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Summary: A thyroid tumour was identified in a 10-year-old male common marmoset (Callithrix jacchus). The tumour was encapsulated by fibrous connective tissue and compressed the adjacent normal thyroid. The tumour was composed of variably sized and irregularly shaped thyroid follicles lined by a single layer of columnar epithelial cells. Eosinophilic material at the base of the neoplastic cells stained black with periodic acid–methenamine silver and red with periodic acid–Schiff. Immunohistochemistry confirmed that this eosinophilic material was collagen type IV. Ultrastructurally, highly dense and amorphous material was observed at the base of the neoplastic cells. Small vesicles in the basolateral cytoplasm of the neoplastic cells contained similar material to that at the base of the cells. The tumour was diagnosed as a thyroid follicular adenoma with accumulation of collagen type IV. This is the first description of an endocrine tumour with accumulation of collagen type IV in animals. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: C-axis orientations of Ru intermediate layer (IML) and CoPtCr-SiO2 recording layer (RL) are attained by using crystalline FeCoB soft magnetic underlayer (SUL). Better (110) orientation of FeCo improves not only (001) orientation of Ru IML but also that of CoPtCr RL. This leads better perpendicular magnetic anisotropy in the RL suitable for perpendicular magnetic recording media. In order to control the (110) orientation in FeCoB layer, various seed layers are prepared beneath the FeCoB layers. Ru and Si/NiFe seed layers gives FeCoB layer a large in-plane magnetic anisotropy that is effective to suppress spike noise from SUL. The laminated FeCoB SUL causes more improvement of Ru (001) texure and leads to better perpendicular magnetic anisotropy of RL. Ru/CoPtCr-SiO2 bilayer deposited on laminated FeCoB SUL on Aramid tape substrate has good perpendicular magnetic properties and reduces the noise from SUL. PACS: Type pacs here, separated by semicolons; [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Summary: Obesity is a risk factor for surgical site or wound complications in women undergoing surgery involving vertical incisions. Several investigators have reported the efficacy of subcutaneous drains in minimising the complication rate but there is no consensus on using these for surgery in obese patients. In 2006, the Scottish Surveillance of Healthcare Associated Infection Programme showed that using subcuticular sutures rather than staples to close incisions significantly reduced the risk of surgical site infection. Before January 2008 (group 1; N =40), wound complications occurred in some obese patients in our hospital after obstetric and gynaecological surgery when only staples were used for skin closure. In January 2008 (group 2; N =31), we changed the method of skin closure for obese patients [body mass index (BMI) >28kg/m2] and we now use a subcutaneous drain with four channels along the running tube and subcuticular sutures with interrupted, buried 4-0 polydioxanone sutures. The aim of this study was to assess the effects of these interventions for skin closure in obese women. The general characteristics (age, weight and BMI) were similar between the two groups. There were no wound complications in group 2. In group 1, wound disruptions and a seroma occurred in five (12.5%) and one (2.5%) patients, respectively. The wound complication rate in group 2 was significantly lower than that in group 1 (P =0.0319). Thus, new materials and techniques for skin closure can reduce the wound complication rate in obese women. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

BACKGROUND: Sodium hyaluronate (SH) solution has been used for submucosal injection in endoscopic resection to create a long-lasting submucosal fluid 'cushion.' OBJECTIVES: Our purpose was to assess the usefulness and safety of 0.4% SH solution in endoscopic resection. DESIGN: A prospective multicenter randomized controlled trial. SETTING: Six referral hospitals in Japan. PATIENTS: One hundred forty patients with 5- to 20-mm gastric intramucosal neoplastic lesions. INTERVENTIONS: Patients were randomized into 0.4% SH and control groups. Endoscopic resection was performed with 0.4% SH or normal saline solution for submucosal injection. MAIN OUTCOME MEASUREMENTS: Primary outcome measure: The usefulness of 0.4% SH solution was assessed by en bloc complete resection and the formation and maintenance of mucosal lesion-lifting during endoscopic resection. Secondary outcome measures: (1) steepness of mucosal lesion lifting, (2) complications, (3) time required for mucosal resection, (4) volume of submucosal injection solution, and (5) ease of mucosal resection. Safety was assessed by analyzing adverse events during the study period. RESULTS: The usefulness rate was significantly higher for the 0.4% SH group (88.4%, 61/69) than for the control group (58.6%, 41/70). As secondary outcome measures, significant intergroup differences (P < .001) were noted for (1) steepness of mucosal lesion lifting, (2) volume of submucosal injection solution, and (3) ease of mucosal resection. No serious adverse events were encountered in either group. LIMITATIONS: Lack of blinding. Safety was not a powered outcome measure. CONCLUSIONS: Using 0.4% SH as a submucosal injection solution in endoscopic resection enabled the formation and maintenance of sufficient mucosal lesion lifting for gastric intramucosal lesions, reducing the need for additional injections and simplifying mucosal resection. Use of 0.4% SH thus simplifies the complicated procedures involved in endoscopic resection. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Abstract: Presented here are halogen concentrations (Cl, Br and I) in pore waters and sediments from three deep cores in gas hydrate fields of the Nankai Trough area. The three cores were drilled between 1999 and 2004 in different geologic regions of the northeastern Nankai Trough hydrate zone. Iodine concentrations in all three cores increase rapidly with depth from seawater concentrations (0.00043mmol/L) to values of up to 0.45mmol/L. The chemical form of I was identified as I−, in accordance with the anaerobic conditions in marine sediments below the SO4 reduction depth. The increase in I is accompanied by a parallel, although lesser increase in Br concentrations, while Cl concentrations are close to seawater values throughout most of the profiles. Large concentration fluctuations of the three halogens in pore waters were found close to the lower boundary of the hydrate stability zone, related to processes of formation and dissociation of hydrates in this zone. Generally low concentrations of I and Br in sediments and the lack of correlation between sediment and pore water profiles speak against derivation of I and Br from local sediments and suggest transport of halogen rich fluids into the gas hydrate fields. Differences in the concentration profiles between the three cores indicate that modes of transportation shifted from an essentially vertical pattern in a sedimentary basin location to more horizontal patterns in accretionary ridge settings. Because of the close association between organic material and I and the similarity of transport behavior for I− and CH4, the results suggest that the CH4 in the gas hydrates also was transported by aqueous fluids from older sediments into the present layers. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

NdBa2Cu3O7 (Nd-123) and YBa2Cu3O7 (Y-123) films were fabricated on {1 0 0}〈0 0 1〉 or {1 1 0}〈1 1 0〉 textured Ag tapes by a pulsed laser deposition technique and a metal organic decomposition method using metal naphthenates solution. Good biaxial crystal orientations were achieved in the Nd-123 films prepared on the {1 0 0}〈0 0 1〉 textured Ag tapes by the laser deposition technique. Biaxially oriented Y-123 films were also obtained on the {1 1 0}〈1 1 0〉 textured Ag tapes by the pulsed laser deposition technique and a metal organic decomposition method. We obtained the prospect that the high deposition rate and the thickening the film will solve both the groove problem and the Cu diffusion problem when the textured Ag tapes were used as substrates for coated conductors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]

Textured Ag tape is one of the most ideal substrates for the next generation high-Tc wires operable in liquid nitrogen. {1 1 0}〈1 1 0〉 textured Ag tapes were obtained by cold rolling and subsequent heat treatments. The texture of the tape after cold rolling (before annealing) was typical “brass type”. For obtaining the {1 1 0}〈1 1 0〉 texture, oxygen should exist in the Ag tape during the heat treatment. We find a two-step annealing is very effective to achieve the better {1 1 0}〈1 1 0〉 textured Ag tape, compared with the samples annealed in one-step; the better grain alignment and the smoother surface could be obtained. Moreover, 300 °C annealing in O2 atmosphere allow us to obtain the {1 1 0}〈1 1 0〉 texture by only 3 min final heat treatment at around 800 °C. This is beneficial to achieve the higher production speed of YBa2Cu3O7 coated conductors. [Copyright &y& Elsevier]