Influence of Smectic Liquid Crystallinity on Lamellar Microdomain Structure in a Main‐Chain Liquid Crystal Block Copolymer Fiber

The microlamellar and smectic liquid crystal (LC) structures of a block copolymer of a main‐chain LC polyester connected at both ends with poly(ethyl methacrylate) are investigated by fiber X‐ray scattering. In the as‐spun fiber, the lamellae are parallel to the fiber axis, while the smectic layers are perpendicular to it. Annealing the as‐spun fiber at a temperature higher than the isotropization temperature (T_i) of the LC segment preserves the lamellae, but the LC structure disappears. Further annealing the fiber at T < T_i improves the lamellar stacking coherence and aligns the smectic layers parallel to the lamellae. In contrast, annealing the as‐spun fiber at T < T_i conserves the smectic layers and arranges the lamellae in parallel to the smectic layers. Thus, the liquid crystallinity affects the lamellar ordering and orientation.

     

Feasibility study of glass dosimeter postal dosimetry audit of high-energy radiotherapy photon beams.

INTRODUCTION: The characteristics of a glass dosimeter were investigated for its potential use as a tool for postal dose audits. Reproducibility, energy dependence, field size and depth dependence were compared to those of a thermoluminescence dosimeter (TLD), which has been the major tool for postal dose audits worldwide. MATERIALS AND METHODS: A glass dosimeter, GD-302M (Asahi Techno Glass Co.) and a TLD, TLD-100 chip (Harshaw Co.) were irradiated with gamma-rays from a (60)Co unit and X-rays from a medical linear accelerator (4, 6, 10 and 20 MV). RESULTS: The dosimetric characteristics of the glass dosimeter were almost equivalent to those of the TLD, in terms of utility for dosimetry under the reference condition, which is a 10 x 10 cm(2) field and 10 cm depth. Because of its reduced fading, compared to the TLD, and easy quality control with the ID number, the glass dosimeter proved to be a suitable tool for postal dose audits. Then, we conducted postal dose surveys of over 100 facilities and got good agreement, with a standard deviation of about 1.3%. CONCLUSIONS: Based on this study, postal dose audits throughout Japan will be carried out using a glass dosimeter.     

Idiopathic giant cell myocarditis accompanied by asymmetric septal hypertrophy

We report a case of idiopathic giant cell myocarditis accompanied by asymmetric septal hypertrophy. A 64-year-old woman was admitted because of dyspnea. There was no past history of hypertension or heart disease and no family history of hypertrophic cardiomyopathy. Laboratory examinations revealed general inflammatory changes and mild elevation of serum CK and GOT. The clinical course was fulminant and the patient died of heart failure one day after admission. On autopsy, asymmetric septal hypertrophy was revealed and the pathohistological examination revealed panmyocarditis with mononuclear cell infiltration, interstitial edema, necrosis of myocytes, and giant cells. The inflammatory changes were most severe in the ventricular septum with asymmetric septal hypertrophy. The extent of myocardial fibers with disarray was within normal limits. Thus, the asymmetric septal hypertrophy appeared to be due to marked interstitial edema and inflammatory cell infiltration in the septum. This case suggests that myocardial inflammation and edema may cause thickening of the ventricular wall during the course of acute myocarditis.     

Deaths within 12 months after (125)I implantation for brachytherapy of prostate cancer: an investigation of radiation safety issues in Japan (2003-2010)

PurposeThe International Commission on Radiological Protection recommends removing the prostate before cremation if death occurs within 12 months after ¹²⁵I brachytherapy. However, the incidence of death within this time frame has not been robustly investigated in any country. The purpose this study was to investigate the incidence and cause of death and actions taken when death has occurred within 12 months after ¹²⁵I brachytherapy for prostate cancer in Japan.Methods and MaterialsData were extracted from the Japan Radioisotope Association database to investigate the total number of implantation cases, number of early deaths after implantation, cause of death, and postmortem actions between September 2003 and the end of June 2010 in Japan. Early death was defined as occurring within 12 months after ¹²⁵I brachytherapy for prostate cancer.ResultsDuring the study period, 15,427 patients underwent ¹²⁵I brachytherapy and 43 (0.28%) died within 12 months after implantation. For 37 of the 43 patients (86%), the brachytherapy source was retrieved together with the prostate gland at autopsy; however, autopsy could not be performed in six (14%) of the deceased patients. The largest proportion of early deaths was because of cerebrovascular or cardiovascular disease (17/43, 40%), followed by malignant tumor (15/43, 35%), and respiratory disease or infection (7/43, 16%).ConclusionsThe incidence of early deaths within 12 months after ¹²⁵I brachytherapy in Japan was 0.28%. In almost all cases, the brachytherapy sources were removed in the intact prostate before the body was cremated and stored appropriately.     

A mother and her son with autosomal dominant bulbar spinal muscular atrophy]

We reported a 49-year-old mother and her 28-year-old son with autosomal dominantly inherited bulbar spinal muscular atrophy (AD-BSMA). They showed progressive bulbar paresis, muscle wasting and weakness dominant in the proximal groups of limb muscles, and finger tremor. Onset of illness was in adult life. In laboratory examinations, elevated creatine kinase in serum and neurogenic changes either in EMG or muscle biopsy were noted. The son had neither gynecomastia nor abnormal sexual hormone levels which were observed in the sex-linked recessive bulbar spinal muscular atrophy (SR-BSMA). Elongation due to the CAG repeats at the androgen receptor gene of the X chromosome in SR-BSMA was not detected. In conclusion, it is clear that AD-BSMA is different from SR-BSMA on the basis of clinical and genetical aspects.     

Adverse effects of deoxycholic acid in submandibular glands,submental, inguinal and subplantar regions: a study in rats

Clinical Oral Investigations - We aimed to evaluate the effects of the deoxycholic acid (DCA) in the submental and subplantar regions of rats, and to histologically analyze the changes caused in...     

Obstructive Jaundice Due to Duodenal Ulcer Induced by Lenvatinib Therapy for Hepatocellular Carcinoma

An 82-year-old man with hepatocellular carcinoma presented with upper abdominal pain, vomiting, and jaundice. He had been taking a standard lenvatinib dose for three months. Although acute cholangitis was suggested, imaging studies failed to detect the biliary obstruction site. An endoscopic examination following discontinuation of lenvatinib and aspirin revealed multiple duodenal ulcers, one of which was formed on the ampulla of Vater and causing cholestasis. Endoscopic biliary drainage and antibiotics improved concomitant Enterobacter cloacae bacteremia. Ulcer healing was confirmed after rabeprazole was replaced with vonoprazan and misoprostol. Our case shows that lenvatinib can induce duodenal ulcers resulting in obstructive jaundice.     

Odontogenic Cysts: Analysis of 680 Cases in Brazil

The purpose of this study was to evaluate the prevalence of 680 odontogenic cysts diagnosed in Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, and to compare results with findings in the literature. Data of odontogenic cysts diagnosed from 1985 to 2005 were collected from the files of the Oral Pathology Laboratory of Pontifícia Universidade Católica do Rio Grande do Sul, Porto Alegre, RS, Brazil, and entered in a standardized form for later comparisons. The most prevalent odontogenic cysts were radicular (72.50%), dentigerous (22.20%) and residual (4.26%) cysts. The mandible of white patients was the anatomic site and ethnic group most frequently affected by this disease. Four of the six types of cysts were more frequent in the second and fourth decades of life, and no significant differences were found between sexes in the diagnosis of odontogenic cysts. In conclusion, the prevalence of odontogenic cysts was similar to that reported in the literature, which shows that inflammatory cysts are the most frequent.     

Lamellar Morphology of an ABA Triblock Copolymer with a Main‐Chain Nematic Polyester Central Block

A liquid crystal (LC) ABA triblock copolymer with poly(styrene) (PS) A blocks and a main‐chain nematic LC polyester B block is synthesized by atom‐transfer radical polymerization of styrene with an LC polyester macro‐initiator. The nematic LC and PS amorphous phases are segregated from each other to form lamellae with a spacing of 27 nm. The 16 nm‐thick nematic LC lamellae are significantly smaller than the contour length of the LC segment (63 nm), and the nematic director is parallel to the lamellae. The central LC segment is primarily more extended in the lamellar direction, but folds so as to meander through the LC lamella and bridges adjacent PS domains. The lamellar microstructure exhibits a reversible spacing increase of up to 31 nm with increasing temperature, suggesting a corresponding increase in the probability of the chain folding.

     

HTLV-I associated myelopathy (HAM) and sarcoid myopathy]

A 65-year-old house-wife developed dirty erythematous rash on her face in April, 1989. Almost simultaneously, she complained of muscle soreness and weakness on both lower extremities. Pathological findings of the skin biopsy at that time was consistent with those of sarcoidosis with moderate inflammatory cell infiltration. In December, 1989, when she was admitted to our hospital, her lower extremities were paretic with marked spasticity, and mild bladder dysfunction was noted. HTLV-I antibody titers in serum and cerebrospinal fluid were significantly elevated. Biopsied limb skeletal muscle revealed the findings of the sarcoid myopathy with small inflammatory cell infiltration in endomysium. HLA haplotypes showed A24, B7, BW61, CW7, CW8, DR1 and DR4 which show relatively common types of those in HAM. Corticosteroid treatments including the methylprednisolone pulse therapy healed the skin lesion, but did not improve her neurological signs. Paraplegia and urinary disturbance were progressive. It is concluded that the inflammatory sarcoid myopathy with HAM in this patient may be caused by a common abnormal immunological background.