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Midkine (MK) is a heparin-binding growth/differentiation factor implicated in the control of development and repair of various tissues. To investigate the roles of MK in embryogenesis and in regulation of wound healing, we utilized a system of collagen gel contraction by dermal fibroblasts, which provides an in vitro model for studying fibroblast-collagen interactions important in various physiological and pathological phenomena. MK enhanced gel contraction 8-24 h after plating, and its effect was inhibited by anti-MK antibody. The effect was reduced after 48 h, while TGF-beta continued to be active in the later stage. Morphologically, MK-treated fibroblasts tended to be elongated more frequently than control fibroblasts. The effect of MK in the early stage of gel contraction suggests a role of MK as a modulator of cell-matrix interactions.

Placental site trophoblastic tumor (PSTT) is the least common form of gestational trophoblastic disease, with only about 100 cases having been reported. Although the imaging findings of PSTT have seldom been reported, previous findings of the tumor indicate that it can be divided into two types, a hypervascular type and a relatively hypovascular type. We reported the imaging findings of these two representative types of PSTT. In the hypervascular type, massive bleeding following dilatation and curettage have been reported. When prominent vascularity of the tumor is indicated by imaging findings, dilatation and curettage should be avoided. On the other hand, uterine conservative surgery may be possible in patients with the localized hypovascular type. The main role of imaging diagnosis of PSTT is to clarify the vascularity of the tumor.

Correlations of two protons emitted near midrapidity in p+Pb collisions at 450 GeV/c and S+Pb collisions at 200A GeV/c are presented, as measured by the NA44 Experiment. The correlation effect, which arises as a result of final state interactions and Fermi-Dirac statistics, is related to the space-time characteristics of proton emission. The measured source sizes are smaller than the size of the target lead nucleus but larger than the sizes of the projectiles. A dependence on the collision centrality is observed; the source size increases with decreasing impact parameter. Proton source sizes near midrapidity appear to be smaller than those of pions in the same interactions. Quantitative agreement with the results of RQMD (v1.08) simulations is found for p+Pb collisions. For S+Pb collisions the measured correlation effect is somewhat weaker than that predicted by the model simulations, implying either a larger source size or larger contribution of protons from long-lived particle decays., 10 pages (LaTeX) text, 4 (EPS) figures; accepted for publication in Phys. Lett. B

A new highly sensitive staining agent for chromium (Cr) has been introduced. This staining agent, 2-(8-quinolylazo)-4,5-di-p-tolylimidazole (QTI), was found to be more than ten times as sensitive for Cr than the conventional staining agent, Chromazurol S, and QTI also stained cadmium, copper, lead and zinc. Differentiation between the staining of Cr and other metals was achieved by immersing the tissue sections in dilute alkylamine solutions before they were stained with QTI. Thus, it was possible to selectively stain for Cr by blocking other metals.

π + π + π + correlations from sulphur-lead collisions at 200 GeV/c per nucleon are presented as measured by the focusing spectrometer of experiment NA44 at CERN. We have investigated the three-pion correlation function at mid-rapidity and found that a genuine three-body correlation is suppressed. A possible interpretation of this result is that the emission of particles is partially coherent.

The NA44 Collaboration has measured yields and differential distributions of K+, K-, pi+, pi- in transverse kinetic energy and rapidity, around the center-of-mass rapidity in 158 A GeV/c Pb+Pb collisions at the CERN SPS. A considerable enhancement of K+ production per pi is observed, as compared to p+p collisions at this energy. To illustrate the importance of secondary hadron rescattering as an enhancement mechanism, we compare strangeness production at the SPS and AGS with predictions of the transport model RQMD., Comment: 11 pages, including 4 figures, LATEX

The NA44 collaboration has measured charged kaon and pion distributions at midrapidity in sulphur and proton collisions with nuclear targets at 200 and 450 GeV/c per nucleon, respectively. The inverse slopes of kaons are larger than those of pions. The difference in the inverse slopes of pions, kaons and protons, all measured in our spectrometer, increases with system size and is consistent with the buildup of collective flow for larger systems. The target dependence of both the yields and inverse slopes is stronger for the sulphur beam suggesting the increased importance of secondary rescattering for SA reactions. The rapidity density, dN/dy, of both K+ and K- increases more rapidly with system size than for pi+ in a similar rapidity region. This trend continues with increasing centrality, and according to RQMD, it is caused by secondary reactions between mesons and baryons. The K-/K+ ratio falls with increasing system size but more slowly than the pbar/p ratio. The pi-/pi+ ratio is close to unity for all systems. From pBe to SPb the K+/p ratio decreases while K-/pbar increases and ({K+*K-}/{p*pbar})**1/2 stays constant. These data suggest that as larger nuclei collide, the resulting system has a larger transverse expansion, baryon density and an increasing fraction of strange quarks., 10 pages of text, 4 tables and 13 Figures, submitted to Phys. Rev. C Fig 4 pBe and SS K- y=2.4-3.5 plotted correctly, 2 typos fixed

Two-pion correlations from Pb+Pb collisions at 158 GeV/c per nucleon are measured by the NA44 experiment at CERN. Multidimensional fits characterize the emission volume, which is found to be larger than in {ital S}-induced collisions. Comparison to the RQMD model is used to relate the fit parameters to the actual emission volume. {copyright} {ital 1998} {ital The American Physical Society}

Since 1984 a weekly supervised fluoride mouthrinsing programme has been implemented for schoolchildren in Hisayama, Japan. Consequently, four years after the start of the programme the DMFT index for 12.5-year-old schoolchildren in Hisayama decreased to a value of less than 3.0. However, since 1992 it has increased. The purpose of this study was to investigate the causes of this increasing prevalence of dental caries since 1992.One hundred and one schoolchildren aged 12 years in 1994 were selected. This age group showed the highest increase in the prevalence of dental caries in that year.Children who had discontinued the use of fluoride mouthrinse for one year or more were identified by means of a confidential questionnaire. Oral examination was carried out, by three examiners, under a suitable artificial light using a mirror and an explorer.The DMFT and DMFS indices of the continuous mouthrinsing (CM) group were significantly lower than those of the discontinuous mouthrinsing (DM) group (P0.001). Significant differences between the CM and DM groups were also observed in the DMFT rates for premolars (P0.05) and for the first molar (P0.001).The continuation of fluoride mouthrinsing for children of school age was important in achieving the advantages of the programme in Hisayama.

Considering the catastrophic failure of aged ship structures, damages caused by corrosion and fatigue are found to be the main reason. In a ship structure a crack may initiate at a stress-concetrated region, where it extends by fatigue mechanism under moderate loading conditions. It may grow to a critical size, which leads to an instantenous failure of the structure under an extreme loading condition. Sometimes cracks develop at several adjacent structural members creating multiple site damage (MSD), which may considerably decrease the structural integrity of ship structures. In the present paper, investigations are made for the fracture mechanisms of a stiffened panel, which is damaged by a single crack or multiple site cracks subjected to lateral presure, by fracture experiments and the corresponding numerical simulation.

A 20 year-old female was admitted to our department because of an abnormal shadow in chest roentgenogram on a physical check-up. The barium swallowing study revealed an oppression of the middle of the esophagus. Endoscopy, chest CT and MRI failed to distinguish submucosal tumor from mediastinal tumor. Endoscopic ultrasonography showed the mass originated from the esophagus and a diagnosis of esophageal smooth muscle tumor was obtained. The tumor was tried to resect by thoracoscopic surgery but was failed because of its shape like a tortoise shell. The tumor was resected through the right thoracotomy and the diagnosis was confirmed histopathologically.

The emission of pions from relativistic heavy-ion collisions of S + S, S + Ag and S + Pb at 200 GeV/nucleon is characterized using two-particle interferometry. The multiplicity dependence of the pion source parameters near mid-rapidity is studied. The transversal and longitudinal source parameters, $R_t$ and $R_l$, show a clear increase with the particle multiplicity. The multiplicity dependence is weaker than that expected from a simple model of a freeze-out at a constant density. % The transversal and longitudinal source parameters $R_t$ and $R_l$, show % a clear increase with the particle multiplicity, consistent with the model % of freeze-out at a constant density.

The problem of a straight crack with slightly branched and curved extension has been solved by Sumi[1][2] using the first order perturbation method, and a method of crack path prediction has been developed by using the method of superposition of analytical and finite element method[3][4]. In this paper, a general theory of cracking formation of a system of interacting cracks in heterogeneous materials is proposed for fatigue crack propagation. Based on this theory, a computational method for the prediction of the cracking formation of a system of interacting cracks is developed, in which a step-by-step formation of a cracking pattern is predicted by using finite element method taking account of the interaction of all active cracks.

π + π + and π − π − correlations from 200 GeV per nucleon S + Pb collisions and π + π + correlations from 450 GeV p + Pb collisions measured by the focussing spectrometer of CERN experiment NA44 are presented. The large data set which emphasizes small values of momentum difference allows multi-dimensional analysis along with the more traditional one-dimensional parameterization to characterize the pion emission source. It is found that the three radius parameters are similar and large compared to the projectile radius. This can be explained by pion scattering in the final state hadronic system.

K+K+ and K−K− correlations from S+Pb collisions at 200 GeV/c per nucleon and K+K+ correlations from p+Pb collisions at 450 GeV/c per nucleon, are presented as measured by the focusing spectrometer of the NA44 experiment at CERN. Multidimensional fits are performed in order to characterize the kaon-emission volume, which is found to be smaller than the pion-emission volume.

The patient was a 78-year-old man with a history of large painful left lower lateral chest wall tumor that was fist sized, while he had large abdominal aortic aneurysm. Because of high age, two staged operation was done. Initially chest wall tumor was resected. The defect was 11 x 11 cm in sized. The reconstruction of the defect was made with Marlex mesh. The microscopical findings was biphasic malignant mesothelioma. Fourty one days later abdominal aortic aneurysm was excised and the aorta was reconstructed using a Y shaped artificial graft. Post-operative course was uneventful.

Copper (Cu) accumulating bound to metallothionein (MT) in the liver of LEC (Long-Evans with cinnamon-like coat color) rats due to a hereditary metabolic disorder is assumed to lead to acute hepatitis with severe jaundice. The metal was shown to be present in the liver in a form not bound to MT at the beginning of hepatitis after first delivery and lactation. Following this change in the distribution of Cu from MT-bound to non-MT bound form in the liver, changes in the concentrations and distributions of Cu, zinc (Zn) and iron in the plasma and kidneys of LEC rats were also observed. Cu plasma distribution on a gel filtration column by HPLC-ICP revealed that the holo-form of ceruloplasmin (Cp) was present before hepatitis and increased with its development, indicating the availability of Cu for Cp by hepatitis. Cu-binding proteins migrating at the same retention times as those of hepatic Cu-MT and Cu,Zn-superoxide dismutase (SOD) were detected in plasma during hepatitis. Albumin was largely present in the form of nonmercaptoalbumin, reflecting that the bloodstream was under oxidative stress. A sudden increase in the concentration of Cu in the kidneys occurred with hepatitis, and the metal came to be distributed more to high molecular weight proteins with its development.

Copper (Cu) accumulating in the liver of LEC (Long-Evans with a cinnamon-like coat color) rats due to a hereditary metabolic disorder is assumed to cause acute hepatitis with severe jaundice or chronic hepatitis leading to cancer. Changes in concentrations and distributions of Cu, zinc and iron in the liver of LEC rats were determined to find the relationship between the chemical forms and the toxicity. Female rats after delivery were used because of high susceptibility to acute hepatitis. They were divided into four stages according to the development of jaundice. Cu concentrations in the whole liver and the supernatant decreased with development of jaundice. Distribution profiles of Cu, zinc, iron and sulfur on a gel filtration column by HPLC-ICP showed that Cu in the liver supernatant was mostly bound to metallothionein (MT) before jaundice (stage 1), high molecular weight proteins and MT at the beginning of jaundice (stages 2 and 3), and then mostly to MT at severe jaundice (stage 4) though the concentration of Cu at this stage was decreased to about 50% of stage 1. The results suggest that Cu accumulating as MT in the liver is liberated drastically after exceeding the capacity of MT synthesis, and the liberated Cu causes acute hepatitis.

The expression of tissue- and urokinase-type plasminogen activators has been studied in developing cerebellum, hippocampus, cerebral cortex, olfactory bulb and olfactory mucosa of the rat by in situ hybridization. All identifiable neurons express urokinase mRNA from an early stage in their development, and this expression appears to coincide with the onset of axogenesis. For cerebellar granule cells, both axonal growth and urokinase expression are initiated before they migrate from the external granule layer; for the majority of neocortical neurons, however, both processes are commenced after the cells have migrated to the cortical plate. Neurons continue to express this protease in the adult. The large projection neurons exhibit the highest levels of message, the smaller interneurons having much lower levels except for hippocampal granule cells, which have notably high levels of expression. Glial cells generally do not express urokinase message, except for transient expression by oligodendrocytes in developing fibre tracts during the period of myelination. Thus for both neurons and oligodendrocytes, the onset of urokinase-type plasminogen activator expression coincides with their initiation of major process outgrowth, although neurons maintain this expression in the adult, possibly to retain a degree of synaptic plasticity. In contrast, although high levels of message for the related protease, tissue plasminogen activator, are found in the embryonic floor plate, in postnatal brain it is abundantly expressed only by ventricular ependymal cells and by cells in connective tissue surrounding the olfactory nerve.

Nine cases (4 men and 5 women, ranging in age from 39 to 73 years with a mean age of 51 years) of cerebello-pontine angle tumors were evaluated by cerebral blood flow scintigraphy on the basis of clinico-functional anatomy. In the 4 of 5 cases in which the middle cerebellar peduncle was compressed by the mass, definite hypoperfusion was revealed in the ipsilateral cerebellar hemisphere. On the other hand, in the 3 of 4 cases without compression of the middle cerebellar peduncle, no asymmetric perfusion was seen in either the right or left cerebellar hemisphere. There were neither supratentorial lesions nor signs of increased intracranial pressure in any of the 9 cases. On the vertebral angiograms of the 4 cases with compression of the middle cerebellar peduncle, non-opacification of the ipsilateral anterior inferior cerebellar artery occurred in only one case. There were no definite signs of reduction of cerebellar blood flow in the other 3 cases. The middle cerebellar peduncle is one of the largest bundles of centripetal fibers in the cerebellar hemispheres. Secondary neuronal fibers of the corticopontocerebellar pathway are the most prominent among these fibers. The mass lesion in the cerebellopontine cistern has a tendency to compress the middle cerebellar peduncle and may deactivate the corticopontocerebellar pathway even if it is small.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Transcatheter arterial infusion chemotherapy is one of the most useful therapeutic procedures for gynecologic malignancies. Recently, several reports have been published about Angiotensin II-induced hypertension chemotherapy and the efficacy of the method, but there have been no reports to evaluate an application for gynecologic malignancies. We evaluate the usefulness of the method for gynecologic malignancies demonstrating the changes of hemodynamics of the tumor using 81mKr scintigraphy. Thirteen patients with pathologically confirmed gynecologic malignancies were evaluated by angiography and continuous infusion of 81mKr via the catheter with and without Angiotensin II. At first, continuous infusion of 81mKr was performed under the superselective catheterization of the uterine artery. The radioactivities in the ROI were counted. Then, withdrew the catheter from the uterine artery to the internal iliac artery, and again continuously infused 81mKr and counted the radioactivities in the same ROI. Finally, keeping the catheter in the internal iliac artery, Angiotensin II and 81mKr were infused simultaneously. And counted the radioactivities. The radioactivities were highest when the catheter tip was placed in uterine arteries and lowest when the catheter tip was placed in internal iliac arteries. But radioactivities in the ROIs were definitely increased when Angiotensin II was used, even if the catheter tip was keeping in the internal iliac arteries. The optimal catheter position of transcatheter arterial chemotherapy for gynecologic malignancies is at proximal uterine artery. Since Angiotensin II-induced hypertension may increase blood flow of tumors, it seems to have indication for post-operative cases, highly advanced cases and cases with difficulties to perform superselective catheterization.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

We present preliminary results on the MT spectra of identified pions, kaons, and protons around central rapidity originating from collisions of 450GeV/c incident protons on Be, S and Pb targets as well as 200AGeV/c Sulfur ions on S and Pb targets. Two particle Hanbury‐Brown Twiss interferometry results are also given for identified pion and kaon pairs.

From January 1989 to December 1989, we performed a prospective survey of adverse reactions to contrast media at three institutes of Juntendo University. We collected a total of 4365 case cards during the period. Low osmolar iodine contrast media were given in all but one case. Procedures using contrast media included computed tomography, intravenous urography, arteriography, venography and myelography. The overall incidence of adverse reactions was 6.6%, and there were no severe or fatal reactions. The incidence of adverse reactions was about the same in both sexes. However, in males, the incidence was higher in the fifth decade, and in females, it was higher in the third and seventh decades. There was no relation between the dose of contrast medium and adverse reactions. Intravenous bolus injections caused adverse reactions more often, followed by intra-arterial injections and then usual intravenous injections. The incidence of adverse reactions in patients with a history of allergy or previous reactions was higher. Pretesting was performed in 48.9% of the cases.

The purpose of this paper is to evaluate the efficacy and limitation of the non-quantitative analysis of renography using 99mTc-DTPA, and to determine the clinical indication of the quantitative analysis of the study. We evaluated the clinical records of the patients and the findings of dynamic imagings and renograms. The non-quantitative analysis of the examination seemed to be useful to the selected cases, and quantitative analysis appeared to be dispensable except for the cases to evaluate the grade of parenchymal damages and causes of asymptomatic hematuria.

In pelvic CT, several techniques (appropriate preparations) have been reported for the optimal diagnostic imagings. We demonstrated the usefulness and limitations of "Air Enema", which is one of preparations for hollow viscera in pelvic CT examination. From Oct. 1986 to Mar. 1987, 38 patients with gynecological abnormalities were evaluated by consecutive pre and post "Air Enema" CT. The patients aged 26-75 years with mean of 44.6 years. All patients were examined in prone position with 100 ml of 2% iopamidol in the urinary bladder and medical tampon in the vagina. Two consecutive scans were performed from the level of pubic symphysis to the 5th lumbar vertebra at 10 mm-15 mm intervals. The first scan was pre "Air Enema" CT, in which the rectum, entire colon and terminal ileum were not distended. The second scan was post "Air Enema" CT, in which the hollow viscera was distended by 1000 ml-1500 ml of air. Two images, each from pre and post "Air Enema" CT were evaluated on the efficacy for imaging diagnosis. In "Air Enema" CT, main useful effect was "replacement effect", which was that intrapelvic masses and/or intrapelvic paravascular spaces were clearly delineated by distended bowels. Detection and location of intrapelvic masses were correctly diagnosed when the masses were relatively small (5.3 cm in average diameter), but there were no advantages in cases in which the pelvic masses were large enough to occupy the pelvic cavity (12.7 cm in average diameter). Abdominal pain was the most common adverse reaction to this technique. But complaints usually disappeared in few hours after examination. Thus, "Air Enema" seems to be useful preparation for pelvic CT examination to detect relatively small intrapelvic masses and abnormalities.

We clarified the role of mold exposure in pituitary tumor induction using 53 germ-free Wistar rats exposed before birth and continually exposed thereafter, to Aspergillus versicolor alone. Rats were autopsied at 540 to 730 days. Untreated germ-free controls were autopsied on day 730. Thirty-three of the 53 monoassociated rats had pituitary tumors (62.3%), while only three of the 41 control germ-free rats had tumors (7.3%). It seems likely that this high incidence of pituitary tumor in the experimental rats is due to metabolites derived from the mold.

Ia antigens are polymorphic membrane glycoproteins coded by genes within the major histocompatibility complex(MHC) class II determinants, which act as restriction elements in immune responses. The antigen-presenting function of cells is associated with the expression of la antigens on the cell surface. Distribution studies in several species, including man, have shown that different cells express la antigens1)2)and thus play an important role in the induction of the immune responses.3) In the gut, antigens applied to the intestinal mucosa can stimulate immune responses. Because of the importance of la molecules in antigen presentation, it was of interest to examine their tissue distribution in the intestinal mucosa.

A 462-pin PGA (pin-grid-array) package that has 636- mu m pin pitch is described. The package substrate and heat sink are made of AlN ceramic. An LSI chip is attached directly on the heat sink. The package has a thermal impedance of less than 0.1 degrees C/W because of the high thermal conductivity of AlN. Further, the thermal coefficients of expansion of AlN and Si are closely matched. The package is 17 mm/sup 2/ and 3.55 mm high. By using 100- mu m-pitch tape-automated-bonding (TAB) technology for both inner lead bonding (ILB) and outer lead bonding (OLB), the maximum size chip mountable on the package is 13.5 mm/sup 2/. The area ratio of package to chip is 1.6, a factor of 3 to 5 better than conventional packages. >

Recent new developments in fracture mechanics sometimes require not only stress intensity factors but also new quantities which characterize the crack growth behavior of materials and engineering structures. Computational methods are discussed for the determination of the stress field parameters of higher order at a crack tip, derivatives of stress intensity factors with respect to crack length for collinear crack extension, and stress intensity factors at the virtually extended crack tip for non-collinear crack extension. These methods are applied to the computaional crack path prediction for brittle fracture in welding residual stress fields.

An energy method is proposed to determine noncollinear crack paths in an elastic brittle solid which exhibits quasi-static crack extension under a displacement-controlled loading condition. Defining the total potential energy as the sum of the elastic potential energy stored in the body and the surface energy, its minimization with respect to crack paths leads to an energetically favorable crack growth path. In order to calculate the energies we use a second-order perturbation solution, which has been obtained for a straight crack with slightly branched and curved extensions under general far-field boundary conditions within the framework of linear fracture mechanics. As far as homogeneous materials are concerned, the minimization of the total potential energy gives rise to the crack direction that is equivalent to the one maximizing the elastic energy release rate. Possible crack paths in materials having inhomogeneous fracture toughness are also investigated by the energy method. In this case, even in a pure Mode-I loading condition, we often observe branched and curved crack extensions, which cannot be predicted by conventional stress or strain criteria. As a practical application of the present method, a brittle crack path extending along a welded joint is predicted, where the effects of applied stresses, residual stresses, and material deterioration are taken into account.

720 Background: Response and survival rates achieved by anthracycline and P (q 3 weeks (W)) pts with metastatic BC are comparable (ECOG1193). Weekly P is expected to produce higher response rates a...

A novel current-mode biquad using operational transconductance amplifiers (OTAs) and current follower (CF) is presented. The circuit can realise lowpass, bandpass, highpass, band-stop and all-pass transfer functions without any circuit matching conditions. The circuit parameters can also be tuned independently by the transconductance gains of the OTAs. The proposed biquad enjoys very low sensitivities with respect to the circuit elements.

The photonuclear reactions (γ, d) and (γ, t) have been studied for two light nuclei 9 Be and 12 C by using tagged photons of energy from 360 to 600 MeV. Momentum spectra for deuterons and tritons have been measured in a momentum range above 500 MeV/ c at three lab angles, 23°, 55° and 130°. The deuteron data are well fitted by a moving-fireball model. These data, together with the previous proton data, are compared with a coalescence-model prediciton. A coalescencemodel relation does not hold in a naive sense, but the cross-section power ratio in this model is found to be independent of incident energy, lab angle and target mass, being a universal function of the final-particle momentum only.

Coherent pion photoproduction from deuteron is studied by measuring the differential cross-sections at c.m. angles between 90° and 130° in a photon energy range from 500 to 1000 MeV. The experimental data are compared with a model calculation which takes into account two kinds of contributions, the nonresonant contribution consisting of pion photoproduction from single nucleons and pion rescattering and that from the dibaryon resonances3F3(2.26) and1G4(2.51). The model predictions for the photon asymmetry σ and the deuteron polarizationiT11 are also presented.