Increase in mucosal and connective tissue-type mast cells in the stomach with acetic acid-induced ulcer in rat

The fluorescent probe furaptra shows increases and decreases in the concentration of free magnesium ion, [Mg2+], in the mitochondrial matrix with changes in total Mg2+ and ligand availability. The factors involved in the calibration of these fluorescence changes in terms of absolute [Mg2+] have been investigated. The affinity of furaptra for Mg2+ is highly dependent on both temperature and ionic strength. The Kd for Mg-furaptra in solution in 100 mM KCl was found to be 2.1 +/- 0.1 mM at 25 degrees C. The use of this Kd to calculate matrix [Mg2+] is more reliable than in situ Kd measurements because ionophores, such as BrA23187 and ionomycin, do not equilibrate external Mg2+ with the matrix in an acceptable way. Furaptra is present at high concentrations (up to 500 microM) in the matrix when introduced by hydrolysis of the acetoxymethyl ester. However, absorbance spectra of aqueous solutions show no evidence of dimerization of the probe or other changes in properties at these concentrations. Fluorescence intensity at 340 nmex is strongly attenuated for matrix-sequestered furaptra, mag-fura-5, and mag-indo-1. This appears to result in part from preferential binding of the Mg-probe to mitochondrial proteins. The fluorescence of uncomplexed furaptra at 375-380 nmex seems unaffected by protein binding, however, and changes in intensity in this region of the spectrum can be used in conjunction with the Kd found in aqueous solution to estimate matrix [Mg2+]. The presence of secondary equilibria, such as protein binding, and possible changes in ionic strength may undermine exact quantitation by this method. However, values for matrix [Mg2+] obtained in this way (0.5 to 0.7 mM) correspond well to estimates by other available methods and each of these methods suffers from comparable uncertainties.     

Stress induced urinary incontinence in patients with spinocerebellar degeneration

To better understand genetic alterations in atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH) of the prostate, we examined the prevalence of allelic imbalance at 5 microsatellite polymorphic markers on chromosomes 7q31-35, 8p12-21, 8p22, 8q22.2, and 18q12.2 from 15 patients with AAH. DNA samples were obtained from formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded sections using tissue microdissection. We found allelic imbalance in 7 of 15 (47%) cases of AAH. Genetic changes that commonly occur in early prostatic carcinogenesis and prostate carcinoma are found in AAH. Current data provide evidence of a genetic link between some cases of AAH and carcinoma.     

A 99-mm2 0.7-W single-chip MPEG-2 422P@ML video, audio,and system encoder with a 64-Mb embedded DRAM for portable 422P@HLencoder system

A scalable single-chip 422P@ML MPEG-2 video, audio, and system encoder LSI for portable 422P@HL system is described. The encoder LSI is implemented using 0.13-μm embedded DRAM technology. It integrates 3-M logic gates and 64-Mb DRAM in an area of 99-mm². The power consumption is suppressed to 0.7 W by adopting a low-power DRAM core. It performs real-time 422P@ML video encoding, audio encoding, and system encoding with no external DRAM. Furthermore, the encoder LSI realizes a 422P@HL video encoder with multichip configuration, due to its scalable architecture. This results in a PC-card size 422P@HL encoder for portable HDTV codec system     

Multicentric Castleman''s disease associated with renal amyloidosis and pure red cell aplasia

Researchers have recently proven the ability of computer simulation to predict the behaviour of cerebral aneurysms. Accurately simulating the flow of blood within the aneurysm helps researchers to predict the growth pattern of the aneurysm and the danger of rupturing. As this tool is further developed into a practical diagnostic tool, it is expected to dramatically improve the ability of surgeons to weigh the results of alternate treatment methods. The simulation method used, computational fluid dynamics (CFD), provides much more information than current diagnostic tools, including particularly shear stress levels at various stages of the cardiac cycle, which help to pinpoint areas of aneurysm formation and growth.     

Oxidation products of cyanidin 3-O-β-d-glucoside with a free radical initiator

Recently, we have reported that anthocyanins show strong antioxidative activity, but no attention has been paid to anthocyanins from the viewpoint of the reaction mechanism of alkylperoxyl radicals; therefore, we investigated the reaction products of antioxidative anthocyanins (cyanidin 3-O-β-d-glucoside). Cyanidin 3-O-β-d-glucoside was reacted with 2,2′-azobis(2,4-dimet hylvaleronitrile) to generate the alkylperoxyl radicals, and the reaction products were isolated by high-performance liquid chromatography. The products were identified as 4,6-dihydroxy-2-O-β-d-glucosyl-3-oxo-2,3-dihydrobenzofuran and protocatechuic acid. Based on reaction products, the antioxidative mechanism of cyanidin 3-O-β-d-glucoside may be different from that of α-tocopherol; cyanidin 3-O-β-d-glucoside would produce another radical scavenger, as it would break down the structure and scavenge the radicals.     

Reliability of AllnAs/lnGaAs/lnP HEMT with WSi ohmic contacts

We have investigated the degradation mechanism of Al_0.48In_0.52As/In_0.53Ga_0.47As/ InP high electron mobility transistors (HEMTs) using WSi ohmic electrodes. Cross-sectional transmission electron microscopy (TEM) observation and en-ergy dispersive x-ray (EDX) analysis reveal impurities diffusion of gate electrode (titanium: Ti) and fluorine (F) in the AlInAs layer after a high temperature (T_a = 170°C operating life test for 500 h. The decrease of drain current (I_ds) during life test shows linear dependence on square root of aging time. It suggests that the degradation is controlled by a diffusion mechanism. Hence, the estimated degradation mechanism of this device is related with decrease of carrier concentration in the epitaxial layer by these diffused impurities. On the other hand, TEM and EDX show no degradation of WSi/InGaAs interface after aging. Therefore, the WSi electrode for this type of HEMT demonstrates excellent high stability under the accelerated operating life test.     

S-methylation in Parkinson's disease

We report thiolmethyltransferase (TMT) activity in RBC membrane preparations from patients with Parkinson's disease (PD), normal controls, and patients with symptomatic parkinsonism. Unlike previous reports, our report found no significant decrease in TMT activity in PD patients compared with normal controls. Low S-methylation capacity does not appear to be a risk factor for PD in Japanese patients.     

Distribution of platinum in human gynecologic tissues and pelvic lymph nodes after administration of cisplatin

OBJECTIVE: The purpose of this study was to develop a diverting colostomy technique for use in dogs. STUDY DESIGN: Clinical case series. ANIMALS: Five client-owned dogs presented for diseases requiring diverting colostomy during treatment. METHODS: Diverting colostomy was performed in five dogs. A ventral approach was used in the first dog and the colon was exteriorized adjacent to the linea alba. The technique used in the next four dogs involved creation of a left flank rod-supported loop colostomy in which the colon was exteriorized through a muscle-separating flank approach to the abdomen. RESULTS: Peritoneal leakage of fecal material resulted in the perioperative death of the first dog. The flank colostomies were maintained for times ranging form 3.5 weeks to 7 months. No major complications were observed, but skin excoriation occurred occasionally around the stoma sites in all dogs. CONCLUSION: Diverting colostomy is a technique that is suitable for use in treatment of dogs with obstruction or leakage involving the distal colon or rectum.     

A 5-μm-wide 18-cm-long low-loss YBa2Cu3O7-δ coplanar line for future multichip moduletechnology

Narrow and low-loss YBa₂Cu₃O_7-δ (YBCO) coplanar lines, which can be used in multichip module technology for future high-density and high-speed digital circuits, have been developed. Etch-back planarization and a patterning process combining Ar-ion milling and wet-etching enabled us to form an 18-cm-long 5-μm-wide YBCO coplanar line without electrical shorts, even for the narrow spacing of 2.5 μm. The surface resistance of this line was kept at a level comparable to that of 10- or 25-μm-wide YBCO coplanar lines and also comparable to that of unpatterned films. This indicates successful fabrication of the 5-μm-wide YBCO coplanar line without notable loss increase resulting from process damage. The 5-μm-wide line showed a low-transmission loss of 0.49 dB at 10 GHz and 55 K. This level of loss is similar to that in Cu coaxial cables. No significant increase in transmission loss was observed up to an input power level of 16 mW at 10 GHz and 55 K. This input power is comparable to the power-handling capability required for transmitting high-speed digital signals through the lines with characteristic impedance of 50 Ω. These results show that the narrow 5-μm-wide YBCO coplanar line has great potential for high-density and high-speed digital circuits