Immunologic Significance of CD80/CD86 or Major Histocompatibility Complex-II Expression in Thymic Epithelial Tumors

Introduction: Unresectable or recurrent thymic epithelial tumors (TETs) have a poor prognosis, and treatment options are limited. This study aimed to investigate the immunologic significance of CD80/CD86 or major histocompatibility complex class II (MHC-II) expression in TETs, as potential predictive biomarkers for immune checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). Methods: We analyzed CD80, CD86, MHC class I (MHC-I), and MHC-II expression in TETs using immunohistochemistry and investigated their association with T-cell infiltration or ICI efficacy. In addition, we generated CD80- or MHC-II–expressing mouse tumors, evaluated the effects of ICIs, and analyzed tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes. We also performed tumor-rechallenge experiments in vivo. Results: We found that approximately 50% and 30% of TETs had high expression of CD80/CD86 and MHC-II in tumor cells, respectively, and that this expression was related to T-cell infiltration in clinical samples. In mouse models, both CD80 and MHC-II increase the effects of ICIs. In addition, senescent T cells and long-lived memory precursor effector T cells were significantly decreased and increased, respectively, in tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes from CD80-expressing tumors, and rechallenged tumors were completely rejected after the initial eradication of CD80-expressing tumors by programmed cell death protein 1 blockade. Indeed, patients with CD80-high thymic carcinoma had longer progression-free survival with anti–programmed cell death protein 1 monoclonal antibody. Conclusions: Half of the TETs had high expression of CD80/CD86 or MHC-II with high T-cell infiltration. These molecules could potentially increase the effects of ICIs, particularly inducing a durable response. CD80/CD86 and MHC-II can be predictive biomarkers of ICIs in TETs, promoting the development of drugs for such TETs

Tensile Properties of Optical Fiber Irradiated by Low Voltage Electron Beam Homogeneously

Homogeneous low voltage electron beam irradiation (HLEBI) with small dose of 0.30 to 1.17 MGy enhanced the elasticity indicated by the initial and maximum slope values of stressstrain curves ((d·/d¾) i and (d·/d¾) max ) of 250 µm diameter optical fiber (OF), which was constructed with both core (10 µm diameter) and clad (125 µm diameter) silica glasses covered with acryl-urethane sheath (62.5 µm thickness). The highest (d·/d¾) i and (d·/d¾) max values of 5.3 and 5.9 GPa, which were about 10 and 20% higher than those (4.8 and 4.9 GPa) before irradiation, were found at 0.104 MGy, respectively. Moreover, remarkable effects of HLEBI of 0.65 MGy on both tensile strength (· f ) and fracture strain (¾ f ) of OF were obtained at each fracture probability (P f ) value. Since HLEBI also enhanced the density of dangling bonds of each material of OF, effects of compressive stress on pull-out resistance and elasticity enhancements of fiber and sheath probably occurred. Thus, 0.64 MGy-HLEBI enhanced the (d·/d¾) i and (d·/d¾) max as well as ¾ f , resulting in enhancement of · f of OF

Reisolation of the Pathogens from Wilted Red Pine Seedings Inoculated with the Bacterium-carrying Nematode, and the Cause of Difference in Pathogenicity among Pine Wood Nematode Isolates

This paper shows that aseptic red pine seedings inoculated with the aseptic nematode (AOKD-3) carrying the bacterium (Bacillus cereus strain HY-3) and the bacterium (HY-3) do not. These findings indicate that the phenylacetic acid producers accompanying the nematode are the pathogen of the pine wilt, conforming to Koch's four principles. The fact that the weakly pathogenic isolate of nematode cannot so effectively wilt the sedding as the strongly pathogenic isolate, no matter how pathogenic a bacterium accompanies it, suggests that inherent characters such as mobility and propagation of the nematode are also important for thenematode to wilt the seedling.著者らはすでに、マツ材線虫病の真の病原体はマツノザイセンチュウによって搬入されるフェニル酢酸生産細菌であることを提唱し、さらに無菌化した強病原性分離系統のマツノザイセンチュウAOKD-3を接種した無菌アカマツ実生は萎凋しないことを示すことによって、本萎凋病の真の病原体はフェニル酢酸生産細菌であることを立証した。本報では、無菌にしたOKD-3(AOKD-3)に、再びフェニル酢酸生産細菌を保持させてアカマツの無菌実生に接種すれば、萎凋した実生からセンチュウおよびフェニル酢酸生産細菌を再分離することによって、フェニル酢酸生産細菌を保持したマツノザイセンチュウの病原性をコッホ氏の四原則にのっとって確認した。一方、マツノザイセンチュウの弱病原性分離系統は、フェニル酢酸生産細菌を保持してもなお、強病原性分離系統に比べ、萎凋率が低いことうを明らかにした。したがって、萎凋すなわち、マツ材線虫病の発現には、フェニル酢酸生産細菌のマツノザイセンチュウへの随伴に加えて、マツノザイセンチュウの各分離系統の固有の性質、たとえば運動性（移動力）、増殖力などが大きく関与していることを強く示唆した

Reisolation of the Pathogens from Wilted Red Pine Seedings Inoculated with the Bacterium-carrying Nematode, and the Cause of Difference in Pathogenicity among Pine Wood Nematode Isolates

This paper shows that aseptic red pine seedings inoculated with the aseptic nematode (AOKD-3) carrying the bacterium (Bacillus cereus strain HY-3) and the bacterium (HY-3) do not. These findings indicate that the phenylacetic acid producers accompanying the nematode are the pathogen of the pine wilt, conforming to Koch's four principles. The fact that the weakly pathogenic isolate of nematode cannot so effectively wilt the sedding as the strongly pathogenic isolate, no matter how pathogenic a bacterium accompanies it, suggests that inherent characters such as mobility and propagation of the nematode are also important for thenematode to wilt the seedling.著者らはすでに、マツ材線虫病の真の病原体はマツノザイセンチュウによって搬入されるフェニル酢酸生産細菌であることを提唱し、さらに無菌化した強病原性分離系統のマツノザイセンチュウAOKD-3を接種した無菌アカマツ実生は萎凋しないことを示すことによって、本萎凋病の真の病原体はフェニル酢酸生産細菌であることを立証した。本報では、無菌にしたOKD-3(AOKD-3)に、再びフェニル酢酸生産細菌を保持させてアカマツの無菌実生に接種すれば、萎凋した実生からセンチュウおよびフェニル酢酸生産細菌を再分離することによって、フェニル酢酸生産細菌を保持したマツノザイセンチュウの病原性をコッホ氏の四原則にのっとって確認した。一方、マツノザイセンチュウの弱病原性分離系統は、フェニル酢酸生産細菌を保持してもなお、強病原性分離系統に比べ、萎凋率が低いことうを明らかにした。したがって、萎凋すなわち、マツ材線虫病の発現には、フェニル酢酸生産細菌のマツノザイセンチュウへの随伴に加えて、マツノザイセンチュウの各分離系統の固有の性質、たとえば運動性（移動力）、増殖力などが大きく関与していることを強く示唆した

ApoE isoforms, treatment of diabetes and the risk of coronary heart disease

AIM: To analyze the risk of coronary heart disease in patients with type 2 diabetes mellitus (T2DM) receiving standard medical treatment

Systematic studies for improving device performance of quantum well infrared stripe photodetectors

The integration of quantum well infrared photodetectors with plasmonic cavities has allowed for demonstration of sensitive photodetectors in the mid-infrared up to room-temperature operating conditions. However, clear guidelines for optimizing device structure for these detectors have not been developed. Using simple stripe cavity detectors as a model system, we clarify the fundamental factors that improve photodetector performance. By etching semiconductor material between the stripes, the cavity resonance wavelength was expected to blue-shift, and the electric field was predicted to strongly increase, resulting in higher responsivity than unetched stripe detectors. Contrary to our predictions, etched stripe detectors showed lower responsivities, indicating surface effects at the sidewalls and reduced absorption. Nevertheless, etching led to higher detectivity due to significantly reduced detector dark current. These results suggest that etched structures are the superior photodetector design, and that appropriate sidewall surface treatments could further improve device performance. Finally, through polarization and incidence angle dependence measurements of the stripe detectors, we clarify how the design of previously demonstrated wired patch antennas led to improved device performance. These results are widely applicable for cavity designs over a broad range of wavelengths within the infrared, and can serve as a roadmap for improving next-generation infrared photodetectors