Thermal Molecular Motion Can Amplify Intermolecular Magnetic Interactions

Against a sensible expectation that molecular mobility in fluids generally disrupts magnetic orderings that depend on intermolecular interactions, some molecular compounds with isolated electrons, which are called radicals, exhibit the increase of magnetic susceptibility in melting. Here we first propose a simple model to explain the thermomagnetic anomaly unique to fluids; the effect of the magnetic interactions in each of the contacts could be accumulated on each of the molecular spins as if the molecular motion amplified the first coordination number of each molecule hundredfold. The huge coordination number theoretically guarantees the retention of memory of interactions at equilibrium; molecules might be able to conserve the memory of molecular conformations, configurations, electric charges, energies as well as magnetic memory with each other.Yoshiaki Uchida, Go Watanabe, Takuya Akita et al. Thermal Molecular Motion Can Amplify Intermolecular Magnetic Interactions, The Journal of Physical Chemistry B 124 (28), 6175-6180, July 16, ©2020 American Chemical Society. https://doi.org/10.1021/acs.jpcb.0c0540

ニッケルアレルギー惹起相におけるセマフォリン７Aの効果

Background: Metal allergy is caused by many factors, including cells, cytokines, chemokines, or the environment. Recent studies suggested semaphorin7A (Sema7A), expressed on activated T cells, is crucial to produce inflammation through α1β1 integrin on monocytes and macrophages. However, the role of Sema7A on keratinocytes in metal allergy is still unclear. In this study, we focused on keratinocytes since they are known as an important player for skin immunity, and analyzed the effect of Sema7A expressed on keratinocytes in the development of metal allergy. Materials and Methods: Mouse keratinocyte line PAM2.12 cells were treated with NiCl2 to analyze the expression of Sema7A. Ni allergy was induced in female C57BL/6J mice (6-8 weeks old) with or without Sema7A suppression to confirm if Sema7A is necessary to produce allergic reactions to NiCl2. Results: NiCl2 enhanced the expression of Sema7A in a dose and time-dependent manner after 72 hours of stimulation. PAM 2.12 produced TNF-α in response to NiCl2, and this secretion was reduced by Sema7A inhibition. In a mouse model, ear thickness, at 48 hours after NiCl2 injection, was significantly decreased by Sema7A siRNA administration. Conclusions: Sema7A is essential to produce an allergic reaction to NiCl2, especially during the effector phase. Since the interaction between Sema7A and α1β1 integrin enhances inflammation in many skin diseases, this interaction may also have possibilities to be a therapeutic target for metal allergy

Semaphorin 3A : A potential target for prevention and treatment of nickel allergy

Metal allergy is one of the typical immune disorders encountered during the application of dental/medical materials and has a highly complex pathogenic mechanism. Semaphorin 3A (Sema3A), a member of the semaphorin family, is reported to be involved in various immune disorders. However, its role in metal allergy has not been clarified yet. Herein, we show that Sema3A expression was upregulated in nickel (Ni) allergy-induced mouse ear tissue and in NiCl2-stimulated mouse keratinocytes. Moreover, Sema3A regulated tumor necrosis factor-alpha production and mitogen-activated protein kinase activation in keratinocytes. The specific deletion of Sema3A in keratinocytes did not affect immune cell infiltration but reduced edema and ear swelling; it also impeded Th1 responses to cause a slight alleviation in Ni allergy in mice. Our results demonstrate that Sema3A promotes the development of metal allergy and should be explored as a potential target for the prevention and treatment of metal allergy

Control of all the transitions between ground state manifolds of nitrogen vacancy centers in diamonds by applying external magnetic driving fields

We demonstrate control of all the three transitions among the ground state sublevels of NV centers by applying magnetic driving fields. To address the states of a specific NV axis among the four axes, we apply a magnetic field orthogonal to the NV axis. We control two transitions by microwave pulses and the remaining transition by radio frequency (RF) pulses. In particular, we investigate the dependence of Rabi oscillations on the frequency and intensity of the RF pulses. In addition, we perform a π pulse by the RF pulses and measured the coherence time between the ground state sublevels. Our results pave the way for control of NV centers for the realization of quantum information processing and quantum sensing

The Utility of Serum IgG4 Concentrations as a Biomarker

IgG4-related disease is a new disease entity involving IgG4 in its clinical presentation and having 6 characteristic features: (1) systemic involvement; (2) solitary or multiple lesions showing diffuse or localized swelling, masses, nodules, and/or wall thickening on imaging; (3) high serum IgG4 concentration >135 mg/dL; (4) abundant infiltration of lymphoplasmacytes and IgG4-bearing plasma cells; (5) a positive response to corticosteroid therapy; and (6) complications of other IgG4-related diseases. To date, most IgG4-related diseases have been recognized as extrapancreatic lesions of autoimmune pancreatitis. This paper will discuss the utility of IgG4 as a biomarker of IgG4-related diseases, including in the diagnosis of autoimmune pancreatitis and its differentiation from pancreatic cancer, in the prediction of relapse, in the long-term follow-up of patients with autoimmune pancreatitis and normal or elevated IgG4 concentrations, and in patients with autoimmune pancreatitis and extrapancreatic lesions, as well as the role of IgG4 in the pathogenesis of IgG4-related disease

International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria for Autoimmune Pancreatitis and Its Japanese Amendment Have Improved Diagnostic Ability over Existing Criteria

Objectives. The recent International Consensus Diagnostic Criteria (ICDC) for autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) and its Japanese amendment developed by the Japanese Pancreas Society (JPS 2011) may have overcome the drawbacks of earlier criteria and achieved a higher diagnostic ability for AIP. The aim of the present study is to evaluate this possibility and identify the underlying causes of this change. Methods. We compared the diagnostic abilities of the ICDC and JPS 2011 with those of the Japanese diagnostic criteria 2006 (JPS 2006), Korean diagnostic criteria (Korean), Asian diagnostic criteria (Asian), and HISORt diagnostic criteria in 110 patients with AIP and 31 patients with malignant pancreatic cancer. Results. The ICDC achieved the highest diagnostic ability in terms of accuracy (95.0%), followed by JPS 2011 (92.9%), Korean (92.2%), HISORt (88.7%), Asian (87.2%), and JPS 2006 (85.1%). Nearly all criteria systems exhibited a high specificity of 100%, indicating that the enhanced diagnostic ability of the ICDC and JPS 2011 likely stemmed from increased sensitivity brought about by inclusion of diagnostic items requiring no endoscopic retrograde pancreatography. The diagnostic ability of JPS 2011 was nearly equivalent to that of the ICDC. Conclusions. The ICDC and JPS 2011 have improved diagnostic ability as compared with earlier criteria sets because of an increase in sensitivity.ArticleGASTROENTEROLOGY RESEARCH AND PRACTICE. 2013:456965 (2013)journal articl

Mechanisms of Lower Bile Duct Stricture in Autoimmune Pancreatitis

Objectives We attempted to clarify the mechanism underlying lower bile duct stricture in autoimmune pancreatitis. Methods Imaging and histologic finding of the bile duct were assessed for 73 patients with autoimmune pancreatitis to clarify whether IgG4-related biliary inflammation or pancreatic head swelling is associated with lower bile duct stricture. Results Lower bile duct stricture was found in 59 (81%) patients. Pancreatic head swelling was significantly more frequent among patients with lower bile duct stricture than those patients without lower bile duct stricture (53 [90%] vs 4 [29%]; P < 0.01). Intraductal ultrasonography findings revealed lower bile duct wall thickening in 21 (95%) of the 22 patients with lower bile duct stricture, and the lower bile duct wall of the patients with pancreatic head swelling was significantly thicker than those patients without pancreatic head swelling (P = 0.028). Among the 38 patients with lower bile duct biopsies, 14 (37%) exhibited abundant IgG4-bearing plasma cell infiltration. Among the patients with lower bile duct stricture, an IgG4-related inflammation seemed to exert a dominant effect under limited conditions, including concomitant middle bile duct stricture and neither pancreatic swelling nor pancreatic duct stricture in the head region. Conclusions Both pancreatic head swelling and IgG4-related biliary inflammation affect lower bile duct stricture, which may be included in IgG4-related sclerosing cholangitis. Pancreatic head swelling affects IgG4-related biliary wall thickening.ArticlePANCREAS. 43(2):255-260 (2014)journal articl

Diuretic effect of cilazapril and dopamine system in the spontaneously hypertensive rat.

&lt;p&gt;To assess the role of the kidney dopamine system on the diuretic state induced by angiotensin-converting enzyme (ACE) inhibitors, we examined the changes in urinary excretion and plasma level of dopamine, and kidney dopamine receptors in spontaneously hypertensive rats (SHR) treated with cilazapril, an ACE inhibitor. We administered cilazapril 10 mg/kg orally to 13-week-old SHR daily for 21 days (CILAZA group). Systolic blood pressure was significantly decreased in the CILAZA group on Day 6 compared with that in vehicle-treated SHR (control group). The urine volume was three- to fivefold higher in the CILAZA group, and total urinary dopamine secretion was also increased compared with the control group. There was no significant difference in affinity and number of kidney dopamine receptors between the CILAZA and the control groups. In conclusion, the diuretic effect caused by cilazapril is partly mediated by inhibition of the water reabsorption via the increase of dopamine production in the kidney.&lt;/p&gt;</p

Comparison of carbon dioxide and air insufflation use by non-expert endoscopists during endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography

Background: Endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography (ERCP) is subject to several complications that include a lengthy procedure time, technical difficulty, and active bowel movement induced by air insufflation. In ERCP carried out by non-expert endoscopists who are prone to excessive luminal insufflation, insufflation with carbon dioxide (CO2) may provide better and safer outcomes. We aimed to assess the efficacy and safety of CO2 insufflation during ERCP by non-expert endoscopists. Methods: This study included 208 consecutive patients who received ERCP, excluding those in poor general health or with obstructive lung disease. The first operator for each patient was a non-expert endoscopist having done 50 or fewer ERCP procedures. Primary outcomes were the changes in cardiopulmonary state during ERCP. Secondary outcomes were ERCP complications. We designed a single-center, randomized, prospective, double-blind, controlled trial with CO2 and air insufflation during ERCP. Results: CO2 insufflation did not affect overall procedure progression or results. A positive correlation was observed between procedure time and change in maximal systolic blood pressure from baseline among patients in the air insufflation group, but not in the CO2 insufflation group (correlation coefficient 0.408 vs 0.114, change in the maximal systolic blood pressure from baseline +4.2 vs+1.2mmHg/10min). This was consistent with our findings in patients treated by the first operator alone. The occurrence rate of post-ERCP pancreatitis tended to be lower in the CO2 group than the air group (4/102 [3.9%]vs 0/106 [0%], P=0.056). Conclusions: CO2 insufflation during ERCP by non-expert endoscopists is recommended from the standpoints of efficacy and safety.ArticleDIGESTIVE ENDOSCOPY. 25(2):189-196 (2013)journal articl

Risk factors for pancreatic stone formation in autoimmune pancreatitis over a long-term course

Autoimmune pancreatitis (AIP) has the potential to progress to a chronic state that forms pancreatic stones. The aim of this study was to clarify the risk factors underlying pancreatic stone formation in AIP. Sixty-nine patients with AIP who had been followed for at least 3 years were enrolled for evaluation of clinical and laboratory factors as well as computed tomography and endoscopic retrograde cholangiopancreatography findings. During the course of this study, increased or de novo stone formation was seen in 28 patients, who were defined as the stone-forming group. No stones were observed in 32 patients, who were defined as the non-stone-forming group. Nine patients who had stones at diagnosis but showed no change during the course of this study were excluded from our cohort. Univariate analysis revealed no significant differences in clinical or laboratory factors associated with AIP-specific inflammation between the two groups. However, pancreatic head swelling (P = 0.006) and narrowing of both Wirsung's and Santorini's ducts in the pancreatic head region (P = 0.010) were significantly more frequent in the stone-forming group. Furthermore, multivariate analysis identified Wirsung and Santorini duct narrowing at diagnosis as a significant independent risk factor for pancreatic stone formation (OR 4.4, P = 0.019). A primary risk factor for pancreatic stone formation in AIP was narrowing of both Wirsung's and Santorini's ducts, which most presumably led to pancreatic juice stasis and stone development.ArticleJOURNAL OF GASTROENTEROLOGY. 47(5):553-560 (2012)journal articl