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Pulmonary complications are frequent in patients with sickle cell disease (SCD), but few studies have described lung pathology in SCD. We studied the lung tissue of 30 deceased SCD patients (1994-2012). Demographics, genotype, clinical characteristics, cause of death and associated conditions are presented. We quantified the presence of pulmonary arterial changes, thrombosis and venous thickening. Alveolar capillary abnormalities were demonstrated using CD34 expression and confocal microscopy. Autopsy and echocardiography reports were reviewed to classify heart abnormalities. Tissue expression of markers of endothelial activation (vascular cell adhesion molecule 1, intercellular adhesion molecule 1 and vascular endothelial growth factor) was quantified in pulmonary vessels. Median age was 33 years; genotype was SS in 19, SC in 7 and Sβ in 4, and there were 18 males. Hypertensive arterial changes were present in 76% of the patients, recent thrombosis in 80% and old thrombosis in 43%. Venous thickening was present in 23% and pulmonary capillary haemangiomatosis foci in 87%. Ten percent of the patients presented right ventricular hypertrophy. There was no increased expression of endothelial activation markers when compared to controls. SCD affects the whole pulmonary vascular tree and reflects the multiple burden on lung vasculature imposed by the disease upon time.

Background Patients with asthma present structural and inflammatory alterations that are believed to play a role in disease severity. However, airway remodeling and inflammation have not been extensively investigated in relation to both symptom control and airflow obstruction in severe asthmatics. We aimed to investigate several inflammatory and structural pathological features in bronchial biopsies of severe asthmatics that could be related to symptom control and airflow obstruction after standardized treatment. Methods Fifty severe asthmatics received prednisone 40 mg/d for 2 weeks and maintenance therapy with budesonide/formoterol 400/12 μg twice daily + budesonide/formoterol 200/6 μg as needed for 12 weeks. Endobronchial biopsies were performed at the end of 12 weeks. We performed extensive immunopathological analyses of airway tissue inflammation and remodeling features in patients stratified by asthma symptom control and by airflow obstruction. Results Airway tissue inflammation and remodeling were not associated with symptom control. Asthmatics with persistent airflow obstruction had greater airway smooth muscle (Asm) area with decreased periostin and transforming growth factor beta-positive cells within Asm bundles, in addition to lower numbers of chymase-positive mast cells in the submucosa compared to patients with nonpersistent obstruction. Conclusions Symptom control in severe asthmatics was not associated with airway tissue inflammation and remodeling, although persistent airflow obstruction in these patients was associated with bronchial inflammation and airway structural changes.

Compact Infrared Camera (CIRC) is a technology-demonstration instrument equipped with an uncooled infrared array detector (microbolometer) for space application. CIRC is the first microbolometer sensor without a calibration function in orbit, like a shutter system or an onboard blackbody. The main objective of the CIRC is to detect wildfires, which are major and chronic disasters affecting various countries of Southeast Asia, particularly considering the effects of global warming and climate change. The CIRC achieves a small size (approximately 200 mm), light mass (approximately 3 kg), and low electrical power consumption (

Background Graceptor is a new modified-release once-daily formulation of tacrolimus with an efficacy and safety profile similar to twice-daily tacrolimus (Prograf), as identified by clinical trials, offering a more convenient dosing regimen to improve adherence. The aim of this study was to analyze the safety of a 1:1 dose conversion from twice-daily Prograf to once-daily Graceptor in stable kidney transplant recipients. Methods We switched 33 Japanese patients who had undergone kidney transplantation ≥1 years before from twice-daily Prograf to once-daily Graceptor. The dose conversion ratio between Prograf and Graceptor was 1:1. We compared the following parameters: minimum tacrolimus concentration (C min ); concentration dose per weight (CDW); serum creatinine (sCr); blood urea nitrogen (BUN); total cholesterol (TC); high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (HDL-C); uric acid (UA); fasting blood sugar (FBS). Time points for measurements were 1 month before study start and 1 and 2 months afterward. Results The mean age of the subjects in this study was 46.5 ± 13.1 years. Mean C min decreased from 4.55 ± 1.79 to 3.20 ± 1.22 ng/dL. The mean CDW also decreased, from 99.8 ± 69.5 to 75.0 ± 55.1 mg/dL/kg over the 2 months. There were no significant changes in sCR, BUN, UA, and FBS. Mean TC increased from 187.5 ± 51.4 to 194.3 ± 43.4 mg/dL, and mean HDL-C changed from 53.7 ± 12.0 to 56.1 ± 11 mg/dL. There were no episodes of rejection or infection. Conclusions We conclude that switching from Prograf to Graceptor is safe and has the advantage of improving adherence. It could also have a beneficial effect in controlling glycemic levels and the adverse effects of tacrolimus. In many cases (25%–30%), the minimum concentration of tacrolimus decreased after changing tablets. With Graceptor, the ratio of area under trough level to area under the curve (AUC) is low compared with Prograf, resulting in low C min values of 1–2 ng/mL, and the AUC for Graceptor is very similar to that for Prograf.

A new method for high-quality hydroxyapatite (HAp) coating is developed, the laser-assisted laser ablation method. In this method, two lasers are used. One is used for ablation of a HAp target. The other, the assist laser, is used to irradiate a Ti substrate surface. The effects of the assist laser irradiation are to anneal the HAp coating and to improve its adhesive strength to the Ti substrate. The quality of the HAp coating depends on the delay time of the assist-laser irradiation. HAp coatings obtained at a delay time of 10 microseconds or more are more amorphous. It was confirmed that the amorphous part of a coating dissolves in simulated body fluid, while the crystalline part does not. The value of the Ca/P ratio in a coating obtained at a delay time of a few microseconds is close to the stoichiometric value.

In traditional Japanese smelting and forging, three characteristic technologies can be identified that may provide a basis for a new process concept in the production of iron and steel. First, ironsand, the use of which is problematic in modern ironmaking, was used instead of ironstone. The titanium oxide present was effective for keeping the slag fluid and increasing the carbon content of the product, thereby decreasing the activity coefficient of FeO in the slag. Second, two types of operation were carried out with almost the same type of furnace. In one of the operations, mainly molten pig iron was produced and, in the other, steel bloom (>50 wt-% of total product) and molten pig iron. The main controlling factors were the type of raw material (titanium content of ironsand) and the oxidising potential in the furnace, which influenced the degree of carburisation and decarburisation of the iron. Third, it is thought that traditional Japanese steel is the best material for Japanese swordmaking. Th...

Laser-assisted magnetic recording is an interesting method for narrowing a track pitch; in particular, crosstalk canceling in laser-assisted magnetic readout has a unique feature that it enables us to reproduce a narrower track than an assisting laser spot size. Shorter wavelength of the assisting laser promises the higher track density, accordingly. In this paper, we have demonstrated the crosstalk evaluation by using a blue laser for the assisting beam and obtained as high track density as 85ktpi.

Recent progress in laser-assisted magnetic recording, which combines optical and magnetic recording technologies, is described in this paper. This study confirms that laser-assisted magnetic recording is a good candidate for high areal density magnetic recording. Improved disk performance was demonstrated in the area of frequency response, media noise, and thermal decay. The improvements in media design include the change in temperature dependence of the recording layer, an increased perpendicular anisotropy, and a thermally efficient layer structure. These improved media properties result in a high linear density and good thermal stability.

A 65-year-old man was admitted to our department due to severe dysphagia, dysarthria, and aspiration pneumonia. Dysphagia and dysarthria were caused by lateral medullary infarction (Wallenberg' s syndrome). After the patient recovered from pneumonia, the abnormality of swallowing was assessed by a swallowing provocation test and videofluorography. Two months after the start of swallowing training, a swallowing provocation test showed that the swallowing reflex had improved and videofluorography showed that the magnitude of aspiration to the trachea had decreased. The patient began taking food by mouth. These tests are useful for quantitative assessment of dysphagia and for deciding when to start oral intake in elderly patients.

Various side effects have been associated with the clinical use of contrast media. Immunological mechanisms have been proposed but there have been very few experimental studies with animal models. We have attempted to develop murine models to determine whether or not anaphylactic antibodies such as IgE and IgG1 against hapten (DNP) were enhanced with contrast medium (iopamidol) as an adjuvant or if the contrast medium itself produced antibodies of the IgE class. The results showed that anti-hapten IgE and IgG1 production was greatly enhanced with immunogen plus contrast medium. Anti-contrast medium antibodies of the IgE class could not be detected by PCA reactions. The enhancement of IgE and IgG1 production for hapten was associated with IL-4 release by the neutralization test used by monoclonal anti-IL-4 antibodies. This is the first observation to show that contrast media may have a strong adjuvant effect for the production of IgE and IgG1. This murine model demonstrates a possible immunological function of contrast media in vivo.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea experience nocturnal hemodynamic oscillations in association with repetitive respiratory events. Apnea termination (recovery) is accompanied by the nadir of arterial O2 saturation (SaO2), changes in intrathoracic pressure, and arousal from sleep. To investigate separately the contributions of hypoxemia and of arousal from sleep to changes in cardiac function, we continuously measured left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV) and mean arterial pressure (MAP) in eight subjects with severe obstructive sleep apnea (apnea-hypopnea index > 30 events/h associated with SaO2 < or = 82%) during two experimental conditions: 1) subjects slept without intervention for 1–2 h and then supplemental O2 was administered to maintain SaO2 > or = 90% (mean SaO2 nadir 92.7%) throughout the apnea-recovery cycle and 2) upper airway obstructions were abolished using nasal continuous positive airway pressure and subjects were aroused from sleep by an auditory signal. Recovery was associated with an increase in MAP and a decrease in LVSV both with and without supplemental O2. Arousal from sleep on nasal continuous positive airway pressure reproduced the postapneic elevation of MAP but not a decrease in cardiac function of the magnitude that occurred at apnea termination. We conclude that elevation of blood pressure and reduction of LVSV that occurred at apnea termination may be due to different physiological mechanisms.

It is found from kinetic analyses that an oblique magnetic field provides two presheath mechanisms. One is due to the ion polarization drift and another is due to the finite ion-gyroradius effect. The secondary-electron inflow is effectively diminished due to reflection by the Lorentz force and the emission coefficient is limited to a value less than 0. 8 by the space-charge effect when the magnetic angle approaches to 90°.

Laser-assisted magnetic recording technology enables narrower track recording and reproducing than the track width of a magnetic head. The size of the assisting beam is a critical issue for high track density in this technology. In this study, the possibility of the 100 kTPI recording was demonstrated with laser-assisted magnetic recording using a blue laser.

Patients with obstructive sleep apnea (OSA) experience repetitive nocturnal oscillations of systemic arterial pressure that occur in association with changes in respiration and changes in sleep state. To investigate cardiac function during the cycle of obstruction (apnea) and resumption of ventilation (recovery), we continuously measured left ventricular stroke volume (LVSV) and mean arterial blood pressure (MAP) during non-rapid-eye-movement sleep in six males with severe OSA (apnea/hypopnea index > or = 30 events/h associated with oxygen saturation < 82%). LVSV was assessed continuously using an ambulatory ventricular function monitor (VEST; Capintec). The apnea-recovery cycle was divided into three phases: 1) early apnea (EA), 2) late apnea (LA), and 3) recovery (Rec). In all subjects recovery was associated with an abrupt decrease in LVSV [54.0 +/- 14.5 (SD) ml] compared with either EA (91.4 +/- 14.7 ml; P < 0.001) or LA (77.1 +/- 15.2 ml; P < 0.005). Although heart rate increased with recovery, the increase was not sufficient to compensate for the decrease in LVSV so that cardiac output (CO) fell (EA: 6,247 +/- 739 ml/min; LA: 5,741 +/- 1,094 ml/min; Rec: 4,601 +/- 1,249 ml/min; EA vs. Rec, P < 0.01; LA vs. Rec, P < 0.025). Recovery was also associated with a significant increase in MAP. We speculate that such abrupt decreases in LVSV and CO at apnea termination, occurring coincident with the nadir of oxygen saturation, may further compromise tissue oxygen delivery.

A promising method of crosstalk canceling is proposed for laser-assisted magnetic recording, which makes it possible to record and read with a narrow track pitch limited to nearly the size of a focused laser spot. In this method, a track pitch narrower than the laser spot size is obtained by utilizing the canceling of the leakage flux from an adjacent track. We achieved a crosstalk of −24 dB or less with a 0.7 μm track pitch in laser-assisted magnetic recording by using a laser spot size of 1.07 μm in diameter and a magnetoresistive head with a track width of 1.4 μm.

A new low-bit learning algorithm for digital multilayer neural networks applied to pattern recognition is proposed. The training can be carried out with a small number of bits. To make the neural network insensitive to noisy patterns, conditions to be satisfied by hidden layer outputs are discussed. Based on this, optimum targets are assigned to the hidden layers. Computer simulation demonstrated the efficiency of the proposed method. >

The aim of this study was to investigate the influence of endothelin-1 (ET-1) on the pulmonary and systemic circulations in newborn piglets. Twelve piglets (mean age of 6.8 days, range of 1-12 days) were anesthetized with chloralose-urethane and ventilated at FiO2 = 1.0. Animals were instrumented to measure cardiac output (CO), pulmonary artery pressure (PAP), aortic pressure (AoP), left atrial pressure (LAP), and right atrial pressure (RAP). Six piglets received a control saline injection into the pulmonary artery (PA), and six piglets received one injection of ET-1 (500 ng/kg) into the PA while PAP, AoP, LAP, RAP, CO, and heart rate (HR) were measured simultaneously at 20-s intervals with pulmonary vascular resistance (PVR) and systemic vascular resistance (SVR) calculated by computer. Administration of ET-1 into the PA led to (a) a transient decrease in mean PAP (delta max of -4 +/- 2 mm Hg, p less than 0.001); (b) a biphasic response (an initial decline followed by a substantial increase) in PVR (delta max of -760 +/- 460 dyn cm/s5, p less than 0.01, and delta max of +1,490 +/- 1,360 dyn cm/s5, p less than 0.05) and in AoP (delta max of -12 +/- 7 mm Hg, p less than 0.005, and delta max of +11 +/- 6 mm Hg, p less than 0.005); (c) an increase in SVR (delta max of +5,930 +/- 2,330 dyn cm/s5, p less than 0.05); and (d) an initial increase in CO (delta max of +0.06 +/- 0.03 L/min, p less than 0.05) followed by a decrease (delta max of -0.09 +/- 0.05 L/min, p less than 0.05). These responses have not been observed in adult species and may indicate a developmental difference in the response of the pulmonary circulation to ET-1 administration.

症例:72歳,男性.主訴は便秘.注腸X線検査では,虫垂が造影されず,盲腸底部に径約2cm大の隆起があり,その中央に小隆起を認めた.大腸内視鏡検査では,虫垂開口部が腫大し,その中心に小隆起を認めた.同部からの生検ではリンパ濾胞過形成がみられた.腹部US,腹部CT検査では回盲部に径約1.5～2.0cm,長さ約5cm大,嚢状に腫大した虫垂を認めた.虫垂嚢胞と診断したが,悪性病変の合併を否定し得ず,回盲部切除を施行.肉眼的には棍棒状に腫大し,波動感を伴う虫垂であり割面では虫垂開口部はリンパ濾胞過形成や炎症性変化で閉塞されていた.組織学的には腫瘍細胞はみられず,retention cystと診断された.嚢胞内容液CEA値は2000ng/ml以上(血中CEA値1.3ng/ml)と高値を呈していた,この様な症例の報告は見当らず,若干の文献的考察を加えた

Pulsed dielectric barrier discharges are generated within bubbles of a gas-liquid two-phase flow that consists of argon bubbles and water. Discharge images were captured by using a high-speed video camera to understand the motion of discharge within bubbles, and an intensified charge-coupled device camera captured temporal discharge images at a nanosecond timescale.

Video signal processing for compatible analog HD (high-definition) VCRs in baseband/MUSE modes for consumer use with simple signal processors supporting 2/4-hour recording and search display is discussed. These HD VCRs permit long-time recording and multispeed playback functions similar to those of conventional VCRs. It was confirmed that not only do these VCRs satisfy specifications required for consumer use HD VCRs, but they also demonstrate the possibility of realizing a small-size, inexpensive, and low-power-consumption HD VCR. >

We investigate the electronic structure and magnetic properties under carrier doping treatment in CuAlO2 based dilute magnetic semiconductors ((Cu0.95, Fe0.05)AlO2, (Cu0.95, Co0.05)AlO2 and (Cu0.95, V0.05)AlO2) from first‐principles for semiconductor spintronics. Hole carriers are introduced by substitutional Mg impurities on Al sites in these materials. Electorons are introduced by substituting Si by Al. The Korringa‐Kohn‐Rostoker method combined with the coherent potential approximation within the local density approximation is employed for the present purpose. It is shown that Curie temperature of (Cu0.95, V0.05)(Al1−x, Mgx)O2 and (Cu0.95, Fe0.05)(Al1−x, Xx)O2 (X=Mg, Si) affected by changing the carrier density, in contrast to the case of (Cu0.95, Co0.05)(Al1−x, Xx)O2, where Curie temperature is insensitive to the carrier density.

In the handwritten character recognition, it is very important to extract essential structure of character patterns. Requirements for skeletonization can be summarized as follows: (a) Insensitive to irregular edge lines. (b) Nonstructure patterns are not extracted. (c) Insensitive to nonuniform line width. (d) Line information is held. In this paper, a weighted competitive learning method is proposed in order to achieve the above requirements. Regarding (a) and (b), unnecessary pattern information is removed by representing some region of the pattern using a single representative point (RP). In order to optimize the RPs, the competitive learning is employed. For the requirement (c), the region, covered by a RP, is adjusted according to the line width. The condition (d) is satisfied by connecting the RPs along the line and also through the border of the regions. Simulation results, obtained using so many kinds of distorted patterns, including digits, alphabet and Japanese Kanji, demonstrate the proposed method can extract essential skeleton structure despite of several distortions.

A theoretical study is made on the Cu gettering by electronic dopant atoms in silicon. By evaluating the diffusion barrier and the binding energy between dopant and Cu, we have obtained a good agreement of the gettering efficiency to experiment. This has proven the utility of this approach for further study and design of efficient gettering methods.

OBJECTIVE To describe the main features of a prototype panoramic X-ray machine modified for photofluorography. METHODS The prototype PTM 2001 (Asahi Roentgen, Kyoto, Japan) consists of a conventional panoramic machine with a modified X-ray generator and incorporating a 9-inch image intensifier and a photofluorographic camera. RESULTS The photofluorographic panoramic radiograph is reduced in size by 60% compared with conventional images. Using 10 cm x 45.7 m photoradiographic film 250 panoramic images can be continuously obtained. Examination time is shorter since cassette changes are not necessary. The radiation dose-in-air, measured in front of the secondary collimator, is 174 muGy. CONCLUSIONS The advantages of the photofluorographic panoramic radiography include cost economy, shorter examination time and lower radiation exposure.

Prospective clinical studies with large numbers of cases have demonstrated that, after i.v contrast medium (CM) administration, the tolerance of the nonionic, low-osmolar agents is far superior to that of ionic, hyperosmolar CM. This is true not only for mild to moderate reactions, but also for severe reactions, the rate of which is clearly reduced particularly in the examination of high-risk patients (Table 4.1.1).

The ideal radiological contrast medium (RCM) should produce no adverse reaction (AR) and the patient should be unaware that he has received an injection, either intravenous or intraarterial. No RCM yet developed has achieved this ideal performance but with the low osmolar contrast media (LOCM) major gains have been made in this respect for both intravenous and intraarterial injection.

It has been suggested that pulmonary rehabilitation compined with inspiratory muscle training (IMT) might improve pulmonary function and respiratory muscle strength in elderly patients with chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). To test this hypothesis, inspiratory muscle strength (PImax), expiratory muscle strength (PEmax) and resting pulmonary function were measured in 13 elderly patients with COPD (aged 70.3 +/- 2.7 years). Inspiratory muscle training (IMT) was performed for 15 min twice a day, using a pressure threshold device, for a total of 12 weeks. The inspiratory threshold was set at 15% of maximal inspiratory pressure (PImax) for each individual. Pulmonary rehabilitation was performed for 12-h sessions over a 12-week period. Patients with COPD were assigned randomly to two groups: pulmonary rehabilitation combined with IMT (group A) (n = 7), and conventional pulmonary rehabilitation only (group B) (n = 6). Functional residual capacity (FRC) decreased significantly from 4.3 +/- 0.4 L at baseline to 3.9 +/- 0.4 L after rehabilitation (p0.01), Vp significantly increased from 4.6 +/- 0.8 L/sec at baseline to 5.1 +/- 0.7 L/sec after rehabilitation (p0.05) and the PImax increased significantly from 51.5 +/- 5.4 cmH2O at baseline to 80.9 +/- 7.0 cmH2O after rehabilitation (p0.02) in group A. However, these variables did not change in group B. There was no improvement in the 10-minutes walking distance of group A, but there was a significant increase in that of group B. It can be concluded that pulmonary rehabilitation combined with IMT improves pulmonary function and inspiratory muscle strength in elderly patients with COPD.

We discuss the mechanism of atomic displacements of defects induced by electronic excitation in semiconductors based upon ab initio quantum-molecular-dynamics simulations and a pseudo Jahn-Teller interaction. Electronic structures and dynamics of dangling bond in amorphous silicon (a-Si), hydrogenated amorphous silicon (a-Si:H), and also crystalline silicon (c-Si) are investigated based upon ab initio quantum-molecular-dynamics simulations. We find the bistable dangling-bonds with negative effective-U nature at normal sp3- configuration and positive effective-U nature at flipped pz-configuration with a large lattice- relaxation (~1.5A). It is proposed that the conversion from the negative effective-U dangling- bong (sp3) to positive effective-U dangling-bond (pz) induced by electronic excitation is the origin of light-induced defect-formation in a-Si:H (Staebler-Wronski effects).

SRPX2 (Sushi repeat-containing protein, X-linked 2) has recently emerged as a multifunctional protein that is involved in seizure disorders, angiogenesis and cellular adhesion. Here, we analyzed this protein biochemically. SRPX2 protein was secreted with a highly post-translational modification. Chondroitinase ABC treatment completely decreased the molecular mass of purified SRPX2 protein to its predicted size, whereas heparitinase, keratanase and hyaluroinidase did not. Secreted SRPX2 protein was also detected using an anti-chondroitin sulfate antibody. These results indicate that SRPX2 is a novel chondroitin sulfate proteoglycan (CSPG). Furthermore, a binding assay revealed that hepatocyte growth factor dose-dependently binds to SRPX2 protein, and a ligand–glycosaminoglycans interaction was speculated to be likely in proteoglycans. Regarding its molecular architecture, SRPX2 has sushi repeat modules similar to four other CSPGs/lecticans; however, the molecular architecture of SRPX2 seems to be quite different from that of the lecticans. Taken together, we found that SRPX2 is a novel CSPG that is overexpressed in gastrointestinal cancer cells. Our findings provide key glycobiological insight into SRPX2 in cancer cells and demonstrate that SRPX2 is a new member of the cancer-related proteoglycan family.

Japan Clinical Oncology Group (JCOG) is the largest cooperative group in Japan. The yearly accrual of 2011 was 2744 in total. Currently, there are 30 trials on accrual and 20 trials on follow-up. Those trials are supported by about 40 staffs including 5 physicians in JCOG DC/OPS. JCOG has now 15 study groups and has an established peer-review system for protocol and adverse events. There are 180 participating institutions and all roster information is managed in JCOG DC/OPS. JCOG DC/OPS issues monitoring reports for all studies twice a year. Until now, 25 JCOG studies were adopted as a reference of various cancer treatment guidelines.Current challenges in JCOG DC/OPS are as follow: (i) streamlining study process. The project for protocol development acceleration has been activated since 2009. The speed has been improved afterward and the shortest duration from concept approval to protocol approval is 173 days. Acceleration of manuscript writing is also underway. (ii) Correlative studies and biospecimen repository. Recently the demand for correlative studies is growing. We have implemented several correlative studies along with regular JCOG studies and accumulated the know-how in such type of studies. In addition, JCOG biospecimen repository has been established and specimens are to be collected under the common procedure before long. (iii) Promotion of ‘Kodo-iryo’ trials. JCOG is now planning two ‘Kodo-iryo’ trials (clinical trials using the evaluation system of investigational medical care). We are now developing a standardized procedure for conducting future ‘Kodo-iryo’ trials more smoothly. (iv) International collaborative trials. JCOG is now conducting two international collaborative studies. The harmonization of database definitions is sometimes hard and the number of staffs is not enough to handle many international trials. (v) Introduction of remote data entry system. In JCOG, all forms are still paper-based. It is mainly due to few supports by clinical research coordinator in the participating institutions. On the other hand, the yearly accrual becomes more and now we are considering introducing remote data entry system. Through all of those challenges, we aim to conduct well-designed, high-quality clinical trials rapidly and establish a large number of new standard treatments for cancer patients.

A 63-year-old male developed allergic contact dermatitis with antibiotic ointment applied to the skin eruptions of herpes zoster. From the result of patch test fradiomycin sulf ate contained in the ointment was identified as the contact sensitizing antigen. Strangely, this contact dermatitis was confined to the area surrounding the sores, sparing the lesions and their periphery. We postulated that a decrease in Langerhans cell activity in the herpes zoster lesions and their peripheral area was primarily responsible for this phenomenon, since an important role of Langerhans cells in host defence against herpes virus infection has recently been demonstrated.

9567 Lung cancer and malignant mesothelioma are major cause of pleural effusion, and management of lung cancer patients with pleural effusion requires effective treatment based on timely and accura...