Right atrial contractile performance in patients with myocardial infarction

To evaluate right atrial (RA) contractile performance in patients with myocardial infarction, we validated a cineangiographic method of RA volume measurement, and investigated RA volume change in 'normal' individuals and patients with a previous myocardial infarction. Sixteen silicone rubber RA casts made from human cadavers were filmed in the postero-anterior and left lateral projections. The cast volumes calculated following Simpson's rule were in good agreement with those measured by water replacement (r = 0.992, P < 0.01). At cardiac catheterization, biplane RA cineangiography was performed in 19 'normal' individuals (N group), in 14 patients with a previous antero-septal infarction (AMI group) and in seven patients with a previous inferior infarction (IMI group). The RA volume-time curve was constructed at 20-40 ms intervals for one cardiac cycle. RA volume at the beginning of the atrial contraction (RAVd), which was defined as the 'preload' of the RA, tended to be larger in both the AMI and IMI groups compared with 'normal' individuals. The RA ejection volume was significantly larger in both the AMI (18.4 +/- 2.1 ml.m-2, P < 0.01) and IMI groups (19.4 +/- 2.8, P < 0.01) than in the N group (14.5 +/- 1.9), even for a comparable level of RAVd (range from 26 to 36 ml.m-2) (18.6 +/- 2.1, P < 0.01, 18.2 +/- 2.0, P < 0.01, 14.7 +/- 1.9, respectively). These results suggest that RA contraction increases in patients with myocardial infarction by increasing both the 'preload' and 'contractility' of the RA.     

Two geometrical isomers of linoleic acid: Improved total syntheses

The total syntheses of 9(Z),12(E)- and 9(E),12(Z)-octadecadienoic acids have been carried out. A useful intermediate in both syntheses, 8-bromo-octanoic acid, recently has become available from commercial sources. This compound has been used to expedite the preparation of these isomers. The remaining carbon atoms were derived from propargyl alcohol along with either 1-heptyne or acetylene and 1-bromopentane. Because the overall yield for each sequence was roughly 15% and there were no extraordinary reaction conditions in any of the synthetic steps, the compounds could be prepared readily in multiple gram quantities. The syntheses of the two compounds were supported by data from a variety of spectroscopic techniques.     

Forensic toxicological application of TOXI-LAB screening for biological specimens in autopsy cases and emergency cares

Using the TOXI-LAB drug detection system, emergency toxicological screening was performed in autopsy cases and emergency cares. In 280 autopsy cases (male 182 cases 65%, female 98 cases 35%), drug positive cases were 28 cases of male (15%) and 24 cases of female (24%). The age groups which showed higher rate of drug positive cases were 10s-40s in male (approximately 20%) and 20s in female (67%). In the 238 cases of emergency care (male 129 cases 54%, female 104 cases 44%, unknown 5 cases 2%), drugs were positive in 29 cases of male (22%) and 32 cases of female (30%). The age groups which showed relatively higher rate of drug positive cases were 40s in male (64%), 20s (71%) and 30s (89%) in female. Forty-four different kinds of drugs were detected in TOXI-LAB positive cases, in which the psychotropic drugs and the sedative-hypnotic drugs amounted to approximately 70%. Methamphetamine and amphetamine, which were the main abused drugs showing a socially important problem, were detected in total 15 cases. TOXI-LAB was based on thin-layer chromatography (TLC); however, from the extraction to development, coloration and detection have been accelerated (about 50 min) and simplified. In order to perform the forensic toxicological practice in Japan, it becomes more useful that TOXI-LAB is used in autopsy cases and emergency cares, if the drugs, which have caused poisoning cares in Japan, are added to TOXI-LAB. The present study describes the advantage and problem of TOXI-LAB drug detection system through demonstrating the practical cases of autopsy cases and emergency cares.     

Distribution of higher-order structures in injection-molded polypropylenes

Flexural test specimens were injection-molded from six homoisotactic polypropylenes with MFI = 0.49-25.1 dg/min under cylinder temperatures of 200-320°C. Distributions in the flow direction of higher-order structures such as crystallinity X_c, thickness of skin layer, a*-axis-oriented component fraction [A*], and crystalline orientation functions and distributions in the thickness direction of higher-order structures such as X_c, β-crystal contents, [A*], and crystalline orientation functions were studied. These higher-order structures are inhomogeneous in the flow and thickness directions, which strongly influences the product properties such as mechanical and thermal properties. Molecular orientation process in injection molding was theoretically analyzed from a viewpoint of growth of recoverable shear strain at the gate and its relaxation in the cavity, which could considerably well explain the variations in the flow and thickness directions of the quantities such as thickness of the skin layer and crystalline orientation functions which express the degree of molecular orientation.     

Continuous formation of slurry ice by cooling water–oil emulsion in a tube

Water-silicone oil emulsion with an additive, (C₂H₅O)₃SiC₃H₆NH₂, was examined as a heat storage material. A spiral tube used as a heat exchanger was immersed in a low temperature bath and the emulsion was circulated in the tube to make ice continuously. Ice was separated from the ice–liquid suspension in an outlet tank. The amount of formed ice, the temperatures of the inlet and the outlet of the heat exchanger, and the temperatures in the tube wall were measured and the overall heat transfer coefficient and the heat flux through the tube were calculated. Experiments were carried out, varying the flow rate, the temperature of cooling brine, and the thickness of tube wall. The condition under which slurry ice was formed continuously without adhesion of ice to the cooling wall was clarified. Though decrease in the thermal resistance of the tube increased the rate of ice formation or raised the brine temperature, it narrowed the range of the flow rate and of the brine temperature in which slurry ice was formed continuously.     

66/77-kV C-GIS using composite insulation in SF6 gas

A second-generation model of cubicletype gas-insulated switchgear (C-GIS) with composite insulation incorporating SF₆ gas has been developed. The design does not require a gas process in field assembly; it has high reliability and its installation is more rapid; and a further reduction in size is achieved. The design principles are described in detail.     

Correlates and prognosis in relation to intellectual dysfunction in a community-residing elderly population

To estimate the risk factors for intellectual dysfunction and examine its prognosis in a community-residing (non-institutionalized) elderly population, a randomly selected sample of 1,473 elderly people aged 65 years and over living in S city, Osaka Prefecture, was studied in October 1992, and data were obtained from 1,383, a response rate of 93.9%. A cohort of 1,383 was followed for 42 months and follow-up was completed for 1,300 (94.0%). The main results were as follows: 1) The prevalence of intellectual dysfunction did not differ significantly between sexes, and there was an increasing prevalence of intellectual dysfunction with age in both sexes. The prevalence of severe intellectual dysfunction was found to increase highly at age 85 and over. 2) By univariate analysis, odds ratios for age older than 75 years, low Activities of Daily Living (ADL), urinary and fecal incontinence, and no participation in social activities were significantly higher than 1 in any level of mild, moderate, and severe intellectual dysfunction. In the multivariate analysis using logistic regression, age older than 75 years and urinary and fecal incontinence showed significant higher odds ratios than 1 for severe intellectual dysfunction, and low ADL and treatment for hypertension also showed significant higher odds ratios than 1 for moderate intellectual dysfunction. 3) From analysis using the Kaplan-Meier method, the cumulative survival rates decreased with a decline in intellectual functioning in both age groups of 65-74 and 75 years and older. 4) Application of the Cox proportional hazards model resulted in adjusted hazard ratio for severe intellectual dysfunction of 1.79 (95% confidence interval, 1.02-3.12), controlling for other factors such as sex, age, general health status, incontinence and social activities.     

Micro-computerized tomographic observation of the spinning apparatus in Bombyx mori silkworms

Silkworms and spiders have evolved complex spinning apparatus thought to use highly controlled conditions to optimize protein folding and crystallization to provide a tough fiber. Accordingly, the structure and function of the natural spinning apparatus has been studied with great attention as an interesting piece of biological engineering with potential for mimicry in an industrial process. However it is still not well understood. Here we used Micro-Computerized Tomographic equipment (mCT) to visualize the three-dimensional structure of the spinning apparatus in Bombyx mori silkworms. Multidirectional tomograms obtained by X-ray radioscopy provided valuable information on the detailed arrangement of each muscle of the silk press. It is suggested that the duct in the silk press part plays a part as an extrusion die whose cross-sectional area can be controlled by muscles to optimize applied stresses in the partially gelled silk within its lumen.     

Mutations in the N-terminal globular domain of the type X collagen gene (COL10A1) in patients with Schmid metaphyseal chondrodysplasia

STATEMENT OF PROBLEM: Improved dental stone has been widely used for producing dies for the fabrication of restorations with the lost-wax technique. Improved dental stone is used for several reasons, but it is selected most often because of its reasonable cost, ease of use, and ability to produce consistent results. PURPOSE: This study evaluated the ability of an epoxy resin die material and a type IV dental stone to dimensionally reproduce a custom-fabricated metal die. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Dies were fabricated and measurements were made from three reference lines. Measurements were repeated three times for the master die and for the specimen dies. A mean measurement and percent relative change for each dimension was calculated. RESULTS: A significant difference in the relative change for die height was found between the groups studied (p < 0.003). CONCLUSIONS: This epoxy die system will provide a degree of dimensional accuracy comparable to gypsum when used with addition silicone impression material.