Measurement of Paα line from pellet ablation cloud in Heliotron J

The Pa_α line (1875.13 nm) in the near-infrared (NIR) region was evaluated to apply Stark broadening of the line spectrum to the electron density measurement of the small-pellet ablation cloud in Heliotron J, a medium-sized helical-axis heliotron device. Pa_α is three-to-four times broader than the visible H_β line (486.13 nm) for the same electron density. Using a portable NIR spectrometer, preliminary proof-of-concept experiments determined the marginal density, below which the broadening was undetectable. The lower detection density limit can be decreased using a narrower entrance slit or a denser grating.

Development of a tunable Fabry-Perot etalon-based near-infrared interference spectrometer for measurement of the HeI 2³S-2³P spectral line shape in magnetically confined torus plasmas

In magnetically confined torus plasmas, the local emission intensity, temperature, and flow velocity of atoms in the inboard and outboard scrape-off layers can be separately measured by a passive emission spectroscopy assisted by observation of the Zeeman splitting in their spectral line shape. To utilize this technique, a near-infrared interference spectrometer optimized for the observation of the helium 2(3)S-2(3)P transition spectral line (wavelength 1083 nm) has been developed. The applicability of the technique to actual torus devices is elucidated by calculating the spectral line shapes expected to be observed in LHD and QUEST (Q-shu University Experiment with Steady State Spherical Tokamak). In addition, the Zeeman effect on the spectral line shape is measured using a glow-discharge tube installed in a superconducting magnet.

Development of a high dynamic range spectroscopic system for observation of neutral hydrogen atom density distribution in Large Helical Device core plasma

We report development of a high dynamic range spectroscopic system comprising a spectrometer with 30% throughput and a camera with a low-noise fast-readout complementary metal-oxide semiconductor sensor. The system achieves a 10(6) dynamic range (∼20 bit resolution) and an instrumental function approximated by a Voigt profile with Gauss and Lorentz widths of 31 and 0.31 pm, respectively, for 656 nm light. The application of the system for line profile observations of the Balmer-α emissions from high temperature plasmas generated in the Large Helical Device is also presented. In the observed line profiles, emissions are detected in far wings more than 1.0 nm away from the line center, equivalent to neutral hydrogen atom kinetic energies above 1 keV. We evaluate atom density distributions in the core plasma by analyzing the line profiles.

Development of a compact thermal lithium atom beam source for measurements of electron velocity distribution function anisotropy in electron cyclotron resonance plasmas

The anisotropy of the electron velocity distribution function (EVDF) in plasmas can be deduced from the polarization of emissions induced by anisotropic electron-impact excitation. In this paper, we develop a compact thermal lithium atom beam source for spatially resolved measurements of the EVDF anisotropy in electron cyclotron resonance (ECR) plasmas. The beam system is designed such that the ejected beam has a slab shape, and the beam direction is variable. The divergence and flux of the beam are evaluated by experiments and calculations. The developed beam system is installed in an ECR plasma device with a cusp magnetic field, and the LiI 2s-2p emission (670.8 nm) is observed in low-pressure helium plasma. The two-dimensional distributions of the degree and direction of the polarization in the LiI emission are measured by a polarization imaging system. The evaluated polarization distribution suggests the spatial variation of the EVDF anisotropy.

Development of a polarization resolved spectroscopic diagnostic for measurements of the vector magnetic field in the Caltech coaxial magnetized plasma jet experiment

In the Caltech coaxial magnetized plasma jet experiment, fundamental studies are carried out relevant to spheromak formation, astrophysical jet formation/propagation, solar coronal physics, and the general behavior of twisted magnetic flux tubes that intercept a boundary. In order to measure the spatial profile of the magnetic field vector for understanding the underlying physics governing the dynamical behavior, a non-perturbing visible emission spectroscopic method is implemented to observe the Zeeman splitting in emission spectra. We have designed and constructed a polarization-resolving optical system that can simultaneously detect the left- and right-circularly polarized emission. The system is applied to singly ionized nitrogen spectral lines. The magnetic field strength is measured with a precision of about ±13 mT. The radial profiles of the azimuthal and axial vector magnetic field components are resolved by using an inversion method.

Magnetic anisotropy and spin-glass behavior in single crystalline U2PdSi3

We present the magnetic and transport properties of single crystalline U(2)PdSi(3) measured with the magnetic field (H) (or measuring current, I) applied along two typical crystallographic directions, i.e. H ⊥ c-axis and H <parallel> c-axis (or I ⊥ c-axis and I <parallel> c-axis). For both directions, a spin-glass state is confirmed to form at low temperature with the same spin freezing temperature T(f) (=11.5 K), initial frequency shift δT(f) (=0.023) and activation energy E(a)/k(B) (=90.15 K) in zero dc field. Strong anisotropy in magnetic and transport behavior is found to be a significant feature of U(2)PdSi(3). The unusual ferromagnetic-like anomaly in ac susceptibility and dc magnetization curves around T(m)=71 K is observed in the case of H <parallel> c-axis but not in the cases of H ⊥ c-axis. The characteristic temperature T(ir), below which evident irreversible magnetism originated from random spin freezing can be observed, shows much stronger field dependence for H ⊥ c-axis than for H <paraellel> c-axis. Moreover, an unusual finding is that the electrical resistivity measurements indicate the formation of magnetic Brillouin-zone boundary gaps and much larger magnetic scattering for I ⊥ c-axis, while the coherent-Kondo-effect-like behavior is obvious for I <paraellel> c-axis. We also emphasize that no resistivity minimum can be detected down to 2.5 K for either direction. The observed magnetic and transport behaviors are compared with those in polycrystalline U(2)PdSi(3) and other 2:1:3 intermetallic compounds.

Development of multiwavelength-range fine-resolution spectrometer for hydrogen emissions and its application to large helical device periphery plasmas

We developed a spectrometer specialized for simultaneous observation of the hydrogen Balmer-alpha, -beta, -gamma lines and the Fulcher-alpha v(')=v(")=2 rovibronic transition band. The spectrometer was optimized for the light input coupled by nine optical fibers having 400 microm core diameters. The spectral resolutions were 0.02-0.03 nm for these wavelength ranges at the entrance slit width of 20 microm. The polarization resolved spectra of these emissions from the peripheral region of large helical device (LHD) plasmas were measured simultaneously and showed the polarization dependence coming from the magnetic field in the LHD plasma.

Effect of mental stress on left ventricular ejection fraction and its relationship to the severity of coronary artery disease

To evaluate the relationship between the mental stress-induced decrease in left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) and the severity of exercise-induced ischaemia, 20 patients with stable coronary artery disease (CAD) underwent radionuclide ventriculography during mental stress testing and stress myocardial perfusion single-photon emission tomography (SPET). We also examined whether changes in haemodynamic and neurohormonal parameters are related to changes in LVEF during mental stress. The LVEF decreased from 54.8% +/- 17.7% to 49.8% +/- 16.2% with mental stress (P < 0.0005). Ten of the 20 patients (50.0%) had a > or = 5% decrease in LVEF The remaining ten patients had no or a <5% decrease in LVEF There was a significant correlation between the change in LVEF during mental stress and the size of the reversible defect on stress myocardial perfusion SPET (r = -0.80, P < 0.0005), with close regional correspondence (75% identical). This correlation was less strong in the 12 patients with a total defect score at rest of <10 (r = -0.69, P = 0.014) than in the eight patients with a total defect score at rest of > or = 10 (r = -0.94, P = 0.001). The changes in blood pressure and heart rate were not significantly correlated with the change in LVEF, but the percent change in adrenaline concentration correlated with the change in LVEE It is suggested that mental stress impairs systolic function by inducing transient myocardial ischaemia. The effect of neurohormonal responses during mental stress on LV systolic function may also be important in patients with CAD.

Nocturnal variation in human sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity

To determine whether or not there are nocturnal variations in sympathetic baroreflex sensitivity (BRS), we measured spontaneous sympathetic BRSs in eight normal subjects (average 24.5 years old) between 2300 and 0700 h. Electrocardiogram, blood pressure, polysomnography, and muscle sympathetic nerve activity (MSA) using microneurography were recorded. We defined cardiac 'baroreflex sequences' as those that contain three or more adjacent pulses, with the systolic blood pressure and the subsequent pulse interval either continuously increased or decreased. A similar analysis was applied to sympathetic BRSs. We selected three or more adjacent pulses during which diastolic blood pressures continuously increased or decreased. Total activity in MSA was defined as burst per minute x burst amplitude and we calculated the regression coefficients between the diastolic blood pressure and the subsequent total activities in MSA. The regression coefficients were classified as either negative or positive ones. When they were less than zero, we termed them 'baroreflex sequences'. Cardiac and sympathetic BRSs were estimated from the average slope of the baroreflex sequences. Sympathetic BRS was significantly lower during sleep than while subjects were awake in the evening (P < 0.05), and it remained low after the subjects woke up in the morning (P < 0.05). Conversely, cardiac BRS had a tendency to increase during sleep in the night, but not statistically significant. This sympathetic BRS pattern may contribute to diurnal haemodynamic variables and may account, at least in part, for the connection between circadian rhythm and cardiovascular disease.

Analysis of results of surgery performed over a 20-year period on 500 patients with cancer of the thoracic esophagus

This study was conducted to examine the long-term outcome of 500 patients who underwent surgery for cancer of the thoracic esophagus during the past 20 years. Favorable results were obtained with postoperative adjuvant radiation and chemotherapy and there were no surgical deaths in the last 5 years. The mortality rate decreased from 17% prior to 1980 to 5% between 1981 and 1993, this being most probably attributable to the decreased incidence of suture leakage. With respect to changes in surgical techniques, during the initial years we performed intrathoracic anastomosis, after which sternal manubrium resection with anterior mediastinal esophagogastrostomy was carried out. Subsequently, we invented a technique for performing esophagogastrostomy via the posterior mediastinum. The posterior mediastinum was selected as the most physiologic route, based on measurement of tissue oxygen tension. Using blood flow determinations obtained by laser-Doppler velocimetry, we concluded that the effectiveness of thicker gastric tubes was superior to that of thin tubes. Esophagogastrostomy was performed in a shallow field in the cervical region, with the anastomosis ultimately positioned in the superior mediastinum and covered with mediastinal pleura.

[A case of primary pulmonary hemangiopericytoma recurred locally 10 years after the first surgery]

Hemangiopericytoma is a rare tumor of vascular origin. This tumor has a malignant potential and often recurs or metastasize. A case of primary pulmonary hemangiopericytoma which recurred locally 10 years after the first surgery is presented. The histological appearance of the tumor had some findings of malignant potential in both of the primary and recurrent lesions. We discussed on malignant potential of this tumor in the number of mitotic figures, cellular atipia, and DNA ploidy pattern.

[Retrospective study of sputum culture after esophagectomy]

We retrospectively investigated the sputum cultures of patients who underwent esophagectomy (n = 104) from just after operation to 11 postoperative days and evaluated the factors which influenced the cultures. We divided the 0-11 postoperative days into three periods (0-3 postoperative days (p.o.d.), 4-7 p.o.d., 8-11 p.o.d.). The sputum cultures were positive at a rate of 56.7% to 65.4% of patients during the period of observation (0-11 p.o.d.). Gram-negative bacillus was mostly detected. MRSA increased time-dependently. Diabetes mellitus, preoperative irradiation recurrent nerve palsy did not influence the positive rate of the sputum cultures. The positive rate of gram-negative bacillus and gram gram-positive coccus in the sputum of the patients who were given sefem-first generation antibiotics was lower than of patients who were given sefem-second generation antibiotics at 8-11 p.o.d. (p < 0.05). The positive rate of gram-negative bacillus in the sputum of patients who underwent esophagectomy with laryngectomy for cervical esophageal cancer was lower than that of patients who underwent esophagectomy without laryngectomy for thoracic or abdominal esophageal cancer at 4-7 p.o.d. (p < 0.05). The positive rate of gram-negative bacillus in the sputum of patients who underwent intraoperative tracheostomy was lower than that of patients who did not undergo intraoperative tracheostomy at 4-11 p.o.d. No patients had pneumonia during the period of observation except for the secondary lung complications. In conclusion, although we have done a good job of management, we should select the appropriate antibiotics with the patient's background in mind.

[Resection of the posterior mediastinal gastric tube used in reconstruction after radical surgery for esophageal cancer--case reports]

Two patients are presented who underwent resection of a gastric tube placed in the posterior mediastinum during reconstruction following radical esophageal resection for esophageal cancer. The indications for gastric tube resection were bleeding from a peptic ulcer in one and gastric cancer in the other. Case 1: A 72-year-old man, who had undergone a thoracic esophagectomy 3.5 years prior to admission, presented with a chief complaint of hematemesis. The gastric tube was resected and replaced with an antethoracic, pedicled segment of left colon. Pathologic examination of the resected gastric tube revealed a penetrating peptic ulcer. Case 2: A 65-year-old man with esophageal cancer and early gastric cancer underwent thoracic esophagectomy with combined resection of the fundus and lesser curvature of the stomach. One year later, he was found to have a new early gastric cancer in the antrum. The distal portion of the gastric tube was resected and replaced with a pedicled jejunal graft. Of the 526 patients with esophageal cancer treated in our department from 1972 to 1993, peptic ulcers were evident in the gastric tube used to reconstruct the esophagus in only seven cases. The stomach was resected in only one of these patients. Similar patients requiring gastric tube resection have been reported. All six of these cases are reviewed. Cancer of the gastric tube developed in 3 of the 526 patients. Although 74 cases of gastric tube cancer have been reported in the Japanese literature, the patient presented here (case 2) is the first to undergo successful resection of the stomach from the posterior mediastinal position.

Preliminary study of uneven fractionation radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy for esophageal cancer

Between March 1992 and September 1993, nine patients were treated with combined-modality therapy of uneven fractionation radiotherapy and chemotherapy (CDDP+ 5-FU) before esophagectomy. All patients had a T4 tumor that was evident on the chest CT scan, MRI, or bronchofiberscopy. In the uneven fractionation radiotherapy, patients received 5 Gy on Fridays and daily doses of 1.2 Gy the following Monday through Thursday for 22 days, to yield a total dose of 34.4 Gy. CDDP (40 mg/body) was administered intravenously as a slow infusion just before each 5 Gy treatment for a total of five doses. 5-FU (300 mg/m2/day) was also administered intravenously as a slow infusion for each of the 22 treatment days. As restaging failed to document a significant response (improvement to T3 or better), a further dose of irradiation was given in two patients (22%). Five patients (56%) had a partial response. The tumors in eight patients (89%) could be resected after this combined modality treatment. Histological assessment of the resected specimens indicated grade 3 in two patients and grade 2 in six patients. At a median follow-up of 14 months, seven patients are alive and four patients are clinically disease free. Uneven fractionation radiotherapy combined with chemotherapy improved local control and the resectable rate in these patients.

[An autopsy study of the mode of cancer metastasis on the esophagectomied patients for esophageal cancer]

The records of autopsy on 43 patients underwent esophagectomy were evaluated retrospectively. Fifteen patients were performed palliative surgical treatment and 28 were curative, there were 41 men and 2 women in the series. The mean age at the first operation was 59.5 yr. The distribution of the primary lesions were 1 cervical, 40 thoracic (3 upper intra-thoracic, 28 middle intra-thoracic and 9 lower intra-thoracic) and 2 abdominal esophagus. There were 42 cases of squamous cell carcinoma (13 well differentiated types, 25 moderately differentiated types and 4 poorly differentiated types) and 1 adenosquamous cell carcinoma. Their stage classification were 0 for 2 patients, I for 1, III for 13 and IV for 27. In cases of palliative surgical treatment, the residual tumor were present on 6 cases in trachea or bronchus and 2 in aorta. Others were the rest of metastatic nodes in 3 cases, positive surgical margin in 3 and visceral metastasis and peritoneal dissemination in 1. At autopsy, 14 patients (93%) had distant organ metastases, 11 (73%) local recurrent tumor, 11 (73%) node metastases and 9 (60%) disseminations. In cases of curative surgical treatment, the first recurrent sites were as follows. Lymph node metastasis observed in 20 cases (71%), local recurrence in 9 cases (32%), distant organ metastases in 8 cases (28%) and disseminations in 5 cases (18%). While at autopsy, 24 patients (86%) had lymph node metastases, 20 (71%) distant organ metastases, 15 (54%) local recurrent tumors and 11 (39%) disseminations. On 10 cases whose first recurrent site was observed only at lymph node, 9 cases (90%) had distant organ metastases at autopsy. In both cases of palliative surgical treatment and of curative surgical treatment, the most dominant metastatic site at autopsy was distant organ metastasis. Therefore, in the future, distant organ metastasis must be an important target for esophageal cancer treatment.

[A resected case of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma simulating fetal lung tubules which is a variant of pulmonary blastoma]

A case of well-differentiated adenocarcinoma simulating fetal lung tubules which is a variant of pulmonary blastoma is reported. A 31-year-old female with an abnormal shadow in the right upper lung field detected by chest X-P during a follow-up for sarcoidosis during pregnancy underwent right upper lobectomy. Post operative histological diagnosis was well-differentiated adenocarcinoma simulating fetal lung tubules. This tumor might be a variant of pulmonary blastoma lacking the sarcomatous features and showing one-sided development of the epithelial component. However, it has been reported by various names, and classifications of pulmonary blastoma differed slightly depending on the reporter. There are also some discrepancies in the clinical course and prognosis of the tumor. Therefore it is considered that further examination of this tumor is necessary.

[Evaluation of the right ventricular function in postoperative esophageal cancer patients]

We evaluated the right ventricular function in pre- and post-operative esophageal cancer patients who had no complications after surgery by measurement of cardiopulmonary hemodynamics, right ventricular ejection fraction (RVEF) and right ventricular end-diastolic volume index (RVEDVI) using Swan-Ganz catheter and the thermodilution technique. The measurement of RVEF, RVEDVI and other cardiopulmonary hemodynamics were performed from the preoperative day to the 3rd postoperative day. The values of RVEF were stable about 40% from preoperative day to 3rd. RVEDVI was varied at 93.6 +/- 26.3 ml/m2 (preoperative day), 83.6 +/- 15.0 ml/m2 (after surgery), 70.2 +/- 10.6 mg/m2 (morning of the 1st POD), 95.6 +/- 19.4 ml/m2 (evening of the 1st POD), 103.2 +/- 17.9 m/lm2 (morning of the 2nd POD), 1108.3 +/- 14.2 ml/m2 (evening of the 2nd POD) and 112.4 +/- 31.0 ml/m2 (morning of the 3rd POD). The values of RVEDVI on the morning of the 1st POD were statistically lower than those at other times (p < 0.05). The values of RVEDVI were not correlated with mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary arteriolar resistance which were the afterload of the right ventricle. These data suggest that the right ventricular function of the patients who underwent esophagectomy with no complication does not change and that the changes of RVEDVI are influenced by the preload of the right ventricle.

[A case of congenital esophago-bronchial fistula communicated between esophageal diverticulum and left main bronchus in the adult--a review of 47 cases in the Japanese literature]

We experienced a successful repair of congenital esophago-bronchial fistula communicated between esophageal diverticulum and left main bronchus in adult case. The patient was a 60-year-old female. She had much wet cough on taking meals since 10 years ago. At the mass screening, a esophago-bronchial fistula was detected by upper GI series. Barium esophagography revealed a fistula between esophageal diverticulum and left main bronchus. The resection of diverticulum and fistula were undergone. In the operation, there exited no adhesion or inflammation around the fistula, therefore it was easy to isorate from the surrounding tissues. This case was categorized as Brainbridge type I esophago-bronchial fistula communicated to left main bronchus. Forty-six cases of congenital esophago-bronchial fistula with diverticulum were reported in Japan, but no cases which communicated with left main bronchus were reported. Then it is assumed that this is the first case in Japan.

[Cervical esophago-gastrostomy via the posterior mediastinal route for carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus]

From 1981 to 1990, 297 cases of carcinoma of the thoracic esophagus were resected in our department. Among these cases, 225 cases (84.3%) were reconstructed cervical esophagogastrostomy via the posterior mediastinal route. In this paper, these 225 cases were analysed to evaluate the usefulness of this procedure which was developed by S. Abo in 1975. Operative mortality was 4.4% Anastomotic leakage occurred in 24.4% of the cases, but the majority of the cases were treated successfully without any drainage and 83.3% of the cases could start their diet within one month after operation. The volume of oral intake by the patients after discharge increased satisfactorily (1,500-1,800 kcal/day), but the body weight decreased gradually. So the ambulatory enteral nutritional support was started and proved useful for maintaining their body weight. Alkaline reflux evaluated using 24-hour pH-monitoring system was observed in about half of the cases but the degree of the alkaline shift was not strong. Some complaints (heart burn in 6.3%, regurgitation in 21.9%, feeling of fullness after eating in 40.6%, stenotic sensation in 20.7%) were present but not serious.

[Chemotherapy for advanced and recurrent cancer patients--the effect of combination chemotherapy using cisplatin, peplomycin, mitomycin C, adriamycin, and 5-fluorouracil]

According to the data obtained from the fundamental investigations using flow cytometry we designed the schedule of combination chemotherapy for solid cancer patients and we tried this therapy on 25 patients with non-curative, unresectable and recurrent cancers: 9 gastric, 5 colo-rectal, 3 esophageal, 3 pancreatic, 2 gall bladder, 2 lung and 1 breast cancer. The treatment was performed every 3 or 4 weeks as follows: CDDP 70 mg/m2 (d.i.), PEP 4 mg/m2 (i.v.) and MMC 4 mg/m2 (i.v.) on day 1, ADM 15 mg/m2 (i.v.) on day 4, and 5-Fu 250 mg/body (d.i.) every day. Among 22 patients evaluated completely, 1 complete response, 9 partial responses, 11 no changes, 1 progressive disease were obtained. The overall response rate was 45%. From the comparison of survival curves, survival rate was significantly better in patients responded to this therapy than in patients who did not respond to it (p less than 0.05). As for side effects, myelosuppression occurred in 19 patients (86%), increase of BUN and/or creatinine were observed in 3 patients (14%), increase of GOT and/or GPT were seen in 10 patients (45%), gastrointestinal symptoms and alopecia were observed in almost all patients, but all of these toxicity were transient and did not impede the continuous treatment.

[Enhancing activity of bacterial preparations on blood flow in tumor tissue, with reference to cancer chemotherapy. Experimental and clinical studies]

The effect of treatment with bacterial preparations on blood flow in normal and malignant tissues was investigated, clinically and experimentally. The time course of the local effect of the preparations was recorded by Laser Doppler Velocimetry (LDV) via a probe on the surface of normal and malignant tissues directly over the injection site. Experimentally, no definite enhancement of blood flow with OK-432, a streptococcal preparation, was observed in nude mice. Clinically, intradermal administration of OK-432 or tuberculin (PPD) resulted in an approximate 11-or 4-fold increase in blood flow, respectively. The injection of OK-432 into malignant tissues, such as dermal cancer and breast cancer with direct extension to the skin, resulted in an approximate 3.5-fold increase. The results suggested that bacterial preparations can act as an adjuvant to enhance drug delivery to tumor tissue in cancer chemotherapy, and that the enhancement of blood supply is induced by immune response.