Superconducting Properties and Microstructure in Dilute Copper Alloys Containing Small Amounts of V_3Ga Particles(Metallurgy)

The superconducting properties (T_c and J_c) were investigated by the resistivity measurement, and the structure was observed by a transmission electron microscopy in the dilute copper alloys containing small amounts of V_3Ga particles prepared by quenching from the liquid state and aging. No superconductivity could be observed at 4.2 K in as-quenched and/or in overaged samples. The highest T_ (=12.5 K), T_ (=9.6 K), and J_c (=525 A/cm^2) were obtained by aging at 700℃ for 96 h and corresponded with the structure of fine V_3Ga precipitates dispersed homogeneously in the copper matrix. Therefore, it is concluded that superconductivity in these alloys results from the superconducting path due to the proximity effect of the superconducting V_3Ga particles

脊髄症を呈した先天性頸椎癒合症の5症例

Isolated congenital cervical block vertebrae, known as the type 2 klippel-feil syndrome, is rarely presented with symptoms of spondylotic myelopathy. Here, we report on 5 patients who developed spondylotic myelopathy. Not only the adjacent nonfused segments but also the other nonfused segments may became hypermobile and subject to significantly increased stress. For multilevel spondylosis, laminoplasty is effective treatment. This has the advantage of both decompression and the preservation of some cervical movement

Smoke-like echo in the left atrial cavity in mitral valve disease: Its features and significance

In some patients with mitral stenosis, a smoke-like echo is observed in the left atrial cavity. The present study in 116 consecutive patients with rheumatic mitral valve disease investigated the echocardiographic features and clinical significance of this echo. The smoke-like echo is characterized by the following echocardiographic features: 1) it is composed of numerous microechoes; 2) it curls up slowly in the enlarged left atrial cavity; and 3) it vanishes as soon as it pours into the ventricular cavity. Hemostasis in the left atrial cavity was considered to be an important underlying condition for development of the echo. Hemorheologic conditions indicated that the shear rate of blood flow in the left atrial cavity was calculated to be low enough for the development of red blood cell aggregation.These conditions suggest that the source of the smokelike echo might be aggregated cells due to hemostasis in the left atrial cavity. Left atrial thrombi were detected in many patients who had this echo in the left atrial cavity. Although it has not been conclusively determined that the presence of the smoke-like echo is a necessary condition for thrombus formation, this echo appears to be closely related to thrombus formation in the left atrial cavity. It is concluded that the presence of this echo indicates severe left atrial hemostasis and is a warning for thrombus formation

Adenine-and-Uridine-rich element RNA-binding factor 1 (AUF1) as an additional marker in human gliomas

AUF1 is one of Adenine-and-Uridine-rich elements binding protein which regulates the mRNA stability of many genes related to growth regulation, cytokines, and cell cycle-regulatory genes. There was no report about the expression of AUF1 in gliomas. Sections of formalin-fixed, paraffin-embedded tissues from 71 gliomas were stained immunohistochemically using a polyclonal antibody against the adenine-and-uridine-rich element RNA-Binding factor 1 (AUF1) oncoprotein. Positive staining, which is known to correlate with gene amplification, was not associated with patients\u27 sex, age, Karnofsky performance status scores (KPS), tumor size, Bcl-2 expression, or longer overall survival. However, positive staining was negatively correlated with the MIB-1 labeling index, while it was positively correlated with the lower grade group of WHO classification. Expression of the AUF1 oncoprotein appears to be an important additional indicator in human gliomas

Nationwide survey on quasi-moyamoya disease in Japan

Objectives: Moyamoya disease (MMD) is a unique occlusive disease of the bilateral internal carotid arteries with moyamoya vessels. Inherited or acquired disorders and conditions may present in conjunction with MMD. This condition is known as quasi-moyamoya disease. To identify the clinical features of quasi-MMD in Japan, a nationwide survey was conducted. Patients and methods: A questionnaire was mailed directly to 241 departments that had acknowledged treating quasi-MMD patients in the primary survey. We ascertained the sex, age, family history, clinical manifestation, radiological findings, treatments, course of the disease, and daily activity of the patients. Results: A total of 114 departments replied to the questionnaire. The data of 108 patients (66 female and 42 male; female to male ratio 1.57) were registered and analyzed. Mean age was 30.6 years old, with a peak in children. Seven patients (7 %) exhibited familial MMD. The initial clinical manifestation was motor weakness, followed by transient ischemic attack and headache. Their imaging study type included ischemic type in 64 patients (63.4 %), bleeding type in seven (6.9 %), and normal in 27 (26.7 %). Stenoocclusive lesion was seen in the internal carotid artery in more than half of the patients. Development of moyamoya vessels was mild in approximately 40 % of the patients. Almost all cases were accompanied by cerebral hypoperfusion. About half of them were unilateral lesion. Vascular reconstruction was employed for the approximately 60 % patients. The prognosis did not change significantly. Conclusion: Clinical features of quasi-MMD were revealed in the nationwide study. In quasi-MMD, unilateral lesion is dominant, and the development of moyamoya vessels and intracranial hemorrhage are less dominant

Antiferromagnetic Order in Disorder-Induced Insulating Phase of SrRu_{1-x}Mn_xO_3 (0.4<x<0.6)

We have performed the powder neutron diffraction measurements on the solid solutions of SrRu_{1-x}Mn_xO_3, and found that the itinerant ferromagnetic order observed in pure SrRuO_3 changes into the C-type antiferromagnetic (AF) order with nearly localized d electrons in the intermediate Mn concentration between x=0.4 and 0.6. With increasing x, the AF moment is strongly enhanced from 1.1 mB (x=0.4) to 2.6 mB (x=0.6), which is accompanied by the elongation of the tetragonal c/a ratio. These results suggest that the substitution of Mn for Ru suppresses the itinerant character of the d electrons, and induces the superexchange interaction through the compression in the c plane. We have also found that the magnetic and transport properties observed in our tetragonal samples are quite similar to those of recently reported orthorhombic ones.Comment: 4 pages, 4 figure

A ruptured anterior communicating artery aneurysm associated with internal carotid artery agenesis and a middle cerebral artery anomaly.

Agenesis of the internal carotid artery associated with an anomalous middle cerebral artery originating from the contralateral internal carotid artery is rare. We report a patient with agenesis of the internal carotid artery presented with a subarachnoid hemorrhage due to a rupture of an aneurysm in the anterior communicating artery

Impact of Clipping versus Coiling on Postoperative Hemodynamics and Pulmonary Edema after Subarachnoid Hemorrhage

Volume management is critical for assessment of cerebral vasospasm after aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (SAH). This multicenter prospective cohort study compared the impact of surgical clipping versus endovascular coiling on postoperative hemodynamics and pulmonary edema in patients with SAH. Hemodynamic parameters were measured for 14 days using a transpulmonary thermodilution system. The study included 202 patients, including 160 who underwent clipping and 42 who underwent coiling. There were no differences in global ejection fraction (GEF), cardiac index, systemic vascular resistance index, or global end-diastolic volume index between the clipping and coiling groups in the early period. However, extravascular lung water index (EVLWI) and pulmonary vascular permeability index (PVPI) were significantly higher in the clipping group in the vasospasm period. Postoperative C-reactive protein (CRP) level was higher in the clipping group and was significantly correlated with postoperative brain natriuretic peptide level. Multivariate analysis found that PVPI and GEF were independently associated with high EVLWI in the early period, suggesting cardiogenic edema, and that CRP and PVPI, but not GEF, were independently associated with high EVLWI in the vasospasm period, suggesting noncardiogenic edema. In conclusion, clipping affects postoperative CRP level and may thereby increase noncardiogenic pulmonary edema in the vasospasm period. His trial is registered with University Hospital Medical Information Network UMIN000003794

Clinical Features and Long-Term Follow-Up of Quasi-Moyamoya Disease in Children.

Background: Inherited or acquired disorders and conditions may present in conjunction with moyamoya disease. This condition is known as quasi-moyamoya disease. Methods: A retrospective review of 69 moyamoya disease patients treated for the past 20 years identified 7 patients with quasi-moyamoya disease and 5 of them were pediatric patients. Results: The mean age at initial diagnosis was 6.4 years (range 5-9). Associated disorders were: craniosynostosis, dwarfism with coarctation of aorta, Proteus syndrome, and cranial irradiation for brain tumor. Their clinical type included cerebral ischemia in 3 patients, cerebral bleeding with ischemia in 1 and epilepsy in 1. The 3 patients with cerebral ischemia underwent bypass surgery and their ischemia was improved. One patient died of brain tumor recurrence and the activities of daily living in the remaining patients were affected by mental retardation. Conclusions: The clinical course and radiological finding of quasi-moyamoya disease are diverse because of associated disorders, distinguishing definite moyamoya disease

Extremely Rare Breakdown of the Moyamoya Vessels Resulting in Intraventricular Hemorrhage after Direct Bypass Surgery in a Pediatric Patient with Moyamoya Disease

Revascularization surgery is established for both ischemic and hemorrhagic moyamoya disease (MMD), although hemorrhagic complication is a serious problem especially in adult MMD patients showing postoperative hyperperfusion. Herein, we present an extremely rare case with pediatric MMD showing intraventricular hemorrhage the day following direct bypass surgery, possibly due to a breakdown of the terminal branch of well-developed perforators working as moyamoya vessels. Clinicians should consider this rare complication after bypass surgery for MMD regardless of preoperative hemodynamics or patient age