Pressure Dependence of the Structural and Superconducting Properties of the Bi-Based Superconductor BiPdSe.

The structural and superconducting properties of the Bi-based compound BiPdSe were investigated over a wide pressure range. The prepared BiPdSe sample was a superconductor with a superconducting transition temperature, , of approximately 3.0 K, which differed from a previous report ( of less than 1.

Helimagnetic Structure and Heavy-Fermion-Like Behavior in the Vicinity of the Quantum Critical Point in Mn_{3}P.

Antiferromagnet Mn_{3}P with Neel temperature T_{N}=30  K is composed of Mn tetrahedrons and zigzag chains formed by three inequivalent Mn sites. Due to the nearly frustrated lattice with many short Mn-Mn bonds, competition of the exchange interactions is expected. We here investigate the magnetic structure and physical properties including pressure effect in single crystals of this material, and reveal a complex yet well-ordered helimagnetic structure.

Chemical analysis of superconducting phase in K-doped picene.

Potassium-doped picene (K3.0picene) with a superconducting transition temperature (T C) as high as 14 K at ambient pressure has been prepared using an annealing technique. The shielding fraction of this sample was 5.

Emergence of double-dome superconductivity in ammoniated metal-doped FeSe.

The pressure dependence of the superconducting transition temperature (Tc) and unit cell metrics of tetragonal (NH3)yCs0.4FeSe were investigated in high pressures up to 41 GPa. The Tc decreases with increasing pressure up to 13 GPa, which can be clearly correlated with the pressure dependence of c (or FeSe layer spacing).

Suppressive effects of irbesartan on inflammation and apoptosis in atherosclerotic plaques of apoE-/- mice: molecular imaging with 14C-FDG and 99mTc-annexin A5.

Objectives: To investigate the effects of irbesartan on inflammation and apoptosis in atherosclerotic plaques by histochemical examination and molecular imaging using (14)C-FDG and (99m)Tc-annexin A5.

Background: Irbesartan has a peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor gamma (PPARγ) activation property in addition to its ability to block the AT1 receptor. Accordingly, irbesartan may exert further anti-inflammatory and anti-apoptotic effects in atherosclerotic plaques.

Differences in clinical manifestations, treatment, and concordance rates with two major sets of criteria for Behçet's syndrome for patients in the US and Japan: data from a large, three-center cohort study.

Objective: To compare Behçet's syndrome (BS) cohorts from the US and Japan in terms of rates of concordance with the International Study Group (ISG) criteria and Japanese criteria, disease manifestations, and treatment.

Methods: All BS patients seen at the NYU Hospital for Joint Diseases in the US and the Kameda Medical Center and St. Luke's International Hospital in Japan between 2003 and 2010 were included.

Clinical characteristics of patients with remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema compared to patients with pure polymyalgia rheumatica.

Objective: To compare clinical features of patients with remitting seronegative symmetrical synovitis with pitting edema (RS3PE) and patients with polymyalgia rheumatica (PMR) and to explore the purported association between RS3PE and malignancy.

Methods: We did a retrospective chart review of patients with RS3PE and PMR treated in a community-based hospital between January 2000 and December 2009. Outcomes assessed were clinical course of disease and associated malignancies.

An observational study of tocilizumab and TNF-α inhibitor use in a Japanese community hospital: different remission rates, similar drug survival and safety.

Objective: To assess the effectiveness, drug survival and safety of tocilizumab compared with TNF-α inhibitors in clinical practice.

Methods: Patients in the Cohort of Arthritis Biologic Users at Kameda Institute (CABUKI) registry who were on biologics during July 2003 to October 2010 were included. Remission rates at 6 months, Kaplan-Meier drug survival estimates and serious adverse event (SAE) rates were compared.

[A case of advanced pancreatic cancer responding well to S-1/gemcitabine combination therapy after gemcitabine therapy].

A 71-year-old male with unresectable pancreatic cancer treated with gemcitabine (GEM) by another doctor came to our hospital because of stenosis of duodenum and hydronephrosis. There was peritoneal dissemination in his abdominal cavity, and gastro-jejunostomy was performed. After surgery, GEM therapy was continued until he was judged as PD.

Irbesartan enhances GLUT4 translocation and glucose transport in skeletal muscle cells.

Irbesartan, an angiotensin II type 1 receptor blocker has been reported to alleviate metabolic disorder in animal studies and human clinical trials. Although this effect may be related to the ability of irbesartan to serve as a partial agonist for the peroxisome proliferator-activated receptor (PPAR)-γ, the target tissues on which irbesartan acts remain poorly defined. As muscle glucose transport plays a major role in maintaining systemic glucose homeostasis, we investigated the effect of irbesartan on glucose uptake in skeletal muscle cells.

A case of eosinophilic orbital myositis associated with CSS.

We report a novel case of eosinophilic orbital myositis associated with Churg-Strauss syndrome. A 56-year-old man with a 20-year history of chronic sinusitis and seasonal allergic rhinitis was admitted because of fever, swelling of cheeks and extremities, diplopia, and eosinophilia. With findings from gadolinium-enhanced FST1WI of the orbits and a muscle biopsy of the skeletal muscle, the diagnosis was made.

Cortactin interacts with podocalyxin and mediates morphological change of podocytes through its phosphorylation.

Background/aims: Morphological change of podocytes is closely correlated with the development of proteinuria. Podocalyxin is a major sialoglycoprotein of the podocytes and is thought to be involved in the maintenance of the foot processes structure. Our aim was to examine the mechanism by which podocalyxin contributes to the morphological change of podocytes.

Hindered rotation of methane molecules in the one-dimensional nanochannel of a porous coordination polymer.

The crystal structure of a microporous coordination polymer with adsorbed methane gas was determined by in situ synchrotron powder diffraction of the gas adsorption and the MEM (maximum entropy method)/Rietveld method. Methane molecules were found to be adsorbed forming a one-dimensional array in the nanochannels of the polymer. The MEM charge density distribution of the adsorbed methane molecules indicated some protrusions which were not observed in that of a spherical atom of adsorbed argon.

A new operative procedure using a Küntcher nail for a periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fracture after revision total knee arthroplasty: a case report.

Periprosthetic supracondylar femoral fractures after total knee arthroplasty (TKA) are difficult surgical problems. We report a case of an 84-year-old female, in which an original method was applied to treat a periprosthetic supracondylar femoral nonunion just proximal a femoral component. The new method features extending the stem of the femoral component with a Küntcher nail.

Double-filtration plasmapheresis for resolution of corticosteroid resistant adult onset Still's disease.

A 45-year-old Japanese male was diagnosed with adult onset Still's disease (AOSD). High-dose corticosteroid initially resolved the illness; however, high fever, maculopalpular rashes, arthralgia, and acute pericarditis rapidly recurred, and were followed by a somnolent state without focal signs. A diagnosis of corticosteroid resistant, severe, recurrent AOSD was made, and double-filtration plasmapheresis (DFPP) was performed immediately.

Formation and characterization of crystalline molecular arrays of gas molecules in a 1-dimensional ultramicropore of a porous copper coordination polymer.

Molecules and atoms confined in a nanospace may have properties distinctly different from those of the bulk fluid, owing to the formation of a specific molecular array characteristic of nanospace. In situ synchrotron powder X-ray diffraction measurements have been used to observe confined guest molecules such as N2, O2, Ar, and CH4 in the well-regulated ultramicropore of a copper coordination polymer, 1 ([Cu2(pzdc)2pyz]: pzdc = 2,3-pyrazinedicarboxylate and pyz = pyrazine). The obtained crystal structures indicate that guest molecules are confined in a linear fashion to form crystalline-like regular ordered arrays, in contrast to the situation in the gas and liquid state, even at temperatures above the boiling point, and the ordered arrays are characteristic of the kind of gas molecule and the geometrical and potential properties of the ultramicropore of 1.

Highly controlled acetylene accommodation in a metal-organic microporous material.

Metal-organic microporous materials (MOMs) have attracted wide scientific attention owing to their unusual structure and properties, as well as commercial interest due to their potential applications in storage, separation and heterogeneous catalysis. One of the advantages of MOMs compared to other microporous materials, such as activated carbons, is their ability to exhibit a variety of pore surface properties such as hydrophilicity and chirality, as a result of the controlled incorporation of organic functional groups into the pore walls. This capability means that the pore surfaces of MOMs could be designed to adsorb specific molecules; but few design strategies for the adsorption of small molecules have been established so far.

Evaluation of patello-femoral alignment using MRI.

In evaluating patello-femoral alignment, it is not enough to assess the conformity of the joint two-dimensionally, the direction of the extensor mechanism must be examined three-dimensionally. Using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), we adopted an ideal extensor mechanism plane intersecting the patellar facet of the femur centrally and perpendicularly. We evaluated the alignment according to the extent to which the patella and/or the tibial tuberosity deviated from the plane.

Surgical fixation of massive osteochondritis dissecans lesion using cylindrical osteochondral plugs.

Abstract The prognosis of osteochondritis dissecans (OCD) depends on the age of manifestation and the size of the lesion. Before epiphyseal closure, OCD usually responds well to the restriction of the patient's sporting activities. Surgical intervention is not always necessary.