Indications and Outcomes of Uterine Artery Embolization in Patients with Uterine Leiomyomas

Objective. To investigate the indication and limitations of uterine artery embolization (UAE), we retrospectively analyzed the case of patients with uterine leiomyomas who had undergone UAE. Methods. During the past 7 years, 25 patients with uterine leiomyomas had undergone UAE in our hospital. UAE was indicated in patients with menstrual disturbances such as hypermenorrhea or dysmenorrhea. The outcomes of this procedure for uterine leiomyomas were analyzed. Results. Improvement in the menstrual symptoms and/or reduction in the leiomyoma size after UAE were observed in 24 patients (96.0%). There was mean 67.9% reduction in the volume of leiomyomas at six months after UAE (P < 0.05). However, the symptoms recurred after UAE in 6 patients (24.0%), with multiple or intramural leiomyomas larger than 7 cm, which necessitated additional procedures. Conclusion. The indications and limitations of the UAE should be considered because of its noneffectiveness and/or recurrence in over 20% of patients with uterine leiomyomas

尿路上皮癌微小環境内におけるDisabled Homolog 2 (DAB2) は腫瘍細胞上皮間葉転換を介して遊走能・浸潤能を高める

Disabled homolog-2 (DAB2) has been reported to be a tumor suppressor gene. However, a number of contrary studies suggested that DAB2 promotes tumor invasion in urothelial carcinoma of the bladder (UCB). Here, we investigated the clinical role and biological function of DAB2 in human UCB. Immunohistochemical staining analysis for DAB2 was carried out on UCB tissue specimens. DAB2 expression levels were compared with clinicopathological factors. DAB2 was knocked-down by small interfering RNA (siRNA) transfection, and then its effects on cell proliferation, invasion, and migration, and changes to epithelial-mesenchymal transition (EMT)-related proteins were evaluated. In our in vivo assays, tumor-bearing athymic nude mice subcutaneously inoculated with human UCB cells (MGH-U-3 or UM-UC-3) were treated by DAB2-targeting siRNA. Higher expression of DAB2 was associated with higher clinical T category, high tumor grade, and poor oncological outcome. The knock-down of DAB2 decreased both invasion and migration ability and expression of EMT-related proteins. Significant inhibitory effects on tumor growth and invasion were observed in xenograft tumors of UM-UC-3 treated by DAB2-targeting siRNA. Our findings suggested that DAB2 expression was associated with poor prognosis through increased oncogenic properties including tumor proliferation, migration, invasion, and enhancement of EMT in human UCB.博士（医学）・甲第768号・令和3年3月15日© 2020 by the authors. Licensee MDPI, Basel, Switzerland. This article is an open access article distributed under the terms and conditions of the Creative Commons Attribution (CC BY) license (http://creativecommons.org/licenses/by/4.0/)

On the origin and evolution of the asteroid Ryugu: A comprehensive geochemical perspective

Presented here are the observations and interpretations from a comprehensive analysis of 16 representative particles returned from the C-type asteroid Ryugu by the Hayabusa2 mission. On average Ryugu particles consist of 50% phyllosilicate matrix, 41% porosity and 9% minor phases, including organic matter. The abundances of 70 elements from the particles are in close agreement with those of CI chondrites. Bulk Ryugu particles show higher δ18O, Δ17O, and ε54Cr values than CI chondrites. As such, Ryugu sampled the most primitive and least-thermally processed protosolar nebula reservoirs. Such a finding is consistent with multi-scale H-C-N isotopic compositions that are compatible with an origin for Ryugu organic matter within both the protosolar nebula and the interstellar medium. The analytical data obtained here, suggests that complex soluble organic matter formed during aqueous alteration on the Ryugu progenitor planetesimal (several 10’s of km), <2.6 Myr after CAI formation. Subsequently, the Ryugu progenitor planetesimal was fragmented and evolved into the current asteroid Ryugu through sublimation

A pristine record of outer Solar System materials from asteroid Ryugu’s returned sample

Volatile and organic-rich C-type asteroids may have been one of the main sources of Earth’s water. Our best insight into their chemistry is currently provided by carbonaceous chondritic meteorites, but the meteorite record is biased: only the strongest types survive atmospheric entry and are then modified by interaction with the terrestrial environment. Here we present the results of a detailed bulk and microanalytical study of pristine Ryugu particles, brought to Earth by the Hayabusa2 spacecraft. Ryugu particles display a close compositional match with the chemically unfractionated, but aqueously altered, CI (Ivuna-type) chondrites, which are widely used as a proxy for the bulk Solar System composition. The sample shows an intricate spatial relationship between aliphatic-rich organics and phyllosilicates and indicates maximum temperatures of ~30 °C during aqueous alteration. We find that heavy hydrogen and nitrogen abundances are consistent with an outer Solar System origin. Ryugu particles are the most uncontaminated and unfractionated extraterrestrial materials studied so far, and provide the best available match to the bulk Solar System composition

Pebbles and sand on asteroid (162173) Ryugu: In situ observation and particles returned to Earth

International audienceThe Hayabusa2 spacecraft investigated the C-type (carbonaceous) asteroid (162173) Ryugu. The mission performed two landing operations to collect samples of surface and subsurface material, the latter exposed by an artificial impact. We present images of the second touchdown site, finding that ejecta from the impact crater was present at the sample location. Surface pebbles at both landing sites show morphological variations ranging from rugged to smooth, similar to Ryugu’s boulders, and shapes from quasi-spherical to flattened. The samples were returned to Earth on 6 December 2020. We describe the morphology of >5 grams of returned pebbles and sand. Their diverse color, shape, and structure are consistent with the observed materials of Ryugu; we conclude that they are a representative sample of the asteroid

A dehydrated space-weathered skin cloaking the hydrated interior of Ryugu

Without a protective atmosphere, space-exposed surfaces of airless Solar System bodies gradually experience an alteration in composition, structure and optical properties through a collective process called space weathering. The return of samples from near-Earth asteroid (162173) Ryugu by Hayabusa2 provides the first opportunity for laboratory study of space-weathering signatures on the most abundant type of inner solar system body: a C-type asteroid, composed of materials largely unchanged since the formation of the Solar System. Weathered Ryugu grains show areas of surface amorphization and partial melting of phyllosilicates, in which reduction from Fe3+ to Fe2+ and dehydration developed. Space weathering probably contributed to dehydration by dehydroxylation of Ryugu surface phyllosilicates that had already lost interlayer water molecules and to weakening of the 2.7 µm hydroxyl (–OH) band in reflectance spectra. For C-type asteroids in general, this indicates that a weak 2.7 µm band can signify space-weathering-induced surface dehydration, rather than bulk volatile loss

ForestScanner: A mobile application for measuring and mapping trees with LiDAR‐equipped iPhone and iPad

Abstract Ground‐based light detection and ranging (LiDAR) is becoming increasingly popular as an alternative means to conventional forest inventory methods. By gauging the distances to multiple points on the surrounding object surfaces, LiDAR acquires 3D point clouds from which tree sizes and spatial distributions can be rapidly estimated. However, the high cost and specialized skills associated with LiDAR technologies have put them out of reach for many potential users. We here introduce ForestScanner, a free, mobile application that allows LiDAR‐based forest inventories by means of iPhone or iPad with a built‐in LiDAR sensor. ForestScanner does not require any manual analysis of 3D point clouds. As the user scans trees with an iPhone/iPad, ForestScanner estimates the stem diameters and spatial coordinates based on real‐time instance segmentation and circle fitting. The users can visualize, check and share the scanning results in situ. By using ForestScanner, we measured the stem diameters and spatial coordinates of 672 trees within a 1 ha plot in 1 hr 39 min with an iPhone and in 1 hr 38 min with an iPad (diameter ≥ 5 cm; detection rate = 100%). The diameters measured by ForestScanner and a diameter tape were in good agreement; R2 = 0.963 for iPhone and R2 = 0.961 for iPad. ForestScanner and a conventional surveying system showed almost identical results for tree mapping (assessed by the spatial distances among trees within 0.04 ha subplots); Mantel R2 = 0.999 for both iPhone and iPad. ForestScanner reduced the person‐hours required for measuring diameters to 25.7%, mapping trees to 9.3%, and doing both to 6.8% of the person‐hours taken using a dimeter tape and the conventional surveying system. Our results indicate that ForestScanner enables cost‐, labour‐ and time‐efficient forest inventories. The application can increase the accessibility to LiDAR for non‐experts (e.g. students, citizen scientists) and enhance resource assessments and biodiversity monitoring in forests world‐wide