Microscopic evidence for nanoparticle-mediated growth of native gold in sulfide deposits at the Higashi-Aogashima Knoll Caldera hydrothermal field.

Gold (or electrum) in hydrothermal fluid precipitates directly from gold sulfide complex and/or partly via suspended nanoparticles. The hydrothermal fluid contains "invisible gold" that is atomically dispersed in sulfide minerals or as nanoparticles with a size of less than 10 nm. However, the contribution of these gold nanoparticles to the formation of native gold and its alloy with silver (electrum) remains unclear.

Antiproteinuric effect of niceritrol, a nicotinic acid derivative, in chronic renal disease with hyperlipidemia: a randomized trial.

Purpose: Lipoprotein (a) [Lp(a)] levels increase in patients with renal disease. We administered niceritrol, a nicotinic acid derivative, to patients with chronic renal disease and a high serum Lp(a) level, and studied its effects on lipid metabolism, proteinuria, and renal function.

Methods: Thirty-three patients with chronic renal disease whose serum Lp(a) levels were > or = 15 mg/dL were randomly (but not blindly) assigned to treatment with niceritrol (n = 16) or to an untreated control group (n = 17).

Effect of long-term administration of prostaglandin I(2) in incipient diabetic nephropathy.

Background/aims: Diabetic nephropathy is one of the primary diseases of refractory renal failure and heads the list of patients undergoing dialysis. Therefore, it is very important to get treatment in incipient nephropathy.

Methods: Twenty-seven patients in incipient diabetic nephropathy of type 2 diabetes mellitus who showed signs of microalbuminuria were randomly, but not blindly, assigned to two groups, either the beraprost sodium (PGI(2)) group or the control group, and effects of the preparation on urinary albumin excretion or other parameters were examined for 24 months.