1,2-Bis(2-methyl-6-nitro-1-benzothiophen-3-yl)perfluorocyclopentene was found to undergo a reversible photochromic reaction in the single-crystalline phase. Upon irradiation with 366-nm light, the single crystal turned green with keeping the crystal shape. The colored crystal showed dichroism. When the crystal was rotated under polarized light, the color changed from yellow to blue. The yellow and blue colors were attributed to two perpendicular electronic transitions at 465 and 600 nm of the closed-ring form. The two transition moments coincide with the directions of short and long axes of the closed-ring form isomers, which were regularly packed in the crystal lattice.

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In April and May 2011, there was a serious food-poisoning outbreak in Japan caused by enterohemorrhagic Escherichia coli (EHEC) strains O111:H8 and O157:H7 from raw beef dishes at branches of a barbecue restaurant. This outbreak involved 181 infected patients, including 34 hemolytic-uremic syndrome (HUS) cases (19%). Among the 34 HUS patients, 21 developed acute encephalopathy (AE) and 5 died. Patient stool specimens yielded E. coli O111 and O157 strains. We also detected both EHEC O111 stx 2 and stx-negative E. coli O111 strains in a stock of meat block from the restaurant. Pulsed-field gel electrophoresis (PFGE) and multilocus variable-number tandem-repeat analysis (MLVA) showed that the stx-negative E. coli O111 isolates were closely related to EHEC O111 stx 2 isolates. Although the EHEC O157 strains had diverse stx gene profiles (stx 1 , stx 2 , and stx 1 stx 2 ), the PFGE and MLVA analyses indicated that these isolates originated from a single clone. Deletion of the Stx2-converting prophage from the EHEC O111 stx 2 isolates was frequently observed during in vitro growth, suggesting that strain conversion from an EHEC O111 stx 2 to an stx-negative strain may have occurred during infection.

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There is inconsistency between retrospective and prospective studies of generic AED substitution. The highest levels of evidence indicate that there should not be a problem with generic substitution, although some patients are more prone to problems with the generic products. Some evidence suggests that switches between multiple generic AED products in certain individuals may be problematic.

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Intraductal ultrasonography (IDUS), a new technique for visualizing arterial structures, operates at an ultra~ sound frequency of 30 MHz to produce high resolution, cross-sectional images in real time. The purpose of this study was to provide a basis for interpreting IDUS images in vitro. We also attempted to determine the clinical usefulness of the IDUS system in diagnosing pancreatobiliary diseases in vivo. IDUS echograms of both the bile duct (BD) and main pancreatic duct (MPD) from autopsy specimens of 15 patients demonstrated I ntraductal ultrasonography (IDUS) imaging has been developed as a new technique for visualizing arterial structures. 1 -4 Nonvascular use of intraluminal ultrasound technology has also been reported recently . .u This system operates at considerably higher frequencies than current ultrasonographic systems to produce high-resolution cross-sectional images in real time. We employed JDUS during endoscopy to visualize the bile duct (BD) and main pancreatic duct (MPD) both in vitro and in vivo. We specifically used a novel transpapillary approach that would not require endo- three distinct layers with a fine reticular pattern in the pancreas in vitro. In clinical cases, the MPD and BD of four patients could be scanned by inserting the IDUS catheter via the major papilla without requiring endoscopic sphincterotomy. We hope that IDUS will become routine in scanning the BD and MPD to achieve early and accurate diagnoses of pancreatobiliary diseases. KEY WORDS: Intraductal ultrasound; Bile duct; Main pancreatic duct; Ultrasound; Pancreas. scopic sphincterotomy, reducing the risk of retrograde infection.The purpose of this study was to provide a basis for interpreting sonograms by comparing them with corresponding histopathologic sections. We also at• tempted to determine the clinical usefulness of the IDUS system in diagnosing pancreatobiliary diseases in vivo.