Examination of In-Service Coating Degradation in Gas Turbine Blades Using a Small Punch Testing Method

This paper describes examination of in-service coating degradation in land based gasturbine blades by means of a small punch testing (SP) method and scanning Auger microprobe(SAM). SP tests on coated specimens with unpolished surfaces indicated large variations ofthe mechanical properties because of the surface roughness and curvature in gas turbine blades, SP tests on polished specimens better characterized the mechanical degradation of bladecoatings. The coated specimens greatly softened and the room temperature ductility of thecoatings and substrates tended to decrease with increasing operation time. The ductile-brittletransition temperature of the coatings shifted to higher temperatures during the bladeoperation. From SAM analyses on fracture surfaces of unused and used blades, it has beenshown that oxidation and sulfidation near the coating surface, which control the fractureproperties, result from high temperature environmental attack.

Five-year clinical evaluation of In-Ceram crowns fabricated using GN-I (CAD/CAM) system

This study prospectively evaluated the clinical performance of computer-assisted design and computer-assisted manufacturing (CAD/CAM)-generated In-Ceram Alumina core crowns in Japanese patients for up to 5 years. A total of 101 In-Ceram crowns with aluminium copings fabricated using the GN-I system were placed in Japanese patients. The crowns were evaluated using a California Dental Association (CDA) quality assessment system at baseline and at all follow-up examinations. Gingival condition was assessed using plaque and bleeding scores. The survival of anterior and posterior crowns was analysed according to the Kaplan-Meier method. The scores of gingival condition were compared between restored crowns and contralateral teeth using a t-test. During the observation period, six crowns were lost to follow-up. Five crowns were fractured from the copings and removed, and four crowns were removed for other reasons. Chipping within the porcelain was detected in three crowns, which were then polished. The cumulative survival rates after 60 months were 96·9% for anterior crowns and 87·7% for posterior ones, and there were no significant differences between anterior and posterior crowns. According to the CDA criteria, most of the crowns were rated as satisfactory during the observation period. There were significant differences in soft tissue conditions between In-Ceram crowns and control teeth at 2- and 5-year examinations. Despite the five fractures from copings, In-Ceram Alumina crowns with copings fabricated using the CAD/CAM (GN-I system) for replacing both anterior and posterior teeth showed predictable results during a 5-year observation period.

Associations between weight change since 20 years of age and sleep-disordered breathing among male truck drivers

BACKGROUND

Limited evidence for association of weight gain with sleep-disordered breathing (SDB) has been produced for Asian populations whose body mass index (BMI) levels are lower than in western countries.

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to examine weight change since 20 years of age and risk of SDB among Japanese.

DESIGN

Retrospective cohort study.

SUBJECTS

This study includes a large sample of 5320 male Japanese truck drivers aged 30-69 years.

MEASUREMENTS

The respiratory disturbance index (RDI) was selected as an indicator of SDB, and it was estimated with a one-night sleep test using an airflow monitor, and the Epworth Sleepiness Scale (ESS) was used to estimate excessive daytime sleepiness.

RESULTS

Respiratory disturbance and sleepiness were more prevalent among men with BMI of 25.0-29.9 and > or =30.0 kg/m(2) than among those with BMI of 18.5-24.9; multivariable odds ratios (ORs) were 1.8(1.5-2.0), P<0.001 and 4.4(3.5-5.5), P<0.001 for RDI > or =10, and 1.2(0.9-1.4), P=0.18 and 1.5(1.1-2.1), P=0.02 for ESS > or =11, respectively. Compared with men showing BMI changes within +/-1.0, the respective multivariable ORs for those with BMI changes of 3.0-4.9 and > or =5.0 were 1.4(1.2-1.6), P<0.001 and 2.4(2.0-2.9), P<0.001 for RDI > or =10, and 1.2(0.9-1.6), P=0.22 and 2.0(1.5-2.6), P<0.001 for ESS > or =11. The corresponding ORs for weight gain of > or =10.0 kg compared with weight change less than +/-5.0 kg were 2.0(1.7-2.4), P<0.001 for RDI > or =10 and 1.5(1.2-2.0), P=0.002 for ESS > or =11. Similar trends were observed for RDI > or =20.

CONCLUSION

Our results suggest that an increase in BMI of > or =5 kg/m(2) or weight gain of > or =10 kg is a risk factor for SDB and excessive daytime sleepiness among Japanese truck drivers.

Nocturnal intermittent hypoxia and the development of type 2 diabetes: the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS)

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

Although the associations between obstructive sleep apnoea and type 2 diabetes mellitus have been reported in cross-sectional design studies, findings on the prospective association between the two conditions are limited. We examined prospectively the association between nocturnal intermittent hypoxia as a surrogate marker of obstructive sleep apnoea and risk of type 2 diabetes.

METHODS

A total of 4,398 community residents aged 40 to 69 years who had participated in sleep investigation studies between 2001 and 2005 were enrolled. Nocturnal intermittent hypoxia was assessed by pulse-oximetry and defined by the number of oxygen desaturation measurements < or =3% per h, with five to <15 per h corresponding to mild and 15 events or more per h corresponding to moderate-to-severe nocturnal intermittent hypoxia, respectively. The development of type 2 diabetes was defined by: (1) fasting serum glucose > or =7.00 mmol/l (126 mg/dl); (2) non-fasting serum glucose > or =11.1 mmol/l (200 mg/dl); and/or (3) initiation of glucose-lowering medication or insulin therapy. Multivariable model accounted for age, sex, BMI, smoking status, current alcohol intake, community, borderline type 2 diabetes, habitual snoring, excessive daytime sleepiness, sleep duration and (for women) menopausal status.

RESULTS

By the end of 2007, 92.2% of participants had been followed up (median follow-up duration [interquartile range] 3.0 [2.9-4.0] years) and 210 persons identified as having developed diabetes. The multivariable-adjusted hazard ratio (95% CI) for developing type 2 diabetes was 1.26 (0.91-1.76) among those with mild nocturnal intermittent hypoxia and 1.69 (1.04-2.76) among those with moderate-to-severe nocturnal intermittent hypoxia (p = 0.03 for trend).

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

Nocturnal intermittent hypoxia was associated with increased risk of developing type 2 diabetes among middle-aged Japanese.

Cross-cultural comparison of the sleep-disordered breathing prevalence among Americans and Japanese

The aim of the present study was to compare the prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing among Hispanic and white Americans and Japanese. A 1-night sleep study using a single-channel airflow monitor was performed on 211 Hispanics and 246 Whites from the Minnesota field centre (St Paul, MN, USA) of the Multi-Ethnic Study of Atherosclerosis (MESA), and 978 Japanese from three community-based cohorts of the Circulatory Risk in Communities Study (CIRCS) in Japan. The respiratory disturbance index and sleep-disordered breathing, defined as a respiratory disturbance index of > or =15 events x h(-1), were estimated. The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing was higher in males (34.2%) than females (14.7%), and among Hispanics (36.5%) and Whites (33.3%) than among Japanese (18.4%), corresponding to differences in body mass index. Within body mass index strata, the race difference in sleep-disordered breathing was attenuated. This was also true when body mass index was adjusted for instead of stratification. The strong association between body mass index and sleep-disordered breathing was similar in Japanese and Americans. The prevalence of sleep-disordered breathing was lower among Japanese than among Americans. However, the association of body mass index with sleep-disordered breathing was strong, and similar among the race/ethnic groups studied. The majority of the race/ethnic difference in sleep-disordered breathing prevalence was explained by a difference in body mass index distribution.

Retention of zirconia copings on zirconia implant abutments cemented with provisional luting agents

The purpose of this study is to measure and compare the retentive force of zirconia-based all-ceramic crowns cemented on zirconia abutments using five provisional luting agents. In addition, the effect of sandblasting and thermocycling on the retentive force was evaluated. Two hundred zirconia abutments and copings were fabricated (Procera system; Nobel Biocare) and divided into five groups. Hy bond temporary cement hard (Hard), Hy bond temporary cement soft (Soft), experimental temporary cement (New), Tempbond NE (Temp) and Freegenool temporary pack (Pack) were used according to the manufacturers' instructions. Each group was divided into two groups, one with and one without sandblasting. Furthermore, thermocycling up to 2000 cycles was conducted on half of each group. After 24 h and thermocycling, the retentive force was measured using a universal testing machine. The data were subjected to analysis of variance, and comparisons of the means were performed with a Games-Howell test at a level of 95%. As a result, Hard showed the highest retentive force, sandblasting was effective for improving the durability, and no effect of sandblasting was detected in the others. New showed stability of the retentive force even after thermocycling. The retentive force of Temp and Pack decreased significantly after thermocycling even with sandblasting. The retentive forces were different from the provisional cement and sandblasting, and Temp and Pack may not be appropriate for the retention of single-tooth zirconia abutments and coping restorations.

Pathogenic role of angiotensin II and oxidised LDL in obstructive sleep apnoea

A sustained elevation of oxidative stress in patients with obstructive sleep apnoea syndrome (OSAS) might help to explain their increased risk for cardiovascular diseases. We tested the hypothesis that the values of oxidative stress are increased in otherwise healthy subjects with OSAS when compared with closely matched control subjects. We performed a prospective study of 38 subjects who did not have OSAS and 37 patients with OSAS. Plasma indices of angiotensin (Ang) II, vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), oxidised low-density lipoprotein (oxLDL), and circulating endothelial precursor cells (CEPs) were measured in OSAS patients and in matched controls. Peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMCs) were obtained from both groups and co-cultured with endothelial cells to examine the effects on tube formation. The OSAS group showed increased levels of Ang II, VEGF, oxLDL and CEPs, which were decreased after nasal continuous positive airway pressure (nCPAP) treatment. In vitro, PBMCs from the OSAS group induced tube formation. Ang II, oxLDL, and Ang II-stimulated PBMCs induced lectin-like oxLDL receptor (LOX-1) expression and VEGF receptor-2 activation on endothelial cells, respectively. These observations suggest an important role of Ang II and oxLDL-mediated LOX-1 upregulation in endothelial cell injury in patients with OSAS.

Evaluation of preoperative positron emission tomography with computed tomography (PET-CT) for detecting lymph node metastasis in gynecologic carcinoma

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Background: To evaluate the sensitivety, specificity, and accuracy of PET-CT for detecting lymph node metastasis in gynecologic carcinoma. Methods: Between May 2007 to August 2008, 36 consecutive patients (pts) with cervical carcinoma, endometrial carcinoma and epithelial ovarian carcinoma were enrolled. All pts underwent PET-CT prior to the surgery of systematic pelvic and paraaortic lymphadenectomy. For pathological metastatic lymph nodes, the size of intranodal tumor deposits (maximum diameter of metastatic foci in each lymph node) were recorded. Results: The total number of pelvic lymph nodes (PLNs) plus paraaortic lymph nodes (PANs) removed was 2426. The median number of removed lymph nodes (LNs) was 67 each pts (range: 25 to 102). The number of involvement LNs was 79 (3.5%). The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of preoperative PET-CT to detect LN metastasis were 24%, 99.9%, and 97.5%, respectively. The sensitivity of PLNs and PANs were 39.5% and 7.3%, respectively. The sensitivity of squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) were 35.7%, that of adenocarcinoma were 8.1%. FDG-PET detected 100% of intranodal tumor deposits > or =10 mm, whereas tumor deposits smaller than 5 mm were not detected. Conclusions: The results of our study revealed 76% underdiagnosis (overlooking) in evaluation of preoperative PET-CT in LN metastasis. Particularly, tumor deposits smaller than 5 mm were not detected at all. Using PET-CT for detecting small LN metastasis in gynecologic carcinoma may be unreliable so far. However we found that PLNs are comparatively easy to be detected than PANs, and SCC are comparatively easy to be detected than adenocarcinoma. The improved usability and application of PET-CT for detecting LN metastasis in gynecologic carcinoma have to keep researching constructively.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Validation of genotyping of gastrointestinal stromal tumor in Japan

e21502

Background: Most gastrointestinal stromal tumors (GIST) have activating mutations in the KIT or PDGFRA gene. Genotyping of GIST is important in Dx and Tx of GIST. Methods of genotyping using genomic DNA extracted from paraffin-embedded specimens are diverse and not standardized. We did validation study of genotyping using special reference to sequencing data obtained from cDNA from fresh GIST samples. Methods: Three DNA extraction methods (QIAamp, DEXPAT, or original) and four PCR methods (Ex Taq, AmpliTaq condition-1, AmpliTaq condition-2, or QIAGEN Tag) were compared using 20 paraffin-embedded specimens with special reference to sequencing data obtained from cDNA from corresponding 20 fresh GIST samples. After DNA extraction, KIT exon 9, 11, 13 and 17, and PDGFRA exon 12 and 18 were amplified by each PCR method using specific primers and directly sequenced. Results: In evaluation of PCR method, the protocol with Ex Taq showed 100% amplication of DNA and sequence agreement, the protocol with QIAGEN Tag 99%, and the protocol with AmpliTaq condition-2 86% agreement, and the protocol with AmpliTaq condition-1 showed much less amplication and higher disagreement. For the DNA extraction, the protocol with QIAamp showed best DNA extraction and its DNA sequence data were consistent with reference sequence in 98%, DNA sequence obtained using DEXPAT showed 33% consistency, and 89% of DNA sequence data obtained from an original method was agreed with reference data. Some modifications improved DNA amplication but inconsistent sequence data also increased probably due to miss-PCR. Conclusions: Each DNA extraction method had different quantity of DNA and four PCR methods showed different quality. Using this validation study, a standard genotyping method in Japan was established.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

Depositional records of plutonium and (137)Cs released from Nagasaki atomic bomb in sediment of Nishiyama reservoir at Nagasaki

In a sediment core of Nishiyama reservoir at Nagasaki city, depth profiles of (240)Pu/(239)Pu isotopic ratio, (239+240)Pu and (137)Cs activities were determined. Sediments containing plutonium and (137)Cs, which were deposited immediately after a detonation of Nagasaki atomic bomb, were identified in the core. Observed below the sediments were macroscopic charcoals, providing evidence for initial deposit of the fallout of the Nagasaki atomic bomb. This is the first entire depositional records of plutonium and (137)Cs released from the Nagasaki atomic bomb together with those from atmospheric nuclear tests.

20-Hydroxyecdysone regulation of two isoforms of the Ets transcription factor E74 gene in programmed cell death in the silkworm anterior silk gland

Programmed cell death of larval-specific tissues in insects is under the control of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E). The ecdysteroid-regulated early genes are conserved in the programmed cell death of anterior silk glands (ASGs) in Bombyx mori and salivary glands in Drosophila melanogaster. We identified and characterized two isoforms of the Ets transcription factor E74 gene in B. mori (BmE74). In ASGs of B. mori last instar larvae, the Bm74A mRNA level increased concomitantly with an increase in haemolymph ecdysteroid titre after gut purge. The optimal 20E concentration for stimulation of Bm74A in ASGs was 4 microM, a similar value to the peak haemolymph ecdysteroid concentration after gut purge. In contrast, BmE74B expression peaked on day 5 of the feeding period, after which it did not increase again. These findings suggest that the BmE74 isoforms play different roles in the regulation of programmed cell death in B. mori ASGs.

The effect of core framework designs on the fracture loads of all-ceramic fixed partial dentures on posterior implants

This study evaluated the fracture loads of three-unit all-ceramic bridges on implants; the core frameworks of the bridges were made of zirconium oxide. Three core framework designs were fabricated according to the design of the bars between the retainers: (i) straight, (ii) curved in the occlusal direction, or (iii) curved in the gingival direction. A static load was applied at the centre of the pontic, and the mean initial crack and final fracture loads were measured and compared. The core framework curved in the occlusal direction had the highest final fracture loads; there were significant differences (P < 0.05) in the mean final fracture load, whereas initial fracture load, which fractured of veneered porcelain, did not show significant differences among three designs. The all-ceramic bridges on the implants made with Procera zirconium core frameworks had high final fracture load. The core framework design that curved in the occlusal direction helped the framework withstand the occlusal load, which results in reliable prostheses, especially in the molar region.

Combination chemotherapy with consecutive low-dose cisplatin with ifosfamide and epirubicin (CLD-IEP) in uterine sarcoma

10057

Background: To evaluate the efficacy and toxicity of CLD-IEP for patients (pts) with sarcoma uteri. Methods: Eligible criteria were: a histologic proof of advanced or recurrent sarcoma uteri; measurable lesions; age between 18 and 80 yrs; WHO PS 0–3; WBC = 3,000/μL; platelet count = 100,000/μL; hemoglobin level = 9 g/dL; adequate liver function; C-Cr = 40 mL/min; no lung, heart, or brain disease; no previous neoplastic disease; no prior chemotherapy; and informed consent. The CLD-IEP regimen was ifosfamide 700 mg/m2 infused over 2 hrs days 1 through 3; epirubicin 50 mg/m2 bolus day 5; and cisplatin 15 mg/m2 infused over 4 hrs days 1 through 5. The treatment was repeated at 4-week intervals. Results: To date, forty eligible pts (16 leiomyosarcoma [LMS], 4 endometrial stromal sarcoma, and 20 carcinosarcoma) were enrolled in this study and all pts were assessable for response, toxicity, and survival. The median age was 52 yrs (range, 28–77). Thirteen pts received CLD-IEP in the neoadjuvant setting. Nine pts had prior radiotherapy. After a median of 4 cycles (range, 2–13), we observed objective responses in 24 pts (60%), with 5 (13%) CRs and 19 (48%) PRs (95% CI, 42% to 78%, 4% to 22%, 30% to 66%, respectively). Of 16 pts with LMS, 1 CR and 7 PRs (1 pt with good PR surviving more than 48 months after the start of CLD-IEP) were observed. Median overall survival time (MOS) after the start of CLD-IEP for all 40 pts was 17 months (range, 3 to 62). MOS was 20.5 months in the responders versus 9 months in the non-responders (Log-rank, p=0.023). The median progression-free survival time of the responders was 10.5 months. NCI-CTC grade 3 or 4 leucopoenia, neutropenia, thrombocytopenia, and anemia occurred in 63%, 75%, 12%, and 18%, respectively. There was no significant nausea/vomiting, nephrotoxicity, or CNS toxicity. Conclusions: CLD-IEP regimen has significant to moderate anti-tumor activity with acceptable toxicity in pts with sarcoma uteri including LMS.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.