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Background: There are many reports on the choice of treatment for and prognosis of left-sided obstructive colorectal cancer; however, few studies have focused on the prognostic factors of left-sided obstructive colorectal cancer. Therefore, we analyzed the prognostic factors using a post hoc analysis of a retrospective multicenter study in Japan. Methods: A total of 301 patients were enrolled in this study to investigate the prognostic factors for relapse-free survival. The relationships between sex, age, decompression for bridge to surgery, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis, postoperative complications, adjuvant chemotherapy, carcinoembryonic antigen, carbohydrate antigen 19-9, neutrophil-to-lymphocyte ratio, and relapse-free survival were examined. Results: No change in the decompression method, T3 cancer, negative postoperative complications (grades 0–1 of Clavien-Dindo classification), and adjuvant chemotherapy during Stage III indicated a significantly better prognosis in a Cox univariate analysis. Lymph node metastasis was not selected as a prognostic factor. Excluding patients with <12 harvested lymph nodes (possible stage migration), lymph node metastasis was determined as a prognostic factor. In a Cox multivariate analysis, change in the decompression method, depth of invasion, lymph node metastasis (excluding N0 cases with <12 harvested lymph nodes), and adjuvant chemotherapy were prognostic factors. Conclusions: Similar to those in nonobstructive colorectal cancer, depth of invasion and lymph node metastasis were prognostic factors in left-sided obstructive colorectal cancer, and patients with <12 dissected lymph nodes experienced stage migration. Stage migration may result in disadvantages, such as not being able to receive adjuvant chemotherapy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY QUESTION What are the roles of the microRNA miR-210—an miRNA that is up-regulated in endometriotic cyst stromal cells (ECSCs)—in the pathogenesis of endometriosis? SUMMARY ANSWER Up-regulated miR-210 expression in ECSCs is involved in their proliferation, resistance to apoptosis and angiogenesis through signal transducer and activator of transcription (STAT) 3. WHAT IS KNOWN ALREADY In the pathogenesis of endometriosis, a number of roles for microRNAs (miRNAs) are becoming apparent. STUDY DESIGN, SIZE, DURATION ECSCs and normal endometrial stromal cells (NESCs) were isolated from ovarian endometriotic tissues (patients aged 24–40 years undergoing salpingo-oophorectomy or evisceration for the treatment of ovarian endometriotic cysts, n = 10) and the eutopic endometrial tissues without endometriosis (premenopausal patients aged 35–45 years undergoing hysterectomies for subserousal leiomyoma, n = 13), respectively. PARTICIPANTS/MATERIALS, SETTING, METHODS We used a global gene expression microarray technique to identify downstream targets of miR-210, and we assessed the functions of miR-210 in the pathogenesis of endometriosis by using the miR-210-transfected NESCs. MAIN RESULTS AND THE ROLE OF CHANCE Gene expression microarray analysis revealed that one of the key target molecules of miR-210 is STAT3. In the NESCs, in comparison to the control, miR-210 transfection resulted in the induction of cell proliferation (P < 0.0005), the production of vascular endothelial cell growth factor (VEGF) (P < 0.0005) and the inhibition of apoptosis (P < 0.05) through STAT3 activation [increased levels of mRNA (P < 0.0005), and protein (P < 0.005)]. In the ECSCs, inhibitors of STAT3 inhibited the cell proliferation and VEGF production (P < 0.05), and induced the apoptosis of these cells (P < 0.05). LIMITATIONS, REASONS FOR CAUTION The roles of aberrant miR-210 expression were investigated only in the stromal component of ectopic and eutopic endometrium. Control endometrial tissues were obtained from premenopausal patients who had subserosal leiomyoma and NESC gene expression patterns may be altered in these women. Furthermore, the effects of STAT3 inhibitors were evaluated only in ECSCs and not in NESCs. WIDER IMPLICATIONS OF THE FINDINGS The present findings indicate that miR-210 induces NESCs to differentiate into the endometriotic phenotype and we speculate that up-regulated miR-210 expression in ECSCs is involved in the creation of the endometriosis-specific cellular dysfunctions through epigenetic mechanisms. The data indicate that STAT3 inhibitors may be promising candidates for the treatment of endometriosis. STUDY FUNDING/COMPETING INTEREST(S) This work was supported in part by Grants-in-Aid for Scientific Research from the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (no. 13237327 to K.N., no. 25861500 to Y.K. and no. 23592407 to H.N.). There are no conflicts of interest to declare. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Oral malignancy is rare in chimpanzees. A 34-year-old female chimpanzee ( Pan troglodytes) at Kumamoto Sanctuary, Japan, had developed it. Treatment is technically difficult for chimpanzees while malignant neoplasm is seemingly rising in captive populations. Widespread expert discussion, guidelines for treatment, especially for great apes in terminal stages is urgently needed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 44-year-old Japanese woman who was complaining of puruloid vaginal discharge and atypical genital bleeding. The gynecological examination of the patient showed that the patient has a hard mass and an ulceration beneath the left vaginal wall. Moreover, the tumor was classified under the activated B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) according to the biopsy. Th case indicated that immunophenotypic subgrouping's clinical usage should be considered for DLBCL of vagina.

Recent experiments indicate that a photostimulated graphite with a femtosecond laser pulse results in the formation of a stable domain with sp³ like interlayer bonds. By means of the energy barrier minimization and molecular dynamics using the empirical Brenner potential we study a geometrical structure of the new phase. We clarify proliferation of the initial domain and prove that the overall process is a multiphoton one. Furthermore, we present a model describing the initial transformation — an interlayer charge transfer resulting in the localization of an exciton-like state. The local density approximation electronic structure analysis reveals that the electronic state of the new phase is an insulator immersed in semimetal. We study by means of the long-range carbon bond order potential the effect of the existence of the new phase on the surrounding graphite and propose a new mid step structure on the path of a photoinduced graphite-diamond conversion. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A novel sp³-bonded nanosize domain, known as a diaphite which is an intermediate state between a graphite and a diamond, is generated by the irradiation of visible laser pulse onto a graphite crystal. The sp³ structure is well stabilized by shear displacement between neighboring graphite layers. We theoretically study the interlayer sp³ bond formation with frozen shear displacement in a graphite crystal, using a classical molecular dynamics and a semi-empirical Brenner potential. We show that a pulse excitation under the fluctuation of shearing motion of carbons in an initial state can generate interlayer sp³ bonds which freeze the shear, though no frozen shear appears if there is no fluctuation initially. Moreover, we investigate a pulse excitation under the coherent shearing motion and consequently obtain that the sp³-bonded domain with frozen shear is efficiently formed. We conclude that the initial shear is important for the photoinduced sp³ nanosize domain formation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: We have conducted an initial evaluation on the potential of combining noncontrast magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) and ultrasonography (US) to screen for pancreatic cancer.Materials and Methods: An independent ethics committee approved this study. A total of 2511 patients who underwent US were enrolled. Among them, noncontrast MRI was performed in patients in whom the entire pancreas was difficult to depict or in those with US-suspected pancreatic lesions. In total, using 1.5-T MRI, T1- and T2-weighted imaging, magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography, and diffusion-weighted imaging, we acquired a variety of images. The efficacy of US and MRI in screening for pancreatic lesions, including pancreatic cancer, was evaluated.Results: Of 2511 patients, 184 underwent MRI, and the pancreas was demonstrated in all of them. Among the 2511, five pancreatic cancers were detected by MRI combined with US (detection rate 0.20%). Of the five pancreatic cancers, three were detected by US (detection rate 0.12%) and two by MRI. Four of the five pancreatic cancers were resectable.Conclusion: By combining noncontrast MRI with US, pancreatic cancer can be detected with high accuracy. Other pancreatic lesions that require follow-up, including intraductal papillary mucinous neoplasms, can also be detected. Thus, pancreatic cancer screening with a combination of US and MRI is suggested. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically study possible domain-type collective dimerizations of graphite induced by inter-layer charge transfer excitations in the visible region. Using the semiempirical Brenner theory, we have calculated the adiabatic energy along the path that starts from original two distant graphite layers, but finally reaches the dimerized domain which consists of about 100 carbons with inter-layer σ-bonds. The energy barrier between this new domain and the starting graphite is shown to be of the order of 1 eV, being easily overcome by applying a few visible photons. We have also shown the optimal path of transformation via step by step increase of the domain size. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Photoinduced structural phase transition (PSPT)s are reviewed in connection with recent experimental results. There are two key concepts: the hidden multi-stability of the ground state, and the proliferations of optically excited states. Taking the ionic (I)-neutral (N) phase transition in an organic charge-transfer (CT) crystal TTF-CA, as an example, we, briefly look back the essence of its PSPT, in terms of the CT exciton and the N-domain proliferation. Next, we are concerned with the discovery of a new photoinduced phase with inter-layer σ-bonds in a graphite. We will see the mechanism of this nonequilibrium phase transition, in terms of the proliferation of photo-generated inter-layer CT excitations in the visible region. At the Franck-Condon state, the resultant electron-hole pair is quite unstable, being easily dissipated into the two-dimensional electronic continuum, as plus and minus free carriers. However, by a small probability, the electron and the hole are bound as an inter-layer CT exciton. This exciton self-localizes, contracting the inter-layer distance and buckling the six membered ring of graphite, only around it. Thus a tiny sp3 nano-domain appears. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Fat suppression is essential for diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) in the body. However, the chemical shift selective (CHESS) pulse often fails to suppress fat signals in the breast. The purpose of this study was to compare DWI using CHESS and DWI using short inversion time inversion recovery (STIR) in terms of fat suppression and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) value.Materials and Methods: DWI using STIR, DWI using CHESS, and contrast-enhanced T1-weighted images were obtained in 32 patients with breast carcinoma. Uniformity of fat suppression, ADC, signal intensity, and visualization of the breast tumors were evaluated.Results: In 44% (14/32) of patients there was insufficient fat suppression in the breasts on DWI using CHESS, whereas 0% was observed on DWI using STIR (P < 0.0001). The ADCs obtained for DWI using STIR were 4.3% lower than those obtained for DWI using CHESS (P < 0.02); there was a strong correlation of the ADC measurement (r = 0.93, P < 0.001).Conclusion: DWI using STIR may be excellent for fat suppression; and the ADC obtained in this sequence was well correlated with that obtained with DWI using CHESS. DWI using STIR may be useful when the fat suppression technique in DWI using CHESS does not work well. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: To suppress hepatic pseudo-anisotropy, which is a specific artifact in diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) of the liver obtained under respiratory triggering, the authors developed a novel acquisition technique for DWI that we termed "diffusion-weighted imaging under split breath-hold acquisition and postprocessing" (DWI-SBAP). We evaluated its feasibility in this study.Materials and Methods: Of 113 patients whose hepatic DWI under respiratory triggering (RT-DWI) showed prominent hepatic pseudo-anisotropy, 35 were included in the study. DWI-SBAP was additionally performed in these patients. Two radiologists visually evaluated the RT-DWI and DWI-SBAP from the viewpoints of the degree of pseudo-anisotropy and the image quality of trace images of both sequences. During evaluation of the image quality of trace images, both pseudo-anisotropy and slice misregistration artifacts were taken into consideration.Results: The pseudo-anisotropy seen was significantly lower in DWI-SBAP than that in RT-DWI. Regarding visual evaluation of the trace images, the image quality of DWI-SBAP was superior to that of RT-DWI, although misregistration artifacts were observed in DWI-SBAP trace images of two patients.Conclusion: DWI-SBAP is a feasible technique for obtaining fine abdominal DWI and is effective in suppressing hepatic pseudo-anisotropy. To use this sequence in the clinical scenario, we believe it is necessary to develop a method of generating apparent diffusion coefficient maps and simultaneous use of slice tracking techniques. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objectives: To evaluate the in-vivo plaque composition and characteristics in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (DM) using Virtual Histology intravascular ultrasound (VH IVUS). Methods: In 90 patients with stable angina pectoris, de novo target vessels were studied and plaque components were analysed. Patients were divided into two groups: a diabetic group (36 vessels) and a non-diabetic group (54 vessels). Results: The percentage area of necrotic core and dense calcium were significantly larger in the DM group than the non-DM group (necrotic core: 11.0% (interquartile range (IQR): 7.2-15.2%) vs 7.6% (IQR 5.6-13.2%), p = 0.03; dense calcium: 5.6% (IQR: 2.3-7.3%) vs 2.9% (IQR: 1.7- 4.9%), p = 0.01). The DM group presented with a significantly higher presence of at least one VH IVUS-derived thin-cap fibroatheroma (VHD-TCFA) (75% vs 41%, p = 0.001) and VH IVUS-derived fibrocalcific atheroma (VHD-FCA) (75% vs 40%, p = 0.001). In the DM group, 53% of the vessels had both VHD-TCFA and VHD-FCA, which was significantly higher than non-DM group (17%, p = 0.0004). Conclusions: Coronary plaque characteristics in DM patients showed an increased amount of dense calcium and necrotic core, as well as a higher frequency of VHD-TCFA and VHD-FCA. Atherosclerosis of the target vessel was more advanced in diabetic patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We quantitatively assessed the expression of cytokine receptors (interleukin-2 receptor (IL-2R), IL-3R, IL-4R, IL-5R, IL-6R, IL-7R, granulocyte-macrophage colony-stimulating factor R (GM-CSFR), G-CSFR, c-fms, c-mpl, c-kit and FLT3) in cells from 211 adults with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) by flow cytometry and determined their prevalence and clinical significance. Although all cytokine receptors were expressed to various degrees, the levels of IL-3R α-chain (IL-3Rα), IL-2Rα, IL-2Rβ, IL-7Rα, common-Rγ(γc), c-mpl, c-kit and FLT3 exhibited a wide spectrum 2000 sites/cell. Among them, IL-3Rα, IL-2Rα and FLT3 were highly expressed in B-lineage ALL, whereas IL-7Rα, γc and c-kit predominated in T-lineage ALL. Higher levels of IL-3Rα, IL-2Rα, c-kit and FLT3 correlated with the expression of CD13/33. Increased IL-2Rα levels related to the presence of Philadelphia chromosome (Ph), leukocytosis and shorter event-free survival (EFS). C-kit preferred in male. Elevated FLT3 levels correlated with age 60 years. Multivariate analysis in B-lineage ALL revealed only IL-2Rα (P=0.028) and Ph (P=0.020) as independent factors for EFS. These findings suggest that several cytokine receptors associated with certain cellular and clinical features, but IL-2Rα solely had a prognostic value and should be considered as a major prognostic factor for adult ALL that is comparable with Ph.Leukemia (2007) 21, 326–332. doi:10.1038/sj.leu.2404497; published online 4 January 2007 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

ErbB proteins are widely expressed in human and animal tissues, notably in cells of epithelial or neuroendocrine origin. Protein expression and interactions of ErbBs were examined in prostate cancer specimens. Expression of ErbB1-4 proteins was determined with immunohistochemical methods using each monoclonal antibody in 20 prostatic adenocarcinomas. The 4 ErbB proteins were widely expressed in normal, hyperplastic and cancerous tissues of the prostate. ErbBs may contribute to normal development or tumor growth and progression in human prostate. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Charge injection process from metal electrode to a nondegenerate polymer in a metal/ polymer/ metal structure has been investigated by using a nonadiabatic dynamic method. We demonstrate that the dynamical formation of a bipolaron sensitively depends on the strength of applied electric field, the work function of metal electrode, and the contact between the polymer and the electrode. For a given bias applied to one of the electrode (V0) and coupling between the electrode and the polymer (t′), such as V0=0.79 eV and t′=1 eV, the charge injection process depending on the electric field can be divided into the following three cases: (1) in the absence of the electric field, only one electron tunnels into the polymer to form a polaron near the middle of the polymer chain; (2) at low electric fields, two electrons transfer into the polymer chain to form a bipolaron; (3) at higher electric fields, bipolaron can not be formed in the polymer chain, electrons are transferred from the left electrode to right electrode through the polymer one by one accompanying with small irregular lattice deformations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

t(8;21)(q22;q22) is the most frequently observed karyotypic abnormality associated with acute myeloid leukemia (AML), especially in FAB M2. Clinically, this type of AML often shows eosinophilia and has a high complete remission rate with conventional chemotherapy, t(8;21) AML is also frequently associated with additional karyotypic aberrations, such as a loss of the sex chromosome; however, it is unclear whether these aberrations change the biological and clinical characteristics of t(8;21) AML. To investigate this issue, 94 patients with t(8;21) AML were categorized according to their additional karyotypic aberrations, which were detected in more than three cases, and then morphologic features, phenotypes, expression of cytokine receptors, and clinical features were compared to t(8;21) AML without other additional aberrant karyotypes. t(8;21) AML with loss of the sex chromosome and abnormality of chromosome 9 were found in 27 cases (29.3%) and 10 cases (10.6%), respectively; however, no differences were observed from the t(8;21) AML without other additional karyotypes in terms of morphological and phenotypic features. There was also no significant difference in the clinical outcome among these three groups. On the other hand, trisomy 4 was found in three cases (3.2%) and these cells showed low expressions of CD19 (P=0.06) and IL-7 receptor (P=0.05), and high expressions of CD33 (P=0.13), CD18 (P=0.03), and CD56 (P=0.03) when compared to t(8;21) AML without additional karyotypes. Moreover, all three t(8;21) AML cases with trisomy 4 did not show eosinophilia in their bone marrow and died within 2.4 years. These observations suggest that additional karyotypic aberration, t(8;21)with trisomy 4 is rare, but it may constitute a distinctive subtype of t(8;21) AML. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Endometrial stromal cells undergo morphological and functional changes to facilitate oocyte implantation under regulation of various hormones and growth factors. We studied physiological induction by epidermal growth factor (EGF) of vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) in these cells. In human endometrial stromal cells, the effect of EGF, genistein, tryphostin AG1478 (a tyrosine kinase inhibitor), and wortmannin (a phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase inhibitor) on production of VEGF was examined: Total RNA was extracted and VEGF mRNA expression was quantified by Northern analysis. EGF induced production of VEGF by stromal cells in a time-dependent manner; the effect became significant after 12 h and increased further between 24 and 48 h ( P<0.05). Dose dependency was also significant ( P<0.01). Genistein, tryphostin AG1478, and wortmannin partially suppressed the increase in production induced by EGF ( P<0.01, P< 0.01, P<0.01), respectively. Production of EGF by fertilized oocytes and trophoblasts has been reported in early pregnancy. VEGF is believed to be induced by EGF through mechanisms involving tyrosine kinase and phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase. The increase in VEGF may contribute to neovascularization that promotes proliferation of endometrium and placentation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Ikaros, a zinc finger transcription factor, is essential for lymphoid development. Mutant mice expressing dominant-negative Ikaros gene (Ikaros) isoforms develop an aggressive form of lymphoid malignancies. We examined the expression of Ikaros isoforms in 11 leukemic cell lines and adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia cells from 36 patients with B-precursor acute lymphobisstic leukemia (pre-B ALL) and nine with T-precursor acute lymphoblsstic leukemia (pre-T ALL), using reverse tranacriptess-polymersse chain reaction (RT-PCR) analysis. In one pre-B ALL cell line, INC cells, and primary leukemic cells from 16 patients with pre-B ALL, we found the predominant expression of a non-DNA-binding Ikaros isoform, Ik-6. However, Ik-6 was not detected in pre-T ALL cells. All of pre-B ALL cells expressing Ik-6 were CD10[sup +], whereas CD10[sup -] pre-B ALL cells did not express Ik-6. The expression of Ik-6 was not related to karyotypa abnormalities such as t(9;22) and t(4;11). Proteins from the cells that expressed Ik-6 alone failed to bind to the Ikaros protein-spacific binding sequence in DNA. Ikaros proteins lacking the DNA binding sequences were detected in the cytoplasm but not in the nucleus of the cells. When INC and primary pre-B ALL cells that express Ik-6 alone were irradiated and cultured in the absence of serum, these cells produced functional Ikaros isoforms, Ik-1 and Ik-2. Purified CD19[sup +] CD10[sup -] and CD19[sup +] CD10[sup +] cells from normal human bone marrow did not express Ik-6. The predominant expression of Ik-6, which is the result of post-transcription dysregulation, is characteristic of adult pre-B ALL, especially CD10[sup +] pre-B ALL. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We theoretically study the photoinduced ionic→neutral phase transition in the quasi-onedimensional molecular crystal TTF-CA. Our theoretical model includes strong intra-chain Coulomb interactions as well as very weak inter-chain interactions. Within the mean-field picture, we investigate the nonlinear lattice relaxation of a charge transfer exciton, and clarify the adiabatic path from its Franck-Oondon state to a macroscopic neutral domain. It is found that the lowest state of such a single charge transfer exciton can not relax down to the neutral domain straightly, but a large excess energy is necessary so that it can overcome a high barrier. The aggregation of two identically shaped neutral domains is also discussed. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The involvement of the aorta in aspergillosis is relatively rare, and its histopathological features have not been described in detail. In two autopsy cases of invasive aspergillosis in immunologically compromised patients with hematological disorders, the aspergillotic lesions of the aorta showed different characteristic histopathological features depending on the three layers of aortic wall. Intimal lesions were formations of the mural thrombus composed of aggregates of numerous fungal hyphae arranged perpendicularly to the aortic wall. In the media, smooth muscle cells were completely necrotic (anemic infarct of the media), while the framework of elastic fibers was well preserved, with only a few fungal hyphae detected. In the adventitia, an intense, partly granulomatous chronic inflammatory change with fibrosis was observed in association with mycotic embolic occlusion of the vasa vasorum. These histopathological changes were considered to represent one of the typical tissue reaction patterns in the wall of an elastic artery in aspergillosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The frequency dependence of the third harmonic generation in trans-polyacetylene is quantitatively interpreted by considering the bands of finite chain and the damping of excitation. Our theory shows that there are two distinct peaks in the spectrum of the third harmonic generation. The first one around 0.6 eV comes from the three-photon resonant transition between the edges of the valence band and conduction band; the second one around 0.9 eV is produced by the two-photon interband transition. The excitation-dependent damping is essential to determine the position of the second peak. The theoretical results agree well with the experimental data. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

To clarify the role of interferon-γ (IFN-γ) in reproduction, we have examined its effects on cytokine production by human endometrial stromal cells (ESC). Concentrations of interleukin (IL)-6, IL-8, monocyte chemoattractant protein1 (MCP-1), and macrophage colony-stimulating factor (M-CSF) in the culture media of normal ESC and an endometrial stromal sarcoma cell line, MaMi, were measured using an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Both non-stimulated ESC and non-stimulated MaMi cells constitutively secrete IL-6, IL-8, MCP-1, and M-CSF. In a dose-dependent manner, IFN-γ increased the concentrations of IL-6, MCP-1, and M-CSF and reduced the concentrations of IL-8 in ESC and MANE cells. These results suggest that IFN-γ produced by both decidual inflammatory cells and the developing embryo plays a role in the maintenance of early pregnancy by modulating the production of these cytokines by human ESC. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

In 227 of 495 (45.9%) Japanese adult patients with acute myelocytic leukemia (AML), leukemic cells expressed CD4. Incidence of CD4 expression in each FAB subtype was as follows: M1 37.4%, M2 33.7%, M3 35.4%, M4 65.0%, and M5 78.3%. The typical expression pattern of myelomonocytic differentiation antigens and cytokine receptors in CD4+ AML was CD34lowCD33high CD11bhighGM-CSFRhigh. AML cases with 11q23 abnormalities and with inv(16) were frequently CD4-positive. These data collectively indicate that CD4 expression in AML cells is associated with monocytic characteristics. However, CD4+CD34high AML cases appear to have unique immature characteristics including low expression of myelomonocytic differentiation antigens (ie CD33 and CD11b), and accumulation of chromosome abnormalities (ie t(8;21) in CD4lowCD34high AML and chromosome 7 abnormalities in CD4highCD34high AML). We speculate that these leukemia subsets originate from CD4+ hematopoietic precursor cells, therefore then should be considered separately from most of the CD4+ AML as represented by CD34lowCD33high CD11bhighGM-CSFRhigh. Overall survival of patients with CD4+ AML in our series was worse than that of those with CD4 AML (P = 0.0202). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Real time quantum dynamics of the spontaneous translational symmetry breakage due to light excitation in the early stage of photo-induced structural phase transitions is reviewed under the guide of the Toyozawa theory, which is in exact compliance with the conservation law of the total momentum. At the Franck-Condon state, an electronic excitation just created by a visible photon is in a plane wave state, extended all over the crystal. While, after the lattice relaxation having been completed, it is localized as a new excitation. So, is there the shrinkage of the excitation wave function? No! The wave function never shrinks, but only the spatial (or inter lattice-site) quantum coherence (interference) of the excitation disappears, as the lattice relaxation proceeds. This is the breakage of translational symmetry. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article presents a case study of a 46-year-old multigravid Japanese woman with atypical vaginal bleeding. She had undergone total hysterectomy and bilateral salpingo-oophorectomy for endometriosis. The article discusses mucinous adenocarcinoma of the vagina with aggressive behavior. Primary mucinous adenocarcinoma of the vagina is a rare disease characterizing aggressiveness and poor prognosis because of its rapid growth and recurrence.

MgFe2O4 (Mg-ferrite) nanoparticles encapsulated in amorphous SiO2 were prepared by the wet chemical method. The particle sizes were estimated, based on the X-ray diffraction peaks, to be between 3 and 8 nm, depending on the annealing temperature. The particle size increased as the annealing temperature increased. From the magnetization measurements, the blocking temperature, T b, was found to be between 30 and 60 K. The magnetization values varied with the annealing or quenching conditions. To clarify the process of crystal growth, thermogravimetric and differential thermal analysis (TG-DTA) measurements were performed and the results were compared with the X-ray diffraction patterns. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recurrent ovarian cancer after front-line chemotherapy is incurable. In most institutions, chemotherapy is continued as salvage therapy after primary chemotherapy failure and despite the fact that long-term survival and complete responses are infrequent. Radiation therapy for patients with recurrent ovarian cancer has often been done with palliative intent. A patient with ovarian clear cell adenocarcinoma received irradiation with palliative intent to the whole pelvis after chemotherapy (paclitaxel, carboplatin, and irinotecan) produced no effect. Although she developed a rectovaginal fistula due to cancer invasion during radiation therapy. One year and half after the therapy, she is still alive with no evidence of disease. In an effort to maximize salvage potential and quality of life while minimizing toxicity, selected patients with ovarian cancer should be treated with radiation therapy directed to residual or recurrent sites. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Using immunohistochemical techniques, we studied the expression of c-erb B-2 in normal human endometrial tissue (n = 8), endometriosis interna (adenomyosis) (n = 8) and endometriosis externa (endometriotic cyst of the ovary) (n = 6). The glandular epithelium of normal endometrial tissue specimens in the proliferative phase stained positively. Most of the cases of endometriosis studied showed no expression of c-erb B-2 in glandular epithelium. No expression was detected in either the normal or endometriotic stromal cells. Results suggest that c-erb B-2 is not significantly involved in the pathogenesis of endometriosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]