Variations of divalent cation concentrations in pore water and the precipitation of Mg-rich authigenic mineral during early diagenesis of Toyoma Formation

The variations of Fe, Mn and Mg concentrations in pore water were deduced from the chemistry of calcite. With depth, the Fe/Ca, Mn/Ca, Mg/Ca ratios of pore water decrease. The decrease in the Fe/Ca ratio is due to the precipitation of pyrite, whereas the decrease in the Mn/Ca ratio is due to the precipitation of Mn-rich calcite. The depletion of Mg in pore water is ascribed to the precipitation of either Mg-rich smectite or Mg-rich chlorite. A-type rock is further divided into A1 and A2 subtypes, on the basis of δ13C. Excesses of MgO and deficiencies of K舀 O above the calculated whole-rock compositions are observed mainly in the phosphatic nodules and A1 subtype. This suggests that the formation of Mg-rich smectite or Mg-rich chlorite took place at very early stage of diagenesis of the Toyoma Formation.Article信州大学理学部紀要 38: 23-34(2004)departmental bulletin pape

The genesis of phosphatic and carbonate rocks in the Toyoma Formation, Northeastern Japan

Various phosphatic and carbonate rocks occur in the Upper Permian Toyoma Formation. They are classified into phosphatic nodules, A-, B-and C-type rocks.The isotopic ratios of whole-rock calcite,pyrite and apatite in the rocks and the results of pyrite microanalysis using a high-resolution secondary ion mass spectrometer are presented. The carbon and sulfur isotopic compositions indicate that the rocks were formed through microbial sulfate reduction. Three distinct zones have been recognized within the Toyoma Formation that define its early diagenesis. The three zones’compositions differ in their mole fractions of authigenic material and the δ13C of their calcite deposits. Zone 1 is the region of oxic surface sediment in which sulfur-oxidizing bacteria grew.Because sulfuric acid is generated by the chemosynthesis of the bacteria, biogenic phosphate debris such as fish bones and scales were dissolved.The phosphate ions thus formed were the source of the phosphatic rocks of the Toyoma Formation.Zone 2 is the anoxic zone that underlay Zone 1. Anaerobic sulfate-reducing bacteria grew in this zone, resulting in increased pore water alkalinity and the precipitation of pyrite and apatite. Phosphatic nodules and A-and B-type rocks began to grow in this zone.Zone 3 is characterized by calcite precipitation. The pore water, saturated with calcite components, segregated from the sediments into rocks allowing the rocks to be calcareous. As sediments became buried deeper and deeper, they experienced the conditions of each successive zone. However, the period of final consolidation of the rocks differed from one rock type to another as evidenced by the varying δ1C values for calcite contained in the different rock types. Although the rocks are mixtures of authigenic minerals originating in different zones, it was possible to estimate the range of diagenetic zones in which each rock type was formed.ArticleJournal of the Faculty of Science Shinshu University 44: 1-57(2012)departmental bulletin pape

Proliferating Giant Pigmented Nevus: A Report of an Unusual Tumor Occurring in Association with a Congenital Giant Pigmented Nevus

A 32-year-old Japanese woman with a giant pigmented congenital nevus of the torso presented with a massive pigmented tumor mass of the vulva which grew over an 8-year period. Histologically, the tumor was composed of benign appearing nevus-like cells with focal areas of extensive fibrous response. The tumor cells were positive for S-100 protein and with an antihuman melanoma antibody (MoAb 225, 28S) stain. Electron microscopy confirmed the nevomelanocytic nature of the tumor cells and demonstrated peculiar cytoplasmic crystalline tubular structures similar to those seen in cells infected with herpes virus type II. We propose the term “proliferating giant pigmented nevus” for this previous undescribed tumor. J Invest Dermatol 92:315S–317S, 198

Increased Level of Pericardial Insulin-Like Growth Factor-1 in Patients With Left Ventricular Dysfunction and Advanced Heart Failure

ObjectivesTo test the hypothesis that the cardiac insulin-like growth factor-1 (IGF-1) system is up-regulated in the failing heart, we measured the pericardial (cardiac) and plasma (circulating) IGF-1 levels in coronary artery disease patients.BackgroundLocal IGF-1 systems are regulated differently from the systemic IGF-1 system. The cardiac IGF-1 system is up-regulated by the increased left ventricular (LV) wall stress. However, it remains unknown how this system is affected in LV dysfunction and heart failure.MethodsWe measured the plasma and pericardial fluid levels of IGF-1 and brain natriuretic peptide (BNP) in 87 coronary artery disease patients undergoing cardiac surgery, and examined their relationships with LV function and heart failure severity. The expressions of IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor proteins were examined in endomyocardial biopsies obtained from other patients with normal or impaired LV function.ResultsThe pericardial IGF-1 and BNP levels were positively correlated with the plasma BNP level (both p < 0.001). The pericardial IGF-1 level was increased in heart failure patients, whereas the plasma IGF-1 level was rather decreased. The pericardial IGF-1 level was inversely correlated with the LV ejection fraction (p < 0.001), whereas the plasma IGF-1 level was not. Positive immunostaining for IGF-1 and IGF-1 receptor proteins was enhanced in myocardial biopsies from failing hearts compared with those from nonfailing hearts.ConclusionsThe pericardial IGF-1 level was increased in patients with LV dysfunction and heart failure, whereas the plasma IGF-1 level was decreased. These results may indicate that up-regulation of the cardiac IGF-1 system serves as a compensatory mechanism for LV dysfunction

Left atrial metastasis of renal cell carcinoma: a case report and review of the literature

Background: Cardiac metastasis of renal cell carcinoma is an exceptional event, particularly when there is lack of inferior vena cava involvement. Indeed, only a few cases have been reported worldwide thus far. Moreover, discussion of treatment and follow-up strategies for cardiac metastasis of renal cell carcinoma is important because of the high risk of sudden death. Case presentation. We report the case of a 75-year-old Japanese man with metastatic tumor in the left atrium from renal cell carcinoma. He had a history of right renal cell carcinoma, for which he had undergone hand-assisted laparoscopic nephrectomy. Lung and bone metastases were detected after nephrectomy, and treatment with interferon-alpha was initiated. After disease progression, he was treated concurrently with targeted molecular therapy and radiotherapy for bone metastasis. After these therapies, a 42 × 24 mm mass was found on transthoracic echocardiography in left atrium without involvement of the right atrium or inferior vena cava. The provisional diagnosis was metastatic mass or myxoma, and surgical resection was performed. Histopathological examination led to a final diagnosis of metastatic tumor from clear cell renal cell carcinoma. Conclusion: Cardiac metastasis, metastasis to the left atrium in particular, is rare in patients with renal cell carcinoma. In our study, surgery of the cardiac mass was effective to avoid sudden death and quality of life decline resulting from heart failure. We describe this case and review cardiac metastasis of renal cell carcinoma

Breastfeeding history and metabolic syndrome in parous women

Objective The aim of the present study was to investigate the associations between breastfeeding and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome in community-dwelling parous women and to clarify whether the associations depend on age. Methods The present cross-sectional study included 11,118 women, aged 35–69 years. Participants’ longest breastfeeding duration for one child and their number of breastfed children were assessed using a self-administered questionnaire, and their total breastfeeding duration was approximated as a product of the number of breastfed children and the longest breastfeeding duration. The longest and the total breastfeeding durations were categorized into none and tertiles above 0 months. Metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors (obesity, hypertension, dyslipidemia, and hyperglycemia) were defined as primary and secondary outcomes, respectively. Associations between breastfeeding history and metabolic syndrome or each cardiovascular risk factor were assessed using multivariable unconditional logistic regression analysis. Results Among a total of 11,118 women, 10,432 (93.8%) had ever breastfed, and 1,236 (11.1%) had metabolic syndrome. In participants aged <55 years, an inverse dose–response relationship was found between the number of breastfed children and the prevalence of metabolic syndrome; multivariable-adjusted odds ratios for 1, 2, 3, and ≥4 breastfed children were 0.60 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 0.31 to 1.17), 0.50 (95% CI: 0.29 to 0.87), 0.44 (95% CI: 0.24 to 0.84), and 0.35 (95% CI: 0.14 to 0.89), respectively. The longest and total breastfeeding durations of longer than 0 months were also associated with lower odds of metabolic syndrome relative to no breastfeeding history in participants aged <55 years. In contrast, all measures of breastfeeding history were not significantly associated with metabolic syndrome and cardiovascular risk factors in participants aged ≥55 years old. Conclusions Breastfeeding history may be related to lower prevalence of metabolic syndrome in middle-aged parous women