Osborn Waves: History and Significance

The Osborn wave is a deflection with a dome or hump configuration occurring at the R-ST junction (J point) on the ECG (Fig. 1). In the historical view, different names have been used for this wave in the medical literature, such as “camel-hump sign”, “late delta wave”, “hathook junction”, “hypothermic wave”, “J point wave”, “K wave”, “H wave” and “current of injury”.1 Although there is no definite consensus about terminology of this wave, either “Osborn wave” or “J wave” are the most commonly used names for this wave in the current clinical and experimental cardiology. The Osborn wave can be generally observed in hypothermic patients,1,2,3,4 however, other conditions have been reported to cause Osborn waves, such as hypercalcemia,5 brain injury,6 subarachnoid hemorrhage,7 cardiopulmonary arrest from oversedation,8 vasospastic angina,9 or idiopathic ventricular fibrillation.10,11,12 Our knowledge about the link between the Osborn waves and cardiac arrhythmias remains sparse and the arrhythmogenic potential of the Osborn waves is not fully understood. In this paper, we present a historic review of Osborn waves and discuss their clinical significance in the various clinical settings

A case of IgG4-related tubulointerstitial nephritis concurrent with Henoch-Schönlein purpura nephritis

We describe a 72-year-old man, who had been suffered from Henoch-Schönlein purpura (HSP) several times, presented with hematoproteinuria with granular cast, and general lymphadenopathy. The immunological examination of the serum showed polyclonal hypergammagloburinemia with high value of IgG4. The renal biopsy revealed interstitial inflammatory cell infiltration, including infiltration of lymphocytes and plasma cells, and segmental glomerulonephritis. Direct immunofluorescence microscopy revealed apparent positive staining with anti-human IgA, and anti-human IgG in glomeruli, anti-human IgG4 antibody staining showed many positive plasma cells in the interstitium. The patient was diagnosed with HSP nephritis that was complicated by IgG4-related nephropathy. As a result of the treatment with 30mg prednisolone, the swelling of the LNs decreased, but the patient continued to have persistent hematoproteinuria

Electrical Excitation of the Pulmonary Venous Musculature May Contribute to the Formation of the Last Component of the High Frequency Signal of the P Wave

Pulmonary veins (PVs) have been shown to play an important role in the induction and perpetuation of focal AF. Fifty-one patients with AF, and 24 patients without AF as control subjects, were enrolled in this study. Signal-averaged P-wave recording was performed, and the filtered P wave duration (FPD), the root-mean-square voltage for the last 20, 30 and 40 ms (RMS20, 30, and 40, respectively) were compared. In 7 patients with AF, these parameters were compared before and after the catheter ablation. The FPD was significantly longer and the RMS20 was smaller in the patients with AF than those without AF. Because RMS30 was widely distributed between 2 and 10 µV, the AF group was sub-divided into two groups; Group 1 was comprised of the patients with an RMS30 ≧5.0 µV, and group 2, <5.0 µV. In group 1, short-coupled PACs were more frequently documented on Holter monitoring, and exercise testing more readily induced AF. After successful electrical disconnection between the LA and PVs, each micropotential parameter was significantly attenuated. These results indicate that the high frequency signal amplitude of the last component of the P wave is relatively high in patients with AF triggered by focal repetitive excitations most likely originating from the PVs. That is, attenuation by the LA-PV electrical isolation, and thus the high frequency P signals of the last component, may contain the electrical excitation of the PV musculature

Flight Performance of the AKARI Cryogenic System

We describe the flight performance of the cryogenic system of the infrared astronomical satellite AKARI, which was successfully launched on 2006 February 21 (UT). AKARI carries a 68.5 cm telescope together with two focal plane instruments, Infrared Cameras (IRC) and Far Infrared Surveyor (FIS), all of which are cooled down to cryogenic temperature to achieve superior sensitivity. The AKARI cryogenic system is a unique hybrid system, which consists of cryogen (liquid helium) and mechanical coolers (2-stage Stirling coolers). With the help of the mechanical coolers, 179 L (26.0 kg) of super-fluid liquid helium can keep the instruments cryogenically cooled for more than 500 days. The on-orbit performance of the AKARI cryogenics is consistent with the design and pre-flight test, and the boil-off gas flow rate is as small as 0.32 mg/s. We observed the increase of the major axis of the AKARI orbit, which can be explained by the thrust due to thermal pressure of vented helium gas.Comment: 19 pages, 10 figures, and 6 tables. Accepted for publication in the AKARI special issue of the Publications of the Astronomical Society of Japa

The role of Kupffer cells in complement activation in D-Galactosamine/lipopolysaccharide-induced hepatic injury of rats.

To investigate the role of Kupffer cells in complement activation, we used a rat model of acute hepatic injury induced by D-Galactosamine (GalN) and lipopolysaccharide (LPS). In in vivo study, minimal histological changes were observed after i.p. GalN (200 mg/kg) single administration. Complement hemolytic activity (CH 50) decreased to 70% of its initial value 2-3 h after i.p. LPS (1.5 mg/kg) single administration. Massive hepatic necrosis was induced by simultaneous administration of GalN and LPS. After 2-3 h, CH 50 decreased to 70% of its initial value, and deposition of C3 fluorescence (C3) was observed in Kupffer cells. After 4 h, GPT was greatly increased (1286 +/- 240 IU/l), CH 50 was further reduced, and C3 was observed on hepatocyte membranes and in the cytosol. In in vitro study, we used hepatocyte cultures and co-cultures of hepatocytes and Kupffer cells to investigate the participation of GalN, LPS, complement, and Kupffer cells in hepatic cell necrosis. We found no increase of LDH (% leakage) when LPS and complement were added to the medium (22.7 +/- 5.7%). A moderate increase was observed with the addition of GalN (33.2 +/- 2.6%). A remarkable increase was observed only with the addition of GalN, LPS, and complement to the co-culture (50.0 +/- 8.8%). These results suggest that Kupffer cells activated by LPS are very important in promoting acute hepatic injury by complement.</p

Seasonality of isotopic and chemical species and biomass burning signals remaining in wet snow in the accumulation area of Sofiyskiy Glacier, Russian Altai Mountains

Preliminary glaciological investigation was carried out on the accumulation area of Sofiyskiy Glacier, Russian Altai Mountains in July 2000. Analyses of a 12.3m core and 3m deep pit samples show that seasonal variations of δ^O, tritium and melt features remained in the wet snow layers. Annual layer thickness determined on the basis of seasonality of these elements for 12.3m core is 0.99m of water on average in 1994-1999 with a minimum in 1998 when the minimum mass balance was observed for three other glaciers in the Altai Mountains. High correlations of NH_4^+ concentration with concentrations of K^+, SO_4^2, NO_3^- and PO_4^ are found. NH_4^+ and K^+ are considered to be of biomass burning origin, and PO_4^ and NH_4^+ are due to chemical ingredients used for fire extinction in biomass burning

Administration of a Branched-Chain Amino Acid Preparation during Hepatic Failure: A Study Emphasizing Ammonia Metabolism

We administered a branched-chain amino acid (BCAA) infusion to 16 patients with hepatic failure and two healthy subjects, and then evaluated its effects on ammonia metabolism and amino acid metabolic pool. Immediately after the BCAA infusion, the venous blood ammonia concentration increased in 12 of 15 patients with hepatic failure and in both two healthy subjects. Glutamine (Gln) also rose in all cases following the BCAA infusion, and this rise was particularly marked in the hepatic failure group. The increase in Gln due to the BCAA infusion and the arteriovenous difference in the pre-administration ammonia concentration showed a good correlation. These results suggest an increase in glutamine cycle capacity in patients with hepatic failure. </p

Metallurgical Re-investigation of Ancient Chinese Coins in the Collection of Tokyo Institute for the Oriental Culture, now in University of Tokyo

Metallurgical re-investigation of ancient Chinese coins in the collection of Tokyo Institute for Oriental Culture, now in Institute of Advanced Studies on Asia, University of Tokyo has been carried out by scanning electron microscopy and semi-quantitative X-ray analyses. Cross-sections of 132 objects, mostly from the Warring States Period, were studied and were classifies as metallic copper (Cu) and bronze (Cu-Sn) objects. Based on chemical compositions, Cu-objects were divided into 3 groups, such as almost Cu-metal, Cu with Pb + Arsenic (As), and Cu with Pb + As + antinomy (Sb). Likewise, bronze objects were divided into 4 groups, such as bronze with Pb, bronze with Pb + As, bronze with Pb + Sb, and bronze with Pb + As + Sb. Leaded bronze are separated in low (<3 wt.％) and high-Pb (up to 45 wt.％) groups. Sn ratio (Sn/[Cu+Sn]) in bronzes range from low (2％) to high (20％) Sn. Most of objects contain a few amounts of miner elements, such as iron (Fe), silver (Ag), cobalt (Co) and some Cu and/or Fe sulfides. There elements might be originated from metallic ores and low qualities of parent metals. Since As and Sb are characteristic elements in metallic objects of “the eastern Eurasian steppe”, it might be suggested such origin. Pb is a fusion agent to lowering of melting temperature of molten Cu and bronze. In comparison to the Pb contents in Anyang (Yinxu) Bronzes in the Academia Sinica collection (many are < 2wt％ Pb), Pb contents are extremely high in high-Pb bronze group. Such objects with various Sn-ratios with As and Sb might suggest recycling work of metal in ancient societies. Thus, chemical signature might not always be related to their origins of ore minerals in the objects