Calibration of the microcalorimeter spectrometer on-board the Hitomi (Astro-H) observatory (invited)

The Hitomi Soft X-ray Spectrometer (SXS) was a pioneering non-dispersive imaging x-ray spectrometer with 5 eV FWHM energy resolution, consisting of an array of 36 silicon-thermistor microcalorimeters at the focus of a high-throughput soft x-ray telescope. The instrument enabled astrophysical plasma diagnostics in the 0.3-12 keV band. We introduce the SXS calibration strategy and corresponding ground calibration measurements that took place from 2012-2015, including both the characterization of the microcalorimeter array and measurements of the x-ray transmission of optical blocking filters.

Inositol 1,4,5-Triphosphate Receptor Protein Immunohistochemistry of Cerebellar Purkinje Cells in Two Dogs with Hypoglycemia

Immunohistochemical study was performed on cerebellar Purkinje cells of two dogs with hypoglycemia using an antibody against the inositol 1,4,5-triphosphate receptor that is identical to the cerebellar Purkinje cell glycoprotein P400 (P400/InsP3R). In the cerebellar neocortex of an acute case of hypoglycemia, the P400/InsP3R staining of hypoglycemic Purkinje cells was heterogeneous: some peripheral dendrites, including spiny branchlets, were negative and others were stained with various intensities, although Purkinje cells were morphologically intact by hematoxylin and eosin (HE) stain. In a chronic case of hypoglycemia, almost all the dendrites of Purkinje cells of both the neo- and archicortex of the cerebellum were not stained with the P400/InsP3R antibody. This is in contrast to the normal dog where Purkinje cell bodies, axons, and dendrites, including spiny branchlets, are intensely stained by the P400/InsP3R antibody. These results suggest that P400/InsP3R immunolabeling of Purkinje cells decreased, despite their morphology being preserved by HE stain, and that the function of P400/InsP3R, especially in spiny branchlets that receive inputs originating from axon terminals of parallel fibers, may be impaired in hypoglycemia.

Maternal and neonatal outcomes in labor and at delivery when long QT syndrome is present

OBJECTIVE

Women during labor may be susceptible to torsades de pointes (TdP), which may cause the fetal condition to deteriorate. The aim of the present investigation was to analyze maternal and fetal outcomes during labor when long QT syndrome (LQTS) was present.

METHODS

We examined the maternal and neonatal outcomes of 25 pregnancies (18 women) with LQT between 1995 and 2012 at the Department of Perinatology, National Cardiovascular Center, Japan. Maternal and neonatal outcomes including cardiovascular events, cardiovascular events within a week after delivery, caesarean delivery rate, still births, preterm births, and non-reassuring fetal heart rate pattern (NRFHR) during labor were investigated.

RESULTS

All the mothers survived, and no cardiovascular events occurred in labor or postpartum due to LQTS in either vaginal delivery or caesarean delivery. A total of 23 women (92%) had used beta blockers in this study. Caesarean delivery was performed due to NRFHR during labor in 5 pregnancies (20%).

CONCLUSION

Delivery when LQTS is present has a low likelihood of cardiovascular events, but pregnancy with LQTS had a higher caesarean delivery rate due to NRFHR in labor. Most women used beta blockers in this study, and it is possible that beta blocker use prevents cardiovascular events during labor. NRFHR during labor may be related with inherited LQT through the mother.

Evaluation of primary prophylaxis with granulocyte colony-stimulating factor for epithelial ovarian cancer

PURPOSE

Primary prophylaxis with G-CSF has been used to minimize myelosuppression caused by anticancer agents and to avoid severe neutropenia. The authors retrospectively examined the value of primary prophylaxis using granulocyte colony-stimulating factor (G-CSF) for epithelial ovarian cancer.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

From 2001 to 2010, 105 patients with ovarian cancer receiving chemotherapy in the present hospital were divided into two groups: one received primary prophylaxis with G-CSF and the other did not receive it in compliance with the guidelines for G-CSF usage. The incidence of febrile neutropenia (FN), degree of neutropenia, frequency of G-CSF administration, number of days of hospitalization, progression-free survival (PFS), and overall survival (OS) were evaluated.

RESULTS

Neutrophils decreased almost equally and the length of hospitalization was not significantly lower between the groups. Five-year PFS or OS showed no significant difference either.

CONCLUSIONS

Primary prophylaxis with G-CSF in chemotherapy for epithelial ovarian cancer could be of low significance.

Outcome of fertility-sparing treatment with medroxyprogesterone acetate for atypical hyperplasia and endometrial carcinoma in young Japanese women

PURPOSE

To review the outcome in patients with atypical endometrial hyperplasia (AEH) and endometrial cancer (EC) who received MPA treatment in the present hospital.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Patients with AEH or EC were administered MPA for 12 weeks followed by endometrial curettage. The rates of effect, recurrence, pregnancy, and complications were evaluated. The changes in progesterone receptors and FOXO-1, known as a target of MPA treatment, were examined by immunostaining.

RESULTS

Four of seven patients with endometrial cancer and three of three patients with AH had complete response. Four of seven patients had recurred within one year after the treatment and had to undergo hysterectomy. None of the patients showed changes in progesterone receptors. Although six of seven patients were negative for FOXO-1 before and after treatment, all the patients showed increased developments of FOXO-1 during MPA treatment.

CONCLUSION

Progestin as a fertility-preserving treatment is expected to be effective for endometrial cancer, but judicious use might be required because it shows high rate of recurrence. Further studies regarding the mechanism may be necessary to achieve high efficacy.

Kairomone from dandelion,Taraxacum officinale, attractant for scarab beetleAnomala octiescostata

The attraction of the scarab beetleAnomala octiescostata to dandelion,Taraxacum officinale, was demonstrated to be chemically mediated by a mixture ofcis-3-hexenyl acetate, benzaldehyde, phenylacetaldehyde, benzyl alcohol, phenethyl alcohol, phenylacetonitrile, and benzyl benzoate, in the ratio 4:8:14:3:5:19:11. Combination of the synthetic kairomone and sex pheromone (buibuilactone + japonilure, 8:2), significantly increased the total catches ofA. octiescostata. Catches of male (but not female) beetles were significantly higher with the kairomone-pheromone blend than with kairomone alone. The synergistic effect of the kairomone from dandelion on the attractiveness did not significantly differ from that of a food-type lure, anethol, geraniol, and phenethyl propionate (9:0.5:0.5). The latter combined with the synthetic sex pheromone resulted in better attraction of female (but not male)A. octiescostata than the sex pheromone alone.

Identification and field evaluation ofAnomala octiescostata (Coleoptera: Scarabaeidae) sex pheromone

Using GC-EAD, the sex pheromone of the scarab beetleAnomala octiescostata was identified to be a 8:2 binary mixture of (R,Z)-5-(-)-(oct-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one and (R,Z)-5-(-)-(dec-1-enyl)oxacyclopentan-2-one. These semiochemicals have been also reported as sex pheromone constituents of otherAnomala species, either geographically or seasonally isolated fromA. octiescostata. Synthetic sex pheromone was highly attractive in the field; 0.1 mg captured significantly more males than two virgin females. Buried traps were significantly more attractive than those positioned at 30, 90, and 150 cm above the ground. In a dose-response test (0.1-100 mg), no saturation due to overdose of pheromone was observed, but in most cases, two dosages differing by 10-fold were not significantly different. Response of males to traps baited with different ratios of the two components was tested in two experiments with randomized blocks and Latin-square designs. Deviation from the natural ratio (8:2) of sex pheromone did not significantly diminish the response of males. Peak flight activity of beetle was recorded at 9:00-10:00 AM JST on sunny days in the end of April 1993.

Postoperative DAV-IFN-β therapy does not improve survival rates of stage II and stage III melanoma patients significantly

BACKGROUND

DAV-interferon (IFN)-β therapy is a combination chemotherapy of dacarbazine (DTIC), nimustine (ACNU) and vincristine (VCR) with local subcutaneous injection of IFN-β that is widely employed as postoperative adjuvant chemotherapy to treat malignant melanoma in Japan. However, the efficacy of DAV-IFN-β therapy has not been confirmed by randomized controlled trials and the benefit of DAV-IFN-β therapy has not been established yet. This study evaluated the contribution of DAV-IFN-β therapy to improve survival of postoperative patients with cutaneous melanoma. Methods Patients with stage II or III cutaneous melanoma seen at Nagoya University Hospital from January 1998 to December 2009 were eligible for this study. Disease-free survival rates and melanoma-specific survival rates were evaluated. A propensity score was calculated to control for the effects of variables related to decisions regarding the application of DAV-IFN-β therapy.

RESULTS

Eighty-two stage II and 60 stage III melanoma patients were included. In the post-matched stage II patients (17 matched pairs), the mean (± SE) disease-free survival rates were 39.9 ± 13.7% for DAV-IFN-β therapy and 73.1 ± 11.7% for non-use (hazard ratio for recurrence, 2.06; 95% CI, 0.63-6.69; P = 0.23), and the melanoma-specific survival rates were 66.2 ± 20.0% for DAV-IFN-β therapy and 86.2 ± 9.1% for non-use (hazard ratio for death, 1.09; 95% CI, 0.17-6.82; P = 0.93). In the post-matched stage III patients (nine matched pairs), the disease-free survival rates were 29.6 ± 16.4% for DAV-IFN-β therapy and 33.3 ± 15.7% for non-use (0.69; 95% CI, 0.22-2.17; P = 0.53), and the melanoma-specific survival rates were 55.6 ± 16.6% for DAV-IFN-β therapy and 44.4 ± 16.6% for non-use (0.67; 95% CI, 0.18-2.50; P = 0.55).

CONCLUSIONS

DAV-IFN-β therapy brought no significant improvement in either disease-free survival rates or melanoma-specific survival rates of patients with stage II or III cutaneous melanoma. A randomized controlled trial would be required to further evaluate the efficacy of DAV-IFN-β therapy as an adjuvant chemotherapy.

Effects of microglia-derived cytokines on astrocyte proliferation

Recent studies have suggested that cytokines, such as interleukin-l(IL-l), tumor necrosis factor(TNF)α, or interferon(IFN) γ, play a role in the development of astrocytic gliosis. In this study, we examined the effects of these cytokines on the proliferation of purified astrocytes in vitro, using the colorimetric assay, bromodeoxyuridine uptake by astrocytes, and changes in the amount of the S-100 β protein as markers of astrocyte proliferation. The effects of a crude supernatant from microglia enriched cultures (Mi-Sup) also were examined. In contrast to previous reports, these recombinant cytokines did not induce proliferation of purified mouse astrocytes. However, stimulation of astrocytes with Mi-Sup increased all the markers for astrocyte proliferation, which could not be blocked by the addition of anti-IL-1, IL-6, IFNγ or TGFβ antibodies. Thus, it appears that microglia produce factors, other than the above cytokines, which induce the proliferation of astrocytes in vitro. These factors may have a role in the development of gliosis in various pathologic conditions of the central nervous system.

Safety and efficacy of a splenectomy during debulking surgery for Müllerian carcinoma

PURPOSE

This study was designed to assess the safety and efficacy of a splenectomy and to analyze the prognostic factors of Müllerian carcinoma with spleen metastasis.

METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of 11 patients with Müllerian carcinoma who underwent a splenectomy between 1997 and 2007. The treatment outcome of these patients was examined and the possible prognostic factors were investigated by univariate analysis.

RESULTS

Four and seven patients underwent a splenectomy for primary and recurrent disease, respectively. A complete resection was achieved in eight patients. A blood transfusion was not required and only two mild postoperative complications were observed. The median and five-year survivals of all patients following treatment were 39 months and 39%, respectively. Older patients (> or = 60 years old) and patients with a poor performance status (PS2) had a poorer prognosis by univariate analysis.

CONCLUSIONS

A splenectomy can be performed safely and effectively during debulking surgery for appropriately selected patients with primary or recurrent Müllerian carcinoma.

Lymphoepithelial-like carcinoma of the uterine cervix; a case report

Lymphoepithelioma-like carcinoma (LELC) of the uterine cervix is a rare variant of squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. This tumor is characterized by nests of poorly differentiated epithelial cells surrounded by a prominent lymphocytic infiltration. Despite the poorly differentiated pathological findings, it appears to have a better outcome than the usual squamous cell carcinoma of the uterine cervix. Therefore, it is quite important to differentiate this tumor from poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinoma and lympho-proliferative disorders of the cervix. LELC arising from the nasopharynx has been suggested to be associated with Epstein-Barr virus (EBV), whereas the involvement of EBV in LELC of the uterine cervix is still controversial. In addition, the role of high-risk human papilloma virus (HPV) in this type of tumor remains unknown. We report a case of LELC of the cervix with diagnosis on the basis of histopathology in a 52-year-old Japanese woman who presented with a history of continuous bleeding post menopause. We also examine the association of EBV and HPV in this case.

Increase in hemokinin-1 mRNA in the spinal cord during the early phase of a neuropathic pain state

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Substance P (SP), a representative member of the tachykinin family, is involved in nociception under physiological and pathological conditions. Recently, hemokinin-1 (HK-1) was identified as a new member of this family. Although HK-1 acts on NK(1) tachykinin receptors that are thought to be innate for SP, the roles of HK-1 in neuropathic pain are still unknown.

EXPERIMENTAL APPROACH

Using rats that had been subjected to chronic constrictive injury (CCI) of the sciatic nerve as a neuropathic pain model, we examined the changes in expression of SP- and HK-1-encoding genes (TAC1 and TAC4, respectively) in the L4/L5 spinal cord and L4/L5 dorsal root ganglia (DRGs) in association with changes in pain-related behaviours in this neuropathic pain state.

KEY RESULTS

The TAC4 mRNA level was increased on the ipsilateral side of the dorsal spinal cord, but not in DRGs, at day 3 after CCI. In contrast, the TAC1 mRNA level was significantly increased in the DRGs at day 3 after CCI without any changes in the dorsal spinal cord. Analysis of a cultured microglial cell line revealed the presence of TAC4 mRNA in microglial cells. Minocycline, an inhibitor of microglial activation, blocked the increased expression of TAC4 mRNA after CCI and inhibited the associated pain-related behaviours and microglial activation in the spinal cord.

CONCLUSIONS AND IMPLICATIONS

The present results suggest that HK-1 expression is increased at least partly in activated microglial cells after nerve injury and is clearly involved in the early phase of neuropathic pain.