Search for the Decay K L0-->pi0nu nu[over].

We performed a search for the K L0-->pi0nu nu[over] decay at the KEK 12-GeV proton synchrotron. No candidate events were observed. An upper limit on the branching ratio for the decay was set to be 6.7 x 10(-8) at the 90% confidence level.

MRI lesions masked by brain development: a case of infant-onset focal epilepsy.

A 3-month-old male presented with right-side-dominant focal seizures. Focal spikes were observed on the left side of an electroencephalogram obtained at the time of onset. The immature development in the left middle temporal lobe was observed by initial magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The hypoperfusion in the left temporal lobe observed with single-photon computed tomography was consistent with MRI findings. These MRI findings were not observed in a second MRI at 11 months of age. This observation may explain one of the causes of infant-onset focal epilepsy.

Characterization of mutant holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS): a Km for biotin was not elevated in a patient with HCS deficiency.

Holocarboxylase synthetase (HCS) is an essential enzyme for the biotinylation of several mammalian carboxylases. A deficiency of HCS is accountable for early onset biotin-responsive multiple carboxylase deficiency. To address the mechanism of biotin responsiveness, we analyzed the kinetic properties of the previously identified mutant, L237P, and another mutant, V550M, described in this report. The V550M mutant contains a G to A transition at position 1935, which is within the putative biotin binding site, whereas the mutation in L237P occurs outside the biotin binding site. Km and Vmax values for the mutant proteins were determined by overexpressing cDNAs encoding the mutants in transformed fibroblasts from an HCS-deficient patient. Enzyme activity assays were performed using apo-carboxyl carrier protein as a substrate. A Km for biotin that was larger than the value found for the wild-type cDNA was observed in fibroblasts transfected with the V550M cDNA, but not the L237P cDNA. The Vmax for the expressed L237P cDNA was 4.3% of that observed for the wild-type cDNA. Biotin-responsiveness in the patient with the L237P mutation was neither due to an increased affinity for biotin nor a restoration of stability of the mutant by biotin treatment. A new mechanism of biotin responsiveness in HCS deficiency is presented.

Development of plant growth apparatus using blue and red LED as artificial light source.

It is known that chlorophyll has the second distinct absorption peak in the vicinity of 450nm (blue light region) other than the first peak in the vicinity of 660nm (red light region) in its light absorption spectrum The blue light is also indispensable to the morphologically healthy growth plant. On the other hand, the red light contributes to the plant photosynthesis. Noticing this facts, we have developed various kind of plant growth apparatus using many pieces of blue light LED and red light LED with emission wavelength 450nm and 660nm as artificial light source. In this paper, we introduce our LED plant growth apparatus and systems named such as LED PACK, BIOLED, UNIPACK, and COMPACK with respect to their structure, function, electrical design, and characteristics.

Effects of blue, red, and blue/red lights of two different PPF levels on growth and morphogenesis of lettuce plants.

To clarify the possibility of plant production under red and blue monochrome light using light emitting diodes (LEDs), the effects of light quality and photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) on the growth and morphogenesis of lettuce plants were examined. Lettuce plants were hydroponically grown for 20 days, under 3 different light qualities (Red, Blue and Red/Blue) and 2 PPF levels (about 85 and 170 micromoles/m2/s) for a l6hr day and an 8hr night cycle, at a temperature range of 20 to 22 degrees C. Irrespective of the two different PPF levels, the plants grown under the red LEDs developed more leaves than the plants under the blue LEDs, but less leaves than the plants under blue/red light. The curvature rate of the leaf margin in the plants grown under the blue LEDs was less than that of the plants under red LEDs on both PPF levels. The inclination angle of the seventh leaf in the plants grown under the blue LEDs and the blue/red fluorescence lamps was greater than that of the plants under red LEDs on the high PPF level. The whole plant dry weight was greater in the plants grown under the high PPF level than the plants under a low PPF level.

Computer simulation of PPF distribution under blue and red LED light source for plant growth.

The superimposed pattern of "luminescence spectrum of blue light emitting diode (LED)" and "that of red LED", corresponds well to light absorption spectrum of chlorophyll. If these two kinds of LED are used as a light source, various plant cultivation experiments are possible. The cultivation experiments which use such light sources are becoming increasingly active, and in such experiments, it is very important to know the distribution of the photosynthetic photon flux (PPF) which exerts an important influence on photosynthesis. Therefore, we have developed a computer simulation system which can visualize the PPF distribution under a light source equipped with blue and red LEDs. In this system, an LED is assumed to be a point light source, and only the photons which are emitted directly from LED are considered. This simulation system can display a perspective view of the PPF distribution, a transverse and a longitudinal section of the distribution, and a contour map of the distribution. Moreover, a contour map of the ratio of the value of the PPF emitted by blue LEDs to that by blue and red LEDs can be displayed. As the representation is achieved by colored lines according to the magnitudes of the PPF in our system, a user can understand and evaluate the state of the PPF well.

Central nervous system disease in a child with primary Sjögren syndrome.

A 9-year-old girl had hemiparesis, and a diagnosis of primary Sjögren syndrome was made. The neurologic dysfunction was multifocal, involving both the brain and spinal cord, and was recurrent; the findings mimicked multiple sclerosis. Corticosteroid treatment during episodes of acute neurologic dysfunction appeared to be beneficial.

[Comparison of standard-dose epinephrine and high-dose epinephrine in cardiopulmonary arrest outside the hospital].

We compared high-dose epinephrine (HDE) with standard-dose epinephrine (SDE) in improving the outcome of resuscitation after out-of-hospital cardiopulmonary arrest. The SDE group received epinephrine 1mg, and the HDE group received epinephrine 5mg respectively every 5 minutes until the return of spontaneous circulation. There were no significant differences between the SDE group and the HDE group in the rate of return of spontaneous circulation, rate of successful resuscitation and neurologic outcome. However, the rate of successful resuscitation tended to be higher in the SDE group. The ineffectiveness of HDE was considered to be due to the existence coronary artery diseases in the majority of patients, or increase in myocardial oxygen demand by the beta 1-adrenergic effects of epinephrine.

[The effects of individual milk-drinking habits on nutrient intake and dietary patterns in men and women in Tottori Prefecture].

This study was performed to determine the actual conditions of milk-drinking habits in men and women, and to ascertain their effects on nutrient intake and dietary patterns. The 809 subjects were over 20 years of age and were obtained from the Tottori Prefecture Dietary Survey. The results are summarized as follows: 1. Over 40 percent of the subjects did not consume any milk during the three days of the dietary survey. Furthermore, only 38 percent of men and 46 percent of women have daily milk-drinking habits according to the results of the questionnaire. 2. Calcium and Vitamin B2 intake level and total serum cholesterol level were higher in milk-drinkers than non-milk-drinkers, in both men and women. The regression of total calcium intake from 6 groups of food was analyzed by multiple regression analysis. For both men and women who were milk-drinkers, total calcium intake was determined mostly by milk. In the case of non-milk-drinkers, total calcium intake came mostly from green vegetables for men, and other vegetables for women. 3. The ratios of both animal proteins and animal fats were higher in milk-drinkers. For women, energy percentage of fats was high and that of carbohydrates was low in milk-drinkers. The results seem to suggest that differences in dietary patterns is based on milk-drinking habits. Using the Hayashi's quantification method 3, dietary patterns were classified into two groups based on milk-drinking habits. Dietary patterns of milk-drinkers included the characteristic of eating bread, meats, and fats more frequently in men, fresh vegetables, eggs, fats and bread in women. In men, milk-drinking habits had a lesser influence on diet than in women.

Gastric motility after selective proximal vagotomy.

Effects of vagotomy on gastric motor activity were studied on 39 patients after vagotomy for gastric or duodenal ulcer by fluoroscopic examination and by monitoring of intragastric pressure using a balloon introduced into the stomach. These patients were divided into three groups according to types of vagotomy; selective proximal vagotomy (SPV), selective vagotomy (SV) and atypical selective proximal vagotomy. In atypical SPV, dorsal antral branches of vagal gastric nerves were sacrificed in addition to conventional SPV because of local conditions around the ulcer. In patients after SPV or atypical SPV, no gastric stasis was observed on fluoroscopic examination. However, marked gastric stasis with delayed emptying was a constant finding in patients after SV, especially at the early postoperative period. In recording of intragastric pressure, basic peristaltic waves of a 20-second rhythm were observed following inflation of the balloon in all patients after any type of vagotomy. In addition, an alternation of active and resting periods of motor activity and confluence of large waves at the end of active period were observed as characteristoc findings in patients after both SPV and atypical SPV. The large waves were considered to coincide with active propulsive movements seen on fluoroscopy in these patients. The results in this study confirmed that good gastric motility could be preserved in patients after SPV and even after atypical SPV.