A theory of tie‐set graph and its application to information network management

This paper presents a new circuit theoretical concept based on the principal partition theorem for distributed network management focusing on loops of an information network. To realize a simple network management with the minimum number of local agents, namely the topological degrees of freedom of a graph, a reduced loop agent graph generated by contracting the minimal principal minor is proposed. To investigate the optimal distribution of the loop agents, a theory of tie‐set graph is proposed. Considering the total processing load of loop agents, a complexity of a tie‐set graph is introduced to obtain the simplest tie‐set graph with the minimum complexity. As for the simplest tie‐set graph search, an experimental result shows that the computational time depends heavily on the nullity of the original graph. Therefore, a tie‐set graph with the smallest nullity is essential for network management. Copyright © 2001 John Wiley & Sons, Ltd.     

Application of microdialysis for pharmacokinetic study in rabbit anterior chamber

We evaluated a microdialysis technique for analyzing the pharmacokinetics of instilled or orally administered ofloxacin in the anterior chamber of pigmented rabbits. A microdialysis probe was inserted into the anterior chamber and was perfused (2 microliters/min) with Ringer solution using a microinjection pump. Two hours later, 20 microliters of 0.15 and 0.3% ofloxacin was instilled into an eye, or 20 mg/kg of the drug was administered into the stomach through an intubated catheter. Dialysate was then collected every 15 or 20 min for 6 (instillation) or 8 (oral administration) hours. Ofloxacin concentration in dialysates was determined with a HPLC-spectrofluorometry system. Ofloxacin levels in dialysates increased after the instillation in a dose-related manner, reached a maximum at 30 and 45 min, and then decreased gradually with t1/2 of 136 and 114 min after the 0.15% and 0.3% instillation, respectively. After oral administration, ofloxacin levels in dialysates reached a maximum at 120 min and decreased with t1/2 of 175 min. These data suggest the usefulness of microdialysis for pharmacokinetic studies in the anterior chamber, since continuous and stable data can be obtained from each animal.     

Inter-laboratory difference among eleven clinical laboratories in the Okayama City area

The aim of the present study was to find the cause of inter-laboratory differences in laboratory test data and to examine whether control assessment helps to reduce inter-laboratory differences. Blood and serum samples of one healthy subject and one subject with liver cirrhosis were analyzed by 11 laboratories in the Okayama City area. No differences were found in the assay units of 26 tests surveyed. However, considerable differences were observed in test data, reference interval, and clinical level (CL), though most laboratories pointed out that the test data for the normal subject was within the reference intervals and those for the patient with liver cirrhosis showed abnormalities in tests for liver function. The difference in reference intervals was serious in the tests of direct bilirubin (D-Bil), thymol turbidity test (TTT), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), gamma-glutamyltranspeptidase (GGTP) and choline sterase. Marked differences in CLs were found in the tests of D-Bil, TTT, ALP, GGTP, creatine phosphokinase, amylase, heavy density lipoprotein cholesterol and white blood cell count. However, three hepatologists independently suggested that such inter-laboratory differences would not seriously affect a clinical decision on the disease status of the cirrhotic patient. Most tests that showed a trend error in a recent quality control survey appeared to have the same trend in the present study. These results indicate that inter-laboratory differences occur at various levels and control assessment are helpful in establishing, and therefore reducing, the level of inter-laboratory differences.     

Isolation rate of Enterococcus spp. from surgical infections and their susceptibilities

Enterococcus spp. isolated from surgical infections during the period from July 1982 to June 1995 were investigated in a multicenter study involving 19 hospitals in Japan, and the following results were obtained. 1. Though the isolation rate of Enterococcus faecalis and other Enterococcus spp. were not high from primary infections, and from postoperative infections the isolation rate of other Enterococcus spp. was also low, the isolation rate of E. faecalis was highest from postoperative infections after 1993. 2. Vancomycin (VCM) showed strongest activity against E. faecalis, and followed by those of ampicillin (ABPC), imipenem. levofloxacin (LVFX) and meropenem in this order. Against other Enterococcus spp., VCM showed strongest activity, and followed by those of ABPC and LVFX. There were no resistant strains against VCM.     

Arabinofuranosyl-terminated and mannosylated lipoarabinomannans from Mycobacterium tuberculosis induce different levels of interleukin-12 expression in murine macrophages

Lipoarabinomannan (LAM) is a major surface lipoglycan of Mycobacterium tuberculosis. In the present study, we demonstrated that arabinofuranosyl-terminated LAM (AraLAM) derived from a rapidly growing Mycobacterium sp., but not extensively mannosylated LAM derived from the Erdman strain, is capable of inducing interleukin-12 (IL-12) expression in murine macrophages. Since IL-12 is known to drive the differentiation of naive T cells toward T-helper type 1 (Th1) cell development, AraLAM may be an effective adjuvant in vaccines and immunotherapies that need Th1 responses.     

Idiopathic torsion dystonia and writing tremor within a family

Collaborative care planning and documentation should produce higher standards of care for patients. The collaborative approach should also improve teamwork and create greater understanding between different disciplines.