CORONARY ARTERY MORPHPLOGY AND REACTIVITY TO ACUTE HYPOXIA IN CHRONIC PULMONARY DISEASE

In patients with chronic pulmonary disase (CPD), myocardial infarction is rare. To elucidate why this is so, we investigated the morphological changes and the reactivity of the coronary artery to acute hypoxia in patients with CPD. Sixty patients with CPD and 28 normal subjects were studied. Measurements of pulmonary homodynamics and coronary angiography were undertaken before and after inhalation of 13%O2 for 15 minutes. The size of the coronary arteries was measured using a densitometric method, and a coronary narrowing score was calculated according to the WHO criteria. The size of the left anterior descending artery of patients with low %VC and hypoxia was larger than that of the normal subjects. In patients with CPD, the coronary narrowing score was low and the atherosclerotic change was minimal. The reactivity of the coronary arteries to acute hypoxia was reduced in patients with CPD when compared with normal subjects

Increased Serum KL-6 Levels Induced by Pulmonary Mycobacterium Avium Complex Infection in a Patient with RA-associated Lung Disease

KL-6 is a glycoprotein found predominantly on type II pneumocytes and alveolar macrophages, and often shows increased serum levels in patients with interstitial pneumonia. We report a case of mycobacterium avium complex (MAC) infection whose disease activity was correlated with KL-6 levels in serum. During treatment of rheumatoid arthritis (RA)-associated interstitial lung disease (ILD) with prednisolone, chest image findings improved in association with decreased KL-6 levels. Following tapering of prednisolone, chest image findings deteriorated again as levels of KL-6 increased, suggesting recurrence of RA-ILD. Bronchoscopic examination revealed active MAC infection. Treatment of MAC infection not only improved chest image findings but also decreased KL-6 levels in serum, suggesting that KL-6 was increased by active MAC infection by itself, not by recurrence of RA-ILD. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first documentation of KL-6 elevation in serum in association with active MAC infection

Testicular Torsion in Undescended Testis : A Case Report and View of Sixty-two Cases in Japan

A 7-year-old boy with cerebral palsy was presented with a progressively enlarging tender, left inguinal mass. Examination revealed absence of the left testis in the scrotal sac. The left testis was palpable in the left superficial inguinal pouch. The right testis was normaly palpable in the right scrotum. A diagnosis of a torsion in the undescended left testis was confirmed by exploratory surgery. Orchidectomy of the left testis was performed and the remainder of the patient\u27s course was uneventful. We presented this case to describe the clinical features of testicular torsion in the undescended testis with a review of 62 cases in Japan. Specific emphasis was placed on the incidence, relationship of cerebral palsy to torsion, diagnosis, and treatment of testicular torsion in cryptorchidism

Phospholipases A1

Phospholipase A1 (PLA1) is an enzyme that hydrolyzes phospholipids and produces 2-acyl-lysophospholipids and fatty acids. This lipolytic activity is conserved in a wide range of organisms but is carried out by a diverse set of PLA1 enzymes. Where their function is known, PLA1s have been shown to act as digestive enzymes, possess central roles in membrane maintenance and remodeling, or regulate important cellular mechanisms by the production of various lysophospholipid mediators, such as lysophosphatidylserine and lysophosphatidic acid, which in turn have multiple biological functions

The effect of loading direction on the dwell fatigue properties of Ti-6Al-4V forged bar with highly oriented texture

The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of the effect of macro/micro texture on dwell fatigue properties. The Ti-6Al-4V forged bar with highly oriented texture and fine equiaxed microstructure was used. Dwell fatigue, cyclic fatigue and creep tests were conducted at room temperature by using specimens taken in the longitudinal (L) direction and the transverse (T) direction of the bar. The effects of loading direction on dwell fatigue life and fracture surface morphology were examined in detail. The dwell fatigue life in T direction was shorter than that in L direction. The fracture surface morphologies were characteristically varied by loading waveform, amplitude and directions. In the range of 93 - 95% of 0.2%PS, the characteristic large facets were observed in the T direction in dwell fatigue. Detailed analyses revealed that the large facet consists of multiple initiation facets and propagation facets. The propagation facet plane and crack propagation direction appeared to correspond to alpha (0001) . Furthermore, the relationship between strain rate and life time was compared to that for room temperature creep. The deviation from the Monkman-Grant relationship corresponded to the change of the fracture surface morphology

The effect of loading direction on the dwell fatigue properties of Ti-6Al-4V forged bar with highly oriented texture

The purpose of this study was to improve our understanding of the effect of macro/micro texture on dwell fatigue properties. The Ti-6Al-4V forged bar with highly oriented texture and fine equiaxed microstructure was used. Dwell fatigue, cyclic fatigue and creep tests were conducted at room temperature by using specimens taken in the longitudinal (L) direction and the transverse (T) direction of the bar. The effects of loading direction on dwell fatigue life and fracture surface morphology were examined in detail. The dwell fatigue life in T direction was shorter than that in L direction. The fracture surface morphologies were characteristically varied by loading waveform, amplitude and directions. In the range of 93 - 95% of 0.2%PS, the characteristic large facets were observed in the T direction in dwell fatigue. Detailed analyses revealed that the large facet consists of multiple initiation facets and propagation facets. The propagation facet plane and crack propagation direction appeared to correspond to alpha (0001) . Furthermore, the relationship between strain rate and life time was compared to that for room temperature creep. The deviation from the Monkman-Grant relationship corresponded to the change of the fracture surface morphology