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The phase diagram of the ZrO2-Nd2O3 system has been characterized showing isolated two-phase regions for a cubic fluorite-type ZrO2 solid solution and Nd2Zr2O7 with a pyrochlore-type structure. A t ...

The phase equilibria in the Ni-Fe-B ternary system have been studied experimentally and using thermodynamic calculations. The Gibbs energy of the individual phases was described by the regular solution approximation and the two-sublattice model. The thermodynamic parameters for each phase were evaluated using the experimental data on phase boundaries obtained from differential scanning calorimetry (DSC) and other available literature data. The evaluated parameters enabled us to obtain reproducible calculations of the isothermal section diagrams. The calculated isopleth at the 26 mol% B section agreed with the DSC data obtained in this study, whereas the calculated liquidus and sulidus temperatures were higher than the reported values at the Ni 2 B-Fe 2 B pseudo-binary section.

Although no-reflow phenomenon may occur in patients that experience reperfusion after ischemia, there have been no reports describing the postmortem findings in these patients. We describe the findings of an autopsy in a 56-year-old man who experienced acute coronary syndrome with no-reflow phenomenon after coronary intervention. Macroscopic study demonstrated myocardial infarction with diffuse hemorrhage, and microscopic analysis revealed vascular damage and microembolization in the no-reflow area. In conclusion, coronary microembolization and damage to the small coronary artery may contribute to the pathogenesis of no-reflow phenomenon following coronary intervention in humans.

The glass-forming ability of Zr–Ti–Be ternary alloys has been evaluated by coupling the Davies–Uhlmann kinetic formulations with the CALPHAD approach. In the computations, time-temperature-transformation (TTT) curves were obtained, which are a measure of the time necessary for the formation of detectable amounts of a crystalline phase from a supercooled liquid as a function of temperature. The critical cooling rates were calculated from the TTT curves, and these enabled us to evaluate the glass-forming ability of this ternary alloy. The driving force for the crystallization of the crystalline phases was derived from the Gibbs energy functions of each phase, where thermodynamic calculations were carried out using a simple ternary extrapolation of the binary data sets with no solubility of the third element in the binary phases except for the liquid, hcp, and bcc phases. The evaluated glass-forming compositional range was in good agreement with experimental data from the Be-rich side. However, the calculated critical cooling rates for some alloys were too low. The validity of the ideal mixing of the metastable ZrBe(B2) and TiBe(B2) phases, and the possibility of the formation of the ternary B2 phase are also discussed from an ab initio energetic point of view, and the critical cooling rates were recalculated assuming an ideal mixing of the metastable ZrBe(B2) and TiBe(B2) phases. The results show that the magnitude of the calculated values achieved was reasonable.

The glass-forming ability of Ti−Be alloys is of great interest. Experimental and theoretical evaluations of the glass-forming ability of this binary alloy show that the formation of a metastable TiBe phase with a CsCl-type B2 structure controls the glass-forming ability in this system. However, there is no information on the thermochemical properties of metastable TiBe for the quantitative evaluation of the glass-forming ability using Davies-Uhlmann kinetic formulations. We have carried out a thermodynamic analysis using experimental phase diagram data and the energy of formation of the stoichiometric compounds from ab initio calculations. Furthermore, the Gibbs energy of formation for the body-centered cubic (bcc) phase was evaluated over the entire composition range by applying the cluster expansion method (CEM) to the total energy of some bcc-based ordered structures obtained from ab initio calculations. For the bcc phase, the two-sublattice formalism, (Ti, Be)0.5(Ti,Be)0.5, was adopted to describe the A2/B2 transformation. A good agreement between the calculated values and experimental phase equilibria was obtained. Evaluation of the glass-forming ability was also attempted utilizing the thermodynamic quantities obtained from the phase diagram assessment. The calculated glass-forming ability agrees well with the experimental results.

Mutations in the gene encoding nonmuscle alpha-actinin-4 (actinin-4), an actin cross-linking protein, lead to congenital nephrosis. This suggests that actinin-4 is an essential component of the glomerular filtration barrier. In the present study, we attempted to purify actinin-4 from the mammalian kidney. We also examined an interaction of the protein with puromycin aminonucleoside (PAN), which can induce nephrosis in animals. A 100-kD protein reactive with antibody against muscle alpha-actinin was purified from the Triton-insoluble cytoskeleton of porcine kidney, by MgCl2 treatment, ammonium sulfate fractionation, and subsequent DEAE-cellulose chromatography and hydroxyapatite chromatography. Its partial amino acid sequence was then determined. A filamentous actin (F-actin)-binding activity of the purified protein was examined by a cosedimentation assay. Interactions of the purified protein and its fragments with PAN were analyzed by an affinity assay using PAN-Sepharose. Determined 134 amino acid sequences of the purified porcine renal 100-kD protein were completely identical with those deduced from nucleotide sequence of the cDNA encoding human actinin-4. The purified protein possessed the known function of alpha-actinin, the F-actin-binding activity, and was tightly bound to PAN. The PAN-binding site was mapped within a central rod domain of the protein, which is a possible interaction site for various cytoskeletal and transmembrane proteins. We have established an efficient purification method for renal actinin-4. Moreover, our findings indicate that the central rod domain of actinin-4 has a high affinity to PAN. In the PAN nephrosis animal model, actinin-4 might be a target protein from PAN nephrotoxicity.

We present the results of tridimensional spectrophotometric observations of the central region of the Seyfert galaxy NGC 1068 obtained by using Kyoto tridimensional spectrograph I. A brief description of the instrument is presented. We have found the existence of low-ionized gas extending out of the ionization cone. It is characterized by higher ([S II]λ6716 + λ6731)/Hα than within the cone. The ratio peaks at 5 �� –6 �� east and west of the nucleus and reaches to 0.5–0.6. The ionization of the gas outside the cone by the scattered nuclear continuum is examined. We argue that a substantial fraction of the gases outside the cone could be ionized by the scattered nuclear continuum, including the diffuse arc structure seen in an HST image. In addition, we also attempt discussions according to the kinematic and spectroscopic properties of two possible gaseous components derived by the line decomposition: a narrow component that seems to follow the galactic rotation, and a broad one that may be deviated from it.

By obtaining integral field spectra of the interacting galaxy system NGC 6090, we have found a kiloparsec-scale region where active star formation is currently increasing the fraction of heavy elements. Young massive starbursts are occurring in regions offset from the galactic centers, highlighting the present epoch of metal enrichment over the previous ones usually seen at galactic centers. The short timescale of ~107 yr for the starbursts, inferred from the galactic rotation, provides a strong constraint on the origins of the metallicity/abundance enhancements. While oxygen is considered to originate in supernovae, the observed nitrogen enhancement is likely to be caused by winds/mass loss from massive stars rather than being a product of intermediate-mass stars.

Background: The influence of dialysis modality on the acute rejection (AR) rate after renal transplantation is controversial. We investigated whether the pretransplant dialysis modality correlated with the lymphocyte subset populations and the incidence of AR after renal transplantation. Methods: Thirty-eight first living renal transplant recipients, consisting of 22 patients on pretransplant hemodialysis (HD) and 16 patients on pretransplant peritoneal dialysis (PD), were studied. Peripheral blood samples were taken on days -1 through 28 after transplantation, and the lymphocyte fractions were exposed to the monoclonal antibodies anti-CD3, CD19, CD4, CD8 and CD28 for a flow cytometer analysis. Biopsy specimens were obtained at the time of presumed AR episodes and on day 28 after transplantation. Results: The PD patients had a higher frequency of AR (37.5% in PD vs 9.1% in HD patients, P = 0.034). In contrast, two HD patients showed graft loss at 18 and 30 months after transplantation. The increases of CD3, CD19, CD4 and CD4+ CD28+ cells in the PD patients occurred earlier than in the HD patients and the numbers of these cells in the PD group were higher than those in the HD between days 3–28 after transplantation, most significantly on day 7. Conclusions: These findings suggest that the PD patients with similar clinical characteristics could potentially have a higher immunocompetence and immune responsiveness associated with a higher rate of AR in the early stage of renal transplantation when compared with the HD patients.

The Co–Al–C ternary phase diagram has been constructed by combining ab initio energetic calculations with the CALPHAD approach, and the results have been compared with the Ni–Al–C ternary phase diagram obtained using the same procedure. In the thermodynamic analysis, special care was taken evaluating the expression of the free energy for the L12 and E21 structures. To treat these two structures as a continuous solution, the free energy was expressed using the (M,Al)3(Al,M)1(C,V a)1-type sublattice model. Because of the lack of experimental data, the thermodynamic properties of the E21 structure were evaluated using the Full Potential Linearized Augmented Plane Wave method. The calculated results show that the E21 phase in the Co–Al–C system is in equilibrium with fcc Co, the B2-type intermetallic compound, and the graphite phase. This finding is in good agreement with previous experimental results. On the other hand, the E21 phase does not exist in the Ni–Al–C ternary system. The phase equilibrium of the Co–Ni–Al–C quaternary system is discussed, taking into account the two-phase separation between the E21 phase and the L12 phase.

Although gentamicin (GM) has been used widely as an antibiotic, the specific binding protein of the drug has not yet been understood sufficiently. Here we show that GM specifically associates with the 73-kDa molecular chaperone HSP73 and reduces its chaperone activity in vitro. In the present study, we investigated GM-specific binding proteins using a GM-affinity column and porcine kidney cytosol. After washing the column, only the 73-kDa protein was eluted from the column by the addition of 10 mm GM. None of the other proteins were found in the eluant. Upon immunoblotting, the protein was identical to HSP73. Upon CD spectrum analysis, the binding of GM to HSP73 resulted in a conformational change in the protein. Although HSP73 prevents aggregation of unfolded rhodanese in vitro, the chaperone activity of HSP73 was suppressed in the presence of GM. Using limited proteolysis of HSP73 by TPCK-trypsin, the GM binding site is a COOH-terminal for one third of the protein known to be a peptide-binding domain. During immunohistochemistry, HSP73 and GM were co-localized in enlarged lysosomes of rat kidneys with GM-induced acute tubular injury in vivo. Our results suggest that the specific association between HSP73 and GM may reduce the chaperone activity of HSP73 in vitro and/or in vivo, and this may have an interaction with GM toxicity in kidneys with GM-induced acute tubular injury.

A thermodynamic analysis has been carried out on the Ni-Si-Ti ternary system using the CALPHAD method. A regular solution approximation based on the sublattice model was adopted to describe the Gibbs energy for the individual phases in the binary and ternary systems. The thermodynamic parameters for each phase were evaluated using available experimental data on the phase boundaries and other related thermochemical properties. In addition to the experimental data, the enthalpy of formation for some binary and ternary compound phases as determined by ab initio calculations was incorporated in the present analysis. There was good agreement between the calculated and the experimental phase equilibria in the binary and ternary systems.

A thermodynamic analysis of the Fe-C-Al ternary system has been carried out covering a wide range of temperatures and composition. Special care was taken to the expression of the free energy for the ternary Perovskite carbide phase, Fe 3 AlC (κ), by considering the crystallographic similarity between the K phase and the L12 structure. The free energy was calculated using the (Fe,Al) 3 (Fe,Al) 1 (C,Va) 1 sublattice model, and the K and L12 structures were treated as a continuous solution. Because of the lack of experimental information available, the thermodynamic properties of the E2 1 structure were evaluated using the Full Potential Linearized Augmented Plane Wave (FLAPW) method. The ab initio energetic calculations show that the stable E2 1 structure of the K phase is highly preferred compared with the metastable Fe 3 Al-L1 2 structure. Contour plots of the charge density for the K phase indicate that the bonding between the Fe and C atoms forms in the Fe 3 AlC-E2 1 structure, and that this interaction between the atoms enhances the energetic stability of the K phase. According to our phase diagram calculations, the K phase is in equilibrium with the fcc Fe, B2-type intermetallic compound, as well as the graphite phase. This finding is in good agreement with previous experimental results.

The phase equilibria in the Sn-Ag-Bi-Cu quaternary system have been studied experimentally and using thermodynamic calculations. The phase boundaries in some vertical sections of the Sn-Bi-Cu and Sn-Ag-Bi-Cu systems were determined using differential scanning calorimetry. The experimental values of the thermodynamic parameters were used in the calculations of the phase diagrams for the quaternary system. Thermodynamic evaluation of the Sn-Bi-Cu system was performed by considering a two-phase separation of the liquid phase. The phase diagram calculations showed that the Cu-Sn-based compounds form as the primary crystals, even for low Cu concentrations, and accordingly, the melting point of the alloys rises markedly. The microstructure of the solidified alloys was observed using a scanning electron microscope. We observed that coarsened Bi particles existed alongside the Cu-Sn-based primary crystals. Based on these results, a non-equilibrium solidification process using the Scheil model was simulated and compared with the observed structures. Our calculations reasonably explain the Bi-enrichment in the final solidification zone.

Various cladding materials consisting of plain carbon steels with lower carbon concentrations and alloy steels with higher carbon concentrations have been considered to analyze the behavior of interdiffusion across the interface theoretically. The combination of the plain carbon steel and the alloy steel for the cladding was selected to make the chemical potential of carbon greater in the plain carbon steel than in the alloy steel. For the selection, the phase diagrams were computed with Thermo-Calc. The theoretical analysis was carried out using DICTRA that is the software developed at the Royal Institute of Technology in Sweden. The analysis indicates that the up-hill diffusion of carbon spontaneously occurs from the plain carbon steel to the alloy steel during annealing at elevated temperatures. For example, the cladding material composed of a plain carbon steel with a concentration of 0.046 mass%C and a 18Cr-8Ni stainless steel with a concentration of 0.06 mass%C exhibits such an up-hill diffusion at 1200 K, resulting in precipitation of Cr23C6 at the cladding interface.

The phase equilibria in the Sn-Ag-Bi-Zn quaternary system have been studied experimentally and using thermodynamic calculations. The determined values of the thermodynamic parameters of the Sn-Ag-Zn and Sn-Ag-Bi systems were applied in the calculation of the phase diagrams. Thermodynamic evaluation of the Sn-Bi-Zn and Ag-Bi-Zn systems was performed by considering a two-phase separation of the liquid phase. The phase boundaries in some vertical sections of the quaternary system were determined using differential scanning calorimetry to confirm the calculated results. The calculation of the phase diagrams when 10%Bi was added to Sn-Ag-Zn alloy shows that the regions of the primary crystals in the quaternary system did not show a large discrepancy from the Sn-Ag-Zn ternary system. The eutectic temperature decreased to about 203.7 � C on addition of Bi to Sn-Ag-Zn alloy. The rate of change was estimated to be 1 � C per 1% Bi added. The solidification structure was investigated using scanning electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray microanalysis. The microstructure was composed of an Sn-Bi-based eutectic, Ag5Zn8 ,A g 3Sn, and coarsened Bi of about 50 mm. Based on these results, a non-equilibrium solidification process using the Scheil model was simulated and compared with the observed structures. Our calculations reasonably explain Bi-enrichment in the final solidification zone.

The phase separation of the B2 structure in the Co-Al and Ni-Al binary systems has been studied by combining ab initio energetic calculations with the CALPHAD approach. The total energies of the ordered phases based on the bcc lattice were obtained using first-principle band-energy calculations. The cluster expansion method was applied to the results, and the free energies at finite temperatures were calculated for the bcc solid solution. The Co-Al and Ni-Al binary systems were analysed thermodynamically by considering the estimated metastable free energy of the bcc phase. The descriptions of the lattice stability parameters for each pure element were obtained chiefly from the Scientific Group Thermodata Europe (SGTE) datafile. The optimized parameters reasonably reproduced the characteristic features of these binary phase diagrams. The metastable (A2+B2) two-phase field forms in the Co-Al phase diagram, and this equilibrium is closely related to the anomaly in the phase boundaries of the binary system. On the other hand, the phase separation of the A2 and B2 structures are hindered by the presence of the D03 phase in the Ni-Al system. Ground state analysis was performed to clarify the difference in the behaviour of the B2 phase.

In the Fe-Be binary system, the solubility of Be in the a-Fe phase deviates significantly from the so-called Arrhenius equation near temperatures of 600°C. The metastable ordering of the bcc structure in this binary system is expected to play a key role in the phase boundary anomaly. Thus, a thermodynamic analysis of the Fe-Be binary system has been performed considering the ordering behaviour of the bcc phase. The total energies of the ordered structures based on the bcc lattice were obtained using ab initio energetic calculations. The cluster expansion method was applied to the results, and the free energies at finite temperatures were calculated for the bcc solid solution. The formation energy of the ζ phase was also calculated using band-energy calculations. The results were analysed together with some experimental data using the sublattice model, and the equilibrium phase diagram was calculated. The results support the formation of a metastable (bcc + B2) two-phase region accompanied by an ordering of the bcc structure. This metastable ordering of the bcc phase was the dominant factor governing the anomalous change in the solubility of Be in the higher temperature range.

DNA fragmentation induced by endonucleases is a hallmark of apoptotic process. One of the endonucleases responsible for apoptotic DNA fragmentation has been identified as DNase gamma. It has been suggested that massive nuclear debris observed in histiocytic necrotizing lymphadenitis (HNL, Kikuchi disease) results mainly from apoptosis of T-lymphocytes rather than necrosis. To identify the role of DNase gamma in apoptotic foci of HNL paraffin embedded tissue sections of HNL and lymphadenopathy with hyperplastic germinal centers and paracortex in the neck lymph nodes were immunohistochemically stained for DNase gamma and the results compared with the reactivity of TdT-mediated dUTP nick end labeling (TUNEL). Immunoreactivity for DNase gamma was detected in fragmented and condensed nuclei found abundantly in HNL as well as TUNEL reactivity. Moreover, the ratio of DNase gamma immunoreactivity to TUNEL reactivity, which represents probability of apoptosis relevant to DNase gamma, was higher in foci of nuclear debris in HNL than in the hyperplastic paracortex in lymphadenopathy including T-cell apoptosis. Our findings suggest that apoptosis detected in HNL depends more specifically upon DNase gamma than apoptosis in the hyperplastic paracortex of lymphadenopathy, and that the dysregulation of DNase gamma activation is involved in apoptosis in HNL.

A thermodynamic assessment was conducted using experimental data on the phase boundaries of the Ni–Si system and other related thermochemical properties. In addition to the experimental data, the Gibbs energy of formation and the enthalpy of formation for both the ordered and the disordered fcc phases obtained from ab initio energetic calculations were incorporated as hypothetical experimental data. There was good agreement between the calculated and the experimental phase boundaries, and the thermodynamic properties were reproduced satisfactorily. In particular, the phase equilibria between the disordered fcc phase and the ordered fcc phase, Ni 3 Si( β 1 ), which have not been reproduced by previously reported assessments, were consistent with the available experimental data. Furthermore, it should be noted that the evaluated enthalpy of formation for the ordered fcc phase was −47.1 kJ mol −1 of atoms, which agrees well with the value obtained by ab initio energetic calculations of −49.2 kJ (mole of atoms) −1 . These values contrast with the experimental value reported by Oelson and Samson-Himmelstjerna of −37.2 kJ (mole of atoms) −1 . Therefore, it is considered that the experimental data on the enthalpy of formation of the ordered fcc phase are less accurate, and that the incorporation of ab initio energetic calculations into the CALPHAD approach is valid.

We have recently developed a thermodynamic database for micro-soldering alloys, alloy database for micro-solders (ADAMIS). ADAMIS which consists of the elements Ag, Bi, Cu, In, Pb, Sb, Sn, and Zn has been constructed by the calculation of phase diagrams (CALPHAD) method. The thermodynamic parameters for describing the Gibbs energy of the liquid and solid phases have been evaluated by optimizing the experimental data on phase boundaries and thermo-chemical properties. In this paper, the phase equilibria and the related thermodynamic properties pertaining to the Sn-Ag-X (X=Bi, In, Cu, and Zn) alloys are examined using ADAMIS. Typical examples of the isothermal and vertical section phase diagrams, liquidus surface, etc. for these promising lead-free solders are presented. In addition, ADAMIS is also applied to calculate the nonequilibrium solidification process using the Scheil model.

背景:特発性肺胞蛋白症は, 肺胞腔内に脂質を含む蛋白様物質の沈着がみられる原因不明のまれな疾患である. 今回, われわれは, 特発性肺胞蛋白症と診断された3例を経験したので, それらの気管支肺胞洗浄 (BAL) 液の細胞所見および経気管支肺生検 (TBLB) の組織所見について報告する.症例:年齢は48～50歳ですべて男性. いずれも自覚症状はなく, 健診にて胸部異常陰影を指摘され, CTにて肺胞蛋白症が疑われた. BAL液の細胞所見としては, すべての症例に微細顆粒状物質とともに大小さまざまな顆粒状物質が多量にみられ, 2例では非常に厚みのある境界明瞭な球状体が観察された. TBLB標本では, 肺胞蛋白症として矛盾しない組織像を示していた.結論:肺胞蛋白症の診断および治療にはBALがきわめて有用であり, 早期発見・治療により良好な臨床経過が期待される.

A thermodynamic study has been carried out on the Ni-Si-B ternary system, which is an important system in view of the development of Ni-base filler metals. A regular solution approximation based on the sublattice model was adopted to describe the Gibbs energy for the individual phases in the binary and ternary systems. Thermodynamic parameters for each phase have been evaluated using the available experimental information on phase boundaries and other related thermodynamic properties. Thermal analysis experiments have also been conducted on several ternary alloys to re-examine the available ternary experimental data on phase boundaries. The set of evaluated parameters in this study enables reproducible calculations of the liquidus and solidus temperatures and vertical section diagrams satisfactorily. Ni-base brazing filler metals are widely used in the fields of aircraft, various engines, and nuclear engineering due to their high strength at high temperatures, corrosion resistance and oxidation resistance. At present, the study on the development of Ni-base filler metals is done by trial and error. The melting point has to be measured for many alloy specimens in spite of only a few candidate alloys out of them are used for brazing processes. Therefore, the prediction of liquidus and solidus temperatures and phase equilibria is significantly useful in the design of candidate alloy compo- sition. The CALPHAD (CALculation of PHAse Diagrams) approach 1) of phase equilibria calculation using thermody- namic descriptions from databases provides a powerful tool for obtaining such information. In the present study, a thermodynamic analysis of the phase equilibria in the Ni-Si-B system, which is an important system of Ni-base brazing filler metals, has been carried out. And also thermal analysis experiments have been conducted on several ternary alloys in order to re-examine the available experimental data on phase boundaries. 2. Experimental Procedures The phase boundaries of the ternary system were deter- mined by differential scanning calorimetry (DSC). The starting materials are powders of Ni(99.9%), Si(99.9%), and B(99%). The alloys were prepared by arc melting of cold-pressed pellets in an atmosphere of argon. A titanium button was melted to getter the residual oxygen in the chamber, prior to melting the actual charges. The arc-melted alloys were re-melted in vacuum by induction heating in order to ensure homogeneity. The as-cast alloys were encapsulated in quartz tubes under vacuum and then annealed at 850 � C for 18 days before water quenching. No chemical analysis for the alloys was conducted, since the weight losses in preparing alloys were generally less than 1%. The prepared alloy compositions are shown in Table 1. Thermal analysis (DSC) was carried out using a Rigaku ThermoPlus DSC8270 (Rigaku Corp., Tokyo, Japan). A cylindrical specimen was heated and cooled in Al2O3 crucible at a rate of 5 � C/min under a purified argon-flow atmosphere with � -Al2O3 as the standard materials. However, in order to avoid experimental error caused by supercooling, the peak temperature values during heating were adopted in a thermodynamic analysis. The peak temperatures in heating processes are shown in Table 1. In addition, in order to confirm the eutectic temperature of the Si-B system, two alloys of the Si-B binary system were Table 1 Experimental results for phase boundaries of the Si-B binary and the Ni-Si-B ternary alloys determined by DSC. Alloy composition (mol%) Peak temperature ( � C)

肝細胞癌(hepatocellular carcinoma;以下HCCと略記)に対してTAEを施行後, bilomaを形成し,その後bilomaを含めて肝切除した2症例を報告する.症例1は67歳,男性.アルコール性慢性肝疾患を背景としたHCCに対してTAEを施行後, bilomaの診断をうけた.その後,当院での精査にて肝S8にHCCの再発が疑われた.症例2は65歳,女性. C型肝炎を背景としたHCCに対し, TAE施行約1.5カ月後に,多発するbilomaを認めた.その後,腫瘍マーカーが再上昇し,再発が疑われたが, HCCとbilomaの鑑別は画像上困難であった.Bilomaが保存的治療で軽快しない場合や,自験例の様にbilomaの遺残によりその後の癌治療に制約が大きい場合は,癌病巣も含めた外科的切除も考慮されるべきと考えた.

There are few reports concerning the sorting mechanisms of mammalian HSP60 into the mitochondria from the cytoplasm. In the present study we investigated the protein import system. Based on immunoblotting and immuno-histochemistry, HSP60 was detected in both the cytoplasm and mitochondria. The purified cytoplasmic HSP60 showed chaperone activity, and the protein was imported into the mitochondria in vitro by a mitochondrial import assay. HSP60 mRNA was increased in the kidney papilla of rats that had been water restricted for three and five days, but no changes in HSP60 mRNA were detected in the cortex or the medulla of the rat kidneys. Upon immunoblotting, HSP60 was detected in both the cytoplasm and the mitochondria of normal rat kidney cortex, medulla, and papilla in almost the same quantity. HSP60 was remarkably decreased in the kidney papilla of rats that were water restricted but the protein was increased in the mitochondria of the rat kidney papilla. We also analysed binding of the protein to the signal sequence of HSP60 using signal sequence-affinity column chromatography. We identified only one protein band with a molecular mass of 70 kDa on SDS/PAGE. The protein was eluted from the affinity column by an excess of signal peptide or by 5 mm ATP. Upon immunoblotting, the 70-kDa protein cross-reacted with an antibody against HSP70. These results suggested that mammalian HSP60 is located both in the cytoplasm as a stable cytoplasmic HSP60 and also in the mitochondria under normal conditions. The cytoplasmic HSP60 is quickly imported into the mitochondria under severe conditions by cytoplasmic HSP70.

A thermodynamic description of the Bi–In–Sb ternary system of lead-free solder alloys using the CALPHAD (Calculation of Phase Diagram) method is presented. Phase equilibria information such as vertical sections, liquidus projection and thermochemical quantities were calculated and compared with the experimental data. The calculated and experimental data are in excellent agreement in most cases.

α (A2)/γ (A1) phase equilibria of the Fe–Co system between 400 and 800°C were determined by means of lattice parameter measurement using thin film specimens. Bulk specimens were also analyzed to compare the extent of attainment to the equilibrium. The thin film technique was found to be greatly advantageous for obtaining the phase equilibria at lower temperatures where solid-state reactions are too slow to reach the equilibrium state in the conventional methods using bulk specimens. It was confirmed that the α+γ two-phase region extends below the temperature at which the α (A2)/α′ (B2) transus meets the α/α+γ boundary. Thermodynamic analysis was also conducted by taking the magnetic and chemical ordering contributions of the B2 structure into account, findings of which confirmed the extension of the α+γ two-phase region below the α/α′ ordering temperature.

The Akita mouse, which has a mutation (Cys96Tyr) in the insulin 2 gene (Ins2(Akita)), is a model for diabetes. The male Akita mouse has diabetes, while females develop mild diabetes. This study aimed to investigate renal complications in the Akita mouse model, which has been maintained in a heterozygous state Ins2(Akita) (+/-) with a C57BL/6 background (B6). Renal function (BUN, creatinine), serum IgA concentrations and histological changes in the kidneys were evaluated in diabetic and control mice in a B6 background. Five each of male and female mice per group (diabetes vs. control) were killed at 10, 20, 30 and 40 weeks of age. The influence of major histocompatibility antigens (MHC) on renal complications was tested using male diabetic mice in a C3H/He (C3H) background. When compared with controls, diabetic males, but not females, developed impaired renal function with elevation of serum IgA after 30 weeks of age. Diabetic glomerulosclerosis advanced with age in both sexes. Diffuse granular mesangial deposits of IgA were detected by immunofluorescence microscopy in diabetic males after 20 weeks. We tested whether the IgA-associated lesions were influenced by MHC using diabetic males in a C3H background. Similar degrees of diabetic glomerulosclerosis and glomerular IgA deposition were found in mice with C3H and B6 backgrounds. Akita mouse is a unique mouse model showing both mesangial sclerosis and IgA nephropathy.

Background Recently, a preoperative systemic inflammatory response has been reported to be a prognostic factor in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). However, the prognostic significance of a systemic inflammatory response in the early stage after surgery in patients with CRC is unknown. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of a postoperative systemic inflammatory response in patients with CRC. Methods Two hundred and fifty-four patients who underwent potentially curative surgery for stage II/III CRC were enrolled in this study. Univariate and multivariate analyses were performed to evaluate the relationship between the prognosis and clinicopathological factors, including the neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio (NLR) and Glasgow Prognostic Score (GPS), which were measured within two weeks before operation and at the first visit after leaving the hospital. Results The overall survival rates were significantly worse in the high preoperative NLR/preoperative GPS/postoperative NLR group. A multivariate analysis indicated that only preoperative GPS, postoperative NLR, and the number of lymph node metastases were independent prognostic factors for a poor survival. Conclusions The postoperative NLR is an independent prognostic factor in patients with CRC who underwent potentially curative surgery.

Background The aim of this study was to clarify the operative mortality and long‐term survival of gastrectomy for elderly patients with gastric cancer. Methods A total of 461 patients who underwent gastrectomy for gastric cancer in our hospital were classified as elderly group (≥80 years‐old, 95 patients) and control group (60–69 years‐old, 366 patients). Results The frequency of comorbidities was significantly (P

Background The preoperative prognostic nutritional index (PNI) has been reported to correlate with the prognosis in patents with various carcinomas. However, the prognostic significance of the postoperative PNI is unknown. The aim of this study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the postoperative PNI in patients with colorectal cancer (CRC). Methods Two hundred and eighteen patients who underwent potentially curative surgery for stage II/III CRC were enrolled in this study. The PNI was calculated as 10 × serum albumin concentration (g/dl) + 0.005 × lymphocyte count (/mm3). The preoperative PNI was measured within two weeks before the operation and the postoperative PNI were measured at the first visit after leaving the hospital. We then examined the correlations between the preoperative/postoperative PNI and the prognosis for survival. Results In the validation study, the median preoperative PNI was 47.90 (range: 32.45-61.36) and the median postoperative PNI was 48.69 (range: 32.62-66.96). According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve, we set 43.0 as the cut-off value in the validation study. For both the preoperative and postoperative PNI, the overall survival rates were significantly worse in the low PNI group in the validation study (preoperative PNI, p = 0.0374; postoperative PNI, p = 0.0005). In the multivariate analysis of the validation study, the combination of pre- and postoperative PNI was an independent predictor of poor overall survival (p = 0.006). Conclusions The postoperative PNI is, in addition to the preoperative PNI, a useful prognostic marker. The combination of pre- and postoperative PNI was an independent prognostic factor in patients with CRC who underwent potentially curative surgery and is important for considering the long-term outcome in patients with CRC.

Nutrition and immunity significantly affect the progression of cancer in cancer patients. Therefore, the evaluation of the nutritional and immune status would be useful as a prognostic factor and to determine the optimal treatment strategy for patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer who are receiving chemotherapy. The aim of this retrospective study was to evaluate the prognostic significance of the nutritional and immune status in patients with unresectable metastatic colorectal cancer treated with chemotherapy. We retrospectively reviewed 80 patients with colorectal cancer. A total of 22 patients had metachronous unresectable cancer, and 58 patients had synchronous unresectable cancer. All patients underwent combination chemotherapy with oxaliplatin or irinotecan plus 5-fluorouracil/leucovorin as first-line chemotherapy. We then examined the correlations between the Onodera’s prognostic nutritional index (OPNI) and the patients’ clinicopathological features. The OPNI was calculated as follows: 10 × serum albumin (g/dl) + 0.005 × total lymphocyte count (per mm3). According to the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, the cutoff value for OPNI was 44.5. Patients with a pretreatment OPNI of ≧44.5 demonstrated a longer OS than those with a pretreatment OPNI of

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the significance of the combination of the carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) and carbohydrate antigen 19-9 (CA19-9) levels as a prognostic indicator and for monitoring for recurrence and metastasis after potentially curative surgery for patients with stage II colorectal cancer.A total of 238 patients with stage II colorectal cancer who underwent potentially curative surgery were enrolled in the study. A high CEA level was defined as a level exceeding 5 ng/ml and a high CA19-9 level was defined as a level exceeding 37 U/ml.Out of these 238 patients, 92 (38.7%) patients had high CEA levels, 23 (9.7%) patients had high CA19-9 levels and 15 (6.3%) patients had both high CEA and CA19-9 levels. The disease-free and overall survival rates were significantly worse in patients with both a high CEA level and high CA19-9 level. Tumor marker(s) elevated before the operation tended to be elevated again at the time of relapse.The combination of preoperative CEA and CA19-9 levels was useful for predicting the prognosis and for monitoring recurrence and metastasis after potentially curative surgery in patents with stage II colorectal cancer.

Pulmonary complications (PCs) after esophagectomy for patients with esophageal cancer have been correlated with prolonged hospital stays and in-hospital mortality. Previous studies have shown that minimally-invasive esophagectomy (MIE) is associated with a lower rate of PCs compared to conventional open surgery. Although PCs were reportedly associated with many factors, including surgical approaches, patients' demographics, and perioperative variables, the predictive factors for PCs including MIE, have not been fully evaluated.A total of 209 patients with resectable esophageal cancer who underwent three types of esophagectomy were included in the present study; (i) 93 cases who underwent the combined thoracoscopic MIE and laparoscopic MIE; (ii) 42 cases who underwent the combined open thoracotomy and laparoscopic MIE; (iii) 74 cases who underwent the combined open thoracotomy and open laparotomy, which were defined as the total MIE group, hybrid MIE group, and total open group, respectively. We compared clinical outcomes of the three groups and identified postoperative predictive factors of PCs using multivariate analysis.The incidence of PCs was significantly reduced (p=0.015) in the total-MIE group (8/93: 8.5%) compared with the total-open group (16/74: 21.6%), but it was not significantly reduced in the hybrid MIE group (5/42: 11.9%) compared with the total open group (p=0.19). The multivariate analysis showed that the presence of cardiac comorbidity [odds ratio (OR)=5.90; p=0.013], lung comorbidity (OR=3.95; p=0.031), and anastomotic leakage (OR=6.00; p0.01) were independent risk factors for PCs after esophagectomy. In contrast, total MIE reduced the risk of PCs (OR=0.328; p=0.036).The combination of thoracoscopic and laparoscopic MIE presents as an excellent surgical procedure for the reduction of PCs after esophagectomy.

AIM Thoracoscopic esophagectomy (TE) in the prone position for patients with esophageal cancer has received a great deal of attention. We retrospectively compared clinical outcomes and surgical stress of TE in the prone position (TE-P) and in the lateral position (TE-L) at our institution. METHODS A total of 58 consecutive patients (28 in the TE-L group and 30 in the TE-P group) were studied. Between the 2 groups, clinical outcomes and various parameters were compared. RESULTS There were no hospital deaths in both TEL and TEP groups. Blood loss during the thoracoscopic part of the surgery were significantly (P

The right non-recurrent inferior laryngeal nerve (NRILN) is a rare nerve anomaly that communicates the laryngeal nerve to the right vagal nerve trunk directly in the neck, which is usually accompanied by aberrant right subclavian artery (ARSA). We report on two cases of thoracic esophageal carcinoma undertaken in patients with these abnormalities: a 73-year-old woman with progressive dysphagia and a 63-year-old asymptomatic man. Although there have been 10 cases of thoracic esophageal carcinomas associated with ARSA and NRILN in literature, as far as we are aware of, this is the first report to describe successful resection using video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery (VATS). We found that the combination of preoperative recognition of the ARSA using three-dimensional computed tomography (3D-CT) and VATS in the prone position allowed for visual magnification with an excellent thoracoscopic view and facilitated successful tumor resection and preservation of NRILN.

The patient was a 68-year-old man who complained of hoarseness and dyspnea. Upper gastrointestinal endoscopy revealed a type 3 tumor located in the middle thoracic esophagus at 30 cm from the incisor tooth that involved one-fourth of the circumference of the esophagus. Histopathological examination revealed moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma. Chest computed tomography( CT) revealed severe tracheal stenosis due to compression by a metastatic lymph node along the left recurrent laryngeal nerve. The patient was diagnosed as having cT4( 106recL-trachea), N2( 101L, 106recL, 106recR), M0, Stage IVa unresectable esophageal carcinoma. After insertion of a tracheal stent tube( spiral Z stent: diameter, 18 mm; length, 80 mm) to improve dyspnea, combination chemotherapy with 5-fluorouracil( 5-FU) plus nedaplatin was administered. Subsequent CT and endoscopy showed that the main tumor and the metastatic lymph node had significantly reduced in size and that complete response (CR) had been achieved. Thirty months after the initial treatment, the patient showed no sign of disease recurrence, after completion of 19 cycles of chemotherapy. The patient did not experience any severe adverse events. We report a case of a patient with locally advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus successfully treated with 5-FU/nedaplatin combination chemotherapy following tracheal stent tube placement.

This study aimed to investigate the clinical significance of preoperative neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio(NLR)as a predictor of prognosis in patients with Stage IV colorectal cancer. A total of 130 patients who underwent operation for Stage IV colorectal cancer were enrolled in the study. Of the patients, 69 had an NLR of ≥ 3.0 and were defined as the high-NLR group. Patients who received preoperative therapy and underwent emergency operation for perforation were excluded from the analysis. The 2-year survival rate was 58.1% in the high-NLR group and 43.5% in the low-NLR group. The median survival time was 38.0 months in the high-NLR group and 22.3 months in the low-NLR group. The patient prognosis in the high-NLR group was significantly worse than that in the low-NLR group. A univariate analysis indicated that high NLR, peritoneal dissemination, curability C, histological type( non-differentiated), and number of organs involved in metastasis (more than 1 organ) were the risk factors of poor survival. All of these factors, except peritoneal dissemination, were independent risk factors for poor survival on multivariate analysis. A high preoperative NLR may be considered as a convenient biomarker to identify patients with a poor prognosis after operation for stage IV colorectal cancer.

We report a case of familial adenomatous polyposis( FAP) presenting with thyroid cancer. A 24-year-old woman, on histological examination, was diagnosed as having the cribriform-morular variant of papillary thyroid carcinoma, which is known to be associated with FAP. Therefore, she underwent colonoscopy, and FAP was diagnosed. In addition, abdominal computed tomography( CT) scans revealed a tumor, approximately 12 cm in diameter, in the right lower abdomen. After total thyroidectomy, total proctocolectomy and excision of the tumor arising from the mesentery of the small intestines were performed. The histological diagnosis was FAP with a desmoid tumor arising from the mesentery.

Chemoradiotherapy( CRT) for esophageal cancer is a useful modality for both locally advanced and resectable cases. Among adverse events related to CRT, radiation pneumonitis( RP) requires special attention because it has been shown to be occasionally associated with a worse acute prognosis. We report 5 cases of severe RP after CRT. All patients were male, and their mean age was 72 years (range: 66-76 years). The clinical stage of esophageal cancer was I in 1 case, II in 2 cases, and IVa in 2 cases. The mean total radiation dose was 51.8 Gy (range: 43.4-61.4). Initial symptoms and first abnormal findings were a high fever in 4 cases and elevated serum C-reactive protein( CRP) levels in 1 case. No patients presented with respiratory symptoms, including dyspnea and coughing, as initial symptoms. All cases were diagnosed as RP by chest computed tomography examination, an average of 6.8 days after the completion of RT. Four patients required intensive care and were put on ventilator support. All patients received steroid pulse therapy. Two patients recovered from RP; however, 3 died( 1 attributable to multi-organ failure and 2 to respiratory failure). It is important to consider RP caused by CRT when patients present with high fever or elevated CRP levels after the completion of RT for esophageal cancer.

Phase equilibria in GaSb-GaAs and InAs-GaAs thin films grown on GaAs and InP substrates were calculated, taking into consideration the elastic contribution caused by the lattice mismatch between the film and substrate. The basic concept used in describing the elastic free energy is that strain due to a lattice mismatch accumulates in a thin film and interfacial misfit dislocations form when the strain energy exceeds a certain energy barrier. Our calculations showed that the single-phase region of a zinc-blend-type compound forms in the GaSb-GaAs/InP and InAs-GaAs/InP systems. This result is in fairly good agreement with the experimental examination of epitaxially grown thin film. The compositional latching phenomenon frequently observed in alloy semiconductor systems can be interpreted in terms of the phase separation generated by the accumulated strain in the thin films.

A thermodynamic description of the In–Sn–Zn ternary system, which is of technical importance to optimize lead-free solder alloys, is presented using the CALPHAD method. Phase equilibria, such as isothermal and vertical sections, liquidus projection and mole fractions of the phase constitution, and thermochemical quantities were calculated and compared with the experimental data. They are in excellent agreement in most cases.

大腸癌肝転移切除不能例に対する肝動注療法の有用性について検討した.当科で原発巣を切除した大腸癌肝転移切除不能例の中で,リザーバーを用いて肝動注を施行した25例を動注群,非施行の14例をコントロール群として検討を行った. Regimenは, MF群 (5-FU 2時間持続+MMC), 5-FU群 (5-FU 2時間持続), FAM (5-FU 1 shot+Epirubicin+MMC) 群とした.動注群25例の平均生存期間は15.2カ月であった.動注時P因子陽性の症例を除いた動注群21例では,奏効例,非奏効例でそれぞれ22.1カ月, 13.3カ月であった. Regimen別では, MF群, 5-FU群, FAM群でそれぞれ20.2カ月, 20.0カ月, 10.9カ月であった.累積生存率の比較より,動注群,奏効例, MF群, 5-FU群で予後の改善が得られた. 以上より, 5-FUの低用量2時間持続肝動注療法は,予後改善に有用である可能性が示唆された.

Thermodynamic calculations of the phase equilibria between austenite (γ) and complex carbonitrides containing Nb, Ti and V, (Nb, Ti, V)(C, N), were performed. The solubility product and formation energy of each carbide and nitride as well as the interaction parameters between components were evaluated. Experimental investigation on phase separation in the complex carbonitrides was also carried out using STEM-EDX and X-ray diffraction. The immiscibility of carbonitride was found to strongly affect the phase equilibria even when the content of microalloying elements in IF steels was very low.

To investigate the time course of superoxide generation in ischemia-reperfusion in the in-vivo rat lung, the present study used an enhanced chemiluminescence method with 2-methyl-6-[p-methoxyphenyl]-3,7-dihydroimidazo[1,2-α]pyrazin-3-one (MCLA) as a specific probe. The right pulmonary artery was occluded for 120 min, followed by 90-min reperfusion. Chemiluminescence induced by MCLA was continuously monitored by a photomultiplier exposed to the right lung. Chemiluminescence increased gradually in 30 min of reperfusion and remained elevated throughout reperfusion. The ratio of the luminescence count during reperfusion to the preischemic value increased to 2.20±0.31 (mean ± SEM) (p

Hassab手術後に門脈血栓を形成した1例を経験した. 症例は51歳の男性. 肝硬変, 食道静脈瘤で外来通院中, 食道静脈瘤の増悪を認め, 内視鏡的硬化療法を施行するもRC (+) の食道静脈瘤ならびに胃静脈瘤の残存があり, また著しい汎血球減少症を認め, Hassab手術を施行した. 術後, 経口摂取開始とともに予防的にアスピリン81mg日の投与を行ったが, 肝内門脈ならびに肝外門脈に血栓を認めた. ただちに, ウロキナーゼ, 低分子ヘパリン, メシル酸ガベキサートの経静脈的投与を行ったところ, 数日後には血栓溶解が始まり, 10日後には, ほぼ肝内門脈, 門脈本幹の血栓が溶解された.Hassab手術の合併症として, 門脈血栓症は重大であり, 術後, 血小板凝集抑制剤の投与とともに, 画像診断にて門脈血栓形成が確認されれば, ただちに血栓溶解療法を開始し, 十分な血栓溶解が得られれば, 抗凝固療法に変更することが肝要であると思われた.