Epidemiological studies of cerebro-and cardiovascular diseases in the northeast of Japan Part I. Pathological approach to the study in Akita Prefecture

To define the etiologic factors of Japanese cerebrovascular diseases, a pathological research was conducted on autopsy cases of stroke in Akita Prefecture. In most cases of cerebral hemorrhages, especially in the middle age group (30-59 of age), arteriosclerotic deviations in basal berebral arteries of the circle of Willis and intracerebral small arteries are not found. The authors conclude that cerebral hemorrhage may occur without relationship to disturbances of lipid metabolism, biochemically, and to atherosclerosis, pathologically. Concerning cerebral infarction, especially in the old generation (over 60 years of age), severe arteriosclerotic deviations were recognized both in basal cerebral and intracerebral arteries. These changes were highly influenced by the grade and duration of hypertension, and rarely influenced by hypercholesterolemia. According to the above-mentioned facts, the results obtained from out epidemiological survey were confirmed by the pathological studies.     

Genotype and phenotype of severe mitochondrial cardiomyopathy: a recipient of heart transplantation and the genetic control

Comprehensive analyses of mitochondrial (mt)DNA of a recipient of heart transplantation at age 7 because of severe cardiomyopathy revealed three germ line point mutations, each one in the 12S rRNA gene, in the CO1 gene and in the cytochrome b gene, respectively. As the somatic mutation, extensive fragmentation of mtDNA associated with 212 kinds of deletions was detected in contrast to 5 kinds in an age-matched negative control. A recipient's positive control having almost the same base-substitutions and mutations with the recipient except one in the CO1 gene also developed severe cardiomyopathy died at age 20. The close relation between phenotype and mtDNA genotype provides the basis of our understanding of cell death and premature ageing.     

Protective effect of FK506 on ischemia/reperfusion-induced myocardial damage in canine heart

We investigated the cardioprotective effect of FK506, a newly developed immunosuppressive agent, on ischemia-reperfusion-induced myocardial damage and the inhibitory effect of FK506 on superoxide radical formation by neutrophils. Open-chest anesthetized dogs were divided into two groups: group 1, 2-h occlusion of the coronary artery followed by 1-h reperfusion; and group 2, 2-h occlusion followed by 1-h reperfusion with preadministration of FK506 (0.5 mg/kg). After reperfusion, heart mitochondria were prepared from the normal and reperfused areas and mitochondrial function and mitochondrial GSH (the reduced form of glutathione) and GSSG (the oxidized form of glutathione) concentrations were measured. In addition, neutrophils were collected from normal healthy dogs, and the inhibitory effect of FK506 on superoxide radical formation by neutrophils was also investigated. One-hour reperfusion after 2-h coronary occlusion induced significant mitochondrial dysfunction associated with a marked depletion of mitochondrial GSH concentration. FK506 reduced mitochondrial dysfunction, depletion of mitochondrial GSH concentration, and development of reperfusion arrhythmias. FK506 also reduced stimulant-induced superoxide radical formation by normal neutrophils dose dependently. Radical scavenging activity decreased in association with reperfusion, and FK506 reduced superoxide radical formation by neutrophils, which might contribute to lessening ischemia-reperfusion damage.     

Plasma amino acid profile in relation to arterial ketone body ratio in surgical patients

A total of 357 plasma amino acid profiles from 93 surgical patients were statistically analyzed in relation to the changes in arterial ketone body ratio, which reflects the hepatic mitochondrial redox state. When the arterial ketone body ratio was above 0.7, all plasma amino acid levels were within the normal range. When it was between 0.7 and 0.4, plasma levels of aspartate, glutamate, valine, isoleucine, leucine, ornithine, and arginine decreased, and plasma levels of tyrosine, phenylalanine, proline, and methionine increased. Furthermore, when it was below 0.4, almost all plasma amino acids markedly increased. These results indicate that arterial ketone body ratio accurately reflects the alterations in plasma amino acid profile, and can serve as an indicator for providing nutritional support by amino acid supplement in surgical patients.     

Dural-pial arteriovenous malformation after sinus thrombosis

BACKGROUND: We report an unusual case of acquired dural-pial arteriovenous malformation (AVM) following sinus thrombosis. CASE DESCRIPTION: Initial angiography performed in a 39-year-old man showed thrombosis of the superior sagittal sinus (SSS) and the right transverse sinus (TS) but no vascular malformations. Follow-up angiography 29 months later revealed recanalization of the SSS and the TS, retrograde cortical venous drainage which suggested that thrombosis of the sinuses probably propagated into the adjacent parietal cortical veins, and development of a dural-pial AVM at or near the site of thrombi in more than one cortical vein. Complete surgical excision of the lesion was accomplished without neurological deterioration. CONCLUSIONS: The present case suggests the possibility that the pial AVM is not only a congenital condition but also may develop as an acquired lesion.     

Morphology and breaking of latex particle deposits at a cylindrical collector in a microfluidic chamber

We report an analysis for the morphology and breaking behavior of deposits of spherical latex particles (1 and 3.6 μm in diameter) at a cylindrical collector in a microfluidic channel fabricated by soft-lithography. In-situ observation of particle deposition over a large range of flow rate conditions evidence the relationship between deposit morphology and mode of particle transport toward the collector. For low Pe?clet number (Pe), particle deposits are nearly uniform all over the collector surface except at the rear where particles do not attach. Upon increase of Pe, deposits gradually adopt a columnar morphology at the collector stagnation point. These results are qualitatively consistent with previously reported Monte Carlo simulations of deposits formation in stagnation point flow systems. However, these simulations fail to quantitatively predict the observed deposition at the rear of the collector for sufficiently high flow rate. Additional deposit breaking experiments together with numerical evaluations of particle flux around the collector suggest that such "anomalous" deposition at large Pe is significantly governed by concomitant detachment of deposited particles at the stagnation point and the presence of recirculation flow at the collector rear. Finally, kinetics of deposition are discussed in connection with particle size-dependence of deposit breaking features.     

Detection of norovirus RNA in bivalve molluscs by using bacteria-culture-employed method (A3T method)

Norovirus (NV) RNA has rarely been detected in foods despite the use of highly sensitive methods such as RT-PCR and real-time RT-PCR. In the modified method (A3T method) reported previously, a bacterial culture process was introduced into the standard protocol for NV detection to remove some inhibitor(s) present in food ingredients. To confirm the efficiency of the A3T method and to examine NV contamination in bivalve molluscs, we tried to detect NV RNA in bivalve molluscs on the market and in oyster samples associated with foodborne outbreaks by using the standard method and the A3T method. NV RNAs were detected in 20 samples (18.0%) of 111 bivalve molluscs, including oysters, on the market by use of the A3T method, while only one sample (0.9%) was positive according to the standard method. NV RNA was also detected in 10 of 35 oyster samples related to foodborne outbreaks by the A3T method. Those results show that the A3T method is suitable for the detection of NV in bivalve molluscs in general laboratories.     

Photoanodic response of iron oxide electrode in aqueous solution and its application to Pb removal under visible light irradiation

The iron oxide electrode was prepared from thermal oxidation of iron at 600 °C for 3 h in air atmosphere. This electrode with the structure of Fe₃O₄ and α-Fe₂O₃ showed the response of photoanodic current to the light with wavelength shorter than 600 nm. The band gap energy of this electrode was 1.99 eV. The onset potential of distinct steady photocurrent and also the flatband potential were 0.80 and 0.09 V vs. Ag/AgCl, respectively, in 0.1 M HNO₃ aqueous solution. The cell consisting of the iron oxide photoanode in HNO₃-Pb(NO₃)₂ and the graphite cathode in H₂SO₄-Ce(SO₄)₂ caused the PbO₂ deposit on the surface of the former electrode due to visible light irradiation without application of voltage. By holding the potential of this electrode at more positive value than 0.90 V, the photoanodic removal rate of Pb²⁺ in HNO₃-Pb(NO₃)₂ solution was higher than that observed when Ce⁴⁺ was used as electron acceptor.     

Radiochemical analysis of rubble and trees collected from Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station

To characterize the rubble and trees contaminated by radionuclides released by the recent accident at the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station, the radiochemical analysis protocols were modified using those developed by the Japan Atomic Energy Agency for the waste generated by research, industrial, and medical facilities. The radioactivity concentrations of gamma-ray-emitting nuclides ⁶⁰Co, ⁹⁴Nb, ¹⁵²Eu, and ¹⁵⁴Eu, and beta-particle-emitting nuclides ¹⁴C, ¹²⁹I, ³⁶Cl, ⁷⁹Se, and ⁹⁹Tc were successfully applied by the modified analytical method. In contrast, the radioactivity concentrations of ³H, ⁹⁰Sr, ¹³⁷Cs, and alpha-particle-emitting nuclides were applied by the conventional method. Unfortunately, ³⁶Cl, ⁹⁴Nb, ¹²⁹I, ¹⁵²Eu, ¹⁵⁴Eu, and alpha-particle-emitting nuclides were below the detection limit of the conventional method. The measured radioactivity concentrations, except for that of ³H, were not uniform in the area but depended on the reactor unit. Although the radioactivity concentrations were varied widely, this analysis successfully clarified the characteristics of the radioactivity concentrations of the rubble and trees.