Detectability of colorectal neoplasia with fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-D-glucose positron emission tomography and computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT)

The purpose of this study was to analyze the detectability of colorectal neoplasia with fluorine-18-2-fluoro-2-deoxy-d-glucose positron emission tomography/computed tomography (FDG-PET/CT). Data for a total of 492 patients who had undergone both PET/CT and colonoscopy were analyzed. After the findings of PET/CT and colonoscopy were determined independently, the results were compared in each of the six colonic sites examined in all patients. The efficacy of PET/CT was determined using colonoscopic examination as the gold standard. In all, 270 colorectal lesions 5 mm or more in size, including 70 pathologically confirmed malignant lesions, were found in 172 patients by colonoscopy. The sensitivity and specificity of PET/CT for detecting any of the colorectal lesions were 36 and 98%, respectively. For detecting lesions 11 mm or larger, the sensitivity was increased to 85%, with the specificity remaining consistent (97%). Moreover, the sensitivity for tumors 21 mm or larger was 96% (48/50). Tumors with malignant or high-grade pathology were likely to be positive with PET/CT. A size of 10 mm or smaller [odds ratio (OR) 44.14, 95% confidence interval (95% CI) 11.44-221.67] and flat morphology (OR 7.78, 95% CI 1.79-36.25) were significant factors that were associated with false-negative cases on PET/CT. The sensitivity of PET/CT for detecting colorectal lesions is acceptable, showing size- and pathology-dependence, suggesting, for the most part, that clinically relevant lesions are detectable with PET/CT. However, when considering PET/CT for screening purposes caution must be exercised because there are cases of false-negative results

Effect of position and volume of spaceoccupying liver lesions on liver function index in 99mTc-GSA scintigraphy

Background: The authors aimed to elucidate the effect of liver space-occupying lesions (SOL) on the quantitative index of the hepatic reserve, calculated using the dynamic planar image (LHLplanar), and a three-dimensional quantitative index (LHLSPECT) calculated using quantitative combined modality single-photon emission computed tomography (SPECT/CT). Material and Methods: Water balloons of different volumes that simulated liver SOL were placed in various positions in the combined cardiac-liver phantom to examine the effects of liver SOL on visualization and quantitative indicators (LHLplanar and LHLSPECT). A 200 mL water balloon was placed in the anterior right, posterior right, left medial and left lateral lobes in the liver phantom to compare LHLplanar and LHLSPECT values with and without liver SOL at each position. Subsequently, volumes of those in the front of the right lobe were changed to 50 mL, 100 mL, 200 mL, and 400 mL, followed by statistically comparing LHLplanar and LHLSPECT values in the presence and absence of liver SOL. Results: Despite the variation in the degree of defect accumulation with the location of the balloon when using frontal planar imaging, quantitative SPECT/CT imaging identified all defects. Multiple comparison analysis revealed that unlike LHLSPECT, the LHLplanar values changed according to liver SOL position and volume. Conclusions: Liver SOL position and volume may affect the hepatic reserve assessments performed using LHLplanar values. In contrast, LHLSPECT is calculated using quantitative SPECT/CT and considers the effects of scattering and attenuation corrections. Therefore, LHLSPECT is a more accurate quantitative indicator of hepatic reserve than LHLplanar and is expected to facilitate future clinical research

Enantioselective Total Synthesis of (+)-Sieboldine A

The first total synthesis of (+)-sieboldine A was completed starting from 5-(<i>p</i>-methoxybenzyloxy)­pentyne in 19 steps. The enantioselective Keck allylation provided the dienyne derivative, which was exposed to the Pauson–Khand conditions to afford the bicyclo[4.3.0]­nonenone derivative with high stereoselectivity with an ee value of 93%. The following Ueno–Stork reaction formed the <i>cis</i>-hydrindane core with a quaternary carbon center. The late-stage Schmidt glycosylation led to the formation of the <i>N</i>-hydroxyazacyclononane ring

S-Protected Cysteine Sulfoxide-Enabled Tryptophan-Selective Modification with Application to Peptide Lipidation

Lipidation of peptides is a promising means of modification that can improve the therapeutic character of biologically active peptides. Here a novel lipidation protocol for peptides is described. The C−H sulfenylation of indole in peptides using S-p-methoxybenzyl cysteine sulfoxide under acidic conditions in the presence of ammonium chloride, anisole and triisopropylsilane enables late-stage tryptophan-selective peptide lipidation. This developed protocol has been used successfully for the lipidation of glucagon-like peptides. Oral glucose tolerance tests in wild-type mice indicated that the resulting lipidated peptides stimulate insulin secretion and exhibit a more long-lasting blood-glucose-lowering effect than a parent non-lipidated peptide

Direct association of heat shock protein 20 (HSPB6) with phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K) in human hepatocellular carcinoma: regulation of the PI3K activity.

HSP20 (HSPB6), one of small heat shock proteins (HSPs), is constitutively expressed in various tissues and has several functions. We previously reported that the expression levels of HSP20 in human hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) cells inversely correlated with the progression of HCC, and that HSP20 suppresses the growth of HCC cells via the AKT and mitogen-activated protein kinase signaling pathways. However, the exact mechanism underlying the effect of HSP20 on the regulation of these signaling pathways remains to be elucidated. To clarify the details of this effect in HCC, we explored the direct targets of HSP20 in HCC using human HCC-derived HuH7 cells with HSP20 overexpression. HSP20 proteins in the HuH7 cells were coimmunoprecipitated with the p85 regulatory subunit and p110 catalytic subunit of phosphoinositide 3-kinase (PI3K), an upstream kinase of AKT. Although HSP20 overexpression in HCC cells failed to affect the expression levels of PI3K, the activity of PI3K in the unstimulated cells and even in the transforming growth factor-α stimulated cells were downregulated by HSP20 overexpression. The association of HSP20 with PI3K was also observed in human HCC tissues in vivo. These findings strongly suggest that HSP20 directly associates with PI3K and suppresses its activity in HCC, resulting in the inhibition of the AKT pathway, and subsequently decreasing the growth of HCC

From the Luzon Strait to the Tsushima Strait: Water masses and nutrient transport approached using 137Cs

More than 95% of the water flowing into the Sea of Japan comes from the Tsushima Strait, and 80% of it is Kuroshio Intimidate Water (KIW), which is rich in nutrients compared with Kuroshio surface Water and Kuroshio Tropical Water. However, there is a lack of direct evidence based on surveys or measurement data. Cs-137 in the subtropical mode water (STMW) that originated in the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (FNPP1) accident is an excellent tracer which can be transported from the Kuroshio upstream to the Sea of Japan crossing the shelf edge of the East China Sea (ECS) via the KIW. It is also useful for research on the transport of nutrients from the KIW.Data and water samples were collected during the Hakuho-Maru KH-17-5 Cruise and the Nagasaki-Maru 464 Cruise in November and July 2017, respectively. Data from the KH-17-5 Cruise was used for the study of the area around the Luzon Strait and those of the Nagasaki-maru 464 Cruise was used for the study of area around the outer shelf region of the East China Sea and the Tsushima Strait. The Cs-137 active concentration was analyzed by γ-Ray spectrometry after preconcentration. The turbulence intensity was measured using TurboMAP and VMP2000.The maximum Cs-137 concentration shows the existence of the subtropical mode water (STMW) in the Luzon Strait, the ECS and the Tsushima Strait, respectively, at the similar density (25.2-25.7 kg/m3), temperature (15-17℃) and salinity (34.60-34.75). Although their depth changes from 400 m in the Luzon Strait to 150 m at the shelf edge of the ECS and 100m in the East Channel of the Tsushima Strait, they can all be identified as the KIW because of the similar density. It is noteworthy that around Luzon Strait, the distribution of Cs-137 is influenced by strong vertical mixing. The percentage of nutrients transported to the Sea of Japan by KIW is estimated and this is meaningful to the ecosystem of the Sea of Japan.日本地球惑星科学連合2019年大

Vertical fluxes of nutrients enhanced by strong turbulence and phytoplankton bloom around the ocean ridge in the Luzon Strait

Abstract Steep oceanic ridges and tidal currents in the Luzon Strait generate some of the world’s strongest turbulent mixing. To evaluate the impacts of the turbulence intensity on the marine ecosystem, we carried out measurements of microstructure turbulence and biogeochemical hydrography along 21°N in the Luzon Strait during the R/V Hakuho Maru cruise, KH-17-5-2, in November 2017. We found a turbulent kinetic energy dissipation rate exceeding O(10−7) W kg−1 and vertical eddy diffusivity exceeding O(10−3) m2 s−1, two orders of magnitude larger than those in the open ocean, above a shallow sub-ridge on the eastern ridge of the Luzon Strait. In addition, a clear chlorophyll a bloom was identified in the surface layer above the sub-ridge from in situ measurements and satellite observations. High values of nitrate (4.7 mmol N m−2 d−1) and phosphate (0.33 mmol P m−2 d−1) fluxes estimated near the base of the surface chlorophyll a bloom strongly suggest that enhanced turbulent mixing promotes nutrient supply to the euphotic zone and generates new production within the surface layer, contributing to the formation of a quasi-permanent local chlorophyll a bloom north of Itbayat Island on the eastern ridge