The relation between platelet aggregation and constitutional and lifestyle variables in two Japanese communities

To investigate the contribution of the platelet aggregation in the development of cardiovascular diseases, we examined the relation of constitutional and lifestyle variables with platelet aggregation for a total of 306 males aged 50 to 70 in Ikawa town, Akita prefecture (n = 163) and Noichi town, Kochi prefecture (n = 143). The examination of platelet aggregation was completed within 3 hours of obtaining blood samples. We used ADP (Adenosine 5'-diphosphate) as an agonist and obtained PATI (the platelet aggregatory threshold index) by nephelometry. Platelet count, mean platelet volume, white blood cell count, serum fatty acid compositions were also examined and dietary intake of fish, seafood and soy bean foods were inquired using one-week dietary records. PATI indicated a logarithmic normal distribution in both Ikawa and Noichi. The mean of logarithmic transformed PATI (log PATI) was higher in Ikawa than in Noichi. Thus platelet aggregation was lower in Ikawa than in Noichi. According to multiple regression analysis, age, platelet count in platelet rich plasma, mean platelet volume in platelet rich plasma, and white blood cell count were inversely associated with log PATI. Serum arachidonic acid composition tended to be inversely related with log PATI. Serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid composition was positively related with log PATI, and log gamma-GTP tended to be positively associated with log PATI. Soy protein intake and cigarette smoking showed no consistent associations with log PATI. This cross-sectional study suggests that serum n3-polyunsaturated fatty acid, and gamma-GTP, as an index of alcohol intake, reduce platelet aggregation while age, white blood cell count, platelet count, mean platelet volume, and serum arachidonic acid raise platelet aggregation.     

Nonlinearity of pulse height of recoil helium in 3Heproportional counters

The pulse height distribution in ³He proportional counters has been investigated to accurately quantify the response function to be used in fast neutron spectroscopy. The measurements were performed as a function of the operating voltage, the counting gas mixture, and the incident neutron energy. The special emphasis of this study has been put on the nonlinearity of the pulse height of a recoil helium induced by the ³He(n,n)³He reaction. A distinct deviation of 14% at maximum to lower energies was found in the position of the recoil edge with the energy axis calibrated by the full energy peaks of the ³He(n,p)T reaction produced with neutrons of thermal energy and 2.413 MeV. It was confirmed that the nonlinear effects, such as an initial recombination and a space-charge effect, take place more significantly in the energy loss process of a recoil helium because of its higher linear energy transfer (LET) in the filling gas compared to that of a proton and triton pair emitted from the ³ He(n,p)T reaction. The deviation becomes larger with an increase of the average LET in the gas mixture. The experimental results suggested that the nonlinear effect caused by a higher LET recoil helium is inevitable for the filling gas, even if the operating voltage is changed to an acceptable range     

A classification of normal spinel type compounds by “Ionic packing factor”

Ionic packing factors defined as the ratio of the cation radius to the radius of its anion interstice are calculated for cations of the normal 2–3 spinels. Distinct relationships are found between ionic packing of the 8a site and electric conductivity, and between ionic packing of the 16d site and magnetic ordering of ions in the 16d site.     

Effects of ketamine-nitrous oxide anesthesia and surgical procedure serum levels of thyroxine and triiodothyronine]

503 samplings of palmitic acid in amniotic fluid are correlated with gestational age during labor or not. In nine cases of R.D.S. determinations during labor were of very low values, but not in those before labor started. Results are discussed, indicating that values over 2 mg./100 ml. show adequate pulmonary maturity. Inferior values would only be valuable if samples are obtained during labor.     

The rates of thermal decomposition of LiOH(s), LiOD(s) and LiOT(s)

Kinetic studies on the thermal decomposition reactions, 2LiOH(s) → Li₂O(s) + H₂O(g), 2LiOD(s) → Li₂O(s) + D₂O(g), and LiOH(s) + LiOT(s) → Li₂O(s) + HTO(g), have been carried out with mass spectrometric and radiometric methods over the temperature range 530–690 K. Those reaction rates were found to be of first order in the quantity of released water. The rate-constants, k, in s^?1, were: k_H2O = 1.8 × 10⁸ exp(29 500/RT), k_D2O = 1.7 × 10⁸ exp(29 000/RT), and k_HTO = 1.6 × 10⁷ exp(30 700/RT), respectively. The apparent activation energy obtained for the thermal decomposition of LiOH(s), E_a = 29.5 ± 1.1 kcal/mol, coincided with a literature value of the enthalpy of reaction, ΔH°₆₀₀^° = 29.8 ± 1.0 kcal/mol.     

The Gmicro/500 superscalar microprocessor with branch buffers

The Gmicro/500, which features a RISC-like dual-pipeline structure for high-speed execution of basic instructions and represents a significant advance for the TRON architecture, is presented. Upwardly-object-compatible with earlier members of the Gmicro series, this microprocessor uses resident dedicated branch buffers to greatly enhance branch instruction execution speed. Its microprograms simultaneously use dual execution blocks to execute high-level language instructions effectively. Fabricated with a 0.6-μm CMOS technology on a 10.9-mm×16-mm die, the chip operates at 50/66 MHz and achieves a processing rate of 100/132 MIPS     

Effects of interferon-alpha on serum hepatitis C virus in patients with chronic hepatitis C

Interferon is beneficial in some patients with chronic hepatitis C. To assess the efficacy of interferon, we used the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) to measure HCV RNA in serial serum samples from 13 chronic hepatitis C patients who were treated with interferon-alpha. Serum alanine aminotransferase (ALT) values normalized in association with the disappearance of serum HCV RNA in nine cases during the therapy. Serum HCV remained negative after the therapy in the three patients who had no relapse, while serum HCV RNA reappeared in the six patients with elevation of ALT values. The persistence of normal ALT levels appears to be correlated with the clearance of the serum HCV. There were two patients whose ALT became normal immediately after the cessation of interferon. Serum HCV was detectable at the end of treatment when serum ALT was elevated, and thereafter serum HCV disappeared. This result suggests an immunomodulatory effect of interferon in the clearance of HCV in some cases. Furthermore, the semiquantitative PCR assay showed that all five patients in whom ALT values were normal at the end of follow-up without detectable serum HCV genome had lower HCV titers in the pretreatment sera than the other eight patients. The detection of HCV RNA by the PCR assay is useful in determining the efficacy of interferon and its mechanisms.