Radiofrequency Ablation with the Real-Time Virtual Sonography System for Treating Hepatocellular Carcinoma Difficult to Detect by Ultrasonography

Radiofrequency ablation has been applied to treat hepatocellular carcinoma, with favorable therapeutic outcomes. Nevertheless, practitioners have approached radiofrequency ablation with some reluctance due to the difficulty of identifying isoechoic tumors and recurrent tumors. The aim of the present study is to investigate the efficacy of Real-time Virtual Sonography to treat hepatocellular carcinoma difficult to detect by conventional ultrasonography. Real-time Virtual Sonography is a system generating multiplanar reconstruction images in real-time using the Hitachi medico EUB-8500 equipped with a probe. The system included following components: 1) digital imaging and communications in medicine (DICOM) data from dynamic CT, 2) a magnetic field generator to match the multiplanar reconstruction image on the monitor and the actual ultrasonography image, 3) the cross section with the tumor displayed as a multiplanar reconstruction image. Total twenty-five nodules of twenty-one patients underwent radiofrequency ablation monitored by Real-time Virtual Sonography. All nodules difficult to detect via conventional ultrasonography were clearly visualized in real-time. The average nodule diameter was 2.4 ± 1.6 cm, and punctures and coagulation were performed an average of 2.2 and 3 times per session. Dynamic CT after session confirmed effective coagulation of each nodule. In conclusion, this study demonstrates that the present system is capable of effectively and accurately treating tumors difficult to detect by conventional ultrasonography

Historiography : Witchcraft

植民地時代のアメリカ社会についてはこれまでに色々な研究が成されており,その解釈は,時代とともに,また心理学・人類学・社会学的手法の導入によって変化してきた。この小論は,魔女狩り(Witch-hunting:政敵を中傷・迫害する)に関する7冊の著書をもとにその多様な解釈を紹介するとともに,17世紀ニューイングランド社会の思想や構造を明らかにしようと試みるものである。この小論では次の7つの文献をとりあげる。1.マリオン・L・スターキー(Marion L. Starkey)のThe Devil in Massachusetts(1949),2.チャドイック・ハンセン(Chadwick Hansen)のWitchcarft at Salem (1969),3.ケイス・トーマス(Keith Thomas)のReligion and the Decline of Magic(1969),4.ポール・ボイヤー(Paul Boyer)とステファン・ニッセンバウム(Stephen Nissenbaum)のSalem Possessed(1974),5.ライル・コエラー(Lyle Koehler)のA Search for Power(1980),6.ジョン・P・デモス(John P. Demos)のEntertaining Satan(1982),7.キャロル・F・カールセン(Carol F. Karlsen)のThe Devil in the Shape of a Woman(1984)。これらの著書で対象としている年代や地域は異なり,トーマスはピューリタンの祖国である16世紀から17世紀のイングランドについて,スターキーやハンセン,ボイヤーは1692-1697年のマサチューセッツ州エセックス郡のセーレム(Salem)について,コエラー,デモス,カールセンはセイレムでの魔女狩りを含む17世紀後半のニュー・イングランド地方について述べている

Usefulness of Quantitative Analysis for p53 Protein in Non-small Cell Lung Carcinoma using Flow Cytometry

This study was designed to provide quantitative analysis using flow cytometry (FCM) and immunohistochemical analysis (IH) for p53 protein in 85 patients who underwent pulmonary resection for non-small cell lung carcinoma (NSCLC). We also examined the relationship among numerical aberrations of chromosome 17 and p53 locus, clinicopathological parameters and patient prognosis in NSCLC. PAb 1801 was used as the primary antibody for p53 and the Fluorescence Index (F.I.) was calculated by FCM. Fifty-six patients (66%) showed a higher F.I. (?0.5), and had a higher rate of lymph node metastasis, more advanced stage and poor survival, while a positive expression of p53 protein by IH was associated with no clinicopathologic factors or patient survival. The F.I. of p53 protein was significantly higher in cases with imbalanced numbers between chromosome 17 and the p53 locus, particularly in patients with higher F.I. This indicated that quantitative analysis by FCM was the most useful method to detect the over-expression of p53 protein compared to that by IH. Higher F.I. (?0.5) is a prognostic indicator for predicting malignant behavior and poor survival in patients with NSCLC