Combined experimental and theoretical studies on glasslike transitions in the frustrated molecular conductors θ\theta-(BEDT-TTF)2MM′_2MM'(SCN)4_4

We present results of the coefficient of thermal expansion for the frustrated quasi-two-dimensional molecular conductor $\theta$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$RbZn(SCN)$_4$ for temperatures 1.5 K $\leq T \leq$ 290 K. A pronounced first-order phase transition anomaly is observed at the combined charge-order/structural transition at 215 K. Furthermore, clear evidence is found for two separate glasslike transitions at $T_{\mathrm{g}}$ = 90-100 K and $T_{\mathrm{g}}^\dagger$ = 120-130 K, similar to previous findings for $\theta$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$CsZn(SCN)$_4$ and $\theta$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$CsCo(SCN)$_4$, reported in T. Thomas et al., Phys. Rev. B 105, L041114 (2022), both of which lack the charge-order/structural transition. Our findings indicate that these glasslike transitions are common features for the $\theta$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2MM^\prime$(SCN)$_4$ family with $M$ = (Rb, Cs) and $M^\prime$ = (Co, Zn), irrespective of the presence or absence of charge order. These results are consistent with our model calculations on the glasslike dynamics associated with the flexible ethylene endgroups of the BEDT-TTF molecules for various $\theta$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2MM^\prime$(SCN)$_4$ salts, predicting two different conformational glass transitions. Moreover, calculations of the hopping integrals show a substantial degree of dependence on the endgroups' conformation, suggesting a significant coupling to the electronic degrees of freedom. Our findings support the possibility that the glassy freezing of the ethylene endgroups could drive or enhance glassy charge dynamics.Comment: 11 pages, 10 figures, 1 tabl

血清TARC/CCL17値は薬剤性過敏症症候群(DIHS) の早期診断および病勢の指標となりうる。

BACKGROUND:Drug-induced hypersensitivity syndrome (DIHS)/drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DRESS) is a serious acute drug reaction with fever, cutaneous eruption, lymphadenopathy, and several visceral dysfunctions. Eosinophilia is a common hematological abnormality in DIHS/DRESS suggesting that the Th2-type immune response is involved. Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC/CCL17) is a family of CC chemokines known to play an important role in Th2-mediated immune-inflammatory processes. OBJECTIVE:We investigated the pathogenic role of TARC in patients with DIHS. METHODS:Sera were obtained from 8 patients with DIHS, 7 patients with Stevens-Johnson syndrome/Toxic epidermal necrolysis (SJS/TEN), and 14 patients with drug-induced maculopapular exanthema (MPE). Serum TARC levels were measured by ELISA. TARC levels were then compared with clinical symptoms and various hematological parameters. In addition, a biopsy was taken from the lesional skin of patients with DIHS and stained with anti-TARC Ab and anti-CD11c Ab. RESULTS:Serum TARC levels in patients with DIHS were significantly higher than those in patients with SJS/TEN and MPE during the acute phase. Serum TARC levels in DIHS patients correlated with skin eruptions, serum sIL-2R levels, eosinophil counts, and serum IL-5 levels. Immunohistochemical staining revealed that TARC was mainly expressed on CD11c+ dermal dendritic cells in patients with DIHS. CONCLUSION:Serum TARC levels may be associated with the initial presentation of DIHS as well as disease activity during the course. Thus, they could be useful as an indicator for early diagnosis and assessment of disease activity in DIHS. CD11c+ dendritic cells may be the main source of TARC in patients with DIHS.博士（医学）・甲第597号・平成25年3月15日Copyright © 2012 Japanese Society for Investigative Dermatology. Published by Elsevier Ireland Ltd. All rights reserved

Genetic population structure of Hemigrammocypris rasborella (Cyprinidae) inferred from mtDNA sequences

The genetic population structure of the small cyprinid Hemigrammocypris rasborella, distributed widely in lowlands of western Japan, was examined using partial sequence data of mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA). Molecular phylogenetic analysis revealed that the populations of the western Kyushu region were markedly differentiated from all eastern populations, such that the groups would be comparable to different species; their divergence was inferred to have occurred in the Late Miocene–Pliocene. Also, a largely divergent mtDNA group (with divergence in the early Pleistocene) was found in the Sanyo and northeastern Shikoku regions, forming a secondary contact zone in the western Kinki with the eastern mtDNA group. To date, these aspects of the population structure of H. rasborella appear to be unique among lowland fishes in western Japan. Deeper understanding of the formation processes of freshwater faunas in western Japan will require further comparisons of the phylogeographic patterns and ecological traits of constituent species

Association between the examination rate of treatment-resistant schizophrenia and the clozapine prescription rate in a nationwide dissemination and implementation study

Background: The decision to initiate clozapine treatment should be made on an individual basis and may be closely related to the early detection of treatment-resistant schizophrenia (TRS), although there is evidence that the early use of clozapine results in a better response to treatment. Therefore, we investigated the relationship between the examination rate of TRS and the prescription rate of clozapine. Methods: After attending a 1-day educational program on schizophrenia based on the "Guidelines for the Pharmacological Treatment of Schizophrenia," we asked the participating facilities to submit records of whether or not TRS was evaluated for each patient. We calculated the clozapine prescription rate from the schizophrenic patients prescribed clozapine and all of the schizophrenic patients. Forty-nine facilities in 2017 were included in the study. Results: There were dichotomous distributions in the examination rate of TRS and a non-normal distribution in the prescription rate of clozapine. There was a significant correlation between the prescription rate of clozapine and the examination rate of TRS (r s = 0.531, P = 1.032 × 10−4). A significant difference was found in the prescription rate of clozapine between the three groups of facilities according to the examination rate of TRS. Conclusion: As a preliminary problem for the use of clozapine, in Japan, the examination rate of TRS varies, and there are many facilities that typically do not consider the possibility of TRS; this trend leads to a low rate of clozapine use. Clearly, further clinician training is needed for the early detection and appropriate management of TRS that includes an explanation of TRS and how to introduce clozapine therapy to patients and their families

Polycystic Kidney Disease in the Medaka (Oryzias latipes) pc Mutant Caused by a Mutation in the Gli-Similar3 (glis3) Gene

Polycystic kidney disease (PKD) is a common hereditary disease in humans. Recent studies have shown an increasing number of ciliary genes that are involved in the pathogenesis of PKD. In this study, the Gli-similar3 (glis3) gene was identified as the causal gene of the medaka pc mutant, a model of PKD. In the pc mutant, a transposon was found to be inserted into the fourth intron of the pc/glis3 gene, causing aberrant splicing of the pc/glis3 mRNA and thus a putatively truncated protein with a defective zinc finger domain. pc/glis3 mRNA is expressed in the epithelial cells of the renal tubules and ducts of the pronephros and mesonephros, and also in the pancreas. Antisense oligonucleotide-mediated knockdown of pc/glis3 resulted in cyst formation in the pronephric tubules of medaka fry. Although three other glis family members, glis1a, glis1b and glis2, were found in the medaka genome, none were expressed in the embryonic or larval kidney. In the pc mutant, the urine flow rate in the pronephros was significantly reduced, which was considered to be a direct cause of renal cyst formation. The cilia on the surface of the renal tubular epithelium were significantly shorter in the pc mutant than in wild-type, suggesting that shortened cilia resulted in a decrease in driving force and, in turn, a reduction in urine flow rate. Most importantly, EGFP-tagged pc/glis3 protein localized in primary cilia as well as in the nucleus when expressed in mouse renal epithelial cells, indicating a strong connection between pc/glis3 and ciliary function. Unlike human patients with GLIS3 mutations, the medaka pc mutant shows none of the symptoms of a pancreatic phenotype, such as impaired insulin expression and/or diabetes, suggesting that the pc mutant may be suitable for use as a kidney-specific model for human GLIS3 patients

Diagnostic Performance of 11C-choline PET/CT and FDG PET/CT in Prostate Cancer

We compared 11C-choline and FDG PET/CT scan findings for the staging and restaging of prostate cancer. Twenty Japanese prostate cancer patients underwent 11C-choline and FDG PET/CT before (n=5) or after (n=15) treatment. Using a five-point scale, we compared these scanning modalities regarding patient- and lesion-based diagnostic performance for local recurrence, untreated primary tumor, and lymph node and bony metastases. Of the 20 patients, documented local lesions, and node and bony metastases were present in 11 (55.0%), 9 (45.0%), and 13 (65.0%), respectively. The patient-based sensitivity/specificity/accuracy/area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC) values for 11C-choline-PET/CT for diagnosing local lesions were 90.9% /100%/ 95.0% / 1.0, whereas those for FDG-PET/CT were 45.5% /100%/ 75.0% / 0.773. Those for 11C-choline-PET/CT for node metastasis were 88.9% /100%/ 95.0% / 0.944, and those for FDG-PET/CT were 44.4%/100%/75.0%/0.722. Those for 11C-choline-PET/CT for bone metastasis were 84.6%/100%/90.0%/0.951, and those for FDG-PET/CT were 76.9% /100%/ 85.0% / 0.962. The AUCs for local lesion and node metastasis differed significantly (p=0.0039, p=0.011, respectively). The lesion-based detection rates of 11C-choline compared to FDG PET/CT for local lesion, and node and bone metastases were 91.7% vs. 41.7%, 92.0% vs. 32.0%, and 94.8% vs. 83.0% (p=0.041, p=0.0030, p<0.0001), respectively. 11C-choline-PET/CT is more useful for the staging and restaging of prostate cancer than FDG-PET/CT in Japanese men