Large Variation of Dirac Semimetal State in Perovskite CaIrO_{3} with Pressure-Tuning of Electron Correlation.

The impact of electron correlation on the Dirac semimetal state is investigated for perovskite CaIrO_{3} in terms of the magnetotransport properties under varying pressures. The reduction of electron correlation with a pressure of 1 GPa enhances the Fermi velocity as much as 40%, but it reduces the mobility by an order of magnitude by detuning the Dirac node from the Fermi energy. Moreover, the giant magnetoresistance at the quantum limit due to the one-dimensional confinement of Dirac electrons is critically suppressed under pressure. These results indicate that the electron correlation is a crucial knob for controlling the transport of a correlated Dirac semimetal.

Effects of emulsifying components in the continuous phase of cream on the stability of fat globules and the physical properties of whipped cream.

The emulsifying components in cream are very important in controlling the physical characteristics of whipped cream. The effects of those components on the stability of fat globules and the physical characteristics of whipped cream were investigated. A low-molecular-weight emulsifier, and protein ingredients such as sodium caseinate and a casein partial hydrolysate (casein peptides), were used as emulsifying components in this investigation. The viscosity of deaerated whipped cream (called the serum viscosity) was measured to evaluate the degree of fat-globule aggregation. Furthermore, the shape-retention ability, which is the degree of reduction in the firmness of whipped cream between immediately after whipping and after 1d of refrigeration, was explored. The addition of the low-molecular-weight emulsifier in the continuous phase of dairy cream, which does not contain added low-molecular-weight emulsifiers, increased the stability of the fat globules and reduced the shape-retention ability of the whipped cream. The addition of protein ingredients (sodium caseinate and casein peptides) to the continuous phase of dairy cream had little effect. However, the addition of casein peptide in the continuous phase of dairy cream together with the low-molecular-weight emulsifier reduced the effect of the low-molecular-weight emulsifier on the stabilization of fat globules and the shape-retention ability of the whipped cream. The addition of casein peptide did not recover the serum viscosity; thus, other mechanisms might underlie this phenomenon.

Periostin levels correlate with disease severity and chronicity in patients with atopic dermatitis.

BACKGROUND: Recent findings indicate that periostin, an extracellular matrix protein induced by T helper 2 cytokines, plays a critical role in the pathogenesis of atopic dermatitis (AD). OBJECTIVES: To determine whether serum periostin level is associated with clinical phenotype in adult patients with AD. METHODS: An enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay was performed to determine serum periostin levels in 257 adult patients with AD, 66 patients with psoriasis vulgaris (PV) as a disease control and 25 healthy controls. Serum periostin levels were analysed together with clinical characteristics and laboratory parameters, including thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC), lactate dehydrogenase (LDH), blood eosinophil count and total IgE. Immunohistochemical analysis evaluated the expression of periostin in association with various clinical phenotypes of AD. The effect of treatment on serum periostin level was also assessed. RESULTS: Serum periostin was significantly higher in patients with AD than in patients with PV and healthy controls. Periostin level was found to be positively correlated with disease severity, TARC level, LDH level and eosinophil count, but not with IgE level. Higher serum periostin level was observed in patients with extrinsic AD compared with patients with intrinsic AD; the positive correlation of disease severity disappeared in patients with intrinsic AD. Robust expression of periostin was detected in the dermis of patients with AD with erythroderma, lichenification and, to a lesser extent, scaly erythema. Serial measurement of serum periostin revealed decreased levels of periostin after treatment for AD. CONCLUSIONS: Periostin may play a critical role in disease severity and chronicity in the pathogenesis of AD.

Histiocytoid and signet-ring cell carcinoma of the axilla: a type of cutaneous apocrine carcinoma equivalent to histiocytoid lobular carcinoma of the breast?

There is a histopathological similarity between cutaneous apocrine carcinoma (CAC) and breast carcinoma. Cutaneous histiocytoid or signet-ring cell (SRC) carcinoma is a rare neoplasm, which usually occurs on the eyelid, and less commonly on the axilla. The precise histogenesis of this carcinoma remains controversial. We report the case of a man with a cutaneous histiocytoid SRC carcinoma of the axilla having histopathological and immunohistochemical features that were quite similar to histiocytoid lobular carcinoma (histiocytoid LC) of the breast, which is a subtype of classic invasive lobular carcinoma of the breast with apocrine differentiation. We consider this case to be a type of CAC equivalent to histiocytoid LC of the breast, based on the features and the occurrence on the axilla. The patient was treated with adjuvant chemotherapy according to the general guidelines for the treatment of breast carcinoma.

Beneficial effects of leukotriene receptor antagonists in the prevention of cedar pollinosis in a community setting.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, many countries have experienced an increase in the prevalence of allergic rhinitis. No effective approach is currently available to prevent the onset of symptoms in allergic individuals. Pranlukast, a leukotriene receptor antagonist with a good safety and efficacy record for the management of allergic inflammation, may be appropriate for early intervention in the management of pollinosis. OBJECTIVE: To investigate the efficacy of pranlukast as an early intervention in the control of cedar pollinosis. METHODS: In a double-blind comparative study, pranlukast (n = 102) or placebo (n = 91) was administered to cedar pollinosis patients immediately before the start of the dispersion season and continued for 4 weeks. Subsequently, pranlukast was administered to all patients for 2 weeks until the end of the cedar pollen dispersion season (mid-March). All patients were carefully monitored for severity of nasal symptoms, symptom scores, medication scores, symptom-medication scores, and quality of life (QOL). RESULTS: Compared with placebo, therapy with pranlukast before and during the dispersion of cedar pollen in these patients significantly improved nasal symptoms (paroxysmal sneezing, rhinorrhea, and nasal congestion), symptom scores, and symptom-medication scores. The drug also significantly reduced deterioration of QOL, and improved nasal symptoms and QOL throughout the dispersion period. CONCLUSION: Administering pranlukast immediately before the beginning of cedar pollen dispersion is effective in reducing symptoms of allergic rhinitis throughout the dispersion period.

Strong-correlation induced high-mobility electrons in Dirac semimetal of perovskite oxide.

Electrons in conventional metals become less mobile under the influence of electron correlation. Contrary to this empirical knowledge, we report here that electrons with the highest mobility ever found in known bulk oxide semiconductors emerge in the strong-correlation regime of the Dirac semimetal of perovskite CaIrO3. The transport measurements reveal that the high mobility exceeding 60,000 cm2V-1s-1 originates from the proximity of the Fermi energy to the Dirac node (ΔE < 10 meV). The calculation based on the density functional theory and the dynamical mean field theory reveals that the energy difference becomes smaller as the system approaches the Mott transition, highlighting a crucial role of correlation effects cooperating with the spin-orbit coupling. The correlation-induced self-tuning of Dirac node enables the quantum limit at a modest magnetic field with a giant magnetoresistance, thus providing an ideal platform to study the novel phenomena of correlated Dirac electron.

AKT induces senescence in primary esophageal epithelial cells but is permissive for differentiation as revealed in organotypic culture.

Epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) overexpression and activation is critical in the initiation and progression of cancers, especially those of epithelial origin. EGFR activation is associated with the induction of divergent signal transduction pathways and a gamut of cellular processes; however, the cell-type and tissue-type specificity conferred by certain pathways remains to be elucidated. In the context of the esophageal epithelium, a prototype stratified squamous epithelium, EGFR overexpression is relevant in the earliest events of carcinogenesis as modeled in a three-dimensional organotypic culture system. We demonstrate that the phosphatidylinositol 3-kinase (PI3K)/AKT signaling pathway, and not the MEK/MAPK (mitogen-activated protein kinase) pathway, is preferentially activated in EGFR-mediated esophageal epithelial hyperplasia, a premalignant lesion. The hyperplasia was abolished with direct inhibition of PI3K and of AKT but not with inhibition of the MAPK pathway. With the introduction of an inducible AKT vector in both primary and immortalized esophageal epithelial cells, we find that AKT overexpression and activation is permissive for complete epithelial formation in organotypic culture, but imposes a growth constraint in cells grown in monolayer. In organotypic culture, AKT mediates changes related to cell shape and size with an expansion of the differentiated compartment.

Repeated paracentesis in a fetus with meconium peritonitis with massive ascites: a case report.

Meconium peritonitis (MP) is defined as a sterile inflammatory reaction in the fetal abdomen that is seen in cases of intrauterine bowel perforation. Recently, there have been increasing numbers of fetuses with MP prenatally diagnosed by ultrasonography. Massive fetal ascites in MP may cause hydrops and hypoplastic lungs. However, antepartum management of MP has not yet been established. We encountered a fetus with MP and massive ascites. Repeated paracentesis between 29 weeks and 4 days and 31 weeks and 6 days of gestation prevented the progression to fetal hydrops and hypoplastic lungs, which may occur due to massive meconium ascites with an increased preload index. Amniocentesis was also performed in patients with polyhydramnios for treatment of preterm labor. These observations suggest that aggressive therapy can prolong the gestation period and improve MP treatment outcomes.

Simultaneous Strength-Ductility Enhancement of a Nano-Lamellar AlCoCrFeNi2.1 Eutectic High Entropy Alloy by Cryo-Rolling and Annealing.

Nano-lamellar (L12 + B2) AlCoCrFeNi2.1 eutectic high entropy alloy (EHEA) was processed by cryo-rolling and annealing. The EHEA developed a novel hierarchical microstructure featured by fine lamellar regions consisting of FCC lamellae filled with ultrafine FCC grains (average size ~200-250 nm) and B2 lamellae, and coarse non-lamellar regions consisting of ultrafine FCC (average size ~200-250 nm), few coarse recrystallized FCC grains and rather coarse unrecrystallized B2 phase (~2.5 µm). This complex and hierarchical microstructure originated from differences in strain-partitioning amongst the constituent phases, affecting the driving force for recrystallization. The hierarchical microstructure of the cryo-rolled and annealed material resulted in simultaneous enhancement in strength (Yield Strength/YS: 1437 ± 26 MPa, Ultimate Tensile Strength/UTS: 1562 ± 33 MPa) and ductility (elongation to failure/ef ~ 14 ± 1%) as compared to the as-cast as well as cold-rolled and annealed materials. The present study for the first time demonstrated that cryo-deformation and annealing could be a novel microstructural design strategy for overcoming strength-ductility trade off in multiphase high entropy alloys.

Mastoparan elicits prostaglandin E2 generation and inhibits inositol phosphate accumulation via different mechanisms in rabbit astrocytes.

The effects of mastoparan on phosphoinositide hydrolysis and prostaglandin E2 (PGE2) generation were investigated in astrocytes cultured from rabbit brain. Mastoparan inhibited the accumulations of [3H]inositol phosphates induced by bradykinin (1 microM) in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Mastoparan (3-30 microM) also released PGE2 in a time- and concentration-dependent manner. Mastoparan-induced release of PGE2 was inhibited by indomethacin, a cyclooxygenase inhibitor, by dexamethasone, a steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, and by pertussis toxin, an inactivator of some G proteins, such as Gi and Go. Mastoparan also caused [3H]arachidonic acid liberation, which was inhibited by dexamethasone or pertussis toxin. In contrast, indomethacin, dexamethasone and pertussis toxin failed to attenuate mastoparan-induced inhibition of [3H]inositol phosphate accumulation induced by bradykinin. Thus, mastoparan-induced inhibition of phosphoinositide hydrolysis does not involve pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein nor arachidonic acid metabolites. In addition to the inhibition of phospholipase C, mastoparan activates phospholipase A2 through pertussis toxin-sensitive G protein.

Insulin-like growth factors I and II are autocrine factors in stimulating proteoglycan synthesis, a marker of differentiated chondrocytes, acting through their respective receptors on a clonal human chondrosarcoma-derived chondrocyte cell line, HCS-2/8.

Both insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I and IGF-II increased the synthesis of cartilage-type, large proteoglycan in a human chondrosarcoma-derived chondrocyte cell line, HCS-2/8. In contrast to the stimulatory effects of IGFs on costal chondrocytes of the young rabbit, the stimulatory effect of IGF-II on proteoglycan synthesis in HCS-2/8 cells was more potent than that of IGF-I. IGF-II, but not IGF-I, increased calcium influx into HCS-2/8 cells, and there was a close relation between the stimulation of proteoglycan synthesis and the calcium influx. [125I]IGF-I bound to HCS-2/8 cells, and this binding was competitively inhibited by low concentrations of unlabeled IGF-I, higher concentrations of IGF-II, and much higher concentrations of insulin. [125I]IGF-II also bound to the cells, and its binding was competitively inhibited by IGF-II and slightly inhibited by higher concentrations of IGF-I and much higher concentrations of insulin. When radioligand-receptor complexes were separated by SDS-PAGE and subjected to autoradiography, two major bands at 260 and 130 kDa were observed, which correspond to the IGF type II receptor (IGF-IIR) and the alpha subunit of the IGF type I receptor (IGF-IR), indicating the presence of both receptors. When confluent cultures of HCS-2/8 cells were maintained in serum-free medium, proteoglycan synthesis did not decrease unless the medium was repeatedly replaced. Conditioned medium of HCS-2/8 cells stimulated the HCS-2/8 cells to synthesize proteoglycans. RIA revealed that the cells produced both IGF-II and IGF-I. Transcripts of messenger RNAs of both IGF-I and IGF-II and both IGF-IR and IGF-IIR also were detectable by Northern analysis. Both anti-IGF-IR antibody and anti-IGF-II antibody inhibited proteoglycan synthesis. Mannose-6-phosphate, which is known to bind to IGF-IIR, stimulated proteoglycan synthesis, potentiated IGF-II-stimulated proteoglycan synthesis, and enhanced the binding affinity for IGF-II but not for IGF-I. Even in the presence of anti-IGF-IR antibody, IGF-II and mannose-6-phosphate stimulated proteoglycan synthesis in the cells. [Leu27]IGF-II, an IGF-II analogue with high affinity only for IGF-IIR, strongly stimulated proteoglycan synthesis in HCS-2/8 cells but [Arg54, Arg55]IGF-II, which binds to only IGF-IR, also stimulated proteoglycan synthesis in the cells. These findings indicate that IGF-I and IGF-II act as autocrine differentiation factors for this chondrocytic permanent cell line, HCS-2/8, mainly via respective receptors.

Radiation therapy alone in the treatment of carcinoma of the uterine cervix: review of experience at Tokyo Women's Medical College (1969-1983).

Three hundred thirteen patients presented with squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix at Tokyo Women's Medical College from 1969 to 1983. The results are presented here. All of the patients were treated by radiotherapy with curative intent with a combination of intracavitary cesium by low-dose rate, using T.A.O. afterloading applicators, which was made of flexible tubes to adapt to the physique of Japanese women by Tazaki, E., Arai, T. and Oryu, S. and external irradiation. One hundred and sixty patients (51.1%) presented with FIGO Stage III disease, 23 patients (7.3%) presented with Stage I disease, and 75 (24.0%) with Stage II. The 5-year cumulative survival rate was 81.7% for Stage I, 76.8% for Stage II, 53.3% for Stage III, 29.2% for Stage IVa, and 10.5% for Stage IVb, respectively. The overall 5-year survival rate was 55.8%. The local regional recurrence rate according to stage was 13.6% in Stage I, 22.4% in Stage II, 41.3% in Stage IIII, and 46.7% in Stage IVa. The incidence of locoregional recurrence rate was 35.6% and distant metastasis 37.8%. The incidence of complications involving bleeding and pain which required hospitalization, was 12.2% in all patients. Only four required surgery to manage serious complications.

Results of radiotherapy for inoperable locally advanced esophageal cancer.

Three hundred and eleven patients with locally advanced esophageal cancer were treated by radiation therapy from 1968 to 1983 at Tokyo Women's Medical College. Of these, 288 patients with previously untreated, histologically confirmed squamous cell carcinoma but previously treated with curative intent, were eligible for analysis. The cumulative 5-year survival rate of 288 patients given radical radiotherapy was 9.0%. Sex, tumor length, and Stage (AJC) had a great influence on prognosis. The five-year survival rate in males was 5.4% and in females was 22.4%. The five-year survival rate in cases with a tumor length of 5 cm or less was 17.7% in 5-10 cm was 10.0%, and in 10 cm or above was 2.8% and they were 20.2% for Stage I, 9.9% for Stage II, and 2.6% for Stage III. There were no significant differences of survival rate among age, tumor site, and tumor type on X ray film. This data suggests that comparatively early, small-volume tumors share a significant potential for cure by radiotherapy, but potent combined therapy is necessary for the treatment of advanced cancers.

Multi-institutional randomized trial of external radiotherapy with and without intraluminal brachytherapy for esophageal cancer in Japan. Japanese Society of Therapeutic Radiology and Oncology (JASTRO) Study Group.

PURPOSE: With the aim of improving the results of treatment of esophageal cancer, we designed this multi-institutional, randomized trial to establish the optimal irradiation method in radical radiation therapy for esophageal cancer by clinically evaluating external irradiation alone and in combination with intraluminal brachytherapy. METHODS AND MATERIALS: The study population consisted of patients with squamous cell carcinoma who were expected to be successfully treated with radical radiation therapy. The patients who could be given intraluminal brachytherapy at the end of external irradiation of 60 Gy were stratified into 2 groups. Patients assigned to receive external irradiation alone received boost irradiation of 10 Gy/week on a schedule similar to the previous one, and with the same or smaller irradiation field. Intraluminal brachytherapy was performed, as a rule, with the reference dose point set at a depth of 5 mm of the esophageal submucosa, and a total of 10 Gy was irradiated at a daily dose of 5 Gy, on a once-weekly schedule with low-dose-rate or high-dose-rate brachytherapy equipment. RESULTS: A total of 103 patients were registered, 94 of whom were analyzable, with 8 ineligible, and 1 for whom complete information was unavailable. The overall cumulative survival rate was 20.3% at 5 years. The cause-specific survival rate was 31.8% at 5 years. The cause-specific survival rate at 5 years was 27% in the external irradiation alone group and 38% in intraluminal brachytherapy combined group. There was no significant difference between the 2 groups (p = 0.385). However, in the patients with 5 cm or less tumor length, the cause-specific survival rate was 64% at 5 years in the intraluminal brachytherapy combined group, which showed a significant improvement over 31.5% in the external irradiation alone group (p = 0.025). In the patients with Stage T1 and T2 disease, cause-specific survival rates tended to be better in the intraluminal brachytherapy combined group than in the external irradiation alone group (p = 0.088). In the patients with more than 5 cm tumor length or Stage T3-4 disease, there were no significant differences between the two groups by treatment methods (p = 0.290). The incidence of early and late complications did not differ according to whether intraluminal brachytherapy was used. CONCLUSION: For the purpose of establishing the usefulness of intraluminal brachytherapy, further prospective randomized studies are necessary to evaluate the efficacy in tumors with short length and those with shallow invasion, or to assess the usefulness of intraluminal brachytherapy, as additional irradiation in large advanced tumors have been shown to have disappeared by diagnostic imaging after chemoradiotherapy with 60 Gy/6w external irradiation.

Radiotherapy for superficial esophageal cancer.

PURPOSE: The results of definitive radiotherapy for superficial esophageal cancer is presented. METHODS AND MATERIALS: Twenty-one patients with superficial squamous cell carcinoma of the esophagus were treated by definitive radiotherapy with megavoltage x-rays in Tokyo Women's Medical College from 1975 to December 1990. Eight patients refused surgery and 13 patients were considered to be unsuitable for surgery due to advanced age or morbid conditions such as severe pulmonary dysfunction, myocardial infarction, liver cirrhosis, and other cancer. Radiotherapy was performed using 1.8-2.2 Gy fraction dose, 5 times a week and with a total dose of 50-76 Gy/5-7 weeks (median; 70 Gy). Three patients received intraluminal radiotherapy in addition. Combined chemotherapy was performed in four cases, and three cases received it before radiotherapy and one case after radiotherapy. RESULTS: Overall survival rate was 40.8%, and the cause-specific 5-year survival rate was 61.7%. The 5-year survival rate of the group with morbid conditions was 17.5%, but that of the group without morbid conditions was 60.6%. Seven patients developed recurrence (primary site: 3, lymph nodes: 3, lung: 1) and one patient revealed multicentric cancer of the hypopharynx with wide submucosal spread of the esophagus at 28 months after radiotherapy. No patient developed severe side effect due to radiotherapy. CONCLUSION: Definitive radiotherapy with or without chemotherapy can be applied as an alternative therapy to surgery for superficial esophageal cancer, even for the operable patients under good general condition.

Treatment of superficial esophageal cancer by external radiation therapy alone: results of a multi-institutional experience.

PURPOSE: To assess the effectiveness and toxicity of external radiation therapy for superficial esophageal cancer. METHODS AND MATERIALS: During the period from March 1979 to November 1996, 78 patients with superficial esophageal cancer received radiation therapy without intracavitary irradiation at nine radiotherapy institutions in Japan. All patients had histologically-proven squamous cell carcinoma. Endoscopic ultrasonography was performed in 34 patients to discriminate mucosal from submucosal cancer. Most of the patients had received radiation therapy using conventional fractionation at an average dose of 65.5 Gy. RESULTS: The survival rates at 1, 2, and 5 years were 88%, 73%, and 45%, respectively. The local control rates at 1, 2, and 5 years were 85%, 79%, and 66%, respectively. Although the difference was not significant, the survival rate of cancer patients with a tumor invading the submucosa was lower than that of the other patients. In 6 mucosal cancer patients, local recurrence was observed in 1 patient with extensive cancer. Regional lymph node recurrence and distant failure were not observed in mucosal cancer patients, while in 28 submucosal cancer patients, the 5-year survival rate and relapse free rate were only 49% and 43%, respectively. Univariate and multivariate analysis identified age as the only significant prognostic factor. Severe late injury, such as esophageal ulcer, perforation, and bleeding, was not observed. CONCLUSION: External radiation therapy is effective for mucosal cancer. However, further investigation is needed to establish a better standard treatment protocol for submucosal cancer.

Evaluation of myocardial perfusion and fatty acid uptake using a single injection of iodine-123-BMIPP in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

UNLABELLED: The purpose of this study was to clarify the possibility of simultaneous evaluation of myocardial perfusion and fatty acid metabolism using a single injection of 123I-beta-methyl-p-iodophenyl-pentadecanoic acid (BMIPP) in patients with acute coronary syndromes. METHODS: Thirty patients with unstable angina pectoris (UAP group) and 15 patients with acute myocardial infarction (MI group) were studied. BMIPP dynamic SPECT was performed 2 min after the injection of BMIPP (185 MBq), and images were obtained every 3 min for 15 min with a three-head gamma camera. Conventional BMIPP SPECT was also performed 30 min after the injection. Serial BMIPP and resting 201TI images were compared. RESULTS: A 201TI-BMIPP mismatch between 30-min BMIPP and resting 201TI images was observed in 27 of 30 patients in the UAP group and 8 of 15 patients in the MI group, respectively. However, a 201TI-BMIPP mismatch between early (2-5-min) BMIPP and resting 201TI images was observed in only 2 of 30 patients in the UAP group and in only 2 of 15 patients in the MI group, respectively. The kappa statistics of tracer uptake between early BMIPP and resting 201TI images showed good concordance in UAP (kappa = 0.823) and MI (kappa = 0.765) groups, respectively. These results indicated that initial distribution of BMIPP reflects myocardial perfusion in patients with acute coronary syndromes. CONCLUSION: Myocardial perfusion and fatty acid metabolism can be evaluated simultaneously using a single injection of BMIPP, when images are taken soon (2-5 min) and long after the injection in patients with acute coronary syndromes.

Randomized prospective clinical study of small, large and twice-a-day fraction radiotherapy for painful bone metastases.

A prospective randomized clinical trial comparing small, large and twice-a-day fraction for the relief of painful bone metastases was performed from 1981 to 1986 at Tokyo Women's Medical College Hospital. Eighty patients with painful bone metastases (92 sites) were divided into three radiation methods which were conventional fraction scheme of 5 times/week at 2 Gy/day for a total of 30 Gy/15 fractions (Group I, TDF: 49), 2 times/week at 4.5 Gy/day for a total of 22.5 Gy/5 fractions (Group II, TDF: 50) and 3 times/week at 2 Gy/day twice a day at a minimum interval of 6 h for a total of 20 Gy/10 fractions (Group III). Pain was assessed using a score and response rate was 76% in Group I, 75% in Group II and 78% in Group III which were not statistically significant mutually. Group II and III regimes were found to have an earlier shorter onset of pain relief than Group I, but the dose of onset of pain relief was almost the same. Our data suggested that individualization of radiotherapy schedules based on to assess the patient's condition and the expected quality of life and to consider radiation site and size of field, was more important than the fractionation regime in the treatment of painful bone metastases.

The influence of prostaglandins on the contractile response to electrical field stimulation in rabbit myometrial and cervical smooth muscles.

Indomethacin (10 microM) significantly reduced the contractile responses to electrical field stimulation (EFS) in the non-pregnant myometrium (5-50 Hz by an average of 25.7%) and the pregnant myometrium (30-50 Hz by an average of 16.5%). On the other hand, it significantly increased the contractile responses of the cervix in non-pregnant (2.5-30 Hz by an average of 21.5%) and pregnant (2.5-10 Hz by an average of 12.5%) muscular strips. Prostaglandin (PG) E2 (0.1-1000 nM) strongly and PGI2 (0.1-1000 nM) slightly and dose-dependently inhibited the contractile response to EFS of the non-pregnant cervical muscle, but not of the myometrium. In the pregnant uterus, the contractile responses of the cervical muscle were similar to those of the non-pregnant cervix, while the response of the myometrium was increased significantly and dose-dependently by the application of PGE2 or PGI2.PGF2 alpha (1000 nM) significantly increased the contractile response of the myometrium but not cervical muscle to EFS in the pregnant rabbits. In non-pregnant muscles, the contractile responses of the myometrium and cervical smooth muscle to EFS were not influenced by the treatment with PGF2 alpha.PGE2 (0.1-1000 nM) also inhibited the contractile response to direct muscle stimulation, but the inhibition was significantly less than that of the response to indirect stimulation. PGI2 slightly inhibited the contractile responses to both indirect and direct stimulation. These findings indicate that PGE2, PGI2 and PGF2 alpha increase the contractile response of pregnant myometrium to EFS.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

Single-photon emission CT and MR findings in Klüver-Bucy syndrome after Reye syndrome.

We present the MR and single-photon emission CT findings in a 3-year-old patient in whom Klüver-Bucy syndrome developed after Reye syndrome. MR images showed diffuse brain atrophy, which was predominant in the temporal lobes, and single-photon emission CT scans showed decreased cerebral perfusion in the bilateral temporal lobes and associated cortical areas.