Observation of electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam

The T2K experiment has observed electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam produced 295 km from the Super-Kamiokande detector with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV. A total of 28 electron neutrino events were detected with an energy distribution consistent with an appearance signal, corresponding to a significance of 7.3σ when compared to 4.92±0.55 expected background events. In the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata mixing model, the electron neutrino appearance signal depends on several parameters including three mixing angles θ12, θ23, θ13, a mass difference Δm(32)(2) and a CP violating phase δ(CP). In this neutrino oscillation scenario, assuming |Δm(32)(2)|=2.4×10(-3)  eV(2), sin(2)θ(23)=0.5, and Δm322>0 (Δm(32)(2)<0), a best-fit value of sin(2)2θ(13)=0.140(-0.032)(+0.038) (0.170(-0.037)(+0.045)) is obtained at δ(CP)=0. When combining the result with the current best knowledge of oscillation parameters including the world average value of θ(13) from reactor experiments, some values of δ(CP) are disfavored at the 90% C.L.

Measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters from muon neutrino disappearance with an off-axis beam

The T2K Collaboration reports a precision measurement of muon neutrino disappearance with an off-axis neutrino beam with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV. Near detector measurements are used to constrain the neutrino flux and cross section parameters. The Super-Kamiokande far detector, which is 295 km downstream of the neutrino production target, collected data corresponding to 3.01×10(20) protons on target. In the absence of neutrino oscillations, 205±17 (syst) events are expected to be detected while only 58 muon neutrino event candidates are observed. A fit to the neutrino rate and energy spectrum, assuming three neutrino flavors and normal mass hierarchy yields a best-fit mixing angle sin2(θ23)=0.514±0.082 and mass splitting |Δm(32)(2)|=2.44(-0.15)(+0.17)×10(-3) eV2/c4. Our result corresponds to the maximal oscillation disappearance probability.

Cleft Lip in Oculodentodigital Dysplasia Suggests Novel Roles for Connexin43

Oculodentodigital Dysplasia (ODDD) is a rare syndrome involving anomalies in eye, tooth, and digit formation, caused by mutations in CX43/ GJA1. In addition to classic dental features, ODDD includes oral and craniofacial accessory symptoms such as characteristic facial appearance and cleft palate. However, there have been no reports of ODDD accompanied by cleft lip. Herein we report, for the first time, a male, sporadic, Asian proband presenting bilateral cleft lip. By direct sequence analysis, our proband was diagnosed as having ODDD with a heterozygous mutation, codon 142 G>A in GJA1 and CX43E48K. We excluded the possibility of pathogenic mutations in B3GALTL, BMP4, TFAP2A, PVRL1, IRF6, and MSX1. To address how CX43/ GJA1 is related to cleft lip, we performed immunohistochemistry using mouse and human mid-facial tissue. CX43 expression was detected in the nasal compartment and nasal and maxillary processes at murine developmental stage E12.5. Furthermore, CX43 expression was found in the epithelial tissue inside the human subepithelial cleft lip that completes epithelial fusion. Therefore, we suggest that CX43/ GJA1 is involved in lip formation. Our case report of ODDD with a bilateral cleft lip suggests that CX43/ GJA1 might be a novel candidate gene for syndromic cleft lip.

Indication of electron neutrino appearance from an accelerator-produced off-axis muon neutrino beam

The T2K experiment observes indications of ν(μ) → ν(e) appearance in data accumulated with 1.43×10(20) protons on target. Six events pass all selection criteria at the far detector. In a three-flavor neutrino oscillation scenario with |Δm(23)(2)| = 2.4×10(-3)  eV(2), sin(2)2θ(23) = 1 and sin(2)2θ(13) = 0, the expected number of such events is 1.5±0.3(syst). Under this hypothesis, the probability to observe six or more candidate events is 7×10(-3), equivalent to 2.5σ significance. At 90% C.L., the data are consistent with 0.03(0.04) < sin(2)2θ(13) < 0.28(0.34) for δ(CP) = 0 and a normal (inverted) hierarchy.

All-trans-retinoic acid inhibits tumour growth of malignant pleural mesothelioma in mice

Malignant pleural mesothelioma (MPM) is an aggressive malignant tumour of mesothelial origin associated with asbestos exposure. Because MPM has limited response to conventional chemotherapy and radiotherapy, the prognosis is very poor. Several researchers have reported that cytokines such as interleukin (IL)-6 play an important role in the growth of MPM. Previously, it was reported that all-trans-retinoic acid (ATRA) inhibited the production and function of IL-6 and transforming growth factor (TGF)-beta1 in experiments using lung fibroblasts. We investigated whether ATRA had an inhibitory effect on the cell growth of MPM, the origin of which was mesenchymal cells similar to lung fibroblasts, using a subcutaneous xenograft mouse model. We estimated the tumour growth and performed quantitative measurements of IL-6, TGF-beta1 and platelet-derived growth factor (PDGF) receptor (PDGFR)-beta mRNA levels both of cultured MPM cells and cells grown in mice with or without the administration of ATRA. ATRA significantly inhibited MPM tumour growth. In vitro studies disclosed that the administration of ATRA reduced 1) mRNA levels of TGF-beta1, TGF-beta1 receptors and PDGFR-beta, and 2) TGF-beta1-dependent proliferation and PDGF-BB-dependent migration of MPM cells. These data may provide a rationale to explore the clinical use of ATRA for the treatment of MPM.

Characterization of monoclonal antibodies directed against squamous cell carcinoma antigens: report of the second TD-10 workshop

Eight monoclonal antibodies directed against Squamous Cell Carcinoma Antigens (A1 and A2) were collected and evaluated by three working groups. Recombinant antigens, fusion proteins and native antigens from normal tissue were used to evaluate antibody specificity. Five antibodies reacted with both A1 and A2. Two of these antibodies (K123 and K131) showed related binding characteristics, whereas SCC140, K182 and SCC111 demonstrated unique epitope specificity and were not related to the reference antibodies included (F1H3, F2H7 and SCC107). SCC111 reacted particularly well with antigen on Western blot, indicating that the epitope was partly hidden when the antigen was in solution. Two antibodies (SCC103 and SCC109) reacted only with A2 and the fusion protein A1/A2, indicating that they recognized an A2 epitope in exon 8. The A2-specific antibodies are unique in their binding to A2 and are different from the reference antibodies included (SCC104 and K122). SCC103 is probably the best A2-specific antibody available. One antibody, K136, was A1-specific and is related to reference antibody K135. The new antibodies can be used to establish immunometric assays for specific measurement of A1, A2 or both A1 and A2 together.

A case of HMB45-negative perivascular epithelioid cell tumor (PEComa) of the uterine corpus: a possible diagnostic application of molecular-cytogenetic analysis

We report a case of uterine angiomyolipoma confirmed with molecular-genetic analysis by fluorescence in situ hybridization (FISH). A 25-year-old nulliparous woman visited Yamaguchi University Hospital with a complaint of lower abdominal pain. Magnetic resonance imaging demonstrated an ill-bordered uterine tumor and exploratory laparotomy revealed a myometrial elastic-soft tumor at the anterior wall of the uterine corpus. Histopathologically, the tumor consisted of fascicles of smooth muscle cells with intermingled adipocytes and small to medium-sized arterial blood vessels surrounded by epithelioid cells of clear cytoplasm. FISH examination revealed chromosome X trisomy, which was comparable to a previously reported molecular-genetic finding of PEComa family tumors including angiomyolipoma. Although the tumor was immunohistochemically negative for HMB-45 antigen, the histological and FISH findings were compatible with angiomyolipoma.

[Risk management for congenital heart surgery]

There have been recent improvements in the outcome of congenital heart surgery. However, much risk still remains because cardiac surgery itself is not always safe and because the postoperative care of children is very complicated. Accurate risk evaluation is therefore crucial for effective risk management. This study focuses on the database in relation to risk management. A database is essential for assessing the risk of each procedure and for providing patients with accurate information. Two well-known indices based on the databases of congenital heart surgery in the United States and Europe exist for predicting preoperative risk; risk adjustment for congenital heart surgery 1 (RACHS 1) and the Aristotle score. They offer reliable preoperative assessments of the risks of each procedure, but there is still room for improvement. No database for congenital heart surgery existed in Japan until this year.

NOTES transvaginal video-assisted cholecystectomy: first series

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS

Extensive research has been conducted to develop natural-orifice transluminal endoscopic surgery (NOTES) as a new approach to less invasive surgery. Our aim is to present the technique and initial prospective results of a transvaginal video-assisted laparoscopic approach to NOTES cholecystectomy in order to perform minimally invasive surgery without visible scars.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

From July 2007 to March 2008, 32 women underwent transvaginal video-assisted laparoscopic cholecystectomy using a transvaginal 10-mm 45 degrees rigid bariatric optic through a 12-mm bariatric trocar and two abdominal trocars (2-mm and 5-mm). Data on the history, surgical time, complications, and recovery were recorded prospectively in each case.

RESULTS

Mean age was 33 years (range 22 - 47 years); mean body mass index was 29 (range 20 - 42). Mean operative time was 38 minutes (range 18 - 50 minutes). Patients were discharged 6 hours after the procedure without the need for pain medication in the following days and returned to normal working activities within 24 hours of the procedure.

CONCLUSIONS

Transvaginal video-assisted NOTES cholecystectomy seems to be an efficient and safe approach to minimally invasive surgery, providing patients with a comfortable recovery with virtually no abdominal scars as a bridge to exclusively NOTES procedures.

Depositional records of plutonium and (137)Cs released from Nagasaki atomic bomb in sediment of Nishiyama reservoir at Nagasaki

In a sediment core of Nishiyama reservoir at Nagasaki city, depth profiles of (240)Pu/(239)Pu isotopic ratio, (239+240)Pu and (137)Cs activities were determined. Sediments containing plutonium and (137)Cs, which were deposited immediately after a detonation of Nagasaki atomic bomb, were identified in the core. Observed below the sediments were macroscopic charcoals, providing evidence for initial deposit of the fallout of the Nagasaki atomic bomb. This is the first entire depositional records of plutonium and (137)Cs released from the Nagasaki atomic bomb together with those from atmospheric nuclear tests.

Observation of time-dependent CP violation in B0 --> eta'K0 decays and improved measurements of CP asymmetries in B0 --> phiK0, KS0KS0KS0 and B0 --> J/psiK0 decays

We present improved measurements of CP-violation parameters in B(0) --> phiK(0), eta(')K(0), KS(0)KS(0)KS(0) decays based on a sample of 535 x 10(6) BB pairs collected at the Upsilon(4S) resonance with the Belle detector at the KEKB energy-asymmetric e(+)e(-) collider. We obtain sin2phi1(eff)=+0.64+/-0.10(stat)+/-0.04(syst) for B(0) --> eta(')K(0), +0.50+/-0.21(stat)+/-0.06(syst) for B(0) --> phiK(0), and +0.30+/-0.32(stat)+/-0.08(syst) for B(0) --> KS(0)KS(0)KS(0) decays. We have observed CP violation in the B(0) --> eta(')K(0) decay with a significance of 5.6 standard deviations. We also perform an improved measurement of CP asymmetries in B(0) --> J/psiK(0) decays and obtain sin2phi1=+0.642+/-0.031(stat)+/-0.017(syst).

Cellular thiol status-dependent inhibition of tumor cell growth via modulation of p27kip1 translocation and retinoblastoma protein phosphorylation by 1′-acetoxychavicol acetate

1'-Acetoxychavicol acetate (ACA) has been shown to inhibit tumor cell growth, but there is limited information on its effects on cell signaling and the cell cycle control pathway. In this study, we sought to determine how ACA alters cell cycle and its related control factors in its growth inhibitory effect in Ehrlich ascites tumor cells (EATC). ACA caused an accumulation of cells in the G1 phase and an inhibition of DNA synthesis, which were reversed by supplementation with N-acetylcysteine (NAC) or glutathione ethyl ester (GEE). Furthermore, ACA decreased hyperphosphorylated Rb levels and increased hypophosphorylated Rb levels. NAC and GEE also abolished the decease in Rb phosphorylation by ACA. As Rb phosphorylation is regulated by G1 cyclin dependent kinase and CDK inhibitor p27(kip1), which is an important regulator of the mammalian cell cycle, we estimated the amount of p27(kip1) levels by western blotting. Treatment with ACA had virtually no effect on the amount of p27(kip1) levels, but caused a decrease in phosphorylated p27(kip1) and an increase in unphosphorylated p27(kip1) as well as an increase in the nuclear localization of p27(kip1). These events were abolished in the presence of NAC or GEE. These results suggest that in EATC, cell growth inhibition elicited by ACA involves decreases in Rb and p27(kip1) phosphorylation and an increase in nuclear localization of p27(kip1), and these events are dependent on the cellular thiol status.

Molecular phylogeny of wild Hops, Humulus lupulus L

We have analysed wild hops collected widely from the Northern Hemisphere, assessing the genetic diversity and the geographical distribution of haplotypes, to investigate the evolution and phylogeny of hops, Humulus lupulus. The haplotypes were characterized by the nuclear ribosomal DNA spacer region (length and DNA sequence) and chloroplast DNA noncoding regions (DNA sequences). The results indicated that primary divergence into European (including Caucasus and Altai hops), and Asian-North American types, was 1.05+/-0.28 to 1.27+/-0.30 million years ago. Although an Eastern boundary for European nuclear haplotype distribution was unclear due to the ambiguous origin of Northern Chinese samples, the European hop group showed a wide geographical distribution across Eurasia from the Altai region to Portugal. The low genetic variation in this group suggested rapid and recent expansion. The North American hop group showed high diversity, and is considered to include hops that have migrated from Asia. Japanese and Chinese hops were identified as genetically distinct. This study has shown that wild hops in each growing region are genetically differentiated with considerable genetic diversity. It gives insights into the evolution and domestication of hops that are discussed.

Photo-cross-linked oligonucleotide duplex as a decoy-DNA for inhibition of restriction endonuclease activity

As a novel type of regulator molecule for DNA-recognizing proteins, a photo-cross-linked oligonucleotide duplex was designed and synthesized. The molecule regulated the activity of a restriction endonuclease by being recognized as a substrate. This type of regulating molecule is regarded as a decoy-DNA. 4,5',8-[4-Aminoethylaminomethyl]-trioxalen (aeAMT) was conjugated with an oligodeoxyribonucleotide (ODN) at the 5'-end and the aeAMT was cross-linked with the thymine residue of the complementary oligonucleotide upon UVA irradiation. The terminally cross-linked oligonucleotides, singly clipped (SC) decoy-DNA, acquired thermal stability. An oligonucleoside phosphorothioate (OPT) was also introduced as one or both components, yielding three types of decoy-DNAs, SC-ODN-ODN (SC.DD), SC-OPT-ODN (SC.SD), and SC-OPT-OPT (SC.SS). The SC decoy-DNAs inhibited the function of the restriction endonuclease, AatII, in a sequence-specific and concentration-dependent manner with an appreciable IC50 value (1.3 microM for SC.DD, 0.016 microM for SC.SD, 0.002 microM for SC.SS). The SC decoy-DNAs were found to be effective for regulating the DNA recognizing proteins.

Improved evidence for direct CP violation in B0-->pi+pi- decays and model-independent constraints on phi2

We present a new measurement of the time-dependent CP-violating parameters in B(0)--> pi(+)pi(-) decays with 275 x 10(6) BB pairs collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB asymmetric-energy e(+)e(-) collider operating at the Gamma(4S) resonance. We find 666 +/- 43 B(0) --> pi(+)pi(-) events and measure the CP-violating parameters: S(pipi) = -0.67 +/- 0.16(stat) +/- 0.06(syst) and A(pipi) = +0.56 +/- 0.12(stat) +/- 0.06(syst). We find evidence for large direct CP violation with a significance greater than 4 standard deviations for any S(pipi) value. Using isospin relations, we obtain 95.4% confidence intervals for the Cabibbo-Kobayashi-Maskawa quark-mixing matrix angle phi(2) of 0 degree < phiv(2) < 19 degrees and 71 degrees < phi(2) < 180 degrees.

Evidence for direct CP violation in B0-->K+pi- decays

We report evidence for direct CP violation in the decay B0-->K+pi(-) with 253 fb(-1) of data collected with the Belle detector at the KEKB e(+)e(-) collider. Using 275x10(6) BB pairs we observe a B-->K+/-pi(-/+) signal with 2140+/-53 events. The measured CP violating asymmetry is A(CP)(K+pi(-))=-0.101+/-0.025(stat)+/-0.005(syst), corresponding to a significance of 3.9sigma including systematics. We also search for CP violation in the decays B+-->K+pi(0) and B+-->pi(+)pi(0). The measured CP violating asymmetries are A(CP)(K+pi(0))=0.04+/-0.05(stat)+/-0.02(syst) and A(CP)(pi(+)pi(0))=-0.02+/-0.10(stat)+/-0.01(syst), corresponding to the intervals -0.05<A(CP)(K+pi(0))<0.13 and -0.18<A(CP)(pi(+)pi(0))<0.14 at 90% confidence level.