Study on the Superlattices of Ternary Alloys by X-Ray

Studies on the superlattices of ternary alloys were recently developed, but only a new experimental results by X-ray have been reported. The ternary system of iron-aluminum-silicon, which contains the industrially important ferromagnetic alloy "Seudust" and has two superlattices of the same type on the iron-aluminum and iron-silicon sides, offers various interesting problems in connection with the superlattice theory. The present work was undertaken in this ternary system to confirm by X-ray a composition-range in which the superlattice of the 3 : 1 type can exist, because no work had yet been reported concerning it. The result showed that all ferromagnetic singularities were found in this composition-range

Encrusted Ureteral Stent Retrieval Using Flexible Ureteroscopy with a Ho: YAG Laser

A 23-year-old female had bilateral ureteral stents placed due to bilateral renal stones and hydronephrosis. The bilateral ureteral stents were changed every 3 months. A kidney ureter bladder (KUB) film showed left encrustation along the ureteral stent thus necessitating removal; however, the ureteral stent could not be removed cystoscopically. The ureteral stent was, therefore, extracted using flexible ureteroscopy (URS) with a holmium (Ho): yttrium aluminum garnet (YAG) laser

CHAC1 overexpression in human gastric parietal cells with Helicobacter pylori infection in the secretory canaliculi

Background Cation transport regulator 1 (CHAC1), a newly discovered enzyme that degrades glutathione, is induced in Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori)‐infected gastric epithelial cells in culture. The CHAC1‐induced decrease in glutathione leads to an accumulation of reactive oxygen species and somatic mutations in TP53. We evaluated the possible correlation between H. pylori infection and CHAC1 expression in human gastric mucosa. Materials and Methods Both fresh‐frozen and formalin‐fixed paraffin‐embedded tissue samples of gastric mucosa with or without H. pylori infection were obtained from 41 esophageal cancer patients that underwent esophago‐gastrectomy. Fresh samples were used for real‐time polymerase chain reaction for H. pylori DNA and CHAC1 mRNA, and formalin‐fixed samples were used for immunohistochemistry with anti‐CHAC1 and anti‐H. pylori monoclonal antibodies. Double‐enzyme or fluorescence immunohistochemistry and immuno‐electron microscopy were used for further analysis. Results Significant CHAC1 overexpression was detected in H. pylori‐infected parietal cells that expressed the human proton pump/H,K‐ATPase α subunit, whereas a constitutively low level of CHAC1 mRNA expression was observed in the other samples regardless of the H. pylori infection status, reflecting the weak CHAC1 expression detected by immunohistochemistry in the fundic‐gland areas. Immuno‐electron microscopy revealed intact H. pylori cells in the secretory canaliculi of infected parietal cells. Some parietal cells exhibited positive nuclear signals for Ki67 in the neck zone of the gastric fundic‐gland mucosa with H. pylori infection. Conclusion Cation transport regulator 1 overexpression in H. pylori‐infected parietal cells may cause the H. pylori‐induced somatic mutations that contribute to the development of gastric cancer.This work was supported by the Japan Society for the Promotion of Science KAKENHI (16K19077), and by the Practical Research for Innovative Cancer Control from Japan Agency for Medical Research and development, AMED

Gallbladder Metastasis from Renal Cell Carcinoma

A 73-year-old female was operated with radical nephrectomy and cholecystectomy for renal cell carcinoma and suspected gallstones after 9 courses of sunitinib treatment. Gallbladder specimen showed gallbladder metastasis originating from the renal cell carcinoma. Gallbladder metastasis from renal cell carcinoma is rare. Here, we discuss a case of gallbladder metastasis from renal cell carcinoma

Neuroendocrine Carcinoma of the Bladder

The case was a 67-year-old male who visited our hospital with a major complaint of macroscopic hematuria. A bladder tumor was found. When a transurethral resection of the bladder tumor was performed, the histopathological diagnosis was neuroendocrine bladder cancer. After chemotherapy with cisplatin and etoposide a partial shrinkage of the tumor was observed; however, the patient expired 7 months after the first visit

Primary Synovial Sarcoma of the Kidney

The case was a 40-year-old female. She visited a local doctor with a chief complaint of right side abdominal pain. A right kidney tumor measuring 10 cm in diameter was observed in an abdominal Computed Tomography (CT) scan. Based on the CT image, the possibility of angiomiolipoma (AML) could not be ruled out, but a high maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) of 7.8 was observed in a Positron Emission Tomography CT (PET-CT) scan and there was a possibility of malignancy. We therefore performed a transperitoneal right radial nephrectomy. Although adhesion of the tumor to the duodenum and the inferior vena cava was observed, it was possible to perform an excision. The tumor accounted for a large proportion of the excised kidney; the surrounding areas had taken on a cyst-like structure, and the interior comprised grayish brittle tissue exhibiting solid growth. Histologically, gland-like and cyst-like structures composed of cylindrical cuboidal cells and mainly characterized by the solid growth of short fusiform-shaped and oval-shaped basophilic cells were observed, and we believed it was a synovial sarcoma. There were no malignant findings in the adrenal gland. There have been approximately 30 reported cases around the world of synovial sarcoma that developed in the kidney, and we herein report this case with bibliographic considerations

Surgery information reduces anxiety in the pre-operative period

PURPOSE: Patients preparing to undergo surgery should not suffer needless anxiety. This study aimed to evaluate anxiety levels on the day before surgery as related to the information known by the patient regarding the diagnosis, surgical procedure, or anesthesia. METHOD: Patients reported their knowledge of diagnosis, surgery, and anesthesia. The Spielberger State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI) was used to measure patient anxiety levels. RESULTS: One hundred and forty-nine patients were selected, and 82 females and 38 males were interviewed. Twenty-nine patients were excluded due to illiteracy. The state-anxiety levels were alike for males and females (36.10 ± 11.94 vs. 37.61 ± 8.76) (mean ± SD). Trait-anxiety levels were higher for women (42.55 ± 10.39 vs. 38.08 ± 12.25, P = 0.041). Patient education level did not influence the state-anxiety level but was inversely related to the trait-anxiety level. Knowledge of the diagnosis was clear for 91.7% of patients, of the surgery for 75.0%, and of anesthesia for 37.5%. Unfamiliarity with the surgical procedure raised state-anxiety levels (P = 0.021). A lower state-anxiety level was found among patients who did not know the diagnosis but knew about the surgery (P = 0.038). CONCLUSIONS: Increased knowledge of patients regarding the surgery they are about to undergo may reduce their state-anxiety levels.PROPÓSITO: Pacientes que vão ser operados não devem sofrer ansiedade. Este estudo tem por objetivo comparar o grau de ansiedade no dia anterior à cirurgia entre pacientes que têm informação sobre seu diagnóstico, cirurgia e anestesia. MÉTODOS: Pacientes referiram seu conhecimento sobre o diagnóstico, a cirurgia e a anestesia. O inventário de Spielberger, State-Trait Anxiety Inventory (STAI), mediu a ansiedade. RESULTADOS: Cento e quarenta e nove pacientes foram selecionados, 82 mulheres e 38 homens foram entrevistados. Vinte e nove pacientes foram excluídos do estudo por analfabetismo. A ansiedade-estado foi semelhante para homens e mulheres, (36,10 ± 11,94 vs. 37,61 ± 8,76) (mean ± SD). A ansiedade-traço foi maior entre mulheres (42,55 ± 10,39 vs. 38,08 ± 12,25, P = 0,041). O nível de educação não influenciou a ansiedade-estado mas mostrou-se inversamente relacionado à ansiedade-traço. O diagnóstico fora claro para 91,7% dos pacientes entrevistados, cirurgia para 75% e anestesia para 37,5%. O desconhecimento da cirurgia elevou a ansiedade-estado (P = 0,021) cujo menor índice foi encontrado entre pacientes que não conheciam seu diagnóstico, mas sabiam sobre a cirurgia (P = 0,038). CONCLUSÕES: O conhecimento sobre a cirurgia a ser realizada pode reduzir o estado de ansiedade

Radiation Myelopathy Caused by Palliative Radiotherapy and Intrathecal Methotrexate

Radiation myelopathy is a rare, late-stage adverse event that develops following irradiation at or above 50 Gy. Here, we report a case of irreversible paraplegia caused by palliative radiation (20 Gy in 5 fractions) to the spinal cord combined with intrathecal methotrexate (IT-MTX). A 69-year-old man presented with back pain, prompting a diagnosis of acute myeloid leukemia. At the first visit, he complained of muscle weakness and hypoesthesia in both legs; spinal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed an epidural mass compressing the spinal cord at the fifth to seventh level of the thoracic vertebrae. This was considered to be an extramedullary lesion of leukemia, and he received remission induction therapy including IT-MTX; palliative radiation (20 Gy in 5 fractions) of the epidural mass was initiated the following day. Then, during the course of consolidation therapy, a second IT-MTX was performed after 1 month and a third after 3 months. While the consolidation therapy was complete, yielding remission, he developed sudden paraplegia, as well as bladder and bowel dysfunction (BBD), 10 months later. Spinal MRI showed extensive intramedullary high signal intensity on T2-weighted image, including the irradiation field. It was thought myelopathy was due to irradiation of the spinal cord combined with IT-MTX. He immediately received steroid pulse therapy; however, the paraplegia and BBD did not improve. It is extremely rare for irreversible radiation myelopathy to occur with IT-MTX and palliative radiation to the spinal cord. We believe that even with low-dose palliative radiation, caution is required for combined use with IT-MTX