Magnetic Phase Transition of MnBi under High Magnetic Fields and High Temperature

Magnetization measurements and differential thermal analysis (DTA) of polycrystalline MnBi were carried out in magnetic fields up to 14 T and in 300-773 K, in order to investigate the magnetic phase transition. The magnetic phase transition temperature (T t ) at a zero magnetic field is 628 K and linearly increases with increasing fields up to 14 T at the rate of 2 KT À1 . A metamagnetic transition between the paramagnetic and field-induced ferromagnetic states was observed just above T t . The exothermic and endothermic peaks were detected in the magnetic field dependence of DTA signals in 626-623 K, which relates to the metamagnetic transition. The obtained results were discussed on the basis of a mean field theory

Basal insulin ratio of type 1 diabetes

Aims/Introduction: To investigate the basal insulin requirement in patients with type 1 diabetes who are on multiple daily injections (MDI) and to assess the patient characteristics that affect the percent of total daily basal insulin dose to the total daily insulin dose (%TBD/TDD). Materials and Methods: The subjects of this study were 67 inpatients with type 1 diabetes who were served diabetic meals of 25–30 kcal/kg standard body weight during several weeks of hospitalization. The basal insulin requirement was adjusted to keep the blood glucose level from bedtime to before breakfast within a 30 mg/dL difference. The bolus insulin dose before the meal was adjusted to keep the blood glucose level below 140 and 200 mg/dL before and 2 h after each meal, respectively. The total daily insulin dose (TDD), the percent of total daily basal insulin dose (TBD) to TDD (%TBD/TDD), and clinical characteristics were collected. Results: The median (Q1, Q3) of TDD was 33.0 (26.0, 49.0) units, and the %TBD/TDD was 24.1 ± 9.8%. The %TBD/TDD was positively correlated with the body mass index (BMI) and negatively correlated with the age at the onset and at the examination according to a univariate analysis. However, the %TBD/TDD was dependent on the BMI (β = 0.340, P = 0.004) and the age at examination (β = −0.288, P = 0.012) according to the multiple regression analysis. Conclusions: The average %TBD/TDD in patients with type 1 diabetes on MDI was approximately 24% under inpatient conditions. The basal insulin requirement was dependent on the BMI and the age at examination

A case of isolated ACTH deficiency that required 6 months for the diagnosis from onset

A 53-year-old man noticed anorexia, nausea, and arthralgia of the upper limbs in April, 201X. Since these symptoms persisted, he visited general hospital and clinic and was examined for blood chemistry, ECG, echocardiography and so on. However, he did not get a definitive diagnosis and was followed up with drip infusion of saline. The symptoms did not subside and fatigue and syncope with hypotension developed. Furthermore, he also suffered weight loss of 10 kg in few months and was referred to our hospital for more detailed examinations in October, 201X. Upon the initial examination, all his symptoms matched those of adrenal insufficiency and notable decreases of both plasma ACTH and serum cortisol level were observed. Prompt glucocorticoid supplementation improved his symptoms and the abnormal laboratory data immediately. He was diagnosed adrenal insufficiency due to isolated ACTH deficiency from the results of CRH loading test and insulin tolerance test. Since most of the symptoms and laboratory findings are non-specific, diagnosis of adrenal insufficiency is often delayed. However, adrenal insufficiency could worsen when the patient is under stress (e.g. infection) and often be life-threatening. Glucocorticoid replacement therapy should be initiated as soon as the diagnosis is confirmed. Furthermore, educating patients and his families plays a very important role in the management of chronic adrenal insufficiency, in particular to the prevention of adrenal crisis

A case of Cushing’s syndrome detected by repeated fragility fractures

A ３８-year-old woman had suffered from an avulsion fracture of the left cuboid bone, a rib fracture, a fatigue fracture of the left second metatarsal bone and a pubic fracture within the last ４ years. She also realized that her face was getting rounded and became aware of edema on extremities. She had repeated fragile fractures before menopause and was referred to our department on suspicion of secondary osteoporosis. The patients showed physical signs of moon face, central obesity, and abdominal violaceous striae. Cushing’s syndrome was suspected, therefore confirmatory studies were performed. Circadian variation of cortisol : serum cortisol１９．３μg／dL（at７：００）, ２１．４μg／dL（at２３：００）, urinary free cortisol :２４７．４μg／２４h, ACTH :２．５pg／mL. Low-dose（１mg） dexamethasone did not suppress cortisol level（１８．９μg/dL）. Based on these findings, we diagnosed as Cushing’s syndrome and glucocorticoid excess seemed to be the cause of secondary osteoporosis. Abdominal CT identified a ２．７ cm tumor in the left adrenal gland, and in-phase T１‐weighted MRI showed decreased signal compared to out-phase, suggesting an adrenocortical adenoma. She underwent laparoscopic left adrenalectomy. Postoperative fasting serum cortisol decreased to２．２ μg/dL, and glucocorticoid replacement therapy was started. It is necessary to find out any secondary causes for premenopausal women with fragility fractures. It is well known that endocrine disorders including Cushing’s syndrome are the most frequent associated diseases in patients with premenopausal osteoporosis. Cushing’s syndrome should be considered as a causative disease in premenopausal women with osteoporosis

Finishing the euchromatic sequence of the human genome

The sequence of the human genome encodes the genetic instructions for human physiology, as well as rich information about human evolution. In 2001, the International Human Genome Sequencing Consortium reported a draft sequence of the euchromatic portion of the human genome. Since then, the international collaboration has worked to convert this draft into a genome sequence with high accuracy and nearly complete coverage. Here, we report the result of this finishing process. The current genome sequence (Build 35) contains 2.85 billion nucleotides interrupted by only 341 gaps. It covers ∼99% of the euchromatic genome and is accurate to an error rate of ∼1 event per 100,000 bases. Many of the remaining euchromatic gaps are associated with segmental duplications and will require focused work with new methods. The near-complete sequence, the first for a vertebrate, greatly improves the precision of biological analyses of the human genome including studies of gene number, birth and death. Notably, the human enome seems to encode only 20,000-25,000 protein-coding genes. The genome sequence reported here should serve as a firm foundation for biomedical research in the decades ahead

Working together in State-Building and Dvelopment

This volume illustrates the stories of a great number of Japanese who have worked to support reconstruction and development in Afghanistan, with a focus on the ten years since 2001, After the September 11 terrorist attacks in the United States in 2001, the international community has collectively supported a new state-building in Afghanistan. Japan, as part of the community, has been providing support, drawing on its unique expertise and experience. Many Japanese have endeavored to help local Afghans return to peaceful daily lives and to support the state’s reconstruction and development, sometimes with taking personal risks. The book, introducing their daily activities alongside the accomplishment of their painstaking work, attempts to recapture the overall picture of Japan’s support for Afghanistan. In preparing the volume, the JICA-RI established a project team to compile the experiences and information from a variety of people―representatives of the Japanese government and the private sector, NGO members, staff of UN organizations and JICA―who have involved in the Afghan reconstruction in various positions. The project team reproduced a concrete picture of their activities in Afghanistan. The book presents a wide range of efforts: the emergency humanitarian aid during the initial stage of reconstruction; the assistance for a new state institution building from scratch; the support to build foundation for people’s livelihoods; and the human resource development for the future of Afghanistan. The volume also introduces a number of episodes on Japanese assistance in the 1970s. After the twenty-year absence during the war (in the 1980s and 1990s) their impacts still remains in various places even today. These episodes remind us of the importance of assistance to develop human resources and infrastructure that will serve as the foundation for state-building over decades

Successful Pregnancy and Delivery at Term Following Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy with Heparin for Unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Suspected of Immunological Abnormalities: A Case Report and Brief Literature Review

About 60% of cases of recurrent pregnancy loss have unexplained etiology. Immunotherapy for unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss is still unestablished. A 36-year-old woman, not obese, had a stillbirth at 22 gestational weeks and a spontaneous abortion at 8 weeks. She had been examined for recurrent pregnancy loss at previous clinics with no significant findings. When she visited our clinic, a hematologic test showed a Th1/Th2 ratio imbalance. Ultrasonography, hysteroscopy, and semen analysis showed no abnormalities. She successfully conceived by embryo transfer in hormone replacement therapy cycle. However, she had a miscarriage at 19 weeks. The baby had no deformities, but a chromosomal test was not performed, according to the parents’ will. The placenta pathologically suggested hemoperfusion problems. Her and her husband’s chromosomal tests showed normal karyotypes. Other examinations revealed a repeated Th1/Th2 ratio imbalance and a high resistance index of uterine radial artery blood flow. She was administered low-dose aspirin, intravenous immunoglobulin, and unfractionated heparin after the second embryo was transferred. Her baby was healthily born by cesarean section at 40 weeks. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy can be a choice for recurrent miscarriage without risk factors because it has clinically beneficial influences on the patient’s immunological aberration

Successful Pregnancy and Delivery at Term Following Intravenous Immunoglobulin Therapy with Heparin for Unexplained Recurrent Pregnancy Loss Suspected of Immunological Abnormalities: A Case Report and Brief Literature Review

About 60% of cases of recurrent pregnancy loss have unexplained etiology. Immunotherapy for unexplained recurrent pregnancy loss is still unestablished. A 36-year-old woman, not obese, had a stillbirth at 22 gestational weeks and a spontaneous abortion at 8 weeks. She had been examined for recurrent pregnancy loss at previous clinics with no significant findings. When she visited our clinic, a hematologic test showed a Th1/Th2 ratio imbalance. Ultrasonography, hysteroscopy, and semen analysis showed no abnormalities. She successfully conceived by embryo transfer in hormone replacement therapy cycle. However, she had a miscarriage at 19 weeks. The baby had no deformities, but a chromosomal test was not performed, according to the parents’ will. The placenta pathologically suggested hemoperfusion problems. Her and her husband’s chromosomal tests showed normal karyotypes. Other examinations revealed a repeated Th1/Th2 ratio imbalance and a high resistance index of uterine radial artery blood flow. She was administered low-dose aspirin, intravenous immunoglobulin, and unfractionated heparin after the second embryo was transferred. Her baby was healthily born by cesarean section at 40 weeks. Intravenous immunoglobulin therapy can be a choice for recurrent miscarriage without risk factors because it has clinically beneficial influences on the patient’s immunological aberration