Study for imaging of inside bone using FM-chirp pulse compression system

We measured the attenuation of ultrasound in animal bone in vitro, and determined successfully the correct dynamic range for the detection of echo signals from inside the bone. It was possible to display a B-mode image of a 6-mm thick porcine rib bone using a high frequency (5 MHz) transducer. However, it was difficult to obtain the image of a large bone (20-mm thick femur). This paper describes a possibility of the improvement for the detection of echoes from inside the bone using the FM-chirp pulse. An ultrasonic wave generator that generates the FM-chirp pulse for a frequency range of 100 KHz to 5 MHz was fabricated. And the pulse was transmitted from a transducer and received by a hydrophone in the water. The received waveform and the frequency spectrum were displayed on an oscilloscope. We measured the amplitude spectrum of the received waves before and after inserting a sample bone between the transducer and the hydrophone. In the experiment, three types of focused transducers (0.5, 1 and 2.25 MHz) and three kinds of sample bones (spine, femur and rib of a pig) were used. From the results of the measurement, we could find the useful information for imaging of inside the bone.

Serial Analysis of Gene Expression (SAGE) of Magnaporthe grisea: genes involved in appressorium formation

Treatment with cyclic AMP (cAMP) induces appressorium formation in the phytopathogenic fungus Magnaporthe grisea, the causative agent of rice blast disease. In a search for the M. grisea genes responsible for appressorium formation and host invasion, SAGE (Serial Analysis of Gene Expression) was carried out using mRNA isolated from fungal conidia germinating in the presence and absence of cAMP. From cAMP-treated conidia 5087 tags including 2889 unique tags were isolated, whereas untreated conidia yielded 2342 unique tags out of total of 3938. cAMP treatment resulted in up- and down-regulation of genes corresponding to 57 and 53 unique tags, respectively. Upon consultation of EST/cDNA databases, 22 tags with higher representation in cAMP-treated conidia were annotated with putative gene names. Furthermore, 28 tags corresponding to cAMP-induced genes could be annotated with the help of the recently published genome sequence of M. grisea. cAMP-induced genes identified by SAGE included many genes that have not been described so far, as well as a number of genes known to be involved in pathogenicity, e.g. MPG1, MAS1 and MAC1. RT-PCR of 13 randomly selected genes confirmed the SAGE results, verifying the fidelity of the SAGE data.

The amygdala and Alzheimer's disease: positron emission tomographic study of the cholinergic system

The primary transmitter deficit is cholinergic in Alzheimer's disease (AD), and the amygdala receives a major cholinergic projection from the nucleus basalis of Meynert (Ch4), which may play an important role in the retention of affective conditioning and/or memory consolidation. We measured brain acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in 54 patients with AD and in 22 normal controls by positron emission tomography and N-[(11)C]methylpiperidin-4-yl acetate to characterize the cholinergic pathology in AD. The k(3) values were calculated as an index of AChE activity in a three-compartment model analysis using the metabolite-corrected arterial input function. The k(3) values were highly significantly reduced by 20% in the cerebral neocortex (P <0.0001 in the two-tailed t test), 14% in the hippocampus (P <0.001), and 33% in the amygdala (P <0.0001) in AD patients compared with normal controls. The k(3) values were significantly correlated with the Mini-Mental State Examination scores in both the cerebral cortex (P <0.001) and the amygdala (P <0.05) in AD patients, supporting the cholinergic hypothesis of cognitive dysfuncion in AD. Further studies are required, however, to elucidate the specific role of the cholinergic deficit in the amygdala in the emotional and behavioral symptoms in AD.

Protective effects of estradiol against amyloid beta protein-induced inhibition of neuronal Cl(-)-ATPase activity

Low concentrations of amyloid beta proteins (Abetas, 1-10 nM) were recently demonstrated to reduce Cl(-)-ATPase activity in parallel with an increase in the intracellular Cl(-) concentration ([Cl(-)]i) and decreases in plasma membrane phosphorylated phosphatidylinositol (PIP and PIP2) levels in cultured rat hippocampal neurons. In this study, 17 beta-estradiol (estradiol) at a therapeutic concentration (1.8 nM) for Alzheimer's disease was found to block these Abeta (Abeta25-35)-induced changes. This protective effect of estradiol on Cl(-)-ATPase activity was antagonized by a pure estrogen receptor antagonist, ICI182780 and inhibitors for cyclic GMP-dependent protein kinase (PKG) (KT5823), Ca(2+)-calmodulin-dependent protein kinase II (CaMKII) (KN62) and phosphatidylinositol (PI) 4-kinase (wortmannin and quercetin). Estradiol recovered Abeta-induced decreases in plasma membrane phosphoinositide (PIP and PIP2) levels, this effect being inhibited by KT5823 and KN62. Glutamate toxicity was augmented in neurons with elevated [Cl(-)]i either by Abeta-treatment or carbachol+KCl+LiCl-treatment. The increased glutamate toxicity in the Abeta-treated neurons was attenuated by estradiol. Thus, a therapeutic concentration of estradiol protected Abeta-treated neurons against inhibition of Cl(-)-ATPase activity and an increase in [Cl(-)]i through its receptor, probably via PKG- and CaMKII(-)mediated recovery of PI4P formation. Elevated [Cl(-)]i may be related to enhancement of glutamate toxicity.

Protective effect of sulfobutyl ether beta-cyclodextrin on DY-9760e-induced hemolysis in vitro

The hemolytic behavior of a novel cytoprotective agent, DY-9760e (3-[2-[4-(3-chloro-2-methylphenyl)-1-piperazinyl]ethyl]-5,6-dimethoxy-1-(4-imidazolylmethyl)-1H-indazole dihydrochloride 3.5 hydrate) was investigated using rabbit erythrocytes. Further, the effects of water-soluble cyclodextrin derivatives, such as 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CyD) and sulfobutyl ether of beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-beta-CyD), on the hemolytic activity of DY-9760e were studied. DY-9760e induced hemolysis at concentrations >0.2-0.3 mM in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) of pH 4.0 and 6.0, where DY-9760e is predominantly in dicationic and monocationic forms, respectively. The hemolytic activity of the monocationic DY-9760e was higher than that of the dicationic species, and the hemolysis at pH 4.0 involved the formation of methemoglobin. DY9760e induced the morphological change of erythrocytes towards membrane invagination at both pH 4.0 and 6.0. SBE7-beta-CyD significantly suppressed the DY-9760e-induced hemolysis and morphological change at both pH 4.0 and 6.0, as well as the formation of methemoglobin at pH 4.0. On the other hand, HP-beta-CyD suppressed only the hemolysis, but neither the morphological change nor the formation of methemoglobin. In addition, the inhibitory effect of SBE7-beta-CyD on the hemolysis was greater than that of HP-beta-CyD. The superior inhibitory effect of SBE7-beta-CyD on the DY-9760-induced hemolysis, the morphological change, and the formation of methemoglobin may be attributable to the formation of a stable inclusion complex with DY-9760e and to the weaker hemolytic activity of SBE7beta-CyD than HP-beta-CyD. These results suggest potential use of SBE7-beta-CyD as a parenteral carrier for DY-9760e.

Arthroscopic diagnosis and treatment of dorsal wrist ganglion

Thirty-seven patients with dorsal wrist ganglia underwent arthroscopic resection. The mean follow-up was 20 months, and no complications were encountered. The ganglia were classified into three types according to their arthroscopic appearance. This classification helps to determine the amount of dorsal capsular resection required.

CT fluoroscopy-guided intervention: marked reduction of scattered radiation dose to the physician's hand by use of a lead plate and an improved I-I device

PURPOSE

To estimate the effects of a lead plate, three types of needle holders, tube current, and slice thickness on decreasing the radiation dose to the physician's hand during interventional procedures with computed tomographic (CT) fluoroscopic guidance. The needle holders (I-I devices), which were developed by the authors, maintained the distance between the physician's hand and the CT plane at 7 cm, 10 cm, and 15 cm, respectively.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

The dose rate (mSv/tube current/CT fluoroscopy time) was measured in 55 cases, which were divided into six groups. In group A (n = 14), the current was 135 kV, there was a 5-mm slice thickness, and a 7-cm I-I device was used without the lead plate. Group B (n = 11) entailed a 120-kV current, a 5-mm slice thickness, and a 7-cm I-I device without the lead plate. Group C (n = 8) entailed a 120-kV current, 5-mm slice thickness, and 7-cm I-I device with the lead plate. Group D (n = 9) entailed a 120-kV current, 5-mm slice thickness, and 10-cm I-I device with the lead plate. Group E (n = 7) entailed a 120-kV current, 5-mm slice thickness, and 15-cm I-I device with the lead plate. Group F (n = 6) entailed a 120-kV current, 1-mm slice thickness and 10-cm I-I device with the lead plate. To compare the effects of tube voltage, lead plate use, slice collimation, and I-I devices, differences were compared between groups A and B, B and C, D and F, and among groups C, D, and E.

RESULTS

The dose rates of groups A, B, C, D, E, and F were 126.3, 75.2, 17.8, 13.9, 2.8, and 4.1 mSv/mA/sec x 100,000, respectively. There were significant differences in dose rates between groups A and B (t-test, P =.037), B and C (Student t-test, P =.002), D and F (Mann-Whitney test, P =.011), and among groups C, D, and E (Kruskal-Wallis test, P =.016).

CONCLUSION

The lead plate, the improved I-I devices, use of a 120 kV (vs 135 kV) current, and 1-mm (vs 5 mm) collimation were all useful in decreasing the dose rate.

Kinetic analysis of [(11)C]MP4A using a high-radioactivity brain region that represents an integrated input function for measurement of cerebral acetylcholinesterase activity without arterial blood sampling

N -[(11)C]methylpiperidin-4-yl acetate ([(11)C]MP4A) is an acetylcholine analog. It has been used successfully for the quantitative measurement of acetylcholinesterase (AChE) activity in the human brain with positron emission tomography (PET). [(11)C]MP4A is specifically hydrolyzed by AChE in the brain to a hydrophilic metabolite, which is irreversibly trapped locally in the brain. The authors propose a new method of kinetic analysis of brain AChE activity by PET without arterial blood sampling, that is, reference tissue-based linear least squares (RLS) analysis. In this method, cerebellum or striatum is used as a reference tissue. These regions, because of their high AChE activity, act as a biologic integrator of plasma input function during PET scanning, when regional metabolic rates of [(11)C]MP4A through AChE (k(3); an AChE index) are calculated by using Blomqvist's linear least squares analysis. Computer simulation studies showed that RLS analysis yielded k(3) with almost the same accuracy as the standard nonlinear least squares (NLS) analysis in brain regions with low (such as neocortex and hippocampus) and moderately high (thalamus) k(3) values. The authors then applied these methods to [(11) C]MP4A PET data in 12 healthy subjects and 26 patients with Alzheimer disease (AD) using the cerebellum as the reference region. There was a highly significant linear correlation in regional k(3) estimates between RLS and NLS analyses (456 cerebral regions, [RLS k(3) ] = 0.98 x [NLS k(3) ], r = 0.92, P < 0.001). Significant reductions were observed in k(3) estimates of frontal, temporal, parietal, occipital, and sensorimotor cerebral neocortices (P < 0.001, single-tailed t-test), and hippocampus (P = 0.012) in patients with AD as compared with controls when using RLS analysis. Mean reductions (19.6%) in these 6 regions by RLS were almost the same as those by NLS analysis (20.5%). The sensitivity of RLS analysis for detecting cortical regions with abnormally low k 3 in the 26 patients with AD (138 of 312 regions, 44%) was somewhat less than NLS analysis (52%), but was greater than shape analysis (33%), another method of [(11)C]MP4A kinetic analysis without blood sampling. The authors conclude that RLS analysis is practical and useful for routine analysis of clinical [(11)C]MP4A studies.

Improvement of some pharmaceutical properties of DY-9760e by sulfobutyl ether beta-cyclodextrin

The interaction of DY-9760e, a novel cytoprotective agent, with sulfobutyl ether beta-cyclodextrin (SBE-beta-CyD) in phosphate buffered saline (PBS) at various pH and ionic-strengths was studied by spectroscopic methods and the solubility method, and the results were compared with that of 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CyD). The circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopic studies suggested that both beta-CyDs form the inclusion complexes with DY-9760e in a molar ratio of 1:1, and the interaction of DY-9760e with SBE-beta-CyD is much stronger than that with HP-beta-CyD at any pH studied, in terms of a synergetic effect of hydrophobic and electrostatic interactions. The different intermolecular interaction between the SBE-and HP-beta-CyD complexes was clearly reflected in the stability constant (K'), e.g. the different dependence of K' value on pH and ionic strength of solutions. 1H- and 13C-NMR studies suggested that HP-beta-CyD interacts preferably with the benzene ring of DY-9760e, whereas SBE-beta-CyD interacts not only with the benzene ring via hydrophobic interaction but also with the piperazine ring of the drug via electrostatic interaction. The solubilizing ability of SBE-beta-CyD against DY-9760e was much greater than that of HP-beta-CyD at any pH studied. Furthermore, SBE-beta-CyD markedly suppressed the photo-degradation of DY-9760e in aqueous solution and reduced the adsorption of DY-9760e from PBS to polyvinyl chloride (PVC) tubes after incubation. The results suggest that SBE-beta-CyD is useful in preparing parenteral solutions of poorly water-soluble drugs with positive charge such as DY-9760e.

An anxiolytic agent, dihydrohonokiol-B, inhibits ammonia-induced increases in the intracellular Cl(-) of cultured rat hippocampal neurons via GABA(c) receptors

The effects of an anxiolytic honokiol derivative, dihydrohonokiol-B (DHH-B) [3'-(2-propenyl)-5-propyl-(1,1'-biphenyl)-2,4'-diaol], on ammonia-induced increases in the intracellular Cl(-) concentration ([Cl(-)](i)) were examined using primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons. DHH-B (1-100 ng/ml), but not an inactive isomer of honokiol, magnolol (100 ng/ml), dose-dependently inhibited the ammonia-induced increases in [Cl(-)](i) without any changes in the control [Cl(-)](i). Such an effect of DHH-B was blocked by a gamma-aminobutylic acid A (GABA(A)) and GABA(C) Cl(-) channel blocker, 100 microM picrotoxin, and a GABA(C) receptor blocker, 10 microM (1,2,5,6-tetrahydropyridine-4-yl)methylphosphinic acid, but not by a GABA(A) receptor blocker, 10 microM bicuculline. Further, a GABA(C) receptor agonist, 200 microM cis-4-aminocrotonic acid, but not a GABA(A) receptor agonist, 10 microM muscimol, mimicked the effect of DHH-B. Thus, DHH-B appears to protect neurons from the ammonia-induced increases in [Cl(-)](i) through GABA(C) receptor stimulation.

Dose-finding phase I study of simultaneous weekly infusion with doxorubicin and docetaxel in patients with advanced breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Combination therapy with doxorubicin (DOX) and docetaxel (DOC), given 3 weeks apart, is one of the standard regimens used for treating metastatic breast cancer, but it frequently generates febrile neutropenia. To find a safer regimen with less myelotoxicity and the appropriate dose intensity, we conducted a phase I study of simultaneous weekly infusion with DOX and DOC.

METHODS

Twenty-five patients with advanced breast cancer were treated with an intravenous push-injection of DOX that was immediately followed by a 1-h infusion of DOC. This was repeated every week for at least 6 weeks. The premedication employed was three 4-mg doses of dexamethasone every week. Patients were divided into four groups for which the doses of DOX and DOC were escalated in 5-mg/m2 increments.

RESULTS

In the 18 patients who were treated with DOX 15 or 20 mg/m2 and DOC 25 mg/m2, or lower, the regimen was found to be tolerable, without febrile episodes. The regimen with 20 mg/m2 of DOX and 30 mg/m2 of DOC was the maximum tolerated dose. Other indications of grade 3 toxicity included asthenia in 4% of patients, anorexia in 8%, and vomiting in 8%. Of the 25 patients, 14 had a partial response. The overall response rate was 56% (95% confidence interval [CI], 35% to 77%). The recommended dose for further trial was 20 mg/m2 of DOX and 25 mg/m2 of DOC.

CONCLUSION

Simultaneous weekly infusion with DOX and DOC was feasible, with modest neutropenia and preserved dose intensity. This regimen may be helpful in the management of patients with advanced breast cancer.

Intraarterial chemotherapy of liver metastases: implantation of a microcatheter-port system with use of modified fixed catheter tip technique

A new method was developed to implant a microcatheter-port system for repeat intraarterial chemotherapy of liver metastases. The microcatheter-port system was successfully implanted in all 20 patients reported in this study, and the only complications were one early occlusion of the hepatic artery and one dislocation of the implanted catheter.

PKCtheta II, a new isoform of protein kinase C specifically expressed in the seminiferous tubules of mouse testis

Protein kinase C (PKC) theta, a Ca(2+)-independent isoform of PKC, has been known to be expressed in skeletal muscle and T cells. In the present study, we isolated and characterized a smaller transcript expressed in the mouse testis, the cDNA of which is referred hereafter as PKCthetaII and the original PKCtheta as PKCthetaI. The cDNA clone of PKCthetaII has 2184 base pairs and 464 amino acids in the possible open reading frame, consisting of the 5' unique sequence of 20 amino acids and the PKCthetaI sequence of 444 amino acids. Genomic DNA analysis revealed that transcription of PKCthetaII is initiated from the PKCthetaII-specific exon, which is located between exons 7 and 8 of the PKCtheta gene, indicating that alternative splicing is the mechanism by which PKCthetaII is generated. PKCthetaII is expressed exclusively in the testis in an age-dependent manner with sexual maturation. In situ hybridization and reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction of microdissected tissues clearly demonstrated that PKCthetaII is expressed in the seminiferous tubules of the mouse testis. Consistent with its molecular structure lacking the C1 regulatory domain, PKCthetaII is constitutively active as determined by an in vitro kinase assay, being independent of PKC activators, e.g. phosphatidylserine and phorbol ester. PKCthetaII may play a crucial role in spermatogenesis or some related function of the testis.

Stable transformation of Pleurotus ostreatus to hygromycin B resistance using Lentinus edodes GPD expression signals

It was reported that Pleurotus ostreatus was transformed unstably using recombinant plasmids containing a hygromycin B phosphotransferase gene (hph) under the control of Aspergillus nidulans expression signals, and that the plasmids were maintained extrachromosomally in the transformants. Here we report a stable and integrative transformation of the fungus to hygromycin B resistance, using a recombinant hph fused with Lentinus edodes glyceraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase expression signals. Restriction-enzyme-mediated integration (REMI) was also tried and increased the transformation efficiency about ten-fold.

Amyloid beta proteins inhibit Cl(-)-ATPase activity in cultured rat hippocampal neurons

Cl(-)-ATPase in the CNS is a candidate for an outwardly directed neuronal Cl(-) transporter requiring phosphatidylinositol-4-phosphate (PI4P) for its optimal activity. To test its pathophysiological changes in a phosphatidylinositol (PI) metabolism disorder, the effects of neurotoxic factors in Alzheimer's disease (AD), amyloid beta proteins (Abetas), on the Cl(-)-ATPase activity were examined using primary cultured rat hippocampal neurons. Amyloid beta proteins (1-40, 1-42 and 25-35) concentration-dependently (1-100 nM) and time-dependently (from 1 h to 6 day) decreased Cl(-)-ATPase activity and elevated intracellular Cl(-) concentrations ([Cl(-)]i), Abeta25-35 being the most potent. Addition of inositol or 8-Br-cyclic GMP completely reversed these Abeta-induced changes. The recoveries in enzyme activity were attenuated by an inhibitor of PI 4-kinase, 10 microM wortmannin or 20 microM quercetin, but not by a PI 3-kinase inhibitor, 50 nM wortmannin or 10 microM LY294002. The PI, PIP and PIP2 levels of the plasma membrane-rich fraction were lower in the Abeta-treated cells as compared with each control. In the Abeta-exposed culture, but not in control, stimulation by 10 microM glutamate for 10 min significantly increased fragmentation of DNA and decreased cell viability. Addition of inositol or 8-Br-cyclic GMP prevented the effect of Abeta-treatment on the neurotoxicity of glutamate. Thus, Abetas reduce neuronal Cl(-)-ATPase activity, resulting in an increase in [Cl(-)]i probably by lowering PI4P levels, and this may reflect a pre-apoptotic condition in early pathophysiological profiles of AD.

Comparative studies of the enhancing effects of cyclodextrins on the solubility and oral bioavailability of tacrolimus in rats

The enhancing effects of cyclodextrins (CyDs) on the solubility, the dissolution rate, and the bioavailability of tacrolimus after oral administration to rats were examined and compared with those after administration of a PROGRAF capsule containing the solid dispersion formulation of tacrolimus. Here we used natural CyDs and the hydrophilic beta-CyD derivatives; that is, randomly methylated-beta-cyclodextrin (RM-beta-CyD), heptakis(2,6-di-O-methyl)-beta-cyclodextrin (DM-beta-CyD), 2-hydroxypropyl-beta-cyclodextrin (HP-beta-CyD), and sulfobutyl ether beta-cyclodextrins (SBE-beta-CyDs). Of the natural CyDs, the solubility of tacrolimus increased in the addition of beta-CyD, indicating that the cavity of beta-CyD comfortably fits the drug. Of the beta-CyD derivatives, DM-beta-CyD had the greatest solubilizing activity and gave the A(p) type phase solubility curve as defined by Higuchi and Connors, suggesting the formation of higher-order complexes. The result of van't Hoff plot suggests that the enthalpy is dominant for the complexation of tacrolimus with DM-beta-CyD. The dissolution rate of tacrolimus was markedly augmented by the complexation with DM-beta-CyD, reflecting its solubilizing activity. An in vivo study revealed that DM-beta-CyD increased the bioavailability of tacrolimus with low variability in the absorption after oral administration of the tacrolimus suspension to rats. The present results suggest that DM-beta-CyD is particularly useful in designing oral preparations of tacrolimus with an enhanced bioavailability and a reduced variability in absorption.

Intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts: spectrum of CT findings in external and internal subtypes

PURPOSE

The purpose of this work was to survey the spectrum of CT findings in intrahepatic portosystemic venous shunts (IPSVSs).

METHOD

One thousand consecutive liver CT scans examined with an enhanced helical technique were retrospectively reviewed on workstation to find IPSVSs.

RESULTS

IPSVSs were noted in 37 patients and divided into two subtypes according to the location of the communicating systemic vein, either outside (external type, n = 34) or within (n = 4) the liver (one patient had both internal and external types). All the external-type shunts were noted in cases with portal hypertension (n = 34). Most shunts (n = 30) ran through segment 4 and/or 3 and came out near the falciform ligament, but five shunts were noted in segment 2 communicating either with the systemic vein (n = 3) or probably with an enlarged left gastric vein (n = 2). Solitary portohepatic venous shunts (internal type) were noted in three cases with (n = 2) or without (n = 1) aneurysmal dilatation and many portohepatic venous shunts in another patient.

CONCLUSION

IPSVSs of the external type were far common than those of the internal type, always associated with increased pressure of the portal system and in specific sites probably lacking the hepatic capsule.

Homologous expression of recombinant manganese peroxidase genes in ligninolytic fungus Pleurotus ostreatus

Pleurotus ostreatus is a white-rot fungus known as an efficient degrader of lignin and also various organo-pollutants. Using a DNA-mediated transformation system, a molecular breeding approach to isolate over-producers of a manganese peroxidase isozyme, MnP3, was carried out. Recombinant mnp3 constructs under the control of P. ostreatus sdi1 expression signals were introduced into the wild-type P. ostreatus strain by co-transformation with a carboxin-resistant vector plasmid, pTM1. One of the recombinants obtained by a mating between two monokaryotic transformants, TMG9-C1, showed a several times higher level of MnP activity than the wild-type control in the early stage of liquid culture. Predominant transcription of the recombinant mnp3 in the strain was demonstrated by RT-PCR experiments. This is the first report of a genetically modified P. ostreatus strain with an expression system for recombinant genes.

Efficient transformation of filamentous fungus Pleurotus ostreatus using single-strand carrier DNA

The effects of carrier DNAs on the transformation of the basidiomycete Pleurotus ostreatus were analyzed. When lambda phage DNA was added to a transformation mixture containing protoplasts and CbxR vector plasmid, an increased number of drug-resistant transformants was observed on a screening plate containing 2 microg carboxin/ml. The highest efficiency (about 200 transformants/microg vector plasmid) was obtained by the addition of heat-denatured lambda DNA, which gave yields approximately 50-fold higher than the control experiment without a carrier DNA. To our knowledge, this is the first report on enhancement in transformation efficiency of fungal protoplasts by single strand carrier DNA.

Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix showing polypoid growth and complicated by pregnancy

BACKGROUND

Neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix is an aggressive disease, and it rarely is complicated by pregnancy.

CASE

A polypoid tumor was found in the uterine cervix in a 27-year-old Japanese woman at 27 weeks of gestation. No polyp had been detected at 14 weeks of gestation. The polyp was excised and diagnosed as neuroendocrine small cell carcinoma by histological examination, including Grimelius, neuron-specific enolase, and chromogranin staining. A healthy infant was born by cesarean section at 29 weeks of gestation: this was followed by radical hysterectomy with pelvic lymphadenectomy. After surgery, four cycles of combination chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide were administered, and the patient is disease-free as of 13 months after surgery.

CONCLUSION

When a polypoid lesion is found, especially when it demonstrates rapid growth, it may be necessary to excise and histologically examine the polyp even during pregnancy.

Metastatic carcinoma in a transposed ovary after radical hysterectomy for a stage 1B cervical adenosquamous cell carcinoma. Case report

A 41-year-old multigravida woman presented with a cervical stage 1b adenosquamous cell carcinoma with metastasis in a transposed ovary. Twenty-four months following a radical hysterectomy for cervical cancer a CT scan revealed a mass measuring 7x6x4 cm in size lateral to the ascending colon. The pathological diagnosis showed the mass to be metastatic adenocarcinoma in the transposed ovary which was considered to be adenocarcinoma from the previous cervical adenosquamous cell carcinoma. Thereafter, she was administered a combination of mitomycin C, etoposide and cisplatin (MEP) three times. One year following the completion of the chemotherapy she is still alive without any definitive recurrence. It is important to clarify whether or not ovarian transposition is safe and effective in helping surgeons determine whether or not to preserve the ovarian function for a young patient likely to undergo postoperative irradiation for early invasive cervical cancer. In the present report, we also review the current literature on this subject and discuss our findings.