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Background: Global hypomethylation has been suggested to cause genomic instability and lead to an increased risk of cancer. We examined the association between the global methylation level of peripheral blood leukocyte DNA and breast cancer among Japanese women. Methods: We conducted a hospital-based case–control study of 384 patients aged 20–74 years with newly diagnosed, histologically confirmed invasive breast cancer, and 384 matched controls from medical checkup examinees in Nagano, Japan. Global methylation levels in leukocyte DNA were measured by LUminometric Methylation Assay. Odds ratios (ORs) and 95% confidence intervals (CIs) for the associations between global hypomethylation and breast cancer were estimated using a logistic regression model. Results: Compared with women in the highest tertile of global methylation level, ORs for the second and lowest tertiles were 1.87 (95% CI=1.20–2.91) and 2.86 (95% CI=1.85–4.44), respectively. Global methylation levels were significantly lower in cases than controls, regardless of the hormone receptor status of the cancer (all P values for trend

The observation of the extensive air showers has been carried out since 1990 by Tibet air-shower array to study the origin of the cosmic-rays. In order to investigate the chemical composition around the knee, air-shower core detector was used in two experimental phases aiming to separate light primary elements (proton and helium). In a first phase experiment made in 1996-1999, primary proton and helium spectra were measured using a hybrid detector consisted of Tibet II air-shower array, emulsion chambers, and burst detectors. The result indicated that the fraction of light elements among the all particle spectrum is less than 30%. We performed the second phase experiment in 2002-2005 to measure proton + helium together to confirm the previous result with higher statistics by improving the detection efficiency for the air-shower cores. The P + He spectrum was obtained in a good agreement with previous result by several times higher statistics. The flux of the light elements, together with the all-particle energy spectrum, indicates the dominance of nuclei heavier than helium in the energy range around the knee. We also present the outline of the next phase experiment, which is to measure the heavy elements around the knee, using low threshold air-shower core detector named YAC. (C) 2010 COSPAR. Published by Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

The Tibet-III air shower array, consisting of 533 scintillation detectors, has been operating successfully at Yangbajing in Tibet, China since 1999. Using the dataset collected by this array from 1999 November through 2005 November, we obtained the energy spectrum of $\gamma$-rays from the Crab Nebula, expressed by a power law as $(dJ/dE) = (2.09\pm0.32)\times10^{-12} (E/{\rm 3 TeV})^{-2.96\pm0.14} {\rm cm}^{-2} {\rm s}^{-1} {\rm TeV}^{-1}$ in the energy range of 1.7 to 40 TeV. This result is consistent with other independent $\gamma$-ray observations by imaging air Cherenkov telescopes. In this paper, we carefully checked and tuned the performance of the Tibet-III array using data on the moon's shadow in comparison with a detailed Monte Carlo simulation. The shadow is shifted to the west of the moon's apparent position as an effect of the geomagnetic field, although the extent of this displacement depends on the primary energy positively charged cosmic rays. This finding enables us to estimate the systematic error in determining the primary energy from its shower size. This error is estimated to be less than $\pm$12% in our experiment. This energy scale estimation is the first attempt among cosmic-ray experiments at ground level. The systematic pointing error is also estimated to be smaller than $0\fdg011$. The deficit rate and position of the moon's shadow are shown to be very stable within a statistical error of $\pm$6% year by year. This guarantees the long-term stability of point-like source observation with the Tibet-III array. These systematic errors are adequately taken into account in our study of the Crab Nebula., Comment: 12 pages, 16 figures, accepted by ApJ

We present an updated all-particle energy spectrum using data collected in the period from 2000 November through 2004 October by Tibet III air-shower array. The energy determination of the air showers is made by fitting the lateral density distribution of the shower particles to the modified NKG function which is optimized by simulation calculation using interaction models of QGSJET01c and SIBYLL2.1 taking into account of the detector configurations. It is shown that the model dependence in the energy determination is not significant, being less than 5% in the absolute flux value, and we obtained the cosmic ray energy spectrum in a wide range over 3 decades between 10(14) eV and 10(17) eV, in which the position of the knee is clearly seen at around 4 PeV. The spectral index is -2.68 +/- 0.02(stat.) below 1PeV, while it is -3.12 +/- 0.01(stat.) above 4 PeV. The various systematic errors are under study now.

We are planning to build a large water-Cherenkov-type muon detector array around the Tibet air shower array for Gamma-ray astronomy in the 100 TeV Region. In this paper, we describe the design of the Tibet MD array and details of the Monte Carlo simulation to demonstrate the sensitivity of the Tibet AS+MD array.

The Tibet air shower array with effective area 37,000 m 2 located at 4300m in altitude, in Tibet, China, is sensitive to celestial gamma rays with energies above a few TeV. We have a plan to add a large underground muon detector array to it in order to discriminate cosmic gamma rays from cosmic-ray hadrons and to increase its sensitivity by approximately one order of magnitude to cosmic gamma rays in the 100 TeV energy region. The overview of the plan will be briefly described.

We searched for steady 100 TeV gamma-ray point sources from −10° to +70° in declination based on six year data obtained from Nov. 1999 to Nov. 2005 by the Tibet air shower array. No new source was found and no significant excess of events could be detected from known TeV sources. We set flux upper limits above 100 TeV on several nearby objects located inside Our Galaxy. All of them are slightly higher than extrapolation from lower energies by a factor of 1 to 20. Our new project named Tibet MD will improve our sensitivity by a factor of ∼10 in this energy region. We would discover ∼10 new sources and be able to measure cutoff energy of known and unknown sources, which might lead to identification of the origin of cosmic rays.

We report on the spectral index of cosmic rays around 10 TeV energy region obtained by observation of the Compton-Getting anisotropy due to the terrestrial orbital motion around the Sun with the Tibet III air shower array during the period from 1999 to 2005. The spectral index has turned out to be 2.99 ± 0.54 , which is consistent with 2.74 by the direct energy spectrum measurement. This method is a new approach to measure the spectral index and is complementary to the conventional energy spectrum measurement.

The Tibet hybrid experiment composed of emulsion chambers, burst detectors and the Tibet-II air-shower array was done at Yangbajing (4,300m above sea level, 606 g/cm2) in Tibet. For 3-year operation, we have observed 177 γ-families (ΣEγ > 20 TeV) accompanying air showers with the shower size Ne > 2 × 105. Using this data set and a neural network method to select proton and helium induced events, the primary proton and helium energy spectra are deduced between 1015 and 1016eV. The proton spectrum, thus obtained, can be expressed by a single power-law function with a differential index of −3.01±0.11 and −3.05±0.12 based on the QGSJET+HD and SIBYLL+HD models, respectively, which are steeper than that extrapolated from the direct observations of −2.74±0.01 in the energy range below 1014 eV. Our result suggests that the main component responsible for making the knee structure of the all-particle spectrum should be composed of nuclei heavier than helium.

Simultaneous observation of gamma-families and their accompanying air showers was performed at Yangbajing (4300 m above sea level) in Tibet with the emulsion chambers and burst detectors which were linked with the Tibet-II air-shower array. For three years operation, we observed 177 gamma-families (Sigma E-gamma > 20 TeV) accompanying air showers with the size N-e > 2 x 10(5). Using this data and the simulation code CORSIKA, we obtained the primary proton spectrum in the energy range of 10(15)-10(16) eV. The slope of the observed spectrum is steeper than that extrapolated smoothly from the lower energy region below 10(14) eV, irrespective of the interaction models assumed in the simulation. The uncertainty of the absolute flux of protons due to the interaction model dependence involved in the simulation codes is at most 30%, which is much weaker than results of other air-shower experiments. Our experiment shows low intensity of light components (proton and helium) independent of the interaction models suggesting that the main component responsible for making the knee structure of the all-particle spectrum is composed of nuclei heavier than helium. This is the first measurement of the differential energy spectra of primary protons by selecting them event by event at the knee energy region.

According to many solar observations, the solar activity, during the Solar Cycle 23, is gradually declining to the quiet phase from the high state in 2000–2004. The Tibet air shower array has been continuing the observation of the shadow that cosmic rays make in the direction of the sun or the moon since 1991. We have shown the influence of the magnetic field around the sun, the interplanetary and the geomagnetic fields for the sun shadow at the multi-TeV region. We discuss the variation of the Sun’s shadow with the Gnevyshev gap (GG) in the maximum phase of the Solar Cycle 23. Unfortunately, the bottom in GG corresponds to off-observation period. Nonetheless, we found the anti-correlation between the significance of the Sun’s shadow and the variation of the magnetic field intensity around GG, although the statistical significance is not so high. It is expected that a detailed analysis of the Sun’s shadow will reveal interesting features of the anti-correlation.

A hybrid experiment consisting of emulsion chambers, burst detectors and the Tibet II air-shower array was carried out at Yangbajing (4,300 m a.s.l., 606 g/cm$^2$) in Tibet to obtain the energy spectra of primary protons and heliums. From three-year operation, these energy spectra are deduced between $10^{15}$ and $10^{16}$ eV by triggering the air showers associated with a high energy core and using a neural network method in the primary mass separation. The proton spectrum can be expressed by a single power-law function with a differential index of $-3.01 \pm 0.11$ and $-3.05 \pm 0.12$ based on the QGSJET+HD and SIBYLL+HD models, respectively, which are steeper than that extrapolated from the direct observations of $-2.74 \pm 0.01$ in the energy range below $10^{14}$ eV. The absolute fluxes of protons and heliums are derived within 30% systematic errors depending on the hadronic interaction models used in Monte Carlo simulation. The result of our experiment suggests that the main component responsible for the change of the power index of the all-particle spectrum around $3 \times 10^{15}$ eV, so-called ``knee'', is composed of nuclei heavier than helium. This is the first measurement of the differential energy spectra of primary protons and heliums by selecting them event by event at the knee energy region., Comment: This paper has been accepted for publication Physics Letters B on October 19th, 2005. This paper has been accepted for publication Physics Letters B on October 19th, 2005

In this study, the effects of road scenes and traffic control devices on a driver's curve detection performance were investigated. The field experiments were conducted on an 11 -km section of highway running through Shikotsu-Toya National Park in Hokkaido. The driver obtains directional information from the road scene ahead and from traffic control devices on the corner of the target curve. The characteristics of the road scene were determined subjectively. The configurations of traffic control devices at 21 curves were obtained from the road maintenance database and measured at site for each curve. Twenty-three subjects participated in the experiment. Each of the subjects drove an inst rumented vehicle and pressed a button as soon as she/he recognized the direction of the target curve. The detection distance of each curve was measured. The maximum detection distance (MDD) of each target curve was determined by the experimenter. A curve detection index (CDI), defined as (MDD-detection distance) divided by MDD, was employed in order to compare detection performance for each of 21 curves. The characteristics of detection performance for all of the 21 curves were determined by the cluster analysis and multiple regression analysis. The 21 curves were classified into 4 groups according to the results of cluster analysis. The results of multiple regression analysis revealed that the subject's driving in the daytime obtained directional information about the curve from the road scene, while their driving at night obtained directional information from traffic control devices such as guardrails, utility poles and chevron signs. The results of this study indicate that viewing cues should be considered when traffic control devices set up at the side of curve, and appropriate traffic control devices should be selected to enable safe detection of a curve. It should be noted, however, that further investigations in terms of cues and CDI are required for various curves and conditions.

We report on a clear solar-cycle variation of the Sun's shadow in the 10 TeV cosmic-ray flux observed by the Tibet air shower array during a full solar cycle from 1996 to 2009. In order to clarify the physical implications of the observed solar cycle variation, we develop numerical simulations of the Sun's shadow, using the Potential Field Source Surface (PFSS) model and the Current Sheet Source Surface (CSSS) model for the coronal magnetic field. We find that the intensity deficit in the simulated Sun's shadow is very sensitive to the coronal magnetic field structure, and the observed variation of the Sun's shadow is better reproduced by the CSSS model. This is the first successful attempt to evaluate the coronal magnetic field models by using the Sun's shadow observed in the TeV cosmic-ray flux., 11 pages, 4 figures, accepted for publication in Physical Review Letters

We have already reported the first result on the all-particle spectrum around the knee region based on data from 2000 November to 2001 October observed by the Tibet-III air-shower array. In this paper, we present an updated result using data set collected in the period from 2000 November through 2004 October in a wide range over 3 decades between $10^{14}$ eV and $10^{17}$ eV, in which the position of the knee is clearly seen at around 4 PeV. The spectral index is -2.68 $\pm$ 0.02(stat.) below 1PeV, while it is -3.12 $\pm$ 0.01(stat.) above 4 PeV in the case of QGSJET+HD model, and various systematic errors are under study now., Comment: 12 pages, 7 figures, accepted by Advances in space research

Pseudomesotheliomatous carcinoma is the lung cancer with marked pleural extension resembling malignant pleural mesothelioma on diagnostic imaging. We report a rare case of pseudomesotheliomatous carcinoma of the lung in a 72-year-old man. The patient had complained of dyspnea and a chest roentgenogram showed right pleural effusion. Computed tomography (CT) of the chest revealed diffuse irregular pleural thickening, which mimicked pleural malignant mesothelioma. Pleural tissue sampling was performed to obtain definitive diagnosis by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery. At the operation. the tumor was found to have a spread along the pleural surface and primary lesion was not detected in the right lung parenchyma. Immunohistochemically, the tumor was positive for carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA), but negative for calretinin, thrombomodulin, and pulmonary surfactant apoprotein. Final diagnosis was adenocarcinoma of the lung.

The amplitude of the Compton-Getting (CG) anisotropy contains the power-law index of the cosmic-ray energy spectrum. Based on this relation and using the Tibet air-shower array data, we measure the cosmic-ray spectral index to be $-3.03 \pm 0.55_{stat} \pm < 0.62_{syst}$ between 6 TeV and 40 TeV, consistent with $-$2.7 from direct energy spectrum measurements. Potentially, this CG anisotropy analysis can be utilized to confirm the astrophysical origin of the ``knee'' against models for non-standard hadronic interactions in the atmosphere., accepted to ApJL

We have observed the shadowing of galactic cosmic ray flux in the direction of the moon, the so-called moon shadow, using the Tibet-III air shower array operating at Yangbajing (4300 m a.s.l.) in Tibet since 1999. Almost all cosmic rays are positively charged; for that reason, they are bent by the geomagnetic field, thereby shifting the moon shadow westward. The cosmic rays will also produce an additional shadow in the eastward direction of the moon if cosmic rays contain negatively charged particles, such as antiprotons, with some fraction. We selected 1.5 x10^{10} air shower events with energy beyond about 3 TeV from the dataset observed by the Tibet-III air shower array and detected the moon shadow at $\sim 40 \sigma$ level. The center of the moon was detected in the direction away from the apparent center of the moon by 0.23$^\circ$ to the west. Based on these data and a full Monte Carlo simulation, we searched for the existence of the shadow produced by antiprotons at the multi-TeV energy region. No evidence of the existence of antiprotons was found in this energy region. We obtained the 90% confidence level upper limit of the flux ratio of antiprotons to protons as 7% at multi-TeV energies., Comment: 13pages,4figures; Accepted for publication in Astroparticle Physics

We propose to build a large water-Cherenkov-type muon-detector array (Tibet MD array) around the 37,000 m$^{2}$ Tibet air shower array (Tibet AS array) already constructed at 4,300 m above sea level in Tibet, China. Each muon detector is a waterproof concrete pool, 6 m wide $\times$ 6 m long $\times$ 1.5 m deep in size, equipped with a 20 inch-in-diameter PMT. The Tibet MD array consists of 240 muon detectors set up 2.5 m underground. Its total effective area will be 8,640 m$^{2}$ for muon detection. The Tibet MD array will significantly improve gamma-ray sensitivity of the Tibet AS array in the 100 TeV region (10-1000 TeV) by means of gamma/hadron separation based on counting the number of muons accompanying an air shower. The Tibet AS+MD array will have the sensitivity to gamma rays in the 100 TeV region by an order of magnitude better than any other previous existing detectors in the world., 4 pages, 4 figures, Accepted for publication in Astrophysics and Space Science, proceeding of "The Multi-Messenger Approach to High-Energy Gamma-Ray Sources", Barcelona, July 4-7, 2006

The intensity of Galactic cosmic rays is nearly isotropic because of the influence of magnetic fields in the Milky Way. Here, we present two-dimensional high-precision anisotropy measurement for energies from a few to several hundred teraelectronvolts (TeV), using the large data sample of the Tibet Air Shower Arrays. Besides revealing finer details of the known anisotropies, a new component of Galactic cosmic ray anisotropy in sidereal time is uncovered around the Cygnus region direction. For cosmic-ray energies up to a few hundred TeV, all components of anisotropies fade away, showing a corotation of Galactic cosmic rays with the local Galactic magnetic environment. These results have broad implications for a comprehensive understanding of cosmic rays, supernovae, magnetic fields, and heliospheric and Galactic dynamic environments.

The patient was an 80-year-old man with scrotal and penile extramammary Paget’s disease and prostate cancer. Both diseases were in advanced stages. Tumor cells of extramammary Paget’s disease strongly expressed estrogen receptor α. The patient was concurrently treated with two kinds of hormonal therapy: the anti-estrogen tamoxifen (20 mg/day orally) for extramammary Paget’s disease and the anti-androgen bicalutamide (80 mg/day orally) for prostate cancer. The toxicity of the therapy was mild. All of the metastatic lesions remained stable for 2 months after initiation of dual hormonal therapy. During a follow-up period of 22 months, performance status was well maintained for 17 months. Hormonal therapy may be an alternative for selected cases of advanced extramammary Paget’s disease.

To clarify the presence of specific T cell immune response to autologous chondrocytes in patients with osteoarthritis (OA).Peripheral blood mononuclear cells obtained from OA or post-traumatic patients were co-cultured with irradiated autologous chondrocytes, and their proliferative response was assessed using 3H-thymidine incorporation. Expression of HLA-class II molecules was also assessed on chondrocytes by immunohistochemistry or flow cytometry.T cell responses to autologous chondrocytes in OA yielded a significantly greater mean stimulation index (6.35 +/- 1.63) compared to controls (1.21 +/- 0.09, p0.01). This response was partially blocked by antibodies against HLA class I, class II, CD4 or CD8. Increased expression of HLA-DP, -DQ, and -DR was observed.This study showed the autologous T cell-stimulating property of OA chondrocytes in vitro. The elucidation of the autoimmune responses may contribute to the understanding of immune-mediated mechanisms in OA.

We report on the solar diurnal variation of the galactic cosmic-ray intensity observed by the Tibet III air shower array during the period from 1999 to 2003. In the higher-energy event samples (12 TeV and 6.2 TeV), the variations are fairly consistent with the Compton-Getting anisotropy due to the terrestrial orbital motion around the sun, while the variation in the lower-energy event sample (4.0 TeV) is inconsistent with this anisotropy. This suggests an additional anisotropy superposed at the multi-TeV energies, e.g. the solar modulation effect. This is the highest-precision measurement of the Compton-Getting anisotropy ever made., Comment: 4 pages, 2 figures, includes .bbl file

The purpose of this paper is to understand the problems of cross section design and of methods of providing traffic information by analyzing driving performance and drivers' stated preference in a driving simulation of the very long tunnel (total length approximately 27 km) that is envisaged as one of the future projects under Uchiura Bay in Hokkaido. Twenty subjects participated in the study by using the driving simulator at the Civil Engineering Research Institute (The CERI driving simulator). Trials totaled 160. There was no clear difference in the average driving speed and the average lateral position for different cross section types, partly because visual recognition of the lane markings was good. However, when the right shoulder was narrow (width=0.75 m), more than 70% of the subjects reported that the median wall caused them to experience a negative psychological state. Therefore, to reduce this psychological stress, it is desirable to provide a wider right shoulder in the tunnel. The recognition of longitudinal distance of the subjects while driving through the tunnel seems rougher than for an ordinal tunnel. Thus, it is necessary to place large-sized distance signs at every 5 or 10 km, when one places distance indicators in the tunnel. There is also an increasing need to provide distance information through ITS.

In a bottle or can filling plant, the beverage should be chilled to the appropriate temperature. A plate heat exchanger is usually applied to do the cooling. We propose a new cooling method. The coolant is supplied from the refrigeration unit directly to the plate heat exchanger. The flow of it is controlled using a bypass valve. In order to improve the response and precision of the control, an observer and a regulator are introduced. Through simulations and an experiment at an experimental plant, we can conclude that our proposed method can be utilized in an actual filling plant.

Mutations in the insulin receptor gene have been reported in cases of type A insulin resistance. We report herein two cases of type A insulin resistance, which involve some novel mutations. Case 1 is a heterozygote of the C253Y missense mutation and case 2 is a heterozygote of the Y864X nonsense mutation. In the C253Y missense mutation in exon 3, a cysteine residue is replaced with tyrosine in the cysteine-rich domain of the alpha subunit. The Y864X in exon 13 results in a truncated receptor, which is devoid of most of the beta subunit. This mutant receptor could not be expressed on a cell membrane since the transmembrane domain is missing. Other significant mutations were not found for the entire coding regions and splice/donor sites.

Urticaria pigmentosa (UP) is a disorder of mast cell proliferation that occurs in cutaneous tissue. Most patients whose skin manifestations appear in infancy or childhood, experience a resolution of the disease by adolescence. In order to elucidate the relationship between mast cell character and UP prognosis, we used an immunohistochemical approach to examine the expression of stem cell factor (SCF) and c-Kit in the skin of patients with UP. The results revealed intercellular SCF expression throughout the dermis in improving cases. On the other hand, in cases with a tendency to worsen, dermal SCF was recognized only partially or not at all. Regardless of the clinical course, intracellular SCF immunoreactivity of the entire epidermis increased in cases of child onset UP. The c-Kit expression of mast cells in all UP patients showed no relation to clinical features. These findings suggest that SCF in the dermis promotes the differentiation of mast cells infiltrating in UP, and might be an attractive candidate to induce the remission of UP.

This study was undertaken to investigate whether thyrotropin binding inhibitor immunoglobulins (TBII) values at and after subtotal thyroidectomy correlated with the outcome or the histologic grade applied to the appearance of intrathyroidal lymphocytes at the time of surgical treatment. In addition, the main reason for the study was to determine whether or not it was possible to predict the outcome after the operation by the data obtained. There was no relation between the TBII results and the grade of the appearance of intrathyroidal lymphocytes at the time of operation or the TBII postoperative results (whether positive or negative) and the final outcome. However, it was of interest that patients with a recurrence of hyperthyroidism had the TBII values of more than 50 percent at the time of surgical treatment, and also manifested continuously positive TBII values after the operation. They also had moderate grades of lymphocytic infiltration and lymph follicle formation in the surgical specimen. It seemed impossible to predict the outcome of each instance in accordance with TBII values and the grade of the appearance of intrathyroidal lymphocytes at the time of the operation. However, it might be possible to predict at least the recurrence of hyperthyroidism by the consideration of changes of TBII values postoperatively.

An extensive upper mediastinal dissection in advanced differentiated thyroid carcinoma is occasionally required. This investigation was undertaken to clarify the indications for mediastinal lymph node dissection and the route of upper mediastinal metastases.Twenty-one patients with differentiated thyroid cancer, who underwent their first radical operations with mediastinal dissection through a partial midline sternotomy, were enrolled in this study. Of 21 patients, 10 (48%) were found to have mediastinal lymph node metastases.The tumor size in the group with metastatic disease was much bigger than that in the group without metastatic disease. Histologic type and age were similar between the two groups. The extent of cervical lymph node metastases was more significant in the group with metastatic disease; in particular, all 10 patients showed more than two metastatic nodes along the internal jugular vein of the tumor-free side.This study indicates that metastases to the internal jugular chain on the side contralateral to the primary tumor would be an extremely important factor for indication of extensive upper mediastinal lymph node dissection after median partial sternotomy in patients with differentiated thyroid carcinoma.

The Tibet air shower array, which has an effective area of 36,900 m2, has been in operation at Yangbajing in Tibet, China at an altitude of 4,300 m above sea level. In this paper, we will briefly introduce the recent gamma-ray observation with the present Tibet air shower array and our future plan which is called the Tibet muon detector (MD) project.

In this work, preparation of as-grown superconducting films has been attempted on Si (111) and Si-N substrates by rf-magnetron sputtering in the atmosphere of Ar using a single target. The target of 5 mm thick Mg disc of 50mm in diameter on which 5×5×1 mm3 B chips were put, was used. In order to vary the composition of films, the number of B chips was adjusted. The substrate temperature Td ranges from 230 to 250°C and the Ar pressure PAr is around 2.00 Pa. According to the measurement of resistivity, superconducting transition is seen in films deposited from the target with 12 to 18 B chips. The Tc of films appreciably depends on the number of B chips. The highest Tc of ~24K was seen in films deposited from the target with 14 B chips. In films from the target with 12 B chips, the Tc is markedly reduced to 13 K. With increasing the number of B chips from 14 to 18, the maximum Tc gradually decreases to 19K. X-ray photoemission spectroscopy analysis of some films reveals that the ratio of B/Mg increases with the number of B chips.

症例は,58歳女性で全身倦怠感を主訴に来院した.22歳時の虫垂切除術を最初に44歳の糞瘻切除術まで計4回の開腹手術の既往があった.外来での血算では,2カ月蘭にへモグロビン値が9.0g/dlから5.5g/dlへと著明な貧血の進行が認められた.貧血精査の目的で入院,消化管を中心に検査を進めた.上部消化管内視鏡検査では異常なく,注腸X線検査でも右側結腸の変形以外,特に異常は認められなかった.経管小腸造影を施行したところ,bilind loopで放置しておいた上行結腸と回腸との間に内瘻が形成されており,その境界部位に潰瘍性病変が認められた.貧血は同部位からの失血と考えられ,潰瘍性病変の切除を目的に右半結腸切除術を施行した.切除標本ではblind loopの上行結腸に2型の夫腸癌があり,この部位で回腸と内瘻が形成されていることが判明した.本例はblind Ioopに発生した大腸癌で,blind Ioopおよび回盲部切除後の大腸癌発生に関して若干の文献的考察を加え報告した.

5頭の雄山羊の尿道を人為的に閉塞し、全頭が死亡するまで、おおよそ12時間毎に臨床所見、酸・塩基平衡諸量および血液理化学的性状を観察・測定した。その結果、尿道閉塞1日後より背弯姿勢と震顫がみられた。その後食欲廃絶、起立困難を呈したが、この時点では全頭においてBUN値は80ml/dl以上を示した。次いで腹部膨満、眼球振盪、昏睡の尿毒症の末期症状を示し、尿道閉塞2日後から6.5日後の間に全頭が死亡した。腹部膨満がみられた3頭に、腹水の貯留と膀胱穿孔が確認された。体温と脈拍数は症状が悪化するにつれて低下し、呼吸数は大きな変化を示さなかったが、浅表性呼吸を呈した。動脈血のpHとHCO3値は上昇し、PCO2には変化なく、さらに低Cl血症を示したことから、本実験における酸・塩基平衡の変化として低Cl性代謝産アルカローシスを呈していた。また、K値は死亡するまで進行性に増加した。He、Na、血漿蛋白値は、尿道閉塞2日後まで減少し、血液の希釈が起ったものと推察された。その後は逆に血液の濃縮傾向がみられた。BUN、クレアチニン、血糖値は、進行性に増加し、このことに起因すると思われる浸透圧の著しい上昇がみられた。以上のことより、反芻獣の尿毒症においては、酸・塩基平衡、電解質ならびに血液性状に著しい異常がみられることが明らかとなった。したがって、反芻獣における尿毒症の補助治療に際しては、これらの異常に対して十分に考慮する必要があると思われた。

牛,馬,山羊,豚,兎,ラット,マウス,モルモットの精子細胞,および牛,馬,豚の射出精子のacrosomicsystemを構成しているPAS陽成物質の細胞化学的性状にっいて実験を行ない,っぎのような結果をえた。1.精子細胞のacrosomic systemのPAS陽性物質豚精子細胞のacrosomic systemのPAS陽性物質はグリコーゲンと酸性多糖類ではなく,固定にカルノア液を使用した場合に抽出除去され,脂肪溶媒に可溶性の物質であった。しかし,オルト液のような重クロム酸塩を含む固定液で固定を行なうと脂肪溶媒に不溶解性のPAS陽性物質に変化した。また,オスミウム酸で染まり,ペプシンおよびトリプシン消化によって変化しなかった。豚以外の動物については,脂肪溶媒に対する溶解性を検討したが,いずれも脂肪溶媒に溶解することが知られた。したがって,精子細胞のacrosomic systemを構成するPAS陽性物質は従来いわれているような炭水化物•蛋白質複合体ではなく,脂質の一種,多分糖脂質であると考えられる。2.射出精子のacrosomic systemのPAS陽性物質 牛射出精子のacrosomic systemを構成しているPAS陽性物質の細胞化学的性状は精子細胞の当該物質と同じであった。すなわち,グリコーゲンと酸性多糖類は検出されず,脂肪溶媒に溶解し,重クロム酸塩を含有する固定液によって脂肪溶媒に不溶解性の物質に変化した。ペプシン消化およびpH 2.2~11.3の緩衝液による前処理はPAS染色強度に影響をおよぼさなかった.また,馬と豚の射出精子を脂肪溶媒,すなわち,カルノア第2液で固定したところ,PAS陽性物質は完全に抽出除去された。これらのことから,射出精子のacrosomicsystem の PAS陽性物質はやはり精子細胞と同じ物質によって構成されていると考えられる。

Two groups of cows were set up. In one group ovulation was induced, leading to luteal hypoplasia (FSH non-injection group or group 1). In the other group ovulation was induced and FSH injected simultaneously to improve luteinization (FSH injection group or group 2). Granulosa cells were collected from the ovarian follicles of the cows of the two groups immediately before ovulation. Their ability to proliferate and secrete progesterone in vitro was compared between the two groups. Granulosa cells proliferated in vitro more rapidly in group 2 than in group 1. Therefore, FSH injection was proved to be very effective for the proliferation of these cells. Cultured granulosa cells showed the same morphology, regardless of the FSH injection. They presented changes from fibroblast-like cells to epithelioid cells after adhering to a coverslip. They were transformed to epithelioid cells, however, earlier in group 2 than in group 1. Their ability to secrete progesterone in vitro was essentially the same between the two groups. Progesterone secretion decreased gradually in amount in both groups with the advance in culture. Therefore, it was considered that luteal hypoplasia might have been caused by a low ability of granulosa cells, which would be transformed to lutein cell, to proliferate.