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Background There are numerous reports that social and emotional skills in early childhood have profound influence on lifelong health. The aim of this research is to determine the relation between the lifestyle and the social and emotional skills among children in present day Japan. Methods The object of analysis was a total of 110 parents of kindergarten students (56 boys, 48 girls,6 gender unknown) from 3 kindergartens in central Okinawa Island. The survey was conducted in mid-December 2019. Regarding the content of the survey, parents were asked to answer on a five-point scale, based on their subjective opinion, how good is their child, as compared to other children, in each of the 9 sub-scales of the social and emotional skills proposed in the 2015 OECD report, namely “perseverance,” “self-control,” “passion for goals,” “sociability,” “respect,” “caring,” “self-esteem,” “optimism,” “confidence.” Additionally, other question items were set, mainly to ask about the child's own lifestyle. Results The results of multivariate logistic regression analysis are following. As for “achieving goals:” 3 items for perseverance - “there are few likes and dislikes about food (OR:2.67, 95％CI:1.03～6.94, p=.043),” “Time for playing games on smartphone is determined (OR:3.21, 95％CI:1.19～8.68, p=.021),” “Eat more fruits (OR:3.03, 95％CI:1.24～8.26, p=.016),” are statistically significant. [Other results are omitted in this abstract] Conclusions It became clear that the acquisition of social and emotional skills during early childhood generally involves regular lifestyle and “discipline” at home as a whole. Besides, it is important for parent and child to do various activities together, including those aiming to increase cognitive skills. This study is considered to be a powerful evidence for the development of future intervention programme, aimed at acquiring social and emotional skills in early childhood. Key messages In early childhood family and kindergarten have to cooperate to foster social and emotional skills, important for lifelong health. This study is considered to be a powerful evidence for the development of future intervention programme, aimed at acquiring social and emotional skills in early childhood.

(Zn,Mn,Sn)As2 thin films containing Mn at more than 10% of cation sites were grown on InP substrates by molecular beam epitaxy (MBE). These films showed p -type conductivity and ferromagnetism with a Curie temperature greater than 330 K. They also indicated ferromagnetism, regardless of whether they are semiconducting or metallic. We discovered a linear relationship between the Curie temperature and Mn content in (Zn,Mn,Sn)As2 thin films. The experimental results are expected to provide an important clue to understanding the origin of ferromagnetism in ferromagnetic chalcopyrites, suggesting that the ferromagnetism in these materials derives from the scheme of hole-mediated ferromagnetic interaction. (© 2012 WILEY-VCH Verlag GmbH & Co. KGaA, Weinheim)

For the treatment of 11 patients with hyperacute embolic occlusion of major cerebral arteries (ten with occlusion of middle cerebral artery and one with occlusion of basilar artery), TCD-enhanced thrombolysis (TCDET) was performed in combination with ultrasound irradiation, using diagnostic transcranial Doppler (TCD) (TC2-64B: 2MHz, 100mW/cm2, pulsed wave) (TCDET group), and the effectiveness of this procedure was compared with that of local intra-arterial fibrinolysis (LIF) in 45 patients with embolic occlusion of the middle cerebral artery (LIF group). Regarding dose of TPA, the LIF group used 1046.7 ± 607.8 units and the TCDET group 700.0 ± 431.3 units (p < 0.05). Regarding time technically required to attain recanalization, the LIF group required 68.2 minutes, and the TCDET group 28.6 minutes. A good outcome was noted in 60.8% of the LIF group and 64% of the TCDET group. Haemorrhagic transformation was observed in 7.8% of the LIF group and in 0% of the TCDET group. No complications due to TCD irradiation were observed in the TCDET group. These findings suggest that TCDET can be an effective method of achieving recanalization.

We developed a micro-PIXE system for the analysis of frozen cellular samples at atmospheric pressure under helium gas cooling. We analyzed bovine aortic endothelial (BAE) cells previously cultured in a medium containing bromodeoxyuridine (BrdU). It is known that these cells take BrdU into their nuclei at the S phase of their metabolic cycle. We examined the Br uptake for incubation times of 6, 12 and 24 h, respectively. The Br maps showed an accumulation in the nuclei and the Br concentration was found strongly dependent on the incubation time. We have demonstrated that in-air micro-PIXE analysis is a relevant technique for examining the molecular uptake in cells.

Coloration of polyethylene terephthalate (PET) films by using 3 MeV proton beams was studied by means of absorption spectroscopy, electron spin resonance (ESR) spectroscopy and Fourier transform infrared absorption (FT-IR) spectroscopy. Absorbance of the films increased with the dose and faded in time. Absorbance changes are caused by formation of color centers. The color centers had three components: permanent, long-lived and short-lived. Long-lived and short-lived color centers were formed by reactive species such as radicals. Annealing of color center is well explained by a proposed sequential process.

Objectives: We investigated the potential for the dermal absorption of N,N-dimethylacetamide (DMAC: CAS No. 127-19-5) vapor, the biological half-life of N-methylacetamide (NMAC) in urine as the biological exposure item of DMAC, and the adjustment method for urinary concentrations. Methods: Twelve healthy male volunteers (mean age 25.2 years, range 21–43 years) were exposed to DMAC for 4 h on two occasions at intervals of 96 h or above. Each volunteer sat inside a whole-body-type exposure chamber for the dermal exposure experiment or outside the chamber for the inhalation exposure experiment. The temperature and relative humidity in the chamber were controlled at approximately 26 °C and 40% in order to keep the skin (90% naked) of the volunteers dry. DMAC concentrations were 6.1 ± 1.3 ppm for dermal exposure and 6.1 ± 1.3 ppm for inhalation exposure. Urine samples were collected from 0 h through 36 h and at 48 h and 72 h after the exposure. Extrapolations from exposure concentrations for 4 h to 10 ppm for 8 h were performed. Results: Mean dermal absorption was estimated to be 40.4% of the total DMAC uptake. The biological half-lives of urinary NMAC were 9.0 ± 1.4 h and 5.6 ± 1.3 h via skin and lung, respectively. Mean NMAC in urine just after 5 consecutive workdays (8 h/day) at 10 ppm DMAC exposure was assumed to be 33.7 mg/g · Cr (18.6–70.0 mg/g · Cr). Creatinine-adjusted NMAC concentration in urine for each volunteer within 12 h after the exposure was more closely correlated with the total excretion amount of NMAC up to 36 h than with urinary-volume-adjusted or specific-gravity-adjusted NMAC concentration in both the dermal and inhalation exposure experiments. Conclusions: DMAC vapor was significantly absorbed through the skin. Estimated NMAC values indicate that 20 mg/g · Cr NMAC seems to be appropriate as the biological exposure index.

The grain boundary structure of an yttria doped tetragonal zirconia polycrystal(Y-ZrO 2 or Y-TZP), composed of small-sized grains, was examined by means of electron microscopy and energy dispersive X-ray spectroscopy( EDS). Two kinds of Y-TZP materials, the original sample and the sample decreased to 53% in length that of the original sample by compressive deformation at 1300°C, were investigated. The crystallographic structural difference between two samples could not be recognized. Each grain sticks together, and no amorphous phase was observed at the grain boundaries. Grains of Y-TZP usually form boundaries with low index planes such as {111}, {110}, {310} and {311}. It has been revealed that yttria added to zirconia has no measurable effect on the superplastic deformation of this material and the deformation takes place by grain boundary sliding.

Nanopatterns of alkanethiol-capped gold nanoparticles are fabricated on photocurable polymer surface using a photo-nanoimprint method. The surface morphology of the nanopattern is observed by scanning electron microscopy and transmission electron microscopy. Spherical gold nanoparticles with a 3.5 nm average diameter and 500 nm line width is obtained.

Elemental images of rice leaves with lesion parts were taken with an in-air submilli-PIXE camera at Tohoku University. The rice leaves were analyzed in vivo and it resulted that the elements of Ca and Mn are accumulated in the lesion parts. It was confirmed by checking the intactness of cells that the living leaves were not seriously damaged. The surface of japan bowls (the Edo period), Japanese vessels (Shigaraki wares, the Edo period) and wooden tablets (the Meiji period) were directly surveyed by submilli-beams (3 MeV protons). Japanese vessels and wooden tablets were not discolored by the beam irradiation. Shigaraki vessels were discolored first, but their color disappeared after 10 days from the irradiation. It is concluded that such samples are not seriously deteriorated in in-air PIXE analysis.

Endurance tests under high-temperature conditions have been performed on three groups of automotive batteries. One group has been assembled with polyethylene pocket separators for the negative plates, another with polyethylene pocket separators with glass mats for the positive plates, and a third with leaf-type synthetic pulp separators with glass mats. Negative plates developed a sand-like appearance in the batteries assembled with the polyethylene pocket separators for the negative plates. Evidence of piercing shorts is found in batteries assembled with polyethylene pocket separators with glass mats for the positive plates. Also presented are the results of a structural analysis of failures in polyethylene separators after a series of cycle-life tests under high-temperature conditions, together with a theoretical examination of the deterioration process of the polyethylene pocket separators. It is concluded that battery assembly with polyethylene pocket separators with glass mat is an effective way to achieving good endurance (i.e., life extension at high temperature). On the other hand, the selection of leaf-type synthetic pulp separators with glass mats is the best approach for hot climatic conditions.

PE films with various additives were prepared by the solution-grown method. The thickness of the films ranged from 5 to 25 /spl mu/m. Six different azocompounds were used as additives. The results show that BDS 0 for the film with additives was higher than that for the film without additives in the temperature range from -35 to 30/spl deg/C. The increasing ratio of BDS depended on the composition of the additives used. Our results indicate that the breakdown of the film is induced by an electron avalanche. The conduction current through the film in the high electric field region was reduced by using the additives. The dependence of the conduction current on additives corresponds to that of BDS; a higher BDS is realized for films with additives by which the conductive current is controlled at the lower value. It was considered that the reduction of current by the additive is due to either the trapping effect or the excitation effect of the additive. The trap level for the additive and the excitation energy depend upon the type of radical connected on the benzene ring of the additive: electron-accepting or electron-donating type. The results suggested that high BDS and small current are obtained when the azocompound on which the electron-accepting radical is connected is used as the additive.

Spherical Aberration Free Focus (AFF) conditions for taking atomic resolution electron microscope images of single crystals and pseudo-Aberration Free Focus (ψ-AFF) conditions for taking atomic images of more than two adjoining single crystals are discussed by using diagrams of Cs (spherical aberration coefficient) and Δf (defocus). Calculated image contrast in those conditions is shown for three individual crystals of MgO, MgAl2O4, Al2O3 and their adjoining crystal blocks. It is shown that at least two kinds of Bragg reflected waves can be in the AFF condition in each case, and thus the size of the aperture for limiting the waves becomes important in some cases, Cs can be changed by changing the position of the specimen along the objective lens axis but highly coherent illuminating waves are needed for large Csand δf.

We developed a PIXE analysis system which provides spatial distribution images of elements in a region of several cm2 with a spatial resolution of < 0.5 mm. We call this system a submilli-PIXE camera. This system consists of a submilli-beam line, beam scanners and a data acquisition system in which the X-ray energy and the beam position are simultaneously measured. We demonstrate the usefulness of the submilli-PIXE camera by analyzing the surface of a shell and of granite.

SUMMARY: In Omori Hospital, Toho University School of Medicine, relatively low-virulence blood isolates, including coagulase-negative staphylococci (CNS), enterococci and non-fermentative gram-negative rods other than Pseudomonas aeruginosa comprised c. 60% of total blood isolates. A retrospective study was conducted to assess their clinical significance by reviewing a total of 91 hospital charts. The physicians' assessments of these positive blood cultures as recorded in the charts were classified into four categories—sepsis, possible sepsis, contamination and no comment. The episodes classified as sepsis accounted for 5.0-19.6%. These episodes were also evaluated by a graded clinical significance score based on multiple factors, including number of positive cultures and clinical signs. The scores for the 91 episodes covered a wide range from 1 to 9, indicating that both contaminants and causative organisms may have been involved. The episodes judged as sepsis or possible sepsis tended to have higher scores. The scores for the episodes associated with enterococci were also higher than those involving CNS or non-fermentative gram-negative rods. The scores for episodes associated with intravenous hyperalimentation catheters were higher than those not associated with the catheters.

World climates are divided broadly into cold, temperate and tropical zones. It is well known that the performance of automotive batteries under cold, warm or hot conditions is determined by the characteristics of the chosen separators. In the battery tests reported here, polyethylene envelope separators are found to be beneficial in cold environments. By contrast, leaf-type, polyethylene, synthetic pulp separators with glass mat give better results in warm conditions and very good peformance at high temperatures. Therefore, it is concluded that polyethylene envelope separators are suitable for cold climates, while leaf-type, polyethylene, synthetic pulp separators with glass mat are more appropriate for warm and hot climates.

Charge inversion mass spectrometry was performed using an MS/MS instrument in which mass-selected positive ions were made to collide with alkali metal targets, and the resulting negative ions formed upon two-electron transfer were mass analyzed. Charge inversion spectra using Cs targets were measured for C3H4+ ions produced from allene (CH2CCH2) and propyne (CH3CCH) by electron impact. The peak associated with C3H4- in the charge inversion spectra is twice as intense for propyne as for allene, whereas the profile of the peaks associated with C3Hn− (n = 0–2) is similar for both isomeric precursors. The kinetic energy release values at FWHM of the peak associated with C3H3− formed from allene ions and propyne ions are 0.28 ± 0.04 eV and 0.64 ± 0.06 eV, respectively. A clear differentiation between the isomeric precursors can be made on the basis of these differences in the charge inversion spectra. The differences observed are attributed to the formation of excited C3H4 states by near-resonant neutralizations of allene and propyne ions. Collisionally activated dissociation (CAD) spectra using He targets were measured for the same C3H4+ isomeric precursor ions. The CAD spectra are similar for both isomeric precursor ions, although slight differences were detected in the weak peaks associated with the species formed upon CC bond cleavage. Charge inversion mass spectrometry using alkali metal targets was found to provide a much clearer differentiation between the isomeric ions of unsaturated hydrocarbons than CAD.

Diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) may detect hyperintense lesions in patients with transient hypoglycaemia-induced hemiparesis or coma, which are completely reversible after glucose infusion.1–3 In vivo animal studies have documented the visualisation of such hypoglycaemia-induced changes of signal intensity and the reversal by glucose intake in detail.4 However, the time necessary for hyperintense lesions on DWI to disappear after glucose infusion in humans is still unclear. We treated a patient in a hypoglycaemic coma with DWI abnormalities in the splenium of the corpus callosum and the bilateral posterior limbs of the internal capsules, which were drastically improved 2 h after glucose infusion. A 54-year-old woman was taken to an emergency department after being found in an unresponsive state. The patient had had type 2 diabetes mellitus, hypertension and hyperlipidaemia for 7 years, controlled by oral drugs. On arrival, she was comatose (Glasgow Coma Scale 4; E1, V1, M2). Her pupils exhibited isocoria (2 mm/2 mm) and were reactive to light. Tetraparesis and decerebrate rigidity to pain was evident. Her blood pressure was 91/40 mm Hg and her heart rate …

Many kinds of linear plasmids, or plasmid-like DNAs, in mitochondria have been reported in higher plants and fungi. Nevertheless, such plasmids were not previously known from the animal kingdom. Paramecium is the first example in which a mitochondrial plasmid-like DNA so far discovered among ciliates. In natural stocks, P. caudatum has one of three types of DNA : type I (6.4 kb), type II, a set of four DNAs (8.2 kb; 4.1 kb; 2.8kb; and 1.4 kb) and type III (8.6 kb). Paramecium caudatum stock GT704 only has type-II DNA. The 8.2 and 2.8 kb DNAs are dimers of the 4.1 and 1.4 kb DNA, respectively. The aim of this study was to determine the sequence of mitochondrial plasmid-like DNA in P. caudatum stock GT704 in order to identify potential gene products and other nucleotide sequences that might have relationship with integration of DNA and also the maintanance of DNA itself in mitochondria. The methods used in this study were isolation of the DNA, cloning and sequencing then followed by analysis of sequences obtained using available public domain. The dimers were found to be easily dissociated to monomers when treated with heat underconditions of low ionic strength. These results suggest that each monomer has a sticky end of single- stranded DNA that has complementary nucleotide sequences, and so attaches to each other at the end by base-pairing to form a dimer, leaving a nick that can be filled by ligation using ligase. Nucleotide sequences of some part of the DNA have been obtained randomly. Sequence analysis suggests that these dimers DNAs have 2 ORFs that code for putative RNA and DNA polymerases. It is assumed that the origin of this mitochondrial plasmid-like DNA is transposable element or some viruses since the motif EVI-1 (ectopic viral integration site-1) was found in the sequence. It is also assumed that this DNA can integrate into mtDNA since it also has some sequences homolog to the sequences of mt- DNA of some ciliates.

The worry about M&CS security is getting more serious as M&CS have become close to the outer networks by employing information technologies. Against the threats like cyber attacks, standardization of M&CS security measures are being worked out recently . However, it is often hard for users to know which standard or guideline to follow in actual development. We have decided to provide reference documents that provide an overview of security standards and guidelines including their features.

We have fabricated organic static induction transistor (SIT) and organic light emitting transistor (OLET) combining SIT with organic light emitting diode (OLED). SIT and OLET have a grid-type Al gate electrode that was formed using a shadow evaporation mask in the organic semiconductor layers. The effective electrode area of SIT and OLET is approximately 4 mm2. By optimizing the device structure, excellent performances of SIT and OLET were obtained. The drain-source current (IDS) at a constant drain-source voltage (VDS) decreases with increasing the gate voltage (VG). The current is controlled by relatively small VG (-10 V) and a typical SIT characteristic is obtained in the OLET. The luminance of OLET also varies corresponding to the I-V characteristics. The maximum current and luminance values were approximately 10 mA and 10,000 cd/m2, respectively. We have also investigated the electrical characteristics of organic SITs having several gate gaps. The organic SIT with gate gap (Dg) less than 200 nm have much smaller off currents and much larger on/off ratios.

黒毛和種繁殖農家において24ケ月齢の雌牛が鉛中毒に罹患し、廃用にされた。血液学的にGOT、CKの著明な上昇を示し、病理学的には第二胃内の鉛様金属異物や消化管潰瘍を認められ、さらに生化学的には肝臓および腎臓から高濃度の鉛が検出された。症例牛を繋留していた漁網用ロープに含まれる鉛がその原因である可能性が示唆された。

An algorithm for inferring the sentence structure of conversational speech using prosodic information is presented. The fundamental frequency (F0) contour shape, which is the major prosodic information parameter that best represents the structure of a spoken sentence, is analyzed in detail by means of F0 shape approximation with a sequence of linear lines. From such analyses, boundaries between grammatical units can be detected. In addition, the relation between these grammatical units can be inferred by reffering to natural conversational speech styles. Structural hypothesis inference capabilities are also investigated to determine the syntactic and semantic structure of sentences through computer simulation experiments.

Single fiber action potentials (SFAPs) in a cylindrical volume conductor whose boundaries are identified is derived by an analytical method, taking the end of the volume conductor and nerve fiber into consideration. As a result, in the calculated SFAPs, a far-field potential is observed when the source reaches the end of the fiber.

A 204.9 mm/sup 2/ 256 Mb SDRAM has a 29 ns RAS access time and a 1ns clock access time. The SDRAM enables double-data-rate (DDR) at more than 300 Mb/s/pin, and features low-Vth and high-drivability MOSFETs combined with subthreshold leakage current suppression that reduces standby current to 200 /spl mu/A. A 64-cycle lock-in 0.1 ns resolution delay-locked-loop (DLL) is used.

"Direct manipulation" has already become a popular keyword in the field of visual programming. In many visual programming systems (VPS), the user can manipulate the program from its visual expression in the editor subsystem, but the execution process is still displayed in another window and users have to move the mouse cursor frequently. The authors recognised the importance of the manipulation interface with which user can carry out necessary operations for programming in one field. They have implemented a prototype of such a VPS using the IntelligentPad architecture. The elements of the data/program structures are expressed as pads. When a user manipulates them, the program is also changed and is automatically evaluated.

2/spl times/ DVD-ROM drive has been developed under with a rate of 2.76 MB/s, double the speed of regular DVD data transfer, and low data jitter is realized by a high bandwidth equalizer (HBW EQ). A 4 Mbits SDRAM (synchronous D-RAM) is introduced as the buffer memory in order to process for data both the 2/spl times/ speed DVD-ROM and the DVD video player.

In the present study, morphological changes of the exocrine pancreas in rats after pancreatic duct ligation were examined with light microscopy (hematoxylin-eosin, TUNEL, and PCNA staining) and scanning electron microscopy in order to elucidate the effects of increased pancreatic duct pressure. On the fifth day after pancreatic duct ligation, ductular proliferation, periductal fibrosis, and disappearance of acini were observed. TUNEL and PCNA staining demonstrated many apoptotic acinar cells and proliferating ductal cells immediately after ligation, which reached a maximal number on the 2nd or 3rd day. Tortuous or helical interlobular pancreatic ducts with inner surfaces containing many crater-like depressions and long cilia were found after ligation. These changes were almost identical to those observed in the pancreatic tissue of model chronic pancreatitis rats, WBN/Kob rats, and stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive (SHRSP) rats. In summary, the morphological changes observed after pancreatic duct ligation were similar to those of chronic pancreatitis, therefore, the characteristic changes of pancreatic ducts observed in chronic pancreatitis may be caused by increased pancreatic duct pressure.

We investigated dynamic cerebral autoregulation during N2O-O2/fentanyl anesthesia (baseline) plus 1.0 and 2.0 minimum alveolar anesthetic concentrations (MAC) of sevoflurane or isoflurane anesthesia in 14 patients undergoing non-neurosurgical operation. Cerebral blood flow velocity in the right middle cerebral artery (Vmca) was measured continuously using transcranial Doppler ultrasonography. At normocapnia, dynamic cerebral autoregulation was tested by transient hyperemic response (a response of Vmca after a brief compression of the ipsilateral common carotid artery). For quantitative comparisons, ratio of systolic Vmca before, to immediately after compression (THRR) was calculated. Values of THRR were 1.14 +/- 0.03 (mean +/- SD), 1.15 +/- 0.04, and 1.12 +/- 0.03 during baseline, 1.0, and 2.0 MAC sevoflurane anesthesia, respectively. THRR was not significantly different among the 3 conditions. In contrast, THRR values were 1.17 +/- 0.03, 1.07 +/- 0.02, and 1.01 +/- 0.01 during baseline, 1.0, and 2.0 MAC isoflurane anesthesia, respectively. THRR was significantly attenuated in a dose dependent manner during isoflurane anesthesia. These results indicate that dynamic cerebral autoregulation is preserved during 2.0 MAC sevoflurane anesthesia, but not during 1.0 MAC isoflurane anesthesia.

From January 1987 to December 1999, we treated 11 advanced pancreatic cancer patients with extended metastasis with multimodal treatment. Two patients received external radiation therapy (ERT) and systemic chemotherapy, 1 received intraoperative radiation therapy (IORT) and ERT and arterial infusion chemotherapy (AIC), 2 received IORT and AIC, 4 received only IORT, 2 received only AIC, and 15 did not receive any of these treatments. There was a significant difference in the survival rate between treatment and no treatment cases (median survival of 177 days and 109 days, respectively) (p = 0.04). A significant difference in the survival rate was also observed between IORT cases and no treatment cases (median survival of 212 days and 109 days, respectively) (p = 0.02). However, there was no significant difference in the survival rate between AIC cases and no treatment cases (median survival of 177 days and 109 days, respectively) (p = 0.10). Therefore, our experience suggests that multimodal treatment including intraoperative irradiation is effective for advanced pancreatic cancer patients with extended metastasis.

To compare the accuracy of thin-section CT, conventional static MR imaging (conventional MRI), and breathing dynamic echo planar magnetic resonance imaging (BDEPI) in evaluating lung cancer invasion to the chest wall.Thin-section CT, conventional MRI, and BDEPI were performed preoperatively in 20 patients suspected of having primary lung cancers adjacent to the chest wall on conventional CT. The results of imaging findings were compared with those of surgical and histopathological findings.All patients were confirmed to have no chest wall invasion after surgery. By thin-section CT, 10 of 20 patients were correctly diagnosed as having no chest wall invasion (50% specificity). Two of the 20 patients were incorrectly diagnosed as having chest wall invasion by conventional MRI and BDEPI (90% specificity).When chest wall invasion is suspected on CT scans, static and breathing dynamic MRI are recommended to avoid false positive interpretations.

Oestrogen (E2) plays significant roles in variety of biological events such as the development and maintenance of female reproductive organs, bone and lipid metabolisms. More recently, from study of knock-out mice deficient in oestrogen receptor (ER) alpha and ERbeta it turned out that normal spermatogenesis requires the E2 actions. Furthermore, this female steroid hormone is also well known to be deeply involved in many pathophysiological events such as osteoporosis and cancer development in female reproductive organs. It is particularly well known that most breast cancer is dependent on E2 in its development. Such E2 actions are thought to be mediated through two subtypes of ERs. Growth factors have been shown to synergize in this E2 signalling pathway, although the actual molecular mechanism largely remains unknown. Recently, we found that the MAP kinase activated by growth factors phosphorylates the Ser118 residue of the human ERalpha A/B domain and this phosphorylation potentiates the N-terminal transactivation function (AF-1) of human ERalpha, indicating the possible molecular mechanism of a novel cross-talk between E2 and growth factor signalling pathways. More recently, we have identified a coactivator associating with the hERalpha AF-1 in a MAPK-mediated phosphorylation-dependent manner. In this review, the molecular mechanism of this cross-talk is discussed in terms of the transactivation function of ERs, and their coactivators.

To evaluate the efficacy of magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in detecting minute pleural fluid in the pleural retracted space (PRS) associated with peripheral lung cancer.Our subjects were 20 patients with peripheral lung cancer in whom thin-section CT in the lung window setting demonstrated lesions adjacent to the pleural surface, and who were referred for MR imaging. The imaging findings were retrospectively evaluated and correlated with the histopathologic specimens. Pleural fluid was aspirated for cytology under ultrasound (US) guidance in six patients.STIR MR images revealed water SI areas beneath the chest wall associated with the lung cancer, whereas, on CT images, lung cancer and minute pleural fluid in the PRS showed similar soft-tissue density without enabling easy differentiation. Two of the six patients who underwent aspiration cytology showed malignancy. All histopathologic specimens obtained from 18 patients who underwent surgery showed pleural retraction corresponding to the water SI areas on STIR images. Histopathological study revealed that the fibrotic focus of the tumor tended to occur more intensively when the shape of pleural retraction was thinner and deeper.Water SI areas on STIR images were thought to suggest pleural fluid retention in the PRS. MRI was sensitive in detecting minute pleural fluid in the PRS and may help to avoid overdiagnosis of chest wall invasion induced from peripheral lung cancers.

The cell lines designated JHOS-2, JHOC-5 and JHOC-6 were established from epithelial ovarian carcinomas. JHOS-2 was established from a serous adenocarcinoma of a 45-year-old Japanese woman, JHOC-5 from a recurrent tumor of a clear cell adenocarcinoma of a 47-year-old Japanese woman and JHOC-6 from a tumor of a clear cell adenocarcinoma of a 43-year-old Japanese woman. These cell lines have grown well and serial passages were successively carried out more than 20 times. The monolayer cultured cells revealed neoplastic and pleomorphic features, and grew in multilayers. Electron micrographs revealed epithelial origins that had desmosomes and tonofilaments.

The following changes were found by either light or electron microscopic observation of the pancreas in spontaneously developed chronic pancreatitis models (WBN/Kob rats, spontaneously hypertensive rats, and rats with common bile-pancreatic duct stones) and in experimental models of chronic pancreatitis (alcoholic pancreatitis, ischemic pancreatitis, and obstructive pancreatitis): 1) the units of lobules, which were constituted by acinar cell deletion, ductular proliferation, and fibrosis; and 2) tortuous or helical ductal channels of pancreatic ducts with periductal fibrosis, which had many crater-like depressions and very long cilia in their inner surface. These are considered to be the results of obstructive pancreatitis, which are caused by the reactions of defensive factors against the increase of pancreatic duct pressure, including the apoptosis of acinar cells, the hyperplasia and hypertrophy of duct cells, a tighter junctional complex of duct cells, and periductal fibrosis.

Quasi-micro-wave-range inductors have been studied, in which conductors are covered with Co-based magnetic thin films, such as Co-Pd-Si-O granular film and Co-Nb-Zr amorphous film. For the inductor with Co-Pd-Si-O film, the inductance at GHz range was expected to be higher than that of inductor with Co-Nb-Zr film. It is supposed that large magnetization exceeds 10 kG and large anisotropy exceeds 100 Oe of Co-Pd-Si-O film and causes high resonance frequency.

A case of vertebrobasilar dissection which deteriorated in the acute stage and was successfully treated by intravascular surgery is described. A 26-year-old male presented with sudden onset of occipitalgia, weakness of the right upper and lower extremities, and speech disturbance. He was transferred to our hospital 3 hours after the onset. On admission, neurological examination showed right hemiparesis including the face and dysarthria. CT of the head showed no definite abnormality and left vertebral angiograms (VAG) revealed only slight wall irregularity of the basilar artery. T2-weighted MR imaging demonstrated an area of high intensity in the left side of the pons. He was treated conservatively under a diagnosis of pontine infarction. On the 8th hospital day, he developed left hemiparesis. T2-weighted MR imaging revealed a new high intensity lesion in the opposite side of the pons. 3D-SPGR images showed double lumen of the left vertebral artery. Angiography showed that the wall irregularity of the basilar artery had become more obvious. These findings strongly suggested a dissection extending from the left vertebral artery to the basilar artery. Progression of the dissection was presumed to have caused the worsening in clinical symptoms, and further progression of the dissection would involve perforators of the basilar artery top and would be fatal. To prevent further progression of the dissection, the left vertebral artery was occluded at the proximal site of the orifice of the dissection with platinum coils after a test occlusion on the same day. Postoperatively, further deterioration of the clinical symptoms ceased. Left VAG on the 33rd postoperative day demonstrated improvement in the wall irregularity of the basilar artery. His clinical symptoms improved markedly and he was ambulatory at discharge and returned to his previous occupation. We emphasize that a progressive vertebrobasilar dissection that causes clinical deterioration in the acute stage can be prevented from progressing further by occlusion at the proximal site of the orifice of the dissection.

Simultaneous measurements of time averaged mean blood flow velocity in the right middle cerebral artery (Vmca) by transcranial Doppler sonography (TCD) and regional cerebral oxygen saturation (rSo2) by near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) were performed in 30 subjects under propofol /fentanyl/ oxygen anesthesia. End-tidal CO2 pressure (PetCO2) was controlled by adjusting minute ventilation. A paired measurements of Vmca and rSo2 was repeated at PetCO2 of 50, 45, 40, 35, 30, and 25 mmHg in each subject. Relative Vmca (rVmca) was also calculated as a relative expression of Vmca at PetCO2 of 40 mmHg. Linear regression analysis was applied to determine the individual best fit relationship of these, parameters. There were significant linear correlations between PetCO2 and Vmca (R0.94, P0.01), between PetCO2 and rVmca (R0.94, P0.01), between PetCO2 and rSo2 (R0.92, P0.01), and between rSo2 and Vmca (R0.88, P0.05) in each subject. Furthermore, there was a significant linear correlation between rVmca based CO2 reactivity and rSo2 based CO2 reactivity (R = 0.60, P0.001). These results indicate that measurements of rSo2 may be an alternative method for evaluating cerebrovascular CO2 reactivity when poor ultrasound window.

Conjugating Tetrahymena were irradiated by ultraviolet-B (UV-B) at various stages of conjugation. When the conjugants were exposed to the UV-B at late meiotic prophase (the stage from pachytene to diplotene), abortive conjugation was induced a high frequencies. After completing meiosis, a significant number of the conjugants showed marked anomalies, i.e., failure of nuclear selection after meiosis, and abortion of the subsequent conjugation process such as a postmeiotic division to form gametic nuclei, nuclear exchange, synkaryon formation, and postzygotic development. The conjugating pairs retained the parental macronucleus and separated earlier as compared with a control. The resultant exconjugants degenerated meiotic products and became amicronucleates. These observations strongly suggest the presence of a UV-sensitive molecule that is expressed specifically at the meiotic prophase and that directs the subsequent development after meiosis.