Measurements of Strong-Interaction Effects in Kaonic-Helium Isotopes at Sub-eV Precision with X-Ray Microcalorimeters.

We have measured the 3d→2p transition x rays of kaonic ^{3}He and ^{4}He atoms using superconducting transition-edge-sensor microcalorimeters with an energy resolution better than 6 eV (FWHM). We determined the energies to be 6224.5±0.4(stat)±0.2(syst) eV and 6463.7±0.3(stat)±0.1(syst) eV, and widths to be 2.5±1.0(stat)±0.4(syst) eV and 1.0±0.6(stat)±0.3(stat) eV, for kaonic ^{3}He and ^{4}He, respectively. These values are nearly 10 times more precise than in previous measurements. Our results exclude the large strong-interaction shifts and widths that are suggested by a coupled-channel approach and agree with calculations based on optical-potential models.

Search for η

We measured missing mass spectrum of the ^{12}C(γ,p) reaction for the first time in coincidence with potential decay products from η^{'} bound nuclei. We tagged an (η+p) pair associated with the η^{'}N→ηN process in a nucleus. After applying kinematical selections to reduce backgrounds, no signal events were observed in the bound-state region. An upper limit of the signal cross section in the opening angle cosθ_{lab}^{ηp}<-0.9 was obtained to be 2.2 nb/sr at the 90% confidence level. It is compared with theoretical cross sections, whose normalization ambiguity is suppressed by measuring a quasifree η^{'} production rate. Our results indicate a small branching fraction of the η^{'}N→ηN process and/or a shallow η^{'}-nucleus potential.

Deformable self-propelled domain in an excitable reaction-diffusion system in three dimensions.

We derive a set of equations of motion for an isolated domain in an excitable reaction-diffusion system in three dimensions. In the singular limit where the interface is infinitesimally thin, the motion of the center of mass coupled with deformation is investigated near the drift bifurcation where a motionless domain becomes unstable and undergoes migration. This is an extension of our previous theory in two dimensions. We show that there are three basic motions of a domain, straight motion, rotating motion, and helical motion. The last one is a characteristic of three dimensions. The phase diagram of these three solutions is given in the parameter space of the original reaction-diffusion equations.

Two cases of subacute thyroiditis presenting in pregnancy.

Subacute thyroiditis (SAT) is an extremely rare cause of thyrotoxicosis in pregnant women. Untreated, thyrotoxicosis may result in complications, such as prematurity and congenital malformations in the fetus. We report two cases of first trimester subacute thyroiditis, one mild and one severe. The severe case, as demonstrated by laboratory and ultrasound findings, was successfully treated with prednisolone. In this case, it was thought that the benefits of pharmacological therapy outweighed the risk of potential teratogenesis by the medication. In contrast, the milder case was managed conservatively and resolved without treatment. These cases illustrate how laboratory and ultrasound findings can be used to determine whether treatment should be initiated and, once begun, if medication levels need to be adjusted. In both cases, the pregnancies resulted in healthy full-term infants.

Restriction of dietary Iodine does not ameliorate the early effect of anti-thyroid drug therapy for Graves' disease in an area of excessive iodine intake.

The close relationship between iodine intake and the effects of anti-thyroid drugs (ATD) for Graves' disease (GD) has been well established. However, it remains unknown whether restriction of dietary iodine improves the effect of ATD. This study aimed to clarify this issue in Japanese patients with GD who routinely ingest large amounts of dietary iodine. We performed a prospective clinical study in 81 patients with newly diagnosed GD who were divided into an iodine restricted group and a control group. Urinary iodine, thyroid hormones and TSH receptor antibody were measured during the first 8 weeks of ATD therapy. Urinary iodine concentrations in the iodine restricted group were significantly lower than in the control group (p=0.043). However, there were no significant differences in the decrease of thyroid hormones and TSH receptor antibody between the two groups. Restriction of dietary iodine does not ameliorate the effect of ATD therapy for GD in an area of excessive iodine intake.

Synthesis of RepK of rolling circle plasmid pKYM is regulated by countertranscript and HU protein.

Replication of rolling circle plasmid pKYM was regulated by RepK, a plasmid-encoded initiator protein, with HU protein and antisense RNA (copRNA) that block the expression of RepK. HU protein bound to the repK promoter in the presence of RepK protein and inhibited the transcription of repK mRNA. The copRNA would hybridize to repK mRNA and induce a stem-loop structure in which the repK Shine-Dalgarno sequence is sequestered by base pairing. Sequence substitution experiments demonstrated that this stem-loop not only inhibits translation but induces premature termination.

[Left thoracotomy for coronary artery bypass grafting without cardiopulmonary bypass in a patient with porcelain aorta].

Extended calcification of the total aorta and arch vessels may make coronary revascularization with cardiopulmonary bypass impossible. We report the left thoracotomy approach for a case of a 70-years diabetic man who was revascularized without cardiopulmonary bypass because of porcelain aorta extended into abdominal aorta, the arch vessels and femoral arteries. He had had prior anterior wall infarction. Cardiac catheterization showed poor ventricular function with an EF of 25% and there was a 60% occlusion of left main trunk, 90% occlusion of circumflex coronary. Through a left thoracotomy, saphenous vein grafting was performed without cardiopulmonary bypass from the noncalcified left subclavian artery to the circumflex coronary artery. During distal anastomosis, distal perfusion of coronary artery was carried out to support the heart up. Intraoperatively, hemodynamic remained stable with no electrocardiographic change. This technique may offer a practical solution to this problem.

[General pharmacology of T-3761, a new oral quinolone antibacterial agent (1). Effect on the central nervous system].

General pharmacological effects of T-3761, a new oral quinolone antibacterial agent, on the central nervous system were investigated in laboratory animals. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. T-3761 exerted no significant effects on spontaneous motor activity, motor coordination, pentobarbital-induced hypnosis, electroshock-, pentetrazole- or strychnine-induced convulsion, acetic acid-induced writhing responses, reserpine-induced hypothermia and ptosis in mice at oral doses of 100, 300 and 1,000 mg/kg. The same oral doses of T-3761 exerted no significant effects on body temperature and passive avoidance response in rats. 2. T-3761 had no effects on EEG in cats and spinal reflex in rats at intravenous doses of 10, 30 and 100 mg/kg. 3. Convulsions were not observed in mice after any oral combinations of T-3761 at a dose of 200 or 1,000 mg/kg with 14 different nonsteroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) including fenbufen. 4. An oral combination of T-3761 even at a higher doses of 3,000 mg/kg with 4-biphenylacetic acid (BPAA) which is a principally active metabolite of fenbufen also did not induce convulsions in mice. 5. T-3761 did not inhibit GABA receptor binding in rat brain synaptic membranes at 10(-4) M in either the absence or presence of BPAA. These results suggest that T-3761 is an antibacterial agent which would be unlikely to produce any side effects on the central nervous system and to produce convulsion when combined with NSAIDs in clinical use.

[General pharmacology of T-3761, a new oral quinolone antibacterial agent (2). Effect on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, autonomic nervous system and other functions].

General pharmacological effects of T-3761, a new oral quinolone antibacterial agent, on the respiratory and cardiovascular systems, autonomic nervous system and other functions were investigated in laboratory animals. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. Respiratory and cardiovascular systems: Oral administration of T-3761 at doses of 100-1,000 mg/kg did not affect in conscious rats. But intravenous administration of T-3761 at doses of 10-100 mg/kg caused an increase in respiratory rate, induced hypotension, caused increase or decrease in heart rate and altered ECG patterns (elevation of T waves and reduction of voltage of QRS complexes, etc.) in anesthetized dogs. Intravenous administration of T-3761 at doses of 10-100 mg/kg showed respiratory rate increase or decrease, hypertension, heart rate decrease and ECG patterns changes (T waves elevation and extrasystole) in anesthetized rabbits. 2. Autonomic nervous system and smooth muscle organs: T-3761 increased the epinephrine-induced contraction of the isolated guinea pig vas deferens at concentration of 10(-5)-10(-4) g/ml. T-3761 decreased the acetylcholine-induced contraction of the isolated guinea pig ileum and epinephrine-induced relaxation of the isolated guinea pig trachea-chain at concentration of 10(-4) g/ml. T-3761 increased the norepinephrine-induced contraction of the isolated rabbit thoracic aorta at concentration of 10(-4) g/ml. Oral administration of T-3761 at a dose of 1,000 mg/kg exerted slight mydriasis in mice. 3. Digestive system: T-3761 decreased the spontaneous motilities of isolated ileum and colon at concentration of 10(-4) g/ml. Oral administration of T-3761 at a dose of 1,000 mg/kg inhibited gastric output and intestinal transit time in rats or mice. 4. Renal functions: Oral administration of T-3761 at a dose of 300 mg/kg increased Na+ excretion but did not affect PSP excretion in rats. 5. Hematological examinations: T-3761 showed no effects on resistance to hemolysis, blood coagulation and platelet aggregation in rabbits at concentration of 10(-6)-10(-4) g/ml. Oral administration of T-3761 at dose of 100-1,000 mg/kg did not affect bleeding time or blood glucose level in rats. 6. Miscellaneous effects: Intravenous administration of T-3761 at a dose of 100 mg/kg slightly inhibited the twitch tension of gastrocnemius in anesthetized rats. Oral administration of T-3761 at doses of 300-1,000 mg/kg exerted slight augmentation of carrageenin-induced hind paw edema in rats. From these results, it can be assumed that T-3761 had a wide safety margin as an oral antibacterial agent.

Size dependent liposome degradation in blood: in vivo/in vitro correlation by kinetic modeling.

The degradation of liposomes in blood circulation is important in regulating the releasing rate of encapsulated compounds. In this study, the effect of liposome size--one of the principal determining factors in liposome disposition--on their degradation in serum/blood was evaluated quantitatively both in vitro and in vivo. In the in vitro study, the time courses of the degradation of liposomes in fresh rat serum were measured continuously using 5(6)-carboxyfluorescein (CF) as an aqueous phase marker and were described by the kinetic model with the lag time (tau), first order degradation rate constant (k), and the maximum degradation (alpha). Both k and alpha increased with the increase of liposome size, which indicated a higher affinity of larger liposomes for complement activation. In the in vivo study, the degradation of liposomes was evaluated sensitively by a first order degradation rate constant (kd) in blood circulation. The kd was obtained by kinetically modeling the liposome degradation in vivo using 3H-inulin as an aqueous phase marker. The size dependent kd correlated well with the hepatic uptake clearance, which suggests an underlying complement activation mechanism common to both degradation and hepatic uptake of liposomes. There was a good correlation in the degradation rate constant between in vitro and in vivo trials. These kinetic analyses validate the quantitative evaluation of liposome degradation in blood circulation and provide a useful way to predict the degradation of liposomes in vivo from in vitro experiments.

Aneurysm of the inferior mesenteric artery.

The case of a 48-year-old man with an aneurysm of the inferior mesenteric artery is described. This aneurysm was associated with extensive vascular disease characterized by multiple sites of stenosis and occlusion in addition to an upper abdominal aortic aneurysm. Repair of both aneurysms and reconstruction of the left renal artery and inferior mesenteric artery, which supplied all splanchnic circulation, were performed. The aetiology of the disease was thought to involve Takayasu's arteritis.

[A case of aortitis syndrome treated by simultaneous procedure of Bentall's operation and aortic arch replacement].

The case is a 22-year-old man, in whom chest X-P pointed out aortic and cardiac shadow enlargements. Aortography revealed extensive aortic aneurysm involving the ascending, arch, and proximal descending portions of the aorta, accompanied with annulo-aortic ectasia, aortic regurgitation, and stenosis of the left common carotid and left subclavian arteries, suggesting lesions due to aortitis syndrome. For this case, Bentall's operation and replacement of the aortic arch and the proximal descending aorta were performed simultaneously, using hypothermic selective cerebral perfusion. Favorable postoperative course and absent neurological abnormality enabled the patient to return to his former social work. Steroid therapy has been continued up to the present, 5 years postoperatively, with neither recurrence of inflammation nor occurrence of cardiac murmur.

Histologic changes in donor bronchi may explain the reduced mucosal blood flow seen during acute lung allograft rejection.

We assessed the histologic changes in donor and recipient bronchi from 15 dogs that had received a lung transplant and related these changes to the severity of acute rejection seen in the parenchyma of these same lungs. Minimal rejection was associated with no abnormal change in either the donor or the recipient bronchi. In mild lung rejection, mononuclear cell cuffings were seen around bronchial arteries in donor bronchial adventitia, although few mononuclear cell infiltrates were seen in the submucosa. Moderate lung rejection was associated with more prominent mononuclear cell cuffings in the donor bronchial adventitia and mucosal infiltrates of mononuclear cells in the membranous portion. In cases of severe lung rejection, the mononuclear cell infiltrates were also apparent in the cartilaginous portion of the donor bronchial mucosa. Moreover, submucosal edema and detachment of bronchial epithelium were seen. These histologic changes were not observed in the recipient bronchi during acute rejection, nor were they seen in the donor and the recipient bronchi during lung infection without rejection. They might, therefore, reflect acute rejection in the donor bronchus. These results might provide the histologic support for our previous observation of decreased bronchial mucosal blood flow measured by the laser Doppler flowmeter in relation with the extent of acute lung rejection.