Body mass index and severity of parkinsonism in multiple system atrophy

Patients with neurodegenerative disorders lose body weight as their diseases progress. In Parkinson’s disease (PD), however, autonomic dysfunction is associated with increased body mass index (BMI). We investigated the correlation between BMI, clinical features, and autonomic dysfunction in patients with multiple system atrophy with predominant parkinsonism (MSAP). BMI, clinical features, cardiac 123Imetaiodobenzylguanidine scintigraphy (MIBG), Hoehn and Yahr (H-Y) stage, and the coefficient of variation of the R-R interval (CVRR) were analyzed in 50 patients with MSA-P. BMI showed no significant correlation with MIBG parameters or CVRR. On the other hand, the H-Y stage was significantly negatively correlated with BMI. Higher H-Y stage indicates a more severe neuromuscular state in MSA-P and is considered to be related to higher energy expenditure and decrease of BMI. Patients with MSA-P lose weight as the disease progresses. This is the first report indicating a significant correlation between disease severity and BMI decrease in MSA.

Purulent Pericarditis with Salmonella enterica Subspecies arizona in a Patient with Type 2 Diabetes Mellitus

Purulent pericarditis is a life-threatening disorder, even in the modern antibiotic era. Although diabetes mellitus is known to be associated with an increased risk of multiple types of infections, purulent pericarditis is extremely rare. We herein report an unusual case of pericarditis caused by Salmonella enterica subspecies arizona that was not associated with any evident underlying immunosuppressive disorder apart from uncontrolled type 2 diabetes mellitus. Because a pet snake was suspected as being the source of infection in the present case, patient education and a detailed review of exposure history could play an important role in treating patients with diabetes mellitus.

Interleukin33 deficiency causes tau abnormality and neurodegeneration with Alzheimer-like symptoms in aged mice

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1038/tp.2017.142.

Dissociated Agonist of Glucocorticoid Receptor or Prednisone for Active Rheumatoid Arthritis: Effects on P1NP and Osteocalcin Pharmacodynamics

Fosdagrocorat (PF‐04171327), a dissociated agonist of the glucocorticoid receptor, has potent anti‐inflammatory activity in patients with rheumatoid arthritis with reduced adverse effects on bone health. To identify fosdagrocorat doses with bone formation marker changes similar to prednisone 5 mg, we characterized treatment‐related changes in amino‐terminal propeptide of type I collagen (P1NP) and osteocalcin (OC) with fosdagrocorat (1, 5, 10, or 15 mg) and prednisone (5 or 10 mg) in a phase II randomized trial (N = 323). The time course of markers utilized a mixed‐effects longitudinal kinetic‐pharmacodynamic model. Median predicted changes from baseline at week 8 with fosdagrocorat 5, 10, and 15 mg were −18, −22, and −22% (P1NP), and −7, −13, and −17% (OC), respectively. Changes with prednisone 5 and 10 mg were −15% and −18% (P1NP) and −10% and −17% (OC). The probability of fosdagrocorat doses up to 15 mg being noninferior to prednisone 5 mg for P1NP and OC changes was >90%.

Combined Analysis of Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations at T2K

T2K reports its first results in the search for CP violation in neutrino oscillations using appearance and disappearance channels for neutrino- and antineutrino-mode beams. The data include all runs from January 2010 to May 2016 and comprise 7.482×10^{20} protons on target in neutrino mode, which yielded in the far detector 32 e-like and 135  μ-like events, and 7.471×10^{20} protons on target in antineutrino mode, which yielded 4 e-like and 66  μ-like events. Reactor measurements of sin^{2}2θ_{13} have been used as an additional constraint. The one-dimensional confidence interval at 90% for the phase δ_{CP} spans the range (-3.13, -0.39) for normal mass ordering. The CP conservation hypothesis (δ_{CP}=0, π) is excluded at 90% C.L.

Development of water vapor transmission rate measuring device using a quadrupole mass spectrometer and standard gas barrier films down to the 10-6 g m-2 day-1 level

Water vapor transmission rate (WVTR) measuring devices with a quadrupole mass spectrometer (QMS) have an advantage in measuring low WVTRs because measurements are taken under an extremely low background of water vapor by realizing ultrahigh vacuum conditions. Here, the reliability of the QMS measurements was improved by including a porous plug with known molecular conductance in the device to generate a reference molar flux for in situ QMS calibration. Then, standard gas barrier (SGB) films made from a clay-polyimide nanocomposite film were also developed and used to validate the measurement. The measurement results for the SGB films were on the extrapolated calibration curve obtained with the porous plug down to WVTR at the 10^-6 g m^-2 day^-1 level within the estimated measurement uncertainty.

The incidence of nerve root injury by high-speed drill can be reduced by chilled saline irrigation in a rabbit model

Aims

We aimed to evaluate the temperature around the nerve root during drilling of the lamina and to determine whether irrigation during drilling can reduce the chance of nerve root injury.

Materials and Methods

Lumbar nerve roots were exposed to frictional heat by high-speed drilling of the lamina in a live rabbit model, with saline (room temperature (RT) or chilled saline) or without saline (control) irrigation. We measured temperatures surrounding the nerve root and made histological evaluations.

Results

In the control group, the mean temperature around the nerve root was 52.0°C (38.0°C to 75.5°C) after 60 seconds of drilling, and nerve root injuries were found in one out of 13 (7.7%) immediately, three out of 14 (21.4%) at three days, and 11 out of 25 (44.0%) at seven days post-operatively. While the RT group showed a significantly lower temperature around the nerve root compared with the control group (mean 46.5°C; 34.5°C to 66.9°C, p < 0.001), RT saline failed to significantly reduce the incidence of nerve root injury (ten out of 26; 38.5%; odds ratio (OR) 0.96; 95% confidence interval (CI) 0.516 to 1.785; p = 0.563). However, chilled saline irrigation resulted in a significantly lower temperature than the control group (mean 39.0°C; 35.3°C to 52.3°C; p < 0.001) and a lower rate of nerve root injury (two out of 21; 9.5%, OR 0.13; 95% CI 0.02 to 0.703, p = 0.010).

Conclusion

Frictional heat caused by a high-speed drill can cause histological nerve root injury. Chilled saline irrigation had a more prominent effect than RT in reducing the incidence of the thermal injury during extended drilling. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2017;99-B:554–60.

MOB1-YAP1/TAZ-NKX2.1 axis controls bronchioalveolar cell differentiation, adhesion and tumour formation

Mps One Binder Kinase Activator (MOB)1A/1B are core components of the Hippo pathway. These proteins, which coactivate LArge Tumour Suppressor homologue kinases, are also tumour suppressors. To investigate MOB1A/B's roles in normal physiology and lung cancer, we generated doxycycline (Dox)-inducible, bronchioalveolar epithelium-specific, null mutations of MOB1A/B in mice (SPC-rtTA/(tetO)₇-Cre/Mob1a^flox/flox/Mob1b^-/-; termed luMob1DKO mice). Most mutants (70%) receiving Dox in utero (luMob1DKO (E6.5-18.5) mice) died of hypoxia within 1 h post-birth. Their alveolar epithelial cells showed increased proliferation, impaired YAP1/TAZ-dependent differentiation and decreased surfactant protein production, all features characteristic of human respiratory distress syndrome. Intriguingly, mutant mice that received Dox postnatally (luMob1DKO (P21-41) mice) did not develop spontaneous lung adenocarcinomas, and urethane treatment-induced lung tumour formation was decreased (rather than increased). Lungs of luMob1DKO (P21-41) mice exhibited increased detachment of bronchiolar epithelial cells and decreased numbers of the bronchioalveolar stem cells thought to initiate lung adenocarcinomas. YAP1/TAZ-NKX2.1-dependent expression of collagen XVII, a key hemidesmosome component, was also reduced. Thus, a MOB1-YAP1/TAZ-NKX2.1 axis is essential for normal lung homeostasis and expression of the collagen XVII protein necessary for alveolar stem cell maintenance in the lung niche.

C3435T polymorphism of the MDR1 gene is not associated with blood levels of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal axis hormones in healthy male subjects

In vitro studies have shown that multidrug resistance protein 1 (MDR1) has an affinity for cortisol; however, in vivo association studies on the relationship between MDR1 gene polymorphisms and blood cortisol levels have produced inconsistent results. Therefore, we examined the effects of the C3435T polymorphism of the MDR1 gene on blood levels of hypothalamus-pituitary-adrenal (HPA) axis hormones such as cortisol and adrenocorticotropic hormone (ACTH) in healthy subjects. The subjects comprised 30 healthy Japanese males. Ten subjects were recruited for each of the C3435T MDR1 genotypes: C/C, C/T, and T/T. Blood samples were taken at 6:00 pm on two occasions with an interval of 2 weeks. Blood levels of cortisol and ACTH were determined by an electrochemiluminescence immunoassay. There were no significant differences in the blood levels of the HPA axis hormones among the MDR1 genotypes. The present study suggests that the C3435T MDR1 polymorphism does not affect blood levels of HPA axis hormones in healthy Japanese males.

A simplified chart for determining the initial loading dose of teicoplanin in critically ill patients

AIM OF THE STUDY

A simplified chart to determine the initial loading dose of teicoplanin (TEIC chart) for achieving the target trough concentration was developed. The aim of the present study was to evaluate the usefulness of this chart in critically ill patients.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The initial loading dose and maintenance dose to achieve a target trough concentration ≥10 μg/mL on day 4 was determined using the teicoplanin TDM software and presented in a TEIC chart. The dosage of teicoplanin, including the loading dose for the first 2 days and the maintenance dose thereafter, was selected from the chart (chart method, N = 41) or calculated using TDM software (software method, N = 39).

RESULTS

The performance rate of initial loading of teicoplanin increased from 83.0% to 100% after the TEIC chart was introduced (P = 0.016). The TEIC chart significantly reduced the time required for determining the initial loading dose compared with the use of software (1.9±0.6 min vs. 29.7±13.8 min, P < 0.001). No significant differences were observed in the rates of achieving a target level ≥10 μg/mL (P = 0.766).

CONCLUSION

The TEIC chart enables a simple, rapid, and reliable determination of teicoplanin dosage.

Total Synthesis of (+)-Goniodenin

Goniodenin is a lipophilic polyketide originating from plant sources and which possesses a potent cytotoxic activity against cancer cell lines. The first total synthesis of (+)-goniodenin has been achieved in 23 steps from (R)-glycidol. The synthetic sequence featured a cross metathesis for the formation of the C₈-C₉ bond and installation of the terminal γ-butenolactone ring unit by the alkylation of α-phenylthio-γ-butyrolactone with the corresponding C₃-O-triflate. The stereogenic center at C₁₈ carbon was created by Hiyama-Fujita reduction of the corresponding ketone with high diastereoselectivity.

Cytological features of solid variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma: a fine needle aspiration cytology study of 18 cases

OBJECTIVE

Solid variants of papillary thyroid carcinoma (SV-PTC) are rare, and there have been few reports describing the cytological findings of such variants.

METHODS

The cytological features of cellular specimens aspirated from 18 histologically confirmed SV-PTC cases were evaluated, retrospectively.

RESULTS

Solid and small papillary clusters were observed in 14 (77.8%) and 13 (72.2%) cases, respectively. The incidences of large papillary clusters (11.1%) and sheet-like arrangements (11.1%) were low. Nuclear features were consistent with conventional PTC. The background was clean, and there were no colloid materials, foamy histiocytes, multinucleated giant cells, psammoma bodies, or necrotic materials.

CONCLUSIONS

Solid clusters and small papillary clusters in conjunction with a clean background are diagnostic clues that indicate SV-PTC cytologically. It is thought that small papillary clusters reflect the micropapillary growth pattern seen within the lumen of middle-sized follicular structures. The presence of nuclear findings typical of conventional PTC and the absence of mitotic figures and necrotic materials are important for distinguishing SV-PTC from poorly differentiated carcinoma.

Measurement of Coherent π^{+} Production in Low Energy Neutrino-Carbon Scattering

We report the first measurement of the flux-averaged cross section for charged current coherent π^{+} production on carbon for neutrino energies less than 1.5 GeV, and with a restriction on the final state phase space volume in the T2K near detector, ND280. Comparisons are made with predictions from the Rein-Sehgal coherent production model and the model by Alvarez-Ruso et al., the latter representing the first implementation of an instance of the new class of microscopic coherent models in a neutrino interaction Monte Carlo event generator. We observe a clear event excess above background, disagreeing with the null results reported by K2K and SciBooNE in a similar neutrino energy region. The measured flux-averaged cross sections are below those predicted by both the Rein-Sehgal and Alvarez-Ruso et al.

Publisher's Note: Search for Majorana Neutrinos Near the Inverted Mass Hierarchy Region with KamLAND-Zen [Phys. Rev. Lett. 117, 082503 (2016)]

This corrects the article DOI: 10.1103/PhysRevLett.117.082503.

Search for Majorana Neutrinos Near the Inverted Mass Hierarchy Region with KamLAND-Zen

We present an improved search for neutrinoless double-beta (0νββ) decay of ^{136}Xe in the KamLAND-Zen experiment. Owing to purification of the xenon-loaded liquid scintillator, we achieved a significant reduction of the ^{110m}Ag contaminant identified in previous searches. Combining the results from the first and second phase, we obtain a lower limit for the 0νββ decay half-life of T_{1/2}^{0ν}>1.07×10^{26}  yr at 90% C.L., an almost sixfold improvement over previous limits. Using commonly adopted nuclear matrix element calculations, the corresponding upper limits on the effective Majorana neutrino mass are in the range 61-165 meV. For the most optimistic nuclear matrix elements, this limit reaches the bottom of the quasidegenerate neutrino mass region.

Determinant factors of postoperative recurrence of endometriosis: difference between endometrioma and pain

OBJECTIVE

Although the postoperative use of hormonal treatment for endometriosis is recommended in the European Society of Human Reproduction and Embryology guidelines to prevent the recurrence of endometriosis-associated dysmenorrhoea, hormonal treatment may not be necessary for all patients who undergo surgical treatment for endometriosis. The aim of this study was to clarify the determinant factors that predict the recurrence of endometriosis after surgery in order to develop personalized hormonal treatment recommendations. Factors associated with the recurrence of endometrioma and pain were investigated independently to identify the likelihood of recurrence in each individual patient.

STUDY DESIGN

Between 2008 and 2013, 352 patients underwent surgery and were diagnosed with endometriosis based on pathological findings at the study hospital. Among these patients, 191 experienced a recurrence of endometrioma in the absence of pre- or postoperative hormonal treatment. Various clinical factors such as pre-operative pain, intra-operative findings and postoperative improvement of pain were compared between patients who experienced recurrence after surgery and those who did not.

RESULTS

The cumulative 5-year recurrence rate of endometrioma was 28.7% among the 191 patients who did not undergo pre- or postoperative hormonal treatment. Significant differences were detected in maximum tumour diameter, revised American Society for Reproductive Medicine score (r-ASRM score), operative time and operative blood loss between patients in the recurrent endometrioma group and the non-recurrent endometrioma group; only the r-ASRM score was significantly correlated with recurrence of endometrioma in the multivariate analysis. The cumulative 5-year rate of persistent/recurrent pain was 33.4%. There were significant differences in the postoperative improvement of pain between the persistent/recurrent pain group and the non-recurrent pain group according to the univariate and multivariate analyses.

CONCLUSION

This study suggests that the risk factors for recurrence of endometrioma differ from the risk factors for recurrence of pain. The use of postoperative hormonal treatment should be considered based on the dominant risk factors and needs of each patient.

An efficient perovskite solar cell with symmetrical Zn(ii) phthalocyanine infiltrated buffering porous Al2O3 as the hybrid interfacial hole-transporting layer

A new Zn(ii) phthalocyanine (Pc) based low bandgap HTM is introduced for perovskite solar cells. Steady state and time-resolved photoluminescence (PL) measurements indicated an evenly matched hole extraction efficiency between sym-HTPcH and spiro-OMeTAD. On account of the low film quality and resulting high recombination, Zn(ii) Pc normally cannot work as an effective HTM. We adopted insulating Al₂O₃ for the infiltration of sym-HTPcH to form a hybrid interfacial buffer layer, affording perovskite solar cells (PSCs) with an average PCE value of up to 12.3%, which is a significant improvement with respect to the control cell without the meso-Al₂O₃ layer (4.21%) and is the highest value ever reported for Zn(ii) phthalocyanine based devices under AM1.5G standard conditions. A hysteresis test revealed that our device structure with the new HTM exhibited a balanced charge extraction behaviour.

Measurement of Muon Antineutrino Oscillations with an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Beam

T2K reports its first measurements of the parameters governing the disappearance of ν[over ¯]_{μ} in an off-axis beam due to flavor change induced by neutrino oscillations. The quasimonochromatic ν[over ¯]_{μ} beam, produced with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV at J-PARC, is observed at the far detector Super-Kamiokande, 295 km away, where the ν[over ¯]_{μ} survival probability is expected to be minimal. Using a data set corresponding to 4.01×10^{20} protons on target, 34 fully contained μ-like events were observed. The best-fit oscillation parameters are sin^{2}(θ[over ¯]_{23})=0.45 and |Δm[over ¯]_{32}^{2}|=2.51×10^{-3}  eV^{2} with 68% confidence intervals of 0.38-0.64 and 2.26-2.80×10^{-3}  eV^{2}, respectively. These results are in agreement with existing antineutrino parameter measurements and also with the ν_{μ} disappearance parameters measured by T2K.

Control of the wetting properties of ^{4}He crystals in superfluid

To investigate whether it is possible to control the wetting of ^{4}He crystals on a wall in superfluid, the contact angles of ^{4}He crystals were measured on rough and smooth walls at very low temperatures. A rough wall was prepared in a simple manner in which a commercially available coating agent for car mirrors, which makes the glass surface superhydrophobic, was used to coat a glass plate. The contact angles of ^{4}He crystals were increased by approximately 10^{∘} on the rough wall coated with the agent. Therefore, the increase in the repellency of ^{4}He crystals in superfluid was demonstrated to be possible on a very rough surface. The enhancement of the contact angles and a scanning electron microscopy image of the coated surface both suggest that a Cassie-Baxter state of ^{4}He crystals was realized on the surface; the crystals did not have full contact with the wall, but entrapped superfluid was present beneath the crystals in the hollow parts of the rough wall.

Construction of Iterative Tetrahydrofuran Ring Units and Total Synthesis of (+)-Goniocin

Cytotoxic acetogenin (+)-goniocin has been synthesized in 17 steps from (R)-O-tritylglycidol. The core structure of the contiguous C22-C10 threo-trans-threo-trans-threo-trans-tris-tetrahydrofuran (THF) ring involving an iterative THF-ring unit was synthesized. An iterative THF ring unit was constructed from an alkenyl-substituted THF ring in four steps including a Pd(II)-catalyzed ring-closing reaction and cross-metathesis. This method is general and allows the preparation of both trans-threo-trans- and trans-threo-cis-THF ring units flexibly.

Effect of the Titanium Nanoparticle on the Quantum Chemical Characterization of the Liquid Sodium Nanofluid

Suspension state of a titanium nanoparticle in the liquid sodium was quantum chemically characterized by comparing physical characteristics, viz., electronic state, viscosity, and surface tension, with those of liquid sodium. The exterior titanium atoms on the topmost facet of the nanoparticle were found to constitute a stable Na-Ti layer, and the Brownian motion of a titanium nanoparticle could be seen in tandem with the surrounding sodium atoms. An electrochemical gradient due to the differences in electronegativity of both titanium and sodium causes electron flow from liquid sodium atoms to a titanium nanoparticle, Ti + Na → Ti(δ-) + Na(δ+), making the exothermic reaction possible. In other words, the titanium nanoparticle takes a role as electron-reservoir by withdrawing free electrons from sodium atoms and makes liquid sodium electropositive. The remaining electrons in the liquid sodium still make Na-Na bonds and become more stabilized. With increasing size of the titanium nanoparticle, the deeper electrostatic potential, the steeper electric field, and the larger Debye atmosphere are created in the electric double layer shell. Owing to electropositive sodium-to-sodium electrostatic repulsion between the external shells, naked titanium nanoparticles cannot approach each other, thus preventing the agglomeration.

Interaction grand potential between calcium-silicate-hydrate nanoparticles at the molecular level

Calcium-silicate-hydrate (or C-S-H), an inosilicate, is the major binding phase in cement pastes and concretes and a porous hydrated material made up of a percolated and dense network of crystalline nanoparticles of a mean apparent spherical diameter of ∼5 nm that are each stacks of multiple C-S-H layers. Interaction forces between these nanoparticles are at the origin of C-S-H chemical, physical, and mechanical properties at the meso- and macroscales. These particle interactions and the resulting properties may be affected significantly by nanoparticle density and environmental conditions such as the temperature, relative humidity, or concentration of chemical species in the bulk solution. In this study, we combined grand canonical Monte Carlo simulations and an extension of the mean force integration method to derive the pair potentials. This approach enables realistic simulation of the physical environment surrounding the C-S-H particles. We thus constructed the pair potentials for C-S-H nanoparticles of defined chemical stoichiometry at 10% relative humidity (RH), varying the relative crystallographic orientations at a constant particle density of ρpart ∼ 2.21 mmol L(-1). We found that cohesion between nanoparticles is affected strongly by both the aspect ratio and the crystallographic misorientation of interacting particles. This method and the findings underscore the importance of accounting for relative dimensions and orientation among C-S-H nanoparticles in descriptions of physical and simulated multiparticle aggregates or mesoscale systems.

Mouse genetic models for temporomandibular joint development and disorders

The temporomandibular joint (TMJ) is a synovial joint essential for hinge and sliding movements of the mammalian jaw. Temporomandibular joint disorders (TMD) are dysregulations of the muscles or the TMJ in structure, function, and physiology, and result in pain, limited mandibular mobility, and TMJ noise and clicking. Although approximately 40-70% adults in the USA have at least one sign of TMD, the etiology of TMD remains largely unknown. Here, we highlight recent advances in our understanding of TMD in mouse models.