Development of Structural Color by Niobate Nanosheet Colloids

Inorganic nanosheets obtained by exfoliation of layered crystals of hexaniobate in water form colloidal liquid crystals. We found that they develop various structural colors by moderating nanosheet concentration and ionic atmosphere

慢性膵炎の診断における超音波内視鏡の有用性

金沢大学附属病院消化器内科金沢大学がん研究所We report usefulness of endoscopic ultrasonography (EUS) for the diagnoses of chronic pancreatitis (CP). We evaluated EUS features of hyperechoic foci, hyperechoic strand, lobular out gland margin, lobularity, cyst, stone, ductal dilatation, side branch dilatation, duct irregularity, hyperechoic duct margins, atrophy, localized swelling in cases with CP (30 definite and 6 probable) diagnosed by computed tomography (CT) or endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP). Hyperechoic foci, hyperechoic strand, lobularity, hyperechoic duct margins in definite or probable CP were recognized in more than 80 % cases. Lobular out gland margin was observed in 14 (47 %) of 30 cases with definite CP, although none with probable CP (P = 0.06). In conclusions, hyperechoic foci, hyperechoic strand, lobularity, hyperechoic duct margins are useful for screening of CP, and lobular out gland margin would be reliable finding in definite CP. 目的：慢性膵炎の診断における超音波内視鏡 (EUS) の有用性につき検討した。 対象と方法：対象は内視鏡的逆行性胆道膵管造影 (ERCP)、CTにて慢性膵炎と診断され、EUSを施行した36例 (確診30例、準確診6例) で、hyperechoic foci, hyperechoic strand, lobular out gland margin, lobularity, cyst, stone, ductal dilatation, side branch dilatation, duct irregularity, hyperechoic duct margins, atrophy, localized swellingの各種EUS所見について評価し、retrospectiveに検討した。 結果：慢性膵炎確診例、準確診例では、いずれもhyperechoic foci, hyperechoic strand, lobularity, hyperechoic duct marginsが、80％以上の症例でみられた。lobular out gland marginは確診例で47%に認めたが、準確診例ではみられず、確診例で多い傾向が見られた (p=0.06)。 結語：hyperechoic foci, hyperechoic strand, lobularity, hyperechoic duct marginsは慢性膵炎の拾い上げに有用であり、lobular out gland marginは慢性膵炎の確診所見になる可能性が示唆された

New Mid-Infrared Diagnostic of the Dusty Torus Model for Seyfert Nuclei

We propose a new diagnostic of the ``dusty torus'' model for Seyfert nuclei. Dust grains in the torus are heated by the nuclear continuum, and reradiate mostly in the mid-infrared wavelengths. From the torus geometry, it is predicted that the emission at lambda 10 micron, we study the flux ratio between 3.5 micron (L band) and 25 micron; R(L,25) = log [(nu_3.5 um S_nu_3.5 um)/(nu_25 um S_nu_25 um)]. In three different samples (optically selected, X-ray selected, and infrared selected samples) of Seyfert galaxies, the observed values of R(L,25) between type 1 Seyferts (S1s) and type 2 Seyferts (S2s) are found to be clearly separated; R(L,25) > -0.6 for S1s while R(L,25) < -0.6 for S2s. This implies universality of their torus properties. With this result and the other observational characteristics, we investigate the most plausible torus model among those presented in Pier & Krolik (1992, 1993)

Advanced hepatocellular carcinoma treated effectively with irinotecan via hepatic arterial infusion followed by proton beam therapy

金沢大学医学部附属病院がん高度先進治療センターWe report a 48-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with hepatic arterial infusion (HAI) chemotherapy followed by proton beam therapy. The HCC lesion in this patient was 88 mm in diameter, with portal vein tumor thrombosis in the right lobe of the liver. He was first treated with 5-fluorouracil, cisplatin, and isovorin, administered by HAI, combined with interferon-α, and he was subsequently treated with epirubicin and mitomycin-C administered by HAI. However, no definite efficacy of either of these treatments was observed. Then, after 3 weeks\u27 continuous administration of irinotecan by HAI, the tumor size decreased to 68 mm in diameter. However, 3 months after reduction of the tumor, the tumor had become enlarged to 100 mm in diameter and intrahepatic metastases were prominent. Angiographic findings indicated that the HCC was fed not only from the right hepatic artery but also from the left gastric and right and left subphrenic arteries. After rearrangement of the arteries, and 3 months\u27 continuous HAI chemotherapy with irinotecan, plus hyperthermia, the tumor size had decreased to 50 mm in diameter. The reduction rate of the main tumor according to the Response Evaluation Criteria in Solid Tumors was 43%; therefore, the efficacy of this treatment was judged as a partial response. Two months after reduction of the tumor, the patient\u27s serum alpha-fetoprotein (AFP) level was elevated, and so docetaxel was administered by HAI instead of irinotecan. The liver tumors showed gradual enlargement during the administration of docetaxel, although the AFP level was suppressed. Proton beam therapy was instituted and the liver tumors showed necrosis after this therapy. The patient died of hepatic failure and distant metastases 6 years after the onset of HCC. As far as we know, this is the first case report of HCC treated effectively with irinotecan administered by HAI followed by proton beam therapy in which tumor suppression and the long-term survival of the patient were observed. © 2009 Japanese Society of Chemotherapy and The Japanese Association for Infectious Diseases

Potent amyloidogenicity and pathogenicity of Aβ43.

The amyloid-β peptide Aβ42 is known to be a primary amyloidogenic and pathogenic agent in Alzheimer\u27s disease. However, the role of Aβ43, which is found just as frequently in the brains of affected individuals, remains unresolved. We generated knock-in mice containing a pathogenic presenilin-1 R278I mutation that causes overproduction of Aβ43. Homozygosity was embryonic lethal, indicating that the mutation involves a loss of function. Crossing amyloid precursor protein transgenic mice with heterozygous mutant mice resulted in elevated Aβ43, impairment of short-term memory and acceleration of amyloid-β pathology, which accompanied pronounced accumulation of Aβ43 in plaque cores similar in biochemical composition to those observed in the brains of affected individuals. Consistently, Aβ43 showed a higher propensity to aggregate and was more neurotoxic than Aβ42. Other pathogenic presenilin mutations also caused overproduction of Aβ43 in a manner correlating with Aβ42 and with the age of disease onset. These findings indicate that Aβ43, an overlooked species, is potently amyloidogenic, neurotoxic and abundant in vivo