Formation of x-ray Newton’s rings from nano-scale spallation shells of metals in laser ablation

The initial stages of the femtosecond (fs) laser ablation process of gold, platinum, and tungsten were observed by single-shot soft x-ray imaging technique. The formation and evolution of soft x-ray Newton’s rings (NRs) were found for the first time. The soft x-ray NRs are caused by the interference between the bulk ablated surface and nanometer-scale thin spallation layer; they originate from the metal surface at pump energy fluence of around 1 J/cm2 and work as a flying soft x-ray beam splitter

Thymoma-associated Graft-versus-Host Disease-like Erythroderma

We report a 40-year-old woman with recurrent thymoma associated with myasthenia gravis, in whom an unusual form of erythroderma developed. A histological examination revealed a graft-versus-host disease (GVHD)-like reaction. After high-dose steroid therapy, the metastatic thymoma lesion in the abdominal cavity was reduced in size from 9.5 × 6 × 7.5 cm to 4 × 3 × 1 cm in diameter. Nevertheless, the GVHD-like erythroderma become aggravated, her condition worsened, and the patient finally suffered from respiratory failure and died of sepsis. A GVHD-like reaction may be a rare presentation of thymoma-associated immunological disorders such as myasthenia gravis or pure red cell aplasia. Herein, we discuss the present case and review pertinent reports of thymoma cases associated with GVHD

Saúde bucal de trabalhadores da construção civil: abordagem epidemiológica

This cross-sectional study aimed at evaluating the oral health conditions of building construction workers from a city in the mid-west region of São Paulo, Brazil. This study involved 219 male subjects, aged 17 to 72. The definition of a random sample utilized the functional number of each worker as a criterion to the raffle, which took into account all 450 subjects registered in the Working Accidents Prevention Program. The examination of oral health conditions by DMFT index and need of treatment were carried out according to WHO criteria (1997). This paper reports the prevalence of caries according to age, occupation, and educational level. Among the 219 workers examined, the mean DMFT was 16.9. Amongst the younger workers (Este estudo transversal foi delineado para avaliar as condições de saúde bucal de trabalhadores da construção civil em município da região centro-oeste do Estado de São Paulo. Foram examinados 219 indivíduos do sexo masculino, com idades entre 17 e 72 anos. O levantamento das condições bucais foi realizado em processo de amostragem aleatória simples, a partir do total de 450 inscritos na MEGA-SIPAT 2000 (Semana Interna de Prevenção de Acidentes do Trabalho). Foi utilizado o índice CPOD (cárie dentária) e necessidade de tratamento odontológico, segundo metodologia proposta pela Organização Mundial da Saúde (1997). Neste estudo, são descritas a prevalência de cárie segundo a idade, ocupação e escolaridade. Entre os 219 trabalhadores examinados, o valor CPOD apurado foi 16,9. Os trabalhadores mais jovens

Development of dual X-mode Doppler reflectometry system in Heliotron J

A dual X-mode Doppler reflectometry system is developed to measure the radial electric field in a stellarator/heliotron device, Heliotron J. The system is designed to have dual channels where the observation points are placed symmetrically to the equatorial plane, enabling the poloidal flow velocity measurement at two different positions in the same toroidal section, which is useful for the search for a zonal flow. In the system, an RF source generates the microwave frequency of 8.25–12.5 GHz, upconverted by an intermediate frequency of 27.5 MHz and transmitted with a coaxial cable to a transmitter located near the Heliotoron J vacuum vessel. After quadrupling the RF waves at the transmitter, the microwaves of 33–50 GHz are injected in X-mode into a plasma using a spherical focusing mirror installed inside the vacuum vessel. The local wavenumber of the probing microwaves, k⊥, is 1.56–1.66 cm⁻¹. The Doppler-shifted reflected wave is downconverted to a 110 MHz signal by mixing with the LO at the receiver, amplified, and then detected by an I/Q detector. In a tabletop test, we have confirmed that the phase estimated by the I/Q detector is proportionally changed as a function of the horn antenna distance. We have successfully measured the Doppler-shifted spectra of the I/Q signals and estimated the radial electric field in an electron cyclotron heated (ECH) plasma

Group-theoretical analysis of two-dimensional hexagonal materials

金沢大学理工研究域数物科学系Two-dimensional hexagonal materials such as graphene and silicene have highly symmetric crystal structures and Dirac cones at the K point, which induce novel electronic properties. In this report, we calculate their electronic structures by using density functional theory and analyze their band structures on the basis of the group theory. Dirac cones frequently appear when the symmetry at the K point is high; thus, two-dimensional irreducible representations are included. We discuss the relationship between symmetry and the appearance of the Dirac cone. © 2017 The Japan Society of Applied Physics.Embargo Period 12 month

RB1CC1 Together with RB1 and p53 Predicts Long-Term Survival in Japanese Breast Cancer Patients

RB1-inducible coiled-coil 1 (RB1CC1) plays a significant role in the enhancement of the retinoblastoma tumor suppressor (RB1) pathway and is involved in breast cancer development. However, RB1CC1's role in clinical progression of breast cancer has not yet been evaluated, so, as a first step, it is necessary to establish its usefulness as a tool to evaluate breast cancer patients. In this report, we have analyzed the correlation between abnormalities in the RB1CC1 pathway and long-term prognosis, because disease-specific death in later periods (>5 years) of the disease is a serious problem in breast cancer. Breast cancer tissues from a large cohort in Japan were evaluated by conventional immunohistochemical methods for the presence of the molecules involved in the RB1CC1 pathway, including RB1CC1, RB1, p53, and other well-known prognostic markers for breast cancer, such as estrogen receptor, progesterone receptor, and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2. The correlation between the immunohistochemical results and clinical outcomes of 323 breast cancer patients was analyzed using a Kaplan-Meier log-rank test and a multivariate Cox proportional hazards regression analysis. Absence of nuclear RB1CC1 expression was associated with the worst prognosis (Log-rank test, Chi-Square value = 17.462, p<0.0001). Dysfunction of either one of RB1CC1, RB1, or p53 was associated with the highest risk for cancer-specific death, especially related to survival lasting more than 5 years (multivariate Cox proportional hazard ratio = 3.951, 95% Confidence Interval = 1.566–9.967, p = 0.0036). Our present data demonstrate that the combined evaluation of RB1CC1, RB1 and p53 by conventional immunohistochemical analysis provides an accurate prediction of the long-term prognoses of breast cancer patients, which can be carried out as a routine clinical examination

Thymidine Catabolism as a Metabolic Strategy for Cancer Survival

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP), a rate-limiting enzyme in thymidine catabolism, plays a pivotal role in tumor progression; however, the mechanisms underlying this role are not fully understood. Here, we found that TP-mediated thymidine catabolism could supply the carbon source in the glycolytic pathway and thus contribute to cell survival under conditions of nutrient deprivation. In TP-expressing cells, thymidine was converted to metabolites, including glucose 6-phosphate, lactate, 5-phospho-α-D-ribose 1-diphosphate, and serine, via the glycolytic pathway both in vitro and in vivo. These thymidine-derived metabolites were required for the survival of cells under low-glucose conditions. Furthermore, activation of thymidine catabolism was observed in human gastric cancer. These findings demonstrate that thymidine can serve as a glycolytic pathway substrate in human cancer cells

Thymidine catabolism promotes NADPH oxidase-derived reactive oxygen species (ROS) signalling in KB and yumoto cells

Thymidine phosphorylase (TP) is a rate-limiting enzyme in the thymidine catabolic pathway. TP is identical to platelet-derived endothelial cell growth factor and contributes to tumour angiogenesis. TP induces the generation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) and enhances the expression of oxidative stress-responsive genes, such as interleukin (IL)-8. However, the mechanism underlying ROS induction by TP remains unclear. In the present study, we demonstrated that TP promotes NADPH oxidase-derived ROS signalling in cancer cells. NADPH oxidase inhibition using apocynin or small interfering RNAs (siRNAs) abrogated the induction of IL-8 and ROS in TP-expressing cancer cells. Meanwhile, thymidine catabolism induced by TP increased the levels of NADPH and intermediates of the pentose phosphate pathway (PPP). Both siRNA knockdown of glucose 6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD), a rate-limiting enzyme in PPP, and a G6PD inhibitor, dihydroepiandrosterone, reduced TP-induced ROS production. siRNA downregulation of 2-deoxy-D-ribose 5-phosphate (DR5P) aldolase, which is needed for DR5P to enter glycolysis, also suppressed the induction of NADPH and IL-8 in TP-expressing cells. These results suggested that TP-mediated thymidine catabolism increases the intracellular NADPH level via the PPP, which enhances the production of ROS by NADPH oxidase and activates its downstream signalling

Application of double stapling technique after anterior resection for rectal cancer

Double stapling technique (DST) were applied in 22 cases who underwent low and high anterior resection of the rectum. Postoperative complications were encounted in six, three were mild strictures and the other three were minor leakages. All were not severe, demonstrating no correlation to the conditions of the anastomosis and subsided by conservative therapy in a short period. Anastomotic leakage occurred in three but these were based on technical problems and it is possible to avoid with careful surgical management. In conclusion, DST is of great benefit for the treatment of carcinoma of the rectum to reduce the consuming operation time and to lessen the risk of bacteriological and oncological contaminations