The impact of cardiac surgery in patients with trisomy 18 and trisomy 13 in Japan.

Congenital heart defects (CHD) are very common in patients with trisomy 18 (T18) and trisomy 13 (T13). The surgical indication of CHD remains controversial since the natural history of these trisomies is documented to be poor. To investigate the outcome of CHD in patients with T18 and T13, we collected and evaluated clinical data from 134 patients with T18 and 27 patients with T13 through nationwide network of Japanese Society of Pediatric Cardiology and Cardiac Surgery.

Effect of carvedilol on heart failure in patients with a functionally univentricular heart.

Background: The effect of carvedilol on heart failure (HF) in patients with a functionally univentricular heart (UVH) remains unclear.

Methods And Results: Carvedilol was used to treat HF in 51 patients with a UVH, classified into 3 groups: after the Fontan operation (F), after the bidirectional Glenn operation (G), and patients who had not undergone Fontan or Glenn operation (NF). Carvedilol therapy was started at a mean age of 10 ± 12 years (range: 1 month to 34 years).

Efficacy and safety of carvedilol for heart failure in children and patients with congenital heart disease.

There have been few reports describing the use of carvedilol in children or patients with congenital heart disease. Therefore, its optimal regimen, efficacy, and safety in these patients have not been adequately investigated. Subjects were 27 patients with two functioning ventricles, for whom carvedilol was initiated (from December 2001 to December 2005) to treat heart failure.

Impact of pretilachlor herbicide and pyridaphenthion insecticide on aquatic organisms in model streams.

To detect the impact of pesticides on aquatic organisms, model streams (3m wide, 20 m long) were established in paddy field in Japan. More than 100 species of aquatic organisms were generated in the model streams. Field tests with pretilachlor herbicide and pyridaphenthion insecticide were carried out in the streams for 3 yr (2001-2003).

Effectiveness of carvedilol for congestive heart failure that developed long after modified Fontan operation.

We report a case of a patient with severe heart failure after Fontan procedure in whom carvedilol was very effective. A 27-year-old man had intractable congestive heart failure due to severe ventricular dysfunction after Fontan operation. Central venous pressure was elevated to 29 mmHg.

[Examination of susceptibility artifact in three-dimensional gadolinium-enhanced chest MR angiography].

Signal loss that is sometimes found in the subclavian artery during chest MR angiography is thought to be caused by the susceptibility effect of highly concentrated contrast medium. In our research project, we examined the conditions under which signal loss occurs. We made vessel phantoms (artery phantom, vein phantom) that contained different concentrations of Gd-DTPA water solutions, and placed them in a 0.

Effect of temperature on life history of the predatory mite Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) californicus (Acari: Phytoseiidae).

Amblyseius (Neoseiulus) californicus is an indigenous mite in Japan that feeds on many spider mite species. We evaluated the development, survivorship and life-history parameters of A. californicus on a diet of eggs of Tetranychus urticae (red form).

Molecular cloning of a D-cycloserine resistance gene from D-cycloserine-producing Streptomyces garyphalus.

A 3.5-kb DNA fragment that confers resistance to D-cycloserine (DCS) was cloned from the chromosomal DNA of a DCS-producing Streptomyces garyphalus into Streptomyces lividans by a shot-gun cloning technique. Nucleotide sequence analysis revealed the existence of four open reading frames (ORFs B, C, D, and E), together with two incomplete ORFs, A and F.

Subject independent facial expression recognition with robust face detection using a convolutional neural network.

Reliable detection of ordinary facial expressions (e.g. smile) despite the variability among individuals as well as face appearance is an important step toward the realization of perceptual user interface with autonomous perception of persons.

[Examination of MR cholangiopancreatography using the fast recovery single shot fast spin echo sequence].

During this project, we evaluated methods to scan MRCP images with overlapping slice positions during one breath-hold using the FRSSFSE sequence. The FRSSFSE sequence is a technique to arbitrarily change the residual transverse magnetization to longitudinal magnetization. With the SSFSE sequence, the imaging field where the slice position overlaps is subject to substantial influence from the saturation effect of the water component.

[Removal of high signal artifact (marching metal artifact) by the magnetic substance].

During this project, we evaluated methods to prevent high-signal artifact (marching metal artifact) that are caused by magnetic substance. Marching metal artifact is caused by the resonance frequency created by magnetic substance. Phase encoding and frequency encoding are often switched to minimize the influence that marching metal artifact have on the image.