Detection of Interfering Ions Using Ion Flux Phenomena in Flow-Through Cl-ISEs with Ion Exchange Membranes.

Ion-selective electrodes (ISEs) are among the most successful electrochemical sensors used in various applications because of their ability to measure electrolyte concentrations in liquids easily. It is common practice to suppress ion fluxes through the ion-sensitive membranes in ISEs because such fluxes worsen the lower limit of detection. In this study, we propose a method to detect interfering ions using this ion flux phenomenon.

Soft Mango Firmness Assessment Based on Rayleigh Waves Generated by a Laser-Induced Plasma Shock Wave Technique.

Many methods based on acoustic vibration characteristics have been studied to indirectly assess fruit ripeness via fruit firmness. Among these, the frequency of the S vibration mode measured on the equator has been examined, but soft-flesh fruit do not show the S vibration mode. In this study, a Rayleigh wave is generated on a soft mango fruit using the impulse excitation force generated by a laser-induced plasma shock wave technique.

Efficacy and safety of docetaxel and prednisolone for castration-resistant prostate cancer: a multi-institutional retrospective study in Japan.

Objective: Although some new drugs for castration-resistant prostate cancer are available, docetaxel still plays an important role in castration-resistant prostate cancer treatment. In this study, we evaluated the efficacy and safety of docetaxel and prednisolone in patients with castration-resistant prostate cancer.

Methods: We conducted a retrospective chart review of castration-resistant prostate cancer patients who received docetaxel and prednisolone at 14 hospitals in the Sapporo Medical University Urologic Oncology Consortium from August 2004 to December 2011.

Measuring quality of sleep and autonomic nervous function in healthy Japanese women.

The purpose of this study was to determine the relationship between quality of sleep and autonomic nervous functioning in healthy adult Japanese women using three measures, namely, the Pittsburgh Sleep Quality Index (PSQI) for subjective assessment of sleep quality, actigraphy for objective assessment of sleep, and heart rate variability using high frequency and low frequency domains. Participants were 31 healthy women in their 20s to 40s who met the selection criteria, including having normal monthly menstrual periods. Participants were categorized as good or poor sleepers according to their PSQI score.

Clinical significance of definite muscle layer in TUR specimen for evaluating progression rate in T1G3 bladder cancer: multicenter retrospective study by the Sapporo Medical University Urologic Oncology Consortium (SUOC).

Purpose: To evaluate the clinical impact on progression and recurrence according to presence and absence of a muscle layer, we conducted a retrospective, multicenter study.

Methods: We retrospectively reviewed 247 patients who received transurethral resection (TUR) of bladder tumors and were pathologically diagnosed as having T1G3 bladder cancer from 1990 to 2009. We ruled out 8 patients who received immediate cystectomy and analyzed the remaining 239 T1G3 patients.

[Case of infected renal cyst in polycystic kidney disease].

A 56-year-old woman with polycystic kidney disease (PKD) presented with high fever and left back pain. Abdominal computed tomography (CT) scan showed multiple renal cysts, left hydronephrosis and a left ureteral stone. Her condition could not be managed with antibiotic therapy and indwelling left ureteral stent.

Ion-selective electrodes with unusual response functions: simultaneous formation of ionophore-primary ion complexes with different stoichiometries.

It is well known that the selectivity of an ion-selective electrode (ISE) depends on the stoichiometry of the complexes between its ionophore and the target and interfering ions. It is all the more surprising that the possibility for the simultaneous occurrence of multiple target ion complexes with different complex stoichiometries was mostly ignored in the past. Here, we report on the simultaneous formation of 1:1 and 1:2 complexes of a fluorophilic crown ether in fluorous ISE membranes and how this results in what looks like super-Nernstian responses.

Light-scattering study of polyelectrolyte complex formation between anionic and cationic nanogels in an aqueous salt-free system.

We studied complex formation in an aqueous salt-free system (pH approximately 3 and at 25 degrees C) between nanogel particles having opposite charges. Anionic gel (AG) and cationic gel (CG) particles consist of lightly cross-linked N-isopropylacrylamide (NIPA) copolymers with 2-acrylamido-2-methylpropane sulfonic acid and with 1-vinylimidazole, respectively. The number of charges per particle was -4490 for AG and +20 300 for CG, as estimated from their molar masses (3.

Molten salts bearing anion receptor.

A series of organoboron molten salts prepared by hydroboration of allyl imidazolium type molten salts with various hydroborating reagents such as monobromoborane dimethyl sulfide complex, 9-borabicyclo[3.3.1]nonane (9-BBN) and mesitylborane, and subsequent anion exchange reaction exhibited selective cation transporting property with ionic conductivity of 7.

Testicular metastasis from squamous cell carcinoma of the lung.

We present a case of squamous cell carcinoma of the testis that metastasized from lung cancer. The patient, who had received left pneumonectomy 2 years earlier for squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) of the lung, developed pulmonary metastasis, which was treated with chemotherapy. Although the recurrence regressed after treatment, the testicular tumor progressed gradually.

Complications of Stamey needle suspension for female stress urinary incontinence.

Introduction: The Stamey bladder neck suspension for stress urinary incontinence in females is thought to be an excellent procedure. However, recent studies revealed that complications of this procedure have not been negligible. In this retrospective study, complications of the Stamey needle bladder neck suspension were examined.