Forecasting of cloud-to-ground discharge by SAFIR

The possibility of forecasting cloud-to-ground discharges is investigated. It is empirically well known that the cloud-to-ground discharges occasionally follow the cloud discharges, and the objective of this paper is to determine if it is true or false, using the SAFIR data for a few years. Since the development of thunderclouds is determined by the movement of its active area, the coordinate fixed to the moving thunderclouds is applied for analysis. The analyzed results suggest that forecasting cloud-to-ground discharges with 10-min advance notice for both summer and winter thunderstorms is a possibility.     

Primary cardiac lymphoma. No evidence for an etiologic association with Epstein-Barr virus

OBJECTIVES: To report two cases of primary cardiac lymphoma, a rare extranodal lymphoma with an unknown pathogenesis, and to compare them to secondary B-cell cardiac lymphoma. DESIGN: Clinicopathologic features are described, using histologic and immunophenotypic examinations. The Epstein-Barr virus genome is detected by in situ hybridization. PATIENTS: Of 80 autopsied cases of malignant lymphoma identified at Nagoya (Japan) University Hospital, two patients with primary cardiac lymphoma and five patients with secondary cardiac B-cell lymphoma were selected. RESULTS: None of the seven selected cases showed immunodeficiency, autoimmune disorders, or chronic inflammatory processes. Primary cardiac lymphomas had B-cell phenotypes with mu and lambda chain monoclonality. Immunostaining for Epstein-Barr virus (latent membrane protein-1) and Epstein-Barr virus-encoded RNA-1 in situ hybridization did not demonstrate an association of these lymphoma with Epstein-Barr virus infection. The majority of secondary cardiac B-cell lymphomas were extranodal lymphomas and extranodal or serosal involvement was more prominent than nodal involvement. CONCLUSION: These findings suggest that primary cardiac lymphoma, unlike pyothorax-associated pleural lymphoma, appears to have no association with chronic inflammation or Epstein-Barr virus infection.     

Molecular design of hybrid tumor necrosis factor-alpha III: polyethylene glycol-modified tumor necrosis factor-alpha has markedly enhanced antitumor potency due to longer plasma half-life and higher tumor accumulation

We have reported that chemical modification of tumor necrosis factor-alpha (TNF-alpha) with polyethylene glycol (PEG) markedly increases its antitumor potency without any adverse side effects. MPEG-TNF-alpha, especially, in which 56% of the lysine amino groups of TNF-alpha are coupled with PEG, exhibits 100-fold more antitumor activity in vivo than native TNF-alpha in the Meth-A murine sarcoma model. In this study, we investigated the pharmacokinetics of PEG-modified TNF-alpha with various molecular sizes to clarify the mechanisms of the enhanced antitumor potency of MPEG-TNF-alpha. The plasma half-lives of modified TNF-alpha increased with increasing molecular size. The decreased plasma clearance of modified TNF-alpha was partially caused by the shielding effect of the proteolytic sites in TNF-alpha by the attached PEG and the decreased transport from blood to various tissues. Almost all native TNF-alpha was uniformly distributed to the kidney and reticuloendothelial system within 1 hr of an intravenous administration, and rapidly disappeared from these tissues at 3 hr. However, very little native TNF-alpha was transported into the tumor. The absolute distributed amount and distribution profile of modified TNF-alpha to tissues other than the tumor were the same as those of native TNF-alpha, whereas the plasma levels of the modified TNF-alpha were higher than plasma levels of the native TNF-alpha. The tumor distribution of modified TNF-alpha was markedly enhanced compared with native TNF-alpha and gradually increased over time. About 9-fold more MPEG-TNF-alpha was distributed to the tumor than native TNF-alpha. Thus, we found that the marked increase in the antitumor potency of PEG-modified TNF-alpha resulted from the enhanced blood residency and tumor accumulation. The antitumor effect of MPEG-TNF-alpha against sarcoma-180 other than Meth-A fibrosarcoma was also about 100 times greater than that of native TNF-alpha when systemically administered. The optimal PEGylation of TNF-alpha facilitated its antitumor potency and MPEG-TNF-alpha may be useful systemic antitumor therapeutic drug.     

Radiotherapy of bone metastases of a spinal meningeal hemangiopericytoma

We evaluated pulmonary function status in healthy, nonventilated very-low-birth-weight (VLBW) infants at 40 weeks postconception because little is known about the pulmonary function status of these infants at the time of discharge. Seven normal VLBW infants were evaluated at 40 weeks postconception, and five normal term infants were examined as a control. The neonates were placed supine with their heads in the neutral position. Data were obtained while the infant was resting quietly and breathing spontaneously prior to feeding. Pulmonary mechanics and energetics were measured with a CP-100 pulmonary monitor (Bicore Co. Ltd.). Pulmonary mechanics and energetics were determined by the least mean square technique. Dynamic compliance (Cdyn), resistance (Rtot, Re), and work of breathing (WOB) were calculated for the total breath, and tidal volume, minute ventilation, ratio of inspiratory time to respiratory period (Ti/Ttot), and respiratory rate were measured. There were no significant differences between normal VLBW infants and term infants in regard to ventilation, mechanics, or energetics. Although the respiratory system of normal VLBW infants is immature at birth, its development caught up to term infants by the time of discharge.     

Molting hormonal and larvicidal activities of aliphatic acyl analogs of dibenzoylhydrazine insecticides

Dibenzoylhydrazines are the nonsteroidal ecdysone agonists. Using comparative molecular field analysis, we previously found that the alkyl side chain of 20-hydroxyecdysone (20E) is three-dimensionally superposable with one of their two aryl moieties. To identify the aryl moiety that is better superposable on the alkyl chain, we synthesized compounds in which one of the two aryl groups of tebufenozide (N-t-butyl-N-3,5-dimethylbenzoyl-N'-4-ethylbenzoylhydrazine) is replaced by alkyl groups such as C4H9, C5H11, and C6H13. The molting hormonal activity of these compounds was measured using cultured integuments prepared from rice stem borers, Chilo suppressalis Walker, in terms of stimulation of incorporation of N-acetyl-[14C]glucosamine. N-t-Butyl-N-3,5-dimethylbenzoyl-N'-acylhydrazines with a hexanoyl or heptanoyl group were about 20-fold higher than that of 20E, whereas N-acyl-N-t-butyl-N'-4-ethylbenzoylhydrazines with a hexanoyl or heptanoyl group were much weaker than 20E. Their larvicidal activity was also measured against rice stem borers. The former series of compounds were much more active than the other series as well as 20E. Thus, the benzoyl moiety of dibenzoylhydrazines, which is bound to the secondary nitrogen atom (-NH-), is replaceable by aliphatic acyl groups without greatly affecting the biological activities.     

Circadian changes in body temperature during the menstrual cycle of healthy adult females and patients suffering from premenstrual syndrome

The biological rhythm of females is closely related to the menstrual cycle, and this rhythm is believed to influence circadian changes in body temperature. This study investigated and compared the patterns of circadian changes in the body temperature of healthy adult females and patients suffering from premenstrual syndrome or major depression. Body temperature was measured both rectally and sublingually in healthy subjects, and only sublingually in the patients. During the luteal phase in healthy adult females, both the average and lowest nocturnal body temperatures increased, the amplitude of the circadian changes decreased, and the times of the lowest and highest temperatures within a 24-hour period were delayed by 2-3 h. In the patients, the amplitude decreased during disease periods, especially in the follicular phase, whereas in the luteal phase, circadian changes showed great variation each day, although the decrease in amplitude was not as remarkable. The results show that (i) the biological rhythm of females is intrinsically unstable in the luteal phase, although this rhythm is stable in the follicular phase; and, (ii) symptoms were often aggravated with the decreases in amplitude experienced in the luteal phase.     

Occipitocervical fusion with C1 laminectomy in children

STUDY DESIGN: Eight children in whom atlantoaxial dislocation had developed underwent occipitocervical fusion using a rectangular rod. The postoperative results are presented, and the postoperative growth and deformation of the cervical spine were determined radiographically. OBJECTIVES: To investigate in a relatively long-term follow-up study whether occipitocervical fusion affects the growth of the cervical spine and induces spinal deformation. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: It has been reported that children who have undergone C1-C2 posterior fusion are likely to develop abnormal curvature or deformation of the cervical spine as a result of a disturbance of growth of the fused vertebrae. There have been no studies, however, to confirm that these changes occur after occipitocervical fusion in children. METHODS: The subjects were one boy and seven girls who had undergone occipitocervical posterior fusion during childhood. The average age at the time of surgery was 8.3 years, and the average follow-up period was 5.9 years. The following were assessed radiographically: redislocation of the atlas, bone union, changes in the curvature of the cervical spine, the height and width of the vertebral bodies, and the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal. RESULTS: Solid bone union was achieved in all patients with maintenance of the reduced position at the time of surgery. None of the patients exhibited abnormal curvature of the cervical spine. The rate of increase in height of the C2 vertebral body was significantly less than that of vertebral bodies below C3. The rate of increase in width of the vertebral body and the anteroposterior diameter of the spinal canal of the C2 vertebral body and vertebral bodies below C3 did not differ significantly. CONCLUSIONS: Occipitocervical fusion with a rectangular rod is useful for treating atlantoaxial dislocation in children and yields excellent results because of the firm internal fixation it achieves. This surgery induced no apparent postoperative spinal deformations.     

Application of paired-ion high-performance liquid chromatography to the separation of molecular species of phosphatidylinositol

A paired-ion high-performance liquid chromatographic (HPLC) procedure was developed for the separation of individual molecular species of phosphatidylinositol (PI) without prior derivatization. The separation is accomplished on a reverse-phase column using acetonitrile, methanol and 10 mM tetrabutylammonium phosphate as mobile phase. Separation of the major molecular species of soybean PI by HPLC is achieved within 60 min. The method is applicable to analytical and metabolic studies on PI and has the advantage that the entire PI structure is preserved, as no degradation or derivatization procedures are involved.     

Evaluation of skin irritancy of sodium lauryl sulphate: a comparative study between the replica method and visual evaluation

For 20 years, using the replica method, we have evaluated the skin irritancy of about 10,000 commercial products which come into contact with the skin. In this method, test substances are usually applied on the flexor side of the upper arm for 24 h by semi-open patch test. Subsequently, skin replicas are taken and skin irritancy is evaluated microscopically. In the semi-open patch test, test substances are not completely occluded as in the closed patch test. Thus, this method is less invasive than the closed patch test method to the tested subjects. In this study, we investigated the sensitivity of microscopic scoring (MS) of the replica and visual scoring (VS) of the skin. Sodium lauryl sulphate (SLS) at 0.02%, 0.05%, and 0.2% was applied on 20 subjects' upper arms, using closed and semi-open methods. In both the closed patch test and the semi-open patch test, the value of MS correlated with the concentration of SLS, while VS did not show such a clear correlation. In addition, we compared 2 clinical tests for skin irritancy which are commonly performed in Japan: VS of 48 h closed patch test reaction on the subjects' upper backs and MS of 24 h semi-open patch test reaction on the subjects' upper arms (replica method). MS on the upper arms resulted in a constant score, regardless of the location of application, while VS on the upper back produced results which differed widely depending on the location. Thus, the replica method is a useful clinical test for skin irritancy, because it is sensitive, reproducible and non-invasive.     

Herpes simplex virus type 2 infections presenting as brainstem encephalitis and recurrent myelitis

We describe here 3 patients with central nervous system infection caused by herpes simplex virus type 2 (HSV-2); one patient with brainstem encephalitis and two with recurrent transverse thoracic myelitis. All three patients showed increased IgG antibodies to HSV in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). HSV-2 DNA was demonstrated in the CSF by polymerase chain reaction (PCR) amplification. Upon treatment with acyclovir, one patient with myelitis partially recovered and the others completely recovered. It is important to recognize the wide spectrum of clinical manifestations of HSV-2 infection in the central nervous system (CNS).