Evaluation of Liquefaction Potential of Gravelly Soil Layer Based on Field Performance Data

In general, gravelly soil layers are considered to be less susceptible to liquefy during earthquakes than sandy soil layers. However, in 1995 Hyogoken-Nambu Earthquake, sand ejection due to liquefaction was observed in Port Island and Rokkco Island, which were man-made islands reclaimed by gravelly soils. In this paper, firstly, site investigation including sampling by freezing technique was conducted in Rokko Island where lots of ejected sand was not observed during the earthquake to know liquefaction strengths of the reclaimed deposits. Secondly, earthquake response analyses were conducted for a site in Rokko Island as well as a site in Port Island to evaluate maximum stress ratios which were generated in the reclaimed deposits during the earthquake. Finally, relationships between maximum shear stress ratios during earthquakes and penetration resistance were investigated for liquefied sites and nonliquefied sites in the man-made islands

Multivariate analysis of magnetic resonance imaging of focal hepatic lesions.

A total of 124 lesions from 1 to 6cm in diameter, including 31 cavernous hemangiomas, 32 metastases and 61 hepatocellular carcinomas (HCC) were analyzed to study the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) at 0.5 Tesla to differentiate focal hepatic lesions on the basis of qualitative criteria. Each focal hepatic lesion was assessed for shape, internal architecture and signal intensity relative to normal liver parenchyma. While all cavernous hemangiomas and metastases except one lesion could be detected, detection rate of HCC was significantly inferior to that of the other two diseases. A tumor capsule and a hyperintense focus on T1-weighted images were demonstrated in only HCC lesions in strong contrast with the other two diseases; however, metastases with slow-growing characteristics or subacute hematoma may appear as similar images. Cavernous hemangiomas appeared markedly hyperintense on T2-weighted images in 23 of 31 lesions, but one metastasis and one HCC had similar images. A multivariate analysis of several MRI resulted in the following mean discriminant scores: cavernous hemangioma, -1.2652; metastasis, 0.1830; and HCC, 0.7138. It appeared to be possible to differentiate the three diseases with 84.4 percent accuracy.</p

Alteration of primary afferent activity following inferior alveolar nerve transection in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>In order to evaluate the neural mechanisms underlying the abnormal facial pain that may develop following regeneration of the injured inferior alveolar nerve (IAN), the properties of the IAN innervated in the mental region were analyzed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Fluorogold (FG) injection into the mental region 14 days after IAN transection showed massive labeling of trigeminal ganglion (TG). The escape threshold to mechanical stimulation of the mental skin was significantly lower (i.e. mechanical allodynia) at 11-14 days after IAN transection than before surgery. The background activity, mechanically evoked responses and afterdischarges of IAN Aδ-fibers were significantly higher in IAN-transected rats than naive. The small/medium diameter TG neurons showed an increase in both tetrodotoxin (TTX)-resistant (TTX-R) and -sensitive (TTX-S) sodium currents (<it>I</it>_Na) and decrease in total potassium current, transient current (<it>I</it>_A) and sustained current (<it>I</it>_K) in IAN-transected rats. The amplitude, overshoot amplitude and number of action potentials evoked by the depolarizing pulses after 1 μM TTX administration in TG neurons were significantly higher, whereas the threshold current to elicit spikes was smaller in IAN-transected rats than naive. Resting membrane potential was significantly smaller in IAN-transected rats than that of naive.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>These data suggest that the increase in both TTX-S <it>I</it>_Naand TTX-R <it>I</it>_Naand the decrease in <it>I</it>_Aand <it>I</it>_kin small/medium TG neurons in IAN-transected rats are involved in the activation of spike generation, resulting in hyperexcitability of Aδ-IAN fibers innervating the mental region after IAN transection.</p

Spin chirality and electric polarization in multiferroic compounds RRMn2_2O5_5 (R=R=Ho, Er)

Polarized neutron diffraction experiments have been performed on multiferroic materials $R$Mn$_{2}$O$_{5}$ ($R=$Ho, Er) under electric fields in the ferroelectric commensurate (CM) and the low-temperature incommensurate (LT-ICM) phases, where the former has the highest electric polarization and the latter has reduced polarization. It is found that, after cooling in electric fields down to the CM phase, the magnetic chirality is proportional to the electric polarization. Also we confirmed that the magnetic chirality can be switched by the polarity of the electric polarization in both the CM and LT-ICM phases. These facts suggest an intimate coupling between the magnetic chirality and the electric polarization. However, upon the transition from the CM to LT-ICM phase, the reduction of the electric polarization is not accompanied by any reduction of the magnetic chirality, implying that the CM and LT-ICM phases contain different mechanisms of the magnetoelectric coupling.Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures. Proceedings of PNCMI2008/QuBS200

Assessing risk factors for elevated creatine kinase levels as an indicator of compartment syndrome following laparoscopic or robot-assisted colorectal cancer surgery in the lithotomy-trendelenburg position

The version of record of this article, first published in Surgical Endoscopy, is available online at Publisher’s website: https://doi.org/10.1007/s00464-024-11209-8.Background: Well-leg compartment syndrome (WLCS) can occur due to compression and lower limb circulation disturbances caused by the surgical position during the procedure. Although rare, with an incidence of 1 in 3500 surgeries performed in the lithotomy position, it can lead to serious complications. Therefore, prevention and early diagnosis are critical. Symptoms of WLCS, such as leg pain, swelling, paresthesia, and serum creatine kinase (CK) levels are useful for diagnosis. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for postoperative CK elevation in laparoscopic or robot-assisted colorectal cancer surgery performed in the lithotomy-Trendelenburg position. Methods: Postoperative CK levels were measured in 178 patients who underwent laparoscopic or robot-assisted colorectal cancer surgery between February 2022 and March 2023. We compared patient backgrounds, short-term outcomes, and thigh/calf circumferences between patients with CK levels ≥ 250 (n = 62) and those with CK levels < 250 (n = 116). We investigated risk factors for elevated CK levels using both univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: Four patients with CK levels of 22405 U/L, 4685 U/L, 4050 U/L, and 3824 U/L reported symptoms, which improved with conservative treatment. The following independent prognostic factors were identified by multivariate analysis: male sex (odds ratio [OR], 4.403; 95% CI, 1.960 to 9.892), rectal surgery (OR, 2.779; 95% CI, 1.249 to 6.184), continuous head-down position duration ≥ 180 min (OR, 3.523; 95% CI, 1.552 to 7.997), and preoperative calf circumference ≥ 33 cm (OR, 2.482; 95% CI, 1.154 to 5.339). Conclusions: Risk factors for CK elevation after colorectal cancer surgery in the lithotomy position include male sex, rectal surgery, an extended continuous head-down position without position changes, and a larger preoperative calf circumference. This study highlights the potential importance of intraoperative position changes every 3 h for preventing elevated CK levels, although the preventive effect was not specifically examined

Venous Thromboembolism Following Lateral Lymph Node Dissection for Rectal Cancer

Kobayashi Y., Uemura M., Paku M., et al. Venous Thromboembolism Following Lateral Lymph Node Dissection for Rectal Cancer. Anticancer Research 44, 695 (2024); https://doi.org/10.21873/anticanres.16860 .Background/Aim: Postoperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) is a well-recognized complication that leads to morbidity and mortality. Lateral lymph node dissection (LLND) for rectal cancer is thought to potentially increase the risk of VTE due to its technical complexity. However, the relationship between LLND and VTE remains inadequately understood. The aim of this study was to elucidate the impact of LLND on the incidence of postoperative VTE. Patients and Methods: This is a retrospective analysis of patients who underwent rectal cancer resection between 2010 and 2018 to identify the risk factors associated with postoperative VTE. Patients were divided into two groups: those who underwent surgery with LLND (LLND+ group) and those who underwent surgery without LLND (LLND– group). Results: A total of 543 patients were enrolled in this study, and 113 patients underwent surgery for rectal cancer with LLND. VTE developed in 8 patients (1.47%), with the incidence rates being 4.42% in the LLND+ group and 0.69% in the LLND–group, respectively (p=0.012). Three of 8 patients had developed severe postoperative complications, and the other two patients needed intraoperative repair of the iliac vein during LLND procedure. Multivariate analysis identified the incidence of postoperative complications and LLND as the independent risk factors of VTE. Conclusion: Patients undergoing rectal cancer surgery with LLND should be closely monitored for signs of VTE

Potassium channels as a potential therapeutic target for trigeminal neuropathic and inflammatory pain

Previous studies in several different trigeminal nerve injury/inflammation models indicated that the hyperexcitability of primary afferent neurons contributes to the pain pathway underlying mechanical allodynia. Although multiple types of voltage-gated ion channels are associated with neuronal hyperexcitability, voltage-gated K+ channels (Kv) are one of the important physiological regulators of membrane potentials in excitable tissues, including nociceptive sensory neurons. Since the opening of K+ channels leads to hyperpolarization of cell membrane and a consequent decrease in cell excitability, several Kv channels have been proposed as potential target candidates for pain therapy. In this review, we focus on common changes measured in the Kv channels of several different trigeminal neuropathic/inflammatory pain animal models, particularly the relationship between changes in Kv channels and the excitability of trigeminal ganglion (TRG) neurons. We also discuss the potential of Kv channel openers as therapeutic agents for trigeminal neuropathic/inflammatory pain, such as mechanical allodynia

Human Sapovirus in Clams, Japan

Human sapovirus was detected in 4 of 57 clam packages by reverse transcription–PCR and sequence analysis. This represents the first finding of sapovirus contamination in food. Closely matching sequences have been detected in stool specimens from patients with gastroenteritis in Japan, which indicates a possible food-to-human transmission link