Lack of pulse and surge modes and glutamatergic stimulation of luteinising hormone release in Kiss1 knockout rats

Kisspeptin, encoded by the Kiss1 gene, has attracted attention as a key candidate neuropeptide in controlling puberty and reproduction via regulation of gonadotrophin-releasing hormone (GnRH) secretion in mammals. Pioneer studies with Kiss1 or its cognate receptor Gpr54 knockout (KO) mice showed the indispensable role of kisspeptin-GPR54 signalling in the control of animal reproduction, although detailed analyses of gonadotrophin secretion, especially pulsatile and surge-mode of luteinising hormone (LH) secretion, were limited. Thus, in the present study, we have generated Kiss1 KO rats aiming to evaluate a key role of kisspeptin in governing reproduction via pulse and surge modes of GnRH/LH secretion. Kiss1 KO male and female rats showed a complete suppression of pulsatile LH secretion, which is responsible for folliculogenesis and spermatogenesis, and an absence of puberty and atrophic gonads. Kiss1 KO female rats showed no spontaneous LH/follicle-stimulating hormone surge and an oestrogen-induced LH surge, suggesting that the GnRH surge generation system, which is responsible for ovulation, does not function without kisspeptin. Furthermore, challenge of major stimulatory neurotransmitters, such as monosodium glutamate, NMDA and norepinephrine, failed to stimulate LH secretion in Kiss1 KO rats, albeit they stimulated LH release in wild-type controls. Taken together, the results of the present study confirm that kisspeptin plays an indispensable role in generating two modes (pulse and surge) of GnRH/gonadotrophin secretion to regulate puberty onset and normal reproductive performance. In addition, the present study suggests that kisspeptin neurones play a critical role as a hub integrating major stimulatory neural inputs to GnRH neurones, using newly established Kiss1 KO rats, which serve as a useful model for detailed analysis of hormonal profiles.

Evaluation of glucose metabolism after distal pancreatectomy according to the donor criteria of the living donor pancreas transplantation guidelines proposed by the Japanese Pancreas and Islet Transplantation Association

BACKGROUND

Living donor pancreas transplantation (LDPT) reduces the number of deaths of diabetic patients on dialysis and of candidates on the waiting lists and helps to overcome the organ shortage. Stringent criteria must be applied to minimize the risk of metabolic complications for living donors. The Japanese Pancreas and Islet Transplantation Association (JPITA) proposed LDPT guidelines in 2010. In this study, we retrospectively evaluated glucose metabolism of the patients who underwent distal pancreatectomy (DP) according to the donor criteria of the LDPT guidelines proposed by the JPITA.

METHODS

Fifty-two nondiabetic patients who underwent DP were divided into 2 groups according to the donor criteria: indication group (IG, n = 14) who had age ≤ 65, hemoglobin A1c (HbA1c) < 5.9%, and body mass index (BMI) < 25 kg/m(2). The other patients were placed in the no indication group (NG, n = 38). Clinical data and percent resected volume (PRV) of each pancreas as determined by multi-detector row computed tomography volumetry were compared between the 2 groups.

RESULTS

During the follow-up period (median 12 months), 14 patients (27%) developed new-onset diabetes within a median onset time of 10 months (range 3-24 months) postoperatively. No patient in the IG developed new-onset diabetes. On the other hand, 37% of the patients in the NG developed new-onset diabetes. There were significant between-group differences in changes in preoperative serum fasting glucose and HbA1c levels, whereas there were no significant between-group differences in preoperative serum albumin or body weight. Multivariate analysis identified preoperative HbA1c (odds ratio 51.6, P = .002) and PRV (odds ratio 2.07, P = .033) as independent risk factors for new-onset diabetes.

CONCLUSION

Living donor criteria in the LDPT guidelines proposed by the JPITA are appropriate for prevention of glucose metabolic complications in donors. Further long-term follow-up studies of living donors' metabolic function are needed to clarify the safety of the donor.

Functioning pancreas graft with thromboses of splenic and superior mesenteric arteries after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation: a case report

Graft thrombosis is the most common cause of early graft loss after pancreas transplantation. The grafted pancreas is difficult to salvage after complete thrombosis, especially arterial thrombosis, and graft pancreatectomy is required. We describe a patient presenting with a functioning pancreas graft with thromboses of the splenic artery (SA) and superior mesenteric artery (SMA) after simultaneous pancreas-kidney transplantation (SPK). A 37-year-old woman with a 20-year history of type 1 diabetes mellitus underwent SPK. The pancreaticoduodenal graft was implanted in the right iliac fossa with enteric drainage. A Carrel patch was anastomosed to the recipient's right common iliac artery, and the graft gastroduodenal artery was anastomosed to the common hepatic artery using an arterial I-graft. The donor portal vein was anastomosed to the recipient's inferior vena cava. Four days after surgery, graft thromboses were detected by Doppler ultrasound without increases in the serum amylase and blood glucose levels. Contrast enhanced computed tomography revealed thromboses in the SA, splenic vein and SMA. Selective angiography showed that blood flow was interrupted in the SA and SMA. However, pancreatic graft perfusion was maintained by the I-graft in the head of the pancreas and the transverse pancreatic artery in the body and tail of the pancreas. We performed percutaneous direct thrombolysis and adjuvant thrombolytic therapy. However, we had to stop the thrombolytic therapy because of gastrointestinal hemorrhage. Thereafter, the postoperative course was uneventful and the pancreas graft was functioning with a fasting blood glucose level of 75 mg/dL, HbA1c of 5.1%, and serum C-peptide level of 1.9 ng/mL at 30 months post-transplantation.

High-temperature-required protein A2 as a predictive marker for response to chemotherapy and prognosis in patients with high-grade serous ovarian cancers

Background:

High-temperature-required protein A2 (HtrA2), a protein relating with apoptosis in a caspases-dependent and non-dependent manner, has been reported to be associated with chemosensitivity in several human cancers.

Methods:

Tissue microarrays made from 142 patients with high-grade serous ovarian adenocarcinoma were evaluated to assess whether HtrA2 expression was related with several clinical parameters.

Results:

Negative HtrA2 expression was observed in 36 cases (25%) of the patients, and related with significantly lower response rates of primary chemotherapy than those with positive HtrA2 expression (56% vs 83%, P<0.01). In addition, negative HtrA2 expression was identified as an independent worse prognostic factor for progression-free survival and overall survival by multivariate analyses. Furthermore, HtrA2 downregulation modulated sensitivity to platinum in serous ovarian cancer cells in vitro.

Conclusions:

HtrA2 expression was a predictor for sensitivity to chemotherapy, and could be a candidate of molecular target in the treatment of high-grade serous ovarian cancers.

Determination of sterigmatocystin in grain using gas chromatography-mass spectrometry with an on-column injector

Sterigmatocystin (STC) is a mycotoxin produced by several species of Aspergillus and other fungi. STC is a precursor of the carcinogen aflatoxin B1 and exerts carcinogenic, teratogenic, and mutagenic effects. A reliable GC-MS-based analytical method using on-column injection was developed and validated to determine STC content in grain. In this method, STC was extracted with acetonitrile (84%), and the filtered extract was diluted with phosphate buffer before immunoaffinity column (IAC) cleanup. After elution and N2 evaporation, the sample containing STC was dissolved in acetone and injected into the GC-MS system without derivatization. Separation of STC was carried out by a capillary column (0.25 mm i.d.×30 m, 0.25 μm) with a deactivated pre-column (0.53 mm i.d.×0.6 m). The matrix effect was investigated in maize, wheat, and rice, and an insignificant matrix effect was observed after IAC cleanup. The calibration curve was linear in the range of 20-300 pg (equivalent to 8-120 μg/kg in grain) with a coefficient of determination (R2) of 0.999, and the relative standard deviation of repeatability (RSDr) was less than 10 %. The limit of detection (LOD) of the method was 6 pg (equivalent to 2.4 μg/kg in grain), and the limit of quantification (LOQ) was 20 pg (equivalent to 8 μg/kg). The method described in this report is sensitive, reliable, and can be used to monitor STC contamination in grain.

[A case of hyoid bone metastasis from breast cancer]

A 69-year-old woman had undergone breast conserving surgery and axillary lymph node dissection for left breast cancer 10 years previously. The tumor was positive for estrogen receptor (ER) and progesterone receptor (PgR), and negative for human epidermal growth factor receptor-2 (HER2). Adjuvant tamoxifen and radiation therapy were administered to the conserved breast for 5 years. The patient detected a painless neck mass 1 year previously. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a hyoid bone mass, and fine needle aspiration cytology indicated a diagnosis of adenocarcinoma. Positron emission tomography combined with CT (PET-CT) revealed masses in the pelvis, spine, hyoid bone, and cervical lymph node. For definitive diagnosis, excisional biopsy of the hyoid bone was performed. Immunohistostaining revealed that the cells were CK7 (+), CK20(-), mammaglobin (+), GCDFP-15 (+), ER (+), PgR (+), and HER2 (-). The final diagnosis was multiple bone metastasis(hyoid, pelvis, spine)as well as cervical lymph node metastasis from breast cancer. After diagnosis, the patient was treated with anastrozole and denosumab, and she achieved a partial response. She has experienced progression free survival for 12 months. Metastasis to the hyoid bone is uncommon for breast cancer. We report a case in which hormone therapy was effective after it was selected based on the results of excisional biopsy.

[A case of malignant phyllodes tumor after surgery for breast cancer]

A 63-year-old woman underwent breast-conserving resection and axillary lymph node dissection for bilateral breast cancer in December 2008. Histopathological diagnosis for the right breast cancer was t=1.3 cm, n=1/29, estrogen receptor (ER) (+), progesterone receptor (PgR) (+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2(HER2) (-), and that for the left breast cancer was t=1.8 cm, n=9/28, ER (+), PgR (+), and HER2 (-). She was administered adjuvant chemotherapy (4 courses of fluorouracil, epirubicin, and cyclophosphamide [FEC 100] and 4 courses of docetaxel[DTX], 75 mg/m²), letrozole, and bilateral radiation therapy for the remaining breast tissue. She noticed a mass in the left breast in December 2013. Fine-needle aspiration cytology and core-needle biopsy indicated a malignant phyllodes tumor or stromal sarcoma. Positron emission tomography-computed tomography (PET-CT) revealed the accumulation of fluorodeoxyglucose (FDG) only in the mass. The tumor enlarged rapidly to more than 5 cm during the pre-operative period. In January 2014, the patient underwent left mastectomy. The histopathological diagnosis was malignant phyllodes tumor in the left breast, with a tumor diameter of 7 cm, and negative margins. Presently, 6 months after the operation, the patient is alive without recurrence.

[A case of recurrent duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumor resistant to imatinib and sunitinib, successfully treated with regorafenib]

Regorafenib is a novel, orally administered multi-kinase inhibitor that has recently been approved for the treatment of recurrent gastrointestinal stromal tumor (GIST). We report a case of successful treatment of recurrent duodenal GIST, which was found to be resistant to imatinib and sunitinib, with regorafenib. A 62-year-old woman underwent a pancreatoduodenectomy for duodenal GIST; after 2 years, a computed tomography (CT) scan detected liver metastases. The patient received imatinib for 6 years, and underwent 2 hepatectomies. Subsequently, she received sunitinib for 10 months; however, CT scans revealed the presence of multiple vertebral metastases. She underwent a laminectomy for the palliative treatment of the vertebral metastases. Upon immunohistochemical examination, the recurrent tumor stained positive for c-kit, confirming the diagnosis for GIST. Consequently, the patient received regorafenib; although the treatment controlled the liver metastases, the vertebral metastases were found to have progressed. She survived for 9 years and 5 months after the initial surgical resection. Regorafenib might be beneficial in the treatment of recurrent GISTs that prove to be resistant to imatinib and sunitinib.

[A case report of matrix-producing carcinoma of the breast]

A 43 -year-old woman with a palpable mass in the right breast consulted a neighborhood doctor. She was diagnosed with right breast cancer after core needle biopsy, and she was referred to our hospital. Mammography revealed an indistinct mass with calcification in the lower outer quadrant of the right breast. Ultrasonography revealed a hypoechoic mass with a high echo spot. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a high intensity tumor with peripheral enhancement. The patient underwent mastectomy with sentinel lymph node(SN) biopsy and axillary lymph node dissection. Histologically, the tumor was composed of a solid-tubular carcinoma with a centrally located metaplastic cartilaginous element. There was an abrupt transition between these components, without intervening spindle cells or osteoclastic cells. Subtyping via immunohistochemical analysis for estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), and human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) demonstrated that the tumor was triple negative (TN). The histological diagnosis was matrix-producing carcinoma (MPC). Adjuvant chemotherapy was administered, and she has been recurrence-free. MPC has unique features, such as emphasis of the peripheral zone of the tumor by using contrast enhanced-computed tomography (CT) and gadolinium-diethylene triamine pentaacetic acid (Gd-DTPA) MRI. Most cases of MPC that have been reported were TN. The 5 year survival rate for MPC is poorer than that for breast cancer. In Japan, 7 cases of MPC recurrence have been reported within 2.5 years, suggesting that careful follow-up is necessary for 2-3 years after surgery.

[Identification of the primary lesion in a patient with concomitant breast and kidney cancer following fracture of the femur]

A 61-year-old woman was diagnosed with breast cancer [T3N3cM0: Stage IIIC, estrogen receptor [ER] (+), progesterone receptor [PgR] (+), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2[HER2] (-)]at the time of initial presentation. Following diagnosis, combined modality therapy including hormone therapy and chemotherapy were initiated, but hemorrhage from the primary lesion and bone metastases were observed. Priority was given to treatment of the breast cancer, and chemotherapy was administered, after which, right mastectomy and axillary lymph node sampling were performed to assess local disease control. In addition, concurrent right kidney enucleation was performed for a renal lesion. The renal neoplasm was diagnosed as T1aN0M0, Stage I. After this intervention, treatment of the breast cancer was continued, but pain of the right femoral region developed, and bone metastasis was diagnosed on close inspection. The bone metastasis was considered to derive from the breast cancer. During hospitalization, the patient fell and broke her right femur. Open reduction and internal fixation was performed immediately, and bone metastasis of kidney cancer was diagnosed via perioperative cytodiagnosis. Pulmonary metastasis, local recurrence, and metastasis to the shoulder blade have been detected. The metastases are considered to derive from the breast cancer, for which treatment has been continued. In the case of concomitant cancers, biopsy for metastatic foci can be considered essential, whenever it can be performed safely.

Fabrication of hydroxyapatite thin films on zirconia using a sputtering technique

Hydroxyapatite (HA) thin films were prepared on a zirconia (ZrO2) substrate using a sputtering technique, and the film was also coated on a titanium (Ti) substrate for comparison. The coated films were recrystallised using a hydrothermal treatment to reduce film dissolution. The films were then characterised by X-ray diffractometry (XRD) and scanning electron microscopy (SEM). The osteocompatiblity of the films was evaluated by investigating the alkaline phosphatase (ALP) activity and the size of the bone formation area of osteoblast cells. In the XRD patterns of the as-sputtered films on the ZrO2 substrate, there are no peaks except for those from the ZrO2 substrate. After the hydrothermal treatment, HA peaks appeared in the patterns. Nanoparticles (less than 20 nm) were observed on the ZrO2 substrates in the SEM images of the as-sputtered films. After the hydrothermal treatment, particles of 20-40 nm were observed on the film, whereas the HA film on the Ti substrate was covered by a larger number of globular particles (20-60 nm). In the osteoblast cell cultures, the ALP activity and bone formation area on the HA films on both the ZrO2 and Ti substrates increased after the hydrothermal treatment of the films, and the values for the ZrO2 substrate were higher than those for the Ti substrate.

The efficacy of lidocaine to prevent laryngospasm in children: a systematic review and meta-analysis

The purpose of this meta-analysis was to determine the efficacy of lidocaine in preventing laryngospasm during general anaesthesia in children. An electronic search of six databases was conducted. The Preferred Reporting Items for Systematic Reviews and Meta-analyses (PRISMA) guidelines were adhered to. We included randomised controlled trials reporting the effects of intravenous and/or topical lidocaine on the incidence of laryngospasm during general anaesthesia. Nine studies including 787 patients were analysed. The combined results demonstrated that lidocaine is effective in preventing laryngospasm (risk ratio (RR) 0.39, 95% CI 0.24-0.66; I(2)  = 0). Subgroup analysis revealed that both intravenous lidocaine (RR 0.34, 95% CI 0.14-0.82) and topical lidocaine (RR 0.42, 95% CI 0.22-0.80) lidocaine are effective in preventing laryngospasm. The results were not affected by studies with a high risk of bias. We conclude that, both topical and intravenous lidocaine are effective for preventing laryngospasm in children.

Magneto-optic spatial light modulator with submicron-size magnetic pixels for wide-viewing-angle holographic displays

Spatial light modulators (SLMs) with submicron-size pixels are promising devices for use in wide-viewing-angle glasses-free holographic 3D displays. In accordance with estimations, an SLM with 1 μm pitch pixels can display holographic images over viewing angles of 30 deg. In the present work, we have studied magneto-optic SLMs (MOSLMs) with submicron-size pixels for wide-viewing-angle holographic displays that are driven by thermomagnetic recording. Amorphous TbFe films were used as a magneto-optic material. The MOSLM with an 800 nm diameter pixels array displayed wide-viewing-angle holographic images. These results demonstrated that MOSLMs with submicron-size pixels have promise for glasses-free holographic 3D displays.

Development of an analytical method for the determination of sterigmatocystin in grains using LCMS after immunoaffinity column purification

The mycotoxin sterigmatocystin (STC) is produced mainly by some Aspergillus and Penicillium fungi; it naturally contaminates cereals, peanuts, and products derived from these crops, and is both mutagenic and carcinogenic. As an intermediate of aflatoxin (AF) biosynthesis, its structure is similar to that of AF. Although immunoaffinity columns (IACs) are a popular approach to sample clean-up, no IAC is commercially available for STC, but a commercially available IAC for AF shows cross reactivity to STC. We here developed a new method for analyzing STC in grains using such an IAC and liquid chromatography mass spectrometry (LCMS), and validated this method using six different grains. The STC limit of detection (signal-to-noise ratio, S/N = 3) was 2.5 pg (1.0 μg/kg in the product), and the calibration curve was linear in the range of 7.5-375 pg (3.0-150 μg/kg in the product). The within-day recovery of STC from samples spiked with STC at 5.0 and 50 μg/kg was 83.2-102.5% and the RSDr (relative standard deviation of repeatability) of these samples was 1.9-6.5%; the RSDr of STC-pretreated grain samples was 3.1-14.0%. Average recovery of STC from samples spiked with STC in the range of 5.0-100 μg/kg STC was 83.2-102.5%, with an RSDr of 0.24-6.5%; the RSDr of STC-pretreated grain samples was 2.4-14.0%. In an intermediate precision study, the average STC recovery from STC-spiked samples by three analysts was 95.2-107.5%, with RSDRi (intermediate precision) of 4.0-7.1%; the RSDRi of the STC-pretreated samples was 4.8-10.4%. Thus, the proposed method was effective for STC analysis in grains, and holds potential for a novel application of a commercial IAC, intended for AFs, in STC analysis.

202 EFFECT OF LEUKEMIA INHIBITORY FACTOR AND FORSKOLIN ON ESTABLISHMENT OF RAT EMBRYONIC STEM CELL LINES

Rat embryonic stem (ES) cell lines can be established in culture medium containing inhibitors for glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3) and mitogen-activated protein kinase (MEK). We confirmed reproducibility of the 2i culture system in establishing rat ES cell lines (Hirabayashi et al. 2010 Mol. Reprod. Dev. 77, 94) and the likelihood of successful germline transmission (genuine) of rat ES cell lines established in leukemia inhibitory factor (LIF)- and forskolin (FK)-supplemented 2i medium (Hirabayashi et al. 2013 Transgenic Res. 22, 411–416). This study was designed to investigate whether LIF and/or FK supplemented to the 2i medium support establishment of germline-competent rat ES cell lines. E4.5 blastocysts were recovered from BLK rat females, and zona-free embryos were plated on mitomycin-treated mouse embryonic fibroblasts in N2B27 medium containing 1 mM MEK inhibitor PD0325901 and 3 mM GSK3 inhibitor CHIR99021, with rat 1000 U mL–1 LIF and/or 10 μM FK. Outgrowth rate of the blastocysts after 1 wk culture and establishment efficiency of ES cell lines after third passage were analyzed by Fisher's exact probability test. Arcsin-transformed percentage data on full-term development of ES cell-injected blastocysts, chimeric rat production, and germline-competent chimeras were analyzed by Fisher's least significant difference test after one-way ANOVA. Because of the higher outgrowth rates of blastocysts, supplementation of rat LIF, FK, or both contributed to the higher (P < 0.05) establishment efficiency of ES cell lines in BLK rat strain (76% to 92% v. 50% in LIF/FK-free 2i medium). Neither efficiency of producing chimeric rats (14% to 39% of blastocysts injected) nor germline transmission competency of the chimeric rats (67% to 100% of cell lines analyzed) was influenced by the pre-treatment of ES cell lines. When the LIF/FK-supplemented 2i medium was used, rat strain for blastocyst donor such as F344 or WI was a possible factor negatively influencing the establishment efficiency of ES cell lines. Once ES cell lines were established, however, all of them (9/9 in overall) were found to be germline-competent by progeny test of chimeric rats. In conclusion, both LIF and FK are not essential, but can play a beneficial role, for the establishment of genuine rat ES cell lines. This work was supported by a grant-in-aid for basic research from Japan Society for the Promotion of Science (No. 25290037; to M.H.).

Near- and mid-infrared spectroscopy as efficient tools for detection of fungal and mycotoxin contamination in agricultural commodities

In the last decade, near-infrared (NIR) and mid-infrared (MIR) spectroscopy have proven to be most promising tools for the detection of fungal contamination and estimation of mycotoxins in agricultural commodities, particularly of cereals. Owing to significant economic losses incurred from fungal contamination of foodstuffs, producers and processors are looking for fast, reliable, and less-expensive methods for the detection of fungal damage. In this context, NIR and MIR spectroscopy offer a fast, less-expensive, non-destructive, and relatively simple analytical method. Results from published studies indicate that NIR and MIR spectroscopy can be successfully applied to identifying fungal contamination and estimating specific mycotoxins. This review will focus on the applications of NIR and MIR spectroscopy to the classification of fungal contamination and the determination of specific mycotoxin contamination levels, and to compare this technology with traditional analytical methods.

Ovarian yolk sac tumor associated with pregnancy: a case report and review of the literature

BACKGROUND

Ovarian yolk sac tumor (YST) that is diagnosed during pregnancy is extremely rare.

CLINICAL CASE

A 22-year-old pregnant woman diagnosed with Stage IIIc YST at 17 weeks of gestation is presented. A 20-cm multilocular cystic tumor containing solid components with massive ascites was detected. Subsequently she underwent left salpingo-oophorectomy and cytoreductive surgery for peritoneal dissemination at 18 weeks of gestation, and the tumors were diagnosed as YST. After vaginal termination at 20 weeks of gestation, she received five cycles of combination therapy with bleomycin, etoposide, and cisplatin. There was no evidence of recurrence at 85 months after primary treatment.

CONCLUSION

Considering the rarity, treatment strategy for advanced-staged YST should be further investigated in international collaborative studies.

A retrospective analysis of the risk factors for allergic reactions induced by the administration of oxaliplatin

This study retrospectively investigated the clinical features and risk factors of allergic reactions induced by oxaliplatin administration. This study investigated the incidence of allergic reactions and analysed the background and laboratory data in patients with colorectal cancer treated with oxaliplatin-based chemotherapy at Kyushu Medical Center between April 2012 and September 2012. A total of 62 patients were included in this study. The number of patients in the allergic and non-allergic groups was 7 and 55 respectively. The incidence of allergic reactions was 11.3%. We compared the patients' characteristics and laboratory data between the two groups and found that the average dose of dexamethasone in the allergic group was significantly lower than that observed in the non-allergic group (P = 0.0111). Furthermore, the incidence of allergic reactions in the group that received prophylaxis of less than 12 mg of dexamethasone was significantly higher than that observed in the group that received more than 12 mg of dexamethasone (P = 0.0103). In conclusion, a lower dexamethasone dose is a possible risk factor for allergic reactions induced by the administration of oxaliplatin; however, given the retrospective design used in this study, further validation of this finding is warranted.

[Is standard radical mastectomy still a treatment option for select patients with breast cancer ?]

BACKGROUND

Currently, minimal surgery is the treatment of choice for most breast cancer patients. However, some patients with locally advanced breast cancer( LABC) require standard radical mastectomy( SRM) before or after systemic therapy.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

We reviewed the medical records of 7 patients with breast cancer who underwent SRM in our hospital between January 2007 and April 2013 and examined their clinicopathological features and prognostic outcomes.

RESULTS

The average patient age was 68 years. SRM was performed because of muscle invasion( n=6), Rotter lymph node metastases( n=3), and level III lymph node metastases( n=3). After SRM, the wound was closed by skin grafting in 2 of the 7 patients. With regard to postoperative complications, 2 patients required rehabilitation for shoulder joint stiffness, whereas wound infection and arm edema were encountered in 1 and 2 patients, respectively. During the median follow-up time of 26 (range; 4-69) months, 3 patients experienced recurrence. The metastatic sites in the 3 patients were the supraclavicular lymph nodes, the chest wall, and the liver, respectively.

CONCLUSIONS

Quality of life( QOL) following SRM was acceptable in the patients examined. SRM could be considered as a treatment option in select patients with LABC.

Selection for reluctance to avoid humans during the domestication of mice

Many animal species have been domesticated over the course of human history and became tame as a result of domestication. Tameness is a behavioral characteristic with 2 potential components: (1) reluctance to avoid humans and (2) motivation to approach humans. However, the specific behavioral characteristics selected during domestication processes remain to be clarified for many species. To quantify these 2 different components of tameness separately, we established 3 behavioral tests: the ‘active tame’, ‘passive tame’ and ‘stay-on-hand’ tests. We subjected genetically diverse mouse strains to these tests, including 10 wild strains (BFM/2Ms, PGN2/Ms, HMI/Ms, BLG2/Ms, NJL/Ms, KJR/Ms, SWN/Ms, CHD/Ms, MSM/Ms and CAST/Ei), a fancy strain (JF1/Ms) and 6 standard laboratory strains (C3H/HeNJcl, CBA/J, BALB/cAnNCrlCrlj, DBA/2JJcl, 129^+Ter/SvJcl and C57BL/6JJcl). To analyze the effects of domestication, these 17 strains were divided into 2 groups: domesticated strains (fancy and laboratory strains) and wild strains. Significant differences between strains were observed in all traits, and the calculated estimates of broad-sense heritability were 0.15–0.72. These results illustrate that tameness in mice is significantly influenced by genetic background. In addition, they clearly show the differences in the features of tameness in domesticated and wild strains. Most of the domesticated strains showed significantly greater reluctance to avoid humans than wild strains, whereas there was no significant difference in the level of motivation to approach humans between these 2 groups. These results might help to clarify the genetic basis of tameness in mice.

Role of hyperfine coupling in magnetic and quadrupolar ordering of Pr3Pd20Si6

We study the ternary clathrate Pr3Pd20Si6 in specific heat and ac susceptibility measurements on a high-quality single crystal, distinguishing antiferromagnetic and antiferroquadrupolar ordering, as well as a hitherto unknown magnetic low-temperature transition. The specific heat shows the direct involvement of nuclear spin degrees of freedom in the antiferromagnetic ordering, which is well supported by our calculation of the hyperfine level scheme without adjustable parameters. Pr3Pd20Si6 is, therefore, one of the rare materials where the nuclear moments are involved in the formation of the magnetic ground state.