Abstract: An objective of this invention is to provide a method for predicting the risk of subject developing chronic pulmonary emphysema. To achieve the objective, this invention provides a method for predicting the risk of subject developing chronic pulmonary emphysema comprising determining the number of GT repeats within a GT repeat sequence located upstream of hemeoxygenase-1, in which if the number of the GT repeats is not less than 30, the subject has a high risk of developing chronic pulmonary emphysema.

Abstract: In a dual polarity type ignition system for a spark plug group, a cylindrical metal shell is provided in which an insulator is provided. The insulator has an axial bore in which a center electrode is provided whose front end has a first noble metal tip. A ground electrode extends from a front end of the metal shell and having a second noble metal tip to form a spark discharge gap between the first noble metal tip and the second noble metal tip. The group of the spark plugs is divided into two groups, one is a positive polarity spark plug group in which a positive high voltage is applied to the center electrode, and the other group is a negative polarity spark plug group in which a negative high voltage is applied to the center electrode. The first noble metal tip of the center electrode of the positive polarity spark plug group is dimensionally smaller than the first noble metal tip of the center electrode of the negative polarity spark plug group.