ras Mutations in Endocrine Tumors : Mutation Detection by Polymerase Chain Reaction‐Single Strand Conformation Polymorphism

To elucidate the molecular basis for endocrine tumorigenesis, ras mutations in human endocrine tumors were analyzed using polymerase chain reaction‐single strand conformation polymorphism (PCR‐SSCP) analysis. Mutations of the H‐, K‐, N‐ras genes were examined in genomic DNAs from 169 successfully amplified primary endocrine tumors out of 189 samples. Four out of 24 thyroid follicular adenomas analyzed contained mutated N‐ras codon 61, and one contained the mutated H‐ras codon 61. One of the 19 pheochromocytomas revealed mutation of the H‐ras codon 13. No mutations of the ras gene were detected in pituitary adenomas, parathyroid tumors, thyroid cancers, endocrine pancreatic tumors, and adrenocortical tumors. Based on these findings we conclude that activation of the ras gene may play a role in the tumorigenesis of a limited number of thyroid follicular adenomas and pheochromocytomas, and that mutation of the ras gene is not frequent in other human endocrine tumors

Development and reliability of a standard rating system for outcome measurement of foot and ankle disorders I: development of standard rating system

AbstractBackgroundThe aim of this study was to report the five scales comprising the rating system that the Japanese Society for Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) devised (JSSF standard rating system) and the newly offered interpretations and criteria for determinations of each assessment item.MethodsWe produced the new scales for the JSSF standard system by modifying the clinical rating systems established by the American Orthopaedic Foot and Ankle Society (AOFAS scales) and the Japanese Orthopaedic Association’s foot rating scale (JOA scale). We also provided interpretations of each assessment item and the criteria of determinations in the new standard system.ResultsWe improved the ambiguous expressions and content in the conventional standard rating systems so they would be easily understood by Japanese people. The result was five scales in total. Four were designed for use specifically for ankle-hindfoot, midfoot, hallux metatarsophalangeal- interphalangeal, and lesser metatarsophalangeal- ineterphalangeal sites; and the fifth was for the foot and ankle with rheumatoid arthritis. Furthermore, we described interpretations and criteria for determinations with regard to evaluation items in each scale.ConclusionsConventionally, the AOFAS scales or the JOA scale have been separately applied depending on the sites or disorders concerned, but it was often difficult to decide on scores during practical evaluations because of differing expressions in different languages and also because of ambiguity in the interpretation of each evaluation item and in scoring standards as well. JSSF improved these scales and added definite interpretations of evaluation items as well as criteria for the rating (to be reported here in part I). Because these steps were expected to improve the reliability of outcomes assessed by each scale, we examined the reliability in scores of the newly developed scales, which are reported in part II (in this issue)

Development and reliability of a standard rating system for outcome measurement of foot and ankle disorders II: interclinician and intraclinician reliability and validity of the newly established standard rating scales and Japanese Orthopaedic Association rating scale

AbstractBackgroundThis study evaluated the validity and inter- and intraclinician reliability of (1) the Japanese Society of Surgery of the Foot (JSSF) standard rating system for four sites [ankle- hindfoot (AH), midfoot (MF), hallux (HL), and lesser toe (LT)] and the rheumatoid arthritis (RA) foot and ankle scale and (2) the Japanese Orthopaedic Association’s foot rating scale (JOA scale).MethodsClinicians from the same institute independently evaluated participating patients from their institute by two evaluations at a 1- to 4-week interval. Statistical evaluation was as follows. (1) The intraclass correlation coefficient (ICC) was calculated from data collected from at least two examinations of each patient by at least two evaluating clinicians (Data A). (2) Total scores for the two evaluations were determined from the distribution of differences in data between the two evaluations (Data B); each item was evaluated by determining Cohen’s coefficient of agreement. (3) The relation between patient satisfaction and total score was investigated only for patients who underwent surgery (Data C). Spearman’s rank correlation coefficient was obtained.ResultsParticipants were 65 clinicians and 610 patients, including those with disorders of the AH (313), MF (47), HL (153), and LT (50) and those with RA (47). From Data A, the ICC was high for AH and HL by JSSF scales and for AH, MF, and LT by the JOA scale. From Data B, the coefficient showed high validity for both scales for AH, with almost no difference between the two scales; the validity for HL was higher with the JOA scale than with the JSSF scale. From Data C, correlations were significant between patient satisfaction and outcome for AH and HL by the JSSF scales and for AH, HL, and LT by the JOA scale.ConclusionsThe validity of both scales was high. Clinical evaluation of the therapeutic results using these scales would be highly reliable

Observation of α-decay of ^<229m>Th produced from ^<229>Ac(II. Radiochemistry)

We produced ^Th in the nuclear reaction ^Th(γ, p2n)^ Ac, followed by disintegration to ^Th. The α-decay signals from ^Th were searched for and the alpha-particle events of the energy region between 4.93MeV and 5.05MeV were observed in the separated thorium fraction from an actinium source highly purified from the ^Th+γ reaction products. The energy values of the α-particles coincide with those expected for ^Th

Periodontal Tissue Regeneration Using Fibroblast Growth Factor -2: Randomized Controlled Phase II Clinical Trial

Background: The options for medical use of signaling molecules as stimulators of tissue regeneration are currently limited. Preclinical evidence suggests that fibroblast growth factor (FGF)-2 can promote periodontal regeneration. This study aimed to clarify the activity of FGF-2 in stimulating regeneration of periodontal tissue lost by periodontitis and to evaluate the safety of such stimulation. Methodology/Principal Findings: We used recombinant human FGF-2 with 3% hydroxypropylcellulose (HPC) as vehicle and conducted a randomized double-blinded controlled trial involving 13 facilities. Subjects comprised 74 patients displaying a 2- or 3-walled vertical bone defect as measured ?3 mm apical to the bone crest. Patients were randomly assigned to 4 groups: Group P, given HPC with no FGF-2; Group L, given HPC containing 0.03% FGF-2; Group M, given HPC cotaining 0.1% FGF-2; and Group H, given HPC Containing 0.3% FGF-2. Each patient underwent flap operation during which we administered 200 μL of the appropriate investigational drug to the bone defect. Before and for 36 weeks following administration, patients underwent periodontal tissue inspections and standardized radiography of the region under investigation. As a result, a significant difference (p = 0.021) in rate of increase in alveolar bone height was identified between Group P (23.92%) and Group H (58.62%) at 36 weeks. The linear increase in alveolar bone height at 36 weeks in Group P and H was 0.95 mm and 1.85 mm, respectively (p = 0.132). No serious adverse events attribute to the investigational drug were identified. Conclusions: Although no statistically significant differences were noted for gains in clinical attachment level and alveolar bone gain for FGF-2 groups versus Group P, the significant difference in rate of increase in alveolar bone height (p = 0.021) between Groups P and H at 36 weeks suggests that some efficacy could be expected from FGF-2 in stimulating regeneration of periodontal tissue in patients with periodontitis

日本における統計学の発展 第５１巻

昭和55，56，57年度文部省科学研究費総合（A）研究代表者西平重喜による速記録話し手：大橋, 隆憲聞き手：野村, 良樹 | 浦田, 昌計 | 吉田, 忠 | 奈倉, 道隆 | 五十嵐, 光男 | 川口, 清史 | 野沢, 正徳 | 泉, 弘志 | 木下, 滋1982-9-2