Erratum: Search for Cosmic-Ray Boosted Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using Recoil Protons at Super-Kamiokande [Phys. Rev. Lett. 130, 031802 (2023)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.130.031802.

New evidence for the Ontong Java Nui hypothesis

The formation of the Ontong Java Nui super oceanic plateau (OJN), which is based on the model that the submarine Ontong Java Plateau (OJP), Manihiki Plateau (MP), and Hikurangi Plateau (HP) were once its contiguous fragments, could have been the largest globally consequential volcanic event in Earth's history. This OJN hypothesis has been debated given the paucity of evidence, for example, the differences in crustal thickness, the compositional gap between MP and OJP basalts and the apparent older age of both plateaus relative to HP remain unresolved. Here we investigate the geochemical and ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar ages of dredged rocks recovered from the OJP's eastern margin. Volcanic rocks having compositions that match the low-Ti MP basalts are reported for the first time on the OJP and new ~ 96-116 Ma and 67-68 Ma ⁴⁰Ar-³⁹Ar age data bridge the temporal gap between OJP and HP. These results provide new evidence for the Ontong Java Nui hypothesis and a framework for an integrated tectonomagmatic evolution of the OJP, MP, and HP. The isotopic data imply four mantle components in the source of OJN that are also expressed in present-day Pacific hotspots sources, indicating origin from (and longevity of) the Pacific Large Low Shear-wave Velocity Province.

Degassing of early-formed planetesimals restricted water delivery to Earth

The timing of delivery and the types of body that contributed volatiles to the terrestrial planets remain highly debated1,2. For example, it is unknown if differentiated bodies, such as that responsible for the Moon-forming giant impact, could have delivered substantial volatiles3,4 or if smaller, undifferentiated objects were more probable vehicles of water delivery5-7. Here we show that the water contents of minerals in achondrite meteorites (mantles or crusts of differentiated planetesimals) from both the inner and outer portions of the early Solar System are ≤2 μg g-1 H2O. These are among the lowest values ever reported for extraterrestrial minerals. Our results demonstrate that differentiated planetesimals efficiently degassed before or during melting. This finding implies that substantial amounts of water could only have been delivered to Earth by means of unmelted material.

Search for Cosmic-Ray Boosted Sub-GeV Dark Matter Using Recoil Protons at Super-Kamiokande

We report a search for cosmic-ray boosted dark matter with protons using the 0.37  megaton×years data collected at Super-Kamiokande experiment during the 1996-2018 period (SKI-IV phase). We searched for an excess of proton recoils above the atmospheric neutrino background from the vicinity of the Galactic Center. No such excess is observed, and limits are calculated for two reference models of dark matter with either a constant interaction cross section or through a scalar mediator. This is the first experimental search for boosted dark matter with hadrons using directional information. The results present the most stringent limits on cosmic-ray boosted dark matter and exclude the dark matter-nucleon elastic scattering cross section between 10^{-33}cm^{2} and 10^{-27}cm^{2} for dark matter mass from 1  MeV/c^{2} to 300  MeV/c^{2}.

Relationships between dietary diversity and gut microbial diversity in the elderly

Diet is considered as a major driver of gut microbiota composition. However, little is known about the relationship between overall dietary balance and gut microbiota, especially in the elderly. Here, using the Quantitative Index for Dietary Diversity (QUANTIDD), we analysed the relationships between dietary diversity and gut microbiota diversity in 445 Japanese subjects aged 65-90 years. We also examined the effect of age by comparing the young-old group aged 65 to 74 years (<75 years group; n=246) and the old-old group aged 75 years and older (≥75 years group; n=199). QUANTIDD showed significant positive relationships with Pielou's evenness and Shannon indices, two α-diversity indices related to the uniformity of species distribution. This suggests that a more diverse diet is associated with a more uniform abundance of various bacterial groups, rather than a greater variety of gut bacteria. QUANTIDD also showed significant positive associations with the abundance of Anaerostipes, Eubacterium eligens group, and Eubacterium ventriosum group, which produce short-chain fatty acids (SCFAs) and are beneficial to health. Negative association was found with the abundance of Ruminococcus gnavus group, which produces inflammatory polysaccharides. Positive associations between QUANTIDD and α-diversity indices or the abundance of specific bacterial groups were identified among all subjects and in the <75 years group, but not in the ≥75 years group. Our results suggest that dietary diversity contributes to the diversity of the gut microbiota and increases the abundance of SCFAs-producing bacteria, but only up to a certain age. These findings help to understand the complex relationship between diet and gut microbiota, and provide hints for specific dietary interventions to promote beneficial gut microbiota in the elderly.

Different changes in the biomarker C-terminal telopeptides of type II collagen (CTX-II) following intra-articular injection of high molecular weight hyaluronic acid and oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs in patients with knee osteoarthritis: a multi-center randomized controlled study

OBJECTIVES

We previously reported, based on a multicenter randomized-control study, that the efficacy of intra-articular injections of hyaluronic acid (IA-HA) was not inferior to that of oral non-steroidal anti-inflammatory drugs (NSAIDs) in patients with knee osteoarthritis (OA). However, the molecular effects on the pathophysiology of knee OA remain unclear. C-terminal telopeptides of type II collagen (CTX-II) is reported to primarily originate from the interface between articular cartilage and subchondral bone, which is a site of potential remodeling in OA. We performed a predefined sub-analysis of the previous study to compare the changes of urinary CTX-II (uCTX-II) in response to IA-HA to those in response to NSAID for knee OA.

DESIGN

A total of 200 knee OA patients were registered from 20 hospitals and randomized to receive IA-HA (2,700 kDa HA, 5 times at 1-week intervals) or NSAID (loxoprofen sodium, 180 mg/day) for 5 weeks. The uCTX-II levels were measured before and after treatment.

RESULTS

The uCTX-II levels were significantly increased by IA-HA treatment (337.7 ± 193.8 to 370.7 ± 234.8 ng/μmol Cr) and were significantly reduced by NSAID treatment (423.2 ± 257.6 to 370.3 ± 250.9 ng/μmol Cr). The %changes of uCTX-II induced by IA-HA (11.6 ± 29.5%) and NSAID (-9.0 ± 26.7%) was significantly different (between-group difference: 20.6, 95% confidence intervals: 10.6 to 30.6).

CONCLUSIONS

While both IA-HA and NSAID improved symptoms of knee OA, uCTX-II levels were increased by IA-HA and reduced by NSAIDs treatment, suggesting these treatments may improve symptoms of knee OA through different modes of action.

Retraction: Pressure-Induced Superconducting State of Europium Metal at Low Temperatures [Phys. Rev. Lett. 102, 197002 (2009)]

Retraction of DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.102.197002.

Validity and reliability of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale-Japanese version

AIM

This study assessed the validity and reliability of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale-Japanese Version.

METHODS

The original Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale was translated into Japanese, and Japanese items were back-translated to English to confirm the accuracy of the translation. A total of 870 public health nurses from the Tohoku region in Japan completed the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale-Japanese Version. An exploratory factor analysis was conducted to identify the number of components. Moreover, 351 public health nurses from the Saitama prefecture in Japan also completed the scale. A confirmatory factor analysis was performed with the factor structure identified in the exploratory factor analysis.

RESULTS

The exploratory factor analysis identified two components: one associated with client-related distress and the other with trauma-related distress. The confirmatory factor analysis confirmed the two-factor structure. The two-factor structure model was better than the three-factor model presented in the original validation study for the English version of the scale. The two-factor model had good internal consistency for the overall product and the subscales. Pearson correlations showed that this model had good convergent validity against the Maslach Burnout Inventory, a psychological measure similar to the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale. Finally, the two-factor model had good discriminant validity against the Maslach Burnout Inventory.

CONCLUSION

This study identified two components of the Secondary Traumatic Stress Scale-Japanese Version that differ from the three components found in the original English version. The differences in the factor structure might indicate that the factor structure was culturally influenced.

New methods for determination of the keyhole position in the lateral suboccipital approach to avoid transverse-sigmoid sinus injury: Proposition of the groove line as a new surgical landmark

PURPOSE

The asterion is frequently used as an anatomical landmark to determine the location of a keyhole in the lateral suboccipital approach used in craniotomies. However, the asterion may not be ideal because of large individual differences among patients. We examined a simple and safe method for determining an optimal keyhole position (KP) using the digastric groove as a new landmark in the lateral suboccipital approach.

METHODS

Thirty-three patients with trigeminal neuralgia who underwent surgery in our institute between April 2014 and December 2018 were included. The groove line (GL) was designed accurately, extending the digastric groove on the surface of the occipital bone, as the x-axis. The y-axis was depicted from the posterior edge of the digastric groove (the groove point: GP) vertical to the GL. The x-y coordinates represented the distances from GP on each axis. The x-y coordinates of median edge of the transverse-sigmoid sinus (TSJ point), asterion, and the intersection of the GL and transverse sinus (the transverse point: TP) were investigated, based on intraoperative findings and recorded videos.

RESULTS

The x-y coordinated of the TSJ point were (23.9±3.9, 7.2±3.6). In all patients, the TSJ point was located superior to the GL. The x-y coordinates of the asterion were (27.3±6.0, 8.9±4.1), and in 28 of the 33 patients, their coordinates exceeded the TSJ points. The x-coordinate of the TP was 29.5±4.5, and was located behind the TSJ point on the GL in all patients. The shortest distance between the TSJ points and TP was approximately 3mm. According to these measurements, we decided that the optimal KP would be at 20mm from the GP, subjacent to the GL.

CONCLUSIONS

Our methods of using the GL as a new surgical landmark for setting the optimal KP is simple, safe, and useful.

Investigation of the impact of preconditioning with lipopolysaccharide on inflammation-induced gene expression in the brain and depression-like behavior in male mice

Although several recent studies have suggested that neuroinflammation plays a role in depression, both medication and neuroinflammatory preventive strategies have been poorly investigated. Recent studies have indicated that preconditioning with lipopolysaccharide (LPS) reduces the damage that occurs following ischemic stroke and brain trauma. However, to date, the effects of LPS preconditioning on psychiatric symptoms have not been reported. Thus, we assessed gene expression and behavioral changes affected by preconditioning with low-dose (LD) LPS in male mice with systemic inflammation induced by administration of high-dose (HD) LPS. mRNA expression analyses of cytokine-, glial-, and oxidative stress-associated genes revealed that majority of these genes responded to HD LPS. Differential gene expression in the presence and absence of LD LPS preconditioning, identified a subset of genes that may contribute to the mechanism of LPS preconditioning in the brain. Notably, LPS preconditioning attenuated an increase in expression of the astrocyte marker Gfap caused by systemic inflammation, suggesting that astrocytes have a key role in endotoxin tolerance in the brain induced by LPS preconditioning. As increased astrocyte in the brain of patients with depression is suggested to contribute to the pathophysiology of major depression, LPS preconditioning might be applicable to the prevention and treatment of depression. Unfortunately, in this study, LPS preconditioning did not show a reversal effect on behavior decline due to high-dose LPS-induced systemic inflammation. Alternative aspects of behavioral changes should be assessed to identify behavioral components that are affected by LPS preconditioning. Nonetheless, the findings in the present study indicate the possibility of the mechanism of endotoxin tolerance induction in the brain via astrocyte regulation by LPS preconditioning. Since there has been reported pharmacological significance of astrocytes in psychiatric disorders, regulation of endotoxin tolerance might be a key method to control psychiatric symptoms.

Impact of stress myocardial blood flow as an important predictor for major adverse cardiac and cerebrovascular event in hemodialysis patients, even in patients without myocardial perfusion abnormality

Background

In the clinical setting, ischemic heart disease (IHD) is a major problem not only in general patients but also in regular hemodialysis (HD) patients. Positron emission tomography (PET) is becoming a reliable modality for detecting coronary artery disease. Of course, PET illustrates myocardial perfusion (MP), PET also measures myocardial blood flow (MBF) directly. We have reported stress MBF is an independent predictor in HD population. Although some prior studies show CFR is an independent predictor for their prognosis in patients without MP abnormality, there is limited data about the predictability of stress MBF in HD patients without MP abnormality.

Methods

A total 438 of HD patients who undergone 13NH3PET for suspected IHD were enrolled. All patients were undergone13NH3PET at Nagoya Radiological Diagnosis Foundation. After we excluded patients whose summed stress score (SSS) &lt;4, we identified 182 eligible patients. Patients were divided into two group according to the median value of CFR levels; low stress MBF group (≤2.56) and high stress MBF group (&gt;2.56). We followed up them up to 4.2 years (median 2.4 years) and collected their data. We evaluated their major adverse cardiac cerebrovascular event. We performed Kaplan-Meyer analysis and multivariable cox regression models. Furthermore, we evaluated the incremental value with C-index, net reclassification improvement (NRI) and integrated discrimination improvement (IDI) when CFR added into a model with established risk factors.

Result

There were intergroup difference in baseline characteristics: age, gender, prior CVD and diabetes. Kaplan-Meyer analysis shows statistically intergroup difference [log rank p=0.013, hazard ratio (HR) 0.413, 95% confidential interval (CI) 0.220–0.775]. Multivariable cox regression model for MACCE shows CFR is an independent risk factor (p=0.004, HR 0.311, 95% CI 0.137–0.684). As regarding model discrimination, all of C-index (0.832 vs 0.796, p=0.15), NRI (0.513, p=0.008) and IDI (0.032, p=0.033) were greatest in a predicting model with established risk factors plus stress MBF.

Conclusion

The low stress MBF group has poor prognosis in MACCE comparing to the high stress MBF group. Stress MBF is an independent risk factor for MACCE. Adding stress MBF on conventional risk factors could more accurately predict MACCE in HD patients, even in patients without MP abnormality.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Japanese multicenter registry evaluating the antegrade dissection reentry with cardiac computed tomography for chronic coronary total occlusion

Objective

This study was performed to evaluate the efficacy of cardiac computed tomography (CT) for antegrade dissection re-entry (ADR) technique in chronic total occlusion (CTO) percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI).

Background

Although PCI of CTO is a rapidly evolving field, procedure success rate remains suboptimal. Recently, ADR with Stingray device for CTO-PCI has also evolved to one of the pillar technique of the hybrid algorithm. Although the success rate of the device could be improved, it also remains not always high especially as first crossing strategy.

Methods

Forty eight patients with total occlusion suitable for revascularization evaluated by baseline coronary angiography and cardiac CT were enrolled in this study from April 2017 to April 2019 from 30 enrolled centers. The primary observation was procedural success. Furthermore, all puncture point with Stingray were analyzed by cardiac CT. In each point, 1) plaques on the isolated myocardial side at distal puncture site (+1 point), 2) any plaques excluded above definition at distal puncture site (+2 points), 3) calcification on both 1 and 2 at distal puncture site (+1 point) were analyzed and calculated the score (Score 0–3) (Figure 1).

Results

Overall procedure success rate was 95.8% (46/48) and antegrade success rate was 91.3% (42/46). Sixteen cases were succeeded with single guidewire escalation and 32 cases were attempted ADR with Stingray system. Within them, 25 cases were succeeded and 7 cases were observed puncture failure. And 3cases were succeeded with IVUS guide and 2 cases were with retrograde appTechnical success rate with stingray was 78.1% (25/32). Cardiac CT was analyzed 60 puncture sites in 32 cases which were attempted ADR with stingray system (1.88 sites/case). CT score at ADR success point was significantly smaller compare to that at ADR failure point (0.68±1.09 vs 1.77±1.09, p&lt;0.0001).

Conclusions

Pre procedure Cardiac CT and CT score might be useful for ADR technique in CTO PCI not only for case selection but also for puncture site selection.

Figure 1

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Diabetes and hemodialysis are important factor for decrease coronary flow reserve even in the patients with normal myocardial perfusion

Background

In clinical setting, patients with traditional coronary risk factors are at high risk for coronary artery disease (CAD). Such patients who complain chest discomfort are usually performed nuclear myocardial perfusion (MP) test. We sometimes find patients whose PET result shows normal MP and abnormal coronary flow reserve (CFR). However, there are limited data about the predictors for decreased CFR. In the view of describe above, we have investigated the parameters for decreased CFR in the patients without MP abnormality.

Methods and results

From 20th April 2013 to 21st December 2018, we performed 2,930 13N- ammonia PET for suspected CAD. After excluding the follows; 966 patients with repeated test, 54 patients with incomplete data, one patient missed, we investigated 1,909 eligible patients' data. We performed least square to identify the factors decreased CFR. Hemodialysis (HD), age, prior revascularization, diabetes (DM) and body mass index (BMI) were independent risk factor for decreased CFR in all population. On the other hand, HD, age, DM, hypertension and BMI were independent risk factor for decreasing CFR in patients without MP abnormality. According to the result of least square methods, we classified all patients into four groups; without DM/ without HD group, with DM/ without HD group, without DM/ with HD group and with DM/ with HD group. The value of CFR in each group were as follows: without DM/ without HD group (median, 1st quartile-3rd quartile; 2.88, 2.21–3.52), with DM/ without HD group (2.65, 2.00–3.38), without DM/ with HD group (2.29, 1.67–2.95) and with DM/ with HD group (1.97, 1.43–2.68). There were statistically significant intergroup differences. The value of CFR in the patients without MP abnormality were as follows: without DM/ without HD group (3.04, 2.47–3.65), with DM/ without HD group (2.98, 2.40–3.61), without DM/ with HD group (2.52, 2.10–3.08) and with DM/ with HD group (2.38, 1.86–2.97). Even in the patients without MP abnormality, there were also statistically significant intergroup differences.

Conclusion

According to our 13N-ammonia PET data analysis, DM and HD were important and independent factors for decreased CFR. Even in the patients without MP abnormality, DM and HD were important factor for decreased CFR.

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: None

Assessment of Factors Associated With Long-term Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms Among 56 388 First Responders After the 2011 Great East Japan Earthquake

IMPORTANCE

First responders are at risk for developing symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD). Little is known about the risk factors for developing PTSD during a years-long period after complex mass disasters.

OBJECTIVE

To explore the long-term course of PTSD symptoms and to identify risk factors and their relative association with PTSD among first responders dispatched to the 2011 Japanese earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear disaster.

DESIGN, SETTING, AND PARTICIPANTS

This 6-year, large, prospective cohort study was part of a continuous longitudinal study of Japan Ground Self-Defense Force first responders. The data were collected at 1, 6, 12, 24, 36, 48, 60, and 72 months after mission completion from 2011 to 2017. Of approximately 70 000 eligible participants, 56 388 were enrolled in this study. Data were analyzed from 2017 to 2020.

EXPOSURES

Stress exposures owing to personal or professional disaster experience (eg, duties with body recovery or radiation exposure risk) and working conditions (eg, deployment length, postdeployment overtime work).

MAIN OUTCOMES AND MEASURES

The Impact of Event Scale-Revised score assessed PTSD symptoms; scores of at least 25 were defined as probable PTSD. Cox proportional hazards regression models assessed the risk factors for incidence of probable PTSD.

RESULTS

Among the 56 388 participants, 97.1% were men, and the median age at enrollment was 34 (range, 18-63) years. A probable PTSD rate was 2.7% at 1 month and showed a downward trend in the first year and a subsequent plateau. The cumulative incidence of probable PTSD was 6.75%. The severity of PTSD symptoms demonstrated a high degree of rank-order stability over time. Rather than professional disaster experience, sociodemographic factors and working conditions were independently associated with the incidence of probable PTSD: personal experience of the disaster (hazard ratio [HR], 1.96; 95% CI, 1.72-2.24), deployment length of at least 3 months (HR vs <1 month, 1.75; 95% CI, 1.52-2.02), increased age (HR for ≥46 vs ≤25 years, 2.28; 95% CI, 1.79-2.92), and postdeployment overtime work of at least 3 months (HR vs little to none, 1.61; 95% CI, 1.39-1.87).

CONCLUSIONS AND RELEVANCE

Given these findings, in the future, first responders' PTSD symptoms might be mitigated by shortening deployment length, avoiding postdeployment overtime work, and paying special attention to the needs of personnel with personal experience of the disaster or older age. Efforts to alleviate responders' initial symptoms will be required.

Depression Promotes the Onset of Irritable Bowel Syndrome through Unique Dysbiosis in Rats

Background/Aims

Although studies using conventional animal models have shown that specific stressors cause irritable bowel syndrome (IBS), it is unclear whether depression itself causes IBS. Our aim was to establish a rat model to determine if depression itself promotes the onset of IBS and to elucidate the role of gut microbiota in brain-gut axis pathogenesis during coincident depression and IBS.

Methods

Rat models of depression were induced using our shuttle box method of learned helplessness. Visceral hypersensitivity was evaluated by colorectal distension (CRD) to diagnose IBS. Gut microbiota compositions were analyzed using high-throughput sequencing. In the subanalysis of rats without depression-like symptoms, rats with posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) were also examined.

Results

The threshold value of CRD in depressed rats was significantly lower than that in control rats. Microbial community analysis of cecal microbiota showed that the relative abundance of Clostridiales incertae sedis, the most prevalent microbe, was significantly lower in depressed rats than in control rats. The distribution pattern of the microbiota clearly differed between depressed rats and control rats. Neither visceral hypersensitivity nor the composition of gut microbiota was altered in rats with PTSD-like phenotypes.

Conclusions

Our rat model of depression is useful for clarifying the effect of depression on IBS and suggests that depression itself, rather than specific stressors, promotes the onset of IBS. Further, we provided evidence that various psychiatric diseases, viz., depression and PTSD, are associated with unique gut microbiota profiles, which could differentially affect the onset and progression of coincident IBS.

Combination gemcitabine plus S-1 versus gemcitabine plus cisplatin for advanced/recurrent biliary tract cancer: the FUGA-BT (JCOG1113) randomized phase III clinical trial

BACKGROUND

Gemcitabine plus cisplatin (GC) is the standard treatment of advanced biliary tract cancer (BTC); however, it causes nausea, vomiting, and anorexia, and requires hydration. Gemcitabine plus S-1 (GS) reportedly has equal to, or better, efficacy and an acceptable toxicity profile. We aimed to confirm the non-inferiority of GS to GC for patients with advanced/recurrent BTC in terms of overall survival (OS).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We undertook a phase III randomized trial in 33 institutions in Japan. Eligibility criteria included chemotherapy-naïve patients with recurrent or unresectable BTC, an Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group Performance Status of 0 - 1, and adequate organ function. The calculated sample size was 350 with a one-sided α of 5%, a power of 80%, and non-inferiority margin hazard ratio (HR) of 1.155. The primary end point was OS, while the secondary end points included progression-free survival (PFS), response rate (RR), adverse events (AEs), and clinically significant AEs defined as grade ≥2 fatigue, anorexia, nausea, vomiting, oral mucositis, or diarrhea.

RESULTS

Between May 2013 and March 2016, 354 patients were enrolled. GS was found to be non-inferior to GC [median OS: 13.4 months with GC and 15.1 months with GS, HR, 0.945; 90% confidence interval (CI), 0.78-1.15; P = 0.046 for non-inferiority]. The median PFS was 5.8 months with GC and 6.8 months with GS (HR 0.86; 95% CI 0.70-1.07). The RR was 32.4% with GC and 29.8% with GS. Both treatments were generally well-tolerated. Clinically significant AEs were observed in 35.1% of patients in the GC arm and 29.9% in the GS arm.

CONCLUSIONS

GS, which does not require hydration, should be considered a new, convenient standard of care option for patients with advanced/recurrent BTC.

CLINICAL TRIAL NUMBER

This trial has been registered with the UMIN Clinical Trials Registry (http://www.umin.ac.jp/ctr/index.htm), number UMIN000010667.