Pulmonary ground-glass nodules (GGNs) include both malignant and benign lesions. Some GGNs become larger, whereas others remain unchanged for years. We have previously reported that smoking history ...and large diameters are predictors for growth. However, the genetic differences among GGNs remain unclear.
GGNs with ground-glass component of ≥50% on a thin-section computed tomography scan that were resected between 2012 and 2014 were evaluated for clinicopathological features and the presence of EGFR/KRAS/ALK/HER2 mutations. ‘Incidence of 2-mm growth’ and ‘Time to 2-mm growth’ were analyzed according to the mutational status.
Among 104 GGNs in 96 patients, this study included 3 atypical adenomatous hyperplasia (AAH), 19 adenocarcinoma in situ (AIS), 27 minimally invasive adenocarcinoma (MIA), and 55 invasive adenocarcinoma (IA). Among the 71 lesions evaluable for growth, 30 GGNs exhibited growth and 5 lesions remained unchanged for ≥2 years before surgery was carried out. We identified mutations or rearrangements in 75% of GGNs (78/104). EGFR mutations were noted in 64% of samples, KRAS in 4%, ALK in 3%, and HER2 in 4%. The remaining 26 quadruple-negative tumors were significantly associated with AAH/AIS (P < 0.01) and no-growth (P < 0.01) compared with driver mutation-positive tumors, whereas EGFR mutation-positive tumors were correlated with MIA/IA (P < 0.01) and growth (P < 0.01) compared with EGFR-negative tumors.
Three fourths of resected GGNs were positive for EGFR, KRAS, ALK, or HER2 mutations. Quadruple-negative tumors were associated with a lack of GGN growth, whereas EGFR mutation-positive tumors displayed a correlation with growth.
Among vertebrates, fishes show an exceptional range of reproductive strategies regarding the expression of their sexuality. Fish sexualities were categorized into gonochorism, synchronous/sequential ...hermaphrodite, or unisexual reproduction. In gonochoristic fishes, sex is determined genetically or by environmental factors. After sex determination, the gonads are differentiated into ovary or testis, with the sex remaining fixed for the entire life cycle. In contrast, some sequential hermaphrodite fishes can change their sex from male to female (protandrous), female to male (protogynous), or serially (bi-directional sex change) in their life cycle. In many cases, sex change is cued by social factors such as the disappearance of a male or female from a group. This unique diversity in fishes provides an ideal animal model to investigate sex determination and differentiation in vertebrates. This review first discusses genetic-orientated sex determination mechanisms. Then, we address the gonadal sex differentiation process in a gonochoristic fish, using an example of the Nile tilapia. Finally, we discuss various types of sex change that occur in hermaphrodite fishes.
Undocumented immigrants (UIs) have been reported to suffer from the unequal distribution of COVID-19 vaccination, but this inequality has never been quantified, and the associated factors have not ...been measured.
We interviewed 190 municipal offices throughout Japan about the access to COVID-19 vaccination for UIs and control group foreigners. Using logistic regression, we investigated the association between assured access and municipal characteristics.
Out of the respondent municipalities, 57.5% answered that UIs can apply for a COVID-19 vaccination voucher. Additionally, 31.5% said they had received an inquiry about vaccines from UI individuals. Furthermore, only 23.2% of the municipalities responded that they had issued vouchers for UIs at least once. The control groups were reported to have been given more access to vouchers. Logistic regression showed that the foreign resident ratio, tertiary industry, and university graduation ratio were positively associated with vaccination access.
This study revealed for the first time that UIs are disproportionately marginalized compared with other visitors, implying that “illegality” plays an important role in the context of vaccination eligibility. The street-level vaccination desks of local governments may refuse to supply vaccines. Vaccine equity will be more readily achievable when vaccination access to all populations including UIs is ensured. Such access will also improve overall public health by increasing the vaccination rate.
A radioisotope and its imaging have been powerful tools to explore the mechanism of chemical reaction and the dynamic behavior of trace element in biomolecular science and nuclear medicine. This ...article reviews some labelled compounds for radiopharmaceuticals in biochemical science and nuclear medicine using short-lived nuclides, the production and applications of "Multitracer" containing carrier-free radionuclides of more than 50 elements and a new radioactive tracer technique coupled with simultaneously imaging of multiple molecules labelled by γ-emitters. In addition, X-ray phase imaging and microscopy technique using synchrotron radiation are introduced.
•The relay points improve the accuracy of the estimation of ray-path.•The relay points are almost uniformly distributed if the size and the shape of individual cells are roughly uniform.•Although the ...travel time is not changed drastically, the route of the ray-path is varied by the relay points.•The variety of the ray-path is increased by the relay points.
A new ray-trace algorithm, that is used for calculation of the theoretical travel time, is introduced for wave velocity tomography, and it is evaluated by numerical investigations in this paper. Relay points are installed for reducing the mesh dependency of results of the ray-trace that causes inaccurate estimation of the ray-path in the presented algorithm. The relay points are intended to be installed on the mesh uniformly for uniform distribution of the ray-path on the cross section. The comparison of the results from the new and conventional algorithm showed improvement in the ray-path representation of the presented algorithm.
The electrical transport property of the reduced graphene oxide (rGO) thin-films synthesized from defective GO through thermal treatment in a reactive ethanol environment at high temperature above ...1000 °C shows a band-like transport with small thermal activation energy (Ea~10 meV) that occurs during high carrier mobility (~210 cm(2)/Vs). Electrical and structural analysis using X-ray absorption fine structure, the valence band photo-electron, Raman spectra and transmission electron microscopy indicate that a high temperature process above 1000 °C in the ethanol environment leads to an extraordinary expansion of the conjugated π-electron system in rGO due to the efficient restoration of the graphitic structure. We reveal that Ea decreases with the increasing density of states near the Fermi level due to the expansion of the conjugated π-electron system in the rGO. This means that Ea corresponds to the energy gap between the top of the valence band and the bottom of the conduction band. The origin of the band-like transport can be explained by the carriers, which are more easily excited into the conduction band due to the decreasing energy gap with the expansion of the conjugated π-electron system in the rGO.
The sexual plasticity of the gonads is not retained after the completion of sex differentiation in vertebrates, except in some hermaphroditic species. Here, we report that the depletion of ...estradiol-17β (E2) by aromatase inhibitors (AI) for up to six months resulted in a functional female-to-male sex reversal in sexually-mature adults of two gonochoristic fish species, Nile tilapia and medaka. The sex-reversed fish showed a typical male pattern of E2 and androgen levels, secondary sexual characteristics, and male-like sex behavior, producing fertile sperm. Conversely, co-treatment of E2 inhibited AI-induced sex reversal. In situ hybridization of medaka gonads during AI-induced sex reversal indicated that cysts on the dorsal side of the adult ovaries are the origin of germ cells and Sertoli cells in the newly formed testicular tissue. Gonochoristic fish maintain their sexual plasticity until adulthood and E2 plays a critical role in maintaining the female phenotype.
Peroral endoscopic myotomy (POEM) was developed by our group to provide a less invasive permanent treatment for esophageal achalasia.
POEM was performed in 17 consecutive patients with achalasia (10 ...men, 7 women; mean age 41.4 years). A long submucosal tunnel was created (mean length 12.4 cm), followed by endoscopic myotomy of circular muscle bundles of a mean total length of 8.1 cm (6.1 cm in distal esophagus and 2.0 cm in cardia). Smooth passage of an endoscope through the gastroesophageal junction was confirmed at the end of the procedure.
In all cases POEM significantly reduced the dysphagia symptom score (from mean 10 to 1.3; P = 0.0003) and the resting lower esophageal sphincter (LES) pressure (from mean 52.4 mmHg to 19.9 mmHg; P = 0.0001). No serious complications related to POEM were encountered. During follow-up (mean 5 months), additional treatment or medication was necessary in only one patient (case 17) who developed reflux esophagitis (Los Angeles classification B); this was well controlled with regular intake of protein pump inhibitors (PPIs).
The short-term outcome of POEM for achalasia was excellent; further studies on long-term efficacy and on comparison of POEM with other interventional therapies are awaited.
Ginkgo fruit, an unused byproduct of the ginkgo nut industry, contains antimicrobial compounds known as anacardic acids. Two major cultivars of ginkgo, Kyuju (K) and Tokuro (T), were evaluated for ...their potential as a feed additive for ruminants. In batch culture, we incubated a mixture of hay and concentrate in diluted rumen fluid with or without 1.6% (fruit equivalent) ginkgo fruit extract. We conducted another series of batch culture studies to determine the dose response of fermentation. We also conducted continuous culture using the rumen simulation technique (RUSITEC) with cultivar K and carried out a pure culture study to monitor the sensitivity of 17 representative rumen bacterial species to ginkgo extract and component phenolics. Although both K and T extracts led to decreased methane and increased propionate production, changes were more apparent with K extract, and were dose-dependent. Total gas production was depressed at doses ≥3.2%, suggesting that 1.6% was the optimal supplementation level. In RUSITEC fermentation supplemented with 1.6% ginkgo K, methane decreased by 53% without affecting total gas or total VFA production, but with decreased acetate and increased propionate. Disappearance of dry matter, neutral detergent fiber, and acid detergent fiber were not affected by ginkgo, but ammonia levels were decreased. Quantitative PCR indicated that the abundance of protozoa, fungi, methanogens, and bacteria related to hydrogen and formate production decreased, but the abundance of bacteria related to propionate production increased. MiSeq analysis (Illumina Inc., San Diego, CA) confirmed these bacterial changes and identified archaeal community changes, including a decrease in Methanobrevibacter and Methanomassiliicoccaceae and an increase in Methanoplanus. Pure culture study results supported the findings for the above bacterial community changes. These results demonstrate that ginkgo fruit can modulate rumen fermentation toward methane mitigation and propionate enhancement via microbial selection.
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