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Aroma essential oils contain ingredients that are beneficial to the human body. A gas sensor array is required to monitor the concentration of these essential oil components to regulate their concentration by air conditioning systems. Therefore, we investigated the discrimination ability and concentration measurement accuracy of 14 effective components, including four aroma essential oils (lavender, melissa, tea tree, and eucalyptus), from a single gas sample and mixtures of two gases using sensor arrays. To obtain our data, we used two sensor arrays comprising commercially available semiconductor sensors and our developed semiconductor sensors. For machine learning, principal component analysis was used to visualize the dataset obtained from the sensor signals, and an artificial neural network was used for a detailed analysis. Our developed sensor array, which included sensors that possessed excellent sensor responses to 14 effective components and combined different semiconductive sensor principles, showed a better discrimination and prediction accuracy than the commercially available sensors investigated in this study. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Running for an extended period of time can cause severe stress on the body, subsequently damaging skeletal muscle and resulting in changes in blood components. However, few reports have examined vital responses during and after running. This study analyzed inflammatory responses during and after running and changes in stress responses as determined by serial changes in blood components. Venous blood was obtained before starting, 6 h after starting, 12 h after starting, and immediately after finishing 24 h of continuous running. Samples were analyzed for high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), pentraxin 3 (ptx3), white blood cells (WBC), myoglobin, creatine kinase (CK), and hormones. Diet and physical activity were standardized 24 h before and after running. Subjects comprised 16 men who agreed to participate in experimental running on November 8 and 9, 2008, at Tokyo Gakugei University. Mean running distance was 151.32 +/- 32.1 km (range, 83.6-210.0 km) in 24 h. A significant increase in hsCRP was seen from 12 h after starting to completion. Compared to hsCRP, ptx3 gradually increased from before starting to after completion, showing a significant difference between pre and post-run ptx3 levels. WBC count increased significantly until 6 h after starting. Neutrophils in leukocytosis increased significantly during the first 6 h. Eosinophils decreased significantly over the course of the 24 h. Cortisol increased, and testosterone decreased significantly from 6 h after starting. Dehydroepiandrosterone sulfate (DHEA-S), myoglobin, and CK increased over the course of the 24 h. Reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) changed within the normal range though there was a significant decrease, and biological anti-oxidant potential (BAP) stabilized. Active natural killer cells decreased significantly after 24 h running. Biopyrrin (BPn) increased significantly. Changes in stress oxide were small both during and after running, and adaptation for antioxidation was good. DHEAS, a biomarker of aging, was found to increase over the course of the 24 h, suggesting that controlling decreases in DHEA-S may be possible using exercise, particularly in males. The key finding was that DHEA S levels tended to increase with continuous aerobic exercise.

We report 3 cases with reversible posterior leukoencephalopathy syndrome (RPLS) accompanied by eclampsia or hypertensive encephalopathy. RPLS may develop in patients who have eclampsia or hypertensive encephalopathy or who are immunosuppressed. The findings on neuroimaging are characteristic of subcortical edema without infarction. A 27-year-old primigravida developed eclampsia at 37 weeks of gestation. MRI was performed 4 hours after the onset. The FLAIR sequence delineated extensive hyperintense lesions in the temporal and occipital lobe bilaterally. MR angiography(MRA) performed 6 days after the onset of symptoms clearly demonstrated intracranial vasospasm. Follow up MRI and MRA were performed 3 weeks after the onset. The MRI showed slight residual hyperintensity in the occipital lobe. The MRA showed the disappearance of the vasospasm. A 39-year-old woman on the 8th postpartum day presented with thunderclap headache, which led to a search for SAH. She visited our hospital, whose high arterial blood pressure (220/110 mmHg) was observed. Both CT and MRA were normal. MRI revealed abnormalities in the parieto-occipital regions bilaterally. Treatment of hypertension led to resolution of the posterior leukoencephalopathy. A 38-year-old woman on the 11th postpartum day suddenly developed vertigo, visual disturbance and generalized convulsion. MRI was performed 7 days after the onset. The FLAIR sequence delineated extensive hyperintense lesions in the occipital lobe bilaterally. MRA clearly demonstrated diffuse intracranial vasospasm. MRA performed 3 weeks after the onset showed the disappearance of the vasospasm. In conclusion, our experience suggests that the MRI and MRA noninvasively provide valuable findings which are complementary in the diagnosis and follow-up examination of a brain edema and vasospasm in RPLS.