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Background In the field of oncofertility, patients with breast cancer are often administered letrozole as an adjuvant drug before and after oocyte retrieval to prevent an increase in circulating estradiol. Case presentation We report a case of abdominal hemorrhage due to an ovarian rupture in a 29-year-old Japanese patient who restarted letrozole 2 days after an oocyte retrieval procedure in which 14 mature oocytes were retrieved. The patient had sought embryo cryopreservation as a fertility preservation option before undergoing treatment for recurrent breast cancer. A day after restarting letrozole treatment, the patient unexpectedly developed severe abdominal pain. Laparoscopic hemostasis was performed to manage the ovarian swelling and hemorrhage. Conclusions The ovaries can be restimulated by restart letrozole after an oocyte retrieval procedure. Therefore, reproductive-medicine practitioners should understand the potential complications of letrozole administration in such cases and take steps to ensure that they are minimized.

Objectives Pregnancy complicated with ovarian endometrioma is a risk factor for preterm delivery and rupture or infection during pregnancy. This study aimed to clarify the effectiveness and safety of transvaginal aspiration during pregnancy for endometrioma diagnosed in the first trimester. Design This retrospective observational study included 8 pregnant women with endometrioma who underwent transvaginal cyst aspiration at 12–14 weeks (aspiration group) between March 2011–March 2018 and 23 pregnant women with endometrioma who refused aspiration during the same period (observation group). Methods Characteristics of patients were compared in both groups. Safety, feasability and complications of transvaginal cyst aspiration were reported. Complications and obstetrical outcomes were reported and compared in both groups. Results The maximum cyst diameter was 8.9 ± 1.5 cm (mean ± standard deviation) in the aspiration group, which was significantly larger than that in the observation group (4.7 ± 0.2 cm). Four preterm deliveries (17.3%) occurred in the observation group and none in the aspiration group. The emergency cesarean section rate during delivery was 14.2% in the aspiration group and 43.7% in the observation group. Conclusions The aspiration group tended to have lower rate of preterm deliveries and emergency cesarean sections, suggesting that cyst aspiration could be an effective, minimally invasive, and safe management option for endometrioma during pregnancy.

Background Ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome is normally induced by ovarian stimulation drugs. Severe cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome involve complications such as renal failure and thrombosis. Evidence has recently been developed for a method to prevent ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. Most cases of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome are of an early-onset type, which occurs shortly after injection of human chorionic gonadotropin. However, late-onset ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome, which occurs in a pregnancy cycle, also requires caution. We report our experience in treating a woman who was transported to our hospital with a severe case of ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome occurring during ovarian stimulation and who was determined to have an ectopic pregnancy. Case presentation Assisted reproductive technology was planned for a 29-year-old nulligravida Japanese woman diagnosed with bilateral fallopian tube obstruction and right-sided hydrosalpinx. On day 1 of controlled ovarian stimulation, the result of her human chorionic gonadotropin urine test was negative, and her serum levels of luteinizing hormone, estradiol, and progesterone were normal. On day 11 of controlled ovarian stimulation, the levels of estradiol and progesterone had risen to 9679 pg/ml and 16 ng/ml, respectively, prompting suspension of controlled ovarian stimulation. Eleven days after controlled ovarian stimulation was suspended, the patient demonstrated ascites that did not improve despite administration of cabergoline, and she was transported to our hospital 2 days after. Late-onset ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome suggested that she was pregnant, and her serum human chorionic gonadotropin level was 27,778 IU/ml. She underwent laparoscopic bilateral salpingectomy and was diagnosed with right tubal pregnancy. Conclusion In an ectopic pregnancy, human chorionic gonadotropin sometimes increases later than in an intrauterine pregnancy. In our patient’s case, endogenous human chorionic gonadotropin following the start of controlled ovarian stimulation may have caused late-onset ovarian hyperstimulation syndrome. The key to early detection of similar cases may be to suspect pregnancy in the event of unexpectedly high progesterone levels during ovarian stimulation.

Aim Umbilical cord ulceration (UCU) is a disease in which an ulcer forms in the umbilical cord in the pregnant uterus and is accompanied by hemorrhaging from the same site. UCU occurs in fetuses with congenital upper-intestinal atresia (CUIA); however, its onset mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report our investigation of cases of UCU in our hospital. Methods Among the 9825 deliveries performed between 2007 and 2016 at this hospital, 20 fetuses were diagnosed with CUIA, 4 (20%) of which had UCU. There was no difference in the backgrounds of the fetuses with UCU (UCU group: 4 fetuses) and those without (non-UCU group: 16 fetuses). Results There was no intergroup difference in gestational age at delivery. Four cases in the UCU group had maternal age 35 weeks (26-39), weeks of delivery 35 weeks (35-36) and weight 2178.5 g (1600-2640); three out of four fetuses were female; and the location of gastrointestinal obstruction was in the duodenum in one case and in the jejunum in three cases. Death occurred in three of four fetuses in the UCU group versus none in the non-UCU group. Conclusion We performed a retrospective statistical investigation on the risk of UCU onset in cases from this hospital; however, we could not identify any prognostic factors for its onset. We investigated a total of 27 past reported UCU cases and the 4 cases in this study. Mean gestational age at onset was 33.3 ± 2.7 for all 27 cases. Various methods for the early discovery of UCU have been reported in the past; however, there is currently no gold standard. Based on this report and a review of past papers, for CUIA, it is desirable to perform in-hospital management from gestational week 30 onward and decide proper delivery timing on a case-by-case basis.

Introduction The prorenin (PR) receptor [(P)RR] contributes to the regulation of the tissue renin-angiotensin system (RAS) and Wnt signaling, which is involved in embryogenesis and the pathological progression of malignant tumors and diabetes mellitus. Placental (P)RR is significantly upregulated in placental tissues from preeclamptic women. However, because it cannot be examined during pregnancy, the chronological relationship between the acceleration of tissue RAS and the disease state of hypertensive disorder of pregnancy (HDP) has not been reported. In this study, we examined whether chronological changes in placental tissue RAS can be assessed by measuring soluble (P)RR [s(P)RR]. Methods We obtained maternal and umbilical cord blood samples from 517 pregnant women (441 singleton and 76 twin pregnancies). The concentrations of s(P)RR and prorenin (PR) were measured using enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Results Multivariate analysis showed that maternal serum s(P)RR levels were significantly higher in patients with HDP or fetal growth restriction (FGR) and were positively correlated with serum PR levels. Furthermore, the maternal s(P)RR level was significantly higher in HDP with severe hypertension and after the onset of HDP. However, maternal s(P)RR levels were not affected by the severity of proteinuria. Serum s(P)RR levels in umbilical cord blood of singleton pregnancies were significantly correlated with gestational week at delivery and PR level. Discussion Maternal serum s(P)RR concentrations may reflect acceleration of tissue RAS in the placenta and blood pressure severity; however, the umbilical serum s(P)RR concentration was not affected by maternal HDP.

Most guidelines for the management of hypertension define it as a home blood pressure (HBP) value >135/85 mm Hg. However, there is no reference HBP value to diagnose hypertension in pregnant women. Therefore, in this study, we analyzed HBP measurements of pregnant women to determine whether it is appropriate to use the criteria for non-pregnant subjects for pregnant women. The participants of this study were 100 singleton pregnant women who visited our hospital between September 2013 and September 2016. We lent sphygmomanometers to the patients so they could measure their BP at home twice daily, and we measured their clinical BP when they visited the hospital. Six patients developed hypertensive disorders in pregnancy, whereas there were 63 women without hypertension or other complications that may affect BP. In the normotensive pregnant women, HBP values significantly correlated with the clinical BP values. HBP values equivalent to a clinical BP of 140/90 mm Hg, determined using the standard major axis method, were 120.8/83.5 mm Hg, 126.0/85.2 mm Hg and 136.3/89.3 mm Hg in the first, second and third trimesters, respectively. In normotensive pregnant women, HBP levels that indicate a risk of hypertensive disorder in pregnancy may be lower than 135/85 mm Hg before 28 weeks of gestation.

Objectives To evaluate home blood pressure (HBP) measurements during pregnancy and postpartum and investigate differences between singleton and twin pregnancies. Methods This prospective study involved normotensive, pregnant women who were planning to give birth at Saitama Medical Centre, Saitama, Japan between September 2013 and March 2017. HBP and pulse rate were measured twice daily and clinical blood pressure values were determined from patient records. Results HBP values were available from 101 participants; 69 women with singleton and 32 women with twin pregnancies. Systolic BP was statistically significantly higher in twin pregnancies from 23 weeks of gestation until 8 weeks after delivery compared with singleton pregnancies. Pulse rate was also statistically significantly higher between 11 and 30 weeks gestation in women with twin pregnancies compared with those with singleton pregnancies. Conclusions BP monitoring is important in the management of twin pregnancies, especially during the later gestational weeks and postpartum period and HBP would facilitate this monitoring.

Umbilical cord ulceration (UCU) is a disease in which an ulcer forms in the umbilical cord in the pregnant uterus and is accompanied by hemorrhaging from the same site. UCU occurs in fetuses with congenital upper-intestinal atresia (CUIA); however, its onset mechanism remains unclear. Here, we report our investigation of cases of UCU in our hospital.Among the 9825 deliveries performed between 2007 and 2016 at this hospital, 20 fetuses were diagnosed with CUIA, 4 (20%) of which had UCU. There was no difference in the backgrounds of the fetuses with UCU (UCU group: 4 fetuses) and those without (non-UCU group: 16 fetuses).There was no intergroup difference in gestational age at delivery. Four cases in the UCU group had maternal age 35 weeks (26-39), weeks of delivery 35 weeks (35-36) and weight 2178.5 g (1600-2640); three out of four fetuses were female; and the location of gastrointestinal obstruction was in the duodenum in one case and in the jejunum in three cases. Death occurred in three of four fetuses in the UCU group versus none in the non-UCU group.We performed a retrospective statistical investigation on the risk of UCU onset in cases from this hospital; however, we could not identify any prognostic factors for its onset. We investigated a total of 27 past reported UCU cases and the 4 cases in this study. Mean gestational age at onset was 33.3 ± 2.7 for all 27 cases. Various methods for the early discovery of UCU have been reported in the past; however, there is currently no gold standard. Based on this report and a review of past papers, for CUIA, it is desirable to perform in-hospital management from gestational week 30 onward and decide proper delivery timing on a case-by-case basis.

Grain-oriented (Bi1/2K1/2)TiO3 (BKT) ceramics were prepared by the reactive templated grain growth (RTGG) method, and a hot-pressing (HP) method was modified on the basis of the RTGG method to obtain dense ceramics. The BKT ceramic sintered at 1060°C showed a single-phase perovskite structure. The grain-oriented BKT prepared by the HP method exhibited a relatively high orientation factor F of 0.82 and a high density ratio of 99%. SEM micrographs of the HP-grain-oriented BKT indicated a textured and poreless microstructure. On the basis of the density ratio of 87% for the grain-oriented BKT without HP, the HP method was considered very effective for improving the density ratio even for the RTGG sample. In addition, the resistivity of the HP-grain-oriented BKT was 1.73 x 1013 •cm.

Eukaryotic cells have signalling pathways from the endoplasmic reticulum (ER) to cytosol and nuclei, to avoid excess accumulation of unfolded proteins in the ER. We previously identified a new type of ER stress transducer, OASIS, a bZIP (basic leucine zipper) transcription factor, which is a member of the CREB/ATF family and has a transmembrane domain. OASIS is processed by regulated intramembrane proteolysis (RIP) in response to ER stress, and is highly expressed in osteoblasts. OASIS(-/-) mice exhibited severe osteopenia, involving a decrease in type I collagen in the bone matrix and a decline in the activity of osteoblasts, which showed abnormally expanded rough ER, containing of a large amount of bone matrix proteins. Here we identify the gene for type 1 collagen, Col1a1, as a target of OASIS, and demonstrate that OASIS activates the transcription of Col1a1 through an unfolded protein response element (UPRE)-like sequence in the osteoblast-specific Col1a1 promoter region. Moreover, expression of OASIS in osteoblasts is induced by BMP2 (bone morphogenetic protein 2), the signalling of which is required for bone formation. Additionally, RIP of OASIS is accelerated by BMP2 signalling, which causes mild ER stress. Our studies show that OASIS is critical for bone formation through the transcription of Col1a1 and the secretion of bone matrix proteins, and they reveal a new mechanism by which ER stress-induced signalling mediates bone formation.

Many tissues have a specific signal transduction system for endoplasmic reticulum (ER) dysfunction; however, the mechanisms underlying the ER stress response in cartilage remain unclear. BBF2H7 (BBF2 human homologue on chromosome 7), an ER-resident basic leucine zipper transcription factor, is activated in response to ER stress and is highly expressed in chondrocytes. In this study, we generated Bbf2h7(-/-) mice to assess the in vivo function of BBF2H7. The mice showed severe chondrodysplasia and died by suffocation shortly after birth because of an immature chest cavity. The cartilage showed a lack of typical columnar structure in the proliferating zone and a decrease in the size of the hypertrophic zone, resulting in a significant reduction of extracellular matrix proteins. Interestingly, proliferating chondrocytes showed abnormally expanded ER, containing aggregated type II collagen (Col2) and cartilage oligomeric matrix protein (COMP). We identified Sec23a, which encodes a coat protein complex II component responsible for protein transport from the ER to the Golgi, as a target of BBF2H7, which directly bound to a CRE-like sequence in the promoter region of Sec23a to activate its transcription. When Sec23a was introduced to Bbf2h7(-/-) chondrocytes, the impaired transport and secretion of cartilage matrix proteins was totally restored, indicating that by activating protein secretion the BBF2H7-Sec23a pathway has a crucial role in chondrogenesis. Our findings provide a new link by which ER stress is converted to signalling for the activation of ER-to-Golgi trafficking.

A leukemic phase occurred in 7 of 11 (64%) Japanese patients with follicular lymphoma. The clinical and hematologic features at the onset of this phase were splenomegaly, anemia, and thrombocytopenia. The lymphoma cells expressed monoclonal surface immunoglobulins with moderate to strong intensity in all 7 of the patients diagnosed as leukemic. Various B-cell associated antigens were expressed as follows: CD19 (5/6), CD20 (7/7), and CD10 (6/7). The reactivity to these markers was comparable in the lymph node and blood samples. The expression of CD38 antigen was much lower in the lymphoma cells of the blood than in those of the lymph nodes. Cytogenetic studies of the lymph nodes of follicular lymphoma in leukemic phase revealed a common chromosomal aberration, of t(14;18)(q32;q21) and +18, in 2 patients successfully analyzed. Although the follicular lymphomas in the leukemic phase in these patients in Akita, Japan, were consistent with those in the West with respect to morphology, immunology and cytogenetics, the high incidence of leukemic manifestations may be a salient feature of Japanese cases.

The objective of this study is to compare the mechanical properties of overaluminized MCrAlY coatings sprayed by a vacuum plasma spraying process for the protection against high-temperature corrosion and oxidation in the field of gas turbine components. Recently, the overaluminized MCrAlY coatings are used for improving further the high-temperature oxidation resistance. However, the mechanical properties of aluminized MCrAlY coatings, which have an important effect on coating lives, have not been clarified. Five kind of freestanding MCrAlY specimens (CoCrAlY, CoNiCrAlY, CoNiCrAlY+Ta, NiCrAlY, NiCoCrAlY) were machined from the thick vacuum plasma sprayed (VPS) coatings. And, the heat-treated MCrAlY specimens (1393 K, 2 h, argon cooled and 1116 K, 24 h, argon cooled) and the overaluminized specimens (Al-Cr-Al2O3-NH4Cl pack, 1173–1273 K, 10 h) after the heat-treatment were used. The experimental results suggested that the volume fraction of precipitated aluminum compounds in the VPS MCrAlY coatings and the residual stress induced by the overaluminizing treatment had important effects on the mechanical properties. The Vickers hardness and Young’s modulus of the overaluminized MCrAlY coatings showed higher values in comparison with the VPS MCrAlY coatings. There was a tendency that the bend strength of overaluminized VPS MCrAlY coatings decreased by the aluminizing treatment and also with increasing volume fraction of precipitated aluminum compounds in the VPS MCrAlY coatings. It was also confirmed that the bend strength of aluminized layers themselves was reduced with increasing volume fraction of precipitated aluminum compounds in the VPS MCrAlY coatings. These tendencies were caused by the enrichment of brittle precipitates, such as NiAl and/or CoAl intermetallic compounds.

目的: リン酸を表面処理剤とするレジン系装着材料の仮着した象牙質に対する接着強さの影響を明らかにするために, 比較検討を行った.方法: HY-Bond Temporary Cement Hard (以下HYB), Freegenol Temporary Pack (以下FTP) およびNeodyne T (以下NDT) の3種類の仮着材で, レジンプレートを牛歯象牙質に仮着した.Variolink II (以下V2) およびRely X ARC (以下RX) を用いて, IPS Empressを接着して勢断接着試験用試料を作製した.仮着を行っていないものをコントロール (以下CON) とした.仮着した象牙質およびIPS Empressに対する表面処理は, 製造者指示に従って行った.試料を37℃ で24時間精製水中保管後, 勇断接着強さを測定した.結果: V2の接着強さは, CON (11.4MPa, a, b), HYB (12.7MPa, a), FTP (7.6MPa, b, c) およびNDT (5.9MPa, c) であった.CONと比較してNDTが有意に (P

目的: 光重合タイプの高フィラー型硬質レジンの補修時における有効な表面処理方法を知ることを目的とした.方法: ArtglassおよびGradia (エナメル色ペーストAEおよびGE, デンチン色ペーストADおよびGD) を用い, 製造者指示に従い重合した被着体 (2×2×12.5mm) に, 処理なし (NT), シラン処理 (S), ボンディング処理 (B), シラン処理とボンディング処理を併用 (SB) の4条件で表面処理を行った.追加築盛は, 直接法および間接法のそれぞれで, 製造者指示の補修用レジンを用いて曲げ接着試験用試験体 (2×2×25mm) を重合して作製した.試験体は, 37℃ で24時間水中保管後に3点曲げ試験を行い, 曲げ接着強さを得た.結果: 被着体AEは直接法ではSB>S>B>NT, 間接法ではSB≧S>B>NTの順で, 被着体ADは直接法および間接法の両者で, SB>S>B>NTの順で有意に大きな曲げ接着強さを示した.一方, 被着体GEは, 直接法ではSB>B≧S>NT, 間接法ではSB≧S≧B>NTの順で, 被着体GDは, 直接法ではSB≧B>S>NT, 間接法ではSB≧B≧S>NTの順で有意に大きな曲げ接着強さを示した.結論: 最適な表面処理は, AEが直接法でSB, 間接法でSBおよびS, ADが直接法および間接法の両者でSB, GEが直接法ではSB, GDがSBおよびB, GEおよびGDともに間接法ではS, BおよびSBであった.

Here, we present, for the first time, the spin density distribution of CeB 6 , isostructural with CaB 6 , deduced by the maximum entropy method (MEM) using polarized neutron diffraction (PND) data. Surprisingly, it reveals the presence of significant amounts of localized spin moment at non atomic sites between the nearest-neighbor boron atoms and the center of the triangle surface in the B 6 octahedron network, in addition to the negative spin moment in the center of the B 6 octahedron.

The objective of this study is aluminide overlay coatings of MCrAlY sprayed by a vacuum plasma spraying (VPS) process for the protection against high-temperature corrosion and oxidation of gas turbine components. Diffusion coating processes have been applied for many years to improve similarly the environmental resistance by enriching the surface of nickel-based superalloys with chromium, aluminum, or silicon element. Recently, aluminizing of MCrAlY coatings is used for improving further the high-temperature oxidation resistance. However, the aluminizing properties of plasma-sprayed MCrAlY coatings, which have an important effect on the coating performance, have not been clarified. In this study, five kinds of plasma-sprayed MCrAlY (CoCrAlY, CoNiCrAlY, CoNiCrAlY+Ta, NiCrAlY, and NiCoCrAlY) coating were selected for pack-aluminizing tests. The as sprayed and the heat-treated (1393 K, 2 h, argon cooled and 1116 K, 24 h, argon cooled) MCrAlY specimens were Al-Cr-Al2O3-NH4Cl pack-aluminized at 1173, 1223, and 1273 K for 5, 10, and 20 h, respectively. The experimental results showed that the aluminizing process formed the aluminum rich layers of NiAl or CoAl phase. It also indicated that the thickness of the aluminum rich layer showed a parabolic time-dependence in all MCrAlY coatings. The order of reaction diffusion rate was NiCoCrAlY=NiCrAlY>CoNiCrAlY>CoNiCrAlY+Ta>CoCrAlY. There was a tendency that the reaction diffusion rate by aluminizing increased with increasing nickel content in the MCrAlY coatings and the reaction diffusion rate of as sprayed MCrAlY coatings is faster than that of the heat-treated MCrAlY coatings.

まれな大網原発類上皮血管内皮腫の1例を報告する. 症例は58歳の女性で, 臍周囲の不快感を主訴に来院した. 約5cmの弾性軟な腫瘤が臍周囲で腹壁に近く触知された. 精査により原発性腹膜腫瘍が疑われたが, 呼吸性移動を示すことから特に大網由来の可能性が考えられた. 1999年11月22日に手術が施行された. 腫瘍は明らかに大網内に存在し, 胃壁と固着しており, 胃壁を部分切除し腫瘍の完全摘出を施行した. 光顕像では, 腫瘍は類上皮血管内皮腫に一致する特徴を有し胃筋層へ浸潤していた. 免疫組織化学染色では, 血管内皮系マーカー (CD34, F-VIII) が一部陽性を示した. 以上より, 大網から原発した類上皮血管内皮腫と診断された. 術後経過は順調で, 30か月後も再発を認めていない.大網原発類上皮血管内皮腫に関して英語文献検索を行ったところ, 過去の報告は1例のみであり, 極めてまれである.

We examined the levels of autoantibodies against prethrombin-1 and fragment-1 in pregnant women to determine the type of autoantibodies that were associated with severe preeclampsia or spontaneous abortion.We measured autoantibodies bound to prothrombin, prethrombin-1, and fragment-1 by using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) in 12 healthy nonpregnant women, 36 women with normal pregnancies, 28 pregnant women with severe preeclampsia, and 19 pregnant women who subsequently had spontaneous abortion.Plasma samples in 10 (36%) of the 28 women with severe preeclampsia and 11 (58%) of the 19 women with spontaneous abortion were positive for antiprothrombin antibodies as compared with 3 (9%) of the 36 women with normal pregancies. All 11 of the positive samples from women who had spontaneous abortions were positive for antiprethrombin-1 antibody, but only 1 was positive for antifragment-1 antibody. The mean (+/- SD) titer of antiprethrombin-1 antibodies in patients with spontaneous abortion (36 +/- 9 U) was higher than that in women with normal pregnancies (10 +/- 4 U; P0.01). Antiprethrombin-1 antibody was detected in only 2 women with severe preeclampsia, whereas all 10 women with antiprethrombin antibodies were positive for antifragment-1 antibody. The antifragment-1 antibody titer in patients with severe preeclampsia (49 +/- 15 U) was higher than in women with normal pregnancies (13 +/- 6 U, P0.01).There is a strong and specific association between various types of antiprothrombin antibodies with severe preeclampsia and spontaneous abortion.

We report here the principle of “how to directly observe the orbital ordering by using the polarized neutron diffraction technique” . As typical examples, the orbital ordering of YTiO3 and Lu2V2O7 were reviewed. We emphasize here that this is a powerful method to detect the orbital ordered state.

目的: 近年, 耐摩耗性の向上を目的として, 従来の歯冠用硬質レジンよりも高密度に無機質フィラーを添加した高フィラー型硬質レジンが開発され, 数々の材料が市販され, 臨床応用されている. 本実験の目的は, 新規高フィラー型硬質レジンの歯ブラシ摩耗について実験を行い, 耐摩耗性について評価を行うことにある.方法: 当教室が行っている歯ブラシ摩耗試験法で, 吸水量, 摩耗量, 耐摩耗性, 表面粗さの測定を行った.結果: 1. 吸水量は, Gradia enamel (GE) ≒Gradia dentin (GD)>belleGlass HP enamel (BE)>bellGlass HP dentin (BD) の順に有意 (p BEの順で有意 (p BDの順で有意 (p

To identify women with severe preeclampsia or severe gestational proteinuria at high risk of having underlying renal disease.Between 1980 and 1999, 86 Japanese women who had severe hypertension, severe proteinuria, or both during pregnancy had postpartum needle biopsies of their kidneys. Diagnoses before biopsies were severe preeclampsia in 74 women and severe gestational proteinuria in 12. We compared clinical characteristics, such as antepartum hematuria and postpartum proteinuria, and maternal and neonatal outcomes with regard to presence of renal disease.Nineteen of 86 women (22.1%, 95% confidence interval [CI] 13.9%, 32. 3%) were diagnosed with underlying renal disease. Immunoglobulin A nephropathy was present in 12. Women with renal disease had a significantly earlier onset of proteinuria than those without (median 11 versus 32 weeks' gestation, P.001). Eighteen of 19 women with renal disease had proteinuria, hypertension, or both before 30 weeks' gestation. Ten of 12 women with severe gestational proteinuria (83.3%, 95% CI 51.6%, 97.9%) had underlying renal disease. Eight of the 19 women had antepartum hematuria, and seven had elevated serum immunoglobulin A levels. In women with severe preeclampsia, onset before 30 weeks' gestation was the best predictor of underlying renal disease (odds ratio 34.1, 95% CI 3.8, 304.5). Women with renal disease had lower rates of severe hypertension (nine of 19 versus 59 of 67, P.01) and small-for-gestational-age infants (four of 19 versus 34 of 67, P.05) than those without renal disease.Women who had gestational proteinuria or preeclampsia before 30 weeks' gestation were more likely to have had underlying renal disease.

In this study, a delamination initiation strength evaluation method of thermal barrier coating (TBC) using in a high-temperature component in a land based gas turbine was proposed, and the effect of the thermal aging on the TBC delamination initiation strength was investigated. As obtained results, (1) the delamination tests based on a four point bending were carried out by using a small specimen with a notch in TBC layer. It was found that the delamination occured at a top coating layer beside the interface between the top coating and the bond coating layer. (2) the delamination initiation strength (decohesion), which was obtained from an average of a stress concentration along the interface around the notch root, was about 120MPa. By subjecting the specimen to the thermal aging for more than about 1000 hour, the delamination strength was reduced by about 20MPa. (3) In a cross section of a long term thermal-aged specimen, the thermally growth oxide (TGO) pahse, α-Al2O3, was observed at the interface between the top coating and the bond coating by EDX analysis. It was found that the delamination initiation strength was inversely proportional to the TGO layer thickness.

In this study the first PDE4B selective inhibitor is described. Optimization of lead 2-arylpyrimidine derivatives afforded a series of potent PDE4B inhibitors with >100-fold selectivity over the PDE4D isozyme. With a good pharmacokinetic profile, a selected compound exhibited potent anti-inflammatory effects in vivo and showed less emesis compared with Cilomilast.

High velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) spraying system in open air has been established for producing the coatings that are extremely clean and dense. It is thought that the HVOF sprayed MCrAlY (M is Fe, Ni and/or Co) coatings can be applied to provide resistance against oxidation and corrosion to the hot parts of gas turbines. Also, it is well known that the thicker coatings can be sprayed in comparison with any other thermal spraying systems due to improved residual stresses. However, thermal and mechanical properties of HVOF coatings have not been clarified. Especially, the characteristics of residual stress, that are the most important property from the view point of production technique, have not been made clear. In this paper, the mechanical properties of HVOF sprayed MCrAlY coatings were measured in both the case of as-sprayed and heat-treated coatings in comparison with a vacuum plasma sprayed MCrAlY coatings. It was confirmed that the mechanical properties of HVOF sprayed MCrAlY coatings could be improved by a diffusion heat treatment to equate the vacuum plasma sprayed MCrAlY coatings. Also, the residual stress characteristics were analyzed using a deflection measurement technique and a X-ray technique. The residual stress of HVOF coating was reduced by the shot-peening effect comparable to that of a plasma spray system in open air. This phenomena could be explained by the reason that the HVOF sprayed MCrAlY coating was built up by poorly melted particles. [S0742-4795(00)00701-8]

BACKGROUND To investigate the role of interleukin-1 related substances in amniotic fluid in normal term labor without intrauterine infection. METHODS Amniotic fluid samples were collected from forty-one patients with various backgrounds. A novel pre-assay treatment using Frigen II was introduced to improve the recovery rates of cytokines, i.e., interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1 receptor antagonist, prior to ELISA assay. Urine samples from newborn infants were also tested. RESULTS The concentrations of interleukin-1alpha, interleukin-1beta and interleukin-1ra were significantly higher in samples from normal vaginal delivery. The higher levels of interleukin-1alpha were also observed in samples from preterm labor without infection. Preterm infants produced more of interleukin-1 receptor antagonist in urine compared with term infants. CONCLUSIONS This study provides evidence of the possible involvement of interleukin-1 related substances in labor without signs of infection. The data from newborn urine suggests that amniotic interleukin-1ra originates from the fetus. However, amniotic fluid interleukin-1alpha and interleukin-1beta may be derived from maternal tissue, such as decidua.

A new method for the total asymmetric synthesis of antitumor agent Taxol is described. Baccatin III, a complex carbon framework, is synthesized by way of B to BC to ABC ring construction. Further, a method of forming Taxol from baccatin III and a β-amino acid is also demonstrated.

To evaluate toothbrush abrasion of high filler containing resin for crown and bridge, water absorption, volume of abrasion, abrasion resistance and surface roughness were determined. The results were as follows:1. In water, absorption was increased in the order of Estenia enamel (EE), Estenia dentin (ED), Herculite XRV enamel (XE), Herculite XRV dentin (XD), ArtGlass enamel (AE) and ArtGlass dentin (AD).2. The amount of abrasion was increased in the order of EE, AE and XE (Enamel Body), ED, XD and AD (Dentin Body).3. In evaluation, abrasion resistance was increased in the order of EE, ED, AE, XD, XE and AD.4. The surface roughness at the end of the experiment was increased in the order of XE, XD, ED, AD, EE and AE.

This study was conducted to investigate the thermal properties (thermal diffusivity, specific thermal capacity and thermal conductivity) of all ceramic restorative materials. Measurement of thermal properties of IPS Empress®, DiCOR® and adhesive resin cement Variolink II were performed by the Xenon flash method. The results obtained were as follows. Thermal diffusivity (×10-2cm2s-1) was 0.372-0.423 for IPS Empress®, 0.614 for DiCOR® and 0.191-0.193 for Variolink. Specific thermal capacity (Jg-1K-1) ranged from 0.695 to 0.872 for IPS Empress®, 1.119 for DiCOR® and 0.733-4.114 for Variolink. Thermal conductivity (Wm-1K-1) was 0.644-0.770 for IPS Empress®, 1.721 for DiCOR® and 0.297-0.475 for Variolink. Thermal conductivity of IPS Empress® was found to be less than that of human enamel, while that of DiCOR® was greater than that of human enamel. Thermal conductivity of Variolink was smaller than those of human enamel and dentin.The above results indicated that IPS Empress® had greater thermal insulation capability than human enamel and dentin and that DiCOR® had less.

The low-pressure plasma spray coating process has been established in the field of gas turbines and is used for hot parts, such as turbine blades and duct segments, which are exposed to corrosive gases at high temperatures. Overlay coatings based on the MCrAlY alloy system (M is Ni, CO or both) are commonly employed as oxidation- and corrosion-resistant coatings. Mechanical properties, such as creep and fatigue lives, of various MCrAlY coating systems were investigated at high temperature as compared with the uncoated substrates, such as eqiaxis IN738LC, directional solidified CM247LC and single-crystal CMSX-2. It was clear that the MCrAlY coatings had no significant influence on the creep lives of substrates for the sake of superior ductility of MCrAlY coatings at high temperature. The low-cycle fatigue lives of MCrAlY coated superalloys at high temperature showed only a little superior performance in comparison with the uncoated results. However, the high-cycle fatigue lives of MCrAlY coated superalloys at high temperature showed inferior performance in comparison with the uncoated results. It was because that the low-cycle fatigue cracks initiated at casting cavities inside the substrate in both the coated and the noncoated cases. However, the high-cycle fatigue cracks initiated at interface defects, such as small pores and grit residues, between the MCrAlY coating and the substrate and grew into the MCrAlY coating, and then into the substrate.

Type 1 angiotensin II (ANG II) receptors play crucial roles in the regulation of blood pressure and fluid osmolarity, whereas the physiological roles of type 2 ANG II receptors (AT2) remain unclear. Because AT2is expressed in atretic follicles where granulosa cells undergo apoptosis, we examined the space and time relationship between AT2expression and follicle atresia in vivo and the effect of AT2on follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH) actions in vitro. Binding studies, autoradiography, and RT-PCR of AT2revealed that the AT2content in granulosa cells was time dependently increased at both protein and mRNA levels in equine chorionic gonadotropin-treated immature female rats. This increase paralleled the progression of atresia. ANG II suppressed FSH-caused prevention of DNA fragmentation, increases in luteinizing hormone receptor content, and estrogen production through AT2in cultured granulosa cells. Moreover, FSH-induced stimulation of extracellular signal-regulated kinase activity, critical for cell survival, was inhibited by AT2stimulation. These results suggest that AT2mediates the progression of follicle atresia through granulosa cell apoptosis by inhibiting FSH actions.

The friction welding for copper and aluminium is useful to minimize the diffusion thickness at the interface between copper and aluminium. The minimization of diffusion thickness is required for maintaining the joint strength. Because brittle intermetallic compounds are formed at the weld interface between copper and aluminium. These reaction diffusion behaviors at the interface between copper and aluminium, which have an important effect on weld joint degradation, have not fully been clarified. And, it is needed to evaluate the growth of intermetallic compounds for optimizing the joint strength. The experimental results showed that the reaction diffusion layers consisted of CuAl2, CuAl and Cu9Al4. It is also confirmed that the each diffusion thickness can be observed the parabolic time dependence and Arrhenius type temperature dependence. And the order of reaction diffusion rate was CuAl2>CuAl>Cu9Al4. A computer-aided interactive system has been developed, which enables to conveniently analyze the reaction diffusion behaviors and some problems were analyzed.

The high velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) system in air has been established for producing various coatings that are extremely clean and dense. It is thought that the HVOF sprayed MCrAlY (M is Ni, Co or Fe) coating can be applied to protect the oxidation and corrosion in the hot section of gas turbines. Also, it is well known that thicker coating can be sprayed by this system for improving the residual stress in comparison with any other thermal spraying system. However, the mechanical properties of HVOF coating have not always been clarified.In this paper, the mechanical properties were measured in order to compare with a low pressure plasma sprayed MCrAlY coating. In case of the as sprayed coating, the Young's modulus and bending strength of HVOF MCrAlY coating were inferior in comparison with those the low pressure plasma sprayed MCrAlY coating. However, the experimental results suggest that the strength of HVOF MCrAlY coating can be improved by a diffusion heat treatment. These phenomena may be attributed to the fact that the HVOF MCrAlY coating is built up by semi-fused sprayed particles.

High velocity oxygen-fuel (HVOF) system in air has been established for producing the coatings that are extremely clean and dense. It is thought that the HVOF sprayed MCrAlY (M is Ni, Co or Fe) coatings can be applied to prevent oxidation and corrosion in the hot section of gas turbines. Also, it is well known that thicker coatings can be sprayed for improving the residual stress in comparison with any other thermal spraying system. However, the thermal and mechanical properties of HVOF coatings have not always been clarified.In this paper, the thermal and mechanical properties of MCrAlY coatings were measured in both cases of as sprayed and heat treated coatings. From the results, it is confirmed that the thermal and mechanical properties of HVOF MCrAlY coatings could be improved by a diffusion heat treatment up to the level of vacuum plasma sprayed MCrAlY coatings. On the other hand, the experimental results suggest that the residual stress of HVOF coatings is decreased by the shot-peening effect in comparison with the vacuum plasma sprayed coatings.

The low-pressure plasma spray coating process has been established in the field of gas turbines and is used for parts (turbine blades, duct segments, etc.) which are exposed to corrosive gases at high temperatures. Overlay coatings based on the MCrAlY alloy system (M is Ni, Co or Fe) are commonly employed as oxidation- and corrosion- resistant coatings. Mechanical properties, such as low-cycle fatigue lives, of CoCrAlY, NiCrAlY and CoNiCrAlY coated systems were investigated at high-temperature as compared with the uncoated conventional IN738LC, unidirectional solidified CM247LC and single crystal CMSX-2.Low-cycle fatigue properties of the MCrAlY coated superalloys at high-temperature (IN738LC : 1123 K, CM247LC, UMSX-2: 1173 K) showed only a little superior performance in comparison with the uncoated results. It was because that the low-cycle fatigue cracks initiated at casting cavities inside the substrate in any cases and the low-cycle fatigue crack initiation due to coatings could not be observed. It seems to be possible to evaluate the low-cycle fatigue lives of the MCrAlY coated superalloys at high-temperature by using the uncoated results.

The effects of elevated glucose and aldose reductase inhibitor (ARI:ONO-2235) on nitric oxide (NO) production in cultured human umbilical endothelial cells (HUVEC) were evaluated. Aldose reductase and nitric oxide synthase(NOS) share NADPH as an obligate cofactor, therefore it is suggested that the enhanced of glucose flux (27.5 mM) by aldose reductase inhibited NO production by blunting NOS activity. However, the addition of ONO-2235 (100 μM) prevented the inhibition of [NO 2 − ] production. Since ARI decreases glucose-mediated inhibition of NO production in HUVEC, this agent might ameliorate endothelial function associated with diabetes.