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We assessed the usefulness of endorectal surface coil MRI (ERSC-MRI) for staging diagnosis of prostate cancer to compare preoperative ERSC-MRI findings with pathological staging in patients performed radical prostatectomy. MR imaging was performed on a 1.5 T MR system with an endorectal surface coil designed for imaging the prostate. At the time the coil was inserted, 1.0 mg of glucagon was injected in tramuscularly. T1-weighted MR images were obtained in the axial plane, and T2-weighted, spin echo MR images were obtained in the sagittal, coronal, and axial planes for each patient. The capsular penetration of prostatic cancer was defined according to the six diagnostic criteria by Outwater et al.: (1) a bulge formation of the low-signal-intensity area beyond the prostatic capsule, (2) low-signal-intensity stranding in the periprostatic tissue, (3) retraction of the prostatic capsule besides the low-signal-intensity area, (4) elongation of the low-signal-intensity area in the prostatic capsule, (5) thickening of prostatic capsule. (6) extracapsular tumor. The sensitivity, specificity and accuracy of ERSC-MRI for capsular penetration of the prostatic cancer were 95.5%, 40.0%, and 85.2%, respectively. These results indicate that ERSC-MRI is useful for staging diagnosis of prostatic cancer.

The involvement of immune response in the resistance of chemically induced stomach cancer was studied in a resistant rat strain (Buffalo) and a sensitive rat strain (ACI). Groups of 10 male Buffalo and ACI rats, 6 weeks of age, were given drinking water with or without N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine (MNNG; 100 mg/l) for 14 days. Total RNA was isolated from the stomach pyloric mucosa from five rats, and cDNA was prepared with reverse transcriptase. Tissue sections of the stomach pyloric mucosa from five rats were stained with antibodies recognizing molecules expressed by various immune cells. Reverse transcription-PCR (RT-PCR), competitive RT-PCR, and Northern blot demonstrated that the expression of MHC class II group genes [MHC class II, MHC class II-associated invariant chain (Ii), CD4 and IgM (B cell marker)], MHC class I group genes (MHC class I and CD8), B7-1 (costimulator on dendritic cells), and CD28 (receptor to B7 on T cells) in the pyloric mucosa was elevated by MNNG in both rat strains but was elevated to a 4-7-fold greater extent in Buffalo rats than in ACI rats. These genes were scarcely expressed in control rats. Histochemical antibody staining after MNNG exposure showed a greater number of cells stained with monoclonal antibody to Ii, OX-62 (dendritic cell marker), and ED-1 (dendritic cell and macrophage common marker) in the interstitial tissue of the pyloric mucosa of Buffalo rats compared with ACI rats. Cell proliferation, as measured by 5-bromo-2-deoxyuridine (BrdUrd)-labeling indices, revealed the presence of BrdUrd-labeled cells only among epithelial cells in the proliferative zone; cells in the interstitial tissue were not labeled with BrdUrd. The results suggest the involvement of dendritic cell response in the resistance to the MNNG induction of stomach carcinogenesis in rats.

Iodide transport defect (ITD) is a rare disorder causing congenital hypothyroidism. We previously reported that homozygous T354P mutation in the sodium/iodide symporter (NIS) gene caused ITD. To clarify the prevalence of this mutation, artificial substitution introducing PCR followed by restriction enzyme analysis was developed as a rapid screening method to detect the T354P mutation. Three apparently unrelated families with ITD, one patient with low thyroidal 99mTc pertechnetate (99mTcO4-) uptake and 52 healthy controls (104 alleles) were analyzed for this mutation. All families with ITD harbored the mutation, suggesting that T354P is a recurrent mutation and a major cause of ITD. This was not a widespread mutation, because it was not detected in the 52 unrelated normal controls. Because two cases with homozygous T354P mutation developed multinodular goiters within their second decade of life though they had been maintained in euthyroid state, homozygous T354P mutation alone and/or low intrathyroidal iodide and high serum TSH level in early life might account for tumorigenesis. The patient with low thyroidal 99mTcO4- uptake did not harbor the T354P mutation. Because familial hypocalciuric hypercalcemia was also present in this family, a possibility of the combined abnormality of TSH receptor and calcium functions, which includes an abnormality around the G protein, may be examined further.

A combination of split latissimus dorsi musculocutaneous flap with the serratus anterior musculo-osseous flap was used to cover a very large defect of the scalp. This technique offers a new alternative for single-stage reconstruction of extensive scalp defects.

Asialoglycoprotein receptor (ASGP-R) amount and hepatic blood flow were quantitatively measured by using a newly developed kinetic model of 99mTc-labeled diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid-galactosyl human serum albumin (99mTc-GSA) in which receptor-mediated endocytosis and receptor recycling were considered.Five healthy volunteers were intravenously injected 3-mg and 9-mg 99mTc-GSA doses. The absolute amounts of 99mTc-GSA in the liver and extrahepatic blood were estimated from the time-activity curves for the liver, heart and lung. The metabolic process was represented by five differential equations with 10 parameters as variables. To estimate total receptor amount (Rtotal), hepatic plasma flow (Q) and hepatic plasma volume (Vh), other parameters were fixed and estimated by analyzing their data with the least-squares method. Nineteen patients with liver diseases were given a 3-mg dose, and the data were analyzed to estimate Rtotal, Q and Vh.The values of the fixed parameters were estimated as follows: dissociation constant, 0.032 microM; rate constant for internalization, 0.604 min(-1); and ratio of surface receptors to total receptors, 6.1%. The fitted liver uptake curve corresponded well to the measured data. The simulated liver uptake curve was significantly influenced by Rtotal and Q in cases with normal receptor amounts. Analysis in patients with normal livers, chronic hepatitis and liver cirrhosis showed statistically significant differences in their Rtotal values, but not in their Q or Vh values. The s.e. values of Rtotal, Q and Vh for normal livers were small, and the s.e. values of Q and Vh were high for cirrhotic livers.This method is useful for measuring ASGP-R amount and hepatic blood flow simultaneously based on dynamic images, without the need for blood sampling, and reflects the cellular transport of asialoglycoproteins and the ASGP-R recycling mechanism.

Currently, detection of Shiga toxin-producing Escherichia coli(STEC) in stool samples is based on the isolation method in most clinical laboratories. The procedures are as follows: i) isolation with selective agar plates, ii) biological test with differential media, iii) serological test of anti-O antisera, iv) detection of toxin or toxin gene. These procedures take 4 days, therefore more rapid method is required. In the near future, a rapid detection method that detects STEC directly from stool samples will be introduced. Polymerase-chain reaction (PCR), enzyme-linked immuno-sorbent assay (ELISA), detection of serum anti-O157 antibodies are now available in clinical laboratories. Result of PCR for detection Shiga toxin gene and serum anti-O157 antibodies are described. Fifteen stool and serum samples from patients suspected of STEC infection were examined. With the culture and PCR method, 2 patients were positive by both methods and the results were confirmed in both cases. Six patients were positive by the antibodies detection method. From these results, the PCR method using stool samples was useful as a rapid detection method in clinical laboratories. Detection of serum antibodies has been simplified and is not an expensive method. Therefore, the method is useful for clinical diagnosis of STEC infection, especially, for diagnosing HUS or after antimicrobial agents have been administered to patients.

We conducted a seroepidemiological nested case-control study to determine the association of gastric cancer with Helicobacter pylori infection and atrophic gastritis. A cohort of 2858 participants in an annual multiphasic health check-up were followed for eight years. Data for 45 gastric cancer cases and 225 sex-, age-, and address-matched control subjects were analyzed. Helicobacter pylori infection was determined by IgG antibodies, and atrophic gastritis was diagnosed by both serum pepsinogen I level (or = 70 ng/ml) and the pepsinogen I/II ratio (or = 3.0). Univariate analysis showed that Helicobacter pylori and atrophic gastritis were significantly associated with gastric cancer. In a multivariate analysis, atrophic gastritis was associated with significantly increased risk of cancer (odds ratio, 3.38; 95% confidence interval, 1.54-7.42); however, Helicobacter pylori was not associated with cancer (odds ratio, 1.84; 95% confidence interval, 0.59-5.72). These results suggest that Helicobacter pylori infection alone is not directly associated with gastric carcinogenesis but has an indirect relation to gastric cancer through the development of atrophic gastritis.

Mouse laminin alpha1, beta1, or gamma1 sequence covering truncated regions of the long arm was transiently expressed in monkey COS1 cells. Unlike natural laminins, in which only alpha beta gamma trimers are selectively assembled and disulfide-bonded at the long arm, a large fraction of mouse chains formed disulfide-bonded homopolymers. However, a small fraction of mouse beta1 (or gamma1) formed hybrid beta1gamma1 dimers with endogenous monkey gamma1 (or beta1). These hybrid beta1gamma1 dimers formed alpha1 beta1 gamma1 trimer with monkey alpha1. Mouse alpha1 also formed disulfide bonds with monkey beta1gamma1 dimer. Thus, a common mechanism is shared by laminin chains of different animal origins. Sequences in the E8 region at the C-terminal end of the long arm were crucial for this chain-selective assembly. When the C-terminal sequence of mouse beta1 long arm was extended beyond the alpha-loop, the hybrid trimer formation was diminished. This supported the model of altered chain arrangement around the alpha-loop.

Administration of N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine, a glandular stomach carcinogen, at the concentration of 100 microg/ml in drinking water for 8 days induced the appearance of a MHC class II-associated invariant chain in the target organ of stomach pyloric mucosa of male Lewis rats. The up-regulation of the MHC class II-associated invariant chain was revealed by fluorescent differential display analysis, reverse transcription-PCR, Northern blot, and histochemical staining. The appearance of MHC class II and MHC class I was also demonstrated by reverse transcription-PCR and Northern blot. The results suggest the involvement of MHC-controlled immune reactions in chemically-induced stomach carcinogenesis.

BACKGROUND: Gastro-oesophageal reflux disease causes significant morbidity in premature infants, but the role of dysfunction of the lower oesophageal sphincter (LOS) in this condition is unclear. METHODS: Oesophageal manometry was performed after gavage feeding in 13 healthy preterm neonates (postmenstrual age > or = 33 weeks) with a perfused sleeve with side hole assembly. Swallow related (both single and multiple) and transient LOS relaxations (TLOSRs) were identified and the characteristics of these events defined. Reflux was identified with manometric criteria (common cavity episodes). RESULTS: Five hundred and eleven relaxation of the LOS were observed, 55% related to single swallows, 23% related to multiple swallows, and 22% TLOSRs. The time to maximal LOS relaxation was longer for TLOSRs than for single or multiple swallows (mean (SEM) 5.0 (0.3) s v 3.0 (0.1) s and 3.3 (0.1) s, p < 0.0001 and p < 0.005). The durations of multiple swallows and TLOSRs were longer than single swallows (12.2 (0.5) s and 11.2 (0.4) s v 5.3 (0.2) s, p < 0.0001). Most of the oesophageal body common cavity episodes (94%) occurred during TLOSRs. CONCLUSIONS: In healthy preterm infants (postmenstrual age > or = 33 weeks) the motor events associated with LOS relaxation were similar to those seen in healthy adults. TLOSRs may be an important mechanism of reflux in premature infants.

In this study we have investigated the mechanism of Si and Ge growth from gaseous precursors, at intermediate temperatures, in elevated-temperature scanning tunnelling microscope (STM). Based on our observations, we suggest a plausible mechanism for the growth of Ge and Si from GeH4 and Si2H6.

Experiments on HL-2A, DIII-D and EAST show that turbulence just inside the last closed flux surface acts to reinforce existing sheared E × B flows in this region. This flow drive gets stronger as heating power is increased in L-mode, and leads to the development of a strong oscillating shear flow which can transition into the H-mode regime when the rate of energy transfer from the turbulence to the shear flow exceeds a threshold. These effects become compressed in time during an L–H transition, but the key role of turbulent flow drive during the transition is still observed. The results compare favourably with a reduced predator–prey type model.

Understanding the L???H and H???L transitions is crucial to successful ITER operation. In this paper we present novel theoretical and modelling study results on the spatio-temporal dynamics of the transition. We place a special emphasis on the role of zonal flows and the micro???macro connection between dynamics and the power threshold (PT) dependences. The model studied evolves five coupled fields in time and one space dimension, in simplified geometry. The content of this paper is (a) the model fundamentals and the space?time evolution during the L???I???H transition, (b) the physics origin of the well-known ?B-drift asymmetry in PT, (c) the role of heat avalanches in the intrinsic variability of the L???H transition, (d) the dynamics of the H???L back transition and the physics of hysteresis, (e) conclusion and discussion, with a special emphasis on the implications of transition dynamics for the L???H power threshold scalings.

Background The therapeutic goal of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is clinical remission. However, patient characteristics associated with clinical remission by abatacept (ABT) are little known. Objectives The aim of this study is to determine the predicting factors of clinical remission induced by ABT in biologic-naive RA patients. Methods The ABROAD (ABatacept Research Outcome as a first-line biological Agent in the real worlD) study is an ongoing prospective multicenter cohort study for investigating the efficacy and safety of ABT for treating biologic-naive RA in the west side of Japan. Baseline profiles of the enrolled 155 RA patients (female = 83.2%, mean age at the ABT initiation = 61.3 years old, and disease duration = 8.1 years) and simplified disease activity index (SDAI) remission rate at 24 weeks were examined and then clinical factors associated with remission were determined. Anti-citrullinated protein antibodies (ACPA) titers at baseline were classified into 4 groups; negative (less than the upper limit of normal [ULN], =99 IU/mL). Results SDAI remission ( p = 0.045), and very high-positive ACPA (OR = 4.44, 95% CI = 1.28-15.38, p = 0.019) were significantly associated with clinical remission at 24weeks. Also, low disease activity defined by DAS28-CRP ( p = 0.054) and male gender (OR = 2.76, 95% CI = 0.91-8.40, p = 0.072) appeared to be linked with SDAI remission. However, age at ABT initiation, concomitant use of methotrexate, CRP level at baseline, and the 1987 ACR criteria fulfillment were not statistically associated with SDAI remission. Although ACPA positivity was associated with a better response to ABT in the ORA registry (ref.), our data demonstrated that low- or high-positive ACPA was not determined as the predicting factor for remission. Conclusions Biologic-naive RA patients with disease duration less than 1 year and very high-positive ACPA can achieve SDAI remission by ABT more frequently than without, suggesting that T cells play a critical role in synovial inflammation in such patients. References Gottenberg JE, et al. Ann Rheum Dis 2012;71:1815. Disclosure of Interest T. Fujii Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, M. Sekiguchi Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, K. Matsui Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, M. Kitano Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, M. Hashimoto Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, K. Ohmura Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, A. Yamamoto Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, H. Nakahara: None Declared, K. Maeda: None Declared, A. Yokota: None Declared, K. Miki: None Declared, N. Shimmyo: None Declared, T. Kuroiwa: None Declared, K. Murakami: None Declared, Y. Ozaki: None Declared, K. Higami: None Declared, I. Yoshii: None Declared, Y. Nozaki Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, T. Ikawa: None Declared, S. Morita: None Declared, Y. Kawahito Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, N. Nishimoto Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, T. Mimori Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan, H. Sano Grant/research support from: Bristol-Myers Squibb Japan

The 12C+12C fusion reaction plays a crucial role during stellar evolution. The astrophysically important energy range spans from 1 MeV to 3 MeV. However, its cross section has not been determined with enough precision, despite numerous studies, due to the extremely low reaction cross sections and the large experimental background. To allow measurements of the 12C+12C fusion at astrophysical energies, we developed an efficient thick-target method using large-area silicon strip detectors. Further measurements at even lower energies will be performed using coincidences between a silicon-detector and a Ge-detector array, at the high-current accelerator under construction at the University of Notre Dame. Since the coincidence method does not allow obtaining information about the channels without gamma-ray emission, a solenoid spectrometer has been constructed for complementary measurements. Meanwhile, we are also investigating the 24Mg(α, α') reaction using the Grand Raiden Spectrometer at RCNP to search for potential resonances in the 12C+12C fusion reaction. Preliminary results from these measurements will be presented.

We have imaged hydrogen on Si~001! at low coverages in a variable-temperature STM from 300 K up to 700 K. Individual hydrogen atoms were imaged which became mobile at around 570 K. The observed rate of hopping along the dimer rows was consistent with an activation energy of 1.68 6 0.15 eV. Motion across dimer rows was rarely observed, even at the higher temperatures. The diffusion barrier for motion along the dimer rows has been calculated using tight-binding and density-functional theory in the generalized gradient approximation ~GGA!. The calculated barrier is 1.65 eV from tight binding and 1.51 eV from GGA. @S0163-1829~96!07543-1#

The L-pyrrolidonyl peptidase activities of 1,033 strains of the family Enterobacteriaceae were investigated by the paper strip method to evaluate their usefulness for screening those organisms, especially Salmonella cultures. We also evaluated the usefulness of indole and tryptophan deaminase paper strip tests as supplements to the L-pyrrolidonyl peptidase test for the rapid identification of Salmonella cultures. The paper strip tests are simple, and the results are obtainable within 10 min.

Permethrin is an agrochemical belonging to the synthetic pyrethroid family, and is widely used as an insecticide in Japan on such produce as cabbage, Chinese cabbage, cucumbers, eggplants, pears, peaches, and mandarin oranges. Several studies have examined occupational exposure to permethrin (Kolmodin-Hedman et al. 1982; Adams et al. 1985; Cloud et al. 1987; Byers et al. 1992). However, there are no reports concerning exposure of agricultural workers to permethrin in Japan.

Tumor necrosis factor (TNF) is considered to be deeply involved in the hepatocyte damages in severe hepatitis. To delineate which mediators are involved in the production of TNF in vivo, we examined regulatory mechanisms of the production of TNF by rat Kupffer cells using a variety of mediators. Lipopolysaccharide (LPS) markedly induced TNF production by Kupffer cells. Kinetic studies revealed a rapid release of TNF within 3-4 hrs after the addition of LPS to the culture medium. Spleen cell derived-macrophage activating factor prepared from rat spleen cells did not by itself induce the production of TNF. However, the presence of a small amount of the factor during or before exposure to LPS induced higher levels of TNF, suggesting that macrophage activating factor had a priming effect. Recombinant human interferon-gamma and recombinant human granulocyte-macrophage colony stimulating factor, the natural types of which are components of the macrophage activating factor, displayed similar effects. Prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) and dexamethasone both inhibited LPS-induced TNF production in a dose dependent manner. Indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, increased LPS-induced TNF production. Interestingly, a combination of PGE2 and indomethacin inhibited TNF production more strongly than PGE2 alone, suggesting that the simultaneous treatment with PGE2 and indomethacin decreases liver damage in severe hepatitis rather than PGE2 alone. In addition, PGE2 pretreatment reduced the response to the newly added PGE2, suggesting the presence of a desensitization mechanism in the PGE2 receptor system. These findings suggest that spleen cell-derived macrophage activating factor and bowel-derived LPS take important parts in TNF production through the portal blood in the liver in vivo.

In order to estimate the prevalence of persons experiencing urinary incontinence among the institutionalized aged 60 and over in Japan, a questionnaire survey was conducted in 16 prefectures in February 1991. The questionnaires were distributed and collected by the nurses in hospitals and in other facilities. A total of 10,022 residents were asked to answer a questionnaire on their urinary incontinence condition and 9,798 responses were analysed. The main results were as follows; 1) The prevalence rate of urinary incontinence occurring almost daily in hospitalized persons aged 60 and over was 23.3% for men, 23.8% for women. 2) The prevalence rate of urinary incontinence occurring almost daily in institutionalized persons aged 60 and over in special nursing homes was 64.2% of the aged 60 and over for men, 67.9% for women. 3) The prevalence of urinary incontinence increased with age for both sexes especially in hospitalized persons. 4) The 95% confidence interval estimate for the number of the hospitalized over 60 years old suffering from almost daily urinary incontinent incidents was estimated to be from 31,000 to 113,000 in men and from 60,000 to 182,000 in women. 5) The 95% confidence interval estimate for the number of the institutionalized in special nursing home over 60 years old suffering from almost daily urinary incontinent incidents was estimated to be from 34,000 to 50,000 in men and from 97,000 to 119,000 in women. 6) The 95% confidence interval estimate for the number of the institutionalized over 60 years old suffering from almost daily urinary incontinent incidents was estimated to be from 318,800 to 570,600 in both sexes. 7) A random sampling survey is required to elucidate the actual state of prevalence in all generations. 8) Future research should emphasize the assessment of preventive and medical interventions, as incontinence is preventable and medical and surgical treatment options are available.

PURPOSE: To determine the clinical utility of cervical ultrasound in patients suspected of having congenital hypothyroidism. METHODS: Thirty-seven patients with suspected congenital hypothyroidism underwent ultrasound and scintigraphic evaluation of the thyroid anatomy, morphology, and function. The ultrasound findings and laboratory data were compared with the standard-of-reference scintigraphic findings and laboratory data for diagnosing specific causes in those patients, and prognosis was correlated with the ultrasound findings. RESULTS: Ultrasound was not reliable for detecting ectopia (n = 8) or differentiating ectopia from aplasia (n = 1). Ultrasound showed ectopia in six (four in the mouth floor and two in the tongue base) of eight cases (75% sensitivity). Ultrasound did not show one ectopia in the floor of mouth because its echogenicity was similar to that of surrounding tissues. A second ectopia, in the hypopharynx, was missed because of hindrance of the laryngeal air. Radioactive iodine uptake and scintigraphy was required for the patients with enlarged glands in the normal place to differentiate dyshormonogenesis from other categories. Specific causes were diagnosed correctly with ultrasound findings and laboratory data alone in all of the 20 patients who had hemiaplasia or small or normal-size glands in the normal location. Incidences of heterogeneity and hypoechogenicity of the thyroid gland in patients with prolonged clinical course (whose replacement therapy or follow-up extended for more than 1 year) were significantly higher than those in patients with short clinical course. CONCLUSION: Ultra-sound can obviate the need for scintigraphy in more than half (54%) of patients with possible congenital hypothyroidism. Ultrasound has a potential to predict prognosis of these patients.

The three-dimensional structure of a flavoprotein, FP390, purified from a luminescent bacterium, Photobacterium phosphoreum, has been determined at 3 A resolution by X-ray crystallography. Crystallographic refinements of the structural model have led to an R-factor of 0.24 for the intensity data between 6 to 3 A resolution collected with synchrotron radiation. It was found that a homodimer of the FP390 molecules related by a non-crystallographic 2-fold axis is comprised in the asymmetric unit. Two homodimers are arranged around a crystallographic 2-fold axis to form a tetrameric assembly. The monomer molecule of FP390, to which two molecules of the flavin cofactor (Q-flavin) are bound, consists of a seven-stranded parallel beta-sheet which forms a half of the beta-barrel structure and seven alpha-helices which surround one side of the beta-barrel. We suggest that the reason why the Q-flavin sample prepared from FP390 is always a mixture of two components is connected with the fact that the monomer molecules has two flavin binding sites, at the dimer interface and at the molecular surface.

This supplement describes the development and structure of the Comprehensive Assessment List of Affective Disorders (COALA) system, which was recently developed for a collaborative follow-up study of a broad spectrum of affective disorders in Japan and which consists of a series of semistructured interviews for affective and related disorders. The COALA distinguishes itself from the extant semistructured interviews by being able to provide polydiagnostic, comprehensive and serial assessments. It is polydiagnostic because it derives diagnoses according to 29 historical and modern diagnostic systems through computer algorithms. It is comprehensive because it not only depicts the symptoms profile and rates their severity according to various endogenicity indices and severity rating scales but also measures, in the psychosocial domain, the life events and their characteristics. In addition, it has sections for past illnesses and family history. It is serial because the system includes follow-up semistructured interviews that can be administered monthly and that monitor changes in the psychopathological and psychosocial features. The theoretical underpinnings of the COALA system, especially its polydiagnostic approach to a broad spectrum of affective disorders and its treatment of psychosocial factors, are discussed in view of recent proposals for the future nosological research. The findings of the interrater reliability study (n = 107) are also presented, with satisfactory to excellent results for almost all of the psychopathological and psychosocial variables, all of the composite severity ratings and most of the polydiagnostic evaluations.

The kinetic energy transfer between shear flows and the ambient turbulence is investigated in the Experimental Advanced Superconducting Tokamak during the L-H transition. As the rate of energy transfer from the turbulence into the shear flow becomes comparable to the energy input rate into the turbulence, the transition into the H-mode occurs. As the observed behavior exhibits several predicted features of zonal flows, the results show the key role that zonal flows play in mediating the transition into H-mode.

Brain neuronal cells in primary culture provide one system for the analysis of neuronal development, including apoptosis. By PCR amplification, with primers designed from conserved sequences among nuclear receptors, a novel member of the thyroid/steroid receptor superfamily was identified from forebrain neuronal cells undergoing apoptosis and designated as NOR-1 (neuron derived orphan receptor). A cDNA clone of NOR-1 encodes a 68kDa, 628 amino acid residue-containing protein, with an amino acid sequence highly homologous to the Nur77 family in its DNA-binding domain and moderately so in its putative ligand-binding domain. Using mobility shift assay, we showed that the NOR-1 protein binds to the B1a response-element which has been identified as the target sequence of the Nur77 family, suggesting that three members of the Nur77 family may transactivate common target gene(s) at different situations.

Effects of water temperature on diuresis, natriuresis, and associated endocrine responses during head-out immersion were studied in eight men (23.4 +/- 0.3 yr) during four 5-h experimental conditions: air control at 28 degrees C and immersion at 34.5 degrees C [thermoneutral (Tnt)], 36 degrees C [above Tnt (aTnt)], and 32 degrees C [below Tnt (bTnt)]. Esophageal temperature decreased by approximately 0.4 degrees C in bTnt and increased by approximately 0.5 degrees C in aTnt. Cardiac output increased by approximately 80% in aTnt and approximately 40% in bTnt while thoracic impedance, an index of central blood pooling, decreased by 7.5 omega in bTnt (NS vs. Tnt) and 8.8 omega in aTnt (P < 0.05 vs. Tnt and bTnt). Total peripheral resistance decreased at all temperatures (50% in aTnt, 20% in bTnt). Urine flow and Na+ excretion increased by sixfold in bTnt and Tnt but by only threefold in aTnt. Creatinine clearance was unchanged while osmolal clearance (but not free water clearance) increased two-fold with all immersions. Plasma atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), urinary urodilatin, and urinary guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate increased while plasma renin activity, aldosterone, and arginine vasopressin (AVP) decreased similarly at all temperatures. bTnt did not potentiate diuresis by selective attenuation of AVP. The overall natriuretic response exhibited a higher correlation with urodilatin (r = 0.45, P < 0.001) than with ANP (r = 0.26, P < 0.01).(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Gastric carcinoma is relatively uncommon in Japan among persons younger than 40 years of age, but its prognosis is not favorable and it affects young adults in their most productive years. This study was performed to evaluate the validity of serum pepsinogen as a new marker for gastric carcinoma among Japanese younger than 40 years of age.Data and sera were collected from the patients (108 patients younger than 40 years of age with gastric carcinoma from nine hospitals in the Kanto-Shin'etsu area in Japan) and from the control subjects (108 hospital control subjects and 108 screening control subjects) whose sex and age (within 4 years) were matched. Pepsinogen I and pepsinogen II values were measured and compared between patients and control subjects by paired t test. Sensitivities and specificities when criteria were defined by pepsinogen I, pepsinogen II, and pepsinogen I/II ratio were calculated.The pepsinogen I and pepsinogen II levels among patients were higher and the pepsinogen I/II ratio among patients was lower than among control subjects. When a pepsinogen II level higher than 14.8 ng/ml was considered positive, the test showed high sensitivity (83.3% for total gastric carcinoma and 85.0% for early gastric carcinoma) and high specificity (76.9% for hospital control subjects and 75.0% for screening control subjects). Similar degrees of sensitivity and specificity were obtained with the pepsinogen I/II ratio.These results suggest that a high pepsinogen II level combined with a low pepsinogen I/II ratio may be a useful screening test for gastric carcinoma in a young population at high risk for gastric carcinoma. This impression should be confirmed by a more extensive field trial to determine whether performance of these assays promotes early diagnosis of gastric carcinoma.

To understand the role of endogenous AP-1 activity in cellular transformation induced by oncogenes, we have made use of a fos mutant (supfos-1) and a jun mutant (supjun-1), either of which can function as a transdominant inhibitor of AP-1-mediated transcriptional regulation. Chicken embryo fibroblasts (CEF) infected with a series of transforming retroviruses were doubly infected with retrovirus carrying supfos-1 or supjun-1, and suppression of cellular transformation was monitored in terms of reversion to normal cellular morphology or acquisition of anchorage-dependent growth. Cellular transformation induced by several exogenously expressed transforming genes of the fos or jun family was efficiently suppressed, as expected. CEF transformed by v-src, v-yes, v-fps, c-Ha-ras, and N-terminally truncated c-raf were also induced to revert to the normal phenotype by these transdominant mutants, suggesting that functional transcription factor AP-1 activity is essential for the cellular transformation induced by these oncogenes. The suppression is not attributable to nonspecific inhibition of cellular proliferation, because CEF transformed by v-ros or v-myc were not induced to revert to the normal phenotype. We next analyzed changes in all known components of chicken AP-1 induced by v-src, c-Ha-ras, or activated c-raf transformation. The levels of both Fra-2 and c-Jun expression were elevated two- to fourfold, and hyperphosphorylation of Fra-2 was also observed. We further showed that Fra-2-c-Jun heterodimer is mainly responsible for the elevated AP-1 DNA-binding activity in these transformed cells, and we propose that this heterodimer play a crucial role in the transformation induced by these oncogenes.

We present analyses of mechanisms which convert radial inhomogeneity to broken k ||-symmetry and thus produce turbulence driven intrinsic rotation in tokamak plasmas. By performing gyrokinetic simulations of ITG turbulence, we explore the many origins of broken k ||-symmetry in the fluctuation spectrum and identify both E × B shear and the radial gradient of turbulence intensity—a ubiquitous radial inhomogeneity in tokamak plasmas—as important k ||-symmetry breaking mechanisms. By studying and comparing the correlations between residual stress, E × B shearing, fluctuation intensity and its radial gradient, we investigate the dynamics of residual stress generation by various symmetry breaking mechanisms and explore the implication of the self-regulating dynamics of fluctuation intensity and E × B shearing for intrinsic rotation generation. Several scalings for intrinsic rotation are reported and are linked to investigations of underlying local dynamics. It is found that stronger intrinsic rotation is generated for higher values of ion temperature gradient, safety factor and weaker magnetic shear. These trends are broadly consistent with the intrinsic rotation scaling found from experiment—the so-called Rice scaling.

Recent experiments have noted the coexistence of multiple shearing fields in edge turbulence, and have observed that the shearing population ratios evolve as the L–H transition is approached. A novel model including zonal flows (ZFs), geodesic acoustic modes (GAMs) and turbulence as a zero-dimensional self-consistent two predator–one prey system with multiple frequency shearings is proposed. ZF with finite frequency (i.e. GAM) can have different shearing dynamics from that with zero frequency, because of the finite shearing field autocorrelation times. Decomposing the broadband ZF spectrum into the two populations enables us to assign different shearing weights to the components of the shearing field. We define states with no ZF and GAM as an L-mode-like state, that with ZF and without GAM as an ZF-only state, with GAM and without ZF as a GAM-only state and both with ZF and GAM as the coexistence state. To resolve the origins of multiple shear coexistence, mode-competition effects are introduced. These originate from higher order perturbation of wave populations. The model exhibits a sequence of transitions between various states as the net driving flux increases. For some parameters, bistability of ZF and GAM is evident, which predicts hysteretic behaviour in the turbulence intensity field during power ramp up/down studies. The presence of noise due to ambient turbulence offers a mechanism to explain the bursts and pulsations observed in the turbulence field prior to the L–H transition.