Relationship between Pain and Functional Status in Patients with Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis: A Multicenter Cross-Sectional Study.

Background: Pain is a widely neglected symptom in patients with amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS), even though it may be common and have a significant impact on the quality of life.

Objective: The aim of this study was to determine the frequency and characteristics of pain and its treatment in ALS patients.

Design: A multicenter cross-sectional study.

[Basic research for development of pinhole camera using a Geiger Mueller counter].

To visualize the scattered X-ray distribution in the diagnosis domain, we examined whether a Geiger Mueller (GM) counter could be applied to a pinhole camera as an X-ray detector. The GM counter detects radiation at certain detection points. To obtain two-dimensional images using the GM counter, the detector needs to be moved two-dimensionally.

[Fabrication of a visualization equipment for scattered X-rays in the diagnosis domain and proposal of a practical training].

We have built equipment that can visualize the angle distributions of scattered X-rays. The main body of the equipment is made of a lead-shielded box 340 mm long, 300 mm wide and 270 mm high. The collimated X-rays are introduced into the equipment from the front face, then scattered by the sample located in the center of the equipment.

[Proposal of a cloud chamber experiment using diagnostic X-ray apparatus and an analysis assisted by a simulation code].

A cloud chamber is a radiation detector that can visualize the tracks of charged particles. In this study, we developed a middle-type cloud chamber for use in practical training using a diagnostic X-ray apparatus. Because our cloud chamber has a heater to vaporize ethanol and features antifogging glass, it is possible to observe the vapor trails for a long time without the need for fine adjustments.

[Production of a leaf electroscope having separators and proposal of an experiment using the diagnostic X-ray equipment].

In order to use the practical training for beginners by means of a diagnostic X-ray, a leaf electroscope (which has a function to explain the ionization) was newly produced. The X-ray was introduced to the air in the electroscope having the electric charged leaf (the leaf was open at this time). The air irradiated by the X-ray was ionized, and then the produced ions or electrons were combined with charges on the leaf.

[An experiment to estimate locations of radioisotopes producing black spots on medical images].

Caused by the accident of nuclear power plants in the Fukushima at 2011, many radioisotopes (RI) were diffused to the environment. As a result, X-ray detectors were stained with RIs and black spots appeared on the medical images. Using the RI of (134)Cs and (137)Cs, black spots which appeared on the photostimulable phosphor plate (X-ray detector) were reproduced experimentally.

Identification of tetrapyrrole compounds excreted by Rhodobacter sphaeroides and sources of the methyl hydrogens of bacteriochlorophyll a biosynthesized by R. sphaeroides, based on 13C-NMR spectral analysis of coproporphyrin III tetramethyl ester.

Red-fluorescent tetrapyrrole compounds excreted by Rhodobacter sphaeroides into the culture broth were concluded to be coproporphyrinogen (Copro'gen) III and uroporphyrinogen (Uro'gen) I, based on the (13)C-NMR spectral identification of coproporphyrin (Copro) III tetramethyl ester and uroproporphyrin (Uro) I octamethyl ester. The sources of the methyl hydrogens of bacteriochlorophyll a were established by analysis of the (13)C-NMR spectra of (2)H,(13)C-Copro III tetramethyl ester chemically derived from (2)H,(13)C-Copro'gen III biosynthesized through the feeding of delta-amino[2-(13)C]levulinic acid (ALA) to R. sphaeroides in medium containing 50% (2)H(2)O.

Evidence for an increased intracellular free calcium concentration in platelets of bronchial asthma patients.

The pathogenesis of bronchial asthma is not yet fully understood. Recently much attention has been given to the hypothesis that intracellular free calcium ([Ca2+]i) metabolism is abnormal in various diseases. In this study we investigated whether [Ca2+]i exists abnormally in subjects with bronchial asthma.