Surface-layer modification of hydroxyapatite ceramic with acid and heat treatments.

The purpose of this study was to examine or characterize the surface layer of a calcium phosphate ceramic with a gradual compositional change from alpha-tricalcium phosphate (alpha-TCP) on the surface to hydroxyapatite (HAP) on the inside. The surface of a dense HAP ceramic was acid-treated for 1 hour with orthophosphoric acid (H3PO4) solutions of several concentrations (0.5, 1.

Regulation of the properties of rat hind limb muscles following gravitational unloading.

The mechanisms responsible for the morphological and metabolic adaptation of skeletal muscles to the removal of antigravity activity were investigated in rats. Significant atrophy relative to the levels before suspension was induced in ankle plantarflexsors, may be due to a reduced tension production caused by decreased muscle length and electromyogram activity. Growth failure was significant in ankle dorsiflexors, although these muscles did not atrophy.

Randomized phase II study of biweekly CHOP and dose-escalated CHOP with prophylactic use of lenograstim (glycosylated G-CSF) in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study 9505.

Background: CHOP (cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin, vincristine and prednisone) is accepted as the best available standard treatment for first-line chemotherapy in aggressive non-Hodgkin's lymphoma (NHL). However, the therapeutic efficacy of CHOP remains unsatisfactory, particularly in high-intermediate risk and high risk patients, and a new strategy is warranted in this patient population. The aim of the present study was to explore a suitable therapeutic-intensified regimen for the treatment of aggressive NHL.

Shock absorbability and hardness of commercially available denture teeth.

Purpose: Composite resin teeth are more widely used than porcelain or acrylic resin teeth in the fabrication of removable dentures because of their high fracture toughness and high abrasion resistance. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the shock absorbability of commercially available artificial posterior teeth by the free drop-ball test with an accelerometer and to evaluate the Vickers hardness at the surface.

Materials And Methods: The tested artificial teeth included seven composite resin teeth, one acrylic resin tooth, and one porcelain tooth.

Effects of long-term cold exposure on contractile muscles of rats.

The effects of 20-week cold exposure on contractile properties of soleus and extensor digitorum longus (EDL) muscles and plasma hormone levels were studied in rats. Twenty male Wistar rats (5 week old) were randomly divided into 2 groups (n = 10 each): cage-control and cold-exposed. The rats in the cold-exposed group were immersed in shoulder-deep water (approximately 18 degrees C) for 1 h/d, 5 d/week, for 20 weeks.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is rare, but the proportion of T-CLL is high in Japan.

Chronic lymphocytic leukemia (CLL) is a rare disease in Japan. Recent advances in molecular biology, diagnostic criteria and classification of CLL have reinforced the concept of each category of CLL as a distinct entity. Since there have been no recent studies on the incidence and prevalence of CLL in Japan, the Kyushu Hematology Organization for Treatment (K-HOT) Study Group conducted two studies of CLL.

Enhanced Hoffman-reflex in human soleus muscle during exposure to microgravity environment.

Responses of Hoffman-reflex in the soleus muscle to changes of gravity levels created by parabolic flight of a jet airplane were investigated in four healthy male subjects. The subjects maintained a sitting position with seat belts fastened, keeping the anterior ankle and posterior knee angles at approximately 135 degrees. The gravity levels were altered from 1- to 2-G, and then microgravity was created for approximately 20 s.

Treatment of post-transplanted, relapsed patients with hematological malignancies by infusion of HLA-matched, allogeneic-dendritic cells (DCs) pulsed with irradiated tumor cells and primed T cells.

Patients with hematological malignancies who relapse after bone marrow transplantation (BMT) are often treated with donor lymphocyte infusion. However, this procedure often results in graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). While, Dendritic cells (DCs), which present antigens to naive T cells, have been used in the immunotherapy of cancer, this approach has been logistically difficult due to limiting numbers of DCs.

Influence of thermal cycles in water on flexural strength of laboratory-processed composite resin.

Recently a new generation of laboratory-processed composite resins containing submicron glass fillers was introduced, with claims of high strength. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effect of thermal cycling in water on the flexural strength and hardness of several laboratory composite systems. The flexural strength of the new laboratory processed composite resins (Artglass [AG], Targis [TR] and Estenia [ES]) was significantly higher than that of conventional resins (Dentacolor [DC] and Cesead II [CS]).

Reinforcement effect of short glass fibers with CaO- P(2)O(5) -SiO(2) -Al(2)O(3) glass on strength of glass-ionomer cement.

Objectives: A high strength glass-ionomer (not resin-modified) cement was developed using short fibers of CaO--P(2)O(5)--SiO(2)--Al(2)O(3) (CPSA) glass. The purpose of this study was to clarify the effect of the CPSA short fibers contained in the flexural strength of the glass-ionomer cement.

Method: The 40 mass% short fibers of CPSA glass were added to the powder of commercial glass-ionomer cement.

A new G-CSF-supported combination chemotherapy, LSG15, for adult T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma: Japan Clinical Oncology Group Study 9303.

This phase II trial was performed to evaluate the efficacy of a new granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF)-supported multi-agent chemotherapy protocol, LSG15, for aggressive adult T-cell leukaemia-lymphoma (ATL). Ninety-six previously untreated patients with aggressive ATL were enrolled and grouped as: acute type (58), lymphoma type (28) and unfavourable chronic type (10). Therapy consisted of seven cycles of VCAP (vincristine, cyclophosphamide, doxorubicin and prednisone), AMP (doxorubicin, ranimustine and prednisone) and VECP (vindesine, etoposide, carboplatin and prednisone).

Isolation and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus strains from nares of nurses and their gowns.

The isolation and characterization of methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aures (MRSA) strains from the bilateral nares of nurses and their gowns are described. MRSA strains could be isolated from eigth of fifty bilateral nares of nurses and two of their gowns. Ten MRSA strains were typed using coagulase typing, and divided into two types, coagulase II and III.

Ontogenetic, gravity-dependent development of rat soleus muscle.

We tested the hypothesis that rat soleus muscle fiber growth and changes in myosin phenotype during the postnatal, preweaning period would be largely independent of weight bearing. The hindlimbs of one group of pups were unloaded intermittently from postnatal day 4 to day 21: the pups were isolated from the dam for 5 h during unloading and returned for nursing for 1 h. Control pups were either maintained with the dam as normal or put on an alternating feeding schedule as described above.

Improved outcome of adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma with allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation.

Adult T cell leukemia/lymphoma (ATL) is a poor prognosis T cell malignancy. In order to improve the outcome, we employed allogeneic stem cell transplantation (allo-SCT) for ATL in 10 patients, nine of whom were from HLA-identical siblings and one from an unrelated donor. Conditioning regimens varied among the patients except that all received total body irradiation.

Tacrolimus (FK506) treatment of CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells promote the development of dendritic cells that drive CD4+ T cells toward Th2 responses.

The macrolide lactone, tacrolimus (FK506), is utilized in bone marrow transplantation (BMT) to prevent graft-versus-host disease (GVHD). In the current study, we evaluated the ability of FK506 to modify the function of dendritic cells (DCs) derived from CD34+ hematopoietic progenitor cells (HPCs). Comparable to DCs obtained in the absence of FK506, DCs cultured in the presence of FK506 (FK-DCs) had higher expression of CD1a+ and formed a greater number of DC colonies.

Outcome of clonal hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis: analysis of 32 cases.

We studied the impact of clonality, determined by analysis of Epstein-Barr virus genome termini, T-cell receptor genes and clonal chromosomal abnormality, on the clinical outcome in 32 patients with hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH). Of the cases studied, 23 cases were EBV-clonal, 15 cases were TCR-clonal and 7 cases were cytogenetically clonal. Thirty patients were treated with immuno-chemotherapy and/or multiagents' chemotherapy and 4 received bone marrow transplantation.

[A case of femoral nerve palsy with malignant lymphoma].

A 52-year-old woman developed right inguinal mass in January, 1998. Biopsy of the mass revealed malignant lymphoma. Chemotherapies were done from February to May, and radiation therapies were done from November to December.

Flexural strength of rebased denture polymers.

The properties of denture base and reline resins may be affected by daily changes between room temperature and mouth temperature. The purpose of the study was to evaluate the effect of thermocycling on the flexural strength of the relined denture base polymer with reline resin. Three denture base resins, three hard reline resins and their combinations were tested.

[Autoimmune hepatitis complicated by intolerable pain of lower extremities and shock due to azathioprine].

A 24-year-old woman was followed for about ten months with oral administration of prednisolone (22.5-35 mg/d) for autoimmune hepatitis. In June 1995, she noticed fatigue and appetite loss and blood chemistry revealed markedly deteriorated liver function.

[Malignant lymphoma at the cavernous sinus].

A 71-year-old man developed general fatigue, appetite loss, and headache. Two months later, he noticed diplopia. Examination demonstrated reduced visual acuity and complete ophthalmoplegia of the left eye.

Influence of occlusal scheme on the pressure distribution under a complete denture.

Purpose: The purpose of this study was to estimate which occlusion offers the best conditions of pressure distribution on the supporting structure under a complete denture when crushing food.

Materials And Methods: Simulated maxillary and mandibular complete dentures with three different posterior occlusal schemes--fully balanced occlusion, lingualized occlusion, and monoplane occlusion--were fabricated. Eight pressure transducers were placed in the basal surface of a mandibular denture.