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Background Postural tachycardia syndrome (POTS), a subset of orthostatic dysregulation, has been reported to be associated with anxiety. POTS can be classified into two forms based on the degree of tachycardia during orthostasis. Reportedly, POTS with decreased orthostatic heart rate increase is associated with suppressed cardiac parasympathetic activity and increased sympathetic activity in the supine position. In this study, the relationship between the two types of POTS and anxiety was evaluated in terms of autonomic function. Methods Fifty-two patients (23 males, aged 10–15 years) who were diagnosed with POTS at the Department of Pediatrics, Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University from 2019 to 2021, provided completed the State-Trait Anxiety Scale for Children (STAIC) questionnaire. They then completed a standing test and were accordingly classified into the two groups of POTS, the Su group, with tachycardia from the supine position and a low heart rate increase on standing, and the SI group, with a high heart rate increase during standing. Autonomic function was assessed by frequency analysis (MemCalc method) based on heart rate, blood pressure changes, heart rate, and blood pressure variability during the orthostatic test. Results Patients in the Su group had higher characteristic anxiety, lower cardiac parasympathetic activity (RR-HF) in the supine position, and greater variability in cardiac parasympathetic activity during orthostasis than those of patients in the SI group. The Su group had a greater decrease in cardiac index on standing than that of the SI group. Conclusions The Su group results may be partly attributed to chronically low venous return. We also found that patients in the Su group had low parasympathetic activity in the supine position, which may interact with the anxiety-prone characteristics of these patients. Therefore, it seems necessary to consider both physical and psychosomatic treatment approaches for patients with POTS. Trial registration The clinical trial registry of Osaka Medical and Pharmaceutical University, Clinical Trial Registration No. 2662-2. Registered 5 March 2019. https://ompu.bvits.com/rinri/Common/print_approve.aspx?ID=3479

形態: カラー図版あり, Physical characteristics: Original contains color illustrations, Accepted: 2021-02-22, 資料番号: PA2120007000

形態: カラー図版あり, Physical characteristics: Original contains color illustrations, Accepted: 2020-04-17, 資料番号: PA2120004000

Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is an acute, progressive, and fatal disease. PTTM manifests as subacute respiratory failure with pulmonary hypertension, progressive right-sided heart failure, and sudden death. An antemortem diagnosis of PTTM is very difficult to obtain, and many patients die within several weeks. We herein report a case of PTTM diagnosed based on a transbronchial lung biopsy. In this case, we finally diagnosed PTTM due to gastric cancer because of its histological identity. The patient was administered chemotherapy, including angiogenesis inhibitors, against gastric cancer at an early age and survived for a long time.

This study investigated the impact of coronavirus disease 2019 pandemic school closures on the mental health of school students with chronic diseases.Questionnaires were distributed to students from 4th-9th grade diagnosed with chronic diseases at Osaka Medical College Hospital and their parents or caregivers. Questionnaires from 286 families were returned by mail after the schools reopened. The students were divided into the "psychosomatic disorder" group (group P, n = 42), the "developmental disorder" group (group D, n = 89), and the "other disease" group (group O, n = 155). Using students' self-reports on the Questionnaire for Triage and Assessment with 30 items, we assessed the proportion of students with a high risk of psychosomatic disorder in three groups. We investigated how the students requiring the support of somatic symptom (SS) felt about school during school closure. Further, using parents' and caregivers' answers, SS scores were calculated before and during school closure and after school reopening.The proportion of students with a high risk of developing psychosomatic disorder increased in all groups. For the students in Group P, the response "I did not want to think about school" indicated an increase in SS scores, and for the students in Group O, "I wanted to get back to school soon" indicated a decrease. Furthermore, especially in Group P students, SS scores decreased transiently during school closure and increased after school reopening.The impact of school closure on mental health differed depending on students' diagnoses and feelings about school during school closures.

著者人数: 35名, 形態: カラー図版あり, Number of authors: 35, Physical characteristics: Original contains color illustrations, Accepted: 2018-01-22, 資料番号: PA1810022000

The Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) instrument that flew on the Astro-H observatory was designed to perform imaging and spectroscopy of x-rays in the energy range of 0.2 to 13 keV with a resolution requirement of 7 eV or better. This was accomplished using a 6x6 array of x-ray microcalorimeters cooled to an operating temperature of 50 mK by an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR). The ADR consisted of three stages in order to operate using either a 1.2 K superfluid helium bath or a 4.5 K Joule-Thomson (JT) cryocooler as its heat sink. The design was based on the following operating strategy. After launch, while liquid helium was present (cryogen mode), two of the ADR’s stages would be used to single-shot cool the detectors, using the helium as a heat sink. When the helium was eventually depleted (cryogen-free mode), all three ADR stages would be used to continuously cool the helium tank to about 1.5 K, and to single-shot cool the detectors (to 50 mK), using the JT cryocooler as a heat sink. The Astro-H observatory, renamed Hitomi after its successful launch in February 2016, carried approximately 36 liters of helium into orbit. Based on measurements during ground testing, the average heat load on the helium was projected to be 0.66 mW, giving a lifetime of more than 4 years. On day 5, the helium had cooled to

形態: カラー図版あり, Physical characteristics: Original contains color illustrations, Accepted: 2020-04-24, 資料番号: PA2120002000

The Soft X-ray Spectrometer instrument on the Astro-H observatory contains a 6x6 array of x-ray microcalorimeters, which is cooled to 50 mK by an adiabatic demagnetization refrigerator (ADR). The ADR consists of three stages in order to provide stable detector cooling using either a 1.2 K superfluid helium bath or a 4.5 K Joule-Thomson (JT) cryocooler as its heat sink. When liquid helium is present, two of the ADR’s stages are used to single-shot cool the detectors while rejecting heat to the helium. After the helium is depleted, all three stages are used to cool both the helium tank (to about 1.5 K) and the detectors (to 50 mK) using the JT cryocooler as its heat sink. The Astro-H observatory, renamed Hitomi after its successful launch in February 2016, carried approximately 36 liters of helium into orbit. On day 5, the helium had cooled sufficiently (

The calorimeter array of the JAXA Astro-H (renamed Hitomi) Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) was designed to provide unprecedented spectral resolution of spatially extended cosmic x-ray sources and of all cosmic x-ray sources in the Fe-K band around 6 keV. The properties that make the SXS a powerful x-ray spectrometer also make it sensitive to the entire electromagnetic band. If characterized as a bolometer, it would have a noise equivalent power (NEP) of < 4x10(exp -18) W/(Hz)0.5. Thus it was imperative to shield the detector from thermal radiation from the instrument and optical and UV photons from the sky. Additionally, it was necessary to shield the coldest stages of the instrument from the thermal radiation emanating from the warmer stages. These needs are addressed by a series of five thin-film radiation blocking filters that block long-wavelength radiation while minimizing x-ray attenuation. The SXS aperture assembly is a system of barriers, baffles, filter carriers, and filter mounts that supports the filters and inhibits their potential contamination. The three warmer filters also were equipped with thermometers and heaters for decontamination.

International audience; In this paper, experimental results obtained with laser-induced plasma spectroscopy to retrieve local compositions are presented for an ambient pressure up to 5.0 MPa in a still cell. Well-controlled mixtures of gases are introduced and plasma is obtained with the fundamental emission of a pulsed Nd:YAG laser. Simultaneously, plasma shape and spectrally resolved data are taken with a temporal resolution down to 2 ns. First, the temporal evolutions of a high-pressure nitrogen plasma are analyzed as function of spark energy. It is shown that plasma changes orientation from an elongated shape parallel to the laser line to a perpendicular one in a very short time. Results are reported for both spatial and spectral variations. Afterward, the effects of increased carbon concentration are discussed in both shape and spectra. It is seen that strong intensity due to the atomic carbon emissions appear for the high-pressure case. From those experiments, calibration strategies are proposed to get equivalence ratio under high-pressure conditions with a ratio of carbon versus nitrogen and oxygen. The delay between plasma and measurements is set to 2,000 ns and the signal is integrated for 5,000 ns, so as to yield a good signal to noise ratio and a good sensitivity of the technique to changes in mixture fraction. Calibration curves are reported for equivalence ratio up to 1.00 and for pressure from 1.0 to 5.0 MPa. It is shown that typical uncertainties are limited to 7.5% regardless the equivalence ratio in a single shot approach using a spectral fit procedure, whereas it accounts to two times more in a more classical peak ratio approach. Increasing the pressure tends to increase the precision as lower pressure had higher uncertainties.

Intense tangential pressure oscillations due to oscillatory combustion are generated experimentally inside a cylindrical chamber and are analyzed to understand their characteristic features. To generate the tangential mode, a coaxial injector is installed offcenter on the closed side of the chamber. Hydrogen and nitrogen-diluted oxygen are used as working gases under atmospheric conditions. The features of the side-wall pressure in the first tangential mode (1T mode) at high amplitude, whose amplitude is over 30% of the chamber pressure, differ from those of the side-wall pressure in the 1Tmode at low amplitude in the followingmanner: 1) The positive half-wave of the pressure oscillation has twin sharp peaks. 2) The amplitude of the positive half-wave (zero to positive peak) of the pressure oscillations is larger than that of the negative half-wave (negative peak to zero). The acoustical features of the signals are reproduced and investigated by conducting an analysis and anumerical simulation under similar configurations. It is found that the characteristic feature of the intense signal is originated in the nonlinearity due to the large amplitude of the pressure oscillation.

Myo-inositol monophosphatase (IMP) catalyzes the dephosphorylation of myo-inositol 3-phosphate in the last step of myo-inositol biosynthesis. IMP is also important in phosphate metabolism and is required for the biosynthesis of cell wall polysaccharides, phytic acid, and phosphatidylinositol. In Arabidopsis, IMP is encoded by VTC4. There are, however, two additional IMP candidate genes, IMPL1 and IMPL2, which have not yet been elucidated. In our genetic studies of Arabidopsis IMP genes, only the loss-of-function mutant impl2 showed embryonic lethality at the globular stage. All IMP genes were expressed in a similar manner both in the vegetative and reproductive organs. In developing seeds, expression of IMP genes was not coupled with the expression of the genes encoding myo-inositol phosphate synthases, which supply the substrate for IMPs in the de novo synthesis pathway. Instead, expression of IMP genes was correlated with expression of the gene for myo-inositol polyphosphate 1-phosphatase (SAL1), which is involved in the myo-inositol salvage pathway, suggesting a possible salvage pathway role in seed development. Moreover, the partial rescue of the impl2 phenotype by histidine application implies that IMPL2 is also involved in histidine biosynthesis during embryo development.

形態: カラー図版あり, Physical characteristics: Original contains color illustrations, Accepted: 2018-02-09, 資料番号: PA1820045000

MIRIS is the main payload of the STSAT-3 (Science and Technology Satellite 3) and the first infrared space telescope for astronomical observation in Korea. MIRIS space observation camera (SOC) covers the observation wavelength from to with a wide field of view . The PICNIC HgCdTe detector in a cold box is cooled down below 100K by a micro Stirling cooler of which cooling capacity is 220mW at 77K. MIRIS SOC adopts passive cooling technique to chill the telescope below 200 K by pointing to the deep space (3K). The cooling mechanism employs a radiator, a Winston cone baffle, a thermal shield, MLI (Multi Layer Insulation) of 30 layers, and GFRP (Glass Fiber Reinforced Plastic) pipe support in the system. Optomechanical analysis was made in order to estimate and compensate possible stresses from the thermal contraction of mounting parts at cryogenic temperatures. Finite Element Analysis (FEA) of mechanical structure was also conducted to ensure safety and stability in launching environments and in orbit. MIRIS SOC will mainly perform Galactic plane survey with narrow band filters (Pa and Pa continuum) and CIB (Cosmic Infrared Background) observation with wide band filters (I and H) driven by a cryogenic stepping motor.

Cyclobutane pyrimidine dimers (CPDs) constitute a majority of DNA lesions caused by ultraviolet-B (UVB). CPD photolyase, which rapidly repairs CPDs, is essential for plant survival under sunlight containing UVB. Our earlier results that the transcription of the cucumber CPD photolyase gene (CsPHR) was activated by light have prompted us to propose that this light-driven transcriptional activation would allow plants to meet the need of the photolyase activity upon challenges of UVB from sunlight. However, molecular mechanisms underlying the light-dependent transcriptional activation of CsPHR were unknown. In order to understand spectroscopic aspects of the plant response, we investigated the wavelength-dependence (action spectra) of the light-dependent transcriptional activation of CsPHR. In both cucumber seedlings and transgenic Arabidopsis seedlings expressing reporter genes under the control of the CsPHR promoter, the action spectra exhibited the most predominant peak in the long-wavelength UVB waveband (around 310 nm). In addition, a 95-bp cis-acting region in the CsPHR promoter was identified to be essential for the UVB-driven transcriptional activation of CsPHR. Thus, we concluded that the photoperception of long-wavelength UVB by UVB photoreceptor(s) led to the induction of the CsPHR transcription via a conserved cis-acting element.

A 51-year-old man was admitted to our hospital because of fever and diarrhea. Chest X-ray revealed consolidation in the left lower lung field. Ceftriaxone and minocycline were given empirically, under the suspicion of bacterial or atypical pneumonia. In spite of treatment with antibiotics, the disease rapidly progressed to systemic inflammatory response syndrome. The diagnosis of acute respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) accompanied with influenza (H1N1) 2009 was made because of positive findings of real-time polymerase chain reaction. While multidisciplinary treatment was performed, his condition was further deteriorated suggesting the excessive pro-inflammatory mediators. To remove them, we conducted polymyxin-B immobilized column-direct hemoperfusion (PMX-DHP), and his general condition recovered successfully. PMX-DHP may be a useful treatment choice for ARDS accompanied with influenza.

本研究実践では、学校内での落ち葉や生ゴミを生物資源として、循環型生態系の学校内における例としてとらえ、落ち葉、生ゴミ処理物からの堆肥作りを自然界でのリサイクルを鑑みた素材としてとりいれた。校庭の落ち葉の循環や給食残滓としての生ゴミなどは環境問題として子ども達に関心が高いテーマである。子ども達が身近な事象として興味をもっている素材を取り上げ、問題解決のために、また実験計画としてでてくるであろう観察、検出、測定などを教材化し、教師のどのような支援が望まれるかに力点をおいた教材として開発した。そのことによって、子ども達が生き生きと追究活動を行い、科学する楽しみを知り、地球的視点や循環型生態系の保持の重要性に気づき、自然の仕組みを実感できることを目指した。

本授業実践は平成14年度研究発表会熊本大学教育学部附属小学校(平成15年2月7日)の公開授業II理科で行われたもののうち、簡易比色計による亜硝酸イオンの測定として二酸化窒素を測ることを活用した授業展開の部分について示したものである。それを実際の授業実践(I)とそのための基礎資料(II)として解説した。

形態: カラー図版あり, Physical characteristics: Original contains color illustrations, Accepted: 2017-11-19, 資料番号: PA1820042000

Experiments were conducted to determine whether the medial amygdala could control hemodynamics through the GABA receptor in anesthetized rats. Bicuculline (10-100pmol), a GABA(A) antagonist, injected into the anterior basomedial amygdala (medial amygdala) produced dose-related increases in blood pressure (BP) and heart rate (HR). Following microinjection of a 100pmol dose, plasma norepinephrine and epinephrine also rose significantly. In a group that had undergone bilateral adrenalectomy, the same dose of bicuculline into the same region of the amygdala caused similar increases in BP and HR to those produced in normal rats. Pretreatment with an intraperitoneal injection of hexamethonium prevented these responses. When bicuculline was given intravenously (100pmol) it failed to effect these cardiovascular changes. Bicuculline-induced hypertension and tachycardia were inhibited by microinjection of muscimol, a GABA agonist, into the anterior basomedial amygdala. The results thus demonstrate that the influence of bicuculline on BP and HR is through action on the anterior basomedial amygdala and direct sympathetic outflow to heart and vascular smooth muscle. There is tonic GABAergic inhibition of sympathetic outflow in the medial amygdala that plays a part in regulating hemodynamics in the limbic system.

An NMR-based metabolomic approach in aquatic ecosystems is valuable for studying the environmental effects of pharmaceuticals and other chemicals on fish. This technique has also contributed to new information in numerous research areas, such as basic physiology and development, disease, and water pollution. We evaluated the microbial diversity in various fish species collected from Japan’s coastal waters using next-generation sequencing, followed by evaluation of the effects of feed type on co-metabolic modulations in fish-microbial symbiotic ecosystems in laboratory-scale experiments. Intestinal bacteria of fish in their natural environment were characterized (using 16S rRNA genes) for trophic level using pyrosequencing and noninvasive sampling procedures developed to study the metabolism of intestinal symbiotic ecosystems in fish reared in their environment. Metabolites in feces were compared, and intestinal contents and feed were annotated based on HSQC and TOCSY using SpinAssign and network analysis. Feces were characterized by species and varied greatly depending on the feeding types. In addition, feces samples demonstrated a response to changes in the time series of feeding. The potential of this approach as a non-invasive inspection technique in aquaculture is suggested.

Chromomycosis usually occurs in cutaneous or subcutaneous tissue. Many case reports are found in dermatology. Rarely does it occur in deep soft tissue.We report a case of granuloma caused by Phialophora Verrucosa between the left Achilles tendon and tibia. Magnetic Resonance Imaging disclosed a low intensity signal on T1-and T2-weighted images, and high intensity on Gd-enhanced, otherwise known as the dark ring sign. We believe that MRI is useful for the diagnosis of chromomycosis.

Giant cell tumors (GCT) are primary benign tumors, which arise from long bone epiphysis commonly. We report a rare case of GCT that occurred in the calcaneus. A 22-year-old woman was suffered from developing pain and swelling in the right lateral heel. On physical examination, hard mass with tenderness was palpated in the lateral calcaneus lesion. Results from laboratory tests were within normal limits. Plain radiography revealed osteolytic lesion in the calcaneus, and lateral cortex was disrupted. CT showed a mass lesion in the calcaneus, and periosteal reaction was not found. On MR imaging, bone tumor of the calcaneus was identified. The lesion was low-and iso-intense on T1-weighted sequence and inhomogeneous on T2-weighted imaged images. After administration of Gd-DTPA, inhomogeneous enhancement was seen in the tumor. The pathologic diagnosis was GCT of bone. The tumor was reseated, and cryosurgery utilizing nitrogen liquid was added, in order to remove tumor cells completely. Allo-bone graft was performed, and bone defect of the calcaneus was occupied with grafted bone. There was no evidence of recurrence 4 months following surgery.

A combustor for gas turbine is required to reduce pollutant gas emission. In order to satisfy this requirement, it is needed that combustion process in the combustor is controlled accurately. So, it is important to get an information of interaction between turbulence and combustion. This report deals with aerodynamic phenomena in a swirl type combustor that has two swirlers. Stereoscopic PIV has been used to measure 3-component velocity field of swirling flow without combustion. It was shown that in the swirling flows the interaction of rotational direction is stronger than axial direction. So, two rotating flows are combined and become one rotating flow more quickly. But the distribution of axial direction flow speed is kept to farther downstream as it is.

In solitary bone cysts (SBC), the level of intra-cystic alkaline phosphatase (ALP) has been reported to be obviously high compared with that of serum in the past, however, only a few reports on its origin and effectiveness are available. We report the results of a comparative study of the roentgenographic appearance and levels of serum/intra-cystic ALP in 12 patients operated for primary SBC. All patients were classified into the Non-sclerotic (NS) group (7 cases) and Sclerotic (S) group (5 cases) based on the marginal sclerosis and clear definition on plain roentgenograms. In the NS group, the level of the intra-cystic ALP was extremely high compared with that of serum, and also with intra-cystic ALP in S group. Histologically, osteoid formation with numerous osteoblasts rimmings and marked calcification on the osteoid and amorphas fibrin were recognized, and this is suggested to bo the origin of the elevation of the intra-cystic ALP in SBC.

It is important to give weight control advice to obese female with gonarthritis to prevent ischemic heat diseases as well as in the conservative treatment of gonarthritis.In our study, we compared the changes of blood sugar and lipid metabolism by comparing the result before, right after, and one hour after bicycle rowing exercise with the load shift lever set to load I and load II.We compared the results for six female patients. Three hours after their breakfast, we asked them to contine the bicycle rowing exercise for ten minutes three times, with an interval of five minutes in between. Comparison of the results for load I and load II showed no difference in the blood pressure, heart rate, blood sugar, T-cho, and HDL-cho. We however found an obvious increase in the blood density of FFA for load II.We realized that even the aged can increase their FFA by raising the load shift level one level higher. The bicycle rowing exercise did not produce any effects on the heart rate.

Transtrochanteric anterior rotaional osteotomy was performed on 7hips in 7 patients with steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head. Bipolar endoprosthesis arthroplasty was performed on 3 hips and collapse was progressive in 1 hip after osteotomy.In steroid-induced osteonecrosis of the femoral head, since it is difficuls to determine the width of hecrotic lesion the often resulting in the misjudgment of the indication for osteotomy.Steroid induced osteoporosis and reduced repair ability for osteonecrosis. In addition, continuous dose of steroid after osteotomy induced reccurent necrosis. These reasons cause postosteotomy conditions to worsen.

It is well known that hydroxyapatite is a useful biomaterial with biocompatibility and nontoxicity in the reconstructive field of orthopedic surgery.We report a case with suspected pes anserinus bursitis or enthesopathy caused by hydroxyapatite. A 56-year-old woman suffering from renal sarcoidosis with bone defect of the left medial tibial condyle underwent operation for hydroxyapatite 3 years ago. At this time, though the hydroxyapatite spilt and fell in the operation field, no symptoms were seen for 3 years.Because of recurring sharp pain in the same area, we thought that this pain was caused by hydroxyapatite, and we removed the hydroxyapatite, after which the sharp pain disappeared.Histologically, foreign body gaint cells around the hydroxyapatite particle were observed, but no inflammatory reaction and calcification were seen.

We reported a case of Brodie's abscess which developed unusual patterns with penetration of the epiphyseal plate of the distal tibia. A thirteen-year-old boy was referred to our hospital complaining of mild pain and swelling of the left ankle.The roentgenography of the left tibia disclosed a radio-lucent lesion which was surrounded by a clear osteosclerotic margin. The lesion existed in the metaphysis and epiphysis with penetration of the epiphyseal plate of the distal tibia. The C-reactive protein value and erythrocyte sedimentation rate were normal.The diagnosis was made by a needle biopsy of the lesion with aspiration of pus. The bacteriological examination revealed staphylococcus aureus. Surgery with curettage and bone graft including the epiphyseal plate resulted in it healing and no deformity nor limb length-discrepancy was recognized.

Seven hands of 7 patients with thumb polydactyly underwent surgery were followed-up. The mean age of the patients at operation was 8 months (range; 3-15 months).According to Wassel's classification, 1 patient was Type II, 4 were Type IV, 1 was Type V and 1 was Type VII. Radial hypoplastic thumb was resected in all patients. Angulation of the phalanx and matacarpal bone was treated with osteotomy in 3 patients.The average follow-up period was 7 years and 2 months (range; 7 months-15 years). According to Tada's evaluation, 5 hands were evaluated as good, 2 hands were fair, and none was poor.As a subjective evaluation, patients and their parents were satisfied with the results in 6 patients (86%).

We evaluated the results of the rotational acetabular osteotomy using an allogeneic heat-treated or freeze-dired bone graft clinically and radiographically. The average age of the patients at the time of the osteotomy was thirty one years old. The average duration of follow-up was two years. We preserved the power of abduction of the hip joint without stripping procedure of gluteus medius. There are no obvious absoaption or collapsing of the grafted bone radiographically. The results of the rotational acetabular osteotomy using an allogeneic bone graft is better as compared with the rotational acetabular osteotomy using an autogenous bone graft.We reported the utility of heat-treated or freeze-dried bone graft at the time of the rotational acetabular osteotomy.

We experienced a case of tuberculous sacroiliitis. The patient was a 70-year-old woman. She suffered from general fatigue and febrile, but complained of no pain of the sacroiliac (SI) joint. She had slight tenderness over the right SI joint. Gaenslen test was negative. Roentgenogram revealed diffuse destruction with calcificated masses on the right SI joint. Laboratory on admittance showed no leukocytosis, elevation of erythrocyte sedimentation rate (125mm/hr) and C-reactive protein (3.79mg/dl). Results of the Mantoux test were positive. Needle biopsy from the right SI joint was performed, but the culture of specimens was negative and the pathological findings were not the specific results. We performed curettage and irrigation, and got the specimen of the bone involved. Histologic examination revealed granulomatous inflammation with infiltration of epitheloid cells, tubercle formation, caseous necrosis, and Langhans' giant cells. She was treated with three combined antituberculosis drugs (isoniazid, ethambutol, and rifampicin). At present 6 months after surgery, she has no pain, no fever and feels no fatigue.Sacroiliac joint involvement has been reported in 3-10 percent of patients with skeletal tuberculosis. Lack of awareness of this rare disease now often leads to diagnotic delay and increased morbidity. The direct sampling of the SI joint is necessary to establish the diagnosis. It is important to obtain the specimen involving oteoarticular fragments for the diagnosis.

A 2,048-bp nucleotide sequence containing a gene coding for an enzyme that degraded guar gum from Bacillus circulans K-1 was identified by polymerase chain reaction walking. This G-gene consisted of 1,551 nucleotides coding for a protein with Mr 55,242. The enzyme was overexpressed in Escherichia coli JM109 cells by the cloning the G-gene downstream of the lac Z promoter of pUC19. The molecular mass of recombinant G-enzyme estimated by SDS-PAGE was 62 KDa, close to that from strain K-1. Analysis of the recombinant enzyme showed GalNAc, Xyl, GlcNAc, Man, Glc, and Gal to account for 1.7%, 14.4%, 6.1%, 3.2%, 54.2%, and 10.4%, respectively, of the total monosaccharides. Polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis of this enzyme with staining gave a red band. The results suggested that the sugars accounted for the differences in the molecular masses. The recombinant enzyme had two kinds of N-terminal sequences, Thr-Met-Ile-Thr-Pro-Ser-Phe-Ala-Ser-Gly-Phe-Tyr-Val-Ile and Ile-Thr-Pro-Ser-Phe-Ala-Ser-Gly-Phe-Tyr-Val-Ile-Gly-Thr. Comparison of these sequences with the deduced N-terminal sequence coded for the G-gene showed that the amino acid, first Met, of the lac Z gene or the next residues Thr-Met in the recombinant enzyme were absent in the native enzyme. Methionines near and at the N-terminus of the mature protein probably were digested by methionine aminopeptidases of E. coli after translation. The properties of recombinant G-enzyme were similar to those of the enzyme from K-1 cells.

The margins of intramuscular hemangiomas are usually obscure making extensive resection, including normal muscle necessary. Such resections can at times result in impairment of function.To reduce the post-operative functional impairment, we performed preoperative embolization to intramuscular hemangioma by percutaneous tumor puncture with n-butyl cyanoacrylate (Histoacryl®) for clarifing the tumor margins. Consolidated tumor margins were easily identified at the time of surgery. After five months follow-up, there was no signs of recurrence and the patient has no impairment of function. Preoperative percutaneous embolization with n-butyl cyanoacrylate was useful to clearly delineate the range of tumor resection needed.

Malignant Rhabdoid Tumor (MRT) is a rare neoplasm which usually arises from the kidney of infants. Extrarenal MRT is also known to occur in other organs or soft tissue. We report a case of retroperitoneal MRT which developed in the paravertebral region and invaded into the intrathecal sac through the intervertebral foramen. A twenty seven year old female who had developed severe sciatica ten months earlier was referred to our hospital. MR imaging disclosed no evidence of spinal tumor. Three months later, a mass in intrathecal sac at the level of L4/5 vertebra was seen. Postmyelogram CT scan revealed an intradural mass at the same level. Surgical treatment was performed to the intrathecal region. Histological and immunohistochemical examinations revealed is as MRT.