Extraction of all propagation constants in a specified region from the transcendental equation of a dispersion relation using the Sakurai-Sugiura projection method.

A transcendental equation occurs when we compute the dispersion relations of an electromagnetic waveguide, such as a planar multilayer waveguide. Without an initial guess, the Sakurai-Sugiura projection method (SSM) can obtain solutions to the transcendental equation in a region bounded by a contour integral path in the complex plane. In this paper, a criterion employing the condition number of eigenvalues as a simple index to distinguish physical solutions from spurious ones in the SSM is presented, and a transcendental equation of a multilayer waveguide obtained by the transfer matrix method is solved by the SSM.

Clinical benefit of measuring both haemoglobin and transferrin concentrations in faeces: demonstration during a large-scale colorectal cancer screening trial in Japan.

Background: While the faecal immunochemical test for haemoglobin (FIT) is an important screening tool to detect gastrointestinal bleeding, false-negative cases resulting from the enterobacterial degradation of haemoglobin (Hb) have emerged. When faecal Hb tests have given false-negative results, it is considered that digestive bleeding diseases can be detected by measuring faecal transferrin (Tf), which is less susceptible to enterobacterial degradation. This study evaluated the benefit of measuring both Hb and Tf as markers of blood in the faeces during a large-scale colorectal cancer screening trial in Japan.

Noninvasive assessment of insulin resistance in the liver using the fasting (13)C-glucose breath test.

Evaluating hepatic insulin resistance (IR) is the key to making a sensitive an accurate diagnosis of glucose intolerance. However, there is currently no suitable method to perform this procedure. This study was conducted to investigate whether the fasting (13)C-glucose breath test (FGBT) is useful as a convenient and highly sensitive clinical test for evaluating hepatic IR.

Adrenocorticotropic hormone response to hypoglycemic stress was preserved by a single bedtime 3-mg dose of prednisolone in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

Abstract We have studied the effect of low-dose prednisolone administered before sleep on the hypothalamic-pituitary-adrenal axis and the symptoms of patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). Plasma adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and serum cortisol levels were measured in the basal state and after hypoglycemic stress induced by the insulin tolerance test in 21 patients receiving prednisolone at 3-5 mg daily. The patient's global assessment of their disease activity scores on a 100-mm visual analogue scale (VAS) and self-reporting of their functional status using the health assessment questionnaire (HAQ) were evaluated.

Unusual swallow syncope caused by huge hiatal hernia.

Swallowing is a rare cause of syncope. A 76-year-old woman was admitted to a hospital due to postprandial loss of consciousness. Although no remarkable cardiogenic problem was proven, upper gastrointestinal barium examination revealed a huge hiatal hernia.