2,11-Dibromo-5,8-dibut­yl[4]helicene

A racemic mixture of the title compound, C26H26Br2, a brominated [4]helicene, crystallizes, forming columns of stacked mol­ecules. There are two crystallographically unique mol­ecules in the asymmetric unit, both with the same helical handedness. As is typical with helicene congeners, the unique mol­ecules show short inter­atomic contacts between H atoms at the fjord region, with H⋯H distances of 1.87 and 1.94 Å. Mol­ecules with the same helical handedness segregate in the crystal packing, forming homochiral columns. The stacked mol­ecules are piled in a column with alternate orientations. The shortest C⋯C distance in the stacked mol­ecules is 3.306 (4) Å

Development of an experimental rat model of hyperammonemic encephalopathy and evaluation of the effects of rifaximin

AbstractHepatic encephalopathy (HE) is a neuropsychiatric syndrome associated with hepatic dysfunction. However, the precise mechanism of HE is unclear. To elucidate the mechanism, we developed a new rat model of HE with coma using a combination of subcutaneous splenic transposition, partial hepatectomy and portal vein stenosis. In this model, blood ammonia levels increase in the postcaval vein over time and markedly increase in the cerebrospinal fluid (CSF). The distribution of ammonia in the various blood vessels in the HE model suggests that the origin of peripheral blood and CSF ammonia is the mesenteric veins that drain blood from the gastrointestinal tract. Behavioral analysis revealed decreased pain response, increased passivity, and decreased pinna and corneal reflexes, followed by the development of coma. The development of coma in this model was frequent and reproducible. Increased S100 calcium-binding protein B (S100B: a biomarker for brain injury) in venous blood, as well as damaged brain tissue, increased intracranial pressure and cerebral edema were observed in rats with coma. A very high correlation was observed between the blood ammonia concentration in the postcaval vein and the onset of coma. Rifaximin, a poorly absorbed antibiotic that targets gut flora, significantly improved symptoms of HE. Based on these results, our rat model appears to reflect the pathological state of HE associated with acute liver failure and may be a useful model for analysis of hyperammonemic encephalopathy

1,8-Diiodo­anthracene

The mol­ecule of the title compound, C14H8I2, an inter­mediate in the synthesis of organic materials, is nearly planar, the maximum deviation from the mean plane being 0.032 (1) Å for the C atoms and 0.082 (2) Å for the I atoms. In the crystal structure, a sandwich–herringbone arrangement of mol­ecules is observed, whereas a columnar π-stacking arrangement has been reported for the chlorinated congener 1,8-dichloro­anthracene. Similar effects of halogen substituents on the modulation of packing arrangements are reported for halogenated aromatic compounds such as tetra­cenes and chrycenes

Preoperative radiographic and histopathologic evaluation of central chondrosarcoma

Distinguishing grade 1 chondrosarcoma from grade 2 chondrosarcoma is critical both for planning the surgical procedure and for predicting the outcome. We aimed to review the preoperative radiographic and histologic findings, and to evaluate the reliability of preoperative grading. We retrospectively reviewed the medical records of 17 patients diagnosed with central chondrosarcoma at our institution between 1996 and 2011. In these cases, we compared the preoperative and postoperative histologic grades, and evaluated the reliability of the preoperative histologic grading. We also assessed the preoperative radiographic findings obtained using plain radiography, computed tomography (CT), and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI). Preoperative histologic grade was 1 in 12 patients, 2 in 4 patients, and 3 in 1 patient. However, 6 of the 12 cases classified as grade 1 before surgery were re-classified as grade 2 postoperatively. In the radiographic evaluation, grade 1 was suspected by the presence of a ring-and-arc pattern of calcification on plain radiography and CT and entrapped fat and ring-and-arc enhancement on MRI. Grades 2 and 3 were suspected by the absence of calcification and the presence of cortical penetration and endosteal scalloping on plain radiography and CT, as well as soft-tissue mass formation on MRI. Although the combination of radiographic interpretation and histologic findings may improve the accuracy of preoperative grading in chondrosarcoma, the establishment of a standard evaluation system with the histologic and radiographic findings and/or the development of new biologic markers are necessary for preoperative discrimination of low-grade chondrosarcoma from high-grade chondrosarcoma.ArticleARCHIVES OF ORTHOPAEDIC AND TRAUMA SURGERY. 133(9):1225-1231 (2013)journal articl

Metastatic Carcinoma to Subcutaneous Tissue and Skeletal Muscle: Clinicopathological Features in 11 Cases

Objective: Metastatic carcinoma to subcutaneous tissue or skeletal muscle is relatively rare. The present study aimed to clarify the clinicopathological features for confirming the diagnosis as soft tissue metastasis and determining the primary site. Methods: We reviewed records of 11 patients with soft tissue metastasis who were in our institution from 1996 to 2009. Results: In 9 of 10 patients who underwent magnetic resonance imaging, findings consisted of poorly circumscribed high-intensity lesions around the tumor on T2-weighted images, irregular peritumoral enhancement and poorly enhanced lesions at the center of the tumor on T1-weighted images. Systematic immunohistochemical examination was more valuable for diagnosing as soft tissue metastasis and confirming the primary site. The expression patterns of cytokeratins 7 and 20 and tissue-specific antibodies such as thyroid transcription factor-1, MUC5AC and CDX2 were useful diagnostic markers. The primary site could be determined in five patients with cytokeratin 7/20 immunophenotype and positivity for tissue-specific antibodies. In four cases, determination of the primary site finally became possible by comparison with the histological findings of operative specimens in past carcinoma and/or in consideration of radiological findings and the results of cytokeratin 7/20 phenotyping. Conclusions: Systematic immunohistochemical examination is helpful for confirmation of the primary origin in soft tissue metastasis of carcinoma in addition to clinical information such as the history and condition of past carcinoma, radiological findings and comparison between the histology of biopsy specimens and past carcinoma.ArticleJAPANESE JOURNAL OF CLINICAL ONCOLOGY. 41(3):358-364 (2011)journal articl

Can Superflares Occur on Our Sun?

Recent observations of solar type stars with the Kepler satellite by Maehara et al. have revealed the existence of superflares (with energy of 10^33 - 10^35 erg) on Sun-like stars, which are similar to our Sun in their surface temperature (5600 K - 6000 K) and slow rotation (rotational period > 10 days). From the statistical analysis of these superflares, it was found that superflares with energy 10^34 erg occur once in 800 years and superflares with 10^35 erg occur once in 5000 years on Sun-like stars. In this paper, we examine whether superflares with energy of 10^33 - 10^35 erg could occur on the present Sun through the use of simple order-of-magnitude estimates based on current ideas relating to the mechanisms of the solar dynamo.Comment: Accepted by Publ. Astron. Soc. Japan on Dec. 6, 2012 (to be published on PASJ vol. 65, No. 3, (2013) June 25

Multifocal Periosteal Chondromas in the Ring Finger of an Adolescent Boy: Case Report

We describe an unusual case of a 12-year-old boy who presented with a loss of motion in the ring finger caused by 2 separate periosteal chondromas involving the proximal and middle phalanges. Range of motion improved and recurrence did not occur at the 5-year follow-up after marginal excision of both lesions. (J Hand Surg 2011;36A:101-105.ArticleJOURNAL OF HAND SURGERY-AMERICAN VOLUME. 36A(1):101-105 (2011)journal articl