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The genetic basis of species-specific genital morphologies in carabid beetles was analyzed. Results revealed that inheritance of genital morphology is polygenic and that the additive genetic effect accounts for most interspecific differences in genital traits but dominance and epistatic genetic effects also play roles.

When more than two electronic tags respond to a reader request, the request fails. This is referred to as the collision problem. To overcome this problem, a novel electronic tag readout method, termed the response probability control method (RPCM), is proposed in this paper. In the RPCM, the reader indicates the response probability of a request, ensuring rapid and simultaneous readout of multiple electronic tags. We have already reported the basic RPCM characteristics for a large number of nonmoving electronic tags. In this paper, the extended characteristics of electronic tags located on a conveyor belt are simulated and a portion of them is analyzed. The RPCM and the existing dynamic framed slotted ALOHA (DFSA) method are compared. The simulation demonstrated that, in the case of nonmoving electronic tags, the readout of the RPCM is 1.6 times faster than that of DFSA, while in the case of moving electronic tags, it is more than 2.5 times faster. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

The development of gap junctions in the human gastric mucosa has been examined to see if there is any relation to gastric ulcer. Freeze fracture replicas were prepared from the endoscopic biopsy specimens of 20 patients with gastric ulcer (15 men and five women, aged 49 (13) years) and seven healthy volunteers (four men and three women, aged 41 (19) years). Large fractured areas of lateral cell membranes of surface mucous cells were observed randomly at a direct magnification of 15,000 using electron microscopy. Small gap junctions were observed between gastric surface mucous cells in all healthy volunteers. Gap junctions in the patients with gastric ulcer were significantly fewer than in the healthy volunteers. In addition, gap junctions in patients with recurrent ulcer were significantly fewer than in those with first onset ulcer. There was no obvious relationship between age and the development of gap junctions in patients with gastric ulcer or in healthy volunteers. In areas of intestinal metaplasia, gap junctions were occasionally seen between absorptive cells of the villi, but not in the lateral membranes of goblet cells. These findings suggest that loss of intercellular communication via gap junctions is associated with gastric ulcer formation. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Certain nematode infections induce eosinophil infiltration and granulomatous responses in the lungs. To examine the role of mast cells in the development of lung lesions, normal +/+ and genetically mast cell-deficient Ws/Ws rats were infected with the nematode Nippostrongylus brasiliensis. In +/+ rats, numbers of eosinophils in bronchoalveolar lavage fluid (BALF) increased significantly 3-7 days after infection, and granulomatous responses composed of histiocytes/ macrophages and multinucleate giant cells were triggered in the lungs 3 -14 days after infection. Challenge infection. which was carried out on day 28 after primary infection induced much higher levels of granulomatous response than after primary infection, suggesting that the response is mediated at least in part by an immunological mechanism. In Ws/Ws rats, both the eosinophil percentage in BALF and the size of the gruniilomas in the lungs were significantly smaller than in + /+ rats after primary as well as after challenge infection. The amount of rat mast cell protease (RMCP) II in + /+ rat BALF was increased 1 day after primary infection and more significantly after challenge infection, suggesting that lung mucosal mast cells were activated more markedly after the challenge infection. In Ws/Ws rats. RMCP II was undetectable throughout the observation period. The time course of nematode migration in the lungs did not differ in +/+ and Ws/Ws rats. These results suggest that mast cell activation might be relevant to eosinophil infiltration and granulomalous response in the lungs, although the responses do not affect lung migration of the nematode. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

A case of carcinoma in situ of the esophagus accompanied by esophageal varices was treated by endoscopic mucosal resection using a transparent tube (EMRT) following eradication of the varices via injection sclerotherapy (EIS). Intravariceal injection sclerotherapy was performed for esophageal varices, and after eradication of the varices had been achieved, half of the circumferential esophageal mucosal resection of the cancer lesion was carried out. No serious complication such as perforation or mass bleeding was observed. Cancer-involved mucosa was completely resected and all specimens contributed well to accurate histopathological study, being diagnosed as intraepithelial squamous-cell carcinoma. The artificial ulcer recovered completely, showing no stenotic changes. Our conclusion from this experience is that EIS + EMRT is a valuable and minimally invasive treatment for patients exhibiting this disease, providing an accurate histological diagnosis. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]