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We have investigated the crystallinity of a self-standing homoepitaxial diamond film grown at a high rate using a polarized optical microscope, X-ray rocking curves and X-ray topographs. The self-standing film was made by removing a synthetic type-Ib(001) substrate after the film growth using a “lift-off process”. The cross-nicol optical microscope image demonstrated that there exists strain spreading at a relatively large area in the film and the strain inherits over that in the substrate. From cross-sectional X-ray topographs, the dominant defects, observed as dotted patterns in plan-view topographs and micrographs, are dislocations extending along the film growth direction 〈001〉 and generating at the interface between the film and the substrate. The density of such defects counted from these measurements was ~ 1 × 10 3 cm − 2 . The dotted patterns observed in X-ray topographs of (220), (− 220) and (400) diffraction planes are almost the same with each other, suggesting that dominant line defects along 〈001〉 are mixed dislocations with a burgers vector directing between 〈001〉 and in-plane of the sample. The high resolution X-ray rocking curve showed that the peak is very sharp with full width at half maximum of 7.56″, which indicates that imperfection of our single-crystal diamond plate is almost the same as that of high-quality high-pressure high-temperature, synthetic type-Ib diamond.

The replacement of Nb matrix with Ta for rapid-heating, quenching and transformation annealing (RHQT) processed Nb/sub 3/Al conductor seems to be advantageous for facilitating the RHQ operation due to a higher mechanical strength at elevated temperatures and less reactivity with the molten Ga in the quench bath and suppressing flux jumps in low magnetic fields. We have fabricated three grades of the Ta matrix precursor, in which the volume fraction of Ta matrix is different, so as to examine the drawability of such Ta matrix precursors. Also examined are the effects of using the Ta matrix on the RHQ condition, T/sub c/ values after quenching and subsequent annealing, respectively, J/sub c/ (core), overall residual resistivity, and magnetization curves. We have succeeded in drawing all of Ta matrix precursors and confirmed the favorable existence of a plateau region in the I/sub RHQ/-T/sub c/ relationship even for the Ta matrix RHQT Nb/sub 3/Al conductors. The resulting superconducting properties were comparative to those of Nb matrix conductors. The replacement of Nb matrix with Ta was very effective in suppressing flux jumps even at 4.2 K.

We tried to enlarge a Nb/Al strand dimension to enhance a current capacity of RHQT- Nb/sub 3/Al further. So far good fsRHQ operation could be made by using the strand dimension of less than /spl phi/ 1.35 mm. This time we tried to make RHQ operation by using a Nb/Al rectangular strand of 1.45 /spl times/ 2.2 mm /sup 2/ which is double cross-section area of /spl phi/ 1.35 mm. Bcc phases could be formed even in the large cross-section rectangular strand by RHQ operation. The samples were post-annealed at 800/spl deg/C for transforming into A15. The resultant I/sub c/ and core J/sub c/ were 232.5 A and 130 A/mm /sup 2/ at 4.2 K, 22 T, respectively. These values largely surpassed I/sub c/ of 57.5 A and J/sub c/ of 72.7 A/mm /sup 2/ at 4.2 K, 22 T for the sample which was made by using a conventional /spl phi/ 1.35 mm strand.

We have examined the critical current I/sub c/ and n-values of RHQT processed Nb/sub 3/Al conductors at 4.2 K in a wide range of fields from 14.5 to 25 T in relation to the microstructures obtained. For a point and a tail of Cu-clad rectangular conductor used for a winding, the n-values were determined by fitting the voltage over a taps spacing of 110 or 220 mm to a relationship of V = CI/sup n/, in a range from 10/sup -5/ to 10/sup -4/ V/m. Such n-values were almost the same with each other, indicating the uniformity of a 370 m length of RHQT Nb/sub 3/Al conductor as the I/sub c/ consistency does. The n-value increased monotonously with decreasing a field from 25 T to 18 T, but got saturated to be around 35 at 4.2 K in fields less than 18 T. The n-value at 21 T and 4.2 K, corresponding to 23.5 T and 1.8 K, was about 25, and confirmed to be large enough for NMR uses.

A rapid-heating, quenching and transformation annealing (RHQT) processed Nb3Al conductor has been developed as a promising candidate for a high-resolution NMR superconducting magnet, because of its large critical current densities and n -values. Establishment of a large-billet extrusion, uniform RHQ operation, transformation heat treatment and subsequent Cu-clad stabilizing that are key issues of the long-length processing allows a fabrication of a four hundred meter long RHQT Nb3Al conductor, and thereby its coil application comes in sight with reality. In the present review article, current status of long-length RHQT processed Nb3Al conductors is described.

A rapid heating and quenching (RHQ) operation along a long-length of jellyroll Nb/Al precursor over 300 m has been established. The J/sub c/ varies sensitively with the joule-heating current (I/sub RHQ/) that determines the temperature from which a precursor wire is quenched, excluding the "plateau" region where the bcc supersaturated-solid solution (Nb(Al)/sub ss/) only forms. The RHQ operation using such a plateau condition can suppress a scatter of J/sub c/ from point to tail of a long-length of wire. The standard deviation of J/sub c/ (4.2 K) at 21 T along a long-length of wire was about 5%, which was less than the variation of J/sub c/ with I/sub RHQ/ in the plateau region (/spl plusmn/7%). The mechanical deformation process needed when incorporating the Cu stabilizer also plays an important role in ensuring uniform heat treatment of the coil that is wound with a long-length of wire and, hence, large heat capacity. Although a temperature ramp-up rate might differ from place to place in the coil, the deformation processing makes such a ramp-up rate insensitive to these critical parameters. The coils using 300.5 m and 254 m lengths of Cu-clad RHQT JR Nb/sub 3/Al conductor generated additional 2.3 T and 3.2 T in bores of 90.2 mm/spl phi/ and 64.6 mm/spl phi/, respectively, indicating that a long-length of RHQT JR Nb/sub 3/Al conductor can be trustworthy for practical coil applications.

Rapid-heating, quenching, and transformation (RHQT)-processed Nb/sub 3/Al was found to provide high critical current density in high field by Cu addition. There seems to be a difference in the reaction path to A15 between binary Nb/Al (non-Cu-addition) and the Cu added ternary. In the binary case, a Nb/Al composite reacted to form a bcc phase through rapid-heating and quenching (RHQ) treatment and then it was transformed into A15 phase including stacking faults by an 800 /spl deg/C heat treatment. On the other hand, when Cu was added, the composite reacted to form A15 phase including stacking faults through RHQ treatment directly. We fabricated Cu added jelly-roll (JR) Nb/Al wire with various Nb/Al layer thicknesses and compositions and investigated their effect on RHQ process. The Cu added JR wire of Al poor composition for Nb/sub 3/Al stoichiometry showed a behavior similar to the binary. Al rich composition showed a behavior similar to the Cu-addition case. In this work we discussed the Cu addition effect by considering these results.

Nb/Al precursor wire with a composition of Nb-25at%Al is converted into a bcc supersaturated solid solution (Nb(Al)SS) through RHQ treatment, of which the maximum heating temperature is around 2,000°C. However, the solubility limit of the bcc phase is 21.5at%Al. Therefore, the solid solution phase does not exist in a state of equilibrium at 25at%Al. Why 25at%Al bcc Nb(Al)SS forms is not clear. Accordingly, we studied the high-temperature state of the solid solution phase at around 2,000°C. We have made four kinds of samples with different Al compositions, ranging from 22.6at% to 30.0at%, and subjected them to RHQ treatment at temperatures from 1,900°C to 2,400°C. We measured variations in the microstructure and superconducting properties at the maximum heating temperature for each composition. We found that the temperature range where only the solid solution phase forms decreases as Al concentration increase. This clearly indicates that the solid solution phase extends to at least 27at%Al.

A Jelly-Roll processed Nb3Al superconductor with excellent superconducting properties has been fabricated by the process of rapid heating, quenching and transformation (RHQT). In order to fabricate a long length of wire with homogeneous superconducting properties, the optimization of the RHQT conditions is particularly important because RHQT conditions determine the final microstructure and superconducting properties. In this paper, we have studied the variation of microstructure and superconducting properties with RHQ and transformation annealing conditions, to determine the optimum processing condition. In the study of the RHQ treatment, we found that the RHQ conditions are divided into four regions according to the joule heating current (IRHQ). In the optimum region, the wire is quenched from the temperature in which a bcc solid solution extends to more than 25 at%Al, and the scatter of critical current density (Jc) after transformation annealing is almost negligible. In the study of the deformation and transformation heat treatment, we have found that the deformation of the supersaturated solid solution improves the resultant superconducting properties, and prevents degradation of superconducting properties that occurs when the temperature ramp-up rate is slow.

The adsorption structure of NO on the Pt(1 1 1) surface at low temperature (90–130 K) was studied by dynamical analysis of low-energy electron diffraction and reflection absorption infrared spectroscopy. Three different 2×2 patterns were identified and their experimental intensity vs. voltage curves ( I – V curves) were compared with dynamically calculated I – V curves for the models including the tilted (bent) NO geometry. The differences of I – V curves can be recognized by virtue of the wider incident electron energy range than the previous dynamical analysis. The most promising interpretation is that NO occupies three sites sequentially depending on the NO coverage. In this interpretation, NO first adsorbs at the threefold fcc hollow site, next at the atop site and last at the threefold hcp hollow site. The NO saturation coverage is 0.75 ML ( 1 ML =1.5×10 −15 molecules/cm 2 ). The NO species at the atop site is tilted and those at both hollow sites are upright. Our new model agrees well with the recent density functional theory calculation and explains the experimental results better than the previous model, in which NO transits from the bridge site to the atop site with increasing coverage.

Uniaxial stress (strain) tolerance was examined for the jelly-roll processed RHQT Nb/sub 3/Al multifilamentary wires made by the LTDR, RHQT and TRUQ methods, respectively. There is almost no difference in the stress (strain) tolerance between the three methods, and the degradation of B/sub c2/ under the stress at 500 MPa at t=0.73 and b=0.8 was about 3.2%. The less dependence of the stress (strain) tolerance on the conductor processing suggests that excellent strain tolerance may be an essential advantage of Nb/sub 3/Al over Nb/sub 3/Sn. The stress dependence of B/sub c2/ in TRUQ method Nb/sub 3/Al at 4.2 K was calculated, and the degradation of B/sub c2/ under the stress of 500 MPa was estimated at only 1.5%. Therefore, the high stoichiometry achieved in the Nb/sub 3/Al conductors is compatible with greatly improved high-field properties.

Recently it has been reported that the critical current density of rapid-heating, quenching, and transformation (RHQT) Nb/sub 3/Al superconductor for high fields was vastly improved by Cu additions. That superconductor was made by rod-in-tube (RIT) process. In this work we tried to fabricate a Cu added Nb/sub 3/Al superconductor by jelly-roll (JR) process, which is one of practical processes of Nb/sub 3/Al superconductor fabrication. We fabricated a miniature sized billet and completed the drawing of multifilamentary wire of 1.10 mm in diameter and 41 m in length with no breakage. A sample subjected to the RHQT showed a core J/sub c/ (4.2 K) of 62 A/mm/sup 2/ at 24 T and exceeded the ordinary RHQT Nb/sub 3/Al JR superconductor (without Cu addition) in core J/sub c/ at high fields.

(1) 豆腐香気成分の捕集法として,ポーラスポリマービーズ充填カラムによる吸着とエーテルによる脱着が有効であった.(2) 国産大豆3種,米国産大豆1種から同様な条件で豆腐を調製しその香気組成と官能評価を比較した結果,エンレイ,フクユタカの高い評価にはマルトールの増加による甘い風味が関連すると考えられる.(3) 豆腐製造中の加熱温度条件として,磨砕時の温度および磨砕後の温度上昇速度について検討した.前者についてはっきりした違いは認められなかったが,後者では緩慢な上昇が風味の増加に寄与しており香気成分としては,ヘキサノール,マルトールが増加していたことから,これら2成分が風味の向上に寄与しているものと思われる.

The adsorption structure of nitric oxide (NO) on Pt(111) was studied at 10 and 70 K by scanning tunneling microscopy (STM). The island growth modes at both temperatures are similar except for the domain size of the 2×2 structure. In these low temperature region, two phases can coexist at medium coverages. These phases are assigned to the two NO species occurring at different stretching-vibrational frequencies observed in the previous vibrational spectroscopic studies. The relative location of two different species observed by STM and its stretching-vibrational frequencies suggests that the adsorption sites of NO on the Pt(111) surface at low and high coverages correspond to the hollow and the on-top sites, respectively.

Hepatocyte growth factor (HGF) has been known as a multiple function factor, which also stimulates early haematopoiesis. In this study, we found that HGF was expressed at both the RNA and protein levels in acute myeloid leukaemia (AML) and chronic myeloid leukaemia (CML). In patients with AML (n = 20) and CML (n = 5), bone marrow plasma HGF concentrations were 20.44 +/- 6.26 (mean +/- s.e.) ng ml-1 and 7.17 +/- 0.53 ng ml-1 respectively. These were significantly higher (P < 0.01) than the value for normal subjects (n = 26): mean 0.92 +/- 0.09 ng ml-1. Constitutive HGF production was observed in freshly prepared leukaemic blast cells from three patients with high HGF levels of bone marrow plasma. Expression of HGF mRNA was correlated with bone marrow plasma HGF levels. After complete remission was obtained in six patients, bone marrow plasma HGF levels were significantly decreased. In contrast, the HGF mRNA was less abundantly expressed in acute lymphoid leukaemia (ALL). In patients with ALL (n = 5), bone marrow plasma HGF concentration (0.69 +/- 0.14 ng ml-1) remained low within the value for normal subjects. These results suggest that some populations of myeloid lineage cells have the ability to produce HGF. Images Figure 2

We prepared YBa2Cu3Ox films on (100) MgO and (100) SrTiO3 substrates by rf thermal plasma evaporation, and investigated microstructure and growth mechanisms of these films by observation of the surfaces using an AFM technique. As a result, 2D nucleation and further coalescence between vicinal grains were observed in the initial stage of growth. In the films prepared for a deposition time of 3 min, the different complex growth modes, including spiral growth, “birth and spread” growth, and 2D growth, were observed, which might be due to high growth rate over 55 nm/min of this process.

As-grown YBa2Cu3Ox films prepared on single crystal (100)MgO substrates by rf thermal plasma evaporation have the advantages of a high deposition rate of 730 nm/min, a large area deposition over 300 cm2, and a high Jc of 6.8 × 105 A/cm2 (77 K, O T), as reported in previous papers.1,2 We report in this paper about the preparation of YBa2Cu3Ox films on yttria-stabilized zirconia (YSZ) polycrystalline substrates for a practical application using this technique to synthesize these films on flexible (metal or flexible polycrystal) substrates. Films prepared on YSZ polycrystalline substrates grew with a c-axis orientation at a relatively high deposition rate and exhibited a zero resistance temperature (TcO) of 88 K and a critical current density Jc of 3500 A/cm2 (77 K, O T). Films prepared on flexible YSZ polycrystalline tapes with a length of 100 mm were also grown with a c-axis orientation and exhibited TcO) over 77 K.

Optical emission spectroscopy of the rf thermal plasma evaporated YBa2Cu3O7−x has been investigated. The deposited films with the nearly stoichiometric composition could be obtained by using Y-rich powder. From the optical emission spectra, O, Y, Y+, Ba, Ba+, Cu, and YO as the emitting species were observed. The excitation temperature was lower for Y+ than for the other dissociated elements. The relative intensity for YO of a suboxide became larger with a lower plasma torch. It is thought that the deposited film that is poor in Y results from YO sticking to the substrate rather than Y or Y+.

We developed a new flow cytometry analysis method using a crossover analysis of emission light from intracellular DNA/RNA. Both the RNA and the DNA content in each cell were new parameters obtained by fluorescence analysis using acridine orange supravital stain. With this method, two-dimensional diagrams produced by cellular RNA concentration (CRc) and cellular DNA concentration (CDc) enabled clear separation of red cells and platelets, and the diagram (RNP Diagram) also distinguished fluorescently stained blood cells and small particles derived from background dust of the reagent. This study assessed the capability of RNP Determination concerning reticulocyte count and accurate platelet count obtained by the ratio of red cells and platelets. The distance of each event between red cell distribution and platelet distribution was sufficiently large on the diagram, and the two regions did not overlap. Both reticulocyte count and platelet count showed excellent correlation with those obtained by their respective reference methods. In conclusion, this new assay, using RNP Determination, demonstrated great potential for detecting abnormalities of red cells and platelets.

We investigated effects of top electrodes on fatigue behavior of SrBi/sub 2/Ta/sub 2/O/sub 9/ (SBT) capacitors after bipolar switching. The SBT films of 200 nm in thickness were formed on Pt bottom electrodes by a metal organic decomposition (MOD) process. Some top electrodes (Pt, Ag, Au, Al, and Cu) were deposited on the SBT films by conventional vacuum evaporation. The fatigue under application of bipolar pulses with 500 kHz and the amplitude of 250 kV/cm was measured with an RT6000S test system (Radiant Technologies).

It has been reported that less fatigue behaviors and low leakage currents of SrBi/sub 2/Ta/sub 2/O/sub 9/ (SBT) and Bi/sub 4-x/La/sub x/Ti/sub 3/O/sub 12/ (BLT) rise from oxygen ion compensation from the (Bi/sub 2/O/sub 2/)/sup +/ layer to the perovskite lattice. In this study, the structural changes (phase transitions and local structures) of SBT and BLT after annealing in vacuum were studied to examine the crucial factor for their structural stability.

Several national and local external quality assurance schemes have been developed to improve the plasma fibrinogen assay in Japan over the past 30 years. Now most commercial calibrant plasma may be calibrated against an International Standard preparation, in order to achieve agreement of results obtained by different laboratories. However, we have never achieved satisfactory results, according to an external quality control survey regarding the fibrinogen assay. Therefore, we distributed two kinds of fibrinogen standards to be used as common calibrators, along with three plasma samples, among 183 general laboratories in Japan. The results of this collaborative study showed that the assigned value for the commercially available calibrators remained problematic. Furthermore, it was concluded that the between-laboratory variability could not be improved beyond a certain degree of standardization, even if a common calibrator was used for the Clauss-derived assay carried out by an automatic coagulometer.

In this paper we report on the field emission properties of single crystal diamond emitters, which are boron-doped emitters, ion implanted emitters and phosphorus-doped emitters.

Fibrinogen plays a major role in basic coagulation tests such as prothrombin time (PT), activated partial thromboplastin time (APTT) and thrombin time (TT). These show high interlaboratory variation because of inaccurate instrumental calibration. The same is true of the fibrinogen assay, despite its being a quantitative assay. Most medical laboratories use automated coagulometers and commercially available calibration materials (calibrators) to obtain an accurate fibrinogen value, but, when checked, calibrators have been found to deviate from the assigned value. The Japan Society of Laboratory Medicine (JSLM) has identified the need for a reliable plasma fibrinogen standard. To enhance the reliability of calibrator fibrinogen values and thereby remedy the poor precision and accuracy of plasma fibrinogen testing, we undertook the preparation of a standard calibration material applicable to both the Clauss method and turbidimetric immunoassay (TIA). The calibrator was prepared from fresh human plasma by glycine precipitation and virus inactivation followed by affinity chromatography to remove contaminated plasminogen. In the resulting product, clottable fibrinogen accounted for 95% of total protein and within-run precision showed a CV of less than 1.8%. We believe the preparation will become a candidate material for laboratory and manufacturer use in Japan.

The spun packed cell volume (PCV, hematocrit) is a key measurement on which are based hematology instrument calibration, reference range determination, and assignment of values to calibrators/controls. In 2001, the International Council for Standardization in Haematology (ICSH) recommended a Reference PCV method, which is fully traceable to the ICSH reference hemoglobin method. Because of its complexity, however, this method is impractical for occasional use in routine laboratories and is therefore intended primarily for use by manufacturers of capillary microhematocrit tubes, liquid calibrators, and multichannel analyzers. In response to the need for a simpler method--accessible to all routine laboratories--the ICSH offers this "Surrogate Reference" PCV procedure. It is traceable to the original ICSH Reference PCV method and is based on spun PCVs obtained using borosilicate capillary tubes with an already-known relationship to this reference procedure. This ICSH "Surrogate Reference" PCV method is substantially simpler, thus putting it within the reach of most routine hematology laboratories.

The authors propose to fabricate the black matrix using the same self-aligned process used for forming tricolor filters. They discuss the possibility of 1/400 duty ratio operation, in order to decrease the number of driving ICs and simplify the assembly of the driving ICs and the LC cell. >

A method developed to obtain black-and-white graphics in super-twist nematic (STN) liquid-crystal displays. The method uses achromatic polymer layer attached to an STN panel to neutralize colours caused by birefringence of the STN. This optical colour compensation technology has been called retardation control by film. >

The HLA-DO molecule is a non-classical class II heterodimer composed of alpha and beta chains. We have previously recognized that all eight of the allelic variations of the HLA-DOA gene represent non-synonymous amino acid substitution. In the present study, to analyze genetic polymorphism and allelic variation of the HLA-DOB gene which may affect the efficiency of class II restricted antigen presentation thereby being involved in the susceptibility of HLA associated diseases, we conducted direct DNA sequencing of HLA-DOB in 36 HLA class II homozygous typing cells and identified six new allelic variations (DOB*0101101, *0101102, *01012, *01022, *0104101 and *0104102) including five single nucleotide polymorphisms with only one amino acid substitution. Furthermore, strong linkage disequilibrium was detected between DOB*01022 and DRB1*1502 only, with no linkage disequilibrium between the DOA and the DOB genes. The HLA-DOB gene has been identified in other mammals, and their nucleotide sequences are well conserved. These facts suggest that limited polymorphism in the DOB gene is profitable to execute their unique function as a co chaperone and so strong selective pressure is operating to prevent generic variation against the DOB molecule interacting with the DM molecule and thus maintaining the specified immunological function of regulating antigen presentation.

We have successfully developed a thermal management analysis technique that consists of computer simulation based on experimental data, to assume temperatures of high-power electronic modules using Cu bonded AlN substrates, which are used in electric vehicles (EVs) and hybrid electric vehicles (HEVs). An experimental system emulating a high power electronic module was assembled. With increasing electrical power, we observed a positive nonlinearity between the temperature on heaters and the input power. In order to explain this nonlinearity, we ascertained two important factors, the warpage of the substrate and the pore rate inside the Si-grease between the substrate and the Al plate. For ascertaining the warpage due to thermal stress, a movement of reflectance laser beam from a mirror put on the substrate was measured. We determined the pore rate of Si- grease by measuring the pore size inside the grease sandwiched between a clear glass plate and an Al plate on a heated plate. Inputting the pore rate into thermal-strain-interaction simulation, the calculated temperature was consistent with the experimental temperature within an error of less than 3 deg. C at a high power operation of 900 W.

Platelet activation and aggregation results in factitious counting and sizing in routine haematology testing. In this study, the possibility of platelet activation in anticoagulated solutions was examined. Whole blood was examined using an automated counter and a flow cytometer before and after strong vortex agitation. Blood treated with ethylenediaminetetraacetic acid (EDTA) exhibited platelet activation both pre- and postagitation but activated platelets did not cause platelet aggregation. With sodium citrate, platelets were only minimally activated both pre- and postagitation. Heparin-treated blood exhibited minimal platelet activation preagitation, but agitation resulted in strong platelet activation and aggregation. Platelet size was increased by agitation in blood with EDTA and with sodium citrate, in association with significant increases in mean platelet volume (MPV) and platelet distribution width (PDW), but MPV and PDW were significantly higher in EDTA solution than in sodium citrate solution. Change in platelet size was observed even in the presence of EDTA, indicating that careful sampling and processing are needed in the collection of specimens. Specimens obtained from patients with EDTA-dependent pseudothrombocytopenia exhibited the same level of activation as controls, although platelets exhibited aggregation in such specimens. In conclusion, platelet activation involving platelet size change can occur in the absence of calcium ions in blood treated with EDTA.

In the modern medical laboratory system, simple and rapid processing of specimens are required. In the current system with the transportation line, its centrifugation part would disturb smooth flow of the testing because it needs much time for the centrifugation. To solve the problems, a serum separation method was tried for the whole blood specimen using poly-L-lysine, concanavalin A and phyto-hemoagglutinin. Ploy-L-lysine with molecular weight 130,000 to 210,000 in a final concentration of 0.1% could accelerate blood sedimentation, although its supernatant contaminated platelets. Concanavalin and phytohemoagulutinin could accelerate the sedimentation and obtained plasma, but the method could yield enough amount of supernatant by 1 hour standing. As the purpose of this study is to develop a centrifugeless method, a sieve method using a steel mesh and a magnet was applied to the mixture of EDTA blood, red-cell adhesives and thrombin. The method was unique to separate plasma, but the yield was not so high and chemistry data were not fitted with serum data in some of tests. Thus, the trial would be a new technology, but it was judged that some further improvement will be needed technically.

We selected 31 patients with aplastic anemia to measure their total immunoglobulin (Ig) G and IgG subclasses and compared the results obtained with those obtained in the normal control group (n=461). Patients with aplastic anemia were classified into three subgroups according to severity: mild subgroup (n=14), moderate subgroup (n=12) and severe subgroup (n=5). The decrease in total IgG was recognized in all these three subgroups (p0.001). Although IgG1 decreased in severe subgroup (p0.01), it showed no significant difference in mild and moderate subgroups. The decrease in IgG2 and IgG3 was observed in all these three subgroups (p0.001 and p0.01, respectively). Although IgG4 decreased in mild subgroup (p0.05), it showed no significant difference in moderate and severe subgroups. We speculated that the measurement of IgG subclasses was useful in understanding the pathophysiology of humoral immunity in aplastic anemia.

We report 2 cases of bronchus-associated lymphoid tissue lymphoma (BALT lymphoma), which is a rare disease. Patient 1 was a 76-year-old woman with a chief complaint of cough. Since plain chest radiography revealed an abnormal shadow in the hilum of the lung, she visited our hospital. Patient 2 was a 56-year-old man, who had been diagnosed as having pseudolymphoma at a medical check-up in a local hospital. During follow-up, however, he was referred to our hospital because of enlarged tumors and chest pain. In both patients, bronchofiberscopy demonstrated submucosal tumors and biopsy samples showed formation of lymphoepithelial lesions by centrocyte-like cells with a B-cell staining pattern. The patients were therefore diagnosed as having BALT lymphoma. Both received CEOP-E treatment, which improved the clinical symptoms but did not result in complete remission. The patients have been followed up after discontinuation of the medication. The progress of the disease has been slow, and both patients are alive as of September 2001.

A late phase II clinical trial of amrubicin hydrochloride, a novel synthetic anthracycline derivative anticancer agent, was conducted at 14 institutions nationwide, in patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. In this multi-center collaborative study, doxorubicin hydrochloride was replaced by amrubicin hydrochloride in CHOP therapy, a standard regimen for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma consisting of cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin hydrochloride, vincristine sulfate and prednisolone. A total of 39 patients were enrolled in this study between January 1996 and March 1998. Among them, 37 patients were eligible for this study. The study drugs were administered to patients with non-Hodgkin's lymphoma according to the following schedule: amrubicin hydrochloride (100 mg/m2, body surface area), cyclophosphamide (750 mg/m2) and vincristine sulfate (1.4 mg/m2, a maximal dose of 2.0 mg/body) were administered intravenously on day one, while prednisolone (60 mg/m2/day) was administered orally on days 1 to 5. This cycle of treatment was repeated every three weeks in principle. The efficacy and safety were assessed for 37 eligible patients. The combined rate for CR + CRu was 70.3% (26/37) and the overall response rate (CR + CRu + PR) was 86.5% (32/37). demonstrating that amrubicin hydrochloride was very effective in the treatment of non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. The most frequent adverse reactions that occurred during the study were myelosuppressions: leukopenia and neutropenia, 100% (37/37); and decreases in hemoglobin levels, 81.1% (30/37). Thrombocytopenia, elevations of serum GOT and GPT levels, anorexia, nausea/vomitting, fever, stomatitis and alopecia were also observed. Although leukopenia and neutropenia of grade 3 or higher were noted in 89.2% (33/37) and 94.6% (35/37), respectively, they were controllable by administrations of G-CSF or solely by follow-up observations. One patient developed intestinal paralysis (grade 4) and another developed hematemesis. In conclusion, these results indicate that amrubicin hydrochloride is an effective agent as a component of combination chemotherapy for non-Hodgkin's lymphoma.

Anti-Nak(a), a platelet-specific antibody, occasionally causes platelet-transfusion refractoriness (PTR) together with human leucocyte antigen (HLA) antibodies. Anti-Nak(a) usually appears after frequent platelet transfusions or pregnancy. We report the first case of PTR caused by anti-Nak(a) alone.A 19-year-old male patient with testicular tumour showed PTR when receiving his first transfusion of platelets. Screening for platelet antigens and platelet antibodies revealed that he had type I CD36 (Nak(a)) deficiency and that anti-Nak(a), but not anti-HLA, was present before he received his first transfusion.The transfusion of Nak(a)-negative, but HLA non-selected, platelets was effective in raising the platelet count.Clinically significant Nak(a) antibody was present as naturally occurring antibody in a platelet glycoprotein IV (CD36)-negative non-transfused male patient.

The reticulocyte count has been conventionally determined using a visual method. Recently, due to technological advances an automated method has come into general use in laboratories. The precision in terms of reproducibility of automated reticulocyte counters has also made rapid progress compared with the visual method. The measurements of reticulocyte counts showed good correlation among the five automated reticulocyte counters and the visual method although the accuracy of an automated method is problematical since it is not sufficient to find the true value. It remains difficult to standardize reticulocyte counting because automated reticulocyte counting is performed in accordance with the procedure specified by the respective manufactures; thus, an external quality control survey was performed for an accuracy assurance of reticulocyte counts with the participation of many laboratories. In the future, it is necessary to develop biological reference materials equal to the true value or to establish other standardization using new technology.