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We conducted a comprehensive analysis of 28 recurrently mutated genes in acute myeloid leukemia (AML) in 271 patients with de novoAML. Co-mutations were frequently detected in the intermediate cytogenetic risk group, at an average of 2.76 co-mutations per patient. When assessing the prognostic impact of these co-mutations in the intermediate cytogenetic risk group, overall survival (OS) was found to be significantly shorter (P=0.0006) and cumulative incidence of relapse (CIR) significantly higher (P=0.0052) in patients with complex molecular genetic abnormalities (CMGAs) involving three or more mutations. This trend was marked even among patients aged ?65 years who were also FLT3-ITD (FMS-like tyrosine kinase 3internal tandem duplications)-negative (OS: P=0.0010; CIR: P=0.1800). Moreover, the multivariate analysis revealed that CMGA positivity was an independent prognostic factor associated with OS (P=0.0007). In stratification based on FLT3-ITD and CEBPAstatus and ‘simplified analysis of co-mutations’ using seven genes that featured frequently in CMGAs, CMGA positivity retained its prognostic value in transplantation-aged patients of the intermediate cytogenetic risk group (OS: P=0.0002. CIR: P<0.0001). In conclusion, CMGAs in AML were found to be strong independent adverse prognostic factors and simplified co-mutation analysis to have clinical usefulness and applicability.

Direct coal liquefaction test plants have been constructed and successfully operated under subsidies from the New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization. To analyze the data, which had been collected on these plants, a simulator was constructed for the material and enthalpy balances in the preheaters and reactors. This simulator was evaluated in a process supporting unit (PSU) with a capacity of 1 ton of dry coal/day and a pilot plant (PP) with a capacity of 150 tons of dry coal/day, from the standpoint of vapor−liquid equilibria, reaction rate constants, and hydrodynamics in the reactors. Reaction rate coefficients were determined in the PSU by iteration until the calculated yields at the outlet of the third reactor coincided with the observed data. The kinetic data were then applied to the PP, which was operated under conditions similar to those of the PSU, and the liquefaction product yields at the outlet of the third reactor were calculated. The calculated values were in general agreement with the observed data.

A kinetic analysis of coal liquefaction in flow reactors of the 1t/d Process Supporting Unit (PSU) for the NEDOL Process is reported. The coal liquefaction section of the PSU consists of a preheater and three liquefaction reactors in series. Progress of coal liquefaction in PSU has been investigated, focussing mainly on the changes in coal derived insoluble components through the preheater and the reactors. Summing up those results, a reaction kinetic model of coal liquefaction with retrogressive reaction was established and a mechanism of coal liquefaction in the process was elucidated.

To evaluate the role of the deleted in colorectal carcinoma (DCC) gene in leukemogenesis, we examined loss of heterozygosity (LOH) in the DCC gene in 64 primary human leukemias using Southern blot analysis and examined the expression of the DCC gene using reverse transcriptase- polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. Allelic loss in the DCC gene was observed in two patients (6%, 2 of 35 informative cases), and expression of the DCC gene was reduced or absent in 8 of 26 (31%) patients with acute myelogenous leukemia (AML), 3 of 9 (33%) patients with acute lymphocytic leukemia (ALL), and 7 of 29 (24%) patients with chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). Moreover, in one ALL patient with absent DCC expression at diagnosis, its expression became normal after performing chemotherapy and achieving remission. These findings suggest that inactivation of the DCC gene contributes to some instances of leukemogenesis.

Human MSH3 (hMSH3), previously named human mismatch repair protein 1 (MRP1), is one of the human homologs of the bacterial DNA mismatch repair protein MutS. The hMSH3 gene is expressed at low level in most types of cells. Using the RT-PCR technique, we examined the expression of the hMSH3 gene in bone marrow cells from 40 patients with various hematological malignancies. The hMSH3 mRNA was not detectable in 7 cases including 3 of chronic myelogenous leukemia, 2 of acute myelogenous leukemia, and 1 of acute lymphocytic leukemia, and 1 of myelodysplastic syndrome. In addition, 17 cases showed significantly reduced expression of the hMSH3 gene. Southern blot analysis of genomic DNA demonstrated no remarkable changes in the structure and the copy number of the hMSH3 gene in all cases. These results suggest that inactivation of the hMSH3 gene may be involved in the development of hematological malignancies.Copyright 1995, 1999 Academic Press, Inc.

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Summary With the objective of establishing the optimal therapy for minimally differentiated acute myeloid leukemia (AML-M0), we examined the therapeutic results of five AML-M0 cases and reviewed the literature. In a series of 63 patients with newly diagnosed acute leukemia who were admitted to the Main Hospital of Nippon Medical School, five patients fit the criteria for AML-M0: negative myeloperoxidase (MPO) and Sudan black B reaction by light microscopy, negative for B- and T-lineage markers, and positive for myeloid markers. They were treated by means of AdVP [adriamycin, vincristine, and prednisolone (PSL)] therapy and/or BHAC-DMP [behenoylcytosine arabinoside (BHAC), daunorubicin (DNR), 6-mercaptopurine (6-MP), and PSL] therapy. The AdVP therapy was unsuccessful in the two patients who received it, while a complete remission (CR) was achieved with the BHAC-DMP therapy in three of four patients. Although one patient treated with BHAC-DMP did not achieve CR, his blasts were apparently sensitive to the therapy. In assessable cases in the literature where leukemic blasts were MPO-negative, myeloid marker-positive and B- and T-lineage marker-negative, CR was achieved in 54.5% and 44.4% with anti-acute myeloid leukemia therapy and anti-acute lymphocytic leukemia therapy, respectively. Five cases in the literature were treated with a chemotherapeutic regimen containing BHAC [or cytosine arabinoside (Ara-C)], DNR, and 6-MP, and all achieved CR. The regimen containing BHAC (or Ara-C), DNR, and 6-MP may be useful as induction chemotherapy for AML-MO.

Summary The presence of activated transforming genes was investigated in four patients with therapy-related leukemia and in three with therapy-related myelodysplastic syndrome. DNA of bone marrow cells from six of the patients exhibited transforming activity in the tumorigenicity assay. Five of the six patients who were positive in the tumorigenicity assay contained activated N-ras oncogenes, and three contained activated K-ras oncogenes. Thus, concurrent activation of N-ras and K-ras oncogenes was observed in two patients.

The MF alpha 1 gene of Saccharomyces cerevisiae, a major structural gene for mating pheromone alpha factor, is an alpha-specific gene whose expression is regulated by the mating-type locus. To study the role of sequences upstream of MF alpha 1 in its expression and regulation, we generated two sets of promoter deletions: upstream deletions and internal deletions. By analyzing these deletions, we have identified a TATA box and two closely related, tandemly arranged upstream activation sites as necessary elements for MF alpha 1 expression. Two upstream activation sites were located ca. 300 and 250 base pairs upstream of the MF alpha 1 transcription start points, which were also determined in this study. Each site contained a homologous 22-base-pair sequence, and both sites were required for maximum transcription level. The distance between the upstream activation sites and the transcription start points could be altered without causing loss of transcription efficiency, and the sites were active in either orientation with respect to the coding region. These elements conferred cell type-specific expression on a heterologous promoter. Analysis with host mating-type locus mutants indicates that these sequences are the sites through which the MAT alpha 1 product exerts its action to activate the MF alpha 1 gene. Homologous sequences with these elements were found in other alpha-specific genes, MF alpha 2 and STE3, and may mediate activation of this set of genes by MAT alpha 1.

The chromatin structure of the promoter region of the human dihydrofolate reductase gene was determined using a variety of nucleases including DNase I, micrococcal nuclease, several restriction endonucleases, exonuclease III, and Bal31. Two separate regions from -670 to -340 (the distal hypersensitive region) and from -170 to +150 (the proximal hypersensitive region) were shown to be essentially free of proteins as indicated by their accessibility to both endo- and exonucleases. Within the proximal hypersensitive region, one protein appears to be bound at the start site for transcription. A 170-base pair fragment between the two hypersensitive regions was highly resistant to all nucleases tested. Multiple barriers against exonuclease digestion and resistance to dissociation by high salt concentrations suggest that more than one protein is tightly bound to this region. The upstream sequence from -670 and the downstream sequence from +150 were shown to be packaged into nucleosomes. The selective accessibility of certain sites to micrococcal nuclease cutting indicates that the initial nucleosomes are phased upstream from the distal hypersensitive region. There appears to be a protein bound between the phased nucleosomes and the upstream boundary of the distal hypersensitive region. These results suggest that the normal nucleosome array is interrupted by about 900 base pairs of nucleosome-free DNA to which several nuclear proteins bind in a DNA sequence-specific manner.

Serial studies by endoscopy and biopsy were made in a Beagle dog during and after oral administration of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG). Between the 23rd and the 45th week of observation erosions and ulcers appeared at the angulus of the stomach and turned into ulcer scar. A depression with atypical glands was seen in the ulcer scar of the posterior wall of the angulus at the 94th week. It developed elevated margins at the 102nd week, when a well differentiated adenocarcinoma was found histopathologically. Ulceration and reepithelialization were observed in the early carcinoma. The carcinoma progressed into a larger one of Borrmann's type 2 at the 115th week and further into its type 3 at the 181st week. A second carcinoma with signet ring cell carcinoma developed in the anterior wall of the angulus. The two carcinomas fused and formed a single lesion. At autopsy in the 216th week the carcinoma invaded the serosa, and metastasis to regional lymph nodes was observed.

Two new myeloid cell lines (K051 and K052) were established from a patient with multilineage CD7-positive acute leukemia. The K051 and K052 were established from the patient's bone marrow cells at diagnosis and at relapse, respectively. The K051 cell expressed myeloid- associated antigens (CD13 and CD33), a platelet-associated antigen (CD41), and an erythroid antigen (glycophorin A). The K052 cell expressed myeloid-associated antigens (CD13, CD14, and CD33), lymphoid markers (CD2, CD5, and CD7), and HLA-DR. Chromosome analysis of both cell lines showed a 17p- chromosome. Both cell lines were investigated for aberrations of the p53 gene and the N-ras gene. A p53 mutation detected in both cell lines consisted of a C-->T substitution in codon 248. An N-ras mutation detected only in the K052 cell consisted of a G-- >C substitution in codon 13. Expression of the multidrug resistance gene (MDR1) was also investigated by the semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). MDR1-mRNA was more highly expressed by the K052 cell than the K051 cell, being equivalent to that in HEL cells. The functional MDR1-protein against vincristine was also observed, and its function was inhibited by verapamile and Cyclosporin A. The K052 cells were capable of phenotypic or morphologic differentiation after being incubated with granulocyte colony- stimulating factor, interleukin-2, phorbol 12-myristate 13-acetate, or 1,25-dihydroxy-vitamin D3. In contrast, the K051 cells responded phenotypically to retinoic acid. Thus, the K051 and K052 cell lines will be useful for investigating the cellular and molecular events in leukemogenesis and differentiation, and the mechanism of expression of the MDR1 gene.

Summary We demonstrated the effect of infusion of oleic acid, a common free fatty acid, on pulmonary vascular permeability in anesthetized dogs prepared with a lung lymph fistula. Infusion of oleic acid caused significant increases in lung lymph flow with no change in L/P protein ratio, resulting in significant increases in transvascular protein clearance. Pulmonary arterial and pulmonary arterial wedge pressures increased significantly from baseline but their elevation was slight. Cardiac output decreased significantly after oleic acid infusion. In contrast to the effects of oleic acid, left artrial hypertension caused increases in lung lymph flow that were associated with decreases in the L/P protein ratio. Lung water content was increased after oleic acid infusion, despite little effect on pulmonary vascular pressures. These findings indicate that oleic acid produced endothelial lung injury and increased pulmonary vascular permeability.

To identify genes whose expression is neuronal activity-dependent, we used an mRNA differential display technique and discovered that parathyroid hormone-related protein (PTHrP) is expressed in an activity-dependent manner in primary cultures of rat cerebellar granule neurons. PTHrP mRNA was expressed as early as 1 h by the addition of KCl to a final concentration of 25 mM to the culture medium. This expression was induced by Ca2+ influx through voltage-dependent L-type Ca2+ channels and regulated at the transcriptional step. PTHrP mRNA was persistently expressed before and after the time of commitment of granule neurons to apoptosis when they are cultured in the presence of 25 mM KCl or both 150 microM N-methyl-D-aspartic acid and 15 mM KCl, both of which promote the survival of these neurons. PTHrP was rapidly secreted into the culture medium in a depolarization-dependent manner. Parathyroid hormone/PTHrP receptor mRNA was also expressed in the primary cultures, and its expression was up-regulated by KCl and/or N-methyl-D-aspartic acid. The addition of anti-PTHrP antiserum to the culture medium resulted in a reduction of the activity-dependent survival of the granule neurons. These results suggest that PTHrP is involved in an autocrine loop and required for the survival of granule neurons.

The effect of in vitro methylation on the function and chromatin structure of the human dihydrofolate reductase (DHFR) promoter linked to the DHFR coding sequences (minigene) was studied after DNA-mediated gene transfer into DHFR- CHO cells. Methylation of HhaI sites reduced the transforming frequency to about 10% of control, whereas methylation of HpaII sites had a less significant effect. The integrated genes were demethylated at specific sites in the promoter sequence, namely, HpaII sites around -57 base pairs from the major start site for transcription and HhaI sites around +9, +24, or both. All other HpaII or HhaI sites in the DHFR coding region or in the plasmid sequences remained consistently methylated. The DHFR minigene, after methylation with HhaI methylase, was also introduced without selection by cotransfection with pSV2neo and selection for neor clones in G418. Preferential demethylation of the same sites was observed even without selection for the DHFR+ phenotype. Analysis of the chromatin structure of the integrated minigene revealed characteristic proximal and distal hypersensitive regions of the promoter, as previously observed in human cells. Correctly initiated DHFR mRNA was detected in all of the transformants studied. These results suggest that formation of the characteristic chromatin structure is an intrinsic property of the DHFR promoter sequence and that demethylation of specific sites accompanies gene expression.

Expression of the ompF gene, which is under the control of the OmpR protein, is regulated by the osmolarity of the medium. To study the mechanism of osmoregulation, plasmids carrying two different types of chimeric genes were constructed. In one type, the coding region of the ompF gene was linked to the trp promoter (trpPO) preceding ompF, and in the other type the ompF upstream region, mostly composed of the region for regulation by OmpR and the promoter region, was linked to the lacZ gene by protein fusion. Expression of beta-galactosidase by the lacZ chimeric gene was OmpR dependent and osmoregulated as sensitively as that of the intact ompF gene. In the ompR20 background the direction of osmoregulation was opposite that of normal osmoregulation, as was the direction of osmoregulation of the intact ompF gene. Osmoregulation was also observed with trpPO-ompF chimeric genes. However, the regulation was not as sensitive to the osmolarity of the medium as was regulation of the intact ompF gene and was independent of OmpR. These results suggest that OmpR-dependent osmoregulation played a primary role in the osmoregulation of ompF expression and that ompR-independent osmoregulation most likely did not play a crucial role. Studies with a series of trpPO-ompF chimeric genes also suggest that the untranslated leader region, about 100 base pairs in length, between the transcription initiation site and the initiation codon was not required for osmoregulation.

Supplementation of growth media with high concentrations of substances like sucrose results in the induction of OmpC synthesis and the suppression of OmpF synthesis. We isolated a novel mutant in which OmpF synthesis is in the opposite direction from normal osmoregulation. By transductional mapping, the mutation was localized at 75 min between malA and aroB on the Escherichia coli chromosome map where the ompR-envZ region is. The mutation was suppressed by a plasmid carrying the ompR gene but not by a plasmid carrying the envZ gene alone. The mutation also resulted in the almost complete suppression of OmpC synthesis. However, the remaining OmpC synthesis was osmoregulated normally. Based on these observations, the mechanism of osmoregulation of OmpF-OmpC synthesis is discussed.

Expression of the ompF and ompC genes coding for major outer membrane proteins OmpF and OmpC is regulated in opposite directions by medium osmolarity. Chimera genes were constructed by a reciprocal exchange of the promoter-signal sequence region between the two genes. The chimera gene construction was designed so that the proteins synthesized by these genes were essentially the same as the OmpC and OmpF proteins. Studies with the chimera genes demonstrated that the osmoregulation of the OmpF-OmpC synthesis was promoter dependent. They also showed that cells grew normally even when the osmoregulation took place in opposite directions. The effects of the ompR2 and envZ mutations, which suppress ompC and ompF expression, respectively, also became reversed. The reduced expression was still subject to the promoter-controlled osmoregulation. Based on these observations, the mechanism of regulation of the ompF-ompC gene expression and its physiological importance are discussed.

Vesl-1S (186 amino acids, also called Homer) is a protein containing EVH1- and PDZ-like domains whose expression in the hippocampus is regulated during long term potentiation (LTP), one form of synaptic plasticity thought to underlie memory formation (Kato, A., Ozawa, F., Saitoh, Y., Hirai, K., and Inokuchi, K. (1997) FEBS Lett. 412, 183-189; Brakeman, P. R., Lanahan, A. A., O'Brien, R., Roche, K., Barnes, C. A., Huganir, R. L., and Worley, P. F. (1997) Nature 386, 284-288). Here we report additional members of the Vesl/Homer family of proteins, Vesl-1L and Vesl-2. Vesl-1L (366 amino acids), a splicing variant of Vesl-1S, shares N-terminal 175 amino acids with Vesl-1S and contains additional amino acids at the C terminus. Vesl-2 (354 amino acids) was highly related to Vesl-1L in that both contain EVH1- and PDZ-like domains at the N terminus (86% conservation) and an MCC (mutated in colorectal cancer)-like domain and a leucine zipper at the C terminus. In contrast to vesl-1S, we observed no changes in the levels of vesl-1L and vesl-2 mRNAs during dentate gyrus LTP. All these proteins interacted with metabotropic glutamate receptors (mGluR1 and mGluR5) as well as several hippocampal proteins in vitro. Vesl-1L and Vesl-2, but not Vesl-1S, interacted with each other through the C-terminal portion that was absent in Vesl-1S. Vesl-1L and Vesl-2 may mediate clustering of mGluRs at synaptic junctions. We propose that Vesl-1S may be involved in the structural changes that occur at metabotropic glutamatergic synapses during the maintenance phase of LTP by modulating the redistribution of synaptic components.

A novel mutation affecting the synthesis of major outer membrane proteins OmpF and OmpC in Escherichia coli K-12 is described. The mutation resulted in overproduction of the OmpF protein with concomitant suppression of OmpC synthesis. This mutation, designated as ompFp100, was mapped at 21 min on the E. coli chromosome map with the gene order aroA-aspC-ompF4-ompFp100-asnS-pyrD. This mutation was cis-dominant to the expression of the ompF gene. In addition, the direction of the mRNA transcription of the ompF gene was from asnS to aspC. These results strongly indicate that ompFp100 is a promoter mutation of the ompF gene. Introduction of an ompF mutation, which causes the disappearance of the OmpF protein, into strains carrying the ompFp100 mutation resulted in the reappearance of the OmpC protein in the outer membrane. Addition of a high concentration of sucrose to the medium, which suppresses the OmpF synthesis and stimulates the OmpC synthesis in the wild-type strain, resulted in the reappearance of the OmpC protein in the ompFp100 mutant with concomitant suppression of the overproduction of the OmpF protein. These results suggest that suppression of OmpC synthesis in the ompFp100 mutant is due to overproduction of the OmpF protein.

Thirty-two patients with a solitary hepatocellular carcinoma of less than 4 cm diameter were treated during the 13 years from 1971 to 1983, two-thirds of them since 1981. Serum α-fetoprotein levels proved to be an excellent diagnostic tool for these early stage carcinomas which are generally asymptomatic. Ultrasonography forms an invaluable test for the detection of occult liver cancer and has enhanced the ability to detect small sized lesions. The accuracy of this method increased from 25 per cent for the period 1971-1980 to 89 per cent for the period 1981–1983. The cumulative survival rates for the 32 patients treated by hepatic resection at 1, 2 and 5 years were 85, 70 and 22.2 per cent (excluded from these figures are four operative deaths giving a 12.5 per cent operative mortality).

The results of 231 oesophageal resections and reconstruction in 395 patients with thoracic oesophageal carcinoma presenting in the last 20 years are reported. In patients over 70, the incidence of multiple pathology and postoperative complication was high. The most frequent causes of death after surgery were pulmonary complications, and anastomotic leakage. As the mortality rate in the aged group exceeded that of the younger groups, careful pre-operative assessment, the indication for surgery and postoperative care should be carefully considered, even though only surgery offers a hope of cure for patients with oesophageal carcinoma. If the elderly can tolerate the surgical procedures, the 5 year survival rate equals that of the younger patients.

The clinicopathological characteristics of early gastric carcinoma (EGC) in 23 Japanese under 30 years of age were reviewed and the findings compared with data on 53 patients over age 70. In the young patients, there was a female preponderance, a macroscopic solitary lesion and the cancer was of the poorly differentiated type without intestinal metaplasia in the surrounding mucosa. In the old patients, there was a male preponderance; about half the number of patients had macro-scopically elevated lesions and 10 of the 53 had a multifocal gastric carcinoma. Here, most lesions were well to moderately differentiated types with intestinal metaplasia in the surrounding area. Growth patterns of EGC in the young patients were analysed. Curative operations with dissection of regional lymph nodes were done in all the young patients. Metastases to the regional lymph nodes were present in only 2 of 23. Twenty of twenty-three followed for 5 years or longer are well.

The value of the cough reflex and its pressure and flow in the immediate postoperative period was measured in patients who underwent subtotal oesophagectomy and reconstruction for oesophageal cancer and other thoracic surgery. Twenty-two patients with subtotal oesophagectomy and reconstruction were found to have an extensive reduction in cough reflex and force, compared with those who had undergone pulmonary lobectomy. Damage to the vagal nerve caused by dissection of the paratracheal lymph nodes, and injury to the diaphragm during operation for oesophageal cancer appeared to be responsible for the inability to cough. It was of interest that the patients who showed a high value of cough reflex and force in the immediate postoperative period had few pulmonary complications. The postoperative measurement of cough ability may be a useful indicator for safe extubation of the intratracheal tube, as a means of preventing pulmonary complications after thoracic surgery. Continuous mechanical ventilation and frequent suction to remove retained secretions are strongly recommended for the patients who are unable to cough properly.

The Philadelphia (Ph1) chromosome, in which the hybrid bcr-abl gene is formed, is thought to be the initial event in chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML). The position of the breakpoint within the breakpoint cluster region (bcr) on Ph1 chromosome and the splicing pattern determine the species of the fused bcr-abl messenger RNA (mRNA). We tried to detect the two types of fused mRNAs in 57 chronic-phase cases of Ph1-positive CML using the polymerase chain reaction procedure (RT- PCR). The bcr exon 2/abl exon 2 fused mRNA (b2-a2) was detected in 17 patients, the bcr exon 3/abl exon 2 fused mRNA (b3-a2) was detected in 34 patients, and both types of mRNA were detected in six patients. The platelet counts of patients who expressed b3-a2 mRNA or both types were significantly higher than those of patients who expressed only b2-a2 (841.5 v 373.5 x 10(9)/L; P less than .015), although there was no significant difference in the white blood cell counts or hemoglobin. This finding suggests a possibility that the type of bcr-abl mRNA may affect the thrombopoietic activity in CML.

The behavior of dislocations in the interfacial region between the epitaxial layer grown from the liquid phase and the substrate of GaAs is investigated. Observations of dislocations lying along the 〈110〉 directions were carried out using an optical microscope after shallow etching with a new chemical etchant. The dislocations are traced by the repetition of etching from epitaxial layer to the interface. The results show that dislocations in the substrates are expected to bend along the direction normal to the epitaxial growth direction at the interface.

Abstract: Intraspinal synovial cyst primarily occurs in the lumbar spine and may cause back pain and compression nerve disturbance. Percutaneous aspiration has been recommended as an alternative to surgery in three cases. We report on two patients who improved after aspiration of gelatinous material and steroid injection but whose cyst recurred within a short period of time. There are reportedly two types of synovial cyst: One contains serosanguinous fluid and the other gelatinous fluid. These two types are indistinguishable on computed tomography or magnetic resonance imaging. The results of all patients whose aspirated material was gelantinous were unsuccessful, including our cases. Thus, the outcome may depend on the pathology of the cyst.