Differences in strategies for carcinoma of the pancreas between Japan and western countries

This study defines normative flow velocity (FV) ranges for the common carotid (CCA), internal carotid (ICA) and middle cerebral arteries (MCA), compares them to subjects with nonfocal vascular disease (mild to moderate hypertension, diabetes, hyperlipidemia or coronary artery disease), and clarifies the association between carotid and MCA FVs. FVs were measured by carotid and transcranial Doppler ultrasonography in 278 healthy and 190 vascular-disease subjects. Normative FV ranges for CCA, ICA and MCA were large in healthy subjects, with modest gender and age differences. Vascular-disease subjects had similar FVs to healthy controls. MCA FVs were significantly correlated with carotid FVs (r ranged 0.26-0.50), but were only weakly or not significantly associated with them (beta ranged 0.08-0.18) when controlling for age and gender. These findings suggest that normative FVs are not affected by the presence of nonfocal vascular disease, but carotid FVs do not aid in assessing MCA FVs.     

Outcomes of 50 leukemia patients who received bone marrow transplants from unrelated donors]

In this study, we examined the ability of tumour necrosis factor-alpha (TNF) to stimulate the mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase homologues p42/44 MAP kinase, c-Jun NH2-terminal kinase (JNK) and p38 MAP kinase and its effect upon DNA synthesis in primary cultures of bovine aortic endothelial cells (BAECs). TNF strongly stimulated p38 MAP kinase and JNK activity in both a time- and concentration-dependent manner. By contrast, TNF was a very poor activator of p42/44 MAP kinase relative to the known activator of p42/44 MAP kinase in endothelial cells, adenosine triphosphate (ATP). TNF-stimulated activation of p38 MAP kinase, and MAPKAP kinase-2, a known downstream target of p38 MAP kinase, was strongly inhibited by pre-incubation with the p38 MAP kinase inhibitor SB203580, whereas the minor activation of p42/44 MAP kinase was abolished by pre-incubation of the cell with the novel MAP kinase kinase 1 inhibitor PD098059. Addition of TNF resulted in a 50-60% decrease in DNA synthesis in BAECs. Pre-incubation with PD098059 or co-incubation with ATP failed to modify the inhibitory effect of TNF upon DNA synthesis. SB203580 reduced basal DNA synthesis by approximately 50%; however, if failed to modify the inhibition mediated by TNF. These results indicate that TNF strongly activates both p38 MAP kinase, JNK and, to a minor extent, p42/p44 MAP kinase. It is likely that only one of these kinases, JNK, plays a role in the regulation of DNA synthesis in these cells.     

Evaluation of coronary flow velocity dynamics and flow reserve in patients with Kawasaki disease by means of a Doppler guide wire

OBJECTIVES: To assess the pathophysiologic effects of the coronary sequelae of Kawasaki disease on coronary hemodynamic variables, we regionally evaluated the flow velocity dynamics and flow reserve in coronary vessels with lesions using an intracoronary Doppler flow guide wire. BACKGROUND: The pathophysiologic effects of the coronary sequelae of Kawasaki disease on coronary hemodynamic variables have not been completely clarified, and we previously reported some discrepancies between coronary angiographic findings and exercise stress tests in Kawasaki disease. METHODS: Doppler phasic coronary flow velocity was determined using an 0.018-in. (0.046-cm) intracoronary Doppler flow guide wire at rest and during the adenosine triphosphate-induced hyperemic response in 95 patients (75 male, 20 female, mean age 9.8+/-6.2 years) with Kawasaki disease. RESULTS: In 25 patients with coronary aneurysms in 29 vessels, the average peak velocity and diastolic to systolic velocity ratio were significantly (p < 0.05) decreased in the moderate-sized and large-sized aneurysms. Significantly lower values in coronary flow reserve (CFR) were noted in 3 of 10 vessels with moderate aneurysms and in 4 of 7 vessels with large aneurysms. A significant positive correlation (y = 0.53x + 14.6, r2 = 0.91) was observed between the percent diameter stenosis evaluated by angiography and that calculated from the flow velocity measurement. However, the percent diameter stenosis calculated from the flow velocity measurement was underestimated compared with that determined by angiography in the stenotic lesions of intermediate severity. A reduced CFR was noted in five of seven vessels with intermediate stenosis ranging from 50% to 75%, and also in three vessels with mild stenosis ranging from 30% to 40%. A reduced CFR was also observed in six of the eight angiographically normal vessels associated with the area of reduced perfusion on exercise thallium-201 myocardial scintigraphy. CONCLUSIONS: Abnormalities in flow dynamics and a reduction in flow reserve were revealed in coronary aneurysms of intermediate to large size and in stenotic lesions, even of mild to intermediate severity, in patients with Kawasaki disease. Abnormalities in the coronary microcirculation, as well as epicardial lesions, contribute to the pathophysiologic responses in Kawasaki disease.     

Regulation of Kv4.2 and Kv1.4 K+ channel expression by myocardial hypertrophic factors in cultured newborn rat ventricular cells

Postnatal development and myocardial hypertrophy are associated with alterations in cardiac voltage-gated K+ channels. To investigate mechanisms underlying this K+ channel remodeling, expression of Kv4.2 and Kv1.4 K+ channel alpha-subunits was examined in cultured newborn rat ventricular myocytes by Western blot analysis using polyclonal antibodies against each of the subunits. At day 5 of cell culture, Kv1.4 protein was expressed at higher level than Kv4.2; as the age of culture progressed, Kv1.4 was significantly diminished while Kv4.2 increased with time in culture and became the predominant K+ channel protein. Such K+ channel isoform switch from Kv1.4 to Kv4.2 resembles that of the development in vivo. A 72-h treatment with exogenous triiodothyronine (T3, 0.1 microM) to cultured neonatal myocytes enhanced the expression of Kv4.2 by 73% and decreased the Kv1.4 expression by 22%. The effects of T3 were associated with an increase in the protein-to-DNA ratio indicating myocyte hypertrophy. On the other hand, a 72-h treatment with cardiac non-myocyte cell (NMC)-conditioned growth medium (NCGM) or phenylephrine (20 microM) induced similar cell hypertrophy, but in sharp contrast to T3, both markedly suppressed the Kv4.2 channel protein level. In addition, the trophic and the Kv4.2-downregulating effects of NCGM could be mimicked by exogenous endothelin-1 (0.1 microM), a paracrine factor secreted from cardiac NMCs. Our observations for the first time suggest that cardiac Kv4.2 and Kv1.4 K+ channel alpha-subunits are differentially regulated by a variety of myocardial hypertrophic factors. That T3 accelerated the developmental K+ channel isoform switch from Kv1.4 to Kv4.2 in vitro indicates the critical importance of thyroid hormone in postnatal K+ channel remodeling. Cardiac NMCs and alpha-adrenoceptor activation may contribute to the reduced outward K+ channel density in hypertrophied cardiomyocytes.     

Strength and failure behavior of stitched carbon/epoxy composites

This article presents a study of the effect of through-the-thickness stitching yarns upon the strength and failure behavior of multidirectionally reinforced composites. The in-plane yarns were placed in four directions (0,±45, 90) to form a quasi-isotropic preform, which had open spaces between adjacent yarns. These interyarn spaces allowed easy insertion of the through-the-thickness stitching yarns without significant damage of the in-plane fibers. Fiber volume fractions of over 54 pct were obtained by this method. The through-the-thickness yarn sizes used in this study were 2, 4, and 6 kilo-filament (kf). Non-stitched performs were also manufactured with the same fiber content and by the same procedure as the stiched preforms for the control experiments. All preforms were infiltrated with epoxy resin by the resin transfer molding (RTM) technique. In-plane tensile and compressive strength, interlaminar shear strength, and mode I fracture toughness of the carbon/epoxy composites were measured at three through-the-thickness yarn contents. Although the through-the-thickness yarns significantly enhanced the mode I fracture toughness, they tended to degrade the in-plane tensile and compressive strength. The failure process under interlaminar shear loading by double notch shear tests showed two distinct stages: the fiber-matrix interfacial failure followed by the breakage/debonding of the through-the-thickness yarns. The through-the-thickness yarns caused a reduction of the initial failure load in the first stage but could enhance the final failure load in the second stage. In composites with 6 kf through-the-thickness yarns, the final failure load could exceed the initial failure load. Scanning electron microscope (SEM) and optical microscopic examinations were also conducted for observing the failure mechanisms and fracture surfaces. This article is based on a presentation made in the Symposium “Mechanisms and Mechanics of Composites Fracture” held October 11–15, 1998, at the TMS Fall Meeting in Rosemont, Illinois, under the auspices of the TMS-SMD/ASM-MSCTS Composite-Materials Committee.     

Feeder components and instrumentation for the JT-60SA magnet system

The modifying of the JT-60U magnet system to the superconducting coils is progressing as a satellite facility for ITER by both parties of Japanese government and European commission in the Broader Approach agreement. The magnet system requires current supplies of 25.7 kA for 18 TF coils and of 20 kA for 4 CS modules and 6 EF coils. The magnet system generates an average heat load of 3.2 kW at 4 K to the cryogenic system. The feeder components connected to the power supply provide current supply. The cooling pipes connected to the cryogenic system provide coolant supply. The instrumentation of the JT-60SA magnet system is used for its operation.     

System efficiency of a water-splitting system synthesized by photochemical and thermoelectric conversion of solar energy

Valuable hybrid systems for hydrogen production by solar energy have been developed and the system efficiency has been estimated and discussed from various points of view. In order to decompose water into hydrogen and oxygen without the consumption of additional reactants, a steady stream of the reacting materials must be maintained in consecutive reaction processes and if the system has a rate determining step extra energy should be supplied to promote the reaction. In the Yokohama Mark 5 Process, the efficiency of the thermoelectric device is as low as 5 %; however, the overall efficiency of hydrogen production can be raised to 20 % by addition of extra electric power.The energetics of a hybrid system combining photochemical, thermochemical and electrochemical reactions have also been discussed.