Local Hall effect in hybrid ferromagnetic/semiconductor devices

We have investigated the magnetoresistance of ferromagnet-semiconductor devices in an InAs two-dimensional electron gas system in which the magnetic field has a sinusoidal profile. The magnetoresistance of our device is large. The longitudinal resistance has an additional contribution which is odd in applied magnetic field. It becomes even negative at low temperature where the transport is ballistic. Based on the numerical analysis, we confirmed that our data can be explained in terms of the local Hall effect due to the profile of negative and positive field regions. This device may be useful for future spintronic applications.Comment: 4 pages with 4 fugures. Accepted for publication in Applied Physics Letter

Altered expression of hypothetical proteins in hippocampus of transgenic mice overexpressing human Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase 1

BACKGROUND: Cu/Zn-superoxide dismutase 1 (SOD1), encoded on chromosome 21, is a key enzyme in the metabolism of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and pathogenetically relevant for several disease states including Down syndrome (DS; trisomy 21). Systematically studying protein expression in human brain and animal models of DS we decided to carry out "protein hunting" for hypothetical proteins, i.e. proteins that have been predicted based upon nucleic sequences only, in a transgenic mouse model overexpressing human SOD1. RESULTS: We applied a proteomics approach using two-dimensional electrophoresis (2-DE) with in-gel digestion of spots followed by mass spectrometric (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time of flight) identification and quantification of hypothetical proteins using specific software. Hippocampi of wild type, hemizygous and homozygous SOD1 transgenic mice (SOD1-TGs) were analysed. We identified fourteen hypothetical proteins in mouse hippocampus. Of these, expression levels of 2610008O03Rik protein (Q9D0K2) and 4632432E04Rik protein (Q9D358) were significantly decreased (P < 0.05 and 0.001) and hypothetical protein (Q99KP6) was significantly increased (P < 0.05) in hippocampus of SOD1-TGs as compared with non-transgenic mice. CONCLUSIONS: The biological meaning of aberrant expression of these proteins may be impairment of metabolism, signaling and transcription machinery in SOD1-TGs brain that in turn may help to explain deterioration of these systems in DS brain

Primary Pulmonary Plasmacytoma Presenting as Multiple Lung Nodules

Extramedullary plasmacytoma is a plasma cell tumor arising outside the bone marrow and usually occurs as a solitary tumor in the upper respiratory tract, such as the pharynx, paranasal sinuses, nasal cavity, or oral cavity [1]. Other cases develop in the lymph nodes, skin, gastrointestinal tract, genitourinary tract, and other regions. Primary pulmonary plasmacytomas are very rare and usually present as solitary lung nodules or masses [2]. Unusual cases manifest as diffuse pulmonary infiltration [3,4]. We describe here a unique case of primary pulmonary plasmacytoma, which presented as multiple lung nodules during regular screening in a patient with systemic lupus erythematosus

The impact of the prenatal ultrasonography on birth of babies with Korean pediatric surgical index diseases

PURPOSE: The purpose of this study is to examine the impact of prenatal ultrasonography (US) on the birth of babies with diseases listed on the Korean pediatric surgery index diseases (IDs). METHODS: Depending the ease of diagnosis using prenatal US, [diagnostic facility if prenatal US] IDs were divided into easily diagnosed (ED), not easily diagnosed (NED) and detected with difficulty (DD) groups. Five-year data were obtained for the total live birth number (TBN) from the Korean Statistical Information Service, and the actual birth number of IDs (ABNID) from the Korean Health Insurance Review and Assessment Service. The certified incidences of IDs (I) were obtained from a prestigious textbook of pediatric surgery. The estimated abortion rate (AR) of fetus in each group was obtained using the following formula: AR (%) = [1 - (ABNID)/(TBN x I)] x 100. RESULTS: The AR with all IDs was 38 to 77%. The AR was 78 to 93% for ED group, 38 to 66% for NED group and 0% for DD group. CONCLUSION: In spite of high survival rates after treatment, the AR of each group depends on the ease of diagnosis using prenatal US in Korea. A recommendatory policy for the fetus with IDs should be urgently established after general consensus within the related medical societiesope