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Background Pleuroperitoneal communication is a rare disorder that interferes with peritoneal dialysis. Although favorable results of thoracoscopic fistula closure have been reported, there are some cases in which the fistulas cannot be identified by thoracoscopy and the patients are forced to switch to hemodialysis. Case presentation We present two cases of pleuroperitoneal communication in which diaphragmatic fistulas could not be identified thoracoscopically, but could be identified laparoscopically. Patient 1 had difficulty continuing peritoneal dialysis 9 months after its introduction due to right pleural effusion. Although we could not detect the fistula thoracoscopically, we could laparoscopically identify the fistula in the center of the tendon of the right diaphragm and closed the site from the thoracic side. Patient 2 developed dyspnea due to right pleural effusion 6 months after the introduction of peritoneal dialysis. We could not find the fistulas with a thoracoscopic approach, but could identify multiple diaphragmatic fistulas with a laparoscopic approach and close the sites from the thoracic side. Conclusion In the surgical treatment of pleuroperitoneal communication, diaphragmatic fistulas can be identified laparoscopically even when thoracoscopic observation fails to find any fistulas.

Cytotoxic CD8+ T lymphocytes (CTLs) recognize peptides displayed by HLA class I molecules on cell surfaces, monitoring pathological conditions such as cancer. Difficulty in predicting HLA class I ligands is attributed to the complexity of the Ag processing pathway across the cytosol and the endoplasmic reticulum. By means of HLA ligandome analysis using mass spectrometry, we collected natural HLA class I ligands on a large scale and analyzed the source-protein sequences flanking the ligands. This comprehensive analysis revealed that the frequency of proline at amino acid positions 1–3 upstream of the ligands was selectively decreased. The depleted proline signature was the strongest among all the upstream and downstream profiles. Experiments using live cells demonstrated that the presence of proline at upstream positions 1–3 attenuated CTL responses against a model epitope. Other experiments, in which N-terminal–flanking Ag precursors were confined in the endoplasmic reticulum, demonstrated an inability to remove upstream prolines regardless of their positions, suggesting a need for synergistic action across cellular compartments for making the proline signature. Our results highlight, to our knowledge, a unique role and position of proline for inhibiting downstream epitope presentation, which provides a rule for defining natural peptide–HLA class I repertoire formation and CTL responses.

Cytotoxic CD8

Uterine endometrial carcinoma is one of the common cancers in females. Cancer stem-like cells (CSCs)/cancer-initiating cells (CICs) are a small subpopulation of cancer cells that are tumorigenic and are resistant to treatments, thus they are focused as treatment targets. However, the heterogeneity of CSCs/CICs is still elusive, and we therefore analyzed CSCs/CICs at the clonal level. We previously established sphere-cultured CSCs/CICs from primary human uterine endometrial carcinoma, and we isolated several clones from CSCs/CICs in this study. Interestingly, we established two types of clones based on the growth pattern. The clones were termed sphere clones (S clones) and leukemia-like clones (LL clones). Functional analysis revealed that S clones are resistant to chemotherapy, whereas LL clones are sensitive to chemotherapy. On the other hand, S clones are less tumorigenic, while LL clones are highly tumorigenic. Transcriptome analysis using serial analysis of gene expression sequencing (SAGE-Seq) revealed distinctive gene expression profiles in S clone cells and LL clone cells. The results indicate that CSCs/CICs are composed of functionally heterogenic subpopulations including highly tumorigenic clones and treatment-resistant clones and that the characteristics of CSCs/CICs might be determined by the characteristics of different clones that compose CSCs/CICs.

The urea breath test (UBT) is used widely for assessment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication after treatment. A false-negative UBT is common during administration of anti-ulcer drugs and immediately after their discontinuation. It was thought that the pharmaceutical care by the pharmacists was necessary for the diagnostic accuracy of UBT after H. pylori eradication therapy. Therefore, we investigated the effect of pharmaceutical care on diagnosis based on assessment of UBT. The patients who performed UBT were classified into two groups according to the pharmacists' intervention. From 2008 April to 2009 September, the number of the patients taken pharmaceutical care was 57 (intervention group) and that of the patients taken no pharmaceutical care was 62 (control group). When drugs for H. pylori infection and anamnestic therapy were same, the percentage that avoided administration of double drugs was significantly increased by the pharmaceutical care (93.3% in intervention group versus 21.4% in control group, p

To undertake diagnoses, parasitic helminths from 22 captive avian species kept in 5 zoological gardens and/or exhibition facilities in Kinki District in Japan were examined, and 17 species, namely Chapmania tauricollis, Clinostomum complanatum, Corynosoma sp., Capillariidae gen. sp., Thelazia aquillina, Synhimantus (S.) sp., S. (Dispharynx) nasuta, Desportesius invaginatus, Diplotriaena ozouxi, Contracaecum sp., Heterakis isolonche, Heterakis sp., Pseudaspidodera sp., Ascaridia gallinarum, A. hermaphrodita, Ascaridia sp. and Syngamus sp., were identified. This is the first record of C. tauricollisthe and Pseudaspidodera sp. in Japan. An case of abnomal cordon of S. (Dispharynx) nasuta was recorded. As well, a brief epidemiological discussion of the genera Corynosoma and Heterakis was presented. 展示鳥類の寄生蠕虫類の侵淫状況を知る基礎情報の一つとして, 近畿地方で地理的に近接する動物園および関連施設で, 展示あるいは保護収容された22種の鳥類から検出, 保存されていた寄生蠕虫類を同定した。その結果, 17種の蠕虫類(Chapmania tauricollis, Clinostomum complanatum, Corynosoma sp., Capillariidae gen. sp., Thelazia aquillina, Synhimantus (S.) sp., S. (Dispharynx) nasuta, Desportesius invaginatus, Diplotriaena ozouxi, Contracaecum sp., Heterakis isolonche, Heterakis sp., Pseudaspidodera sp., Ascaridia gallinarum, A. hermaphrodita, Ascaridia sp.およびSyngamus sp.)の寄生が確認された。また, S.(Dispharynx)nasutaの一虫体にコルドンが吻合していない異常型を記録した。さらに, レアRheaamericanaに寄生していた条虫C. tauricollistheは日本における新記録であた。また, 鉤頭虫Corynosoma属と線虫Heterakis属について若干の疫学的論議を行った。

Increased nitric oxide (NO) production by inducible NO synthase (NOS2), an obligate homodimer, is implicated in the cardiovascular sequelae of sepsis. We tested the ability of a highly selective NOS2 dimerization inhibitor (BBS-2) to prevent endotoxin-induced systemic hypotension, myocardial dysfunction, and impaired hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) in mice. Mice were challenged with Escherichia coli endotoxin before treatment with BBS-2 or vehicle. Systemic blood pressure was measured before and 4 and 7 h after endotoxin challenge, and echocardiographic parameters of myocardial function were measured before and 7 h after endotoxin challenge. The pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to left mainstem bronchus occlusion, which is a measure of HPV, was studied 22 h after endotoxin challenge. BBS-2 treatment alone did not alter baseline hemodynamics. BBS-2 treatment blocked NOS2 dimerization and completely inhibited the endotoxin-induced increase of plasma nitrate and nitrite levels. Treatment with BBS-2 after endotoxin administration prevented systemic hypotension and attenuated myocardial dysfunction. BBS-2 also prevented endotoxin-induced impairment of HPV. In contrast, treatment with NG-nitro-l-arginine methyl ester, which is an inhibitor of all three NOS isoforms, prevented the systemic hypotension but further aggravated the myocardial dysfunction associated with endotoxin challenge. Treatment with BBS-2 prevented endotoxin from causing key features of cardiovascular dysfunction in endotoxemic mice. Selective inhibition of NOS2 dimerization with BBS-2, while sparing the activities of other NOS isoforms, may prove to be a useful treatment strategy in sepsis.

Background Sepsis and endotoxemia attenuate hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV), thereby impairing systemic oxygenation. Reactive oxygen species (ROS) are implicated in the pathogenesis of sepsis-induced lung injury. The authors investigated whether treatment with scavengers of ROS prevents impairment of HPV in mice challenged with endotoxin. Methods The pulmonary vasoconstrictor response to left mainstem bronchus occlusion (LMBO) was studied in anesthetized mice 22 h after an intraperitoneal challenge with saline solution or 10 mg/kg Escherichia coli endotoxin. In some mice, challenge with saline solution or endotoxin was followed after 1 h with intraperitoneal or intratracheal administration of the ROS scavengers N-acetylcysteine or EUK-8. Myeloperoxidase activity and nitric oxide synthase-2 gene expression were measured in lung tissues. Results The LMBO increased left pulmonary vascular resistance by 106 +/- 24% in saline-challenged control mice but by only 23 +/- 12% (P < 0.05) in endotoxin-challenged mice. Intraperitoneal administration of N-acetylcysteine or EUK-8 1 h after endotoxin challenge attenuated the endotoxin-induced impairment of HPV (58 +/- 6% and 68 +/- 10%, respectively; both P< 0.05 endotoxin-challenged mice). Intratracheal administration of ROS scavengers 1 h after endotoxin challenge was equally effective but required lower doses than systemic treatment. Administration of the ROS scavengers 22 h after endotoxin challenge did not restore HPV. Conclusions Administration of N-acetylcysteine or EUK-8 1 h after endotoxin challenge in mice prevented the impairment of HPV after LMBO. Early therapy with ROS scavengers, either systemically or by inhalation, may provide a means to preserve HPV in sepsis-associated acute lung injury.

Human oral squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) cell lines HSC4 and SAS were infected with wild type p53 (wt-p53)-encoding adenovirus (AxCAip53) and subsequently irradiated to investigate the effectiveness of p53 gene therapy in combination with radiation therapy for treating oral SCC. Western blot analysis using anti-p53 monoclonal antibody showed that a large amount of mutant p53 protein was accumulated in HSC4 cells, while no detectable p53 protein was observed in SAS cells. The induction of p53 expression by AxCAip53 infection was clearly observed in both HSC4 and SAS cells. A clonogenic cell survival assay demonstrated that AxCAip53 infection alone, or X-irradiation alone, significantly inhibited the growth of cancer cells, but that combined treatment was most effective, even in mutant p53-accumulated HSC4 cells. Flow cytometric analysis showed that the apoptotic pathway was induced in virus treated and radiation treated cells. Taken together, these findings suggest that the combination of p53 gene therapy and radiation therapy has a possibility to effectively treat oral SCC defective in p53 function.

The purpose of this study is to develop the compact auxiliary water heater using tubular flame for home CHP (combined heat and power). The tubular-flame water-heater consists of the tubular flame burner, the coiled tube heat exchanger and the inserted tube installed at the center of the coiled tube as an additional heat exchanger. The tubular flame is formed in a rotating flow field by injecting the air-fuel mixture tangentially into the cylindrical chamber. The swirling flow of the combustion gas flows through the gap between the coiled tube and inserted tube. The high heat transfer performance can be achieved on these heat exchangers without the expanded heat transfer surface due to the swirling flow. Thus, the compact water heater can be constructed by using the tubular flame burner. At the first stage of the development, the maximum thermal efficiency achieves 81 % at the combustion rate of 15 kW. The heat transfer characteristics on the coiled tube and the inserted tube is investigated under the combustion and non-combustion conditions. Heat transfer coefficient on the coiled tube has about 5.6 times higher than that under the no-swirling flow condition at the same flow rate. Nusselt number on the coiled tube heat exchanger and the inserted tube can be estimated by Dhir's correlation equation for the swirling flow, which was provided as a function of the ratio between tangential momentum and axial momentum. The heat transfer characteristics on not only the coiled tube but the inserted tube was dominated by the swirling convection flow.

Root resorption is a very important finding in the radiographic diagnosis of the oral and maxillofacial region. However, there are few reports about root resorption related to malignant tumors. It is a commonly accepted theory that a malignant tumor does not cause root resorption because its invasion is too rapid. However, we have encountered many unexpected cases of root resorption associated with malignant tumors. In this study, we investigated the frequency and shape of root resorption in malignant tumors and considered the relation between tumor extension and root resorption. The subjects were 72 patients with pathologically diagnosed malignant tumors. Radiography showed that the roots of their teeth were in contact or involved with the tumors. We observed the radiographs and classified the findings into 2 types as follows: (1) resorption of alveolar bone (site of tumor invasion): 1. alveolar-margin type 2. root-apex type. (2) resorption of tooth root: 1. spike type 2. knife-edge type.

The urea breath test (UBT) is used widely for assessment of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) eradication after treatment. A false-negative UBT is common during administration of anti-ulcer drugs and immediately after their discontinuation. It was thought that the pharmaceutical care by the pharmacists was necessary for the diagnostic accuracy of UBT after H. pylori eradication therapy. Therefore, we investigated the effect of pharmaceutical care on diagnosis based on assessment of UBT. The patients who performed UBT were classified into two groups according to the pharmacists' intervention. From 2008 April to 2009 September, the number of the patients taken pharmaceutical care was 57 (intervention group) and that of the patients taken no pharmaceutical care was 62 (control group). When drugs for H. pylori infection and anamnestic therapy were same, the percentage that avoided administration of double drugs was significantly increased by the pharmaceutical care (93.3% in intervention group versus 21.4% in control group, p0.05). Therefore, the percentage of noncompliance that performed UBT 4 weeks after treatment onward was significantly decreased by the pharmaceutical care (1.6% in intervention group versus 17.5% in control group, p0.05). Moreover, the percentage of recurrence after treatment was significantly decreased, there were 3.3% in the intervention group and 14.0% in the control group. In conclusion, it was very important that the pharmacists take care in the management of treatment and UBT for H. pylori eradication therapy.

Rate constants of state transition for fatty soil in a ternary system of surfactant (SDS) /water/fatty soil (palmitic acid : stearic acid=4 : 1) were determined by means of microcalorimetric measurements at different temperatures. They increased abruptly from about 35°C. Polarization microscopic observation clearly indicated liquid crystal formation in the ternary system on raising the temperature. Consequently, rate constants above 35°C may be regarded as those of liquid crystal formation. Rate constants of liquid crystal formation were independent of the SDS concentration, clearly indicating formation of liquid crystals even at a low concentration such as 0.4 % SDS. However, the extent of conversion of fatty soil to liquid crystals depends on the ratio of surfactant to fatty soil. In an actual washing process, liquid crystal formation which facilitates removal of the soil may possibly occur in a ternary system of detergent/water/fatty soil above a certain temperature, when the amount of detergent is sufficient.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) signals regulate the growth and differentiation of diverse lineages. The association of mutations in the BMP type II receptor (BMPRII) with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension suggests an important role of this receptor in vascular remodeling. Pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells lacking BMPRII can transduce BMP signals using ActRIIa (Activin type II receptor). We investigated whether or not BMP signaling via the two receptors leads to differential effects on vascular smooth muscle cells. BMP4, but not BMP7, inhibited platelet-derived growth factor-activated proliferation in wild-type pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, whereas neither ligand inhibited the growth of BMPRII-deficient cells. Adenoviral gene transfer of BMPRII enabled BMP4, as well as BMP7, to inhibit proliferation in BMPRII-deficient cells. BMP-mediated growth inhibition was also reconstituted by the BMPRII short isoform, lacking the C-terminal domain present in the long form. BMP4, but not BMP7, induced the expression of osteoblast markers in wild-type cells, whereas neither ligand induced these markers in BMPRII-deficient cells. Overexpression of short or long forms of BMPRII in BMPRII-deficient cells enabled BMP4 and BMP7 to induce osteogenic differentiation. Although signaling via BMPRII or ActRIIa transiently activated SMAD1/5/8, only BMPRII signaling led to persistent SMAD1/5/8 activation and sustained increases in Id1 mRNA and protein expression. Pharmacologic blockade of BMP type I receptor function within 24 h after BMP stimulation abrogated differentiation. These data suggest that sustained BMP pathway activation, such as that mediated by BMPRII, is necessary for growth and differentiation control in vascular smooth muscle.

The radiographic features of unicystic ameloblastoma (UA) are typically unilocular and round area of radiolucency. Therefore, this type of lesion is often misdiagnosed as an odontogenic keratocyst or a dentigerous cyst. UA should be differentiated from odontogenic cysts because the former have a higher rate of recurrence than the latter. In the present study, we performed contrast enhanced-MRI (CE-MRI) to diagnose 13 cases of unilocular, round radiolucent lesions visualized on panoramic radiograph and/or CT. In the cases of UA, low signal intensity was observed on T1-weighted images (WIs), and a markedly high signal intensity was observed on T2-WIs; moreover, relatively thick rim-enhancement with/without small intraluminal nodules was observed upon CE-T1WIs. CE-MRI was considered useful in the diagnosis of UA, as characteristic features of this type of lesion i.e., thick enhancement of the tumor wall and small intraluminal nodules were detected only by CE-MRI in the present study.

The DNA repair enzyme, O-6-methylguanine-DNA methyltransferase (MGMT) modulates the effectiveness of alkylating agents. However, the relationship between MGMT and the sensitivities to other agents has not been explored. In the present study, the association between MGMT expression and the cellular sensitivity to the platinum agent, CDDP was examined in four human oral cancer cell tines. CDDP depleted MGMT protein and mRNA levels in all four cell tines. Two cell lines with low MGMT expression were sensitive to an alkylating agent, N-methyl-N'-nitro-N-nitrosoguanidine and CDDP, whereas two other cell tines with high MGMT expression were resistant to both agents. Furthermore, the addition of the MGMT inhibitor, O-6-benzylguanine (O-6-BG), invariably enhanced CDDP sensitivity. CDDP depleted MGMT expression, and CDDP sensitivity was enhanced by O-6-BG. These results provide valuable information about the relationship between MGMT expression and CDDP sensitivity in oral cancer chemotherapy. (c) 2005 Elsevier Ltd. All rights reserved.

Bone morphogenetic protein (BMP) ligands signal by binding the BMP type II receptor (BMPR2) or the activin type II receptors (ActRIIa and ActRIIb) in conjunction with type I receptors to activate SMADs 1, 5, and 8, as well as members of the mitogen-activated protein kinase family. Loss-of-function mutations in Bmpr2 have been implicated in tumorigenesis and in the etiology of primary pulmonary hypertension. Because several different type II receptors are known to recognize BMP ligands, the specific contribution of BMPR2 to BMP signaling is not defined. Here we report that the ablation of Bmpr2 in pulmonary artery smooth muscle cells, using an ex vivo conditional knock-out (Cre-lox) approach, as well as small interfering RNA specific for Bmpr2, does not abolish BMP signaling. Disruption of Bmpr2 leads to diminished signaling by BMP2 and BMP4 and augmented signaling by BMP6 and BMP7. Using small interfering RNAs to inhibit the expression of other BMP receptors, we found that wild-type cells transduce BMP signals via BMPR2, whereas BMPR2-deficient cells transduce BMP signals via ActRIIa in conjunction with a set of type I receptors distinct from those utilized by BMPR2. These findings suggest that disruption of Bmpr2 leads to the net gain of signaling by some, but not all, BMP ligands via the activation of ActRIIa.

We retrospectively evaluated magnetic resonance images (MRI) and dynamic contrast-enhanced MRI (DCE-MRI) of ameloblastomas. MRI and DCE-MRI were performed for 10 ameloblastomas. We obtained the following results from the MRI and DCE-MRI. (a) Ameloblastomas can be divided into solid and cystic portions on the basis of MR signal intensities. (b) Ameloblastomas show a predilection for intermediate signal intensity on T1WI, high signal intensity on T2WI, and well enhancement in the solid portion; they also show a homogeneous intermediate signal intensity on T1WI and homogeneous high signal intensity on T2WI, and no enhancement in the cystic portion. (c) The mural nodule or thick wall can be detected in ameloblastomas lesions. (d) CI curves of ameloblastomas show two patterns: the first pattern increases, reaches a plateau at 100-300 s, then sustains the plateau or decreases gradually to 600-900 s, while the other increases relatively rapidly, reaches a plateau at 90-120 s, then decreases relatively rapidly to 300 s, and decreases gradually thereafter. There was no difference in the CI curve patterns among primary and recurrent cases, a case with glandular odontogenic tumor in ameloblastoma or among histopathological types such as plexiform, follicular, mixed, desmoplastic, and unicystic type.

Heterozygous mutations of the bone morphogenetic protein type II receptor ( BMPR-II) gene have been identified in patients with primary pulmonary hypertension. The mechanisms by which these mutations contribute to the pathogenesis of primary pulmonary hypertension are not fully elucidated. To assess the impact of a heterozygous mutation of the BMPR-II gene on the pulmonary vasculature, we studied mice carrying a mutant BMPR-II allele lacking exons 4 and 5 ( BMPR-II+/−mice). BMPR-II+/−mice had increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure and pulmonary vascular resistance compared with their wild-type littermates. Histological analyses revealed that the wall thickness of muscularized pulmonary arteries (+/−than in wild-type mice. Breathing 11% oxygen for 3 wk increased mean pulmonary arterial pressure, pulmonary vascular resistance, and hemoglobin concentration to similar levels in BMPR-II+/−and wild-type mice, but the degree of muscularization of small pulmonary arteries and formation of alveolar-capillary units were reduced in BMPR-II+/−mice. Our results suggest that, in mice, mutation of one copy of the BMPR-II gene causes pulmonary hypertension but impairs the ability of the pulmonary vasculature to remodel in response to prolonged hypoxic breathing.

To examine radiographically the relationship between the deciduous tooth and dentigerous cyst of the permanent successor during the transitional dentition.From a retrospective review of all patients who visited our institution from April 1988 to August 2001, 70 patients under 16 years of age who had histologically confirmed dentigerous cysts that had developed from the central incisor to the second premolar were identified. These 70 patients were investigated using panoramic and periapical radiographs.In most cases (54 cases; 77.1%) the cyst was in the premolar region. Of the 54 premolars with dentigerous cysts, the overlying deciduous tooth had already been lost in 7 cases. Of the 47 remaining premolars with associated deciduous tooth, 35 (74.5%) had bone resorption of the periapical or bifurcation region, or irregular resorption of the associated deciduous tooth. Of the remaining 12 deciduous teeth with no periapical lesions, 9 had been treated with root canal therapy. Thus, 44 of these 47 cases (93.6%) had the possibility of inflammation at the deciduous tooth associated with the dentigerous cyst. Evidence from one case in the present study suggesting the process by which cyst development occurs is also given.Inflammatory change at the apex of the deciduous tooth may bring on a dentigerous cyst of the permanent successor.

We speculated whether or not the expression level of telomerase reverse transcriptase (hTERT) would be modulated by agents targeting epigenetics in oral cancer cell lines. Although hTERT is known to be targeted by epigenetic changes, it remains unclear how chemoagents targeting epigenetics work on hTERT transcription. In the present study, the epigenetic effects of the histone deacetylase (HDAC) inhibitor FR901228 on hTERT transcription in oral cancer cell lines were analyzed by RT-PCR. The mRNA expression of hTERT was upregulated after exposure to FR901228 in hTERT-negative Hep2 cells, and even SAS and KB cells expressed high levels of hTERT. Moreover, cotreatment of protein synthesis inhibitor cycloheximide (CHX) resulted in the induction of hTERT transcription by FR901228. This suggests that the induction of hTERT by FR901228 requires de novo protein synthesis to some extent and is more likely a direct than an indirect effect on epigenetic changes such as histone acetylation/deacetylation. We further examined the effect of FR901228 on c-myc protein, which is one of the main hTERT transcription activators. FR901228 repressed c-myc protein only in the absence of CHX, and depended on the enhancement of de novo protein synthesis. Our results indicate that c-myc protein is repressed indirectly by FR901228 but may not contribute to FR901228-induced hTERT transcription. The present study showed that the HDAC inhibitor FR901228 induced the hTERT gene by a complex mechanism that involved transcription factors other than c-myc, in addition to inhibition of histone deacetylation.

In this study, we examined the effects of various combinations of treatments involving radiation, injections of perfluorochemicals (FC-43 emulsion) and injections of pentoxifylline on the growth delay of Ehrlich ascite tumours. Ehrlich ascite tumour cells were transplanted into the legs of ddY-strain mice. Tumour-bearing mice were divided into seven groups: group 1, no treatment; group 2, irradiated only; group 3, injected with FC-43 emulsion and kept in a carbogen atmosphere; group 4, injected with pentoxifylline and nicotinamide; group 5, injected with FC-43 emulsion, kept in a carbogen atmosphere and irradiated; group 6, injected with pentoxifylline and nicotinamide and irradiated; and group 7, injected with FC-43 emulsion, pentoxifylline and nicotinamide, kept in a carbogen atmosphere and irradiated. When 20 Gy irradiation was applied, tumour growth delay was 11 days in group 2, 20 days in group 5, 22 days in group 6, and 24 days in group 7. For a growth delay of 20 days, the dose modifying factor was 1.95+/-0.04 (standard deviations) in group 5, 1.97+/-0.09 standard deviations in group 6, and 2.01+/-0.07 standard deviations in group 7. It was concluded that FC-43 emulsion and pentoxifylline did not have an interactive effect.

A respective rank problem solution worksheet was developed focusing on problem solution in training in pharmaceutical management. How the training influenced the instructions given to patients was then evaluated in two pharmacists in the NTT East Kanto Medical Center and three in an Ofuna central hospital. After the five pharmacists underwent the training, the records of 10 medication instructions to patients given by each before and after the training were compared. The records were analyzed based on a point calculation table, and the number of acquisition points was computed. The acquisition points increased significantly after training for all five pharmacists, from a mean of 3.56 before training to a mean of 8.34 after training. Although the acquisition points related to patient education were high, those for intervention during therapeutic monitoring, such as for adverse drug reaction or the selection of appropriate pharmaceuticals were acceptable, increasing to a mean 8.4 items after training compared with 4.4 items before. The respective rank problem solution worksheet is therefore considered useful in improving the quality of training pharmaceutical management.

Florid cemento-osseous dysplasia (FCOD) of the jaw is a multifocal dysplastic lesion that consists of cellular fibrous connective tissue with bone and cementumlike tissue. Non–epithelium-lined cyst formation associated with FCOD was first reported by Melrose et al1 in 1976 and followed by several reports.2-5 Although the etiology of cyst formation concomitant with FCOD has been discussed,1,3,5 the observation of the growth of these cysts has been rarely noted. We describe the case of a patient with FCOD in whom non–epithelium-lined cyst formation was found during the follow-up period. A possible etiology in the occurrence of cystic change in the cases with FCOD is discussed.

Nitric oxide (NO), a potent vasodilator, is a free-radical gas synthesized from L-arginine by nitric oxide synthases (NOS). NO appears to have an important role in perinatal changes in pulmonary vascular resistance. We previously identified mRNA encoding the constitutive endothelial NOS (ceNOS) isoform in human pulmonary tissue. To begin investigating functions of this enzyme in perinatal pulmonary development, we measured ceNOS mRNA and immunoreactivity in the developing rat lung. With the use of RNA blot hybridization, abundant pulmonary ceNOS mRNA was detected during the late fetal and postnatal period. The highest levels were detected within 24 h after birth, and elevated mRNA levels persisted for 16 days. In contrast, much lower levels of ceNOS mRNA were found in adult rat lung. With the use of immunoblot techniques, ceNOS protein levels were found to be correlated with mRNA levels. To identify the pulmonary cell types expressing the ceNOS gene, in situ hybridization with a digoxigenin-labeled cRNA probe was performed on sections from lungs of 1-day-old and adult rats. In lungs from 1-day-old rats, ceNOS mRNA was detected in alveolar and serosal epithelial cells as well as in endothelial cells lining small and medium-sized blood vessels. In contrast, in adult lungs, ceNOS gene transcripts were detected in rare endothelial cells. These observations suggest that ceNOS gene expression is regulated during lung development and that ceNOS is available to participate in the postnatal reduction of pulmonary vascular resistance. ceNOS gene expression in nonendothelial cells in the neonatal rat lung suggests that NO may also contribute to nonvascular functions in the developing lung.

Inhaling low concentrations of nitric oxide (NO) gas causes selective pulmonary vasodilation of ventilated lung regions. NO activates soluble guanylate cyclase, increasing guanosine 3′,5′-cyclic monophosphate (cGMP). Inhibition of NO synthesis enhances hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction. Therefore we examined independent and combined effects of NO inhalation and infusion of NG-nitro-L-arginine methyl ester (L-NAME), an NO synthesis inhibitor, on pulmonary vascular pressure-flow relationships, gas exchange, and plasma cGMP levels in anesthetized and mechanically ventilated sheep with acute lung injury induced by bilateral lavage. After lavage, inhaling 60 ppm by volume of NO decreased pulmonary arterial pressure (PAP) and resistance without any systemic hemodynamic effects, increased arterial PO2, and decreased venous admixture (Qva/QT; all P < 0.05) without altering cardiac output (QT), mixed venous PO2, or O2 uptake, major determinants of intrapulmonary shunt. During NO inhalation, PAP-left atrial pressure gradient (PAP-LAP) and Qva/QT were reduced (both P < 0.05) independently of QT, which was varied mechanically. L-NAME infusion produced systemic and pulmonary vasoconstriction and increased PAP-LAP gradient across the entire range of QT, whereas Qva/QT, was not changed. NO inhalation after L-NAME infusion produced pulmonary vasodilation and decreased Qva/QT to the same degree as NO inhalation alone. Five to 10 min after inhalation of 60 ppm NO, before and after L-NAME infusion, arterial plasma cGMP levels were increased by 80% (both P < 0.05). With NO breathing after L-NAME, we measured a consistent transpulmonary cGMP arteriovenous gradient [31 +/- 8 and 33 +/- 7 (SE) pmol/ml at 5 and 10 min, respectively; both P < 0.05]. NO inhalation before or after L-NAME administration in this acute lung injury model reduced Qva/QT, most likely by increasing cGMP concentration in ventilated lung regions and causing selective pulmonary vasodilation.

高分子複合物圧電体は,フレキシブルな圧電材料として,セラミックス圧電体では得られない多くの特長をもっている。この複合物圧電体の媒体として,誘電率の高いフッ素系のゴムまたは樹脂が用いられることが多い。そのなかでもポリ(フッ化ビニリデン)系高分子にPZTを分散させた高分子複合物圧電体は,実用化がすすんでいる。これらの複合物圧電体の圧電性能は,高分子相とセラミックス相の複合形態に大きく依存する。したがってこの複合形態を制御することが,複合物圧電体の今後の重要なポイントとなるであろう。ここではフッ素系高分子複合物圧電体の組成変化にともなう圧電現象について二相系の球状分散モデルを適用し,一考察を試みる。

Investigation was carried out on the problems that involved with school children who have hard of hearing, and that from what degree of hearing loss hearing aids become necessary to the children.The following points were particulary investigated.1) The relation of the hearing impairment of the children to school attendance.2) The aided threshold that the hearing-impaired children made the volume control setting of hearing aid by themselves.As the results, we believe that if the threshold at 1, 000Hz is below 40dB, the hearing aid is not absolutely necessary. On the contrary, if the threshold is over 50dB, the hearing aid is definitely necessary.

Twelve items about speech and hearing of 22 students, who have been educated at the special class for the hearing impaired children in the Nijo Junior High School in Kyoto City and whom we have followed for a long period, were compared with the same items of 27 hearing impaired children in the primary school who already started auditory training in their preschoolage. The latter showed better educational effects than the former. This fact suggested us the importance of earier auditory training.

Hearing aid is adapted for the improvement of hearing loss in both adult and children with hearing disturbance. But the significance of adaptation of hearing aid is quite different between adults who have already perceived a sound and children who perceive a sound for the first time through hearing aid. In the present time, hearing aid is usually adapted to children who were diagnosed as the deaf. There are still unsettled problems how to use hearing aid for deaf children.Therefore, children in better hearing class or speech hearing clinic were examined for hearing aid effect to the pure tone. Speech audiometry was also examined under various conditions such as with hearing aid to contralateral ear or both ears and with different types of hearing aid and so forth.In the cases of a long term adaptation of hearing aid, the patients become gradually accustomed to wear hearing aid which they use, and unilateral ears with hearing aid also become accustomed to the sounds. Therefore, it is important for the patients to use hearing aid of good quality from the beginning.Speech discrimination score was not improved in 20 children who were examined for the effect of biaural hearing aid adaptation. The reason of above unimprovement is considered to be that they were not accustomed to biaural hearing aid adaptation. Therefore, in the cases of hearing loss nearly same extent in both ears, children should be trained with binaural hearing aid adaptation.