Search for η

We measured missing mass spectrum of the ^{12}C(γ,p) reaction for the first time in coincidence with potential decay products from η^{'} bound nuclei. We tagged an (η+p) pair associated with the η^{'}N→ηN process in a nucleus. After applying kinematical selections to reduce backgrounds, no signal events were observed in the bound-state region. An upper limit of the signal cross section in the opening angle cosθ_{lab}^{ηp}<-0.9 was obtained to be 2.2 nb/sr at the 90% confidence level. It is compared with theoretical cross sections, whose normalization ambiguity is suppressed by measuring a quasifree η^{'} production rate. Our results indicate a small branching fraction of the η^{'}N→ηN process and/or a shallow η^{'}-nucleus potential.

Fructose stimulates shedding of cytoplasmic droplets from epididymal boar spermatozoa.

The aim of the present study was to establish the presence of an inducer(s) for the shedding of cytoplasmic droplets from boar spermatozoa after ejaculation. Cauda epididymal spermatozoa were incubated with seminal plasma, seminal vesicular fluid (SVF) or chemical agents at 39 degrees C for 30 min. After fixation and staining, percentages of spermatozoa without a droplet were determined. In the samples incubated with seminal plasma, SVF and a filtrate of SVF obtained after passage through an ultrafilter (molecular weight cut-off, 10,000), 43%, 60-69% and 43% of the spermatozoa were without a droplet respectively. The percentage of spermatozoa without a droplet after incubation with D-fructose (1.0 mM), which was one of the energy substrates included in SVF, was 76%. Furthermore, percentages increased to 93% and 90% with the addition of caffeine (2.0 mM) and N6, 2'-O-dibutyryl cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate (1.0 mM), respectively, but decreased to 48% with the addition of imidazole (2.0 mM). Based on these results, it is suggested that the shedding of cytoplasmic droplets from boar spermatozoa is induced by fructose originating from SVF. It also appears that this event is mediated by increasing the concentration of intracellular cyclic adenosine 3',5'-monophosphate.

[A successfully treated case of empyema with a large tracheal fistula after subtotal esophagotomy by mediastinoscopy].

We reported a successfully treated case of empyema with a large tracheal fistula after subtotal esophagotomy. This 59-year-old male was treated by drainage with mediastinoscopy and repeated wash-out under bronchoscopy, because we could not use the omentum and he was the poor-risk patient. The trancheal fistula was obliterated bronchoscopically, 4 months after the mediastinoscopy. We believe that this method (abscess drainage with mediastinoscope and wash-out repeatedly) is useful for those who has broncheal fistula after esophagectomy.

Catecholamines and gonadotropin secretion in sterile women.

We studied changes in catecholamines, as related to estrogen positive feedback mechanisms, and we measured two catecholamine metabolites (DOPAC, MHPG) in the plasma, using high performance liquid chromatography. In the case of the mean MHPG level, the mean values for two groups in which LH levels were from 100 to 200 percent of the basal level of LH and under the basal level of LH were significantly higher than that of a group in which the LH level was double the value for the basal level of LH. But the mean basal DOPAC level showed no significant difference among the three groups. In the good LH reaction group, the MHPG level at 24 and 48 hours after estrogen injection was significantly higher than the mean basal MHPG level. But in other two groups, the mean MHPG levels showed no significant differences. In the case of DOPAC, there was no significant difference in any group. All these observations taken together suggested that in vivo, catecholamines may influence the secretion of gonadotropins.

Stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats as a model for toxemia of pregnancy and aggravating and preventive effects of maternal modifications during pregnancy on offspring's growth.

Genetical differences in changes in blood pressure (BP) were chronologically investigated during pregnancy in stroke-prone spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHRSP), Wistar-Kyoto rats (WKY) and Sprague-Dawley (SD) rats. Especially, the early stages were carefully studied. Maternal conditions in SHRSP were modified by the treatments with NaCl and taurine, respectively. BP in SHRSP and WKY rose significantly at the early stage of pregnancy compared to prepregnancy levels (SHRSP; 208 +/- 2 mmHg vs 197 +/- 5 mmHg, WKY; 133 +/- 2 mmHg vs 126 +/- 1 mmHg) (p less than 0.05). In contrast, no such changes were observed in SD rats. Differences in 24-hour urinary epinephrine excretion before and during pregnancy ran parallel with such BP changes among these strains. NaCl-loaded SHRSP died during pregnancy with severe pathohistological changes in their kidneys and severe proteinuria. Taurine treatment had a marked prophylactic effect on these maternal pathological changes during pregnancy, resulting in better growth in offsprings. These results suggest that SHRSP could be one of the suitable animal models for the studies on toxemia of pregnancy and also suggest an important role of hypertensive genetical disposition in the development of toxemia of pregnancy.

Serum CA 125 as a marker for patients with external endometriosis.

Serum CA 125 levels were assayed in 75 healthy female controls and 34 patients with external endometriosis prior to treatment, during treatment, and after treatment. The results of the assay showed that the mean pretreatment serum CA 125 level of the patients with external endometriosis (80.7 U/mL) was significantly (P less than .001) higher than that of the controls (17.9 U/mL). This difference was even more pronounced for those patients with progressive (stage III or IV) endometriosis (mean = 114.0 U/mL). Thus, the assay of serum CA 125 may be useful as an auxiliary tool in the diagnosis of progressive endometriosis. Although the high pretreatment level of serum CA 125 decreased after danazol treatment of 400 mg/day to within the normal limits, usually within 4 to 12 weeks, laparoscopic examinations indicated that most of the endometriosis cases were not cured until 12-16 weeks of danazol treatment.

CA 125 antigen is an effective diagnostic for external endometriosis.

We measured serum levels of CA 125 in 26 patients with external endometriosis, using CA 125 RIA Kits. The normal range was instituted below 39 U/ml. The mean CA 125 level (+/- SD) was 55.1 +/- 24.9 U/ml in patients with external endometriosis, the positive rate being 71.4%. Considering the clinical stage of external endometriosis, the mean CA 125 level and positive rate increased to 64.5 +/- 23.2 U/ml and 93.3%, respectively. The CA 125 levels in these patients gradually decreased after surgery and/or Danazol treatment and the levels were below 39 U/ml within four weeks. Thus, progressive external endometriosis can be accurately diagnosed by determining the serum levels of CA 125, and appropriate clinical treatment designed.

Abnormally high values of CA 125 and CA 19-9 in women with benign tumors.

Tumor markers have proved to be generally useful for diagnosing and monitoring malignancy. In contrast, high levels of tumor markers disturb us for differing benign disease from malignancy. We had 5 cases with benign disease who showed high values of tumor markers (CA 125 and CA 19-9). In this report, we illustrated 3 patients with endometriosis who showed high values of CA 125 and 2 patients with dermoid cyst who showed high values of CA 19-9. It was impossible to rule out malignant disease in all cases preoperatively. In diagnosing ovarian tumors, bimanual examination, ultrasound, CT scan and tumor markers should all be considered.

Prognostic potential of serum CA 125 levels in danazol-treated patients with external endometriosis: a preliminary study.

Serum levels of CA 125 in 33 patients with progressive external endometriosis who were treated with 400 mg/day of Danazol for 16 weeks were assayed for an extended period (24-40 weeks), and changes in the CA 125 pattern were analyzed. Patterns of hormonal response were classified into four types. Prognosis for one type was good, whereas that for the other three types was poor. By making use of these patterns, we were able to determine more accurately the proper dose of Danazol, to alter the duration of treatment, and to predict relapse.

Antenatal measurement of scapula length using ultrasound.

In 76 fetuses from 14 weeks of gestation through to term, measurements of the scapula were made using ultrasound. Statistical analysis of the results revealed a highly significant correlation between scapula measurements and gestational age, biparietal diameter, fetal femur length and fetal abdominal circumference (r = 0.93, 0.91, 0.95, and 0.91, respectively). In particular, values related to length of the scapula were highly correlated with femur length. These findings show that this measurement is useful as an adjunct to assessing development as well as growth of the femur and dating parameters of the fetus in utero.

[Studies of screening, detection and mortality rates in mass screening for uterine cervical cancer in Shimane prefecture].

To assess the value of mass-screening for uterine cervical cancer, we compared data obtained from a "model area" with findings obtained from the whole of Shimane Prefecture. The factors given attention were: Screening ratio, detection ratio and mortality directly related to cancer of the uterine cervix. These data were obtained from 1976-1980. The results are as follows: Screening ratio and mortality rates were 35.7% and 7.8% respectively, in the model area and 8.4% and 11.5% respectively, in Shimane Prefecture. Four years after setting up the "model area", the mortality rate for uterine cervical cancer reached zero. The ratio of cancer detection in the "model area" was 0.204%, that is about twice that in Shimane Prefecture. The ratios of detection of severe dysplasia, carcinoma in situ and infiltrative carcinoma were higher in the "model area" than in Shimane Prefecture. Detection of severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ was significantly high in the "model area". Therefore, to reduce the mortality rate for cervical cancer, the CAI should be over 350.

Studies on serum CA125 levels in pregnant women.

To confirm the change in serum CA 125 levels in cases of pregnancy, we measured serum CA 125 levels in 234 normal pregnant women, 40 postpartum women and 14 abnormal pregnant women (12 of IUFD and 2 of H. mole), using an RIA kit. The mean CA 125 level (+/- S.D.) and positive ratio (greater than 34U/ml) for pregnant women at 4-11 weeks of gestation were 65.0 +/- 77.3 U/ml and 64.6%, respectively, being the highest values in all the groups. On the contrary, those for pregnant women at 12-23 weeks of gestation were 22.3 +/- 10.6 U/ml and 12.7%, respectively, the lowest in all gestational groups. Changes in serum CA 125 levels in normal pregnant women showed a trend toward decrease, as gestation advanced. But the CA 125 levels for women at postpartum showed a slight trend toward increase. The mean CA 125 level (+/- S.D.) for 12 patients with IUFD was 392.5 +/- 275.8 U/ml and that for 2 patients with H. mole was 65.0 +/- 15.0 U/ml. Serum CA 125 levels for patients with IUFD were higher than that in cases of normal pregnancy. When utilizing CA 125 as a marker for ovarian cancer, the influence of pregnancy must be considered. And it indicates that CA 125 can be used as an aid to the diagnosis of IUFD in serous cases.

Clinical usefulness and false-positive results of CA 125 as a tumor marker of ovarian cancer--a study on 674 patients.

To study the clinical usefulness and false-positive results of CA 125 as a tumor marker of ovarian cancer, we measured serum CA 125 levels in 197 patients with gynecological diseases, 274 normal, pregnant and postpartum women, 14 patients with abnormal pregnancy, 82 healthy women with a normal ovulatory menstrual cycle and 107 healthy non-pregnant subjects, using RIA kits. A level below 34 U/ml was considered the normal CA 125 range. The positive ratio of serum CA 125 in patients with malignant ovarian tumor was 81.3 per cent, and in those with serous cystadenocarcinoma the rate was 100 per cent. On the other hand, only one patient with benign ovarian tumor had a positive CA 125 value. Therefore, we suggest that CA 125 is useful for differentiation between benign ovarian tumor and ovarian cancer. However, because the positive ratio of CA 125 level is high in patients with recurrences of uterine cervical adenocarcinoma, those with tubal cancer, endometriosis, early pregnancy, abnormal pregnancy plus intrauterine fetal death and menstruating women, such situations must be given due attention when CA 125 is used as a tumor marker of ovarian cancer.

Human corticosteroid-binding capacities in normal, high-risk or pregnancies with an abnormal outcome.

To determine whether or not the serum corticosteroid binding capacity (CBC) level is related to the outcome of pregnancy or fetal well-being, a total of 124 determinations of CBC were performed in 96 pregnant individuals, using hydrophobic resin adsorption methods. The serum CBC values were elevated with progression of gestation. On the other hand, high-risk pregnancies or those with an abnormal outcome were among the low CBC group, below the mean value (p less than 0.001), whereas normal pregnancies were more often in the high CBC group, over the mean value, in comparison with the low CBC group below the mean value (p less than 0.001), after 28 weeks of gestation. In addition, the ratios of birth weight/placental weight and maternal weight/placental weight were slightly but not statistically high in the low CBC group, in comparison with the high CBC group. Thus, various events related to placental growth might be important factors regulating the serum CBC level. While there are many determinants of corticosteroid binding globulin production and excretion, assessment of CBC levels seems to be a reliable indicator of the outcome of pregnancy, including high-risk pregnancy, in the 3rd trimester.

[Studies on a cell sampling method in mass screening for uterine cervical cancer--comparison of data obtained with a cotton tipped applicator, wooden spatula and cotton tipped applicator plus colposcopy].

In mass screening tests for uterine cancer carried out Shimane Prefecture, we used three different scraping methods. This summary is a report of a comparison of the findings with each method. Results are as follows: From 1973-1982, 214, 798 Japanese women were examined in mass screening tests. Among the 42, 443 examined using a cotton tipped applicator, there were 15 (0.035%) with mild dysplasia, 8 (0.019%) with severe dysplasia, 6 (0.014%) with carcinoma in situ and 8 (0.019%) with invasive carcinoma. In 38,106 women examined using the spatula, 25 (0.066%) had a mild dysplasia, 10 (0.026%) a severe dysplasia, 18 (0.047%) a carcinoma in situ and 26 (0.068%) an invasive carcinoma. In 134,249 examined using a cotton tipped applicator plus colposcopy, 283 (0.211%) had a mild dysplasia 108 (0.080%) a severe dysplasia, 57 (0.042%) a carcinoma in situ and 78 (0.058%) an invasive carcinoma. Thus, the use of a cotton tipped applicator plus colposcopy leads to higher rates of detection of mild and severe dysplasia. In the group with a negative Papanicolaou smear and for whom the cotton tipped applicator plus colposcopy was used, there were 214 with a mild dysplasia, 65 with a severe dysplasia, 11 with a carcinoma in situ and 7 with an invasive carcinoma. The combination of cotton tipped applicator and colposcopy proved to be the most effective for mass screenings for uterine cancer, as the detection rates for severe dysplasia and carcinoma in situ were higher and there were fewer incidences of false negative results.

[Differential diagnosis between leiomyomata uteri and adenomyosis using CA 125 as a new tumor marker of ovarian carcinoma].

To differentiate pre-operatively between leiomyomata uteri and adenomyosis, we measured serum levels of an antigen (CA 125) common to most nonmucinous epithelial ovarian carcinoma in patients with benign uterine tumor (11 of leiomyomata uteri, 7 of adenomyosis and 1 of adenomyosis with leiomyomata uteri). CA 125 in serum samples pre and postoperatively were measured using an RIA Kit. The normal range of CA 125 levels was below 35U/ml. The mean CA 125 level (+/- S.D.) was 18.3 +/- 6.1U/ml in patients with leiomyomata uteri and 93.3 +/- 49.4U/ml in those with adenomyosis. Student's t-test showed a significant correlation (0.001 less than p less than 0.01). The mean CA 125 level in patients with adenomyosis was statistically higher than that in disease-free women. Among 7 patients with surgically demonstrable adenomyosis, the CA 125 values were over 35U/ml (87.5%). In all 11 patients with surgically demonstrable leiomyomata uteri, the CA 125 level was below 35U/ml. The CA 125 level in patients with adenomyosis gradually decreased postoperatively and in all was below 35U/ml up to one month postoperatively. Using this approach, leiomyomata uteri and adenomyosis can be differentiated, pre-operatively.