Some physico-chemical features of Kumano Reservoir

1. Kumano Freshwater Biological Station of Hiroshima University is located below Kumano Reservoir and is supplied with cold water which exists under the thermocline in the reservoir, during the stagnation period. 2. In order to operate the station more effectively, the annual changes in the physico-chemical features of the riservoir were investigated (as shown in fig. 3-15) 3. The date of the beginning of thermal stagnation in the reservoir was from late March to early April, and that of the ending from late October to early Nobember. 4. During the midsummer period of com plate stagnation, the thermocline existed from 3 m to 5 m depth, and the surface water temperature rose to above 30oC, but that of the hypolimnion was below 20°C. The saturation degree of dissolved oxygen in the water of the hypolimnion was under 5%. 5. From September to October, considerable amounts of NH3 -N, Fe and H 2S were observed in the bottom water

Structural Characteristics of Koch's Triangle in Patients with Atrioventricular Node Reentrant Tachycardia

The aim of this study is to investigate whether patients with atrioventricular node reentrant tachycardia (AVNRT) present different structural characteristics of Koch's triangle from patients with atrioventricular (AV) reentrant tachycardia and other control patients. Fifty-eight patients with arrhythmia or chest pain underwent selective coronary sinus angiography so that the diameter of the coronary sinus could be measured. The patients with arrhythmia also underwent electrophysiological study and measurement of the height of Koch's triangle. Patients with AVNRT had large coronary sinus ostial diameters compared with patients with AV reentrant tachycardia and those with chest pain (13.6 ± 2.2 mm vs. 10.6 ± 2. 7 mm [p < 0.005] and 10.0 ± 2.1 mm [p < 0.002], respectively), while there were no differences in distal diameter. The ostial diameter in patients with dual AV node pathways but noninducible AVNRT (11.8 ± 1.5 mm) tended to be smaller than that in patients with AVNRT. No differences in the height of Koch's triangle and electrophysiological characteristics, including AV node properties, were found among the study groups. In conclusion, an increased size of the coronary sinus ostium (the base of Koch's triangle) is a structural characteristic in patients with AVNRT and may be the substrate needed for the appearance of AVNRT

Successful Bone Marrow Transplantation in a Patient with Acute Myeloid Leukemia Developed from Severe Congenital Neutropenia Using Modified Chemotherapy and Conditioning Regimen for Leukemia

Severe congenital neutropenia (SCN) is characterized by chronic neutropenia with recurrent infections from early infancy and a predisposition to myelodysplastic syndrome/acute myeloid leukemia (AML). Allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation (HSCT) is the only curative treatment for patients with SCN who develop myelodysplastic syndrome/AML. We report an 8-year-old girl with SCN carrying an ELANE mutation that had been refractory to granulocyte colony-stimulating factor. The patient experienced recurrent infections and then developed AML. The counts of leukemic blasts that harbored both CSF3R and RUNX1 mutations spontaneously decreased with antimicrobial therapy, leading to partial remission. After AML recurrence, HSCT was successfully performed using modified chemotherapy and a conditioning regimen. Serial donor lymphocyte infusions against mixed chimerism induced complete donor chimerism over 4 years without any infections or AML relapse. This case suggests the importance of carefully managing neutropenia-related infections, leukemia progression, and HSCT in patients with SCN developing AML

Effects of Five Amino Acids (Serine, Alanine, Glutamate, Aspartate, and Tyrosine) on Mental Health in Healthy Office Workers: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Exploratory Trial

Background: The importance of maintaining good mental health with overall well-being has recently drawn attention from various spheres of academics and the working population. Amino acid intake has been reported to reduce depression symptoms and other mental health problems. However, the effectiveness of amino acid intake (i.e., single or combined) remains unknown. In this study, we assessed a combination of five amino acids (serine, alanine, glutamate, aspartate, and tyrosine; SAGAT) reported to regulate mental health. Methods: A randomized, double-blind, placebo-controlled exploratory trial was conducted. Participants, aged between 20 and 65 years with fatigue sensation, were randomized to receive either SAGAT or the placebo and ingested them for four weeks. A transient mental work was loaded at day 0 and after four weeks of intervention. As the primary outcomes, the fatigue sensation was assessed. The mood status, cognitive function, work efficiency, and blood marker were also measured as secondary outcomes. Results: The number of participants analyzed for the efficacy evaluation were 20 in SAGAT and 22 in the placebo. There were no significant differences in the primary outcomes. However, as the secondary outcomes, the SAGAT group showed a significant improvement in motivation and cognitive function in the recovery period after mental work loaded in a four-week intervention compared to the placebo. Conclusion: The current findings suggest that SAGAT contributes to maintaining proper motivation and cognitive function. Clinical Trial Registration: University Hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trial Registry (ID: UMIN 000041221)