Photoinduced hydrogen release from hydrogen boride sheets

Hydrogen boride nanosheets (HB sheets) are facilely synthesized via ion-exchange treatment on magnesium diboride (MgB2) in an acetonitrile solution. Optical absorption and fluorescence spectra of HB sheets indicate that their bandgap energy is 2.8 eV. According to first-principles calculations, optical absorption seen at 2.8 eV is assigned to the electron transition between the sigma-bonding states of B and H orbitals. In addition, density functional theory (DFT) calculations suggest the other allowed transition from the s-bonding state of B and H orbitals to the antibonding state with the gap of 3.8 eV. Significant gaseous H-2 release is found to occur only under photoirradiation, which causes the electron transition from the s-bonding state to the antibonding state even under mild ambient conditions. The amount of H-2 released from the irradiated HB sheets is estimated to be 8 wt%, indicating that the sheets have a high H-2-storage capacity compared with previously reported metal H-2-storage materials

Intestinal epithelial cell-derived IL-15 determines local maintenance and maturation of intraepithelial lymphocytes in the intestine

Interleukin-15 (IL-15) is a cytokine critical for maintenance of intestinal intraepithelial lymphocytes (IELs), especially CD8αα+ IELs (CD8αα IELs). In the intestine, IL-15 is produced by intestinal epithelial cells (IECs), blood vascular endothelial cells (BECs) and hematopoietic cells. However, the precise role of intestinal IL-15 on IELs is still unknown. To address the question, we generated two kinds of IL-15 conditional knockout (IL-15cKO) mice: villin-Cre (Vil-Cre) and Tie2-Cre IL-15cKO mice. IEC-derived IL-15 was specifically deleted in Vil-Cre IL-15cKO mice, whereas IL-15 produced by BECs and hematopoietic cells is deleted in Tie2-Cre IL-15cKO mice. The cell number and frequency of CD8αα IELs and NK IELs were significantly reduced in Vil-Cre IL-15cKO mice. By contrast, CD8αα IELs were unchanged in Tie2-Cre IL-15cKO mice, indicating that IL-15 produced by BECs and hematopoietic cells is dispensable for CD8αα IELs. Expression of an anti-apoptotic factor, Bcl-2, was decreased, whereas Fas expression was increased in CD8αα IELs of Vil-Cre IL-15cKO mice. Forced expression of Bcl-2 by a Bcl-2 transgene partially restored CD8αα IELs in Vil-Cre IL-15cKO mice, suggesting that some IL-15 signal other than Bcl-2 is required for maintenance of CD8αα IELs. Furthermore, granzyme B production was reduced, whereas PD-1 expression was increased in CD8αα IELs of Vil-Cre IL-15cKO mice. These results collectively suggested that IEC-derived IL-15 is essential for homeostasis of IELs by promoting their survival and functional maturation

Epigenetic alterations in sperm associated with male infertility

The most common form of male infertility is a low sperm count, known as oligozoospermia. Studies suggest that oligozoospermia is associated with epigenetic alterations. Epigenetic alterations in sperm, which may arise due to the exposure of gametes to environmental factors or those that pre-exist in the sperm of infertile individuals, may contribute to the increased incidence of normally rare imprinting disorders in babies conceived after assisted reproductive technology using the sperm of infertile men. Genomic imprinting is an important developmental process whereby the allelic activity of certain genes is regulated by DNA methylation established during gametogenesis. The aberrant expression of several imprinted genes has been linked to various diseases, malignant tumors, lifestyle and mental disorders in humans. Understanding how infertility and environmental factors such as reproductive toxicants, certain foods, and drug exposures during gametogenesis contribute to the origins of these disorders via defects in sperm is of paramount importance. In this review, we discuss the association of epigenetic alterations with abnormal spermatogenesis and the evidence that epigenetic processes, including those required for genomic imprinting, may be sensitive to environmental exposures during gametogenesis, fertilization and early embryonic development. In addition, we review imprinting diseases and their relationships with environmental factors. While the plasticity of epigenetic marks may make these more susceptible to modification by the environment, this also suggests that aberrant epigenetic marks may be reversible. A greater understanding of this process and the function of epidrugs may lead to the development of new treatment methods for many adult diseases in the future

高齢者乳癌に対するAnthracycline回避レジメン

Tolerability and efficacy of chemotherapy avoiding anthracycline regimen were examined histologically in ER negative and HER２positive elderly and poor risked breast cancer patients because of serious toxicity of Anthracycline regimen. Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy with ４ to ６ courses of Paclitaxel with Trastuzumab was given to ６ patients, Pertuzumab was added in 2 cases to obtain complete response. Adverse events were controllable, the primary treatment was completed without reducing the dose of drugs（RDI was １００％）. Clinical CR rate was recognized in all ６ patients and pathological CR was proved in all of the operated５cases

Comparison of Hospitalization Incidence in Influenza Outpatients Treated With Baloxavir Marboxil or Neuraminidase Inhibitors: A Health Insurance Claims Database Study

Background: Baloxavir marboxil (baloxavir) is a single-dose, oral antiinfluenza drug with a novel mechanism of action. We compared the incidence of hospitalization in patients treated with baloxavir vs neuraminidase inhibitors.Methods: In this retrospective, observational, cohort study, we used real-world patient data extracted from a Japanese health insurance claims database. The enrollment period was 1 October 2018 to 17 April 2019. On day 1, eligible patients (N = 339 007) received baloxavir, oseltamivir, zanamivir, or laninamivir. Baseline characteristics were standardized using the inverse probability of treatment weighting method. The primary end point was the incidence of hospitalization (days 2–14). Secondary end points included antibacterial use, secondary pneumonia, and additional antiinfluenza drug use.Results: Compared with the baloxavir group, the incidence of hospitalization was greater in the oseltamivir group (risk ratio [RR] and 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.41 [1.00–2.00]; risk difference [RD] and 95% CI, 0.06 [.01–.12]) and zanamivir group (RR, 1.85 [1.23–2.78]; RD, 0.11 [.02–.20]). Oseltamivir-treated patients were less likely to require antibacterials than baloxavir-treated patients (RR, 0.87 [.82–.91]). However, oseltamivir-treated patients were more likely to be hospitalized with antibacterials (RR, 1.70 [1.21–2.38]) or antibacterial injection (RR, 1.67 [1.17–2.38]) than baloxavir-treated patients (post hoc analysis). Compared with baloxavir-treated patients, additional antiinfluenza drug use was greater in oseltamivir-, zanamivir-, and laninamivir-treated patients (RR, 1.51 [1.05–2.18], 2.84 [2.04–3.96], and 1.68 [1.35–2.10], respectively).Conclusions: Baloxavir is an efficacious antiinfluenza treatment that may reduce hospitalization compared with oseltamivir and zanamivir.Clinical Trials Registration: University hospital Medical Information Network Clinical Trials Registry (UMIN000038159)

Trastuzumab タンザイ リョウホウ ガ チョコウ シタ セツジョ フノウ シンコウ イガン ノ 1レイ

Trastuzumab, a humanized monoclonal antibody directed against human epidermal growth factor receptor２ （HER２）, has been shown to be active against metastatic gastric cancer that overexpress HER２. A ７８-year-old man presented with an edema in the lower legs. He was diagnosed as having advanced gastric cancers with multiple liver metastases in our hospital. Immunohistochemistry of the tumor cells revealed HER２ overexpression with an intensity of ３＋. The patient was treated with DS-T chemotherapy （Docetaxel＋S‐１＋Trastuzumab） because of the presence of renal dysfunction. Due to the adverse effect appeared with his skin, DS-T chemotherapy has been canceled and trastuzumab chemotherapy was continued. After １１ months of trastuzumab monotherapy, metastatic liver tumors were diminished. There is very few report of a positive response to trastuzumab in a patient with HER２‐overexpressing metastatic gastric cancer

A tripartite paternally methylated region within the Gpr1-Zdbf2 imprinted domain on mouse chromosome 1 identified by meDIP-on-chip

The parent-of-origin specific expression of imprinted genes relies on DNA methylation of CpG-dinucleotides at differentially methylated regions (DMRs) during gametogenesis. To date, four paternally methylated DMRs have been identified in screens based on conventional approaches. These DMRs are linked to the imprinted genes H19, Gtl2 (IG-DMR), Rasgrf1 and, most recently, Zdbf2 which encodes zinc finger, DBF-type containing 2. In this study, we applied a novel methylated-DNA immunoprecipitation-on-chip (meDIP-on-chip) method to genomic DNA from mouse parthenogenetic- and androgenetic-derived stem cells and sperm and identified 458 putative DMRs. This included the majority of known DMRs. We further characterized the paternally methylated Zdbf2/ZDBF2 DMR. In mice, this extensive germ line DMR spanned 16 kb and possessed an unusual tripartite structure. Methylation was dependent on DNA methyltransferase 3a (Dnmt3a), similar to H19 DMR and IG-DMR. In both humans and mice, the adjacent gene, Gpr1/GPR1, which encodes a G-protein-coupled receptor 1 protein with transmembrane domain, was also imprinted and paternally expressed. The Gpr1-Zdbf2 domain was most similar to the Rasgrf1 domain as both DNA methylation and the actively expressed allele were in cis on the paternal chromosome. This work demonstrates the effectiveness of meDIP-on-chip as a technique for identifying DMRs

High-resolution seismic reflection profiling across the Shiraiwa fault, eastern margin of the Yokote basin fault zone, northeast Japan : data acquisition and processing

The eastern margin of the Yokote basin fault zone extends about 56km at the western foot of the Ou Backbone Range, northeast Japan. The Rikuu earthquake (M=7.2) occurred in the Ou Backbone Range (Mahiru Range) on 31st August, 1896. Associated with this earthquake, four thrust faults-Obonai, Shiraiwa, Ota, and Senya fault3 appeared on the surface of the western foot of the Mahiru Range. These faults were highly sinuous with numerous gaps and en echelon steps. We conducted a high-resolution seismic reflection profiling survey across the Shiraiwa fault. The obtained seismic reflection data were processed by conventional common mid-point methods, post-stack migration, and depth conversion. The subsurface structure across the Shraiwa fault is characterized by branched low-angle reverse faults and conjugate back-thrust. The emergent thrust associated with the 1896 earthquake is regarded to be a subsidiary reverse fault

High-resolution seismic reflection profiling across the Senya fault at Hanaoka, northern Honshu, Japan: Data acquisition and processing

The Senya fault, northern Honshu, Japan, which generated the Rikuu earthquake (Mj 7.2) 1896, is a typical intra-arc active thrust. Subsurface geometry provides essential information for better understanding strong ground motions and crustal deformation processes. A high-resolution seismic reflection survey was conducted along the 63km long seismic line across the toe of the thrust to reveal the subsurface geometry. The seismic source was a Mini-vibrator truck and the receiver interval was 10 m. The seismic data were processed by the standard common mid-point method. The Senya fault is clearly identified as a boundary between horizontal reflectors of the basin fill in the Yokote basin and moderately dipping reflectors beneath the Senya hills. The thrust occurred in late Miocene mudstone, and shows a flat and ramp geometry. The emergent thrust dips 30 degrees down to 500m, and changes its dip to subhorizontal following the distribution of the mudstone