Coherent Magnetization Rotation of a Layered System Observed by Polarized Neutron Scattering under Grazing Incidence Geometry

The in-plane magnetic structure of a layered system composed of polycrystalline grains smaller than the ferromagnetic exchange length was studied to elucidate the mechanism controlling the magnetic properties considerably different from the bulk using polarized neutron scattering under grazing incidence geometry. The measured result, together with quantitative analysis based on the distorted wave Born approximation, showed that the in-plane length of the area with a uniform orientation of moments ranging from 0.5–1.1 μ m was not significantly varied during the process of demagnetization followed by remagnetization. The obtained behavior of moments is in good agreement with the two-dimensional random anisotropy model where coherent magnetization rotation is dominant

Design and Demonstration of a Neutron Spin Flipper for a New Neutron Reflectometer SHARAKU at J-PARC

AbstractA new neutron reflectometer SHARAKU with vertical sample-plane geometry was installed on the beam line 17 (BL17) at Materials and Life science experiment Facility (MLF) at J-PARC. Magnetism in a thin magnetic film is one of the main targets on SHARAKU and polarizing devices and neutron spin flippers are required. Since polarized neutrons of wavelength from 0.24nm to 0.64nm can be used on SHARAKU, a neutron spin flipper has to control white neutron beam. A two-coil neutron spin flipper (Drabkin spin flipper) is one of the powerful devices to control neutron spin with white beam. In this study, the two-coil flipper was designed and installed in SHARAKU. Demonstration of the two-coil flipper was also performed and polarization of more than 0.95 with wavelengths ranging from 0.24nm to 0.64nm was obtained

Living donor liver transplantation from a donor previously treated with interferon for hepatitis C virus: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Introduction</p> <p>Selecting a marginal donor in liver transplantation (LT) remains controversial but is necessary because of the small number of available donors.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A 46-year-old Japanese woman was a candidate to donate her liver to her brother, who had decompensated liver cirrhosis of unknown origin. Eight years before the donation, she had a mild liver dysfunction that was diagnosed as a hepatitis C virus (HCV) infection (serotype 2). She had received anti-viral therapy with interferon α-2b three times weekly for 24 weeks and had a sustained viral response (SVR). A biopsy of her liver before the donation showed normal findings without any active hepatitis, and her serum was negative for HCV-RNA. Only 67 patients have undergone LT from a cadaveric donor in Japan. The family in this case decided to have living donor LT. A careful selection for the liver graft donation was made; however, since she was the only candidate, we approved her as a living donor. She was discharged nine days after the liver donation. Her liver function recovered immediately. A computed tomography scan showed sufficient liver regeneration one year later. Her brother also had good liver function after LT and had no HCV infection 48 months after surgery and no <it>de novo </it>malignancy. Neither of the siblings has developed an HCV infection.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>A patient with SVR status after interferon therapy might be considered a candidate for living donor LT but only if there are no other possibilities of LT for the recipient. A careful follow-up of the donor after donation is needed. The recipient also must have a very close follow-up because it is difficult to predict what might happen to the graft with post-transplant immunosuppression.</p

Analysis of the Hepatic Functional Reserve, Portal Hypertension, and Prognosis of Patients With Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Hepatitis C Virus Coinfection Through Contaminated Blood Products in Japan

Background As the survival of human immunodeficiency virus (HIV)-infected individuals has improved due to the widespread use of antiretroviral therapy, the mortality rate due to hepatitis C virus (HCV)-related liver disease has increased in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients. Aim The aims of this study were to establish the appropriate therapeutic strategy for HIV/HCV-coinfected patients by evaluating the liver function, including the hepatic functional reserve and portal hypertension, and to investigate the prognosis of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients in Japan. Patients and Methods In addition to regular liver function tests, the hepatic functional reserve of 41 patients with HIV/HCV coinfection was evaluated using the indocyanine green retention rate and liver galactosyl serum albumin-scintigraphy. The data for 146 patients with HIV/HCV coinfection through blood products were extracted from 4 major HIV centers in Japan. In addition to liver function tests, the platelet counts (PLT) were evaluated as a marker of portal hypertension. Results In spite of the relatively preserved general liver function test results, approximately 40% of the HIV/HCV-coinfected patients had an impaired hepatic functional reserve. In addition, while the albumin and bilirubin levels were normal, the PLT was <150,000/μL in 17 patients. Compared with HCV mono-infected patients with a PLT <150,000/μL, the survival of HIV/HCV-coinfected patients was shorter (HCV, 5 years, 97%; 10 years, 86% and HIV/HCV, 5 years, 87%; 10 years, 73%; P <.05). Conclusion These results must be taken into account to establish an optimal therapeutic strategy, including the appropriate timing of liver transplantation in HIV/HCV-coinfected patients in Japan

The expression of transporter OATP2/OATP8 decreases in undetectable hepatocellular carcinoma by Gd-EOB-MRI in the explanted cirrhotic liver

Purpose: The aim of this study is to evaluate the detectability of hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) in the explanted cirrhotic liver using gadoxetic acid-enhanced magnetic resonance imaging (Gd-EOB-MRI) and the degree of organic anion transporter OATP2/OATP8 (OATP1B1/1B3) HCC which could not be preoperatively detected by multi-detector computed tomography (MD-CT) and Gd-EOB-MRI. Methods: Eleven patients (HBV 3, HCV 7, nonBnonC 1) out of 145 recipients of liver transplantation were analyzed. The detectability by each imaging modality and the expression of OATP2/OATP8 of HCC were analyzed using the whole liver thin sliced histological and immunohistochemical examination retrospectively. Results: The imaging examination detected 17 lesions of HCC by MDCT and/or Gd-EOB-MRI. Only one lesion detected by Gd-EOB-MRI had well differentiated and minute (7 mm) HCC. However, the histological examination revealed newly 11 lesions and one false-positive lesion of HCC in the explanted livers. The median diameter of the preoperatively undetectable HCC by imaging was 8 mm (2-12). The histological characteristic of the preoperatively undetectable HCC was well differentiated HCC (10/11). The accuracy rate in MDCT and Gd-EOB-MRI was 53.6 % (15/28) and 57.1 % (16/28). The rate of positive predictive value in MDCT and Gd-EOB-MRI was 93.7 % (15/16) and 94.2 % (16/17), respectively. The expression of OATP2/OATP8 in the preoperatively undetectable HCC was negative in nine lesions, was weak positive in two lesions. Conclusions: The detectability of Gd-EOB-MRI is almost equal to MDCT in a cirrhotic liver. Small HCCs were difficult to detect even with Gd-EOB-MRI. The transporter of OATP2/OATP8 was less expressed in the preoperatively undetectable HCCs

Comparative study of the effect of neuromuscular electrical stimulation and oral administration of branched-chain amino acid on preventing sarcopenia in patients after living-donor liver transplantation: study protocol for an open-label randomized controlled trial

Background: Liver cirrhosis is the irreversible fibrosis of the liver and causes refractory ascites and hepatic encephalopathy, which might not respond to treatment. Living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) is an effective treatment for patients with cirrhosis. However, post-LDLT patients are prone to muscle atrophy and sarcopenia. Therefore, physiotherapy of post-LDLT patients is essential for preventing the progression of sarcopenia. Recently, rehabilitation using neuromuscular electrical stimulation (NMES) has been reported to be useful for preventing the progression of sarcopenia. Similarly, nutrition therapy is essential for post-LDLT patients because these patients frequently experience malnutrition. However, the effects of combined NMES and nutrition therapy on post-LDLT patients remain unknown. Methods/design: This open-label, randomized, parallel-group study will compare the effects of combined therapy with NMES and branched-chain amino acids (BCAA) with those of NMES alone in patients with decompensated cirrhosis after LDLT. After LDLT, 50 patients with decompensated cirrhosis will be randomly assigned to receive NMES with BCAA or NMES without BCAA. The duration of the intervention will be 3 months. To analyze the change in skeletal muscle mass, InBody 770 body composition and body water analysis and ultrasonography will be performed before LDLT and 4 weeks and 12 weeks post-LDLT. The primary endpoint is changes in the skeletal muscle mass from baseline to 3 months. Important secondary endpoints are the changes in the skeletal muscle mass from baseline to 1 month and changes in the quadriceps strength from baseline to 1 month. Discussion: The results of this study are expected to provide evidence regarding the effect of NMES combined with BCAA therapy on the skeletal muscle of post-LDLT patients. Trial registration: Japan Registry of Clinical Research jRCTs071190051. Registered on February 26, 2020

Support for the Students with Mild Developmental Disorders in a Normal Class: How to Support the Student as a Team Led by a SpecialSupport Education Coordinator

The purpose of this research is to consider how to support the students with mild developmental disorders in normal classes. A team consists of an outside expert, school personnel and the guardians implemented a support activity for the students with mild developmental disorders, who is a boy in the first grade of junior high school. This student had some problems such as playing a hand game or speaking to himself in the middle of classes and keeping questioning the same procedure repeatedly. Some teachers and the other students have started complaining about it. To solve this problem, the team mentioned above, which was led by a special support education coordinator, built up contact network with each member as well as made a specific teaching plan for the student. At the same time, the special support education coordinator approached the student\u27s classmates from the aspect of class building. As a result, the student\u27s problem behaviors were reduced. Through this research, we have learned that team support led by a special support education coordinator and the aspect of class building are extremely important in order to support a student with mild developmental disorders in a normal class

Effects of Structured Group Encounter on Non-attending Junior High School Students : Study for Self-Esteem , Social Skills and Stress Responses

In this study, we examined the effects of SGE(Structured Group Encounter) on non-attending students at a junior high school. The subjects are 8 students attending school for children with health impairments and have a tendency not to attend their ordinary school. They filled out questionnaires including Self-esteem Scale, Social Skills Scale, and Stressful Response Scale. The results of the questionnaires before the experiments were compared to those after the experiments. We examined the following : (1) student\u27s self-evaluations ; (2) teacher\u27s evaluations of the student\u27s behavior ; (3) the difference between the evaluations of teachers and students ; (4) self-description of the students ; and (5) self-description of the teachers. The results showed that SGE improve their fantasied self-perception of their self-esteem and social skills, and declease their stress responses