Phosphorus Recovery from the Ash of Sewage Sludge Using NaOH by Heat Treatment-II—Reuse of the Alkali Water Generated by Phosphorus Recovery

The phosphorus recovery from the incinerated ash using NaOH by the heat treatment,was investigated.In this method,non-reacted NaOH containing alkali water was g...     

Measurement and calculation of neutron densities in BWR high burn-up fuels

A neutron-scanning device was developed for measuring accurate neutron densities of BWR high burn-up fuels up to 65 GWd tU⁻¹. Characteristic test of this device was done with a ²⁵²Cf source and adopted to measure axial distributions of neutron densities of BWR spent fuels with various enrichments (2.0–3.4%), which had been irradiated up to 60 GWd tU⁻¹ at Fukushima Daini Nuclear Power Station Unit 2(2F-2). We found the measured neutron densities were proportional to about fourth power of the corresponding burn-up values. The neutron densities calculated by the ORIGEN2.1 code and various cross section libraries showed good agreements with the measured ones in profile and absolute value except for BWR-UE file mainly based on ENDF/B-IV. The BS240J32 library based on JENDL3.2 was the best among the investigated libraries.     

Spindle cell carcinoma of the breast: a case report and an immunohistochemical study including p53 and Ki-67 expression

A rare case of spindle cell carcinoma (SpCC) of the breast occurring in a 51-year-old Japanese woman is reported. A firm and well-circumscribed tumor, measuring 9 x 8.5 x 8.5 cm, was located on the upper lateral region of the right breast. Microscopically, the tumor consisted of sheets of both malignant spindle cells and poorly differentiated ductal carcinoma containing squamoid islands with gradual transition to the spindle cell component. The immunocytochemical expression of epithelial markers was recognized in the spindle cells, as well as in the carcinomatous cells. Moreover, the spindle cell component expressed vimentin, alpha-smooth muscle actin and S-100 protein. Ultrastructurally, in addition to the features of adenocarcinoma, squamous or myoepithelial differentiation was confirmed in the spindle cell component. These findings thus suggest an epithelial origin with squamous differentiation and myoepithelial participation in the genesis of SpCC. In a comparative study, the expression of p53 protein and Ki-67 as a proliferation marker in each component of this tumor was also investigated. The mean p53 labeling index (LI) in both the carcinomatous and spindle cell area was similar, however the mean MIB-1 LI in the spindle cell area was significantly higher than that in the carcinomatous area. The results indicate that p53 overexpression is involved in the tumorigenesis of both components in the SpCC, and the spindle cell component shows a higher degree of proliferative activity than the carcinomatous component.     

Autonomic nervous function of the patients with neurally mediated syncope

Although diagnosis of neurally mediated syncope (NMS) using head-up tilt (HUT) test has been established, the exact mechanism of NMS has not yet been elucidated. We evaluated beta and alpha-adrenergic function in NMS patients by pharmacological autonomic function test. The alpha-adrenergic sensitivity of NMS patients was significantly lower than that of control subjects. The patients who need low dose isoproterenol for provocation of syncope showed higher beta-adrenergic sensitivity than patients who developed syncope without isoproterenol. Thus, pharmacological autonomic function test was useful for evaluation of NMS patients.     

Satoyoshi's syndrome in an adult: a review of the literature of adult onset cases

Satoyoshi syndrome consists of painful intermittent muscle spasms, alopecia and diarrhea. The age of onset is commonly less than 20 years of age. Adult onset of this syndrome is rare. We report a 65-year-old Japanese woman with Satoyoshi's syndrome of adult onset. Satoyoshi's syndrome of adult onset shows no skeletal abnormalities, in comparison with the classical pediatric cases. The clinical features in our patient revealed the benign and long-term course of muscle spasm and alopecia. This progression differed markedly from the other patients of adult onset. Thus, the severity of Satoyoshi's syndrome is variable in adult onset cases, and this diagnosis should be considered in adults with various and unexplained muscle spasms.     

Administration-time-dependent effects of diltiazem on the 24-hour blood pressure profile of essential hypertension patients

Cells of the central nervous system (CNS) normally do not express detectable levels of major histocompatibility complex (MHC) Class I antigens. However, MHC Class I expression can be induced after virus infection. We tested the hypothesis that virus-induced Class I expression is mediated by lymphocytes or cytokines using lymphocyte- and cytokine-deficient mice. We used Theiler's murine encephalomyelitis virus (TMEV), which induces CNS demyelination that maps genetically to the D region of MHC Class I and is associated with high levels of Class I products. TMEV infection of severe combined immunodeficiency (SCID) and recombination activation gene-1-deficient mice, which lack B and T lymphocytes, resulted in equivalent H-2D and H-2K expression in brain and spinal cord, according to analysis of the area and intensity of immunoperoxidase staining. Class I antigens were demonstrated as early as 6 hours after infection, and they were more widely distributed than viral RNA, indicating that expression was induced indirectly via a soluble factor. To determine whether cytokines induced the expression, we infected mice lacking receptors for interferon-alpha/beta (IFN-alpha/beta R (-/-)), interferon-gamma (IFN-gamma R(-/-)), and tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNFRp55(-/-)). TMEV-infected IFN-gamma R(-/-) and TN-FRp55(-/-) mice expressed Class I antigens in the CNS, whereas IFN-alpha/beta R(-/-) mice did not, establishing that IFN-alpha/beta mediated the expression. In contrast to the equivalent expression in SCID mice, we observed greater area and higher intensity of H-2D versus H-2K antigens in infected SCID mice reconstituted with normal spleen cells. Collectively, the data indicate that after TMEV infection, early generalized MHC Class I expression is mediated by IFN-alpha/beta independently of lymphocytes, but the differential regulation of H-2D over H-2K may be controlled by B and/or T lymphocytes.     

Comparison of the ability of viral protein-expressing plasmid DNAs to protect against influenza

The ability of plasmid DNA encoding various influenza viral proteins from the A/PR/8/34 (H1N1) virus to protect against influenza was compared in BALB/c mice. The plasmid DNA encoded hemagglutinin (HA), neuraminidase (NA), matrix protein (M1), nucleoprotein (NP) or nonstructural protein (NS1) in a chicken beta-actin-based expression vector (pCAGGS). Each DNA was inoculated twice 3 weeks apart at a dose of 1 microgram per mouse by particle-mediated DNA transfer to the epidermis (gene gun). Seven days after a second immunization, mice were challenged with the homologous virus and the ability of each DNA to protect mice from influenza was evaluated by decreased lung virus titers and increased survival. Mice, given HA- or NA-expressing DNA, induced a high level of specific antibody response and protected well against the challenge virus. On the other hand, mice given M1-, NP-, or NS1-DNA failed to provide protection, although M1- and NP-DNAs did induce detectable antibody responses. These results indicate that both HA- and NA-expressing DNAs for the surface glycoproteins are most protective against influenza from among the various viral protein-expressing DNAs used here.     

Cases of multiple ventricular septal defects

We had 4 cases with multiple ventricular septal defects (VSDs) in complexed congenital heart disease. One of four had two separate VSDs detected by two dimensional echocardiography before operation. Second of four had additional infundibular muscular VSD which was detected by echocardiography in the intensive care unit (ICU) after patch closure of a perimembranous VSD. The third case had two additional VSDs of inlet muscular and subaortic septum detected by transesophageal and direct echocardiography during reoperation, beside a subpulmonary VSD which was originally diagnosed before Jatene operation for double outlet right ventricle. The fourth case had multiple trabecular muscular VSDs diagnosed by postoperative angiography soon after Rastelli operation. Since these additional multiple VSDs compromise the postoperative hemodynamics if those are unrecognized, it is indispensable to detect all VSDs before operation, using transthoracic and transesophageal echocardiography.