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BACKGROUND: In this study, the inductive effect of salinity on nitrite accumulation in a down-flow hanging sponge (DHS) reactor, developed as a novel and cost-effective wastewater treatment process, was evaluated by conducting a long-term continuous experiment lasting more than 1400 days. RESULTS: The influent salinity was controlled by adding NaCl at concentrations ranging from 0 to 25 g Cl− L−1. The effluent nitrite increased with increases in salinity, i.e. the fraction of nitrite to total nitrogen in the effluent increased from 1.6% at 0 g Cl− L−1 to 87.6% at 25 g Cl− L−1. Fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH) analysis revealed that as salinity increased, the nitrifying bacterial community in the DHS changed markedly at the species level. In particular, the dominant nitrite-oxidizing bacteria changed from Nitrospira-sublineage I at 0 g Cl− L−1 to Nitrobacter spp. at 15 g Cl− L−1. At 25 g Cl− L−1, no nitrite-oxidizing bacteria were detected. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the DHS reactor is suitable for cost-effective nitrite production processes and that salinity control using NaCl is an effective method for inducing nitrite accumulation. Copyright © 2012 Society of Chemical Industry [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

- The immunological distribution of tumour-infiltrating lymphocytes (TIL), regional lymph node lymphocytes (RLNL) and peripheral blood lymphocytes (PBL) was evaluated by means of immunohistochemical staining using monoclonal antibodies of each subset of lymphocytes (stored in frozen sections) in a series of 22 patients with renal carcinoma. The immunological effect of IFN (interferon)-gamma on these immunocompetent cells was also investigated. The effect of IFN-gamma on TIL was an increase in CD3 (pan-T cells), especially an increase in CD8 (cytotoxic/ suppressor-T cells). When examining these cells according to stage and grade, a marked increase in CD3 was found in low stage and low grade patients. With regard to RLNL, there was a tendency towards a decrease in CD3 and an increase in CD20 (B-cells) following the administration of IFN-gamma. No specific effect on stage and grade was observed apart from a reduction in T cell subset ratios in high grade patients. With regard to PBL, no specific trend was noted except for an increase in CD 16 (NK cells) when IFN-gamma was administered. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Experimental autoimmune uveitis (EAU) is an organ-specific autoimmune disease and has served as a model of certain ocular inflammatory conditions in man. The present study was aimed at separating the effects of MHC and non-MHC genes on the development of EAU in the rat. EAU-susceptible LEW (RTI1 EAU-resistant WKAH (RTIk), and WKAH.IL (RTI1) MHC congenic strain of WKAH background rats were immunized with retinal soluble antigen (S-Ag) in Freund's complete adjuvant (FCA). LEW rats showed typical EAU. while neither WKAH nor WKAH. IL congenic rats developed EAU. However, when an additional i.v. injection of Bordetella pertussis was given, all rat strains developed EAU. Furthermore, when immunized with peptide M. an 18-mer synthetic peptide. which corresponds to amino acid positions 303-320 of bovine S-Ag, and given ;in additional i.v. injection of .B. pertussis. LEW and WKAH. IL rats developed EAU. whereas WKAH did not. When ACI (RTIavi), BUF (RTIb) LEJ (RTI1) W (RTIk) F344 (RTIlvl), BN (RTIn) NIG-III (RTIq),TO (RTI1), and SDJ (RTIu) rats were immunized with peptide M or S-Ag and then given B.pertussis, all strains developed EAU by immunization with S-Ag plus B. pertussis, but only F344 and NIG-III developed EAU by immunization with peptide M. These findings suggest that susceptibility to EAU in rats is controlled by both MHC and non-MHC genes; and that in the absence of B. pertussis adjuvant, the form of disease induced by native S-Ag in FCA is governed by non-MHC gene(s). However, this effect of non-MHC gene(s) could no longer be observed when the rats were also injected with B. pertussis adjuvant at sensitization. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Distributions and ultrastructures of T cell subsets within grafts were studied in unmodified, first-set rat renal transplantation systems (F344 → WKA, TO → WKA). Rejections look place within 9.0 ± 0.5 and 12. 2 ± 1.6 days, respectively. Mouse monoclonal antibodies. R1-3B3and R1-10B5, were used here for the detection of RLyt-1 and RLyt- 2 antigenic .systems of rat T cells. respectively. RLyl-1 and R Lyt-2 antigens are chemical homologues of mouse Lyt-1 and Lyt-2,3 antigens. In the perivascular areas. RLyt-1+, 2+ cells were the predominant T cells in earlier stages of rejection. However, toward the end or rejection. RLyt-1+,2- cells decreased in number, with the increase in RLyt-1+,2+ cells. In the interstitial peritubular areas, Rlyt-1+,2+ cells were the predominant T cells throughout the course of rejection. Thus, the major T cells in perivascular areas were helper T cells in earlier stages and cytotoxic/suppressor T cells in the later stage, whereas in interstitial peritubular areas, cytotoxic/suppressor T cells were the major T cell population during the entire course of rejection. Ultrastructural studies revealed that many RLyt-2+ blast cells had clustered dense bodies, and that RLyt-2+ cells were found among renal tubular epithelial cells. Renal tubular cells adjacent lo RLyt-2+ cells were degenerative in most eases. In addition, membranous structures seen in grafts were RLyt-1+, 2+, Ia- suggesting that they might derive from the destruction of cytotoxic/suppressor T cells after several target cell lyses in vivo. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Recent studies using rabbit antisera to the separated HLA-DR α and β subunits have suggested that α chain-specific, but not β chain-specific, antisera inhibit T cell proliferative responses in primary and secondary human autologous mixed lymphocyte reaction (AMLR). In the present study, with the aid of sequential co-precipitation assays and Western blotting methods, a monoclonal rat alloantibody 1E4, specific for the β chain of rat class II molecules carrying an Ia determinant Ba-2.7, was characterized to recognize a monomorphic determinant located on the β chain of DR antigens. This antibody and a murine monoclonal antibody HU-4, also specific for the β chain of DR antigens, strongly inhibited both primary and secondary AMLR through a mechanism distinct from an antibody-dependent cell-mediated cytotoxicity reaction. These results indicate that the inhibition of AMLR is not a unique feature of DR α-specific antibodies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Edge plasma diagnostic system equipped in minimum-B anchor cell of the GAMMA10 tandem mirror is described together with the measured results. Several sets of the diagnostic element consisting of a Langmuir probe and a calorimeter are placed in array on the conducting plates installed in the east anchor cell. This diagnostic system is designed to be capable of precisely investigating the spatial dependence of the edge plasma parameters. In typical ion cyclotron range of frequency-heated plasmas, detailed behavior of the edge plasma in the anchor transition regions has been measured by using this system. From these measurements a significant asymmetry of spatial profile was observed in the floating potentials. Heat flow profiles also showed the similar dependence to the probe signals. In this region there exists a strong gradient of the magnetic field strength and the direction of the observed shift is found to be consistent with that of gradient B drift for ions. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Recently, the new World Health Organization (WHO) classification and TNM staging for neuroendocrine tumors of the pancreas (pNETs) were published. Aim(s): To assess the clinical relevance of the WHO classification and TNM staging for pNETs. Materials and methods: Data from 50 consecutive patients with pNETs receiving surgical intervention were analyzed. Results: There were 30 men and 20 women. Mean age was 53 years (range, 25-78 years). The overall 5-year survival rate was 77%. Seventeen patients had a neuroendocrine neoplasm (NEN) garde 1 (G1), 32 had a NEN G2, one had a neuroendocrine carcinoma (NEC) G3. The 5-year survival rates were 100, 68 and 0%, respectively (p<0.001). The TNM stage was I in 25 patients, II in 14 patients and IV in 11 patients. The 5-year survival rates were 96%, 73% and 0%, respectively (p<0.001). Conclusion: Both WHO classification and TNM staging accurately reflect the clinical outcomes of patients with pNETs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Ki-67 is useful in determining the effect of hormonal therapy and also as a prognostic factor. However, the method for its evaluation has not been standardized, and the results vary depending on the assessment by pathologists. We reported that the discordance rate of Ki-67 in preoperative core needle biopsy and the surgical specimens was higher than that of other biological markers, and this was considered to be due to the discrepancies in the evaluation methods (SABCS 2011). In this report, we reviewed the possibility of introducing an automated analyzer by comparing the diagnosis made by local pathologists and reassessment by central review to standardize the evaluation method for Ki-67. Subjects and Method: Of the 354 cases of primary breast cancer that had their first operation from October 2008 to March 2012, 225 cases that had preoperative core needle biopsy at Tokyo-West Tokushukai Hospital were selected as the subjects of this study. Cases with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and cases with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. A cut-off value of 20% was used for Ki-67 positive criteria. The concordance rates of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 by local pathologists were reviewed, and in cases of non-matching Ki-67, tumor diameter (≈ heterogeneity) and operative method (≈ condition of formalin fixation) were studied. Next, non-matching cases (~ to October 2011) were reassessed both by central review and by an automated analyzer (Ventana Digital Pathology) using virtual slides, and the results were studied and compared with the evaluation by local pathologists. The Wilcoxon-t test was used to review the p value for statistical analysis. Parameters such as tumor diameter, operative method were analyzed by χ² analysis. Results: The concordance rate of Ki-67 in preoperative core needle biopsy and surgical specimens was 76.9% in 225 cases of local pathology assessment from October 2008 to March 2012. This rate was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that of ER (95.6%), PgR (88.0%), and HER2 (91.5%). In non-matching cases, no difference was observed in tumor diameter and operative method. Reassessment of the 39 cases of non-matching Ki-67 to October 2011 using central review and an automated analyzer resulted in matching 27 cases (94.8%) and 32 (96.3%) out of 39 cases, respectively. Conclusion: The concordance rate of Ki-67 in preoperative core needle biopsy and surgical specimens was lower compared with other biological markers. However, they were nearly equal with reassessment using central review and an automated analyzer. Clinical application of Ki-67 and its standardization are challenging due to variable counting methods and measurement sites. Conducting central reviews in general clinical facilities is difficult, but introducing an automated analyzer with a Ki-67 labeling index is shown to achieve that goal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]