Talbot-Lau interferometry-based x-ray imaging system with retractable and rotatable gratings for nondestructive testing.

We develop an x-ray imaging system based on Talbot-Lau interferometry equipped with a mechanical structure for retracting and rotating gratings from the optical axis, which enables not only x-ray phase contrast imaging but also conventional x-ray imaging with high-magnification such as microcomputed tomography (µCT). We investigate the characterization of carbon fiber reinforced plastic (CFRP) laminates using this apparatus. Microcracks and fiber orientations are visualized in the dark-field images. Compared with the obtained µCT images, the relationship between the CFRP microstructures and the contrasts in the dark-field images are recognizable.

Expression changes in tolerant murine cardiac allografts after gene therapy with a lentiviral vector expressing alpha1,3 galactosyltransferase.

Comparison of intragraft gene expression changes in tolerant cardiac allograft models may provide the basis for identifying pathways involved in graft survival. Our laboratory has previously demonstrated that tolerance to the gal alpha1,3 gal epitope, the major target of rejection of wild-type pig hearts in human cardiac transplantation, can be achieved after transplantation with bone marrow transduced with a lentiviral vector expressing alpha1,3 galactosyltransferase. We now present intracardiac gene expression changes associated with long-term tolerance in this model. Biotin-labeled cRNA was hybridized to Affymetrix GeneChip 430 2.0 Mouse Genome Arrays. Data were subjected to functional annotation analysis to identify genes of known function in which expression was increased or decreased by at least 2-fold (t-test, P < .05) in tolerant gal+/+ wild-type hearts as compared to transplanted syngeneic controls. Tolerant hearts demonstrated increased expression of genes associated with the stress response, modulation of immune function and cell survival (HSPa9a, CD56, and Akt1s1), and decreased expression of several immunoregulatory genes (CD209, CD26, and PDE4b). These data suggest that tolerance may be associated with activation of immunomodulatory and survival pathways.

[Effect of splenectomy in gastric carcinoma surgery on cell-mediated immunity; evaluation with alteration of peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets].

Peripheral blood lymphocyte subsets were studied in 70 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric carcinoma. Lymphocyte subsets were analysed before and after gastrectomy by use of monoclonal antibody for cell membrane markers. There were significant differences in the gastrectomized patients with splenectomy compared to the patients without splenectomy in postoperative changes of lymphocyte subsets as follows. Decrease of OKT4 and increase of OKT8. Temporary decrease of B-1. Continuous increase of Leu-7. These results suggest that gastrectomized patients with splenectomy show a decrease in helper activity, an increase of suppressor activity of T lymphocytes and a compensatory increase of population of natural killer cells in association with suppression of natural killer activity.

Zinc status and its relations to growth retardation in children with biliary atresia.

Zinc status was studied in 36 children with biliary atresia and in ten children with Hirschsprung's disease or anorectal anomalies. Changes in preoperative and postoperative plasma and urinary zinc levels were measured in 16 children with biliary atresia and ten children with Hirschsprung's disease or anorectal anomalies. Hypozincemia was evident in children with biliary atresia preoperatively and became severe with time when adequate zinc supplementation was not given. Follow-up studies were done in 20 children with biliary atresia aged between 9 months to 10 years. The children with poor bile excretion and impaired liver function tended to have hypozincemia and a high excretion of zinc. Growth retardation was also common in these children. Careful monitoring and appropriate supplementation of micronutrients, including zinc is probably important for normal growth in children with biliary atresia.

Carbohydrate metabolism in infants with biliary atresia.

Carbohydrate metabolism in 9 infants with biliary atresia (BA) was investigated preoperatively and during the early postoperative period when these infants were on parenteral nutrition for 7 days. Findings were compared with data on infants without liver dysfunction. Changes of plasma glucose, immunoreactive insulin (IRI) and C-peptide immunoreactivity (CPR) in the biliary atresia group with moderate liver fibrosis were the same as those in the control group. However, in one patient with marked liver fibrosis, the molar IRI/CPR ratio was significantly low, thereby suggesting an increased hepatic insulin extraction. This change, however, was transient and the molar IRI/CPR ratio gradually returned to the level of other BA patients and the control groups after the 1st postoperative day. This study shows that in infants with BA, the glucose intolerance seen in adults with obstructive jaundice is absent and the parenteral nutrition can be performed without severe changes of carbohydrate metabolism.

Requirement of parenteral fat in infants with biliary atresia.

In a prospective study on infants with biliary atresia (BA) we measured the composition of the plasma fatty acid to determine the requirement of fat emulsion. In 14 infants who underwent initial operation for treatment of BA, a trend toward essential fatty acid (EFA) deficiency was evident before the surgery. Fourteen infants given parenteral nutrition (PN) after surgery were grouped into three according to the dose of fat emulsion, fat free in 4, 10% of the total calories in 5 and 20% of the total calories in 5. After operation, EFA deficiency gradually progressed when on fat free PN. Improvement in EFA deficiency occurred with the administration of fat which corresponded to 20% of the total caloric intake. During PN including fat emulsion, abnormal changes in liver function tests and serum lipid values due to fat emulsion were nil. Infusion of fat which supplies 20% of the total calories is thus recommended for correction of EFA deficiency and is tolerable in infants with obstructive liver disease. However, clinical and biochemical monitoring should be carefully done.

Primary malignant lymphoma of the esophagus. A case report.

We report a rare case of primary malignant lymphoma of the esophagus. The 45-year-old patient was followed up radiologically and endoscopically for 3 months prior to operation.

Cholelithiasis in infants: association with parenteral nutrition.

Reported herein are two cholelithiasis-afflicted infants with a common inability to tolerate enteral feeding necessitating parenteral nutrition. One of the infants received parenteral nutrition for 5 months because of intestinal dysfunction and enterocolitis secondary to extensive aganglionosis, while the second child was premature and placed on parenteral nutrition because of bowel dysfunction after surgery to repair high jejunal atresia and a right diaphragmatic hernia. The relationship between parenteral nutrition and cholelithiasis is discussed.

Early lymphoma coexisting with reactive lymphoid hyperplasia of the stomach.

A 55-year-old woman with a small focus of malignant lymphoma, 6 mm in diameter, arising within an area of reactive lymphoid hyperplasia (RLH) of the stomach is reported. The diagnosis of lymphoma was suspected by the preoperative endoscopic biopsy. This is the case of this association with an unusually small lymphoma in the early stage, in support of the view that there may be an intimate histogenetic relationship between lymphoma and RLH.

Zinc and copper requirements during parenteral nutrition in the newborn.

Zinc and copper requirements and metabolism in surgical neonates on parenteral nutrition were monitored. Without a supplementation of zinc, the plasma zinc level decreased in the second week and became severe with time. In full-term babies, for up to 4 weeks of parenteral nutrition, 40 micrograms/kg/d was adequate to maintain the plasma zinc level within a normal range. For extended periods of parenteral nutrition, the dose of zinc can be reduced without excess loss of this mineral. However, premature babies in the zinc-supplemented group showed a decreased zinc level in the fourth week of parenteral nutrition, indicating that 40 micrograms/kg/d of zinc supplementation was inadequate for premature surgical babies. Infants with enterostomy require increased amounts of zinc, even up to 300 micrograms/kg/d. Copper levels revealed little change, up to 4 weeks of this feeding. In the presence of increased fluid loss through gastrointestinal fistulas, deficiency of copper occurred and the copper requirements increased. Careful monitoring is necessary to ensure an adequate supply of these minerals to surgical neonates.