Cyanide-Bridged Decanuclear Cobalt–Iron Cage

A cyanide-bridged decanuclear [Co6Fe4] cluster was synthesized by a one-pot reaction, and the magnetic properties and electronic configuration were investigated. The complex displayed thermally controlled electron-transfer-coupled spin transition (ETCST) behavior between CoIII low-spin–NC–FeII low-spin and CoII high-spin–NC–FeIII low-spin states, as confirmed by single-crystal X-ray, magnetic, and Mössbauer analyses

Health consciousness and cervical cancer screening rates in HPV-unvaccinated girls: comparison from HPV-recommended and HPV-recommendation-suspended program periods

In Japan, the vast majority of females between 13 and 24 are now unvaccinated for HPV and thus unprotected from HPV-caused cervical cancer. We analyzed the differences among these unvaccinated females regarding their understanding of the HPV vaccine, its role in cervical cancer prevention, and their need for cervical cancer screening–based on whether they refused vaccination when their government’s recommendation for HPV vaccination was still in effect (vaccination-recommended group)–or during the last 7 years, while the government suspension was in effect (recommendation-suspended group). The vaccination-recommended group understood more about the HPV vaccine and the best timing for HPV vaccination than the recommendation-suspended group (p < .0001 and p = .002, respectively). We found that girls in the vaccination-recommended group had more chances to talk with the family about cervical cancer and they were more afraid of acquiring the disease (p < .0001 and p < .0001, respectively). The girls in the recommendation-suspended group tended to feel more inhibited from talking about cervical cancer with friends and acquaintances (p = .0262). The cervical cancer screening rate of the vaccination-recommended group was significantly higher (p = .014)

Endoscopic Nd:YAG Laser Treatment in the Perioperative Management of Tracheobronchoplasty

The objective of this study was to determine the role of endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment in the preoperative or postoperative management of tracheobronchoplasty. Eighteen patients with severe stenotic lesions of the trachea or bronchus underwent Nd:YAG laser treatment. Nd:YAG laser treatment was performed in the preoperative period in 14 patients and in the postoperative period in 4 patients. The indications for Nd:YAG laser treatment included emergency airway dilatation, confirmation of the distal margin of tumor, and safe tracheal intubation in patients with severe tracheal stenosis. The indications for Nd:YAG laser treatment in patients with severe stenosis of the mainstem bronchus were confirmation of the distal margin of tumor and recovery of lung ventilation during the preoperative period and reopening of the bronchial lumen to prevent obstructive pneumonia in the postoperative period. Among patients treated with Nd:YAG laser preoperatively, the indications were completely achieved in all 14 patients, except for 1 patient with adenoid cystic carcinoma who underwent treatment of the right mainstem bronchus. Among patients treated with Nd:YAG laser postoperatively the indications also were achieved in all 4 patients with severe granulomatous stenosis of the bronchial end-to-end anastomosis following sleeve lobectomy. In conclusion, endoscopic Nd:YAG laser treatment played an important role in the perioperative management of patients undergoing tracheobronchoplasty

A 100 W-Class Water-Vapor Hall Thruster for Constellations and Space Explorations by SmallSats

The laboratory models of a water-vapor Hall thruster and LaB6 thermionic cathode were developed and tested. To optimize the thruster design to water-vapor propellant, the geometrical investigation was conducted. After testing six different models, the smallest thruster, with an outer diameter of 20 mm, was found to be the most suitable for 100-W class operation. This thruster was able to be operated less than 100 W at 200 V. In addition, the discharge power was suppressed to 200 W even at 300 V. Based on the plume diagnostics, the thrust force of 2.9 mN, specific impulse of 650 s, and anode efficiency of 4.6 % were obtained as a representative performance of this 300 V operating point. After the thruster operation was achieved, the cathode coupling test was conducted to demonstrate electron emission under water-vapor plasma existence. As a result of this experiment, the effective increase in electron current compared to the previous stand-alone tests was confirmed as well as the compatability to the water-vapor plasma plume. On the other hand, the electron emission current has not achieved 100 mA-class yet and the required heating power was predicted over 100 W; thus, further improvement is progressing

Dome-type carcinoma of the colon; a rare variant of adenocarcinoma resembling a submucosal tumor: a case report

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Dome-type carcinoma (DC) is a distinct variant of colorectal adenocarcinoma and less than 10 cases have been described in the literature. Most of the previously reported cases were early lesions and no endoscopic observations have been described so far. We herein report a case of a DC invading the subserosal layer, including endoscopic findings.</p> <p>Case presentation</p> <p>A highly elevated lesion in the transverse colon was diagnosed by colonoscopy in a 77-year-old man. The tumor appeared to be similar to a submucosal tumor (SMT), however, a demarcated area of reddish and irregular mucosa was observed at the top of the tumor. There were no erosions or ulcers. Laparoscopic-assisted right hemicolectomy was performed and pathological examination revealed a well-circumscribed tumor invading the subserosal layer. The tumor was a well-differentiated adenocarcinoma associated with a dense lymphocytic infiltration and showed expansive growth. The overlying mucosal layer showed high-grade dysplasia.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present lesion was diagnosed as a DC of the colon invading the subserosal layer. Because the association of mucosal dysplasia is common in DCs, the detection of dysplastic epithelium would be important to discriminate DCs from SMTs.</p

Activation of fibroblast-like synoviocytes derived from rheumatoid arthritis via lysophosphatidic acid-lysophosphatidic acid receptor 1 cascade

INTRODUCTION: Lysophosphatidic acid (LPA) is a bioactive lipid that binds to G protein–coupled receptors (LPA(1–6)). Recently, we reported that abrogation of LPA receptor 1 (LPA(1)) ameliorated murine collagen-induced arthritis, probably via inhibition of inflammatory cell migration, Th17 differentiation and osteoclastogenesis. In this study, we examined the importance of the LPA–LPA(1) axis in cell proliferation, cytokine/chemokine production and lymphocyte transmigration in fibroblast-like synoviocytes (FLSs) obtained from the synovial tissues of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients. METHODS: FLSs were prepared from synovial tissues of RA patients. Expression of LPA(1–6) was examined by quantitative real-time RT-PCR. Cell surface LPA(1) expression was analyzed by flow cytometry. Cell proliferation was analyzed using a cell-counting kit. Production of interleukin 6 (IL-6), vascular endothelial growth factor (VEGF), chemokine (C-C motif) ligand 2 (CCL2), metalloproteinase 3 (MMP-3) and chemokine (C-X-C motif) ligand 12 (CXCL12) was measured by enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay. Pseudoemperipolesis was evaluated using a coculture of RA FLSs and T or B cells. Cell motility was examined by scrape motility assay. Expression of adhesion molecules was determined by flow cytometry. RESULTS: The expression of LPA(1) mRNA and cell surface LPA(1) was higher in RA FLSs than in FLSs from osteoarthritis tissue. Stimulation with LPA enhanced the proliferation of RA FLSs and the production of IL-6, VEGF, CCL2 and MMP-3 by FLSs, which were suppressed by an LPA(1) inhibitor (LA-01). Ki16425, another LPA(1) antagonist, also suppressed IL-6 production by LPA-stimulated RA FLSs. However, the production of CXCL12 was not altered by stimulation with LPA. LPA induced the pseudoemperipolesis of T and B cells cocultured with RA FLSs, which was suppressed by LPA(1) inhibition. In addition, LPA enhanced the migration of RA FLSs and expression of vascular cell adhesion molecule and intercellular adhesion molecule on RA FLSs, which were also inhibited by an LPA(1) antagonist. CONCLUSIONS: Collectively, these results indicate that LPA–LPA(1) signaling contributes to the activation of RA FLSs

Bivalent Human Papillomavirus Vaccine Effectiveness in a Japanese Population : High Vaccine-Type-Specific Effectiveness and Evidence of Cross-Protection

Acknowledgments.  We thank Dr Tomomi Egawa-Takata, Dr Akiko Morimoto, Dr Yusuke Tanaka, Ms Asami Yagi, Ms Yuka Watanabe, Ms Sachiko Ono, Ms Anna Ishida, and the administrators of Niigata, Nagaoka, Shibata, Sanjo, Joetsu, and Mitsuke cities for their support in conducting the survey. Financial support. This work was supported by the Health and Labor Sciences Research Grant (26272001) and the Japanese Agency for Medical Research and Development (AMED) under grant number JP15ck0106103 and JP17ck0106369.Peer reviewedPublisher PD