and their tumour tissues, mutations in the VHL gene were found. The SNU-267 line had a frameshift mutation in the p53 gene. A missense mutation of the TGF-bRII gene was detected in the SNU-1272 line and the corresponding tissue. Analysis of the repeat sequences showed one cell line (SNU-349) to have MSI and the other six to have microsatellite stability. As MSI is a hallmark of the inactivation of mismatch repair genes, the presence of hMSH2 and hMLH1 mutations was investigated in all seven cell lines. An inactivating homozygous single base-pair deletion of the hMLH1 gene was found only in the SNU-349 cell line and corresponding tissue. Moreover, a frameshift mutation within an 8-bp polyadenine repeat present in the hMSH3 coding region was found only in the MSI cell line and tumour tissue. Conclusion These newly established RCC cell lines should provide a useful in vitro model for studies related to human RCC. The SNU-349 cell line should be especially useful for studies of MSI and mismatch repair-defective RCCs.

We have made extensive studies of a dilute U doped YRu2Si2 alloy using several experimental techniques such as ac and dc magnetic susceptibility, dc resistivity and microstructural investigations. The real part of the ac susceptibility shows a maximum at around 6.75 K for f = 7 Hz. With increasing frequency, the temperature of this maximum increases while, at the same time, the magnitude of the maximum decreases, which is a typical spin glass behaviour. The magnitude of the imaginary part shows frequency-dependent behaviour too. We show that most of the imaginary part of the susceptibility, at least over the range of the frequencies we used, comes from the conduction electrons. Zero-field cooling and field cooling dc magnetization measurements also indicate the presence of a spin glass transition at about the same temperature. We also found that relaxation processes below the freezing temperature show ln(t + tO) behaviour. We discuss our findings in light of the origin of the spin glass behaviour and compare them with other similar studies.

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Eleven patients with adult Hirschsprung's disease were treated at Seoul National University Hospital (SNUH, 8 cases) and Chosun University Hospital (CUH, 3 cases) between 1985 and 1992. Of the 11 patients, seven were male. The age of the patients ranged from 11 to 30 years, and all presented with chronic constipation and recurrent faecal impactions that required periodic enemas and laxatives. The Duhamel's operation, as a single or staged procedure, was performed in all patients. Levels of aganglionosis in 9 patients were confined to the rectosigmoid colon (82%). There were three major post-operative complications. Two patients developed fistula-in-ano at the anastomotic site, and one patient developed ileus. However, these complications resolved with conservative management. The longterm results were excellent except for one patient who developed impotence. The mean frequency of bowel movements was usually once or twice a day without the aid of other treatments. Our results indicate that Duhamel's operation is a highly acceptable procedure in the management of adult Hirschsprung's disease.

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