Superconductivity in LaRh2Ga2 with Noncentrosymmetric Structure.

We report here on the discovery of the superconductivity of a new ternary compound LaRh2Ga2, which possesses a CaBe2Ge2-type structure. Electrical resistivity and magnetic susceptibility measurements reveal that LaRh2Ga2 undergoes a superconducting transition at 3.7 K and exhibits type-II superconductivity. The T-linear behavior of the upper critical field is likely induced by the two-gap superconducting state because of its structural features (i.e., its noncentrosymmetric structure). A transition at Tc of specific heat suggested that the LaRh2Ga2 is a weak electron-phonon-mediated superconductor. Comparison with a related superconductor demonstrates that there is an important factor other than electron-phonon coupling strength that induces higher Tc in the LaTM2Ga2 system with a noncentrosymmetric CaBe2Ge2-type structure.

Effect of the counter-anion on the spin-transition properties of a family of Fe(II) tetrazole complexes, [Fe(i4tz)6]X2 (X = ClO4-, PF6-, SbF6-, BF4-).

The monodentate ligand 1-isobutyl-1H-tetrazole (i4tz) was used to synthesize a series of iron(II) spin-crossover (SCO) complexes with the general formula [Fe(i4tz)6]X2, where X = ClO4(-) (1), PF6(-) (2), SbF6(-) (3), or BF4(-) (4). Upon cooling, magnetic susceptibility measurements of compounds 1, 2 and 3 show a reversible one-step spin crossover (SCO) behaviour between HS (S = 2) and LS (S = 0) states without hysteresis. The ClO4(-) compound shows a gradual spin transition at T(1/2) = 208 K at a considerably higher temperature than the other compounds. The larger anions PF6(-) (T(1/2) = 114 K) and SbF6(-) (T(1/2) = 116 K) show more gradual transitions, and a "frozen-in effect" was observed after fast cooling. The crystal structure of [Fe(i4tz)6](SbF6)2 (3) was determined at 296, 200 and 100 K, revealing a reversible first-order phase transition between 200 and 100 K, accompanied by a triplication of the unit cell volume at 100 K. Temperature-dependent vibration and electronic spectroscopic measurements of compound 1 were compared with the magnetic susceptibility measurements.

Portal vein thrombosis during eltrombopag treatment for immune thrombocytopenic purpura in a patient with liver cirrhosis due to hepatitis C viral infection.

Portal vein thrombosis is a rare, aggressive and life-threatening complication of liver cirrhosis (LC). Eltrombopag is effective for the treatment of chronic hepatitis with thrombocytopenia, and portal vein thrombosis at this time has rarely been reported. We describe the case of a 78-year-old woman who suffered from LC due to hepatitis C viral infection. The patient developed immune thrombocytopenic purpura (ITP) that was diagnosed on the basis of nasal bleeding, progressive severe thrombocytopenia, elevation of platelet-associated IgG (PAIgG), no response to the transfusion of platelets and no abnormal findings on bone marrow biopsy. Although we first administered prednisolone (0.5 mg/kg/day), there was no recovery of platelet function and the nasal bleeding persisted. Subsequently, we administered eltrombopag for refractory ITP at a dose of 12.5 mg/day, and the thrombocytopenia gradually improved. Fifty-four days after the start of eltrombopag therapy, she developed portal vein thrombosis. Eltrombopag was stopped immediately, and antithrombin III was administered for prophylaxis against further portal vein thrombosis. Despite these treatments, there were subsequent deep vein and pulmonary artery thromboses. We then administered heparin for recanalization of the thrombi. One month after the initiation of heparin, there was recanalization as well as improvements of the portal vein, deep vein and pulmonary artery thromboses. There was no further thrombosis progression after switching from heparin to warfarin therapy. Our case suggests that eltrombopag may increase the risk of portal vein thrombosis ; therefore, this drug must be used carefully in the treatment of ITP in patients with LC due to hepatitis C viral infection.

Superconductivity in carrier-doped silicon carbide.

We report growth and characterization of heavily boron-doped 3C-SiC and 6H-SiC and Al-doped 3C-SiC. Both 3C-SiC:B and 6H-SiC:B reveal type-I superconductivity with a critical temperature Tc=1.5 K. On the other hand, Al-doped 3C-SiC (3C-SiC:Al) shows type-II superconductivity with Tc=1.4 K. Both SiC:Al and SiC:B exhibit zero resistivity and diamagnetic susceptibility below Tc with effective hole-carrier concentration n higher than 1020 cm-3. We interpret the different superconducting behavior in carrier-doped p-type semiconductors SiC:Al, SiC:B, Si:B and C:B in terms of the different ionization energies of their acceptors.

Superconductivity in heavily boron-doped silicon carbide.

The discoveries of superconductivity in heavily boron-doped diamond in 2004 and silicon in 2006 have renewed the interest in the superconducting state of semiconductors. Charge-carrier doping of wide-gap semiconductors leads to a metallic phase from which upon further doping superconductivity can emerge. Recently, we discovered superconductivity in a closely related system: heavily boron-doped silicon carbide. The sample used for that study consisted of cubic and hexagonal SiC phase fractions and hence this led to the question which of them participated in the superconductivity. Here we studied a hexagonal SiC sample, free from cubic SiC phase by means of x-ray diffraction, resistivity, and ac susceptibility.

[A case of intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma successfully treated by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy].

The patient was a 67-year-old man who had been operated for eshophageal cancer 4 years ago. He was diagnosed as intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma by CT after 2 years of the operation. After admission to our hospital, he was treated by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with CDDP, levofolinate calcium (L-LV) and 5-FU with chronomodulation. After a few more months of the treatment, abdominal CT revealed that the size of hepatic tumor decreased remarkably. There were no side effects without bone marrow suppression (grade 1). It seemed that hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with chronomodulation may be an effective strategy against intrahepatic cholangiocarcinoma in high risk case.

[Assessment of efficacy of arterial infusion chemotherapy with gemcitabine for four cases of advanced pancreatic cancer].

We treated 4 cases of advanced pancreatic cancer: 2 cases were nonresectable and the other 2 cases did not choose an operation but arterial infusion chemotherapy with gemcitabine after the transcatheter peripancreatic arterial embolizaiton. One case resulted in a tumor decrease but the other 3 cases observed a tumor progress. Although we confirmed cancer pain suppression in all cases and a disappearance of tumor fever in one case, the survival period was 7 months in spite of the treatment. As for the complication of arterial infusion chemotherapy with gemcitabine, we recognized bone marrow suppression (grade 1) in 3 cases. This therapy seemed to be effective for suppression of pain and tumor fever caused from the advanced pancreatic cancer. However, we need to improve in survival period from this therapy.

[Utility of arterial infusion chemotherapy and radiation therapy for the pelvic local recurrence of rectal cancer].

We treated 3 cases of local pelvic recurrence due to a rectal cancer post operation by arterial infusion chemotherapy with 5-FU and levofolinate calcium and also by radiation therapy. The result of imaging analysis showed that a recurrent tumor was decreased effectively in 2 cases by chemo-radiation therapy. We confirmed the cancer pain and tumor bleeding were gone for all of the 3 cases. As for side effects of arterial infusion chemotherapy and radiation therapy, we confirmed a paralysis of the pelvic nerve in 1 case and dermatopathy in 1 case. This therapy seemed to be an effective treatment for elderly patients with inoperable cases.

[Successful treatment of liver metastasis and extrahepatic metastasis with hepatic arterial infusion of CDDP, CPT-11, and 5-FU].

A 63-year-old man, who had been operated with right hemicolectomy 1 year and 3 months ago, had giant liver metastasis, lung metastasis, and local dissemination tumor due to ascending colon cancer. He was treated by systemic chemotherapy with 5-FU and the treatment evaluation was PD on CT. After admission to our hospital, he was treated by hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with CDDP, CPT-11, and 5-FU. After 3 courses of the treatment, each recurrent lesion decreased on CT and the CEA level decreased. There were no side effects except mild diarrhea. We believe hepatic arterial infusion chemotherapy with CDDP, CPT-11, and 5-FU may be an effective strategy against liver metastasis and extrahepatic metastsis due to colon cancer.

[Effective transarterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy with paclitaxel (TXL) in a case of locally advanced breast cancer].

The patient was a 49-year-old woman who had locally advanced breast cancer with skin invasion. She was placed on neoadjuvant weekly systemic chemotherapy of TXL (65 mg/m2) and ADM (20 mg/m2). After systemic chemotherapy, she underwent 2 courses of transarterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy of TXL (day 1, 8, 15). We administered TXL (45 mg/m2) into the subclavian artery and TXL (20 mg/m2) into the internal thoracic artery. Although she experienced grade 3 leukopenia during systemic chemotherapy, she experienced only grade 2 alopecia and grade 1 nausea during transarterial chemotherapy. After chemotherapy, she underwent radical mastectomy. We report herein a case in which transarterial neoadjuvant chemotherapy with TXL was effective.