Evaluation of the radiologic findings on hysterosalpingography by selective hydrotubation with flexible hysterofiberscope

In order to assess the influence of the protein charge on its partitioning in poly(ethyleneglycol)/salt aqueous two-phase systems, three bovine serum albumin derivatives with isoelectric points of 5.50, 6.20 and 6.85 were obtained by chemical modification of the protein with a soluble carbodiimide and glycine O-methyl ester and separation of the derivative mixture by liquid isoelectric focusing. The modification reaction was mild enough to preserve the tertiary structure of the proteins, as judged by circular dichroism and fourth derivative UV spectra. The surface hydrophobicity of the bovine serum albumin derivatives was identical, as measured by hydrophobic interaction chromatography. Partitioning of the derivatives in poly(ethyleneglycol)/phosphate and poly(ethyleneglycol)/citrate aqueous two-phase systems between pH 5.2 and 6.5 indicates that partitioning is not dependent on the protein charge in the poly(ethyleneglycol)/salt systems studied.     

Selection of the best siting of static var compensators for effective damping

A static Var compensator (SVC) can improve the steady-state stability (or the small signal stability), if it is located appropriately. The present paper proposes a method for selecting the best siting of SVC in large-scale power systems for damping effectively. Conventionally, it is thought that SVC improves steady-state stability by its voltage regulating ability. From this point of view, the stability can be improved significantly if SVC is located at the bus which has a large voltage fluctuation due to the lightly damped power swing mode. In contrast to the conventional viewpoint, the present paper makes it clear that the steady-state stability deteriorates by the conventional voltage regulating control of SVC in some cases. Therefore, the voltage fluctuation is not an appropriate index for effective damping. This paper explains the mechanism of improvement of steady-state stability by SVC in terms of modal analysis. On the basis of modal analysis, an index for determining the location of SVC is derived. The index is called LIED (Location Index for Effective Damping) by the authors. Digital simulations are conducted for an 8-machine longitudinal system and a 29-machine looped system to demonstrate the validity of the proposed index.     

Repeated pneumonia in the middle lobe caused by congenital bronchoesophageal fistula

A 52-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of repeated episodes of pneumonia in the middle lobe. She had also experienced coughing during meals. The history and chest CT findings suggested the presence of a bronchoesophageal fistula. An upper GI series revealed a fistula between an esophageal diverticulum and the superior segment bronchus of the right lower lobe. Fiberoptic bronchoscopy done immediately after the upper GI series revealed barium sulfate leaking from the superior segment bronchus of the right lower lobe into the middle lobe bronchus. These findings indicated that the repeated pneumonia in the middle lobe was caused by a congenital bronchoesophageal fistula. Examination of the resected fistula showed that it was a Braimbridge type I bronchoesophageal fistula. Although of at least 49 cases of congenital bronchoesophageal fistulas with esophageal diverticula have been reported in the Japanese medical literature, we know of no previous case in which such a fistula was associated with middle-lobe pneumonia.     

Colon cancer with a high serum alpha-fetoprotein level

We report on a patient with colon cancer and a very high serum alpha-fetoprotein level. This 75-yr-old man presented with right lower quadrant abdominal pain. An abdominal CT scan as well as ultrasonography showed a tumor in the cecum. Serum alpha-fetoprotein level was extremely high (3,070 ng/ml). At laparotomy, a large mass was found in the cecum, and a right hemicolectomy was performed. Histological examination, including immunohistochemical study, showed an adenocarcinoma of the colon producing alpha-fetoprotein.