Excitation of rogue waves in a variable medium: an experimental study on the interaction of water waves and currents.

We show experimentally that a stable wave propagating into a region characterized by an opposite current may become modulationally unstable. Experiments have been performed in two independent wave tank facilities; both of them are equipped with a wavemaker and a pump for generating a current propagating in the opposite direction with respect to the waves. The experimental results support a recent conjecture based on a current-modified nonlinear Schrödinger equation which establishes that rogue waves can be triggered by a nonhomogeneous current characterized by a negative horizontal velocity gradient.

Statistical properties of directional ocean waves: the role of the modulational instability in the formation of extreme events.

We discuss two independent, large scale experiments performed in two wave basins of different dimensions in which the statistics of the surface wave elevation are addressed. Both facilities are equipped with a wave maker capable of generating waves with prescribed frequency and directional properties. The experimental results show that the probability of the formation of large amplitude waves strongly depends on the directional properties of the waves. Sea states characterized by long-crested and steep waves are more likely to be populated by freak waves with respect to those characterized by a large directional spreading.

Granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the mechanism of human ovulation and its clinical usefulness.

In 1980, Espey proposed a famous hypothesis that mammalian ovulation is comparable to an inflammatory reaction and many researches have proved the validity of his hypothesis in the last three decades. For example, interleukin (IL)-1beta, IL-6, tumor necrosis factor (TNF)- alpha, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor (GM-CSF), macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) and other inflammatory cytokines presence was proven in the preovulatory follicle. Since granulocyte is the major leukocyte and it plays a very important role during inflammation, the importance of granulocyte and its related cytokine, granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) in the mechanism of human ovulation is easily predictable. G-CSF is one of the hemopoietic cytokines and it has strong positive effects on granulocytes. G-CSF increases the number of granulocytes and it improves the function of granulocytes. In this review, the participation of leukocytes in the ovulation mechanism is demonstrated first. Second, the participation of G-CSF is shown in comparison with the above mentioned cytokines. Finally, since G-CSF has been used for more than 20 years as a medicine without severe side effects in the field of oncology, the clinical application of G-CSF for the treatment of an ovulation disorder, luteinized unruptured follicle (LUF), will be discussed.

Hemodynamic response of ovarian artery after hCG injection.

We have analyzed ovarian hemodynamics immediately after human chorionic gonadotropin (hCG) administration in patients treated by clomiphene-hCG and human menopausal gonadotropin-hCG. This study involved 40 infertile women who signed consents to participate in this study. After intramuscular injection of 10000 IU hCG, the change of ovarian arterial blood flow (BF) was evaluated by color Doppler. Pulsatility index, resistance index, maximum velocity (V(max)), mean velocity, minimum velocity, cross-sectional area of ovarian artery (Area) and BF were measured before and 15-180 min after hCG administration. In the 36 subjects in which ovulation was induced successfully, V(max) and BF increased significantly even at 15 min after hCG administration and thereafter. In the 4 non-ovulatory subjects, no significant changes in any of indices at any of measured time points were observed. Comparative study of non-ovulatory and ovulatory subjects suggested that ovulation may be predicted by the ovarian hemodynamic analysis immediately after hCG administration.

[Clinical study of drug compliance in long-term treatment for schizophrenia].

In order to study the characteristics of drug compliance in psychiatric treatment, we retrospectively examined 68 schizophrenic patients who have been in long-term treatment at the Outpatient Department of Psychiatry, Fukuoka University Hospital. The 68 patients were classified into three groups as follows: Group 1: The patients who had not been in compliance with psychiatrist's medication and stopped to take drugs for more than 2 weeks. But they found their symptoms became worse progressively. Group 2: The patients who had not been in compliance with psychiatrist's medication and stopped to take drugs for more than 2 weeks. But they thought their symptoms were not changed. Group 3: The patients who had been in compliance with psychiatrist's medication and continued to take drugs. The patients of Group 1 had undulated progress, slight symptoms and a high level of social adaptation. They tried to take drugs because they knew their symptoms might become worse without medication. But they were frustrated with taking drugs and complained their drugs should be decreased. Their character traits showed stubbornness and emotional instability. The patients of Group 2 had chronic progress, depressive symptoms, less emotional availability and a low level of social adaptation. They had poor motivation for taking drugs and low drug compliance. The patients of Group 3 had chronic progress, depressive symptoms, lack of spontaneity and a low level of social adaptation. They had a high level of drug compliance. They took drugs because psychiatrists and/or family members wanted them to do so. Their character traits showed Hypothymia and ego-weakness. These findings showed different characteristics of drug compliance in long-term treatment of schizophenic patients. We discussed the importance to indicate appropriate treatment and clinical procedures for the patients of each group and suggested to consider (1) prescription of drugs, (2) therapeutic relationship and (3) patient's circumstances in order to select appropriate procedures.

[Microscopic studies on skin grafts stored at different temperatures].

To examine the viability of skin grafts at different temperatures, skin pieces stored at 4 degrees C-6 degrees C 20 degrees C-25 degrees C and 37 degrees C respectively were observed at certain intervals by light and electron microscopy. The skin pieces stored at 4 degrees C-6 degrees C were observed for 8 weeks. After 2 weeks, swelling of cells and aggregated chromatin of nuclei were observed mainly in the basal cell layer and the suprabasal layer of the epidermis, and after that time irreversible degeneration was observed. This result corresponded with the results obtained in clinical observations. The skin pieces stored at 20 degrees C-25 degrees C were observed for 2 weeks. After 2 days, the skin had already degenerated at a rate corresponding with the rate observed in storage at 4 degrees C-6 degrees C for 3-4 weeks receptivity. Therefore, it was thought that skin stored under this condition would be poor material for skin grafts. However, storage for longer periods might be possible if better nutrient media were chosen.

[Concentrations of tranilast in keloid tissues].

The clinical effects of tranilast, an antiallergic drug, become clear at 1 to 4 weeks after the start of drug treatment. In fundamental studies its absorption into blood is smooth and it is known to inhibit degranulation in mast cells promptly after administration. Thus tranilast's delayed onset of clinical effects has remained unknown. The author studied whether this could be caused by a delay in absorption of the drug into tissues. We examined the drug's concentrations in keloid tissues sampled from keloid patients of four groups. In each group the tranilast treatment was started 3 days, 2, 4, or 8 weeks before surgical operation of keloid. As a result there were no significant differences noted between or among each group in view of the drug's tissue concentrations. This suggests that the reason of such delayed onset of clinical effects in tranilast treatment is not the slow elevation in its tissue concentration as has been thought of.

A preliminary study on clinical application of Nd:YAG laser to the face and head.

Preliminary experiments were carried out for use of the Nd:YAG laser therapy of malignant tumors of the head and face. Because bone and brain tissue lie under the soft tissues in the face and head, the authors prepared two experimental models and examined the thermal effects of laser irradiation using three irradiating methods, single-pulse, automatic running, and manual. In experiments using results from these models, a temperature rise inducing protein coagulation did not occur under the surface of the soft tissue under the bone in both models. With automatic running irradiation, the temperature rise in the surface of the soft tissue under the bone was about 5 degrees C at 60 W with a running speed of 4 mm/sec in model I. These conditions were considered to be sufficiently within safe limits. In the second model, it was estimated that no thermal effects would be exerted on the soft tissue under the bone at 60 W or less with a running speed of 8 mm/sec or less. Using manual irradiation, no thermal disturbance of the soft tissue under the bone was induced in the first model, but without a shortening of irradiation time or an increase in irradiation distance this method could cause thermal damage to the second model and must be taken into consideration.