Human papillomavirus and cervical neoplasia: a case-control study in Taiwan

As part of a large-scale, community-based cervical neoplasia screening project in rural Taiwan, a case-control study was undertaken to evaluate the etiologic role of human papillomavirus (HPV) infection in this mainly monogamous (2% reported having multiple sexual partners) female population. A total of 88 biopsy-confirmed cases and 261 cytologically normal controls were selected for the study. The case group included 40 cases of cervical intraepithelial neoplasia (CIN) 1, 9 of CIN 2, 36 of CIN 3 and 3 cases of invasive cancer. Cervical swabs collected at screening from study subjects were tested for HPV DNA by an LI consensus primer polymerase chain reaction (PCR)-based technique. HPV DNA was found in 92% of high-grade cases (CIN 2-3 and invasive cancer); 54% of low-grade cases (CIN 1); and 9% of controls. HPV was significantly associated with both high-grade and low-grade cervical neoplasia. As reported in Western countries, HPV 16 was the predominant type among HPV-positive high-grade cases. However, HPVs 52 and/or 58 combined were the most common types among HPV-positive low-grade cases and controls. Among women without any high-risk HPV infection (types 16, 18, 31 or 45), those with multiple-type HPV infection had a higher risk for high-grade cervical neoplasia than those with single-type infection. Overall, 91% of high-grade cases and 50% of low-grade cases could be attributed to HPV infection. Our results show that, even in this monogamous population, HPV is the major risk factor for high-grade cervical neoplasia.

Treatment of painful heel syndrome with shock waves

In a prospective clinical study, the effectiveness of shock waves on painful heel syndrome in 80 patients (20 men and 60 women) with an average age of 48 years was investigated. Six patients had bilateral treatments. Each treatment consisted of 1,000 impulses of shock waves at 14 kV. A 100-point scoring system (70 points for pain and 30 points for function) was used for evaluation. The intensity of pain was measured with a visual analog scale from 0 to 10. The overall results were no complaints in 20.6%, significantly better in 52.9%, slightly better in 17.6%, and unchanged in 8.8% of 64 patients (68 heels) with 12 weeks followup; no complaints in 59.3%, significantly better in 27.7 %, slightly better in 13% of 52 patients (54 heels) with 6 months followup. None of patients' symptoms became worse. Seventeen patients (18 heels) who did not respond favorably to the first treatment had significantly better results after a second treatment. There were no device-related problems, and no systemic or local complications. Shock wave treatment is a new modality of therapy that is safe and effective in the treatment of patients with painful hell syndrome.

Indium-111 platelet imaging for detection of platelet deposition in abdominal aneurysms and prosthetic arterial grafts

Thirty-four platelet imaging studies were performed in 23 patients to determine whether platelet deposition could be detected in patients with vascular aneurysms (18 patients) or in patients in whom Dacron prosthetic grafts had been place (5 patients). In patients in whom abnormal platelet deposition was detected, the effect of administration of platelet-active drugs on platelet deposition was examined. Of the 18 patients with an aneurysm, 12 had positive studies on initial imaging and 2 had equivocally positive images. Of five patients with Dacron arterial grafts in place, four had diffuse platelet deposition in the grafts; the fifth patient had platelet deposition only in a pseudoaneurysm. Eight patients with an abdominal aneurysm and positive or equivocally positive baseline images were restudied during platelet-active drug therapy either with aspirin plus dipyridamole (seven patients) or with sulfinpyrazone (four patients). No patient studied during treatment with aspirin plus dipyridamole had detectably decreased platelet deposition compared with baseline determinations. In contrast, two of four patients studied while receiving sulfinpyrazone showed decreased platelet deposition. Thus, platelet imaging may be of value for studying platelet physiology in vivo and for assessing platelet-active drugs and the thrombogenicity of prosthetic graft materials in human beings.

Role of clonazepam in the treatment of idiopathic downbeat nystagmus

OBJECTIVE/HYPOTHESIS

Downbeat nystagmus is defined as spontaneous nystagmus present with fixation in the primary position or lateral gaze. Those who have downbeat nystagmus but negative magnetic resonance imaging results are termed as idiopathic. Patients with idiopathic downbeat nystagmus, although unconcerned with their etiology, have visual symptoms such as oscillopsia, diplopia, or blurred vision. The purpose of this study is to evaluate the efficacy of clonazepam in treating idiopathic downbeat nystagmus.

METHODS

Patients with downbeat nystagmus were rechecked by electronystagmography (ENG); then 0.5 mg clonazepam was administered orally. One hour later, follow-up ENG was performed again to evaluate the evolution of the downbeat nystagmus. If the test was effective, then 1.0 mg clonazepam twice daily was administered to the patients.

RESULTS

Seven cases had downbeat nystagmus, including idiopathic in five, cerebellar degeneration in one, and cerebellopontine angle tumor in one. The efficacy rate for the clonazepam test was 100% in five cases of idiopathic downbeat nystagmus, whereas it was ineffective in the case of cerebellar degeneration. After long-term therapy with clonazepam, all patients with idiopathic downbeat nystagmus experienced elimination of oscillopsia, relief of diplopia, and improvement of visual acuity. Although temporary relief of downbeat nystagmus was observed 1 hour after the clonazepam test, downbeat nystagmus was not eliminated permanently.

CONCLUSION

We recommend long-term therapy by clonazepam with a dosage of 1.0 mg twice daily in cases of idiopathic downbeat nystagmus. Reducing the downbeat nystagmus as well as eliminating the oscillopsia can be anticipated.

Basal lamina heterogeneity in the glomerular capillary tufts of human kidneys

Two classes of glomerular basal laminas are identified with a newly developed guanidine technique. The electron-opaque epithelial basal lamina is the most prominent element of the glomerular basal lamina scaffold. It is a continuous layer within each glomerulus, folding into capillary tufts and loops, but never completely encircling the entire circumference of each capillary, similar to the serosa covering the intestinal loop and mesentery. The vascular space so defined is further partitioned into individual capillary lumen by an electron-lucent mesangial basal lamina, that forms a meshwork continuous with the vascular pole of the glomerulus and extends peripherally to surround capillary lumens. The latter, designated endothelial basal lamina, is extremely attenuated and appears as a vestigial structure in glomerular capillary loops. Changes in juxtamesangial epithelial basal lamina indicate that it may be the site of the bulk removal and renewal of the epithelial basal lamina. The unique epithelial origin of glomerular capillary basal lamina and its organization provide a structural basis for understanding the glomerular physiology gained by various tracer studies. The results also suggest that the guanidine technique may be a useful new approach to the analysis of basal lamina alterations in various glomerular diseases.

Podoendin. A new cell surface protein of the podocyte and endothelium

A new cell surface protein, podoendin, has been identified in Sprague-Dawley rats, and isolated using monoclonal antibody (mAb) G4. The distribution of podoendin is restricted to the surface of glomerular podocytes, urinary surface of the parietal epithelium of Bowman's capsule, and the luminal surface of endothelial cells. The antibody does not crossreact with podocytes or endothelia of human or mice. In newborn rats, the appearance of podoendin on glomerular epithelium is attendant on podocyte differentiation during glomerulogenesis of metanephrogenic vesicles. It disappears when podocytes retract and efface foot processes in tissue culture. Thus, podoendin appears to be a cell differentiation-dependent surface protein of podocytes. Podoendin is a protein of 62 kD mobility on 5% polyacrylamide gel electrophoresis. It stains intensely with Coomassie blue, but gives negative reactions to carbohydrate (periodic acid/Schiff reaction) and polyanions (alcian blue, colloidal iron, and carbocyanine). It is distinct from the major sialoglycoprotein of podocyte fuzzy coat, podocalyxin (11). Podoendin isolated and purified from endothelium of lungs appears to be identical with that from podocytes and endothelium of kidneys. Injection of mAb G4 into left ventricle of rats resulted in intense decoration of the endothelium and podocyte surface within 30 min. The decoration persisted throughout the 3-d period of observation. This was not accompanied by complement (C3) fixation. Preliminary results showed that the rats developed moderate proteinuria (100 mg/ml protein in urine), which was associated with the presence of hyaline droplets in renal tubules, on the third day. The proteinuria was not accompanied by effacement of podocyte pedicels. There were no morphologic alterations indicating glomerular or vascular injury in the kidneys.

Basal lamina of alveolar epithelium and capillaries: quantitative changes with aging and in diabetes mellitus

Epithelial and capillary basal laminae (BL) of alveoli are significantly thicker in diabetics than they are in age-matched control subjects. The degree of thickening does not correlate significantly with patient age or with known duration of diabetes. The thickness of both types of BL in the lungs correlates significantly with thickness of BL in renal tubules and muscle capillaries. However, in muscle capillaries and in renal tubules, the BL deposits are 5 to 10 times greater than they are in the lungs. The effects of BL changes on pulmonary function remain to be explored.

Brilliant petawatt gamma-ray pulse generation in quantum electrodynamic laser-plasma interaction

We show a new resonance acceleration scheme for generating ultradense relativistic electron bunches in helical motions and hence emitting brilliant vortical γ-ray pulses in the quantum electrodynamic (QED) regime of circularly-polarized (CP) laser-plasma interactions. Here the combined effects of the radiation reaction recoil force and the self-generated magnetic fields result in not only trapping of a great amount of electrons in laser-produced plasma channel, but also significant broadening of the resonance bandwidth between laser frequency and that of electron betatron oscillation in the channel, which eventually leads to formation of the ultradense electron bunch under resonant helical motion in CP laser fields. Three-dimensional PIC simulations show that a brilliant γ-ray pulse with unprecedented power of 6.7 PW and peak brightness of 10²⁵ photons/s/mm²/mrad²/0.1% BW (at 15 MeV) is emitted at laser intensity of 1.9 × 10²³ W/cm².

Obstructive leiomyoma of the female urethra: report of a case

We report a case of leiomyoma of the female urethra and review the literature. A mass protruding from the urethral meatus during voiding caused dysuria. Urodynamic study showed an obstructive pattern with low maximum urine flow and high detrusor pressure in initiating voiding. Cystourethroscopy revealed a mass extending from the proximal segment of the left lateral urethral wall into the bladder. At transurethral resection of the tumor 12.2 gm. of tissue were excised. Histopathological studies confirmed urethral leiomyoma. Surgery completely resolved the original symptoms of dysuria.

Antioxidant, anti-adipocyte differentiation, antitumor activity and anthelmintic activities against Anisakis simplex and Hymenolepis nana of yakuchinone A from Alpinia oxyphylla

Background

Alpinia oxyphylla is a common remedy in traditional Chinese medicine. Yakuchinone A is a major constituent of A. oxyphylla and exhibits anti-inflammatory, antitumor, antibacterial, and gastric protective activities.

Methods

Antioxidant and antitumor characteristics of yakuchinone A in skin cancer cells as well as novel mechanisms for the inhibition of adipocyte differentiation, cestocidal activities against Hymenolepis nana adults, and nematocidal activities against Anisakis simplex larvae are investigated.

Results

Yakuchinone A presents the ability of the removal of DPPH·and ABTS⁺ free radicals and inhibition of lipid peroxidation. Yakuchinone A suppresses intracellular lipid accumulation during adipocyte differentiation in 3 T3-L1 cells and the expressions of leptin and peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ (PPARγ). Yakuchinone A induces apoptosis and inhibits cell proliferation in skin cancer cells. The inhibition of cell growth by yakuchinone A is more significant for non-melanoma skin cancer (NMSC) cells than for melanoma (A375 and B16) and noncancerous (HaCaT and BNLCL2) cells. Treatment BCC cells with yakuchinone A shows down-regulation of Bcl-2, up-regulation of Bax, and an increase in cleavage poly (ADP-ribose) polymerase (PARP). This suggests that yakuchinone A induces BCC cells apoptosis through the Bcl-2-mediated signaling pathway. The anthelmintic activities of yakuchinone A for A. simplex are better than for H. nana.

Conclusions

In this work, yakuchinone A exhibits antioxidative properties, anti-adipocyte differentiation, antitumor activity, and anthelmintic activities against A. simplex and H. nana.

A novel chicken model of fatty liver disease induced by high cholesterol and low choline diets

Fatty liver diseases, common metabolic diseases in chickens, can lead to a decrease in egg production and sudden death of chickens. To solve problems caused by the diseases, reliable chicken models of fatty liver disease are required. To generate chicken models of fatty liver, 7-week-old ISA female chickens were fed with a control diet (17% protein, 5.3% fat, and 1,300 mg/kg choline), a low protein and high fat diet (LPHF, 13% protein, 9.1% fat, and 1,300 mg/kg choline), a high cholesterol with low choline diet (CLC, 17% protein, 7.6% fat with additional 2% cholesterol, and 800 mg/kg choline), a low protein, high fat, high cholesterol, and low choline diet (LPHFCLC, 13% protein, 12.6% fat with additional 2% cholesterol, and 800 mg/kg choline) for 4 wk. Our data showed that the CLC and LPHFCLC diets induced hyperlipidemia. Histological examination and the content of hepatic lipids indicated that the CLC and LPHFCLC diets induced hepatic steatosis. Plasma dipeptidyl peptidase 4, a biomarker of fatty liver diseases in laying hens, increased in chickens fed with the CLC or LPHFCLC diets. Hepatic ballooning and immune infiltration were observed in these livers accompanied by elevated interleukin 1 beta and lipopolysaccharide induced tumor necrosis factor mRNAs suggesting that the CLC and LPHFCLC diets also caused steatohepatitis in these livers. These diets also induced hepatic steatosis in Plymouth Rock chickens. Thus, the CLC and LPHFCLC diets can be used to generate models for fatty liver diseases in different strains of chickens. In ISA chickens fed with the CLC diet, peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor γ, sterol regulatory element binding transcription factor 1, and fatty acid synthase mRNAs increased in the livers, suggesting that lipogenesis was enhanced by the CLC treatment. Our data show that treatment with CLC or LPHFCLC for 4 wk induces fatty liver disease in chickens. These diets can be utilized to rapidly generate chicken models for fatty liver research.

Fluid leaks from extra-alveolar vessels in living dog lungs

Edema transudation from extra-alveolar vessels was investigated in anesthetized, open-chested dogs. Fluid accumulation at different alveolar and extra-alveolar vascular pressures was assessed by continuous lung weighing and microscopy. The left (experimental) lung was distended with 6% CO2 and air while normal arterial blood gases were maintained by separately ventilating the right lung. Extra-alveolar vessels were isolated by compressing alveolar vessels with alveolar pressures high enough to stop blood flow. Weight increased steadily (edemogenesis) when pulmonary arterial and/or pulmonary venous pressure was 1 cmH2O below this pressure. Because some alveolar vessels at the lung base could have remained open and leaked, extra-alveolar vessels were also separated from alveolar vessels by glass bead embolization sufficient to stop perfusion. Lung weight gains followed selective pulmonary arterial or venous pressure elevations. Electron microscopy demonstrated edema in experimental lobes which was not present in control lobes with undistended extra-alveolar vessels at the same alveolar pressure. Thus pulmonary edema can be caused by fluid leaking from extra-alveolar vessels.

Reoperative carotid surgery

Fourteen patients underwent carotid reoperation for symptomatic recurrent carotid stenosis after previous ipsilateral carotid endarterectomy. Eight of these patients presented with focal transient ischemic attacks, two with strokes, and four with vertebrobasilar insufficiency. Recurrent symptoms in eight patients were similar to those prompting the initial carotid endarterectomy. Symptoms recurred early after previous carotid endarterectomy in 2 patients and late in 12 patients. Eleven patients underwent repeat endarterectomy and carotid patch angioplasty, two patients underwent patch angioplasty alone, and one patient underwent carotid artery replacement with a vein graft. Persistent or recurrent focal symptoms referable to the reoperated carotid artery were not present during follow-up (mean 27.4 months, range 4 to 79 months). Vertebrobasilar symptoms were relieved by carotid reoperation in each patient. Although the natural history of asymptomatic postoperative carotid restenosis is unknown, reluctance to reoperate on symptomatic patients is unwarranted, since carotid reoperation can be performed safely with the expectation that recurrent focal and nonfocal vertebrobasilar symptoms will be relieved.

X-Ray spectra and electronic correlations of FeSe(1-x)Te(x)

Critical issues concerning emerging Fe-based superconductors include the degree of electron correlation and the origin of the superconductivity. X-Ray absorption spectra (XAS) and resonant inelastic X-ray scattering spectra (RIXS) of FeSe(1-x)Te(x) (x = 0-1) single crystals were obtained to study their electronic properties that relate to electron correlation and superconductivity. The linewidth of Fe L(2,3)-edges XAS of FeSe(1-x)Te(x) is narrower than that of Fe-pnictides, revealing the difference between their hybridization effects and localization character and those of other Fe-pnictides. While no significant differences exist between the Fe L-edge XAS and RIXS of FeSe(1-x)Te(x) and those of Fe-pnictides, Se K-edge and Te K-edge XAS exhibit substantial edge shift, suggesting that the superconductivity in an Fe-Se superconductor is strongly associated with the ligand states. A comparison of the Se K-edge and Te K-edge spectra reveals that the charge transfer may occur between Se and Te. Given the Coulomb interaction and the bandwidth, the spectral results indicate that FeSe(1-x)Te(x) is unlikely to be a weakly correlated system unlike the Fe-pnictides of the "1111" and "122" families. The spectral results further demonstrate that superconductivity in this class of Fe-based compounds is strongly associated with the ligand 4p hole state.

Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome with immature teratoma of the ovary at age 4 years

We describe a rare combination of Mayer-Rokitansky-Kuster-Hauser syndrome and immature teratoma of the ovary in a 4-year-old girl. The patient was admitted due to increased abdominal size. Sonagraphy and C-T scan revealed a heterogeneous mass with cystic, calcified, and solid parts. A right salpingo-oophorectomy was performed under the FIGO (International Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics) staging of stage Ia. The diagnosis of immature teratoma, grade II, was confirmed by histopathologic examination. Agenesis of the upper third of the vagina and the uterus was also confirmed by the surgery.

The effects of prophylactic expiratory positive airway pressure on the resolution of oleic acid-induced lung injury in dogs

It is not known whether positive end-expiratory airway pressure (PEEP) merely improves gas exchange in patients with the adult respiratory distress syndrome (ARDS) or if it also affects the resolution of their lung injury. The present investigation was performed to determine whether expiratory positive airway pressure (EPAP), a form of PEEP, is prophylactic in preventing the lung injury induced by oleic acid in dogs or in enhancing its resolution. Arterial and mixed venous blood gases and functional residual capacity (FRC) were measured in 14 pairs of mongrel dogs with indwelling catheters and permanent tracheostomies. One member of each pair was treated with 10 cm H2O EPAP through a valve attached to the tracheostomy tube. Both dogs received 0.06 ml/kg oleic acid intravenously at hour 0. Measurements were made at three, 12, and 24 hours, when EPAP was discontinued, and over the next six days. Five dog pairs were sacrificed at 72 hours; the other surviving animals were sacrificed at 168 hours. FRC was higher at three, 12, and 24 hours in dogs receiving EPAP than in the untreated dogs. The arterial oxygen tension (PaO2) was higher and the venous admixture (Qva/Qt) was lower at three and 12 hours in the dogs receiving EPAP than in the untreated dogs. However, after 24 hours, no differences were noted between the two groups in FRC, PaO2, Qav/Qt, mortality, final lung compliance to initial lung compliance differences, lung water to dry lung weight ratios, or histology. It is concluded that EPAP improves gas exchange during its administration, but has no demonstrable prophylactic effect on the resolution of lung injury in the oleic acid model of human ARDS.

Experimental Escherichia coli epididymitis in rabbits

We describe an experimental model of bacterial epididymitis in New Zealand white rabbits. Inoculation of 10(7) colony-forming units of Escherichia coli in a retrograde fashion into the vas deferens reliably produced clinical, bacteriologic, and pathologic epididymitis. Inflammation was maximum at two weeks and subsided by one month without treatment. E. coli could be reisolated from the epididymides for up to two weeks post inoculation. We detected loss of spermatogenesis in both the ipsilateral and contralateral testes and the appearance of antisperm antibodies subsequent to the infection in some animals. There were 2 cases (11%) of histologic bilateral epididymitis after unilateral inoculation; one of these had bilateral clinical epididymitis with E. coli recovered from both epididymides at two weeks.

Research of accommodative microfluctuations caused by visual fatigue based on liquid crystal and laser displays

Different levels of visual fatigue in the human eye depend on different color-formation methods and image quality. This paper uses the high-frequency component of the spectral power of accommodative microfluctuations as a major objective indicator for analyzing the effects of visual fatigue based on various displays, such as color-formation displays and 3D displays. Also, a questionnaire is used as a subjective indicator. The results are that 3D videos cause greater visual fatigue than 2D videos (p<0.001), the shutter-type 3D display causes visual fatigue more than the polarized type (p=0.012), the display of the time-sharing method causes greater visual fatigue than the spatial-formation method (p=0.008), and there is no significance between various light source modules of displays (p=0.162). In general, people with normal color discrimination have more visual fatigue than those with good color discrimination (p<0.001). Therefore, this paper uses the high-frequency component of accommodative microfluctuations to evaluate the physiological stress or strain by overexerting the visual system, and can compare the level of visual fatigue between various displays.

Controlling multiple filaments by relativistic optical vortex beams in plasmas

Filamentation dynamics of relativistic optical vortex beams (OVBs) propagating in underdense plasma is investigated. It is shown that OVBs with finite orbital angular momentum (OAM) exhibit much more robust propagation behavior than the standard Gaussian beam. In fact, the growth rate of the azimuthal modulational instability decreases rapidly with increase of the OVB topological charge. Thus, relativistic OVBs can maintain their profiles for significantly longer distances in an underdense plasma before filamentation occurs. It is also found that an OVB would then break up into regular filament patterns due to conservation of the OAM, in contrast to a Gaussian laser beam, which in general experiences random filamentation.

Sensitivity studies of AutoPap System Location-Guided Screening of cervical-vaginal cytologic smears

OBJECTIVE

To present the results of a study that assessed the efficacy of a cervical cytology screening method utilizing the AutoPap System with Location-Guided Screening (AutoPap LGS) software for detecting abnormal Papanicolaou smear slides.

STUDY DESIGN

Two hundred cases of abnormal cervical and vaginal smears were selected from the recent archives of the Taipei Institute of Pathology. For each abnormal slide, a matched "within normal limit" slide was included in the study. The slides were processed on the AutoPap Primary Screening System to select slides for Review or No Review and identify areas of the Review slides for human review and diagnosis (AutoPap LGS). The effectiveness of AutoPap LGS for detecting abnormal Papanicolaou smear slides was evaluated at multiple No Review rates.

RESULTS

The AutoPap LGS demonstrated statistically superior sensitivity over current laboratory practice for the identification of abnormal slides. Assessing the potential benefit of the AutoPap LGS using a projection method, it is expected that the AutoPap LGS would detect an additional 52 low grade squamous intraepithelial lesion and 13 high grade squamous intraepithelial lesion cases missed by current laboratory practice in a population of 2,860 cases.

CONCLUSION

The effectiveness of AutoPap LGS was demonstrated by its statistically superior performance in the detection of missed abnormal slides as compared to current laboratory practice at the Taipei Institute of Pathology.

Characteristics of betatron radiation from direct-laser-accelerated electrons

Betatron radiation from direct-laser-accelerated electrons is characterized analytically and numerically. It is shown here that the electron dynamics is strongly dependent on a self-similar parameter S(≡n_{e}/n_{c}a_{0}). Both the electron transverse momentum and energy are proportional to the normalized amplitude of laser field (a_{0}) for a fixed value of S. As a result, the total number of radiated photons scales as a_{0}^{2}/sqrt[S] and the energy conversion efficiency of photons from the accelerated electrons scales as a_{0}^{3}/S. The particle-in-cell simulations agree well with the analytical scalings. It is suggested that a tunable high-energy and high-flux radiation source can be achieved by exploiting this regime.

Angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with retinitis and drug related exacerbations: a clinicopathological case study

A patient with angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia was followed over a three year period from diagnosis to death. He presented with arthralgias, uveitis and respiratory insufficiency and developed hyperuricemic renal failure upon institution of treatment. Aggressive combination chemotherapy was required to reverse progressive thrombocytopenia and pulmonary involvement. A complete remission was achieved twice. There was a striking temporal relationship between the administration of antibiotics or allopurinol and exacerbations of the disease. Hypocomplementemia and transient evidence of vasculitis suggested the presence of immunecomplexes. Serial lymph node biopsies showed the progression of this disorder from a pleomorphic immunoblastic proliferation to a lymphocyte-depleted, fibrotic process, in parallel with a decline from hyper- to hypogammaglobulinemia. This case illustrates the broad clinical spectrum of angioimmunoblastic lymphadenopathy with dysproteinemia and suggests that aggressive treatment is necessary in selected patients.

Crystal orientation and thickness dependence of the superconducting transition temperature of tetragonal FeSe1-x thin films

Superconductivity was recently found in the tetragonal phase FeSe. A structural transformation from tetragonal to orthorhombic (or monoclinic, depending on point of view) was observed at low temperature, but was not accompanied by a magnetic ordering as commonly occurs in the parent compounds of FeAs-based superconductors. Here, we report the correlation between structural distortion and superconductivity in FeSe(1-x) thin films with different preferred growth orientations. The films with preferred growth along the c axis show a strong thickness dependent suppression of superconductivity and low temperature structural distortion. In contrast, both properties are less affected in the films with (101) preferred orientation. These results suggest that the low temperature structural distortion is closely associated with the superconductivity of this material.

Production of high-angular-momentum electron beams in laser-plasma interactions

It was shown that in the interactions of ultra-intense circularly polarized laser pulse with the near-critical plasmas, the angular momentum can be transferred efficiently from the laser beam to electrons through the resonance acceleration process. The transferred angular momentum increases almost linearly with the acceleration time t_{a} when the electrons are resonantly accelerated by the laser field. In addition, it is shown analytically that the averaged angular momentum of electrons is proportional to the laser amplitude a_{L}, and the total angular momentum of the accelerated electron beam is proportional to the square of the laser amplitude a_{L}^{2} for a fixed parameter of n_{e}/n_{c}a_{L}. These results are verified by three-dimensional particle-in-cell simulations. This regime provides an efficient and compact alternative for the production of high angular momentum electron beams, which may have many potential applications in condensed-matter spectroscopy, new electron microscopes, and bright x-ray vortex generation.