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Dielectric relaxation of poly(vinyl methyl ether) (PVME)/poly(2-chlorostyrene) (P2CS) blends with a lower critical solution temperature (LCST) was investigated in the one-phase region over a wide range of temperature. Four distinct dielectrically active processes were observed and identified as α1, α2, β and γ relaxation processes. It was found that the β and γ processes were almost unaffected upon varying the blend composition, while their relaxation intensities were approximately proportional to the PVME content. Furthermore, there exist two peaks (α1, α2) corresponding to the segmental relaxation process of each component. By comparing this with the data obtained by small-angle X-ray scattering and differential scanning calorimetry, the experimental results are discussed in terms of dynamical heterogeneity of miscible polymer blends composed of two polymer components with a large difference in glass transition temperatures.

The follicular dendritic cells (FDC) in B-lymphoid follicles are unique reticular cells that retain immune complexes on their surfaces. We developed new monoclonal antibodies (MAb), SKY01, 28, 41, and 49, against mouse FDC without useful cell markers. Immunohistochemical study of spleen and lymph node tissues from Balb/c, C3H, and C57BL/6 mice revealed that SKY01 and 49 were highly specific for FDC, whereas SKY28 and 41 reacted with other stromal components as well as FDC. On immunoelectron microscopy (IEM), reaction products for all MAb were localized on the surfaces of FDC. In ontogenetic study of Balb/c spleen, FDC precursors were not immunodetected with any of the MAb at 1 week after birth. The FDC that first appeared as immune complex-retaining cells at 2 weeks were a subpopulation of SKY01-, 49-, 28+, and 41+ reticular cells. At 3 weeks, FDC were positive for all MAb, like adult spleen. These results indicate that our MAb recognize differentiation antigens of FDC. Comparative immunohistochemical studies of spleen from athymic nude and severe combined immunodeficiency mice suggested that B-cells may be required for the differentiation of FDC. Consequently, these MAb are considered useful tools for research on FDC.

We describe a patient who suffered reversible hypoxic brain injury. The initial MRI taken 3.5 hours after asphyxiation showed an abnormal lesion on DWI, but he recovered completely from coma. The presence of cytotoxic edema in the acute stage may not necessarily indicate a poor prognosis.

The ontogenic development of lymphoid and non-lymphoid cells in bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue (BALT) of the rat was studied ultrastructurally and immunohistochemically. In the late foetal period, only the alveolar macrophages showed a weak positivity for leucocyte common antigen, but no immune region associated (Ia) antigen was detected by monoclonal antibody, MAS 043. Mast cells were present. At 6 days of age, Ia-positive cells were observed in the alveolar wall and peribronchial interstitial tissue, and ultrastructurally there was an aggregation of the fibroblastoid mesenchymal cells. By 10 days of age, the aggregation of lymphoid cells together with S-100-positive reticulum cells had formed a BALT-like periarterial lymphoid sheath. In the adult animals, an obvious B-cell area was present in the central part and subepithelium of BALT, whilst in this area, S-100-positive, strongly Ia-positive cells with a dendritic form were observed. These dendritic cells appeared to be identical to the follicular dendritic cells (FDC) seen in the secondary follicles of lymphoid organs. Those cells may be derived from the fibroblastic reticulum cells, and may function to present antigen to lymphocytes.

Expressions of AMPA (GluR2, GluR3, and GluR4) and NMDA (NR1 and NR2) glutamate receptors in the spiral ganglion cells of the cochlea were analyzed both at protein and mRNA levels in control and deaf rats between week 0 (P14) and week 8 (P70) after deafness induced by a daily injection of kanamycin at P0-P14. In the deaf rats, significant up-regulations of GluR2, GluR3, and NR1 in the surviving spiral ganglion cells were observed, while expressions of GluR4 and NR2 were fairly constant. In contrast, in the control rats, the expressions of all these glutamate receptor subtypes were stable. These results suggest that drastic alterations in the diversity of GluR2/GluR3/NR1 receptor complexes in the surviving spiral ganglion cells, which result in alterations in Ca2+ permeability, may contribute to the deafness-related alterations in the structure and function of the cochlea.

In recent years, harmonic pollution in electrical power systems due to nonlinear loads such as AC/DC power converters has become a serious problem. To eliminate or reduce harmonics in power systems, a number of methods have been developed and put into practice. Active power filters and PWM rectifiers are two typical examples of these methods. The active power filter and PWM rectifier have basically the same circuit configuration and can operate based on the same control principle. Therefore, one can design a power converter capable of both the active filter operation and PWM rectifier operation at the same time. Such a converter operates as a PWM rectifier to supply DC power to its own load and, at the same time, operates as an active filter to supply to the AC line a compensating current equal to the harmonic current produced by the nonlinear load connected to the same AC line. Here, a three-phase voltage-type PWM rectifier with the function of an active power filter is investigated.

A 68-year-old man experienced systemic pruritus since he was 63 years old, and systemic sclerosis and skin pigmentation were observed when he was 64. When he developed dyspnea the same year, he was admitted and SSc was diagnosed on the basis of the clinical and skin biopsy findings, lung fibrosis on X-P and TBLB findings. At 65, his dyspnea reappeared along with elevated blood pressure, acute renal failure and lung congestion, and he was diagnosed as having a scleroderma renal crisis (SRC) from the clinical and renal biopsy findings. Hemodialysis was started because he showed mental disturbance, and this and other acute symptoms were subsequently reduced. As he showed no recovery from his renal failure, the patient has been maintained on hemodialysis for over four years now. In the meantime, his sclerosis has improved and antinuclear antibody almost disappeared. Hemodialysis appears to be the most likely reason for his improvement, although spontaneous remission, D-penicillamine and angiotensin converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitor therapy may also have contributed, considering the short period and the small amount of drugs given until improvement.

CD95 (Fas) is known to mediate activation-induced T-cell death by apoptosis. To understand the role of CD95 during the course of bacterial infection, we examined the kinetics of alphabeta and gammadelta T cells in the peritoneal cavities and livers of 5-week-old CD95-defective MRL/lpr mice after an intraperitoneal infection with Listeria monocytogenes. The number of bacteria in the spleen decreased to an undetectable level by day 10 after infection with 7 x 10(3) Listeria cells similar to the number in MRL/+/+ mice. The number of alphabeta T cells expressing CD44 and CD95 reached a maximum in the peritoneal cavity on day 6 after listerial infection and thereafter decreased gradually in MRL/+/+ mice, whereas CD44+ alphabeta T cells without CD95 expression continued to increase throughout the course of listerial infection in MRL/lpr mice. Freshly isolated T cells from MRL/+/+ mice infected with L. monocytogenes 10 days previously showed DNA fragmentation with apoptosis, whereas such fragmentation was not prominent in T cells from infected MRL/lpr mice. In correlation with the increased number of CD44+ alphabeta T cells, Listeria-specific T-cell proliferation of peritoneal exudate cells was significantly greater in MRL/lpr mice than in MRL/+/+ mice on day 10 after listerial infection. In contrast to alphabeta T cells, gammadelta T cells increased in number only transiently in the peritoneal cavity and liver after listerial infection in both MRL/lpr mice and MRL/+/+ mice. These results suggest that CD95-mediated cell death with apoptosis may be involved in termination of the alphabeta-T-cell-mediated immune response after the battle against L. monocytogenes has been won, whereas gammadelta T cells may undergo apoptosis independently of CD95 during the course of listerial infection.

Partial Seizures Associated with Cisplatin Administration: A Case Report A 49-year-old man was treated with cisplatin and pirarubicin for tongue cancer. After the second course of chemotherapy, partial seizures including transient motor aphasia, tonic finger movement, and loss of consciousness were observed. The EEG showed frequent diffuse (multiple) spike and slow wave discharges. Following the administration of carbamazepine and diazepam, no seizures occurred and no paroxysmal discharges were observed on EEGs. We conclude that carbamazepine and diazepam administration was effective.

Information processing deficits characteristic of remitted major depression, which may be a vulnerability marker for the disease, were examined from two aspects by means of visual event-related potentials (ERPs) obtained during simple and discriminative response tasks: 1. To clarify the difference in cognitive dysfunction between both depressives and schizophrenics in remission, we compared the ERPs in remitted depressive patients (n = 11) and remitted schizophrenic patients (n = 9) with those of age, and sex-matched controls (n = 10). 2. To clarify the influence of aging on information processing in remitted depression, ERPs in young remitted depressives (20-46 years old, n = 11) were compared with those in older remitted depressives (52-75 years old, n = 11) in contrast to young (n = 10) and older (n = 11) controls. The remitted schizophrenics showed a retardation in NA and N2 latencies and a reduction in P3 amplitude. However, P1 increased in amplitude exclusively in the remitted depressives. The effect of stimulus discrimination on N1 seen in the controls was absent in both patient groups. The results suggest that the remitted depressives had an attentional deficit in early information processing reflected on P1 and N1 potentials, while the remitted schizophrenics had an extensive cognitive dysfunction reflected on N1, NA, N2, and P3 potentials. Although the effect of stimulus discrimination on N1 was absent in both young and older remitted depressive patients, older patients showed no effects of normal aging on ERPs such as P1 increase or N1 increase during discrimination tasks. Significant interaction effects between diagnosis and aging were found by ANOVA only in the laterality of the P1 amplitude. Older remitted depressives showed an unbalanced right-predominance in P1 amplitude. These results suggest that older remitted depressives had the same early information-processing deficit seen in the young remitted depressives as well as an overactivation over the right hemisphere in the attentional mechanism, irrespective of normal aging.

We report a patient with a tic disorder who later developed psychotic symptoms and was diagnosed with schizophrenia.

Clinical evidence of methamphetamine (MAP)-induced reverse-tolerance phenomenon is available in studies of methamphetamine psychosis. To examine the clinical relevance of the reverse-tolerance phenomenon as a model of this psychosis, two experiments were conducted using rats. In the first experiment, we examined the relationship of MAP (4 mg/kg/day)-induced reverse tolerance in behavioral stereotypy to impairment of the cliff avoidance reaction (CAR). The stereotypy scores by the method of Creese and Iversen reached a maximum at day 14, and were unchanged thereafter. Impairment of CAR appeared in 3 of 6 rats at day 21 or 28 without motor ataxia, as rated by the scoring system of Hiramatsu et al. This suggested that cognitive dysfunction reflected by CAR impairment may develop after MAP-induced reverse-tolerance phenomenon, as evaluated by the behavioral stereotyping rating scale. In the second experiment, the effect of PCP (1 mg/kg) on CAR was examined in rats pretreated with MAP (4 mg/kg/day) for 30 days. No behavioral stereotypy or CAR impairment was found in these rats for 1 hour after PCP challenge. This showed that MAP-induced reverse-tolerance did not alter sensitivity to PCP in producing behavioral stereotypy or CAR impairment.

The coincidence rate of cancer and PSS has been increasing according to reports from Nippon Byori Boken Shuho (Annual of Pathological Autopsy Cases in Japan), reaching 12.3% in the most recent report. Therefore we reviewed the histories of 67 PSS patients seen at our division over an 18-year period between 1974 and 1992, and found a high coincidence rate (14.6%) of cancer, reflecting the increasing tendency reported in the Nippon Byori Boken Shuho. The most frequent type of cancer was gastrointestinal cancer, including gastric and colon cancer and duodenal carcinoid. There were no significant differences in the clinical and laboratory findings between PSS patients with cancer and those without. Twenty-six of the 67 PSS patients died. Cancer was the cause of death in four, ranking second behind respiratory failure. The reason for the increasing coincidence rate of cancer and PSS is unclear at present. However, it is very important to discover cancer in PSS patients as early as possible, since it has a marked effect on prognosis.

Various interpretations have been attempted, but no definitive theory has yet been established as to the etiology of the low-birth-weight infant. We carried out the present study in an attempt to explore the relationship between platelet functions and fetal growth during normal pregnancy. For this purpose, we made a retrospective study of 130 pregnant women aged 23-35 with no clinical abnormalities throughout pregnancy or at delivery. Blood samples were taken at 29-30 weeks of gestation (referred to as the 2nd trimester) and 37-38 weeks of gestation (referred to as the 3rd trimester). The cases studied were divided into two groups: i) those with a birth weight of under 2,500g (n = 32), and ii) those with a birth weight of over 2,500g (n = 98). In these two groups, we studied the platelet functions in maternal blood in the 2nd and 3rd trimesters. The following results were obtained: 1) In the 2nd to 3rd trimester, the platelet count showed no significant variation with the birth weight. 2) In the 2nd to 3rd trimester, the platelet aggregation was found to be moderately depressed in cases with a birth weight of under 2,500g, while it was found to be moderately activated in cases with a birth weight of over 2,500g. 3) In the 2nd to 3rd trimester, platelet factor 4 was significantly lower (p0.005) in cases with a birth weight of under 2,500g, while it was moderately higher in cases with a birth weight of over 2,500g.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Glomerular visceral epithelial cells (vGEC) play an important role in the synthesis of the glomerular basement membrane (GBM), and together with glomerular endothelial cells and the GBM, in glomerular ultrafiltration. Therefore clarification of the properties of vGEC is essential to investigations of glomerular morphology and function in both physiologic and pathologic conditions. This article demonstrates that basic fibroblast growth factor (bFGF) is mitogenic to vGEC in vitro. Its effect was found at concentrations as low as 1.25 ng/ml, and was synergistic with epidermal growth factor (EGF). In contrast, EGF by itself had no demonstrable mitogenic effect at concentrations of 1.25-100 ng/ml. In addition, mRNA for bFGF was identified in cultured vGEC by the method of reverse transcriptase polymerase chain reaction and the immunoreactivity of bFGF was found in GEC of the Sprague-Dawley rat kidney. These results suggest that bFGF stimulates the proliferation of vGEC in an autocrine manner in vivo. A unique relationship similar to that observed in endothelial cells may also exist among bFGF, vGEC, and the extracellular matrix (ECM). In a word, bFGF may be produced by vGEC and stored in the ECM, that is the GBM, and may be one factor that stimulates vGEC to proliferate when vGEC are injured and lost in vivo.

A 55-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital, complaining of general malaise, muscular weakness, anorexia and weight loss. She had a history of ingesting of a certain germanium (Ge) compound over the preceding 19 months, with a total dose of 47 g as Ge element. She was found to have renal failure (blood urea nitrogen, 44 mg/dl; serum creatinine, 2.6 mg/dl) without abnormal findings in urinalysis, and muscular and nervous damage. Initially, polymyositis was diagnosed and prednisolone administered. However, no improvement was seen, and neuromuscular symptoms and signs steadily worsened, ending in death. Microscopic study of the kidney showed that lipofuscin granules increased in the cells of the thick ascending limb of Henle's loop to the distal convoluted tubule accompanying mild tubular atrophy and that some of the tubules of these segments had vacuolar degeneration or desquamation. No apparent glomerular and vascular changes were observed. High Ge content was found in serum, urine and various tissues, e.g., spleen, liver, kidney, adrenal gland and myocardium, while in controls Ge could not be detected in sera, urine or tissues. We also review case reports about Ge toxicity, and discuss the pathogenesis of renal failure induced by Ge compounds.

There are many factors influencing the growth of the fetus. Since these factors have complex interrelations, they are difficult to clarify. The authors studied the effects of blood coagulation and fibrinolysis on the growth of the fetus during pregnancy, especially from the 2nd trimester into the 3rd trimester. The subjects were 86 normal pregnant women, and the subjects of study were blood coagulation, fibrinolysis activity of the mother, and estimated fetal birth weight after the 28th (2nd trimester) and 36th weeks of gestation (3rd trimester) in each case. 1. Changes in blood coagulation activity and fibrinolysis varied from the 2nd trimester into the 3rd trimester. The percentage of cases showing lowered platelets was 68.6% of the total, and the percentages of cases with reduced platelet ADP, epinephrine, and collagen aggregation were 60.5%, 55.8%, and 51.2%, respectively. The percentages of cases showing shortened prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time were 58.1% and 51.2% of the total, respectively. The percentage of cases with reduced fibrinogen was 24.4% of the total. The percentages of cases with reduced antithrombin III, plasminogen, and alpha 2-plasmin inhibitor activity were 66.3%, 55.8%, and 75.6% of the total, respectively. 2. The birth weight of babies in a group with shortened prothrombin time was 2,935.1 +/- 395.2g(n = 50, mean +/- SD), while that in a group with prolonged prothrombin time was 3,106.2 +/- 357.9g(n = 36). The estimated fetal birth weight gain from the 2nd trimester to the 3rd trimester was 1,431.6 +/- 296.5g in the former group and 1,644.5 +/- 390.5g in the latter group. The differences were significant (p less than 0.05, p less than 0.01). The birth weight of babies in a group with lowered antithrombin III activity was 2,960.1 +/- 341.3g(n = 57), and that in an acceleration group was 3,157.8 +/- 370.0g(n = 29). The estimated fetal weight gain from the 2nd trimester to the 3rd trimester was 1,477.7 +/- 281.9g in the former group and 1,637.1 +/- 390.6g in the latter group. The differences were significant (p less than 0.02, p less than 0.05). 3. The estimated fetal weight gain from the 2nd trimester to the 3rd trimester in the group showing prolongated prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time in this period was significantly larger than in the group showing shortened prothrombin time and activated partial thromboplastin time (p less than 0.001). These results suggested that the changes in blood coagulation and fibrinolysis activity of mothers from the 2nd trimester to the 3rd trimester affected the growth of the fetus.

The distribution and ontogeny of tissue prolyl endopeptidase and pyroglutamyl peptidase I activities were studied in the rat from the 7th day before birth to adulthood. While low levels of prolyl endopeptidase activity were demonstrable in many fetal tissues, activity in brain cortex, hypothalamus, lung, and kidney increased dramatically during the 2 wk after birth, gradually returning to adult levels. In adult rats, levels of tissue prolyl endopeptidase activity were highest in kidney, when compared with the intermediate levels in brain cortex, hypothalamus, and liver. Pyroglutamyl peptidase activity was widely distributed in adult rat tissues with high levels in kidney and liver that exceeded intermediate levels in brain cortex and hypothalamus. Pyroglutamyl peptidase activities in fetal gut, brain, and lung tissue were elevated above adult values. In contrast to the development changes in prolyl endopeptidase activities, pyroglutamyl peptidase activity remained elevated above adult levels only during the first week of life. These results indicate that both prolyl endopeptidase and pyroglutamyl peptidase activities in the rat are developmentally regulated.

Serum thyrotropin (TSH), free T4 and free T3 concentrations were measured longitudinally in 26 preterm infants for 14 weeks after birth, using highly sensitive immunoradiometric assays. Serum TSH values on days 4-5 were positively correlated with gestational age and birth weight. In the premature infants of 25 weeks mean gestation, the mean TSH concentrations increased from a very low value of 0.84 microU/ml at 5 days to a peak value of 6.1 microU/ml by 5 weeks of age, then slightly decreased and remained stable. Serum free T4 and free T3 concentrations increased in parallel and free T3 level reached the range of term infants by 6 weeks. Serum free T4/TSH and free T3/TSH ratios began to increase at the 6th week of age. The results suggest that: (i) the thyroid hormone feedback control of pituitary TSH release in the extremely premature infants begins to mature after 6 weeks of postnatal age, (ii) the maturation pattern of the hypothalamic-pituitary-thyroid system in premature infants is similar to that of the intrauterine fetus.

A 74-year-old man was admitted to the National Defense Medical College Hospital because of purpura on the extremities. The blood hemoglobin level was 11.5 g/dl, the white blood cell count 7. 3 x 10(9)/l with 3% blastic cells, and the platelet count 4.0 x 10(9)/l. There was leukoerythroblastosis with only mild teardrop appearance of erythrocytes. The blastic cells consisted of two types, megakaryoblast-like cells and myeloblast-like cells. There was a very mild hepatosplenomegaly, but no lymphadenopathies. The bone marrow aspirations yielded dry taps. The marrow biopsy specimen revealed myelofibrosis associated with trilineage hyperplasia, but no apparent infiltration of leukemic cells. Platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG) had a high titer and the response to platelet transfusions was poor. On prednisolone and colchicine, the blastic cells in the peripheral blood disappeared and the platelet count increased. He died of pneumonia. The autopsy showed myelofibrosis with hyperplasia of myeloid and erythroid lineage in the bone marrow. Megakaryocytes were relatively few and there was no infiltration of leukemic cells.

Surgical hypophysectomy performed in 18 cases with hormone-dependent carcinoma resulted in tumour regression in 38.8% of the cases, and pain relief in 88%. Neuroadenolysis performed 170 times on 130 cases resulted in pain relief in 94% with hormone-dependent carcinoma, and 70% with non-dependent carcinoma. The clinical investigations, following performance of neuroadenolysis, indicate suppressed pituitary function, significant increase of ACTH, thyrotropin-releasing hormone and vasopressin in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF), delay of long latencies in somatosensory evoked potential and increased pain threshold of C-fibres. Increase of beta-endorphin in CSF was very brief. Though the exact physiological activity in pain sensation of those peptides other than endorphins still remains obscure, increase of the peptides which are mainly synthesized in the hypothalamopituitary axis, along with suppressed pituitary function, is considered to exert a long-lasting suppressive effect on the mediation and perception of cancer pain through C-fibres and the central nervous system.

In a color picture tube using an in-line arrangement of three beams and the conventional shadow mask, the transmission of the shadow mask must be made very low in the corner regions in order to avoid the overlapping of adjacent in-line trios of landed beam dots on the screen. An improved design of aperture alignment on a shadow mask was developed for the in-line three beams in order to avoid this overlapping without reducing the transmission. In this new shadow mask, the apertures are aligned not along straight lines as in the conventional shadow mask but along certain curved lines. The horizontal aperture alignment curves are a barrel-shaped group of arcs of ellipses, and the vertical aperture alignment curves are a pin-cushioned group of arcs of circles. Brightness and color purity of the picture in the corner regions of the screen were much improved by using this shadow mask.