Forward and inverse problems for creep models in viscoelasticity.

This study examines a class of time-dependent constitutive equations used to describe viscoelastic materials under creep in solid mechanics. In nonlinear elasticity, the strain response to the applied stress is expressed via an implicit graph allowing multi-valued functions. For coercive and maximal monotone graphs, the existence of a solution to the quasi-static viscoelastic problem is proven by applying the Browder-Minty fixed point theorem. Moreover, for quasi-linear viscoelastic problems, the solution is constructed as a semi-analytic formula. The inverse viscoelastic problem is represented by identification of a design variable from non-smooth measurements. A non-empty set of optimal variables is obtained based on the compactness argument by applying Tikhonov regularization in the space of bounded measures and deformations. Furthermore, an illustrative example is given for the inverse problem of isotropic kernel identification. This article is part of the theme issue 'Non-smooth variational problems with applications in mechanics'.

Identification of a Lactobacillus plantarum strain that ameliorates chronic inflammation and metabolic disorders in obese and type 2 diabetic mice.

In this study, we identified a strain of lactic acid bacteria (LAB) that induces high levels of IL-10 production by immune cells, and evaluated the ability of the strain to suppress chronic inflammation and ameliorate metabolic disorders in in vitro and in vivo models. Among a collection of LAB strains, Lactobacillus plantarum strain OLL2712 (OLL2712) induced the highest levels of IL-10 production in mouse-derived dendritic cells and peritoneal macrophages. The anti-inflammatory effects of this strain were evaluated using a co-culture system comprising RAW 264.7 and 3T3-L1 cells. We also administered heat-killed OLL2712 to obese and type 2 diabetic KKAy mice for 3 wk to evaluate the in vivo effects of the strain. The OLL2712 significantly decreased the production of proinflammatory cytokines in vitro. Likewise, the administration of OLL2712 significantly suppressed proinflammatory cytokine levels in both the visceral adipose tissue and the serum of KKAy mice, and reduced serum triglyceride concentrations. The strain also alleviated oxidative stress and adrenaline levels in the serum of KKAy mice. On the other hand, Lactobacillus gasseri strain MEP222804 (a moderate IL-10 inducer) did not ameliorate the systemic inflammation and hyperlipidemia in KKAy mice. Our results suggest that treatment with strong IL-10-inducing LAB has the potential to ameliorate metabolic disorders by suppressing chronic inflammation in the host animal.

Percutaneous shunt vessel embolisation with Amplatzer vascular plugs II and IV in the treatment of dogs with splenophrenic shunts: four cases (2019-2022).

OBJECTIVES: To describe the treatment of four dogs with splenophrenic shunts using percutaneous shunting vessel embolisation with Amplatzer vascular plugs II and IV and provide information on their clinical outcomes. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Dogs with splenophrenic shunts treated at a veterinary hospital from January 2019 to December 2022 were identified through a medical record search. RESULTS: Six dogs with splenophrenic shunts were identified. Two dogs were excluded because they were treated with laparoscopic surgery. Four underwent percutaneous shunting vessel embolization with Amplatzer vascular plugs and were included in the case series. A sheath was placed in the left external jugular vein and a balloon catheter was advanced to the shunting vessel under fluoroscopy. Portal vein pressure was confirmed to be within an acceptable range during temporary balloon occlusion. Based on preoperative CT angiography and intraoperative contrast examination, Amplatzer vascular plugs II were selected for two dogs and IV were selected for two dogs. Under fluoroscopy, the plug was deployed into the shunting vessel, and angiography confirmed occlusion. In all cases, the increase in portal pressure after temporary occlusion was within the acceptable range, and complete occlusion of blood flow was possible with a single plug. There were no major procedure-related complications. No dogs developed post-ligation seizures or signs of portal hypertension. In addition, improvements in ammonia values were observed in all cases. CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE: Percutaneous splenophrenic shunt embolisation using Amplatzer vascular plugs II and IV is technically feasible in dogs, and assessed by intra-procedure angiography, a single plug completely obstructed blood flow in all dogs. Based on the literature search, this is the first report describing Amplatzer vascular plugs for the treatment of splenophrenic shunts.

[Surgical experience of idiopathic peripheral pulmonary arterial aneurysm; report of a case].

Peripheral pulmonary arterial aneurysm has rarely been reported, and although most cases show symptoms of hemoptysis. We experienced a case of idiopathic peripheral pulmonary arterial aneurysm in the asymptomatic period noted on medical examination. The patient was a 49-year-old man with coin lesion which was 15 mm in diameter in the right lower lung field on chest X-ray film at the 1st visit. It was strongly stained on enhanced computed tomography in the right S4 and continuity with the pulmonary arteries was suggested. The right middle lobectomy was performed under the diagnosis of peripheral pulmonary arterial aneurysm. Histological examination of the resected specimen revealed that the prominent thinning in the arterial wall, however, there was no evidence of specific chronic inflammation. The postoperative course was good. The patient has been well without new pulmonary arterial aneurysm for 2 years after the surgery.

The three-dimensional structure of septum site-determining protein MinD from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 in complex with Mg-ADP.

BACKGROUND: In Escherichia coli, the cell division site is determined by the cooperative activity of min operon products MinC, MinD, and MinE. MinC is a nonspecific inhibitor of the septum protein FtsZ, and MinE is the supressor of MinC. MinD plays a multifunctional role. It is a membrane-associated ATPase and is a septum site-determining factor through the activation and regulation of MinC and MinE. MinD is also known to undergo a rapid pole-to-pole oscillation movement in vivo as observed by fluorescent microscopy. RESULTS: The three-dimensional structure of the MinD-2 from Pyrococcus horikoshii OT3 (PH0612) has been determined at 2.3 A resolution by X-ray crystallography using the Se-Met MAD method. The molecule consists of a beta sheet with 7 parallel and 1 antiparallel strands and 11 peripheral alpha helices. It contains the classical mononucleotide binding loop with bound ADP and magnesium ion, which is consistent with the suggested ATPase activity. CONCLUSIONS: Structure analysis shows that MinD is most similar to nitrogenase iron protein, which is a member of the P loop-containing nucleotide triphosphate hydrolase superfamily of proteins. Unlike nitrogenase or other member proteins that normally work as a dimer, MinD was present as a monomer in the crystal. Both the 31P NMR and Malachite Green method exhibited relatively low levels of ATPase activity. These facts suggest that MinD may work as a molecular switch in the multiprotein complex in bacterial cell division.

Elemental diet modulates the growth of Clostridium difficile in the gut flora.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: Tube feeding is regarded as a risk factor for Clostridium difficile-associated diarrhoea. Recently, we reported that C. difficile toxin was frequently found in patients receiving an elemental diet. The present study was conducted to clarify whether elemental diets are associated with the growth of C. difficile in the gut flora. METHODS: C. difficile was cultured for 72 h in various concentrations of elemental diet containing 3% thioglycollate, and the growth rate or activity of C. difficile was evaluated by Gram stain or by measuring optical density at 560 nm. Faecal samples from 10 healthy adults were cultured in elemental diet + 3% thioglycollate. RNA was extracted from faeces with glass powder, which can eliminate PCR inhibitors, and mRNA of C. difficile toxin B was measured by reverse transcription PCR. RESULTS: Maximum OD560 value during culture in thioglycollate-containing elemental diet was 2.4 times higher than that in thioglycollate alone (P = 0.0163). Viability of C. difficile was decreased in thioglycollate but not in thioglycollate-containing elemental diet. Toxin B mRNA was detected in five faecal samples (50%) before culture and in all samples after culture. CONCLUSIONS: Our results suggest that an elemental diet can modulate the growth of C. difficile in the gut flora.

The OmpR-family of proteins: insight into the tertiary structure and functions of two-component regulator proteins.

The Escherichia coli DNA-binding protein OmpR is the best characterized of those regulator proteins making up "two-component system," the simplest known form of bacterial signal transduction systems. Previous inspections of the E. coli genome DNA sequences have revealed that there are 15 proteins whose amino acid sequences show extensive similarities to that of OmpR (the OmpR-family of proteins). The three-dimensional structures of several OmpR-family proteins have been determined. In this review, we investigated the structures and amino acid sequences of this family of proteins. The results reveal several notable conservative varieties in their tertiary structures and functions.

Analysis of PCR microchimerism induced by intrathymic inoculation of donor alloantigens in rats.

Intrathymic injection of donor alloantigens (splenocytes) was performed in rat heart transplantation to induced tolerance. In our experimental protocol, male (BN rats, RT1n) heart allografts were transplanted to female (LEW rats, RT1(1)) recipients in order to detect the existence of Y-chromosomes in recipients' tissues using the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) after the establishment of microchimerism. The mean survival time (MST) of male heart allografts was prolonged by the thymic injection protocol. PCR analysis of the Y-chromosomes of these recipients showed that splenocytes inoculated into the thymus still remained after as long as 30 days, while none of the cells that originated from the donor were never detected in the peripheral blood. On the other hand, our previous study demonstrated that the donor-specific Y-chromosomes could be detected in all the tissues of the females (peripheral blood, lymph nodes, spleen, and liver) except for thymus, of the sex-mismatched rat liver transplantation without thymic injection. Completely inconsistent results were deduced from two of our experiments, but the present study demonstrated that thymic clonal deletion played a major role in the prolongation of allograft survival after intrathymic injection of donor alloantigens.

Safety and growth suppressive effect of intra-hepatic arterial injection of AdCMV-p53 combined with CDDP to rat liver metastatic tumors.

Surgical resection is thought to be the best treatment for liver carcinoma, including hepatocellular carcinoma and metastatic liver carcinoma if there are a small number of tumors. Liver carcinoma is one of the main causes of death from cancer worldwide. The prognosis of liver carcinoma is still poor. Mutation of p53, which is well known as a tumor suppressor gene, is observed in many cases of advanced liver carcinoma. Cancer gene therapy using p53, which transduces the wild-type p53 gene in the tumor, is a promising new strategy for treating liver carcinoma. Selective and less invasive gene delivery to the liver tumor is necessary for clinical liver tumor gene therapy. The first purpose of the current study was to determine the best way to deliver the gene of interest to the liver tumor selectively. The second purpose was to study the tumor suppressive effect of intrahepatic arterial injection of an adenovirus vector with the p53 gene (AdCMV-p53), followed by administration of CDDP and noting its side effects. We injected AdCMV-LacZ via hepatic arteries of rats bearing RCN-9 colon cancer metastasis in the liver. Injection via the hepatic artery resulted in more successful gene transduction to the liver tumor in a tumor-selective manner than did injection via the portal vein. At 48 hrs after arterial injection of AdCMV-p53, CDDP (3 mg/kg) was administered in the peritoneal cavity of each rat. The use of CDDP with arterial injection of AdCMV-p53 resulted in more extensive apoptosis in the rat liver tumors without any deterioration in liver function. In conclusion, hepatic arterial injection of an adenovirus vector is better than portal vein injection for gene transduction efficiency, and causes no liver function disorder even when the injection is combined with CDDP.

[A case of involuntary movements probably produced by low doses of phenytoin intoxication].

A 49-year-old woman, who presented gait disturbance, orofacial dyskinesia, choreoathetosis and slightly cloudy consciousness, was admitted to our hospital on February 7, 1986. She had a slight fever and sore throat for the previous ten days. She had been treated for hypothyroidism as well as migraine with abnormal electroencephalogram since age 47, and was given a daily dosage of 70 mg phenytoin, 80 mg phenobal, and 125 mg dried thyroid. On admission, she was somnolent, and her speech was slurred. There were choreoathetosis of all extremities, orofacial dyskinesia, horizontal nystagmus, and dysdiadochokinesis with impaired heel-knee and finger-nose test. She could not only walk but also stand by herself. The plasma level of phenytoin was above 40 micrograms/ml (normal: 10 to 20 micrograms/ml). The plasma level of phenobal was normal. T3 was 0.76 ng/dl (normal: 0.96-1.92). T4 was 3.3 micrograms/dl (normal: 5.1-12.8). Biochemical screening, liver and kidney function tests were normal. Cerebrospinal fluid, ECG, chest X-rays and brain CT were normal. Electroencephalogram showed 5 to 6 Hz moderate voltage theta waves with artifacts of electromygram due to orofacial dyskinesia. After phenytoin was discontinued, the dyskinetic movement and gait disturbance disappeared, and her consciousness became alert in parall with reduction of plasma level of phenytoin. We suggested that acute phenytoin intoxication due to low dosages of phenytoin might be precipitated by upper respiratory infection and that involuntary movements in this case might be related to hypothyroidism.

[Multicentric Castleman's disease found by a renal sinus lesion: a case report].

A 79-year-old man complained of anorexia and weight loss. Computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging showed a solitary mass in the left renal sinus. Left nephrectomy was carried out under a clinical diagnosis of renal pelvic tumor. The pathological diagnosis was plasma cell type of Castleman's disease. The patient suffered from lymph node swelling in the right neck at age 75 and the lymph node was resected. The pathological diagnosis was lymphadenitis but it proved to be plasma cell type of Castleman's disease. The patient also had had a lymphadenectomy in the supraclavicular fossa and in the supraorbital area at age 76. Both had been diagnosed as lymphadenitis pathologically but they proved to be plasma cell type of Castleman's disease. The final diagnosis was multicentric Castleman's disease. We reviewed multicentric Castleman's disease.

[A case of primary renal carcinoid tumor].

The patient was a 44-year-old woman in whom a mass of the right kidney was found when she underwent abdominal ultrasonography in a physical checkup. The computed tomography of abdomen and the magnetic resonance imaging of abdomen revealed a 3 x 3 cm solid mass at the right kidney. Excretory urograms showed a deformity of the right collecting system due to a mass lesion. The specimen of the resected tumor showed a cellular arrangement specific to carcinoid tumor and positive reaction of Grimelius stain. Electron microscopy confirmed the presence of dense-core granules in the tumor cells. Gastrointestinal investigation after the operation revealed no particular findings suggesting a carcinoid syndrome. No evidence of metastasis or recurrence was noted for 5 months after the operation. This was a very rare case of primary renal carcinoid tumor, representing the 12th case in the literature in Japan.

[Cerebral infarction due to bacterial emboli associated with methamphetamine abuse].

The number of stimulant-drug addicts has recently been on the rise again, and they are being increasingly encountered in the emergency room. There are also frequent reports of cerebrovascular disorders complicating drug toxicity. These cerebrovascular disorders have included subarachnoid hemorrhage, intracranial hematoma, and a few cases of cerebral infarction. Here, we report the case of a 37-year-old male with drug toxicity, consciousness disorder, and hyperthermia. He was in a coma with a temperature of 43.1 degrees C and blood pressure of 58/35 mmHg when brought to our hospital. His condition worse rapidly deteriorated, and he died the same day. Cerebral infarction caused by gram-positive bacillus embolism, not necrotizing angiitis, was found at autopsy. Because drug addicts, especially stimulant-drug addicts, tend to inject themselves drug under unsanitary conditions, the possibility of this type of complication is always present. This is the first such case ever reported, and is therefore regarded as a rare complication of stimulant-drug intoxication.

[Anesthetic management of total en bloc spondylectomy].

We analyzed the anesthetic management of 20 patients with total en bloc spondylectomy (TES) for solitary spinal metastases. Anesthesia was maintained with isoflurane, nitrous oxide in oxygen, and fentanyl in all patients. The duration of anesthesia was 733 minutes, and the amount of bleeding was 5371 ml on the average. During operation, hypovolemic shock occurred in 5 cases and huge hemothorax in 4 cases. Postoperative, huge hemothorax occurred in 6 cases and severe pneumonia in 3 cases. Maintenance of hemodynamic and respiratory function is important in perioperative management of TES.

[HRCT findings for four cases of measles pneumonia].

Although, in Western countries, adult-onset pneumonia that is associated with measles is not rare, reports of its incidence in Japan have been sparse. Among eight adolescent and adult (16-34-year-old) measles patients hospitalized in National Sanatorium Tsuruga Hospital, we found four in whom chest radiography and CT revealed pneumonia. The high-resolution lung CTs of these patients revealed features differing from those characteristic of bacterial pneumonia: bronchial wall thickness, centrilobular nodules in ground glass opacity, interstitial lesions (interlobular septal thickening, fissure thickening, pleural effusion) and lymphadenopathy. Of these findings, the centrilobular nodules in ground glass opacity were marked in these cases, and so this may be the most prominent finding in measles pneumonia; and furthermore, since interlobular septal thickening has not been reported in mycoplasma pneumonia or other atypical pneumonias, it may indicate a measles-specific, virus-induced pneumonia.

[Anemia in patients on continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD)].

Inhibitors of erythropoiesis found in the blood of uremic patients have been implicated as some of the causes of anemia in chronic renal failure. As a treatment to remove the inhibitors, continuous ambulatory peritoneal dialysis (CAPD) is thought to be more effective than hemodialysis. Some researchers have reported that CAPD has improved anemic state in hemodialysis patients. However, there have been some cases of severe anemia seen in CAPD patients. To access the effect of the CAPD, we have performed serial examination on hemoglobin (Hb) and hematocrit (Ht) in 5 uremic patients under CAPD treatment. Hb levels in 4 and Ht in 3 of 5 patients have been known to be increased. One patient was shown to have no increment on the levels of Hb and Ht. On the other hand, further investigation has been down to access the effect of the recombinant human erythropoietin (r-HuEPO: Chugai pharmaceutical) on anemic patients, in whom no effect was noticed by treatment of CAPD. One severe anemic patient, who had been undergoing the treatment of CAPD for two years, was given r-HuEPO intravenously. The patient showed the increment on the levels of Hb and Ht, and the decreases on the levels of serum iron and ferritin. However, the patient has developed hypertension. In conclusion, CAPD was known to be not always effective for the increment of Hb and Ht, while r-HuEPO was very effective for the improvement of severe anemia in CAPD patients which enabls them to lead better social life for them.

[Usefulness of low tube operating potential (TOP) for improved detection of minimally contrast-enhanced nodules CT].

PURPOSE: We recently observed that hepatic nodules which were only minimally enhanced on dynamic CT were much better visualized using a low TOP in spite of some increase of the background noise. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the potential superiority of low TOP in detecting minimally contrast-enhanced hepatic nodules on CT. METHODS AND MATERIALS: A phantom was made of anger and contrast medium. Four anger columns were made four different concentrations of contrast media (0.8%, 1.0% 1.5% 1.8%). The phantom was scanned using different TOP (80, 100, 120, 140 kVp). Detectability of the columns were also evaluated contrast to noise ratio (CNR) and visually by radiologists in a doubleblind fashion. Weighted computed tomography dose index (CTDIw) was compared with different TOP. In the clinical study, seven patients were studied. The diagnostic usefulness of a TOP of 80 kVp was compared with that of 120 kVp in same patient by Dynamic CT which has better detectability of minimally contrast enhancing nodules. RESULT: With using lower TOP, CNR was increased. On visual evaluation by radiologists, images taken at 80 kVp achieved the highest detectability of the columns. CTDIw associated with the 80, 100, 120, 140 kVp at one scan were 5.78 mGy, 6.64 mGy, 8.13 mGy, 11.02 mGy, respectively. In the clinical study a lesion could be detected clearly with a low TOP of 80 kVp though the existence of the lesion could not be detected at 120 kVp. The existence of the HCC was proven with DSA, CTA and CTAP. CONCLUSION: It was demonstrated in the phantom study that if up-to-date equipment is used, CT operated at a TOP of 80 kVp has potentially better detectability of minimally contrast-enhanced nodules than 120 kVp.

[A case of aortitis syndrome with anastomoses from left coronary artery to bronchial artery].

We reported a case of aortitis syndrome with about 10-year course from onset. The patient was a 44-year old female suffering from a cardiac failure. The angiogram revealed presence of aortic regurgitation, The angiogram revealed presence of aortic regurgitation, pulmonary vascular lesions, anastomosis from left coronary artery to bronchial artery and hypervascularity of bronchial artery. We considered the anastomosis from left coronary artery to bronchial artery as a collateral blood flow for the ischemic lesions of the lung. We abandoned aortic valve replacement because of the severe pulmonary vascular lesions and of the pulmonary dysfunction.