Links between Immune Cells from the Periphery and the Brain in the Pathogenesis of Epilepsy: A Narrative Review

Accumulating evidence has demonstrated that the pathogenesis of epilepsy is linked to neuroinflammation and cerebrovascular dysfunction. Peripheral immune cell invasion into the brain, along with these responses, is implicitly involved in epilepsy. This review explored the current literature on the association between the peripheral and central nervous systems in the pathogenesis of epilepsy, and highlights novel research directions for therapeutic interventions targeting these reactions. Previous experimental and human studies have demonstrated the activation of the innate and adaptive immune responses in the brain. The time required for monocytes (responsible for innate immunity) and T cells (involved in acquired immunity) to invade the central nervous system after a seizure varies. Moreover, the time between the leakage associated with blood–brain barrier (BBB) failure and the infiltration of these cells varies. This suggests that cell infiltration is not merely a secondary disruptive event associated with BBB failure, but also a non-disruptive event facilitated by various mediators produced by the neurovascular unit consisting of neurons, perivascular astrocytes, microglia, pericytes, and endothelial cells. Moreover, genetic manipulation has enabled the differentiation between peripheral monocytes and resident microglia, which was previously considered difficult. Thus, the evidence suggests that peripheral monocytes may contribute to the pathogenesis of seizures.     

Process Intensification of Living Cationic Polymerization of Isobutylene by a Flow Reaction System

Increasing the reaction temperature of the living cationic polymerization of isobutylene is crucial for industrial production due to the cost of refrigeration. The reaction temperature increase was achieved with an accelerated reaction rate using a flow reaction system. The polymerization conditions, including the flow reactor design, were based on the results of kinetic studies. Utilizing a milli‐scale flow reactor, polyisobutylene, which has a narrow molecular weight distribution, was obtained within a considerably short residence time at a high temperature. Furthermore, it was confirmed that the value of M_w/M_n correlates with the product of the Reynolds number and the angle of collision.     

Diphenyl Carbonate Synthesis by Homogeneous Pd Electrocatalyst

Electrochemical carbonylation of phenol with CO to diphenyl carbonate (DPC) using Pd electrocatalyst was studied at P(CO) = 1 atm and room temperature. Electrochemical carbonylation was conducted by galvanostatic electrolysis at 1 mA in electrolyte solutions containing phenol, sodium phenoxide and CH₃CN. It was found that electrochemical carbonylation by Pd was promoted by using 1,3-dimesitylimidazol-2-ylidene (IMes) ligand of a N-heterocyclic carbene. The current efficiency of DPC increased more than 3.4 times using the IMes ligand. The maximum current efficiency of DPC formation was 45 %.     

Very high characteristic temperature and constant differentialquantum efficiency 1.3-μm GaInAsP-InP strained-layer quantum-welllasers by use of temperature dependent reflectivity (TDR) mirror

A very high characteristic temperature T₀ of 150 K (25-70°C) or 450 K (25-50°C) and an almost constant differential quantum efficiency operation in the temperature range of 25-70°C were achieved in 1.3-μm GaInAsP-InP strained-layer quantum-well (SL-QW) lasers by use of a novel temperature dependent reflectivity (TDR) mirror composed of multiple quarter-lambda thickness α-Si-SiOx dielectric films with quarter-lambda shift in the vicinity of center portion, The mechanism of high T₀ and constant differential quantum efficiency were explained using the structural parameters, transparent current density and gain coefficient of a SL-QW laser that are derived experimentally. The effect of TDR mirror was confirmed by measuring the temperature dependence of net gain of a SL-QW laser with TDR mirror. It was found that less temperature dependent net gain due to the decrease of mirror loss with temperature played an important role for improving the temperature characteristics of threshold current. Almost constant differential quantum efficiency over a wide temperature range is attributed to the increase of the facet reflectivity with temperature     

Dual-wavelength optical head with a wavelength-selective filter for 0.6- and 1.2-mm-thick-substrate optical disks

A dual-wavelength optical head, believed to be new in design, for 0.6- and 1.2-mm-thick-substrate optical disks was developed by use of 650- and 780-nm-wavelength light and a wavelength-selective filter, which reduces the spherical aberration that is due to the difference in substrate thicknesses and restricts the numerical aperture for 780-nm-wavelength light. According to this configuration, both high light power efficiency and wide image field characteristics are obtained, which are suitable not only for read-only but also for recordable or rewritable optical disk systems. A reading operation for a digital video disc and for a compact disc and a recording operation for a phase change optical disk were successfully demonstrated.     

Characterization of endothelium-dependent relaxation independent of NO and prostaglandins in guinea pig coronary artery

In the presence of N omega-nitro-L-arginine and indomethacin, acetylcholine (ACh) induced endothelium-dependent relaxation in guinea pig coronary artery preconstricted with 9,11-dideoxy-9 alpha, 11 alpha-epoxymethano prostaglandin F2 alpha. Dexamethasone and arachidonyltrifluoromethyl ketone, inhibitors of phospholipase A2, and 17-octadecynoic acid, an inhibitor of cytochrome P450 epoxygenase, had no effect on the response to ACh. Although proadifen, which is used widely as an inhibitor of cytochrome P450-dependent enzymes, suppressed the ACh-induced relaxation, the drug also inhibited the relaxation induced by cromakalim, a K+ channel opener. In isolated smooth muscle cells of guinea pig coronary artery, proadifen, but not 17-octadecynoic acid, almost abolished delayed rectifier K+ current. Epoxyeicosatrienoic acids failed to relax the artery. Apamin and iberiotoxin, inhibitors of small- and large-conductance Ca(++)-activated K+ channels, respectively, did not affect the relaxation induced by ACh. A combination of charybdotoxin plus apamin, but not iberiotoxin plus apamin, abolished the response. However, the combination of charybdotoxin plus apamin had no effect on ACh-induced increase in intracellular free Ca++ concentration in endothelial cells. These results suggest that epoxyeicosatrienoic acids do not contribute to N omega-nitro-L-arginine/indomethacin-resistant relaxation induced by ACh in the guinea pig coronary artery. The present study also proposes that K+ channels on vascular smooth muscle cells, which both charybdotoxin and apamin must affect for inhibition to occur, are the target for endothelium-derived hyperpolarizing factor.     

Efficacy of microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) in patients with liver tumors

We evaluated the efficacy of microwave coagulation therapy (MCT) in 84 patients with hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and 40 with metastatic liver tumors (MLT). The response rates calculated with diagnostic imaging were 92% in HCC and 80% in MLT. The regional recurrence rates were relatively higher in patients with MLT (33%) than in HCC (14%). The average surgical margin in operative MCT group was 11 mm. The cumulative survival rates at three and five years were 63% and 38% in HCC and 43% and 33% in MLT, respectively. The complications were similarly encountered in HCC and MLT (12% versus 13%). When these observations are taken together, MCT is a radical and safe locoregional therapy which can keep an adequate surgical margin and assure long survival.     

A patient with acromegalic heart disease--a case report

A perioperative anesthetic management of a 69 year old woman with acromegaly whose clinical course was characterized by severe heart failure is described. The patient showed symptoms of massive cardiomegaly. Endocrine studies indicated that her pituitary tumor was active with hyperproduction of growth hormone. There was no demonstrable evidence for other known causes of heart disease. Following hormonal therapy using continuous subcutaneous infusion of somatostatin for about two months, there was improvement in daily activity and reduction in heart size. After the improvement of cardiac function, transsphenoidal hypophysectomy was performed under general anesthesia and its perioperative course was quite uneventful. We conclude that because cardiac involvement such as left ventricular dilatation in acromegaly might be reversible with proper treatment, any surgical procedure, as long as the case is elective, should be considered after hormone therapy.     

Low-noise 0.78 μm-band laser diode unit containing Faradayrotator

A small, low-noise 0.78 μm-band laser diode unit, containing a Faraday rotator which suppresses optical feedback, was developed. Stable low-noise characteristics were realised within the 3 mW to 10 mW output power. Greater than 40 dB signal/noise ratio was obtained in an optical video disc with this unit