Abnormal Tei index predicts poor left ventricular mass regression and survival after AVR in aortic stenosis patients

SummaryBackgroundA Tei index is known to reflect overall cardiac performance including systolic and diastolic function in a variety of heart disease. We investigated the relationship between preoperative Tei index and postoperative left ventricular (LV) mass regression and survival after aortic valve replacement (AVR) for aortic valve stenosis (AS).MethodsOne hundred fifty-four patients with AS were classified into a group with abnormal (Abn) LV function (n=47, 0.45≤Tei index) and a group with normal (Nor) LV function (n=107, Tei index<0.45). The pre- and postoperative echocardiographic variables including LV dimension, LV wall thickness, and LV mass regression as well as 6-year survival were compared between the two groups.ResultsThere was a significant difference in both absolute and relative LV mass index (LVMI) regression (P=0.004 and 0.0007). Multiple linear regression analysis revealed that the preoperative LVMI, Tei index, and follow-up period were independent predictors of LVMI regression after AVR. Thirteen patients died (valve-related death in 5). Although the overall survival rate in the Nor-LV group (92.8%) was significantly better than that in the Abn-LV group (71.6%), there was no significant difference in survival free from valve-related death.ConclusionsPreoperative Tei index can be one of the significant predictors of LVMI regression and overall survival after AVR

3D City Modeling Using Remote Sensing Data

特集 都市基盤の安全とICUSの活

EGFR Mutation is a Prognostic Factor in Lung Cancer Patients with Pleural Dissemination Detected During or After Surgery

Background. Primary lung tumors are sometimes resected when either pleural dissemination (PD) or malignant pleural effusion (MPE) exists. This study clarified the prognostic factors for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) with either PD and MPE, or both, detected during or after surgery. Patients and Methods. We examined patients with NSCLC from a multicenter database who had either PD, MPE, or both, detected during or after surgery between 2005 and 2015. Hazard ratios and 95% confidence intervals were estimated using the Cox proportional hazards model adjusted for potential confounding factors. Results. Among 9463 registered patients, PD, MPE, or both, were found in 114 patients with NSCLC during or after surgery. Primary tumor resection and exploratory thoracotomy were performed in 65 and 49 patients, respectively. In univariate analysis, adenocarcinoma, clinically undetected lymph node metastasis (c-N0 or unknown), EGFR mutation, and combination of chemotherapy or tyrosine kinase inhibitors after surgery were better prognostic factors for overall survival (OS), whereas in the multivariate analysis, adenocarcinoma, clinically undetected lymph node metastasis, and EGFR mutation were favorable independent prognostic factors in OS. Additionally, limited to patients with EGFR mutation, patients with primary lung tumor resection showed a significantly better 5-year OS than those with exploratory thoracotomy (86.4 vs. 44.8%; p Conclusion. Our findings show that surgical resection of primary tumors could improve the prognosis of patients with PD, MPE, or both, detected during or after surgery when the tumors harbor an EGFR mutation

Drosophila type XV/XVIII collagen, Mp, is involved in Wingless distribution

Multiplexin (Mp) is the Drosophila orthologue of vertebrate collagens XV and XVIII. Like them, Mp is widely distributed in the basement membranes of the developing embryos, including those of neuroblasts in the central and peripheral nervous systems, visceral muscles of the gut, and contractile cardioblasts. Here we report the identification of mutant larvae bearing piggyBac transposon insertions that exhibit decrease Mp production associated with abdominal cuticular and wing margin defects, malformation of sensory organs and impaired sensitivity to physical stimuli. Additional findings include the abnormal ultrastructure of fatbody associated with abnormal collagen IV deposition, and reduced Wingless deposition. Collectively, these findings are consistent with the notion that Mp is required for the proper formation and/or maintenance of basement membrane, and that Mp may be involved in establishing the Wingless signaling gradients in the Drosophila embryo

髄膜癌腫症による頭蓋内圧亢進症に対する脳室腹腔短絡術の有用性

　髄膜癌腫症は，がんの集学的治療の進歩による生存期間の延長に伴い，診断される機会も増加している．髄膜癌腫症は患者のQuality of life(QOL) を著しく低下させ，生命予後に直結することが多い．神経症状の軽減によるQOL の改善を考えると，髄膜癌腫症に対する外科治療の介入を検討し直す必要があると思われる．　我々は，髄膜癌腫症に対し外科治療を施行した３症例経験した．外科治療の適応に関し，過去の症例も交え，文献的考察を加え報告する．　【症例１】56歳男性．肺癌を原発とする多発脳転移を伴う髄膜癌腫症と診断された．全脳照射後に全身化学療法を行うも，意識障害をきたし，全身化学療法の継続が困難となった．髄液排除によりPerformance Status（PS）が改善したため，脳室腹腔短絡術を施行した．術後，意識障害は改善し，治療を再開した．PS は改善し，比較的良好な日常生活を送れQOL は改善したと考えられたが，Nivolumab の副作用により，全身状態は悪化し，術後３か月で死亡した．　【症例２】55歳女性．肺腺癌と診断され，頭痛が出現し，髄膜癌腫症と診断された．EGFR-TKIを含む全身化学療法を行い，症状は改善傾向であった．その後，頭痛，嘔気が増悪しPS は低下した．脳室ドレナージ術により，PS は改善し，嘔気・疼痛のコントロールが可能となったため，脳室腹腔短絡術を施行した．術後，緩和医療に移行し，残された時間を有意義に過ごすことができ，QOL は改善したと考えられたが，全身状態の悪化により術後４か月で死亡した．　【症例３】66歳女性．頭痛が出現し，肺癌に伴う，髄膜癌腫症と診断された．疼痛コントロールが困難であり，PS も低下していたため，脳室ドレナージ術を施行したところ，疼痛コントロールが可能となった．PS の改善に伴い，Erlotinib による治療を開始することができた．しかし，間質性肺炎による全身状態の悪化により，脳室腹腔短絡術は施行できず，脳室ドレナージ術から44日で死亡した．　The incidence of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis is increasing with the extension of the survival because of the advances in cancer treatment. This condition significantly deteriorates the patients\u27 quality of life (QOL) and worsens the prognosis. Because the reduction of neurological symptoms can be expected to improve the QOL, it is necessary to reexamine the indications for surgical treatment of leptomeningeal carcinomatosis. We report three cases of surgically treated leptomeningeal carcinomatosis, and we review the literature, including past cases, with regard to the indications for surgical treatment.　Case 1: A 56-year-old man was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis with multiple brain metastases from lung cancer. Whole-brain irradiation was performed, followed by systemic chemotherapy, which was discontinued because of the development of a consciousness disorder. As the patient’s performance status (PS) improved after ventricular drainage, ventriculoperitoneal (VP) shunt was performed. Postoperatively, the consciousness disorder improved, and treatment was restarted. The patient’s PS and QOL improved; he was able to live a relatively good daily life. However, he died 3 months after the surgery because of deterioration of his general condition resulting from the side effects of nivolumab.　Case 2: A 55-year-old woman diagnosed with lung adenocarcinoma complained of headaches. She was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis and underwent systemic chemotherapy, including epidermal growth factor receptor tyrosine kinase inhibitors. Her symptoms initially improved; however, after a while, the headaches and nausea worsened and her PS deteriorated. The ventricular drainage improved her PS; therefore, VP shunt was performed. Postoperatively, her PS and QOL improved and she was switched to palliative care as the nausea and pain became controllable. However, she died because of deterioration of her general condition 4 months after the surgery.　Case 3: A 66-year-old woman complaining of headaches was diagnosed with leptomeningeal carcinomatosis associated with lung cancer. Because pain control was difficult and her PS was reduced, ventricular drainage was performed. Postoperatively, pain control became possible and her PS improved. Although treatment with erlotinib was started, the patient could not undergo VP shunt because of deterioration of her general condition resulting from an interstitial pneumonia, and she died 44 days after the ventricular drainage

B Vitamins, Methionine and Alcohol Intake and Risk of Colon Cancer in Relation to BRAF Mutation and CpG Island Methylator Phenotype (CIMP)

One-carbon metabolism appears to play an important role in DNA methylation reaction. Evidence suggests that a low intake of B vitamins or high alcohol consumption increases colorectal cancer risk. How one-carbon nutrients affect the CpG island methylator phenotype (CIMP) or BRAF mutation status in colon cancer remains uncertain.Utilizing incident colon cancers in a large prospective cohort of women (the Nurses' Health Study), we determined BRAF status (N = 386) and CIMP status (N = 375) by 8 CIMP-specific markers [CACNA1G, CDKN2A (p16), CRABP1, IGF2, MLH1, NEUROG1, RUNX3, and SOCS1], and 8 other CpG islands (CHFR, HIC1, IGFBP3, MGMT, MINT-1, MINT-31, p14, and WRN). We examined the relationship between intake of one-carbon nutrients and alcohol and colon cancer risk, by BRAF mutation or CIMP status.Higher folate intake was associated with a trend towards low risk of CIMP-low/0 tumors [total folate intake ≥400 µg/day vs. <200 µg/day; the multivariate relative risk = 0.73; 95% CI = 0.53-1.02], whereas total folate intake had no influence on CIMP-high tumor risks (P(heterogeneity) = 0.73). Neither vitamin B(6), methionine or alcohol intake appeared to differentially influence risks for CIMP-high and CIMP-low/0 tumors. Using the 16-marker CIMP panel did not substantially alter our results. B vitamins, methionine or alcohol intake did not affect colon cancer risk differentially by BRAF status.This molecular pathological epidemiology study suggests that low level intake of folate may be associated with an increased risk of CIMP-low/0 colon tumors, but not that of CIMP-high tumors. However, the difference between CIMP-high and CIMP-low/0 cancer risks was not statistically significant, and additional studies are necessary to confirm these observations

2021 Taxonomic update of phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales.

Correction to: 2021 Taxonomic update of phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales. Archives of Virology (2021) 166:3567–3579. https://doi.org/10.1007/s00705-021-05266-wIn March 2021, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. The phylum was expanded by four families (Aliusviridae, Crepuscuviridae, Myriaviridae, and Natareviridae), three subfamilies (Alpharhabdovirinae, Betarhabdovirinae, and Gammarhabdovirinae), 42 genera, and 200 species. Thirty-nine species were renamed and/or moved and seven species were abolished. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV.This work was supported in part through Laulima Government Solutions, LLC prime contract with the US National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases (NIAID) under Contract No. HHSN272201800013C. J.H.K. performed this work as an employee of Tunnell Government Services (TGS), a subcontractor of Laulima Government Solutions, LLC under Contract No. HHSN272201800013C. This work was also supported in part with federal funds from the National Cancer Institute (NCI), National Institutes of Health (NIH), under Contract No. 75N91019D00024, Task Order No. 75N91019F00130 to I.C., who was supported by the Clinical Monitoring Research Program Directorate, Frederick National Lab for Cancer Research. This work was also funded in part by Contract No. HSHQDC-15-C-00064 awarded by DHS S&T for the management and operation of The National Biodefense Analysis and Countermeasures Center, a federally funded research and development center operated by the Battelle National Biodefense Institute (V.W.); and NIH contract HHSN272201000040I/HHSN27200004/D04 and grant R24AI120942 (N.V., R.B.T.). S.S. acknowledges partial support from the Special Research Initiative of Mississippi Agricultural and Forestry Experiment Station (MAFES), Mississippi State University, and the National Institute of Food and Agriculture, US Department of Agriculture, Hatch Project 1021494. Part of this work was supported by the Francis Crick Institute which receives its core funding from Cancer Research UK (FC001030), the UK Medical Research Council (FC001030), and the Wellcome Trust (FC001030).S

The International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean Version 2 (IBCSO v2)

The Southern Ocean surrounding Antarctica is a region that is key to a range of climatic and oceanographic processes with worldwide effects, and is characterised by high biological productivity and biodiversity. Since 2013, the International Bathymetric Chart of the Southern Ocean (IBCSO) has represented the most comprehensive compilation of bathymetry for the Southern Ocean south of 60°S. Recently, the IBCSO Project has combined its efforts with the Nippon Foundation – GEBCO Seabed 2030 Project supporting the goal of mapping the world’s oceans by 2030. New datasets initiated a second version of IBCSO (IBCSO v2). This version extends to 50°S (covering approximately 2.4 times the area of seafloor of the previous version) including the gateways of the Antarctic Circumpolar Current and the Antarctic circumpolar frontal systems. Due to increased (multibeam) data coverage, IBCSO v2 significantly improves the overall representation of the Southern Ocean seafloor and resolves many submarine landforms in more detail. This makes IBCSO v2 the most authoritative seafloor map of the area south of 50°S

2021 Taxonomic update of phylum Negarnaviricota (Riboviria: Orthornavirae), including the large orders Bunyavirales and Mononegavirales.

In March 2021, following the annual International Committee on Taxonomy of Viruses (ICTV) ratification vote on newly proposed taxa, the phylum Negarnaviricota was amended and emended. The phylum was expanded by four families (Aliusviridae, Crepuscuviridae, Myriaviridae, and Natareviridae), three subfamilies (Alpharhabdovirinae, Betarhabdovirinae, and Gammarhabdovirinae), 42 genera, and 200 species. Thirty-nine species were renamed and/or moved and seven species were abolished. This article presents the updated taxonomy of Negarnaviricota as now accepted by the ICTV