Dose uncertainty due to energy dependence in dual-energy computed tomography

Purpose: To evaluate the absolute dose uncertainty at 2 different energies and for the large and small bowtie filters in dual-energy computed tomography (DECT). Material and methods: Measurements were performed using DECT at 80 kV and 140 kilovoltage peak (kVp), and single-energy computed tomography (CT) at 120 kV. The absolute dose was calculated from the mass-energy absorption obtained from the half-value layer (HVL) of aluminium. Results: The difference in the water-to-air ratio of the mean mass energy-absorption coefficients at 80 kV and 140 kV was 2.0% for the small bow-tie filter and 3.0% for the large bow-tie filter. At lower tube voltages, the difference in the absorbed dose with the large and small bow-tie filters was larger. Conclusions: The absolute dose uncertainty due to energy dependence was 3.0%, which could be reduced with single-energy beams at 120 kV or by using the average effective energy measurement with dual-energy beams

豊田法による無カテーテル尿管皮膚痩術の成績

最近9年間に, 43症例67尿管に対し豊田法により無カテーテル尿管皮膚瘻術を行った.対象患者は男性30例, 女性13例, 平均年齢は61.4歳で, そのほとんどが膀胱, 直腸, 前立腺, 子宮の悪性腫瘍であった.両側性の場合は, 原則として左右尿管を一ヵ所に出す二連銃式尿管皮膚吻合術(double barrel ureterostomy)を行った.術前術後の腎盂像の推移をIVPで追求できた60尿管についてみると, 単側性の場合は20尿管中4尿管を除けばほぼ満足すべき結果を得ている.Double barrel法40尿管について, stoma側では中等度以上の腎盂拡張が20尿管中3尿管であったが, stomaと反対側では腎機能に影響が出ることが多く, 20尿管中3尿管に中等度の腎盂拡張が, また5尿管に高度の腎盂拡張または腎機能喪失があった.術後間もなく汎血管内凝固症候群で死亡した1例を除き, 結果的にはstoma付近が強い炎症性肉芽に覆われた1例と尿管の狭窄を生じた2例を除いた42例中39例(92.8%)をtubelessの尿管皮膚瘻としえたTubeless cutaneous ureterostomy by Toyoda's method was conducted in 67 ureters from 43 patients during the last 9 years. Subjects included 30 males and 13 females, with an average age of 61.4 years. Most of them were afflicted with malignant tumors in the bladder, rectum, prostate, or uterus. For bilateral ureterostomy, the double-barrel method was performed in which the stoma was made at the same site in both the right and left ureters. Among 60 ureters in which pre- and postoperative changes in the renal pelvis could be traced by IVP, satisfactory results were obtained in 16 of 20 ureters treated by unilateral surgery. Of the 40 ureters treated by the double-barrel method, moderate or severe pyeloectasis was observed in 3 of the 20 ureters on the side of the stoma, while moderate pyeloectasis was seen in 3 of 20 ureters of the side opposite the stoma, and severe pyeloectasis or loss of renal function was noted in 5. Thus, renal function on the side opposite the stoma was frequently influenced by the procedure. A patient who died of disseminated intravascular coagulation syndrome soon after the operation was excluded from analysis. Tubeless cutaneous ureterostomy could be conducted in 39 of 42 patients (92.8%), excluding one whose stoma and its periphery were covered with severe inflammatory granulation and 2 with ureteral constriction

High-Energy Electron Transfer Dissociation (HE-ETD) Using Alkali Metal Targets for Sequence Analysis of Post-Translational Peptides

Post-translational modifications (PTMs) of proteins are important in the activation, localization, and regulation of protein function in vivo. The usefulness of electron capture dissociation (ECD) and electron-transfer dissociation (ETD) in tandem mass spectrometry (MS/MS) using low-energy (LE) trap type mass spectrometer is associated with no loss of a labile PTM group regarding peptide and protein sequencing. The experimental results of high-energy (HE) collision induced dissociation (CID) using the Xe and Cs targets and LE-ETD were compared for doubly-phosphorylated peptides TGFLT(p)EY(p)VATR (1). Although HE-CID using the Xe target did not provide information on the amino acid sequence, HE-CID using the Cs target provided all the z-type ions without loss of the phosphate groups as a result of HE-ETD process, while LE-ETD using fluoranthene anion gave only z-type ions from z5 to z11. The difference in the results of HE-CID between the Xe and Cs targets demonstrated that HE-ETD process with the Cs target took place much more dominantly than collisional activation. The difference between HE-ETD using Cs targets and LE-ETD using the anion demonstrated that mass discrimination was much weaker in the high-energy process. HE-ETD was also applied to three other phosphopeptides YGGMHRQEX(p)VDC (2: X = S, 3: X = T, 4: X = Y). The HE-CID spectra of the doubly-protonated phosphopeptides (= [M + 2H]2+) of 2, 3, and 4 using the Cs target showed a very similar feature that the c-type ions from c7 to c11 and the z-type ions from z7 to z11 were formed via N–Cα bond cleavage without a loss of the phosphate group

Characterization of expressed sequence tags from a full-length enriched cDNA library of Cryptomeria japonica male strobili

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p><it>Cryptomeria japonica </it>D. Don is one of the most commercially important conifers in Japan. However, the allergic disease caused by its pollen is a severe public health problem in Japan. Since large-scale analysis of expressed sequence tags (ESTs) in the male strobili of <it>C. japonica </it>should help us to clarify the overall expression of genes during the process of pollen development, we constructed a full-length enriched cDNA library that was derived from male strobili at various developmental stages.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>We obtained 36,011 expressed sequence tags (ESTs) from either one or both ends of 19,437 clones derived from the cDNA library of <it>C. japonica </it>male strobili at various developmental stages. The 19,437 cDNA clones corresponded to 10,463 transcripts. Approximately 80% of the transcripts resembled ESTs from <it>Pinus </it>and <it>Picea</it>, while approximately 75% had homologs in <it>Arabidopsis</it>. An analysis of homologies between ESTs from <it>C. japonica </it>male strobili and known pollen allergens in the Allergome Database revealed that products of 180 transcripts exhibited significant homology. Approximately 2% of the transcripts appeared to encode transcription factors. We identified twelve genes for MADS-box proteins among these transcription factors. The twelve MADS-box genes were classified as <it>DEF/GLO/GGM13-, AG-, AGL6-, TM3- </it>and <it>TM8</it>-like MIKC^Cgenes and type I MADS-box genes.</p> <p>Conclusion</p> <p>Our full-length enriched cDNA library derived from <it>C. japonica </it>male strobili provides information on expression of genes during the development of male reproductive organs. We provided potential allergens in <it>C. japonica</it>. We also provided new information about transcription factors including MADS-box genes expressed in male strobili of <it>C. japonica</it>. Large-scale gene discovery using full-length cDNAs is a valuable tool for studies of gymnosperm species.</p

Inhibition of influenza virus replication in cultured cells by RNA-cleaving DNA enzyme

AbstractInfluenza virus replication has been effectively inhibited by antisense phosphothioate oligonucleotides targeting the AUG initiation codon of PB2 mRNA. We designed RNA-cleaving DNA enzymes from 10-23 catalytic motif to target PB2-AUG initiation codon and measured their RNA-cleaving activity in vitro. Although the RNA-cleaving activity was not optimal under physiological conditions, DNA enzymes inhibited viral replication in cultured cells more effectively than antisense phosphothioate oligonucleotides. Our data indicated that DNA enzymes could be useful for the control of viral infection

Impacts of direct release and river discharge on oceanic 137Cs derived from the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

A series of accidents at the Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Plant (1F NPP) following the Great East Japan Earthquake and tsunami of 11 March 2011 resulted in the release of radioactive materials to the ocean. We used the Regional Ocean Model System (ROMS) to simulate the 137Cs activity in the oceanic area off Fukushima, with the sources of radioactivity being direct release, atmospheric deposition, river discharge, and inflow across the domain boundary. The direct release rate of 137Cs after the accident until the end of 2016 was estimated by comparing simulated results with measured 137Cs activities adjacent to the 1F NPP. River discharge rates of 137Cs were estimated by multiplying simulated river flow rates by the dissolved 137Cs activities, which were estimated by an empirical function. Inflow of 137Cs across the domain boundary was set according to the results of a North Pacific Ocean model. Because the spatiotemporal variability of 137Cs activity was large, the simulated results were compared with the annual averaged observed 137Cs activity distribution. Normalized annual averaged 137Cs activity distributions in the regional ocean were similar for each year from 2013 to 2016. This result suggests that the annual averaged distribution is predictable. Simulated 137Cs activity attributable to direct release was in good agreement with measurement data from the coastal zone adjacent to the 1F NPP. Comparison of the simulated results with measured activity in the offshore area indicated that the simulation slightly underestimated the activity attributable to inflow across the domain boundary. This result suggests that recirculation of subducted 137Cs to the surface layer was underestimated by the North Pacific model. During the study period, the effect of river discharge on oceanic 137Cs activity was small compared to the effect of directly released 137Cs

The self-esteem and the activities of daily living in inpatients after an ischemic stroke

急性期の脳梗塞患者の自尊感情と日常生活動作の関連を明らかにするために,入院中の脳梗塞患者150人に調査協力を依頼した.調査協力の同意が得られなかった患者25人と調査前に退院された患者17人を除き,108人(72.0%)(男性74人,女性34人,平均年齢64.5(SD 12.5)才)にアンケート調査を実施した.自尊感情(Rosenberg のSelf-Esteem,以下RSE と記載)は平均29.9(SD 6.1)点,日常生活動作(Barthel index,以下BI と記載)は平均89.4(SD 16.0)点であり,RSE とBI の間にはBI が低いとRSE が低いという正の相関がみられた(Spearman のρ= 0.461,p < 0.001).また,BI が低いことと「女性である」「高齢である」「入院時の機能障害が重い」の関連が示唆された.急性期には,脳梗塞患者の日常生活動作の自立に向けた援助と,自尊感情を高める介入が必要であると考えられた.The purpose of this study was to investigate the relationship between self-esteem and the activities of daily living in inpatients after an ischemic stroke. The level of Rosenberg's Self-esteem and the Barthel index were examined. There were 108 respondents (74 males and 34 females). Based on these results, selfesteem was significantly correlated to the Barthel Index (Spearman's ρ=0.461, p<0.001). Findings indicated that low self-esteem related to dependence, and the level of dependence showed a negative association with women, the elderly and severe disability. These results suggested the necessity of rehabilitation for re-acquiring the skills of daily living and enhancement of self-esteem in patients who are dependent.広島保健学学会 特別講

Integration of In Vivo Genotoxicity and Short-term Carcinogenicity Assays Using F344 gpt Delta Transgenic Rats: In Vivo Mutagenicity of 2,4-Diaminotoluene and 2,6-Diaminotoluene Structural Isomers

An important trend in current toxicology is the replacement, reduction, and refinement of the use of experimental animals (the 3R principle). We propose a model in which in vivo genotoxicity and short-term carcinogenicity assays are integrated with F344 gpt delta transgenic rats. Using this model, the genotoxicity of chemicals can be identified in target organs using a shuttle vector λ EG10 that carries reporter genes for mutations; short-term carcinogenicity is determined by the formation of glutathione S-transferase placenta form (GST-P) foci in the liver. To begin validating this system, we examined the genotoxicity and hepatotoxicity of structural isomers of 2,4-diaminotoluene (2,4-DAT) and 2,6-diaminotoluene (2,6-DAT). Although both compounds are genotoxic in the Ames/Salmonella assay, only 2,4-DAT induces tumors in rat livers. Male F344 gpt delta rats were fed diet containing 2,4-DAT at doses of 125, 250, or 500 ppm for 13 weeks or 2,6-DAT at a dose of 500 ppm for the same period. The mutation frequencies of base substitutions, mainly at G:C base pairs, were significantly increased in the livers of 2,4-DAT–treated rats at all three doses. In contrast, virtually no induction of genotoxicity was identified in the kidneys of 2,4-DAT–treated rats or in the livers of 2,6-DAT–treated rats. GST-P–positive foci were detected in the livers of rats treated with 2,4-DAT at a dose of 500 ppm but not in those treated with 2,6-DAT. Integrated genotoxicity and short-term carcinogenicity assays may be useful for early identifying genotoxic and nongenotoxic carcinogens in a reduced number of experimental animals

Low-Dose Intravenous Alteplase in Wake-Up Stroke

Background and Purpose—We assessed whether lower-dose alteplase at 0.6 mg/kg is efficacious and safe for acute fluid-attenuated inversion recovery-negative stroke with unknown time of onset. Methods—This was an investigator-initiated, multicenter, randomized, open-label, blinded-end point trial. Patients met the standard indication criteria for intravenous thrombolysis other than a time last-known-well >4.5 hours (eg, wake-up stroke). Patients were randomly assigned (1:1) to receive alteplase at 0.6 mg/kg or standard medical treatment if magnetic resonance imaging showed acute ischemic lesion on diffusion-weighted imaging and no marked corresponding hyperintensity on fluid-attenuated inversion recovery. The primary outcome was a favorable outcome (90-day modified Rankin Scale score of 0–1). Results—Following the early stop and positive results of the WAKE-UP trial (Efficacy and Safety of MRI-Based Thrombolysis in Wake-Up Stroke), this trial was prematurely terminated with 131 of the anticipated 300 patients (55 women; mean age, 74.4±12.2 years). Favorable outcome was comparable between the alteplase group (32/68, 47.1%) and the control group (28/58, 48.3%; relative risk [RR], 0.97 [95% CI, 0.68–1.41]; P=0.892). Symptomatic intracranial hemorrhage within 22 to 36 hours occurred in 1/71 and 0/60 (RR, infinity [95% CI, 0.06 to infinity]; P>0.999), respectively. Death at 90 days occurred in 2/71 and 2/60 (RR, 0.85 [95% CI, 0.06–12.58]; P>0.999), respectively. Conclusions—No difference in favorable outcome was seen between alteplase and control groups among patients with ischemic stroke with unknown time of onset. The safety of alteplase at 0.6 mg/kg was comparable to that of standard treatment. Early study termination precludes any definitive conclusions