Genetic diversity and the genetic structure of natural populations of Chamaecyparis obtusa: implications for management and conservation.

We investigated 25 natural populations of Chamaecyparis obtusa using 51 cleaved amplified polymorphic sequence (CAPS) markers, which were developed using information on sequence-tagged sites (STS) in Cryptomeria japonica. Most CAPS markers have codominant expression patterns, and are suitable for population studies because of their robustness and convenience. We estimated various genetic diversity parameters, including average heterozygosity (H(e)) and allelic richness and found that the more peripheral populations tended to have lower genetic diversity than central populations, in agreement with a previous theoretical study. The overall genetic differentiation between populations was low, but statistically significant (G(ST)=0.039), and similar to the level reported in a previous allozyme study. We attempted to detect non-neutral loci associated with local adaptation to clarify the relationship between the fixation index (F(ST)) and H(e) values for each locus and found seven candidates non-neutral loci. Phylogenetic tree analysis of the populations and Bayesian clustering analysis revealed a pattern of gradually increasing isolation of populations with increasing geographical distance. Three populations had a high degree of linkage disequilibrium, which we attribute to severe bottlenecks due to human disturbance or competition with other species during their migration from refugia after the most recent glaciation. We concluded that the small populations in western Japan and in Kanto district are more important, from a conservation perspective, than the populations in central Japan, due to their genetic divergence, relatively small sizes and restricted areas.

Quasi-solid dye sensitised solar cells filled with ionic liquid--increase in efficiencies by specific interaction between conductive polymers and gelators.

Photo-energy conversions for quasi-solid dye sensitised solar cells increased when gel electrolytes were combined with conductive polymers as counter electrodes and the conversion surpassed that for DSSCs equipped with conventional Pt counter electrodes.

Dosimetric predictors of radiation esophagitis in patients treated for non-small-cell lung cancer with carboplatin/paclitaxel/radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: To establish dosimetric predictors of radiation esophagitis (RE) in patients treated with a combination of carboplatin, paclitaxel, and radiotherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Three-dimensional radiotherapy plans of 26 patients with non-small-cell lung cancer who received 50-60 Gy of radiotherapy concurrently with weekly administration of carboplatin (AUC 2) and paclitaxel (40-45 mg/m(2)) were reviewed in conjunction with RE. The factors analyzed included the following: percentages of organ volumes receiving >40 Gy (V40), >45 Gy (V45), >50 Gy (V50), and >55 Gy (V55); the length of esophagus (total circumference) treated with >40 Gy (LETT40), >45 Gy (LETT45), >50 Gy (LETT50), and >55 Gy (LETT55); the maximum dose in the esophagus (Dmax); and the mean dose in the esophagus (Dmean). Data were obtained on the basis of superposition algorithm. RESULTS: All factors except Dmax showed statistical correlation with RE. Good correlations were shown between RE and LETT45 (rho = 0.714) and V45 (rho = 0.686). CONCLUSIONS: LETT45 and V45 appear to be useful dosimetric predictors of RE. It is also suggested that Dmax does not predict RE.

Features of IgA nephropathy in preschool children.

AIM: The aim of this study is to clarify the age-related characteristics of pediatric IgA nephropathy. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Five cases in preschool children less than 6 years old were analyzed and compared to 38 cases in older children from 6 to 15 years old. RESULTS: The group of younger children had higher incidences of gross hematuria, hypertension, proteinuria, and hypoproteinemia. Renal biopsy specimens in this group showed more intracapillary lesions including mesangial cell proliferation and endocapillary proliferation ofglomeruli, but less segmental lesions, global sclerosis, and interstitial changes. CONCLUSION: IgA nephritis in preschool children demonstrated more symptoms of acute onset and less chronic renal injury.

[Psychiatric studies of chemotherapy and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting of patients with lung or thymic cancer].

Psychiatric studies were made on 26 inoperable patients with lung cancer or thymic cancer to exam the possible correlation of chemotherapy and chemotherapy-induced nausea and vomiting. All patients were informed of their disease and how to undergo the therapy. Psychiatric tests of CMI (Cornell Medical, Index), MAS (Manifest Anxiety Scale), SDS (Self-Rating Depression Scale) and QOL questionnaire were performed just before the chemotherapy. SDS and QOL questionnaire were also done after chemotherapy. The patients were given chemotherapy including CDDP (80 mg/m2) and anti-emetic agents of 30 mg of azasetron, 750 mg of methylprednisolone and 1,800 mg of domperidone. The patients showing neurosis, anxiety or depression had significantly high nausea scores, so we concluded that psychiatric support was needed to improve these patients' QOL in chemotherapy.

[Two patients with mediastinal parathyroid cysts].

We encountered two patients with mediastinal parathyroid cysts. Patients 1 was a 44-year-old man with no complaints who had an abnormal shadow on a roentgenogram of the chest. An iperation was performed because a computed tomogram and a magnetic resonance image showed a cyst in the upper right part of the mediastinum, which was suspected to be a mediastinal thyroid cyst. Patient 2 was a 77-year-old woman with no complaints who had an abnormal shadow on a roentgenogram of the chest. Therapeutic thoracoscopy was performed because a mediastinal cyst was suspected based on the results of computed tomography and magnetic resonance image. Both patients had thin-walled that they were mediastinal parathyroid cysts. Mediastinal parathyroid cysts are very rare. We searched the medical literature but found previously published reports of only 39 cases.

[A case of UIP with autoimmune hemolytic anemia].

A 70-year-old male was admitted because of cough and sputum. Chest X-ray showed bilateral interstitial shadows, and usual interstitial pneumonitis was diagnosed by TBLB and BAL. He was followed without medication. The dyspnea increased and the abnormal shadow spread on chest X-ray. Autoimmune hemolytic anemia was newly diagnosed because the RBC count was 195 x 10(4)/mm3, Hb was 8.6 g/dl, and direct Coombs test and warm antibody were positive. In this case, there appears to be a relationship between deterioration of interstitial pneumonia and the on-set of autoimmune hemolytic anemia.

Studies of a key protein in the mechanism of the excitation-contraction coupling process of frog skeletal muscle, using phenylglyoxal.

The excitation-contraction (E-C) coupling process in single twitch fibres from frog toe muscle was inhibited selectively by phenylglyoxal (PGO), a specific guanidyl modifying reagent. A new protein (31.5 kDa), which has PGO-binding ability and seems to play a key role in the E-C coupling process, was solubilized from transverse tubule membrane-junctional sarcoplasmic reticulum complexes (TTM-JSR) of frog skeletal muscles, using 14C-PGO. The monoclonal antibody against this protein applied extracellularly inhibited the E-C coupling process of the single fibres. This protein appears to constitute the very first step of input for E-C coupling. It is considered to behave as an indispensable part of an 'electrometer' to measure membrane potentials. Therefore, the name 'electrometrin' is suggested for the new protein.

Solubilization, physiological role, and localization of a key protein (31.5 kD) to excitation-contraction coupling process of frog skeletal muscle cells, using phenylglyoxal.

A new phenylglyoxal-binding protein (31.5 kD) was solubilized from frog skeletal muscle. The monoclonal AB against the 31.5 kD protein inhibited extracellularly E-C coupling process of single-muscle fibers.

Physiological role and localization of the new ouabain receptor protein (31.5 kD) from cat cardiac muscles, using the monoclonal AB against the protein.

Role and localization of the new ouabain receptor protein (31.5 kD) were studied by using its monoclonal AB. The protein may be a key protein in the E-C coupling process in the cat cardiac muscle.

Improvement of severe heart failure with corticosteroid therapy in a patient with myocardial sarcoidosis.

A patient presented with severe heart failure due to myocardial sarcoidosis. Sarcoidosis was diagnosed by biopsy of the skin and uptake of gallium-67 in the heart. We treated the patient with corticosteroids and succeeded in improving her condition. We assume that this was a rare case in which severe heart failure improved following with steroid therapy.

[Small sized non-small cell lung cancer in advanced stage].

Eighteen cases of non-small cell, small sized advanced lung cancer, out of 362 operated cases for 6 years excluding 7 cases of small cell lung cancer, 60 of preoperative treated and 27 of inoperable cases, were discussed. A small sized tumor was defined as a tumor within 8,000 mm3 in its volume, calculated by multipling three lengths measured on the resected specimens. There were fourteen cases with stage 3 and 4 (A), and four cases with N1 disease (B). In group A, three cases of twelve with N2 diseases showed the tiny skipping lesion in the mediastinum with negative regional nodes. Remaining two had a lesion of dissemination and pulmonary metastasis. In group B, they showed unusual way of N1 spread, in which two of them with left upper lobectomy had metastatic lymph nodes on the non-bearing lobe, the lower lobe, and other two cases took regional lymph nodes metastasis without invasive growth of the main tumor. Predominant histologic type was adenocarcinoma, but the subtype and the differentiation of it were not specific. The level of CEA was low below 5 ng/dl in most of them except three cases, in which it suggested massive positive nodes and pulmonary metastasis. Seven patients died of the disease in two years. Remainders are alive, 4 with and 7 free from the tumor with the longest period of 3 years and a half. N2 diseases of small sized tumor were found in the cases with the volume of 3 cm3 and more at almost same ratio.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Hematoma of the interatrial septum associated with complete atrioventricular block.

A 70-year-old man who had been treated for tongue cancer began to suffer from repeated syncopal attacks. His electrocardiogram indicated complete atrioventricular block. A permanent pacemaker was implanted. He was well for about 2 years after which time he developed dyspnea, suffered from general fatigue, and then suddenly died. A postmortem examination revealed a hematoma approximately 4 x 4. cm in size in the interatrial septum, connected to a noncoronary sinus and rupture of the noncoronary leaflet, which compressed the tricuspid and aortic valves. This hematoma might have been related to the conduction disturbance caused by destructive compression on the conduction system, and his death by the rupture of the noncoronary leaflet.

Time lag between pulmonary congestion and pulmonary edema in dogs.

The time course of pulmonary congestion and pulmonary edema was examined using a gravimetric method in 19 open-chest anesthetized dogs. Balloon catheters in the left atrium (LA) were inflated to elevate LA pressure more than 25 mmHg. The dogs were divided into 4 groups (G) according to the duration of the elevated LA pressure: G.1 (n = 6) as control; G.2 (n = 4) for 15 minutes; G.3 (n = 4) for 30 minutes; and G.4 (n = 5) for 60 minutes. Although no significant increase of extravascular lung water content (an indicator of pulmonary edema) was observed in G.2 (4.97 +/- 0.85 g/kg) and G.3 (4.46 +/- 0.96) compared with G.1 (4.02 +/- 0.88), a significant increase was observed in G.4 (6.81 +/- 1.21, p less than 0.05). Residual pulmonary blood content (an indicator of pulmonary congestion) was significantly increased in G.2, 3 and 4 compared with G.1. By light and electron microscopes, pulmonary congestion was revealed in G.2, whereas interstitial pulmonary edema was demonstrated only in G.4. Thus, it was concluded that pulmonary congestion occurred within 15 minutes, but pulmonary edema occurred 30 to 60 minutes after left atrial pressure was elevated more than 25 mmHg. This time lag may be an important factor in explaining the discrepancy between the elevated left atrial pressure and the clinical manifestation of pulmonary edema.

Mixed connective tissue disease with fatal pulmonary hypertension and a review of literature.

The paper presents an autopsy case of mixed connective tissue disease (MCTD) with pulmonary hypertension (PH) and a review of literature. A 33-year-old woman with Raynaud's phenomenon and dyspnea of one year duration was diagnosed as having MCTD on the basis of a higher titer (1:163,840) of serum antibodies to the ribonucleoprotein (RNP). Cardiac catheterization showed complicating PH, confirmed an autopsy by the findings of concentric intimal cellular proliferation and typical plexiform lesions in the small arteries and arterioles of the lung, suggesting primary PH. Fatal PH with MCTD has been reported only 6 cases in literature including our case. All were young females, with histopathological findings consistent with plexogenic pulmonary arteriopathy in 5 cases and with recurrent pulmonary thromboembolism in the other. The aetiology of PH is still unknown, but it may be due to vasoconstriction evoked by the hyper-reactivity of the vessels.