Biomass fuels or Biodiesel fuels are a viable alternative to petroleum fuels due to their renewability, low or no emission and the potential to provide energy security and local economic benefits. This paper presents the results of various oils being tested as diesel fuel alternatives, including coconut oil unblended and blended with diesel fuel. The effects on engine performance and efficiency, the corresponding problems associated with their use, the atomization characteristics in the process of spray formation, engine combustion and the mechanism of the effect is also discussed on the basis of emissions, combustion parameters and spray characteristics.

抄録全体を表示

Our experience with the Bentall and DeBono procedure is reviewed. Between April, 1977 and April, 1985, seventeen patients underwent repair of annulo-aortic ectasia (9 cases), and dissecting aneurysm with aortic regurgitation (8 cases). Three patients had cardiac tamponade due to rupture of dissecting aneurysm. In regard to this procedure, we recently performed the continuous suture method on the prosthetic valve ring, coronary ostia, and distal anastomosis sites. In this study, there was one early death due to a sudden rupture of the dissecting aneurysm of the left thoracic cavity on the 10th postoperative day. In addition, there were tow late deaths due to sepsis and suspected arrhythmia. The late follow-up period ranged 6 months to 8 years (mean 35 months), and all patients were in NYHA Class I or II. We conclude that the composite valve graft method is an excellent technique for annuloaortic ectasia and ascending aortic dissections with aortic regurgitation because of its low operative mortality and fair survival rate.

抄録全体を表示

Mitral valve prolapse is diagnosed in real-time two-dimensional echocardiograms when there are discrepancies in the coaptation zone of the anterior mitral leaflet and the posterior mitral leaflet. Out of the 100 cases of mitral valve prolapse diagnosed in this way, 65 had prolapsed anterior mitral leaflets, 28 prolapsed posterior mitral leaflets and 7 prolapses of both the anterior and posterior mitral leaflets. In addition to the cases with mitral valve prolapse, 23 cases of ruptured chordae tendineae of the mitral valve, including 15 cases which had undergone surgery, were investigated. The frequent site of mitral valve prolapse was the posteromedial commissure in the anterior leaflet and the posteromedial and anterolateral commissures in the posterior leaflet. These sites coincide with those where rupture of the chordae tendineae of the mitral valve was apt to occur. An investigation of the relation between age and mitral valve prolapse showed that the number of cases of prolapsed anterior leaflet did not increase with age, but there was an age-related increase in the number of cases of prolapsed posterior leaflets. It was also found that the degree of the prolapse progressed with age. Many of the cases of ruptured chordae tendineae of the mitral valve were in their forties or fifties, and there appeared to be some relation between the progress of the prolapse and age. Mitral regurgitant murmurs were recorded on phonocardiograms, and the severer the degree, the wider the range of the prolapse. Mitral regurgitation was more likely to occur in cases of prolapsed posterior leaflets than in those with prolapsed anterior leaflets, even if the degree and the range of the prolapse were mild.

抄録全体を表示

Barany, as early as 1905, advanced the theory that the nystagmus whichappears by cooling and by healing in the external auditory meatus, is due to amovement of the cupula arising a current of the endolymph in the'semicircular canals, especially in the lateral canal. The nystagmus is producedby the increased or diminished gravity of the fluid in its most exposedparts doe to the change of temperature. The temperature on reaching the labyrinthis conducted the wall of the external auditory meatus to the semicircularcanals through the substance of the temporal bone.
Later on, Barany's theory was experimentally provel by several investigators, such as, Magnus and de Kleijn, de Kleijn and van Leeuwen, Maier and Lion etc. Kobrak, however, bing dubious to the correctness of Barany's theory, as a resultof his “minimal irritation” experiment (5cc water with a difference of temperatureof 5°-10°C the temperature of the body), has reported that it is quetionableif the temperature of the wall of the external auditory meatus can be physicallyconducted to the labyrinth by such minimal irritation. The study of the thermalrelation between the external auditory meatus and the labyrinth on caloric nystagmushas lately made great progress. Schmaltz and Volger have proved the conductionof temperature the external auditory meatus to the semicircular canal andthe appearance of the so-called caloric nystagmus by their experiment on a skulland in the course of ear operations on patients, making use of thethermo-electric current. Dohlman has measured the capacity of air and of a compactbone to conduct temperature in the experimental investigation of the path ofconduction in caloric nystagmus. The result that the conducting capacity of compactbone was 6 times faster than that of air, has led him to the conclusion that in theconduction of temperature to the labrinth the external meatus, the chain ofauditory ussicles in the tympanic cavity is faster than the air in it. We haveexperimented calorically, preferably with both warm and cold water in the ears of the rabbits, to find out the relation between thermal irritation and the consequentnystagmus by use of the thermo-electric current.Apparatus and method of experiment.
As to the apparatus used in the experiment, we made the thermocouples withone wire of copper and one of constantan, which were tied to the galvanometer.
The apparatus was acculately described in our work “Sur la mesure de la temperaturede l'oreille externe.” We used, as test animals, medium-sized rabbits with normallabyrinthal reflex and broke a tymanic membrane in each of them to expose thelabyrinth on one side.
We inserted a capillary tube of glass filled with vaseline into the fenestrarotunda of the exposed labyrinth and closed the entrance around the capillary tubewith vaseline. The temperature in the labyrinth was observed by inserting thethermo-coupie in the glass capillary tube.
For thermal irritation of the external auditory meatus, we irrigated with cold (0°-10°) and warm (500-780) water. A thermometer was inserted through aswound in the dorsal muscle of the animal, care being taken to prevent bleeding asfar as possible.
The temperature of the animal in the anus is so labile that we observed it in thedorsal muscle instead.

抄録全体を表示

Pre- and postoperative echocardiograms of 64 patients with chronic aortic regurgitation who had undergone isolated aortic valvular replacement (AVR) were studied. These patients were divided into 3 groups as follows: (1) Group A patients who had preoperative end-diastolic radius to wall thickness ratio (R/Thd) &les; 3. (2) Group B1 patients who had preoperative R/Thd>3 and end-systolic radius to wall thickness ratio (R/Ths)<2. (3) Group B2 patients who had preoperative R/Thd>3 and R/Ths &ges; 2. Using this classification we assessed the relation between the pattern of hypertrophy and left ventricular (LV) function and the reversibility of LV dysfunction following AVR. Preoperatively, ejection fraction (EF) during handgrip exercise was unchanged in Group A (%ΔEF: -2.8 ± 7.1%) and significantly decreased in Groups B1 (-17.0 ± 5.8%) and B2 (-20.2 ± 4.6%). In the late postoperative period, however, it was, -1.2 ± 3.3%, -2.0 ± 4.6%, and -17.7 ± 8.6% in Groups A, B1, B2, respectively. Preoperatively the slope of end-systolic wall stress/volume (ESWS-ESV relation was 1.96 ± 0.43 in Group A (p<0.01 vs Group B2, NS vs Group B1), 1.54 ± 0.38 in Group B1 (NS vs Group B2) and 1.17 :± 0.47 in Group B2. It was stressed that a good relationship existed between the pattern of hypertrophy and function as well as the reversibility of LV dysfunction following AVR.

抄録全体を表示

We determine prognostic factors for renal cell carcinoma using the revised 1999 General Rule for Clinical and Pathological Studies on Renal Cell Carcinoma. The records of 176 patients undergoing partial and redical nephrectomy at our hospital between 1989 and 1998 were reviewed. Renal cell carcinoma grade and clinical stage were evaluated using the 1997 TNM criteria, respectively. Kaplan-Meier survival curves were used to determine 5-year cancer specific survival for all patients groups. Univariate analysis using log rank sum tests was performed to evaluate the prognostic factors of tumor grade, clinical stage, and tumor diameter. We found that renal cell carcinoma with small diameter had no advanced malignancy or clinical disease stage, and that malignancy and clinical stage advance with increase in tumor diameter, with resultant decrease in survival rate. We think that it is important to detect renal tumor while its diameter is small, through widespread use of examination by imaging in health check.

抄録全体を表示

The short- and long-term prognosis for acute myocardial infarction after reperfusion was examined in 175 patients with successful emergency angioplasty and in 29 failed cases. During hospitalization, more cardiac events occurred in the failed group than in the successful group (58.6% versus 12.6%; p<0.001), especially cardiac death and coronary bypass surgery (27.6% versus 4.0%, and 41.4% versus 4.6%; p<0.001, respectively). The only difference found in the incidence of post-discharge cardiac events was a higher frequency of cardiac death in the failed group (9.5% versus 1.2%; p<0.02). The failed group also had a lower cumulative survival rate at 5 years (69.0% versus 95.3%; p<0.01). Cox proportional hazard analysis showed that the results of angioplasty, cardiac index, peak creatine kinase level, and the number of diseased vessels were significant independent variables for the prediction of subsequent cardiac death at long-term follow-up. Thus, successful reperfusion by emergency angioplasty improved the prognosis of acute myocardial infarction, even when other important variables were considered.

抄録全体を表示

1. An extrusion phenomenon of the nuclear substance in Iris japonica is described. The figures of extrusion one cell into the cytoplasm of adjacent cells are found in pollen mother-cells as well as in tapetal-, integumental-, nucellar-and ovarian cells.
2. The extrusion in the pollen mother-cells is observed to be most active in the synizetic stage and occurs not infrequently in the presynizetic, spireme and hollow-spireme stages and sometimes immediately before the diakinesis-stage. In somatic cells this process is generally found in the nuclei which are not in division.
3. The portions of the nucleus which are extruded may be chromatin, synizetic mass, spireme, nucleolus etc.
4. So far as the observation goes, I am inclined to side with the opinion that this phenomenon is chiefly caused by the fixing fluids and external injuries inflicted by pressure.
It is with pleasure that I take this occasion to express my sincere thanks to Marquis YOSHICHIKA TOKUGAWA, the director of the TOKUGAWA Biological Institute, for all the facilities kindly offered throughout the course of this observation; my best thanks are also due to Professor FUJII of the Botanical Institute, Science College, Tokyo Imperial University for, his kind advice and valuable suggestion. I am much indebted to Viscount TADAMASA MIDUNO for his kindness in providing the materials used.

抄録全体を表示

1) A simple improvement to a clinical turning chair is given.
2) A method of rotatory stimulation of the vestibular receptors has been worked out which allows the measurement of the threshold of ocular nystagmus in humans.
3) The stimulating technique consists of an initial acceleration of short duration followed by a long lasting deceleration without a pause between the two.
4) Nystagmus is recorded electrically during and after the rotation. The nystagmic response appears immediately after the beginning of the rotation and then subsides. After a while a reversed nystagmus (opposite in direction to the preceding nystagmus) appears.
5) Theoretical formula of the cupula-endolymph displacement based on the general theory of the cupular mechanism established by Steinhausen, van Egmond, et al. are given subject to the conditions of stimulus.
6) The threshold of ocular nystagmus during rotatory stimulation can be computed by measurement of parameters such as initial angular velocity, durations of acceleration and deceleration and the time of appearance of the reversed nystagmus.
7) Average values of the threshold (expressed by the angular deviation of the cupula-endolymph system) are:0.84° for clockwise rotation and 0.86° for counterclockwise rotation.
8) The fiducial limits are also given:
0.70°-0.88° and 0.82°-0.90° respectively.
9) The most important advantage of this method is its application to clinical investigations.The method also indicates numerous possibilities for quantitative determination of vestibular dysfunctin in a manner not dissimilar to audiometry in auditory function.

抄録全体を表示

Both ascending and descending fibers of the MLF originating in various nuclei show a topographic distribution in the MLF. In general, results similar to those obtained in the rabbit seem to exist in the MLF of man. Accordingly, in the case of lesion in the MLF, this pattern should always be considered in order to determine the site of the lesion.

抄録全体を表示

We examined the effect of the selective alpha-2 agonist dexmedetomidine and antagonist atipamizole on the upper urinary tract, renal pelvic pressure and ureteral peristalsis.
Experiments were performed on twelve Sprague-Dawley female rats weighing 275-323 grams, with administration of urethane (1.2μg/kg). Ventilatory support was provided through a tracheotomy. A continuous normal saline infusion was maintained through the left iliac vein at a rate of 2.5ml/hr. Arterial pressure was measured at the left iliac artery, which was cannulated with a PE-100 tube connected to a pressure transducer. A mid-line incision was then made the xyphoid to the symphysis to expose the left kidney, both ureters, and the bladder. The bladder was intubated and drained to avoid bladder pressure increase. Measurements of urine output rate were made the right ureter and renal pelvic or ureteral pressure was measured using a nephrostomy placed into the left pelvis. A ureterostomy was produced by introducing another catheter, into the upper segment of the left ureter for ureteral pressure measurements. The rats were divided into two groups as follows: 1) dexmedetomidine group (n=6); injected intravenously with 2μg/kg of dexmedetomidine dissolved in 0.5ml saline. 2) atipamizole group (n=6); injected intravenously with 2μg/kg of atipamizole dissolved in 0.5 ml saline. Ureteral peristaltic frequency, baseline pressure, and contraction amplitude were compared before, after, and between the bolus injections of 2μg/kg dexmedetomidine (n=6) or 2μg/kg atipamizole (n=6) in 0.5 ml saline.
The results showed that dexmedetomidine at 2μg/kg produced a significant decrease in arterial pressure and an increase in urine output 1.2+0.8 to 3.6+1.2ml/min. There was no effect on the baseline pelvic pressure of 6.8+1.2 cmH₂O or amplitude of the renal pelvic contractions: 3.5+0.6cm H₂O. The frequency of pelvic contractions was reduced 0.37+0.03 to 0.27+0.02 Hz. Atipamizole at 2μg/kg produced a significant reduction in urine flow rate of 1.1+0.8 to 0.6+0.2ml/min. Atipamizole also showed no significant effects on baseline pelvic pressure or frequency, but increased the amplitude of pelvic contractions control values of 3.0+0.9 to 3.4+0.9cm H₂O. Dexmedetomidine reduced both the baseline ureteral pressure of 8.5+2.4 and peristaltic contraction pressure of 11.5+2.3cm H₂O in 4/6 rats. Atipamizole reduced base-line ureteral pressure and increased peristaltic rate. This study has shown that dexmedetomidine has an inhibitory effect on renal pelvic contraction which is followed by weak excitatory effects of short duration. This effect is expressed by a decrease in the frequency of contractions and a decrease in the baseline pressure which was not significant statistically in view of the increased urine output. In contrast, atipamizole causes an excitatory effect on upper urinary tract contractility.

抄録全体を表示

Twelve birds of the Single-comb White Leghorn females were killed at various ages the day after hatching to maturity (laying of the first egg), and the rate of increase of the ovary weight according to age was observed with reference to that of the body weight. The percentage weight (to the body weight) of the ovary increses with age. The growth period of the ovary in weight is probably analogous to that of the body, being composed of two or three cycles. The maxima of the cycles occur both in the ovary and in the body at the same ages about two and three months. There is a prepuberal period of rapid increase of the ovary weight which lasts about four or five months of age to the laying of the first egg with the increased rate of deposition of yolk materials.

抄録全体を表示

Hypertension, a major risk factor for cerebrovascular disease and heart disease, often requires drug therapy. The First Japanese Society of Hypertension Guidelines for the Management of Hypertension were published in June 2000. In the present work, we surveyed 447 doctors who attended continuing medical education meetings between March and July 2001 to elucidate national antihypertensive treatment patterns. A minimum level of 150⁄95 mmHg was selected by 60% and 140⁄90 mmHg by 19% of respondents as thresholds for initiating drug treatment, while 130⁄85 mmHg was selected by 26% of respondents as the goal blood pressure in middle-aged uncomplicated male patients. Sixty-nine percent of respondents selected a calcium antagonist as their previous drug of the first choice and 22% selected an ACE inhibitor. For their future first choice, 55% would prescribe an angiotensin II receptor antagonist (AIIA); 19% an ACE inhibitor; and 16% a calcium antagonist. Seventy-two percent selected a calcium antagonist + an ACE inhibitor and 17% selected a calcium antagonist + AIIA as their previous first-choice drug combinations. For their future drug combinations, 56% would select an AIIA + a calcium antagonist and 25% a calcium antagonist + an ACE inhibitor. Four weeks or less was selected by 69% of respondents as the period intended to reach the goal blood pressure. Eight weeks or more was selected by 28%. Overall, our data suggest that doctors in Japan are still cautious and conservative in controlling blood pressure levels but want rapid achievement of the goal blood pressure. Their first choice drug is shifting

from

calcium antagonists to AIIAs. These findings indicate the need for continued effort to evaluate the diversity of clinical practice and assess the appropriateness of continuing medical education. (Hypertens Res 2002; 25: 175-178)

抄録全体を表示

1) Brevibacterium flavum, N. 2247 could grow in the chemically defined medium and accumulated a considerable amount of L-glutamic acid in its growing culture medium.
2) It is likely that the effects of biotin on the cell growth and on the L-glutamate accumulation in the acetate medium are not so strict as shown in the glucose medium.
3) aspartic acid, glycine, succinic acid, citric acid and α-keto-glutaric acid were identified as by-products in the broth filtrate.

抄録全体を表示

1) Brevibacterium flavum, No. 2247 could grow in the acetate medium and accumulated a considerable amount of L-glutamate in its growing culture medium.
2) The growth factors and the concentration of acetate and ammonium ion in the medium were intimately related to the growth and to the L-glutamate accumulation as well.
3) Several strains of genera Brevibacterium and Corynebacterium besides Brevibacterium flavum, No. 2247 could grow in the acetate medium and accumulated a considerable amount of L-glutamate.

抄録全体を表示

On a papillary muscle and its corresponding false tendon the dog heart, the transmembrane potentials of Purkinje and “transitional cells” were recorded.
The action potentials recorded along the surface of the false tendon had the shape, amplitude and rate of rise similar to those of the typical Purkinje fiber responses. The RMP of cells the false tendon have also approximately the same value than that of Purkinje cells (FIGS. 2 and 3). When the exploring microelectrode reached the “terminal Purkinje” fibers their membrane characteristics decreased slightly. The magnitude of these differences was even greater when recording transitional cells located within the junctional region (FIGS. 2f and 3f).
Variables of different nature were introduced in order to study the relationship between the rate of rise of action potentials transitional cells and the propagation of impulses through the junctional region of Purkinje and myocardial cells. a) Progressive increase in the frequency of stimulation (FIGS. 4 and 5), b) diminution in external NaC1 (FIG. 6), c) lack of calcium (FIG. 10), d) anoxia (FIG. 8), e) low temperatures (FIG. 7). All these variables produced a decrease in the rate of rise and amplitude of the initial component of a transitional potential and consequently the propagation through the junctional region was delayed or blocked (FIG. 1).
Simultaneous recording two transitional cells revealed that conduction velocity is slower in the junctional region than in the false tendon. This fact suggest that transitional potentials having a slow rate of rise and small amplitude may cause the delays or the blockages in propagation occurring in the junctional regions.

抄録全体を表示

One hundred and three subjects with ischemic heart disease (IHD) were followed-up in an attempt to assess the most important factors affecting morbidity and mortality. At the time of initial examination 23 patients had congestive heart failure. During the one year follow-up after the examination 11 patients died. Various parameters including perfusion defects (SCORE) on ²⁰¹Tl-myocardial scintigrams, radiocardiographic hemodynamic data and orthogonal electrocardiographic parameters were analysed at the onset of the study, according to the method of "factor analysis". The factor analytic technique enabled a summary of the data obtained these non-invasive approaches into five major interpretable components termed factors 1 to 5 ; factor 1 as "the extent of myocardial ischemia", factor 2 "heart size", factor 3 "cardiac pump function", factor 4 "peripheral blood volume" and factor 5 "QRS forces". The relationship between these five factors with a one-year mortality rate was then investigated. Of these factors, factor 1 which included SCORE, spatial G/QRS, T/QRS and QRS-T angle proved to be the most important as related to morbidity and mortality in IHD. Factors 2 and 3 were also shown to be useful prognostic indicators of subsequent mortality. Thus, a combination of these non-invasive parameters is useful not only to diagnose IHD but also serves as one form of evaluation of the prognosis in patients with IHD.

抄録全体を表示