Magnetostriction studies up to megagauss fields using fiber Bragg grating technique

We here report magnetostriction measurements under pulsed megagauss fields using a high-speed 100 MHz strain monitoring system devised using fiber Bragg grating (FBG) technique with optical filter method. The optical filter method is a detection scheme of the strain of FBG, where the changing Bragg wavelength of the FBG reflection is converted to the intensity of reflected light to enable the 100 MHz measurement. In order to show the usefulness and reliability of the method, we report the measurements for solid oxygen, spin-controlled crystal, and volborthite, a deformed Kagom\'{e} quantum spin lattice, using static magnetic fields up to 7 T and non-destructive millisecond pulse magnets up to 50 T. Then, we show the application of the method for the magnetostriction measurements of CaV$_{4}$O$_{9}$, a two-dimensional antiferromagnet with spin-halves, and LaCoO$_{3}$, an anomalous spin-crossover oxide, in the megagauss fields.Comment: 9pages, 6 figures, Conference proceedings for MegaGauss16 at Kashiwa, Japan in Sept. 201

Retrospective Comparison of Non-Skin-Sparing Mastectomy and Skin-Sparing Mastectomy with Immediate Breast Reconstruction

Background. We compared Skin-sparing mastectomy (SSM) with immediate breast reconstruction and Non-skin-sparing mastectomy (NSSM), various types of incision in SSM. Method. Records of 202 consecutive breast cancer patients were reviewed retrospectively. Also in the SSM, three types of skin incision were used. Type A was a periareolar incision with a lateral extension, type B was a periareolar incision and axillary incision, and type C included straight incisions, a small elliptical incision (base line of nipple) within areolar complex and axillary incision. Results. Seventy-three SSMs and 129 NSSMs were performed. The mean follow-up was 30.0 (SSM) and 41.1 (NSSM) months. Respective values for the two groups were: mean age 47.0 and 57; seven-year cumulative local disease-free survival 92.1% and 95.2%; post operative skin necrosis 4.1% and 3.1%. In the SSM, average areolar diameter in type A & B was 35.4 mm, 43.0 mm in type C and postoperative nipple-areolar plasty was performed 61% in type A & B, 17% in type C, respectively. Conclusion. SSM for early breast cancer is associated with low morbidity and oncological safety that are as good as those of NSSM. Also in SSM, Type C is far superior as regards cost and cosmetic outcomes

Near-infrared and Mid-infrared Spectroscopy with the Infrared Camera (IRC) for AKARI

The Infrared Camera (IRC) is one of the two instruments on board the AKARI satellite. In addition to deep imaging from 1.8-26.5um for the pointed observation mode of the AKARI, it has a spectroscopic capability in its spectral range. By replacing the imaging filters by transmission-type dispersers on the filter wheels, it provides low-resolution (lambda/d_lambda ~ 20-120) spectroscopy with slits or in a wide imaging field-of-view (approximately 10'X10'). The IRC spectroscopic mode is unique in space infrared missions in that it has the capability to perform sensitive wide-field spectroscopic surveys in the near- and mid-infrared wavelength ranges. This paper describes specifications of the IRC spectrograph and its in-orbit performance.Comment: 13 pages, 7 figures, accepted for publication on PAS

Detection of Thyroid Carcinoma Antigen with Quantum Dots and Monoclonal IgM Antibody (JT-95) System

High-intensity fluorescent nanoparticles, quantum dots (QDs), have been applied to a wide range of biological studies and medical studies by taking advantage of their fluorescent properties. On the other hand, we have reported the specificity of JT-95 monoclonal IgM antibody, which recognizes the antigen of thyroid carcinomas. Here we show that the combination of QDs and JT-95 monoclonal antibody was applicable to Western blotting analysis, ELISA-like system, and fluorescent microscopic analysis of SW1736 thyroid carcinoma cell line. We have opened up the possibility that antibodies for higher specific recognition, even IgM, are applicable to the detection system with QDs

Diagnostic Ability of Diffusion-weighted Magnetic Resonance Imaging to Discriminate Ampullary eoplasms: A Preliminary Study of 15 Cases

We assessed the diagnostic capability of diffusion-weighted magnetic resonance imaging (DWI) to predict the histological diagnosis of ampullary lesions to resolve the diagnostic uncertainty of endoscopic biopsy for ampullary neoplasms. From January 2009 to August 2011, we performed DWI using b values of 0 and 1000s/mm2 for 15 patients with a histological diagnosis of ampullary lesion (adenocarcinoma, n = 8; adenoma, n = 4; hyperplasia, n = 3). We compared the signal intensities (determined by comparing signal intensities of ampullary lesions and rating them as markedly hyperintense, hyperintense, or hypo-to-isointense relative to the duodenal wall) and the apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC, × 10-3 mm2/s) values of the ampullary lesions on DWI among the three groups based on the histological diagnosis. Values are expressed as median (range). The cancer-group lesions showed a significantly higher signal intensity than either adenoma or hyperplasia (markedly hyperintense/hyperintense/hypo-to-isointense; adenocarcinoma, 7/1/0; adenoma, 0/4/0; hyperplasia, 0/0/3; P < 0.005). The ADC values were significantly lower in adenocarcinoma at 1.46 (0.83-1.63) than in either adenoma at 2.14 (1.92-2.37) or hyperplasia at 2.06 (1.88-2.53) (P < 0.005). In addition, the ADC values in the malignant group (adenocarcinoma) were significantly lower than those in the benign groups (adenoma and hyperplasia) (P < 0.001). The findings suggested that DWI could contribute significantly to accurate preprocedural diagnosis of ampullary lesions

東京湾内湾に造成された砂浜海岸と泥質干潟の魚類相と多様性

東京湾内湾に造成された海浜と干潟が魚類にどのような場を提供しているのか明らかにすることを目的として、月に一度の小型地曳網による調査を5年間行った。調査地点は東京都大田区の「大森ふるさとの浜辺公園」で、同公園は海浜（1.2 ha）と干潟（1.0 ha）、それらの間に浅場（4.6 ha）の海域を有する公園である。周辺は水深約5 mの運河域であるが、運河域との境界に海底から高さ約4 mの砂留潜堤が造成されたため、浅場の水深は最も深い部分で1.5 m程度となっている。採集された魚類は海浜で19科40種60,050個体、干潟で19科38種44,807個体であった。2地点の底質には違いがみられたが、出現する種数や個体数、または生活史型や利用様式から魚類相はほぼ同様であった。本調査地点はハゼ科河口魚が優占し、またそれらのハゼ科河口魚には仔魚から成魚までの長期的な成育場を提供していることが明らかとなった。しかし、運河域の最奥に立地していることから、海水魚の出現は少なかった。また、多摩川河口域の3つの干潟と多様度の比較を行うと、本調査地点は劣ることが明らかとなった。The Furuhama Park, which was artificially improved and developed in 2000 at Heiwajima artificial island of Ota City, is located at the innermost part of Tokyo Bay. The Park is composed of the sandy beach (1.2 ha) and tidal flat (1.0 ha) with a shallow water area (4.6ha) between them, and separated from the outside canal by submerged dikes. Monthly samplings of fishes were carried out in both the sandy beach and tidal flat by using the small seine-net from May 2014 to April 2019. A total of 60,050 individuals of 40 species of 19 families and 44,807 individuals of 38 species of 19 families were collected from the sandy beach and tidal flat, respectively. Despite a difference was confirmed in the bottom sediment between the sandy beach and tidal flat, no remarkable differences were detected on the fish fauna. Comparisons with previous studies conducted at natural habitats in the inner Tokyo Bay revealed that the fish diversity of the Park were inferior to natural tidal flats. Our study suggests that the Park provides various habitats for estuarine gobiids, but the location of the Park secluded from the open sea through canals is likely to be unsuitable for marine fish habitats.丸山啓太・河野博: 東京海洋大学魚類学研究室Keita MARUYAMA(Corresponding author) and Hiroshi KOHNO: Laboratory of Ichthyology, Tokyo Univercity of Marine Science and Technology(TUMSAT)河野博: 東京海洋大学学術研究院海洋環境科学部門Hiroshi KOHNO: Department of Ocean Sciences, Tokyo University of Marine Science and Technology (TUMSAT)竹山佳奈・中瀬浩太: 五洋建設株式会社環境事業部Kana TAKEYAMA and Kota NAKASE: Penta-ocean Construction Co., Lt

Initial experience with contrast-enhanced ultrasonography in follow up assessment of small breast cancer treated by cryoablation

BackgroundCryoablation (CA) is a nonsurgical focal therapy for small tumours. To detect residual or relapsed tumour after CA of renal cancer, contrast-enhanced imaging is generally used to identify tumour blood flow, but no definitive criteria are established for such follow-up after CA of breast cancer.AimsThe aim of this study was to compare the usefulness of contrast-enhanced ultrasonography (CEUS) and magnetic resonance (MR) imaging for assessing residual tumours and local relapse following CA of small breast cancers.Methods We enrolled 4 patients treated by CA at our institution between January 2015 and December 2016 for luminal A breast cancer with maximum tumour size of 1.5cm and neither distant metastasis nor metastatic findings in sentinel lymph node biopsy, who underwent CEUS and MR imaging before CA. In addition to our standard postoperative follow-up for breast cancer, these patients underwent CEUS every 3 months and MR imaging every 6 months after CA.Results Six months after CA, no patient showed enhancement at the lesion site on MR imaging, but there were two with continued enhancement on CEUS. They underwent vacuum-assisted breast biopsy under US guidance followed by histopathological examination of tissue that identified no malignancy.ConclusionOur findings of focal enhancement within ablated breast tissue in CEUS after CA is likely attributable to the much higher sensitivity of CEUS to that of other modalities to even slight vascularization. Further investigation in more patients is needed to clarify the utility of CEUS to detect residual or relapsed tumour after CA of small breast cancer

Changes in Atrial Size Following PVI: Comparison of the Right and Left Atria

Background: Pulmonary vein isolation (PVI) is expected to cure atrial fibrillation (AF) and to improve atrial remodeling. However, the effects of PVI on the right atrial (RA) size have not been fully examined. We studied the effects of PVI on RA size in comparison that with the effects on LA size. Method: We studied 17 patients with drug-refractory AF (11 paroxysmal, 6 persistent). Two-dimensional echocardiography was performed at baseline and at follow-up to measure and compare RA and LA size.Results: Despite a short duration of AF in 7 patients after the PVI, all cases were maintained in sinus rhythm during the follow-up. LA and RA size were both reduced after the PVI compared with baseline measurements (LA 25.5 ± 2.9cm2 vs. 23.2 ± 3.6cm2, P < 0.05, RA 21.2 ± 2.9cm2 vs. 18.1 ± 3.0cm2, P < 0.01). The reduction ratio was more prominent in RA size (14.9%) than in LA size (8.7%)(P < 0.05). Conclusion: Atrial size was reduced following PVI for both the LA and RA, although the rate of reduction was more prominent in the RA

High-dose tobramycin inhibits lipopolysaccharide-induced MUC5AC production in human lung epithelial cells.

Tobramycin inhalation therapy is an effective therapy for cystic fibrosis as well as severe bronchiectasis that is colonized with Pseudomonas aeruginosa. The mechanism responsible for the efficacy of tobramycin in the treatment of severe chronic infectious diseases has not been elucidated. We demonstrate that high-dose tobramycin decreases MUC5AC gene expression and protein production in NCI-H292 cell stimulated with lipopolysaccharide of P. aeruginosa. MUC5AC protein of NCI-H292 cell stimulated by lipopolysaccharide was analyzed by an enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay and MUC5AC expression at the mRNA level was analyzed by RT-PCR. Western blot was performed to examine a potential role for the signaling molecules upstream of NFκB. High-dose tobramycin (500μg/ml) decreased the level of MUC5AC protein released into the supernatant of the NCI-H292 cell line at 24h after lipopolysaccharide stimulation (P<0.001). The tobramycin treatment also inhibited MUC5AC mRNA expression at 12h after lipopolysaccharide stimulation (P<0.05) and suppressed NFκB activation 60min after lipopolysaccharide stimulation (P<0.001). Tobramycin suppressed the phosphorylation of extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase, p38 MAP kinase. These results suggest that high-dose tobramycin, such as inhalation therapy, can inhibit MUC5AC gene expression and MUC5AC protein production in NCI-H292 cells, in part through the mitogen-activated protein kinase pathway. Thus, the activation of TLR4 and the subsequent immune/inflammatory responses induced by chronic infections such as P. aeruginosa might be modulated by tobramycin. Our data may reveal one of the mechanisms responsible for the clinical effect of tobramycin inhalation therapy against severe chronic respiratory diseases due to P. aeruginosa