A High-Resolution 1.3-GHz/54-mm LTS/HTS NMR Magnet.

A high-resolution 1.3-GHz/54-mm low-temperature superconducting/high-temperature superconducting (HTS) nuclear magnetic resonance magnet (1.3 G) is currently in the final stage at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology Francis Bitter Magnet Laboratory. Its key component is a three-coil (Coils 1-3) 800-MHz HTS insert comprising 96 no-insulation (NI) double-pancake coils, each wound with a 6-mm-wide GdBCO tape. In this paper, after describing the overall 1.3-G system, we present innovative design features incorporated in 1.3 G: 1) an NI winding technique applied to Coils 1-3 and its adverse effect in the form of charging time delay; 2) persistent-mode HTS shims; 3) a "shaking" magnet; and 4) preliminary results of Coil 1 operated at 4.2 K.

Retroperitoneal approach for laparoscopic nephroureterectomy with stripping technique: extracorporeal ligation of ureter and ureteral catheter.

INTRODUCTION: The pluck and stripping techniques are used for lower ureter management in renal pelvic cancer patients. Herein, we report our experience of extracorporeal ligation of the ureter and the ureteral catheter through the trocar port, which differs from conventional laparoscopic ligation in the retroperitoneal space. This technique was selected to reduce the time needed for ureter management using the stripping technique and to provide secure ligation. MATERIALS AND SURGICAL TECHNIQUE: We performed this stripping technique in patients with T1 and T2 stage renal pelvic cancer without imaging-evident lymph node metastasis. After transurethrally placing a ureteral catheter, we resected the circumference of the ureteral orifice. After laparoscopic nephrectomy via a retroperitoneal approach, the ureteral catheter and distal ureter were ligated extracorporeally. The catheter was pulled to invaginate the ureter so it could then be pulled through the external urethral orifice. DISCUSSION: This technique of extracorporeal ligation ensures more a secure ligation of the ureter and ureteral catheter. This modified stripping technique does not require lower ureter management with laparotomy, and it is also useful in shortening the operative time. This method is effective for relatively early stage renal pelvic cancer.

Absorption spectroscopy of gold nanoisland films: optical and structural characterization.

Nanoisland films prepared by annealing thin gold films at high temperatures were imaged using scanning electron microscopy (SEM) and atomic force microscopy, and optically characterized through absorption spectroscopy. Thin gold films of effective thicknesses 2, 5 and 7 nm annealed at 500, 700 and 900 degrees C were fabricated and studied experimentally. The measured absorption characteristics in support of theoretical calculations showed that the shapes of gold islands were partial spheres. The position of the peak absorption wavelength measured with s-polarized light or at normal incidence confirmed that the island shape grew from a near-hemisphere towards a sphere with increasing annealing temperature. The SEM images confirmed that the size of islands increased from 15 nm in diameter to 40 nm in diameter as film thickness increased from 2 to 5 nm. The affect of the index of the substrate material on absorption characteristics were also studied by comparing the absorption spectra of gold island films on quartz and LaSF15 glass substrates. The use of gold nanoisland films for preparing localized surface plasmon resonance substrates was suggested as they held advantages over the gold colloid films.

Expression of epidermal growth factor in human tissues. Immunohistochemical and biochemical analysis.

The expression of epidermal growth factor (EGF) was examined on various human tissues by radioimmunoassay, immunohistochemistry and Northern blot analysis. Immunoreactive EGF was found in most of the human tissues by radioimmunoassay at various levels. Large quantities of EGF were detected in the kidney and thyroid gland. Immunohistochemically, EGF immunoreactivity was detected mainly in the epithelial cells of the lung, stomach, duodenum, pancreas, kidney, pituitary gland, thyroid gland, mammary gland, ovary, uterus and placenta. Weakly EGF-positive cells were also found in the adrenal gland. The results of EGF-immunostaining were not always consistent with the data from radioimmunoassay. We consider that the amount of EGF measured by radioimmunoassay reflects the density of EGF-positive cells in the tissues and the concentration of EGF in individual EGF-positive cells. Furthermore, EGF mRNA was expressed in the salivary gland, thyroid gland, mammary gland and kidney. It is thus evident that EGF is produced by a variety of human tissues. The kidney expressed exceptionally high levels of EGF mRNA which was about one-tenth of the expression in mouse submandibular gland, suggesting that most of EGF in the urine is produced and secreted by the epithelial cells of renal tubules.

New pyrrolobenzodiazepine antibiotics, RK-1441A and B. II. Isolation and structure.

Antibacteriophage antibiotics, RK-1441A and B, related to neothramycin were isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. and their structures were deduced from spectroscopic analyses. The structure of RK-1441A was 8,11-dihydroxy-3,7-dimethoxy-5-oxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c:1,4]benzodiazepine. RK-1441B is a tautomeric mixture at C-3 of the structure, 3,8,11-trihydroxy-7-methoxy-5-oxo-1H-pyrrolo[2,1-c:1,4]benzodiazepine.

New pyrrolobenzodiazepine antibiotics, RK-1441A and B. I. Biological properties.

Streptomyces griseus and bacteriophage B were used for an assay system detecting anti-bacteriophage antibiotics. Streptomyces sp. RK-1441 was found to produce antibacteriophage antibiotics, RK-1441A and B, which are pyrrolo[1,4]benzodiazepine group antibiotics related to neothramycin. Both RK-1441A and B had antibacteriophage activity. The former showed antimicrobial activity on a hypersensitive strain of E. coli for antitumor antibiotics, but the later did not show the activity. Restriction enzyme assay suggested that RK-1441A formed adducts with guanine residues in DNA strands. RK-1441B was not active in vitro, but it might be converted to the active form in host organisms.

[Clinical evaluation of synthetic hydroxyapatite implants for human periodontal osseous defects. 6 cases studied more than 3 years after the surgery].

We applied of granular hydroxyapatite HAP to periodontal bone defects, for the purpose of restoring the periodontal tissue destroyed by periodontal disease, the subjects were 6 patients (6 regions) with chronic marginal periodontitis who had passed more than 3 years since HAP implantation. After routine periodontal initial treatment, a flap operation was performed, and granular HAP, or a combination of granular and block-like HAP, was implanted into the periodontal bone defect. Clinical parameters were probing depth, clinical attachment level, clinical gingival margin, residual HAP volume and X-ray before operation, at 3, 6, 12 months, and 2, 3, and 4, 6 years after the operation. The results revealed that all measured values showed good results for both granular HAP and the combination of granular and block-like HAP after implantation, and that all cases showed stable results from 12 months on. No remarkable difference was noted between the implanted regions.

Repair of the mouse synovial membrane after chemical synovectomy with osmium tetroxide.

Repair of the synovium of the mouse knee joint following intra-articular injection with osmium tetroxide has been studied by light and electron microscopy. Within a first few days after osmium tetroxide injection complete necrosis of the synovial intima and inflammatory response in the subintimal connective tissue occurred. The resurfacing of the denuded synovium was performed by proliferation of immature synovioblasts which appeared to be derived from mesenchymal cells in the transition zone. The synovial intima completely restored the original structure, while repair of the subintimal tissue was accomplished by a scarring.

Central pontine myelinolysis with extrapontine lesions.

An autopsy case of central pontine myelinolysis (CPM) was reported. The patient, a 48-year-old man, with a long history of alcoholic intake appeared in a hospital with the diagnosis of alcoholic hepatitis and the neurologic symptoms of delirium tremens. During the hospital course he fell into "locked in" with concomitant development of marked hyponatremia (92 mEq/1). An autopsy revealed typical CPM and the extra-pontine myelinolytic lesions distributed symmetrically in the thalami, subthalamic nuclei, and lateral geniculate bodies. Spongiosis was also found in the deep layer of the cerebral cortex and in the putamen. It was suggested that CPM occur in close association with marked hyponatremia and the extrapontine involvement be likely to manifest in the deep layer of the cerebral cortex, putamen, thalamus, and lateral geniculate body, where the myelin cylinders form an interlacing network embedding large neurons and oligodendrocytes.

Mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the liver.

An autopsy case of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the liver associated with congenital cysts in a 78-year-old man was reported. The liver weighed 1,900 g, and there was a massive tumor of 11 X 10 X 6.5 cm in the left lobe with multiple sero-mucinous cysts. Histologically, the tumor cells consisted of four types of cells: mucus-secreting cells, squamous cells, intermediate cells, and oxyphilic cells. The variety of tumor cells quite resembled that of mucoepidermoid carcinoma of the salivary gland. The sero-mucinous cysts were lined with a single layer of cuboidal or columnar cells and were not communicated with the biliary ducts. Part of the cysts with benign lining cells was in continuity with tumor cells of the intermediate type. Discussion was made on the histogenesis of hepatic mucoepidermoid carcinoma in particular emphasis on the association of the congenital cysts.

The fine structure of psammoma bodies in meningocytic whorls.

Psammoma bodies within meningocytic whorls in five cases of meningioma were examined by electron microscopy. The cells comprising the meningocytic whorls showed the conventional ultrastructural features of meningothelial cells with interdigitations and interconnections by means of junctional complexes. In some whorls, collagen fibers, elastic fibers, microfibrils, as well as finely reticulated material were observed. Calcified foci of various sizes were seen within many of these whorls. Extracellular matrix vesicles, with or without hydroxyapatite crystals, were occasionally noted at the periphery of extracellular psammoma bodies in the whorl. Furthermore, many small aggregates of crystals were present adjacent and parallel to the collagen and elastic fibers in the meningocytic whorls. Substantial amounts of collagen fibers were also observed within the large psammoma bodies. These findings suggest that the matrix vesicles, presumably produced by the meningothelial cell, may serve as the initial nidi of calcification of psammoma bodies as originally suggested by Lipper et al. Collagen fibers as well as elastic fibers in the whorls may also play an important role in orienting apatite crystal deposition during the growth of extracellular psammoma bodies and serve as early sites of calcification.

Secretory granules in benign and malignant glucagonomas of the pancreas.

Two cases of glucagonoma, one benign and the other malignant, was presented. Benign glucagonoma in a 29-year-old man with multiple endocrine neoplasia type 1 was composed largely of tumor cells with secretory granules ranging from 139 to 417 nm in diameter identical to A cell granules. There were a few tumor cells which contained no A cell granules but smaller granules of approximately 166 nm diameter similar to those of pancreatic polypeptide containing cells. Radioimmunoassay of the tumor extract showed 319 micrograms/g wet weight of glucagon and 0.72 microgram/g wet weight of pancreatic polypeptide. Malignant glucagonoma in a 34-year-old man was a massive tumor of 7 X 6 X 5 cm replacing the tail and body of the pancreas with multiple metastases. The tumor contained 0.2 microgram/g wet weight of glucagon and 0.065 microgram/g wet weight of vasoactive intestinal peptide. The electron microscopic examination revealed that the tumor cells had variable numbers of atypical secretory granules measuring 110 to 200 nm in diameter different from A cell granules. An analysis of plasma glucagon by the gel filtration technique showed the heterogeneity of glucagon molecules indicating the presence of large glucagon. Atypical secretory granules in malignant glucagonoma were considered to represent immature granules containing the precursor or intermediate of glucagon.

External skeletal fixation using methylmethacrylate. Current technique, clinical results, and indications.

External skeletal fixation using self-curing acrylic resin was applied by inserting A-O cortical screws into the diaphyseal region and A-O cancellous screws into the epiphyseal and/or metaphyseal regions. The position of the screws was designed to secure three-dimensional fixation. Points of insertion are selected that avoid infected bone, open wounds, thick muscles, and skin that is relatively mobile during joint motion. After reduction the acrylic resin rather than conventional metal linking devices is used for fixation of the screws. Once the fixation is completed, it is adjustable and so rigid that exercises for joint function are possible. The apparatus is light in weight and sufficiently compact to fit under clothing. In the 204 patients treated by this method, open tibial fractures occurred in 123; nonunion or delayed union in 28; metaphyseal and epiphyseal fractures in 30; femoral fractures in ten children; and miscellaneous fractures and other conditions in 13. Nearly all of the operations were successful. Three patients had refractures after removal of the fixation device.