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Thymic cancer associated with spontaneous regression of thymic cysts is a rare disease. A 47-yearold man was referred to our hospital for right chest pain and chest abnormal shadow. Chest computed tomography( CT) revealed a solid lesion 1.3 cm in diameter and a cystic lesion 1.0 cm in diameter at the right anterior mediastinum. A second CT study after six months showed a solid lesion increased to 1.7 cm in diameter and a cystic lesion reduced to 0.7 cm in diameter. A second magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) showed a cystic lesion reduced and high signal intensity region in the thymus enlarged on T2-weighted imaging. Under the diagnosis of thymoma associated with multilocular thymic cysts, total thymectomy was performed for these mediastinal lesions by video-assisted thoracic surgery. Histopathological finding was thymic squamous cell carcinoma (Masaoka stage II) associated with multilocular thymic cysts. Additional postoperative radiotherapy was performed, and there has been no recurrence after one postoperative year.

A 75‐year‐old woman underwent thoracoscopic right upper lobectomy for lung cancer. A histopathological examination showed adenocarcinoma, pT1aN0M0 stage IA1. At six months after surgery, chest computed tomography (CT) revealed pericardial nodules that had not been detected before pulmonary resection. Postoperative CT performed two months later revealed that the nodules were growing and F18 fluorodeoxyglucose‐positron emission tomography showed a maximum standardized uptake of 9.87. Blood tests revealed no elevated tumor markers, with the exception of a mildly elevated interleukin‐2. Based on the above results, thoracoscopic biopsy was performed due to the suspected recurrence of lung cancer or malignant lymphoma. The histopathological examination of the nodule revealed immunoglobulin G4 (IgG4)‐related inflammatory pseudotumor. The serum IgG4 levels were elevated (358 mg/dL, normal: 4.5–117.0 mg/dL). No additional treatment was required because all nodules were observed to have disappeared naturally on a follow‐up CT scan performed two months after the surgical biopsy. The patient has been followed‐up for two years without recurrence. Key points Significant findings of the study We report a case of pericardial immunoglobulin G4‐related inflammatory pseudotumor that appeared after right upper lobectomy for lung cancer, and which naturally disappeared without any treatment. What this study adds There was an immunoglobulin G4‐related inflammatory pseudotumor which appeared as multiple nodules in the pericardial space, and this should be kept in mind when considering the differential diagnosis of intrapericardial nodules., We report a case of pericardial immunoglobulin G4‐related inflammatory pseudotumor that appeared after right upper lobectomy for lung cancer, and which naturally disappeared without any treatment.

Several authors have previously reported that patients with pulmonary combined large cell neuroendocrine cancer ( LCNEC) have a poor prognosis and there is no consensus on the treatment strategy for combined LCNEC as well as LCNEC. Here, we report the case of a long‐term survivor with pulmonary combined LCNEC. The patient was a 60‐year‐old man who underwent thoracoscopic right lower lobectomy. The final histopathology and staging of the tumor showed LCNEC combined with squamous cell carcinoma and T2aN0M0 stage IB. Multimodality treatments including chemotherapy, radiotherapy and surgery for several recurrences were performed after the pulmonary surgery. After immune checkpoint inhibitor (ICI) therapy with nivolumab, all the metastatic lesions shrunk and a partial response was maintained at five years after the first surgery. In our case, ICI after multimodality therapy combining cytotoxic anticancer drugs and radiotherapy was effective in LCNEC with metachronous multiple metastases. Key points Significant findings of the study Immune checkpoint inhibitor after multimodality therapy combining cytotoxic anticancer drugs and radiotherapy was effective in LCNEC with metachronous multiple metastases. The patient survived over five‐years after the first surgery. What this study adds Immune checkpoint inhibitor may be effective in some LCNEC patients.

BACKGROUND: To investigate the usefulness of (18)F-fluorodeoxy glucose-positron emission tomography ((18)F-FDG PET) for the preoperative imaging diagnosis of malignant grade in thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) and the correlation between the maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) and tumor size in TETs. METHODS: We retrospectively investigated 51 patients with TETs performed (18)F-FDG PET. The SUVmax was compared between thymic carcinomas and thymomas. We also evaluated the difference in the SUVmax limited to small TETs. In addition, the correlation between the SUVmax and the tumor size was evaluated. RESULTS: The mean SUVmax of thymic carcinomas (n=12) and thymomas (n=39) was 5.71±2.6 and 3.08±1.4, respectively. The SUVmax of thymic carcinomas was significantly higher than that of thymomas (P

Although there is a rough unified recommendation for the management of chest drainage tubes after major lung resection for lung cancer (1,2), there is no firm guideline. Therefore, in actuality, each general thoracic surgeon manages patients’ chest tubes based on their experience and the results of small-scale studies (3-5).

The nymphalid butterfly Araschnia burejana and the papilionid butterfly Papilio xuthus exhibit seasonal diphenism comprising spring-morphs that develop from diapause pupae and summer-morphs that develop from non-diapause pupae. The development of seasonal morphs in A. burejana is regulated by the timing of secretion of ecdysteroids for adult development, whereas that in P. xuthus is regulated by the secretion of summer-morph-producing hormone, which is present in the brains and is under control of the photoperiod. We investigated whether a cerebral factor derived from brains plays a significant role in the regulation of seasonal morph development in A. burejana using surgical operations. Pairs of chilled diapause pupae that had been chilled for more than 3 months at 4°C were joined surgically to each other and then developed into spring-morph or spring-like-morph adults. Chilled diapause pupae that were joined with 1-day-old non-diapause pupae developed into summer-morph or summer-like-morph adults. When the brains of non-diapause pupae were removed surgically 6-8 hr after pupation with and without injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone, a large portion of them developed into spring-morph or spring-like-morph adults, respectively. Furthermore, 90% of non-diapause pupae developed into spring-morph or spring-like-morph adults when the neck was ligated within 5 min after pupation. These results indicated that a cerebral factor showing summer-morph-producing hormone activity, which is secreted from the brain in the early pupal stage, in addition to 20-hydroxyecdysone for adult development, play a significant role in the determination of summer-morph development in non-diapause pupae of A. burejana.

This article closely examines the very “ambiguity” of Osugi Sakae's “philosophy of labor movement” in relation to the ongoing “street fighting” in Japan and elsewhere. In doing so, it attempts to reveal the significance of his work in today's context. On the one hand, Osugi's thought has provided the philosophical underpinning for the quasi-autonomous, middle-class movement that formed the consensus for Japan's prewar empire, or Osaka Ishi No Kai (Association for Osaka Restoration), that is making a loud noise in Japan right now. On the other hand, however, as the article argues, it also teaches us how to criticize it and, more important, how to extend and intensify the kind of autonomy that has recently emerged everywhere from Tahrir Square in Cairo to the streets around the Diet building in Tokyo. Investigating the several concepts found in his text, such as “feeling,” “desire,” “labor-power (or power of action),” and “autonomy,” the article tries to draw a clear line between these two conflicting aspects and extract the “center of possibility” of this very unique thinker/activist's work. Those whom I call “Osugi Children” from Uno Kozo and Tosaka Jun to Gilles Deleuze and Harry Harootunian help us do so, but it is ultimately the voices of the women on the streets from Ito Noe to Muto Ruiko that lead this journey of ours.

Field studies of butterflies were carried out in four different selected areas i.e. Krishnopur, AERE campus, Rajalak Farm and Horters (Part of JU campus) at Savar, Dhaka. Butterflies identified of those areas constituted 158 species belonging 10 families, 87 species of which are newly-recorded in Bangladesh. Numbers of species identified in each family reached 47 in Lycaenidae (30 newly recorded), 32 in Hesperiidae (22 new), 22 in Pieridae (11 new), 19 in Nymphalidae (6 new), 14 in Papilionidae (7 new), 14 in Saytridae (8 new), 5 in Danaidae (1 new), 3 in Riodinidae (1 new), 1 in Acraeidae and 1 newly recorded Amathusiidae. The maximum 130 species and the minimum 65 species were recorded in Krishnopur and Rajalak Farm, respectively. Almost all butterfly families were found to be dominant in Krishnopur. Among the total identified species, 35.44% belonged to very rare (VR) and 20.25% to rare (R) categories, whereas 12.18%, 12.03% and 13.29% species were very common (VC), common (C) and not rare (NR) categories, respectively. It may be that the numbers of butterfly species as well as their fauna vary greatly depending on the floral and ecological conditions in and around the study areas.DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.3329/ujzru.v30i0.10713Univ. j. zool. Rajshahi Univ. Vol. 30, 2011 pp. 09-15

Pupae of the painted lady butterfly Vanessa cardui exhibit pupal color polyphenism consisting of white, dark and intermediate types. We investigated environmental factors affecting pupal coloration and the physiological mechanisms underlying the control of pupal color polyphenism in this species. Over 80% of larvae reared at 16 degrees C developed into pupae of dark types, whereas over 82% of larvae at 32 degrees C developed into pupae of white types irrespective of long/short-day photoperiod conditions. When mature larvae reared at 32 degrees C were ligatured between thoracic and abdominal parts at three different pharate pupal stages, all of the head-thoracic parts developed into white pupae regardless of pupal stage, but all abdominal parts ligatured at the early pharate pupal stage only developed into dark pupae. These results indicate that temperature during larval stages is an important element affecting pupal coloration as an environmental cue in V. cardui, and that a factor(s) inducing white pupae is released from head-thoracic parts under conditions of high temperature. Additionally, when ligatured abdomens destined to develop into dark pupae were treated with crude extracts prepared from the central nervous system, all of the ligatured abdomens developed into white pupae at a level dependent on dose and pupal stage. These results suggest that the factor inducing white pupae is a key molecule controlling pupal color polyphenism in V. cardui.

Three species of nymphalid butterflies, Vanessa cardui, V. indica and Nymphalis xanthomelas japonica, do not exhibit seasonal polyphenism in wing coloration. To determine whether seasonal non-polyphenic butterflies possess a cerebral factor affecting wing coloration, we used a Polygonia c-aureum female short-day pupal assay for detection of summer-morph-producing hormone (SMPH) activity in P. c-aureum. When 2% NaCl extracts of 25 brain-equivalents prepared from the pupal brains of V. cardui, V. indica or N. xanthomelas japonica were injected into Polygonia female short-day pupae, all recipients developed into summer-morph adults with dark-yellow wings, and the average grade score (AGS) of summer morphs showing SMPH activity was 3.8, 3.7 and 4.0, respectively. In contrast, when acetone or 80% ethanol extracts prepared from pupal brains were injected into Polygonia pupae, all recipients developed into autumn-morph adults with a dark-brown coloration and each exhibited an AGS of less than 0.5. Our results indicate that a cerebral factor showing SMPH activity is present in the pupal brain of seasonal non-polyphenic nymphalid butterflies, suggesting that a SMPH and cerebral factor showing SMPH activity occur widely among butterfly species. This finding will improve our understanding of the presence of cerebral factors showing interspecific actions of SHPH.

Background Mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene at kinase domain have been reported in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC), and some common somatic mutations in EGFR have been examined for their ability to predict sensitivity to gefitinib or erlotinib. However, EGFR mutations at exon 20 have been reported to predict resistance to gefitinib therapy. Materials and methods We investigated the EGFR mutations and/or polymorphism statuses at kinase domain in 303 surgically treated non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. One hundred ninety-four adenocarcinoma cases were included. The presence or absence of EGFR polymorphism of kinase domains was analyzed by direct sequences. We have also investigated EGFR polymorphism status at exon 20 for 23 NSCLC patients who had undergone surgery followed by treatment with gefitinib at the National Hospital Organization, Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center. Results EGFR mutations at kinase domain were found in 75 of 303 lung cancer patients. During sequencing of EGFR tyrosine kinase domain in tumors, 86 EGFR polymorphism (G2607A) cases were identified at exon 20. G2067A polymorphism was significantly higher in nonadenocarcinomas (37.4%) than in adenocarcinoma (25.3%, P = 0.0415). The polymorphism status did not correlate with gender, smoking (never smoker versus smoker), and EGFR mutations. In 46 total gefitinib treated NSCLC patients, there was a tendency toward better prognosis in EGFR wild type (GG) patients than AG + AA patients. EGFR polymorphism in Japanese lung cancers seemed to be less frequent than Caucasian lung cancers. Conclusions EGFR-tyrosine kinase polymorphism might be associated with clinicopathological background of lung cancers.

Mutations of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene at kinase domain have been reported in non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). However, EGFR mutations status at C-terminal domain has not been reported in detail.We investigated the EGFR mutation and polymorphism statuses at C-terminal domain in 398 surgically treated NSCLC cases. Two hundred and sixty-eight adenocarcinoma cases were included. The presence or absence of EGFR mutation and polymorphism was analyzed by direct sequences.A novel EGFR somatic mutation at exon 25 (G3034, D1012H) was found from 1 of 398 lung cancer patients. During sequencing of EGFR C-terminal domain in NSCLC, 194 EGFR polymorphism (C2982T) cases were identified at exon 25. The polymorphism statuses were not correlated with gender, smoking status (never smoker vs. smoker), pathological subtypes and EGFR mutations. The EGFR polymorphism ratio was significantly higher in younger NSCLC (or =60, 56.8%) than in older NSCLC (60, 45.6%, P = 0.0467). The EGFR polymorphism ratio was significantly higher in lymph node positive NSCLC (57.4%) than in lymph node negative NSCLC (44%, P = 0.0168). In 46 total gefitinib treated NSCLC patients, exon 25 polymorphism was not correlated with prognosis.EGFR mutation at C-terminal in lung cancers seemed to be extremely rare, however, this D1012H mutation might be a role in EGFR function. EGFR polymorphism at exon 25 might be correlated with progression of NSCLC.

ErbB3 is a member of the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) family of tyrosine kinase. A previous report has suggested that overexpression of ErbB3 protein was associated with lung cancer recurrence. Other reports suggested that high ErbB3 protein expression was associated with shorter survival in advanced non-small-cell lung carcinomas (NSCLC). The relationship between the erbB3 mRNA expression and EGFR mutation has not been reported. In this study, we have investigated the erbB3 mRNA levels in reference to clinicopathologic data and EGFR mutation status in Japanese lung cancer specimens.This study included 192 surgically removed NSCLC cases operated at Nagoya City University Hospital. The erbB3 mRNA levels were quantified by real-time polymerase chain reaction using LightCycler (Roche Molecular Biochemicals, Mannheim, Germany).The erbB3/glyceraldehydes-3-phosphatate dehydrogenase levels were significantly higher in female than in male (P0.0001), higher in nonsmoker than in smoker (P = 0.0007), higher in adenocarcinoma than in other types of lung cancers (P0.0001), and higher in well-differentiated than in less-differentiated subtypes (P = 0.0304). The erbB3/glyceraldehydes-3-phosphatate dehydrogenase levels were significantly higher in patients with EGFR gene mutation than in patients without mutation (P = 0.0124).The present study suggests that increased expression of erbB3 may play an additional role in NSCLC especially in female, nonsmoker, adenocarcinoma, and with EGFR gene mutation. Further studies on large sample sizes would help to determine if erbB3 expression is a clinically useful tool to further define patients who will benefit from EGFR TKIs.

Autoimmune regulator (AIRE) is a transcription factor expressed in the thymic medullary epithelial cells (MECs). MECs have been suggested to contribute to tolerance induction by presenting tissue specific antigens to T cells that react to these antigens. AIRE expression in cells other than MECs has not been studied extensively. Here we report four-color flow cytometric and quantitative real-time PCR studies on the expression of AIRE in the lymphoid cells in the thymus and periphery. In the thymus AIRE was expressed in B cells and CD4+CD8+ double positive cells at a low level. In the peripheral blood AIRE was expressed in B cells but not in T cells, and also expressed in CD14+ dendritic cells (DCs)/macrophages and granulocytes at higher levels. AIRE mRNA was expressed higher in B cells than in T cells. Further study is warranted to define the functional role of the AIRE expressed in the lymphoid cells.

To evaluate the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) protein expression, gene mutations and amplification as predictors of clinical outcome in patients with non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) receiving gefitinib, we have performed fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) and immunohistochemistry (IHC). We investigated the EGFR amplification and EGFR protein expression statuses in 27 surgically treated non-small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases. These patients experienced relapse after surgery and received gefitinib 250 mg/day. The presence or absence of EGFR mutations of kinase domains was analyzed by genotyping analysis and sequences, and already reported. EGFR mutations were found from 15/27 lung cancer patients. EGFR mutation status was significantly correlated with better prognosis (log-rank test P=0.0023). Smoking status (never smoker vs. smoker, P=0.0032), and pathological subtypes (adenocarcinoma vs. non-adenocarcinoma, P=0.0011), but not EGFR amplification (P=0.1278), were correlated with survival of lung cancers. EGFR IHC results were correlated with FISH results (P=0.0125), but not correlated with prognosis (P=0.7921). Thus, the EGFR gene amplification or protein expression is not a predictor of gefitinib efficacy in Japanese patients with NSCLC. We have also evaluated the EGFR mutation status and clinico-pathological features for 27 NSCLC patients who had undergone surgery followed by treatment with gefitinib at the National Hospital Organization, Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center. The EGFR mutation status, especially exon19 mutation was correlated with good response to gefitinib than exon 21 point mutation.

Much evidence has accumulated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its family members are strongly implicated in the development and progression of lung cancers. Recently, erbB4 kinase domain mutations were reported in Korean patients with lung cancer. We hypothesized that erbB4 mutations correlate with clinicopathologic features of lung cancers.The presence or absence of erbB4 kinase domain mutations was analyzed by reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction amplification and direct sequencing in 105 surgically treated non-small-cell lung cancer cases from Nagoya City University Hospital. Sixty-three adenocarcinoma cases were included. The EGFR mutation status for these 105 samples were already reported. We have investigated erbB4 expression status by immunohistochemistry in 40 non-small cell lung cancer cases.ErbB4 mutation was not found in 105 patients with lung cancer. The EGFR mutation status was significantly correlated with sex (women, 74.2% vs. men, 9.5%; P0.0001), smoking status (never-smokers, 68.8% vs. smokers, 11%; P0.0001), pathologic subtype (adenocarcinoma, 44.4% vs. non-adenocarcinoma, 4.8%; P0.0001), and differentiation status of the lung cancer (well-differentiated, 47.4% vs. others, 14.8%; P = 0.0004). We detected ErbB4 protein positivity in 20 samples. The ErbB4 protein status was not significantly correlated with sex (women, 28.6% vs. men, 54.5%; P = 0.4075), smoking status (never-smokers, 69.4% vs. smokers, 16.9%; P0.0001), pathologic subtype (adenocarcinoma, 46.2% vs. nonadenocarcinoma, 51.9%; P0.9999), or differentiation status of the lung cancer (well-differentiated, 54.5% vs. others, 48.3%; P0.9999).Thus, erbB4 mutations are rare in Japanese people with lung cancer and of limited value for molecular-targeted therapy.

目的．癌性胸膜炎は癌終末期の病態であるが，癌性胸水を完全に制御できればPSが保たれた癌の終末期状態となり，患者の享受できるメリットは少なくない．対象と方法．対象は9例の癌性胸水患者である．胸膜癒着術の成否は癒着剤（タルク）が万遍なく胸膜に散布されるか否かに依存する．そこで，われわれは胸腔鏡下に完全に癌性胸水を排除した後，任意の肋間から血管留置針を胸腔穿刺した．50 mlの注射器に5～10 gのタルクを入れておき，留置した針から胸腔内に空気とともに散布した．この操作を複数箇所から行うことで胸腔全体にタルクを散布できた．つづいて，ドレナージチューブを肋骨横隔膜洞と肺尖にそれぞれ1本づつ胸腔鏡下に確実に留置し，十分な陰圧をかけた．術後は7日間の持続吸引の後，ドレナージチューブを抜管した．全例で胸水の完全制御に成功している．しかしながら9例中1例は術後50日目に退院することなく死亡した．結論．本法は，分離肺換気麻酔下の胸腔鏡操作を必要とするが，確実に胸水を制御することが可能であった．本法は癌性胸水が確認されたら，なるべく早期に施行するべきであると考える．

Purpose Human MOB1 ( hMOB1 ) is a recently isolated gene that is a human homologue of the Schizosaccharomyces mitotic checkpoint gene MOB1 . The loss of checkpoint control in mammalian cells results in genomic instability, leading to the amplification, rearrangement, or loss of chromosomes, events associated with tumor progression. We hypothesized that hMOB1 might be expressed in non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC). Patients and Methods We attempted to determine the influence of hMOB1 expression on clinicopathologic features in patients with NSCLC who had undergone surgery. Expression of hMOB1 messenger RNA (mRNA) was evaluated by reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction in 60 NSCLCs and adjacent histologic normal lung samples using LightCycler®. Results Human MOB1/glyseraldehyde-3-phosphate dehydrogenase (GAPDH) mRNA expression was significantly decreased in the tumor of lung cancer tissue (3.347 ± 4.306) compared with normal lung tissue (4.833 ± 4.306; P = 0.0437), although 22 of 60 lung cancer tissue samples had > 1 tumor-normal ratio of MOB1/GAPDH mRNA expression. There was no relationship between hMOB1 gene expression and age, sex, pathologic stages, or pN status. However, decreased hMOB1/GAPDH expression was especially seen in pT1 lung cancer (tumor-normal ratio; 0.318 ± 0.328) when compared with pT4 lung cancer (1.915 ± 1.895; P = 0.0362). Conclusion The decreased expression of hMOB1 mRNA might be the early phase phenomenon for tumor invasion from NSCLC. Alternatively, loss of mitotic checkpoint might play a role in oncogenesis for lung cancer.

We present a case of a 79-year-old man with right apical invasive lung cancer which was treated by induction radiotherapy followed by right upper lobectomy with chest wall resection. Four days after the operation, hemorrhage from the funicular structure in the cupula of the parietal pleura was observed, and hemostasis was achieved by ligation and fibrin sheet pasting. At the time, we were not able to detect the hemorrhage from the subclavian artery. Two days after the 1st hemostasis, hemorrhage reccurred. Hemorrhage from the inferior border of the subclavian artery was observed, and hemostasis was achieved by direct suture and fibrin sheet pasting. One day after the 2nd hemostasis, re-recurrent hemorrhage occurred. Stent graft placement was performed under local anesthesia. No hemorrhage occurred after the stent graft placement.

ObjectiveThe presence of epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutations has been reported to predict the response to gefitinib in pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients. A retrospective analysis was conducted to identify the correlation between computed tomographic findings of the nodules and EGFR status.Patients and MethodsComputed tomographic findings of 38 patients with peripheral pulmonary adenocarcinoma with EGFR mutations were reviewed and compared with those of 42 peripheral pulmonary adenocarcinoma patients with wild-type EGFR.ResultsMutations were found significantly more frequently among women (28 of 45 women versus 10 of 35 men) and among non-smokers (31 of 47 non-smokers and 7 of 33 smokers). The L858R mutation was found in 18 cases. Several types of deletion mutants in exon 19 were found in 18 cases. The nodules with EGFR mutations (2.5 ± 1.0 cm) were significantly smaller in diameter than those in the wild-type group (3.1 ± 1.9 cm). Ground glass opacity (GGO) was more often observed in the mutation group (28 of 38) than in the wild-type group (24 of 42), but the difference was not statistically significant. When mutations were analyzed with reference to both the tumor size and GGO ratio, patients with a tumor ≤3 cm and a GGO ratio ≥50% often had EGFR mutations, and most (10 of 12) were expressed in female patients. No male adenocarcinoma patients with a tumor larger than 4.0 cm had EGFR mutations.ConclusionsEGFR mutations were found most frequently in small peripheral adenocarcinomas with a GGO ratio ≥50%, especially among women. These factors may be useful in deciding therapeutic strategies for adenocarcinomas when resection or biopsy is not feasible.

Background: Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) gene mutations have been reported to correlate with the sensitivity to the tyrosine kinase inhibitor treatment for advanced lung cancers. Since several reports have shown that invasive thymoma overexpress the EGFR protein, we examinedtheEGFRexpressionandmutationstatusesinthymomaandthymiccarcinomatissues. Methods: EGFR mutation statuses from 99 thymic epithelial tumor samples were evaluated by a rapid and sensitive TaqMan assay using Applied Biosysytems 7500 real-time PCR system. Probes were designed according to the 13 different EGFR mutations reported previously in lung cancers. A total of 38 thymoma samples were directly sequenced for the EGFR gene. Protein expressions were evaluated for 56 thymic epithelial tumors by immunohistochemistry. Results: EGFR gene mutations were not detected in any of the thymoma and thymic cancer samples using TaqMan PCR assay. Of the 38 samples 3 showed a heterozygous silent mutation without changes in the protein, a G to A transition at the nucleotide 2361 in exon 18. EGFR expression was significantly higher in invasive thymomas (stages III–IV, 15/19 were positive) than in early stage thymomas (stages I–II, 7/33 were positive) (P < 0.0001). All four carcinomas and all seven B3 thymomas showed EGFR positive staining. Conclusions: Although EGFR mutation at the tyrosine kinase domain is unlikely to be a therapeutictargetforthymoma,theinformationaboutEGFRexpressionwouldcontributetothefurther identification of the therapeutic target for advanced thymomas.

Diapause pupae of the swallowtail butterfly Papilio xuthus L. exhibit diapause-green, orange and brownish-orange color polymorphism. Development of orange pupae involves a neuroendocrine factor inducing orange pupa (Orange-Pupa-Inducing Factor, OPIF), which is secreted from the head–thoracic region during late pharate pupal stages, in particular from the ganglia of short-day animals located posteriorly from the second thoracic ganglion2 (TG2). This report describes certain properties of OPIF using bioassays involving ligated abdomens of short-day pharate pupae. Localization of OPIF in the central nervous system of short-day larvae indicated that it was present predominantly in TG2, thoracic ganglion3 (TG3) and abdominal ganglion1 (AG1) complexes. OPIF activity in TG2,3–AG1 complexes was over two times higher than in the more posteriorely located ganglia. The developmental profile of OPIF in last instar short-day larvae revealed that OPIF activity in larval ganglia posterior to TG2 became gradually higher as larval growth proceeded, suggesting that OPIF might be accumulated in TG2,3–AG1–7 complexes as larvae prepare for pupal molting. Furthermore, ligated abdomens of short-day larvae developed into pupae of an orange type when a 2% NaCl extract containing OPIF prepared from TG2,3–AG1–7 complexes of long-day larvae was injected into ligated abdomens of short-day pharate pupae, indicating that OPIF is also present in long-day larvae. Additionally, a biochemical investigation using gel filtration chromatography showed that the molecular weight of OPIF was about 10 kDa.

症例は66歳,女性.他院で腹腔鏡下胆嚢摘出術,総胆管切開・Cチューブドレナージ術を施行された. 7年半後,発熱,上腹部激痛,嘔気を主訴に当院初診となった.精査したところ,金属クリップを核とした総胆管結石を1個認めたため,開腹総胆管切開・Tチューブドレナージ術を施行した.摘出した結石は18×11mmのビリルピンカルシウム石で,内部中央に金属クリップを認めた.術中, 2個あるべき胆嚢動脈断端のクリップは1個しか認めず,結石の原因と考えられた.術後経過は良好で現在無再発経過観察中である.クリップを核とした総胆管結石は本邦で27例が報告されている.今回の症例では,術中所見から胆嚢動脈断端のクリップが総胆管内に引き込まれた可能性が推察された.

Bombyx mori chitinase (Bm-CHI), with a molecular mass of 75 kDa, was investigated on the possibility that it can serve as a biocontrol agent against the adult Japanese pine sawyer (JPS), Monochamus alternatus (Coleoptera: Cerambycidae). Oral ingestion of purified chitinase at concentrations of 3 microM (11.25 microg/50 microl) and 0.3 micoM (1.125 microg/50 microl) caused high mortality in JPS, a significant decrease in bark consumption, and, only in high concentration, a slight reduction of body weight. Fluorescence assays indicated that peritrophic membrane (PM) chitin is degraded by the action of orally ingested Bm-CHI at 3 microM concentration only. Scanning electron micrographs clearly indicated that the beetles that ingested Bm-CHI of the same high concentration had their PM perforated and disrupted, but ultrastructural studies showed that the ingested chitinase did not affect the midgut epithelium. These findings open up the possibility of using insect chitinase as a biopesticidal enzyme. It should have agronomic potential for insect control.

BACKGROUND Glucocorticoid was used in thymomas. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the efficacy of intravenous high-dose glucocorticoid (steroid pulse) therapy in patients with previously untreated advanced thymoma. Causes were also sought for a possible underlying mechanism of the effect of steroid on thymoma. METHODS Seventeen patients with invasive thymoma who had not received previous chemotherapy or radiation therapy were enrolled in the study. All cases were treated with 2 courses of glucocorticoid therapy before surgery. Tumor response was assessed by computed tomography (CT) scan 1 week after the steroid pulse therapy. Lymphocytes associated with thymoma were analyzed for their CD4/CD8 phenotype and glucocorticoid receptor (GR). TdT-mediated dUTP-biotin nick-end labeling (TUNEL) staining was used to analyze the apoptotic lymphocytes and epithelial cells. RESULTS The overall response rate to the steroid pulse therapy was 47.1% (8 of 17). The reduction in tumor size was most prominent in type B1 thymomas; there were significant differences between type AB and type B1 thymomas (P = .0234) and type B1 and type B3 thymomas (P = .0068). The reduction in tumor size was accompanied with a marked reduction in the CD4+8+ double-positive immature thymocytes that expressed higher levels of glucocorticoid receptor. Apoptotic changes were observed in both neoplastic epithelial cell and lymphocyte components after glucocorticoid therapy. CONCLUSIONS The efficiency of preoperative steroid pulse therapy in type B1 thymoma was most prominent, which is probably related to the specific effect on GR-rich CD4+8+ double-positive immature lymphocytes, which are abundant in this type of thymoma. Cancer 2006. © 2006 American Cancer Society.

The cabbage armyworm, Mamestra brassicae, has winter-and aestival- diapause pupae (WD- and AD-pupae) showing differences in the strength of diapause. We tried to quantify diapause-strength by measuring the doses of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20-E) required to induce adult development in WD-, AD- and decerebrated non-diapause pupae (ND-pupae). The role of the brain in the regulation of diapause-strength was studied through the decerebration and brain-reimplantation of WD-and AD-pupae. The 20-E doses required for adult development were small within the first 2 days of pupation, and increased thereafter to reach a constant level about 10 days after pupation in AD- and decerebrated ND-pupae. The required 20-E doses in WD-pupae increased for more than 40 days after pupation. When 0-day-old WD- and 0-day-old AD-pupae were decerebrated, required 20-E doses increased after pupation and reached a constant about 10 days later. The required 20-E dose reached a constant level in decerebrated WD-pupae that was smaller than that observed for decerebrated ND- and WD-pupae. Furthermore, the required doses increased when 0-day-old WD-pupal brains were reimplanted into decerebrated WD- and decerebrated ND-pupae. In WD-, AD- and decerebrated ND-pupae, diapause-strength can be represented as the 20-E dose required for adult development. Diapause-strength is weak after pupation, increases thereafter, and reaches a constant about 10 days later in AD- and decerebrated ND-pupae. In WD-pupae, diapause-strength increases for more than 40 days after pupation and reaches a level that is twice that estimated for AD-pupae. Brains of diapausing WD-pupae may secrete a factor that suppresses the 20-E responsiveness of pupal organs, for the purpose of maintaining winter-diapause.

Background Endoscopic thoracic sympathectomy has been considered an effective treatment for palmar hyperhidrosis. However, the extent of resection has not been determined in terms of efficacy and complications. We compared the efficacy and complications of 2-ganglion and single-ganglion resection in patients with palmar hyperhidrosis. Methods From 1995 to 2000, 75 patients underwent resection of thoracic ganglion T2 and T3. From 2000 to 2003, 67 patients underwent resection of only the T2 ganglion. Eighty of the 142 patients (56%) answered a detailed questionnaire, the results of which were analyzed. Results Gender, age, family history, and distribution of sweating were similar in both groups. Recurrence rates 1 and 2 years after endoscopic thoracic ganglionectomy were between 0% and 3% in T2 and T3 resection, and between 15% and 19% in T2 resection only. In the combined T2 and T3 resection group, 100% of patients noticed compensatory sweating; in T2 resection, 90% of patients noticed compensatory sweating. As for rates of satisfaction, T2 and T3 resection was superior to T2 resection. Conclusions High recurrence rates of palmar hyperhidrosis after single-ganglion resection are reported in the present study. Two-ganglion resection is a superior surgical method to prevent recurrence of palmar hyperhidrosis.

目的. 第一肺癌切除術後に発生した第二肺癌切除術後の予後や合併症を知ることを目的とした. 対象と方法. 第一肺癌根治術後に発生した第二肺癌に対して, 過去10年間に当科で手術を施行した10例について検討した. 結果. 第一肺癌から第二肺癌出現までの期間は平均7年9ヶ月であった. 初回手術は全例で肺葉切除術以上が施行され, 第二手術は部分切除術1例, 区域切除術3例, 残存肺全摘術1例, 対側肺葉切除術が5例であった. 左上葉切除術後に右肺下葉切除術が施行された症例が, 術後右心不全, 肺水腫を併発し, 術後1ヶ月呼吸不全で死亡した. 結論. 両側肺葉切除術は術後の心肺合併症を引き起こす可能性があり, 術後には心肺機能不全に対する十分な注意が長期的に必要である.

Much evidence has accumulated that the epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) and its family members are strongly implicated in the development and progression of lung cancers. Somatic mutations of the EGFR gene were found in about 25–40% of Japanese lung cancer patients. More recently, erbB2 mutations are found in about 4% of European-derived lung cancer patients. We have investigated EGFR and erbB2 mutation status in 95 surgically treated nonsmall cell lung cancer (NSCLC) cases from Nagoya City University Hospital. Seventy-five adenocarcinoma cases were included. The presence or absence of EGFR and ernB2 mutations of kinase domains were analyzed by reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction (RT-PCR) amplifications and direct sequences. We have also investigated erbB2 mutation status in 27 surgically treated NSCLC cases followed by treatment with gefitinib from Kinki-chuo Chest Medical Center. EGFR mutations (CTGfiCGG; L858R) were found from 14 of 95 lung cancer patients. We also detected the deletion 1a-type mutations from 9 patients and deletion 4-type mutations from 6 patients in exon 19. In exon 20, 4 mutations including 2 novel mutations were found. Total EGFR mutations were present in 35 patients (36.8%). These mutation statuses were significantly correlated with gender (women 73.3% vs. men 20%, p < 0.0001), smoking status (never smoker 69.4% vs. smoker 16.9%, p < 0.0001), pathologic subtypes (adenocarcinoma 45.1% vs. nonadenocarcinoma 12.5%, p 5 0.0089) and differentiation status of the lung cancers (well 51% vs. moderately or poorly 18.4%, p 5 0.0021). On the other hand, erbB2 mutation was only found from 1 of 95 patients, at exon 20. This patient was female and a never smoker with adenocarcinoma. This 12 nucleotide insertion mutation (2324–2325 ins ATACGTGATGGC) was located in the exon 20 at kinase domain (775–776 ins YVMA). There was no erbB2 mutation in 27 gefitinib-treated NSCLC patients. In total, we have found only 1 erbB2 mutation from 122 (0.8%) Japanese NSCLC patients. There was a significantly higher erbB2 positive (21/31) ratio in EGFR mutant patients (13/25, 52.0%) compared to EGFR wild-type patients (10/ 62, 16.1%; p 5 0.0247). The NSCLC specimen with erbB2 mutation showed 11 immunoreactivity. The EGFR mutation status might correlate with the clinicopathologic features related to good response to gefitinib, such as gender, smoking history and pathologic subtypes of lung cancers. However, erbB2 mutation is rare from Japanese lung cancer and is of limited value for molecular target therapy. ' 2005 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

Diapause pupae of Papilio xuthus show color polymorphism, represented by diapause-green, orange, and brownish-orange types that are each associated with specific pupation sites. We investigated the role of the site of pupation on the induction of the development of orange types (or brownish-orange types), and the endocrine mechanism underlying the control of color polymorphism in short-day pupae. All short-day larvae of the wandering stage developed into orange or brownish-orange type pupae when they were placed in rough-surfaced containers after gut-purge. Utilizing a pharate pupal ligation between the thorax and abdomen, the endocrine mechanism underlying the control of color polymorphism was shown to involve a head-thorax factor (Orange-Pupa-Inducing Factor: OPIF) that induced orange types in short-day pupae. OPIF was bioassayed using the ligated abdomens of short-day pharate pupae. OPIF was extractable with 2% NaCl solution from 5th-instar larval ganglia complexes following the mesothoracic complex (TG(2,3)-AG(1-7)), but it could not be extracted with either acetone or 80% ethanol solution. OPIF may not exist in the brains of day-0 pupae or in brain-subesophageal ganglion and prothoracic ganglion complexes of 5th-instar larvae. The short-day pharate pupae responded to OPIF in a dose-dependent manner.

The small copper butterfly, Lycaena phlaeas daimio, has pupal beige/black polymorphism, the development of which is found to be controlled in an apparent association with the development of adult seasonal polymorphism (spring and summer morphs) by photoperiod and temperature in the larval stages. That is, the pupae of beige and black types developed under long-day and short-day conditions tend to develop into brown-winged and red-winged adults, respectively. In addition, a large proportion of long-day pharate pupae chilled at 4 degrees C for 5 days were observed to develop into pupae whose head-thoracic complexes and abdomens were judged to be of the black and intermediate types, respectively. They developed into adults with redder wings as compared to those obtained from unchilled pupae. The results indicate that the physiological mechanism underlying the photoperiodic control of the development of adult seasonal polymorphism may also play a significant role in the determination of pupal beige/black polymorphism in L. phlaeas daimio. Furthermore, cuticle melanization was found to be induced in the head-thoracic complexes of pupae by chilling of the pharate pupae. Melanization of pupal cuticle seems to occur in a close association with the development of reddish-winged adults.

To understand social organization among Japanese badgers (Meles meles anakuma), we investigated their spatial distribution and sett use in Yamaguchi City, Western Honshu, Japan. Field observations were made from 1995 to 2000, and 19 badgers were monitored by radio-tracking between 1997 and 2000. A badger family consisted of a mother and her offspring. Mature adult males seldom visited the family except in early spring, and they were found to have large home ranges that encompassed the home ranges of two to three adult females. Individual home ranges of mature adult male and adult females did not overlap with those of other mature adult male and other adult females of the same sex, suggesting intra-sexual territoriality. Badgers used an average of 13.5 setts in a year, and mature adult males and females seldom stayed in the same sett together. Male offspring shared a sett with their mother for up to 26 months, whereas female offspring remained with the mother for only 14 months. The average time male offspring spent with their mothers decreased when young were between 15 and 19 months old.

Thymic cyst with thymoma is a rare disease. A 67-year-old woman was referred to our hospital for right chest pain and cough. Mass shadow in the right hilum was detected in the chest radiograph. Chest computed tomography( CT) revealed a cystic mass with partially thickened wall suggesting solid tumor at the anterior mediastinum. The tumor was resected by median sternotomy. Histopathological finding was a multilocular thymic cyst with thymoma of spindle cell type.

The nymphalid butterfly Araschnia burejana and the papilionid butterfly Papilio xuthus exhibit seasonal diphenism comprising spring-morphs that develop from diapause pupae and summer-morphs that develop from non-diapause pupae. The development of seasonal morphs in A. burejana is regulated by the timing of secretion of ecdysteroids for adult development, whereas that in P. xuthus is regulated by the secretion of summer-morph-producing hormone, which is present in the brains and is under control of the photoperiod. We investigated whether a cerebral factor derived from brains plays a significant role in the regulation of seasonal morph development in A. burejana using surgical operations. Pairs of chilled diapause pupae that had been chilled for more than 3 months at 4°C were joined surgically to each other and then developed into spring-morph or spring-like-morph adults. Chilled diapause pupae that were joined with 1-day-old non-diapause pupae developed into summer-morph or summer-like-morph adults. When the brains of non-diapause pupae were removed surgically 6-8 hr after pupation with and without injection of 20-hydroxyecdysone, a large portion of them developed into spring-morph or spring-like-morph adults, respectively. Furthermore, 90% of non-diapause pupae developed into spring-morph or spring-like-morph adults when the neck was ligated within 5 min after pupation. These results indicated that a cerebral factor showing summer-morph-producing hormone activity, which is secreted from the brain in the early pupal stage, in addition to 20-hydroxyecdysone for adult development, play a significant role in the determination of summer-morph development in non-diapause pupae of A. burejana.

The swallowtail butterfly, Papilio xuthus L., exhibits seasonal diphenism, i.e., spring and summer morphs, the development of which is determined by photoperiod and temperature imposed during the larval stage. Larvae reared under long day conditions at 25°C develop into summer morphs without pupal diapause, while larvae reared under short day conditions at 20°C develop into spring morphs after diapause development at 4°C for more than three months. To investigate the neuroendocrine mechanism regulating seasonal morph development, the activity of the summer-morph-producing hormone (SMPH) was tried to assayed by using male short day pupae of P. xuthus that accomplished diapause development at 4°C. The wing patterns of male butterflies shifted toward summer morphs when short day pupae were treated with the SMPH at an adequate stage. SMPH activity was detected in 2% NaCl extracts of the brain-subesophageal ganglion (Br-SG) complexes of P. xuthus long day pupae. Chilled male short day pupae responded ...

We investigated the neuroendocrine regulation of the development of seasonal morphs in a bivoltine race (Daizo) of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, by decerebration, the transplantation of brain-suboesophageal ganglion (Br-SG) complexes and the injection of active neuropeptides. When brains were removed from fresh pupae destined to develop into summer morphs (SD pupae) by embryonic and larval exposures to short days at low temperature, the pupae developed into autumn or intermediate morphs. However, in pupae destined to develop into autumn morphs (LD pupae), the operation did not show an effect on seasonal morph development. Br-SG complexes were excised from fifth-instar LD and fifth-instar SD larvae 2 days after larval ecdysis and were transplanted into the abdomen of SD larvae of the same age. The Br-SG complexes of LD larvae, but not the Br-SG complexes of SD larvae, shifted the host's seasonal morph development toward the autumn morph. Furthermore, when treated with crude pupal SGs extract and diapause hormone (DH), fresh SD pupae developed into autumn or intermediate morphs, respectively. Possibly the development of seasonal morphs in the silkmoth, B. mori, is regulated by a novel function of DH. Alternatively, DH may act on the imaginal wing disks at an earlier stage than on the ovaries.

The pupae of Papilio xuthus show green, brown, and orange color polymorphism. The color of the pupal body is determined by a hormone that produces brown coloration, a hormone called pupal-cuticlemelanizing hormone (PCMH) which is secreted from brain-suboesophageal ganglion and prothoracic ganglion (Br-SG-PG) complexes during the pharate pupal stage. PCMH was extracted with 2% NaCl from Br-SG-PG complexes of P. xuthus green pupae. When pharate pupae producing brown pupae (brown-pupa-producers) were ligatured between the thorax and abdomen with cotton thread, the head-thorax complex developed into the brown type and the abdomens into the green type. Ligatured abdomens treated with crude PCMH produced intermediates of green- and brown-pupae (melanization degree of grades 0–3), which was used to assay PCMH-activity. Extracts of Br-SG complexes from Bombyx mori adults also shifted the color of the pupal cuticle toward the brown type in ligatured P. xuthus abdomens of brown-pupa-producers. The molecula...

Thymic carcinoids are classified into three categories: (1) nonsecretory tumors, (2) hormonal secretory tumors, and (3) tumors associated with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. We report a rare case with adrenocorticotropic hormone secreting thymic carcinoid with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1. Radiologic examination showed an anterior mediastinal mass and a parathyroid tumor. Blood analysis revealed high levels of parathyroid hormone and adrenocorticotropic hormone. Urine cortisol and 17-hydroxycorticoids levels were also elevated. Extended thymectomy was performed. Subsequently adjuvant radiation therapy and parathyroid tumor resection were performed. A germline mutation of exon 7 in the multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 gene was detected and a somatic mutation of exon 9 was demonstrated in the thymic tumor.

The cabbage armyworm, Mamestra brassicae, enters winter and aestival diapause in the pupal stage under 10L-14D and 16L-8D, respectively, at 23°C. It develops without pupal dormancy under 14L-10D at 23°C. In 6th-instar larvae, the hemolymph ecdysteroid titers as well as the activity and sensitivity of the prothoracic glands (PGs) were nearly the same in the diapause- and nondiapause-programmed larvae. In non-diapause pupae (ND-pupae), the ecdysteroid titer peaked in the first half of the pupal stage. By contrast, in winter and aestival diapause pupae (WD- and AD-pupae), the ecdysteroid titer remained low after pupation. The ecdysteroid titer in diapausing AD-pupae was 8- to 10-times higher than that in diapausing WD-pupae. PGs from 5th-instar and 6th-instar larvae, as well as those from pupae, secreted ecdysteroids and showed a far stronger response to big prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) than to small PTTH in vitro. PG activity and its sensitivity to big PTTH fluctuated in a stage-dependent mann...

A neuropeptide from brain-suboesophageal ganglion (Br–SG) complexes of the silkmoth, Bombyx mori, shows summer-morph-producing hormone (SMPH) activity in the Asian comma butterfly, P. c-aureum. The SMPH-active peptide was extracted and demonstrated to be almost the same molecular size as bombyxin (4–5 kD), a nueropeptide which shows prothoracicotropic hormone (PTTH) activity when assayed in vitro with prothoracic glands (PGs) of 4th-instar B. mori larvae in vitro. A Sephadex G-50 fraction of 3–8 kD molecules prepared from Br–SG complexes of B. mori adults was applied to CM-, SP-, DEAE- or QAE- Toyoperal columns at pH 5.6 (or pH 6.9). The SMPH-activity could be separated from the PTTH-activity (or bombyxin) by subjecting a SMPH- and PTTH-active preparation of B. mori to anion-exchange chromatography at pH 6.9. By reversed-phase HPLC following an anion-exchange chromatography, SMPH-activity was recovered in two fractions of 40–45% acetonitril. Results demonstrate that the B. mori peptide showing the SMPH-activity in P. c-aureum is a different molecule than bombyxin.

To investigate whether four Papilio species, Papilio xuthus, P. machaon, P. bianor and P. helenus, have two molecular forms of the prothoracicotropic hormones (PTTHs), referred to as big- and small-PTTHs, the PTTHs were extracted and fractionated from their pupal brains. The activating ability of big- and small-PTTH fractions was examined by the in vitro assay using the prothoracic glands (PGs) of 2-day-old 5th-instar larvae of their own and several other papilionid species. Big- and small-PTTH fractions activated the larval PGs of their own species to increase the ecdysteroid secretion in vitro. The doses of small-PTTH fractions for activating the larval PGs were 8- to 10-times larger than those of big-PTTH fractions. The big- and small-PTTH fractions as well as those of P. machaon activated the PGs of 2-day-old 5thinstar larvae of several heterogeneous papilionids, but the activating ability did not always decrease with the distance of the genetic (or phylogenetic) relationships. The results in...

It is not rare that string-like adhesion between lung apex and chest wall is observed during videoassisted thoracic surgery (VATS) for spontaneous pneumothorax. This adhesion may cause hemothorax which requires emergency operation, although the precise incidence of such cases is uncertain. We analyzed consecutive 120 spontaneous pneumothorax cases underwent VATS at Suzuka General Hospital from January 2005 to September 2008. Twenty-one out of 120 (17.5%) were such cases receiving partial resection of the lung including the adhesion after dividing it. Pathological study revealed the bullae close to the adhesion in all cases, suggesting that these adhesion caused after possible former pneumothorax. Thus, 21 cases might be recurrent pneumothorax. Even in clinically 1st onset pneumothorax, those cases may be good indication for VATS.

A 66-year-old woman underwent nephrectomy to treat renal cell carcinoma 5 years previously. Enhanced CT to locate the tumor revealed a lesion very close to the right upper pulmonary vein. Six months later, the nodule grew to 14mm in maximum dimension and it seemed to be a varix of the right upper pulmonary vein on 3D-CT. However, pulmonary artery angiography (PAG) denied this possibility. PET-CT revealed the nodule to be positive for FDG uptake (maxSUV 2.7 in the early phase and 2.2 in the late phase), suggesting that it contained solid tissue with malignant characteristics. Eventually, right upper lobectomy was performed. The nodule was a metastatic renal cell carcinoma with extremely abundant vascular components. This conspicuous feature of the tumor appeared to mimic a pulmonary vein varix on enhanced CT scan and 3D angiogram.

Males of the viviparous teleost fish Gambusia affinis copulate with females by using a specialized anal fin, or gonopodium. When female G. affinis were placed in a shallow transparent tank which was then floated on the surface of a larger aquarium housing male G. affinis , the males frequently attempted to copulate with females housed in the smaller quarantine tank. This copulatory behavior in male G. affinis was only observed to be elicited by visual stimuli; female G. affinis have a yellow spot and black anal spots around their urogenital opening. To investigate the function of the yellow spot of the female, we examined male copulatory behavior directed towards artificial female models having a yellow, black, gray, or white spot in the genital region. Of the differently colored females tested, males spent a significantly longer time in the vicinity of the artificial model with a yellow spot. In addition, males attempted to copulate with the yellow-spotted female model more frequently than with the models of different colors. These findings revealed that the yellow spot around the female urogenital opening of G. affinis attracts males and functions as a cue for copulation.