Thin film growth of CaAgAs by molecular beam epitaxy.

We have grown thin films of CaAgAs by molecular beam epitaxy, which was theoretically proposed to be a topological insulator. The temperature dependence of resistivity and the carrier concentration at 4 K were similar to the reported results of bulk samples. However, the magnetoresistance exhibited a steep increase at low magnetic fields, a behavior not observed for bulk samples. This steep increase of resistivity is ascribable to the weak antilocalization effect and provides clues to the nature of the topological surface state of CaAgAs.

p-wave superconductivity in iron-based superconductors.

The possibility of p-wave pairing in superconductors has been proposed more than five decades ago, but has not yet been convincingly demonstrated. One difficulty is that some p-wave states are thermodynamically indistinguishable from s-wave, while others are very similar to d-wave states. Here we studied the self-field critical current of NdFeAs(O,F) thin films in order to extract absolute values of the London penetration depth, the superconducting energy gap, and the relative jump in specific heat at the superconducting transition temperature, and find that all the deduced physical parameters strongly indicate that NdFeAs(O,F) is a bulk p-wave superconductor. Further investigation revealed that single atomic layer FeSe also shows p-wave pairing. In an attempt to generalize these findings, we re-examined the whole inventory of superfluid density measurements in iron-based superconductors and show quite generally that single-band weak-coupling p-wave superconductivity is exhibited in iron-based superconductors.

Impaired intrinsic chiral inversion activity of ibuprofen in rats with adjuvant-induced arthritis.

1. The effects of adjuvant-induced arthritis on the chiral inversion of 'profens', a type of non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drug, have hardly been investigated. The authors investigated the effects of adjuvant-induced arthritis on the chiral inversion of ibuprofen using freshly isolated rat hepatocytes. 2. S- or R-ibuprofen was incubated with hepatocytes isolated from control and adjuvant-induced arthritis rats in the absence of the serum. In the hepatocyte system the chiral inversion rate constant of R- to S-ibuprofen and the metabolic rate constants of both enantiomers in adjuvant-induced arthritis rats were significantly decreased to about 64-80% of the corresponding values in control rats. In contrast, the addition of serum from each group to the corresponding hepatocyte medium resulted in no significant differences in these rate constants between control and adjuvant-induced arthritis rats. 3. With regard to chiral inversion enzymes, adjuvant-induced arthritis decreased the messenger RNA levels of acyl-coenzyme A synthetase (ACS) isoforms, but not 2-arylpropionyl-CoA epimerase, compared with control rats. 4. Chiral inversion of R- to S-ibuprofen was inhibited by triacsin C, a specific inhibitor of ACS1. 5. The results suggest that adjuvant-induced arthritis induces down-regulation of ACS enzymes involved in chiral inversion of R- to S-ibuprofen in rats.

Selective mass enhancement close to the quantum critical point in BaFe2(As1-x P x )2.

A quantum critical point (QCP) is currently being conjectured for the BaFe2(As1-x P x )2 system at the critical value x c ≈ 0.3. In the proximity of a QCP, all thermodynamic and transport properties are expected to scale with a single characteristic energy, given by the quantum fluctuations. Such a universal behavior has not, however, been found in the superconducting upper critical field H c2. Here we report H c2 data for epitaxial thin films extracted from the electrical resistance measured in very high magnetic fields up to 67 Tesla. Using a multi-band analysis we find that H c2 is sensitive to the QCP, implying a significant charge carrier effective mass enhancement at the doping-induced QCP that is essentially band-dependent. Our results point to two qualitatively different groups of electrons in BaFe2(As1-x P x )2. The first one (possibly associated to hot spots or whole Fermi sheets) has a strong mass enhancement at the QCP, and the second one is insensitive to the QCP. The observed duality could also be present in many other quantum critical systems.

Intrinsic and extrinsic pinning in NdFeAs(O,F): vortex trapping and lock-in by the layered structure.

Fe-based superconductors (FBS) present a large variety of compounds whose properties are affected to different extents by their crystal structures. Amongst them, the REFeAs(O,F) (RE1111, RE being a rare-earth element) is the family with the highest critical temperature Tc but also with a large anisotropy and Josephson vortices as demonstrated in the flux-flow regime in Sm1111 (Tc ∼ 55 K). Here we focus on the pinning properties of the lower-Tc Nd1111 in the flux-creep regime. We demonstrate that for H//c critical current density Jc at high temperatures is dominated by point-defect pinning centres, whereas at low temperatures surface pinning by planar defects parallel to the c-axis and vortex shearing prevail. When the field approaches the ab-planes, two different regimes are observed at low temperatures as a consequence of the transition between 3D Abrikosov and 2D Josephson vortices: one is determined by the formation of a vortex-staircase structure and one by lock-in of vortices parallel to the layers. This is the first study on FBS showing this behaviour in the full temperature, field, and angular range and demonstrating that, despite the lower Tc and anisotropy of Nd1111 with respect to Sm1111, this compound is substantially affected by intrinsic pinning generating a strong ab-peak in Jc.

Synthesis and antiinflammatory activities of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)pyrrolidin-2-ones.

A series of 3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)pyrrolidin-2-ones was synthesized and evaluated as candidate antiinflammatory/analgesic agents as well as dual inhibitors of prostaglandin and leukotriene synthesis. Some compounds that showed dual inhibitory activity were found to possess equipotent antiinflammatory activities to indomethacin, with reduced ulcerogenic effects. One of the compounds, N-methoxy-3-(3,5-di-tert-butyl-4-hydroxybenzylidene)pyrrolidin-2-o ne, was found to have a wider safety margin than indomethacin or piroxicam, and was selected for detailed evaluation as a candidate drug for clinical application.

Second cutaneous neoplasms after acute lymphoblastic leukemia in childhood.

Two cases of second cutaneous neoplasms, one with adenoid cystic carcinoma of the skin and the other with basal cell carcinoma, both occurring 7 years after treatment for childhood acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) are reported. Although such cutaneous neoplasms are generally reported in patients over 40 years of age, our cases, which were diagnosed at the ages of 9 and 14, are the first report of the occurrence of such cutaneous neoplasms following ALL. The neoplasms arose from the scalp of two patients who had received cranial irradiation for central nervous system prophylaxis. The possible link between leukemia therapy incorporating irradiation and the pathogenesis of second cutaneous neoplasms in the scalp is discussed.

Squalene synthase inhibitors reduce plasma triglyceride through a low-density lipoprotein receptor-independent mechanism.

Inhibitors of squalene synthase are considered to be candidate drugs to reduce both plasma cholesterol and triglyceride. However, little is known about the mechanism of squalene synthase inhibitor-specific effect on plasma triglyceride. In this study, we confirmed the triglyceride-lowering effect of ER-27856, a potent squalene synthase inhibitor prodrug, in rhesus monkeys. To determine the role of low-density lipoprotein (LDL) receptor in the triglyceride-lowering effect of squalene synthase inhibitors, we intravenously administered ER-28448, the active form of ER-27856, to Watanabe heritable hyperlipidemic (WHHL) rabbits for 4 days. In heterozygotes, ER-28448 reduced plasma cholesterol and triglyceride by 52% and 37%, respectively. In homozygous rabbits, in contrast, ER-28448 lowered plasma triglyceride by 40% but did not lower plasma cholesterol. Orally administered ER-27856 reduced plasma triglyceride in homozygous animals but atorvastatin and bezafibrate did not. In hepatocytes isolated from homozygous WHHL rabbits, squalene synthase inhibitors but not atorvastatin reduced triglyceride biosynthesis. These data demonstrate that squalene synthase inhibitors reduced plasma triglyceride through an LDL receptor-independent mechanism, which was distinct from that of the triglyceride-lowering action of atorvastatin or bezafibrate. The reduction of hepatic triglyceride biosynthesis may play an important role in the hypotrigyceridemic action of squalene synthase inhibitors.

Lennox-Gastaut syndrome associated with leukoencephalopathy.

We report a 13-year-old boy with Lennox-Gastaut syndrome (LGS) associated with leukoencephalopathy. He was diagnosed with unclassified acute lymphocytic leukemia at the age of 3 years. After initial chemotherapy, he received intravenous methotrexate (total dosage 1,035 mg), intrathecal methotrexate (total dosage 221 mg), and whole brain irradiation (2,400 cGy). From about the age of 8 years, he developed slurred speech, hyperactivity, and mental deterioration. Cranial CT revealed calcification of the subcortical white matter. At age 9 years, he exhibited tonic seizures and atonic seizures. EEG showed diffuse slow spike-wave discharges, which are characteristic of LGS. Although multiple antiepileptic drugs have been prescribed, the frequency of seizures remains unchanged and his mental state is becoming progressively worse.

The use of autologous blood in the surgical treatment of spinal disorders.

A program of autologous blood transfusion in 101 patients who underwent spinal surgery was analyzed. Autologous transfusion was achieved by intraoperative blood salvage using a cell saver and with predeposited blood. The techniques of predeposition of blood included freezing the blood and using a storage solution. Forty-eight patients had scoliosis and received mainly cryopreserved autologous blood and 53 patients had other spinal diseases. Surgery was performed using only autologous blood transfusion in more than 90% of all patients cases. The program was well tolerated by the patients and easily managed by the blood center staff. There were no severe complications associated with this program. The use of instrumentation and extensive spinal fusion were found to be factors associated with increased intraoperative blood loss. This finding suggests that instrumentation surgery and extensive spinal fusion are indications for autologous blood transfusion. Cryopreserved autologous blood transfusion is an effective method for storing a sufficient volume of blood for scoliosis surgery without affecting the patients' preoperative hemodynamic status.

Bone scintigraphy in detection of bone invasion by oral carcinoma.

Detecting osseous involvement is clinically important in the management of oral carcinoma. Thirty-one patients with osseous involvement due to oral carcinoma who underwent panoramic radiography and bone scintigraphy were evaluated retrospectively. Bone scintigraphy confirmed osseous involvement in all 31 (100%) of these patients. In 27 (87%) of 31 patients with osseous involvement, both the panoramic radiogram and bone scintigram were positive. In the remaining four patients (13%), bone scintigram was positive for mandibular or maxillary invasion, while panoramic radiogram was negative. There were no instances of an abnormal radiogram with a normal bone scintigram. These findings strongly suggest that bone scintigraphy is more sensitive than panoramic radiography in detecting osseous involvement of the mandible and maxilla due to oral carcinoma. Furthermore, bone scintigraphy was a critical pre-surgical in determining the extent of the osseous involvement.

Experimental study on paratumoral injection of cisplatin-loaded microspheres for gastric cancer.

Microspheres from glycolide-L-lactide copolymers incorporating cisplatin (CDDP-MS) were prepared to evaluate the sustained release and anticancer effect by paratumoral injection on the gastric cancer with regional lymphnode metastases induced by VX2 tumor in rabbits. In the first set of experiment, the rabbits were divided into three groups subjected to treatment and compared the tissue cisplatin distribution. In the first group (CDDP-MS pt group), 1 mg/kg of cisplatin was administered by the method of paratumoral injection in the form of CDDP-MS. In the second group (CDDP solution pt group), the same dose was given in the form of CDDP aqueous solution in the same way and in the third group (CDDP solution i.v. group), the same dose was intravenously administered. In the second set of experiment, after twice of each therapy the anticancer effects were compared between CDDP-MS pt and CDDP solution i.v. groups. In results, the platinum concentrations of the tumor and regional lymphnodes were 3.14 +/- 6.22, 0.65 +/- 0.79 micrograms/g in the first group, 0.43 +/- 0.39, 0.16 +/- 0.16 microgram/g in the second group and 0.03 +/- 0.01, 0.07 +/- 0.05 microgram/g in the third group, respectively.

A case of esophagectomy for corrosive esophageal stricture caused by swallowing strong alkali. A case report.

We report herein the case of a 22-year old woman who underwent esophagectomy for corrosive esophageal stricture. This patient with mental disturbance swallowed a strong alkali in a suicide attempt and suffered from esophageal stenosis instead of steroid therapy. Because the stiffness and stricture of the esophagus proved to be refractory, transhiatal esophagectomy by blunt finger with gastroesophagostomy was performed four months after injury. Operative findings revealed severe stiffness and inflammation of the esophagus which had spread to the adjacent organs, especially the carina. As for pathological findings, most of the esophageal mucosa showed defects resulting from infiltration of inflammatory cells and capillary vascularization from the lamina propria to the extra-esophageal wall. The postoperative course was uneventful and perioperative psychological state had been stable leading to a decrease in tranquilizer dosage. This experience indicates that esophagectomy is the treatment of choice for such mental disturbed patients with severe stenosis.

A study of patients having survived curative operation for esophageal cancer for five years or more.

In order to analyze the prognostic factors for curatively resected esophageal cancer, 42 patients who had survived their operation more than 5 years (long-term survivors) were compared for clinicopathologic items with 30 recurrent patients who had died within 5 years postoperatively (recurrent cases). Moreover, to estimate the prognosis for the current survivors, we investigated the cause of death of long-term survivors who had died. This comparison showed that the rate of lymphatic invasion was 36.4% and of blood vessel invasion 19.4% for the survivors, much lower than those of the recurrent cases which were respectively 62.1% and 31.0%. It was found that the significantly unfavorable prognosis-determinant factors was lymphatic invasion (p < 0.05). Ten out of 12 n (+) survivors (83.3%) had single metastasing region, one in the neck, three in the mediastinum and six in the abdomen. This was not significantly different from the recurrent cases, of whom, ten out of 14 n (+) cases had a single metastasing region, six in in the mediastinum and four in the abdomen. As for the number of metastatic lymph nodes, nine out of 12 n (+) survivors (75%) had only one matastatic lymph node, and none of them had more than three. On the other hand, two of the recurrent cases had more than three. Of the 42 long-term survivors, 21 patients are still alive (current survivors' average age: 70.1 +/- 7.9) and 21 have died. The cause of death was recurrence in six cases, metachronous primary malignant tumor in three, other disease in six and unknown in six. The average age of death was 62.1 +/- 10.3 in cases of recurrence or double cancer, and 71.8 +/- 9.5 in others. The former were thus significantly younger than the latter (p < 0.05).

Combined trisomy 9P and Shprintzen syndrome resulting from a paternal t(9;22).

The authors report on a female infant with partial trisomy 9 (pter-->q12) together with partial monosomy 22 (pter-->q11.23) that included DiGeorge critical region (DGCR), as a result of adjacent-2 disjunction. In addition to the clinical features characteristic of trisomy 9p syndrome, the patient had Truncus arteriosus type A2, bilateral hydronephrosis, palatal anomaly, retrognathia, and laryngeal hypotonia, which are likely to be attributed to 22q11.2 deletion. This patient appears to be the first reported case with such unbalanced translocation resulting from a paternal reciprocal translocation. For live birth, the risk for male carrier is 8.7-17.4%. It is important to consider this higher risk when counseling. Precise study concerning the presence of the DGCR can facilitate in the better understanding of the condition.

Salivary gland uptake of gallium-67 citrate after sialography.

Sialography may cause greatly increased Ga-67 activity within otherwise normal salivary glands. Five patients are presented in whom sialography with oily contrast material injected 8-26 days before Ga-67 imaging produced strongly positive examinations. In each patient it appears that sialography rather than pre-existing pathologic conditions accounted for the increased activity. Sialography-induced subclinical sialadenitis may be the mechanism for the phenomenon.

Identification of Warthin's tumor with technetium-99m pertechnetate.

Salivary gland imaging with Tc-99m pertechnetate is a useful procedure for evaluating the functional status of salivary glands. The only neoplasms of salivary glands known to consistently concentrate Tc-99m pertechnetate are Warthin's tumor and oncocytoma. In the five cases presented, increased concentration of Tc-99m pertechnetate was seen in these tumors of the parotid glands. This finding was useful for preoperative identification of Warthin's tumor. During this investigation, the concentration of Tc-99m pertechnetate in Warthin's tumor varied by histologic type. Thus, a dynamic study may be helpful in evaluating the accumulation rate of Tc-99m pertechnetate into this tumor type. Because the retention of Tc-99m pertechnetate in tumor following stimulation is useful for the diagnosis of Warthin's tumor, a washout image is of importance in establishing this diagnosis.

Magnetic resonance imaging for aspirated peanut in the bronchus.

Peanut inhalation in the right main bronchus of a 15-month-old boy was diagnosed using a T1-weighted image produced by magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) because of the high fat content of the peanut. The T1-weighted MRI image may also be useful in diagnosing other kinds of aspirated nuts with high lipid content as well as peanuts. This method does not involve any X-ray exposure.

[A case of gastric cancer with multiple liver metastasis responding to combined therapy with UFT and mitomycin C].

A 66-year-old female was admitted to our hospital with the complaint of anorexia and epigastric pain. Examination of the gastrointestinal tract revealed Borrmann III type gastric carcinoma, 5 cm x 5 cm in size, in the lesser curvature of the stomach. Multiple liver metastases were detected on abdominal computed tomography. In January 1993, she underwent subtotal gastrectomy as a palliative therapy. Pathological diagnosis of the resected specimen was poorly differentiated adenocarcinoma. Two weeks after operation, administration of UFT (300-450 mg/day, orally) and mitomycin C (12 mg/three months, intravenously) was started. This chemotherapy had to be discontinued within six months because of its severe side effects, such as leukopenia and acral erythema. However, a marked reduction in the size of the metastatic liver tumors was observed on abdominal computed tomogram, and the patient is now (15 months after operation) alive without local recurrence or re-growth of liver metastatic tumors.

[A case of complete remission of lymph nodes metastasis from esophageal cancer with combination treatment of UFT and radiation].

A 65 year old female patient, who had developed left atelectasis because of mediastinal lymph nodes metastasis after esophageal resection for esophageal cancer, underwent the combination treatment with UFT (300 mg/day) and radiation (1.5 Gy/day, total dosage: 70.2 Gy). The symptoms soon subsided, and mediastinal CT and bronchoscopy revealed a complete disappearance of metastatic lymph nodes after one month. During one year of CR she enjoyed her daily life, however the relapse occurred. It is suggested that the combination treatment is an effective and safe way even in a patient who went through a lot of invasive surgeries.