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The Dyspnea-12 questionnaire is a simple tool to assess dyspnea using qualitative descriptors that include both physical and emotional domains. However, the reliability and validity of the Japanese version in patients with lung cancer have not been assessed.To determine the reliability and validity of the Japanese version of the Dyspnea-12 questionnaire in patients with lung cancer.The assessment was based on the numerical rating scale (NRS), cancer dyspnea scale (CDS), and hospital anxiety and depression scale (HADS). Spearman's correlation assessed the convergent validity of Dyspnea-12 using these three scales. Exploratory factor analysis examined the construct validity. The reliability was verified using Cronbach's alpha. Anxiety, depression, clinical dyspnea, presence of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), and patient status were identified by discriminating performance.The analysis included 113 patients with lung cancer. A significant positive correlation was found between Dyspnea-12 and NRS, CDS, and HADS scores. Similar to the original version, factor analysis clearly classified Dyspnea-12 into two components (physical and emotional), thereby confirming its construct validity. Cronbach's alpha values for the total Dyspnea-12 and its physical and emotional components were 0.97, 0.95, and 0.96, respectively. Patients with anxiety, depression, and clinical dyspnea and those in the palliative phase had significantly higher Dyspnea-12 scores than their respective counterparts. The Dyspnea-12 scores of patients with and without COPD were similar.The Japanese version of the Dyspnea-12 questionnaire is a useful and reliable tool to assess the multi-dimensional aspects of dyspnea in patients with lung cancer.

Background Brain metastases (BM) are responsible for neurological decline and poor overall survival. Although the pro-metastatic roles of glial cells, and the acquisition of neuronal attributes in established BM tumors have been described, there are no studies that investigate the initial interplay between neurons and brain-seeking tumor cells. The aim of this study was to characterize early tumor-neuron interactions and the induced CNS-adaptive changes in tumor cells prior to macro-colonization Methods Utilizing pure neuronal cultures and brain-naïve and patient-derived BM tumor cells, we surveyed the early induction of mediators of neurotransmitter (NT) and synaptic signaling in breast and lung tumor cells. Reliance on microenvironmental GABA in breast-to-brain metastatic cells (BBMs) was assessed in vitro and in vivo. Results Coculture with neurons induces early expression of classical NT receptor genes (HTR4, GRIA2, GRIN2B, GRM4, GRM8, DRD1) and neuronal synaptic mediators (CNR1, EGR2, ARC, NGFR, NRXN1) in breast and lung cancer cells. NT-dependent classification of tumor cells within the neuronal niche shows breast cancer cells become GABAergic responsive brain metastases (GRBMs) and transition from relying on autocrine GABA, to paracrine GABA from adjacent neurons; while autocrine Dopaminergic breast and lung tumor cells persist. In vivo studies confirm reliance on paracrine GABA is an early CNS-acclimation strategy in breast cancer. Moreover, neuronal contact induces early resurgence in Reelin expression in tumor cells through epigenetic activation, facilitating CNS adaptation. Conclusion Tumor-neuron interactions allow for CNS adaptation early in the course of brain metastasis.

Background Our genome-wide association study documented an association between cold medicine related Stevens-Johnson syndrome / toxic epidermal necrolysis (CM-SJS/TEN) and Ikaros Family Zinc Finger 1 (IKZF1). Few studies examined biological and pathological functions of IKZF1 in mucosal immunity. We hypothesized that IKZF1 contributes to the mucocutaneous inflammation. Methods Human skin and conjunctival tissues were obtained for immunohistological studies. Primary human conjunctival epithelial cells (PHCjECs) and adult human epidermal keratinocytes (HEKa) also used for gene expression analysis. We also generated K5-Ikzf1-EGFP transgenic mice (Ikzf1 Tg) by introducing the Ik1 isoform into cells expressing keratin 5, which is expressed in epithelial tissues such as the epidermis and conjunctiva and then examined them histologically and investigated gene expression of the epidermis. Moreover, Ikzf1 Tg were induced allergic contact dermatitis. Results We found that human epidermis and conjunctival epithelium expressed IKZF1, and in PHCjECs and HEKa, the expression of IKZF1 mRNA was up-regulated by stimulation with polyI:C, a TLR3 ligand. In Ikzf1 Tg, we observed dermatitis and mucosal inflammation including the ocular surface. In contact dermatitis model, inflammatory infiltrates in the skin of Ikzf1 Tg were significantly increased compared with wild type. Microarray analysis showed that Lcn2, Adh7, Epgn, Ifi202b, Cdo1, Gpr37, Duoxa1, Tnfrsf4, and Enpp5 genes were significantly up-regulated in the epidermis of Ikzf1 Tg compared with wild-type. Conclusion Our findings support the hypothesis that Ikaros might participate in mucocutaneous inflammation. This article is protected by copyright. All rights reserved.

Despite fast advances in genomics and proteomics, monoclonal antibodies (mAbs) are still a valuable tool for areas such as the evolution of basic research in stem cells and cancer, for immunophenotyping cell populations, diagnosing and prognosis of diseases, and for immunotherapy. To summarize different subtractive immunization approaches successfully used for the production of highly specific antibodies, we identified scientific articles in NCBI PubMed using the following search terms: subtractive immunization, monoclonal antibody, tolerization, neonatal, high-zone tolerance, masking immunization. Patent records were also consulted. From the list of results, we included all available reports, from 1985 to present, that used any enhanced immunization technique to produce either polyclonal or monoclonal antibodies. Our examination yielded direct evidence that these enhanced immunization techniques are efficient in obtaining specific antibodies to rare epitopes, with different applications, such as to identify food contaminants or tumor cells.

Background Overexpression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4+) is a poor prognostic factor in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, its prognostic significance in pediatric AML is unclear. Procedure This retrospective study examined the prognostic significance of CXCR4+ in pediatric AML patients enrolled in the Japanese Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group AML-05 study. Results In the total cohort (n = 248), no significant differences were observed between CXCR4+ patients (n = 81) and CXCR4− patients (n = 167) in terms of 3-year overall survival (OS) (69.4% vs. 75.2%, P = 0.44). However, there was a significant difference in 3-year OS between CXCR4+ and CXCR4− patients in the low-risk (LR) group (n = 93; 79.2% vs. 98.3%, P = 0.007). CXCR4+ patients in the t(8;21) AML without KIT mutation group had a significantly worse 3-year OS than CXCR4− patients (n = 44; 76.1% vs. 100.0%, P = 0.01). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified CXCR4+ as a poor prognostic factor for OS in LR AML patients (hazard ratio, 11.47; P = 0.01). Consistent with the data for survival analysis, CXCR4+ patients in the t(8;21) AML group had a higher incidence of splenomegaly than CXCR4− patients (25.9% vs. 5.9%, P = 0.03). Conclusions These results suggest that CXCR4+ is a poor prognostic factor for LR patients, particularly t(8;21) patients without KIT mutation. The poor outcome was only applicable to OS, not relapse-free survival (RFS); thus, CXCR4+ may be associated with a poor prognosis after recurrence. Intensive therapy, including administration of CXCR4 antagonists, may be promising for pediatric AML patients with LR.

Podoplanin is an endogenous ligand for C-type lectin-like receptor 2 (CLEC-2), which is expressed on platelets. Recent evidence indicates that this specific marker of lymphatic endothelial cells is also expressed by keratinocytes at the edge of wounds. However, whether podoplanin or platelets play a role in keratinocyte activity during wound healing remains unknown. We evaluated the effect of podoplanin expression levels on keratinocyte motility using cultured primary normal human epidermal keratinocytes (NHEKs). Down-regulation of podoplanin in NHEKs via transfection with podoplanin siRNA inhibited their migration, indicating that podoplanin plays a mandatory role in this process. In addition, down-regulation of podoplanin was correlated with up-regulation of E-cadherin, suggesting that podoplanin-mediated stimulation of keratinocyte migration is associated with a loss of E-cadherin. Both the addition of platelets and treatment with CLEC-2 inhibited the migration of NHEKs. The down-regulation of RhoA activity and the up-regulation of E-cadherin in keratinocytes were also induced by CLEC-2. In conclusion, these results suggest that podoplanin/CLEC-2 signaling regulates keratinocyte migration via modulating E-cadherin expression through RhoA signaling. Altering the regulation of keratinocyte migration by podoplanin might be a novel therapeutic approach to improve wound healing.

There is increasing recognition of the role of Toll-like receptor 3 (TLR3) in noninfectious inflammatory diseases, but the function of TLR3 in inflammatory skin diseases is unclear. We investigated the functions of TLR3 in allergic and irritant contact dermatitis (ICD). The contact hypersensitivity (CHS) response was lower in Toll-like receptor 3 knockout (Tlr3 KO) mice, and was greater in TLR3 transgenic (Tg) mice than in wild-type (WT) mice after challenge with 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chlorobenzene. Adoptive transfer of immunized lymph node cells from Tlr3 KO mice induced CHS in WT recipients. In contrast, adoptive transfer of those from WT mice did not fully induce CHS in Tlr3 KO recipients. The ICD reaction following croton oil application was lower in Tlr3 KO mice, and was greater in TLR3 Tg mice than in WT mice. Maturation, migration, and antigen presentation of dendritic cells and proliferation of lymphocytes between WT mice and Tlr3 KO mice were comparable. These results show that TLR3 enhances antigen-independent skin inflammation in the elicitation phase of allergic contact dermatitis and in ICD.

Raw fish consumption is increasing worldwide. Since around the year 2000, western regions of Japan have reported a foodborne disease of unknown cause that occurred after the consumption of flounder. In October 2010, a particularly large outbreak was reported in these regions among individuals who consumed flounder fish that had been raised in aquaculture systems. The median incubation period was 5 h (range, 4-19 h), and the most frequently reported symptom was diarrhea (80%). The risk estimate of the consumption of flounder was significantly higher than that of the development of symptoms (odds ratio=9.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-∞). According to a trace-back investigation, all of the flounder responsible for the outbreak were raised in aquaculture systems. Microscopic examination revealed that the median amount of Kudoa septempunctata present in the muscle of flounder fish from the aquaculture farm was 4.5×10(3) spores/g (range, 1.0×10(3)-9.6×10(6) spores/g). The number of K. septempunctata spores required for the development of illness, as estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation, was 7.2×10(7) spores/g; therefore, thus this might be the minimum ingestion threshold for the development of gastrointestinal symptoms. As a public health measure, the current study results should be referred to for the prevention of the gastrointestinal symptoms related to the consumption of flounder; the national public health authority has disseminated these results. We concluded that K. septempunctata-contaminated flounder fish were associated with the gastrointestinal symptoms of this recent outbreak.

Background Accumulating evidence suggests that Toll-like receptor (TLR)-3 signaling is involved in non-infectious immune and inflammatory reactions as well as in viral infections. The skin of patients with atopic dermatitis (AD) is often infected with virus and bacteria, leading to the aggravation of atopic symptoms. These findings suggest TLR3 signaling may be involved in the pathogenesis of AD, but the exact role of TLR3 in AD remains to be defined. Objective The purpose of this study was to investigate the role of TLR3 in chronic contact hypersensitivity reactions induced by repeated elicitation, resembling the features of AD. Methods Wild-type (WT) and Toll-like receptor 3 knockout (Tlr3 KO) mice were sensitized, and chronic contact hypersensitivity reactions were elicited in their ear skin via repeated application of a hapten, 2,4,6-trinitro-1-chlorobenzene (TNCB) or oxazolone. Results The Tlr3 KO mice exhibited less ear swelling, less leukocyte infiltration into the skin, and lower serum total IgE levels than WT mice after hapten challenge. The Tlr3 KO mice also displayed lower expression levels of inflammatory cytokines (interleukin (IL)-33, IL-4, IL-10, and interferon-ɤ in their TNCB-treated ear skin than WT mice. Conclusion These results showed that TLR3 deficiency suppressed the development of chronic contact hypersensitivity reactions, suggesting that TLR3 signaling may participate in the pathogenesis of AD.

Kindler syndrome is a rare autosomal recessive genodermatosis characterized by trauma-induced acral blisters in infancy and childhood, photosensitivity, and progressive poikiloderma. Other clinical features include chronic erosive gingivitis, dysphagia, esophageal and urethral strictures, ectropion, and an increased risk of mucocutaneous squamous cell carcinoma. We describe a patient with Kindler syndrome associated with squamous cell carcinoma of the skin and larynx. He had squamous cell carcinoma on his left knee with simultaneous unresectable laryngeal carcinoma at the age of 43 years. The squamous cell carcinoma on his knee was excised and the laryngeal carcinoma was treated with radiation therapy. Although pathophysiology of Kindler syndrome and its frequency of association with cancer are still not fully elucidated, we speculate that long-term erosion and regeneration of mucosal and cutaneous surfaces may have induced squamous cell carcinoma on the patient’s knee and larynx.

Alumina–zirconia catalysts for carrying out the hydrolysis of chloropentafluoroethane (CFC-115) were prepared from boemite and γ-alumina, and their deactivation was investigated. On the basis of the characterization results for fresh and used catalysts, catalyst deactivation was attributed to poisoning by fluoride ions, which decreased the acidity of the catalysts. The deactivation of alumina–zirconia catalysts prepared from boemite decreased with increasing alumina content, while the deactivation of alumina–zirconia catalysts prepared from γ-alumina was found to be independent of the alumina content. As the alumina–zirconia catalysts prepared from boemite had two types of acidity, it is suggested that the two types of acidity may be different in the catalyst deactivation for the hydrolysis of CFC-115.

Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis (IGD) is a reactive phenomenon accompanying disorders including autoimmune disease, lymphoproliferative disorders and drug reactions. Histologically, IGD shows a granulomatous infiltrate surrounding piecemeal fragmentation of collagen in the diffuse interstitium. IGD presents with linear cords, papules and plaques mainly on the trunk and extremities. Herein, we report a case with peculiar clinical features that were histopathologically consistent with IGD. A 74-year-old man presented with periungual painful erythema, nail deformity of all fingers and labial, penile and anal erosive erythema. Histopathological examination of the lesions showed interface dermatitis and a diffuse interstitial granulomatous infiltrate mainly composed of CD68-positive histiocytes and lymphocytes. Degenerative collagen bundles were also observed in granulomas. C-reactive protein and the white blood cell count were elevated, but further examinations did not reveal systemic inflammatory disorders such as autoimmune disease, lymphoproliferative disorder, inflammatory bowel disease or drug hypersensitivity. The lesions were successfully treated with oral and topical steroids.

Overexpression of CXC chemokine receptor 4 (CXCR4+) is a poor prognostic factor in adult acute myeloid leukemia (AML); however, its prognostic significance in pediatric AML is unclear.This retrospective study examined the prognostic significance of CXCR4+ in pediatric AML patients enrolled in the Japanese Pediatric Leukemia/Lymphoma Study Group AML-05 study.In the total cohort (n = 248), no significant differences were observed between CXCR4+ patients (n = 81) and CXCR4- patients (n = 167) in terms of 3-year overall survival (OS) (69.4% vs. 75.2%, P = 0.44). However, there was a significant difference in 3-year OS between CXCR4+ and CXCR4- patients in the low-risk (LR) group (n = 93; 79.2% vs. 98.3%, P = 0.007). CXCR4+ patients in the t(8;21) AML without KIT mutation group had a significantly worse 3-year OS than CXCR4- patients (n = 44; 76.1% vs. 100.0%, P = 0.01). Multivariate Cox regression analysis identified CXCR4+ as a poor prognostic factor for OS in LR AML patients (hazard ratio, 11.47; P = 0.01). Consistent with the data for survival analysis, CXCR4+ patients in the t(8;21) AML group had a higher incidence of splenomegaly than CXCR4- patients (25.9% vs. 5.9%, P = 0.03).These results suggest that CXCR4+ is a poor prognostic factor for LR patients, particularly t(8;21) patients without KIT mutation. The poor outcome was only applicable to OS, not relapse-free survival (RFS); thus, CXCR4+ may be associated with a poor prognosis after recurrence. Intensive therapy, including administration of CXCR4 antagonists, may be promising for pediatric AML patients with LR.

日本におけるICU入室患者家族のニーズの構造を明確にすることを目的とし,家族を対象として質問紙調査を実施した。112名の回答を分析した結果,すべての家族に共通して「必要・重要」とされる項目と,家族によって回答に散らばりのみられる項目があり,家族のニーズは二層構造となっていることが示唆された。すべての家族から「必要・重要」という回答を得た15項目についてKJ (Kawakita Jiro)法を実施した結果,「医療技術・スタッフへの期待や信頼」10項目と「病状・治療に関する基本的な情報」5項目に分類された。また回答に散らばりのみられた33項目について探索的因子分析を行い,抽出された3因子についてそれぞれステップワイズ探索的因子分析をした結果,「医療スタッフからのサポートに関するニーズ」,「情報を適時に得たいというニーズ」,「面会における融通性に関するニーズ」の3因子15項目からなるニーズ尺度が作成された。本尺度については一部の信頼性と妥当性が実証され,ICU入室患者家族のニーズの個人差を測定するのに適切な尺度であるといえた。

The influence of feeding schedule on the chronopharmacological aspects of acetaminophen (APAP) was examined in mice housed under 12-h light/dark cycle (lights on from 7:00 AM to 7:00 PM) with food and water ad libitum feeding (ALF) or under repeated time-restricted feeding (feeding time between 9:00 AM and 5:00 PM) for 2 weeks before the experiment. For the ALF group, there was a significant 24-h rhythm of mortality after APAP (600 mg/kg i.p.) injection. Peak mortality was observed after APAP injection at 9:00 PM and 1:00 AM, and nadir mortality was observed after drug injection at 9:00 AM. Hepatotoxicity after APAP (300 mg/kg i.p.) injection at 9:00 PM was significantly more severe than that after drug injection at 9:00 AM. Immunohistochemical staining using anti-APAP antibody 2 h after APAP injection was detected in centrilobular hepatocytes after drug injection at 9:00 PM but not after drug injection at 9:00 AM. CYP2E1 activity and hepatic glutathione (GSH) levels in untreated mice showed significant 24-h rhythms associated with APAP toxicity rhythm. The reduction in hepatic GSH levels after APAP injection at 9:00 PM was greater than that after drug injection at 9:00 AM. On the other hand, manipulation of the feeding schedule modified APAP hepatotoxicity rhythmicity, CYP2E1 activity, and GSH levels in the liver. Manipulation of the feeding schedule and choosing the most appropriate time of the day for drug administration may help to achieve rational chronopharmacology of some drugs including APAP in specific experimental and clinical situations.

Fused-silica-lined (FSL) canisters and SUMMA polished (SUMMA) canisters were compared for the recoveries and the stabilities of 58 volatile organic compounds (VOCs) at low ppbv (volume/volume) levels under various humidified conditions using a three-stage preconcentration method followed by GC-MS analysis. The target VOCs included non-polar VOCs (e.g. halogenated hydrocarbons and aromatic hydrocarbons) and polar VOCs (e.g. alcohols, ketones, esters, ethers, nitriles and thiols). The three-stage preconcentration method was initially optimized for simultaneous analysis of non-polar and polar VOCs because determination of canister stability is dependent on the accuracy of analytical measurements. The method showed good linearity over the concentration range from 1 to 25 ppbv for all target analytes, and the correlation coefficients were higher than 0.9974. The method detection limits ranged from 0.023 to 0.39 ppbv. The test mixtures loaded in both type of canisters (n = 3) had concentrations of 1.7-2.5 ppbv per compound at ambient pressure under various humidified conditions (%RH = 1.6, 8.0, 27, 39, 53 and >99% with excess water present). All canister samples were initially analyzed on day 0 (after 6-12 h). The effect of competitive adsorption of water vapor and polar VOCs on active sites of interior surface was remarkably observed for SUMMA canisters. Polar VOCs had a greater requirement for water vapor to be present. The RH percentages that ensured good recovery on day 0 were RH > 8% for non-polar VOCs and RH > 27% for polar VOCs (except alcohols under the condition of RH > 99%). All thiols were not recovered from SUMMA canisters under all conditions. FSL canisters showed good recoveries of more than 86% for all VOCs under all conditions on day 0 (except alcohols under the condition of RH > 99%). The recoveries of alcohols in both canisters under the condition of RH > 99% displayed relatively low recoveries in the range 25-76% because of the partitioning effect into condensed water. The canister samples under the conditions of RH 8.0, 27, 53 and > 99% were analyzed for the stability test on days 3, 7, 14 and 28 after loading. All non-polar VOCs were reasonably stable in the FSL canisters under all examined conditions over 28 days. However, several polar VOCs that have relatively lower vapor pressure, e.g. MIBK, butyl acetate and alcohols except ethanol, showed unstable characteristics under relatively dry conditions (RH 8 and 27%) during 28 days. RH > 53% was needed to ensure good stabilities of all analytes except thiols with the recoveries of > 80% over 28 days for both canisters. Although the FSL canister showed good recoveries of more than 86% for thiols on day 0, drastic degradations were observed after day 3 and they were not detected after day 14.

Raw fish consumption is increasing worldwide. Since around the year 2000, western regions of Japan have reported a foodborne disease of unknown cause that occurred after the consumption of flounder. In October 2010, a particularly large outbreak was reported in these regions among individuals who consumed flounder fish that had been raised in aquaculture systems. The median incubation period was 5 h (range, 4-19 h), and the most frequently reported symptom was diarrhea (80%). The risk estimate of the consumption of flounder was significantly higher than that of the development of symptoms (odds ratio=9.50; 95% confidence interval, 1.59-∞). According to a trace-back investigation, all of the flounder responsible for the outbreak were raised in aquaculture systems. Microscopic examination revealed that the median amount of Kudoa septempunctata present in the muscle of flounder fish from the aquaculture farm was 4.5×10(3) spores/g (range, 1.0×10(3)-9.6×10(6) spores/g). The number of K. septempunctata spores required for the development of illness, as estimated using the Monte Carlo simulation, was 7.2×10(7) spores/g; therefore, thus this might be the minimum ingestion threshold for the development of gastrointestinal symptoms. As a public health measure, the current study results should be referred to for the prevention of the gastrointestinal symptoms related to the consumption of flounder; the national public health authority has disseminated these results. We concluded that K. septempunctata-contaminated flounder fish were associated with the gastrointestinal symptoms of this recent outbreak.

Patients with atopic dermatitis are usually responsive to conventional treatment such as topical steroids; however, they are sometimes refractory to the treatment. The influence of contact sensitivities on the course of patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis is not known. The aim of this study was to investigate whether contact sensitivities affect the course of patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis. We evaluated 45 patients with atopic dermatitis who had failed conventional therapy. Patch testing was performed with the Japanese standard series, metal series and/or suspected items. A total of 15 patients had a positive patch test reaction to at least one allergen. The most common allergens were nickel, topical drugs and rubber accelerators. Avoidance of products or food containing allergic substances greatly or partially improved skin symptoms in nine patients. These results suggest that contact allergens and metals may be critical factors causing eczematous lesions in patients with recalcitrant atopic dermatitis.

A method is described for the determination of 2-MIB and geosmin by gas chromatography-mass spectrometry (GC-MS) using stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). The detection limits using selected ion monitoring (SIM) were compared between solid phase microextraction (SPME) and stir bar sorptive extraction (SBSE). Since polydimethylsiloxane (PDMS) is only available for stationary phase on the stir bar for SBSE, a 100-μm PDMS fiber was used for SPME due to the same sorption mechanism. The sensitivities of the SBSE method was 54 times higher for 2-MIB and 10 times higher for geosmin than those of the SPME method. The detection limits of the SBSE method evaluated in river water were 0.33 and 0.15 ng/L respectively for 2-MIB and geosmin. The reproducibilities (n = 5) were 9.2 and 3.7%, respectively, at 2 ng/L for 2-MIB and geosmin.

We study learning from examples by a perceptron when a return to an example is given by a stochastic relation which is represented by the conditional probability distribution P ( u ), where u is proportional to the inner product between the optimal synaptic weight vector and the example vector. The problem is analyzed by replica method in the case of spherical weights. Since the replica symmetric(RS) solution turns out to be unstable for stochastic cases, we consider the one-step replica symmetry breaking (RSB) solution. We investigate the asymptotic behavior of the learning curve as \(\alpha \equiv \frac{p}{N} \rightarrow \infty\), where p is the number of samples and N is the dimension of the synaptic weights. The average generalization error e g is expressed as (e g - e min ) ∝α - γ in the asymptotic region. For the minimum-error algorithm, we find \(\gamma=\frac{1+\delta}{1+3\delta}\) for the RS solution and \(\gamma=\frac{1+\delta}{1+2\delta}\) for the one-step RSB solution in the case of the functio...

The reaction of 1,3,4,6-tetrakis(isopropylthio)thieno[3,4-c]thiophene (1) with the palladium complex Pd2(dba)3CHCl3 (dba = dibenzylideneacetone) and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) gave a new palladium complex in which two isopropylthio groups of 1 and the double bond of TCNE were trigonally coordinated to palladium. The X-ray analysis revealed the electron donation from palladium to TCNE, leading to a lengthening of the CC double bond in TCNE and distortion of TCNE from planarity. The radical cation of 1 and the radical anion of TCNE were detected by ESR spectroscopy in methylene dichloride solution of the complex, although the radical content was estimated from the paramagnetic susceptibility to be less than 1%. The reaction of the complex with aniline gave the same product as that in the reaction of the radical cation of 1 with aniline.

Interstitial granulomatous dermatitis (IGD) is a reactive phenomenon accompanying disorders including autoimmune disease, lymphoproliferative disorders and drug reactions. Histologically, IGD shows a granulomatous infiltrate surrounding piecemeal fragmentation of collagen in the diffuse interstitium. IGD presents with linear cords, papules and plaques mainly on the trunk and extremities. Herein, we report a case with peculiar clinical features that were histopathologically consistent with IGD. A 74-year-old man presented with periungual painful erythema, nail deformity of all fingers and labial, penile and anal erosive erythema. Histopathological examination of the lesions showed interface dermatitis and a diffuse interstitial granulomatous infiltrate mainly composed of CD68-positive histiocytes and lymphocytes. Degenerative collagen bundles were also observed in granulomas. C-reactive protein and the white blood cell count were elevated, but further examinations did not reveal systemic inflammatory disorders such as autoimmune disease, lymphoproliferative disorder, inflammatory bowel disease or drug hypersensitivity. The lesions were successfully treated with oral and topical steroids.

The reaction of 1,3,4,6-tetrakis(isopropylthio)thieno[3,4-c]thiophene (1) with the palladium complex Pd2(dba)3CHCl3 (dba = dibenzylideneacetone) and tetracyanoethylene (TCNE) gave a new palladium complex in which two isopropylthio groups of 1 and the double bond of TCNE were trigonally coordinated to palladium. The X-ray analysis revealed the electron donation from palladium to TCNE, leading to a lengthening of the CC double bond in TCNE and distortion of TCNE from planarity. The radical cation of 1 and the radical anion of TCNE were detected by ESR spectroscopy in methylene dichloride solution of the complex, although the radical content was estimated from the paramagnetic susceptibility to be less than 1%. The reaction of the complex with aniline gave the same product as that in the reaction of the radical cation of 1 with aniline.