Developing of higher voltage direct-current power-feeding prototype system

High efficiency power feeding systems are effective solutions for reducing ICT power consumption of ICT equipment, such as routers and servers, or high efficiency cooling systems. We developed a higher voltage direct current (HVDC) power feeding system prototype. This system is composed of a rectifier, power distribution cabinet, batteries, and ICT equipment. The configuration is similar to a -48 V DC power supply system. The output of the rectifier is 100 kW, and the output voltage is 401.4 V. We describe the advantage of an HVDC power feeding system and show that its basic characteristics are stable.INTELEC 2009 - 2009 International Telecommunications Energy Conference : Incheon, South Korea, 2009.10.18-2009.10.2

İdiyopatik pulmoner fibrozun akut alevlenmesine bağlı olarak hipoksinin seyrindeki çeşitli ekokardiyografik değişiklikler.

peer reviewedIdiopathic pulmonary fibrosis (IPF) is a progressive parenchymal disease. Pulmonary hypertension (PH) is a potentially lethal complication in the course of IPF. In almost all cases of IPF-PH there is gradual deterioration, but patients can also decline suddenly due to hypoxia. This case report describes the different echocardiographic changes observed in 2 episodes of hypoxic attack in a 73-year-old man. On admission, the tricuspid regurgitation peak gradient (TRPG) was 21 mmHg and the oxygen saturation rate was 94% (O2: 4 L/min). Five days after admission, the TRPG and oxygen saturation rate deteriorated [TRPG: 85 mmHg, oxygen saturation: 72% (O2; 4 L/min)]. He was diagnosed with IPF-PH due to hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Oxygen therapy and methylprednisolone pulse therapy (MPT) were administered. Five days after the MPT treatment, the hypoxia and PH improved [TRPG: 21 mmHg, oxygen saturation: 95% (O2: 4 L/min)]. Acute exacerbation of IPF (IPF-AE) occurred 20 days after the MPT, and a second dose of MPT was administered. The TRPG and oxygen saturation rate did not decline [TRPG: 27 mmHg, oxygen saturation: 94% (O2: 4 L/min)]. The patient died 10 days after the second dose of MPT. Divergent echocardiographic findings were observed during the deterioration of IPF-AE in the presence of IPF-PH

In Vivo

In vivo real-time visualization of the process of angiogenesis in secondary tumors in the same living animals presents a major challenge in metastasis research. We developed a technique for intravital imaging of colorectal liver metastasis development in live mice using two-photon laser scanning microscopy (TPLSM). We also developed time-series TPLSM in which intravital TPLSM procedures were performed several times over periods of days to months. Red fluorescent protein-expressing colorectal cancer cells were inoculated into the spleens of green fluorescent protein-expressing mice. First- and second-round intravital TPLSM allowed visualization of viable cancer cells (red) in hepatic sinusoids or the space of Disse. Third-round intravital TPLSM demonstrated liver metastatic colonies consisting of viable cancer cells and surrounding stroma with tumor vessels (green). In vivo time-course imaging of tumor angiogenesis in the same living mice using time-series TPLSM could be an ideal tool for antiangiogenic drug evaluation, reducing the effects of interindividual variation

DNA Damage in Rheumatoid Arthritis: An Age-Dependent Increase in the Lipid Peroxidation-Derived DNA Adduct, Heptanone-Etheno-2′-Deoxycytidine

Objective. To evaluate what types of DNA damages are detected in rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Methods. The DNA adducts such as 8-oxo-hydroxy-7,8-dihydro-2′-deoxyguanosine (8-oxo-dG), 1,N6-etheno-2′-deoxyadenosine (εdA), and heptanone-etheno-2′-deoxycytidine (HεdC) in genomic DNAs, derived from whole blood cells from 46 RA patients and 31 healthy controls, were analyzed by high-performance liquid chromatography tandem mass spectrometry, and their levels in RA patients and controls were compared. In addition, correlation between DNA adducts and clinical parameters of RA was analyzed. Results. Compared with controls, the levels of HεdC in RA were significantly higher (P<0.0001) and age dependent (r = 0.43, P < 0.01), while there was no significant difference in 8-oxo-dG and εdA accumulation between RA patients and controls. HεdC levels correlated well with the number of swollen joints (r = 0.57, P < 0.0001) and weakly with the number of tender joints (r = 0.26, P = 0.08) of RA patients, while they did not show a significant association with serological markers such as C-reactive protein and matrix metalloproteinase 3. Conclusion. These findings indicate that HεdC may have some influence on the development of RA and/or its complications

Reduced risk of recurrent myocardial infarction in homozygous carriers of the chromosome 9p21 rs1333049 c risk allele in the contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention era: A prospective observational study

Hara M, Sakata Y, Nakatani D on behalf of the OACIS Investigators, et al. Reduced risk of recurrent myocardial infarction in homozygous carriers of the chromosome 9p21 rs1333049 C risk allele in the contemporary percutaneous coronary intervention era: a prospective observational study. BMJ Open 2014;4:e005438. doi: 10.1136/bmjopen-2014-00543

Noninvasive prediction of shunt operation outcome in idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus

Idiopathic normal pressure hydrocephalus (iNPH) is a syndrome characterized by gait disturbance, cognitive deterioration and urinary incontinence in elderly individuals. These symptoms can be improved by shunt operation in some but not all patients. Therefore, discovering predictive factors for the surgical outcome is of great clinical importance. We used normalized power variance (NPV) of electroencephalography (EEG) waves, a sensitive measure of the instability of cortical electrical activity, and found significantly higher NPV in beta frequency band at the right fronto-temporo-occipital electrodes (Fp2, T4 and O2) in shunt responders compared to non-responders. By utilizing these differences, we were able to correctly identify responders and non-responders to shunt operation with a positive predictive value of 80% and a negative predictive value of 88%. Our findings indicate that NPV can be useful in noninvasively predicting the clinical outcome of shunt operation in patients with iNPH

A New Device Facilitating Intracorporeal Purse-string Suture during Endoscopic Surgery

Standard laparoscopic colorectal surgery requires additional incision or enlargement of the trocar incision for the retrieval of the surgical specimen. A natural orifice specimen extraction （NOSE） procedure, in which the specimen is retrieved through the anus or vagina without any additional skin incision, requires purse-string suture （PSS） of the rostral intestinal segment in order to fix the anvil head of the stapler and perform extracorporeal mechanical anastomosis. Colorectal surgery has a limited NOSE in cases where the end of the rostral segment could be pulled through the anus. Broader application of NOSE depends on intracorporeal PSS. We developed a new forceps for intracorporeal PSS during NOSE and evaluated its efficacy. The PSS instrument was refined to pass through a 12-mm trocar in an intracorporeal PSS and achieve anastomosis using double stapling. In trials utilizing an endoscopic practice box, regular spacing of stitches during PSS were consistent （n＝10）, and tight intracorporeal anastomosis of the porcine colon was successfully performed （n＝2）. We then confirmed efficacy through an operation on a pig. Our novel PSS device will help us perform NOSE not only in laparoscopic colorectal surgery but also in any operation requiring intracorporeal PSS, which should contribute to further advances in endoscopic digestive surgery

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