Microscopic evaluation of spin and orbital moment in ferromagnetic resonance.

Time-resolved X-ray magnetic circular dichroism under the effects of ferromagnetic resonance (FMR), known as X-ray ferromagnetic resonance (XFMR) measurements, enables direct detection of precession dynamics of magnetic moment. Here we demonstrated XFMR measurements and Bayesian analyses as a quantitative probe for the precession of spin and orbital magnetic moments under the FMR effect. Magnetization precessions in two different Pt/Ni-Fe thin film samples were directly detected. Furthermore, the ratio of dynamical spin and orbital magnetic moments was evaluated quantitatively by Bayesian analyses for XFMR energy spectra around the Ni L 2 , 3 absorption edges. Our study paves the way for a microscopic investigation of the contribution of the orbital magnetic moment to magnetization dynamics.

Clinical Characteristics of Cryopyrin-Associated Periodic Syndrome and Long-Term Real-World Efficacy and Tolerability of Canakinumab in Japan: Results of a Nationwide Survey.

OBJECTIVE: We assess the clinical characteristics of patients with cryopyrin-associated periodic syndrome (CAPS) in Japan and evaluate the real-world efficacy and safety of interleukin-1 (IL-1) inhibitors, primarily canakinumab. METHODS: Clinical information was collected retrospectively, and serum concentrations of canakinumab and cytokines were analyzed. RESULTS: A total of 101 patients were included, with 86 and 15 carrying heterozygous germline and somatic mosaic mutations, respectively. We identified 39 mutation types, and the common CAPS-associated symptoms corresponded with those in previous reports. Six patients (5.9% of all patients) died, with four of the deaths caused by CAPS-associated symptoms. Notably, 73.7% of patients (100%, 79.6%, and 44.4% of familial cold autoinflammatory syndrome, Muckle-Wells syndrome, and chronic infantile neurological cutaneous articular syndrome/neonatal onset multisystem inflammatory disease, respectively) achieved complete remission with canakinumab, and early therapeutic intervention was associated with better auditory outcomes. In some patients, canakinumab treatment stabilized the progression of epiphysial overgrowth and improved height gain, visual acuity, and renal function. However, 23.7% of patients did not achieve inflammatory remission with crucial deterioration of organ damage, with two dying while receiving high-dose canakinumab treatment. Serological analysis of canakinumab and cytokine concentrations revealed that the poor response was not related to canakinumab shortage. Four inflammatory nonremitters developed inflammatory bowel disease (IBD)-unclassified during canakinumab treatment. Dual biologic therapy with canakinumab and anti-tumor necrosis factor-α agents was effective for IBD- and CAPS-associated symptoms not resolved by canakinumab monotherapy. CONCLUSION: This study provides one of the largest epidemiologic data sets for CAPS. Although early initiation of anti-IL-1 treatment with canakinumab is beneficial for improving disease prognosis, some patients do not achieve remission despite a high serum concentration of canakinumab. Moreover, IBD may develop in CAPS after canakinumab treatment.

Morphological evidence of neuromuscular junction reorganization in rat oblique abdominal muscles

The motor endplates are dynamic structures that present a high degree of plasticity which does not stop with the cessation of development, but lasts throughout life. The present study describes the ultrastructural aspects that characterize this junction renewal process in the oblique abdominal muscles of aged rats (18-24 months). About 50% of the motor endplates studied presented reorganization characteristics such as shallow primary clefts without an axonal terminal, free junctional folds, axon terminals with few synaptic vesicles and presenting pleomorphic structures, large junctional folds containing collagen, and cytoplasmic projections of Schwann cells penetrating the primary synaptic cleft. These aspects are similar to those previously described in adult rats during retraction and degeneration of the axon terminal. Although less frequent, further evidence included the presence of small nerve terminals rich in vesicles, covered by a common Schwann cell and associated with closely packed junctional folds. This last characteristic was associated with nerve sprouting and occupation of the synaptic cleft with new nerve endings. The results of this study are discussed in view of the pertinent literature and we conclude that the plasticity phenomenon of the motor endplate is present throughout life and is more frequent and intense in old animals.