Atomic reconstruction induced by uniaxial stress in MnP.

In condensed matter physics, pressure is frequently used to modify the stability of both electronic states and atomic arrangements. Under isotropic pressure, the intermetallic compound MnP has recently attracted attention for the interplay between pressure-induced superconductivity and complicated magnetic order in the vicinity . By contrast, we use uniaxial stress, a directional type of pressure, to investigate the effect on the magnetism and crystal structure of this compound.

Vascular Endothelial Glycocalyx Plays a Role in the Obesity Paradox According to Intravital Observation.

According to the "obesity paradox," for severe conditions, individuals with obesity may be associated with a higher survival rate than those who are lean. However, the physiological basis underlying the mechanism of the obesity paradox remains unknown. We hypothesize that the glycocalyx in obese mice is thicker and more resistant to inflammatory stress than that in non-obese mice.

Gapless spin liquid in a square-kagome lattice antiferromagnet.

Observation of a quantum spin liquid (QSL) state is one of the most important goals in condensed-matter physics, as well as the development of new spintronic devices that support next-generation industries. The QSL in two dimensional quantum spin systems is expected to be due to geometrical magnetic frustration, and thus a kagome-based lattice is the most probable playground for QSL. Here, we report the first experimental results of the QSL state on a square-kagome quantum antiferromagnet, KCuAlBiO(SO)Cl.

Different localization of lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) in mammalian cultured cell lines.

Lysosomal-associated membrane protein 1 (LAMP1) mainly localizes to lysosomes and late endosomes. We herein investigated the intracellular localization of lysosomal membrane proteins in five mammalian cultured cell lines. Rat LAMP1 fused to enhanced green fluorescent protein (EGFP) mostly accumulated at a particular cytoplasmic area and barely co-localized with LysoTracker® Red DND-99 in golden hamster kidney BHK-21 cells and Chinese hamster ovary CHO-K1 cells.

Successful treatment of post-operative peripheral bronchopleural fistulas using endobronchial Watanabe spigots.

Post-operative peripheral bronchopleural fistulas (BPF) are sometimes caused by post-operative pneumonia and empyema. Conservative treatment options such as administration of antibiotics and chest tube drainage can have limited outcomes in certain cases. Bronchial occlusion is an effective treatment option if the target bronchi for BPF are identified.

The protective effect of hydroxyethyl starch solution on the glycocalyx layer in an acute hemorrhage mouse model.

Purpose: Fluid therapy focused on glycocalyx (GCX) protection in hemorrhagic shock is a current focus of research. Hydroxyethyl starch (HES) solution is commonly used for fluid resuscitation; however, its effects on the GCX remain unclear. The primary aim of this study was to explore the protective effect of HES130 in maintaining GCX thickness and reducing plasma syndecan-1 expression.

Ultrasonographic identification of the cricothyroid membrane in a patient with a difficult airway as a result of cervical hematoma caused by hemophilia: a case report.

Background: Surgical cricothyroidotomy is a last resort in patients with an anticipated difficult airway, but without any guarantee of success. Identification of the cricothyroid membrane may be the key to successful cricothyrotomy. Ultrasonographic identification of the cricothyroid membrane has been reported to be more useful than the conventional palpation technique.

Bronchoscopic observation with linked colour imaging.

We report two cases of the comparison of diagnosis made with linked color imaging (LCI) and conventional white-light imaging (WLI) on the same patients. In case 1, a 75-year-old man in whom right upper lobectomy with mediastinal lymph node dissection was performed due to lung cancer had signs of bronchitis on postoperative day 8. The LCI demonstrated slight inflammatory changes that were not detectable with the conventional WLI on the tracheal wall.

PICC insertion in the sitting position for a patient with congestive heart failure: A case report.

Rationale: A peripherally inserted central catheter (PICC) is typically inserted with the patient in the supine position. Here, we placed a PICC in a patient in the sitting position, in order to treat congestive heart failure.

Patient Concerns: A 65-year-old man was diagnosed with end-stage lung cancer.

Cluster-Based Haldane State in an Edge-Shared Tetrahedral Spin-Cluster Chain: Fedotovite K_{2}Cu_{3}O(SO_{4})_{3}.

Fedotovite K_{2}Cu_{3}O(SO_{4})_{3} is a candidate of new quantum spin systems, in which the edge-shared tetrahedral (EST) spin clusters consisting of Cu^{2+} are connected by weak intercluster couplings forming a one-dimensional array. Comprehensive experimental studies by magnetic susceptibility, magnetization, heat capacity, and inelastic neutron scattering measurements reveal the presence of an effective S=1 Haldane state below T≅4  K. Rigorous theoretical studies provide an insight into the magnetic state of K_{2}Cu_{3}O(SO_{4})_{3}: an EST cluster makes a triplet in the ground state and a one-dimensional chain of the EST induces a cluster-based Haldane state.

Iatrogenic carpal tunnel syndrome induced by wrist extension for placement of an indwelling radial artery catheter: a case report.

A 38-year-old man with pancreatic cancer was scheduled to undergo pancreaticoduodenectomy. He had an unremarkable past medical history. After inducing general anesthesia, a left radial arterial catheter was successfully placed at first attempt.

Possible Tomonaga-Luttinger spin liquid state in the spin-1/2 inequilateral diamond-chain compound KCuAlO(SO).

KCuAlO(SO) is a highly one-dimensional spin-1/2 inequilateral diamond-chain antiferromagnet. Spinon continuum and spin-singlet dimer excitations are observed in the inelastic neutron scattering spectra, which is in excellent agreement with a theoretical prediction: a dimer-monomer composite structure, where the dimer is caused by strong antiferromagnetic (AFM) coupling and the monomer forms an almost isolated quantum AFM chain controlling low-energy excitations. Moreover, muon spin rotation/relaxation spectroscopy shows no long-range ordering down to 90 mK, which is roughly three orders of magnitude lower than the exchange interaction of the quantum AFM chain.

Perchlorate Selectivity of Anion Exchange Resins as Evaluated Using Ion-Selective Electrodes.

The selectivity coefficients reported for perchlorate of the high selectivity on anion exchange resins (AXRs) have not been consistent with one another. Possible errors by the unique use of four parameters (concentrations of two anions in two phases) were experimentally verified. The concentrations of perchlorate buffered at low levels (10 - 10 mol L) by two forms of AXRs were successfully determined by potentiometry with a perchlorate ion-selective electrode.

Quadratus lumborum block for femoral-femoral bypass graft placement: A case report.

Introduction: Atherosclerosis has a complex etiology that leads to arterial obstruction and often results in inadequate perfusion of the distal limbs. Patients with atherosclerosis can have severe complications of this condition, with widespread systemic manifestations, and the operations undertaken are often challenging for anesthesiologists.

Case Report: A 79-year-old woman with chronic heart failure and respiratory dysfunction presented with bilateral gangrene of the distal lower extremities with obstruction of the left common iliac artery due to atherosclerosis.

Epigenetic Repeat-Induced Gene Silencing in the Chromosomal and Extrachromosomal Contexts in Human Cells.

A plasmid bearing both a replication initiation region and a matrix attachment region is spontaneously amplified in transfected mammalian cells and generates plasmid repeats in the extrachromosomal double minutes (DMs) or the chromosomal homogeneously staining region (HSR). Generally, the repeat sequences are subject to repeat-induced gene silencing, the mechanism of which remains to be elucidated. Previous research showed that gene expression from the same plasmid repeat was higher from repeats located at DMs than at the HSR, which may reflect the extrachromosomal environment of the DMs.

Betulinic acid and oleanolic acid, natural pentacyclic triterpenoids, interfere with N-linked glycan modifications to intercellular adhesion molecule-1, but not its intracellular transport to the cell surface.

Betulinic acid (3β-hydroxy-20(29)-lupen-28-oic acid), oleanolic acid (3β-hydroxy-olean-12-en-28-oic acid), and ursolic acid (3β-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid) are close structural isomers of natural pentacyclic triterpenoid carboxylic acids. We recently identified a unique biological effect of ursolic acid, its inhibition of the intracellular trafficking of glycoproteins. In the present study, we demonstrated that betulinic acid and oleanolic acid did not inhibit the interleukin-1α-induced expression of cell-surface intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in human lung carcinoma A549 cells.

[Diaphragmatic hernia complicated with diaphragmatic resection by automatic stapling device].

Nowadays, a diaphragmatic lesion is sometimes resected with use of an automatic stapling device, especially through video-assisted thoracoscopic procedure. We herein report 2 patients with a diaphragmatic hernia after diaphragmatic resection by automatic stapling devices. Etiology and cause of postoperative diaphragmatic hernia are discussed.

How a replication origin and matrix attachment region accelerate gene amplification under replication stress in mammalian cells.

The gene amplification plays a critical role in the malignant transformation of mammalian cells. The most widespread method for amplifying a target gene in cell culture is the use of methotrexate (Mtx) treatment to amplify dihydrofolate reductase (Dhfr). Whereas, we found that a plasmid bearing both a mammalian origin of replication (initiation region; IR) and a matrix attachment region (MAR) was spontaneously amplified in mammalian cells.

Ursolic acid, a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid, inhibits intracellular trafficking of proteins and induces accumulation of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 linked to high-mannose-type glycans in the endoplasmic reticulum.

Ursolic acid (3β-hydroxy-urs-12-en-28-oic acid) is a natural pentacyclic triterpenoid that is present in many plants, including medicinal herbs, and foods. Ursolic acid was initially identified as an inhibitor of the expression of intercellular adhesion molecule-1 (ICAM-1) in response to interleukin-1α (IL-1α). We report here a novel biological activity: ursolic acid inhibits intracellular trafficking of proteins.

[Stump recurrence after pulmonary metastasectomy from colorectal cancer].

Pulmonary metastasectomy with wedge resection is an ideal procedure in terms of less invasiveness and preservation of respiratory function, while local recurrence is a major problem. The goal of this study was to verify risk factors of stump recurrence after pulmonary metastasectomy from colorectal cancer. Pulmonary metastasectomies including 112 operations for 131 lesions in 85 patients with colorectal cancer were performed in our department since March, 2005 until the end of 2010.