β-γ and isomeric decay spectroscopy of 168Dy

This contribution will report on the experimental work on the level structure of 168Dy. The experimental data have been taken as part of the EURICA decay spectroscopy campaign at RIBF, RIKEN in November 2014. In the experiment, a 238U primary beam is accelerated up to 345 MeV/u with an average intensity of 12 pnA. The nuclei of interest are produced by in-flight fission of 238U impinging on Be target with a thickness of 5 mm. The excited states of 168Dy have been populated through the decay from a newly identified isomeric state and via the β decay from 168Tb. In this contribution, scientific motivations, experimental procedure and some preliminary results for this study are presented.

94 β-Decay Half-Lives of Neutron-Rich _{55}Cs to _{67}Ho: Experimental Feedback and Evaluation of the r-Process Rare-Earth Peak Formation

The β-decay half-lives of 94 neutron-rich nuclei ^{144-151}Cs, ^{146-154}Ba, ^{148-156}La, ^{150-158}Ce, ^{153-160}Pr, ^{156-162}Nd, ^{159-163}Pm, ^{160-166}Sm, ^{161-168}Eu, ^{165-170}Gd, ^{166-172}Tb, ^{169-173}Dy, ^{172-175}Ho, and two isomeric states ^{174m}Er, ^{172m}Dy were measured at the Radioactive Isotope Beam Factory, providing a new experimental basis to test theoretical models. Strikingly large drops of β-decay half-lives are observed at neutron-number N=97 for _{58}Ce, _{59}Pr, _{60}Nd, and _{62}Sm, and N=105 for _{63}Eu, _{64}Gd, _{65}Tb, and _{66}Dy. Features in the data mirror the interplay between pairing effects and microscopic structure. r-process network calculations performed for a range of mass models and astrophysical conditions show that the 57 half-lives measured for the first time play an important role in shaping the abundance pattern of rare-earth elements in the solar system.

[Side effects of interferon on endocrine and respiratory system in 545 cases of chronic hepatitis C]

We investigated the side effects of interferon (IFN) on the endocrine and respiratory system in 545 cases of chronic hepatitis C. Eleven of 494 (2.2%) patients with chronic hepatitis C who were treated with natural or recombinant interferon (IFN) developed thyroid disease while on treatment. Eight patients developed hyperthyroidism and 3 patients developed hypothyroidism. All 11 patients required definitive therapy, who became euthyroid after the therapy. Two patients received nIFN alpha and one patient received rIFN alpha 2b developed diabetes mellitus. Two patients received rIFN alpha 2a and rIFN alpha 2b, respectively, developed interstitial pneumonia 12 weeks and 24 weeks later, respectively. One patient showed positive reaction for RA test and LE factor and positive LE cell, and complained of fever, arthralgia and dry cough. These phenomenon disappeared after the cessation of IFN therapy.

[A case of Budd-Chiari syndrome treated by radical operation under hepatic perfusion and extracorporeal circulation]

A 41-year-old male patient of Budd-Chiari syndrome associated with membranous obstructions of the retrohepatic inferior vena cava and the left hepatic vein was reported. A radical operation was carried out. The retrohepatic inferior vena cava was reconstructed by a ringed EPTFE patch graft after endovenectomy with the aid of extracorporeal circulation for caval and portal bypasses utilizing cold hepatic perfusion. The patient has been doing well 18 months after the operation.

Experimental study of the reversibility of sinusoidal capillarization

This study investigated the reversibility of sinusoidal capillarization in fibrotic rat liver induced by thioacetamide (TAA; 200 mg/kg body weight three times a week). Six weeks later, collagen fibers and hepatic lobular disarrangement were observed on light microscopy and basement membrane formation was noted in the space of Disse. Sinusoidal endothelial fenestrations (SEFs) were decreased in size and number (defenestration), and factor VIII-related antigen was observed in the cytoplasm. We also clarified the phenotypic reversibility of the sinusoidal endothelial cells. After 4 months following discontinuation of TAA exposure, the diameters and numbers of SEFs were increased. Six months later, the basement membrane in the space of Disse disappeared (as assessed by electron microscopy) and 12 months later, factor VIII-related antigen also disappeared. These results indicate that phenotypical changes in the sinusoidal endothelial cells and sinusoidal capillarization in hepatic fibrosis may be reversed.

[Clinical studies on cefixime in pediatrics]

Clinical usefulness of cefixime (CFIX), a new oral cephalosporin antibiotic, in pediatric field was investigated. The results obtained were summarized as follows. 1. The clinical efficacy of CFIX was investigated in a total of 138 children including 49 with upper respiratory tract infections (RTI), 22 with acute bronchitis, 18 with pneumonia, 19 with scarlet fever and 21 with urinary tract infections (UTI). 2. Clinical effectiveness was excellent in 58, good in 60, fair in 14 and poor in 3, with an overall efficacy rate of 87.4%. The efficacy rate classified according to types of infection were 85.7% in upper RTI, 89.5% in acute bronchitis, 94.4% in pneumonia, 78.9% in scarlet fever, and 90.5% in UTI. 3. Out of the suspected causative organisms, 43 strains of a total of 50 strains isolated were eradicated. The bacteriological eradication rate was 86.0%. (Haemophilus influenzae 100%, Haemophilus parainfluenzae 100%, Streptococcus pyogenes 88.5%, Escherichia coli 85.7%). 4. One hundred forty four children were analyzed for side effect. Side effects were observed in 2 children (1.4%) with diarrhea in 1 and anorexia in another. Abnormal laboratory test results were recorded in 4 children (3.3%). The above results suggest that CFIX is a very useful new oral cephalosporin for the treatment of bacterial infections in children.

Immunoelectron microscopic localization of actin in normal and cholestatic rat hepatocytes

The immunoelectron microscopic localization of actin in hepatocytes was studied in normal, common bile duct-ligated, and phalloidin treated rats. We used the low temperature embedding procedure with Lowicryl K4M and protein A-gold technique was applied to demonstrate the localization of actin. The tissues embedded in Lowicryl K4M at low temperature provided good preservation of ultrastructure and antigenicity of actin. In control rats bile canaliculi were clearly visualized and most of the gold particles were observed on the bile canalicular microvilli, at the pericanalicular ectoplasm, at the cell border, and on the sinusoidal microvilli. In common bile duct-ligated rats and phalloidin treated rats, pericanalicular ectoplasm was thickened and many gold particles were seen there.

Intermediate filaments of hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells in bile duct obstruction: transmission and scanning electron microscopy study

The cytoskeletons of hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells in bile duct ligated rate livers were investigated by transmission and scanning electron microscopy. The three dimensional organization of the intermediate filaments (IFs) of hepatocytes and biliary epithelial cells was clearly demonstrated by scanning electron microscopy. Cell borders and dilated bile canaliculi were well preserved after perfusion with detergent solution. A very dense filamentous network of IFs was seen throughout the cytoplasm, especially around the dilated bile canaliculi and at the cell borders. IFs in biliary epithelial cells were more numerous compared with hepatocytes. Morphometric analysis showed that the IFs of hepatocytes significantly (p greater than 0.001) increased in amount in bile duct ligated rats. The IFs of biliary epithelial cells showed no significant changes in bile duct ligated rats compared to controls. These results suggest that the increase in IFs in hepatocytes results from the adaptation of the hepatocytes to the stress imposed by bile duct ligation. It may be that the resulting intracanalicular pressure and back diffusion of bile induces a metaplastic change in hepatocytes so that they acquire more IFs to function like the bile duct epithelium to conduct bile flow.

Scanning electron microscopy of the hepatocyte cytoskeleton in human liver tissue

Portions of eight human livers taken by wedge biopsy or needle biopsy were extracted with 0.5% Triton X-100 and then studied by scanning electron microscopy and immunoelectron microscopy. The wedge-biopsy specimens were perfused with the detergent solution. Needle-biopsy specimens were quickly frozen and cracked and then the cracked tissue was immersed in the detergent solution. The three-dimensional filament network of hepatocytes was visualized. A dense network which consisted of intermediate filaments and microfilaments was observed within the cytoplasm of hepatocytes. These filaments were better preserved in the needle biopsies which were quick-frozen and cracked before extraction than in the wedge biopsies. Variation in the amount of the cytoskeletal filaments was less prominent in the hepatocytes treated by rapid freezing. It is concluded that freeze-cracking is the most favorable method for the study of cytoskeletal pathology in various liver diseases in man.