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We propose an RZ-pulse wavelength converter which has a very simple device structure. Ultrafast wavelength conversion at an extremely low input power is demonstrated at 10-40 GHz repetition rates. By using a new simple wavelength converter (DISC), we have demonstrated efficient ultrafast wavelength conversion of 10.5 to 42 GHz pulses from 1548 to 1560 nm.

In conclusion, we have reduced the imperfection loss of an optical fiber with a P/sub 2/O/sub 5/-SiO/sub 2/ core and F-SIO/sub 2/ cladding by viscosity-matching the glasses at the interface between the core and cladding. We achieved a Rayleigh scattering coefficient as small as 0.67 dB/km /spl mu/m/sup 4/. The optical loss at 1.55 /spl mu/m is 0.20 dB/km and the optical loss at wavelengths shorter than 1.3 /spl mu/m is to our knowledge the lowest so far reported.

The coupling coefficient between an electric field radiated from close to an overhead cable and the voltage appearing at the cable end is studied experimentally and theoretically. The calculated results closely agree with the experimental results. The voltage induced by a near radiation source is smaller than the voltage induced by a far radiation source for the same electric field strength at the cable.

Esophageal cancer is a relatively common neoplasm throughout the world but is found at high frequency in many developing nations [1]. The number of superficial esophageal carcinomas identified has increased rapidly in recent years owing to advances in diagnostic methods, particularly endoscopy [2,3]. Small areas unstained with Lugol’s iodine are often observed in the mucosa surrounding esophageal squamous cell carcinoma (SCC). In patients in whom this type of esophageal SCC has been resected and where the esophageal mucosa shows multiple small areas that do not stain with Lugol’s iodine, there is often multicentric cancer of the esophagus [4].

One method for calculating flux-MMF relationship of an orthogonal core is described. The calculation is based on a three-dimensional magnetic circuit model of the orthogonal core. The model is derived by dividing the orthogonal core, inclusive of the surrounding region, into elements comprising a three-dimensional magnetic circuit. Using this model, the flux-MMF relationship of the orthogonal core with arbitrary dimensions can be calculated from the B-H characteristic of the core material. The calculation method presented is useful for optimum design of devices using an orthogonal core. >

A new variable inductor with sinusoidal output is described. The variable inductor is constructed with a pair of orthogonal cores. The secondary AC current is easily controlled by the primary DC current. The secondary current is almost sinusoidal in a wide control region. A prototype circuit for reactive power compensation using the new variable inductor is presented. >

We report the results of a high‐speed all‐optical switching experiment in Mach–Zehnder configuration using a GaAs waveguide. The all‐optical switching is based on the nonlinear refractive index change induced by the band‐filling effect in the GaAs waveguide. To achieve high‐speed operation without being limited by the slow carrier relaxation time, a dc electric field is externally applied to the nonlinear waveguide to sweep carriers away from the light guiding region. The FWHM (full width at half maximum) of the switching waveform without the externally applied electric field is about 800–900 ps. As the electric field is increased, the FWHM is reduced to about 80–90 ps.

The main advantages of prostaglandin E1 (PGE1) for induced hypotension during neurosurgery include a rapid onset of action, a quick recovery from hypotension, lack of toxicity, maintenance of adequate perfusion to vital organs, and maintenance of cerebral blood flow reactivity to carbon dioxide during hypotension. However, there is no report that shows the effect of PGE1 on cerebral microvessel diameter and only a few data are available that show the effect of PGE1 on intracranial pressure. The aim of this study was to measure cerebral arteriole and venule diameters and intracranial pressure (ICP) during PGE1-induced hypotension to evaluate whether PGE1 is suitable for neuroanesthesia.We measured the effects of 0.1, 0.3, 1.0, 3.0, and 10.0 microg x kg(-1) x min(-1) of intravenous PGE1 on mean arterial pressure (MAP), cerebral arteriole and venule diameters and ICP in anesthetized rabbits.MAP decreased statistically significantly from baseline at the infusion rates of 1.0, 3.0, and 10.0 microg x kg(-1) x ml(-1). Arteriole diameter increased significantly from the baseline at the infusion rate of 10.0 microg x kg(-1) x ml(-1) (18% from control). Venule diameter did not change from baseline value at any infusion rate. ICP did not change from baseline value at any infusion rate.We conclude that PGE1 might be a suitable drug for induced hypotension in neurosurgery from the viewpoint of its small effect on the cerebral microvessels and ICP.

Rates of lung cancer in American men have greatly exceeded those in Japanese men for several decades despite the higher smoking prevalence in Japanese men. It is not known whether the relative risk of lung cancer associated with cigarette smoking is lower in Japanese men than American men and whether these risks vary by the amount and duration of smoking. To estimate smoking-specific relative risks for lung cancer in men, a multicentric case-control study was carried out in New York City, Washington, DC, and Nagoya, Japan from 1992 to 1998. A total of 371 cases and 373 age-matched controls were interviewed in United States hospitals and 410 cases and 252 hospital controls in Japanese hospitals; 411 Japanese age-matched healthy controls were also randomly selected from electoral rolls. The odds ratio (OR) for lung cancer in current United States smokers relative to nonsmokers was 40.4 [95% confidence interval (CI) = 21.8-79.6], which was10 times higher than the OR of 3.5 for current smokers in Japanese relative to hospital controls (95% CI = 1.6-7.5) and six times higher than in Japanese relative to community controls (OR = 6.3; 95% CI = 3.7-10.9). There were no substantial differences in the mean number of years of smoking or average daily number of cigarettes smoked between United States and Japanese cases or between United States and Japanese controls, but American cases began smoking on average 2.5 years earlier than Japanese cases. The risk of lung cancer associated with cigarette smoking was substantially higher in United States than in Japanese males, consistent with population-based statistics on smoking prevalence and lung cancer incidence. Possible explanations for this difference in risk include a more toxic cigarette formulation of American manufactured cigarettes as evidenced by higher concentrations of tobacco-specific nitrosamines in both tobacco and mainstream smoke, the much wider use of activated charcoal in the filters of Japanese than in American cigarettes, as well as documented differences in genetic susceptibility and lifestyle factors other than smoking.

Associations between Helicobacter pylori (HP) infection and lifestyle factors have been demonstrated by several studies, but there are very few reports on links with host factors, especially concerning genetic polymorphisms for inhabitants of large city. The present investigation was conducted to determine the HP infection rate with reference to the Interleukin-1 beta gene (IL-1B) polymorphism and assess the interactions with smoking reported for outpatients.The subjects were 468 participants in a health-check-up program of law of health for aged conducted by Nagoya Nishi Health Center. The participants were asked to permit use of their residual blood drawn during a health-check-up program and written informed consent was obtained for gene polymorphism tests. Data on smoking habit were obtained by self-administered questionnaire. The IL-1B C-to-T polymorphism at -31 was genotyped by PCR-CTPP (polymerase chain reaction with confronting two-pair primers) and an anti-HP IgG antibody test was used for detecting HP infection. Differences in values were assessed by a chi 2 test. An unconditional logistic model was applied for estimating odds ratios with the computer program STATA Version 6. This study was approved by the Ethical Committee at Aichi Cancer Center in 2000 before it was commenced (Ethical Committee Approval Number 11-12)The HP infection rate was 52.6% (61/116) for the C/C genotype of IL-1B-31, 48.6% (89/183) for the C/T, and 63.2% (103/163) for T/T; the difference were not statistically significant. However, when non-current smokers were excluded, the rate were 47.8% (11/23), 52.9% (18/34), and 72.7% (16/22), respectively, indicating the T/T genotype to have a higher infection rate. The age-sex-smoking adjusted odds ratio (OR) relative to the C/C genotype were 0.97 (95% confidence interval, 0.59-1.57) for the T/C genotype and 1.73 (1.04-2.87) for the T/T genotype. Among current and former smokers the age-sex adjusted OR were 1.68 (0.50-5.71) for the T/C genotype and 5.29 (1.11-25.1) for the T/T genotype, suggesting a effect of this polymorphism prominent in smokers.An association between the IL-1B-31 polymorphism and persistent HP infection was observed for inhabitants with a smoking habit, indicating that this polymorphism is one genetic trait conferring an increased likelihood of persistent HP infection.

To determine the impact of family history (FH) on anthropometric and reproductive risk factors for breast cancer, a case-referent study was conducted using data from the Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC), Japan.In total, 1584 breast cancer cases were included and 15,331 women, confirmed as free of cancer, were recruited as the referents. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals were determined by logistic regression analysis. Separate analyses were performed for premenopausal and postmenopausal women.Height, weight, and current body mass index (BMI) were positively associated with postmenopausal breast cancer regardless of FH, while these anthropometric factors did not alter risk in premenopausal women. The impacts of height and weight on postmenopausal breast cancer were more pronounced among FH women. There was little association with reproductive risk factors for premenopausal or postmenopausal breast cancer in FH cases, in clear contrast to the non-FH cases.These findings suggest some differences in risk impact of common etiologic factors between familial breast cancer and sporadic cases that may give pointers to further analysis of host-specific factors. They imply that avoidance of obesity after menopause may reduce the risk of breast cancer, regardless of FH.

Recent studies suggest that smoking habit may relate to genetic traits. This study examines the association with a polymorphism (C-31T) of interleukin 1B (IL-1B), which encodes IL-1beta, a multifunctional pro-inflammatory cytokine. Since the T allele makes a TATA box, the allele is thought to be responsible for a higher potency of IL-1B expression, indicating that individuals harboring the T allele are prone to inflammation. The study subjects were two different populations; 241 non-cancer outpatients (118 males and 123 females) at a cancer hospital and 462 examinees (127 males and 335 females) of a health checkup program provided by a local government. Current smokers were 36.4% for the male outpatients, 9.8% for the female outpatients, 38.6% for the male examinees, and 5.6% for the female examinees. The sex-age-adjusted odds ratios of current smokers were calculated for the genotypes with the T allele relative to the CC genotype by an unconditional logistic model. The estimate was 0.45 (95% confidence interval, 0.21-0.97) for the outpatients, and 0.83 (0.42-1.61) for the examinees. Although not significant for the examinees, the observed associations suggest that this polymorphism may influence smoking behavior through an inflammatory response of the respiratory tract to cigarette smoke.

The functional polymorphisms regulating immunologic responses may influence the proliferation or suppression of malignant lymphoma. We examined the association between malignant lymphoma risk and the polymorphisms of the IL-1 gene family [IL-1B -31 C/T, IL-1A -889 C/T, and IL-1RN 86-bp variable number of terminal repeat (VNTR)] and myeloperoxidase (MPO -463 G/A).The hospital-based case-control study was conducted in Japan. Genotypes were examined in a total of 372 lymphoma cases and 241 non-cancer control subjects. The relative risks were estimated by unconditional logistic regression analysis.The overall allele distribution of these polymorphisms did not differ substantially between patients and controls; the odds ratios were 0.73 (95% confidence interval, 0.48-1.11) for the T allele carriers of IL-1B relative to the non-carriers, 1.01 (0.56-1.82) for the 2-repeat allele (allele 2) carriers of IL-1RN, 0.96 (0.62-1.48) for the T allele carriers of IL-1A, and 1.04 (0.70-1.57) for the A allele carriers of MPO. Subgroup analyses according to histology [diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBL), follicular lymphoma, low-grade lymphoma of mucosa associated lymphoid tissue, and others] failed to illustrate differences except for DLBL which showed a possible association with IL-1A and IL-1B polymorphisms.Our data show a limited association between these polymorphisms and malignant lymphoma risk in total. The possible association of the IL-1A and IL-1B polymorphisms with DLB-needs further clarification.

A 9-year-old boy underwent biopsy of the tumor at the external auditory meatus under general anesthesia with a laryngeal mask airway(LMA). During emergence from anesthesia, laryngospasm with marked inspiratory effort and cyanosis occurred. The LMA was removed and the patient was orotracheally intubated following vecuronium administration. In spite of controlled ventilation with 100% oxygen, oxygen saturation remained at low 90s and pink frothy sputum appeared in the tracheal tube. We suspected negative pressure pulmonary edema and treated him with mechanical ventilation with positive end-expiratory pressure. Seventeen hours later the pink frothy sputum decreased and he was extubated. Laryngospasm during emergence from anesthesia with an LMA can induce negative pressure pulmonary edema, especially in pediatric patients.

In general, the incidence and mortality rates for lymphoid and hematopoietic malignancies in Oriental countries, including Japan, are lower than in Western Europe and the U.S. However, those of lymphoid malignancies (ML) are clearly increasing in Japan, especially in the older generations. The main cause of the recent increment might be explained by compensation for risk reduction of infectious diseases in the old generations, so that their life span is extended rather than increment in exposure to specific risk factors. With regard to change in diagnostic criteria for ML, the geographical distribution of ML death rates by subtype shows variation over the last 20 years. In Japan, ML is more prevalent in southwestern districts, attributed to ATL caused by HTLV-I, and this high incidence of ATL should disappear with the HTLV-I eradication in the future. On the other hand, further diagnostic techniques might be developed and it is conceivable that a unique geographical distribution of new subtypes of lymphoid and hematopoietic malignancies may thereby be generated.

Two cases of renal pelvis rupture caused by urolithiasis are reported. The first case was in a 62-year-old male who had left flank pain. Urological examination including drip infusion pyelography (DIP) and abdominal computed tomography (CT) revealed a spontaneous rupture of the left renal pelvis. The rupture was assumed to have been caused by a small ureteral stone. The stone passed spontaneously, and the extravasation disappeared with conservative therapy. The second case was in a 84-year-old male who was admitted with high fever. Urological examination including DIP and abdominal CT showed a suspected rupture of the left renal pelvis due to a renal stone at the ureteropelvic junction. Percutaneous nephrostomy was performed and antegrade pyelography showed extravasation from the left renal pelvis. Extravasation disappeared on the 12th postoperative day. Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy was performed three times. The renal stone was completely discharged and the nephrostomy tube was removed successfully.

The amino acid sequence that forms the alpha-helical coiled coil structure has a representative heptad repeat denoted by defgabc, according to their positions. Although the a and d positions are usually occupied by hydrophobic residues, hydrophilic residues at these positions sometimes play important roles in natural proteins. We have manipulated a few amino acids at the a and d positions of a de novo designed trimeric coiled coil to confer new functions to the peptides. The IZ peptide, which has four heptad repeats and forms a parallel triple-stranded coiled coil, has Ile at all of the a and d positions. We show three examples: (1) the substitution of one Ile at either the a or d position with Glu caused the peptide to become pH sensitive; (2) the metal ion induced alpha-helical bundles were formed by substitutions with two His residues at the d and a positions for a medium metal ion, and with one Cys residue at the a position for a soft metal ion; and (3) the AAB-type heterotrimeric alpha-helical bundle formation was accomplished by a combination of Ala and Trp residues at the a positions of different peptide chains. Furthermore, we applied these procedures to prepare an ABC-type heterotrimeric alpha-helical bundle and a metal ion-induced heterotrimeric alpha-helical bundle.

We recently identified 3 fractions of human peripheral blood (PB) dendritic cells (DC), including the monocyte-associated fractions 1 and 2 (CD1a+,CD11c+ and CD1a-,CD11c+, respectively) and the lymphoid-associated fraction 3 (CD1a-,CD11c-). We attempted to determine whether these fractions were altered in Sjögren's syndrome (SS).We examined 23 patients with primary SS and 22 normal control subjects. DC were purified from PB and analyzed by flow cytometry. Immunohistochemical staining of labial salivary glands of SS patients was performed with monoclonal antibodies against fascin, which is known to be specific for DC.The total numbers of PB DC and fraction 1 DC were decreased in SS. Immunohistochemical staining demonstrated that fascin+,CD11c+,HLA-DR+ mononuclear cells were present and scattered among numerous fascin-hyperfiltrating cells in SS patients. Interferon-gamma (IFNgamma)-producing Th1 cells were shown to be increased in both PB and salivary glands of patients, indicating the presence of general IFNgamma-producing Th1 polarization in SS. Furthermore, numbers of Thl cells were increased when naive T cells were cocultured with fraction 1 DC in vitro.These findings suggest selective trafficking of fraction 1 DC into focal sites of inflammation and subsequent promotion of Th1 balance, suggesting a novel pathogenesis of SS.

Glucocorticoid hormones are known to enhance gonadotropin/cAMP-induced steroidogenesis in rat and human granulosa cells. As glucocorticoids induce apoptosis in numerous cell types, we investigated the role of glucocorticoids in the control of apoptosis in immortalized human granulosa cells (HO-23) transfected with a temperature-sensitive mutant of p53 (Val(135)). When HO-23 were incubated with forskolin in the presence or absence of dexamethasone (Dex) at 32 or 37 C, progesterone production was higher by 4- and 8-fold in the presence of Dex at 37 or 32 C, respectively (P:0. 01). The expression of adrenodoxin (ADX), which is an intrinsic part of the cytochrome P450 side-chain cleavage enzyme system, remained the same in the presence or absence of Dex in forskolin-stimulated cells. Dex reduced apoptosis (to 33% of control) in cultures after activation of p53 by shifting the temperature from 37 to 32 C. Moreover, Dex suppressed apoptosis induced by serum deprivation (to 40% of control) or forskolin stimulation (to 28% and 40% at 37 and at 32 C, respectively). The protective effect of Dex on cAMP-, p53-, and serum deprivation-induced apoptosis was confirmed by both 4',6-diamido-2-phenylindole hydrochloride DNA staining and terminal deoxynucleotidyltransferase-mediated dUTP nick end labeling with an ED(50) of 7 nM Dex. Hydrocortisone showed a similar antiapoptotic effect. The protective effect of glucocorticoids against apoptosis was completely abolished by RU486 when cells were coincubated with 10 nM Dex and 10-100 nM RU486. The protection against apoptosis by glucocorticoid involved a sharp elevation in intracellular levels of Bcl-2 (3-7.6 fold; P:0.01). In contrast to the effect of Dex in the prevention of apoptosis in HO-23 granulosa cells, Dex dramatically stimulated apoptosis by 3-fold in LTR-6 myeloid leukemia cells expressing the same temperature-sensitive mutant (Val(135) p53) and the same amount of glucocorticoid receptor-alpha. Forskolin did not stimulate apoptosis when incubated with these cells. However, it augmented by 1.2-fold the p53-induced apoptosis in cells shifted from 37 to 32 C. Dex further enhanced apoptosis by 1.9-fold in p53-activated cultures (32 C). Incubation of the cells with Dex dramatically reduced Bcl-2 levels to 15% of control at 37 C (P:0.01) or 32 C in the presence or absence of forskolin (P:0.01). Our data suggest that glucocorticoids exert a protective effect against induced apoptosis in immortalized granulosa cells and a stimulatory effect on apoptosis in myeloid leukemia cells. Moreover, modulation of Bcl-2 levels plays an important role in mediating the glucocorticoid effect on cell survival. The opposite effect of glucocorticoids on Bcl-2 levels in the two cell lines may be due to the different ontogeneses of the two cell types: epithelial for granulosa cells vs. mesenchymal for myeloid cells studied in the present work.

Human T-cell leukemia virus type I (HTLV-I) carriers are clustered in limited groups in the world. One of these groups is the Andean native population of South America. As part of an international collaborative study devoted to explore the clustering of HTVL-I carriers in different countries, the aim of this paper was to evaluate the seroprevalence of HTLV-I/II virus in the native population of Puna Argentina in Jujuy. Blood samples of individuals of three populations of Puna Jujeña (Susques, Rinconada, Cochinoca) were screened with particle agglutination (PA), immunofluorescence (IF) and western immunoblotting analysis (WB) tests. Two out 86 (2.32%) individuals examined in the Puna Jujeña showed positive results for HTLV-I antibodies. It is concluded that the Province of Jujuy, in particular its less miscegenated highest altitude areas, constitute the northern and southern Andean natural geographical clustering of HTLV-I. This distribution is probably linked both to a history of prehistoric human dispersal in the Andes and to high mother- to-child transmission of the virus under close conditions of each group.

A 61-year-old man and a 59-year-old woman were referred to our hospital because of lower abdominal pain and discomfort, pollakisuria and a lower abdominal mass. In both patients, radiological studies and cystoscopy caused us to suspect a urachal abscess. We performed operations transperitoneally. In the male patient, fish bones were detected between the mass and ileum. A partial cystectomy was performed on the female patient, and the histological diagnosis was Sparganosis mansoni. In both cases, it was very difficult to make a correct diagnosis before the operations, but surgical treatment was successfully performed.

We studied the effect of alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonists on colonic function stimulated by water-avoidance stress, 5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT), bethanechol and castor oil by comparison with the effects of atropine and a 5-hydroxytryptamine 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, ondansetron. Yohimbine, idazoxan and atropine, but not ondansetron, significantly inhibited water-avoidance stress-stimulated faecal excretion. Yohimbine and idazoxan inhibited neither 5-HT- nor bethanechol-stimulated faecal excretion. In contrast, atropine inhibited both 5-HT- and bethanechol-stimulated faecal excretion and ondansetron inhibited 5-HT-stimulated faecal excretion. Yohimbine did not inhibit the incidence of diarrhoea induced by castor oil, but idazoxan significantly inhibited diarrhoea observed during a 1-h period after the administration of castor oil. Both atropine and ondansetron inhibited diarrhoea during a 2-h period after the administration of castor oil. These findings suggest that alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonists specifically inhibit colonic motor function stimulated by stress in rats.

Adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) is associated with human T-cell leukemia virus type 1 (HTLV-1) and is known to be a refractory disease of highly poor prognosis. We describe a case of ATL treated with allogeneic bone marrow transplantation (allo-BMT). The allo-BMT successfully induced complete remission in the patient. Currently, at 24 months post BMT, there has been no evidence of minimal residual disease (MRD) detected by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) assay for the T-cell receptor gamma chain gene. By contrast, PCR analysis demonstrated the reappearance of the cells harboring the integrations of the HTLV-1 proviral DNA 9 months after the BMT. These findings may imply a reversion to the carrier state rather than the recurrence of the leukemia from the MRD. The clinical consequence of our case illustrates that allo-BMT is an effective therapy, at least for achieving longer disease-free survival in ATL.

A 39-year-old man was admitted with massive ascites. Specimens of ascitic fluid contained numerous cells with a FAB-L3 appearance, and small noncleaved cell lymphoma morphology. These cells expressed CD10, CD19, CD20, CD38, CD45, HLA-DR, and IgM antigens, and were positive for IgM and c-myc protein in cytoplasmic immunostaining tests. Clonal rearrangements of IgH and c-myc genes were detected by Southern blot analysis. No mass lesions were found by physical examination, and systemic computed photography did not reveal enlargement of lymph nodes, spleen, or liver. Bone marrow aspiration showed no infiltration of malignant cells. Ga scintigraphy indicated hot lesions only in the abdomen. These findings suggested that Burkitt's lymphoma had developed in the peritoneal cavity as a primary lymphomatous effusion. Chemotherapy with methotrexate, cyclophosphamide, vincristine, doxorubicin, etoposide, and dexamethasone was effective, and the patient has been free from the disease for 1 year since completion of consolidation treatment with autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation.

Cell cycle-associated proteins, p16, pRb, p21 and p53 are important in regulating the G1-S checkpoint in the cell cycle, and their functional alterations play key roles in carcinogenesis and cell proliferation.We immunohistochemically examined the expression of p16, pRb, p21 and p53 proteins by using surgically resected tissues from 35 patients with primary esophageal cancers.In 35 esophageal cancers, the expressions of p16, pRb, p21 and p53 proteins were detectable in 4(11.4%), 25(71.4%), 11(31.4%) and 20(57.1%) respectively. Interestingly, 24 of 25 pRb positive cancers (96.0%) had negative p16, whereas three of ten pRb-negative cancers (30.0%) had high levels of p16 (p0.05). In 11 cases of p21 positive immunostaining, there was lymph node metastasis (pN1) in 9 (81.8%).These results suggest that abnormalities of p16 protein may be closely associated with the carcinogenesis or cell proliferation of esophageal cancers.

A new beta-glucosidase was partially purified from Trichoderma viride cellulase. This beta-glucosidase catalyzed a transglycosylation reaction of cellobiose to give beta-D-Glc-(1--6)-beta-D-Glc-(1--4)-D-Glc (1, yield: 18.8%) and beta-D-Glc-(1--6)-beta-D-Glc-(1--6)-beta-D-Glc-(1--4)-D-Glc (2, 3.7%), regioselectively. Furthermore, the enzyme regioselectively converted laminaribiose and gentiobiose into beta-D-Glc-(1--6)-beta-D-Glc-(1--3)-D-Glc (3, 15.3%) and beta-D-Glc-(1--6)-beta-D-Glc-(1--6)-D-Glc (4, 20.2%), respectively. The structures (1-4) of the products were determined by 1H and 13C NMR spectroscopies. This high regio- and stereoselectively of the beta-glucosidase could be applied for oligosaccharide synthesis.

In October 1996, a 26-year-old woman was given a diagnosis of acute myeloblastic leukemia, FAB subtype M1. Treatment with combined chemotherapy achieved a complete remission (CR). In May 1997, the patient received an allogenic bone marrow transplant (BMT) from an HLA-identical sibling donor. Cyclosporine (CsA) and short-term methotrexate were given for graft-versus-host disease (GVHD) prophylaxis. Successful engraftment was obtained and signs of acute or chronic GVHD never developed. Five months after BMT, the patient experienced low-grade fever and blurred vision. Retinal examination demonstrated intraretinal hemorrhages, cotton-wool spots, and retinal detachments, which were presumably attributable to multiple thrombosis of retinal microvessels. The patient also exhibited hemolytic anemia with red cell fragmentation, thrombocytopenia, elevated lactate dehydrogenase, and renal impairment, and was thus given a diagnosis of BMT-associated thrombotic microangiopathy (BMT-TM). Discontinuation of CsA and administration of ticlopidine and prednisolone induced successful recovery from BMT-TM. Three months after the onset of BMT-TM, however, the patient experienced generalized clonic-tonic seizures with consciousness loss. Single-photon-emission computed tomography revealed blood-flow disturbances in the brain, suggesting the recurrence of microthrombosis. Accordingly, multiple transfusions of fresh frozen plasma were administered together with dipyridamole and aspirin. The patient gradually recovered and remained asymptomatic through the following 13 months. Currently, early diagnosis of BMT-TM is considered to be difficult. We suggest that careful examination of the ocular base may be useful for the early detection of BMT-TM.

A 71-year-old man was referred to our hospital complaining of urinary retention. He noticed a small mass on his buttocks about one year ago. Computed tomographic (CT) scan and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a large mass of 10 cm in diameter located in the retrovesical space. The mass extended to the surface of his buttocks and contained many calcified deposits, and was accompanied with a sacral bone fracture. Transdermic biopsy revealed the presence of sacral chordoma. Chordoma is a rare tumor, arising from remnants of the notochord and is locally progressive. Both tumor resection and diverting colostomy were performed at another hospital. In that operation his spinal cord was protected down to the second sacral level. Unfortunately after the operation, the patient suffered total urinary incontinence. At 15 months after surgical treatment, the patient presented with lung and bone metastases, and at 2 years after his initial operation, he had local recurrence.

The main form of cytotoxic treatment for multiple myeloma (MM) is conventional dose chemotherapy at present.Between November 1989 and December 1991, a multicenter phase II study of alternating conventional dose combination chemotherapy (CCT) with COP (cyclophosphamide, vincristine, prednisone) and MP (melphalan and prednisone) to evaluate its clinical usefulness for overt MM patients was conducted by the Lymphoma Study Group of the Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG).Eighty-one previously untreated patients were enrolled in the study. For 69 eligible patients, the response rate was 50.7% [95% confidence interval (CI) 38.4-63.0%]. The median survival time was 38.5 (95% CI 32.0-44.4) months. The survival rate at 3 and 5 years was 50.7 and 27.3%, respectively. Grade 4 toxicity by the criteria of the World Health Organization consisted of anemia in eight patients, leucocytopenia in three, cardiac in one and hepatic in two, but there was no treatment-related death.The COP-MP regimen for overt MM is thought to be one of the effective CCTs according to the results of the present phase II study.

This paper deals with a numerical model of orthogonal‐core transformers for use in spice. The model was devised on the basis of the magnetic circuit of the orthogonal‐core with the saturation and hysteresis effects. Using the numerical model, the behavior of the dc‐ac converter constructed with the orthogonal‐core transformers and square‐wave transistor choppers was analyzed. The calculated values and measured ones show a good agreement. The method presented here is suitable for the circuit analysis and design optimization of the dc‐ac converter taking account of nonlinear characteristics of the orthognal‐cores and semiconductor devices used in the converter.

We have investigated the possible role of theca and granulosa cell interaction in the control of the hormone-producing activity and growth of granulosa and theca cells during bovine ovarian follicular development, using a coculture system in which granulosa and theca cells were grown on opposite sides of a collagen membrane. When follicular cells were isolated from small follicles (3-5 mm), theca cells reduced estradiol, progesterone, and inhibin production by granulosa cells to 14 +/- 5%, 64 +/- 6%, and 27 +/- 4%, respectively, of the production by granulosa cells cultured alone. On the other hand, when the cells were isolated from large follicles (15-18 mm), theca cells increased these levels to 253 +/- 34%, 156 +/- 24%, and 287 +/- 45%, respectively. Theca cells did not affect the growth of granulosa cells. Androstenedione production by theca cells was augmented by granulosa cells to 861 +/- 190% (in small follicles) and 1298 +/- 414% (in large follicles), respectively. The growth of theca cells was also augmented by granulosa cells (small follicle, 210 +/- 43%, and large follicle, 194 +/- 24%, respectively). These results indicate that theca cells secrete factor(s) inhibiting the differentiation of immature while promoting that of matured granulosa cells; they also suggest that granulosa cells secrete factor(s) promoting both the differentiation and growth of theca cells throughout the follicular maturation process.

To clarify the validity of the health habit index, we evaluated risk of death by health habit index in residents in Aichi Prefecture. Subjects were 7,662 residents aged 40-79 years living in a rural area of Aichi Prefecture who responded to a questionnaire in 1988, that included 12 health habit items on diet, physical activity, rest, mental health, smoking, drinking and regular health check. Data on death and migration in this cohort group was collected from 1990 to 1997. The risk ratios (RRs) of death for all causes, cancer and cardiovascular diseases were estimated by Cox's proportional hazard model. The number of all causes of death, cancer and cardiovascular diseases was 650, 240 and 197, respectively. Proper health habits of adequate but not over eating, regular physical activity, properly managing stress, non-smoking or smoking cessation for one year or more and regular health examinations in men and regular physical activity and non-smoking in women related to lower age-adjusted RR of death for all causes, while smoking cessation of less than one year in men with increased RR. Lower RR of cancer was observed for non-smoking men, and for women who occasionally have enough sleep. Proper health habits on adequate but not overeating, enjoying mealtime, regular physical activity, properly managing stress, moderate drinking (2 "go"/day) or occasional heavy drinking and regular health examinations related to lower RR of cardiovascular diseases in men, while regular physical activity related to lower RR in women. Multivariate analysis for the RR of death for all causes showed similar results, except higher RR in the men who avoided excess salt consumption, and decreased RR in the women who occasionally have enough sleep. In conclusion, the present study suggested that regular physical activity is associated with decreased risk from death for all causes, especially for cardiovascular diseases. Health habit index in the present study included various items with or without association to risk for death. It is important to apply this index to health promotion on the basis of its specific characteristic.

A residual ventricular septal defect as part of the tetralogy of Fallot (TOF) is often difficult to close when a long interval has elapsed after a radical operation or the position of the defect is problematic.When an accurate diagnosis and closure of a residual ventricular septal defect (VSD) were not obtainable through right atriotomy and right ventriculotomy, the ascending aorta was opened. The smooth surface of the left ventricular septum makes it possible to find the position of the defect, and close it accurately and safely.Three consecutive patients were operated upon using this method. They had undergone repair of tetralogy of Fallot anomalies 8 years, 26 years, and 21 years prior to this surgery, respectively. All patients survived the operation and were discharged from the hospital. None of the patients had residual defects, aortic regurgitation, or new atrioventricular block.This transaortic approach for closing residual ventricular septal defects related to the tetralogy of Fallot offers an alternate method when either the right atrial or right ventricular approach cannot be performed successfully. This approach may make it possible to close such defects directly.

A community-based survey of 12,630 residents of Gunma Prefecture aged 40 to 69 years was conducted to investigate the relationship between the habit of regular exercise and life style, social network, and subjective physical and mental symptoms in particular. The subjective physical and mental symptoms were measured using the Todai Health Index (THI). The response rate was 91.6%. A total of 6,736 responses were analyzed after excluding respondents with chronic diseases from the analysis. On the question about the habit of regular exercise ("Do you exercise regularly?"), the responses were divided into three categories: 1. Often, 2. Sometimes, 3. Hardly ever or Never.The results are summarized as follows: 1. The proportions of residents who exercise "often" were 14.2% and 11.1% for males and females, respectively, while those of "hardly ever or never" were 52.3% and 59.4% for males and females, respectively. More males than females had the habit of regular exercise. Respondents were divided into three age categories: 40-49, 50-59 and 60-69 years. Among the female respondents, it was shown that the older the age category the greater the habit of regular exercise. 2. Both male and female respondents who had regular exercise habits scored significantly lower on the THI scales for vague complaints, depression, and irregularity of life, while they scored higher on the aggression and lie (social desirability) scales. 3. Both male and female respondents who had regular exercise habits also tended to have be better perceived health and social networking, i.e. having close friends, having a hobby and involvement in community social activities, as well as taking care of pets. This group also had a higher average education level and less of a smoking habit. This study suggests that regular exercise habit correlates not only with physical health and fitness levels but with mental health status as well.

This study surveyed the sexual behaviour of commercial sex workers and their clients in an attempt to identify factors of transmission of STDs (including HIV/AIDS) and to control their epidemics in Cambodia and South-East Asia.Cross-sectional study.Trained questioners asked items of the questionnaires to each objective subject in December 1996. Data were analysed to show the descriptive status by risk group of each person.200 direct commercial sex workers, 220 indirect commercial sex workers, and 211 clients in Phnom Penh.Prostitution was widely accepted by both young males and females, and this was an easy way for young girls to obtain money. Although commercial sex workers and clients were knowledgeable about prevention methods against STDs, they seldom used condoms. Some commercial sex workers had been infected with STDs many times, and many of them incompletely treated the diseases by themselves. Social support from governmental and non-governmental organisation was poor.It is very important to support both commercial sex workers in practicing preventive methods against STDs and also visiting physicians when they notice symptoms of STDs. It is strongly recommended that not only governmental but also non-governmental organisations should be more active in this area.

To describe epidemiological features of HIV prevalence among female commercial sex workers (CSWs) in Cambodia, a cross-sectional study using a questionnaire study and serological tests was carried out from December 1997 to January 1998. We report the main results of the analyses of serological tests in this article.Two hundred ninety six CSWs working in Sisophon and Poi Pet, located in northwest Cambodia, Bantey Mean Chey province, were recruited for interview based on a questionnaire on sexual behavior, and serological tests. The blood samples were examined for HIV antibody, Chlamydia trachomatis IgG antibody, TPHA, Hepatitis B surface antigen, and Hepatitis B surface antibody. The relationship between HIV and the other STD's was analyzed by using logistic regression analysis.The HIV seroprevalence rate was 43.9% (130 out of 296). The seropositive rate of Chlamydia trachomatis IgG antibody (C.T.-IgG-Ab) was 73.3% (217 out of 296). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant association between C.T.-IgG-Ab positive and HIV prevalence. (Odds Ratio: 5.33; 95% Confidence Interval, 2.82-10.07).This study suggests that the existence of Chlamydia trachomatis is closely related with HIV prevalence among CSWs in Cambodia. Other STDs may also increase susceptibility to male-to-female sexual transmission of HIV. This suggests that appropriate prevention against STDs will be needed for the control of HIV prevalence in Cambodia.

In this paper, an analytical method of an orthogonal-core type parametric induction motor is proposed, based on a reluctance network model of the stator. The model is derived by a similar technique applied to an orthogonal-core transformer. Using this model the parametric oscillation characteristic of the motor, without a rotor, is computed. The simulation results agree well with the experiments. It is obvious that the analytical model of the stator presented here is proper for analysis of the motor and that, by use of this model and a suitable analytical model of the rotor, the motor characteristics can be analyzed.

A population-based follow-up study on the relationships between various environmental factors and risks of lung cancer has been conducted in Nagoya, Japan involving 24,489 inhabitants aged 40 or older. The baseline survey was conducted in 1985, using a self-recorded questionnaire. From a 10 year follow-up study, 161 cases with a newly diagnosed lung cancer (120 male cases and 41 female cases) were identified. Various environmental factors were related to the subsequent risk of lung cancer incidence. Causal relationship between smoking and lung cancer was noticed for current male smokers (RR = 5.72; 95% CI = 2.50-13.08) and for current female smokers (RR = 2.05%; 95% CI = 0.97-4.32). However, relative risks for other environmental factors were not statistically significant except increased risk for frequent coffee drinking in males (aRR = 2.02; 95% CI = 1.34-3.05) and decreased risk for frequent intake of green/yellow vegetables in females (aRR = 0.47; 95% CI = 0.23-0.94).

We studied effects of a novel alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonist, YNS-15P (N-[(2R,11bS)-9-methoxy-1,3,4,6,7, 11b-hexahydro-2H-benzoquinolizin-2-yl]-N-methylmethanesulfonami de hydrochloride), on colonic propulsion stimulated by wrap-restraint stress (WRS) or bethanechol, on normal colonic propulsion and on diarrhea induced by castor oil in rats. Alpha-2 adrenoceptor antagonists, rauwolscine and RX821002, decreased the increase in the number and weight of fecal pellets induced by WRS. YNS-15P also inhibited WRS-stimulated fecal excretion in a dose-dependent manner. A 5-hydroxytryptamine3 receptor antagonist, granisetron, trimebutine and diazepam, but not a 5-hydroxytryptamine4 receptor antagonist, GR113808, significantly inhibited WRS-stimulated fecal excretion. YNS-15P inhibited WRS-stimulated colonic transit in a dose-dependent manner. However, YNS-15P had no significant effect on normal fecal excretion and colonic transit or on bethanechol-stimulated fecal excretion. YNS-15P also failed to inhibit castor-oil-induced diarrhea. These results indicate that YNS-15P selectively inhibits WRS-stimulated colonic propulsion, and that alpha-2 adrenoceptors may be involved in stress-induced colonic motor dysfunction in fed rats.

Cardiac rupture due to blunt trauma is usually fatal. We recently cared for a patient of atrial rupture without hemopericardium after MVA (Motor Vehicle Accident) which was successfully repaired, and this experience prompted this report.

We studied the validity of assessment of activities of daily living (ADL) by minsei-iins of the bed ridden elderly cared for at home. The cases, 66 male and 128 female elderly in a county of Gunma Prefecture, had been registered by minsei-iins (non-professional district welfare commissioners) as bed ridden cared for at home. Minsei-iins interviewed the case and the caregiver at home, asking them about the term of care, the levels of independence in their daily living, and seven items of ADL. Out of the 194 cases registered, PTs or OTs interviewed 136 cases, 42 male and 94 female, and calculated the Barthel index score. The Quantification method of the first type was applied to the data to predict the Barthel index score. The independent variables were five items of ADL assessed by the minsei-iins. The relation was close between the assessment of all items of ADL by the minsei-iins and the Barthel index calculated by the PTs or OTs. The Quantification method of the first type revealed that bathing, excreting and walking contributed most to the measured Barthel index. The multiple correlation coefficient was 0.687. There were three cases who scored 100 in the Barthel index.

To estimate the prevalence rate of human T-cell lymphotropic virus type 1 (HTLV-I) uveitis, an epidemiological survey was carried out in the Chikugo District of Fukuoka Prefecture between 1 September and 31 October 1995. The survey was done by sending questionnaires on uveitis patients to all ophthalmological institutes in the district and measuring the serum antibody to HTLV-I. The recovery rate of the survey was 39 of 48 institutes (81.3%). A total of 357 patients with uveitis were reported in the survey, of whom 317 (88.8%) were tested for their seropositivity to HTLV-I. Among them, 18 patients were counted as having HTLV-I uveitis (HU) on 1 October 1995. Based on these data together with the age- and sex-specific population of HTLV-I carriers in the Chikugo District, it was estimated that the crude prevalence rates of HU per 100,000 HTLV-I carrier population were 58.6 in males, 152.0 in females, and 112.2 in both sexes. The prevalence rate of HU was slightly higher than that of HTLV-I associated myelopathy.

Okinawa, a group of islands that lie between the East China Sea and the Pacific Ocean, 2000 km south of the Japanese main islands, has a different profile of diseases, ethnicities, and cultures than does the rest of Japan. We examined an Ile462Val polymorphism (CYP1A1*2 allele) of cytochrome P450 IA1 in a hospital-based case-control study of lung cancer patients (247 cases and 185 controls) in Okinawa to ascertain the association of this variant with lung cancer. In addition, the distribution of this genotype was studied in populations from different areas of Japan, including Tokyo (n = 69) and Iwate (northern part of Japan; n = 81), as well as in a Chinese group from the Jiangsu province (n = 39) and in an Australian Caucasian group (n = 146). Genotype frequency in controls was not significantly different from area to area in Japan. In Okinawa, however, the genotype encoding Val/Val was associated with a significantly higher risk of lung cancer (odds ratio = 3.32, P = 0.013), especially of squamous cell carcinoma and small cell carcinoma (odds ratio = 4.85 and 9.35, respectively). The Val-encoding allele was less frequent in the Chinese population and was rare in Australian Caucasians. Thus, this study gives support to the value of the cytochrome P450 IA1 Ile462Val polymorphism as a practical high-risk marker of lung cancer in populations, especially those in southeast Asia, in which this variant is more common.

The purpose of this study was to examine the hypothesis that tea and coffee consumption have a protective effect against development of digestive tract cancers.A comparative case-referent study was conducted using Hospital-based Epidemiologic Research Program at Aichi Cancer Center (HERPACC) data from 1990 to 1995 in Nagoya, Japan. This study comprised 1,706 histologically diagnosed cases of digestive tract cancers (185 esophagus, 893 stomach, 362 colon, 266 rectum) and a total of 21,128 non-cancer outpatients aged 40 years and over. Logistic regression was used to analyze the data, adjusting for gender; age; year and season at hospital-visit; habitual smoking and alcohol drinking; regular physical exercise; fruit, rice, and beef intake; and beverage intake.The odds ratio (OR) of stomach cancer decreased to 0.69 (95 percent confidence interval [CI] = 0.48-1.00) with high intake of green tea (seven cups or more per day). A decreased risk was also observed for rectal cancer with three cups or more daily intake of coffee (OR = 0.46, CI = 0.26-0.81).The results suggest the potential for protective effect against site-specific digestive tract cancer by consumption of green tea and coffee, although most associations are limited only to the upper category of intake and have no clear explanation for site-specificity.