The axial anomaly and the phases of dense QCD

The QCD axial anomaly, by coupling the chiral condensate and BCS pairing fields of quarks in dense matter, leads to a new critical point in the QCD phase diagram \cite{HTYB,chiral2}, which at sufficiently low temperature should terminate the line of phase transitions between chirally broken hadronic matter and color superconducting quark matter. The critical point indicates that matter at low temperature should cross over smoothly from the hadronic to the quark phase, as suggested earlier on the basis of symmetry. We review here the arguments, based on a general Ginzburg-Landau effective Lagrangian, for the existence of the new critical point, as well as discuss possible connections between the QCD phase structure and the BEC-BCS crossover in ultracold trapped atomic fermion systems at unitarity. and implications for the presence of quark matter in neutron stars.Comment: 8 pages, Proceedings of Quark Matter 2008, Jaipu

Detection of DR antigen on leukemic cells from a patient suffering from adult T-cell leukemia and progressive systemic sclerosis.

This report concerns an unusual case of adult T cell leukemia (ATL) complicated with progressive systemic sclerosis (PSS). The surface markers of peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBM) and lymph node cells, both of which mainly consisted of leukemic cells, were examined. The effect of these cells on the pokeweed mitogen (PWM)-induced IgG synthesis by normal PBM also was studied. The leukemic cells formed rosettes with sheep red blood cells (SRBC; E) and expressed T cell antigen, Leu-1, and DR antigen. The detection of cell surface antigens was carried out by employing monoclonal antibodies against these antigens. We diagnosed this case as DR positive ATL. In terms of the immunoregulatory function of these leukemic cells, the co-culture experiments showed that these cells had some suppressive effect on the PWM-induced IgG production by allogeneic normal PBM.</p

Cytology Reporting System for Lung Cancer from the Japan Lung Cancer Society and the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology: An Extensive Study Containing More Benign Lesions

Introduction: The Japan Lung Cancer Society (JLCS) and the Japanese Society of Clinical Cytology (JSCC) have proposed a new four-tiered cytology reporting system for lung carcinoma (JLCS-JSCC system). Prior to the proposal, the Papanicolaou Society of Cytopathology (PSC) had proposed a revised reporting system (PSC system), which comprises the “neoplastic, benign neoplasm, and low-grade carcinoma” category (N-B-LG category), in addition to the 4 categories of the JLCS-JSCC system. This study aimed to evaluate the interobserver agreement of the JLCS-JSCC system with an additional dataset with more benign lesions in comparison with the PSC system. Methods: We analyzed 167 cytological samples, which included 17 benign lesions, obtained from the respiratory system. Seven observers classified these cases into each category by reviewing one Papanicolaou-stained slide per case according to the JLCS-JSCC system and PSC system. Results: The interobserver agreement was moderate in the JLCS-JSCC (k = 0.499) and PSC (k = 0.485) systems. Of the 167 samples, 17 samples were benign lesions: 7 pulmonary hamartomas, 5 sclerosing pneumocytomas, 2 squamous papillomas, one solitary fibrous tumor, one meningioma, and one lymphocytic proliferation. There were diverse sample types as follows: 11 touch smears, 3 brushing smears, 2 aspirations, and one sputum sample. Fourteen samples (82.3%) were categorized into “negative” or “atypical” by more than half of the observers in the JLCS-JSCC system. Conversely, 3 samples were categorized as “suspicious” or “malignant” by more than half of the observers in the JLCS-JSCC system. On the other hand, 11 samples (64.7%) were categorized into the N-B-LG category by more than half of the observers in the PSC system. Conclusions: The concordance rate in the JLCS-JSCC system was slightly higher than that in the PSC system; however, the interobserver agreement was moderate in both the JLCS-JSCC and PSC systems. These results indicate that both the JLCS-JSCC and PSC systems are clinically useful. Therefore, both systems are expected to have clinical applications. It may be important to integrate the 2 systems and construct a universal system that can be used more widely in clinical practice

Mitochonic Acid 5 (MA-5) Facilitates ATP Synthase Oligomerization and Cell Survival in Various Mitochondrial Diseases

Mitochondrial dysfunction increases oxidative stress and depletes ATP in a variety of disorders. Several antioxidant therapies and drugs affecting mitochondrial biogenesis are undergoing investigation, although not all of them have demonstrated favorable effects in the clinic. We recently reported a therapeutic mitochondrial drug mitochonic acid MA-5 (Tohoku J. Exp. Med., 2015). MA-5 increased ATP, rescued mitochondrial disease fibroblasts and prolonged the life span of the disease model “Mitomouse” (JASN, 2016). To investigate the potential of MA-5 on various mitochondrial diseases, we collected 25 cases of fibroblasts from various genetic mutations and cell protective effect of MA-5 and the ATP producing mechanism was examined. 24 out of the 25 patient fibroblasts (96%) were responded to MA-5. Under oxidative stress condition, the GDF-15 was increased and this increase was significantly abrogated by MA-5. The serum GDF-15 elevated in Mitomouse was likewise reduced by MA-5. MA-5 facilitates mitochondrial ATP production and reduces ROS independent of ETC by facilitating ATP synthase oligomerization and supercomplex formation with mitofilin/Mic60. MA-5 reduced mitochondria fragmentation, restores crista shape and dynamics. MA-5 has potential as a drug for the treatment of various mitochondrial diseases. The diagnostic use of GDF-15 will be also useful in a forthcoming MA-5 clinical trial

Association of FTO genotype with obesity and bone health among communitydwelling adults ; Goto Island study on bone health

Bone mass is tuned by various factors, including aging, menopause, low body weight, and genetic variations. Here, we showed an independent association between a genotype on the fat mass- and obesity-associated FTO gene (#610966 on OMIM) and bone loss after adjusting for age and body mass index (BMI). A cross-sectional study was nested in a prospective observational study of 1,828 participants (median age: 69 [62-76] years in men and 68 [61-75] years in women) residing in a rural city in western Japan (Goto Island study). Participants were recruited during medical checkups in 2014 and 2016 from the community-dwelling population. The bone mass of the calcaneus was evaluated using quantitative ultrasound. The single nucleotide polymorphism (SNP) rs1421085 was genotyped using a hydrolysis probe. The chi-squared test was used to determine whether the variants were in equilibrium in this population. There were differences in medians of BMI among the genotypes (24.3 in CC, 23.0 in CT, and 22.6 in TT, P = 0.01), but not in those of bone mass. There was a significant association between the minor allele (C) and being overweight in a gene dosage-dependent manner (BMI > 25, OR per allele =1.52, 95% CI = 1.07-2.14, P = 0.02 in men, OR = 1.48, 95% CI = 1.16-1.95, P = 0.01 in women). Logistic regression analysis showed a significant protective association in male carriers of the minor allele against low bone mass (QUS T-score less than -2.0) after adjusting for age and BMI in men aged 65-75 years (OR = 0.50, 95% CI = 0.27-0.96, P = 0.036), with no significant association in women.Our study indicated an association between the genetic polymorphism of FTO and bone mass among community-dwelling men aged 65-75 years. The polymorphism may play a role in bone health with higher BMI and other beneficial functions

Early Gastric Cancer with Purely Enteroblastic Differentiation and No Conventional Adenocarcinoma Component

Gastric carcinoma with enteroblastic differentiation (GCED) is a rare variant of gastric carcinoma, and a part of GCED produces alpha-fetoprotein. GCED is characterized by cells with clear cytoplasm and a tubulopapillary and solid growth pattern resembling those in the primitive gut. GCED is typically overlaid by a conventional adenocarcinoma (CA) component, implying that CA in the mucosa differentiates into GCED during tumor invasion and proliferation. We present the case of a 73-year-old woman with a 10-mm superficial elevated lesion and a slight central depression at the anterior wall of the lower gastric body. Endoscopic submucosal dissection revealed tumor cells having clear cytoplasm and severely atypical nuclei characteristic of GCED. The growth pattern was predominantly solid and trabecular but included submucosal layer invasion and limited tubular growth. Atrophic pyloric mucosa without intestinal metaplasia surrounded the tumor. Immunohistochemically, the tumor cells were positive for AFP, GPC3, and SALL4. The present patient showed a purely enteroblastic differentiation without a CA component despite the presence of early cancer, indicating that few cases of GCED may arise de novo in the gastric mucosa. GCED is more aggressive compared with CA; therefore, pathologists should be aware that GCED without CA can appear in biopsy specimens of early cancer while making an accurate diagnosis

Stau study at the ILC and its implication for the muon g-2 anomaly

Once all the sleptons as well as the Bino are observed at the ILC, the Bino contribution to the muon anomalous magnetic dipole moment (muon $g-2$) in supersymmetric (SUSY) models can be reconstructed. Motivated by the recently confirmed muon $g-2$ anomaly, we examine the reconstruction accuracy at the ILC with $\sqrt{s}$ = 500 GeV. For this purpose, measurements of stau parameters are important. We quantitatively study the determination of the mass and mixing parameters of the staus at the ILC. Furthermore, we discuss the implication of the stau study to the reconstruction of the SUSY contribution to the muon $g-2$. At the benchmark point of our choice, we find that the SUSY contribution to the muon $g-2$ can be determined with a precision of $\sim 1\%$ at the ILC.Comment: 19 pages, 5 figures, contribution to Snowmass 202

A intestinal anisakiasis with a ileus.

A case of ileus caused by intestinal anisakiasis is described in this paper. The intestine manifested a typical allergic inflamation. Pathological changes such as extensive edema 2nd fibrosis were found in the intestine. Eosinophiles, neutrophiles and monocytes also infiltrated near the site of the penetrating worm. The worm from the intestine of the patient was identified with a SEM. On the basis of the available evidence, it can be safely said that this worm is Anisakis type I larva, although the mucro on the tip of larval tail was not clear. The patient may have been infected with Anisakis larva by eating "SASHIMI" of a small yellowtail (HAMACHI) from the Seto Inland Sea, because these small yellowtail were fed fish caught near Hokkaido, Tohoku and San-in

Genetic and immunohistochemical analyses of ciliated muconodular papillary tumors of the lung: A report of five cases

Ciliated muconodular papillary tumors are benign lesions located in the peripheral lung field. Recent studies revealed BRAF and epidermal growth factor receptor gene mutations and anaplastic lymphoma kinase gene rearrangement. Five ciliated muconodular papillary tumors were screened for the BRAF V600E and EGFR mutations via polymerase chain reaction. Immunohistochemical analysis was performed for the detection of the BRAF V600E and anaplastic lymphoma kinase proteins, as well as other markers including phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase. Three tumors (60%) harbored the BRAF V600E mutation. Immunohistochemical analysis confirmed this mutation in all of the tumor cell types. EGFR mutation and immunoactivity of the anaplastic lymphoma kinase protein were not detected. Phosphorylated extracellular signal-regulated protein kinase was negative both in the cytoplasm and nucleus of the BRAF V600E–positive tumors. Mucin 1, mucin 4, thyroid transcription factor 1, and cytokeratin 7 were positive, and mucin 5AC was partially positive, whereas napsin A and cytokeratin 20 were negative. Ciliated muconodular papillary tumor may originate from the terminal bronchioles, and the status of ERK activation reflects its benign behavior