Note: Lossless laser beam combiner employing a high-speed rotating half-wave plate.

We have developed a laser beam combiner employing a high-speed rotating half-wave plate based on the specific requirements of the Thomson scattering measurement systems in the ITER. The polarization extinction ratio of the output beam may exceed 1000 and was maintained for more than 1 h via feedback control of the half-wave plate rotation speed. The pointing fluctuations introduced by rotating the half-wave plate were in the order of microradians. The high-speed rotating half-wave plate provides a lossless means of combining laser beams together with stable beam pointing.

Effect of Gender Differences on Transplant Kidney Function.

BACKGROUND: Transplant kidney function is thought to be affected by sex differences, such as physical conditions including muscle volume, sex hormones, immune responses, and so forth. We examined the effect of sex differences on transplant kidney function. METHODS: The subjects were selected from kidney transplant recipients, who received kidney transplantation on our hospital between January 2000 and August 2015. Cadaveric donors and parent-child pairs with an age difference were excluded, then we included 47 recipients whose sex was different from the sex of the donor. We compared transplant kidney function between male donors and female recipients group (M→F, n = 20) and female donors and male recipients group (F→M, n = 27). RESULTS: Nadir creatinine value was higher in the F→M group than in the M→F group (1.09 mg/dL vs 0.76 mg/dL, P < .0001). The estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) was significantly higher in the M→F group than in the F→M group (66.6 mL/min/1.73 m2 vs 50.1 mL/min/1.73 m2, P = .002), and eGFR ratio (recipient to donor) was significantly higher in the M→F group than in the F→M group (1.13 vs 0.57, P < .0001). Multiple linear regression analysis showed that the only the sex of the recipient was significant prognostic factor of eGFR after renal transplantation (P = .037). CONCLUSIONS: The short-term kidney function of the graft from male to female was better than that of the graft from female to male.

Measurements of electron-induced neutrons as a tool for determination of electron temperature of fast electrons in the task of optimization laser-produced plasma ions acceleration.

High intensity laser-plasma interaction has attracted considerable interest for a number of years. The laser-plasma interaction is accompanied by generation of various charged particle beams, such as high-energy proton and ions with high charge to mass ratio (Q/M; same as multi-charged ions). Results of simultaneous novel measurements of electron-induced photonuclear neutrons (photoneutron), which are a diagnostic of the laser-plasma interaction, are proposed to use for optimization of the laser-plasma ion generation. The proposed method is demonstrated by the laser irradiation with the intensity of 1 × 10(21) W/cm(2) on the metal foil target. The photoneutrons are measured by using NE213 liquid scintillation detectors. Heavy-ion signal is registered with the CR-39 track detector simultaneously. The measured signals of the electron-induced photoneutrons are well reproduced by using the Particle and Heavy Ion Transport code System. The results obtained provide useful approach for analyzing the various laser based ion beams.

Isoflavone supplements stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum dihydrotestosterone levels in healthy male volunteers.

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effect of supplementing healthy men with soy isoflavones on the serum levels of sex hormones implicated in prostate cancer development. A total of 28 Japanese healthy volunteers (18 equol producers and 10 equol non-producers) between 30 and 59 years of age were given soy isoflavones (60 mg daily) supplements for 3 months, and the changes in their sex hormone levels were investigated at the baseline and after administration. The serum and urine concentrations of daidzein, genistein, and the levels of equol in the fasting blood samples and 24-h stored urine samples were also measured. All 28 volunteers completed the 3-month supplementation with isoflavone. No changes in the serum levels of estradiol and total testosterone were detected after 3-month supplementation. The serum levels of sex hormone-binding globulin significantly increased, and the serum levels of free testosterone and dihydrotestosterone (DHT) decreased significantly after 3-month supplementation. Among the 10 equol non-producers, equol became detectable in the serum of two healthy volunteers after 3-month supplementation. This study revealed that short-term administration of soy isoflavones stimulated the production of serum equol and decreased the serum DHT level in Japanese healthy volunteers. These results suggest the possibility of converting equol non-producers to producers by prolonged and consistent soy isoflavones consumption.

[Long-term outcome of monotherapy by Cohen ureterocystoneostomy for vesicoureteral reflux in spina bifida patients].

BACKGROUND: The conventional surgical treatment for vesioureteral reflux (VUR) is spina bifida patients is ureterocystoneostomy. Various newer therapies, including augmentation enterocystoplasty and minimally invasive subureteral collagen injection, have been introduced. However, all of these procedures have specific advantages and disadvantages, and no guidelines for deciding on the surgical treatment of VUR in spina bifida patients have yet been established. In this study, the long-term outcome of the Cohen procedure, a method of ureterocystoneostomy, was examined. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Among spina bifida patients in whom VUR was treated by the Cohen procedure alone from 1984 to 1989, 27 patients who could be followed up for 5 years or longer were enrolled in the study (11 males and 16 females, with a mean age of 13.4 years at surgery). In principle, they were followed up using annual cystography, excretory urography, and blood and urine tests. At the final assessment, they were examined for the presence at VUR and for morphological abnormalities of the urinary tract. Their renal function was also assessed. They were followed for 6 to 13 years (mean: 8.9 years), and the mean age at final assessment was 22.2 years. RESULTS: Among 42 ureters in the 27 patients examined, 38 ureters (90.5%) in 22 patients (81.5%) did not have VUR postoperatively. Four ureters in 4 patients had the recurrence of VUR, and in another patient new occurrence was detected postoperatively. Augmentation ileocystoplasty was performed to treat the postoperative decrease of bladder compliance in 4 patients. Among 22 patients who had hydronephrosis preoperatively, 9 (40.9%) showed improvement and none suffered from aggravation of this condition. None of the patients showed a decline of renal function, except for 1 who had a serum creatinine of 2.5 mg/dl preoperatively and developed end-stage renal failure at 7 years postoperatively. CONCLUSIONS: The Cohen procedure has an excellent anti-reflux effect. It is one of the therapeutic options for VUR in patients with good bladder compliance.

[The study on the effect of the transurethral catheter in pressure-flow study--the comparison with the urination in uroflowmetry].

OBJECTIVE: Pressure-flow study (PFS) is an excellent method for detecting the bladder outlet obstruction. However, PFS with the transurethral catheter has the disadvantage of unphysiological urination during testing. In the present study, we compared the urination in PFS with that in uroflowmetry (UFM) and analyzed the effect of the transurethral catheter. MATERIALS AND METHODS: The subjects were 43 men who underwent PFS at Yamato Takada Municipal Hospital. PFS and UFM were compared with respect to four parameters, i.e., Qmax, the residual urine volume, the region on Liverpool nomogram, and the flow curve pattern (Jørgensen's classification). RESULTS: For PFS using a transurethral catheter, (1) Qmax was decreased by a mean of 2.6 ml/s and the residual urine volume was increased by a mean of 26.3 ml compared with UFM, and (2) the Liverpool nomogram and the flow curve pattern showed more impairment of urination with PFS than UFM. CONCLUSION: It is suggested that PFS using a transurethral catheter may not reflect physiological urination.

Macrophage colony stimulating factor inhibits experimental liver metastases from colon cancer.

This study investigated the inhibitory effect of human macrophage colony stimulating factor (hM-CSF) on experimental liver metastases. Murine colon cancer cell lines C-26 and C-36 were each injected into the spleen of BALB/c mice and the number of subsequent liver metastases was counted. An optimal dose (3,000U/body/day) of hM-CSF to inhibit liver metastases was identified. Additionally, hM-CSF (3,000U/body/day) administration for 7 days before and after the injection of the same cancer cell lines was investigated. The mean number of liver metastases decreased significantly in the hM-CSF group compared with the saline group. These results suggest potential therapeutic benefit for the use of hM-CSF in the adjuvant treatment of liver metastases.

Development of multiple necrotizing enteritis induced by a tumor necrosis factor-like cytokine from lipopolysaccharide-stimulated peritoneal macrophages in rats.

We report the development of an animal model of multiple necrotizing enteritis (MNE) in rats. When rats were injected directly with a culture supernatant of lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated rat peritoneal macrophages into the abdominal aorta, the overt pathologic lesions of MNE developed within 30 minutes after injection. The rats showed an elevated level of blood fibrinogen degradation product content even 30 minutes after injection. Furthermore the rats that were pretreated intravenously with heparin sulfate did not develop MNE, indicating the acute disturbances of blood microcirculation in the intestine. Multiple necrotizing enteritis was developed also by the injection with recombinant tumor necrosis factor (rTNF) but rarely was observed with even a high dose of recombinant interleukin-1 (rIL-1) or platelet-activating factor (PAF). The supernatant was cytotoxic in vitro to TNF-susceptible LM and many other cells but was less cytotoxic to the TNF-resistant LR line. Partial purification of the supernatant suggested that the supernatant contained a cytokine that has biochemical features of TNF. Furthermore polyclonal anti-TNF antibody could inhibit not only the cytotoxicity in vitro but also MNE development in vivo by this factor. These data strongly indicate that MNE possibly could be caused by a TNF-like cytokine produced by macrophages that are stimulated by the endotoxin.

Heat- or stress-inducible transformation-associated cell surface antigen on the activated H-ras oncogene-transfected rat fibroblast.

A WKA rat fetus fibroblast (WFB) was transfected by several oncogenes including EJras (activated H-ras), polyoma middle T (PyMT), v-src, c-myc, and adenovirus type 12 E1A-E1B. We analyzed the expression of the transformation-associated cell surface antigens on WFB by developing monoclonal antibodies. One of the WFB transformation-associated cell surface antigens, recognized by monoclonal antibody 067, was constitutively expressed only on two (W31 and W70) of ten WFB-EJras-transformed clones. This antigen could not be detected on parental WFB cells as well as ten WFB-PyMT transformant clones. Furthermore, it was not expressed on several clones of partially transformed WFB-v-src and WFB-adeno E1 transfectants or nontransformed WFB-c-myc transfectants. Monoclonal antibody 067 could form an immunoprecipitate with an approximate molecular weight of 67,000 which was composed of a single polypeptide chain. It was also shown that the expression of this antigen could be enhanced by cyclic AMP or cholera toxin treatment of W31; treated cells also showed a phenotypic reversion to the nonmalignant growth characteristics of the parental WFB. Moreover, the expression of this antigen could be induced on the WFB-EJras transformants such as W14, which do not constitutively express this antigen, by treatment of these agents. Furthermore, the expression of antigen was enhanced by heat and superoxide treatment on W31. These data suggest that the monoclonal antibody 067-defined molecule is a novel transformation-associated cell surface antigen that could be induced by heat shock or other physiological stress.

Identification by monoclonal antibody of the tumor antigen of a human autologous breast cancer cell that is involved in cytotoxicity by a cytotoxic T-cell clone.

We have already established a pair of human autologous clones, tumor-specific cytotoxic T-lymphocyte clone TcHMC-1 and tumor target clone HMC-1-8, that were derived from the metastatic pleural effusion of a patient with mammary carcinoma. In this paper, we describe the target antigen that was defined by monoclonal antibody 3A2. This monoclonal antibody selectively inhibited the cytotoxic action of TcHMC-1 against HMC1-8 autologous tumor target cells, but not the cytotoxicity of lymphokine-activated killer and possibly natural killer cells against HMC-1-8 cells. Western blot analysis using the 3A2 monoclonal antibody identified a molecule with an approximate molecular weight of 92,000. This antigen was highly expressed on autologous primary cancer cells of breast carcinoma tissue, but not on the normal mammary gland in the same patient. Moreover, this antigen can be detected on approximately 50% of human allogeneic breast carcinomas, but not on other neoplastic tissues such as gastric and colonic carcinomas except for one out of 10 prostatic carcinomas. Nonneoplastic normal cells did not express this antigen. It was also suggested that the antigen is not murine mammary tumor virus-related products. These data suggest that 3A2-defined antigen could participate in the cytotoxicity by human autologous cytotoxic T-lymphocytes as the target molecule expressed on tumor cells.