Molecular-based light-activated thyristor

A photoinduced electrical conductivity switching is observed in the molecular conductor of alpha-[bis(ethylenedithio)tetrathiafulvalene](2)I-3 at different temperatures with different irradiation light intensities. The threshold voltage for the differential-negative-resistance effect appearing in the current-voltage characteristic curve decreases and increases, respectively, as the light intensity is increased and as the temperature decreases below the insulator-metal phase transition. The potential application of molecular conductor in bidirectional light-activated thyristor devices is demonstrated. (c) 2007 American Institute of Physics

A case of non-invasive serous adenocarcinoma at unilateral fimbria with spread to the peritoneal/uterine cavity: case report

Recently, fimbriae have been identified as a possible arising site for the pelvic serous carcinoma (PSC) both in BRCA-positive and BRCA-negative women. Although non-invasive (intraepithelial) serous adenocarcinoma of the fimbria has been found in specimens obtained from prophylactic salphingo-oophorectomies in BRCA-positive women, there has not been any case report in clinical situation, since this type of tumor is usually detected after stromal invasion/widespread dissemination. We describe a 67-year-old woman with non-invasive serous adenocarcinoma located solely in the left fimbria. This case may suggest the benefit of endometrial cytology and detailed gross examination of fimbria for the early detection of fimbrial carcinoma. This case may provide evidence suggesting fimbrial intraepithelial adenocarcinoma is one cause of PSC

Translation and Validation of the Health Literacy Score-14 Questionnaire for Vietnamese Patients with Diabetes

Introduction: Health literacy (HL) is a crucial indicator for health promotion and diabetes care improvement, but the available measurements are mostly in English. This study aimed to translate and validate the 14-item Health Literacy Scale (HLS-14) questionnaire from English to Vietnamese for patients with diabetes in Vietnam. Methods: We translated HLS-14 into Vietnamese in accordance with the World Health Organization guidelines and conducted a cross-sectional survey among 571 outpatients with type 2 diabetes using the HLS-14 Vietnamese version (HLS-14 VN). The reliability and validity of the tool were assessed using Cronbach’s alpha, composite reliability (CR), average variance extracted (AVE), and maximum shared variance (MSV), and confirmatory analysis was conducted. Results: Cronbach’s alpha coefficients for the three subscales as in the original version were 0.931, 0.810, and 0.928 for functional HL, communicative HL, and critical HL, respectively. However, AVE for critical HL was 0.488, which improved to 0.516 after the removal of one item in the communicative HL. For all subscales in the revised 13-item version (HLS-13 VN), CR was above 0.8, AVE was above 0.5, and MSV was less than AVE. Confirmatory analysis of HLS-13 VN revealed an acceptable fit with comparative fit index of 0.983, goodness-of-fit index of 0.963, and root mean squared error of approximation of 0.058. Conclusions: The reliability and validity of HLS-13 VN were confirmed. The tool is suitable for use in clinical settings in Vietnam to assess multidimensional HL in patients with type 2 diabetes

Evidence for three-dimensional Dirac semimetal state in strongly correlated organic quasi-two-dimensional material

The three-dimensional Dirac semimetal is distinct from its two-dimensional counterpart due to its dimensionality and symmetry. Here, we observe that molecule-based quasi-two-dimensional Dirac fermion system, $\alpha$-(BEDT-TTF)$_2$I$_3$, exhibits chiral anomaly-induced negative magnetoresistance and planar Hall effect upon entering the coherent inter-layer tunneling regime under high pressure. Time-reversal symmetry is broken due to the strong electronic correlation effect, while the spin-orbit coupling effect is negligible. The system provides an ideal platform for investigating the chiral anomaly physics by controlling dimensionality and strong electronic correlation.Comment: 5 pages, 6 figure

Wavefunction Analysis of STM Image: Surface Reconstruction of Organic Charge Transfer Salts

In this chapter, the wavefunction analysis is demonstrated, applied to the organic charge transfer salts composed of electron donor and electron acceptor molecules. Scanning tunneling microscopy (STM) images of the surface donor layers in the three charge transfer salts, α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3, β-(BEDT-TTF)2I3, and (EDO-TTF)2PF6, are analyzed with the atomic π electron orbitals of sulfur, oxygen, and carbon atoms. We have deduced three different kinds of surface molecular reconstructions as follows: (1) charge redistribution in α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3, (2) translational reconstruction up to 0.1 nm in β-(BEDT-TTF)2I3, and (3) rotational reconstruction transforming the 1D axis from the a axis to the b axis in (EDO-TTF)2PF6. Finally, it is concluded that the surface reconstruction is ascribed to the additional gain of the cohesive energy of the π electron system, provoked by the reduced steric hindrance with the anions of the missing outside double layer. The investigations of the surface states provide not only interesting behaviors of the surface cation layer, but also important insights into the electronic states of a lot of similar charge transfer crystals, as demonstrated in α-(BEDT-TTF)2I3

RS3PE syndrome with subsequent PMR caused by long-term DPP-4 inhibitor use

Remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting oedema (RS3PE) syndrome has been reported in patients treated with dipeptidyl peptidase-4 inhibitors (DPP-4i). We experienced a case of RS3PE syndrome in a 73-year-old man with a history of type 2 diabetes, who developed RS3PE as a side effect of vildagliptin. Further to this, the patient developed polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR), the first such case associated with long-term DPP-4i use

Investigation of the individual genetic evolution of SARS-CoV-2 in a small cluster during the rapid spread of the BF.5 lineage in Tokyo, Japan

There has been a decreasing trend in new severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2) cases and fatalities worldwide. The virus has been evolving, indicating the potential emergence of new variants and uncertainties. These challenges necessitate continued efforts in disease control and mitigation strategies. We investigated a small cluster of SARS-CoV-2 Omicron variant infections containing a common set of genomic mutations, which provided a valuable model for investigating the transmission mechanism of genetic alterations. We conducted a study at a medical center in Japan during the Omicron surge (sub-lineage BA.5), sequencing the entire SARS-CoV-2 genomes from infected individuals and evaluating the phylogenetic tree and haplotype network among the variants. We compared the mutations present in each strain within the BA.5 strain, TKYnat2317, which was first identified in Tokyo, Japan. From June 29th to July 4th 2022, nine healthcare workers (HCWs) tested positive for SARS-CoV-2 by real-time PCR. During the same period, five patients also tested positive by real-time PCR. Whole genome sequencing revealed that the infected patients belonged to either the isolated BA.2 or BA.5 sub-lineage, while the healthcare worker infections were classified as BF.5. The phylogenetic tree and haplotype network clearly showed the specificity and similarity of the HCW cluster. We identified 12 common mutations in the cluster, including I110V in nonstructural protein 4 (nsp4), A1020S in the Spike protein, and H47Y in ORF7a, compared to the BA.5 reference. Additionally, one case had the extra nucleotide-deletion mutation I27* in ORF10, and low frequencies of genetic alterations were also found in certain instances. The results of genome sequencing showed that the nine HCWs shared a set of genetic mutations, indicating transmission within the cluster. Minor mutations observed in five HCW individuals suggested the emergence of new virus variants. Five amino acid substitutions occurred in nsp3, which could potentially affect virus replication or immune escape. Intra-host evolution also generated additional mutations. The cluster exhibited a mild disease course, with individuals in this case, recovering without requiring any medical treatments. Further investigation is needed to understand the relationship between the genetic evolution of the virus and the symptoms

Butyrate and bioactive proteolytic form of Wnt-5a regulate colonic epithelial proliferation and spatial development

Proliferation and spatial development of colonic epithelial cells are highly regulated along the crypt vertical axis, which, when perturbed, can result in aberrant growth and carcinogenesis. In this study, two key factors were identified that have important and counterbalancing roles regulating these processes: pericrypt myofibroblast-derived Wnt-5a and the microbial metabolite butyrate. Cultured YAMC cell proliferation and heat shock protein induction were analzyed after butryate, conditioned medium with Wnt5a activity, and FrzB containing conditioned medium. In vivo studies to modulate Hsp25 employed intra-colonic wall Hsp25 encoding lentivirus. To silence Wnt-5a in vivo, intra-colonic wall Wnt-5a silencing RNA was used. Wnt-5a, secreted by stromal myofibroblasts of the lower crypt, promotes proliferation through canonical β-catenin activation. Essential to this are two key requirements: (1) proteolytic conversion of the highly insoluble ~40 kD Wnt-5a protein to a soluble 36 mer amino acid peptide that activates epithelial β-catenin and cellular proliferation, and (2) the simultaneous inhibition of butyrate-induced Hsp25 by Wnt-5a which is necessary to arrest the proliferative process in the upper colonic crypt. The interplay and spatial gradients of these factors insures that crypt epithelial cell proliferation and development proceed in an orderly fashion, but with sufficient plasticity to adapt to physiological perturbations including inflammation

Prevalence of intestinal parasitic infections among school children in capital areas of the Democratic Republic of São Tomé and Príncipe, West Africa

Background: Although the Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe (DRSTP) has undertaken school children-based deworming programs against intestinal parasitic infections (IPIs) using a single dose of mebendazole annually since 2005, it remains unclear as to the outcome to date. The present study intends to  investigate the recent IPIs status among school children living in capital areas of the DRSTP.Methods: A total of 252 school children (121 boys and 131 girls) of grades 4 and 5 from 4 primary schools located in the capital areas participated in the present study and their fresh fecal specimens were examined for the presence of any parasites using the merthiolate- iodine-formaldehyde concentration method as conducted.Results: The overall prevalence of IPIs was 64.7% (163/ 252). No significant gender difference in prevalence between boys (67.8%) and girls (61.8%) was found (p = 0.3). The majority of school children were infected with a single species of parasite (55.8%). Altogether, 12 different intestinal parasite species were identified in DRSTP school children, of which 9 species were pathogenic and the remaining 3 were non-pathogenic.Conclusion: Improving the detection method, sanitation facilities and personal hygiene as well as utilizing combined drugs are all important measures to greatly reduce IPIs in DRSTP school children.Keywords: Democratic Republic of Sao Tome and Principe, school children, intestinal parasitic infection