Induction of MTG8-specific cytotoxic T-cell lines: MTG8 is probably a tumour antigen that is recognized by cytotoxic T cells in AML1-MTG8-fused gene-positive acute myelogenous leukaemia

Several reports have demonstrated the persistent detection of AML1-MTG8 fusion products, representing minimal residual disease (MRD), in patients with t(8;21) acute myelogenous leukaemia (AML) who are in long-term remission. It is probable that immune-mediated mechanisms that are able to suppress the expansion of MRD may result in the continuance of remission. It was previously shown that some t(8;21) AML patients had high anti-MTG8 antibody titres. MTG8 expression in normal adult tissues is limited to the brain or heart in which human leucocyte antigen (HLA) class I cell-surface antigens are either not or are only faintly detectable. We hypothesized that the overexpression of the MTG8 gene in t(8;21) AML cells could act as a possible tumour antigen, which might be able to induce the immune-mediated suppression of the expansion of MRD. We were able to induce HLA-A0201-restricted cytotoxic T-lymphocyte (CTL) lines against an MTG8 peptide (MTG8b amino acids 182-191) using monocyte-derived dendritic cells from a healthy donor. T-cell receptor (TCR)Valpha17, TCRVbeta14 and 15, and TCRJbeta2.1 and 2.3 are predominantly used in these CTL lines. Our data, which suggest that the MTG8 protein could be one of the tumour antigens recognized by CTLs, may be helpful in further investigations of TCR analysis in t(8;21) AML patients with HLA-A0201 who are in long-term remission.

Soft and nonsoft structural transitions in disordered nematic networks

Properties of disordered nematic elastomers and gels are theoretically investigated with emphasis on the roles of nonlocal elastic interactions and crosslinking conditions. Networks originally crosslinked in the isotropic phase lose their long-range orientational order by the action of quenched random stresses, which we incorporate into the affine-deformation model of nematic rubber elasticity. We present a detailed picture of mechanical quasi-Goldstone modes, which accounts for an almost completely soft polydomain-monodomain (PM) transition under strain as well as a "four-leaf clover" pattern in depolarized light scattering intensity. Dynamical relaxation of the domain structure is numerically studied using a simple model. The peak wave number of the structure factor obeys a power-law-type slow kinetics and goes to zero in true mechanical equilibrium. The effect of quenched disorder on director fluctuation in the monodomain state is analyzed. The random frozen contribution to the fluctuation amplitude dominates the thermal one, at long wavelengths and near the PM transition threshold. We also study networks obtained by crosslinking polydomain nematic polymer melts. The memory of the initial director configuration acts as correlated and strong quenched disorder, which renders the PM transition nonsoft. The spatial distribution of the elastic free energy is strongly dehomogenized by external strain, in contrast to the case of isotropically crosslinked networks.

Odor maps in the mammalian olfactory bulb: domain organization and odorant structural features

Psychophysical studies indicate that structural features of odorants differentially influence their perceived odor. In the olfactory bulb (OB), odorants are represented by ensembles of activated glomeruli. Here we used optical imaging of intrinsic signals to examine how these structural features are represented spatially in the sensory map of the rat OB. We found that the dorsal OB contained two topographically fixed domains; constituent glomeruli in each domain could be activated by odorants with particular functional groups. Within each domain, other structural features such as carbon chain length and branching were represented by local differences in patterns. These results suggest that structural features are categorized into two classes, primary features (functional groups) that characterize each domain, and secondary features that are represented by local positions within each domain. Such hierarchical representations of different structural features correlate well with psychophysical structure-odor relationships.

Sonographic features of acute colonic diverticulitis: the "dome sign"

PURPOSE

This study was performed to clarify the sonographic features of acute colonic diverticulitis to enable its differentiation from appendicitis.

METHODS

Of 119 patients who were referred to our hospitals for lower abdominal pain between June 1997 and December 1998 and underwent sonography, 12 patients had a definitive diagnosis of acute colonic diverticulitis and 4 patients a tentative diagnosis. Seventy-eight patients were diagnosed as having acute appendicitis, confirmed by appendectomy. In the 16 patients with diagnoses of diverticulitis, the sonographic and clinical features of acute colonic diverticulitis were studied.

RESULTS

Among the 12 patients with definitive diagnoses of acute colonic diverticulitis, sonographic findings included localized thickening of the colonic wall (100%) and a hemispheric mass (the "dome sign") protruding at the thickened colonic wall (100%) and consisting of a hypoechoic wall (100%) and a central echogenic area (66%). The presence of diverticula was confirmed by barium-enema x-ray study in all 12 patients. The 4 patients with tentative diagnoses of acute colonic diverticulitis all had colonic wall thickening but no dome sign. Colonoscopy revealed colitis in 3 of these patients. All 16 patients recovered with conservative treatment, without laparotomy.

CONCLUSIONS

Sonography was useful for differentiating acute colonic diverticulitis from appendicitis. The sonographic finding of the dome sign seems to be specific for acute colonic diverticulitis.

Apoptosis in skin pigment cells of the medaka, Oryzias latipes (Teleostei), during long-term chromatic adaptation: the role of sympathetic innervation

Many teleost fish can adapt their body color to a background color by changing the morphology and density of their skin pigment cells. Melanophore density in fish skin decreases during long-term adaptation to a white background. Although cell death, especially apoptosis, is thought to be involved in these morphological changes, there are no data clearly supporting this mechanism. Using medaka fish, Oryzias latipes, we observed that, on a white background, melanophore size was reduced first and this was followed by a decrease in melanophore density caused by gradual cell death. The process of cell death included loss of cell activity, cell fragmentation, phagocytosis of the fragments, and clearance via the epidermis. Apoptosis was assessed by the appearance of phosphatidylserine on the cell surface of melanophores that had lost motile activity, and DNA fragments involved in cell fragmentation were detected by the TUNEL (TDT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick end-labeling) assay. However, when chemically denervated fish were used, although melanophore size was reduced as expected, cell death was suppressed even on a white background. In skin tissue culture, apoptosis in melanophores was stimulated significantly by norepinephrine, but not by melanin-concentrating hormone. These results indicate that melanophore density decreases by apoptosis, and suggest that sympathetic innervation has an important role in the regulation of apoptosis in melanophores. In analogous fashion, leucophores showed a significant decrease in density with an increase of cell death on a black background. We suggest that apoptosis regulates the balance of pigment cells in the skin of medaka fish to adapt their body color to a particular background.

Protein kinase C activity in human gastric carcinoma

Protein kinase C (PKC) is believed to play an important role in tumorigenesis, so we measured PKC activities of human gastric carcinomas and adjacent normal mucosae to elucidate its role for gastric carcinogenesis using PegTagtrade mark non-radioactive protein kinase C assay. The mean activities of microsomal PKC in carcinoma and normal mucosa were 449+/-179, 661+/-264 pmol/min/mg, respectively (p=0.001). Cancerous microsomal PKC activity decreased when the tumor was small, node-metastasis was negative, the depth of invasion was shallow and the histological type was differentiated. Our results suggested that PKC activity would be down-regulated in membrane of the early stage of gastric carcinoma.

Down-regulation of human telomeric protein TRF1 gene expression during myeloid differentiation in human hematopoietic cells

The maintenance of telomere length is crucial for cell survival. Recently, it has been indicated that the human telomeric protein TRF1 is involved in the negative feedback mechanism that stabilizes telomere length. We studied TRF1 mRNA expression in hematopoietic cells to clarify the relation between TRF1 and telomerase by semiquantitative reverse transcriptase-polymerase chain reaction. In polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes isolated from peripheral blood, relatively low levels of TRF1 mRNA expression were seen, compared with those of lymphocytes and CD34+. We then assessed TRF1 mRNA expression in CD34+ cells cultured in vitro with growth factors. After 4 weeks of culture, all the cells showed myeloid differentiation, and telomerase activity was down-regulated. TRF1 mRNA was expressed in CD34+ cells but was down-regulated in cells cultured for 4 weeks. We conclude that TRF1 mRNA expression is down-regulated in accordance with telomerase down-regulation during the course of myeloid differentiation.

Loss of cadherin-11 adhesion receptor enhances plastic changes in hippocampal synapses and modifies behavioral responses

Cadherins organize symmetrical junctions between the pre- and postsynaptic membranes in central synapses. One of them, cadherin-11 (cad11), is expressed in the limbic system of the brain, most strongly in the hippocampus. Immunohistochemical studies of the hippocampus showed that cad11 proteins were densely distributed in its synaptic neuropil zones; in cultured hippocampal neurons, their distribution often overlapped with that of synaptophysin, and also occasionally with that of GluR1 at spines. To assess the role of cad11 in synaptic formation and/or function, we analyzed brains of cad11-deficient mice. In these mice, long-term potentiation (LTP) in the CA1 region of the hippocampus was, unexpectedly, enhanced; and the level of LTP saturation was increased. In behavioral tests, the mutant mice showed reduced fear- or anxiety-related responses. These results suggest that the cad11-mediated junctions may modulate synaptic efficacy, confining its dynamic changes to a limited range, or these junctions are required for normal development of synaptic organization in the hippocampus.

[Clinical and experimental observation of glistening in acrylic intraocular lenses]

PURPOSE

To study whether the glistening on implanted acrylic intracular lenses increases or not.

METHOD

1. Prospective study: We studied the glistening on 49 implanted acrylic intraocular lenses, particularly the time of appearance and increase after glistening appeared. 2.

EXPERIMENT

We kept an intraocular lens immersed in saline solution at 50 degrees centigrade for two hours and then moved this lens into saline solution at 35 degrees centigrade, and observed this lens during immersion.

RESULTS

1. Prospective study: Glistening was present in 28 eyes (57%), and appeared from 2 to 16 months postoperatively. A few months after appearance it become stable and did not increase further. 2.

EXPERIMENT

On the 10th day after observation, we could see glistening on the lenses. The points of glistening were 10 microns or less in size, and did not change during 60 days of observation.

CONCLUSION

The glistening in acrylic intraocular lenses seemed to become stable a few months after appearance. This our experimental method is useful, because it gives us glistening similar to clinical cases in a short time.

Proliferative involvement of ENX-1, a putative human polycomb group gene, in haematopoietic cells

Homeobox genes have important roles in haematopoiesis and are regulated in an activated state by the trithorax group (trxG) of genes. In a repressed state, they are regulated by the Polycomb group (PcG) of genes. ENX-1, a putative human PcG gene product, interacts with the proto-oncogene product Vav. We report an investigation of the role of ENX-1 in human haematopoiesis. CD34+ cells mobilized to peripheral blood strongly expressed ENX-1. When stimulated to proliferate, both T and B lymphocytes rapidly up-regulated ENX-1. ENX-1 was expressed in all cell lines of the various lineages examined. When HL-60 cells were differentiated to mature granulocytes with all-trans retinoic acid, ENX-1 was down-regulated. Moreover, ENX-1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotide suppressed DNA synthesis in HL-60 cells. Our data indicate that ENX-1 is involved in the proliferation of both normal and malignant haematopoietic cells.

Malignant proliferating trichilemmal tumor in the skin over the breast: a case report

A proliferating trichilemmal tumor is relatively uncommon. It is composed of multiple cysts consisting of squamous epithelium with trichilemmal keratinization without granular layer interposition. This lesion usually occurs in the scalp of elderly women. We describe a 67-year-old woman with a malignant proliferating trichilemmal tumor in the skin over the breast. We first misdiagnosed the disease as a primary squamous cell carcinoma of the breast with a metastatic lymph node in the axilla because of the disease site and our unfamiliarity with the disease. The patient underwent radical mastectomy with axillary dissection. Eight months postoperatively, a tumor appeared in her right axilla and progressively enlarged. We subsequently excised the tumor. She is healthy as of 8 months postoperatively. To the best of our knowledge, only one case of a proliferating trichilemmal tumor occurring in the skin over the breast has been reported.

Novel function of the eukaryotic polypeptide-chain releasing factor 3 (eRF3/GSPT) in the mRNA degradation pathway

The mammalian GTP-binding protein GSPT, whose carboxy-terminal sequence is homologous to the eukaryotic elongation factor EF1alpha, binds to the polypeptide chain releasing factor eRF1 to function as eRF3 in translation termination. However, the amino-terminal domain of GSPT, which contains a prion-like sequence, is not required for the binding. Instead, the amino-terminal domain is capable of binding to the carboxy-terminal domain of polyadenylate-binding protein (PABP), whose amino terminus is associating with the poly(A) tail of mRNAs, presumably for their stabilization. Interestingly, multimerization of PABP with poly(A), which is ascribed to the action of its carboxy-terminal domain, was completely inhibited by the interaction with the amino-terminal domain of GSPT. This may facilitate shortening of the poly(A) tail of mRNAs by an RNase. Thus, GSPT/eRF3 appears to function not only as a stimulator of eRF1 in the translation termination but also as an initiator of the mRNA degradation machinery. Further physiological and cell biological approaches will be necessary to show whether our current in vitro findings on GSPT/eRF3 indeed reflect its bifunctional properties in living cells.

Differential gene expression of human telomerase-associated protein hTERT and TEP1 in human hematopoietic cells

The maintenance of telomere length is crucial for the survival of cells. Recently, genes for proteins that consist of human telomerase have been cloned and the results have indicated a close relationship between telomerase activity and its gene expression. We studied the mRNA expression of the telomerase-associated genes, hTERT and TEP1, in hematopoietic cells in order to clarify the relation between them and telomerase activity using semiquantitative RT-PCR. In polymorphonuclear cells and monocytes isolated from peripheral blood, which had no detectable telomerase activity, no hTERT mRNA expression was seen. On the other hand, lymphocytes and CD34-positive cells both demonstrated hTERT mRNA expression. TEP1 mRNA was detected in all samples, showing no differential expression. We then assessed hTERT and TEP1 mRNA expression in CD34-positive cells cultured in vitro with growth factors. After 4 weeks of culture, all the cells showed myeloid differentiation and the telomerase activity was downregulated. hTERT mRNA was expressed in CD34-positive cells, but was downregulated in 4-week-cultured cells. TEP1 showed no apparent differential expression. We conclude that hTERT mRNA expression is downregulated in accordance with telomerase downregulation during the course of myeloid differentiation, which suggests that it plays a crucial role in the expression of enzyme activity, while TEP1 has a much smaller role to play, if any.

Squamous cell carcinoma of the external auditory canal: two cases treated with high dose rate 192Ir remote afterloading system (RALS)

We report two cases of early-stage external auditory canal cancer treated by intracavitary irradiation with a high dose rate (HDR) 192Ir remote afterloading system (RALS) for preoperative treatment. A 6-Fr catheter for the HDR 192Ir remote afterloader, fixed by a plastic earplug, was inserted into the external auditory canal in two cases (case 1, T2N0M0; case 2, T1N0M0). The total intracavitary radiation dosages were 50 Gy (10 Gy/2 Fr/wk for 5 wks) for case 1, and 42 Gy (15 Gy/5 Fr/wk for 3 wks) for case 2. No external irradiation was given in either case. Surgical resection was performed in both cases, three to four weeks after irradiation. Histopathological examination confirmed the post-irradiation changes of necrosis, hyalinosis, and calcification, although vivid cancer cells remained. In preoperative irradiation of external auditory cancer, this method, although limited to treating early-stage cancers, may be a modality of choice for its efficacy and less severe side effects.

Synchronized oscillatory discharges of mitral/tufted cells with different molecular receptive ranges in the rabbit olfactory bulb

Individual glomeruli in the mammalian olfactory bulb represent a single or a few type(s) of odorant receptors. Signals from different types of receptors are thus sorted out into different glomeruli. How does the neuronal circuit in the olfactory bulb contribute to the combination and integration of signals received by different glomeruli? Here we examined electrophysiologically whether there were functional interactions between mitral/tufted cells associated with different glomeruli in the rabbit olfactory bulb. First, we made simultaneous recordings of extracellular single-unit spike responses of mitral/tufted cells and oscillatory local field potentials in the dorsomedial fatty acid-responsive region of the olfactory bulb in urethan-anesthetized rabbits. Using periodic artificial inhalation, the olfactory epithelium was stimulated with a homologous series of n-fatty acids or n-aliphatic aldehydes. The odor-evoked spike discharges of mitral/tufted cells tended to phase-lock to the oscillatory local field potential, suggesting that spike discharges of many cells occur synchronously during odor stimulation. We then made simultaneous recordings of spike discharges from pairs of mitral/tufted cells located 300-500 microm apart and performed a cross-correlation analysis of their spike responses to odor stimulation. In approximately 27% of cell pairs examined, two cells with distinct molecular receptive ranges showed synchronized oscillatory discharges when olfactory epithelium was stimulated with one or a mixture of odorant(s) effective in activating both. The results suggest that the neuronal circuit in the olfactory bulb causes synchronized spike discharges of specific pairs of mitral/tufted cells associated with different glomeruli and the synchronization of odor-evoked spike discharges may contribute to the temporal binding of signals derived from different types of odorant receptor.

[Antiangiogenic and antitumor effect of BPHA, an orally-active matrix metalloproteinase inhibitor, in in vivo murine and human tumor model]

We examined the antiangiogenic and antitumor efficacy of a newly-developed matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) inhibitor, BPHA (N-biphenyl sulfonyl-phenylalanine hydroxiamic acid). BPHA potently inhibits MMP-2, 9 and 14 but not MMP-1, 3 or 7. In contrast, (-)BPHA, an enantiomer of BPHA, was inactive against all MMP tested. Daily oral administration of BPHA in mice resulted in potent inhibition of tumor-induced angiogenesis, primary tumor growth and liver metastasis, whereas (-)BPHA did not. These results demonstrate that selective MMP inhibition is correlated with antiangiogenic and antitumor efficacy and that the selective MMP inhibitor BPHA has therapeutic potential without hematotoxic effect or loss of body weight.

Changes in serum leptin concentration during behavioral therapy in obese children

To determine the pathophysiological implications of serum leptin level in obesity, we monitored the changes in serum leptin level during outpatient treatment with life style modification in children. Fifty-five obese Japanese children (34 boys and 21 girls; mean age, 9.64 years) were studied. The control children consisted of 42 nonobese subjects (27 boys and 15 girls). The serum leptin concentration was 4.35 +/- 0.46 ng/ml (mean +/- SEM) in the control girls and 2.93 +/- 0.21 ng/ml in the control boys. The serum leptin concentrations in the obese boys and girls were higher than those in their lean counterparts. The concentration in the obese boys (16.28 +/- 1.41 ng/ml) was similar to that in the obese girls (20.33 +/- 2.0 ng/ml). The logarithmic value of serum leptin concentration at the first blood sampling in obese children was correlated with percent overweight and percent body fat. In 36 obese children (24 boys and 12 girls) whose serum leptin concentrations were monitored serially during treatment of obesity, the percent overweight was significantly decreased after the initial sampling. In each individual, the changes in leptin concentration were roughly parallel to those in percent overweight. The ratio of the leptin concentration at the second blood sampling divided by the one at the first sampling in each individual was closely correlated with the respective delta percent overweight. These results suggest that the preceding course of obesity determines the serum leptin level of obese children on longitudinal basis, and that the leptin level reflects the degree of obesity on cross-sectional basis.

Effect of peroxisome proliferator on extracellular glutathione peroxidase in rat

Glutathione peroxidase (GPX) activity measured using tert-butyl hydroperoxide as a substrate detects solely cellular/classical GPX (cGPX) in rat liver and kidney, and extracellular/plasma glutathione peroxidase (EC-GPX) in rat serum. To investigate the effect of peroxisome proliferator on EC-GPX, we measured activities of GPX and catalase in rat liver, kidney and serum, and then we performed immunoblot and Northern blot analyses in the kidney. Rats were fed on a diet containing either 2% (w/w) di-2-ethylhexyl phthalate (DEHP) or 0.25% (w/w) clofibrate for two or three weeks, respectively. Catalase activity was increased 1.4-fold (p < 0.001) in the treated liver, but not in the kidney. GPX activity was decreased to 59.2% (DEHP) and 70.4% (clofibrate) of the control (p < 0.001) in the serum but was unaltered in the liver and kidney. The immunoreactivity for EC-GPX was also significantly decreased in the DEHP-treated kidney compared with the control. The mRNA levels of EC-GPX and cGPX were unaltered. The immunostaining for 4-hydroxy-2-nonenal, a maker of lipid peroxide, was more intense in the treated kidney compared with the control. These results suggest that EC-GPX is post-transcriptionally decreased by peroxisome proliferator through the oxidative stress in the renal tubules. This may be a new deleterious effect of an endocrine disruptor DEHP.

Enhanced antitumor efficacy of nedaplatin with 5-fluorouracil against human squamous carcinoma xenografts

BACKGROUND

The antitumor efficacy of a combination of Nedaplatin (NDP) with 5-fluorouracil (5-FU) was evaluated using human squamous carcinomas in vivo. Because NDP was developed as a second generation platinum complex, we also compared the antitumor activity of NDP with 5-FU with that of Cisplatin (CDDP) with 5-FU.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

5-FU was injected daily for five days and either NDP or CDDP was injected once via the tail vein of mice implanted with KB3-1, OCC-1-JCK, LJC-1-JCK and Ma44 human squamous carcinomas. In some experiments, continuous administration of 5-FU using an osmotic pump was utilized.

RESULTS

The sequential administration of 5-FU prior to NDP or CDDP (FN or FC therapy) resulted in enhanced inhibition of tumor growth in comparison with NDP, CDDP or 5-FU monotherapy against KB3-1, OCC-1-JCK and LJC-1-JCK squamous carcinomas. The combination of FN treatment was synergistic and as effective as that of FC treatment. FN treatment with continuous infusion of 5-FU using an osmotic pump, also led to enhanced tumor growth inhibition and prolonged survival against Ma44 squamous carcinoma.

CONCLUSION

The results demonstrated the antitumor efficacy NDP with 5-FU against four human squamous carcinoma xenografts and suggested the clinical effectiveness of FN treatment.

CD109 is expressed on a subpopulation of CD34+ cells enriched in hematopoietic stem and progenitor cells

CD109 is a monomeric cell surface glycoprotein of 170 kD that is expressed on endothelial cells, activated but not resting T-lymphocytes, activated but not resting platelets, leukemic megakaryoblasts, and a subpopulation of bone marrow CD34+ cells. Observing an apparent association between CD109 expression and the megakaryocyte lineage (MK), we sought to determine whether CD109 was expressed on MK progenitors. In fetal bone marrow (FBM), a rich source of MK progenitors, CD109 is expressed on a mean of 11% of CD34- cells. Fluorescence activated cell sorting (FACS) of FBM CD34+ cells into CD109+ and CD109- fractions revealed that the CD34+CD109+ subset contained virtually all assayable MK progenitors, including the colony-forming unit-MK (CFU-MK) and the more primitive burst-forming unit-MK (BFU-MK). The CD34+CD109+ subset also contained all the assayable burst-forming units-erythroid (BFU-E), 90% of the colony-forming units-granulocyte/macrophage (CFU-GM), and all of the more primitive mixed lineage colony-forming units (CFU-mix). In contrast, phenotypic analysis of the CD34+CD109- cells in FBM, adult bone marrow (ABM) and cytokine-mobilized peripheral blood (MPB) demonstrated that this subset comprises lymphoid-committed progenitors, predominantly of the B-cell lineage. CD109 was expressed on the brightest CD34 cells identifiable not only in FBM, but also in ABM and MPB indicating that the most primitive, candidate hematopoietic stem cells (HSC) might also be contained in the CD109+ subset. In long-term marrow cultures of FBM CD34+ cells, all assayable cobblestone area forming cell (CAFC) activity was contained within the CD109+ cell subset. Further phenotypic analysis of the CD34+CD109+ fraction in ABM indicated that this subset included candidate HSCs that stain poorly with CD38, but express Thy-1 (CD90) and AC133 antigens, and efflux the mitochondrial dye Rhodamine 123 (Rho123). When selected CD34+ cells were sorted for CD109 expression and Rho123 staining, virtually all CAFC activity was found in the CD109+ fraction that stained most poorly with Rho123. CD34+ cells were also sorted into Thy-1 CD109+ and Thy-1 CD109+ fractions and virtually all the CAFC activity was found in the Thy-1+CD109+ subset. In contrast, the Thy-1-CD109+ fraction contained most of the short-term colony-forming cell (CFC) activity. CD109, therefore, is an antigen expressed on a subset of CD34+ cells that includes pluripotent HSCs as well as all classes of MK and myelo-erythroid progenitors. In combination with Thy-1, CD109 can be used to identify and separate myelo-erythroid and all classes of MK progenitors from candidate HSCs.

Combination chemotherapy with nedaplatin and cyclophosphamide in human ovarian cancer model

The antitumor efficacy of the combination of nedaplatin (NDP) with cyclophosphamide (CPM) was evaluated using human ovarian cancer models. Since NDP has been found to have greater antitumor activity and lower nephrotoxicity than cisplatin (CDDP), we also compared the antitumor activity of NDP plus CPM with that of CDDP plus CPM. Increasing doses of NDP (16.5, 33 and 66 mg/kg as a total dose) and a fixed amount of CPM (174 or 348 mg/kg as a total dose) were injected three times at intervals of 7 days via the tail vein into mice implanted with RMUG-S, OC9-JCK or KF-28 human ovarian cancer. Simultaneous administration of NDP with CPM resulted in markedly enhanced inhibition of tumor growth for all cancers tested. The growth inhibition and survival effect of the combination therapy of NDP with CPM against KF-28 and OC9-JCK were as potent as those of CDDP plus CPM. Neither increased hematotoxicity nor a significant difference in maximum concentration, half time or area under the curve of platinum or CPM in plasma between the single and combined treatment was found. These results suggest that the combination of NDP with CPM may be clinically effective.

Elastic effects in disordered nematic networks

Elastic effects in a model of disordered nematic elastomers are numerically investigated in two dimensions. Networks crosslinked in the isotropic phase exhibit an unusual soft mechanical response against stretching. It arises from a gradual alignment of orientationally correlated regions that are elongated along the director. A sharp crossover to a macroscopically aligned state is obtained on further stretching. The effect of random internal stress is also discussed.

Atherosclerotic superficial temporal artery aneurysm: report of a case

We herein report a rare case of an atherosclerotic superficial temporal artery (STA) aneurysm. The patient was a 34-year-old Japanese man. He noticed a throbbing swelling just in front of his right ear, which had slowly increased in size. There was no history of trauma. Digital subtraction angiography and ultrasound revealed an aneurysm measuring 2cm in diameter fed by STA. A ligation and resection were performed under local anesthesia. The recovery period was uneventful. A microscopic examination revealed a moderate degree of atherosclerosis. We found 48 cases of STA aneurysm in the Japanese literature from 1969 to 1997, including our case. Thirty-six of these cases (75.0%) were considered to be traumatic in origin. Three cases (6.2%) occurred after a craniotomy. To date, only nine reported cases (18.8%) have been attributed to a spontaneous or congenital etiology.