Study of interleukin-6 in the spread of colorectal cancer: the diagnostic significance of IL-6.

We investigated the diagnostic significance of IL-6 for lymph node metastasis and/or hepatic metastasis from colorectal cancer in 65 patients and evaluated the contributions of 8 factors (IL-6, HGF, IL-1beta, TNF-alpha, TGF-beta1, ELAM-1, ICAM-1, VCAM-1) toward Dukes.s classification of 53 patients. We also examined IL-6 expression in tumor tissue. From the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) curve analysis, an optimal cutoff value of 5.8 pg/ml was determined to classify lymph node and/or hepatic metastasis, and that of 6.3 pg/ml was determined to classify hepatic metastasis. These values indicated sensitivities of 55.0% and 71.4%, and specifi cities of 100% and 88.6%, respectively. IL-6, HGF, and ELAM-1 were very useful for distinguishing among Dukes.s A/B group, C group, and D group. In all cases with high IL-6 values (more than 25.0 pg/ml), immunohistochemical staining was positive for IL-6 in the cytoplasm of cancer cells. IL-6 is strongly suspected to be involved in lymph node and/or hepatic metastasis by promoting it through HGF, and serum IL-6 value (pg/ml) would be useful diagnostically to estimate whether or not there is a high risk of lymph node and/or hepatic metastasis

Leiomyosarcoma of the vulva: a case report

Sarcomas represent only 1% to 3% of vulvar malignancies. Leiomyosarcoma is a rare malignant tumor of the vulva; it can be mistaken for a benign tumor, which can lead to misdiagnosis and incorrect or delayed treatment. We report the case of a 51-year-old woman with leiomyosarcoma of the vulva. The patient presented to her primary gynecologist with a vulvar mass that she had first noticed 20 years prior. The tumor was suspected to be aggressive angiomyxoma, and biopsy of the mass and treatment with gonadotrophin-releasing hormone agonist (GnRHa) therapy were recommended. The patient declined treatment and opted instead for observation; however, the tumor grew rapidly in the following year and the patient was referred to our hospital. She underwent tumor resection, and pathology revealed leiomyosarcoma. The patient declined adjuvant chemo- and radiotherapy but has had no recurrence for 32 months

Optical Properties of (162173) 1999 JU3: In Preparation for the JAXA Hayabusa 2 Sample Return Mission

We investigated the magnitude-phase relation of (162173) 1999 JU3, a target asteroid for the JAXA Hayabusa 2 sample return mission. We initially employed the international Astronomical Union's H-G formalism but found that it fits less well using a single set of parameters. To improve the inadequate fit, we employed two photometric functions, the Shevchenko and Hapke functions. With the Shevchenko function, we found that the magnitude-phase relation exhibits linear behavior in a wide phase angle range (alpha = 5-75 deg) and shows weak nonlinear opposition brightening at alpha< 5 deg, providing a more reliable absolute magnitude of Hv = 19.25 +- 0.03. The phase slope (0.039 +- 0.001 mag/deg) and opposition effect amplitude (parameterized by the ratio of intensity at alpha=0.3 deg to that at alpha=5 deg, I(0.3)/I(5)=1.31+-0.05) are consistent with those of typical C-type asteroids. We also attempted to determine the parameters for the Hapke model, which are applicable for constructing the surface reflectance map with the Hayabusa 2 onboard cameras. Although we could not constrain the full set of Hapke parameters, we obtained possible values, w=0.041, g=-0.38, B0=1.43, and h=0.050, assuming a surface roughness parameter theta=20 deg. By combining our photometric study with a thermal model of the asteroid (Mueller et al. in preparation), we obtained a geometric albedo of pv = 0.047 +- 0.003, phase integral q = 0.32 +- 0.03, and Bond albedo AB = 0.014 +- 0.002, which are commensurate with the values for common C-type asteroids.Comment: 27 pages, 4 figure, accepted for publication in the Astrophysical Journa

Synergistic Formation of Radicals by Irradiation with Both Vacuum Ultraviolet and Atomic Hydrogen: A Real-Time In Situ Electron Spin Resonance Study

We report on the surface modification of polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) as an example of soft- and bio-materials that occur under plasma discharge by kinetics analysis of radical formation using in situ real-time electron spin resonance (ESR) measurements. During irradiation with hydrogen plasma, simultaneous measurements of the gas-phase ESR signals of atomic hydrogen and the carbon dangling bond (C-DB) on PTFE were performed. Dynamic changes of the C-DB density were observed in real time, where the rate of density change was accelerated during initial irradiation and then became constant over time. It is noteworthy that C-DBs were formed synergistically by irradiation with both vacuum ultraviolet (VUV) and atomic hydrogen. The in situ real-time ESR technique is useful to elucidate synergistic roles during plasma surface modification.Comment: 14 pages, 4 figure

RGMa collapses the neuronal actin barrier against disease-implicated protein and exacerbates ALS

Repulsive guidance molecule A (RGMa) was originally identified as a neuronal growth cone–collapsing factor. Previous reports have demonstrated the multifunctional roles of RGMa mediated by neogenin1. However, the pathogenic involvement of RGMa in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) remains unclear. Here, we demonstrated that RGMa concentration was elevated in the cerebrospinal fluid of both patients with ALS and transgenic mice overexpressing the mutant human superoxide dismutase1 (mSOD1 mice). Treatment with humanized anti-RGMa monoclonal antibody ameliorated the clinical symptoms in mSOD1 mice. Histochemical analysis revealed that the anti-RGMa antibody significantly decreased mutant SOD1 protein accumulation in the motor neurons of mSOD1 mice via inhibition of actin depolymerization. In vitro analysis revealed that the anti-RGMa antibody inhibited the cellular uptake of the mutant SOD1 protein, presumably by reinforcing the neuronal actin barrier. Collectively, these data suggest that RGMa leads to the collapse of the neuronal actin barrier and promotes aberrant protein deposition, resulting in exacerbation of the ALS pathology.Shimizu Mikito, Shiraishi Naoyuki, Tada Satoru, et al. RGMa collapses the neuronal actin barrier against disease-implicated protein and exacerbates ALS. Science Advances 9, 686 (2023); https://doi.org/10.1126/sciadv.adg3193

A Substellar Companion to Pleiades HII 3441

We find a new substellar companion to the Pleiades member star, Pleiades HII 3441, using the Subaru telescope with adaptive optics. The discovery is made as part of the high-contrast imaging survey to search for planetary-mass and substellar companions in the Pleiades and young moving groups. The companion has a projected separation of 0".49 +/- 0".02 (66 +/- 2 AU) and a mass of 68 +/- 5 M_J based on three observations in the J-, H-, and K_S-band. The spectral type is estimated to be M7 (~2700 K), and thus no methane absorption is detected in the H band. Our Pleiades observations result in the detection of two substellar companions including one previously reported among 20 observed Pleiades stars, and indicate that the fraction of substellar companions in the Pleiades is about 10.0 +26.1/-8.8 %. This is consistent with multiplicity studies of both the Pleiades stars and other open clusters.Comment: Main text (14 pages, 4 figures, 4 tables), and Supplementary data (8 pages, 3 tables). Accepted for Publications of Astronomical Society of Japa

Extreme Asymmetry in the Disk of V1247 Ori

We present the first near-infrared scattered-light detection of the transitional disk around V1247 Ori, which was obtained using high-resolution polarimetric differential imaging observations with Subaru/HiCIAO. Our imaging in the H band reveals the disk morphology at separations of ~0.14"-0.86" (54-330 au) from the central star. The polarized intensity (PI) image shows a remarkable arc-like structure toward the southeast of the star, whereas the fainter northwest region does not exhibit any notable features. The shape of the arm is consistent with an arc of 0.28" $\pm$ 0.09" in radius (108 au from the star), although the possibility of a spiral arm with a small pitch angle cannot be excluded. V1247 Ori features an exceptionally large azimuthal contrast in scattered, polarized light; the radial peak of the southeastern arc is about three times brighter than the northwestern disk measured at the same distance from the star. Combined with the previous indication of an inhomogeneous density distribution in the gap at $\lesssim$46 au, the notable asymmetry in the outer disk suggests the presence of unseen companions and/or planet-forming processes ongoing in the arc.Comment: 21 pages, 5 figures, accepted for publication in PAS