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Irregular regeneration or inappropriate remodeling of the axons of the primary afferent neurons after peripheral nerve trauma could be associated with the development of neuropathic pain. We analyzed the molecular mechanisms for the neuritogenesis and neurite outgrowth caused by prostaglandin E

Human papillomavirus (HPV)-related oropharyngeal squamous cell carcinoma (OPSCC) is defined by p16 positivity and/or HPV DNA positivity. Because survival of patients with HPV-related OPSCC after chemoradiotherapy is favorable, a de-intensified treatment is expected to lead to less morbidity while maintaining low mortality. The association of tumor p16 and HPV DNA status with survival after radiotherapy alone remains unknown. We retrospectively examined survival of 107 patients with locally advanced OPSCC after radiotherapy alone (n = 43) or chemoradiotherapy (n = 64) with respect to tumor p16 and HPV DNA status, using Cox’s proportional hazard model. Survival after radiotherapy alone was significantly worse in p16-positive/HPV DNA-negative locally advanced OPSCC than in p16-positive/HPV DNA-positive locally advanced OPSCC. In bivariable analyses that included T category, N category, TNM stage, and smoking history, the survival disadvantage of p16-positive/HPV DNA-negative locally advanced OPSCC remained significant. There was no significant difference in survival after chemoradiotherapy between p16-positive/HPV DNA-positive locally advanced OPSCC and p16-positive/HPV DNA-negative locally advanced OPSCC. Survival in p16-positive/HPV DNA-positive locally advanced OPSCC after radiotherapy alone was similar to that after chemoradiotherapy, which stayed unchanged in bivariable analyses after adjustment of every other covariable. Survival of p16-negative/HPV DNA-negative locally advanced OPSCC was poor irrespective of treatment modality. Survival in p16-positive locally advanced OPSCC differs depending on HPV DNA status. Radiotherapy alone can serve as a de-intensified treatment for p16-positive/HPV DNA-positive locally advanced OPSCC, but not for p16-positive/HPV DNA-negative locally advanced OPSCC.

We investigated mechanisms for the neuritogenesis caused by prostaglandin E 2 (PGE 2 ) or intracellular cyclic AMP (cAMP) in sensory neuron-like ND7/23 cells. PGE 2 caused neuritogenesis, an effect abolished by an EP4 receptor antagonist or inhibitors of adenylyl cyclase (AC) or protein kinase A (PKA) and mimicked by the AC activator forskolin, dibutyryl cAMP (db-cAMP), and selective activators of PKA or Epac. ND7/23 cells expressed both Ca v 3.1 and Ca v 3.2 T-type Ca 2+ channels (T-channels). The neuritogenesis induced by db-cAMP or PGE 2 was abolished by T-channel blockers. T-channels were functionally upregulated by db-cAMP. The PGE 2 /EP4/cAMP/T-channel pathway thus appears to mediate neuritogenesis in sensory neurons.

Seikan Tunnel is in special condition that is under the seabed. So the lining concrete is not affected by water pressure directly as the surrounding areas of the tunnel were grouted the waterproof zone. In this paper, the current soundness of the lining is evaluated by focusing long term convergence measurement, visual inspection and measuring stress of lining, for the purpose of grasp of the long term properties of the tunnel and proper maintenance. As the result, in most cases, the displacement is small. On the other hand, in some of section which has been measured displacement relatively large, lining stress is basically equal to the design strength. However it is smaller than compression strength. In addition, the authors also evaluate soundness of the future of lining, by consideration of forecasting displacement and stress. 長大海底トンネルである青函トンネルは，トンネル周辺地盤に注入を実施して形成した止水ゾーンにより，強大な水圧を覆工コンクリートに直接作用させないように設計されている．このような特殊な条件下にあるトンネルの長期的挙動の把握および今後の適切な維持管理のため，トンネル本坑の内空変位の長期計測，外観検査，覆工コンクリートの応力計測に基づき，覆工コンクリートの健全性を評価した．その結果，内空変位量は全体的に小さく，急激な変位の進行も認められないこと，また，一部の内空変位量が大きい箇所では，覆工コンクリートに設計基準強度相当の応力が生じているものの，当該箇所の圧縮強度よりも十分小さいこと，さらに，今後予想される覆工コンクリートの応力増加を考慮しても，その健全性が損なわれることはないことが明らかとなった．

The head and neck cancer patients with more co-morbidities and those dependent on tube feeding are at a high risk of severe infections during chemotherapy. Therefore, prophylaxis with colony-stimulating factors and/or antibiotics should be considered for those patients.To investigate the risk factors for severe infection during chemotherapy in head and neck cancer patients.A retrospective study was conducted of 129 patients with head and neck cancer who received taxane-based and platinum-based chemotherapy between 2008-2013. Logistic regression models were used to evaluate risk factors.Febrile neutropenia occurred in 50 patients out of the 129 (39%), severe infections occurred in 24 patients (19%), and bacteremia in two patients (2%). In univariate analysis, low serum albumin levels and tube feeding were significantly associated with severe infections (p = 0.015 and0.001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, the odds ratios for a higher modified Charlson co-morbidity index and tube feeding were 2.80 and 9.74, respectively. These two were independent predictive factors for severe infections (p = 0.020 and 0.001, respectively).

BACKGROUND Due to spatial disorientation reported in space, spatial memory and navigation performances could be more largely impaired by gravity changes. Hippocampus, a key structure for spatial memory, receives inputs from gravity-sensing otolith organs. OBJECTIVE To determine the key molecules in the rat hippocampus that contribute to an adaptation to altered gravity in terms of spatial memory performance. METHODS Gene expression of hippocampus and spatial memory after continuous two-weeks exposure to 2 G hypergravity (HG) were examined using a microarray analysis followed by real-time PCR methods and radial arm maze testing, respectively. Serum cortisol levels during HG load were measured as a stress marker. RESULTS Accuracy to enter the correct arms in HG rats was significantly lower than that of controls, indicating an impaired spatial memory due to gravity changes. Microarray analysis followed by real-time PCR confirmed an upregulation of insulin like growth factor binding protein 2 (IGFBP2) gene. Serum cortisol level was the same level as controls at the last day of hypergravity, suggesting the adaptation to HG-induced stress. CONCLUSIONS Given that the IGF systems are involved in neurotrophic and synaptic plasticity mechanisms, IGF system might contribute to the adaptation to altered gravity in terms of spatial memory.

Perineuriomas are uncommon benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors that include soft tissue, sclerosing, reticular, and intraneural variants. Soft tissue perineuriomas arise in a wide anatomic distribution and mostly in patients older than 20 years of age. We report an atypical perineurioma in a 7-year-old girl. The tumor, located in the tongue, was uniformly hypercellular. The tumor cells were spindle-shaped with a slender, elongated, bipolar, wavy cytoplasmic process formation and wavy elongated nuclei, and the architecture was composed of predominantly short fascicles with areas exhibiting a vague storiform pattern. Although the tumor cells generally appeared bland, the tumor showed worrisome features including an infiltrative pattern and occasional mitotic figures. Psammoma bodies were observed in the periphery of the tumor. Immunohistochemically, the cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, claudin-1, and GLUT-1, but negative for S-100 protein, CD34, and type IV collagen. The authors document a case of soft tissue perineurioma with atypical histological features that occurred in the tongue of a child.

Hydrogen sulfide (H(2)S) formed from l-cysteine by multiple enzymes including cystathionine-gamma-lyase (CSE) is now considered a gasotransmitter in the mammalian body. Our previous studies have shown that H(2)S activates/sensitizes Ca(v)3.2 T-type Ca(2+) channels, leading to facilitation of somatic and visceral nociception, and that CSE-derived endogenous H(2)S participates in inflammatory pain. Here, we show novel evidence for involvement of the endogenous H(2)S-Ca(v)3.2 pathway in neuropathic pain. In the rat subjected to the right L5 spinal nerve cutting (L5SNC), a neuropathic pain model, i.p. administration of dl-propargylglycine (PPG) and beta-cyanoalanine, irreversible and reversible CSE inhibitors, respectively, strongly suppressed the neuropathic hyperalgesia/allodynia. The anti-hyperalgesic effect of PPG was reversed by intraplantar administration of NaHS, a donor for H(2)S, in the L5SNC rat. Intraplantar administration or topical application of mibefradil, a T-type Ca(2+) channel blocker, reversed hyperalgesia in the L5SNC rat. The protein levels of Ca(v)3.2, but not CSE, in the ipsilateral L4, L5 and L6 dorsal root ganglia were dramatically upregulated in the L5SNC rat. Finally, silencing of Ca(v)3.2 in DRG by repeated intrathecal administration of Ca(v)3.2-targeting siRNA significantly attenuated the neuropathic hyperalgesia in the L5SNC rat. In conclusion, our data suggest that Ca(v)3.2 T-type Ca(2+) channels in sensory neurons are upregulated and activated/sensitized by CSE-derived endogenous H(2)S after spinal nerve injury, contributing to the maintenance of neuropathic pain. We thus propose that Ca(v)3.2 and CSE could be targets for the development of therapeutic drugs for the treatment of neuropathic pain.

Relapsing polychondritis (RP) is characterized by inflammation and subsequent degeneration of cartilage. We report a 61-year-old woman who had RP with audio-vestibular manifestations. She was also diagnosed as having a myelofibrosis with myeloid metaplasia (MMM). Bilateral endolymphatic hydrops (EH) was confirmed by dominant -SP/AP of the electrocochleogram (ECochG). When thalidomide and prednisolone were prescribed for the treatment of MMM, symptoms of RP -- including the inner ear dysfunction -- were ameliorated. Isosorbide, one of the osmotic diuretics commonly used for the treatment of Meniere's disease (MD) in Japan, was also effective in keeping her free from inner ear dysfunction. This is the first report to confirm the existence of EH in a patient with RP with audio-vestibular manifestations. We suppose that an immunological imbalance due to MMM, in conjunction with a specific immunogenetic background, may have played a role in the pathogenesis of RP and the formation of EH in this patient.

Most astronauts experience spatial disorientation after exposure to weightlessness, indicating that constant gravity is utilized as a stable external reference during spatial cognition. We attempted to elucidate the role of constant gravity in spatial learning using a radial arm maze test on rats housed in a hypergravity environment (HG) produced by a centrifuge device. Male Wistar rats were kept in 2G linear acceleration for 2 weeks before the spatial learning task, which lasted for 10 days. The control rats were placed close to the centrifuge device but not exposed to hypergravity. Spatial learning was evaluated by the accuracy and the re-entry rate, which were the rate of correct arm entries and the rate of entries into the arms that they had already visited, respectively. Locomotor activity was measured by number of entries per minute. The number of baits the animal took per minute was also measured. The results showed that accuracy was significantly inferior and the re-entry rate was significantly higher in the HG rats than in the controls, suggesting that animals use a constant gravity as a stable external reference in spatial learning. However, these differences disappeared at 5 days later, indicating that the HG rats learned the spatial task more rapidly than the controls. Locomotor activity was higher in the HG rats and there was no difference in number of baits per minute between the HG and control animals. In conclusion, if one sensory cue necessary for spatial cognition is disturbed by gravity change, animals can subsidize with other sensory cues such as proprioceptive and motor efference copy signals through increased locomotor activities.

One-hundred and four patients with previously untreated tongue cancer seen in our department between 1986 and 1998 were enrolled in a clinical study. The DNA ploidy patterns observed in fresh frozen specimens obtained from 41 patients were analyzed, and prognostic factors were investigated. According to the TNM classification (UICC 1997), 43 patients had stage I tumors, 29 had stage II tumors, 17 had stage III tumors, and 15 had stage IV tumors. The 5-year cause-specific survival rates for each stage were 94.7%, 64.4%, 50.0% and 45.7%, respectively. The most frequent cause of death associated with the original disease was the recurrence of the disease in cervical lymph nodes (19/27, 70.4%). The occurrence of late cervical metastasis was high among patients with a T2N0 disease. Patients with stage II disease should undergo elective neck dissection or be carefully monitored using ultrasonography. Among the 41 cases in which the DNA ploidy pattern was analyzed, diploid patterns were found in 30 cases and aneuploid patterns were found in 11. The 5-year cause-specific survival rate and the 5-year locoregional control rate were significantly lower for the aneuploid cases (18.2%, 38.9%) than for the diploid cases (66.5%, 69.8%) (p = 0.0003, p = 0.0339). The incidence of distant metastasis was significantly higher among the aneuploid cases (6/11, 54.5%) than among the diploid cases (3/30, 10.0%) (p = 0.0058). The ploidy pattern, as determined by flow cytometric DNA analysis, may reflect the malignancy grade of tongue cancers.

A 35-year-old man who underwent canal down operation for a left middle ear cholesteatoma 30 years earlier, suffered from meningitis. He also developed hoarseness and dysphagia while he was hospitalized. CT and MRI scans showed a mass causing these syndromes. To control infection by Pseudomonas aeruginosa and to confirm the focus of infection, we planned a two-stage operation. We first removed a part of the cholesteatoma and left a drainage tube.After irrigation through the drainage tube and antibiotics therapy for two months, he underwent a second operation to remove the cholesteatoma completely without leakage cerebrospinal fluid.

We experienced a rare case of delayed tracheal rupture after thyroidectomy for papillary thyroid cancer, and the infection causing sternomyelitis. A 69-year-old man presented subcutaneous emphysema after 6 days of total thyroidectomy with bilateral cervical and mediastinal dissection for lymph node metastases by adverse T sternotomy. He underwent tracheostomy on 10th postoperative day (POD), debridement of sternum on 14th POD, and implantation of skin-muscle flap using pectolaris major on 43th POD. The flap showed good adaptation and no infectious complications recurred, so that he could consequently receive closing procedure of tracheostomy on 94th POD.

A 47-year-old woman complaining of a sore throat was referred to our hospital. Previously, the patient had been operated on twice for parapharyngeal tumors in other locations. Magnetic resonance imaging of the area revealed a well-defined round mass in the parapharyngeal lesion that was surgically removed. Histopathological analysis of the surgical specimen revealed a hemangiopericytoma. Subsequently, the tumor recurred twice over the next six years, and multiple distant metastasis, including lung, liver and bone, proved to be fatal. Autopsy specimens from each metastasis lesion showed homogeneous cells of markedly different grades, suggesting that the process of tumor evolution and progression can generate biological diversity, and that the parent tumor is heterogeneous.In conclusion, this clinical course is useful for suggesting biological diversity in the primary tumor.

We report a case of bilateral chylothorax following left modified neck dissection, which is a rare operative complication of neck surgery.A 69-year-old woman presented left neck mass three months after a local excision of tongue carcinoma. We performed a left modified neck dissection without injury to the thoracic duct and there was no evidence of chylous fistula of the neck postoperatively. On the fourth postoperative day she complained of general fatigue and mild dyspnea. A chest X ray examination showed massive left pleural fluid.We diagnosed bilateral chylothorax by CT scan examination and thoracentesis on the eighth postoperative day. Pleural effusion decreased after fasting and removal of the suction drainage tube at the supraclavicular region that possibly disturbed the thoracic duct. Thus, we treated the patient conservatively following previously reported cases.

We report a pseudo-malignant Warthin's tumor with inflammatory changes. A 25 year-old man had been complaining of a painless right sub-auricular swelling for 2 years and 6 months. On examination, there was a 3.5×3.5cm firm mass in the right parotid region, fixed deeply but not to the skin. There was no associated lymphadenopathy. Magnetic resonance imaging of the area revealed a mass of mixed intensity in the right parotid gland involving both the superficial and deep lobes and extending beyond the confines of the capsule. A clinical diagnosis of a malignant parotid tumor was made. A total parotidectomy was performed sacrificing of a buccal branch of the facial nerve. A peroperative frozen section of the tissue was read as an abscess. However postoperative histological examination showed a Warthin's tumor with severe inflammation, partial fibrosis and necrosis. There was no evidence of malignancy.

We report an extremely rare case of a pleomorphic adenoma in the ethmoid sinus. A 46-year-old woman complaining of nasal obstruction was referred to our hospital for treatment. Rhinoscopy revealed a pink-gray tumor in the right nasal cavity. It was resected surgically via a lateral Rhinotomy approach under general anesthesia. The tumor was found to arise from the posterior ethmoid sinus. Histologically, it was diagnosed as a pleomorphic adenoma.In Japan, there have been only two other case reports of pleomorphic adenoma definitely diagnosed in the ethmoid sinus.

The infection levels of Mycoplasma hyorhinis, M. hyopneumoniae and M. hyosynoviae in the lung of piglets were examined in relation to porcine reproductive and respiratory syndrome (PRRS). These animals consisted of 43 PRRS piglets with PRRS, 2 piglets infected with PRRS virus but symptom-free, and 10 control piglets free of PRRS virus and its antibody. M. hyorhinis was isolated from 40 of the 43 PRRS piglets, from 1 of the 2 latent infected piglets and from 3 of the 10 control piglets. The number of M. hyorhinis isolated from the lungs of PRRS piglets was more than 10(5) CFU/g, but those isolated from the latent infected piglets and the control piglets were less than 10(3) CFU/g. In addition to this, Haemophilus parasuis and Pasteurella spp. were frequently isolated from the piglets with PRRS (51.2% and 25.6%, respectively). On the other hand, M. hyopneumoniae was isolated from only 4 of 55 piglets tested, and M. hyosynoviae was not isolated. M. hyorhinis was also detected directly in the lung emulsion samples from almost all the PRRS piglets using a polymerase chain reaction-based method.

Fifty-four Japanese strains of Mycoplasma hyosynoviae isolated from porkers during 1980 to 1995, and 107 Japanese strains of M. hyorhinis isolated from piglets with respiratory disease during 1991 to 1994 were investigated for the in vitro activities of 13 antimicrobial agents [josamycin, tylosin, spiramycin, kitasamycin, erythromycin, lincomycin (LCM), kanamycin (KM), chloramphenicol (CP), thiamphenicol (TP), tiamulin (TML), oxytetracycline (OTC), chlortetracycline (CTC), and enrofloxacin (ERFX)] by the agar dilution method. Of the drugs tested TML showed the highest activity with minimum inhibitory concentration (MIC) of 0.013 to 0.1 microgram/ m/ (MIC90; 0.05 microgram/ml) against strains of M. hyosynoviae, and 0.2 to 0.78 microgram/ml (MIC90; 0.39 microgram/ml) against strains of M. hyorhinis. ERFX, LCM, most of the 16-membered macrolide antibiotics and tetracyclines also showed low MICs against both mycoplasma species. The susceptibility of KM, CP and TP to the mycoplasmas was considered to be of a secondary grade. Two of 54 strains of M. hyosynoviae, and 11 of 107 strains of M. hyorhinis showed resistance to all 14- and 16-membered macrolide antibiotics tested. Tetracyclines (OTC and CTC) showed a relatively broad MIC distribution from 0.1 to 6.25 micrograms/ml against the M. hyosynoviae strains tested. All of the strains isolated during 1980 to 1984 were susceptible at the concentration of 0.78 microgram/ml or less (MIC90; 0.78 microgram/ml) to OTC and 1.56 micrograms/ml or less (MIC90; 1.56 micrograms/ml) to CTC, while the susceptibility of strains isolated recently, during 1994 to 1995, was more than 0.78 microgram/ml (MIC90; 3.13 micrograms/ml) to OTC, and more than 1.56 micrograms/ml (MIC90; 6.25 micrograms/ml) to CTC.

宇宙での運用状況を想定し, その第1段階として, CELSS用水再生循環システム構成の検討および装置の開発・運転試験を行い, 以下の知見を得た.1) CELSS用水再生循環装置を試作し, その運転操作状況などからみて, 設計どおりの運転制御が行われたが, 耐久性の面では装置上改善すべき必要性が認められた.2) 加熱蒸発および運転実験より, 本人工尿では, 60%以上の水の回収は困難であることが明らかになった.3) 用水処理性能低下を招く析出物は, 主としてリン酸とカルシウム, マグネシウムによる化合物であることが判明した.4) RO膜の本供試水での除去率は, 公称除去率と比べ, 20～80%低いことが認められた.とくにアンモニアは除去率が低く, その後のTPVでも処理が難しいので対策が必要と考えられた.

選択鑑別培地およびマイクロフ.レートDNA-DNA相同性試験法を用いたVibrio anguillarumの迅速同定法を確立した。病魚からのV. anguillarumの分離は, 試作した選択鑑別培地 (V-1培地) で実施した。V. anguillarumはV-1培地上で25℃, 24時間以内に小型で黄色のコロニーを形成し, 白糖非分解性のVibrio属細菌と鑑別された。養殖マダイおよびブリ病魚からV-1培地で分離され, 一次鑑別試験でVibrio属菌と同定された50株のVibrio属菌のうち6株がマイクロプレートハイブリダイゼーションによるDNA-DNA相同性試験によりV. anguillarumと同定された。今回の野外試験で, 病魚からの菌分離から同定にいたる全ての過程は4日間で実施可能であることが判明した。

直接接触型膜蒸留法を実用化するに際し, 原水中に不純物が含まれている場合を想定し, 不揮発性成分ではその濃縮限界を, また, 揮発性成分では水蒸気透過特性に及ぼす影響を実験から検討した.実験は, 不揮発性成分としてNa2SO4水溶液を, 揮発性成分としてエタノールおよびアンモニア水溶液を用いて膜蒸留実験を行った.その結果, 揮発性不純物の透過機構を解明するとともに, アンモニアについては, 原水のpHを酸性 (6以下) にすることで, 透過水側へのアンモニアの混入がないことを把握した.さらに, 膜前後の熱・物質収支の式に濃度分極を考慮することで, いずれの場合もシミュレ-ションを可能にした.

Perineuriomas are uncommon benign peripheral nerve sheath tumors that include soft tissue, sclerosing, reticular, and intraneural variants. Soft tissue perineuriomas arise in a wide anatomic distribution and mostly in patients older than 20 years of age. We report an atypical perineurioma in a 7-year-old girl. The tumor, located in the tongue, was uniformly hypercellular. The tumor cells were spindle-shaped with a slender, elongated, bipolar, wavy cytoplasmic process formation and wavy elongated nuclei, and the architecture was composed of predominantly short fascicles with areas exhibiting a vague storiform pattern. Although the tumor cells generally appeared bland, the tumor showed worrisome features including an infiltrative pattern and occasional mitotic figures. Psammoma bodies were observed in the periphery of the tumor. Immunohistochemically, the cells were positive for epithelial membrane antigen, vimentin, claudin-1, and GLUT-1, but negative for S-100 protein, CD34, and type IV collagen. The authors document a case of soft tissue perineurioma with atypical histological features that occurred in the tongue of a child.

Objective: Given recent evidence that hydrogen sulfide (H 2 S), a gasotransmitter, promotes somatic pain through redox modulation of T-type Ca 2+ channels, the roles of colonic luminal H 2 S in visceral nociceptive processing in mice were examined. Methods: After intracolonic administration of NaHS, an H 2 S donor, visceral pain-like behaviour and referred abdominal allodynia/hyperalgesia were evaluated. Phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase (ERK) in the spinal dorsal horn was determined immunohistochemically. The whole-cell recording technique was used to evaluate T-type Ca 2+ currents (T-currents) in cultured dorsal root ganglion (DRG) neurons. Results: Like capsaicin, NaHS, administered intracolonically at 0.5–5 nmol per mouse, triggered visceral nociceptive behaviour accompanied by referred allodynia/hyperalgesia in mice. Phosphorylation of ERK in the spinal dorsal horn was detected following intracolonic NaHS or capsaicin. The behavioural effects of intracolonic NaHS were abolished by a T-type channel blocker or an oxidant, but not inhibitors of L-type Ca 2+ channels or ATP-sensitive K + (K ATP ) channels. Intraperitoneal NaHS at 60 μmol/kg facilitated intracolonic capsaicin-evoked visceral nociception, an effect abolished by the T-type channel blocker, although it alone produced no behavioural effect. In DRG neurons, T-currents were enhanced by NaHS. Conclusions: These findings suggest that colonic luminal H 2 S/NaHS plays pronociceptive roles, and imply that the underlying mechanisms might involve sensitisation/activation of T-type channels probably in the primary afferents, aside from the issue of the selectivity of mibefradil.

Inquiries into the neurochemical mechanisms of vestibular compensation, a model of lesion-induced neuronal plasticity, reveal the involvement of both voltage-gated Ca(2+) channels (VGCC) and intracellular Ca(2+) signaling. Indeed, our previous microarray analysis showed an up-regulation of some calcium signaling-related genes such as the alpha2 subunit of L-type calcium channels, calcineurin, and plasma membrane Ca(2+) ATPase 1 (PMCA1) in the ipsilateral vestibular nuclear complex (VNC) following unilateral vestibular deafferentation (UVD). To further elucidate the role of calcium signaling-related molecules in vestibular compensation, we used a quantitative real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method to confirm the microarray results and investigated changes in expression of these molecules at various stages of compensation (6 h to 2 weeks after UVD). We also investigated the changes in gene expression during Bechterew's phenomenon and the effects of a calcineurin inhibitor on vestibular compensation. Real-time PCR showed that genes for the alpha2 subunit of VGCC, PMCA2, and calcineurin were transiently up-regulated 6 h after UVD in ipsilateral VNC. A subsequent UVD, which induced Bechterew's phenomenon, reproduced a complete mirror image of the changes in gene expressions of PMCA2 and calcineurin seen in the initial UVD, while the alpha2 subunit of VGCC gene had a trend to increase in VNC ipsilateral to the second lesion. Pre-treatment by FK506, a calcineurin inhibitor, decelerated the vestibular compensation in a dose-dependent manner. Although it is still uncertain whether these changes in gene expression are causally related to the molecular mechanisms of vestibular compensation, this observation suggests that after increasing the Ca(2+) influx into the ipsilateral VNC neurons via up-regulated VGCC, calcineurin may be involved in their synaptic plasticity. Conversely, an up-regulation of PMCA2, a brain-specific Ca(2+) pump, would increase an efflux of Ca(2+) from those neurons and perhaps prevent cell damage following UVD.

To prepare mycoplasmal DNA template for PCR from biological samples rapidly and easily, surfactants which can solubilize cell membranes effectively were investigated. 3-[3-Cholamidopropyl)dimethylammonio]-1-propanesulfonate (CHAPS) was considered an effective surfactant. This surfactant could solubilize mycoplasma cell membrane without suppressing the polymerase reaction. In addition, proteinase K treatment played an important role in preparing mycoplasmal DNA template from a simulated biological sample. It was therefore considered that a combination of proteinase K- and CHAPS- added lysis buffer would be more useful in preparing mycoplasmal DNA template. We could detect PCR products by using the lysis buffer with a simulated lung emulsion sample containing mycoplasma organisms at 10(4) CFU per gram.

To investigate the molecular background of vestibular compensation, a model of lesion-induced plasticity, we used a microarray analysis to examine genes that show asymmetrical expression between the bilateral vestibular nucleus complexes (VNCs) 6 h following unilateral vestibular deafferentation (UVD). Asymmetrical gene expression was then validated by a real-time quantitative PCR. Among the 88 genes for which the ipsilateral (ipsi) : contralateral (contra) was > 1.35, the number of known genes was 33 (38%), and the number of expressed sequence tag (EST) sequences was 55 (62%). Among the 130 genes for which the contra : ipsi was > 1.35, the number of known genes was 55 (42%), and the number of EST sequences was 75 (58%). Changes in some of the genes were consistent with previous studies; however, we found several new genes which could be functionally related to the molecular basis of the electrophysiological asymmetry between the VNCs following UVD. Ipsi > contra genes included the GABA(A) receptor rho subunit, regulatory proteins of G protein signaling, calcium signaling related molecules such as the voltage-dependent calcium channel alpha2/delta subunit 1, calcineurin subunit Abeta and Ca(2+) pump. Contra > ipsi genes included the neuronal high affinity glutamate transporter, 5-hydroxytryptamine receptor 1D, mitogen-activated protein kinase 12 and ubiquitin carboxy-terminal hydrolase L1.

Objective To investigate the relation between the vestibular system and vasopressin (AVP). Material and methods We examined the effects of electrical and caloric vestibular stimulation on plasma AVP levels in anesthetized rats. Plasma AVP levels of patients with intractable Meniere's disease who were subjected to endolymphatic drainage and steroid instillation surgery (EDSS) or intratympanic gentamicin (GM) injection were measured before and after these interventions. Results Electrical vestibular stimulation increased plasma AVP levels in a current intensity-dependent manner. Plasma AVP levels were also increased by caloric stimulation with cold water. Plasma AVP levels decreased rapidly after EDSS, and were maintained at a low level even 6-12 months following EDSS or intratympanic GM injection. Conclusions Vestibular activation or inhibition-induced imbalance of intervestibular activities increased plasma AVP levels in rats. Therefore, vestibular disorder would seem to increase plasma AVP and thus worsen endolymphatic hydrops. EDSS rapidly decreased plasma AVP and would seem to reduce hydrops. Inhibition of vertigo spells by EDSS or intratympanic GM injection would reduce a possible stress response, resulting in a decrease in plasma AVP levels a long time after the treatments. This resultant decrease in AVP would beneficially inhibit the formation and/or maintenance of hydrops and thus prevent vertigo spells.

When treating dizzy patients, the psychiatric aspect should be carefully addressed regardless of whether a well-defined organic disease is present. In this prospective study, we aimed to elucidate the role of paroxetine, a selective serotonin reuptake inhibitor, in the treatment of dizziness.Forty-seven patients who complained of dizziness were treated with 20 mg of paroxetine per day. The depressive state of the patient was evaluated by the Zung Self-Rating Depression Scale (SDS). Treatment outcomes were measured with self-assessment of subjective handicaps in daily life using a dizziness and unsteadiness questionnaire. The questionnaire consisted of five factors related to emotional or bodily dysfunction that could be affected by dizziness. Changes in Self-Rating Depression Scale scores and subjective handicaps were assessed at 4 and 8 weeks after the start of paroxetine.In patients having well-defined organic diseases with high Self-Rating Depression Scale scores, paroxetine improved all five subjective handicap factors as well as Self-Rating Depression Scale scores. The decline in Self-Rating Depression Scale scores showed a significant correlation with improvement of subjective handicaps, which was related to emotional problems but not factors related to bodily dysfunction. Paroxetine was also effective for an improvement of factors related to emotional problems and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores in patients not having organic diseases but with high Self-Rating Depression Scale scores. In patients either with or without organic diseases with low Self-Rating Depression Scale scores, paroxetine had no effect on any subjective handicap factors and Self-Rating Depression Scale scores.In the treatment of dizzy patients, paroxetine was effective at relieving subjective handicaps caused by dizziness, specifically, in patients with high Self-Rating Depression Scale scores.

Minimal inhibitory concentrations (MICs) of 20 antimicrobial agents were determined for 67 field strains of Actinobacillus pleuropneumoniae isolated from the lungs of piglets with pleuropneumonia during the period 1992 to 1994, in Japan. Of these 67 strains, all 29 strains that were identified as serotypes 1 and 7 were resistant to chloramphenicol and tiamphenicol, whereas all of those identified as serotypes 2, 5 and 8 were susceptible to these antibiotics. Furthermore, 20 of 23 streptomycin-resistant strains were serotype 1, while, only 3 strains were serotype 2. These results suggest that the different serotypes of A. pleuropneumoniae vary in terms of antimicrobial-resistance.

A 54-year-old woman complained of positional vertigo. During 3 months’ observation, the patient showed mostly geotropic or apogeotropic nystagmus due to right canalolithiasis or cupulolithiasis, however, she sometimes showed nystagmus which suggested left horizontal canalolithiasis. We suspected that she suffered from bilateral horizontal canal type benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV) and performed Lempert’s maneuver for both directions, however, they were ineffective. She underwent canal plugging for right horizontal canal. After surgery she showed no positional nystagmus of right horizontal canal origin. However, apogeotropic nystagmus of the left horizontal canal origin was still observed. This nystagmus changed to geotropic nystagmus and finally disappeared following Lempert’s maneuver for the left side. Bilateral horizontal canal BPPV is difficult to be resolved, probably because physical treatment for one side would move debris to the cupula in the other canal. Canal plugging combined with Lempert’s maneuver to the other side is one treatment option for intractable bilateral horizontal canal BPPV.

Space Environment Reliability Verification Integration System (SERVIS) project aims at establishing technologies for high performance and low cost satellite system and components with stateof-the-art commercial parts. New Energy and Industrial Technology Development Organization (NEDO) has entrusted the development of the SERVIS to Institute for Unmanned Space Experiment Free Flyer (USEF). Two verification satellites, SERVIS-1 and -2 will be launched in 2003 and 2006, respectively. CRAFT is an autonomous fault tolerant computer developed as one of the experimental equipment for SERVIS-2 satellite. It incorporates advanced commercial parts and commercial technology in order to realize high performance, small size and light weight component with low cost. CRAFT is being developed in order to built low cost satellite bus system. It will realize high reliability data handling system with high performance and low cost commercial devices by exploiting unique fault tolerant technology, which has higher reliability than majority voting system.

We have developed a star sensor with a short baffle of 140 mm. Our baffle provides a Sun rejection angle of 35 degrees with stray light attenuation less than the intensity level of a visual magnitude of Mv = +5 for a wide field of view lens of 13x13 degrees. The application of a new light shielding technique taking advantage of total internal reflection phenomena enables us to reduce the baffle length to about three fourths that of the conventional two-stage baffle. We have introduced two ideas to make the baffle length shorter. The one is the application of a nearly half sphere convex lens as the first focusing lens. The bottom surface reflects the scattering rays with high incident angles of over 50 degrees by using the total internal reflection phenomena. The other is the painting of the surface of the baffle with not frosted but gloss black paint. The gloss black paint enables most of the specular reflection rays to go back to outer space without scattering. We confirm the baffle performance mentioned above by scattering ray tracing simulation and a light attenuation experiment in a darkroom on the ground.

We investigated the DNA ploidy pattern, cell cycle and the percentage of Ki-67 positive fractions in fresh surgical material from 17 benign and 33 malignant thyroid tumours using flow cytometry. DNA aneuploidy was not seen at all in benign tumours, but was seen in 3 out of 33 malignant tumours, suggesting that detection of DNA aneuploidy indicates malignancy, although the detection sensitivity was low. Regarding the cell cycle, there was no difference in the percentage of S-phase fractions (SPF) or G2 plus M phase fractions (G2M) between benign and malignant tumours. However, the percentage of Ki-67 positive fractions in malignant tumours (39.9 +/- 3.9%) was significantly higher than that in benign tumours (9.4 +/- 2.1%), indicating that malignant thyroid tumours contained a large population of G phase cells. When a cut-off value of 20%, was used for Ki-67 positive fractions, sensitivity was 82%, specificity was 88% and accuracy was 84% for the diagnosis of malignant tumours. Although this study was carried out on surgically derived materials, it is possible that flow cytometric analysis of fine needle aspiration-derived materials may have a place in preoperative histopathological assessment of thyroid tumours.

Metastatic disease to the parotid gland is rare and its diagnosing procedures are not established. We assessed several parameters, including the prior history of malignancy, fine needle aspiration cytology (FNAC) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging and determined the most useful combinations for diagnosing metastatic parotid tumors. The primary tumors were squamous cell carcinomas of the eyelid, larynx, tonsil and of unknown origin, malignant melanoma of the auricle and small cell lung carcinoma. In three of four patients with parotid lymph node metastasis who underwent MR imaging, rim enhancement of the tumor was observed on gadolinium (Gd)-enhanced fat-suppressed T1-weighted MR images (sensitivity 75%). In the histopathologic examinations, the tumor was encapsulated and massive infiltration of normal lymphocytes was found peripheral to the capsule. These were not seen in the patients with metastasis to the parotid parenchyma via hematogeneous dissemination or with advanced-stage parotid node metastasis. The FNAC diagnosis accorded with the tumor histology in five of six patients (sensitivity 83%). Three of the six patients had a prior history of malignancy in other sites (sensitivity 50%). The triad of FNAC, prior history of malignancy and enhanced MR images was identified as the combination most useful in the diagnosis of metastatic parotid tumors (sensitivity 100%).

We surgically treated a 75-year-old man who suffered from metastatic adenocarcinoma from the colon associated with primary thyroid lymphoma measuring 1 cm maximum in diameter. Radiologic findings were correlated with histopathology of excised specimens. Ultrasonography could discriminate between these two tumors based on the margin characteristics and the lesion echogenicity: the metastatic tumor was shown as an ill-defined hypo to iso echoic mass, while the malignant lymphoma was detected as a well-defined markedly hypoechoic mass. In addition, we could confirm that early-stage primary thyroid lymphoma even as small as 1 cm shows the same radiologic appearance as that of a bulky lymphoma.

Background. To explore the flow cytometric diagnosis of malignant lymphoma, we examined the deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA) ploidy, proliferative activities, and immunophenotype of surgical biopsy- and fine-needle aspiration (FNA)-derived materials. Our goal was to determine the possibility of making a diagnosis of malignant lymphoma by flow cytometric analysis of FNA-derived materials. Methods. The DNA ploidy and proliferative indices including the percentage of S-phase fraction (SPF), G2 + M fraction (G2M), and Ki-67-positive fraction (Ki-67) were analyzed on the fresh materials from 84 consecutive patients with suspected malignant lymphoma. Flow cytometric analysis of surface antigens was simultaneously performed. Fourteen of the patients underwent FNA and subsequent surgical biopsy of the same lymph nodes for flow cytometric analysis. Results. The proliferative indices of intermediate-grade non-Hodgkin's lymphomas (NHL) (n = 28) and high-grade NHL (n = 23) were significantly higher than those of the reactive hyperplasia (n = 25). The total for SPF + G2M of 6% was a satisfactory threshold for differentiating these NHL from reactive hyperplasia (sensitivity of 84%, specificity of 88%, and accuracy of 86%). However, low-grade NHL (n=3) and Hodgkin's lymphoma (HL, n = 5) could not be discriminated by employing this parameter. DNA aneuploidy was seen in 13 of the 28 intermediate-grade NHL and 8 of the 23 high-grade NHL, whereas it was not seen in 25 reactive hyperplasia, 3 low-grade NHL, and 5 HL. The percentage of CD19-positive cells in B-cell NHL or CD3-positive cells in T-cell NHL was significantly higher compared with those for reactive hyperplasia. The percentage of CD16 + CD56-positive cells in natural killer (NK) cell NHL was extremely high, with a mean of 91.8%. Flow cytometric results for FNA-derived materials showed excellent correlation with those for surgical biopsy-derived specimens. Conclusions. Analyses of DNA ploidy, proliferative activities, and immunophenotype by flow cytometry (FCM) are useful for diagnosing intermediate- and high-grade NHL. Fine-needle aspiration is a less invasive approach than surgical biopsy, and, when combined with FCM, it may have a place in the diagnosis of NHL.

We correlated the histopathology of 32 cases of salivary gland tumors with MR imaging and flow cytometric DNA analysis. All malignant tumors were invasive and/or had an ill-defined margin. Fifty-seven percent of the pleomorphic adenomas were shown as a high signal intensity area on T2 weighted images. Fifty-six percent of Warthin tumors were shown as a low or iso signal intensity area on T2 weighted images associated with the cystic portion. Sixty-seven percent of malignant tumors were characterized by DNA aneuploidy and/or a total percentage of the S-phase fraction plus the G2 + M fraction higher than 10%. It was less than 10% and the Ki-67 positive fraction was higher than 20% in all pleomorphic adenomas. The Ki-67 positive fraction was less than 20% in 78% of Warthin tumors. The histopathology of all malignant tumors, 86% of the pleomorphic adenomas, and 89% of Warthin tumors was correctly predicted by the combination of MR images and flow cytometry. We suggest that the MR images combined with flow cytometric analysis of fine needle aspiration-derived materials is useful in the pre-operative histopathologic diagnosis of salivary gland tumors.

Field isolated Mycoplasma strains LG1 and SF1 were isolated from the lung and leg joint fluid of a goat, respectively in Japan in 1991. These strains were closely related and had the following biochemical properties: glucose was metabolized, arginine and urea were not hydrolyzed, tetrazolium was reduced, phosphatase produced, and casein and coagulated serum were digested. Serologically, these strains cross-reacted with three Mycoplasma species [M. mycoides subsp. mycoides (Mmm), M. mycoides subsp. capri, and M. sp. Group 7]. From the above results, the field isolates were considered to be Mmm. In addition, DNA-DNA relatedness between the field isolates and other Mycoplasma species called the "mycoides cluster" was determined, and a recently developed PCR method was also used for mycoplasmal identification. From these results, the field isolates were identified as Mmm LC type.