Backscattering of Gamma Rays from Tin Slabs

The backscattering of gamma rays from tin slabs was investigated as a function of slab thickness. The point isotropic ⁶⁰Co and ¹³⁷Cs sources were placed on the front face of the scatterer. The obtained data was converted to the response-corrected spectra with the aid of an inverse response matrix, and the angular and energy distributions of backscattered photons were obtained and compared with the other experimental and calculated results

Transforming growth factor-β1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides block interstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction

Transforming growth factor-β1 antisense oligodeoxynucleotides block interstitial fibrosis in unilateral ureteral obstruction.BackgroundInterstitial expression of transforming growth factor-β1 (TGF-β1) is important in tubulointerstitial fibrosis, a common process in most progressive renal diseases. However, no effective therapy for progressive interstitial fibrosis is known. Recently, we developed an artificial viral envelope (AVE)-type hemagglutinating virus of Japan (HVJ) liposome-mediated retrograde ureteral gene transfer method, which allowed us to introduce the genetic material selectively into renal interstitial fibroblasts.MethodWe introduced antisense or scrambled oligodeoxynucleotides (ODNs) for TGF-β1 into interstitial fibroblasts in rats with unilateral ureteral obstruction, a model of interstitial fibrosis, to block interstitial fibrosis by retrograde ureteral injection of AVE-type HVJ liposomes.ResultsTGF-β1 and type I collagen mRNA increased markedly in the interstitium of untreated obstructed kidneys, and those were not affected by scrambled ODN transfection. Northern analysis and in situ hybridization revealed that the levels of TGF-β1 and type I collagen mRNA were dramatically decreased in antisense ODN-transfected obstructed kidneys. Consequently, the interstitial fibrotic area of the obstructed kidneys treated with antisense ODN was significantly less than that of the obstructed kidneys untreated or treated with scrambled ODN.ConclusionThe introduction of TGF-β1 antisense ODN into interstitial fibroblasts may be a potential therapeutic maneuver for interstitial fibrosis

Lymph node metastasis from colon carcinoma at 11 years after the initial operation managed by lymph node resection and chemoradiation: A case report and a review of the literature

AbstractINTRODUCTIONLymph node metastasis from colorectal cancer after a disease-free interval (DFI) of >5years is extremely rare, and occurs in <0.6% cases.PRESENTATION OF CASEA 60-year-old man underwent low anterior resection for sigmoid colon cancer. The lesion was an adenocarcinoma with no lymph node metastasis of Stage II. At 9years after the colectomy, he was diagnosed with prostate cancer and was treated with radiation and hormonal therapies; at 11years, he exhibited suddenly elevated carcinoembryonic antigen levels. Computed tomography (CT) and positron emission tomography-CT revealed a 2.0-cm para-aortic lymph nodes swelling invading the small intestine. These lymph nodes and the affected segment of the small intestine were resected, and histopathology of the resected specimen confirmed a metastatic tumor. The patient was administered radiation therapy after 22 cycles of 5-fluorouracil, oxaliplatin and leucovorin. He however presented with a residual lesion in the para-aortic lymph node, but currently, he has been symptom free for 4years.DISCUSSIONA review of the literature indicates that the median survival of all previously reported patients is 12months, and that colon cancer with a long DFI might be a slow growing. One of these patients and our patient both had received radiation and/or hormonal therapy for another cancer, which probably impaired their immune systems, thus resulting in metastatic tumors.CONCLUSIONWe report a case of lymph node metastasis after a DFI of >5years and review relevant literature to assess the significance and possible reasons for delayed colorectal cancer metastases

Prediction of postoperative liver regeneration from clinical information using a data-led mathematical model

Although the capacity of the liver to recover its size after resection has enabled extensive liver resection, post-hepatectomy liver failure remains one of the most lethal complications of liver resection. Therefore, it is clinically important to discover reliable predictive factors after resection. In this study, we established a novel mathematical framework which described post-hepatectomy liver regeneration in each patient by incorporating quantitative clinical data. Using the model fitting to the liver volumes in series of computed tomography of 123 patients, we estimated liver regeneration rates. From the estimation, we found patients were divided into two groups: i) patients restored the liver to its original size (Group 1, n?=?99); and ii) patients experienced a significant reduction in size (Group 2, n?=?24). From discriminant analysis in 103 patients with full clinical variables, the prognosis of patients in terms of liver recovery was successfully predicted in 85–90% of patients. We further validated the accuracy of our model prediction using a validation cohort (prediction?=?84–87%, n?=?39). Our interdisciplinary approach provides qualitative and quantitative insights into the dynamics of liver regeneration. A key strength is to provide better prediction in patients who had been judged as acceptable for resection by current pragmatic criteria

Evaluation of the Electronic and Local Structure of Mn in Proton-Conducting Oxide, Ca(Zr,Mn)O3-δ, To Elucidate a Direct Hydrogen-Dissolution Reaction

The protonation mechanism in Mn-doped CaZrO3 (CZM), which involves a direct hydrogen dissolution from the surrounding H2 gas, was investigated by thermogravimetry (TG) and X-ray absorption spectroscopy (XAS). The TG results implied the formation of oxygen vacancies in a H2 atmosphere. The Mn K-edge XAS spectra indicated a reduction of the Mn ions and local structure variations around the Mn ion, but the Zr K-edge spectra were independent of the surrounding atmosphere. The amount of oxygen vacancies was smaller with respect to the reduction of the Mn ions, suggesting direct dissolution of hydrogen. Unlike many typical perovskite-type proton conductors, protonation by direct dissolution of hydrogen and not hydration was the predominant reaction in Mn-doped CaZrO3. Our experimental results demonstrated that the hydration reaction was suppressed because the oxygen vacancy was stable in the distorted ZrO6 symmetry in the CaZrO3 crystal host, whereas protonation proceeded by the direct dissolution of hydrogen stabilizing near the Mn ions in the interstitial sites at the distorted MnO6 octahedron symmetry. The experimental results showed that the structural configurations around dopants play important roles in the stabilization of protons in perovskite-type CZM materials. We demonstrated a new group of proton conductors that can overcome issues with conventional proton conductors by utilizing the direct hydrogen dissolution reaction

External Pancreatic Juice Drainage Through a Percutaneous Endoscopic Drainage Tube for the Patient With a Postoperative Pancreatic Juice Leakage

Percutaneous endoscopic gastrostomy (PEG) has been widely accepted for patients who have no swallowing ability but have an intact gut. Its clinical application is mainly for nutritional support and decompression of the intestine in patients with bowel obstruction. In this paper, we report external pancreatic juice drainage through a percutaneous endoscopic drainage tube in a patient with postoperative pancreatic juice leakage. Soon after this procedure, pancreatic juice leakage subsided. This procedure was minimally invasive for the patient and may be a new application of PEG to maintain the good quality of life (QOL) in a patient with pancreatic juice leakage

Investigation of the serum levels of anterior pituitary hormones in male children with autism

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>The neurobiological basis of autism remains poorly understood. The diagnosis of autism is based solely on behavioural characteristics because there are currently no reliable biological markers. To test whether the anterior pituitary hormones and cortisol could be useful as biological markers for autism, we assessed the basal serum levels of these hormones in subjects with autism and normal controls.</p> <p>Findings</p> <p>Using a suspension array system, we determined the serum levels of six anterior pituitary hormones, including adrenocorticotropic hormone and growth hormone, in 32 drug-naive subjects (aged 6 to 18 years, all boys) with autism, and 34 healthy controls matched for age and gender. We also determined cortisol levels in these subjects by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone, growth hormone and cortisol were significantly higher in subjects with autism than in controls. In addition, there was a significantly positive correlation between cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone levels in autism.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our results suggest that increased basal serum levels of adrenocorticotropic hormone accompanied by increased cortisol and growth hormone may be useful biological markers for autism.</p

Alteration of Plasma Glutamate and Glutamine Levels in Children with High-Functioning Autism

浜松医科大学学位論文　医博第624号（平成24年3月19日

Plasma Cytokine Profiles in Subjects with High-Functioning Autism Spectrum Disorders

Accumulating evidence suggests that dysregulation of the immune system is involved in the pathophysiology of autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The aim of the study was to explore immunological markers in peripheral plasma samples from non-medicated subjects with high-functioning ASD.A multiplex assay for cytokines and chemokines was applied to plasma samples from male subjects with high-functioning ASD (n = 28) and matched controls (n = 28). Among a total of 48 analytes examined, the plasma concentrations of IL-1β, IL-1RA, IL-5, IL-8, IL-12(p70), IL-13, IL-17 and GRO-α were significantly higher in subjects with ASD compared with the corresponding values of matched controls after correction for multiple comparisons.The results suggest that abnormal immune responses as assessed by multiplex analysis of cytokines may serve as one of the biological trait markers for ASD