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Residual monomers in resin-based biomaterials cause cytotoxicity. We previously showed that methyl methacrylate (MMA) induced mRNA expression of the glutathione S-transferase alpha 1 gene ( Gsta1) located downstream of the cis-acting anti-oxidant responsive element (ARE). Herein, we tested the hypothesis that MMA activated the Gsta1 promoter through the ARE. HepG2 cells were transfected with a luciferase reporter vector containing the ARE and the Gsta1 promoter (−990 to +46 bp) and cultured for 12 hrs with MMA (initial concentration, 10 mM). Analysis of the expressed luciferase activity indicated that MMA activated the promoter 2.6-fold. MMA (from 1 to 30 mM) dose-dependently increased the promoter activity, which reached a plateau between 6 and 12 hrs. In HepG2 cells transfected with a reporter vector containing 2 AREs and a TATA-like promoter, 10 mM MMA increased the reporter expression 2.8-fold. These results suggest that MMA increases Gsta1 transcription through ARE-mediated promoter activation.

A synchrotron x-ray diffraction study of metal-insulator transitions in W-doped ${\text{VO}}_{2} ({\text{V}}_{1\ensuremath{-}x}{\text{W}}_{x}{\text{O}}_{2})$ thin films has been carried out. The insulating phase for $x\ensuremath{\le}0.07$ exhibits cell-doubling with the V dimerization similar to bulk ${\text{VO}}_{2}$, while the insulating phase for $x\ensuremath{\ge}0.11$ does not. This result suggests that the electronic structure of the $x\ensuremath{\ge}0.11$ insulators should be different from that of the $x\ensuremath{\le}0.07$ ones and bulk-insulating phase of ${\text{VO}}_{2}$. The temperature and $x$ dependence of superlattice reflection as observed casts doubt about the direct relationship between the dimerization of V ions and metal-insulator transition. The temperature dependence of the electrical resistivity rather implies the Mott-Anderson localization nature of the insulating phases. X-ray-induced persistent phase transitions are observed at low temperatures in each insulating phase in the vicinity of the boundary to the metallic phase regardless of the difference in the electronic structure. Gradual peak shift suggests that the x-ray irradiation produces nanometer metallic regions.

A novel ethyl methacrylate (EMA) resin was developed to overcome the tissue, organ and systemic damage associated with the residual monomer of conventional methyl methacrylate (MMA) resin bone cement. EMA resin is a chemical/ photopolymerizable material and is easy to handle during clinical procedures. The biocompatibility of EMA was evaluated in accordance with ISO10993-6. No inflammatory response was observed 1 and 9 weeks after implantation in the dorsal subcutaneous tissue of ddY mice. EMA resin also demonstrated better biocompatibility when compared with conventional bone cements. Poly-l-lactic acid (PLLA) was used as a carrier for bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) and added to the EMA slurry. The EMA-PLLA composite membrane was sticky and BMP readily adhered to its surface. The EMA-PLLA-BMP composite membrane induced new bone formation, the new bone growing in the shape of the EMA in the thigh muscle pouch of ddY mice. This novel EMA resin has many potential clinical applications.

Methyl methacrylate (MMA) is the main component of methyl methacrylic resin, which is widely used in dentistry. Previous studies have investigated whether MMA has any adverse effects on growth and gene expression in mouse fibroblast L929 cells. The present study was designed to further understand the effects of MMA by focusing on cDNA microarray data after L929 cells were exposed to MMA. MMA was found to inhibit cell growth and induce detoxification response genes in L929 cells. One of the most highly up-regulated genes was glutathione S-transferase, alpha 1 (Ya) (Gsta1), which has recently been shown to participate in Nrf2 regulation and is considered to be related to detoxification response. Molecular biological data obtained in the present study may therefore provide useful insights into the effects of MMA on living tissue.

We have previously synthesized a novel acrylic resin monomer, methacryloyloxyethyl methyl succinate (TA). The aim of this in vitro study, therefore, was to examine its influence on cell viability using L-929 mouse fibroblasts and then compare the results with MMA, EMA, and LMA. Medium containing each monomer was changed every 15 minutes as some monomers were volatile. After one hour of exposure, these mediums were replaced with a normal medium and cells were further incubated for 72 hours. IC50 value for each monomer was determined, and chronological cell viability and cytomorphologic observation were evaluated. Viability was impaired in a dose-dependent manner. All monomers, except TA, tended to correlate between molecular weight and cell viability. On the other hand, TA showed excellent viability and did not impair growth abruptly. These results thus demonstrated that cellular damage by TA was much lower than that by other monomers.

A theoretical approach to the hardening mechanism of L12–Ni3Al compound with Al-rich off-stoichiometric composition is attempted based on the classical elastic interaction model between an edge dislocation and a unit cell with an equi-atomic composition embedded in Ni3Al. A tetragonal distortion is expected to arise from a local anisotropic atomic configuration in the unit cell which is recognized as a face-centered tetragonal-L10 or distorted B2 NiAl structure around an anti-site Al atom. According to the study by Cochardt et al. (Acta Metall 1955;3:533), it is found that the maximum point force Fm on an edge dislocation from the local L10 unit cell increases with decreasing the ci/ai ratio of the L10 structure toward the stable B2 structure, which is expected from the authors’ recent electronic structure calculations on the stability of L10–NiAl relative to B2-NiAl. This increment of Fm by decreasing the ci/ai ratio accounts for a larger hardening in Al-rich Ni3Al than that in Ni-rich Ni3Al at 77 K.

Prunes contain large amounts of phenolics and show high antioxidant activity. The aim of this study is to clarify the contents of caffeoylquinic acid (CQA) isomers, and to estimate the contribution of these isomers to the antioxidant activity of prunes. Furthermore, structural elucidation and evaluation of antioxidant activity of prune components were also performed. CQA isomers in prunes were quantified by HPLC analysis, and it has become apparent that prunes contain relatively high amount of 4-O-caffeoylquinic acid. The contribution of CQA isomers to the antioxidant activity of prunes was revealed to be 28.4% on the basis of oxygen radical absorbance capacity (ORAC); hence, it was indicated that residual ORAC is dependent on unknown antioxidant components. Total 28 compounds were isolated and their structures were elucidated by NMR and MS analyses. Four abscisic acid related compounds, a chromanon, and a bipyrrole were novel. Each CQA isomer in prunes showed high antioxidant activities when measured by the oil stability index (OSI) method, O2- scavenging activity, and ORAC. Other isolated compounds such as hydroxycinnamic acids, benzoic acids, coumarins, lignans, and flavonoid showed high ORAC values. Furthermore, a novel chromanon indicated a remarkable synergistic effect on ORAC of CQA isomers.

Thermal conductivity is one of the key parameters required for high-temperature structural applications of metallic materials. In this overview, the thermal conductivity of intermetallic compounds are extensively described based mainly on our past works, since there had been less works in this research field. Emphasis is placed on the B2 and the L12 compounds with metallic bonding such as NiAl, Ni3Al, etc., which have been attracting attention for engineering applications at higher temperatures. The thermal conductivity data have been accumulated for the intermetallic compounds, and the phenomenological aspects are reviewed in detail as a function of alloy composition, constituent and temperature. The Wiedemann-Franz law is applicable to the intermetallic compounds, indicating that the carrier of thermal conduction is an electron rather than a phonon. The thermal conductivity of an intermetallic compound with the ordered crystal structure is characterized as an enhancement due to ordering with reference to the basic contribution of solid solution with the disordered crystal structure. It is demonstrated that the thermal conductivity of intermetallic compounds is reduced by the addition of a third element, and this subject is also covered.

A contour map of thermal conductivity in a ternary intermetallic phase characterizes the direction of the contour ridge, and the ridge direction has been demonstrated to be a reliable indication of site preference of ternary elements in an intermetallic compound. Site preferences of fifteen kinds of ternary elements in NiAl are determined from the ridge direction of thermal conductivity contours in ternary β phase. It is found that V, Nb, Ta, Mo, Fe, Ru, Co and Pt substitute preferentially for nickel, while Ti, Mn, Ga, Si and Ge for aluminum, and Cr and Cu occupy both nickel and aluminum sites.

The direction of ridge of thermal conductivity contours in a ternary γ′-Ni 3 Al phase agrees with that of solubility lobe of γ′ phase in a ternary phase diagram. The classification of third elements based on the ridge direction does not always agree between ternary Ni 3 Al and NiAl phases.

A method for the determination of site preference of substitutional elements in intermetallic compounds is proposed. It is demonstrated in Ni3Al–X alloys that the ridge direction in thermal conductivity contours in the ternary γ′ phase agrees with that of the solubility lobe of the γ′ phase in ternary phase diagrams. The ridge direction is a reliable indication of site preference of substitutional elements in intermetallic compounds. The present method is conveniently applied to a normal polycrystalline specimen with small size, and therefore, a versatile class of brittle compounds can be studied.

The stoichiometry of the ternary β phase in the Ni-Al-Mn, Ni-Al-Co and Ni-al-Fe systems has been studied through the measurements of hardness and lattice parameter. It is shown that twit stoichiometry lines are observed in the β phase region of the Ni-Al-Mn ternary system. The first stoichiometry line is located on the composition line connecting NiAl and MnAl, whereas the second stoichiometry line is located on the composition line connecting NiAl and NiMn. In the Ni-Al-Co ternary system, there is a single stoichiometry line, which starts from NiAl and terminates at CoAl. In the Ni-Al-Fe system, there are also two stoichiometry lines. One starts from NiAl and ends at FeAl, and the other directs toward from NiAl to the Fe comer. The stoichiometry line of the ternary β phase in the Ni-Al-X system is either a single or a plural type, which is basically determined by the relative magnitudes of the Ni-X, Al-X and Ni-al bonding forces. The concentration dependence of solid solution strengthening or defect strengthening is greatly varied depending on ternary elements in the β phase in the Ni- Al-Mn, Ni-Al-Co and Ni-Al-Fe ternary systems.

Cold-rolling behavior was investigated for B2 intermetallics in terms of chemical compositions (constituent elements and ternary addition), long-range ordering and environments. B2 intermetallics used were NiTi, FeCo and FeAl alloys and cold-rolling behavior was evaluated through Vickers hardness tests at room temperature as a function of reduction of thickness. The effects of compositional deviation from the stoichiometry and Co addition were studied for B2-stabilized NiTi alloys. It was found that reduction to failure is lowered with increasing the compositional deviation from the stoichiometry, i.e. with decreasing Ti content, and Co addition raises both the reduction to failure and hardness. The effects of order–disorder transformation were studied for V-added FeCo alloys, and it was found that the reduction to failure is lowered and the work-hardening rate is raised by ordering. The effects of wet environment and ternary addition were studied for FeAl alloys with or without Mn or Cr. It was found that hardness-reduction relationship slightly depends on environment and ternary addition, and largely depends on Al content. However, formation of cracks and/or burrs is much affected by the environment and the ternary additions in a complex manner. It is summarized for B2 intermetallics that cold-rolling behavior is largely affected by chemical compositions of constituent phases and ordering, and slightly by the environment.

In order to modify the standard data of gamma-ray buildup factors for a point isotropic source in the single layer, the applicability of the direct integration method code BERMUDA to buildup factor calculations was surveyed. In this code, group-angle transfer matrix of photons is calculated by numerically integrating the Klein-Nishina formula for Compton scattering taking the energy-angle correlation into account. In the low energy region, the four K-shell fluorescence are considered whose isotropic emission intensity can be calculated from the primary photon intensity, the K-shell absorption cross section data and fluorescence yield. In the higher energy region for high-Z materials, the Bremsstrahlung is considered whose energy-angle production correlation matrixes were obtained by EGS4 code. The exposure buildup factors of lead for low energy photons calculated by using BERMUDA code without and with fluorescence were good agreement with those by EGS4 and PALLAS codes. Those of lead for high energy photo...

Thermal conductivity of 3Ni–1Al elemental powder compacts was measured using a laser-flash method as a function of temperature, compact density and heat treatment. Temperature dependence of thermal conductivity of the compacts is similar to that of pure Ni and Al metals. Heat treatment has a significant effect on the thermal conductivity of the compacts as particles are joined together to form Ni solid solution and intermetallic phases on powder surfaces. Fast diffusion on powder surfaces during heat treatment results in the formation of intermetallic phase zones in the interior of the former Ni particles.

We have cloned rpbA encoding the RNA polymerase II largest subunit (polIIL) from a filamentous fungus, Aspergillus oryzae. The rpbA product included eight highly conserved regions and the carboxyl-terminal domain (CTD). A. oryzae polIIL CTD with 184 amino acids was composed of 25 CTD consensus repeats, which was a similar number to those of lower eukaryotes. The amino acids in each repeat of A. oryzae polIIL, however, conformed less to the CTD consensus than those of polIILs from other lower eukaryotes.

Short range order hardening theory for an ordering system is extended to a clustering system within the framework of the cluster variation method of configurational thermodynamics. The correlation between the solubility and solid solution hardening is discussed for each system. Both analytic and numerical calculations suggest that the smaller the solubility is the more pronounced is the hardening. In attempting to unify the hardening behavior for both ordering and clustering systems, we propose a concept termed ‘configurational hardening’.

Ternary addition generally degrades an excellent conduction properties of NiAl. The contour map of thermal conductivity in NiAl–X β single phase field is drawn for the ternary elements X=Ti, Cu and Ge. It is revealed that each element has a characteristic ridge direction in the contour map. This feature is discussed based on the preference substitutional site of a ternary element, and eighteen ternary elements with a sufficient solubility into NiAl are classified into three groups according to the ridge direction. Thermal conductivity of NiAl-based alloys increases with increasing temperature, however the ridge direction in the contour map remains unchanged.

A systematic investigation has been carried out to determine both the γ liquidus and solidus surfaces above the Ni solid solution in the Ni-Al-X ternary phase diagrams successively by differential thermal analysis. Each of the group IV elements in the periodic table, Ti, Zr, and Hf, was chosen as the ternary additive X in the present study. As a basis, γ liquidus and solidus temperatures in the Ni-Al binary system were reinvestigated and evaluated. The γ solvus was also taken into account to determine a temperature range for a solid-solution treatment above the γ solvus, generally called “the window,” as well as the maximum solubility limit of γNi solid solution.

Hydrogen production from the wastewater of tofu factory was examined by using anoxygenic phototrophic bacterium Rhodobacter sphaeroides immobilized in agar gels. The maximum rate of hydrogen production observed from the wastewater was 2.1 l h−1 m2 gel which was even slightly higher than that from a glucose medium (as control). The hydrogen production lasted up to 50 h. The yield of hydrogen was 1.9 ml⧸mlwastewater or 0.24 ml⧸mg carbohydrates contained in the wastewater. This yield corresponds to53% or 65% of that from the glucose medium, according to the different expressions of the yield. The TOC (total organic carbon) removal ratio in 85 h reached 41% which was comparable to that from the glucose medium. The immobilization protected the bacterium from the inhibitory effect of ammonium ion. © 1999 International Association for Hydrogen Energy. Published by Elsevier Science Ltd. All rights reserved.

The development and progression of cancer are known to be regulated by various oncogenes and tumor suppressor genes. We investigated the expression of p53 and RB proteins in 13 cases of parotid carcinomas, which cases were admitted to the Department of Otorhinolaryngology, Gifu University School of Medicine from January 1989 to September 1998. These cases were investigated by immunohistochemical techniques using p53 and RB monoclonal antibodies. The results were as follows:1) p53 protein nuclear staining was shown in 8 of 13 cases. A significant difference in the expression of p53 proteins was observed between high grade carcinoma groups and low grade carcinoma groups (Fisher's exact test; p=0.03). These results suggest that expression of p53 protein is related to the malignant grade of parotid gland carcinomas.2) RB protein nuclear staining was shown in 7 of 13 cases. A significant difference in the expression of RB protein was not observed between high grade carcinoma groups and low grade carcinoma groups (Fisher's exact test; p=0.27). Expression of RB protein did not appear to be related to malignant grade of parotid gland carcinomas.

In our development of drugs effective against Alzheimer's disease, we have researched a series of aromatic compounds having a characteristic cyclic amine, 1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring. In this report, we describe synthesis of a series of aromatic heterocycles with the 1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octane ring and their pharmacological evaluation. 3-Amino-5-(1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]octan-5-yl)methyl-1,2,4-oxadiazole (2b) showed the highest M1 selectivity.

Thermal conductivity of Pt alloys with an fcc single phase was comprehensively surveyed by employing the laser flash method. Thermal conductivity is dominantly determined by alloy composition and temperature and is scarcely influenced by fabrication condition. An addition of solute definitely decreases the thermal conductivity of Pt, and the conductivity-composition relationship is characterized by a sharp maximum at pure Pt. The Wiedemann-Franz relation held for Pt alloys suggests the dominant carrier of thermal conduction is an electron. An empirical rule is proposed that the thermal conductivity decreases significantly as the position of the solute element in the periodic table becomes horizontally more distant from that of Pt. Thermal conductivity of Pt alloys increases with increasing temperature in a range between 300–1100 K, and the temperature coefficient is found to be inversely correlated with the thermal conductivity.

Computer Assisted Language Learning (CALL) is getting more and more popular all over the world. Kochi University of Technology, which was newly founded, also has been adopting this method for English writing courses for the purpose of the students improving their writing ability and nourishing their creative talents, which is indispensable for a technology major.This paper describes the contents, merits and demerits of the CALL lessons for the academic year 1997.

A phase diagram of Ni3V-Co3V pseudobinary system is proposed based on x-ray diffraction and differential thermal analysis. Four invariant reactions are located in the phase diagram—two eutectoid and two peritectoid reactions. Six kinds of geometrically close-packed phases are encountered. The stability of these close-packed phases correlate well with the electron concentration.

The case of bilateral parapharyngeal abscesses in a 61 year-old man is reported. This patient had complaints of a sore throat and swelling on his anterior left ear. We diagnosed bilateral parapharyngeal abscesses on CT and MRI scans.A bacteriological study of these abscesses revealed both aerobic and anaerobic bacteria; a mixed infection of streptococcus constellatus and prevotella intermedia had caused serious inflammation. Drainage and antibiotic therapy proved to be effective.

A new alginate lyase-producing micro-organism, designated as Bacillus sp. strain ATB-1015, was effectively isolated from soil samples pretreated for 3 months with a substrate of the enzyme, sodium alginate. Alginate lyase activity was assayed by the degrading activity of biofilm on Teflon sheet discs, which was formed by a mucoid strain of Pseudomonas aeruginosa PAM3 selected from clinical isolates. The extracellular alginate lyase was precipitated with ammonium sulphate from the culture broth, and purified by gel filtration and anion exchange chromatography. The molecular weight of the lyase was estimated to be 41 kDa by SDS polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and Sephacryl S-200 HR column chromatographic. The optimum pH and temperature for the enzyme activity were around 7.5 and 37°C, respectively, and the Km value was 0.17% with the substrate, sodium alginate. The lyase activity was completely inhibited by treatment with 1 mmol l -1 of EDTA and the decreased activites was almost completely recovered by the addition of 2 mmol l -1 of CaCl 2 . The activites was not affected by treatment with the protein denaturants, 0.01 mol l -1 of SDS or 1 mmol l -1 of urea. The lyase had substrate specificity for both the poly-guluronate and poly-mannuronate units in the alginate molecule.

Thermal conductivity of an intermetallic compound is characterized as an enhancement due to ordering with reference to the basic contribution of solid solutions. A necessary condition of having high thermal conductivity of a given intermetallic compound is, therefore, that the solid solution itself transports high thermal current. A periodic table in helical form for seeking the high conductivity compound is proposed by summarizing the electrical resistivity data of solid solutions. Assessments of thermal conductivity were conducted for the intermetallic compounds based on noble metals. Cu3Au, CuAu and AgMg show the maximum value for 157, 167 and 147 W m−1 K−1 at ambient temperature among L12, L10 and B2 compounds, respectively.

Effects of ternary additions, Co and Cr, on martensite transformation temperatures and mechanical properties of offstoichiometric NiTi alloys were investigated. Martensite transformation start temperature (M s ) and austenite transformation start temperature (A s ) were determined by means of differential thermal analysis (DTA) in the temperature range between 77 and 423 K. Mechanical properties of yield stress and work-hardening coefficient were investigated using B2-stabilized NiTi alloys, whose alloy compositions were based on Ni-49 mol% Ti. It has been shown that (1) M s and A s considerably decrease with decreasing Ti concentration on the Ti poor side of stoichiometry (the concentration of Ti is less than 50 mol%); (2) M s and A s change slightly when Ti concentration is more than 52 mol%, where the alloys are in the two phase region; and (3) M s and A s decrease with increasing Cr and Co content with a constant Ti concentration. In the present analysis for evaluating the effect of ternary additions on M s , we use M s change by adding 1 mol% of ternary elements. M s changes by Cr addition are −65 K mol% −1 on the Ti rich side and −46 K mol% −1 on the Ti poor side. M s changes by Co addition are −15 K mol% −1 on the Ti rich side and −30 K mol% −1 on the Ti poor side. Both Cr and Co atoms are suggested to locate Ni sites preferably if only M s changes are considered. Characteristic stress-strain curves have indicated that the stress induced martensitic transformation (SIMT) occurred at 77 K. Above room temperature, work hardening coefficient at a permanent strain of 1% was found to be between 2 and 11 GPa. It should be emphasized that yield stress and work hardening coefficient increase with increasing test temperature between room temperature and about 650 K in most alloys. This strength anomaly is not related to SIMT but to precipitation hardening and/or anomalous dislocation motion, probably in a similar manner to B2-type CoTi.

Thermal conductivities are measured for a series of Ni 3 X and Pt 3 X compounds in which an ordered L1 2 and f.c.c. disordered structures are formed when the constituent X belongs to the first long period in the periodic table. An empirical rule is found for both ordered and disordered structures that the thermal conductivity tends to decrease as the distance of the constituent X increases in the horizontal direction from the location of Ni and Pt in the periodic table. This trend is quite isomorphic with that of dilute solid solutions of Ni-X or Pt-X, although the magnitude is different. For most Ni 3 X and Pt 3 X compounds, thermal conductivity increases with increasing temperature. The temperature coefficient of thermal conductivity is higher in the disordered compounds than in the ordered compounds.

Thermal conductivity in nickel solid solutions with a γ single phase was comprehensively surveyed. The major findings are summarized as follows: First, alloying definitely decreases the thermal conductivity of nickel. The relationship between thermal conductivity and concentration in the dilute solid solution is characterized by the Nordheim relation. Second, for most solutes, the thermal conductivity of nickel alloys decreases significantly as the position of the solute element becomes horizontally more distant from nickel in the periodic table, which is equivalent to the Norbury–Linde rule of electrical resistivity. Third, cold deformation has no significant influence on the thermal conductivity of nickel alloys. Fourth, a monotonic increase in thermal conductivity as a function of temperature is observed in highly concentrated nickel alloys, while the thermal conductivity of dilute nickel alloys shows a minimum at the Curie temperature.

Malignant melanoma arising in the nasal cavity is a rare condition with a poor prognosis. Three cases, all females, aged 62, 73, and 94, were treated in our department from 1992 to 1995.One of these was a case of amelanotic melanoma that could not be positively diagnosed as malignant melanoma before immunohistochemical staining for S-100 protein, and Fontana-Masson's staining, had been done.In three cases radical surgery was peformed with pre- or postoperative chemotherapy and immunotherapy (cryosurgery and/or interferon). Two of the patients experienced recurrence, and salvage therapy was subsequently performed.All three are currently alive. The patient survival period ranged from 12 to 46 months after the initial therapy. The present protocol may be a useful approach to obtaining local control, however, the number of patients studied was too small, and the period after initial treatment too short, for conclusive statements on this matter.

Some patients with acute or chronic vestibular disorders continue to complain of dizziness and disequilibrium. Although treated with medication, their activities of daily living (ADL) and occupational activities are restricted. Equilibrium training is applied to reduce the disability of the patients.Methods: Before training is started, the degree of impairment, disability and handicaps of the patients were evaluated. To evaluate subjective and objective disabilities, the ADL were investigated by questionnaire and equilibrium function tests were performed.Three times a day at home, patients performed several somewhat difficult exercises selected from their defective movements. Training continued until their disabilities were reduced.The effects of training were assessed by ADL, equilibrium function tests, stabilometry and gait test.Subjects: The subjects were 8 patients with unilateral vestibular disorders, 4 with postoperative acoustic neurinoma, and 8 with bilateral vestibular disorders.Results: Equilibrium training was effective in all 8 patients with unilateral vestibular dysfunction, in all 4 patients with postoperative acoustic neurinoma, and in 7 of the 8 with bilateral vestibular dysfunction. It was difficult to evaluate the effect of the training in a case of bilateral Meniere's disease.Conclusion: We found many differences in disability among patients with similar impairments, and were able to plan an individual training program suitable for each patient. ADL and equilibrium function tests were useful for evaluating disability and the effect of training.We considered equilibrium training effective for patients with unilateral vestibular disorders who showed chronic disability persisting for more than several weeks after onset, for patients with postoperative acoustic neurinoma who had persistent disability 4 weeks after surgery and for patients with bilateral vestibular disorders with disability persisting for more than 8 weeks.

The path probability method of the non-equilibrium statistical mechanism is employed to study the configurational kinetics of the disorder-L12 transition. Spinodal ordering is examined from the standpoint of kinetics. The kinetic path traced in the thermodynamic configurational space deviates from the sleepest descent direction. Assuming a temperature dependent spin flip probability, the calculated aging kinetics exhibit qualitatively the behavior observed in resistivity measurements.

A double-blind, randomized, controlled study was conducted to evaluate the effects of a moderate amount of dietary fiber intake on fasting plasma glucose level and physical characteristics in Japanese men with mild hyperglycemia and visceral fat obesity. Thirty men with mild hyperglycemia (>5.6 mmol/L) and visceral fat accumulation (>100 cm²) ingested 7.5 g/day of dietary fiber for 12 weeks. An abdominal computed tomography scan was performed at baseline and at week 12. Blood was drawn every 4 weeks. In the test food group, fasting plasma glucose level was reduced with time, and the difference between the test food group and placebo group was statistically significant at week 12. Body weight and body mass index were also reduced with time, but visceral and subcutaneous fat areas did not change significantly during the study period. The results suggest that even a moderate amount of dietary fiber intake may be beneficial for managing the fasting plasma glucose level concomitant with insulin resistance, body weight, and body mass index in Japanese men with mild hyperglycemia and visceral fat obesity.

The growth of a Nocardia sp. occurs essentially on the insoluble rubber substrate and the cells are tightly bound to the rubber in the initial stage of the growth in spite of vigorous stirring of the cultures. The colonization of rubber pieces was followed by staining with Schiff reagent, and it was revealed that not only the thickness of rubber pieces, but also their length and width greatly influenced microbial colonization and degradation of natural rubber products. Among rubber pieces of various shapes, long strips were most rapidly covered by many microbial colonies and experienced the highest rate of rubber degradation. The rate of degradation (expressed by % weight loss) of the long strips of rubber was a linear function of surface area per unit weight of rubber. Thin and wide films of rubber were also rapidly colonized and degraded, while the colonization and degradation of short and narrow pieces were substantially slower and less extensive.

Multiple primary cancers of the head and neck cancers are not rare. From 1983 to 1993, we have experienced 29 cases of multiple primary cancers in the Department of Otorhinolaryngology at the Gifu University School of Medicine. The cancers involved the maxillary region in 1 case (1.2%), nasal cavity in 1 case (5.9%), oral cavity in 4 cases (5.5%), epipharynx in 1 case (2.5%), mesopharynx in 1 case (4.2%), hypopharynx in 4 cases (6.9%), larynx in 15 cases (7.6%) and other regions in 2 cases (5.9%). Males accounted for the majority of the cases (26 of 29). The proportion of patients aged 50 to 70 years was high, and the average age was 63.0. Histologically, combinations with squamous cell carcinomas were the most common type (17 of 19). Eight cases were patients diagnosed with a second cancer upon entering our hospital. In 7 cases, the second cancer was not diagnosed until 5-10 years after the first cancer was diagnosed. These observations suggest that we must follow patients for long periods. Also, to avoid overlooking concealed cancer in the multicentric zone, upper gastro intestinal endoscopy, and chest X-ray should be used to screen patients with head and neck cancers.