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Background The relationship between carotid artery ultrasound findings and clinical outcomes in percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) patients has not been fully elucidated. Purpose To investigate the relationship between carotid artery ultrasound findings and cardiovascular risks in PCI patients. Methods This was a single-center retrospective study investigating 691 patients who underwent PCI and carotid ultrasound testing. Maximum carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) was defined as the greatest CIMT at the maximally thick point among the common carotid artery, carotid bulb, and internal carotid artery. A carotid plaque was defined as vessel wall thickening with a CIMT ≥1.5 mm. The characteristics of carotid plaque (heterogeneity, calcification, or irregular/ulcerated surface) were evaluated visually. Patients were divided into those with and without heterogeneous carotid plaque (maximum CIMT ≥1.5 mm and heterogeneous texture). The endpoint was the incidence of a major adverse cardiovascular event (MACE) defined as a composite of cardiovascular death, myocardial infarction, and ischemic stroke. Results Among 691 patients, 312 were categorized as having a heterogeneous plaque. Patients with heterogeneous plaques were at a higher risk of MACE than those without (p=0.002). A heterogeneous plaque was independently associated with MACE after adjusting for covariates (hazard ratio [HR], 1.80; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.06–3.04; p=0.03). Calcified or irregular/ulcerated plaques were correlated with a higher incidence of MACE but both were not independently associated with MACE (HR, 1.37; 95% CI, 0.70–2.67, p=0.36 and HR, 1.13; 95% CI, 0.66–1.93; p=0.66, respectively). Conclusions The presence of a heterogeneous carotid plaque in patients who underwent PCI predicted future cardiovascular events. These patients may require more aggressive medical therapy and careful follow-up. Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: None.

To evaluate 1.5 T magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) brain images with denoising procedures using deep learning-based reconstruction (dDLR) relative to the original 1.5 and 3 T images.Eleven volunteers underwent MRI at 3 and 1.5 T. Two-dimensional fast spin-echo T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), fluid-attenuated inversion recovery (FLAIR) imaging and diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) sequences were performed. The dDLR method was applied to the 1.5 T data (dDLR-1.5 T), then the image quality of the dDLR-1.5 T data relative to the original 1.5 T and 3 T data was qualitatively and quantitatively assessed based on the structure similarity (SSIM) index; the signal-to-noise ratios (SNRs) of the grey matter (GM) and white matter (WM); and the contrast-to-noise ratios (CNRs) between the GM and WM (CNRgm-wm) and between the striatum (ST) and WM (CNRst-wm).The perceived image quality, and SNRs and CNRs were significantly higher for the dDLR-1.5 T images versus the 1.5 T images for all sequences and almost comparable or even superior to those of the 3 T images. For DWI, the SNRs and CNRst-wm were significantly higher for the dDLR-1.5 T images versus the 3 T images.The dDLR technique improved the image quality of 1.5 T brain MRI images. With respect to qualitative and quantitative measurements, the denoised 1.5 T brain images were almost equivalent or even superior to the 3 T brain images.

We analyze the leukocyte telomere length (LTL) and telomerase activity in patients with major depressive disorder (MDD) before and after treatment with selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs). Before treatment, there was a reduction in the LTLs and expression levels of the human telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) in the patients with MDD compared with controls. However, after 24 weeks of treatment with SSRIs, there was a significant increase in the LTLs and the expression levels of hTERT, with values approaching those observed in the controls. We conclude that SSRI antidepressant therapy can directly influence the increased expression levels of hTERT in patients.

Background and aim Glucagon-like peptide-1 (GLP-1) regulates insulin secretion and also affords pleiotropic effects including protective effects on blood vessels. Multiple factors regulate GLP-1 secretion after meals, but a group of apparently healthy subjects showed blunted responses of GLP-1 secretion in our previous study. In this study, we examined the possibility that the reduced capacity of GLP-1 secretion is associated with increased extent of coronary artery stenosis in non-diabetic patients. Methods and results Non-diabetic patients who were admitted for coronary angiography without a history of coronary interventions were enrolled. Coronary artery stenosis was quantified by Gensini score (GS), and GS ≥10 was used as an outcome variable based on results of earlier studies indicating its predictive value for cardiovascular events. The patients (mean age, 66.5±8.8 years; 71% males, n=173) underwent oral 75 g-glucose tolerant tests for determination of glucose, insulin and active GLP-1 levels. The area under the curve of plasma active GLP-1 (AUC-GLP-1) was determined as an index of GLP-1 secretion capacity. AUC-GLP-1 was not correlated with fasting glucose, AUC-glucose, serum lipids, indices of insulin sensitivity or estimated glomerular filtration rate. In multivariate logistic regression analysis for GS ≥10, AUC-GLP-1 < median, age and hypertension were selected as explanatory variables, though fasting GLP-1 level was not selected. Conclusion The findings indicate significant association of reduced GLP-1 secretion capacity with increased extent of coronary artery stenosis in non-diabetic patients. A causal relationship between change in GLP-1 secretion capacity and coronary stenosis remains to be examined by a longitudinal study Funding Acknowledgement Type of funding sources: Private company. Main funding source(s): This study was supported in part by a research grant from Investigator-Initiated Studies Program of Merck Sharp & Dohme Corp./MSD K.K.

This study aimed to explore the effect of topically administering an orabase gel containing cashew gum (CG), a complex polysaccharide from Anacardium occidentale L., on the transcription of important proinflammatory (COX-2, NOS-2, INF-γ, OSCAR, and MYD88) and anti-inflammatory genes (IL-10, IL-4, and TGFβ1) in the gingival tissues of rats with ligature-induced periodontitis, compared to the effect observed upon topically applying a well-known antibiofilm agent (chlorhexidine) under the same experimental conditions. The gene expression profile in the gingival tissues of rats with periodontitis treated with CG did not statistically significantly differ from that observed in the group of animals treated with chlorhexidine. Results showed that CG is able to attenuate general inflammation in the periodontium by reducing the transcription of proinflammatory mediators in a MYD88-independent manner, and not by inducing the expression of anti-inflammatory factors. In conclusion, this study demonstrated that CG and chlorhexidine treatment reduced significantly the gene overexpression (COX-2, NOS-2, INF-γ, OSCAR, and TGFβ1) in the model of ligature-induced periodontitis.

Background Alcohol dependence (AD) is a complex psychiatric disorder, affecting 5.4% of the general population lifetime, characterized by excessive alcohol consumption influenced by environmental risk factors and genetic factors. Genetic alterations in dopaminergic system are involved in the treatment and etiology of AD. The aim of this search was to test the association of the SLC6A3 40 bp-VNTR and DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP), a transporter and receptor of the dopaminergic system, with AD through a study in a population of northeastern Brazil. Methods The study design was a case–control that included 227 males of northeastern Brazil (113 alcoholics and 114 controls). Alcoholics were classified according to the DSM-IV criteria for AD and controls were subjects who had nonalcohol problems or who never drank. Genotyping was detected through polymerase chain reaction (PCR) for SLC6A3 40 bp-VNTR and RFLP-PCR for DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A, and subsequent electrophoresis on a 2% agarose gel. The distribution of allele and genotype frequencies and association of polymorphisms with AD were assessed by chi-square, Fisher's exact test, and odds ratio (OR) with a confidence interval of 95% and significance p 0.05) frequencies for DRD2/ANKK1 Taq1A were compared. Conclusions These findings suggest that A9 allele and A9/A9 genotype of the SLC6A3 40 bp-VNTR are involved in the vulnerability to AD in the population studied. However, for the DRD2/ANKK1 SNP does not present contributions to the development of AD.

Chemokines are low-molecular weight proteins that play a key role in inflammatory processes. Genomic variations in chemokine receptors are associated with the susceptibility to various diseases. Polymorphisms in chemokine receptor type 5 (CCR5)-Δ32 and CCR2-V64I are related to human immunodeficiency virus infection resistance, which has led to genetic association studies for several other diseases. Given the heterogeneous distribution of these polymorphisms in different global populations and within Brazilian populations, we analyzed the prevalence of CCR5-Δ32 and CCR2-V64I polymorphisms in a mixed population from northeastern Brazil. The study included 223 individuals from the general population of the city of Parnaíba, Piauí, who had a mean age of 73 years. Of these individuals, 37.2% were men and 62.8% were women. Polymorphisms were analyzed using DNA extracted from peripheral blood leukocytes by using polymerase chain reaction alone (CCR5-Δ32) or accompanied by restriction endonuclease digestion (CCR2-V64I). In both cases, the genotypes were determined using 8% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and silver nitrate staining. The population conformed to Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for both the loci studied. No individuals were homozygous for allele-Δ32, which was present in 1.8% of the population, whereas allele-64I was present in 13.9% of the participants studied; 74.9% were homozygous for the wild-type allele, while 22.4 and 2.7% were heterozygous and homozygous for the mutant allele, respectively. Additional studies are needed to investigate the relationship between these polymorphisms and disease etiopathogenesis in reference populations.

Objective The major causes of unpleasant human body odour are aldehydes produced by axillary-resident bacteria. There are many methods of body odour prevention; however, they all carry risks of destroying indigenous dermal bacteria that are necessary for the maintenance of the normal physical function of the skin. Furthermore, some methods cannot directly reduce the concentrations of substances that cause body odour. Therefore, a novel method of reducing body odour more safely and effectively is required. We focused on acetic acid bacterial enzymes, which can convert aldehydes into carboxylic acids, and investigated their effect on aldehydes and body odour. Methods Subjects with strong body odour were recruited using screening questionnaires. Acetic acid bacterial extract including enzymes was applied to subjects' skin, and their effects were evaluated by trained panellists and by quantitative aldehyde analysis using thermal detector gas chromatography/mass spectrometry. Results Acetic acid bacterial extract including enzymes decreased the ratio of dilution to threshold and the concentration of body odour-producing aldehydes dropped by up to 98.7%. Conclusion These results indicate that simply applying acetic acid bacterial enzymes on the skin can reduce the concentration of aldehydes that cause unpleasant body odour by directly converting them into carboxylic acids. Therefore, acetic acid bacterial enzymes can potentially be developed into new products that do not destroy indigenous bacteria and yet can effectively reduce unpleasant body odour.

Venous thromboembolism (VTE) is an important cause of morbidity and mortality stemming from cardiovascular disease. It is a multifactorial disease caused by a combination of acquired risk factors, of which advanced age is the most significant, and genetic factors, including the variants FV G1691A, FII G20210A, and MTHFR C677T. We estimated the prevalence of these genomic variants in an elderly population of northeastern Brazil. The study included 188 elderly persons (65-93 years), of which 68 (36.2%) were men and 120 (63.8%) were women. Variants were detected by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis, and subsequent electrophoresis on an 8% polyacrylamide gel stained with silver nitrate. The study population was in Hardy-Weinberg equilibrium for the 3 loci. Of the individuals analyzed, none carried variants of FV or FII (0%), and 24.7% had the MTHFR C677T polymorphism: 59 subjects (31.4%) were heterozygous (CT) and 17 subjects (9%) were homozygous (TT). Based on the analysis of these particular genes, we conclude that the study population does not present an increased risk for the development of VTE. Faced with a growing aging population worldwide, similar studies in other countries will help in the prevention of VTE in older individuals.

The aim of this work was to evaluate the catalytic properties for n-hexane isomerization of bifunctional monometallic (Ni or Pt) and bimetallic catalysts (Pt-Ni), using HMOR zeolite as support. The method used for metal dispersion in the zeolite was competitive ion exchange using ammine complexes [Ni(NH3)6]Cl2 and [Pt(NH3)4]Cl2 as precursors. The catalysts were characterized by X-Ray diffraction, X-Ray energy dispersion spectroscopy, temperature-programmed reduction and transmission electron microscopy. The n-hexane isomerization reaction using the catalysts was carried out to evaluate the catalyst activity. The reaction was carried out in a fixed bed reactor operating at 250?C, 1 atm, H2/C6 = 9 molar ratio. The profiles obtained from TPR suggest that, for bimetallic catalysts, the presence of platinum facilitates the reduction of Ni2+ cations. The bimetallic catalysts presented a higher activity in the isomerization of n-hexane when compared to the monometallic ones, as well better stability as the Pt content in the solid increases.

Current specifications for gasoline impose strong restrictions on the content of aromatic compounds. Isomerization of normal paraffins to isoparaffins is considered an important petroleum reaction for the production of clean gasoline to improve its Research Octane Number (RON) and Motor Octane Number (MON). The isoparaffins are considered as an alternative to the use of oxygenated and aromatic compounds, whose maximum contents are subjected to strict regulations in order to protect the environment. In this work, catalysts supported on mordenite were obtained by competitive ion exchange using aqueous solutions of platinum complexes. Different concentrations of platinum were tested for the isomerization of n-hexane. All the catalysts obtained were shown to be selective to the formation of isomers with high-octane number, which are the products of greatest interest in the oil refining industry. The highest conversion and the best selectivity for 2,3- dmC4 di-branched component, the isomer with the highest octane number, were found with the 1.10 wt% Pt/HMOR.

The effectiveness of BIAsp 30 step-up therapy in achieving glycemic control in Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus was investigated. Study subjects were 99 patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus aged over 20 years who were judged to require insulin therapy due to poor glucose control (HbA1c level of ≥ 7.5%). BIAsp 30 dosage was determined by the patient's attending physician; coadministration of hypotensive agents and antilipemic agents was permitted, but OAD coadministration was limited to patients already receiving such drugs at the start of the study. Patients who did not achieve HbA1c < 6.5% after 16±5 weeks with QD (Phase 1) were stepped up to BID (Phase 2). If patients still had not achieved HbA1c < 6.5% after 16±5 weeks with BID, they were stepped up to TID (Phase 3). 55 of the 99 enrolled subjects completed the study and the rates of achievement of HbA1c < 6.5% and HbA1c < 7.0% were 45.5% and 74.5% respectively. Of all registered subjects, 5.1% (5/99) achieved HbA1c < 6.5% in QD, 19.5% (16/82) in BID, and 20.6% (7/34) in TID. Statistically significant reductions in HbA1c levels were recorded at the conclusion of each phase, with no incidents requiring intervention, indicating that BIAsp 30 step-up therapy is a safe, simple therapy that can be useful in achieving better glycemic control for Japanese patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

Bimetallic catalysts applied to the n-hexane isomerization reaction were prepared with a constant molar content of 130 μmol Me/gcat of Ni and Pt and characterized in its active form by X-ray absorption near edge spectroscopy (XANES), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), temperature programmed reduction and hydrogen chemisorption techniques. The metal was dispersed in a HUSY zeolite matrix in order to provide both types of sites, metallic and acid, to obtain a bifunctional catalyst. The catalytic activity was evaluated using the catalyst activated at different temperatures following a new activation process, named "fast activation method" and the profile pointed out a maximum catalytic activity when the catalyst was activated at 400 °C. XANES results showed that all samples present similar electronic properties in the studied conditions, despite the differences found in the average particle diameter obtained by TEM, suggesting that the catalytic activity is related to the metal/acid balance. Fil: Yoshioka, Carlos M.N.. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasil Fil: Jordão, Maura H.. Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Sincrotron; Fil: Zanchet, Daniela. Laboratorio Nacional de Luz Sincrotron; Fil: Garetto, Teresita Francisca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera"; Argentina Fil: Cardoso, Dilson. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasil

RESUMO – No processamento do chocolate, nas etapas de fermentacao e secagem, e que ocorrem as maiores perdas de compostos fenolicos. Nesse sentido, o objetivo desse trabalho foi desenvolver um produto de chocolate que conserve a funcionalidade das amendoas. Para tanto, utilizou-se da analise da secagem em leito fixo das amendoas de cacau, por radiacao solar e em estufa, bem como de analise granulometrica do acucar utilizado nas formulacoes. As etapas utilizadas no processo foram previamente determinadas atraves de uma arvore de estados, com todas as possibilidades de etapas. A analise da secagem mostrou que esta etapa e totalmente regulada pela resistencia a transferencia de massa por difusao efetiva; o estudo da granulometria mostrou que e preciso tempos superiores a 6 horas de moagem; Dessa forma, o trabalho torna-se importante, pois contribui para a continuidade dos estudos sobre o processamento de chocolates artesanais com alto valor agregado.

This study examined the immunohistochemical expression and localization of cyclooxygenase-1 and -2 (COX-1 and COX-2) in synovial tissues from patients with internal derangement (ID) or osteoarthritis (OA) of the temporomandibular joint (TMJ). Synovial tissues from patients with condylar fractures of the mandible were studied as control. Synovial tissues from 13 TMJs of 10 patients with ID or OA and from 5 TMJs of 4 patients with fractures were examined for COX-1 and COX-2 expression by immunohistochemical staining using two monoclonal antibodies. In addition, whether the COX-2 expression grade correlated with the synovitis score and clinical findings was assessed. COX-2 was expressed in the synovial lining, infiltrating mononuclear cells, fibroblast-like cells, and blood vessels, including CD31-positive endothelial cells, in the synovium of patients with ID or OA. Expression levels of COX-1 in synovial lining cells and endothelial cells were similar in the specimens obtained from the patients with ID or OA and those obtained from the controls. The expression of COX-2 positively correlated with arthroscopic findings of synovitis (p = 0.55, P = 0.023) and with joint pain (p = 0.56, P = 0.021). These results suggest that up-regulation of COX-2 in synovium may play a part in the pathogenesis of synovitis in patients with ID or OA of the TMJ.

Previous studies have revealed a genetic component, including genetic polymorphisms in the serotonergic pathway, particularly in the serotonin receptor gene (5-HT2A). The aim of this study was to investigate associations of the T102C (rs6313) and A-1438G (rs6311) polymorphisms with tobacco use in a population from northeastern Brazil. We evaluated these polymorphisms in 135 nonsmokers and 135 smokers using polymerase chain reaction-restricted fragment length polymorphism. The distribution of allele and genotype frequencies and associations of polymorphisms with smoking were assessed with the chi-squared (χ(2)) test, the Fisher exact test, and odds ratio (OR) with a 95% confidence interval (CI). There were no differences in the distribution of genotype and allele frequencies between nonsmokers and smokers for A-1438G (P = 0.80) and T102C (P = 0.35). However, these polymorphisms were significantly associated with habit frequency (A/G: P = 0.02, OR = 6.87, 95%CI = 1.23-38.31, P = 0.04; A/G+G/G: P = 0.04, OR = 3.67, 95%CI = 1.06-12.75, P = 0.07), age of onset (C/C: P = 0.02, OR = 3.26, 95%CI = 1.17-9.07, P = 0.03, and nicotine dependence level (A/G: P = 0.02, OR = 3.28, 95%CI = 1.17-9.18, P = 0.04; A/G+G/G: P = 0.04, OR = 2.81, 95%CI = 1.13-6.99, P = 0.04; T/C: P = 0.03, OR = 3.12, 95%CI = 1.13-8.57, P = 0.04; T/C+C/C: P = 0.02, OR = 3.06, 95%CI = 1.22-7.70, P = 0.02). Therefore, these polymorphisms may not contribute significantly to smoking initiation, they do appear to be associated with habit maintenance.

Advances in non-invasive diagnostic techniques, such as CT and ultrasonography, have improved our ability to detect unruptured pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms. No definitive study evaluating the natural history of these lesions or their preferred method of treatment has been published. In this report, we describe five patients with eight unruptured true pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms followed without treatment. Of these patients, four had coeliac axis stenosis (n = 1) or occlusion (n = 3) and one had occlusion of the superior mesenteric artery. The mean diameter of the aneurysms was 12.0 mm (range 7–17 mm). The mean duration of follow-up was 29.4 months (range 6–57 months). There was no aneurysm rupture during a total of 147 patient-months (243 aneurysm-months) of follow-up. Of the eight aneurysms, three increased in size over the follow-up period. We conclude that the risk of rupture of true pancreaticoduodenal artery aneurysms might be lower than expected from the data on ruptured aneurysms; however, careful follow-up of untreated aneurysms is necessary.

Objective: To determine the cause and pathogenic mechanisms of a 21-year-old patient’s cardioskeletal myopathy. The patient’s muscle atrophy and weakness began in distal parts of limbs; cardiac and facial muscles were later involved. Background: Desmin myopathy is a skeletal myopathy often associated with cardiomyopathy, caused by mutations in the desmin gene and characterized by desmin accumulation in affected muscle fibers, a leading marker of myofibrillar myopathies. Two kinds of deletions and seven missense mutations in the desmin gene have been identified. Methods: Clinical examination, electron microscopy of muscle tissue, two-dimensional gel electrophoresis, DNA sequencing, restriction enzyme analysis, and gene transfection were performed. Results: Electron microscopy showed disruption of sarcomeres at Z discs and electron-dense aggregates in biopsied skeletal and heart muscle. Two-dimensional gel electrophoresis of the patient’s skeletal muscle proteins showed massive accumulation of desmin. The authors identified a novel desmin mutation, L385P in one allele in the carboxyl end of the rod domain 2B in the patient’s leukocytes and skeletal muscle; neither parent had the mutation. Serologic study and DNA markers confirmed the de novo mutation. A peptide harboring desmin rod domains 2A and 2B with L385P tagged with green fluorescent protein induced cytoplasmic aggregates, nuclear DNA condensation, and cell death. Conclusions: A novel de novo mutation, L385P, causes desmin myopathy. An expression study indicated the toxic effect of the L385P mutation.

The results are presented for the robot-aided spacecraft inspection experiments using a flaw detection algorithm called multi-images overcast (MIO), which were conducted as an extension of NASDA's Manipulator Flight Demonstration mission installed on space shuttle mission STS-85. These experiments are the first step towards research and development of the Orbital Maintenance System to support space systems by inspecting satellites, deorbiting useless satellites, and repairing satellites in orbit to utilize space systems effectively and reliably.

醤油麹菌および麹,諸味,製品などから分離した細菌について,高濃度食塩存在下でのフェルラ酸およびp-クマル酸から醤油の特徴香4-エチルグアヤコールなどの揮発性フェノール類への変換能の有無を調べた. (1)麹菌Aspergillus oryzae, A. sojaeや麹の汚染微生物Micrococcus属細菌および醤油乳酸菌P. halophilusなどはフェルラ酸およびp-クマル酸から揮発性フェノール類を生成しなかった. (2) Bacillus subtilis, B. licheniformis,およびB. megateriumなどのBacillus属細菌は醤油諸味中では増殖できない.しかしその菌体が107cells/ml以上存在すれば, 4-エチルグアヤコールなどの生成には至らないが,その中間代謝物であるビニルフェノール類を生成した. (3)醤油麹から分離した細菌Staphylococcus sp. (St.10206株など)は20%食塩耐性を示し,ビニルフェノール類を生成したが,エチルフェノール類は生成しなかった. (4)これらの結果は,いわゆる醤油醸造微生物以外にも醤油香気形成に関与する微生物が多数存在することを示しており,良好な醤油香気形成のためには,これら微生物の制御が必要なことを示している. 供試菌株を分譲していただいた東京大学分子細胞生物学研究所,(財)発酵研究所,および醤油麹や諸味などの分離試料を提供していただいた香川県下の醤油企業に深謝いたします.

NASDA of Japan, at the research division, has been examining possible scenarios for unmanned lunar-exploration systems. The paper discusses the remote control aspects of a lunar rover for “long-range travel”. The concept of a “window of attention” is considered to be one of the key aspects in the workload distribution between the onboard and the ground systems. Finally, to obtain qualitative data concerning fundamental “operability”, the driving tests are described, along with test results, and applications.

Diabetic nephropathy is currently the single largest cause of endstage renal disease (ESRD) in the United States and many European countries. The primary cause for the development of diabetic complications (including diabetic nephropathy) is persistent exposure to hyperglycemia, although genetic and other incompletely understood factors also play an important role. Although much consideration has been given to the pathogenesis and genetics of the disease itself, the mechanisms by which persistent exposure to hyperglycemia cause biochemical and metabolic alterations have been very sketchily understood. Recently, a growing body of evidence has linked the accumulation of the late products of glucose-protein interaction to a variety of chronic complications, including diabetic nephropathy. The formation of irreversible advanced glycosylation endproducts (AGEs) resulting from the spontaneous reaction between glucose and proteins occur most noticeably on long-lived structural proteins. Recent studies demonstrate that the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy is caused by the hyperglycemia-accelerated formation of AGEs. Also, reactive AGE peptides in the circulation are thought to play a role as a new version of so called middle molecule toxic substances. This evidence is opening a new window for our understanding of the pathogenesis of diabetic nephropathy.

Summary Accurate measurement of temperature is of considerable importance in materials processing, such as welding, thermal cutting, and heat treatment of metals. Radiation thermometry has a distinct advantage over other temperature detection methods, since it requires no physical contact with the work. The reliability of thermometry, however, is limited if the emissivity of the work to be measured is not accurately known. Planck's law of radiation shows that the effect of temperature on the spectral radiance is greater at shorter wavelengths. The present paper experimentally describes the characteristics of UV (ultraviolet) thermometry. A temperature measurement test by the UV spot sensor (spectral range: 0.25 μm) shows that the melting point of Ni can be measured with an accuracy of ± 1 % regardless of any emissivity fluctuation. The CCD camera with UV filter used in this investigation makes it possible to detect the temperature image on the work in welding virtually independently of the emissivity of t...

We have used slice culture of the entorhino-hippocampal system to investigate (1) whether nerve fibres which are cut postnatally are able to regenerate and (2) whether the regenerating fibres are able to establish correct selective target specificity in the formation of their terminal fields. Slices of tissue were taken in the horizontal plane through the caudo-ventral pole of the cerebral hemisphere of 9- to 10-day-old rats. Such slices maintain the entorhinal cortex in continuity with the hippocampus and intervening retrohippocampal areas. However, because of the dorsal inclination of the entorhino-hippocampal projection fibres in situ, the segments of the entorhinal cortex and hippocampus contained within each individual horizontal slice were disconnected from each other. During subsequent culture, the formation of fibre connections between the entorhinal area and the hippocampal complex was studied by the extracellular and intracellular anterograde transport of biocytin or biotin dextran, the retrograde transport of biotin dextran or carbocyanine dyes, and by electrical stimulation and recording. For the first 24 h after taking the slice, there were no entorhinal projections beyond the deep white matter, and no fibres reached the hippocampus or dentate gyrus. After 3 days in culture a small number of growing fibres had perforated the subiculum and entered the target areas. Between 6 and 14 days these projections increased and matured. As in the normal adult brain, entorhinal layer II stellate cells projected correctly to the dentate gyrus and hippocampal field CA3, whereas layer III pyramidal cells projected to hippocampal field CA1 and the subiculum. The new fibres grew along both alvear and perforant pathways. Anterograde and retrograde labelling showed that the reciprocal projections from the pyramidal cells of the subiculum and CA1 to the entorhinal area had also been severed at the time of taking the slices, and had similarly regenerated. Our results demonstrate that by taking tissue slices in appropriate planes it is possible to study the regeneration of axons in the tissue environment through which they normally run. This approach avoids the use of coculture and the concomitant difficulties associated with the need for fibres to cross a coculture interface. In horizontal slices of postnatal tissue, severed fibre projections between the entorhinal cortex and the hippocampal complex can regenerate in both directions and re-establish their correct laminar, pathway and target specificity.

A fatal case due to severe methemoglobinemia is presented. A male in his forties was found unconscious in his house and, despite intensive care, death was confirmed approximately 11 hours later. Toxicological analysis using ion chromatography revealed the presence of chlorate in the stomach contents. However, chlorate was not detected in the blood, and no other drugs or ethanol were detected in the blood either. We concluded that the cause of death was presumably due to chlorate poisoning, based on the results of the autopsy and the toxicological examination.

In this paper, a prediction method for degradation failure ratio (B-mode) of Cu IMD-TDDB is studied. In this study, B-mode failure is assumed to be caused by dielectric thinning due to random defects (thinning model). Its probability is calculated by Critical Area Analysis (CAA). Prediction is in good agreement with measurement results. This method can be applied to estimate reliability of various LSI products.

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has recently gained popularity for use against intramucosal gastric neoplasms in Japan, but few studies have examined whether ESD is feasible for elderly patients. This study aims are to evaluate the efficacy and safety of ESD according to age in consecutive elderly patients treated with ESD.Subjects comprised 116 patients (90 men, 26 women) with 125 lesions treated using ESD from November 2002 to March 2006 at Nagoya City University Hospital and Iwata Municipal Hospital, Japan. Patients were categorized into: Group A,65-years-old (n=34); Group B,or =65-years-old but75-years-old (n=41); and Group C,or = 75-years-old (n=41). En bloc resection rate and treatment time were examined according to age, tumour size and location, and frequency of complications was examined according to age.Rate of concomitant disease was significantly higher in Group C than in the other groups. En bloc resection rates and median treatment times were 91.4% and 80 min in Group A, 91.1% and 97 min in Group B and 86.7% and 110 min in Group C, respectively. No significant differences were noted between groups, or for en bloc resection rate and treatment time according to tumour size and location, or between groups for frequency of complications.ESD for gastric neoplasms is effective and safe in elderly patients, and may be positively recommended to elderly patients with intramucosal gastric neoplasms.

Radiolabeled thyroid hormones were allowed to bind to erythrocyte cytosol and the complex was fractionated by Sephadex G-100 or by high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC). On Sephadex G-100, four radioactive peaks (P1-P4) were obtained, whereas HPLC gave only three radioactive peaks (P1-P3). Chromatographic studies with human adult Hb and non-Hb cytosol protein fractions, which had been reacted with radiolabeled thyroid hormones, and immune precipitation with specific antisera for the hormones, confirmed that the first peak of Sephadex G-100 radioactivity was a mixture of Hb and non-Hb proteins, while the second peak was Hb. The third peak was free 125I and the fourth peak was unbound 125I-T3 or 125I-T4. The third peak of HPLC was confirmed to be a mixture of free 125I and unbound radiolabeled thyroid hormones. Scatchard analysis of the interaction between T4 and apo-Hb, and the alpha- and beta-chains of human Hb suggested the presence of the specific binding site(s) for the hormone. Interaction between T4 and synthesized peptides, which constitute the heme pocket of the beta-chain of Hb (beta 61-75, beta 71-85, beta 81-95), indicated that the T4 binding site of Hb resides within the heme-binding cavity. It is concluded that human erythrocyte cytosol does not contain "receptor" for thyroid hormones and cannot be a model for studying functions of cytosol "receptor" for the hormones; rather, it contains binding protein with large binding capacity, including Hb and non-Hb proteins, which possibly constitute a large reservoir for the hormone in blood.

The shape of a laminar, liquid jet emerging from a round vertical tube into the atmosphere and the total axial force exerted on the liquid filament at the tube exit were investigated experimentally over a wide range of flow conditions. An integral invariant of the exact solution was used to check consistency between the two kinds of data. A new equation to predict the jet shape agreed moderately well with the present experimental data as well as with various previous results. The key idea of the present work is that exact knowledge of the total axial force will be very useful to predict reasonably the jet shape at a given flow condition by means of a simplified approach or to check theoretical or empirical results on free falling jets.

A standard TV-compatible PtSi Schottky-barrier infrared imager is described. The imager is a 324*487 element area array and has an electronic shutter function. Although the pixel is 42*21 mu m, a large fill factor of 42% is obtained, using a 1.5- mu m minimum design rule and a two-level polysilicon layer, and two-level aluminum layer structure. Using face-down bonding technology, it was possible to reduce the package size to 60% of the conventional ceramic package size. Due to optimization of the Schottky-barrier diode process and the diode structure, the noise equivalent temperature difference is as small as 0.1 K at f/1. >

Forty synthetic food colors were determined in drinks and candies by reversed-phase high-performance liquid chromatography with photodiode array detection. The following food colors were analyzed within 19 min using a short analytical column (50 mm x 4.6 mm i.d., 1.8 microm) at 50 degrees C with gradient elution: Ponceau 6R, Tartrazine, Fast yellow AB, Amaranth, Indigotine, Naphthol yellow S, Chrysoine, Ponceau 4R, Sunset yellow FCF, Red 10B, Orange G, Acid violet 7, Brilliant black PN, Allura red AC, Yellow 2G, Red 2G, Uranine, Fast red E, Green S, Ponceau 2R, Azorubine, Orange I, Quinoline yellow, Martius yellow, Ponceau SX, Ponceau 3R, Fast green FCF, Eosine, Brilliant blue FCF, Orange II, Orange RN, Acid blue 1, Erythrosine, Amido black 10B, Acid red 52, Patent blue V, Acid green 9, Phloxine B, Benzyl violet 4B, and Rose bengal. The recoveries of these compounds added to soft drinks and candies at 5 microg/g ranged from 76.6 to 115.0%, and relative standard deviations (R.S.D.s) were within 6.0%. The limits of detection and the limits of quantitation were 0.03 and 0.1 microg/g, respectively.

A benign virilizing adrenal adenoma is rare among adrenal neoplasms in middle-aged women. A 39-yr-old Japanese woman who presented with hirsutism, obesity, diabetes mellitus and hypertension was admitted. Plasma concentrations of testosterone and DHEAS were high. While the basal level of plasma ACTH was suppressed, serum cortisol level was high and its circadian rhythm was absent. Serum cortisol level was not suppressed with the low- and high-dose overnight dexamethasone suppression test. Abdominal computed tomography showed a left adrenal tumor, and an adrenocortical scintigraphy revealed uptake of the tracer on the left side. Polycystic ovaries were also found and bone mineral density revealed osteoporosis. Histopathological features of resected adrenal tumor were consistent with those of adrenocortical adenoma. Immunoreactivity of all the steroidogenic enzymes was apparent in the tumor cells and particularly dehydroepiandrosterone sulfotransferase (DHEA-ST) immunoreactivity was markedly expressed. Cortical atrophy and reduced expression of DHEA-ST were detected in the cortex of the adjacent non-neoplastic adrenal gland. Plasma testosterone, DHEAS and cortisol levels returned to normal after surgery, concomitantly with the disappearance of polycystic ovaries. This is a very rare case of virilizing adrenocortical adenoma complicated with Cushing's syndrome (CS).

Hypopituitarism can be caused by tumor, inflammation, granuloma and injuries. Once pituitary function is disturbed, hormone replacement therapy is necessary for the remaining life span in most cases. We have experienced a rare case of a unique intrasellar mass associated with pituitary dysfunction in which both spontaneously reversed. A 61-yr-old woman developed hypoadrenalism and central diabetes insipidus (cDI). Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging revealed a lobular, strong hypointense lesion with spotty signal in the middle of the hypophysis. This spotty lesion showed isointensity on T1- and high-intensity on T2-weighted MR images. The spotty signal as well as the normal pituitary lobe were enhanced by the administration of gadolinium. As replacement therapies for hypoadrenalism and cDI, 10 mg of hydrocortisone and 2.5 microg of desmopressin acetate were prescribed. Three months later, slight shrinkage of intrasellar mass and spontaneous improvement of pituitary functions were found. Hydrocortisone was then discontinued. Furthermore, because polyuria and polydipsia were improved nine months later, desmopressin acetate was stopped. Currently, the intrasellar mass continues to shrink, and the patient shows no symptoms without medication. Based upon the unique features of MR images, we suspect that the origin of the mass is an intrasellar hemangioma.

Bi-functional catalysts were prepared to contain Ni, Pt or both, supported on a HUSY zeolite, with the following metal contents: catalysts 30, 130 and 180 × 10-6 atg metal/g catalyst. These catalysts resulted from a competitive ion exchange with the use of aqueous solutions from [Ni(NH 3)6]Cl2 and [Pt(NH3) 4]Cl2 complexes. The catalysts were provided with a scheduled temperature reduction (TPR) and subjected to a catalytic assessment on the n-hexane isomerization at 250 °C and 1 atm. TPR results showed larger reducibility of Ni+2 cations in the presence of Pt. Bi-metallic Ni-Pt catalysts showed to have smaller deactivation and much higher activity compared to monometallic Ni catalysts. The selectivity for the production of di-ramified alkanes increases as the Ni content increases. Fil: Yoshioka, Carlos M.N.. Universidade Federal do São Carlos; Brasil Fil: Garetto, Teresita Francisca. Consejo Nacional de Investigaciones Científicas y Técnicas. Centro Científico Tecnológico Conicet - Santa Fe. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera". Universidad Nacional del Litoral. Instituto de Investigaciones en Catálisis y Petroquímica "Ing. José Miguel Parera"; Argentina Fil: Dilson Cardoso. Universidade Federal Do Sao Carlos. Departamento de Engenharia Química; Brasil

Gitelman's syndrome (GS), an autosomal recessive disorder caused by a defect of the thiazide-sensitive Na-Cl cotransporter (TSC) at the distal tubule, is characterized by hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism with normal or low blood pressure, hypokalemia, metabolic alkalosis, hypomagnesemia and hypocalciuria. An 18-yr-old Japanese man was admitted to our hospital with a history of muscle weakness and transient tetanic episodes. He showed hypocalcemia in addition to hypokalemia, severe hypomagnesemia, hypocalciuria and hyperreninemic hyperaldosteronism with normal blood pressure. Furthermore, bone mineral density at the lumbar spine revealed osteopenia. A diagnosis of GS was made on the basis of clinical features, laboratory data and renal function test. The electrolyte imbalance was corrected and bone mineral density was slightly increased with chronic treatment of magnesium and potassium salts. Genetic analysis revealed that TSC gene of the patient has a heterozygous C to A nucleotide substitution at position 545 in exon 4, which causes a threonine (Thr) to lysine (Lys) substitution at position 180. This is a rare case of GS with hypocalcemia and osteopenia which could be caused by severe hypomagnesemia.