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We determined the complete mitochondrial sequences of female-transmitted (F) mitogenomes of six unionid specimens from the Lake Biwa system, Japan. Their gene contents and orders agreed with those of the typical F mitogenome of freshwater mussels. Molecular phylogenetic analysis using fifteen previously identified partial COI and 12 (six previously identified and six newly determined) whole mitogenome sequences revealed that five of the six mitogenomes (LC592401, LC592402, LC592403, LC592408, and LC592410) were those of Beringiana fukuharai, while the remaining one (LC592406) was Sinanodonta tumens.

A mini-barcoding system was developed to help identify endangered unionid mussels in the Lake Biwa system in Japan. A single primer set was designed to amplify a ca. 140-bp barcode fragment based on the published mitochondrial 16S rRNA gene sequences (ca. 350 bp) of Japanese unionids. The new primers successfully amplified genomic DNA from the foot tissues of 81 specimens of 12 target taxa from the Lake Biwa region. Sequencing, BLAST-searches and phylogenetic analyses of the amplified fragments confirmed that the mini-barcode had the same identification ability as the original sequences for Lake Biwa taxa. The mini-barcoding system also obtained the short barcodes from excreted materials, indicating its usefulness in nondestructive identification of these mussels.

We determined the complete mitochondrial sequences of female-transmitted (F) mitogenomes of two unionid specimens from the Lake Biwa system, Japan. Their gene contents and orders agreed with those ...

This paper introduces a method for in-process tool wear estimation of an air turbine spindle, which is equipped with a rotation control system for ultra-precision milling. Previous investigations revealed that the pressure of the compressed air for supply that is used to control the rotational speed and tool wear at the time when steady wear occurs, maintains a linear relationship when processing SKD61 steel. In addition, the extent to which the supply pressure changed was reduced after chipping occurred. Therefore, the possibility exists that the tool wear can be estimated by obtaining the supply pressure during processing. The purpose of this paper is to propose the evaluation of an in-process tool wear estimation method, and to evaluate its validity. An estimation method is necessary as this would allow the amount of tool wear to be estimated and abnormal wear of occurrence to be detected. Because of the linear relationship between the air pressure and the amount of tool wear, the latter can be estimated by plotting the approximately linear relationship of the tool wear as a function of the air pressure. The proposed estimation method for processing the results obtained for SKD61, is capable of estimating the relative error of the measured value within 0.2 against the estimated value at the time. Furthermore, the occurrence of abnormal wear is determined from the amount of change in the supply pressure. Thus, SKD11 steel was processed for the proposed estimation method to verify whether it is valid for cutting high hardness steel. As a result, for SKD11 the estimation method produced estimation results similar to those obtained for SKD61. Therefore, the suggested estimation method is likely to be effective for high-hardness steel cutting.

North Pacific armorhead (Pentaceros wheeleri) was previously considered rare and was sporadically captured in the eastern and western North Pacific. In 1967, an exploratory bottom trawler of the Soviet Union discovered large aggregations of this species associated with the summits of the Southern Emperor—Northern Hawaiian Ridge (SE-NHR) seamounts. The large trawl catches attracted the participation of commercial bottom trawl fleets of the Soviet Union, Japan, and Korea. Although exploratory fisheries and scientific surveys collected some basic information on the biology of this species, large uncertainties remain due to its peculiar life history. Here we describe the current knowledge and information gaps for the biology and ecology of this species through a review of original scientific literature. The life cycle of this species consists of pelagic and demersal stages. Juvenile and immature fish are widely distributed over the subarctic surface waters of the central and eastern North Pacific Oc...

Riparian fluvial systems are used for the irrigation of rice. This practice has led to an increasing need to conserve biodiversity of these riparian systems against intensification of rice irrigation systems. This study examined the underlying processes that structure fish community assemblages in a traditional rice irrigation system and how these processes might inform conservation programmes. Sampling was conducted at 26 reaches of a permanent irrigation channel in September and December 2007 and May 2008. The relative roles of niche versus dispersal processes were determined by examining species richness across the local environment, such as habitat complexity (diversity of depth and velocity) and size (volume of water) or proximity from the river as potential source of species, and deterministic versus stochastic processes. Non-random or random patterns of species co-occurrence were also compared across the sites. Each site's species richness was mainly associated with habitat complexity and size, but not proximity to the river. Also, species co-occurred non-randomly in segregated patterns. Therefore, the fish community was deterministically structured by niche processes and local extinction, but not by stochastic and external immigration processes. In addition, the observed relative abundance distributions primarily fitted a log–normal distribution, indicating a ‘low stress’ condition for the fish community. To enhance co-existence of fish species, high conservation priority should be given to local factors such as hydraulic complexity and volume of water at reach scale in the rice irrigation system. Fish species preferring slow and shallow environments co-occurred less frequently among reaches, demonstrating the need to conserving hydraulic variability. The effectiveness of local factors and deterministic patterns is thought to derive from stable water flow and high internal and external connectivity, which in turn would safeguard the processes that structure fish community assemblages. Such hydrological connectivity might be the key for conservation in intensified rice-farming landscapes. Copyright © 2015 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.

Background Repetitive electrical nerve stimulation of the lower limb may improve neurogenic claudication in patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS) as originally described by Tamaki et al. We tested if this neuromodulation technique affects the F-wave conduction on both sides to explore the underlying physiologic mechanisms. Methods We studied a total of 26 LSS patients, assigning 16 to a study group receiving repetitive tibial nerve stimulation at the ankle (RTNS) on one leg, and 10 to a group without RTNS. RTNS conditioning consisted of a 0.3-ms duration square-wave pulse with an intensity 20% above the motor threshold, delivered at a rate of 5 Hz for 5 min. All patients underwent the walking test and the F-wave and M-wave studies for the tibial nerve on both sides twice; once as the baseline, and once after either the 5-min RTNS or 5-min rest. Results Compared to the baselines, a 5-min RTNS increased claudication distance (176 ± 96 m vs 329 ± 133 m; p = 0.0004) and slightly but significantly shortened F-wave minimal onset latency (i.e., increased F-wave conduction velocity) not only on the side receiving RTNS (50.7 ± 4.0 ms vs 49.2 ± 4.2 ms; p = 0.00081) but also on the contralateral side (50.1 ± 4.6 ms vs 47.9 ± 4.2 ms; p = 0.011). A 5-min rest in the group not receiving RTNS neither had a significant change on claudication distance nor on any F-wave measurements. The M response remained unchanged in both groups. Conclusions The present study verified a beneficial effect of unilaterally applied RTNS of a mild intensity on neurogenic claudication and bilateral F-wave conduction. Our F-wave data suggest that this type of neuromodulation could be best explained by an RTNS-induced widespread sympathetic tone reduction with vasodilation, which partially counters a walking-induced further decline in nerve blood flow in LSS patients who already have ischemic cauda equina.

Rhinogobius sp. YB (Gobiidae) distributed in the Ryukyu Archipelago is a fluvial species of gobies. We present 34 novel microsatellite loci that were tested on 32 individuals from the Okierabu-jima Island in Kagoshima Prefecture. Seventeen loci were polymorphic, while the remaining 17 were monomorphic. The number of alleles per the polymorphic loci ranged from 2 to 15. The observed heterozygosities ranged from 0.038 to 1.000 and the expected heterozygosities varied from 0.038 to 0.816. These microsatellite loci will enhance future investigations on the genetic differentiation and structure of populations of R. sp. YB.

In Japan, domestic freshwater fish are accidentally introduced into non-native freshwater habitats by human activity, such as the planting of fish. Introduction of the domestic alien fish may have a detrimental effect on native fish inhabitants. However, investigations on the distribution and establishment of such domestic alien fish in non-native river basins and their influence on native fish remains limited. Therefore, we investigated the distribution and establishment of the domestic alien fish Rhynchocypris oxycephalus and its influence on native fish in the Tama River Basin, Japan. Specifically, we used mitochondrial DNA and morphological analyses to clarify the influence of the invasion of this species on the distribution of the closely related fish R. lagowskii, which is native to the river basin. Fish sampled from the upstream section of the main river were mostly R. oxycephalus. This indicates that R. oxycephalus has replaced R. lagowskii in the upstream region. Fish sampled from the downstream section of the main river were mostly R. lagowskii. R. oxycephalus was also captured from agricultural canals linked to the Tama River, and in streams connected to the river via the canals. These observations indicate that the agricultural canal water networks facilitate the invasion of R. oxycephalus to peripheral habitats, such as canals and streams. In contrast, R. lagowskii was found in streams that flowed into the upstream section of the Tama River, with these streams having many large drop structures, indicating that drop structures prevent R. oxycephalus from invading aquatic habitats in these streams.

We determined two complete mitochondrial sequences of female-transmitted (F) mitogenomes of two Hyriopsis schlegelii specimens from this species’ original habitat, Lake Biwa. The mitogenomes were both 15,951 bp in length, and the gene contents and orders agreed with those of the typical F mitogenome of Hyriopsis. Molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the previously identified 13 partial sequences confirmed that the two mitogenomes both belonged to H. schlegelii and not to a closely related Chinese species, Hyriopsis cumingii. The same analysis revealed that two mitogenomes (HQ641406 and FJ529186) previously published as H. schlegelii and H. cumingii might be misidentified.

This study, carried out in a paddy fields area in eastern Japan, investigated the timing and patterns of fish movement and assemblage in an artificial wetland and canal. The number of Misgurnus anguillicaudatus and Lefua echigonia immigrating and emigrating between the wetland and the canal accounted for 80–90 % of all the sampled fish. M. anguillicaudatus, L. echigonia, Pseudorasbora parva and Rhynchocypris lagowskii were dominant in the wetland. Immigration of mature M. anguillicaudatus and L. echigonia was detected between late winter and spring. The standard length of the two loach species in the wetland was smaller than that in the canal. These results confirm that wetlands play a role in spawning and nursery for the two species of loaches. The standard length of P. parva in the wetland was smaller than in the canal. This suggests that the wetland was a more suitable spawning and nursery area for this fish species than the canal. L. echigonia used the wetland as a spawning and nursery area, but previous studies reported that the loach did not use paddy fields near the wetland. This could be because the paddy fields were irrigated between June and September and this period did not largely overlap with the fish spawning season. Therefore, we conclude that the conservation and restoration of wetlands, where water is present throughout the year, will contribute toward the preservation of the fish population in a paddy fields area.

We isolated and characterized a total of 40 polymorphic microsatellite loci from the genome of Parambassis siamensis. Flanking Polymerase Chain Reaction primers were developed and used to show that all loci were polymorphic with the number of observed alleles per locus in 32 individuals ranging from 2 to 29. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.063 to 0.969, while the expected heterozygosity varied from 0.062 to 0.960. All loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, none of the loci combinations showed significant linkage disequilibrium, and no loci showed evidence of null alleles. These 40 microsatellite loci should be useful for conducting future investigations into the genetic differentiation and structure of populations of P. siamensis.

Twenty-nine microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the genome of Esomus metallicus. Flanking polymerase chain reaction primers were designed and used to amplify these loci in 32 individuals. All loci were polymorphic; with allele numbers ranged from 2 to 27, observed heterozygosity from 0.031 to 0.969 and expected heterozygosity from 0.031 to 0.957. All conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and no evidence of null alleles was observed. Pairwise comparisons between alleles did not detect any cases of linkage disequilibrium. The high level of polymorphisms observed in these microsatellite loci should enhance future investigation of the genetic differentiation and structure of populations of E. metallicus.

Agricultural canals with deep concrete walls are commonly installed in paddy field areas following land consolidation projects in Japan. Such canals create a critical migration barrier for frogs, as escape is not possible after falling in. Hence, countermeasures that allow migrating frogs to cross agricultural canals, such as lid structures to prevent frogs from falling in or the creation of partial slopes to allow escape, have been developed to conserve endangered frog populations. The objective of this study was to design a method for evaluating the population viability of the endangered Japanese Brown Frog, Rana japonica, following the implementation of countermeasures. Two types of model simulations were examined: (1) a “basic model,” based on an age-structured model and (2) a “crossing model,” to evaluate migrating frogs crossing canals. Parameters, such as survival rate and fecundity, were estimated from field observation data of age-dependent population fluctuations. Comparison of a basic model simulation with the field observation data suggests model validation. The crossing model simulation, which had an initial population of 1,000 individuals, showed that a crossing proportion of greater than 30–40% would achieve 95% population viability after 5 years. The simulation also showed that a crossing proportion of over 80% would also achieve 95% population viability after 40 years. These results indicate that frog survival during the migration period is insured, as long as no additional countermeasures are necessary after installation.

Twenty-three polymorphic microsatellite markers for Sympetrum frequens were developed and characterized. The number of distinct alleles per locus in 32 individuals ranged from 2 to 23. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.031 to 0.938, while the expected heterozygosity varied from 0.031 to 0.922. No loci deviated significantly from Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, no linkage disequilibrium was observed between pairs of loci and no loci showed evidence of null alleles. These microsatellite markers are expected to contribute to future investigations of genetic variation and structure in S. frequens populations.

Thirty-two polymorphic microsatellite loci were indentified and characterized from the mysid Crustacea Mesopodopsis tenuipes Hanamura et al., 2008. The number of observed alleles per locus in 32 individuals collected from its type locality in Malaysia ranged from 2 to 22. The observed heterozygosity ranged from 0.031 to 0.906, while the expected heterozygosity varied from 0.031 to 0.943. All loci conformed to Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium, no linkage disequilibrium was observed between pairs of loci and no loci showed evidence of null alleles. These 32 microsatellite loci could be used in future population genetics study of M. tenuipes.

We have developed microsatellite DNA markers for Mesopodopsis orientalis (Tattersall 1908), a widely distributed mysid crustacean in shallow waters of the coastal and estuarine systems across India to Indonesia and the Philippines. A total of 18 novel polymorphic microsatellite markers were identified in 32 individuals from a sandy beach at Teluk Kumbar in Penang Island, Malaysia. The number of alleles per locus ranged from 3 to 17. The observed and expected heterozygosities varied from 0.031–1.000 to 0.092–0.938, respectively. These polymorphic markers could be available for future investigations of genetic diversity and structure of M. orientalis populations.

Smoke inhalation injury is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in thermally injured individuals. There is evidence of increased oxygen free radical activity, e.g., superoxide, in association with smoke inhalation injury. Because superoxide dismutase converts the reactive superoxide radical to peroxide, we hypothesized that nebulization of manganese superoxide dismutase (Mn-SOD) into the airway might attenuate pulmonary dysfunction secondary to smoke inhalation injury. The present study was designed as a prospective, controlled, and randomized laboratory experiment to determine the effects of aerosolized Mn-SOD on lung fluid balance, as indexed by changes in pulmonary microvascular permeability, lung lymph flow (Q(L)), and gas exchange in an established and clinically relevant ovine model of smoke inhalation injury. Fifteen female Merino sheep were chronically instrumented with a femoral arterial, a Swan-Ganz, and a left atrial catheter. In addition, the right caudal mediastinal lymph node was cannulated to measure Q(L) (mL.h(-1)). Pneumatic occluders were placed around the right pulmonary veins for the determination of the reflection coefficient (sigma). After 7 days of recovery, sheep were randomly allocated to (a) an untreated control group (4 groups of 12 breaths of cotton smoke), (b) an injured group treated with nebulized Mn-SOD (5 mg/kg), and (c) an injured group that received only the vehicle (nebulized saline). Nebulization was performed 1 h and 12 h after smoke inhalation. Mn-SOD nebulization attenuated the increase in both filtration coefficient and sigma and significantly decreased lung tissue conjugated dienes. However, there were no differences in Q(L), PaO2/FiO2 ratio, and bloodless lung wet/dry weight ratio between groups. Although Mn-SOD nebulization attenuated the loss of protein, it failed to improve lung edema and pulmonary gas exchange, thereby limiting its clinical use.

症例は72歳,男性.発熱,右鼠径部痛,大腿部痛を主訴にて入院.骨盤腔CTにて右腸腰筋膿瘍と診断し経後腹膜的排膿ドレナージ術施行.膿様排液を多量に認めた.症状は消失したが,術後5日目にドレーンより便汁様排液を多量に認め,細菌培養でE. coli検出.精査により盲腸癌と診断.術後17日目,結腸右半切除術を施行.腫瘍は10cm大で,後腹膜に浸潤しており,切除の際後腹膜腔に達したが,腸腰筋への直接浸潤は認めなかった.術後経過は良好であったが, 2回目の手術から約2カ月後に右化膿性股関節炎による大腿骨頭壊死を発症,整形外科的治療目的にて他院へ転院した.腸腰筋膿瘍を併発した大腸癌は稀である.本疾患は高齢者に多く,全身状態も不良である場合が多い.的確な外科的処置を行い,長期の厳重な経過観察が必要と思われた.

Twenty-four microsatellite loci were isolated and characterized from the genome of Rasbora borapetensis. Flanking polymerase chain reaction primers were designed and used to amplify these loci in 32 individuals. All loci were polymorphic with allele numbers ranging from 2 to 27, observed heterozygosity from 0.031 to 1.000 and expected heterozygosity from 0.031 to 0.965. All loci conformed to the Hardy–Weinberg equilibrium and no evidence of null alleles was observed. Pairwise comparisons between alleles did not detect any linkage disequilibrium. The high level of polymorphisms observed in these microsatellite loci will enhance future investigations on the genetic differentiation and structure of populations of Rasbora borapetensis.

症例は99歳の女性.主訴は右下肢痛,左乳房腫瘤.平成13年2月22日に突然右下肢痛,蒼白,冷感を認めた.入院時,右ankle brachial pressure index (ABI)は0, CPKは8,606,翌日は11,816と増加し疼痛も増悪したため,緊急手術を施行した.また2年前から左乳房に出血,排膿を繰り返し増大する腫瘤を認めた.右下肢切断術を施行し,術後1日目のCPKは6,188と改善した. 3月8日にはCPKは145と正常範囲内となった.腎不全も併発しなかった.左乳房腫瘤は徐々に自壊し,生検で悪性所見を認めたため, 3月15日に左全乳房切除術を施行した.術後経過良好で3月26日に退院した. 100歳になられた現在も元気に存命である.全身状態,侵襲と根治性,術後QOLを考えて手術適応,術式を決定すれば,超高齢者でも手術の施行は可能であると考えられた.

Inhaled nitric oxide (NO) is known to selectively reduce pulmonary hypertension and improve the ventilation-perfusion relationship in subjects with lung injury of various origin. However, some forms of lung injury do not react to inhaled NO at all, or show only a reduction in pulmonary arterial pressure. Very little is known about the effects of inhaled NO after smoke inhalation injury. We investigated the effects of inhaled NO in an established model of ovine smoke inhalation injury. Chronically instrumented sheep (n = 8) had tracheostomies and were insufflated with smoke generated from burning cotton cloth (4 times at 12 breaths each). They were then connected to a ventilator with oxygen-enriched air to achieve arterial oxygen tensions within the normal range. After 48 hours, NO was added to the inspired gas in ascending concentrations of up to 100 ppm. Systemic and pulmonary hemodynamics as well as oxygen transport were analyzed. Inhaled NO dose dependently lowered the pulmonary hypertension. Concentrations higher than 20 ppm did not further reduce the pulmonary artery pressure. Right ventricular stroke work index was significantly improved owing to the reduction in pulmonary vascular resistance. Arterial oxygenation, however, was not optimized by inhaled NO, probably because of interstitial edema formation.

In Japan, conservation and regeneration projects have been actively conducted for largesized birds such as the Japanese crested ibis, Nipponia Nippon, the oriental white stork, Cico‐ nia boyciana and the intermediate egret, Ardea intermedia (Photo 1) that inhabit rural areas [1, 2]. Many people are highly interested in these projects and a lot of information about growth and breeding for large-sized birds is broadcasted through television, radio and internet me‐ dia. In such a situation, a conspicuous topic has been found in recent months, that is, 2 indi‐ viduals of the Japanese crested ibis displayed beriberi symptom along with human being, because of overeating great favorite food that is the Dojo loach, Misgurnus anguillicaudatus. Their beriberi symptom appeared to be caused by eating the Dojo loach raw. The 2 individu‐ als were diagnosed as follows; this beriberi symptom occurred as vitamin B1 in the individ‐ ual bodies was destroyed by tiaminase enzyme contained in the Dojo loach. At present the two individuals may have completely recovered from the beriberi symptom through vita‐ min B1 supplementation by injection.

OBJECTIVE To test whether renal excretory function decreases after nitric oxide synthase inhibition during experimental hyperdynamic sepsis. DESIGN Prospective, randomized, controlled animal trial. SETTING Research laboratory at a large university medical center. SUBJECTS Chronically instrumented Merino breed ewes (n = 18). INTERVENTIONS Continuous infusion of Escherichia coli endotoxin (10 ng/kg/min) for the experimental period of 32 hrs. One group received a bolus of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (25 mg/kg), after 24 hrs, and the remaining sheep were given the carrier, sodium chloride 0.9%. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS The sheep developed a hyperdynamic cardiovascular response characterized by a decrease in systemic vascular resistance index (p < .05), and an increased cardiac index (p < .05) by 24 hrs. The sheep retained fluid, with creatinine clearance decreasing in the presence of chronically increased atrial natriuretic peptide. After the administration of N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, systemic vascular resistance index and cardiac index returned to baseline values, fluid balance normalized, and glomerular filtration rate increased (p < .05), while the control animals continued to retain fluid and their creatinine clearance continued to decrease. The concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide did not differ significantly between groups after N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester administration. CONCLUSIONS In this ovine model of experimental hyperdynamic sepsis, renal excretory function decreases in the presence of chronically increased concentrations of atrial natriuretic peptide. Administration of the nitric oxide synthase inhibitor, N omega-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester, reverses the vasodilatory state, thereby improving fluid balance and glomerular filtration.

右心系の感染性心内膜炎 (IE) を合併した成人の心室中隔欠損症 (VSD) の2例を経験した. 症例1はVSDに肺動脈弁IEを合併し肺動脈弁閉鎖不全を生じた. 炎症は活動期であったが疣贅による肺梗塞を併発したため緊急手術を行った. 肺動脈弁切除とVSDのパッチ閉鎖を行った. 症例2はVSD+心房中隔欠損症 (ASD) に三尖弁IEを合併し三尖弁閉鎖不全を生じた. 炎症の寛解した時点でVSD, およびASDは直接閉鎖, 三尖弁は切除後 Bjork-Shiley 弁で置換した.

Since February 1987, coronary angiography has been performed on 103 patients with aortic and peripheral vascular disease. In this study these patients were evaluated for risk factors and operation procedures. There were 77 patients with arteriosclerosis (ASO), 25 with aneurysm, and one with ASO plus aneurysm. Forty our of 77 ASO patients and 13 out of 25 aneurysm patients had over 50% coronary artery stenosis. The patients with significant coronary diseases had hypertension, diabetes mellitus (DM) or 2 of the following factors; smoking, hypertension, hyperlipidemia, and DM. CABG was performed on 8 cases prior to operation for vascular disease. Conclusion; The patients with aortic and peripheral vascular disease had a high frequency of coronary artery disease, 52%. The patients with risk factors had a high possibility of coronary artery disease. As a rule, a two-step approach was employed, namely, operation for a peripheral vascular disease was preceded by CABG or PTCA, if it could be indicated.

The effect of adding allopurinol and catalase to hypothermic cardioplegia for ischemic-reperfusion injury was investigated in the isolated rabbit heart. Hearts were divided into two groups, namely: Group C (n = 7), which received a hypothermic crystalloid cardioplegic solution alone (4 degrees C), and group T (n = 7), which received the hypothermic cardioplegic solution with allopurinol (148 mumol/L)13 and catalase (37 nmol/L).12 The cardioplegic solution was infused continuously into the isolated hearts, which had been placed in ice-cold saline, during a 12 h preservation. Subsequently, the hearts were mounted on a noncirculating, nonpulsatile perfusion circuit using Krebs-Henseleit buffer solution at 37 degrees C for 1 h at a constant perfusion pressure of 75 mm Hg. The left ventricular developed pressure (LVDP), maximum rate of pressure change (max dp/dt), and percent recovery of coronary flow were higher, while the creatine phosphokinase concentration and left ventricular end diastolic pressure (LVEDP) were lower in group T. The tissue malondialdehyde concentration and water content were similar in both groups. Thus, cardiac function after a 12 h preservation was enhanced by the added combination of allopurinol and catalase to the cardioplegic solution, supporting its role in the prevention of free radical reperfusion injury in cardiac preservation.

A 72-year-old man was admitted because of right hypochondralgia. A tumor in the right retroperitoneal space was revealed by abdominal ultrasonography, CT and MRI. Blood pressure was normal (140/86 mmHg) before operation, but during operation, systolic blood pressure suddenly rose to 240 mmHg. At this time, it was suspected that the tumor was an ectopic pheochromocytoma. Histological findings showed pheochromocytoma and bilateral normal adrenal glands were visualized on postoperative131I-adosterol scintigraphy.

A mononuclear peroxovanadium(V) complex with histamine-N,N-diacetate (histada), K[VO(O(2))(histada)], and a dinuclear peroxovanadium(V) complex with 2-oxo-1,3-diaminopropane-N,N,N',N'-tetraacetate (dpot), Cs(3)[(VO)(2)(O(2))(2)(dpot)], were prepared and characterized. The self-decomposition reaction was examined for these peroxovanadium(V) complexes as well as for K[VO(O(2))(cmhist)] (cmhist = N-carboxymethylhistidinate). The reaction profiles depicted by the absorbance change in the UV-vis spectrum show a sigmoid shape with an induction period. The induction period is reduced by the addition of acid, fluoride, thiocyanate, VO(2+), VO(2)(+), and trolox compared to the solution containing perchlorate. On the other hand, the induction period was elongated by the addition of chloride, bromide, and 2-tert-butyl-p-cresol. These behaviors are discussed on the basis of a radical chain mechanism. The self-decomposition reactions have also been followed by the (1)H and (51)V NMR and EPR spectra. These spectral studies as well as the UV-vis spectral study indicate that vanadium(V) is partly reduced to vanadium(IV) in the self-decomposition process. The histada complex yields a mixed-valence dinuclear complex in a concentrated solution, and the dpot complex yields a mixed-valence tetranuclear complex. The reduction of vanadium ion suggests that the peroxo ligand may act as a reducing agent. In order to know the fate of the peroxo ligand, we tried to detect superoxide anion and hydroxyl radical, which were anticipated to be produced in the self-decomposition process. The formation of superoxide anion was spectrophotometrically confirmed using two independent methods, including the reduction of cytochrome c and the reduction of sodium 4-[3-(iodophenyl)-2-(4-nitrophenyl)-2H-5-tetrazolio]-1,3-benzene disulfonate (WST-1). The formation of hydroxyl radical was confirmed by an EPR spin trapping technique. The oxidizing abilities of the peroxovanadium(V) complexes toward bovine serum albumin (BSA) were also evaluated. In the protein carbonyl assay, it was found that the total amount of protein carbonyl in BSA was increased by the reaction with the peroxovanadium complexes in the concentration-dependent manner. In addition, the oxidation of sulfhydryl group in BSA induced by the peroxovanadium complexes was confirmed.

Several peroxovanadium(V) complexes were prepared with a tripodal or a quasi-tripodal tetradentate ligand. The structures of K 2 [VO(O 2 )(nta)]·2H 2 O and K[VO(O 2 )( dl -cmhist)]·H 2 O have been determined by X-ray crystallography (nta, nitrilotriacetate; cmhist, N -carboxymethylhistidinate). The structure of Cs[VO(O 2 )(pda)]·2H 2 O (pda, N -pyridylmethyliminodiacetate) has been estimated to be similar to that of K[VO(O 2 )( dl -cmhist)]·H 2 O. Each complex anion in these compounds adopts a distorted pentagonal bipyramidal structure, which is typical for heptacoordinate oxoperoxovanadium(V) complexes. The peroxide ion binds in a side-on fashion to the vanadium(V) center in the pentagonal plane. The peroxide anion in the cmhist complex dissociates rather easily in an acidic solution (pH∼3), while that in the other complexes stays intact under similar conditions. The in vitro insulin mimetic effect of the peroxovanadium(V) complexes has been evaluated by the inhibitory effect on free fatty acid (FFA) release in isolated rat adipocytes treated with epinephrine. The cmhist complex is effective, while the others are almost totally ineffective.

To determine whether the anti-inflammatory effects of phenytoin might reduce cardiopulmonary dysfunction we studied the effects of phenytoin treatment on acute lung injury induced by smoke inhalation. Twenty-one chronically instrumented sheep were observed for 24 h after smoke inhalation injury. Myocardial contractility was evaluated by left ventricular end-systolic pressure-diameter relationship (LVESPDR) with a pair of ultrasonic transducers and strain-gauge transducer. In the control group (n = 6), uninjured sheep were given a bolus of phenytoin (12.5 mg/kg). Smoke-insufflated sheep were divided into nontreatment (n = 7) and phenytoin (n = 8) groups. Phenytoin alone had no effects in uninjured sheep except an early rise in heart rate and LVESPDR. In the group given smoke without treatment, there was a significant increase in pulmonary artery pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance index and a decrease in cardiac index. Pulmonary vascular changes were attenuated by treatment with phenytoin. Pulmonary transvascular fluid flux was evaluated by using a lung lymph fistula. LVESPDR fell in the smoke group but not in the group given phenytoin. There was a marked increase in lung lymph flow with smoke inhalation but this phenomenon was not affected by phenytoin treatment. In conclusion, phenytoin treatment reduced early hemodynamic depression.

The peroxovanadium(V) complex containing N-carboxymethylhistidine (cmhist) was synthesized and structurally characterized by X-ray analysis as a model compound for the vanadium-dependent haloperoxidase enzymes. The complex takes a heptacoordinate structure consisting of a quadridentate cmhist ligand, a side-on bound peroxo group, and an oxo group. The coordination polyhedron is a distorted pentagonal bipyramid.

Large ventricular septal defect (VSD) repair has been performed in 43 infants under two years of age. Twostaged repair was done for 11 infants and the primary definitive repair for the remaining 32. One hospital death occured among the 43 infants. Postoperatively, the incidence of cathecolamine dosing was, significantly higher, and a prolonged mechanical ventilation was required in the infants under 12 months (Group I), compared to those over 12 months of age (Group II). Regression of pulmonary hypertension after repair was similarly achieved in the two groups. Complete right bandle block tended to occure more frequently in Group I. Exhocardiographic evaluation of the left ventricular function revealed that left ventricular diastolic dimension and ejection fraction returned within normal limits one or two years after surgical repair in both groups. These data suggest that eraly surgical repair for VSD in the first two years of life is an appropriate surgical treatment where satisfactory clinical results can be expected.