HERBAL PLEIOTROPY–THE SCIENTIFIC INVESTIGATION MAY ADVANCE MEDICINE

Herbs of related species are sometimes used for different medicinal purposes depending on the region and medical system. Clearest difference of this is seen through the comparison between the Western (or the bio) medicine and the Eastern (or the traditional/oriental) medicine. Traditional Chinese Medicine, Traditional Japanese Medicine, or Kampo, and Traditional Korean use the same clinical classics and almost the same herbs. Therefore, here, I would like tocall them Oriental Medicine†for easier understanding

Broadband infrared light source by simultaneous parametric down-conversion

Spontaneous parametric down-conversion is an essential tool for a quantum light source in the infrared region ranging 2–5 µm for the purpose of material identification, chemical analysis, and gas sensing. So far, photon pairs from the process in a nonlinear crystal have low tunability and a narrow spectral range because of the phase-matching condition. Here, we propose a novel type of spontaneous parametric down-conversion processes that overcomes these challenges, where two photon pairs are simultaneously produced in the visible and infrared regions in periodically poled stoichiometric lithium tantalite. It allows broadband and tunable generation of infrared photon pairs that can be employed as an alternative light source for quantum infrared spectroscopy

Excitation polarization-independent photo-induced restoration of inversion symmetry in Td-WTe₂

Td-WTe₂ is a topologically nontrivial material and exhibits a variety of physical properties, such as giant unsaturated magnetoresistance and the unconventional thermoelectric effect, due to its topological nature. It is also known to exhibit ultrafast topological phase transitions that restore its inversion symmetry by intense terahertz and mid-infrared pulses, and these properties demonstrate the possibility of ultrafast control of devices based on topological properties. Recently, a novel photo-induced topological phase transition by using polarization-controlled infrared excitation has been proposed, which is expected to control the material topology by rearranging the atomic orbitals near the Weyl point. To examine this topological phase transition, we experimentally studied the excitation-polarization dependence of the infrared-induced phase dynamics in a thin-layer of Td-WTe₂. Time-resolved second harmonic generation (SHG) measurements showed that SHG intensity decreases after the infrared pump regardless of the polarization. Polarization-resolved infrared pump–probe measurements indicated that the polarization-selected excited state relaxes quite rapidly (i.e., within 10–40 fs). Considering these experimental results, we conclude that it is difficult to control the photo-induced phase transition through orbital-selective excitation owing to the rapid loss of carrier distribution created by polarization-selective excitation in thin-layer Td-WTe₂ under our experimental condition. These results indicate that the suppression of the electron scattering process is crucial for experimentally realizing the photo-induced phase transition based on the polarization selection rule of the materials

Intramesocolic Diverticular Perforation of the Sigmoid Colon Diagnosed by Detecting Air Collection in Anterior Pararenal Space on Computed Tomography: Report of a Case

A 64-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with lower abdominal pain. Routine laboratory values were unremarkable except for the white blood cell count (15,000/micro litter) and the C-reactive protein (CRP) value (22.5 mg/dl). A Computed tomography (CT) scan revealed air collection in the middle of the anterior pararenal space. One day later, CT revealed air collection in the anterior pararenal space spread to the right side and abscess in the sigmoid mesentery. Because an intramesocolic perforation of the sigmoid colon was suspected, an emergency operation was performed. Abscess formation was recognized in the sigmoid mesentery, and sigmoidectomy including the contaminated mesentery and Hartmann.s procedure were performed. The perforation was 3 cm in diameter, and some diverticula were present in the vicinity of the perforated site. The specimen microscopically revealed perforation at the edge of the diverticulum in association with sudden disruption of the proper muscle layer. Based on pathological findings, intramesocolic diverticular perforation of the sigmoid colon was diagnosed. The present case is a very rare condition. However, it was possible to make a diagnosis preoperatively by detecting air collection in the anterior pararenal space on CT scan. If a sigmoid perforation occurs between the leaves of the mesocolon, air extends into the root of the sigmoid mesocolon and within the anterior pararenal space