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Gastric adenocarcinoma of fundic-gland type (GA-FG) is a gastric malignancy with little relation to Helicobacter pylori. Clinical characteristics of GA-FG have been established, but molecular mechanisms leading to tumorigenesis have not yet been elucidated.We subjected three GA-FG tumors-normal mucosa pairs to microarray analysis. Network analysis was performed for the top 30 up-regulated gene transcripts, followed by immunohistochemical staining to confirm the gene expression analysis results. AGS and NUGC4 cells were transfected with the gene-encoding NK2 homeobox 1/thyroid transcription factor 1 (NKX2-1/TTF-1) to evaluate transcriptional changes in its target genes.Comprehensive gene expression analysis identified 1410 up-regulated and 1395 down-regulated gene probes with ≥ two-fold difference in expression. Among the top 30 up-regulated genes in GA-FG, we identified transcription factor NKX2-1/TTF-1, a master regulator of lung/thyroid differentiation, together with surfactant protein B (SFTPB), SFTPC, and secretoglobin family 3A member 2(SCGB3A2), which are regulated by NKX2-1/TTF-1. Immunohistochemical analysis of 16 GA-FG specimens demonstrated significantly higher NKX2-1/TTF-1 and SFTPB levels, as compared to that in adjacent normal mucosa (P 0.05), while SCGB3A2 levels did not differ (P = 0.341). Transduction of NKX2-1/TTF-1 into AGS and NUGC4 cells induced transactivation of SFTPB and SFTPC, indicating that NKX2-1/TTF-1 can function as normally in gastric cells as it can in the lung cells.Our first transcriptome analysis of GA-FG indicates significant expression of NKX2-1/TTF1 in GA-FG. Immunohistochemistry and cell biology show ectopic expression and normal transactivation ability of NKX2-1/TTF-1, suggesting that it plays an essential role in GA-FG development.

Postmortem computed tomography (CT) is an essential tool for investigating the causes of death. Postmortem CT has characteristic imaging findings and should not be interpreted in the same manner as clinical antemortem images. In analyzing the cause of death in in-hospital death cases using postmortem images, it is crucial to understand early postmortem and post-resuscitation changes. In addition, it is essential to understand the limitations of diagnosing the cause of death or significant pathology relating to death on non-contrast-enhanced postmortem CT. In Japan, there has also been social demand to establish a system for postmortem imaging at the time of death. To facilitate such a system, clinical radiologists should be prepared to interpret postmortem images and assess the cause of death. This review article provides comprehensive information regarding unenhanced postmortem CT for in-hospital death cases in daily clinical practice in Japan.

Preoperative chemoradiotherapy (CRT) followed by total mesorectal excision (TME) without lateral lymph node (LLN) dissection is widely performed for lower advanced rectal cancer. However, it is unclear whether residual cancer cells in the LLNs undergo apoptosis, disappear, or regrow if unresected.Overall, 293 consecutive patients with T3/4 rectal cancer who underwent CRT followed by radical surgery between September 2003 and December 2018 were retrospectively reviewed. We assessed apoptosis of the residual primary tumor, mesorectum lymph nodes (MLN), and LLN using M30 cytoDEATH immunostaining and evaluated the degree of apoptosis. The difference in the prognosis of the lateral lymph node metastasis positive (LLNM +) and lateral lymph node metastasis negative (LLNM-) groups was assessed.There were 31 patients (10.6%) who were diagnosed with a complete response by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) staining. The residual cancer cells showed complete apoptosis in the primary lesion in 28 patients, in the metastatic MLN in only two patients, and in the metastatic LLN in one patient. The LLNM + group had a significantly poorer distant recurrence, recurrence-free survival, and overall survival than the LLNM- group.The majority of the residual cancer tissue in LNs observed by HE staining was found to be non-apoptotic. If LLN metastasis is suspected on pretreatment imaging, performing LLN dissection together with TME should be considered.

Background Thresholding apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps obtained from Diffusion-Weighted-Imaging (DWI) has been proposed for identifying benign lesions that can safely avoid biopsy. The presence of malignancies with high ADC values leads to high thresholds, limiting numbers of avoidable biopsies. Purpose We evaluate two previously reported methods for identifying avoidable biopsies: using case-set dependent ADC thresholds that assure 100% sensitivity and using negative likelihood ratio (LR-) with a fixed ADC threshold of 1.50 × 10–3 mm2/s. We evaluated improvements in efficacy obtained by excluding non-mass lesions and lesions with anisotropic intra-lesion morphologic characteristics. Study type Prospective. Population 55 adult females with dense breasts with 69 BI-RADS 4 or 5 lesions (38 malignant, 31 benign) identified on ultrasound and mammography and imaged with MRI prior to biopsy. Field strength/sequence 1.5 T and 3.0 T. DWI. Assessment Analysis of DWI, including directional images was done on an ROI basis. ROIs were drawn on DWI images acquired prior to biopsy, referencing all available images including DCE, and mean ADC was measured. Anisotropy was quantified via variation in ADC values in the lesion core across directional DWI images. Statistical tests Improvement in specificity at 100% sensitivity was evaluated with exact McNemar test with 1-sided p-value Results Using ADC thresholding that assures 100% sensitivity, non-mass and directional variance filtering improved the percent of avoidable biopsies to 42% from baseline of 10% achieved with ADC thresholding alone. Using LR-, filtering improved outcome to 0.06 from baseline 0.25 with ADC thresholding alone. ADC thresholding showed a lower percentage of avoidable biopsies in our cohort than reported in prior studies. When ADC thresholding was supplemented with filtering, the percentage of avoidable biopsies exceeded those of prior studies. Data conclusion Supplementing ADC thresholding with filters excluding non-mass lesions and lesions with anisotropic characteristics on DWI can result in an increased number of avoidable biopsies.

Melanocortin 4 receptor gene-knockout (MC4R-KO) mice are known to develop obesity with a high-fat diet. Meanwhile, daisaikoto, one of Kampo medicines, is a drug that is expected to have therapeutic effects on obesity. Here, we report the efficacy of daisaikoto in MC4R-KO mice. Eight-week-old MC4R-KO male mice (n = 12) were divided into three groups as follows: the SD group, which is fed with a standard diet; the HFD group, fed a high-fat diet; and the DSK group, fed with a high-fat diet containing 10% of daisaikoto. After the four-week observation period, mice in each group were sacrificed and samples were collected. The body weights at 12 weeks were significantly higher in the HFD group than in the other groups, indicating that daisaikoto significantly reduced body weight gain and fat deposition of the liver. The metabolome analysis indicated that degradation of triglycerides and fatty acid oxidation in the liver were enhanced by daisaikoto administration. In MC4R-KO mice, the cytoplasm and uncoupling protein 1 expression of brown adipose tissue was decreased; however, it was reversed in the DSK group. In conclusion, daisaikoto has potentially improved fatty liver and obesity, making it a useful therapeutic agent for obesity and fatty liver.

This study assessed the effect of magnifying endoscopy with narrow-band imaging (M-NBI) on the endoscopic differential diagnosis between intramucosal gastric carcinomas and adenomas with matched characteristics. Associations between magnified endoscopic findings and pathological high-grade cellular and architectural atypia were also investigated. In total, the records of 50 adenomas and 50 intramucosal well-differentiated adenocarcinomas matched by tumor size (≥ 20 mm or

Glisson invasion by CLM is associated with a risk of margin-positive resection, leading to poor long-term outcomes after hepatectomy. This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of intraoperative ultrasonography (IOUS) for the diagnosis of Glisson’s capsule invasion by colorectal liver metastasis (CLM). This prospective study involved 50 consecutive patients undergoing hepatectomy for CLM. Preoperatively, all patients had undergone gadolinium ethoxybenzyl diethylenetriamine pentaacetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (EOB-MRI). During hepatectomy, a contrast agent (perflubutane) was intravenously injected and Glisson invasion was estimated based on three characteristic findings: a tumor thrombus, peripheral dilatation, and border irregularity/caliber change. The diagnostic abilities of the preoperative and intraoperative imaging studies were evaluated based on pathological examinations of resected specimens. Among 187 CLMs resected, pathological examinations proved Glisson invasion in 24 tumors (13%). IOUS revealed a tumor thrombus in 3 tumors (1.6%), peripheral dilatation in 4 (2.1%), and border irregularity and/or caliber change in 24 (12.8%). The sensitivity and specificity of IOUS with any of the above three findings for diagnosis of Glisson invasion was 79% and 96%, respectively, while preoperative EOB-MRI detected Glisson invasion in only four tumors (sensitivity/specificity, 17%/100%). The cutoff value of caliber change for diagnosis of Glisson invasion was set at 140% by receiver operating characteristic analysis. The R0 resection rates were not significantly different between patients with (82%) and without (85%) Glisson invasion. Identification of characteristic findings (tumor thrombus, peripheral dilatation, and border irregularity/caliber change) by contrast-enhanced IOUS is useful for the prediction of Glisson invasion by CLM.

Thirty years have passed since a possible association of Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) with gastric carcinoma was reported. We now know EBV-associated gastric carcinoma to be a specific subtype of gastric carcinoma. Global epigenetic methylation and counteraction of the antitumour microenvironment are two major characteristics of this subtype of gastric carcinoma. Recent development of therapeutic modalities for gastric carcinoma, such as endoscopic mucosal dissection and immune checkpoint inhibitor therapy, has made the presence of EBV infection a biomarker for the treatment of gastric carcinoma. This review presents a portrait of EBV-associated gastric carcinoma from initiation to maturity that we define as the 'gastritis-infection-cancer sequence', followed by its molecular abnormalities and interactions with immune checkpoint molecules and the microenvironment. EBV non-coding RNAs (microRNA and circular RNA) and exosomes derived from EBV-infected cells that were previously behind the scenes are now recognized for their roles in EBV-associated gastric carcinoma. The virus utilizes cellular machinery skilfully to control infected cells and their microenvironment. We should thus strive to understand virus-host interactions more fully in the following years to overcome this virus-driven subtype of gastric carcinoma.

Background Schwannomas are neoplasms that typically arise from the myelin sheath of peripheral nerves and rarely originate within the brain parenchyma. Some case reports present schwannomas arising from the brainstem, but regrowth of the tumor and the efficacy of postoperative irradiation have not been examined. In addition, the genetic background of schwannomas arising from the brainstem has not been investigated. Case presentation A 21-year-old male presented with diplopia, dysphagia, and left-sided hemiparesis, dysesthesia, and ataxia. Intracranial imaging showed a heterogeneous mass with a cystic lesion in the pontomedullary junction. Since the tumor caused obstructive hydrocephalus, the patient underwent subtotal tumor resection. A histopathologic evaluation aided a diagnosis of brainstem intraparenchymal schwannoma. Gradual postoperative mass regrowth was recognized. Three-dimensional conformal radiotherapy was performed on the residual mass and surgical cavity. No tumor regrowth was observed 4 years after surgery. To investigate the genetic background of the tumor, target sequences for 36 genes, including NF2, SMARCB1, and LZTR1, and microsatellite analysis for loss of 22q did not show any somatic variants or 22q loss. Conclusions We suggest that brainstem schwannomas might differ from conventional schwannomas in their genetic background.

Background The aim of this study was to clarify whether a cancer stem cell marker could be an indicator of post-operative peritoneal recurrence of colon cancer. Methods Expression of four putative markers (CD133, CD44 variant 6, aldehyde dehydrogenase-1 and leucine-rich repeating G-protein-coupled receptor-5 (LGR5)) was evaluated immunohistochemically in primary tumour samples from 292 patients who underwent curative resection for non-metastasised pT4 colon cancer at the University of Tokyo Hospital between 1997 and 2015. Results Peritoneal recurrence was significantly higher in LGR5-negative cases (5-year cumulative incidence: 27.5% vs. 14.4%, p = 0.037). Multivariable analysis confirmed that negative LGR5 expression was an independent risk factor for peritoneal recurrence (hazard ratio (HR) 2.79, p = 0.005) in addition to poor differentiation, positive lymph node metastasis, preoperative carcinoembryonic antigen > 5 ng/mL and anastomotic leakage. The addition of LGR5 significantly improved the predictive value of the multivariable model (net reclassification improvement: 0.186, p = 0.028: integrated discrimination improvement: 0.047, p = 0.008). Conclusions Negative LGR5 expression was a significant predictor of peritoneal recurrence in patients with pT4 colon cancer. Therefore, LGR5 might be a promising biomarker to identify patients at high risk of post-operative peritoneal metastasis.

Despite the accumulating evidences of the significance of humoral cancer immunity, its molecular mechanisms have largely remained elusive. Here we show that B-cell repertoire sequencing of 102 clinical gastric cancers and molecular biological analyses unexpectedly reveal that the major humoral cancer antigens are not case-specific neo-antigens but are rather commonly identified as ribonucleoproteins (RNPs) in the focal adhesion complex. These common antigens are shared as autoantigens with multiple autoimmune diseases, suggesting a direct molecular link between cancer- and auto-immunity on the focal adhesion RNP complex. This complex is partially exposed to the outside of cancer cell surfaces, which directly evokes humoral immunity and enables functional bindings of antibodies to cancer cell surfaces in physiological conditions. These findings shed light on humoral cancer immunity in that it commonly targets cellular components fundamental for cytoskeletal integrity and cell movement, pointing to a novel modality of immunotherapy using humoral immunological reactions to cancers., Atsumi et al. identify antigens to B-cell receptors isolated from gastric tumour samples. They find that focal adhesion-related protein complexes, several of which are also targets for autoimmune disease, are major humoral cancer antigens. These findings provide insights into humoral immunity in tumor environments.

Background There is an increasing interest in non-contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) for detecting and evaluating breast lesions. We present a methodology utilizing lesion core and periphery region of interest (ROI) features derived from directional diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) data to evaluate performance in discriminating benign from malignant lesions in dense breasts. Methods We accrued 55 dense-breast cases with 69 lesions (31 benign; 38 cancer) at a single institution in a prospective study; cases with ROIs exceeding 7.50 cm2 were excluded, resulting in analysis of 50 cases with 63 lesions (29 benign, 34 cancers). Spin-echo echo-planar imaging DWI was acquired at 1.5 T and 3 T. Data from three diffusion encoding gradient directions were exported and processed independently. Lesion ROIs were hand-drawn on DWI images by two radiologists. A region growing algorithm generated 3D lesion models on augmented apparent-diffusion coefficient (ADC) maps and defined lesion core and lesion periphery sub-ROIs. A lesion-core and a lesion-periphery feature were defined and combined into an overall classifier whose performance was compared to that of mean ADC using receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis. Inter-observer variability in ROI definition was measured using Dice Similarity Coefficient (DSC). Results The region-growing algorithm for 3D lesion model generation improved inter-observer variability over hand drawn ROIs (DSC: 0.66 vs 0.56 (p 0.8) in 46% vs 13% of cases, respectively (p Conclusions A classifier generated from directional DWI information using lesion core and lesion periphery information separately can improve lesion discrimination in dense breasts over mean ADC and should be considered for inclusion in computer-aided diagnosis algorithms. Our model-based ROIs could facilitate standardization of breast MRI computer-aided diagnostics (CADx).

To evaluate the diagnostic utility of electric properties tomography (EPT) in differentiating benign from malignant breast lesions in comparison with dynamic contrast-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (DCE-MRI). In this institutional review board-approved retrospective study, 116 consecutive patients with 141 breast lesions (50 benign and 91 malignant) underwent 3-T MRI, including 3D turbo-spin echo (TSE) sequence and standard DCE-MRI scans between January 2014 and January 2017. The lesions were segmented semi-automatically using subtraction DCE-MR images, and they were registered to the phase images from 3D TSE. The mean conductivity of the lesion was obtained from phase-based reconstruction of lesions. From the DCE-MRI, initial enhancement rate (IER) and signal enhancement ratio (SER) were calculated from signal intensity (SI) as follows: IER = (SIearly - SIpre)/SIpre, SER = (SIearly - SIpre)/(SIdelayed - SIpre). The parameters from EPT and the DCE-MRI were compared between benign and malignant lesions. There was significant difference in mean conductivity (0.14 ± 1.77 vs 1.14 ± 1.36 S/m, p < 0.0001) and SER (0.77 ± 0.28 vs 1.04 ± 0.25, p < 0.0001) between benign and malignant lesions, but not in IER (p = 0.06). Receiver operating curve (ROC) analysis revealed that the area under the curve (AUC) of the mean conductivity and SER was 0.71 and 0.80, respectively, without significant difference (p = 0.15). The mean conductivity of EPT was significantly different between benign and malignant breast lesions as well as kinetic parameter or SER from DCE-MRI. • The conductivity of malignant lesions was higher than that of benign lesions. • EPT helps differentiatie benign from malignant lesions. • Diagnostic ability of EPT was not significantly different from that of DCE-MRI.

Epstein-Barr virus-associated gastric carcinoma (EBVaGC) frequently harbors dense lymphocytic infiltration, suggesting a specific microenvironment allowing coexistence with tumor immunity. CD47, which mediates the “do not eat me” signal in innate immunity, is also important in adaptive anti-tumor immunity. We investigated the significance of CD47 in EBVaGC compared with EBV-negative gastric cancer and the correlation with various immune cells. By immunohistochemistry of CD47, high, low, and negative expression was observed in 24, 63, and 12% of EBVaGC (n = 41), while 11, 49, and 39% of EBV-negative gastric cancer (n = 262), respectively, indicating that high expression of CD47 in cancer cells was significantly frequent and increased in EBVaGC (P = 0.043). In contrast to EBV-negative gastric carcinoma in which no significant correlation was observed between CD47 and survival, high expression of CD47 correlated significantly with worse disease-specific survival (P = 0.011) and overall survival (P = 0.013) in EBVaGC. To further clarify the role of CD47 expression in EBVaGC, digital image analysis of immune cell infiltration revealed that high CD47 expression was correlated with a lower ratio of CD8+/Foxp3+ T cells (P = 0.021), a sensitive indicator of tumor immunity. Thus, CD47 lowers anti-tumor immunity in EBVaGC by finely tuning profile of infiltrating T cells, suggesting that CD47 is an additional target for cancer immunotherapy against this virus-driven gastric cancer.

Postmortem computed tomography (PMCT) of the brain has an important role in detection of subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), which has a high mortality rate. However, a phenomenon known as "pseudo-SAH," or high-attenuation areas along the cisterns mimicking SAH, may be seen on CT. The aim of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic accuracy of brain PMCT for SAH and to identify the characteristics of pseudo-SAH. Findings on PMCT (sulcal effacement, asymmetry, maximum thickness of SAH signs, presence of acute/subacute intraventricular/intraparenchymal hemorrhage) and clinical history (left ventricular assist device [LVAD] implantation, anticoagulation therapy/coagulation disorder, global ischemia) were compared between subjects with true SAH and those with pseudo-SAH. Twenty eight of 128 enrolled subjects had positive signs of SAH on PMCT, 20 (71.4%) had SAH on autopsy, and 8 (28.6%) did not. The sensitivity, specificity, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value of SAH signs seen on PMCT were 95.2, 94.6, 71.4, and 99.3%, respectively. Asymmetry of SAH signs and acute/subacute intraventricular and intraparenchymal hemorrhage were significantly more common in true SAH cases than in pseudo-SAH cases. The maximum thickness of SAH signs was significantly greater in true SAH cases. A history of LVAD implantation, anticoagulation therapy, and/or a coagulation disorder were more common in true SAH cases but not significantly so. A history of global ischemia was significantly more common in pseudo-SAH cases. If signs of SAH are observed on PMCT, it is important to look for other signs on PMCT and carefully review the clinical history to avoid a diagnostic error.

A potentially favorable effect of chemotherapy on the incidence of micrometastases has been reported in patients with colorectal liver metastases (CLMs); however, the actual influence of chemotherapy on the distribution of micrometastases and surgical curability remains unclear.The clinical impact of preoperative chemotherapy on the incidence and distribution of micrometastases was assessed in 191 patients with 357 CLM nodules. Potential radiologic measures for predicting the extent of microscopic cancer spread and surgical curability were then sought among the size-based and non-size-based radiologic response criteria.Multivariate analysis estimated a reduced incidence of micrometastases in patients receiving preoperative chemotherapy (odds ratio [OR] 0.45, 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.26-0.76, p = 0.003). Furthermore, the addition of biologic agents to the preoperative chemotherapy regimen was correlated with a reduced incidence of microscopic cancer spread beyond a width of 1 mm from the margin of the main tumor (OR 0.28, 95% CI 0.11-0.74, p = 0.010 for bevacizumab; and OR 0.29, 95% CI 0.09-0.99, p = 0.048 for anti-epidermal growth factor receptor antibody). Receiver operating characteristic analyses revealed that the computed tomography (CT) morphologic response showed a moderate predictive power for the distribution of micrometastases, with an area under the curve of 0.687, while size-based response criteria were not reliable for estimating the extent of microscopic cancer spread.Notwithstanding the potential selection of patients after preoperative chemotherapy, the incidence and distribution of micrometastases may be reduced by preoperative chemotherapy. CT morphologic response may be a reliable predictor of both the degree of microscopic cancer spread and the curability of surgery.

This study tried to cryopreserve low numbers of spermatozoa from men undergoing infertility treatments by inserting into agarose capsules. The capsules were transferred into a drop of cryoprotectant solution and injected 3–4 motile spermatozoa that were selected by the swim-up method by conventional intracytoplasmic sperm injection. These capsules were put on a Cryotop® and frozen in liquid nitrogen vapor, and then submerged into liquid nitrogen and subsequently thawed and recovered. The motile spermatozoa in the capsules were counted. Eventually, we cryopreserved 2142 motile spermatozoa in 702 agarose capsules from 26 male patients and 1356 (63%) spermatozoa maintained their motility after thawing. The spermatozoa motility rates after thawing (MRAT) ranged from 20.0% (5/25) to 95.1% (58/61) among patients. The median MRAT was 68.3% (interquartile range 46.1–75.7). The total number of motile spermatozoa collected by swim-up method strongly correlated with MRAT (r = 0.746). It was possible to cryopreserve spermatozoa from male patients undergoing infertility treatment using agarose capsules. However, there were wide differences in MRAT among patients. It seems the spermatozoa from semen where there were many motile spermatozoa may have higher freezing resistance. Further studies using this method in cryptozoospermic semen, testicular and epididymal spermatozoa are required.

Interleukin-6 (IL-6), a central proinflammatory cytokine, may be involved in both development and progression of many human malignancies. Therefore, we aimed to evaluate any associations of IL-6 gene polymorphisms with susceptibility and overall survival of osteosarcoma in a Chinese population. A total of 412 subjects, including 206 patients with osteosarcoma and 206 healthy controls, were recruited and were assessed by polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism (PCR-RFLP) in this study. Significant differences of genotype distribution were observed between osteosarcoma cases and controls at the IL-6 -174 G/C genotypes. Compared with the homozygote GG, the heterozygous GC genotype was associated with significantly increased risk for osteosarcoma (odds ratio [OR] = 1.58, 95 % confidence interval [CI] = 1.13-3.05, p = 0.028); the CC genotype was associated with increased risk for osteosarcoma (OR = 1.57, 95 % CI = 1.21-3.26, p = 0.022). Moreover, the genotype CC of IL-6 -174 G/C carried a higher risk of osteosarcoma metastasis and later Enneking stages, compared with the GG genotype. The IL-6 -174 G/C genotype was associated with risk for development and metastasis of osteosarcoma in Chinese Han population.

We propose a four-dimensional N = 1 supergravity-based Starobinsky-type inflationary model in terms of a single massive vector multiplet, whose action includes the Dirac-Born-Infeld-type kinetic terms and a generalized (new) Fayet-Iliopolulos-type term without gauging the R-symmetry. The bosonic action and the scalar potential are computed. Inflaton is the superpartner of goldstino in our model, and supersymmetry is spontaneously broken after inflation by the D-type mechanism, whose scale is related to the value of the cosmological constant., 20 pages v2: typos corrected,appendix B and references added

Patients with liver cirrhosis are known to be immunocompromised hosts due to the dysfunction of the cellular and humoral immune systems, allowing easier bacterial translocation from the intestine to the systemic circulation via the portal vein. Sepsis can often be seen in these patients; however, approximately 10 % of patients show negative results with the standard culture period (3-4 days) and their pathogens remain undiagnosed. Here we report the first case of a patient with liver cirrhosis diagnosed with bacteremia due to Helicobacter cinaedi after gastrointestinal symptoms and review 62 cases of H. cinaedi infection in patients with other diseases. The patient showed positive results for H. cinaedi after 10 days of culture. Administration of a carbapenem was effective and clinical symptoms recovered 20 days after admission. H. cinaedi is an enterohepatic bacterial species that causes bacteremia in immunocompromised patients. Due to the difficulty of detection, few cases have been reported to date and to the best of our knowledge, this is the first published case of bacteremia due to H. cinaedi infection in a patient with liver cirrhosis. Since bacteremia in patients with liver cirrhosis can result in fatality, we recommend vigilance for H. cinaedi infection, longer periods of blood culture, polymerase chain reaction analysis, and empirical antibiotic therapy to help improve prognosis.

To quantify kinetic heterogeneity of breast masses that were initially detected with dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI, using whole-lesion kinetic distribution data obtained from computer-aided evaluation (CAE), and to compare that with standard kinetic curve analysis. Clinical MR images from 2006 to 2011 with breast masses initially detected with MRI were evaluated with CAE. The relative frequencies of six kinetic patterns (medium-persistent, medium-plateau, medium-washout, rapid-persistent, rapid-plateau, rapid-washout) within the entire lesion were used to calculate kinetic entropy (KE), a quantitative measure of enhancement pattern heterogeneity. Initial uptake (IU) and signal enhancement ratio (SER) were obtained from the most-suspicious kinetic curve. Mann-Whitney U test and ROC analysis were conducted for differentiation of malignant and benign masses. Forty benign and 37 malignant masses comprised the case set. IU and SER were not significantly different between malignant and benign masses, whereas KE was significantly greater for malignant than benign masses (p = 0.748, p = 0.083, and p

Background Adenocarcinoma with lepidic growth pattern presents as a ground glass nodule (GGN) on high resolution computed tomography (CT), whereas peripheral pulmonary squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) usually presents as a solid nodule. We herein report a rare case of pulmonary SCC extending along the alveolar lumen representing as a GGN on a CT scan in a patient with pneumoconiosis. Case presentation A 77-year-old man with pneumoconiosis was found to have a gradually enlarging GGN in the right lower lobe of the lung on CT. An adenocarcinoma of the lung was suspected. The GGN was successfully resected by thoracoscopic segmentectomy. Pathological examination of the resected specimen was pathologically diagnosed as a stage IA SCC extending along the alveolar lumen. The patient had no evidence of recurrence 19 months after surgery. Conclusions SCC should be included in the differential diagnosis of peripherally located GGNs, especially in patients at high risk of SCC of the lung such as those with pneumoconiosis.

We aimed to confirm whether postmortem adrenal volumetric changes occur by measuring adrenal volumes on computed tomography (CT). Fifty-five adrenal glands from 28 subjects who died were included. All subjects underwent antemortem CT (AMCT) and postmortem CT (PMCT) within 94-1,191 min after death, followed by conventional autopsy. CT volumetry was performed using freely-available software. Differences between AMCT and PMCT adrenal volumes were evaluated statistically along with differences in the degree of volume change, elapsed time to PMCT, and presence of underlying malignant disease. The mean volume of the right adrenal gland decreased from 3.8 cm(3) on AMCT to 2.6 cm(3) on PMCT (P 0.001); the left adrenal gland decreased from 4.2 cm(3) on AMCT to 3.1 cm(3) on PMCT (P 0.001). Conventional autopsy revealed decreased intracellular lipid components in portions of the adrenal glands. No correlation between the adrenal gland reduction rate and the elapsed time from AMCT to death or from death to PMCT was observed (P = 0.99 and 0.79; P = 0.28 and 0.59 for the right and left adrenal glands, respectively). Significant differences in both the bilateral adrenal gland reduction rates and underlying malignant disease were found for the left adrenal gland (P = 0.015), but not for the right (P = 0.74). Adrenal volume reduction was observed on PMCT compared to AMCT. This highlights the need to further elucidate the mechanism of adrenal shrinkage during the agonal stage and after death. This may be explained by pathological findings of intracellular lipid depletion.

Secretoglobin (SCGB) 3A2 was originally identified as a downstream target for the homeodomain transcription factor NKX2-1 in the lung. NKX2-1 plays a role in the genesis and expression of genes in the thyroid, lung and ventral forebrain; Nkx2-1-null mice have no thyroid and pituitary and severely hypoplastic lungs and hypothalamus. To demonstrate whether SCGB3A2 plays any role in pituitary hormone production, NKX2-1 and SCGB3A2 expression in the mouse pituitary gland was examined by immunohistochemical analysis and RT-PCR. NKX2-1 was localized in the posterior pituitary lobe, whereas SCGB3A2 was observed in both anterior and posterior lobes as shown by immunohistochemistry and RT-PCR. Expression of CCAAT-enhancer binding proteins (C/EBPs), which regulate mouse Scgb3a2 transcription, was also examined by RT-PCR. C/EBPβ, γ, δ and ζ were expressed in the adult mouse pituitary gland. SCGB3A2 was expressed in the anterior and posterior lobes from postnatal days 1 and 5, respectively and the areas where SCGB3A2 expression was found coincided with the area where FSH-secreting cells were found. Double-staining for SCGB3A2 and pituitary hormones revealed that SCGB3A2 was mainly localized in gonadotrophs in 49 % of FSH-secreting cells and 47 % of LH-secreting cells. In addition, SCGB3A2 dramatically inhibited LH and FSH mRNA expression in rat pituitary primary cell cultures. These results suggest that SCGB3A2 regulates FSH/LH production in the anterior pituitary lobe and that transcription factors other than NKX2-1 may regulate SCGB3A2 expression.

To evaluate the distribution pattern of kinetic parameters in breast cancers with various molecular subtypes. This study was approved by institutional review board and was compliant with HIPAA. We classified 192 invasive breast cancers of 186 patients into four molecular subtypes using hormone receptor (HR) and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) results and evaluated the distribution pattern of kinetic parameters (percent volume of kinetic types relative to the tumor volume) in the molecular subtypes. In the delayed phase, all three types of kinetic parameter (persistent, plateau, and washout pattern) were observed in each molecular subtype without any dominant type of kinetic parameter. The percentages of washout pattern in the HR+ and HER2− type and triple negative (TN) cancers tended to be lower than those in the other molecular subtype cancers. Each molecular subtype of invasive breast cancer showed a heterogeneous kinetic pattern in dynamic-contrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). The HR+/HER2− cancers and the TN cancers had relatively lower percentages of washout pattern. When a manual assessment of the kinetic parameters is performed, close attention should be paid in order to identify the malignant washout kinetic pattern, particularly in HR+/HER2− cancer and TN cancer.

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy is a rare but lethal complication in cancer-bearing patients, particularly those with gastric cancer. It is characterized by cancer cell emboli with marked intimal proliferation. In the present study, we tried to elucidate the pathogenesis of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy, notably angiogenic factors specific for cancer cells lodged in pulmonary arteries. An autopsy series of gastric cancer (51 cases) was reviewed for pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy and pulmonary tumor cell emboli without intimal proliferation. Pathological and immunohistochemical characteristics were compared between two groups. In eight cases in muscular pulmonary arteries, tumor thrombotic microangiopathy was noted, and in three cases pulmonary tumor emboli without intimal proliferation was noted. Histological features of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy included small nests or single cancer cells accompanied by intimal proliferation, whereas in pulmonary tumor emboli large cell nests prevailed. By immunohistochemistry, in pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy, cancer cells expressed platelet-derived growth factor-A (7/8 cases) and vascular endothelial growth factor-C (8/8) more frequently than in pulmonary tumor emboli (0/3 and 1/3; P = 0.02 and P = 0.055, respectively). Expression of tissue factor, vascular endothelial growth factor-A and -D, osteopontin, fibroblast growth factor-2, and platelet-derived growth factor-B was similar in both groups. Platelet-derived growth factor-A and vascular endothelial growth factor-C might induce intimal proliferation in pulmonary arteries and contribute to the development of pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy.

Purpose Oxygen consumption rates of human embryos derived from in vitro matured (IVM) oocytes and controlled ovarian hyperstimulation (COH) were compared with scanning electrochemical microscopy (SECM) non-invasively in order to answer why embryos from IVM oocytes have lower developmental potential. We also analyzed the epigenetic disorders for IVM babies born in our clinic. Methods The oxygen consumption rate was calculated with the SECM system for different maturation stages of human oocytes, IVM and COH embryos. Blood from umbilical cords of IVM babies was collected to examine the imprinting genes. Results There were no significant differences in oxygen consumption of embryos at each cleavage stage between IVM and COH (range 0.26–0.56 × 1014/mol S−1). There also was no abnormality found in expression of imprinting genes in IVM babies. Conclusions There are no differences in terms of oxygen consumption between embryos derived from IVM and COH. There was no imprinting gene disorder founded from IVM babies.

This report describes the case of a 47-year-old man who shot himself in the left side of the chest in an attempted suicide, and was transferred to the hospital. Two gunshot wounds were found in the left side of the chest and the back. CT scans revealed left hemopneumothorax, the accumulation of pericardial blood, and lacerations of the heart and the spleen. Emergency thoracotomy and laparotomy were performed. There was a contusion of the left lung and lacerations of the left ventricular free wall, the diaphragm, and the spleen. The laceration of the heart was repaired by 3 pairs of mattress sutures with felt strips, and covered with fibrin glue and a TachoComb(®) tissue sealing sheet without the use of cardiopulmonary bypass. The patient was discharged on foot on the 18th postoperative day. Such patients can only be saved with an efficient emergency medical-care system including quick transportation, and close cooperation of the hospital staff.

The purpose of the present study is to characterize polymorphic forms and intermolecular interactions of freeze-dried pharmaceuticals containing additives by terahertz (THz) spectroscopy as a, process analytical technology tool in the pharmaceutical industry. Freeze-dried gabexate mesilate/D-mannitol products containing 17–75 mol% gabexate mesilate were obtained using a conventional freeze-dryer. Freeze-dried products and physical mixtures of gabexate mesilate and mannitol with various drug contents were characterized by X-ray powder diffraction (XRD) analysis, differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and THz. The XRD and DSC results indicated that freeze-dried mannitol was obtained as a mixture of β and δ forms of mannitol from a plain solution, but the freeze-dried product of the gabexate mesilate/mannitol mixture consisted of crystalline gabexate mesilate and the pure δ form of mannitol. Similar to the results of XRD and DSC, THz before the freeze-drying of gabexate mesilate was almost the same as that after. In contrast, the THz of mannitol before freeze-drying had specific peaks due to the β form, but that after had peaks due to δ and β forms. To clarify the polymorphic forms of the freeze-dried products, the THz were analyzed by least squares regression. The calibration models used to predict the amounts of gabexate mesilate and mannitol had sufficient accuracy and linearity, respectively. Two decomposed THz in FGMs had specific peaks due to the δ form of mannitol or gabexate mesilate.

We present the first ever report on a colonic mucocele observed at the distal stump of a transverse loop colostomy caused by neoplasia. A 37-year-old female consulted us because of abdominal pain and vomiting caused by cystic lesions in the upper left abdominal quadrant. A preoperative checkup revealed no sign of neoplastic lesions; however, tumor resection was performed because of the symptoms. The tumor was a mucocele of the distal stump of the transverse colon with obstruction interposed between the mucocele and stoma. Pathological diagnosis was low-grade adenoma; however, it appeared like low-grade mucinous neoplasia of the appendix rather than a normal colonic adenoma. The neoplasia existed in the transitional segment between obstruction and dilatation. As this is the first case of colonic mucocele caused by mucinous neoplasia, no definite consensus for diagnosis and treatment exists. With reference to low-grade mucinous neoplasia, we propose that complete surgical resection be performed for diagnosis and a favorable outcome.

The AT-rich interactive domain 1A gene (ARID1A), which encodes one of the subunits in the Switch/Sucrose Nonfermentable chromatin remodeling complex, carries mutations and is responsible for loss of protein expression in gastric carcinoma, particularly with Epstein–Barr virus (EBV) infection and a microsatellite instability-high phenotype. We used immunohistochemistry to investigate the significance of ARID1A loss in 857 gastric carcinoma cases, including 67 EBV(+) and 136 MLH1-lost gastric carcinomas (corresponding to a microsatellite instability-high phenotype). Loss of ARID1A expression was significantly more frequent in EBV(+) (23/67; 34 %) and MLH1-lost (40/136; 29 %) gastric carcinomas than in EBV(−)MLH1-preserved (32/657; 5 %) gastric carcinomas (P < 0.01). Loss of ARID1A correlated with larger tumor size, advanced invasion depth, lymph node metastasis, and poor prognosis in EBV(−)MLH1-preserved gastric carcinoma. A correlation was found only with tumor size and diffuse-type histology in MLH1-lost gastric carcinoma, but no correlation was observed in EBV(+) gastric carcinoma. Loss of ARID1A expression in EBV(+) gastric carcinoma was highly frequent in the early stage of gastric carcinoma, although EBV infection did not cause downregulation of ARID1A: EBV-positive nasopharyngeal carcinomas (n = 8) and lymphomas (n = 15) failed to show loss of ARID1A, and EBV infection did not cause loss of ARID1A in gastric carcinoma cell lines. Taken together, loss of ARID1A may be an early change in carcinogenesis and may precede EBV infection in gastric epithelial cells, while loss of ARID1A promotes cancer progression in gastric cancer cells without EBV infection or loss of MLH1 expression. Loss of ARID1A has different and pathway-dependent roles in gastric carcinoma.

Atoms constructing an interconnecting metal line in a semiconductor device are transported by electron flow in high density. This phenomenon is called electromigration, which may cause the line failure. In order to characterize the electromigration failure, a comparison study is carried out with some typical phenomena treated by fracture mechanics for thin and large structures. An example of thin structures, which have been treated by fracture mechanics, is silica opti- calfibers for communication systems. The damage growth in a metal line by electromigration is characterized in compar- ison with the crack growth in a silica optical fiber subjected to static fatigue. Also a brief comparison is made between the electromigration failure and some fracture phenomena in large structures.

Background Gastric cancer exhibits various degrees of fluorine F-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) uptake on positron emission tomography/computed tomography (PET/CT). We evaluated the relationship between 18F-FDG uptake and the presence/absence of metastasis in individual lymph nodes (LN) on a one-to-one basis. Methods We analyzed 21 patients with gastric cancer. We injected 18F-FDG intravenously in the morning, and gastrectomy with LN dissection was performed in the afternoon of the same day. Radiation doses were measured at each LN using a well-type counter, and we then compared 18F-FDG uptake, the shortest diameter, and pathological examination results for each LN. Results In our study, 906 LNs were analyzed, including 115 metastatic LNs. Metastatic LNs showed significantly higher 18F-FDG uptake (P

Near-infrared (NIR) spectroscopy combined with chemometrics has been utilized in predictions of natural medicine content without destroying samples. Suppositories (oren powdered extract content 0, 0.5, 1.0, 2.5, 10, 12.5, and 15%) were produced by mixing oren powdered extract with macrogol mixture consisting of 1 part macrogol 1500 and 2.5 parts macrogol 4000 at 54°C, and pouring the melt mixture into a plastic container. NIR spectra of the 10 prepared samples were recorded 10 times, and a total of 100 spectra were randomly divided into two data sets, one for calibration and the other for validation. The calibration model for the oren content of the suppository was calculated based on NIR spectra using a partial least-squares regression analysis after pre-treatment (smoothing and the multiplicative scatter correction). The relationship between the actual and predicted values for calibration and validation models had a straight line with correlation coefficients of 0.9936 and 0.9898, respectively. The regression vector result of the calibration model indicates that the peaks at 6945, 5747, and 5160 cm(-1) in the regression vector were consistent with those in oren powder extracts. NIR spectroscopy combined with chemometrics offers promise as a method of predicting the oren powder content in suppositories without destroying the samples.

Acute pulmonary embolism (APE) is a serious disease. Recently, multidetector-row computed tomography (MDCT) has proven to be valuable in detecting APE and deep vein thrombosis. APE is classified as massive, submassive, and nonmassive. The incidence of submassive APE and the number of therapeutic approaches for clinically diagnosed critical submassive APE have both increased. However, most strategies for submassive APE have been conservative, e.g., transvenous catheter pulmonary embolectomy, and there are few reports on surgical pulmonary embolectomy. We examined the surgical outcomes in four cases of submassive APE with a floating thrombus in the right atrium (RA) from August 2003 to July 2008. All patients appeared to have no neurological complications and showed an event-free survival of up to 65 months (37 ± 25 months). Surgical pulmonary embolectomy was effective for submassive APE with a floating thrombus in the RA.

Because the progression and metastasis of solid tumors depend on their local microcirculation, we sought to characterize tumor angiogenesis three dimensionally in a highly metastatic mouse melanoma model, B16BL6 (B16), injected with Matrigel into the subcutis in the skin on the back of syngeneic C57BL/6 mice. We found that B16 with Matrigel grew significantly faster than B16 alone and had altered tumor angiogenesis. Tumor vessels apparently grew vigorously in the opposite direction of the tumor without invading the tumor mass until at least day 10 of injection. In addition, vascular branching resulted not only from sprouting as was seen in B16 without Matrigel but also from vascular splitting, either because of compression from outside the vessels or from septum formation by endothelial cells. This phenomenon was characteristic of B16 cells, but not of other tumor cells, including Lewis lung carcinoma and ASH-1 hybridoma cell lines, both of which were tested under the same conditions. The reduction in various angiogenic factors in Matrigel did not affect the angiogenic patterns and tumor growth. We hypothesize that tumor vessels may vigorously alter their angiogenic patterns in response to the local microenvironment.

The thermal treatment of TiO2 pellets prepared by the sol–gel method decreased the photocatalytic activity. The activity divided by the specific surface area of the pellets for the complete mineralization of ethylene or chloroform was maximized at the firing temperature of 400°C. For the photocatalytic degradation of trichloroethylene (TCE), most of them were converted to chlorinated by-products, such as dichloroacetic acid, chloroform, and phosgene, and the stoichiometric ratio of [CO2]formed/[TCE]degraded showed a maximal value at 400°C. The electron spin resonance (ESR) spin-trapping with 5,5-dimethyl-1-pyrroline-N-oxide (DMPO) in the flow injection system indicated that firing at 400°C gave the highest signal intensity of DMPO–OH adducts. These findings indicated that the OH radical was produced most effectively on the TiO2 fired at 400°C, which would be related to the content of anatase and rutile. Concerning the formation of chlorinated by-products from TCE, more dichloroacetic acid (DCAA) were detected and less CHCl3 and COCl2 were formed at lower firing temperatures, suggesting that the branching ratio of chloroethoxy radicals to the formation of DCAA or CHCl3 and COCl2 by C–C bond scission depended on the firing temperature.

Natural killer (NK) cells play a central role in host defense against tumor and virus-infected cells. Direct role of NK cells in tumor growth and metastasis remains to be elucidated. We here demonstrated that NOD/SCID/gammac(null) (NOG) mice lacking T, B and NK cells inoculated with breast cancer cells were efficient in the formation of a large tumor and spontaneous organ-metastasis. In contrast, breast cancer cells produced a small tumor at inoculated site in T and B cell knock-out NOD/SCID mice with NK cells while completely failed to metastasize into various organs. Immunosupression of NOD/SCID by treatment with an anti-murine TM-beta1 antibody, which transiently abrogates NK cell activity in vivo, resulted in enhancing tumor formation and organ-metastasis in comparison with non-treated NOD/SCID mice. Activated NK cells inhibited tumor growth in vivo. The rapid and efficient engraftment of the breast cancer cells in NOG mice suggests that this new animal model could provide a unique opportunity to understand and investigate the mechanism of tumor cell growth and metastasis. Our results suggest that NK cells play an important role in cancer growth and metastasis and could be a promising immunotherapeutic strategy against cancer either alone or in combination with conventional therapy.

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether two completely serum-free media (IVMD101 and IVD101) could improve the yield and quality of bovine blastocysts from in vitro matured and fertilized oocytes. The media were evaluated in the presence (IVMD101) or absence (IVD101) of bovine cumulus/granulosa cell (BCGC) cocultures. The proportion of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage in IVMD101 medium with BCGC cocultures (36.5%) and IVD101 medium without BCGC cocultures (37.1%) was significantly higher than in serum-supplemented medium (TCM199 + 5% calf serum) with BCGC cocultures (25.1%). Furthermore, the mean cell numbers per blastocyst on Day 7 developed in IVMD101 medium (179.5 cells) and IVD101 medium (177.1 cells) were greater than in the serum-supplemented medium (145.7 cells). The survival rates of blastocysts derived in IVMD101 medium (73.3%) and IVD101 medium (60.0%) based on hatching after 72 h of post-thaw culture were superior to that of blastocysts derived in the serum-supplemented medium (48.1%). Under microscopic observation, bovine blastocysts derived in the serum-supplemented medium showed abundant lipid droplets, largely into the trophectoderm cells. This morphological difference may partly explain the sensitivity of serum-derived embryos after freezing and thawing. In conclusion, these new serum-free culture media are useful, not only to study the mechanisms of early embryogenesis, but also for mass production of good quality embryos for embryo transfer, cloning and transgenesis.

The loading effect on alternating current potential drop (ACPD) for a ferromagnetic material containing a two-dimensional surface crack was investigated under opening mode loading without shear (mode I). The change in potential drop due to load was obtained with and without a magnetic field around the specimen. To remove the magnetic field from the circumference of the specimen, a new measuring system using the characteristic of coaxial transmission line was made. When the magnetic field does not exist around the specimen, the change in potential drop with load is governed by the change in electromagnetic properties near the crack tip. The results obtained by using the new measuring system are the basis for an application of the ACPD technique to the experimental determination of the stress intensity factor, since they are independent of the arrangement of the measuring probe lines and the current supply lines. The relationship between the change in potential drop and the change in load is linearized by demagnetization. The change in potential drop per unit change in the stress intensity factor is independent of the crack length.

Epithelial cells of the mammalian oviduct play an important role in reproductive and developmental events that occur there. Oviductal epithelial cells from several mammalian species can be isolated and cultured in serum or serum-free medium in vitro and cell culture of bovine oviductal epithelial cells (BOEC) has been described by many investigators. Cultured BOEC show a wide variety of secretory activities and these secretory factors may influence early embryonic development or sperm function. Monolayer cultures of BOEC have been widely used for in vitro co-culture of bovine preimplantation embryos. The use of BOEC co-culture systems has improved embryonic development in nearly all the studies conducted. In addition, interaction of bovine spermatozoa with BOEC, in a similar manner to that observed for spermatozoa in vivo, induced specific changes in sperm capacitation and consequently improved the fertilizing capacity of bovine spermatozoa in vitro. Thus co-culture systems with BOEC may not only offer an excellent model for studying the mechanisms of capacitation and acrosome reaction of bovine spermatozoa but also provide a useful tool for the improvement of embryo development in vitro.

Mucus secretion is increased by various causative agents of inflammation in the mucosa. Although mucus production of the choledochal epithelial cells (except goblet cells) has never been noted in the rat in normal physiological conditions, it is seen as an inflammatory reaction in animals with choledochoenterostomy, which brings bacteria and active digestive enzymes into the common bile duct through regurgitation of intestinal contents. It is known that stagnant bile alone can cause inflammation in the mucosa of the gallbladder in patients with aseptic acalculous cholecystitis. In this study, aseptic bile stagnation was caused by choledochal dilatation made by detaching the common bile duct from the hepatoduodenal ligament in five rats, and histological changes of the choledochal epithelium were observed by light and transmission electron microscopy 17 months after the operative procedure to determine whether stagnant bile could cause mucus production in choledochal epithelial cells. Mucus production was noted in two rats by light microscopy and in all the rats by transmission electron microscopy, and so it was demonstrated that stagnant bile could give rise to this phenomenon in the rat choledochal epithelium.

In the sea urchin Hemicentrotus pulcherrimus, the egg-jelly macromolecule, a fucose sulphate glycoconjugate (FSG) that induces the acrosome reaction in spermatozoa, originates from the accessory cells in the ovary. In the present study we examined the seasonal variations in the distribution of FSG in the ovary by immunocytochemistry with a polyclonal antibody. An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay indicated that FSG was present in supernatants of extracts of ovaries throughout the development of the ovary. However, the immunohistochemical study showed that there are marked seasonal changes in the distribution of FSG in ovaries. The polyclonal antibody reacted strongly with globules of accessory cells before the beginning of the breeding season (August to December). During the breeding season (February to April), the immunohistochemical reaction was found on the surface of oocytes but was weak in the accessory cells. At the ultrastructural level, the antibody reacted with globules of variable density in accessory cells. Intense immunolabelling was observed in the vacuole-like structures of the globules. Sometimes, products of the specific immunocytochemical reaction were found in the Golgi apparatus in these globules. Quantitative examination indicated that FSG was actively produced by the accessory cells from the late non-breeding season to the pre-breeding season. These results suggest that there are marked seasonal variations in the production of FSG by the accessory cells in the sea urchin ovary. These findings also provide new evidence that accessory cells exhibit dynamic changes during the reproductive process in the sea urchin.

The immunocytochemical localization of bovine oviduct-specific glycoproteins was investigated by light and electron microscopy. Using monoclonal antibodies (MAbs) specific for bovine oviductal glycoproteins, 3 regions (fimbriae, ampulla, and isthmus) of the epithelium in the bovine oviduct we studied during the follicular and luteal phases. The MAbs reacted specifically with the oviductal epithelial cells. Intense labeling was observed in the ampullar and fimbrial epithelia of cows at the follicular phase, but the reactions were weaker at the luteal phase. In the isthmus, the immunohistochemical reaction was faint during both follicular and luteal phases. At the ultrastructural level, the MAbs bound selectively to putative secretory granules of nonciliated cells in the ampulla and fimbriae, but not in the isthmus. These results suggest that there are cyclic changes and regional differences in the production of glycoproteins in the bovine oviduct.

A loading effect on a-c potential difference measured for two-dimensional stationary surface crack is examined under opening load without shear. An increment of potential difference caused by a load change is revealed to have a proportional relationship with an increment of the stress-intensity factor,K I. Also, the constant of proportionality of the relationship is found to be independent of the crack length. Based on this relationship, a procedure is developed for measurement ofK Iby means of the a-c potential drop technique.