Height measurement of solder bumps using two-wavelength parallel four-step phase shifting digital holography.

Digital holography (DH) with two wavelengths (TW) that are close to each other was applied to height measurement of solder bumps having spherical specular surfaces with diameters of ∼20µm and heights of ∼20µm. We employed the parallel phase shifting method for instantaneous image capturing, and we improved the spatial resolution of our TW-DH system having two beams with different wavelengths that traveled in opposite directions in the interferometer. It gave 74-times higher repetition and 2.4-times higher spatial resolution than those in our previous DH system based on the Fourier transform method.

Photoluminescence in hexagonal silicon carbide by direct femtosecond laser writing.

Direct femtosecond laser writing has been used to produce localized regions of photo-luminescent emission in 4H- and 6H-silicon carbide (SiC). Arrays of active color centers were fabricated by different pulse laser energies in the sites of square grids at various depths (from surface level to 10 µm below surface). We optically characterized the fabricated color centers using confocal imaging with 532 and 780 nm excitation, photo-luminescence spectroscopy, and lifetime decay at room temperature. We show that the technique can produce specifically the silicon vacancy color center emitting in the range 850-950 nm and other emitters in the 700 nm. This method can be adopted to engineer color centers in (SiC) at different depths in the material for single-photon generation, sensing, display fabrication, and light emitting diodes.

Manually operated low-coherence interferometer for optical information hiding.

A low-coherence interferometer for optical information hiding that ensures security of an optical image by hiding the image behind a light-scattering medium is demonstrated. The interferometer has a distinctive feature in that modulation of the optical-path difference between the object and reference arms is performed with a manual operation. The main advantage of the operation method is the absence of expensive optomechanical parts in the interferometer.

Effect of ravuconazole, a new triazole antifungal, in a rat intraabdominal abscess model.

BACKGROUND: Ravuconazole (BMS-207147) is a long-lasting triazole antifungal agent active against a broad spectrum of fungal pathogens including non-albicans Candida, Aspergillus, Cryptococcus and key dermatophytic fungi. METHODS: The efficacy of ravuconazole was evaluated using an experimental intraabdominal abscess model in rats caused by Candida albicans (E81022). Two hundred milligrams of cyclophosphamide per kilogram was injected intraperitoneally into 40 rats. Four days (96 h) after the injection of cyclophosphamide, a mixture of C. albicans and autoclaved rat cecal contents [C. albicans 1.7 x 10(8) colony-forming units/rat] was inoculated into the peritoneal cavity. The rats were divided into four groups: ravuconazole treated, fluconazole treated, itraconazole treated and untreated. Each antifungal was given orally at a dose of 10 mg/kg twice a day for 5 days. On the day after the last administration, the rats were dissected and the viable fungi in the abscesses were determined. The number of C. albicans in each abscess was determined by a quantitative culture technique. RESULTS: Ravuconazole inhibited abscess formation and significantly decreased the viable cell counts in abscesses in comparison with the untreated group. It's efficacy was at least equivalent to fluconazole and itraconazole against this pathogen. The rank order of potency (inhibition) was ravuconazole > itraconazole > fluconazole. CONCLUSION: Taking into consideration the antifungal spectrum of ravuconazole, which includes non-albicans Candida as well as C. albicans and Aspergillus, it is suggested that ravuconazole would be a good agent for the treatment of fungal peritonitis.

Preventive procedures against GBS infection by means of antibody measurement.

OBJECTIVE: Screening group B Streptococcus (GBS) in the vagina of pregnant women and measuring serum level of its type-specific antibody would be useful for cost-benefit of the prevention against GBS infection. STUDY DESIGN: The subjects included a total of 1,150 pregnant women who consented to the study. Serotypes of GBS detected were classified with antiserum. Serum type-specific antibody titers were measured by a bacterial agglutination method. RESULTS: Of a total of 1,150 pregnant women, 250 cases (21.7%) had GBS in the vagina. The turn of GBS serotype occurrence was types VI (NT6) (27. 2%), VIII (JM9) (25.2%), III (11.2%), Ia (8.8%), and Ib (8.0%). None or low type-specific antibody titer was 41.0% of Ia, 20.0% of Ib, 22. 0% of II, 15.0% of III, 65.0% of VI, and 69.0% of VIII incarriers. Noneonatal GBS infection occurred under the empirically treatment. CONCLUSION: The measurement of serum type-specific antibody against GBS would be informative for the cost-benefit treatment of the vaginal GBS in pregnant women.

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of a new injectable carbapenem, S-4661, against gynaecological pathogens.

Carbapenems are often used to treat infections in obstetrics and gynaecology because of their activity against anaerobes. S-4661, a new injectable carbapenem antibiotic, has favourable pharmacokinetic properties and is not hydrolysed by dehydropeptidase I. We investigated the in vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of S-4661 against strains of Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Peptostreptococcus magnus, Bacteroides fragilis and Prevotella bivia, which are major pathogens in the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology. The MIC(50) and MIC(90) of S-4661 for these strains were 0.25 and 1 mg/L, respectively. The in vivo efficacy of S-4661 was evaluated in a rat model of intrauterine infection, namely pyometra caused by E. coli and B. fragilis. The accumulation of neutrophils in the uterus in the S-4661-treated group was less marked and the number of bacteria significantly lower than those in the untreated group. These results suggest that S-4661 may be useful for treating polymicrobial infections in the fields of obstetrics and gynaecology.

Procaspase 3/p21 complex formation to resist fas-mediated cell death is initiated as a result of the phosphorylation of p21 by protein kinase A.

Caspase 3 is an essential factor for Fas-mediated cell death and exists endogenously in cells where its activation is suppressed by p21 and ILP. Inside the cell, procaspase 3 interacts with p21 on mitochondria. In the present study, we investigated the molecular basis for procaspase 3/p21 complex formation. During Fas-mediated cell death, mitochondria are damaged, accompanied by decreased mitochondrial membrane-potential and decreased intracellular ATP levels. This mitochondrial damage occurs before an estrangement of the procaspase 3/p21 complex, and we demonstrate that intracellular ATP-deprivation also initiates an estrangement of procaspase 3/p21 complex formation and accelerates Fas-mediated cell death. In addition, our current results revealed that the phosphorylated p21 by PKA interacts with procaspase 3. Here, we report that the mitochondrial role, especially for ATP synthesis, and PKA are necessary for the procaspase 3/p21 complex formation to resist Fas-mediated cell death.

Current status and fluconazole treatment of pelvic fungal gynecological infections.

The incidence of opportunistic fungal infections has recently been increasing in many clinical fields. Fluconazole is commonly used against systemic fungal infections. The present study was undertaken to investigate the current status and the efficacy of fluconazole in pelvic fungal gynecological infections. Thirty-eight patients aged 36-72 years old diagnosed with pelvic peritonitis with positive fungal culture in pelvic ascites were enrolled in this study and given fluconazole treatment. Forty-two pathogens were isolated from the 38 assessable patients. The predominant pathogen was Candida albicans with an incidence of 61.9% (26/42). Others included non-albicans Candida species amounting to 38.1% (16/42): 19.0% (8/42) Candida glabrata, 7.1% (3/42) Candida tropicalis, 7.1% (3/42) Candida parapsilosis and 4.8% (2/42) Candida krusei. The clinical cure rate at the end of fluconazole treatment was assessed as 30/38 (78.9%), and the fungal eradication rate as 26/42 (61.9%). Each rate was 29/38 (76.3%) and 26/42 (61.9%), respectively, at 1 week after the treatment, while the eradication rate of C. albicans and non-albicans species was 20/26 (76.9%) and 6/16 (37.5%), respectively. There was no adverse effect except for slight elevations of GOT, GPT and LDH observed in 1 patient (2.6%), which returned to normal after the treatment. It seems there may be an increasing trend of non-albicans species in pelvic fungal gynecological infection, against which fluconazole appears to be rather effective.

[Clinical efficacy of cefpirome sulfate against Bacteroides species, Prevotella species and Porphyromonas species. Society of Anaerobic Bacterial Infections in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology in Gifu].

The injectable cephalosporin cefpirome (CPR) was launched in Japan in 1993. It has widely been used in the various infectious diseases. We therefore studied the clinical and bacteriological efficacy of CPR against infections caused by Bacteroides species, Prevotella species and Porphyromonas species frequently isolated from the obstetric and gynecologic infections. Thirteen institutions were involved in this study which ran from March 1994 to January 1999. The administration dosage of CPR was 2 to 4 gram per day administered by drip infusion or intravenous infusion. The duration of treatment was from 3 to 15 days. The evaluations were performed before and after the treatment. CPR was administered to 194 patients with obstetric and gynecologic infections, and 146 of 194 cases were acceptable for the evaluation of drug efficacy. Bacteroides species were identified in 102 patients. Clinical efficacy in 146 cases was excellent in 12 patients, good in 110, fair in 9 and poor in 15 patients. The eradication rate for Bacteroides species could be in 37 cases out of 54 evaluable cases; Prevotella species in 38 out of 49; and Porphyromonas species in 5 out of 5. The overall assessment of bacteriological efficacy was "eradicated" in 91 cases out of 133 (68.4%). Adverse reactions including abnormal findings in laboratory tests were seen in 8 patients (4.76%). Based on these results, CPR promises efficacy and safety in the treatment of obstetric and gynecologic infections due to Bacteroides species.

Survivin initiates procaspase 3/p21 complex formation as a result of interaction with Cdk4 to resist Fas-mediated cell death.

Caspase 3 is an essential death factor for the Fas-mediated cell death, and its inactivation in cells is initiated by an interaction with p21 on mitochondria or with IAP family member ILP. Survivin is also a member of IAP family and is specifically expressed during embryogenesis and in tumor cells and suppresses cell death signaling. In our current study, we demonstrated that Survivin translocation into the nucleus is dependent on Fas stimulation and cell proliferation. Survivin also interacts with the cell cycle regulator Cdk4, leading to Cdk2/Cyclin E activation and Rb phosphorylation. As a result of Survivin/Cdk4 complex formation, p21 is released from its complex with Cdk4 and interacts with mitochondrial procaspase 3 to suppress Fas-mediated cell death. Here, we propose that Survivin supports procaspase 3/p21 complex formation as a result of interaction with Cdk4 resulting in suppression of cell death signaling.

Postpartum microangiopathic hemolytic anemia: cases of successful and dismal outcome assisted with plasma therapy.

Microangiopathic thrombosis, thrombotic thrombocytopenic purpura (TTP) and hemolytic uremic syndrome (HUS), seem to occur with certain stresses, including pregnancy. This report documents the clinical outcome with or without plasma therapy and dismal outcomes of two cases with postpartum microangiopathic thrombosis. One carried a pregnancy to successful cesarean delivery and suffered from postpartum TTP/HUS followed by plasma therapy-assisted recovery. Another developed postpartum TTP/HUS and was complicated with subarachnoid hemorrhage. Submission to plasma therapy should always be considered in a woman with postpartum microangiopathic thrombosis.

In vitro and in vivo antibacterial activities of biapenem in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology.

Biapenem is a new injectable carbapenem antibiotic which has favorable pharmacokinetic properties, and is stable to hydrolysis by dehydropeptidase I. Biapenem inhibited more than 90% of clinical isolates of Streptococcus agalactiae, Escherichia coli, Peptostreptococcus magnus, Bacteroides fragilis and Prevotella bivia at the concentration of 3.13 mg/l. The MIC(90) of biapenem against Pseudomonas aeruginosa was lower than that of panipenem, equivalent to that of imipenem, and greater than that of meropenem. The in vivo efficacy of biapenem was evaluated using the experimental infection model of uterine endometritis. The accumulation of neutrophils in the uterus in the biapenem- treated group was less marked than in the nontreated group, as well as bacteriological response. These results suggest that the new antimicrobial agent biapenem might be useful for the treatment of polymicrobial infections in the fields of obstetrics and gynecology.

Adequate levofloxacin treatment schedules for uterine cervicitis caused by Chlamydia trachomatis.

The in vivo efficacy of levofloxacin (LVFX), one of the most standard new quinolone antimicrobial agents, in the different treatment schedules of Chlamydia trachomatis uterine cervicitis in women was evaluated. Cervical C. trachomatis was detected by polymerase chain reaction. LVFX at a dosage of 300 mg t.i.d. for 5, 7 and 14 days was orally administered to 18, 33 and 35 Japanese patients, respectively. The eradication rate and the recurrence rate in the different treatment schedules of C. trachomatis were evaluated. The eradication rate in 5-, 7- or 14-day cases was 44.4, 87.9 or 88.6%, respectively. The recurrence rate of 5-, 7- or 14-day cases was 50.0, 0 or 0%, respectively. Seven-day treatment with LVFX is adequate for and effective in C. trachomatis uterine cervicitis.

Juvenile fulminant adnexal tuberculosis caused by gastrointestinal tuberculosis immediately after ovarian cystectomy.

Genital fulminant tuberculosis is rarely a primary site of infection. We report a case of juvenile adnexal tuberculosis possibly related to tuberculosis immediately after cystectomy in the ileocecal region in a virginal girl. A 13-year-old virginal girl visited our clinic because of a huge ovarian tumor, which was resected by cystectomy. On postoperative day 39, fever episodes were noted, and she received antibiotics, which were not effective. An abscess developed in the region of the cecum and the right adnexa. Laparotomy revealed chronic abscess formation, especially in the right adnexa. Resection of the abscess was done. The pathological diagnosis was tuberculosis with caseation, although bacterial culture and molecular biological diagnosis for Mycobacterium tuberculosis were negative in sputum, vaginal discharge, urine, and stool of the patient and her family. She was placed on anti-tuberculosis drugs, including isoniazid, rifampicin, and ethambutol, and this regimen was effective. This patient represents a rare case of fulminant adnexal tuberculosis without pulmonary disease.

Effects of fluconazole on viable cell count in experimental intraperitoneal Candida abscesses.

We investigated the effects of fluconazole in experimental intraperitoneal Candida abscesses in neutropenic mice treated with cyclophosphamide to assess a clinically appropriate method for the application of fluconazole in fungal infections in patients with neutropenia. The efficacy of fluconazole in fungal infection was investigated in treatments started immediately after Candida albicans inoculation and before C. albicans inoculation (preventive use of fluconazole). In this intraabdominal fungal abscess model, it was confirmed that fungi in already formed abscess were not reduced in number by fluconazole, even when those fungi were susceptible to fluconazole. Fluconazole was effective with both administration methods. We conclude from this study that the effect of the preventive use of fluconazole was equivalent to the effect when treatment was started immediately after fungal inoculation.

Vaginal microflora in healthy women with Gardnerella vaginalis.

In order to find the vaginal prevalence of Gardnerella vaginalis in a normal female population, we determined the incidence of G. vaginalis in relation to that of other bacterial genera and species in the vagina. Two-hundred and thirty-nine healthy women were the subjects of this study. Vaginal discharge was collected and bacteriological studies were performed. The mean total aerobe count in the G. vaginalis-positive group was 9.02 log10 colony-forming units (CFU)/g, which was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) than that (6.80 log10 CFU/g) in the G. vaginalis-negative group. In contrast, there was no difference in the mean total anaerobe count between the two groups of subjects (8.82 and 8.24 log10 CFU/g, respectively in the case of including Lactobacillus species count). Also, the mean pH level of vaginal secretion in the G. vaginalis-positive group was 4.58, which was significantly higher (P < 0.005) than that (4.10) in the G. vaginalis-negative group. Aerobes were isolated at equal incidence in the two groups. Anaerobes were isolated at a significantly higher rate in the G. vaginalis-positive group (P < 0.005) than in the G. vaginalis-negative group. The mean count of Lactobacillus species was significantly higher (P < 0.0001) in the G. vaginalis-negative group than in the positive counterpart (7.02 vs 8.66). Elevation of vaginal pH, an increase in the anaerobe count, and decreases in the Lactobacillus species count could be good predictors of the prevalence of bacterial vaginosis in healthy women.

[Effects of levofloxacin once-a-day therapy on uterine cervicitis].

An investigation was carried out to determine the therapeutic effect of levofloxacin (LVFX) once-a-day oral therapy at the dose of 200 mg/day for 7 days on uterine cervicitis, in comparison with LVFX twice-a-day oral therapy at the dose of 200 mg/day for 7 days. Of the 102 patients enrolled in the study, 90 were subjected to the analysis. The efficacy rate on uterine cervicitis of the once-a-day therapy and twice-a-day therapy groups according to the evaluation of the Drug Efficacy Evaluation Committee were 72.0% (36/50) and 82.5% (33/40), respectively. The efficacy rate on uterine chlamydial cervicitis of the once-a-day therapy and twice-a-day therapy groups according to the evaluation of the Drug Efficacy Evaluation Committee were 88.0% (22/25) and 85.7% (18/21), respectively. Safety was evaluated as "safe" in 88 of the 90 assessable patients (97.8%). Side effects were seen in two cases, which belong to the once-a-day therapy group; mild candidiasis and mild breast distension sense. As the antimicrobial treatment started, the levels of the inflammatory cytokines, interleukin-6 (IL-6) and interleukin-8 (IL-8) in the cervical mucus, decreased. It is suggested that IL-6 and IL-8 can be useful indicators of the antimicrobial treatment in the uterine cervicitis. These results suggested that the LVFX once-a-day therapy can be useful on uterine cervicitis.

In vitro bactericidal activities of antimicrobial agents and morphologic changes on Prevotella bivia.

Prevotella bivia is common in pelvic inflammatory diseases. Parenteral antimicrobial agents have been widely used against those infections. We investigated the bactericidal activities of three cephalosporins, i.e. cefluprenam (CFLP), ceftazidime (CAZ) and cefotaxime (CTX) and of two other antimicrobial agents, i.e. clindamycin (CLDM) and imipenem (IPM) against P. bivia. We also investigated the in vitro morphological changes induced by these agents in P. bivia. Cephalosporins exhibited bactericidal activities against P. bivia and induced time- and concentration-dependent morphological changes in P. bivia (filamentation). CLDM and IPM also had bactericidal activities, but induced different morphologic alterations: formation of spheroblasts and lysis. These results confirm the fact that each antimicrobial agent has characteristic aspects.