Mineral characteristics of leaves of plants from different phylogeny grown in various soil types in the temperate region.

The objective of this research was to analyze selected minerals in leaves of plants, belonging to 166 species growing in alluvial, low pH, brown forest and serpentine soils. Mineral characteristics of the soils involved were also determined. For the macronutrients, in trees grown in alluvial soil, N, P, Ca, and Mg concentrations of leaves were higher in recently evolved plants than in plants with a longer period of evolution; K concentration remained constant regardless of evolution. In grasses grown in alluvial soil, it was difficult to detect the general tendency of mineral concentration. N, P, and K concentrations in alluvial soil were closely related to those in low pH and serpentine soils. Ca concentration in alluvial soil was lower than that in low pH and serpentine soils. Mg concentration in alluvial soils was higher than that in low pH soils, while lower than that in serpentine soil. Therefore, N, P, and K accumulated according to the plant characteristics for these elements, while Ca and Mg accumulation was strongly affected by the soil properties. For the micronutrients, in trees, Fe and Mn remained constant regardless of evolution; Zn concentration was lower in recently-evolved plants than in plants with a longer period of evolution. In grasses, Fe, Mn, and Zn concentrations in Caryophyllids were high. Except for Caryophyllids, Fe and Cu concentrations remained constant. Mn concentration decreased with evolution, Zn concentration was higher in recently-evolved plants than in plants with a longer period of evolution.

Mineral characteristics of the leaves of 166 plant species with different phylogeny in the temperate region.

The P-N regression coefficient was moderate in Magnoliales, Coniferopsidae, Pteridophyta, and Asterids, but very high in Caryophyllids, and very low in Rosids. The K-N regression coefficient in trees remained constant regardless of evolution, and that in grasses was high except for Rosids compared with that in trees. The coefficient was very high in Caryophyllids and was very low in Rosids. The N-Ca and N-Mg relationship was not estimated at all, suggesting that the mechanism of Ca and Mg accumulation was completely different from that of N related accumulation. The Zn and Cu concentrations were related to the N concentration. The Al concentration in leaves was negatively correlated with the N, P, K, Ca, Mg, Na, Cu, Zn, Mn, and Fe concentrations, while the N, P, K, and Mn concentrations in leaves increased slightly with the increase of Al concentration in the high Al concentration. The Na concentration in leaves related negatively to the P, Ca, Cu, Zn, Mn and Al concentration range. Thus, it was demonstrated that most of the minerals in leaves accumulate negatively Al and Na indicating that there are antagonistic mechanisms for mineral accumulation in leaves among Al or Na and other mineral elements.

Effect of arm elevation and rotation on the strain in the repaired rotator cuff tendon. A cadaveric study.

In 14 cadaveric shoulders, a rotator cuff tear (2 cm wide and 1.5 cm long) was created and repaired under a 3-kg tensile force with the arm in adduction. Strain on the repaired tendon was measured at 0 degrees, 15 degrees, 30 degrees, and 45 degrees of elevation in the sagittal, scapular, and coronal planes and from 60 degrees of internal rotation to 60 degrees of external rotation. The strain in all of the planes decreased significantly with the arm elevated more than 30 degrees. With 30 degrees of elevation in the scapular and coronal planes, the strain increased in internal rotation and decreased in external rotation. In all of the positions measured, the strain in the sagittal plane was significantly greater than in the other planes. We concluded that more than 30 degrees of elevation in the coronal or scapular plane and rotation ranging from 0 degrees to 60 degrees of external rotation compose the safe range of motion after repair of the rotator cuff.

Function of the 3 portions of the inferior glenohumeral ligament: a cadaveric study.

The stabilizing function of the inferior glenohumeral ligament of the anterior band and posterior band has been investigated, but little is known about the function of the axillary pouch. The strain of the 3 portions of the inferior glenohumeral ligament in 17 fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders was measured with use of linear transducers. The measurements were performed under the following conditions: 0 degrees, 30 degrees, 45 degrees, and 60 degrees of glenohumeral elevation in the coronal, scapular, and sagittal planes and internal to external rotations in 10 degrees increments. The anterior band and axillary pouch showed significant strain increases when the arm was elevated and externally rotated in the coronal and scapular planes but no increase in the sagittal plane. The posterior band showed no strain in the coronal and scapular planes, but a significant strain increase with the arm elevated and internally rotated in the sagittal plane. We conclude that the anterior band and axillary pouch, which showed the greatest strain in abduction and external rotation, are anterior stabilizers, whereas the posterior band, which showed the greatest strain in flexion and internal rotation, is a posterior stabilizer. We recommend that the 6 o'clock position be firmly repaired during the Bankart procedure.

Effect of superior capsule and coracohumeral ligament release on strain in the repaired rotator cuff tendon. A cadaveric study.

Twelve cadaveric shoulders were used to determine the effects of release of the superior capsule and the coracohumeral ligament on the strain in the repaired rotator cuff tendon. A rotator cuff tear (2 cm wide and 1.5 cm long) was created and repaired under a 3-kg tensile force. The strain in the repaired tendon was measured with use of linear transducers with the arm in 50 different positions. Release of either the superior capsule or the coracohumeral ligament diminished the tension of the repaired rotator cuff by an average of 25% with the arm in adduction. Release of both of these structures further reduced the tension by an average of 44% in adduction and 43% to 60% with the arm in 15 degrees of elevation. The maximum reduction of tension in the repaired rotator cuff occurred when both the superior capsule and coracohumeral ligament were divided and when the arm was positioned in adduction and in 60 degrees of external rotation. Release of the coracohumeral ligament is equally as efficient as releasing the superior capsule in reducing the strain of the repaired rotator cuff. Releasing both structures seems to be desirable when releasing one structure or the other is not sufficient.

Superior labral strain during the throwing motion. A cadaveric study.

We studied the strain on the superior labrum of 10 fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders with the arm in simulated positions of a pitching motion. We used linear transducers to measure the strain in both the anterior and posterior superior labrum with the arm in various planes and rotations simulating the motions of pitching: early cocking, late cocking, acceleration, deceleration, and follow-through. Predetermined loads, according to the percent of maximum voluntary contraction of the biceps muscle during each phase of pitching, were calculated and applied to the long head of the biceps tendon using a spring device. Only during the late cocking phase, when the arm was in maximal external rotation, was the increase in strain statistically significant for the anterior and posterior portions and the strain on the posterior portion significantly greater than that on the anterior portion of the labrum. The increased strain in the posterior portion may be due to the anatomic orientation of the long head of the biceps tendon at the superior labrum. The increased strain in the late cocking phase may contribute to the detachment of the labrum with the eccentric contraction of the biceps muscle that occurs with rapid extension of the elbow.

Effects of biceps loading and arm rotation on the superior labrum in the cadaveric shoulder.

Effects of loading the long head of the biceps brachii (LHB) and arm rotation on the strain of the superior labrum (anterior and posterior) in 10 fresh frozen cadaveric shoulder joints were studied. Loads were applied to the rotator cuff muscles to stabilize the humeral head. The strain of the anterior and posterior portions of the labrum with the biceps loaded with 0.42 kg, 1.36 kg, and 2.31 kg were measured using linear transducers. The humerus was rotated externally (30, 45, 60, and 90 degrees) and internally (30, 45, and 60 degrees) with the arm elevated 60 degrees at glenohumeral joint (simulated 90 degrees elevation of arm to the trunk). The strain increased with an increase in the weight of the load to LHB and with increase in rotation angle both internally and externally. Since the strain in the posterior portion was larger than that of the anterior portion it seems likely that the labrum, especially the posterior portion, is subject to large strain during biceps loading and arm rotation.

The depressor function of biceps on the head of the humerus in shoulders with tears of the rotator cuff.

We investigated the function of biceps in 18 patients (19 shoulders) with lesions of the rotator cuff. Their mean age was 59 years. Another series of 18 patients (19 shoulders) with normal rotator cuffs as seen on MRI acted as a control group. Their mean age was 55 years. A brace was used to maintain contraction of biceps during elevation. Anteroposterior radiographs were obtained with the arm elevated at 0 degrees , 45 degrees and 90 degrees with and without contraction of biceps. The distance between the centre of the head of the humerus and the glenoid was compared in the two groups. We found that in the group with tears there was significantly greater proximal migration of the head of the humerus at 0 degrees and 45 degrees of elevation without contraction of biceps but depression of the head of the humerus at 0 degrees, 45 degrees and 90 degrees when biceps was functioning. We conclude that biceps is an active depressor of the head of the humerus in shoulders with lesions of the rotator cuff.

Change of liver function in hypertrophying lobe of rabbit liver after portal branch ligation.

Preoperative portal embolization (PE) is useful for the prevention of postoperative liver failure after extended hepatectomy. However, clinical evaluation of liver function in the hypertrophying lobe after PE has not been studied. Here we report functional changes in the hypertrophying lobe using a 80% portal-branch-ligation rabbit model. Liver function was evaluated by the expression of liver-specific genes detected by Northern blot analysis and plasma disappearance rate of indocyanine green (ICG). The weight of the unligated lobe after portal ligation increased about twofold on the 7th postoperative day (POD) and about threefold on the 14th POD. The mRNA levels of the liver-specific genes (albumin, aldolase B, and tyrosine aminotransferase) in the unligated lobe decreased to about 50% on the 1st POD and returned to the preoperative levels on the 7-14th POD. In contrast, the expression of histone H2B mRNA increased on the 3rd-7th POD. The plasma disappearance rate of ICG (K-ICG) in the rabbit that has only the unligated lobe did not significantly change during the first 7 days, but then improved and recovered to 80% of that in the rabbit that has whole liver on the 14th POD. These results indicate that liver function of the hypertrophying lobe after portal branch ligation does not increase during the first 7 days despite an increase in liver weight. This finding suggests that the compensatory hypertrophying liver is enlarging without functional augmentation in the early period after PE.

Position of immobilization after dislocation of the shoulder. A cadaveric study.

BACKGROUND: After reduction of a shoulder dislocation, the torn edges of a Bankart lesion need to be approximated for healing during immobilization. The position of immobilization has traditionally been adduction and internal rotation, but there is little direct evidence to support or discredit the use of this position. The purpose of the present study was to determine the relationship between the position of the arm and the coaptation of the edges of a simulated Bankart lesion created in cadaveric shoulders. METHODS: Ten thawed fresh-frozen cadaveric shoulders were used for experimentation. All of the muscles were removed to expose the joint capsule. A simulated Bankart lesion was created by sectioning the anteroinferior aspect of the capsule from the labrum. With linear transducers attached to the anteroinferior and inferior portions of the Bankart lesion, the opening and closing of the lesion were recorded with the arm in 0, 30, 45, and 60 degrees of elevation in the coronal and sagittal planes as well as with the arm in rotation from full internal to full external rotation in 10-degree increments. RESULTS: With the arm in adduction, the edges of the simulated Bankart lesion were coapted in the range from full internal rotation to 30 degrees of external rotation. With the arm in 30 degrees of flexion or abduction, the edges of the lesion were coapted in neutral and internal rotation but were separated in external rotation. At 45 and 60 degrees of flexion or abduction, the edges were separated regardless of rotation. CONCLUSIONS: The present study demonstrated that, in the cadaveric shoulder, there was a so-called coaptation zone in which the edges of a simulated Bankart lesion were kept approximated without the surrounding muscles.

Experimental study on the bilirubin metabolism after major hepatectomy: alterations in the proportions of bile bilirubin subfractions.

Bilirubin metabolism after major hepatectomy was investigated experimentally using rats. After a 70% and an 80% hepatectomy, proportions of bilirubin diglucuronide (BDG) decreased, and reversely, those of bilirubin monoglucuronide (BMG) increased. These changes were even more remarkable after an 80% hepatectomy. Parallel to the decrease in the proportions of BDG, the concentrations of uridine diphosphoglucuronic acid (UDP-GA) in the remnant liver decreased, and there was a significant correlation between the changes in BDG and UDP-GA. Although UDP-glucuronyltransferase (UDP-GT) activity and energy charge of the remnant liver also decreased after surgery, these decreases were mild and returned to the control level earlier than BDG. And there was no significant correlation between the changes in BDG and those in UDP-GT activity and energy charge. In this study, the decrease of the proportions of BDG in the bile juice was long term after partial hepatectomy and the period of the decrease became longer according to the augmentation of the volume of the hepatectomized liver. We clarified that the process of the UDP-GA production was inhibited after hepatectomy and the decrease of the proportions of BDG was derived from a deficiency of substrate of the glucuronidation, UDP-GA.

Which is more useful, the "full can test" or the "empty can test," in detecting the torn supraspinatus tendon?

The purpose of this study was to determine the clinical usefulness of the full can and empty can tests for determining the presence of a torn supraspinatus tendon. The two tests were performed in 143 shoulders of 136 consecutive patients. In each test, the muscle strength was determined by manual muscle testing, and the presence of pain during the maneuver was recorded. We interpreted the tests as positive when there was 1) pain, 2) muscle weakness, or 3) pain or muscle weakness or both. Shoulders were examined by high-resolution magnetic resonance imaging with 95% accuracy for full-thickness rotator cuff tears. There were 35 shoulders with full-thickness tears of the supraspinatus tendon. The accuracy of the tests was the greatest when muscle weakness was interpreted as indicating a torn supraspinatus tendon in both the full can test (75% accurate) and the empty can test (70% accurate). However, there was no significant difference between the accuracy of the tests when this criterion was used. Pain was observed in 62 shoulders (43%) during the full can test and in 71 shoulders (50%) during the empty can test, but the difference was not statistically significant. Muscle weakness should be interpreted as indicative of supraspinatus tendon tear. Using this indicator, both tests are equivalent in terms of accuracy, but considering pain provocation, the full can test may be more beneficial in the clinical setting.

Cystic changes of the humeral head on MR imaging. Relation to age and cuff-tears.

We obtained MR images of 140 painful shoulders in 134 patients to determine the relationship between cystic changes of the humeral head and integrity of the rotator cuff. Cystic changes were observed in 49 shoulders (35%) and the commonest site was in the bare bone area of the anatomical neck, and the second commonest site was at the attachment of the supraspinatus tendon. Cystic changes in the bare bone area were observed equally often in shoulders with or without rotator cuff tears (27% and 18%, respectively) and were more frequently observed in the elderly. Cystic changes at the attachment of the supraspinatus and subscapularis tendons were specific to rotator cuff tears: they were observed in 28% of rotator cuff tears, but in none of those with an intact cuff. We conclude that there are two distinct types of cystic changes: one at the attachment of the supraspinatus and subscapularis tendons, which is closely related to tears of these tendons, and the other in the bare bone area of the anatomical neck, which is related to aging.

Altered biliary bilirubin profile in patients with persistent hyperbilirubinaemia after hepatic resection: analysis of bile bilirubin subfractions by high-performance liquid chromatography.

Subfractions of bilirubin in bile, obtained via biliary drainage tubes from 23 patients who had undergone radical surgery for bile duct cancer, were analysed by high-performance liquid chromatography for 14 days after surgery. Five principal conjugated bilirubins were resolved: bilirubin diglucuronide (BDG); bilirubin monoglucuronide monoglucoside (BGG); bilirubin monoglucuronide monoxyloside (BGX); and two isomers of bilirubin monoglucuronide. After surgery, depression in concentration of BDG and elevation of BGG and BGX were found. These alterations were of higher magnitude in patients who had undergone hepatectomy, and especially prolonged in patients with hyperbilirubinaemia. These results suggest that the alteration in proportions of bilirubin conjugates might be a cause of hyperbilirubinaemia after hepatectomy.

Humeral attachment of the supraspinatus and infraspinatus tendons: an anatomic study.

We investigated the anatomic relationship of the supraspinatus (SSP) and infraspinatus (ISP) tendons to the three facets of the greater tuberosity. After removing the superficial layer of the cuff to expose the tendon fibers in 10 embalmed shoulders, the cuff tendon attachment to the facets was examined, and the location of attachment was measured in reference to (1) the anterior margin of the greater tuberosity and (2) the superior margin of the sulcus (anatomic neck without cartilage). The SSP tendon attached to the superior facet and the superior half of the middle facet. The ISP tendon attached to the entire middle facet, covering a portion of the SSP tendon. Thus, the anterior half of the superior cuff tendon (12.6 +/- 1.1 mm) was composed of only the SSP tendon, whereas the posterior half (9.8 +/- 3.2 mm) was composed of both the SSP and ISP tendons. The sulcus was located not at the SSP-ISP interval but slightly posterior to the posterior margin of the SSP tendon (4.3 +/- 2.4 mm). We conclude that (1) there is an overlap between the SSP and ISP tendons identifiable by the facets or the distance from the anterior greater tuberosity and (2) the sulcus is located slightly posterior to the posterior margin of the SSP tendon.

Electromyographic activities of the biceps during arm elevation in shoulders with rotator cuff tears.

We investigated electromyographic activities of the biceps in 40 shoulders with full-thickness tears of the rotator cuff and 40 asymptomatic shoulders, with a normal rotator cuff on MRI, to determine the role of the biceps in cuff-deficient shoulders. Using surface electrodes, biceps activities were recorded during arm elevation in the scapular plane with and without a 1-kg load. The percentages of integrated electromyograms to the maximum voluntary contraction (%MVC) were obtained at 30 degrees, 60 degrees, 90 degrees, and 120 degrees of elevation. In the normal shoulders, %MVC of the biceps was always less than 10% through the arc of elevation both with and without load. Among 40 shoulders with rotator cuff tears, 14 showed increased activities of the biceps more than 10% in %MVC (p < 0.0001), whereas the remaining 26 shoulders had activities similar to the normal shoulders. The biceps activities in these 14 shoulders increased with load application and at higher angles of elevation. The muscle strength tended to be weaker in shoulders with increased biceps activities than in those without. Our findings suggest a potential supplemental function of the biceps in shoulders with rotator cuff tears.

Results of surgical treatments and prognostic factors for hepatic hilar bile duct cancer.

Results of surgical treatments for 57 patients who underwent resection for hepatic hilar bile duct cancer between 1984 and 1997 were studied. Bile duct resection was performed in eight patients, and combined resection of bile duct and liver was performed in 49 patients, of whom vascular reconstruction was added in 15 patients and pancreatoduodenectomy (PD) in six patients. All the operations of bile duct resection that were not combined with hepatectomy were non-curative. In the patients who underwent combined resection of the bile duct with liver, outcomes of the patients with well-differentiated adenocarcinoma were better than those with other lower-grade tumors. The factors related to the degree of tumor extension, such as serosal invasion, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic vessel invasion, perineural invasion, venous vessel invasion, and vascular involvement, were other factors which significantly influenced the survival. Curative resection yielded significantly better results than non-curative resection. Of all these variables, good tumor differentiation and vascular involvement were recognized as important prognostic factors by multivariate analysis. Most of the postoperative deaths were encountered in patients who underwent additional operations to hepatectomy, such as vascular reconstruction or PD. Improvement of surgical techniques and perioperative care has yielded better outcomes of vascular reconstruction. However, the application of hepatopancreatoduodenectomy should be limited due to poor outcomes of widespread bile duct cancer of which the histological grade is usually low. Whereas prognosis of bile duct cancer involving the hepatic hilus is mainly determined by the biologic characteristics of the tumor, surgeons should consider the fact that most patients die of local recurrence regardless of the biologic character of the tumor when curative resection is not performed.

Anticalmodulin drugs block the sodium gating current of squid giant axons.

The effects of calmodulin (CaM) antagonists (W-7, W-5, trifluoperazine, chlorpromazine, quinacrine, diazepam, propericyazine and carmidazolium) on the sodium and potassium channels were studied on the intracellularly perfused and voltage-clamped giant axon of the squid. It was found that the drugs are more potent blockers of the sodium current than of the potassium current. The drugs also reduce the sodium gating current. The blockage of the sodium and gating current can be explained by assuming that the drugs interact with the sodium gating subunit in one of its closed states. The site of action is probably the intracellular surface of the axolemma where presumably a Ca(2+)-calmodulin complex can be formed.

Modified Hodgkin-Huxley gating kinetics of sodium activation in giant axons of squid (Doryteuthis bleekeri).

The probabilities m of the sodium activation gate being open are shown to fit experimentally-determined running integrals Qg of recordings of the colchicine-sensitive fraction of the asymmetry current, within the Hodgkin-Huxley framework that the gate could have only two conformations, open and closed. Using the Hodgkin-Huxley framework, we are obliged to assume that the transition velocities, alpha m and beta m, between the open and closed gates depend not only on membrane potentials V but also on the time after a potential step was externally applied. We introduce the following functions of alpha m and beta m. (sequence in text) where VH, td and tau p stand for holding potential, constant delay time of 10 microseconds, and transit time of the transition velocity of alpha m (or beta m) from its initial value alpha om (or beta om) to its final steady value alpha infinity m (or beta infinity m), respectively. The transit time tau p was found to be potential-dependent; typically it was 30 microseconds at -20 mV, and 100 microseconds at 20-40 mV. The values of alpha infinity m, alpha om, beta infinity m and beta om were found to be in reasonable agreement with those obtained by others, under the Hodgkin-Huxley assumption that the gate followed first-order kinetics. The requirement of new parameters, tau p and td, in the transition velocities was discussed in a relation to a membrane model where a voltage-receptor and a sodium channel macromolecule are spatially separated but functionally connected through underlying cytoskeletons (Matsumoto, 1984).