Kondo effect in quantum dots coupled to ferromagnetic leads

We study the Kondo effect in a quantum dot coupled to ferromagnetic leads and analyze its properties as a function of the spin polarization of the leads. Based on a scaling approach, we predict that for parallel alignment of the magnetizations in the leads the strong-coupling limit of the Kondo effect is reached at a finite value of the magnetic field. Using an equation of motion technique, we study nonlinear transport through the dot. For parallel alignment, the zero-bias anomaly may be split even in the absence of an external magnetic field. For antiparallel spin alignment and symmetric coupling, the peak is split only in the presence of a magnetic field, but shows a characteristic asymmetry in amplitude and position.

Specificity of membrane binding of the neuronal protein NAP-22

NAP-22, a major protein of neuronal rafts is known to preferentially bind to membranes containing cholesterol. In this work we establish the requirements for membrane binding of NAP-22. We find that other sterols can replace cholesterol to promote binding. In addition, bilayers containing phosphatidylethanolamine bind NAP-22 in the absence of cholesterol. Thus, there is not a specific interaction of NAP-22 with cholesterol that determines its binding to membranes. Addition of a mol fraction of phosphatidylserine of 0.05 to membranes of phosphatidylcholine and cholesterol enhances the membrane binding of NAP-22. The dependence of binding on the mol fraction of phosphatidylserine indicates that NAP-22 binds to membranes with its amino-terminal segment closer to the membrane than the remainder of the protein. We have also determined which segments of NAP-22 are required for membrane binding. A non-myristoylated form binds only weakly to membranes. Truncating the protein from 226 amino acids to the myristoylated aminoterminal 60 amino acids does not prevent binding to membranes in a cholesterol-dependent manner, but this binding is of weaker affinity. However, myristoylation is not sufficient to promote binding to cholesterol-rich domains. An N-terminal 19-amino-acid, myristoylated peptide binds to membranes but without requiring specific lipids. Thus, the remainder of the protein contributes to the lipid specificity of the membrane binding of NAP-22.

Biochemical and ultrastructural analyses of IgLON cell adhesion molecules, Kilon and OBCAM in the rat brain

Kilon (kindred of IgLON) and opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule belong to the IgLON subgroup of immunoglobulin superfamily together with the limbic system-associated membrane protein and neurotrimin. In the present study, we have analyzed biochemical and ultrastructural characterization of Kilon and opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule such as regional and developmental expression patterns, light and electron microscopic localization, and intermolecular interactions. Western blotting revealed a widespread distribution pattern of Kilon with high expression levels in the olfactory bulb, cerebral cortex, diencephalon, hippocampus, and cerebellum and low expression levels in the medulla oblongata and spinal cord. In contrast, opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule showed a regionally restricted expression pattern with high levels only in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Expression of Kilon and opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule was increased gradually during postnatal development and maintained until adulthood. Light microscopic immunohistochemistry demonstrated that the localization of opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule and Kilon coincided well with that of vesicle-associated membrane protein 2, a synaptic marker protein, in the cerebral cortex and hippocampus of adult brain. In the cerebellum, Kilon-immunoreactive puncta were observed to colocalize well with that of vesicle-associated membrane protein 2, while opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule immunoreactivity was observed only at part of synaptic glomeruli in the granular layer and rare in the molecular layer. Electron microscopic analysis revealed that Kilon and opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule immunoreactivity was observed mainly at postsynaptic sites of dendritic and somatic synapses in adult cerebral cortex and hippocampus. Only trace levels of Kilon and opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule were detected in the soluble fraction of a cortical homogenate, although a substantial amount of F3 was present in the soluble fraction. A binding analysis using a cross-linker and the immunoprecipitation technique demonstrated that Kilon and opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule interacted heterophilically and homophilically. These findings show that Kilon and opioid-binding cell adhesion molecule are clearly distinguishable from each other in regional expression and localization, and binding patterns. These differences possibly represent diverse functions of each IgLON molecule.

Resonant two-magnon Raman scattering and photoexcited States in two-dimensional mott insulators

We investigate the resonant two-magnon Raman scattering in two-dimensional (2D) Mott insulators by using a half-filled 2D Hubbard model in the strong coupling limit. By performing numerical diagonalization calculations for small clusters, we find that the Raman intensity is enhanced when the incoming photon energy is not near the optical absorption edge but well above it, being consistent with experimental data. The absence of resonance near the gap edge is associated with the presence of background spins, while photoexcited states for resonance are found to be characterized by the charge degree of freedom. The resonance mechanism is different from those proposed previously.

Variation in MT expression in early-stage depressed-type and polypoid-type colorectal tumours

Metallothionein (MT) expression is observed in various carcinomas, but its role is not fully understood. To clarify the clinicopathological significance of MT, 87 colorectal adenomas and 128 early-stage carcinomas were immunohistochemically analysed for MT expression. The degree of MT immunostaining of a specimen was graded according to the proportion of MT-positive cells; negative (<5%) and positive (focally 5-50%, diffusely >50%). MT expression significantly decreased with tumour development. For carcinomas, MT-positivity was significantly associated with depth of invasion (T1 60% versus T2 33%; P<0.01), vascular involvement (positive 35% versus negative 61%; P<0.01) and morphology (polypoid 62% versus depressed 26%; P<0.01). Regarding MT-positive distribution, the diffuse-positive rate in MT-positive polypoid lesions was 28%, while MT-positive depressed lesions were all diffusely stained (P<0.01). In conclusion, our results suggested that decreasing MT expression is an early event in colorectal carcinogenesis and may reflect local invasion. Furthermore, MT-positive distribution may reflect genetic differences between the polypoid and depressed-type.

Expression of high levels of tubulin and microtubule-associated protein 2d in the neurohypophysial astrocytes of adult rat

The hypothalamo-neurohypophysial system, containing arginine vasopressin and oxytocin, is well known to show reversible morphological reorganization for both neurons and glial cells during chronic physiological stimulation. To determine the molecular background for these morphological changes, we investigated the expression of tubulin and microtubule-associated protein (MAP) 2d in the neurohypophysial astrocytes, pituicytes of adult rats by using reverse transcription-polymerase chain reaction, western blot, and immunohistochemistry. The mRNA of MAP2d was expressed at higher levels than that of MAP2c in the neurohypophysis, cerebral cortex, and cerebellum. In contrast, predominant expression of mRNA of MAP2c was detected in the olfactory bulb. Western blot analysis showed the presence of MAP2d in the neurohypophysis, however the amount was below the detection level in the cerebral cortex and cerebellum. A double labeling study using a confocal laser scanning microscope showed intense tubulin immunoreactivity in the glial fibrillary acidic protein (GFAP)-positive pituicytes of the intact neurohypophysis. Almost no tubulin immunoreactivity was observed in the astrocytes of the intact cerebral cortex, cerebellum, and supraoptic nucleus, in contrast to strong tubulin immunoreactivity in neuronal dendrites and somata. Interestingly, intense tubulin immunoreactivity was also observed in the GFAP-positive reactive astrocytes in the immediate vicinity of the artificial lesion of the cerebral cortex. Electron microscopic observation further demonstrated the presence of a lot of microtubules in the pituicytes of intact rats.The present results demonstrate that pituicytes in the adult rat neurohypophysis expresses high levels of tubulin and MAP2d compared with normal brain astrocytes, and suggest that the ability of astrocytic morphological alteration may be at least partly ascribed to this high expression of microtubule proteins.

Ubiquitin-only intraneuronal inclusion in the substantia nigra is a characteristic feature of motor neurone disease with dementia

Two types of ubiquitinated inclusions have been described in motor neurone disease (MND). (1) Skein or globular ubiquitinated inclusions in the motor neurones (more frequently in the lower motor neurones). This is a characteristic feature of all motor neurone disease categories. (2) Dot-shape or crescentric ubiquitinated inclusions in the upper layers of cortex and dentate gyrus described in cases of motor neurone disease with dementia (DMND). We investigated the substantia nigra (SN) in MND cases; two cases of motor neurone disease inclusion body (MND-IB) dementia, six cases of DMND, 14 cases of MND (including one case from Guam and two cases of familial SOD1 mutation), four cases of Parkinson's disease (PD), and 10 cases of age-matched normal controls. SN and spinal cord sections were stained with ubiquitin (alpha-synuclein, tau, PGM1, SMI-31 and SOD1 antibodies). The neuronal density in SN was quantified by using a computer-based image analysis system. Four out of six DMND cases showed rounded ubiquitin positive inclusions with irregular frayed edges, associated with neuronal loss, reactive astrocytosis and a large number of activated microglia cells. These inclusions are negative with antibodies to (alpha-synuclein, tau, SMI-31 and SOD1). The SN in cases from MND-IB dementia and MND showed occasional neuronal loss and no inclusions. The ubiquitin-only inclusions in SN of DMND cases are similar (but not identical) to the ubiquitinated inclusions described previously in the spinal cord of MND cases and are distinct from Lewy bodies (LBs). The degeneration of SN is most likely a primary neurodegenerative process of motor neurone disease type frequently involving the DMND cases. MND disease is a spectrum and multisystem disorder with DMND located at the extreme end of a spectrum affecting the CNS more widely than just the motor system.

Hall effect induced by a spin-polarized current in superconductors

We propose a novel anomalous Hall effect caused by the spin-polarized current in superconductors (SC). The spin-polarized quasiparticles flowing in SC are deflected by spin-orbit scattering to yield a quasiparticle charge imbalance in the transverse direction. Overall charge neutrality gives rise to a compensating change in the number of Cooper pairs. A transverse electric field builds up as opposed to an acceleration of the Cooper pairs, producing the Hall voltage. It is found that the Hall voltages due to the side jump and skew scattering mechanisms have different temperature dependence in the superconducting state. A spin-injection Hall device to generate the ac Josephson effect is proposed.

Effects of spin and orbital degeneracy on the thermopower of strongly correlated systems

We study thermopower in strongly correlated electron systems with orbital degeneracy using numerical diagonalization method on finite-size clusters. It is shown that the thermopower is strongly enhanced by the spin and orbital degrees of freedom, but the resistivity is significantly less affected. A key for the strategy of new thermoelectric materials in transition metal oxides is proposed in the light of the theory.

Large third-order optical nonlinearity of Cu-O chains investigated by third-harmonic generation spectroscopy

Spectra of the third-order nonlinear susceptibility chi((3)) have been investigated for one-dimensional Mott insulators, Sr(2)CuO(3) and Ca(2)CuO(3), by applying the third-harmonic generation (THG) spectroscopy on their single-crystalline thin films. The three-photon resonance to the lowest charge-transfer (CT) state with odd parity strongly enhances chi((3)), which is of the order of 10(-9) esu. The two-photon resonant structure unravels the even-CT state, located close to the odd-CT state. Two types of chi((3)) spectra obtained from THG and the electroreflectance measurements are explained based on the concept of spin-charge separation.

[Extracorporeal shock wave lithotripsy for upper urinary tract stones using piezoelectric shock wave lithotripsy]

Between August 1999 and July 2000, 123 cases of renal stones and 52 cases of ureteral stones in 116 males and 59 females were treated with the New Piezolith 2500. The average number of sessions required for renal and ureteral stones was 2.50 and 1.48, respectively. At 3 months postoperatively, stone-free rates for renal and ureteral stones were 64.2% and 72.7%, respectively. Assessing residual stones less than 4 mm in diameter as an effective treatment outcome, the efficacy rates for renal and ureteral stones were 94.3% and 86.4%, respectively. Side effects were encountered in 5 cases (2.9%) of high fever and one case (0.57%) of renal subcapsular hematoma. New Piezolith 2500 is effective and safe for the treatment of upper urinary stones.

Protein-induced formation of cholesterol-rich domains

A major protein of neuronal rafts, NAP-22, binds specifically to cholesterol. We demonstrate by circular dichroism that NAP-22 contains a significant amount of beta-structure that is not sensitive to binding of the protein to membranes, suggesting that a major portion of the protein does not insert deeply into the membrane. The free energy of binding of NAP-22 to liposomes of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine with 40% cholesterol is -7.3 +/- 0.5 kcal/mol. NAP-22 mixed with dipalmitoylphosphatidylcholine and 40% cholesterol partitions into the detergent insoluble fraction in the presence of 1% Triton X-100. NAP-22 also causes this insoluble fraction to become enriched in cholesterol relative to phospholipid, again demonstrating the ability of this protein to segregate cholesterol and phospholipids into domains. Differential scanning calorimetry results demonstrate that NAP-22 promotes domain formation in liposomes composed of cholesterol and phosphatidylcholine. This is shown by NAP-22-promoted changes in the shape and enthalpy of the phase transition of phosphatidylcholine as well as by the appearance of cholesterol crystallite transitions in membranes composed of phosphatidylcholine with either saturated or unsaturated acyl chains. In situ atomic force microscopy revealed a marked change in the surface morphology of a supported bilayer of dioleoylphosphatidylcholine with 0.4 mole fraction of cholesterol upon addition of NAP-22. Prior to the addition of the protein, the bilayer appears to be a molecularly smooth structure with uniform thickness. Addition of NAP-22 resulted in the rapid formation of localized raised bilayer domains. Remarkably, there was no gross disruption or erosion of the bilayer but rather simply an apparent rearrangement of the lipid bilayer structure due to the interaction of NAP-22 with the lipid. Our results demonstrate that NAP-22 can induce the formation of cholesterol-rich domains in membranes. This is likely to be relevant in neuronal membrane domains that are rich in NAP-22.

Detection of antinuclear antibodies by use of an enzyme immunoassay with nuclear HEp-2 cell extract and recombinant antigens: comparison with immunofluorescence assay in 307 patients

BACKGROUND

A new enzyme immunoassay (EIA) for automated detection of antinuclear antibodies (ANAs) uses a mixture of HEp-2 cell extracts and multiple recombinant nuclear antigens immobilized on beads. We compared this EIA and an immunofluorescence (IF) assay in a large group of patients and controls.

METHODS

We studied 492 healthy individuals and 307 patients with connective tissue diseases (CTDs). Sera were tested by an automated EIA (COBAS Core HEp2 ANA EIA; Roche Diagnostics) and IF. Samples were also tested for eight disease-specific antibodies, including antibodies against U1RNP, Sm, SSA/Ro, SSB/La, Scl-70, Jo-1, dsDNA, and centromere.

RESULTS

Areas under ROC curves for the EIA were greater than (P = 0.008-0.012) or numerically identical to areas for the IF method for each of six CTDs studied. ROC areas for EIA were 0.98 (95% confidence interval, 0.95-0.99), 0.99 (0.96-1.00), and 0.99 (0.98-1.00) in systemic lupus erythematosus (n = 111), systemic sclerosis (n = 39), and mixed connective tissue disease (n = 33), respectively. For all 258 CTD patients with conditions other than rheumatoid arthritis (RA), the sensitivity and specificity of the IF method at a cutoff dilution of 1:40 were 92% and 65%, respectively, vs 93% and 79% for the EIA at a cutoff of 0.6. For the IF method at a cutoff dilution of 1:160, sensitivity and specificity were 81% and 87%, respectively, vs 84% and 94%, respectively, for the EIA at a cutoff of 0.9. For 207 sera containing at least one of eight disease-specific ANAs, positivities for the EIA and the IF method were 97.1% and 97.6%, respectively, at cutoffs of 0.6 and 1:40 (P = 0.76).

CONCLUSIONS

An EIA that can be performed by a fully automated instrument distinguishes CTDs (except RA) from healthy individuals with both higher sensitivity and specificity than the IF method when the cutoff index was set at 0.9. Moreover, it can be used to exclude the presence of disease-specific ANAs by setting the cutoff index at 0.6 with almost the same efficacy as the IF method.

Factors influencing the development of small intestinal obstruction following total gastrectomy for gastric cancer: the impact of reconstructive route in the Roux-en-Y procedure

BACKGROUND/AIMS

The factors influencing the development of small intestinal obstruction following gastric surgery are controversial.

METHODOLOGY

Univariate and multivariate analyses were carried out on data from 48 patients with gastric cancer who underwent total gastrectomy and Roux-en-Y reconstruction for a potential cure.

RESULTS

Of these 48 patients, 11 (22.9%) presented with mechanical obstruction in the small intestine postoperatively. There were no statistically significant differences with regard to age, sex, and the presenting pathology. The development of obstruction was not related to a longer operation time, a greater estimated blood loss during surgery, an extensive lymph node dissection and a combined resection of adjacent organs. The probability that the antecolic anastomosis would cause obstruction was significant when compared with findings in case of the retrocolic anastomosis (P < 0.05). In the multivariate logistic regression analysis, the significant risk factors related to the development of small intestinal obstruction proved to be reconstructive route of jejunal loop.

CONCLUSIONS

In potentially curative patients undergoing total gastrectomy, retrocolic anastomosis should be attempted to prevent the development of postoperative intestinal obstruction.

[The usefulness of autologous blood transfusion for urologic surgery]

To avoid potential risks associated with homologous blood transfusion including viral infection and graft versus host disease (GVHD), autologous blood donations have been promoted in urologic surgery. We assessed its necessity in the patients undergoing radical retropubic prostatectomy and total cystectomy. A total of 27 patients ranging from 54 to 78 years old donated 400 to 1,200 ml of blood prior to radical prostatectomy (17 patients) and total cystectomy (10 patients). Recombinant erythropoietin was administered in 26 out of 27 patients. The mean hemoglobin concentration was 14.1 g/dl before donation and 12.8 g/dl before operation. The mean volume of surgical blood loss was 1,659 ml ranging from 529 to 2,990 ml in total cystectomy, and 1,438 ml ranging from 553 to 2,841 ml in radical prostatectomy. Overall, 22 out of 27 patients (82%) did not require an additional homologous blood transfusion. In conclusion, autologous blood donation is a safe and useful method to avoid homologous transfusion in radical prostatectomy and total cystectomy. Eight hundred ml of blood donation is suggested to be appropriate prior to these surgeries.

[Intermittent androgen deprivation treatment of prostate cancer restarted at low level of serum prostate specific antigen: a pilot study]

We report a pilot study on a novel protocol of intermittent androgen deprivation (IAD) treatment of prostate cancer (PC), in which androgen deprivation is restarted when serum prostatic specific antigen (PSA) level reached more than 2 ng/ml and is stopped when PSA level decreased below 0.3 ng/ml. Thirty-two patients (aged 60 to 86 years, median 74 years) with prostate cancer (Stage A in 4 patients, B in 20, C in 1, D in 5, and relapse after radical prostatectomy in 2) were treated with IAD. Median serum PSA prior to the start of endocrine therapy was 15.65 (range 2.67 to 306.3) ng/ml. Eleven patients were treated with lutenizing-hormone-releasing hormone (LHRH) agonist alone and 21 were treated with LHRH agonist plus an antiandrogen. Median duration of first endocrine therapy was 572 (range 100 to 1,543) days. Median serum PSA at the start of first off-phase was 0.038 (range 0.003 to 0.489) ng/ml. After a median of 207 days (range 140 to 843) of follow-up, 19 patients were in the first cycle, 9 in the second cycle, 3 in the third cycle, 1 in the fourth cycle. Two patients developed androgen-independent PC. The median duration of first off-phase of IAD was 287 days. There was a significant inverse relation between the duration of the first on-phase and testosterone level measured 4 months after the cessation of first on-phase therapy (R = -0.518). These results suggest that our protocol provides a reasonable length of off-phase duration and that the long term-androgen deprivation phase might delay the recovery of the testicular endocrine function which should be maintained during the off-phase of IAD.

Plasticity of neurohypophysial terminals with increased hormonal release during dehydration: ultrastructural and biochemical analyses

Arginine vasopressin- (AVP) and oxytocin- (OXT) secreting magnocellular neurons undergo gross structural changes with chronic physiological stimulation. Here, we investigated subcellular aspects of plasticity in rat neurohypophysial terminals during dehydration. Ultrastructural analyses demonstrated that chronic dehydration by 2% NaCl drinking for 7 days significantly decreased the numbers of neurosecretory granules and microvesicles but not the numbers of mitochondria. Moreover, in dehydrated rats, terminals making neurovascular contacts enlarged, whereas terminals in apposition to astrocytes, i.e., neuroglial contacts, became smaller. Western blot analyses demonstrated significant decreases in the levels of F3 and Thy-1 together with those of AVP- and OXT-neurophysin, but the levels of synaptophysin, SNAP-25, and GAP-43 were unchanged. Both F3 and Thy-1 were recovered in the buffer-insoluble pellet, and phosphatidyl inositol-specific phospholipase C treatment released both molecules from the crude membrane fraction, indicating that they are attached to terminal membranes by glycosylphosphatidyl inositol anchors. Confocal microscopic observations demonstrated that F3 colocalized with Thy-1 in the same terminals of magnocellular neurons. In contrast, the level of calretinin, a Ca(2+) binding protein was significantly increased with chronic dehydration. Thus, the present results suggest that enhancement of neurovascular contacts results from rearrangement of terminal-astrocyte and terminal-vessel contacts rather than enlargement or sprouting of magnocellular terminals themselves. The down-regulation of F3 and Thy-1 may contribute to enhancement of neurovascular contacts that accompany increased peptide release during dehydration.

Localization of neuronal growth-associated, microtubule-destabilizing factor SCG10 in brain-derived raft membrane microdomains

Raft is a mobile membrane subdomain enriched in sphingolipid and cholesterol and also various signaling molecules. Previous observation suggested that brain-derived rafts contain tubulin but that rafts of non-neural origin do not. We hypothesized that SCG10, one of the neuronal growth-associated proteins (nGAPs), might be a neuron-specific molecule that anchors tubulin to neuronal rafts, and we explored biochemically its subcellular localization, interaction with tubulin, and effects on microtubule dynamics. In postnatal rat brain extracts, SCG10 was recovered mostly in membrane-associated fractions, and at least half was included in the raft fraction that was also enriched in GAP-43 and NAP-22. SCG10-enriched brain rafts also contained tubulin, and chemical cross-linking experiments revealed that SCG10 was closely associated with tubulin. In addition, SCG10 was able to inhibit polymerization of tubulin. These results indicate that SCG10 is a component of neuronal rafts as are other nGAPs, and suggest that SCG10 may be involved in signaling events in membranes for cytoskeletal reorganization around neuronal rafts.

Calcium-dependent association of annexin VI, protein kinase C alpha, and neurocalcin alpha on the raft fraction derived from the synaptic plasma membrane of rat brain

A membrane microdomain enriched in cholesterol and sphingolipids or so called "raft" region was found to contain many signal transducing proteins such as GPI-anchored proteins, trimeric G proteins and protein tyrosine kinases. Because brain-derived raft contains two calmodulin-binding proteins, GAP-43 and NAP-22 as the major protein components, the raft domain is assumed to be important in the Ca(2+)-signaling. In this study, we analyzed protein components showing Ca(2+)-dependent binding to the raft of synaptic plasma membrane from rat brain. SDS-PAGE analysis of the protein components in the EGTA eluate from the raft prepared in the presence of Ca(2+)-ions showed the elution of 80 kDa, 68 kDa, 22 kDa, and 21 kDa proteins. These proteins were identified as protein kinase C alpha (80 kDa) and annexin VI (68 kDa) from the partial amino-acid sequencing, and neurocalcin alpha (22 kDa) and calmodulin (21 kDa) with western blotting and electrophoretic mobilities in the presence or absence of Ca(2+) ions. Further immunoblotting experiments showed the Ca(2+)-dependent association of conventional, but not non-conventional, subtypes of PKC to the raft.

Dynamic endorectal magnetic resonance imaging for local staging and detection of neurovascular bundle involvement of prostate cancer: correlation with histopathologic results

OBJECTIVES

To assess the staging accuracy and detection of neurovascular bundle involvement by dynamic subtraction contrast-enhanced endorectal magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in patients with localized prostate cancer.

METHODS

In 38 patients with biopsy-proven prostate cancer, endorectal MRI was performed on a 1.5-Tesla magnetic resonance system using the dynamic technique with gadolinium-diethylenetriaminepentaacetic acid bolus enhancement. Two radiologists prospectively assessed the tumor involvement, localization, capsular penetration, seminal vesicle invasion, and neurovascular bundle involvement. All patients subsequently underwent radical prostatectomy, and the MRI findings were correlated with the histopathologic results.

RESULTS

The overall accuracy of detecting cancer localization in the prostate was 72%. The detection of involvement in the peripheral zone had an 80% accuracy rate, but for lesions in the transition zone, the rate was 63%. The sensitivity and specificity of tumor detection was 81% and 79% for peripheral zone cancers and 37% and 97% for transition zone cancers, respectively. The accuracy rate, was 84%, 97%, and 97% for the detection of capsular penetration, seminal vesicle invasion, and neurovascular bundle involvement, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Prostatic MRI with an endorectal surface coil using the dynamic technique more accurately detected tumor localization, capsular penetration, seminal vesicle invasion, and neurovascular bundle involvement than previously reported methods. The detection of tumor localization was more accurate in the peripheral zone than in the transition zone. This technique may be useful for the selection of patients for radical prostatectomy and, particularly, for identifying candidates for nerve-sparing surgery.

Acute normovolemic hemodilution for radical prostatectomy: can it replace preoperative autologous blood transfusion?

BACKGROUND

Although preoperative autologous blood donation (PAD) is accepted as a standard of care for radical prostatectomy, it is costly, time-consuming and has risks associated with blood storage. Acute normovolemic hemodilution (ANH) is reported to be less expensive and to preserve blood components more effectively than PAD. In the present study, the efficacy and safety of these two autologous blood-collection techniques were compared.

METHODS

The study included 16 consecutive patients scheduled for radical prostatectomy. The first eight patients underwent conventional preoperative autologous blood donation of 400 mL 1 week before the operation (PAD group) and the second eight patients underwent acute normovolemic hemodilution followed by immediate operation (ANH group). All blood collected was transfused in the perioperative period. Preoperative and postoperative hematocrit levels in these two groups were compared.

RESULTS

There were no differences in preoperative hematocrit, time of operation or operative blood loss between the two groups. In the ANH group, 1080 +/- 160 mL of blood were collected. The postoperative hematocrit level did not differ significantly between the groups. No patient in either group received allogeneic blood transfusion or experienced an adverse event directly related to blood transfusion.

CONCLUSION

The two blood-conservation strategies resulted in similar postoperative hematologic outcomes. Given its advantages, which include lower cost, lower risk and higher convenience, ANH is one of the procedures that may replace conventional PAD for use in radical prostatectomy.

Observation of orbital waves as elementary excitations in a solid

A basic concept in solid-state physics is that when some kind of symmetry in a solid is spontaneously broken, collective excitations will arise. For example, phonons are the collective excitations corresponding to lattice vibrations in a crystal, and magnons correspond to spin waves in a magnetically ordered compound. Modulations in the relative shape of the electronic clouds in an orbitally ordered state could in principle give rise to orbital waves, or 'orbitons', but this type of elementary excitation has yet to be observed experimentally. Systems in which the electrons are strongly correlated-such as high-temperature superconductors and manganites exhibiting colossal magnetoresistivity-are promising candidates for supporting orbital waves, because they contain transition-metal ions in which the orbital degree of freedom is important. Orbitally ordered states have been found in several transition-metal compounds, and orbitons have been predicted theoretically for LaMnO3. Here we report experimental evidence for orbitons in LaMnO3, using Raman scattering measurements. We perform a model calculation of orbiton resonances which provides a good fit to the experimental data.

Tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy: the Toyoda method revisited

PURPOSE

Cutaneous ureterostomy is a less invasive method of urinary diversion and an attractive option especially in patients at high risk. We retrospectively examined the long-term outcome of the method introduced by Toyoda.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Since 1983 the Toyoda cutaneous ureterostomy has been performed in 61 patients (103 renal units) with a minimum of 3 months of followup. The ureteral patency rate was reviewed.

RESULTS

Of the 92 renal units (89%) that achieved a tubeless condition 53 (51%) had no hydronephrosis, 23 (22%) had mild to moderate hydronephrosis without the need for treatment, 14 (14%) were not evaluated during followup and 2 (2%) were removed due to subsequent renal pelvic and/or ureteral carcinoma.

CONCLUSIONS

A high ureteral patency rate was achieved with the Toyoda cutaneous ureterostomy. This procedure is a reasonable alternative to other forms of urinary diversion.

Adenosquamous carcinoma of the remnant stomach: report of a case

We report herein the case of a 59-year-old man found to have adenosquamous carcinoma of the remnant stomach which demonstrated rapid progression. The patient was admitted to our hospital to undergo surgery for a papillary tumor of the remnant stomach. Total resection of the remnant stomach with lymph node dissection was performed, and pathological examination confirmed a diagnosis of adenosquamous carcinoma with invasion into the muscularis propria and lymph node metastasis around the perigastric areas. Multiple liver metastases were found 6 months after the operation, for which a right hepatectomy was performed with curative intent; however, he died 2 months later due to lymphangitis carcinomatosa of the lung.