Limnological aspect of mires: background and a case study

Article信州大学理学部附属諏訪臨湖実験所報告 9: 47-52(1995)departmental bulletin pape

Comparison of Saccharin Time in Nursing Home Residents With and Without Pneumonia: A Preliminary Study

ackground/Aim: Although mucociliary clearance is important for preventing pneumonia, its association with the onset of pneumonia is unclear. The aim of this study is to examine the association between saccharin test results as a potential measure of mucociliary clearance and history of pneumonia in nursing home residents. Patients and Methods: Ninety elderly nursing home residents (elderly group) were selected, 35 of whom had a history of pneumonia. Twenty-five healthy adults (adult group) were also investigated to provide baseline values for this study. We conducted the saccharin test to evaluate mucociliary clearance and compared the saccharin time (ST) between those with and without history of pneumonia. Results: Mean ST in the adult group was 12±6 min. The ST in the pneumonia group was significantly longer than that in the non-pneumonia group (32±23 min vs. 17±13 min) (p<0.05). Conclusion: Impaired mucociliary clearance is a factor in the development of pneumonia among nursing home residents

シンケイ センイショウ 1ガタ ノ セキチュウ ヘンケイ ニ トモナウ ロッコツ ズ ノ セキチュウカン ナイ ダッキュウ

2006 年4 月～2010 年3 月の神経線維腫症1 型に伴う脊柱変形手術例10 例中3 例に肋骨頭の脊柱管内脱臼がみられた.症例1 は6 歳の男児でT4-8:74°,T8-11:72° の側弯があり,左第4 と第5 肋骨頭の脊柱管内への陥入を認めた.症例2 は11 歳の男児でT3-7:100° の側弯とT3-T9:90° の後弯があり,左第6 肋骨頭が脊柱管内へ脱臼し,脊髄を圧排していた.症例3 は27 歳の女性でT6～9:73°,T9～12:68° の側弯とT6-10:91°の後弯を認め,右第7 肋骨頭の脊柱管内脱臼がみられた.本病態の報告例は少ないが,決して希な病態ではなくdystrophic change を伴う脊柱変形においては,肋骨頭の脊柱管内脱臼による潜在的リスクに注意する必要があると考える.Spinal deformities are common features in neurofibromatosistype-1( NF-1). Several types of deformities have been reported, however, intraspinal rib head dislocation (IRD)due to dystrophic change is very rare and not well understood. Between April 2006 and March 2010, we experienced3 patients with IRD out of 10 consecutive patients who underwent surgical treatment for dystrophic spinal deformities in NF-1. Case 1:A 6-year-old boy who had 74 ° short angular scoliosis at T4-8 and 72 ° at T8-11 underwent surgery in our institute. CT myelography demonstrated dystrophic changes with for aminal enlargement, vertebral body scalloping, rib penciling and mild IRD. He underwent the Growing Rod techniques and finally underwent posterior spinal fusion (PSF) from T1 to L2 combined with prophylactic rib head resection followed by anterior spinal fusion(ASF) with autologous fibular strut graft. No neurological complications were observed postoperatively and complete bony fusions were achieved. Case 2:Neurologically intact11-year-old boy presented with spinal deformity and caf&eacute;au-lait spots. Radiography showed 100 ° scoliosis at T3-7and 72 ° at T3-9. CT myelography demonstrated dystrophic changes and IRD and impingement of spinal cord. He underwent PSF with removal of the T6 rib head followed by ASF. Case 3:A 27-year-old woman presented with back pain and spinal deformities. Radiography showed 73 °scoliosis at T6-9 and 91 ° at T9-12. CT myelography demonstrated dystrophic changes and IRD. She also underwentPSF with removal of T7 rib head followed by ASF. AllIRDs were observed at the apex of the convex side of scoliosis.It has a potential risk of spinal cord compression and may cause paraplegia or paraparesis. Therefore, high degree of suspicion is warranted for the treatments of scoliosis with intraspinal rib displacement in NF-1

Social Determinants of Reproductive Behavior in Japan.

Ph.D.DemographyUniversity of Michiganhttp://deepblue.lib.umich.edu/bitstream/2027.42/157799/1/8017329.pd

Effect of Electronic Conductivities of Iridium Oxide/Doped SnO2 Oxygen-Evolving Catalysts on the Polarization Properties in Proton Exchange Membrane Water Electrolysis

We have developed IrOx/M-SnO2 (M = Nb, Ta, and Sb) anode catalysts, IrOx nanoparticles uniformly dispersed on M-SnO2 supports with fused-aggregate structures, which make it possible to evolve oxygen efficiently, even with a reduced amount of noble metal (Ir) in proton exchange membrane water electrolysis. Polarization properties of IrOx/M-SnO2 catalysts for the oxygen evolution reaction (OER) were examined at 80 &deg;C in both 0.1 M HClO4 solution (half cell) and a single cell with a Nafion&reg; membrane (thickness = 50 &mu;m). While all catalysts exhibited similar OER activities in the half cell, the cell potential (Ecell) of the single cell was found to decrease with the increasing apparent conductivities (&sigma;app, catalyst) of these catalysts: an Ecell of 1.61 V (voltage efficiency of 92%) at 1 A cm&minus;2 was achieved in a single cell by the use of an IrOx/Sb-SnO2 anode (highest &sigma;app, catalyst) with a low Ir-metal loading of 0.11 mg cm&minus;2 and Pt supported on graphitized carbon black (Pt/GCB) as the cathode with 0.35 mg cm&minus;2 of Pt loading. In addition to the reduction of the ohmic loss in the anode catalyst layer, the increased electronic conductivity contributed to decreasing the OER overpotential due to the effective utilization of the IrOx nanocatalysts on the M-SnO2 supports, which is an essential factor in improving the performance with low noble metal loadings

Azathioprine Hypersensitivity Syndrome during Treatment of Severe Interstitial Lung Disease with Anti-Neutrophil Cytoplasmic Antibody-Associated Vasculitis

Azathioprine is used to treat anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody- (ANCA-) associated vasculitis. Azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome is often missed. An 81-year-old man undergoing treatment for interstitial pneumonia developed a high fever and was diagnosed with ANCA-associated vasculitis based on an elevated myeloperoxidase- (MPO-) ANCA titer and renal biopsy findings. After induction therapy, his clinical symptoms improved, but his MPO-ANCA remained elevated (>300 U·L-1) and hematuria persisted. Prednisolone plus azathioprine was administered as maintenance therapy. Three exacerbations of the inflammatory response occurred during the subsequent 3 months. In each instance, we suspected opportunistic infection or a flare-up of vasculitis. The first exacerbation was treated with an increased prednisolone dose and antibiotics. At the onset of the second exacerbation, which was accompanied by systemic erythema, we stopped azathioprine and administered antibiotics. The third exacerbation, which occurred the day after restarting azathioprine, involved a fever with chills and an acute inflammatory reaction; we therefore suspected an azathioprine allergy. A drug provocation test was performed, and a hyperinflammatory response was observed. The patient received prednisolone (15 mg·day-1) monotherapy; no further fever was observed during the subsequent 2 months. We therefore diagnosed azathioprine hypersensitivity syndrome. Under treatment with prednisolone (5 mg·day-1) and mycophenolate mofetil (1 g·day-1) (replacing the azathioprine), no signs of relapse or infection have occurred for more than two years. Renal function and the pulmonary lesions are stable, although the high MPO-ANCA titer and hematuria persist. The diagnosis of azathioprine hypersensitivity is often delayed because of the difficulty in identifying the relationship between immunosuppressive agents and hypersensitivity and in distinguishing this from infection or relapse of the primary disease. The misdiagnosis of azathioprine hypersensitivity leads to unnecessary treatment; thus, clinicians should consider allergic reactions specific to azathioprine when switching from induction to maintenance therapy