Serum vanadium levels in chronic hemodialysis patients

Serum vanadium, aluminum, silicon and beta 2-microglobulin levels as well as the red cell count, hemoglobin and systolic blood pressure were simultaneously measured in 80 chronic hemodialysis patients. The serum vanadium level was positively correlated with the serum levels of aluminum, silicon and beta 2-microglobulin as well as the systolic blood pressure, and was inversely correlated with the red cell count and hemoglobin. The mean serum vanadium level was 18.4 +/- 7.6 ng/ml before hemodialysis and decreased to 13.0 +/- 5.30 ng/ml at the completion of dialysis. The dialysate vanadium level increased from 0.4 +/- 0.2 (inflow) to 1.0 +/- 0.4 ng/ml (outflow). It was concluded that vanadium was transferred from blood to dialysate when purified water was used in the preparation of the dialysate.     

Circulating platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor increases in hepatocellular carcinoma patients

BACKGROUND: Platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor (PD-ECGF) is an angiogenic factor that is expressed in various cancer tissues. Little is known regarding plasma PD-ECGF levels in patients with chronic liver disease such as chronic hepatitis (CH), cirrhosis, and hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) with cirrhosis. The expression of PD-ECGF in HCC tissues also remains to be clarified. METHODS: Plasma PD-ECGF levels in patients with chronic liver disease were determined with an enzyme-linked immunoadsorbent assay system using the mouse monoclonal antibodies specific to PD-ECGF. These were cross-sectionally compared among groups of normal persons, CH, cirrhosis, and HCC patients. The HCC patients were classified into two groups based on TNM stage: early and advanced stage disease groups. PD-ECGF expressions in HCC tissues were immunohistologically examined. RESULTS: The plasma PD-ECGF levels from the normal individuals and those with CH, cirrhosis, and HCC specimens were 4.2+/-0.5, 4.3+/-0.6, 4.6+/-1.1, and 6.0 +/-2.5 U/mL, respectively. The plasma PD-ECGF concentration was highest in HCC (P < 0.05). No significant difference was found among the normal subjects, CH, and cirrhosis specimens. Plasma PD-ECGF concentrations were significantly higher in the advanced stage disease HCC group compared with the early stage disease group (6.75+/-2.62 U/mL vs. 4.19+/-0.34 U/mL) (P < 0.05). Immunohistochemical expression of PD-ECGF in HCC cells increased significantly compared with normal liver cells (P < 0.05). CONCLUSIONS: Circulating PD-ECGF plasma level might be a new tumor marker for progression in patients with HCC. Immunohistological findings correspond to elevation of the plasma PD-ECGF in HCC patients. It is possible that increased production of PD-ECGF in HCC cells causes abundant neovascularization.     

An investigation of induced voltages to an underground gas pipeline from an overhead transmission line

This paper investigates induced voltage characteristics from an overhead transmission line by applying a method of modeling of induced voltages proposed by the authors. EMTP simulation results obtained by the modeling method agree with analytical results obtained from a well‐known formula. The induced voltages are significantly dependent on the configuration of the overhead line. A horizontal line induces the largest voltage in a gas pipeline, and the voltage induced by a vertical twin‐circuit line is about 20% smaller than that induced by a vertical single‐circuit line. The method is applied to a real pipeline system and the simulation results show reasonable agreement with field test results. © 2008 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electr Eng Jpn, 164(1): 43–51, 2008; Published online in Wiley InterScience ( www.interscience.wiley.com ). DOI 10.1002/eej.20465     

Periacinar collagenization in patients with chronic alcoholism

To examine the development of pancreatic fibrosis in alcoholics, the fibrosis types grouped according to Martin's classification were examined by immunohistochemistry using an antibody against alpha-smooth muscle actin (alpha-SMA). The initial stage of periacinar collagenization was also investigated by electron microscopy. The total incidence of pancreatic fibrosis at autopsy of the 29 alcoholics was significantly higher than that of the 40 non-alcoholics. Intralobular sclerosis was observed to be the most frequent type of fibrosis regardless of alcohol intake. No differences in the enhancement of alpha-SMA expression in each type of fibrosis were found between the alcoholics and non-alcoholics. Electron microscopically, myofibroblasts were found around acini in the early stage of periacinar collagenization, and were accompanied by numerous fine filaments (8-15 nm in diameter). The various changes in zymogen granules (ZG), lysosomes and lipid droplets were augmented in the acinar cells of alcoholics. Medium-density materials were also found in dilated rough endoplasmic reticulum (RER). The contents of ZG and RER occasionally leaked out. In conclusion, pancreatic fibrosis was increased in alcoholics; myofibroblasts may play an important role in the initial stage of periacinar collagenization; and the intracellular transport blockage of protein as represented by abnormalities of ZG, ER and lysosomes may contribute to the development of periacinar collagenization.     

Continuous versus bilevel positive airway pressure in a patient with idiopathic central sleep apnea

A 57-yr-old man with idiopathic central apnea is reported. He presented at our hospital complaining of excessive daytime sleepiness. Polysomnography, including esophageal pressure monitoring, confirmed central sleep apnea with an apnea index of 27/h. He had mild non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) but no signs of diabetic neuropathy or other background diseases. The ventilatory responses to hypoxia and hypercapnia tested while he was awake indicated increased respiratory chemosensitivity. We applied nasal continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bilevel positive airway pressure (BPAP) in an attempt to compare the possible difference in therapeutic efficacy. Although nasal CPAP completely reversed central apnea, nasal BPAP adversely affected both apnea length and frequency in an applied pressure-dependent manner. Arterial blood gas analyses while he was being treated indicted alveolar hypoventilation with CPAP and hyperventilation with BPAP. Additionally, administration of a mixed gas containing 5% CO2 through a face mask had a significant effect on the disappearance of central apnea in this patient. These findings support the theory that the arterial PCO2 level is critical in generating idiopathic central apnea and that nasal CPAP therapy may be effective in eliminating central apnea by raising the PaCO2.     

Cancer chemopreventive ability of conjugated linolenic acids

Conjugated fatty acids (CFA) have received increased interest because of their beneficial effects on human health, including preventing cancer development. Conjugated linoleic acids (CLA) are such CFA, and have been reviewed extensively for their multiple biological activities. In contrast to other types of CFAs including CLA that are found at low concentrations (less than 1%) in natural products, conjugated linolenic acids (CLN) are the only CFAs that occur in higher quantities in natural products. Some plant seeds contain a considerably high concentration of CLN (30 to 70 wt% lipid). Our research group has screened CLN from different plant seed oils to determine their cancer chemopreventive ability. This review describes the physiological functions of CLN isomers that occur in certain plant seeds. CLN are able to induce apoptosis through decrease of Bcl-2 protein in certain human cancer cell lines, increase expression of peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ, and up-regulate gene expression of p53. Findings in our preclinical animal studies have indicated that feeding with CLN resulted in inhibition of colorectal tumorigenesis through modulation of apoptosis and expression of PPARγ and p53. In this review, we summarize chemopreventive efficacy of CLN against cancer development, especially colorectal cancer.     

<Emphasis Type="Italic">Brassica rapa</Emphasis> var. <Emphasis Type="Italic">japonica</Emphasis> Leaf Extract Mediated Green Synthesis of Crystalline Silver Nanoparticles and Evaluation of Their Stability,Cytotoxicity and Antibacterial Activity

Silver nanoparticles (AgNPs) were successfully synthesized from the reduction of Ag⁺ using AgNO₃ solution as a precursor and Brassica rapa var. japonica leaf extract as a reducing and capping agent. This study was aimed at synthesis of AgNPs, exhibiting less toxicity with high antibacterial activity. The characterization of AgNPs was carried out using UV–Vis spectrometry, energy dispersive X-ray spectrometry, fourier transform infrared spectrometry, field emission scanning electron microscopy, X-ray diffraction, atomic absorption spectrometry, and transmission electron microscopy analyses. The analyses data revealed the successful synthesis of nano-crystalline Ag possessing more stability than commercial AgNPs. The cytotoxicity of Brassica AgNPs was compared with commercial AgNPs using in vitro PC12 cell model. Commercial AgNPs reduced cell viability to 23% (control 97%) and increased lactate dehydrogenase activity at a concentration of 3 ppm, whereas, Brassica AgNPs did not show any effects on both of the cytotoxicity parameters up to a concentration level of 10 ppm in PC12 cells. Moreover, Brassica AgNPs exhibited antibacterial activity in terms of zone of inhibition against E. coli (11.1?±?0.5 mm) and Enterobacter sp. (15?±?0.5 mm) which was higher than some previously reported green-synthesised AgNPs. Thus, this finding can be a matter of interest for the production and safe use of green-AgNPs in consumer products.     

Investigation of laser consolidation process for metal powder by two-color pyrometer and high-speed video camera

This paper deals with the measurement of surface temperature on metal powder during the laser consolidation process with two-color pyrometer. Additionally, the aspect of selective laser sintering (SLS) and selective laser melting (SLM) of metal powder is visualized with high speed video camera. As a result, the surface temperature during the laser irradiation was ranged 1520–1810 °C and the consolidation phenomena was classified according to the melting point of metal powder. The metal powder at the heating process cohered intermittently to the melt pool although the laser beam was continuously irradiated to the powder surface.     

Numerical calculations of the effect of moisture content and moisture flow on ionic multi-species diffusion in the pore solution of porous materials

A method to analyse and calculate concentration profiles of different types of ions in the pore solution of porous materials such as concrete subjected to external wetting and drying is described. The equations in use have a solid theoretical meaning and are derived from a porous media technique, which is a special branch of the more general mixture theory. The effect of chemical action is ignored, making the presented model suitable to be implemented into codes dealing solely with chemical equilibrium.     

Numerical analysis of variability in ultrasound propagation properties induced by trabecular microstructure in cancellous bone

The manner by which the trabecular microstructure affects the propagation of ultrasound waves through cancellous bone is numerically investigated by finite difference time-domain (FDTD) simulation. Sixteen 3-D numerical models of 6.45times6.45times6.45 mm with a voxel size of 64.5 mum are reconstructed using a 3-D microcomputed tomographic (muCT) image taken from a bovine cancellous bone specimen of approximately 20times20times9 mm. All cancellous bone models have an oriented trabecular structure, and their trabecular elements are gradually eroded to increase the porosity using an image processing technique. Three erosion procedures are presented to realize various changes in the trabecular microstructure with increasing porosity. FDTD simulations of the ultrasound pulse waves propagating through the cancellous bone models at each eroded step are performed in 2 cases of the propagations parallel and perpendicular to the major trabecular orientation. The propagation properties of the wave amplitudes and propagation speeds are derived as a function of the porosity, and their variability due to the trabecular microstructure is revealed. To elucidate an effect of the microstructure, the mean intercept length (MIL), which is a microstructural parameter, is introduced, and the correlations of the propagation properties with the MILs of the trabecular elements and pore spaces are investigated.