Slow Relaxation Process in Ising like Heisenberg Kagome Antiferromagnets due to Macroscopic Degeneracy in the Ordered State

We study relaxation phenomena in the ferromagnetically ordered state of the Ising-like Heisenberg kagome antiferromagnets. We introduce the "weathervane loop" in order to characterize macroscopic degenerate ordered states and study the microscopic mechanism of the slow relaxation from a view point of the dynamics of the weathervane loop configuration. This mechanism may give a possible origin of the slow relaxation reported in recent experiments.Comment: 6pages, 4figures, HFM2006 proceeding

Hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome – the markers for an early HSES diagnosis

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The hemorrhagic shock and encephalopathy syndrome (HSES) is a devastating disease that affects young children. The outcomes of HSES patients are often fatal or manifesting severe neurological sequelae. We reviewed the markers for an early diagnosis of HSES.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>We examined the clinical, biological and radiological findings of 8 patients (4 months to 9 years old) who met the HSES criteria.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Although cerebral edema, disseminated intravascular coagulopathy (DIC), and multiple organ failure were seen in all 8 cases during their clinical courses, brain computed tomography (CT) scans showed normal or only slight edema in 5 patients upon admission. All 8 patients had normal platelet counts, and none were in shock. However, they all had severe metabolic acidosis, which persisted even after 3 hours (median base excess (BE), -7.6 mmol/L). And at 6 hours after admission (BE, -5.7 mmol/L) they required mechanical ventilation. Within 12 hours after admission, fluid resuscitation and vasopressor infusion for hypotension was required. Seven of the patients had elevated liver enzymes and creatine kinase (CK) upon admission. Twenty-four hours after admission, all 8 patients needed vasopressor infusion to maintain blood pressure.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>CT scan, platelet count, hemoglobin level and renal function upon admission are not useful for an early diagnosis of HSES. However, the elevated liver enzymes and CK upon admission, hypotension in the early stage after admission with refractory acid-base disturbance to fluid resuscitation and vasopressor infusion are useful markers for an early HSES diagnosis and helpful to indicate starting intensive neurological treatment.</p

Comparison of endothelial progenitor cell function in type 2 diabetes with good and poor glycemic control

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Endothelial progenitor cells (EPCs) play an important role in vascular repair and a decrease in the number of EPCs is observed in type 2 diabetes. However, there is no report on the change of EPCs after glycemic control. This study therefore aimed to investigate the EPC number and function in patients with good and poor glycemic control.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>The number of EPCs was studied using flow cytometry by co-expression of CD34 and VEGFR2. The EPCs were cultured and characterized by the expression of UEA-I, CD34, VEGFR2, vWF and Dil-Ac-LDL engulfment, as well as the ability to form capillary-like structures. An <it>in vitro </it>study on the effect of hyperglycemia on the proliferation and viability of the cultured EPCs was also performed.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>The number of EPCs in type 2 diabetes was significantly decreased compared with healthy controls and there was an inverse correlation between the EPC numbers and plasma glucose, as well as HbA1_C. The number and function of EPCs in patients with good glycemic control were recovered compared with those with poor glycemic control. When glucose was supplemented in the culture <it>in vitro</it>, there was a negative effect on the proliferation and viability of EPCs, in a dose-dependent manner, whereas the enhancement of apoptosis was observed.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>There was EPC dysfunction in type 2 diabetes which might be improved by strict glycemic control. However, the circulating EPC number and proliferative function in patients with good glycemic control did not reach the level in healthy controls.</p

Age-related loss of brain volume and T2 relaxation time in youth with Type 1 diabetes

OBJECTIVE: Childhood-onset type 1 diabetes is associated with neurocognitive deficits, but there is limited evidence to date regarding associated neuroanatomical brain changes and their relationship to illness variables such as age at disease onset. This report examines age-related changes in volume and T2 relaxation time (a fundamental parameter of magnetic resonance imaging that reflects tissue health) across the whole brain. RESEARCH DESIGN AND METHODS: Type 1 diabetes, N = 79 (mean age 20.32 ± 4.24 years), and healthy control participants, N = 50 (mean age 20.53 ± 3.60 years). There were no substantial group differences on socioeconomic status, sex ratio, or intelligence quotient. RESULTS: Regression analyses revealed a negative correlation between age and brain changes, with decreasing gray matter volume and T2 relaxation time with age in multiple brain regions in the type 1 diabetes group. In comparison, the age-related decline in the control group was small. Examination of the interaction of group and age confirmed a group difference (type 1 diabetes vs. control) in the relationship between age and brain volume/T2 relaxation time. CONCLUSIONS: We demonstrated an interaction between age and group in predicting brain volumes and T2 relaxation time such that there was a decline in these outcomes in type 1 diabetic participants that was much less evident in control subjects. Findings suggest the neurodevelopmental pathways of youth with type 1 diabetes have diverged from those of their healthy peers by late adolescence and early adulthood but the explanation for this phenomenon remains to be clarified

Explant origin and culture media factors drive the somatic embryogenesis response in Acrocomia aculeata (Jacq.) Lodd. ex Mart., an emerging oil crop in the tropics

The explant origin and the factors in the culture medium are responsible for the response to somatic embryogenesis in most plant species, including palms. Acrocomia aculeata is a neotropical palm currently undergoing domestication due to its sustainability and profitability as an alternative oil crop. The attainment of productive cultivars of this palm may be speed up by somatic embryogenesis. Thus, this study sought to refine an existing somatic embryogenesis cloning protocol for A. aculeata and to investigate the possible genetic influence on the in vitro propagation response, using zygotic embryos from 19 matrices or open-pollinated families. The embryos were inoculated in modified induction media. The following characteristics were evaluated in this phase: swollen embryos, percentage of zygotic embryos that formed callus, embryogenic calli and oxidation. Afterwards the resulting pro embryogenic masses were subsequently cultivated in modified multiplication, maturation and gemination media. In those phases the open-pollinated families’ response was measured by the growth of their embryogenic mass and the quantity of regenerated and germinated somatic embryos. The refined micropropagation protocol was successful in establishing embryogenic lines and maintaining their cyclic multiplication for a long period; all without the loss of their potential to maturate and regenerate somatic embryos. In general, the multiplication of pro embryogenic masses was effective even in the lowest dose of Picloram (18 μM). The addition of activated charcoal in the medium favored the maturation of somatic embryos. Plantlets regeneration, although defective in some lineages, was promoted by GA3 (0.55 μM). The zygotic embryos’ responsiveness to somatic embryogenesis varied according to their matrices, indicating that if micropropagation is to be used as a mass propagation technique for the species, the explant́s genotype must be considered