Specialist Leaf Beetle Larvae Use Volatiles from Willow Leaves Infested by Conspecifics for Reaggregation in a Tree

Young, gregariously living larvae of the willow leaf beetles Plagiodera versicolora are known to exhibit characteristic aggregation-dispersion-reaggregation behavior and local fidelity to a host tree. In this study, we investigated whether plant volatiles induced by feeding P. versicolora larvae were involved in the reaggregation behavior. Under laboratory conditions, we conducted dual-choice bioassays and found that the first and second instars discriminated between volatiles from leaves infested by larvae and volatiles from uninfested leaves. The discriminative behavior was dependent on both the time leaves were infested and the age of discriminating larvae. First and second instars preferred odor from 1-d-infested leaves to odor from uninfested leaves, whereas third instars (solitary stage) did not discriminate between these volatile blends. Odor from 2-d-infested leaves was preferred to odor from 1-d-infested leaves by first instars, whereas odor from leaves infested for 3 d was not attractive to these very young larvae. Neither was odor of leaves infested for 1 d and then left uninfested for 1 or 2 d attractive to young larvae. The data suggest that the first and second instars use volatiles from a leaf newly infested by conspecific larvae as one of the reaggregation cues. We detected several herbivore-induced compounds in the headspace of the attractive leaves. Among those, a mixture of synthetic (E)-β-ocimene, (Z)-β-ocimene, allo-ocimene, and linalool was found to attract the larvae.     

Two cases of adenosquamous cell carcinoma of advanced cervical cancer treated by carboplatin-based chemotherapy with peripheral blood stem cell autotransplant

In two cases with adenosquamous cell carcinoma of advanced cervical cancer, carboplatin-based chemotherapy was given intraarterially from the internal iliac artery as neoadjuvant chemotherapy, and peripheral blood stem cells (PBSCs) were harvested. After the operation, conventional intravenous chemotherapy with PBSC autotransplant was performed. PBSCs were mobilized by neoadjuvant chemotherapy and G-CSF administration. By the apheresis procedures, 0.7-2.6 x 10(6)/kg CD34 positive cells were obtained. They had no severe side effects from intravenous chemotherapy with PBSCT, and they were free of disease 20 months. Neoadjuvant chemotherapy and G-CSF administration may be capable of mobilization of PBSCs, and chemotherapy with PBSCT may be useful in radioresistant advanced adenosquamous carcinoma of the cervical cancer.     

Development of bullous pemphigoid after change of dialysis membrane

A 75‐year‐old Japanese man presented with pruritic blisters and macules on his trunk and extremities. He had been on hemodialysis for 4 years because of chronic renal failure, and in recent months, a polymethylmethacrylate membrane had been used for dialysis. After a change in dialysis membrane to a cellulose triacetate membrane, pruritic tense blisters developed on the extremities in combination with marked blood eosinophilia. Physical examination showed erythematous macules and tense blisters on the trunk and extremities. A biopsy specimen of an erythematous macule showed subepidermal vesicles and eosinophils that attached to the dermal–epidermal junction. Serum level of eosinophilic cationic protein was elevated. From clinical, histological, and immunological findings, a diagnosis of bullous pemphigoid was made. New blisters continued to erupt during the period in which the patient used the cellulose triacetate membrane dialyzer, and even after the use of clobetasol propionate. It resolved only after the patient came back to the use of a synthetic membrane dialyzer. We discontinued the use of clobetasol propionate, and neither bullous eruptions nor blood eosinophilia recurred. These observations suggest that cellulose membrane may be involved in the development of bullous pemphigoid through activation of eosinophils in the blood and the skin lesion, as in the present case.     

Chemical modification of cotton fiber by alkali-swelling and substitution reactions—acetylation,cyanoethylation, benzoylation,and oleoylation

By impregnating cotton fiber with alkaline swelling agents and reacting with some chemical agents which can be substituted for the hydroxyl groups on cellulose molecules in the presence of alkali, highly accessible or decrystallized cotton fibers can be obtained. As the effective substitution reactions, acetylation by acetic anhydride and cyanoethylation by acrylonitrile were applied. The cotton fibers modified by these chemical treatments showed no decrease of tensile strength, and had moisture regain higher than the untreated cotton though the degrees of substitution were as high as 20–30 mol %. The resistance to heat or acid and the soil removal were improved. Dyeability for direct dye was increased, and dyeability for disperse or cationic dye was also given. Benzoylation and oleoylation were also investigated. Crease recovery of the cotton fabrics was somewhat improved and dyeability for disperse dye was given. The cotton fabrics oleoylated after decrystallizing by alkali–acrylonitrile treatment had moisture regain almost the same as the untreated cotton, while high water repellency was given.