Culture System for Bobwhite Quail Embryos from the Blastoderm Stage to Hatching

Quail are divided phylogenetically into two groups, Old World quail and New World quail. Old World quail, such as the Japanese quail (Coturnix japonica), belong to the Phasianidae and distributed in the Palaearctic region (Europe, North Africa, and Asia), whereas New World quail, such as the bobwhite quail (Colinus virginianus), belong to the Odontophoridae and are restricted to North and South America. Both the bobwhite quail and the Japanese quail are used as models for avian safety assessment as recommended by the Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) guidelines. However, biological studies on the bobwhite quail have been limited compared with those on the Japanese quail. We have therefore now developed an ex vivo culture protocol for bobwhite quail embryos from the blastoderm stage through hatching. Of the various culture conditions examined in the present study, a good hatching rate (39%) was obtained when the embryos were cultured ex vivo in a two-step procedure. Unincubated embryos (with egg yolk) were first cultured inside the shell of a Japanese quail egg (11.5 to 13.0 g whole egg weight) together with chicken thin albumen for 63 to 65 h and were then transferred to the shell of a small-sized chicken egg (38 g whole egg weight) until hatching. This ex vivo culture system should provide to be widely applicable to the maintenance and generation of manipulated birds for basic and applied studies on the bobwhite quail.ArticleJOURNAL OF POULTRY SCIENCE. 50(2):155-158 (2013)journal articl

Early patency rate and fate of reattached intercostal arteries after repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms

ObjectivesThe present study analyzes the early patency of intercostal artery reconstruction, using graft interposition and aortic patch anastomosis, and determines the fate of reattached intercostal arteries after repair of thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysms.MethodsWe selected 115 patients (mean age, 63 ± 15 years; range, 19-83 years; male, n = 83) treated by thoracoabdominal aortic aneurysm repair with 1 or more reconstructed intercostal arteries at the Kobe University Graduate School of Medicine between October 1999 and December 2012. The intercostal arteries were reconstructed using graft interposition (n = 66), aortic patch anastomosis (n = 42), or both (n = 7).ResultsThe hospital mortality rate was 7.8% (n = 9). Eleven patients (9.6%) developed spinal cord ischemic injury (permanent, n = 6, transient, n = 5). The average number of reconstructed intercostal arteries per patient was 3.0 ± 1.5 (1-7), and 345 intercostal arteries were reattached. The overall patency rate was 74.2% (256/345) and that of aortic patch anastomosis was significantly better than that of graft interposition (90.8% [109/120] vs 65.3% [147/225], P < .01), but significantly worse for patients with than without spinal cord ischemic injury (51.9% [14/27] vs 76.1% [242/318], P = .01). There was no patch aneurysm in graft interposition during a mean of 49 ± 38 (range, 2-147) postoperative months, but aortic patch anastomosis including 4 intercostal arteries became dilated in 2 patients.ConclusionsAortic patch anastomosis might offer better patency rates and prevent spinal cord ischemic injury compared with graft interposition. Although aneurysmal changes in intercostal artery reconstructions are rare, large blocks of aortic wall reconstruction should be closely monitored

Multiple Magnetoelectric Plateaux in Polar Magnet Fe2_2Mo3_3O8_8

The magnetization and electric polarization of a polar antiferromagnet Fe$_2$Mo$_3$O$_8$ are studied up to 66 T for spin-saturation magnetic fields applied along the polar axis. The magnetization process at 1.4 K exhibited multistep structures below the saturation field of 65 T. The electric polarization along the polar axis exhibits a similar multistep behavior with a total change of 1.2 $\rm{\mu}C/cm^{2}$. A combined triangular-lattice antiferromagnetic model with strong Ising-type spin anisotropy reproduces this multistep magnetoelectric (ME) effect. The exchange striction mechanism explains the remarkable ME response in the two sub-lattice type-I multiferroic materials. These results and interpretation demonstrate a method for realizing multistage magnetoelectric effects in hybrid spin systems.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figure

Acute respiratory distress syndrome following infection of influenza A (H1N1) virus

A 28-year-old man with a history of mental retardation was admitted to our hospital because of dyspnea, cough and high fever. His SpO(2) level at room-environmental conditions was in the eighties, and his chest radiograph showed diffuse infiltrates in both lungs. He was diagnosed as suffering from influenza A by a rapid influenza virus antigen test. The echocardiogram showed no evidence of left cardiac failure; therefore, his symptoms were consistent with acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS). Oseltamivir was started, and antibiotics were also given because of the possibility of secondary bacterial infection. Due to respiratory failure and low blood pressure, which suggested septic shock, intensive treatments including mechanical ventilation were performed. Corticosteroid therapy was started for ARDS and sepsis, and these therapies improved his respiratory condition. Polymerase chain reaction of his pharyngeal swab revealed that he had influenza A (H1N1). This is the first case of ARDS following infection by influenza A (H1N1) virus in Japan

Outcome of elective total aortic arch replacement in patients with non–dialysis-dependent renal insufficiency stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate

ObjectiveLittle is known about the impact of preoperative renal function stratified by estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) on outcomes of total aortic arch replacement (TAR). The current study addressed this issue and identified a cutoff value of eGFR for the requirement of postoperative renal replacement therapy.MethodsFrom January 2000 to May 2011, 229 consecutive patients who did not require preoperative hemodialysis were retrospectively studied after elective TAR. Patients were grouped into the following categories: those with normal renal function (eGFR >90 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 11) and those with mild (eGFR, 60-90 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 86), moderate (eGFR, 30-59 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 111), or severe (eGFR <30 mL/min/1.73 m2; n = 21) renal dysfunction. Linear trend tests demonstrated that the lower categories of eGFR were associated with a higher age, hypertension, coronary artery disease, peripheral arterial disease, and a higher EuroSCORE II.ResultsThe overall hospital mortality was 2.2%. A lower categories of eGFR were an independent risk factor for hospital mortality (odds ratio, 0.91; P = .002) and postoperative renal replacement therapy (odds ratio, 0.94; P < .002). A cutoff value for the requirement of postoperative renal replacement therapy was 26.0 mL/min/1.73 m2. Patients in the lower categories of eGFR had significantly higher hospital mortality (P = .03) and more morbidities, such as renal replacement therapy (P < .01), postoperative permanent neurologic deficits (P = .013), and prolonged mechanical ventilatory support (P < .01). Midterm survival and freedom from major adverse cerebrocardiovascular events were worse across the levels of the lower categories of eGFR.ConclusionsPreoperative eGFR is a strong predictor of short- and midterm outcomes in contemporary TAR

Predictive factors of mortality of patients with fragility hip fractures at 1 year after discharge : A multicenter, retrospective study in the northern Kyushu district of Japan

Purpose: Fragility hip fractures (FHFs) are associated with a high risk of mortality, but the relative contribution of various factors remains controversial. This study aimed to evaluate predictive factors of mortality at 1 year after discharge in Japan. Methods: A total of 497 patients aged 60 years or older who sustained FHFs during follow-up were included in this study. Expected variables were finally assessed using multivariable Cox proportional hazards models. Results: The 1-year mortality rate was 9.1% (95% confidence interval: 6.8–12.0%, n = 45). Log-rank test revealed that previous fractures (p = 0.003), Barthel index (BI) at discharge (p = 0.011), and place-to-discharge (p = 0.004) were significantly associated with mortality for male patients. Meanwhile, body mass index (BMI; p = 0.023), total Charlson comorbidity index (TCCI; p = 0.005), smoking (p = 0.007), length of hospital stay (LOS; p = 0.009), and BI (p = 0.004) were the counterparts for females. By multivariate analyses, previous vertebral fractures (hazard ratio (HR) 3.33; p = 0.044), and BI <30 (HR 5.42, p = 0.013) were the predictive variables of mortality for male patients. BMI <18.5 kg/m2 (HR 2.70, p = 0.023), TCCI ≥5 (HR 2.61, p = 0.032), smoking history (HR 3.59, p = 0.018), LOS <14 days (HR 13.9; p = 0.007), and BI <30 (HR 2.76; p = 0.049) were the counterparts for females. Conclusions: Previous vertebral fractures and BI <30 were the predictive variables of mortality for male patients, and BMI <18.5 kg/m2, TCCI ≥5, smoking history, LOS <14 days, and BI <30 were those for females. Decreased BI is one of the independent and preventable risk factors. A comprehensive therapeutic approach should be considered to prevent deterioration of activities of daily living and a higher risk of mortality

Improvement of drill system for the third deep ice coring project around Dome Fuji, Antarctica - Focusing on selection of drilling fluids -

The Tenth Symposium on Polar Science/Ordinary sessions: [OM] Polar Meteorology and Glaciology, Wed. 4 Dec. / Entrance Hall (1st floor) , National Institute of Polar Researc

OMAE2006-92233 FULL-SCALE MEASUREMENTS ON HULL RESPONSE OF A LARGE-CONTAINER SHIP IN SERVICE

ABSTRACT In order to investigate hull responses of post-Panamax container ships in the actual sea, full-scale measurements on hull responses of a post-Panamax container ship in service were conducted. In linear wave domain, the probability density distributions of hull responses obtained by full-scale measurements were compared with the Rayleigh distributions to check on the range of the applicability, and comparisons with the long-term distributions of the longitudinal stress obtained by full-scale measurements and the direct structural analyses based on the wave loads analyzed by using the linear 3D Rankine source method were made to verify the accuracy. In non-linear wave domain, the measured longitudinal stresses showed the asymmetry of vertical bending moment. The longterm distributions of hull responses, which have the high harmonic components, obtained by full-scale measurements were compared with the numerical results analyzed by using non-linear methods to investigate the non-linearity on hull responses of container ship