15 research outputs found
Preparation and evaluation of Mn3GaN1-x thin films with controlled N compositions
Thin films of antiperovskite Mn3GaN1-x were grown on MgO (001) substrates by reactive magnetron sputtering, and their structural, magnetic, and magneto-optical properties were systematically investigated. It was found that the combination of the deposition rate and the N2 gas partial pressure could produce epitaxial films with a wide range of N composition (N-deficiency) and resulting c/a values (0.93 - 1.0). While the films with c/a = 0.992 - 1.0 were antiferromagnetic, the films with c/a = 0.93 - 0.989 showed perpendicular magnetic anisotropy (PMA) with the maximum PMA energy up to 1.5×106 erg/cm3. Systematic dependences of the energy spectra of the polar Kerr signals on the c/a ratio were observed, and the Kerr ellipticity was as large as 2.4 deg. at 1.9 eV for perpendicularly magnetized ferromagnetic thin films with c/a = 0.975. These results highlight that the tetragonal distortion plays an important role in magnetic and magneto-optical properties of Mn3GaN1-x thin films
A survival case of visceral disseminated varicella zoster virus infection in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus
Abstract Background Visceral disseminated varicella zoster virus (VZV) infection is a rare but life-threatening complication in immunosuppressed patients. Herein, we report a survival case of visceral disseminated VZV infection in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). Case presentation A 37-year-old woman was diagnosed as SLE and initial induction therapy was started. Two months after starting the immunosuppressive therapy consisting of 40Â mg of prednisolone (PSL) and 1500Â mg of mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) daily, she suddenly developed strong abdominal pain, which was required opioid analgesics, followed by systemic skin blisters, which were diagnosed as varicella. Laboratory findings showed rapid exacerbation of severe liver failure, coagulation abnormalities and increased numbers of blood VZV deoxyribonucleic acid (DNA). Therefore, she was diagnosed as visceral disseminated VZV infection. Multidisciplinary treatment with acyclovir, immunoglobulin and antibiotics was started, the dose of PSL was reduced, and MMF was withdrawn. By their treatment, her symptoms were resolved and she finally discharged. Conclusions Our case highlights the importance of a clinical suspicion of visceral disseminated VZV infections, and the necessity of immediate administration of acyclovir and reduced doses of immunosuppressant to save patients with SLE
Cognitive Function Related to the <i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> Gene Acquired from an LTR Retrotransposon in Eutherians
<div><p>Gene targeting of mouse <u><i>S</i></u><i>ushi-</i><u><i>i</i></u><i>chi-related</i><u><i>r</i></u><i>etrotransposon</i><u><i>h</i></u><i>omologue</i><u><i>11</i></u><i>/</i><u><i>Z</i></u><i>inc finger</i><u><i>CCHC</i></u><i>domain-containing</i><u><i>16</i></u> (<i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i>) causes abnormal behaviors related to cognition, including attention, impulsivity and working memory. <i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> encodes a CCHC type of zinc-finger protein that exhibits high homology to an LTR retrotransposon Gag protein. Upon microdialysis analysis of the prefrontal cortex region, the recovery rate of noradrenaline (NA) was reduced compared with dopamine (DA) after perfusion of high potassium-containing artificial cerebrospinal fluid in knockout (KO) mice. These data indicate that <i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> is involved in cognitive function in the brain, possibly via the noradrenergic system, in the contemporary mouse developmental systems. Interestingly, it is highly conserved in three out of the four major groups of the eutherians, euarchontoglires, laurasiatheria and afrotheria, but is heavily mutated in xenarthran species such as the sloth and armadillo, suggesting that it has contributed to brain evolution in the three major eutherian lineages, including humans and mice. <i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> is the first <i>SIRH</i> gene to be involved in brain function, instead of just the placenta, as seen in the case of <i>Peg10</i>, <i>Peg11/Rtl1</i> and <i>Sirh7/Ldoc1</i>.</p></div
Microstructure of high-level radioactive waste glass heavily irradiated in a high-voltage electron microscope
Abnormal behavior in the <i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> KO mice.
<p><b>(</b>A) Light/Dark transition test. The left panel shows the latency time before entering into the light chamber. The right panel shows the number of transitions. The white and black bars represent WT and KO, respectively. Each data point represents the mean ± S. E. M. (N = 7 each). The asterisks indicate significant differences between the male WT and KO mice (*: p < 0.05). <b>(</b>B) Home-cage activity test. Upper: The plots show the activity counts every hour over 5 days. The white and grey areas indicate the light and dark phases, respectively. Middle: The white and black bars represent the activity counts in the WT and KO, respectively (mean ± S. D. (N = 7 each)). Zeitgeiber time (ZT) is shown on the x-axis. The asterisks indicate significant differences between the male WT and KO mice (**: p < 0.01, *: p < 0.05). Lower: the table shows the p-values of the two-way ANOVA at each ZT. The yellow columns indicate a significant difference in genotype (p < 0.05). (C) Y-maze test. Left: each plot shows the percentage of alternation behavior. Right: each plot shows the number of total arm entries. The white and black plots represent the WT and KO, respectively. The asterisk indicates a significant difference between the male WT (N = 6) and KO (N = 8) mice (*: p < 0.05).</p
The dN/dS ratio between the mouse and the seven other eutherian species expect xenarthral.
<p>Pairwise dN/dS analysis was performed using PAML [<a href="http://www.plosgenetics.org/article/info:doi/10.1371/journal.pgen.1005521#pgen.1005521.ref031" target="_blank">31</a>].</p><p>The dN/dS ratio between the mouse and the seven other eutherian species expect xenarthral.</p
Abnormality in brain of <i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> KO mice.
<p>(A) Microdialysis analysis in the prefrontal cortex in the cerebrum. The levels of various monoamines, including DA, NA, 3-MT and DOPAC were measured after perfusion of high potassium-containing artificial cerebrospinal fluid in the prefrontal cortex. Each plot shows the ratio of the DA metabolites, NA, 3-MT and DOPAC, to DA. The asterisk indicates a significant difference between the WT and KO mice (*: p < 0.05). The three lines on the plots indicate the mean ± S. E. M. (B) <i>Dbh</i> mRNA expression in each part of the brain. The white and black bars represent the relative expression levels of <i>Dbh</i> to <i>Actb</i> mRNA in WT and KO, respectively (mean ± S. D., N = 4 each). The asterisk indicates a significant difference between the WT and KO (*: p < 0.05). The expression levels in the mesencephalon and brainstem are shown in a separate figure with a different scale. <b>(</b>C) <i>Sirh11</i> mRNA expression in each part of the brain. The white and black bars represent the relative expression levels of <i>Sirh11</i> (3’ UTR) to <i>Actb</i> mRNA in the WT and KO mice, respectively (mean ± S. D., N = 4 each). The asterisk indicates a significant difference between the WT and KO mice (*: p < 0.05). (D) Negative correlation between <i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> and <i>Dbh</i> mRNA expression levels in the brainstem. The plots show the relative expression levels of <i>Sirh11</i> (x-axis) and <i>Dbh</i> (y-axis) to <i>Actb</i> mRNA in the brainstem. The white, black and grey circles indicate the WT, KO and B6, respectively. The Pearson correlation coefficient (r) is shown in the plots. The p-value was calculated by the test for non-correlation.</p
Postnatal growth.
<p><i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> KO mice exhibited normal growth. The mean body weight (grams) in the male mice is shown.</p><p>Postnatal growth.</p
Mating experiment.
<p>Both the null <i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> KO (–/Y) and <i>Sirh11/Zcchc16</i> homo KO (–/–) mice exhibited normal reproductive ability. The number of pups in each genotype is shown.</p><p>Mating experiment.</p