First Direct Measurement of (12)C((12)C,n)(23)Mg at Stellar Energies.

Neutrons produced by the carbon fusion reaction (12)C((12)C,n)(23)Mg play an important role in stellar nucleosynthesis. However, past studies have shown large discrepancies between experimental data and theory, leading to an uncertain cross section extrapolation at astrophysical energies. We present the first direct measurement that extends deep into the astrophysical energy range along with a new and improved extrapolation technique based on experimental data from the mirror reaction (12)C((12)C,p)(23)Na.

Camptocormia in Parkinson's disease.

Objectives. Abnormalities of posture represent one of the main features of Parkinson's disease (PD). Among them, camptocormia has been considered as rare in PD.

Premovement facilitation of corticospinal excitability in patients with Parkinson's disease.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the abnormality of premovement facilitation in patients with Parkinson's disease. Seven patients with Parkinson's disease and seven healthy subjects participated in this study. The subjects attempted abduction of the index finger in response to a visual start cue, and motor-evoked potentials were recorded from the first dorsal interosseous muscle before movement onset.

Effect of cationic surfactants on enhancement of firefly bioluminescence in the presence of liposomes.

Firefly bioluminescence (BL) was greatly affected by cationic surfactants coexisting with liposomes containing phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol. In this study, the effects of the type and concentration of cationic surfactants on BL were studied in the presence of the liposomes. Three types of cationic surfactant: benzalkonium chloride (BAC), n-dodecyltrimethylammonium bromide (DTAB), and benzethonium chloride (BZC), were used.

Measurement of the two-halo neutron transfer reaction (1)H((11)Li, (9)Li)(3)H at 3A MeV.

The p((11)Li, (9)Li)t reaction has been studied for the first time at an incident energy of 3A MeV at the new ISAC-2 facility at TRIUMF. An active target detector MAYA, built at GANIL, was used for the measurement. The differential cross sections have been determined for transitions to the (9)Li ground and first excited states in a wide range of scattering angles.

New determination of the astrophysical S factor SE1 of the 12C(alpha,gamma)16O reaction.

A new measurement of the beta-delayed alpha decay of 16N has been performed using a set of high efficiency ionization chambers. Sources were made by implantation of a 16N beam, yielding very clean alpha spectra down to energies as low as 400 keV. Our data are in good agreement with earlier results.

Role of 10-Gy boost radiation after breast-conserving surgery for stage I-II breast cancer with a 5-mm negative margin.

Background: According to the Guidelines for breast-conserving therapy of the Japanese Breast Cancer Society, the surgical margin is "negative" when the minimum distance between the tumor edge and the margin of the resected specimen is more than 5 mm. The value of boost radiation for early breast cancer with a 5-mm negative margin remains unclear.

Methods: A total of 137 patients with stage I-II breast cancer underwent breast-conserving surgery between July 1987 and August 2002.

Vanishing N = 20 shell gap: study of excited states in (27,28)Ne.

This Letter reports on the (1)H((28)Ne, (28)Ne) and (1)H((28)Ne, (27)Ne) reactions studied at intermediate energy using a liquid hydrogen target. From the cross section populating the first 2(+) excited state of (28)Ne, and using the previously determined BE(2) value, the neutron quadrupole transition matrix element has been calculated to be M(n)=13.8 +/- 3.

Firefly bioluminescent assay of ATP in the presence of ATP extractant by using liposomes.

Liposomes containing phosphatidylcholine (PC) and cholesterol (Chol) were applied to the enhancer for firefly bioluminescence (BL) assay for ATP in the presence of cationic surfactants using as an extractant for the release of ATP from living cells. Benzalkonium chloride (BAC) was used as an ATP extractant. However, BAC seriously inhibited the activity of luciferase, thus resulting in the remarkable decrease in the sensitivity of the BL assay for ATP.

Anomalously hindered E2 strength B(E2;2+(1)-->0+) in 16C.

The electric quadrupole transition from the first 2(+) state to the ground 0(+) state in 16C is studied through measurement of the lifetime by a recoil shadow method applied to inelastically scattered radioactive 16C nuclei. The measured mean lifetime is 77+/-14(stat)+/-19(syst) ps. The central value of mean lifetime corresponds to a B(E2;2+(1)-->0(+)) value of 0.

[Effects of nutrition education for residents on intake of lipid-related nutrients].

Objectives: Health education for residents is now common, but only a few studies of its effects have been made. The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of nutrition education for residents on intake of lipid-related nutrients.

Methods: A total of 79 females (40-64 years) who underwent a health examination for residents in a town, Nara Prefecture and were found to have total serum cholesterol levels between 220 mg/dl and 300 mg/dl were divided into two groups.

[A new apparatus using the Micro Ultra-Sonic Aspirator (MUSA) system for microneurosurgery].

Matsumoto was the first to present the NIIC UltraSonic Aspirator for CT guided stereotactic aspiration of intracerebral hematoma. Based on the NIIC Aspirator, the authors have developed a useful tool for microsurgery by adapting conventional ultrasonic aspirators. This was done by making the aspirator lighter and more handy for use during microsurgical procedures.

[Identification of location of electrode tip during percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol injection (PRGI) with blink reflexes elicited by direct stimulation of trigeminal complex (DBR)].

In order to identify the location of the electrode tip during percutaneous retrogasserian glycerol injection (PRGI), the blink reflex (DBR) following direct stimulation of the trigeminal complex (the gasserian ganglion, trigeminal rootlets, or the 3rd division of the trigeminal nerve) was obtained from 6 patients with trigeminal neuralgia. 1) The waveform of the DBR was very similar to that of the blink reflex (BR) elicited by percutaneous stimulation of the 1st division of the trigeminal nerve. However, the latency of early reflex (R1) as well as late reflex (R2) of the DBR was approximately 2 msec shorter than that of the conventional BR.

[CT-guided stereotactic brachytherapy in deep-seated malignant gliomas--interstitial irradiation by double-catheter after-loading method].

CT-guided stereotactic brachytherapy has been performed for the deep-seated malignant gliomas using the double-catheter after-loading method. The catheter system consists of two coaxial polyethylene tubes with closed tips. The outer catheter is 3.

Short latency somatosensory-evoked potentials--direct recording from the human midbrain and thalamus.

Short latency somatosensory-evoked potentials were recorded from the human thalamus and the midbrain during stereotactic operations. Several subcomponents were recognized on the peak of N18. These were recorded with maximal amplitude at the border between the caudal portion of the thalamus and the rostral midbrain.

[A new treatment of hypertensive intracerebral hematoma--a follow-up study on 46 patients with hematoma treated by CT guided stereotactic method].

During the last 2 years, 46 cases of hypertensive intracerebral hemorrhage in the basal ganglia were treated by CT guided stereotactic aspiration and their outcome was evaluated in terms of the rate of hematoma removal, the change of consciousness level and the recovery of motor and sensory functions. They are aged from 45 to 79 years old, the average 56, and aspirated 1 to 24 days after the onset, two third of them being within 1 week. The whole procedure was done in the CT room under direct CT guidance and by one trial.

[Significance probability mapping of brain electrical activity--its problem and specified z-statistic mapping].

Significance probability mapping (SPM) of brain electrical activity first described by Duffy et al. is useful tool for studying functional aspects of brain disease. Z-statistic SPM is able to identify the area of brain electrical activity deviated with statistic significance from the control group.

[Ascending limb of the N20 component of somatosensory evoked potential--an analysis on direct recording from the human midbrain].

Somatosensory evoked potential elicited by median nerve stimulation at the wrist was recorded from five loci on the trajectory of stereotactic rostral mensencephalic reticulotomy. Four distinct positive waves followed by one negative wave, the peak latency being 16.3 msec, were recorded from the rostral midbrain reticular formation near the medial lemniscus.

Long-term follow-up study of rostral mesencephalic reticulotomy for pain relief--report of 34 cases.

A long-term follow-up study of rostral mesencephalic reticulotomy (RMR) for pain relief is presented. 34 patients (24 males and 10 females) were operated. Ages ranged from 18 to 65 years.

[An assessment of outcome prediction in patients with severe brain damage with auditory brainstem response and blink reflex].

Results of auditory brainstem response (ABR) and electrically elicited blink reflex (BR) recorded from 43 patients with severe brain damage within three days after the onset of illness were analyzed to assess the prognostic value of ABR and BR with respect to patient outcome evaluated by the criteria proposed by Jennett and Bond. It was possible to recognize, in recordings obtained from patients with severe brain damage, three basic patterns of BR as well as five patterns of ABR within three days after the onset. Three basic patterns of BR were composed of Type I, which closely approximated the BR of normal subjects except for moderately prolonged latency of R2, Type II, which indicated absence of bilateral R2 activities, and Type III, which showed absence of R1 as well as bilateral R2.

[Evaluation of anticonvulsant-induced bone changes by a microdensitometric method].

The effect of long-term anticonvulsants on bone change was evaluated by microdensitometric method (MD method) in 221 outpatients of Neurological Institute Tokyo Women's Medical College. Laboratory findings including serum Ca, P, Al-p were compared with severity of bone change. Following results were obtained; In 221 patients, 159 cases (72%) were normal, 31 cases (14%) were in the initial stage of abnormality, 23 cases (10%) in grade I, 7 cases (3%) in grade II and one case (1%) in grade III of abnormality.

[A new apparatus and stereotactic method for percutaneous high cervical cordotomy].

The authors devised a stereotactic apparatus for percutaneous cordotomy based on the experience of 191 percutaneous high cervical cordotomies on 150 patients suffering from intractable pain. This apparatus has two major components. One is a head and neck holder and the other is a guide and marker system.