経皮的冠動脈インターベンションにおけるステント血栓症発症に特徴的なステント留置後の光干渉断層法の冠動脈内の所見

Background:The association between unfavorable post-stent optical coherence tomography (OCT) findings and subsequent stent thrombosis (ST) remains unclear. This study investigated the ST-related characteristics of post-stent OCT findings at index percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI). Methods and Results:Fifteen patients with ST onset after OCT-guided PCI (ST group) were retrospectively enrolled. Post-stent OCT findings in the ST group were compared with those in 70 consecutive patients (reference group) without acute coronary syndrome onset for at least 5 years after OCT-guided PCI. The incidence of acute myocardial infarction (AMI) was higher in the ST than reference group (60.0% vs. 17.1%, respectively; P=0.0005). The incidence of incomplete stent apposition (93.3% vs. 55.7%; P=0.0064), irregular protrusion (IP; 93.3% vs. 62.8%; P=0.0214), and thrombus (93.3% vs. 51.4%; P=0.0028) was significantly higher in the ST than reference group. The maximum median (interquartile range) IP arc was significantly larger in the ST than reference group (265° [217°–360°] vs. 128° [81.4°–212°], respectively; P180° was significantly higher in the ST than reference group (100% vs. 58.3%, respectively; P=0.0265). Conclusions:IP with a large arc was a significant feature on post-stent OCT in patients with ST.博士（医学）・甲第868号・令和5年3月15

Correlations between Oxidative Stress and Blood Lipids Are Stronger in Men than Women

Oxidative stress is one cause of atherosclerosis that makes it a lifestyle-related disease. Oxidized low-density lipoprotein （OxLDL） was previously found to be related to oxidative stress, measured using the diacron-reactive oxygen metabolites （d-ROMs） test and showed a negative correlation between biological antioxidant potential （BAP） test results and triglycerides （TG）. In addition, large gender differences exist among vascular disorders caused by arteriosclerosis. However, such gender differences and their correlation with oxidative stress and blood lipids have not been clarified. In this study, gender differences in correlations between oxidative stress and blood lipids as factors in the development of atherosclerosis was addressed. Subjects were 149 individuals who underwent medical examinations conducted in Ashikaga Teishin Clinic in Tochigi, Japan （98 males and 51 females）. A strong positive correlation was observed between d-ROMs test results and OxLDL in men （R＝0.480, P<0.0001）, but no correlation was seen in women. A strong negative correlation between BAP test results and TG was also noted in men （R＝−0.571, P<0.0001）, and a moderate negative correlation was detected in women （R＝−0.344, P＝0.0133）. A positive correlation between d-ROMs tests and OxLDL was seen in women under 50 years of age （R＝0.399, P＝0.0393）, but this correlation was not present in women who were 50 years of age or older （R＝−0.00656, P＝0.976）. Correlations between oxidative stress and OxLDL and between antioxidant potential and TG in men were more prominent than in women. This finding suggests that decreasing oxidative stress in the blood to prevent atherosclerosis is more important for men

Combination of plasma MMPs and PD-1-binding soluble PD-L1 predicts recurrence in gastric cancer and the efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors in non-small cell lung cancer

BackgroundThe tumor microenvironment (TME) impacts the therapeutic efficacy of immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). No liquid biomarkers are available to evaluate TME heterogeneity. Here, we investigated the clinical significance of PD-1-binding soluble PD-L1 (bsPD-L1) in gastric cancer (GC) patients and non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients treated with PD-1/PD-L1 blockade.MethodsWe examined bsPD-L1, matrix metalloproteinases (MMPs), and IFN-γ levels in plasma samples from GC patients (n = 117) prior to surgery and NSCLC patients (n = 72) prior to and 2 months after ICI treatment. We also examined extracellular matrix (ECM) integrity, PD-L1 expression, and T cell infiltration in tumor tissues from 25 GC patients by Elastica Masson-Goldner staining and immunohistochemical staining for PD-L1 and CD3, respectively.ResultsbsPD-L1 was detected in 17/117 GC patients and 16/72 NSCLC patients. bsPD-L1 showed strong or moderate correlations with plasma MMP13 or MMP3 levels, respectively, in both GC and NSCLC patients. bsPD-L1 expression in GC was associated with IFN-γ levels and intra-tumoral T cell infiltration, whereas MMP13 levels were associated with loss of ECM integrity, allowing tumor cells to access blood vessels. Plasma MMP3 and MMP13 levels were altered during ICI treatment. Combined bsPD-L1 and MMP status had higher predictive accuracy to identify two patient groups with favorable and poor prognosis than tumor PD-L1 expression: bsPD-L1+MMP13high in GC and bsPD-L1+(MMP3 and MMP13)increased in NSCLC were associated with poor prognosis, whereas bsPD-L1+MMP13low in GC and bsPD-L1+(MMP3 or MMP13)decreased in NSCLC were associated with favorable prognosis.ConclusionPlasma bsPD-L1 and MMP13 levels indicate T cell response and loss of ECM integrity, respectively, in the TME. The combination of bsPD-L1 and MMPs may represent a non-invasive tool to predict recurrence in GC and the efficacy of ICIs in NSCLC

Submicroscopic Deletions at 13q32.1 Cause Congenital Microcoria.

International audienceCongenital microcoria (MCOR) is a rare autosomal-dominant disorder characterized by inability of the iris to dilate owing to absence of dilator pupillae muscle. So far, a dozen MCOR-affected families have been reported worldwide. By using whole-genome oligonucleotide array CGH, we have identified deletions at 13q32.1 segregating with MCOR in six families originating from France, Japan, and Mexico. Breakpoint sequence analyses showed nonrecurrent deletions in 5/6 families. The deletions varied from 35 kbp to 80 kbp in size, but invariably encompassed or interrupted only two genes: TGDS encoding the TDP-glucose 4,6-dehydratase and GPR180 encoding the G protein-coupled receptor 180, also known as intimal thickness-related receptor (ITR). Unlike TGDS which has no known function in muscle cells, GPR180 is involved in the regulation of smooth muscle cell growth. The identification of a null GPR180 mutation segregating over two generations with iridocorneal angle dysgenesis, which can be regarded as a MCOR endophenotype, is consistent with the view that deletions of this gene, with or without the loss of elements regulating the expression of neighboring genes, are the cause of MCOR

Visualizing structural dynamics of thylakoid membranes.

To optimize photosynthesis, light-harvesting antenna proteins regulate light energy dissipation and redistribution in chloroplast thylakoid membranes, which involve dynamic protein reorganization of photosystems I and II. However, direct evidence for such protein reorganization has not been visualized in live cells. Here we demonstrate structural dynamics of thylakoid membranes by live cell imaging in combination with deconvolution. We observed chlorophyll fluorescence in the antibiotics-induced macrochloroplast in the moss Physcomitrella patens. The three-dimensional reconstruction uncovered the fine thylakoid membrane structure in live cells. The time-lapse imaging shows that the entire thylakoid membrane network is structurally stable, but the individual thylakoid membrane structure is flexible in vivo. Our observation indicates that grana serve as a framework to maintain structural integrity of the entire thylakoid membrane network. Both the structural stability and flexibility of thylakoid membranes would be essential for dynamic protein reorganization under fluctuating light environments

Toward understanding the multiple spatiotemporal dynamics of chlorophyll fluorescence.

Dynamic reorganization of photosystems I and II is suggested to occur in chloroplast thylakoid membranes to maintain the efficiency of photosynthesis under fluctuating light conditions. To directly observe the process in action, live-cell imaging techniques are necessary. Using live-cell imaging, we have shown that the fine thylakoid structures in the moss Physcomitrella patens are flexible in time. However, the spatiotemporal resolution of a conventional confocal microscopy limits more precise visualization of entire thylakoid structures and understanding of the structural dynamics. Here, we discuss the issues related to observing chlorophyll fluorescence at multiple spatiotemporal scales in vivo and in vitro

エタン，プロパンおよびイソブタンの脱水素により析出した大量の炭素に覆われたアルミナ担持酸化ニッケルの触媒再生

Improvement in the dehydrogenations of ethane, propane, and isobutane over alumina-supported nickel oxides occurs together with the formation of large amounts of carbon deposits with time-on-stream, but catalyst activity is decreased with an additional increase in time-on-stream. This improvement in activity is due to metallic nickel formation that is highly dispersed over carbon nanotube-like deposits. However, the activity decreases as this highly dispersed metallic nickel is further covered with carbon deposits. We describe the use of oxygen treatment to regenerate the catalyst. Oxygen treatment to remove carbon deposits generally results in a less active catalyst due to sintering of the active species. However, we speculated that sintered nickel oxide could form carbon nanotubes in the proposed system, and that the formation of highly dispersed nickel over the nanotubes would regenerate the catalyst. To prove this hypothesis, dehydrogenations of ethane, propane, and isobutane were investigated using 18, 15, and 20 % nickel oxide supported on γ-alumina, respectively. We confirmed regeneration of the catalytic activity via oxygen treatment during subsequent dehydrogenations.アルミナ担持酸化ニッケル触媒によるエタン，プロパン，およびイソブタンの脱水素化では，通塔時間に伴う炭素析出の形成とともに，触媒活性の向上が観察されることが報告されている。この改善挙動はカーボンナノチューブ状析出物上に高分散状態で形成される金属ニッケルに起因されるが，さらに通塔時間を長くすると，カーボンナノチューブ状析出物が通常の炭素析出物によって覆われ，活性が低下する。本稿では，活性が低下したアルミナ担持酸化ニッケルを酸素処理により再生した結果について述べた。 炭素堆積物を除去するために酸素処理を用いると，活性種のシンタリングより，触媒活性成分が低分散化され，活性が低下することが一般に知られている。しかしながら，本触媒系では，酸素処理でシンタリングした低分散の酸化ニッケルが形成されたとしても，再度接触反応に用いると，そこからカーボンナノチューブが形成され，このナノチューブ上に高分散状態で金属ニッケルが形成され，良好な触媒活性が再生されることが期待される。この仮説を証明するために，エタン，プロパン，およびイソブタンの脱水素化を，γ-アルミナに酸化ニッケルを18 %，15 %，および 20 %担持した触媒を用いて検討した。その結果，これら3種類のアルカンの脱水素に対して，本稿で提案した酸素処理による触媒活性の再生が良好に行われることが明らかになった

Conservative treatment for isolated dissection of the superior mesenteric artery: Report of two cases

Introduction: Isolated spontaneous dissection of the superior mesenteric artery (SMA) is rare and a treatment strategy has not been established yet. In this paper, we present our experience with two cases and review the literature. Presentation of case: Both cases were treated conservatively as they did not show signs of bowel ischemia. They were symptom free with no evidence of disease progression after a median follow-up of 3.5 years. Discussion: There are three methods for the treatment of isolated SMA dissection; observation with medical therapy, endovascular surgery, and open surgery. Most patients with isolated SMA dissection can be treated with observation alone. Although the indications for surgery are still controversial, patients with bowel ischemia should undergo invasive treatment in the form of either endovascular or open surgery. Conclusion: We recommend observation with medical therapy as the first choice for isolated SMA dissection. However, long term follow-up is necessary as the extent of the dissection may change over time