The Simons Observatory: Cryogenic half wave plate rotation mechanism for the small aperture telescopes.

We present the requirements, design, and evaluation of the cryogenic continuously rotating half-wave plate (CHWP) for the Simons Observatory (SO). SO is a cosmic microwave background polarization experiment at Parque Astronómico de Atacama in northern Chile that covers a wide range of angular scales using both small (⌀0.42 m) and large (⌀6 m) aperture telescopes. In particular, the small aperture telescopes (SATs) focus on large angular scales for primordial B-mode polarization. To this end, the SATs employ a CHWP to modulate the polarization of the incident light at 8 Hz, suppressing atmospheric 1/f noise and mitigating systematic uncertainties that would otherwise arise due to the differential response of detectors sensitive to orthogonal polarizations. The CHWP consists of a 505 mm diameter achromatic sapphire HWP and a cryogenic rotation mechanism, both of which are cooled down to ∼50 K to reduce detector thermal loading. Under normal operation, the HWP is suspended by a superconducting magnetic bearing and rotates with a constant 2 Hz frequency, controlled by an electromagnetic synchronous motor. We find that the number of superconductors and the number of magnets that make up the superconducting magnetic bearing are important design parameters, especially for the rotation mechanism's vibration performance. The rotation angle is detected through an angular encoder with a noise level of 0.07 µrad s. During a cooldown process, the rotor is held in place by a grip-and-release mechanism that serves as both an alignment device and a thermal path. In this paper, we provide an overview of the SO SAT CHWP: its requirements, hardware design, and laboratory performance.

Feasibility of a closed-system cell processor (ACP215) for automated preparation of washed platelet concentrates.

BACKGROUND AND OBJECTIVES: This study was aimed at evaluating the feasibility of the ACP215 closed-system cell processor for preparing washed platelet concentrates. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Platelet washing was performed with either the ACP215 system or the manual technique with M-sol. Plasma protein removal and platelet recovery were estimated, and the washed platelet concentrates were stored for 5 days. Samples were collected after washing and on days 1, 3 and 5 of storage to determine the effects of the washing methods on the in vitro platelet qualities (platelet count, platelet volume, pH, glucose and lactate concentrations, hypotonic shock response, aggregation response and CD62P expression level). RESULTS: Platelet recovery was 86·9 ± 2·1% and 85·9 ± 1·9% (P = 0·305), and plasma protein removal was 95·8 ± 0·9% and 96·9 ± 0·7% (P = 0·016) after washing with the ACP215 system and manual technique, respectively. No statistically significant differences in the in vitro platelet qualities were observed between the washing methods. CONCLUSION: The ACP215 system is a feasible alternative to manual, labour-intensive, techniques for preparing washed platelet concentrates.

Lymphatic architecture of the human gingival interdental papilla.

Many studies have investigated the lymphatic architecture of head and neck using experimental animals, confirming the existence of lymphatic networks beneath the epithelium in gingival tissue. In this study, we investigated the use of these lymphatics as a drug delivery route by studying the architecture of lymphatic vessels in human interdental papilla. Serial cryosections were cut using the film-transfer method. To identify lymphatics, the sections were stained using enzyme histochemical and immunohistochemical techniques and three-dimensional images of lymphatics were reconstructed using 3D visualization software. Capillary lymphatic networks were observed in the lamina propria beneath the epithelium in human interdental papilla, and they joined with lymphatic networks beneath the epithelium in free gingiva. The networks consisted of a single layer of large irregular, hexagonal meshes and precollecting lymphatic vessels heading toward collecting lymphatic vessels that exited on the periosteum of the alveolar crest. These findings suggest that lymphatic flow from the interdental papilla drains into collecting lymphatic vessels running buccolingually on the alveolar crest of the interdental papilla. This may be an important anatomical feature during inflammation throughout the oral cavity in that the drainage function is maintained by part of lymphatic flow that is not impaired during the healing process.

Polymerization-induced epitaxy: scanning tunneling microscopy of a hydrogen-bonded sheet of polyamide on graphite.

A molecularly thin film of a two-dimensional polymer network formed by hydrogen bonding was synthesized and investigated with scanning tunneling microscopy. Poly(in-caprolactam) (nylon 6) was epitaxially grown on the basal plane of graphite and an ultrathin film of the polymer was obtained after the bulk materials had been washed away with solvents. The polymer chain has a planar, all-trans conformation and adjacent chains run in the antiparallel direction. This produces complete pairing of hydrogen bonding groups, with each amide group lying on a straight line perpendicular to the polymer backbone. This hydrogen-bonded sheet is oriented so that each polymer backbone lies in the (1010) direction on the graphite hexagonal lattice, as opposed to the (1120) direction taken by other paraffinic molecules studied so far. This experiment shows that hydrogen bonding can be used to control the orientation of macromolecules in two dimensions.

Acute kidney injury requiring hemodialysis in patients with anicteric leptospirosis.

BACKGROUND: Leptospirosis is an infrequent disease in the US, with most cases reported in the state of Hawaii. Renal involvement is common (44 - 67%), ranging from a mild prerenal azotemia in anicteric disease to renal failure requiring dialysis in Weil's syndrome (severe leptospirosis with jaundice, renal failure, and hemorrhage). METHODS: To describe the pattern of leptospiral renal disease at our institution, we performed a retrospective analysis (1992 - 2004) of all hospitalized cases of laboratory confirmed leptospirosis presenting with acute kidney injury (AKI), defined as a presenting serum creatinine > 1.5 mg/dl. RESULTS: During this time period, 18 patients were hospitalized with laboratory confirmed leptospirosis. Among these patients, 12 had AKI on presentation, and hemodialysis was required in 3 patients. Renal biopsies were performed in 2 of these patients, revealing acute tubulointerstitial nephritis. Interestingly, the patients who required dialysis did not have Weil's syndrome. They did not exhibit jaundice or hemorrhage, and serum AST (mean 51.7 U/l (range 36 - 60)), ALT (mean 51.0 U/l (range 38 - 64)), and total bilirubin (mean 1.2 mg/dl (range 0.8 - 1.8)) were either within normal limits or only slightly elevated, despite having the worst renal disease. CONCLUSIONS: This series adds to other evidence that severe AKI (requiring dialysis) can complicate anicteric leptospirosis in contrast to the notion that the AKI in anicteric disease is typically mild and prerenal. Leptospirosis should be considered in all patients who present with fever and AKI, especially if associated with thrombocytopenia or travel to an endemic area.

A phase II trial of the novel serotonin type 3 receptor antagonist ramosetron in Japanese male and female patients with diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome.

BACKGROUND: Irritable bowel syndrome (IBS) is a common gastrointestinal disorder. Serotonin type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist alosetron hydrochloride is indicated for women with chronic, severe diarrhea-predominant IBS who have not responded adequately to conventional therapy. However, whether or not the therapeutic efficacy of 5-HT3 receptor antagonists has gender difference is uncertain. METHODS: A double-blind, placebo-controlled, parallel-group, comparative study was conducted to evaluate the effect of novel 5-HT3 receptor antagonist, ramosetron hydrochloride, in male and female patients with diarrhea-predominant IBS. 418 subjects were randomized (109 subjects: placebo, 105 subjects: 1 microg, 103 subjects: 5 microg, and 101 subjects: 10 microg) and administered the study drug once daily. RESULTS: The monthly responder rates of 'Patient-reported global assessment of relief of irritable bowel syndrome symptoms' in the 5- and 10-microg ramosetron hydrochloride-administered groups were higher than the placebo group (26.92, 42.57, and 43.01% for placebo, 5 and 10 microg). Moreover, the difference of the responder rate in comparison with the placebo group was similar in males and females. As for safety, there was tolerability at doses up to 10 microg. CONCLUSION: Ramosetron is an effective and well-tolerated treatment not only for female IBS patients but also for male patients.

Length dependence of tension generation in rat skinned cardiac muscle: role of titin in the Frank-Starling mechanism of the heart.

BACKGROUND: At the basis of the Frank-Starling mechanism is the intrinsic ability of cardiac muscle to produce active tension in response to stretch. Titin, a giant filamentous molecule involved in passive tension development, is intimately associated with the thick filament in the sarcomere. Titin may therefore contribute to active tension development by modulating the thick filament structure when the muscle is elongated. METHODS AND RESULTS: Rat skinned right ventricular trabeculae were used. Passive tension at a sarcomere length (SL) of 2.0 to 2.4 micrometer was decreased after treatment of the preparation with trypsin (0.25 microgram/mL) for 13 minutes in the relaxed state at 20 degrees C. This mild trypsin treatment degraded titin without affecting other major contractile proteins. The sarcomere structure was little affected by brief contractions in the trypsin-treated preparations. When SL was adjusted to the slack SL (1.9 micrometer), active tension was unaffected by trypsin under partial (pCa 5.55) and maximal (pCa 4.8) activation. At longer SLs, however, active tension was significantly (P<0.01) decreased after trypsin treatment at either pCa. The increase in active tension on reduction of interfilament lattice spacing, produced by dextran T-500 (molecular weight approximately 500 000), was not influenced by trypsin (SL 1.9 micrometer). In trypsin-treated preparations, the increase in active tension as a function of muscle diameter was nearly the same for lengthening and osmotic compression at the slack SL. CONCLUSIONS: The length-dependent activation in cardiac muscle, an underlying mechanism of the Frank-Starling law of the heart, is at the myofilament level, predominantly modulated by titin and interfilament lattice spacing changes.

Fluorescence signaling of ligand binding and assembly in metal-chelating lipid membranes.

BACKGROUND: Chemical information is sometimes transmitted across cell membranes by ligand-induced assembly of receptors. We have previously designed a series of lipids with metal-chelating headgroups that can serve as general receptors for proteins containing accessible histidines. Such lipids can also be derivatized with pyrene, a fluorescent probe that has a different emission maximum when it is aggregated (excimer fluorescence) from that seen for the monomer. We set out to examine whether lipids of this kind would produce a signal in response to ligand binding. RESULTS: A model ligand, poly-L-histidine (poly(His)), bound specifically to pyrene-labeled Cu(II)-iminodiacetate lipid (Cu-PSIDA) within a membrane matrix. Binding of poly(His) induces the redistribution of Cu-PSIDA, so that it forms pyrene-rich domains that are detectable by the increased ratio of excimer to monomer fluorescence. Using rhodamine-labeled poly(His), we have shown that the receptor lipid domains correspond to poly(His)-rich domains below the lipid interface. CONCLUSIONS: The Cu-PSIDA receptor signals binding of the macromolecular ligand through its excimer fluorescence and allows the resulting domains formed by ligand assembly to be imaged. Fluorescent Cu-PSIDA can thus serve as an optical reporter of ligand-induced lipid reorganization.

Cytokine-mobilized peripheral blood CD34+Thy-1+Lin- human hematopoietic stem cells as target cells for transplantation-based gene therapy.

Gene-therapy of blood-borne disorders may be best achieved using hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) which have extensive self renewal potential as well as multilineage repopulating potential as a cellular target. The human HSC, which is CD34+Thy-1+Lin- has been isolated from fetal, adult bone marrow and cytokine-mobilized peripheral blood (MPB) (1-3). Results presented in this study show that the degree of mobilization of HSC into peripheral blood of cancer patients is highly variable and that the combined use of high dose chemotherapy and GM-CSF as a mobilization strategy is superior to the use of G-CSF with regard to the mobilization of true HSC. A multistep cell isolation procedure has been developed which utilizes high speed flow-cytometric cell sorting and allows the isolation of sufficient numbers of HSC from MPB to permit their use as an hematopoietic graft for clinical transplantation. Hematopoietic stem cells isolated from MPB are capable of self-renewal and differentiation into multiple hematopoietic lineages as shown by their behavior in both in vitro and in vivo assays. Mobilized PB mononuclear cells isolated from cancer patients are frequently contaminated with tumor cells. Using this cell isolation procedure, HSC preparations from patients with multiple myeloma have been created with greatly reduced tumor cell burdens. These CD34+Thy-1+Lin- cells are capable of being stably transduced at high efficiency (32-75%) by co-culture on a cell line producing recombinant retroviruses containing the neomycin-resistant gene. These HSC cell populations are likely ideal targets for hematopoietic cell-based gene therapy.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Ossification of the Achilles tendon--a case report.

Ossification of the Achilles tendon is a very unusual condition. We report a case with bilateral Achilles tendon ossification followed up for twelve years, treated twice surgically on the left side and conservatively on the right side. At the age of 51, the patient's plain radiogram showed bilateral ossifications of the Achilles tendon (right 55 mm, left 15 mm in length). The left side small mass was removed. The right side mass was decided to be followed up because of its large size. At the age of 61, ossification recurred on the left side. Conservative treatment with etidronate disodium for two years failed to prevent ossification from progressing. At the age of 63, the mass on the right and left sides increased to 70 mm and 45 mm in length, respectively. The mass of the left side was excised again, and dull pain disappeared postoperatively on the left side.

Assessment of the clinical presentation and treatment of 353 cases of laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis in Hawaii, 1974-1998.

Leptospirosis is frequently misdiagnosed as a result of its protean and nonspecific presentation. Leptospirosis, a zoonosis with global distribution, commonly occurs in tropical and subtropical regions; most reported cases in the United States occur in Hawaii. All laboratory-confirmed leptospirosis cases in the State of Hawaii from 1974 through 1998 (n=353) were clinically evaluated. The most common presentation involved nonspecific signs or symptoms, including fever, myalgia, and headache. Jaundice occurred in 39% of cases; conjunctival suffusion was described in 28% of these cases. Initiation of antibiotics before the seventh day of symptoms was associated with a significantly shortened duration of illness. Because early recognition and initiation of antibiotic therapy are important, clinicians should familiarize themselves with the clinical presentation of leptospirosis, and when evaluating a patient with a febrile illness, they should obtain exposure and travel histories and entertain the possibility of leptospirosis in the differential diagnosis.

Utility of formaldehyde fixation for flow cytometry and inactivation of the AIDS associated retrovirus.

To maximize safety in the setting of an increasing number of requests for flow cytometric analysis of specimens potentially contaminated with the AIDS retrovirus, we evaluated some commonly used fixatives for their ability to inactivate the infectious potential of the virus. We found that both formaldehyde (0.37% v/v) and paraformaldehyde (0.5% w/v) completely inactivated the infectious activity of both free and cell-associated lymphadenopathy associated virus (LAV), the etiologic agent for the acquired immunodeficiency syndrome (AIDS). Based on encouraging preliminary results we formally evaluated the effect of formaldehyde fixation on flow cytometric parameters. In addition to inactivating LAV, 0.37% formaldehyde in phosphate buffered saline preserved light scatter and fluorescence properties of cells stained with fluorescein isothiocyanate (FITC) and beta-phycoerythrin (PE) conjugated monoclonal antibodies. These findings suggest that formalin fixation may be useful for laboratories performing flow cytometric analysis of specimens potentially contaminated with the AIDS virus.

Ciguatera on Kauai: investigation of factors associated with severity of illness.

Epidemiologic characterization of ciguatera fish poisoning has been limited by lack of laboratory confirmation, absence of prospective follow-up, and incomplete analysis of age-related factors. A 1985 outbreak on the island of Kauai in the state of Hawaii that involved 15 persons of various ages was investigated to determine factors associated with disease severity. The presence of ciguatoxin was detected in leftover portions of the implicated fish by enzyme immunoassay. All cases were medically and epidemiologically investigated and followed prospectively. Ten of the 15 cases demonstrated bradycardia; seven were hospitalized, including two requiring placement in intensive care. Bradycardia was associated with increasing age and body weight (P < 0.01 and < 0.05, respectively) as well as the amount of toxic fish consumed (P < 0.01). Duration of illness ranged from two to 132 days. Increasing duration of illness was correlated with both increasing age and weight (rs = 0.64 and rs = 0.72, respectively, both P < 0.01) and was independent of amount and components of toxic fish consumed. The correlation between increasing age and weight with duration and severity of symptoms may be explained by prior subclinical toxin exposure and is consistent with the observation that repeated ciguatoxin exposures are associated with more severe illness. The association between amount of toxic fish consumed and bradycardia is consistent with an increased dose of ciguatoxin. The findings of this outbreak investigation support previously unconfirmed observations.

Active surveillance and risk factors for leptospirosis in Hawaii.

A clinic-hospital-based leptospirosis surveillance program was conducted to determine the morbidity and risk factors in nonepidemic settings. The study was conducted on two islands, Kauai and Hawaii (Big Island), in the state of Hawaii for one year during 1988 and 1989. An active, more comprehensive case detection system was used on the Big Island that enabled us to determine the incidence of clinical disease. Subjects from both islands were used to conduct a case-control study for risk factors. One hundred seventy-two subjects from the Big Island (who presented with any two of the following symptoms: fever, headache, myalgia, or nausea/vomiting) were enrolled in the study. Twenty cases were diagnosed by culture, serology, or fluorescent antibody tissue staining at autopsy. Six cases required hospitalization and two succumbed to fatal infections. We estimated that these cases represented an annual incidence rate of 128 per 100,000 person-years in our target population. For 33 cases, 77 controls were matched for island, age, sex, and time of onset of illness. Interviews were conducted retrospectively in a double-blinded fashion with cases and controls and evaluated approximately 30 risk factors. Factors that were associated most strongly with development of leptospirosis were household use of rainwater catchment systems (P = 0.003), presence of skin cuts during the incubation period (P = 0.008), contact with cattle or the urine of cattle (P = 0.05 and P = 0.03, respectively), and handling of animal tissues (P = 0.005).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Clinical study of biological response modifiers as maintenance therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma.

We conducted a randomized, controlled trial comparing 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) with or without biological response modifiers (BRMs) as a maintenance therapy for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) after treatment with percutaneous ethanol injection (PEI), transcatheter arterial embolization (TAE) or arterial infusion of antitumor agents (AI). A total of 58 cases of HCC were classified into 4 groups as follows: group I, PSK with 5-FU (n = 15); group II, lentinan with 5-FU (n = 15); group III, OK-432 with 5-FU (n = 12); and group IV, 5-FU alone as the control (n = 16). The mean survival time, mortality rate, time to progression, and T4/T8 ratio of lymphocytes in the peripheral blood were compared among the four groups. There was no significant difference in the background factors among the groups. In group I, the T4/T8 ratio of lymphocytes was reduced after the therapy. No significant difference was found among the groups in terms of the mean survival time, mortality rate, or time to progression. PEI for initial therapy was superior to the other therapies in terms of the mean survival time and mortality rate. These results suggest that the addition of BRM to maintenance therapy with 5-FU exerts no prognostic benefit on HCC patients treated with PEI, TAE, or AI.

Treatment of irritable bowel syndrome with prifinium bromide.

Prifinium bromide, an anticholinergic agent, was given to patients with irritable bowel syndrome in an open trial to evaluate the drug's clinical efficacy. The trial lasted four weeks, although two of the 40 patients were treated for only two weeks. Prifinium bromide was judged beneficial in 28 patients (70%), slightly beneficial in six (15%), and not beneficial in six (15%). One case of moderate constipation was the only side effect encountered. In conclusion, prifinium bromide is considered a valuable drug for the management of irritable bowel syndrome.

Randomized controlled study of mitomycin C/carboquone/5-fluorouracil/OK-432 (MQ-F-OK) therapy and mitomycin C/5-fluorouracil/doxorubicin (FAM) therapy against advanced liver cancer.

We have previously reported that the combination of mitomycin C, carboquone, 5-fluorouracil and OK-432, including the intra-arterial administration of mitomycin C and carboquone (MQ-F-OK therapy), was effective in the treatment of advanced liver cancer. The Cooperative Study Group conducted a controlled study on MQ-F-OK therapy and the combination of mitomycin C, 5-fluorouracil and doxorubicin, including the intra-arterial administration of mitomycin C and doxorubicin (FAM therapy), against advanced liver cancer. Forty patients with advanced primary or secondary liver cancer were enrolled in this study and randomized into the MQ-F-OK group and the FAM group. Seventeen of the 21 cases in the MQ-F-OK group and 16 of the 19 cases in the FAM group were eligible for response evaluation in accordance with the criteria of the Japan Society for Cancer Therapy. There was no significant difference in the patient characteristics between the two groups. Three cases in the MQ-F-OK group and two in the FAM group showed partial response. There was, however, no significant difference in the response rates and the prolongation of life between the two groups. As for the side-effects, only anemia was observed more frequently in the FAM group than in the MQ-F-OK group. In conclusion, we could not preferentially recommend either MQ-F-OK therapy or FAM therapy for advanced liver cancer. The performance status of the patient was one of the most important factors in the treatment of advanced liver cancer because patients with poor performance status showed poorer results.

Biocompatible semiconductor optoelectronics.

We investigate optoelectronic properties of integrated structures comprising semiconductor light-emitting materials for optical probes of microscopic biological systems. Compound semiconductors are nearly ideal light emitters for probing cells and other microorganisms because of their spectral match to the transparency wavelengths of biomolecules. Unfortunately, the chemical composition of these materials is incompatible with the biochemistry of cells and related biofluids. To overcome these limitations, we investigate functionalized semiconductor surfaces and structures to simultaneously enhance light emission and the flow of biological fluids in semiconductor microcavities. We have identified several important materials problems associated with the semiconductor/biosystem interface. One is the biofluid degradation of electroluminescence by ionic diffusion into compound semiconductors. Ions that diffuse into the active region of a semiconductor light emitter can create point defects that degrade the quantum efficiency of the radiative recombination process. In this paper we discuss ways of mitigating these problems using materials design and surface chemistry, and suggest future applications for these materials.

Effect of dithiothreitol of the reaction of renin and angiotensinogen.

Effects of several sulfhydryl reagents on the reaction of renin and angiotensinogen were investigated by measuring the production of angiotensin I. Renin and angiotensinogen were prepared from the kidneys of dogs and from plasma of nephrectomized dogs, respectively. The amount of angiotensin I generated was increased with application of dithiothreitol, dithioerythritol and 2,3-mercapto-1-propanol. The greatest enhancement of the generation of angiotensin I was observed with dithiothreitol. Dithiothreitol had no influence on renin activity, on radioimmunoassay for angiotensin I and the recovery of synthetic angiotensin I from the incubation medium. When heterologous angiotensinogen was used, a great enhancement of generation of angiotensin I was observed. Dithiothreitol did not accelerate the reaction following replacement of the natural substrate, angiotensinogen, with the synthetic tetradecapeptide as substrate. It is postulated that dithiothreitol augments angiotensin I generation by acting on the angiotensinogen and not on the renin.

Leptospirosis on Oahu: an outbreak among military personnel associated with recreational exposure.

In December 1992, a common-source waterborne outbreak of leptospirosis occurred on the island of Oahu in the state of Hawaii. Two male service persons were hospitalized with culture-confirmed leptospirosis. Eighteen others had similar histories of exposure to the same freshwater swimming site. Although six men developed signs and symptoms comparable to those of the two confirmed cases, none manifested culture or serologic evidence of leptospirosis. The increased incidence of leptospirosis in Hawaii coupled with an increased risk in young males characterize the military population in Hawaii as a high-risk population with respect to leptospirosis.