Nonthermal Emissions from Particles Accelerated by Turbulence in Clusters of Galaxies

We consider nonthermal emission from clusters of galaxies produced by particle acceleration by resonant scattering of Alfv\'{e}n waves driven by fluid turbulence through the Lighthill mechanism in the intracluster medium. We assume that the turbulence is driven by cluster mergers. We find that the resonant Alfv\'{e}n waves can accelerate electrons up to \gamma ~10^5 through resonant scattering. We also find that the turbulent resonant acceleration can give enough energy to electrons to produce the observed diffuse radio relic emission from clusters if the clusters have a pool of electrons with \gamma ~10^3. This mechanism can also explain the observed hard X-ray emission from clusters if the magnetic field in a cluster is small enough (~< \mu G) or the fluid turbulence spectrum is flatter than the Kolmogorov law. The fluid turbulence could be observed with Astro-E2 in the regions where diffuse radio emission is observed. Although non-gravitational heating before cluster formation (preheating) steepens a relation between radio luminosity and X-ray temperature, our predicted relation is still flatter than the observed one.Comment: 33 pages, accepted for publication on Ap

カワネズミCHIMARROGALE PLATYCEPHALA ノ シイクキジュツカイハツ

飼育下で生存させることが困難であったカワネズミChimarrogale platycephalaの飼育に必要な条件を明らかにするため,1)輸送方法,2)飼育装置,3)水浴びの必要性,4)給餌内容について検討した。輸送方法については,十分に給水するとともに隠れ場として巣箱を与えると衰弱が抑えられた。飼育装置については,飼育個体の脱出,こぼれた水による環境悪化,清掃・給餌中にストレスを与えてしまう問題があった。しかし,蓋をバックルで固定し,水漏れが全体に広がらないように2台つなげた連結ケージにすることで改善できた。本種は水浴びを好んだが,半年程度の飼育では必要なかった。給餌内容については,ミルワーム,水生昆虫,魚類に対して高い嗜好性がみられたが,これらの餌では体重を維持できなかった。他方,スンクス用飼料を与えた時には嗜好性が低いものの,体重が安定して半年以上飼育できた。以上のことから,本種の飼育には輸送中に十分な水と隠れ場を与えること,水浴びさせないこと,清掃・給餌中にストレスを与えないこと,および水分含量の少ない餌を与えることが重要であると考えられた。With aim of developing a long-term rearing method for the Japanese water shrew Chimarrogale platycephala, we investigated the 1) transport techniques, 2) appropopriate design of rearing cage, 3) necessity of bathing and 4) food items. Debilitation of the animal during transport was avoided by giving enough water and nest box. Escape of the animal from the cage was prevented by firmly closing the lid cover. Although the animal preferred bathing in a water pool, bathing was not an indispensable component of its life as it successfully survived in the cage for more than half a year without bathing. The inside of the rearing cage was often soaked by spilled water, but this problem was settled by using two connected cages. Two connected cages were effective to avoid disturbance during cage cleaning and food exchange. The favorite food items of the animal were mealworm, larvae of aquatic insects, and fish. Given those food items only, however, the animal gradually lost its original body weight. In contrast, the animal maintained a stable body weight for more than half a year when dry suncus-pellets were given, although it was not a favorite food item. From these findings, we concluded that the animals could be protected from stress and kept for more than half a year by ensuring the following four essential conditions : 1) giving enough water and shelter during transport, 2) using cage witch avoids water spillage, 3) prevent the animal from bathing, and 4) feeding substantial food items

Pulmonary Tumor Thrombotic Microangiopathy Induced by Ureteral Carcinoma: A Necropsy Case Report

Background: Pulmonary tumor thrombotic microangiopathy (PTTM) is a fatal cancer-related pulmonary complication with rapidly progressing dyspnea and pulmonary hypertension that occasionally induces sudden death. We report the first case of PTTM induced by ureter carcinoma. Case Presentation: The patient was an 80-year-old Japanese female with chief complaints of dry cough and dyspnea. An echocardiogram revealed severe pulmonary hypertension. A chest radiograph showed ground glass opacity of bilateral lower lung field predominance, and an abdominal computed tomography scan revealed a left ureter mass suggestive of ureter carcinoma. The patient died of respiratory failure on the eighth day of hospitalization. Postmortem examination indicated that the primary lesion was a left ureter cancer with tumor microemboli extending to both lungs through the right side of the heart. The final diagnosis of this case was PTTM induced by ureter carcinoma. Conclusion: The pathogenesis and pathophysiology of PTTM remains obscure with no effective management available. In cases of rapidly progressing respiratory failure with pulmonary hypertension, it is necessary to consider PTTM in the differential diagnosis

Bronchodilator Efficacy of Single Doses of Indacaterol in Japanese Patients with COPD: A Randomised, Double-Blind, Placebo-Controlled Trial

ABSTRACT: Background: Indacaterol is an investigational, novel, inhaled once-daily ultra-long-acting beta-2 agonist for the treatment of chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD). This study evaluated the 24-h bronchodilatory efficacy and safety of indacaterol in Japanese patients with COPD. Methods: This Phase-II, randomised, placebo-controlled, crossover study comprised four double-blind, single-dose treatment periods (washout between periods: 14-28 days). Japanese patients aged 40-75 years with moderate-to-severe COPD were randomised to receive single doses of indacaterol (150, 300, or 600 μg) or placebo via a single-dose dry-powder inhaler. Efficacy (primary endpoint: standardised FEV1AUC22-24h) and safety were assessed for 24 h post-dose in each treatment period. Results: Of the 50 patients randomised (92% male; mean age, 67.2 years), 45 completed the study. Standardised FEV1AUC22-24h was significantly higher for all indacaterol doses as compared with placebo, with clinically relevant differences of 130, 160, and 170 mL for 150, 300, and 600 μg, respectively (P < 0.001). The improvement in FEV1 was seen as early as 5 min post-dose with indacaterol and sustained for 24 h (P < 0.001 vs placebo at all time points). All indacaterol doses were well tolerated and showed no clinically meaningful effect on pulse rate, blood pressure, QTc interval, and laboratory parameters when compared with placebo. Conclusions: In the Japanese COPD population studied, single doses of indacaterol (150, 300, and 600 μg) provided sustained 24-h bronchodilation, with onset of action within 5 min post-dose. All doses were well tolerated. These results are consistent with data from Caucasian populations. KEY WORDS: beta2-agonists, bronchodilator, COPD, efficacy, indacatero

Efficacy and safety of benralizumab in Japanese patients with severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma

Background: In the Phase III CALIMA trial, benralizumab significantly reduced asthma exacerbations, increased lung function, and alleviated symptoms for patients with severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma. The aim of this subgroup analysis was to evaluate the efficacy and safety of benralizumab for Japanese patients in the CALIMA trial. Methods: CALIMA was a randomised, controlled trial of 1306 patients (aged 12–75 years; registered at ClinicalTrials.gov: NCT01914757) with severe asthma uncontrolled by medium- to high-dosage inhaled corticosteroids and long-acting β2-agonists (ICS/LABA). Patients received 56 weeks' benralizumab 30 mg either every 4 weeks (Q4W) or every 8 weeks (Q8W; first three doses Q4W), or placebo Q4W. The primary analysis population was patients receiving high-dosage ICS/LABA with blood eosinophils ≥300 cells/μL. This subgroup analysis covered Japanese patients from this group. Results: Of 83 patients randomised in Japan, 46 were receiving high-dosage ICS/LABA and had blood eosinophils ≥300 cells/μL. Compared with placebo, benralizumab reduced the annual rate of asthma exacerbations by 66% (Q4W; rate ratio 0.34, 95% CI, 0.11–0.99) and 83% (Q8W; rate ratio 0.17, 95% CI, 0.05–0.60); increased prebronchodilator FEV1 by 0.334 L (Q4W; 95% CI, 0.020–0.647) and 0.198 L (Q8W; 95% CI, −0.118 to 0.514); and decreased total asthma symptom score by 0.17 (Q4W; 95% CI, −0.82 to 0.48) and 0.24 (Q8W; 95% CI, −0.87 to 0.40). Percentages of adverse events were consistent with the overall CALIMA group. Conclusions: Benralizumab reduced annual asthma exacerbations and symptoms, increased lung function, and was well-tolerated by Japanese patients with severe, uncontrolled eosinophilic asthma. Keywords: Asthma, Biologic, Eosinophil, Exacerbation, Interleukin-5 recepto