New Supporting Evidence for the Overdensity of Galaxies around the Radio-Loud Quasar SDSS J0836+0054 at z =5.8

Recently, Zheng et al. (2005) found evidence for an overdensity of galaxies around a radio-loud quasar, SDSS J0836+0054, at z=5.8 (a five arcmin$^2$ region). We have examined our deep optical imaging data (B, V, r', i', z', and NB816) taken with the Suprime-Cam on the Subaru Telescope. The NB816 narrow-band filter (lambda_c = 815 nm and $\Delta\lambda = 12$ nm) is suitable for searching for Ly$\alpha$ emitters at $z\approx 5.7$. We have found a new strong Ly$\alpha$ emitter at $z \approx 5.7$ close to object B identified by Zheng et al. Further, the non detection of the nine objects selected by Zheng et al. (2005) in our B, V, and r' images provides supporting evidence that they are high-z objects.Comment: 5 pages, 1 figure, accepted for PAS

Continuous Observations of the Ground Deformations Related to the Matsushiro Earthquakes

In order to investigate the relations between ground deformations and seismic activities in Matsushiro and neighbouring regions, continuous observations on the ground tilt and strain were carried out at Matsushiro and Suzaka. At Matsushiro, three tiltmeters of horizontal pendulum type and two extensometers of bow-string type were installed in the underground gallery bored into Zozan hill, the western suburb of Matsushiro Town. At Suzaka, two tiltmeters of water tube type and two tiltmeters of horizontal pendulum type were installed in the underground gallery bored halfway up Kamatayama hill, the western suburb of Suzaka City. As to Matsushiro, it was observed that the velocity of the ground tilt sometimes changed before the occurrence of an earthquake. As to Suzaka, it proved that the direction of the ground tilt changed markedly every time an earthquake of a magnitude larger than 5.0 occurred, and an anomalous ground tilt appeared before the occurrence of the earthquakes of Sep. 27, 1966, and Feb. 8, 1967

Post-ERCP pancreatogastric fistula associated with an intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasm of the pancreas – a case report and literature review

BACKGROUND: Fistula formation has been reported in intraductal papillary-mucinous neoplasms (IPMNs) with or without invasion of the adjacent organs. The presence or absence of invasion is mostly determined by postoperative histological examination rather than by preoperative work-up. CASE PRESENTATION: A 72 year-old Japanese woman showed remarkable dilatation of the main pancreatic duct (MPD) in the distal region of the pancreas. Subsequent ERCP also showed MPD dilatation, after which the patient suffered moderate pancreatitis. A subsequent gastroscopy revealed a small ulceration that had not been observed in a gastroscopy performed 3 months prior. Mucinous discharge from the ulceration suggested it might be the orifice of a fistula connected to the MPD. En bloc resection including the distal region of the pancreas, spleen, stomach and part of the transverse colon was performed under the pre- and intraoperative diagnosis of an invasive malignant IPMN. However, histopathology revealed the lesion to be of "borderline malignancy" without apparent invasion of the stomach. Light microscopy showed inflammatory cellular infiltrates (mainly neutrophils) around the pancreatogastric fistula, but there was no evidence of neoplastic epithelia lining the fistulous tract. CONCLUSION: This case highlights that a pancreatogastric fistula can develop after acute inflammation of the pancreas in the absence of cancer invasion. Further information regarding IPMN-associated fistulae is necessary to clarify the pathogenesis, diagnosis, appropriate surgical intervention and prognosis for this disorder

Strong Emission-Line Galaxies at Low Redshift in the Field around the Quasar SDSSp J104433.04-012502.2

We discuss observational properties of strong emission-line galaxies at low redshift found by our deep imaging survey for high-redshift Ly alpha emitters. In our surveys, we used the narrowband filter, NB816 (lambda_center=8150A with FWHM = 120A), and the intermediate-band filter, IA827 (lambda_center = 8270A with FWHM = 340A). In this survey, 62 NB816-excess (> 0.9 mag) and 21 IA827-excess (> 0.8 mag) objects were found. Among them, we found 20 NB816-excess and 4 IA827-excess Ly alpha emitter candidates. Therefore, it turns out that 42 NB816-excess and 17 IA827-excess objects are strong emission-line objects at lower redshift. Since 4 objects in the two low-z samples are common, the total number of strong low-z emitters is 55. Applying our photometric redshift technique, we identify 7 H alpha emitters at z~0.24, 20 H beta-[OIII] ones at z~0.65, and 11 [OII] ones at z~1.19. However, we cannot determine reliable photometric redshifts of the remaining 17 emitters. The distributions of their rest frame equivalent widths are consistently understood with recent studies of galaxy evolution from z~1 to z~0.Comment: 28 pages, 8 figures, PASJ, Vol. 58, No. 1, in pres

Primary small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma of the duodenum – a case report and review of literature

BACKGROUND: Small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the duodenum is an extremely rare neoplasm with poor prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 57-year-old man presented with sudden onset gastrointestinal bleeding and fainting attacks. Duodenoscopy and hypotonic duodenography revealed a 3 × 3 cm protruding tumor with ulcerations situated opposite the ampulla of Vater in the second part of the duodenum. Local excision of the tumor was performed, followed by adjuvant chemotherapy with 5-fluoro uracil and leucovorin. Examination of the tumor by immunohistochemistry and electron microscopy indicated it to be neuroendocrine in nature, expressing synaptophysin and AE1/AE3, and containing dense core granules. The patient showed no sign of recurrence and has been disease-free for more than 48 months after surgery. CONCLUSIONS: Most cases of small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma in the duodenum show rapid progression of the disease, and even radical surgery with or without chemotherapy do not prevent death. We report a rare subtype of small-cell neuroendocrine carcinoma. This subtype appears to have a much better prognosis, and may be amenable to local excision, if the lesion is away from the ampulla of Vater

A survey of NB921 dropouts in the Subaru Deep Field

In order to search for high-redshift galaxies beyond $z = 6.6$ in the Subaru Deep Field, we have investigated NB921-dropout galaxies where NB921 is the narrowband filter centered at 919.6 nm with FWHM of 13.2 nm for the Suprime-Cam on the Subaru Telescope. There are no secure NB921-dropout candidates brighter than $z^\prime = 25.5$. Based on this result, we discuss the UV luminosity function of star-forming galaxies at $z > 6.6$.Comment: 10 pages, 5 figures, PASJ, Vol.57, No.5, in pres

Reconstruction-Dependent Recovery from Anorexia and Time-Related Recovery of Regulatory Ghrelin System in Gastrectomized Rats

Gastrectomy reduces food intake and body weight (BW) hampering recovery of physical conditions. It also reduces plasma levels of stomach-derived orexigenic ghrelin. This study explored changes in orexigenic ghrelin system in rats receiving total gastrectomy with Billroth II (B-II) or Roux-en-Y (R-Y) method. Feeding and BW were reduced by gastrectomy and subsequently recovered to a greater extent with R-Y than B-II while plasma ghrelin decreased similarly. At postoperative 12th week, ghrelin contents increased in the duodenum and pancreas, plasma ghrelin levels increased upon fasting, and ghrelin injection promoted feeding but not in earlier periods. In summary, gastrectomized rats partially recover feeding and BW, in a reconstruction-dependent manner. At 12th week, ghrelin is upregulated in extra-stomach tissues, plasma ghrelin levels are physiologically regulated, and orexigenic effect of exogenous ghrelin is restored. This time-related recovery of ghrelin system may provide a strategy for promoting feeding, BW, and thereby physical conditions in gastrectomized patients