Note: Development of a new Bridgman-type high pressure cell for accurate dielectric measurements.

We developed a new high pressure cell which allows us to perform accurate dielectric measurements above 3 GPa. The developed cell is based on Bridgman type opposed anvil cells with electrodes immersed into holes in the anvils in order to make the electrode area constant under compression. As a feasibility experiment, dielectric measurements for H2O were conducted up to 6.6 GPa and obtained dielectric constants are well consistent with previous studies.

Partially ordered state of ice XV.

Most ice polymorphs have order-disorder "pairs" in terms of hydrogen positions, which contributes to the rich variety of ice polymorphs; in fact, three recently discovered polymorphs- ices XIII, XIV, and XV-are ordered counter forms to already identified disordered phases. Despite the considerable effort to understand order-disorder transition in ice crystals, there is an inconsistency among the various experiments and calculations for ice XV, the ordered counter form of ice VI, i.e., neutron diffraction observations suggest antiferroelectrically ordered structures, which disagree with dielectric measurement and theoretical studies, implying ferroelectrically ordered structures. Here we investigate in-situ neutron diffraction measurements and density functional theory calculations to revisit the structure and stability of ice XV. We find that none of the completely ordered configurations are particular favored; instead, partially ordered states are established as a mixture of ordered domains in disordered ice VI. This scenario in which several kinds of ordered configuration coexist dispels the contradictions in previous studies. It means that the order-disorder pairs in ice polymorphs are not one-to-one correspondent pairs but rather have one-to-n correspondence, where there are n possible configurations at finite temperature.

Classification of pulsating flow patterns in curved pipes.

The fully developed periodic laminar flow of incompressible Newtonian fluids through a pipe of circular cross section, which is coiled in a circle, was simulated numerically. The flow patterns are characterized by three parameters: the Womersley number Wo, the Dean number De, and the amplitude ratio beta. The effect of these parameters on the flow was studied in the range 2.19 < or = Wo < or = 50.00, 15.07 < or = De < or = 265.49 and 0.50 < or = beta < or = 2.00, with the curvature ratio delta fixed to be 0.05. The way the secondary flow evolved with increasing Womersley number and Dean number is explained. The secondary flow patterns are classified into three main groups: the viscosity-dominated type, the inertia-dominated type, and the convection-dominated type. It was found that when the amplitude ratio of the volumetric flow rate is equal to 1.0, four to six vortices of the secondary flow appear at high Dean numbers, and the Lyne-type flow patterns disappear at beta > or = 0.50.

A simple and sensitive radioimmunoassay for adenosine.

We developed a simple and sensitive radioimmunoassay (RIA) for adenosine. The RIA is based on the double antibody method with adenosine 2', 3'-0-disuccinyl-3-[125I]-iodotyrosine methyl ester (diSc-adenosine-[125I]-TME) as a tracer. Anti-adenosine antiserum for the RIA was raised in rabbits immunized with diSc-adenosine conjugated to human serum albumin (diSc-adenosine-HSA). All samples and standards were succinylated prior to assay. The present immunoassay allows detection of 6.25-400 pmol/ml of adenosine in sample. Values obtained by the RIA and by a HPLC analysis showed a high correlation with correlation coefficient of 0.997. In order to determine adenosine in plasmas, blood cells must be separated in the presence of 6 mM EDTA, 0.006% dipyridamole (Dip) and 23 microM 2'-deoxycoformycin (dCF) at 2 degrees C. Adenosine in plasma could be accurately determined by the proposed method even without any pretreatments by deproteinizing. The adenosine levels with or without EDTA-treated normal human plasmas determined were 26.2 +/- 7.26 and 100 +/- 3.62 pmol/ml (mean +/- SEM), respectively.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for guanosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP) in human plasma and urine using monoclonal antibody.

An ELISA for cGMP in human plasma and urine using a monoclonal antibody is described. The monoclonal antibody was raised against succinyl cGMP conjugated to human serum albumin. The conjugate was adsorbed to the ELISA plate, giving an immobilized antigen approach which simplifies subsequent assay procedures. As low as 1.56 fmol/well of both plasma and urinary cGMP is measurable. Recoveries of added cGMP in plasma and urine were from 97% to 105%. Intra-assay coefficients of variation were less than 7.0% for plasma and 7.1% for urine samples. Inter-assay coefficients of variation for plasma and urine samples were less than 9.9% and 9.5%, respectively. The values obtained by ELISA correlated well with those by radioimmunoassay (RIA) (plasma: r = 0.96, n = 50; urine: r = 0.98, n = 60).

South American blastomycosis: ophthalmic and oculomotor nerve lesions.

A case of South American blastomycosis began with an oropharyngeal lesion which was followed by a granulomatous uveitis. The patient was treated with Amphotericin B and showed a clinical regression. Four months later, he developed a right 3rd cranial nerve palsy, aggravating the clinical aspect with a severe generalized involvement of the central nervous system and death. Necropsy showed blastomycotic meningoencephalitis.

Bone trabecular pattern analysis in Down syndrome with the use of computed panoramic radiography. Part II: Visual pattern analysis with the frequency and gradational enhancement.

Visual pattern analysis of mandibular bone trabeculation of 51 patients with Down syndrome and 78 normal persons was performed by using rotational panoramic radiography with a laser scan system. The findings for patients with Down syndrome were consistent with geromorphism, one of the somatic characteristics of Down syndrome.

Diagnostic imaging of diseases affecting the mandible with the use of computed panoramic radiography.

Computed panoramic radiography was performed on patients with bone cyst, osteomyelitis, gingival cancer, and fibrous dysplasia, respectively, to determine the best imaging procedure for disease processes affecting the mandible. Gradational enhancement images for detection of density changes and frequency enhancement images for detecting changes in the margin and texture were effective in aiding the diagnosis of diseases of the mandible with the use of computed panoramic radiography.

An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay (ELISA) for adenosine 3',5'-cyclic monophosphate (cAMP) in human plasma and urine using monoclonal antibody.

A reliable and sensitive ELISA for cAMP in human plasma and urine is described, using a monoclonal antibody and a 96 well microtiter plate. Succinyl cAMP is conjugated to human serum albumin and adsorbed to the ELISA plate, giving an immobilized antigen approach which simplifies subsequent assay procedures. As low as 1.56 fmol/well of both plasma and urinary cAMP is measurable. Recoveries of added cAMP in plasma and urine were from 99% to 109%. Intra-assay coefficients of variation were less than 6.1% for plasma and 7.0% for urine samples. Inter-assay coefficients of variation for plasma and urine samples were less than 8.9% and 9.5%, respectively. There was a good correlation between the values obtained by ELISA and radioimmunoassay (RIA) (plasma: r = 0.94, n = 66; urine: r = 0.98, n = 64; nephrogenous cAMP: r = 0.96, n = 51).

[Trends in the use of antimicrobial agents in Kanagawa Dental College, Hospital].

The development and expansion of antimicrobial agents has made a remarkable improvement. Recently we began to use newqinolon agents, furthermore we began to use the third generation of oral cephem agents. We anticipate we will have a large change of trends in the use of antimicrobial agents. We investigated the trends in the use of antimicrobial agents between April 1st, 1983 to March 31st, 1988, to prepare for the trends in the future. 1) A total use of antimicrobial agents in Kanagawa Dental College, Hospital has increased 19% over the last five year. 2) Trends in the use of injection of antimicrobial agents has decreased over the same period of time, otherwise trends in the use of oral antimicrobial agents has increased tremendously 3) The use of newqinolon agents were less than 0.07% in one year.

[Reevaluation of direct radioimmunoassay for plasma cAMP concentration].

In order to evaluate the validity of the direct radioimmunoassay of plasma cAMP level by using Yamasa cyclic AMP assay kit, we determined the cyclic AMP concentration of normal human plasma before and after purification through anion-exchange chromatography. We found that 1) the direct assay before purification gave almost the same values as the indirect assay after purification by anion-exchange chromatography, 2) hemolysis did not affect the results of the direct assay, 3) the plasma cAMP was stable for up to 12 weeks when 5 mM EDTA was added to the blood at the time of sampling and stored below -20 degrees C and 4) the cAMP concentration did not decrease by repeated freeze-thawing of the plasma samples for up to 10 times. These results indicate that the direct radioimmunoassay of plasma cAMP concentration in normal subjects can give the same values as those obtained after purification by anion-exchange chromatography. Although further investigation is needed to clarify whether these results can be equally applied to patient's plasma with various diseases, the direct assay offers a convenient and accurate method to determine plasma cAMP concentration.

[Scrutinization of the direct assay method for plasma cyclic AMP and clinical applications of nephrogenous cyclic AMP].

Several problems in the measurement of plasma cyclic AMP (PcAMP) and nephrogenous cyclic AMP were studied using a YAMASA RIA Kit (YAMASA Shoyu, Choshi, Japan). In this assay method, cAMP in plasma is directly succinylated without prior deproteinization, and then it is bound to antibody in an imidazole buffer. So far as the blood samples were obtained with EDTA-4Na at least 5.0 mM in the final concentration, PcAMP was not reduced until 16 hours after the blood samples were drawn. Even without EDTA, the reductions in PcAMP were not detected within 1 hour after the blood samples were drawn. This assay method for PcAMP showed parallelism in the dilution curve. Recovery was almost complete. Intra- and interassay variations were low. When plasma was incubated at 37 degrees C for 24 hours, PcAMP became negligible. Furthermore, the values of PcAMP measured with this direct assay system almost agreed with those obtained after the purification by deproteinization and Dowex column chromatography through an anion-exchange resin. The normal values of PcAMP were 13.6 +/- 3.62 pmol/ml [mean +/- SD, n = 43]. Nephrogenous cAMP expressed as a function of GFR never did show any negative values in various clinical situations. From the data of basal levels and the oral calcium tolerance test, nephrogenous cAMP appeared to be more useful than total urinary cAMP in the diagnosis of parathyroid disorders, especially hyperparathyroidism.