Josephson Plasma Mode in Fields Parallel to Layers of Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+\delta}

Josephson plasma resonance measurements under magnetic fields parallel to the CuO_2 layers as functions of magnetic field, temperature, and microwave frequency have been performed in Bi_2Sr_2CaCu_2O_{8+\delta} single crystals with doping range being from optimal to under-doped side. The feature of the resonance is quite unique and cannot be explained by the conventional understandings of the Josephson plasma for H \parallel c, that requires a new theory including coupling effect between Josephson vortex lattice and Josephson plasma.Comment: 2 pages, 2 figure

Colonic Paneth cell metaplasia is pre-neoplastic condition of colonic cancer or not?

BACKGROUND: The carcinogenesis of colorectal cancer has been accepted by a model for a cascade of genetic alterations, named the adenoma-carcinoma sequence. In order to elucidate the carcinogenesis of the colorectal cancer more clearly, the genetic abnormalies of the non-neoplastic mucosal epithelium of the colon and rectum should be investigated. It has been speculated that colonic Paneth cell metaplasia (PaM) is one of the pre-neoplastic mucosa of colonic cancer. Therefore, we studied the propria mucosa of the right colon with PaM from the standpoints of the frequency of the K-ras codon 12 mutations (K-ras), which is initial genetic abnormality in colorectal cancer, and the loss of heterozygosity of microsatellite markers (LOH-MS), which has a relationship to development of colorectal cancer. METHODS: Fifty-two regions with PaM histopathologically from 12 surgically resected right colon specimens were studied. DNA extraction of the colonic mucosa with PaM was obtained using a microdissection method, and the frequency of the K-ras of PaM was investigated by enriched polymerase chain reaction-enzyme linked mini-sequence assay, and the frequency of the LOH-MS (D2S123, D17S250 and D5S346) of PaM was examined by high resolution fluorescenced labeled PCR primers. RESULTS: K-ras mutation was detected in fifteen regions among 52 PaM (28.9%). All mutations were a single mutation and GGT changed to AGT in eleven and GAT in four. LOH-MS were detected in twenty-one regions among 52 PaM (40.4%) (D2S123: 35.4%, 17/48 regions, D17S250: 13.7%, 7/51 regions, and D5S346: 0%, 0/52 regions). No K-ras mutations and LOH-MS were detected in the controls (Colorectal mucosa with no PaM). CONCLUSIONS: Colonic mucosa with Paneth cell metaplasia may be one of the pre-neoplastic mucosa in the development of the colonic epithelial neoplasia

Observation of superfluidity in two- and one-dimensions

Even though there is no long-range-ordered state of a superfluid in dimensions lower than the three-dimension (3D) such as bulk ⁴He liquid, superfluidity has been observed for flat ⁴He films in 2D and recently for nanotubes of ⁴He in 1D by the torsional oscillator method. In the 2D state, in addition to the superfluid below the 2D Kosterlitz–Thouless transition temperature TKT, superfluidity is also observed in a normal fluid state above TKT, which depends strongly on the measurement frequency and the system size. In the 1D state of the nano-tubes, superfluidity is directly observed as a frequency shift in the torsional oscillator experiment. Some calcula-tions suggest a superfluidity of a 1D Bose fluid with a finite length, where thermal excitations of 2-phase winding play the main role for superfluid onset of each tube. Dynamics of the 1D superfluidity is also suggested by observing the dissipation in the torsional oscillator experiment

Suramin prevents the development of diabetic kidney disease by inhibiting NLRP3 inflammasome activation in KK-Ay mice

Aims/Introduction Nucleotide-binding oligomerization domain-like receptor family pyrin domain containing 3 (NLRP3) inflammasomes produce IL-18 upon being activated by various stimuli via the P2 receptors. Previously, we showed that serum and urine IL-18 levels are positively associated with albuminuria in patients with type 2 diabetes, indicating the involvement of inflammasome activation in the pathogenesis of diabetic kidney disease (DKD). In the present study, we investigated whether the administration of suramin, a nonselective antagonist of the P2 receptors, protects diabetic KK.Cg-A(y)/TaJcl (KK-Ay) mice against DKD progression. Materials and Methods Suramin or saline was administered i.p. to KK-Ay and C57BL/6J mice once every 2 weeks for a period of 8 weeks. Mouse mesangial cells (MMCs) were stimulated with ATP in the presence or absence of suramin. Results Suramin treatment significantly suppressed the increase in the urinary albumin-to-creatinine ratio, glomerular hypertrophy, mesangial matrix expansion, and glomerular fibrosis in KK-Ay mice. Suramin also suppressed the upregulation of NLRP3 inflammasome-related genes and proteins in the renal cortex of KK-Ay mice. P2X4 and P2X7 receptors were significantly upregulated in the isolated glomeruli of KK-Ay mice and mainly distributed in the glomerular mesangial cells of KK-Ay mice. Although neither ATP nor suramin affected NLRP3 expression in MMCs, suramin inhibited ATP-induced NLRP3 complex formation and the downstream expression of caspase-1 and IL-18 in MMCs. Conclusions These results suggest that the NLRP3 inflammasome is activated in a diabetic kidney and that inhibition of the NLRP3 inflammasome with suramin protects against the progression of early stage DKD

Investigation of affecting parameters of Electrophoretic deposition (EPD) method in (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-Hexagonal BaTiO3 and their properties

Nowadays, eco-friendly materials have been attracting attention worldwide since the legislation of RoHS/WEEE directives in Europe. (Bi0.5Na0.5)TiO3-BaTiO3 (BNT-BT) systems are well known candidate of lead-free piezoelectric materials. However, BNT-BT systems have relatively low piezoelectric constant (d33 ~ 140 pC/N) which is difficult to apply in commercial products. In spite of this problem, BNT-BT systems have good potential because it is easy to apply mass production. Electrophoretic deposition method (EPD) has good advantage in mass production because size and shape of green ceramics is easily controlled by control of electrode. Moreover, it is reported that EPD method can be fabricated textured ceramics using high magnetic field and texture technique is important in enhancing piezoelectric properties. Our final goal is making [111] oriented BNT-BT ceramics which have enhanced piezoelectric properties and appreciate for mass production. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

Where did the super-small sized large bowel advanced cancer come from?

Our study suggested that the super-small sized (less than 15 mm in maximum diameter) large bowel advanced cancers, which were sometimes found, were derived from the superficial depressed-type or flat elevation-type of the colorectal early cancers, not polyp-type of those

Identifying vertebral fractures in the Japanese population using the trabecular bone score : a cross-sectional study

Background: The trabecular bone score (TBS) is reported to be an independent predictor of fracture risk in patients with primary or secondary osteoporosis. However, there have been few reports on its use in the Japanese population. This study aimed to investigate the risk factors for vertebral fracture in the Japanese population and to evaluate the usefulness of TBS. Methods: This cross-sectional study involved 279 patients aged 60–90 years in whom bone mineral density (BMD) was measured by dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry (DXA). TBS was calculated based on the DXA scans. The presence or absence of vertebral fractures was assessed from T11 to L5. The patients were divided into those with vertebral fractures (VF group, n = 104) and those without vertebral fractures (non-VF group, n = 175). Results: Of the 104 patients in the VF group, 75 had 1 vertebral fracture and 29 had 2 or more fractures. The mean TBS was 1.28 in the VF group and 1.35 in the non-VF group (p  1.23). Conclusion: TBS was a significant indicator of vertebral fractures in the Japanese population and might contribute to identifying patients with vertebral fractures, particularly those with osteopenia who need pharmacologic therapy