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We often clinically observe individual differences in arm elevation angles, but the motion producing these differences remains unclear, partly because of the difficulty of accurately measuring scapular motion. The aim of this study was to determine whether the scapular or glenohumeral (GH) motion has more influence on differences in the arm elevation angles by capturing not only the humerus and scapula but also the trunk using two- (2D) and three-dimensional (3D) shape-matching registration techniques.Fifteen healthy subjects (13 male and 2 female; mean age: 27.7 years) were instructed to elevate their arms in the sagittal, scapular, and coronal planes. They were divided into high and low groups based on the average of arm elevation angle measured by a goniometer. The 3D scapular, thoracohumeral, and glenohumeral motions were evaluated using 2D/3D single-plane registration. To compare 3D motions between groups, we performed a two-way repeated measures analysis of variance.Eight subjects were assigned to the high group, while seven subjects were assigned to the low groups based on an average elevation angle of 172°. The low group demonstrated a significant larger scapular protraction during elevation in all planes (P = 0.0002 for flexion; P = 0.0047 for scaption; P = 0.0314 for abduction), and smaller posterior tilting only during flexion (P = 0.0157). No significant differences occurred in scapular upward rotations or the glenohumeral positions and rotations.This study revealed that insufficient scapular retraction and posterior tilting results in lower arm elevation angles, suggesting that improving the flexibility and activation of muscles surrounding the scapula may be important to achieve complete arm elevation.

Background The femoral cortical suspension device such as fixed loop devices (FLD) and adjustable-loop device (ALD) are used for ACLR technique in recent days. However, there was few studies of clinical and radiographic results for ACLR using ALD. This study was conducted to clarify the clinical and radiographic results, stability and bone tunnel enlargement after ACLR using a ToggleLoc with a zip loop as ALD. Methods 80 patients who had data available from the most recent follow-up at ≥2 years since ACLR were evaluated both clinical and radiographic results. They were divided into single bundle reconstruction group (SBR) and double bundle reconstruction group (DBR). Clinical scores were included subjective scores and objective scores at pre- and postoperatively 2 years. The subjective scores were the Cincinnati knee rating system, Knee injury and Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lysholm score, Tegner activity score, Visual Analog Scale (VAS) and ACL-Return to Sport after Injury (RSI) scale. The objective scores were the isokinetic muscle strength, side-to-side difference in anterior instability and single hop test. In radiographical assessment, femoral and tibial tunnel enlargement was evaluated by three-dimensional computed tomography. Results In both SBR and DBR group, the postoperative subjective scores were significantly improved compared to the preoperative values, except for the Tegner activity score. Similarly, the side-to-side differences in muscle strength, anterior instability and single hop test were significantly improved after surgery. The changes in the femoral and tibial tunnel maximum cross section areas of SBR were 104.3 % ± 21.2 % and 89.2 % ± 15.2 %, respectively, at 2 years post-operatively. In DBR, in the femoral bone volume change of the antero medial (AM) and postero lateral (PL) bundle were 107.0 ± 3.5 % and 108.1 ± 3.3, and in the tibial bone volume change of AM and PL bundle were 90.6 ± 3.3 % and 87.0 ± 4.2 %. At the femoral site, the rate of tunnel enlargement increased for the first 12 months and then decreased through 24 months postoperatively. At the tibial site, by contrast, the rate of tunnel enlargement decreased consistently over the two-year postoperative follow-up. Conclusion This is the first study to include clinical data on ACLR using a ToggleLoc with a zip loop device. ACLR using these devices as ALDs resulted in good clinical outcomes and provided good stability of the knee with relatively little bone tunnel enlargement in both SBR and DBR group.

Coseismic landslides generated by strong earthquakes can substantially increase the devastation imposed on society and humanity, especially when such seismic events occur in unconsolidated pyroclastic fall deposits that are prone to destabilization. The catastrophic 2018 Hokkaido Eastern Iburi Earthquake triggered thousands of shallow liquefied landslides in pyroclastic fall deposits, 1 day after the passage of Typhoon Jebi. The landslides were highly mobile and had long runouts. We here report novel findings pertaining to distinctive properties of the widely distributed, weathered Plinian Ta-d tephra deposit from Tarumae volcano, and their impact on the spatial clustering of the Iburi landslides. Distribution of the landslides is positively correlated with the dispersal of Ta-d. Liquefaction occurred in the weathered Ta-d pumice, despite the absence of unconfined groundwater. The Ta-d pumice also has lower soil strength than other local pumice units. The volumetric soil moisture content of weathered Ta-d pumice is very high (>90%) and exceeds other soil layers, regardless of precipitation variation. The presence of hydrated halloysite was confirmed by X-ray diffraction. The halloysite enhances the shaking-triggered liquefaction, because it maintains weathered Ta-d pumice in a highly saturated and exceedingly loose state, even in the absence of unconfined groundwater. This is inconsistent with the traditional concept of liquefaction that generally occurs in sandy soils below the groundwater level.

Purpose The aim of this study was to investigate risk factors for VTEs after HTO based on patient demographics, medical comorbidities, operative valuables, and clinical results. Methods A total of 137 patients were assessed VTEs using ultrasonography at 1 week after HTO. The risk factors for postoperative VTEs were to assessed. Results The incidence of VTEs after HTO was 25.5%. Postoperative single leg standing test was independent predictors of VTEs after HTO. Conclusion The incidence of VTEs after HTO is relatively high and Postoperative knee function is important for preventing VTEs after HTO. Level of evidence Ⅱ, Prospective comparative study.

Bone bruises with anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) injury are well studied, but the association between bone bruises and multiple factors is unclear. The main objective of this study was to investigate the association between bone bruising and ACL injury and concomitant injury as well as clinical and functional scores. The second objective was to investigate the presence and distribution patterns of bone bruises. A total of 176 patients who underwent ACL reconstruction for primary ACL injury were included. The demographic characteristics and responses to clinical and functional assessments (the Visual Analog Scale for activities of daily living and sports, the Cincinnati Knee Rating System, the Lysholm score, the Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score and side-to-side difference in anterior laxity) were recorded at the initial visit. Concomitant injuries were evaluated by intraoperative assessment. Bone bruises were detected in 141 patients (80.1%). The lateral femoral condyle (LFC) was the most common site in 116 patients (65.9%), followed by the lateral tibial plateau (LTP) in 82 patients (46.6%), medial tibial plateau (MTP) in 47 patients (26.7%) and medial femoral condyle (MFC) in 29 patients (16.5%). Regarding the distribution patterns, bone bruising at only the LFC, which was the most common pattern, was detected in 38 patients (27.0%). Bone bruising at the LTP or MTP was significantly associated with lateral (LM) and medial meniscus (MM) tears (odds ratios 4.0, 3.0, 4.3 and 40.5, 95% confidence intervals 1.5–11.6, 1.2–15.1, 1.2–17.3 and 8.6–283.0, respectively). No marked differences in the functional or clinical scores were noted. The severity of bone bruising at the MTP was significantly associated with MM tears and that at the LTP was significantly associated with LM tears. (p

Background It has been recognized that psychological factors influence the return to sports after anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction (ACLR). The ACL-return to sports after injury (RSI) scale was developed based on subcategories of emotions, confidence in physical performance and risk appraisal. However, it has not been clarified describing which is the most influential psychological factor of the ACL-RSI scale. Hypothesis Risk appraisal is the most influent for return to sports in the subcategories of the ACL-RSI scale. Patients and methods A total of 85 competitive patients who had undergone ACLR were evaluated at 6, 12 and 24 months after surgery. They were classified the return to sports (RTS) group and non-return to sports (NRTS) group. Evaluations were several clinical and functional scores including Cincinnati knee rating system, Knee Osteoarthritis Outcome Score (KOOS), Lysholm score, limitation in activities of daily living (ADL) and sports which estimated by Visual Analog Scale (VAS) score, Isokinetic Muscle Strength (quadriceps and hamstrings), single hop test and anterior laxity. They were investigated their relationship with the ACL-RSI scale including each subcategory. Results The total ACL-RSI scale significantly improved at each point. Of the subcategories, only risk appraisal was not significantly different at each point (p = 0.21 and p = 0.13). There was a significant difference at 24 months after ACLR between the RTS group and NRTS group. In terms of risk appraisal, compared with emotion and performance confidence, the difference in the mean value was the most divergent (RTS group: 55.9 ± 22.7 and NRTS group: 23.8 ± 19.3) and took time to improve through 24 months. Among various clinical and functional scores, there were significant differences in the VAS score for sports, KOOS-symptoms, sports and QOL, Cincinnati Knee Rating System-cut, and single hop test values between two groups. Of these, the KOOS-QOL and VAS score for sports showed particularly strong correlations with ACL-RSI risk appraisal (r = 0.75 and -0.68, respectively). Conclusion Of the ACL-RSI scale, risk appraisal took the longest time to improve and strongly affected the return to sports. The KOOS-QOL and VAS score for sports were most strongly correlated with the ACL-RSI risk appraisal. It seems that it is important to reduce the psychological risk as soon as possible after ACL injury in ACLR patients. Level of evidence II.

Although massive rotator cuff tears occasionally lead to severe impairment of shoulder function, the criteria for losing the ability to elevate the arm are unclear. This study aimed to analyze the features of both tear size and 3-dimensional (3D) shoulder kinematics that correspond to the loss of the ability to elevate the arm in patients with large and massive rotator cuff tears.We prospectively enrolled patients with rotator cuff tears, including the supraspinatus and more than half of the subscapularis or more than two-thirds of the infraspinatus, without severe pain. A total of 13 patients (15 shoulders) were divided into 2 groups: 9 shoulders in the pseudoparesis (P) group and 6 shoulders in the non-pseudoparesis (NP) group. Fluoroscopic images were collected during active scapular-plane elevation, and 3D shoulder kinematics was analyzed using 2-dimensional-3D registration techniques. The radiographic findings and 3D kinematic results were compared between the groups. The correlation between tear size and 3D kinematics was also investigated.The most superior position of the humeral head center was significantly higher in the P group (6.7 ± 3.0 mm in P group vs. 3.6 ± 1.3 mm in NP group, P = .0321). Superior migration, which was defined as the most superior position5 mm, was significantly more frequent in the P group (7 shoulders and 1 shoulder in the P and NP groups, respectively; P = .0201). Thoracohumeral external rotation was significantly smaller in the P group (16° ± 31° in P group vs. 91° ± 21° in NP group, P.0001). The total tear size and the tear sizes of the anterior and posterior rotator cuffs were significantly correlated with the superior (r = 0.68, P = .0056), anterior (r = 0.68, P = .0058), and posterior (r = -0.80, P = .0004) positions of the humeral head center. The tear size of the posterior rotator cuff also tended to be correlated with glenohumeral external rotation (r = -0.48, P = .0719).Anterior and posterior rotator cuff tears cause significant superior and anteroposterior translations of the humeral head, and posterior cuff tears may lead to loss of glenohumeral external rotation. With these abnormal kinematics, superior migration and loss of thoracohumeral external rotation were identified as features of pseudoparesis.

This paper describes in detailed flow field in a centrifugal compressor with a vaned diffuser at off design point. Especially, we conducted both the experimental and numerical analysis in order to investigate the evolution process of a diffuser stall. At the stall point, the diffuser stall was initiated and rotated near the shroud side in the vaneless space. Furthermore, the diffuser stall was developed to a stage stall cell, as the mass flow was decreased. The developed stall cell was rotated within both the impeller and diffuser passages. The evolution process of the diffuser stall had three stall forms. First, the diffuser stall was rotating near the shroud side. Then, the diffuser stall shifted to the hub side and moved into the impeller passages. Finally, a stage stall was generated. From computational fluid dynamics (CFD) analysis, a tornado-type vortex was generated first, near the hub side of the diffuser leading edge, when the diffuser stall was shifted to the hub side. Next, a throat area blockage was formed near the hub side because of the boundary layer separation in the vaneless space. Finally, the blockage within the diffuser passages expanded to the impeller passages and developed into a stage stall. From the pressure measurements along the impeller and diffuser passages, the magnitude of pressure fluctuation on the casing wall of the diffuser throat area also suddenly increased when the diffuser stall shifted to the hub side. Therefore, the evolution area of the diffuser stall was caused by the evolution of the blockage near the throat area of the diffuser passage.

In Japan, chemotherapeutic agents that have been approved for the treatment of esophageal cancer include cisplatin, nedaplatin, 5-fluorouracil, vindesine, and docetaxel. We retrospectively investigated the efficacy and toxicity of a combination of nedaplatin plus vindesine, or docetaxel alone, for patients with unresectable or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus refractory to prior chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil plus platinum.Nedaplatin was administered at 90 mg/m(2) intravenously on day 1, and vindesine was administered at 3 mg/m(2) intravenously on days 1 and 8 every 28 days. Docetaxel 60 mg/m(2) or 70 mg/m(2) was administered intravenously every 21 days. We analyzed the response rate, overall survival time, progression-free survival time, and toxicity in 24 patients treated with nedaplatin plus vindesine and 28 patients treated with docetaxel.In patients treated with nedaplatin plus vindesine, the response rate of the 13 patients with measurable lesions was 8% (1/13), the median progression-free survival time was 1.8 months, and the median survival time was 5.5 months. In patients treated with docetaxel, the response rate of the 17 patients with measurable lesions was 18% (3/17), the median progression-free survival time was 2.1 months, and the median survival time was 5.1 months. The most frequent toxicity was neutropenia (grade 4; 13% in the group with nedaplatin plus vindesine and 50% in the docetaxel group), and febrile neutropenia (grade 3; 4% and 18%, respectively).The efficacy of the two regimens for unresectable or recurrent squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus refractory to chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil plus platinum was unsatisfactory. New, more effective therapies are needed.

Although endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) of early gastric cancer using an insulation-tipped diathermic (IT) knife enables the removal of large and ulcerative lesions en bloc, expert endoscopic skill is required. We developed an improved IT knife (IT-2) and compared its efficacy and safety with that of the original IT knife (IT-OM).We performed ESD of 602 gastric cancers. Of these, 314 previously untreated single lesions of initial onset were analyzed. Operating time, rate of en-bloc resection, and incidence of complications were compared in the IT-2 group (161 patients) and IT-OM group (153 patients). Lesions were further analyzed as to whether they met the Japanese Gastric Cancer Association indications for ESD or extended indications.Mean resection time was significantly shorter in the IT-2 than in the IT-OM group (48 vs 63 min). There were fewer surgeries lasting longer than 2 h in the IT-2 group than in the IT-OM group (3% vs 12%). En-bloc and margin-free resection rates in the IT-OM and IT-2 groups were 95% and 99%, respectively. Perforations occurred in 3.9% of patients in the IT-OM group and in 5% of patients in the IT-2 group (difference not significant [NS]). The incidence of postoperative hemorrhage was 7.8% in the IT-OM group and 8.7% in the IT-2 group (NS). In both groups, complications were treated endoscopically, and emergency surgery was unnecessary.Resectability and complication rates were similar in the two groups. However, operating time was shorter with IT-2, irrespective of the indications for the performance of ESD. This study suggests benefits of the IT-2 over the IT-OM.

A patient was diagnosed with a small cell carcinoma of the esophagus (T4N1M1b by the International Union Against Cancer [UICC] classification) in October 2002, and initially received two courses of concurrent chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU; 400 mg/m(2) by continuous infusion; days 1-5 and 8-12) and cisplatin (40 mg/m(2) by drip infusion; days 1 and 8) and radiation therapy (2 Gy/day, days 1-5, 8-12, and 15-19; total, 30 Gy per course) with the second course given after a 2-week interval. Two courses of chemotherapy with 5-FU (800 mg/m(2); days 1-5) and cisplatin (80 mg/m(2); day 1) given after this was completed. Although a complete response had been confirmed, recurrence with multiple liver and lymph node metastases was detected 3 months after the cessation of the second course of chemotherapy. Although the patient received second-line chemotherapy with irinotecan (150 mg/m(2); every 2 weeks) from June 2003, the disease progressed. Brain metastases developed during third-line chemotherapy with gemcitabine (1000 mg/m(2) weekly by drip infusion). The symptoms were attenuated after whole-brain radiation (30 Gy), and fourth-line chemotherapy using paclitaxel (80 mg/m(2); weekly) was initiated from November 2003. A computed tomography scan 1 month after the first course of paclitaxel showed remarkable regression of the liver metastases. The treatment strategy used for treating small cell carcinomas of the lung may be applicable for these carcinomas of the esophagus.

Background and Aims: An increased prevalence of reflux esophagitis has been reported following Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication in patients with duodenal ulcers in Western countries. However, it has remained unknown whether this might also appertain to individuals with other diseases. We therefore carried out this study to determine the effect of eradicating H. pylori infection in a series of Japanese patients. Methods: Of a total of 203 H. pylori-positive patients successfully cured of infection, 82 cases (58 males, 24 females) with gastric disease, but not duodenal ulcers, were included in the present study; median age 56 years (range 18–80) and median follow up of 24 months (range 6–65). The patients were investigated clinically and endoscopically at regular intervals. Results: Mild reflux esophagitis developed after eradication in three of 55 (5.5%) patients formerly without this condition, while it improved after eradication in five of 27 (18.5%) patients, with the disease endoscopically diagnosed prior to eradication. The estimated incidence of esophagitis within 3 years was 4.8% after cure of infection. Short segment Barrett's esophagus developed after eradication in six of 58 (10.3%) patients who did not have it prior to the therapy, while the condition did not improve in 24 patients affected before eradication. Conclusions: Endoscopic esophageal changes after H. pylori eradication in the present series of Japanese patients were relatively infrequent and mild. This therapeutic approach thus appears to be safe and unproblematic.

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) sometimes forms a pancreatic mass lesion, which is often difficult to distinguish from pancreatobiliary malignancy, however it generally responds to steroid therapy. A 70-year-old man was referred to our institute with the suspected diagnosis of pancreatic cancer due to a mass lesion detected at the pancreatic head. Various images demonstrated an ill-defined mass at the enlarged pancreatic head with focal narrowing of the main pancreatic duct. Serum antinuclear antibody (ANA) was negative (x40 dilution) on the onset. Forceps biopsy from the narrowed pancreaticobiliary duct and fine-needle aspiration biopsy under endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS-FNAB) ruled out pancreatobiliary malignancy. Steroid therapy was started at 40 mg per day but was not effective according to subsequent image analyses. Repeated EUS-FNA from the pancreatic mass was performed but was again negative for carcinoma. Seven months later, under steroid-off condition, still no response was recognized in the clinical image but the titer of serum ANA was increased to be positive (x80), satisfying the criteria of AIP in Japan (2006). Although very rare, this is a case meeting Japanese criteria of AIP after withdrawal of steroid without response to steroid in the clinical images, suggesting the necessity of careful follow-up.

This paper describes the magneto-optical disk with multi-layer structure. The recording medium that is constructed by amorphous rareearth and transition metal alloy, transparent films and a reflective film has been studied for higher signal quality and higher reliability. The design concept of the multi-layer structure is to make the Kerr rotation angle maximum using optical interference in the films and to improve reliability by stable transparent and reflective films. The optical characters are calculated for the design with thicknesses and refractive indexes of the films. The nitride transparent film is selected for reliability after testing some transparent films. The magneto-optical disks were checked after exposed to high temperature and high humidity. The life of the medium itself and the recording bit are estimated from these tests. The high recording desity 108bit/cm2 and more than 10 years life of the media are achieved with the multi-layer structure. The rewritable and removalble memory medium that has large capacity is realized.

Background: Recently, outpatient chemotherapy centers have become popular in Japan. To clarify the actual conditions of outpatient clinics, we surveyed entire clinical courses of chemotherapy in patients with unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer. Methods: From the medical records of 64 patients with unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer with no prior chemotherapy, we obtained data on overall survival, non-hospitalized survival, the number of and reasons for attendance at the outpatient clinic and hospitalization, and medical conditions at discharge. Results: The median follow-up time was 520 days, the median survival time was 353 days, and the median non-hospitalized survival time was 282 days. Patients attended the outpatient clinic 1917 times in total; 145 (8%) of these were unplanned visits for accidental disease, disease progression, or toxicity. Patients were hospitalized 291 times in total: 110 (38%) of hospitalizations were unplanned or emergencies because of disease progression or toxicity. Patients were discharged 290 times in total; in 56 of these discharges (19%) unresolved medical problems remained, such as toxicity, total parenteral nutrition, or symptoms related to cancer. Three patients (5%) died from treatment-related leucopenia and thrombocytopenia. Conclusions: Patients with unresectable and recurrent gastric cancer were treated at outpatient clinics for periods up to 80% longer than the entire clinical course of chemotherapy. However, there were some unplanned or emergency hospitalizations and some patients still experienced medical problems at discharge. The role of the outpatient clinic is very important to chemotherapy for patients with unresectable or recurrent gastric cancer.

An ink-jet head using a buckling diaphragm microactuator is described. The microactuator is composed of a silicon substrate, silicon dioxide insulator, nickel heater and electro-plated nickel diaphragm. All the edges of the diaphragm are fixed on the substrate and a narrow gap is formed between the diaphragm and the substrate. A nozzle plate is connected to the actuator by an adhesive spacer to get the ink-jet head. An ink chamber is formed by the surfaces of the diaphragm, the nozzle plate, and the side wall of the spacer. When the diaphragm is heated, thermally induced compressive stress causes the diaphragm to buckle rapidly and the diaphragm simultaneously deflects toward the nozzle plate. The deflection raises the pressure in the ink chamber and an ink droplet is then ejected through the nozzle. The ink-jet head has been designed to maximize the droplet velocity, minimize the thermal response of the actuator and optimize the energy consumption needed to eject an ink droplet. The head design was carried out by using mechanical analysis of a buckling model, and heat transfer simulation. The diaphragm made from nickel is 300 /spl mu/m diameter and 2 /spl mu/m-thick. The microactuator has been built using a combination of surface- and bulk-micromachining. An ink droplet has been ejected with a velocity of 8 m/s while the ink-jet head is operated by heating the diaphragm with a current of 510 mA at 16.6 V for 10 /spl mu/s at 1.8 kHz. We assured that no bubble was generated at less than 1.8 kHz. The fabrication process used to make the microactuator is briefly reported.

A new manufacturing process of a preformatted glass disk substrate and a photomask for producing the glass substrate was studied. In the substrate, the depth in the pit area differs from that in the track area. In the photomask, the pit area has different transmissivity from the track area. In this new process, latent preformatted patterns are formed in photoresist with either a laser cutting method or a contact printing method, and a new etching method comprising the first etching, the first ashing, the second etching and the second ashing is carried out. The mass production of the optical disk glass substrate can be realized with this new process. This technique can also be applied to forming an etched glass master for fabricating a polycarbonate disk substrate.

Calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), a potent vasodilating peptide, is present in primary afferent neurons of the gastric mucosa. However, its functional role in the stomach is not well established. The present study was undertaken to elucidate the involvement of gastric CGRP in the mechanism of protection against mucosal damage. Newborn Wistar rats were made CGRP-deficient by intraperitoneal injection of a sensory neurotoxin, capsaicin. All the experiments were performed 2.5 months after birth. The formation of mucosal lesions by administration of indomethacin to CGRP-deficient rats was significantly enhanced in comparison with that in normal rats. Intragastric administration of capsaicin significantly reduced the indomethacin-induced gastric mucosal lesions in normal rats. Pretreatment with a CGRP antagonist abolished the protective action of intragastric capsaicin against damaging agents. In isolated perfused stomach from normal rats, acute arterial infusion of capsaicin significantly reduced the perfusion pressure of the left gastric artery, with a simultaneous increase in CGRP and somatostatin secretion. The reduction of perfusion pressure and the increase of somatostatin secretion were inhibited by concomitant administration of a CGRP antagonist. In contrast, capsaicin infusion had no effect in CGRP-deficient rats. These results suggest that CGRP in the stomach plays a pivotal role in protection against gastric mucosal damage by indomethacin, possibly through an increase in gastric blood flow and somatostatin secretion.

A document scanner using polymer waveguides with a microlens array was developed. The waveguide grooves and the microlenses were fabricated simultaneously by injection molding. The cores of the waveguides were formed by squeegeeing. The waveguides have multiple sharp bends to minify the image and also to reduce the size of the scanner. The microlens had a root-mean-square wavefront aberration of 0.06 λ(λ = 633 nm), and the waveguide had a transmission loss of less than 0.1 dB/cm at 633 nm. The optical system was designed to be telecentric so that the scanner had a depth of field greater than 6.0 mm (at 4 lp/mm).

The incidence of adenocarcinoma of the gastric cardia has shown an increase in recent years in the West, and obesity has been reported to have relation to its increased risk. In Japan, however, the majority of gastric cancer are situated in the body and distal stomach which appear to have a different etiology, and cardia cancer is recognized as extemely rare. The purpose of the study is to evaluate the relation of body mass index (BMI) between patients with cardia and distal cancer at an early stage, and to compare clinico-pathological findings of each cancer. A total of 3144 patients with early gastric cacner (EGC) were examined, who underwent surgery in the period from 1962 to 1997 at National Cancer Center Hospital Tokyo (NCCH). Among these, only 70 cases (2%) were adenocarcinoma of gastric cardia, which were located within 20mm from esophagogastric junction, and 2949 cases (94%) were early distal cancer. 34.3 percent of the early cardia cancer showed the macroscopically elevated type, and this occurs in less than 13.7% of the distal cancer. Eight nine percent (62/70) cardia cancer revealed differentiated adenocarcinoma histologically. The male:female ratio of cardia cancer cases was about 2.7:1, which was much higher than that in patients with distal cancer. Proportion of submucosal invasion (53%) was significantly higher in cardia cancer than distal cancer. When BMI of the patients with cardia cancer were compared with 344 cohorts matched for age and sex selected from the patients with early distal cancer, there was no difference in BMI. Conclusions- There were several singnificant differences in clinicopathological characteristics between cardia cancer and distal cancer at an early stage. However, the incidence of early cardia cancer was very low in Japan, and obesity would not relate to its occurrence as reported in the West.

Background and aim: Squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus is frequently associated with multiple other primary cancers. As recent advances in endoscopic diagnosis increase the cases of superficial esophageal cancer (SEC) of which prognosis is relatively good, we should pay more attention to subsequent other primary cancers (SOPC) or subsequent multiple esophageal cancers (SMEC) after the treatment of esophageal cancer. The present study was designed for determining the clinical features of SOPC and SMEC after the resection of SEC. Subjects: The study included 368 patients with SEC who underwent surgical resection or endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) in our institute and were followed a median period of 56 months (range; 7~154 months). Surgical resection was performed in 267 patients, and EMR in 101. The presence of the past history of antecedent and/or synchronous multiple other primary cancers was noted in 149 patients. Result: Among the 368 patients, SOPC occurring after the resection of SEC were found in 43 (12%) patients. The most frequent sites of SOPC were the stomach (11 cases) and the hypopharynx (11 cases), followed by the lung (7 cases) and the colon (6 cases). SOPC were diagnosed a mean period of 47.2A}28.9 months after the resection of SEC, and the 5-year cumulative complication rate of SOPC was 14.8%. All cases of gastric cancers and 4 cases of hypopharingeal cancers were detected by endoscopy in postoperative follow up, and all of them were T1 tumor. In comparison with patients without SOPC, SOPC were significantly more frequent in patients who were heavy smokers and those who had the past history of antecedent and/or synchronous multiple other primary cancers (p

Background: Along with advances in endoscopy and diagnostic techniques, superficial esophageal cancers have been detected and treated with endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR). However, indication of EMR is limited to node-negative cancer, which invasion is confined to proper mucosal layer without vessel permeation. Gross appearance is one of good indicators to predict the depth of invasion. The protruding or excavated type suggests submucosal cancer, but the slightly depressed or flat elevated type is widely distributed from carcinoma in situ to submucosal cancer. Patients & Methods: The relationship between nodular changes and depth of invasion in the slightly depressed type of esophageal cancers, 177 surgically resected lesions and 100 lesions resected by EMR, were investigated. Furthermore, the frequencies of lymph node metastasis we investigated using surgically resected specimens. Results: Among 277 lesions, submucosal invasion was observed in 112 lesions (40%). Nodular changes existed in 40 lesions (14%). The frequencies of submucosal cancers in the groups with and without nodular changes were 83% (33/40) and 33% (79/237), respectively (p

Glucose, forskolin, IBMX and carbachol all stimulated insulin release from freshly obtained human insulinoma cells. In these same cells, cellular cyclic AMP levels were raised by forskolin and IBMX but not by glucose and carbachol. On the other hand, of all the insulin secretagogues examined, only carbachol stimulated the formation of 3H-inositol trisphosphate in these cells. Thus, in these insulinoma cells, glucose apparently induces insulin secretion without altering cyclic AMP production or inositolphospholipid turnover.

The relation between groove profile and signal quality in magneto-optical disks was investigated theoretically and experimentally. First, the static characteristics of disks were measured using a micro-magneto-optical effect measurement apparatus. The Kerr rotation angle (θk), reflectivity (Ro) and coercive force in grooves 0.65 to 0.91 μm wide and 15 to 87 nm deep were similar to the values for the plane surface, except for a reduction in Ro due to groove diffraction effects. Then the carrier-to-noise ratio was examined using a magneto-optical disk drive, and the results compared with theoretical values. A decreased groove depth and increased width yielded good signal quality. As a result, high-quality magneto-optical signals in excess of 60 dB were obtained from a magneto-optical disk with grooves of depth 15 nm and width 0.8 μm, and with a four-layer structure medium consisting of A1N, GdTbFe, and Al.

Immunoreactive (IR)-calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) was identified throughout the entire stomach of rats, being most highly concentrated in the pyloric region, and the concentrations in muscular layers being higher than those in mucosal layers. In addition, IR-CGRP was also present in the venous effluent from isolated perfused rat stomach, and its release was stimulated by dibutyryl cyclic AMP or theophylline but not by glucagon. Gel chromatography as well as HPLC of both tissue extracts and gastric perfusate showed three identical major peaks of IR-CGRP, one of which coeluted with synthetic CGRP. These results suggest that CGRP in the stomach plays a role in the regulation of gastric function.

The role of protein kinase C in muscarinic agonist-induced insulin release from rat insulinoma cells was investigated. The dose-dependent stimulation of insulin secretion by carbamylcholine (carbachol) was associated with dose-dependent increase in the release of 3H-inositolphosphates from prelabeled rat insulinoma cell line (RINr) cells. After preincubation with 32P-orthophosphates, carbachol also evoked a rapid decrease in 32P-labeling of phosphatidylinositol-4,5-bisphophate with concomitant increase in 32P-labeling of phosphatidic acid. Furthermore, carbachol significantly increased membrane-associated protein kinase C activity with a simultaneous decrease of its activity in cytosol. Although phorbol-12,13-dibutyrate (PDBu), a protein kinase C activator, also stimulated insulin release, insulin secretion induced by concomitant administration of carbachol and PDBu was clearly less than the level expected on the basis of an additive action. Moreover, PDBu significantly inhibited inositolphospholipid turnover stimulated by carbachol. Finally, PDBu inhibited the binding of 3H-scopolamine binding revealed that PDBu decreased the number of muscarinic receptors without altering its affinity. These findings suggest that activation of protein kinase C not only mediates muscarinic stimulation of insulin secretion from RINr cells but also operates a negative feedback mechanism in a signal transduction system, at least in part, via down-regulation of muscarinic receptors.

A method of the formation of grooves and pre-formatted pits on a glass substrate for a magneto-optical disk by contact printing is described. Up to now, a laser cutting method, whereby grooves and pre-formatted pits are formed with a focussed Ar-laser, has been used, and it needs over thirty minutes to expose a disk. But by using a contact printing method, we succeeded in the exposure of a disk for fifteen seconds, thus a mass production of the glass substrate for the magnetooptical disk with high quality and high reliability was made possible.

The effects of prostaglandins (PGs) on the growth of human gastric carcinoma cell line KATO III were investigated. PGE2 as well as PGF2 alpha significantly and dose-dependently inhibited the growth of this gastric carcinoma cell line (PGE2 greater than PGF2 alpha). This inhibition of cell growth by the PGs was associated with the increase in cyclic AMP production (PGE2 greater than PGF2 alpha), whereas inositol-phospholipid turnover was not affected by either PGE2 or PGF2 alpha as assessed by the formation of 3H-inositol phosphates. Furthermore, the proliferation of these gastric carcinoma cells was also suppressed by the administration of forskolin as well as of dibutyryl cyclic AMP. These results suggest that PGE2 and PGF2 alpha inhibit the growth of cultured human gastric carcinoma cells KATO III via stimulation of cyclic AMP production.

To evaluate the functional relationship between the liver calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor and guanine nucleotide-binding proteins, we investigated the effects of nucleotides not only on adenylate cyclase activation by CGRP, but also on 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP binding to rat liver plasma membranes. In the presence of GTP, rat CGRP stimulated adenylate cyclase activity in a dose-dependent manner in rat liver plasma membranes, and this effect was reduced in the absence of GTP. Salmon calcitonin also enhanced adenylate cyclase activation in the presence of GTP, but only in higher concentrations. On the other hand, guanine nucleotides not only decreased 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP binding to rat liver plasma membranes, but also accelerated the dissociation of label binding, and the removal of Mg2+ from incubation medium attenuated this inhibitory action of GTP on 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP binding to membranes. Scatchard analysis of the data revealed that the reduction of 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP binding by GTP was due to the decrease in binding affinity without a significant change in binding capacity. These findings lead us to conclude that binding of CGRP to its receptors activates adenylate cyclase in rat liver plasma membranes via a guanine nucleotide-dependent process, suggesting the involvement of guanine nucleotide-binding stimulatory protein in the action of CGRP.

From this study, we predicted that the human calcitonin gene-related peptide (hCGRP) fragment hCGRP-(8-37) would be a selective antagonist for CGRP receptors but an agonist for calcitonin (CT) receptors. In rat liver plasma membrane, where CGRP receptors predominate and CT appears to act through these receptors, hCGRP-(8-37) dose dependently displaced 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP binding. However, hCGRP-(8-37) had no effect on adenylate cyclase activity in liver plasma membrane. Furthermore, hCGRP-(8-37) inhibited adenylate cyclase activation induced not only by hCGRP but also by hCT. On the other hand, in LLC-PK1 cells, where calcitonin receptors are abundant and CGRP appears to act via these receptors, the bindings of 125I-[Tyr0]rat CGRP and 125I-hCT were both inhibited by hCGRP-(8-37). In contrast to liver membranes, interaction of hCGRP-(8-37) with these receptors led to stimulation of adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) production in LLC-PK1 cells, and moreover, this fragment did not inhibit the increased production of cAMP induced not only by hCT but also by hCGRP. Thus hCGRP-(8-37) appears to be a useful tool for determining whether the action of CGRP as well as that of CT is mediated via specific CGRP receptors or CT receptors.

Specific binding sites for calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) were identified in the rat liver plasma membrane. The binding of 125I-[TyrO]rat CGRP to rat liver plasma membrane was time dependent, saturable and reversible. Scatchard analysis of the data revealed a single class of binding sites with apparent dissociation constant of 260.8 pM and a maximal binding capacity of 26.6 fmol/mg of protein. Rat, chick, and human CGRP and their synthetic analogues inhibited label binding in a dose-dependent manner with relative potencies as follows; chick greater than rat greater than human greater than [TyrO]rat CGRP. Salmon, human and [Asu1'7]eel calcitonin also inhibited label binding but only at higher concentrations. These results clearly indicate the presence of specific binding sites for CGRP in rat liver plasma membrane and suggest that CGRP has possible biological actions on the rat liver.

The effects of recording sensitivity and recording conditions on bits recorded on sputtered four-layer GdTbFe film are reported. A correlation was seen between recorded bit length and film optical absorption per unit thickness. As films were made thinner, the resulting bit length grew longer and the film became more sensitive. Fluctuation in bit widths was minimum at a recording power of 5.1 mW and a bias field strength of 500 to 600 Oe. The bit size was determined by the film temperature and coercive force, the bias field, and the temperature gradient in the medium. For 4/5 modulation, the shortest bit length was approximately 1.3 ?m.

Calculations and experimental results are described which clarify the relation between signal quality (C/N) and groove shape of magnetic recording media. Calculation indicated a tendency for the C/N ratio to be favorable the wider and shallower the groove, and the experiment results supported this conclusion well. At a groove depth of 15nm there was no appreciable difference in C/N over the disk with no groove, but at a depth of 59nm, C/N was 2 to 4dB smaller. On a disk with a 0.8?m wide, 15nm deep groove, at a recording frequency of 0.24MHz, C/N was 61.3dB, and at 1MHz it was 58.7dB, providing extremely good signals.

A glass substrate has many advantages as an optical disk substrate. On a glass substrate, pits and grooves can be formed directly by a laser cutting machine and reactive etching.1) A highly reliable glass substrate can be obtained by this method, however, there is a problem of low productivity. It takes more than 30 minutes for patterning by laser cutting machine. This paper describes a contact printing method which can improve the productivity of conventional patterning, and discusses the signal performance of magneto-optical disks using a substrate prepared by the contact printing method.