Serial changes in anxiety levels related to corticosteroid use: A single-center prospective study.

Patients with autoimmune diseases treated with corticosteroids sometimes display feelings of anxiety regarding corticosteroid use. In this single-center prospective study, we aimed to evaluate the serial changes in anxiety levels related to corticosteroid use in 18 patients with autoimmune diseases. The degree of anxiety toward corticosteroid use was assessed using the visual analogue scale.

The preparation of Ag nanoparticle-modified single-walled carbon nanotubes and their antibacterial activity.

The sidewall modified single-walled carbon nanotubes (SWNTs) with amino-containing substituents were prepared using the radicals generated by the photolysis of acetonitrile. A subsequent treatment of modified SWNTs with the Ag colloid gave an attachment of Ag nanoparticles on the surface of SWNTs through the functionalized linkages. The Ag nanoparticle-modified SWNTs evaluated by antibacterial tests showed strong activities against Escherichia coli and Staphylococcus aureus.

Stable conformations of 12-crown-O3N and its Li+ complex in aqueous solution.

Stable conformations of 12-crown-O3N and its Li complexes in aqueous solution were investigated. To calculate the free energy differences of conformers of 12-crown-O3N and its Li+ complex, our procedure was to make use of two programs, CONFLEX and BOSS. The former generates conformers, and the latter calculates the differences in free energy of solvation between two conformers in aqueous solution.

Analysis of chromosome 6q deletion in EBV-associated NK cell leukaemia/lymphoma.

Deletions involving chromosome 6q have been reported in a number of human cancers such as ovarian and breast tumours as well as haematopoietic malignancies. It seems that this region might contain tumour-suppressor genes. Putative natural killer cell lymphomas/leukaemias (NKLL) represent a group of recently characterized haematolymphoid malignancies sharing an immunophenotype of CD3/Leu4- CD3epsilon+ CD56+, a genotype of germline T-cell receptor genes, and have a close association with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV).

Particulate air pollution induces progression of atherosclerosis.

Objectives: We sought to determine the effect of exposure to air pollution particulate matter <10 microm (PM(10)) on the progression of atherosclerosis in rabbits.

Background: Epidemiologic studies have associated exposure to ambient PM(10) with increased cardiovascular morbidity and mortality. We have previously shown that PM(10) exposure induces a systemic inflammatory response that includes marrow stimulation, and we hypothesized that this response accelerates atherosclerosis.