Female pseudohermaphroditism associated with maternal steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified of the ovary: a case report and literature review

Maternal virilization in pregnancy with or without fetal female pseudohermaphroditism has several etiologies. Of these, pregnancy luteoma is the most common cause of maternal virilization during pregnancy, and approximately 20 cases have been reported in recent years. Moreover, four cases of pregnancy luteomas with female pseudohermaphroditism have been reported. However, the extremely rare steroid cell tumor, not otherwise specified (NOS), has been reported only once as a cause for maternal virilization. Herein, the authors report the first case of maternal virilization with female pseudohermaphroditism associated with steroid cell tumor-NOS along with the clinical course, pathological features, and a review of the literature.

Partial epilepsy and developmental delay in infant with ring chromosome 14

Ring chromosome 14 (r14) is clinically characterized by early-onset epilepsy, mental retardation, delayed speech, microcephaly, extremely mild facial dysmorphisms and ophthalmologic abnormalities. We report a case presenting with partial seizures and delayed development in infancy in which r14 was diagnosed based on chromosomal analysis. The patient was a girl with a normal family and delivery history. Afebrile generalized convulsions developed at age 9 months, and phenobarbital was started, but was changed to zonisamide due to impaired liver function. Chromosome analysis led to a diagnosis of 46, XX, r(14) (p11.2q32.3). At age 5 years, while under treatment with zonisamide and clobazam, epilepsy was characterized by multiple daily episodes of complex partial seizures. Although there are no consistent brain MRI or electroencephalogram findings, experienced pediatric neurologists can make a diagnosis based on facial dysmorphisms. When refractory epilepsy is encountered in infancy with developmental delay of unknown cause, chromosome analysis should be performed.

Influence of surgical insults for colorectal cancers on neuroendocrine and immune parameters

In surgery for colorectal cancer, a tendency of immune suppression was noted as seen in surgery for other types of gastro-intestinal cancer. This tendency was also found in the biological response, and it was related to the operative procedures and insults for rectal cancer. The degree of immunosuppression was milder in patients who underwent procedures that preserve the natural sphincter than in those who underwent colostomy. It is important for surgeons to avoid postoperative immunosuppression in order to prevent recurrence and improve prognosis. Given similar degrees of operative insult and stage of cancer, an operative procedure which causes as little immunosuppression as possible should be selected.

Sulfate complexation of element 104, Rf, in H2SO4/HNO3 mixed solution

The cation-exchange behavior of 261Rf (T 1/2= 78 s) produced in the 248Cm(18O, 5n) reaction was studied on a “one-atom-at-a-time” scale in 0.15–0.69 M H2SO4/HNO3 mixed solutions ([H+]=1.0 M) using an automated ion-exchange separation apparatus coupled with the detection system for alpha-spectroscopy (AIDA). It was found that adsorption probabilities ( decrease with an increase of [HSO4 −], showing a successive formation of Rf sulfate complexes. Rf exhibits a weaker complex formation tendency compared to the lighter homologues Zr and Hf. This is in good agreement with theoretical predictions including relativistic effects.

Emergence of raltegravir-resistant HIV-1 in the central nervous system

Integrase inhibitor-resistant HIV-1 was detected in the cerebrospinal fluid, but not in the plasma of a 42-year-old man with HIV encephalopathy treated with a raltegravir (RAL)-containing regimen. Raltegravir resistance may develop in the central nervous system when the virus is already multi-drug resistant because of different penetration into cerebrospinal fluid of individual antiretroviral agents.

The effect of Assertive Community Treatment in Japan

OBJECTIVE

The aim of this study was to evaluate the effects of the Assertive Community Treatment (ACT) program in a Japanese mental health service setting.

METHOD

This study was a randomized controlled trial. ACT was the intervention condition (n = 59), and the usual hospital-based rehabilitation program was the control condition (n = 59). Outcome indicators include in-patient days, psychiatric symptoms, social functioning, quality of life, and client satisfaction. The follow-up period was 12 months after the intervention.

RESULTS

We found a significant reduction of in-patient days for the ACT group demonstrated by t-test (t = 2.33, P = 0.02). However, the results of ancova did not show significant differences for in-patient days between the two groups (F = 1.85, P = 0.18). The depression score for Brief Psychiatric Rating Scale for the ACT group was significantly lower than the control group at the 12-month follow-up assessment (F = 5.57, P = 0.03). According to the t-test, the ACT group had a higher client satisfaction than the control group (t = 2.08, P = 0.05).

CONCLUSION

We concluded that ACT had a positive influence, as evidenced by a reduction of in-patient days, lower depressive symptoms, and higher client satisfaction.

A High Speed Contact-Type Image Sensor using Amorphous Silicon Alloy Pin Diodes

A new A4-size contact-type image sensor with 8 elements per millimeter (1,728 elements) was developed by using amorphous silicon alloy pin photodiodes as the light receiving elements. The matrix switching method is employed for signal reading. This method can read the signals from all of the 1,728 photodiodes using a 54 (54-channel input) x 32 (32.channel output) matrix switching scheme. It is advantageous in that the required input and output external circuits can be simplified. To prevent signal crosstalk between the diodes in the matrix, amorphous silicon alloy pin diodes, which are made in the same process as the photodiodes for maintaining a low cost, are connected in series to each photodiode in reverse polarity as blocking diodes.

To achieve superior signal-to-noise ratio and response at the same time, amorphous silicon alloy pin diodes are optimized to satisfy both a high photo-to-dark ratio and a high rectification ratio. The image sensor can operate at up to 2 MHz signal reading clock, maintaining a signal-to-noise ratio of over 24 dB under 0. 1–1x sec exposure.

A case of phlegmonous gastritis with multiple liver and splenic abscesses

A 63-year-old woman was admitted with high fever. Laboratory tests showed leukocytosis and elevated C-reactive protein (CRP) levels. Abdominal ultrasonography and computed tomography revealed multiple liver and splenic tumors. We diagnosed phlegmonous gastritis with multiple liver and splenic abscesses based on a discharge of pus from the gastric ulcer on biopsy obtained during esophagogastroduodenoscopy. She showed remission after spontaneous drainage and treatment with antibiotics. A search of the literature yielded no other cases of phlegmonous gastritis with multiple liver and splenic abscesses, and we therefore report this case.

A comparison of two-dimensional techniques for converting magnetocardiogram maps into effective current source distributions

The aim of this study was to develop a method for converting the pseudo two-dimensional current given by a current-arrow map (CAM) into the physical current. The physical current distribution is obtained by the optimal solution in a least mean square sense with Tikhonov regularization (LMSTR). In the current dipole simulation, the current pattern differences (ΔJ) between the results of the CAM and the LMSTR with several regularization parameters (α = 10(-1)-10(-15)) are calculated. In magnetocardiographic (MCG) analysis, the depth (z(d)) of a reconstruction plane is chosen by using the coordinates of the sinus node, which is estimated from MCG signals at the early p-wave. The ΔJs at p-wave peaks, QRS-complex peaks, and T-wave peaks of MCG signals for healthy subjects are calculated. Furthermore, correlation coefficients and regression lines are also calculated from the current values of the CAM and the LMSTR during p-waves, QRS-complex, and T-waves of MCG signals. In the simulation, the ΔJs (α ≈ 10(-10)) had a minimal value. The ΔJs (α = 10(-10)) at p-wave peaks, QRS-complex peaks, and T-wave peaks of MCG signals for healthy subjects also had minimal value. The correlation coefficients of the current values given by the CAM and the LMSTR (α = 10(-10)) were greater than 0.9. Furthermore, slopes (y) of the regression lines are correlated with the depth (z(d)) (r = -0.93). Consequently, the CAM value can be transformed into the LMSTR current value by multiplying it by the slope (y) obtained from the depth (z(d)). In conclusion, the result given by the CAM can be converted into an effective physical current distribution by using the depth (z(d)).

Three-body nonmesonic weak decay of the (Lambda)12C hypernucleus

We have measured the branching ratio of the three-body process in the nonmesonic weak decay of Lambda12C to be 0.29+/-0.13. This result was obtained by reproducing the nucleon and the nucleon pair yields introducing a measured final state interaction. At the same time, we have determined the absolute decay widths, Gamma(n) and Gamma(p), along with Gamma2N, whose relative ratio has been a long-standing puzzle. Including the three-body process, we have successfully reproduced the nucleon energy distribution, the coincidence two-nucleon angular correlation, and the momentum sum distribution simultaneously.

Characteristics of two fission modes

Characteristics of nuclear deformation properties at scission of two fission modes, symmetric and asymmetric, are reviewed. Existence of two kinds of scission configurations associated with the symmetric and asymmetric fission modes is pointed out: elongated and compact configurations. Each symmetric and asymmetric scission property is discussed in terms of shape elongation evaluated from fragment total kinetic energy (TKE). Fragment deformation at scission is also discussed based on neutron multiplicity data. From the systematic study of the scission properties in a wide range of actinide fission, the bimodal fission observed in spontaneous fission (SF) of the heavy actinides is interpreted as the result of the presence of the two fission paths of the ordinary asymmetric mode and a strongly shell-influenced symmetric one. The correlation between the fragment shell structures and the asymmetric mass-yield curves is described.

Evidence for the formation of sodium hassate(VIII)

Hassium, element 108, was produced in the fusion reaction between26Mg and248Cm. The hassium recoils were oxidizedin-situto a highly volatile oxide, presumably HsO4, and were transported in a mixture of He and O2to a deposition and detection system. The latter consisted of 16 silicon PIN-photodiodes facing a layer of NaOH, which served, in the presence of a certain partial pressure of water in the transport gas, as reactive surface for the deposition of the volatile tetroxides. Six correlated α-decay chains of Hs were detected in the first 5 detectors centred around detection position 3. In analogy to OsO4, which forms Na2[OsO4(OH)2], an osmate(VIII), with aqueous NaOH, HsO4presumably was deposited as Na2[HsO4(OH)2], a hassate(VIII).

Extraction behavior of rutherfordium into tributylphosphate from hydrochloric acid

The extraction behavior of rutherfordium (Rf) into tributylphosphate (TBP) from hydrochloric acid (HCl) has been studied together with those of the lighter group-4 elements Zr and Hf. The extractability of261Rf,169Hf, and85Zr into TBP was investigated under identical conditions in 7.2–8.0 M HCl by on-line reversed-phase extraction chromatography. The percent extractions of Rf, Hf, and Zr into the TBP resin increase steeply with increasing HCl concentration, and the order of extraction is Zr > Hf ≈ Rf. By considering the order of chloride complexation among these elements, it is suggested that the stability of the TBP complex of Rf tetrachloride is lower than those of Zr and Hf.