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Pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis is a rare pulmonary disease that typically affects cigarette smokers from 30-40 years of age onwards. It is very rare in children, especially for those under 15 years of age. We report an atypical radiological manifestation of isolated pulmonary Langerhans cell histiocytosis in a 12-year-old girl that showed multifocal consolidation and multiple small nodules on an initial chest radiograph, and gradual fibrotic change with multiple cysts on follow-up chest radiographs and CT scans. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated the annealing effects of a magnetic tunnel junction on the Fe bottom pinned layer, of which the top surface was exposed to nitrogen plasma for a few tens of seconds prior to the deposition of the Al layer. The nitrogen-treated junction shows a lower magnetoresistance (MR) ratio and specific junction resistance (RA) than the untreated normal junction. However, after annealing at 230 °C, the MR ratio of the nitrogen-treated junction recovers to optimal values of the normal junction, while the RA remains lower than that of the normal junction. Furthermore, the nitrogen-treated junction shows less reduction of MR ratio and RA value with annealing at 270 °C for 3 h than the normal junction. From x-ray photoelectron spectroscopy and auger electron spectroscopy depth profiles, it is found that the nitrogen, which was initially at an interface between Al and Fe, diffuses into both the Al and FeMn layers after annealing at 230 °C. It seems that the nitrogen plays an important role in reducing Mn diffusion, as well as in improving the junction properties. © 2003 American Institute of Physics. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Background: Magnetic resonance (MR) imaging has proved to be an excellent tool in diagnosing injuries of the cruciate ligaments and menisci. However, multiple planes and sometimes optimal oblique or double-oblique scan planes are needed due to the variability in the positioning of important structures, which means there is a lower throughput and longer scanning time. Purpose: To compare the performance of a 1-mm-thickness fast spin-echo (FSE) proton-density-weighted (PDW) MR imaging technique with multiplanar reconstruction (MPR) in diagnosing tears of the menisci and cruciate ligaments with that of conventional MR imaging. Material and Methods: Twenty-five consecutive patients underwent preoperative conventional and 1-mm-thickness FSE PDW MR imaging with subsequent knee arthroscopic surgery. Two musculoskeletal radiologists evaluated the status of the cruciate ligaments and menisci using two sets of MR images (method A: conventional images including seven sequences, taking 26 min; method B: 1-mm-thickness FSE PDW images with MPR, taking 7 min 20 s). The diagnostic efficacies of both methods for tears of the cruciate ligament and menisci were calculated and compared. Results: Arthroscopic surgery revealed 10 anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tears, one posterior cruciate ligament (PCL) tear, and 26 meniscal tears. The diagnostic values of both methods were 100% for a cruciate ligament tear. The diagnostic values (sensitivity, specificity, accuracy, positive predictive value, and negative predictive value) for meniscal tears were 90%, 100%, 96%, 100%, and 94% for method A, and 95%, 100%, 98%, 100%, and 97% for method B, respectively. There were no significant differences in the diagnostic values between methods A and B. Conclusion: 1-mm-slice-thickness FSE PDW imaging with MPR showed comparable performance in diagnosing tears of the cruciate ligaments and menisci to conventional sequences but the scan time was much shorter. Therefore, this technique (method B) might improve the throughput of a 3T MR imaging system. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The use of topiramate (TPM) in the treatment of binge-eating disorder, bulimia nervosa, and antipsychotic-induced weight gain has recently increased, however, the exact molecular basis for its effects on body weight reduction and improved glucose homeostasis, is yet to be elucidated. Here we investigated the effect and signaling pathway of TPM on glucose uptake in L6 rat skeletal muscle cells, which account for >70% of glucose disposal in the body. Intriguingly, we found that TPM (10 μM) stimulated the rate of glucose uptake up to twofold increase. And TPM-stimulated glucose transport was inhibited with the overexpression of dominant-negative form of AMP-activated protein kinase (AMPK), an important mediator in glucose transport, implicating that AMPK-mediated pathway is involved. The TPM-stimulated glucose transport was blocked by SB203580, a specific inhibitor of AMPK downstream mediator, p38 mitogen-activated protein kinase (MAPK) protein. LY294002, an inhibitor of phosphatidylinositol (PI) 3-kinase, which is another crucial mediator in independent glucose transport pathway, did not inhibit TPM-stimulated glucose transport. We also found that TPM increased the phosphorylation level of AMPK and p38 MAPK, whereas no effect on the activity of PI 3-kinase of TPM, when assessed by PI 3-kinase assay, was observed. These results together suggest that TPM stimulates glucose transport, not via PI 3-kinase mediated, but via AMPK-mediated pathway in skeletal muscle cells, thereby contributing to the body weight regulation and glucose homeostasis.The Pharmacogenomics Journal (2006) 6, 327–332. doi:10.1038/sj.tpj.6500366; published online 17 January 2006 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]