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We experienced two cases of infectious mononucleosis-like syndrome associated with human herpesvirus 6 (HHV-6). One of the patients had been under medication for depression and the other one for schizophrenia. Both of them were taking carbamazepine for more than a week along with the other drugs. The manifestation of the symptoms of those two were almost same, such as high fever, generalized eruption, liver dysfunction, lymph-adenopathy, and existence of atypical lymphocytes. Serological tests for EB virus, cytomegalovirus and herpes simplex virus showed no significant change while the tests for HHV-6 showed increased titers of IgG antibody during the courses. We also examined HHV-6 DNA by real time quantitative PCR tests for HHV-6, and they appeared significantly high in the peripheral blood samples.

Compositionally modulated layered structures are fabricated in polypyrrole-poly (3-methylthiophene) composite thin films by the potential-programmed electropolymerization method reported previously (T. Iyoda, H. Toyoda, M. Fujitsuka, R. Nakahara, H. Tsuchiya, K. Honda and T. Shimidzu, J. Phys. Chem., 95 (1991) 5215). The depth profilings by secondary ion mass spectrometry. Auger electron spectroscopy, transmission electron microscopy and electron probe microanalysis indicate that the resulting thin films have compositionally modulated layered structures, consistent with the designed structures. The diversified profiling by the above techniques is an extremely valuable means of analysing the layered structures of these conducting polymer thin films in terms of their periodicity and compositional modulation.

Pyothorax-associated lymphoma (PAL) develops decades after receiving artificial pneumothorax for pulmonary tuberculosis. The lymphomas, develop in tissue affected by long-standing severe inflammatory process. Most cases demonstrate diffuse large B-cell lymphoma. We present a patient with T-cell phenotype-positive and B-cell phenotype-negative (CD7 +, CD43 +, CD19 m, and CD20 m ) PAL. Southern blot hybridization using immunglobulin heavy chain J region (IgH) gene probe revealed a monoclonal rearrangement, and hybridization using T-cell receptor beta chain (TCR) gene probe revealed a germline configuration. This indicates that the tumor origin was of B-lymphocytes. Chromosomal abnormality of the lymphoma was complicated. It suggested that many transformations occurred. In the transformation process, probably B-cell antigens were lost, and T-cell antigens were aberrantly expressed.

A plasma-irradiated poly(ethylene terephthalate) (PET) film has a long lifetime of bonding capability. To clarify its origin, a PET film was irradiated with oxygen plasma. It was then exposed to normal atmosphere including water vapor. FTIR absorption on the irradiated and non-irradiated films was measured at different times after the start of evacuation. The irradiated film has a larger amount of OH than the non irradiated film, and OH is generated on the film surface. The irradiated film has a larger amount of adsorbed water, because the surface is activated by the created OH. The adsorbed water is desorbed rapidly with increasing evacuation time in the non irradiated film, but it is desorbed more gradually in the irradiated film. Water has hydrogen bonds with OH; thus, the water desorption is suppressed. The OH absorption band is shifted to the lower wave number side owing to the hydrogen bonds. The irradiated surface may be protected by the water from the atmosphere.

To clarify the bonding mechanism for the plasma-irradiated PET films and the origin of the long lifetime of the bonding ability, we soaked the irradiated films in various types of liquid reagent, then tried to bond them by heat-pressing. The irradiated films do not lose the bonding ability after soaking in water, acid, alkali, and organic solvents, whereas they lose it after soaking in ionic solutions of AlCl3 and FeCl3. The COOH is created on the surface by the irradiation, but it is consumed by the chemical reaction with Al and Fe ions. This is the origin of the inactivation of the irradiated surface and the disappearance of the bonding ability after the soaking. The result supports our proposal of "dehydrated condensation reaction" concerning COOH as the bonding mechanism. The irradiated films should be stable in a normal atmosphere for a long time because they are not subjected to water, acid, alkali, and organic solvents.