MR of denervated tongue: temporal changes after radical neck dissection

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the temporal changes of MR imaging in the denervated tongue after a radical neck dissection.

METHODS

One hundred seventy-four consecutive MR studies in 116 patients with radical neck dissections for malignant tumors of the head and neck were evaluated retrospectively. Patients with tumors involving the tongue or hypoglossal nerve were not included in this study.

RESULTS

Abnormal signal intensity and/or hemiatrophy on the side of the tongue operated on was seen in 22 patients who had hypoglossal paralysis after radical neck dissection. The denervated side of the tongue appeared hypointense to hyperintense relative to the normal side on T1-weighted images and hyperintense on T2-weighted images. Signal intensity ratios of the abnormal to normal muscles were 0.9-1.6 on T1-weighted images and 1.3-2.8 on T2-weighted images. High signal intensity on T1-weighted images appeared 5 months or more after the dissection, whereas on T2-weighted images, the most prominent increases in signal intensity appeared in the first several months after denervation. Hemiatrophy of the tongue was observed on MR images obtained more than 6 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

MR findings in the denervated tongue are compatible with histologic changes and are characterized by an enlarged extracellular fluid space or fatty infiltration. The pattern of signal intensity and the degree of hemiatrophy suggest the duration of denervation.

Base-specific separation of oligodeoxynucleotides by capillary affinity gel electrophoresis

Capillary affinity gel electrophoresis was applied to sequence-specific and base composition-specific recognition of oligodeoxynucleotides, utilizing the formation of heteroduplexes between a nucleic acid analogue immobilized into the capillary gel and soluble oligodeoxynucleotides with different sequences. Capillary affinity gel electrophoresis using capillaries filled with a conjugated gel of polyacrylamide and a synthetic nucleic acid analogue [poly(9-vinyladenine)] was effective for the selective separation of hexathymidylic acid from a mixture of four homopolymers of A6, C6, G6, and T6 and for the complete resolution of five heteropolymers of hexadeoxynucleotides (TAAAAA, TTAAAA, TTTAAA, TTTTAA, TTTTTA). We also demonstrated that capillary affinity gel electrophoresis was useful for the selective and the sensitive sequence-specific recognition of sequence isomers of DNA (TTTTAA, TTTTAAT, TTTATA, and TTTTAA).

Analysis of a variable number of tandem repeats in a heart disease gene by capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detector

Capillary electrophoresis with laser-induced fluorescence detector (CE-LIF) was successfully applied to the analysis of the variable number of tandem repeats (VNTR) in a human apolipoprotein B gene (APOB). Apolipoprotein B VNTR alleles containing more than 35 repeat units are a significant risk factor for heart disease. Thus, we developed a method for accurately determining the number of repeat units (16 bp) in the VNTR using capillary electrophoresis. The CE-LIF technique gave excellent resolution of APOB alleles differing by 2 or 4 repeat units over the range 600 to 1000 bp. The recommended conditions for the analysis of APOB VNTR loci by CE-LIF are as follows: effective length of capillary (100 microns i.d., 360 microns o.d.), 50 cm; running buffer, 50 mM Tris-borate 0.5% methylcellulose and 0.1 microM fluorescent dye YO-PRO-1; electric field, 150 V/cm.

[Percutaneous vertebroplasty for osteolytic metastasis: a case report]

Percutaneous vertebroplasty is a radiologically guided therapeutic procedure that consists of percutaneous injection of surgical cement into a vertebral osteolytic metastatic lesion. This procedure has the advantage of providing rapid pain relief and bone strengthening. We report a 46-year-old male patient with osteolytic L3 vertebral metastasis from lung adenocarcinoma treated by percutaneous vertebroplasty under CT and fluoroscopic guidance. After this treatment, definite pain relief and stabilization of the vertebra were achieved. Vertebroplasty for osteolytic metastasis may be a minimally invasive procedure that provides immediate, long-term pain relief and contributes to spinal stabilization.

[Systematic ultrasound guided transrectal core prostate biopsy based on serum level of prostate-specific antigen]

Between August 1995 and June 1996, a total of eighty Japanese men underwent ultrasound guided systematic biopsy of the prostate. Sixty-six men were clinically suspected of having prostatic cancer by elevated serum PSA (Tandem-R kit) value or digital rectal examination (DRE). Overall, 63 of the 80 (78.8%) men had elevated serum PSA with normal DRE and 30 of the 80 men (37.5%) had prostatic cancer. In patients with PSA values of 0 to 4.0 ng/ml, 4.1 to 10.0 ng/ml and 10.1 ng/ml or more, the positive predictive value of PSA was 33.3%, 23.3% and 66.7%, respectively. In patients with PSA levels of 4.1-10.0 ng/ml, the positive predictive values of digital rectal examination, transrectal ultrasonography and PSA density were 30.0%, 28.0% and 31.8%, and the false-negative rates were 20.0%, 0% and 0%, respectively. Along with the findings of transrectal ultrasonography and PSA density, estimation of PSA value and abnormal findings of digital rectal examination may help minimize the number of biopsies in patients with PSA values of 4.1-10.0 ng/ml. Systematic biopsies were performed without major complications. The biopsy missed the cancer in 4.6%.

MR evaluation of radiation otomastoiditis

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the incidence of radiation otomastoiditis, on using T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging, in relation to radiation fields, doses, intervals, and clinical symptoms after radiotherapy that included the temporal bone in the fields.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

We performed follow-up MR examinations at various intervals after radiotherapy including the temporal bones for 270 ears of 114 patients with various diseases of the head and neck and intracranial regions. The middle ear and mastoid air cells on T2-weighted images were scored as follows; showing no high signal intensity, a local high signal intensity area, or a high signal intensity area occupying the entire middle ear and all mastoid air cells. The radiation fields as depicted on the lateral simulator films classed as anterior to the clival line, posterior to the clival line, or both.

RESULTS

The incidence of radiation otomastoiditis depicted on T2-weighted MR images increased in the patients who had received irradiation doses of 50 Gy or more. In the patients with doses of less than 50 Gy, the incidence was 18% within 6 months following radiotherapy, 13% at between 6 and 12 months, and 8% after 12 months, whereas it was more than 50% at any period after radiotherapy in the patients with 50 Gy or more. The incidence of radiation otomastoiditis was quite high in the patients whose radiation fields included region both anterior and posterior to the clival line.

CONCLUSION

The incidence of radiation otomastoiditis as demonstrated on T2-weighted MR images is increased at irradiation doses of 50 Gy or more. To reduce the incidence of severe radiation otomastoiditis, the irradiation fields of the temporal bone when the dose is 50 Gy or more should be limited to as small as possible. The clival line is considered to be a good landmark in reducing the irradiation field when doses of 60-70 Gy are delivered in curative radiotherapy.

Small cystic insulinoma: value of arterial stimulation venous sampling

Cystic insulinomas are rare, with only three cases having been reported in the literature. It is not difficult to determine the site of such neoplasms, as cystic insulinomas are usually 4-10 cm in diameter. We report a patient with a histologically confirmed cystic insulinoma. This case is unique because of the small size (1.3 cm) of the tumor. Arterial stimulation venous sampling was useful for localizing and distinguishing this tumor from other pancreatic lesions.

[MR imaging appearances of schwannoma: correlation with pathological findings]

Peripheral schwannomas are nerve sheath neoplasms that consist of focal proliferation of Schwann cells. We reviewed the MRI findings in 17 patients with pathologically proved peripheral schwannomas. When compared with the signal intensity of muscle, that of the mass was isointense or hyperintense on T1-weighted images and hyperintense in all 17 tumors on T2-weighted images. All of the masses showed heterogeneous enhancement following the intravenous injection of Gd-DTPA on T1-weighted images. On T1-weighted images, hyperintensity was observed in the tumors that contained predominantly hypercellular Antoni type A tissue, while isointensity was observed in the tumors that contained predominantly hypocellular Antoni type B tissue. Relatively high signal intensity seen on T2-weighted images and Gd-DTPA enhanced T1-weighted images was observed in the tumors that contained predominantly Antoni type B tissue when compared with the signal intensity of tumors that contained predominantly Antoni type A tissue. A capsule was pathologically identified in 15 of 17 tumors. MRI correctly identified the presence of a capsule in 11 of 15 tumors and the absence of a capsule in one of 2 tumors. Thus the diagnostic accuracy was 71% (12/17). The cause of 4 false negative results appeared to be a hemorrhage or cystic change around the peripheral portion of the tumor, and it appeared to be a chemical artifact in one false positive result. Thus the appearance of MRI may suggest the cellular type of schwannoma, Antoni type A or B. However, prediction of the presence or absence of tumor capsule may be relatively difficult with MRI.

[Development of analytical technologies for human genomic DNA using capillary electrophoresis and their applications]

Capillary electrophoretic systems equipped with a multi-color detectable laser-induced fluorescent DNA detector (CE-LIF) were developed. We examined the efficiency and the performance of the CE-LIF systems for the high-speed DNA sequencing and DNA diagnosis for human diseases. The effect of the gel composition, electric field strength, and capillary length on the separation of DNA sequencing reaction product was investigated in order to achieve high-speed DNA sequencing for large-scale sequencing in the Human Genome Project. The CE-LIF system is successfully applied to ultrafast cDNA sequencing for human and yeast genomes. Under optimum separation conditions, only 10 min is required to sequence 300 base DNA. A polymer solution of cellulose derivative was utilized as a sieving medium for the CE-LIF system and gave excellent resolution of polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplified polymorphic loci on the human genome. The CE-LIF system is successfully applied to the DNA diagnosis for cancers through CA repeat analysis of human D8S 1218 locus, heart diseases through VNTR (variable number of tandem repeat) analysis of human apolipoprotein B gene and Alzheimer's disease through RFLP (restriction fragment length polymorphism) analysis of human apolipoprotein E gene with high-speed and high resolution. Capillary affinity gel electrophoresis was developed as a new technique for the recognition of the specific DNA base and/or sequence. This technology is also applicable to the characterization of binding properties of DNA based drugs. The principle, the theory, and the methods of capillary affinity gel electrophoresis are presented. This technique is applied to the determination of association constants between an affinity ligand and oligonucleotides. The great potential of capillary affinity gel electrophoresis for the detection of the mutation on DNA is illustrated.

Synthesis and antitumor activity of water-soluble enediyne compounds related to dynemicin A

The enediyne compounds 9-14, simple dynemicin A (1) analogues equipped with aryl carbamate moieties with various aliphatic amino or hydroxy groups at the C9 position, were synthesized and evaluated for DNA-cleaving ability, in vitro cytotoxicity, and in vivo antitumor activity. We found that the water-soluble compounds, in which the tert-amines such as the 2-(dimethylamino)ethyl (10b, 14b), 2-(pyrrolidino)ethyl (10c), or 1-azabicyclo[3.3.0]oct-5-ylmethyl (10d, 12d, 14d) group were attached, showed not only the enhanced in vivo antitumor activity but also the decreased toxicity compared to the corresponding 9-acetoxy enediyne compounds 6-8. In particular, compound 10c showed the most enhanced in vivo antitumor activity (T/C = 222% at a daily dose of 1.25 mg/kg for 4 days) at about half of the dose of 6. These results suggest that both the enhanced antitumor activity and the reduced toxicity might be due to the improved bioavailability or disposition of compounds 6-8 by their water-solubilization.

Structure-activity relationships of cyclic enediynes related to dynemicin A. II. Synthesis and antitumor activity of 9- and 12-substituted enediynes equipped with aryl carbamate moieties

Novel enediyne compounds 4-8, simple analogues of dynemicin A (1) equipped with the phenyl or 4-chlorophenyl carbamate moiety, were synthesized and evaluated for DNA-cleaving ability, in vitro cytotoxicity, and in vivo antitumor activity. As a result of the SAR study, it was revealed that the size and character of the substituents (R1 and R2) at the C9 position critically influenced both the stability and antitumor activity of the enediyne compounds. We found that the 9-deoxy compound 6a, a stable and less bulky enediyne having a hydrogen as the R1 and R2 substituents, showed a significant in vivo activity with a T/C of 215% at a daily dosage of 2.0 mg/kg for 4 days. The incorporation of an oxygen-containing functional group as the R3 substituent on a benzene ring resulted in considerable abolishing of both the in vitro and in vivo potencies. In a series of 9-acyloxy compounds, incorporation of the basic aromatic moiety such as 8e was effective for the in vitro activity, but it was ineffective for the in vivo activity. Furthermore, for the stereochemistry-activity relationships at the C9 position, the (9R*)-isomers of 8c, 8e, and 8f were found to show higher both in vitro and in vivo than the corresponding (9S*)-isomers. For the mechanistic studies, compound 6a underwent Bergman cycloaromatization via a diradical pathway under acidic conditions, whereas it scarcely showed DNA-cleaving activity due to the chemical stability of the aryl carbamate moiety under neutral conditions.

Structure-activity relationships of cyclic enediynes related to dynemicin A. I. Synthesis and antitumor activity of 9-acetoxy enediynes equipped with aryl carbamate moieties

A series of the 9-acetoxy enediyne compounds, 6a-k which were simplified from natural dynemicin A, and designed to be equipped with various aryl carbamate moieties, was synthesized and evaluated for DNA-cleaving ability, in vitro cytotoxicity, and in vivo antitumor activity. As a result of this study of the structure-activity relationships (SAR) with regard to the Rt substituent, both compounds 6a and 6f with the phenyl carbamate and 4-chlorophenyl carbamate moiety, respectively, were found to exhibit significant activity (T/C > 200%) against murine P388 leukemia in mice, in spite of having IC50 values in the micromolar range. In particular, compound 6f showed the most potent activity with a maximum T/C of 256% at a daily dosage of 4.0 mg/kg for four days. Furthermore, both compounds 6a and 6f were effective against Meth A sarcoma in mice and inhibited 71 and 77% of the tumor growth at 2.0 and 3.0 mg/kg dosages, respectively. In contrast to 6f, compound 6i possessing the 2-nitrophenyl carbamate moiety showed only a slight in vivo activity, while it had about one order of magnitude higher in vitro cytotoxicity than 6f. For the stereochemistry-activity relationships at the C9 position, the (9R*)-isomers of 6c, 6g, and 6j were found to show higher in vitro and in vivo potencies than the corresponding (9S*)-isomers.

Effect of cilostazol in preventing restenosis after percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty

This study sought to evaluate the effect of cilostazol in preventing restenosis after successful percutaneous transluminal coronary angioplasty (PTCA) in 68 patients: 35 patients received cilostazol immediately after PTCA and 33 patients received aspirin or ticlopidine. Repeat coronary angiography was performed 4 to 6 months after PTCA and the incidence of restenosis was significantly lower (17%) in the cilostazol group than in the non-cilostazol group (40%) (p < 0.05), which indicates that cilostazol has the potential to prevent restenosis after PTCA.

CT and MR findings of denervated tongue after radical neck dissection

PURPOSE

To describe the CT and MR findings in the denervated tongue after a radical neck dissection.

METHODS

We retrospectively evaluated the radiologic findings in seven patients who had hypoglossal paralysis following radical neck dissection. None of the patients had clinical or radiologic evidence of tumor recurrence.

RESULTS

The side of the tongue operated on showed low density on CT scans. At MR imaging, denervated tongues were clearly seen as hyperintense relative to muscle on T2-weighted images; on T1-weighted images, the signal was hypointense to hyperintense, representing increased extracellular water or fatty degeneration.

CONCLUSION

In patients who have undergone a neck dissection for a malignant process, abnormal imaging findings in the tongue not only might indicate a recurrence of tumor involving the hypoglossal nerve but also suggest the possibility of postoperative change. Our findings emphasize the importance of the denervated tongue in differentiating inflammatory from neoplastic diseases of the the tongue.

Chemical shift GRE MRI of renal angiomyolipoma

The renal angiomyolipoma is a fairly common benign renal tumor composed of various proportions of smooth muscle, blood vessels, and fat. Because fat is present in virtually every case, the CT findings in angiomyolipomas are so distinctive that a histologic diagnosis may be suggested. In angiomyomas composed mainly of vascular tissue and muscle or in those in which recent hemorrhage has occurred, the majority of tumors may have soft tissue CT density values without apparent fatty component (1,2). In such cases, preoperative diagnosis is extremely difficult. In this case report, we detected a small amount of fatty tissue with a chemical shift GRE MRI technique, although CT failed to detect the fatty tissue.

The effect of azelastine on acute radiation dermatitis in mice models

PURPOSE

In our previous report we described the clinical value of azelastine, an oral antiallergic agent, as an inhibitor of radiation dermatitis. Here we studied the effect of azelastine on normal skin and tumor size after irradiation in a mouse model.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

The modifying effects of azelastine on both the degree of radiation dermatitis and antitumoral effect of radiation therapy were investigated in the normal skin as well as in SCC VII tumors of C3H/He mice. The right hind legs, with or without tumors, were irradiated with 20-60 Gy at 0.62 Gy/min. Azelastine was administered via the mouse chow, and acute skin reactions and tumor growth curves were compared between the azelastine and control groups.

RESULTS

The acute skin reactions of the azelastine group were significantly less prominent than those of the control group (p < 0.01). At a dose of 40 Gy the dose modification factors were 1.19-1.25. The tumor growth curves of the azelastine and control groups were almost identical, indicating that the treatment response of irradiation was not affected by administration of azelastine.

CONCLUSIONS

Application of azelastine reduces the degree of acute radiation dermatitis without affecting the antitumoral effect of radiation therapy.

Thrombin stimulates production of transforming growth factor-beta by cultured human mesangial cells

Fibrin formation within the glomeruli occurs in various forms of human and experimental glomerulonephritis and it may play an important role in progressive glomerular injury. Transforming growth factor-beta (TGF-beta) has been shown to participate in the glomerular accumulation of extracellular matrix in glomerulonephritis. We investigated whether thrombin, an important coagulation factor, could modulate the production of TGF-beta by cultured human mesangial cells (HMC). TGF-beta levels in the culture supernatants were measured by ELISA using a specific antibody. The TGF-beta concentration was significantly increased by incubation of HMC with thrombin in a time-dependent manner. The stimulating effect of thrombin on TGF-beta was inhibited by addition of hirudin (a natural thrombin inhibitor) and argatroban (a synthetic thrombin inhibitor). In addition DFP-inactivated thrombin, which has no enzymatic activity, did not stimulate TGF-beta production. A protein kinase C inhibitor (H7) and a tyrosine kinase inhibitor (herbimycin A) also inhibited thrombin induced TGF-beta production. These findings suggested that thrombin may modulate the synthesis of TGF-beta via protein kinase C- and tyrosine kinase-dependent mechanisms in cultured HMC. Thus thrombin may participate in the accumulation of extracellular matrix in glomeruli through the augmentation of TGF-beta production.

Role of dynamic MRI in the evaluation of head and neck cancers treated with radiation therapy

PURPOSE

To study the usefulness of dynamic magnetic resonance imaging in the evaluation of head and neck cancers treated with radiation therapy.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Seventy-six patients (58 males and 18 females; ages 20-82) with head and neck cancers (10 nasopharyngeal carcinomas, 22 mesopharyngeal carcinomas, 10 hypopharyngeal carcinomas, 16 oral cavity carcinomas, 11 lingual carcinomas, and 7 laryngeal carcinomas) were treated by radiation therapy combined with concomitant low-dose cisplatinum. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) was performed before and 2 weeks after the irradiation in all cases. After bolus administration of gadopentetate dimeglumine (Gd-DTPA) (0.1 mmol kg), images were obtained every 30 s (repetition time 200 ms, echo time 16 ms) using a 1.5 or 0.5-T superconductive unit. Biopsy or surgery was performed after radiation therapy and the histologic findings were correlated with the MRI findings (T1, T2, dynamic, and enhanced T1).

RESULTS

Complete remission, partial response, and no response were obtained in 18, 36, and 7 cases, respectively. Dynamic MRI correctly diagnosed 17 of the 18 complete remission cases, 33 of the 36 partial response cases, and all of the 7 no-response cases. The accuracy of dynamic MRI, T1-weighted image, T2-weighted image, and Gd-enhanced T1-weighted image was 94.4%, 68%, 82%, and 86%, respectively.

CONCLUSION

Dynamic MRI proved to be useful in the evaluation of the radiation therapy of head and neck cancers.

Effects of self washout structure on the antithrombogenicity and the hemolytic properties of a centrifugal pump

Antithrombogenicity in an initial type (N1) of a centrifugal pump (CP) developed in our institute is provided by the central balancing hole of an impeller. A new CP (N2) was modified to obtain better antithrombogenicity, in which the balancing hole was widened to improve self washout flow velocity (Vsf), and an edge of the thrust bearing was rounded off to minimize flow separation. Effects of the modifications were assessed in vitro and in vivo studies. The Vsf of the N1 and the N2 evaluated by a Doppler velocimeter were 12.8 and 22.1 cm/s, respectively. Flow around the thrust bearing, which was visualized by a light cutting method, confirmed less flow stagnation in the N2. The hemolytic indices of the N1 and the N2 were 0.023 and 0.008 mg/dl, respectively. In vivo antithrombogenicity and the hemolytic properties of the N2 and the N1 were investigated without anticoagulation therapy in 3 goats. In each goat the N2 was driven for 1 week and exchanged for the N1, which was driven for the same period. Red thrombi at the thrust bearing were found in 2 N1s, and 2 small thrombi were on the impeller of another N1, whereas a thrombus of less than 1 mm3 at the TB was noted in 1 N2. Plasma free hemoglobin was not increased in either CP. These results indicate that the N2 has better antithrombogenicity and hemolytic properties than the N1.

A case of Sjögren's syndrome associated with Sweet's syndrome

We report a case of Sjögren's syndrome whose clinical course had been indolent until the patient presented with Sweet's syndrome (acute febrile neutrophilic dermatosis). This patient showed renal failure and renal tubular acidosis. Sweet's syndrome resolved within 3 weeks without corticosteroid therapy. Renal biopsy findings were consistent with interstitial nephritis. His renal manifestations responded to corticosteroid therapy and the renal function remained stable during 6 years follow-up without recurrence of Sweet's syndrome. Although close association of both syndromes is already known, in our case Sjögren's syndrome may have been exacerbated by occurrence of Sweet's syndrome.

Synthesis and biological evaluation of novel cyclic enediyne compounds related to dynemicin A as antitumor agents

Novel cyclic enediyne compounds, which are simple functional analogs of dynemicin A (1) having the bicyclo-[7.3.1]tridec-4-ene-2,6-diyne system, were synthesized and evaluated for the DNA-cleaving ability, in vitro cytotoxicity and in vivo antitumor activity. All of the sulfones 19-24, which were equipped with a 2-(arylsulfonyl)-ethoxycarbonyl group or the 2-(methylsulfonyl)ethoxycarbonyl group as a triggering device, showed both potent DNA-cleaving activity and cytotoxicity against various tumor cell lines. However, these compounds were entirely inactive or only slightly active against murine P388 leukemia in mice. On the other hand, the enediyne 2a having a phenyl carbamate moiety as a stable N-protecting group showed effective antitumor activity both in vitro and in vivo. In particular, it exhibited significant antitumor activity against Lewis lung carcinoma in mice. These results show that the character of the carbamate moiety of the cyclic enediynes strikingly affects their biological activities, that is, the sulfonylethyl carbamate moiety is an effective triggering device for both DNA-cleaving activity and cytotoxicity, and the phenyl carbamate moiety is significant for antitumor activity in vivo. As part of a mechanistic study, the reactivities of 2a and 21 were examined under a weakly basic condition (pH 9.3); both compounds failed to give the Bergman cycloaromatization product.

Analysis of disease-causing genes and DNA-based drugs by capillary electrophoresis. Towards DNA diagnosis and gene therapy for human diseases

Rapid progress in the Human Genome Project has stimulated investigations for gene therapy and DNA diagnosis of human diseases through mutation or polymorphism analysis of disease-causing genes and has resulted in a new class of drugs, i.e., DNA-based drugs, including human gene, disease-causing gene, antisense DNA, DNA vaccine, triplex-forming oligonucleotide, protein-binding oligonucleotides, and ribozyme. The recent development of capillary electrophoresis technologies has facilitated the application of capillary electrophoresis to the analysis of DNA-based drugs and the detection of mutations and polymorphism on human genes towards DNA diagnosis and gene therapy for human diseases. In this article the present state of studies on the analysis of DNA-based drugs and disease-causing genes by capillary electrophoresis is reviewed. The paper gives an overview of recent progress in the Human Genome Project and the fundamental aspects of polymerase chain reaction-based technologies for the detection of mutations and polymorphism on human genes and capillary electrophoresis techniques. Attention is mainly pad to the application of capillary electrophoresis to polymerase chain reaction analysis, restriction fragment length polymorphism, single strand conformational polymorphism, variable number of tandem repeat, microsatellite analysis, hybridization technique, and monitoring of DNA-based drugs. Possible future trends are also discussed.

Dendritic Ca2+ response in cercal sensory interneurons of the cricket Gryllus bimaculatus

In order to understand dendritic information processing, we examined spatio-temporal pattern of intracellular Ca2+ changes in cercal sensory interneurons of the cricket. We used a fluorescent imaging technique with confocal laser-scanning microscopy and a fluorescent calcium indicator, "Calcium Green 1'. Electrical stimulation of cercal sensory nerves induced Ca2+ increase on local dendritic regions in these interneurons. The Ca2+ responses in several dendritic arborizations differed from each other in their amplitude, latency and duration, depending on direction that the cercal nerve was stimulated. These results suggest that synaptic inputs coding directional wind signals are topographically arranged on the dendrite, and that the dynamics of Ca2+ accumulation contribute to integrative processing of the synaptic inputs.

Short communication: the value of embolization therapy in painful osseous metastases from hepatocellular carcinomas; comparative study with radiation therapy

We evaluated the therapeutic effect of transcatheter arterial embolization therapy (TAE) for painful osseous metastases from hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in comparison with radiation therapy (RT). TAE using gelatin sponge particles was performed for seven lesions in seven patients. Selective catheterization and embolization were successfully performed in all lesions. Within 10 days after TAE, complete pain relief (CR), partial relief (PR) and no relief (NR) were attained in 57%, 29% and 14%, respectively. RT was used to treat 34 lesions in 22 patients. The dose fractionation schedules were in the range 28.0-50.4 Gy, with 1.8-4.0 Gy per fraction. CR, PR and NR were attained in 47%, 47% and 6%, respectively. There were no serious complications related to these treatments. Both TAE and RT are effective and the treatment of choice should be selected on an individual basis.