Remote visualization of underwater oil using a flash Raman lidar system.

We propose and experimentally demonstrate a new, to the best of our knowledge, underwater monitoring system that incorporates Raman spectroscopy based on a flash lidar. We have visualized underwater oil at a 5 m distance by illuminating the area of around 15 cm diameter with an expanding laser beam at 532 nm and detecting the oil and water Raman images. By calibrating the oil Raman image with the water Raman image, the detection limit of liquid oil thickness has been estimated to be about 0.27 mm. Thus, the proposed technique provides the capability of effectively detecting oil leaks in underwater sea areas.

Kilotesla plasmoid formation by a trapped relativistic laser beam.

A strong quasistationary magnetic field is generated in hollow targets with curved internal surface under the action of a relativistically intense picosecond laser pulse. Experimental data evidence the formation of quasistationary strongly magnetized plasma structures decaying on a hundred picoseconds timescale, with the magnetic field strength of the kilotesla scale. Numerical simulations unravel the importance of transient processes during the magnetic field generation and suggest the existence of fast and slow regimes of plasmoid evolution depending on the interaction parameters. The proposed setup is suited for perspective highly magnetized plasma application and fundamental studies.

[Localized pulmonary infiltration in chronic myelomonocytic leukemia].

A 38-year-old woman who had been treated for refractory anemia was admitted with severe pancytopenia, persistent fever and splenomegaly in May 1995. The bone marrow biopsy revealed hyperplastic marrow with marked fibrosis. Shortly after admission, cardiac tamponade developed. Though low-dose Ara-C therapy successfully controlled the tamponade, no hematological recovery was obtained. Then a chemotherapy consisted of Ara-C, acrarubicin and M-CSF was done and the neutropenia was improved. However, progressive leukocytosis with monocytosis and splenomegaly subsequently developed. Thus, the disease was considered to progress to CMML. Localized pulmonary infiltrates associated with a cavity, a pulmonary artery aneurysm and a recurrent high fever developed in October 1995. Though invasive pulmonary aspergillosis was suspected, blood and sputa culture, as well as serological tests were negative. In February 1996, massive hemoptysis occurred and the patient died due to respiratory failure after an emergency right lobectomy of the lung. Pathological examination of the operated lung disclosed that the localized pulmonary infiltrates consisted of monocytoid cells. Infiltration of the monocytoid cells in the tissue surrounding the pulmonary aneurysm was also observed. However, no pathologic organisms were detected at all. Thus, the leukemic cells were considered to have infiltrated locally into the lung.

[Pernicious anemia associated with chronic thyroiditis and suspected latent adrenal insufficiency].

A 64-year-old female referred to our hospital because of severe anemia. Peripheral blood examination showed macrocytic anemia; red blood cell count was 1.49 x 10(6)/microliters, hemoglobin concentration was 5.6 g/dl, hematocrit was 16.1% and MCV was 108 fl. Serum VB 12 level was significantly low as 58 pg/ml. Upper gastrointestinal examination disclosed chronic atrophic gastritis. Anti-intrinsic factor and anti-parietal cell antibodies were detected in the serum and Schilling's test was positive. Thus a diagnosis of pernicious anemia was made. Though the serum free T 3 and free T 4 levels were in normal ranges, the elevated serum TSH and positive tests for anti-microsome and anti-thyroglobulin antibodies indicated that the patient had chronic thyroiditis. Then other endocrinological examinations were performed. Low level of urinary 17-OHCS and a hypo-reactive pattern of rapid ACTH test led to a diagnosis of latent adrenal insufficiency. This case could be categorized into polyglandular autoimmune syndrome.