Development of an automated large-scale protein-crystallization and monitoring system for high-throughput protein-structure analyses.

Protein crystallization remains one of the bottlenecks in crystallographic analysis of macromolecules. An automated large-scale protein-crystallization system named PXS has been developed consisting of the following subsystems, which proceed in parallel under unified control software: dispensing precipitants and protein solutions, sealing crystallization plates, carrying robot, incubators, observation system and image-storage server. A sitting-drop crystallization plate specialized for PXS has also been designed and developed. PXS can set up 7680 drops for vapour diffusion per hour, which includes time for replenishing supplies such as disposable tips and crystallization plates. Images of the crystallization drops are automatically recorded according to a preprogrammed schedule and can be viewed by users remotely using web-based browser software. A number of protein crystals were successfully produced and several protein structures could be determined directly from crystals grown by PXS. In other cases, X-ray quality crystals were obtained by further optimization by manual screening based on the conditions found by PXS.

[A successful treatment of percutaneous radio frequency ablation for advanced thyroid cancer].

The patient was a 69-year-old woman. She received chemotherapy and radiation for thyroid tumor (undifferentiated cancer) following an operation in 1998. The chemotherapy was regularly repeated for relapse. The tumor increased gradually and came to cause dysphagia. She initially rejected nutritional management that depends on intravenous hyper alimentation or gastrostomy. After receiving an informed consent, we performed percutaneous radio frequency ablation (RFA) for the tumor using a Cool-tip needle on April 2, 2003. The algorithm of RFA was 9 min: 30 --> 120 W, 12 min: 50 --> 110 W, 9 min: 50 --> 100 W. After 2 days, the covered stent was implanted in the esophagus and an oral intake was started. Although the operation for undifferentiated thyroid cancer is controversial, we performed RFA and esophageal stenting for improving of QOL. This is the first case report in Japan.