An Immunohistochemical Study of Tumor Vascularity and Proliferation Activity in Cholangiocellular Carcinoma: Relationship to Clinicopathologic Factors and Prognosis after Hepatic Resection

This study was designed to provide an immunohistochemical analysis of tumor biological factors in 28 patients who underwent hepatectomy for cholangiocellular carcinoma (CCC). Analyzed factors were microvessel counts (stained by CD34) and proliferating cell nuclear antigen (PCNA). PCNA L.I. was correlated with serum level of CA19-9, which was correlated with a higher recurrence rate and shorter patient survivals. Microvessel counts were negatively correlated with tumor size. Furthermore, the microvessel count in CCC with mass-forming (MF) plus periductal infiltrating (PI) type associated with poorer survivals, was significantly lower compared to that of CCC with MF type or PI type. Neither microvessel counts nor PCNA L.I. were associated with any other clinicopathologic factors or cancer recurrence. The five-year overall and cancer-free survival rates were 26% and 13%, respectively. Patients with MF plus PI type, poorer differentiated carcinoma, stage 4A and higher CA19-9 level had shorter cancer-free and overall survivals after hepatectomy (p<0.05). Cancer-free and overall survivals in patients with lower microvessel counts tended to be slightly worse but were not significantly different. Although tumor microvessel count and proliferating activity were correlated with prognostic clinicopathologic parameters, both factors might not be prognostic markers for predicting CCC recurrence and patient survival

Changes of Branched Chain Amino Acids and Tyrosine Ratio (BTR) after Hepatectomy

To clarify the clinical usefulness of measuring branched chain amino acids and tyrosine ratio (BTR), which is correlated with Fischer\u27s ratio, we examined the serum BTR level in 33 patients with liver diseases. Serum levels of branched-chain amino acids (BCAAs) and tyrosine were measured by the new enzymatic method, which costs inexpensive and is immediate compared to measuring Fischer\u27s ratio. BTR was calculated as ratio of concentration of BCAA to tyrosine. BTR was correlated with levels of albumin, transaminase and cholinesterase and was lower in patients with chronic viral hepatitis, Child B cirrhosis and portal hypertension. In 19 patients who underwent hepatic resection included 8 for major hepatectomy, resected volume, blood loss, operation time and background of liver diseases were not associated with changes of BTR after hepatectomy. In patients with prolonged jaundice, postoperative BTR level was significantly lower between day I and 7 after hepatectomy. We concluded that serum BTR level was correlated with poor liver function and monitoring of BTR levels after hepatectomy may be useful to evaluate degree of hepatic damage after liver surgery

Identification of 45 New Neutron-Rich Isotopes Produced by In-Flight Fission of a 238U Beam at 345 MeV/nucleon

A search for new isotopes using in-flight fission of a 345 MeV/nucleon 238U beam has been carried out at the RI Beam Factory at the RIKEN Nishina Center. Fission fragments were analyzed and identified by using the superconducting in-flight separator BigRIPS. We observed 45 new neutron-rich isotopes: 71Mn, 73,74Fe, 76Co, 79Ni, 81,82Cu, 84,85Zn, 87Ga, 90Ge, 95Se, 98Br, 101Kr, 103Rb, 106,107Sr, 108,109Y, 111,112Zr, 114,115Nb, 115,116,117Mo, 119,120Tc, 121,122,123,124Ru, 123,124,125,126Rh, 127,128Pd, 133Cd, 138Sn, 140Sb, 143Te, 145I, 148Xe, and 152Ba

Seismicity controlled by resistivity structure : the 2016 Kumamoto earthquakes, Kyushu Island, Japan

The M JMA 7.3 Kumamoto earthquake that occurred at 1:25 JST on April 16, 2016, not only triggered aftershocks in the vicinity of the epicenter, but also triggered earthquakes that were 50–100 km away from the epicenter of the main shock. The active seismicity can be divided into three regions: (1) the vicinity of the main faults, (2) the northern region of Aso volcano (50 km northeast of the mainshock epicenter), and (3) the regions around three volcanoes, Yufu, Tsurumi, and Garan (100 km northeast of the mainshock epicenter). Notably, the zones between these regions are distinctively seismically inactive. The electric resistivity structure estimated from one-dimensional analysis of the 247 broadband (0.005–3000 s) magnetotelluric and telluric observation sites clearly shows that the earthquakes occurred in resistive regions adjacent to conductive zones or resistive-conductive transition zones. In contrast, seismicity is quite low in electrically conductive zones, which are interpreted as regions of connected fluids. We suggest that the series of the earthquakes was induced by a local accumulated stress and/or fluid supply from conductive zones. Because the relationship between the earthquakes and the resistivity structure is consistent with previous studies, seismic hazard assessment generally can be improved by taking into account the resistivity structure. Following on from the 2016 Kumamoto earthquake series, we suggest that there are two zones that have a relatively high potential of earthquake generation along the western extension of the MTL

Increased radon-222 in soil gas because of cumulative seismicity at active faults

This study demonstrates how the radon-222 ({222}Rn) concentration of soil gas at an active fault is sensitive to cumulative recent seismicity by examining seven active faults in western Japan. The {222}Rn concentration was found to correlate well with the total earthquake energy within a 100-km radius of each fault. This phenomenon can probably be ascribed to the increase of pore pressure around the source depth of {222}Rn in shallow soil caused by frequently induced strain. This increase in pore pressure can enhance the ascent velocity of {222}Rn carrier gas as governed by Darcy's law. Anomalous {222}Rn concentrations are likely to originate from high gas velocities, rather than increased accumulations of parent nuclides. The high velocities also can yield unusual young gas under the radioactive nonequilibrium condition of short elapsed time since {222}Rn generation. The results suggest that ongoing seismicity in the vicinity of an active fault can cause accumulation of strain in shallow fault soils. Therefore, the {222}Rn concentration is a possible gauge for the degree of strain accumulation

Controls on radon emission from granite as evidenced by compression testing to failure

A set of uniaxial compression tests of granite specimens taken from five localities across Japan was conducted to identify the factors controlling the quantity of radon (Rn) emission (sum of [222]Rn and [220]Rn) during compression and failure. An α-scintillation detector and a gas flow unit were installed with a testing machine to enable continuous measurement of Rn emissions. Common to all specimens, Rn emissions remained at or slightly declined from the background level after the start of loading; this is similar to the natural phenomenon of decline in groundwater-dissolved Rn before an earthquake. Closure of original microcracks is the most likely cause of the initial Rn decline. Then, Rn emissions begin to increase at 46–57 per cent stress level to the uniaxial compressive strength, and continue to increase even after the failure of specimen. This commencement stress level is close to the general stress level at outbreak of acoustic emissions caused by the development and connection of microcracks. The Rn increase after failure is similar to a phenomenon observed in aftershocks, which may originate from the enhancement of Rn emanations from grains due to the large increase in total surface area and stress release. In addition to the initial radioelement content in rock, the failure pattern (conjugate shear versus longitudinal tensile type), compressive strength, and grain size are possible control factors of the maximum quantity of Rn emissions induced by failure. This maximum may also be affected by the development velocity of the emanation area, which is related to the Rn emanation fraction, associated with the fragmentation. In addition to the magnitude of an earthquake and its hypocentre distance to Rn detectors, the magnitude of increase in Rn concentration in soil gas and groundwater before, during, and after an earthquake in crystalline rocks depends on the intrinsic radioelement content, the mineral texture, and the mechanical properties of rocks. Rock fracturing and failure do not necessarily induce increase in Rn emission due to these rock properties, which can be used to understand the sensitivity of Rn concentration in soil gas or groundwater in connection with an earthquake

Patient-based assessment with total lesion glycolysis may be associated with therapeutic effects of I-131 meta-iodobenzylguanidine (MIBG) radiotherapy in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors

Background: 131I-labeled meta-iodobenzylguanidine (131I-MIBG) radiotherapy has tumor-progression preventive effects in patients with metastatic neuroendocrine tumors (NECT) such as metastatic pheochromocytoma and paraganglioma. 18F-fluorodeoxyglucose (18F-FDG) PET/CT has been used for therapeutic evaluation after 131I-MIBG radiotherapy on tumor metabolic activity. From a patient management point of view, treatment based on a whole-body parameter is important in evaluating therapeutic effects. Recently, 18F-FDG PET/CT-derived whole-body total metabolic tumor volume (WBMTV) and total lesion glycolysis (WBTLG) have shown prognostic value for various malignant tumors. However, the usefulness of these markers has not been evaluated in terms of the therapeutic effects of 131I-MIBG in patients with metastatic NECT. Therefore, this study aimed to evaluate whether WBMTV and WBTLG were useful to show the therapeutic effects of 131I-MIBG radiotherapy in patients with metastatic NECT.Method: Twenty patients (48.9 ± 14.7 years old, 9 male) with metastatic NECT prospectively had 150 mCi of 131I-MIBG radiotherapy. Based on post-therapeutic 131I-MIBG scintigraphy, patients were divided into 2 groups, namely those with positive 131I-MIBG uptake by metastatic lesions and those with negative uptake. 18F-FDG PET/CT was performed before and 3 months after the first 131I-MIBG radiotherapy. Assessment of 18F-FDG PET/CT-based parameters was performed using dedicated software. Maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax) was estimated for metastatic lesions. The volume of interest (VOI) placed in the liver was used to determine a threshold value for volume-based analysis as follows: threshold = SUVmean + 3 × standard deviation (SD). WBMTV and WBTLG were calculated accordingly. Results: Among 20 patients, 15 showed positive 131I-MIBG uptake in at least one metastatic lesion. 131I-MIBG uptake was not observed in the remaining 5 patients. There was no significant difference in SUVmax, WBMTV and WBTLG between the two groups before 131I-MIBG therapy. With a lesion-based approach, the difference in %change in SUVmax was not significant between the 131I-MIBG positive and negative groups (-4.1 ± 38.4 % vs. 41.2 ± 168.9 %, P=0.089). With a patient-based approach, there was no significant difference in %change of WBMTV between the 2 groups (20.1 ± 24.3 % vs. 198.0 ± 271.1 %, P=0.060). In contrast, the 131I-MIBG positive group showed significantly lower %change of WBTLG than did the 131I-MIBG negative group (39.3 ± 198.1% vs. 222.5 ± 278.7 %, P = 0.036). Conclusion: In lesion analysis, SUVmax did not indicate significant disease progression in the 131I-MIBG negative group after 131I-MIBG radiotherapy. In contrast, with patient-based analysis, following 131I-MIBG radiotherapy, %change in WBTLG was lower in patients in the 131I-MIBG positive group than in those in the 131I-MIBG negative group, thus indicating the disease progression prevention effects of 131I-MIBG radiotherapy. Therefore, a patient-based approach may more accurately reflect the treatment effects than does a lesion-based approach using SUVmax. Therefore, this parameter may be useful for patient management in metastatic NECT.SNMMI 2019 Annual Meetin