Search

We isolated 13 tobacco calmodulin (CaM) genes, NtCaM1-13, and analyzed their expression profile in response to pathogen infection and wounding using specific DNA probes for individual CaM genes and specific antibodies for CaM proteins in groups I (NtCaM1/2), II (NtCaM3/4/5/6/7/8/11/12 and 9/10) and III (NtCaM13), respectively. Synchronous cell death in tobacco mosaic virus (TMV)-infected N-gene-containing tobacco leaves accompanied a predominant accumulation of NtCaM1, 2 and 13 transcripts and NtCaM13-type protein, which is a possible ortholog of soybean defense-involved CaM (SCaM-4), preceding induction of PR-1 and PR-3 defense genes. Accumulation of NtCaM1, 2, 3 and 4 transcripts was induced within 30 min after wounding and NtCaM1-type protein accumulated transiently after wounding. NtCaM13-type protein, which was found at a low level in healthy leaves, decreased instantly after wounding. The treatment with a proteasome inhibitor, lactacystin, enhanced wound-induced accumulation of NtCaM1-type protein and inhibited wound-induced decrease of NtCaM13-type protein, suggesting that proteasome activity is involved in the degradation of these CaMs. Thus, our results indicate that levels of individual CaM proteins are differentially regulated both transcriptionally and post-transcriptionally in tobacco plants that are exposed to stresses such as pathogen-induced hypersensitive cell death and wounding.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship among expression of procollagen alpha 1 type III mRNA, subacromial adhesion, and limited shoulder elevation in rotator cuff tears. Procollagen alpha 1 type III mRNA was analyzed in the torn supraspinatus tendons and synovial tissue of 42 patients with rotator cuff tears. As a control, four normal supraspinatus tendons of patients who had undergone shoulder surgery other than rotator cuff repair served as controls. Cells stained positively for procollagen alpha 1 type III mRNA were more abundant in the adhesive synovium of the subacromial bursa and in the torn supraspinatus tendons than in controls. Patients with complete-thickness tears who had undergone surgery less than 10 months after trauma were found to have more signal-positive cells than those later than 10 months. We conclude that the adhesive synovium of the subacromial bursa contains abundant cells stained positively for procollagen alpha 1 type III mRNA. We suggest that the production of type III collagen by these cells could contribute to the limitation of shoulder motion in patients with rotator cuff tears, and recommend release and excision of the excess adhesive synovium during rotator cuff surgery.

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the healing process of partial-thickness tears of the deep pectoral tendon in chickens which is considered to be equivalent to the human rotator cuff. The superior side (bursal-side) and the inferior side (joint-side) layers of the deep pectoral tendon of 80 adult chickens were lacerated in the same manner. The mRNA expression levels of alpha 1 (I) and alpha 1 (III) procollagen was at a level 2 weeks after laceration. The mRNA expression level of procollagen alpha 1 (I) was significantly higher than that of procollagen alpha 1 (III) in all experimental periods (p0.05). The expression levels of procollagen-mRNAs were constitutively higher in bursal-side tears than in joint-side tears throughout the experimental periods (p0.05), even 52nd weeks after laceration. These observations indicate that the bursal-side layer possesses higher healing ability than the joint-side layer in the chicken's deep pectoral tendon where subacromial impingement is absent, and that the remodeling of partial-thickness tears in chicken models needs more than one year.

To study the hypothesis that perforation of the rotator cuff increases the degree of inflammation in the synovium of the glenohumeral joint in rotator cuff diseases.Thirty-five synovial specimens in the glenohumeral joint of patients with rotator cuff diseases were examined. They were obtained during surgery and divided into 2 groups on the basis of the presence or absence of rotator cuff perforation, i.e., perforating and nonperforating tears. The expression levels of inflammatory cytokine mRNA of interleukin 1beta (IL-1beta) and 2 forms (secreted type and intracellular type) of IL-1 receptor antagonist (IL-1ra) were measured by reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR). The protein level of IL-1beta was determined by Western blot analysis. IL-1beta producing cells were also identified by in situ RT-PCR and immunohistochemistry.In perforating tears cytokine mRNA in the glenohumeral synovium was more significantly expressed than in nonperforating tears. Also, higher levels of IL-1beta protein were detected in perforating tears.Perforation of the rotator cuff increases IL-1beta production in the glenohumeral joint, enhancing inflammatory intensity at the site. These findings suggest the possibility that glenohumeral synovitis in rotator cuff diseases may be a factor for the development of glenohumeral arthropathy.

In spite of recent advances in perioperative management, the risk of neurosurgical intervention for patients with chronic renal failure is still considered too high. In this study, coil embolization for incidental aneurysms in such patients is demonstrated in reference to midterm results. A 42-year-old woman with a history of hemodialisis for 7 years presented with subcortical hemorrhage in her right frontal lobe. The magnetic resonance angiography (MRA) demonstrated a distal anterior cerebral artery aneurysm, but it was considered to be unrelated to the hemorrhage. Two and a half months after the hemorrhage the aneurysm was embolized with interlocking detachable coils. Thirty months after embolization, the angiogram revealed the coil compaction and the recanalization of the aneurysm neck. However, 54 months after embolization, the figure of the embolized aneurysm and neck remnant was the same as the previous findings. A 69-year-old woman with a history of hemodialisis for 5 years suddenly experienced left hemiparesis. Computed tomography revealed cerebral infarction in the right frontoparietal white matter. In addition, a left middle cerebral artery aneurysm was unexpectedly found on the MRA. Five months after the onset of the attack, the aneurysm was embolized with a Guglielmi detachable coli. An angiogram obtained 24 months after the embolization showed the aneurysm to be almost completely obliterated. In considering the therapeutic risks and benefits for incidental aneurysms of patients with chronic renal failure, intra-vascular surgery could be recommended as a less invasive treatment.

Several models of electrostatic accelerators based on rotating disks (Disktron) have been manufactured for various ion beam applications like surface analyses and implantation. The high voltage terminal of the Disktron with a terminal voltage of up to 500 kV is open in air, while the generator part is enclosed in FRP (fiber reinforced plastics) or a ceramic vessel filled with sf6 gas. The 1 MV model is completely enclosed in a steel vessel. A compact tandem accelerator of the pellet chain type with a terminal voltage of 1.5 MV has also been manufactured. The good energy stability of these accelerators, typically in the range of 10−4, has proved to be quite favorable for applications in precise studies of material surfaces, including the use of microbeam techniques.

Macroscopic synovitis of the glenohumeral joint is frequently seen during arthroscopy in patients with anterior instability. Interleukin-1beta is known to be expressed in inflamed tissue, to correlate with the magnitude of inflammation, and to affect articular cartilage in the joint. We hypothesized that chronic synovitis may occur in the glenohumeral joint in patients with anterior instability. The purpose of this study was to examine the expression of interleukin-1beta in the synovium of the glenohumeral joint with anterior instability and to discuss its clinicopathologic significance. Specimens of synovial tissue around the greater tuberosity in the subacromial synovium (as controls) and around the rotator interval in the glenohumeral synovium were obtained from 10 patients who had anterior instability without signs of subacromial impingement. Semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was used to compare the levels of interleukin-1beta mRNA expression in the glenohumeral joint with those in the subacromial bursa. We also employed immunohistochemistry and in situ reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction to detect the cells producing interleukin-1beta protein and mRNA. The levels of interleukin-1beta mRNA expression were significantly higher in the glenohumeral joint than in the subacromial bursa (p0.01). Histology showed nonspecific inflammation in all 10 samples of glenohumeral synovium, whereas no inflammation was seen in seven of 10 samples of subacromial synovium. Immunohistochemistry identified interleukin-1beta protein in the vessels and inflammatory and synovial cells (from lining to sublining layers) in synovium of the glenohumeral joint, whereas immunoreactivity was negative in seven subacromial bursa. The remaining three synovial specimens of subacromial bursa, however, showed positive immunoreactivity that was unremarkable and confined around the vessels. In situ reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction was exclusively performed in the synovial specimens of the glenohumeral joint, which exhibited a positive reaction (in the same kinds of cells as seen with immunohistochemistry) in the lining and sublining layers and to a lesser extent in the stroma. Thus, our data confirmed the increased production of interleukin-1beta in the synovium of the glenohumeral joint in patients with anterior instability, suggesting the presence of chronic inflammation at the site. We conclude that this chronic synovitis may be partly associated with the development of dislocation arthropathy in the long term.

A magnetic levitation transport (MLT) system in vacuum has been developed. The system can carry silicon wafers into a number of process chambers for LSI fabrication under particle-free conditions. Since there are no sliding mechanical parts in this system, it does not need lubricants. Therefore, the transport system is free from oil and has a long lifetime. We measured the contamination of dust particles on silicon wafers when the wafers were transferred in vacuum with the MLT system. In this paper, we describe the MLT system and present the results of dust particle measurements.

A sheet plasma ion source has been developed. The new technology will allow simultaneous irradiation of large area samples of 500 mm in width with a high‐current ion beam. As a first step of this development, a sheet ion beam of 90 mm width and currents of 38 mA had been successfully extracted from the stable sheet plasma. Both characteristics of the sheet plasma discharge and the sheet ion beam extraction are reported in this article.

For the production of extreme high vacuum with a cryopump we have developed a new cryopump/refrigerator system in which the refrigerator is separated from the cryopanel housing to keep its cold head below 70°C during 200°C bakeout. The cryopanels are cooled by circulating helium gas from a two-stage refrigerator. For a stainless steel test dome polished by electro-chemical buffering technique, the lowest total pressures attained were 5.3 × 10 −8 Pa before bakeout, and less than 6 × 10 −9 Pa after 30 h bakeout at 130°C.

A 500 keV ion accelerator with a Disktron high-voltage generator has been developed for RBS analysis with microbeam and ion beam modification. An accelerating voltage stability of better than 4.5 × 10−4, with a long-term (∼1 h) current stability of better than 3%, was obtained for both proton and helium ions at 400 keV. The short-term (∼ ms) current stability, which is very important for RBS mapping measurements, was found to be better than 2 × 10−3. The X-ray dose rate around the accelerator was less than 0.03 mR/h at maximum with an acceleration of helium ions of 40 μA at an energy of 500 keV.

We previously identified two commonly deleted regions on chromosome bands 10q25-q26 in endometrial cancer: an 8-cM region and a 12-cM region. In the present study, we further studied the 8-cM region with 83 endometrial cancer specimens and 14 microsatellite markers and narrowed it down to a 1-cM region between D10S587 and D10S1723. This result was confirmed by two-color fluorescence in situ hybridization analysis. An association between histopathologically lower grade tumor and allelic loss (P = 0.03 by Fisher's exact test) was also observed. We also constructed a yeast artificial chromosome (YAC) contig and found that one YAC clone, which was 790 kb in size, harbored the whole 1-cM region of common allelic loss.

A 54-year-old man felt pain on the right side of his chest. Two months later, paraplegia developed. A chest CT scan revealed a pleural effusion and a mass lesion along the right parietal pleura. The lesion extended directly into the adjacent part of the spinal canal and compressed the spinal cord. Cytologic examination of the pleural effusion revealed atypical lymphoid cells, and examination of a transcutaneous biopsy specimen showed monotonous atypical B lymphocytes. The diagnosis was pleural malignant lymphoma. Chemotherapy induced a partial remission, but 14 months after the first examination he died of central nervous system involvement. Pleural lymphoma can directly compress the spinal cord and cause paraplegia. Early diagnosis and therapy greatly affect the outcome in patients with spinal cord compression.

A 57-year-old man was found on a routine chest X-ray examination to have three infiltrative shadows: two in the right lung field and one in the left. Examination of a transbronchial biopsy specimen revealed infiltration of many small lymphocytes under the bronchial mucosa. In situ hybridization showed that they were monoclonal, and primary pulmonary lymphoma was diagnosed. The patient also had liver cirrhosis, diabetes mellitus, and hypertension. He was treated with a combination of pirarubein, cyclo-phosphamide, vindesine, prednisolone, and etoposide, but the tumors did not shrink. Therefore, as of the time of this writing he was being given only etoposide.

We have designed a new type of antisense oligonucleotide, containing two hairpin loop structures with RNA/DNA base pairs (sense (RNA) and antisense (DNA)) in the double helical stem (nicked and circular dumbbell DNA/RNA chimeric oligonucleotides). The reaction of the nicked and circular dumbbell DNA/RNA chimeric oligonucleotides with RNase H gave the corresponding anti-DNA together with the sense RNA cleavage products. These oligonucleotides were more resistant to exonuclease attack. We also describe the anti-Fluv activities of circular dumbbell DNA/RNA chimeric oligonucleotides.

A 35-year-old man underwent routine chest roentgenography and a mass shadow was seen in the left lung field. Examination of a transbronchial lung biopsy specimen revealed that many eosinophils had infiltrated under the bronchial mucosa and into the alveolar septum. The total serum IgE concentration was high, and skin tests with Aspergillus antigen and serum precipitating antibodies against Aspergillus were positive. The mass lesion disappeared without any therapy, and a cystic lesion remained. Mediators released from eosinophils were thought to have damaged the lung tissue. We should have administrated corticosteroids as soon as possible.

A 25-year-old man with hemophilia A who had received concentrated plasma and plasma factor VIII products since childhood presented with a productive cough and a fever. The CD4/CD8 ratio of peripheral lymphocyte subsets was very low and the serum was positive for anti-HIV antibodies. The chest roentgenogram showed bilateral multiple nodules with cavity formation. The patient underwent transbronchial lung biopsy, and the specimen obtained had Pneumocystic carinii organisms. The patient was treated with sulfamethoxazole and trimethoprim compounds, and with inhaled pentamizine. His condition improved. Patients with pulmonary pneumocystosis usually present with interstitial infiltrates spreading from the hilium to the periphery of the lungs, and nodular and cavitary lesions are unusual pulmonary radiographic findings in this condition.

For effective recognition, a recognition structure that controls the information flow among the specialized processing modules should reflect the implicit correlation structure of the environmental input. Autonomous construction of a recognition structure will lead to extensive improvement in the flexibility of the adaptive recognition system. For this purpose we propose a matchability-oriented feature selection that can collect highly correlated features at each local module. Conventional techniques, which collect features that are more independent, are not suitable. Matchability is a concept derived from the recognition functions of an adaptive intelligent agent (useful for action generation) and corresponds to the probability of input data items matching stored data items in the recognition system. The proposed algorithm changes the weights attached to each feature depending on the degree of matchability of each feature. This algorithm could select highly correlated features in simple simulation.

1. To reveal the mechanism responsible for the increase in blood pressure (BP) response to high salt intake in salt-sensitive essential hypertensives, pressor responses to angiotensin II and norepinephrine on high and low salt diet, influence of high salt intake on calcium metabolism and insulin sensitivity were studied in essential hypertensive and in normotensive subjects with or without family history of hypertension. 2. Pressor responses to angiotensin II and norepinephrine were significantly increased in salt-sensitive essential hypertensives irrespective of high or low salt diet. 3. In normotensive subjects with positive family history, high salt diet elevated BP in association with an increase in urinary calcium excretion. This observation, however, was not shared by the normotensive subjects with negative family history of hypertension. In the normotensive subjects with positive family history of hypertension, the cytosolic calcium concentration in platelets was significantly higher than in those with negative family history. A significant correlation between the cytosolic calcium concentration and elevation of BP was also observed. 4. In normotensive subjects with family history of hypertension, insulin sensitivity was decreased and correlated negatively with the cytosolic calcium concentration. 5. These results suggest that in salt-sensitive essential hypertensives increased pressor responses to angiotensin and norepinephrine and elevation of BP as well as insulin resistance may result from inherited abnormalities of intracellular calcium metabolism.

The peptide possessing N-terminal 10 amino acid sequence of Cry j 2 was chemically synthesized and conjugated to KLH-carrier protein. Rabbits were immunized with this haptenized protein and the antibody (N-10 antibody) was obtained. Cross-blot analysis revealed that N-10 antibody recognized the hapten moiety. Purification of Cry j 2 was carried out with monitoring its reactivity with N-10 antibody. The substance reactive to N-10 antibody existed in the DEAE-Sephadex unadsorbed fraction. The substance reactive to N-10 antibody was subjected to CM-Sephadex equilibrated with 10 mM acetate buffer (pH 5.0). In contrast to the previous report on Cry j 2, the substance reactive to N-10 antibody existed in the CM-Sephadex unadsorbed fraction. The CM-Sephadex unadsorbed fraction was concentrated with 80% saturated ammonium sulfate, and applied to a Superdex pg 200 column. The major peak of protein was regarded as the final preparation and was subjected to SDS-PAGE. The substance reactive to N-10 antibody had a MW of 40 kDa under reducing and 37 kDa under non-reducing conditions, respectively. Furthermore, the substance reactive to N-10 antibody showed potent allergenic activity. These data completely agreed with the previous data on Cry j 2 and strongly suggested that the final preparation contained a large amount of Cry j 2. BALB/c mice were immunized intraperitoneally with the final preparation to produce a monoclonal antibody against Cry j 2. Eleven clones reacting to the final preparation were obtained, and the antibodies produced from these clones did not react with purified Cry j 1.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

The ability of homopyrimidine oligonucleotides containing 8-oxo-2'-deoxyadenosine (dAOH) and/or 2'-methoxyuridine (Um) or 2'-fluorouridine (Uf) to form stable, triple helical structures with the sequences containing the recognition site for the class II-S restriction enzyme, Ksp632-I, was studied as a function of pH. The 8-oxo-2'-deoxyadenosine substituted oligomers were shown to bind within the physiological pH range in a pH-independent fashion, without a compromise specificity. On the other hand, the oligonucleotides containing 2'-modified nucleosides (Uf ,Um, dAOH-Um, and dAOH-Uf) bind in a pH-dependent mannerto the target duplex.

We have designed a new type of antisense oligodeoxyribonucleotide. These oligonucleotides form two hairpin loop structures with RNA-DNA base pairs (sense (RNA) and antisense (DNA)) in the double helical stem. The nicked and circular dumbbell RNA/DNA chimeric oligonucleotides are molecules, with or without free ends, that are more resistant to exonuclease attack. Of particular interest, antisense DNA is liberated by RNase H treatment of the dumbbell RNA/DNA chimeric oligonucleotides.

To assess the effect of dietary calcium (Ca) and salt on blood pressure and vascular reactivity, 5-week-old male spontaneously hypertensive rats were placed on control (1% Ca diet+tap water), high Na (1% NaCl administered in drinking fluid), low Ca (0.2% Ca diet), and low Ca+high Na intake for 3 weeks (n = 8-10). During the observation period, systolic blood pressure increased in all groups, but the increase was markedly enhanced in the low Ca+high Na group. There were no significant differences in body weight and serum electrolytes. On high Na intakes, urine volume and urinary Na excretion increased and plasma renin activity and aldosterone concentration were suppressed, whereas Ca restriction did not affect these values. The dose-response curves of mesenteric arterial beds for in vitro contraction to norepinephrine (NE) were not affected by dietary manipulations. However, the time from maximum contraction to return to baseline levels of contractility by 10(-4) M NE was significantly prolonged in the low Ca+high Na group. These results indicate that Ca restriction accelerates salt-induced hypertension in young spontaneously hypertensive rats, and the cellular impairment in vascular smooth muscle might, at least in part, participate in the enhanced blood pressure elevation under this condition.

In a case of 51-year-old woman with an esophago-bronchial fistula located in the right B2 bronchus, we found a tubular type of esophageal duplication communicating with the esophagobronchial fistula by examinations of esophagography and endoscopy. It was diagnosed as tubular type I double barreled type of esophageal duplication by Akaboshi's Classification. She successfully underwent resection of the accessory esophagus combined with the fistula and the adjacent pulmonary tissues. Squamous epithelium and smooth muscle tissue were observed in the resected esophageal specimen. Double barreled type of esophageal duplication is one of the rare malformation, and we have found 12 reported cases including our one case in the Japanese literatures. Moreover our case is the first one whose accessory esophagus were combined with an esophagobronchial fistula.

The effects of a calcium channel blocker, nicardipine, on pressure-natriuresis responses were studied in Dahl salt sensitive (DS) and resistant (DR) rats. Differences in the neural and endocrine background were minimized by renal denervation and by holding plasma vasopressin, aldosterone, corticosterone, and norepinephrine levels constant by intravenous infusion. The renal plasma flow (RPF) and glomerular filtration rate (GFR) of DS rats were disautoregulated in the low renal perfusion pressure range, while those of DR rats were autoregulated. Administration of nicardipine (0.3 microgram/kg/min) into the renal artery significantly increased RPF and GFR and abolished the autoregulation in both strains of rats. Nicardipine also sharpened the pressure-natriuresis responses in both strains without changes in fractional excretion of sodium. These findings suggest that nicardipine increased GFR and thereby improved the pressure-natriuresis responses of DS rats.

The differential diagnosis of fasting hyperglycemia in type I diabetes includes the Somogyi effect, the dawn phenomenon, and insufficient insulin administration. To determine the causes of fasting hyperglycemia and their effect on subsequent daytime blood glucose control, the authors retrospectively reviewed blood glucose profiles of 126 patients with type I diabetes. The Somogyi effect accounted for 12.6% of all instances of fasting hyperglycemia, the dawn phenomenon, 24.1%, and poor control, 63.3%. Measurement of 3 AM and 5 AM blood glucose values is the key to making a correct diagnosis. Once a patient's fasting hyperglycemia is placed in one of these groups, appropriate treatment can be started.

The effects of combined exposure to ozone and cigarette smoke on airway responsiveness and tracheal vascular permeability, compared with those of single exposure were examined in guinea pigs. Airway responsiveness was assessed by measuring the specific airway resistance (sRaw) as a function of increasing concentration of inhaled methacholine aerosol immediately, 5 hr, and 24 hr after exposure. In a parallel study, tracheal vascular permeability was quantified by measuring the tracheal extravasation of intravenously administered Evans blue dye. Neither exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 30 min nor 5 puffs of cigarette smoke increased airway responsiveness or vascular permeability at any time after exposure. Combined exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 30 min and 5 puffs of cigarette smoke caused airway hyper-responsiveness and increased vascular permeability immediately after exposure. Exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 90 min increased both airway responsiveness and vascular permeability immediately after exposure. Exposure to 10 puffs of cigarette smoke increased airway responsiveness but not vascular permeability immediately after exposure. Combined exposure to 1 ppm ozone for 90 min and 10 puffs of cigarette smoke increased both airway responsiveness and vascular permeability immediately after exposure. The combined exposure to ozone and cigarette smoke thus increased both airway responsiveness and tracheal vascular permeability to a greater extent than did exposure to a single agent, suggesting that a combination of air pollutants has a more deleterious effect both on airway responsiveness and on tracheal vascular permeability than does either agent alone in guinea pigs.

Proliferation behavior of six low passage cell lines derived from human non-small cell lung carcinoma was investigated both by cell inoculation into deepithelialized Fisher 344 rat tracheas xenotransplanted into nude mice and by direct cell injection into the subcutis of nude mice. In the tracheal transplants, all the cell lines showed a comparable or higher degree of differentiation than in the primary lesion, while most cell lines showed a lower degree of differentiation in the mouse subcutis. The surfaces of the tracheal transplants repopulated with the cells derived from squamous cell carcinomas were initially lined with a layer of flattened cells, two to three cells thick, while those repopulated with the cells from the three adenocarcinoma cases (HKT-3, HKT-5, HKT-6) were initially lined with simple epithelia comprising cuboidal-, round-and columnar-shaped cells, respectively. Subsequently, the cells from HKT-3 increased in height and proliferated in a pseudostratified pattern, those from HKT-5 proliferated in a papillary growth pattern and those from HKT-6 proliferated in a cribriform pattern. Ultrastructurally, they resembled ciliated bronchial epithelial cells, non-ciliated bronchiolar epithelial cells and bronchial goblet cells, respectively. Histological examination of cultured cells using this system was considered to be advantageous in the evaluation of differentiation since it provided unique proliferation patterns unobserved in primary tumors or tumors formed after s.c. direct cell injections.

A trypsin-like protease was purified from mite (Dermatophagoides farinae) fecal extract. In SDS-PAGE, the mite trypsin-like protease showed a single band at 34 kD. The purified trypsin-like protease possessed potent allergenic activity. Both the twenty N-terminal amino acid sequence and the amino acid composition of the purified protease were very similar to those of Der f III. These data strongly suggest that the trypsin-like protease in the mite is a Der f III allergen.

To determine the factors influencing the extent and recurrence of thymoma, 31 cases of thymoma who had undergone complete resection were analyzed clinicopathologically with special reference to the nuclear area of epithelial cells. The mean tumor size and incidence of recurrence of stage III thymomas were significantly larger and higher than those of stage I thymomas. The nuclear area of epithelial cells of stage III thymomas (72.9 +/- 29.2 micron 2) was significantly larger than that of stage I thymomas (48.4 +/- 13.2 micron 2) or stage II thymomas (49.4 +/- 11.6 micron 2). The nuclear area of thymomas with recurrence (70.2 +/- 21.5 micron 2) was significantly larger than that of those without recurrence (50.2 +/- 12.8 micron 2). In 16 cases who were followed up for 5 years or more, the nuclear areas were over 50 micron 2 in all thymomas with recurrence, while in 8 of 11 thymomas without recurrence it was under 50 microns 2. These results indicated that the tumor size and nuclear area increased step-wisely in association with the advance of clinical stage and that the incidence of recurrence was related to not only clinical stage but also nuclear area. Thymomas with large nuclear area (over 50 microns 2) are considered to be a high-risk group of recurrence and should be carefully followed up.

A very rare case of congenital esophago-bronchial fistula in the adult is reported. Sixty-five years old, female. Complaining cough at drinking water and epigastric pain was diagnosed as esophago-bronchial fistula with esophageal diverticulum by Barium swallow and esophagoscopy. The resection of the fistula and diverticulum and the repair were carried out with smooth postoperative course. No evidence of inflammation along the fistula was demonstrated at surgery and microscopic findings of the resected material revealed the direct communication from the squamous epithelium to the cuboidal epithelium with underlying muscle layer in the wall. These results suggested this case the congenital esophago-bronchial fistula (Braimbridge type I).

The weight of regional lymph nodes was measured in 173 patients who underwent surgical resection of the primary lung cancer and lymph nodes from January, 1986 to January, 1989 in our hospital. Histological examination was also performed and correlation of metastasis and the weight of lymph nodes were studied. The average weight of metastatic lymph nodes was 2.34 g while that of non-metastatic ones was 0.83 g indicating a significant (p less than 0.05) increase of weight in metastatic lymph nodes. Although the percentage of metastasis increased as the weight of lymph nodes increased, 7.6% of lymph nodes weighing less than 0.5 g was positive for metastasis. On the other hand, 66.7% of the lymph nodes weighing more than 3.0 g in adenocarcinoma and 34.5% in squamous cell carcinoma were positive for metastasis indicating the difference of the metastatic tendency to the lymph nodes between the two histological types. The comparative study of the weight of each lymph node station according to the JJC criteria demonstrated the difference of average weight of non-metastatic lymph nodes among each lymph node station. The average weight of pretracheal (#3), subcarinal (#7), interlobar (#11), and segmental (#12) lymph nodes without tumor metastasis were more than 1.0 g, however those of anterior mediastinal (#3a), paraesophageal (#8), and pulmonary ligament (#9) were less than 0.5 g. The average weight of metastatic lymph nodes in each lymph node station was in proportion to those of non-metastatic ones.

The freezability of porcine peri-hatching stage blastocysts was investigated by the cryopreservation of embryos at -196 degrees C with 1.5 M glycerol and by thawing, followed by in vitro culture. Of 66 expanded blastocysts frozen, 34 (51.5%) developed in vitro after thawing, while only 2 (6.7%, P0.05) of 30 earlier stage blastocysts survived freezing. After freezing of 85 hatched blastocysts with an embryonic diameter of 150 to 300 mum, 59 (69.4%) surviving embryos were obtained, whereas none of the 78 advanced staged hatched blastocysts (300 mum) survived the cryopreservation. High post-thaw survival (32 39 , 82..1%) was obtained with in vitro-hatched blastocysts precultured in Whittingham's M-16 medium containing 12mg/ml bovine serum albumin (BSA). In contrast, none of the 14 in vitro-hatched blastocysts precultured in the M-16 medium supplemented with 15% fetal calf serum (FCS) survived freezing. Similarly 51 of 56 hatced blastocysts (diameter = 150 to 300 mum) precultured in the M-16 medium supplemented with BSA survived cryopreservation, compared with 3 of 26 embryos precultured in the medium supplemented with FCS (P0.001). Because both groups of the embryos precultured with BSA or FCS possessed normal ability to develop after transfer (developmental rate = 61.1 and 93.3%), the improved freezability of the embryos precultured with BSA may relate to a favorable change of embryonic cell membranes during the culture period. It was concluded that in vitro-hatched blastocysts precultured in medium containing BSA and in vivo-hatched blastocysts at the appropriate stage of development could both tolerate deep freezing to -196 degrees C; however, a differece in the freezability of embryos between breeds of pig was suggested from a further experiment performed with German Landrace embryos.

A cDNA library corresponding to mite protein was screened using anti-Der f II, a major allergen from the house dust mite Dermatophagoides farinae, antibody. Three possible clones were obtained that contained cDNA fragments coding for Der f II, and the nucleotide sequences of the fragments were determined. There were minor differences observed affecting the deduced amino acid sequence among the three cDNA fragments. The amino acid sequence of the purified native Der f II protein could be analyzed to 45 residues from the N-terminus. As a result of comparison, all the three cDNA fragments code for a mature protein with a derived molecular weight of about 14,000. The amino acid sequence was not homologous to any known protein sequences and it contained six cysteine residues and no N-glycosylation sites.

Out of 1099 cases of primary lung cancer patients who underwent surgical treatment in our department from 1952 to 1988, 374 cases were divided as noncurative by the post surgical examination. We divided the causes of noncurative resection as follows; I) absolute noncurative resection 1) tumor rest in a) lymph nodes (Ly rest), b) chest wall or diaphragma (Ch + Dia rest), c) bronchial stump (Bro rest) 2) intra-pulmonary metastasis (pm), 3) dissemination or pleuritis carcinomatosa (Dis + pl) II) relative noncurative 1) incomplete dissection of lymph nodes (Ro) 2) group 2b lymph node metastasis (2b Ly). Ly rest was the commonnest (103 cases 27.5%) in noncurative resection and Ch + Dia rest (94 cases, 25.1%) and p.m. (54 cases 14.4%) followed thereafter. Two thirds of the noncurative cases were classified into these 3 groups, and the rest of the causes were Dis + pl, Bro rest. RO and 2b Ly groups. p.m. and Ly rest groups were the most common causes of noncurative resection in adenocarcinoma cases whereas Ly rest and Ch + Dia rest groups were common in squamous cell carcinoma cases. Five year survival rate of the total noncurative cases was 12.1% although those of Dis + pl groups was 22.9% and those of p.m. group was 18.8%. Five year survival rate of the other groups were around 10%. A slightly better survival rate was observed when relative noncurative resection was performed in RO (19.7%) and 2b Ly (18.7%) groups.

A high-current, low-energy multi-ion beam deposition system has been developed for the fabrication of tailored new materials. This system consists of two ion sources, a dual-sector type mass analyzer and a deceleration system. Several ion species can be extracted successively from the two ion sources by switching the mass analyzer selection. Artificially structured materials, especially having a layered structure, can be grown by the fine control of the growth process of each layer. Ar* ion deceleration characteristics of this ion beam deposition system and preliminary results about the epitaxial growth of Ca film on Si(100) are shown.

In order to study the relationship between cysteine protease and Der f I, which is one of the major allergens in the mite, Dermatophagoides farinae, isolation of cysteine protease was attempted using various column chromatographies. Both the potent cysteine protease activity and the allergenic activity were detected in the same fractions by anion exchange chromatography on a DEAE-Sephacel, gel chromatographies and chelating Sepharose 6B chromatography. In the double immunodiffusion test, the finally isolated fraction and rabbit anti-Der f I sera reacted to give a single precipitation line which fused completely with the precipitation line formed by Der f I and anti-Der f I sera. Sequence analysis for the first 10 N-terminal amino acids from cysteine protease and Der f I were identical. These results strongly suggest that cysteine protease of mites may be Der f I allergen and that measuring cysteine protease activity may possibly become a beneficial method for detecting Der f I allergens.

A cDNA library corresponding to mite protein was screened employing anti-Der f II antibody. Two possible clones containing plasmids pFL1 and pFL11 were obtained. The two plasmids had insertions of about 500 basepairs. The DNA sequences of the two insertions were determined, from which the amino acid sequences were deduced. The amino acid sequence of the purified native Der f II protein could be determined to 45 residues from the N terminus. As a result of comparison, we concluded that the cDNAs prepared from live Dermatophagoides farinae mite corresponded to the mite allergen Der f II. The recombinant Der f II was biologically active.

Human lung tumor-derived cell lines with low passage generation were transplanted into nude mice to determine their growth behavior and invasive potential. Six cell lines (HKT-2, HKT-3, HKT-5, HKT-6, HKT-7, HKT-8) were inoculated into deepithelialized rat trachea (5 x 10(5) cells/trachea). After cell inoculation, the tracheas were sealed and transplanted into the subcutis of nude mice. In a parallel experiment, these cell lines (1 x 10(6) cells) were injected s.c. In the subcutis, the tumor take rate of HKT-3, the lowest of all, was only 13% with a long latency period of 18 weeks, and 3 cell lines (HKT-2, HKT-3, HKT-7) did not show any invasive growth to the surrounding tissue. In rat tracheas, all cell lines proliferated within 3 weeks, and 4 of them (HKT-2, HKT-5, HKT-6, HKT-8) showed invasive growth to the tracheal wall within 1-2 weeks. Cells growing in the tracheal wall showed higher [3H]thymidine labeling indexes and greater atypia, such as larger nuclei and prominent nucleoli, than those in the tracheal lumen. The s.c. tumor take rate correlated with the incidence of invasive growth to the tracheal wall. The survival of the patients originally bearing the six tumors also correlated closely with the invasive potential of this system. These results indicate that the system using low passage cell lines can evaluate the invasive potential shortly after the inoculation of a relatively small number of cells and can be used as a clinically reliable biological invasion assay.

A 56-year-old woman was found to have a mediastinal mass on routine examination. Chest X-ray, CT scan, MRI and superior vena cavography showed a right upper mediastinal tumor invading the SVC. And it was diagnosed malignant intrathoracic goiter by histological examination by percutaneous needle biopsy. On thoracotomy and mediastinotomy, the tumor located only in the right upper mediastinum and had no relation to the cervical thyroid gland. Histological examination revealed papillary adenocarcinoma. We reported a malignant complete intrathoracic goiter and added discussion on another 12 cases seen in Japanese literature.

A cDNA library corresponding to mite protein was screened employing anti-Der f II antibody. Two possible clones were obtained, which contained plasmids, pFL1 and pFL11, respectively. Both plasmids had insertions of about 500 base pairs. The DNA sequences of the two insertions were determined, from which the amino acid sequences were deduced. The amino acid sequence of the purified native Der f II protein could be determined to 45 residues from the N-terminus. As a result of comparison, we concluded that the cDNAs prepared from live mite Dermatophagoides farinae corresponded to the mite allergen, Der f II.

The objective of this study is to demonstrate the significance of superior vena cava (SVC) reconstruction in the surgical treatment of superior and anterior mediastinal invasive malignant tumors, by using a total of 48 cases consisting of 36 invasive thymomas, 3 thymic cancers, 3 carcinoids, 2 germ cell tumors, 2 malignant lymphomas, 1 intrathoracic thyroid cancer and 1 malignant melanoma. In 22 of 48 cases there was only mediastinal pleural invasion or tumor capsule invasion, on the other hand, 26 cases had high ratios of invasion to adjacent organs, including lung, pericardium, great veins and the phrenic nerve. Sixteen of 26 cases had invasion to 1-2 adjacent organs, but 10 had 3-6 organ invasion. Among 12 cases invading SVC or brachiocephalic veins, 9 cases during the last 7 years underwent SVC resection and reconstruction with EPTFE grafts. The patency was good in the grafts with external ring support and no SVC symptoms were observed in all cases postoperatively. The longest patent and functional graft is 40 months postoperative. No statistically significant difference were demonstrated in the survivals between cases with SVC reconstruction and those with resections of other adjacent organs, furthermore, remarkable difference of survival was demonstrated in SVC reconstructed cases with complete resection and incomplete resection. The survivals in cases with combined resection of 1-2 adjacent organs was statistically significantly better than those with combined resection of 3-6 adjacent organs (p less than 0.05, Cox-Mantel test).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Surgical treatment and combined chemotherapy of non-small cell lung cancers during the last 10 years were analyzed. Overall 5 year survival rate of non-small cell lung cancer was 37% and those in stages I, II, IIIA and IIIB were 59%, 33%, 21% and 12%, respectively. Poor outcome in IIIA cases depended strongly on surgical respectability, however, adenocarcinoma cases depended more on the T factor and squamous cell carcinoma depended more on the N factor. IIIA cases, even though resected curatively, showed 10-20% local recurrence, indicating the importance of further improvement of the surgical procedure. In the cases with absolutely non-curative resection tumor remained in mediastinal lymph nodes or organs adjacent to the mediastinum, indicating the necessity of extended combined resection including contralateral mediastinal lymph nodes or organs adjacent to the mediastinum for better results of surgical treatment. Preoperative chemotherapy for the suppression of local recurrence and distant metastasis was significant only in very limited circumstances.

A clinical study on 207 patients was performed to evaluate partial or wedge resection for lung carcinoma in our institute. Although forced vital capacity decreased 300 ml in cases with poor lung function, blood gas analysis and performance status showed no change due to limited operation. Relative non-curative cases undergoing limited operation showed a relatively good result compared to standard lobectomy, and the 5-year survival rate was 42% postoperatively, but absolute non-curative cases showed a much poorer postoperative prognosis. Reduction surgery by limited operation did not have significant effect on the survival of the patients. Limited operation for recurrent lung cancer showed good results and 5-year survival was 60% postoperatively. It was suggested that limited operation for such selected patients can be a beneficial therapeutic modality. In conclusion, limited resection is not indicated for peripheral lung cancers of more than 3 cm in diameter, poor differentiation or marked cell atypia, because of higher incidence of lymph node metastasis and early postoperative recurrence, especially in adenocarcinoma.

Computed tomographic (CT) features of central descending transtentorial herniation (DTH) were identified in a patient who presented with subarachnoid hemorrhage. The main features were symmetrical deformity of the brainstem and downward displacement of the third ventricle. The authors believe these findings will contribute significantly to the establishment of CT diagnostic criteria for central DTH.