Clinicopathologic Analysis of Localized Nasal/Paranasal Diffuse Large B-Cell Lymphoma

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL) comprises 2 molecularly distinct subgroups of non-germinal center B-cell-like (non-GCB) and germinal center B-cell-like (GCB) DLBCLs, with the former showing relatively poor prognosis. In the present study, we analyzed the clinicopathological features of 39 patients with localized nasal/paranasal DLBCL. Immunohistochemistry-based subclassification revealed that 11 patients (28%) were of the GCB-type according to Hans' algorithm and 11 (28%) were of the GCB-type according to Choi's algorithm. According to both Hans' and Choi's algorithms, the non-GCB type was predominant. Nevertheless, prognosis was good. Overall survival did not differ significantly between the GCB and non-GCB subgroups (Hans' algorithm: p = 0.57, Choi's algorithm: p = 0.99). Furthermore, the prognosis of localized nasal/paranasal DLBCL was better than that of other localized extranodal DLBCLs. The prognosis of extranodal DLBCL is usually considered poorer than that of nodal DLBCL. However, in our study, no difference was noted between patients with localized nasal/paranasal DLBCL and patients with localized nodal DLBCL. In conclusion, although the non-GCB subtype is thought to show poor prognosis, in our study, the prognosis for localized nasal/paranasal DLBCL patients was good irrespective of subclassification

Clusters die hard: Time-correlated excitation in the Hamiltonian Mean Field model

The Hamiltonian Mean Field (HMF) model has a low-energy phase where $N$ particles are trapped inside a cluster. Here, we investigate some properties of the trapping/untrapping mechanism of a single particle into/outside the cluster. Since the single particle dynamics of the HMF model resembles the one of a simple pendulum, each particle can be identified as a high-energy particle (HEP) or a low-energy particle (LEP), depending on whether its energy is above or below the separatrix energy. We then define the trapping ratio as the ratio of the number of LEP to the total number of particles and the ``fully-clustered'' and ``excited'' dynamical states as having either no HEP or at least one HEP. We analytically compute the phase-space average of the trapping ratio by using the Boltzmann-Gibbs stable stationary solution of the Vlasov equation associated with the $N \to \infty$ limit of the HMF model. The same quantity, obtained numerically as a time average, is shown to be in very good agreement with the analytical calculation. Another important feature of the dynamical behavior of the system is that the dynamical state changes transitionally: the ``fully-clustered'' and ``excited'' states appear in turn. We find that the distribution of the lifetime of the ``fully-clustered'' state obeys a power law. This means that clusters die hard, and that the excitation of a particle from the cluster is not a Poisson process and might be controlled by some type of collective motion with long memory. Such behavior should not be specific of the HMF model and appear also in systems where {\it itinerancy} among different ``quasi-stationary'' states has been observed. It is also possible that it could mimick the behavior of transient motion in molecular clusters or some observed deterministic features of chemical reactions.Comment: 14 pages, 5 figure

Transcriptome map of plant mitochondria reveals islands of unexpected transcribed regions

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>Plant mitochondria contain a relatively large amount of genetic information, suggesting that their functional regulation may not be as straightforward as that of metazoans. We used a genomic tiling array to draw a transcriptomic atlas of <it>Oryza sativa japonica </it>(rice) mitochondria, which was predicted to be approximately 490-kb long.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Whereas statistical analysis verified the transcription of all previously known functional genes such as the ones related to oxidative phosphorylation, a similar extent of RNA expression was frequently observed in the inter-genic regions where none of the previously annotated genes are located. The newly identified open reading frames (ORFs) predicted in these transcribed inter-genic regions were generally not conserved among flowering plant species, suggesting that these ORFs did not play a role in mitochondrial principal functions. We also identified two partial fragments of retrotransposon sequences as being transcribed in rice mitochondria.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>The present study indicated the previously unexpected complexity of plant mitochondrial RNA metabolism. Our transcriptomic data (<it>Oryza sativa </it>Mitochondrial rna Expression Server: OsMES) is publicly accessible at [<url>http://bioinf.mind.meiji.ac.jp/cgi-bin/gbrowse/OsMes/#search</url>].</p

Juvenile Granulosa Cell Tumor with an Unusual Clinical Course: A Late-onset and Late Recurrent Case

Juvenile granulosa cell tumors (JGCTs) are rare ovarian tumors with overall good prognoses. They differ from adult granulosa cell tumors (AGCTs), which are well known for late recurrence. Most JGCTs (～97%) occur in individuals G missense point mutation of FOXL2 gene (characteristic of AGCT but absent in JGCT) allowed differentiation from AGCT. This is the first comprehensive report of JGCT with late recurrence. Although rare, late recurrence of JGCT can occur; long-term surveillance is suggested

Neuroimaging in autism spectrum disorders : 1H-MRS and NIRS study

Using proton magnetic resonance spectroscopy (1H-MRS), we measured chemical metabolites in the left amygdala and the bilateral orbito-frontal cortex (OFC) in children with autism spectrum disorders (ASD). The concentrations of N-acetylaspartate (NAA) in these regions of ASD were significantly decreased compared to those in the control group. In the autistic patients, the NAA concentrations in these regions correlated with their social quotient. These findings suggest the presence of neuronal dysfunction in the amygdala and OFC in ASD. Dysfunction in the amygdala and OFCmay contribute to the pathogenesis of ASD.We performed a near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) study to evaluate the mirror neuron system in children with ASD. The concentrations of oxygenated hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) were measured with frontal probes using a 34-channel NIRS machine while the subjects imitated emotional facial expressions. The increments in the concentration of oxy-Hb in the pars opercularis of the inferior frontal gyrus in autistic subjects were significantly lower than those in the controls. However, the concentrations of oxy-Hb in this area were significantly elevated in autistic subjects after they were trained to imitate emotional facial expressions. The results suggest that mirror neurons could be activated by repeated imitation in children with ASD

精神保健福祉士の新たな役割に関する一考察

現在の日本はストレス社会といわれるよう，さまざまな社会的要因によって，精神的問題が生じている．精神的疾患を患う者は増加傾向にあるが，なかでも近年，出産前後における女性の精神疾患が増えており，深刻な問題となっている．また，子育て中の女性のストレスは非常に大きいものであるというのは周知の事実である．さらに核家族の影響によって，子育てについて周囲からのサポートがない場合には，育児ストレスを解消できずうつ傾向になる可能性がある．その一方，働きながら子育てをしている場合でも，子育ても仕事もこなそうとするとストレスが増加し，抑うつ状態になることもある．そしてその結果，最悪の場合，ストレスの矛先が子どもに向き，虐待行為におよんでしまうこともある．そこで本稿では，母親の出産前後から主として小学校就学の始期までの「子どもと家庭」を精神的に支援していくことの重要性と，その支援を担う精神保健福祉士の新たな役割について考察した．その結果，社会状況が大きく変わっていくなかで精神保健福祉の支援対象も拡大していなかで，精神保健福祉士の新たな役割として妊娠期から精神保健福祉士が支援に介入していくことの必要性が高まっていることがわかった．そしてこうした現況に対応できる精神保健福祉士の養成が急務となっていることが明らかになった

男性保育者の必要性と理想的な保育者の男女比に関する意識調査 ― 保育者志望学生と女性保育士を中心として ―

本研究は、幼稚園や保育所における男性保育者の必要性及び理想的な保育者の男女比に関する意識調査を実施し、保育者養成に寄与するための基礎的資料を得ることを目的とした。質問紙調査の結果、全体的に約60％の割合で男性保育者が「いることが望ましい」との必要性が示された。また、理想的な保育者の男女比は主に「男性2割+ 女性8 割」や「男性3 割+ 女性7 割」のように低いことが認められた。さらに、男性保育者に対するイメージについて因子分析を行った結果、「活動性」「気配り」「繊細」の3 因子が認められた。そして、この男女比の意識の割合には男性保育者及び男子学生との直接的なかかわりの有無が影響していることを示唆している。In the present study, we conducted an opinion poll regarding the requirement for malenursery school staff and the ideal male-to-female ratio among nursery school staff. The aimnursery school staff and the ideal male-to-female ratio among nursery school staff. The aimwas to obtain basic materials to contribute to the education of nursery school staff. Results of the questionnaire showed that on the whole, there was a requirement for male nursery school staff, with approximately 63% of respondents stating that “it would be nice if they were here”. In addition, the ideal nursery school staff male-to-female ratio was low; the main responses were “20% men, 80% women” and “30% men and 70% women”. Furthermore, a factor analysis was performed regarding the image of male nursery school staff. The three factors observed were activity, consideration and licate. This also suggests the fact that the presence of a direct connection to male nursery school staff and male students affects the proportion of awareness of the male-to-female ratio

Real-Time Imaging of Rabbit Retina with Retinal Degeneration by Using Spectral-Domain Optical Coherence Tomography

Background: Recently, a transgenic rabbit with rhodopsin Pro 347 Leu mutation was generated as a model of retinitis pigmentosa (RP), which is characterized by a gradual loss of vision due to photoreceptor degeneration. The purpose of the current study is to noninvasively visualize and assess time-dependent changes in the retinal structures of a rabbit model of retinal degeneration by using speckle noise-reduced spectral-domain optical coherence tomography (SD-OCT). Methodology/Principal Findings: Wild type (WT) and RP rabbits (aged 4–20 weeks) were investigated using SD-OCT. The total retinal thickness in RP rabbits decreased with age. The thickness of the outer nuclear layer (ONL) and between the external limiting membrane and Bruch’s membrane (ELM–BM) were reduced in RP rabbits around the visual streak, compared to WT rabbits even at 4 weeks of age, and the differences increased with age. However, inner nuclear layer (INL) thickness in RP rabbits did not differ from that of WT during the observation period. The ganglion cell complex (GCC) thickness in RP rabbits increased near the optic nerve head but not around the visual streak in the later stages of the observation period. Hyper-reflective change was widely observed in the inner segments (IS) and outer segments (OS) of the photoreceptors in the OCT images of RP rabbits. Ultrastructural findings in RP retinas included the appearance of small rhodopsin-containing vesicles scattered in the extracellular space around the photoreceptors

低蛋白血症で発見された骨髄腫関連疾患の一症例

広義の骨髄腫関連疾患には,古典的なmyelomaを始めとして,plasmacytic leukemia,plasmacytomaさらにmacroglobulinemia,lymphoplasmacytic lymphomaなどが含まれる.一般的には特徴的検査所見の一つに,血清総蛋白の高値がある.ところが,今回我々は血清総蛋白がむしろ低値であった骨髄腫関連疾患を経験した.症例は85歳女性.貧血軽度,黄疸(-),肝脾腫(-),リンパ節腫大(-),骨病変は軽微であった.検査所見:末梢血WBC4370/μl,RBC242万/μl,Hgb8.1g/dl,Hct25.6%,PLT6.2万/μl,Neut70.7%,Lym23.6%,Mono5.0%,Eos0.2%,Bas0.5%.生化学:TP5.3g/dl,Alb2.0g/dl,Glob3.3g/dlそのうちIgG532mg/dl,IgA79mg/dl,IgM2,035mg/dlで,免疫電気泳動にて明らかなM-bowを認め,IgM-_K型と判明した.骨髄:採取した標本では低形成で,Mgk10/μl,赤芽球15.6%,顆粒球系60.3%,リンパ球系23.8%,そのうち形質細胞1.9%であった.形態学的には,マクログロブリン血症の際にみられるリンパ・形質細胞様の所見であった.細胞表面マーカーの検索では,リンパ球全体ではCD7 33.5%,CD138 0.7%,CD19 7.0%,CD20 32.8%,形質細胞ではCD7 21.8%,CD138 57.7%,CD19 21.1%,CD20 39.7%であった.病理検査では,N/C比が高く異型性のある核を持つ細胞のシート状の集簇が認められた.腫瘍細胞の透過型電顕所見では,核は偏在し,大型のゴルジ野を有し,粗面小胞体はよく発達し,蛋白合成の盛んなことが推測された.細胞によっては,分化度が低く核クロマチンは繊細で明らかに芽球様の細胞も認められた.染色体分析:46,XX.末梢血生化学所見では総蛋白量の明らかな減少が認められたが,その病因は腫瘍細胞によるIgMの過剰産生にあり,その腫瘍性性質のため正常免疫グロブリン特にIgGおよびIgAの著しい産生抑制を生じたものと考えられる.細胞学的にはマクログロブリン血症と多発性骨髄腫とにまたがる境界領域に位置付けられるBリンパ球系悪性疾患と推定される.It is known that myeloma-related disorders include classical myeloma, plasmacytic leukemia, plasmacytoma, macroglobulinemia, lymphoplasmacytic lymphoma and others. Increased serum protein is one of the characteristic features in these disorders. We have recently experienced a case of myeloma-related disorder with hypoproteinemia. The patient (a 85 year-old female) demonstrated hypoproteinemia (total protein 5.3g/dl, Alb2.0g/dl, Glob3.3g/dl) with increased IgM 2,035mg/dl contrary to decreased IgG(532mg/dl) and IgA(79mg/dl). The presence of IgM-_K monoclonality was detected by immunoelectrophoresis. Peripheral blood showed slight anemia(RBC 2.42×10^6/μl) and thrombocytopenia(62×10^3/μl). Peripheral lymphocytes were 23.6% with lymphoplasmacytic appearance. Bone marrow examination revealed that lymphocytes were 23.8% with 1.9% of plasma cells: CD79a(+), CD138(+/-), CD20(+/-), CD5(-), cyclin D1(-), IgM(+), IgA(-), IgG(+-), and IgM_K -monoclonality(+) by immune staining method. Surface makers of all lymphoid cells indicated CD138 57.7%, CD19 21.1%, and CD20 39.7%. Clusters of malignant lymphoid cells were present in bone marrow specimen. Transmission electron microscopy (TEM) on the lymphoid cells indicated the dislocated nucleus and profound rough-surfaced ribosomes with large Golgi apparatus suggesting the markedly enhanced protein production. In some cells, the blastic appearance with fine nuclear chromatin structure was observed. The pathogenesis of hypoproteinemia appears to be due to suppression of IgG and IgA by increased IgM monoclonality, in addition to decreased level of serum albumin. The disorder is considered to be localized at the border area between classical myeloma and macroglobulinemia