Search

In most chrysanthemums, the capitulum is composed of ray florets and disk florets. The ray floret colour in yellow-flowered cultivars is mainly due to carotenoids. In white-flowered chrysanthemum cultivars (Chrysanthemum morifolium), the ray floret colour is due to the cleavage of carotenoids catalyzed by carotenoid cleavage dioxgenase4 (CmCCD4a). CmCCD4a suppression by RNA interference (RNAi) gives a yellow colour to white ray florets. In wild chrysanthemums, the ray florets are either white or yellow, indicating that ray floret colour probably results from carotenoid cleavage in wild chrysanthemums, as in chrysanthemum cultivars. Southern blot analysis confirmed that wild chrysanthemum species with white ray florets had CmCCD4a orthologs, while those with yellow ray florets did not. This suggests that carotenoid cleavage also contributes to ray floret colour in wild chrysanthemums. CmCCD4a expression is observed to be strictly limited to ray florets. Southern blot analysis showed that Chrysanthemum shiwogiku has CmCCD4a orthologs, although its capitulum has only disk florets and no ray florets. To confirm the function of this CmCCD4a ortholog, C. shiwogiku was interspecifically hybridized with a yellow-flowered cultivar 'Squash' that does not have CmCCD4a. The capitulum of all progenies produced white ray florets. CmCCD4a ortholog fragments were detected in all progenies by polymerase chain reaction. These results showed that the CmCCD4a orthologs present in apetalous C. shiwogiku, and its translated product has an enzymatic function in the ray florets.

Changes in sugar content of leaves from individual Phalaenopsis orchid plants were investigated during flower induction in relation to the effects of light intensity, temperature and CO 2 concentration on the days to spiking. Exposure to low-intensity light (0.6 mol m −2 per day) at 20 °C significantly reduced the sucrose content of leaves 3 weeks after the start of treatment and delayed the spike emergence (spiking) by 47 days as compared with the exposure to high-intensity light (4.3 mol m −2 per day). The heating treatment (27 °C on the average) significantly reduced the sucrose content of leaves 2 weeks after the start of treatment and delayed the spiking about 9 days compared with the control (23 °C). Elevated treatment of CO 2 (1000–3000 ppm) under the constant temperature of 20 °C increased the sucrose content 2–3 weeks after the start of the treatment and accelerated spiking by about 10 days as compared with the control. Thus, the stimulatory treatments, such as low temperature treatment, high-intensity light at 20 °C and CO 2 enrichment at 20 °C, increased the sucrose content of leaves 2–3 weeks after the start of the treatment. The sucrose content significantly correlated with the days to spiking. The contents of other soluble sugars in leaves did not correlate with the number of days to spiking.

Structure change of Ni(1 ML: 7.83×1014 atoms/cm2)/Si(1 1 1) by post-annealing was observed by reflection high energy electron diffraction, atomic force microscopy (AFM), medium energy ion scattering (MEIS) and photoelectron spectroscopy. The AFM observation showed dramatic change of the surface morphology after the Ni deposition at room temperature (RT) followed by annealing at 400, 600, 700 and 800 °C for 2 min in an ultrahigh vacuum. MEIS using 70 keV He+ ions analyzed the depth profiles of Ni and the crystallographic structure of the Ni-composites formed by annealing. The valence band and the Si-2p and Ni-3p core level analyses using synchrotron-radiation light showed that the NiSi phase appeared by 1 ML-Ni deposition at RT and both NiSi and NiSi2 islands were formed by annealing at 400 °C. Annealing at 600 and 700 °C led to growth of the B-type NiSi2 islands with height of four and six Si–Ni–Si triple layers. After annealing at 800 °C, three-fourth of the deposited Ni atoms were dissipated from the surface and the dominant surface structure was the 1×1-ring clusters accompanied by a small amount of 19×19 phase. The present analysis clearly showed the structure change of Ni (1 ML)/Si(1 1 1) by post-annealing and provided the information about the kinetics for the Ni–Si system.

A complement-activating bactericidal protein, Ra-reactive factor was isolated from mouse serum by an affinity method. The m.w. of the isolated RaRF estimated by glycerol density gradient sedimentation (around 300,000) was the same as that of the active material in mouse serum. As evidenced by gel filtration, the intact RaRF was decomposed into high (higher than 200,000) and low (50,000 to 200,000) m.w. components by treatment with 10% acetonitrile. SDS- and acid/urea-PAGE demonstrated that the high m.w. component was completely dissociated into equimolar quantities of two kinds of 28 kDa polypeptides, P28a and P28b, under reducing conditions, indicating that the association of these polypeptides was stabilized by disulfide bonds. The ability to bind specifically to the Ra determinant was retained in the high m.w. component, although the complement-activating potency was lost. The amino acid compositions of P28a and P28b polypeptides were compared with those of related serum proteins. The P28a and P28b polypeptides were found to have the highest homology to rat mannan-binding protein and mouse and human C1q subcomponent of complement.

A total of 17 cases of remnants of urachus were examined between 1981 and 1989, including 2 cases of patent urachus, 5 of urachal cyst, 9 of urachal sinus, and 1 of urachal diverticulum. A long urachal sinus was considered to be caused by the self-destruction of a cyst. While patent urachus was diagnosed in neonates with urine discharge from the umbilicus, cysts or sinuses accompanied by infection were more often found in older children. Imaging of the burrows was diagnostic in 8 out of 11 cases, ultrasound examination in 9 out of 12, and CT examination in all of 3 cases. Since this condition is frequently accompanied by malformations of the urinary system, attention must be paid to locating the accompanying anomalies. Although primary extraction was performed in 13 cases, the primary treatment of cases with highly infected cysts should be drainage, followed by secondary extraction. Furthermore, caution must be exercised to avoid hemorrhage in cases with dilation of the umbilical artery.

直腸内に生理食塩水を注入しつつ,直腸肛門内圧を測定した.13例の正常児では生理食塩水注入後肛門内圧は下降し,直腸と同じ波形を示すことが多かった.88%において便意が発現し,31%で生理食塩水500mlを保持できた.30例の特発性便秘症では生理食塩水注入に対して肛門内圧が下降したのは2例で,肛門の波形は多くは大きな弛緩を繰り返し,一部収縮を示した.24%において便意の訴えがあり,75%は生理食塩水500mlを保持できた.10例のヒルシュスプルング病では生理食塩水注入後肛門内圧が下降したのは1例のみで,肛の波形は大半が生理食塩水注入前と変化なく,一部の例で収縮波が認められた.この群は低年齢のため便意発現はわからないが,67%の例で生理食塩水500mlを保持できた.

Docetaxel was effective as a second line neoadjuvant chemotherapy after failure of cyclophosphamide, epirubicin and 5-FU (CEF) in 2 cases of breast cancer. In Case 1, 4 cycles of trans-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy of docetaxel showed a PR effect after failure of 2 cycles of trans-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CEF. This patient died of pleuritis carcinomatosa 18 months after surgery for breast cancer (latissimus dorsi muscle myocutaneous flap after radical mastectomy). In Case 2, 6 cycles of neoadjuvant venous drip infusion of docetaxel resulted in a CR effect after failure of 2 cycles of transarterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CEF. This patient is alive and disease-free 27 months after the operation for breast cancer (same operation as for Case 1). Docetaxel was effective as neoadjuvant chemotherapy for patients after failure of trans-arterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy with CEF.

Thirteen children with chronic constipation (8 males and 5 females, aged 1 month to 9 years) were evaluated manometrically. A suction-stimulating electrode was used to induce the rectoanal reflex electrically so as to examine the threshold voltage and latency of this reflex. The rectoanal reflex was induced in all patients by balloon dilatation of the rectum. However, electrical stimulation of the rectal mucosa triggered a reflex in only nine of them and the threshold voltage and latency was 22.2 +/- 3.6 volts (mean +/- SD, n = 9) and 2.04 +/- 0.38 seconds (n = 9), respectively. Hence, it is suggested that a suction-stimulating electrode is a useful supportive tool in manometric anorectal studies, and that disturbances in the rectal nervous system might be one of the causative factors in chronic constipation in childhood.

An application of ambipolar potential in a magnetized plasma is proposed for direct energy conversion. Analyses of a model device for 20-MW-per-unit-length (without considering end loss) and 14-MW-per-unit-length (with the end loss) are shown. The plasma density profile, the potential distribution in the device, and the voltage-current characteristics are obtained on the basis of the Poisson continuity equation system. As an example, a theoretical energy loss by neutral particles, which should not affect the total efficiency much. Experiments with a small thermal ionization-type device were performed wherein the relations of output voltage versus current and power versus impedance were acquired. the experimental results are compared with the theoretical and a qualitative agreement is obtained. >

The intraluminal pressure of the rectum and anal canal were measured in patients with Hirschsprung's disease before and after Ikeda's Z-shaped anastomosis, and the association of the pressure with postoperative capability of fecal continence was assessed. Radical operation did not alter rectal pressure but did decrease anal-canal pressure. Rhythmical anal contractions increased in frequency until a normal level was attained. The rectoanal relaxation reflex became distinct with time, and 45% of patients eventually attained the reflex after operation. In patients who postoperatively attained satisfactory fecal continence or, at least, only soiling, resting pressure in the anorectum and the frequency of rhythmical anal-canal contractions were similar to those for normal children. The rectoanal relaxation reflex was induced in 58% of the former and 27% of the latter. In patients with postoperative constipation, the intraluminal resting pressure of the anorectum was elevated without the relaxation reflex response. In patients with incontinence, the pressure of the anal canal was low, without a reflex response. These findings indicate that the high and low values of the resting pressure of the anal canal are responsible for constipation and incontinence, respectively, and that the presence of rectoanal relaxation reflex may represent one aspect of a normal defecation function.

The intraluminal pressure of the rectum and anal canal were measured in patients with Hirschsprung’s disease before and after Ikeda’s Z-shaped anastomosis, and the association of the pressure with postoperative capability of fecal continence was assessed.

Anorectal manometry was performed in 48 Japanese children with Hirschsprung’s disease and 61 normal children. The resting pressure of the rectum and anal canal was not significantly different between these groups of subjects. The frequency of rhythmical contractions of the anal canal of patients was significantly lower than for the normal subjects, but the frequencies overlapped considerably. Therefore, the frequency is an inadequate indicator for identifying these patients.

Anorectal manometry was performed in 48 Japanese children with Hirschsprung's disease and 61 normal children. The resting pressure of the rectum and anal canal was not significantly different between these groups of subjects. The frequency of rhythmical contractions of the anal canal of patients was significantly lower than for the normal subjects, but the frequencies overlapped considerably. Therefore, the frequency is an inadequate indicator for identifying these patients. Conventional manometry elicited a distinct rectoanal relaxation reflex from 90% of the normal children, and the rate increased to 98% when indistinct reflexes were regarded as positive. Indistinct reflexes often occur in neonates, possibly because the constriction of the anal canal is weak. However, when prostaglandin F2 alpha was intravenously administered during the examination, all ambiguous reflexes became distinct. Of patients with Hirschsprung's disease, 4% had a distinct reflex and 19% an atypical one. Most of the atypical reflexes were regarded as being artifacts and were mostly attributed to distension by a balloon. In these patients, the reflex was abolished in case of examination with electric stimulation or stimulation with cold water, procedures which do not dilate the rectum. Moreover these atypical reflexes did not fit the criteria for the normal rectoanal relaxation reflex prepared by the Japan Study Group of Pediatric Intestinal Manometry. The use of electric stimulation, cold water, or intravenously administered prostaglandin F2 alpha improves reliability of the conventional anorectal manometry. A clear and accurate definition of the normal reflex should aid in excluding the atypical reflex.

Anorectal manometry was performed on mongrel dogs given various drugs in attempts to determine the effect of the drugs on rectoanal inhibitory reflex. Anal canal pressure was significantly increased by the administration of neostigmine and noradrenaline and significantly lowered by isoproterenol. The amplitude of the rectoanal inhibitory reflex was increased by the administration of neostigmine and prostaglandinF2 alpha (PGF2 alpha), decreased by atropine but was little affected by either noradrenaline or isoproterenol. These results suggested that cholinergic neurons have an excitatory effect both on the anal canal pressure and the rectoanal inhibitory reflex, while adrenergic alpha and beta receptors have little effect on the rectoanal inhibitory reflex. PGF2 alpha was though to increase the motor activity of the anal sphincter and facilitate the rectoanal inhibitory reflex. Neostigmine and PGF2 alpha may aid in clarifying rectoanal inhibitory reflexes in neonates or postoperative children with rectoanal diseases.

The low-frequency plasmon-resonant Raman scattering by the vibrational modes of silver nanoclusters embedded in amorphous ${\mathrm{SiO}}_{2}$ films is studied experimentally and theoretically. By electron microscopy it is observed that the concentration of defects in nanocrystals decreases and the intensity of Raman scattering increases by thermal annealing. It is shown that the degree of spatial coherence inside clusters has a strong effect on the Raman intensity and on its frequency dependence.

An unusual case of prolonged retention of a swallowed, round-shaped, magnet tack in the stomach of a patient is reported. The patient had had a previous pyloromyotomy for pyloric stenosis. Patients with a history of pyloromyotomy for pyloric stenosis may present special problems for the passage of foreign bodies reaching the stomach and may be more likely to require surgical intervention.