Evaluation of glomerular filtration rate by camera-based method in both children and adults

We describe a method to evaluate glomerular filtration rate (GFR) in both children and adults using 99mTc-diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid (DTPA) and a gamma camera. METHODS: Renal scintigraphy with 99mTc-DTPA was performed in 40 children and 92 adults with various degrees of renal function. The percent renal uptake at 2-2.5 min after tracer arrival in the kidney was determined with background subtraction and correction for soft-tissue attenuation and was correlated by linear regression analysis with GFR measured from two blood samples. A perirenal region of interest was used for background subtraction. Renal depth was computed using the equations determined or validated on the basis of CT measurements, and the attenuation coefficient was set at 0.12. The obtained regression equation was used to predict GFR. Renal function was also assessed by the Gates' method. RESULTS: Percent renal uptake was closely correlated with GFR normalized for body surface area in all patients (y = 15.958x - 2.94; r = 0.939). GFR was successfully predicted using the regression equation in both children and adults. Gates' method severely overestimated GFR in children and provided less accurate values even in adults than our method. CONCLUSION: The method presented here requires neither blood sampling nor additional imaging and allows estimation of GFR in both children and adults.     

Evaluation of vibration in many positions by SOM

We propose a method of evaluating the vibration of motor-operated electric tools (MOETs) by using a self-organizing feature map (SOM). The vibration spectrum is used to evaluate the MOET vibration. These vibration spectra are derived from 18 vibration data obtained by measurements on three different positions of a MOET. The spectra are then sent to the SOM network for the calculations. The vibration spectra are classified by the SOM, and calculations give the Euclidean distance from the weight vector in order to develop a quantitative evaluation. A statistic analysis of the Euclidean distance allows a quantitative evaluation of a MOET with respect to vibration stress and other relevant parameters.This work was presented, in part, at the 9th International Symposium on Artificial Life and Robotics, Oita, Japan, January 28–30, 2004     

A 0.8-dB insertion-loss, 17.4-dBm power-handling, 5-GHz transmit/receive switch with DETs in a 0.18-/spl mu/m CMOS process

An optimized single-pole double-throw (SPDT) transmit/receive (T/R) switch has been fabricated using depletion-layer-extended transistors (DETs) in a 0.18 /spl mu/m CMOS process. The switch features the highest performance to date of any switch using a CMOS process, of a 0.8 dB insertion-loss, 23 dB isolation and 17.4 dBm power-handling capability at 5 GHz. The low insertion-loss has been achieved with the effects of junction capacitance decrease and substrate resistance increase in the DET, the adoption of low-loss shielded-pads, and several layout optimizations. The high power-handling capability is owing to the combined effect of the adoption of the source/drain dc biasing scheme and the high substrate resistance in the DET.     

Cytotoxicity induced by Erythrina variegata serine proteinase inhibitors in tumor hematopoietic stem cell lines

A prospective study of activated protein C sensitivity, protein C, protein S, and other coagulation factors in 239 women during normal pregnancy was carried out. Protein C activity appeared unaffected by gestation, although an elevation of protein C activity was observed in the early puerperium. A fall in total and free protein S with increasing gestation was observed. Activated protein C sensitivity ratio (APC:SR) showed a progressive fall through pregnancy. This fall correlated with changes in factor VIIIc, factor Vc and protein S. 38% of subjects, with no evidence of Factor V Leiden or anticardiolipin antibodies, showed a low APC:SR (APC:SR <2.6) in the third trimester of pregnancy. Aside from a significant reduction in birth weight, no difference in pregnancy outcome was observed between these subjects and those with a normal APC:SR. Activated protein C sensitivity ratio, modified by pre-dilution of patient samples with factor V depleted plasma, showed no consistent trend with gestation.     

Blunt traumatic rupture of right ventricle and pericardium

A 60-year-old man was transferred to our hospital for blunt trauma of the chest suffered in a traffic accident. He had a weak pulse, and cardiopulmonary resuscitation was continued in the ambulance. Chest roentgenography revealed left hemothorax, and echocardiography revealed pericardial bleeding. He was immediately transported to the operating room, because of severe hypotension due to massive bleeding from the chest drainage tube. Median sternotomy was performed under stand-by cardiopulmonary bypass. There was projectile bleeding from the anterior wall of the right ventricle. The site of rupture was sutured with felt strip. A tear in the pericardium was also present at the apex. Postoperative recovery was uneventful. Fulda et al. reported that the incidence of combined pericadial and cardiac chamber rupture was 8% for those patients suffering blunt chest trauma, and that the rate of survival was less than 15% for blunt heart rupture. We have reported here successful repair of combined rupture of the right ventricle and pericardium.     

Identification of S100b protein as copper-binding protein and its suppression of copper-induced cell damage

We have isolated from bovine brain a protein with a high capacity to inhibit the copper ion-catalyzed oxidation of L-ascorbate and identified it as S100b protein, an EF-hand calcium-binding protein, by sequencing its proteolytic peptides. Copper binding studies showed that this protein has four copper-binding sites per dimeric protein molecule with a dissociation constant of 0.46 microM and that in the presence of L-ascorbate, copper ions bind to a total of six binding sites with a great increase in affinity. Furthermore, we examined whether S100b protein can prevent copper-induced cell damage. Bovine S100b protein was found to suppress dose-dependently the hemolysis of mouse erythrocytes induced by CuCl2. We transformed Escherichia coli cells with pGEX-5X-3 vector containing a cDNA for rat S100b protein, so that this protein could be expressed as a fusion protein with glutathione S-transferase. The transformed cells were demonstrated to be markedly resistant to a treatment with CuCl2 plus H2O2 as compared with the control cells expressing glutathione S-transferase alone. These results indicate that S100b protein does suppress oxidative cell damage by sequestering copper ions.     

Gas diffusion electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells using novel organic/inorganic hybrid electrolytes: effect of carbon black addition in the catalyst layer

We have prepared novel gas diffusion electrodes for polymer electrolyte fuel cells (PEFC) using new organic/inorganic hybrid electrolytes. The catalyst layers were prepared by mixing 3-(trihydroxysilyl)-1-propanesulfonic acid [(THS)Pro-SO₃H], 1,8-bis(triethoxysilyl) octane (TES-Oct), Pt loaded carbon black (Pt-CB) and water, followed by a sol-gel reaction. It was found that addition of uncatalyzed carbon black (u-CB) into the cathode catalyst layer enhanced the performance at high current density region, due to an increase in the gas diffusion rate. The optimum volume ratio of u-CB/Pt-CB was found to be 0.1, at which the gas diffusivity and the catalyst utilization are well balanced.     

Effectiveness of an antioxidant in preventing restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty: the Probucol Angioplasty Restenosis Trial

OBJECTIVES: The Probucol Angioplasty Restenosis Trial was a prospective, randomized, controlled study that investigated the effectiveness of probucol therapy in reducing the rate of restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA). BACKGROUND: Antioxidants have an inhibitory effect on smooth muscle cell growth in experiments in vitro and in vivo, which suggests a possible pharmacologic effect on restenosis after PTCA. METHODS: One hundred one patients were randomly assigned to receive 1,000 mg/day of probucol or control (no lipid-lowering) therapy 4 weeks before PTCA. After 4 weeks of premedication, both groups underwent PTCA. Probucol was continued until follow-up angiography 24 weeks after PTCA. Angiographic results were analyzed at a core laboratory by quantitative coronary angiography. RESULTS: Dilation was successful in 46 of 50 patients in the probucol group and 45 of 51 in the control group. At follow-up angiography 24 weeks after angioplasty, angiographic restenosis occurred in 9 (23%) of 40 patients in the probucol group and 22 (58%) of 38 in the control group (p = 0.001). Minimal lumen diameter was 1.49 +/- 0.75 mm (mean +/- SD) in the probucol group and 1.13 +/- 0.65 mm in the control group (p = 0.02). Percent diameter stenosis at follow-up angiography in the probucol group was significantly lower than that in the control group (43.9% vs. 56.4%, p = 0.009). The late loss was 0.37 +/- 0.69 mm in the probucol group and 0.60 +/- 0.62 mm in the control group (p = 0.13). The loss/gain ratio was 0.32 +/- 0.74 in the probucol group and 0.56 +/- 0.81 in the control group (p = 0.059). Net gain was greater in the probucol group than in the control group (0.77 +/- 0.70 vs. 0.48 +/- 0.59 mm, p = 0.053). CONCLUSIONS: Probucol administered beginning 4 weeks before PTCA appears to reduce restenosis rates.     

Acute toxicity oftrans-5-hydroxy-2-nonenal in fisher 344 rats

The potential toxicity oftrans-4-hydroxy-2-nonenal (HNE), a product formedin vivo during lipid peroxidation, which is also present in foods, was investigated in Fisher 344 rats. Five groups of five male rats each were given by gavage 1000, 300, 100, 30 or 10 mg/kg body weight HNE dissolved in 0.5 mL corn oil. The sixth group, the control, received corn oil alone. Two rats died 6 and 8 hr after being treated with 1000 mg/kg HNE. These two rats showed extensive acute tubular necrosis of the kidney, but had very little liver damage. Diffuse liver cell necrosis was observed in a dose dependent manner in all the rats killed 14 days after treatment, whereas renal change was mild. Interestingly, body weight of the lowest dosage group was significantly higher than that of the control group at termination of the experiment. The results of this study show that HNE has almost the same toxicity as other enals, such astrans-2-heptenal, and that kidney and liver are the main organs affected by toxicity of HNE. Although animals may have efficient defense systems, such as glutathione, to detoxify low to moderate dosages of HNE, at high doses of HNE this defense system is overwhelmed, resulting in serious renal and hepatic damage.