Search

Osteoporosis is a major comorbidity of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), but the mechanism of bone fragility is unknown. We demonstrated that trabecular bone score, a parameter of bone quality, was associated with systemic inflammation and was a significant determinant of vertebral fracture independent of bone mineral density. COPD is a major cause of secondary osteoporosis. However, the mechanism of bone fragility is unclear. We previously reported that vertebral fracture was highly prevalent in male COPD patients. To obtain clues to the mechanism of COPD-associated osteoporosis, we attempted to identify determinants of prevalent vertebral fracture in this study. In this cross-sectional study, we recruited 61 COPD males and examined pulmonary function, vertebral fractures, bone mineral density (BMD), trabecular bone score (TBS), bone turnover markers, and inflammatory parameters. Determinants of the bone parameters were examined by multivariable analyses. The prevalence of any and grade 2 or 3 fractures was 75.4 and 19.7%, respectively. Osteoporosis and osteopenia defined by BMD were present in 37.7 and 39.3%, respectively. TBS was significantly lower in higher Global Initiative for Chronic Obstructive Lung Disease (GOLD) stages compared to GOLD 1. Multivariable logistic regression analysis revealed that both TBS and BMD were independent determinants of grade 2 or 3 vertebral fractures (OR = 0.271, 95%CI 0.083–0.888, p = 0.031; OR = 0.242, 95%CI 0.075–0.775, p = 0.017) after adjustment for age. Correlates of TBS included age, BMD, high-sensitivity C-reactive protein (hsCRP), pulmonary function parameters, parathyroid hormone, and Tracp-5b. In multivariable regression analysis, hsCRP was the only independent determinant of TBS besides age and BMD. In contrast, independent determinants of BMD included body mass index and, to a lesser extent, 25-hydroxyvitamin D. Both BMD and TBS were independently associated with grade 2 or 3 vertebral fracture in COPD male subjects, involving distinct mechanisms. Systemic inflammation, as reflected by increased hsCRP levels, may be involved in deterioration of the trabecular microarchitecture in COPD-associated osteoporosis, whereas BMD decline is most strongly associated with weight loss.

Species of the genus Elysia Risso, 1818 have relatively few external characters useful for species identification, and features such as papillae and/or color markings on the body surface are often used to classify and identify species. Elysia atroviridis Baba, 1955 and E. setoensis Hamatani, 1968, for example, have been described as distinct based mainly on such characters. Close examinations of 46 specimens identifiable as either species collected from nine localities in Japan revealed that many specimens exhibited mixed features of the two species. Detailed comparisons of radular morphology could also not differentiate the two species. With phylogenetic analyses based on COI and 16S rRNA (1072 bp in total), all of the examined specimens formed a single clade with very little variation among specimens. The AMOVA of the specimen haplotypes showed there was no significant genetic differentiation in relation to differences in external morphology, geographic region, or algal host. Our results indic...

Many sacoglossan sea slugs utilize chloroplasts ingested from food algae for photosynthesis (functional kleptoplasty), and the extent and duration of kleptoplast retention differs greatly among sacoglossan species. Although most recent studies focus on the genetic, microscopic, or physiological mechanisms responsible for this unique phenomenon, its effects on the life history traits of sacoglossans have not been fully explored. To study the effects of light conditions on survival and weight retention, adult individuals of two sacoglossan species, Elysia trisinuata and Plakobranchus ocellatus (‘black type'), were reared under light conditions (a 14-hour light: 10-hour dark photoperiod with an irradiance level of 28 µmol m−2s−1) or complete darkness for 21 days. There was no significant difference in the survival rate between the light and dark treatments for E. trisinuata, and its wet weight relative to the initial weight was smaller in the light than in the dark. However, both the survival and relative weights were greater in the light than dark for P. ocellatus. Based on the fluorescent yield measurement using pulse-amplitude-modulated fluorometry, the retention duration of functional chloroplasts was longer (>17 days) for P. ocellatus than E. trisinuata (P. ocellatus benefits from photosynthesis for survival and growth, whereas E. trisinuata does not under starved conditions. This interspecific difference is likely related to the period of functional chloroplast retention.

An endoparasitic platyhelminth from six species of sacoglossan opisthobranchs was collected at several localities of temperate to subtropical waters in Japan. Poecilostomatoid copepods (all species of Splanchnotrophidae and several species of Philoblennidae) and a few digenean flukes had been the only endoparasitic metazoans known for opisthobranch hosts. The newly discovered parasite was 1 to 15 mm in length and had no eyes, mouth, pharynx, or intestine. It had no external organs for parasitic life (e.g. attachment organs) and inhabited the haemocoel of the host. When mature, it emerged from the host and secreted a silky substance around itself to form a cocoon. The cocoon contained egg capsules with 19–42 eggs. Larvae, hatched from the capsule, had a ciliated body and a pair of eye spots. They were negatively phototactic and capable of invading suitable hosts. These morphological and life history features suggest this parasitic worm may belong to the family Fecampiidae (Platyhelminthes: Turbellaria), one of a few obligate parasite taxa in Turbellaria. Molluscan hosts which are common for parasitic Platyhelminthes have not previously been known for this family. The newly discovered parasite may be important for understanding the evolution of parasitism in Platyhelminthes.

Sacoglossan sea slugs retain the chloroplasts from food algae in their cells (kleptoplasty) and obtain the photosynthetic products, but the capability of kleptoplasty differs among species. One evolutionary hypothesis for kleptoplasty is that the family Volvatellidae is the ancestral sacoglossan lineage in which kleptoplasty arose, but this is based on ambiguous phylogenetic relationships. To test this hypothesis, we analyzed sacoglossan phylogeny for concat- enated sequences (approximately 4000 bp) of nuclear (18S rRNA) and mitochondrial (CO1, trnV, and 16S rRNA) genes of 18 sacoglossan species, using neighbor-joining, maximum parsimony, maximum likelihood, and Bayesian methods. The resultant phylogenetic trees clearly revealed monophyly of the order Sacoglossa (including the debatable genus Cylindrobulla), which contained two sister clades: the shelled sacoglossan group (Oxynoacea Cylindro- bulla) and the non-shelled group (Plakobranchacea). The family Volvatellidae was in a derived position within the Oxynoacea. The most parsimonious rearrangement of the character states of kleptoplasty on the phylogenetic tree suggested that (1) kleptoplasty was acquired at the basal position of the Sacoglossa (including Cylindrobulla) as non-functional kleptoplasty, (2) functional kleptoplasty was gained in the Plakobranchacea clade, and (3) non-functional kleptoplasty was lost in the Volvatellidae lineage in the Oxynoacea clade.

On low intertidal and shallow subtidal shores on the west coast of Okinawa, Japan, we investigated the trophic associations of sacoglossan opisthobranchs associated with Bryopsidalean green algae. During 11 short research visits (55 days total) from 2002 to 2008, we recorded almost 500 specimens of 11 species. These sacoglossans include a new record for Japan (Caliphylla A. Costa, 1867), a recent record for Japan (Placida daguilarensis Jensen, 1990), two undescribed species (Placida Trinchese, 1876 and Elysia Risso, 1818), one unnamed (but welldescribed) species (Placida sp. sensu Baba 1986), and six other Indo-Pacifi c species. Not only did we record more sacoglossan species but also we found higher slug abundances than other colleagues in Okinawa or the Indo-Pacifi c region. Quantitative population attributes and feeding preferences are described for these sacoglossans. In contrast to temperate geographic regions, several of these Japanese sacoglossans specialized on a single algal genus rather than two or more genera in different families. This specifi city is consistent with narrower host-plant associations in high-diversity communities; yet monophagy has not yet been demonstrated in this guild of Okinawan sacoglossans. Given the broad geographic ranges, restricted host ranges, often predictable populations, and high frequency of life cycles with planktotrophic larvae, western Pacifi c subtropical sacoglossans should be considered “predictably rare” (sensu Rabinowitz 1981) rather than at “special risk” (sensu Clark 1994).

In December 2008, eight sacoglossan specimens of Hermaea Loven, 1844 were collected from uniseriate red algae (cf. Wrangelia tanegana) at two sites on the west coast of Okinawa, Japan. These specimens are compared to the described Aplysiopsis wrangeliae Ichikawa, 1993 from Okinawa which we and other authors have previously suggested belongs to the genus Hermaea; we suggest that our specimens are attributable to Hermaea wrangeliae (Ichikawa, 1993).

Marine specialist herbivores inhabiting Japanese rocky shores are significantly more diverse than in other biogeographical regions at comparable latitudes. The interaction webs of specialist sacoglossans were investigated on the Pacific shore of Honshu, Japan. The host use of the small stenophagous sacoglossan opisthobranch Placida sp. (sensu Baba, 1986) was investigated in association with the green macroalgae Codium spp. Based on field associations, Placida sp. attacked six congeneric algal host species out of eight investigated (75%) in and around Sagami Bay and ten of 20 species (50%) in Japan. In pairwise-choice feeding experiments, Placida sp. preferred the algal host from which it was collected (source alga) to alternate host and non-host algae. Preference rankings, however, could be altered based on the condition or identity of the choices (e.g. old versus young fronds of C. fragile). Connectance values were lower in these high-diversity assemblages than in their low-diversity counterparts on other temperate shores (but these values may increase with additional study). The sacoglossan occasionally coexisted with two other common sacoglossan species (Elysia trisinuata and E. setoensis) and several other less common ones. However, interspecific feeding interactions appeared minor, with no discernible evidence of interference or exploitation competition. Despite the diverse assemblage of specialist sacoglossans feeding on Codium spp., these Japanese sacoglossans (1) had low niche differentiation, (2) were weak interactors with their hosts, and (3) had negligible intra-guild interactions.

The effects of two distinct patterns of light stimulus, steady and flicker, on cone photomechanical movements (PMMs) in the Xenopus laevis retina were investigated. For both patterns studied, the effects on PMMs were assessed by quantitative analysis of the cone positions in the outer retina. Steady light adaptation was found to be equally effective as flicker in causing cone contractions. This was unlike the situation previously found in the cyprinid fish retina, in which flickering light was significantly more effective than steady. This difference could be related to the light-evoked response characteristics and circuitry of dopaminergic retinal neurones in the two vertebrate classes. The role of dopamine and other possible neuromodulator(s) in light adaptive control of vertebrate retinae is discussed.

The opsin from the John Dory Zeus faber rod visual pigment (maximum spectral sensitivity =492 nm) was cloned and sequenced. Comparison of the John Dory rod opsin sequence with those from other fish with blue-shifted scotopic spectral sensitivity provides further evidence for the spectral tuning of this group of visual pigments.

The rod opsin sequences from Gambusia affinis holbrooki and Poecilia reticulata were cloned and sequenced. The opsin sequences were found to be 96middot;8% identical, reflecting the similarity of the rod visual pigment absorbances in these two Poeciliid fish.

The preys of three flabellinid nudibranchs and the distribution of their pediveliger larvae were investigated to reveal the relation between the width of dietary spectrum and the larval recruitment site. Hundreds of pediveligers were found in total from the field. Flabellina amabilis and Flabellina sp. were specialists consuming exclusively one hydroid species, while Flabellina athadona was a generalist eating five hydroid species. Not only in the specialists but in the generalist, the pediveligers were associated with their adult diet hydroids, although there was a hydroid species on which the larvae of the generalist could hardly succeed to settle. As to microdistribution of pediveligers on the hydroids, there was a significant difference between the specialists and the generalist; pediveligers of F. amabilis and F. sp. were mostly found to directly adhere to the naked hydranths, while those of F. athadona were found away from the naked hydranths. The causes of these phenomena are discussed.

Catalytic combustion is an ultralow NOx combustion method, so it is expected that this method will be applied to a gas turbine combustor. However, it is difficult to develop a catalytic combustor because catalytic reliability at high temperature is still insufficient. To overcome this difficulty, we designed a catalytic combustor in which premixed combustion was combined. By this device, it is possible to obtain combustion gas at a combustion temperature of 1300°C while keeping the catalytic temperature below 1000°C. After performing preliminary tests using LPG, we designed two types of combustor for natural gas with a capacity equivalent to one combustor used in a 20 MW class multican-type gas turbine. Combustion tests were conducted at atmospheric pressure using natural gas. As a result, it was confirmed that a combustor in which catalytic combustor segments were arranged alternately with premixing nozzles could achieve low NOx and high combustion efficiency in the range from 1000°C to 1300°C of the combustor exit gas temperature.

This chapter attempts to provide practical suggestions about the special methodological issues that institutional researchers must address while studying and improving diversity in higher education.

The multiarmed sea star Coscinasterias acutispina generally has 7-10 arms and 2-5 madreporites. It is known to be able to reproduce by asexual fission, and we have previously observed that this species also has the ability to reproduce sexually; however, there has been no report until now of spawning in this species. We succeeded in establishing a long-term culture of juveniles produced by artificial fertilization. Twelve months after the completion of metamorphosis, three individuals had six arms of the same length and a madreporite. At this time, fission occurred in two of these individuals, while the remaining individual underwent fission four months later. Each sea star divided into two halves, provided with three arms each. Thereafter, four or five new arms and two or four madreporites were formed anew in each of the six daughter sea-stars, so that by 30 days after the first fission the number of arms and madreporites in each was similar to that in adults. A second fission occurred in four of these six individuals, four or five months after the first fission, and in three of them the plane of division was the same as that of the first fission. The original three individuals eventually proliferated to 12 by undergoing fission. All individuals had fully developed gonads by 1-3 months after the second fission. Some of them eventually spawned under laboratory culture, and the resulting larvae metamorphosed into juveniles. Our observations demonstrate that individuals of C. acutispina possess the potential for both sexual and asexual reproduction.

X‐Ray fluorescence analysis of five heavy elements (Pb, Pt, W, Sn, and Ag) was performed using the portable synchrotron MIRRORCLE‐20. The characteristic K X‐rays (Kα and Kβ) were clearly observed for all of the five samples. This verifies that MRRORCLE‐20 generates X‐rays of energy higher than that of the Pb K absorption edge (88.0 keV). In addition to these characteristic K X‐rays, several peaks with short lifetimes were also observed in all the samples.

Osteosarcoma commonly metastasize to the lungs. Sixty-six cases with surgical treatment for pulmonary metastasis of osteosarcomas have been experienced for past 25 years in our hospital. Disease free interval (DFI) and the number of metastatic lesions were assessed in relation to their prognosis. As a result of our assessment, fewer metastasis (3 or less), and longer DFI (1 year or more) had relations to longer post-thoracotomy survival. And the relations between the number of metastatic lesions and DFI were found. Fewer metastasis were associated with longer DFI, and multiple metastasis were associated with short DFI. The cases with fewer metastasis (3 or less) and longer DFI (1 year or more) might have a survival advantage.

The possible role of nitric oxide (NO) as a novel light adaptive neuromodulator of cone plasticity (photomechanical movements) in retinae of two contrasting species of fish (freshwater carp and marine bream) and an example of an amphibian (Xenopus laevis) was studied pharmacologically by cytomorphometric measurements. Application of a NO donor [S-nitroso-N-acetyl- d , l -penicillamine] (500–700 μM) to dark-adapted retinae induced contraction of cones with an efficiency (CE) relative to full light adaptation of around 54% in all three species. Pretreatment with a NO scavenger [2-(4-Carboxyphenyl)-4,4,5,5-tetrametylimidazoline-1-oxil-3-oxide] (30–35 μM) produced a consistent significant inhibition of the light adaptation-induced cone contraction (CE = 15–20%). These results strongly suggest the involvement of endogenous NO in the cone contractions that occur in freshwater and marine fish and amphibian retinae as a part of the light adaptation process.

Off-pump coronary artery bypass grafting was performed for patients with concomitant disease requiring noncardiac operations. Eight patients underwent CABG prior to or at the same time of noncardiac operation: lung cancer (2), gastric cancer (2), arteriosclerotic occlusive disease (2), abdominal aortic aneurysm (1), aorto-iliac occlusive disease (1). Of these, there were 6 patients who underwent off-pump CABG. Two patients underwent conventional CABG with extracorporeal circulation. Off-pump CABG was performed through a median sternotomy and small left thoracotomy. One patient received quadruple grafts, and another one received double, and 4 received single grafting. Simultaneous noncardiac operations were carried out in 3 patients (Y-grafting, femoro-femoral bypass, mediastinal lymphnode biopsy). The other 3 patients underwent subsequent operations (axillo-femoro-popliteal bypass, aorto-femoral bypass, subtotal gastrectomy). However, of the 2 patients with conventional CABG, 1 died of multiple metastasis after lobectomy of lung cancer that might have been affected by the extra-corporeal circulation. Off-pump CABG is efficient in patients with concomitant disease requiring noncardiac operations.

We report a 23-year-old man who underwent coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG) for coronary aneurysms associated with Kawasaki disease using the left internal thoracic artery (LITA) and right gastroepiploic artery (RGEA) after a second myocardial infarction (MI). Preoperatively, this patient showed repetitive occlusion and recanalization of coronary artery flow without coronary stenosis. Indication of bypass surgery in Kawasaki disease is usually associated with stenosis. However, even an aneurysm alone should be an indication of surgery if there is any kind of ischemic event.

Ascorbic acid (AsA) is an essential nutrient for humans as they lack its biosynthesizing key enzyme. Its absorption mechanism in small intestinal epithelial cells still remains to be resolved. In this study, the transport mechanisms functioning on the uptake of AsA and its oxidized form, dehydroascorbic acid (DHA), were investigated using rat small intestinal epithelial cell line IEC-6. Both AsA and DHA were accumulated in the cells in time- and concentration-dependent manners, but their absorption kinetics were apparently different. The saturability of AsA uptake was shown at a considerably lower concentration in IEC-6 cells as well as other mammalian cells, indicating that this absorption was mediated by a specific transporting carrier. The absorption efficiency of AsA was about 1/5-1/10 that of DHA at the same concentration range and, moreover, the uptake of DHA was almost comparable to that of 2-deoxy-D-glucose, an alternative of glucose. The uptake of AsA was diminished by the removal of sodium ion, but not by the addition of glucose, whereas that of DHA was sodium ion-independent and effectively inhibited by glucose. In addition, phlorizin and cytochalasin B, which are blockers of glucose transporters, interfered the uptake of DHA more efficiently than that of AsA. These results indicate that there are at least two distinct transport systems of vitamin C in rat small intestinal epithelial cells; AsA is transported by a specific transporter and DHA is mainly transported by glucose transporter(s).

Fourteen new sesquiterpenes of the drimane series dendocarbins A--N (1--14) were obtained from ethanol extracts of the Japanese nudibranch Dendrodoris carbunculosa, together with two known compounds, isodrimeninol (15) and 11-epivaldiviolide (16). All structures were elucidated mainly from spectral data, and most of these sesquiterpenes were found to exhibit cytotoxicity. In addition, isodrimeninol (15), the major sesquiterpene of this animal, was found to have a sharp peppery taste.

21 pages, 7 figures, 3 tables, The small spotted dogfish Scyliorhinus canicula and the blackmouth dogfish Galeus melastomus, whose depth distributions overlap in the upper part of the slope (c. 500 m depth), where they have access to the same prey community, have well-developed eyes and a pure-rod retina with a single layer of photoreceptors. Interspecific differences in rod outer segment length (LROS) within retinal regions were found. In the periphery and the retinal centre G. melastomus showed a LROS 24 and 30% longer, respectively, than S. canicula and, therefore, a potential for increased sensitivity. In both species longer LROS were always found in correspondence with the retinal centre where the ganglion cell topography formed a horizontal meridian that allowed for better discrimination of the horizon in the visual field. In this area LROS reached 53·4±4·1μm in S. canicula and 77·1±10·5μm in G. melastomus against 46·3±4·2μm and 61·1±10·1μm in the retinal periphery. No significant differences were recorded in LROS and rod density during growth. In both species, a rapid increase of theoretical visual acuity was found to be related to an increase in fish LT and lens size. Visual acuity ranged between 1·7 and 3 cycles degree-1 in S. canicula and 2·4 and 4·2 in G. melastomus. The G. melastomus rod visual pigment showed the characteristic spectral adaptation to vision in deep-water (λmax of 481 nm), but was also well placed to detect the bioluminescence of some of its main prey species. In S. canicula the visual pigment absorption (λmax of 496 nm) was more typical of shallow water living fishes. The opsin sequences of the two visual pigments are discussed and key amino acid sites were identified where sequence changes could be responsible for the spectral absorption differences between the two species. The possible relationship between LROS, visual acuity, visual pigment absorption, depth distribution and feeding behaviour are discussed, This study was made possible by a postgraduate fellowship to AB from the Ministry of Research and Science, Spain. The work at the IMC was supported by grants from the EU (STRIDE programme) and the Sardinian Regional Government. Fieldwork was supported by a grant from the Ministry of Research and Science (CICYT-AMB93-0283). We are grateful to J. Cartes for his helpful suggestions and comments during the preparation of the manuscript and S. Collin for his useful comments that greatly improved the manuscript. Special thanks to A. Siddu for her technical assistance at the IMC and to the fishermen of Oristano who helped to collect the Sardinian samples

The role of nitric oxide (NO) as a novel neurochemical mechanism controlling light adaptation of the outer retina is discussed by considering mainly published results. The emphasis is on the retinae of fishes and amphibia, but some data from the mammalian (rabbit) retinae have also been included for completeness. In the fish retina, application of NO donors in the dark caused light–adaptive photomechanical movements of cones. The normal effect of light adaptation in inducing cone contractions was suppressed by pretreatment of retinae with an NO scavenger. NO donors modulated horizontal cell activity by uncoupling the cells' lateral gap junctional interconnections and enhancing negative feedback to cones, again consistent with a light–adaptive role of NO. Direct evidence for light adaptation–induced release of NO has been obtained in fish (carp) and rabbit retinae. The results strongly suggest that control of retinal light adaptation is under multiple neurochemical control, with NO and dopamine having an interactive role.

The inwardly rectifying ATP-regulated K(+) channel with an inward conductance of about 90 pS in the surface membrane of cultured opossum kidney proximal tubule (OKP) cells is activated at least in part by protein kinase A (PKA). In this study, we examined the effects of protein serine/threonine phosphatase types 1 (PP-1) and 2A (PP-2A) on activity of the K(+) channel using the patch-clamp technique. In cell-attached patches, channel activity was enhanced by the application of okadaic acid (OA, 1 microM), a membrane-permeable inhibitor of PP-1 and PP-2A, to the bath solution. This enhancement was abolished by the pretreatment of cells with KT5720 (200 nM), a specific inhibitor of PKA. In inside-out patches, channel activity which could be maintained in the presence of ATP (3 mM) in the bath solution was also increased by the addition of OA (1 microM), and the OA-induced increase in channel activity was partially prevented in the presence of KT5720 (200 nM). Direct application of either PP-1 (1 U/ml) or PP-2A (1 U/ml) to the cytoplasmic surface of the patch membrane inhibited channel activity maintained by ATP (3 mM) in inside-out patches. Moreover, channel activity stimulated by PKA (20 nM) in the presence of ATP (3 mM) was also inhibited by the application of either PP-1 (1 U/ml) or PP-2A (1 U/ml). These results indicate that the OA-sensitive protein phosphatase is involved in the regulation of channel activity, and suggest that both PP-1 and PP-2A are candidates responsible for the inhibition of channel activity through dephosphorylation of the PKA-mediated protein phosphorylation.

Serum concentrations of luteinizing hormone (LH), testosterone, prostatic acid phosphatase (PAP) and prostatic specific antigen (PSA) were measured in 16 patients with advanced prostatic cancer before and after treatment with luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) analogue. An initial rise of serum LH and testosterone levels was observed on day 2 of the treatment. Subsequently, serum concentrations of PAP and PSA showed a transient increase on day 5 of the treatment. This indicates that LHRH analogues had better be given in combination with antiandrogens in patients with metastatic carcinoma of the prostate.

Eight dopamine receptor-like cDNA clones were isolated from the carp (Cyprinus carpio) retina and four dopamine receptor-like cDNA clones were isolated from the European eel (Anguilla anguilla) retina. These cDNA clones show high sequence and structural homology to the known dopamine receptor subtypes. The sequence similarity and phylogenetic analysis revealed that five subtypes (D1A3, D1A4, D1B, D1C and D1X) in the carp retina and four subtypes (D1A1, D1A2, D1B and D1C) in the eel retina are D1-like receptor subtypes, and three (D2, D4A and D4B) in the carp retina are D2-like receptor subtypes; no D2-like receptor was found in the eel. Carp D1A3 and D1A4, carp D4A and D4B, and eel D1A1 and D1A2 are highly homologous pairs of receptors which show significant, domain-specific differences to each other and to their species homologues. The structure of the third cytoplasmic loop in the carp D1X receptor was particularly different from the other D1-like receptors. The implications of these structural differences in terms of dopamine receptor activation and signalling are discussed. It is suggested that the known diverse physiological and pharmacological effects of dopamine on the retinal neurones are likely to be mediated through these multiple receptor subtypes which may be coupled to different signal transduction pathways.

Neurobiology of retinal dopamine is reviewed and discussed in relation to degenerative states of the tissue. The Introduction deals with the basic physiological actions of dopamine on the different neurons in vertebrate retinae with an emphasis upon mammals. The intimate relationship between the dopamine and melatonin systems is also covered. Recent advances in the molecular biology of dopamine receptors is reviewed in some detail. As degenerative states of the retina, three examples are highlighted: Parkinson's disease; ageing; and retinal dystrophy (retinitis pigmentosa). As visual functions controlled, at least in part, by dopamine, absolute sensitivity, spatial contrast sensitivity, temporal (including flicker) sensitivity and colour vision are reviewed. Possible cellular and synaptic bases of the visual dysfunctions observed during retinal degenerations are discussed in relation to dopaminergic control. It is concluded that impairment of the dopamine system during retinal degenerations could give rise to many of the visual abnormalities observed. In particular, the involvement of dopamine in controlling the coupling of horizontal and amacrine cell lateral systems appears to be central to the visual defects seen.

Cr substituted dilute magnetic semiconductor Cd1-xCrxSe films were grown onto fused silica and sapphire (00 · 1) substrates by vapor deposition technique. The films with wurtzite structure were obtained at composition of 0 ≤ × ≤ 0.66. Saturation magnetization and magnetic susceptibility increased as x increased. In comparison with Mn-DMS system, the initial magnetization curves saturate easily. This tendency is different from most DMS materials in which magnetic ions interact with each other antiferromagnetically. It is possible that ferromagnetic interactions exist in Cd1-xCrxSe.

L-glutamate, the main excitatory synaptic transmitter in the retina, is released from photoreceptors and evokes responses in second-order retinal neurons (horizontal, bipolar cells) which utilize both ionotropic and metabotropic types of glutamate receptors. In the present study, to elucidate the functional roles of glutamate receptors in synaptic transmission, we have identified a specific ionotropic receptor subunit (GluR4) and determined its localization with respect to photoreceptor cells in the outer plexiform layer of the goldfish retina by light and pre-embedding electron-microscopical immunocytochemistry. We screened antisera to mammalian AMPA (alpha-amino-3-hydroxy-5-methyl-4-isoxazolepropionate)-preferring ionotropic glutamate receptors (GluR 1-4) of goldfish retina by light- and electron-microscopical immunocytochemistry. Only immunoreactive (IR) GluR4 was found in discrete clusters in the outer plexiform layer. The cones contacted in this manner were identified as long-wavelength ("red") and intermediate-wavelength ("green") cones, which were strongly immunoreactive to monoclonal antibody FRet 43 and antisera to goldfish red and green-cone opsins; and short-wavelength ("blue") cones, which were weakly immunoreactive to FRet 43 but strongly immunoreactive with antiserum to blue-cone opsin. Immunoblots of goldfish retinal homogenate with anti-GluR4 revealed a single protein at M(r) = 110 kDa. Preadsorption of GluR4 antiserum with either the immunizing rat peptide, or its goldfish homolog, reduced or abolished staining in retinal sections and blots. Therefore, we have detected and localized genuine goldfish GluR4 in the outer plexiform layer of the goldfish retina. We characterized contacts between photoreceptor cells and GluR4-IR second-order neurons in the electron microscope. IR-GluR4 was localized to invaginating central dendrites of triads in ribbon synapses of red cones, semi-invaginating dendrites in other cones and rods, and dendrites making wide-cleft basal junctions in rods and cones; the GluR4-IR structures are best identified as dendrites of OFF-bipolar cells. The results of our studies indicate that in goldfish retina GluR4-expressing neurons are postsynaptic to all types of photoreceptors and that transmission from photoreceptors to OFF-bipolars is mediated at least in part by AMPA-sensitive receptors containing GluR4 subunits.

A 43-year-old woman with a complaint of facial swelling was admitted to our hospital. A chest roentgenogram revealed a mass in the mediastinum. Chest CT and MRI demonstrated a mass in the anterior mediastinum protruding into the superior vena cava (SVC) and right atrium. A diagnosis of thymoma was made by needle biopsy. The patient underwent surgery without preoperative treatment. The tumor extended across the capsule of hte thymic gland and a polypoid growth of tumor reached the right atrium through the lumen of the thymic and left brachiocephalic veins and the SVC. No direct infiltration into the SVC or pericardial cavity was observed. Under cardiopulmonary bypass, the tumor was resected with the left brachiocephalic vein, SVC, and the upper third of the right atrium. The SVC was reconstructed using an EPTFE graft. Histopathologic examination demonstrated a predominantly epithelial cell thymoma. Adjuvant chemotherapy was performed, and no recurrence has been recognized for 3 years postoperatively.

Catalytic combustion is an ultra low NOx combustion method, so it is expected that this method will be applied to gas turbine combustor. However, it is difficult to develop catalytic combustor because catalytic reliability at high temperature is still insufficient. To overcome this difficulty, we designed a catalytic combustor in which premixed combustion was combined. By this device, it is possible to obtain combustion gas at a combustion temperature of 1300°C while keeping the catalytic temperature below 1000°C. After performing preliminary tests using LPG, we designed two types of combustors for natural gas with a capacity equivalent to 1 combustor used in a 20MW–class multi–can type gas turbine. Combustion tests were conducted at atmospheric pressure using natural gas. As a result, it was confirmed that a combustor in which catalytic combustor segments were arranged alternately with premixing nozzles could achieve low NOx and high combustion efficiency in the range from 1000°C to 1300°C of the combustor exit gas temperature.

Summary We examined the expression of the transglutaminase 1 (TGase 1) gene IN frozen sections of normal and psoriatic epidermis by means of non-radioactive in situ hybridization with digoxigenin-labelied cRNA probes. TGase l mRNA was expressed in the granular layer of normal epidermis. regardless of ortho-or hyperkeratosis. However, in psoriatic epidermis. TGasel mRNA was detected in the suprabasal spinous layer, but not in the subcorneal layer. These results indicate that TGase 1 gene expression is limited to the last stage of keratinization in normal epidermis and this regulation is disturbed in psoriasis.

Transglutaminase 1 (TG1) is an enzyme that is expressed and activated during terminal differentiation of keratinocytes and synthesizes cornified envelope by a cross-linking reaction. The gene encoding human TG1 was isolated from human genomic DNA and characterized. It spans 14.3 kilobase pairs and is composed of 15 exons. All exon-intron junctional sequences conformed to the canonical GT-AG rule. The translation start was located in the second exon. The active site Cys residue of the enzyme was in exon 7. The coding sequence for human TG1 was comprised of 2454 nucleotides identical with the published human TG1-cDNA sequence (Yamanishi, K., Liew, F.-M., Konishi, K., Yasuno, H., Doi, H., Hirano, J., and Fukushima, S. (1991) Biochem. Biophys. Res. Commun. 175, 906-913). The sizes of exons from 3 to 14 were markedly conserved between the genes for the human TG1 and factor XIIIa, another member of the transglutaminase family. The one major and two minor transcription initiation sites of the TG1 gene were determined by primer extension. The 5'-flanking region of the human TG1 gene showed features of a housekeeping gene and contained potential regulatory motifs, including elements found in keratinocyte-related genes. The chromosome sublocalization of the TG1 gene was assigned to 14q11.2.

The anti-hepatic cancer effects of three free polyunsaturated fatty acids (linoleic, alpha-linolenic, and gamma-linolenic acids) dissolved in an oily lymphographic agent, Lipiodol Ultra-Fluid (Lipiodol), following intrahepatic arterial administration were examined using a rabbit liver cancer model, VX-2. The tumor was inoculated into the subcapsular parenchyma of the liver of rabbits, and Lipiodol alone or Lipiodol containing each one of the free fatty acids was administered into the hepatic artery 14 days after inoculation. The rabbits were sacrificed 7 days after administration. Lipiodol containing one of the fatty acids selectively remained in the tumor area. Although VX-2 tumor grew extensively in both the untreated group and the group that received Lipiodol alone, growth of VX-2 tumor was greatly suppressed in the group that received Lipiodol containing the free fatty acid. Pathological observation also showed that Lipiodol containing the free fatty acid had an anticancer effect on VX-2 tumor growing in the liver of rabbits. Average survival days in the group treated with Lipiodol containing gamma-linolenic acid were significantly prolonged compared with those in the control groups. Although growth rates of the tumor at the death of rabbits were large in the control groups, VX-2 tumor shrank at death of five rabbits of six in the group treated with Lipiodol containing gamma-linolenic acid. These results suggest that the intrahepatic arterial administration of Lipiodol containing the free fatty acids is an effective method of delivery of these fatty acids as anticancer agents.