Supercurrents on Asymmetric Orbifolds

We study $E_8 \times E_8$-heterotic string on asymmetric orbifolds associated with semi-simple simply-laced Lie algebras. Using the fact that $E_6$-model allows different twists, we present a new N=1 space-time supersymmetric model whose supercurrent appears from twisted sectors but not untwisted sector.Comment: 7 pages, Latex, KOBE-TH-93-0

Brain Dp140 alters glutamatergic transmission and social behaviour in the mdx52 mouse model of Duchenne muscular dystrophy

Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD) is a muscle disorder caused by DMD mutations and is characterized by neurobehavioural comorbidities due to dystrophin deficiency in the brain. The lack of Dp140, a dystrophin short isoform, is clinically associated with intellectual disability and autism spectrum disorders (ASDs), but its postnatal functional role is not well understood. To investigate synaptic function in the presence or absence of brain Dp140, we utilized two DMD mouse models, mdx23 and mdx52 mice, in which Dp140 is preserved or lacking, respectively. ASD-like behaviours were observed in pups and 8-week-old mdx52 mice lacking Dp140. Paired-pulse ratio of excitatory postsynaptic currents, glutamatergic vesicle number in basolateral amygdala neurons, and glutamatergic transmission in medial prefrontal cortex-basolateral amygdala projections were significantly reduced in mdx52 mice compared to those in wild-type and mdx23 mice. ASD-like behaviour and electrophysiological findings in mdx52 mice were ameliorated by restoration of Dp140 following intra-cerebroventricular injection of antisense oligonucleotide drug-induced exon 53 skipping or intra-basolateral amygdala administration of Dp140 mRNA-based drug. Our results implicate Dp140 in ASD-like behaviour via altered glutamatergic transmission in the basolateral amygdala of mdx52 mice

Association between psychosocial factors at work and health outcomes after retirement: a protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

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Psychosocial factors at work and inflammatory markers: protocol for a systematic review and meta-analysis

Introduction Chronic inflammation may be a mediator for the development of cardiovascular disease (CVD), metabolic diseases and psychotic and neurodegenerative disorders. Meta-analytic associations between work-related psychosocial factors and inflammatory markers have shown that work-related psychosocial factors could affect the flexibility and balance of the immune system. However, few systematic reviews or meta-analyses have investigated the association between work-related psychosocial factors and inflammatory markers. Based on prospective studies, the present investigation will conduct a comprehensive systematic review and meta-analysis of the association between work-related psychosocial factors and inflammatory markers.Methods and analysis The systematic review and meta-analysis will include published studies identified from electronic databases (PubMed, EMBASE, PsycINFO, PsycARTICLES, Web of Science and Japan Medical Abstracts Society) according to recommendations of the Meta-analysis of Observational Studies in Epidemiology guideline. Inclusion criteria are studies that: examined associations between work-related psychosocial factors and increased inflammatory markers; used longitudinal or prospective cohort designs; were conducted among workers; provided sufficient data for calculating ORs or relative risk with 95% CIs; were published as original articles in English or Japanese; and were published up to the end of 2017. Study selection, data extraction, quality assessment and statistical syntheses will be conducted by 14 investigators. Any inconsistencies or disagreements will be resolved through discussion. The quality of studies will be evaluated using the Risk of Bias Assessment Tool for Non-randomized Studies.Ethics and dissemination The investigation study will be based on published studies, so ethics approval is not required. The results of this study will be submitted for publication in a scientific peer-reviewed journal. The findings may be useful for assessing risk factors for increased inflammatory markers in the workplace and determining future approaches for preventing CVD, metabolic diseases and psychotic and neurodegenerative disorders

Sex differences in the safety of S‐1 plus oxaliplatin and S‐1 plus cisplatin for patients with metastatic gastric cancer

Previous studies have shown sex‐related differences in the incidence of adverse events following treatment with fluoropyrimidines, however the mechanism of this difference is unknown. We examined sex‐related differences in the safety of S‐1 plus oxaliplatin (SOX) and S‐1 plus cisplatin (CS) in 663 metastatic gastric cancer patients taking part in a phase III study. The incidences of leukopenia (odds ratio [OR] 1.9; P = .015), neutropenia (OR 2.2; P = .002), nausea (OR 2.0; P = .009), and vomiting (OR 2.8; P < .001) were increased in women versus men treated with SOX, while vomiting (OR 2.9; P < .001) and stomatitis (OR 1.8; P = .043) were increased in women versus men treated with CS. In contrast, male patients treated with CS experienced thrombocytopenia more often (OR 0.51; P = .009). The mean relative dose intensity of S‐1 in SOX was 75.4% in women and 81.4% in men (P = .032). No difference in efficacy was observed between women and men undergoing either regimen. Sex‐related differences in adverse reactions during SOX and CS treatment were confirmed in this phase III study. Further translational research studies are warranted to pursue the cause of this difference

A dialysis patient with multiple intestinal diverticula in whom partial penetration was recognized.

　小腸憩室は比較的稀な疾患で，多くが無症状で経過するが，穿孔した場合は腸間膜内に穿通し膿瘍形成をきたす．高齢者に多く，その診断および治療の遅れから重篤な経過をたどることも少なくない．その診断にはコンピュータ断層撮影（CT）が有用とされているが，穿孔部位や憩室の特定は困難とされ，術前に指摘できるものは決して多くない．透析患者では高リン血症に対し陰イオン交換樹脂剤などが一般的に使用されるが，消化管穿孔の注意が記載されている．今回我々は，透析患者の腸管穿孔の原因検索に体外式超音波（US）が有用であった１例を経験したので，文献的考察を含めて報告する．症例は70歳台男性，18年前から血液透析を行っている．10日前に発熱で近医を受診し，保存的に経過を見ていたが炎症反応の上昇を認め当院紹介受診した．身体所見は心窩部付近に軽度の圧痛を認めたが腹膜刺激兆候は明らかでなかった．単純 CT で消化管外の free air が疑われ，精査目的に US が行われた．US では空腸に多発している憩室と，憩室周囲の膿瘍形成およびその内部の free air と思われる点状高エコーが認められ，小腸憩室穿通と診断した．同日小腸切除術が行われ，病理組織学的検索の結果，US と同様の所見であった．また穿通した憩室にセベラマー結節が認められ，憩室穿通に関与した可能性が示唆された．US は透析患者における憩室穿通の診断に有用である．　Jejunal diverticula (JD) are considered to be rare and are asymptomatic in most cases. However, they are potentially associated with serious complications, such as diverticulitis and perforation/penetration, especially in the elderly. In the event of perforation/ penetration, JD usually penetrates the mesentery, resulting in the formation of an abscess in the mesentery, which is difficult to diagnose, because there are no specific signs. Anion exchange resin agents, such as sevelamer hydrochloride (SH), are often used for hyperphosphatemia in dialysis patients, but the package insert cautions against the development of the adverse effect of gastrointestinal perforation. Herein, we report a case in which abdominal ultrasonography (US) was useful for the diagnosis of jejunal diverticular penetration in a hemodialysis patient. The patient was a male in his 70s who had been on hemodialysis for 18 years and was receiving SH 2.25g/day. He presented to a neighborhood hospital with a 10-days’history of fever. The fever did not improve with conservative therapy, and the patient was referred to our hospital. Physical examination revealed mild epigastric tenderness, but there were no signs of peritoneal irritation. Computed tomography (CT) was performed, and the presence of free air was suspected. Abdominal US performed subsequently showed multiple jejunal diverticula and abscess formation around the diverticulum. Furthermore, free air was recognized in the abscess, which was finally diagnosed as a mesenteric abscess complicating JD penetration. On the same day, jejunal resection was performed and histopathological examination of the surgical specimen revealed findings consistent with the US findings. Histopathology revealed sevelamer crystals in the penetrated diverticulum. US is useful for the diagnosis of penetration of JD in dialysis patients

Diagnostic yield of transabdominal ultrasonography of pancreatic solid pseudopapillary neoplasm: a case report

　症例は10歳代，女性．主訴は左上腹部痛．部活中に腹部を強打し，左上腹部痛が出現した．食物残渣様嘔吐も認め，当院に救急搬送された．当院搬送時，左上腹部に疼痛及び圧痛を認めたが，反跳痛はなかった．当院搬送時の血液検査は白血球8,950 /μl，アミラーゼ204 U/l と高値を示していた．体外式腹部超音波検査では膵体部に76.1×68.1 mm 大の境界明瞭な被膜を伴う類円形腫瘤を認めた．周囲臓器への浸潤所見は認めず，腫瘍内部は不整で一部無エコー領域を伴い，ペルフルブタン（ソナゾイド ®）による造影超音波検査では腫瘍内部の血流は乏しい所見であった．超音波内視鏡検査所見も体外式腹部超音波検査と同様であった．以上より，腫瘍内出血を伴った solidpseudopapillary neoplasm（SPN）が最も考えられた．第10病日に膵体尾部切除術を施行し，術後経過は良好である．腹部打撲を契機に偶然発見され，体外式腹部超音波検査が質的診断に有用であった膵 SPN を経験したので文献的考察を加えて報告する．　We report a teenage girl with a solid pseudopapillary neoplasm (SPN) of the pancreas. The patient was transported to our hospital by ambulance and presented with left-sided abdominal pain after sustaining abdominal trauma during sports activities. Her white blood cell count (8950 cells/μl) and serum amylase level were increased (204 U/l) on admission. Transabdominal ultrasonography showed a well-encapsulated, complex pancreatic body mass measuring 76.1 × 68.1 mm with solid and cystic components. Contrastenhanced ultrasonography using Perflubutane (Sonazoid®) revealed poor contrast inside the tumor. Abdominal computed tomography and magnetic resonance imaging revealed similar findings. Partial pancreatectomy was performed 10 days after admission. The gross appearance of the resected specimen revealed mixed cystic and solid components with thick walls, and microscopy revealed the characteristic pseudopapillary pattern of SPN. The patient’s postoperative course proceeded well without recurrence as of this report. The imaging features of transabdominal ultrasonography and contrast-enhanced ultrasonography are useful to diagnose SPN. We discussed this patient’s detailed information and reviewed the related literature in this report