Mossbauer studies on FeSe and FeTe

We carried out 57Fe Mossbauer measurements for FeSe and Fe1.08Te to investigate the magnetic properties. There was no sign of magnetic ordering above 4.2 K for superconducting FeSe. The magnetic sextet corresponding to antiferromagnetic ordering of Fe in low-spin state was observed for non-superconducting Fe1.08Te.Comment: 5 pages, 2 figures, proceedings of M2S conferenc

Role of interstitial "caged" Fe in the superconductivity of FeTe1/2Se1/2

All samples are synthesized through standard solid state reaction route and are quenched to room temperature systematically at 7000C, 5000C, 3000C and room temperature (RT); named as 700Q, 500Q, 300Q and RTQ respectively. The structural and magnetic properties are studied. Careful Reitveld analysis of XRD patterns revealed that though all samples except 700Q are crystallized in single phase with space group P4/nmm, the presence of interstitial Fe (Feint) at 2c site is increased from 5% for RTQ to 8% for 500Q. The 700Q sample is crystallized in Fe7Se8 phase. The transport and magnetization results revealed that though RTQ and 300Q are superconducting at 10 K and 13 K respectively, while the 500Q and 700Q are not. Magnetic ordering (Tmag) is observed at around 125 K for all the samples. The prominence of Tmag in terms of effective moment is sufficiently higher for 500Q and 700Q than RTQ and 300Q. Summarily it is found that quenching induced disorder affects the occupancy of interstitial Fe in FeTe1/2Se1/2 and thus both its superconducting and magnetic properties. Further it clear that limited presence of interstitial Fe at 2c site is not fully against observation of superconductivity, because 300Q sample possesses higher Tc (13 K) for higher Feint (6%) than RTQ sample with relatively lower Tc (10 K) having lower Feint (5%). Further the 500Q sample with much higher Feint (8%) is though non-superconducting.Comment: 8 pages text + figures contact- [email protected]

A phase I clinical trial for [131I]meta-iodobenzylguanidine therapy in patients with refractory pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma : a study protocol

Objective Pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma (PPGLs) are rare neuroendocrine tumors derived from the adrenal medulla or extra-adrenal paraganglioma from extra-adrenal chromaffin tissue. Although malignant PPGLs has miserable prognosis, the treatment strategy remains to be established. An internal radiation therapy using [131I]meta-iodobenzylguanidine (131I-mIBG) called MIBG therapy has been attempted as one of the systemic treatment of malignant PPGLs. The aim of this study is therefore to evaluate the safety and the efficacy of MIBG therapy for refractory PPGLs. Methods Patients with refractory PPGLs will be enrolled in this study. The total number of patients for registration is 20. The patients receive a fixed dose of 7,400 MBq of 131I-mIBG. Adverse events are surveyed during 20 weeks after 131I-mIBG injection and all severe adverse events will be documented and reported in detail in accordance with the Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (CTCAE). Examination and imaging diagnosis are performed in 12 weeks after 131I-mIBG injection for the evaluation of therapeutic effect in accordance with the Response Evaluation in Solid Tumours (RECIST). Conclusion The current study is the first multi-institutional prospective study of MIBG therapy and thereby will play a significant role in improving the patients’ prognosis of refractory PPGLs

Parkinson’s disease-associated iPLA2-VIA/PLA2G6 regulates neuronal functions and α-synuclein stability through membrane remodeling

Mutations in the iPLA2-VIA/PLA2G6 gene are responsible for PARK14-linked Parkinson’s disease (PD) with α-synucleinopathy. However, it is unclear how iPLA2-VIA mutations lead to α-synuclein (α-Syn) aggregation and dopaminergic (DA) neurodegeneration. Here, we report that iPLA2-VIA–deficient Drosophila exhibits defects in neurotransmission during early developmental stages and progressive cell loss throughout the brain, including degeneration of the DA neurons. Lipid analysis of brain tissues reveals that the acyl-chain length of phospholipids is shortened by iPLA2-VIA loss, which causes endoplasmic reticulum (ER) stress through membrane lipid disequilibrium. The introduction of wild-type human iPLA2-VIA or the mitochondria–ER contact site-resident protein C19orf12 in iPLA2-VIA–deficient flies rescues the phenotypes associated with altered lipid composition, ER stress, and DA neurodegeneration, whereas the introduction of a disease-associated missense mutant, iPLA2-VIA A80T, fails to suppress these phenotypes. The acceleration of α-Syn aggregation by iPLA2-VIA loss is suppressed by the administration of linoleic acid, correcting the brain lipid composition. Our findings suggest that membrane remodeling by iPLA2-VIA is required for the survival of DA neurons and α-Syn stability

Phase I/II study of alectinib in lung cancer with RET fusion gene : study protocol

Background : The rearranged during transfection (RET) fusion gene was discovered as a driver oncogene in 1-2% of non-small cell lung cancers (NSCLCs). Alectinib is an approved anaplastic lymphoma kinase (ALK) inhibitor that may also be effective for RET fusion-positive NSCLC. Methods/Design : RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients treated with at least one regimen of chemotherapy are being recruited. In step 1, alectinib (600 or 450 mg, twice daily) will be administered following a 3+3 design. The primary endpoint is safety. In step 2, alectinib will be administered at the recommended dose (RD) defined by step 1. The primary endpoint is the response rate of RET inhibitor treatment-naïve patients. Conclusion : This is the first study to investigate the safety and preliminary efficacy of alectinib in RET fusion-positive NSCLC patients. If successful, alectinib treatment may lead to substantial and important changes in the management of NSCLC with RET fusion genes

育児様式とパーソナリティ(その一)

This is the first part of a report on research which has been undertaken by a psychologist, the senior author, and three anthropologists. The second part contains empirical studies of the child rearing pattern and personality development made at a rural community in the central Japan. In Japan there has been done no significant work in the field of culture and personality, particularly of child rearing patterns and personality development, whereas many fruitful studies on the subject have been undertaken by anthropologists and psychologists in the U.S. since the 1930\u27s. However, some attempts have been undertaken recently in Japan in two kinds of studies; 1) experimental and critical studies of patterns of feeding, weaning and toilet training which were expressly pointed out as important factors in children\u27s personality development by psychoanalytic researchers, 2) supplementary studies following the studies previously done by foreign researchers on parent-child relationship. The authors have been interested in relationships between traditional child-rearing patterns in rural areas in Japan and personality types of Japanese people. They have attempted to make an intensive and collaborative investigations at a hamlet (buraku), in Kaida-mura (village) of Nagano-ken (prefecture) in central Japan, where a specific way of handling children has been the custom for a long time. Use is made of a basket of straw, which is called "Ejiko (Izumi, or Koshiki)", in which an infant is swaddled and kept all day long. The custom is not so commonly seen at present as in previous days. However, it calls the authors\u27 attention to a similar use of a cradle among the American Indians who have been studied extensively by American anthropologists. The procedures, results and discussions of the research at the hamlet will be reported in the next issue of this journal. The following are contents of the present review of articles and books previously published in this field. 1. Child-rearing patterns in terms of training of basic habits: i) Feeding and weaning ii) Toilet training iii) Restriction of Motions iv) Physical contact between mother and child 2. Child rearing pattern and socialization processes of children. i) Communication as means of socialization ii) Family as a milieu of socialization iii) Patterns of discipline (or sanction) 3. Conclusive remarks. In Chapter 1, the Freudian theories on child development, particularly those of Erikson and Ribble, are introduced, and anthropological studies related to child-rearing practices in primitive cultures made by Sapir, Benedict, M. Mead, Kardiner are reviewed. The work of Gorer, La Barre and Benedict, who studied Japanese, are specially referred to. The views of Orlansky, Sewell and Haring who were critical toward psychoanalytical theories on the basis of their own empirical observation are quoted, the results of a study of "the psychological influences of child rearing pattern" done by Ishiguro and Asahi (Japanese child-psychologists) are introduced. Tables are presented showing the time of completion of weaning among Japanese children on the basis of findings by Japanese anthropologists and pediatricians. As to customs of swaddling child and use of cradle, analyses of Erikson, Honingman and Kluckhohn are cited in order to construct a hypothesis concerning the psychological influences of the use of "Ejiko" upon development of Japanese rural children. Probable effects of close physical relationship between Japanese mother and child, which is observed in such phenomena as "Soe-ne" (sleeping together) or "Ombu" (carrying on the back) are compared with mother-child physical relationships in Western countries. In Chapter 2, the significance of child-rearing patterns, which enforce children obtain certain behavior patterns required by their society and culture, is considered after certain theoretical views of psychologists, sociologists and anthropologists on the functions of family are introduced. Child rearing patterns are shown to differ from one culture to another, from one family to another, depending upon sex, age and sibling relation of children, family structure and status, occupation, education and personality of their parents. Studies on patterns of discipline and those on the effect of parental attitude and personality of children are especially reviewed. Anthropological, sociological, sociological and psychological studies are briefly described in terms of three points: method, patterns observed, and relations between cultural patterns and personality development. In conclusion it is the authors\u27 feeling that the importance and significance of early child-rearing patterns should not be overestimated and one should carefully observe the whole processes of socialization, which continue through late childhood and adolescence with gradual change, in order to determine the cultural components of personality development in any culture

Genome of the pitcher plant <i>Cephalotus </i>reveals genetic changes associated with carnivory

Carnivorous plants exploit animals as a nutritional source and have inspired long-standing questions about the origin and evolution of carnivory-related traits. To investigate the molecular bases of carnivory, we sequenced the genome of the heterophyllous pitcher plant Cephalotus follicularis, in which we succeeded in regulating the developmental switch between carnivorous and non-carnivorous leaves. Transcriptome comparison of the two leaf types and gene repertoire analysis identified genetic changes associated with prey attraction, capture, digestion and nutrient absorption. Analysis of digestive fluid proteins from C. follicularis and three other carnivorous plants with independent carnivorous origins revealed repeated co-options of stress-responsive protein lineages coupled with convergent amino acid substitutions to acquire digestive physiology. These results imply constraints on the available routes to evolve plant carnivory

Phase II study of trifluridine/tipiracil (TAS‑102) therapy in elderly patients with colorectal cancer (T‑CORE1401): geriatric assessment tools and plasma drug concentrations as possible predictive biomarkers

Purpose The current study aimed to determine the efficacy of trifluridine/tipiracil for elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Methods This single-arm, open-label, multicenter, phase II study included elderly patients aged 65 years or more who had fluoropyrimidine-refractory advanced colorectal cancer and received trifluridine/tipiracil (70 mg/m2, days 1–5 and 8–12, every 4 weeks). The primary endpoint was progression-free survival (PFS), while secondary endpoints included overall survival (OS), overall response rate (ORR), toxicities, association between efficacy and geriatric assessment scores, and association between toxicity and plasma drug concentrations. Results A total of 30 patients with a mean age of 73 years were enrolled. Median PFS was 2.3 months (95% confidence interval, 1.9–4.3 months), while median OS was 5.7 months (95% confidence interval, 3.7–8.9 months). Patients had an ORR of 0%, with 57% having stable disease. Grade 4 neutropenia was observed in 13% of the patients. Patients with a higher G8 score (15 or more) showed longer PFS than those with a lower G8 score (median 4.6 vs. 2.0 months; p = 0.047). Moreover, patients with grade 3 or 4 neutropenia showed higher maximum trifluridine concentrations than those with grade 1 or 2 neutropenia (mean 2945 vs. 2107 ng/mL; p = 0.036). Discussion The current phase II trial demonstrated that trifluridine/tipiracil was an effective and well-tolerated option for elderly patients with advanced colorectal cancer. Moreover, geriatric assessment tools and/or plasma drug concentration monitoring might be helpful in predicting the efficacy and toxicities in elderly patients receiving this drug. Trial registration number UMIN000017589, 15/May/2015 (The University Hospital Medical Information Network

Clinical Characteristics of Subependymal Giant Cell Astrocytoma in Tuberous Sclerosis Complex.

Background: This study evaluated the characteristics of subependymal giant cell astrocytoma (SEGA) in patients with tuberous sclerosis complex (TSC) entered into the TuberOus SClerosis registry to increase disease Awareness (TOSCA). Methods: The study was conducted at 170 sites across 31 countries. Data from patients of any age with a documented clinical visit for TSC in the 12 months preceding enrollment or those newly diagnosed with TSC were entered. Results: SEGA were reported in 554 of 2,216 patients (25%). Median age at diagnosis of SEGA was 8 years (range, 18 years. SEGA were symptomatic in 42.1% of patients. Symptoms included increased seizure frequency (15.8%), behavioural disturbance (11.9%), and regression/loss of cognitive skills (9.9%), in addition to those typically associated with increased intracranial pressure. SEGA were significantly more frequent in patients with TSC2 compared to TSC1 variants (33.7 vs. 13.2 %, p < 0.0001). Main treatment modalities included surgery (59.6%) and mammalian target of rapamycin (mTOR) inhibitors (49%). Conclusions: Although SEGA diagnosis and growth typically occurs during childhood, SEGA can occur and grow in both infants and adults