Application of gene gun for local-regional cancer

We studied the in vivo gene transfusion using a gene gun, formerly used in plants and culture cells. The hand-held type gene gun (Helios Gene Gun System) is simple and convenient for effective gene transfection in living animals. This method has some advantages in that there is no need for use of viral vector, independence on the cell cycle and local inducement of plural genes. There is a great possibility for application to local-regional cancer.     

Functioning survival rate of fixtures and superstructures of osseointegrated implants: ten years of progress in Tokyo Dental College Hospital (second report)

Endoglucanase production was measured in culture filtrates of four species of Saccobolus growing in media containing glucose or crystalline cellulose as the only carbon sources. Enzyme activity was four to seven times higher in the presence of cellulose than glucose. S. saccoboloides showed maximal growth and enzyme production. The extracellular proteins secreted during growth on cellulose were separated by polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis and stained for proteins. A zymogram technique was used to visualize bands with endoglucanase activity. The four species showed different protein and isoenzyme patterns.     

New fault locating system for air-insulated substations usingoptical current detector

The authors present the basic philosophy, construction, design features, and test results of a new fault locating system. This fault locating system helps to shorten the time required for restoration of service after the occurrence of a busbar fault in an air-insulated distribution substation. Recent optical and electronic technologies allow the design of a highly accurate and compact fault locating system which consists of optical current detectors using the Faraday effect and a fault locating processor using a digital data processing technique. The fault location is carried out by discriminating between the directions of zero-sequence currents. Through various tests and field operations, it has been confirmed that the system has sufficient performance for practical applications     

Impulse breakdown voltages of triggered multistage vacuum gap

Several sealed-off triggered vacuum gaps are connected in series to improve hold-off voltage. The characteristics of impulse breakdown voltage of these series-connected gaps are investigated experimentally. The sum hold-off voltage of series-connected gaps decreases to a unit hold-off voltage when the maximum value of voltage division ratio across the gaps increases to unity. Self-breakdown probability of the series-connected gaps is always higher than that of a single gap under the same conditions. Hence, stage efficiency of the multistage gap decreases with increasing number of stages. Its value is 90 percent with 2-stage gap and 75 percent with 5-stage gap, respectively, under the same voltage division ratio and the same gap length (2.0 mm) in each stage. Triggered breakdown voltage of 2- or 3- stage gap is several hundred volts when all gaps are triggered simultaneously at the peak of the main impulse wave and a working voltage range is nearly 100 percent in this case. The working voltage range decreases with number of stages. Its value is 45 percent with 3-stage gap and 15 percent with 5-stage gap, respectively, when one triggered gap is fired for switching.     

Successful surgical repair for a patient with atrial septal defect and severe pulmonary hypertension--its surgical indication and prostaglandin E1 use for postoperative pulmonary hypertensive crisis

A 45-year-old woman with atrial septal defect and pulmonary hypertension was admitted for surgical repair. Cardiac catheterization data revealed pulmonary to systemic flow ratio (Qp/Qs) of 1.81, pulmonary artery pressure (PAP) of 82/30 mmHg and pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) of 10.8 unit. Open lung biopsy was added to evaluate pulmonary vascular obstructive disease (PVOD) which was shown Heath-Edwards grade 3 PVOD. Following closure of the defect, PAP (systolic) exceeded momentarily systemic level after cardiopulmonary bypass. Prostaglandin E1 drip was remarkably effective to bring down PAP during early postoperative period. Although PAP has not been shown significant decrease on catheterization of one year after surgery, great symptomatic improvement has been achieved.     

Resistive superconducting transition of κ-type BEDT-TTF organic superconductors in a magnetic field

The superconducting transition of the organic compoundsκ-(BEDT-TTF)₂ X is studied by resistive measurement in a magnetic field up to 10 T applied normal to the conducting plane. For the salts withX=Cu[N(CN)₂]Br andX=CuCN[N(CN)₂] the transition shows fanshaped broadening caused by superconductivity fluctuation. For theX=Cu(NCS)₂ salt the resistivity shows a peak in the transition region in a magnetic field below 4 T.This phenomenon is suppressed in defect-reduced samples for intralayer conduction. We discuss this peak in relation to the thermal fluctuation on the Josephson junction structures in this salt.     

Primary biliary cirrhosis: symptoms, laboratory data and diagnosis

The most frequent and important symptoms in primary biliary cirrhosis (PBC) are pruritus and jaundice. In the majority, jaundice appears within one half to two years of onset of pruritus. Xanthoma, bone change and sicca syndrome are often observed. The recent increase in number of asymptomatic PBC is the result of progagation of medical examination. In the biochemical tests, elevation of the biliary enzymes, such as ALP and gamma-GTP, is characteristic, as well as, a high level of serum IgM. Serum bilirubin values are gradually raised along with the clinical course of the disease. Positive antimitochondrial antibody (AMA) is the most valuable immunological finding for the diagnosis of PBC. Anti-pyruvate dehydrogenase complex E2 component E2 has the same significance as AMA. Diagnostic criteria si shown in this paper.     

Stabilization of bioethanol recovery with silicone rubber‐coated ethanol‐permselective silicalite membranes by controlling the pH of acidic feed solution

In order to produce highly concentrated bioethanol by pervaporation using an ethanol‐permselective silicalite membrane, techniques to suppress adsorption of succinic acid, which is a chief by‐product of ethanol fermentation and causes the deterioration in pervaporation performance, onto the silicalite crystals was investigated. The amount adsorbed increased as the pH of the aqueous succinic acid solution decreased. The pervaporation performance also decreased with decreasing pH when the ternary mixtures of ethanol/water/succinic acid were separated. Using silicalite membranes individually coated with two types of silicone rubber, pervaporation performance was significantly improved in the pH range of 5 to 7, when compared with that of non‐coated silicalite membranes in ternary mixtures of ethanol/water/succinic acid. Moreover, when using a silicalite membrane double‐coated with the two types of silicone rubber, pervaporation performance was stabilized at lower pH values. In the separation of bioethanol by pervaporation using the double‐coated silicalite membrane, removal of accumulated substances having an ultraviolet absorption maximum at approximately 260 nm from the fermentation broth proved to be vital for efficient pervaporation. Copyright © 2005 Society of Chemical Industry