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Let $B=\{ B_{t}\} _{t\ge 0}$ be a one-dimensional standard Brownian motion, to which we associate the exponential additive functional $A_{t}=\int _{0}^{t}e^{2B_{s}}ds,\,t\ge 0$. Starting from a simple observation of generalized inverse Gaussian distributions with particular sets of parameters, we show, with the help of a result by Matsumoto--Yor (2000), that for every $x\in \mathbb{R}$ and for every finite stopping time $\tau $ of the process $\{ e^{-B_{t}}A_{t}\} _{t\ge 0}$, there holds the identity in law \begin{align*} \left( e^{B_{\tau}}\!\sinh x+\beta (A_{\tau }), \, Ce^{B_{\tau}}\!\cosh x+\hat{\beta}(A_{\tau }), \, e^{-B_{\tau }}\!A_{\tau } \right) \stackrel{(d)}{=} \left( \sinh (x+B_{\tau }), \, C\cosh (x+B_{\tau }), \, e^{-B_{\tau }}\!A_{\tau } \right) , \end{align*} which extends an identity due to Bougerol (1983) in several aspects. Here $\beta =\{ \beta (t)\} _{t\ge 0}$ and $\hat{\beta}=\{ \hat{\beta}(t)\} _{t\ge 0}$ are one-dimensional standard Brownian motions, $C$ is a standard Cauchy variable, and $B$, $\beta $, $\hat{\beta}$ and $C$ are independent. Using an argument relevant to derivation of the above identity, we also present some invariance formulae for Cauchy variable involving an independent Rademacher variable., Comment: 43 pages. Changes from the first version are: positivity condition imposed on the stopping time $\tau $ is removed from Abstract, on which a remark is inserted in Remark 1.1; the assertion of Theorem 1.2 is fairly extended; two papers by Barndorff-Nielsen and two books are added for descriptions of GIG and related laws; a paper by Matsumoto--Yor (2003) is referred to in the newly added Remark A.1

Purpose To report the potential usefulness of multiplex polymerase chain reaction (mPCR) for diagnosing superinfection keratitis caused by herpes simplex virus-1 (HSV-1), bacteria and fungus. Methods Case series. Corneal scrapings were analyzed with mPCR for human herpes virus 1–8, bacterial 16S ribosomal DNA (rDNA) and fungal 28S rDNA. Results Case 1 was a 69-year-old man who presented with refractory infectious keratitis. PCR examination was positive for bacterial 16S rDNA and negative for fungal 28S rDNA. HSV-1 was not examined at this time. A geographic ulcer arose after 2 months of intensive antibacterial treatment. Herpes simplex keratitis (HSK) was suspected; PCR analysis was positive for HSV-1. Corneal scrapings obtained at the initial visit were re-analyzed and found to be HSV-1 positive. Thus, it turned out that this was a case of superinfection keratitis caused by bacteria and HSV-1. Case 2 was a 60-year-old man with corneal ulcer who had received unsuccessful treatment with antibiotics. mPCR analysis was positive for HSV-1, bacterial 16S rDNA and fungal 28S rDNA. The patient was diagnosed with superinfection keratitis caused by HSV-1, bacteria and fungus. Case 3 was an 82-year-old woman who had been treated for HSK and then developed bacterial keratitis during treatment. mPCR analysis was positive for HSV-1 and bacterial 16S rDNA. The patient was diagnosed with superinfection keratitis caused by HSV-1 and bacteria. Conclusion Superinfection keratitis is hard to diagnose because of its atypical manifestation. mPCR has the potential to allow prompt diagnosis and appropriate treatment in these cases.

Let γ d be the d-dimensional standard Gaussian measure and Q = { Q t } t ≥ 0 the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck semigroup acting on L 1 ( γ d ) . The semigroup Q enjoys the hypercontractivity, which is also known to be equivalent to the exponential hypercontractivity. In this paper, by employing stochastic analysis, we derive a family of inequalities that unifies the exponential and original hypercontractivities; a generalization of the Gaussian logarithmic Sobolev inequality is obtained as a corollary. We then discuss a connection of those results with Φ-entropy inequalities in a general framework of Markov semigroups. A unification of the exponential hypercontractivity and the reverse hypercontractivity of the Ornstein–Uhlenbeck semigroup Q is also provided.

Purpose Polypoidal choroidal vasculopathy (PCV) is a subtype of age-related macular degeneration that is seen frequently in Asians. Nevertheless, it is rare for this condition to be combined with retinitis pigmentosa (RP). The purpose of this paper is to present findings from this rare combination in a Japanese patient, and to describe its successful treatment with intravitreal aflibercept (IVA). Observations The patient was a 71-year-old Japanese woman with RP (diagnosed at the age of 30) and PCV. She noticed a decrease in vision in her right eye 6 months previously. Decimal best-corrected visual acuity (BCVA) was 0.05 in her right eye. Optical coherence tomography and indocyanine green angiography (IA) revealed serous retinal detachment (SRD) and PCV in her right eye. The SRD was initially resolved after 3 monthly treatments with IVA, but recurrences began 5 months later, requiring four more treatments with IVA, performed about every 4 months within the next 12 months, for successful resolution. There were no recurrences of PCV in 7 more months of follow-up, as confirmed with IA at the final appointment. Final decimal BCVA in the right eye improved to 0.15. Furthermore, macular retinal sensitivity, measured with microperimetry, increased after the treatment, and RP-related visual field narrowing, determined by Goldmann perimetry, did not progress throughout follow up of 26 months. Conclusion More than 2 years of follow up showed that IVA may be effective for treating PCV, even in RP patients, and can increase central visual function without causing progression of RP-related visual field narrowing.

Introduction Elongated styloid process syndrome represents a group of symptoms, such as recurrent throat pain and neck pain, caused by elongation of the styloid process. We report a case of elongated styloid process syndrome with prolongation of the superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage. Case presentation A 50-year-old man was referred to our clinic with the chief complaint of discomfort on the right side of his neck. He had no history of any disease. Extraoral findings indicated pain during neck rotation. Computed tomography showed prolongation of the styloid process beyond the mandibular plane and close to the hyoid. Moreover, prolongation of the superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage was detected. The discomfort during rotation of the neck was due to the stimulation by the styloid process. Styloid resection was performed using the extraoral approach under general anesthesia. Conclusion Discomfort in the neck was resolved after operation., Highlights • Elongated styloid process syndrome represents a group of symptoms. • Morphological anomalies or deviations of the thyroid cartilage may cause swallowing discomfort. • Oral and extraoral methods are used as surgical techniques for styloid hyperplasia. • There have been no reports of styloid process prolongation with hypertrophic thyroid cartilage. • There are few reports concerning the prolongation of the superior cornu of the thyroid cartilage.

Purpose: Seatbelt use during pregnancy is important to improve maternal and fetal survival after motor vehicle collisions. However, because the rear seatbelt of a motor vehicle tends to make contact with the neck, even if it is adequately used, some pregnant women sitting in the rear seat opt not to fasten the belt. The purpose of this study is to explore seatbelt-neck contact for pregnant women sitting in the rear seat of a motor vehicle. Methods: We carried out an anthropometric study. Japanese women who were ≥30 weeks pregnant (n = 12) sat in the left side of the rear seat of a typical mid-size passenger sedan and fastened the seatbelt. Seating posture was investigated by measuring the coordinates of the anthropometric data points of the pregnant women (head, shoulder, hip joint, and knee joint). The belt path was analyzed by measuring the clearance between the belt and the sternum or navel. Results: Among the 12 pregnant women at 33.9 week ± 3.3 week gestation, the shoulder belt deviated to the right side and subsequently contacted to the neck in four pregnant women (Contact group). The height of the Contact group was significantly shorter than that of Non-contact group (152.3 cm ± 3.0 cm vs. 159.0 cm ± 3.3 cm, p = 0.008). Regarding the relative position of the seatbelt to the subject's body, the distances from the top of the sternum to the center of the shoulder belt were significantly shorter in Contact group (3.9 cm ± 3.5 cm) than that in the Non-contact group (8.0 cm ± 1.6 cm, p = 0.03). However, no significant difference was found for the distance from the umbilicus to the center of the lap belt. Conclusion: Our findings show that because of short height and late term of pregnancy with protrusion of the abdomen, the shoulder belt deviates to the right or left, avoiding the protruded uterus, and subsequently makes contact with the neck. Seatbelt systems for rear seats need to be developed to improve passenger safety, especially for pregnant women. Key words: Pregnant women; Rear seat; Seatbelt; Anthropometry; Motor vehicles

We recently reported that a treatment with tauroursodeoxycholic acid (TUDCA), a secondary bile acid, improved developmentally-deteriorated hepatic steatosis in an undernourishment (UN, 40% caloric restriction) in utero mouse model after a postnatal high-fat diet (HFD). We performed a microarray analysis and focused on two genes (Cidea and Cidec) because they are enhancers of lipid droplet (LD) sizes in hepatocytes and showed the greatest increases in expression by UN that were completely recovered by TUDCA, concomitant with parallel changes in LD sizes. TUDCA remodeled developmentally-induced histone modifications (di-methylation of H3K4, H3K27, or H3K36), but not DNA methylation, around the Cidea and Cidec genes, leading to a heterochromatin structure, which contributed to the markedly down-regulated expression of their genes as well as hepatic fat deposition in UN pups only, even those under HFD. These results provide an insight into the future of precision medicine for developmentally-programmed hepatic steatosis by targeting chromatin reconstitution. Funding Statement: This work was supported in part by MEXT KAKENHI (Grant-in-Aid for Scientific Research) Grant Number JP16K15703. Declaration of Interests: None of the authors have anything to disclose. Ethics Approval Statement: All animal procedures were approved by the Institutional Animal Research Committee of Hamamatsu University School of Medicine (H20-014) and conducted in accordance with the ARRIVE guidelines and the standards of humane animal care by the criteria outlined in the “Guide for the Care and Use of Laboratory Animals”.

Tropical countries are important to conservation because of the threats to the high levels of biodiversity there, but research on conservation science in these mostly developing countries has traditionally been written by foreigners. This disconnect could have serious implications for the practice of conservation, as local scientists can be more effective than foreigners in interacting with practitioners or pushing forward conservation action themselves. These scientists' careers are strengthened by participation in the international literature, and their knowledge about conservation's success in their country provides necessary feedback to the theoretical literature. We assess the past and current status of geographic diversity in the international conservation literature, over 30 years and in comparison to other fields, as well as present acceptance rate data from prominent journals, broken down by the country of corresponding authorship. While the proportion of articles in all fields contributed by low and medium income countries increases over time, the percentage of conservation articles contributed by corresponding authors from low income countries is actually declining. Manuscripts by authors from low income countries were less than half as likely to be published as those from high income countries. We present a list of specific policies that journals can implement to reverse these trends, such as having regional editors, providing editing assistance, waiving fees, and seeking locally focused studies from which globally relevant strategies and lessons can be drawn. We also stress that long-term the problem can best be addressed by funding educational institutions that develop young researchers in the tropics.

We study an integration by parts formula for a pinned Wiener measure restricted to a space of paths staying within a subset in R d . The result presented here generalizes the formula in [L. Zambotti, Integration by parts formulae on convex sets of paths and applications to SPDEs with reflection, Probab. Theory Relat. Fields 123 (2002) 579–600] for the case of a half-line in R .

Intense pulsed light (IPL) therapy is reported to be effective for pigment removal from pigmented lesions. However, the dynamic mechanism of pigment removal by IPL therapy is not completely understood. We investigated the mechanism of IPL therapy for the removal of pigmented skin lesions through non-invasive observation of the epidermis. Subjects with solar lentigines on the face were treated with three sessions of IPL therapy. The solar lentigines were observed on consecutive days after the treatments using reflectance-mode confocal microscopy (RCM) and optical coherence tomography (OCT). In addition, desquamated microcrusts that formed after the treatment were investigated by transmission electron microscopy (TEM). The images of RCM and OCT showed that the melanosomes in the epidermal basal layer rapidly migrated to the skin surface. The TEM images of the extruded microcrusts revealed numerous melanosomes together with cell debris. It was also found that the IPL irradiated melanocytes in the lesions seemed to be left intact and resumed their high activity after treatment. We conclude that IPL therapy effectively removed the dense melanosomes in the epidermal-basal layer. However, additional application of suppressive drugs such as hydroquinone or Q-switched laser irradiation is necessary to suppress the remaining active melanocytes.

Chemical peeling with salicylic acid in polyethylene glycol vehicle (SA-PEG), which specifically acts on the stratum corneum, suppresses the development of skin tumors in UVB-irradiated hairless mice. To elucidate the mechanism through which chemical peeling with SA-PEG suppresses skin tumor development, the effects of chemical peeling on photodamaged keratinocytes and cornified envelopes (CEs) were evaluated in vivo. Among UVB-irradiated hairless mice, the structural atypia and expression of p53 protein in keratinocytes induced by UVB irradiation were intensely suppressed in the SA-PEG-treated mice 28 days after the start of weekly SA-PEG treatments when compared to that in the control UVB-irradiated mice. Incomplete expression of filaggrin and loricrin in keratinocytes from the control mice was also improved in keratinocytes from the SA-PEG-treated mice. In photo-exposed human facial skin, immature CEs were replaced with mature CEs 4 weeks after treatment with SA-PEG. Restoration of photodamaged stratum corneum by treatment with SA-PEG, which may affect remodeling of the structural environment of the keratinocytes, involved the normalization of keratinocyte differentiation and suppression of skin tumor development. These results suggest that the stratum corneum plays a protective role against carcinogenesis, and provide a novel strategy for the prevention of photo-induced skin tumors.

Background Cardiac allograft vasculopathy (CAV), a disorder characterized by rapid development and progression of obliterative vasculopathy in the transplanted heart, continues to be a major cause of graft failure in long-surviving human transplants. The mechanisms and histopathologic processes of CAV remain unknown. Previous animal studies have shown that inhibition of matrix metalloproteinase (MMP) prevents migration and proliferation of smooth muscle cells in CAV. In this study, we hypothesized that MMPs may be expressed in and may play an important role in CAV. Methods An F344-to-WKAH rat heterotopic heart transplantation model was used. Tacrolimus was administered intramuscularly 14 days after transplantation to prevent acute rejection and to allow the development of CAV. We divided the animals into 2 groups according to post-operative treatment: an ONO group received an MMP inhibitor (ONO-4817) daily by oral gavage for 14 days after transplantation ( n = 6), and a control ( n = 6) group received no treatment. Grafts were harvested 60 days after treatment. Results Immunohistochemical staining revealed that MMP-2 and tissue inhibitors of metalloproteinase-2 (TIMP-2) were expressed more strongly in the neointima and media of the control CAV animals than in the ONO-CAV animals. The animals given ONO-4817 exhibited a significant decrease in the percentage of affected vessels, in the percentage of intimal proliferation, in the intima-to-media ratio, and in the expression of MMP-2 and TIMP-2. Conclusion These results suggest that MMP-2 and TIMP-2 play an important role in the development of CAV and that the use of an MMP inhibitor (ONO-4817) may prevent neointimal proliferation in patients with CAV.

Objectives. We sought to evaluate the diagnostic efficacy of computed tomography (CT) images in the differentiation between intraosseous malignant tumors and osteomyelitis spreading into the masticator space. Study Design. A retrospective evaluation was carried out by using CT images from 12 patients with intraosseous malignant tumors and 9 patients with osteomyelitis involving the masticator space and accompanying mandibular bone destruction. The following CT observations are discussed: (1) bone destruction pattern subdivided into spotty, gross, or permeative; (2) cortical bone expansion; (3) diffuse osteosclerotic changes; (4) periosteal reaction; (5) masticator muscle involvement; (6) enlargement of the facial muscle; and (7) attenuation in the subcutaneous adipose tissue. Results. The pattern of permeative bone destruction, cortical bone expansion, and the enlargement of both the masseter and medial pterygoid muscles were all observed in patients with malignant tumors. In contrast, diffuse sclerotic change and a periosteal reaction were significant observations in patients with osteomyelitis. Conclusion. The efficacy of CT in establishing a differential diagnosis of malignant tumors or osteomyelitis is supported by this study. (Oral Surg Oral Med Oral Pathol Oral Radiol Endod 2003;95:503-509)

Surface oxidation of low-density polyethylene (PE) film (thickness=30 μm) with potassium persulfate (KPS) was investigated at 50°C in water. The surface oxidation was followed by ATR-IR measurement of the oxidized PE film, where the absorbance ratio of the carbonyl group at 1716 cm−1 to the methylene group at 1460 cm−1 was used as a measure of the oxidation. The absorbance ratio increased with increasing the reaction time (∼12 h) and the concentration of KPS (0.01–0.30 mol/l). The decomposition of KPS was largely accelerated by photoirradiation (λ>290 nm), resulting in the promoted surface oxidation of PE film, by which hydroxyl groups were introduced on the oxidized surface. Vinyl monomers such as acrylamide, N-isopropylacrylamide and glycidyl methacrylate could be grafted onto the oxidized surface using ceric salt initiator, which was confirmed by ATR-IR measurement of the grafted films.

Ampiroxicam (APX), a prodrug of piroxicam (PXM), has been reported to induce photosensitivity. Antigenic characterization of these photosensitivities, however, is still insufficient. The purpose of the present study was to elucidate further mechanism of photosenstivity induced by APX and PXM using an in vivo model of contact hypersensitivity in guinea pigs. Animals sensitized with ultraviolet-A (UVA)-irradiated 1% APX showed positive reaction in the patch testing to UVA-irradiated 1% APX and 1% thiosalicylate (TOS), while they were negative in challenge with UVA-irradiated 1% PXM, non-irradiated APX and PXM, whereas none of UVA-irradiated or non-irradiated APX and PXM showed positive patch test reaction in animals sensitized with UVA-irradiated 1% PXM or control vehicles. Animals sensitized with 1% TOS were successfully challenged by 1% TOS and cross-reacted with UVA-irradiated 1% APX; however, they failed to react with UVA-irradiated PXM, non-irradiated APX and PXM. Indeed, the in vitro study revealed that the concentration of APX was easily reduced by the increase of UVA irradiation dose, as compared with that of PXM. Interestingly, absorption spectrum of UVA-irradiated APX was similar to that of TOS, which is thought to be an active hapten of PXM. In the present study, we succeeded in the development of a novel animal model reflecting the clinical observations. Furthermore, these results suggested that contact hypersensitivity induced by UVA-irradiated APX is developed by photoproducts of APX itself, but not by the biotransformation of APX to PXM.

The Dongargarh lavas, erupted over a broad time span from ∼ 2462 Ma to ∼ 1367 Ma, comprise an interlayered sequence of felsic to mafic volcanic rocks and sedimentary formations. The early volcanic rocks, dominated by rhyolites (Bijli) with subordinate dacites, andesites and basalts (Pitepani), are subalkaline and show calc-alkaline trends. The rhyolites are enriched in LREE, Zr, Th, Cr and depleted in LILE, Ti, Sc, Y, Ni. The early lavas show REE patterns varying from LREE enriched, highly fractionated in the rhyolites to progressively less fractionated flat patterns in the mafic members, consistent with a derivation of the felsic to mafic lavas through progressively higher degrees of partial melting of a common source. Fractionation of olivine, clinopyroxene and plagioclase also played an important role in the generation of the range of mafic to felsic magmas. A possible crustal contribution in the generation of the voluminous early rhyolites is indicated from the ratios of LILE and LREE in which the rhyolites show low Sr and high Ce, similar to other crustally derived lavas. The late volcanic rocks (Sitagota and Mangikhuta), on the other hand, are relatively unfractionated, compositionally restricted, more primitive magmas, dominated by basalts with minor andesites, showing tholeiitic affinities. The Sitagota lavas have high Mg number, lesser abundances of Ba, Rb, K, Th and Zr, but are enriched in Sr, V, Ni, Cr, Sc than the other members of the Dongargarh suite with comparable Mg number. Their flat unfractionated REE patterns also support their primitive character and their derivation through higher degrees of partial melting of a common mantle source. Although all the Dongargarh lavas show a close chemical affinity with island-arc magmas in all discriminant diagrams and show a similar fractionation of the alkaline earth elements (AE) Rb, K, Ba relative to the incompatible HFSE, the associated sediments point to a stable continental margin tectonic environment, suggesting that the Dongargarh lavas were erupted in a continental rift setting rather than in an island arc. The arc-like geochemical signature of these lavas is suggested to be a manifestation of an earlier episode of hydrous metasomatism of the Precambrian mantle which enriched it in LILE and LREE and made it similar to the source of IAB. The primitive nature of the late volcanics are attributed to a complex subvolcanic plumbing system whereby the lavas gained fast access to the surface without any significant crustal interaction.

The local lymph node assay is an effective prediction method for contact allergenicity, but employs radioisotopes. We investigated whether measurement of interleukin-2 (IL-2) production by lymph node cells could be used instead to predict contact allergenicity of chemicals. Test chemicals were applied for three consecutive days to both ears of Balb/c mice and the auricular lymph nodes were obtained on either the fourth or fifth day after the first application. Both IL-2 concentration in supernatant of the suspension and proliferative activity of lymph node cells were determined after 24-, 48-, 72-h cell culture in RPMI-1640 medium by ELISA and by measuring [3H]methylthymidine incorporation, respectively. These two methods detected allergenicity similarly except in the case of TNCB and oxazolone, which showed excessive proliferation-inducing capacity as compared to IL-2 release-increasing effect. Flow cytometry showed that these two chemicals also increased the percentage of Iad-positive cells in the lymph nodes, suggesting that these chemicals might induce not only cellular immunity but also humoral immunity. We conclude that interleukin-2 assay is a convenient and dependable method for screening strong contact allergens without using radioisotopes.

We have demonstrated previously in guinea pigs that the induction of photocontact sensitivity to piroxicam (PXM) also induces a state of cross-reactive contact hypersensitivity to two compounds having structurally related elements, thimerosal (TMS) and thiosalicylate (TOS). The present study was conducted to determine whether oral administration of TOS would desensitize guinea pigs previously photosensitized with PXM. At the same time, the spectrum of reactivities against these compounds and against tenoxicam (TXM) which resembles only piroxicam was assessed by appropriate sensitizing and eliciting protocols. As expected, animals photosensitized to PXM developed reactivities against all four compounds, PXM and TXM (photosensitivity) and TMS and TOS (contact sensitivity). By contrast, photosensitization with TXM induced cross-reactivity only against PXM. Moreover, the induction of contact sensitivity against TMS or TOS induced photosensitive cross-reactivity to PXM, but not to TXM. Finally, the oral administration of TOS produced a transient desensitization only for TMS and TOS. These results suggest that photosensitization with PXM induces two distinct reactivities. The first reactivity cross-reacts with TMS and TOS and is suppressible with orally administered TOS. The second cross-reacts only with TXM and is not suppressible with oral TOS. We conclude that PXM acquires at least two distinct immunogenic epitopes when exposed to UVA irradiation.

The purpose of this study was to quantify the relationship between the dose-response curve of vecuronium and duration of exposure to an end-tidal concentration of 1.7% sevoflurane in 67% nitrous oxide and oxygen. Forty adult patients, in groups of 10, were allocated randomly to receive vecuronium by a cumulative dose method at intervals of 15 min (group 15), 30 min (group 30), 60 min (group 60) or 90 min (group 90) after starting inhalation of sevoflurane. Neuromuscular function was monitored by acceleromyographic train-of-four (TOF) responses of the adductor pollicis muscle to ulnar nerve stimulation. Dose-response curves were constructed by least-squares regression analysis and the effective doses of vecuronium (ED50, ED90 and ED95) were estimated and compared between groups. Mean (SEM) ED50, ED90 and ED95 were 16.8 (0.5), 32.6 (1.7) and 40.9 (2.4) micrograms kg-1, respectively, in group 15; 10.6 (1.0), 20.8 (1.7) and 26.2 (2.2) micrograms kg-1, respectively, in group 30; 11.2 (1.1), 21.7 (1.6) and 27.3 (1.8) micrograms kg-1, respectively, in group 60; and 11.0 (1.1), 21.7 (1.6) and 27.5 (1.9) micrograms kg-1, respectively, in group 90. The values obtained in group 15 were significantly higher than those in the other three groups (P < 0.05). The results indicate that the duration of sevoflurane anaesthesia influences the dose-response of vecuronium and 30 min inhalation of 1.7% end-tidal concentration is sufficient to achieve a stable potentiating effect.