Compact permanent magnet H⁺ ECR ion source with pulse gas valve.

Compact H(+) ECR ion source using permanent magnets is under development. Switching the hydrogen gas flow in pulse operations can reduce the gas loads to vacuum evacuation systems. A specially designed piezo gas valve chops the gas flow quickly. A 6 GHz ECR ion source equipped with the piezo gas valve is tested. The gas flow was measured by a fast ion gauge and a few ms response time is obtained.

Iron beam acceleration using direct plasma injection scheme.

A new set of vanes of radio frequency quadrupole (RFQ) accelerator was commissioned using highly charged iron beam. To supply high intensity heavy ion beams to the RFQ, direct plasma injection scheme (DPIS) with a confinement solenoid was adopted. One of the difficulties to utilize the combination of DPIS and a solenoid field is a complexity of electro magnetic field at the beam extraction region, since biasing high static electric field for ion extraction, RFQ focusing field, and the solenoid magnetic field fill the same space simultaneously. To mitigate the complexity, a newly designed magnetic field clamps were used. The intense iron beam was observed with bunched structure and the total accelerated current reached 2.5 nC.

Interaction of plasmas in laser ion source with double laser system.

Multiple laser shots could be used to elongate an ion beam pulse width or to intensify beam current from laser ion sources. In order to confirm the feasibility of the multiple shot scheme, we investigated the properties of plasmas produced by double laser shots. We found that when the interval of the laser shots is shorter than 10 µs, the ion current profile had a prominent peak, which is not observed in single laser experiments. The height of this peak was up to five times larger than that of single laser experiment.

Comparison of graphite materials for targets of laser ion source.

To investigate efficient graphite material for carbon ion production in laser ion source, the plasma properties produced from these materials are measured. Comparing acquired current profile and charge state distribution, the distributions of ions in laser induced plasma from isotropic graphite and single crystal of graphite are different. The produced quantity of C(6+) from isotropic materials is larger than that from single crystal.

Posterior bite raising effects on a primary anterior crossbite case.

Stainless steel crowns were cemented on the mandibular primary molars to make bite raising for an anterior reversed bite case. Chewing force and MKG were recorded before and after bite raising. Data from MKG revealed that co-ordination pattern of muscle activities after bite raising became higher in masseter muscles than those before anterior reversed bite was corrected easily without any incisal interferences by using this treatment method.

[High-speed/high resolution teleradiology system based on university microwave network].

A high-speed, high-resolution teleradiology system with full duplexing based on the Shinshu University Video and Communication Network System (SUNS) using Giga-Herz microwaves is described. The LAN at Nagano Red-Cross Hospital and The Radiology Department of Shinshu University Hospital are interfaced to a personal computer with a laser film digitizer, interactive display, and network interface. The throughput per digitized high-resolution radiographic image was 65 sec, and the mean transmission rate was 805 kilobit per sec. Teleradiology conferencing is also possible with this system. Radiologists at both hospitals interactively observe the same high-resolution images on the CRT screen using mouse cursor synchronization.

[Micro-wave local area network for radiological image transmission].

Shinshu University consists of five campuses in different locations, a situation that presents some problems in communication. To solve this problem, the Shinshu University Video and Data Network System (SUNS), which includes a high-speed audio-visual transfer function, has been developed and utilized for pre- and postgraduate education, administrative teleconferences, and local telephone (PBX) and Fax services. In 1988, a cooperative group for the study of radiographic image processing was organized, consisting of staff members of Shinshu University Hospital in Matsumoto, the Faculty of Engineering in Nagano (75 km from Matsumoto) and the Faculty of Textile Science and Technology in Ueda (45 km from Matsumoto). The system has been developed with a pair of personal computer (PC)-based interactive image workstations and high-speed digital telecommunication interfaces to the SUNS. A transmission time of 878 kbps has been attained, including the time needed for read/write onto the PC hard disk. Image data thus transferred from the hospital have been utilized for the study of image processing by researchers in the Faculty of Engineering, and the processed images have been sent back to the hospital for evaluation of clinical efficacy of the processing by diagnostic radiologists. This kind of microwave network is a promising alternative for high-speed data transmission for radiological images and their processing.

Two cases of Graves' disease with presentation of unilateral diffuse uptake of radioisotopes.

We present two cases of Graves' disease whose initial thyroidal scintiscan with 99mTcO4- (Case 1) and 123I (Case 2) showed unilateral diffuse uptake of radioisotopes. Initial diagnosis was possibility of malignancy in Case 1 and Graves' disease or Plummer's disease in Case 2. Both cases underwent right hemithyroidectomy. Histopathology of the resected thyroid gland in both showed hyperplastic columnar epithelium and infiltrative lymphocytes which was compatible with Graves' disease. Twenty seven (Case 1) and eight months (Case 2) after operation, both presented with thyrotoxic symptoms associated with enlarged left lobe, increased serum free thyroid hormone concentrations, suppressed TSH concentration, increased thyroidal 123I uptake in the remaining left lobe, and positive thyrotropin receptor antibodies. Both cases were successfully treated with methimazole. It was concluded that initial radioisotope uptake as well as scintigram in rare subgroup of patients with Graves' disease could be similar with that of non-autoimmune autonomous goiter (Plummer's disease).

Ulcerative colitis in female siblings with an identical human leukocyte antigen haplotype (A24, Bw52, DR52 and DQw1).

Two female siblings with ulcerative colitis are reported. Both the 30-year-old elder sister and the 28-year-old younger sister developed bloody stools and diarrhea; ulcerative colitis was diagnosed by endoscopic and histologic examination of the colon. Their maternal aunt also suffered from the disease. Human leukocyte antigen analysis revealed an identical haplotype for the sisters (A24, Bw52, DR2 and DQw1), while the aunt had A24, Bw52 and DR2. The haplotypes of Japanese patients with familial ulcerative colitis are reviewed, and the role of human leukocyte antigens in this disease is discussed.

A case of papillary carcinoma of the thyroid associated with parathyroid adenoma without hyperparathyroidism.

A rare occurrence of the association of parathyroid adenoma in a case of thyroid papillary carcinoma is described. The patient was incidentally found to have parathyroid adenoma which was preoperatively diagnosed to be a metastatic lymph node. Analysis of her serum obtained before operation showed an elevation of serum parathyroid hormone (PTH) concentration without hypercalcemia. Since the association of hyperparathyroidism is high in patients with thyroid diseases, examination of not only serum levels of calcium and PTH but also careful interpretation of computed tomography (CT) and/or nuclear magnetic imaging (MRI) is necessary in the diagnosis of co-existing asymptomatic hyperparathyroidism.

Measurement of plasma free steroids by direct radioimmunoassay of ultrafiltrate in association with the monitoring of free components with [14C]glucose.

We describe a modified method of centrifugal ultrafiltration using the Grace MPS-3 device for the measurement of plasma free (unbound) steroids (cortisol, testosterone, estradiol, and prednisolone). Plasma was incubated with [14C]glucose to monitor the movement of free components, applied to the MPS-3 and centrifuged. Steroid concentration of ultrafiltrate was directly measured by radioimmunoassay, and multiplied by the ratio of [14C]glucose count (dpm) in plasma to [14C]glucose count (dpm) in ultrafiltrate. The data by this method correlated well with those obtained by equilibrium dialysis. Our results of free steroid in healthy volunteers and patients with various diseases were comparable with the previously reported values. This procedure showed the advantages of small sample volume, rapid separation and the ability to process a large number of samples in a single run.

A case of progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) with silent thyroiditis and anti-bovine thyrotropin antibodies.

We have examined a patient with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS) who had increased serum T3 (235 ng/dl) and T4 (13.2 micrograms/dl) and low 24-h thyroidal 123I-uptake (1.2%). A diagnosis of silent thyroiditis was made on the basis of the clinical course and laboratory and histopathologic findings. Simultaneous measurement of serum anti-thyrotropin receptor antibody (TRAb) showed a negative value (-49.0%) which suggested the presence of anti-TSH antibody. Further examination by immune precipitation with 125I-bovine TSH (bTSH) and also with 125I-human TSH (hTSH) revealed the presence of anti-bTSH antibody but not anti-hTSH antibody in his serum gamma-globulin. The significance of the association of PSS, silent thyroiditis, and anti-bTSH in one individual is discussed.

The pharmacokinetics of plasma total and free prednisolone during an alternate-day regimen.

To determine the pharmacokinetic changes of prednisolone associated with an alternate-day regimen, 12 patients with various diseases were studied longitudinally. There were 9 patients (6 with systemic lupus erythematosus, 2 with sarcoidosis and one with polymyositis), who were treated with prednisolone (daily period) and subsequently put on an alternate-day regimen (alternate-day period). In 2 of the other patients (one with systemic lupus erythematosus and one with multiple sclerosis), the alternate-day regimen was preceded by the daily regimen, and subsequently an intermittent regimen consisting of 4 consecutive days on therapy and 3 days off therapy was followed. In the remaining patient with systemic lupus erythematosus, the treatment with the alternate-day regimen was initiated and followed throughout the treatment period. The mean duration and the mean total administered dose during the study were 1.1 months and 1.9 g in the daily period, and 7.8 months and 7.7 g in the alternate-day period. The test was done and blood was drawn for 6 hours after an intravenous administration of 20 mg prednisolone (0.36 mg/kg on the average) at the end of the respective regimen periods. In the daily period and the on-day of the alternate-day regimen, the pharmacokinetic study of iv prednisolone injection was done before the ingestion of oral prednisolone. The off-day test was done the next morning of the on-day. Plasma total and free prednisolone concentrations were measured by RIA. On-day and off-day tests in the alternate-day period were performed during the same week. The mean half life of both total and free prednisolone was prolonged significantly in the daily period and during the on-day and off-day of the alternate-day regimen compared with the pretreatment values. The mean metabolic clearance rates (MCR) of both total and free prednisolone decreased significantly in the daily period and during the on-day and off-day of the alternate-day period in comparison with the pretreatment values. No significant difference was found between either mean half life or MCR during the on-day and off-day of the alternate-day period. These findings were in contrast with our previously observed prednisolone pharmacokinetics during the intermittent regimen (4 days on therapy and 3 days off therapy within one week), in which pharmacokinetic parameters during the on-day (after 3 days of prednisolone ingestion) and off-day (after 3 off-days of prednisolone ingestion) periodically changed and were similar to those in the pre-treatment period and during the daily therapy period, respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

[Long term results of skeletal profile changes occurring from chin cap therapy of Japanese female skeletal Class III cases].

UNLABELLED: This cephalometric study was made to investigate the effects of chin cap therapy. The subjects were 21 Japanese females of skeletal class III who were treated without tooth extraction. The periods before treatment, during improvement of anterior teeth and after treatment were compared to see where and how effective the therapy had been. RESULTS: 1. Characteristics before the treatment period: These cases had backward position of the maxilla and forward position of the mandible with over growth. In the denture pattern there was a remarkable labioaxiversion of U-1. 2. Characteristics after the treatment period: There was improvement in the backward position of the maxilla. In the forward mandible, once these cases improved their position by improving the overjet, there was a regression followed by gradual forward growth as treatment continued. The denture pattern showed labioaxiversion of U-1 as before. 3. Before the treatment period, these cases showed large Go-Po and Ar-Go in the dimensional linear analysis. After treatment, these analysis showed normal sizes.

Changes in the pharmacokinetics of plasma total and free prednisolone during daily and intermittent regimens.

To determine the pharmacokinetic changes of prednisolone associated with differing therapy regimens, we studied 15 patients with various diseases who were treated with daily doses of prednisolone and were then placed on an intermittent regimen, [administration for 4 consecutive days (on-day period), followed by 3 days cessation (off-day period)]. The mean duration of the study and the mean total dosage were 1.6 months and 2.4 g in the daily period, respectively, and 4.7 months and 3.5 g in the intermittent period, respectively. Blood was drawn for 6 h after iv administration of 20 mg prednisolone (average, 0.36 mg/kg). Plasma total and free prednisolone concentrations were measured by RIA. On-day and off-day tests were performed during the same week. The mean MCR of both total and free prednisolone decreased significantly in the daily and on-day periods compared with the pretreatment values. The decreased MCR during the on-day period was restored to the pretreatment level during the off-day period. A similar trend was observed in the changes in half-life, prolongation in the daily and on-day periods compared with the pretreatment value, and restoration to the pretreatment level during the off-day period. These alterations were not associated with the total duration or the total dosage of prednisolone administered. The results indicate that the pharmacokinetic parameters of prednisolone may periodically change during the intermittent regimen, and that off-day and on-day parameters are similar to those before therapy and during the daily period, respectively.

[A case of cleft lip and palate patient with basilar impression].

Basilar impression is one of bony deformities occurred in the region of the foramen magnum, in which deformity, rim of the foramen magnum or a part of the vertebra impresses into the posterior cranial fossa. Major symptoms of this deformity are short neck, low hair line, torticollis, webbing of neck, pain and limitation of neck movement and various nerve symptoms, when nervous tissue is impressed by rim of the foramen magnum or dens of the second vertebra. This deformity has a characteristic to be found later as a congenital deformity, because nerve symptoms usually do not occur in earlier than 10 years old. The patient was 7 years and 8 months old at his initial visit, whose chief complaint was rotation of upper central incisors which created chewing disorder. When he became 12 years old, because he was taken palsy, walking disturbance, and neck pain in movement, neurosurgery was planned immediately. Edgewise appliance was, then, removed, and orthodontic treatment had to be discontinued until he left hospital. A case was reported of the problems in orthodontic treatment and characteristic of this deformity through our experience for this cleft lip and palate patient with basilar impression in addition to other reports about this deformity.

[Measurement of plasma free cortisol, estradiol, testosterone and prednisolone by direct radioimmunoassay of ultrafiltrate and its clinical application].

The authors aimed at developing a simplified method for the measurement of plasma free (unbound) steroids with ultrafiltration using Grace MPS device, and its clinical application. In this method, the movement of free steroids from plasma into ultrafiltrate was monitored with [14C]glucose added to the plasma. Plasma free steroids (cortisol, testosterone, estradiol and prednisolone) were measured as follows: Plasma was incubated with [14C]glucose (1.2 X 10(4) dpm/5 microliters) for 30 min at 37 degrees C. A 0.5 ml of aliquot was transferred to MPS device containing a single YMT membrane, and centrifuged at 1100 x g, at 37 degrees C, for 30 min in a 45 degree fixed angle head with the special temperature controller. After centrifugation, [14C] in 30 microliters of plasma and ultrafiltrate were counted. For the calculation of plasma free level, steroid concentration of ultrafiltrate measured directly by radioimmunoassay (RIA) was multiplied by the ratio of [14C]glucose (dpm) in plasma to [14C]glucose (dpm) in ultrafiltrate. For RIA of cortisol, testosterone and estradiol, commercially available kits were used, and for prednisolone, anti-prednisolone antibody developed in our laboratory was utilized. Since plasma free cortisol level showed a parallel increase with rise in temperature, strict temperature control during ultracentrifugation was required. On the other hand, the duration of centrifugation and the sample volume applied to MPS did not show any significant effect on the estimated values. Intraassay and interassay variations were 4.4% and 6.1% in free cortisol, 6.3% and 8.7% in free testosterone, 8.5% and 9.2% in free estradiol, and 8.8% and 9.9% in free prednisolone, respectively. The correlations between the plasma free steroid levels obtained by ultrafiltration (y) and equilibrium dialysis (x) were as follows, respectively: free cortisol; y = 1.16x + 0.017 (r = 0.95, n = 10), free testosterone; y = 1.17x-0.027 (r = 0.92, n = 10), free estradiol; y = 1.33x + 8.55 (r = 0.98, n = 12), free prednisolone; y = 1.03x + 1.00 (r = 0.98, n = 7). The mean plasma free cortisol levels and percent free fractions (%FF) were 1.16 +/- 0.40 (+/- SD) micrograms/dl and 10.9 +/- 3.0% in 10 control patients, 4.4 +/- 1.6 micrograms/dl and 15.6 +/- 3.3% in 8 patients with Cushing's syndrome, and 1.45 +/- 0.48 micrograms/dl and 5.9 +/- 2.4% in 11 normal pregnant women (10-40 weeks of pregnancy), respectively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)

A case of Graves' disease associated with polymyositis.

A patient with Graves' disease associated with severe muscle weakness who was finally diagnosed as polymyositis by pathological examination of the muscle is reported. A 28-year-old women was incidentally found to have hyperthyroidism when she consulted a hospital for the evaluation and treatment of anemia in 1979. She was treated with methimazole for approximately a month when she stopped the medication by herself. Approximately two yr later (Nov. 4, 1981) she consulted another hospital with complaints of palpitation and muscle weakness. Diagnosis of hyperthyroidism due to Graves' disease and thyrotoxic myopathy were made, followed by the treatment with radioiodine (4 mCi of 131I). She was further treated with propylthiouracil (PTU). Four yr after the treatment, serum thyroid hormone concentration declined to the lower level than normal and serum TSH concentration increased. She was subsequently treated with synthetic I-T4. Despite the fact she became euthyroid with the treatment, muscle weakness as well as elevated concentrations of muscle enzymes were not improved. Muscle biopsy was made in July 1983, and she was diagnosed as immune polymyositis and treatment with prednisolone and cyclophosphamide in addition to PTU or I-T4, was started. With the treatment, serum LDH decreased to the normal range. However she still has muscle weakness and serum concentrations of CPK and aldolase are still in higher levels than normal range.

[Pharmacokinetics of prednisolone (PSL) during PSL treatment. II. PSL pharmacokinetics during intermittent treatment with PSL administration 4 consecutive days a week].

Pharmacokinetics of prednisolone (PSL) was investigated in 10 patients treated with long-term intermittent regimen of PSL administration, 4 consecutive days administration a week. In 8 patients (group I; 3 of nephrotic syndrome, 2 of SLE, and each of Crohn's disease, aortitis syndrome, and hemolytic anemia), PSL was initially administered daily until the therapeutic effects were achieved (daily period), and this was followed by consecutive 4 days administration (on-day) and consecutive 3 days discontinuation (off-day) of PSL every week (intermittent period), keeping the weekly dose of PSL in the preceding daily regimen. In 2 patients (group II) with multiple myeloma and idiopathic thromocytopenic purpura, respectively, PSL was started with the intermittent regimen of PSL without preceding daily period. In group I, pharmacokinetic studies by respective oral and i.v. administrations of 40mg PSL and of 25.6mg PSL hemisuccinate (equivalent to 20mg of PSL) were performed before treatment, in daily period and both on on-day and off-day within the same week during intermittent period. In one patient of group II, study only by intravenous PSL administration was performed before treatment and in intermittent period. In another patient of group II, studies by oral and intravenous PSL administration were performed only in an intermittent period. PSL was measured by radioimmunoassay. Paired t-test was used for the comparison. In each case of group I, there was no difference in Cmax, Tmax, or AUCp.o. after oral administration of PSL among 4 periods tested, before treatment, daily period, on-day and off-day during intermittent period. On the intravenous PSL administration, increase in AUCi.v., prolongation of half-life, and decreases in MCR and bioavailability on on-day of intermittent period were observed in comparison with those before treatment, respectively. Only bioavailability among these parameters on on-day was increased compared with that in daily period. On the other hand, on off-day of intermittent period, decrease in AUCi.v. and increase in MCR were observed compared with those on on-day within the same week. When each parameter on off-day was compared with that of daily period, decrease in AUCi.v. and increases in MCR and bioavailability on off-day were observed. Vd did not differ each other among these 4 periods. Remarkable finding was the fact that MCR fluctuated regularly in 4 periods of this therapy regimen, i.e., significant decrease in daily period compared with before treatment, no significant difference between on-day and daily period, and the increase on off-day compared with that on on-day or in daily period.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 400 WORDS)