Undifferentiated Sarcoma of the Salivary Gland in a Mongolian Gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus)

A subcutaneous mass was found in the lower ventral neck region of a 55-week-old male Mongolian gerbil (Meriones unguiculatus). Histopathologically, the mass involved salivary glands and featured diffuse proliferation of pleomorphic neoplastic cells with large necrotic foci. The lesion was well demarcated from the surrounding tissue, although invasive growth to fibrous septa was occasionally observed. The neoplastic cells were mainly arranged in irregular sheets with severe cellular atypia, round to oval nuclei and varying amounts of eosinophilic cytoplasm. Mitotic figures and multinucleated giant cells were frequent. Immunohistochemical analysis revealed that the neoplastic cells were strongly positive for vimentin and S-100 and negative for NSE, cytokeratin, α-SMA, c-kit, factor VIII, CD34, α-1-antitrypsin, lysozyme and MSR-A. Based on the results, the mass was diagnosed as an undifferentiated sarcoma of the salivary gland. To the best of our knowledge, this is the first report of such a tumor in Mongolian gerbils

Uterine Carcinosarcoma in a 2-year-old Female Wistar Hannover GALAS Rat

Carcinosarcomas are rare tumors in humans as well as rats and most commonly occur in the uterus. Recently, we observed a case of incidental carcinosarcoma of the uterus in a female Wistar Hannover GALAS [BrlHan:WIST@ Jcl (GALAS)] rat at 2 years of age. Histopathologically, the tumor was characterized by an admixture of malignant epithelial and nonepithelial elements. The carcinomatous components represented a type of endometrial carcinoma, consisting of glandular and solid proliferation of large-sized tumor cells. Prominent mitoses and tumor cell invasion were observed. The sarcomatous components were characterized by multifocal proliferation of severe atypical cells with cartilage matrix and were diagnosed as chondrosarcoma. Transitions between carcinomatous and sarcomatous components were observed, and many tumor cells in the solid lesion showed immunohistochemical reactivity with both cytokeratin and vimentin. Based on these findings, this tumor was diagnosed as a uterine carcinosarcoma. This is the first report of uterine carcinosarcoma in Wistar Hannover GALAS [BrlHan:WIST@Jcl (GALAS)] rats

Multiple barriers against successful care provision for depressed patients in general internal medicine in a Japanese rural hospital: a cross-sectional study

<p>Abstract</p> <p>Background</p> <p>A general internist has an important role in primary care, especially for the elderly in rural areas of Japan. Although effective intervention models for depressed patients in general practice and primary care settings have been developed in the US and UK medical systems, there is little information regarding even the recognition rate and prescription rate of psychotropic medication by general internists in Japan. The present study surveyed these data cross-sectionally in a general internal medicine outpatient clinic of a Japanese rural hospital.</p> <p>Methods</p> <p>Patients were consecutively recruited and evaluated for major depressive disorder or any mood disorder using the Patient Health Questionnaire (PHQ). Physicians who were blinded to the results of the PHQ were asked to diagnose whether the patients had any mental disorders, and if so, whether they had mood disorders or not. Data regarding prescription of psychotropic medicines were collected from medical records.</p> <p>Results</p> <p>Among 312 patients, 27 (8.7%) and 52 (16.7%) were identified with major depressive disorder and any mood disorder using the PHQ, respectively. Among those with major depressive disorder, 21 (77.8%) were recognized by physicians as having a mental disorder, but only three (11.1%) were diagnosed as having a mood disorder.</p> <p>Only two patients with major depressive disorder (7.4%) had been prescribed antidepressants. Even among those (n = 15) whom physicians diagnosed with a mood disorder irrespective of the PHQ results, only four (26.7%) were prescribed an antidepressant.</p> <p>Conclusions</p> <p>Despite a high prevalence of depression, physicians did not often recognize depression in patients. In addition, most patients who were diagnosed by physicians as having a mood disorder were not prescribed antidepressants. Multiple barriers to providing appropriate care for depressed patients exist, such as recognizing depression, prescribing appropriate medications, and appropriately referring patients to mental health specialists.</p

The Inner Centromere Protein (INCENP) Coil Is a Single α-Helix (SAH) Domain That Binds Directly to Microtubules and Is Important for Chromosome Passenger Complex (CPC) Localization and Function in Mitosis

The chromosome passenger complex (CPC) is a master regulator of mitosis. INCENP acts as a scaffold regulating CPC localisation and activity. During early mitosis the N-terminal region of INCENP forms a three-helix bundle with Survivin and Borealin, directing the CPC to the inner centromere where it plays essential roles in chromosome alignment and the spindle assembly checkpoint. The C-terminal IN-box region of INCENP is responsible for binding and activating Aurora B kinase. The central region of INCENP has been proposed to comprise a coiled-coil domain acting as a spacer between the N and C terminal domains that is involved in microtubule binding and regulation of the spindle checkpoint. Here we show that the central region (213 residues) of chicken INCENP is not a coiled coil but a ~32 nm long single alpha helical (SAH) domain. The N-terminal half of this domain directly binds to microtubules in vitro. By analogy with previous studies of myosin 10, our data suggest that the INCENP SAH might stretch up to ~80 nm under physiological forces. Thus, the INCENP SAH could act as a flexible dog-leash allowing Aurora B to phosphorylate dynamic substrates localized in the outer kinetochore while at the same time being stably anchored to the stable chromatin of the inner centromere. Furthermore, by achieving this flexibility via a SAH domain, the CPC avoids a need for dimerization (required for coiled-coil formation), which would greatly complicate regulation of the proximity-induced trans-phosphorylation that is critical for Aurora B activation

Remote Synchronization Experiments for Quasi-Zenith Satellite System Using Multiple Navigation Signals as Feedback Control

The remote synchronization system for the onboard crystal oscillator (RESSOX) is a remote control method that permits synchronization between a ground station atomic clock and Japanese quasi-zenith satellite system (QZSS) crystal oscillators. To realize the RESSOX of the QZSS, the utilization of navigation signals of QZSS for feedback control is an important issue. Since QZSS transmits seven navigation signals (L1C/A, L1CP, L1CD, L2CM, L2CL, L5Q, and L5I), all combinations of these signals should be evaluated. First, the RESSOX algorithm will be introduced. Next, experimental performance will be demonstrated. If only a single signal is available, ionospheric delay should be input from external measurements. If multiple frequency signals are available, any combination, except for L2 and L5, gives good performance with synchronization error being within two nanoseconds that of RESSOX. The combination of L1CD and L5Q gives the best synchronization performance (synchronization error within 1.14 ns). Finally, in the discussion, comparisons of long-duration performance, computer simulation, and sampling number used in feedback control are considered. Although experimental results do not correspond to the simulation results, the tendencies are similar. For the overlapping Allan deviation of long duration, the stability of 1.23×10−14 at 100,160 s is obtained

Innovations in online classes introduced during the COVID-19 pandemic and their educational outcomes in Japan

Abstract Background The novel coronavirus disease (COVID-19) pandemic emerged in Japan in February 2020, forcing the adoption of online education by university medical schools across Japan. The advantages and disadvantages of online education have been studied in Japan; however, the educational outcome of online classes conducted during the COVID-19 pandemic has not been completely evaluated. In this study, we examined the relationship between lecture format (e.g., face-to-face or online) and performance of third-year university students in their organ-specific cardiovascular course examination. Methods This retrospective, nonclinical, and noninterventional comparative educational study included 550 third-year medical students who took a cardiovascular course between April 2018 and May 2022. Cardiovascular coursework was conducted in-person in 2018 and 2019, online in 2020 and 2021, and again in-person in 2022. The course comprised 62 lecture and 2 problem-based learning (PBL) sessions. A quiz was set up in advance on Moodle based on all lectures conducted in 2021 and 2022. A written examination was administered at the end of the course to evaluate the knowledge of students. The student online course evaluation questionnaires were administered in 2020 and 2021. Examination scores and proportion of failures in each year were compared. Results The mean examination scores were significantly higher in 2021 and 2022 than in 2018, 2019, and 2020 (p < 0.05). Univariate and multivariate analyses adjusted for the class type, online quiz, and PBL revealed that only online quiz was significantly associated with better examination results (p < 0.05). A student course evaluation survey indicated that the online format did not interfere with the students’ learning and was beneficial. Conclusions The introduction of online classes into medical education due to the COVID-19 pandemic was as effective as face-to-face classes owing to learning management system and other innovations, such as online quizzes. Online education may confer more benefits when provided in a combination with face-to-face learning after COVID-19 pandemic