Differentiation of the Intradural Extramedullary Spinal Tumors, Schwannomas, and Meningiomas Utilizing the Contrast Ratio as a Quantitative Magnetic Resonance Imaging Method.

Background: Schwannomas and meningiomas are the most common intradural extramedullary spinal tumors; however, differentiating between them using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) is a frequent challenge. In this study, we aimed to investigate the use of the contrast ratio (CR) as a quantitative MRI method in the differentiation of schwannomas and meningiomas.

Methods: We analyzed the data of patients with intradural extramedullary spinal tumors who underwent surgery and were diagnosed with either schwannomas or meningiomas by histopathological analysis.

Evaluation of Epiconus and Conus Medullaris Disorders due to Thoracolumbar Vertebral Fracture using Motor-evoked Potentials.

Study Design: A retrospective case-control study.

Objective: To characterize the motor evoked potential (MEP) when the epiconus or conus medullaris is compressed by a fracture of the T12 or L1 vertebra.

Summary Of Background Data: Although the characteristics of compressive cervical and thoracic myelopathy with transcranial magnetic stimulation MEP have been reported, the MEP parameters in compressive disorders of the epiconus and conus medullaris have not yet been characterized.

Development of a novel animal model of lumbar vertebral endplate lesion by intervertebral disk injection of monosodium iodoacetate in rats.

Purpose: Vertebral endplate lesions (EPLs) caused by severe disk degeneration are associated with low back pain. However, its pathophysiology remains unclear. In this study, we aimed to develop a vertebral EPL rat model mimicking severe intervertebral disk (IVD) degeneration by injecting monosodium iodoacetate (MIA) into the IVDs and evaluating it by assessing pain-related behavior, micro-computed tomography (CT) findings, and histological changes.

Short-segment spinal fusion for chronic low back pain with bone marrow edema adjacent to the vertebral endplate in adult spinal deformity.

Purpose: Corrective long spinal fusion is a widely accepted surgical method for patients with adult spinal deformities. However, instrumented long fusion is associated with a significant risk of complications. Therefore, we aimed to assess the success of short-segment spinal fusion, particularly for bone marrow edema (BME) adjacent to the vertebral endplate, in patients with low back pain (LBP) and spinal deformity.

Intradiscal Condoliase Injection Therapy for Recurrent Lumbar Disc Herniation: Case Series and Literature Review.

: Although chemonucleolysis with condoliase for lumbar disc herniation (LDH) has become common, few reports have described its application in the treatment of recurrent LDH. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate the safety and efficacy of condoliase treatment in six patients with recurrent LDH and review the available literature on condoliase treatment for LDH. : Six patients (four men and two women; mean age, 64.

Prognostic factors for spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma: a multicenter case-control study.

Background: To determine the optimal treatment for spontaneous spinal epidural hematoma (SSEH). The aim of this study was to identify factors associated with SSEH.

Methods: In 62 patients with SSEH, several patient-related parameters were analyzed as candidate factors associated with Frankel grade before treatment or at the last follow-up.

Long-term outcome of targeted therapy for low back pain in elderly degenerative lumbar scoliosis.

Purpose: Treatment of low back pain (LBP) associated with elderly degenerative lumbar scoliosis (DLS) remains controversial. We have developed percutaneous intervertebral-vacuum polymethylmethacrylate injection (PIPI) targeting to the intervertebral vacuum as a minimally invasive surgery. The present study compared the long-term clinical outcomes of PIPI to that of nonoperative treatment.

Single-Molecule Fluorescence Spectroscopy of Perylene Diimide Dyes in a γ-Cyclodextrin Film: Manifestation of Photoinduced H-Atom Transfer via Higher Triplet (n, π*) Excited States.

Supramolecular complexation of γ-cyclodextrin (γ-CD) with N,N'-bis(2,6-dimethylphenyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (DMP-PDI) or N,N'-bis(2,6-dioctyl)perylene-3,4,9,10-tetracarboxylic diimide (C8-PDI) dye in an aqueous solution and in a γ-CD solid film were investigated via ensemble and single-molecule fluorescence spectroscopy. These two perylene diimide derivatives possess almost the same electronic structure but have different terminal functional groups. This structural difference leads to formation of an inclusion complex of γ-CD with DMP-PDI but not with C8-PDI in aqueous solution.

Neuroeconomics of psychopathy: risk taking in probability discounting of gain and loss predicts psychopathy.

Background: This study investigated the relationships between psychopathy and impulsive and risky decision making, by utilizing intertemporal and probabilistic choices for both gain and loss, in addition to the Iowa gambling task.

Methods: The Psychopathic Personality Inventory-Revised - a 154-item measure that assesses psychopathic traits by self-report - was used with a 4-point response scale to assess 113 undergraduate students from three Japanese universities. Participants' performance on the Iowa Gambling Task and four behavioral neuroeconomic tasks of discounting - delayed gain, delayed loss, uncertain gain, and uncertain loss - were estimated.

NMR determinations of the absolute configuration of alpha-chiral primary amines.

We have established a methodology to determine the absolute configuration of alpha-chiral primary amines by derivatization to the corresponding imines with each enantiomer of 2'-methoxy-1,1'-binaphthalene-8-carbaldehyde (1). This methodology proceeds on the basis of modified Mosher's method, and sufficiently large Deltadelta(R)(S) values can be obtained to elucidate the stereochemistry of the amines.

Cultural neuroeconomics of intertemporal choice.

According to theories of cultural neuroscience, Westerners and Easterners may have distinct styles of cognition (e.g., different allocation of attention).

Chemistry and structural determination of botcinolides, botcinins, and botcinic acids.

The first asymmetric total syntheses of botcinins C (18), D (19), E (20), and F (21), botcinic acid (22), botcinic acid methyl ester (23), botcineric acid (26), and 3-O-acetylbotcinic acid methyl ester () were achieved. The structures of these compounds have been unequivocally determined through their total syntheses and those of 20, 22, 23, 26, and are identified with the revised forms of the natural products formerly assumed to be 2-epibotcinolide (10), botcinolide (6), 4-O-methylbotcinolide (7), homobotcinolide (11), and 3-O-acetyl-5-O-methylbotcinolide (8), respectively. It was further proved that the proposed nine-membered ring structure of 2-epibotcinolide (10) is very unstable and the ineluctable translactonization easily occurred to form the corresponding gamma-lactone .

Asymmetric total synthesis of botcinins C, D, and F.

Stereoselective total synthesis of botcinins C, D, and F is effectively carried out through asymmetric aldol reactions, 6-endo ring closure, and SmI2-mediated 3,4-trans or -cis stereoselective intramolecular Reformatsky reaction. Rapid esterification of the main skeleton of botcinins with the chiral side chain using MNBA and DMAP produced botcinin D, an antifungal chemical against a pathogen of rice blast disease.

Total synthesis of 2-hydroxytetracosanolide and 2-hydroxy-24-oxooctacosanolide by using an effective lactonization.

We have developed effective methods for the total synthesis of 2-hydroxytetracosanolide and 2-hydroxy-24-oxooctacosanolide, the defensive salivary secretions of termites. The former natural product isolated from Armitermes neotenicus, a species of termite that inhabits Guyana, contains a 25-membered lactone backbone, and the latter, extracted from Pseudacanthoterme springer, an African termite, includes a 29-membered lactone moiety. The key cyclization to produce the 25- or 29-membered lactone core is performed by using 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) with a stoichiometric amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine (DMAP) or a catalytic amount of 4-(dimethylamino)pyridine N-oxide (DMAPO).

Synthesis of lactones using substituted benzoic anhydride as a coupling reagent.

This protocol describes a procedure for the synthesis of a 29-membered macrolactone. The facile mixed-anhydride method is very effective for the preparation of carboxylic esters and lactones using substituted benzoic anhydrides by the promotion of Lewis acid or basic catalysts under mild reaction conditions. Owing to the reaction rapidly proceeding to produce the monomeric compounds with high chemoselectivity, the protocol is quite powerful for the synthesis of not only the giant-sized lactones but also the highly strained cyclic compounds such as medium-sized lactones.

Stereoselective total synthesis of the proposed structure of 2-epibotcinolide.

[Structure: see text] The total synthesis of pseudo 2-epibotcinolide (1b) through several featured synthetic approaches has been attained. First, the chiral linear precursors of the nine-membered ring compound is stereoselectively constructed by the asymmetric aldol reaction for producing beta-hydroxy ester units. Second, the key cyclization reaction to form the nine-membered lactone moiety is efficiently achieved by the extremely facile and powerful mixed-anhydride method promoted by 2-methyl-6-nitrobenzoic anhydride (MNBA) with basic promoters.

The neural basis of social tactics: An fMRI study.

One of the most powerful ways of succeeding in complex social interactions is to read the minds of companions and stay a step ahead of them. In order to assess neural responses to reciprocal mind reading in socially strained human relationships, we used a 3-T scanner to perform an event-related functional magnetic resonance imaging study in 16 healthy subjects who participated in the game of Chicken. Statistical parametric mapping showed that the counterpart effect (human minus computer) exclusively activated the medial frontal area corresponding to the anterior paracingulate cortex (PCC) and the supramarginal gyrus neighboring the posterior superior temporal sulcus (STS).

Functional activity related to risk anticipation during performance of the Iowa Gambling Task.

Risk anticipation is an important cognitive/emotional component of decision making. The Iowa Gambling Task [Bechara, A., Damasio, A.

1-trifluoromethylvinylsilane as a CF2=C(-)-CH2+ synthon: synthesis of functionalized 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes via isolable 2,2-difluorovinylsilanes.

Various 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes such as monosubstituted 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes, 2-bromo-1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes, and 3,3-difluoroallylic alcohols are synthesized in two simple steps from 1-trifluoromethylvinylsilane: (i) its SN2' reaction with nucleophiles to construct 2,2-difluorovinylsilanes and (ii) the subsequent substitution of electrophiles for the vinylic silyl group. The combination of these two processes allows a one-pot synthesis of the functionalized 1,1-difluoro-1-alkenes starting from 1-trifluoromethylvinylsilane, which functions as a CF2=C(-)-CH2+ synthon.

Severe weight gain induced by combination treatment with risperidone and paroxetine.

Successful combination therapy with atypical antipsychotics and selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors has been reported for several psychiatric conditions. However, great attention should be paid to the possible adverse effects. In this retrospective chart review, we focused on the drug-drug interaction of paroxetine and risperidone.