Probing the OH Stretch in Different Local Environments in Liquid Water.

We use resonant inelastic X-ray scattering (RIXS) to resolve vibrational losses corresponding to the OH stretch where the X-ray absorption process allows us to selectively probe different structural subensembles in liquid water. The results point to a unified interpretation of X-ray and vibrational spectroscopic data in line with a picture of two classes of structural environments in the liquid at ambient conditions with predominantly close-packed high-density liquid (HDL) and occasional local fluctuations into strongly tetrahedral low-density liquid (LDL).

Subclinical renal oxalosis in wild-caught Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata).

Various degrees of crystal deposition were found in the kidneys of 12 out of 59 Japanese macaques (Macaca fuscata) caught in the wild in Gifu, Japan. The needle- or rod-shaped crystals, which were radially arranged and occurred in the lumen and epithelium of the renal (mainly the proximal) tubules, were birefringent under polarized light. They stained with alizarin red S at a pH of 7.0 but not 4.2, and were identified as calcium oxalate. The morphological features of the renal lesions were similar to those previously reported in oxalate poisoning, and it was believed that the macaques ingested the oxalate in plants.

Spontaneous vascular mineralization in the brains of cows.

The frequency of occurrence and the characteristics of vascular mineralization in the brains of cows were studied. Mineralized lesions were found in the pallidal arteries in eight of 13 cows. They appeared as basophilic deposits in the arterial walls, were sheath-like or tubular in shape, and were accompanied by intimal oedema or fibrous thickening. The deposits were positive for periodic acid-Schiff, von Kossa's, alizarin red and Berlin blue stains. Elemental analysis revealed the presence of large amounts of phosphorus, calcium and zinc, as well as small amounts of iron, copper and sodium.

Eosinophilic neuronal inclusions in the thalamus of ageing B6C3F1 mice.

The age-related incidence of thalamic neuronal inclusions in the brains of aged B6C3F1 mice and their histopathological and ultrastructural features were studied. Round to oval or rod-shaped eosinophilic inclusions, which were frequently observed in the neurons of the thalamic area, were stained positively with phosphotungstic acid haematoxylin. The inclusions were detected first at 32 weeks of age and the incidence and severity were higher in older animals, all of the mice being affected after 58 weeks of age. Ultrastructurally, the inclusions appeared as sheaves of parallel osmiophilic filaments in the perikaryon of the neurons in the thalamus. Thus thalamic neuronal inclusions in mice seem to be age-related, but their significance remains unclear.

The reduction of humeral fracture in pigeons with intramedullary poly (methyl methacrylate) and neutralization plate fixation.

The reduction of experimental humeral fracture in pigeons was performed with intramedullary bone cement (poly (methyl methacrylate): PMMA) and neutralization plate fixation to investigate the effect on bone fracture healing and the recovery of flying ability. As a result, neither plate nor bone cement fixation held for more than 2 weeks, but not refracture was observed in any cases with both plate and bone cement. In the latter group, it was confirmed by flight tests that almost normal flying ability was recovered in 6 weeks. In pathological findings, blood supply to the fractured ends recovered within 2 weeks and no cortical bone necrosis was observed at the time except for a disturbance of endosteal callus formation. The process of fracture healing on the plate side took place slightly later than that on the non-plate side, and when much PMMA remained between the fractured ends of the cortical bone the bone formation became spongioid. In view of the quick recovery of flying ability, however, plate and bone cement fixation is considered appropriate to prevent the displacement of a humeral fracture in the pigeon.

Bioceramic implantation in the intermandibular space in bilateral rostral mandibulectomy of the dog.

Effect of bioceramic implantation on the intermandibular space along with plating in rostral mandibulectomy was investigated in the dog. In this group, bioceramic beads consisting of a complex of hydroxyapatite and tricalcium phosphate were implanted in the intermandibular space between the lingual surfaces of the fracture ends. In two other groups, the dogs received only plating on the ostectomized end, or they received only rostal mandibulectomy without plating. No difficulty in mastication was observed in the implanted group after surgery. In the dogs which received plating, however, difficulty was noted only in the 4th week when wet food was replaced by dry food, and in the control group in the 6th week after the surgery. From the radiological and microscopical findings, in dogs with only plating or without the fixation there was no bony union in the intermandibular space at 16 weeks, though the increase in fibrous tissue and bony callus in the area was much greater in the plated dogs than in the control group. In the implanted group, on the other hand, the increase in callus formation was considerable compared to the other groups. Moreover, the lingual surfaces of the fracture ends were well ossified at 12 postoperative weeks. This suggests that in canine bilateral rostral mandibulectomy the stabilization of the fracture ends with plates and bioceramic implants filling a gap in the intermandibular space may enhance the ossification between the fracture ends and prevent postoperative difficulty in mastication.

Computed tomography on renal masses in dogs and cats.

Computed tomography (CT) was performed on renal tumors (Wilms' tumor and renal cell carcinoma) and renal cysts in dogs and cats. CT images in renal tumors were well correlated with macroscopic findings, and contrast CT images were quite useful in differentiating tumoral regions from non-tumoral ones. On renal cysts, intravenous pyelography and ultrasonography were as effective as CT images in morphological diagnosis, but CT was considered to be superior for evaluating three-dimensional (3-D) relationships in complicated lesions.

Hepatic oxygen supply, energy charge, and histological findings in dogs with portal vein arterialization.

Hepatic oxygen supply, energy charge (EC), and histology were examined comparatively in dogs with portal vein anastomosis (PVA group), and PA in addition to PVA (PA group). The PVA group showed a lower level of hepatic oxygen supply than those of the PA group throughout the experimental period, and also showed decreases of adenosine triphosphate (ATP) and EC level after blood perfusion. In contrast, the oxygen supply and consumption were stable in the PA group. A temporary fall of ATP level was followed by recovery to the preperfusion level in the PA group. Histological examination indicated the collapse of hepatic cords with granular and vacuolar degeneration in only the PVA group. These findings suggested that PA, when supplemented to PVA, is an available technique for preventing hepatic failure caused by ischemic conditions.

Changes of hepatic tissue phospholipid peroxidation, malondialdehydes, and antioxidative enzyme activities in dogs with halothane inhalation.

To elucidate the pathogenesis of halothane-induced hepatopathy, the changes of hepatic tissue phospholipid peroxidation, malondialdehydes (MDAs), and antioxidative enzyme activities were examined in the portal vein arterialized dogs with halothane inhalation. In group A, which was given halothane inhalation under the hepatic blood flow volume less than 10% of pre-operation volume designated as a hypoxic condition, peroxidized phosphatidylcholine (PC), and free and protein-bound MDA levels significantly increased after inhalation. Although the level of protein bound MDA in group C, given hypoxic condition alone, also increased during the experimental period, the response of this was smaller than that in group A, suggesting that the halothane inhalation enhanced free radical generation under the hypoxic condition. In contrast, no significant changes of these levels were observed in groups B and D, both of which were supplied with sufficient hepatic oxygen as the normoxic condition. In addition, the significant negative correlations between hepatic oxygen supply and total or protein-bound MDA were observed in only halothane inhaled group. These findings suggested that the cause of halothane-induced hepatopathy is closely related to free radicals mainly generated from halothane anaerobic metabolism under the hypoxic condition.

Gastric adenocarcinoma in a cougar (Felis concolor).

Diffusely invasive tumors occurred in the stomach of a 9-year-old female cougar (Felis concolor) from a zoo in Japan. The tumors consisted of tubular adenocarcinoma cells, and had infiltrative growth to the submucosa and muscularis propria. Tumor cells were positive for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), lysozyme, epithelial membrane antigen (EMA), gastrin, alpha-1-fetoprotein (AFP), keratin, and B72.3. Mucin-like materials occurred within cytoplasmic vacuoles.

Hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy in a raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) with chronic pulmonary inflammatory lesions.

A female raccoon dog (Nyctereutes procyonoides) captured September 1992 in Nara prefecture, Japan, suffering from swollen joints of all four limbs was necropsied. Radiographically, there was a shadow in the right pulmonary caudal lobe and periosteal bone formation around several joints. Microscopically, there was extensive edema, along with one large and many small pyogranulomatous nodules and purulent bronchitis in the right lobe and left caudal lobe of the lungs. There were intermingled branching filamentous bacteria in the lesion, which stained positively with Warthin-Starry, Grocott, and Gram stains, and partially with periodic acid Schiff and Ziehl-Neelsen stains. Extensive exostosis with coralloid trabeculation had developed bilaterally at the carpal, stifle and hock joints in the surrounding well vascularized loose connective tissue. Degeneration of articular cartilage and villous proliferation of synovial membranes were apparent. This is the first report of hypertrophic pulmonary osteoarthropathy in the raccoon dog.

Histopathologic features of naturally occurring hepatozoonosis in wild martens (Martes melampus) in Japan.

Nodular lesions containing Hepatozoon sp. schizonts or merozoite-gametocytes were found in the tissues of 67 (96%) of 70 wild-caught martens (Martes melampus) examined in Gifu, Japan, 1991 and 1992. The heart was the most commonly parasitized organ (96%), followed by the perirenal adipose tissue (36%); the diaphragm, mesentery, tongue, omentum and perisplenic adipose tissue generally had a prevalence of 10 to 15%. In the heart, two types of nodular lesions were differentiated based on developmental stages: nodules containing schizonts and nodules consisting of an accumulation of phagocytes containing merozoites or gamonts. Under electron microscopy, mature schizonts contained membrane-bound merozoites with a single nucleus and small scattered electron-dense cytoplasmic granules in the schizont nodules; the merozoites and gamonts were engulfed in a phagosome-like vacuole of phagocytes with the nucleus compressed to one side due to the parasite in the merozoite-gamont nodule.

Visual outcome in Japanese patients with Acanthamoeba keratitis.

PURPOSE: To identify prognostic factors affecting visual outcome in Acanthamoeba keratitis (AK) treated with topical chlorhexidine gluconate (CHG). METHODS: A total of 35 eyes in 34 patients with AK were treated with 0.02% topical CHG. Patients were divided into two groups according to the final visual outcome: Group 1, final visual acuity (VA) of 20/25 or greater (22 eyes); Group 2, less than 20/25 (13 eyes). We compared these groups and evaluated the effectiveness of topical CHG compared with outcomes in previous reports. RESULTS: Ring infiltrate was observed more often in Group 2 (4.5% vs 61.5%, OR 33.6, 95% confidence interval (CI) 3.4-333.9, P<0.01). The duration between onset and diagnosis of AK was significantly longer (24.9 days vs 48.4 days, OR 1.03, 95% CI 1.00-1.06, P = 0.04) and VA at initial examination (log MAR) significantly lower (0.47 vs 1.59, OR 25.5, 95% CI 3.4-186.7, P<0.01) in Group 2 (visual outcome <20/25). Multivariate analysis revealed that only VA at initial examination was independently associated with worse visual outcome (adjusted OR 24.5, 95% CI 1.9-312.6, P=0.01). Seventeen (85.0%) of the 20 eyes diagnosed within 1 month and 24 (82.8%) of 29 eyes diagnosed within 2 months achieved a VA of 20/40 or greater. CONCLUSION: VA at initial examination was the most predictive factors for final visual outcome in AK. Topical CHG was comparably effective to other treatments, including polyhexamethyl biguanide and propamidine isethionate.

Inflammatory reaction following cataract surgery and implantation of acrylic intraocular lens in rabbits with endotoxin-induced uveitis.

PURPOSE: To investigate whether inflammatory responses are more severe in uveitic eyes than nonuveitic eyes when acrylic intraocular lens (IOL) is implanted after cataract surgery. METHODS: Clear lens removal (phacoemulsification and aspiration) was conducted and the hydrophobic acrylic IOL (AR40e, AMO) was implanted in adult albino rabbits. Just after the operation, rabbits were divided into two groups. One group (nine rabbits) received intravitreal injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS, 200 ng/10 microl) into both eyes to induce endotoxin-induced uveitis (EIU) and the other group (nine rabbits) received intravitreal injection of phosphate-buffered saline (PBS, 10 microl) into both eyes as the control. Aqueous humour (AH) and IOLs were harvested 1, 3 , and 7 days after the intravitreal injection. The infiltrating cell number in AH was counted and the protein concentration of AH was measured. IOLs were evaluated morphologically. RESULTS: At 1 day after intravitreal injection, both the infiltrating cell number in AH and protein concentration of AH were significantly higher in the LPS-injected group than in the PBS-injected group. Similarly, more inflammatory cells attached to the surfaces of the IOLs in the LPS-injected group. However, 7 days later, inflammatory reactions subsided and no clear differences in any of the parameters examined were observed between the two groups. CONCLUSIONS: At 7 days after the operation, inflammatory reactions in eyes implanted with the hydrophobic acrylic IOLs were similar in uveitic eyes and nonuveitic eyes. The data suggest that the hydrophobic acrylic IOLs may be suitable for patients with uveitis.

[The clinical application and modification of the Quad Helix appliance].

OBJECTIVE: The aims of this study are to investigate the working mechanism, the characteristics, the clinical application and the suggested modification of the Quad Helix appliance. METHODS: A 7-year-old, female patient with Pierre-Rokin syndrome, who was preformed with palatorrhaphy at 21-month-old treated by using a Quad Helix appliance for one year. RESULTS: After one-year treatment, the wide between the maxillary first molars increased 9.65 mm, and the wide between maxillary canines increased 5.20 mm. The wide between the mandibular first molars also increased 3.60 mm, however the wide between mandibular canines decreased 5.20 mm. CONCLUSION: The Quad-helix appears to be a successful Orthodontic appliance to expand the narrow maxillary or mandibular arches.

Basal cell tumor in a Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata).

A rare case of basal cell tumor of the skin in a wild-caught female Japanese macaque (Macaca fuscata) was studied. Tumor growth, which was composed of cells resembling basal cells, was observed in the dermis and subcutis and showed a mixture of ribbon, solid, glandular, and cystic patterns. The tumor was separated from surrounding normal tissue by a compressed zone of fibrous connective tissue. The nuclei were round and hyperchromatic and possessed a single centrally located nucleolus. Mitotic figures were common. Immunohistochemically, a positive reaction for epithelial membrane antigen, keratin, and cytokeratin AE3 was evident. Electron microscopic examination revealed a small number of tonofilaments in the cytoplasm.