CCR7 Signals Are Essential for Cortex–Medulla Migration of Developing Thymocytes

Upon TCR-mediated positive selection, developing thymocytes relocate within the thymus from the cortex to the medulla for further differentiation and selection. However, it is unknown how this cortex–medulla migration of thymocytes is controlled and how it controls T cell development. Here we show that in mice deficient for CCR7 or its ligands mature single-positive thymocytes are arrested in the cortex and do not accumulate in the medulla. These mutant mice are defective in forming the medullary region of the thymus. Thymic export of T cells in these mice is compromised during the neonatal period but not in adulthood. Thymocytes in these mice show no defects in maturation, survival, and negative selection to ubiquitous antigens. TCR engagement of immature cortical thymocytes elevates the cell surface expression of CCR7. These results indicate that CCR7 signals are essential for the migration of positively selected thymocytes from the cortex to the medulla. CCR7-dependent cortex–medulla migration of thymocytes plays a crucial role in medulla formation and neonatal T cell export but is not essential for maturation, survival, negative selection, and adult export of thymocytes

マルトース発酵関連遺伝子のクローニングと染色体位置の決定（第２報）

Maltose fermentation activator protein, MAL63 homologue, MAL63 (NCYC1006), was cloned from S. cerevisiae NCYC1006. This yeast strain is top-fermenting yeast, and ferments maltose very well. Laboratory yeast S. cerevisiae YNN27 ferments maltose very poorly, however, the transformant with MAL63 (NCYC1006) could ferment maltose very well. Genome sequencing by a next generation sequencer revealed the chromosomal location of MAL63 (NCYC1006). These typical chromosomal structures are conserved among top-fermenting yeast strains and bottom-fermenting yeast strain

A Phase I/II Study of Crizotinib for Recurrent or Refractory Anaplastic Lymphoma Kinase-Positive Anaplastic Large Cell Lymphoma and a Phase I Study of Crizotinib for Recurrent or Refractory Neuroblastoma : Study Protocol for a Multicenter Single-arm Open-label Trial

Crizotinib is an inhibitor of multiple tyrosine kinases, including the anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK). Responses to crizotinib have also been reported in patients with ALK-positive anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) and solid tumors with ALK-mutation, including neuroblastoma. Optimal treatment for patients with recurrent or refractory ALK-positive ALCL and neuroblastoma has not been established. There is a need to develop new drugs for these patients. The objectives of this trial are to evaluate the tolerability and safety of crizotinib in Japanese patients with recurrent/refractory ALK-positive ALCL or neuroblastoma (phase I) and its efficacy in recurrent/refractory ALK-positive ALCL (phase II)

Trials for Risk Assessment of Japanese Encephalitis Based on Serologic Surveys of Wild Animals

Flavivirus Encephaliti

A Multicenter, Open-label, Clinical Trial to Assess the Effectiveness and Safety of Allogeneic Hematopoietic Stem Cell Transplantation Using Reduced-intensity Conditioning in Relapsed/refractory Anaplastic Large-cell Lymphoma in Children

No standard treatment for relapsed or refractory anaplastic large-cell lymphoma (ALCL) has been established. This study is a multicenter, open-label trial to examine the effectiveness and safety of transplantation with reduced-intensity conditioning (RIC) for patients under 20 years old with relapsed or refractory ALCL. We defined RIC as the administration of fludarabine (30 mg/m2/day) for five days plus melphalan (70 mg/m2/day) for two days and total body irradiation at 4 Gy, followed by allogeneic hematopoietic stem cell transplantation

In vitro expansion of CD34+CD38- cells under stimulation with hematopoietic growth factors on AGM-S3 cells in juvenile myelomonocytic leukemia

advance online publication, August 8, 2014 [Epub ahead of print]ArticleLEUKEMIA. 29(3):606-614 (2015)journal articl

Association between subjective economic status and refusal of life-prolonging treatment: a cross-sectional study using content analysis with stratified random sampling

Introduction: Older adults tend to refuse life-prolonging treatment for various reasons, and it is important to respect their choice of treatment at the end-of-life stage. The present study examines the associations of subjective economic status and gender with reasons for refusal of life-prolonging treatment in older adults in general population. Methods: In this cross-sectional study, using stratified random sampling, 1,595 older adults living in Koriyama City, Japan, as of 2016, completed self-administered questionnaires on subjective economic status and preference for life-prolonging treatment, with free-description regarding reasons for refusal. We analyzed the associations between the combination of subjective economic status and gender with frequently mentioned terms and their clusters regarding such reasons, using χ2 test, content analysis, text mining and hierarchical cluster analysis. Results: The combinations of subjective economic status and gender were significantly associated with clustered reasons for refusal of life-prolonging treatment (p < 0.01). The reasons frequently mentioned were: 'avoidance of unnecessary medical care' and 'dignity' in well-off females; and 'financial burden on family' in poor males. Conclusions: Our findings suggest that older adults who at first glance appear to be freely refusing life-prolonging treatment, may have their decision making restricted through economic constraints