MODULAR DIFFERENTIAL EQUATIONS WITH REGULAR SINGULARITIES AT ELLIPTIC POINTS FOR THE HECKE CONGRUENCE SUBGROUPS OF LOW-LEVELS

In this paper, we give explicit expressions of modular differential equations with regular singularities at elliptic points for the Hecke subgroups of level 2, 3, and 4, and their solutions expressed in terms of the Gauss hypergeometric series. We also give quasimodular-form solutions for some modular differential equations

–Gel Formation Ability Of Monohexadecyl Phosphate Neutralized By L–Arginine

The aqueous phase diagram of monohexadecyl phosphate neutralized by L-arginine (C16MP- Arg, Figure 1) was studied using analytical techniques including differential scanning calorimetry (DSC), small/ wide-angle X-ray scattering (SWAXS) measurements, Fourier transform infrared spectroscopy (FT-IR), and 1H nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) spectroscopy. We found that the mixture could form an α-gel over wide ranges of concentrations and temperatures (Figure 2). The α-gel was thermodynamically stable at 25°C (below the phase transition temperature for hexagonal or lamellar liquid crystals), and did not transform to coagel for at least one year. This behavior is unique among anionic surfactant systems. Thus, the balance between hydrophilic and hydrophobic volumes is a key factor for determining whether a stable α-gel can be obtained. In this system, the relatively large volume of Arg relaxed the alkyl chains of C16MP and prevented their crystallization. We also characterized the behavior of water in the C16MP-Arg α-gel system. An increased water concentration resulted in an increase in the d-spacing of the lamellar bilayers (Figure 3) as well as an increased wavenumber for the O-H stretching vibration peak. In addition, the melting enthalpy increased with increasing water concentration, while freezing was not observed below a water concentration of 20 wt%. These results suggest that the overall properties of water changed as a function of its concentration in the sample. 1H-NMR spin-spin relaxation time (T2) measurements further suggest that the protons of water and C16MP-Arg can be classified into three components (low-, middle-, and high-T2 components) as a function of the temperature and concentration. The low-T2 component mainly arose from the protons of C16MP-Arg alkyl chains, and its mobility increased with increasing temperature. The high-T2 component arose from the protons of water. The water behaved as “bound water” for the C16MP-Arg headgroups at –30°C and a water concentration of 20 wt%, and the mobility increased with increasing temperature and water concentration. These changes suggest that an increased water concentration results in an increased amount of water being incorporated between the C16MP-Arg lamellar bilayers as well as in spaces surrounded by α-gel domains. Please click Additional Files below to see the full abstract

キラル医薬品製造技術の進歩 ―分子認識を制御する新しい光学分割技術―

結晶化を経由する光学分割法は、およそ170年以前に発見された技術であるが、現在もなお実験室や工業規模で光学活性な化合物を製造する技術として有効活用されている。中でも「ジアステレオマー塩形成法」は医薬品、農薬、液晶など様々な分野の光学活性物質製造技術として適用されている。しかし、これまで幾多の報告や特許がなされてきたにも関わらず、これらの技術に関する確固たる理論は確立されてこなかった。著者らは、光学活性物質の製造技術開発の中で、これまで知られていなかった技術や理論を開発した。以下我々が発見・開発した以下の３つの技術・理論を紹介する。（1）設計したキラル添加物を用いた「結晶形態制御」による光学純度の改善法、（2）作業理論「空間充填コンセプト」に基づく最適分割剤の新しい選択法、（3）「誘電率制御光学分割」によるキラリティー制御法

Evaluation of liver function for hepato-biliary-pancreatic surgery

In the present study, liver function at pre-operative and postoperative period was evaluated by various examinations. Patients with obstructive jaundice (n=14) and liver tumor (n=6) often have complications such as postoperative hepatic failure (n=4). They were divided into 3 groups: group A (n=7) had postoperative complications, group B (n=13) had uneventful postoperative course and group C (n=4) had postoperative hepatic failure. Liver function had significant correlations with levels of total bilirubin max (T-Bil max), hepaplastin tests (HPT) and ALPratio (post ope/pre-ope). Group C had T-Bil max≧30 mg/dl, HPT≦60% (54.4±14.7), ALPratio≧1.5, and admission ALP≧3000. We determined the level of bilirubin per day in drained blie (V-Bil) in 14 patients who underwent biliary drainage to ensure precise evalution of preoperative liver function. V-Bil was 332.9±140.0 mg/day on average, showing a close correlation with the serum bilirubin decreasing rate "b" and ICG R 15 (p<0.05). V-Bil is useful for evaluation of liver function in patients with malignant obstructive jaundice. In 6 patients without cirrhosis undergoing partial hepatectomy for liver tumor, ALPratio (≧1.5), a blood loss during operation (≧500), and operating time were related to the onset of postoperative hepatic failure

ACTN1 Mutations Cause Congenital Macrothrombocytopenia

Congenital macrothrombocytopenia (CMTP) is a heterogeneous group of rare platelet disorders characterized by a congenital reduction of platelet counts and abnormally large platelets, for which CMTP-causing mutations are only found in approximately half the cases. We herein performed whole-exome sequencing and targeted Sanger sequencing to identify mutations that cause CMTP, in which a dominant mode of transmission had been suspected but for which no known responsible mutations have been documented. In 13 Japanese CMTP-affected pedigrees, we identified six (46%) affected by ACTN1 variants cosegregating with CMTP. In the entire cohort, ACNT1 variants accounted for 5.5% of the dominant forms of CMTP cases and represented the fourth most common cause in Japanese individuals. Individuals with ACTN1 variants presented with moderate macrothrombocytopenia with anisocytosis but were either asymptomatic or had only a modest bleeding tendency. ACTN1 encodes α-actinin-1, a member of the actin-crosslinking protein superfamily that participates in the organization of the cytoskeleton. In vitro transfection experiments in Chinese hamster ovary cells demonstrated that altered α-actinin-1 disrupted the normal actin-based cytoskeletal structure. Moreover, transduction of mouse fetal liver-derived megakaryocytes with disease-associated ACTN1 variants caused a disorganized actin-based cytoskeleton in megakaryocytes, resulting in the production of abnormally large proplatelet tips, which were reduced in number. Our findings provide an insight into the pathogenesis of CMTP

Clinical study for evaluation of Percutaneous Transhepatic Gallbladder Drainage : PTCD associated with PTGBD

Eight cases of PTGBD were investigated. The average age was 69.3 years, and 6 cases were male and 2 cases were female. There were 6 cases of acute cholecystitis and 2 cases of malignant disease (1 middle bile duct cancer, 1 pancreas head cancer). Before state of PTGBD of these patients, severe cardiac disease and after posterior spinal fixation and other disease were observed. Using PTGBD, pain, fever, and other symptoms had remarkably improved in all patients. In all 6 patients with acute cholecystitis, CRP and leukocyte were significantly decreased as the 2 days after this procedure. PTCD associated with PTGBD was performd in 2 patients with middle or distal obstruction of the common bile duct. The bilirubin decrease rate"b" (b value) was-0.20±0.03 (M±SE) in the PTGBD+PTCD group and-0.096±0.15 (M±SE) in the only PTCD group, with a statistically significant difference (p<0.01). The procedure was effective in reducing jaundice