The relationship between bone strength and bone quality in rats fed with a low-magnesium (low-Mg) diet was examined. Twenty four-week-old male Wistar rats were divided into a control group (n = 110) and a low-Mg group (n = 110). Each group was fed with a conventional diet or a low-Mg diet (Mg, 6 mg/100 g diet) for 8 weeks, respectively. After the rats were sacrificed, bone strength, bone mineral content (BMC) and three-dimensional (3D) trabecular structure of the lumbar vertebra were measured, respectively. The results showed that the values of the BMC were almost the same between the control and the low-Mg diet groups. On the other hand, the bone strength of the low-Mg diet group was significantly lower than that of the control group (p < 0.01). 3D trabecular structure analysis showed a significant decrease (p < 0.05 or 0.01) in the trabecular structure of the low-Mg diet group as compared to the control group. These findings suggest that the bone strength in this model is not affected by the BMC but is strongly affected by the trabecular structure. The low-Mg diet model is considered to be an excellent model for examining bone quality.

Using cancellous bone blocks of racehorses, the relationship between bone mineral density (BMD), which indicates bone strength, and stiffness in bone fracture occurrences was studied.

A 76-year-old man with previous antero-septal myocardial infarction and aorto-coronary bypass surgery developed exertional dyspnea. Echocardiography revealed diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis and aortic stenosis with a mean pressure gradient of 29 mmHg. Coronary angiography showed no significant lesions in the bypass grafts and total occlusions of the proximal left anterior descending artery and mid circumflex artery. Dobutamine stress echocardiography was performed to evaluate the severity of aortic stenosis and left ventricular functional reversibility. Administration of dobutamine increased the mean pressure gradients to 48 mmHg and increased the stroke volume by 28% without change in aortic valve area of about 0.5 cm2. We considered that our patient had severe aortic stenosis with contractile reserve. After aortic valve replacement, he improved with better left ventricular function.

A 60-year-old man underwent emergent cardiac catheterization because of anterior chest oppression. He had been treated with calcium antagonist and nitrate. Coronary angiography showed no organic stenosis. However, left ventriculography revealed that the basal and the apical areas were hyperkinetic and the mid portion was akinetic. Echocardiography showed that the bizarre-shaped left ventricular dysfunction had completely recovered after a week. Serial electrocardiography demonstrated initial ST-segment elevation in the precordial leads followed by T-wave inversion in II, III, a VF and V4-V6. Coronary artery spasm provocation tests were negative. Endomyocardial biopsy revealed focal myocardial depletion and mild fibrosis. The present case may be an atypical form of tako-tsubo-like left ventricular dysfunction in which the left ventricular contraction is symmetric with both hyperkinetic and akinetic areas.

It is recognized that bone quality and strength are affected by trabecular bone structure. The purpose of this study was to establish a method for the three-dimensional analysis of trabecular bone structures for use in the evaluation of bone quality.

A 51-year-old woman had been administered 5 mg/day of prednisolone due to systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). She developed hypertension, hypokalemia and a pathologic pubic fracture during two years before admission. Although iatrogenic Cushing's syndrome was initially suspected, we diagnosed her as concomitant Cushing's syndrome due to a left adrenal tumor. The elevated endogeneous glucocorticoids were evaluated from urinary excretions of 17-hydroxycorticosteroids, which was 2-fold higher than normal and equivalent to 10 mg of prednisolone. After laparoscopic left adrenalectomy, SLE was favorably controlled with 15 mg of prednisolone, the dosage of which was equivalent to the estimated amount of preoperative glucocorticoids.

High energy electron jets are produced by the interaction of high-intense laser pulse with vorious density plasmas. With the progress of short-pulse multiterawatt laser, it has become possible to produce MeV electron in a plasma [1-6]. These electrons can be used apply to fusion energy research, particle acceleration, and x-ray source development. Three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations were performed to produce suprathermal electrons. We studied the interaction of P-polarised shaped laser pulse with solid foil targets. In this case an interaction of a main part of laser pulse extremely enhanced energy of fast escaped electrons at some conditions. Proposed mechanism of electron acceleration by laser wave in such plasma raises electron energy up to 10 MeV for laser intensity more than 10(19)W/cm(2). Conversion coefficient of laser energy to electron one strongly depends on laser intensity.

Intense magnetic field generation in the Crab Nebula is studied by two-dimensional (2-D) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulation. We have proposed a mechanism of magnetic field generation based on Weibel-type electromagnetic instability. We apply our theory to simulate the magnetic field generation in the Crab Nebula and obtain an intense magnetic field by 2-D PIC simulation.

A 50-year-old woman with rest angina underwent cardiac catheterization; coronary angiography in the presence of acetylcholine revealed 99% coronary spasm of the proximal left anterior descending artery. The patient's 82-year-old mother was also admitted to hospital with rest angina. Her Holter electrocardiogram showed ST-segment elevation during the attack at rest and coronary angiography showed 99% spasm of the right coronary artery and 90% spasm of the left coronary artery. Both women complained of chest pain during the spasm, which was accompanied by ST-segment depression. The 62-year-old brother of the original patient was also found to have coronary spasm of the left coronary artery. Human leukocyte antigen was analyzed in the 2 women: A2, B51, CW1, DR8 and DQ1 were common factors. A Glu298Asp point mutation of the endothelial nitric oxide synthase gene was investigated in both parents, their 2 daughters and 2 sons, but was not detected in the 3 patients, and was detected only in the 90-year-old father who did not suffer from angina. Nor was the T-786-C mutation found in the 3 cases. Other causes of familial spasm need to be elucidated.

A 65-year-old woman was admitted to hospital because of orthopnea. She had been followed-up for chronic pericardial effusion detected by echocardiography 10 years previously. Initial echocardiography showed that the left ventricular diastolic diameter (LVDd) was 39 mm and percent fractional shortening (%FS) was 33.3%. Neither fluid samples nor a pericardial biopsy specimen identified the etiology. Cardiac tamponade was not evident, and C-reactive protein and creatine-kinase values were within normal limits. During follow-up, the %FS decreased gradually, but the LVDd remained unchanged. On admission, echocardiography showed that the %FS was 12.5% and LVDd was 40 mm. She developed intractable hyponatremic heart failure with bilateral pleural effusion. Autopsy findings revealed that infiltration of small lymphocytes in the epicardium had penetrated into the subepicardial myocardium. The subepicardial myocardium and the interventricular septal myocardium were diffusely replaced by fibrosis, which could have induced restrictive diastolic heart failure and reduced left ventricular contractility. The fibrosis was not detected in the epicardium itself nor the subendocardial myocardium. This is the first report describing diffuse subepicardial myocardial fibrosis in a patient with chronic pericardial effusion and progressive heart failure.

We investigated 7 patients with multi-vessel coronary vasospasm (> or = 75%) and diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis by coronary angiography and echocardiography. Four patients were male and 3 were female and mean +/- SD age was 63.0 +/- 11.2 years. Chief complaints were dyspnea in 3 patients, and chest pain, appetite loss, palpitation and general fatigue in one each. New York Heart Association functional classification was I in one patient, II in 5 and III in one. Mean heart rate was 73.9 +/- 11.6 beats/min. Initial echocardiography showed left ventricular end-diastolic diameter (LVDd) 54.4 +/- 5.5 mm, left ventricular end-systolic diameter (LVDs) 43.7 +/- 4.8 mm and percentage fractional shortening (%FS) 19.7 +/- 2.6%. The left ventricle was not remarkably enlarged despite poor contraction. Coronary vasospasm was induced after acetylcholine injection into the right coronary artery in 6 patients, left anterior descending artery in 7 and circumflex artery in 5. Four patients developed three-vessel coronary vasospasm. Three patients underwent endomyocardial biopsy which showed non-specific mild fibrosis. They were treated with nitrates and/or Ca-antagonists to prevent coronary vasospasm. Follow-up echocardiography was performed in 6 patients after 8.5 +/- 6.6 months. Echocardiography revealed marked improvement in left ventricular contraction (LVDd 49.7 +/- 4.6 mm, LVDs 35.8 +/- 4.4 mm, p < 0.05; %FS 27.9 +/- 4.5%, p < 0.05). These data suggested that left ventricular dilation was not prominent despite the poor contractility in patients with multi-vessel coronary vasospasm and diffuse left ventricular hypokinesis. The left ventricular dysfunction might be hibernating myocardium produced by multiple episodes of coronary vasospasm. Anti-vasospastic agents were effective in these patients.

Relativistic electrons are produced, with energies up to 10 MeV, by the interaction of high-intensity laser pulse with an underdense plasma. With the progress of short-pulse multi-terawatt laser, it has become possible to produce MeV electrons in a plasma. These electrons can be used to apply to medicine and technology. Three-dimensional (3D) particle-in-cell (PIC) simulations were performed to produce supra-thermal electrons.

The surfaces of fuel pin cladding and spacer wire wound round it in the JOYO Mark-I and EBR-II test fuel were found to carry wear marks. Out-of-pile experiments indicated that simple hydraulic vibration could not constitute the cause of marking. Assuming the alternative factor of thermohydraulic vibration to be the cause, a model has been devised, applying which a method is proposed for estimating the ranges in which wear and contact marks can respectively be expected to occur. The two ranges are determined in terms of two parameters combining variables commonly used in practical fuel assembly design, and which are adopted as coordinates for a diagram in which data from actual fuel design are plotted. Data from actual reactor designs plotted in this diagram have proved to fall into two distinct domains respectively covering cases where wear and contact marks had been occasioned.

With the rapid progress of surroundings for ICF, especially laser technology, the occurrence of self‐generated strong magnetic fields and filamentary structures coupled with these fields have been observed in the ablation area of laser‐irradiated targets by laser‐plasma interaction experiments. According to these experiments and various computer simulations, these electromagnetic fields present exponential growth, with a growth rate of the order of 1010∼1012 s−1, and convect towards the vacuum with group velocity of order of 104∼106 ms−1. These phenomena may have serious consequences on target implosion. It has been suggested that Weibel‐type electromagnetic instabilities have much to do with these observational results. In this paper, we’ll report on the presence of Weibel‐type instabilities in laser‐produced plasmas with a theoretical analysis and will demonstrate with the aid of a computer simulation, PIC code.

The filamentation instability for a light ion beam (LIB) penetrating plasma is investigated. For the stabilization of the filamentation instability, an external magnetic field which is parallel to the direction of the light ion beam propagation is applied. From a dispersion relation, linear growth rates of filamentation instabilities are obtained in a light ion beam‐plasma system with an external magnetic field. Numerical simulations are carried out using a particle‐in‐cell (PIC) method. The stabilizing mechanism of the filamentation instability is described. The theory and simulation comparisons illustrate the results.

Heavy‐ion beams have been considered as a driver for inertial confinement fusion. The interaction of the ion beam with a target plasma is of central importance. A number of studies on the heavy‐ion beam interaction with target plasma are found in the literature 1–4. Reported are the results of a numerical study of an effective charge and nonlinear corrections to the stopping power for heavy ions in plasma. It is important for heavy‐ion stopping that charge states of projectile ions are decided. The effective charge states of beam ions are supposed as Betz formula. It is shown that the stopping power is increased and the stopping range is shortened according to nonlinear effects. The heavy‐ion stopping is simulated at the various temperatures of the target plasma. The target heating of the ion beam and radiation effects are investigated. Energy is decreasing by the varying of the electric and magnetic fields in the target. It is considered to be a collective effect of stopping power. Though it is very small, in fact, there is the energy loss. Here it is shown that by using the PIC code.

In order to assess bronchial responsiveness in patients with congestive heart failure secondary to congenital heart disease, we performed a histamine inhalation test while monitoring transcutaneous oxygen tension and compared the respiratory threshold to histamine with that obtained in patients with bronchial asthma. The inhalation test was performed by doubling concentrations of histamine solution for 2 min at 1 min intervals. The respiratory threshold of histamine was defined as the minimal concentration causing a drop in transcutaneous oxygen tension greater than 10% from baseline. Six of 10 patients with congenital heart disease and all of 12 patients with bronchial asthma had bronchial hyper‐responsiveness to histamine. The mean of histamine concentration was 2750μg/mL and 937μg/mL, respectively. During the histamine inhalation test, respiratory resistance gradually increased in congenital heart disease patients. This was measured by the linear slope of transcutaneous oxygen pressure (‐1.08 ± 0.75 mmHg/min), whereas in the bronchial asthma patients it rapidly decreased at the inflection point (‐4.19 ± 1.86 mmHg/min). We conclude that children with congestive heart failure had bronchial hyper‐responsiveness. We suggest bronchial hyper‐responsiveness to inhaled histamine in congestive heart failure was caused by the gradual increased respiratory resistance, which was different from that of bronchial asthma.

We studied the contributions of glomerular hypertrophy in renal disease. The patients were 20 cases of IgA nephropathy with prolonged proteinuria, 13 cases of Alport syndrome and 12 cases of focal glomerular sclerosis (FGS). All patients had a normal creatinine level on renal biopsy. We determined the mean glomerular tuft area in the equatorial region of five glomeruli that showed no sclerotic change in each patient using an image analyzer and compared the value with the mean value in normal controls. Glomerular hypertrophy was defined as a value over the mean glomerular tuft area +1SD of normal controls. Glomerular hypertrophy was found in 14 IgA nephropathy cases (70.0%), 4 Alport syndrome cases (30.7%) and 8 FGS cases (66.7%). The incidence of glomerular hypertrophy was significantly higher in IgA nephropathy than in Alport syndrome and FGS showed a higher tendency compared with Alport syndrome. Of the patients with renal insufficiency, 4 of 6 IgA nephropathy cases (66.6%), 0 of 5 Alport syndrome cases (0%) and 1 of 3 FGS cases (33.3%) showed glomerular hypertrophy, IgA nephropathy patients showed the highest incidence of glomerular hypertrophy. The interval between the final biopsy and renal insufficiency showed no significant difference in this study. In IgA nephropathy, obsolescent glomeruli were significantly increased in the group in which the glomerular tuft area was over the mean +2SD compared with the group with an area less than the mean +2SD. FGS cases showed no relationship between the ratio of obsolescent glomeruli to whole glomeruli and glomerular hypertrophy. This study suggested that glomerular hypertrophy may cause declining renal function in IgA nephropathy, but not in Alport syndrome.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)