Observation of a large reaction cross section in the drip-line nucleus 22C.

Reaction cross sections (sigma(R)) for 19C, 20C and the drip-line nucleus 22C on a liquid hydrogen target have been measured at around 40A MeV by a transmission method. A large enhancement of sigma(R) for 22C compared to those for neighboring C isotopes was observed. Using a finite-range Glauber calculation under an optical-limit approximation the rms matter radius of 22C was deduced to be 5.4+/-0.9 fm. It does not follow the systematic behavior of radii in carbon isotopes with N < or = 14, suggesting a neutron halo. It was found by an analysis based on a few-body Glauber calculation that the two-valence neutrons in 22C preferentially occupy the 1s(1/2) orbital.

Secretion of TNF-alpha, IL-8 and nitric oxide by macrophages activated with Agaricus blazei Murill fractions in vitro.

Water extracts of the mycelial culture and fruiting bodies of Agaricus blazei Murill were fractionated by ethanol precipitation using various ethanol concentrations. Original water extracts from mycelia (Fraction A-0) and fruiting bodies (Fraction B-0) induced TNF-alpha secretion by macrophages derived from rat bone marrow. Fractions B-4 and B-5 obtained from ethanol precipitation of fruiting bodies using 44% and 50% ethanol, respectively, and Fraction B-6 obtained from the supernatant at 50% ethanol markedly induced TNF-alpha secretion. Similar effects were observed in IL-8 secretion by macrophages. Regarding nitric oxide (NO), Fraction B-5 induced a significant increase in NO secretion and Fractions B-4 and B-6 induced slightly NO secretion. Northern blot analysis showed that the increases in cytokine- and NO secretion were due to an increase in cytokine mRNAs or NO synthase mRNA. Therefore, it is concluded that Agaricus blazei Murill components which activate macrophages result in the induction of cytokine- and NO secretion in vitro.

Alteration of mRNA levels of delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase, ferrochelatase and heme oxygenase-1 in griseofulvin induced protoporphyria mice.

Human erythropoietic protoporphyria (EPP) is an inherited disorder of porphyrin metabolism and its experimental murine model can be produced by treatment with griseofulvin (GF). We investigated the alteration of mRNA expression in ferrochelatase (FeC), delta-aminolevulinic acid synthase (ALAS) and heme oxygenase-1 (HO-1) in liver, skin and peripheral blood cells of GF-treated mice. In liver, ALAS mRNA was enhanced dramatically by GF administration, in accord with thesis that the expression of ALAS is regulated by feedback mechanism. The expression of HO-1 mRNA increased most rapidly and drastically in liver, however its mechanism of regulation may be different from that of ALAS mRNA. The level of FeC mRNA in liver was less affected with GF treatment. Our results indicate that the inhibition of FeC by GF administration might occur primarily at post-transcriptional level. Similar effects were observed in the ALAS and HO-1 mRNA expression in peripheral blood cells, 2-fold increase in the ALAS mRNA and increase from undetectable level to detectable level in the HO-1 mRNA. In skin of GF-treated mice, average increases of 1.3-fold in the ALAS mRNA and 1.6-fold in the HO-1 mRNA were statistically insignificant. The FeC mRNA level was not altered in peripheral blood or in skin of GF-treated mice. The present study indicates that the molecular analysis is practicable in skin and peripheral blood. In further study, this model could contribute to investigate the pathogenesis of clinical manifestation including possibly cutaneous changes in EPP.

Ultrasonographic evaluation of lower uterine segment to predict the integrity and quality of cesarean scar during pregnancy: a prospective study.

A prospective randomized study was conducted to measure the serial thickness of the lower uterine segment (LUS) by transvaginal ultrasonography in a control group of 80 women having no history of uterine surgery and in a study group of 43 women having a history of previous cesarean section (C/S). In the study group, more than 2 mm of thickness of the LUS was considered as good healing and less than 2 mm of thickness as poor healing. After serial sonographic examination, the women with good healing were given trial for labor unless an obstetrical indication for C/S existed. The appearance of the LUS during surgery was compared with antenatal ultrasonographic assessment by direct inspection. Twenty two (79%) of 28 women with a well healed scar had trial labor with the result that 46% had a successful vaginal birth without any uterine rupture of dehiscence. Eight women with poor healing all had elective C/S. Seven women with a 2 mm LUS thickness were individually categorized for delivery mode. Two of those women delivered vaginally. The LUS was found to be thin to translucent in these later two groups. Two mm or less as a criterion for poor healing had the sensitivity and specificity of 86.7% and 100% respectively. The positive predictive value was 100% and the negative predictive value was 86.7%. Ultrasonographic evaluation is effective in predicting the quality of a uterine scar and in differentiating the risk group of probable uterine rupture from the non risk group.

Treatment of infertility associated with endometriosis by selective tubal catheterization under hysteroscopy and laparoscopy.

OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the efficacy of treatment for infertility associated with endometriosis by selective tubal catheterization under hysteroscopy and laparoscopy. STUDY DESIGN: Eighty-eight infertile women who underwent selective tubal catheterization with insufflation of oil-soluble radiopaque dye were reviewed. The efficacy of treatment was analyzed with regard to conception rate. RESULTS: The conception rate after selective tubal catheterization was higher in women with endometriosis (60%) than in women without endometriosis (36.5%) (p < 0.05). Most women conceived within the first 4 months after treatment. No statistical difference in conception rate was observed among patients with stage I, II, or III disease. CONCLUSIONS: Selective tubal catheterization with insufflation of oil-soluble radiopaque dye was an effective treatment for infertility associated with endometriosis.

[Hysteroscopy in midluteal phase of human endometrium evaluation of functional aspect of the endometrium].

The purpose of this study is to evaluate the possibility of hysteroscopic assessment of functional aspects of the human endometrium. Hysteroscopic findings were classified according to the characteristics of the endometrial glandular opening (GO) and vascular development (V). Thirty-six women with a regular menstrual cycle were evaluated. Of these, ring type GO and type 2 V (moderately developed branching vessels) were seen only after the 17th menstrual day. Of 9 cases on the 21st to the 24th day, 7 had ring type GO, and 5 had type 3 V (well developed varicose-like vessels). Fifty-five infertile women with a regular menstrual cycle were evaluated in the midluteal phase. Of these, 32 cases had ring type GO and type 3 V (classed as group 1), and 23 cases had another type of GO and V (classed as group 2). The number of women whose serum progesterone level was lower than 7 ng/ml was larger in group 2 (p less than 0.05). Both the mean endometrial thickness and maximum follicular diameter measured by ultrasonography were greater in group 1 (p less than 0.01). These results strongly suggest that the hysteroscopic assessment of functional aspects of the endometrium is possible, and the appearance of ring type GO and type 3 V is the result of normally functioning midluteal endometrium.

Hysteroscopic assessment of midsecretory-phase endometrium, with special reference to the luteal-phase defect.

To investigate the functional aspects of secretory-phase endometrium, hysteroscopy was performed in 61 patients for in vitro fertilization-embryo transfer (IVF-ET), and 50 women for infertility evaluation. All women had normal ovulatory cycles. The hysteroscopic assessment of secretory-phase endometrium was made by characterizing the glandular openings (GO) and vasculature. The assessments were classified as 'good': characterized by ring-type GO and well-developed vessels; and 'poor': characterized by dot and/or punctate-type GO and fine vasculature. In the 30 patients classified 'good' prior to the IVF cycle, there was a higher pregnancy rate (40%) than in 'poor' ones (13%). Thirty of 50 infertile women were classified 'good', and their average age was lower than that of the remaining 20 in the 'poor' group. Preovulatory estradiol was significantly higher in the 'good' than in the 'poor' group. From an analysis of 20 patients with a 'poor' assessment, it was demonstrated that the maturation of secretory-phase endometrium was affected by a failure of folliculogenesis, progesterone secretion, endometrial growth and menstrual shedding.

[Interstitial irradiation with Ir-192 in carcinoma of the female genital tract--report of two cases].

Two patients treated with interstitial iridium-192 irradiation are presented. A patient with stage IV A adenocarcinoma of the uterine cervix was treated with external irradiation in combination with local hyperthermia prior to the interstitial irradiation. Another patient with stage III B squamous cell carcinoma of the vagina had a hysterectomy followed by irradiation 22 years prior to the treatment. Wires of Iridium-192 were put into place in the region of the tumor to give 40 Gy to the periphery of the tumor. The patient with carcinoma of the cervix died 15 months after the treatment. The patient with carcinoma of the vagina is well and has locally controlled disease 18 months after the treatment.