Magnetic field screening and mirroring in graphene

The orbital magnetism in spatially varying magnetic fields is studied in monolayer graphene within the effective mass approximation. We find that, unlike the conventional two-dimensional electron system, graphene with small Fermi wave number k_F works as a magnetic shield where the field produced by a magnetic object placed above graphene is always screened by a constant factor on the other side of graphene. The object is repelled by a diamagnetic force from the graphene, as if there exists its mirror image with a reduced amplitude on the other side of graphene. The magnitude of the force is much greater than that of conventional two-dimensional system. The effect disappears with the increase of k_F.Comment: 5 pages, 3 figure

ギフ ジドリ オス ニ タイスル メイ キ ニ オケル キンパク ストレス ガ ケッショウ コルチコステロン ノウド ニ オヨボス エイキョウ

明期における緊縛ストレスが血漿コルチコステロン濃度に及ぼす影響を検討するため,岐阜地鶏雄を用いて,6 : 00,12 : 00,17 : 00(14L : 10D,5 : 00点灯)における血漿コルチコステロン濃度とストレスに対する反応性を比較した。血漿コルチコステロン濃度は,6 : 00(2.62±0.24ng/ml)の値が最も高く,12 : 00(1.47±0.40ng/ml),17 : 00(1.02±0.19ng/ml)と低い値を示した(P<0.05)。どの時刻においても,血漿コルチコステロン濃度は緊縛ストレスにより上昇した。6 : 00において,血漿コルチコステロン濃度はストレス負荷後0～60分まで他の時刻のものより高濃度で推移した。ストレスに対する反応性は,17 : 00が最も高く,12 : 00,6 : 00の順で低くなる関係を示した。以上の結果より,岐阜地鶏雄の血漿コルチコステロン濃度は明期開始後に高いこと,明期開始後は,ストレス負荷後も濃度を高く維持し続けること,また,ストレスの反応性は暗期開始前に高くなることが明らかとなった。In order to consider the effect of stress on plasma concentration of corticosterone during light periods, we compared plasma concentration of corticosterone with reactivity to stress at 6 : 00, 12 : 00, and 17 : 00 (14L : 10D, light on at 5 : 00) in Gifujidori roosters. Plasma concentration of corticosterone was the highest value at 6 : 00 (2.62±0.24ng/ml), and became low in order of 12 : 00 (1.47±0.40ng/ml) and 17 : 00 (1.02±0.19ng/ml) (P<0.05). At all times, plasma concentration of corticosterone increased after immobilization stress. At 6 : 00, plasma concentration of corticosterone showed a higher level than that of the other time 0-60 minutes after restraint. Reactivity to stress was the highest at 17 : 00, and became low in order of 12 : 00 and 6 : 00. Therefore, in Gifujidori roosters, it became clear that plasma concentration of corticosterone was high after the onset of light period, it also continued to be high after stress, and reactivity to stress became high before the onset of dark period when plasma concentration of corticosterone became low

Prediction of response to remission induction therapy by gene expression profiling of peripheral blood in Japanese patients with microscopic polyangiitis

BackgroundMicroscopic polyangiitis (MPA), which is classified as an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated small vessel vasculitis, is one of the most frequent primary vasculitides in Japan. We earlier nominated 16 genes (IRF7, IFIT1, IFIT5, OASL, CLC, GBP-1, PSMB9, HERC5, CCR1, CD36, MS4A4A, BIRC4BP, PLSCR1, DEFA1/DEFA3, DEFA4, and COL9A2) as predictors of response to remission induction therapy against MPA. The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy of prediction using these 16 predictors.MethodsThirty-nine MPA patients were selected randomly and retrospectively from the Japanese nationwide RemIT-JAV-RPGN cohort and enrolled in this study. Remission induction therapy was conducted according to the Guidelines of Treatment for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis published by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan. Response to remission induction therapy was predicted by profiling the altered expressions of the 16 predictors between the period before and 1 week after the beginning of treatment. Remission is defined as the absence of clinical manifestations of active vasculitis (Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score 2003: 0 or 1 point). Persistent remission for 18 months is regarded as a “good response,” whereas no remission or relapse after remission is regarded as a “poor response.”Results“Poor” and “good” responses were predicted in 7 and 32 patients, respectively. Five out of 7 patients with “poor” prediction and 1 out of 32 patients with “good” prediction experienced relapse after remission. One out of 7 patients with “poor” prediction was not conducted to remission. Accordingly, the sensitivity and specificity to predict poor response was 85.7% (6/7) and 96.9% (31/32), respectively.ConclusionsResponse to remission induction therapy can be predicted by monitoring the altered expressions of the 16 predictors in the peripheral blood at an early point of treatment in MPA patients

Comparison of severity classification in Japanese patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in a nationwide, prospective, inception cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To compare disease severity classification systems for six-month outcome prediction in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed AAV from 53 tertiary institutions were enrolled. Six-month remission, overall survival, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD)-free survival were evaluated. RESULTS: According to the European Vasculitis Study Group (EUVAS)-defined disease severity, the 321 enrolled patients were classified as follows: 14, localized; 71, early systemic; 170, generalized; and 66, severe disease. According to the rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) clinical grading system, the patients were divided as follows: 60, grade I; 178, grade II; 66, grade III; and 12, grade IV. According to the Five-Factor Score (FFS) 2009, 103, 109, and 109 patients had ≤1, 2, and ≥3 points, respectively. No significant difference in remission rates was found in any severity classification. The overall and ESRD-free survival rates significantly differed between grades I/II, III, and IV, regardless of renal involvement. Severe disease was a good predictor of six-month overall and ESRD-free survival. The FFS 2009 was useful to predict six-month ESRD-free survival but not overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The RPGN grading system was more useful to predict six-month overall and ESRD-free survival than the EUVAS-defined severity or FFS 2009

Comparison of severity classification in Japanese patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody-associated vasculitis in a nationwide, prospective, inception cohort study

OBJECTIVE: To compare disease severity classification systems for six-month outcome prediction in patients with antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)-associated vasculitis (AAV). METHODS: Patients with newly diagnosed AAV from 53 tertiary institutions were enrolled. Six-month remission, overall survival, and end-stage renal disease (ESRD)-free survival were evaluated. RESULTS: According to the European Vasculitis Study Group (EUVAS)-defined disease severity, the 321 enrolled patients were classified as follows: 14, localized; 71, early systemic; 170, generalized; and 66, severe disease. According to the rapidly progressive glomerulonephritis (RPGN) clinical grading system, the patients were divided as follows: 60, grade I; 178, grade II; 66, grade III; and 12, grade IV. According to the Five-Factor Score (FFS) 2009, 103, 109, and 109 patients had ≤1, 2, and ≥3 points, respectively. No significant difference in remission rates was found in any severity classification. The overall and ESRD-free survival rates significantly differed between grades I/II, III, and IV, regardless of renal involvement. Severe disease was a good predictor of six-month overall and ESRD-free survival. The FFS 2009 was useful to predict six-month ESRD-free survival but not overall survival. CONCLUSIONS: The RPGN grading system was more useful to predict six-month overall and ESRD-free survival than the EUVAS-defined severity or FFS 2009

Prediction of response to remission induction therapy by gene expression profiling of peripheral blood in Japanese patients with microscopic polyangiitis

Background: Microscopic polyangiitis (MPA), which is classified as an anti-neutrophil cytoplasmic antibody (ANCA)- associated small vessel vasculitis, is one of the most frequent primary vasculitides in Japan. We earlier nominated 16 genes (IRF7, IFIT1, IFIT5, OASL, CLC, GBP-1, PSMB9, HERC5, CCR1, CD36, MS4A4A, BIRC4BP, PLSCR1, DEFA1/DEFA3, DEFA4, and COL9A2) as predictors of response to remission induction therapy against MPA. The aim of this study is to determine the accuracy of prediction using these 16 predictors. Methods: Thirty-nine MPA patients were selected randomly and retrospectively from the Japanese nationwide RemIT-JAV-RPGN cohort and enrolled in this study. Remission induction therapy was conducted according to the Guidelines of Treatment for ANCA-Associated Vasculitis published by the Ministry of Health, Labour, and Welfare of Japan. Response to remission induction therapy was predicted by profiling the altered expressions of the 16 predictors between the period before and 1 week after the beginning of treatment. Remission is defined as the absence of clinical manifestations of active vasculitis (Birmingham Vasculitis Activity Score 2003: 0 or 1 point). Persistent remission for 18 months is regarded as a “good response,” whereas no remission or relapse after remission is regarded as a “poor response.” Results: “Poor” and “good” responses were predicted in 7 and 32 patients, respectively. Five out of 7 patients with “poor” prediction and 1 out of 32 patients with “good” prediction experienced relapse after remission. One out of 7 patients with “poor” prediction was not conducted to remission. Accordingly, the sensitivity and specificity to predict poor response was 85.7% (6/7) and 96.9% (31/32), respectively. Conclusions: Response to remission induction therapy can be predicted by monitoring the altered expressions of the 16 predictors in the peripheral blood at an early point of treatment in MPA patient