Effect of KRN2391 on venous return: comparison with other vasodilators

We compared the cardiohemodynamic effects of KRN2391, a novel coronary vasodilator, with those of nicorandil, nifedipine, cromakalim, and nitroglycerin (NTG) administered intravenously (i.v.) to anesthetized open-chest dogs. KRN2391 (10 and 30 micrograms/kg) decreased mean blood pressure (MBP) and superior vena cava flow (SVCF), and increased inferior vena cava flow (IVCF), total venous return (TVR), pulmonary artery blood flow (PAF), and right atrial pressure (RAP). Administration of KRN2391 (30 micrograms/kg) decreased heart rate (HR). Nicorandil (100 and 300 micrograms/kg) decreased MBP and SVCF, and produced transient increases followed by decreases in IVCF, TVR, PAF, and RAP. HR was decreased by administration of nicorandil (300 micrograms/kg). Nifedipine (1 and 3 micrograms/kg) decreased MBP and increased SVCF, IVCF, TVR, PAF, and RAP. HR was not affected by either dose of nifedipine. Cromakalim (10 micrograms/kg) decreased MBP, SVCF, and increased HR, IVCF, TVR, PAF and RAP. Nitroglycerin (3 micrograms/kg) decreased MBP, SVCF, IVCF, TVR, PAF, and RAP. In dogs that received glibenclamide (5 mg/kg, i.v.), the changes in MBP, SVCF, IVCF, TVR, PAF, and RAP caused by KRN2391 were reduced in comparison with those in dogs that received vehicle for glibenclamide. The decreases in IVCF, TVR, and PAF induced by nicorandil were not affected by glibenclamide, but the decrease in MBP was diminished and the decrease in RAP was augmented. The hemodynamic changes caused by cromakalim were almost inhibited by glibenclamide, whereas those caused by NTG were not affected.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)     

Inverted papillomas in the nose and paranasal sinuses

Inverted papillomas in the nose and/or paranasal sinuses exhibit a high recurrence rate, and an association with malignancy. Early diagnosis and aggressive surgical therapy are thus essential. Seventeen cases of inverted papilloma seen at Saitama Cancer Center over a 17-year period were reviewed. Common presenting symptoms, the primary papilloma sites and the results of surgical treatment were as follows. 1) Almost all patients complained of nasal obstruction. The usefulness of nasal biopsy of the tumor was confirmed, with 12 cases being diagnosed as having inverted papilloma pre-operatively. Inverted papilloma without squamous cell carcinoma caused osseous thinning, but did not destroy the bone. 2) It was found that the primary site of the papilloma involved the lateral wall of the nasal cavity. Lateral Rhinotomy was therefore recommended as a standard treatment. 3) The recurrence rate was 1/12 after Lateral Rhinotomy. Two cases had complaints associated with the Lateral Rhinotomy, nasolacrimal duct stenosis, and a scar in the median corner of eye. 4) Only one case had concomitant squamous cell carcinoma in the nose and maxillary sinus. This patient received chemo therapy, radiation therapy and finally maxillectomy, but the inverted papilloma recurred several times. Six years later, squamous cell carcinoma recurred and lead to this patient's death.     

FATIGUE CRACK GROWTH BEHAVIOUR AND FRACTURE RESISTANCE IN CERAMICS

Fatigue crack growth and the fracture resistance curve (R-curve) were investigated in a polycrystalline alumina (AD90) and a silicon carbide whisker-reinforced alumina composite (Al₂O₃-SiC_w) at room temperature in air using a combined loading technique for stabilizing crack growth, and a surface film technique for monitoring crack length. Fatigue crack growth was evaluated successfully with those experimental techniques. Load shedding tests were performed until the crack became dormant, in order to determine the threshold stress intensity factor K_th. Subsequently, the specimens were used for quasi-static crack growth tests under a monotonic loading condition. The R-curves were determined in this experiment; however, fracture resistance did not increase markedly with crack growth. Detailed observations of the crack growth behaviour revealed that the flat R-curve was attributed to the shielding effect of the fatigue crack tip wake. Thus, the fatigue precrack introduced by the load shedding test was not regarded as an ideal crack for determining the R-curve. Fractographic observations were performed to investigate the mechanistic difference between fatigue and quasi-static crack growth. It was found that the cyclic loading produced fretting damage in the wake region and it reduced the shielding effect of the fatigue cracks. Based on the experimental results, the relationship between the fatigue crack growth and the R-curve is discussed as is the significance of K_th as a material parameter.     

Relationships between plasma levels of type-II phospholipase A2, PAF-acetylhydrolase, leukotriene B4, complements, endothelin-1, and thrombomodulin in patients with sepsis

We determined the plasma levels of type-II phospholipase A2 (type II PLA2), platelet-activating factor acetylhydrolase (PAFAH) leukotriene B4 (LTB4) and of several complements (C3a, C4a, and C5a), which are considered to be among the cytokines and eicosanoids involved in vascular endothelial disorders and that vary in concentration during sepsis. We investigated the relationship between those levels and those of ET-1 and TM levels in plasma. Plasma levels of type II PLA2, PAFAH, LTB4, C3a, C4a, ET-1, and TM at the time that sepsis was diagnosed in 30 patients were 218.3 +/- 179.9 ng/ml, 23.92 +/- 9.66 nmol/min/ml, 90.35 +/- 31.49 pg/ml, 838.73 +/- 2.30 pg/ml, 1951.46 +/- 1697.78 pg/ml, 6.98 +/- 4.08 pg/ml and 7.80 +/- 3.34 ng/ml, respectively. The C5a plasma level was below the limit of detection in all cases. There were significant correlations between type II PLA2 and ET-1 plasma levels (r = 0.39, p = 0.032) and C3a and ET-1 plasma levels (r = 0.60, p = 0.03). There were also significant correlations between type II PLA2 and TM levels in plasma (r = 0.76, p = 0.0017), PAFAH and TM plasma levels (r = 0.53, p = 0.037), LTB4 and TM plasma levels (r = 0.46, p = 0.016) and C4a and TM plasma levels (r = 0.58, p = 0.037). Results suggest that the elevation of type II PLA2, PAFAH, LTB4 and complement in plasma is involved in vascular endothelial disorders in patients with sepsis.     

Effects of ketamine on somatosympathetic reflex discharges in cats

Effects of ketamine on somatosympathetic reflex discharges induced from sympathetic trunk with electrical stimulation of superficial peroneal nerve were investigated in 51 cats under anesthesia with urethane and alpha chloralose. These reflex discharges through spinal cord and medulla oblongata consist of two components, A and C reflexes, which are derived from somatic myelinated and unmyelinated afferent fiber respectively. Amplitudes of both A and C reflex potentials were depressed significantly after intravenous injection of ketamine 10 mg.kg-1. The maximum depression was observed 5 min after administration. In decerebrated cats with surgical transection at the midbrain, both A and C reflexes were also depressed after administration of the same dosages, and the maximum level of the depression was more profound than that in brain intact cats. After intrathecal injection of ketamine 1 mg.kg-1 to the lumbar spinal region, a slight depression of C reflex was found, but, dosages of 10 mg.kg-1 significantly depressed both A and C reflexes to the similar levels as those in iv injection to brain intact cats. The maximum depression was observed 30 min after administration. The depressive effects on both reflexes of intravenous ketamine 10 mg.kg-1 were not antagonized by naloxone 0.06 mg.kg-1 in brain intact cats. These results suggest that the suppressive effects of ketamine on somatosympathetic reflexes are caused by direct inhibition of medulla oblongata and spinal cord, whereas supra-midbrain regions may be activated by ketamine, and the effect of ketamine is predominant on medulla oblongata in this situation rather than on the spinal cord.     

Effect of pressure onTc in La2-xBaxCuO4 withx=0.125

The superconducting transition temperature,T _c , of La_2–x Ba _x CuO₄ has been measured under high pressure up to 8 GPa.T _c is found to change drastically at the pressure where the structural phase transition takes place. This finding clearly indicates that there exists an intimate relation between the crystal structure and superconductivity.     

Fiber-optic microwave transmission using harmonic laser mixing,optoelectronic mixing, and optically pumped mixing

Three fiber-optical link configurations are proposed for use in microwave and millimeter-wave signal transmission. Harmonic laser mixing, optoelectronic mixing and optically pumped mixing are successfully utilized to achieve high carrier frequencies in fiber-optic links. The performance of harmonic laser diode mixers is experimentally investigated in the X-band. The p-i-n photodiode is used as an optoelectronic microwave mixer and an optically pumped microwave mixer, and the microwave characteristics of these mixers are demonstrated. These three fiber-optic link configurations show promise in transmitting microwave and millimeter-wave frequencies     

Necking and seed growth of Bi2Sr2CaCu2Ox superconducting single crystals

Single crystals of Bi₂Sr₂CaCu₂O_x were grown using a travelling solvent floating zone technique in an infrared radiation furnace with seed crystals. The purpose of the process was to obtain large single crystals. The use of seed crystals was found to be quite effective for increasing the thickness of the crystal in the c-axis direction. Characterization of the single crystal was investigated using a polarized optical micrograph, EPMA, TEM, RBS and a high resolution X-ray diffractometer.     

Local structures around Er atoms doped in GaAs by low-temperature molecular beam epitaxy

Er-doped GaAs samples were grown by molecular beam epitaxy at 400°C and 590°C. The samples were investigated by photoluminescence (PL) and fluorescence extended X-ray absorption fine structure (EXAFS) measurements in order to find the relationship between the local structures around the Er atoms and the PL properties. Er-related PL peaks were observed only for the samples grown at a low temperature (400°C). The fluorescence EXAFS measurements showed the Er atoms were located on tetrahedral interstitial site when the growth temperature was low. On the other hand, when the growth temperature was high (590°C), the Er atoms substituted the Ga site in GaAs lattice.     

Association of the missense Glu298Asp variant of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene with myocardial infarction

OBJECTIVES: We examined the possible association between the missense Glu298Asp variant of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase (eNOS) gene and myocardial infarction (MI). BACKGROUND: Endothelium-derived nitric oxide (NO) plays a key role in the regulation of vascular tone. Recently, we reported that a missense Glu298Asp variant in exon 7 of the eNOS gene is a possible genetic factor involved in the pathogenesis of coronary spasm. Endothelium-derived NO also has vasoprotective effects by suppressing platelet aggregation, leukocyte adhesion and smooth muscle cell proliferation. METHODS: We screened 285 patients with an MI and 607 control subjects in Kumamoto Prefecture, Japan. Genotypes were determined by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment-length polymorphism analysis. RESULTS: The frequency of the missense Glu298Asp variant was significantly higher in the MI group than in the control group (21.1% vs. 13.3%, p = 0.003, odds ratio 1.73 for the dominant effect of the eNOS T allele). Multiple logistic regression analysis showed that the missense Glu298Asp variant was an independent risk factor for MI, as was diabetes mellitus, hypertension, cigarette smoking, hypercholesterolemia and body mass index. CONCLUSIONS: There was a significant association of the missense Glu298Asp variant of the eNOS gene with MI. This marker-disease association may be due to the impaired effects of NO on the cardiovascular system: dysregulation of vascular tone, platelet aggregation and leukocyte adhesion and smooth muscle cell proliferation, all of which promote coronary atherosclerosis and thrombosis.