A stochastic-modeling evaluation of the foot-and-mouth-disease survey conducted after the outbreak in Miyazaki, Japan in 2000

When foot-and-mouth-disease (FMD) was identified in Miyazaki prefecture in March 2000, Japan conducted an intensive serological and clinical survey in the areas surrounding the index herd. As a result of the survey during the 21 days of the movement-restriction period, two infected herds were detected and destroyed; there were no other cases in the months that followed. To evaluate the survey used for screening the disease-control area and surveillance area, we estimated the herd-level sensitivity of the survey (HSe) through a spreadsheet model using Monte-Carlo methods. The Reed-Frost model was incorporated to simulate the spread of FMD within an infected herd. In the simulations, 4, 8 and 12 effective-contact scenarios during the 5-day period were examined. The estimated HSes of serological tests (HSeE) were 71.0, 75.3 and 76.3% under the 4, 8 and 12 contact scenarios, respectively. The sensitivity analysis showed that increasing the number of contacts beyond 12 did not improve HSeE, but increasing the number of sampled animals and delaying the dates of sampling did raise HSeEs. Small herd size in the outbreak area (>80% of herds have <20 animals) seems to have helped in maintaining HSeE relatively high, although the serological inspection was carried out before sero-positive animals had a chance to increase in infected herds. The estimated herd-level specificity of serological tests (HSpE) was 98.6%. This HSpE predicted 224 false-positive herds (5th percentile estimate was 200 and 95th percentile was 249), which proved close to the 232 false-positive herds actually observed. The combined-test herd-level sensitivity (serological and clinical inspections combined; CTHSe), averaged 85.5, 87.6 and 88.1% for the 4, 8 and 12 contact scenarios, respectively. Using these CTHSes, the calculated probability that no infected herd was overlooked by the survey was > or =62.5% under the most-conservative, four-contact scenario. The probability that no more than one infected herd was overlooked was > or =89.7%.

Influence of perturbation induced by an anticipated load on human motor regulatory systems

To investigate how human motor regulatory systems are modified by prior knowledge of a predictable external perturbation, six normal human subjects, each when sitting on a chair, were required to maintain a stable elbow flexion angle (90 degrees) while different weight perturbations were applied (0.5 kg or 2-kg loads). Loads were applied either by the experimenter Without Anticipation or With Anticipation by the subject's own contralateral hand. Acceleration of the forearm movement (elbow extension and flexion) by loads and electromyograms (EMGs) of the biceps brachii (BB) and the triceps brachii (TB) muscle were recorded. Under With Anticipation conditions, preceding EMG activities of BB and TB muscles prior to the onset time of perturbation were clearly observed. Furthermore, the amount of these preceding EMG activities was larger in the heavy load perturbation than in the light load perturbation. Under Without Anticipation conditions, however, these preceding EMG activities were not observed. In the preceding EMG activities, EMG bursts (latency 20 msec.) of a presumed stretch reflex induced by the perturbation were clearly observed. Thus, the function of anticipatory adjustment of mainitaining the elbow angle definitely appears to optimize limb stability in the case of the mechanical self-applied perturbation. Furthermore, the extent of the anticipatory adjustment of the elbow angle was dependent on the predicted magnitude of load.

Vector diffraction analysis by discrete-dipole approximation

The discrete-dipole approximation is applied to vector diffraction analysis in a system with large-numerical-aperture (NA) optics and subwavelength targets. Distributions of light diffracted by subwavelength dielectric targets are calculated in a solid angle that corresponds to a NA of 0.9, and their dependence on incident polarization, target shape, and target size is studied. Electric field distributions inside the target are also shown. Basic features of the vector diffraction are clearly demonstrated. This technique facilitates understanding of the vectorial effects in systems that are expected to be applied in the future to optical data storage.

Intraductal ultrasonography of traumatic neuroma of the bile duct

We report a case of a 70-year-old female with traumatic neuroma of the bile duct. Transpapillary intraductal ultrasonography showed a cystic duct stump, from which a smooth and homogeneous hypoechoic mass arose; the adjacent bile duct wall had a normal structure. Intraductal ultrasonography is useful for distinguishing traumatic neuroma from bile duct carcinoma.

Primary peritoneal clear cell carcinoma: excellent results from paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy

While papillary serous adenocarcinomas are histocytologically common in primary peritoneal carcinomas, clear cell carcinomas are rare. We report a new regimen for the treatment of recurrent clear cell carcinomas of the peritoneum. A 45-year-old woman was referred to our hospital and underwent optimal debulking surgery. Thirty-two months after the operation, lymph node swelling and elevation of serum CA19-9 were detected and recurrence was diagnosed. Paclitaxel (175 mg/m(2)) in a 3-hour and carboplatin (300 mg/m(2)) in a 1-hour infusion were repeated at three-week intervals. After completion of four courses, abdominal CT and serum CA19-9 were undertaken and results compared. Lymph node swelling was significantly decreased and the serum CA19-9 level was decreased to within a normal range. Paclitaxel and carboplatin combination chemotherapy may be effective in preventing the recurrence of peritoneal carcinomas.

Prevention of evaporation of small-volume sample solutions for capillary electrophoresis using a mineral-oil overlay

The suppression of evaporation of water from small volumes of sample solutions or reagents for capillary electrophoresis by the use of a mineral-oil overlay was investigated in affinophoresis applications, in which the affinity constant of a mutant protein of recombinant human galectin-1 to a lactose affinophore, a triply negative charged ion having a lactoside as an affinity ligand, was determined. When an injection was carried out from a minimum of 20 microL of an aqueous solution beneath the oil overlay, no oil contamination inside the capillary was observed, provided the capillary was cleanly cut so that the end was flat, and the polyimide coating had been removed for a distance of about 2 mm from the end. Affinophoresis was carried out using 20 microL of an affinophore solution covered with an oil overlay. The abnormalities in the electropherograms as the result of the evaporation of the water from the solution during storage prior to use in an automatic operation of a capillary electrophoresis instrument were suppressed, with respect to the formation of a base line gap, an increase in the detection time of a marker ion and an increase in the initial current. A solution in a vial could be used repeatedly for a longer period of time when overlaid with mineral oil than in the absence of an overlay. The use of a mineral-oil overlay is a simple but very efficient technique for solving the problem of the evaporation of water from small volumes of aqueous solutions for use in capillary electrophoresis.

The usefulness and limits of magnetic resonance imaging in the differential diagnosis of pelvic tumors

Three cases of benign pelvic tumors are presented (2 leiomyomas and 1 fibroma). All three tumors were suspected of being malignant neoplasms because they were visualized as heterogeneous high signal intensity on T2-weighted images, and thus they were difficult to diagnose preoperatively. One of the leiomyomas was located in the retroperitoneum and had been misdiagnosed as an ovarian tumor. All three tumors exhibited secondary myxoid changes, these changes may have been responsible for the high signal intensity on the T2-weighted MR images. Since benign tumors sometimes mimic malignant tumors on MR images, exploratory laparotomy is essential to make a definitive diagnosis.

[Therapy-related myeloid leukemia following platinum-based chemotherapy for ovarian cancer]

A 40-year-old woman, who had suffered from AML (M1) in 1983, developed ovarian cancer (stage IIIc) in December 1996 after long-term remission. She underwent surgical resection of the cancer, 10 courses of standard chemotherapy and tandem PBSCT (total dose: CBDCA 6,750 mg, CDDP 200 mg, CPA 16,000 mg, THP-ADR 450 mg). After receiving the last course of chemotherapy in June 1998, she was referred to our hospital in September 1998 because of pancytopenia. Laboratory findings showed pancytopenia with 34% leukemic cells, which were positive for alpha NBE and negative for POX and CAE. Surface-marker analysis of the leukemic cells showed positivity for CD11c, CD33, CD56, and DR, and chromosome analysis revealed 47, XX, +8. The patient was diagnosed as having AML (M5a), and received induction therapy consisting of IDR and Ara-C, which led to complete remission. As she had not received etoposide, this case was thought to have been therapy-related leukemia due to the platinum agents used for treating the ovarian cancer.

Accuracy in the determination of isoelectric points of some proteins and a peptide by capillary isoelectric focusing: utility of synthetic peptides as isoelectric point markers

To evaluate the accuracy ofisoelectric point determination by capillary isoelectric focusing, the pI values of nine proteins and a peptide, the pI values of which had been determined by other methods and ranging pI 3.55-9.60, were determined by capillary isoelectric focusing by cofocusing of recently developed peptide pI markers ranging 3.38-10.17, and the consistency of the pI values was examined. Isoelectric focusing was carried out in neutral polymer-coated capillaries, and the pH gradient was mobilized by pressure toward the cathode, to detect samples with absorption at 280 nm at a fixed detection point. Carrier ampholytes from two different suppliers and in different pH ranges were used. The sharp peaks of the highly pure peptide pI markers greatly facilitated the unambiguous identification of the peaks. When a carrier ampholyte ranging over the acidic side was used, the detection of acidic pI samples was anomalously delayed. This could be partly mitigated by reducing the viscosity of the anode solution in comparison with the pH gradient formed in the capillary. Since the detection times vs the pH relationships were not linear in most cases, the use of a linear calibration line over an entire pH gradient would be erroneous. Instead, the pI values of samples were calculated by assuming a linear relation for pH against detection time between two flanking marker peptides. Close agreement between the pI values, determined by capillary isoelectric focusing, and the reference values of the samples was observed within an average difference range of 0.04-0.08 pH unit with a sample consumption of 10-100 ng within 30-60 min. Some carrier ampholytes were preferentially more effective at either the acidic or the basic side of the pH gradient. For confirmation of the completion of focusing, the use of two different focusing times is recommended.

[Autologous transplantation of Ph-negative peripheral blood stem cells for treatment of chronic myelogenous leukemia]

A 21-year-old man, diagnosed in March 1997 as having chronic myelogenous leukemia (CML), received hydroxyurea followed by daily interferon (IFN) until December 1998, when the additional chromosome abnormality of +8 appeared. As no suitable matched donor was available, the patient received mobilization therapy consisting of mini-ICE (idarubicin, cytarabine, etoposide) followed by G-CSF subcutaneously. During hematopoietic recovery, a total of 12 x 10(6)/kg CD34-positive cells were harvested. Cytogenetic analysis of peripheral blood stem cell (PBSC) products using FISH revealed 1% BCR/ABL fusion signals. In March 1999, he received conditioning therapy consisting of busulfan (16 mg/kg) and cyclophosphamide (120 mg/kg) followed by infusion of 5 x 10(6)/kg CD34-positive cells. A neutrophil count of 500/microliter and a platelet count of 5 x 10(4)/microliter were attained by days 20 and 38, respectively. Bone marrow aspirates showed 2.6% BCR/ABL fusion signals on day 35 after autologous PBSC transplantation, and the patient remained in chronic phase until the sixth month, when a cytogenetic relapse (Ph, +8:4/20) occurred. These observations suggest that Ph-negative progenitor cells can be harvested using a mini-ICE regimen followed by G-CSF, and that autologous PBSC transplantation is feasible in patients with CML resistant to IFN.

Blood compatible aspects of poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate) (PMEA)--relationship between protein adsorption and platelet adhesion on PMEA surface

Platelet adhesion and spreading is suppressed when a poly(2-methoxyethylacrylate) (PMEA) surface is used, compared with other polymer surfaces. To clarify the reason for this suppression, the relationship among the amount of the plasma protein adsorbed onto PMEA, its secondary structure and platelet adhesion was investigated. Poly(2-hydroxyethylmethacrylate) (PHEMA) and polyacrylate analogous were used as references. The amount of protein adsorbed onto PMEA was very low and similar to that absorbed onto PHEMA. Circular dichroism (CD) spectroscopy was applied to examine changes in the secondary structure of the proteins after adsorption onto the polymer surface. The conformation of the proteins adsorbed onto PHEMA changed considerably, but that of proteins adsorbed onto PMEA differed only a little from the native one. These results suggest that low platelet adhesion and spreading are closely related to the low degree of the denaturation of the protein adsorbed onto PMEA. PMEA could be developed as a promising material to produce a useful blood-contacting surface for medical devices.

The inhibitory effect of interferon gamma and tumor necrosis factor alpha on intracellular multiplication of Neospora caninum in primary bovine brain cells

Primary culture of bovine brain cells was examined for its susceptibility to Neospora caninum infections, and this model was used to investigate the effects of bovine interferon gamma (IFN-gamma) and tumor necrosis factors alpha (TNF-alpha) on tachyzoite growth. Tachyzoites of N. caninum grew well in this culture, and tachyzoite growth in astroglia and microglia were confirmed by immunocytochemical staining. IFN-gamma inhibited the tachyzoite growth, and this inhibition was not reversed by the addition of nitric oxide antagonist. TNF-alpha, to a lesser extent, also inhibited the tachyzoite growth. Th-1 type cytokines may play an important role in host defense mechanisms in N. caninum infection.

[Werner's syndrome associated with acute myelofibrosis]

A 47-year-old man was admitted to our hospital in June 1997 because of nasal bleeding. He presented with anemia in addition to physical characteristics of Werner's syndrome (WS). Peripheral blood examination disclosed pancytopenia with 4% blasts. Bone marrow aspiration was a dry tap; biopsy specimens revealed myelofibrosis. Chromosomal analysis of peripheral blood revealed hypodiploidy with complex abnormalities including -5 and del(7)(q21). Serum levels of PDGF, FGF, and TGF beta 1 were normal. A diagnosis of acute myelofibrosis was made. The patient's condition became quickly deteriorated and he died of pneumonia in October 1997. In the literature, we found 6 reported cases of myelofibrosis associated with WS. Considering that only approximately 1,100 cases of WS have been reported so far, the incidence of myelofibrosis in WS seems relatively high. This case suggested a link between WS and myelofibrosis, and the mechanism of myelofibrosis in WS was discussed.

Synthetic oligopeptides as isoelectric point markers for capillary isoelectric focusing with ultraviolet absorption detection

Sixteen peptides (trimers to hexamers) were designed for use as a set of pI markers for capillary isoelectric focusing (CIEF). Each peptide contains one tryptophan residue for detection by UV absorption and other amino acid residues having ionic side chains, which are responsible for focusing to its pI. The pIs of these peptides were determined by slab-gel IEF using commercial carrier ampholytes. The focused peptides in the gel were detected by absorption measurement at 280 nm using a scanning densitometer and the pH gradient was determined by measuring the pH of the gel using an oxidized metal membrane electrode. The pI values of the peptides ranged from 3.38 to 10.17. The obtained values agreed well with the predicted ones, which were calculated based on amino acid compositions, with root mean square differences of 0.15 pH unit. The peptides were detected at 280 nm as very sharp peaks when separated by CIEF. The pI values of some standard proteins were redetermined by CIEF by using this set of peptide pI markers and the values agreed closely with those reported previously. The sharp focusing, stability, high purity and high solubility of these synthetic pI markers should facilitate the profiling of a pH gradient in a capillary and the determination of the pI values of proteins.

DNA polymorphism of srRNA gene among Eimeria tenella strains isolated in Japan

DNA polymorphism in twelve starains of Eimeria tenella isolated from various places in Japan was examined using 1.l kb small subunits ribosomal RNA amplified by PCR. Genetic variation was evaluated by random amplification of polymorphic DNA (RAPD) analysis. DNA fingerprint patterns were grouped into two, indicating that at least two DNA polymorphisms exist in Japanese E. tenella strains.

Successful peripheral blood stem cell transplantation for myelodysplastic syndrome

Wilms' tumor (WT1) gene expression is increased in patients with leukemia as well as myelodysplastic syndrome (MDS) and is useful for detection of minimal residual disease (MRD). A 47-year-old man given a diagnosis of refractory anemia with excess of blasts in transformation (RAEB-T) received myeloablative therapy followed by autologous peripheral blood stem cell transplantation (PBSCT). MRD by WT1 expression was not detected in the graft. The patient has been in CR for 25 months after PBSCT. These observations suggest that PBSCT is feasible for patients with RAEB-T and analysis of WT1 expression can be applied for patients with high risk MDS.

[CD5 positive B cell leukemic lymphoma associated with BCL6 rearrangement]

A 59-year-old man was admitted in December 1995 because of general fatigue without lymphadenopathy. Increased abnormal lymphocytes (70%) were observed in peripheral blood. Bone marrow aspiration was a dry tap. Biopsy specimens revealed hypercellularity with infiltration of abnormal lymphocytes. Surface marker analysis of tumor cells was positive for CD5, CD19, CD20, HLA -DR, kappa, and sIgM and negative for CD10. Cytogenetic analysis disclosed a complex abnormal karyotype including t(3;22) and rearrangement of the BCL6 gene. The patient was given a diagnosis of CD5 positive B-cell lymphoma, but died in January 1997 despite repeated chemotherapy. This case was unique because BCL6 rearrangement has been reported in various types of B-cell lymphoma but rarely associated with leukemic types without lymphadenopathy.

Pathological and immunological findings of athymic nude and congenic wild type BALB/c mice experimentally infected with Neospora caninum

Neospora is a cyst-forming coccidian parasite that causes abortions and neuromuscular disorders in a wide variety of mammals. Japanese bovine isolate JPA1 was inoculated intraperitoneally into BALB/c nu/ nu (athymic nude) and BALB/c (congenic wild type) female mice to examine the distribution of parasites and resistance mechanisms to Neospora infection. All the athymic nude mice died within 28 days after intraperitoneal injection of 2 x 10(5) JPA1 tachyzoites, whereas all the congenic wild type mice survived without exhibiting any clinical signs. Tachyzoites were identified in the uterus and pancreas and later spread to many other organs. Most tachyzoites identified in the necrotic foci were localized in the epithelium of the venules and capillaries. Nude mice developed high level of serum interferon-gamma and interleukin-6 as infection proceeded. Inflammatory response to Neospora infection might be mediated by Th1-type dependent cellular immunity.

Dependence of deltoid muscle activity upon initial angles of shoulder abduction prior to flexion

The present study was undertaken to investigate the hypothesis that the direction and selectivity of an appropriately modified version of shoulder flexion is dependent upon initial angles of shoulder abduction. Analysis indicated that initial small angles of shoulder abduction were associated with longer electromyographic (EMG) durations of the agonist (anterior deltoid) muscle. Moreover, as initial angles became smaller, EMG onsets of the antagonist (posterior deltoid muscle) occurred nearer to those of the agonist. Modulations of duration of the agonist EMG activity can be explained by changes in amplitude of movement. Two possible interpretations of the changes of EMG onset of the antagonist in accordance with different initial angles of shoulder abduction are considered. One concerns the effect of the change on the load of the upper limb, dependent on different angles of shoulder abduction. The second concerns the changing role of the antagonist to a synergist, dependent upon decreased initial angles of shoulder abduction prior to the shoulder flexion. Based on the present findings, it is suggested that angles of shoulder abduction are an important determinant of agonist-antagonist muscle activity of the deltoid during flexion of the shoulder.

Pupil-plane filtering for improved signal detection in an optical data-storage system incorporating a solid immersion lens

A pupil-plane filtering technique is applied to data-signal detection in an optical data-storage system that uses a solid immersion lens (SIL) and a four-layered phase-change recording medium. We have confirmed by numerical calculations and experiment that the technique improves signal contrast and makes the contrast less sensitive to the gap width between the bottom surface of the SIL and the top surface of the recording medium. Light that is incident upon the objective lens that is used with the SIL is linearly polarized, and the full vectorial feature of the light is considered in the calculations.

Computer-aided diagnosis in full digital mammography

RATIONALE AND OBJECTIVES

The authors clarify the detection rates for breast cancerous tumors and clustered microcalcifications with computer-aided diagnosis (CAD) based on Fuji Computed Radiography. The authors also determine whether mammographic reading with CAD contributes to the discovery of breast cancer.

METHODS

Data acquired by Fuji Computed Radiography 9000, which consisted of 4148 digital mammograms including 267 cases of breast cancer, was transferred directly to an analysis workstation where an original software program determined extraction rates for breast tumors and clustered microcalcifications. Furthermore, using another 344 mammograms from 86 women, observer performance studies were conducted on five doctors for receiver operating characteristic (ROC) analysis.

RESULTS

Sensitivity to breast cancerous tumors and clustered microcalcifications were 89.9% and 92.8%, respectively false-positive rates were 1.35 and 0.40 per image, respectively. The observer performance studies indicate that an average Az value for the five doctors was greater with the CAD system than with a film-only reading without CAD, and that a reading with CAD was significantly superior at P < 0.022.

CONCLUSIONS

It has been shown that CAD based on Fuji Computed Radiography offers good detection rates for both breast cancerous tumors and clustered microcalcifications, and that the reading of mammograms with this CAD system would provide potential improvement in diagnostic accuracy for breast cancer.