Vanilloid receptor-1 containing primary sensory neurones mediate dextran sulphate sodium induced colitis in rats

BACKGROUND AND AIMS

The role of sensory neurones in colitis was studied by chemical denervation of primary sensory neurones as well as antagonism of the vanilloid receptor-1 (VR-1) in rats prior to administration of dextran sulphate sodium (DSS) to induce colitis.

METHODS

Neonatal rats were chemically denervated by subcutaneous administration of capsaicin; controls received capsaicin vehicle only. When animals reached maturity, colitis was induced by administration of 5% DSS in drinking water for seven days. Additionally, normal adult rats were treated with a VR-1 antagonist capsazepine (CPZ) or vehicle twice daily via an enema from day 0 to day 6 of the DSS regimen. Control rats were treated with an enema infusion of vehicle and 5% DSS, or without either an enema infusion or DSS in drinking water. For both groups of rats, severity of inflammation was quantitated by disease activity index (DAI), myeloperoxidase (MPO) activity, and histological examination.

RESULTS

DSS induced active colitis in all control rats with resultant epithelial ulceration, crypt shortening, and neutrophil infiltration. Both neonatal capsaicinised rats and normal adult rats treated with CPZ enemas exhibited significantly lower levels of DAI, MPO, and histological damage compared with vehicle treated rats (p< 0.05).

CONCLUSIONS

Neonatal capsaicinisation and local administration of CPZ prevents intestinal inflammation in a well established model of colitis indicating that primary sensory neurones possessing VR-1 receptors are required in the propagation of colonic inflammation.

Effects of iterative reconstruction on image contrast and lesion detection in gamma camera coincidence imaging in lung and breast cancers

To investigate the effects of iterative reconstruction in 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) gamma camera coincidence imaging (GCI), image contrast and visual detection obtained by using the iterative ordered-subsets expectation maximization (OSEM) reconstruction, in a phantom and in patients with lung cancer and breast cancer, were compared with those obtained by using the conventional filtered backprojection (FBP) reconstruction. Images of a cylindrical phantom containing hot spheres of various sizes (10-38 mm) were acquired by positron emission tomography (PET) and GCI at various sphere-to-background activity ratios. Forty-one consecutive patients with biopsy-proven cancer of lung (n = 20) and breast (n = 21) underwent PET and GCI on the same day after intravenous injection of 370 MBq of FDG. GCI images reconstructed by the OSEM and the FBP were compared. FDG PET was considered as the standard of reference. In GCI phantom images, OSEM yielded better contrast and signal-to-noise ratio (SNR) than FBP over the range of sphere sizes. Attenuation correction improved both the image measures and sphere detection obtained by the OSEM in GCI. In the study involving patients, FDG PET depicted 41 primary tumours and 25 metastatic lymph nodes. All of the tumours >2 cm in diameter (n = 25), six of the nine tumours 1.5-2.0 cm in diameter (67%), two of seven tumours <1.5 cm in diameter (29%), and 20 metastatic lymph nodes (80%) were detected in attenuation uncorrected GCI reconstructed by the OSEM as well as the FBP. The undetected lesions in GCI were identical between the OSEM and the FBP reconstructions. OSEM yielded significantly greater tumour-to-background (T/B) ratios and lower noise than FBP in GCI (T/B ratios, 4.1+/-3.2 vs 3.7+/-2.7, P = 0.02; noise, 0.09+/-0.04 vs 0.14+/-0.05, P<0.0001). In conclusion, OSEM yielded better image contrast and less noise than the FBP in GCI, but the lesion detection obtained by the OSEM and the FBP in attenuation uncorrected GCI in patients with lung cancer and breast cancer were similar. Phantom data suggest the potential of OSEM for improving lesion detection in GCI after attenuation correction.

Synthetic study on novel immunosuppressant KF20444

The two new synthetic routes to 6,7-dihydro-10-fluoro-3-(2-fluorophenyl)-5H- benzo[6,7]cyclohepta[1,2-b]-quinoline-8-carboxylic acid (1), a novel immunosuppressant KF20444, are described. The seven-membered ring construction from 2-[4-(2-fluorophenyl)phenyl]-3-(2-carboxyethyl)-4-chloromethyl-6-fluoroquinoline (17c) was achieved by intramolecular Friedel-Crafts reaction under acidic conditions as the key step. Subsequently, the oxidation of 4-chloromethyl group followed by reduction of carbonyl group on the seven-membered ring afforded 1. This route provides a new method for the synthesis of 1.

Feasibility of a short acquisition protocol for whole-body positron emission tomography with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose

The conventional protocol for whole-body positron emission tomography (PET) with fluorine-18 fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) requires a total acquisition time of 40-60 min, which is inconvenient for many oncological patients owing to fatigue and discomfort. This study examined the feasibility of a short protocol for whole-body PET. A phantom containing six "hot" spheres of gradually increasing diameter (10-38 mm) was imaged using a dedicated PET scanner for 20, 40, 60, 80, 120 and 600 s at various count rates. Thirty-four patients with various neoplasms underwent whole-body emission scans for 1 min per bed position 1 h after intravenous injection of 370 MBq of FDG (short protocol). A standard simultaneous transmission-emission acquisition for 10 min per bed position was performed thereafter. The images were reconstructed using an iterative algorithm. At a count rate of 40 kcps, which is close to the average count rate obtained in a whole-body FDG PET study, the 60-s image visualised five spheres, of which the smallest was 13 mm in size. Despite the better image quality, lesion detection was not improved in images acquired for more than 60 s (80-600 s). Only three of the six spheres could be detected in images acquired for less than 60 s. In the patient study, the standard protocol visualised 120 tumour lesions, of which 93 (78%) could be detected using the short protocol. Among the non-visualised lesions, 22 (82%) were < or =1.5 cm in size and 17 (63%) were lymph nodes. It is concluded that the proposed short protocol for whole-body FDG PET has a reasonably high detection rate and may be suitable for patients who are unable to undergo scanning for a prolonged period. It may also be useful as a pre-scan guide before a standard whole-body acquisition.

Cholinergic modulation of stellate cells in the mammalian ventral cochlear nucleus

The main source of excitation to the ventral cochlear nucleus (VCN) is from glutamatergic auditory nerve afferents, but the VCN is also innervated by two groups of cholinergic efferents from the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body. One arises from collaterals of medial olivocochlear efferents, and the other arises from neurons that project solely to the VCN. This study examines the action of cholinergic inputs on stellate cells in the VCN. T stellate cells, which form one of the ascending auditory pathways to the inferior colliculus, and D stellate cells, which inhibit T stellate cells, are distinguished electrophysiologically. Whole-cell recordings from stellate cells in slices of the VCN of mice demonstrate that most T stellate cells are excited by cholinergic agonists through three types of receptors, whereas all D stellate cells tested were insensitive to cholinergic agonists. Nicotinic excitation in T stellate cells has two components. The faster component was blocked by alpha-bungarotoxin and methyllycaconitine, suggesting that receptors contained alpha7 subunits; the slower component was insensitive to both. Muscarinic receptors excite T stellate cells by blocking a voltage-insensitive, "leak" potassium conductance. Our results suggest that cholinergic efferent innervation enhances excitation by sounds of T stellate cells, opposing the inhibitory action of cholinergic innervation in the cochlea that is conveyed indirectly through the glutamatergic afferents. The inhibitory action of D stellate cells on their targets is probably not affected by cholinergic inputs. Excitation of T stellate cells by cholinergic efferents would be expected to enhance the encoding of spectral peaks in noise.

Relationship between morbidity and body mass index of mariners in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force Fleet Escort Force

To establish a practical weight management program for mariners in the Japan Maritime Self-Defense Force (JMSDF) Fleet Escort Force, the relationship between morbidity and body mass index (BMI) was studied. To estimate morbidity, 10 medical problems were used as indices (hyperlipidemia, hyperuricemia, diabetes mellitus, lung disease, heart disease, upper gastrointestinal tract disease, hypertension, renal disease, liver disease, and anemia). A curvilinear relationship was found between morbidity and BMI, in which a BMI of 17.5 was associated with the lowest morbidity. This curvilinear pattern was more complex than a curve reported previously for Japanese civilians. Using the present curve and aiming for a BMI of 17.5 will help in the design and implementation of a practical management program for health promotion in the JMSDF.

Role of biophysical specialization in cholinergic modulation in neurons of the ventral cochlear nuclei

In contacting arrays of different types of neurons whose axons have differing targets in the brain stem, the auditory pathway is subdivided into parallel ascending pathways, each of which carries a different type of information. Several distinct arrays of neurons in the ventral cochlear nuclei have anatomical and biophysical specializations which enable them to extract differing facets of acoustic information and to convey it up the auditory pathway. T stellate cells have higher input resistances and have lower firing thresholds than bushy or octopus cells, enabling their firing to be modulated by small currents. Cholinergic currents, driven by neurons in the ventral nucleus of the trapezoid body that are likely to include medial olivocochlear efferents, excite T stellate cells, but have subtle effects on the firing of bushy cells, and have no detectable influence on octopus cells and D stellate cells. We suggest that cholinergic excitation of T stellate cells contributes toward shifting their acoustic dynamic ranges and increasing the encoding of spectral peaks in noisy conditions and in awake animals.

[Roles of clinical laboratory monitoring in bone marrow and peripheral blood stem cell transplantation]

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation(HSCT) increase the chances of cure of many hematological malignancy. The clinical laboratory plays a major role in support of HSCT. Both transplantation-specific laboratory test(tissue typing, assessment of graft viability/rejection, evaluation of minimal residual disease, and measurement of immunosuppressive drugs) and routine clinical laboratory tests(biochemical, hematological, serological, urinary, bacteriological, and physiological examinations) are significant. Hematopoietic stem cells(HSC) are usually assessed as CD34+ cells, while immature cells determined by automated hematology analyzers can simply evaluate HCS. These automated immature cell counts are earlier markers of engraftment following transplantation than the traditional indicators(neutrophils and platelets). After transplantation, infections, regimen-related toxicities, graft-versus host disease, veno-occlusive disease, and thrombotic microangiopathy are the serious complications, which are causes of expected mortality and morbidity in HSCT. Clinical laboratory monitoring may contribute early diagnosis and treatment of the complications, resulting in prevention of the adverse events.

[Assessment of hydroxylated metabolites of polychlorinated biphenyls and polychlorinated dibenzofurans as potential estrogens by yeast two-hybrid system]

The estrogenic activities of several hydroxylated metabolites of PCBs and PCDFs were investigated by yeast two-hybrid assay based on the ligand-dependent interaction of estrogen receptor with coactivator. For the hydroxylated PCBs, the order of estrogenic potency was 4-OH-2',4',6'-triCB > 4-OH-4'-monoCB, 4-OH-biphenyl. These compounds were evaluated as 10(3) to 10(4) less potent than 17 beta-estradiol based on the concentrations of test compounds showing 10% activity of 10(-7) M 17 beta-estradiol. 2-OH-3',4,4'-triCB, 4-OH-2',3,4'-triCB and 3-OH-/4-OH-2,2',5,5'-tetraCB, the metabolites of 2,2',5,5'-tetraCB were inactive as estrogens at the highest concentrations used in this study (10(-5) M). Also 4-OH-3,3',4',5-tetraCB, the metabolite of 3,3',4,4'-tetraCB was inactive as estrogen, indicating that this hydroxylated metabolite did not take part in the estrogenic activity of 3,3',4,4'-tetraCB. OH group at 4-position of biphenyl was necessary for the expression of estrogenicity, but one or two chloro-substitution adjacent to OH group inhibited the activity. For the hydroxylated PCDFs, 8-OH-2-monoCDF, 7-OH-3,4-diCDF, 8-OH-3,4-diCDF, 8-OH-3,4,6-triCDF and 3,8-(OH)2-2-monoCDF exhibited estrogenic activity. The estrogenic activity of 3,8-(OH)2-2-monoCDF was comparable to those of 4-OH-2',4',6'-triCB and 4-nonylphenol (mixture of compounds with branched sidechain). The order of activity was 3,8-(OH)2-monoCDF > 8-OH-3,4-diCDF, 7-OH-3,4-diCDF > 8-OH-2-monoCDF, 8-OH-3,4,6-triCDF. These compounds were evaluated as 2.5 x 10(3) to 3 x 10(4) less potent than 17 beta-estradiol. On the other hand, no estrogenic activity was observed for 2-OH-dibenzofuran, 3-OH-2,8-diCDF, 6-OH-3,4-diCDF and 9-OH-3,4-diCDF at concentrations as high as 10(-4) M. Substitution of OH group at 2(8)- or 3(7)-position of dibenzofuran and no chloro-substitution adjacent to OH group was required for the estrogenic activity.

Long-term repeated biodesulfurization by immobilized Rhodococcus erythropolis KA2-5-1 cells

In this study, biodesulfurization (BDS) was carried out using immobilized Rhodococcus erythropolis KA2-5-1 in n-tetradecane containing dibenzothiophene (DBT) as a model oil (n-tetradecane/immobilized cell biphasic system). The cells were immobilized by entrapping them with calcium alginate, agar, photo-crosslinkable resin prepolymers (ENT-4000 and ENTP-4000), and urethane prepolymers (PU-3 and PU-6); and it was found that ENT-4000-immobilized cells had the highest DBT desulfurization activity in the model oil system without leakage of cells from the support. Furthermore, ENT4000-immobilized cells could catalyze BDS repeatedly in this system for more than 900 h with reactivation; and recovery of both the biocatalyst and the desulfurized model oil was easy. This study would give a solution to the problems in BDS, such as the troublesome process of recovering desulfurized oil and the short life of BDS biocatalysts.

Expression, cloning, and immunological analysis of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) seed storage proteins

cDNA of buckwheat (Fagopyrum esculentum Moench) was isolated from immature seeds harvested 14 days after pollination. Two genes, designated FA02 and FA18, were found to encode legumin-like proteins and were expressed during seed development. The deduced amino acid sequence of FA02 was identical to the N-terminal amino acid domain of BW24KD, which was believed to be a major buckwheat allergen (Urisu, A.; Kondo, Y.; Morita, Y.; Yagi, E.; Tsuruta, M.; Yasaki, T.; Yamada, K.; Kuzuya, H.; Suzuki, M.; Titani, K.; Kurosawa, K. Isolation and characterization of a major allergen in buckwheat seeds. In Current Advances in Buckwheat Research; Shinshu University Press: Matsumoto, Japan, 1995; pp 965--974). It was predicted that FA02 would be cleaved to generate two separate components, a 41.3 kDa alpha-subunit and a 21 kDa beta-subunit. Antiserum was raised against the deduced FA02 beta-subunit, and immunoblotting of total protein from buckwheat seeds (F. esculentum M. and Fagopyrum tartaricum Gaertn.) revealed that several groups of proteins reacted with the antiserum. Polypeptides in the 23--25 kDa range displayed the greatest reactivity.

Kinetic analysis of microbial desulfurization of model and light gas oils containing multiple alkyl dibenzothiophenes

The reaction mechanism of biodesulfurization was investigated using whole cells of Rhodococcus erythropolis KA2-5-1, which have the ability to convert dibenzothiophene (DBT) into 2-hydroxybiphenyl. The desulfurization patterns of alkyl DBTs were represented by the Michaeis-Menten equation. The values of rate constants, the limiting maximal velocity (Vmax) and Michaelis constant (Km), for desulfurization of alkyl DBTs were calculated. The relative desulfurization activities of various alkyl DBTs were reduced in proportion to the total carbon numbers of alkyl substituent groups. Alkyl DBTs that had a total of six carbons of alkyl substituent groups were not desulfurized. The type or position of alkyl substituent groups had little effect on desulfurization activity. The desulfurization activity of each alkyl DBT, when mixed together, was reduced. This phenomenon was caused by apparent competitive inhibition of substrates. Using the apparent competitive inhibition model, the desulfurization pattern of a multiple components system containing alkyl DBTs was elucidated. This model was also applicable for biodesulfurization of light gas oil.

Somatic embryogenesis induced by the simple application of abscisic acid to carrot (Daucus carota L.) seedlings in culture

Seedlings of carrot (Daucus carota L. cv. Red Cored Chantenay) formed somatic embryos when cultured on medium containing abscisic acid (ABA) as the sole source of growth regulator. The number of embryos per number of seedlings changed depending on the concentration of ABA added to the medium, with a maximum embryo number at 1 x 10(-4) M ABA. Seedling age was critical for response to exogenous ABA; no seedling with a hypocotyl longer than 3.0 cm was able to form an embryo. Removal of shoot apices from seedlings completely inhibited the embryogenesis induced by application of exogenous ABA, suggesting that the action of ABA requires some substance(s) that is translocated basipetally from shoot apices through hypocotyls. Histologically, somatic embryos shared common epidermal cells and differentiated not through the formation of embryogenic cell clumps, but directly from epidermal cells. These morphological traits are distinct from those of embryogenesis via formation of embryogenic cell clumps, which has been found in embryogenic carrot cultures established using 2,4-dichlorophenoxyacetic acid or other auxins. These results suggest that ABA acts as a signal substance in stress-induced carrot seedling somatic embryogenesis.

Efficacy of a continuous syringe extraction method for monitoring hemodialysis ultrafiltrate

The evaluation of hemodialysis ultrafiltrate is essential for the assessment of uremic toxins, dialyzer net performance, protein catabolic rate, and safety and environmental protection. Total dialysate collection (TDC), however, is technically far from the daily procedure used. In the present study, use of a continuous syringe extraction method (CSEM) as a substitute for TDC was tested to determine its comparative effectiveness. Measurements of urea nitrogen, creatinine, phosphate, beta2-microglobulin, and albumin were simultaneously obtained by both TDC and CSEM in 20 dialysis sessions. CSEM showed an extremely significant correlation with TDC for these values. The correlation coefficients were >0.97 for these indicators and the value of Fisher's r to z were all <0.001. Taken together, these data indicate that CSEM is an effective substitute for TDC. With use of CSEM, the evaluation of spent dialysate could become as a daily procedure.

Validity of 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose imaging with a dual-head coincidence gamma camera for detection of myocardial viability

This study investigated the validity of myocardial 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) imaging with a dual-head gamma camera operated in coincidence detection mode (DCD-I) by comparing this technique with conventional PET and SPECT with ultra-high-energy general-purpose collimators (UHGPs).

METHODS

The subjects included 5 healthy volunteers and 20 patients with a history of myocardial infarction. FDG (370 MBq) was injected intravenously after 75-g oral glucose loading, and PET, UHGP SPECT and DCD-I were performed 45, 60 and 210 min, respectively, after the injection. The target-to-background ratio of each imaging method was evaluated for the healthy volunteers by comparing myocardial uptake with uptake in the upper lungs or left ventricular cavity. Agreement between the results of the various imaging methods was investigated for the myocardial infarction patients, as was the validity of DCD-I for assessing myocardial viability as judged by comparison with myocardial perfusion SPECT. The left ventricular wall was divided into 18 regions, and uptake was evaluated using a five-grade defect score (0 = normal; 1-3 = low uptake; 4 = defect).

RESULTS

The mean ratio of myocardial counts to lung counts was lower on the DCD images (2.77 +/- 1.12) than on the UHGP SPECT images (3.69 +/- 0.98) (P < 0.05). In contrast, the mean ratio of myocardial counts to left ventricular cavity counts was higher on the DCD images (2.76 +/- 1.36) than on the UHGP SPECT images (1.98 +/- 0.70) (P < 0.05). For the patients, only 30.6% of the defect scores obtained by DCD-I agreed with the scores obtained by PET, and the defect scores in the inferior and septal walls were higher for the DCD images than for the PET images. When DCD-I was compared with PET without attenuation correction (AC), agreement improved to 58.3%. When corrected by a modified AC method, DCD-I improved to 48.1%. Agreement between UHGP SPECT and PET was 55.0%. Of the segments (64) for which the defect score of the myocardial perfusion image was greater than that for the FDG PET image, DCD-I without AC, DCD-I with AC and UHGP SPECT allowed an accurate diagnosis in 12 (18.8%), 31 (48.4%) and 43 (67.2%), respectively.

CONCLUSION

The image quality of DCD-I is superior to that of UHGP SPECT. However, because the effect of attenuation is marked, accurate AC, by the transmission method, for example, is required to equal the validity of PET.

Assembly and disassembly of the peripheral architecture of the plant cell nucleus during mitosis

The architecture of the nuclei of higher plants includes a structure similar to the nuclear lamina of vertebrates. Changes in this structure were monitored during mitosis in carrot (Daucus carota L.) and celery (Apium graveolens L.) cells by immunofluorescence microscopy using an antibody that recognized the nuclear-matrix protein NMCP1. This protein has been shown to be localized exclusively at the periphery of the nucleus (K. Masuda et al. 1997, Exp Cell Res 232: 173-187). Immunofluorescence was recognized throughout cells in mitotic metaphase, although it was distributed predominantly in the mitotic spindle zone. At late anaphase or telophase, the immunofluorescence was localized around each set of daughter chromosomes. Immunofluorescence in newly formed daughter nuclei was restricted to the periphery of nuclei. This behavior was very similar to that of the nuclear lamina of vertebrates, suggesting that the structure located between the nuclear envelope and the chromosomes in plants disassembles and assembles in parallel with the disintegration and re-formation of the nuclear envelope.

Determination of norepinephrine in microdialysis samples by microbore column liquid chromatography with fluorescence detection following derivatization with benzylamine

A microbore column liquid chromatographic method is described for the determination of norepinephrine (NE) in microdialysis samples from rat brain. The method is based on precolumn derivatization of NE with benzylamine in the presence of potassium hexacyanoferrate(III) resulting in a highly fluorescent and stable benzoxazole derivative. Typically, a 10-microl sample was mixed with 10 microl derivatization reagent containing 0.45 M Caps buffer (pH 12.0), 0.2 M benzylamine, 10 mM potassium hexacyanoferrate(III), and N,N-dimethylformamide (1:1:1:15, v/v). The derivatization was carried out at 50 degrees C for 20 min. Under these conditions only NE and epinephrine produced high fluorescence yields at excitation and emission wavelengths of 345 and 480 nm, respectively, while fluorescence of other catechols and 5-hydroxyindoles was quenched by 10-100 times. The NE derivative was separated on a reversed-phase column (100 x 1.0 mm i.d., packed with C18 silica, 5 microm) within 10 min with no late eluting peaks. The mobile phase consisted of 40 mM Britton-Robinson buffer (pH 7.5) containing 1 mM didodecyldimethylammonium bromide and acetonitrile (34%, v/v), the flow rate was 40 microl/min. The limit of detection (signal-to-noise ratio of 3) for NE was 90 amol in 10 microl sample injected. Microdialysis samples were collected in 5-min intervals from the probes implanted in the hippocampus, frontal cortex, or hypothalamus of awake rats. The basal extracellular NE levels in the respective areas were 4.7 +/- 0.9, 1.8 +/- 0.3, and 0.8 +/- 0.2 fmol/10 microl (mean +/- SE, n = 7). Perfusion with a Ringer solution containing 100 mM K+ increased hippocampal NE levels by 700%, while NE uptake inhibitors maprotiline and amitriptyline administered orally or subcutaneously increased extracellular NE in the frontal cortex by about 300%. On the other hand, reserpine (5 mg/kg) reduced cortical NE levels by 40% 3 h after the administration. This new fluorescence derivatization method provides better selectivity, sensitivity, and speed for NE determination than the electrochemical detection since no late-eluting compounds such as dopamine, serotonin, and their metabolites are detectable in the chromatograms of the microdialysis samples.

Intrapulmonary cystic lymphangioma: report of a case

We describe herein the case of a 52-year-old man found to have a solitary pulmonary lymphangioma. Computed tomography (CT) scan demonstrated a nodule with homogeneous density and a well-defined border in the lower lobe of the right lung. T2-Weighted magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a nodule with homogeneously high signal intensity. The tumor was removed by partial resection, and pathologic examination confirmed a diagnosis of primary lymphangioma of the lung.

A primary hepatic carcinoid tumor: evaluation by computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging

A case of primary hepatic carcinoid tumor is reported. A 40-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital because of an epigastric mass. Ultrasonography demonstrated a heterogeneous, hyperechoic mass with hypoechoic area in the left lobe of the liver. CT showed a hypodense lesion with more hypodense areas. Enhanced CT showed slight retention of contrast medium and a low density area that suggested necrosis in the tumor. The mass appeared as a heterogeneous area of low signal intensity with sharp margin on T1-weighted MRI. T2-weighted MRI revealed a high intensity mass with higher intensity foci. Left lateral segmental hepatic resection was performed. Immunohistochemical and electron microscopic studies revealed the carcinoid tumor. Postoperatively, careful, intensive search revealed no other primary source of the tumor. The higher intensity foci were microscopically identified as intratumoral hemorrhage, corresponding to hemorrhagic areas on the cut surface. Therefore, T2-weighted MRI might reflect the pathological characteristics of the tumor.

Successful immunochemotherapy for patients with malignant mesothelioma: report of two cases

Malignant mesothelioma is a clinically aggressive tumor and has a poor prognosis; therefore, the selection of therapeutic strategies is important to improve the prognosis. Two patients with intraperitoneal malignant mesothelioma received combination therapy as follows: (1) case-oriented chemotherapy according to the results of a chemosensitivity test, and (2) adoptive immunotherapy using cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL). The chemosensitivity test was assessed by an MTT colorimetric assay. CTL was generated by a mixed culture with autologous tumor cells, and activated by immobilized anti-CD3 monoclonal antibody and interleukin-2. The MTT assay indicated that cisplatin and adriamycin were sensitive drugs in both patients, and they thus received the case-oriented chemotherapy according to the MTT assay. The activated CTL exhibited a high cytotoxicity against autologous malignant mesothelioma cells, and were transferred intraperitoneally. The patients were controllable for ascites, and the tumor masses gradually vanished (partial response). Chemoimmunotherapy is thus considered to be an effective treatment for intraperitoneal malignant mesothelioma, especially to improve the quality of life.

Effects of water on the alpha-beta transformation kinetics in san carlos olivine

In experiments at 13.5 gigapascals and 1030 degreesC, the growth rate of wadsleyite, which forms from transformation of olivine, was substantially enhanced by the presence of water. Wadsleyite had a low dislocation density and subgrain boundaries in wet runs. Water enhanced the dislocation recovery in wadsleyite and therefore caused inelastic relaxation of the localized pressure drop associated with the transformation, resulting in an increase of the growth rate in wet runs. These results imply that even a small amount of water of 0. 05 weight percent can weaken wadsleyite in the mantle.

Natural (Mg,Fe)SiO3-ilmenite and -perovskite in the Tenham meteorite

The minerals (Mg,Fe)SiO3-ilmenite and -perovskite were identified in the shock-induced veins in the Tenham chondritic meteorite. Both phases are inferred to have transformed from pyroxene at high pressures and temperatures by shock metamorphism. Columnar-shaped ilmenite grains, one of two types of morphologies, have a topotaxial relationship with neighboring pyroxene grains, indicating shear transformation. Granular-shaped perovskite grains showed a diffraction pattern consistent with orthorhombic perovskite, but these grains were not stable under the electron beam irradiation and became amorphous. The higher iron concentration in both phases compared with those experimentally reported may suggest their metastable transition from enstatite because of shock compression.

[A case report of anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left basal lung]

A 38-year-old woman with a history of hemosputum once in a several years was admitted to our hospital because of a mass shadow in the left lower lung field on chest X-ray film. Physical examination revealed neither cardiac murmur nor any sign of heart failure. Chest X-ray film showed a tumorous shadow in the left posterior basal segment. Chest CT scan showed that this shadow was consisted of enhanced, dilated and torutuous vessel and was connected to the descending thoracic aorta. Angiographic examinations showed that there was no normal left basal trunk of the pulmonary artery, and revealed an anomalous arterial supply to the basal segments from the descending thoracic aorta, with an expanded left inferior pulmonary vein. Broncho-fiberscopy showed no abnormal findings in the bronchial tree except for mild stenosis of the left basal bronchus. This case was diagnosed as an anomalous systemic arterial supply to the left basal lung (Pryce type I). The left lower lobe without pulmonary sequestration and the anomalous systemic artery were resected. Microscopically, the anomalous artery showed an elastic type, and the peripheral lung areas showed congestion. The postoperative course was uneventful. We collected reports of 26 cases of the same anomalies in Japan and discussed the difference of this anomaly from pulmonary sequestration.