Toru Ito

Ultrasonically guided cholangiography and bile drainage

Ultrasonically guided percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (UG-PTC), bile drainage (UG-PTBD) and gallbladder drainage procedure (UG-PTGBD), developed by us, were performed in 47, 183 and 36 patients, respectively. In 47 patients UG-PTC was successfully performed 51 times without complications. By UG-PTBD 220 intubations were carried out successfully and four attempts failed (1.8%). The main complication was that the catheter slipped out from the bile duct. It was experienced 27 times (12.3%) in 23 patients (12.4%) from two to 47 days after intubation. UG-PTGBD was successfully performed 36 times. Bleeding from the catheter was experienced in four patients. However, other complications such as cholascos were not experienced. Due to the development of ultrasonic diagnosis and the UG-PTBD procedure, the indications for percutaneous transhepatic cholangiography (PTC) are now limited. For differentiation of jaundice, ultrasonic examination takes over from PTC. For preparation of PTBD, thin needle cholangiography is no longer necessary because UG-PTBD is a single-step procedure without the need for cholangiography. Therefore, the indication for PTC is limited to patients with partial dilatation of intrahepatic bile ducts without jaundice, for example when only the left hepatic duct is dilated due to hepatolithiasis.

Molecular diversity of three S-allele cDNAs associated with gametophytic self-incompatibility in Lycopersicon peruvianum

We isolated S allele-associated cDNA clones from each of the stylar cDNA libraries of Lycopersicon peruvianum of two different S genotypes (S12Sband S13Sc) with S11Scallele-associated cDNA (LPS11) as a probe. The longest cDNA clones, designated LPS12 and LPS13, which were 779 bp and 853 bp in length, contained open reading frames of 189 and 210 amino acids, respectively. The three S alleleassociated cDNAs (LPS11, LPS12, and LPS13) did not cross-hybridize to each other under highly stringent condition by northern blot analysis. Their average identity to Nicotiana alata S-proteins so far was 49%. The fragments corresponding to LPS11 or LPS12 cosegregated with their respective S alleles in genetic crosses. From these results, we conclude that the three cloned cDNAs were derived from the three different S alleles of L. peruvianum.

Technical progress in industrial COIL

Chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) has a great potential for applications such as decommissioning and dismantlement (D&D) of nuclear reactor, rock destruction and removal and extraction of a natural resource (Methane hydrate) because of the unique characteristics such as power scalability, high optical beam quality and optical fiber beam. Five-kilowatt Chemical oxygen-iodine laser (COIL) test facility has been developed. The chemical efficiency of 27% has been demonstrated with a moderate beam quality for optical fiber coupling. Our research program contains conventional/ejector-COIL scheme, Jet-SOG/Mist-SOG optimization, fiber delivery and long-term operation.

A new project for developing a prototype COIL module at Miki Pulley

Miki Pulley has pursued the development of a prototype COIL module for field and industrial applications since its transfer from Tokai University in 2000. The test module has already been constructed in our laboratory. The current status of the development is presented. The achieved chemical efficiency was 17.5% at the chlorine flow rate of 13.2mol/min. The corresponding laser power was 3.5kW.

CFD-based optimization of iodine mixing for a supersonic COIL

Optimization of iodine injection scheme was conducted in Miki Pulley Co., Ltd. using CFD approach. Variation of the mixing speed as a function of an I2 jet penetration depth, nozzle expansion ratio, and I2 injection point are analyzed. It was found that the inherent geometry of our nozzle and I2 injector affects the I2 mixing process. Influence of a backpressure to the cavity flow condition was also investigated in order to estimate the pressure recovery capability of our diffuser. The normal shock based diffuser efficiency for Mach=2.7 flow was 54.5%.

The clinical significance of juxtapapillary duodenal diverticula in patients with cholelithiasis.

教室で経験した胆嚢結石症423例, 総胆管結石症146例における傍乳頭部憩室の形態学的特徴および乳頭部機能を検討した. 憩室は胆嚢結石症の6. 9%, 総胆管結石症の22. 6%に合併し, 両疾患群において, 乳頭口側に多く認められた. また, 乳頭口側に憩室がある症例で総胆管径が大きい傾向にあった.胆道内圧測定による乳頭部機能の検討では, 憩室を合併した胆嚢結石症例の多くは正常な乳頭部機能を呈したが, 一部の症例では低下していることが判明した. また, 憩室を合併した総胆管結石症例では乳頭部機能不全, すなわちOddi氏筋緊張低下が特徴的所見であった.