Visualization of lower extremity lymphedema in the same cohort using 99mTc-human serum albumin and 99mTc-phytate lymphoscintigraphy with SPECT-CT.

Lymphoscintigraphy with single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT-CT) is useful in diagnosing lymphedema. However, there are multiple timings, techniques, and tracers utilized worldwide without any comparison. We examined and compared the image clarity with two different radiotracers, 99mTc human serum albumin (HSA) and 99mTc phytate (phytate), in the same patients. The study retrospectivity examined 46 limbs of 36 patients who underwent lymphoscintigraphy using HSA and phytate from January 2013 to September 2018. Tracer accumulation in the lymph nodes, linear pattern (LP), and dermal backflow (DBF) were qualitatively analyzed; contrast-to-noise ratios (CNR) of DBF and standardized uptake value ratio (SUVR) of LP were also quantitatively analyzed. Neither lymph node accumulation nor DBF identification showed significant difference. However, a significant difference was observed between the LP identification of the unaffected (p<0.001) and affected sides (p<0.001). On quantitative evaluation, CNR and SUVR of LP was significantly higher with HSA than with phytate (p<0.001). SUVR of LP was also significantly higher with HSA than with phytate in both unaffected (p=0.002) and affected (p=0.005) sides. Overall, images acquired with HSA were clearer than that with phytate, and the identification of LP was particularly better with HSA than with phytate. Thus, lymphoscintigraphy using HSA is preferred over phytate for both diagnosis and evaluation of disease severity and surgical site selection.

Potential utility of HOP homeobox gene promoter methylation as a marker of tumor aggressiveness in gastric cancer.

HOP homeobox (HOPX) is an unusual homeobox gene encoding three spliced transcript variants, among which the only HOPX-beta promoter harbors CpG islands. The characteristics of its promoter methylation was analyzed using bisulfite sequencing and quantitative-methylation-specific polymerase chain reaction (Q-MSP), and the effects of HOPX expression were also examined. HOPX-beta expression was silenced in all gastric cancer cell lines tested; its expression could be restored by treatment with demethylating agent. On Q-MSP, HOPX-beta hypermethylation (cut-off value of 3.55) was found in 84% (67 out of 80) of primary tumor tissues and 10% (8 out of 80) of the corresponding normal tissues and could discriminate normal from tumor tissues (P<0.0001). The prognosis of the advanced cases with HOPX-beta hypermethylation was as poor as those with stage IV disease when cut-off value was set at 11.28. This finding was validated in an independent cohort of 90 advanced gastric cancers. The HOPX-beta hypermethylation was also an independent prognostic factor (P=0.029) on multivariate analysis. Exogenous HOPX expression significantly inhibited cell proliferation, colony formation and invasion as well as enhanced apoptosis. Taken together, HOPX-beta promoter methylation is a frequent and cancer-specific event in gastric cancer. Quantitative assessment of HOPX-beta methylation has great clinical potential as a marker of tumor aggressiveness.

Pure Kana agraphia as a manifestation of graphemic buffer impairment.

We report a left-handed man who demonstrated a pure agraphia limited to words written in Kana characters (syllabograms) following a right putaminal hemorrhage. Writing words in Kanji characters (logograms) was well preserved. His performance in Kana writing was characterized by intact ability to write single syllables, error increase in the second half of words directly proportional to the word length and correct but slow writing of words using kana blocks. Errors were more prominent in Hiragana words than Katakana words which are usually used to transcribe foreign words. Acoustic-grapheme sequencing per se was not impaired as shown by his correct performance in arranging character blocks. These findings suggest selective damage to the graphemic buffer, a module that temporarily maintains the graphemic representation elaborated in previous stages before it is sent to the peripheral systems for its motor realization.

Steric Effects in Photoinduced Electron Transfer Reaction of Halogenated 1,4-Benzoquinones with Donor Olefins.

The photoinduced electron transfer reaction of halogenated 1,4-benzoquinones with 2,3-dimethyl-2-butene or 3,4-dimethyl-2-pentene gave the primary, secondary, and tertiary monoallyl ethers of hydroquinones, with the product distributions highly dependent on the steric nature of quinones and olefins.

Regio- and endo-selective

Irradiation of various meta- and para-substituted homobenzoquinones with ethyl vinyl ether gave the [2 + 2] photoadducts, tricyclic diones, regio- and endo-selectively and in good yields. The tricyclic skeleton has an anti-form built by the addition of ethyl vinyl ether from the less hindered side of homoquinones. All of the CH(3), Cl, Br, and CH(3)O substituents at the reacting C=C double bond afforded head-to-head (HH) addition predominantly. In the case of CH(3), Cl, and Br, the ethoxy group was oriented in the endo-position, while the CH(3)O substituent led to a 1/5 mixture with the exo-isomer. It was also found that the Br-substituted [2 + 2] adducts undergo a facile skeletal rearrangement, being converted into dihydro-o-benzoquinone monomethide derivatives for para-substitution and dihydrobenzofuran derivatives for meta-substitution, probably under the influence of the in situ generated HBr. Intramolecular [2 + 2] photocycloaddition of an alkenylhomobenzoquinone afforded a tetracyclic dione.

Conformational specificity in photoinduced intramolecular 1,7-hydrogen abstraction of homonaphthoquinones with a spiro-linked dibenzocycloheptene ring

[reaction: see text] Irradiation of homonaphthoquinones with spiro-linked dibenzocycloheptene rings brings about the Norrish type II reaction to give polycyclic alcohols via a stereospecific 1,7-hydrogen abstraction of the less stable twist-boat conformer.

Surface roughness of cellulose hollow fiber dialysis membranes and platelet adhesion.

A great deal of research has been conducted focusing on membrane materials with reference to their blood compatibility, but blood compatibility is influenced both by the material used in membranes and their structure, and by the flow conditions at the membrane surface. Accordingly, the relationship between membrane surface roughness and hemocompatibility has been evaluated using five types of membranes of differing surface roughness by evaluating the inner surfaces of the hollow fibers by atomic force microscopy (AFM) and by measuring platelet adhesion ratios using bovine blood. The yield stress, which equates to flow characteristics, was also evaluated using a glycerol suspension of polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA), a Bingham fluid. It was found that membranes having rough surfaces had high platelet adhesion ratios and poor hemocompatibility, whereas those with smoother surfaces had lower platelet adhesion ratios and better hemocompatibility. Measurement of the yield stresses for these membranes revealed higher values for those with rough surfaces, and lower values for those with smoother polyethylene glycol (PEG) grafted surfaces. This suggests that flow conditions at the membrane surface differ according to its surface roughness, and that this difference in flow conditions also influences hemocompatibility.

New method for determining the sugar composition of glycoproteins, glycolipids, and oligosaccharides by high-performance liquid chromatography.

A new method is reported that can be performed within a single vessel to analyze the composition of aldose, hexosamine, and sialic acid residues of glycoproteins, glycolipids, and oligosaccharides. Glycoconjugates are treated with sialidase or subjected to mild acid hydrolysis, before being treated with N-acetylneuraminic acid aldolase to convert the free sialic acid residues to their corresponding N-acylmannosamines. The reaction mixture is then successively subjected to acid hydrolysis (in order to produce monosaccharides), N-acetylation, and conversion with p-aminobenzoic acid ethyl ester (ABEE). The ABEE-converted monosaccharides are simultaneously determined by reverse-phase high-performance liquid chromatography. Determination of the sugar compositions of bovine fetuin, II3NeuGc alpha-LacCer, and 3'-sialyllactose with this method was found to be highly accurate. Linearity of the peak area vs. the amount of bovine fetuin ranged from 1 to 50 micrograms in all ABEE-converted monosaccharides. With a slight modification to this method, sialic acid residues can be separately determined as NeuAc and NeuGc. This novel method and its modified version are used to demonstrate the sugar compositions of alpha 1-acid glycoproteins from several sources.

[A case report of localized fibrous pleural mesothelioma].

A 47-year-old female with localized fibrous pleural mesothelioma arising from the visceral pleura of S2 of rt-upper lobe is reported. We demonstrated an indirect radiographic sign of pedunculation which was the change in position of the mass with the change in patient's position. The tumor was completely extirpated with a partial resection of the adjacent lung tissues through thoracotomy. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of collagen fibers and small amount of fibroblast. Localized fibrous mesothelioma was recognized as benign with good prognosis. However, a few cases showing recurrence after resection were reported among them. So it was considered that this patient should be followed up carefully.

Two-mode Analysis by High-performance Liquid Chromatography of ρ-Aminobenzoic Ethyl Ester-derivatized Monosaccharides.

ρ-Aminobenzoic ethyl ester (ABEE)-derivatized monosaccharides were separated by HPLC with a trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) solution or borate buffer as the eluent. In the case of the TFA solution, ABEE-derivatized monosaccharides of the neutral and amino sugars found in animal glycoproteins were separated in a simultaneous analysis. In the case of the borate buffer, ABEE-derivatized monosaccharides of identical molecular weights such as ABEE-Gal, -Glc, and -Man were separated as stereoisomers. Glucuronic acid and galacturonic acid were detected and separated within 8 min. The relationship between the peak areas and the amounts of ABEE-derivatized monosaccharides was linear in the range of 1 to 1000 pmol.

[A case of catamenial pneumothorax with elevated level of serum CA 125].

A 40-year old woman had experienced repeated spontaneous pneumothorax on the right side at the beginning of each menstrual period for one year. The level of serum CA125 was high at 60 ng/ml. Right thoracotomy revealed the presence of multiple darkly-pigmented spots and several pinhole like perforations near the central tendon of the diaphragm. The partial resection of the diaphragm was done, endometrial tissues were detected histologically. Tha patient has been asymptomatic after operation and the level of serum CA125 is normal.

YM-47141 and YM-47142, new elastase inhibitors produced by Flexibacter sp. Q17897. II. Structure elucidation.

YM-47141 and YM-47142 are new elastase inhibitor produced by Flexibacter sp. Q17897. These structures were elucidated by MS and NMR spectral analysis. YM-47141 and YM-47142 were the cyclic peptides containing tricarbonyl moiety hydrated on the center carbonyl carbon in DMSO-d6.

An artificial gill system for oxygen uptake from water using perfluorooctylbromide.

If the oxygen dissolved in seawater could be used for breathing, human beings could spend more time under water, greatly increasing their mobility. As yet, however, sufficient oxygen to enable us to live in the sea for long periods is not available. An artificial gill system has been developed for oxygen uptake from water to deoxygenated air using perfluorooctylbromide (PFOB), which has high oxygen solubility. It was found that oxygen was transferred rapidly from water to PFOB when water flowed outside the hollow fibers and PFOB flowed inside. Oxygen transfer through the membrane from PFOB to air was found to be the rate determining step. Use of PFOB gave a stable supply of oxygen from water to deoxygenated air over long periods. It was found that PFOB acts as a storage medium for oxygen.