Double contrast-enhanced MRI of viral hepatitis-induced cirrhosis: correlation of gross morphological signs with hepatic fibrosis

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the diagnostic ability of the expanded gallbladder fossa and right posterior hepatic notch signs for hepatic fibrosis determined by double contrast-enhanced MRI. For patients with chronic viral hepatitis B (n = 96) or hepatitis C (n = 13) who underwent gadopentate dimeglumine-enhanced dynamic MRI followed by ferucarbotran-enhanced gradient-echo imaging, the degree of parenchymal fibrosis was categorised into three groups based on the extent of reticulation and nodularity: (1) pre-cirrhotic or minimal fibrosis; (2) mild to moderate fibrosis; (3) advanced cirrhosis. Each group was evaluated for the presence of a sharp notch in the posterior-medial surface of the right lobe of the liver and expanded gallbladder fossa. The expanded gallbladder fossa sign gradually increased with an increasing degree of fibrosis (Group 1, 50%; Group 2, 61%; Group 3, 78%), and there was no significant difference (p>0.5) between hepatitis B (67%) and C (73%). In the case of the right posterior hepatic notch sign, only 6% of Group 1 and Group 2 patients were positive; 27% of hepatitis B patients and 90% of hepatitis C patients in Group 3 exhibited the sign (p<0.05). Owing to its low prevalence, even in advanced cirrhosis, the right posterior hepatic notch sign is of little value in the diagnosis of cirrhosis due to chronic hepatitis B virus infection, whereas an expanded gallbladder fossa could be used as a non-specific indicator of early fibrosis before the gross appearance of advanced hepatic fibrosis.

Effect of citral, eugenol, nerolidol and alpha-terpineol on the ultrastructural changes of Trichophyton mentagrophytes

The antifungal effects of citral, eugenol, nerolidol and alpha-terpineol on Trichophyton mentagrophytes were investigated. Citral over 0.1 mg/ml strongly inhibited the hyphal growth of T. mentagrophytes, and the antifungal activity of alpha-terpineol was less effective. The morphological changes of the fungus exposed to the terpenes were observed by electron microscopy. The hyphae were distorted and collapsed at 0.2, 0.4 and 1 mg/ml of eugenol, nerolidol and alpha-terpineol respectively, and cell membrane and organelles were irreversibly damaged at 0.2 mg/ml citral. These suggested that four terpenes possess antifungal activity against T. mentagrophytes, and the activity might lead to irreversible cellular disruption.

Coexistence of static magnetism and superconductivity in SmFeAsO(1-x)F(x) as revealed by muon spin rotation

The recent observation of superconductivity with critical temperatures (Tc) up to 55 K in the pnictide RFeAsO(1-x)F(x), where R is a lanthanide, marks the first discovery of a non-copper-oxide-based layered high-Tc superconductor. It has raised the suspicion that these new materials share a similar pairing mechanism to the cuprate superconductors, as both families exhibit superconductivity following charge doping of a magnetic parent material. In this context, it is important to follow the evolution of the microscopic magnetic properties of the pnictides with doping and hence to determine whether magnetic correlations coexist with superconductivity. Here, we present a muon spin rotation study on SmFeAsO(1-x)F(x), with x=0-0.30 that shows that, as in the cuprates, static magnetism persists well into the superconducting regime. This analogy is quite surprising as the parent compounds of the two families have rather different magnetic ground states: itinerant spin density wave for the pnictides contrasted with the Mott-Hubbard insulator in the cuprates. Our findings therefore suggest that the proximity to magnetic order and associated soft magnetic fluctuations, rather than strong electronic correlations in the vicinity of a Mott-Hubbard transition, may be the key ingredients of high-Tc superconductors.

Direct measurement of the electronic spin diffusion length in a fully functional organic spin valve by low-energy muon spin rotation

Electronic devices that use the spin degree of freedom hold unique prospects for future technology. The performance of these 'spintronic' devices relies heavily on the efficient transfer of spin polarization across different layers and interfaces. This complex transfer process depends on individual material properties and also, most importantly, on the structural and electronic properties of the interfaces between the different materials and defects that are common to real devices. Knowledge of these factors is especially important for the relatively new field of organic spintronics, where there is a severe lack of suitable experimental techniques that can yield depth-resolved information about the spin polarization of charge carriers within buried layers of real devices. Here, we present a new depth-resolved technique for measuring the spin polarization of current-injected electrons in an organic spin valve and find the temperature dependence of the measured spin diffusion length is correlated with the device magnetoresistance.

Dimensionality-controlled insulator-metal transition and correlated metallic state in 5d transition metal oxides Sr n+1Ir nO3n+1 (n=1, 2, and infinity)

We investigated the electronic structures of the 5d Ruddlesden-Popper series Sr n+1Ir nO3n+1 (n=1, 2, and infinity) using optical spectroscopy and first-principles calculations. As 5d orbitals are spatially more extended than 3d or 4d orbitals, it has been widely accepted that correlation effects are minimal in 5d compounds. However, we observed a Mott insulator-metal transition with a change of bandwidth as we increased n. In addition, the artificially synthesized perovskite SrIrO3 showed a very large mass enhancement of about 6, indicating that it was in a correlated metallic state.

Bound excitons in Sr2CuO3

We investigated temperature dependent optical spectra of the one-dimensional chain compound Sr2CuO3. The charge transfer transition polarized along the chain direction shows a strongly asymmetric line shape as expected in one-dimensional extended Hubbard model. At low temperature, the charge transfer peak shows a large blueshift and reveals additional sharp peaks at the gap. Even though many spectroscopic studies suggest that this material cannot have a bound exciton based on the one-dimensional extended Hubbard model, we attribute the additional sharp peaks to excitons, which come to exist due to the long-range Coulomb interaction.

Case report. Sclerosing liver haemangioma with pericapillary smooth muscle proliferation: atypical CT and MR findings with pathological correlation

We report a case of sclerosing liver haemangioma with pericapillary smooth muscle proliferation in a 63-year-old man who presented with abdominal pain. Because the tumour showed atypical features on CT and MRI, a correct diagnosis could not be made until surgery. In this report, the atypical radiological findings are illustrated and correlated with pathological findings.

Electrical control of exchange bias mediated by graphene

The role of graphene in mediating the exchange interaction is theoretically investigated when placed between two ferromagnetic dielectric materials. The calculation based on a tight-binding model illustrates that the magnetic interactions at the interfaces affect not only the graphene band structure but also the thermodynamic potential of the system, leading to an effective exchange bias between magnetic layers. The analysis indicates a strong dependence of the exchange bias on the properties of the mediating layer, revealing an efficient mechanism of electrical control even at room temperature.

Coexistence of magnetic fluctuations and superconductivity in the pnictide high temperature superconductor SmFeAsO1-xFx measured by muon spin rotation

Muon spin rotation experiments were performed on the pnictide high temperature superconductor SmFeAsO1-xFx with x=0.18 and 0.3. We observed an unusual enhancement of slow spin fluctuations in the vicinity of the superconducting transition which suggests that the spin fluctuations contribute to the formation of an unconventional superconducting state. An estimate of the in-plane penetration depth lambda ab(0)=190(5) nm was obtained, which confirms that the pnictide superconductors obey an Uemura-style relationship between Tc and lambda ab(0);(-2).

Superconducting energy gap and c-axis plasma frequency of (Nd,Sm)FeAsO0.82F0.18 superconductors from infrared ellipsometry

We present far-infrared ellipsometric measurements of polycrystalline samples of the pnictide superconductor RFeAsO0.82F0.18 (R=Nd and Sm). We find evidence that the electronic properties are strongly anisotropic such that the optical spectra are dominated by the weakly conducting c-axis response similar to the cuprate high-temperature superconductors. We deduce an upper limit of the c-axis superconducting plasma frequency of omega pl,c(SC)< or =260 cm(-1) corresponding to a lower limit of the c-axis magnetic penetration depth of lambda c > or =6 microm and lambda c/lambda ab > or =30 as compared to lambda ab=185 nm from muon spin rotation [A. Drew, arXiv:0805.1042 [Phys. Rev. Lett. (to be published)]]. We also observe a gaplike suppression of the conductivity in the superconducting state with a shoulderlike feature at omegaSC* approximately 300 cm(-1) and spectral shape which is consistent with an unconventional order parameter with 2Delta approximately omegaSC* approximately 37 meV.

Solid pseudopapillary carcinoma of the pancreas: differentiation from benign solid pseudopapillary tumour using CT and MRI

AIM

To describe the computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings that differentiate solid pseudopapillary carcinomas (SPC) from benign solid pseudopapillary tumours (SPT) of the pancreas.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Preoperative CT or MRI images for 26 patients (eight patients with SPC and 18 patients with SPT) were retrospectively reviewed. In addition to the general morphological features, the presence of pancreatic duct dilation, vascular invasion, and extrapancreatic metastases were comparatively assessed.

RESULTS

There were no significant differences between pancreatic SPC and benign SPT with respect to tumour size, location, capsule thickness, internal composition, and pattern of calcification, nor was there any correlation with the age and gender of the patients. Pancreatic duct dilation was present in four of the eight (50%) SPC patients, and was absent in all benign SPT patients (p=0.005). Vascular encasement by the tumour (n=2) and hepatic metastases (n=2) were also exclusively demonstrated in SPC patients. Multivariate logistic regression analysis showed that pancreatic duct dilation (p=0.001), vessel encasement (p=0.027), and metastasis (p=0.027) were the variables that can be used to differentiate SPC from benign SPT.

CONCLUSION

SPC of the pancreas may help to differentiate from benign SPT using the imaging features of aggressive behaviour of pancreatic duct dilation and vessel encasement with or without extrapancreatic metastases.

The Severe Cognitive Impairment Rating Scale--an instrument for the assessment of cognition in moderate to severe dementia patients

BACKGROUND/AIMS

This study aimed to develop a brief, reliable and valid test for cognitive function of severely demented patients.

METHODS

We constructed the Severe Cognitive Impairment Rating Scale, which consisted of 11 items covering memory, language, visuospatial function, frontal function and orientation, and investigated its reliability and validity on 267 subjects [normal: 65, very mild Alzheimer's disease (AD): 42, mild AD: 58, moderate AD: 36, severe AD: 44, profound AD: 22].

RESULTS

The internal consistency obtained by Cronbach's coefficient alpha was 0.93. The interrater reliability and test-retest reliability in the moderately to severely impaired subjects with an MMSE score of <or=14 was 0.99 (p < 0.001) and 0.90 (p < 0.001), respectively. It showed significant correlation with Severe MMSE (r = 0.96, p < 0.01), MMSE (r = 0.86, p < 0.01) and Clinical Dementia Rating (r = -0.83, p < 0.01). It was robust to both the floor effect in the severe/profound stage of AD and the ceiling effect in the mild/moderate stage of AD. Exploratory factor analysis yielded 2 factors (automatic informational processing and controlled informational processing) accounting for 73.5% of the total variance.

CONCLUSIONS

The Severe Cognitive Impairment Rating Scale is a valid and reliable test for evaluating the cognitive function of advanced AD patients.

Charge dynamics of doped holes in high Tc cuprate superconductors: a clue from optical conductivity

The charge dynamics in weakly hole doped high temperature superconductors is studied in terms of the accurate numerical solution to a model of a single hole interacting with a quantum lattice in an antiferromagnetic background, and accurate far-infrared ellipsometry measurements. The experimentally observed two electronic bands in the infrared spectrum can be identified in terms of the interplay between the electron correlation and electron-phonon interaction resolving the long standing mystery of the midinfrared band.

Intrinsic mobility limit for anisotropic electron transport in Alq3

Muon spin relaxation has been used to probe the charge carrier motion in the molecular conductor Alq3 (tris[8-hydroxy-quinoline] aluminum). At 290 K, the magnetic field dependence of the muon spin relaxation corresponds to that expected for highly anisotropic intermolecular electron hopping. Intermolecular mobility in the fast hopping direction has been found to be 0.23+/-0.03 cm2 V-1 s(-1) in the absence of an electric- field gradient, increasing to 0.32+/-0.06 cm2 V-1 s(-1) in an electric field gradient of 1 MV m(-1). These intrinsic mobility values provide an estimate of the upper limit for mobility achievable in bulk material.

Multicystic cavernous haemangioma of the liver: ultrasonography, CT, MR appearances and pathological correlation

Among the hepatic haemangiomas with atypical features when studied radiologically, the multicystic type is extremely rare. We report a case of multicystic hepatic haemangioma in a 62-year-old woman, which was found incidentally during ultrasound screening. Because the tumour showed atypical features on ultrasonography, CT and MRI, the correct diagnosis was not made until the surgery. In this report, the atypical radiological findings are illustrated and correlated with pathological findings.

Optical study of the free-carrier response of LaTiO3/SrTiO3 superlattices

We used infrared spectroscopic ellipsometry to investigate the electronic properties of LaTiO_{3}/SrTiO_{3} superlattices (SLs). Our results indicated that, independent of the SL periodicity and individual layer thickness, the SLs exhibited a Drude metallic response with sheet carrier density per interface approximately 3x10;{14} cm;{-2}. This is probably due to the leakage of d electrons at interfaces from the Mott insulator LaTiO3 to the band insulator SrTiO3. We observed a carrier relaxation time approximately 35 fs and mobility approximately 35 cm;{2} V-1 s;{-1} at 10 K, and an unusual temperature dependence of carrier density that was attributed to the dielectric screening of quantum paraelectric SrTiO3.

A normative study of the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale: comparison of demographic influences between the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale and the Mini-Mental Status Examination

BACKGROUND/AIMS

We investigated the demographic influence on the performance of the Revised Hasegawa Dementia Scale (HDS-R) and provided normative data of the HDS-R in the elderly.

METHODS

The HDS-R was administered to 803 community-dwelling cognitively normal elderly subjects aged 55 years or over. Cognitive disorders and psychiatric disorders were strictly excluded using the CERAD-K assessment packet and the Mini-International Neuropsychiatric Interview. The demographic influence on the performance of the HDS-R was examined using multiple linear regression analyses, and compared with that on the performance of the Mini-Mental Status Examination (MMSE) using the Chow test and t statistics. Overlapping strata were used in developing age-, education- and gender-specific normative data of the HDS-R.

RESULTS

Age, education, and gender influenced significantly the performance of the HDS-R, and explained 22.5% of the total score variance. Older age, lower education, and male gender were associated with lower performance of the HDS-R. However, the demographic influence on the HDS-R was much weaker than that on the MMSE (t = 5.578, d.f. = 800, p < 0.001). The normative data of the HDS-R stratified by age (60-69, 70-79, > or =80), education (0-6, 7-12, > or =13), and gender were presented.

CONCLUSIONS

The HDS-R was more robust to demographic influences than the MMSE, and normative data may contribute to improving further its diagnostic accuracy for dementia.

A screen for immunity genes evolving under positive selection in Drosophila

Genes involved in the immune system tend to have higher rates of adaptive evolution than other genes in the genome, probably because they are coevolving with pathogens. We have screened a sample of Drosophila genes to identify those evolving under positive selection. First, we identified rapidly evolving immunity genes by comparing 140 loci in Drosophila erecta and D. yakuba. Secondly, we resequenced 23 of the fastest evolving genes from the independent species pair D. melanogaster and D. simulans, and identified those under positive selection using a McDonald-Kreitman test. There was strong evidence of adaptive evolution in two serine proteases (persephone and spirit) and a homolog of the Anopheles serpin SRPN6, and weaker evidence in another serine protease and the death domain protein dFADD. These results add to mounting evidence that immune signalling pathway molecules often evolve rapidly, possibly because they are sites of host-parasite coevolution.

Basement membrane thickening and clinical features of children with asthma

BACKGROUND

Asthma is a chronic inflammatory disease, characterized by airway inflammation, bronchial hyper-responsiveness, and airway obstruction. Although asthma induces partially reversible airway obstruction, obstruction can sometimes become irreversible. This may be a consequence of airway remodeling, which includes a number of structural changes, such as epithelial detachment, basement membrane (BM) thickening, smooth muscle hypertrophy, and new vessel formation. This study evaluated children with asthma for the presence of BM thickening.

METHODS

Eighteen children with asthma and 24 control subjects underwent flexible bronchoscopy with endobronchial biopsy. Light microscopy was used to measure BM thickness in paraffin-embedded biopsy sections. The association between BM thickening and age, sex, duration of asthma, asthma severity, FEV(1), FEV(1)/FVC, FEF(25-75%), methacholine PC(20), eosinophil count, and presence of atopy was examined.

RESULTS

Basement membrane thickness was greater in subjects with asthma (8.3 +/- 1.4 microM) than in control subjects (6.8 +/- 1.3 microM, P = 0.0008). Multiple regression analysis revealed that sex, FEV(1)/FVC, total IgE, and atopy (IgE for Dermatophagoides pteronyssinus >0.34 kUA/l) were significant predictive factors for BM thickness. There was no significant association between BM thickness and age, duration of asthma, FEV(1), FEF(25-75%), methacholine PC(20), eosinophil count, or asthma severity.

CONCLUSIONS

Basement membrane thickening has been known to be present in children with asthma. In addition, we report an association between BM thickness and sex, FEV(1)/FVC, total IgE, and the presence of IgE specific to D. pteronyssinus.

Secretin-stimulated MRCP

Secretin-stimulated magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography not only facilitate the depiction of anatomic variations or morphologic changes of the pancreatic duct in the normal and diseased pancreas but also help assessing functional abnormalities of the exocrine pancreas. In this article, we illustrate findings of normal pancreas and various pancreatic diseases on magnetic resonance cholangiopancreatography after secretin stimulation.

Depression in vascular dementia is quantitatively and qualitatively different from depression in Alzheimer's disease

BACKGROUND/AIMS

To compare the prevalence and characteristics of depression in vascular dementia (VaD) and Alzheimer's disease (AD) after adjusting for dementia severity and gender.

METHODS

One hundred and eight pairs of VaD and AD patients matched for dementia severity and gender were assessed.

RESULTS

Major depressive disorder (MDD) was more prevalent in the VaD group than in the AD group (20.4% in VaD, 10.2% in AD, p = 0.04, Cochran-Mantel-Haenszel, CMH, test) regardless of the dementia severity and gender. The odds ratio for developing MDD in the VaD group versus the AD group was estimated to be 2.20 (95% confidence interval = 1.02-4.74). Neurovegetative symptoms such as 'felt tired and weak all the time' (30.6% in VaD, 13.9% in AD, p = 0.003, CMH test) and 'changed weight without trying' (16.7% in VaD, 6.5% in AD, p = 0.02, CMH test) were more prevalent in the VaD group than in the AD group.

CONCLUSION

Depression in VaD was quantitatively and qualitatively different from that in AD regardless of the severity of dementia and gender; depression was more prevalent, severer and more retarded and vegetative in VaD than in AD.

Application of mulch for treating metals in urban runoff: batch and column test

Among the many methods available for the removal of heavy metals in urban nonpoint source pollution (NSP), adsorption has been shown to be an economically feasible alternative. To adsorb the amount of heavy metals in runoff, filtration of runoff through a specially constructed filter system is one possible treatment method. The mulch layer in a specially constructed filter system functions through adsorptive-filtration, where some pollutants are immobilised through sorption and some pollutants associated with suspended solids are immobilised through filtration. Therefore, the major interest of this study was to investigate the possibility of utilising mulch for the adsorption of heavy metals such as cadmium, copper, lead and zinc for a solution typical of those found in urban runoff using the flask-type adsorption batch tests and laboratory column tests. From the equilibrium sorption batch tests, it was observed that the adsorption of heavy metals on mulch with the same initial concentrations of metals in the solution decreased in the order Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Cd(II) regardless of changes in pH. In column tests, the breakthrough curves for various heavy metals' adsorption by mulch showed that the binding strength of the following metal ions onto mulch was as follows: Pb(II) > Cu(II) > Zn(II) > Cd(II).

Anti-inflammatory effect of germanium-concentrated yeast against paw oedema is related to the inhibition of arachidonic acid release and prostaglandin E production in RBL 2H3 cells

1 To investigate anti-inflammatory activity of organic germanium, we measured the effect of germanium-concentrated yeast on arachidonic acid release, prostaglandin E(2) (PGE(2)) production, histamine release, and intracellular H(2)O(2) or hydroperoxide generation in RBL 2H3 cells, and carrageenan-induced paw oedema in rats. 2 Germanium-concentrated yeast dose-dependently inhibited carrageenan-induced paw oedema, suggesting that germanium-concentrated yeast has anti-inflammatory activity in acute inflammation. 3 Germanium-concentrated yeast significantly inhibited melittin-induced arachidonic acid release and PGE(2) production in RBL 2H3 cells. 4 Germanium-concentrated yeast did not affect melittin-induced histamine release and silica-induced intracellular H(2)O(2) or hydroperoxide generation in RBL 2H3 cells. 5 These results suggest that anti-inflammatory activity of germanium-concentrated yeast appears partly to be related to the inhibition of arachidonic acid release and PGE(2) production in RBL 2H3 cells.

Increased serum thymus and activation-regulated chemokine and cutaneous T cell-attracting chemokine levels in children with atopic dermatitis

BACKGROUND

Thymus and activation-regulated chemokine (TARC) and cutaneous T cell-attracting chemokine (CTACK) are responsible for the trafficking of T helper type 2 lymphocytes into sites of allergic inflammation.

OBJECTIVE

We tested whether these cytokines are useful markers for childhood atopic dermatitis (AD), and evaluated age-related differences in the levels of these chemokines.

METHODS

Serum TARC and CTACK levels, total serum IgE levels, total eosinophil counts, and specific IgE levels were measured in 401 children. The patients were characterized as having atopic eczema (n=157), non-atopic eczema (n=107), or as healthy control subjects (n=137).

RESULTS

Both TARC and CTACK levels in children with AD were significantly higher than those in healthy control subjects. Serum TARC and CTACK levels significantly correlated with disease severity both in children with atopic eczema and in children with non-atopic eczema. Serum TARC levels in children with AD significantly correlated with their serum CTACK levels. Serum TARC and CTACK levels decreased in accordance with their ages.

CONCLUSION

Serum TARC and CTACK levels might be useful markers for disease severity both in children with atopic eczema and with non-atopic eczema. Serum TARC and CTACK levels decreased in accordance with their ages.