The ASACUSA antihydrogen and hydrogen program: results and prospects

The goal of the ASACUSA-CUSP collaboration at the Antiproton Decelerator of CERN is to measure the ground-state hyperfine splitting of antihydrogen using an atomic spectroscopy beamline. A milestone was achieved in 2012 through the detection of 80 antihydrogen atoms 2.7 m away from their production region. This was the first observation of 'cold' antihydrogen in a magnetic field free region. In parallel to the progress on the antihydrogen production, the spectroscopy beamline was tested with a source of hydrogen. This led to a measurement at a relative precision of 2.7×10^-9 which constitutes the most precise measurement of the hydrogen hyperfine splitting in a beam. Further measurements with an upgraded hydrogen apparatus are motivated by CPT and Lorentz violation tests in the framework of the Standard Model Extension. Unlike for hydrogen, the antihydrogen experiment is complicated by the difficulty of synthesizing enough cold antiatoms in the ground state. The first antihydrogen quantum states scan at the entrance of the spectroscopy apparatus was realized in 2016 and is presented here. The prospects for a ppm measurement are also discussed.This article is part of the Theo Murphy meeting issue 'Antiproton physics in the ELENA era'.

Telomere length determined by the fluorescence in situ hybridisation distinguishes malignant and benign cells in cytological specimens

BACKGROUND

Telomeres are tandem repeats of TTAGGG at the end of eukaryotic chromosomes that play a key role in preventing chromosomal instability. The aim of the present study is to determine telomere length using fluorescence in situ hybridisation (FISH) on cytological specimens.

METHODS

Aspiration samples (n = 41) were smeared on glass slides and used for FISH.

RESULTS

Telomere signal intensity was significantly lower in positive cases (cases with malignancy, n = 25) as compared to negative cases (cases without malignancy, n = 16), and the same was observed for centromere intensity. The difference in DAPI intensity was not statistically significant. The ratio of telomere to centromere intensity did not show a significant difference between positive and negative cases. There was no statistical difference in the signal intensities of aspiration samples from ascites or pleural effusion (n = 23) and endoscopic ultrasound-guided FNA samples from the pancreas (n = 18).

CONCLUSIONS

The present study revealed that telomere length can be used as an indicator to distinguish malignant and benign cells in cytological specimens. This novel approach may help improve diagnosis for cancer patients.

C-reactive protein to albumin ratio is a prognostic factor for patients with cStage II/III esophageal squamous cell cancer

C-reactive protein to albumin (CRP/Alb) ratio, a novel inflammation-based prognostic score, was first developed as a prognostic score for septic patients. Recent reports show that CRP/Alb ratio is also a prognostic score for cancer patients, including esophageal cancer. However, the role of CRP/Alb ratio for those with neoadjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) and the changes of CRP/Alb ratio around NAC have never been discussed. The aim of this study is to evaluate the significance of CRP/Alb ratio around NAC for patients with cStage II/III esophageal squamous cell cancer (ESCC). A total of 149 patients who were diagnosed as cStage II/III ESCC were enrolled between February 2007 and December 2014. We retrospectively investigated the relation between pre-NAC and post-NAC CRP/Alb ratio and short and long outcomes. The optimal cutoff level for pre-NAC and post-NAC CRP/Alb ratio was 0.030 and 0.048, respectively. There was no relation between CRP/Alb ratio level and postoperative outcomes. Post-NAC CRP/Alb ratio < 0.048 had a significantly higher overall survival rate than CRP/Alb ratio ≥0.048 (P< 0.001). Univariate analysis showed that cT, cN, pre-NAC CRP/Alb ratio < 0.030 and post-NAC CRP/Alb ratio < 0.048 was prognostic factors (P= 0.003, P= 0.022, P= 0.033, and P< 0.001, respectively). Multivariate analysis showed that cT and post-NAC CRP/Alb ratio < 0.048 was independent prognostic factors (P= 0.030 and P< 0.001, respectively). Post-NAC CRP/Alb ratio is an independent prognostic factor in patients with cStage II/III ESCC.

Maximizing T c by tuning nematicity and magnetism in FeSe1-x S x superconductors

A fundamental issue concerning iron-based superconductivity is the roles of electronic nematicity and magnetism in realising high transition temperature (T c). To address this issue, FeSe is a key material, as it exhibits a unique pressure phase diagram involving non-magnetic nematic and pressure-induced antiferromagnetic ordered phases. However, as these two phases in FeSe have considerable overlap, how each order affects superconductivity remains perplexing. Here we construct the three-dimensional electronic phase diagram, temperature (T) against pressure (P) and isovalent S-substitution (x), for FeSe1-x S x . By simultaneously tuning chemical and physical pressures, against which the chalcogen height shows a contrasting variation, we achieve a complete separation of nematic and antiferromagnetic phases. In between, an extended non-magnetic tetragonal phase emerges, where T c shows a striking enhancement. The completed phase diagram uncovers that high-T c superconductivity lies near both ends of the dome-shaped antiferromagnetic phase, whereas T c remains low near the nematic critical point.

Resveratrol suppresses the alveolar bone resorption induced by artificial trauma from occlusion in mice

OBJECTIVE

Besides inflammatory bone loss, trauma from occlusion (TO)-induced alveolar bone loss increases the risk of future tooth loss. We have shown that resveratrol, a polyphenol, possesses anti-inflammatory characteristics and a suppressive effect on osteoclastogenesis. Therefore, we investigated the effects of resveratrol on TO-induced bone loss in mice.

MATERIAL AND METHODS

Trauma from occlusion was induced by overlaying composite resin onto the maxillary first molar of C57BL/6 mice. TO-induced mice were administered either resveratrol or vehicle for 15 days from 5 days before TO induction. The mice administered vehicle only served as controls. The effect of resveratrol on bone resorption was assessed histologically. Gene expression in gingival and periodontal ligament tissues was analyzed. In vitro effect of resveratrol on the differentiation of RAW 264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages into osteoclastic cells was analyzed.

RESULTS

Resveratrol administration significantly decreased the bone loss and suppressed the elevated expression of osteoclastogenesis-related gene in periodontal ligament tissue by TO. Resveratrol treatment also suppressed the differentiation of both RAW 264.7 cells and bone marrow-derived macrophages into osteoclastic cells.

CONCLUSION

Resveratrol administration suppressed the TO-induced alveolar bone loss by suppressing osteoclast differentiation, suggesting that resveratrol is effective in preventing both inflammation and mechanical stress-induced alveolar bone resorption.

Use of PIXE/PIGE for sequential Ca and F measurements in root carious model

The progress of caries has conventionally been evaluated by checking changes in mineral density using transverse microradiography (TMR). Recent advances have seen development of a new measurement system, using in-air micro proton induced X-ray/gamma-ray emission (PIXE/PIGE). PIXE/PIGE enables analysis of distributions and concentrations of multiple mineral elements in a carious lesion. The aim of this study was to evaluate the effectiveness of PIXE/PIGE for investigating the development of root caries. In summary, we successfully established a multi-elemental sequential measuring method using in-air micro-PIXE/PIGE to identify the dynamic distributions and concentrations of Ca and F in human root dentin. The PIXE/PIGE potentially offers a useful advantageous technique for studying carious development by using as a combination with conventional techniques such as TMR and Micro-computed tomography (µCT).

Cytological diagnostic clues in poorly differentiated squamous cell carcinomas of the breast: Streaming arrangement, necrotic background, nucleolar enlargement and cannibalism of cancer cells

OBJECTIVE

Squamous cell carcinoma (SCC) is a rare histological type of breast cancer. The cytological diagnosis of non-keratinising, poorly differentiated SCC is often difficult, and distinguishing it from invasive ductal carcinoma or apocrine carcinoma (AC) is especially challenging. We aimed to define the diagnostic cytological features of poorly differentiated SCC of the breast.

METHODS

We studied the cytological findings of poorly differentiated SCC (n=10) and compared them to those of IDC (n=15) and AC (n=14). The following six cytological features were evaluated: streaming arrangement, nucleolar enlargement, dense nuclei, cannibalism, atypical keratinocytes and necrotic background.

RESULTS

SCC exhibited significantly higher frequencies of streaming arrangement (70% vs 6.7%, P=.002), nucleolar enlargement (80% vs 27%, P=.02), and necrotic background (80% vs 36%, P=.002) than invasive ductal carcinoma. The detection of two or three of these features yielded a higher sensitivity (80%) and specificity (93%) for the diagnosis of SCC. Streaming arrangement (70% vs 0%, P<.001), cannibalism (60% vs 0%, P=.002), and a necrotic background (80% vs 36%, P=.047) were all significantly more frequent in SCC than in AC. When distinguishing SCC from AC, the presence of two or three of these features yielded a high sensitivity (80%) and specificity (100%).

CONCLUSIONS

Cytological features such as a streaming arrangement, a necrotic background, nucleolar enlargement and cannibalism are useful indicators for the diagnosis of SCC of the breast. As such, greater attention should be paid to these morphological features in daily clinical practice.

Cytotoxicity of Natural Killer Cells Activated Through NKG2D Contributes to the Development of Bronchiolitis Obliterans in a Murine Heterotopic Tracheal Transplant Model

Bronchiolitis obliterans after lung transplantation is a major cause of postoperative mortality in which T cell-mediated immunity is known to play an important role. However, the exact contribution of natural killer (NK) cells, which have functions similar to CD8⁺ T cells, has not been defined. Here, we assessed the role of NK cells in murine bronchiolitis obliterans through heterotopic tracheal transplantations and found a greater percentage of NK cells in allografts than in isografts. Depletion of NK cells using an anti-NK1.1 antibody attenuated bronchiolitis obliterans in transplant recipients compared with controls. In terms of NK cell effector functions, an improvement in bronchiolitis obliterans was observed in perforin-KO recipient mice compared to wild type (WT). Furthermore, we found upregulation of NKG2D-ligand in allografts and demonstrated the significance of this using grafts expressing Rae-1, a murine NKG2D-ligand, which induced severe bronchiolitis obliterans in WT and Rag-1 KO recipients. This effect was ameliorated by injection of anti-NKG2D blocking antibody. Together, these results suggest that cytotoxicity resulting from activation of NK cells through NKG2D leads to the development of murine bronchiolitis obliterans.

Full-Gap Superconductivity Robust against Disorder in Heavy-Fermion CeCu_{2}Si_{2}

A key aspect of unconventional pairing by the antiferromagnetic spin-fluctuation mechanism is that the superconducting energy gap must have the opposite sign on different parts of the Fermi surface. Recent observations of non-nodal gap structure in the heavy-fermion superconductor CeCu_{2}Si_{2} were then very surprising, given that this material has long been considered a prototypical example of a superconductor where the Cooper pairing is magnetically mediated. Here we present a study of the effect of controlled point defects, introduced by electron irradiation, on the temperature-dependent magnetic penetration depth λ(T) in CeCu_{2}Si_{2}. We find that the fully gapped state is robust against disorder, demonstrating that low-energy bound states, expected for sign-changing gap structures, are not induced by nonmagnetic impurities. This provides bulk evidence for s_{++}-wave superconductivity without sign reversal.

Sixfold improved single particle measurement of the magnetic moment of the antiproton

Our current understanding of the Universe comes, among others, from particle physics and cosmology. In particle physics an almost perfect symmetry between matter and antimatter exists. On cosmological scales, however, a striking matter/antimatter imbalance is observed. This contradiction inspires comparisons of the fundamental properties of particles and antiparticles with high precision. Here we report on a measurement of the g-factor of the antiproton with a fractional precision of 0.8 parts per million at 95% confidence level. Our value /2=2.7928465(23) outperforms the previous best measurement by a factor of 6. The result is consistent with our proton g-factor measurement gp/2=2.792847350(9), and therefore agrees with the fundamental charge, parity, time (CPT) invariance of the Standard Model of particle physics. Additionally, our result improves coefficients of the standard model extension which discusses the sensitivity of experiments with respect to CPT violation by up to a factor of 20.

Prolonged Negative Pressure Wound Therapy Followed by Split-Thickness Skin Graft Placement for Wide Dehiscence of Clamshell Incision After Bilateral Lung Transplantation: A Case Report

Clamshell incision is a standard approach for bilateral lung transplantation, providing a good operative field; however, once wide dehiscence occurs, its management is sometimes difficult because of intense immunosuppression and malnutrition of the recipient. A 22-year-old man with idiopathic pulmonary arterial hypertension underwent cadaveric bilateral lung transplantation through a clamshell incision using standard cardiopulmonary bypass. He developed wound dehiscence on postoperative day (POD) 20 that resulted in exposure of the bilateral fifth ribs and open pneumothorax. Considering the extreme malnutrition and emaciation of the recipient, we avoided initial closure of the dehiscence. After the debridement of necrotic tissue, negative pressure wound therapy was initiated on POD 25 and was continued for approximately 6 months with trafermin spray application. Eventually, the wound, including the fifth ribs, was completely covered with granulation tissue except for the wire tying the sternum. On POD 217, the patient underwent removal of the sternal wire followed by split-thickness skin grafting. His wound was successfully closed and he was discharged without activity limitation on POD 265.

Highly sensitive superconducting circuits at ∼700 kHz with tunable quality factors for image-current detection of single trapped antiprotons

We developed highly sensitive image-current detection systems based on superconducting toroidal coils and ultra-low noise amplifiers for non-destructive measurements of the axial frequencies (550-800 kHz) of single antiprotons stored in a cryogenic multi-Penning-trap system. The unloaded superconducting tuned circuits show quality factors of up to 500 000, which corresponds to a factor of 10 improvement compared to our previously used solenoidal designs. Connected to ultra-low noise amplifiers and the trap system, signal-to-noise-ratios of 30 dB at quality factors of >20 000 are achieved. In addition, we have developed a superconducting switch which allows continuous tuning of the detector's quality factor and to sensitively tune the particle-detector interaction. This allowed us to improve frequency resolution at constant averaging time, which is crucial for single antiproton spin-transition spectroscopy experiments, as well as improved measurements of the proton-to-antiproton charge-to-mass ratio.

Improvement of neurological disorders in postmenopausal model rats by administration of royal jelly

OBJECTIVE

Royal jelly (RJ) from honeybees (Apis mellifera) has estrogenic activity. Estrogen deficiency after menopause leads to a high risk of memory impairment and depression as well as metabolic syndrome and osteoporosis. We here investigated the effect of RJ on memory impairment and depression-like behaviors in ovariectomized (OVX) rats.

METHODS

OVX rats were administered with RJ for 82 days. Hippocampus-dependent spatial memory and depression-like behaviors were assessed by the Morris water maze test and the forced swimming test, respectively. The weights of body, brain and uterus and the contents of protein and myelin galactolipids including galactosylceramide and sulfatide were measured.

RESULTS

Memory impairment and depression-like behaviors in OVX rats were recovered to the levels of sham-operated rats by RJ administration. Increased body weight and decreased uterine weight in OVX rats were recovered to the levels of sham-operated rats by 17β-estradiol (E2) administration but not by RJ administration. In contrast, brain weight was slightly increased by RJ administration but not by E2 administration. The contents of protein and myelin galactolipids were higher in the brains of RJ-administered OVX rats than in the brains of E2-administered OVX rats.

CONCLUSION

The results suggest that RJ has a beneficial effect on neurological symptoms of a menopausal disorder.

[A Case of Long-Term Survival after Combination Therapy for Gastric Cancer with Synchronous Multiple Liver Metastasis]

A 63-year-old man was admitted to our hospital owing to weight loss and vertigo. Endoscopic examination revealed advanced gastric cancer type 2. Abdominal CT showed a 62mm liver tumor in segment 4 and a 26mm tumor in segment 8. Distal gastrectomy and D2 lymph node dissection were performed. After surgery, he was administered chemotherapy with S- 1. After 2 courses of treatment, the tumors' in segments 4 and 8 were reduced to 52mm and 16mm, respectively. No other metastases were detected. Left lobectomy and partial resection of segment 8 were performed. The pathological therapeutic effects were rated as Grade 1b for the tumor in segment 4 and Grade 3 for the tumor in segment 8. After hepatectomy, he was administered adjuvant chemotherapy with S-1 for 1 year. No recurrence has been detected for 4 years and 6months after hepatectomy.