Optimality of Huffman Code in the Class of 1-bit Delay Decodable Codes

For a given independent and identically distributed (i.i.d.) source, Huffman code achieves the optimal average codeword length in the class of instantaneous code with a single code table. However, it is known that there exist time-variant encoders, which achieve a shorter average codeword length than the Huffman code, using multiple code tables and allowing at most k-bit decoding delay for k = 2, 3, 4, . . .. On the other hand, it is not known whether there exists a 1-bit delay decodable code, which achieves a shorter average length than the Huffman code. This paper proves that for a given i.i.d. source, a Huffman code achieves the optimal average codeword length in the class of 1-bit delay decodable codes with a finite number of code tables

Hepatocyte growth factor gene therapy reduces ventricular arrhythmia in animal models of myocardial ischemia.

It was recently reported that gene therapy using hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has the potential to preserve cardiac function after myocardial ischemia. We speculated that this HGF gene therapy could also prevent ventricular arrhythmia. To investigate this possibility, we examined the antiarrhythmic effect of HGF gene therapy in rat acute and old myocardial infarction models. Myocardial ischemia was induced by ligation of the left descending coronary artery. Hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ)-coated liposome containing HGF genes were injected directly into the myocardium fourteen days before programmed pacing. Ventricular fibrillation (VF)was induced by programmed pacing. The VF duration was reduced and the VF threshold increased after HGF gene therapy ( p&#60; 0.01). Histological analyses revealed that the number of vessels in the ischemic border zone was greatly increased after HGF gene injection. These findings revealed that HGF gene therapy has an anti-arrhythmic effect after myocardial ischemia.</p

Effect of olmesartan on the levels of circulating endothelial progenitor cell after drug-eluting stent implantation in patients receiving statin therapy

AbstractBackgroundThe endothelial progenitor cell (EPC) plays an important role in repairing vascular injury. Statins and angiotensin II receptor blockers increase the level of circulating EPCs. However, it is unknown whether the angiotensin II receptor blocker olmesartan synergistically acts with statins to increase the levels of circulating EPCs. Moreover, the association between the levels of circulating EPCs and endothelial dysfunction after implantation of drug-eluting stents (DESs) has not been evaluated.MethodsNine patients with stable coronary artery disease underwent percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) and received DES implantation. All patients received olmesartan in addition to statin therapy after PCI. The dose of olmesartan was based on the physician's discretion as per the patients’ blood pressure. The levels of circulating EPCs were analyzed at baseline, post-PCI, and 1, 2, 3, and 8 months after PCI. Coronary angiography and the acetylcholine provocation test were performed on all patients at 8 months.ResultsAlthough the angiotensin II level significantly changed, the levels of circulating EPCs did not change during 8 months of olmesartan treatment (3.1±0.6cells/ml, 2.5±0.8cells/ml, 2.0±0.6cells/ml, 2.9±0.9cells/ml, 3.0±0.4cells/ml, 3.4±0.8cells/ml, p=0.64). The patients were subsequently divided into two groups based on whether the level of circulating EPCs was less or greater than 4cells/ml at 8 months. There were no significant differences in the mean vessel diameter of each segment (proximal, proximal edge, distal edge, and distal) after the acetylcholine provocation test between the two groups.ConclusionsLow-to-moderate doses of olmesartan might not increase the level of circulating EPCs in patients receiving statin therapy. There might be no association between the levels of circulating EPCs and the degree of coronary vasospasm in the acetylcholine provocation test 8 months after DES implantation

An Aggressive Signet Ring Cell Carcinoma of the Prostate in a Japanese Man

Signet ring cell carcinoma (SRCC) of the prostate is rare, with approximately 100 case reports to date. Here we report a very aggressive case of SRCC of the prostate in a Japanese man. The patient received estramustine, docetaxel, and carboplatin combination chemotherapy, followed by TS-1 and CPT-11 combination therapy. Unfortunately, the disease progressed, and he died of general metastatic disease treated over 16 month with systemic chemotherapy

Influence of Thermodynamic Effect on Blade Load in a Cavitating Inducer

Distribution of the blade load is one of the design parameters for a cavitating inducer. For experimental investigation of the thermodynamic effect on the blade load, we conducted experiments in both cold water and liquid nitrogen. The thermodynamic effect on cavitation notably appears in this cryogenic fluid although it can be disregarded in cold water. In these experiments, the pressure rise along the blade tip was measured. In water, the pressure increased almost linearly from the leading edge to the trailing edge at higher cavitation number. After that, with a decrease of cavitation number, pressure rise occurred only near the trailing edge. On the other hand, in liquid nitrogen, the pressure distribution was similar to that in water at a higher cavitation number, even if the cavitation number as a cavitation parameter decreased. Because the cavitation growth is suppressed by the thermodynamic effect, the distribution of the blade load does not change even at lower cavitation number. By contrast, the pressure distribution in liquid nitrogen has the same tendency as that in water if the cavity length at the blade tip is taken as a cavitation indication. From these results, it was found that the shift of the blade load to the trailing edge depended on the increase of cavity length, and that the distribution of blade load was indicated only by the cavity length independent of the thermodynamic effect