A Simple Method for Constructing Artificial Promoters Activated in Response to Ultrasound Stimulation.

It has been pointed out that ultrasound could be used as a controller for bioprocesses including gene expression since its energy can noninvasively reach deep in the body. Gene expression may be timely and spatially controlled by ultrasound, thus providing necessary bioactive proteins for the targeted tissue in a timely fashion. Although there are many processes involved in gene expression control, one of the most important processes is transcription, and the promoter plays an essential role in it.

[A case of a gastrostomy fistula reopening 21 years after spontaneously closure].

Here we report a rare case of a reopened gastrostomy fistula 21-years after spontaneous closure. A male newborn underwent gastrostomy by laparotomy because of esophageal atresia shortly after birth. The gastrostomy tube was removed at 7 months old because he could consume enough oral nutrition.

Autoantibody to scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB): A novel connective tissue disease-related autoantibody associated with interstitial lung disease.

Objective: To identify and characterize a novel connective tissue disease (CTD)-related autoantibody (autoAb) directed against scaffold attachment factor B (SAFB).

Methods: AutoAb specificity was analyzed using RNA and protein-immunoprecipitation assays. Autoimmune targets were affinity purified using patients' sera and subjected to liquid chromatography mass spectrometry.

Sinus of Valsalva thrombosis causing renal infarction.

A 72-year-old man was admitted to our hospital with a renal infarction. On admission, computed tomography (CT) of the abdomen revealed total occlusion of the right renal artery, which was found to be recanalized with residual thrombus 7 days later. Transesophageal echocardiography and chest CT demonstrated crescent-shaped thrombus in the non-coronary sinus of Valsalva without evidence of aneurysm.

A patient with Graves' disease accompanied by bloody pericardial effusion.

A hyperthyroid patient with bloody pericardial effusion is presented. He was hospitalized for severe dyspnea. Pericardiocentesis yielded 1.

Central retinal artery occlusion following cardiac catheterization.

We describe a 66-year-old Japanese man in whom central retinal artery occlusion followed cardiac catheterization. After the procedure, blurred vision was noted in the right eye, and ophthalmological examination revealed an occlusion. Central retinal artery occlusion is a very rare but serious complication of cardiac catheterization.

CD20-positive T-cell chronic lymphocytic leukaemia.

Although CD20 is considered to be a representative marker for B lymphocytes, the antigen is weakly expressed on a small subset of normal T lymphocytes. A 60-year-old man developed pancytopenia and hepatosplenomegaly due to clonal proliferation of atypical lymphocytes that were weakly positive for CD20. The leukaemic cells were also positive for T-cell antigens such as CD2, CD3, CD5, CD7, CD8 and T-cell receptor (TCR) Vbeta8 and for activation antigens such as CD38 and HLA-DR, but were negative for CD19, CD21, CD22, CD25.

Primary cardiac lymphoma diagnosed by percutaneous needle biopsy.

We diagnosed a case of primary cardiac lymphoma using transthoracic needle biopsy. A 70-year-old man was admitted because of dyspnea. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed a tumor mass in the right ventricular free wall.

Interventricular septal dissection in a patient with an old myocardial infarction.

We observed an unusual case of interventricular septal wall dissection in a patient with a prior myocardial infarction. Echocardiography, magnetic resonance imaging, and left ventriculography revealed separation of the right-side and left-side walls of the interventricular septum with an accessory chamber between the two walls. Morphologic findings were consistent with interventricular septal dissection.

I-123 metaiodobenzylguanidine cardiac scintigraphy in patients with an implanted permanent pacemaker.

T1 scintigraphic abnormalities have been reported in patients with an implanted permanent pacemaker, but little is known about the MIBG scintigraphic findings in such patients. This study was performed to assess the MIBG scintigraphic findings in patients with an implanted permanent pacemaker, and to test the hypothesis that imaging characteristics of MIBG scintigraphy differ according to its mode. Twelve patients (4 men and 8 women, mean age: 72.

A case of macrocystic serous cystadenoma of the pancreas.

A case of macrocystic serous cystadenoma of the pancreas is presented, and literature is reviewed. A 35-yr-old woman presented with mild upper abdominal pain. Abdominal ultrasonography and an abdominal computed tomography revealed a multiloculated and calcified cyst in the body of the pancreas.

[A case of atelectasis of the middle lobe associated with congestive heart failure].

A 74-year-old man was admitted to our hospital for work up of a shadow in the right middle lobe on chest X-ray film. He had hypertension, aortic regurgitation, and atrial fibrillation on admission. Bronchoscopy demonstrated total obstruction of the right B4 orifice, but the etiology of obstruction was unknown.

Enhancement of ascites on MRI following intravenous administration of Gd-DTPA.

Objective: The enhancement of ascites following intravenous administration of Gd-DTPA on MRI was investigated.

Materials And Methods: Magnetic resonance imaging was performed in 20 patients with ascites (8 peritoneal carcinomatosis, 2 tuberculous peritonitis, 8 liver cirrhosis, 1 nephrotic syndrome, 1 peritoneal adhesion), and T1-weighted SE images were obtained before and 15-20 min following intravenous administration of Gd-DTPA (0.1 mmol/kg).

Successful ultrasonically guided percutaneous ethanol injection for secondary hyperparathyroidism.

Ultrasonically guided percutaneous ethanol injection to all of four enlarged parathyroid glands, which were confirmed by fine-needle aspiration biopsy, was successfully performed in a hemodialysis patient with secondary hyperparathyroidism. In addition to marked reduction of serum parathyroid hormone, the size of parathyroid glands was significantly decreased after the procedure. As an adverse effect, the patient experienced a transient self-limiting dysphonia due to right recurrent nerve palsy after the first injection.