Studies on the Treatment of Complex Sulphide Ores from Yonaihata Mine, Fukushima Prefecture. II : Flotation Experiments and Discussion

In continuance of the previous report dealing with the intergrowth of chalcopyrite, sphalerite, galena and pyrite found in the complex sulphide ores from Yonaihata Mine, with respect to their occurrence and natures, the results obtained from flotation experiments of these ores will be reported in the following. A system of flotation illustrated in Fig. 1 C, was chosen for this experiments after due consideration had been given to the preliminary tests and the nature and grade of the sample ores. The most serious difficulty encountered in differential flotation of complex sulphide ores lies in the separation of copper sulphide from zinc sulphide minerals. In this experiments, the stress was laid upon this. Trials with a variety of conditioning agents, collectors and frothers revealed that best results might be obtained by the use of 30 g/t of NaCN, 2.000 g/t of ZnSO_4, 3, 000 g/t of Na_2SO_3, 300 g/t of CaO, 30 g/t Aerofloat No. 25, and 100 g/t Nikko No. 134. For separation of chalcopyrite from galena, 500 g/t of K_2Cr_2O_7, 10 g/t of Aerofloat No. 25 and 50 g/t of Nikko No. 134 might be used most effectively. Table 3 shows the results in collation. For an activating flotation of sphalerite, the use of 600 g/t of CuSO_4, 50 g/t of sodium ethyl-xanthate and 60 g/t of Takasago Senpaku No. 1 is recommended and for the activating flotation of pyrite, the use of 1.5 l/t of H_2SO_4, 60 g/t of sodium ethyl-xanthate and 70 g/t of Takasago Senpaku No. 1, in view of the results given in Tables 5 and 6 respectively. These results show that they are far better in recovery of these minerals than those of past experiments and of the current operations in practice at flotation plants. Also tests on simple flotation with ethyl-xanthate as frother of low grade ores, such as 0.7 per cent copper, 1.8 per cent lead and 0.8 per cent zinc ores were conducted. The results are illustrated in Table 8. The products of the above experiments, agglomerated and polished, were subjected to observation under a metallographic microscope for further scrutiny

Studies on the Treatment of Complex Sulphide Ores from Yonaihata Mine, Fukushima Prefecture. I : Occurrence and Nature of the Ore

Gypsum and complex sulphide ore deposits of Yonaihata Mine, northern Aizu district, occur in the Tertiary grayish black shale of Yonaihata series. Complex sulphide ore consists of sphalerite, chalcopyrite, pyrite and galena and is included as irregular shaped mass in the rich parts of gypsum ore. The metallic ores are intimately paragenited as seen in Fig. 3, and the liberation of the ore minerals is comparatively difficult as shown in Table 10 and Figs. 6 and 7. Crushing and grinding characters were tested and the results are shown in Table 11 and Figs. 8 and 9

Factors Affecting Postoperative Hearing Results in Type IV Tympanoplasty: Preliminary Study of the Influence of External Auditory Canal Packing Material

[Background] Postoperative hearing results of type IV tympanoplasty have been shown to have poorer results than other reconstruction techniques. There are numerous reports evaluating the factors for hearing improvement. This preliminary study aimed to analyze and determine the factors that affect hearing results. [Methods] A total of 80 patients who underwent type IV tympanoplasty were evaluated to participate in this study. The medical records of the candidate patients were collected retrospectively. Fifty out of the 80 recruited patients were excluded due to the following reasons: they could not be followed-up for more than a year after the final operation, their initial surgery was not performed in our department, or they needed a revision surgery. The pre-, intra-, and postoperative factors were evaluated and analyzed using EZR software. Cases were divided into two groups according to postoperative hearing results, and each factor was analyzed univariately. The explanatory variables included in the multivariate analysis were the variables that satisfied P < 0.1 in the univariate analysis. Furthermore, all cases were divided into two groups according to the qualitative variables that showed significant difference in the multivariate analysis, and the background factors were evaluated. [Results] The results of univariate analysis showed P < 0.1 for ‘Age’ and ‘Material of external auditory canal (EAC) packing’. Multivariate analysis showed P < 0.05 for both. The comparison between the two packing material groups showed that the gauze group was more likely to have improved hearing than Spongel? group, and the ossicular chain condition of the gauze group was maintained better. [Conclusion] ‘Age’ and ‘Material of EAC packing’ were considered to be significant factors affecting the postoperative hearing results. The selection and use of packing materials that provide stability should be considered to obtain better postoperative hearing results in type IV tympanoplasty

Successful Surgical Treatment for Dysphagia Secondary to Descending Necrotizing Mediastinitis

Descending necrotizing mediastinitis (DNM) is a life-threatening disease with a high fatality rate that occurs as a complication of deep neck abscess. DNM complicated by severe dysphagia during the postoperative period has been previously reported, but there have been no published cases of surgical treatment for severe dysphagia secondary to DNM. A 63-year-old man was diagnosed with a deep neck abscess followed by DNM. The patient had dysphagia after incision and drainage of the abscess and drainage for DNM with video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS). A comprehensive long-term physiotherapy program with a speech and language therapist did not reduce his dysphagia. Thus, the patient underwent laryngeal elevation and cricopharyngeal myotomy, which enabled oral intake. Surgery should be considered for prolonged severe restriction of laryngeal elevation and esophageal introitus opening that is unresponsive to physiotherapy with a speech and language therapist

<ORIGINAL ARTICLE>Long-term follow-up of combined maxillary protraction appliance and chincap treatment

著しい骨格性反対咬合症例の治療において,我々は上顎前方牽引装置とchin capの併用により,顎関係の改善を行うことを含めた長期的管理を行っている。今回我々は骨格性反対咬合と診断され,治療を行った女子3症例の長期的観察を通し検討,考察を行った。これらの症例において,第一段階では上顎前方牽引装置とchin capにより顎関係を改善した。上顎前方牽引装置除去後,上顎は成長期間中位置変化を殆ど示さなかった。その間,下顎は予測よりも大きな成長を示した。咬合関係はすべての症例において成人期まで維持されていた。しかしこれらの症例は思春期成長の後も,下顎の前方成長により,わずかな後戻引頃向を示した。以上のことから,後戻りを予防するために反対咬合の治療においてはオーバーコレクションと第一段階後の下顎の成長のコントロールが必要であると考えられた。In an attempt to distinguish between long-term treatment effects and growth change, the present study evaluates the real post-treatment changes following maxillary protraction treatment after correction for the orthopedic effects which three female patients were investigated. Our proposed treatment plan for skeletal Class III patients consists of 3 stages. In the firststage, a maxillary protraction appliance and a chincap are used together to correct the intermaxillary relationship. After removal of the maxillary protraction appliance, the maxilla remains relatively stable during the growth stage. However, the mandible tends to experience overgrowth, which results in a relapse. The occlusal relationship was maintained until the adultstage in all cases. However, they experienced slight relapse, manifested by mandibular forward growth following removal of the maxillary protraction appliance. Therefore, overcorrection of reversed occlusion and control of mandibular growth after the first stage must be performed in order to prevent relapse

Purification and Properties of Hyaluronidase (EC 4. 2. 2. 1) from an Oral Strain of Propionibacterium acnes

From a culture supernatant of P. acnes isolated from a lesion of periodontal disease, hyaluronidase was purified to homogeneity by the sequential procedures including ammonium sulfate precipitation, carboxy methy-cellulose column chromatography, and Sephadex G-100 gel filtration. Specific activity increased 1,027 fold and the recovery of the enzymatic activity was 12.4%. Molecular weight was determined to be 67,000 and isoelectric point was 7.2. Optimal pH for the activity was found at 5.5. The enzyme was inactivated by heating at 60℃ for 10 min. The purified hyaluronidase degraded hyaluronic acid, chondroitin, chondroitin sulfate A and chondroitin sulfate C. From the degradation products of these substrates, unsaturated disaccharides were detected by paper chromatography. When the rate of reaction of this enzyme against hyaluronic acid is supposed to be 100%, the corresponding values against chondroitin, chondroitin sulfate A, and C were 47%, 8%, and 8%, respectively. No degradation by this enzyme of heparin and heparan sulfate was demonstrated

The effect of Hangeshashinto on Oral Mucositis Caused by Induction Chemotherapy in Patients with Head and Neck Cancer

[Background] Oral mucositis (OM) is a side effect of chemotherapy in head and neck cancer. Severe OM often has a large impact on quality of life. Therefore, the treatment of OM during chemotherapy is very important. It was recently reported that Hangeshashinto (TJ-14), a Japanese traditional medicine (Kampo), is effective for OM caused by fluorinated pyrimidinebased agents used in colon cancer. We investigated the efficacy of TJ-14 for OM. [Methods] We enrolled patients with head and neck cancer who were treated with induction chemotherapy between September 2014 and March 2016. In this double-blind trial, patients were randomly assigned to the TJ-14 group or placebo group. Patients were instructed to dissolve 2.5 g of TJ-14 or placebo in 100 ml of drinking water, rinse their mouths with the solution for 30 s and then spit it out. They were not allowed to eat anything for 30 minutes before or after using the mouthwash. [Results] The incidence of ≥ grade 2 OM was 37.5% (three patients) in the TJ-14 group and 50.0% (four patients) in the placebo group, with no significant difference between the two groups. The mean day of onset was 9.7 in the TJ-14 group and 6.7 in the placebo group. The mean duration of ≥ grade 2 OM was 1.3 days in the TJ-14 group and 3.7 days in the placebo group. Thus TJ-14 significantly reduced the duration of ≥ grade 2 OM. [Conclusion] Treatment of OM with TJ-14 was associated with a statistically significant reduction in the duration of ≥ grade 2 OM compared to placebo. Gargling with TJ-14 is a safe and effective method of administering the drug to patients with head and neck cancer

Application of an Immobilization Device for the Modified Killian’s Method

[Background] The hypopharynx is a closed space that is difficult to observe. The modified Killian’s (MK) method was introduced to obtain wider exposure. However, this method requires keeping the head forward during the examination. Postural maintenance might be problematic. To use the MK method safely for a thorough endoscopic examination, we introduced a new body immobilization device. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of this body immobilization device. [Methods] Twenty-five patients underwent transnasal laryngoscopy using the MK method with the immobilization device. This device consists of a board to place the chest and a shaft. We classified hypopharynx visualization using a 5-point scale, in various combinations of head torsion, Valsalva maneuver, and MK position. Furthermore, we classified the feasibility of the MK method for 54 patients. Age, BMI, and performance status were evaluated by MK position feasibility class. [Results] The MK method with the body immobilization device was completed in all patients. It was significantly associated with higher hypopharyngeal visibility score. BMI and performance status were significantly associated with MK method feasibility. There were no significant differences in hypopharynx visualization scores with versus without this device for the patients that could maintain the MK position on their own. [Conclusion] For patients with poor nutrition or poor ability to perform activities of daily living, it was difficult to maintain the MK position. Thus, this immobilization device might be useful to complete the MK method and provide accurate detection of hypopharyngeal lesions in these patients

Invasive Fungal Rhinosinusitis with Orbital Apex Syndrome Leading to Brain Abscess in a Patient with Ulcerative Colitis

We report the case of a 65-year-old male who presented with a 1-week history of right periorbital pain and progressive visual loss. He had a history of ulcerative colitis and was taking oral corticosteroids and mesalazine. Neurological and radiological examination demonstrated a rare case of invasive fungal rhinosinusitis that began with orbital apex syndrome. Initial endoscopic sinus surgery was performed and fungal culture identified Aspergillus fumigatus. Although antifungal treatment was started empirically before the operation, the patient had improved orbital pain but continued to have decreased right vision. Five months after the first surgical procedure, his condition deteriorated, including loss of consciousness, and a right temporal lobe abscess was found and surgically drained. Since then, the patient received antifungal treatment for 4 years without recurrence. Invasive fungal rhinosinusitis with orbital apex syndrome should be treated with long-term postoperative antifungal medication. It should be noted that even in immunosuppressive individuals such as ulcerative colitis, fungal rhinosinusitis with orbital apex syndrome may become severe