Quantum diffraction and interference of spatially correlated photon pairs and its Fourier-optical analysis

We present one- and two-photon diffraction and interference experiments involving parametric down-converted photon pairs. By controlling the divergence of the pump beam in parametric down-conversion, the diffraction-interference pattern produced by an object changes from a quantum (perfectly correlated) case to a classical (uncorrelated) one. The observed diffraction and interference patterns are accurately reproduced by Fourier-optical analysis taking into account the quantum spatial correlation. We show that the relation between the spatial correlation and the object size plays a crucial role in the formation of both one- and two-photon diffraction-interference patterns.Comment: 10 pages, 13 figures, rev.

N-(Fluoren-9-ylmethoxy­carbon­yl)-l-aspartic acid 4-tert-butyl ester

The bond distances and bond angles of the title compound, C23H25NO6, are consistent with values typically found for fluoren-9-ylmethoxy­carbonyl-protected amino acids. The conformations of the backbone and the side chain are slightly different from those of l-aspartic acid. The crystal structure exhibits two inter­molecular hydrogen bonds, forming a two-dimensional sheet structure parallel to the ab plane

Suppression of Matrix Metalloproteinase Production in Nasal Fibroblasts by Tranilast, an Antiallergic Agent, In Vitro

Allergic rhinitis is an inflammatory disease characterized by nasal wall remodeling with intense infiltration of eosinophils and mast cells/basophils. Matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), MMP-2 and MMP-9, are the major proteolytic enzymes that induce airway remodeling. These enzymes are also important in the migration of inflammatory cells through basement membrane components. We evaluated whether tranilast (TR) could inhibit MMP production from nasal fibroblasts in response to tumor necrosis factor-α (TNF-α) stimulation in vitro. Nasal fibroblasts (NF) were established from nasal polyp tissues taken from patients with allergic rhinitis. NF (2 × 10(5) cells/mL) were stimulated with TNF-α in the presence of various concentrations of TR. After 24 hours, the culture supernatants were obtained and assayed for MMP-2, MMP-9, TIMP-1, and TIMP-2 levels by ELISA. The influence of TR on mRNA expression of MMPs and TIMPs in cells cultured for 12 hours was also evaluated by RT-PCR. TR at more than 5 × 10(−5) M inhibited the production of MMP-2 and MMP-9 from NF in response to TNF-α stimulation, whereas TIMP-1 and TIMP-2 production was scarcely affected. TR also inhibited MMP mRNA expression in NF after TNF-α stimulation. The present data suggest that the attenuating effect of TR on MMP-2 and MMP-9 production from NF induced by inflammatory stimulation may underlie the therapeutic mode of action of the agent in patients with allergic diseases, including allergic rhinitis

Effects of gender and aging in patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting: From the FU-Registry

Background: It is unclear whether gender and aging influence the characteristics of patients who undergo coronary artery bypass grafting (CABG). Methods: We retrospectively reviewed a clinical database of 1,498 patients (male/female = 1133/365, age 67 ± 9 years) who underwent CABG at Fukuoka University Hospital from 1994 to 2010. Results: Male showed significantly younger, higher percentages (%) of smoking and hyperuricemia (HU), higher levels of serum creatinine, and lower % hypertension (HT) and diabetes mellitus (DM), and lower levels of left ventricular ejection fraction than female. In multivariate analysis, all parameters identified independent variables associated with the gender difference. Next, we divided the patients into 5 groups according to age, and each group was then separated by gender. The % of males significantly decreased with aging, whereas % female significantly increased. Although % smoking and estimated glomerular filtration rate (eGFR), and body mass index (BMI) in all patients, males and females significantly decreased with aging, HU, left ventricular end diastolic pressure and the number of significantly stenosed coronary vessels were not associated with gender or aging. Interestingly, % HT in all patients and males significantly increased with aging, whereas that in females was not associated with aging. Serum low-density lipoprotein cholesterol levels in males significantly decreased with aging, while those in all patients and females were not associated with aging. In this contemporary data set, the decreases in % smoking and eGFR with aging were common characteristics in male and female patients. In addition, there were gender and aging differences in % smoking, % HT, BMI and eGFR, whereas no differences were observed in % DM, % dyslipidemia or % HU. Conclusions: Before CABG, high-risk patients with coronary artery disease who is going to undergo CABG may need to be managed more strictly considering to gender and age to avoid CABG

N-(Fluoren-9-ylmethoxy­carbon­yl)-l-leucine

The title compound [systematic name: fluoren-9-yl N-(1-carb­oxy-3-methyl­butyl)carbamate], C21H23NO4, exhibits torsion angles that vary from the typical values found in other Fmoc-protected amino acids, viz. the orientations of the fluorene and carboxyl groups [C—O—C—C = 93.8 (2) and N—C—C=O = −23.6 (2)°]. The crystal structure exhibits two inter­molecular hydrogen bonds (O—H⋯O and N—H⋯O) that link the mol­ecules into two-dimensional sheets parallel to the ab plane