Alteration Reaction and Mass Transfer via Fluids with Progress of Fracturing along the Median Tectonic Line, Mie Prefecture, Southwest Japan

We have analyzed mass transfer in the cataclasite samples collected from the Median Tectonic Line, southwest Japan, in which the degree of fracturing is well correlated with the bulk rock chemical compositions determined by the X-ray fluorescence (XRF) analysis. The results of “isocon” analysis indicate not only a large volume increase up to 110% but also the two-stage mass transfer during cataclasis. At the first stage from the very weakly to weakly fractured rocks, the weight percents of SiO2, Na2O, and K2O increase, while those of TiO2, FeO, MnO, MgO, and CaO decrease. At the second stage from the weakly to moderately and strongly fractured rocks, the trend of mass transfer is reversed. The principal component analysis reveals that the variation of chemical compositions in the cataclasite samples can be mostly interpreted by the mass transfer via fluids and by the difference in chemical composition in the protolith rocks to lesser degree. Finally, the changes in the modal composition of minerals with increasing cataclasis analyzed by the X-ray diffraction (XRD) with the aid of “RockJock” software clearly elucidate that the mass transfer of chemical elements was caused by dissolution and precipitation of minerals via fluids in the cataclasite samples

Gene transfer of GLT-1, a glial glutamate transporter, into the spinal cord by recombinant adenovirus attenuates inflammatory and neuropathic pain in rats

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The glial glutamate transporter GLT-1 is abundantly expressed in astrocytes and is crucial for glutamate removal from the synaptic cleft. Decreases in glutamate uptake activity and expression of spinal glutamate transporters are reported in animal models of pathological pain. However, the lack of available specific inhibitors and/or activators for GLT-1 makes it difficult to determine the roles of spinal GLT-1 in inflammatory and neuropathic pain. In this study, we examined the effect of gene transfer of GLT-1 into the spinal cord with recombinant adenoviruses on the inflammatory and neuropathic pain in rats.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Intraspinal infusion of adenoviral vectors expressing the GLT-1 gene increased GLT-1 expression in the spinal cord 2–21 days after the infusion. Transgene expression was primarily localized to astrocytes. The spinal GLT-1 gene transfer had no effect on acute mechanical and thermal nociceptive responses in naive rats, whereas it significantly reduced the inflammatory mechanical hyperalgesia induced by hindlimb intraplantar injection of carrageenan/kaolin. Spinal GLT-1 gene transfer 7 days before partial sciatic nerve ligation recovered the extent of the spinal GLT-1 expression in the membrane fraction that was decreased following the nerve ligation, and prevented the induction of tactile allodynia. However, the partial sciatic nerve ligation-induced allodynia was not reversed when the adenoviruses were infused 7 or 14 days after the nerve ligation.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>These results suggest that overexpression of GLT-1 on astrocytes in the spinal cord by recombinant adenoviruses attenuates the induction, but not maintenance, of inflammatory and neuropathic pain, probably by preventing the induction of central sensitization, without affecting acute pain sensation. Upregulation or functional enhancement of spinal GLT-1 could be a novel strategy for the prevention of pathological pain.</p

Neurocognitive Evaluation of Japanese Childhood Cancer Survivors

Long-term cognitive effects following acute lymphoblastic leukemia treatment have been reported for Caucasians; however, these data remain unclear for other ethnicities and the treatment of other cancers. Here, we assessed cognitive function in Japanese childhood cancer survivors. This study enrolled 53 Japanese survivors of childhood cancer （mean age, 9.5 years; 36 boys and 17 girls）. We evaluated performance-based cognitive function using the Wechsler Intelligence Scale for Children-Fourth Edition （WISC-Ⅳ）. Deviation intelligence quotients （IQ） for verbal comprehension （VC）, perceptual reasoning （PR）, processing speed （PS）, and working memory （WM） were compared with the standardized mean and standard deviation （SD; 100 and 15, respectively）. We classified patients into three groups depending on the cumulative methotrexate （MTX） dose （none, 1–19g/m2, and＞20g/m2）. Full-scale IQ was within normal range at 104.8 （SD, 12.9）, although there were significant differences among the four WISC–Ⅳ index scores （P＜0.001）. The PS score （97.1±15.5） was significantly lower than the VC （107.2±15.8） and PR （105.3±14.2） scores （both P＜0.005）. WM performance decreased in an MTX dose-dependent manner （107.8, 102.6, and 96.5 for none, 1–19g/m2, and higher than 20g/m2, respectively; P=0.05）. Japanese childhood cancer survivors, including those in the non-MTX group, demonstrated significant PS impairment. High-dose MTX treatment might be associated with neurocognitive deficiencies, particularly in WM. Although current treatments are associated with high cure rates, future research and interventions are required to improve cognitive function in these patients

Reactive peripheral blood plasmacytosis in a patient with acute hepatitis A

金沢大学附属病院小児科Reactive plasmacytosis is a transient expansion of plasma cell progenitors and precursors. This rare condition has been reported to occur mainly in infections and tumors. We describe a case of acute hepatitis A presenting with marked peripheral blood plasmacytosis. Plasma cells made up 27.5% of the mononuclear cells and had the immunophenotype CD10-CD19 +CD20-CD21-CD23-CD34 -CD38++HLA-DR+. Although the level of interleukin 6 was not increased, the presence of activated T-cells with an inverted CD4/CD8 ratio and high levels of soluble interleukin 2 receptor and neopterin indicated a marked immune response to acute hepatitis A. The patient\u27s plasma cells had almost disappeared from the blood by hospital day 16. This report may represent the first described case of reactive peripheral blood plasmacytosis in acute hepatitis A. © 2007 The Japanese Society of Hematology

コウコウセイ ニヨル スウガク ノ ゼンコウ イッセイ セイト ジュギョウ ノ イギ ト ガッコウ ケイエイ ニ モタラス イミ

本研究は，数学の学習に自信がない生徒が約７割いる置籍校の高等学校で，二次曲線の学習をした生徒が先生役となって実施した，全校一斉生徒授業について，その意義と学校経営にもたらす意義を示す。当初，先生役生徒は，全校一斉生徒授業を行うことを不安に思っていたが，置籍校の教職員の支援を受けながら，主体的に教材を検討し，授業計画を作成して，全校一斉生徒授業に積極的に取り組んだ。生徒アンケートから，先生役生徒はこの取り組みを通して，それぞれが自信を持ち，主体的に活動する意義を自ら見いだし，全校一斉生徒授業後には，意欲的に活動する様子が多く見られるようになった。本研究では，全校一斉生徒授業の意義をとらえるために，学校・学年・学級経営にもたらす意味についても考察した。The students’ classes of school were held in our high school where the students of seventy percent who had not have confidence in mathematics. The learning content of students’ classes of school was quadric curve. In this study, we show the actual influence of these classes. The teacher students tried to understand the content of teaching and to make teaching materials by themselves. Through these activities, the teacher students had confidence of their work. The teacher students’ activities motivate whole students of our high school. We also emphasize the significance these classes and clarify the importance of these classes in our school managements, grade management and classroom administration

Epicardial Adipose Tissue in the Right Atrium Is Associated with Progression of Atrial Fibrillation and Recurrence after Pulmonary Vein Catheter Ablation in Patients with Atrial Fibrillation

An increase in epicardial adipose tissue（EAT）in the left atrium（LA）predicts the progression of atrial fibrillation（AF）and AF recurrence after pulmonary vein catheter ablation（CA）. We hypothesized that EAT in the right atrium（RA）is also associated with the progression of AF and post-CA AF recurrence. Using 128-slice multidetector computed tomography, EAT volume and atrial volume were measured 3-dimensionally before CA in 68 patients who had proven AF（paroxysmal AF, 42; persistent AF, 26; mean age, 65±11 years; 42.6％ female）with successful CA and 21 volunteers with sinus rhythm（age, 63±13 years; 52.3％ female）. In both atria, EAT and atrial volumes were largest in patients with persistent AF, followed, in order, by those with paroxysmal AF, and then healthy volunteers（P＜0.001）. Increased EAT and atrial volumes in both atria predicted persistent AF（P＜0.001）. Fifteen patients had AF recurrence（22.1％）during the 2-year period after CA. Increased EAT volume in both atria were independent predictors for AF recurrence, and a RA EAT volume≥6.2ml was an independent predictor, with a hazard ratio of 5.47（95％ confidence interval, 1.2-24.3; P=0.03）. The combination of EAT and atrial volume in both atria was a more powerful independent prognostic factor, with a hazard ratio of 4.8（95％ confidence interval, 1.7-3.7; P=0.003）, and a sensitivity of 60％ in 9 of 15 patients, and specificity of 81.1％ in 43 of 53 patients,（P=0.003）. RA EAT is associated with the progression of AF and post-CA AF recurrence