Peripheral artery disease occurs at advanced ages and accounts for substantial cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. Monocyte chemoattractant protein-1 (MCP-1), a member of the cysteine-cysteine family of chemokines, is one of the cytokines involved in the pathogenesis of atherosclerosis and is also known as cysteine-cysteine chemokine ligand 2 (CCL2). The aim of the current study was to investigate the association between the extent of atherosclerotic peripheral artery disease (PAD) and the increase in MCP-1 level. Eighty consecutive patients who had undergone peripheral angiography for suspected PAD were included. Of these patients, 48 (60%) had hypertension, 23 (28.8%) had type 2 diabetes mellitus, 39 (48.8%) had a family history of coronary artery disease, 23 (28.8%) were cigarette smokers, and 42 (52.5%) had hypercholesterolemia. Angiography revealed that the peripheral arteries of the lower extremity were normal in 41 (51.3%) patients, whereas 39 (48.7%) patients had varying degrees of PAD. The patients were queried regarding age, gender, and atherosclerotic risk factors. The plasma MCP-1 levels were significantly lower in the patients without PAD than those in the patients with PAD (172.27 ± 38.05 pg/mL vs. 200.87 ± 39.31 pg/mL, p = 0.001). Moreover, as the severity of PAD increases, MCP-1 levels also increase. Thus, the plasma MCP-1 level can be used in the diagnosis of PAD and in determining the extent of atherosclerotic PAD of the lower extremities, as in determining the extent of coronary artery disease.

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Laser optical components must exibit a much lower absorption coefficient than normal optical components. Especially, a high power laser system requires very low loss materials because the heat produced by absorbed light causes deformation or damage. The progress in the technique of the small absorption coefficient measurement has contributed to the development of low loss materials. As the surface damage threshold is in certain cases lower than the bulk damage threshold, it is necessary to separate the surface absorption coefficient from the bulk absorption coefficient. The sensitivity of laser calorimetry, which measures the temperature of the sample, is directly proportional to laser power. Interferometric laser calorimetry uses an interferometer to measure the optical path length change caused by the temperature . This method has the merit of quantitativeness and high sensitivity in separating surface absorption from bulk absorption. We measured absorption coefficients of optical materials; quartz, CaF₂ and KCl, and the results are reported.

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Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), localized beneath the visceral pericardium, is a metabolically active endocrine and paracrine organ with possible interactions within the heart. Recent studies identified possible roles of uric acid (UA)-induced oxidative stress and increased inflammatory status in the pathogenesis of ascending aortic dilatation. The aim of this study was to investigate whether EAT is an independent factor for ascending aortic dilatation. The patients were evaluated by a complete transthoracic echocardiographic examination including measurements of EAT and aortic dimensions. Serum levels of UA and C-reactive protein and EAT thicknesses were compared in 38 patients with dilated ascending aorta (DAA) (the diameter ≥ 37 mm) vs. 107 subjects with normal aortic diameter (AD) of < 37 mm. EAT thickness was significantly higher in DAA group compared to normal AD group (8.3 ± 2.7 vs. 5.4 ± 2.2 mm, p < 0.001) as well as age (53 ± 10 vs. 48 ± 9 years, p = 0.004), the presence of hypertension (54% vs. 30%, p = 0.009) and UA levels (6.0 ± 1.4 vs. 5.2 ± 1.1 mg/dL, p < 0.001). There was a strong correlation between EAT thickness and ascending aortic diameter (r = 0.521, p < 0.001). In multiple logistic regression analysis, EAT thickness (OR: 1.429, p = 0.006), body mass index (OR: 1.169, p = 0.014) and UA levels (OR: 1.727, p = 0.023) were independently correlated to ascending aortic dilatation. We therefore propose that increased EAT thickness is an independent predictor of ascending aortic dilation.

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Lifts are the most important of all the mechanical services installed in the high- apartment building. The circulation and planning is mainly integrated by the lifts. Therefore, much must be taken into consideration in the planning. As the significant indices of the lift performance, there are listed such as follows; 1. the period of peak 2. the handling capacity 3. the round trip time 4. the unresponced time I surveyed all sorts of vertical traffic movements in many high- apartment buildings, three times, almost regurarly in the last ten years (1965-1973), and studied on the lift performance. The results obtained are summarized as follows. 1. The morning peak is by down trip. The evening peak is by both up trip and down. 2. The maximum handling capacity is observed in the evening, about 10% of number of the inhabitants in 15 minutes. 3. The average of the passengers is 2 persons in the direction of up, 1 person in down. 4. The round trip time is about 120 seconds in average. 5. The average of the unresponced time is about 35-40 seconds.

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This paper deals with voltage control in restoration of EHV power system. Restoration of power system is performed by energizing transmission lines in sequence from initial power sources. These operations have already been progammed into the expert system developed by the authors. However, energizing no-load transmission lines causes some bus voltages to 20% more than rated voltages. Transformers can tolerate 20% voltage only for 1 minute. Here, we supplement the expert system with a function of checking bus voltages and reactive powers of initial sources, and automatically switching reactors on. Conditions for switching reactors and selecting appropriate reactors, are written by rules, hence it is easy to modify them. Target of voltage control is to keep bus voltages within ±5%, and to keep reactive powers of generators within 30% of generator capacity. Applying this method to three basic restoration patterns of a model power system, shows that small adjustment of switching conditions is enough for two patterns, and some modification of restoration procedure is necessary for the other pattern to obtain good voltage profiles through the restoration process.

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In this work, plant extract–metal ions hybrid nanoflowers (HNFs) were synthesized and their catalytic and antimicrobial properties were examined. While the sweet and sour lemon peel extract (acquired in boil water) and its primary elements were engaged as organic elements in the creation of NFs, copper (II) ions (Cu2+) were the inorganic element. Scanning Electron Microscopy (SEM), Energy-Dispersive X-ray (EDX) spectroscopy, and Fourier Transform Infrared Spectrometry (FT-IR) were examined to characterize the structures of the NFs. The structural examination showed that the existence of Cu–O and Cu–N bonds in NFs can be a sign of the creation of NFs. Antimicrobial activities of the NFs were systematically studied against Candida albicans (ATCC 90028), Staphylococcus aureus (ATCC 25923), and Escherichia coli (ATCC 25922) with broth microdilution and short time-kill assay. The peroxidasemimicking activity based on the NFs' Fenton-like response mechanism was assessed against guaiacol in the presence of H2O2. The findings have shown that plant extract-based hybrid NFs technology is promising and can find prospective applications in numerous technical areas.

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Little is known about the therapeutic use of hydroxychloroquine in pediatric patients with coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Here, we retrospectively retrieved data of severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) PCR-positive pediatric patients from 20 hospitals in 8 Turkish cities. We obtained epidemiological, clinical, and laboratory features of the patients, as well as the drugs used for treating COVID-19. A total of 237 nasopharyngeal swab SARS-CoV-2 PCR-positive children were included in the study from March 26, 2020 to June 20, 2020. The mean age of asymptomatic children (118 ± 62 months) was higher than that of symptomatic children (89 ± 69 months). Symptomatic children had significantly lower mean lymphocyte counts and higher mean CRP, D-dimer, procalcitonin, and LDH levels than asymptomatic children in the univariate analysis. Among 156 children, 78 (50%), 15, 44, and 21 were treated with a hydroxychloroquine-containing regimen, hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin + oseltamivir, hydroxychloroquine + azithromycin, and hydroxychloroquine alone, respectively. Among 156 patients who received medical treatment, 90 (58%) underwent pre- and/or post-treatment electrocardiogram (ECG). However, none of them had ECG abnormalities or required hydroxychloroquine discontinuation due to adverse drug reactions.

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　アントシアニン色素は、橙色から青色までの幅広い花色を作り出している。しかしアントシアニンの生合成に関わる酵素の発現が失われると色素合成ができないため、カルコンなど中間代謝物の蓄積により黄色や白色花となると考えられている。カーネーションにおいて花色が黄色を呈する要因の一つとしてトランスポゾン (dTdic1) の挿入によるCHI (chalcone isomerase)、およびDFR (dihydroflavonol 4-reductase) 遺伝子の発現量の減少が見いだされている。この二つの遺伝子がブロックされることによって中間産物である 4,2’,4’,6’-Tetrahydroxychalcone が CHGT (chalcone 2’-glucosyltransferase) により配糖体化され、chalcone 2’-glucosideが蓄積し、黄色を呈することが考えられた。そこで本研究では、このCHGTcDNA をクローニングし、その基質特異性を決定した。さらに黄色およびオレンジ色花色カーネーションにおけるそれらの遺伝子発現様式について解析を行った結果、カーネーションの花弁におけるCHGTの発現は、他のアントシアニン合成酵素と比べて低いことが見い出された。またオレンジ花色花はCHGT とDFR の微妙な発現時期の違いによる、chalcone 2’-glucoside　とアントシアニンの共存により発色していることが見いだされた。

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Objective Premature graying or whitening of the hair may possibly represent premature atherosclerotic changes as a surrogate marker of different host responses to cardiovascular risk factors (CVRFs). This study was undertaken to test whether carotid artery intima-media thickness (CIMT) as a validated surrogate marker of the severity and extent of coronary artery disease (CAD) is higher in subjects with prominent signs of hair whitening, independent of chronological age and other CVRFs.
Methods The current study was conducted in young and middle-aged patients (<55 years age) without a history of cardiovascular disease. Two hundred and two eligible patients consecutively admitted to our outpatient clinic for CVRF management were included. A gray/white-hair scale was used to determine the percentage of hair whitening.
Results In the groups determined according to the degree of hair whitening, age (p<0.001), waist circumference (p=0.011), the presence of hypertension (p=0.003), the uric acid levels (p=0.008), the C - reactive protein levels (p=0.002) and CIMT (p<0.001) were significantly different. When we performed multivariate analyses to determine the independent predictors of CIMT and hair whitening, CIMT was found to be related to age, waist circumference, the levels of uric acid, bilirubin and gamma-glutamyl transpeptidase, the presence of a family history of CAD and hair whitening, while hair whitening was found to be related to age, hypertension, the bilirubin level and CIMT.
Conclusion Our findings suggest that premature hair whitening intensity is independently related to CIMT. In cumulative assessments of CVRFs on the human body, the presence of premature hair whitening may be useful in identifying individuals with an increased risk of cardiovascular disease.

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Objective Bilirubin is a bile pigment with potent anti-oxidant properties; in previous studies it has been reported to be negatively associated with coronary artery disease (CAD). Although elevated serum bilirubin concentrations may protect against endothelial dysfunction, it is not clear whether higher serum bilirubin levels (SBLs) in physiological ranges may work in favor of good collateral development in patients with chronic total coronary occlusion (CTO).
Methods The study population consisted of patients who underwent coronary angiography with a suspicion of CAD. Patients who had CTO in at least one major coronary artery were included. Coronary angiograms of 179 eligible patients from our database were reanalyzed and 110 of them had good collateral development and 69 had poor collateral development according to the Cohen-Rentrop method.
Results Patients with good collateral development had a lower fasting plasma glucose level (FPG) (p=0.024) and higher SBLs in comparison to patients with poor collateral development (p<0.001). The number of CTO vessels (p=0.013) and left ventricular ejection fraction (EF%) were higher in good collateral group than poor collateral group (p=0.017). In multivariate analysis, FPG negatively (odds ratio [OR]: 0.981, p=0.003) and SBL (OR for per 0.1-mg/dL increase: 1.832, p<0.001) and the number of CTO vessels (OR: 5.642, p=0.007) were positively related to coronary collateral development.
Conclusion This study suggests that higher bilirubin levels within relatively normal ranges were related with favorable coronary collateral growth in patients with CTO. SBL may be responsible for the difference in coronary collateral vessel development among different patients with coronary artery disease. The anti-inflammatory and anti-oxidant properties of bilirubin may mediate this effect.

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An HDTV 2M-CMD imager which was driven on the progressive scanning mode was investigated. The CMD imager was successfully designed to work with the frame frequency of 60Hz, and achieved 148.5MHz output data rate, which enabled the vertical resolution of 1000TV lines. Saturation signal characteristics and signal to noise ratios were also investigated. The experimental results in this paper show that no characteristic degradation was found with progressive scanning mode but the temperature due to the high speed scanning.

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Acinetobacter baumannii is an important pathogen in hospitalized patients, particularly those in the intensive care unit (ICU). A total of 21 A. baumannii (6 from 5 patients and 15 from environmental samples) were isolated in the ICU and the isolation room of a state hospital in June 2011. The possible source of the outbreak was investigated. A. baumannii isolates were identified using conventional biochemical tests, BBL Crystal Identification Systems, OXA-51 specific PCR, and 16S rDNA sequencing. All the isolates were multidrug-resistant, showing resistance to cephalosporins, carbapenems, fluoroquinolones, and the aminoglycoside group of antibiotics. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis suggested that all A. baumannii isolates were derived from a common source.

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The title compound, N-(3-methyl-5-phenyl-3,5-dihydro-4H-1,2,4-triazol-4-yl)benzamide, C₁₆H₁₄N₄O, crystallizes in the monoclinic space group P2₁/c with the following unit cell parameters: a = 10.6011(6)Å, b = 7.5676(4)Å, c = 19.6363(11)Å, β = 95.062(5)° and Z = 4. Molecules are linked principally by O-H…N hydrogen bonds involving the water OH₂ group and a triazole N atom, forming R₄⁴(10) and R₄⁴(14) rings, which link to give a one-dimensional network of molecules. An extensive two-dimensional network of N-H…O, C-H…O and O-H…N hydrogen bonds, with π-π and π-ring interactions, are responsible for crystal stabilization.

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Background Epicardial adipose tissue (EAT), localized beneath the visceral pericardium, is a metabolically active endocrine and paracrine organ with possible interactions within the heart. Coronary artery ectasia (CAE) is a clinical entity characterized with localized or diffuse dilatation, of the coronary arteries, with a diameter of greater than 1.5 times that of adjacent segments. Although the etiopathogenesis is not clearly understood, some studies have revealed that CAE may be a form of atherosclerosis that has greater inflammatory properties than atherosclerosis. The goal of this study was to investigate whether EAT and the level of C-reactive protein (CRP) are increased in patients with isolated CAE compared to normal subjects.
Methods Thirty-three patients with isolated CAE (mean age: 57±9 years) and 32 age- and gender-matched control participants with NCA, but without CAE (mean age: 56±10 years), were included in the study. The relationship between EAT thickness, CRP levels and the presence of CAE was investigated.
Results Epicardial adipose tissue thickness was significantly higher in CAE group compared to NCA group (7.2±3.2 vs. 4.7±2.1 mm, p<0.001). Body mass index (BMI, p=0.013), CRP (p=0.047), and the percentage of isolated CAE (p=0.012) were significantly higher in patients with an increased EAT thickness. While CRP correlated with increased EAT, it was not related to CAE. However, CRP levels were higher in patients with diffuse coronary ectatic involvement than the focal lesions (0.58±0.32 vs. 0.31±0.11 mg/dL, p=0.046). When we performed multiple logistic regression analysis, only increased EAT thickness was related to CAE independent of CRP and BMI (OR: 1.442, 95%CI: 1.066-1.951, p=0.018).
Conclusion This is the first study, displaying a significantly higher EAT-thickness in patients with isolated CAE. We believe that further studies are needed to clarify the role of adipose tissue in patients with isolated CAE.

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The response of blood glucose, ketones and plasma FFA to epinephrine injection (0.01 ml/kg Body weight of 1 : 1000 solution, S. C.) in 17 cases of periodic vomiting was tested when they had no episodes. The determinations were perof ormed at the 5 hours' fast since the breakfast, 30 minutes and 60 minutes after the injection. The fasting levels of plasma FFA and blood ketones revealed higher values and the higher of plasma FFA to epinephrine were observed compared with 7 control cases. The data suggested that they might have increased lipolysic tendency even in apparently well condition, or might show more sensitive lipolysis to epinephrine.

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In this study, a clothing comfort of straight jeans with different size was evaluated by only tactile sensation of male university students in their twenties during the squatting position. And clothing pressures at the knee, thigh and hip points were measured by the air-pack sensor system. The relationship between the sensory values for clothing comfort and clothing pressures at four points was studied by means of the correlation analysis. The results are as follows. (1)Sample(+2cm) whose rise size was longer than the standard sample was evaluated “comfortable” by them, (2)The “comfortable” feeling has a negative correlation with “tenseness and tightness” feelings at the knee point and the “tenseness” feeling at the inner thigh point. (3)The clothing comfort of straight jeans evaluated by them was affected by the clothing pressure at the inner and front of thigh.

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The authors examined the activity of succinate dehydrogenase (S D) in Fasciola hepatica and Paragonimus westermani with the stages in development from cell division egg to metacercaria. As a result of this experiment, in the unicellular stages and miracidium stages of F. hepatica and P. westermani, a very slight SD activity was detected. However, in the miracidium formation stages of these flukes, the activity was very strong. Thus, it was clear that the reduction of methylene blue decreased suddenly from the highest value when metamorphosis occurred. It was suggested that respiratory metabolism rises with the progress of development and ability to decolorize methylene blue in creases. In the metacercaria stages of F. hepatica, P. westermani, Metagonimus yokogawai, the ability to decolorize methylene blue was persistent, but it was not so strong. During the time, so called hibernation time, when metacercaria invades into final host, metacercaria keeps metabolism of respiration as low as possible, and saves consumption of energy for maintenance of life. Metacercaria has biological function for parasitism.

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