Growth of Floc Structure and Subsequence Compaction into Smaller Granules through Breakup and Rearrangement of Aluminum Flocs in a Constant Laminar Shear Flow.

We have constructed an outer-cylinder-rotating Couette device for high-speed shear flow in laminar flow conditions and visualized the structure formation and subsequent rearrangement of PACl (flocculant made of aluminum hydroxide gel) and kaolinite flocs by visible light imaging. In a previous report, we analyzed the case of relatively low shear rate (-value = 29 1/s) and confirmed that the flocculation process could be separated into two stages: a floc growth stage and a breakup/rearrangement stage. Once the large bulky flocs that reached the maximum size appeared, they rearranged and densified through structural fracture and rearrangement.

Baseline serum sitosterol level as predictor of adverse clinical events in acute coronary syndrome patients with dyslipidaemia: A sub-analysis of HIJ-PROPER.

Background And Aims: We aimed to examine the effect of serum sitosterol, a cholesterol absorption marker, on clinical outcomes in acute coronary syndrome patients with dyslipidaemia.

Methods: This is a sub-analysis of the HIJ-PROPER trial that assesses the effect of aggressive low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C) lowering treatment with pitavastatin + ezetimibe in 1734 acute coronary syndrome (ACS) patients with dyslipidaemia. Patients were divided into two groups based on sitosterol level at enrolment (cut-off value was 2.

Low-density lipoprotein cholesterol targeting with pitavastatin + ezetimibe for patients with acute coronary syndrome and dyslipidaemia: the HIJ-PROPER study, a prospective, open-label, randomized trial.

Aims: To elucidate the effects of intensive LDL-C lowering treatment with a standard dose of statin and ezetimibe in patients with dyslipidaemia and high risk of coronary events, targeting LDL-C less than 70 mg/dL (1.8 mmol/L), compared with standard LDL-C lowering lipid monotherapy targeting less than 100 mg/dL (2.6 mmol/L).

Prognostic impact of spontaneous coronary artery dissection in young female patients with acute myocardial infarction: A report from the Angina Pectoris-Myocardial Infarction Multicenter Investigators in Japan.

Background: We sought to compare the prognosis of patients with spontaneous coronary artery dissection (SCAD) and atherosclerosis as the cause of acute myocardial infarction (AMI), especially in young females.

Methods And Results: A total of 20,195 patients with AMI at 20 institutions between 2000 and 2013 were retrospectively studied. Major adverse cardiac event (MACE: cardiac death, AMI or urgent revascularization) was the endpoint.

Reliability and validity of a quantitative color scale to evaluate masticatory performance using color-changeable chewing gum.

In the present study, we developed a novel color scale for visual assessment, conforming to theoretical color changes of a gum, to evaluate masticatoryperformance; moreover, we investigated the reliability and validity of this evaluation method using the color scale. Ten participants (aged 26.30 years) with natural dentition chewed the gum at several chewing strokes.

Properties of a color-changeable chewing gum used to evaluate masticatory performance.

Purpose: To clarify the basic properties of a color-changeable chewing gum to determine its applicability to evaluations of masticatory performance under different types of dental status.

Methods: Ten participants with natural dentition aged 26-30 years chewed gum that changes color during several chewing strokes over five repetitions. Changes in color were assessed using a colorimeter, and then L*, a*, and b* values in the CIELAB color system were quantified.

Surgical repair of complicated coronary arteriovenous fistula and coronary artery aneurysm in an elderly patient after 26 years of conservative therapy.

We describe a rare case of surgical repair of a coronary artery aneurysm with arteriosclerotic changes accompanied by coronary arteriovenous fistula (CAVF) after 26 years of conservative therapy. A 71-year-old woman, diagnosed with CAVF 26 years previously, was admitted to our hospital for general fatigue and dyspnea on exertion. Physical examinations revealed that the CAVF originated from the distal portion of the left circumflex artery (LCX), draining into the coronary sinus (CS); it affected the coronary artery aneurysm with arteriosclerotic changes and was calcified from the left coronary main trunk to the distal portion of the LCX.

Development of soft denture lining materials containing fluorinated monomers.

Purpose: To develop a new fluorine-containing soft denture lining material, the influences of fluorinated monomers on physical properties and contamination resistance were examined.

Methods: Five experimental materials of different chemical compositions in fluorinated monomer and two plasticized acrylics (Supersoft, VertexSoft) were used to evaluate water sorption, solubility, staining resistance, Shore A hardness, and contact angle. Five specimens for each test were fabricated.

[Effect of the viscosity of alginate impression materials on the preliminary impression for complete dentures].

The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of the viscosity of alginate impression materials on the results of the preliminary impressions for complete dentures. Five experimental alginate impression materials with different viscosity were prepared based on a conventional material. Fifteen complete denture wearers were selected and impressions on using the experimental materials were taken.

Evaluations of masticatory performance of complete denture wearers using color-changeable chewing gum and other evaluating methods.

We have been investigating and developing a color-changeable chewing gum, that tends not to adhere to dentures. The aim of this study was to investigate the color change of the chewing gum comparing to other methods while evaluating post-insertion changes of masticatory performance of complete denture wearers. Color-changeable chewing gum, the peanuts sieve test, a patient satisfaction questionnaire and a food questionnaire were applied to 26 edentulous subjects.

In vitro study of reduction of stress transferred onto tissues around implants using a resilient material in maxillary implant overdentures.

The purpose of this in vitro study was to investigate the effect of hardness on the reduction of stress transferred to tissues around implants using a resilient material applied to the female parts of the ball attachment in maxillary implant overdentures. A cast chrome-cobalt framework was mounted onto a maxillary acrylic edentulous model, which contained two implants and four strain gauges attached to the implant. Ball abutments were screwed into the implant.

Airway hyperresponsiveness in patients with coronary spastic angina: relationship between coronary spasticity and airway responsiveness.

Background: Several reports have suggested a possible link between bronchial asthma and coronary spasm, but the possibility of a relationship in coronary spastic angina (CSA) has not been clarified.

Methods And Results: Airway responsiveness to methacholine and coronary spasticity to acetylcholine were examined in 42 patients with CSA and 36 patients with chest pain syndrome (CP). Furthermore, 18 control subjects were examined and their airway responsiveness compared with that of the CSA and CP patients.

Silent pulmonary artery dissection in a patient with Eisenmenger syndrome due to ventricular septal defect: a case report.

A 62-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever in August 2002. She had been treated under a diagnosis of Eisenmenger syndrome with ventricular septal defect since 1988. On admission, echocardiography and color Doppler echocardiography revealed a markedly enlarged pulmonary artery with a mobile flap, and dissection of the pulmonary artery.

[Predictive value of coagulative molecular markers for thromboembolism in patients with nonvalvular atrial fibrillation: prospective five-year follow-up study].

Objectives: Nonvalvular atrial fibrillation is a known risk factor for thromboembolism. This study investigated the use of coagulation markers to predict thromboembolism in nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients.

Methods: One hundred thirty nonvalvular atrial fibrillation patients (104 males, 26 females, mean age 63.

Solitary cardiac metastasis of rectal adenocarcinoma.

Solitary cardiac metastasis is rarely recognized. We report a case of solitary cardiac metastasis from a rectal adenocarcinoma that was manifested as superior vena cava (SVC) syndrome. Invasion of the deep cardiac structures was so severe that only its palliative resection and right atrial reconstruction were performed using a cardiopulmonary bypass to release the SVC obstruction.

[Complex myxoma detected by syncope: a case report].

A 23-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for evaluation of syncope and intracardiac masses. Echocardiography revealed three masses in the right ventricle and one in the left ventricle. The largest mass, 4 by 5 cm, occupied the right ventricular outflow tract and prolapsed through the pulmonary valve orifice.

[A study on evaluation methods of masticatory ability for complete denture wearers--correlation between evaluation using a questionnaire and masticatory performance].

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relation between evaluation by a questionnaire on masticatory aspects of 20 foods, and masticatory performance obtained using the sieving method, previously used in many studies. After replacement of upper and lower complete dentures made newly, 28 edentulous patients voluntarily participated in this study. The basal seat area of each patient was scored and divided into two groups, and masticatory ability was evaluated by two methods: using a questionnaire and the sieving method.