[Effects of Subject Position on Metal Artifact Reduction of a Reverse Shoulder Prosthesis Using Computed Tomography].

Purpose: To validate the effects of subject position on single energy metal artifact reduction (SEMAR) of a reverse shoulder prosthesis using computed tomography (CT).

Methods: A water phantom with a reverse shoulder prosthesis was scanned at four positions on the XY plane of the CT gantry (on-center, 50 mm, 100 mm, and 150 mm from on-center in the negative direction of the X axis, respectively). We obtained images with and without SEMAR.

[Investigation and culture of microbial contaminants of Caulerpa lentillifera (Sea Grape)].

Caulerpa lentillifera is a kind of edible seaweed, known as 'sea grape' or 'green caviar'. It is used in fresh salads. However, it is sensitive to low temperature and osmotic pressure, and is easily spoilt by storage in a refrigerator or washing with tap water.

Effect of filtration leukocytapheresis therapy: modulation of white blood cell enzyme activities in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

We treated 12 patients with rheumatoid arthritis by filtration leukocytapheresis (FLCP) and evaluated its effect on leukocyte enzyme activities. We calculated the number of leukocytes removed and assessed the clinical response. We also evaluated the cellular enzyme activities of elastase and dipeptidylpeptidase IV (DPP IV).