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The increased susceptibility to infection following splenectomy has been well documented. We report here, a case of brain abscess developed five years after splenectomy in a patient with idiopathic thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP). A 65-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of fever, mental disorientation, and weakness in August, 1999. She had been followed with diagnoses of essential hypertension and type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) since 1988. The patient was diagnosed as having ITP in 1992, and then underwent splenectomy in 1994. Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS) of IgG, lambda type was found in February 1999. Though high grade fever persisted after admission, blood cultures were negative. Antibiotics were given without a satisfactory effect. Right hemiparesis and worsening of consciousness developed subsequently. Contrast enhanced cranial computed tomography (CT) disclosed a ringed enhanced low density mass in the left parieto-occipital lobe compatible with a diagnosis of brain abscess. Surgical drainage was performed and 20 ml of pus was obtained. No primary infectious focus of the brain abscess was detected with intensive examinations.

We report a case of IgM-lambda type monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance showing non-specific anti-streptolysin O activity of extremely high level. An 83-year-old man developed high grade fever, cough and sputum. He was admitted to our hospital under a diagnosis of acute pneumonia by chest X-ray. He showed anti-streptolysin O (ASO) activity in extremely high level measured by a latex immunoaggregation method (LA-method). Although antibiotics cured the acute pneumonia, the ASO activity had remained in high level. Serum protein electrophoresis disclosed existence of M-protein and the M-protein was found to be IgM, lambda class by immunoelectrophoresis. The ASO activity measured by the LA method was ascribed to the M-protein because the level of M-component shown by the electrophoresis was decreased by absorption of the serum with streptolysin O-coated latex beads that were used in the LA-method. However, ASO activity measured by Rantzs-Randall method was in normal level. The ASO activity measured by the LA-method was absorbed with bovine serum albumin coated latex beads without streptolysin O. Therefore, it was concluded that the M-protein was not reacted with streptplysin O itself but was reacted with bovine serum albumin coated latex beads. The ASO activity of extremely high level in our case was non-specific reaction caused by the M-protein.

A trichofolliculoma occurring in the mid-philtrum of the upper lip of a 17-year-old boy is reported. It presented as an asymptomatic, 10 mm deep sinus and histology showed keratin-filled cysts or sinuses lined by stratified squamous epithelium.

Bias-free 1.3 µm laser diodes (LDs) have been developed for gigabit/s transmission without temperature control. Power variation as low as 2 dB between –20°C and +85°C under 30 mA driving current has been attained by introducing strained multiple quatum well (MQW) and short cavity configurations. Wide eye-opening has been realised under 1 Gbit/s zero-bias modulation in the temperature range –40 to +85°C.

Much is known about the important interactions existing, during pyrolysis of rocks, between minerals and the hydrocarbon compounds coming from the cracking of organic matter (kerogens). Clay minerals have been shown to be the most active in “retaining” the heaviest hydrocarbon compounds and in promoting their coking as the temperature rises. Under pyrolysis conditions of the Rock-Eval type, this paper investigates the interactions between different pure clay minerals and the hydrocarbons coming from the cracking of an organic matter of marine origin (type II). For this, different methods were used to analyse the volatile compounds issuing from pyrolysis (hydrocarbons, hydrogen, CO2, CO) and the carbon residues coming from the hydrocarbon compounds retained on the minerals. These methods included gas chromatography, mass spectrometry, Raman spectroscopy, electron microscopy and oxidation with temperature programming. The results show that: (i) The amount of hydrocarbons “adsorbed” increases with the specific surface area of the argillaceous minerals investigated. (ii) Montmorillonite of type Ca2+ (Camp Berteaux montmorillonite) reveals “catalytic” activity which enhances the formation of light hydrocarbons, with a predominance of aromatics to the detriment of the heaviest adsorbed compounds. In this case, the carbon residue formed on the mineral locally reveals the appearance of “pre-graphitic” structures. (iii) The same is not true for other minerals, such as illite and attapulgite. Despite their high retention power, such minerals do not show any catalytic activity, and the carbon residues they form seem to have a less polycondensed structure (easier combustion of these residues, higher H/C ratio).

The reaction of 6-amino-1, 3-dimethyluracil (I) with phenacyl bromide in DMF gave 1, 3-dimethyl-6-phenylpyrrolo [2, 3-d] pyrimidine-2, 4 (1H, 3H)-dione (II) in high yield. The reaction of I and phenacyl bromide in acetic acid afforded the isomeric 1, 3-dimethy1-5-phenylpyrrolo [2, 3-d] pyrimidine-2, 4 (1H, 3H)-dione as a byproduct besides II. Nitrosation of II gave 1, 3-dimethy1-5-nitroso-6-phenylpyrrolo [2, 3-d] pyrimidine-2, 4 (1H, 3H)-dione (III) along with the corresponding 5-nitro derivative. Ring expansion of III by the Beckmann rearrangement was carried out to give 1, 3-dimethy 1-5-hydroxy-6-phenylpyrimido [4, 5-d]-pyrimidine-2, 4 (1H, 3H)-dione. Denitrosation of III by the action of sulfuric acid was observed.

Das Hydrazino-dimethyluracil (I) liefert mit den Bromacetophenonen (II) die Pyrimidopyridazine (IV) und deren Dihydroderivate (III).

6-Amino-1,3-dimethyl-5-nitroso-uracil (I) liefert bei der Kondensation mit Pho phoroxychlorid und den Amiden (IIa)-(IIc) im Sinne einer Vilsmeier-Reakti die 8-Aminopurine (IIIa)-(IIIc).