Fluorescence and Electron Microscopic Studies of the Cytoskeletal Organi­zation of Normal, Established and Transformed Chick Embryo Cells

The cytoskeletons of two established chick embryo cell (CEC) lines were examined by fluorescence and electron microscopy and compared with those of control cells and cells transformed by Rous sarcoma virus (RSV). In normal CEC, many stress fibers were observed. On the other hand, stress fibers were disorganized in nontransformed spontaneously established CEC, non-tumorigenic CEC partially transformed with a chemical carcinogen, and tumorigenic RSV-transformed CEC. In the normal CEC, actin filaments formed several bundles along the processes of the cell. Stereo-images of the peripheral region revealed bundles of filaments which were located along the attached side to the substrate. A fine well preserved network of filaments was also observed. On the other hand, in spontaneously established, partially transformed and RSV-transformed CEC, a fine network of filaments, but no actin cables, was found. These results support previous evidence that the cytoskeletal changes themselves are not directly related to the transformation or tumorigenicity of cells. </p

Differential, histochemical and immunohistochemical changes in rat hepatocytes after isoflurane or sevoflurane exposure.

Differential, histochemical and immunohistochemical changes were observed in hepatocytes from immediately to 7 days after isoflurane or sevoflurane exposure (at H 0 to on Day 7) to study the process of development and recovery in anesthetic-induced hepatic injury. A total of 570 7-week-old male Sprague-Dawley rats with or without phenobarbital treatment were exposed to isoflurane or sevoflurane in 100%, 21%, or 10% oxygen, or to 10% oxygen alone for 2h. In phenobarbital-treated rats, hepatocytes both with and without anesthetic exposure markedly changed in 10% oxygen at H 0. Glycogen and ribosomal ribonucleic acid (rRNA) disappeared at H 0 and at H 6, respectively, and at H 6, AST levels in the blood rose. From H 6 to Day 1, necrosis developed more markedly and widely in zone 3 hepatocytes exposed to anesthetics in 10% oxygen than in those exposed to oxygen alone. All degenerated tissues had returned to normal levels by day 7. Recovery of the hepatolobular structure may be attributed to rearrangement of remaining hepatocytes in the portal vein area. Both the disappearance of glycogen and rRNA and the increase in blood AST levels after exposure to isoflurane or sevoflurane are considered to be factors contributing to the induction of necrosis around the central vein. The grade of isoflurane-induced hepatic injury was found to be significantly higher than that of sevoflurane.</p

Light and electron microscopic observation of specific atrial granules using water-miscible resin as an embedding medium.

A mixture of glycol methacrylate (GMA) and Quetol 523 was examined as an embedding medium for atrial tissue to be selectively stained for specific atrial granules. Semi-thin sections of rat atrial tissue embedded in this resin were stained with lead hematoxylin and observed under a light microscope. Atrial granules were found to be specifically stained blue black with lead hematoxylin. The same semithin sections stained with OsO4 vapor were examined electron microscopically and the atrial granules could be distinguised clearly from other cytoplasmic components. The GMA-Quetol 523 mixture is a useful embedding medium for studying the distribution of specific atrial granules by light and electron microscopy.</p

Exocytotic features of rat specific atrial granules.

To clarify the mode of secretion of specific atrial granules, rat atrial muscle cells were examined by transmission electron microscopy. Atrial granule formation and exocytotic features of granules were clearly seen. Abrupt breaks in the unit membrane structure of mature granules were observed in thin sections, but these breaks were not detected in freeze-fracture replicas. These findings support the concept that the granule contents are released to the extracellular space by exocytosis.</p

Comparison of Postoperative Complications after Endoscopic Submucosal Dissection: Differences of Insufflations and Anesthesias

Endoscopic submucosal dissection (ESD) has enabled the collective resection and increased the accuracy of pathological diagnosis. However, ESD requires a long operation time, which results in increased doses of analgesics/sedatives, and causes worsening of respiratory and hemodynamic statuses. To reduce postoperative complications, we have applied ESD with CO2 insufflation and general anesthesia. This study included 50 patients who underwent ESD for early gastric cancer, 25 with air insufflation and intravenous anesthesia (Air/IV group), and the remaining 25 with CO2 insufflation and general anesthesia (CO2/GA group). Postoperative enlarged feeling of the abdomen was observed only in 1 of 25 patients in the CO2/GA group (P = 0.0416). Postoperative severe unrest was observed in none of the patients in the CO2/GA group and in 4 of 25 (16%) patients in the Air/IV group (P = 0.0371). CO2 insufflation and general anesthesia are useful in stabilizing intraoperative conditions and reducing postoperative complications

Effects of 16-Week Consumption of Caffeinated and Decaffeinated Instant Coffee on Glucose Metabolism in a Randomized Controlled Trial

Objective. Observational studies have shown a protective association between coffee consumption and type 2 diabetes mellitus whereas caffeine or caffeinated coffee acutely deteriorates glucose tolerance. We investigated the effects of chronic drinking of instant coffee on glucose and insulin concentrations during a 75 g oral glucose tolerance test. Methods. Overweight men with a mild-to-moderate elevation of fasting plasma glucose were randomly allocated to a 16-week intervention of consuming 5 cups of caffeinated (n=17) or decaffeinated (n=15) instant coffee per day or no coffee (n=13). Results. The caffeinated coffee group showed statistically significant decreases in the 2-hour concentrations and the area under the curve of glucose while neither decaffeinated coffee nor coffee group showed such a change. Waist circumstance decreased in the caffeinated coffee group, increased in the decaffeinated coffee group, and did not change in the noncoffee group (P=0.002). With adjustment for the change in waist circumference, caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee consumption were associated with a modest decrease in the postload glucose levels. Conclusion. Both caffeinated and decaffeinated coffee may be protective against deterioration of glucose tolerance

ホンコン ノ ネンショウシャ ニホンゴ ガクシュウシャ ニ カンスル イチ コウサツ -ホゴシャ ノ イシキ ヲ チュウシン ニ-

香港において、年少の日本語学習者が存在感を増しつつある。本論は、年少の日本語学習者に大きな影響を与えると思われる保護者を対象にインタビューを実施し、保護者が年少者に日本語を学習させる際の意識を考察する。全体的な傾向として、日本への親近感・好印象が、統合的動機へと結びつく。同時に、保護者の意識の中にある子どもの就職や旅行など具体的な目標が、道具的動機へと結びつく。加えて、統合的でも道具的でもない「学びそのものへの積極性」から生じる学習動機が存在する。香港においては、「学ぶこと」を肯定する意識が非常に強く、英語と中国語の習得が前提付けられた多言語社会にありながらも、日本語が第三の言語として学ばれるのである。Recently, the presence of young learners of Japanese has become increasingly significant in Hong Kong. Using interviews, this paper investigates the attitudes of the parents of young learners. Overall, the parents\u27 sense of familiarity and positive impressions towards Japan lead to integrative motivations. Also, definite purposes such as getting a job or traveling serve as instrumental motivation. Aside from integrative and instrumental motivations, the parents can encourage their children to study Japanese because "learning something" is beneficial and meaningful in its own right. Although people in this multilingual society are destined to learn English and Chinese, "learning" is so highly valued in the context of Hong Kong that they still can be motivated to study Japanese as a third language

Oyygen uptake of adriamycin resistant cells of Ehrlich ascites tumor

エールリッヒ腹水癌細胞を用いアドリアマイシンに対する耐性細胞（ADR耐性細胞）を樹立した。電子顕微鏡を用い撮影写真から細胞質当たりのミトコンドリア（MT）の割合を面積比で求めた。親株に比較して1μg/ml ADR耐性細胞では1.32倍、10μg/ml ADR耐性細胞では1.47倍であった。これらの細胞の呼吸を測定した。耐性細胞の内発呼吸は親株に比較して増加していた。1μg/ml ADR耐性細胞では1.45倍、10μg/ml ADR耐性細胞では1.49倍であり、MTの増加量とほぼ同じ割合であった。これらのことから、細胞が耐性になるとエネルギー消費が高まるために細胞内MTが増加し、その結果呼吸（酸素消費）が増加することが推察された。Adriamycin-resistant cells of Ehrlich ascites tumor cells were established in our laboratory. Using electron microscope, the area of mitochondria (MT) per cytoplasm of ADR-resistant cells were measured with planimeter. The values of wild-type cells, 1μg/ml ADR-resistant cells and 10μg/ml ADR-resistant cells were 39.3, 51.8 and 57.7 μ(2) per 1,000 μ(2) of cytoplasm, respectively. Oxygen consumption of 1 μg/ml ADR-resistant cells and 10 μg/ml ADR-resistant cells were 1.45-fold and 1.49-fold compared to that of wild-type cells, respectively. These results indicate that ADR-resistant cells require more energy to work efflux pump than wild-type cells