Isolation of a new mixed valence Pt molecular oxide using phosphine as protecting group.

A novel tetranuclear mixed valence cationic Pt molecular oxide [((Me3P)2Pt)3Pt(OH)6]4+ is obtained by reacting H2Pt(OH)6 and (Me3P)2Pt2+, whose NMR spectra suggest the existence of another species in solution that may serve as a starting point for further synthesis of Pt molecular oxides.

[Bowel perforation after extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy: a case report].

A case of intestinal perforation caused by ESWL for left ureteral calculus is reported. A 69-year-old male underwent the graft replacement for bilateral iliac aneurysm in March, 1996. In February, 1999, there appeared left flank pain, and a diagnosis of left ureterolithiasis was made by radiological examination. On March 29 he was admitted to our department for ESWL. On March 30, ESWL for calculus in the pelvic region was performed with the patient in the prone position. The patient complained of the left lower abdominal pain immediately after ESWL, but no muscular defense was observed. Since the pain was not relieved, CT was performed on March 31, but no evident abnormal finding was found. Thereafter the pain continued and on April 2 muscular defense was also noted. On CT performed a second time, free air and evidence of ileus were found, so emergency operation was performed. Two perforations about 2 mm in size were found in the jejunum 130 cm from the Treitz' ligament, which led to diagnosis of intestinal perforation due to ESWL. The patient followed a satisfactory postoperative course and was discharged on April 23. There has been only one reported case of intestinal perforation due to ESWL. It is a very rare complication. However, this complication should be taken into consideration where the patient has the history of abdominal surgery and where ESWL was performed with the patient in the prone position.

Research on pelvic angle variation when using a pelvic support.

A pelvic support consisting of a forward sloping wedge of foam has been tested as an addition to conventional office seating for VDT work. In experiment 1 a questionnaire investigation was carried out on the impressions of 10 male and 10 female subjects who sat using pelvic supports. A general result from the questionnaire was that the waist and pelvis were felt to be stable and the evaluation was more positive with the support than without. In experiment 2, pelvis and chest inclinations were measured during sitting with and without the pelvic support. Over a long work period, significant differences were not observed. In both cases, subjects were able to move freely and there were no significant changes in posture. In experiment 3, pelvis and chest inclinations were measured in conditions of no pelvic support and with supports of 10, 20 and 30 degrees. The experiment demonstrated that a support angle of 10 degrees was stable and comfortable. In this research, it was found that the change of inclination of the pelvis can be measured continuously using an angle of inclination sensor. Imposing a forward slope of 4 to 10 degrees on the seat pan surface using the pelvic support had a positive effect, while angles of 20 and 30 degrees had a negative effect.

Adenoviral E1A-associated protein p300 is involved in acute myeloid leukemia with t(11;22)(q23;q13).

p300, which was originally cloned as a nuclear binding target of the adenovirus E1A oncoprotein, forms a family with cyclic-AMP response element binding protein (CREB)-binding protein (CBP). p300/CBP are considered to be transcriptional coactivators that connect the basal transcriptional machinery to various DNA-binding transcriptional factors. p300/CBP are implicated in both cell differentiation and regulation of cell-cycle. We identify here that the p300 gene is fused to the MLL gene and that in-frame MLL-p300 fusion protein is generated in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) with t(11; 22)(q23; q13). These findings suggest that the basis for the leukemogenesis of t(11; 22)-AML is the inability of p300 to regulate cell-cycle and cell differentiation after fusion with MLL.

Performance of 3-D digitizing in stereoscopic images.

Experiments were conducted to understand the basic characteristics of pointing to three-dimensional images generated by stereoscopic images. The experimental examination found that it was difficult to point to the correct position of the image and that the depth of the image was underestimated so that the object perceived by the subject was distorted. Subjects who were familiar with viewing 3-D images made less error in position and size perception than did subjects having little experience in viewing 3-D images. These results imply that the performance of 3-D pointing in stereoscopic 3-D images will improve with experience although it is difficult to perform a 3-D pointing precisely.

Surmised state of accommodation to stereoscopic three-dimensional images with binocular disparity.

Three-dimensional image (3-D image) was experimentally generated by the binocular disparity principle, and psychological tests were performed in relation to the state of accommodation. An image of a square formed by the time-sharing system using liquid crystal (LC) shutter glasses was displayed before the CRT screen (forward image) by the crossed visual-line method and behind the monitor screen (backward image) by the non-crossed visual-line method. The subjects were requested to subjectively compare each image with the original image on the CRT screen in relation to the size. The forward image displayed by the crossed visual lines looked smaller than the original image, while the backward image displayed by the non-crossed visual lines looked larger. In consideration of the developmental mechanism of micropsia occurring in patients with accommodative palsy or paresis of accommodation and macropsia occurring in patients with accomodative spasm, it was surmised that, in the generation of 3-D image due to binocular disparity, accommodation works so that the original image position is maintained.

A study on visual characteristics of binocular 3-D images.

To put the binocular 3-D image system into practical use, it is necessary to investigate the relationship between the system and human subjects in order to make an ergonomic evaluation of the system. In this study, a comparative analysis is made of the changes in the accommodation and pupil functions before and after observing binocular 3-D images as the visual distance varies. The results suggest that: (1) the discordance in the distance information on the accommodation and pupil functions when observing 3-D images is compensated by the miosis and altering the focal depth, (2) from the consideration of the effect of the visual distance condition on the visual functions, it is believed that the visual functions are stabilized at the dark focus in the sense that the changes in the contraction and relaxation after observing the 3-D images are minimized.

Psychological effect of stereoscopic 3-D images with fragrances.

Stereoscopic 3-D images are used with a lot of virtual reality systems because of their sense of reality. At the same time, in the training that heightens levels of self control of autonomic responses with images, it is thought that reality of software is important. Therefore, the authors investigated use of 3-D images as a technical tool to heighten the reality of software. In this study, a laboratory was transformed into a relaxation room using 3-D images with fragrances and an experiment was carried out to examine the psychological effect of it. From the results of this study, the authors reported on the effects of fragrances on psychological responses when viewing 3-D images and the possibilities of producing these effects for relaxation.

The development of a dummy head for 3-D audiovisual recording for transmitting telepresence.

Manufacturing systems that employ modern technology often deprive workers of their humanity. One such example is seen in teleconferencing between remote plants. Here, it is difficult for participants to make eye-to-eye contact, a major obstacle in the communication of the participants; intentions and emotions. Indeed participants often complain that the facial expressions or emotions of the other side are difficult to perceive, that it is difficult to carry on a friendly, warm conversation, or that it is difficult to convey one's intentions to the other. They thus tend to become irritated during these conferences, and at times make erroneous judgements. In such situations, it can be said that the system users are being deprived of their humanity. This occurs because a machine or computer, when placed between two people communicating, interferes with a natural communication. What measures are there then to achieve a natural communication in such a setting, with a machine or computer between those communicating? These methods are classified here. In this study, a system for communicating 'presence' was employed to achieve a natural communication. The prototype system is call a 'dummy head for 3-D audiovisual recording'. Using this dummy head, dialogue between operators, remote control, as well as the recording of a skilled worker's use of his hands were carried out, and the results were evaluated. From these results, the authors report on how the prototype system, when placed between humans, helps to achieve a natural communication. Finally, some examples are given to show the human need for achieving a natural communication in such interface situations.

[Three cases of hydronephrosis in which the indwelt ureteral stent was ineffective. Urodynamic studies using a stent indwelling model for retroperitoneal fibrosis].

We report 3 cases in which ureteral stents were indwelt to treat hydronephrosis due to retroperitoneal fibrosis, resulting in aggravation of hydronephrosis and renal function. An urodynamic study was carried out to determine the factors that aggravated hydronephrosis. The subjects were a 59-year-old male with prostatic cancer and bilateral hydronephrosis due to intrapelvic lymph node metastasis, a 49-year-old female with retroperitoneal lymph node metastasis and bilateral hydronephrosis following surgery for stomach cancer, and a 65-year-old male with hydronephrosis due to idiopathic retroperitoneal fibrosis. Indwelling of ureteral stents in the 3 patients resulted in aggravation of hydronephrosis and renal function. Stent indwelling models of retroperitoneal fibrosis were produced using adult mongrel dogs. A pressure flow study was carried out through the nephrostomy in each experimental model to determine the intrapelvic pressure and urine volume. In all stent indwelling models, the urine volume showed changes similar to those in the controls. In the stent indwelling models, the intrapelvic pressure showed a significant increase with an increase in the volume of water instilled through the nephrostomy in the stent indwelling models with retroperitoneal fibrosis, unlike the controls and models with ureteral stenosis. In conclusion, the clinical cases and model experiment suggested that unlike partial ureteral stenosis, in ureters in which extensibility was disturbed in an extensive area, the indwelt stent caused an increase in the resistance of the liquid flowing in the ureter, aggravating hydronephrosis.

[Pressure changes in the renal pelvis of the dogs in response to a sudden rise in intravesical pressure, examined in the presence of resico ureteral reflux with artificial ureter and/or pelvis].

This study is to determine which part or the upper urinary tract, ureter or pelvis causes more significant delay in the pressure wave-front propagation from the bladder to the pelvis when a reverse flow of the urine occurs. A sudden rise in the intravesical pressure of the dog was produced by stimulating the vesical branches of pelvic nerve with a train of electrical impulses with 10 Hz for 60 sec. In order to eliminate the physiological mechanism that presents a reverse flow of the urine at the uretero-vesical junction, a 3 cm vinyl tube was inserted into the ureteral orifice in all experiments except the cases with ureteral substitution (group II and III). Changes in intrapelvic pressure were measured from 7 dogs without substitution of either ureter or pelvis, and used as the control responses for comparison with those recorded from the dogs with artificial ureter and/or pelvis. Artificial ureter was made by a vinyl tube of 25 cm, whereas artificial pelvis was made by a 3 ml plastic chamber. Twenty-eight dogs were divide into 3 groups. Group I consisted of 7 dogs whose pelvises were replaced by artificial ones. Group II included 8 dogs whose ureters were substituted by artificial ones, and group III consisted of 6 dogs whose both ureter and pelvis were replaced by artificial ones. Results obtained were as follows; (1) There was no significant difference between the maximum intravesical pressure and the maximum intrapelvic pressure recorded from every dog in all groups. (2) The onset time of intrapelvic response recorded from the control dog showed a delay from that of intravesical response by 2.05 +/- 1.03 sec. (3) The onset time of intrapelvic response recorded from group I, II and III were 0.51 +/- 0.94 sec., 1.95 +/- 1.10 sec., 0.10 +/- 0.25 sec., respectively. (4) Statistically significant difference in the delay of response was observed only between the responses recorded from the control or group II and the responses recorded from group I or III. The above results suggested that the major site causing a significant delay in the pressure wave-front propagation from the bladder to the pelvis is the pelvic area including caryx, but not the ureteral region, when a reverse flow of the urine occurs.

An analysis of the reduction of elasticity on the ageing of human skin and the recovering effect of a facial massage.

Based on a study of human hand movements during practical diagnosis, evaluation patterns of softness and elasticity were observed. The evaluation models were extracted from these analyses and applied to the developing a method of detecting the dynamic properties of human skin. The device consisted of a robot arm controlled by microcomputer system and a probe with a mounted mechanical strain gauge. A method was developed to measure the dynamic properties of human skin. Correlations were obtained between parameters from the measurements and the values evaluated by experts. The dynamic properties of the cheek skins of a panel of 86 people, aged from 20 to 75 years, were measured. A remarkable reduction in elasticity was observed in older people and the lack of sebum was analysed. From these results the metabolism in the skin surface and the muscles of the cheeks were analysed. The effects of skin care products were then confirmed by measuring cheeks before and after continual use of facial treatment systems for a month. Significant recovery effects were observed in a less soft-skinned group and a less elastic-skinned group over 30 years of age. These experiments suggest a protecting effect of facial treatments and skin care products.

[A case of scrotal bladder hernia containing bladder cancer].

A 70-year-old man had a history of total laryngectomy for laryngeal cancer and bilateral inguinal hernia repair 5 years previously. The patient had suffered from difficulty with urination since then and had been treated for prostatic hypertrophy at our department. He developed microscopic hematuria from June 1991, and was admitted because a bladder tumor was detected by cystoscopy. Cystography showed a scrotal bladder hernia with filling defects in the bladder per se and the bladder hernia as well. Cystoscopy revealed tumors in the hernia and in the vicinity of the ureteral orifice. Biopsy indicated transitional cell carcinoma. Voiding cystourethrography showed normal urination and no residual urine. Excision of the tumor-containing hernia, partial cystectomy with right ureteral orifice, and reconstruction of the right inguinal canal were performed on October 25, 1991. The postoperative course was favorable and he was discharged on the 40th postoperative day. The tumors were respectively stage as TCC, G1, and pT1a, and TCC, G1 greater than G2, and pT1b. Thirty five cases of bladder hernia that have been reported in Japan. Eight cases of accompanied by cancer have been reported in Japanese (3 cases) and foreign (5 cases) literatures. These are reviewed and discussed.

Construction of parametric model of operator and workstation.

The purpose of development of a parametric model and the construction and formulation of the parametric model are described. To validate the parametric model, the distribution of the difference between the preferred and theoretical seat height settings of a number of office workers was evaluated from the standpoint of the static posture that does not change with time. The results of precise measurements made for an engineering workstation and an operator were also evaluated. Finally, the theoretical seat height settings with dynamic posture were evaluated. The validity of the parametric model was verified under the experimental conditions.

[Ureteral function at the ureterovesical junction. Action potentials of the canine intramural ureter during bladder filling or bladder contraction].

The relationship between bladder movements and the intramural ureter was studied in the dog by recording electromyograms of the intramural and extravesical ureters recorded during bladder filling and contraction. Bladder filling was achieved by instilling physiological saline at a rate of 10 ml/min to a volume of 5 ml/kg, while bladder contraction was induced by electrical stimulation. For electromyography, an electrode was inserted transperitoneal into both the extravesical ureter and the intramural ureter after it had been separated from the extravesical ureter. A cystostomy for the instillation of water and another cystostomy for the measurement of intravesical pressure were also made in the bladder. During bladder filling at an intravesical pressure of about 10 cmH2O, the frequency of the action potentials in the intramural ureter showed no significant difference to those in the extravesical ureter. In addition, during bladder contraction at a greatly increased intravesical pressure of about 5 times the precontraction level, the frequency of the action potentials in the intramural ureter was not significant by different from those in the extravesical ureter, and also from its own precontraction value. The above findings suggest that action potentials in the intramural ureter are not affected by bladder movements such as filling or contraction, and that the ureter continues to actively transport urine to the bladder during such movements.

[A case of replacement ileocystoplasty for contracted bladder].

The patient was a 49-year-old male. He had a history of asymptomatic hematuria that had occurred 3 years previously. The hematuria and pollakisuria developed again from about March, 1989, and he was hospitalized for bladder tamponade in April. Bilateral percutaneous nephrostomies were performed because a contracted bladder and bilateral hydronephrosis were detected. He was then admitted to our hospital on June 21. The cause of the contracted bladder was not evident, despite extensive examination. A replacement ileocystoplasty constructed by Shishido's method was used to replace the contracted bladder. A U-shape pouch was prepared by detubularization of 25 cm of the ileum and this pouch was anastomosed to the incised end of the bladder neck after subtotal cystectomy. The ureter and ileum were then anastomosed using Coffey's method. The bladder capacity and the maximum urinary flow rate after 1 year were 350 ml and 13 ml/sec, respectively, and residual urine was not noted after urination even following abdominal pressure. Urinary incontinence was not noted either.

The effects of VDT work on the regulation of hemodynamics compared with aging.

Urinary excretions of aldosterone, blood pressure, and heart rate were examined for three age groups of volunteers searching for target words on VDT for two hours. Aldosterone excretion did not change in the young and middle-aged groups, but increased in the elderly group. Blood pressure decreased midway through the work in the young group, and increased during the work in the middle-aged and elderly groups. Aldosterone excretion did not increase during hard-copy work or during VDT work with large letters, but increased during VDT work with small letters. During VDT work with both large and small letters, blood pressure increased. During hard-copy work, neither blood pressure nor heart rate changed, although blood pressure increased after the work. These data suggest that the sympathetic nervous activation represented by the increases in aldosterone excretion and blood pressure occurred definitively during VDT work with small letters under the conditions of this study. It is also suggested that this effect is enhanced by aging.

The change in colour critical flicker fusion (CFF) values and accommodation times during experimental repetitive tasks with CRT display screens.

Two groups of normal subjects were loaded an experimental visual task, or a calculating and discriminating task, on a CRT display screen under different work speeds and amounts. The colour (red, green and yellow) CFF values of the subjects were measured every 15 min during the task and their accommodative function, represented by the accommodation time, was measured before and after the task. The two groups of subjects showed no significant differences in the pattern of change in the colour CFF values. The green and yellow CFF deteriorated significantly at 30 min after the start of the task. The red CFF values decreased significantly at 15 min after the start of the task and this conditions continued to the end of the task. Both groups showed a lengthening accommodation relaxation time but no change in the accommodation relaxation time after the task. This increase in the relaxation time was larger in the group of subjects who were loaded a larger amount of work at a higher speed. The results suggest that the decrease in the CFF value of the subject, particularly when the subject sees light directly using a CRT display screen, does not signify the decline in the activity or consciousness level of the brain centre alone.