Robust formation of Skyrmions and topological Hall effect anomaly in epitaxial thin films of MnSi

Magnetotransport properties have been investigated for epitaxial thin films of B20-type MnSi grown on Si(111) substrates. Lorentz transmission electron microscopy images clearly point to the robust formation of Skyrmions over a wide temperature-magnetic field region. New features distinct from those reported previously for MnSi are observed for epitaxial films: a shorter (nearly half) period of the spin helix and Skyrmions, and a topological Hall effect anomaly consisting in ∼2.2 times enhancement of the amplitude and in the opposite sign with respect to bulk samples.

Molecular identification of Fasciola spp. (Digenea: Platyhelminthes) in cattle from Vietnam

Fasciola spp. were collected from naturally infected cattle at a local abattoir of Khanh Hoa province, Vietnam, for morphological and genetic investigations. Microscopic examination detected no sperm cells in the seminal vesicles, suggesting a parthenogenetic reproduction of the flukes. Analyses of sequences from the first and second internal transcribed spacers (ITS1 and ITS2) of the ribosomal RNA revealed that 13 out of 16 isolates were of Fasciola gigantica type, whereas three isolates presented a hybrid sequence from F. gigantica and Fasciola hepatica. Interestingly, all the mitochondrial sequences (partial COI and NDI) were of F. gigantica type, suggesting that the maternal lineage of the hybrid form is from F. gigantica. No intra-sequence variation was detected.

Is there any circadian variation consequence on acute case fatality of stroke? Takashima Stroke Registry, Japan (1990-2003)

BACKGROUND

Circadian periodicity in the onset of stroke has been reported. However, it is unclear whether this variation affects the acute stroke case fatality. Time of the day variation in stroke case fatality was examined using population-based stroke registration data.

METHODS

Stroke event data were acquired from the Takashima Stroke Registry, which covers a stable population of approximately 55,000 in Takashima County in central Japan. During the period of 1990-2003, there were 1080 (549 men and 531 women) cases with classifiable stroke onset time. Stroke incidence was categorized as occurring at night (midnight-6 a.m.), morning (6 a.m.-noon), afternoon (noon-6 p.m.), and evening (6 p.m.-midnight). The 28-day case fatality rates and 95% confidence intervals (95% CI) were calculated by gender, age, and stroke subtype across the time blocks. After adjusting for gender, age at onset, and stroke severity at onset, the hazard ratios for fatal strokes in evening, night, and morning were calculated, with afternoon serving as the reference.

RESULTS

For all strokes, the 28-day case fatality rate was 23.3% (95% CI:19.4-27.6) for morning onset, 16.9% (95% CI:13.1-21.6) for afternoon onset, 18.3% (95% CI:13.6-24.1) for evening onset, and 21.0% (95% CI:15.0-28.5) for the night onset stroke. The case fatality for strokes during the morning was higher than the case fatality for strokes during afternoon. This fatality risk excess for morning strokes persisted even after adjusting for age, gender, and stroke severity on onset in multivariate analysis.

CONCLUSION

In the examination of circadian variation of stroke case fatality, 28-day case fatality rate tended to be higher for the morning strokes.

Ultrastructural evidence of kisspeptin-gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) interaction in the median eminence of female rats: implication of axo-axonal regulation of GnRH release

The present study was conducted to determine the morphological and functional interaction between kisspeptin and gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) neuronal elements at the median eminence in female rats to clarify a possibility that kisspeptin directly stimulates GnRH release at the nerve end. A dual immunoelectron microscopic study of kisspeptin and GnRH showed that the kisspeptin-immunoreactive nerve element directly abutted the GnRH-immunoreactive nerve element, although no obvious synaptic structure was found between kisspeptin and GnRH neurones in the median eminence. The current retrograde tracing study with FluoroGold (FG) indicates that kisspeptin neurones are not in contact with fenestrated capillaries because no FG signal was found in kisspeptin neurones when the FG was injected peripherally. This peripheral FG injection revealed the neuroendocrine neurones projecting to the median eminence because FG-positive GnRH neuronal cell bodies were found in the preoptic area. Synthetic rat kisspeptin (1-52)-amide stimulated GnRH release from the median eminence tissues in a dose-dependent manner. Thus, the present results suggest that kisspeptin at least partly exerts stimulatory effects on GnRH release from the neuronal terminals of GnRH neurones by axo-axonal nonsynaptic interaction in the median eminence.

Gasless laparoscopically assisted myomectomy using a wound retraction system

INTRODUCTION

The purpose of this study was to elucidate the feasibility of gasless laparoscopically assisted myomectomy (LAM) using a wound retraction system. This method treats symptomatic uterine myomas by combining laparoscopy with a mini-laparotomy to enucleate myoma nodules and to close the uterine myometrium.

METHODS

This study includes 275 patients who underwent gasless LAM. For patients with fewer than three myoma nodules, the location of the largest nodule was classified as anterior, fundal, or posterior. The operative outcomes, intraoperative and postoperative courses, and complications were examined.

RESULTS

All operations were performed satisfactorily, and no conversions to laparotomy were required. None of the patients developed serious complications. The mean blood loss and operating time were 190.3 mL and 152.2 minutes, respectively. The mean myoma size was 8.9 cm, and the mean number of myomas per patient was 2.8. The average postoperative hospital stay was 5.7 days. There were no significant differences in resected myoma size, blood loss, and surgical duration with respect to the location of the largest nodule.

CONCLUSION

Gasless LAM with a wound retractor is feasible and allows surgeons to perform myomectomy safely and cost-effectively, without requiring advanced laparoscopic surgical skills and while maintaining minimum invasiveness.