Strange metal from a frustration-driven charge order instability.

Interparticle interactions are self-conflicting rather than cooperative on particular lattices. When such geometrical frustration occurs, charge ordering (CO) can be destabilized into non-trivial charge states such as the recently observed charge glass (CG). A more extreme case is the frustration-induced quantum melting of the CO that has been theoretically proposed. Here, we report d.c. charge transport and noise spectroscopy measurements for a triangular-lattice organic conductor situated close to the CO or CG. Our experiments demonstrate that these materials can host a strange metal with unusual charge dynamics, which we attribute to frustration-induced fluctuations of the CO or CG. Our results also show that the anomalous charge fluctuations can freeze into an insulating state when uniaxial stress is applied, which reduces the geometrical frustration. The present observations suggest the existence of the frustration-induced quantum melting of charges analogous to spin liquids.

Identification of metastatic carcinoma in the thyroid by determination of thyroglobulin level in aspirates and ultrasonic findings.

A 49-year-old female with a metastatic renal cell carcinoma to the thyroid is presented. The thyroglobulin (Tg) level in tumor aspirates of this patient was 37.3 micrograms/l, while that of 49 patients with primary thyroid nodules ranged from 2.0 x 10(3) to 7.5 x 10(8) micrograms/l. Ultrasonogram of the thyroid demonstrated a well-demarcated oval nodule with a cystic region, the solid part of which was hypoechoic and homogeneous. However, similar ultrasonic findings were observed in only 1.1% of 1,054 patients with primary thyroid nodules. Determination of Tg in tumor aspirates and ultrasonography of the thyroid may contribute to the differentiation of metastatic thyroid nodules from primary thyroid nodules.

In vitro antibiotic susceptibility of enteric bacteria isolated from commercial broiler chickens.

The in vitro activity of six different antimicrobial agents was evaluated by an agar dilution method against enteric bacteria isolated from broilers. Of 923 isolates, 796 were gram-positive bacteria and 127 were Escherichia coli (E. coli). Thiopeptin at 25 microgram/ml inhibited 75% of lactobacilli. This antibiotic at .78 microgram/ml inhibited 82% of staphylococci and more than 92% of other gram-positive organisms. Bacitracin at 100 microgram or less per ml was active against 42% of staphylococci and 30% of streptococci. At 6.25 microgram or less per ml, 70% of clostridia and 78% of lactobacilli were inhibited. The minimum inhibitory concentrations (MIC) of penicillin G and ampicillin shown as cumulative distribution curves for all isolates were very similar. Both antibiotics showed a wide range of MIC distribution. Streptomycin at 50 microgram or less per ml was active against 87% of lactobacilli and 50% of E. coli. Only 32% of staphylococci were inhibited at these concentrations. At 100 microgram or less per ml, 30% of streptococci and 12% of clostridia were inhibited. Tetracycline at 100 microgram or less per ml inhibited 63% of clostridia. Lactobacilli and E. coli were not inhibited by this antibiotic at 100 microgram or less per ml.

[A case of cardiac lipoma in the ventricular septum].

Lipoma in the ventricular septum is very rare. Our review of the English literature revealed that our case is the sixth of removal of lipoma in the ventricular septum. A 60-year-old male was admitted because a mass in the ventricular septum was found incidentally in abdominal CT taken following type B hepatitis. CT scanning of the heart showed 2 cm diameter of tumor in the ventricular septum. The tumor had very low radiodensity, so it was thought to be identical to fat tissue. The tumor was more clearly visualized by MR imaging and the signal intensity was high on the T1-weighted image. The tumor was suspected to be lipoma. The intraoperative histological diagnosis showed the tumor was lipoma. The tumor adhered strictly on the myocardium of the septum, and it was located near the left anterior descending coronary artery. It could not completely resected, in these reasons. Postoperative course was uneventful, and echocardiogram taken 9 months after the operation showed no evidence of enlargement of the residual tumor. It is necessary to follow-up rigidly for the potential of enlargement of the residual tumor.

[A rare case of 2 free thrombi in left atrium with mitral stenosis].

A 64-year-old female was admitted with general fatigue and orthopnea. Preoperative echocardiography showed a free ball thrombus in the left atrium, mitral stenosis and severe tricuspid regurgitation. To avoid a herniation of thrombus to the mitral orifice, an emergency operation was performed. Two free and small mural thrombi were found in the left atrium. Thrombectomy, mitral valve replacement and tricuspid annuloplasty were performed successfully. Postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged in good condition on the 21st postoperative day.

[A case of 72-year-old female with congenital esophago-bronchial fistula].

A 72-year-old female with congenital esophago-bronchial fistula is reported. She had complained of cough attack during meals and repeated pneumonia since childhood. A chest x-ray film showed chronic bronchitis in the right lower lung field. Esophagogram revealed a fistula between the esophagus and the right lower lobe bronchus. Resection of the right lower lobe and removal of the fistulous tract were successfully performed. Histological examination of the resected fistula with slight inflammatory change showed muscle layer and transitional zone between the stratified squamous epithelium of esophagus and the ciliated columnar epithelium of bronchus. This is the oldest case in the Japanese literature.

[A case of a two-chambered right ventricle associated with aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva].

A 51-year-old male with a two-chambered right ventricle associated with an aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva, who underwent successful surgical repair without ventriculotomy, is reported. Preoperative right ventriculogram revealed that the right ventricle was divided by the anomalous muscle bundle, and the aneurysm of sinus of Valsalva growing from the right coronary sinus protruded just below the pulmonary valve. The right ventricular pressure was 107/10 mmHg and the pressure gradient between the right ventricle and the pulmonary artery was 88 mmHg. Trans-pulmonary arterial resection of the aneurysm of Valsalva sinus was performed and the anomalous muscle bundle was successfully removed through the pulmonary arteriotomy and the right atrial incision. Post-operative right ventricular pressure dropped to 42 mmHg, and there was no stenosis in the right ventricle.

[Clinical use of an expanded polytetrafluoroethylene sheets (GORE-TEX SHEETS) as a pericardial substitute after aorto coronary bypass grafting].

Reoperation after cardiovascular surgical procedures are often accompanied by the possibility of injuring the heart the great vessels, and extracardiac grafts during resternotomy. To reduce the risk associated with resternotomy and to facilitate dissection of intrapericardial adhesion, we have used GORE-TEX SHEET as pericardial substitute since January, 1989. In case GORE-TEX SHEET are implanted in the mediastinum, prolongation of the foreign body reaction, mediastinitis, increasing postoperative hemorrhage should be in mind. In this study, the biocompatibility of GORE-TEX SHEET was examined clinically. The following postoperative indices such as duration of fever, change of the WBC counts, WBC fraction, CRP, mediastinal hemorrhage are evaluated. These results showed no statistical significance between GORE-TEX SHEET group and autologous pericardial group by the randomized study. We recommend use of GORE-TEX SHEET as a pericardial substitute in cases of major cardiovascular operation using median sternotomy.

[Prevention of colonic ischemia following abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy by measurement of inferior mesenteric artery stump pressure].

To prevent postoperative colon ischemia, the inferior mesenteric artery (IMA) stump pressure measurement was performed in 60 patients undergoing unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy. IMA stump pressures were more than 40mmHg and IMA/systemic pressure ratios were more than 0.4 in 58 patients. The IMA was ligated in all of these patients. Colon ischemia developed in two of these 58 patients. In one, vigorous retractive trauma to the colon and the mesenterium seemed to be causative, and in the other, division of the branches of the IMA was causative. None of the other 56 patients developed colon ischemia. In remaining two patients, IMA stump pressures were less than 40mmHg and/or IMA/systemic pressure ratios were less than 0.4. In one of these two, reimplantation of the IMA was not performed until 12 hours after ligation of the IMA and postoperative ischemic colitis developed. In the other, the IMA was implanted into the prosthesis and colon ischemia did not develop. These results indicated that IMA stump pressure measurement is simple and very useful method to predict the risk of postoperative colon ischemia following abdominal aortic aneurysmectomy, and when IMA stump pressure or IMA/systemic pressure ratio is less than 40mmHg or 0.4, the IMA should be revascularised.

[Studies on inferior mesenteric arterial stump blood pressure and aortographic findings in surgical cases of abdominal aortic aneurysm: in relation to ischemic colitis].

In 18 cases with unruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm, preoperative aortographic findings and the mean ratio of inferior mesenteric arterial stump blood pressure to systemic blood pressure (IMA/Syst. Pr. Ratio) were analyzed. In all cases IMA was ligated at operation because IMA/Syst. Pr. Ratio was more than 0.4, and one developed ischemic colitis. Preoperative aortogram was useful to identify meandering mesenteric artery and its flow direction to predict colon ischemia. IMA/Syst. Pr. Ratio following aortic reconstruction ranged from 0.41 to 1.0 with mean value of 0.70. In a case of ischemic colitis the ratio was the lowest value (0.5) except one case. Thus the ratio had diagnostic value to predict colon ischemia. Aortogram and IMA/Syst. Pr. Ratio were summed up to evaluate collateral circulation to colonic blood supply. Hypogastric arteries played an important role in some cases with intact IMA, and meandering mesenteric artery frequently in cases with occluded IMA. Consequently, it is important to preserve hypogastric arterial blood flow especially in the cases with intact IMA. In two cases whose internal iliac arteries were ligated bilaterally, IMA stump pressure was enough, and ischemic colitis was not encountered. The problems of peripheral vascular reconstruction in these two cases were also discussed.

Cloning and Expression of Thermostable alpha-Amylase Gene from Bacillus stearothermophilus in Bacillus stearothermophilus and Bacillus subtilis.

The structural gene for a thermostable alpha-amylase from Bacillus stearothermophilus was cloned in plasmids pTB90 and pTB53. It was expressed in both B. stearothermophilus and Bacillus subtilis. B. stearothermophilus carrying the recombinant plasmid produced about fivefold more alpha-amylase (20.9 U/mg of dry cells) than did the wild-type strain of B. stearothermophilus. Some properties of the alpha-amylases that were purified from the transformants of B. stearothermophilus and B. subtilis were examined. No significant differences were observed among the enzyme properties despite the difference in host cells. It was found that the alpha-amylase, with a molecular weight of 53,000, retained about 60% of its activity even after treatment at 80 degrees C for 60 min.

[Surgical treatment of membranous ventricular septal aneurysm with posterior ventricular septal defect--a case report].

A 45-year-old woman was hospitalized for examination of a cardiac murmur. She had undergone surgery for a membranous ventricular septal defect at the age of 22. Cardiac catheterization showed a membranous ventricular septal aneurysm and a residual shunt. At reoperation, we found the membranous septal aneurysm to be accompanied with a posterior ventricular septal defect. The septal defect was closed with a Dacron patch, and the septal aneurysm was excised, with direct closure. Membranous ventricular septal aneurysm is generally associated with membranous ventricular septal defect. Cases of membranous ventricular septal aneurysm with posterior ventricular septal defect are rare.

In vitro antimicrobial activity against reference strains and field isolates of Treponema hyodysenteriae.

The in vitro susceptibilities of eight isolates of Treponema hyodysenteriae from pigs naturally infected with swine dysentery between 1976 and 1983 were determined by an agar dilution technique. Carbadox, olaquindox, tiamulin, metronidazole, furazolidone, and monensin were the most active against these field isolates regardless of the year of recovery. The influence of inoculum size on the MICs against four reference strains of T. hyodysenteriae was studied. Various degrees of activities of ampicillin and lincomycin were found, depending on the inoculum size. The effect of successive in vitro subcultures on the susceptibility of a reference strain of T. hyodysenteriae was examined. The strain resistant to tylosin became susceptible to the drug.

[A case of myocardial revascularization in a patient after renal transplantation].

A 46-year-old woman after renal transplantation 10 years ago underwent CABG using the right internal thoracic artery to LAD, the left internal thoracic artery to Circumflex and the right gastroepiploic artery to RCA, with the diagnosis of unstable angina (triple vessels disease) after failed PTCA. The postoperative course has been uneventful. To our knowledge, this is the first case who underwent GABG after renal transplantation in Japan.

In vitro activity of 39 antimicrobial agents against Treponema hyodysenteriae.

The in vitro activities of 39 antimicrobial agents against 23 isolates of Treponema hyodysenteriae, the majority of which were field isolates, were determined by the agar dilution technique. Quinoxalines, pleuromutilin, nitroimidazoles, and nitrofuran were the most active. Their activities ranged from /=100 mug/ml. Macrolides showed varying degrees of activity depending upon isolates.

[Coronary bypass surgery in patients 70 years of age and older].

Twenty-six patients 70 years of age and older who underwent elective coronary artery bypass grafting were analyzed. These patients were compared with 76 patients under 70 years of age. The results obtained were as follows. The aged group had significantly greater incidences of preoperative pulmonary and renal complications. Preoperative cardiac function in the aged group was not different from that in the younger one. The incidence of left main trunk stenosis among the aged group (31%) was twice that in the younger one (15%). Then mean number of grafts was 3.0 in both groups. There were no significant differences in the operation time, anoxic arrest time, and extracorporeal circulation time between these two groups. Although the operative mortality rate in the aged group (11.5%) was higher than that (2.6%) in the younger one, the difference was not significant. Postoperative cerebral, respiratory and renal complications were more common in the aged group. However, the incidences of these complications were not different between these two groups. Surgical mortality and morbidity were improved in the latter half of the patients of the aged group, in whom only one operative death was observed and there was no life-threatening postoperative complication. Symptomatic improvements in survivors were remarkable. Thus, we conclude that coronary artery bypass grafting can be performed with acceptable risk in patients 70 years of age and older.