Glass transition and stable glass formation of tetrachloromethane.

Physical vapor deposition (PVD) has been used to prepare organic glasses with very high kinetic stability and it has been suggested that molecular anisotropy is a prerequisite for stable glass formation. Here we use PVD to prepare glasses of tetrachloromethane, a simple organic molecule with a nearly isotropic molecular structure. In situ AC nanocalorimetry was used to characterize the vapor-deposited glasses. Glasses of high kinetic stability were produced by deposition near 0.8 Tg. The isothermal transformation of the vapor-deposited glasses into the supercooled liquid state gave further evidence that tetrachloromethane forms glasses with high kinetic stability, with the transformation time exceeding the structural relaxation time of the supercooled liquid by a factor of 10(3). The glass transition temperature of liquid-cooled tetrachloromethane is determined as Tg ≈ 78 K, which is different from previously reported values. The frequency dependence of the glass transition was also determined and the fragility was estimated as m ≈ 118. The successful formation of PVD glasses of tetrachloromethane which have high kinetic stability argues that molecular asymmetry is not a prerequisite for stable glass formation.

Cricoid pressure impedes tracheal intubation with the Pentax-AWS Airwayscope®: a prospective randomized trial.

BACKGROUND: It is unclear how cricoid pressure affects tracheal intubation with the Pentax-AWS Airwayscope(®) (AWS). We conducted a prospective randomized clinical trial in anaesthetized patients. METHODS: Sixty patients were allocated to either the cricoid pressure (CP) group (n=30) or the sham group (n=30). We compared the two groups with regard to intubation time, number of attempts required for insertion of the Intlock blade (disposable blade of the AWS) and tracheal intubation, percentage of glottic opening (POGO) score, and subjective difficulty of both laryngoscopy and passage of a tube through the glottis. RESULTS: Intubation time was significantly longer in the CP group (median 45[IQR40-59] s) than in the sham group (32[28-45] s) (P=0.003, 95% CI for median difference 5-24 s). The number required for insertion of the Intlock blade did not differ between the groups (P=0.08), but the number for tracheal intubation was significantly higher in the CP group (1 attempt in 14 patients, 2 in 7, 3 in 9) than in the sham group (1 attempt in 24 patients, 2 in 6; P=0.002). POGO score did not differ significantly between the groups (P=0.60), nor did the subjective difficulty of laryngoscopy (P=0.06). The visual analogue scale score for passage of a tube through the glottis was significantly higher in the CP group than in the sham group (P<0.001). CONCLUSIONS: Cricoid pressure impedes tracheal intubation using the AWS, and is associated with longer intubation time, which can be attributed to increased difficulty in the passage of a tube through the glottis. CLINICAL TRIAL REGISTRY NUMBER: UMIN000018209.

Genetic relatedness of Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex isolates from patients with pulmonary MAC disease and their residential soils.

Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) strains were recovered from 48.9% of residential soil samples (agricultural farms (n = 7), residential yards (n = 79), and planting pots (n = 49)) of 100 pulmonary MAC patients and 35 non-infected control patients. The frequency of MAC recovery did not differ among soil types or among patients regardless of the presence of pulmonary MAC disease, infecting MAC species or period of soil exposure. Variable numbers of tandem repeats (VNTR) analysis for MAC clinical and soil isolates revealed 78 different patterns in 47 M. avium clinical isolates and 41 soil isolates, and 53 different patterns in 18 M. intracellulare clinical isolates and 37 soil isolates. Six clinical and corresponding soil isolate pairs with an identical VNTR genotype were from case patients with high soil exposure (≥2 h per week, 37.5% (6/16) with high exposure compared with 0.0% (0/19) with low or no exposure, p <0.01), suggesting that residential soils are a likely source of pulmonary MAC infection.

Predictors of 5-year mortality in pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex disease.

SETTING: Kyoto, Japan. OBJECTIVE: To determine predictors of 5-year mortality in pulmonary Mycobacterium avium-intracellulare complex (MAC) disease. DESIGN: Retrospective study of 164 patients diagnosed with pulmonary MAC disease between 1999 and 2005 and followed for 5 years. RESULTS: Overall 5-year mortality was 28.0%. Among 117 patients with microbiological outcomes, 54 were treated (treated MAC patients) and 24 were not treated and did not experience sputum culture conversion during follow-up (untreated chronic MAC patients); 39 patients were not treated and experienced sputum culture conversion. Five-year all-cause overall mortality among the 78 patients with definite MAC disease (including treated and untreated chronic MAC patients) was 25.6%. The mortality rate was 33.3% for untreated chronic MAC patients only vs. 22.2% for treated MAC patients (P = 0.30). After adjustment for clinical, microbiological and radiological confounders, independent factors for 5-year mortality were a high Charlson comorbidity index in cases with definite MAC disease (hazard ratio [HR] 1.76) and untreated chronic MAC (HR 3.08), and presence of cavitary lesions in cases with definite MAC disease (HR 1.82) and treated MAC patients (HR 3.91). CONCLUSION: Patients with cavitary lesions require immediate treatment for sputum culture conversion and to improve their chances of survival.

Expanding holes driven by convectionlike flow in vibrated dense suspensions.

Surface instabilities in vertically vibrated suspensions of various powders dispersed in silicone oil are investigated in quasi-two-dimensional (2D) and quasi-one-dimensional (1D) systems. As vibration acceleration exceeded a critical value, the flat surface became unstable against a finite-amplitude perturbation. We found an expanding hole or viscous fingerlike pattern in the quasi-2D system and segregation between dried and wet areas in the quasi-1D system. We show that these instabilities are accompanied by convectionlike flow at their rim and in the quasi-1D system, the height of the convectionlike flow can be scaled by acceleration, vibration frequency, diameter of the dispersed powder, mean density of the suspension, and viscosity of silicone oil. We propose a simple model that accounts for the scaling and concentric motion of the convectionlike flow.

Involvement of prostaglandin F 2 alpha receptor in ATP-induced mechanical allodynia.

Nociceptive primary afferents have the capacity to induce a state of increased excitability in the dorsal horn neurons of the spinal cord. It is well accepted that capsaicin-sensitive C-fibers transduce noxious stimulation and acute pain and that capsaicin-insensitive A beta-fibers are responsible for touch and innocuous sensation. It has been reported that the intrathecal (i.t.) administration of prostaglandin F(2 alpha) (PGF(2 alpha)) and ATP induces mechanical allodynia via the capsaicin-insensitive primary afferent pathway. In the present study, we investigated the interaction of purinoceptor P2X and the PGF(2 alpha) receptor (FP) in the induction of allodynia by use of mice lacking FP (FP(-/-)). Both PGF(2 alpha) and the P2X receptor agonist alphabeta-methylene ATP administered i.t. strongly induced allodynia for 50 min by tactile stimuli to the flank of mice. The allodynia induced by alphabeta-methylene ATP, but not that by PGF(2 alpha), was suppressed by simultaneous i.t. administration of P2X receptor antagonists pyridoxalphosphate-6-azophenyl-2,4-disulphonic acid and A-317491. In contrast, the allodynia induced by alphabeta-methylene ATP as well as that by PGF(2 alpha) was not observed in FP(-/-) mice. Immunostaining of beta-galactosidase, a reporter knocked into the endogenous FP locus in FP(-/-) mice, showed that the FP receptor was co-localized with P2X(2) and P2X(3) receptors in neurons of the spinal cord. alphabeta-Methylene ATP evoked a transient or sustained [Ca(2+)](i) increase in most of the PGF(2 alpha)-responsive cells in the deeper layer of the spinal cord, and the alphabeta-methylene ATP-evoked increase was blocked by the FP receptor antagonist AL-8810 in two-thirds of the cells. Neither PGF(2 alpha) nor alphabeta-methylene ATP induced the activation of spinal microglia. The present study demonstrates that the alphabeta-methylene ATP-evoked allodynia is mediated by the FP receptor, possibly via the functional coupling between the activation of P2X(2/3) receptors on the central terminal of capsaicin-insensitive fibers and FP receptors on spinal neurons.

Role of Ca2+ transporters and channels in the cardiac cell volume regulation.

Na+/K+ pump is one of key mechanisms to maintain cell volume. When it is inhibited, cells are at risk of swelling. However, in guinea pig ventricular myocytes, the cell area as an index of cell volume was almost constant during 90 min Na+/K+ pump blockade with 40 microM ouabain despite the marked membrane depolarization. In this study, involvements of Ca2+ transporters and channels in the cardiac cell volume regulation were proposed by conducting the computer simulation in parallel with the experimental validation.

Involvement of Rho-kinase in inflammatory and neuropathic pain through phosphorylation of myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS).

Myristoylated alanine-rich C-kinase substrate (MARCKS) is a major in vivo substrate for protein kinase C in the brain and has been implicated in cellular processes associated with cytoskeletal restructuring such as synaptic trafficking and neurotransmitter release. A phosphorylation-site specific antibody against Ser159-phospho-MARCKS (pS159-Mar-Ab) revealed that MARCKS is phosphorylated at Ser159 by Rho-kinase and that its phosphorylation is inhibited by the Rho-kinase specific inhibitor H-1152. Since the function of MARCKS is regulated by phosphorylation at multiple sites, here we examined the involvement of Rho-kinase in relation to phosphorylation of MARCKS at Ser159 in inflammatory and neuropathic pain by H-1152. When intrathecally administered 10 min before s.c. injection of formalin, H-1152 at 10 and 100 ng attenuated the second-phase, but not the first-phase, pain-like behaviors in the formalin test. Neuropathic pain induced by selective L5 spinal nerve transection was also relieved by intrathecal injection of H-1152. Nitric oxide synthase activity visualized by NADPH diaphorase histochemistry increased in the superficial layer of the spinal cord 30 min after formalin injection and 7 days after nerve transection, which were blocked by H-1152. Phosphorylation of MARCKS at Ser159 was detected in the spinal cord by pS159-Mar-Ab and the level of phosphorylation increased in the superficial layer after nerve transection. In contrast, immunoreactivities of neuronal nitric oxide synthase and MARCKS did not change significantly in the spinal cord before and after nerve transection. Taken together, the present study demonstrates that Rho-kinase is involved in inflammatory pain and the maintenance of neuropathic pain through phosphorylation of MARCKS at Ser159.

Prospective randomized pilot trial of selective biliary cannulation using pancreatic guide-wire placement.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: In difficult cases of selective bile duct cannulation, several expanded techniques are available which have only been partially evaluated in randomized studies. This study describes a prospective, randomized trial investigating a further technique for obtaining selective biliary access--pancreatic duct wire placement. PATIENTS AND METHODS: During a six-month study period, 107 consecutive patients required deep selective biliary cannulation. Accessing the bile duct using a catheter failed within 10 min in 53 of the patients, who were randomly assigned to either pre-insertion of a guide wire into the pancreatic duct or persistence with a conventional catheter. The success rate and complication rate were compared between these two groups. RESULTS: In the pancreatic duct-guide wire group (n=27), the success rate was significantly greater than in the conventional group (93% vs 58%). No pancreatitis complications occurred within either group. CONCLUSIONS: Inserting a guide wire into the pancreatic duct to facilitate deep selective bile duct cannulation is better than persisting with a conventional catheter. Further studies will be needed to confirm these results and to compare this method with other sophisticated techniques for obtaining selective access to the bile duct.

A case report of FSH-producing nasal ectopic pituitary adenoma extending to the frontal cranial fossa.

We report the first case of an ectopic pituitary adenoma in the nasal cavity that produced follicle-stimulating hormone (FSH). A 60-year-old man complaining of left nasal bleeding had a polypoid tumor in the left nasal cavity. Findings of computed tomographic scanning and magnetic resonance imaging showed that the tumor originated from the olfactory cleft, occupied the nasal cavity, and extended to the frontal cranial fossa. Results of histologic examination suggested ectopic pituitary adenoma. Magnetic resonance imaging results showed the pituitary gland to be normal. Electron microscopy findings demonstrated a large number of secretory granules in the tumor cells that were positive for FSH on immunohistochemical analyses. Serum gonadotropin levels were normal, and no clinical signs of hypersecretory syndrome were noted. The above findings led us to establish the diagnosis of FSH-producing ectopic pituitary adenoma. The patient underwent craniofacial resection of the tumor followed by an uneventful recovery. The pathologic findings and clinical course of the case were comparable to those of FSH-producing adenomas arising from the pituitary gland.

[A case of isolated fourth ventricle in the early postoperative period of subarachnoid hemorrhage].

An adult case of isolated fourth ventricle which developed in the early postoperative period of SAH is reported. A 72-year-old male with Hunt & Kosnik Grade 4 subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH) underwent emergent neck-clipping of an anterior communicating artery aneurysm along with setting of external ventricular drainage (EVD) and cisternal drainage (CD). The lamina terminalis (LT) was opened. Preoperative study had showed diffuse SAH with intraventricular hemorrhage (IVH), and mild dilatation of the whole ventricular system on CT scan (Fisher Group 4). Twelve hours after surgery, both of the drainages were opened with the pressure setting of 20 cm H2O for EVD and 10 cm H2O for CD. Although his neurological state had been improving, 2 hours after the opening of the drainages he suddenly fell into respiratory arrest and coma, when 20 ml of CFS through CD was drained. On CT scan, isolated fourth ventricle was recognized. The patient died on the ninth postoperative day. In case of severe SAH with diffuse IVH, we should be careful when setting the pressure of EVD or CD with the LT opened, because of the possibility of occlusion of the fourth ventricle outlet and aqueduct, that results in fourth ventricle isolation.

Identification and functional analysis of three isoforms for the Na+-dependent phosphate co-transporter (NaPi-2) in rat kidney.

We have isolated three unique NaPi-2-related protein cDNAs (NaPi-2alpha, NaPi-2beta and NaPi-2gamma) from a rat kidney library. NaPi-2alpha cDNA encodes 337 amino acids which have high homology to the N-terminal half of NaPi-2 containing three transmembrane domains. NaPi-2beta encodes 327 amino acids which are identical to the N-terminal region of NaPi-2 containing four transmembrane domains, whereas the 146 amino acids in the C-terminal region are completely different. In contrast, NaPi-2gamma encodes 268 amino acids which are identical to the C-terminal half of NaPi-2. An analysis of phage and cosmid clones indicated that the three related proteins were produced by alternative splicing in the NaPi-2 gene. In a rabbit reticulocyte lysate system, NaPi-2alpha, beta and gamma were found to be 36, 36 and 29 kDa polypeptides, respectively. NaPi-2alpha and NaPi-2gamma were glycosylated and revealed to be 45 and 35 kDa proteins, respectively. A functional analysis demonstrated that NaPi-2gamma and alpha markedly inhibited NaPi-2 activity in Xenopus oocytes. The results suggest that these short isoforms may function as a dominant-negative inhibitor of the full-length transporter.

An autopsy case of a charred body which committed suicide after arson.

A severely burned body was found lying on its right side at the scene of the fire in a 2-story wooden apartment house. The presence of a ligature (an electrical cord) running horizontally around the neck aroused suspicion of arson after homicidal strangulation (murder-arson). The entire body was severely burned and partly charred. The head and neck were severely charred, and the left temporal bone had been consumed exposing the brain. Around the neck was looped an electrical cord, which ran horizontally and canted downward toward the nape, leaving a furrow resulting from the knot being tightened up. No other injuries or pathologic lesions suggestive of the cause of death were noted. No drug, poison or alcohol was detectable in the blood or urine. The peculiar method of making a noose of the ligature around the neck is called clove hitch, which makes the noose tighten further with increased load. The fallen curtain rod had a bend with an acute angle, which was considered to have been the point of suspension in hanging. In addition, a lighter was found under the corpse, which was presumably used to ignite the gasoline that the deceased sprinkled. We speculate, therefore, that the deceased hanged himself by placing the electrical cord around his neck (by clove hitch), suspending it from the curtain rod, sprinkling gasoline in his room, igniting it with a lighter, executing suicidal hanging after the start of the fire. Probably the body was wrapped in flames while dangling, then fell to the floor together with the collapsing curtain rod.

Regulation of intestinal Na+-dependent phosphate co-transporters by a low-phosphate diet and 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3.

In a study of the rat intestinal P(i) transport system, an activator protein for rat Na/P(i) co-transport system (PiUS) was isolated and characterized. We also investigated the effects of restriction of vitamin D and P(i) (two of the most important physiological and pathophysiological regulators of P(i) absorption in the small intestine) on intestinal P(i) transport activity and the expression of Na/P(i) co-transporters that are expressed in rat small intestine. Rat PiUS encodes a 424-residue protein with a calculated molecular mass of 51463 Da. The microinjection of rat PiUS into Xenopus oocytes markedly stimulated Na(+)-dependent P(i) co-transport activity. In rats fed with a low-P(i) diet, Na(+)-dependent P(i) co-transport activity was increased approx. 2-fold compared with that of rats fed a normal P(i) diet. Kinetic studies demonstrated that this increased activity was due to an elevation of V(max) but not K(m). The PiUS mRNA levels showed an approximate doubling in the rats fed with the low-P(i) diet compared with those fed with the normal P(i) diet. In addition, after the administration of 1, 25-dihydroxyvitamin D(3) [1,25-(OH)(2)D(3)] to vitamin D-deficient animals, the P(i) uptake was significantly increased in the Na(+)-dependent component in the brush border membrane vesicle (BBMV) at 24 and 48 h. In addition, we found a further high-affinity Na/P(i) co-transport system in the BBMV isolated from the vitamin D-replete animals. The levels of type III Na/P(i) co-transporter PiT-2 mRNA were increased 24 and 48 h after 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3) administration to vitamin D-deficient animals, whereas PiUS and the type IIb Na/P(i) co-transporter mRNA levels were unchanged. In conclusion, we first cloned a rat activator protein, PiUS, and then studied its role along with that of other type III Na/P(i) co-transporters. PiUS and PiT-2 might be important components in the regulation of the intestinal P(i) transport system by P(i) restriction and 1,25-(OH)(2)D(3).

Nicotinamide inhibits sodium-dependent phosphate cotransport activity in rat small intestine.

BACKGROUND: We recently reported that the administration of niceritorol (a nicotinic acid derivative which improves lipid metabolism and peripheral circulation, and is used for the treatment of hyperlipidaemia and impaired peripheral circulation) to patients with hyperphosphataemia undergoing dialysis decreased the serum phosphate (Pi) concentration. We found that this was due to an acceleration of faecal Pi excretion by niceritrol. METHODS: Intestinal brush border membrane vesicles (BBMVs) were prepared from rat jejunum, and the Na+-dependent and Na+-independent Pi transport activities in these vesicles were measured. In addition, the functional Pi transporter from rat small intestine was injected in Xenopus oocytes, and the effect of nicotinamide on the levels of its expression were measured by northern blotting. RESULTS: The Na+-dependent component was significantly decreased in the BBMVs isolated from rats treated with nicotinamide, while the Na+-independent component was not changed. Kinetic studies demonstrated that the decreased activity was due to reduction of the Vmax value and not an elevation of the Km values. When poly(A)+RNA from rats treated with nicotinamide was microinjected into Xenopus oocytes, the Pi transport activity was significantly decreased compared with that in the control animals. In addition, there were no significant changes in Na/Pi cotransporters and activators, but the vitamin D receptor mRNA level was reduced to 80% of the control level. CONCLUSIONS: These observations suggest that nicotinamide may regulate the expression of a major functional Na/Pi cotransporter in the rat small intestine.

Regulation of PiT-1, a sodium-dependent phosphate co-transporter in rat parathyroid glands.

A cDNA encoding an Na+-Pi co-transporter, termed rat PiT-1, has now been isolated from rat parathyroid. Expression of rat PiT-1 in Xenopus oocytes revealed that it possesses Na+-dependent Pi co-transport activity. The amount of PiT-1 mRNA in the parathyroid of vitamin D-deficient rats was reduced compared with that in normal animals, and increased markedly after administration of 1,25-dihydroxyvitamin D3. Furthermore, the abundance of PiT-1 mRNA in the parathyroid was much greater in rats fed a low-Pi diet than in those fed a high-Pi diet. Thus, rat PiT-1 may contribute to the effects of Pi and vitamin D on parathyroid function.

Estimation of age by epidermal image processing.

Small pieces of human precordial skin were obtained from 266 individuals during autopsy performed in Osaka Prefecture. The area from the stratum corneum to the stratum basale in a unit area of the epidermal cross-section was extracted as a segmented area of white image by image processing. The number of pixels surrounding this area was measured in individuals of various ages, and the age-associated changes were evaluated. The number of pixels around this binary image in the epidermal cross-section showed a strong correlation with age. The number tended to decrease with an increase in age in individuals aged 20 years and above, which could be closely approximated by an exponential function. A formula for estimating age was obtained as an inverse function of the number of pixels and age, and the accuracy of estimation using this formula was examined by comparing the estimated age with the actual age. Such age-associated changes in the epidermis were considered to be closely related with increased roughening of the stratum basale, flattening of dermal papillae, and a decreased percentage of the stratum granulosum per unit area of epidermis observed by light microscopy or scanning electron microscopy.

Presumption of a suspect based on the skin fragment attached the rope.

An eight-year-old girl (second-year of elementary school) was strangled in an irrigation canal near her house and was left unconscious. The body of a male who hanged himself to death was discovered on the next day. The hanging mark on the neck of the man and the ligature mark on the neck of the girl were caused by double nooses of a rope, the width of the rope mark was nearly the same, and similar Zwischenkammblutung (subcutaneous bleeding in the middle of the rope mark) was observed in both cases. Therefore, we evaluated whether the marks were caused by the same rope. As a result, the DNA type of the skin fragment (keratinized epithelial cells) attached to the rope used by the man to hang himself was identical to that of the girl. On the basis of this evidence, the man who hanged himself to death was presumed to be the suspect who strangled the girl.