Dual-Energy CTを用いた肺血液量画像の定量的評価：急性肺血栓塞栓症患者に対する定量的重症度評価

BACKGROUND:Regional iodine distribution assessment on dual-energy computed tomography (DECT) has been suggested as useful for management of acute pulmonary thromboembolism (APTE) patients. However, no reported studies have made a direct comparison between quantitatively assessed DECT and right-to-left ventricular (RV/LV) ratio on CT for differentiation of right heart dysfunction (RHD) from non-right heart dysfunction (NRHD) in APTE patients. PURPOSE:To determine the capability of DECT for differentiation of RHD from NRHD in APTE patients. MATERIAL AND METHODS:Thirteen APTE patients underwent DECT and echocardiography at onset of APTE. Patients were divided into RHD (n = 7) and NRHD (n = 6) groups based on echocardiography. A normalized lung perfused blood volume map was generated, and two kinds of overall perfusion (OP) index were determined, one placed over each lung field (OP index A) and as the average from six regions of interest (ROIs) placed over each lung field (OP index B). The heterogeneity index was also determined as the standard deviation for the six ROIs. RV/LV ratio evaluations were also performed. To assess differences between the two groups, each index was statistically compared with the Mann-Whitney U test. The receiver-operating curve-based positive test was then performed to determine the feasible threshold value for dividing patients into the two groups. Finally, differentiation capabilities of the indexes were compared using McNemar's test. RESULTS:Significant differences between the two groups were found for both OP indexes and RV/LV ratio (P < 0.05). For each of the feasible threshold values, accuracy of each OP index with and without RV/LV ratio was better than that of the RV/LV ratio. CONCLUSION:Quantitative DECT has good potential for differentiation of APTE patients with and without right heart dysfunction.博士（医学）・乙第1350号・平成26年12月3日© The Foundation Acta Radiologica 2014 Reprints and permissions: sagepub.co.uk/journalsPermissions.nav

Enhancement of T-g of Poly(l-lactide) by Incorporation of Biobased Mandelic-Acid-Derived Phenyl Groups by Polymerization and Polymer Blending

A high-molecular-weight polyester of poly(mandelate-co-lactate) (PML) is prepared by ring-opening polymerization of stereo-configuration controlled cyclic diester monomers of methyl-6-phenyl-1,4-dioxane-2,5-dione (MPDD) and lactide. The attained PML shows excellent glassy properties, although the original stereo-configuration of MPDD is not preserved. The intrinsic high glass transition temperature (Tg) of PML is promising, and it is able to be further enhanced by thermal treatment to as high as 90 °C. Interestingly, the enhanced high Tg is attained by only 15 mol% of mandelate content in the polymer chain which is far lower than the ones suggested by theoretical calculation. The enhancement in Tg is also attained by polymer blending of PML and poly(l-lactide) (PLLA). The Tg of the polymer blend also reaches 90 °C which is almost 20 °C higher than the ones suggested by theoretical calculations. These results indicate that the rigid mandelate unit consisting of phenyl groups in PML chain effectively interact with PLLA chains in amorphous domain to restrict their chain mobility. The thermal and glassy properties are sufficient to explore new applications in engineering fields

Critical Point Mutations for Hepatitis C Virus NS3 Proteinase

AbstractThe hepatitis C virus NS3 proteinase plays an essential role in processing of HCV nonstructural precursor polyprotein. To detect its processing activity, we developed a simpletrans-cleavage assay. Two recombinant plasmids expressing the NS3 proteinase region and a chimeric substrate polyprotein containing the NS5A/5B cleavage site between maltose binding protein and protein A were co-introduced intoEscherichia colicells. The proteinase processed the substrate at the single site during their polyprotein expression. Deletion analysis indicated that the functionally minimal domain of the NS3 proteinase was composed of 146 amino acids, 1059 to 1204. We isolated several cDNA clones encoding the functional domain of the NS3 proteinase from the sera of patients chronically infected with HCV and determined their proteinase activity by thistrans-cleavage assay. Both active and inactive clones existed in the same patients. Comparative sequence analyses of these clones suggested that certain point mutations seemed to be related to the loss of proteolytic activity. This was confirmed by back mutation experiments. Among the critical mutations, Pro-1168 to Thr and Arg-1135 to Gly were intriguing. These amino acids, which are situated near the oxyanion hole, seem to be essential for maintaining the conformation of the active center of the NS3 proteinase

Extended-cycle processによる乳房撮影用増感紙／フィルムシステムの画質改善

Extended-cycle process is the term used for a processor in which the processing time has been prolonged usually to approximate 210 seconds. It has been known that the extended-cycle process of some single-emulsion films as used for mammography may enhance film contrast and increase film speed. So the speed was increased in lower speed and higher resolution system than conventional systems by means of using the extended-cycle process in this paper. We investigated how much the resolution of the system was kept. A single screen-single emulsion combination, Konica M-100/CM-H was employed as a low speed and high resolution system. This film after exposure was processed in the different combinations of developing temperatures, 30, 32 and 34℃, and processing time of 210 seconds. On the other hand, Konica M-200/CM-H was employed as a high speed system. This film was processed in the standard-cycle processing (34℃, 90 seconds). Those systems were compared on contrast, speed, screen-film blur and noise by a characteristic curve, MTF (modulation transfer function) and WS (wiener spectrum). Furthermore, the RMI 165 phantom was used to evaluate visibility of mammographic details of these systems. As a result, in the extended-cycle process at the developing temperatures of 32 or 34°C and processing time of 210 seconds for M-100/CM-H, it was possible to increase the speed as much as the higher speed system, M-200/CM-H. Then the contrast, the MTF and the visibility were also improved as compared to the higher speed system. Furthermore patient dose could be reduced at the developing temperature of 34℃ and processing time of 210 seconds in M-100/CM-H.通常,extended-cycle processは処理時間が約210秒に延ばされた現像機のために使われる用語である｡乳房撮影に使われるような片面乳剤フィルムにおけるextended-cycle processは,フィルムコントラストを増し,感度をあげることが良く知られている｡そこで,本論文ではextended-cycle processにより低感度,高解像度システムの感度を上げ,どの程度解像度が維持されるかを調べた｡片面増感紙／片面フィルムの組合わせであるKonica M-100/CM-Hを低感度,高解像度システムとして用いた｡露光後のフィルムは現像温度30,32, 34度,処理時間210秒の異なる組合わせで現像処理した。一方,高感度システムとしてKonica M-200/CM-Hを用い,このフィルムは標準現像(34℃,90秒)された｡感度,増感紙／フイルムのぼけ,雑音に関して,特性曲線,MTF(modulation transfer function), WS(wiener spectrum)によってこれらのシステムを比較した｡さらにこれらのシステムにおける乳房写真の細部視覚評価のためにRM165ファントムを使用した｡その結果,M-100/CM-Hに対するextended-cycle process現像温度32, 34℃,処理時間210秒のextended-cycle processにおいて,高感度システムM-200/CM-Hと同等の感度を上げることが可能であった｡そのとき,コントラスト,MTF,視覚的検出能も高感度システムより向上した｡さらに,現像温度34℃,処理時間210秒では,被曝線量の低減が可能であった

Circumferential Spinal Cord Decompression through a Single Posterior Approach with Microendoscopy for Thoracic and Thoracolumbar Ossification of the Posterior Longitudinal Ligament

Thoracic and thoracolumbar ossification of the posterior longitudinal ligament (OPLL) can be difficult to treat due to the anatomical position. The purpose of this study was to report the significance of a novel surgical technique that represented two cases of thoracic or thoracolumbar OPLL. The first patient was a 72-year-old woman who had a beak-type OPLL at the T11/12. The second was a 45-year-old woman who had a beak-type OPLL at the T12/L1. We performed circumferential spinal cord decompression through a single posterior approach with microendoscopy in both cases. The postoperative computed tomography revealed the complete removal of the OPLL, and the magnetic resonance imaging confirmed adequate decompression of the spinal cord. Preoperative symptoms were substantially improved in both patients. To date, we have used this novel technique to treat five patients with thoracic or thoracolumbar OPLL. This new surgical technique is likely to be useful in patients with a beak-type OPLL of the thoracic or thoracolumbar spine

Influence of organic inputs with mineral fertilizer on maize yield and soil microbial biomass dynamics in different seasons in a tropical acrisol

Introduction The practice of co-applying chemical fertilizers (CF) with organic inputs (OIs) as a soil amendment is still low in Ghana, although it has the potential to improve crop yield and soil productivity. Objectives In a two-year study, we evaluated the effects of co-applying contrasting OIs with and without CF on maize yield and soil chemical and microbial composition. Methods Aboveground biomasses of Centrosema pubescens (CEN), Pueraria phaseoloides (PUE), and Zea mays (MZE) were amended to an acrisol at 4 t ha−1 season−1. The combined treatments (CEN+, PUE+, and MZE+) were fertilized with basal NPK 15:15:15 at 40 kg N ha−1, followed by topdressing with [(NH4)2SO4] at 50 kg N ha−1. Sole OI inputs (CEN, PUE, and MZE) did not receive any CF inputs. The controls (CON− and CON+) received 0 and 90 kg N ha−1 season−1. Results The results showed that either sole OIs except for MZE or its combination with CF improved grain yield compared to the CON. Grain yield ranged from 2.1 t ha−1 to 2.6 t ha−1 in the first season versus 0.8 t ha−1 to 1.7 t ha−1 in the second. The MZE+ and CEN+ treatments showed the highest mean grain yields and were similar to CON+. Although CF addition to OIs improved grain yield in all treatments, negative interaction was observed for CEN and PUE as opposed to a positive interaction in the MZE treatment. Co-application of CF with OIs on dissolved organic carbon and nitrogen (DOC) and (EON) dynamics depended on seasonal soil moisture and sampling time. Moreover, co-application of CF with OIs enhanced microbial biomass in CEN but showed minimal and suppressive effects on MZE and PUE amendments, respectively. Conclusion Overall, the increased grain yield in MZE+, CEN+ and CON+ was attributable primarily to the CF addition. Thus, long term evaluations are recommended for sustainable utilization of MZE and CEN given their minimal responses in the short term in the presence of CFs.Peer Reviewe

Use of modified U1 small nuclear RNA for rescue from exon 7 skipping caused by 5′-splice site mutation of human cathepsin A gene

Cathepsin A (CTSA) is a multifunctional lysosomal enzyme, and its hereditary defect causes an autosomal recessive disorder called galactosialidosis. In a certain number of galactosialidosis patients, a base substitution from adenine to guanine is observed at the +3 position of the 7th intron (IVS7 +3a>g) of the CTSA gene. With this mutation, a splicing error occurs; and consequently mRNA lacking the 7th exon is produced. This skipping of exon 7 causes a frame shift of the transcripts, resulting in a non-functional CTSA protein and hence galactosialidosis. This mutation seems to make the interaction between the 5’-splice site of intron 7 of pre-mRNA and U1 small nuclear RNA (U1 snRNA) much weaker. In the present study, to produce properly spliced mRNA from the CTSA gene harboring this IVS7 +3a>g mutation, we examined the possible usefulness of modified U1 snRNA that could interact with the mutated 5’-splice site. Toward this goal, we first prepared a model system using a mutant CTSA mini gene plasmid for delivery into HeLa cells. Then, we examined the effectiveness of modified U1 snRNA on the formation of properly spliced mRNA from this mutant CTSA mini gene. As a result, we succeeded in obtaining improved formation of properly spliced CTSA mRNA. Our results suggest the usefulness of modified U1 snRNA for rescue from exon 7 skipping caused by the IVS7 +3a>g mutation of the CTSA gene