Implementation of muon pair production in PHITS and verification by comparing with the muon shielding experiment at SLAC

We implemented a model of muon pair production through a real photon in PHITS and compared our calculations with data of the muon shielding experiment conducted at SLAC to verify the validity of the implemented model. Our predictions of the muon fluence induced by electrons are in good agreement with the experimental data. To understand the known differences between the calculations of the muon fluence, which have been determined using other Monte-Carlo codes, we quantitatively evaluate the fluctuations in the Monte-Carlo results due to systematic errors in multiple Coulomb scattering, differences in the approximation methods and energy loss models, and whether incoherent production is considered.Comment: 16 pages, 8 figure

Activation of ADF/cofilin by phosphorylation-regulated Slingshot phosphatase is required for the meiotic spindle assembly in Xenopus laevis oocytes

We identify Xenopus ADF/cofilin (XAC) and its activator, Slingshot phosphatase (XSSH), as key regulators of actin dynamics essential for spindle microtubule assembly during Xenopus oocyte maturation. Phosphorylation of XSSH at multiple sites within the tail domain occurs just after germinal vesicle breakdown (GVBD) and is accompanied by dephosphorylation of XAC, which was mostly phosphorylated in immature oocytes. This XAC dephosphorylation after GVBD is completely suppressed by latrunculin B, an actin monomer-sequestering drug. On the other hand, jasplakinolide, an F-actin-stabilizing drug, induces dephosphorylation of XAC. Effects of latrunculin B and jasplakinolide are reconstituted in cytostatic factor-arrested extracts (CSF extracts), and XAC dephosphorylation is abolished by depletion of XSSH from CSF extracts, suggesting that XSSH functions as an actin filament sensor to facilitate actin filament dynamics via XAC activation. Injection of anti-XSSH antibody, which blocks full phosphorylation of XSSH after GVBD, inhibits both meiotic spindle formation and XAC dephosphorylation. Coinjection of constitutively active XAC with the antibody suppresses this phenotype. Treatment of oocytes with jasplakinolide also impairs spindle formation. These results strongly suggest that elevation of actin dynamics by XAC activation through XSSH phosphorylation is required for meiotic spindle assembly in Xenopus laevis

Follow-up of Osteochondral LFC Injury

Chondral and osteochondral injuries of the femoral condyle are rare, and relatively few cases have been reported. Therefore, the mechanism, treatment, and findings on follow-up of these injuries are not well described. Here, we report the case of an adolescent basketball player who sustained a sports-related traumatic osteochondral injury of the lateral femoral condyle. He was treated with open reduction and internal fixation with the pull-out suture technique. Two years later, he was able to resume sporting activities at his pre-injury level with no symptoms. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) confirmed survival of the fixed osteochondral fragment and restoration of the congruity of the articular cartilage with no sign of delamination. This report describes the clinical outcome of this osteochondral injury of the lateral femoral condyle as seen on MRI at the 2-year follow-up and discuss the mechanism and treatment of this injury

Coexistence of HER2 over-expression and p53 protein accumulation is a strong prognostic molecular marker in breast cancer

INTRODUCTION: Many laboratories are currently evaluating the usefulness of determination of HER2, p53, and Ki67 proliferation indices using immunohistochemical techniques in cancer. Although the available studies suggest that these factors might indeed be helpful in making treatment decisions in cancer patients, their clinical usefulness is still controversial. METHODS: Expression of HER2, p53, and Ki67 was examined by immunohistochemistry in samples of breast tissue from 506 patients with invasive ductal carcinoma, obtained between 1981 and 1999 (median follow up period 82 months), and their significance for prognosis was analyzed. RESULTS: Of the 506 carcinoma tissue samples, 20.1%, 29.0%, and 53.6% were positive for HER2 over-expression, p53 protein accumulation, and Ki67 expression, respectively. Over-expression of HER2 significantly reduced disease free (P = 0.02) and overall survival (P = 0.005). Accumulation of p53 protein significantly decreased disease free (P = 0.01) and overall survival (P = 0.01). Patients with tumors that were positive for both HER2 and p53 relapsed and died within a significantly shorter period of time after surgery (P = 0.0001 and P < 0.0001, respectively). In multivariate analysis, patients with both HER2 and p53 positive tumors had considerably decreased overall survival (P = 0.04), as did patients with larger tumor size and positive lymph node status. CONCLUSION: The findings of the present study indicate that the coexistence of HER2 over-expression and p53 protein accumulation is a strong prognostic molecular marker in breast cancer

Intra-Abdominal Venous Pressure During Laparoscopic Cholecystectomy

Superior vena cava (SVC) and inferior vena cava (IVC) pressures were measured serially during laparoscopic cholecystectomy in which the intra-abdominal pressure was maintained at 12mmHg. The influences of alteration of position from 15 degrees head-down to 15 degrees head-up and of the operative procedure of holding the gallbladder up to the right subphrenic space on SVC and IVC pressures were mild. IVC pressure was maintained almost equal to the intra-abdominal pressure during prolonged continuous pneumoperitoneum lasting longer than 60min, while SVC pressure did not change significantly during operation. The discrepancy between SVC and IVC pressures underwent no change during continuous pneumoperitoneum

Quantitative determination, by real-time reverse transcription polymerase chain reaction, of aromatase mRNA in invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast

BACKGROUND: Estrogen is a mitogenic factor that is implicated in the genesis and progression of breast cancer via its binding to estrogen receptor (ER)-α. Synthesis of estrogen in situ is believed to be catalyzed mainly by aromatase. Previous studies comparing the relative contributions from tumor cells and stromal cells to local estrogen synthesis, as assessed by immunohistochemical analysis, were quite controversial and no consistent relationship was found between the presence of aromatase and any clinicopathologic factor. In addition, previous studies into aromatase gene expression and clinicopathologic factors are limited. METHODS: We assessed the level of expression of aromatase mRNA, using quantitative real-time RT-PCR, in 162 cases of invasive ductal carcinoma of the breast. Associations between aromatase expression and different clinicopathologic factors were sought. RESULTS: It was found that aromatase mRNA was expressed at significantly higher levels in patients older than 50 years, in those without axillary lymph node involvement, in those with tumor size less than 2 cm, and in ER-α positive tumors. However, no relationship was found between aromatase mRNA expression and any other clinicopathologic factor, including histologic grade and progesterone receptor status. Patients with high levels of expression of aromatase mRNA tended to have a better prognosis than did those patients with low expression. CONCLUSION: These findings imply that ER-α and aromatase may be coexpressed in endocrine responsive patients. They may also indicate that aromatase expression could be a marker of endocrine responsiveness, and it may have prognostic implications for breast cancer progression

The epidemiology of pediatric fractures in our hospital over the past 10 years

【Background】The epidemiology of fractures in children is not reported over the past １０ years in Japan. We investigated the epidemiology of pediatric fractures in our hospital over the past １０ years. 【Method】A retrospective analysis of fractures in children（０ to １５ years-old）between April 1, ２００９, and March３１,２０１９was undertaken. We excluded cranial and/or facial bone fractures. 【Results】We enrolled２６１children and２９７fractures. Mean age was８．９year-old, and７０．８％ was boys. The highest cause of fractures is sports（２９．５％,７７／２６１children）, especially contact sports. Referred children were５８．２％（１５２／２６１children）and operated children were ８９％（２３３／２６１ children）. 【Conclusion】Enlightment activities about fractures in sports and aggregation of children who needs a operation may be important

口蓋に生じた上皮様細胞型筋上皮腫の1例

筋上皮腫は比較的まれな良性唾液腺腫瘍で，すべての唾液腺腫瘍における発生頻度は1〜1.5％である．好発部位は耳下腺が最も多く，口腔内における口蓋がそれに続く．6ヶ月前に口蓋の腫脹に気付いた48歳の女性患者が宇都宮記念病院歯科口腔外科外来を受診された．臨床ならびに画像検査後，良性腫瘍の診断の元，全身麻酔下に腫瘍切除術が施行された．組織学的および免疫組織学的診断は上皮様細胞型筋上皮腫であった．術後2年4ヶ月の予後は良好で，現在まで再発の兆候はみられない．1991年のWHO改定分類では筋上皮腫は独立した疾患として記載された．われわれの知る限り，1991年以降本邦で報告された上皮様細胞型筋上皮腫はわれわれの報告も含め，わずかに2例のみである．今回，文献的考察とともに口蓋に生じた上皮様細胞型筋上皮腫の1例を報告する

Administration of bisphosphonate for hypercalcemia associated with oral cancer

BACKGROUND: The efficacy of treating hypercalcemia with bisphosphonate (BP) in patients with advanced oral cancer has not been fully investigated. This retrospective study evaluated the clinical course of hypercalcemic patients with and without BP treatment. METHODS: Sixteen hypercalcemic patients, most of whom had uncontrollable locoregional lesions and lung metastases, were studied. Nine patients had been given BP, and the rest had not. RESULTS: There were significant differences in age and serum ALT between the BP-treated and -untreated groups. The first administration of BP effectively and safely decreased the serum calcium level, but repeated administrations were less effective. Although the patients treated with BP survived significantly longer than the untreated subjects, the difference of the median was only about 2 weeks. CONCLUSION: The occurrence of hypercalcemia in oral cancer patients apparently implies an extremely poor prognosis, and long-term survival cannot be expected, even with BP treatment