Development of horn antenna mixer array with internal local oscillator module for microwave imaging diagnostics.

A new antenna array is proposed in order to improve the sensitivity and complexity of microwave imaging diagnostics systems such as a microwave imaging reflectometry, a microwave imaging interferometer, and an electron cyclotron emission imaging. The antenna array consists of five elements: a horn antenna, a waveguide-to-microstrip line transition, a mixer, a local oscillation (LO) module, and an intermediate frequency amplifier. By using an LO module, the LO optics can be removed, and the supplied LO power to each element can be equalized. We report details of the antenna array and characteristics of a prototype antenna array.

Development of electron cyclotron emission imaging system on Large Helical Device.

A combined system of microwave imaging reflectometry and electron cyclotron emission (ECE) imaging has been developed for the Large Helical Device. This system includes a wide-band two-dimensional horn-antenna mixer array (HMA). The HMA consists of horn antennas, waveguides, mixers, and intermediate frequency circuits. The frequency response of the HMA is between 50 and 110 GHz. The ECE signal is selected using a 95 GHz local oscillator and a 93 GHz high-pass filter.

A unique chromosome translocation, t(11;12;18)(q21;q13;q21) [correction of t(11;12;18)(q13;q13;q12)], in primary lung lymphoma.

A 54-year old man with a primary lung lymphoma of mucosa-associated lymphoid tissue (MALT) origin whose tumor cells had a t(11;12;18)(q13;q13;q12) chromosome abnormality is described. The morphologic, immunologic, and molecular biologic investigations showed that the patient's lung tumor consisted of small lymphoid cells that expressed monoclonal IgM, kappa-type immunoglobulin, and immunoglobulin gene (JH and C kappa) rearrangements. Cytogenetic study revealed that the tumor cells contained a unique chromosome translocation, t(11;12;18)(q13;q13;q12), that has not been reported previously in lymphoma.

Aberrant expression of the p53 tumor suppressor gene in adult T-cell leukemia and HTLV-I-infected cells.

By immunoprecipitation analysis, enhanced p53 expression was detected in 3 of 4 adult T-cell leukemia (ATL) cell lines, 1 of 3 HTLV-I-infected cell lines and 1 of 5 fresh ATL samples, compared with phytohemagglutinin-stimulated peripheral blood lymphocytes. Among these 5 high expressers, p53 missense mutations were indicated in 2 ATL cell lines and 1 fresh ATL sample by extensive p53 cDNA and genomic DNA polymerase chain reaction single-strand conformation polymorphism analysis. No mutation was found throughout the entire coding region of the remaining 2 high expressers (1 ATL and 1 HTLV-I-infected cell lines) and low expressers of p53 (2 HTLV-I-infected cell lines). Tax oncoprotein expression was found in these 2 high p53 expressers in which p53 mutation was not present, but not in low p53 expressers or cells carrying this mutation. The levels of p53 mRNA were similar among the samples regardless of p53 levels. Posttranscriptional mechanisms other than missense mutation would thus appear to increase p53 in the Tax-expressing cells but not in cells containing undetectable levels of Tax. No complex formation between p53 and Tax was observed.

[Intensive induction chemotherapy of adult acute myelogenous leukemia by continuing daunorubicin, behenoyl-cytosine arabinoside, 6-mercaptopurine and prednisolone until marrow aplasia].

Intensive induction chemotherapy was applied to 25 patients with acute myelogenous leukemia by continuing drugs (daunorubicin, behenoyl-cytosine arabinoside, 6-mercaptopurine and prednisolone) until the achievement of severe bone marrow aplasia (leukemic cells less than 1,000/microliters). Complete remission (CR) was achieved in 18 (72%). Numbers of partial remission and an early death were 5 (20%) and 2 (8%), respectively. Although median nadirs of white blood cells (WBC) and platelet counts (Pl) (205/microliters and 8,200/microliters, respectively) were remarkably low, recovery of WBC (over 1,000/microliters) and Pl (over 50,000/microliters) were achieved in 23.8 and 24.5 days, after an initiation of the chemotherapy. Sepsis was a most frequently observed complication during induction stage and a duration of fever was 2-48 days (median 15). Median duration of CR was 22.9 months. Unexpectedly, 11 of 17 CR (except one with bone marrow transplanted) relapsed after 4.2-41.4 months (median; 9.4), but 6 (35.3%) still remain in first CR for 30.5-72.9 months (median; 51.4). A long-term survival might be obtained by intensifying induction chemotherapy in about one fourth of patients, but the intensification or application of non-cross resistant anti-leukemic agents in post-remission therapy may be required to avoid relapses even if induction is intensified.

Acute megakaryoblastic leukemia: establishment of a new cell line (MKPL-1) in vitro and in vivo.

A megakaryoblastic cell line (MKPL-1) was newly established from the bone marrow of an adult patient with acute megakaryoblastic leukemia. This cell line grew in single cell suspension with a doubling time of 30 h and consisted of large primitive blasts with persistent development of giant cells carrying multilobed nuclei. MKPL-1 cells were positive for platelet GPIIb/IIIa (CD41) and GPIIIa (CD61), and expressed OKM5 (CD36), MY7 (CD13), and MY9 (CD33) antigens in the absence of erythroid and lymphoid markers. The cytochemical and morphologic characteristics of MKPL-1 were also consistent with those of megakaryoblasts. The cells did not, however, express ultrastructural platelet peroxidase which is considered to be another marker of the megakaryocytic lineage. Cytogenetic analysis of MKPL-1 revealed a model chromosome number of 92 with abnormal chromosomes including those found in the patient's bone marrow cells. Furthermore, MKPL-1 cells were serially transplanted into nude mice for nine passages with production of lethal tumors and leukemic manifestation. Thus, our megakaryoblastic cell line which can be maintained both in vitro and in vivo would be useful for further studies of the biology of megakaryopoiesis and megakaryoblastic leukemia.

Cryptococcal pleural effusion in an HTLV-I carrier with Waldenstroem's macroglobulinemia.

A 70-year-old woman with Waldenstroem's macroglobulinemia developed bilateral pleural effusions due to Cryptococcus neoformans. She was found to be a carrier of HTLV-I. It is speculated that the opportunistic infection occurred as the result of an impaired cellular immunity secondary to HTLV-I infection.

Adult T-cell leukemia: structures and expression of the p53 gene.

Experiments were undertaken to investigate a genetic event involved in leukemogenesis in adult T-cell leukemia (ATL). For this purpose, the p53 gene was chosen for study, since alteration of the gene has been found in a wide variety of human cancers. Structures and expression of the p53 gene in ATL cells were investigated by Southern and Northern blot analyses and a polymerase-chain-reaction single-strand conformation-polymorphism (PCR-SSCP) analysis. Either subtle alterations of the p53 gene or the absence of detectable level of p53 mRNA were found in 2 of 3 acute ATL cell lines and 2 of 12 acute ATL fresh samples. In contrast, no mutation was detected in 4 cases with less aggressive types of ATL (3 chronic and 1 smoldering ATL cases). Mutations found in acute ATL cells occurred in regions highly conserved in evolution and all the cells carrying p53 mutation showed loss of the other p53 allele. These results suggests that alteration of the p53 gene may contribute to progression of the disease in some cases of ATL.