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Optimization of InGaAs/InAlAs multiple quantum well modulator structures, as well as polarization insensitivity and low chirp was investigated as a function of well thickness and strain magnitude and very short optical pulses with 4-6 ps was obtained using a low driving-voltage (2.0 V/sub pp/) electroabsorption modulator module operating at a 40-GHz large signal modulation.

Heterostructure multilayer thin films of electroactive polymers such as protonated poly(p-pyridyl vinylene), PHPy V, and sulfonated polyaniline, SPAn, have been successfully fabricated via a process based on the spontaneous self-assembly of conjugated poly-ions on to a substrate. The heterostructure thin films formed from these different polymers exhibited a perfectly linear relationship between the absorbance and the number of SPAn/PHPy V bilayers deposited. A greenish-yellow electroluminescent (EL) diode utilizing SPAn/PHPy V multilayer thin films has been demonstrated and the EL properties of this device are discussed. These results can be interpreted in terms of the confinement effect of carriers in the superlattice structure consisting of the SPAn/PHPy V multilayer system.

We have succeeded in reducing the insertion loss by using thin strain-compensated InGaAs-InAlAs multiple quantum wells (MQWs) and semi-insulating InP burying layers. The resultant modulator modules are also noteworthy for their polarization insensitivity and low chirp. In this paper we explain the use of thin and narrow MQW layers to obtain both low insertion loss and high speed operation. We believe this is the first report of a 14-GHz modulator module with an insertion loss from fiber-to-fiber

A new technique has previously been proposed by the authors to prepare a composite of conducting and insulating polymers by mixing insulating polymers with conducting polymer coated insulating polymer species, whose shape and size can be controlled. The electrical conductivity of the mixtures made by this method range from the insulator to the metallic region depending on the concentration of conducting polymer coated insulating polymer species. In the present paper, the conduction and dielectric properties of the composite are studied at concentrations near the percolation threshold.

An RF (3-heptafluoropropyle) thiophene oligomer and a TCNQ complex with different molar ratios of the donor and acceptor were prepared as conductive materials by the Langmuir-Blodgett (LB) technique. A method utilizing ion beam irradiation for improving the quality and stability of the LB films was also proposed.

It is demonstrated that various types of novel polymers exhibiting not only insulating but also conducting and even superconducting characteristics can be prepared by appropriate molecular design. It is also indicated that the development of new synthetic methods and preparation techniques and completely new aspects appear even in the known traditional polymers. In the future, the author is convinced that polymeric materials will become much more important in electrical machines and cables.

The layer-by-layer self-assembly of charged polymers has recently emerged as a versatile means of processing conjugated polymers into ultra thin films with an unprecedented control over thickness and molecular architecture. To date, this method has been successfully utilized to manipulate conjugated and nonconjugated polyions, etc. Multilayer heterostructures have been designed and fabricated from various combinations of these materials to study properties unique to the specific supramolecular organizations created. In this paper, layer-by-layer self-assembly was used to fabricate extremely thin films of conducting polymers such as sulfonated polyaniline (SPAn) and poly(p-phenylene vinylene) (PPV). Finally, the fabrication of thin film light-emitting diodes based on self-assembled PPV active layers is described.

We studied photoinduced changes in electrical and optical properties of two photochromic dye-doped conducting polymer systems which are composed of conducting polymers, poly(3-alkylthiophene)s (PAT-12 and PAT-18) and photochromic dyes of a diarylethene derivative (CMTE) and a spiropyran derivative (MINS). The CMTE-doped PAT-18 system showed unique photoisomerization-induced changes in the properties in the photo-excited states, while the MINS-doped PAT-12 system indicated a photoinduced change in the dark conductivity. The origins of these phenomena can be explained tentatively on the basis of photoisomerization-induced changes in probability of photoinduced charge and energy transfers and photoisomerization-induced change in the scattering efficiency for the charge carriers.

In this paper, the impulse trees in the polymeric insulator polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) have been measured three-dimensionally utilizing a CT (computed tomography) method. Successive impulses were applied at the needle electrode. The figure of the tree was restructured in each step, and the generalized dimensions and the global spectrum were calculated for positive and negative impulses.

Syndiotactic polypropylene prepared by new polymerization technology has been found to be soft and clear and exhibits completely different characteristics compared with conventional isotactic polypropylene so far mostly studied. Relationship between properties and structure in polypropylene has been discussed. Electrical properties of this new type of syndiotactic polypropylene have also been studied and discussed in terms of morphology of the film which depends on preparation condition.

Novel applications of microbubble migration controlled by microheaters are proposed and demonstrated. One is a liquid-film-type motor/conveyer. Vapor or gas bubbles in the cavities on rotor are driven based on Marangoni effect caused by the microheaters on stator. The other is a "valve-less" valve, which is made of in-line microheaters at an intersection of microchannels, where a microbubble moves according to the thermocapillary force and shuts-off liquid flow due to its surface hardness with no mechanical part. With the developments of these new devices, the mechanisms of heat transfer and fluid motion around the microbubble are discussed.

The final goal is to develop an algorithm of satellite remote sensing for classification of specific vegetation patterns in wetland using balloon photograph interpretation and aerial Near Infrared (NIR) color video images. We focused on the following definite objectives. (1) Making vegetation maps by mosaic balloon photos with high resolution and discussing about the efficiency for the classification of wetland vegetation in Kushiro wetland, located in the eastern part of Hokkaido, Japan , (2) Investigation on applicability of the balloon mosaic photos as the training data for classification of aerial NIR color video images with low resolution, (3) Classification of wetland vegetation using aerial visible and NIR color video images taken from nadir angle and 45 degree zenith angle. We extracted training data for classification of wetland vegetation on NIR color video sequence image from aerial balloon photographs taken by two captive balloons at low altitude and we got higher accuracy classification: two vegetation types in low-moor, three types in transition-moor, and five types in high-moor. NIR color video sequence image is one of the most promising tools for wetland monitoring because it has fine resolution and NIR band that is sensitive to vegetation. In consequence of this research, it concluded that availability of the high resolution training data such as balloon mosaic photos were useful to classify NIR color video images or wetland vegetation in wide range.

Mossbauer study of xNa2O·5Fe2O3·(95−x)(B2O3·SiO2) glasses (x=5–40) was carried out in order to evaluate the chemical bond strength of Fe-O-B and Fe-O-Si bonds in sodium borosilicate glasses having different numbers of nonbridging oxygen (NBO). From the isomer shift values (0.22–0.36 mm/s) obtained for Fe(III) at 300K, we can deduce that Fe(III) atoms occupy substitutional sites of B(III) and Si(IV) and play a role of network former. A marked decrease of isomer shift is observed with an increase in the Na2O content when x>10. This result indicates a formation of NBO in B(III)O4 and Si(IV)O4 units. From the temperature dependence of the absorption area for Fe(III), Debye Temperature (θ D) of 280 K was estimated for 35Na2O·5Fe2O3·60(B2O3·SiO2) glass having NBO, while that of 5Na2O·5Fe2O3·90(B2O3·SiO2) glass was 380 K since it has no NBO. It was found that the composition-dependent decrease of θ D in borosilicate glasses, caused by the formation of NBO, is larger than that observed in borate glasses.

It is well known that Fe3+ ions in alkali iron phosphate glasses are in the octahedral site and play a role as the NWM(network modifier) from the isomer shift (I.S.) and the quadrupole splitting (Q.S.) at room temperature. Recently, Day et al. reported that the addition of A12O3 or Fe2O3 to a sodium phosphate glass yields the glass with considerably good chemical durability and suggested that Al3+ and Fe3+ ions constitute octahedra to be combined with PO4-chain or tetrahedra to be substituted for P5+ ions in phosphate glasses. On the other hand, using the criterion for the Debye temperature of Fe3+ ions in glasses proposed by Nishida, we can examine whether they are present in the NWM or in the NWF (network former). In this paper, Mossbauer spectroscopic study of [xFe2O3 · (40-x)Na2O· 60P2O5 (x=5,20,30)] was performed in the range of 6K to 300K. It was confirmed that both ions are in the octahedral site from I.S. and Q.S. values of Fe3+ ions. Their Debye temperature were determined to be about 350K at x=5,20,30. It was concluded that although Fe3+ ions in the sodium iron phosphate glass are present in the NWM, they are strongly combined with oxygen and act as NWF.

The precise current sensor described consists of a detecting element of the magnetic field produced by the measuring current, a compensator, and a feedback coil. The alternating excitation current flows with a frequency of 250 kHz through the amorphous wire that is a part of the detecting element. The excitation current causes a rotating field in the amorphous wire in the circular direction. The second harmonic voltage e/sub 2f/ occurs in the sense coil wound around the wire. The measuring current, which is at right angles to the wire, affects the rotating field, so that the e/sub 2f/ induced in the sense coil varies. The compensator consists of high-gain operational amplifiers. The sensor's components are described in detail, and the results of tests on the sensor are presented. >

A novel ribosomal S6 kinase, termed p70 S6 kinase beta (p70beta), has a highly homologous amino acid sequence to that of p70/p85 S6 kinase (p70alpha). This includes the critical phosphorylation sites, Thr252, Ser394 and Thr412 in p70alpha1, which correspond to Thr241, Ser383 and Thr401 in p70beta1, respectively. However, the regulatory mechanism for p70beta remains to be elucidated.We report here the expression and the mechanism of in vivo regulation of p70beta. Two isoforms, p70beta1 and p70beta2, were expressed in a variety of tissues at a different level. p70beta1 was mainly targeted to the nucleus, whereas p70beta2 dispersed throughout the cytoplasm including nucleoplasm. The kinase activity of p70beta1 was less sensitive to the inhibition induced by rapamycin, wortmannin and amino acid withdrawal than that of p70alpha. The portion of p70beta activity inhibited by rapamycin was rescued by the rapamycin-resistant mutant of the mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR). Mutational analysis revealed that the phosphorylation of Thr241 and Thr401 in p70beta1 was indispensable for the kinase activity. In contrast, a p70beta1 mutant in which Ser383 was substituted with Gly (S383G) still retained nearly the half maximal activity. Sequential phosphorylation of wild-type and S383G mutant of p70beta1 with mTOR and 3-phosphoinositide-dependent protein kinase 1 (PDK1) in vitro synergistically activated their kinase activities.These results indicate that p70beta is regulated by the mTOR- and PDK1-signalling pathways through a synergistic interaction between phosphorylated Thr241 and Thr401, while Ser383 plays minor role in their activation mechanism. Activated p70beta may be less sensitive to dephosphorylation mediated by putative phosphatases activated by rapamycin, amino acid withdrawal, and probably wortmannin.

Reconstruction of the cervical esophagus using cutaneous or musculocutaneous flaps is described. The delto-pectoral cutaneous flap, latissimus dorsi or pectoris major musculocutaneous flap, free forearm cutaneous flap, and free rectus abdominis musculocutaneous flap are generally used for reconstruction of the cervical esophagus. Although free jejunal transfer with microsurgery is now common for reconstruction of the cervical esophagus, cutaneous or musculocutaneous flaps remain useful in high-risk patients or patients in whom free jejunal transfer or gastrointestinal reconstruction would prove incompetency due to a history of abdominal surgery or other reasons. Cutaneous or musculocutaneous flaps are also used in patients with failure of free jejunal transfer or incurable fistula after reconstruction using the stomach or colon for thoracic esophageal cancer.

The Japan Surgical Society (JSS) should investigate mainly general surgery, surgical education, and political approach. The Specialized surgery, which has also been studied by the JSS, should be fully evaluated in various subspecialty surgical societies, i.e. gastrointestinal, respiratory, circulatory, pediatric, and others. This is reasonable, since the board of each subspecialty has the same basic requirements as the board of the JSS and this is how the JSS and other surgical subspecialty societies can coexist. In addition, the JSS must make efforts to improve surgeons' lives overall by means of effective politics and to motivate medical students to become surgeons to prevent a scarcity, which will also contribute to the welfare of the public.

We present a case with brain abscess associated with entrapment of the lateral ventricle appearing more like remarkable brain edema in the temporo-occipital lobe than ventricular dilatation. A 72-year-old man suffering from headache and vomiting visited our clinic. CT and MRI showed brain abscess in the right parieto-occipital lobe, associated with ventriculitis. Lumbar puncture also revealed purulent meningitis. Both symptoms and CSF findings improved after administration of antibiotics. The improved condition continued for two months after admission, but disturbed consciousness and left hemiparesis than appeared. MRI and CT showed entrapment of the lateral ventricle and brain edema of the right temporo-occipital region without ventricular dilatation. Because brain edema was thought to be caused by transudate of the CSF through the ventricular wall, lobectomy of the right temporal lobe and opening of the temporal horn were carried out. Although left hemiparesis and disturbed consciousness and brain edema disappeared after the operation, subdural effusion appeared. Using a subdural-peritoneal shunt, the subdural effusion was prevented and disappeared. In this case, we thought Hounsfield Unit (HU) of the brain edema caused by transudate of CSF through the ventricular wall (12.6) was markedly lower than that of so-called vasogenic edema (25.1) due to active inflammation. Measurement of the HU seemed to be a useful means to differentiate the types of brain edema in this situation from that of vasogenic edema caused by brain abscess, and thus a means for selection of the appropriate treatment.

The successful surgical treatment of gastric cancer in 1881 was a breakthrough not only in gastric but also in digestive surgery. By the beginning of the 20th century, the modalities of gastric surgery had almost reached the present level. At that time, the successful resection rate was 20% and mortality rate 50% in patients undergoing gastrectomy for cancer. During the 30 years after World War II, the extent of gastric resection increased, lymphadenectomy was introduced, and the number of concomitant resections of organs in addition to the stomach also increased. Since the 1980s, modified surgery has been performed in patients with early-stage gastric cancer. Based on data collected by the Japanese Research Society for Gastric Cancer, the current resection rate is 91.3%, mortality rate 1.0%, and 5-year survival rate 71.6% in patients with gastric cancer.

Analgesic efficacy of repeated application of a lidocaine cream formula was investigated in herpes zoster patients with subacute pain with no further improvement after continued treatment since their acute stage (S-HZ group, n = 23), and in patients to whom past treatments had not provided adequate pain relief (PHN group, n = 28). In both groups, visual analog scale (VAS) values decreased significantly from their corresponding values before the present treatment with few cases of side effects and complete disappearances of the pain in 21.6% of all the patients. The results indicate that the repeated application of the lidocaine cream is a safe and effective treatment method. Significantly higher effectiveness was achieved in the S-HZ group in terms of the difference in the VAS values between before and after the treatment, effectiveness in improving the activities of daily life, and overall efficacy evaluation.

The temperature dependences of the surface polarization have been measured at the interface of a conductive glass with both the homogeneously and homeotropically oriented nematic liquid crystal p-methoxybenzylidene-p(')-butylaniline. The polarization was found in the field-off regime from the pyroelectric response of a cell to a short laser pulse, absorbed in the bulk of the liquid crystal. The temperature increment was calculated from the measurements of the birefringence induced by the same light pulse. It has been shown that the surface polarization at the homeotropic (m(h)) and planar (m(p)) interfaces is directed from an interface into the bulk and from the bulk to an interface, respectively (with a magnitude m(h) approximately -0.3 pC/m and m(p) approximately +0.2 pC/m at 25 degrees C). The experimental data may be explained in terms of the quadrupole model of the order-electric polarization with account of some additional contribution from molecular dipoles. The same technique also allows for the measurements of the z component of the flexoelectric polarization using a pyroelectric response of a hybrid (homeoplanar) aligned nematic cell and proper subtracting of the surface contributions. The flexoelectric polarization has been shown to be opposite to the sum of the surface terms m(h)+m(p) and directed from the planar to homeotropic interface. This means that the sum of the flexoelectric coefficients e=(e(1)+e(3)) is positive (e congruent with 1.7 pC/m at 28 degrees C). The temperature dependence of e has been shown to involve a combination of both the quadrupolar and dipolar contributions.

SecB is a bacterial molecular chaperone involved in mediating translocation of newly synthesized polypeptides across the cytoplasmic membrane of bacteria. The crystal structure of SecB from Haemophilus influenzae shows that the molecule is a tetramer organized as a dimer of dimers. Two long channels run along the side of the molecule. These are bounded by flexible loops and lined with conserved hydrophobic amino acids, which define a suitable environment for binding non-native polypeptides. The structure also reveals an acidic region on the top surface of the molecule, several residues of which have been implicated in binding to SecA, its downstream target.

The mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) belongs to the family of phosphoinositide (PI)-kinase-related kinases that includes the ataxia-telangiectasia gene product (ATM). mTOR plays a critical role in controlling translational effectors such as p70 S6 kinase alpha (p70 alpha) and eukaryotic initiation factor 4E binding protein 1 (4EBP1).We show that the C-terminal region of mTOR, which is highly conserved among the PI-kinase-related kinases, plays a critical role in the mTOR protein kinase activity. Deletion of the C-terminal residues did not adversely affect the expression of mTOR, but caused a nearly complete loss of the mTOR protein kinase activity toward both 4EBP1 and p70 alpha in vitro. These deletions also abolished the ability of a rapamycin-resistant mTOR mutant to rescue the activity of p70 alpha from inhibition induced by rapamycin in vivo. Furthermore, replacement of Trp2545, a conserved residue in the C-terminal region throughout the PI-kinase-related kinase family, abolished the function of the mTOR kinase, both in vivo and in vitro. However, substitution of 32 C-terminal residues of mTOR with those of ATM did not restore the mTOR function.These findings define an indispensable role for the noncatalytic C-terminal region of mTOR and indicate that, although this highly conserved region may be important throughout the PI-kinase-related kinase family, it is not functionally interchangeable within the family.

Recently, the first choice of therapy for cavernous dural arteriovenous shunts (CdAVS) is transvenous embolization. Usually the approach routes for cavernous sinus are the inferior petrosal sinus (IPS), the superior ophthalmic vein (SOV) in most cases and the superior petrosal sinus (SPS) in rare case. But, it is difficult for us to treat patients in whom there are no extracranial veins through which to approach the cavernous sinus, with transvenous embolization. We presented the case in which intracranial transvenous approach to the cavernous sinus and transvenous embolization were performed and in which we achieve good results. In this article, we presented a case with Barrow's type D CdAVS and cortical venous drainage. At first, transarterial embolization was performed to decrease the amount of venous drainage for the purpose of eliminate convulsions and consciousness disturbance. However, cortical venous drainage continued. Moreover bilateral dilated SOVs normalized and bilateral IPSs were not visible, so we decided that it was impossible to carry out the transvenous embolization via extracranial veins. Transvenous embolization to the left cavernous sinus via the intracranial ophthalmic vein between the superior ophthalmic fissure and the inferior ophthalmic fissure after craniotomy was performed. Then, the transvenous embolization to the right cavernous sinus was carried out through the right superficial middle cerebral vein after craniotomy. The results were good and chemosis and bilateral abducens palsy diminished immediately. Trans-intracranial venous embolization for CdVAS is a very useful therapy when no extracranial veins exist for transvenous embolization.

Mismatches in the treatment of gastric cancer to date in Japan are as follows: 1. Difference in the definitive pathological diagnosis even among well-known, experienced pathologists. The case of a patient who was successfully treated by the authors is reported in this paper. 2. The insufficient number of medical oncologists for gastric cancer. 3. The administration of adjuvant chemotherapy after surgery without obvious evidence that it is needed. 4. Inadequate preventive measures, i.e. refrainment from smoking and eradication of Helicobacter pylori. 5. The application of standard surgery, which is designed basically to treat advanced gastric cancer with serosal and nodal involvement, in cases of early gastric cancer. These mismatches have been corrected recently by the adoption of modified surgery and an endoscopic approach to the early gastric cancer. These modifications could be attained through our pioneering effort to find a balance between the two contradictory approaches of radical treatment and preservation of organic function, which are often irreconcilable in cancer treatment in general, after the accumulation of sufficient data on early gastric cancer in a Japanese nationwide study.

The developing metanephric kidney is a convenient model to study molecular events associated with epithelial cell differentiation. To determine the genes involved in the defining event of this process, namely, the conversion of metanephric mesenchyme to the epithelium of the nephron, we applied differential display (DD) techniques. Explants of rat metanephric mesenchymes were induced to condense ex vivo with fibroblast growth factor 2 (FGF2) or to form tubules with FGF2 and conditioned medium (CM) from a cell line (RUB1) of ureteric bud, the renal inductive tissue. Three time points (6, 24, and 72 h) were chosen to track the dynamics of gene expression during morphogenesis. Seventy-two up- or down-regulated mRNAs were identified, including 36 novel sequences and those of cell cycle regulatory proteins (TGF-beta2, Cyclin D1, p57Kip2), transcription factors (beta-catenin, Sox11, DP1), signaling proteins (SH3-domain binding protein, G-protein-coupled receptor, Ser-Thr protein kinase), cell adhesion molecules (syndecan-4, integrin-beta1), and also gene33, H19, SM20, IGFBP5, MAMA receptor, lectin, keratin, beta-tubulin, calreticulin, GRP78, ERp72, MnSoD, thioredoxin, and others. Some have previously been associated with kidney development and serve as good controls for expected changes, while most have not been linked with kidney epithelial cell differentiation. Using thin sections of embryonic kidney and labeled antisense RNA probes, we applied RNA hybridization to confirm the results of DD and related the expression of these genes to specific cell lineages of the developing kidney. These results provide a window into the events that mediate this critical differentiation process and suggest that a limited number of interrelated events direct the epithelial conversion of metanephric mesenchyme. genesis 27:22-31, 2000. Published 2000 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

We identified a novel family of proteins that have a VHS domain and an AGEH (adaptor gamma ear homology) domain that is homologous to the ear domain of the gamma-adaptin subunit of the AP-1 clathrin adaptor. When overexpressed, the proteins, called GGA1, GGA2, and GGA3, localized to the trans-Golgi network (TGN) and often caused fragmentation and vacuolation of the compartment. Yeast two-hybrid analysis showed that the AGEH domains of the GGA proteins as well as those of gamma-adaptins are able to interact with gamma-synergin, which was previously shown to localized in the TGN region and interact with gamma-adaptin. Furthermore, gamma-synergin and either of the GGA proteins coexpressed were colocalized in the TGN region. These results suggest that the GGA proteins regulate the function of the TGN or membrane trafficking from this compartment and that the AGEH domains of GGAs and gamma-adaptins, like the ear domain of alpha-adaptin, are involved in interaction with molecules that modulate their functions.

This interim report, for findings as of May, 1998, covers data on 435 gastrectomized patients with semi-advanced stomach cancer collected from 144 institutions between November, 1993 and March, 1996. The active arm of the study involved CDDP i.p. administration of 70 mg/m2 at the time of resective surgery, followed by UFT oral administration for one year at 3-4 capsules daily. A randomized control involved no adjuvant therapy after CDDP i.p. administered as in the active arm. The results obtained indicated no significant difference between the groups in terms of 3 year survival or disease free survival rates. Reports appearing elsewhere have suggested that 3-4 capsules/day of UFT may be insufficient to reach the threshold of the effective tissue level, and that 6 capsules may be necessary to obtain the expected results. (JFMTC: Japanese Foundation of Multidisciplinary Treatment for Cancer).

Theory and experiment are being used together to explore spectra from sodium and xenon gas mixtures similar to those used in high pressure lamps. Results from high precision measurements of the absorption coefficients over the wavelength range from 425 to 760 nm are presented with 0.02 nm spectral resolution. Measurements of the sodium density with ±5 percent uncertainty complement the absorption coefficient measurements. The experimental data are compared to quantum-mechanical spectral calculations that utilize recent cold collision and other data. The spectra are sensitive to the interatomic potentials, especially in the far wings in which molecular features such as vibrational-rotational and satellite structures are exhibited. The particular results for Na-Xe are analyzed in detail.

The great interest in buckminsterfullerene C60 was accelerated by the discovery of superconductivity in alkali metal doped C60 crystals [1–2]. One of the most amazing features of this fascinating molecule is its ability to provide both of the cooperative phenomena: superconductivity and ferromagnetism [3–6] in its solid state complexes.

In nicotine replacement therapy, relapse remains a major problem (Fiore et al., 1992; The Smoking Cessation Clinical Practice Guideline Panel and Staff, 1996). There are two critical difficulties in medium-term cessation: one is relapse just after stopping smoking and beginning nicotine replacement therapy and the other is relapse weeks or months later. Some people undergo persistent stress due to lack of nicotine, even on nicotine replacement therapy (Ashton & Stepney, 1982; Hatsukami et al., 1993). In order to decrease the stress, we propose that the optimal nicotine concentration be maintained during the early stage of therapy for some patients, in order to prevent relapse. In the study reported here, we investigated the concentrations of cotinine in plasma in patients who had and had not relapsed.

An investigation of epitaxial-layer structures has yielded narrow ridge waveguide structure lasers capable of coupling high optical power into single-mode fiber (SMF). An optical power of well over 60 mW in SMF was obtained for a 2- mu m-wide ridge waveguide laser with a guided separate-confinement-heterostructure (SCH) epitaxial structure. Calculated results indicate that the stringent limit imposed on 0.98- mu m wavelength detuning is relaxed for such high optical power coupled into a SMF. The 0.98- mu m strained-quantum-well lasers thus show considerable promise as a practical low-noise pumping source for Er-doped optical-fiber amplifiers. >

Both Fas ligand (FasL) and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) are type II integral membrane proteins. Recently, we have reported that FasL is processed to a soluble form by an unknown metalloproteinase at the cell surface and some hydroxamate matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitors inhibit the processing similar to the case observed with TNF-1alpha. We studied the inhibitory effects of various hydroxamate MMP inhibitors on FasL and TNF-alpha processing in order to characterize the processing enzymes using human FasL cDNA transfectants and LPS-stimulated THP-1 cells. It turned out that (1) the P1' group of hydroxamates was very important for the selective inhibitory activity toward TNF-alpha and FasL processing, (2) P1' 3-phenylpropyl group was favorable for the inhibition of FasL processing, and (3) P1' isobutyl and isopropyl groups were favorable for that of TNF-alpha processing. These differences in sensitivity to inhibitors imply that (1) membrane-bound FasL and TNF-alpha might be processed by distinct metalloproteinases, (2) the S1' site of FasL processing enzyme differs from that of MMP-1 and MMP-9, but appears to be similar to that of MMP-3, and (3) the S1' site of TNF-alpha processing enzyme is smaller than that of FasL processing enzyme. These results would be helpful in designing a more selective inhibitor.

We have previously shown that A-NK cells when locoregionally administered accumulate within established cancer metastases and establish direct contact with both tumor cells and microvascular endothelial cells. Nevertheless, the accumulation of adoptively transferred A-NK cells into established cancer metastases is not sufficient for therapeutic efficacy in the B16 melanoma model. We have therefore attempted to enhance the anti-metastatic therapeutic efficacy of adoptively transferred A-NK cells with standard anticancer chemotherapeutic agents. We have found that chemoimmunotherapy with A-NK cells plus cyclophosphamide to be more effective than A-NK cell adoptive immunotherapy alone. We have now built on these findings, by examining the ability of novel biologic response modifiers (low molecular weight benzothiazole compounds) to augment adoptive immunotherapy with A-NK cells. Two compounds KB-R4107 (4-methoxy-2-(4-t-butylphenyl)benzothiazole) and KB-R4250 (4-methoxy-2-(4-trifluoromethylphenyl)benzothiazole) enhanced reduction of B16 melanoma pulmonary metastases mediated by A-NK cell adoptive immunotherapy. Both compounds were administered for 5 days prior to administration of A-NK cells at 100 mg/kg p.o. All experimental groups initially contained at least 7 animals and were examined for tumor burden on day 10. With B16 melanoma cells administered on day 0 and A-NK cells administered on Day 4, KB-R4107 and KB-R4250 yielded on average a 64% and 52% reduction in metastatic burden, respectively compared to an average 17% reduction using A-NK cells alone. In contrast these compounds did not diminish metastatic burden when administered alone. KB-R4107 and KB-R4250 are therefore low molecular weight, heterocyclic, biological response modifiers which can augment the anti-metastatic therapeutic effect of adoptively transferred A-NK cells.

This study aims at describing smoking behavior and cognition for smoking cessation among Japanese men after the diagnosis of cancer. Subjects were 144 patients with head and neck cancer (oral cavity, pharynx and larynx without requirement of total laryngectomy) and 104 patients with stomach cancer who were current or ex-smokers at time of diagnosis. A self-administered questionnaire was mailed at least 1.5 years alter diagnosis. Response was by mail and 72% (248/344) of completed questionnaires were returned. Among 164 patients who were smokers at the time of diagnosis, 59(36%) reported that they continued to smoke after the diagnosis of cancer. Stomach cancer patients (53%) had significantly higher (p0.01) continuance rate of smoking than head and neck cancer patients (24%), and patients in fifties (53%) had the highest continuance rate of smoking in the study participants. Among 105 patients who were abstinent, 83(79%) had stopped smoking within 6 months after the diagnosis of cancer. Interest in smoking cessation among the current smokers was high (83%), and they preferred a smoking cessation class with multiple participants to "person to person" counseling provided by health care practitioners.

Little is known about the developmental effects of high urinary diversion and bladder defunctionalization in infancy. Although clinical experience shows that a poorly functional bladder may result from urinary diversion in infancy, the mechanisms of change and specific bladder wall alterations have not been well characterized. We hypothesized that cyclic filling and emptying are necessary for normal bladder development. To investigate this important question we created a new animal model.We designed a new method of hemibladder urinary diversion in 3-week-old New Zealand white rabbits. After vertical midline bladder division half of the bladder was formed into a functional reservoir, which remained in continuity with the ipsilateral ureter and urethra. The other bladder half was defunctionalized and isolated from the urine flow by ureteral ligation. Diversion was created for 3, 7, 14 and 28 days. Urodynamic evaluation was done in the functionalized hemibladders and age matched normal rabbit bladders to test the validity of the functionalized hemibladder as an internal control. Functional and defunctionalized hemibladders as well as age matched, nonoperated normal rabbit bladders were weighed, sectioned and stained to demonstrate muscle and connective tissue components.In 22 of the 27 healthy rabbits (81%) good quality diverted and functional bladder specimens were obtained after diversion. Defunctionalized hemibladders grew more slowly than functionalized bladders and normal age matched control bladders. Histological staining of the bladder wall demonstrated increased connective tissue between the muscle bundles within the diverted specimens than in functional bladders.Our successful model of urinary diversion may be used to study the developmental and histological effects of urinary diversion in the young bladder. Bladder growth and histological appearance are altered when the stimulus of cyclic filling and emptying is removed. Further studies using this model are warranted to define fully bladder changes that result from diversion and investigate the mechanism of the observed changes.

Neuronal activities in the ventral part of the premotor cortex (PMv) and the primary motor cortex (MI) were analyzed during a visually guided jaw movement task. Based on the type of neuronal activity observed, when monkeys closed or opened their mouths in response to a visual stimulus, PMv neurons could be classified into three categories: (1) signal-related neurons, which transiently responded to visual stimuli, (2) movement-related neurons which were time-locked to jaw opening and/or jaw closing movements, and (3) set related neurons which exhibited gradually increasing activities while jaw position was maintained. However, all MI neurons exhibited movement-related activities and responded differently between the closing and opening dynamic phases. These results suggest that PMv neurons may be involved in motor preparation, initiation and control of jaw movements and task behavior based on visual information, and that MI neurons may be involved in controlling jaw movements, especially contraction of the masticatory muscles.

T-type reservoir sheets (anti-adhesion sheets developed to prevent adhesions + reservoir) were intraperitoneally implanted in 16 patients with unresectable gastric cancer and postoperatively used to suction off ascitic fluid, to prevent cancerous adhesions of the intestines, and to intraperitoneally infuse anticancer drugs with a view to improving QOL and prolonging survival time. The results showed that whereas all of the patients had been class V according to intraoperative cytodiagnosis, postoperatively they were all class I-II and their ascites had either completely or temporarily resolved. Performance status (PS) improved in 14 patients (87.5%), and 14 patients (87.5%) were discharged. According to the Cancer Body Cavity Efficacy Rating Criteria (Japan Society for Cancer Therapy), CR was achieved in 10 cases, PR in 3 cases, NR in 3 cases, and the mean home care rate was 45.4%. Mean survival time to date, February 1997, is 7.8 months, two patients are alive, and the longest survival time has been 22 months. This method facilitates suctioning of ascitic fluid. It prevents irregular adhesions of the intestine, and protects against the development of ileus. It enables repeated intraperitoneal administration of high concentrations of anticancer drugs, uniformly, extensively, safely and easily. It facilitates intraperitoneal cytodiagnosis, ascitic fluid sampling, and monitoring of the efficacy of anticancer agents. The special features of this method are the high percentage of patients residing at home and the ability to administer intraperitoneal infusions of anticancer agents continually and repeatedly on an outpatient basis.

The fragile histidine triad (FHIT) tumor suppressor gene at 3p14.2 has abnormalities in several types of human cancers. To investigate the potential role of FHIT in cervical cancer, which exhibits frequent loss of heterozygosity of 3p, we have examined primary cervical cancer samples from 28 patients for alterations of the FHIT gene. Abnormal FHIT transcripts were detected using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction (PCR) and subsequently by sequencing. Of 28 primary cervical carcinomas analyzed, 12 tumors (43%) showed abnormal FHIT transcripts, including deletion, insertion and point mutation. Loss of a FHIT transcript was observed in 2 cases (7%). Allelic loss of the FHIT gene was detected in 16 of 27 informative cases (59%). Oncogenic human papillomavirus (HPV) type 16, 18, 33, 35, 58 and 59 were not only present but were expressed in 24 of 28 cases (85%) by consensus PCR-RFLP (polymerase chain reaction-restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis for the HPV E6 and E7 genes. Our data indicate that alteration of the FHIT gene is an important genetic event associated with cervical cancer and oncogenic

The pathogenesis of carcinosarcoma is still a subject of controversy. In the present study, molecular techniques were applied to determine the pathogenesis of uterine carcinosarcomas. The patterns of chromosome X inactivation were analyzed, targeting a portion of exon 1 of the human androgen receptor (HUMARA) in malignant epithelial and mesenchymal components. The presence of p53 and K-ras mutations were also analyzed. HE-stained sections of paraffin-embedded, formalin-fixed tissues were microdissected to obtain both epithelial and nonepithelial lesions from 25 carcinosarcomas, and DNAs were extracted by proteinase K digestion. Following treatment with methylation-sensitive restriction endonuclease (HhaI or HpaII), PCR amplification was performed using nested primers targeted to the HUMARA locus. Mutations in the p53 gene and K-ras gene were found in eight (32%) and six (24%) tumors, respectively. The patterns of chromosome X inactivation were different between the carcinomatous and sarcomatous components of three carcinosarcomas, indicating that these three tumors represent collision tumors. By contrast, the patterns of chromosome X inactivation, K-ras sequence, and p53 sequence were identical in both carcinomatous and sarcomatous components in 21 carcinosarcomas, indicating that these 21 tumors represent combination tumors. One case produced equivocal results that precluded determination of whether it represented a collision or combination tumor. These observations show that although most carcinosarcomas are combination tumors, some develop as collision tumors. The determination of histogenesis in individual cases of carcinosarcoma using molecular markers may be worthwhile, because the result could help predict the prognosis of individual cases and help guide clinical management.