Macroscopic findings for breast VAB specimens

Purpose : Ultrasound-guided breast tissue biopsy is an essential technique for diagnosing breast disease, but sample errors reduce its accuracy. This study investigated whether the histopathological results can be inferred from the macroscopic findings for Ultrasound-guided breast Vacuum Assisted Biopsy (VAB) specimens. Methods: Biopsy specimens from 101 patients who underwent mammary gland VAB were photographed with a smartphone, and the relationships between the macroscopic findings and the pathological results were examined. Results : A significant difference was observed with regard to the presence / absence of turbidity: malignancy was detected in 33 / 37 (89%) specimens with turbidity and in 2 / 47 (4%) cases without turbidity (p < 0.001). A significant difference was also observed regarding the surface properties : malignancy was detected in 14 / 70 (19%) smooth specimens and in 24 / 29 (83%) rough specimens (p < 0.001). Also, malignancy was detected in 11 / 13 (85%) specimens with white spots, and the difference was significant (p < 0.001). In addition, the characteristics of intraductal papilloma, fibroadenoma, and mastopathy could be confirmed by macroscopic findings. Conclusions : When needle–biopsy of a lesion that is targeted for resection yields macroscopic findings that match the predicted histopathological findings, it can be thought that the biopsy had been properly performed. This means that false–negatives due to poor specimens can be prevented

車椅子利用下における路面の影響調査

【目的】車椅子利用者の安楽に及ぼす影響の１つとして「声かけ」に注目して，バリアが車椅子利用者の体感にどのような影響を及ぼすのかを知ることとを目的とした研究を行った． 【方法】対象者は，２０歳代女性の看護学生で，車椅子利用時の体感に体重が影響することを考慮し標準体重に近い者を選定した．路面の状態については，観察，自走介助兼用車椅子に装着した振動計，座席用振動ピックアップを用い客観的測定を行った．声かけによる路面の状態による主観的反応の相違は，対象者６０人を無作為にA群の「声かけあり群（n＝３０）」と，B群の「声かけなし群（n＝３０）」の２群に分けて把握した． 【倫理的配慮】対象者に本研究の目的及び方法を説明し，同意書に署名してもらった． 【分析方法】アンケート調査結果について２群を比較した．ゆれ・恐怖感・乗り心地の段階評価においてはウィルコクソンの符号順位和検定を行った． 【結果および考察】路面の見かけと振動値は概ね一致していたが，見かけは平らであっても振動値は高い場所もあった．路面に対する反応は以下の通りである． １．振動が大きいところでは対象者の全身に振動を与え，不快をもたらしていた． ２．傾斜があるところでは対象者に恐怖感をもたらしていた． ３．声かけは対象者が振動を予測して，態勢を整えることに役立っていた． ４．声かけは安心感や気分転換等にもつながっていた． 以上のことから，車椅子利用者の介助に当たって声かけをすることは重要であることが明らかになった．また，多様な路面の性状下でも快適な車椅子利用ができるような介助の方法を探究していきたい．さらに，今回の結果は，車椅子以外にもシルバーカーや自走車椅子利用者の支援のあり方を示唆するものと考えられる．Aim : A research was conducted to investigate the influence by barriers of road surface on the bodily sensation of wheelchair users, while paying attention to “calling” as a factor influencing the comfort of the users. Method : The subjects were chosen from student nurses in their twenties. The objective measurement of the conditions of road surface was carried out through the use of observation, a vibrograph equipped on wheelchairs designed for both self-propelling and attendant-propelling, and a vibration pickup set on the seat of the wheelchairs. In order to grasp the differences emerged from calling in the subjective responses to road surface conditions, the 60 subjects were divided randomly into 2 groups of A and B, the former was “the group with calling（n=30）” whereas the latter was “the group without calling（n=30）”. Ethical consideration : The subjects were explained about the aim and method of the research, and requested to sign the agreement of participation. Analysis method : A comparison between the two groups on the results of the questionnaire was carried out. For the stage assessment of the vibration, fear and feeling of using a wheelchair, the Wilcoxon signedrank test was performed. Results and Discussion : There was a general concordance between the appearance of the road surface and the vibration level, but there were some spots where the vibrational levels were high although the surface appeared to be flat. The followings were the responses to the road surface. 1. Where the vibration levels were high, shakes were caused to the subjects’ bodies and made them feel uncomfortable. 2. Besides vibration, slopes on the road also caused the feeling of fear to the subjects. 3. Calling helped the subjects to predict a vibration and to be ready for it. 4. Calling related to the feeling of relief and mood changes, as well. From those findings, it has been clarified that calling is essential in assisting a wheelchair user. Also, it is a future theme to search for a way to assist in a comfortable use of wheelchairs under various conditions of the road surface

車椅子利用下における路面の影響調査

【目的】車椅子利用者の安楽に及ぼす影響の１つとして「声かけ」に注目して，バリアが車椅子利用者の体感にどのような影響を及ぼすのかを知ることとを目的とした研究を行った． 【方法】対象者は，２０歳代女性の看護学生で，車椅子利用時の体感に体重が影響することを考慮し標準体重に近い者を選定した．路面の状態については，観察，自走介助兼用車椅子に装着した振動計，座席用振動ピックアップを用い客観的測定を行った．声かけによる路面の状態による主観的反応の相違は，対象者６０人を無作為にA群の「声かけあり群（n＝３０）」と，B群の「声かけなし群（n＝３０）」の２群に分けて把握した． 【倫理的配慮】対象者に本研究の目的及び方法を説明し，同意書に署名してもらった． 【分析方法】アンケート調査結果について２群を比較した．ゆれ・恐怖感・乗り心地の段階評価においてはウィルコクソンの符号順位和検定を行った． 【結果および考察】路面の見かけと振動値は概ね一致していたが，見かけは平らであっても振動値は高い場所もあった．路面に対する反応は以下の通りである． １．振動が大きいところでは対象者の全身に振動を与え，不快をもたらしていた． ２．傾斜があるところでは対象者に恐怖感をもたらしていた． ３．声かけは対象者が振動を予測して，態勢を整えることに役立っていた． ４．声かけは安心感や気分転換等にもつながっていた． 以上のことから，車椅子利用者の介助に当たって声かけをすることは重要であることが明らかになった．また，多様な路面の性状下でも快適な車椅子利用ができるような介助の方法を探究していきたい．さらに，今回の結果は，車椅子以外にもシルバーカーや自走車椅子利用者の支援のあり方を示唆するものと考えられる．Aim : A research was conducted to investigate the influence by barriers of road surface on the bodily sensation of wheelchair users, while paying attention to “calling” as a factor influencing the comfort of the users. Method : The subjects were chosen from student nurses in their twenties. The objective measurement of the conditions of road surface was carried out through the use of observation, a vibrograph equipped on wheelchairs designed for both self-propelling and attendant-propelling, and a vibration pickup set on the seat of the wheelchairs. In order to grasp the differences emerged from calling in the subjective responses to road surface conditions, the 60 subjects were divided randomly into 2 groups of A and B, the former was “the group with calling（n=30）” whereas the latter was “the group without calling（n=30）”. Ethical consideration : The subjects were explained about the aim and method of the research, and requested to sign the agreement of participation. Analysis method : A comparison between the two groups on the results of the questionnaire was carried out. For the stage assessment of the vibration, fear and feeling of using a wheelchair, the Wilcoxon signedrank test was performed. Results and Discussion : There was a general concordance between the appearance of the road surface and the vibration level, but there were some spots where the vibrational levels were high although the surface appeared to be flat. The followings were the responses to the road surface. 1. Where the vibration levels were high, shakes were caused to the subjects’ bodies and made them feel uncomfortable. 2. Besides vibration, slopes on the road also caused the feeling of fear to the subjects. 3. Calling helped the subjects to predict a vibration and to be ready for it. 4. Calling related to the feeling of relief and mood changes, as well. From those findings, it has been clarified that calling is essential in assisting a wheelchair user. Also, it is a future theme to search for a way to assist in a comfortable use of wheelchairs under various conditions of the road surface

Neoadjuvant chemotherapy followed by interval debulking surgery for advanced epithelial ovarian cancer: GOTIC-019 study

Introduction Three randomized controlled trials have resulted in extremely extensive application of the strategy of using neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) followed by interval debulking surgery (IDS) for patients with advanced epithelial ovarian cancer in Japan. This study aimed to evaluate the status and effectiveness of treatment strategies using NAC followed by IDS in Japanese clinical practice. Patients and methods We conducted a multi-institutional observational study of 940 women with Federation of Gynecology and Obstetrics (FIGO) stages III–IV epithelial ovarian cancer treated at one of nine centers between 2010 and 2015. Progression-free survival (PFS) and overall survival (OS) were compared between 486 propensity-score matched participants who underwent NAC followed by IDS and primary debulking surgery (PDS) followed by adjuvant chemotherapy. Results Patients with FIGO stage IIIC receiving NAC had a shorter OS (median OS: 48.1 vs. 68.2 months, hazard ratio [HR]: 1.34; 95% confidence interval [CI] 0.99–1.82, p = 0.06) but not PFS (median PFS: 19.7 vs. 19.4 months, HR: 1.02; 95% CI: 0.80–1.31, p = 0.88). However, patients with FIGO stage IV receiving NAC and PDS had comparable PFS (median PFS: 16.6 vs. 14.7 months, HR: 1.07 95% CI: 0.74–1.53, p = 0.73) and OS (median PFS: 45.2 vs. 35.7 months, HR: 0.98; 95% CI: 0.65–1.47, p = 0.93). Conclusions NAC followed by IDS did not improve survival. In patients with FIGO stage IIIC, NAC may be associated with a shorter OS

Characterization of Tight Junctions and Their Disruption by UVB in Human Epidermis and Cultured Keratinocytes

It has not been confirmed whether tight junctions (TJs) function as a paracellular permeability barrier in adult human skin. To clarify this issue, we performed a TJ permeability assay using human skin obtained from abdominal plastic surgery. Occludin, a marker protein of TJs, was expressed in the granular layer, in which a subcutaneously injected paracellular tracer, Sulfo-NHS-LC-Biotin (556.59Da), was halted. Incubation with ochratoxin A decreased the expression of claudin-4, an integral membrane protein of TJs, and the diffusion of paracellular tracer was no longer prevented at the TJs. These results demonstrate that human epidermis possesses TJs that function as an intercellular permeability barrier at least against small molecules (∼550Da). UVB irradiation of human skin xenografts and human skin equivalents (HSEs) resulted in functional deterioration of TJs. Immunocytochemical staining of cultured keratinocytes showed that occludin was localized into dot-like shapes and formed a discontinuous network when exposed to UVB irradiation. Furthermore, UVB irradiation downregulated the active forms of Rac1 and atypical protein kinase C, suggesting that their inactivation caused functional deterioration of TJs. In conclusion, TJs function as a paracellular barrier against small molecules (∼550Da) in human epidermis and are functionally deteriorated by UVB irradiation

Increased production of intestinal immunoglobulins in Syntenin-1-deficient mice

AbstractSyntenin-1 is an intracellular PDZ protein that binds multiple proteins and regulates protein trafficking, cancer metastasis, exosome production, synaptic formation, and IL-5 signaling. However, the functions of Syntenin-1 have not yet been clearly characterized in detail, especially in vivo. In this study, we generated a Syntenin-1 knock out (KO) mouse strain and analyzed the role(s) of Syntenin-1 in IL-5 signaling, because the direct interaction of Syntenin-1 with the cytoplasmic domain of the IL-5 receptor α subunit and the regulation of IL-5 signaling by Syntenin-1 have been reported. Unexpectedly, the number of IL-5-responding cells was normal and the levels of fecal immunoglobulins were rather higher in the Syntenin-1 KO mice. We also found that IgA and IgM production of splenic B cells stimulated in vitro was increased in Syntenin-1 KO mice. In addition, we showed that a distribution of intestinal microbial flora was influenced in Syntenin-1 KO mice. Our data indicate that Syntenin-1 negatively regulates the intestinal immunoglobulin production and has a function to maintain the intestinal homeostasis in vivo. The analysis of Syntenin-1 KO mice may provide novel information on not only mucosal immunity but also other functions of Syntenin-1 such as cancer metastasis and neural development

Conserved fungal effector suppresses PAMP-triggered immunity by targeting plant immune kinases

Plant pathogens have optimized their own effector sets to adapt to their hosts. However, certain effectors, regarded as core effectors, are conserved among various pathogens, and may therefore play an important and common role in pathogen virulence. We report here that the widely distributed fungal effector NIS1 targets host immune components that transmit signaling from pattern recognition receptors (PRRs) in plants. NIS1 from two Colletotrichum spp. suppressed the hypersensitive response and oxidative burst, both of which are induced by pathogen-derived molecules, in Nicotiana benthamiana. Magnaporthe oryzae NIS1 also suppressed the two defense responses, although this pathogen likely acquired the NIS1 gene via horizontal transfer from Basidiomycota. Interestingly, the root endophyte Colletotrichum tofieldiae also possesses a NIS1 homolog that can suppress the oxidative burst in N. benthamiana. We show that NIS1 of multiple pathogens commonly interacts with the PRR-associated kinases BAK1 and BIK1, thereby inhibiting their kinase activities and the BIK1-NADPH oxidase interaction. Furthermore, mutations in the NIS1-targeting proteins, i.e., BAK1 and BIK1, in Arabidopsis thaliana also resulted in reduced immunity to Colletotrichum fungi. Finally, M. oryzae lacking NIS1 displayed significantly reduced virulence on rice and barley, its hosts. Our study therefore reveals that a broad range of filamentous fungi maintain and utilize the core effector NIS1 to establish infection in their host plants and perhaps also beneficial interactions, by targeting conserved and central PRR-associated kinases that are also known to be targeted by bacterial effectors

Fetal and Neonatal Goiter in Cynomolgus Monkeys Following Administration of the Antithyroid Drug Thiamazole at High Doses to Dams During Pregnancy

To evaluate morphologic alterations in the thyroid gland in the second generation in cynomolgus monkeys, pregnant dams were exposed to high doses of thiamazole. In Experiment A, dams received thiamazole intragastrically via a nasogastric catheter from gestation day (GD) 50 to GD 150 or on the day before delivery. Initially, the dose level was 20 mg/kg/day (10 mg/kg twice daily); however, the dose level was subsequently decreased to 5 mg/kg/day (2.5 mg/kg twice daily), since deteriorated general conditions were observed in two dams. Six out of seven neonates died on the day of birth. The cause of neonatal death was tracheal compression and suffocation from goiter. The transplacental exposure to thiamazole affected the fetal thyroid glands and induced goiter in all neonates. The surviving neonate was necropsied 767 days after discontinuation of thiamazole exposure and showed reversibility of the induced changes. In Experiment B, dams were intragastrically administered thiamazole at 5 mg/kg/day (2.5 mg/kg twice daily) for treatment periods from GDs 51 to 70, 71 to 90, 91 to 110, 111 to 130 and 131 to 150. All fetuses showed enlarged thyroid glands but were viable. Histopathologically, hypertrophy and/or hyperplastic appearance of the follicular epithelium of the thyroid gland was observed at the end of each treatment period. The most active appearance of the follicular epithelium, consisting of crowded pedunculated structure, was demonstrated at end of the treatment period from GD 131 to 150. This is the first report on the morphology of fetal and neonatal goiter in the cynomolgus monkey