Adhesion of binary giant vesicles containing negative spontaneous curvature lipids induced by phase separation

We report the adhesion of binary giant vesicles composed of two types of phospholipids, one has negative spontaneous curvature which tends to bend toward the head group and the other has zero spontaneous curvature. In a homogeneous one-phase region, the giant vesicles do not adhere to each other, whereas in a coexisting two-phase region, the giant vesicles show adhesion. A fluorescence microscope observation reveals that the adhesion takes place through the domains rich in phospholipids having negative spontaneous curvature. We propose a phase separation induced hemifusion model where two apposed monolayers of adjacent vesicles are hemifused in order to reduce the bending energy of monolayers with negative spontaneous curvature and the boundary energy between the domains and matrix. We provide a strong evidence for the hemifusion model by lipid transfer experiments.

Phase II study of radiation therapy combined with weekly nedaplatin in locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma (LAUCC): Kitasato Gynecologic Radiation Oncology Group (KGROG 0501)--initial analysis

OBJECTIVE

Locally advanced uterine cervical carcinoma (LAUCC) treated with chemoradiotherapy is considered to be the standard treatment regimen. However, no evidence of its efficacy and safety has been obtained from the Japanese population. Furthermore, the total dose of Japanese radiation therapy protocol is less than that of the USA which indicated that chemoradiotherapy for LAUCC is better than radiation therapy alone by phase III clinical trials. Thus, the current phase II study was designed to evaluate chemoradiotherapy with a lower radiation dose for LAUCC using weekly nedaplatin effectively and safely in the Japanese population. Nedaplatin is a platinum drug and no hydration is required to infuse patients because it is less toxic on renal function. If this phase II trial is successful, chemoradiotherapy for LAUCC in out-patient clinics could be possible.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

Patients registered in the current study were found to have LAUCC based on the following criteria i) pathologically proven squamous cell carcinoma or adenocarcinoma, ii) FIGO clinical Stage Ib, IIa, IIb with bulky tumor (diameter > 40 mm assessed by pelvic magnetic resonance imaging) or pelvic lymph node swelling (diameter > 10 mm assessed by pelvic computed tomography); iii) FIGO clinical Stage IIIa, IIIb and IVa with no paraaortic lymph node swelling (diameter > 10 mm) observed by abdominal computed tomography; iv) age: 20-75 years; v) performance status: 0-2. The treatment protocol was as follows: Radiation therapy in a combination of external beam radiation therapy (total dose: 50 Gy-52 Gy/25-27 fractions with central shielding after 30-32 Gy) with high-dose rate intracavitary irradiation (24-30 Gy/4-6 fractions to point A). Chemotherapy applied in the current study was weekly nedaplatin infused intravenously (30 mg/mm2/time, once a week, total 150 mg/mm2/5 weeks). Sample size in the current study was 45 LAUCC patients recruited for three years at a single institution. This protocol was permitted by the ethics committee of Kitasato University Hospital.

RESULTS

Ten patients were registered in this study between June 2005 and March 2006. The median age was 57.5 years (range 36-73). PS0 was five and PS1 was five. As for clinical stage, nine were IIIb and only one was IIb. Nine patients were proven to have squamous cell carcinoma and one adenocarcinoma. The median maximum tumor diameter was 62.5 mm (range 30-100 mm). As for initial response, eight had CR and two had PR (100% response rate). As for hematological acute morbidity, three were grade 2, six were grade 3, and one was grade 4.

CONCLUSIONS

This initial analysis of the phase II study confirmed that concurrent chemoradiotherapy using nedaplatin is safe and efficacious, thus we decided to undergo further studies.

A randomized trial of intrapericardial (ip) bleomycin (BLM) after drainage for management of malignant pericardial effusion (MPE) in lung cancer patients (pts): Report of a Japan Clinical Oncology Group trial (JCOG 9811)

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Background: This trial was aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of ip BLM instillation as compared to pericardial drainage alone in pts with MPE. Methods: Pts ≤ 75 y.o. with pathologically documented lung cancer, who had received pericardial drainage for clinical MPE within 72 hours of the enrollment, were eligible. Pts with chemo-naïve small cell cancer, major organ failure, or severe co-morbidity were excluded. Signed consent form was obtained. Pts were randomized to either Arm A: observation alone after drainage, or Arm B: ip BLM of 15mg, followed by additional ip BLM 10mg q48hours. Drainage tube was removed when daily drainage was ≤20mL; the protocol therapy was judged as primary failure, with no regulations on post-therapy, if this criteria could not be met after 7 days from enrollment. MPE was followed at 1,2,4,6 and 12 months by echocardiography. The primary endpoint was survival with MPE control (effusion failure-free survival, EFFS) at 2 months, assumed to be 60% vs. 30%. The trial was designed to provide 80% power with 5% one-sided alpha, with 80 cases. Results: From Aug./99 to Jan./06, 80 pts were enrolled, with 79 eligible. M:F=51:29, median age 60 y.o. (range: 39–75), 75 nonsmall histology, 53 with prior chemotherapy, and 20 with prior radiotherapy. Median drainage volume was 600 mL (range: 130–1930). Cytology of the effusion was positive in 58/76 examined. EFFS ( table ) tended to favor Arm B, with hazard ratio of 0.64 (one-sided p=0.030 by logrank test, 95% C.I. 0.40–1.03). No additional acute toxicities or complications were observed for Arm B. There were 2 cases with late constrictive complications in Arm B, but none was severe. The median survival was 79 days (A) and 119 days (B) (not significant). Conclusions: Although the difference of EFFS at 2 months was not statistically significant, BLM ip after pericardial drainage appears to be safe and effective in allover for management of MPE.

No significant financial relationships to disclose.

[Table: see text]

Risk of developing ovarian cancer among women with ovarian endometrioma: a cohort study in Shizuoka, Japan

Although some studies have indicated that endometriosis may increase the risk of developing ovarian cancer, there are no data from epidemiologic studies in Japan. We prospectively analyzed all cases of ovarian endometrioma enrolled in the prefecture-wide Shizuoka Cohort Study on Endometriosis and Ovarian Cancer Programme, which was initiated in 1985. To evaluate the risk of ovarian cancer by time periods subsequent to ovarian endometrioma diagnosis, a cohort of 6,398 women with a clinically documented ovarian endometrioma in Shizuoka between 1985 and 1995 was identified from the Shizuoka Cancer Registry (SCR), with follow-up through 2002. Ovarian cancer incidence among cohort members was ascertained by linkage to the SCR using a unique person-identification number. Standardized incidence ratios (SIR) and their 95% confidence intervals (CI) were computed by a use of prefecture-wide rates of ovarian cancer, adjusted for age and calendar year. During follow-up of up to 17 years of the ovarian endometrioma cohort, 46 incident ovarian cancers were identified, yielding that the ovarian cancer risk was elevated significantly among patients with ovarian endometrioma (SIR = 8.95, 95% CI = 4.12-15.3). The SIR did not increase with increasing follow-up duration. The risk increased with increasing age at ovarian endometrioma diagnosis, with a SIR equal to 13.2 (95% CI = 6.90-20.9) in women above 50 years of age. Our findings for the first time support the hypothesis that ovarian endometrioma increases the subsequent risk of developing ovarian cancer in Shizuoka, Japan.

Concentration fluctuations in binary fluid membranes

We investigate the dynamics of critical fluctuations in binary fluid membranes using a two-dimensional hydrodynamic model with momentum decay to the surrounding water. In particular, the decay rate of concentration fluctuations is obtained analytically. In the limit of small wavenumber q with respect to the correlation length, the decay rate is proportional to q², as usual. In the large-q limit, however, the effective diffusion coefficient increases only logarithmically with q.

Significance of p27 as a predicting marker for medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy against endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma

We reported that p27 induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) may be involved in the progestin-induced growth suppression of human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. This study aimed at investigating whether p27 expression could be a predicting marker to evaluate the effectiveness of MPA therapy. The clinical responses of 15 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated with MPA were examined. p27 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Percentage of positive nuclear staining was expressed as a strongly positive (SP) labeling index (LI). Before MPA treatment, SP LIs in the effective and noneffective groups were 22.6 +/- 14.3% and 9.1 +/- 9.2%. At 1-6 weeks in the MPA treatment, SP LIs increased in both groups and were significantly higher than those before the therapy. At 7-12 weeks, SP LIs in both groups decreased to the level of pretherapy. At 13-18 weeks, SP LIs in the effective group were 14.9 +/- 5.7%, whereas in the noneffective group, 1.1 +/- 2.0%. The former was significantly higher than the latter. p27 expression could predict the effectiveness of MPA treatment for endometrial carcinoma at an early stage of the 4-month period in MPA therapy and could be a useful predicting marker for MPA.

Protective effects of alpha1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A on concanavalin A-induced liver failure via interleukin-6 induction by ME3738

We examined whether the 22beta-methoxyolean-12-ene-3beta,24(4beta)-diol (ME3738)-mediated selective induction of interleukin-6 increased alpha1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A expression, and whether these proteins protected against liver injury in vitro and in vivo. ME3738 treatment in male mice increased gene expression of alpha1-acid glycoprotein subtypes and serum amyloid A 2 genes, and plasma concentration of serum amyloid A. Treatment with alpha1-acid glycoprotein at 5 mg/animal or serum amyloid A at 0.03 and 0.1 mg/animal prior to concanavalin A administration reduced multifocal necrosis in the liver. Treatment with alpha1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A, but not alpha1-antitrypsin, protected Hep G2 cells against cell injury. These results suggest that alpha1-acid glycoprotein and serum amyloid A, increased by ME3738-induced interleukin-6, might protect against concanavalin A-induced liver injury.

Hematopoietic stem cell transplantation for 30 patients with primary immunodeficiency diseases: 20 years experience of a single team

We retrospectively analyzed our results of 30 patients with three distinctive primary immunodeficiency diseases (PIDs)--severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID, n = 11), Wiskott-Aldrich syndrome (WAS, n = 11) and X-linked hyper-immunoglobulin M (IgM) syndrome (XHIM, n = 8)--who underwent hematopoietic SCT (HSCT) during the past 20 years. Until 1995, all donors were HLA-haploidentical relatives with T-cell depletion (TCD) (n = 8). Since 1996, the donors have been HLA-matched related donors (MRD) (n = 8), unrelated BM (UR-BM) (n = 7) and unrelated cord blood (UR-CB) (n = 7). Twenty-seven of 30 patients had various pre-existing infections with or without organ damages before HSCT. Conditioning regimen and GVHD prophylaxis were determined according to disease, donor and pretransplant status. Although one of eight patients transplanted with TCD is alive with full engraftment, the other seven died. On the other hand, 18 of 22 patients transplanted without TCD are alive and well, including six of eight transplanted from MRD, seven of seven from UR-BM and five of seven from UR-CB. All 19 survivors did not require Ig supplementation after HSCT. These results indicate that UR-CBT as well as UR-BMT provides good results for PID comparable to MRD-SCT, and that early diagnosis, HSCT at early stage, careful supportive therapy and monitoring for various pathogens are important for the successful HSCT.

Significance of p27 as a predicting marker for medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy against endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma

Watanabe J, Watanabe K, Jobo T, Kamata Y, Kawaguchi M, Imai M, Okayasu I, Kuramoto H. Significance of p27 as a predicting marker for medroxyprogesterone acetate therapy against endometrial endometrioid adenocarcinoma. Int J Gynecol Cancer 2006;16(Suppl. 1): 452–457.

We reported that p27 induced by medroxyprogesterone acetate (MPA) may be involved in the progestin-induced growth suppression of human endometrial adenocarcinoma cells. This study aimed at investigating whether p27 expression could be a predicting marker to evaluate the effectiveness of MPA therapy. The clinical responses of 15 patients with endometrial carcinoma treated with MPA were examined. p27 expression was evaluated by immunohistochemical staining. Percentage of positive nuclear staining was expressed as a strongly positive (SP) labeling index (LI). Before MPA treatment, SP LIs in the effective and noneffective groups were 22.6 ± 14.3% and 9.1 ± 9.2%. At 1–6 weeks in the MPA treatment, SP LIs increased in both groups and were significantly higher than those before the therapy. At 7–12 weeks, SP LIs in both groups decreased to the level of pretherapy. At 13–18 weeks, SP LIs in the effective group were 14.9 ± 5.7%, whereas in the noneffective group, 1.1 ± 2.0%. The former was significantly higher than the latter. p27 expression could predict the effectiveness of MPA treatment for endometrial carcinoma at an early stage of the 4-month period in MPA therapy and could be a useful predicting marker for MPA.

Small-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a clinicopathologic study of 11 cases

We report the clinical profiles and immunohistochemical features of small-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Eleven cases that we have encountered at the Department of Gynecology, Kitasato University Hospital, between 1971 and 2003 are presented. Of 1370 invasive carcinomas of the uterine cervix, the incidence of small-cell carcinoma was 0.8%. Patient ages ranged between 32 and 65 years, with a mean age of 46.3 years. The clinical stages at diagnosis were Ib in four patients, IIb in three, IIIb in three, and IVb in one. All patients presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Two patients who are alive with no evidence of disease for 12 years and 3 years 6 months, while eight patients died of primary carcinoma between 4 and 25 months after treatment. Histopathologic findings showed solid nests with marked peripheral palisading pattern and rosette formation. Small tumor cells with scant cytoplasm demonstrated a very high nuclear/cytoplasm ratio and indistinct cell borders. The nuclei were round to oval and demonstrated increased but fine granular chromatin. Nucleoli were indistinct in all cases. Immunohistochemical findings were positive in 81.8% each for neuron-specific enolase and protein gene product 9.5, 72.7% for synaptophysin, 63.6% for chromogranin A, and 54.5% for neural cell adhesion molecule. All specimens were positive for at least one of the above. In conclusion, small-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix revealed poor prognosis. Making an accurate diagnosis of small-cell carcinoma before performing treatment is of great significance but often difficult. Immunohistochemical analysis using several kinds of neuroendocrine markers is helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis in addition to focusing on characteristic histo- and cytopathologic features.

Kinetic pathway to double-gyroid structure

We have investigated the structural development during order-order transitions to the double-gyroid (DG) phase of nonionic surfactant/water systems based on two-dimensional small-angle x-ray scattering patterns from highly oriented ordered mesophases. The lamellar (L) to DG transition proceeds through two intermediate structures, a fluctuating perforated layer structure having ABAB stacking and a hexagonal perforated lamellar structure with ABCABC stacking (HPLABC). For a hexagonally packed cylinder (H) to DG transition, we also observed the HPLABC structure as the intermediate phase, thus the HPLABC is an entrance structure for the DG phase. The hexagonal perforated lamellar (HPL) structure consists of hexagonally packed holes surrounded by the planar tripods, and the transition from HPL structure to the DG phase proceeds by rotation of the dihedral angle of connected tripods. A geometrical consideration shows that large deformations of HPL planes are necessary to form the DG structure from the HPLABC structure, whereas the transition from a HPL structure with ABAB stacking (HPLAB) to the DG structure is straightforward. In spite of the topological constraints, the HPLABC structure is observed in the kinetic pathway to the DG structure.

Small-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix: a clinicopathologic study of 11 cases

We report the clinical profiles and immunohistochemical features of small-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Eleven cases that we have encountered at the Department of Gynecology, Kitasato University Hospital, between 1971 and 2003 are presented. Of 1370 invasive carcinomas of the uterine cervix, the incidence of small-cell carcinoma was 0.8%. Patient ages ranged between 32 and 65 years, with a mean age of 46.3 years. The clinical stages at diagnosis were Ib in four patients, IIb in three, IIIb in three, and IVb in one. All patients presented with abnormal vaginal bleeding. Two patients who are alive with no evidence of disease for 12 years and 3 years 6 months, while eight patients died of primary carcinoma between 4 and 25 months after treatment. Histopathologic findings showed solid nests with marked peripheral palisading pattern and rosette formation. Small tumor cells with scant cytoplasm demonstrated a very high nuclear/cytoplasm ratio and indistinct cell borders. The nuclei were round to oval and demonstrated increased but fine granular chromatin. Nucleoli were indistinct in all cases. Immunohistochemical findings were positive in 81.8% each for neuron-specific enolase and protein gene product 9.5, 72.7% for synaptophysin, 63.6% for chromogranin A, and 54.5% for neural cell adhesion molecule. All specimens were positive for at least one of the above. In conclusion, small-cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix revealed poor prognosis. Making an accurate diagnosis of small-cell carcinoma before performing treatment is of great significance but often difficult. Immunohistochemical analysis using several kinds of neuroendocrine markers is helpful in establishing the correct diagnosis in addition to focusing on characteristic histo- and cytopathologic features

Static and dynamic structures of spherical nonionic surfactant micelles during the disorder-order transition

We have investigated the static and dynamic structures of nonionic surfactant micelles, a C(12)E(8)/water binary system, during the disorder-order transition using small angle x-ray scattering, static light scattering, and dynamic light scattering techniques. In the disordered phase, the micelles have spherical shape and intermicellar interactions are governed by the hard core and weak long ranged attractive potentials. With increase of the micellar concentration, the disordered micelles transform to the three characteristic ordered micellar phases, a hexagonally close packed lattice, a body centered cubic lattice, and an A15 lattice having area-minimizing structure. The stability of these phases is well explained by balance of a close packing rule and a minimal-area rule proposed by Ziherl and Kamien [Phys. Rev. Lett. 85, 3528 (2000)]. The role of hydrodynamic interactions in surfactant micellar solutions was compared with that in hard sphere colloidal particle suspensions.

Comparison of computer-assisted instruction (CAI) versus traditional textbook methods for training in abdominal examination (Japanese experience)

PURPOSE

This study aimed to compare the effects of computer-assisted, text-based and computer-and-text learning conditions on the performances of 3 groups of medical students in the pre-clinical years of their programme, taking into account their academic achievement to date. A fourth group of students served as a control (no-study) group.

METHOD

Participants were recruited from the pre-clinical years of the training programmes in 2 medical schools in Japan, Jichi Medical School near Tokyo and Kochi Medical School near Osaka. Participants were randomly assigned to 4 learning conditions and tested before and after the study on their knowledge of and skill in performing an abdominal examination, in a multiple-choice test and an objective structured clinical examination (OSCE), respectively. Information about performance in the programme was collected from school records and students were classified as average, good or excellent. Student and faculty evaluations of their experience in the study were explored by means of a short evaluation survey.

RESULTS

Compared to the control group, all 3 study groups exhibited significant gains in performance on knowledge and performance measures. For the knowledge measure, the gains of the computer-assisted and computer-assisted plus text-based learning groups were significantly greater than the gains of the text-based learning group. The performances of the 3 groups did not differ on the OSCE measure. Analyses of gains by performance level revealed that high achieving students' learning was independent of study method. Lower achieving students performed better after using computer-based learning methods.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that computer-assisted learning methods will be of greater help to students who do not find the traditional methods effective. Explorations of the factors behind this are a matter for future research.

Histopathological studies of bacterial haemorrhagic ascites of ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis (Temminck & Schlegel)

A histopathological study was carried out on ayu, Plecoglossus altivelis, with bacterial haemorrhagic ascites. The fish were obtained from culture ponds in Wakayama Prefecture in 2003. The causative agent was identified as Pseudomonas plecoglossicida by a slide agglutination test using anti-P. plecoglossicida FPC941 serum. Histopathological studies revealed lesions in spleen, kidney, liver, intestine, heart and gills. Lesions in the spleen and haematopoietic tissue were prominent and invaded by P. plecoglossicida. Necrotic lesions accompanied by haemorrhage, fibrin deposition and oedema occurred in the splenic pulp and sheathed tissue, and in the kidney. The liver also had necrotic lesions and abscess formations. However, the intestine, heart and gills were only slightly invaded by P. plecoglossicida. No lesions or bacteria were observed in the brain.

Inter-lamellar interactions modulated by addition of guest components

We have investigated the effects of a guest component (polymer or spherical colloidal particle) confined between flexible lamellar slits on the inter-lamellar interaction by means of a small-angle X-ray scattering technique and a neutron spin echo technique. The dominant interaction between flexible lamellar membranes without guest components is the Helfrich mechanism. The addition of a neutral polymer into the lamellar phase induces an attractive inter-lamellar interaction and finally destabilizes the lamellar phase. On the other hand, spherical colloidal particles confined between flexible lamellar membranes reduce the undulational fluctuations of lamellae and bring a repulsive inter-lamellar interaction. The behavior of the layer compression modulus of the lamellar membrane containing colloidal particles is well described by the entropical repulsive inter-lamellar interaction driven by steric hindrance.

Differential effects of yohimbine, naloxone and 8-OH-DPAT on ejaculatory response in male dogs

The aim of this study was to compare the effects of the alpha(2)-adrenergic-receptor antagonist yohimbine, the 5-HT(lA)-receptor agonist 8-hydroxy-2-(di-n-propylamino)tetralin (8-OH-DPAT) and the opioid-receptor antagonist naloxone (all of which have been shown to stimulate male sexual arousal/motivation in rats) on sexual responses in male dogs. Sexual responses (i.e., ejaculation, penile erection and pelvic thrusting behavior) were elicited by manual penile stimulation. Systemic administration of yohimbine (0.03-1.0 mg/kg) produced a biphasic dose response curve for the amount of ejaculated semen collected during genital stimulation (for 5 min), whereas 8-OH-DPAT (0.03-0.3 mg/kg) dose-dependently decreased the amount of ejaculated semen. Thus, yohimbine increased the amount of ejaculated semen at lower doses (0.03-0.3 mg/kg), but decreased it at the highest dose (1.0 mg/kg). The highest dose of yohimbine (1.0 mg/kg) and 8-OH-DPAT (0.3 mg/kg) also produced a significant delay of onset in both ejaculation and penile erection latency (time from starting the stimulation to the first ejaculation and full erection), and a decrease in the incidence of pelvic thrusting behavior. In contrast, administration of naloxone (0.03-1.0 mg/kg) did not affect the sexual responses elicited by genital stimulation. These results indicate that yohimbine and 8-OH-DPAT, but not naloxone, affect sexual responses, particularly ejaculation, and that the drugs which stimulate the mechanisms regulating sexual arousal/motivation in male rats do not show identical effects for sexual function in male dogs. The present findings also confirm our previous observations that the ejaculatory capacity in dogs can be stimulated by lower doses of yohimbine, as evidenced by an increase in the amount of ejaculated semen.

Influenza B virus NS2, a nuclear export protein, directly associates with the viral ribonucleoprotein complex

In Influenza A virus and Influenza B virus, the NS2 protein (nuclear export protein) has been proposed to mediate the nucleocytoplasmic trafficking of viral ribonucleoprotein (vRNP) by forming NS2-vRNP complexes. While the binding interactions of NS2 in these complexes have been well characterized for Influenza A virus, much less is known about Influenza B virus NS2 (B/NS2). In this report, we developed a specific antiserum against B/NS2 protein and demonstrated that B/NS2 was synthesized late in infection and packaged into virions after nucleocytoplasmic transport. Fractionation of detergent-disrupted virions in several conditions showed that B/NS2 remained associated with vRNP after separation of matrix protein M1 from vRNP, whereas Influenza A virus NS2 (A/NS2) was easily separated from vRNP and remained associated with M1, in accord with previous findings that A/NS2 associates with vRNP only through its binding of encapsidated M1. The results indicated that complex formation among vRNP, M1 and NS2 of Influenza B virus was different from that of Influenza A virus, and that B/NS2 associated with vRNP in the absence and presence of M1.

[Chondromatous hamartoma of the lung with a unique demonstration on diagnostic imaging; report of a case]

A case of pulmonary hamartoma is reported with clinical, roentgenographical and histopathologic findings. The patient was a 53-year-old woman who had undergone right hemithyroidectomy for thyroid cancer 4 years before. An abnormal shadow, which was a non-clearly demarcated tumor, 2 cm in diameter, in the left middle lung field, was noted on her routine X-ray in February 2001. Physical examination and laboratory data revealed no significant findings, but computed tomography(CT) scans of the chest showed a gathering of small-sized high-density lesions in the nodule. She underwent left S8 segmentectomy on March 21, 2001. The pathology report on the frozen section was pulmonary hamartoma. Histopathologically, the lesion was characterized by a composition of bronchial epithelium, fat tissue and cartilage, with being diagnosed as a chondromatous hamartoma of the lung. The patient's postoperative course was uneventful, and she was discharged with no supportive therapy 14 days after the operation. To date, 14 months after the operation, the patient has been in good condition, without evidence of recurrence or distant metastasis on diagnostic imaging. This case is particularly interesting because a gathering of small-sized pulmonary hamartoma was demonstrated by imaging.

Expression of an artificial Cl- channel in microperfused renal proximal tubules

To better understand the process of fluid movement driven by Cl- conductance, a Cl- channel-forming peptide was delivered to the luminal membrane of microperfused rabbit renal proximal tubules. When the peptide (NK4-M2GlyR) was perfused, a significant new conductance was observed within 3 min and stabilized at 10 min. Alteration of the ion composition revealed it to be a Cl(-)-specific conductance. Reabsorption of Cl- (JCl) was increased by NK4-M2GlyR, but not by a scramble NK4-M2GlyR sequence, suggesting that the active peptide formed de novo Cl- channels in the luminal membrane of the perfused tubules. In the presence of the peptide, reabsorption of fluid (Jv) was dramatically increased and JNa and JCa were concomitantly increased. We propose that introduction of the new Cl- conductance in the luminal membrane leads to a coordinated efflux of water across the membrane and an increase in cation translocation via the paracellular pathway, resulting in an increase in Jv. This novel method could prove useful in characterizing mechanisms of fluid transport driven by Cl- gradients.

Coordinated regulation of the promoter and enhancer regions of human CD23 gene by signal through IL-4R and CD40, and the role of Ku70/80 in the enhancer activity

CD23 has roles in proliferation, antigen uptake and presentation, and the generation of IgE. Signals through IL-4R and CD40 stimulate transcription of CD23 in B cells and are necessary for immunoglobulin class switch (IgCS). The same signals induce nuclear translocation of Ku, which is also required for IgCS, in human resting B cells, suggesting that these signaling pathways are connected. We examined the regulation of CD23 gene, and located the minimal promoter at -132+80 region. A pair of 188bp inverted repeats inhibited its activity. The intronic region including EBV responsive element (EBVRE) and the surrounding sequence, required the gene specific promoter to enhance the reporter gene activity. Western blotting and FACS analysis using subclones of DND39 B cells infected with recombinant EBV, revealed that CD23 upregulation did not necessarily correlate with EBNA 2 and LMP 1 expression. Although the specific binding of Ku to EBVRE was not demonstrated, dominant negative Ku80 suppressed IL-4 + anti-CD40-driven CD23 expression. These results suggest that Ku is involved in gene regulation as a signal transducer and gene enhance. Detailed analysis of CD23 gene regulation would lead to a better understanding of disorders such as allergy and lymphoproliferation.

Photoisomerisation and fluorescence behaviour of polyphenylene-based stilbene dendrimersThis paper is dedicated to Professor Fred Lewis on the event of his 60th birthday

The photoinduced structural changes of three polyphenylene-based stilbene dendrimers, G1, G2, and G3, has been studied. They all exhibit fluorescence emission with considerably higher quantum efficiency and longer fluorescence lifetimes compared with the parent stilbene. These dendrimers undergo mutual cis --> trans isomerisation on direct irradiation with 310 nm light at room temperature. In a solvent glass at 77 K, one-way cis --> trans isomerisation was observed for G2. A volume-conserving isomerisation mechanism is presumed to be operating in the cis-to-trans isomerisation of G2 at 77 K.