An image analyzing system using an artificial neural network forevaluating the parenchymal echo pattern of cirrhotic liver and chronichepatitis

To objectively evaluate the parenchymal echo pattern of cirrhotic liver and chronic hepatitis, the authors applied an image analyzing system (IAS) using a neural network. Autopsy specimens in a water tank (n=13) were used to examine the relationship between the diameter of the regenerative nodule and the coarse score (CS) calculated by IAS. CS was significantly correlated with the diameter of the regenerative nodule (p<0.0001, r=0.966). CS is considered to be useful for evaluating the coarseness of the parenchymal echo pattern     

A case of macrocystic cervical neurinoma diagnosed by MRI with Gd-DTPA

The authors report a rare case of a large cystic cervical neurinoma. A 45-year-old female was admitted to our clinic because of motor weakness of the right upper extremity, numbness of the right fingers and right posterior cervical pain. Metrizamide CT myelography demonstrated the outline of a low density mass. MRI showed a mass revealing low signal intensity on T1-weighted image, high signal intensity on T2-weighted image and marginal enhancement on contrast image with Gd-DTPA. The mass which was diagnosed as cystic tumor, was located in the intradural extramedullary space between C4 to C5 segments. After C4 through C5 laminectomy, the tumor was found to originate from the C5 anterior motor root. The tumor consisted mostly of a cystic part with a very thin solid compartment beneath the capsule. Postoperative course of the patient was uneventful. Although spinal neurinoma is one of the most common spinal tumors, an almost completely degenerated large cystic spinal neurinoma is extremely rare. MRI with Gd-DTPA was useful for the diagnosis of the cystic neurinoma by clearly enhancing the margin of the tumor.     

Forensic toxicological application of TOXI-LAB screening for biological specimens in autopsy cases and emergency cares

Using the TOXI-LAB drug detection system, emergency toxicological screening was performed in autopsy cases and emergency cares. In 280 autopsy cases (male 182 cases 65%, female 98 cases 35%), drug positive cases were 28 cases of male (15%) and 24 cases of female (24%). The age groups which showed higher rate of drug positive cases were 10s-40s in male (approximately 20%) and 20s in female (67%). In the 238 cases of emergency care (male 129 cases 54%, female 104 cases 44%, unknown 5 cases 2%), drugs were positive in 29 cases of male (22%) and 32 cases of female (30%). The age groups which showed relatively higher rate of drug positive cases were 40s in male (64%), 20s (71%) and 30s (89%) in female. Forty-four different kinds of drugs were detected in TOXI-LAB positive cases, in which the psychotropic drugs and the sedative-hypnotic drugs amounted to approximately 70%. Methamphetamine and amphetamine, which were the main abused drugs showing a socially important problem, were detected in total 15 cases. TOXI-LAB was based on thin-layer chromatography (TLC); however, from the extraction to development, coloration and detection have been accelerated (about 50 min) and simplified. In order to perform the forensic toxicological practice in Japan, it becomes more useful that TOXI-LAB is used in autopsy cases and emergency cares, if the drugs, which have caused poisoning cares in Japan, are added to TOXI-LAB. The present study describes the advantage and problem of TOXI-LAB drug detection system through demonstrating the practical cases of autopsy cases and emergency cares.     

Gene Transfer Systems and Molecular Cloning in Group N Streptococci: A Review

Plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid of group N streptococci codes for a wide variety of important metabolic properties associated with dairy fermentations. The increasing knowledge of the genetics of these bacteria has created exciting possibilities for genetically constructing improved starter strains. A review of current literature is presented on the genetics of group N streptococci, especially the development and implications of gene transfer and molecular cloning systems for further genetic studies and for strain improvement. Functional properties of plasmid deoxyribonucleic acid and gene transfer systems, which include transduction, conjugation, transformation, and protoplast fusion, are reviewed and followed by a discussion of recent advances in gene cloning.     

Examination of the role of oxygen in the photografting of methacrylic acid on a polyethylene film with a mixed solvent consisting of water and organic solvents

The photografting of methacrylic acid (MAA) on a linear low‐density polyethylene film (thickness = 30 μm) under air and nitrogen atmospheres was investigated at 60°C in mixed solvents consisting of water and an organic solvent, with xanthone as a photoinitiator. The organic solvents used were acetone, methanol, tetrahydrofuran, and dioxane. A maximum percentage of grafting occurred at a certain concentration of the organic solvent in the mixed solvent. This was observed for the systems under both air and nitrogen. The grafting reaction under air exhibited an induction period, but the rate of grafting after the period was greater than that under nitrogen. The formation of poly(ethylene peroxide)s by photoirradiation seemed to be a factor for the accelerated photografting under air. On the basis of attenuated total reflection infrared spectroscopy and scanning electron microscopy of the grafted film, the MAA‐grafted chains of the sample prepared under air tended to penetrate more deeply inside the film than those of the sample prepared under nitrogen. The resulting grafted films exhibited a pH‐responsive character: the grafted films shrank in an acidic medium but swelled in alkaline medium. This was evaluated from measurements of dimensional changes in the grafted films. © 2003 Wiley Periodicals, Inc. J Appl Polym Sci 89: 992–998, 2003     

TRVs and fault clearing stresses in extra-high-voltage radial networks

To cope with the high rate of increase of power demand in the main industrialized districts in Japan, 550-kV transmission systems covering the districts have been reinforced, with most of the main power plants connected directly to these systems. Through 550-/300-kV substations, the majority of power to the districts is supplied by 300-kV systems. To limit the excess short-circuit capacity in the 300-kV systems, they tend to be reconstructed as so-called radial networks. In radial networks with high short-circuit capacity and relatively small number of transmission lines connected to the substation busbars, the rate of rise of TRV can be far higher than standard value. This paper analyzes the transient recovery voltages (TRV) in such extra-high-voltage radial networks in Japan, together with the relevant stresses to circuit-breakers during fault clearings. Future system conditions have also been introduced. As the typical rate of rise of the TRV values, more than twice that of today's standard ones are probable.     

Interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme mediates cisplatin-induced apoptosis in malignant glioma cells

Increasing the susceptibility of tumor cells to apoptotic cell death following chemotherapy is of importance to the outcome of cancer treatment. Although the tumor suppressor gene p53 is required for efficient induction of apoptosis by chemotherapeutic agents, it is not the only apoptosis mediator gene. The molecular mechanisms mediating apoptosis following chemotherapy via p53-dependent or p53-independent pathways remain unclear. We show here that cis-diamminedichloroplatinum (cisplatin) induces the expression of interleukin-1 beta-converting enzyme (ICE), a mammalian homologue of the Caenorhabditis elegans cell death gene ced-3, in murine and human malignant glioma cells during apoptosis regardless of their p53 status. Furthermore, overexpression of the murine ICE gene induces apoptosis in these tumor cells. The apoptosis induced by cisplatin treatment or murine ICE overexpression can be suppressed by the tetrapeptide ICE inhibitor Ac-YVAD-CMK or the apoptosis inhibitors bcl-2 or bcl-2-related bcl-XL gene. These findings suggest that ICE may mediate apoptosis induced by chemotherapy, and its induction could represent a novel approach for the effective treatment of malignant glioma.