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The capability of eddy current testing (ECT) for the bottom mounted instrumentation (BMI) weld area of reactor vessel in a pressurized water reactor was demonstrated by the developed ECT system and procedure. It is difficult to position and move the probe on the BMI weld area because the area has complexly curved surfaces. The space coordinates and the normal vectors at the scanning points were calculated as the scanning trajectory of probe based on the measured results of surface shape on the BMI mock-up. The multi-axis robot was used to move the probe on the mock-up. Each motion-axis position of the robot corresponding to each scanning point was calculated by the inverse kinematic algorithm. In the mock-up test, the probe was properly contacted with most of the weld surfaces. The artificial stress corrosion cracking of approximately 6 mm in length and the electrical-discharge machining slit of 0.5 mm in length, 1 mm in depth and 0.2 mm in width given on the weld surface were detected. From the probe output voltage, it was estimated that the average probe tilt angle on the surface under scanning was 2.6°.

A 69-year-old male complained of gross hematuria. Cystoscopy revealed a papillary pedunculated tumor. The tumor was approximately 4 cm in length, and mimicked an inverted papilloma with a small stalk and smooth surface, located on the bladder trigone. Transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was performed, and the tumor was resected en bloc. Histopathological examination revealed thick and irregular epithelial cords. Immunohistochemically, Ki-67 labeling index was 5%, p40 and CK7 were positive, and CK20 was negative. Then, this tumor was diagnosed as inverted variant of urothelial carcinoma. Even when gross appearance is compatible with inverted papilloma, pathological and immunohistochemical examinations are essential for accurate diagnosis of inverted bladder tumor. No recurrence was observed by cystoscopy 13 months after the resection.

Matrix Gla protein (MGP) is a crucial inhibitor of vessel and cartilage calcification. We investigated the association of T-138C MGP promoter polymorphism with the degree of atherosclerosis, vascular calcification and patients' clinical background including calcification of the trachea and costal cartilage. Analysis of 108 autopsy cases was carried out by polymorphism-specific PCR on formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded samples. Statistical correlations among eight risk factors and five markers related to atherosclerosis and extra-bone tissue calcification were multivariantly analyzed. We found very high canonical correlations between the factors and the markers, and Pearson's correlation analysis revealed six significant correlations between age and the Gore index; age and costal cartilage calcification; sex and costal cartilage calcification; hypertension and the Gore index; hypertension and the calcification factor of the Gore index; and hyperlipidemia and costal cartilage calcification. The promoter activity of the -138T allele was significantly higher than that of the -138C allele; treatment with 12-O-tetradecanonylphorbol 13-acetate (TPA) significantly activated the former, but had almost no effect on the latter. The C genotype was significantly common among Japanese subjects, (TT 45.5%, TC 37.6% and CC 16.8%) compared with that reported in the Netherlands, Northern Ireland and France. No significant correlation was observed, however, between T-138C MGP promoter polymorphism and the markers. Although the C genotype (TC+CC) tended to show a higher calcification factor than the TT genotype, no significant difference was observed among the genotypes in the Gore index or in the calcification factor. Although MGP promoter activity and the binding of the AP-1 transcription factor were clearly different between T-138 and C-138 MGP promoter polymorphism in vitro, T-138C polymorphism was, statistically, not an independent factor of atherosclerosis or atherosclerotic vascular calcification in the abdominal aorta.