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The first potent and selective small molecule ORL1 antagonist 1-[(3R,4R)-1-cyclooctylmethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-4-piperidyl]-3-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (J-113397) was synthesized. J-113397 is the only available potent and selective ORL1 antagonist, which is a very useful pharmacological tool for elucidating the physiological roles of the nociceptin–ORL1 system. J-113397 was synthesized from ethyl 4-oxo-3-piperidinecarboxylate and a coupling reaction of 2-fluorobenzene with 4-amino-ethoxycarbonylpiperidine is a key step.

Heat capacities of (Hf 1− y Al y )O 0.17 ( y =0–0.03) were measured from 325 to 905 K by using an adiabatic scanning calorimeter. A heat capacity anomaly was observed around 700 K for all (Hf 1− y Al y )O 0.17 samples and assigned to an order–disorder rearrangement of oxygen atoms. The experimental transition temperatures, the enthalpy change and entropy changes due to the order–disorder transition decreased with increasing aluminium contents. The experimental entropy changes of the order–disorder transition are compared with the theoretical values from the view point of statistical thermodynamics and are discussed.

The dielectric and magnetic phase transitions in a triangular lattice antiferromagnet RbCoBr3 were studied by means of some dielectric, magnetic and calorimetric measurements. In this compound, which is a typical Ising-like antiferromagnet with antiferromagnetic moment along the hexagonal c-axis, a ferroelectric phase transition involving magnetic ordering with weak ferromagnetic moments confined in the c-plane was found to occur at T N(=37.OK). Those results imply that the magnetic ordering of this system is assisted by a polar lattice distortion, which can release partially the spin frustration due to the antiferromagnetic spin arrangement on a triangular lattice. This co-ordering is certainly ascribed to a probable competition between lattice-system and spin-system. Experimental data on this interesting phenomenon are presented and a possible mechanism is proposed.

It is found that KNiCl3, RbFeBr3, RbMnBr3, RbCoBr3 and TlFeCl3 belonging to a KNiCl3-type antiferromagnet undergo novel class of structural phase transitions which comprise magnetic phase transitions accompanied by spin-frustration in the c-plane and ferroelectric one. They have a prototype crystal structure of space group symmetry P63 Immc and change this symmetry to hexagonal P63 cm or trigonal P Cl. Simultaneously, the configuration of the three kinds of the linear chains of face-sharing NiCl6-octahedra (h-h-h-packing) is displaced along the c-axis at the structural phase transitions. These compounds exhibit characteristic variations of the dielectric constant e c , lattice constant c and spontaneous polarization P s in the structural and magnetic transitions. The compounds mentioned above and RbVBr3 are classified into three groups with respect to their dielectric and magnetic properties associated with the transitions. It is in particular interesting that RbCoBr3 develops simultaneously the ...

It has been established that there are two isoforms of mammalian branched-chain aminotransferases, cytosolic (BCATc) and mitochondrial (BCATm). Since the BCATc was reported to be a direct target for c-Myc regulation, we investigated expression of mRNAs for c-myc, BCATc, and BCATm in human gastric cancer cells and tissues. MKN45 and KATOIII were used as human gastric cancer cell lines. Human gastric mucosal tissues with cancer were obtained from 9 patients and those with non-ulcer dyspepsia (NUD) were from 8 patients by endoscopic biopsy. Expression of mRNA was measured by the method of polymerise-chain reaction coupled with reverse transcription. Expression of c-myc mRNA was detected in both cell lines but was greater in MKN45. Expression of BCATc mRNA was detected in KATOIII, but not in MKN45, whereas expression of BCATm mRNA was detected only in MKN45. In the analyses of human gastric tissues, it was found that c-myc mRNA was expressed in all of the tissues examined, but overexpression of the mRNA was detected in the 5 tissues with cancer. On the other hand, expression of BCATc mRNA was detected in 4 tissues with gastric cancer, in which only one tissue had the overexpression of c-myc mRNA. Expression of BCATc mRNA was not detected in all tissues with NUD. BCATm mRNA expression was detected in all tissues with cancer or NUD. These results suggest that there is no correlation between expression of mRNAs for c-myc and BCATc in these tissues and that expression of BCATc in gastric cancer cells and tissues is regulated in a manner independent of c-myc expression.

Some problems with realization of digital filters are caused by roundoff errors due to the word-length restriction. Effects of these errors can be reduced if the processing range for large signals is chosen so as to avoid overflow. For filters built according to the state-space expressions, one uses scaling which is aimed at the state variables. However, since no constraints apply to the output value computation, it results in a non-efficient use of the dynamic range and an increase in the relative error. On the other hand, in a cascade-type structure, the coefficient matrix of the entire system is computed from the coefficient matrices of all sections. Such a computing procedure leads to an increased number of multipliers and, therefore, increased roundoff error. To solve this problem, the authors have proposed a method based on scaling aimed at the output value computation which enables efficient use of the dynamic range. In addition, the realization was based on the original coefficients of the sections in a cascade structure, which allowed reducing the number of multipliers. The proposed computing procedure offers significant time savings. This realization method was demonstrated by introducing auxiliary state variables. In particular, for the cascade structure, significant reduction of the roundoff error was achieved. As a numerical example, we computed the roundoff error for a low-pass elliptic filter. © 1997 Scripta Technica, Inc. Electron Comm Jpn Pt 3, 80(10): 87–96, 1997

Magnetic phase transitions of the distorted-triangular-lattice antiferromagnet RbMn 1− x Fe x Br 3 were studied using neutron diffraction experiments under magnetic fields. On weak doping of x ∼0.016, low-temperature crystal structure, zero-field Neel temperature, and zero-field incommensurate (IC) and field-induced commensurate (C) spin arrangements were found to be preserved. Nevertheless, at T=6.1 K , the crystal underwent the field-induced IC–C phase transition at a lower field of 2.3 T than the 3.1 T for pure RbMnBr 3 .

Background: Intraoperative localization of polypectomy sites is critical for laparoscopic and open surgery, but conventional methods of marking the colorectum are sometimes unreliable. A new two-step method for marking polypectomy sites for identification during laparoscopic and open operations is described. Methods: Eighteen patients with postpolypectomy lesions necessitating preoperative marking were enrolled in this study. A physiologic saline solution was endoscopically injected into the submucosa to produce an artificial submucosal elevation (pseudopolyp). A small volume of India ink was then injected into the submucosal elevation (pseudopolyp) with a separate needle. Results: The two-step method was easily applied for all lesions without complication. At surgery, all lesions were immediately visualized. Conclusion: The two-step tattooing method proved to be easy, safe, and accurate for marking polypectomy sites.

We have developed a real-time, dynamic holographic material that exhibits rapid colouration upon irradiation with UV light and successive fast thermal bleaching within tens of milliseconds at room temperature. Photochromic polymer films were prepared by a simple solution-casting method from the benzene solution of the mixture of the photochromic molecule, poly(ethyl acrylate), and poly(phenoxyethyl acrylate). The real-time control of holographic images using the photochromic polymer film yields a speed equivalent to the time resolution of the human eye. This new type of dynamic holographic material based on fast photochromism opens up an exciting new area of research in the future development of a large dynamic 3D display.

Dielectric properties of a hexagonal ABX3-type antiferromagnet KNiCl3 are studied by measuring dielectric constants and observing D - E hysteresis loops. Dielectric anomalies indicating structural phase transitions are found exclusively along the c-axis at 274 K, 285 K, 561 K and 762 K. Ferroelectric D - E hysteresis loops are observed in the phase above 274 K, though the D - E loop cannot be observed at temperatures higher than 600 K owing to enhancement of electric conductivity of this compound. Within the observed temperature range, the spontaneous polarization Ps as a function of temperature behaves in a manner wherein as temperature is raised, Ps appears suddenly at 274 K, decreases gradually towards 285 K after substantial growth and then monotonically increases up to the phase above 561 K. The magnitudes of Ps at 274.5 K and 533.0 K are estimated as 0.048 μC/cm2 and 0.871 μC/cm2, respectively. Such behavior of Ps is attributed to a possible ferrielectric alignment of sublattice polarizations inherent to the crystal structure with the space group P63cm.

Some cutaneous inflammations are induced by percutaneous exposure to foreign Ags, and many chemical mediators regulate this inflammation process. One of these mediators, calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP), is a neuropeptide released from nerve endings in the skin. CGRP binds to its receptors composed of receptor activity-modifying protein 1 and calcitonin receptor-like receptor to modulate immune cell function. We show that CGRP regulates skin inflammation under physiological conditions, using contact hypersensitivity (CHS) models of receptor activity-modifying protein 1–deficient mice. CGRP has different functions in CHS responses mediated by Th1 or Th2 cells; it inhibits Th1-type CHS, such as 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene–induced CHS, but promotes Th2-type CHS, such as FITC-induced CHS. CGRP inhibits the migration of Langerin+ dermal dendritic cells to the lymph nodes in 2,4,6-trinitrochlorobenzene–induced CHS, and upregulates IL-4 production of T cells in the draining lymph nodes in FITC-CHS. These findings suggest that CGRP regulates several types of CHS reactions under physiological conditions and plays an important role in cutaneous immunity.

We report a case of implantation of tumor cells within a fistula in ano. A 36-year-old man with a 16-year history of an anal fistula underwent an operation for rectal carcinoma. Three weeks later, the anal fistula was resected. A histological examination of the specimen showed atypical cells; moreover, rectal carcinoma had proliferated in the granulation tissue lying underneath the intact squamous epithelium. Because there was no continuity to the rectal carcinoma or the anal glands, we diagnosed implantation of rectal cancer cells in a fistula in ano.

The complex phase transitions involving magnetic and structural ordering in an Ising-like antiferromagnet RbCoBr 3 were studied by some magnetic, calorimetric and dielectric means. In particular, from the transverse magnetic susceptibility measurement, xy -components of Co 2+ pseudo-spin was confirmed to produce a weak moment below T N1 (37.0 K) in the basal c-plane. A probable mechanism to yield the moment was attributed to the Dzyaloshinskii–Moriya interaction between Co 2+ ’s along the c -axis, which is inherent to the lattice distortion brought about by the ferroelectric phase transition of this system.

Neutron diffraction and magnetization measurements of the diluted crystal Fe 1− x Mg x Br 2 ( x ∼0.15) were performed. Successive phase transitions at zero applied field at T N1 ∼12 K and T N2 ∼10 K were found. A transverse ferromagnetic moment was detected just below T N2 .

The first potent and selective small molecule ORL1 antagonist 1-[(3R,4R)-1-cyclooctylmethyl-3-hydroxymethyl-4-piperidyl]-3-ethyl-1,3-dihydro-2H-benzimidazol-2-one (J-113397) was synthesized. J-113397 is the only available potent and selective ORL1 antagonist, which is a very useful pharmacological tool for elucidating the physiological roles of the nociceptin–ORL1 system. J-113397 was synthesized from ethyl 4-oxo-3-piperidinecarboxylate and a coupling reaction of 2-fluorobenzene with 4-amino-ethoxycarbonylpiperidine is a key step.

Various shapes of electrified bodies or magnets and their arrangements in space cause quite interesting electromagnetic phenomena. Through finite‐element‐method calculations, we developed some educational content using these everyday phenomena. Just the recognition of induced inhomogeneous fields is quite helpful for understanding the properties of invisible fields.

Our efforts to optimize prototype opioid receptor-like 1 (ORL1) antagonist 1 led to the discovery of 4-{3-[(2R)-2,3-dihydroxypropyl]-2-oxo-2,3-dihydro-1H-benzimidazol-1-yl}-1-[(1S,3S,4R)-spiro[bicyclo[2.2.1]heptane-2,1'-cyclopropan]-3-ylmethyl]piperidine 10. 10 showed potent ORL1 antagonistic activity, excellent selectivity over other opioid receptors, and in vivo efficacy after oral dosing. Currently clinical trials of 10 are underway.

L'activite catalytique des polystyrenes reticules et modifies depend de la structure du groupe phosphonium, du degre de substitution des motifs styrene, du degre de reticulation, de la largeur de l'espaceur polymethylene, de l'anion hologenure et du solvant. Dans les conditions optimales, leur activite est superieure a celle des catalyseurs sels d'ammonium R 4 NX

Structure–activity studies on benzimidazole lead 1 obtained from library screening led to the discovery of potent and selective ORL1 antagonist 28, 5-chloro-2-[(1-ethyl-1-methylpropyl)thio]-6-[4-(2-hydroxyethyl)piperazin-1-yl]-1H-benzimidazole, which is structurally distinct from conventional non-peptide antagonists known to date.

Single-crystal neutron inelastic scattering was performed in order to investigate the magnetic excitations of KCuCl 3 , which has a singlet ground state with an excitation gap. The constant- Q energy scan profiles are collected at T =8 K for selected reciprocal points in the \(a^{\star}\)–\(c^{\star}\) plane which includes the double-chain direction ( a -axis). Dispersion relations along the \(a^\star\)- and \(c^{\star}\)-axes are determined. It is suggested that the present system can be magnetically described as a coupled antiferromagnetic dimer system rather than a double spin chain. The lowest excitation energy is determined to be 2.70 meV at Q =(0,0,-1) and (1,0, ±1), the value of which is consistent with our previous evaluation of the excitation gap from the high-field magnetization measurement.

A novel series of 2-(1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1H-indole derivatives as nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor antagonists was discovered. Systematic modification of our original lead by changing the pendant functional groups, linker, heterocyclic core, and basic side chain revealed the structure–activity requirements for this novel template and resulted in the identification of more potent analog with improved potency as compared to the parent compound.

A novel series of 2-(1,2,4-oxadiazol-5-yl)-1H-indole derivatives as nociceptin/orphanin FQ (N/OFQ) receptor antagonists was discovered. Systematic modification of our original lead by changing the pendant functional groups, linker, heterocyclic core, and basic side chain revealed the structure–activity requirements for this novel template and resulted in the identification of more potent analog with improved potency as compared to the parent compound.

We previously demonstrated statins to enhance cytokine-mediated nitric oxide (NO) synthesis in vascular smooth muscle cells (VSMC). To clarify the mechanism by which this occurs, we evaluated the effects of fluvastatin in lipopolysaccharide (LPS)-stimulated VSMC. NO production induced by LPS was dose-dependently enhanced by fluvastatin, as were iNOS mRNA levels and iNOS protein expression. Exogenous mevalonate and geranylgeranylpyrophosphate (GGPP) dampened the stimulatory effect of fluvastatin. A pull-down assay demonstrated fluvastatin to decrease levels of GTP-bound Rho A. Moreover, a Rho-kinase inhibitor, Y-27632, was observed to enhance LPS-induced NO production. We recently demonstrated that disrupting F-actin formation dramatically potentiates the ability of LPS to induce iNOS mRNA and protein expression. In the present study, staining of F-actin with nitrobenzoxadiazole (NBD)-phallacidin demonstrated that fluvastatin significantly impairs F-actin stress fiber formation. In light of these results, the ability of statins to increase NO production is due, at least in part, to their ability to block the biosynthesis of mevalonate, thereby preventing isoprenoid biosynthesis. This inhibits Rho/Rho-kinase signalling and, in turn, disrupts the actin cytoskeleton. Further analysis of the signalling pathway by which the actin cytoskeleton affects iNOS expression might yield new insight into mechanisms of regulation of NO production.

症例は80歳,男性. 38°Cの弛張熱を主訴に入院した.白血球増加なく,胆汁うっ滞型肝障害を認めたが,腹部画像上著変認めなかった.肝生検により類上皮肉芽腫が検出されたが,抗酸菌染色や培養では結核菌陰性であった.肝ホモジネートを対象としたPCR法にて結核菌の存在を同定し肝結核と診断しえた. PCR法は菌数の少ない場合でも検出可能であり,肝結核の診断に有用と考える.

Although the pathogenesis of osteopenia in Crohn's disease is not established, vitamin D deficiency is thought to be an important risk factor. However, little is known about the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with Crohn's disease in Japan. This study aimed to clarify the prevalence of vitamin D deficiency in patients with Crohn's disease in Japan and to examine the possible causes of the deficiency.We investigated serum 25-hydroxyvitamin D (25-OHD) levels, various laboratory parameters, and patient histories in 33 outpatients (25 men, 8 women; median age, 37 years; range, 26-57 years) and 15 age- and sex-matched healthy controls (8 men, 7 women; median age, 37 years; range, 24-57 years) and assessed risk factors for vitamin D deficiency.Although patients with Crohn's disease did not have significantly lower serum concentrations of 25-OHD than controls, 9 of 33 patients (27.3%) were considered vitamin D deficient (serum 25-OHD level/=10 ng/ml) compared with only 1 of 15 (6.7%) controls. Serum 25-OHD levels were significantly related to disease duration ( r = 0.46, P = 0.003), Crohn's Disease Activity Index (CDAI) score ( r = 0.44, P = 0.005), International Organization for the Study of Inflammatory Bowel Disease score ( r = 0.30, P0.05), and serum values of ferritin ( r = 0.34, P = 0.03), C-reactive protein ( r = 0.34, P = 0.03), total cholesterol ( r = 0.31, P = 0.04), and intact parathyroid hormone ( r = 0.23, P0.05). A logistic regression analysis was performed to investigate the ability of variables to predict low or normal 25-OHD values. Results showed that disease duration ( P = 0.03) and CDAI score ( P = 0.04) could predict the occurrence of vitamin D deficiency ( r(2) = 0.472, P = 0.0004).Vitamin D deficiency exists in patients with Crohn's disease in Japan. 25-OHD levels should be assessed in patients who have had Crohn's disease for a long time (15 years) and who have been in the active stage of the disease for long periods.

Many lateritic tropical soils on stable cratonic areas have developed over millions to 10's of millions of years. Some elements (e.g., alkalies, alkaline earths, Si) are extremely depleted by leaching, and others (A1, Fe, Ti) are greatly enriched. Commonly this enrichment is regarded as merely the accumulation of insoluble constituents, but inspection of the soil shows development of pisolites, nodules and other features indicating extensive dissolution/precipitation of Feand Al-oxides and -hydroxides. This paper suggests that cycling of elements through vegetation is an important part of soil development in these ancient soils. This project was initiated to investigate the processes forming "lateritic" gold deposits, in which a relatively small primary vein or similar Au deposit in bedrock mushrooms in the soil to become a significant Au enrichment in the laterite zone (Davy and E1-Ansary, 1986; Lecomte and Colin, 1989). The site of our investigation is the gold deposit of Igarape Bahia in the Serra Carajas mining region, Para Province, Brazil. In this region, a very ancient plateau surface furnishes the environment for major Fe, Mn and A1 deposits of the Carajas district (Beisiegel, 1982; Machamer et al., 1991 ) as well as a lateritic gold deposit at Igarape Bahia. The plateau surface is interpreted to have been developed in Cretaceous or early Tertiary (Beisiegel, 1982; Kotschoubey and Lemos, 1985 ). The entire region is covered by dense tropical rain forest. At the Igarape Bahia Au deposit, a narrow primary zone of Au-Cu mineralization at depth gives rise to a relatively rich Au deposit in lateritic soil. The deposit appears analogous to other lateritic Au accumulations in which the initial primary Agbearing gold grains are etched and become smaller, and new grains of Ag-poor gold grow in the laterite (Lecomte and Colin, 1989). A preliminary study indicated that considerable Au was present in vegetation over the deposit, so in a later sampling expedition an extensive group of vegetation samples was collected, along with soils and waters (Andrade et al., 1991; Bliss, 1991; Machesky et al., 1993). Vegetation sampling was concentrated along a traverse across the unmined F30 deposit, a satellite Au deposit --~ 1 km from the main Igarape Bahia deposit. Additional samples were collected at three background sites ~ 1, ~ 10 and ~ 30 km from the deposit. At the F30 deposit and at the 1 km background site, all species of tree and shrub were collected, with leaves, twigs and bark being collected from most species. Five specific species (a large tree, two bamboo species, and two bushes) were sampled along the traverse and at the background sites. Samples were washed, dried, chopped, homogenized and analyzed for ~ 40 elements by neutron activation (Activation laboratories Ltd., Ancaster, Ontario) and Xray fluorescence (Materials Characterization Lab, Penn State University).

The temperature dependence of the complex dielectric constant of RbCoBr3 along the hexagonal c-axis was measured in the frequency range from 1 kHz to 1 MHz under magnetic fields of up to 12 T applied parallel to the c-axis. On the basis of the observed dielectric behavior, a probable interplay between lattice and spin systems, and appropriate crystal structures for the three phases below the upper Neel point were deduced. A broad peak of the real part \(\epsilon '_{c}(T)\) at approximately 30 K was found to exhibit frequency dispersion with two kinds of relaxation time. These relaxation times seem to correspond closely to the magnetic relaxation times ascribed to the domain-boundary motion in Ising spin chains. In the presence of magnetic fields above 8 T, this peak split into two subpeaks. This magnetic field dependence of \(\epsilon '_{c}(T)\) reflects the suppression of antiferromagnetic ordering under the magnetic field. These findings imply the correlation between the ferroelectric and antiferromagne...

Neutron elastic scattering experiments have been performed on the spin gap system TlCuCl$_3$ in magnetic fields parallel to the $b$-axis. The magnetic Bragg peaks which indicate the field-induced N\'{e}el ordering were observed for magnetic field higher than the gap field $H_{\rm g}\approx 5.5$ T at $Q=(h, 0, l)$ with odd $l$ in the $a^*-c^*$ plane. The spin structure in the ordered phase was determined. The temperature and field dependence of the Bragg peak intensities and the phase boundary obtained were discussed in connection with a recent theory which describes the field-induced N\'{e}el ordering as a Bose-Einstein condensation of magnons., Comment: 4 pages, 5 eps figures, jpsj style

A new extracellular 90-kDa serine proteinase with an isoelectric point (pI) of 3.9 was purified from Bicillus subtilis (natto). Microheterogeneity was detected in the 50-kDa protease of bacillopeptidase F with pI 4.4 reported previously by Wu et al. and the sequence for the first 25 amino acids in the internal region of the enzyme was analyzed: ATDGVEWNVDQIDAPKAWALGYDGA. The cleavage sites in the oxidized B-chain of insulin by the proteinase were CySO3H7-Gly8, Val12-Glu13, Try16-Leu17, and Phe25-Tyr26. The activity was inhibited by phenylmethylsulfonyl fluoride (PMSF) and chymostatin, while the activity was not inhibited by proteinaceous Streptomyces subtilisin inhibitor (SSI) or alpha 2-macroglubulin.

The effects of a diet supplemented with branched-chain amino acids (BCAA; 4.8% or 6.2%) on BCAA catabolism and glycogen metabolism in rats were examined. Rats were fed a BCAA diet or control diet for 4 wk and part of the rats were subjected to exercise training during the experimental period. Feeding the BCAA diet increased serum BCAA concentrations and activity of the hepatic branched-chain alpha-keto acid dehydrogenase complex, the rate-limiting enzyme in the catabolism of BCAA, suggesting that dietary BCAA promotes BCAA catabolism. Although the serum glucose concentration and glycogen contents in the liver and gastrocnemius muscle of rested rats were not significantly affected by feeding of the BCAA diet, those in rats exhausted by acute exercise were 2-4-fold higher in rats fed the BCAA diet than in rats fed the control diet. The activity of pyruvate dehydrogenase complex in the liver and gastrocnemius muscle after acute exercise showed reverse trends; the complex activities (especially in liver) tended to be less in the BCAA diet group than in the control diet group. These results suggest that dietary BCAA spares glycogen stores in liver and skeletal muscle during exercise and that the decrease in pyruvate dehydrogenase complex activity in these tissues by dietary BCAA is involved in the mechanisms.

BACKGROUND: Recent studies have shown that acid-suppressive therapy increases the severity ofHelicobacter pylori- associated gastritis in the corpus.PURPOSE: To evaluate interleukin (IL)-8 production in the gastric corpus mucosa before and during acid-suppressive therapy inH pylori-infected patients.PATIENTS AND METHODS: Ten patients with reflux esophagitis (fiveH pylori-positive and fiveH pylori-negative) were treated with omeprazole 20 mg. Serum gastrin concentrations,H pyloricolonization density and mucosal IL-8 levels in the corpus were investigated at entry and two weeks after starting therapy. IL-8 levels were measured by ELISA. The organism density was determined, and scored according to area occupied by the bacterial colonies. The presence ofH pyloriwas assessed by rapid urease testing and histological finding of gastric biopsy specimens.RESULTS: InH pylori-positive patients, concentrations of IL-8 during therapy significantly exceeded those before therapy (36.2±6.8 versus 18.3±3.8 pg/mg protein; PH pyloridensity. InH pylori-negative patients, IL-8 levels were similar before and during therapy (6.1±2.7 versus 6.3±3.0 pg/mg protein). Concentrations of gastrin during therapy were significantly higher than those before therapy in all patients.CONCLUSIONS: The results suggest that acid suppression increases mucosal IL-8 levels inH pylori-infected patients with reflux esophagitis.

High-field magnetization measurements were performed on the quasi-one-dimensional Ising-like antiferromagnet TlCoCl3 up to 68 T. The magnetization curve \(M(H)\) at 1.4 K showed a nonlinear increase. The field derivative of the magnetization \(\mathrm{d}M/\mathrm{d}H\) had sharp peaks at the critical magnetic field of 42 T and the saturation magnetic field of 55 T. We measured the temperature variation of the peak position at the critical magnetic field and obtained the magnetic phase diagram. The magnetization curve was well reproduced by a calculation for the quasi-one-dimensional Ising-like system.

Thermal expansion and dielectric measurements of RbCoBr3 were performed to examine the lattice distortion accompanied by structural phase transitions. It was confirmed that RbCoBr3 undergoes structural phase transitions at 90, 37, and 10 K because its linear thermal expansion and the temperature dependence of its linear thermal expansion coefficients showed clear anomalies at these temperatures. The pyroelectric charge measurement showed that a spontaneous electric polarization appears between 37 and 31 K and below 10 K. We propose a successive structural phase transition sequence and crystal symmetries at each phase.

Refractometry, linear and circular birefringence measurements, applied to transparent antiferromagnetic substances, is reviewed from a viewpoint of magnetic phase transition. A symmetry breaking birefringence observed in the ordered spin phases of a triangular lattice antiferromagnet RbFeBr3 is discussed with respect to the spin ordering of this system. Results of verdet constant measurement are shown on a couple of typical uniaxial antiferromagnets having the CdCl2 structure.© (1996) COPYRIGHT SPIE--The International Society for Optical Engineering. Downloading of the abstract is permitted for personal use only.

A 79-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital presenting with bloody stool. Colonoscopic examination showed many irregularly-shaped discrete ulcerations in the sigmoid colon extending for a length of 6 cm, situated 16 cm proximal to the anal ring. Histopathology of the biopsy specimen in and around the ulcerations revealed the deposition of amyloid materials in the proper mucosa and the submucosa. Similar ulcerations were not detected by endoscopy in other parts of the gastrointestinal tract, i.e., esophagus, stomach, and duodenum. Multiple biopsy specimens taken from various parts of the gastrointestinal tract other than the sigmoid colon showed no amyloid deposition. Further investigations showed no particular abnormality in any organs and the patient was free of such systemic disease as myeloma or collagen disease. The findings were consistent with those of localized sigmoid amyloidosis. Localized colonic amyloidosis is rare, this being the fifth patient reported in Japan in the past 15 years.

The successive magnetic phase transitions of the distorted-triangular-lattice antiferromagnet RbFeBr 3 have been investigated by single-crystal neutron diffraction measurements. The intermediate magnetic phase ( T N2 = 2.0 K< T < T N1 = 5.6 K) appears as a partially disordered (PD) spin structure. An inclusive understanding of a distortion model of this crystal with the symmetry P 6 3 c m , which enables the spontaneous electric polarization and the PD spin structure with a weak ferromagnetic moment, was established.

High-field magnetization measurements were performed on a distorted triangular-lattice antiferromagnet, RbCoBr 3 . The magnetization curve shows anomalies characterized by two peaks of d M /d H . The temperature dependences of these peak positions approach the magnetic phase transition points at H = 0. The results suggest that an intermediate magnetic phase, which is known as the partial disordered phase, may appear even in a finite magnetic field.

The structural changes of TlCoCl 3 around phase IV (68 < T < 75 K) were studied by single-crystal neutron diffraction measurement. The present investigation revealed that a small but definite Bragg peak at (1/6, 1/6, 2) appeared only in phase IV. A precursor phenomenon of the phase V ( T < 68 K) structure in the phase IV temperatures was also identified as the coexistence of a slightly broadened (1/4, 1/4, 2) Bragg peak. We confirmed that intermediate phase IV is a stable, nontransient, single phase with \(2\sqrt{3}a \times 2\sqrt{3}a \times c\) unit cells. A possible sequence of structural phase transitions was proposed.

Powder and single-crystal neutron diffraction measurements were performed on RbCoBr 3 . The magnetic phase transitions of this compound are well explained by the Ising spin model for a distorted triangular lattice. Magnetic peaks of powder diffraction patterns at 34 and 20 K closely fit a partial disordered phase and a ferrimagnetic phase, respectively. The temperature dependences of the ( h , h ,1) scan profile and magnetic Bragg peak heights at (1,1,1), (1/3,1/3,1), and (2/3,2/3,1) were measured for a single-crystal sample. We conclude that the ferrimagnetic phase only exists below 30.5 K. The partial disordered phase is identified between 30.5 (= T N2 ) and 37.2 K (= T N1 ). We found a characteristic linear increase in the (1,1,1) peak height below T N2 with decreasing temperature. These results show that a lattice distortion couples to the spin system. Numerical simulations are also performed to estimate magnetic interaction parameters.