To clarify the function of the vastus medialis obliquus (VMO) and longus (VML), we investigated the electromyographic properties of superficial quadriceps femoris during fatiguing knee extension task.Ten healthy male and 10 female volunteers participated in this study. The subjects performed fatiguing knee extension task at maximal effort (10 times×10 set at 60 deg/sec). Surface electromyography (EMG) was recorded from the VMO, VML, vastus lateralis(VL) and rectus femoris(RF) during isometric knee extension (knee bent at 60 deg and 30% of the maximal voluntary contraction level) with a 90-sec interval between each set. Knee extension peak torque, integrated EMG (IEMG) and median power frequency (MDF) of four muscles during each set were compared using Dunnett's test.Knee extension peak torque decreased gradually and peak torque decreased significantly starting from set 9 in male subjects, while there was no significant decrease in female subjects. IEMG from VMO and VL increased linearly. IEMG increased significantly from set 7 in VMO and set 6 in VL for both male and female subjects. Then, IEMG from both VML and RF increased significantly starting from set 9 in VML and set 8 in RF in male subjects, while there was no significant change in female subjects.MDF of VMO, VL and RF also increased significantly at timepoints similar to those showing increases in IEMG in male subjects. However, MDF of VML increased significantly from set 4 in male subjects. On the other hand, MDF did not change significantly in female subjects.As a result of this study, it was suggested that VMO and VL were facilitated to maintain target knee extension torque during fatigue. Therefore, it was considered that VML and RF facilitated the maintenance of target torque under fatiguing conditions.

1) The molluscicidal effect of 10 agricultural chemicals which are commonly usedby farmers in Saitama Prefecture was tested experimentally against A. ollula in the laboratory. The snails were made to contact with chemical solution for 48 hrs. at 23-25°C, then transferred to new containers with fresh water. The death rate was observed after 1 more hr.
LC₅₀ value of Saturn emulsion (Benthiocarb 50%), Saturn-S granule (Benthiocarb 7%, Simetryne 1.5%), MO emulsion (CNP 20%), NIP emulsion (NIP 25%), Sumithion emulsion (MEP 50%), Baysid emulsion (MPP 50%), Disiston granule (Ethylthiometon 5%), Bassa emulsion (BPMC 50%), Kitasin-Pemulsion (IBP 4%), and Lime nitrogen granule (CaNCN 21%) were 13.0, 92.5, 24.8, more than 50, 16.5, 13.5, more than 500, more than 50, more than 50 and 360 ppm. respectively, all figures were far larger than the doses in practical use for each chemicals. So it can not be expected that these chemicals would be effective against the snail in the ordinally practice.
2) Themolluscicidal effect of Lime nitrogen granule was also investigated with the snail in the paddy field where this fertilizer had been applied at an ordinally dose that is 2 Kg per are., 5 days prier to the test. The snails were introduced into the paddy and the mortality rate was observed 1, 2 and 3days after the introduction. The mortality rates of the snails at each day were 7.5%, 11.0% and 12.9% respectively. In the untreated field these figures were 7.0%, 14.9% and 4.4%.
It was concluded that Lime nitrogen granule was not effective against the snail at the ordinally dose for the use for fertilizer.

An endemic dermatitis of unknown etiology has occurred among farmers working in paddy fields in the eastern area of Saitama Pref. In view of the results of the epidemiological and clinical observations, it was anticipated that the dermatitis might be caused by a bird schistosome (Ozu et al., 1972).
Thus, the research for snail intermediate hosts was carried out in the paddy fields as well as in the laboratory. Snails from the fields were placed in containers in which they could be checked for the shedding of cercariae. As a result, a species of furcocercous cercaria was obtained from Austropeplea (Lymnaea) ollula. The cercaria was identified as species belonging to the genus Trichobilharzia on the basis of the flame cell pattern, the behaviour, the responses to light and the detailed morphology of living and preserved specimens.
In order to determine the dermatitis-producing properties of the cercaria, an experimental infection with the cercaria into the human skin was performed.The cercaria invaded into the human skin and produced a dermatitis quite similar to that prevailing in the endemic area.
On the basis of the results from this study, the paddy field dermatitis occurring in the eastern area of Saitama Pref.was proved to be caused by the invasion of the cercaria belonging to the genus Trichobilharzia into the human skin.It was also proved that A.ollula served as the snail host of the cercaria.

A dermatitis of unknown etiology has occurred among farmers working in Chichibu City, in north-west of Saitama Prefecture from 1970 to 1972.
The dermatitis exhibited clinical, manifestations quite similar to a already known bird schistosome.dermatitis being characterized by erythemato-papulo-vesicular eruptions accompanied with severe itching on the parts exposed to the water, especially legs and arms.
Survey on the snail intermediate hosts were undertaken in the paddy fields and a species of furcocercous cercaria was found from Polypylis hemisphaerula.The incidence of the snails infected with the cercariae was 3.2%.The cercaria resembled to that of Gigantobilharzia struniae in size and shape.
The cercaria invaded into the human skin within 30 minutes after being put on a part of the surface of skin and caused a pinpoint-sized red maculae and tingling itching.
From these results, the paddy field dermatitis occurring in Chichibu City was proved to be caused by the invasion of the cercaria into the human skin, which differed from that served as causative organism of the dermatitis occurring in the eastern area of Saitama Prefecture.

We report a rare case of aortic root replacement after arterial switch operation (ASO). Ten years after undergoing ASO, a 10-year-old boy underwent a Bentall operation because of progressive aortic valve regurgitation and aortic root dilation. The operation was performed under the division of the right pulmonary artery. This view made it easy and safe to dissect the coronary arteries and to perform aortic root surgery.

This study was aimed to evaluate the inhibitory effect of astaxanthin on 7 types of CYP enzymes (CYP1A2, CYP2B6, CYP2C8, CYP2C9, CYP2C19, CYP2D6 and CYP3A4) by using human liver microsomes and to evaluate the inducing effect of astaxanthin on 3 types of CYP (CYP1A2, CYP2B6 and CYP3A4) by using cryopreserved human hepatocytes.Resuts indicated that astaxanthin does not inhibit CYP enzymes within the normal doses and astaxanthin does not induce CYP enzymes within the normal doses.

We report a case of endovascular surgery in a patient of common iliac artery aneurysm with arteriovenous (A-V) fistula. A 60-year-old woman was admitted because of dyspnea. She had a clinical history of lumbar disk surgery at age of 40. On physical examination, we detected a pulsatile mass and pansystolic murmurs in her left lower abdomen. A chest X-ray film demonstrated severe cardiomegaly with 70% of cardiothoracic ratio. Contrast-enhanced CT revealed left common artery aneurysm with A-V fistula between the left common iliac artery and the left common iliac vein. Three-dimensional CT showed hyper-vascularity in the region from the pelvic vein to IVC. We considered that she had high risk of intraoperative massive bleeding for open abdominal surgery. We conducted endovascular repair for this iliac artery aneurysm with A-V fistula by the GORE EXCLUDER C3^® stent graft system. Postoperative contrast-enhanced CT showed complete exclusion of both left common iliac artery aneurysm and A-V fistula. After surgery, her symptoms improved significantly.

A sinus of Valsalva aneurysm is a comparatively rare disease, and it has almost no symptoms unless this is rupture, whereas aortic insufficiency, myocardial ischemia and heart failure might be associated with un-ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva. We encountered 2 elderly patients (71 years old and 83 years old) with huge un-ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva which causes right ventricular outflow tract obstruction. The orifice of the aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva was closed using ePTFE patches in the both cases. Plication of aneurysm was attempted in both cases, but it failed in case 1 due to undetermined border of the aneurysm on the right side of the heart. Case 2 was required concomitant aortic valve replacement with a bioprosthesis due to associated aortic regurgitation. The repair of un-ruptured aneurysm of the sinus of Valsalva associated with right ventricular outflow tract obstruction can be performed safely and effectively even in elderly patients.

A dermatitis of unknown etiology has occurred among farmers working in paddy fields in the eastern area of Saitama Prefecture (Ozu et al., 1972). And it was proved to be caused by the invasion of a bird schistosome cercaria shed from Austropeplea ollula (Suzuki et al., 1973).
In an attempt to dertermine the final host of this schistosome, a survey on the wild birds was undertaken in the endemic area. But, no natural infection was found in 8 Corvus corone, 7 Sturnus cineraceous, 5 Egretta garzetta, 4 Nycticorax nycticorax, 8Anas platyrhynchos, 7 A. crecca and 170 A. poecilorhyncha.
Experimental infections with the cercariae were performed using domestic ducklings and canaries, and a bird schistosome egg could be found in feces of the domestic ducklings 20 days after the infection. The egg was crescent-shaped and the miracidium was clearly seen within.
Based on the results of the experimental infections, the most probable final host of this schistosome in Saitama Prefecture was supposed to be the anatid birds.

Objective : To investigate the efficacy of aortic valve replacement with annular enlargement for congenital aortic valve stenosis. Methods : Eleven patients underwent aortic valve replacement with annular enlargement for congenital aortic valve stenosis in our institute between January 2002 and July 2012. The clinical status of these patients, including preoperative and postoperative echocardiography, was evaluated in this study. Results : The median age of the patients was 15.5 years (range : 9-38 years). The patients had a mean body surface area of 1.48±0.3 m² (range : 1.00-1.92 m²). Mechanical prostheses were used in all patients and the techniques of aortic annular enlargement were the Nick procedure in 4 patients, Manouguian procedure in 3 (modified Manouguian in 2), Yamaguchi procedure in 2, and Konno procedure in 2. The average follow-up period was 32.1 months (range : 1-117 months). There was neither operative death nor late death. The peak/mean pressure gradient of aortic valve improved from 77.9±31.7/46.6±18.0 mmHg preoperatively to 27.9±7.7/14.8±4.7 mmHg postoperatively and to 28.3±11.1/14.1±7.0 mmHg at intermediate-term follow-up. The estimated left ventricular mass also improved from 206.8±93.4 g preoperatively to 179.7±61.1 g postoperatively and to 100.4±76.3 g at intermediate-term follow-up, respectively. Conclusions : Our series shows the efficacy and safety of aortic valve replacement with annular enlargement for congenital aortic valve stenosis.