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A new 320 GHz solid-state source interferometer is installed in the Heliotron J helical device to explore the physics of high-density plasmas (ne > 2–3 × 1019 m−3, typically) realized with advanced fueling techniques. This interferometry system is of the Michelson type and is based on the heterodyne principle, with two independent solid-state sources that can deliver an output power of up to 50 mW. A high time resolution measurement of

The Pa

Venous thromboembolism from a “thrombotic storm”–like syndrome is a major cause of morbidity and mortality in patients with active or “recovered” COVID-19. Patients should be risk-stratified, optimally by a pulmonary embolism (PE) response team (PERT), and considered for escalation of care if found with intermediate or high-risk PE. We present a series of patients with COVID-19-associated PE and thrombotic storm with D-dimer >10 000 ng/mL who underwent successful mechanical thrombectomy for intermediate to high-risk PE. All patients had immediate improvement in hemodynamics and large amounts of thrombi were retrieved.

The Pa α line (1875.13 nm) in the near-infrared (NIR) region was evaluated to apply Stark broadening of the line spectrum to the electron density measurement of the small-pellet ablation cloud in Heliotron J, a medium-sized helical-axis heliotron device. Pa α is three-to-four times broader than the visible H β line (486.13 nm) for the same electron density. Using a portable NIR spectrometer, preliminary proof-of-concept experiments determined the marginal density, below which the broadening was undetectable. The lower detection density limit can be decreased using a narrower entrance slit or a denser grating.

Background: Invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR INV ) is the standard technique for assessing myocardial ischemia. Pressure distortions and measurement location may influence FFR INV interpretation. We report a technique for performing invasive fractional flow reserve (FFR INV ) by minimizing pressure distortions and identifying the proper location to measure FFR INV . Methods: FFR INV recordings were obtained prospectively during manual hyperemic pullback in 100 normal and diseased coronary arteries with single stenosis, using 4 measurements from the terminal vessel, distal-to-the-lesion, proximal vessel, and guiding catheter. FFR INV profiles were developed by plotting FFR INV values ( y -axis) and site of measurement ( x -axis), stratified by stenosis severity. FFR INV ≤0.8 was considered positive for lesion-specific ischemia. Results: Erroneous FFR INV values were observed in 10% of vessels because of aortic pressure distortion and in 21% because of distal pressure drift; these were corrected by disengagement of the guiding catheter and re-equalization of distal pressure/aortic pressure, respectively. There were significant declines in FFR INV from the proximal to the terminal vessel in normal and stenotic coronary arteries ( P INV was 41% when measured from the terminal vessel and 20% when measured distal-to-the-lesion ( P INV 20 to 30 mm distal-to-the-lesion (rather than from the terminal vessel) can reduce errors in measurement and optimize the assessment of lesion-specific ischemia. Conclusions: Meticulous technique (disengagement of the guiding catheter, FFR INV pullback) is required to avoid erroneous FFR INV , which occur in 31% of vessels. Even with optimal technique, FFR INV values are influenced by stenosis severity and the site of pressure measurement. FFR INV values from the terminal vessel may overestimate lesion-specific ischemia, leading to unnecessary revascularization.

GAMMA10/PDX のDモジュール内のプラズマに，水素とともに少量の窒素などの不純物ガスを入射し，それらの非接触プラズマ形成に与える影響を調べた．水素と窒素を同時に入射した場合には，電子密度とイオン束の明らかな減少が観測された．他方，ネオンやアルゴンなどの希ガスを水素とともに入射した場合には，電子密度とイオン束の減少は明らかではなかった．この結果は窒素分子が介在した再結合過程が重要であることを示唆している．

ST-elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) identification by emergency medicine services (EMS) leading to pre-hospital catheterization laboratory (CL) activation shortens ischemic time and improves outcomes. We examined the incremental value of addition of a screening clinical tool (CT), containing clinical information and a Zoll electrocardiogram (ECG)-resident STEMI identification program (ZI) to ZI alone.All EMS-performed and ZI-analyzed ECGs transmitted to a percutaneous coronary intervention hospital from October 2009 to January 2011 were reviewed for diagnostic accuracy. ZI performance was also compared to ECG interpretations by 2 experienced readers The CT was then retrospectively applied to determine the incremental benefit above the ZI alone.ST-elevation myocardial infarction was confirmed in 23 (7.5%) of 305 patients. ZI was positive in 37 (12.1%): sensitivity: 95.6% and specificity: 94.6%, positive predictive value (PPV), 59.5%, negative predictive value (NPV), 99.6%, and accuracy of 93.8%. Moderate agreement was observed among the readers and ZI. CT criteria for CL activation were met in 24 (7.8%): 20 (83.3%) were confirmed STEMIs: sensitivity: 86.9%, specificity: 98.5%, a PPV: 83.3%, and NPV: 98.6%, accuracy of 97.7%. CT + ZI increased PPV (P0.05) and specificity (P0.003) by reducing false positive STEMI identifications from 15 (4.9%) to 4 (1.3%).In an urban cohort of all EMS transmitted ECGs, ZI has high sensitivity and specificity for STEMI identification. Whereas the PPV was low, reflecting both low STEMI prevalence and presence of STEMI-mimics, the NPV was very high. These findings suggest that a simplified CT combined with computer STEMI interpretation can identify patients for pre-hospital CL activation. Confirmation of these results could improve the design of STEMI care systems.

Aims: The anti-infectious activity of lactobacilli against multi-drug resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 (DT104) was examined in a murine model of an opportunistic antibiotic-induced infection. Methods and Results: Explosive intestinal growth and subsequent lethal extra-intestinal translocation after oral infection with DT104 during fosfomycin (FOM) administration was significantly inhibited by continuous oral administration of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS), which is naturally resistant to FOM, at a dose of 108 colony-forming units per mouse daily to mice. Comparison of the anti-Salmonella activity of several Lactobacillus type strains with natural resistance to FOM revealed that Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 14869T, Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917T, Lactobacillus reuteri JCM 1112T, Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469T and Lactobacillus salivarius ATCC 11741T conferred no activity even when they obtained the high population levels almost similar to those of the effective strains such as LcS, Lact. casei ATCC 334T and Lactobacillus zeae ATCC 15820T. The increase in concentration of organic acids and maintenance of the lower pH in the intestine because of Lactobacillus colonization were correlated with the anti-infectious activity. Moreover, heat-killed LcS was not protective against the infection, suggesting that the metabolic activity of lactobacilli is important for the anti-infectious activity. Conclusion: These results suggest that certain lactobacilli in combination with antibiotics may be useful for prophylaxis against opportunistic intestinal infections by multi-drug resistant pathogens, such as DT104. Significance and Impact of the Study: Antibiotics such as FOM disrupt the metabolic activity of the intestinal microbiota that produce organic acids, and that only probiotic strains that are metabolically active in vivo should be selected to prevent intestinal infection when used clinically in combination with certain antibiotics.

An improved confinement state by the formation of an edge transport barrier can be obtained in the compact helical system. A power threshold exists, as is the case for the H-mode in tokamaks. The threshold scales as . These dependences are similar to those in tokamaks. The threshold also depends on magnetic configuration parameters such as the position of the magnetic axis. The absolute value of the threshold is 1–3 times larger than the tokamak H-mode power scaling.

Edge transport barrier (ETB) formation was observed in a compact helical system. A sharp decrease in Hα emission indicates the quick transition of edge particle transport. The increase in the density gradient at the edge was measured by using various profile diagnostics. The transition process has a slowly developing pre-phase, and a quick transition for which the fastest case is less than 0.2 ms. There exists a heating power threshold which is roughly proportional to the density and the magnetic field. The transition and back transition is controlled by the heating power. The magnetic configuration effect on ETB formation was also studied. The local density measurement by beam emission spectroscopy shows intermittent bursts of low frequency fluctuations during the ETB formation phase. When the initial density profile is very hollow, ETB formation together with the electron temperature increase (electron internal transport barrier) in the core region, was observed for the NBI discharges without ECH.

The Shafranov shift is derived from the two-dimensional profile of x-ray intensity measured with a soft x-ray CCD camera in large helical device. The accuracy of the measurement of the magnetic axis is 3% of the Shafranov shift at high β. The measured Shafranov shift increases linearly up to 280±3 mm, which is 47% of the minor radius as the volume averaged β βdia measured with a diamagnetic loop is increased up to 2.6%. The Shafranov shift measured with a soft x-ray CCD camera agrees with that calculated with the three-dimensional equilibrium code VMEC. The reduction of the Shafranov shift due to the higher harmonics of the Fourier components of the magnetic field is also observed.

Positive radial electric field, Er, was observed at the edge region in the low-density NBI plasmas of the Large Helical Device (LHD). Ion thermal diffusivities, χi, are evaluated by the local transport analysis for two different density plasmas and for two cases of the magnetic axis position. In the standard configuration case, χi was reduced by large positive Er, while no reduction in χi was found in the inward shifted case. A certain level of suppression of the neoclassical ripple transport by Er seems to be confirmed since the neoclassical transport is considered to be more dominant in the standard magnetic configuration plasmas.

During the first two years of the LHD experiment the following results have been achieved: (i) higher Te (Te(0) = 4.4 keV at ne = 5.3 × 1018 m-3 and Pabs = 1.8 MW); (ii) higher confinement (τE = 0.3 s, Te(0) = 1.1 keV at ne = 6.5 × 1019 m-3 and Pabs = 2.0 MW); (iii) higher stored energy, Wpdia = 880 kJ at B = 2.75 T. High performance plasmas have been realized in the inward shifted magnetic axis configuration (R = 3.6 m) where helical symmetry is recovered and the particle orbit properties are improved by a trade-off of MHD stability properties due to the appearance of a magnetic hill. Energy confinement was systematically higher than that predicted by the International Stellarator Scaling 95 by up to a factor of 1.6 and was comparable with the ELMy H mode confinement capability in tokamaks. This confinement improvement is attributed to configuration control (inward shift of the magnetic axis) and to the formation of a high edge temperature. The average beta value achieved reached 2.4% at B = 1.3 T, the highest beta value ever obtained in a helical device, and so far no degradation of confinement by MHD phenomena has been observed. The inward shifted configuration has also led to successful ICRF minority ion heating. ICRF powers up to 1.3 MW were reliably injected into the plasma without significant impurity contamination, and a plasma with a stored energy of 200 kJ was sustained for 5 s by ICRF alone. As another important result, long pulse discharges of more than 1 min were successfully achieved separately with an NBI heating of 0.5 MW and with an ICRF heating of 0.85 MW.

Confinement of perpendicularly injected beam ions has been investigated experimentally both in the standard configuration and in the drift optimized configuration of the CHS heliotron/torsatron by means of the neutron technique. The experimental results indicate that the confinement of trapped beam ions is poor in both configurations. The observed loss rate of trapped beam ions was very high and this high rate is not explained by losses due to charge exchange or collisional scattering from the timescale perspective. Full gyro-motion following orbit calculations showed that in the peripheral region of CHS plasmas, trapped beam ions are promptly lost because they immediately intersect the vacuum chamber wall due to their large Larmor radii. It also suggested that in the core domain the collisionless transition behaviour is the key to understanding the rapid loss of beam ions. It was shown that the magnetic moment of perpendicularly injected beam ions is not well conserved in CHS. The rapid losses of perpendicularly injected beam ions are probably due to non-adiabatic effects resulting in the transition behaviour of energetic ions.

A time of flight (TOF) Rutherford backscattering (RBS) system with a nano-probe line has been designed and installed. A medium energy (100–400 keV) nano-probe with beam pulsing and multiscaling detecting techniques was used to obtain enhanced detecting sensitivity for localized analysis. The multiscaling TOF detecting system has about 5 ns time resolution, corresponding to an energy resolution of 2–5 keV, and an advantage over the conventional RBS measurement system in energy resolution. Total charge exposed by TOF–RBS measurement is 4–5 orders of magnitude less than that by conventional RBS using a solid state detector (SSD).

A toroidal flow antiparallel to the 〈E_r×B_θ〉 drift direction is observed in the hot electron mode plasmas when a large positive electric field and a sharp electron temperature gradient are sustained inside the internal transport barrier in the Compact Helical System. This toroidal flow reaches up to 5×10^4 m/s at the plasma center, and it is large enough to reverse the toroidal flow driven by a tangentially injected neutral beam. These observations clearly show the plasma favors flow in the minimum ∇B direction at the transport barrier.

The confinement characteristics of large net-current-free plasmas heated by neutral-beam injection have been investigated in the Large Helical Device (LHD). A systematic enhancement in energy-confinement times from the scaling derived from the medium-sized heliotron/torsatron experiments have been observed, which is attributed to the edge pedestal. The core confinement is scaled with the Bohm term divided by the square root of the gyro radii. The comparative analysis using a dimensionally similar discharge in the Compact Helical System indicates gyro-Bohm dependence in the core and transport improvement in the edge region of LHD plasmas.

ObjectivesThis study sought to assess radiation exposure and operator discomfort when using left radial approach (LRA) versus right radial approach (RRA) for coronary diagnostic and percutaneous interventions.BackgroundThe transradial approach is increasingly being adopted as the preferred vascular access for coronary interventions. Currently, most are performed using an RRA. This is in part due to the perceived increased operator physical discomforts as well increased radiation exposure with an LRA.MethodsOne hundred patients were randomized to an LRA or RRA. Each operator (n = 5) had an independent randomization process, and patients were stratified according to obesity status. Operator radiation was measured using separate sets of radiation dosimeter badges placed externally on the head and thyroid and internally on the sternum. Operator physical discomfort was surveyed at 2 time points: during vascular access and at the end of the procedure. Moderate to severe physical discomfort was defined as a score of >4.ResultsThere were no significant differences in baseline and procedural variables between groups. There was a significant increase in external radiation exposure using the RRA versus LRA (head: median: 6.12 [interquartile range (IQR): 2.6 to 16.6] mRems vs. median: 12.0 [IQR: 6.4 to 22.0] mRems, p = 0.02; thyroid: median: 10.10 [IQR: 4.3 to 25] mRems vs. median: 18.70 [IQR: 11.0 to 38] mRems, p = 0.001). More discomfort was reported with the LRA during access (LRA: 22% vs. RRA: 4%; p = 0.017), but not during the procedure (LRA: 10.0% vs. RRA: 4.0%, p = 0.43). This difference was almost entirely noted in obese patients (LRA: 30.0% vs. RRA: 3.7%, p = 0.005).ConclusionsLRA is as effective as RRA, showing a safer profile with decreased radiation exposure to the operator, at the expense of more operator discomfort only during vascular access and limited to obese patients.

Objectives: We reviewed data to validate the use of a simplified STEMI Alert Clinical Tool for EMS personnel to use to activate cardiac cath labs for patients presenting with STEMIs. Methods: We retrospectively reviewed all ECGs transmitted by one EMS provider to an urban primary PCI facility from October 2009 to January 2011. We then applied the STEMI Alert Clinical Tool (Table 1) to determine if the patient would have qualified for cath lab activation from the field. A retrospective chart review was performed to determine the outcomes of each transmission within the corresponding time frames. Results: A total of 307 ECGs were transmitted during the selected time frame. A total of 10.7% (33 of 307) met criteria for cath lab activation based on the STEMI alert clinical tool. Of these 63.6% (21 of 33) were true positives and 36.4% (12 of 33) were false positives. The sensitivity of a positive alert was 95.5% (21 of 22) and the specificity was 95.8% (273 of 285). The positive predictive value (PPV) was 63.6% (21 of 33). One STEMI patient was missed by the clinical tool because the ECG did not read ***ACUTE MI***. The negative predictive value (NPV) was 99.6% (273 of 274). Conclusions: The data from this study shows that use of a STEMI Alert Clinical Tool has a relatively low PPV but a very high NPV. Thus, pre-hospital activation of cath labs may not be necessary for patients who fail to meet the STEMI alert criteria. In contrast, despite use of this tool a portion of patients will falsely activate the cath lab. Although this strategy may increase the risks of unnecessary financial and man power utilization to the hospital system, the risk of missing a STEMI can be high. Analyzing a larger patient population will be required to further define the value of using this clinical tool. Table 1 - Clinical Tool - All 7 must be "yes" to activate cath lab

Background: Rapid reperfusion of ST elevation myocardial infarction (STEMI) patients with primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) improves outcomes. Systems have been developed in many areas to identify STEMI patients in the field using pre-hospital electrocardiograms (ECGs). The Zoll E-Series (ES) is a defibrillator/monitoring system that utilizes the GE Medical Systems 12SL interpretive algorithm to assist with identification of STEMIs. There is a lack of significant data measuring the accuracy of the Zoll ES and its algorithm, especially in the setting of a large urban population. Methods: We retrospectively looked at 307 consecutive ECGs transmitted by one emergency medical service (EMS) provider to an urban primary PCI facility from October 2009 to January 2011. All transmissions were from Zoll ES monitors. Multiple ECG computer interpretations were screened and filtered out to those labeled ***ACUTE MI***. A retrospective chart review was performed to determine the clinical outcome for each transmission in order to determine the performance of the interpretive algorithm in this population. Results: Overall, 307 ECGs were analyzed. A total of 7% (20 of 307) were confirmed STEMIs (Table 1). The computer reading shows a sensitivity of 95% (20 of 21) and specificity of 94% (268 of 286). There is a positive predictive value (PPV) of 53% (20 of 38). Conclusions: The initial data from this study shows that the Zoll ES has a remarkably high sensitivity of 95% but a poor PPV of 53%. This may be due to multiple confounders that result in STEMI “mimics.” The Zoll ES helps provide a pre-hospital ECG that serves as a powerful and life saving tool in the field. However, due to the low PPV, these findings reinforce that the pre-hospital ECG needs to be combined with an appropriate clinical history and additional human interpretation. Further studies analyzing a larger population of patients should be conducted to further assess the value of using this tool.

The intentional consumption and use of stimulants, such as caffeine, are known to have numerous interactions with the human cardiovascular system. Ex vivo studies have shown caffeine-induced vasoconstriction of coronary arteries (Forman et al. in Ann Emerg Med 29:178-180, 1997). We report on a case of a 17-year-old male who presented with angina and an abnormal electrocardiogram (ECG) concerning for ST elevation myocardial infarct. He was found to have diffuse ECG changes and markedly elevated cardiac enzymes. A transthoracic echocardiogram revealed a reduced left ventricular (LV) systolic function as well as segmental wall motion abnormalities consistent with an ischemic insult. The patient admitted to consuming near lethal doses of caffeine immediately preceding his angina. He was diagnosed with coronary vasospasms as a result of stimulant use. During hospitalization, ECG changes resolved, cardiac enzymes started trending downward, and LV systolic function returned to normal, all consistent with stunned myocardium that fully recovered. This case strongly suggests that overuse of stimulants, such as caffeine, should be considered in patients presenting with coronary vasospasms, particularly in teenagers and young adults.

The intentional inhalation of fumes from gasoline or solvents for recreational purposes is commonly known as Huffing, Sniffing or Dusting (Anderson and Loomis in Am Fam Physician 68(5):869–874, 2003). Inhalant abuse is known to be “Cardio-toxic”, causing sudden death and chronic myocardial damage (Meadows and Verghese in South Med J 89(5):455–462, 1996; Anderson and Loomis in Am Fam Physician 68(5):869–874, 2003). We report a 20-year-old white man who presented with altered mental status following ingestion of multiple alprazolam and oxycodone tablets. He was found to have diffused ST-T changes on his EKG. Cardiac enzymes were found to be elevated—CK: 599 U/L, CK-MB: 16.8 ng/mL and Troponin: 0.78 ng/mL. A transthoracic echocardiogram (TTE) revealed global left ventricular (LV) dysfunction with an ejection fraction (EF) of 10–15%. During hospitalization, the cardiac enzymes started trending downward and this was followed by spontaneous resolution of the LV dysfunction. The patient also admitted to inhaling “Dust-Off” spray 2–3 days prior to admission. Inhalant abuse can cause cardiomyopathy and should be considered a probable cause in patients presenting with cardiac dysfunction of unknown etiology, particularly in teenagers and young adults.

The anti-infectious activity of lactobacilli against multi-drug resistant Salmonella enterica serovar Typhimurium DT104 (DT104) was examined in a murine model of an opportunistic antibiotic-induced infection.Explosive intestinal growth and subsequent lethal extra-intestinal translocation after oral infection with DT104 during fosfomycin (FOM) administration was significantly inhibited by continuous oral administration of Lactobacillus casei strain Shirota (LcS), which is naturally resistant to FOM, at a dose of 10(8) colony-forming units per mouse daily to mice. Comparison of the anti-Salmonella activity of several Lactobacillus type strains with natural resistance to FOM revealed that Lactobacillus brevis ATCC 14869(T) , Lactobacillus plantarum ATCC 14917(T) , Lactobacillus reuteri JCM 1112(T) , Lactobacillus rhamnosus ATCC 7469(T) and Lactobacillus salivarius ATCC 11741(T) conferred no activity even when they obtained the high population levels almost similar to those of the effective strains such as LcS, Lact. casei ATCC 334(T) and Lactobacillus zeae ATCC 15820(T) . The increase in concentration of organic acids and maintenance of the lower pH in the intestine because of Lactobacillus colonization were correlated with the anti-infectious activity. Moreover, heat-killed LcS was not protective against the infection, suggesting that the metabolic activity of lactobacilli is important for the anti-infectious activity.These results suggest that certain lactobacilli in combination with antibiotics may be useful for prophylaxis against opportunistic intestinal infections by multi-drug resistant pathogens, such as DT104.Antibiotics such as FOM disrupt the metabolic activity of the intestinal microbiota that produce organic acids, and that only probiotic strains that are metabolically active in vivo should be selected to prevent intestinal infection when used clinically in combination with certain antibiotics.

We propose and experimentally demonstrate an optimised bidirectional pumping scheme that realizes a less than 0.7 dB flatness over C- and L-bands for both Raman gain and optical noise figure, simultaneously. In order to use forward-pumping for the proposed method, a new type of pump laser having low relative intensity noise is also developed.

We fabricated P-doped silicate fibers, which have two Raman gain peaks at around 13 THz and 40 THz. WDM pumping by semiconductor LDs generates over 40 THz continuous gain bandwidth with two broad gain bands.

Diagnostics for helical systems are reviewed. A helical system is expected to be a disruption-free steady-state reactor since no plasma current is required. Different types of medium-sized helical systems such as CHS1, W7-AS2, Heliotron E3 and J4, H-1NF Heliac5 and HSX have been developed and constructed. Recently, a large helical device (LHD) has been constructed in Japan and another large one (W7-X8) is under construction in Germany. These two devices are fully equipped with superconducting magnets, modern diagnostics and high power heating systems. The plasma parameters are expected to be comparable to large tokamaks. While most plasma diagnostics are similar to those for tokamaks, there are also specific features: (1) measurement of vacuum magnetic flux surfaces; (2) intrinsic 3-D structure including divertor; (3) intensive diagnostics for the electric field; (4) diagnostics to verify device design elements; (5) high density diagnostics; (6) steady state operation. W7-X optimization principles call for sensitive current diagnostics (Pfirsch-Schluter and bootstrap currents) and tomographic means to verify the reduced Shafranov shift as well as fast particle confinement diagnostics11. Steady state or long pulse operation fulfills the demands of correlation diagnostics as Te fluctuation measurements, it allows for coherent averaging and it enables scans of various diagnostics. Examples are: i) polarization scans of ECE, ii) wavelength scans of spectrometers, and iii) spatial scans of several diagnostics. The special features of diagnostics for helical systems are described in the following chapters.

This study was conducted to confirm the hypothesis that intestinal microflora are required for the development of adenocarcinoma in the colon of the TCRbeta and p53 double-knockout (TCRbeta-/- p53-/-) mouse. Germ-free TCRbeta-/- p53-/- mice were produced. At 7 weeks of age, the animals were divided into two groups (n = 10/group), and one of these groups was conventionalized. Animals of both groups were subjected to histopathological examination for adenocarcinoma of the colon at 4 months of age. There was no development of adenocarcinoma of the colon among the germ-free mice, whereas in the conventionalized group, adenocarcinomas of the ileocecum and cecum were detected in 70% of animals. These results indicate the usefulness of the TCRbeta-/- p53-/- mouse as a colon cancer animal model that develops spontaneous adenocarcinoma of the colon early in life, and suggest that intestinal microflora play a major role in the development of adenocarcinoma of the colon in this animal model.

A toroidal flow antiparallel to theE(r) x B(straight theta)drift direction is observed in the hot electron mode plasmas when a large positive electric field and a sharp electron temperature gradient are sustained inside the internal transport barrier in the Compact Helical System. This toroidal flow reaches up to 5x10(4) m/s at the plasma center, and it is large enough to reverse the toroidal flow driven by a tangentially injected neutral beam. These observations clearly show the plasma favors flow in the minimum nablaB direction at the transport barrier.

We evaluated the relationship between plasma fibrinogen concentration and the serum levels of interleukin-6 (IL-6), its soluble receptor, and their complex in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus. The study comprised 57 patients with type 2 diabetes and 15 normal healthy controls. Serum levels of IL-6, soluble IL-6 receptor (IL-6R), and circulating IL-6/IL-6R complex were determined by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assays. Correlations between the different study parameters and serum IL-6, IL-6R, or IL-6/IL-6R complex levels were determined by multiple linear regression analysis. Any association between the different study parameters and the serum levels of IL-6, IL-6R, or IL-6/IL-6R complex were determined by stepwise linear regression analysis. The serum IL-6 level in diabetic subjects was significantly higher than in normal healthy controls (3.48 +/- 3.29 pg/ml vs 0.784 +/- 0.90 pg/ml, mean +/- SD, respectively, P = 0.0001). The specific optical density of the serum IL-6/IL-6R complex in diabetic patients was also significantly higher than in normal healthy controls, although there was no significant difference in the serum IL-6R level between diabetic patients and controls. The serum IL-6 concentration was correlated significantly with the HbA(1C) level (beta = 0.58, P = 0. 04) by multiple regression analysis. Stepwise regression analysis revealed that the levels of serum IL-6 (F = 8.251), HbA(1C) (F = 1. 08), and serum urea nitrogen (F = 5.603) were associated with the plasma fibrino gen concentration. These results suggest that hyperglycaemia and increased levels of serum IL-6 can increase the plasma fibrinogen concentration, one of the known risk factors for atherosclerosis in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus.

The confinement characteristics of large net-current-free plasmas heated by neutral-beam injection have been investigated in the Large Helical Device (LHD). A systematic enhancement in energy-confinement times from the scaling derived from the medium-sized heliotron/torsatron experiments have been observed, which is attributed to the edge pedestal. The core confinement is scaled with the Bohm term divided by the square root of the gyro radii. The comparative analysis using a dimensionally similar discharge in the Compact Helical System indicates gyro-Bohm dependence in the core and transport improvement in the edge region of LHD plasmas.

In LHD discharges a significant enhancement of the global energy confinement has been achieved for the first time in a helical device with an edge thermal barrier, which exhibits a sharp gradient at the edge of the temperature profile. Key features associated with the barrier are quite different from those seen in tokamaks: (i) almost no change in particle (including impurity) transport, (ii) a gradual formation of the barrier, (iii) a very high ratio of the edge temperature to the average temperature, and (iv) no edge relaxation phenomenon. These features are very attractive in applying the thermal barrier to future reactor grade devices.

The effect of Lactobacillus casei (LC) on the onset of alloxan (AXN)-induced diabetes in 7-week-old BALB/c mice were examined. It was observed that the mice given a diet containing 0.1% or 0.05% LC or orally administered LC showed significantly decreased incidence of diabetes induced by intravenous injection of AXN and that the plasma glucose level was slightly lower than that in the control group. The body weight in the LC-treated groups was higher than that in the control group, although the food intake weights were almost the same. Pathological analysis revealed that the AXN-induced disappearance of insulin-secreting beta-cells in the islets of Langerhans was strongly inhibited in the LC-treated groups. It was also shown that the serum nitric oxide level was maintained at a normal level in LC-treated mice, whereas the level in the control group was increased by AXN administration. Taken together, these findings suggest that oral administration of LC to AXN-treated BALB/c mice contributed to the reduction of diabetes and the increase in plasma glucose level.

This paper describes the measurement of the density fluctuation using beamemission spectroscopy in Heliotron J, having the non-symmetrical helical-magnetic-axis configuration. In order to optimize the sightlines, the numerical calculations are carried out to estimate the spatial resolution and the observation location. When a tangential neutral beam is used as diagnostic one, suitable sightlines from the newly installed diagnostic port are selected whose spatial resolution Δρ is less than ±0.07 over the entire plasma region. Modification of the interference filter and the detection systems enables us to measure the radial profile of the density fluctuation. Each of the three coherent modes due to the fast-ion-driven magnetohydrodynamic instabilities has different radial structure of the density fluctuation., Contributed paper, published as part of the Proceedings of the 19th Topical Conference on High Temperature Plasma Diagnostics, Monterey, California, May 2012.

We experienced a rare case of the gastric cancer occurred after the coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) using the right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA). On April, 1990, a 74-year-old woman underwent CABG using RGEA for angina pectoris due to 99% stenosis of the right coronary artery. Anorexia and vomiting appeared from December 1992. Examination of the stomach by an oral procedure led to a diagnosis of the pyloric stenosis due to the gastric cancer. The coronary arterial lesion was progressive, and 90% stenosis of LAD (#6, #7) was noted. On February 1993, the re-CABG and the gastrectomy were performed simultaneously. The re-CABG using the saphenous vein was performed to #3, and additional CABG using the bilateral internal thoracic artery were performed to #8 and #9. At the same time, the gastrectomy were performed and RGEA was resected to remove the R2 lymph node completely. If the root of RGEA had been exposed completely at the first operation, RGEA could be preserved as the bypass graft.

This paper describes the application of the beam emission spectroscopy (BES) to Heliotron J, having the nonsymmetrical helical-magnetic-axis configuration. The spectral and spatial profile of the beam emission has been estimated by the numerical calculation taking the collisional excitation processes between plasmas (electrons/ions) and beam atoms. Two sets of the sightlines with good spatial resolution are presented. One is the optimized viewing chords which have 20 sightlines and observe the whole plasma region with the spatial resolution Δρ less than ±0.055 using the newly designed viewing port. The other is 15 sightlines from the present viewing port of Heliotron J for the preliminary measurement to discuss the feasibility of the density fluctuation measurement by BES. The beam emission has been measured by a monochromator with a CCD camera. A good consistency has been obtained between the spectral profiles of the beam emission measured by the monochromator and the beam emission spectrum deduced by the model calculation. An avalanche photodiode with an interference filter system was also used to evaluate the signal-to-noise (S/N) ratio of the beam emission in the present experimental setup. The modification of the optical system is being planned to improve the S/N ratio, which will enable us to estimate the density fluctuation in Heliotron J.

We investigated the clinical feature of 22 diabetic patients diagnosed as having recurrent pulmonary tuberculosis. More than half of the patients relapsed within five years after discharge from the hospital. The mean serum albumin concentration of those patients who experienced relapses within three years was significantly lower than that of the patients who experienced relapses a period of time greater than three years. We recognized a significant negative correlation between the recurrent period and body mass index or fasting plasma glucose values. Among these patients, 50% of them ceased treatment for diabetes mellitus personally or had not been diagnosed as having diabetes mellitus before the relapse. All of the patients who ceased treatment for diabetes mellitus before readmission were able to obtain good plasma glucose control only through diet therapy during their first hospital admission for pulmonary tuberculosis. From this study, We concluded that strict plasma glucose control is important for the prevention of a relapse of the mycobacterial infection in patients with diabetes mellitus.

The formation of an edge transport barrier (ETB) has been observed in the high-density region (ne ~ 1.0 × 1020 m-3) of the Compact Helical System (CHS). The high-density ETB is observed in so-called 'reheat mode' discharge, an improved confinement mode in which the temperature increases due to the change of density profile by controlling gas-puff fueling. In the present study, we investigated the behaviour of the density profile and the density fluctuations in the edge region accompanied by the formation of the high-density ETB using beam emission spectroscopy (BES), and we compared the behaviour with that of the normal ETB transition of CHS. BES has been implemented in CHS to simultaneously measure both local density fluctuations and gradients. It revealed that the density, density gradient, and inverse value of the density scale length increase in the edge region at both the normal ETB transition and the high-density ETB transition. The turbulence of the frequency at less than 20 kHz is suppressed at the formation of the high-density ETB.

Abnormalities in the steroid 21-hydroxylase and 11 beta-hydroxylase activities were suspected in a 25-year-old female with congenital adrenal hyperplasia (CAH). The patient showed signs of masculinization such as hirsutism, amenorrhea, and enlarged clitoris, but the blood pressure was normal. Adrenocorticotropic was increased to 200 pg/ml. Plasma levels of deoxycorticosterone and 11-deoxycortisol as well as progesterone and 17-hydroxyprogesterone were elevated. Plasma cortisol level was normal at 5.8 micrograms/dl. CT scan revealed enlargement of the bilateral adrenal glands. This case suggests that enzyme abnormalities in CAH are more diverse than have been generally considered.

Unsymmetrical polymethine near-infrared dyes terminally containing 1-benzothiopyrylium ring and N,N-dimethylamino group were first prepared from 2-methyl-, 4-methyl-, and 2,4-dimethyl-1-benzothiopyrylium salts. It is found that the maximum wavelength of these dyes on PMMA is remarkably shifted to a shorter wavelength (60–200 nm) compared with that in solution.

The 3-D spatial structure - radial locality and poloidal /toroidal mode numbers - of the magnetohydrodynamic fluctuation called “edge harmonic oscillation (EHO)” in the compact helical system (CHS) was investigated using beam emission spectroscopy (BES) as the diagnostic method of the local density fluctuations and the magnetic probe array. We found two groups of harmonic oscillations in CHS, one with a frequency of 4.0 kHz and a harmonic located in the edge region of the normalized minor radius ρ = 0.95 near the rotational transform ι = 1 surface, and the other with a frequency of 3.5 kHz and a harmonic located in the core region ρ = 0.53 near the ι = 0. 5s urface. The magnetic probe signals showed that the poloidal/toroidal mode numbers of the edge mode and the core mode were −1/ 1a nd−2/1, respectively. They were consistent with the rotational transform of the magnetic field at the locations of those modes. c