A Note on T-duality of Strings in Plane-Wave Backgrounds

We show, by direct computations of bosonic string spectra, the O(d,d;Z) (d=1,2) T-duality in the maximally supersymmetric IIB plane-wave background compactified on S^1 and T^2. Only half of the ordinary set of zero modes appear in the Hamiltonian. This "half" Narain lattice is proved to be stabilized by the T-duality group.Comment: 15 pages, LaTeX. Discussion on the level-matching condition included. Version to appear in Physics Letters

Penrose limits and Green-Schwarz strings

We discuss the Green-Schwarz action for type IIB strings in general plane-wave backgrounds obtained as Penrose limits from any IIB supergravity solutions with vanishing background fermions. Using the normal-coordinate expansion in superspace, we prove that the light-cone action is necessarily quadratic in the fermionic coordinates. This proof is valid for more general pp-wave backgrounds under certain conditions. We also write down the complete quadratic action for general bosonic on-shell backgrounds in a form in which its geometrical meaning is manifest both in the Einstein and string frames. When the dilaton and 1-form field strength are vanishing, and the other field strengths are constant, our string-frame action reduces, up to conventions, to the one which has been written down using the supercovariant derivative.Comment: 18 pages, latex, no figures; (v2) relation to ref.14 clarified; (v3) typos corrected, minor change

The effect of a prostaglandin E-1 derivative on the symptoms and quality of life of patients with lumbar spinal stenosis

Quality of life (QOL) is a concern for patients with lumbar spinal stenosis (LSS). In this study, QOL was examined using the 5-item EuroQol (EQ-5D). QOL and activities of daily living (ADL) were surveyed for 91 patients who visited 18 medical institutions in our prefecture and were diagnosed with LSS-associated intermittent claudication. A second survey was performed after a parts per thousand yen6 weeks for 79 of the subjects to evaluate therapy with limaprost (an oral prostaglandin E1 derivative) or etodolac (an NSAID). Symptoms, maximum walking time, QOL, ADL items, and relationships among these variables were investigated for all 91 patients. Leg pain, leg numbness, and low back pain while walking were surveyed by use of VAS scores (0-100). Leg pain, leg numbness, and low back pain while walking (VAS a parts per thousand yen25) were present in 83.5, 62.6, and 54.9 % of the patients in the first survey, and approximately half of the patients had a maximum walking time 30 min, showing that maximum walking time affected health-related QOL. Of the 79 patients who completed the second survey, 56 had taken limaprost and 23 (control group) had received etodolac. Limaprost improved possible walking time, reduced ADL interference, and significantly increased the EQ-5D utility score, whereas no significant changes occurred in the control group. Maximum walking time was prolonged by a parts per thousand yen10 min and the EQ-5D utility value was improved by a parts per thousand yen0.1 points in significantly more patients in the limaprost group than in the control group. According to the findings of this survey, at an average of 8 weeks after administration limaprost improved symptoms, QOL, and ADL in LSS patients whereas treatment with an NSAID reduced pain but did not have any other effects.ArticleJOURNAL OF ORTHOPAEDIC SCIENCE. 18(2):208-215 (2013)journal articl

腎ダイナミックCTにおける非イオン性造影剤(イオヘキソール)の投与法に関する検討

腎ダイナミックCTにおいて非イオン性造影剤であるイオヘキソール300mg iodine/ml(オムニパーク300)によるアーチファクトを軽減し, 腎の良好なコントラストをえるための至適投与法を検討した。対象は腎疾患を有する76症例に10～50mlのイオヘキソールを以下のように投与した。第1群(14例)は20mlを5秒間で急速静注し, その後30mlを5分間で点滴静注した。第2群(18例)は20mlを5秒間で急速静注した。第3群(13例)は20mlを蒸留水で希釈(全量40ml)し, 8秒間で急速静注した。第4群(15例)は20mlを5秒間で急速静注し, その後ハルトマン液200mlを全開で点滴静注した。第5群(14例)は10mlを蒸留水で希釈(全量20ml)し, 5秒間で急速静注した。腎の皮髄境界は第4群で最も明瞭となった。低濃度のイオヘキソール(150mg iodine/ml)でボリューム負荷をかけると良好なCT画像がみられたWe investigated the optimal method of administering iohexol, which contains 300 mg iodine/ml (Omnipaque 300), a nonionic contrast medium, to maintain adequate renal contrast while reducing artifacts during dynamic CT scanning. In this study, 76 patients with renal disease received 10-50 ml of iohexol as follows: group I (14 patients), 20 ml injected as an intravenous bolus for 5 sec, followed by 30 ml intravenous drip infusion for 5 min; group II (18 patients), bolus of 20 ml injected for 5 sec; group III (13 patients), 20 ml diluted with sterile water (total volume 40 ml), and injected as a bolus for 8 sec; group IV (15 patients), 20 ml injection for 5 sec followed by intravenous drip infusion of 200 ml of Hartmann-Ringer's solution given at maximum speed; and group V (14 patients), 10 ml diluted with sterile water (total volume 20 ml) injected as a bolus for 5 sec. We found that corticomedullary differentiation was most distinct on the images obtained from group IV. We concluded that a lower concentration of iohexol (150 mg iodine/ml) given by intravenous fluid loading can provide superior CT images

Effect of adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy for epileptic spasms developing after the age of 1 year

AbstractPurposeEpileptic spasms sometimes begin after the first year of life, and such seizures are recognized as late-onset spasms (LOS). The prognosis of LOS is poor, and a treatment strategy has not been established. This study aimed to assess the short- and long-term effects of adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) therapy for LOS.MethodsWe investigated the rate of LOS in 22 patients (14 boys and 8 girls) treated with ACTH therapy. The age at onset of LOS and at the start of ACTH therapy ranged from 12 to 94 months (median, 31.6±22.1 months) and from 12.5 to 116 months (median, 37.5±23.7 months), respectively. We investigated the response rate of LOS treated with ACTH therapy, and compared the clinical features between responders (short-term) and nonresponders.ResultsNine (41%) of the 22 patients showed cessation of epileptic spasms within 3 months. The epileptic spasms ceased in four of these nine patients for more than 1 year. The age at onset of LOS was significantly associated with short-term seizure cessation (p<0.05). Patients who achieved short-term cessation of seizures received ACTH therapy within 6 months from the onset of LOS.ConclusionACTH therapy is a potentially effective treatment when started within 6 months from the onset of LOS. A younger age at onset of LOS is associated with a favorable outcome