Synthesis of Calcium Silicate Hydrate with Ca/Si = 2 by Mechanochemical Treatment

An amorphous, C-S-H-like phase with Ca/Si = 2 was synthesized from amorphous precipitated silica, calcium oxide, and water by mechanochemical treatment using a vibration mill at room temperature. The product was studied by XRD, ²⁹Si MASNMR, TEM, analytical TEM, and TGA-DTA. After 14 h of treatment, the starting materials react to form an amorphous phase (C-S-H-like phase). The XRD pattern of C-S-H-like phase resembles the C-S-H formed hydrothermally or by cement hydration except it has no reflection at 0.182 nm. The ²⁹Si NMR results revealed a silicate anion structure of C-S-H-like phase consisting mainly of a mixture of a monomer and a dimer. On heating, the C-S-H-like phase decomposed into β-dicalcium silicate below 1000°C.     

Internal optical couplings and functions of vertically and directlyintegrated device of four phototransistors and a laser diode

An optoelectronic integrated device composed of four heterojunction phototransistors and a laser diode has been developed. Optical coupling between constituent devices is investigated, and it is shown that there are three coupling modes between any two phototransistors through the laser diode. Various functions such as optical tristability, light-controlled optical bistability, and light-controlled optical thresholding are demonstrated by utilizing these optical coupling phenomena     

The results of questionnaire on quantitative assessment of 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine myocardial scintigraphy in heart failure

This study was done by working group under the cooperation between Japanese Society of Nuclear Medicine and Japanese Circulation Society. We evaluated the usefulness of quantitative assessment of 123I-metaiodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) myocardial scintigraphy in heart failure by the results of questionnaire. Forty-nine (72.1%) of 68 selected institutions participated in this study. The incidence of MIBG myocardial scintigraphy used in heart failure was 41.1%. The imaging protocol was mostly done by both planar and SPECT at 15 min and 3.6 hr after intravenous injection of 111 MBq of MIBG. The quantitative assessment was mostly done by heart/mediastinum (H/M) ratio and washout rate analysis based on planar imaging. The mean normal value of H/M ratio were 2.34 +/- 0.36, and 2.49 +/- 0.40, at early and delayed images, respectively. The normal value of washout rate was 27.74 +/- 5.34%. On the other hand, those of H/M ratio in heart failure were 1.87 +/- 0.27, and 1.75 +/- 0.24, at early and delayed images, respectively. That of washout rate was 42.30 +/- 6.75%. These parameters were very useful for the evaluation of heart failure. In conclusion, MIBG myocardial scintigraphy was widely used for not only early detection and severity assessment, but also indication for therapy and prognosis evaluation in heart failure patients.     

Activation of the extrinsic coagulation pathway in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock

OBJECTIVES: To obtain systematic information on the extrinsic coagulation pathway, as well as to investigate the time course of the coagulation abnormalities in sepsis. DESIGN: Prospective observational study. SETTING: General intensive care unit. PATIENTS: Nineteen patients with the diagnosis of severe sepsis or septic shock and nine control patients. INTERVENTIONS: None. MEASUREMENTS AND MAIN RESULTS: Tissue factor antigen concentration (tissue factor antigen), prothrombin fragment F1+2, thrombin antithrombin III complex, fibrinopeptide A, D-dimer, and antithrombin III concentrations were measured on the day of diagnosis of severe sepsis and septic shock, and on days 1, 2, 3, and 4 after diagnosis. The concentrations of tissue factor antigen, prothrombin fragment F1+2, fibrinopeptide A, and D-dimer were significantly increased in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock compared with control subjects. However, the concentrations of thrombin antithrombin III complex showed no statistical differences between the septic patients and the control subjects. Significantly, low antithrombin III concentrations were observed in the septic patient groups compared with control subjects. With the exception of D-dimer, the concentrations of the hemostatic markers were similar between severe sepsis and septic shock patients. Significant correlations were noted between tissue factor antigen and the disseminated intravascular coagulation score (r2=.236, p< .0001) and the number of dysfunctioning organs (r2=.229, p=.035). CONCLUSIONS: We systematically elucidated coagulation disorders in newly defined sepsis. The extrinsic coagulation pathway is activated in patients with severe sepsis and septic shock. In these patients, enhanced thrombin generation and activation, and fibrin formation were demonstrated when compared with the control subjects. Furthermore, the thrombin generated appears not to be fully neutralized by antithrombin III.     

Evaluation of antibacterial activities of various antibiotics against glucose non-fermentative gram-negative rods other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa

MICs of piperacillin, sulbactam/cefoperazone, minocycline (MINO), gentamicin, amikacin, flomoxef, ceftazidime, cefozopran, cefsulodin and imipenem were determined, against 189 clinical isolated strains of glucose non-fermentative Gram-negative Rods (NFGNR; Acinetobacter baumannii (44), Alcaligenes faecalis (5), Alcaligenes xylosoxidans (25), Burkholderia cepacia (12), Chryseobacterium indologenes (23), Chryseobacterium meningosepticum (9), Pseudomonas fluorescens (8), Pseudomonas putida (12), Stenotrophomonas maltophilia (51). Most species of these NFGNR show resistance to many antibiotics tested. Among the antibiotics used in this study, the only antibiotic effective against all species of NFGNR tested is MINO. The spectrums of antibacterial activities of various antibiotics determined by MICs may be useful in preliminary test for identification of these NFGNR.     

Acute myelogenous leukemia with monosomy 7, inv(3) (q21q26), involving activated EVI 1 gene occurring after a complete remission of lymphoblastic lymphoma: a case report

A 42-year-old female with a mediastinal tumor and massive pleural effusion ws admitted to our hospital in June 1993. Biopsy revealed lymphoblastic lymphoma. She had no evidence of distant metastasis except pleural effusion. Bone marrow examination revealed a normal karyotype (46, XY). The patient had been progression-free for more than 1 year after achieving complete remission by induction, consolidation and maintenance therapy according to the standard chemotherapy and involved-field radiation for lymphoblastic lymphoma. From May 1996 progressive leukopenia and thrombocytopenia developed. The diagnosis of refractory anemia with excess of blasts (RAEB) was made. Subsequently, in November 1996, she developed acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), M4 type by FAB classification. The karyotype of MDS and AML clones involved inversion (3) (q21q26) and monosomy 7. The EVI 1 gene was examined and was proved to be rearranged and activated. This may be the first case among the therapy-related cases of MDS/AML reported whose karyotypes were followed and in which the mRNA expression of EVI 1 gene involved was directly proved in the leukemogenesis process of chemotherapy-induced secondary MDS and AML.