Noninvasive tracking of systolic arterial blood pressure using pulse transit time measured with ECG and carotid doppler signals with intermittent calibration

We have developed a non-invasive blood pressure measurement system using pulse transit time (PTT) from the heart to the common carotid artery, measured by using an electrocardiogram (ECG) R-wave and carotid arterial Doppler signals at the anterior neck. In this study, we examined the validity of our system by comparing PTT derived systolic blood pressure (Dopp_SBP) with invasive radial systolic arterial pressure (Inv_SBP) with calibration every 15 min in the ICU setting. Methods: 17 patients under invasive mechanical ventilation in the ICU were studied. Carotid arterial flow via an 8-MHz Doppler flow probe, ECG, and radial arterial pressure signals were transferred to a personal computer at a rate of 1 kHz and processed to calculate Dopp_SBP from PTT using our own calibration formula. Results: We recorded 3,770 pairs of Inv_SBP and Dopp_SBP in 17 patients. Inv_SBP ranged from 213 to 82 mmHg, and Dopp_SBP from 185 to 71 mmHg. The Bland-Altman plot of the comparison between Inv_SBP and Dopp_SBP revealed limits of agreement of ?20.1 to 17.7 mmHg (mean difference, -1.2 mmHg). There was a statistically significant close linear correlation between Inv_SBP and Dopp_SBP (y = 0.9494x + 7.5171, R2 = 0.8471, p < 0.0001). Conclusions: The results of the present study show that our system using Doppler ultrasound flow and ECG signals, is feasible for systolic blood pressure tracking over a longer interval if it is combined with intermittent calibration.This work was supported by JSPS Kaken Grant Number 24592367

The Change of Land Use in Nara Basin, 1955～1975

Publisher奈良昭利30年代中期から,同40年代にかけてのわが国における経済成長はめざましく,この時期は高度経済成長期と称された.とくに,工業部門における技術革新とそれにともなう工場の大規模化がわが国経済の索引力になり,これらの工業の立地動向がその後におけるわが国の経済的な地域構成の枠組みを決定した.すなわち,そのような大型化した工業への莫大な投資は多くの労働力を必要とし,工農問の所得格差を拡大するとともに,工業労働力を農業部門から吸収し,その結果高度経済成長期の中期にあたる昭和40年代の前半には,はげしい人口移動が国内全域に展開することになった.その移動方向はもっぱら農業の卓越する地域から,工業投資の累積がすすむ地域への移動であり,その結果,労働力供給地域を構成する農111村では出稼兼業農家が一気に増大し,西南日本を中心に挙家離村現象が頻発するとともに,いわゆる過疎化現象のみられる地域が拡大した.また労働力の需要地域では人口集中による都市の膨脹が激しく,社会投資の遅れにともなう交通マヒ,住宅不足,社会教育施設の不足あるいはさまざまな形であらわれた公害問題などいわゆる過密現象も指摘されるようになった

Induced metamorphosis in crustacean y-larvae: Towards a solution to a 100-year-old riddle

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The y-larva, a crustacean larval type first identified more than 100 years ago, has been found in marine plankton samples collected in the arctic, temperate and tropical regions of all oceans. The great species diversity found among y-larvae (we have identified more than 40 species at our study site alone) indicates that the adult organism may play a significant ecological role. However, despite intense efforts, the adult y-organism has never been identified, and nothing is therefore known about its biology.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We have successfully and repeatedly induced metamorphosis of y-larvae into a novel, highly reduced juvenile stage by applying the crustacean molting hormone 20-HE. The new stage is slug-like, unsegmented and lacks both limbs and almost all other traits normally characterizing arthropods, but it is capable of vigorous peristaltic motions.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>From our observations on live and preserved material we conclude that adult Facetotecta are endoparasitic in still to be identified marine hosts and with a juvenile stage that represents a remarkable convergence to that seen in parasitic barnacles (Crustacea Cirripedia Rhizocephala). From the distribution and abundance of facetotectan y-larvae in the world's oceans we furthermore suggest that these parasites are widespread and could play an important role in the marine environment.</p

Conservation Genetics of Three Endangered Species of the Genus Oxera in the South of New Caledonia

Poster Presentation

It was not a fall, but fainting: A case report of pulmonary embolism

We encountered a case of pulmonary thromboembolism, in which an 84-year-old woman (body weight 62 kg, height 150 cm) fell in the ward eight days after upper arm surgery. In this event, she had fractured her ankle and hit her head, with transient loss of consciousness. She needed surgery for the ankle fracture under general anesthesia. Her anesthesia course was unstable, with heart rate varying between 95 and 140 bpm, systolic blood pressure between 70 and 110 mmHg, and oxygen saturation between 92 and 98%. Immediately after reversing anesthesia, we performed bedside ultrasound and diagnosed acute pulmonary embolism in the operating room. We assume that the event was not a simple fall, but pulmonary embolism-related fainting (syncope). This case and recent reports provide two lessons: (1) cases of syncope among postoperative patients may be reported as simple falls in the safety surveillance of hospitals, and (2) ultrasonography at the bedside plays a pivotal role in the diagnosis of pulmonary embolism in perioperative settings

Central venous pulse pressure analysis using an R-synchronized pressure measurement system

Objective. The information derived from central venous catheters is underused. We developed an EKG-R synchronization and averaging system to obtained distinct CVP waveforms and analyzed components of these. Methods. Twenty-five paralyzed surgical patients undergoing CVP monitoring under mechanical ventilation were studied. CVP and EKG signals were analyzed employing our system, the mean CVP and CVP at end-diastole during expiration were compared, and CVP waveform components were measured using this system. Results. CVP waveforms were clearly visualized in all patients. They showed the a peak to be 1.8+/- 0.7 mmHg, which was the highest of three peaks, and the x trough to be lower than the y trough (-1.6+/- 0.7mmHgand-0.9+/- 0.5mmHg, respectively), with a mean pulse pressure of 3.4mm Hg.The difference between the mean CVP and CVP at end-diastole during expiration was 0.58+/- 0.81 mmHg. Conclusions. The mean CVP can be used as an index of right ventricular preload in patients under mechanical ventilation with regular sinus rhythm. Our newly developed system is useful for clinical monitoring and for education in circulatory physiology

Synoviolin is a Novel Pathogenic Factor of Arthropathy and Chronic Inflammation

Inflammation is classical pathogenic concept, but still very crucial for understanding many disorders even in twenty-first century. The purpose of inflammation is to eliminate the damaged tissues and to initiate tissue repair. By contrast, chronic inflammation leads to intractable diseases, including rheumatoid arthritis (RA), atherosclerosis, cancer, diabetes mellitus, and obesity. We recently cloned synoviolin, an E3 ubiquitin ligase, as an overexpressing molecule in rheumatoid synovium and has been verifying its critical roles in RA, inflammatory cytokine signaling, and fibrosis. Moreover, synoviolin-deficient mice exhibited severe anemia caused by defective nursing activity of erythrocytes in the fetal liver. This phenomenon resembles of RA that accelerates nursing activity. Our data indicate a close relationship between embryogenesis and RA. We successfully discovered synoviolin inhibitors, LS-101 and LS-102. These drugs have inhibitory effects to synoviolin in vitro and in vivo. We are now proceeding with the optimization of small compounds, and we hope our research will lead to the development of a new therapy for RA and fibrosis and other synoviolin-related diseases

Selective Translation of the Measles Virus Nucleocapsid mRNA by La Protein

Measles, caused by measles virus (MeV) infection, is the leading cause of death in children because of secondary infections attributable to MeV-induced immune suppression. Recently, we have shown that wild-type MeVs induce the suppression of protein synthesis in host cells (referred to as “shutoff”) and that viral mRNAs are preferentially translated under shutoff conditions in infected cells. To determine the mechanism behind the preferential translation of viral mRNA, we focused on the 5′ untranslated region (UTR) of nucleocapsid (N) mRNA. The La/SSB autoantigen (La) was found to specifically bind to an N-5′UTR probe. Recombinant La enhanced the translation of luciferase mRNA containing the N-5′UTR (N-fLuc), and RNA interference of La suppressed N-fLuc translation. Furthermore, recombinant MeV lacking the La-binding motif in the N-5′UTR displayed delayed viral protein synthesis and growth kinetics at an early phase of infection. These results suggest that La induced predominant translation of N mRNA via binding to its 5′UTR under shutoff conditions. This is the first report on a cellular factor that specifically regulates paramyxovirus mRNA translation