[Evaluation of AEC Performance for Stability of Image Quality in Local Dense Area in Mammography].

The local dense area (LDA) test is a test for evaluating the stability of image quality published in the EUREF fourth edition-supplements for local high-density areas. In this test, a small PMMA plate imitating LDA is placed on a rectangular PMMA, and the exposure conditions and SNR are evaluated when the thickness is changed. In this study, we replaced the rectangular PMMA with a D-shaped PMMA phantom-like breast. Then, we inserted an implant and a muscle phantom simulating the pectoral muscle and varied the distance from the edge of the chest wall to a small PMMA plate. In most of the tests, the SNR was stable as the thickness of the small PMMA plate increased as the exposure conditions increased. However, the SNR was not stable because the exposure conditions were not appropriate depending on the insertion distance of the muscle phantom and the position of the small PMMA plate.

A potential preventive method for scar stenosis after esophageal endoscopic mucosal resection using human amniotic epithelial cells in a porcine model.

Objectives: The current methods employed for esophageal endoscopic mucosal resection (EMR) involve the risk of adverse postprocedural complications. Therefore, this study aimed to develop a new method to prevent stenosis following a resection procedure using human amniotic epithelial cells in a porcine model. Methods: With the consent of a woman who underwent a cesarean section, amniotic epithelial cells were isolated from the amniotic membrane of the delivered placenta. Six swine were used for this study. Under general anesthesia, four EMRs using cap-fitted microscope ulcers were performed on each porcine esophagus. Of the four ulcers, the two on the oral side were treated by injecting human amniotic epithelial (AE group) cells, and the remaining two on the anal side were left untreated (control group). One week after the procedure, the swine were sacrificed, and the ulcers were evaluated. The epithelialization rate was calculated by dividing the length of the epithelialized portion of each section by the length of the ulcer, which was determined using an optical microscope. Moreover, the mucosal thickening in each section was measured in terms of diameter. Results: The epithelialization rate was significantly higher in the AE group than in the control group. Mucosal thickening was not significantly different between the groups. Conclusions: Transplanting amniotic epithelial cells into the ulcer promoted ulcer epithelialization. Amniotic epithelial cell transplantation is a potential method for the management of ulcer scar stenosis following esophageal endoscopic submucosal dissection.

Interaction of multi-walled carbon nanotubes with water-soluble proteins: effect of sidewall carboxylation.

Effect of sidewall carboxylation on protein adsorption behavior of multi-walled carbon nanotubes (MWCNTs) was studied. Two water-soluble proteins, bovine serum albumin (BSA) and egg white lysozyme (LYS), were employed in this work. Carboxylation of MWCNTs suppressed adsorption of BSA, whereas adsorption of LYS was enhanced by the carboxylation. These behaviors are explained by the difference in the dominance of hydrophobic interaction and ionic interaction between MWCNTs and the proteins.

Increasing mortality from pulmonary embolism in Japan, 1951-2000.

In the United States, annual mortality rates from pulmonary embolism (PE) tended to increase from the 1960s to the mid 1980s, but thereafter began to decrease. In Japan, PE is not yet widespread and there have not been any reports of the time-trend of its mortality rate. The present study calculated the annual age-adjusted and age-specific PE mortality rates for Japanese residents during 1951 to 2000 from the 'Vital Statistics of Japan' and the census data and population estimates for the intercensal years. Throughout the study period, the age-adjusted deaths and mortality rates from PE continued to increase, and between 1976 and 1996 the increases in the annual age-specific mortality rates were substantial in males 45-49 years of age and 55 years or older, and in females 30 years of age or older. The age-specific PE death rates increased throughout the life span in general and according to the decade. Male mortality was greater at most ages. In Poisson regression analysis, the relative risk of death from PE was increased in males, the aged, and in recent years. Overall, mortality from PE in Japan increased significantly during 1951 to 2000.

Evaluation of heart-rate turbulence as a new prognostic marker in patients with chronic heart failure.

The significance of heart-rate turbulence (HRT) in patients with chronic heart failure (CHF) was evaluated to examine whether it is sensitive to the risk of ventricular tachycardia (VT). HRT is reported to predict the prognosis after myocardial infarction (MI), but its prognostic value in patients with CHF remains unknown. HRT was measured in 50 CHF patients (left ventricular ejection fraction <50% and/or left ventricular end-diastolic diameter >55 mm, 34 cardiomyopathy, 16 post-MI) and 21 patients without obvious heart diseases (control). HRT slope and HRT onset were measured by the original definitions using digitized Holter ECG recordings. Cardiac pump function was assessed by echocardiography. The value of the HRT slope was significantly lower in CHF than in control (3.7 +/- 1.7 vs 16.4 +/- 5.3, mean +/- SD, p < 0.01). The value of the HRT onset in patients with CHF was significantly higher than that in control patients (-1.1 +/- 1.9 vs -3.6 +/- 1.7, mean +/- SD, p < 0.05). The HRT slope and onset in CHF patients with VT were nearly identical to those without VT. The HRT slope appears to be a powerful prognostic marker that shows significant differences between CHF subgroups when divided by clinical events; that is, CHF death and CHF hospitalization. However, it has limited value for predicting fatal ventricular arrhythmias.