This paper describes a feasibility study of direct heat recovery system from high temperature wastes over 1 700 K by using objective chemical reaction, in which enthalpy-exergy diagram, so-called thermodynamic compass, is introduced for evaluating various systems. Blast furnace slag was taken as an example for the evaluation and familiar endothermic reactions in the cement production, the chemical industry, etc. were selected as a combination process for the heat recovery. Exergy analysis of cement and methanol plants was also carried out for further discussion.The results showed that decomposition of limestone, reforming of methane and gasification of carbon are the most promising for heat recovery of the high temperature wastes; various slag and LD gas, from a viewpoint of effective use of exergy, not energy. This also appeals a possibility of next generation symbiotic steelworks with heat cascade utilization, rather than heat recovery.

Circulation Journal Official Journal of the Japanese Circulation Society http://www. j-circ.or.jp s a treatment for acute myocardial infarction (AMI), thrombolytic therapy was started in the early 1980 s, 1 and now the best strategy is reperfusion of the occluded coronary artery and restoration of coronary blood flow with percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) early after the onset of AMI. 2 Despite the fact that the outcome of AMI has improved with the reperfusion strategy, morbidity and mortality after AMI still remain significant. Editorial p 301Whether pharmacological interventions added to reperfusion therapy can further reduce myocardial damage or improve the prognosis has been investigated for the past 3 decades. 3 Many pharmacologic agents have been administered for cardiac protection, including KATP channel openers, human atrial natriuretic peptide, glucose-insulin-potassium infusion, sodiumhydrogen exchange inhibitors, adenosine receptor agonists, calcium-channel blockers, β-blockers and so on. Beta-blockers reduce myocardial oxygen consumption by decreasing the heart rate (HR) and myocardial contractility, which improves the oxygen supply/demand ratio. 4 It is well known that oral β-blocker therapy improves survival after AMI, especially in patients with reduced cardiac function. 5 However, it remains unclear whether intravenous administration of a β-blocker in the very acute phase of AMI is beneficial. In the pre-thrombolytic era, treatment with intravenous followed by oral administration of β-blocker improved survival and reduced infarct size. 6-8 In the thrombolytic era, early intravenous followed by oral administration of a β-blocker did not affect left ventricular Background: It is still controversial whether intravenous administration of β-blocker in the very acute phase of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) is beneficial. Landiolol is an ultra-short-acting β-blocker that has less effect on blood pressure, but little is known about its efficacy and safety for patients with AMI undergoing primary percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

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Once-daily administration of nifedipine CR was as effective as twice-daily diltiazem R in the prevention of VSA attacks.

Enalapril is effective in the suppression of left ventricular remodeling after acute myocardial infarction (AMI), but the effect of telmisartan is unclear. The consecutive 163 AMI patients underwent primary percutaneous coronary intervention and were randomized to telmisartan (n = 82) or enalapril (n = 81). Left ventriculography was performed in the acute and chronic (6 months) phases. Matrix metalloproteinase (MMP)-2 and MMP-9 activities were measured by zymography in the acute (days 1, 7, and 14) and chronic (6 months) phases. Plasma pentraxin3 (PTX3), a marker of vascular inflammation, was also measured. There were no adverse effects in the telmisartan group. The analysis of the left ventriculograms in the acute and chronic phases revealed no difference between the two groups. MMP-9 activities at days 7 and 14 and in the chronic phase were decreased compared to that at day 1 in both groups. MMP-2 activity was also decreased in the acute phase, but increased in the chronic phase in both groups. There was no difference in the plasma PTX3 level in the acute phase, but in the chronic phase, PTX3 was significantly lower in telmisartan than in enalapril group (2.6 ± 1.4 vs. 3.2 ± 1.6 ng/ml, p = 0.04). Telmisartan is well tolerated, shows similar effects on the markers of left ventricular remodeling to those of enalapril, and suppresses vascular inflammation more effectively than enalapril in AMI patients. Telmisartan can be an alternative to angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor in patients with AMI.