Optical equivalence between phase-diversity homodyne detection microscopy and confocal microscopy.

We investigated the optical properties of a homodyne scanning optical microscope (HSOM) with phase-diversity detection. We found that an HSOM is a coherent imaging system and has the same coherent transfer function as a confocal scanning optical microscope (CSOM). In addition, the depth discrimination ability of an HSOM is the same as that of a CSOM.

SYT-SSX breakpoint peptide vaccines in patients with synovial sarcoma: a study from the Japanese Musculoskeletal Oncology Group.

In the present study, we evaluated the safety and effectiveness of SYT-SSX-derived peptide vaccines in patients with advanced synovial sarcoma. A 9-mer peptide spanning the SYT-SSX fusion region (B peptide) and its HLA-A*2402 anchor substitute (K9I) were synthesized. In Protocols A1 and A2, vaccines with peptide alone were administered subcutaneously six times at 14-day intervals.

Interlayer crosstalk reduction of a multilayer Blu-ray Disc using a grating in a three beam optical system.

In multilayer optical discs, light reflected by out-of-focus layers, which we call interlayer crosstalk, causes the tracking error signal to fluctuate, making the readout signal unstable. We previously proposed a novel method to use a grating along the optical axis in the return path of a pickup to suppress the fluctuation of a differential push-pull (DPP) signal. We develop a pickup and evaluate its performance to stabilize the DPP signal experimentally.

Scythe/BAT3 regulates apoptotic cell death induced by papillomavirus binding factor in human osteosarcoma.

Papillomavirus binding factor (PBF) was first identified as a transcription factor regulating the promoter activity of human papillomavirus. We previously demonstrated that PBF is an osteosarcoma-associated antigen and 92% of osteosarcoma tissues express PBF in the nucleus. Moreover, PBF-positive osteosarcoma has a significantly poorer prognosis than that with negative expression of PBF.

Prognostic impact and immunogenicity of a novel osteosarcoma antigen, papillomavirus binding factor, in patients with osteosarcoma.

To develop peptide-based immunotherapy for osteosarcoma, we previously identified papillomavirus binding factor (PBF) as a cytotoxic T lymphocytes (CTL)-defined osteosarcoma antigen in the context of human leukocyte antigen (HLA)-B55. In the present study, we analyzed the distribution profile of PBF in 83 biopsy specimens of osteosarcomas and also the prognostic impact of PBF expression in 78 patients with osteosarcoma who had completed the standard treatment protocols. Next, we determined the antigenic peptides from PBF that react with peripheral T lymphocytes of HLA-A24(+) patients with osteosarcoma.

Clonal T-cell response against autologous pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma antigen presented by retrieved HLA-A*0206.

Towards the goal of identifying tumor-rejection antigens on eradicated tumors in bone and soft tissue sarcomas, we evaluated the immune response against antigens presented by lost HLA class I molecules. Tumor specimens and peripheral blood samples were obtained from a 70-year-old woman with pleomorphic malignant fibrous histiocytoma. Over 1-year culture, a tumor cell line (MFH2004) was established.

Prognostic significance of HLA class I expression in osteosarcoma defined by anti-pan HLA class I monoclonal antibody, EMR8-5.

With the goal of establishing efficacious peptide-based immunotherapy for patients with bone and soft tissue sarcomas, we previously identified the cytotoxic T lymphocyte-defined osteosarcoma antigenic gene Papillomavirus binding factor. The present study was designed to determine the status of HLA class I expression in osteosarcoma and other bone and soft tissue sarcomas. Seventy-four formalin-fixed paraffin-embedded specimens of various bone and soft tissue sarcomas, including 33 osteosarcomas, were stained with the anti-HLA class I monoclonal antibody EMR8-5, which we recently generated.

Rhabdomyosarcoma arising from a dormant dumbbell ganglioneuroma of the lumbar spine: a case report.

Study Design: A case report of a lumbar dumbbell tumor that showed a sequential change in histology from ganglioneuroma into rhabdomyosarcoma after long-term dormancy.

Objective: To present a case of non-neurogenic malignancy arising from ganglioneuroma.

Summary Of Background Data: Ganglioneuromas rarely form the dumbbell variety.