Molecular Phylogenetic Analysis of Japanese Soil-dwelling Mundochthonius Pseudoscorpions (Pseudoscorpiones: Chthoniidae)

Poster Presentation

Evaluation of two-dimensional electronic portal imaging device using integrated images during volumetric modulated arc therapy for prostate cancer

Background: The aim of the study was to evaluate analysis criteria for the identification of the presence of rectal gas during volumetric modulated arc therapy (VMAT) for prostate cancer patients by using electronic portal imaging device (EPID)-based in vivo dosimetry (IVD). Materials and methods: All measurements were performed by determining the cumulative EPID images in an integrated acquisition mode and analyzed using PerFRACTION commercial software. Systematic setup errors were simulated by moving the anthropomorphic phantom in each translational and rotational direction. The inhomogeneity regions were also simulated by the I’mRT phantom attached to the Quasar phantom. The presence of small and large air cavities (12 and 48 cm3) was controlled by moving the Quasar phantom in several timings during VMAT. Sixteen prostate cancer patients received EPID-based IVD during VMAT. Results: In the phantom study, no systematic setup error was detected in the range that can happen in clinical ( < 5-mm and < 3 degree). The pass rate of 2% dose difference (DD2%) in small and large air cavities was 98.74% and 79.05%, respectively, in the appearance of the air cavity after irradiation three quarter times. In the clinical study, some fractions caused a sharp decline in the DD2% pass rate. The proportion for DD2% < 90% was 13.4% of all fractions. Rectal gas was confirmed in 11.0% of fractions by acquiring kilo-voltage X-ray images after the treatment. Conclusions: Our results suggest that analysis criteria of 2% dose difference in EPID-based IVD was a suitable method for identification of rectal gas during VMAT for prostate cancer patients

Setup accuracy and dose attenuation of a wooden immobilization system for lung stereotactic body radiotherapy

Background: We evaluated the setup error and dose absorption of an immobilization system with a shell and wooden baseplate (SW) for lung stereotactic body radiotherapy (SBRT). Materials and methods: Setup errors in 109 patients immobilized with an SW or BodyFix system (BF) were compared. Dose attenuation rates of materials for baseplates were measured with an ion-chamber. Ionization measurements were performed from 90° to 180° gantry angle in 10° increments, with the ball water equivalent phantom placed at the center of the wood and carbon baseplates whose effects on dose distribution were compared using an electron portal imaging device. Results: The ratio for the anterior-posterior, cranial-caudal, and right-left of the cases within 3-mm registered shifts in interfractional setup error were 90.9%, 89.2%, and 97.4% for the SW, and 93.2%, 91.6%, and 98.0% for the BF, respectively. For intrafractional setup error, 98.3%, 97.4%, and 99.1% for the SW and 96.6%, 95.8%, and 98.7% for the BF were within 3-mm registered shifts, respectively. In the center position, the average (minimum/maximum) dose attenuation rates from 90° to 180° for the wooden and carbon baseplates were 0.5 (0.1/2.8)% and 1.0 (–0.1/10.1)% with 6 MV, respectively. The gamma passing rates of 2%/2 mm for the wooden and carbon baseplates were 99.7% and 98.3% (p < 0.01). Conclusions: The immobilization system with an SW is effective for lung SBRT since it is comparable to the BF in setup accuracy. Moreover, the wooden baseplate had lower radiation attenuation rates and affected the dose distribution less than the carbon baseplate.

Influence of post-disaster evacuation on incidence of hyperuricemia in residents of Fukushima Prefecture: the Fukushima Health Management Survey

Aim: After the Great East Japan Earthquake, over 160, 000 residents in Fukushima Prefecture were forced to evacuate the area around the Fukushima Daiichi power plant following nuclear accident there. Health problems in these evacuees have since become a major issue. We have examined the association between evacuation and incidence of hyperuricemia among residents in Fukushima. Methods: We conducted a cohort study of residents aged 40–90 years without hyperuricemia at the time of the Fukushima disaster. Among 8173 residents who met the inclusion criteria before the disaster, 4789 residents (men: 1971, women: 2818; follow-up duration: 1.38 years; and follow-up rate: 58.6%) remained available for follow-up examinations at the end of March 2013. The main endpoint was incidence of hyperuricemia, defined by the Japanese committee guidelines, using local health data from before and after the disaster. We divided participants by evacuation status and compared outcomes between groups. Using a logistic regression model, we estimated the odds ratio for incidence of hyperuricemia, adjusting for potential confounders, age, gender, waist circumference, physical activity, and alcohol consumption. Results: Incidence of hyperuricemia was higher in evacuees (men 10.1%; women 1.1%) than in non-evacuees (men 7.4%, women 1.0%). Evacuees had higher body mass index, waist circumference, triglycerides, LDL-cholesterol, fasting plasma glucose, HbA1c, and lower HDL-cholesterol after the disaster than non-evacuees. We found that evacuation was associated with incidence of hyperuricemia (adjusted odds ratio: 1.38; 95% confidence interval: 1.03-1.86). Conclusion: This is the first study to demonstrate an association between evacuation after a disaster and increased incidence of hyperuricemia

DNA barcoding suggested the existence of cryptic species and high biodiversity of South Korean pseudoscorpions (Arachnida, Pseudoscorpiones)

Pseudoscorpions are one of the common arthropod in soil mesofauna but are infrequently studied in East Asia. The fauna in South Korea is not adequate enough, and practical faunistic survey of pseudoscorpions have not been conducted in last 20 years. In this article, the current pseudoscorpion fauna in South Korea is reviewed, and the results of the survey in Chungcheongnam-do Province, the DNA barcoding (mitochondrial DNA cytochrome c oxidase I sequencing) and molecular phylogenetic analysis are shown. A total 64 specimens, including four species, Allochthonius (Allochthonius) buanensis, Bisetocreagris japonica, Bisetocreagris turkestanica (first record from South Korea), and Microbisium pygmaeum, were collected. The result of molecular phylogenetic analysis based on the cytochrome c oxidase I sequences (427 bp) implied the existence of a possible cryptic species within A. (A.) buanensis. Faunistic survey and DNA barcoding of South Korean species can greatly contribute to the understanding of East Asian pseudoscorpion systematics. Keywords: Allochthonius, Bisetocreagris, Cytochrome c oxidase I, Korea, Microbisiu

Rapid survey of de novo mutations in naturally growing tree species following the March 2011 disaster in Fukushima: The effect of low-dose-rate radiation

The impact of low-dose-rate radiation on genetics is largely unknown, particularly in natural environments. The Fukushima Dai-ich Nuclear Power Plant disaster resulted in the creation of contaminated natural lands. In this study, de novo mutations (DNMs) in germ line cells were surveyed from double-digest RADseq fragments in Japanese cedar and flowering cherry trees exposed to ambient dose rates ranging from 0.08 to 6.86 μGy h−1. These two species are among the most widely cultivated Japanese gymnosperm and angiosperm trees for forestry and horticultural purpose, respectively. For Japanese flowering cherry, open crossings were performed to produce seedlings, and only two candidate DNMs were detected from uncontaminated area. For Japanese cedar, the haploid megagametophytes were used as next generation samples. The use of megagametophytes from open crossing for next generation mutation screening had many advantages such as reducing exposure to radiation in contaminated areas because artificial crossings are not needed and the ease of data analysis owing to the haploid nature of megagametophytes. A direct comparison of the nucleotide sequences of parents and megagametophytes revealed an average of 1.4 candidate DNMs per megagametophyte sample (range: 0–40) after filtering procedures were optimized based on the validation of DNMs via Sanger sequencing. There was no relationship between the observed mutations and the ambient dose rate in the growing area or the concentration of 137Cs in cedar branches. The present results also suggest that mutation rates differ among lineages and that the growing environment has a relatively large influence on these mutation rates. These results suggested there was no significant increase in the mutation rate of the germplasm of Japanese cedar and flowering cherry trees growing in the contaminated areas

Clinico-pathological significance of exosome marker CD63 expression on cancer cells and stromal cells in gastric cancer.

BACKGROUND:It has been reported that CD63, an exosome marker, is expressed in solid cancer tissues. However, its significance in patients with gastric cancer has not been clarified. Exosomes derived from cancer cells and stromal cells might play an important role in the intracellular communications involved in the development of carcinoma. This study aimed to clarify the relationship between CD63 expression in cancer cells and stromal cells and clinical-pathologic factors. METHODS:A total of 595 gastric cancer patients were enrolled in this study. CD63 expression in cancer cells and stromal cells was analyzed by immunohistochemistry. The correlations between CD63 expression and several clinicopathological factors were investigated. RESULTS:CD63 expression was mainly observed on the cell membranes of cancer cells, and in the cytoplasm of stromal cells. Of 595 patients, 247 cases had CD63-positive cancer cells, and 107 cases had CD63-positive stromal cells. Cases with CD63-positive cancer cells were significantly correlated with scirrhous-type gastric cancer, tumor depth, lymph node metastasis, lymphatic invasion, and tumor size. Cases with CD63-positive stromal cells were significantly correlated with age (≥65), tumor depth (T3-4), lymphatic invasion, and tumor size (≥ 5 cm). The 5-year survival rate was significantly lower (p<0.001) in patients with CD63-positive than CD63-negative tumors. Multivariate analysis showed that CD63 expression in cancer cells was a significant independent prognostic factor in patients with gastric cancer. CONCLUSION:CD63 might be a prognostic marker for patients with gastric cancer. CD63-positive exosomes might be associated with the interaction between stromal cells and cancer cells