Water freezes into ice in winter and evaporates into vapor in summer. Scientifically, the transformations between solid, liquid, and gas are called phase transitions and can be classified through the ...changes in symmetry which occur in each case. A fourth phase of matter was discovered late in the 19th century: the liquid crystal nematic, in which rod- or disk-shaped molecules align like the atoms in a solid, while continuing to flow like a liquid. Here we report thermodynamic evidence of a quantum analog of the classical nematic phase, the quantum spin nematic (SN). In an SN, the spins of a quantum magnet select a common axis, like a nematic liquid crystal, while escaping conventional magnetic order. Our state-of-the-art thermal measurements in high pulsed magnetic fields up to 33 T on the copper mineral volborthite with spin 1/2 on a frustrated lattice provide thermodynamic evidence for SN order, half a century after the theoretical proposal Blume M, Hsieh YY (1969) J Appl Phys 40:1249; Andreev AF, Grishchuk IA (1984) J Exp Theor Phys 97:467–475.
With a remarkable improvement in the pharmacotherapy of rheumatoid arthritis (RA), severely handicapped patients are very rare to see. Healing, repair and drug-free, and toward radical cure are ...coming to be possible. In the clinical practice, more than 50% of the patients are in remission. However, some patients are still difficult to reach remission due to comorbidities and economic burden. In the patient with clinical remission, smoldering synovitis so called “silent destructor” is often detected by ultrasonograpy or by synovial histology in the small joints of the hand. In recent years, over use with “no pain” increases the risk of deformity, osteoarthrosis, tendon rupture and entrapment neuropathy. Highly motivated patients, who concern about the appearance of the hand, hope to get a higher level of activities of daily living and quality of life (QOL).
A prospective cohort study was performed for the purpose of knowing whether rheumatoid hand surgery affects the patient's QOL and mental health as well as upper extremity function. A primary hand surgery was scheduled in 119 patients with RA. Synovectomy and Darrach procedure, radiolunate arthrodesis, reconstruction of the extensor tendons, arthroplasty at the metacarpophalangeal (MP) using Swanson implant, fusion at the proximal interphalangeal (PIP) joint, suspensionplasty at the carpometacarpal (CM) joint of the thumb (Thompson method) et al. were performed. As a result, Japanese version of the Stanford Health Assessment Questionnaire (J-HAQ:physical function,QOL), EuroQOL-5 dimension (EQ-5D:QOL), Beck Depression Inventory-II (BDI-II:depression, mentality) at 6 months and at 12 months after surgery improved significantly compared to those just before surgery (p < 0.01). Disease activity score 28- C reactive protein 4 (DAS28-CRP (4)) decreased significantly (p < 0.01).
Latest hand surgery with tight medical control is possible to raise QOL and to provide mental wellness for the patient with RA.
When quantum fluctuations destroy underlying long-range ordered states, novel quantum states emerge. Spin-liquid (SL) states of frustrated quantum antiferromagnets, in which highly correlated spins ...fluctuate down to very low temperatures, are prominent examples of such quantum states. SL states often exhibit exotic physical properties, but the precise nature of the elementary excitations behind such phenomena remains entirely elusive. Here, we use thermal Hall measurements that can capture the unexplored property of the elementary excitations in SL states, and report the observation of anomalous excitations that may unveil the unique features of the SL state. Our principal finding is a negative thermal Hall conductivity κxy
which the charge-neutral spin excitations in a gapless SL state of the 2D kagomé insulator volborthite Cu₃V₂O₇(OH)₂·2H₂O exhibit, in much the same way in which charged electrons show the conventional electric Hall effect. We find that κxy
is absent in the high-temperature paramagnetic state and develops upon entering the SL state in accordance with the growth of the short-range spin correlations, demonstrating that κxy
is a key signature of the elementary excitation formed in the SL state. These results suggest the emergence of nontrivial elementary excitations in the gapless SL state which feel the presence of fictitious magnetic flux, whose effective Lorentz force is found to be less than 1/100 of the force experienced by free electrons.
Hepcidin, a major regulator of iron metabolism and homeostasis, is regulated by inflammation. Recent studies have suggested that hepcidin and iron metabolism are involved in osteoporosis, and the aim ...of this study was to determine whether serum hepcidin levels are correlated with the degree of osteoporosis in patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA). A total of 262 patients with RA (67.5 ± 11.4 years; 77.5% female) were enrolled. Serum iron, ferritin, and hepcidin levels were positively correlated each other. Multiple regression analyses revealed that the serum iron level was positively correlated with femoral T and Z scores, whereas the serum hepcidin level was not. Serum hepcidin level was correlated with the serum 25-hydroxy vitamin D level, which was in turn positively related to the femoral Z score. Serum hepcidin and serum iron were indirectly and directly related to osteoporosis in patients with RA.
To assess whether periodontitis severity affects the clinical response to biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) for 1 year in rheumatoid arthritis (RA) patients.
Data were ...collected from 50 RA patients who had received corticosteroids, conventional synthetic DMARDs, or non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs before (baseline) and after 1 year of bDMARD therapy in a retrospective study. Rheumatologic conditions were compared between the two periodontitis severity groups according to the periodontal inflamed surface area (PISA) or Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC)/American Academy of Periodontology (AAP) case definitions.
Twenty-eight patients with no or mild periodontitis showed significantly greater decreases in changes in Clinical Disease Activity Index (CDAI) and tender and swollen joint count in comparison to 22 patients with moderate and severe periodontitis (p = .02, p = .01, and p = .03). Both bivariate and multivariate analyses revealed a significantly positive association between the baseline CDC/AAP definitions and CDAI changes (p = .005 and p = .0038). However, rheumatologic conditions were comparable between 25 patients each in the low and high PISA groups.
Baseline periodontitis severity according to the CDC/AAP definitions is associated with the clinical response to bDMARDs for 1 year in RA patients.
Volborthite Cu3V2O7(OH)2·2H2O is a copper mineral that materializes a two-dimensional quantum magnet comprising a kagome net of spin-1/2 Cu2+ ions. We prepared single crystals of volborthite using ...hydrothermal conditions and investigated their crystal structures and magnetic properties. Unusual orbital “switching” and “flipping” transitions were observed: in the former type of transition (switching), the Cu 3d orbital occupied by an unpaired electron changes between the d(3z 2–r 2) and d(x 2–y 2) types, and in the latter type of transition (flipping), the d(x 2–y 2)-type orbitals change their directions. Their origin is ascribed to variations in the orientation of water molecules in the gap between the kagome layers and the accompanying changes of hydrogen bonding. These orbital transitions dramatically modify the magnetic interactions between Cu2+ spins, from the anisotropic kagome type to the formation of spin trimers over the kagome net. The effective spin 1/2 generated on the trimers exhibits a frustrated magnetism, resulting in a rich phase diagram in the magnetic fields. Volborthite is a unique compound showing an exceptional interplay between the orbital and spin degrees of freedom.
Objective Sarcopenia is characterized by a loss of muscle mass and strength, which leads to frailty and mortality. Rheumatoid arthritis (RA) is considered to be a cause of sarcopenia. The present ...study assessed the effectiveness of biological disease-modifying antirheumatic drugs (bDMARDs) on sarcopenia. Methods This was a prospective cohort study including 48 patients 11 men, 37 women; 67.5 (57.0-74.8) years old with RA who started bDMARDs in Niigata Rheumatic Center. We monitored the physical ability, nutritional status and body composition at the baseline, 6 months and 12 months. The physical activity was measured by the Health Assessment Questionnaire (HAQ) and 10-m walking test (10MWT). The nutritional status was assessed by the controlling nutrition status (CONUT) score. Results Among the 48 patients who started bDMARDs, 21 were classified as having sarcopenia. The physical activity and nutritional status were significantly ameliorated after 12 months of bDMARDs. The body composition analysis showed a significant increase in the body weight but no significant increase in the skeletal muscle mass index. The proportion of patients diagnosed with sarcopenia decreased significantly after 12 months of bDMARDs (43.8% vs. 27.1%, p=0.039). Among the 21 patients who were diagnosed with sarcopenia when starting bDMARDs, the skeletal muscle index was significantly increased after 12 months of bDMARDs. 5.22 (4.76-5.43) kg/m2 vs. 5.44 (4.84-5.77), p=0.039. Conclusion Biologics may be useful in the treatment of sarcopenia through mechanisms such as improving the disease activity, physical activity and nutritional status.
Objective
The aim of the present study was to evaluate the association between the periodontal and serological parameters and the disease activity of rheumatoid arthritis (RA) and between the ...anti‐agalactosyl immunoglobulin G (IgG) titer and periodontitis severity. The objective was also to assess the effect of supragingival scaling on the serological parameters in patients with RA.
Background
The periodontal and serological parameters in relation to the autoimmune inflammatory response have been linked to RA disease activity. However, the association of the anti‐agalactosyl IgG titer with RA disease activity and periodontitis severity has not been elucidated.
Methods
The periodontal, rheumatologic, and serological data were collected from 127 patients with RA in a retrospective cohort study. Of the 127 patients, 21 had been randomly assigned to receive oral hygiene instruction and supragingival scaling. The anti‐agalactosyl IgG titer was determined by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay.
Results
The patients with a moderate to high RA disease activity showed significantly higher levels of probing depth (PD), clinical attachment level, anti‐cyclic citrullinated peptide IgG, and anti‐agalactosyl IgG titer and greater mean percentages of severe periodontitis than those with a low RA disease activity (p < .05 for all). Both univariate and multivariate analyses revealed a significantly positive correlation between the PD and RA disease activity (p = .009 and p = .001), between the anti‐agalactosyl IgG titer and RA disease activity (p = .002 and p < .001), and between the anti‐agalactosyl IgG titer and PD (p < .001 for both). Supragingival scaling significantly decreased the anti‐agalactosyl IgG titer (p = 0.03).
Conclusion
The PD and anti‐agalactosyl IgG titer are positively interrelated, both of which are correlated positively with RA disease activity and influenced by supragingival scaling in patients with RA.
Objective Treatment of elderly patients with rheumatoid arthritis (RA) has been controversial because they often have serious comorbidities and cannot use methotrexate (MTX). In Japan, golimumab ...(GLM) 100 mg without MTX is approved. We investigated the effectiveness and safety of GLM in elderly patients with RA. Methods The GLM survival rate was evaluated using the Kaplan-Meier method. Disease activities, laboratory findings, and treatments were evaluated. Patients We enrolled 168 patients with RA in our hospital. Using age ≥75 years old to identify elderly patients, younger (n=111) and elderly (n=57) groups were established. Elderly patients were divided into 2 groups according to the MTX treatment status (with, n=27; without, n=25). Results The GLM survival rates were 80.8% and 82.3% in elderly and younger patients, respectively (p=0.762). At 52 weeks, the Disease Activity Score 28-erythrocyte sedimentation rate (DAS28-ESR) was improved in elderly patients (4.26 vs. 3.31, p<0.001); the Health Assessment Questionnaire Disability Index (HAQ-DI) was unchanged (1.12 vs. 0.88, p=0.694). When elderly patients were compared according to the MTX treatment status, the DAS28-ESR had improved in both groups (with MTX: 3.82 vs. 2.68, p<0.001; without MTX: 4.76 vs. 4.25, p=0.026); however, the HAQ-DI had not. The GLM survival rates at 52 weeks were 85% and 76% in patients with and without MTX, respectively. Conclusion In elderly patients with RA, GLM was effective, regardless of MTX treatment status, but it did not affect the HAQ-DI. GLM survival rates were comparable between elderly and younger patients. GLM may be a suitable option for elderly patients with RA who cannot use MTX.
In this study, we examined the morphological features of the placentas from 3 species of rorqual whales (Balaenopteridae), namely Bryde’s (Balaenoptera brydei), sei (B. borealis), and common minke ...(B. acutorostrata) whales, and verified the secretion of 2 placental-specific peptide hormones, placental lactogen (PL) and chorionic gonadotropin (CG). The placentas were collected in the second phase of the Japanese Whale Research Program under a special permit in the North Pacific (JARPN II) between 2009 and 2010. For all three species of rorqual whales, as the fetus grew, the interdigitation between the maternal endometrial folds and chorionic villi became more complicated, and many blood capillaries of chorionic villi and endometrium became larger and infiltrated the trophoblast cells and endometrial epithelial cells, respectively. In the immunohistochemical examination, the trophoblast cells (except for areolar trophoblast cells) showed immunoreactivities for the PL and luteinizing hormone (LH) antibodies, and this phenomenon was similar in the placentas of all 3 rorqual whale species. Our results suggest that PL and LH-like CG play roles in regulating pregnancy in the placenta of cetacean.
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