Exact Analysis of ESR Shift in the Spin-1/2 Heisenberg Antiferromagnetic Chain

A systematic perturbation theory is developed for the ESR shift and is applied to the spin-1/2 Heisenberg chain. Using the Bethe ansatz technique, we exactly analyze the resonance shift in the first order of perturbative expansion with respect to an anisotropic exchange interaction. Exact result for the whole range of temperature and magnetic field, as well as asymptotic behavior in the low-temperature limit are presented. The obtained g-shift strongly depends on magnetic fields at low temperature, showing a significant deviation from the previous classical result.Comment: 4 pages, 3 figures,to be published in Phys. Rev. Let

Subtemporal approach to basilar tip aneurysm with division of posterior communicating artery: Technical note

The subtemporal approach with division of the posterior communicating artery (PcomA) is described for treating aneurysms of the basilar tip. When the ipsilateral posterior cerebral artery (PCA) interferes with visibility and manipulation around the aneurysm neck and the artery is tethered by the PcomA and not mobilized, the PcomA can be divided near the junction with the PCA. The procedure permits PCA mobilization and exposes the neck of the aneurysm. We applied this procedure to a patient with a ruptured aneurysm of the basilar tip. The postoperative course was uneventful except for transient left oculomotor nerve palsy. Postoperative cerebral angiography and magnetic resonance imaging confirmed the respective disappearance of the aneurysm and no new ischemic lesions. The subtemporal approach allows safer and easier division of the PcomA near the junction to the PCA compared with the pterional approach, and the present procedure is more suitable for the subtemporal approach

Effect of continuous cisternal cerebrospinal fluid drainage for patients with thin subarachnoid hemorrhage

External cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) drainage is an effective method to remove massive subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH), but carries the risk of meningitis and shunt-dependent hydrocephalus. This study investigated whether postoperative cisternal CSF drainage affects the incidence of cerebral vasospasm and clinical outcome in patients with thin SAH. Seventy-eight patients with thin SAH, 22 men and 56 women aged from 17 to 73 years (mean 51.2 years), underwent surgical repair for ruptured anterior circulation aneurysm. Patients were divided into groups with (38 patients) and without (40 patients) postoperative cisternal CSF drainage, and the incidences of angiographical and symptomatic vasospasm, shunt-dependent hydrocephalus, meningitis, and the clinical outcome were compared. The incidences of angiographical vasospasm (31.6% vs 50.0%), symptomatic vasospasm (7.9% vs 12.5%), shunt-dependent hydrocephalus (5.3% vs 0%), and meningitis (2.6% vs 0%) did not differ between patients with and without cisternal CSF drainage. All patients in both groups resulted in good recovery. Postoperative cisternal CSF drainage does not affect the incidence of cerebral vasospasm or the clinical outcome in patients with thin SAH

Adrenomedullin suppresses interleukin-1β-induced tumor necrosis factor-α production in Swiss 3T3 cells

AbstractWe demonstrated that adrenomedullin (AM) inhibited interleukin-1β-induced tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) secretion and gene transcription in Swiss 3T3 fibroblasts maximally to 23% and 18% of control, while the other peptides elevating intracellular cAMP levels elicited much weaker effects. AM rapidly reduced the gene transcript level of TNF-α, inducing a maximal effect within 1 h. The inhibitory effect of AM was restored with an AM receptor antagonist as well as a cAMP-dependent protein kinase inhibitor. These findings indicate that AM is a potent and quick suppressor of TNF-α production in Swiss 3T3 cells acting through the cAMP protein kinase A pathway. As TNF-α is a major inflammatory cytokine and stimulates AM production in fibroblasts, AM is deduced to be an autocrine or paracrine factor suppressing inflammation through the inhibition of TNF-α production

Semi-automatic retractable handrail utilizing opening/closing movement of sliding door supporting elderly people to walk independently

The purpose of this research is to install a handrail on the sliding doors used in hospitals and nursing facilities to support senior and people with disabilities to walk by themselves. The semi-automatic lifting equipment is utilized for the retractable handrail to make sure people in bad health are able to open the door using a weak force. To design the handrail for this purpose, the theoretical formula for opening force is derived. Then the simulation is performed with varying geometry conditions confirming the results are in good agreement with the experiment results. The opening force is designed to be less than the target value previously reported. The sliding door developed in this study is useful for elderly people walking by themselves safely.Peer Reviewe

Comparison of recovery of mobility and self-efficacy after total knee arthroplasty based on two different protocols: A prospective cohort study

Objectives: The purpose of this study was to compare the recovery of mobility and self-efficacy following total knee arthroplasty (TKA) between the 5-day and the 28-day protocol. This prospective cohort study was carried out at two hospitals. Methods: In total, 104 patients who underwent TKA were enrolled. The primary outcomes measured were Life Space Assessment (LSA) for mobility and modified-Gait Efficacy Scale (mGES) for self-efficacy. Knee Society Score (KSS) was used to estimate the functional outcomes. These assessments were performed in all patients preoperatively, and at 1, 3, and 6 months postoperatively. After calculating the propensity score using covariates, such as patient characteristics, LSA, mGES, and KSS at baseline, propensity score-adjusted multivariate analysis of covariance (MANCOVA) was performed. Results: MANCOVA revealed significant differences in LSA and mGES, but not in KSS, between the two protocols. The adjusted means of LSA and mGES in the 28-day protocol were significantly greater than those in the 5-day protocol in all the postoperative assessments. Conclusion: Mobility and self-efficacy were greater following the 28-day protocol than the 5-day protocol after TKA. Our findings suggest that the modified treatment procedure for improving mobility and self-efficacy is necessary to introduce the early discharge protocol in Japan

An Assessment by In Situ Hybridization Method for Pathogens of Severe Respiratory Infection

It has been shown that the in situ hybridization (ISH)method for the detection of phagocyted bacteria in polymorphonuclear neutrophils is more sensitive than conventional blood culture in patients with sepsis.The present study was designed to further evaluate the clinical utility of the ISH method, using a commercially available kit (Hybrizep(R)), for detecting pathogens in patients with severe respiratory infections. Peripheral blood was taken from patients with severe respiratory infections for both routine blood culture and the ISH method,respectively.In addition,focal samples including sputum,bronchoalveolar lavage,central and thoracic catheter, etc. were simultaneously examined for bacterial culture. A total number of 22 specimens was examined.The positive cases by ISH were 50.0% in the respiratory infections,which were significantly higher than those in blood cultures (9.1%).However, identical pathogens in the ISH method were not isolated from blood and/or other sources in respiratory sites. These findings suggest a possibility of high frequency of bacteremia or multifactorious pathogens in severe respiratory infections.The ISH method may provide additional information on serious respiratory infections for the detection of bacteremia. However, the clinical utility by the ISH method for patients with severe respiratory infection remains undetermined. Shinshu Med J 59 : 223―228, 2011Article信州医学雑誌 59(4): 223-228(2011)departmental bulletin pape