Gate-tuned anomalous Hall effect driven by Rashba splitting in intermixed LaAlO3/GdTiO3/SrTiO3.

The Anomalous Hall Effect (AHE) is an important quantity in determining the properties and understanding the behaviour of the two-dimensional electron system forming at the interface of SrTiO3-based oxide heterostructures. The occurrence of AHE is often interpreted as a signature of ferromagnetism, but it is becoming more and more clear that also paramagnets may contribute to AHE. We studied the influence of magnetic ions by measuring intermixed LaAlO3/GdTiO3/SrTiO3 at temperatures below 10 K. We find that, as function of gate voltage, the system undergoes a Lifshitz transition while at the same time an onset of AHE is observed. However, we do not observe clear signs of ferromagnetism. We argue the AHE to be due to the change in Rashba spin-orbit coupling at the Lifshitz transition and conclude that also paramagnetic moments which are easily polarizable at low temperatures and high magnetic fields lead to the presence of AHE, which needs to be taken into account when extracting carrier densities and mobilities.

Analysing magnetism using scanning SQUID microscopy.

Scanning superconducting quantum interference device microscopy (SSM) is a scanning probe technique that images local magnetic flux, which allows for mapping of magnetic fields with high field and spatial accuracy. Many studies involving SSM have been published in the last few decades, using SSM to make qualitative statements about magnetism. However, quantitative analysis using SSM has received less attention. In this work, we discuss several aspects of interpreting SSM images and methods to improve quantitative analysis. First, we analyse the spatial resolution and how it depends on several factors. Second, we discuss the analysis of SSM scans and the information obtained from the SSM data. Using simulations, we show how signals evolve as a function of changing scan height, SQUID loop size, magnetization strength, and orientation. We also investigated 2-dimensional autocorrelation analysis to extract information about the size, shape, and symmetry of magnetic features. Finally, we provide an outlook on possible future applications and improvements.

The periodic health examination in college students revisited.

The periodic health examination is a group of tasks carried out by physicians and nurses at regular intervals, but not always yearly, to determine either the risk of subsequent disease or to identify disease in its early, asymptomatic state. The Guide to Clinical Preventive Services, published in 1989 by the United States Preventive Services Task Force, sets common American standards for these procedures. The guide lists those preventive activities recommended for persons aged 19-39 years. Every patient encounter in our student health services should be considered an opportunity for preventive activities. This article offers a simple check list for office use.

Adapting the selective periodic health exam to a college-aged population. Joint American Preventive Services Task Force. Canadian Task Force on Health Care Screening.

The periodic health examination is a group of tasks carried out by physicians at regular intervals, but not always yearly. It is designed to determine either the risk of subsequent disease or to identify disease in its early, asymptomatic state. These tasks include immunizations, health promotion topics, and specific clinical screening maneuvers. This paper seeks to increase awareness of the extensive work being done by the Canadian Task Force on Health Care Screening and the Joint American Preventive Services Task Force in setting standards for the periodic health exam. The exam can be reviewed in the office and urgent-care setting or promoted in health education activities. Knowledge of the new standards for the periodic health exam can help in setting priorities for preventive activities in student health services. Implementation in the college-aged group will require cost considerations.

Prolonged suppression of a corticotropin-producing bronchial carcinoid by oral bromocriptine.

The addition of orally administered bromocriptine mesylate to cyproheptadine hydrochloride therapy completely normalized urinary-free cortisol levels for three months in a 21-year-old woman with Cushing's syndrome in whom results from standard dexamethasone suppression and metyrapone stimulation tests as well as baseline corticotropin levels were originally compatible with a diagnosis of an occult pituitary adenoma. When transsphenoidal exploration of the sella turcica was unsuccessful and hypercortisolism persisted, the source of corticotropin was discovered using petrosal sinus and venal caval catheterization. A 1 X 1.5-cm carcinoid tumor of the lung was identified and removed, thereby correcting the hypercortisolism. The tumor was demonstrated by immunoperoxidase staining to contain corticotropin. Orally administered bromocriptine, with or without cyproheptadine therapy, may be useful in the palliative treatment of some patients with carcinoid or other ectopic corticotropin-producing tumors. We postulate that bromocriptine therapy acted directly on carcinoid tumor cells to directly inhibit corticotropin production by a dopaminergic mechanism.

Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis in a woman with a multinodular goiter taking levothyroxine.

In a 63-year-old woman with a multinodular goiter who was receiving suppressive therapy with levothyroxine sodium, iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis developed after povidone-iodine was applied to the surface of a granulating hip wound. Signs and symptoms of apathetic thyrotoxicosis developed on two occasions, once within a week after exposure of the wound to povidone-iodine soaks and again following repeated Hubbard tank debridement with added povidone-iodine. Iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis was confirmed by markedly elevated serum thyroxine and serum and urine iodine levels. On eliminating the sources of exogenous iodine and inhibiting thyroxine biosynthesis with propylthiouracil, the process was gradually controlled. A year later the patient was taking no medication and was clinically and chemically euthyroid. Apparently, iodine-induced thyrotoxicosis can result from passive diffusion of iodine into autonomous thyroid tissue. Iodine-containing preparations given to patients with multinodular goiters may result in thyrotoxicosis even if thyrotropin is suppressed with exogenous thyroxine.

Myasthenia gravis and Schmidt syndrome.

A patient with myasthenia gravis developed both Addison disease and primary hypothyroidism, with demonstrable anti-adrenal and antithyroid antibodies in her serum. The association of myasthenia gravis with Schmidt syndrome does not seem to be a chance occurrence, considering the autoimmune pathogenesis of each of these disorders.

Sputum cytology: a valuable addition to the investigation of hypercalcemia.

In this paper we report two patients with asymptomatic hypercalcemia, one with primary and the other with ectopic hyperparathyroidism, in whom cytologic examination of the sputum led to the diagnosis of carcinoma of the lung despite the presence of normal chest roentgenograms. Sputum cytology is a simple, inexpensive and accurate test which should be included in the diagnostic regimen for hypercalcemia.