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Birnessite-type MnO 2nanowalls have been fabricated on Si(111) substrate by a facile solution method. The XRD pattern indicates that the sample has the typical feature of turbostratic disorder and prefers to grow in the abplane. The nanowalls are composed of thin flakes distributing uniformly over the surface of the Si(111) substrate. A magnetic transition temperature of 9.2 K is determined. Prominent magnetic anisotropy with the easy magnetization direction in the abplane is observed at 5 K.

Single-crystal tetragonal α-MnO 2nanotubes have been successfully synthesized by a facile hydrothermal treatment of KMnO 4in the hydrochloric acid solution. The sample has been characterized by X-ray powder diffraction, field emission scanning electron microscopy, transmission electron microscopy, and orientation dependent Raman spectroscopy, which indicates the nanotubes have high-quality crystalline and shape-dependent optical properties. The morphology evolution of the sample reveals that the nanotubes are formed via the solid nanorod by a chemical etching process.

Objective. To identify disease-related genes and immune-regulatory pathways in the pathogenesis of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) by using gene expression profiling and protein-protein interaction analysis.
Methods. Peripheral white blood cell gene expression profiles of 10 SLE patients were determined by oligonucleotide microarray analysis. Clustering of the gene expression profile was compared with the clinical immune phenotype. SLE-induced genes that were over- or under-expressed were determined and independently validated using a real-time polymerase chain reaction (PCR) method. To study their potential function and the possible pathways involved, a candidate gene was cloned and a GST (glutathione S-transferase) fusion protein was expressed in Escherichia coli. The fusion protein was further purified using the glutathione Sepharose 4B system, and was treated as bait to capture prey from SLE peripheral white blood cell lysate. MALDI-TOF (matrix-assisted laser desorption/ionization-time-of-flight) mass spectrometry was then performed to determine the prey protein.
Results. Similarity was found between the gene expression profile and the immune phenotype clusters of the SLE patients. More than 20 disease-associated genes were identified, some of which have not been related to SLE previously. Of these genes, a cluster of interferon-induced genes were highly correlated. IFIT1 (interferon-induced with tetratricopeptide repeats 1) was one of these genes, and overexpression of its mRNA was confirmed independently by real-time PCR in a larger population (40 SLE patients and 29 normal controls). An IFIT1 protein- protein interaction study showed that IFIT1 may interact with Rho/Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor.
Conclusion. The gene expression profile seems to be the molecular basis of the diverse immune phenotype of SLE. On the basis of the SLE-related genes found in this study, we suggest that the interferon-related immune pathway is important in the pathogenesis of SLE. IFIT1 is the first gene described as a candidate gene for SLE, and may function by activating Rho proteins through interaction with Rho/Rac guanine nucleotide exchange factor. IFIT1 and the interferon-related pathway may provide potential targets for novel interventions in the treatment of SLE.

Forty paediatric craniopharyngioma cases treated between 1956 and 1987 by conservative surgery (15), radical surgery (10), conservative surgery and radiotherapy (9) and shunting (6) are reviewed. The conservative surgery and radiotherapy group's local control and survival (100%) is significantly better than that of any other group. This group also achieved the most consistent level of employment or tertiary education. Overall morbidity was high. Overall survival has improved since 1976. Whether given as an adjuvant or salvage a radiotherapy dose of TDF 83 or greater gave a significantly better survival (100%) than lower doses.

There is no clear evidence that growth hormone replacement therapy for treatment-related growth hormone deficiency in patients with childhood intracranial malignancies has a role in tumour relapse or second malignancy. A 16-year-old girl with an intracranial germinoma was treated with local radiotherapy, and subsequently received growth hormone replacement therapy as an adult. Three years after starting growth hormone therapy, 23 years after her radiotherapy treatment, the patient's tumour recurred. Surveillance requirements for patients receiving growth hormone in this setting are discussed. Med. Pediatr. Oncol. 29:41–44, 1997. © 1997 Wiley-Liss, Inc.

In this study three alternative processes by which country of origin information affects attitudes toward and intentions to purchase a product are tested. Binational country effects on attitude are also tested. Results support a cognitive process in which beliefs about ad-derived attributes are affected by country of origin cues. Belief effects mediate the effect on attitudes. Halo effects on inferential beliefs are not observed. Though an interaction bewteen countries in the binational test is not significant, a simple main effect is observed which supports separate country of design and coutnry of assembly effects.

The tendency of subjects to employ a self-referencing strategy when processing messages was manipulated by varying message writing style. Recall of message content was higher in the high self-referencing than the low self-referencing condition. Self-referencing was also found to produce attitude and cognitive response effects similar to effects obtained in other research that employed involvement inductions. When self-referencing and argument strength were manipulated in a factorial design, it was found that arguments had a greater impact on attitude and cognitive responses under high self-referencing than under low self-referencing.

Phaeochromocytoma is a relatively rare tumour of neuroectodermal origin that is said to occur in up to 0.1% of patients with diastolic hypertension (Magner & Gifford, 1977). Around 10% of phaeochromocytomas are malignant and bone is the most common site of metastases. We present two cases of malignant phaeochromocytoma presenting 4 years and 14 years after diagnosis with bone metastases.A 16-year-old girl presented in 1967 with anxiety, headaches, sweating, palpitations and an elevated blood pressure at 180/130. Twenty-four-hour urine collection confirmed the diagnosis of a phaeochromocytoma with elevated urinary metadrenalines.

Previously, we have reported in 1990 that 35% of carmustine treated patients (6 of 17) who survived childhood brain tumors died of pulmonary fibrosis between 2 and 13 years after treatment. In addition, 8 patients studied in 1989 (13 to 17 years post treatment), had physiologic and biopsy or radiologic evidence of pulmonary fibrosis. We now report 3 more years of follow-up on these patients. Between 1989 and 1992, two more patients have died of pulmonary fibrosis, giving an overall mortality of 47%. Of the eight patients who died of pulmonary fibrosis, the median age at treatment was 2.5 years, whereas the nine long-term survivors had a median age at treatment of 10 years. All five patients treated below the age of 5 years have died of lung fibrosis. Analysis by the standard survival curve method indicated that patients treated at an age less than 6 years were more likely to die than those treated at an age older than 7 years (p=0.03). Of the nine survivors, seven were observed over 3 more years. There was a gradual decline in mean forced vital capacity from 55% predicted (range, 44 to 81) to 51% predicted (range, 41 to 72) and total lung capacity fell from 65% predicted (range, 51 to 89) to 57% predicted (range, 47 to 77).