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A rare case of congenital tricuspid stenosis treated with modified Fontan operation was reported. The patient was 13 years old boy and his chief complaint was cyanosis. Cyanosis appeared in his neonatal period and squatting developed in his childhood. He underwent Blalock's shunt operation at 5 years of age. His exercise tolerance was limited at the admission for the radical operation. Angiocardiography showed the annular stenosis of tricuspid valve and the moderate hypoplasia of right ventricle. The right ventricular volume was 56 ml (equivalent to 35% of the normally expected right ventricular volume) and the diameter of tricuspid annulus was 13 mm (equivalent to 58% of the normally expected diameter). Atrial septal defect was associated with but pulmonary stenosis did not exist. His left ventricular function was good and pulmonary vascular resistance was not raised. A diagnosis of tricuspid stenosis was made and Fontan's repair was considered to be possible for his correction. Operative findings showed normal architecture of tricuspid valve with the three leaflets but tricuspid annulus was narrow. Tricuspid valve stenosis was considered to be caused by the hypoplasia of tricuspid ring and surgical dilatation was found to be difficult. Therefore, modified Fontan operation (RA-RV connection) was performed. His cyanosis disappeared and exercise tolerance was improved after the operation. Cardiac catheterization and angiocardiography were performed 8 months and 28 months after the operation. His righ ventricular volume was increased to 123 ml (equivalent to 57% of the normally expected volume) followed by RA-RV connection.

Xanthogranulomatous cholecystitis (XGC) is an uncommon lesion which may form a tumor-like mass in inflamed gallbladders. In a review of 44 cases there were 40 associated with gallstones which had been incarcerated in the neck of the gallbladder, 10 with past histories of abdominal surgeries, 15 with diabetes mellitus, three with carcinomas in the neck of the gallbladder and four with carcinomas in the other organs. Radiologically the differential diagnosis of gallbladder cancer and XGC was difficult in several cases. Thirty five cases of XGC have been diagnosed as chronic cholecystitis and 7 have been mistaken for feature of XGC in the contrast enhancement CT that is, detection of an intramural low density mass with continuously enhanced internal membraneous layer of the gallbladder wall. In view of the clinico-pathological findings of XGC, the lesions appear to result from intramural extravasation of bile and subsequent xanthogranulomatous reaction under obstructive conditions in the neck of the gallbladder. We conclude that XGC is not an uncommon special type of cholecystitis but an accompanied lesion sometimes seen in a kind of cholecystitis.

Data obtained from thirty patients with villous or tubulovillous tumors of the colon were examined in a search for correlations between histological and endoscopic features. There was a good correlation between the two findings. As villous elements became more prominent in the histology, finely granular and/or villous surface patterns, adherent mucus, and a characteristic color (slightly reddish with white spots) were seen more frequently in the endoscopic photographs. These findings are considered to be typical endoscopic features of villous tumor of the colon. Endoscopy using the sprayed dye technique is useful for visualizing the finely granular and/or villous surface pattern.

TheUGCTX-raytomographyfacilityisacooperationbetweentheRadiationPhysicsresearchgroup(DepartmentofSubatomicandRadiationPhysics,GhentUniversity)andtheSedimentaryGeology and Engineering Geology research group (Depart-ment of Geology and Soil Science, Ghent University). Thefacility operates a number of setups offering a wide range ofspatialresolutions,X-rayenergiesandsamplesizes.Firstthereisastate-of-the-arttransmissiontypeX-raytubewithsub-micronfocal spot size (900 nm) for extreme-high resolution CT withresolutionsdownto1micronforsamplesupto4mmdiameter.Secondly a high-power water-cooled X-ray tube is availablewith an energy between 30 and 160 keV for regular micro-CTapplicationswithresolutionsdownto3micron.Forlargeand/orheavy samples up to 40 cm diameter, a dedicated beamline isavailable at the linear electron accelerator with high-energyX-raysupto10MeV.Thesetupsarebuiltinroom-sizebunkers,allowing flexible experimental conditions such as conditionedenvironmentsorexperimentalequipmentforreal-timesampleconditioning. In addition the facility also operates a desktopmicro-CT scanner from Skyscan (model 1072) and a medicalCT scanner from Philips (Tomoscan SR5000) for particularapplications.Thefacilityhasseveraldetectorsavailablewhicharesuitedforthevariousapplications.Fornano-andmicro-CTimaging, a high-resolution 16 bit CCD camera (4K x 2.7K 9μpixels, 1:1 fiber-optic coupling) and a 12 bit flat panel CMOSdetector (1024x512 50μ pixels) are available. For high-speedapplicationsa6’’large-fieldimageintensifiercanbeused.Forhigh-energyapplications,a1Kx1KCCDcameraisusedwhichislens-coupledtoalargescintillatorthatisoptimizedforhighenergies.

The paper discusses the results of a heating experiment in the ion cyclotron range of frequencies (ICRF) conducted on the JIPP T-IIU device with a five-element antenna array. This antenna system provides precisely shaped k∥, spectra which vary according to the relative phasing angle of the neighbouring antennas, Δ. In the experiment, Δ is scanned in a close pitch and it is found that the electron heating efficiency is drastically improved with Δ = π and the lowest efficiency is obtained with Δ = 0. This observation is analysed by calculating the k∥ spectra and then the power deposition profiles using a ray tracing code. It is also found that the effect of the phasing on the impurity problem is unexpectedly small. The reasons for the discrepancies between these data and theoretical expectations are also discussed.

Enhanced function of the respiratory burst, measured as stimulated release of superoxide anion (O2-) or hydrogen peroxide, characterizes activated macrophages. Activated macrophages undergo a decline in their capacity to release O2- (a deactivation) when placed in culture for 3 days. To better understand the molecular basis for the enhanced respiratory burst of activated macrophages, we explored the mechanisms underlying deactivation of activated mouse peritoneal macrophages. Deactivation was observed when the assay was performed in a physiologic Na+ buffer, and by day 3 of culture, release of O2- from activated macrophages stimulated with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) was almost identical to that in resident (nonactivated) macrophages. In contrast, when the assay was performed in a buffer in which Na+ was replaced by K+, release of O2- from activated macrophages on day 3 was equal to or greater than that on day 0, suggesting that the enzyme responsible for the respiratory burst was not altered during culture. The number and affinity of PMA receptors were not changed during culture and were not affected by high external K+. Continuous assay of O2- release by coverslip-adherent macrophages in a cuvette indicated that the lag time between addition of stimulus and release of O2- was reduced, and the initial rate of O2- release was enhanced in K+ buffer. The potency of monovalent cations to support O2- release was K+ greater than Rb+ greater than choline+ greater than Cs+ = Na+ greater than Li+, suggesting that characteristics such as ionic radius or molecular size influence this effect, and the effect is not due simply to absence of Na+. Extracellular Ca2+ or Mg2+ was required for the maximal effect of high external K+, and enhancement by high K+ and divalent cations increased progressively during culture. These findings suggest that deactivation is caused primarily by changes in signal transduction from PMA receptors to the respiratory burst enzyme, rather than by changes in these receptors or the enzyme itself, and that signal transduction can differ in different macrophage populations.

67Ga scanning and upper gastrointestinal (UGI) series were performed in 13 patients with gastric lymphomas before any treatment was initiated. Seven of these patients also underwent both examinations after completing chemotherapy and/or radiation therapy. Prior to treatment, all 13 patients had abnormalities on the UGI examination, and 12 of them had abnormalities on the 67Ga scans. In 6 patients, more extensive gastric abnormalities were demonstrated by 67Ga scanning than by UGI examination. Although persistent 67Ga uptake after treatment was indicative of relatively poor therapeutic response, lack of uptake did not always indicate a good response to treatment.

A plasma current is initiated and raised to a quasistationary level of about 20 kA by injection of the lower hybrid wave into a cold and low-density plasma produced by electron cyclotron resonance. The plasma current rises more slowly than the experimentally obtained L/sub p//R/sub p/ magnetic diffusion time of the bulk plasma. The current rise time is inversely proportional to the bulk electron density, and agrees well with the collision time of the current-carrying high-energy electrons with the bulk plasma.

The present study investigates the distinctiveness of Class I H-2 alloantigen-reactive Lyt-2+ helper/proliferative T cell subset in the aspect of tolerance induction. Primary mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR) revealed that Lyt-2+ and L3T4+ T cell subsets from C57BL/6 (B6) mice were exclusively capable of responding to class I H-2 [B6-C-H-2bm1 (bm1)]- and class II H-2 [B6-C-H-2bm12 (bm12)]-alloantigens, respectively. Anti-bm12 MLR was not affected by i.v. injection of bm12 spleen cells into recipient B6 mice. In contrast, a single i.v. administration of bm1 spleen cells into B6 mice resulted in the abrogation of the capacity of recipient B6 spleen and lymph node cells to give anti-bm1 MLR. This suppression was bm1 alloantigen-specific, since lymphoid cells from B6 mice i.v. presensitized with bm1 cells exhibited comparable anti-bm12 primary MLR to that obtained by normal B6 lymphoid cells. Such tolerance was rapidly (24 h after the i.v. injection of bm1 cells) inducible and lasting for at shortest 3 wk. Addition of lymphoid cells from anti-bm1-tolerant B6 mice to cultures of normal B6 lymphoid cells did not suppress the proliferative responses of the latter cells, indicating that the tolerance is not due to the induction of suppressor cells but attributed to the elimination or functional impairment of anti-bm1 proliferative clones. The tolerance was also demonstrated by the failure of tolerant lymphoid cells to produce IL-2. It was, however, found that anti-bm1 CTL responses were generated by tolerant lymphoid cells which were unable to induce the anti-bm1 MLR nor to produce detectable level of IL-2. These results demonstrate that class I H-2 alloantigen-reactive Lyt-2+ Th cell subset exhibits a distinct property which is expressed by neither Lyt-2+ CTL directed to class I H-2 nor L3T4+ Th cells to class II H-2 alloantigens.

A design study of a low-activation D-T tokamak Reacting Plasma Project In Nagoya has been finished. The study emphasizes the vacuum vessel and the bumper limiter. Our choice of materials (aluminum vacuum vessel, copper conductors, aluminum TF coil case and lead shield) results in a radiation level of about 1 × 10−3 times that of a TFTR type design, and 1 × 10−4 times that of JET type design, at 2 weeks after one D-T shot. Thick graphite tiles will be fixed directly on the aluminum vacuum vessel using aluminum spring washers and bolts. With this simplified structure of the bumper limiter, the inner surface temperature of the thick aluminum vacuum vessel will be less than 120°C which is required to reduce the overaging effect of the aluminum alloy.

The present study investigates the effects of i.v. presensitization with class II H-2-disparate allogeneic cells on various L3T4+ T cell functions including the capability of rejecting the corresponding allogeneic skin graft. C57BL/6 (B6) mice were i.v. presensitized with class II H-2 disparate B6-C-H-2bm12 (bm12) spleen cells. Such presensitization did not affect the bm12-specific L3T4+ T cell-mediated proliferative and interleukin 2 (IL-2)-producing capacities. A single cell suspension of (B6 x bm12)F1 spleen cells was depleted of APC by two round-passages over Sephadex G-10 columns. This APC-depleted fraction of (B6 x bm12)F1 cells failed to stimulate B6 responding cells in mixed lymphocyte reactions (MLR). The addition of recombinant IL-1 to the MLR restored anti-bm12 MLR responses, indicating that APC-depleted (B6 x bm12)F1 cells bear bm12 alloantigens but are unable to stimulate B6 anti-bm12 L3T4+ T cells. A single i.v. administration of APC-depleted (B6 x bm12)F1 cells into B6 mice resulted in almost complete abrogation of the capacity of recipient B6 lymphoid cells to give anti-bm12 MLR and IL2 production. This suppression was bm12 alloantigen-specific and attributed to the elimination or functional impairment of anti-bm12 T cell clones rather than the induction of suppressor cells. The tolerance was also observed in graft-rejection responses. The strikingly prolonged survival of bm12 skin grafts was produced when grafts were implanted into B6 mice which had been presensitized with APC-depleted, but not with untreated (B6 x bm12)F1 spleen cells. These results indicate that allo-class II H-2 antigen-reactive L3T4+ T cells are rendered tolerant by i.v. presensitization with APC-depleted fraction of the corresponding allogeneic cells.

Forty-six patients with villous or tubulovillous tumors of the colon were examined to study the correlation between histologic and macroscopic or radiographic features and to define more accurately villous tumors of the colon. There was good correlation between the histologic and macroscopic or radiographic features. As villous elements became more prominent on histologic studies, the macroscopic appearance was more villous and granular but less nodular on the surface. Reticular and/or granular patterns with a feathery margin were more frequently seen on radiographs in cases of dominant villous elements. The macroscopic and radiographic characteristics of villous tumor frequently appeared when villous elements composed over 75% of the whole tumor on histologic studies. The authors propose that villous tumor of the colon can be accurately diagnosed when villous elements compose over 75% of the tumor.

Suprathermal electrons which carry a seed current are generated by non-resonant parametric decay instability during the initial phase of lower-hybrid current startup in the JIPP T-IIU tokamak. From the numerical analysis it is found that parametrically excited lower-hybrid waves at the lower side-band can bridge the spectral gap between the thermal-velocity region and the low-velocity end of the pump power spectrum.

Neolacto-series gangliosides having linear poly-N-acetyl-lactosaminyl oligosaccharide structure have been demonstrated to be increased characteristically during granulocytic differentiation of human promyelocytic leukemia cell line HL-60 cells induced by dimethyl sulfoxide or retinoic acid (Nojiri, H., Takaku, F., Tetsuka, T., Motoyoshi, K., Miura, Y., and Saito, M. (1984) Blood 64, 534-541). When HL-60 cells were cultured in the presence of neolacto-series gangliosides prepared from mature granulocytes, the cells were found to be differentiated into mature granulocytes on the basis of the changes of morphology, surface membrane antigens, nonspecific esterase activity, and the activity of phagocytosis and respiratory burst. The differentiation of cells was dependent on the concentration of gangliosides and accompanied with inhibition of cell growth. These findings suggest that the particular ganglioside molecules play an important role in regulation of cell differentiation and that the appearance of neolacto-series gangliosides on cell surface membrane not only triggers the differentiation but also determines the direction of differentiation in HL-60 cells.

The adsorption behaviour of orthophosphate, triphosphate, pyrophosphate, monomethylphosphate, phosphite, α- and β-glycerophosphates, dimethylphosphate, and hypophosphite on hydrated iron(III) oxide precipitate is studied as a function of pH. Orthophosphate is adsorbed quantitatively at pH 4.0–8.0, triphosphate and pyrophosphate at pH 4–9.3 and the next three compounds at pH 4–6.8. The last two ions were only slightly adsorbed at any pH examined.

Use of a low radioactivity fusion device has been proposed for a near future D-T experiment in an R-tokamak design by the Institute of Plasma Physics, Nagoya University, in order to avoid the difficulties of repair and maintenance by remote handling. The radioactivity in the aluminum alloy design is smaller by a factor of 20–70 than that in the Phase 1 design (an initial design for this project) where a stainless steel vacuum vessel is employed. In this paper the mechanical, thermal and electric properties are compared to those of the stainless steel vacuum vessel. The electromagnetic performances are analyzed, and stress and buckling analysis is performed in both designs. The problems and advantages of the aluminum alloy vacuum vessel are shown in this study. In the results, the aluminum vacuum vessel is feasible as the component for the low radioactivity fusion device.

In the JIPP T-IIU tokamak, a high power ICRF heating experiment has been conducted, up to an extremely high power density (~2 MW·m−3), with a total RF power of PRF = 2 MW. Great attention has initially been paid to the problem of impurities, and it has been found that (a) the adoption of low Z materials for the limiter, (b) in situ carbon coating (i.e. carbonization) and (c) adequate gas puffing synchronized to the RF pulse are very effective in suppressing radiation loss. With these methods, a remarkable reduction in metal impurities (especially in iron impurity) has been achieved; the total radiation loss has been reduced to less than 30-40% of the input power. In these reduced radiation loss plasmas, the characteristics of ICRF heated plasmas have been studied intensively. With an increase in the ICRF heating power, a deterioration of the energy confinement time has been observed, indicating quantitative agreement with the Kaye-Goldston L-mode scaling. It is shown that the so-called profile consistency, which is the leading feature in neutral beam heated plasmas, also holds in ICRF heated plasma. It has been observed that the electron temperature profile only responds to the safety factor q(a) and does not change when the deposition profile is controlled by tailoring the k1 spectrum.

C57BL/6 (B6) mice were i.v. presensitized with class I H-2-disparate B6-C-H-2bm1 (bm1) spleen cells. Such presensitization resulted in almost complete abrogation of bm1-specific Lyt-2+ T cell-mediated proliferative and IL-2-producing capacities as measured by MLC of lymphoid cells from presensitized B6 mice with stimulating bm1 cells. In contrast, comparable magnitude of CTL responses was generated in bulk cultures from presensitized B6 lymphoid cells to that obtained in unpresensitized B6 responding cultures. These differential influences of Lyt-2+ T cell functions were also demonstrated by limiting dilution assays; frequencies of proliferative and IL-2-producing T cell precursors were as low as undetectable in presensitized B6 lymphoid cells, whereas an appreciable frequency of CTL precursors in a portion of the same lymphoid cells was observed. When bm1 skin grafting was performed in B6 mice i.v. presensitized with bm1 cells, the strikingly prolonged survival of bm1 skin grafts was observed. It was also demonstrated that the bm1 skin graft-bearing B6 mice which had been presensitized with bm1 cells not only exhibited a continuing suppressive state of bm1-specific helper (proliferative and IL-2-producing) function but also failed to generate anti-bm1 CTL responses. These results indicate that 1) i.v. presensitization with class I H-2 alloantigens results in selective tolerance of Lyt-2+ Th cells which is adequate for inducing prolonged graft survival, 2) the induction of complete abrogation of CTL potential is not absolute requirement for the prolongation of graft survival, and 3) residual CTL potential is attenuated after grafting so far as Th cells are rendered tolerant.

A medium-sized DT burning tokamak has been designed with low-activation Al-alloys. We can obtain a large plasma current up to 4.5 MA with an elongation of 2.3, by taking advantage of the good shell effect of Al-alloy vessel and by applying the appropriate feedback control system. Such a large current is effective for the improvement of confinement and high β-value. To obtain these plasma parameters, PF coils are placed inside TFC. Single pancake windings and their connection by welding remove complexity originated from this configuration. By the use of keys in the extended wedge region and large shear panels the displacement of TFC caused by large overturning moment is suppressed to be less than 1 mm. For reduction of induced activity, almost all the components have been designed with Al-alloys except TFC and inboard PFC conductors. The newly developed Al-alloy has been applied to the vacuum vessel, where the new structure of one-turn break is adopted using Al2O3 ceramic spraying. Gamma-rays from activated copper conductor in TFC and inboard PFC are shielded by a lead plate located between the vacuum vessel and PFC. This concept would be extended to devices which aim at Q ⪢ 1 and much longer burning time, if all the coils are made of Al-alloy of which contents of impurity and alloying element are well-controlled.

A series of initial resonant helical divertor (RHD) experiments have been carried out in ohmically and auxiliary heated JIPP T-IIU plasmas. Disruptive and MHD instabilities make the interpretation of the RHD results difficult but an apparent increase in the energy confinement time is observed when the helical magnetic perturbation is applied. This may be due to the suppression of MHD activity or to a reduction in the edge convective heat losses. Magnetic island effects have been observed on the floating potential of a Langmuir probe array and energy scrape-off layer widths have been measured with and without helical perturbations during ICRF operation. Basic pump limiter data is presented including ion temperatures and C4+ impurity profiles. Energy confinement times are reported in ohmically and NBI heated discharges.

The energy confinement characteristics of ICRF-heated Tokamak plasmas are studied at high input power density approximately 2 MW m-3 volume averaged, on the JIPP T-IIU device (R=0.91 m, a=0.23 m). High electron and ion temperatures (Te approximately 2.5 keV, Ti approximately 2.0 keV, at each maximum) have been achieved by the operation at a plasma current IP of 280 kA, plasma line-averaged electron density ne of 7*1013 cm-3 and input power of 2 MW, with a suppression of total radiation loss (30-40% of the total input power) by a carbon coating on the vacuum vessel. The fraction of ICRF power absorbed by the plasma, alpha , is determined experimentally from the decay of the stored plasma energy just after the ICRF pulse is terminated. The value of alpha increases slightly with increasing electron density and decreases from 90 to 70% as the ICRF power is increased from 1 to 2 MW m-3 volume averaged. The global energy confinement time tau epsilon , defined by WP/(POH+ alpha Pr.f), decreases by a factor of 2 approximately 3 from that in Ohmic plasmas as the heating power increases up to 2 MW. It is found that the energy confinement time has a strong line-averaged electron density dependence as tau E varies as ne0.6, which is obtained by the use of the measured absorbed power, while the Kaye-Goldston scaling predicts tau E varies as ne0.26.

TNF stimulated superoxide (O2-) release directly in human granulocytes in a dose-dependent manner (1 to 1000 U/ml), although its potency was weak. TNF-induced O2- release was inhibited by cAMP agonists or ionomycin, and was not accompanied with an increase in cytoplasmic free Ca2+ [( Ca2+]i) and membrane potential changes (depolarization). These findings indicate that neither Ca2+ mobilization nor membrane depolarization is required for TNF-receptor-mediated cell activation. The pretreatment of human granulocytes with TNF enhanced O2- release and membrane depolarization in parallel stimulated by the receptor-mediated Ca2+-mobilizing agonists (FMLP, Con A, and wheat germ agglutinin) or the Ca2+ ionophore ionomycin, but not by PMA, a direct activator of protein kinase C. The optimal effect was obtained by pretreatment of cells with 100 U/ml TNF for 5 to 10 min at 37 degrees C, although the magnitude of enhancement varied according to the agonists used as subsequent stimuli. TNF did not affect an increase in [Ca2+]i stimulated by the Ca2+-mobilizing agonists, except Con A. Con A-induced increase in [Ca2+]i was enhanced by TNF in a dose-dependent manner. These diverse effects of TNF could be partly explained by the exclusive potentiation by TNF of the metabolic events triggered by an increase in [Ca2+]i.

In an attempt to understand better the molecular basis for the enhanced respiratory burst of activated macrophages (M phi), we investigated the relationship between stimulus-induced changes in membrane potential and release of superoxide anion (O2-) in mouse peritoneal M phi. Resident M phi and M phi elicited by injection of lipopolysaccharide (LPS-M phi) or obtained from animals infected with bacille Calmette-Guérin (BCG-M phi) were used. LPS-M phi and BCG-M phi showed more pronounced changes in membrane potential (depolarization) and greater release of O2- on contact with phorbol myristate acetate (PMA) than did resident macrophages. The lag time between addition of stimulus and onset of release of O2- was reduced in activated compared with resident cells. Membrane potential changes began 60 to 90 sec before release of O2- could be detected in each cell type. The dose-response curves for triggering of membrane potential changes and O2- release by PMA were identical. The magnitude of membrane potential changes and of O2- release in LPS-M phi and BCG-M phi declined progressively during in vitro culture, and values on day 3 approached those in resident macrophages ("deactivation"). Extracellular glucose was required for effective stimulated change in membrane potential and O2- release. These findings indicate that membrane potential changes are closely associated with O2- -releasing capacity in macrophages, and that the systems that mediate membrane potential changes and production of O2- develop or decline concomitantly during activation or deactivation of the cells. Although the plasma membrane was highly depolarized by high extracellular K+ or by the sodium ionophore gramicidin, O2- release was not induced by these maneuvers, indicating that changes in membrane potential by themselves are not sufficient to trigger the respiratory burst in macrophages. Release of O2- was not impaired in buffers in which Na+ was completely replaced with equimolar concentrations of K+ or choline+; thus, induction or maintenance of the respiratory burst in M phi does not require an influx of Na+.

We have recently reported that neolacto series gangliosides (NeuAc-nLc) are increased during granulocytic differentiation of human myelogenous leukemia cell line HL-60 cells induced by retinoic acid and that HL-60 cells are differentiated into mature granulocytes when the cells are cultivated with NeuAc-nLc (Nojiri, H., Kitagawa, S., Nakamura, M., Kirito, K., Enomoto, Y., and Saito, M. (1988) J. Biol. Chem. 263, 7443-7446). In contrast to these wild-type-HL-60 cells, HL-60 cells resistant to differentiation induction by retinoic acid showed a markedly decreased content of gangliosides, especially NeuAc-nLc, and did not show any increase in the content of gangliosides when cultivated with retinoic acid. Neutral glycosphingolipids, the precursors of gangliosides, were not accumulated in these resistant cells. When retinoic acid-resistant HL-60 cells were cultivated in the presence of NeuAc-nLc, the cells were found to be differentiated into mature granulocytes on morphological and functional criteria. The differentiation of cells was dependent on the concentration of gangliosides and was accompanied by inhibition of cell growth. Wild-type HL-60 cells differentiated by NeuAc-nLc showed the changes in ganglioside composition, which were similar to those in wild-type HL-60 cells differentiated by retinoic acid; among the gangliosides changed, 2----3 sialylparagloboside and 2----3 sialylnorhexaosylceramide were increased. These findings suggest (a) that the synthesis of particular NeuAc-nLe molecules is an important step for retinoic acid-induced granulocytic differentiation and this step could be bypassed or replaced by exogenous NeuAc-nLc, and (b) that the defective synthesis of particular NeuAc-nLc molecules is responsible for the failure of differentiation induction in retinoic acid-resistant HL-60 cells by retinoic acid.

The percentage of carotene to the total vitamin A taken by Japanese people, is reported about 95%. It is very important problem, therefore, how carotene is utilized in human bodies. In various investigations, the carotene level in blood has been of much interest in the stage of carotene absorption in its metabolic process. In this experiment, the petroleum ether extracts gained from serum of cattle and human being were isolated by chromatography with alimina and investigated. In case of serum of cattle, β-carotene occupied almost 90% of the pigments in the petroleum ether extracts, while in case of human blood, it was only from 20 to 30% of the carotenoids pigments as shown in the table 2.Vitamin A and carotene contents of serum were estimated by Bessey's method for 47 healthy men aged from 20 to 30 year vitamin A contents gained from about 80% of total subjects were 10-39.9γ/dl, on the other hand, carotene contents gained from 30% of the total were 30-39.9γ/dl, and the average values were 25.5±11.3γ/dl and 56.3±27.4γ/dl respectively. This results showed that the vitamin A level of serum was some what low, and carotene level is distributed in more wide range than the vitamin A which held almost constant value.

ORAL administration of N-butyl-N-(4-hydroxybutyl)nitrosamine (BBN) selectively induces tumours in the urinary bladder of rats and mice1–3. This organ specificity can be explained to some extent by the metabolic fate of the compound and the carcinogenic effect of its major urinary metabolite on the bladder; Okada and Suzuki4 found that BBN given to a rat was soon excreted as its carboxy derivative, N-butyl-N-(3-carboxypropyl)nitrosamine (BCPN). Subsequent tests for carcinogenicity of BCPN showed that it too caused bladder tumour in rats5,6. Furthermore, BBN can be converted to BCPN when incubated with bladder mucosa or liver tissue7. These findings suggest that BCPN is responsible for carcinogenesis of the bladder by BBN, or that both BCPN and BBN are directly carcinogenic to bladder epithelium. We have therefore studied the in vitro effect of both BCPN and BBN on epithelial cells of rat bladder. In preliminary experiments we had failed to induce growth of these cells, but we found that addition of urea to medium containing a nitrosamine induced growth. We have now established epithelial cell strains from normal cell by culturing them in the presence of BCPN plus urea or BBN plus urea and found that they grow as cancers in syngeneic animals.

Copra meal was treated ten times with 1-2% Na2CO3 (anhydrous) solution, and the detached fatty acid was rewoved aut. To prepare solid culture medium, the conducted copra—meal containg proper amount of water (about 80%) was mixed with 30% rice bran. After sterilization of the media under 20lb for 30 minutes. Eremothecium Ashbyii was cultured on 26°-28°C, and we succedded to obtain flavin—Koji enriched with vitamin B2 Containt of riboflavin (vitamin B2) per g of dry flavin—koji is 6800γ.