Field emission characteristics of metal nanoparticle-coated carbon nanowalls.

Metal nanoparticles are deposited on nitrogen-incorporated carbon nanowalls (CNWs) using Ag, Au, In, and Mg as metal species for enhancing field emission. Morphology, coverage, chemical composition, and crystallinity of the metal coatings on CNW surfaces are examined by varying nominal thickness of metals within 10 nm. The emission characteristics reveal that coating CNWs with any metal species lowers emission turn-on fields and thus increases emission efficiency. The inverse dependence of field enhancement factor and turn-on field upon nominal thickness of metals confirms that additional field amplification at metal nanoparticles governs emission efficiency regardless of work functions of the metals. The Ag-coated CNWs retain the highest current density for long-time emission at a constant applied field, while the non-coated CNWs have higher emission stability and a larger time constant of current degradation than the metal-coated ones.

Tezepelumab improved chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps in a Patient with aspirin exacerbated respiratory disease.

Introduction: Patients with chronic rhinosinusitis with nasal polyps (CRSwNP) and aspirin-exacerbated respiratory disease (AERD) have more severe sinus disease than those without AERD. CRSwNP associated with type 2 inflammation and AERD can be difficult to control with standard medical therapy and sinus surgery. Case study: 74-year-old Japanese woman with chronic sinusitis since age 50 and asthma since age 60. At age 64, she began to experience asthma exacerbations and was started on short-term corticosteroid therapy with prednisolone. At age 70, she experienced urticaria, nasal congestion, and wheezing after taking an NSAID; based on an NSAID provocation test, we diagnosed the patient with AERD and CRSwNP. A diagnosis of severe eosinophilic chronic rhinosinusitis was also made based on the scoring system and algorithm used in the Japanese Epidemiological Survey of Refractory Eosinophilic Chronic Rhinosinusitis. Results: Treatment with benralizumab (30 mg), formoterol-fluticasone combination via pressurized metered inhaler (1000 µg), and leukotriene receptor antagonist improved the asthma symptoms and exacerbations so the short-term prednisolone was stopped; however, nasal congestion and olfactory dysfunction (hyposmia) persisted, and peripheral blood eosinophil count (peak, 1500 cells/µL) and fractional exhaled nitric oxide (peak, 42 ppb) became elevated. Swapping the benralizumab for monthly tezepelumab (210 mg) improved not only the asthma symptoms but also the nasal congestion, olfactory dysfunction, eosinophil count (<300 cells/µL), and fractional exhaled nitric oxide level [8ppb]. Conclusion: Changing from benralizumab to tezepelumab improved asthma symptoms, nasal obstruction, and olfactory dysfunction in elderly, female, Japanese patient with AERD and CRSwNP.

Intravenous cyclophosphamide and immunoglobulin ameliorated visual field defects in a patient with eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis.

Treating ocular involvement in eosinophilic granulomatosis with polyangiitis (EGPA) can be challenging. We present the case of a 37-year-old woman with EGPA who had severe bilateral visual field defects. Laboratory results showed leukocytosis (17,500 WBC/µL, 25.8 % eosinophils), negative MPO-ANCA titer, and elevated PR3-ANCA level (33.2 IU/mL). Diffusion-weighted MRI revealed bilateral hyperintense occipital lesions, which were more prominent on the left. Her therapy initially included a steroid pulse, followed by daily prednisolone, but her visual field defects remained refractory. The addition of intravenous cyclophosphamide (5 courses) and intravenous immunoglobulin decreased her optic neuropathy and resolved her visual field defects.

A Case of Type I Food Allergy Induced by Monosodium Glutamate.

Monosodium glutamate (MSG), a salt form of a non-essential amino acid, is widely used as a food additive, particularly in Asian cuisines, due to its unique flavor-enhancing qualities. Type I allergic reactions to MSG have not previously been reported. Our patient, a 21-year-old woman, was 14 years old when she first noticed swelling of her tongue (but no oral itching, diarrhea, or abdominal pain) after eating various snack foods. Current skin prick testing elicited a weak positive reaction to MSG. We then performed an oral challenge test during which our patient ingested potato snacks. Subsequent histology showed telangiectasia of the buccal mucosa, interstitial edema in the subepithelial submucosa, and mast cell infiltration. Oral mucosal challenge tests using sodium glutamate confirmed oral swelling in this patient. This report is the first to confirm a case of type 1 allergy to MSG by combining pathology findings with the results of challenge testing.

Association of adipocytokines with peritoneal function.

BACKGROUND: Preservation of peritoneal function is crucial for the continuation of peritoneal dialysis (PD). A previous study suggested that blood cholesterol is involved in the preservation of peritoneal function; therefore, we determined whether adipocytokines can predict peritoneal function preservation. METHODS: Eighty patients were enrolled. Serum adiponectin, leptin, apelin, various blood components, and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR) (mL/min/m2) were measured. In addition, the duration of PD, presence or absence of peritonitis and diabetes mellitus, body mass index, urine output, peritoneal Kt/V, renal Kt/V, weekly Kt/V, peritoneal creatinine clearance rate (CCr), renal CCr, weekly CCr, use or nonuse of statin products, dialysate volume, glucose exposure, and use or nonuse of icodextrin dialysate were assessed. Peritoneal equilibration tests were performed at 6-month intervals, and dialysate-to-plasma [D/P] ratio and glucose uptake ratio [D/D0] were measured. Associations of the baseline values and their percent changes with various adipocytokines and test items were evaluated. RESULTS: Multiple regression analyses identified adiponectin (p = 0.0392, p = 0.0348) as a significant predictive factor of D/P and D/D0 ratios. eGFR was identified as a significant predictive factor (p = 0.015) of percent change in the D/P ratio. Apelin (p = 0.0484), high-density lipoprotein cholesterol (p = 0.0066), dialysate volume (p = 0.0223), and urine output (p = 0.0020) were identified as factors affecting the duration of PD. CONCLUSIONS: Adipocytokines are a predictive factor of peritoneal function and the duration of PD in patients undergoing PD.