Application of ultrasound method for hemorrhagic digestive disease]

Ultrasonography for the digestive diseases are consisted of abdominal ultrasonography (US), endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) and color Doppler endoscopic ultrasonography (CDEUS). These play a supplementary role in comparison with the roentgenography and endoscopy. The information of the ultrasonography is different from these examinations. By US the collateral shunts of esophago-gastric varices are observed. EUS is useful for diagnosis of the properties of esophago-gastric varices and judgement of effects of treatment for these varices, gastric ulcer and vessels in ulcer base and hemorrhagic bowel diseases. CDEUS can show blood streams of esophago-gastric varices and hemorrhagic ulcer.     

Human chymase, an enzyme forming novel bioactive 31-amino acid length endothelins

We report the novel role of human chymase in the production of bioactive 31-amino acid length endothelins (ETs), which may play a role in allergies and vascular diseases. In the bronchi of asthmatic patients, the vascular tissue in atherosclerosis, and the heart muscle in cardiac hypertrophy, both ET-like immunoreactivity and the accumulation of mast cells significantly increase. Chymase from human mast cells selectively cleaves big ET-1, -2 and -3 at their Tyr31-Gly32 bonds, and produces novel bioactive 31-amino acid length ETs, ETs(1-31), without any further degradation products. However, chymases from other species, human cathepsin G, and porcine alpha-chymotrypsin, degrade big ETs. ETs(1-31) at concentrations between 10(-9) M and 10(-7) M exhibited various contractile potencies in rat tracheae and porcine coronary arteries in a dose-dependent manner. Furthermore, ET-1(1-31) at concentrations between 10(-14) M and 10(-10) M caused a significant increase in the intracellular free Ca2+ concentration. The contractile activity of ETs(1-31) may not be the consequence of conversion to the corresponding ETs(1-21) by phosphoramidon-sensitive ET converting enzyme(s) or other chymotrypsin-type proteases and metallo-endopeptidases, because the contractile activity was not significantly inhibited on treatment with inhibitors of these proteases prior to the addition of ET-1(1-31).     

Development of the computerized dental cast form analyzing system--three dimensional diagnosis of dental arch form and the investigation of measuring condition

To analyze the functional and morphological harmonies of the tooth and dental arch, a computerized system to measure a dental cast and to detect the apex of dental cusps and angle points of incisors was developed. Detailed morphology in the measured dental cast could be displayed distinctively by computer graphics (CG) with a surface model. Accuracy in determining the position of the apex of the dental cusp was examined by increasing the measuring pitch from 50 microns to 400 microns, the error increased gradually with increased measuring pitch. Taking the measuring error, the time for measurement and the memory size for analysis into account, a measuring pitch of 200 microns was determined to be reasonable. Three-dimensional data measurements from the apex of the dental cusp in molar, and the mesial and distal angles in canine and incisor were fitted to a polynomial formula. In the present measured model, the 4th order polynomial formula was used for the dental arch, and the 2nd order polynomial formula was used for the anteroposterior and lateral occlusal curves. These formulae could be simultaneously superimposed on the surface model of the dental cast, and displayed using CG.     

Synthesis of polychloroprene–silica composites by sol‐gel method in the presence of modified polychloroprene containing triethoxysilyl group

Triethoxysilyl‐modified polychloroprene (CR) latex was synthesized by the emulsion copolymerization of 2‐(3‐triethoxysilylpropyl)‐1,3‐butadiene with chloroprene. This latex was mixed with unmodified CR latex and tetraethoxysilane to obtain CR–silica composites by sol‐gel reaction in the latex. SEM observation showed that the silica particles in unvulcanized composites have various diameters ranging from 0.1 to 0.6 μ m, and their size became larger with the decrease of the silica content. Vulcanized CR–silica composites showed that the tensile modulus and tear strength improved with an increase of the amount of modified CR. © 2005 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 97: 1545–1552, 2005     

Clinicopathologic features of submucosal carcinoma of the stomach

A retrospective study of 155 patients with submucosal gastric carcinoma compared the clinicopathologic features with mucosal and muscularis proprial gastric carcinoma. Fifty-seven percent of the patients presented with gastrointestinal symptoms, whereas 36.1% had been detected by mass screening. The incidence of curative resection, lymph node metastasis, and complications were 96.1, 20.6, and 14.8%, respectively. Two patients died of sepsis and pulmonary infarction 30 days post-operatively. Five patients died of recurrent gastric cancer 1-5 years postresection. The overall 5-year survival rate was 90.2%. Recurrence patterns, histologic type, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic and venous infiltration, and growth pattern were similar to those of muscularis proprial carcinoma rather than mucosal carcinoma. Therefore, curative gastrectomy with extended lymphadenectomy (D2) may be feasible for submucosal carcinoma of the stomach.     

Study on MA and FP transmutation in fast reactors

Feasibility studies have been performed to develop an optimized fast reactor core for reducing long-term radiotoxicity of nuclear waste by minor actinide(MA) and long-lived fission product(FP) transmutation, taking into consideration fuel cycle technology. Systematic parameter survey calculations were implemented to investigate the basic characteristics of MA and FP transmutation in a fast reactor core. The hybrid MA-loading method, where Np nuclide is dispersed uniformly in the core and target subassemblies containing Am, Cm and rare earth nuclides are loaded into the blanket region, has the potential to achieve the maximum transmutation of MA with no special fuel design considerations. The introduction of target subassemblies using duplex pellets - a moderator annulus surrounding a ⁹⁹Tc core - has a great potential to transmute long-lived fission products in the radial blanket region of the fast reactor core.     

Pb-based ferroelectric thin film actuator for optical applications

Novel PZT thin film actuators for optical applications were proposed. Key issues for realizing the actuators such as PZT thin film processes, mechanical properties evaluation of thin films, and design for laminated structure were described. [1 1 1]-oriented PZT films were obtained by anneal/non-anneal sputtering process. Also for PZT dry etching, it was made clear low pressure and low temperature conditions were advantageous for high selectivity and etch rate. ECR etcher was used and etch rate of 1000 A/min and selectivity of 0.56 to photoresist mask were obtained. Young’s modulus and built-in stress of PZT film, measured by load-deflection method, were 72 GPa, −335 MPa respectively. Using these results, calculated deflection of each actuator was on the order of a few microns to 20 microns. It was confirmed that deflection of actuators would be enough for the application.     

Synthesis of a biologically active fluorescent derivative of GM1, a main Ginseng saponin metabolite formed by intestinal bacteria

PURPOSE: Prosthodontic components for implant treatment have been developed with minimal reported scientific investigation. This paper aims to highlight a number of problems caused by this approach to the development and marketing of prosthodontic components and to suggest solutions. CONCLUSION: Prosthodontic components must be developed with a scientific approach that involves both laboratory and clinical testing so as to optimize treatment outcomes in the future.