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Background Cross-neutralizing capacity of antibodies against severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) variants is important in mitigating (re-)exposures. Role of antibody maturation, the process whereby selection of higher affinity antibodies augments host immunity, to determine SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing capacity was investigated. Methods Sera from SARS-CoV-2 convalescents at 2, 6, or 10 months postrecovery, and BNT162b2 vaccine recipients at 3 or 25 weeks postvaccination, were analyzed. Anti-spike IgG avidity was measured in urea-treated ELISAs. Neutralizing capacity was assessed by surrogate neutralization assays. Fold change between variant and wild-type neutralization inferred the breadth of neutralizing capacity. Results Compared with early-convalescent, avidity indices of late-convalescent sera were significantly higher (median, 37.7 [interquartile range 28.4–45.1] vs 64.9 [57.5–71.5], P < .0001). Urea-resistant, high-avidity IgG best predicted neutralizing capacity (Spearman r = 0.49 vs 0.67 [wild-type]; 0.18–0.52 vs 0.48–0.83 [variants]). Higher-avidity convalescent sera better cross-neutralized SARS-CoV-2 variants (P < .001 [Alpha]; P < .01 [Delta and Omicron]). Vaccinees only experienced meaningful avidity maturation following the booster dose, exhibiting rather limited cross-neutralizing capacity at week 25. Conclusions Avidity maturation was progressive beyond acute recovery from infection, or became apparent after the booster vaccine dose, granting broader anti-SARS-CoV-2 neutralizing capacity. Understanding the maturation kinetics of the 2 building blocks of anti-SARS-CoV-2 humoral immunity is crucial.

BackgroundThe durability and cross-neutralizability of protective antibodies against evolving SARS-CoV-2 variants are primary concerns in mitigating (re-)exposures. The role of antibody maturation, the process whereby selection of higher avidity antibodies augments host immunity, to determine SARS-CoV-2 neutralizability was investigated.MethodsSera collected from SARS-CoV-2 convalescent individuals at 2- or 10-months after recovery, and BNT162b2 vaccine recipients at 3 or 25 weeks post-vaccination, were analyzed. Anti-spike IgG avidity was measured on a urea-treated ELISA platform. Neutralizing ability of antibodies was assessed by surrogate virus neutralization. Fold change between variant and wild-type antigen neutralizability was calculated to infer breadth of neutralizability.ResultsCompared with early-convalescence, the avidity index of late-convalescent sera was significantly higher (median 37.7 (interquartile range 28.4–45.1) vs. 64.9 (57.5–71.5), p < 0.0001), indicative of progressive antibody maturation extending months beyond acute-phase illness. The urea-resistant, high-avidity fraction of IgG was best predictive of neutralizability (Spearman’s r = 0.49 vs. 0.67 for wild-type; 0.18–0.52 vs. 0.48–0.83 for variants). Higher-avidity convalescent sera showed greater cross-neutralizability against SARS-CoV-2 variants (p < 0.001 for Alpha; p < 0.01 for Delta and Omicron). Vaccinees experienced delayed maturation kinetics, translating to limited breadth of neutralizability at week-25 post-vaccination which was only comparable to that of early-convalescence.ConclusionsAvidity maturation grants broader neutralizability that is resilient against emerging SARS-CoV-2 variants. With immunopotentiation through repeat vaccinations becoming a pivotal strategy to accomplish herd immunity, understanding the variable longitudinal evolutions of the two building blocks of ‘hybrid immunity’ is crucial.

Drug-induced thrombocytopenia occurs through immune-mediated platelet destruction, and its management is challenging during tuberculosis treatment. Although rifampicin is the most common drug causing thrombocytopenia, isoniazid can also cause thrombocytopenia. We herein report a 75-year-old man who developed thrombocytopenia during tuberculosis treatment. Platelet-associated immunoglobulin G and a drug-induced lymphocyte stimulation test for isoniazid were positive; no other causes of thrombocytopenia were identified. The patient was diagnosed with isoniazid-induced immune thrombocytopenia, and the platelet count normalized after isoniazid discontinuation. We describe the immunological mechanism of thrombocytosis due to isoniazid, an uncommon cause of thrombocytopenia that physicians should be aware exists.

Purpose To characterize the clinical features and outcome of patients treated at a specialized hospital for coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19). Methods We retrospectively reviewed the symptoms on admission, treatment, and outcome of a total of 300 patients with mild (peripheral oxygen saturation (SpO2) ≥ 96%), moderate I (93%

The aim of this study is to understand adaptive immunity to SARS-CoV-2 through the analysis of B cell epitope and neutralizing activity in coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) patients. We obtained serum from thirteen COVID-19 patients. Most individuals revealed neutralizing activity against SARS-CoV-2 assessed by a pseudotype virus-neutralizing assay. The antibody production against the spike glycoprotein (S protein) or receptor-binding domain (RBD) of SARS-CoV-2 was elevated, with large individual differences, as assessed by ELISA. In the analysis of the predicted the linear B cell epitopes, two regions (671-690 aa. and 1146-1164 aa.), which were located in S1 and S2 but not in the RBD, were highly reactive with the sera from patients. In the further analysis of the B cell epitope within the S protein by utilizing a B cell epitope array, a hot spot in the N-terminal domain of the S protein but not the RBD was observed in individuals with neutralizing activity. Overall, the analysis of antibody production and B cell epitopes of the S protein from patient serum may provide a novel target for the vaccine development against SARS-CoV-2.

The paired tubular accessory glands in Haemaphysalis longicornis open at the junction of the cervical and the vestibular parts of vagina via short and narrow ducts. The pseudostratified columnar glandular epithelium covered by the muscle layer consists of both secretory and supporting cells. As feeding proceeds, the secretory cells increase in volume. In ovipositing females, well-developed rough endoplasmic reticulum, the Golgi complex, and membranebound granules that are undergoing exocytosis suggest that the secretory cells are involved in protein synthesis. However, in virgin females that fed 10 days, only small dense granules and no secretion activity were observed. The secretions from the tubular accessory gland may be released into the genital tract during the egg passage through the vagina. However, the supporting cells located between the secretory cells become slender during feeding, cohere to each other at the luminal side, and have a very narrow attachment at the basement membrane. Supporting cells probably help maintain secretory cell shape especially during granular discharge into the lumen. © 1994 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

The receptaculum seminis, opening into the female genital tract, is found only in the metastriate ixodid ticks. An endospermatophore that has been inserted into the female genital aperture at copulation is first stored in the receptaculum seminis, where spermiogenesis is completed before the sperm ascend the oviducts. The receptaculum seminis consists of a simple cuticularized epithelium. Epithelial cells in sexually matured females develop during feeding and become active in secretion. Secretions discharged from epithelial cells are released into the lumen of this organ through the cuticle and may act on the wall of the inserted endospermatophore. The fact that resumption of spermiogenesis (spermateleosis) has already occurred before destruction of the endospermatophore just after copulation suggests that secretions from epithelial cells of the receptaculum seminis are not the trigger of spermateleosis, but a destructive agent of the endospermatophore wall. J Morphol 231:143-147, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

It is well known that the prevalence of heterotopic pregnancies following assisted reproductive technology (ART) is much higher than among spontaneous pregnancies. Here, we illustrate a very rare case of bilateral simultaneous tubal pregnancies combined with intrauterine pregnancy (incomplete abortion) following gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). In this case, unsuspected bilateral tubal pregnancies were diagnosed when laparotomy was performed 10 days after the termination of an intrauterine pregnancy. We conclude that a careful monitoring after the termination of an intrauterine pregnancy should be performed when the patient has prolonged genital bleeding, which might be a warning signal of heterotopic pregnancy existence even in patients without any risk factors of ectopic pregnancy. (Reprod Med Biol 2002; 1: 65–67)

When the Java language is used in a large-scale real-time communications system, processing power presents a problem. The authors have been investigating an essential solution for this problem. This paper proposes a technique in which native code which has already been on-line compiled by a JIT compiler is dynamically reordered, based on profiling data obtained in the Java execution environment. The realization procedure is clearly described. The technique is to place segments of compiled code with high execution frequency close to each other as a group in memory. In addition, codes with low execution frequency are allocated to another area, so that the codes with high frequencies are more compactly placed. By this measure, the instruction cache hit rate of the processor is greatly increased and the processing performance in a large-scale program can be improved. The extent of performance improvement by applying the dynamic code reordering technique is evaluated, using applications with characteristics close to those of the real large-scale real-time communications program, and the effectiveness of the proposed method is demonstrated. © 2006 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 1, 89(11): 78–88, 2006; Published online in Wiley InterScience (www.interscience.wiley.com). DOI 10.1002/ecja.20185

Summary Background Vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF) is highly expressed in the airway of asthmatic patients. As VEGF increases airway vascular permeability, consequent thickening of the airway wall mucosa may lead to narrowing of the airway lumen. Objective We evaluated the relationship between VEGF levels in induced sputum and eosinophilic inflammatory profiles, and the degree of airway vascular permeability in asthmatic patients and we evaluated the effect of inhaled corticosteroids on VEGF levels in induced sputum. Methods Induced sputum specimens were obtained from 28 glucocorticosteroids free asthmatics and 11 healthy control subjects. We examined VEGF levels and airway vascular permeability index in induced sputum. After the initial sputum induction, 21 asthmatics received 8-week inhaled beclomethasone dipropionate (BDP, 800 µg/day) therapy, then sputum induction was repeated. Results The VEGF levels in asthmatics were significantly higher than in healthy control subjects (P

The prevalent theory concerning the pathogenesis of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) is of an imbalance between oxidants and antioxidants in the lung. It has recently been reported that the production of peroxynitrite, an extremely potent oxidant, is increased in the airways of patients with COPD. A study was undertaken of the imbalance between the levels of nitrogen oxides and antioxidant activity against peroxynitrite in the airways of patients with COPD.Sputum induction was performed in 30 patients with COPD and 15 normal control subjects. Levels of nitrogen oxides, percentage of neutrophils, and interleukin 8 (IL-8) levels were measured in sputum samples, and peroxynitrite inhibitory activity was assayed by monitoring rhodamine formation.Nitrite and nitrate levels in induced sputum were significantly higher in patients with COPD than in normal controls (949 (133) microM v 621 (89) microM, p0.001). In contrast, peroxynitrite inhibitory activity in induced sputum was significantly lower in patients with COPD than in normal controls (47.4 (12.7)% v 92.9 (3.9)%, p0.001). There was a negative correlation between nitrite and nitrate levels and peroxynitrite inhibitory activity in induced sputum (r=-0.775, p0.001). Peroxynitrite inhibitory activity was also significantly correlated with forced expiratory volume in 1 second (FEV(1)) % predicted (r=0.539, p=0.004), FEV(1)/FVC (r=0.512, p=0.006), and carbon monoxide transfer factor (TLCO) (r=0.486, p=0.009). Moreover, there was a significant negative correlation between peroxynitrite inhibitory activity and the degree of neutrophilic inflammation (percentage of neutrophils: r=-0.754, p0.001; IL-8 levels: r=-0.497, p=0.007).Reduced peroxynitrite inhibitory activity and increased levels of nitrogen oxides are found in induced sputum from patients with COPD. An imbalance in nitrogen oxides and antioxidant defence may contribute to the pathogenesis of COPD.

Copulation in ticks is completed by the insertion of the spermatophore into the female genital aperture by a male. The endospermatophore, a cord-like structure and contents are packed in the ectospermatophore of the completed spermatophore. The endospermatophore extrudes just after insertion of the tip of the spermatophore. Only the endospermatophore enters the female genital tract, and the ectospermatophore remains outside the female body. The extrusion is observed in vitro in Haemaphysalis longicornis at various concentrations of NaCl solution: the process is accelerated in less concentrated solutions. The cord-like structure and the endospermatophore finally receive contents extruded from the ectospermatophore. The tip of the cord-like structure connects to the surface of the endospermatophore, and together form a loop after extrusion. Ultrastructural observations confirmed that the ectospermatophore wall is composed of four layers, and the contents consist of male germ cells and three types of secretions from the male accessory genital glands. As in other ticks the male germ cells are elongated spermatids in spermatophores just after formation and extrusion. Adlerocysts described in other ticks are not found in the spermatophore of H. longicornis.

The masseter muscles of the Japanese field vole Microtus montebelli were studied histochemically and electron microscopically. The masseter muscles were composed of only fast-twitch oxidative (FO) fibers. As to ultrastructural features of the fibers, mitochondria, sarcoplasmic reticula and transverse tubules were well developed. It is concluded that the masseter muscles in M. montebelli have the structural characteristics that they can contract fast and enduringly. Thus, they appear to be highly adapted to herbivorous food habit.

Measurements of pH in minced cuticle from the alloscutum of non-copulated and copulated female Haemaphysalis longicornis revealed a descent of cuticular pH after copulation. Sample cuticular loops were cut from the alloscutum of non-copulated females and immersed in buffers adjusted to pH 4, 5, 6, 7 or 8. Extensions of the cuticular loops subjected to a constant applied load were measured using a creep test. The cuticular loops at pH 7 and 8 showed small extensibilities. However, as the acidity of the cuticle increased, the sample loops displayed larger extensibilities. Extensibilities of sample loops from copulated females were significantly larger than those from non-copulated females. Based upon this difference of extensibility, the descent of cuticular pH after copulation is presumed to be about 0.5 pH units. These data suggest that the cuticular plasticization is caused by the cuticular acidification in the female tick. Moreover, novel acidophilic epidermal cells were situated around dermal ...

A rnale tick gives elongated spermatids to a female, that is, spermatogenesis within testes completes itself until elongated spermatids. And then elongated spermatids develop into mature sperms after they enter into the female genital tract via the spermatophore. In the present study, ultrastructural observations of spermatogenic cells were made at each stage of spermatogenesis in male Haemphysalis longicornis. Spermatogenic cells from spermatogonia to primary spermatocytes at the middle of their great growth phase were found in testes of unfed males. Subsequently, testes of H. longicomis are developed by feeding at their adult stage. The testes, or spermatogenic cells, were developed gradually until the 5-day feeding period was complete (the complete feeding stage). Spermatogenic cells at all stages from spermatogonia to elongated spermatids were contained in the testes of completely fed males. Spermatogenic cells were packed in cysts. Elongated spermatids which had been completed at the posterior ends of testes were made spermiation with the breakdown of the cyst cells. The spermatids were carried out of the testes through the central lumen. The cyst cells formed the lumen, and had some microvilli on their free surface.

Kakuda, H., T. Hirooka, T. Mori and S. Shiraishi, 1997. Ultrastructure of the lobular accessory glands in Haemaphysalis longicornis(Acari:Ixodidae). J. Acarol. Soc. Jpn., 6(1): 17-24.The lobular accessory glands in female Haemaphysalis longicornis are derived from the epithelial lining of the vestibular vagina. As feeding proceeds, the epithelium increases in volume and becomes glandular. The apical region of the developing epithelium detaches from the vestibular cuticle, and the vestibular sinus is formed. Secretions from the epithelial cells are discharged into the sinal lumen and released into the genital tract through the vestibular cuticle.Well-developed microvilli, intercellular spaces and infoldings of the basal plasma membrane associated with mitochondria found in ovipositing females indicate transporting epithelia. The fact that secretory activity of the glands occurs during oviposition suggests that secretions from the lobular accessory glands are involved in the passing of eggs through the genital tract.

Both postnatal growth and development of Japanese field voles, Microtus montebelli, were observed in a laboratory colony. Details of the developmental aspects of the life-history of this species are described focusing on behavioral development including ultrasonic vocalization, sexual dimorphism and the use of sigmoidal models of growth patterns. One purpose of the study was to provide a reliable basis for age-estimation of a wild population prior to conducting field investigations. The overall pattern of development of M. montebelli was similar to that of other Microtus species, particularly in their relatively rapid development. Young M. montebelli were found to vocalize intensively at an ultrasonic frequency of approximately 25 kHz until their eyes opened. The Gompertz equation was selected from three nonlinear growth models (Gompertz, logistic and von Bertalanffy), as it best described the curves of body mass increase and of four external lengths, and it best estimated maximum growth rates derived from the Gompertz equations fitted to actual rates during a linear growth phase. These features of the Gompertz equation seemed to be useful for analyzing growth patterns of wild voles. After 30 days, growth curves for each morphometric parameter diverged sexually, thus, weight-classes used for age estimation should differ between the sexes.

Okura N., K. Koga, T. Mori and S. Shiraishi, 1997. Morphological changes in soft integument during feeding of adult female Haemaphysalis longicornis(Acari: Ixodidae). J. Acarol. Soc.Jpn., 6(1): 33-41.Morphological changes in a stretchable soft integument of adult female Haemaphysalis longicornis during feeding were examined using light and electron microscopy.(1)Semi-thin plastic sections of the integument stained with toluidine blue were quite suitable for distinguishing components of the endocuticle. Using this procedure, it is clearly observed that the inner endocuticle differentiates into the outer endocuticle during the cuticle synthesis phase.(2)Ultrastructural observations of epidermal cells after copulation showed decrease in frequency of exocytosis of the cuticular materials, increase in number of large secretory granules containing these materials, and reduction in the volume of the rough endoplasmic reticulum. Therefore, copulatory stimuli induce to stop the exocytosis of cuticular materials at first and synthesis of these materials subsequently in the epidermal cells.

A 59-year-old female was complaining of sore throat, right otorrhea, and hearing impairment. There were no abnormal findings suggestive of pulmonary tuberculosis on her chest XP and CT. Nasopharyngoscopic examination detected a lesion coated with white mass on her nasopharynx, and a biopsy-specimen from this lesion revealed histopathological findings compatible with tuberculosis and the presence of acid-fast bacilli. PCR was positive for Mycobacterium tuberculosis complex. Therefore, we diagnosed the case as primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis and treated her by 4-drug combination regimen with daily isoniazid, rifampicin, ethambutol and pyrazinamide. Later, low degree of resistance was noticed, isoniazid was replaced by levofloxacin. After the anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy, her symptoms almost completely diminished and the mass in her nasopharynx disappeared. As far as we can search, 23 Japanese cases of primary nasopharyngeal tuberculosis, including this case, have been reported in the literatures. We summarized the clinical features of these cases in Table. Nasopharyngeal tuberculosis is a rather rare disease. But, recently, due to the advances in diagnostic technology, the number of the case-reports has been increasing. Difficulties in detecting tubercle bacilli in nasopharyngeal lesion sometimes delayed definite diagnosis and treatment. If a patient complains the symptoms compatible with this disease, such as sore throat, pharyngeal pain and otorrhea, which are refractory to the general antibiotic therapy, we should be aware of the existence of this disease and repeat bacteriological and/or molecular examinations to prove tubercle bacilli to be able to start timely anti-tuberculosis chemotherapy.

St,ructural changes in the female genital system of ZIuc~rnr~~~/~~~su.lis loi/gico?-rris during feeding, copulation and oviposition were observed in the light microscope. The genital system consists of the vestibular and cervical vagina, tubular accessory glands, connecting tube, receptaculum seminis, oviduct and ovary. As in H@otn?r~, epithelial cells lining the vestibular cuticle become the lobular accessory glands during feeding, secretions from which coat the surface of passing eggs and may function as a waterproofing agent. However, it is clear from these observations that dramatic feeding-related changes occur also in the other organs constituting the system. The cervical vagina and connecting tube both have a similar structure, their developed muscles being involved in transfer of male germ cells and/or eggs. Secretions from the feeding-stimulated tubular accessory glands may be a coating agent applied to the egg surface or act as a lubricant for egg passage. Epithelial cells of the receptaculum seminis are probably involved in destruction of the inserted endospermat,ophore. In t,he fed females, just, after copulation the oviducal epithelium produces a secretion, which also may exert some influence upon the passing spermatozoa and eggs. Muscles surrounding the oviduct,s cause peristalt,ic contract.ions during the passage of spermatozoa and eggs. In the developed ovary, the oocyte prot,rudes into the haemocoel, and is attached to special funicle cells which arise from ovarian epithelium. Numerous spermatozoa present in the ovarian lumen during oviposition imply that fertilization occurs in the ovary.

A signaling functional model (separated model) that assumes the functional separation of call control (CC) and bearer control (BC) must be considered for B-ISDN because B-ISDN deals with various levels of service quality, various speeds, and various connection configurations. This paper provides the basic structure of the forementioned separated model and the functions of the CC and BC based on actual B-ISDN service specifications. Also, system design guidelines are proposed for connection-type bandwidth selection and interworking between broadband ISDN and narrowband ISDN, which are key issues in the study of B-ISDN signaling protocol.

It is well known that the prevalence of heterotopic pregnancies following assisted reproductive technology (ART) is much higher than among spontaneous pregnancies. Here, we illustrate a very rare case of bilateral simultaneous tubal pregnancies combined with intrauterine pregnancy (incomplete abortion) following gamete intrafallopian transfer (GIFT). In this case, unsuspected bilateral tubal pregnancies were diagnosed when laparotomy was performed 10 days after the termination of an intrauterine pregnancy. We conclude that a careful monitoring after the termination of an intrauterine pregnancy should be performed when the patient has prolonged genital bleeding, which might be a warning signal of heterotopic pregnancy existence even in patients without any risk factors of ectopic pregnancy.

The structure and function of Gene's organ, which secretes the egg wax, were investigated inHaemaphysalis longicornis. The hatching rates of eggs deposited before and after the prevention of the eversion of Gene's organ were compared at the conditions of 30°C, 100% RH and soaking in liquid paraffin. The movement of Gene's organ was observed, and the structures of this organ in unfed and ovipositing females were examined with both light and scanning electron microscopes.

Second-order multiconfigurational self-consistent field (MCSCF) calculation has been programmed on the basis of CNDO/INDO molecular orbital bases, in which the configuration space employed is restricted within pair-excitations. Test calculations have been carried out for 17 small molecules. All the MCSCF ground states of these molecules have been successfully converged to their respective optimal states by employing a simple weighting scheme. This procedure provides a great savings in computer time. The MCSCF calculation on azetidine required only 27 min on a HITAC M-680H. The MCSCF energies of HF, F2, and BH show improved behaviors up to large atomic distances (∼7au).

A case of diffuse neonatal hemangiomatosis is described. At birth, a giant tumor, 10 cm in diameter and 6 cm in height, was present on the left axilla and associated with thrombocytopenia. Numerous cherry-red papules were present on the skin and buccal mucosa. On the second day of life, the giant tumor was excised. Histological examination of the tissue revealed masses of endothelial cells embedded in fibrous tissues. Plain and enhanced computed tomography of the brain revealed a hemorrhage and two hemangiomas. The associations of intravascular papillary endothelial hyperplasia were discussed.

The allotypes of C6, C7, factor B (BF) and factor I (IF) of the human complement system were studied in 11 Japanese patients with pemphigus (5 with pemphigus vulgaris and 6 with pemphigus foliaceus) and 17 with bullous pemphigoid (BP) to investigate the genetic background of these diseases. The allotypes were detected by using isoelectric focusing and immunoblotting. The frequency for IF* A allele in the pemphigus patients was significantly higher (p = 0.009) than that in healthy controls (n = 60). A significant association of IF A allotype with pemphigus was also observed (p = 0.027), with a relative risk of 6.3. There was no association between the C6, C7, BF or IF allotypes and BP. These data suggest that IF A allotype may be an etiological genetic factor in the development of pemphigus.

Decay-accelerating factor (DAF) is a 70-kD membrane glycoprotein that regulates autologous complement activation, by preventing assembly of alternative or classical C3/C5 convertases, and has been shown to have a wide tissue distribution. In this study, DAF antigen has been demonstrated at the intercellular spaces of normal human epidermis with monoclonal antibody against DAF using the peroxidase- anti-peroxidase method. The amount of DAF was greater at the granular layer than the basal cell layer as judged by intensity of the staining. Western blot analysis of DAF of the epidermis showed a 55-kD band, whereas that of buffy coat cells was approximately 67 kD. When DAF of the epidermis was treated with ncuraminidase, the molecular weight was reduced to 53 kD, whereas that of buffy coat cells was 56 kD. These results indicated that the content of sialic acid of DAF in the epidermis was different from that of buffy coat cells. In phosphatidylinositol-specific phospholipase C (PIPLC) – treated normal human skin, DAF was not demonstrated in the epidermis, whereas DAF remained unchanged on the elastic fibers. After the treatment of the epidermis by PIPLC, DAF was released into the buffer shown by Western blot analysis. These results suggested that DAF on the epidermis was anchored to keratinocyte via phosphatidylinositol (P1), whereas the anchoring mechanism of DAF on the elastic fibers was not through PI.

As a part of ecological studies on Haemafihysalis flava, the seasonal fluctuations of tick populations in the vicinity of Fukuoka City were investigated, and the species and the number of ticks on hares were checked in winter. Moreover, the effects of temperatures on development and growth in H. flava were analysed. In the woodland, H.,L?ava was found on vegetation throughout the year, but in the grassland no ticks were found in summer. H. longicomis disappeared from vegetation during the November-February period of hibernation. H. flava was dominant on the hares captured in winter. In H.flava, oviposition, hatching and moulting did not occur at temperatures of 15% and below, and the developmental zero was 12.3”C. The critical low temperatures for moulting of larvae and nymphs were 14.5 and 17.O”C, respectively. High temperatures exerted a harmful influence upon oviposition and hatching. The temperature required for H. flava to be active was lower than that for H. longicornis, but the lowest temperature for development and growth in H. flava was higher than in H. longicomis, and the upper limiting temperature in the former tick was lower than in the latter

Food habits of the black-eared kite Milvus migrans lineatus were analysed based on the stomach contents obtained from 241 kites, which were shot to reduce strike damage to aircraft or hit by aircraft at Nagasaki Airport, Nagasaki Prefecture, during the five-year period from 1977 to 1981. Most of the samples were collected in summer and autumn when the number of the kites was large. The kites fed mainly on fishes and insects in this period : especially in August and September, the former was their main diet. This fact was presumed to be related to the following two factors : 1) a mass death of fishes due to both an outbreak of a red tide and a lack of oxygen dissolved in bottom waters, and 2) abandonment of a quantity of worthless fishes, which thronged into well-conditioned environments owing to deterioration in water quality and consequently became easily captured by fishermen. In October and November the kite chiefly preyed on locusts. During this period, a large number of them inhabited green belts in the airport ; thus the kite seemed to eat preferentially locusts which were easy to catch. It was concluded that the black-eared kite fed on prey animals obtained easily according to habitats and/or seasons.

A 77-year-old man was seen with florid, vegetating nodules in the umbilical, axillary and inguinal areas, scaly erythema in the trunk and fragile nails. Histologically, marked to moderate acanthosis and papillomatosis with intraepidermal abscesses composed of acantholytic cells eosinophils and neutrophils were seen in the vegetating lesions which showed intercellular IgG deposit by the direct immunofluorescence technique. There were no circulating pemphigus antibodies. The lesions were successfully treated by topical corticosteroids. However, flaccid bullae with hypopyon showing subcorneal acantholysis and intercellular IgG deposits continued to develop. After 31/2 years, circulating pemphigus antibody of IgG2 subclass was demonstrated.

Gemcitabine and docetaxel are non-platinum agents with activity in non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC). This study was conducted to determine and evaluate the recommended regimen of gemcitabine-docetaxel and evaluated its efficacy and safety in chemonaive Japanese NSCLC patients.In phase I, patients with stage IIIB/IV NSCLC were randomized and received either gemcitabine on days 1 and 8 plus docetaxel on day 1 or gemcitabine on days 1 and 8 plus docetaxel on day 8. The recommended regimen was the dose level preceding the maximum tolerated dose; once determined, patients were enrolled in phase II. Efficacy and toxicity were evaluated in all patients.Twenty-five patients were enrolled in phase I and six patients were given the recommended regimen; gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 plus docetaxel 50 mg/m(2) on day 8. An additional 34 patients were enrolled into phase II and administered with the recommended regimen. The response rate was 32.2% [95% confidence interval (CI) 20.6-45.6%] overall and 30.0% (95% CI 16.6-46.5%) in patients with the recommended regimen (40 patients). Although grade 3 interstitial pneumonia was observed in two patients (5.0%) who received the recommended regimen, both recovered shortly after steroid treatment. No unexpected events were observed throughout this study.Gemcitabine 1000 mg/m(2) on days 1 and 8 plus docetaxel 50 mg/m(2) on day 8 has comparable efficacy and more tolerable toxicities than previously reported platinum-based regimens. These results should be verified by a phase III study.