Chemokines and inflammatory diseases

Intoxication after ingestion of toad is rare, but it results in severe morbidity and high mortality. Recently, we encountered 2 children, one a 15-month-old boy and one a 20-month-old girl, who were fed cooked toad (Bufo melanostictus) soup. The boy expired of ventricular fibrillation. The girl presented with varying degrees of A-V block with congestive heart failure which, however, was completely resolved after intensive treatment. In our experience, early identification and intervention are necessary to decrease absorption of toxins; to correct hyperkalemia. Dysrhythmia should be treated with atropine, antiarrhythmic agents, and a temporary pacemaker, in order to avoid lethal results.     

The pharmacokinetics of water-in-oil-in-water-type multiple emulsion of a new tacrolimus formulation

We developed a water-in-oil-in-water (W/O/W)-type multiple emulsion of a new tacrolimus formulation. A potential approach to avoid the complications of systemic immunosuppression and simultaneously enhance immunosuppressive efficacy is to deliver immunosuppressive agents locally to the site of the target organs. The W/O/W emulsion is dispersed oil drops containing smaller water droplets that allow the delivery of drugs preferentially to the reticuloendothelial system (RES). Since the liver and the spleen are primary components of the RES, and the brain and the kidney have a poor RES, we hypothesized that a W/O/W emulsion of tacrolimus would prossess the pharmacokinetic benefits of local immunosuppression. We evaluated this hypothesis in a rat model. The tacrolimus levels of whole blood, the liver, spleen, brain, and kidney in rats given intravenous emulsions of tacrolimus (W/O/W group) were compared with a group administered tacrolimus alone (T group). There were no significant differences between the pharmacokinetic parameters of W/O/W group and T group based on whole blood data. However, the W/O/W group had significantly decreased tacrolimus levels in the brain and kidney, and significantly increased levels in the liver and spleen compared with the T group. These data suggest that the W/O/W emulsion is applicable as an intravenous drug carrier for local immunosuppression.     

Microstructural evolution and mechanical properties of Cr-Ru alloys

In an effort to enhance ductility and strength of Cr-base alloys, a series of Cr-Ru alloys with Ru contents ranging from 3 to 30 at. pct were made to study their microstructure evolution and mechanical properties. The microstructure of the alloys with 6 to 20 at. pct Ru showed signs of a eutectic structure. However, no corresponding eutectic reaction is indicated in the published Cr-Ru phase diagram. The yield strength of the Cr-Ru alloys increased with increasing Ru content at both room temperature and 1200 °C. The tensile ductility of Cr-3 at. pct Ru is about 1.5 pct at room temperature, while the alloys containing 6 at. pct or more Ru showed zero tensile elongation. The deformation mechanisms of the Cr-Ru alloys are discussed in terms of the microstructure and fracture behavior. This article is based on a presentation made in the symposium entitled “Beyond Nickel-Base Superalloys,” which took place March 14–18, 2004, at the TMS Spring meeting in Charlotte, NC, under the auspices of the SMD-Corrosion and Environmental Effects Committee, the SMD-High Temperature Alloys Committee, the SMD-Mechanical Behavior of Materials Committee, and the SMD-Refractory Metals Committee.     

Fundamental characteristics of the QFP measured by the DC SQUID

The fundamental characteristics are described of the quantum flux parametron (QPF), measured by a method in which the output signals of the QFP are detected with a DC SQUID. The DC SQUID linearly and continuously converts the output current of the QFP to voltage, allowing the output signal of the QFP to be measured as the voltage of the DC SQUID. The fundamental characteristics of the QFP have been experimentally confirmed in detail     

Difference in the detection limits of flaws in the depths of multi-layered and continuous aluminum plates using low-frequency eddy current testing

We examined the difference in the detection limits of flaws in the depths of multi-layered and continuous aluminum plates using low-frequency eddy current testing. The detection limits were measured by using a magneto-resistive sensor. Comparing the frequency of an applied magnetic field, the detection limit at 50 Hz is deeper than that at 1 kHz. Comparing the sample structure, the detection limit in the multi-layered samples is deeper than that in the continuous samples. These results are likely due to the differences in the skin depth and conductivity of the sample.     

EVALUATION ON LIMITATION OF LINEAR ELASTIC FRACTURE MECHANICS FOR SMALL FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH

Abstract— The growth characteristics of small fatigue cracks were investigated under rotary bending in a high tensile strength steel, and the critical crack length above which linear elastic fracture mechanics (LEFM) is applicable was evaluated systematically from the results of the present study and previous studies in which two steels having different microstructures and strengths were used. It is found that the critical crack length extends over two regions each exhibiting different growth mechanisms. These regions of microstructurally small cracks and mechanically small cracks are found to be a unique function of the microstructural unit size and the yield strength of the materials, respectively. Therefore, using these relationships, it is possible to estimate the critical crack length for a given material.     

Rapid detection of enterotoxigenic Escherichia coli O6 in water by using monoclonal antibody and a photon-counting television camera

Monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) raised against Escherichia coli O6:H16 were screened against 15 strains of E. coli and 19 non-E. coli bacteria. A MAb-luminescence assay using MAb-5.8, which shows no cross-reactions with non-E. coli bacteria, and a photon-counting television camera were developed for rapid enumeration of E. coli O6:H16 in water. The membrane filter that retained bacteria was boiled for 5 min in a buffer and incubated with biotinylated MAb-5.8. After incubation with streptavidin-peroxidase conjugate, it was reacted with luminol-based reaction mixture. Luminous image and light intensity of the filter was recorded with a Biocell Counter. Levels of E. coli O6 higher than 7 x 10(3) CFU were detected by the MAb-luminescence assay when E. coli O6 was spotted onto the membrane filter. The sample that contained E. coli O6:H16 was filtered through a membrane filter, and the filter that retained bacteria was incubated on a filter paper soaked with nutrient broth supplemented with 0.5% NaCl at 37 degrees C for 6 h. The number of light emission points on the filter correlated well with initial E. coli O6:H16 counts within the range of 1 to 3 x 10(2) CFU. The correlation coefficient was 0.89.     

Surgical strategy for abdominal aortic aneurysm with concurrent symptomatic malignancy

In an attempt to improve the guidelines for concurrent management of concomitant abdominal aortic aneurysm (AAA) and symptomatic malignancy, a retrospective study was undertaken. A total of 186 AAA repairs were performed electively, and 25 patients (13.4%) had concurrent symptomatic malignancy from April 1986 to March 1997. Fourteen patients underwent a one-stage operation, including five abdominoperineal rectal resections, four subtotal gastrectomies, three total gastrectomies, and two right hemicolectomies. Eleven others underwent a two-stage operation, including four with total gastrectomy and left hemicolectomy followed by AAA repair, as well as two with right hemicolectomy and one with left hemicolectomy prior to AAA repair. There were no operative deaths or severe postoperative complications. Of the 25 patients, 22 (88.0%) are still alive during follow-up ranging from 8 months to 11 years. Our surgical approach to both lesions is as follows: (1) Using the transperitoneal approach alone, subtotal gastrectomy and abdominoperineal rectal resection can be safely done simultaneously. (2) Although total gastrectomy can also be performed concurrently, the approach used for each lesion is separate. (3) Colorectal resection is generally done separately. However, a one-stage operation can be performed using the thromboexclusion procedure for AAA repair in patients with right-sided colonic cancer or a temporary transverse colostomy for left-sided colorectal cancer.     

Highly efficient electrochemical valence control of uranium using microfluidic chip equipped with microelectrodes

We have developed a novel microchip equipped with a microchannel and Pt microelectrode array for electrochemically controlling valences of actinide (An) species. The square wave voltammograms of the redox reaction of potassium hexacyanoferrate(II) in the microchannel were measured. We found that the fabricated Pt microelectrode array has superior performances for the detection of the electrochemically active species in the microchannel. Therefore, the potentiostatic electrolysis experiments of uranium ions were carried out in the microchannel, and the concentration changes of uranium ions accompanied by the potentiostatic electrolysis were examined using thermal lens microscope. The results showed that the redox reactions between U(VI) and U(IV) can be performed completely in a microchannel in a few minutes, that is, the microscale reaction is accelerated by a factor of more than 10 compared with the bulk solution reactions taking hours mostly. The developed microchip was found to have enough performances for realizing rapid and highly efficient redox reactions for An species, which are impossible in the bulk reactions.     

High-speed demonstration of an output interface driver forsingle-flux quantum systems

The high-speed operation of a one-channel output interface for a single-flux quantum (SFQ) system has been demonstrated. The interface consisted of a Josephson latching driver, a room-temperature semiconductor amplifier, and a decision circuit module. The Josephson latching driver was fabricated by using a 2.5-kA/cm² standard Nb junction process and used to amplify an SFQ pulse into a 5.5-mV level signal at 10 Gb/s. The interface converted the SFQ pulse signal into a nonreturn-to-zero signal having an amplitude of 1 V at 10 Gb/s