Critical Behaviour near the Mott Transition in a Two-Band Hubbard Model

The Mott metal-insulator transition in the two-band Hubbard model in infinite dimensions is studied by using the linearized dynamical mean-field theory. The discontinuity in the chemical potential for the change from hole to electron doping is calculated analytically as a function of the on-site Coulomb interaction $U$, and the charge-transfer energy $\Delta$ between the $d$- and $p$-orbitals, transfer integrals $t_{pd}$, $t_{pp}$, $t_{dd}$ between $p$-$d$, $p$-$p$ and $d$-$d$ sites respectively. The critical behaviour of the quasiparticle weight is also obtained analytically.Comment: 3 pages, 2 figure

Relationship between hemoglobin A1c and cardiovascular disease in mild-to-moderate hypercholesterolemic Japanese individuals: subanalysis of a large-scale randomized controlled trial

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Although the ADA/EASD/IDF International Expert Committee recommends using hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) to define diabetes, the relation between HbA1c and cardiovascular disease (CVD) has not been thoroughly investigated. We analyzed this relation using clinical data on Japanese individuals with hypercholesterolemia.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>In the large-scale MEGA Study 7832 patients aged 40 to 70 years old with mild-to-moderate hypercholesterolemia without CVD were randomized to diet alone or diet plus pravastatin and followed for >5 years. In the present subanalysis of that study a total of 4002 patients with baseline and follow-up HbA1c data were stratified according to having an average HbA1c during the first year of follow-up <6.0%, 6.0%-<6.5%, or ≥6.5% and their subsequent 5-year incidence rates of CVD compared according to sex, low-density lipoprotein cholesterol (LDL-C), and treatment arm.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Overall, risk of CVD was significantly 2.4 times higher in individuals with HbA1c ≥6.5% versus <6.0%. A similar relation was noted in men and women (hazard ratio [HR], 2.1; p <0.01 and HR, 3.0; p <0.01, respectively) and was regardless of treatment arm (diet alone group: HR, 2.2; p <0.001; diet plus pravastatin group: HR, 1.8; p = 0.02). Spline curves showed a continuous risk increase according to HbA1c level in all subpopulations studied.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>In hypercholesterolemic individuals the risk of CVD increases linearly with HbA1c level. This significant contribution by elevated HbA1c to increased CVD is independent of pravastatin therapy, and thus requires appropriate HbA1c management in addition to lipids reduction.</p

Vasospastic angina resulting in sudden cardiac arrest, initially misdiagnosed as a psychiatric disorder

AbstractA 51-year-old-woman with a history of ablation therapy due to Wolff–Parkinson–White syndrome had been suffering from ambiguous chest pain, prompting investigation by several cardiologists. After being dissatisfied with a psychiatric disorder diagnosis, she was admitted to our hospital for further investigation. She lost her consciousness due to a sudden cardiac arrest shortly after admission. A provocation test indicated vasospastic angina associated with a diffuse spastic pattern of her left anterior descending artery.<Learning objective: This case demonstrates that implantation of a cardioverter defibrillator may be avoided if the angiographic pattern of the vasospasm is recognized, the condition is correctly diagnosed, and appropriate medications are prescribed.

Magnetic Properties of Ternary DyMn_2X_2 Compounds (X=Si and Ge)(Magnetism)

Magnetic properties of DyMn_2Si_2, DyMn_2Ge_2 and their mixed compounds DyMn_2(Si_Ge_x)_2, which display a variety of interesting magnetic behaviors originating in competing magnetic interactions and anisotropy, have been investigated systematically by magnetization mesurements ^Dy Mossbauer spectroscopy and neutron diffraction experiments. This report presents a review of the results mainly obtained by the magnetization measurements

Prospective Study on the Incidence of Bone Metastasis (BM) and Skeletal-Related Events (SREs) in Patients (pts) with Stage IIIB and IV Lung Cancer—CSP-HOR 13

Background:Bone metastasis (BM) is a frequent complication in patients with advanced lung cancer and it causes skeletal-related events (SREs). Our study aim is to prospectively investigate the incidence of BM, incidence and types of SRE, and predictive factors of BM and SREs.Methods:Newly diagnosed, advanced non–small-cell lung cancer (NSCLC) or small-cell lung cancer (SCLC) patients were enrolled into the study. Patients were followed up every 4 weeks to monitor the development of SREs. Treatment for lung cancer was performed at the discretion of the investigator.Results:Two hundred seventy-four patients were enrolled in this study between April 2007 and December 2009 from 12 institutions. Patients included 77 cases of SCLC and 197 of NSCLC (stage IIIB/IV = 73/124). Median follow-up time was 13.8 months. The incidence of BM at initial diagnosis was 48% in stage IV NSCLC and 40% in extensive stage (ED)-SCLC. Forty-five percent of patients who developed BM had SREs consisting of pathologic fracture (4.7%), radiation to bone (15.3%), spinal cord compression (1.1%), and hypercalcemia (2.2%). Multivariate analysis revealed that factors predicting BM are stage IV, performance status 1 or greater and higher bone alkaline phosphatase in NSCLC patients, higher lactate dehydrogenase, and lower parathyroid hormone–related peptide in SCLC patients. Factors predicting SREs were stage IV, age 64 or younger, and lower albumin in NSCLC patients. Multivariate analysis of SRE was not performed for SCLC because of the small number of events.Conclusion:Predictive factors should be taken into consideration in future randomized studies evaluating BM and SREs

Possible involvement of iron-induced oxidative insults in neurodegeneration.

Involvement of iron in the development of neurodegenerative disorders has long been suggested, and iron that cannot be stored properly is suggested to induce iron toxicity. To enhance iron uptake and suppress iron storage in neurons, we generated transgenic (Tg) mice expressing iron regulatory protein 2 (IRP2), a major regulator of iron metabolism, in a neuron-specific manner. Although very subtle, IRP2 was expressed in all regions of brain examined. In the Tg mice, mitochondrial oxidative insults were observed including generation of 4-hydroxynonenal modified proteins, which appeared to be removed by a mitochondrial quality control protein Parkin. Inter-crossing of the Tg mice to Parkin knockout mice perturbed the integrity of neurons in the substantia nigra and provoked motor symptoms. These results suggest that a subtle, but chronic increase in IRP2 induces mitochondrial oxidative insults and accelerates neurodegeneration in a mouse model of Parkinson's disease. Thus, the IRP2 Tg may be a useful tool to probe the roles of iron-induced mitochondrial damages in neurodegeraration research