Multidimensional steric effects for the XeI* (B, C) formations in the oriented Xe* (3P(2),M(J) = 2) + oriented CF3I reaction.

Steric effects for the XeI(*) (B) and XeI(*) (C) formations in the oriented Xe(*) ((3)P(2),M(J)=2)+oriented CF(3)I reaction have been observed as a function of the mutual configuration between molecular orientation and atomic alignment in the collision frame. The mutual configuration exercises the significant influences on the stereoanisotropy for both the reactivity and the branching to the XeI(*) (B) and XeI(*) (C) channels.

Acceleration of primary liver tumor growth rate in embolized hepatic lobe after portal vein embolization.

BACKGROUND: Portal vein embolization (PVE) is now widely accepted as a useful preoperative procedure in selected patients undergoing extended hepatectomy. However, the effect of PVE on the growth of liver tumors has not been fully elucidated. PURPOSE: To retrospectively evaluate the effects of PVE on the growth of liver tumors in the embolized lobes. MATERIAL AND METHODS: Eight patients with a primary liver tumor, six hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) and two cholangiocellular carcinomas (CCC), were studied. The growth rates of the tumors in the embolized lobes and non-embolized liver parenchyma were calculated using the computed tomography (CT) volume values at the time of tumor identification, and before and after PVE. RESULT: The median tumor growth rate was 0.59 cm(3)/day (range 0.22-6.01 cm(3)/day) before PVE and 2.37 cm(3)/day (range 0.29-13.97 cm(3)/day) after PVE (P = 0.018). The tumor growth acceleration ratios ranged from 1.50 to 7.46 (median 2.65) in the six HCCs, and were 1.00 and 1.32 in the two CCCs. There was no apparent correlation between the tumor growth rate after PVE and the growth rate of non-embolized liver parenchyma (median 6.00 cm(3)/day, range 1.24-11.0 cm(3)/day). CONCLUSION: Liver tumor growth in an embolized lobe accelerates after PVE, in patients with HCC.

Relationship between esophageal dysfunction and neuropathy in diabetic patients.

OBJECTIVE: Few studies have compared esophageal dysfunction with diabetic neuropathy, and their relationship is not yet clear. The aim of this study was to investigate the relationship between esophageal function and diabetic neuropathy. METHODS: A total of 59 patients with type 2 diabetes were studied. Long-term ambulatory esophageal pH and motility monitoring were performed. The motor nerve conduction velocity (MCV) and coefficient of variation of R-R intervals (CVRR) were also examined. RESULTS: The 59 patients were classified into four groups: group 1 consisted of patients with both diabetic autonomic neuropathy (DAN) and diabetic motor neuropathy (DMN), group 2 had DMN alone, group 3 had DAN alone, and group 4 had neither DAN nor DMN. In pH monitoring, differences were observed among the four groups in DeMeester score, total number of acid reflux episodes, and % time pH < 4 (p < 0.05). A correlation was observed between % time pH < 4 and MCV; however, no correlation with CVRR was observed. In motility monitoring, differences were observed among the four groups in amplitude of peristaltic waves (p < 0.001), rising velocity of peristaltic waves (p < 0.01), and percentage of effective peristalsis (p < 0.01). A correlation was observed between esophageal motility and MCV; however, no correlation with CVRR was observed. CONCLUSIONS: Esophageal motility disorder and abnormal acid reflux were related to DMN in diabetic patients. A significant correlation was found between esophageal dysfunction and MCV. However, no significant correlation was found between esophageal dysfunction and CVRR.

Effects of four mixing methods on setting expansion and compressive strength of six commercial phosphate-bonded silica investments.

Six commercial phosphate-bonded silica investments were mixed with four different mixing methods such as hand, two conventional blade-driven vacuum mixers and a new planetary mixing device, and examined for their setting expansion and compressive strength. The two properties often altered, depending upon the mixing method and the investment. The setting expansion of three investments were significantly affected by the mixing method while those of the other three were not. Compressive strength of all six investments varied by changing the mixing method. It is emphasized here that a mixing method and mixing condition must be properly set for each investment to improve the fit of the final metallic castings. This study also suggests that the planetary mixing device is a useful substitute for conventional blade-driven vacuum mixers.

Nonuniform vertical and horizontal setting expansion of a phosphate-bonded investment.

PURPOSE: This study developed a new device for measuring the internal setting expansion of phosphate-bonded investment and assessed the effect that different pattern materials may have on the internal setting expansion. MATERIAL AND METHODS: The measuring device consisted of 2 horizontal plungers, a vertical needle, 2 digital dial gauges, and a protection tube with a disk. Outward displacement of the 2 horizontal plungers by investment setting expansion was transmitted to a digital dial gauge through the vertical needle. Upward displacement of a protection tube was measured by another digital dial gauge. Three pattern materials, including soft and hard inlay waxes and an autopolymerizing resin, were used. Data were analyzed with ANOVA and Scheffe's F test for all post hoc pairwise comparisons (95% confidence level). RESULTS: For all pattern materials, vertical setting expansion (range of means, 2.26% to 2.73%) was significantly higher than the horizontal setting expansion (range of means, 0.09% to 1.50%) (P <.05). In addition, for the hard inlay wax pattern, the horizontal setting expansion for the cervical aspect (means, 1.39%) was significantly higher than that of the occlusal aspect (means, 0.54%) (P <.05). CONCLUSION: In this study, the new measuring device was a convenient and reliable method for quantitative assessment of internal setting expansion. Regardless of the type of pattern material, a phosphate-bonded investment caused nonuniform setting expansion, especially in a horizontal direction, which lead to the distortion of the pattern.

Resin pattern material with low polymerization shrinkage.

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study was to develop a material with low polymerization shrinkage for resin patterns to improve the fit of a long superstructure to implants. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Three different chemical substances were added at 1, 2, 3, 5, 10, and 20 wt% to the liquid component of a self-curing acrylic resin. Specimens for measuring shrinkage during self curing were prepared in a metal mold that took the form of a conical cavity with slightly tapered walls. The specimens were prepared using three different methods: (1) a brush-on technique, (2) an injection method, and (3) an injection-press method. The percentage of linear shrinkage was calculated from the protrusion of the specimen from the bottom of the cavity. RESULTS: The injection-press method and the brush-on method gave the lowest polymerization shrinkage results (P < 0.05). The standard deviation of the former method was smaller than that of the latter. The linear shrinkage in the injection-press method decreased with the increase of the powder-to-liquid ratio (P < 0.05). All three additives reduced shrinkage to about 1/3 of the shrinkage of the basic resin using the injection-press method and a 2.00:1.00 powder-to-liquid ratio. CONCLUSION: The addition of three different chemical substances to liquid reduces linear shrinkage to about 1/3 of the shrinkage of the original self-curing acrylic resin.

[Experience of 7 cases with home parenteral nutrition in our hospital].

We have experienced 7 patients with home parenteral nutrition (HPN), (including 3 failure cases). Four were benign disease and 3 were malignant. The HPN was given for 0 to 316 days. In 3 cases, we could not allow them to leave the hospital. All 3 cases involved malignant disease. The catheter was removed in only 1 case because of infection. Technical complications due to catheterization or catheter maintenance were not found in the other 6 cases. For successful management of HPN, the following 3 points are necessary for patients, family or doctors. 1) Patients and their family must understand their disease and condition. 2) Patients and their family have great hopes of spending their final days at home. 3) Doctors should have more concern for HPN.

Big insulin-like growth factor II-producing hepatocellular carcinoma associated with hypoglycemia.

A 76-year-old female with a hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) was hospitalized because of fasting hypoglycemia. Her sera contained a low concentration of immunoreactive insulin and insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I, while the IGF-II level was normal. However, most of the IGF-II consisted of the high molecular weight form (big IGF-II). The tumor tissue contained fetal type of IGF-II mRNA (6.0 kb). Furthermore, we found that one of the four patients examined with HCV-related HCC had big IGF-II in serum. This indicates that non-islet cell tumor hypoglycemia (NICTH) in HCV-related HCC might be accompanied by production of big IGF-II by the tumor.

[A case of thoracic empyema extended into the abdominal cavity].

A case of thoracic empyema after artificial pneumothorax for lung tuberculosis was presented, which extended into the abdominal cavity. 65 years old man, who was operated on for lung tuberculosis about 30 years ago, took the routine physical examination and the abdominal mass was picked up on examination. Echogram and CT showed huge homogeneous mass in the right thorax and the right upper abdominal cavity. The operative finding showed that thoracic empyema extended into the abdominal cavity and formed a huge mass. Decortication and extirpation of thoracic empyema and abdominal mass was performed with a combined partial resection of the lung, diaphragma, and thoracic wall. The histopathology of the abdominal mass showed chronic empyema and hematoma.

Hyperproinsulinemia in Japan.

Four families with hyperproinsulinemia found in Japan were described. The details of the first case, who was investigated by Kanazawa et al., were reported and the similarity of the first case to the following cases was shown. Arginine 65 of the proinsulin molecule might be a hot spot of the insulin gene. A possible abnormality of insulin release in affected individuals was disclosed by investigation of the family members of the first case.

[Self-setting apatite cement. 8. Dissolution and remineralization behavior of 45Ca-apatite cement].

Self-setting apatite cement hardens into a mass of single phase apatite when mixed with diluted phosphoric acid. Structurally this mass consists of two types of apatite, i.e. the seed apatite used as a setting accelerator and the matrix apatite formed afterward in the reaction of dicalcium phosphate dihydrate (DCPD) and tetracalcium phosphate (Te-CP). To investigate the dissolution behavior of self-setting apatite cement in detail, two types of 45Ca labeled apatite cement were prepared. In one, the seed apatite was labeled with 45Ca (45Ca-HAp cement) and in the other the matrix apatite was labeled with 45Ca through use of 45Ca-DCPD (45Ca-DCPD cement). Solubility, estimated from the concentration of 45Ca released in 1 mM of organic acid (e.q. acetic, lactic, or citric acid) with initial pH adjusted to 4.0 at 37 degrees C, was approximately zero for 45Ca-HAp cement, whereas the solubility of 45Ca-DCPD cement was approximately the same as unlabeled cements used so far. This finding suggests that dissolution of the matrix apatite governs dissolution of the set cement, though comparison of X-ray diffraction patterns and electron micrographs of the seed apatite and apatite in the set cement showed no essential difference in crystallinity and crystal shape. The fact that the matrix apatite was formed by enveloping the seed apatite may account for the preferential dissolution of matrix apatite. In synthetic saliva labeled with 45Ca having a degree of supersaturation with respect to apatite comparable to rest saliva, 45Ca concentration in solution decreased once the cement pellet was introduced.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Self-setting apatite cement. VII. Barium-apatite as radio-opaque medium].

Addition of barium hydroxyapatite (BaAp) successfully bestowed clinically acceptable radioopacity to the self-setting apatite cement consisting of an equimolar mixture of tetracalcium phosphate and dicalcium phosphate dihydrate. To accelerate the setting reaction which was retarded by Ba2+ released from BaAp at a lower pH during first stage of spatulation with 20 mM phosphoric acid, calcium hydroxyapatite (CaAp) was added to the cement mixture. At about 20 wt% of BaAp and 20 wt% CaAp, the setting reaction proceeded at a neutral or weak alkaline pH, which is one of the most promising aspects of the self-setting cement and assures that this type of cement may be the least irritating of the dental cements presently available. The cement spatulated at L/P = 0.4 set within 10 minutes and its radiopacity was comparable to or more than that of tooth enamel. The wet compressive strength of the set cement stored for one day in synthetic saliva at 37 degrees C was approximately 100 kgf/cm2. Although this value is almost one fourth that of 40 wt% CaAp cement, this cement appears to be strong enough to apply as root canal filling material.

Effect of the porosity of the filler aggregates on the setting expansion of investment material.

Twenty experimental phosphate-bonded investments were prepared by the mixing of two types of fillers (spherical glass beads and irregularly shaped silica particles) with five types of filler aggregates of different porosities, and two different ratios of MgO to NH4H2PO4. These investments were mixed with three different liquids, and their setting expansion, time until setting expansion began (induction time), and fluidity were measured under constant experimental conditions. The following results were obtained: (1) The setting expansion was significantly related to bulk porosity of filler aggregates, not to packed porosity, despite variations in type of filler, ratio of MgO to NH4H2PO4 or type of liquid; and (2) the fluidity and the time until setting expansion began were also related to the bulk porosity of the filler aggregates.