Large noncollinearity and spin reorientation in the novel Mn2RhSn Heusler magnet.

Noncollinear magnets provide essential ingredients for the next generation memory technology. It is a new prospect for the Heusler materials, already well known due to the diverse range of other fundamental characteristics. Here, we present a combined experimental and theoretical study of novel noncollinear tetragonal Mn(2)RhSn Heusler material exhibiting unusually strong canting of its magnetic sublattices. It undergoes a spin-reorientation transition, induced by a temperature change and suppressed by an external magnetic field. Because of the presence of Dzyaloshinskii-Moriya exchange and magnetic anisotropy, Mn(2)RhSn is suggested to be a promising candidate for realizing the Skyrmion state in the Heusler family.

Serum erythropoietin and transferrin receptor levels in patients with rheumatoid arthritis.

OBJECTIVE: Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is generally associated with mild anaemia. The role of erythropoietin (EPO) in the pathogenesis of this anaemia of chronic disorders is still a matter of controversy. Therefore, in a multicenter study we investigated the serum EPO concentration in 124 patients with rheumatoid arthritis. METHODS: Patients with uncomplicated iron deficiency and haemolytic anaemia served as the reference group (n = 54). The measurements were performed with a specific and sensitive ELISA: RESULTS: The mean EPO concentration +/- SD of the whole RA group (32.3 +/- 22.2 mU/ml) was elevated above normal. About 40% of the patients had underlying iron deficiency (defined by ferritin values < or = 60 ng/ml) and a significantly higher median EPO concentration than patients with normal iron stores (35.8 mU/ml versus 20.7 mU/ml; p < 0.001). The iron deficiency was associated with lower disease activity, as defined by the C reactive protein. In contrast to the reference group (r = -0.78), there was no significant correlation between EPO and the haematocrit in either RA subgroup, although the values for the RA patients were within the 95% prediction range of the reference group. In addition to the EPO, we investigated the soluble transferrin receptor level as a measure of bone marrow erythropoiesis. The level in iron-replete RA subjects was about 1.6 times higher than in normal persons, reflecting a relatively hypoproliferative erythropoietic activity. CONCLUSION: This study shows that the EPO concentrations in RA are elevated above normal but lower than expected, and that the normal relationship between EPO and the degree of anaemia is impaired.

Thyroid hormones alter mRNA activity profiles of differentiated 3T3-L1-cells.

The influence of thyroid hormones on the gene expression of 3T3-L1-adipocytes was examined. mRNA activity profiles were investigated by in vitro-translation and 2D-electrophoresis. Seven protein spots out of 210 were sensitive to 3,5,3'-triiodothyronine (T3). All proteins increased from hypothyroid to hyperthyroid status. Additionally two spots increased from hypothyroid to T3-substituted and euthyroid status. There is evidence for the existence of protein S14 in differentiated 3T3-L1-cells, as part of spot 5.