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Aim: The lysosomal protease cathepsin D has been reported to be associated with tumour progression in malignant tumours. Expression of the gene encoding cathepsin D is known to be stimulated [...]

Aims. The spatial structure of the emission lines and continuum over the 50″ extent of the nearby, O-rich, PN NGC 7009 (Saturn Nebula) have been observed with the MUSE integral field spectrograph on the ESO Very Large Telescope. This study concentrates on maps of line emission and their interpretation in terms of physical conditions. Methods. MUSE Science Verification data, in <0.6″ seeing, have been reduced and analysed as maps of emission lines and continuum over the wavelength range 4750–9350 Å. The dust extinction, the electron densities and temperatures of various phases of the ionized gas, abundances of species from low to high ionization and some total abundances are determined using standard techniques. Results. Emission line maps over the bright shells are presented, from neutral to the highest ionization available (He II and [Mn V]). For collisionally excited lines (CELs), maps of electron temperature (Te from [N II] and [S III]) and density (Ne from [S II] and [Cl III]) are available and for optical recombination lines (ORLs) temperature (from the Paschen jump and ratio of He I lines) and density (from high Paschen lines). These estimates are compared: for the first time, maps of the differences in CEL and ORL Te's have been derived, and correspondingly a map of t2 between a CEL and ORL temperature, showing considerable detail. Total abundances of only He and O were formed, the latter using three ionization correction factors. However, the map of He/H is not flat, departing by ~2% from a constant value, with remnants corresponding to ionization structures. An integrated spectrum over an area of 2340 arcsec2 was also formed and compared to 1D photoionization models. Conclusions. The spatial variation of a range of nebular parameters illustrates the complexity of the ionized media in NGC 7009. These MUSE data are very rich with detections of hundreds of lines over areas of hundreds of arcsec2 and follow-on studies are outlined. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design:Retrospective clinical study.Objective:To elucidate the pathophysiology of rapid progressive clinical deterioration following the onset of cervical myelopathy.Setting:Spinal Injuries Center, Fukuoka, Japan.Methods:A total of 43 cervical spondylotic myelopathy (CSM) patients were treated surgically by a senior surgeon. All patients showed intramedullary intensity changes on magnetic resonance (MR) imaging. Overall, eight patients suffered rapid progressive clinical deterioration; four of them had obvious anamnesis of minor trauma. We assessed the responsible injured segment by MR T2-weighted images. Clinical instabilities at the focal segment were evaluated using functional sagittal plain radiographs. Neurological evaluations were performed preoperatively and at 12 months postoperatively using American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) motor scores and Japanese Orthopaedic Association (JOA) scores for cervical myelopathy. Intraoperatively, we evaluated the presence of adhesive scar tissue on the dura mater at the focal segment.Results:The responsible injured segment was C3-4 in 75% of the rapid progressive (rp)-CSM and in 28.57% of the conventional CSM subjects. One with rp-CSM showed sagittal translational segmental instability. Preoperative ASIA motor scores and JOA scores in the rp-CSM were significantly lower than those in the conventional CSM subjects. Postoperative ASIA motor scores between the subjects showed no significant differences; however, postoperative JOA scores in the rp-CSM subjects were significantly lower. Moreover, an epidural membrane was observed in 62.5% of rp-CSM and 11.4% of conventional CSM subjects.Conclusions:We hypothesized that the pathophysiology of rp-CSM might be additional cervical cord disorder following the onset of cervical myelopathy. Early decompression surgery is recommended in such patients. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. In our series of papers presenting the Herschel imaging of evolved planetary nebulae, we present images of the dust distribution in the Helix nebula (NGC 7293). Methods. Images at 70, 160, 250, 350, and 500 μm were obtained with the PACS and SPIRE instruments on board the Herschel satellite. Results. The broadband maps show the dust distribution over the main Helix nebula to be clumpy and predominantly present in the barrel wall. We determined the spectral energy distribution of the main nebula in a consistent way using Herschel, IRAS, and Planck flux values. The emissivity index of β = 0:99-0:09, in combination with the carbon rich molecular chemistry of the nebula, indicates that the dust consists mainly of amorphous carbon. The dust excess emission from the central star disk is detected at 70 m and the flux measurement agrees with previous measurement. We present the temperature and dust column density maps. The total dust mass across the Helix nebula (without its halo) is determined to be 3:5 × 10-3 M⊙ at a distance of 216 pc. The temperature map shows dust temperatures between 22 K and 42 K, which is similar to the kinetic temperature of the molecular gas, confirming that the dust and gas co-exist in high density clumps. Archived images are used to compare the location of the dust emission in the far infrared (Herschel) with the ionized (GALEX and Hβ) and molecular (H2) component. The different emission components are consistent with the Helix consisting of a thick walled barrel-like structure inclined to the line of sight. The radiation field decreases rapidly through the barrel wall. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

PurposeTo evaluate the possible causative role of central serous chorioretinopathy (CSC) in the development of exudative age-related macular degeneration (AMD).MethodsIn a cross-sectional study at an institutional setting, 150 control subjects who had senile cataract or nasolacrimal duct stenosis and who were older than 50 years were enrolled. The background data for 89 patients with typical AMD (tAMD) and 138 patients with polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) were used for comparison. Their medical records were taken for history of CSC, hypertension, systemic steroid use, and smoking. The fundus was also evaluated for signs of atrophic retinal pigment epithelial (RPE) tract and for focal photocoagulation scars in the macula.ResultsAfter adjusting for age, gender, and history of hypertension, systemic steroid use, and smoking, history of CSC was significantly more frequent (P<0.0001) in patients with PCV (15 patients, 10.9%) compared with patients with tAMD (2 patients, 2.2%) or control subjects (0 patients). On fundoscopy, an atrophic RPE tract (seven patients) or a focal photocoagulation scar (one patient) was observed only in patients with PCV (eight patients, 5.8%), and the frequency was statistically significant compared with that with tAMD (P=0.0143) or control subjects (P=0.0143). The laterality of CSC and AMD involved the same eye in 9 of 10 patients among those who had unilateral AMD and a reported unilateral CSC history.ConclusionA history of CSC may be a predisposing factor for the development of PCV in the Japanese population. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. We report the first detections of OH+ emission in planetary nebulae (PNe). Methods. As part of an imaging and spectroscopy survey of 11 PNe in the far-IR using the PACS and SPIRE instruments aboard the Herschel Space Observatory, we performed a line survey in these PNe over the entire spectral range between 51 μm and 672 μm to look for new detections. Results. The rotational emission lines of OH+ at 152.99, 290.20, 308.48, and 329.77 μm were detected in the spectra of three planetary nebulae: NGC 6445, NGC6720, and NGC 6781. Excitation temperatures and column densities derived from these lines are in the range of 27–47 K and 2 × 1010–4 × 1011 cm−2, respectively. Conclusions. In PNe, the OH+ rotational line emission appears to be produced in the photodissociation region (PDR) in these objects. The emission of OH+ is observed only in PNe with hot central stars (Teff > 100 000 K), suggesting that high-energy photons may play a role inOH+ formation and its line excitation in these objects, as seems to be the case for ultraluminous galaxies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. The Helix nebula (NGC 7293) is our closest planetary nebulae. Therefore, it is an ideal template for photochemical studies at small spatial scales in planetary nebulae. Aims. We aim to study the spatial distribution of the atomic and the molecular gas, and the structure of the photodissociation region along the western rims of the Helix nebula as seen in the submillimeter range with Herschel. Methods. We used five SPIRE FTS pointing observations to make atomic and molecular spectral maps. We analyzed the molecular gas by modeling the CO rotational lines using a non-local thermodynamic equilibrium (non-LTE) radiative transfer model. Results. For the first time, we have detected extended OH+ emission in a planetary nebula. The spectra towards the Helix nebula also show CO emission lines (from J = 4 to 8), [N ii] at 1461 GHz from ionized gas, and [C i] (3P2–3P1), which together with the OH+ lines trace extended CO photodissociation regions along the rims. The estimated OH+ column density is ~ 1012 − 1013 cm-2. The CH+ (1–0) line was not detected at the sensitivity of our observations. Non-LTE models of the CO excitation were used to constrain the average gas density (n(H2) ~ (1 − 5) × 105 cm-3) and the gas temperature (Tk ~ 20−40 K). Conclusions. The SPIRE spectral-maps suggest that CO arises from dense and shielded clumps in the western rims of the Helix nebula, whereas OH+ and [C i] lines trace the diffuse gas and the UV and X-ray illuminated clump surfaces where molecules reform after CO photodissociation. The [N ii] line traces a more diffuse ionized gas component in the interclump medium. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. This is the first of a series of investigations into far-IR characteristics of 11 planetary nebulae (PNe) under the Herschel Space Observatory open time 1 program, Herschel Planetary Nebula Survey (HerPlaNS). Aims. Using the HerPlaNS data set, we look into the PN energetics and variations of the physical conditions within the target nebulae. In the present work, we provide an overview of the survey, data acquisition and processing, and resulting data products. Methods. We performed (1) PACS/SPIRE broadband imaging to determine the spatial distribution of the cold dust component in the target PNe and (2) PACS/SPIRE spectral-energy-distribution and line spectroscopy to determine the spatial distribution of the gas component in the target PNe. Results. For the case of NGC 6781, the broadband maps confirm the nearly pole-on barrel structure of the amorphous carbon-rich dust shell and the surrounding halo having temperatures of 26−40K. The PACS/SPIRE multiposition spectra show spatial variations of far-IR lines that reflect the physical stratification of the nebula. We demonstrate that spatially resolved far-IR line diagnostics yield the (Te, ne) profiles, from which distributions of ionized, atomic, and molecular gases can be determined. Direct comparison of the dust and gas column mass maps constrained by the HerPlaNS data allows to construct an empirical gas-to-dust mass ratio map, which shows a range of ratios with the median of 195 ± 110. The present analysis yields estimates of the total mass of the shell to be 0.86 M⊙, consisting of 0.54 M⊙ of ionized gas, 0.12 M⊙ of atomic gas, 0.2 M⊙ of molecular gas, and 4 × 10−3 M⊙ of dust grains. These estimates also suggest that the central star of about 1.5M⊙ initial mass is terminating its PN evolution onto the white dwarf cooling track. Conclusions. The HerPlaNS data provide various diagnostics for both the dust and gas components in a spatially resolved manner. In the forthcoming papers of the HerPlaNS series we will explore the HerPlaNS data set fully for the entire sample of 11 PNe. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context. We present 48 Herschel/PACS spectra of evolved stars in the wavelength range of 67–72 μm. This wavelength range covers the 69 μm band of crystalline olivine (Mg2–2xFe(2x)SiO4). The width and wavelength position of this band are sensitive to the temperature and composition of the crystalline olivine. Our sample covers a wide range of objects: from high mass-loss rate AGB stars (OH/IR stars, ˙M ≥ 10–5 M⊙/yr), through post-AGB stars with and without circumbinary disks, to planetary nebulae and even a few massive evolved stars. Aims. The goal of this study is to exploit the spectral properties of the 69 μm band to determine the composition and temperature of the crystalline olivine. Since the objects cover a range of evolutionary phases, we study the physical and chemical properties in this range of physical environments. Methods. We fit the 69 μm band and use its width and position to probe the composition and temperature of the crystalline olivine. Results. For 27 sources in the sample, we detected the 69 μm band of crystalline olivine (Mg(2–2x)Fe(2x)SiO4). The 69 μm band shows that all the sources produce pure forsterite grains containing no iron in their lattice structure. The temperature of the crystalline olivine as indicated by the 69 μm band, shows that on average the temperature of the crystalline olivine is highest in the group of OH/IR stars and the post-AGB stars with confirmed Keplerian disks. The temperature is lower for the other post-AGB stars and lowest for the planetary nebulae. A couple of the detected 69 μm bands are broader than those of pure magnesium-rich crystalline olivine, which we show can be due to a temperature gradient in the circumstellar environment of these stars. The disk sources in our sample with crystalline olivine are very diverse. They show either no 69 μm band, a moderately strong band, or a very strong band, together with a temperature for the crystalline olivine in their disk that is either very warm (~600 K), moderately warm (~200 K), or cold (~120 K), respectively. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

As part of the Herschel guaranteed time key project Mass loss of Evolved StarS (MESS) we have imaged a sample of planetary nebulae. In this paper we present the Photodetector Array Camera and Spectrometer (PACS) and Spectral and Photometric Imaging Receiver (SPIRE) images of the classical bipolar planetary nebula NGC 650. We used these images to derive a temperature map of the dust. We also constructed a photoionization and dust radiative transfer model using the spectral synthesis code Cloudy. To constrain this model, we used the PACS and SPIRE fluxes and combined them with hitherto unpublished International Ultraviolet Explorer (IUE) and Spitzer InfraRed Spectrograph (IRS) spectra as well as various other data from the literature. A temperature map combined with a photoionization model were used to study various aspects of the central star, the nebula, and in particular the dust grains in the nebula. The central star parameters are determined to be Teff = 208 kK and L = 261 L assuming a distance of 1200 pc. The stellar temperature is much higher than previously published values. We confirm that the nebula is carbon-rich with a C/O ratio of 2.1. The nebular abundances are typical for a type IIa planetary nebula. With the photoionization model we determined that the grains in the ionized nebula are large (assuming single-sized grains, they would have a radius of 0.15 μm). Most likely these large grains were inherited from the asymptotic giant branch phase. The PACS 70/160 μm temperature map shows evidence of two radiation components heating the grains. The first component is direct emission from the central star, while the second component is diffuse emission from the ionized gas (mainly Lyα). We show that previous suggestions of a photo-dissociation region surrounding the ionized region are incorrect. The neutral material resides in dense clumps inside the ionized region. These may also harbor stochastically heated very small grains in addition to the large grains. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design:This was a retrospective observational study.Objectives:The objectives were to describe the prognosis of upper extremity function following cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI), and to identify prognostic factors for functional recovery.Setting:Spinal Injuries Center, Japan.Methods:Sixty patients with C3-4 CSCI without major bone injury participated in the study. Patients were treated nonsurgically and evaluated using the American Spinal Injury Association (ASIA) scales for the upper and lower extremities, their residual cervical motor functions, the modified Frankel grade and an upper extremity function scale. We compared the findings for the upper extremity function scale at 6 months with those for the residual cervical motor functions and modified Frankel grade obtained 3 days after injury.Results:Most patients with CSCI who could flex their hip and knee from a supine position (95%) or who showed some active elbow extension (86%) 3 days after their injury could use a spoon at 6 months. We compared patients who used their fingers at 6 months to those who could not, and observed significant differences in age and ASIA scores for the upper and lower extremities obtained 3 days after injury. A strong correlation was observed between the initial motor scores and the extent of functional recovery at 6 months.Conclusion:Hip and knee flexion from the supine position and elbow extension 3 days after injury significantly predicted a positive prognosis for upper extremity function. Younger age and higher ASIA motor scores obtained 3 days after injury were factors associated with neurological recovery. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

CW Leo has been observed six times between October 2009 and June 2012 with the SPIRE instrument on board the Herschel satellite. Variability has been detected in the flux emitted by the central star with a period of 639 ± 4 days, in good agreement with determinations in the literature. Variability is also detected in the bow shock around CW Leo that had previously been detected in the ultraviolet and Herschel PACS/SPIRE data. Although difficult to prove directly, our working hypothesis is that this variability is directly related to that of the central star. In this case, fitting a sine curve with the period fixed to 639 days results in a time-lag in the variability between bow shock and the central star of 402 ± 37 days. The orientation of the bow shock relative to the plane of the sky is unknown (but see below). For an inclination angle of zero degrees, the observed time-lag translates into a distance to CW Leo of 130 ± 13 pc, and for non-zero inclination angles the distance is smaller. Fitting the shape of the bow shock with an analytical model (Wilkin 1996, ApJ, 459, L31), the effect of the inclination angle on the distance may be estimated. Making the additional assumption that the relative peculiar velocity between the interstellar medium (ISM) and CW Leo is determined entirely by the star space velocity with respect to the local standard of rest (i.e. a stationary ISM), the inclination angle is found to be (-33.3 ± 0.8)° based on the observed proper motion and radial velocity. Using the Wilkin model, our current best estimate of the distance to CW Leo is 123 ± 14 pc. For a distance of 123 pc, we derive a mean luminosity of 7790 ± 150 L⊙ (internal error). [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

We investigated several types of random lasing modes against frequency and the excitation of active medium. Random lasing occurring from multiple light scatterings and the interference effect of the scattered light has various complex lasing states in disordered structures, in which light waves are localized in various forms. Modes of random lasing are generally classified into localized, extended and transition modes based on their localization types. Numerical methods are used for analysing such complex phenomena. In this paper, a finite-element method is used to investigate the relationship among lasing modes, frequency and population inversion density of active medium for random lasing. Light amplification defined as the ratio of radiative powers between excited and non-excited states of the active medium is computed by changing both the frequency and the population inversion density of the active medium, which is modelled by the negative imaginary part of relative permittivity. The distributions of random lasing modes is strongly influenced by the lasing frequency. We also found that the localized modes that are strongly confined lasing modes in disordered structures do not appear in the frequency ranges in which mean free paths are approximately equal to the half-wavelength. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simulation of power converters has traditionally been carried out using simplified models to shorten simulation time. This will compromise the accuracy of the results. A proposed fast simulation method for simulating converter losses and device temperatures over long mission profiles (load cycles) is described in this paper. It utilizes accurate physics-based models for the device losses, and is validated with experimentally obtained results. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This paper describes the development and implementation of an analytical 3-D thermal model for fast and accurate thermal simulation of power device modules in electrothermal converter simulation. A Fourier-based solution is used to solve the 3-D heat equation. The solution can describe the variation of temperature through the whole inverter power module structure as a function of time. The model can simulate thermal interactions resulting from multiple heat sources. The thermal model is extremely fast to simulate compared to finite-element (FEM) approaches. The new model has been implemented in MATLAB/Simulink in order to cosimulate with the converter model which is in the same form. The model has been validated against the computational fluid dynamics (CFD) software package FLOTHERM and shows good agreement. The required aspects of 3-D heat diffusion are captured successfully by the Fourier-based model. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Aims. Our goal is to study the different morphologies associated to the interaction of the stellar winds of AGB stars and red supergiants with the interstellar medium (ISM) to follow the fate of the circumstellar matter injected into the interstellar medium. Methods. Far-infrared Herschel/PACS images at 70 and 160 μm of a sample of 78 Galactic evolved stars are used to study the (dust) emission structures developing out of stellar wind-ISM interaction. In addition, two-fluid hydrodynamical simulations of the coupled gas and dust in wind-ISM interactions are used for comparison with the observations. Results. Four distinct classes of wind-ISM interaction (i.e. "fermata", "eyes", "irregular", and "rings") are identified, and basic parameters affecting the morphology are discussed. We detect bow shocks for ∼40% of the sample and detached rings for ∼20%. The total dust and gas mass inferred from the observed infrared emission is similar to the stellar mass loss over a period of a few thousand years, while in most cases it is less than the total ISM mass potentially swept-up by the wind-ISM interaction. De-projected stand-off distances (R0) - defined as the distance between the central star and the nearest point of the interaction region - of the detected bow shocks ("fermata" and "eyes") are derived from the PACS images and compared to previous results, model predictions, and the simulations. All observed bow shocks have stand-off distances smaller than 1 pc. Observed and theoretical stand-off distances are used together to independently derive the local ISM density. Conclusions. Both theoretical (analytical) models and hydrodynamical simulations give stand-off distances for adopted stellar properties that are in good agreement with the measured de-projected stand-off distance of wind-ISM bow shocks. The possible detection of a bow shock - for the distance-limited sample - appears to be governed by its physical size as set roughly by the stand-off distance. In particular the star's peculiar space velocity and the density of the ISM appear decisive in detecting emission from bow shocks or detached rings. In most cases the derived ISM densities concur with those typical of the warm neutral and ionised gas in the Galaxy, though some cases point towards the presence of cold diffuse clouds. Tentatively, the "eyes" class objects are associated to (visual) binaries, while the "rings" generally do not appear to occur for M-type stars, only for C or S-type objects that have experienced a thermal pulse. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper we give a progress report on the Herschel observations of planetary nebulae that are carried out as part of the MESS guaranteed time key program. [ABSTRACT FROM PUBLISHER]

Study design:A multicenter prospective study comparing the neurological outcome of patients treated by surgical intervention versus conservative treatment for cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) without bone and disc injury.Objective:To evaluate the neurological outcome of decompression surgery for CSCI without bone and disc injury in patients with spinal cord compression with incomplete paralysis (AIS B, C).Setting:The Japan LHWO Spinal Injuries Center and the other 10 labor accident hospitals in Japan.Methods:Thirty-four patients with AIS B, C and cervical spinal cord compression were classified into either a surgical treatment group or a conservative treatment group. The 34 patients enrolled were equally divided between the groups. Patients with AIS B, C and mild spinal compression were enrolled into another group.Results:The neurological outcome of surgical treatment and conservative treatment for AIS B, C with spinal cord compression was found to be closely similar. In addition, the neurological outcome was also similar to that observed after conservative treatment for AIS B, C in patients presenting with mild spinal cord compression.Conclusions:Surgical treatment was not found to be superior to conservative treatment for CSCI patients without bone and disc injury suffering from spinal cord compression in the acute phase. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

STUDY DESIGN: Retrospective single-center study. OBJECTIVE: To evaluate the recovery of motor function and the early complications in patients with acute cervical spinal cord injury after receiving a high dose of methylprednisolone sodium succinate (MPSS) within 8 hours of injury. SUMMARY OF BACKGROUND DATA: High-dose MPSS therapy has been demonstrated to improve the neurologic recovery in patients with acute spinal cord injury. However, it remains a controversial treatment. METHODS: Seventy patients were included in this study: 37 in the MPSS group who were treated with MPSS within 8 hours of their injury according to the Second National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study protocol, and 33 in non-MPSS group who were not administered with MPSS. Improvements in the American Spinal Injury Association motor score were compared between the MPSS group and the non-MPSS group. In patients with complete motor loss at admission and follow-up periods, improvements of myotomal levels between the MPSS (n = 15) and non-MPSS groups (n = 21) were compared. Early complications within 6 weeks of high-dose MPSS therapy were compared with those of no MPSS therapy. RESULTS: Among the patients with incomplete paralysis at admission, the American Spinal Injury Association motor scores in the MPSS group were improved more significantly than those in the non-MPSS group at 6 weeks and 6 months after injury. Meanwhile, among the patients with complete paralysis at admission, the patients in the MPSS group did not show significantly more change in motor score than those in the non-MPSS group. Improvement in myotomal level had no significant difference between the MPSS and non-MPSS groups. The MPSS group had 10 patients with early complications, while the non-MPSS group had 14. The differences between the 2 groups showed no statistical significance. CONCLUSIONS: MPSS should be administered to patients with incomplete cervical spinal cord injury according to the Second National Acute Spinal Cord Injury Study protocol. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Dusty mass loss during the asymptotic giant branch (AGB) phase of low to intermediate initial mass stars results in a physicallydetached circumstellar dust shell, also known as a proto-planetary nebula (PPN), in the subsequent post-AGB phase. PPNe can be observed indirectly via dust-scattering in the optical/near-IR and directly via thermal dust emission in the IR. The PPN morphologies, especially in those that are optically thin, therefore, provide critical clues for the elusive mass loss mechanisms. Here, a quest in search of the innermost PPN structures in the past 15 years is summarized. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Presents a frontispiece for the February 1999 issue of the 'Journal of Visualization.' Flow around a protoceratopus; Numerical simulation of flow field around helicopter rotor by moving overlapped grid method; Flow visualization of a car flow field.

Study Design:Retrospective radiographic study.Objective:To investigate the pincers effect on cervical spinal cord in the development of traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (CSCI) without major fracture or dislocation.Setting:The Japan LHWO Spinal Injuries CenterMethods:Two hundred and twenty cases of traumatic CSCI without major fracture or dislocation were examined. The pinched diameters of the cervical spinal cord for 70 patients who complained of neck pain without neurological deficits were measured using sagittal-plane neutral and extension radiographs at 5 segments. These 70 patients were divided into 2 groups: group A patients were less than 40 years old and group B patients were 41 or more. We defined the pinched ratio of the cervical spinal cord during extension as ((sagittal diameter in the neutral image)-(sagittal diameter in the extension image))/(sagittal diameter in the neutral image)*100.Results:The incidence of traumatic CSCI without major fracture or dislocation at the C3-4, C4-5, C5-6 and C6-7 was 59.5, 25, 11.4 and 4.1%, respectively. Further, the pinched ratio of the cervical spinal cord at the C3-4 segment was significantly higher than that at the other segments.Conclusion:We concluded that the cervical spinal cord at the C3-4 segment might receive the highest bony impingement load during acute hyperextension of the cervical spine. The extreme pincers load on the cervical spinal cord at the C3-4 segment may have one of the important roles in the development of traumatic CSCI at the C3-4 segment. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study design:A retrospective study.Objective:We have encountered several cases of complete sensorimotor paralysis in which patellar tendon reflex (PTR) was demonstrated approximately 3 days after injury and improvement of motor paralysis was subsequently achieved. We considered that PTR apparent in the early stage after injury may offer an index to predict improvements in motor paralysis.Materials and methods:A total of 142 patients assessed as ASIA Impairment Scale A on admission from 1979 to 1998 were included in the study. The patients who demonstrated PTR within 72 h after injury were classified as the PTR(+) group and those who did not constituted the PTR(−) group. With regard to the method of motor paralysis assessment at about 6 months after injury, patients assessed as ASIA Impairment Scale A or B (that is, complete motor paralysis) were classified as ‘Non-recovered’, whereas those assessed as ASIA Impairment Scale C, D or E (that is, showing obvious improvement of motor paralysis) were considered as ‘Recovered’.Results:A significant difference was noted between groups, with the Recovered group including 16 of the 17 PTR(+) patients (94.1%) and 11 of the 115 PTR(−) patients (9.6%) (P<0.0001).Conclusion:The results obtained indicate that motor paralysis recovery could be expected at a very high rate among patients demonstrating PTR within 72 h of injury. As all physicians should be familiar with the PTR, this seems to represent a simple and highly useful sign to predict improvements in motor paralysis during the acute stage of cervical cord injury.Spinal Cord (2009) 47, 640–642; doi:10.1038/sc.2009.8; published online 17 February 2009 [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The far-IR all-sky mapping data obtained by the AKARI Astronomical Satellite were released to the public in January 2015. These maps are expected to provide us with further insights into our understanding of the far-IR universe for the first time since IRAS, especially for extended objects. While the AKARI far-IR all-sky maps are calibrated against the diffuse background emission and a flux correction scheme for point sources is provided, it is not necessarily obvious how one flux-corrects extended sources. Here, we briefly summarize a new flux-correction method for extended objects detected in the AKARI far-IR all-sky maps and its application to planetary nebulae. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Study Design: A retrospective imaging and clinical study. Objective: To evaluate the extraneural soft-tissue damage and its clinical relevance in patients with traumatic cervical spinal cord injury (SCI) without major bone injury. Summary Of Background Data: To date, various kinds of cervical discoligamentous injuries have been demonstrated on magnetic resonance images in patients with SCI without bony injury. However, it has not been clear whether these magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities are actually related to spinal segmental instability and the patients' neurological status. Methods: Eighty-eight adult patients with acute traumatic cervical SCI without major bone injury were examined by flexion-extension lateral radiographs and magnetic resonance images within 2 days after trauma. We excluded patients with flexion recoil injury; therefore, most of the patients included were considered to have sustained a hyperextension injury. Instability of the injured cervical segment was defined when there was more than 3.5-mm posterior translation and/or more than a 11° difference in the intervertebral angle between the site of interest and adjacent segments. The neurological status was evaluated according to the American Spinal Injury Association motor score. Results: On magnetic resonance images, the damage to the anterior longitudinal ligament and intervertebral disc were apparent in 44 and 37 patients, respectively. Various degrees of prevertebral fluid collection (prevertebral hyperintensity) were demonstrated in 76 patients. These magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities were significantly associated with initial cervical segmental instability as judged by flexion-extension radiographs. Interestingly, the American Spinal Injury Association motor score had a significant association with either magnetic resonance imaging abnormalities or segmental instability but not with the cervical canal diameter. Conclusion: A considerable proportion of the patients with traumatic cervical SCI without major bone injury were shown to have various types of soft-tissue damage associated with cervical segmental instability at the early stages of the injury. The severity of paralysis greatly depended on these discoligamentous injuries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]