Effect of Oxygen Impurities on Positronium Formation in Voids of Vanadium

To clarify the effect of oxygen impurities on positronium (Ps) formed in irradiation-induced voids, measurements of the angular correlation of two photon annihilation radiation (ACAR) have been done on vanadium samples doped with oxygen impurities and subsequently irradiated with fast neutrons of doses up to 5.5x10^cm^ at about 400℃ in the Japan Materials Testing Reactor (JMTR). It has been shown that slight contamination of voids with oxygen impurity atoms, presumably submonolayer adsorption on the void surface, causes Ps formation. On the other hand, the considerable contamination leads suppression of Ps formation. Energy loss process of Ps in voids is found to be also influenced by the surface contamination

Endoscopic Nd:YAG Laser Treatment in the Perioperative Management of Tracheobronchoplasty

The objective of this study was to determine the role of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment in the preoperative or postoperative management of tracheobronchoplasty. Eighteen patients with severe stenotic lesions of the trachea or bronchus underwent Nd:YAG laser treatment. Nd:YAG laser treatment was performed in the preoperative period in 14 patients and in the postoperative period in 4 patients. The indications for Nd:YAG laser treatment included emergency airway dilatation, confirmation of the distal margin of tumor, and safe tracheal intubation in patients with severe tracheal stenosis. The indications for Nd:YAG laser treatment in patients with severe stenosis of the mainstem bronchus were confirmation of the distal margin of tumor and recovery of lung ventilation during the preoperative period and reopening of the bronchial lumen to prevent obstructive pneumonia in the postoperative period. Among patients treated with Nd:YAG laser preoperatively, the indications were completely achieved in all 14 patients, except for 1 patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma who underwent treatment of the right mainstem bronchus. Among patients treated with Nd:YAG laser postoperatively the indications also were achieved in all 4 patients with severe granulomatous stenosis of the bronchial end-to-end anastomosis following sleeve lobectomy. In conclusion, endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment played an important role in the perioperative management of patients undergoing tracheobronchoplasty

Identification of Cysteine Proteases and Screening of Cysteine Protease Inhibitors in Biological Samples by a Two-Dimensional Gel System of Zymography and Reverse Zymography

We have developed a two-dimensional (2D-) gel system of zymography and reverse zymography for the detection and characterization of proteases and protease inhibitors. Isoelectric focusing (IEF) agarose gels with pH gradients were employed for separation in the first-dimension and sodium dodecyl sulfate (SDS)-polyacrylamide gel copolymerized with gelatin used for the second dimension. Proteases and protease inhibitors separated by IEF gel were applied on the second gel without trichloroacetic acid (TCA) fixation. Protease activity in the 2D-gel was visualized as transparent spots where gelatin substrate was digested after commassie brilliant blue (CBB) staining. Some of the transparent spots from the skin mucus extract of rainbow trout were determined to be a cysteine protease through use of E-64 or CA-074. In the reverse zymography technique, the gel was incubated with papain solution at 37 ºC for 18 h. Cysteine protease inhibitors from broad bean seeds were detected as clear blue spots after CBB staining. The amino (N-) terminal sequences of four papain inhibitor spots thus detected were demonstrated to be identical to that of favin β chain, a broad bean lectin. Taken together, our system can be considered to be an efficient technique for discovering and characterizing new proteases and protease inhibitors in biological samples. This is the first report describing a 2D-gel system of zymography and reverse zymography

Ultrafiltration attenuates cardiopulmonary bypass–induced acute lung injury in a canine model of single-lung transplantation

ObjectiveThe purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of cardiopulmonary bypass and ultrafiltration on graft function in a canine single-lung transplantation model.MethodsFifteen left single-lung transplantations were done in weight-mismatched canine pairs. The animals were divided into 3 groups: group 1, in which transplantation was done without cardiopulmonary bypass; group 2, in which transplantation was done with cardiopulmonary bypass and in which the cardiopulmonary bypass flow was decreased slowly with controlled pulmonary artery pressure; and group 3, in which transplantation was done with cardiopulmonary bypass and ultrafiltration. Hemodynamic parameters and lung function were monitored for 6 hours after reperfusion. The grafts were harvested for histologic studies, myeloperoxidase assay, and real-time quantitive reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction of mRNA encoding interleukin 6.ResultsThe hemodynamic parameters were similar among the 3 groups. In group 1 Pao2 and alveolar to arterial gradient for O2 levels were excellent throughout the 6-hour observation period, but in group 2 they progressively deteriorated. However, ultrafiltration significantly (P = .02) improved the Pao2 level in group 3. On histology, interstitial edema and polynuclear cell infiltration were most marked in group 2 and significantly worse than in groups 1 and 3. Myeloperoxidase assay and real-time quantitative reverse transcription–polymerase chain reaction showed increased myeloperoxidase activity and interleukin 6 gene expression in group 2 grafts compared with group 1 grafts. Myeloperoxidase activity and interleukin 6 gene expression were suppressed with ultrafiltration.ConclusionsCardiopulmonary bypass had negative effects on the graft, but ultrafiltration attenuated acute lung dysfunction by reducing the inflammatory response

Coexistent poorly-differentiated neuroendocrine cell carcinoma and non-invasive well- differentiated adenocarcinoma in tubulovillous adenoma of the rectum : report of a casel

A 74-years old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of a rectal mass. Colonoscopy revealed villous tumor covering all the lower rectal lumen. Biopsy yielded a diagnosis of adenoma. CT examination showed tumor shadows of the rectum and the liver. Pelvic MRI examination showed a 10.5 8 7 cm tumor with high signal intensity on the T2 weighted images in the rectum. Rectosigmoidectomy with lymph node dissection was performed with the diagnosis of rectal cancer that metastasized to the liver. Histological and immuno- histochemical features showed coexistent poorly-differentiated small cell neuroendocrine cell (NEC) carcinoma and non-invasive well-differentiated adenocarcinoma in tubulovillous adenoma. However the chemotherapy with FOLFOX and Bevacizumab was performed postoperatively, the patient died in cancer 3 months after surgery. Rectal poorly-differentiated NEC carcinomas are thought to be a tumor with a high malignant potential. Recently, the UICC TNM classifications of malignant tumors, 7th edition and the Guidelines for colorectal NEC tumors of European Neuroendocrine Tumor Society have been published. They would be evaluated, and effective multimodal therapy for NEC carcinomas should be established

A case of perinephric liposarcoma which recurred ten years later from the initial operation

A 58-year old man was referred to our hospital for treatment of an abdominal mass. As for him, tumor resection with right nephrectomy had been performed ten years ago for a giant well-differentiated perinephric liposarcoma. CT examination showed a huge tumor shadow in the abdominal cavity. Abdominal MRI examination showed a 15 8 cm tumor with almost high signal intensity on the T2 weighted images. At lapalotomy, a large bulky retroperitoneal tumor pointed out before an operation was found. Surgical extirpation of the tumor was performed. Besides, several tumors of the thumb head size were detected into right retroperitoneal fatty tissue. The right side mesocolon and the tumors were not able to exfoliate, therefore right hemicolectomy was performed. Histological features showed dedifferentiated liposarcoma. The postoperative course was uneventful. But eight months after surgery, he was admitted again for treatment of a 4 3 cm retroperitoneal tumor. Extirpation of the tumor was performed. Histological finding of this tumor also showed dedifferentiated liposarcoma. Dedifferentiation, occurring in 15% of the well-differentiated liposarcomas, sometimes may develop later. Long-term detailed follow-up is necessary for well-differentiated liposarcoma