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Suzaku launched in July 2005 is equipped with the wideband instruments covering 0.3–700 keV. In addition to these main instruments, active shield counters of the hard X-ray detector are designed to be a wideband all-sky monitor (WAM). The WAM is a powerful gamma-ray burst monitor with a wide energy range of 50–5000 keV and with a large effective area of 400 cm 2 even around 1 MeV. The paper describes the strategy for the prompt GRB observation with the WAM, and the follow-up observation of X-ray afterglows with the narrow field instruments. So far, the WAM has detected 53 GRBs and half of them were detected simultaneously with other satellites. In addition to that, from at least 8 GRBs, including a bright and hard GRB 051008, it is succeeded to observe significant gamma-ray emission up to 1 MeV. The X-ray afterglow observations were carried out on January 5 and on September 4, 2006. Their results are reported in separate paper.

In this study, we fabricate a the blood pressure measurement device based on the arterial tonometry method with a convex micro pressure sensor array for reducing a cross talk of the sensor. The size of our device is 30 × 30 × 5.8 mm3. It has 11 pressure sensors that are 130 × 250 × 20 µm3 in size. Because each pressure sensor element has a convex surface shape, the pressure measured by each sensor element has little effect on the others. Thus, a clear blood pressure pulse wave can be measured by reducing the cross talk of the sensor.

The effects of mitochondrial inhibitors (CN − , a complex IV inhibitor and CCCP, protonophore) on catecholamine (CA) secretion and mitochondrial function were explored functionally and biochemically in rat and guinea-pig adrenal chromaffin cells. Guinea-pig chromaffin cells conspicuously secreted CA in response to CN − or CCCP, but rat cells showed a little, if any, secretory response to either of them. The resting metabolic rates in rat adrenal medullae did not differ from those in guinea-pig adrenal medullae. On the other hand, the time course of depolarization of the mitochondrial membrane potential (ΔΨ m ) in guinea-pig chromaffin cells in response to CN − was slower than that in rat chromaffin cells, and this difference was abolished by oligomycin, an F 1 F 0 -ATPase inhibitor. The extent of CCCP-induced decrease in cellular ATP in guinea-pig chromaffin cells, which was indirectly measured using a Mg 2+ indicator, was smaller than that in rat chromaffin cells. Relative expression levels of F 1 F 0 -ATPase inhibitor factor in guinea-pig adrenal medullae were smaller than in rat adrenal medullae, and the opposite was true for F 1 F 0 -ATPase α subunit. The present results indicate that guinea-pig chromaffin cells secrete more CA in response to a mitochondrial inhibitor than rat chromaffin cells and this higher susceptibility in the former is accounted for by a larger extent of reversed operation of F 1 F 0 -ATPase with the consequent decrease in ATP under conditions where ΔΨ m is depolarized.

The use of tissue-engineered osteogenic material comprising platelet-rich plasma and autologous mesenchymal stem cells isolated, expanded and induced to osteogenic potential in bone augmentation procedures as a replacement for autologous bone grafts, offers predictable results with minimal donor-site morbidity. This material was applied for an alveolar cleft osteoplasty of a 9-year-old female patient. Serial computed tomograms showed the regenerated bone extending from the cleft walls after 3 months and bridging the cleft after 6 months, with 79.1% of the grafted region after 9 months at the time when the canine and lateral incisor in the affected side erupted in the reconstructed alveolar ridge.

著者人数: 16名, 資料番号: SA1003792000

A creep test was performed on yttria-doped ceria (YDC), which was investigated as an electrolyte for solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). The test was performed using a four-point bending method and with testing conditions including a constant load under a temperature range of 1050–1125 °C, an applied stress of 20–50 MPa, and an oxygen partial pressure of P (O 2 )=0.21–10 −15.2 atm. The results showed that the creep rate increased with decreasing P (O 2 ), and showed a peak at P (O 2 )=10 −13.6 atm. The activation energy for creep was increased from 264 to 333 kJ/mol with decreasing P (O 2 ) from 0.21 to 10 −14.5 atm. These values were much higher than the reported activation energy of oxygen anion diffusion in ceria. Thus, it could be suggested that the creep mechanism is controlled by cation diffusion. The creep mechanism changed from Nabarro-Herring creep to grain boundary sliding in a reducing atmosphere when the P (O 2 ) was lower than 10 −14.5 atm.

At the Plasma Research Center (PRC) in University of Tsukuba, development of Mega-Watt Gyrotrons is performed for fusion research. Development of a new 154 GHz 1 MW gyrotron for ECRH system of Large Helical Device (LHD) has been done. The design studies of electron gun (MIG), cavity oscillator, mode converter, transmission mirrors, collector and superconducting magnet (SCM) have indicated more than 1 MW output with efficiency ~33 % for cavity oscillation mode of TE28,8. In the short pulse test of the first test tube, the maximum output power of 1.06 MW and the maximum total efficiency of 35.2 % with CPD were obtained.

Background: Balloon-assisted enteroscopy is a useful modality for the evaluation of the small intestinal lesions in patients with Crohn's disease (CD). Not infrequently, deep insertion of the enteroscope carries difficulty due adhesion, stricture, or other causes. Deep insertion is required especial

Objective: To establish the progression of brain atrophy rates in patients with a known date of onset of Alzheimer disease (AD).Methods: Each of 18 subjects had two high-resolution T1-weighted three-dimensional MRI examinations. The two MRIs were coregistered and the annual rate of brain tissue atrophy was derived both for the entire brain and regionally for the left and right medial temporal lobe (MTL). Time since onset (TSO) of AD, defined as the interval between the date of onset and the midpoint of MRI dates, ranged from −2.9 to 4.2 years.Results: In patients with AD, TSO was a correlate of the atrophy rate for both the left MTL (R2 = 0.58, p = 0.001) and right MTL (R2 = 0.30, p = 0.03). When serial measurements were applied to a control group of 21 cognitively normal elderly subjects, MTL atrophy rate classified the group membership (AD vs normal cognition) with an accuracy of 92.3%.Conclusion: Increased annual atrophy rate in the medial temporal lobe is a potential diagnostic marker of the progression of Alzheimer disease.

The pharmacokinetics of YM-64227 (4-cyclohexyl-1-ethyl-7-methylpyrido[2,3-d]-pyrimidine-2-(1H)-one), a novel and selective phosphodiesterase type 4 inhibitor, was characterized in beagle dogs. Based on the plasma parent drug to major hydroxylated metabolite ratio, 21 dogs were phenotyped as 16 extensive metabolizers (EM) and five poor metabolizers (PM). Nucleotide sequences of CYPs 1A2, 2B11, 2C21, 2D15, 2E1 and 3A12 were investigated in the EM and PM dogs. A CYP1A2 1117 C>T single nucleotide polymorphism was found, which resulted in an amino acid change from an Arg codon to a stop codon at position 373. All dogs phenotyped as PM were T/T homozygous, whereas EMs were C/C homozygous and C/T heterozygous. In Western blotting of liver microsomes, CYP1A protein expression was detected in the C/C and C/T types, but not in the T/T type. Of 65 dogs genotyped using genome DNA, the frequencies of the C and T alleles were 0.61 and 0.39, respectively, suggesting approximately 15% of the dogs would not express the CYP1A2 protein. The findings provide a coherent explanation for the inter-individual variability in the pharmacokinetics of CYP1A2 substrate drugs in dogs.

Mean velocities and runout distances of a large dry and a large wet snow avalanches were measured at Makunosawa valley. Both started in the same zone and ran the same path. The runout distances were 2900 and 2700 m for the dry and wet ones, respectively. The mean velocity for the dry one was 43 m s−1 from the tremor of a geophone. For the wet snow avalanche, the mean velocity was 20 m s−1 from the video.

This report describes charge transport in a (ferrocenylmethyl)ammonium group-substituted anion-exchangeable polypyrrole and discusses the binding interaction of the ferrocenyl group with solution-dissolved calix[6]arene- p -hexasulfonate. The impedance response of 0.8–1.1 μm thick film modified electrodes corresponded with the behavior expected from the diffusional charge-transport model for thin films. Since the charge-compensating counterions diffused rapidly in the polyelectrolyte film, the rate of intermolecular electron hopping limited that of charge transport. The polycationic film effectively extracted the calixarene from its dilute aqueous solutions. It shifted the half-wave potential of the ferrocenyl group to less positive values, indicating the greater binding affinity of the anionic host for ferrocenium cations than for uncharged ferrocenes. The inclusion complexation decreased the concentrations of the free redox couple; thus the host of 1-mM concentration increased the interfacial charge-transfer resistance by a factor of 70. Since the rates of the coupled chemical reactions were fast, they influenced the electrode kinetics insignificantly.

We demonstrated that ventromedial hypothalamus (VMH) lesions facilitate DNA synthesis, which reflects cell proliferation in abdominal organs, including the liver, pancreas, stomach, small intestine and large intestine, all of which are amply innervated by the vagal nerve.To investigate which area DNA synthesis facilitates and what factors contribute to cell proliferation in the small intestine in VMH-lesioned rats.At 7 days after VMH lesions or sham operations, a segment of rat jejunum was taken for histological examination. A part of the jejunum was also removed from VMH-lesioned and sham-operated rats after 3 days and examined for 5-bromo-2'-deoxyuridine (BrdU) incorporation. At 6, 12 and 24 h after VMH lesions, the proximal intestine was removed from individual rats, from the pylorus to the mid-jejunum. Total RNA was extracted from these tissues of each rat, and the levels of epidermal growth factor (EGF) and transforming growth factor (TGF)-alpha mRNA were determined using reverse-transcription polymerase chain reaction. Cyclooxygenase (COX)-1 and -2 mRNA levels were determined using Northern blotting.: Jejunal villi in VMH-lesioned rats were markedly enlarged compared to those of sham-operated rats and jejunal crypts in VMH-lesioned rats more markedly incorporated BrdU. Northern blot analysis revealed an increase in COX-1 mRNA after 6, 12 and 24 h in the jejunum of VMH-lesioned rats. COX-2 mRNA was decreased 6 and 12 h after VMH lesioning; however, it was significantly increased 24 h after VMH lesions in comparison to sham-operated rats. The levels of EGF and TGF-alpha mRNA were unchanged in VMH lesioned rats.VMH lesions induced enlargement of jejunal villi and increased the gene expression of COX-1 in the small intestine. Prostaglandins, probably E(2), induced by COX-1 may be one candidate factor responsible for the cell proliferation of the small intestinal epithelium in these rats.

Rare earth-doped ceria ceramics are potential candidates for an electrolyte in medium-temperature solid oxide fuel cells (SOFC). However, the mechanical properties under the practical working environments of SOFCs have not been not fully investigated for CeO 2 based electrolytes. In this study, creep behaviors of CeO 2 -YO 1.5 were investigated at stresses of 20-39 MPa and temperatures of 1045 to 1125°C under controlled oxygen partial pressure (PO 2 ), The stress exponent n≃0.96 and the activation energy Q≃264 kJ/mol of creep rate were obtained experimentally in air. Because this value is much higher than that for anion diffusion in this material, it was concluded that creep is controlled by a cation diffusion mechanism. It was found that the oxygen partial pressure dependence of the steady-state strain rate has a peak at PO 2 =10 -14 atm and the profile is similar to electrical conductivity.

Barley can be used as an extender of rice to increase the nutritive value of the end-product. Specific quality barley is required if the processed barley is to resemble cooked white rice in colour and shape. The barley must pearl and split without the production of broken kernels or fines and yet produce desired end use quality. Barley endosperm texture and colour are key to determining these processing characteristics. Testing of Canadian barley types indicated the waxy type was most appropriate for pearling and processing as rice extender. It had a firm endosperm texture that was not steely and yet processed into a white product with few broken grains. Covered barley was of better quality than hull-less, as the former generally had fewer steely kernels as well as firmer endosperm texture. Differences observed between two- and six-rowed type were related to grain size and could be overcome by proper adjustments to processing conditions. Growing conditions affected kernel size and barley protein contents but to a lesser extent than barley type. L* brightness values, Particle Size Index and kernel size were found to be important predictors of barley quality for pearling and as rice extender.

Industrial applications of laser diagnostics have been demonstrated for the purpose of clarifying combustor chemical reaction mechanisms, as well as temperature and harmful substance monitoring in large-scale burners and commercial plant exhaust ducts, and the combustion control of commercial plants. Laser induced fluorescence (LIF), laser induced breakdown spectroscopy (LIBS), and tunable diode laser absorption spectroscopy (TDLAS) have accordingly been applied in various industrial fields. In this study, temperature and species concentration were measured inside gas turbine combustors, a diesel engine, and a large-scale industrial burner using LIF. This technique introduces a new tool with respect to practical combustors for the analysis of NO formation characteristics, turbulent flame front structure, and differences between standard and improved combustors. On-line monitoring of trace elements to the ppb level was also successfully demonstrated using LIBS. The automated LIBS unit was found to be capable of monitoring trace element concentration fluctuations at ppb levels with a 1 min detection time under actual plant conditions. In addition, real-time measurement of O2 and CO concentrations in a commercial incinerator furnace was performed using TDLAS to improve the combustion control. By using the multiple-point laser measurement results to control secondary air allocation, higher secondary combustion efficiency was achieved, and CO concentration (considered to be a substitute indicator for dioxins) was reduced from 11.9 to 8.0 ppm.

The opening size of the discharge outlet and the slope of a conical hopper can be determined using the well-known theoretical method of Jenike. This method enables designing the hopper almost so precisely as to permit mass flow powder discharge (without stagnant zone). On the other hand, a flowability index is customarily used as a measure of the ease of powder flow. From a practical point of view, it should be desirable to predict whether a given powder will form arches or bridges that will prevent its mass flow discharge from the hopper. In order to obtain such a predictive tool, we have studied the relationships, for 90 powders, between (1) the mass flow hopper outlet size and flowability index, and (2) the mass flow hopper slope and flowability index. In both cases, there is a considerable scattering of experimental data, but limiting functional relations have been obtained that allow practical determination of safety values for mass flow hopper outlet size and slope as a function of the flowability index.

Poly[(methyl methacrylate)-co-acrylamide] of various compositions were previously prepared by the radical copolymerization reaction of methyl methacrylate and the acrylamide monomer in a solvent. The copolymers were modified through a resonating salt by the addition reaction of a chlorotitanium-triisopropoxide; the modified resins are called Ti hybrid copolymers. The chemical structure of acrylamide side chain groups in the Ti hybrid copolymers was confirmed by the ash weight after combustion, the characteristic absorption band determined by Fourier transform infrared spectrophotometry (IR) and elementary analysis (EA). The curing temperature and time of the resins were determined from the change in the insoluble resin weight when the extraction was done with a mixture of acetone and methanol using the curing resin samples. The thermal stability of the Ti hybrid copolymers was evaluated using both the thermal-degradation temperature (Tx) measured by thermogravimetric analysis and the thermal degradation at 130 °C for 720 h. The cured resins improved the weight loss of the resins at the Tx, and exhibited a high thermal stability.

The FAO has been working on various aspects of biotechnology including genetically modified organisms (GMOs). In the area of a food safety assessment of GMOs, FAO and WHO have recently embarked in the development of international principles and guidelines for the safety assessment of plant GMOs in the framework of the Intergovernmental Codex Task Force for Foods derived from Biotechnology. The scientific input for the development of these principles and guidelines was provided by a series of Joint FAO/WHO Expert Consultations on Foods derived from Biotechnology. This review provides a general overview of the work carried out so far, including the results of the expert consultations and the present situation of the discussions in the Intergovernmental Codex Task Force.

High power electron cyclotron heating (ECH) experiment for the central-cell region in GAMMA 10 has been started in the hot ion mode operation (T i=several keV). Transmission system for the central-cell ECH, including a taper, mirrors and polarizers, has been designed and installed for efficient direct bulk electron heating. ECH system with a twister and a circular polarizer for central-cell region has the advantages for controllable polarization of incident wave. Recently, a high power gyrotron of ~500 kW at 28 GHz has been developed in collaboration with Japan Atomic Energy Agency (JAEA) and this high power gyrotron was installed in central-cell region of GAMMA 10. This high power and efficient ECH system was applied to centralcell electron heating and significant increment of soft Xray and diamagnetism signals during a pulse of ECH operation was obtained. In this paper, central ECH experimental results in the hot ion mode operation are reported.

At the Plasma Research Center (PRC) in University of Tsukuba, development of Mega-Watt Gyrotrons is performed for fusion research. We are developing a new 28 GHz 1 MW and a 77 GHz 1.5 MW gyrotron for ECRH system of tandem mirror GAMMAlO and Large Helical Device (LHD), respectively. In the short pulse test of 77 GHz gyrotron, the maximum output power of 1.6 MW and the maximum total efficiency of 49.4% with CPD were obtained. In the long pulse test, the pulse length extended to 5 sec. with 1 MW and 4500 sec. with 0.2 MW. The design study of 154 GHz IMW gyrotron for LHD has been started. For each cavity oscillation mode, TE28,8, TE28,12 and TE31,8, cavity, electron gun (MIG), mode converter, collector and SCM design are being examined.

Structural ordering from the α1 to the α2 phase of isotactic polypropylene has been investigated. The DSC studies showed that reorganization or recrystallization occurred in the wide endothermic region. In the high-temperature X-ray experiment of the sample annealed at 135°C, the 231 and 161 reflections ascribed to the α2 phase began to increase from 160°C and to decrease above 172°C. The b-axis length and the angle β of the unit cell increased up to 155°C and decreased afterward. The latter decrease was well correlated with an increase in the α2 phase. The α2 fraction increased in the temperature region where the degree of overall crystallinity decreased. Reorganization or recrystallization into the α2 phase is thus considered to occur with the fusion of the α1 phase, and the growth of the α2 phase in the solid state seems to be difficult.

Objective and Design: IL-18 shares functional properties with IL-12, which induces an elevation of histidine decarboxylase (HDC) activity in mouse tissues. Therefore, we examined the effects of IL-18 and IL-18+IL-12 on HDC activity.¶Methods: IL-18, IL-12 or IL-18+IL-12 was intraperitoneally injected into BALB/c and C3H/HeN mice and their HDC activities were measured.¶Results: IL-18, at effective antitumour doses, induced HDC activity in lung, liver, spleen and bone. The IL-18-induced HDC elevation was more rapid than that induced by IL-12. As with IL-12, repeated injections of IL-18 produced more HDC activity than a single injection. Repeated injections of IL-18+IL-12 induced serious illness and produced marked HDC activity. However, an inhibitor of HDC did not prevent the illness.¶Conclusions: IL-18 may be involved in the stimulation of histamine synthesis during the course of immune responses, though an elevation of HDC activity is not itself the direct cause of the serious illness induced by IL-18+IL-12.¶

A one-dimensional heat transfer method was used to determine the thermal conductivity for a range of coal ash and synthetic ash samples at elevated temperatures. The effect of parameters such as temperature, porosity, and sintering time were investigated. The thermal conductivity of the samples was generally observed to increase with increasing temperature. During heating of the samples, softening of minerals and sintering reactions resulted in changes in the physical structure of the ash, which then altered the observed thermal conductivity. The thermal conductivity of sintered ash samples was found to be higher than that of unsintered samples. The sintering temperature and sintering time were found to increase the observed thermal conductivity irreversibly. A decrease in sample porosity was also observed to increase the thermal conductivity. Chemical composition was found to have little effect on the thermal conductivity, apart from influencing the extent of sintering. Predictions of the thermal conductivity of ash samples based on Rayleigh's model are also presented. The thermal conductivity of slag and particulate structures was modelled by considering spherical pores distributed in a continuous slag phase. A particulate layer structure was modelled by considering solid particles dispersed in a continuous gas phase. The Brailsford and Major model of random distribution for mixed phases gives results within 20% of the measured values for a partially sintered sample.

Power‐net is an extensible fabric and has a net structure. The biaxial extension property of this fabric is analysed and compared with experimental results obtained by a biaxial tensile tester.

As an approach to clarifying the molecular basis of pain and fatigue in muscles involved in temporomandibular disorders, we examined the activity of histidine decarboxylase (HDC), the enzyme which forms histamine, in the masseter muscles of mice. In the resting muscle, HDC activity was very low. Direct electrical stimulation of the muscle markedly elevated HDC activity. HDC activity rose within 3 hrs of the electrical stimulation, peaked at 6 to 8 hrs, and then gradually declined. Intraperitoneal injection of a small amount of interleukin-1 (IL-1) (from 1 to 10 μg/kg) produced a similar elevation of HDC activity in the masseter muscle. We also examined the effect of an antihistamine, chlorphenylamine (CP), on temporomandibular disorders in humans and compared it with that of an antiinflammatory analgesic, flurbiprofen (FB). Two groups received one or the other of the drugs daily for 7 days, and they were asked about their signs and symptoms before and after the treatment. A positive evaluation of their treatment was made by 74% of the CP group, but by only 48% of the FB group. Although the effects of CP on the limitation of mouth-opening and on joint noise were negligible, about 50% of the CP group answered positively concerning the drug's effect on spontaneous pain or pain induced by chewing or mouth-opening. The positive evaluation for CP (50%) in relieving associated symptoms (headache or shoulder stiffness) was significantly greater than for FB (13%). FB showed effectiveness similar to but sometimes weaker than that of CP on several symptoms. On the basis of these and previous results and the known actions of histamine, we propose that the histamine newly formed following the induction of HDC activity, which is itself mediated by IL-1, may be involved in inducing pain and, possibly, stiffness in muscles in temporomandibular disorders.

We report on twin emission peaks observed from single isoelectronic traps formed by nitrogen pairs in nitrogen delta-doped GaAs by high-energy resolution micro-photoluminescence (PL) spectroscopy. The twin PL peaks show almost the same intensity with narrow linewidths of 20-50 mu eV, which are considerably smaller than that ever reported for isoelectronic traps in GaAs:N. The higher and lower energy luminescence transitions were linearly polarized in the [1 (1) over bar 0] and [1 1 0] directions, respectively, indicating that the two exciton states have completely orthogonal relations with each other. The fact that any pair of the twin PL peaks has the same polarization properties suggests that the splitting is due to the anisotropy between [1 (1) over bar 0] and [1 1 0] directions in the host crystal and is possibly explained by the strain anisotropy in the sample. (C) 2007 Elsevier B.V. All rights reserved.

This is the first report on the molecular basis of human complement C1s deficiency. Two abnormalities in the C1s gene were identified in a Japanese family, including one patient, by using exon-specific PCR, single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis, and nucleotide sequencing. A deletion of 4 bp, TTTG, was identified in exon X when using genomic DNA from the patient, his father, and his paternal grandmother. They were all heterozygous for the mutation. The mutant gene encodes a truncated C1s from the N terminus to the short consensus repeat domain. By further sequencing the PCR products, a nonsense mutation from G to T was identified at codon 608 in exon XII in the patient, his mother, and his sister. They were all heterozygous for the nonsense mutation. The mutant gene encodes a truncated form of C1s that lacks the C-terminal 80 amino acids. These results indicate that the patient was a compound heterozygote with the 4-bp deletion on the paternal allele and the nonsense mutation on the maternal allele. The levels of serum C1s seem to be correlated to the genotypes of the C1s gene in which no C1s was detected in the patient, and one-half of the normal level in the family members who are heterozygous for either mutation. The present study demonstrates that the disease is inherited in an autosomal recessive mode.

A new 28GHz 500kW gyrotron was developed for the electron cyclotron resonance heating system of tandem mirror GAMMA10. The maximum output power of 570 kW was obtained by experimental optimization. The efficiency of the gyrotron is 40∼50% in the power range of 300∼500 kW output with the optimization in spite of the restriction of the present magnet. The non-desirable influences caused by he leakage field of the magnet system of GAMM10 were minimized by the adjustment of gyrotron coil parameters and the minor change of the gyrotron and magnetic shield design.

We have measured micro-photoluminescence (PL) spectra of nitrogen delta (δ)-doped GaAs with various concentrations. In nitrogen δ-doped GaAs with low concentrations, the micro-PL spectra measured at different positions were individually different. In contrast, almost the same spectra were obtained for nitrogen 5-doped GaAs with higher concentrations and uniformly nitrogen-doped GaAs. The micro-PL study shows that there are no more than a few isoelectronic traps within a diameter of ∼1 μm. This indicates a good prospect for applications of isoelectronic traps to single photon emitting devices.

Hidradenitis suppurativa (HS) represents a chronic, recurrent, deep-seated folliculitis resulting in abscesses followed by the formation of sinus tracts and scarring. It is an uncommon disorder frequently involving the perianal region. We review the clinical and pathological features of 12 patients (10 men and two women) with perianal HS (PHS). The mean age at presentation was 43 years (range 24-65), and the mean duration of illness was 14 years (range 2-30). Two patients exhibited multiple areas of involvement, including the axilla and the nape of the neck, in addition to the perianal region. Histological examinations showed epidermis-lined sinuses surrounded by dense plasma cell infiltration in four of nine specimens. The complications related with PHS included anal fistula (seven patients), diabetes mellitus (four), malignant tumour (two) and sepsis (one). Three patients died of the complications. Eight patients underwent wide local excision. The defects were managed with a meshed split-thickness skin graft in five patients, and open treatment in the remainder. New lesions developed in untreated skin of two patients. However, no patient relapsed in the surgically treated sites. PHS is frequently complicated with anal fistula and is occasionally life-threatening as a result of the occurrence of malignant tumours or sepsis. Early surgical excision followed by meshed split-thickness skin graft can successfully cure the lesion without functional disturbance.

Mannose-binding lectin-associated serine protease (MASP) is a newly identified member of the serine protease superfamily. MASP is involved in host defense against pathogens through a novel system of complement activation, designated the lectin pathway. To elucidate the origin of the lectin pathway and the molecular evolution of MASP, we cloned six MASP cDNAs from five vertebrate species going from mammal to cyclostome. An alignment of the amino acid sequences deduced from the cDNAs revealed the presence of two different lineages of the MASP gene. This classification was supported by the precise correlation with two types of exon organization for the protease domain. One of the two lineages is unique in that a single exon encodes the protease domain, unlike most other serine proteases. All members of this group, termed the AGY type, have an AGY codon at the active site serine. A phylogenetic tree suggests that the AGY type diverged from another lineage, termed the TCN type, before the emergence of primitive vertebrates. Furthermore, the presence of MASP or MASP-like sequences in most vertebrate species suggests that the lectin pathway functions extensively in vertebrates and that its origin is traced back to the invertebrate stage.

SummaryDihydropyrimidinase (DHP) deficiency (MIM 222748) is characterized by dihydropyrimidinuria and is associated with a variable clinical phenotype. This disease might be associated with a risk of 5-fluorouracil toxicity, although no cases have been reported. We present here both the molecular characterization of the human DHP gene and, for the first time, the mutations causing DHP deficiency. The human DHP gene spans >80 kb and consists of 10 exons. It has been assigned to 8q22, by FISH. We performed mutation analysis of genomic DNA in one symptomatic and five asymptomatic individuals presenting with dihydropyrimidinuria. We identified one frameshift mutation and five missense mutations. Two related Japanese adult subjects were homozygous for the Q334R substitution, whereas two other, unrelated Japanese infant subjects were heterozygous for the same mutation, but this mutation is not common in the Japanese population. A Caucasian pediatric patient exhibiting epileptic attacks, dysmorphic features, and severe developmental delay was homozygous for W360R. Using a eukaryotic expression system, we showed that all mutations reduced enzyme activity significantly, indicating that these are crucial DHP deficiency–causing mutations. There was no significant difference, in residual activity, between mutations observed in the symptomatic and those observed in the asymptomatic individuals.

objective To assess the effectiveness of an urinary trypsin inhibitor (UTI) on a surgical stress, particularly the influences on cytokines and diuretic hormones. subjects and methods Sixteen patients with carcinoma of the digestive system and predicted to suffer from circulatory insufficiency were enrolled. Selection of group was divided alternatively. UTI was administered for 5 consecutive days, at a dose of 300,000 units per day. Urine and blood specimens were collected before, immediately after, and 1, 3, and 5 days after surgery. Interleukin 8 (IL-8), polymorphonuclear leukocyte elastase (PMNE), vasopressin (ADH), atrial natriuretic peptide (ANP), angiotensin II (AT-II), and endothelin 1 (ET-1) in the blood, and N-acetyl-D-glucosaminidase (NAG) in the urine, were determined. results A UTI group was 9 patients, and a control group was 7 patients. The operation time was significantly longer in the UTI group than in the control group. In the UTI group, the elevation of IL-8, PMNE/WBC, ADH, urinary NAG, and BUN were significantly inhibited. AT-II and ET-1, in the UTI group, tended to be suppressed, and ANP showed the similar changes in the two groups. conclusion UTI is considered effective in the prevention of excessive reaction against major surgery.

The spectrum and the level of fluctuation have been evaluated from the phase data obtained with a reflectometer during the period without phase runaway on the JFT-2M tokamak. The estimated fluctuation level is about 1% in OH mode (at r a ), about 4% in L mode (at r a ≈ 0.8 ) and about 10% in H mode ( r a > 0.9 ), while the measured position changes according to the density profile.

Transitional cell carcinoma (TCC) is a urinary bladder tumour associated with high mortality in dogs. In this study, we investigated the feasibility of using p63, Ki67 or β-catenin as a clinical marker for predicting biological behaviour and prognosis in canine TCC. Expression levels of these proteins in TCC (n = 25), polypoid cystitis (n = 5) and normal urinary bladder (n = 5) were scored after immunohistochemical staining. The staining scores for p63 (P 0.01) and β-catenin (P 0.05) in TCC were significantly lower than those in normal urinary bladder and polypoid cystitis. In contrast, Ki67 (P 0.01) staining scores in TCC were significantly higher than those in normal urinary bladder and polypoid cystitis. In TCC, low p63 expression was significantly related to the presence of vessel invasion (P 0.05) and metastasis (P 0.01) as well as short survival time (P 0.05). These findings show that p63 could be a reliable marker for predicting prognosis in canine TCC.

Flexural deformities are common conditions of growing horses and are suggested to have a relationship with the contraction of musculotendinous units. However, limited studies have documented the changes in each tendon and ligament in the metacarpal region with age.To investigate the changes in the cross-sectional area (CSA) of each tendon and ligament in the metacarpal region with age by ultrasonographic examination.Longitudinal study of foals from Day 1 to age 24 months.The CSA of the superficial digital flexor tendon, deep digital flexor tendon, accessory ligament of the deep digital flexor tendon and suspensory ligament was measured by ultrasonographic examination at monthly intervals from Day 1 to age 24 months in 7 Thoroughbred foals.Changes in superficial digital flexor CSA in all regions were larger than those of other structures from 10 months to 15 months. The suspensory ligament CSA was significantly larger than those of other structures on Day 1 in both the region of suspensory origin (RSO) and region of suspensory body (RSBO). This condition continued until 2 months in the RSO and until 5 months in the RSBO. The changes in deep digital flexor CSA were larger than those of other structures from 2 to 5 months in both the RSO and RSBO.The rate of change in each structure varies with age. Thus, the functional adaptation with age that takes place may differ among structures because the primary function of each structure differs.

A pair of probe pins whose lengths differ by 5 mm are inserted into the separatrix of H-mode plasmas. When the long pin is biased positively against the short one, the H - L transition takes place and the current through the resistor making a connection between these pins increases for 10 and the potential of the pin increases for 100 . The energy dissipated by the resistor during the H - L transition is comparable to the energy of the radial electric field in H-mode plasma. When the long pin is biased negatively, the H - L transition also occurs; however, it takes 1 ms to change the potential of the pin and the plasma returns to H-mode after the extraction of the probe.