Evaluation of possible population bias among high-dose atomic bomb survivors in the frequency of the HLA-DQA1 allele and DR antigen types

Many studies have suggested a relationship between certain alleles of the human leukocyte antigen (HLA) and the prevalence of some diseases or the immunological responsiveness to certain antigens. Furthermore, our studies in the past have demonstrated decreased immune function among atomic-bomb survivors who were exposed to high doses of radiation. However, no studies have addressed the possibility of various degrees of radiation-induced immune suppression being dependent on HLA type. To investigate the possibility of differing frequency distributions of HLA type in the Hiroshima atomic bomb survivors, HLA-DQA1 alleles and HLA-DR antigens were typed for 291 survivors in a high-dose group (>1.5 Gy), 339 survivors in an intermediate-dose group (0.005-1.5 Gy), and 388 in a distally exposed control group (<0.005 Gy). These doses are whole-body exposures, mainly from gamma-rays but with a small neutron component. When examinees were grouped by distinct pairs of HLA-DQA1 allele or HLA-DR antigen, no sex- or dose-related differences were found. However, when subjects were grouped by the presence of a specific allele or antigen, males carrying DQA1*0103 in at least one of their two HLA-DQA1 loci exhibited frequency distributions that decreased as radiation dose increased. These results suggest, although weakly, a possible population bias among male survivors with respect to HLA polymorphism. However, this bias is unlikely to be great enough to have a substantial effect on the cancer risk estimates.     

Pathology of chronic hepatitis C in children. Child Liver Study Group of Japan

Limited information is available regarding the histology of hepatitis C virus infection in children. The aim of this study was to determine the histological pattern of chronic hepatitis C (CHC) in children, and liver biopsy specimens from 109 pediatric patients with CHC were examined. Each biopsy specimen was evaluated based on a numerical scoring system for the stage of fibrosis (1-4), the grade of portal/periportal necroinflammation (0-4), the grade of lobular necroinflammation (0-4), and their sum (final grade). The histological lesions considered to be characteristic of chronic hepatitis were also evaluated. None of the children had liver cirrhosis, and 105 cases (97%) were stage 1 or 2. Only 4 children were stage 3. Two of these 4 cases showed hemosiderosis. A significant correlation was observed between the staging score and the final grade in the pediatric patients (r = .59; P < .0001). The histological characteristics of adult CHC, such as lymphoid aggregate, bile duct injury, and fatty changes, were also observed in the children. In conclusion, the majority of children with CHC presented with mild fibrosis, but a few showed CHC with lobular distortion and hemosiderosis. Frequent blood transfusion may aggravate hepatic lesions in pediatric CHC.     

Long-term sedation with isoflurane in postoperative intensive care in cardiac surgery

Eight new 0 (91-98) and H (46-49) antigens are described. Their reference strains come from Czech Republic, Cuba and USA. The majority of reference strains are of human origin. Some of the new antigens have been found in other strains coming mostly from water.     

Dynamic MR hepatocholangiography with the SIP Fast GRE (saturation inversion projection fast gradient echo) method

The purpose of this study was to assess the utility of dynamic MR hepatocholangiography with the Gd-EOB-DTPA enhanced SIP Fast GRE sequence in the hepatobiliary system. The SIP Fast GRE sequence was used for sequential imaging of the hepatobiliary system with a frame rate of 3 sec in a 256 x 192 matrix. Dynamic sequential acquisition was performed for 51 min before and after the injection of 30 mu mol/kg of Gd-EOB-DTPA in a rabbit. Dynamic images of the hepatobiliary system were obtained in the rabbit study. Dynamic MR hepatocholangiography provides better functional information than conventional MR cholangiography.     

Expression and characterization of sucrose synthase from mung bean seedlings in Escherichia coli

The cDNA fragment coding for mung bean (Vigna radiata Wilczek) sucrose synthase was introduced into the expression vector pET-20b resulting in the construction of plasmid pEB-01. After transformation of Escherichia coli strain BL21(DE3) cells by pEB-01 and induction with isopropyl thio-beta-galactoside, high level expression of the recombinant enzyme was obtained. The enzyme had a tetrameric form that conserved the activity of sucrose synthase. Although the Km and Vmax of the recombinant enzyme acting on either UDP-glucose or fructose were very close to those of the native enzyme isolated from mung bean seedlings, the Km for sucrose was higher by a factor of 10 for the recombinant enzyme. This suggests that the recombinant sucrose synthase has a tendency to synthesize sucrose, although the native enzyme catalyzes a freely reversible reaction.     

CONTINUOUS VACUUM DRYER FOR ENERGY SAVING

A continuous vacuum dryer for energy saving has been developed in order to produce dried foods without heat denaturation in the products. This drying method is suitable for heat sensitive I and highly viscous foods and can dry to 1 to 4% in moisture content with good quality at around 40°C in product temperature andin 5 -10 min a drying time. Feed material with high viscosity has to I have uniform distribution on the belt in the vacuum chamber to I keep a constant drying for which a special feed nozzle has been developed after considerabl~ testing. Heat transfer on the wet material in the dryer has occurred by both conduction and radiation because of the design so that the thermal efficiency in     

Magnetic properties of thin films prepared by continuous vapor deposition

Magnetic thin films deposited by the oblique incidence evaporation are considered to have excellent characteristics for high density recording medium. The magnetic properties and microstructures of these films prepared continuously with a roll coater have been investigated. In continuous vapor deposition, two different modes of deposition processes are considered, corresponding to substrate running direction. The HIN (high incidence nucleation) direction implies that deposition initiates at higher incidence angle and shifts to lower incidence angle. The LIN (low incidence nucleation) direction is the opposite. Hc and Ir/Is of the films by HIN direction have larger values than those by LIN direction in the same region of incidence angle. According to TEM micrographs of thin films by HIN direction, it is observed that elongated nucleation is taken place in higher incidence angle direction and subsequently grown in same direction.