Ripple Shielding for Accurate Resistivity Measurements in Hybrid Magnets(Part II. Several Instruments and Techniques Developed in HFLSM)

After a preliminary test of ripple shielding by a coil using a prereacted pure Nb_3Sn multifilamentary superconducting wire, a few ripple shielding coils were developed employing a Ti-doped Nb-tube method processed multifilamentary Nb_3Sn superconducting wire with so far highest J_c by the so called W&R method, making it possible to measure the temperature dependence of the resistivity in Nb_Ti_ alloy within the accuracy of 10^ at very high magnetic fields above 20 T in the hybrid magnets in the High Field Laboratory for Superconducting Materials at Tohoku University

Clinical significance of minimal residual disease in adult acute lymphoblastic leukemia

Monitoring minimal residual disease (MRD) in patients with acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL) is a useful way for assessing treatment response and relapse. We studied the value of MRD and showed a correlation with relapse for 34 adult patients with ALL. MRD was evaluated by real-time quantitative polymerase chain reaction (RQ-PCR) with probes derived from fusion chimeric genes (BCR/ABL) (n = 12) or PCR-based detection of clonal immunoglobulin and T-cell receptor gene rearrangements (n = 16), or both (n = 6). We analyzed 27 of the 34 patients who could be examined for MRD on day 100 after induction therapy. The overall survival (OS) rate (45.0%) and relapse-free survival (RFS) rate (40.0%) at 2 years in CR patients with MRD level ≥ 10^[-3] (n = 12) were significantly lower than those in CR patients with MRD level < 10^[-3] (n = 15) (OS rate: 79.0%, RFS rate: 79.4%) (log-rank test, P = 0.017 and 0.0007). We also applied multicolor flow cytometry for comparison with MRD results analyzed by PCR methods. The comparison of results obtained in 27 follow-up samples showed consistency in 17 samples (63.0%) (P = 0.057). MRD analysis on day 100 is important for treatment decision in adult ALL

Anthropogenic impact records of nature for past hundred years extracted from stalagmites in caves found in the Nanatsugama Sandstone Formation, Saikai, Southwestern Japan

AbstractIn the Nanatsugama area, Saikai City, Nagasaki Prefecture, Japan, covered by Paleogene calcareous sandstone, the environmental change information for the past hundred years was extracted from growing stalagmites in two limestone caves. Their annual microbanding information was used for dating. From the Shimizu-do Cave stalagmites, the vegetation change from forest to grassland during 1500 to 1700 could be read using the carbon isotope and Mg/Ca ratios of the stalagmites. Before 1500, the stable carbon isotope ratios ranged from −9 to −10‰, which are characteristic of forest vegetation. From 1600 to 1700, the stable carbon isotope ratio increased (δ13C=−2‰), suggesting a drastic change to grassland vegetation probably for the purpose of collecting grasses for agricultural use. The increase in Mg/Ca due to the reduction in the biomass from 1500 to 1700 also showed the vegetation change from forest to grassland. A Ryuo-do Cave stalagmite recorded the change in the SO42− concentration several times during the period from 1600 to 1900. In addition to the sulfate of sea salt origin, the higher concentration and smaller δ34S of sulfate in the Ryuo-do Cave drip water compared to those in the Shimizu-do Cave drip water may be due to the oxidation of biogenic pyrite in the marine Kamashikiyama Tuff Formation, which covers the calcareous sandstone of the Nanatsugama Sandstone Formation. The oxidation of pyrite is promoted by the biological activity of sulfur-oxidizing bacteria under oxic conditions, indicating that the surface cover was repeatedly changed into non-paddy fields. The change in the SO42− concentration could then be related to the changes in the amount of the Nagasaki Prefecture coal production in the early 20th century and the China fossil fuel consumption in the late 20th century transported a long-distance by a monsoon from the China continent. Thus, the combination of annual microbanding information and the Mg2+ and SO42− concentrations and C and S stable isotope ratios of the stalagmites made it possible to extract local and/or global anthropogenic environmental changes in nature. The records extracted in this way were in good agreement with those partially extracted from ancient documents, ancient picture maps and topographical maps

EFFECTS OF VARIOUS KNEE-RAISING POSTURES IN A SUPINE POSITION ON SWELLING IN THE LOWER LEGS AND FEET IN ELDERLY WOMEN

The present study examined the effects of different knee-raising postures in the supine position on swelling in the lower legs and feet of elderly women. Seven elderly women with no illness-related swelling maintained a supine position for 40 min on a bed under four knee-raising postures: downhill, raising the knees and further raising the feet; horizon, raising the knees with the lower legs in a horizontal position; mountain, raising the knees to a height above the feet; and control, stretching the knees without elevation of the feet. While maintaining a supine position, downhill and horizon conditions showed significant decreases in circumferences and increased bio-impedance at all measured positions of the calf and foot, compared to the control condition. In contrast, the mountain condition did not show decreases in all circumferences. No significant differences were found for heart rate, blood pressure or scores of subjective comfort in any body areas among the conditions. These results suggest that the downhill and horizon conditions have effects on lower leg swelling without causing additional discomfort or circulatory strain

Immune checkpoint inhibitor‐related haemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis in a patient with non‐small cell lung carcinoma

Key message Hemophagocytic lymphohistiocytosis (HLH) has been reported as a rare complication of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICI); however, ICI‐related HLH is a life‐threatening and comparatively late adverse event. Early diagnosis is critical, and it should be included in the differential diagnosis especially in patients with cytopenia with fever and hyperferritinaemia

Prognostic value of nutritional parameters in systolic heart failure with renal dysfunction.

Although it is known that assessment and management of the nutritional status of patients are important for treatment of patients with heart failure (HF), there are currently no established indicators. Therefore, we investigated the effects of nutritional parameters as well as conventional parameters on the prognosis of HF patients. A total of 1954 consecutive HF patients with left ventricular ejection fraction (LVEF) less than 50% were enrolled in this study. Transthoracic echocardiography was performed and conventional parameters for HF patients and parameters to assess nutritional status were measured in all patients. Patients were followed up with a primary endpoint of lethal cardiac events (CEs) for 30.2 months. During the follow-up period, cardiac events were documented in 619 HF patients. The CEs group had a lower level of cholinesterase (201.5U/L vs 265.2U/L, P <0.0001), lower estimated GFR (35.2 ml/min/1.73m2 vs 50.3ml/min/1.73m2, P< 0.0001), and lower Geriatric Nutritional Risk Index (GNRI) (91.9 vs 100.0, P< 0.0001) than those in the non-CEs group. Serum cholinesterase, estimated GFR, and GNRI were identified as significant prognostic determinants in multivariate analysis. ROC analyses revealed cut-off values of serum cholinesterase, estimated GFR, and GNRI of 229U/L, 34.2 ml/min/1.73m2, and 95.6, respectively, for identifying high-risk HF patients. HF patients with serum cholinesterase< 229U/L, estimated GFR<34.3 ml/min/1.73m2, and GNRI< 95.6 had a significantly greater rate of CEs than that in the other patients (P<0.0001). Low serum cholinesterase and low GNRI can predict cardiac mortality risk in systolic HF patients with renal dysfunction

Incidence and Risk of Postherpetic Neuralgia after Varicella Zoster Virus Infection in Hematopoietic Cell Transplantation Recipients: Hokkaido Hematology Study Group

To assess the incidence of and risk factors associated with post-herpetic neuralgia (PHN) after post-hematopoietic cell transplantation (HCT) varicella-zoster virus (VZV) infection, we conducted a retrospective chart review of 418 consecutive patients who underwent HCT between April 2005 and March 2007. Male/female ratio was 221/197, median age at HCT was 47 years (range: 0-69 years), and autologous/allogeneic/syngeneic HCT ratio was 154/263/1. Seventy-eight patients developed VZV infection after HCT. Sixty-two patients had localized zoster, 11 patients had disseminated zoster (rash like chicken pox), and 4 patients had visceral zoster. All cases were treated with acyclovir (ACV) or valacyclovir (VACV), and there was no VZV infection-related death. Twenty-seven (35%) of the 78 patients with VZV infection suffered PHN after resolution of VZV infection. Multivariate analysis showed that advanced age is the only risk factor in autologous HCT (P = 0.0075; OR = 1.14; 95% Cl, 0.97 to 1.33). On the other hand, advanced age (P = 0.0097; OR = 1.06; 95% Cl, 1.01 to 1.12), male gender (P = 0.0055; OR = 12.7; 95% Cl, 1.61 to 100.1), and GVHD prophylaxis with a tacrolimus-based regimen (P = 0.0092; OR = 9.56; 95% Cl, 1.44 to 63.3) were associated with increased risk of PHN in allogeneic HCT. This study for the first time clarified the risk of PHN in HCT recipients