Electrical Control for Extending the Ramsey Spin Coherence Time of Ion-Implanted Nitrogen-Vacancy Centers in Diamond

The extension of spin coherence times is a crucial issue for quantum information and quantum sensing. In solid-state systems, suppressing noise through various techniques has been demonstrated. On the other hand, an electrical control for suppression is important toward individual controls of on-chip quantum-information devices. Here, we show electrical control for extension of the spin coherence times of 40-nm-deep ion-implanted single-nitrogen-vacancy center spins in diamond by suppressing magnetic noise. We apply 120 V dc across two contacts spaced by 10 μm. The spin coherence times, estimated from a free-induction decay and a Hahn-echo decay, are increased up to about 10 times (reaching 10 μs) and 1.4 times (reaching 150 μs), respectively. From the quantitative analysis, the dominant decoherence source, depending on the applied static electric field, is elucidated. Electrical control for extension can deliver a sensitivity enhancement to the dc sensing of temperature, pressure, and electric (but not magnetic) fields, opening up an alternative technique in solid-state quantum-information devices

Lynx1, a Cholinergic Brake, Limits Plasticity in Adult Visual Cortex

Experience-dependent brain plasticity typically declines after an early critical period during which circuits are established. Loss of plasticity with closure of the critical period limits improvement of function in adulthood, but the mechanisms that change the brain’s plasticity remain poorly understood. Here, we identified an increase in expression of Lynx1 protein in mice that prevented plasticity in the primary visual cortex late in life. Removal of this molecular brake enhanced nicotinic acetylcholine receptor signaling. Lynx1 expression thus maintains stability of mature cortical networks in the presence of cholinergic innervation. The results suggest that modulating the balance between excitatory and inhibitory circuits reactivates visual plasticity and may present a therapeutic target

A long-term survivor of repeated inguinal nodes recurrence of papillary serous adenocarcinoma of CUP: case report

BACKGROUND: Tumor spread beyond the peritoneal cavity in cases of papillary serous adenocarcinoma of the unknown primary (CUP) is a rare late event and carries a poor prognosis. CASE PRESENTATION: A 71-year-old female was referred to our hospital because of a large right inguinal tumor with biopsy evidence of carcinoma as well as an elevated serum CA125 (cancer antigen 125). She underwent complete resection of the right inguinal tumor and multiple pelvic tumors, which involved the rectum, ovary and uterus. Pathological examination revealed the tumors to be metastases of a papillary serous adenocarcinoma with a psammoma body of CUP. On the 28th postoperative day, newly developed asymptomatic small left inguinal node metastases in the setting of a normal CA125 level were removed. Four and a half years after the primary resection, the CA125 level increased again and newly developed asymptomatic metastases were found in the right deep inguinal nodes and extirpated at that time. All surgical resections followed the modified FAM (5FU, Adriamycin; ADM, MMC) regimen, including protracted dairy oral administration of UFT or 5'-FDUR, Cimetidine and PSK (protein-bound polysaccharide K) as an immunomodulator or biological response modifier in conjunction with intermittent one-day continuous infusion (ADM+MMC) or intermittent single bolus injection of ADM+MMC. At present, the patient has been living in good health for almost 7 years with no evidence of relapse. CONCLUSION: Aggressive resection surgery followed by effective adjuvant chemotherapy is necessary for surviving long time without relapse of poorly prognostic patients with metastases outside of the abdominal cavity from peritoneal papillary serous adenocarcinomas

Vascular Remodeling in Health and Disease

The term vascular remodeling is commonly used to define the structural changes in blood vessel geometry that occur in response to long-term physiologic alterations in blood flow or in response to vessel wall injury brought about by trauma or underlying cardiovascular diseases.1, 2, 3, 4 The process of remodeling, which begins as an adaptive response to long-term hemodynamic alterations such as elevated shear stress or increased intravascular pressure, may eventually become maladaptive, leading to impaired vascular function. The vascular endothelium, owing to its location lining the lumen of blood vessels, plays a pivotal role in regulation of all aspects of vascular function and homeostasis.5 Thus, not surprisingly, endothelial dysfunction has been recognized as the harbinger of all major cardiovascular diseases such as hypertension, atherosclerosis, and diabetes.6, 7, 8 The endothelium elaborates a variety of substances that influence vascular tone and protect the vessel wall against inflammatory cell adhesion, thrombus formation, and vascular cell proliferation.8, 9, 10 Among the primary biologic mediators emanating from the endothelium is nitric oxide (NO) and the arachidonic acid metabolite prostacyclin [prostaglandin I2 (PGI2)], which exert powerful vasodilatory, antiadhesive, and antiproliferative effects in the vessel wall

Efficacy of Serotonin Type 3 Receptor Antagonist Ramosetron on Diarrhea-Predominant Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS-D)-Like Symptoms in Patients with Quiescent Inflammatory Bowel Disease: A Randomized, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

Patients with quiescent inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) frequently suffer diarrhea-predominant irritable bowel syndrome (IBS-D)-like symptoms, such as abdominal pain or stool irregularities. Here, we assessed the effect of ramosetron, a serotonin type 3 (5-HT3) receptor antagonist, on IBS-D-like symptoms in patients with quiescent IBD. Seventy patients with quiescent IBD, who met the Rome III diagnostic criteria for IBS-D, were randomly assigned to receive either ramosetron (5 μg; n = 35) or a placebo (n = 35) orally once daily for 4 weeks. The primary endpoint was the responder rate for global assessment of relief from overall IBS-D-like symptoms. The responder rates for relief of abdominal pain/discomfort and improvement of bowel habits were also evaluated. The responder rate for relief from overall IBS-D-like symptoms at the final evaluation point was significantly higher in the ramosetron group (35.5%) than in the placebo group (11.4%) (p = 0.037). The responder rate for improvement of bowel habits was significantly higher in the ramosetron group (38.7%) than in the placebo group (14.3%) (p = 0.028). The reduction of stool frequency was significantly greater in the ramosetron group than in the placebo group (p = 0.044). Ramosetron is effective for relief of overall IBS-D-like symptoms in patients with quiescent IBD

Epidemiology and Clinical Characteristics Based on the Rome III and IV Criteria of Japanese Patients with Functional Dyspepsia

The subtypes of functional dyspepsia (FD) differ depending on whether the Rome III criteria or the Rome IV criteria are used. We investigated the ability to diagnose FD patients using the Rome III and IV criteria. The subtypes of FD were evaluated using the Rome questionnaire. The Gastrointestinal Symptom Rating Score, health-related quality of life (HR-QOL; SF-8), and psychological scores (HADS, STAI) were evaluated. The questionnaire was collected from a total of 205 patients, and 54.1% were FD patients. The ratio of FD patients under the Rome III criteria was 19% for epigastric pain syndrome (EPS), 38% for postprandial distress syndrome (PDS), and 43% for an overlap of EPS and PDS, but under the Rome IV criteria overlap decreased to 17% and PDS increased to 64%. Patients whose subtype changed from overlap under the Rome III criteria to PDS under the Rome IV criteria were compared with PDS patients whose subtype did not change between the Rome III and IV criteria. The comparison showed that the former had significantly lower early satiation rates and significantly higher acid reflux and abdominal pain scores, demonstrating that EPS symptoms due to acid reflux after meals were clearly present. As a result of changing from the Rome III criteria to the Rome IV criteria, the number of overlap patients decreased, and the number of PDS patients increased