Probing Atmospheric Electric Fields in Thunderstorms through Radio Emission from Cosmic-Ray-Induced Air Showers.

We present measurements of radio emission from cosmic ray air showers that took place during thunderstorms. The intensity and polarization patterns of these air showers are radically different from those measured during fair-weather conditions. With the use of a simple two-layer model for the atmospheric electric field, these patterns can be well reproduced by state-of-the-art simulation codes. This in turn provides a novel way to study atmospheric electric fields.

Risk of Herpes zoster in patients with underlying diseases: a retrospective hospital-based cohort study.

PURPOSE: To determine the incidence of Herpes zoster in patients with one of 17 specific underlying diseases compared with that in patients with other underlying diseases. METHODS: We conducted a retrospective hospital-based cohort study using data from patients' electronic medical records for the period 2001-2007 of the Kitano Hospital Research Database. These analyses included 55,492 patients with one of 17 underlying diseases, which were those reported as related to the contraction of Herpes zoster. Of these, 769 patients contracted Herpes zoster. The main outcome measure was the clinical diagnosis of Herpes zoster. RESULTS: The adjusted hazard ratios (95% confidence interval) for Herpes zoster in patients with the 17 diseases were compared with other patients, with the following results: brain tumor [3.84 (2.51-5.88)], lung cancer [2.28 (1.61-3.22)], breast cancer [2.41 (1.52-3.82)], esophageal cancer [4.19 (2.16-8.11)], gastric cancer [1.95 (1.39-2.72)], colorectal cancer [1.85 (1.33-2.56)], gynecologic cancer [3.45 (2.08-5.70)], malignant lymphoma [8.23 (6.53-10.38)], systemic lupus erythematosus [3.90 (2.66-5.70)], rheumatoid arthritis [2.00 (1.60-2.50)], diabetes mellitus [2.44 (2.10-2.85)], hypertension [2.04 (1.75-2.38)], renal failure [2.14 (1.65-2.79)], and disk hernia [2.18 (1.52-3.13)]. CONCLUSIONS: Patients with diabetes mellitus, renal failure, and malignancies have a 1.8-8.4-fold higher risk of a Herpes zoster event than patients with other diseases. Future studies should investigate alteration of the immune system in the underlying diseases and approaches for Herpes zoster prevention.

Low-radio-frequency eclipses of the redback pulsar J2215+5135 observed in the image plane with LOFAR.

The eclipses of certain types of binary millisecond pulsars (i.e. 'black widows' and 'redbacks') are often studied using high-time-resolution, 'beamformed' radio observations. However, they may also be detected in images generated from interferometric data. As part of a larger imaging project to characterize the variable and transient sky at radio frequencies <200 MHz, we have blindly detected the redback system PSR J2215+5135 as a variable source of interest with the Low-Frequency Array (LOFAR). Using observations with cadences of two weeks - six months, we find preliminary evidence that the eclipse duration is frequency dependent (∝ν-0.4), such that the pulsar is eclipsed for longer at lower frequencies, in broad agreement with beamformed studies of other similar sources. Furthermore, the detection of the eclipses in imaging data suggests an eclipsing medium that absorbs the pulsed emission, rather than scattering it. Our study is also a demonstration of the prospects of finding pulsars in wide-field imaging surveys with the current generation of low-frequency radio telescopes.

Ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid.

An 83-year-old woman underwent resection of a pulmonary tumor. Histologic examination of the tumor demonstrated thyroid follicles without evidence of malignancy or teratomatous elements. Developmental anomaly may account for the ectopic intrapulmonary thyroid, which, to our knowledge, has not been reported in the literature.

Effectiveness of concomitant setiptiline maleate (Tecipul) on negative symptoms of schizophrenia.

1. Setiptiline maleate was administered to schizophrenic patients with the object of improving their negative symptoms. 2. Moderate improvements were observed in 58% of the treated patients, thus usefulness of this drug was demonstrated. 3. There was no aggravation of symptoms, and side effects were minor. 4. Measurements of plasma monoamine metabolites showed a tendency of MHPG to decrease and a significant decrease in 5-HIAA, but no change in the level of HVA was observed, suggesting a relationship between the negative symptoms and noradrenaline and/or serotonin systems.

Clinical significance of urinary N1,N12-diacetylspermine levels in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma.

BACKGROUND/AIM: N1,N12-diacetylspermine (DiAcSpm), a diacetylpolyamine which was recently identified in urine, appeared to be a useful tumor marker for urogenital cancers. Here we examined the clinical significance of urinary DiAcSpm as a tumor marker for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC). METHODS: Urine samples were collected from patients with HCC and benign liver diseases. Urinary levels of DiAcSpm were measured by ELISA, which was newly developed in order to analyze large numbers of samples. RESULTS: The appropriate threshold value was set at 325 nM/g x creatinine. The sensitivity of the DiAcSpm assay for HCC was 65.5% and the specificity calculated between HCC and liver cirrhosis was 76.0%. The percentage of DiAcSpm-positive HCC patients was similar to that for AFP or PIVKA-II. At more advanced clinical stages, the positive percentage of these three markers increased but the DiAcSpm levels appeared to move independently of AFP and PIVKA-II. In HCC patients, the DiAcSpm levels reflected the progression of disease or the effect of treatment. CONCLUSIONS: DiAcSpm levels were found to reflect the severity, activity or viability of HCC. Urinary DiAcSpm can therefore be considered one of the useful indexes for patients with HCC.

Serum levels of HCV RNA and core protein before and after incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 h.

The kinetics of HCV during interferon (IFN) therapy have recently been described and the estimated virion half-life is an average of 2.7 h, suggesting that HCV infection is highly dynamic. The aim of this study was to evaluate serum levels of HCV-RNA and HCV core protein (HCV-Ag) before and after incubation at 37 degrees C for 24 h. We also evaluated the viral kinetics during IFN treatment by determining their serum levels at 0, 24 and 48 h, and day 8 after the start of treatment. The decay slope was calculated as the logarithm of the ratio of HCV-RNA levels at 0 and 24 h of incubation: log(virus load) 24 h-log(virus load) 0 h and the estimated half-life was also calculated. The decay slope was -1.66+/-0.75 (-4.12 to -0.18) (mean+/-S.D. (range)) and the estimated virion half-life was 6.2+/-6.9 h (1.8-39.3). The HCV-RNA level was rapidly decreased to 6.8+/-13.1% of the initial load after incubation independently of the serotype. In contrast, the HCV-Ag level after incubation for 24 h was 98.7+/-12.2% of the initial level. The synthesized naked HCV-RNA (equivalent to 10(7) copy/ml) was not detected after 1-min incubation. These data suggested that HCV virions are very unstable and collapsed rapidly and that HCV-RNA, existing outside of virions, is immediately degraded in serum, whereas HCV-Ag remains stable. IFN treatment caused a rapid decrease in the levels of both HCV-RNA and HCV-Ag. The HCV-RNA decay slope was -1.95+/-0.96 (range: -3.48 to -0.50) and was similar to that seen in the incubation study. Our result suggested the significance of measuring HCV-Ag during clinical management independently of HCV-RNA, especially because of its high stability.

Captopril-associated granulocytopenia in hypertension after renal transplantation.

A living related kidney transplant recipient with normal renal functioning and hypertension secondary to renal artery stenosis was treated with captopril and developed reversible granulocytopenia. Complications caused by captopril, an angiotensin converting enzyme inhibitor, have been reported previously in hypertensive patients with systemic lupus erythematosus or with renal artery stenosis after renal transplantation. It is recommended that this drug be used with caution in this setting.

[A patient with intractable myasthenia gravis successfully treated with total lymphoid irradiation].

We report a 20-year-old man with intractable myasthenia gravis successfully treated with total lymphoid irradiation (TLI). An encapsulated thymoma in the anterior mediastinum was resected as extended thymectomy by video-assisted thoracoscopic surgery at 2 months after the onset of ptosis and muscle weakness. Following treatments, such as ambenonium hydrochloride, an immunosuppression therapy (prednisolone and azatioprine), 5 courses of immunoadsorption therapy, and a high dose of cyclophosphamide and methylprednisolone, did not make persistent improvement of myasthenic symptoms. Ageusia occurred twice prior to myasthenic crises and subsided with other myasthenic symptoms after treatments. Steroid psychosis and secondary Cushing's syndrome made us to reduce the dose of prednisolone. Post-operative residual, recurrent, or metastatic thymus was not unveiled, then we added the low dose fractionated irradiation (1.5 Gy x 12 = 18 Gy) to the mediastinum. Three months after the irradiation, however, a crisis occurred and the titer of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody increased up to 100 nmol/l. Therefore, we performed TLI (Mantle; 1.5 Gy x 9 = 13.5 Gy, paraaortic and inverted-Y; 1.5 Gy x 14 = 21 Gy), which brought about persistent improvement of myasthenic symptoms with decrease in the titer of anti-acetylcholine receptor antibody.

[Tracheopulmonary-subcutaneous fistula associated with anaerobic subcutaneous abscess on mechanical ventilator support in a patient with Duchenne muscular dystrophy].

A 29-year-old Japanese man with Duchenne muscular dystrophy was placed on a mechanical ventilator support at 23 years of age and admitted to our hospital at 25 years of age. He had severe neck contracture deviated to the left side which resulted in dysphagia and microaspiration. At 29 years of age, he developed left lobar pneumonia accompanied by slight fever, back pain and a foul odor from the patient's sputum. Although the patient received broad spectrum antibiotics, pneumonia disseminated to the right lung. A week later, chest computed tomography was conducted which revealed tracheopulmonary-subcutaneous fistula, and a massive subcutaneous abscess with free air production. Drainage from the subcutaneous abscess was done through a chest tube; however, respiratory hypercapnia was not corrected and the patient died. From the culture of drained fluid, anaerobic bacteria including peptostreptococcus sp. were detected. This tracheopulmonary-subcutaneous fistula was thought to be caused by chronic microaspiration of mouth anaerobes, mechanical injury of the trachea under long term ventilator support, and decreased deep back muscle bulk with substitution of adipose tissue around the chest.

[Carcinoma of the urachus--report of 4 cases].

Four cases of urachal carcinoma are presented. The first case was a 36-year-old man who was admitted with the chief complaint of macrohematuria with mucinous debris. Cystoscopic examination revealed a single tumor at the dome of the bladder. Partial cystectomy and postoperative radiation therapy were performed. Histological findings showed a well differentiated adenocarcinoma. He has been well for twelve years postoperatively. The second case was a 52-year-old man who was admitted with the chief complaint of macrohematuria with mucinous debris. Cystoscopic examination revealed a single tumor at the dome of the bladder. Partial cystectomy and postoperative radiochemotherapy were performed. Histological findings showed a moderately differentiated adenocarcinoma. He died of a recurrent tumor 30 months after operation. The third case was 70-year-old man who was admitted with the chief complaint of macrohematuria with mucinous debris. Cystoscopic examination revealed multiple tumors at the dome of the bladder, internal urethral orifice and right lateral wall. Total cystectomy, ureterocutaneostomy and postoperative chemotherapy were performed. Histological findings showed a poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. He died of a recurrent tumor 30 months after operation. The fourth case was a 68-year-old woman who was admitted with the chief complaint of macrohematuria with mucinous debris. Cystoscopic examination revealed a single tumor at the dome of the bladder. CT scan demonstrated a mass with calcification extending from the bladder dome superiorly. Partial cystectomy and postoperative chemotherapy were performed. Histological findings showed a well differentiated adenocarcinoma. She has been well for three months postoperatively.(ABSTRACT TRUNCATED AT 250 WORDS)

[Studies on prophylaxis and therapy of pivmecillinam against post-prostatectomy urinary tract infection].

Patients received pivmecillinam (PMPC) after prophylactic use of various antimicrobial chemotherapeutic agents following prostatectomy, and their clinical responses were assessed for effectiveness in the treatment and prevention of postoperative infection. The data were also analyzed to explore the relationship between bacterial isolates obtained during the postoperative course and the antimicrobial agents administered prophylactically against postoperative infection. Therapeutic effect of PMPC: Treatment of postoperative infections with PMPC was effective in 36 (53.7%) out of 67 patients who had undergone prostatectomy. Prophylactic effect of PMPC: The use of PMPC provided effective prevention of infection in 22 (64.7%) out of 34 patients from whom no bacterial pathogen had been isolated before postoperative antimicrobial chemotherapy. Therapeutic responses to PMPC, compared between different types of operative procedure: There was little or no difference in therapeutic effectiveness of PMPC against postoperative infection when compared between two types of operative procedure, transurethral prostatectomy and subcapsular removal of the prostate. Incidence and types of bacterial isolates following prophylactic chemotherapy with various agents after prostatectomy: Possibly because cephapirin (CEPR) and ticarcillin (TIPC) were mainly administered, alone or in combination, for prophylaxis against postoperative infection, Serratia and Pseudomonas were most frequently isolated. The findings offer suggestions as to the appropriate combination of antimicrobial agents to be used for prophylactic purposes. Effectiveness of PMPC in the presence or absence of a preoperative indwelling urethral catheter: The use of PMPC was more effective both in the treatment and prevention of postoperative infection in cases without preoperative indwelling urethral catheterization than in those with it.

[Hilar type squamous cell carcinoma confined within the bronchial wall with hilar lymph node metastasis: a case report].

A 60-year-old male patient visited our hospital for evaluation of positive sputum cytology. A chest X-ray film revealed no abnormal shadows. Bronchofiberscopy showed a protruding lesion at the spur between left B8 and B9. Histological findings indicated squamous cell carcinoma. Left lower lobectomy with hilar and mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed. The tumor did not infiltrate beyond the bronchial cartilage on postoperative histologic examination. However, hilar lymph node (#12 l) metastasis was identified. Surgical resection with lymph node dissection is mandatory even in the hilar type lung cancer confined within the bronchial wall.

[Mass screening for osteoporosis in Nansei--the Nansei Study (the second report)].

We performed screening for osteoporosis for the early detection of a decrease in the bone mineral density. The subjects consisted of 852 inhabitants (308 males and 544 females) aged 40 years or more in Nansei (population, 12, 107) in Mie Prefecture. Interviews, measurement of height and body weight, blood examination, and determination of the bone mineral density by the MD method were performed. In addition, a questionnaire on diet was carried out. The bone mineral density was decreased in 76 subjects (8.9%), of whom females were the majority. Height and body weight were significantly lower in the group with decreased bone mineral density than in the group with normal bone mineral density. The serum calcium (Ca), alkaline phosphatase (ALP), and inorganic phosphorus (P) levels were similar in the two groups. Concerning the family profile, the percentage of subjects living alone was significantly higher (p < 0.05) in the group with decreased bone mineral density (13.5%) than in the group with normal bone mineral density (3.6%). Screening for osteoporosis is still in the trial stage and involves various problems that require further studies. As subjects for screening, females before, during, and immediately after menopause are important.

Synchronous x-ray and radio mode switches: a rapid global transformation of the pulsar magnetosphere.

Pulsars emit from low-frequency radio waves up to high-energy gamma-rays, generated anywhere from the stellar surface out to the edge of the magnetosphere. Detecting correlated mode changes across the electromagnetic spectrum is therefore key to understanding the physical relationship among the emission sites. Through simultaneous observations, we detected synchronous switching in the radio and x-ray emission properties of PSR B0943+10. When the pulsar is in a sustained radio-"bright" mode, the x-rays show only an unpulsed, nonthermal component. Conversely, when the pulsar is in a radio-"quiet" mode, the x-ray luminosity more than doubles and a 100% pulsed thermal component is observed along with the nonthermal component. This indicates rapid, global changes to the conditions in the magnetosphere, which challenge all proposed pulsar emission theories.