Successful treatment of toxoplasmic encephalitis diagnosed early by polymerase chain reaction after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation: two case reports and review of the literature.

Toxoplasmic encephalitis represents a rare, but often fatal infection after allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation. Polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based preemptive therapy is considered promising for this disease, but is not routinely applied, especially in low seroprevalence countries including Japan. We encountered 2 cases of toxoplasmic encephalitis after transplantation that were successfully treated. The diagnosis of toxoplasmic encephalitis in these cases was confirmed by PCR testing when neurological symptoms were observed. Both patients received pyrimethamine and sulfadiazine treatments within 2 weeks of the development of neurological symptoms, and remained free of recurrence for 32 and 12 months. These results emphasized the importance of the PCR test and immediate treatment after diagnosis for the management of toxoplasmic encephalitis.

Direct observation of light induced spin transitions in new 3,5-bis(2-pyridyl)pyrazolato bridged thiocyanato diiron(II) complexes by monitoring variable temperature laser Raman spectra.

The light induced excited spin state trapping LIESST and the reverse LIESST-like phenomena are observed below and above the spin transition temperature, respectively, for new dinuclear diiron(II) complexes and familiar Fe(II) complexes with thiocyanate ligands by monitoring the Raman spectra where only excitation light of various wavelengths for the spectroscopy was used without extra excitation light sources.

Crystallization of GeO(2)-SiO(2) glass by poling with ArF-laser excitation.

We report on crystallization of 15.7GeO(2) 84.3SiO(2) (in mol.%) glass by poling with ArF-laser excitation. The UV intensity was 100(mJ/cm (2))/pulse , and the number of shots was 10(4) . The crystallites that were observed in the glass were approximately 15-20microm in diameter. The crystallization feature was dependent on the poling electric field, showing a threshold field of ~0.5x10(5)V/cm , beyond which crystallization occurred.

A nationwide epidemiological survey of spinal cord injuries in Japan from January 1990 to December 1992.

This survey of traumatic spinal cord injuries in Japan from January 1990 to December 1992 was carried out by a statistical method of the nationwide epidemiological study. The number of the registered patients during these 3 years was 9752 and the mean response rate of every of the 47 prefectures was 51.4%. The registered patients with neurological deficits (Frankel A-D) were 7471 and the annual spinal cord injury incidence was 40.2 per million. The ratio of cervical cord injuries to more caudal SCI was 3:1. The age distribution and the causes of spinal cord injuries are presented in detail. From the results of this study, the prevention campaign should be focused mainly on the following topics: sports and motorcycle accidents involving young people; traffic accidents involving adults; falling accidents involving aged people.