An Algorithm for Calculating Perimeter Length

The present paper proposes an algorithm for calculating accurately the perimeter length of a picture. The outline of the algorithm is as follows: for each cell or picture element (i,j) on the perimeter, a coefficient which corresponds to the minute perimeter length at the cell is assigned as a function of the situation of neighbor cells (i,j-l), (i-l,j) and (i-l,j-l), and the number of same situation connected along the perimeter. Then, the total perimeter length can be given as the sum of these coefficientso According to this methods, approximation accurate to 002 percent could be obtained in the blob patterns

アンテリアル ガイダンス ノ シンダン ト チリョウ

Report: The Relative Merits of the Modified Sag-Tape Method for Determining Instream Flow Requirement

Adenovirus-mediated transfection of caspase-8 sensitizes hepatocellular carcinoma to TRAIL- and chemotherapeutic agent-induced cell death

AbstractCaspase-8 belongs to the cysteine protease family and is known to be activated at the initial step in the cascade of TRAIL-induced apoptosis. The activation of procaspase-8 can be blocked by a relatively large amount of c-FLIP, which renders resistance to death receptor-mediated apoptosis in many types of cancer cells. To ask if extrinsic over-expression of caspase-8 contributes to the induction of apoptosis, we introduced the caspase-8 gene into HCC cells using an adenoviral (Adv) vector (Adv-Casp8). We demonstrated that Adv-Casp8 increased expression of active forms of caspase-8 in MOI-dependent manner. A large amount of Adv-Casp8 (MOI of 50) induced apoptosis significantly in HCC cells and resulted in downregulation of c-FLIP (in SK-Hep1, HLE, and HepG2 cells), XIAP, survivin, and Bcl-xL (in HLE cells) and dynamic release of cytochrome c and Smac from the mitochondria into the cytosol. On the other hand, a small amount of Adv-Casp8 (MOI of 10) causes a slight but detectable increase in the level of apoptosis with only a small effect on anti-apoptotic proteins and mitochondrial activation. However, small amounts of Adv-Casp8 augmented TRAIL- or chemotherapeutic agent-induced cell death (with an MOI of 10 or 20, respectively). These results suggest both that exogenous over-expression of caspase-8 by Adv-Casp8 may be essential for induction of HCC cell death and that the combination of Adv-Casp8 and TRAIL or chemotherapeutic agents could provide a useful strategy for treatment of HCC

Structure of carbohydrate chain of a thrombin-like protease from the venom of Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus stejneger snake

The structure of the carbohydrate chain of kangshuanmei, a thrombin-like serine protease isolated from Agkistrodon halys brevicaudus stejneger snake venom, was determined. The carbohydrate content of the kangshuanmei was 18%. The sugar composition was analyzed by the acid hydrolysis followed by aminobenzoic ethyl ester labeling. Galactose, N-acetylglucosamin, mannose, and fucose were detected, indicating that the binding carbohydrate chain is asparagine-linked type oligosaccharides. N-Acetylneuraminic acid located at non-reduced terminal of the carbohydrate chain was identified by neuraminidase digestion. The carbohydrate chain moiety was separated from kangshuanmei by hydrazynolysis treatment followed by aminobenzoic octyl ester (ABOE) labeling. The isolated ABOEmodified carbohydrate chain was compared to the asparagine-linked type standard oligosaccharides. The carbohydrate chains were consisted of sialylated bi(39.4%)-, tri(50.4%)- and tetra(10.2%)- antennary lactosamins complex containing fucose. The structure of the conjugated carbohydrate chain of kangshuanmei was significantly different from that of thrombin, which has a bisected antennary structure of oligosaccharide

Plasma level of D-dimer accompanying different types of gynecologic surgery and effects of prophylactic subcutaneous injection of heparin calcium

Background: The standard range of D-dimer level associated with each type of gynecologic surgery is required to note the occurrence of bleeding or thromboembolism.Methods: Plasma levels of D-dimer of patients who underwent different types of gynecologic surgery were measured on the Day of Preoperative Examination (DPE) and the first postoperative day (POD-1). Patients were classified by surgery type: hysterectomy for benign diseases or cervical intraepithelial neoplasia; hysterectomy for uterine cancer; surgery for ovarian cancer; laparoscopic surgery for a benign adnexal mass; laparotomy for a benign adnexal mass; laparotomic myomectomy; cervical conization; transcervical resection of an intrauterine mass; vaginal surgery for prolapse of a pelvic organ.Results: In each type of gynecologic surgery, plasma levels of D-dimer on POD-1 were higher than those on the DPE. Prophylactic subcutaneous injection of heparin calcium for patients who underwent surgery for endometrial cancer showed no significant difference in the plasma level of D-dimer on the sixth postoperative day (POD-6) and the plasma level of D-dimer on POD-6 was in the same level as those on POD-1.Conclusions: Plasma levels of D-dimer on POD-1 were higher than those on the DPE in each type of gynecologic surgery. The D-dimer level remained high even on POD-6, and not changed by prophylactic subcutaneous injection of heparin calcium.

Cryoimmunologic Investigations in Patients With Prostatic Carcinoma

Transurethral cryosurgery was performed with liquid nitrogen in 18 patients with prostatic carcinomas. The clinical course and the effect of cryosurgery on immune competence of patients were observed. After cryosurgery, pain was relieved in 5 of 6 patients, dysuria was improved in 7 of 12 patients, and the prostatic mass was reduced in 14 of 18 patients. Elevated serum acid phosphatase levels returned to normal in 5 cases. Changes of serum protein fractions were variable. Serum complement levels were high in advanced cases. Changes of immunoglobulins were variable. Serum anti-prostatic antibody could not be detected by passive hemagglutination test and by indirect immunofluorescent examination. DNCB skin reaction and blastoid transformation of lymphocytes were raised after therapy. The cellular immune competence may be enhanced by cryosurgery, while the humoral immune competence is scarcely influenced by the therapy. It has been reported that remission of metastatic lesions occured after cryosurgery for advanced prostatic carcinoma (Soanes et al.1)). Furthermore, it was suggested that immune competence of the patient with carcinoma may be enhanced after cryosurgery (Ablin2)). In an attempt to examine the effect of cryosurgery on immune competence, we observed clinical and immunologic responses after treatment in 18 patients with prostatic carcinoma