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Toray's Ionic type photosensitive polyimide, "Photoneece" is widly used as interdielectrics and protection layers for microelectronics because of its features such as removal of photoreactive groups at low temperature, excellent thermal, mechanical and electrical film properties and excellent adhesion to various substrates. Toray has developed new type "Photoneece" UR-5100, which is the low stress photosensitive polyimide. In addition to low thermal expansion coefficient (25ppm/"C), "Photoneece" UR-5100 features also high resolution with more than 2.0 aspect ratios in 40 pm imaged film and excellent mechanical properties of the cured film such as high elongation (>2OX) and tensile strength (>200MPa) even after 60 hours heat treatment at 350°C. "Photoneece" UR-5100 can be applied in multi-chip modules (MCMS), hybrid circuits, ICs and LSIs. In this report the characterization and processing of this "Photoneece" UR-5100 are described.

Neutron-diffraction measurements in magnetic fields up to 5 T have been performed on a TbRu 2 Si 2 single crystal, which has a six-step metamagnetic process, down to 2.5 K. The field-induced magnetic phases have the same propagation vector k = (0.23,0,0) as the antiferromagnetic phase at H = 0 with the higher harmonics depending on magnetic field. The existence of a non-magnetic Tb ion is suggested.

High field magnetization of a NdCo 2 Si 2 single crystal has been investigated up to 15 T below T N = 32 K. A three-step metamagnetic process was observed along the c -axis below T 1 = 15 K. Critical fields in the ascending process are H c1 = 5.0 T, H c2 = 6.4 T and H c3 = 13.3 T, and in the descending process, H c1 = 2.5 T, H c2 = 4.5 T and H c3 = 13.2 T. The magnetic H - T phase diagram along the c -axis has been determined, which can be explained by the self-consistent periodic exchange field model.

Extensions of the results of model reference adaptive control to nonlinear and/or time-varying systems have rarely been achieved. For this purpose, the authors present an alternative method of exact model matching (EMM) based on a computing predictor network with assigned damping characteristics under prior knowledge of the plant parameters. A direct method for identifying physical parameters based on small parameter changes of a simulator, called the SANQ method, is introduced for overcoming the parameters' uncertainties. Several sets of simulation and experimental results are given to demonstrate the validity of the present EMM/identification method. >

The image restoration problems that arise in early vision are formulated as ill-posed inverse problems. Through regularization, they should be well-posedly solved. This is an approach to exact modeling for constraints on visual systems. The problem of modeling for constraints can be regarded as that of estimating the mean of the marginal conditional distribution of a random function based on prior information. First, the basic models with non-symmetric half plane causality for noisy and blurred image are introduced. Secondly, the parameters of the image model can be estimated from distorted images using the adaptive identification technique based on multiple edge models. Thirdly, after reformulating the image restoration problem as a class of Bayesian estimation problems, this can be well-posedly solved using a 2-D Kalman filter-type algorithm with edge-adaptation. The algorithm makes it possible to optimize a stochastic image model from the standpoint of a Bayesian information criterion. Lastly, a restoration example is given to demonstrate the feasibility and validity of the authors' approach. >

Many neural networks for the blind separation problem have recently been proposed. However, in most of them, delays on input signals to networks are not considered. In this paper, we propose an extension of the network of Jutten and Herault (1991) that is applied to input signals including delays. Moreover, we present results of comparative simulations between the original Herault-Jutten network and our method for cases where the input signals are direct signals from sources and delay signals, such as reflections off walls.

The authors propose a network architecture for IDMN (Intelligent Digital Mobile Communications Network), a large digital network in which intelligent services are provided as UPT services. IDMN is a hierarchical network consisting of an intelligent layer and a transport layer. From the viewpoint of service control, the intelligent layer is divided into two sublayers. This configuration is based on the IN (intelligent network) concept. From the viewpoint of call connection control, the transport layer is divided into three sublayers. The intelligent layer requires location registers for both PTN (personal telecommunications number) and mobile station identity (MSI) to independently guarantee personal mobility and terminal mobility. The transport layer of a large-scale network needs pursuit-transit switching capability that defines the PRN (pursuit routing number) for inter-MSC use. The characteristics of the signaling protocol applied to IDMN, in which personal and terminal mobility are independently guaranteed, are described. Authentication procedures for PTN and MSI are also indicated. >

A solar energy inverter for photovoltaic power systems connected to electric utility lines has been developed. It is a power conditioner with a high-frequency transformer link for residential use at a power level of 3 kW. This paper describes a new synchronous current feedback control method using a digital signal processor (DSP). An adaptive finite impulse response filter is introduced into the control scheme. This paper also suggests a new method for detecting power outages. It gives frequent changes to the frequency of the inverter output voltage using a distortion of the inverter output current.

A technique to control the radiation pattern of an NRD guide compatible pyramidal horn antenna, which consists of a tapered dielectric rod inserted into the horn, has been developed for multiple access LAN applications at 60 GHz. It has been found that the phase distribution on the aperture of the horn is influenced by the dielectric rod, and, thus, the radiation pattern can be changed by shifting the length of the dielectric rod inserted into the horn. By using such a simple method, the half-power beam-width can be controlled from 11/spl deg/ to 40/spl deg/.

Two surgical cases of pulmonary dilofilariasis (women aged 80 and 54 years old) were reported. They, who had no history of keeping dogs, were admitted to our hospital with complaining of cough and coin lesion on chest X-ray. On investigation, it was difficult to distinguish between pulmonary dilofilariasis and lung cancer. Wedge resection was performed by video-assisted thoracic surgery (VATS), and a definite diagnosis of pulmonary dilofilariasis was made. Nodes 2-3 cm in diameter are formed beneath the pleura in many cases of pulmonary dilofilariasis. Therefore, VATS is useful owing to its minimal invasiveness.

The Dyggve-Melchior-Clausen syndrome (DMCS) is a rare autosomal recessive skeletal dysplasia characterized by short-trunk dwarfism and mental retardation. A 49-year-old male with DMCS underwent resection arthroplasty for contracture of the right hip joint under general anesthesia using thiamylal, nitrous oxide, sevoflurane, and vecuronium. Although he was assumed to have difficult airway due to short neck, macroglossia, and disturbance of neck flexion, tracheal intubation was not difficult. No complications including malignant hyperthermia were observed during the 95 min of the operation.

We report two pediatric patients with rupture of cerebral aneurysm developing subarachnoid hemorrhage. These two patients complained of headache and vomiting. Patient 1 was a 15-year-old girl. Cranial computed tomography (CT) showed a high density area in the left sylvian fissure, suggesting subarachnoid hemorrhage. Left carotid arteriography revealed an aneurysm at the left internal carotid artery bifurcation. Surgical pathology showed a saccular type aneurysm with disappearance of internal elastic membrane. Patient 2 was a 14-year-old girl. Cranial CT exhibited a high density area in the basal cistern and hematoma in the right frontal lobe, penetrating to the right lateral ventricle. Right carotid arteriography showed a right anterior cerebral aneurysm in the right anterior cerebral artery. Both patients underwent craniotomy and trapping successfully, and their subsequent clinical courses were uneventful.

We encountered a 5-month-old baby with shaken baby syndrome, which had been caused by being thrown up about 50 cm in the air several times by his father. Intracranial hemorrhage, bleeding in the eye grounds in both eyes, and convulsion were noted on admission. Shaken baby syndrome was diagnosed from the history, and the patient was given necessary treatment, which led to favorable prognosis. Father was not aware of the danger of handling his baby in that way, and no sign of maltreatment was noted on the body surface of the baby. An attention should be payed that the danger leading into syndrome could be hidden among this kind of caring in the everyday life.

Malignant fibrous histiocytoma (MFH) is a rare disease. We describe a 68-year-old man admitted to the hospital because of malaise. On admission, hematologic and serum chemical examinations showed no abnormalities. A tumor measuring 6.0 x 6.0 x 5.5 cm was found in segment S6 of the right lobe of the liver. A computed tomographic scan of the abdomen revealed a mass surrounded by a capsule-like region with a nonuniform shadow at its margin. The mass contained a nonuniform low density area. A magnetic resonance imaging scan showed low intensity on T1-weighted images and high intensity on T2-weighted images. An angiogram of the abdomen revealed a tumor with a darkly stained margin during the venous phase. Partial resection of the liver, including S6 and part of S7, was performed. On histopathological examination, this case was characterized by a storiform pattern. The inside of the tumor showed a storiform-pleomorphic pattern with inflammatory cell infiltration and partial mucinous degeneration. On immunohistochemical studies, the tumor cells stained positively for CD6. The diagnosis was MFH.

Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis ( PFGE ) is a highly discriminating tool for molecular typing, but the conventional PFGE protocol is time consuming. This paper describes a rapid method of PFGE for Listeria monocytogenes that yields results within 2 days.

The major limitation in histological examination of orally inoculated mice of Salmonella typhimurium has been the difficulty of attaining high enough levels for immunochemical detection. This problem has been solved by the use of confocal laser scanning microscopy (CLSM) analysis, which allows detection of bacteria in the immunostained sections of mouse spleens at a minimum rate of approximately 1000 colony-forming units (cfu)/spleen. Here, we demonstrate that over 80% of salmonellae of the wild type of S. typhimurium were detected intracellularly within Mac-1 positive cells by the CLSM analysis of immunostained sections from spleens in orally or subcutaneously inoculated mice. Only 40% of salmonellae of the spv -deleted strain were detected inside Mac-1 positive cells. These data suggest that the spv genes play a key role in intracellular proliferation within phagocytes in the mouse spleen.

We describe a boy with Fanconi anemia (FA) who developed acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) (FAB-LI) followed by acute myeloid leukemia (AML) (FAB-M5) at relapse. The patient was diagnosed with early pre-B-cell ALL without preceding aplastic anemia and was treated with ALL-oriented chemotherapy which included doxorubicin (a total dose of 140 mg/m(2) administered), which is a topoisomerase II inhibitor. Complete remission was obtained, but after 38 weeks AML developed. The karyotype of ALL cells at diagnosis showed 46,XY, and that of AML cells at relapse was 46,XY, t(11;16)(q23;p13). An MLL gene rearrangement and MLL-CBP chimeric mRNA were found in AML, but not in ALL. A diagnosis of FA was confirmed by an increased number of chromosomal breaks and rearrangements in peripheral blood lymphocytes cultured with mitogen in the presence of mitomycin C. We conclude that this FA patient developed ALL followed by a therapy-related t(11;16)-AML resulting in an MLL-CBP fusion. Further examination of such patients would shed light on leukemogenesis in FA patients. Genes Chromosomes Cancer 27:264-269, 2000.

The Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS) is an X-linked recessive disorder characterized by thrombocytopenia, immunodeficiency and eczema. X-linked thrombocytopenia (XLT) is a mild form of WAS with isolated thrombocytopenia. Both phenotypes are caused by mutation of the Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome protein (WASP) gene. In this study we investigated the role of WASP in the differentiation of CD34-positive (CD34+) cells isolated from the bone marrow of patients with WAS (n = 5) or with XLT (n = 4). Megakaryocyte colony formation was significantly decreased in patients with WAS when compared with normal controls. The formation of granulocyte-macrophage colonies and erythroid bursts were also decreased in WAS patinets. In contrast, in XLT patients, formation of all these colonies was normal. However, in vitro proplatelet formation of megakaryocytes induced by thrombopoietin was markedly decreased in both XLT and WAS. Electron microscopic examination revealed that megakaryocytes obtained from WAS or XLT patients grown in vitro had abnormal morphologic features, which seemed to be caused by defective actin cytoskeletal organization, including labyrinth-like structures of the demarcation membrane system and deviated distribution of the alpha-granules and demarcation membrane system. These observations indicate that WASP is involved in the proliferation and differentiation of CD34+ haemopoietic progenitor cells probably by its participation in signal transduction and in the regulation of the cytoskeleton.

A 35-year-old female presented with partial complex seizures. Computed tomography (CT) showed a slightly high density mass over the right frontal convexity, with heterogeneous contrast enhancement. T1-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging showed the tumour as a hypo-intense lesion, with faint reticular enhancement after intravenous injection of gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepenta-acetic acid. The tumour was totally removed. The specimen was extremely soft and moist. The histological diagnosis was microcystic meningioma. The tumour cells were composed of typical meningothelial cells and stellate cells. The degenerative character of the tumour may be reflected in the poor enhancement on CT and MR imaging. This faint enhancement effect may be a neuro-imaging characteristic indication of this rare microcystic variant of meningioma.

Fatty acid metabolism functions as a major energy-producing system under aerobic conditions, but it is impaired immediately after myocardial ischaemia. This imaging can provide intracellular information which cannot be obtained by angiographical, perfusional or functional analysis. 123I-BMIPP and perfusion imagings in patients with acute myocardial infarction have demonstrated three different correlations between myocardial perfusion and fatty acid metabolism: concordant defects of perfusion and BMIPP which represent scar or non-viable tissue; lower BMIPP uptake relative to perfusion (perfusion-BMIPP mismatch) which implicates metabolically damaged, often dysynergic, but viable myocardium; and equivalently normal uptakes of perfusion and BMIPP in completely salvaged myocardium. Identification of these perfusion-metabolism correlations contributes to the detection of ischaemia-related myocardial injury in viable and non-viable myocardium, to the prediction of post-ischaemic or post-interventional functional recovery and to the identification of patients who have myocardium at ischaemic risk. Further clinical investigations might reveal more clearly the pathophysiological and prognostic implications of cardiac BMIPP imaging in patients with acute myocardial infarction.

Monosomy 7 in isolated bone marrow mononuclear cells and colony forming cells from patients with aplastic anemia who later developed myelodysplastic syndrome/leukemia with monosomy 7 were examined by fluorescence in situ hybridization. Colonies derived from bone marrow mononuclear cells of the aplastic anemia patients consisted of a mixture of cells of normal karyotype and monosomy 7, ranging from 0 to 97.2%. This result suggests that colony forming cells initially had a normal karyotype but then lost chromosome 7 during growth in the semisolid culture. This finding suggests the genetically unstable condition of chromosome 7 in colony forming cells in aplastic anemia patients. This chromosome instability of colony forming cells may lead to malignant transformation.

Ataxia telangiectasia (AT) carrier-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines (AT-LCLs/hetero) with suboptimal ATM protein expression were examined for the regulation of radiosensitivity, apoptosis, and mitotic spindle checkpoint in response to DNA-damaging agents. Although AT-LCLs/hetero showed intermediate radiation sensitivity, as determined by clonogenic assay, they were resistant to early-onset apoptosis, as much as AT patient-derived LCLs (AT-LCLs/homo). Furthermore, two of three AT-LCLs/hetero showed defective mitotic spindle checkpoint control in response to X-ray irradiation, which is a recently characterized biological feature in AT-LCLs/homo. Our findings indicate that carriers of ATM mutation have biological abnormalities due to haploinsufficiency of ATM protein or dominant-negative effect of mutant ATM protein. Thus, although it is still controversial whether ATM mutation carriers are at higher risk for cancer during adulthood, our findings based on in vitro biological indicators support the notion that at least some of such carriers are at a higher risk for cancer development than those without ATM mutation. Our findings may help to reevaluate epidemiological studies on cancer susceptibility in AT carriers.

PURPOSE: Dynamic liver MRI images have been obtained under expiration breath holding (BH). However, problems with obtaining reproducible liver positions often observed. This study investigated ways to improve the reproducibility of liver position on dynamic liver MRI. MATERIALS AND METHODS: After giving informed consent, 60 patients (32 males and 28 females, ages 33-85, median age 69) were examined by liver dynamic MRI under two types of BH. The BH phases were voluntary expiration (VE) phase without any explanations and functional residual capacity (FRC) phase after careful explanation was provided. Plain images, arterial phase images, portal phase images and parenchymal phase images were obtained. For statistical evaluation of reproducibility, the area of the 2nd or 3rd images from top of the liver was measured in each phase using a threshold value of half maximum. Misregistration areas were calculated by finding the remainder of the liver area in the plain-arterial (Pl-A) phase, arterial-portal (A-Po) phase, plain-parenchymal (Pl-Pa) phase. Contingency table analysis was done due to the misregistration was occurred or not. RESULTS: Misregistration of liver image on the VE and the FRC of three phase types were statistical significant on the Pl-A (p < 0.01), on the A-Po (p < 0.01) and on the Pl-Pa (p < 0.05), respectively. CONCLUSION: The FRC phase following careful explanation of the BH provided significantly improved reproducibility of liver position on dynamic liver MRI. Therefore, precise subtraction images could be obtained for routine clinical examinations without slice matching.

We examined the regulation of apoptosis, radiosensitivity, and spindle checkpoint in response to DNA-damaging agents in ataxia telangiectasia (AT)-derived lymphoblastoid cell lines (AT-LCLs), which lack AT mutated (ATM) protein expression. In addition to the previous findings that AT-LCLs are defective in regulation of cell cycle at the G1, S, and G2-M checkpoints in response to X-ray irradiation (X-IR) and are highly sensitive to X-IR (J. Biol. Chem., 271: 20486-20493, 1996), we showed for the first time that AT-LCLs were defective in X-IR-associated spindle checkpoint control. The cells were also resistant to early apoptosis as much as LCLs derived from patients with Li-Fraumeni syndrome (LFS-LCLs). Terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling assay of LCLs, however, demonstrated a significant increase in apoptotic cells among AT-LCLs cultured over a longer period after X-IR. These findings were in contrast to those of LFS-LCL, which showed very little increase in terminal deoxynucleotidyl transferase-mediated nick end labeling-positive population, even in cells with hyperploidy. Thus, although early apoptosis and cell cycle controls in response to DNA damage are disrupted in both ATM and p53 mutations, cells from AT patients are much more susceptible to late-onset apoptosis than those of LFS. These differences may depend on the level of accumulation of DNA damage and/or threshold that triggers late-onset cell death in ATM or p53 mutations. Our findings allow a better understanding of the role of ATM in p53-dependent and independent signal transduction pathways in response to DNA damaging agents.

Translocation t(6:9)(p23;q34), resulting in a dek-can gene fusion, is a recurrent chromosomal abnormality mainly associated with specific subtypes of acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS). Patients with this type of chromosomal change are usually young and their prognosis is poor. The role of fusion protein generated from dek-can chimaeric transcript on the leukaemogenesis oft(6;9) AML or MDS is as yet unknown. We have established the first permanent cell line (FKH-1) with t(6;9). derived from the peripheral blood of a patient with t(6:9) AML transformed from Philadelphia chromosome (Ph1)-negative chronic myelocytic leukaemia (CML). The FKH-1 expressed myelomonocytic markers and dek-can chimaeric transcript. In the presence of 10 ng/ml recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF), the cells doubled every 54 h and showed multilineage myeloid differentiation, resulting in heterogenous morphologies such as macrophages, basophils, eosinophils and neutrophils. Thus, this cell line may be derived from a pluripotent myeloid stem cell and should be a useful tool for biomolecular studies on the pathogenesis of t(6;9) myeloid malignancies which have rarely been investigated because of the lack of continuously proliferating cells.

Case Report A 44-year-old woman presented complaining of a slightly tender left inguinal mass, of which she had been aware for about I month. On physical examination. the mass was relatively hard and could not be pushed back into the abdominal cavity. Sonography revealed a pedunculated, solid 3-cm mass in the left inguinal area (Fig. 1A). The stalk of the mass extended into the abdominal cavity and seemed to be continuous with the uterine corpus (Fig. 1B). Beside the mass, the left ovary could be identifled adjacent to the uterus; therefore, the mass

The effects of alcohol withdrawal on renal function following renal ischemia was examined in rats fed a liquid containing ethanol for 5-week alcohol treatment.For alcohol-treated rats, animals were fed with an ethanol-containing diet for 5 weeks. In withdrawal studies, the alcoholic diet was replaced by a regular diet following 5-week alcohol treatment. Renal ischemia was induced by clamping the renal artery for 20 minutes and renal function was evaluated 24 hours later.Alcohol ingestion for 5 weeks did not alter the renal function in the absence of renal ischemia. Mean (+/- SD) glomerular filtration rate (GFR) and renal plasma flow rate (RPFR) measured 24 hours after ischemia in control rats were 430 +/- 29.6 microliters/min/g/kidney weight (gKW) and 1.4 +/- 0.17ml/min/gKW, whereas in alcohol-treated rats, they were 117.2 +/- 35.2 microliters/min/gKW and 0.31 +/- 0.12ml/min/gKW, which values were significantly lower than controls (p.05). However, when alcohol was withdrawn for 1 week, the renal function of rats after ischemia was no different from that of control rats (GFR = 413.9 +/- 66.3 microliters/min/gKW and RPFR = 2.14 +/- 0.7 ml/min/gKW). As for renal histopathology, tubular damage was milder 1 week after alcohol withdrawal compared to that observed in rats fed the alcohol-containing diet for 5 weeks.The findings suggest renal damage induced in rats by exposure to alcohol for 5 weeks was reversed when alcohol was withdrawn for 1 week before renal ischemia.

Spontaneous hemopneumothorax is a rare disease and intrathoracic bleeding reportedly occurs in the detached region of adhesive parietal pleura, aberrant vessel and cystic wall. We experienced two cases of bleeding most likely from the aberrant vessel. One patient was a 25-year-old male who had severe chest pain with dyspnea for four days. Chest X-ray revealed left pneumothorax and mediastinal shift to the right. Approximately 1500 ml of blood was aspirated from the left thoracic cavity. Since bleeding continued, emergency thoracotomy was performed. A restiform structure was noted in the bulla at the apex of the lung and the stump of the structure was considered as the source of bleeding. The other patient was a 29-year-old male who underwent emergency operation 16 hours after the massive bleeding amounting to 1800 ml. At the thoracotomy, a ruptured bulla at the apex of the collapsed lung with restiform structure was encountered. The bleeding point in the stump of the structure was ligated and the ruptured bulla was resected. In the histological study of these patients, an aberrant blood vessel was revealed in the restiform structure, which suggests the etiology of the bleeding. Their postoperative course was uneventful and had no symptom at the discharge. In the management of spontaneous hemopneumothorax, early thoracotomy should be the first consideration taking into account the massive bleeding from the aberrant vessel as in the cases.

Lymphoblastoid cell lines (LCLs) with heterozygous p53 mutations at residues 286A, 133R, 282W, 132E, and 213ter were established from five independent Li-Fraumeni syndrome families. When cell cycle regulation in response to gamma-irradiation was studied, these LCLs showed an abnormal G1 checkpoint associated with defective inhibition of cyclin E/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activity in all cases except for 282W LCL, which showed a normal G1 checkpoint. On the other hand, the control of S-phase-G2 as determined by cyclin A/cyclin-dependent kinase 2 activity was defective in all these LCLs. The mitotic checkpoint was also defective in the two LCLs analyzed as either competent or incompetent for G1 arrest. When radiation-induced apoptosis, which requires wild-type p53 function under optimal conditions, was studied, all of these LCLs showed significant failure compared to normal LCLs. These findings indicate that although p53-dependent transactivation and G1-S-phase cell cycle control are variably dysregulated, the induction of apoptosis and control of the cell cycle at S-phase-G2 and the mitotic checkpoint in response to DNA-damaging agents are consistently dysregulated in heterozygous mutant LCLs. This suggests that these dysfunctions underlie, at least in part, the susceptibility of Li-Fraumeni syndrome families to cancer. Furthermore, the approach presented is a potentially useful method for studying individual carriers of different germ-line p53 mutations and different biological features.

We report the imaging and pathological findings of a rare case of intraosseous ganglion communicating with extraosseous counterpart. Both counterparts contain air and show rim-enhancement on T1-weighted images. Histopathologically, the enhanced-rim consists of reactive proliferation of capillary vessels due to degeneration.

Recent advances in molecular biological techniques have contributed to the tremendous progression made in the field of diagnosis of leukemia. Discovery of T- or B-lymphocyte associated genes, tumor specific genes and genes involved in chromosomal translocation has made it possible to detect leukemia cells by Southern blotting, PCR, RT-PCR or fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). The recently developed FISH is a simple, rapid and accurate method and requires a very small amount of specimen (about 500-1000 cells). It is possible to obtain results within 48 hours of sampling. This lecture were focused on two topics; 1) The application of FISH method in the diagnosis of leukemia using three types of probes (whole chromosome painting probe, centromeric probes and oncogene specific probes) and their combinations. 2) Clarification of concepts made by molecular biology especially in Philadelphia chromosome positive leukemia, Ph-negative chronic myelocytic leukemia, endemic/sporadic type of Burkitt's lymphoma, biphenotypic leukemia and leukemia with specific translocations.

In hematologic malignancies activation of oncogenes or inactivation of tumor suppressor genes are thought to be responsible for its carcinogenesis, just like other solid tumors. As these genetic changes are detected as chromosome abnormalities, cytogenetic analysis has been used as a tool for diagnosis and follow up after therapy. The fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) method is a new technic which enables us to detect genetic changes both in mitotic and interphase cells. It is a useful method in the clinical field which covers the disadvantages in cytogenetic analysis, RT-PCR and Southern blotting. We practically used the FISH method in diagnosis and follow-up observation of minimal residual disease in several kinds of hematologic malignancies. By the morphology-FISH method, the relationship between cell morphology and genetic changes could be analyzed simultaneously. The FISH method was also applied to probe mapping to identify a novel breakpoint cluster region in the 11q23 area in adult hematological disease. FISH method is a rapid and powerful tool both in clinical and basic study in hematologic disorders.

The presence of the mycobacterial insertion sequence IS901 was studied by PCR with reference strains of Mycobacterium avium complex; 122 veterinary strains of mycobacteria, mainly M. avium complex, isolated from swine; and 15 clinical strains. Four kinds of DNA extraction methods for PCR were compared. Use of the commercial extraction matrix allowed for the faster and easier preparation of PCR-amplifiable DNA than use of NaOH heating extraction or sodium dodecyl sulfate extraction of pretreated mycobacteria. It also provided more effective protection than boiling extraction against the destruction of DNA. Four reference strains of serovars 1 to 3 possessed IS901. Nine reference strains of serovars 1, 4 to 6, 8 to 11, and 21 possessed only IS901 insertion sites. A novel PCR product was found in the other reference strains of serovars 7, 12 to 17, 19, and 20 and two clinical strains of serovar 15. It is suggested that the primers that amplified the insertion portion of IS901 divided the M. avium complex into M. avium, Mycobacterium intracellulare, and other mycobacteria. None of the 110 strains of M. avium complex isolated from swine possessed IS901. It is suggested that the absence of IS901 might be characteristic of swine-derived strains of M. avium complex.

The effect of dietary octacosanol, a long-chain alcohol, on lipid metabolism was investigated in rats fed on a high-fat diet for 20 d. The addition of octacosanol (10 g/kg diet) to the high-fat diet led to a significant reduction (P < 0·05) in the perirenal adipose tissue weight without decrease of the cell number, suggesting that octacosanol may suppress lipid accumulation in this tissue, whereas no effect was seen in the epididymal adipose tissue weight and in the lipid content in liver. Octacosanol supplementation decreased the serum triacylglycerol concentration, and enhanced the concentration of serum fatty acids, probably through inhibition of hepatic phosphatidate phosphohydrolase (EC3·1·3·4). Though the activity of hormone-sensitive lipase (EC3·1·1·3) was not influenced by octacosanol, higher activities of lipoprotein lipase (EC3·1·1·34) in the perirenal adipose tissue and the total oxidation rate of fatty acid in muscle were observed. Lipid absorption was not affected by the inclusion of octacosanol. Thus, the present results suggest that the dietary incorporation of octacosanol into a high-fat diet affects some aspects of lipid metabolism.

The secretion of nitric oxide (NO) was stimulated by the addition of ATP or ADP, but not by AMP or adenosine, in cultured bovine aorta endothelial cells. Inhibitors of ecto-ATPase, NaN3 and Ap5A, significantly inhibited the stimulation, while an inhibitor of P2Y-purinoceptor and ecto-ATPase, RB2, completely suppressed it. A non-hydrolyzable ATP analogue, AMP-PNP, stimulated NO release; the stimulation was completely suppressed by RB2 but not by NaN3 and Ap5A. Therefore, only P2Y-purinoceptor was involved in the stimulation by AMP-PNP, while both ecto-ATPase and P2Y-purinoceptor were involved in the stimulation by ATP and ADP. It is not clear whether the stimulation is dependent on the dephosphorylation activity of ecto-ATPase or not, but the enzyme appears to act as an ATP and ADP receptor for signal transduction through adenine nucleotides.

A novel protein protease inhibitor (FPI-F) which is highly specific for fungal proteases and subtilisin was isolated from the silkworm hemolymph, and its amino acid sequence was determined by conventional methods. The inhibitor consisted of 55 amino acid residues and had a molecular weight of 6,100. The inhibitor included eight cysteine residues and relatively large amounts of acidic amino acids, but neither alanine, methionine nor tryptophan. The amino acid sequence of FPI-F was not homologous with those of other known protease inhibitors of microbe, plant or animal origin.

Two cases of ganglion cysts in the lumbar spinal canal: MR findings. Ganglion cysts in the spinal canal are rare. To our knowledge, only 12 cases have been reported. In addition, ganglion cysts depicted by MR are extremely rare. We report the MR findings in two cases of ganglion cysts in the lumbar spinal canal. In both cases, the ganglion cysts were slightly higher in intensity than CSF on T2-weighted images. In addition, a thin band of low intensity was depicted around the ganglion in both cases. This finding may help to diagnose ganglion in the spinal canal. On T1-weighted images, the signal intensity of the ganglion was very similar to that of the intervertebral disc in both cases. In summary, although ganglion mimics disc hernia or sequestrated disc on both T2- and T1-weighted images, the possibility of a ganglion should be considered whenever an extradural mass showing high signal intensity surrounded by a thin band of low intensity is identified on T2-weighted images.

We investigated the effects of a non-protein diet on renal recovery in rats following 45-minute renal ischemia and mercuric chloride (3 mg/kg BW:S.C.) poisoning. The rats were fed a non-protein diet for one week before the renal insults. Renal functions were measured 24 hours after renal ischemia or 6 hours after mercuric chloride administration. In the ischemia investigation, the glomerular filtration rate (GFR), the renal plasma flow rate (RPFR) and the percent fractional sodium excretion (%FENa) of rats fed a regular diet (19.6% protein) were 25 +/- 7 microliters/min/g KW, 0.19 +/- 0.1 ml/min/g KW and 14.8 +/- 2.0, respectively. These values in the rats fed a non-protein diet showed better recovery, returning to a GFR of 114 +/- 32 microliters/min/g KW, an RPFR of 0.37 +/- 0.1 ml/min/g KW, and a %FENa of 2.43 +/- 0.6, respectively (p0.05). Furthermore, the seven-day survival rate was improved from 17% in the regular diet group to 100% in the non-protein diet group. In the mercuric chloride investigation, the renal functions in rats on a regular diet were shown by a GFR of 461 +/- 51 microliters/min/g KW, an RPFR of 1.91 +/- 0.2 ml/min/g KW, and a %FENa of 2.22 +/- 0.5. One-week feeding with a non-protein diet ameliorated the decrease in renal function, resulting in a GFR of 604 +/- 84 microliters/min/g KW, an RPFR of 2.15 +/- 0.5 ml/min/g KW, and a %FENa of 2.20 +/- 0.6. Consequently, there was a distinct beneficial effect on the survival of these rats.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

A patient who developed hypo-gamma-globulinemia and cerebral infarction during the treatment for acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is reported. In this patient fever and rash during radio-therapy for central nervous system (CNS) prophylaxis and nausea and vomiting were observed during maintenance therapy. On the laboratory findings high level of the protein level in the cerebrospinal fluid and the eosinophil count of the peripheral blood were found in every examination. We attempted to isolate various viruses in consideration of the possibility of infection, but no virus could be detected. The effects of methotrexate (MTX) and l-asparaginase were also suspected. Since nausea and vomiting disappeared after discontinuation of MTX administration, the drug may had some effect, and the possibility of cerebral damage by MTX can not be excluded. Complication of irradiation are reported to occur often more than 10 years after the treatment, but this patient had the onset only 2 years after the treatment. Therefore, irradiation was unlikely to be responsible for the symptoms. The relation between the hypo-gamma-globulinemia and cerebral infarction was also unknown.

Erythroblasts from a patient with congenital dyserythropoietic anemia type III (CDA III) were observed by time-lapse phase-contrast cinemicrography. The erythroblasts were compressed with a new mechanical device; this procedure enhanced the visualization of their structures. Soret band micrography was carried out simultaneously to assess cytoplasmic hemoglobinization. The proliferation and differentiation course of the majority of CDA III erythroblasts was similar to that of normal erythroblasts. The formation of dysplastic erythroblasts showed two patterns of progression: (1) Usually, the process began with the appearance of a well-demarcated clear area in the nucleus of immature erythroblasts. This clear area reappeared in the progeny of the immature erythroblasts, at an increased incidence and in increasing size and rigidity. It finally came to occupy most of the nucleus, compartmentalizing it. The maturing cells displayed vigorous movement and progression of hemoglobinization and the nuclei became lobular; they grew to the cell size at which most CDA III erythroblasts divide, but did not do so. (2) Less frequently seen were abnormalities in mitosis and cellular behavior (e.g., tri- or bi-polar mitosis and subsequent fusion of daughter cells) or rapid growth of one daughter cell with concomitant shrinkage of the other.

The authors present the case of a cystic lymphangioma in the scrotum, a tumor which usually occurs in the neck, but is rarely observed in this region. Patient was a 22 year-old man, admitted for fever and a mass within the scrotum. The tumor was completely resected and no recurrence has been observed after a 6 month follow-up.