Extremely broad hysteresis in the magnetization process of α-Dy2S3 single crystal induced by high field cooling

α-Dy2S3 possesses orthorhombic crystal structure having two crystallograpically inequivalent Dy sites. Magnetization process of α-Dy2S3 single crystal after cooling in the high magnetic field of 18 T has been investigated. The magnetization under the field of 18 T along the α-axis on the cooling process from 150 K shows step-like rises at 70 and 40 K and reaches about 9 μB per one Dy3+ at 1.5 K. This value, which corresponds to 90 % of full saturation moment of Dy3+, is much larger than 6 μB obtained at the same conditions after cooling in no magnetic field (zero-field cooling; ZFC). After cooling to 1.5 K, the magnetization while decreasing field shows abrupt drops at 3.0 and 1.7 T, and then comes to 0 μB at 0 T. Subsequently, while increasing field, the magnetization demonstrates a similar curve to that obtained after ZFC without step-like rise below 13.1 T. At μ0H = 13.1 T, the magnetization rises suddenly and agrees with the curve for the decreasing process. This irreversible magnetization process yields extremely broad hysteresis having width of μ0ΔH = 11.4 T. Broader hysteresis and narrower one are also observed at 4.2 and 10 K, respectively

Characteristics of the elderly in high - resolution computed tomography lung densitometry

To determine the characteristics of the elderly in high - resolution computed tomography (HRCT) lung densitometry, mean lung density (MLD) and relative area of the lungs showing attenuation values less than -950 HU (RA(950)) on HRCT were evaluated in nonsmoking control subjects (n = 80) and patients with asthma (n = 80) in relation to their age and pulmonary function. MLD was significantly decreased, and RAW was significantly increased with increasing age in both asthmatics and controls. The MLD values were significantly lower in asthmatics compared with controls in subjects aged between 60 and 69 years and over age 70. RAgsov alues were significantly higher in asthmatics compared with controls in subjects aged between 50 and 59 years, between 60 and 69, and over 70. % FEV(1) and FEV(1) / FVC were significantly decreased in elderly asthmatic patients over 70 years of age compared with the values in those under 49. Percent residual volume (% RV) was significantly larger in patients over 70 years of age than in those between 50 and 59, and under 49 years. RAW was significantly larger in patients with steroid-dependent intractable asthma (SDIA) between 50 and 59 years of age, and between 60 and 69 compared with RA 950 in those without SDIA. However, RAW did not differ significantly between SDIA and non-SDIA in patients over age 70. The results suggested that in % LAA of the lungs on HRCT was significantly increased in the elderly subjects with and without asthma, and it was significantly higher in the elderly asthmatics than the elderly controls.高齢者の病態的特徴を明らかにするために，健常者80例および非喫煙喘息患者80例を対象として，平均肺CT値（MLD）ならびに高分解能CT（HRCT）による－950HU以下の肺low attenuation area（RA950）を評価し，年齢及び肺機能との関連を検討した。　 1．健常者，喘息患者いずれにおいても年齢とともにMLDは有意に減少し，RA(950)は有意に増加した。MLDは，60－69歳と70歳以上の年 齢層において，健常者に比して喘息患者で有意に低値を示した。RA(950)。は，50－59歳・60－69歳・70歳以上の年齢層において，健常者に比して喘息患者で有意に高値を示した。　 2．喘息患者において，1秒量（% FEV(1)）および1秒（FEV(1)/ FVC）は，49歳以下の年齢層に比して70歳以上の年齢層で有意に低値を示した。一方，残気量（% RV）は，50－59歳ならびに49歳以下の年齢層に比して70歳以上の年齢層で有意に高値を示した。 3．50－59歳および60－69歳の年齢層では，RA(950)は，ステロイド依存性重症難治性喘息（SDIA）患者において非SDIA患者に比して有意に高値を示した。しかし，70歳以上の年齢層では両者に有意の差は認められなかった。これらの結果より，HRCT上の肺low attenuation areaは高齢者において有意に増加すること，さらに嘱息患者の方が健常者に比してより高値を示すことが示唆された

5.Technology

熊本大学Nihonrimonaito, CoHujikinzoku CoEditor : Tazaki, Kazue, Cover:Scanning electoron microscopic photograph of Gallionella sp. in biomats of Aso caldera, Kyusyu, Japan. Various shapes of Gallonella sp. are shown (image:Moriichi, Shingo).COE, 金沢大学 水・土壌環境領域シンポジウム「地球環境における微生物の役割」, 日時：2002年12月4日（水）13：00～, 場所：金沢大学理学部3階第一実験

Peritoneal keratin granuloma associated with endometrioid adenocarcinoma of the uterine corpus

We present a 69-year-old woman with a chief complaint of postmenopausal bleeding. She was diagnosed as having an endometrioid adenocarcinoma by biopsy, and underwent a total abdominal hysterectomy. At the time of surgery, granulation tissue-like nodules were found on the peritoneal serosa of the uterus. In the intraoperative cytology of peritoneal washing, atypical cells were noted. The intraoperative frozen section of the peritoneal nodule revealed granulation tissue with proliferating mesothelial cells. Microscopic examination of the permanent section showed keratin granulomas without viable adenocarcinoma cells on the serosal surface of the ovaries, fallopian tubes and broad ligaments. Postoperative chemotherapy was administered. She has been alive with no evidence of recurrence for 6 months postoperatively. It should be noted that the prognosis of cases in peritoneal keratin granuloma without viable cancer cells is favorable, and that the histological examination is essential for its diagnosis

Clinical effects of long-term spa therapy on pulmonaryemphysema. Evaluation by pulmonary function and pathological changes of terminal airspace of the lung

Clinical effects of long-term spa therapy for 4 years were estimated in 8 patients of pulmonary emphysema (4 with spa therapy and 4 without spa therapy) by pulmonary function and morphological changes of peripheral airspaces of the lung on high - resolution computed tomography (HRCT). 1 . The values of % FVC, % FEV1.0, and FEV 1.0% did not significantly change for 4year observation both in patients with spa therapy and those without spa therapy. 2. The OLco value significantly decreased from 69.9% at the initial level to 48.8% after 4-year observation in patients without spa therapy (p<O.02). However, the DLco value did not significantly decrease in patients with spa therapy. 3. The values of % RV and % LAA of the lung showed a significant increase in patients without spa therapy (% RV: p<O.05, % LAA: p<O.Ol after 4-year observation compared with the initial levels), however, a change in % RV and % LAA was not significant in patients with spa therapy. 4. The CT number also significantly decreased in patients without spa therapy, but not in those with spa therapy. The results suggest that spa therapy improves % DLco, % RV and morphological changes of peripheral airspaces, chiefly overinflation, of the lung in patients with pulmonary emphysema.肺気腫に対する4年以上にわたる温泉療法の臨床効果を,肺機能の面および末梢肺領域の形態学的変化により評価した｡ 1.FVC,% FEV1.0,およびFEV1.0%値は,温泉療法を受けた症例と受けなかった症例の間に有意の差は見られなかった｡ 2.拡散能(DLco)は,温泉療法を受けなかった症例では,観察初期の69.9%から4年後には48.8%と有意の低下を示したが,温泉療法を続 けた症例では,有意の低下は見られなかった｡ 3.% RVおよびHRCT上の-950HU以下の肺のlow attenuation area(LAA)は,いずれも温泉療法を受けなかった症例では有意の増加傾向を示したが,温泉療法を受けた症例では有意の増加傾向は見られなかった｡ 4.Crnumberは,温泉療法を受けなかった症例では有意の低下を示したが,温泉療法を続けた症例では有意の変化は見られなかった｡これらの結果より,肺気腫に対する温泉療法を続けることにより,% DLcoや % RVは改善する傾向を示し,同時に肺胞の過膨脹の部分(破壊された部分ではなく)が改善されていく可能性が示唆される

長期間の喫煙は高齢者気管支喘息における気道過敏性と関連した白血球LTB4産生を亢進させる

Abstract : Influence of cigarette smoking on leukotriene 84 (LTB4) generation by leucocytes associated with bronchial hyperresponsiveness was examined in 110 patients with asthma. l. The frequency of positive RAST score for inhalant allergens and LTB4 generation by leucocytes were significantly larger in previous and current smokers than in nonsmokers. 2. In nonsmokers, bronchial hyperresponsiveness was significantly higher in asthmatics under the age of 49 years compared with that in patients between 50 and 59 years, between 60 and 69 years, and those over age 70 years. In contrast, no significant differences were present between bronchial hyperresponsiveness and patient age in previous and current smokers. 3. In patients over age 60, bronchial hyperresponsiveness was significantly higher in previous and current smokers than in nonsmokers. In these patients, LTB4 generation was significantly more increased in previous and current smokers than in nonsmokers. 4. A significant correlation was observed in asthmatics of nonsmokers between LTB4 generation and bronchial hyperresponsiveness . 5. LTC4 generation was significantly higher in previous and current smokers than in nonsmokers in patients under age 49 years. These results show that in patients over age 60 years, cigarette smoking induces an increase in the generation of LTB4, leading to an increase in bronchial hyperresponsiveness .気管支喘息110例を対象に，長期間の喫煙の気道過敏性および白血球のロイコトリエンB4産生に及ぼす影響について検討した。　 1．吸入抗原に対してRAST陽性を示す症例の頻度および白血球のLTB4産生は，喫煙例において非喫煙例に比べ有意に高い値を示した。　 2．非喫煙例においては、その気道過敏性は49才以下の症例において50－59才，60－69才および70才以上の症例に比べ，有意に高い値を示した。しかし，喫煙例においては，年令による気道過敏性の差は見られなかった。　 3．60才以上の症例では，その気道過敏性は非喫煙例に比べ，喫煙例で有意に高い値を示した。このような症例では，LTB4産生能も非喫煙例に比べ喫煙例で有意の亢進が見られた。　 4．非喫煙例では，気道過敏性とLTB4産生との間に有意の相関が見 られた。以上の結果より，60才以上の症例では喫煙がLTB4産生を克進させ，その結果として気道過敏性が亢進してくることが推測された

Malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor associated with neurofibromatosis type 1, with metastasis to the heart: a case report

A rare case is presented of a 61-year-old man with a malignant peripheral nerve sheath tumor associated with neurofibromatosis type 1, with metastasis to the heart. The primary tumor originated in the right thigh in 1982. Since then, the patient has had repeated local recurrences in spite of repeated surgical treatment and adjuvant chemotherapy. He has developed previous metastases of the lung and heart. The patient died of cardiac involvement

Natural Variation in the Flag Leaf Morphology of Rice Due to a Mutation of the NARROW LEAF 1 Gene in Oryza sativa L.

We investigated the natural variations in the flag leaf morphology of rice. We conducted a principal component analysis based on nine flag leaf morphology traits using 103 accessions from the National Institute of Agrobiological Sciences Core Collection. The first component explained 39% of total variance, and the variable with highest loading was the width of the flag leaf (WFL). A genome-wide association analysis of 102 diverse Japanese accessions revealed that marker RM6992 on chromosome 4 was highly associated with WFL. In analyses of progenies derived from a cross between Takanari and Akenohoshi, the most significant quantitative trait locus (QTL) for WFL was in a 10.3-kb region containing the NARROW LEAF 1 (NAL1) gene, located 0.4 Mb downstream of RM6992. Analyses of chromosomal segment substitution lines indicated that a mutation (G1509A single-nucleotide mutation, causing an R233H amino acid substitution in NAL1) was present at the QTL. This explained 13 and 20% of total variability in WFL and the distance between small vascular bundles, respectively. The mutation apparently occurred during rice domestication and spread into japonica, tropical japonica, and indica subgroups. Notably, one accession, Phulba, had a NAL1 allele encoding only the N-terminal, or one-fourth, of the wild-type peptide. Given that the Phulba allele and the histidine-type allele showed essentially the same phenotype, the histidine-type allele was regarded as malfunctional. The phenotypes of transgenic plants varied depending on the ratio of histidine-type alleles to arginine-type alleles, raising the possibility that H(233)-type products function differently from and compete with R(233)-type products

Early uptake and continuous accumulation of thallium-201 chloride in a benign mixed tumor of soft tissue: Case Report

A case of benign mixed tumor of the soft tissue in a 64-year-old Japanese male is presented. He noticed a painless, elastic hard mass sized 3 cm in the right knee, which gradually grew larger and harder in the last 5 years. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated a mass lesion embedded in the subcutaneous tissue with low and high signal intensity at T1- and T2-weighted images, respectively. Tl-201 scintigraphy showed an early uptake of Tl-201 within the lesion at 10 minutes after injection, which was slightly decreased but still continued at 2 hours later. The patient underwent a resection of tumor, and the pathological diagnosis was a benign mixed tumor of soft tissue without high vascularity, characterized by histological features similar to pleomorphic adenomas in the salivary glands. Immunohistochemical study proved expression of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase of tumor cells. Overexpression of Na(+)/K(+)-ATPase of the tumor might be responsible for the early uptake of Tl-201, and poor vascular structure in this tumor might lead to continuous accumulation. The Tl-201 scintigraphic features of mixed tumor of soft tissue are assessed to resemble those of malignant soft tissue tumors