205 research outputs found
Secondary autoimmune hypothalamitis with severe memory impairment 7 years after the onset of diabetes insipidus due to lymphocytic hypophysitis: a case report
Background Autoimmune hypothalamitis is a very rare neuroendocrine disorder that causes central diabetes insipidus, headache, visual impairment, and sometimes cognitive impairment. Autoimmune hypothalamitis may occur in association with autoimmune hypophysitis, including lymphocytic hypophysitis, or in isolation. It is not known whether autoimmune hypothalamitis and autoimmune hypophysitis are consecutive diseases. Case presentation A 52-year-old woman developed autoimmune hypothalamitis 7 years after developing central diabetes insipidus due to lymphocytic hypophysitis, resulting in severe memory impairment. High-dose intravenous methylprednisolone therapy improved her cognitive function and decreased the size of the lesion. Conclusion This case presented a unique clinical course, with a long period of time between the onset of autoimmune hypopituitaritis and the development of autoimmune hypothalamitis
Lamivudine treatment in patients with HBV-related hepatocellular carcinoma--using an untreated, matched control cohort.
Lamivudine is widely used to treat patients with hepatitis B. However, the outcomes in patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) treated with lamivudine have not been established. This study was conducted to evaluate the outcomes of lamivudine treatment for patients with HCC using an untreated, matched control group. Thirty patients with controlled HCC orally received lamivudine. As controls, 40 patients with HCC who were not treated with lamivudine and matched for clinical features were selected. The lamivudine-treated and untreated groups were compared with respect to changes in liver function, HCC recurrence, survival, and cause of death. In the lamivudine-treated group, there was significant improvement in the Child-Pugh score at 24 months after starting treatment, while no improvement was observed in the untreated group. There was no significant difference in the cumulative incidence of HCC recurrence and survival between the groups. However, there was a significant difference in the cumulative incidence of death due to liver failure (P= 0.043). A significant improvement in liver function was achieved by lamivudine treatment, even in patients with HCC. These results suggest that lamivudine treatment for patients with HCC may prevent death due to liver failure. Further prospective randomized studies using a larger number of patients are required.</p
Suzaku Observations of the Non-thermal Supernova Remnant HESS J1731-347
A detailed analysis of the nonthermal X-ray emission from the North-Western
and Southern parts of the supernova remnant (SNR) HESS J1731347 with {\it
Suzaku} is presented. The shell portions covered by the observations emit hard
and line-less X-rays. The spectrum can be reproduced by a simple absorbed
power-law model with a photon index of 1.8-2.7 and an absorption
column density of (1.0-2.1) cm. These
quantities change significantly from region to region; the North-Western part
of the SNR has the hardest and most absorbed spectrum. The Western part of the
X-ray shell has a smaller curvature than North-Western and Southern shell
segments. A comparison of the X-ray morphology to the Very High Energy (VHE)
gamma-ray and radio images was performed. The efficiency of electron
acceleration and emission mechanism in each portion of the shell are discussed.
Thermal X-ray emission from the SNR was searched for but could not be detected
at a significant level.Comment: 23 pages, 28 figures, ApJ, in pres
Search for Outer Massive Bodies around Transiting Planetary Systems: Candidates of Faint Stellar Companions around HAT-P-7
We present results of direct imaging observations for HAT-P-7 taken with the
Subaru HiCIAO and the Calar Alto AstraLux. Since the close-in transiting planet
HAT-P-7b was reported to have a highly tilted orbit, massive bodies such as
giant planets, brown dwarfs, or a binary star are expected to exist in the
outer region of this system. We show that there are indeed two candidates for
distant faint stellar companions around HAT-P-7. We discuss possible roles
played by such companions on the orbital evolution of HAT-P-7b. We conclude
that as there is a third body in the system as reported by Winn et al. (2009,
ApJL, 763, L99), the Kozai migration is less likely while planet-planet
scattering is possible.Comment: 8 pages, 3 figures, 2 tables, PASJ in pres
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