signs in this parameter demonstrated type 1 or 2. Those with normal or decreased signs were type 1. These findings suggest that the characteristic appearances of the H-reflex and F-wave was influenced by grade of neurological signs.

Histological examination of gonads as well as chemical analysis of organotin compounds in tissues of the giant abalone, Haliotis madaka, was conducted to evaluate possible endocrine disruption and to consider the causal factors for the decline of abalone stocks in Japan. Abalone specimens were collected from two different areas, Tsushima as a reference site and Jogashima as a site representative of declining abalone populations, each month from September 1995 to November 1996. Scores were given to the development stages of reproductive cells in the ovary and testis. The degree of sexual maturation was evaluated by calculating the mean value of a histogram of these scores for the reproductive cells of each abalone. The temporal variations in degree of sexual maturation showed that female and male abalone from Tsushima matured synchronously, while those from Jogashima did not. The observed maximum reproductive developmental score in abalone from Jogashima was much lower than that from Tsushima, because immature females were present at the former site throughout the spawing season. Approximately 20% of the abalone from Jogashima were masculinized females with an ovo-testis. The masculinization of female abalone was similar to the imposex, typically induced in other gastropod molluscs by tributyltin (TBT) and triphenyltin (TPhT) from antifouling paints. Concentrations of TBT and TPhT in the muscles of abalone from Jogashima (n = 83) of 4.9 +/- 4.4 ng/g wet wt and 6.3 +/- 6.6 ng/g wet wt, respectively, were significantly higher than those from Tsushima (n = 125) (P0.01) of 0.8 +/- 0.8 ng/g wet wt and 0.6 +/- 1.3 ng/g wet wt, respectively. In situ exposure of abalone from Tsushima caged near a dockyard in Jogashima for 7 months (from the immature to the mature stage) resulted in spermatogenesis in the ovary of approximately 90% of females. Endocrine disruption may be caused in the giant abalone by organotin compounds from antifouling paints, which are possibly one of the causal factors for the decline of Japanese abalone stocks.