Torsion of wandering spleen after the Fontan operation with situs inversus is rare.

Here, we report the case of a 6-year-old girl with a single ventricle and complete situs inversus who developed torsion of wandering spleen due to splenomegaly caused by post-operative haemodynamics of the Fontan operation. The platelet count was suggested to be useful in predicting splenic torsion.

Diabetes mellitus (DM) is a predisposing factor for renal disorder progression and is referred to as diabetic kidney disease (DKD). However, there are no reports of DKD with an underlying autoimmune disorder. In this study, we compared the pathophysiological changes caused by DM induction after streptozotocin (STZ) injection in comparison with that in a control group receiving citrate buffer (CB) in the autoimmune disease model mice “BXSB/MpJ-Yaa” (Yaa) and the wild-type strain BXSB/MpJ. Both strains showed hyperglycemia after 12 weeks of STZ injection. Interestingly, the Yaa group developed membranous and proliferative glomerulonephritis, which tended to be milder glomerular lesions in the STZ group than in the CB group, as indicated by a decreased mesangial area and ameliorated albuminuria. Statistically, the indices for hyperglycemia and autoimmune abnormalities were negatively and positively correlated with the histopathological parameters for mesangial matrix production and glomerular proliferative lesions, respectively. STZ treatment induced renal tubular anisonucleosis and dilations in both strains, and they were more severe in Yaa. Significantly decreased cellular infiltration was observed in the Yaa group compared to the CB group. Thus, in DKD related to autoimmune nephritis, hyperglycemia modifies its pathology by decreasing the mesangial area and interstitial inflammation and aggravating renal tubular injury.

Diabetes is a devastating global health problem and is considered a predisposing factor for lung injury progression. Furthermore, previous reports of the authors revealed the role of mediastinal fat-associated lymphoid clusters (MFALCs) in advancing respiratory diseases. However, no reports concerning the role of MFALCs on the development of lung injury in diabetes have been published. Therefore, this study aimed to examine the correlations between diabetes and the development of MFALCs and the progression of lung injury in a streptozotocin-induced diabetic mouse model. Furthermore, immunohistochemical analysis for immune cells (CD3+ T-lymphocytes, B220+ B-lymphocytes, Iba1+ macrophages, and Gr1+ granulocytes), vessels markers (CD31+ endothelial cells and LYVE-1+ lymphatic vessels “LVs”), and inflammatory markers (TNF-α and IL-5) was performed. In comparison to the control group, the diabetic group showed lung injury development with a significant increase in MFALC size, immune cells, LVs, and inflammatory marker, and a considerable decrease of CD31+ endothelial cells in both lung and MFALCs was observed. Furthermore, the blood glucose level showed significant positive correlations with MFALCs size, lung injury, immune cells, inflammatory markers, and LYVE-1+ LVs in lungs and MFALCs. Thus, we suggest that the development of MFALCs and LVs could contribute to lung injury progression in diabetic conditions.

Although dietary Ca, vitamin D and vitamin K are nutritional factors associated with osteoporosis, little is known about their effects on incident osteoporotic fractures in East Asian populations. This study aimed to determine whether intakes of these nutrients predict incident osteoporotic fractures. We adopted a cohort study design with a 5-year follow-up. Subjects were 12 794 community-dwelling individuals (6301 men and 6493 women) aged 40–74 years. Dietary intakes of Ca, vitamin D and vitamin K were assessed with a validated FFQ. Covariates were demographic and lifestyle factors. All incident cases of major osteoporotic limb fractures, including those of the distal forearm, neck of humerus, neck or trochanter of femur and lumbar or thoracic spine were collected. Hazard ratios (HR) for energy-adjusted Ca, vitamin D and vitamin K were calculated with the residual method. Mean age was 58·8 (sd 9·3) years. Lower energy-adjusted intakes of Ca and vitamin K in women were associated with higher adjusted HR of total fractures (Pfor trend = 0·005 and 0·08, respectively). When vertebral fracture was the outcome, Pfor trend values for Ca and vitamin K were 0·03 and 0·006, respectively, and HR of the lowest and highest (reference) intake groups were 2·03 (95 % CI 1·08, 3·82) and 2·26 (95 % CI 1·19, 4·26), respectively. In men, there were null associations between incident fractures and each of the three nutrient intakes. Lower intakes of dietary Ca and vitamin K were independent lifestyle-related risk factors for osteoporotic fracture in women but not men. These associations were robust for vertebral fractures, but not for limb fractures.

A new vibration apparatus for measuring the shear strength of snow has been designed and fabricated. The force applied to a snow block is calculated using Newton’s second law. Results from this apparatus concerning the dependence of the shear strength on snow density, overburden load and strain rate are in reasonable agreement with those obtained from the work of previous researchers. Snow densities ranged from 160 to 320 kg m−3. The overburden load and strain rate ranged from 1.95 × 10−1 to 7.79 × 10−1 kPa and 2.9 × 10−4 to 9.1 × 10−3 s−1 respectively.

Computer analysis is carried out to predict the force that bears upon a horizontal beam embedded in settling snowpack. Use is made of extensive experimental data on snow depth, layering and density, and on measured force on a test beam, in order to evaluate the internal structural arrangement in a finite element representation of the region in the vicinity of the beam. The compressive secondary-creep viscoelastic properties and the densification properties of the snow are accounted for in the computer modelling. Results show that the bearing force on the beam develop from direct snow weight, from shear transfer by adjacent snowpack, from basal weakening below and to the side of the beam, and from snow densification above and to the side of the beam producing a bridging mechanism. These findings corroborate with related experimental results and point out the need for further refinement in definition, particularly of the bridging mechanism, which produces large force incrementation on the beam compared to the other mechanisms noted.

The startup dynamics of three wet snow avalanches in central Japan were evaluated by computer modeling the occurrences and comparing leading edge position-time data. Results were compared between three finite difference based computer codes, which were used to model the startup transients. Two of the computer codes use equations of uniform flow hydrodynamics, the third uses transient viscous fluid mechanics. The latter two codes also incorporate a material description of snow as a locking material. Results show a general increasing of frictional and/or viscous coefficients in the avalanche startup zones in order to match the kinematics of startup. Differences in results between the codes is attributed to the shape of the startup zones, whether convex or concave. The results indicate the magnitude of perturbation of startup on total avalanche runout time, which is likely to be negligible on long-duration avalanche occurrences.

Settlement force of a snow cover acting on horizontal beams O.8 m high on the ground has been measured using electric force gauges since winter 1974/75, to understand mechanisms of settlement force generation. Shapes of cross-sections of the beams were rectangular, square, equilateral triangle and triangular with a 37_ vertical angle. From the measurements, it was found that the magnitude of the settlement force acting on a beam did not depend upon the shape of cross-section when snow depth was smaller than 1.3 m, but in deeper snow it was smaller on the triangular than on the rectangular beam. When the surface of the snow cover turned into a crust, the settlement force increased from about 0.3 kN m-1 to 1.1 kN m-1. Physical properties of snow cover are important for quantitative estimation of the settlement force on a beam.

The average amounts of seasonal snow cover and snowfall in Japan were calculated as 7.9 × 1013kg and 1.2 × 1014kg, respectively. The mass of seasonal snow cover of a heavy-snowfall winter, 1980–81 (56-Gosetsu), was calculated as 1.3 × 1014kg. The amount of 7.9 × 1013kg was converted to water equivalent of 230 mm on the whole snow-covered area, including snow-prone area. A mean of 370 mm in snow water equivalent was calculated for the snow area where mean snow depth on the ground was more than 10 cm.

Pr0.5Ca0.5MnO3 (PCMO) films were deposited on LaAlO3 (100) substrates under pressure from 1.33 to 5.33 Pa by RF magnetron sputtering. Resistance switching and dielectric functions of PCMO films were studied by DC current-voltage characteristic measurements and spectroscopic ellipsometry (SE) measurements. Resistance switching was observed in the devices composed of PCMO films deposited under low pressures of 1.33 and 2.67 Pa. SE measurements revealed that dielectric functions also depended on deposition pressure. PCMO films deposited under lower pressure had larger high-frequency dielectric constant, larger oscillator strength of the electric dipole charge transitions in MnO6 octahedral complexes, and lower oscillator strength of d-d transitions in Mn3+ and Mn4+ ions. SE measurements suggested that oxygen vacancies and MnO6 octahedral complexes play an important role in resistance switching in PCMO films.

The consumption of probiotics by pregnant and lactating women may prevent the onset of allergic disorders in their children by increasing the concentrations of immunoactive agents such as cytokines in breast milk. Prebiotics such as fructo-oligosaccharides (FOS) increase the number of beneficial organisms such as bifidobacteria. Thus, prebiotics may have an effect similar to that of probiotics. The objective of the present study was to carry out a comprehensive analysis of mRNA expression in human milk cells to identify changes in the concentrations of cytokines in breast milk after the consumption of FOS (4 g × 2 times/d) by pregnant and lactating women. The microarray analysis of human milk cells demonstrated that the expression levels of five genes in colostrum samples and fourteen genes in 1-month breast milk samples differed more than 3-fold between the FOS and control groups (sucrose group). The mRNA expression level of IL-27, a cytokine associated with immunoregulatory function, was significantly higher in 1-month breast milk samples obtained from the FOS group than in those obtained from the control group. In addition, the protein concentrations of IL-27 in colostrum and 1-month breast milk samples were significantly higher in the FOS group than in the control group. In conclusion, the consumption of FOS by pregnant and lactating women increases the production of IL-27 in breast milk. Future studies will address the association of this phenomenon with the onset of allergic disorders in children.

We have carried out multi-epoch VLBI observations of the H2O maser sources associated with young stellar objects (YSOs) in nearby molecular clouds with VERA (VLBI Exploration of Radio Astrometry), which is a newly constructed VLBI network in Japan (Kobayashi et al. 2003). The main goal of our study is to measure the absolute proper motions and distances to nearby molecular clouds within 1 kpc from the Sun, to reveal their 3-dimensional structures and dynamical properties. Using the VERA dual-beam receiving system (Honma et al. 2003), we have carried out phase-referencing VLBI observations and measured annual parallaxes and absolute proper motions of the H2O maser features with respect to the extragalactic radio sources. We have successfully detected the annual parallax of one of the H2O maser features in Orion KL to be 2.29±0.10 mas, corresponding to the distance of 437±19 pc from the Sun (Hirota et al. 2007). In addition, the annual parallax of SVS13 in NGC 1333 is also determined to be4.10±0.17 mas, corresponding to the distance of 244±10 pc from the Sun, although the life time of the maser features are only 6 months. The absolute proper motions of the H2O maser features associated with Orion KL and NGC 1333 are derived, possibly indicating the outflow motions from the YSOs as well as the systemic motions of the powering sources.

The spectra of the Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS) are being used to construct a catalogue of QSO absorption lines, for use in studies of abundances, relevant radiation fields, number counts as a function of redshift, and other matters, including the evolution of these parameters. The catalogue includes intervening, associated, and BAL absorbers, in order to allow a clearer definition of the relationships between these three classes. We describe the motivation for and the data products of the project to build the SDSS QSO absorption line catalogue.

In this paper, we study contribution of the magnetoelastic anisotropy effect on perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of Co/Pt superlattice thin films. The effective-magnetic anisotropy energy was measured for Co/Pt thin films with a constant Co-layer thickness (4 Å) deposited on silicon substrate by the ultrahigh-vacuum deposition method. As the Pt-layer thickness increases, the effective-magnetic anisotropy energy increases and decreases after showing a maximum at the Pt-layer thickness of 12 Å. This behavior can be explained only by the magnetoelastic anisotropy effect, that is, elastic-strain energy released through the magnetostriction effect with the strain-dependent elastic constants.

In comparison with windward coral reefs, the facies and evolution of leeward coral reefs has been discussed to a lesser extent. By accelerator mass spectrometry (AMS) carbon-14 dating of coral specimens collected from the trench excavated across a modern coral reef during a fishery port repair, we revealed the internal facies and Holocene evolution of a leeward reef in Ishigaki Island, Ryukyu Islands, southwest Japan. The reef facies can be split into three facies: the tabular Acropora framework facies, the tabular Acropora reworked facies, and the unconsolidated bioclast facies. The tabular Acropora reworked facies first formed a ridge by 3500 BR Then, the tabular Acropora framework facies grew both upward and seaward. The accumulation rates of the tabular Acropora framework facies ranged from 2.2 to 8.3 m/ka. Thus, the reef framework facies and accumulation rates of this leeward reef is similar to those of windward reefs, although the age of the reef top is younger than that of windward reefs.

Bone-forming cells fabricate a highly ordered collagen matrix (osteoid) which subsequently mineralizes. A variety of cell culture systems exist for osteogenic cells, yet none of these is optimal for the organized formation of a mineralized matrix. We have generated collagen substrates which have different degrees of fibrillar orientation, and have cultured osteogenic cells on these matrices. In this format, von Kossa-stained sections show that highly oriented collagen matrix starts to calcify in 6–7 days, while a random fibrillar matrix does not mineralize even after 21 days. Mineral has been detected only within the collagen matrix with a narrow, unmineralized region between the cells and the mineral.