Stimulation of human butyrophilin 3 molecules results in negative regulation of cellular immunity.

The BTN molecule consists of three subfamilies, BTN1, BTN2. and BTN3, and possesses interesting properties for biological regulation. Although the biological significance of BTN1 and BTN2 has been progressively clarified, the receptor function of BTN3 remains to be elucidated as a result of the absence of appropriate agonists.

[Inadvertent arterial misplacement of a large-caliber cannula during jugular vein catheterization].

We report a case of inadvertent arterial misplacement of a large-caliber cannula during jugular vein catheterization. A tip of a 9F cannula was inadvertently placed into the brachiocephalic trunk via the subclavian artery. The arterial trauma was managed by cannula removal and external compression without secondary traumas.

[Incidence and clinical characteristics of perioperative pulmonary thromboembolism in Japan in 2008--results from the annual study of Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists, Committee on Patient Safety and Risk Management, Perioperative Pulmonary Thromboembolism Working Group].

Background: The Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists (JSA) has maintained records of the annual incidence and characteristics of perioperative pulmonary thromboembolism (perioperative PTE) since 2002. The aim of this paper was to provide recent results of the JSA annual study conducted in 2008, and to determine the current factors that tend to prevent perioperative venous thromboembolism (VTE) in Japan.

Methods: A comprehensive questionnaire designed by the JSA PTE working group was mailed to all institutions certified as teaching hospitals by JSA.

[Airtraq optical laryngoscope: clinical assessment of its performance in 300 surgical patients].

Background: The Airtraq optical laryngoscope allows visualization of the glottis through a non-line-of sight view. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the suitability of this device for the tracheal intubation of surgical patients.

Methods: The Airtraq was used for the endotracheal intubation in 300 surgical patients.

Distortion of anterior airway anatomy during laryngoscopy with the GlideScope videolaryngoscope.

Purpose: A non-line-of-sight view is expected to cause less movement of the anterior airway anatomy and cervical spine during laryngeal visualization. Reduced distortion of anterior airway anatomy during laryngoscopy with the GlideScope videolaryngoscope (GVL), compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope, could explain the relatively easier nasotracheal intubation with the GVL. The purpose of this radiographic study was to compare the degree of anterior airway distortion and cervical spine movement during laryngoscopy with the GVL and the conventional Macintosh laryngoscope.

Altered digit force direction during pinch grip following stroke.

This study examined grip force development in individuals with hemiparesis following unilateral stroke. Eleven patients with chronic stroke with severe hand impairment and five age-matched neurologically intact subjects grasped an instrumented object between the index finger and thumb while fingertip forces, digit posture, and muscle electromyographic activity were recorded. We tested a range of different grip conditions with varying grip sizes, object stability, and grip force level.

Prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time in thromboprophylaxis with unfractionated heparin in patients undergoing cesarean section.

Aim: Hemorrhage is an important complication of heparin-thromboprophylaxis after surgery. We attempted to clarify the incidence rate of prolonged activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT), representative of hemorrhagic tendency, in Japanese women who received thromboprophylaxis with unfractionated subcutaneous heparin administration after cesarean section (CS). We also determined factors which affected postoperative APTT.

[Work load of anesthesiologists at the Central Surgical Unit of the Jichi Medical University Hospital].

Background: Since the diagnosis procedure combination (DPC) for health insurance plans in Japan was started in medical practice, the number of surgical procedures is increasing at teaching hospitals.

Methods: We retrospectively surveyed 8,672 surgical procedures performed at the central surgical unit of the Jichi Medical University Hospital from April 1, 2007 to March 31, 2008.

Results: Of the 8,672 surgical procedures, 6,922 operations were performed under the management of anesthesia staffs, and 1,904 procedures (27.

[Case of ischemic heart disease resulting from persistent diuresis after giant ovarian tumor resection].

A patient with a giant ovarian tumor weighing about 7 kg was successfully removed by operation. However, her ECG demonstrated ischemic changes after the operation. We report a case of ischemic heart disease due to persistent diuresis after giant ovarian tumor resection.

GlideScope videolaryngoscope reduces the incidence of erroneous esophageal intubation by novice laryngoscopists.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the performance of the GlideScope videolaryngoscope for tracheal intubation by novice laryngoscopists compared with that of the Macintosh laryngoscope. Under supervision by staff anesthetists, non-anesthesia residents performed tracheal intubation using either the GlideScope videolaryngoscope (n = 100) or Macintosh laryngoscope (n = 100). The time required for airway instrumentation, the number of attempts required until successful intubation, and erroneous esophageal intubation were investigated.

Primary immune system responders to nucleus pulposus cells: evidence for immune response in disc herniation.

Although intervertebral disc herniation and associated sciatica is a common disease, its molecular pathogenesis is not well understood. Immune responses are thought to be involved. This study provides direct evidence that even non-degenerated nucleus pulposus (NP) cells elicit immune responses.

Effects of handle orientation, gloves, handle friction and elbow posture on maximum horizontal pull and push forces.

Biomechanical models were evaluated for effects of handle orientation, handle material, gloves and arm posture on maximal pull/push force. Eight healthy subjects performed maximum pull/push exertions on handles with two different orientations and two different surface materials, using bare hand and two types of glove as well as two arm postures. The empirical data supported the proposed biomechanical models: Pull/push forces for the bare hand on a rubber handle decreased 10% when the handle was parallel to the pull/push direction, compared with when perpendicular to it.

[Incidence and characteristics of perioperative pulmonary thromboembolism in Japan from 2005 through 2007--results of research by Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists, Committee on Patient Safety and Risk Management, Perioperative Pulmonary Thromboembolism Working Group].

Background: This study aimed to investigate the annual incidence and characteristics of perioperative pulmonary thromboembolism (PTE) in Japan from 2005 through 2007, and to compare the current trend with that observed in our previous studies conducted since 2002.

Methods: In the 3-year study period, a questionnaire was annually mailed to every institution certified as a training hospital for anesthesiologists by the Japanese Society of Anesthesiologists (JSA). The survey included the parameters of age, sex, type of surgery, and the risk factors in patients who were operated upon.

Biomechanical analysis for handle stability during maximum push and pull exertions.

This study investigated the effect of handle stability on maximum push/pull force. It was hypothesised that people apply force in directions deviated from the pure push/pull direction to generate a moment that assists producing greater push/pull force when the handle position is fixed (stable) compared to when it is not fixed (unstable). Eight healthy subjects performed maximum push and pull exertions on a stable and an unstable handle in a seated posture, while maximum push/pull force, vertical force and lateral force were recorded.

[Investigation of massive bleeding at Jichi Medical University Hospital].

We investigated the patients suffering from massive bleeding at the central surgical center, Jichi Medical University Hospital from April 2006 to March 2007. Of the 6401 patients who underwent surgical procedures, 72 patients (1%) received intraoperatively blood transfusion of more than 1400 ml (RCC-MAP Japan Red Cross). Of the 72 patients, 15 patients died within one month after surgery.

[Massive hemorrhage associated with undiagnosed placenta percreta in a second-trimester pregnancy receiving abortion procedure].

A 26-year-old woman presented with an incomplete miscarriage and was scheduled for curettage at 21 weeks of gestation. She received curettage under spinal anesthesia and vaginal hemorrhage could not be controlled due to placenta percreta and cesarean section was immediately performed. Profuse bleeding continued and the patient developed hemorrhagic shock.

Identification of a naturally-occurring 8-[alpha-D-glucopyranosyl-(1-->6)-beta-D-glucopyranosyl]daidzein from cultivated kudzu root.

Introduction: Kudzu root (Radix puerariae) is a rich source of isoflavones that are effective in preventing osteoporosis, heart disease and symptoms associated with menopause. The major isoflavonoids in kudzu root extracts were reported as puerarin, daidzin and daidzein. Recently, an unknown isoflavonoid (compound 1) was detected from one-year-old kudzu root cultivated in Vietnam.

Dependence of safety margins in grip force on isometric push force levels in lateral pinch.

This study examined the relationship between safety margin and force level during an isometric push task in a lateral pinch posture. Ten participants grasped an object with an aluminium- or rubber-finished grip surface using a lateral pinch posture and exerted 20%, 40%, 60%, 80% and 100% of maximum push force while voluntary grip force was recorded. Then minimum required grip force was measured for each push force level.

[Prospective study on anesthesia for lumbar spine surgery--the effectiveness of the perioperative epidural anesthesia with buprenorphine].

We prospectively evaluated the efficacy of perioperative epidural buprenorphine for lumbar spinal surgery under general anesthesia. Twenty-eight patients were allocated into two groups; in one group (buprenorphine group), patients underwent the surgery under general anesthesia with perioperative epidural buprenorphine 0.2 mg, in the other group (control group), patients underwent the surgery under general anesthesia only.

Tracheal intubation by non-anesthesia residents using the Pentax-AWS airway scope and Macintosh laryngoscope.

Study Objective: To evaluate the performance of the Pentax-AWS airway scope for tracheal intubation compared with the Macintosh laryngoscope by non-anesthesia residents.

Design: Prospective, randomized, cohort study.

Setting: University-affiliated hospital.

A comparison of morphine concentrations for patient-controlled epidural analgesia following gynecological surgery.

Aim: To compare the analgesic efficacy of a lower (12.5 mg/mL) vs. higher (25 mg/mL) concentration of morphine with 0.

Friction coefficients in a longitudinal direction between the finger pad and selected materials for different normal forces and curvatures.

This study investigated the effect of object curvature, normal force and material on skin friction coefficient. Twelve subjects slid their middle fingertip pad against a test object with small (11 mm), medium (18, 21 mm) or large (flat object) radii of curvature, while maintaining a normal force of 1, 10 or 20 N. Tested materials were aluminium and four rubber hoses.

A novel strategy of cancer gene therapy by transcriptional targeting of an allogeneic histocompatibility transgene.

Background: A drawback of cancer gene therapy is the failure of toxic gene introduction into a proportion of the tumor cells, resulting in re-progression of the disease. Cancer cell-specificity of the gene introduction has also been problematic.

Materials And Methods: Previously defined promoter/enhancer DNA of Q5 tumor antigen gene was used for the purpose of transcriptional targeting.

Delays in grip initiation and termination in persons with stroke: effects of arm support and active muscle stretch exercise.

Stroke survivors' difficulty in releasing grasped objects may be attributable not only to impaired finger extension but also to delays in terminating activity in the gripping flexor muscles. This study was undertaken 1) to quantify the time needed to initiate and terminate grip muscular activity following stroke and 2) to examine effects of arm support, grip location, and active muscle stretch on the delays recorded in the paretic hand. Delays in initiation and termination of finger flexor muscle activity in response to an auditory stimulus were measured for both paretic and nonparetic hands of ten stroke survivors with chronic hemiparesis and the dominant hand of five neurologically intact subjects.