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An electron-hole system in a direct-gap semiconductor that is coherently excited by a high-intensity laser is investigated. The stationary state of the system in the presence of laser field is described by Bogolyubov quasiparticles. Using a mean-field approximation, we derive a set of basic equations including electron-electron, hole-hole, and electron-hole screened Coulomb interactions. The screening effects are incorporated self-consistently on the basis of a quasistatic random-phase approximation. The stationary state has a fixed chemical potential and is controlled by the frequency of the laser field

The in vitro and in vivo effects of cryopreservation on the cytotoxic activity of murine lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells were studied. LAK cells were generated by incubation of spleen lymphocytes of BALB/c mice for 3 days with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and subsequent cryopreservation. Cytotoxicity was determined in a 51Cr release assay. After thawing, cytotoxic activity was reduced (40.4% 51Cr release at an effector:target cell ratio of 40:1 as compared to 68.5% 51Cr release before freezing) and could be restored to precryopreserved levels by reincubation with rIL-2 for 2 days after thawing (78.8% 51Cr release). These cells were then tested in BALB/c mice injected with RAW 112 cells, a pre-B-cell lymphoma line. The results demonstrate that the survival rate of mice injected with cryopreserved and restimulated LAK cells (50% survival greater than 180 days after injection) did not differ significantly from that of mice injected with fresh unfrozen LAK cells (60% survival greater than 120 days, 50% survival greater than 180 days). Cryopreserved LAK cells have potential use in adoptive immunotherapy.

Selective removal of malignant cells (purging) from bone marrow (BM) is a concern in autologous BM transplantation (ABMT). Use of vincristine, etoposide, or doxorubicin for purging could be rendered ineffective by the presence of multidrug-resistant (MDR) tumor cells. To circumvent this particular problem, we investigated whether 17F9, a monoclonal IgG2b antibody directed against the cell surface product of the MDR gene, P-glycoprotein, is effective in selective removal of MDR cells from BM when used with rabbit complement (C′). Using two different cell lines we have demonstrated that 17F9 + C′ selectively lyses MDR- positive cells. Three rounds of antibody + C′ resulted in 96.4% +/- 3.6% kill of K562/DOX and 100% +/- 0% of CEM/VLB cells. Mixtures of malignant cells and normal BM resulted in 99.85% removal of K562/DOX and 99.91% removal of CEM/VLB clonogenic cells. This treatment did not affect normal committed precursors compared with C′ alone. The addition of the cytotoxic agent etoposide (VP-16) following antibody purging results in a 4.6 log reduction of malignant cells. Furthermore, this antibody was effective when used against patients' leukemic blasts. These results suggest the use of 17F9 + C′ is effective and selective for removal of MDR cells from BM before ABMT and the addition of VP-16 enhances the purging efficacy.

症例は43歳,女性,長野県小川村の出身.平成8年1月30日,突然頻回の嘔吐発作後に吐血をきたし当科受診,上部消化管内視鏡検査にて吐血の原因はMallory-Weiss症候群と診断した.この時に施行した胃,十二指腸の生検組織からフミロイド沈着が確認され,さらに家族歴及び遺伝子解析にてI型家族性アミロイドポリニューロパシーと診断した.吐血を契機に行った内視鏡時の消化管生検が診断に有用であった家族性アミロイドポリニューロパシーを経験した.

The effect of cryopreservation on the cytotoxic activity of lymphokine-activated killer (LAK) cells was studied. LAK cells were generated by incubating peripheral blood lymphocytes for 3–5 days with recombinant interleukin-2 (rIL-2) and then cryopreserved using a programmed freezer. Cytotoxicity was determined in a 51Cr release assay. After thawing, the LAK cells had reduced cytoxicity (25.5–39.1% as compared to the original lytic units). Cytotoxic activity could be restored to pre-cryopreserved levels by reincubation with rIL-2 for 2 days after thawing. Thus, maximal cytotoxicity of cryopreserved LAK cells could be achieved by incubation with rIL-2 before and after the freezing process. The level of cytotoxicity was comparable to that of LAK cells from fresh peripheral blood lymphocytes. Cryopreserved LAK cells may have potential in adoptive immunotherapy.

A 66-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of bloody sputum. Chest computed tomographic scans disclosed a right hilar tumor. A tumor in the right upper-lobe bronchus was detected by fiberoptic bronchoscopy. Microscopic examination disclosed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. The patient was treated with irradiation and combination chemotherapy. Thereafter, right chylous pleural effusion developed and continued to accumulate. Pleurodesis was induced by the intrathoracic injection of OK-432 at 15 KE per dose. Lung cancer with nontraumatic chylothorax is rare. In our patient, pleurodesis with OK-432 was an effective treatment.

Purpose Normal tension glaucoma (NTG) is a subtype of glaucoma in which intraocular pressure is within the statistically normal range. NTG may be associated with an immune disorder. The aim of this study was to determine whether specific alleles in the human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 genes correlated with NTG in Japanese patients. Methods We genotyped the HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 alleles in 113 Japanese patients with NTG and in 184 healthy Japanese control subjects using the polymerase chain reaction-sequence-specific oligonucleotide probes (PCR-SSOP) Luminex method. We assessed the allelic diversity in patients and controls. Results There were no statistically significant differences in the allele frequency of HLADRB1 and HLA-DQB1 between NTG patients and control subjects, and no HLA-DRB1-HLA-DQB1 haplotypes demonstrated any significant association with NTG. Conclusions Our findings suggest that HLA-DRB1 and HLA-DQB1 polymorphisms have no significant effect on the development of NTG in Japanese patients.