A CAD Method of Multivariable Control Systems Using Generalized Gershgorin Bands

The design method proposed here is a frequency-domain method and uses a certain class of generalized Gershgorin bands mapped onto the gain-phase plane, which are referred to as the generalized Gershgorin pseudo-bands. The main advantages are that the generalized Gershgorin pseudo-bands have the same width for all loops, that the width of the pseudo-bands is invariant under the changes of the diagonal compensator and under the changes of the unit system at outputs and inputs, that no diagonal dominance is required at high frequencies, and that a quantitative guide line for pseudo-diagonalization is given based on the interaction index which is a satisfactory scalor measure of the cross interaction

Celiac artery dissection in polycystic kidney disease

Autosomal-dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is rarely complicated by celiac artery dissection. Dissection of the aorta and its major branches should be carefully differentiated in ADPKD patients with acute-onset abdominal pain

Pseudoacromegaly with acromegalic features in radiography

Pseudoacromegaly is a condition characterized by acromegalic physical features without growth hormone excess, for which radiographic observation has seldom been reported. This is a rare case of pseudoacromegaly

Mutual Effects of Orexin and Bone Morphogenetic Proteins on Catecholamine Regulation Using Adrenomedullary Cells

Orexins are neuronal peptides that play a prominent role in sleep behavior and feeding behavior in the central nervous system, though their receptors also exist in peripheral organs, including the adrenal gland. In this study, the effects of orexins on catecholamine synthesis in the rat adrenomedullary cell line PC12 were investigated by focusing on their interaction with the adrenomedullary bone morphogenetic protein (BMP)-4. Orexin A treatment reduced the mRNA levels of key enzymes for catecholamine synthesis, including tyrosine hydroxylase (Th), 3,4-dihydroxyphenylalanie decarboxylase (Ddc) and dopamine beta-hydroxylase (Dbh), in a concentration-dependent manner. On the other hand, treatment with BMP-4 suppressed the expression of Th and Ddc but enhanced that of Dbh with or without co-treatment with orexin A. Of note, orexin A augmented BMP-receptor signaling detected by the phosphorylation of Smad1/5/9 through the suppression of inhibitory Smad6/7 and the upregulation of BMP type-II receptor (BMPRII). Furthermore, treatment with BMP-4 upregulated the mRNA levels of OX1R in PC12 cells. Collectively, the results indicate that orexin and BMP-4 suppress adrenomedullary catecholamine synthesis by mutually upregulating the pathway of each other in adrenomedullary cells

High-Dose Corticosteroids for a Pregnant Woman Critically Ill With Coronavirus Disease 2019

Pregnancy was reported to be a risk factor for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19), with an increased risk for premature birth. Corticosteroids and remdesivir are used for patients with COVID-19; however, there is no established treatment for these patients. In particular, the effective management of pregnant, critically ill patients with COVID-19 remains unknown. We describe a 34-year-old, critically ill woman at 30 weeks of gestation with COVID-19, who was successfully treated with remdesivir and combined high-dose betamethasone (12 mg/day for two days) and methylprednisolone (125 mg/day for three days) followed by steroid tapering. During treatment, fetal biophysical profile scores on obstetric ultrasound were normal; her pregnancy course progressed well. Since high-dose corticosteroids improve fetal lung maturation and as well as cytokine storm due to COVID-19, this case provides an insight into the management of pregnant COVID-19 patients