Tumoral calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate crystal deposition disease of the temporomandibular joint: identification on crystallography.

This paper reports a case of calcium pyrophosphate dihydrate (CPPD) crystal deposition in the temporomandibular joint (TMJ) of a 59-year-old man with the chief complaint of severe pain in the left TMJ. On CT a radiopaque area was seen around the condylar process of the left TMJ with irregular destructive bony changes. A provisional diagnosis of crystalline-induced arthritis was made on histopathology of a biopsy specimen.

Molecular cloning of full-length Dmrt1 cDNA of Reeves turtle (Chinemys reevesii).

We cloned and sequenced a full-length open reading frame turtle dmrt1 cDNA (Crdmrt1) that was 1,504 bp in length and encoded 371 amino acid residues. RT-PCR analysis in different tissues of adult male turtle showed that the Crdmrt1 cDNA fragment was only detected in the testis. The amino acid sequence derived from Crdmrt1 demonstrated high homology to sequences from dmrt1 of Pelodiscus sinensis (92% identities and 93% positives) and Elaphe quadrivirgata (75% identities and 83% positives).

Absorption and tissue distribution of an immunomodulatory alpha-D-glucan after oral administration of Tricholoma matsutake.

Alpha-D-glucan (MPG-1) separated from Tricholoma matsutake (CM6271) has been reported to show immunomodulatory activities. In this study, the plasma concentration and tissue distribution of MPG-1 after CM6271 oral administration were investigated as part of the action mechanism analysis. When CM6271 was orally administered in a single dose to mice, MPG-1 was absorbed via the intestinal tract, appeared in plasma after 16 h, was gradually excreted from the blood, and fell to background level after 48 h.

Head and neck squamous cell carcinoma: usefulness of diffusion-weighted MR imaging in the prediction of a neoadjuvant therapeutic effect.

The purpose of our study was to evaluate the usefulness of diffusion-weighted imaging in predicting the responses to neoadjuvant therapy for head and neck squamous cell carcinomas. Diffusion-weighted, T2-weighted, and gadolinium-enhanced T1-weighted images were obtained from 28 patients with untreated head and neck squamous cell carcinomas with histological proof. A blinded radiologist evaluated the quantitative and qualitative signal intensities and apparent diffusion coefficients (ADCs) in the lesions on each sequence.

A magnetically levitated centrifugal blood pump with a simple-structured disposable pump head.

A magnetically levitated centrifugal blood pump (MedTech Dispo) has been developed for use in a disposable extracorporeal system. The design of the pump is intended to eliminate mechanical contact with the impeller, to facilitate a simple disposable mechanism, and to reduce the blood-heating effects that are caused by motors and magnetic bearings. The bearing rotor attached to the impeller is suspended by a two degrees-of-freedom controlled radial magnetic bearing stator, which is situated outside the rotor.

Predictive value of ambulatory heart rate in the Japanese general population: the Ohasama study.

Background: Resting heart rate can predict cardiovascular disease mortality or all-cause mortality. Because of the effect of the alert reaction, heart rates measured out-of-office should have better predictive power than those obtained at clinics. However, only a few studies have described the relationship between heart rate measured by ambulatory blood pressure monitoring devices and cardiovascular disease prediction.

Automated segmentation of hepatic vessels in non-contrast X-ray CT images.

Hepatic-vessel trees are the key structures in the liver. Knowledge of the hepatic-vessel tree is required because it provides information for liver lesion detection in the computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) system. However, hepatic vessels cannot easily be distinguished from other liver tissues in plain CT images.

Coronary artery calcification, arterial stiffness and renal insufficiency associate with serum levels of tumor necrosis factor-alpha in Japanese type 2 diabetic patients.

Although the kidneys are the major source of proinflammatory cytokines, association of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) with severity of atherosclerosis or kidney function in diabetic patients is unclear. Two hundred type 2 diabetic patients and 30 age-matched nondiabetic subjects consecutively admitted to our hospital were enrolled. The Agatston coronary artery calcium score (CACS), a quantitative marker of coronary atherosclerosis, was obtained using multidetector-row computed tomography.

Optimal cutoff point of waist circumference and use of home blood pressure as a definition of metabolic syndrome: the Ohasama study.

Background: Self-measured blood pressure (BP) at home (HBP) has a stronger predictive power for cardiovascular mortality and morbidity than casual-screening BP (CBP). No studies have evaluated the clinical significance of self-measured HBP for diagnosing metabolic syndrome (MS). Eight scientific associations recently defined MS for the Japanese population.

Vitellogenin, a biomarker for environmental estrogenic pollution, of Reeves' pond turtles: analysis of similarity for its amino acid sequence and cognate mRNA expression after exposure to estrogen.

Vitellogenin (VTG), a biomarker for environmental estrogenic pollution, can be detected in the bloodstream of oviparous animals before morphological and functional abnormalities appear due to exposure to environmental estrogens. Reports observing VTG in turtles have been limited. We therefore cloned and sequenced a partial cDNA of VTG in Reeves' pond turtle, Chinemys reevesii.

Fibroblast growth factor 7 stimulates in vitro growth of oocytes originating from bovine early antral follicles.

Essential factors required for growing oocytes derived from bovine early antral follicles and their mechanisms of action are poorly understood. Fibroblast growth factor 7 (FGF7) is a member of the heparin-binding FGF family with a distinctive pattern of target-cell specificity. The effect of FGF7 on the stimulation of oocyte growth in a culture of cumulus-oocyte complexes with granulosa cells (COCGs, oocyte diameter; 90-100 microm) was investigated.

Association of microalbuminuria with brachial-ankle pulse wave velocity: the Ohasama study.

Background: Microalbuminuria is recognized as a marker of generalized vascular dysfunction. However, the associations between microalbuminuria and pulse wave velocity (PWV), carotid intima-media thickness (IMT), and ambulatory blood pressure (ABP), respectively, have not been investigated.

Methods: Brachial-ankle PWV (baPWV), IMT, and ABP were determined in 328 individuals (mean age, 65.

[Automated middle hepatic vessel extraction method using electronic atlas and line enhancement filter on non-contrast torso X-ray CT images].

Classification of the liver region of the Couinaud segment provides significant information for a computer-aided diagnostic system to localize the position of lesions in the liver region. Hepatic vessels provide essential information to classify the liver region of the Couinaud segment. However, automated segmentation and classification of hepatic vessels are difficult in non-contrast CT images owing to the low contrast between hepatic vessels and liver tissue.

Incorporating self-blood pressure measurements at home in the guideline from the Ohasama study.

Recent guidelines for the treatment of hypertension have all emphasized the importance of self-blood pressure (BP) measurements at home (home BP) in clinical applications of practice, research, and epidemiology. In the Ohasama study, a cohort study based on home BP, we have demonstrated several important findings to be incorporated in those guidelines. We demonstrated that home BP more accurately and reliably reflect target organ damage and the prognosis of cardiovascular disease than conventional BP, whereas the predictive value of home BP increased progressively with the number of measurements.

Automated estimation of the upper surface of the diaphragm in 3-D CT images.

This communication describes a fully automated method by which the position of the diaphragm surface can be estimated by deforming a thin-plate model to match the bottom surface of the lung in CT images. This method was applied to 338 X-ray CT scans, and its validity was proved by the experimental results.

Morphometric and ultrastructural changes in ciliated cells of the oviductal epithelium in prolific Chinese Meishan and Large White pigs during the oestrous cycle.

There are some differences in reproductive features between the Chinese Meishan (CM) pig and Large White (LW) pig. The aim of the present study was to investigate the quantitative changes and ultrastructural features of ciliated cells in the various regions of the CM and LW pig oviduct during the follicular and luteal phases of the oestrous cycle. In the fimbrial and ampullar epithelia at the follicular phase, the ciliated cells were more plentiful than in the isthmic region in both pigs.

Ossifying pleomorphic adenoma of the parotid gland: a case report and review.

Pleomorphic adenoma is the most common parotid gland neoplasm and occasionally arises from the deep lobe of the parotid gland with extension into the parapharyngeal space. However, ossification of pleomorphic adenoma is rare, although chondroid and myxochondroid tissue formation is frequently seen histologically. We report an unusual case of ossifying pleomorphic adenoma arising from the deep lobe of the parotid gland in the parapharyngeal space.

Feasibility of a TinyPump system for pediatric CPB, ECMO, and circulatory assistance: hydrodynamic performances of the modified pump housing for implantable TinyPump.

The TinyPump is a miniature centrifugal blood pump with an extremely small priming volume of 5 ml, allowing blood transfusion free cardiopulmonary bypass as well as extracorporeal membrane oxygenation in pediatric patients. In this study, a new pump housing with the angled inlet port (25 degrees toward impeller center with respect to the flow axis) was designed to optimize the pump displaced volume and to extend the application of the TinyPump to implantable support The fluid dynamic performance analysis revealed that the head pressure losses increased from 3 to 17 mm Hg in comparison with straight port design as the pump rotational speed increased from 2,000 to 4,000 rpm. This was probably caused by perturbed flow patterns at the site of the inlet bent port area and streamline hitting the off-center of the impeller.

Efficacy of a miniature centrifugal rotary pump (TinyPump) for transfusion-free cardiopulmonary bypass in neonatal piglets.

We have developed a miniaturized semiclosed cardiopulmonary bypass (CPB) circuit incorporating a centrifugal blood pump (TinyPump) with a volume of 5 ml. The current study was undertaken to evaluate the hemolytic performance of the TinyPump in comparison with the BioPump and to investigate the impact of different CPB circuit volumes on hemodilution, coagulation, and the inflammatory response. Twelve 1-week-old piglets (3.

Computer-aided diagnosis scheme for detection of lacunar infarcts on MR images.

Rationale And Objectives: The detection and management of asymptomatic lacunar infarcts on magnetic resonance (MR) images are important tasks for radiologists to ensure the prevention of severe cerebral infarctions. However, accurate identification of the lacunar infarcts on MR images is a difficult task for the radiologists. Therefore the purpose of this study was to develop a computer-aided diagnosis scheme for the detection of lacunar infarcts to assist radiologists' interpretation as a "second opinion.

Enhanced second-harmonic generation by use of the photonic effect in a ferroelectric smectic C* liquid crystal.

Special phase matching of second-harmonic generation (SHG) by use of the photonic effect was experimentally confirmed for an obliquely propagating fundamental beam in the helical smectic C>(*) liquid-crystal phase, as suggested by Belyakov [JETP Lett. 70, 811 (1999)]. The enhancement of SHG occurs when the second-harmonic wave is close to a photonic bandgap (half-pitch band) and consequently the fundamental wave is close to another photonic bandgap (full-pitch band).

Improvement of automated detection method of lacunar infarcts in brain MR images.

The detection of asymptomatic lacunar infarcts on magnetic resonance (MR) images are important tasks for radiologists to ensure the prevention of sever cerebral infarction. However, their accurate identification is often difficult task. Therefore, the purpose of this study is to develop a computer-aided diagnosis scheme for the detection of lacunar infarcts.

Automated classification of cerebral arteries in MRA images and its application to maximum intensity projection.

Detection of unruptured aneurysms is a major task in magnetic resonance angiography (MRA). However, it is difficult for radiologists to detect small aneurysms on the maximum intensity projection (MIP) images because adjacent vessels may overlap with the aneurysms. Therefore, we proposed a method for making a new MIP image, the SelMIP image, with the interested vessels only, as opposed to all vessels, by manually selecting a cerebral artery from a list of cerebral arteries recognized automatically.

MRI-based preplanning in low-dose-rate prostate brachytherapy.

Purpose: To compare the dosimetric results between MRI-based and TRUS-based preplanning in permanent prostate brachytherapy, and to estimate the accuracy of MRI-based preplanning by comparing with CT/MRI fusion-based postimplant dosimetry.

Methods And Materials: Twenty-one patients were entered in this prospective study with written informed consent. MRI-based and TRUS-based preplanning were performed.

Reproducibility of nocturnal blood pressure assessed by self-measurement of blood pressure at home.

To assess the reproducibility of nocturnal blood pressure (BP) during sleep as measured using a self-measurement device at home, we obtained repeated nocturnal home BP at 0200 h and quality of sleep assessment from a diary in 556 subjects (71% women, 62.4+/-11.1 years) in the general population.