Observation of Current-induced Nonlinear Spin Polarization in Pt-Py Bilayers

We experimentally observe nonlinear spin polarization in metallic bilayers of platinum and permalloy by means of spin-torque ferromagnetic resonance (ST-FMR) with the spin-Hall effects. The ST-FMR results under massive dc current injection contain striking features, which are not caused by extrinsic Joule heating, but by intrinsic nonlinear spin polarization. The emergence of nonlinear spin polarization is consistent with observation of unidirectional spin-Hall magnetoresistance due to magnon generation/annihilation. Moreover, the magnon generation (annihilation) leads to effective magnetization shrinkage (expansion) revealed by the ST-FMR measurements. The present study paves a way to spin-Hall effect based nonlinear spintronic devices as well as 6th-generation mobile communication light sources

Microwave Spectroscopy of a Single Permalloy Chiral Metamolecule on a Coplanar Waveguide

We investigate the microwave spectroscopies of a micrometer-sized single permalloy (Py) chiral structure on coplanar waveguides (CPWs). Under an external dc magnetic field applied in a direction perpendicular to the microwave propagation, the Py chiral structure loaded on the center of the CPW signal line shows Kittel-mode ferromagnetic resonance. Contrastingly, the structure on the signal-line edge highlights two additional resonances: spin-wave resonance at a higher frequency, and unique resonance at a lower frequency of approximately 7.8 GHz. The resonance signal at 7.8 GHz originates from magnetically induced, geometry-driven resonance, although the resonance frequency does not depend on the external magnetic field. Moreover, the displacement of the Py structures on the signal line results in nonreciprocal microwave transmission, which is traced back to the edge-guide mode

A case of retroesophageal right subclavian artery, with special reference to the second intercostal artery, retroesophageal right vertebral artery, and thoracic duct

We report a case of retroesophageal right subclavian artery identified in a 59-year-old Japanese female during routine dissection in Nagasaki University School of Medicine. This kind of variation is relatively rare; however, reports of such cases have accumulated. We paid attention to the intersegmental arteries and above all, the second intercostal artery. On the other hand, there have been reports of a retroesophageal right vertebral artery, although such cases are extremely rare. It is considered that both retroesophageal arteries are formed by similar mechanisms. In other words, the distal part of the right dorsal aorta remained in such cases. However, in the case of a retroesophageal right vertebral artery, there might be the possibility of intercostal arteries developing into the vertebral artery, and we discuss such points here

An Ancient Skeleton with Multiple Osteoblastic Bone Lesions Containing a Scapular Sunburst Appearance from a 5th?6th Century Grave Excavated in Oita, Japan

A human skeleton of a middle-aged adult male was found in a 5th-6th century Kinoue-Kodo stone coffin excavated from the southwest marginal region of the Oita plains, northeast Kyushu, Japan. The skeleton was buried respectfully in the ancient tomb, and red pigment was applied to his face after death. We report herein findings from computed tomography imaging of the skeleton and discuss the multiple osteoblastic lesions identified in the humerus, scapula, clavicle, vertebra, pelvic bones, and skull of this individual. These lesions comprised cortical bone thickening with periosteal reaction localized to the surface and osteosclerotic changes mainly observed in the trabecular structure of cancellous bone. In particular, a typical sunburst pattern was also noted on the left scapula as another characteristic lesion found in this case. By differential diagnosis, the disease suffered by this individual was most likely to be metastatic bone tumors, especially of prostate cancer. This person may have survived until many bone metastases had developed throughout his whole body

Association of the Trp64Arg Mutation of the β3-Adrenergic Receptor with Diabetes Mellitus, Impaired Glucose Tolerance and Lifestyle in Japanese Workers

In order to investigate whether the Trp64Arg (a missense mutation of tryptophan for arginine at position 64 codon) polymorphism of the β3-adrenergic receptor (β3-AR) gene is related to the incidence of non-insulin-dependent diabetes mellitus (NIDDM) and impaired glucose tolerance (IGT), a retrospective cohort study among Japanese workers was conducted. The subjects were Japanese workers at an occupational site in Shimane Prefecture. Informed consent was obtained from 492 workers. The baseline data were obtained at the regular health examination in 1992 and a retrospective cohort study was performed for analyzing the incidence of NIDDM and IGT in 1998. The Trp64Arg polymorphism β3-AR gene for each worker was detected by the single strand conformation polymerase analysis. Relative risks were calculated by the logistic regression analysis. The rates of Trp64Trp (TT), Trp64Arg (TA) and Arg64Arg (AA) genotypes were 66.3%, 31.1% and 2.6%, respectively. The relative risk of (TA + AA) against TT for the incidence of NIDDM and IGT by univariate analysis was 1.37 (95% incidence of NIDDM and IGT adjusted for confounders in a multiple logistic regression model including age, gender, family history, body mass index, alcohol consumption, eating habits and exercise was 1.31 (95% confidence interval, 0.65-2.67). The present findings suggested that a weak association between Trp64Arg polymorphism of the β3-AR gene and the incidence of NIDDM and IGT

Correlative study of hippocampal atrophy assessed by MRI and clinical features in temporal lobe epilepsy.

側頭葉てんかん患者39例の海馬萎縮をMRIを用いて評価し,臨床像との関連を検討した｡MRIの冠状断short SE像で海馬の幅を計測し,萎縮側海馬の村側海馬に対する比(a)を求め,海馬萎縮(+)群;a<0.8,11例,境界群;0.8≦a<0.9,13例,海馬萎縮(-)群;a≧0.9,15例の3群に分けた｡海馬萎縮(+)群で罹病期間が長い傾向があった｡また,発作間歇期脳波の焦点側は海馬委縮(+)群の11例中9例で萎縮側と一致した。しかし,発病年齢,MRI撮影時年齢,発作頻度,全般化発作の有無,抗てんかん薬総服用量,知能障害,精神症状,生下時仮死の有無については3群間で差が認められなかった｡この結果から,側頭葉てんかんにおける海馬萎縮は,生下時や全身けいれん発作時の低酸素状態によるものではなく,脳局所の反復するてんかん性発射と関連する可能性が示唆され,海馬萎縮の機序を考えるうえで興味深く思われた。We studied hippocampal atrophy in 39 patients with temporal lobe epilepsy using MRI. The ratio (a) of the width of the hippocampus on the atrophic side to that on the contralateral side was measured in coronal sections of the short SE in MRI. According to this ratio, the patients were divided into three groups : 11 with hippocampal atrophy (a<0.8), 13 with borderline atrophy (0.8≦a≦0.9), and 15 with no hippocampal atrophy (a≧0.8). In the patients of the group with hippocampal atrophy, the clinical history of epilepsy tended to be long, and the site of hippocampal atrophy was consistent with that of interictal spike foci on the electroencephalogram in 9 out of 11 patients. However, there was no difference between the three groups, with regard to age at onset, age when MRI was conducted, frequency of seizures, generalized seizures, the types and doses of antiepileptic drugs used, history of neonatal asphyxia, intelligence and epilpetic psychosis. These results suggest that hippocampal atrophy in temporal lobe epilepsy may be related to repetition of epileptic dischargges in a localized part of the brain

Periarticular Osteophytes as an Appendicular Joint Stress Marker (JSM): Analysis in a Contemporary Japanese Skeletal Collection

Objective: The aim of this study was to investigate the possibility that periarticular osteophytes plays a role as a appendicular joint stress marker (JSM) which reflects the biomechanical stresses on individuals and populations. Methods: A total of 366 contemporary Japanese skeletons (231 males, 135 females) were examined closely to evaluate the periarticular osteophytes of six major joints, the shoulder, elbow, wrist, hip, knee, and ankle and osteophyte scores (OS) were determined using an original grading system. These scores were aggregated and analyzed statistically from some viewpoints. Results: All of the OS for the respective joints were correlated logarithmically with the age-at-death of the individuals. For 70 individuals, in whom both sides of all six joints were evaluated without missing values, the age-standardized OS were calculated. A right side dominancy was recognized in the joints of the upper extremities, shoulder and wrist joints, and the bilateral correlations were large in the three joints on the lower extremity. For the shoulder joint and the hip joint, it was inferred by some distinctions that systemic factors were relatively large. All of these six joints could be assorted by the extent of systemic and local factors on osteophytes formation. Moreover, when the age-standardized OS of all the joints was summed up, some individuals had significantly high total scores, and others had significantly low total scores; namely, all of the individuals varied greatly in their systemic predisposition for osteophytes formation. Conclusions: This study demonstrated the significance of periarticular osteophytes; the evaluating system for OS could be used to detect differences among joints and individuals. Periarticular osteophytes could be applied as an appendicular joint stress marker (JSM); by applying OS evaluating system for skeletal populations, intra-skeletal and inter-skeletal variations in biomechanical stresses throughout the lives could be clarified

S-1 Plus Cisplatin with Concurrent Radiotherapy for Locally Advanced Non-small Cell Lung Cancer: A Multi-Institutional Phase II Trial (West Japan Thoracic Oncology Group 3706)

Purpose:To evaluate the combination chemotherapy using oral antimetabolite S-1 plus cisplatin (SP) with concurrent thoracic radiotherapy (RT) followed by the consolidation SP for locally advanced non-small cell lung cancer.Patients and Methods:Patients with stage III non-small cell lung cancer, 20 to 74 years of age, and Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0 to 1 were eligible. The concurrent phase consisted of full dose S-1 (orally at 40 mg/m2/dose twice daily, on days 1–14) and cisplatin (60 mg/m2 on day 1) repeated every 4 weeks for two cycles with RT delivered beginning on day 1 (60 Gy/30 fractions over 6 weeks). After SP-RT, patients received an additional two cycles of SP as the consolidation phase.Results:Fifty-five patients were registered between November 2006 and December 2007. Of the 50 patients for efficacy analysis, the median age was 64 years; male/female 40/10; Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group performance status 0/1, 21/29; clinical stage IIIA/IIIB 18/32; and adenocarcinoma/others 20/30. There were 42 clinical responses including one complete response with an objective response rate of 84% (95% confidence interval [CI], 71–93%). The 1- and 2-year overall survival rates were 88% (95% CI, 75–94%) and 70% (95% CI, 55–81%), respectively. The median progression-free survival was 20 months. Of the 54 patients for safety analysis, common toxicities in the concurrent phase included grade 3/4 neutropenia (26%), thrombocytopenia (9%), and grade 3 esophagitis (9%) and febrile neutropenia (9%). In one patient, grade 3 pneumonitis was observed in the consolidation phase. There were two treatment-related deaths caused by infection in the concurrent phase.Conclusions:SP-RT showed a promising efficacy against locally advanced NCSLC with acceptable toxicity