Cu Deposition Characteristics into Submicron Contact Holes Employing Self-Sputtering With a High Ionization Rate

Cu deposition profiles in submicron contact holes are investigated employing the Cu self-sputtering which do not need any inert gas e.g. Ar during sputtering. Excellent bottom coverage in the high aspect ratio contact holes was obtained at a large target-substrate distance in the selfsputtering due to a long mean free path of Cu ions and atoms, although a coverage is poor in Ar sputtering at 6 mTorr. It is also shown that the self-sputtering has low resputtering effect and high self-diffusivity of Cu, while the resputtering predominates in the case of Ar sputtering when DC bias is applied on the substrate. As a consequence, the bottom coverages of the self-sputtered films are much improved than the Ar sputtered ones. The present work strongly suggests that the self-sputtering is promising to fill Cu in sub micron via and contact holes.

Adult-type metachromatic leukodystrophy with compound heterozygous ARSA mutations: a case report and phenotypic comparison with a previously reported case

Metachromatic leukodystrophy (MLD) is an autosomal recessive lysosomal storage disease caused by a deficiency of arylsulfatase A. MLD is a heterogeneous disease with variable age at onset and variable clinical features. We evaluated a 33-year-old female patient who developed manifestations of disinhibitory behavior. She was diagnosed with MLD by genetic analysis, which revealed compound heterozygous ARSA missense mutations (p.G99D and p.T409I). The same combination of mutations was previously reported in a Japanese patient with similar symptoms. We performed additional, detailed neuropsychological tests with functional imaging on the current patient that demonstrated frontal lobe dysfunction. These results indicate that the mutations have important implications for genotype-phenotype correlation in MLD.

Mitochondrial DNA deletion mutations in patients with neuropsychiatric symptoms

It has been suggested that mitochondrial dysfunction is important in the pathogenesis of psychiatric disorders such as depression, schizophrenia and dementia. We report herein three adult patients exhibiting such psychiatric symptoms as the core manifestation, accompanied by various degrees of myopathic symptoms. Pathological findings in biopsied skeletal muscle were compatible with mitochondrial myopathy in all cases. Maternal inheritance was not apparent in all three cases; however, two patients were born to consanguineous parents. Mutation analysis on the mitochondrial DNA (mtDNA) and seven nuclear genes, in which pathogenic mutations are known to cause mtDNA deletions, was performed. MtDNA deletion mutations were identified in skeletal muscles of all patients. Neither pathogenic mutations nor copy number variation was identified among the nuclear genes. Although further studies are needed, the molecular pathways inducing mitochondrial abnormalities may be implicated in a variety of psychiatric conditions.

Comprehensive analysis of the genes responsible for neuroacanthocytosis in mood disorder and schizophrenia

Neuroacanthocytosis syndromes are mainly comprised of two diseases: chorea-acanthocytosis (ChAc) and McLeod syndrome (MLS). There is a high incidence of psychiatric disorders such as mood disorder and schizophrenia among neuroacanthocytosis patients. We hypothesized that neuroacanthocytosis-related-genes might be associated with susceptibility to these psychiatric disorders. We performed a comprehensive mutation screen of VPS13A and XK, the gene responsible for ChAc and MLS, respectively, in 85 mood disorder subjects and XK in 86 schizophrenia subjects and compared the variants to 100 or more control alleles. We also performed copy number variation (CNV) analysis in 72 mood disorder subjects and 86 schizophrenia subjects. We identified three non-synonymous, two synonymous and six intron variants in mood disorder subjects and a novel GAT triplet repeat polymorphism in VPS13A. By CNV analysis, we identified a heterozygous exon 60-61 deletion in VPS13A in one mood disorder subject. We identified one non-synonymous and one intron variant in mood disorder and schizophrenia subjects, respectively, in XK. The presence of a pathogenic mutation or a potentially functional variant in mood disorder or schizophrenia subjects suggests that neuroacanthocytosis-related-genes might be involved in the pathogenesis of these psychiatric disorders.

[Thymoma with synchronous pulmonary metastasis; report of a case]

We report a resected case of thymoma with a solitary pulmonary metastasis. A 63-year-old woman had pointed out a solitary nodule in right lung field on chest X-ray. Computed tomography (CT) scan showed an anterior mediastinal tumor and a solitary lung nodule in the right lower lobe. Extended thymectomy and partial resection of right lung was performed. Pathological diagnosis showed an invasive thymoma (type B3) and a pulmonary metastasis. Post operative radiotherapy was administered and she is doing well 19 months following the resection. Thymoma with a solitary synclonous pulmonary metastasis is rare and is classified into Masaoka stage IVb. Generally, thymoma cases with distant metastasis are not indication for operation. But, if radical resection is possible, operation is recommended for good prognosis.

Randomized controlled trial of the effect of short-term coadministration of methylcobalamin and folate on serum ADMA concentration in patients receiving long-term hemodialysis

BACKGROUND

Serum asymmetric dimethylarginine (ADMA) levels are increased in maintenance hemodialysis patients, and this abnormality may increase cardiovascular risk. We investigated whether combined administration of oral folate and intravenous methylcobalamin in such patients is more beneficial than oral folate alone at decreasing circulating ADMA levels.

STUDY DESIGN

Randomized controlled trial.

SETTING & PARTICIPANTS

Patients undergoing hemodialysis.

INTERVENTION

40 patients were randomly assigned to 1 of 2 groups. For 3 weeks, they received supplementation with either folate alone (15 mg/d; n = 20; folate group) or coadministered folate (15 mg/d) and methylcobalamin (500 mug after each hemodialysis treatment 3 times weekly; n = 20; methylcobalamin group).

OUTCOMES

PRIMARY OUTCOMES

normalization of plasma homocysteine levels (<15 mumol/L), decrease in serum ADMA levels.

SECONDARY OUTCOMES

change in augmentation index in the carotid artery and ratios of S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomocysteine (as a transmethylation indicator) and dimethylamine to ADMA (as an indicator of ADMA hydrolysis).

MEASUREMENTS

Blood samples were collected under fasting conditions during the prehemodialysis procedure.

RESULTS

The proportion showing normalization of plasma homocysteine levels was much greater in the methylcobalamin group (18 of 20 patients; 90%) than in the folate group (6 of 20; 30%; P < 0.001). The percentage of decrease in ADMA levels was greater in the methylcobalamin than folate group (25.4% +/- 10.2% vs 13.2% +/- 11.2%; P < 0.001). The increase in ratio of S-adenosylmethionine to S-adenosylhomocysteine was not different between the 2 groups; however, the ratio of dimethylamine to ADMA was increased in only the methylcobalamin group (P = 0.04). Augmentation index was decreased in only the methylcobalamin group (P = 0.03).

LIMITATIONS

This study had an open-label nature and did not examine long-term effects of homocysteine-normalizing therapy (no clinical end points).

CONCLUSION

Coadministration of intravenous methylcobalamin and oral folate in hemodialysis patients normalized hyperhomocysteinemia and decreased ADMA levels and arterial stiffness. We suggest that this regimen may have greater potential than folate alone to decrease cardiovascular risk in such patients.

Exophiala xenobiotica infection in cultured striped jack, Pseudocaranx dentex (Bloch & Schneider), in Japan

This report describes Exophiala infection in cultured striped jack, Pseudocaranx dentex, in Japan in 2005. One hundred out of 35,000 fish died per day and mortalities continued for 1 month. Diseased fish showed swelling of the abdomen and kidney distension. Numerous septate hyphae, pale brown in colour, were seen in kidney in squash preparations. Histology revealed abundant fungal hyphae and conidia in gill, heart and kidney. Fungal hyphae were accompanied by cell necrosis and influx of inflammatory, mainly mononuclear cells. The fungus isolated from the diseased fish had septate hyphae, pale brown in colour and 1.8-3.0 microm in diameter. Conidiogenous cells were conspicuous annellides, short or cylindrical or fusiform in shape. Conidia were one-celled, ellipsoidal with smooth walls, accumulated in balls at the apices of annellides that tended to slide down, 1.5-2.0 microm in width and 3.0-5.0 microm in length. The fungus was classified into the genus Exophiala based on its morphology and as Exophiala xenobiotica based on the sequences of the ITS 1-5.8S-ITS 2 regions of rDNA. This is the first record of this fungus in a marine fish.

Gene expression and association analyses of the phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) gene in major depressive disorder in the Japanese population

The phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) interacts with disrupted-in-schizophrenia 1 (DISC1), which is a known genetic risk factor for schizophrenia, bipolar disorder and major depressive disorder (MDD). PDE4B is also important in the regulation of cAMP signaling, a second messenger implicated in learning, memory, and mood. In this study, we determined mRNA expression levels of the PDE4B gene in the peripheral blood leukocytes of patients with MDD and control subjects (n = 33, each). Next we performed two-stage case-controlled association analyses (first set; case = 174, controls = 348; second set; case = 481, controls = 812) in the Japanese population to determine if the PDE4B gene is implicated in MDD. In the leukocytes, a significantly higher expression of the PDE4B mRNA was observed in the drug-naïve MDD patients compared with control subjects (P < 0.0001) and the expression of the MDD patients significantly decreased after antidepressant treatment (P = 0.030). In the association analysis, we observed significant allelic associations of four SNPs (the most significant, rs472952; P = 0.002) and a significant haplotypic association (permutation P = 0.019) between the PDE4B gene and MDD in the first-set samples. However, we could not confirm these significant associations in the following independent second-set of samples. Our results suggest that the PDE4B gene itself does not link to MDD but the elevated mRNA levels of PDE4B might be implicated in the pathophysiology of MDD.

Movement-related cortical evoked potentials using four-limb imagery

We compared the electroencephalographic changes during actual and imaginary movements with four limbs and classified optimally the responses during four-limb imagery. Evoked potentials in imagery exhibited lower and delayed peaks compared to actual-movement responses, but activations in the primary and the supplementary motor area were similar. Source-modeling analysis revealed that the motor and the parietal cortex were activated similarly, but several dipole sources were active in the frontal cortex for imagery. We compared thirteen classification methods and a combination of template matching and time-frequency methods showed the highest average of 70% classification rate for all limbs.

Detection of Paracoccidioides brasiliensis gp43 gene in sputa by loop-mediated isothermal amplification method

The fungus Paracoccidioides brasiliensis is the pathogen of paracoccidioidomycosis (PCM), a systemic mycosis prevalent in Latin America. The loop-mediated isothermal amplification method (LAMP) was used in this study to detect the presence of P. brasiliensis in sputa samples from patients with chronic PCM, suspected PCM, and a negative control. The target P. brasiliensis gp43 gene was amplified in less than 4 hr in 11 of 18 sputa samples tested. The LAMP method had the advantage of speed and simplicity compared with the classic diagnostic methods such as the histopathological test or biological material culture and did not require sophisticated technical apparatus. It would be an important aid in cases where immediate treatment would mean patient survival, especially in immune-suppressed patients.

Artificial plaque removal from interproximal tooth surfaces (maxillary premolar and molar) of a jaw model

PURPOSE

The aim of this study was to compare the ability of the bristles of newly developed toothbrushes in removing artificial plaque deposits from the interproximal areas of a jaw model.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Four toothbrushes were evaluated in this study: A, two differences in level patterns, combination of flat and extremely high-tapered filaments; B, one difference in level pattern, combination of flat and extremely high-tapered filaments; C, rippled pattern and high-tapered filaments; and D, rippled pattern and tapered filaments. The brushing simulator was adjusted to provide a horizontal brushing stroke of 20 mm at a rate of 190 strokes per minute for a duration of 1 min. A 200-g force was applied to the brush head. A plaque-like substrate was placed in the facial and the interproximal sides of the artificial teeth that had the cross-sectional dimensions of mesial face in the maxillary right first molar and distal face in the second premolar. The results were photographed, and the area of penetration and the cleaning effectiveness were calculated for each picture by computer digital image analysis. This test was repeated five times for the toothbrush for each design that was evaluated. The resulting data were analysed using ANOVA and the Scheffe test.

RESULTS

The rate of plaque removal was the highest with toothbrush A that gave a significantly greater removal of the artificial plaque than the other three toothbrushes on the maxillary right first molar mesial surface (P < 0.05).

CONCLUSION

These results suggest that toothbrush A was more effective in plaque removal in this in vitro model used for determining the interproximal penetration of the four bristle designs.

Positive association of the PDE4B (phosphodiesterase 4B) gene with schizophrenia in the Japanese population

The phosphodiesterase 4B (PDE4B) gene is located at 1p31, a susceptibility region for schizophrenia (SZ). Moreover, PDE4B interacts with DISC1, which is a known genetic risk factor for SZ. Recently, it was reported that the PDE4B gene is associated with SZ in Caucasian and African American populations. In this study, case-controlled association analyses were performed in the Japanese population to determine if the PDE4B gene is implicated in SZ. Thirteen single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) were analyzed in 444 schizophrenic patients and 452 control subjects. Three SNPs (rs2180335, rs910694 and rs472952) were significantly associated with SZ after applying multiple test correction (p=0.039, 0.004 and 0.028). In addition, a significant association was found between specific haplotypes (rs2180335 and rs910694) and SZ (permutation p=0.001). Our result suggests that variations at the PDE4B locus may play a significant role in the etiology of SZ in the Japanese population.

Microarray comparative genomic hybridization analysis of 59 patients with schizophrenia

Schizophrenia is a common psychiatric disorder with a strong genetic contribution. Disease-associated chromosomal abnormalities in this condition may provide important clues, such as DISC1. In this study, 59 schizophrenia patients were analyzed by microarray comparative genomic hybridization (CGH) using custom bacterial artificial chromosome (BAC) microarray (4,219 BACs with 0.7-Mb resolution). Chromosomal abnormalities were found in six patients (10%): 46,XY,der(13)t(12;13)(p12.1; p11).ish del(5)(p11p12); 46,XY, ish del(17)(p12p12); 46,XX.ish dup(11)(p13p13); and 46,X,idic(Y)(q11.2); and in two cases, mos 45,X/46XX. Autosomal abnormalities in three cases are likely to be pathogenic, and sex chromosome abnormalities in three follow previous findings. It is noteworthy that 10% of patients with schizophrenia have (sub)microscopic chromosomal abnormalities, indicating that genome-wide copy number survey should be considered in genetic studies of schizophrenia.

[Neuroacanthocytosis update]

Neuroacanthocytosis is an inclusive term for a genetically heterogeneous group of disorders characterized by the association of neurological abnormalities with red cell acanthocytosis. In the late 1960s, Levine et al. reported a family with a syndrome of neurological deficits such as choreiform involuntary movements, epileptic seizures, intellectual impairment, and paranoid ideation along with acanthocytosis without any disturbance in either alpha- or beta-lipoproteins nor retinitis pigmentosa. Critchley et al. also reported familial cases with acanthocytosis and neurological disorders without beta-lipoproteinemia. These cases have been classified as the Levine-Critchley syndrome of neuroacanthocytosis. Cases of neuroacanthocytosis have been classified into 2 groups depending on the presence or absence of movement disorders such as chorea. One group comprises the core neuroacanthocytosis syndromes in which neurodegeneration occurs primarily in the basal ganglia, specifically the striatum, causing movement disorders. The core neuroacanthocytosis syndromes mainly comprise of the two diseases, chorea-acanthocytosis and the McLeod syndrome. Huntington's disease-like 2, and pantothenate kinase-associated neurodegeneration (PKAN) are very rare but these diseases can also be included in this group of syndromes. Advances in molecular genetics have enabled us to distinguish between these diseases. Recently, the hypoprebetalipoproteinemia, acanthocytosis, retinitis pigmentosa and pallidal degeneration syndrome (HARP syndrome) has been genetically shown to be an allelic form of PKAN. The second group of neuroacanthocytosis syndromes includes abetalipoproteinemia (Bassen-Kornzweig disease) and hypobetalipoproteinemia that are characterized by the abnormal decay of lipoprotein with the intestinal malabsorption of fat leading to neurological abnormalities and acanthocytosis. In this type of neuroacanthocytosis shows a progressive spinocerebellar ataxia with peripheral neuropathy and retinitis pigmentosa are observed, but movement disorders are not seen.

CT localisation of small pulmonary nodules prior to thorascopic resection: Evaluation of a point marker system

PURPOSE

To evaluated the utility of a 5-mm long point marker system for CT localisation of small pulmonary nodules prior to thorascopic resection.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Percutaneous localisation of 57 pulmonary nodules was performed with computed tomographic (CT) guidance in 52 patients. The size of the nodules ranged from 3mm to 20mm (mean: 9mm, median: 8mm). The mean distance of the outer rim to the pleura ranged from 3mm to 55mm (mean: 19mm, median: 15mm). A stainless steel, 5-mm long point marker with a 30-cm long nylon suture and introducer system (21-gauge) was firmly attached to the funnel at the proximal end of the marker.

RESULTS

The point marker system was successfully placed without being dislodged in 56 out of the 57 lesions (98%) and served as a clear guide during thoracoscopy. In 10 out of 52 patients (19%), non-symptomatic pneumothorax cases were observed. In 6 out of 52 patients (10%), haemorrhages into the lung parenchyma were observed. In no case did insertion of the point marker system cause strong pain and require an analgesic agent to be added. No patients produced hemopysis or air emboli. All nodules, including a dislodgment case, were successfully resected and the suture served as a clear guide during thoracoscopy. Pathologic findings of nodules included 37 malignancies and 20 non-malignancies.

CONCLUSION

The marker system used for thoracoscopic resection was a safe and useful procedure.

Generalized hyperkeratosis caused by Scopulariopsis brevicaulis in a Japanese Black calf

A 6-month-old Japanese Black female calf became gradually emaciated over a 40-day period and was humanely killed. At necropsy, hyperkeratotic nodules were seen to have spread over almost the entire body surface. Scopulariopsis brevicaulis was isolated from the skin and identified morphologically and by gene sequence analysis of the D1/D2 domain of large subunit ribosomal RNA. Numerous periodic acid-Schiff-positive, lemon-shaped conidia were detected histologically in the keratinized layer and the hair follicles. The distribution of the fungal elements in the skin corresponded to that of the hyperkeratotic lesions. This is the first report of a disease caused by S. brevicaulis in animals. Previously reported human infections have not included generalized hyperkeratosis.

Evaluation of titanium and titanium oxides as chemo-affinity sorbents for the selective enrichment of organic phosphates

Titanium (Ti) and TiO, Ti2O3, Ti3O5 and TiO(1.98) as well as TiO2 have been evaluated as chemo-affinity sorbents for the selective enrichment of organic phosphates. A column-switching high-performance liquid chromatography (HPLC) system, constructed with a precolumn (4.6 mm i.d. x 10 mm) packed with the titanium sorbents, an anion-exchange analytical column and a UV detector (215 nm) was used. When an aqueous 0.015% trifluoroacetic acid (TFA) was used as a sample-loading solution, O-phospho-L-tyrosine (P-Tyr), phenyl phosphate and phenylphosphonic acid were adsorbed onto all of the titanium sorbents with recoveries of 60.9 - 102.9%. Some acidic compounds other than phosphates, such as benzenedicarboxylic acid (BDA) isomers, were also adsorbed onto all of the titanium sorbents. To improve the selectivity to organic phosphates, various sample-loading solutions were examined using a Ti precolumn, two phosphorylated peptides [Ile-Ser(p)-Val-Arg (PP1) and Gln-Ile-Ser(p)-Val-Arg (PP2)], P-Tyr, BDA isomers and diglutamic acid (Glu-Glu) as test compounds. Among the sample-loading solutions tested, such as TFA, HClO4, organic acids, boric acid and NaCl, the use of 100 mM NaCl in 10 mM boric acid was found to be effective. The recoveries of PP1, PP2 and P-Tyr were 73.0, 88.3 and 71.5%, respectively, whereas those of Glu-Glu and BDAs were suppressed to only below 10%.