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The paper reports on generation of controllable underwater shock waves through the use of a magnetic pulsed compression circuit as the power source of underwater spark discharge to aid in improving accuracy and safety in medical applications. In the present work, we were able to widely change the peak pulsed voltages by the magnetic pulsed compression circuit. Sensitivity of underwater shock wave pressure to peak voltage variation was obtained near the electrodes in the 200 to 400 MPa range with voltage amplitudes from 10 to 18 kV. Effects of pulsed electric discharge parameters such as the voltage amplitude and pulse duration on characteristics of cavitation bubbles and shock waves were observed and analyzed. Visualization results and image analysis allowed evaluation of radii and collapse times of cavitation bubbles and their generated shock waves pressures. Pressures of underwater shock waves were also measured by a fiber optic probe hydrophone and were compared with the visualization analyses results.

This Report summarizes the results of the activities in 2012 and the first half of 2013 of the LHC Higgs Cross Section Working Group. The main goal of the working group was to present the state of the art of Higgs Physics at the LHC, integrating all new results that have appeared in the last few years. This report follows the first working group report Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 1. Inclusive Observables (CERN-2011-002) and the second working group report Handbook of LHC Higgs Cross Sections: 2. Differential Distributions (CERN-2012-002). After the discovery of a Higgs boson at the LHC in mid-2012 this report focuses on refined prediction of Standard Model (SM) Higgs phenomenology around the experimentally observed value of 125-126 GeV, refined predictions for heavy SM-like Higgs bosons as well as predictions in the Minimal Supersymmetric Standard Model and first steps to go beyond these models. The other main focus is on the extraction of the characteristics and properties of the newly discovered particle such as couplings to SM particles, spin and CP-quantum numbers etc.

We studied τ polarization effects on the decay distributions of τ produced in the CNGS ν τ appearance experiments. We show that energy and angular distributions for the decay products in the laboratory frame are significantly affected by the τ polarization. Rather strong azimuthal asymmetry about the τ momentum axis is predicted, which may have observable consequences in experiments even with small statistics.

We studied the decay distributions of τ leptons produced in neutrino-nucleon scattering via charged current interaction, taking into account the τ polarization, for the long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments which aim to observe ν τ appearance. The information on the τ polarization is essential for measuring ν τ appearance since the decay particle distributions depend crucially on the τ spin. We show that τ produced via neutrino has high degree of polarization, and its spin direction depends non-trivially on the energy and the scattering angle of τ in the laboratory frame. We also show that the subsequent decay distributions are significantly affected by the produced τ polarization.

We studied polarization effects in tau production by neutrino-nucleon scattering. Quasi-elastic scattering, $Delta$ resonance production and deep inelastic scattering processes are taken into account for the CERN-to-Gran Sasso projects. We show that the tau produced by neutrino has high degree of polarization, and its spin direction depends non-trivially on the energy and the scattering angle of tau in the laboratory frame., 6 pages, 5 eps figures, espcrc2.sty; Proceedings of the 3rd International Workshop on Neutrino-Nucleus Interactions in the Few GeV Region (NuInt04), March 17-21, 2004, Gran Sasso, Italy; minor changes, typos in Eq. (6) corrected

Predicted masses of J P = 0 + and 1 + states of D s J and D by a potential model proposed some time ago by two of us (T.M. and T.M.), in which the Hamiltonian and wave functions are expanded in 1 / m Q with m Q heavy quark mass respecting heavy quark symmetry, have recently been confirmed by BaBar and Belle experiments within one percent accuracy. In this Letter, decay modes of 0 + and 1 + states of B and B s mesons are discussed using the predicted masses of this model.

We investigate the pseudoscalar transition form factors of nucleon for quasi-elastic scattering and \Delta resonance production in tau-neutrino nucleon scattering via the charged current interactions. Although the pseudoscalar form factors play an important role for the \tau production in neutrino-nucleon scattering, these are not known well. In this article, we examine their effects in quasi-elastic scattering and \Delta resonance production and find that the cross section, Q^{2} distribution, and spin polarization of the produced \tau^{\pm} leptons are quite sensitive to the pseudoscalar form factors., Comment: 7 pages, 3 figures

To probe polarized s -quark and gluon densities in the proton, we propose a semi-inclusive Λ c + production in charged current deep inelastic scattering; l + + p → v + Λ c + + X , which could be observed clearly at a future high energy ep collider. We focus on the transverse momentum distribution of the spin correlation asymmetry between the initial proton and the final Λ c + . Numerical calculations show that this process is quite effective for testing not only the model of polarized s -quark and gluon densities but also the model of polarized fragmentation functions of the c -quark decaying into Λ c + .

Compounds of HgBa2Ca2Cu3Re0.2Oy (Hg(Re)-1223) were fabricated using a precursor. Phase purity of about 95% was attained by high vacuum sealing and sintering method. Grain alignment was formed magnetically under external magnetic field of 10 T. AC susceptibilities and DC magnetizations were measured using a PPMS susceptometer at temperature range 5–140 K under magnetic fields up to 14 T. The critical temperature is 133 K determined by the temperature dependence of AC susceptibilities. AC susceptibilities are compared in grain-aligned and non-aligned samples. The peak value of the imaginary part of the AC susceptibilities χ′′ less than 3/4π indicates the reversible fluxoid motions in a pinning potential in Hg(Re)-1223. AC losses were estimated from χ′′ and favorably compared with the Campbell model.

Compounds of the series Hg/sub 1-x/Pb/sub x/Ba/sub 2/Ca/sub 2/Cu/sub 3/O/sub y/ (x=0.1 and 0.2) were synthesized directly from the metal oxides without using a precursor. AC susceptibilities and DC magnetizations were measured using a SQUID magnetometer and a PPMS susceptometer. The superconducting volume fractions were estimated from the temperature dependence of the Meissner magnetization and showed that Pb-substitution of Hg-site enhanced the volume fraction without sacrificing the critical temperatures of 134 K in both samples. Critical current densities estimated from the magnetization are compared in both samples. The peak value of the imaginary part of the AC susceptibilities /spl lambda/" of less than 3/4/spl pi/ indicates the reversible fluxoid motions in a pinning potential in HgPb1223. Reversible motion factor r, the Campbell penetration depth /spl lambda/'/sub 0/ and AC losses were estimated from AC susceptibilities and compared with the Matsushita formula based on the Campbell model.

Background: Vascular smooth muscle cell (SMC) migration, proliferation and extracellular matrix protein production are key steps in the formation of intimal hyperplasia, a process that leads to failure of vascular reconstructions. Protein kinase C (PKC) may be involved in all 3 cellular events. PKC consists of a family of 11 isotypes, 8 of which we have identified in human vascular SMCs. In this study we evaluate the role of PKCα as a second messenger for proliferation, migration and fibronectin production induced by human saphenous vein SMCs. Methods: DNA synthesis was evaluated by using 3 H-thymidine incorporation. Mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAP-K) activation was quantified by Western blotting with an antibody to its phosphorylated substrate, Elk-1. Chemotaxis was evaluated by using a microchemotaxis chamber. SMC fibronectin was measured by Western blotting. For all experiments, PKCα was blocked with a selective inhibitor, Go6976. Results: Go6976, at concentrations that allow selective inhibition of PKCα, inhibited platelet-derived growth factor–stimulated SMC proliferation and MAP-K activation by 30% to 40% and 30% to 60%, respectively. SMC chemotaxis was stimulated approximately 2-fold by the PKCα inhibitor. Neither basal nor transforming growth factor–βI induced fibronectin production was affected by Go6976. Conclusions: Our data suggest that PKCα is a positive mediator of SMC proliferation and MAP-K activity, a negative regulator of migration and has no effect on SMC fibronectin production. These data suggest that modulating activities of specific PKC isotypes might be useful in both the study and control of intimal hyperplasia. (Surgery 2000;128:192-7.)

We studied tau production and subsequent decay via neutrino reaction, taking into account the polarization of tau properly. The CNGS project, which aims to confirm the ν τ appearance and will start in 2006, is considered. We show that the decay particle distributions of tau leptons produced by the charged current interaction are significantly affected by the tau polarization.

Support for interactions of spin-3/2 particles is implemented in the FeynRules and ALOHA packages and tested with the MadGraph 5 and CalcHEP event generators in the context of three phenomenological applications. In the first, we implement a spin-3/2 Majorana gravitino field, as in local supersymmetric models, and study gravitino and gluino pair-production. In the second, a spin-3/2 Dirac top-quark excitation, inspired from compositness models, is implemented. We then investigate both top-quark excitation and top-quark pair-production. In the third, a general effective operator for a spin-3/2 Dirac quark excitation is implemented, followed by a calculation of the angular distribution of the s-channel production mechanism. Support for interactions of spin-3/2 particles is implemented in the FeynRules and ALOHA packages and tested with the MadGraph 5 and CalcHEP event generators in the context of three phenomenological applications. In the first, we implement a spin-3/2 Majorana gravitino field, as in local supersymmetric models, and study gravitino and gluino pair-production. In the second, a spin-3/2 Dirac top-quark excitation, inspired from compositness models, is implemented. We then investigate both top-quark excitation and top-quark pair-production. In the third, a general effective operator for a spin-3/2 Dirac quark excitation is implemented, followed by a calculation of the angular distribution of the s-channel production mechanism.

Summary form only given. Shock waves have been used for various scientific, industrial, and medical applications. In particular, underwater shock waves have been successfully applied for the fragmentation of urinary stones in Urology. To extend medical shock wave applications, studies of influence of shock waves on tissues are required. Shock waves have been shown to produce the possibility to affect various cells. However, underwater shock wave applications for modification of embryonic development have not been studied. Therefore, in this research effects of underwater shock waves applications on the embryonic development were investigated.Shock waves were generated by nanosecond pulse electric discharge on tungsten electrodes in a saline solution. A magnetic pulse compression circuit (MPC) was used as the power source. The generated shock waves were reflected by a reflector to produce a plane shock wave. They were applied to medaka egg embryos (0 day and 2 days old eggs) through an experimental setup. The number of applied shock waves was 1, 5, 10, 50 shots and the range of the pressure value was from 19.5 MPa to 47.0 MPa. The effects of shock waves on the embryonic development were observed by a fluorescent microscope. By increasing the number and the pressure value of shock waves extend of damage to the embryos were increased. The abnormality of the eggs was appeared when moderate shock waves were applied.

This report presents on studying of two kinds of underwater shock waves generated by a compact generator using underwater pulsed electric discharges in saline water and their medical application. The water used in this study is aqueous solutions of sodium chloride which is substitute for application to human tissue, while underwater shock waves can propagate in the tissue with low reflection between the solutions and the tissue boundary. The diameter of the compact reflector was 20 mm. Two kinds of underwater shock waves, generated by plasma expansion and bubble collapse, were studied by two methods. One method employed time-resolve high speed visualization and for the other a fiber optic probe hydrophone (FOPH) pressure transducer was used. In using the former way, propagation of underwater shock waves and behavior of the bubble near the electrodes were studied, and the velocities and pressures of underwater shock waves were calculated. In using the later method, two kinds of underwater shock waves pressures were measured at a 5 mm to 10 mm distant from the electrodes. To analyze these underwater shock waves near the electrodes by high speed visualization, a cylindrical test section was used. The underwater shock waves with the parameters determined based on the result of above analysis were applied in-vivo to cultured cancer cells.

We visualized and analyzed effects of protecting cover layers during medical application of underwater shock waves. Shock waves can be generated by several methods. In this research, we used short pulse underwater discharges to produce tuned underwater shock waves1. A magnetic pulse compression circuit (MPC) was used as energy source2. Using MPC, we were able to produce nanosecond order pulse discharges with short rise times to generate controllable shock waves. For pressure measurements, fiber optic probe hydrophone was used. Shadowgraph high speed time-resolved technique was used for flow visualization. Natural latex, polyurethane, and Teflon were examined as cover layers. We compared these materials based on pressure measurement and flow visualization results, as well as theoretical analysis. The analyses were carried out based on the layers' acoustic impedance and attenuation rate. The results are important and applicable during medical applications.

Light gravitino productions in association with a neutralino (selectron) in e^+e^- (e^-\gamma) collisions are restudied in a scenario that the lightest supersymmetric particle is a gravitino and the produced neutralino (selectron) promptly decays into a photon (electron) and a gravitino. We explicitly give the helicity amplitudes for the production processes by using the effective goldstino interaction Lagrangian, and present the cross sections with different collision energies and mass spectra. We also examine selection efficiencies by kinematical cuts and beam polarizations for the signal and background processes, and show that the energy and angular distributions of the photon (electron) can explore the mass of the t-channel exchange particle as well as the mass of the decaying particle at a future e^+e^- (e^-\gamma) collider., Comment: 12 pages, 12 figures, 4 tables; references added, version to appear in EPJC

Energy and angular distributions of the tau decay products in the CERN-to-Gran Sasso $\nu_\tau$ appearance experiments are studied for the decay modes $\tau\to\pi\nu$ and $\tau\to l\bar\nu\nu$ (l=e or mu). We find that the decay particle distributions in the laboratory frame are significantly affected by the tau polarization. Rather strong azimuthal asymmetry of $pi^-$ and $l^-$ about the tau momentum axis is predicted, which may have observable consequences even at small statistics experiments., Comment: 14 pages, 6 eps figures; comments on Fig. 1 added, Fig. 4 improved to see clearly

We investigate the spin polarization of \tau^{\pm} leptons produced in \nu_{\tau} and \bar{\nu}_{\tau} nucleon scattering via charged currents. Quasi-elastic scattering, \Delta resonance production and deep inelastic scattering processes are studied. The polarization information is essential for measuring the \tau^{\pm} appearance rate in long baseline neutrino oscillation experiments, because the decay particle distributions depend crucially on the \tau^{\pm} spin. In this article, we calculate the spin density matrix of each process and estimate the spin polarization vector in medium and high neutrino energy interactions. We find that the produced \tau^{\pm}'s have high degree of polarization, and their spin direction depends non-trivially on the energy and the scattering angle of \tau^{\pm} in the laboratory frame., Comment: 23 pages, 35 figures; compile errors corrected; notation errors in Eq.(30) and (31) corrected, typo error in Eq.(40) corrected, references and comments in footnote added

The goldfish optic nerve can regenerate after injury. To understand the molecular mechanism of optic nerve regrowth, we identified genes whose expression is specifically up-regulated during the early stage of optic nerve regeneration. A cDNA library constructed from goldfish retina 5 days after transection was screened by differential hybridization with cDNA probes derived from axotomized or normal retina. Of six cDNA clones isolated, one clone was identified as the Na,K-ATPase catalytic subunit alpha3 isoform by high- sequence homology. In northern hybridization, the expression level of the mRNA was significantly increased at 2 days and peaked at 5-10 days, and then gradually decreased and returned to control level by 45 days after optic nerve transection. Both in situ hybridization and immunohistochemical staining have revealed the location of this transient retinal change after optic nerve transection. The increased expression was observed only in the ganglion cell layer and optic nerve fiber layer at 5-20 days after optic nerve transection. In an explant culture system, neurite outgrowth from the retina 7 days after optic nerve transection was spontaneously promoted. A low concentration of ouabain (50-100 nm ) completely blocked the spontaneous neurite outgrowth from the lesioned retina. Together, these data indicate that up-regulation of the Na,K-ATPase alpha3 subunit is involved in the regrowth of ganglion cell axons after axotomy.

The optimal therapeutic range for laboratory evaluation of oral anticoagulant therapy is now defined by the prothrombin time international normalized ratio (PT-INR). However, the thrombo test (TT), an alternative method to measure intensity of anticoagulation, is also currently used throughout Japan. The relationship between PT-INR and TT (%) has yet to be clarified. This study investigated the relationship between PT-INR and TT (%).The PT-INR and TT (%) were simultaneously measured of 505 consecutive samples from patients treated with warfarin in our hospital. Fourteen functions were used for regression analyses: a fractional function (Y = a/X + b), a square root function (Y = aX0.5 + b), a natural logarithmic function (Y = a.lnX + b), a power series function (Y = aXb), a quotient function (Y = abX), and polynomial functions [Y = anXn + an - 1Xn - 1 +......+ a1X1 + b, (1or = nor = 9)]. The results were confirmed by the same methods in 383 samples and 296 samples from another two laboratories.The power series function showed the most significant (p0.0001) and highest adjusted R2 (0.858) correlation, with a regression formula of TT (%) = e4.48 (PT-INR)-2.09 in our laboratory. Using the same analyses, the power series function also showed the most significant and highest adjusted R2 in samples from the other two laboratories.This study showed that a power series function is the most appropriate for expressing the relationship between PT-INR and TT (%) among the 14 functions. The function between PT-INR and TT (%) is mainly derived from the relationship between TT (%) and TT (sec). Both internal validity and external validity confirmed the relationship between PT-INR and TT (%).

Cardiac troponin T(cTnT) is one of the most myocardial-specific markers for the diagnosis of acute myocardial infarction(AMI). Recently, the rapid bedside cTnT assay(Trop T rapid assay sensitive version), which can provide qualitative determinations within 15 min, has been developed for the emergency clinical setting. To evaluate the usefulness of rapid bedside cTnT assay, we performed the Trop T test and measured serum levels of myoglobin(Mb), creatine kinase MB isoenzyme(CK-MB) and cTnT in 256 consecutive emergency patients with suspected AMI(65 found to have AMI and 191 without AMI). The diagnostic sensitivities for AMI of Trop T, Mb and CK-MB measurements were 66%, 92% and 52%, respectively, whereas the specificities were 80%, 18% and 74%, respectively. The diagnostic accuracy for AMI of Trop T(77%) was significantly higher than that of Mb(37%, p0.001) and CK-MB(69%, p0.05). The sensitivity for AMI of Mb(86%) was significantly(p0.001) higher than that of Trop T (31%) and CK-MB(31%) in patients admittedor = 3 hr after the onset of AMI. In contrast, the sensitivities of Trop T(80% and 100%) in patients admitted at 3-6 hr and6 hr showed no significant differences from those of Mb(100% and 96%). Furthermore, Trop T in patients admitted6 hr had significantly(p0.01) higher sensitivity compared with CK-MB(69%). The mortality rate in the non-AMI group during hospitalization in patients with positive Trop T test(39%) was significantly(p0.001) higher than that in patients with negative test(9%). When the positive Trop T test was regarded asor = 0.10 ng/ml of serum cTnT, Trop T test had the best concordance of 92% with a quantitative of cTnT assay.

A method for the determination of N1-Methylnicotinamide (NMNA) was developed by the fluorescence formed by UV irradiation after separation by HPLC with a mobile phase containing hydrogen peroxide and 18-crown-6. This method was applied to human urine and serum.

The purpose of this study was to compare the effects of vasoconstrictor substances such as 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) and endothelin on the smooth muscle of canine femoral veins and vein grafts.The right canine femoral vein was grafted into the right femoral artery. The left femoral vein was used as a control. In other experiments to examine the effects of surgical procedures such as dissection of the adventitia and the effects of grafting (vein-to-vein bypass), the right femoral vein was dissected out but not removed for grafting and an autogenous vein bypass of the right femoral vein was made using the left femoral vein. In all experiments, the veins were removed 4 weeks after operation and suspended in organ chambers for isometric tension recording.Maximum contractions to endothelin were comparable in control vein and vein grafts. In control vein, the maximum contraction to 5-HT was small, and was inhibited by both methiothepin, a 5-HT, and 5-HT2 antagonist, and sarpogrelate hydrochloride, a 5-HT2 antagonist. In vein grafts 5-HT produced significantly larger contractions than in control veins, which were inhibited by methiothepin but not by the 5-HT2 antagonist. In veins with adventitial dissection alone and vein-to-vein grafts, 5-HT produced small contractions which were comparable to those in control vein.The larger contraction response to 5-HT in canine vein grafts may be due to an increased responsiveness of the 5-HT1 receptor caused by grafting into the arterial circulation.

A cytotoxicity of glutamate or related amino acids (10 mM) mediated by a cystine/glutamate antiporter (system Xc) has recently been demonstrated in N18 neuroblastoma-rat retina hybrid (N18RE105) cells and C6 glioma cells. The antiporter usually transports glutamate outside and cystine inside, thereby maintaining cellular concentrations of glutathione. High concentrations of glutamate inhibit cystine uptake and lead to depletion of cellular levels of glutathione. Among related amino acids, DL-alpha-aminoadipic acid (DL-alpha-AAA), which is well known as a selective gliotoxin in the retina, is also toxic to these cells. However, this does not explain why DL-alpha-AAA acts gliospecifically on the retina. To answer this question we first examined the effects of DL-alpha-AAA on the [35S]cystine uptake with parental N18 neuroblastoma cells and rat retina of the hybrid cells. DL-alpha-AAA showed a competitive inhibition of [35S]cystine uptake in the rat retina but not in the N18 cells. Such a competitive inhibition of cystine uptake by DL-alpha-AAA could also be seen in the carp retina. The cystine uptake with carp retina was mainly Na(+)-independent and Cl(-)-dependent as already described as a characteristic ion dependency of the Xc antiporter. We next examined the effects of exogenous cystine on the glutamate release from the retina. Cystine (1 mM) actually induced a glutamate release approximately twice that of the control. Furthermore, the glutamate release induced by cystine was also Na(+)-independent and Cl(-)-dependent, and was blocked by DL-alpha-AAA. An autoradiogram of [35S]cystine uptake in the carp retina showed typical radial glial Muller cells. A large incorporation of [35S]cystine into retinal glutathione fraction was detected by a high pressure liquid chromatography method during a 1-4-h incubation. A significant or large decrease of retinal levels of glutathione was observed one day ater an intravitreal injection of 8 mumol DL-alpha-AAA or L-alpha-AAA, respectively. Buthionine sulfoximine (2.5 mumol), a specific inhibitor of glutathione synthesis, induced a large decrease of retinal levels of glutathione and a loss of electroretinographic b-wave 20-30 h after treatment. Taken together, our present data with rat and carp retinas strongly indicate that the expression of cystine/glutamate antiporter is enriched in the retina, particularly in the glial Muller cells which have a rapid turnover pool for glutathione. The gliotoxin DL-alpha-AAA inhibits cystine uptake through this antiporter on the glial cells and elicits reduction of cellular levels of glutathione.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

To shed light upon the understanding of structure and function relationship of hemoglobin, we determined the oxygen equilibrium curves of a series of alpha 1 beta 2 contact anomalous hemoglobins, low and high spin derivatives of valency hybrid hemoglobins and normal hemoglobin under various conditions comparable with each other using an automatic recording apparatus. The Hill plots of their curves were analyzed by a trial and error method without any assumptions using computer graphic display. The results deduced from these analyses are as follows. Anomaly in alpha 1 beta 2 contact region, weakening or rupture of the Bohr effect and Cl- dependent salt-bridges, small displacement of heme iron from porphyrin plane result in not only shifting the R--T equilibrium towards R but also raising the oxygen affinity of the T state to various extents. IHP binding can oppose these effects. A relation that the change in L strongly depends upon the change in c was newly discovered. These results suggest that the T state of individual Hb takes a single structure of many heterogeneous T quaternary structures depending on its function.

In atrial fibrillation, it is known that hemodynamics vary according to the preceding R-R intervals. However, the informations of blood flow dynamics have not been available because of the methodological limitations. In this study, blood flow dynamics of atrial fibrillation were assessed using pulsed Doppler echocardiography. The subjects were 160 consecutive patients with atrial fibrillation and without left ventricular asynergy. Using a commercially-available pulsed Doppler instrument (Aloka SSD-910), blood flow patterns in the left ventricle were investigated from the apical long-axis view. The results were as follows: 1. In 22 of the 160 cases (14%), systolic blood flow in the central or apical region of the left ventricle directed towards the apex (termed "back flow"). 2. In the cardiac cycle with "back flow", the preceding R-R interval was shorter; whereas it was longer when "back flow" was absent (591 +/- 103 vs 817 +/- 179 msec, p less than 0.01). Moreover, when a long R-R interval (PPI) followed by a short R-R interval (PI) was observed (greater PPI/PI ratios), the next beat showed distinct "back flow". 3. Left ventricular ejection fraction decreased significantly in patients with "back flow" compared to those without it (42 +/- 15 vs 66 +/- 12%, p less than 0.01). 4. On left ventriculography, the motion of the base of the heart was preserved; however, with "back flow", the motion of the apical area was abnormal, extending towards the apex along the longitudinal axis. 5. Left ventricular ejection flow at the outflow tract disappeared in 13 of the 22 cases with "back flow" in cardiac cycles with short preceding R-R intervals.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Pulse deficit in patients with atrial fibrillation is caused by the reduction of preload. The purpose of this study was to visualize the mechanism in view of blood flow dynamics using pulsed Doppler echocardiography. The subjects were 15 cases with atrial fibrillation and pulse deficit, and the results were as follows: 1. Simultaneous recordings of the carotid pulse wave (CPW) and blood flow at the left ventricular inflow tract indicated that, in nine of the total 15 cases, CPW disappeared from the cardiac cycle even with sufficient preceding RF in the other six cases (Group B). 2. In Group A, %RF correlated well with %CPW; however, there was poor correlation between them in Group B. Moreover, CPW was always greater than 26% if RF was greater than 50% of each mean value in Group A, but less than 25% in Group B, suggesting poor left ventricular ejection in the latter group. 3. The left ventricular ejection fraction (EF) and %fractional shortening (%FS) decreased significantly in Group B compared to those in Group A (EF; 59 +- 7 vs 41 +- 12%, p less than 0.01, %FS; 31 +- 5 vs 20 +- 6, p less than 0.01). These findings indicate that left ventricular contractility was significantly reduced in the cases with pulse deficit in Group B. 4. Systolic backward flow in the mid-ventricle caused by left ventricular asynchrony due to localized apical wall motion abnormalities was observed in all 15 cases. The heart rate during pulsed Doppler echocardiography was significantly increased in Group A as compared to that in Group B.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

To examine the effects of ferric spin state on the allosteric properties and the structure at the alpha 1 beta 2 subunit interface, we measured circular dichroism (CD) and deoxy minus oxy difference spectra in the ultraviolet (UV) region as well as the oxygen equilibrium curves for various ferric ligand complexes of valency hybrid hemoglobins (alpha +2 beta 2 and alpha 2 beta +2 : + signifies ferric heme). Analysis of the oxygen equilibrium curves for the hybrids in terms of the two-state allosteric model showed that the spin state of ferric subunits alters not only the allosteric equilibrium but also the oxygen affinity of the T state. The CD and difference spectral data strongly suggested that in both type of hybrids the alpha 1 beta 2 boundary structure of the high spin derivatives is different from that of the low spin ones. From these results, we concluded that the structure at the alpha 1 beta 2 interface is important for determining the oxygen affinity of the T state.

We have already reported that, in atrial fibrillation (Af) "back flow" in the left ventricular (LV) central or apical area may occur in the cardiac cycle with a short preceding R-R interval, especially in cases with impaired LV pump function. This abnormal flow was considered to be caused by LV asynchrony. Analysis of LV wall motion abnormalities, however, is a less established procedure. The purpose of the present study was to clarify the relationship between LV blood flow dynamics and LV wall motion using pulsed Doppler echocardiography and left ventriculography. The results were as follows: 1. In seven of 15 cases "back flow" was observed in the LV central or apical area. 2. On left ventriculography in the seven cases, the apical area showed a backward movement in a longitudinal direction in the cardiac cycle with a short preceding R-R interval. 3. The % shortening of the long-axis dimension was significantly decreased in the seven cases with back flow, and three of them had negative values. 4. Ejection fractions (EF) of both the apical and basal halves were significantly decreased in cases with back flow, and the difference in the ejection rate of the apical and basal halves tended to decrease in cases with back flow. 5. LVEF was also significantly decreased in the cases with back flow. These results indicate that left ventricular "back flow" observed in Af is caused by the LV asynchrony due to localized wall motion abnormalities in the apical area.

Cardiac function at the time of ventricular premature contractions (VPC) is influenced by the coupling interval or the site of those origin. Clinical and experimental studies of the effects of VPC on intracardiac pressure dynamics have been performed; however, little is known about left ventricular blood flow dynamics. This study was attempted to determine the characteristics of blood flow dynamics in respect to the site of origin of VPC using pulsed Doppler echocardiography. The subjects consisted of 18 cases with VPC but without apparent organic heart disease. Seven cases had VPCs with a left bundle branch block pattern suggesting possible origin in the right ventricle. The other 11 cases had VPCs with a right bundle branch block pattern indicating the left ventricular origin. With the probe in the apical position, the blood flow patterns of the left ventricular outflow, central and inflow tracts were examined. The results were as follows; 1. Except for one case with shortened coupling interval, all six cases with VPCs originated from the right ventricle showed preservation of left ventricular ejection flow. 2. In two of the three cases with VPC which originated from the left ventricle and with left axis deviation, systolic flow in the left ventricular central area showed "back flow" to the apex. Ejection flow at the outflow tract was markedly diminished or disappeared in all three cases. 3. In all eight cases with VPC which originated from the left ventricle and with right axis deviation, ejection flow was slightly disturbed both in the left ventricular outflow and in the central area. 4. Ejection flow volume assessed by velocity integral indicated similar dynamics as did the ejection flow velocity. 5. In left ventriculography, asynchrony due to dyskinetic motion of the anteroapical wall was observed at the times of VPCs with left axis deviation. In conclusion, the patterns of left ventricular ejection flow dynamics depend on the site of origin of VPCs. This disturbed flow is more apparent in VPCs originating from the left ventricle compared to the right ventricle. This is especially true in cases with left axis deviation, in which VPCs arise from the posterior site of the left ventricle.