Duodenal Carcinoma from a Duodenal Diverticulum Mimicking Pancreatic Carcinoma

An 81-year-old man was found to have a pancreatic head tumor on abdominal computed tomography (CT) performed during a follow-up visit for sigmoid colon cancer. The tumor had a diameter of 35mm on the CT scan and was diagnosed as pancreatic head carcinoma T3N0M0. The patient was treated with pylorus-preserving pancreaticoduodenectomy. Histopathological examination showed that the tumor had grown within a hollow structure, was contiguous with a duodenal diverticulum, and had partially invaded the pancreas. Immunohistochemistry results were as follows:CK7 negative, CK20 positive, CD10 negative, CDX2 positive, MUC1 negative, MUC2 positive, MUC5AC negative, and MUC6 negative. The tumor was diagnosed as duodenal carcinoma from the duodenal diverticulum. Preoperative imaging showed that the tumor was located in the head of the pancreas and was compressing the common bile duct, thus making it appear like pancreatic cancer. To the best of our knowledge, this is the second report of a case of duodenal carcinoma from a duodenal diverticulum mimicking pancreatic carcinoma

Correlation between Tc and Lattice Parameters of Novel Superconducting NaxCoO2 yH2O

We synthesized the five batches of the samples of the novel P3 type superconductor, Na$_{x}$(H$_{3}$O)$_{y'}$CoO$_{2}\cdot y''$H$_{2}$O, by the soft chemical process starting from $\alpha$-NaCoO$_{2}$. The chemical and structural properties varied rather widely from batch to batch, with a result that $T_{c}$ varied from 4.6 K to 3.2 K. The magnetic susceptibility above $T_{c}$ shows upturn at low temperature as in the case of the P2 phase. The $T_{c}$ seems to be well correlated to the lattice parameters.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figures, and 1 table, to be published in J. Phys. Soc. Jpn. 73 (9) with possible minor revision

Na-ion dynamics in Quasi-1D compound NaV2O4

We have used the pulsed muon source at ISIS to study high-temperature Na-ion dynamics in the quasi-one-dimensional (Q1D) metallic antiferromagnet NaV2O4. By performing systematic zero-field and longitudinal-field measurements as a function of temperature we clearly distinguish that the hopping rate increases exponentially above Tdiff=250 K. The data is well fitted to an Arrhenius type equation typical for a diffusion process, showing that the Na-ions starts to be mobile above Tdiff . Such results makes this compound very interesting for the tuning of Q1D magnetism using atomic-scale ion-texturing through the periodic potential from ordered Na-vacancies. Further, it also opens the door to possible use of NaV2O4 and related compounds in energy related applications.Comment: Accepted for publication in Journal of Physics: Conference Series (2014

Vitellogenin gene of the silkworm, Bombyx mori: Structure and sex-dependent expression

AbstractVitellogenin of Bombyx mori is a precursor of major yolk protein synthesized in the female fat body at larval—pupal ecdysis. The gene for B. mori vitellogenin is composed of seven exons interspersed by six introns. Developmental profile of the primary transcript of the gene indicated that the biosynthesis of B. mori vitellogenin is regulated transcriptionally in a sex- and stage-dependent manner in the fat body. The Arg-X-Arg-Arg sequence, which conforms to the recognition site of mammalian furin, occurs in a region just upstream of the putative proteolytic cleavage site of B. mori previtellogenin

Lingual nerve stimulation-induced c-Fos expression in the trigeminal spinal nucleus

The aim of the present study was to investigate whether electrical stimulation of the unilateral central cut ends of the lingual nerve produces trigeminal-parasympathetic reflex vasodilatation in both sides of the lower lip and stimulates neurons in the trigeminal nuclear complex in rats subjected to cervical vagosympathectomy, deeply anesthetized with urethane and artificially ventilated. Immunohistochemical detection of c-Fos expression was used to assess the impact of prolonged lingual nerve stimulation. We found that unilateral lingual nerve stimulation at 10min intervals for 200min produced the following: (1) consistent blood flow increases predominantly in the ipsilateral side of the lower lip, (2) more profound expression of c-Fos protein ipsilaterally in all subnuclei of the trigeminal spinal nucleus (Vsp) except the trigeminal subnucleus oralis, (3) a greater number of c-Fos-positive neurons in the ipsilateral trigeminal subnucleus interpolaris/caudalis transition zone (Vi/Vc) compared with the four other areas (trigeminal subnucleus caudalis/upper cervical spinal cord transition zone, subnucleus caudalis, subnucleus interpolaris, and subnucleus oralis) of the Vsp, and (4) no statistically significant increase in c-Fos expression in all subnuclei of the Vsp of the contralateral side in comparison with the control rats. The present studies and our previous data suggest that impulses elicited by electrical stimulation of the lingual nerve converge on the ipsilateral Vi/Vc in the Vsp and that the parasympathetic vasodilator neurons and salivatory nucleus, after receiving projections from the Vi/Vc in the Vsp, project to the lower lip via the otic ganglion

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The exposure of field-grown maize seedlings to weed volatiles affects their growth and seed quality

Plants exposed to volatiles emitted from artificially damaged conspecific or heterospecific plants exhibit increased resistance to herbivorous insects. Here, we examined whether volatiles from artificially damaged weeds affect maize growth and reproduction. Seven days after germination, maize seedlings were exposed to volatiles emitted by artificially damaged mugwort (Artemisia indica var. maximowiczii) or tall goldenrod (Solidago altissima) plants either separately, or as a mixture of the two, for seven days. Unexposed seedlings were used as controls. Treated and control seedlings were cultivated in an experimental field without any insecticides applied. Plants exposed to either of the three volatile treatments sustained significantly less damage than controls. Additionally, seedlings exposed to either goldenrod or mixed volatiles produced more leaves and tillers than control plants. Furthermore, a significant increase in the number of ears was observed in plants exposed to the volatile mixture. In all treated plants, ear sugar content was significantly higher than that in the controls. Further, we cultivated seedlings that were either exposed to the volatile mixture or unexposed, under the conventional farming method using pesticides. Similar significant differences were observed for sugar content, number of tillers, leaves, damaged leaves, and ears. Laboratory experiments were conducted to further evaluate the mechanisms involved in the improved performance of volatile-treated plants. A significant reduction in the growth of common armyworm (Mythimna separata) larvae was observed when maize plants were exposed to the volatile mixture. This treatment did not affect the amount of jasmonic acid in the seedlings, whereas salicylic acid content increased upon exposure. The characteristic differences in chemical composition of mugwort and goldenrod volatiles were confirmed and, in turn, the volatile mixture differed significantly from the volatiles of either species

Functional Fv fragment of an antibody specific for CD28: Fv-mediated co-stimulation of T cells

AbstractThe most predominant co-stimulation pathway, which is critical for T cell activation and proliferation, is the CD28-B7 pathway. The anti-CD28 monoclonal antibody (mAb) also provides a co-stimulatory signal to T cells. In order to construct a functional Fv fragment (complex of VH and VL domains) of anti-CD28 antibody using a bacterial expression system, cDNA encoding the variable regions of immunoglobulin from 15E8 hybridoma cells was cloned and expressed in Escherichia coli. The Fv fragment was obtained as a soluble protein from the periplasmic fraction and showed a binding pattern similar to parental IgG. The Fv fragment induced proliferation of peripheral blood mononuclear cells in the presence of anti-CD3 or anti-CD2 mAb and enhanced anti-tumor activity of anti-MUC1×anti-CD3 bispecific antibody when tested with lymphokine-activated killer cells with T cell phenotype. Thus, the anti-CD28 Fv fragment will be promising not only for the study of co-stimulation, but also for cancer immunotherapy