NaCl-preferring NZB/B1NJ mice and NaCl-avoiding CBA/J mice have similar amiloride inhibition of chorda tympani responses to NaCl

After intracameral injection calcitonin gene-related peptide has been demonstrated to break the blood aqueous barrier and increase intraocular pressure in rabbits. However in cats, calcitonin gene-related peptide decreases intraocular pressure by increasing the outflow facility of aqueous humor. In the present study, the effect of intracameral injection of calcitonin gene-related peptide on the outflow facility in rabbits has been investigated and the intraocular pressure and outflow facility were measured following intravitreal administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide. The results demonstrate that in spite of the apparent pseudofacility component caused by a breakdown of the blood aqueous barrier also the true trabecular outflow is probably increased in the rabbit eye after intracameral injection of calcitonin gene-related peptide. The intravitreal administration of calcitonin gene-related peptide leaves the blood aqueous barrier intact and causes an increase in the outflow facility of aqueous humor with a concomitant long-lasting decrease in intraocular pressure.     

Increase in the expression of biglycan mRNA expression Co-localized closely with that of type I collagen mRNA in the infarct zone after experimentally-induced myocardial infarction in rats

Biglycan, a small dermatan sulphate proteoglycan, has been postulated to interact with other components of the extracellular matrix (ECM), specifically collagens. We hypothesized that biglycan messenger ribonucleic acid (mRNA) is increased in the myocardial infarct zone. Biglycan mRNA expression after acute myocardial infarction (AMI) in rats was determined with the use of Northern blotting and in situ hybridization, and its expression pattern was compared to that of type I collagen mRNA [alpha1(I) collagen]. The left coronary artery was ligated in male Sprague-Dawley rats, and the hearts were excised on days 2 and 7. The Northern blot analysis demonstrated that expression of biglycan mRNA in the infarct on days 2 and 7 were 4.0- and 6.8-fold higher, respectively, compared to the sham-operated hearts. The in situ hybridization revealed intense signals for both biglycan and alpha1(I) collagen mRNA on day 2 in the spindle-shaped mesenchymal cells located between the surviving myocytes in the infarct peripheral zone. On day 7, biglycan mRNA signals were observed in the interior of the infarct around the infarct granulation tissue, a distribution that was essentially the same as that of alpha1(I) collagen. These results demonstrated that the increases in the infarct biglycan mRNA expression produced by mesenchymal cells (presumably myofibroblasts and fibroblasts) was closely co-localized with that of type I collagen mRNA, indicating that biglycan contributes to the infarct healing processes.     

NO inhalation therapy for post-operative pulmonary hypertensive crisis of the case of truncus arteriosus

OBJECTIVE: To test stability of insulin lispro in two insulin infusion systems over 48 h. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: We used reverse-phase and size-exclusion high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) to determine the purity, potency, and degree of polymerization of U100 insulin lispro (Humalog) after 24- and 48-h pump cycles conducted at 37 degrees C in five Disetronic H-TRON V100 and five MiniMed 504 pumps. Pumps were set to deliver a basal rate of 0.5 U/h and 6-U boluses at t = 0, 4, 8, 24, 24.5, 28.5, 32.5, and 48 h during each cycle. The effluent was collected into 1-ml vials, pooled at 24 or 48 h, and stored at 4 degrees C until assay. After each 48-h run period of insulin delivery, assays for potency, polymer, and purity were performed on the pooled samples from each individual cycle. m-cresol content and the pooled reservoir content were assayed in the 48-h pooled samples. RESULTS: Insulin lispro retained full HPLC potency (delta < or = 4%) at 48 h, with no degradation of insulin lispro to des-amidoinsulin forms (24 or 48 h). No increase in pumped insulin polymer concentration was observed following 24 h of pump flow. Nonsignificant increases of < or =0.09% (Disetronic) and < or =0.15% (MiniMed) from initial concentrations of 0.18% (polymer divided by total insulin) were detected in three of five pump cycles at 48 h when compared with 37 degrees C paired controls. Nonsignificant decreases (<5 and 10%, Disetronic and MiniMed, respectively) of m-cresol content occurred in both systems following 48 h storage in each device, but sterility was not compromised by this decrease (initial m-cresol concentration, 3.15 mg/ml). Pump performance was without mechanical or electrical fault throughout the study Basal and bolus insulin delivery was evaluated three times daily and remained as expected. Occlusion of catheters by insulin precipitation did not occur, and no change in pH was observed following delivery. CONCLUSIONS: We conclude that insulin lispro is suitable for prolonged infusion in these two medical devices when syringes and catheters are replaced at 48-h intervals.     

Diagnosis method for live-wire insulation of high-voltage XLPE cables by DC superimposition

Recent preventive maintenance for equipment has grown to include diagnosis of the insulation of cables under hot-line conduction. Much of the equipment constructed during the high-growth period in the 1960s has become obsolete. Recent circumstances make it difficult to obtain a longer service interruption time. Results of a study of the method that measures the live-wire insulation resistance by superimposing dc 50 V to a high-voltage busbar through GPT and forms a bridge with the resistance of a cable insulation are discussed. It is clarified that this live-wire insulation diagnostic method is highly effective at detecting degradation of a cable insulation resistance and is, therefore, suitable for so-called trend monitoring as well.     

Optical emission spectroscopic study for diagnostics in high gravity DC-plasma CVD diamond growth

The effect of gravity on materials processing is rather complicated, and a large number of considerably unexpected results due to high gravity or sometimes centrifugation have been reported. The authors have been conducting high gravity diamond thin film growth by the DC-plasma CVD method up to 100 G. The effects of high gravity appeared in the nucleation site density, growth rate, grain size, uniformity, film coverage and morphology. With the increase in gravity, the nucleation site density, growth rate, grain size were all found to be increased, the uniformity and film coverage were improved, and {100} facet became dominant rather than {111} facet. To understand the deposition mechanism in these effects observed in high gravity, a diagnostic apparatus for spectroscopic study of the optical emission from the DC-plasma was developed, and the OES (optical emission spectroscopy) apparatus has been employed in high gravity CVD experiments. The influence of gravity on the most active species in the plasma, such as H, CH, C₂ was discussed together with the results from the Raman spectroscopy and X-ray diffraction study.