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Carbon monoxide (CO) is a colorless, tasteless, odorless, dangerous gas, which exists anywhere people live, and it is slightly lighter than air. The prognosis of CO poisoning varies depending on the exposure situation of CO gas, and some suffer from disorientation, urinary incontinence, energy loss, or even death after a full recovery from CO poisoning. The pathogenesis of acute CO poisoning has not been clearly identified, and the treatment protocol has also not been established.

The three-dimensional (3D) distribution of nanosized silicon (Si) crystallites within a hydrogenated nanocrystalline Si (nc-Si:H) material is examined by laser-assisted atom probe tomography (APT). The amorphous and crystalline phases in nc-Si:H are distinguished by obtaining the 3D density distribution of H atoms, because the former contains a high H density. The H content in the amorphous phase is estimated to be approximately 15 at% by APT, which is consistent with that obtained by infrared spectroscopy. Thus, the 3D analysis of H distribution via APT is a powerful method to visualize the real shape of nanosized crystallites within nc-Si:H materials.

The vascular endothelium is important for the early and late effects observed in lethally irradiated tissue and organs. We examined the effects of exogenously added superoxide dismutase on cell survival and angiogenesis in lethally irradiated human primary umbilical vein endothelial cells. Cell survival was significantly improved in superoxide dismutase-treated cells; the addition of superoxide dismutase to cells after irradiation was also effective for increased survival, as it was before irradiation. Moreover, treatment of cells with superoxide dismutase enhanced the phosphorylation of mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinases 1 and 2 in human primary umbilical vein endothelial cells. The addition of superoxide dismutase to cells after irradiation attenuated the reduction of angiogenesis by irradiation, and inhibition of the mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinases signaling pathway abrogated the rescue effect of superoxide dismutase. Our results suggest that superoxide dismutase rescues human primary umbilical vein endothelial cells from endothelial dysfunction caused by irradiation via a pathway requiring activation of mitogen-activated protein/extracellular signal-regulated kinase/extracellular signal regulated kinases 1 and 2.

Ethylene glycol monomethyl ether (EGME) induces testicular lesion in rats and human. To investigate miRNAs expression in EGME testicular lesion, miRNA array assay and real-time RT-PCR analysis were conducted by using testis in rats treated with 50 and 2,000 mg/kg EGME for 6 and 24 hr. The expression of corresponding target gene for miRNAs was also examined. At 50 mg/kg, there were no changes in the gene expression and histopathological examination. At 2,000 mg/kg, slight decrease of phacytene spermatocytes with cell shrinkage and nucleus pyknosis at 6 hr and remarkable decrease (or cell death) of phacytene spermatocytes with Sertoli cell vacuolation at 24 hr were observed. After 24 hr, miR-449a and miR-92a decreased obviously and, miR-320, miR-134 and miR-188 increased, while only miR-760-5p increased after 6 hr. Above these miRNAs are reported to have an important role for spermatogenesis. The gene expression of Bcl-2, target for miR-449a, increased and therefore it is considered anti-apoptotic reaction has started in this stage. The expression of high mobility group AT-hook 2 (target of miR-92a) which regulates histone structure, was increased. Furthermore, histone deacethylase 4, targets for miR-320, was also affected. Above prohibiting apoptosis or activating epigenetic genes might be protective reaction to spermatocytes death under the miRNAs regulation in EGME testicular lesion.

Distribution and population structure of Thysanoessa inspinata were investigated off northeastern Japan and compared with those of Euphausia pacifica and other Thysanoessa species. Thysanoessa inspinata were distributed as widely as E. pacifica, but their abundance in the transitional water mass area (TWA) was conspicuously lower than in the cooler Oyashio water mass area (OWA). Another three Subarctic species of Thysanoessa occurred restrictively in the OWA, but rarely occurred during summer―autumn when sea surface temperature increased up to nearly 20°C. Thysanoessa inspinata was distributed in surface waters at night in the OWA in spring, but in the middle layers during summer―autumn; in contrast, E. pacifica occurred near the surface throughout the year. Euphausia pacifica was > 7 times more abundant than T. inspinata in the OWA, whereas T inspinata was >90% of the total numbers of Thysanoessa spp. Temperature tolerances may strongly affect the degree of dominance of euphausiids and explain why the TWA is the southern limit of T inspinata distribution, perhaps by restricting its access to the food-rich surface waters. Growth of males of T. inspinata was slower than that of females. Evidence from this study corroborates that E. pacifica is the key euphausiid species for food of surface-migratory Pacific saury during summer―autumn.

Population structure, abundance and biomass of Euphausia pacifica were surveyed during three seasons (January, February, May and October) mainly in the Kuroshio―Oyashio transitional waters off northeastern Japan between 1999 and 2002. Larval stages, juveniles and adults showed aggregated distributions. The abundance of juveniles and adults collected at night was significantly higher than those collected during the day Active spawning and recruitment to larval stages occurred in May when the concentration of chlorophyll a was high. High abundance of juveniles occurred in October and based on back-calculating likely ages of the animals, another significant spawning period may have occurred between August and September. Both the abundance of adults and the biomass were higher in October. Substantial contribution to the total biomass by small adults (8―15 mm) occurred in January―February and Octobcr but by larvae and large adults in May. The proportion of males tended to decrease with increasing size for each season. The somatic growth pattern was estimated to be identical between sexes, thus it is considered that a higher mortality rate occurs in males as they grow. However, in this study using the cohort technique was found not to be suitable to determine the growth rate, and it is considered that an instantaneous growth rate incubation technique is needed to allow accurate measurement of the growth rate in the future.

Nerve agents have only ever been used in Iran and Japan: in the Iran-Iraq war and the Matsumoto and Tokyo subway sarin attacks. When discussing responses to nerve agent attacks in peace-time, it is important to maximize the lessons learned from these two incidents. The golden standard for the treatment of nerve agents has conventionally been the combination of atropine sulfate, oxime, and diazepam as recommended. While this recommendation also applies to civil defense for terrorism in peace-time, there is nonetheless a need to re-evaluate the golden standard. In addition, factors such as cost-effectiveness must be considered.

Experiment 1 evaluated changes in leukocyte migration during acetazolamide (AZ) inhibition of carbonic anhydrase activity in leukocytes. AZ induced changes in the intracellular calcium concentration, and extracellular calcium is thought to be a factor inducing an increase in leukocyte migration. Next, Experiment 2 determined whether extracellular calcium concentration was a primary factor influencing leukocyte migration in the absence of AZ. The distance of leukocyte migration increased in a dose-dependent manner with AZ despite the presence of IL-8 or LPS in Experiment 1. The extracellular calcium concentration used in the present study had no influence on the distance in leukocyte migration in Experiment 2. The distance of leukocyte migration showed a tendency to increase in a dose-dependent manner with LPS concentration. In conclusion, AZ may stimulate leukocyte migration due to its participation in the regulation of intracellular pH controlled by CA activity without an effect of low extracellular calcium concentration. In addition, AZ was thus suggested to possibly have an anti-inflammatory effect in supporting leukocyte migration during inflammatory reactions.

The horizontal and vertical distributions of larvae and reproductive timing of euphausiids were investigated in the Ross Sea and its adjacent waters during austral summer 2004–2005. Occurrences of larvae of Euphausia frigida and E. triacantha were confined to the northern oceanic area where the Upper Circumpolar Deep Water prevailed, although their juvenile and adult stages extended the distribution further southward to the area where cooler Lower Circumpolar Deep Water prevailed. Larvae of Thysanoessa spp. were widely distributed within the oceanic to slope areas but did not occur on the shelf as juvenile or adult stages. Eggs and larvae of E. superba occurred with gravid females along the slope, but no juveniles occurred concurrently. Thus the slope does not appear to be a nursery ground for this species. The distribution of E. crystallorophias larvae was mostly confined to the shelf in the juvenile and adult stages. The onset of deepening was from early and later frucilia stages onward for E. triacantha and E. frigida, respectively. However, Thysanoessa spp. were concentrated increasingly within the surface layers from furcilia I onward. The onset of recruitment to calyptopis I appeared to be earlier in the more northern species with the exception of E. crystallorophias, which recruited before E. superba. The intense spawning of E. crystallorophias and E. superba coincided with a period of development of a coastal polynya. Generally, the onset of spawning of euphausiids appeared to be related to the latitudinal distribution and timing of sea-ice melting. Relationships between surface temperatures and development and recruitment of larvae of euphausiids are discussed.

The horizontal and vertical distribution and population structure of euphausiids in the Ross Sea and its adjacent waters were investigated during the summers of 2004/2005 using stratified towed samples. Nine species of euphausiids occurred in the survey area. Among them, Euphausia triacantha was dominant in biomass north of the southern boundary of the Antarctic circumpolar current (SB). Thysanoessa spp. was widely distributed north of the continental slope, while E. superba was distributed from the SB to the slope, where it showed the highest biomass. Juvenile E. superba was distributed offshore near the SB and remained at the surface, but gravid females were dominant in the slope and mainly occurred in the middle layers (400–600 m). Adult and juvenile E. crystallorophias were found at 200–300 m in the colder water of the continental shelf. In general, the peak biomass of euphausiids was found in the mid layers of the Ross Sea area. The life span and the number of spawns for major species are also discussed.

The vertical distribution of dominant euphausiid species was investigated in the offshore waters of north- eastern Japan in April and September 1998 and November 1999 using MOCNESS-I net samples. In total, 32 eu- phausiid species in eight genera were identified in the study area. Subarctic Euphausia pacifica and Thysanoessa in- spinata occurred over a wide range, although mainly in the Oyashio and cooler transitional areas, and the former made a relative contribution of 78% to the total numerical abundance of euphausiids. At night, these species tended to stay near the surface in the Oyashio area and in deeper layers in warmer areas. During the daytime, they tended to stay in deeper layers in the warmer areas, although E. pacifica stayed in deeper layers even in the Oyashio area where the chlorophyll a concentration was low. T. inspinata did not perform clear diel vertical migration. Except for these subarc- tic species, five warm-water species of Euphausia were abundant among the epipelagic euphausiids. At night, these species tended to stay at a wide range of depths from the surface to subsurface layers in the warmer Kuroshio area, but were concentrated near the surface in the transitional area. During the daytime, they stayed in deeper layers in the Kuroshio area. Diel vertical migration of euphausiids seems to be strongly affected by water temperature, but other fac- tors such as phytoplankton abundance may also be important. The possible effects of diel vertical migration of eu- phausiids on euphausiid fisheries are discussed.

Endo & Yamano (2006) investigated the diel vertical migration of Euphausia pacifica Hansen, 1911 in relation to molt and reproductive processes and feeding activity off northeastern Japan. They showed that diel vertical migration of this species was influenced by molt processes because upward migration of molting individuals was restricted compared with non-molting ones. Feeding activity, assessed by stomach fullness, was reduced in molting individuals throughout the day, similar to or lower than the daytime feeding activity of nonmolting individuals. The percentage of molting individuals was lowest for gravid females, which suggests that gravid females molt less frequently than other stages of females and males. Therefore, molt and reproductive processes seemed to be coupled in this species. However, the MTD nets (Motoda 1971) used for sampling in their study were not large enough to collect active individuals quantitatively. Inactive molting individuals were collected more easily and in larger numbers than active non-molting ones, and this tendency was emphasized in the daytime. As a result, the relationship between molting and reproductive processes was not clear, and the total number of molting individuals was too small to examine if there was a significant difference in stomach fullness between molting and non-molting individuals. In the present study, we used a larger net and collected more individuals to fully elucidate the relationship between molting and reproductive processes and feeding activity.

Seasonal and interannual variations in abundance of Euphausia pacifica off north-eastern Japan were examined using Remodeled Norpac net samples collected from April 1993 to February 2000. Spawning occurred mainly during April-June and August-October in every year. When abundance of eggs was high in May, those of larval and immature stages in May-June and small adults (≤15 mm) during July–October tended to be high. There were high positive correlations between monthly average abundance of eggs in May–June and average abundance of small adults during July–October. However, there was low or negative correlation between monthly abundance of eggs in April and average abundance of small adults during July–October. Recruitment time to adult takes approximately 3 months, so these results suggest that small adults during July–October are mainly derived from spawning in May–June, but rarely from spawning in April. The apparent decrease in abundance of small adults from summer to winter was observed every year despite active spawning during August–October, which would recruit to adults in late autumn-winter. The possible effects on recruitment and mortality are discussed in relation to starvation and predation caused by low temperatures and low available food abundance.

Seasonal changes in distribution and abundance of euphausiids off south‐eastern Hokkaido (41°−43°N), Sanriku (38°−41°N), and Joban (36°−38°N) were investigated using cylindrical‐conical nets every two months from March 1997 to February 1998. Twenty‐six species of seven genera of euphausiids occurred during the survey. Among them, subarctic‐transitional Euphausia pacifica was the most abundant throughout the year in coastal waters, as their relative contribution to the total abundance of euphausiids was 89–92%. This species occurred in each coastal water throughout the survey and was abundant from winter to early summer (February–June) off Sanriku and Joban and in autumn in south‐eastern Hokkaido. Thysanoessa inspinata occurred off south‐eastern Hokkaido and Sanriku throughout the survey, mainly in spring (April) but rarely occurred off Joban. Three other subarctic Thysanoessa species occurred mainly off south‐eastern Hokkaido from winter to spring. Conversely, warm‐ and transitional‐water epipelagic species occurred exclusively off Sanriku and Joban in autumn. The characteristics of seasonal distributional patterns of euphausiids are discussed in relation to the spatial and temporal changes of oceanographic conditions and several predators off north‐eastern Japan.

On the morning of March 20, 1995, 15 stations in the Tokyo subway system were filled with a noxious substance that later was identified as a diluted form of sarin. A total of five subway commuter cars were affected during the Monday morning rush hour. Fortunately, only a relatively small number of victims died, but the details of the incident suggest that it was not a full-scale attack. What this means is that humanity has not yet experienced a full-scale sarin attack in a modern major city. This chapter describes the emergency treatment, signs and symptoms, and laboratory findings connected with this and similar incidents. The medical treatment required for responding to a chemical terrorist attack on the general public will require a different strategy to that employed for such attacks in a military setting. From the standpoint of international security, collaborative research on drugs for treating chemical terrorism and a global agreement on standard treatment is needed.

われわれは,スズメバチに多数箇所を刺され多臓器不全により死亡した1例を報告する。80歳の男性が,畑でスズメバチの群れに襲われ,全身78箇所を刺されて約1時間後に搬送されてきた。来院時,ショック状態であったが,輸液付加及びエピネフリン0.1mgの静脈内投与により循環動態は速やかに安定した。しかし,受傷時の血液検査にて,すでに肝機能異常・横紋筋融解・凝固異常等を認めた。輸液・新鮮凍結血漿(FFP)投与・ステロイド投与等にて対応したが,血液検査及び全身状態の増悪を認めたため,人工呼吸器管理の上,受傷約13時間で血漿交換・持続血液濾過透析を開始した。しかし,受傷51時間後,多臓器不全にて死亡した。わが国の文献報告においては,スズメバチによる多数箇所刺傷例もしくは臓器不全例は25例あり,このうち8例の死亡が報告されている。これらはアナフィラキシーではなくハチ毒による臓器障害例で,死亡例のほとんどは50箇所以上の刺傷数を持つ例であることがわかった。50箇所以上の刺傷数もしくは全身状態が悪いと判断される場合,迅速に血漿交換(PE)を施行し,その後継続してCH(D)Fを施行すべきである。

The abundance, spawning, growth pattern and life span of Euphausia pacifica were examined using widely collected samples off the Japanese coast of the North Pacific. Adults were widely distributed in the Oyashio area [OW; temperature at 100-m depth (T100) ≤ 5°C] and the transitional area (5°C 15 mm) was limited to OW and the cold waters of the transitional area (CW; 5°C

We investigated the feeding of Euphausia pacifica on ciliates, especially naked ciliates, in laboratory and field experiments in which cultured Strombidium conicum, or natural food assemblages, or both were given, and estimated the importance of ciliates as prey. E. pacifica ingested cultured S. conicum at rates of 0.04 to 0.07 μgC krill -1 h -1 at low ciliate concentration and 1.01 to 3.24 μgC krill -1 h -1 at high ciliate concentration, when S. conicum was given as the sole prey. The daily ration on naked ciliates ranged from 0.02 to 1.8% of body carbon when natural food assemblages enriched with S. conicum were given, and from 0.05 to 2.3 % of body carbon when S. conicum was given as the sole prey. Our results provide indirect evidence that E. pacifica ingests naked ciliates and plays a role in linking microbial food webs to the classical grazing food chains.

Background Ischemic damage of the brain is one of the most important factors for the sequelae of acute subdural hematomas (ASDHs). However, ischemic damage is infrequently addressed in a systematic manner in the clinical setting. Methods The analysis of ischemic brain damage was performed based on serial computed tomography (CT) scans in 80 patients with traumatic ASDHs. Single photon emission computed tomography (SPECT) for regional blood flow and/or magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) were also performed. Results Follow-up CT scans showed ischemic brain damage in 19 patients and no significant damage in 35 patients. The remaining 26 patients progressively deteriorated to the point of brain death. The ischemic brain damage was seen most frequently in the territory of the anterior cerebral artery (13 cases), followed by the territory of the posterior cerebral artery (12 cases). The ischemic damages in the pallidum, the hypothalamus and the thalamus were demonstrated in 4, 8, and 4 cases, respectively. The ischemic damage in the underlying brain that was probably because of the direct compression of the hematoma was seen in only two cases. Conclusion Most of the ischemic brain damage noted in this study was because of arterial compression secondary to the brain shift and brain herniation, rather than the direct effect of the hematoma upon the underlying brain. Ischemic brain damage adversely affects outcome morbidity, and the difficulty in preventing ischemic damage in cases with marked brain shift leads to poor outcome in patients with ASDHs.

In Euphausia pacifica specimens, phospholipids (PL, 44.1–81.2%) such as phosphatidylethanolamine (PE, mean±standard error, 26.1±2.1%) and phosphatidylcholine (PC, 29.0±2.3%) were found to be the dominant lipids. Compared to many other marine organisms, the level of PL was markedly high. The major fatty acids in the TAG of E. pacifica were saturated fatty acids (SFA, 14:0 and 16:0), monounsaturated fatty acids (MUFA, 16:1 and 18:1), and polyunsaturated fatty acids (PUFA, 18:4 n −3 and 20:5 n −3, icosapentaenoic acid: EPA). The only fatty acids found in the tissue PL were SFA (16:0), MUFA (18:1), and PUFA (20:4 n −6, arachidonic acid: AA, EPA, and 22:6 n −3, docosahexaenoic acids: DHA). The comparatively high levels of 14:0, 16:0, 16:1 n −7, 16:2 n −4, 16:4 n −1, 18:1 n −7, 18:1 n −9, 18:4 n −3, and EPA in the TAG may be affected by the lipid composition of its phytoplankton prey, such as diatoms, which generally contain high amounts of these fatty acids. The levels of short chain 14:0, 16:1 n −7, 16:2 n −4, 16:4 n −1, 18:1 n −9, and 18:4 n −3 decreased in PL, while AA, EPA, and DHA increased. In particular, the levels of n −3 PUFA in PL were markedly high in all specimens. The mean proportion of EPA plus DHA accounted for more than 45% (55.0% in PE and 47.7% in PC) of the total fatty acids. These results suggest that E. pacifica , which contains markedly high levels of EPA and DHA, may biosynthesize these PUFA by carbon chain elongation and desaturation or selectively accumulate n −3 PUFA. In addition, their lipids may be an important source of n −3 PUFA for higher marine animals, such as the pelagic marine fishes (sardines, anchovies, and other small fishes), which mainly prey on these euphausiids. Marine fish accumulate high levels of these n −3 PUFA because they are unable to synthesize DHA.

YBa 2 Cu 3 O 7− δ (YBCO) thin films have been fabricated on amorphous synthetic quartz (SiO 2 ) and MgO(1 0 0) substrates with Pt buffer layers of different thickness. YBCO thin films and Pt thin films were deposited by means of pulsed-laser deposition and the sputtering method, respectively. Pt thin films were oriented in (1 1 1) plane parallel to both substrates. With decreasing thickness of the Pt(1 1 1) buffer layers, the c -axis oriented growth of the YBCO thin films was obtained for both substrates. T c (zero)'s of the YBCO thin films on SiO 2 and MgO(1 0 0) substrates with the 140 A thick Pt buffer layer were 70 and 85 K, respectively.

When carbonic anhydrase activity decreases, the regional blood flow (rBF) in organs increases as hypercapnia develops. However, the effects of acetazolamide (AZ)-induced vasodilation have not been estimated with respect to vessel size and organs. The aim of this study was to determine the diameter of the capillaries in various organs that respond to inhibition of carbonic anhydrase activity by AZ. White rabbits were anesthetized with urethane and ketamine and infused with AZ. While the systolic blood pressure (SBP), pH, hemoglobin concen tration, and base excess did not change, the partial pressure of arterial oxygen (PaO2) increased significantly and the partial pressure of arterial carbon dioxide (PaCO2) decreased significantly with AZ. The rBF was calculated by using 3 different sizes (15, 25, and 50 μm) of colored microspheres (CM). The rBF measured with 15μm CM in the brain, kidneys, and liver increased in response to AZ, and the rBF in these organs was different with the different sizes of CM. However, the rBF calculated by using the different sizes of CM in the stomach and abdominal muscle did not change after the administration of AZ. The AZ-induced vasodilation occurred in all sizes of vessels in the liver, in the small and medium-sized vessels in kidneys, and in the larger capillaries in the brain.

Objective: To ascertain the proportion of patients with traumatic brain injury (TBI) admitted to a Japanese district hospital and to evaluate the levels of stress and anxiety in families living with those TBI patients. Design: A retrospective study of patients admitted to hospital from April 1995 to March 1997 and a questionnaire study of family members of survivors. Setting and subjects: All patients referred or transferred to the Emergency Department at the Saga Medical School Hospital, Japan with a primary diagnosis of TBI were studied. Family members living with TBI patients were sent questionnaires. Main outcome measures: The Barthel Index, the Patient Competency Rating Scale, the modified Caregiver Strain Index and the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale. Results: There were 34 patients who required hospitalization for care relating to TBI. Of these, nine family members took part in the questionnaire study. Three carers reported fairly high levels of stress and another three carers were considered to be at risk of anxiety and depression. There was a tendency for family members who reported that patients had difficulties in performing behavioural tasks to have higher levels of stress themselves. Conclusion: These preliminary results showed that family members experienced certain levels of stress and were also at risk of anxiety and depression. The impact of TBI on families as well as patients should receive more attention.

The authors encountered a patient with a tumor of the floor of the mouth in whom the no-reflow phenomenon occurred after excision of the lesion and the mandible, followed by reconstruction using a free fibular flap. A catheter was inserted retrogradely from the point where the peroneal artery had been ligated at the time of flap preparation. Continuous intra-arterial infusion of prostaglandin E1 and heparin was performed, and the flap survived. This method salvaged free flaps subject to the no-reflow phenomenon.

炭酸脱水酵素阻害薬(アセタゾルアミド;AZ)の血流増加作用について,AZ投与時とCO2負荷時の臓器血流量と血管作動因子の関係を検討した。方法:2群の家兎の各々にAZ 4～12mg/kgの投与後,また5%と10% CO2負荷時の肝臓,腎臓,胃壁,腹筋の血流量をレーザー血流計で測定した。さらに心拍出量と血中PGI2(プロスタグランデイン),エンドセリン(ET-1),NOxを測定した。結果:AZ投与時には肝臓と腎臓の血流量は増したが,胃壁と腹筋の血流量および心拍出量には増加が認められなかった。血中のPGI2, ET-1, NOxにも変化は認められなかった。一方,CO2負荷時に心拍出量は増加し4臓器すべての血流量と血中PGI2とET-1は増加したが,NOxだけに変化は認められなかった。結論:AZ投与による臓器の血流増加は炭酸脱水酵素の豊富な臓器で認められ,その機序としてはCO2負荷時と同様な血管作動因子の作用ないしまったく異なった機序が関与して臓器血流を増すものと推察された。

The electronic states of the system, where , have been explored through measurements of the x-ray diffraction, magnetization, electrical resistivity, and thermoelectric power. Three structural phases appear as the composition and temperature are varied: the high-temperature orthorhombic (HO) phase with a pseudobrookite-type structure and the slightly deformed monoclinic (HM) one, and the low-temperature monoclinic (LM) one which is completely different from the former two phases. For , the HO-HM transition with a small magnetic anomaly and the HM-LM transition with significant spin-singlet Ti-Ti pairs successively take place, but for , no transition to the LM phase exists there. While the HO-phase is like a highly correlated metal, the HO-phase compounds with have a strongly localized state due to the disorder and the polaron formation, and exhibit a spin-glass-like phase at low temperatures.

Inhibitors of carbonic anhydrase activity have been found to increase blood and organPCO2 and to increase blood flow (BF) in individual organs. To determine whether carbonic anhydrase inhibition coordinately induces an increase in BF in several organs, we assayed the effect of the carbonic anhydrase inhibitor, acetazolamide (AZ), on BF in rabbit organs using the colored microsphere (CM) assay. Eight female white rabbits were anesthetized with ketamine and urethane, and administered three sequential doses of 4 mg/kg AZ. After each dose, the rabbits were injected with 9 × 105 CMs of different colors, and arterial blood was collected. We found that AZ had no effect on blood pressure, body temperature, hemoglobin conentration, orPaCO2. In contrast, 12 mg/kg AZ significantly increasedPaO2 and significantly decreased base excess. When we measured organ BF, we observed, in response to 12 mg/kg AZ, an 82% increase in brain BF and a 55% increase in kidney BF, but no change in BF of the liver, stomach wall, or abdominal muscle. These findings suggest that the inhibition of carbonic anhydrase activity by AZ, which decreases the rate of CO2 conversion to HCO 3 - , causes the retention of CO2 in tissues and organs, and thus increases BF in specific organs. Administration of carbonic anhydrase inhibitors, such as AZ, may increase BF to the brain and kidney without reducingPaO2, thereby increasing the supply of oxygen in conditions involving hypoxia such as ischemia and shock.

In this study, the feasibility of identification and abundance estimation of isada krill, Euphausia pacifica, was examined using a two-frequency (38 and 120 kHz) method. The acoustic survey and midwater trawling were conducted off the Sanriku coast, northern part of Honshu, Japan. In one pattern, the SV difference between the two frequencies was large, and in the other, the SV difference was small. These results were interpreted by scattering models, and showed that discrimination between isada krill and walleye pollock was possible.

In this study, phenotypic modulation and remodulation of smooth muscle cells and associated intermediate filament expression were demonstrated by means of immunohistochemistry and ultrastructure to understand the development of intimal hyperplasia in aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts. In nongrafted saphenous veins, all smooth muscle cells expressed vimentin and desmin and were of a contractile form. In saphenous vein grafts showing stenotic intimal hyperplasia (luminal stenosis < 75%), expression of desmin was notably lower, whereas that of vimentin was higher. The cells were shown to be of a synthetic phenotype, suggesting modulation from the original contractile form. In saphenous vein grafts showing occlusive intimal hyperplasia (luminal stenosis >76%), desmin expression in smooth muscle cells was increased again, and such cells were of a contractile form, suggesting remodulation from the synthetic phenotype. Some of the smooth muscle cells of the synthetic phenotype were positive for an antibody against proliferation cell nuclear antigen. Smooth muscle cells of the contractile form were negative for this antibody. The study suggests that smooth muscle cells of synthetic phenotype are highly respon sible for "growing" intimal hyperplasia of aortocoronary saphenous vein grafts.

A stacked image sensor with a 0.9 μm pixel size fabricated by using organic photoconductive film (OPF) was realized. It is the first trial to introduce an active material, that is, an organic semiconductor into the BEOL process. This pixel structure is fabricated by using a standard 45 nm BEOL process. However, after OPF deposition, it is essential to restrict the thermal budget and to avoid oxygen, moisture, and plasma irradiation. By controlling the above conditions, a demonstration of a stacked image sensor with OPF, which has high sensitivity, high saturation charge, and a wide incident light angle, was successfully performed.

MicroRNAs (miRNAs) are small single-stranded RNAs of 19-25 nucleotides and are important in posttranscriptional regulation of genes. Recently, the role of miRNAs in toxicity incidence is reported to be a regulator of key-stopper of gene expression, however the detailed mechanism of miRNAs is not well known yet. 6-Mercaptopurine (6-MP), the anti-leukemic and immunosuppressive drug, produced teratogenicity and pregnancy loss. We focused on the placenta to evaluate toxicity in embryo/fetal development produced by 6-MP treatment. MiRNA expression in the placenta was analyzed by miRNA microarray. Fifteen miRNAs were upregulated on GD13 and 5 miRNAs were downregulated on GD15 in 6-MP treatment rat placentas. Some miRNAs may have functions in apoptosis (miR-195, miR-21, miR-29c and miR-34a), inflammation (miR-146b), and ischemia (miR-144 and miR-451). In the maternal plasma, expression of miR-144 was significantly reduced by 6-MP treatment when examined by real-time RT-PCR. We determined toxicity-related gene expression in the rat placenta. Gene expression analysis was carried out by DNA oligo microarray using rat placenta total RNAs. Compared between predicted targets of miRNAs and microarray data in 6-MP-treated rat placenta, expressions of hormone receptor genes (estrogen receptor 1; Esr1, progesterone receptor; Pgr, and prolactin receptor; Prlr), xanthine oxidase (Xdh), Slc38a5 and Phlda2 genes were changed. The histopathologically found increase in trophoblastic giant cells and reduced placental growth by 6-MP treatment were well correlated to these gene expressions. These data suggest that some miRNAs may link to toxicological reactions in 6-MP-induced placental toxicity.

We investigated the effects of hemidiaphragmatic paresis caused by interscalene brachial plexus block on breathing patterns, chest wall mechanics, and arterial blood gas tensions using respiratory inductive plethysmography. Ten healthy patients received interscalene block with 20-40 mL 1.5% lidocaine with epinephrine. Rib cage contribution to tidal volume (%RC) increased from 28.9% +/- 9.7% to 50.0% +/- 8.3% (P < 0.01), respiratory frequency (f) increased from 14.6 +/- 3.2/min to 16.3 +/- 2.4/min (P < 0.05), and PaO2 decreased from 84.7 +/- 7.3 mm Hg to 78.0 +/- 9.5 mm Hg (P < 0.05). No significant changes were observed in tidal volume (VT), minute volume (VE), or PaCO2. These results indicated that VT, VE, and PaCO2 were maintained after interscalene block, apparently by increases in f and %RC to compensate for hemidiaphragmatic paresis caused by interscalene block. Nevertheless, PaO2 was reduced, presumably due to increased ventilation-perfusion mismatching. Recognizing that we studied healthy patients, the decrease in PaO2 may be more in patients with cardiopulmonary disease.