Search

Based on the high time and spatial resolution total electron content (TEC) data, which is estimated from the phase and code observables obtained by using GPS (Global Positioning System) Earth Observation Network (GEONET), the TEC distribution and its time variation over Japanese Islands are scaled into 0.5° × 0.5° grid data for each 10 minutes. The TEC daily map time series are arranged in an array to show the TEC evolution. Based on the spherical harmonics expansion of global ionospheric TEC model (GIM), which is estimated from global GPS observation, the TEC maps are expanded firstly through as high as 60 degrees and orders for a spherical harmonic function as a regional ionosphere map (RIM). The evolution history of medium scale traveling ionospheric disturbances (MSTIDs), i.e. polarward intense TEC enhancement and pre-noon rapid irregular fluctuations near the geomagnetic equator, are identified and confirmed in a quiet geomagnetic period.

Steroid hormones, such as progesterone, oestrogen, androgen and meiosis activating sterols, are secreted from cumulus cells that are stimulated by gonadotrophins during maturation of oocytes in vitro. These steroid hormones may be absorbed by mineral oil or paraffin oil; however, in vitro maturation of pig oocytes is commonly performed using medium covered by oil. In this study, high concentrations of progesterone, oestradiol and testosterone were detected in the culture medium after pig cumulus-oocyte complexes (COCs) were cultured with FSH and LH for 44 h in medium without an oil overlay. However, high concentrations of these steroid hormones were not detected in medium when COCs were cultured with the mineral oil overlay. When high concentrations of these steroid hormones were secreted by COCs, germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and the activation of p34(cdc2) kinase and mitogen-activated protein (MAP) kinase in oocytes occurred earlier in comparison with oocytes cultured in medium covered with mineral oil. Moreover, a decrease in p34(cdc2) kinase activity during meiotic progression beyond metaphase I was observed in oocytes cultured in conditions under which high concentrations of steroid hormones were secreted by COCs. In addition, the rate of development to the blastocyst stage after IVF was higher in oocytes matured in medium without an oil overlay. These adverse effects of oil may be explained by absorption by the oil of cumulus-secreted steroids or by the release of toxic compounds into the medium.

We report a fatal case of death due to unusual aspiration of sardine fry in an elderly Japanese man with lung cancer. The cause of death was sudden respiratory arrest while eating. Autopsy revealed peculiar materials with cell nests and pigmented particles, together with striated muscle and skin, in the ectatic bronchioles of the left lower lobe. Serial histologic sections suggested that the structures observed were the eyeballs of small animals that appeared to have been inhaled. The patient had habitually eaten sardine fry and rice gruel, which were also detected in the gastric contents. Therefore, the eyes were considered to be those of the fry, which is a popular food item in Japan. This was confirmed by histologic examination of fry that were obtained commercially.

Abstract Ladsin, a homolog of laminin-5, is a large cell-adhesive protein with potent cell-scattering activity. In the present study, we investigated, by immunohistochemistry, the distribution of ladsin in a wide range of normal adult human epithelial tissues along with that of integrin subunit α3 as a marker of integrin α3β1, which is the primary receptor of ladsin. Our results demonstrated that ladsin was localized in the basement membranes of almost all the epithelial tissues with coexisting integrin subunit α3 along the cell membranes, suggesting that their interaction is important in the maintenance of normal architecture and function of these membranes. Only cytoplasmic localization of ladsin was observed in the fundic glands, hepatocytes, renal tubuli, and acini of the mammary glands, and in these tissues, integrin subunit α3 was also localized in the cytoplasm. Both ladsin and integrin subunit α3 were absent in the acini of the pancreas, major salivary glands, and bronchial glands. These tissue- and cell type-specific localizations of ladsin and integrin subunit α3 likely reflect the differences in their role and function in each tissue.

Summary:  As the biological behaviour of germinoma with syncytiotrophoblastic giant cells (STGC) is not well established, the present study was undertaken to ascertain the prognostic significance of serum hCG level in affected patients. Of a total of 23 cases studied, 12 patients were regarded as pure germinomas and 11 were germinomas with STGC. All but one of the former demonstrated an excellent outcome. The exception developed subarachnoid metastases, but the tumour disappeared on radiation therapy and the patient is enjoying a normal social life 13 years after the initial treatment. With the germinoma complicated by STGC, 3 cases showed local recurrence which were followed by a poor outcome. Their pretreatment hCG levels were 15.0, 26.0 and 29.6 mIU/ml respectively. The study showed a tendency, in germinomas with STGC, for a positive association between serum hCG, and the likelihood of a poor outcome. Germinomas with STGC and serum hCG levels higher than 15 mIU/ml thus have a high recurrence rate, and more aggressive treatment is indicated for the affected patients.

A pituitary tumour composed of well-differentiated corticotrophs and adrenocortical cells is reported. Sections of the tumour revealed a mixture of small round cells with amphophilic or basophilic periodic acid-Schiff (PAS)-positive cytoplasm and large spherical and oval cells with abundant, granular, partly vacuolated PAS-negative cytoplasm. The small cells contained type 1 cytokeratin-positive microfilaments, numerous 250–500 nm endocrine-type secretory granules immunoreactive for adenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) and ß-lipotropin. The large cells possessed ample cytoplasm filled with abundant vesicular smooth endoplasmic reticulum, numerous mitochondria possessing tubulovesicular cristae and frequent dense bodies. They lacked the features of pituitary endocrine cells or folliculostellate cells and were found to contain a panel of steroidogenic dehydrogenases and hydroxylases. The tumour was classified as a choristoma, in which two distinct cells types, corticotrophs and adrenocortical cells, were mixed. We suggest that, under continued ACTH stimulation, uncommitted stem cells may differentiate into adrenocortical cells. Alternatively, the presence of adrenocortical cells may be the result of heterotopia.

Background: Surgical resection for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) can be curative in selected patients, particularly in those with a solitary small HCC (s-sHCC; 2 cm or less in diameter). However, even these patients often have a risk of tumor recurrence or death from underlying liver dysfunction. Therefore it is important to determine which clinicopathologic features are related to the long-term prognosis after resection of s-sHCC. Methods: Fifty patients with s-sHCC underwent partial hepatectomy at our department between 1977 and 1992. Six (12%) died of liver failure in hospital after operation. Eight clinicopathologic features were examined in the remaining 44 patients with regard to their long-term prognosis by use of univariate and multivariate analyses. Results: The 1-, 3-, and 5-year survival rates were 90%, 75%, and 53%, respectively. The corresponding disease-free survival rates were 80%, 53%, and 30%, respectively. None of the following parameters was significantly related to survival rate or disease-free survival rate: presence of vascular invasion or capsular formation, the distance of free surgical margin (1 cm or more or not), serum @a-fetoprotein level, positive hepatitis B surface antigen, and preoperative transarterial embolization. Complicated liver function was the only significant factor related to survival rate and disease-free survival rate. Conclusions: A good hepatic reserve is an important factor in treating patients with s-sHCC by surgical resection, even for a long-term prognosis. Liver transplantation should be considered for patients with severe cirrhosis and s-sHCC, even though a curative resection might be possible.

The usefulness of percutaneous transhepatic biliary drainage (PTBD) in the treatment of obstructive jaundice caused by metastases from nonbiliary and nonpancreatic cancers was evaluated. Eighteen patients underwent PTBD during a 3-year period. The primary cancers were located in the stomach (nine cases), colon (four), lung (three), uterus (one), and breast (one). The causes of obstructive jaundice and bile duct strictures were investigated using both abdominal computed tomography and abdominal ultrasonography. The causes of obstructive jaundice, the usefulness of PTBD in terms of the relief of symptoms and laboratory data, survival after PTBD, and the relationship between patient characteristics and survival were evaluated. Obstructive jaundice was most often attributable to metastases to the lymph nodes (17 of 18 cases). One case was attributed to metastasis to the liver. PTBD decreased the jaundice and relieved the symptoms caused by biliary tract obstruction. Median survival after PTBD was 59 days. Patients whose performance status was 2 or less survived longer than those with a performance status of 3 or more (P=0.018). Furthermore, patients aged less than 60 years tended to survive longer than those aged 60 or over (P=0.057). Our results suggest that PTBD is useful for relief of symptoms caused by obstructive jaundice in patients with nonbiliary and nonpancreatic cancers.

Tumor tissue located in the occipital lobe with hemorrhage was obtained from a 19-year-old patient. Histological examination indicated it to consist of undifferentiated small, round cells without neuronal or glial differentiation, and possibly to be a type of primitive neuroectodermal tumor. The tumor cells were cultured for 3 years and a continuous cell line (KK-2) was established. KK-2 was transplantable to nude mice. With immunocytochemistry, neuron-specific enolase, protein gene product 9.5, vimentin, TUJ1 (a monoclonal antibody specific for neuron-associated class III ß-tubulin isotype) and 6H7 (a monoclonal antibody to NCAM produced by us) were detected. None of the following could be found: glial fibrillary acidic protein, S-100 protein, neurofilament and synaptophysin, calcitonin gene-related peptide, gastrin releasing peptide corticotropin-releasing factor, substance P, somatostatin, chromogranin, aromatic l-amino acid decarboxylase and tyrosine hydroxylase. The original tumor and KK-2 cells obtained after 3 years of culture and transplants in nude mice displayed essentially the same ultrastructural and immunohistochemical characteristics. KK-2 cells showed no differentiation to mature neuronal, glial or ependymal cells. This cell line may possibly serve as a useful model for studying cellular differentiation of human neuroectodermal tumors and normal neuronal development.

Summary A study was undertaken to investigate the correlation between histological invasiveness and proliferating potential and clinical recurrence in meningioma. In 39 meningiomas, the histological findings at the tumour-brain interface zone were classified into 3 types, consisting of 29 cases of non-invasion (NON), 7 cases of nodular invasion (NOD), and 3 cases of intermingled invasion (INT). Proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA) and argyrophilic nucleolar organizer region (AgNOR) indices were studied. PCNA indices (mean±standard error) of NON, NOD, and INT were 1.7±0.1%, 5.2±0.5%, and 7.5±0.7%, respectively, and the AgNOR indices (dot number/nucleus) were 1.50±0.03, 2.00±0.04, and 2.22±0.07, respectively. Significant differences were found among the three types in both parameters. Clinically, tumour recurrence was observed in 1/29 NON, 4/7 NOD, and 2/2 INT cases, indicating a higher incidence of recurrence in invasive meningiomas (NOD plus INT). Four of 32 patients who underwent gross total removal of the tumours showed recurrence, and all of these four tumours were invasive meningiomas. The results of the present study showed that tumour invasiveness as measured by PCNA + AgNOR indices correlated well with high proliferative potential and clinical recurrence.

A brain tumor of a 22-year-old man was composed mostly of round cells with perinuclear halos (clear cells), forming clusters intersected by small blood vessels. In some areas, the tumor cells showed perivascular arrangement and epithelial pattern. Phosphotungstic-acid hematoxylin stain and immunoper-oxidase stain for glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP) technique failed to stain the clear cells. Electron microscopy of the clear cells revealed them to be classical ependymoma cells with well developed intercellular junctions, microvilli and cilia. As no reporters in the past showed the evidence to clarify the nature of the clear cells, this case is considered a good example to support the viewpoint that the clear cells (oligodendroglioma-like cells) commonly observed in ependymomas are in reality ependymoma cells. It is stressed that the diagnosis of “mixed glioma” or “oligoependymoma” should be made with sufficient caution despite the recent advances of GFAP technique.

Not Available

The reliability of multilayer ceramic capacitors (MLCCs) with Ni internal electrodes has been studied trom the viewpoint of partial oxygen pressure ( P O2 ) during firing. It is shown that the load-life time of the insulation resistance (1R) was prolonged by firing under low P o 2 annealing after firing, and the addition of dopants. It is also shown that the generation of oxygen vacancies led to the degradation of IR. Annealing treatment for the oxidation of the dielectric body accelerates the dielectric aging of MLCCs. It is found that the appropriate control of the P O2 during firing can improve the reliability of MLCCs with Ni electrodes to a level as high as that of MLCCs with precious metal electrodes. Thus, we have developed an MLCC with Ni electrodes that features high reliability and a large capacitance of 10 μF for the Y5V characteristic and 4.7 μF for the X7R characteristic, both in the case of the C3216 (3.2 mm × 1.6 mm × 1.4 mm) form.

Three cases of meningiomas which had abundant small vacuoles in the tumor tissue are reported. By electron microscopy, the tumor cells exhibited long and thin processes, the tips of which were united by desmosomes. The tumor tissue was revealed to have wide extracellular spaces which corresponded to the vacuoles observed by light microscopy. In previous literature, various terms have been used when referring to this meningioma, such as microcystic meningioma or vacuolated meningioma. Since the ultrastructure of the tumor showed similarity to that of normal arachnoid trabecular cells, we propose to call the tumor “arachnoid trabecular cell meningioma” denoting its morphological nature clearly.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

ChemInform is a weekly Abstracting Service, delivering concise information at a glance that was extracted from about 100 leading journals. To access a ChemInform Abstract of an article which was published elsewhere, please select a “Full Text” option. The original article is trackable via the “References” option.

Five fluorenols (III) and (VI) (syn‐form shown in the scheme) are prepared.