Preoperative ultra short-term entropy predicts arterial blood pressure fluctuation during the induction of anesthesia.

Background: In this study, we sought to determine whether the preoperative nonlinear index of heart rate variability, ultra short-term entropy (UsEn), could predict cardiovascular responses to the induction of general anesthesia.

Methods: UsEn was estimated by a linearized version of the nonlinear least squares method combined with the maximum entropy spectral analysis method (MemCalc method). Preoperative UsEn of 46 patients (ASA PS 1 or 2, aged 40-60 yr) without a history of hypertension was evaluated using the MemCalc method.

Antimalarial activity of 1-aryl-3,3-dialkyltriazenes.

The antimalarial activity of 1-aryl-3,3-dialkyltriazenes to Plasmodium berghei NK-65 in infected mice was evaluated at an intraperitoneal dose of 100mg/kgbw. Some of these compounds were found to possess potent antimalarial activity.

Correlation between heart rate variability and haemodynamic fluctuation during induction of general anaesthesia: comparison between linear and non-linear analysis.

The objective of this study was to compare linear and non-linear analysis of heart rate variability (HRV) in terms of correlation with haemodynamic fluctuation during induction of general anaesthesia. Pre-operatively, HRV was estimated by the MemCalc method in 114 patients scheduled for general anaesthesia. After anaesthesia was induced with propofol, fentanyl and vecuronium bromide, tracheal intubation was performed.

MRG-1, an autosome-associated protein, silences X-linked genes and protects germline immortality in Caenorhabditis elegans.

MRG15, a mammalian protein related to the mortality factor MORF4, is required for cell proliferation and embryo survival. Our genetic analysis has revealed that the Caenorhabditis elegans ortholog MRG-1 serves similar roles. Maternal MRG-1 promotes embryo survival and is required for proliferation and immortality of the primordial germ cells (PGCs).

The experimental humanoid robot H7: a research platform for autonomous behaviour.

This paper gives an overview of the humanoid robot 'H7', which was developed over several years as an experimental platform for walking, autonomous behaviour and human interaction research at the University of Tokyo. H7 was designed to be a human-sized robot capable of operating autonomously in indoor environments designed for humans. The hardware is relatively simple to operate and conduct research on, particularly with respect to the hierarchical design of its control architecture.

Tetrahydrobenzotriazines as a new class of nematocide.

Tetrahydrobenzotriazines, a novel class of heterocyclic compounds, were synthesized. Examination of their biological activities resulted in the discovery that some of them possess potent nematocidal activity.

[A resected case of advanced gastric cancer with multiple liver metastasis responding to preoperative TS-1/CDDP chemotherapy].

A 75-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with hematoemesis. Gastrofiber-scopy revealed that type 3 gastric cancer was widespread in the lesser curvature. Multiple liver metastases 5 cm in diameter were shown on CT.

Chondroitin acts in the guidance of gonadal distal tip cells in C. elegans.

In Caenorhabditis elegans hermaphrodites, the U-shaped gonad arms are formed by directed migration of the gonadal distal tip cells (DTCs). The stereotyped pattern of DTC migration is carefully controlled by extracellular and cell surface molecules during larval development. Here we report that two proteins, SQV-5 (chondroitin synthase) and its cofactor MIG-22 (chondroitin polymerizing factor), are required for chondroitin biosynthesis and are essential for the dorsally guided migration of DTCs.

C. elegans as a model system to study the function of the COG complex in animal development.

The conserved oligomeric Golgi (COG) complex is an octameric protein complex associated with the Golgi apparatus and is required for proper sorting and glycosylation of Golgi resident enzymes and secreted proteins. Although COG complex function has been extensively studied at the cellular and subcellular levels, its role in animal development mostly remains unknown. Recently, mutations in the components of the COG complex were found to cause abnormal gonad morphogenesis in Caenorhabditis elegans.

[Relation between the level of care needed and frailty for labial functions].

Aim: The purpose of this study was to examine whether the improvement of oral functions could prevent increase in the level of care needed in the elderly by analyzing the relationship between the level of care needed and labial functions.

Methods: The subjects were 114 elderly people who were healthy or needing care (44 men, 70 women; average age 81.3 +/- 6.

Behavioral genetics of caenorhabditis elegans unc-103-encoded erg-like K(+) channel.

The Caenorhabditis elegans unc-103 gene encodes a potassium channel whose sequence is most similar to the ether-a-go-go related gene (erg) type of K+ channels. We find that the n 500 and e 1597 gain-of-function (gf) mutations in unc-103 cause reduced excitation in most muscles, while loss-of-function (lf) mutations cause mild muscle hyper-excitability. Both gf alleles change the same residue near the cytoplasmic end of S6, consistent with this region regulating channel activation.

Pediatric anesthesia practice and training in Japan: a survey.

Background: Pediatric anesthesia in Japan is in the developing stage. The aim of this study was to review pediatric anesthesia training in Japan and to discuss the future prospects for this field.

Methods: We sent questionnaires to assess current pediatric anesthetic practice and training to all 106 university hospitals [UHs; response rate, 66% (70/106)] and all 17 children's hospitals [CHs; response rate, 87.

Hormonal control of C. elegans dauer formation and life span by a Rieske-like oxygenase.

C. elegans diapause, gonadal outgrowth, and life span are regulated by a lipophilic hormone, which serves as a ligand to the nuclear hormone receptor DAF-12. A key step in hormone production is catalyzed by the CYP450 DAF-9, but the extent of the biosynthetic pathway is unknown.

A marked decrease in heart rate variability associated with junctional rhythm during anesthesia with sevoflurane and fentanyl.

Heart rate variability (HRV) was investigated using a new technique for time series analysis combining the maximum entropy method and non-linear least squares method -- the 'MemCalc method' -- in patients undergoing general anesthesia with sevoflurane and fentanyl for elective surgery. As the occurrence of junctional rhythm coincided with the measurement of these variables in two patients, we successfully evaluated the entropy, low (LF) and high (HF) frequency component of the HRV during junctional rhythm and found that the occurrence of junctional rhythm is associated with marked decreases in the entropy, LF and HF of HRV. When evaluating autonomic control of the heart using HRV analysis, the decrease in HRV caused by the occurrence of junctional rhythm must be taken into account.

Suppression of invasive characteristics by antisense introduction of overexpressed HOX genes in ovarian cancer cells.

HOX genes encode transcription factors that function to establish basic body pattern during embryogenesis and maintain the function of specific organs in the adult. Recent studies have demonstrated that HOX genes are also involved in oncogenesis in a range of malignancies. To elucidate whether HOX genes contribute to ovarian carcinogenesis, we created an expression profile of HOX genes using ovarian derived materials from surgical samples and epithelial ovarian cancer cells derived from five different cell lines.

The conserved oligomeric Golgi complex acts in organ morphogenesis via glycosylation of an ADAM protease in C. elegans.

In C. elegans, the gonad acquires two U-shaped arms through directed migration of gonadal distal tip cells (DTCs). A member of the ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) family, MIG-17, is secreted from muscle cells and localizes to the gonadal basement membrane where it functions in DTC migration.

SRC-1, a non-receptor type of protein tyrosine kinase, controls the direction of cell and growth cone migration in C. elegans.

Src family tyrosine kinase (SFK) has been implicated in the regulation of cell adhesion and migration during animal development. We show that SRC-1, an ortholog of SFK, plays an essential role in directing cell migration in Caenorhabditis elegans. The mutation in the src-1 gene results in defective distal tip cell (DTC)-directed gonad morphogenesis in an activity-dependent and DTC cell-autonomous manners.

CD2+ acute promyelocytic leukemia is associated with leukocytosis, variant morphology and poorer prognosis.

The T cell-lineage marker CD2 is sometimes expressed in acute promyelocytic leukemia (APL), and CD2 expression is reported to correlate with some clinical characteristics. However, the significance of CD2 expression in APL has not been fully elucidated. We evaluated CD2 expression in APL treated by the same treatment strategy in a single institute, and whether it had any special characteristics.

Identification of a simple screening tool for dysphagia in patients with stroke using factor analysis of multiple dysphagia variables.

Objective: To identify a most useful and simple clinical screening tool to predict videofluoroscopic aspiration in patients with stroke.

Design: Factor analysis of multiple dysphagia variables and sensitivity and specificity testing with chi-square test.

Patients: Sixty-one consecutive stroke patients with symptoms suggestive of dysphagia admitted to a university hospital and its 4 affiliated hospitals in Japan.

[A rare case of disseminated Mycobacterium kansasii infection].

Mycobacterium kansasii infection has been reported to be about 20 percent of non-tuberculous mycobacteriosis, and its disseminated type is uncommon and the prognosis is reported to be generally poor. We experienced one case of disseminated Mycobacterium kansasii infection. A 81 year-old man who had been short-bowel syndrome due to the operation for superior mesenteric artery occlusion since 1998 was admitted on April 24th, 2001 to our hospital because of slowly progressive consciousness disturbance and anorexia.

Opposing effects of isoflurane and sevoflurane on neurogenic pulmonary edema development in an animal model.

Background: The current study was undertaken to investigate the effects of pretreatment with isoflurane and sevoflurane on the development of neurogenic pulmonary edema in an animal model.

Methods: Rats were exposed to room air (control), 1.5% isoflurane, or 2.

Severe hypertension after stellate ganglion block.

Haemodynamic effects may occur after stellate ganglion block (SGB) arising from autonomic imbalance and local anaesthetic infiltration to barosensitive areas. We report seven patients who developed severe hypertension (systolic arterial pressure >200 mm Hg) after SGB in our pain clinic service. We postulate that diffusion of the local anaesthetic along the carotid sheath may produce vagal blockade causing unopposed sympathetic activity as a result of attenuation of the baroreceptor reflex.

A fibulin-1 homolog interacts with an ADAM protease that controls cell migration in C. elegans.

ADAM (a disintegrin and metalloprotease) family proteins play important roles in animal development and pathogenesis. In C. elegans, a secreted ADAM protein, MIG-17, acts from outside the gonad to control the migration of gonadal distal tip cells (DTCs) that promote gonad morphogenesis.

[A case of spontaneous intracranial hypotension effectively treated with cervical epidural blood patch].

We report a case of cervical spontaneous intracranial hypotension (SIH). The patient is a 46-year-old woman with hard of hearing, dizziness and postural headache. Radionuclide cisternography (RNC) demonstrated a cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) leak at the low cervical region.