Oral hygiene and oral status of institutionalized children with motor and intellectual disabilities

The oral hygiene and oral status of children with severe disabilities with both nutritional and respiratory complications who were institutionalized at Karugamonoie (KNI), a facility for children with disabilities, were investigated in this study. Their oral hygiene management was solely dependent on caregivers and nurses at the institution. Thirty children (13 females, 17 males; average age, 7.6 years) who had a tracheotomy and feeding tube (gastrostomy, nasogastric, or jejunostomy feeding tube) were included in the study. As for oral characteristics, poor control of tongue movement, anterior open-bite, abnormal strain of facial muscles, dry mouth, and swallowing dysfunction were found in 63.3%, 63.3%, 13.3%, 20.0%, and 100.0%, of the children, respectively. The mean ± standard deviation Decayed, Missing, Filled Teeth score was 0.13 ± 0.57. The Gingival Index (GI) showed that the children had mild (53.3%) to moderate (46.7%) gingivitis. The Simplified Oral Hygiene Index was excellent in 50.0% of the children, good in 23.3%, fair in 20.0%, and poor in 6.7% of the children. These indices were satisfactory in general except for GI management, which may have been hampered by abnormal oral functions and anterior open-bite. In conclusion, oral hygiene management of children with nutritional and respiratory complications at KNI was shown to be of high quality even without on-site intervention by dental specialists.

Inter-fractional variations in the dosimetric parameters of accelerated partial breast irradiation using a strut-adjusted volume implant

The aim of the study was to evaluate inter-fractional dosimetric variations for high-dose rate breast brachytherapy using a strut-adjusted volume implant (SAVI). For the nine patients included, dosimetric constraints for treatment were as follows: for the planning target volume for evaluation (PTV_Eval), the volume receiving 90, 150 and 200% of the prescribed dose (V90%,150%,200%) should be >90%, ≤50 cm3 and ≤20 cm3, respectively; the dose covering 1 cm3 (D1cc) of the organs at risk should be ≤110% of the prescribed dose; and the air volume should be ≤10% of PTV_Eval. Differences in V90%,150%,200%, D1cc and air volume ($\Delta V$ and $\Delta D$) as inter-fractional dosimetric variations and SAVI displacements were measured with pretreatment and planning computed tomography (CT) images. Inter-fractional dosimetric variations were analyzed for correlations with the SAVI displacements. The patients were divided into two groups based on the distance of the SAVI from the surface skin to assess the relationship between the insertion position of the SAVI and dosimetric parameters. The median ΔV90%,150%,200% for the PTV_Eval in all patients was -0.3%, 0.2 cm3 and 0.2 cm3, respectively. The median (range) ΔD1cc for the chest wall and surface skin was -0.8% (-18.9 to 9.4%) and 0.3% (-7.6 to 5.3%), respectively. SAVI displacement did not correlate with inter-fractional dosimetric variations. In conclusion, the dose constraints were satisfied in most cases. However, there were inter-fractional dosimetric changes due to SAVI displacement.

Myocardial Coverage and Radiation Dose in Dynamic Myocardial Perfusion Imaging Using Third-Generation Dual-Source CT

OBJECTIVE

Third-generation dual-source computed tomography (3rd-DSCT) allows dynamic myocardial CT perfusion imaging (dynamic CTP) with a 10.5-cm z-axis coverage. Although the increased radiation exposure associated with the 50% wider scan range compared to second-generation DSCT (2nd-DSCT) may be suppressed by using a tube voltage of 70 kV, it remains unclear whether image quality and the ability to quantify myocardial blood flow (MBF) can be maintained under these conditions. This study aimed to compare the image quality, estimated MBF, and radiation dose of dynamic CTP between 2nd-DSCT and 3rd-DSCT and to evaluate whether a 10.5-cm coverage is suitable for dynamic CTP.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We retrospectively analyzed 107 patients who underwent dynamic CTP using 2nd-DSCT at 80 kV (n = 54) or 3rd-DSCT at 70 kV (n = 53). Image quality, estimated MBF, radiation dose, and coverage of left ventricular (LV) myocardium were compared.

RESULTS

No significant differences were observed between 3rd-DSCT and 2nd-DSCT in contrast-to-noise ratio (37.4 ± 11.4 vs. 35.5 ± 11.2, p = 0.396). Effective radiation dose was lower with 3rd-DSCT (3.97 ± 0.92 mSv with a conversion factor of 0.017 mSv/mGy·cm) compared to 2nd-DSCT (5.49 ± 1.36 mSv, p < 0.001). Incomplete coverage was more frequent with 2nd-DSCT than with 3rd-DSCT (1.9% [1/53] vs. 56% [30/54], p < 0.001). In propensity score-matched cohorts, MBF was comparable between 3rd-DSCT and 2nd-DSCT in non-ischemic (146.2 ± 26.5 vs. 157.5 ± 34.9 mL/min/100 g, p = 0.137) as well as ischemic myocardium (92.7 ± 21.1 vs. 90.9 ± 29.7 mL/min/100 g, p = 0.876).

CONCLUSION

The radiation increase inherent to the widened z-axis coverage in 3rd-DSCT can be balanced by using a tube voltage of 70 kV without compromising image quality or MBF quantification. In dynamic CTP, a z-axis coverage of 10.5 cm is sufficient to achieve complete coverage of the LV myocardium in most patients.

Hyaluronic acid gel injection in rectovaginal septum reduced incidence of rectal bleeding in brachytherapy for gynecological malignancies

PURPOSE

The purpose of this study was to report our initial clinical results of hyaluronic acid gel injection (HGI) in the rectovaginal septum (RVS) to reduce the incidence of rectal bleeding in vaginal brachytherapy for gynecologic malignancies.

METHODS AND MATERIALS

Since 2008, CT based image-guided adaptive brachytherapy (IGABT) was initiated, and since 2015, HGI in the RVS was introduced in our institution. Vaginal cylinder with or without tandem or additional interstitial needles were applied for patients with gynecologic malignancies. Rectum dosimetric parameters and incidence of late rectum bleeding were compared between patients with and without HGI in the RVS.

RESULTS

Between May 2008 and October 2017, 83 patients with gynecologic malignancies were treated with IGABT involving vaginal cylinder. Eleven patients who were treated for palliative intention were excluded, and 72 patients were subjected to the analysis. Of the total 72 patients 46 were with uterine cervical cancer, 19 uterine corpus cancer, five vaginal cancer, one vulvar cancer, and one ovarian cancer. Fifteen and 57 patients were irradiated with and without HGI in the RVS, respectively. With a median follow-up period of 57.7 (4.7-123.1) months, 30 (41.7%) patients suffered from radiation-related rectal bleeding. Patients with HGI in the RVS had a statistically significant lower incidence of rectal bleeding compared with those without it (13.3% vs. 49.1%, p = 0.01).

CONCLUSIONS

HGI in the RVS reduced the incidence of late rectal bleeding for patients with gynecologic malignancies treated by vaginal cylinder and was not associated with HGI-procedure-related adverse events.

Oral administration of N-acetyl cysteine prevents osteoarthritis development and progression in a rat model

The number of osteoarthritis patients is increasing with the rise in the number of elderly people in developed countries. Osteoarthritis, which causes joint pain and deformity leading to loss of activities of daily living, is often treated surgically. Here we show that mechanical stress promotes accumulation of reactive oxygen species (ROS) in chondrocytes in vivo, resulting in chondrocyte apoptosis and leading to osteoarthritis development in a rat model. We demonstrate that mechanical stress induces ROS accumulation and inflammatory cytokine expression in cultured chondrocytes in vitro and that both are inhibited by treatment with the anti-oxidant N-acetyl cysteine (NAC). In vivo, osteoarthritis development in a rat osteoarthritis model was also significantly inhibited by oral administration of NAC. MMP13 expression and down-regulation of type II collagen in chondrocytes, both of which indicate osteoarthritis, as well as chondrocyte apoptosis in osteoarthritis rats were inhibited by NAC. Interestingly, osteoarthritis development in sham-operated control sides, likely due to disruption of normal weight-bearing activity on the control side, was also significantly inhibited by NAC. We conclude that osteoarthritis development in rats is significantly antagonized by oral NAC administration. Currently, no oral medication is available to prevent osteoarthritis development. Our work suggests that NAC may represent such a reagent and serve as osteoarthritis treatment.

Comparison of 18FBPA uptake with 18FDG uptake in cancer patients

For the patients who underwent ¹⁸fluorinated para-boronophenylalanine (¹⁸FBPA) positron emission tomography (PET) and ¹⁸fluorodeoxyglucose (¹⁸FDG) PET within a period of 2 weeks, maximum standardized uptake value (SUVmax), tumor-to-normal tissue ratio (TNR), and tumor-to-blood ratio (TBR) for ¹⁸FBPA were compared with SUVmax for ¹⁸FDG. A total of 30 patients were selected for comparison. SUVmax for ¹⁸FBPA was correlated the best with SUVmax for ¹⁸FDG. Subsequently, the SUVmax correlation between ¹⁸FBPA and ¹⁸FDG were verified among 82 patients. The correlation factor was 0.4825.

Characterization of the relationship between neutron production and thermal load on a target material in an accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy system employing a solid-state Li target

An accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) system that employs a solid-state Li target can achieve sufficient neutron flux derived from the ⁷Li(p,n) reaction. However, neutron production is complicated by the large thermal load expected on the target. The relationship between neutron production and thermal load was examined under various conditions. A target structure for neutron production consists of a Li target and a target basement. Four proton beam profiles were examined to vary the local thermal load on the target structure while maintaining a constant total thermal load. The efficiency of neutron production was evaluated with respect to the total number of protons delivered to the target structure. The target structure was also evaluated by observing its surface after certain numbers of protons were delivered. The yield of the sputtering effect was calculated via a Monte Carlo simulation to investigate whether it caused complications in neutron production. The efficiency of neutron production and the amount of damage done depended on the proton profile. A more focused proton profile resulted in greater damage. The efficiency decreased as the total number of protons delivered to the target structure increased, and the rate of decrease depended on the proton profile. The sputtering effect was not sufficiently large to be a main factor in the reduction in neutron production. The proton beam profile on the target structure was found to be important to the stable operation of the system with a solid-state Li target. The main factor in the rate of reduction in neutron production was found to be the local thermal load induced by proton irradiation of the target.

Prognostic value of the expression of epithelial cell adhesion molecules in head and neck squamous cell carcinoma treated by definitive radiotherapy

A reliable biomarker can contribute to appropriate treatment selection in the management of head and neck squamous cell carcinoma (HNSCC). Recently, epithelial cell adhesion molecule (EpCAM) was shown to have prognostic features in several malignancies. However, it remains to be elucidated whether EpCAM predicts prognosis of HNSCC after radiotherapy. Therefore, the prognostic potential of EpCAM in HNSCC patients treated by radiotherapy was investigated in this study. All HNSCCs patients examined between January 2013 and December 2015 were analyzed for the expression of EpCAM. One hundred HNSCC patients were identified who were treated by primary radiotherapy. Intense expression of EpCAM was found in 29 HNSCC patients. Two-year overall survival (OS) for patients with intense EpCAM expression was 62.2%, whereas it was 87.9% for those without (P = 0.011). In multivariate analysis, intense EpCAM expression was found to be an independent prognostic factors for OS (P = 0.036). Overall, EpCAM was found to be an independent prognostic factor for HNSCC.

Mechanotransduction via the Piezo1-Akt pathway underlies Sost suppression in osteocytes

Osteocytes function as critical regulators of bone homeostasis by coordinating the functions of osteoblasts and osteoclasts, and are constantly exposed to mechanical force. However, the molecular mechanism underlying the mechanical signal transduction in osteocytes is not well understood. Here, we found that Yoda1, a selective Piezo1 agonist, increased intracellular calcium mobilization and dose-dependently decreased the expression of Sost (encoding Sclerostin) in the osteocytic cell line IDG-SW3. We also demonstrated that mechanical stretch of IDG-SW3 suppressed Sost expression, a result which was abrogated by treatment with the Piezo1 inhibitor GsMTx4, and the deficiency of Piezo1. Furthermore, the suppression of Sost expression was abolished by treatment with an Akt inhibitor. Taken together, these results indicate that the activation of the Piezo1-Akt pathway in osteocytes is required for mechanical stretch-induced downregulation of Sost expression.

P1962Impact of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy duration on clinical outcome after stent implantation for coronary bifurcation lesions: results from the Euro Bifurcation Club - P2BiTO - registry

Background

Duration of Dual Antiplatelet Therapy (DAPT) following Acute Coronary Syndromes (ACS) or Stable Coronary Artery Disease (SCAD) treated with coronary stenting is still debated. Although current guidelines consider several “clinical” criteria to decide for short DAPT (<6 months), standard DAPT (12 months) and prolonged DAPT (>12 months), the relationship between DAPT duration, treatment of bifurcations and its impact on clinical outcome has been poorly investigated in real world registries.

Purpose

We evaluated the impact of DAPT duration on clinical outcomes in consecutive all-comers patients treated with stenting of coronary artery bifurcation lesions included in the Euro Bifurcation Club -P2BiTO - registry.

Methods

Data on 5036 consecutive patients who underwent PCI on coronary bifurcation at 17 major coronary intervention centres between January 2012 and December 2014 were collected. The primary endpoint of the study was the cumulative occurrence of Major Adverse Cardiac Events (MACCE), defined as a composite of overall-death death, non-fatal myocardial infarction (MI), target vessel revascularization (TVR) and stroke during the follow-up; the secondary endpoints were the single occurrence of any of the above mentioned events.

Results

Data on DAPT duration was available for 3992 patients (79%). Patients were divided into 3 groups: Group 1) DAPT <6-months (n=720); Group 2) DAPT >6-months but <12-month (n=1602); Group 3) DAPT >12-months (n=1670). Follow up was completed in 3935 (98%) patients with a median of 20 months (C.I.=12–28). At 24 months after the index procedure, MACCE occurred more frequently in the DAPT <6-month group (Group 1) as compared with both Group 2 and 3 (respectively, 102 (14%) versus 154 (10%) and 164 (10%), HR: 0.72 (0.64–0.82), p<0.001). This difference remains after adjustment for clinical and angiographic characteristics (HR: 0.66 (0.58–0.77), p<0.001). On the contrary, no significant difference was found between Group 2 and Group 3 patients. At the Kaplan-Meier analysis (Figure 1), freedom from MACCE survival was significantly lower in patients receiving DAPT for less than 6 months (Log-Rank: 29.5, p<0.001).

Figure 1. Kaplan-Meier curves

Conclusions

In the P2BiTO registry, short DAPT duration of less than 6 months was associated with a significantly higher risk of MACCE compared to longer DAPT in a real-world registry of patients treated for coronary artery bifurcation stenosis.

Correction to "DNA Brush-Directed Vertical Alignment of Extensive Gold Nanorod Arrays with Controlled Density"

[This corrects the article DOI: 10.1021/acsomega.7b00303.].

Novel host immune evasion strategy of the endoparasitoid Drino inconspicuoides

The tachinid fly Drino inconspicuoides (Diptera: Tachinidae) is an ovolarviparous endoparasitoid whose larvae develop in the host haemocoel and avoids the host immune system. In this study, we investigated the immune evasion mechanisms of this species during infestation in the host Mythimna separata (Lepidoptera: Noctuidae). We discovered a unique 'cloak' that surrounded D. inconspicuoides larvae that penetrated into the host and determined through genomic polymerase chain reaction analysis that this structure originated from the host rather than the tachinid. The 'cloak' contained both haemocytes and fat body cells from the host, with the haemocytes assembling around the larvae first and the fat body cells then covering the haemocyte layer, following which the two mixed. Living D. inconspicuoides larvae that were wrapped in the 'cloak' were not melanized whereas encapsulated dead larvae were melanized, suggesting that this structure contributes to the avoidance of host immune reactions.

P971Impact of treatment strategy on 1-year outcome for Left Main trifurcation lesions

Background/Introduction

Limited data exist regarding procedural strategy and clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for unprotected left main (LM) trifurcation lesion.

Purpose

The aim of this study is to evaluate 1-year clinical outcomes after LM trifurcation PCI comparing different strategies in kissing balloon inflation (KBI).

Methods

From 1, January, 2011 to 31, March, 2017, patients who underwent LM trifurcation PCI with second generation drug-eluting stent in our center were retrospectively analyzed. They were categorized into single-stent KBT group (KBT in left anterior descending artery [LAD] and left circumflex artery [LCX], or LAD and high lateral branch [HL]) and no-KBT group. Primary endpoint is restenosis in the lesions.

Results

Among 1301 patients who underwent LM PCI during the study period, 163 patients (12.5%) had a trifurcation lesion. Regarding the number of stents used for the lesions, 1, 2 and 3 stents were used in 75.4%, 22.0% and 2.5%, respectively. Median follow-up period of LM trifurcation patients was 265 days (interquartile range: 81–564). In the no-KBT group (64 patients), 19 patients experienced restenosis of HL and LCX (HL: 8 patients, LCX: 0 patient, and both: 11 patients). In the KBT-group, KBT for LAD and LCX was performed in 47 patients, and of them, 19 patients experienced restenosis of LM-LAD, HL and LCX (HL: 12 patients, LCX: 6 patients and all: 1 patient). On the other hand, in 9 patients with KBT for LAD and HL, there were no restenosis cases at 1-year follow-up. There was no statistically significant difference in restenosis rate between the no-KBI and KBT group (29.6% vs. 40.4%, p=0.69).

Restenosis rates in each segments

Conclusion

After LM trifurcation PCI, restenosis rate at 1-year follow-up was high, and no difference between no-KBT and KBT group overall. However, there was no restenosis case in patients with KBT for LAD and HL.

P6530Clinical outcomes of dialysis patients treated with current generation DES for left main distal bifurcation

Objectives

We assessed clinical outcomes after percutaneous coronary intervention (PCI) for unprotected left main (ULM) using current generation drug eluting stents (cDES) in hemodialysis (HD) patients compared to general populations.

Methods

We identified 1269 consecutive patients who underwent PCI for ULM distal bifurcation lesions. Of them, 563 patients were treated with cDES (512 non HD and 51 HD patients). The primary endpoint was target lesion failure (TLF) at 3 years, defined as a composite of cardiac death, target lesion revascularization (TLR) and myocardial infarction (MI).

Results

HD group was more likely to have diabetes mellitus (70.0% vs. 45.8%, p=0.002), peripheral artery disease (56.0% vs. 14.9%, p<0.001), and lower ejection fraction (52.6% vs. 56.3%, p=0.026). The rate of TLF at 3 years was significantly higher in the HD group (adjusted Hazard ratio [HR] 2.59; 95% confidence interval [CI], 1.54–4.37; p<0.001). Cardiac mortality was significantly higher in the HD group (adjusted HR 4.49; 95% CI, 2.07–9.74; p<0.001). The rates of TLR for LM-left anterior descending artery (LAD) and left circumflex ostium (LCXos) were significantly higher in the HD group (LMT-LAD: adjusted HR 3.10; 95% CI, 1.31–7.33; p=0.01, LCXos: adjusted HR 2.56; 95% CI, 1.32–4.94; p=0.005). The rate of MI was similar between the 2 groups.

Conclusions

Hemodialysis was strongly associated with adverse events after PCI for ULM distal bifurcation lesions even with cDES.

Single-Trial Detection of Semantic Anomalies From EEG During Listening to Spoken Sentences

We propose a method for the automatic detection of mismatched feelings that occur in communication. As our first step, we examined the semantically anomalous feelings from EEGs when participants listened to spoken sentences. Previous studies have shown that the event-related potentials (ERP) of an electroencephalogram (EEG) are evoked in the auditory and visual modalities where a semantic anomaly occurs. We expand this knowledge and detect it from a single-trial ERP using machine learning techniques. We recorded the brain activity of eight participants as they listened to sentences that contained semantic anomalies and found that a combination of feature selection using linear discriminant analysis and linear kernel support vector machines achieved the highest accuracy that exceeded 60%. By applying this technique, we plan to detect other types of anomalies in practical situations.

CTLA4-Ig Directly Inhibits Osteoclastogenesis by Interfering With Intracellular Calcium Oscillations in Bone Marrow Macrophages

CTLA4-Ig (cytotoxic T-lymphocyte antigen 4-immunoglobulin; Abatacept) is a biologic drug for rheumatoid arthritis. CTLA4 binds to the CD80/86 complex of antigen-presenting cells and blocks the activation of T cells. Although previous reports showed that CTLA4-Ig directly inhibited osteoclast differentiation, the whole inhibitory mechanism of CTLA4-Ig for osteoclast differentiation is unclear. Bone marrow macrophages (BMMs) from WT mice were cultured with M-CSF and RANKL with or without the recombinant mouse chimera CTLA4-Ig. Intracellular calcium oscillations of BMMs with RANKL were detected by staining with calcium indicator fura-2 immediately after administration of CTLA4-Ig or after one day of treatment. Calcium oscillations were analyzed using Fc receptor gamma- (FcRγ-) deficient BMMs. CTLA4-Ig inhibited osteoclast differentiation and reduced the expression of the nuclear factor of activated T cells NFATc1 in BMMs in vitro. Calcium oscillations in BMMs were suppressed by CTLA4-Ig both immediately after administration and after one day of treatment. CTLA4-Ig did not affect osteoclastogenesis and did not cause remarkable changes in calcium oscillations in FcRγ-deficient BMMs. Finally, to analyze the effect of CTLA4-Ig in vivo, we used an LPS-induced osteolysis model. CTLA4-Ig suppressed LPS-induced bone resorption in WT mice, not in FcRγ-deficient mice. In conclusion, CTLA4-Ig inhibits intracellular calcium oscillations depending on FcRγ and downregulates NFATc1 expression in BMMs. © 2019 American Society for Bone and Mineral Research.

Random mutagenesis of a hyperthermophilic archaeon identified tRNA modifications associated with cellular hyperthermotolerance

Random mutagenesis for the hyperthermophilic archaeon Thermococcus kodakarensis was established by the insertion of an artificial transposon designed to allow easy identification of the transposon-inserted locus. The phenotypic screening was applied for the isolation of thermosensitive mutants of T. kodakarensis, which resulted in the isolation of 16 mutants showing defective growth at the supraoptimal temperature 93°C. The high occurrence of the mutants suggested that the high thermotolerance of hyperthermophiles was achieved by a combination of diverse gene functions. The transposon insertion sites in two-thirds of the mutants were identified in a group of genes responsible for tRNA modifications including 7-formamidino-7-deaza-guanosine (archaeosine), N¹-methyladenosine/N¹-methylinosine, N⁴-acetylcytidine, and N²-dimethylguanosine/N²,N²-dimethylguanosine. LC–MS/MS analyses of tRNA nucleosides and fragments exhibited disappearance of the corresponding modifications in the mutants. The melting temperature of total tRNA fraction isolated from the mutants lacking archaeosine or N¹-methyladenosine/N¹-methylinosine decreased significantly, suggesting that the thermosensitive phenotype of these mutants was attributed to low stability of the hypomodified tRNAs. Genes for metabolism, transporters, and hypothetical proteins were also identified in the thermosensitive mutants. The present results demonstrated the usefulness of random mutagenesis for the studies on the hyperthermophile, as well as crucial roles of tRNA modifications in cellular thermotolerance.

Dummy-run for standardizing plan quality of intensity-modulated radiotherapy for postoperative uterine cervical cancer: Japan Clinical Oncology Group study (JCOG1402)

BACKGROUND

The purpose of this study was to assess compliance with treatment planning in a dummy-run for a multicenter clinical trial involving patients with high-risk postoperative uterine cervical cancer using intensity-modulated radiation therapy (IMRT) (JCOG1402 trial).

METHODS

For the dummy-run, we prepared a computed tomography dataset comprising two anonymized cases of post-hysterectomy cervical cancer. These were sent to the 47 participating institutions to assess institutional plan quality such as delineations and dose distributions.

RESULTS

Central review showed 3 and 4 deviations per treatment plan on average. The deviations related to the nodal and vaginal cuff clinical target volume (CTV) delineation, which accounted for approximately 50% of the total deviations. The CTV vaginal cuff showed considerable differences in delineation compared with the nodal CTV. For the Dice similarity coefficient, case 1 showed a mean ± 1σ of 0.81 ± 0.03 and 0.60 ± 0.09 for the nodal and the CTV vaginal cuff, respectively, while these were 0.81 ± 0.04 and 0.54 ± 0.14, respectively, for case two. Of the 47 institutions, 10 were required to resubmit their treatment plan because the delineations, planning target volume margin, and required dose distributions were not in accordance with the JCOG1402 protocol.

CONCLUSIONS

The dummy-run test in postoperative uterine cervical cancer demonstrated substantial deviations in the delineations, particularly for the CTV vaginal cuff. The analysis data could provide helpful information on delineation and planning, allowing standardization of IMRT planning for postoperative uterine cervical cancer.

TRIAL REGISTRATION

Japanese Clinical Trial Registry #: UMIN000027017 at https://upload.umin.ac.jp/cgi-open-bin/ctr/ctr_view.cgi?recptno=R000030672;language=J.

Synthesis of pyripyropene derivatives and their pest-control efficacy

Pyripyropene A (PP-A), a secondary metabolite produced by filamentous fungi, shows insecticidal activity against agricultural insect pests. Synthesized PP derivatives also show a narrow insecticidal spectrum but high insecticidal activities against such sucking pests. PP-A has a low eco-toxicological impact and satisfies a prerequisite for next-generation insecticides. We investigated the effects of conversion of the 3-pyridyl and α-pyrone rings to other rings, as well as the effects of esterification, dehydration, and oxidization at the C-13 position in natural PP analogues, on the insecticidal activity and spectrum. The conversions of the 3-pyridyl and α-pyrone rings markedly reduced the insecticidal activity with a minimal impact on the spectrum, indicative of an important role for these rings in insecticidal activity. Some derivatives with modified structures at the C-13 position showed a higher inhibitory effect on the motility of canine heartworms and mosquito vectors than did PP-A, suggesting their utility as filaria control drugs.

Classification of alkaloids according to the starting substances of their biosynthetic pathways using graph convolutional neural networks

BACKGROUND

Alkaloids, a class of organic compounds that contain nitrogen bases, are mainly synthesized as secondary metabolites in plants and fungi, and they have a wide range of bioactivities. Although there are thousands of compounds in this class, few of their biosynthesis pathways are fully identified. In this study, we constructed a model to predict their precursors based on a novel kind of neural network called the molecular graph convolutional neural network. Molecular similarity is a crucial metric in the analysis of qualitative structure-activity relationships. However, it is sometimes difficult for current fingerprint representations to emphasize specific features for the target problems efficiently. It is advantageous to allow the model to select the appropriate features according to data-driven decisions for extracting more useful information, which influences a classification or regression problem substantially.

RESULTS

In this study, we applied a neural network architecture for undirected graph representation of molecules. By encoding a molecule as an abstract graph and applying "convolution" on the graph and training the weight of the neural network framework, the neural network can optimize feature selection for the training problem. By incorporating the effects from adjacent atoms recursively, graph convolutional neural networks can extract the features of latent atoms that represent chemical features of a molecule efficiently. In order to investigate alkaloid biosynthesis, we trained the network to distinguish the precursors of 566 alkaloids, which are almost all of the alkaloids whose biosynthesis pathways are known, and showed that the model could predict starting substances with an averaged accuracy of 97.5%.

CONCLUSION

We have showed that our model can predict more accurately compared to the random forest and general neural network when the variables and fingerprints are not selected, while the performance is comparable when we carefully select 507 variables from 18000 dimensions of descriptors. The prediction of pathways contributes to understanding of alkaloid synthesis mechanisms and the application of graph based neural network models to similar problems in bioinformatics would therefore be beneficial. We applied our model to evaluate the precursors of biosynthesis of 12000 alkaloids found in various organisms and found power-low-like distribution.

Insulin-like growth factor-I is required to maintain muscle volume in adult mice

Insulin-like growth factor-I (IGF-I) is a peptide with diverse functions, among them regulation of embryonic development and bone homeostasis. Serum IGF-I levels decline in the elderly; however, IGF-I function in adults has not been clearly defined. Here, we show that IGF-I is required to maintain muscle mass in adults. We crossed Igf-I flox'd and Mx1 Cre mice to yield Mx1 Cre/Igf-I^flox/flox (IGF-I cKO) mice, and deleted Igf-I in adult mice by polyIpolyC injection. We demonstrate that, although serum IGF-I levels significantly decreased after polyIpolyC injection relative to (Igf-I^flox/flox) controls, serum glucose levels were unchanged. However, muscle mass decreased significantly after IGF-I down-regulation, while bone mass remained the same. In IGF-I cKO muscle, expression of anabolic factors such as Eif4e and p70S6K significantly decreased, while expression of catabolic factors MuRF1 and Atrogin-1 was normal and down-regulated, respectively, suggesting that observed muscle mass reduction was due to perturbed muscle metabolism. Our data demonstrate a specific role for IGF-I in maintaining muscle homeostasis in adults.

Comparison of a vitamin E-infused highly crosslinked polyethylene insert and a conventional polyethylene insert for primary total knee arthroplasty at two years postoperatively

AIMS

The use of vitamin E-infused highly crosslinked polyethylene (HXLPE) in total knee prostheses is controversial. In this paper we have compared the clinical and radiological results between conventional polyethylene and vitamin E-infused HXLPE inserts in total knee arthroplasty (TKA).

PATIENTS AND METHODS

The study included 200 knees (175 patients) that underwent TKA using the same total knee prostheses. In all, 100 knees (77 patients) had a vitamin E-infused HXLPE insert (study group) and 100 knees (98 patients) had a conventional polyethylene insert (control group). There were no significant differences in age, sex, diagnosis, preoperative knee range of movement (ROM), and preoperative Knee Society Score (KSS) between the two groups. Clinical and radiological results were evaluated at two years postoperatively.

RESULTS

Differences in postoperative ROM and KSS were not statistically significant between the study and control groups. No knee exhibited osteolysis, aseptic loosening, or polyethylene failure. Additionally, there was no significant difference in the incidence of a radiolucent line between the two groups. One patient from the study group required irrigation and debridement, due to deep infection, at six months postoperatively.

CONCLUSION

Clinical results were comparable between vitamin E-infused HXLPE inserts and conventional polyethylene inserts at two years after TKA, without any significant clinical failure. Cite this article: Bone Joint J 2019;101-B:559-564.

Synchronization between overt speech envelope and EEG oscillations during imagined speech

Neural oscillations synchronize with the periodicity of external stimuli such as the rhythm of the speech amplitude envelope. This synchronization induces a speech-specific, replicable neural phase pattern across trials and enables perceived speech to be classified. In this study, we hypothesized that neural oscillations during articulatory imagination of speech could also synchronize with the rhythm of speech imagery. To validate the hypothesis, after replacing the imagined speech with overt speech due to the physically unobservable nature of imagined speech, we investigated (1) whether the EEG-based regressed speech envelopes correlate with the overt speech envelope and (2) whether EEG during the imagined speech can classify speech stimuli with different envelopes. The variability of the duration of the imagined speech across trials was corrected using dynamic time warping. The classification was based on the distance between a test data and a template waveform of each class. Results showed a significant correlation between the EEG-based regressed envelope and the overt speech envelope. The average classification accuracy was 38.5%, which is significantly above the rate of chance (33.3%). These results demonstrate the synchronization between EEG during the imagined speech and the envelope of the overt counterpart.

Effect of tibial component alignment on knee kinematics and ligament tension in medial unicompartmental knee arthroplasty

Objectives

Unicompartmental knee arthroplasty (UKA) is one surgical option for treating symptomatic medial osteoarthritis. Clinical studies have shown the functional benefits of UKA; however, the optimal alignment of the tibial component is still debated. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the effects of tibial coronal and sagittal plane alignment in UKA on knee kinematics and cruciate ligament tension, using a musculoskeletal computer simulation.

Methods

The tibial component was first aligned perpendicular to the mechanical axis of the tibia, with a 7° posterior slope (basic model). Subsequently, coronal and sagittal plane alignments were changed in a simulation programme. Kinematics and cruciate ligament tensions were simulated during weight-bearing deep knee bend and gait motions. Translation was defined as the distance between the most medial and the most lateral femoral positions throughout the cycle.

Results

The femur was positioned more medially relative to the tibia, with increasing varus alignment of the tibial component. Medial/lateral (ML) translation was smallest in the 2° varus model. A greater posterior slope posteriorized the medial condyle and increased anterior cruciate ligament (ACL) tension. ML translation was increased in the > 7° posterior slope model and the 0° model.

Conclusion

The current study suggests that the preferred tibial component alignment is between neutral and 2° varus in the coronal plane, and between 3° and 7° posterior slope in the sagittal plane. Varus > 4° or valgus alignment and excessive posterior slope caused excessive ML translation, which could be related to feelings of instability and could potentially have negative effects on clinical outcomes and implant durability.

Cite this article: K. Sekiguchi, S. Nakamura, S. Kuriyama, K. Nishitani, H. Ito, Y. Tanaka, M. Watanabe, S. Matsuda. Bone Joint Res 2019;8:126–135. DOI: 10.1302/2046-3758.83.BJR-2018-0208.R2.

Electroencephalogram-Based Single-Trial Detection of Language Expectation Violations in Listening to Speech

We propose an approach for the detection of language expectation violations that occur in communication. We examined semantic and syntactic violations from electroencephalogram (EEG) when participants listened to spoken sentences. Previous studies have shown that such event-related potential (ERP) components as N400 and the late positivity (P600) are evoked in the auditory where semantic and syntactic anomalies occur. We used this knowledge to detect language expectation violation from single-trial EEGs by machine learning techniques. We recorded the brain activity of 18 participants while they listened to sentences that contained semantic and syntactic anomalies and identified the significant main effects of these anomalies in the ERP components. We also found that a multilayer perceptron achieved 59.5% (semantic) and 57.7% (syntactic) accuracies.

A case with good response to belimumab for lupus nephritis complicated by IgG4-related disease

Immunoglobulin (Ig)G4-related disease (IgG4-RD) is an unusual complication of systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE). We report a case in which belimumab proved efficacious for not only SLE, but also IgG4-RD. A 58-year-old Japanese woman had suffered from photodermatosis and erythema on the limbs for 20 years. She presented in slight fever and fatigue since 2016. Laboratory data showed hypergammaglobulinemia, proteinuria and positive results for anti-nuclear antibody and anti-double-stranded DNA antibody. Furthermore, elevated levels of serum IgG4 were detected. Contrast-enhanced computed tomography disclosed multiple areas of poor enhancement in the kidneys. The patient was diagnosed with lupus nephritis and IgG4-RD from renal biopsy. Treatment was started with prednisolone at 40 mg/day and mycophenolate mofetil. Proteinuria and serological findings improved initially, but tapering the dose of glucocorticoid proved difficult. After treatment was started with belimumab, clinical symptoms and proteinuria resolved completely. The dose of glucocorticoid was successfully tapered and serum concentration of IgG4 fell further. This appears to represent the first report of a case in which both SLE and IgG4-RD were effectively treated using belimumab.

Meteorological effects on severe hemoptysis: A hospital-based observational study

BACKGROUND

Although some meteorological factor are likely to contribute to the onset of hemoptysis, few studies have investigated this issue, with none conducted in the Asia-Pacific region. Therefore, the present study aimed to evaluate the associations of meteorological factors with the occurrence of hemoptysis. Differences in the frequency of hemoptysis among several calendar variables were also assessed.

METHODS

A total of 47 hemoptysis patients aged ≥ 20 years undergoing bronchial artery embolization in Kyushu Central Hospital of the Mutual Aid Association of Public School Teachers from January 2012 to December 2017 were included in the study. All hemoptysis events were assembled in a single time series, and the proportion of hemoptysis days was 2.1%. The associations of meteorological variables with hemoptysis days were estimated as odds ratios with 95% confidence intervals by using multivariable-adjusted logistic regression models. The frequency of hemoptysis days was compared among several calendar variables using a chi-square test.

RESULTS

Mean relative humidity was negatively associated with hemoptysis (P for trend = 0.02). The inverse association remained significant when only the hemoptysis events with no infectious lung diseases were used (P for trend=0.02). No significant difference was observed in the occurrence of hemoptysis among seasons, months, or other calendar variables (all P ≥ 0.21).

CONCLUSIONS

Lower relative humidity was a significant risk factor for the development of hemoptysis. Clinicians should be aware of the potential for increases in hemoptysis events on days with low ambient humidity.

Evaluation of Black Soldier Fly (Hermetia illucens) Larvae and Pre-Pupae Raised on Household Organic Waste, as Potential Ingredients for Poultry Feed

Black soldier fly (BSF) larvae and pre-pupae could be satisfactorily raised on household organic waste and used as poultry feed, offering a potential sustainable way to recycle untapped resources of waste. The present study was conducted to determine if whole (non-defatted) BSF larvae and pre-pupae raised on experimental household waste could substitute soybean meal and oil as ingredients for laying hen diets. While no significant differences in feed intake and the egg-laying rate of hens were observed throughout the experiment, egg weight and eggshell thickness were greater in the pre-pupae-fed group than in the other groups. Moreover, although diversity of the cecal microbiota was significantly higher in the pre-pupae-fed than in the control group, no significant differences in bacterial genera known to cause food poisoning were observed when comparing the treatment groups. Nonetheless, Lactobacillus and Bifidobacterium populations were significantly lower in the treatment than in the control group. Fat content in BSF was possibly related with the changes in the cecal microbiota. Hence, since BSF fat was deficient in essential fatty acids, special attention should be paid to the fat content and its fatty acid composition in the case of regular inclusion of BSF larvae and pre-pupae oil as an ingredient in poultry diets.

Dependence of neutrons generated by 7Li(p,n) reaction on Li thickness under free-air condition in accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy system employing solid-state Li target

PURPOSE

An accelerator-based boron neutron capture therapy (BNCT) system with a solid-state Li target is reported to have degradation of the Li target. The degradation reduces the Li thickness, which may change spectra of the generated neutrons corresponding to the Li thickness. This study aims to examine the relationship between the Li thickness and the generated neutrons and to investigate the effects of the Li thickness on the absorbed dose in BNCT.

METHOD

The neutron energy spectra were calculated via Monte Carlo simulation for Li thicknesses ranging from 20 to 150 μm. Using the system, the saturated radioactivity of gold induced by reactions between ¹⁹⁷Au and the generated neutrons was evaluated with the simulation and the measurement, and those were compared. Additionally, for each Li thickness, the saturated radioactivity was compared with the number of generated neutrons. The absorbed doses delivered by ¹⁰B(n,α)⁷Li, ¹⁴N(n,p)¹⁴C, ¹H(n, g)²H, and (n,n') reactions in water were also calculated for each Li thickness.

RESULTS

The measurement and simulation indicated a reduction in the number of neutrons due to the degradation of the Li target. However, the absorbed doses were comparable for each Li thickness when the requisite number of neutrons for BNCT was delivered. Additionally, the saturated radioactivity of ¹⁹⁸Au could be a surrogate for the number of neutrons even if the Li thickness was varied.

CONCLUSIONS

No notable effect to the absorbed dose was observed when required neutron fluence was delivered in the BNCT even if the degradation of the Li was observed.

Abstract P4-02-05: Apocrine morphology and LAR molecular subtype predict prognosis of TNBC patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy

Background: TNBC molecular subtype classification updated by Lehmann et al. includes 4 subtypes: basal-like 1 and 2 (BL1), (BL2), mesenchymal (M), and luminal androgen receptor (LAR), and as a modifier of these subtypes, an Immunomodulatory (IM) gene expression signature. However, molecular subtypes have not been linked to morphological features of TNBC. Apocrine carcinoma has been proposed as a TNBC category that expresses androgen receptor. LAR-subtype TNBC has a poor response to neoadjuvant systemic therapy (NST). We hypothesized that defining the apocrine-featured TNBC by morphology and molecular subtype predict the prognosis of patients with residual disease after NST. Methods: We created the Pan-Pacific TNBC Consortium dataset, which contains paired samples of matched pre and post-NST TNBC tumors from 4 institutions. All patients received NST and didn't have a pathological complete response (pCR). Three pathologists examined hematoxylin and eosin-stained slides of 86 pre-NST samples and determined (1) the presence of apocrine differentiation, (2) the level of tumor-infiltrating lymphocytes (TILs), (3) the histological grade (HG), and (4) the rate of necrosis. These morphological features were compared among the subtypes. For a sample to be considered apocrine positive, apocrine differentiation had to be identified by 2 or more pathologists. Fisher's exact test was used to test the association of subtypes and morphological features. The log-rank test was used to compare disease-free survival (DFS). Results: Twelve of 24 (50%) apocrine-positive tumor samples were LAR subtype, and12 of 17 (70%) LAR-subtype tumor samples exhibited apocrine differentiation. The other subtypes showed following: BL1, 11/44 (25%); BL2, 0/7 (0%); M, 1/10 (10%); unclassified, 0/8 (0%). The median follow-up time was 22 months. In all populations, 2-year DFS rates were higher in patients with apocrine-positive tumors than in those whose tumors did not exhibit apocrine differentiation (P = .027; 2-year DFS, 85% vs 54%). The LAR subtype was also associated with lower HG, although LAR tumors had a similar prognosis to the other subtypes. In the combined analysis of subtypes and apocrine differentiation, patients with apocrine-positive LAR tumors had a higher 2-year DFS rate than did those with apocrine-negative LAR tumors (P = .044; 2-year DFS, 88% vs. 30%). However, patients with apocrine-positive BL1 tumors had no better DFS than did those with apocrine-negative BL1 tumors (P = .133). TIL levels and the presence of the IM signature were positively associated (P = .01), and apocrine differentiation positivity tended to be negatively associated with TIL level (P = .06). Neither TIL level nor IM signature was associated with survival. Conclusion: Apocrine differentiation was associated with the LAR subtype of TNBC and better prognosis in patients who did not have a pCR. The LAR subtype alone did not predict DFS; however, LAR tumors with apocrine differentiation had a better prognosis than did LAR tumors without apocrine differentiation. Using a combination of morphologic and genomic testing may be helpful in determining the prognosis of patients with apocrine-positive TNBC tumors who have residual disease after NST.

Citation Format: Masuda H, Miura S, Harano K, Wang Y, Hirota Y, Matsunaga Y, Lim B, Lucci A, Parinyanitikul N, Lee HJ, Gong G, Rao A, Seitz RS, Morris SW, Hout DR, Nakamura S, Tripathy D, Harada O, Krishnamurthy S, Ueno NT. Apocrine morphology and LAR molecular subtype predict prognosis of TNBC patients with residual disease after neoadjuvant chemotherapy [abstract]. In: Proceedings of the 2018 San Antonio Breast Cancer Symposium; 2018 Dec 4-8; San Antonio, TX. Philadelphia (PA): AACR; Cancer Res 2019;79(4 Suppl):Abstract nr P4-02-05.

The discovery and characterization of K-563, a novel inhibitor of the Keap1/Nrf2 pathway produced by Streptomyces sp

Keap1/Nrf2 pathway regulates the antioxidant stress response, detoxification response, and energy metabolism. Previous reports found that aberrant Keap1/Nrf2 pathway activation due to Kelch‐like ECH‐associated protein 1 (Keap1) mutations or Nuclear factor E2‐related factor 2 (Nrf2) mutations induced resistance of cancer cells to chemotherapy and accelerated cell growth via the supply of nutrients. Therefore, Keap1/Nrf2 pathway activation is associated with a poor prognosis in many cancers. These previous findings suggested that inhibition of Keap1/Nrf2 pathway could be a target for anti‐cancer therapies. To discover a small‐molecule Keap1/Nrf2 pathway inhibitor, we conducted high‐throughput screening in Keap1 mutant human lung cancer A549 cells using a transcriptional reporter assay. Through this screening, we identified the novel Keap1/Nrf2 pathway inhibitor K‐563, which was isolated from actinomycete Streptomyces sp. K‐563 suppressed the expression of Keap1/Nrf2 pathway downstream target genes or the downstream target protein, which induced suppression of GSH production, and activated reactive oxygen species production in A549 cells. K‐563 also inhibited the expression of downstream target genes in other Keap1‐ or Nrf2‐mutated cancer cells. Furthermore, K‐563 exerted anti‐proliferative activities in these mutated cancer cells. These in vitro analyses showed that K‐563 was able to inhibit cell growth in Keap1‐ or Nrf2‐mutated cancer cells by Keap1/Nrf2 pathway inhibition. K‐563 also exerted synergistic combinational effects with lung cancer chemotherapeutic agents. An in vivo study in mice xenotransplanted with A549 cells to further explore the therapeutic potential of K‐563 revealed that it also inhibited Keap1/Nrf2 pathway in lung cancer tumors. K‐563, a novel Keap1/Nrf2 pathway inhibitor, may be a lead compound for development as an anti‐cancer agent.

Clinical features and mechanistic insights regarding IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis: a review

Immunoglobulin G4-related disease (IgG4-RD), recognized only recently as a single diagnostic entity, is a chronic inflammatory condition of unknown etiology. The diagnosis of IgG4-RD relies heavily on histopathological analysis and the correlation of histology findings with clinical, serological, and radiological data. CD4⁺ T and B cells, including IgG4-expressing plasmablasts, constitute the major inflammatory cell populations in IgG4-RD and are believed to cause organ damage and tissue fibrosis. Patients with IgG4-RD, who have active, untreated disease, exhibit marked expansion of IgG4-secreting plasmablasts in the blood. Important mechanistic insights correlated with the pathogenesis of IgG4-RD have been disclosed in recent years through the application of novel molecular biology approaches, including next-generation and single-cell RNA sequencing. Exploration of the interactions between these CD4⁺ T cells and cells of the B lymphocyte lineage is critical to understanding the pathophysiology of IgG4-RD. The establishment of pathogenic T cell clones and the identification of antigens specific to these clones constitute the first steps in determining the pathogenesis of this disease. This review focuses on clinical features and mechanistic insights regarding IgG4-related dacryoadenitis and sialoadenitis, from a perspective suitable for oral and maxillofacial surgeons.

Neuropeptide VGF-Derived Peptide LQEQ-19 has Neuroprotective Effects in an In Vitro Model of Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis

Amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) is a severe neurodegenerative disease caused by the loss of upper and lower motor neurons resulting in muscle weakness and paralysis. Recently, VGF, a neuropeptide that is a precursor of bioactive polypeptides, was found to be decreased in ALS patients, and its inducer exerted protective effects in models of ALS. These findings suggested that VGF was involved in the pathology of ALS. Here, we investigated the neuroprotective effects of various VGF-derived peptides in an in vitro ALS model. We applied seven VGF-derived peptides (TLQP-21, AQEE-30, AQEE-11, LQEQ-19, QEEL-16, LENY-13, and HVLL-7) to the motor neuron-derived cell line, NSC-34, expressing SOD1^G93A, which is one of the mutated proteins responsible for familial ALS. Nuclear staining revealed that AQEE-30 and LQEQ-19, which are derived from the C-terminal polypeptide of the VGF precursor protein, attenuated neuronal cell death. Furthermore, immunoblot analysis demonstrated that LQEQ-19 promoted the phosphorylation of Akt and extracellular signal-regulated kinase (ERK) 1/2, and inhibiting these mitogen-activated MAP kinases (MAPKs) with phosphoinositide 3-kinase or MEK/ERK inhibitors, eliminated the neuroprotective effects of LQEQ-19. In conclusion, these results suggest that VGF C-terminal peptides exert their neuroprotective effects via activation of MAPKs such as Akt and ERK1/2. Furthermore, these findings indicate that VGF-derived peptides have potential application in ALS therapy.

Analysis of factors associated with cedar pollen sensitization and development of pollinosis in a young Japanese adult population

BACKGROUND

Genetic and environmental factors are proposed to be involved in cedar pollen allergy sensitization and onset. The impact of these factors will provide key information for the prevention of cedar pollen sensitization and allergy onset, which we investigated in this cross-sectional study.

METHODS

Subjects were 382 young adult volunteers who completed a self-administered questionnaire on self-reported subjective symptoms of pollinosis, physician-diagnosed pollinosis, and background factors. We also measured their serum IgE antibody titers specific for cedar, cypress, and mites. Factors associated with subjective symptoms, physician diagnosis, and the three specific antigens were determined using both univariate and multivariate analyses.

RESULTS

Sensitization to cedar, cypress, and mites, defined as specific IgE levels of class 1 or above, was found in 78.8%, 64.4%, and 56.0% of subjects, respectively. The prevalence of cedar pollinosis was 41.2% based on subjective symptoms and 22.2% based on physician diagnosis. Factors associated with increased cedar pollen sensitization were mite sensitization, comorbid allergic rhinitis, and family history of cedar pollinosis. Risk-reducing factors for cedar pollen sensitization were keeping a cat, number of common colds, and hours of sleep. Risk-increasing factors for both subjective pollinosis symptoms and physician-diagnosed pollinosis were comorbid allergic rhinitis and family history of cedar pollinosis.

CONCLUSIONS

Sensitization to cedar pollen in this population was extremely high. Both common and distinct factors were associated with sensitization to pollen and with the development of pollinosis. The distinct factors were associated with sensitization to cedar and cypress antigens.

Binary Ionic Liquid System for Direct Cellulose Etherification

Etherification of cellulose was performed using a mixture of ionic liquids (ILs) playing roles in both cellulose dissolution and catalysis. We investigated the effects of the reaction time and the ratio of these ILs in the mixture. Cellulose etherification was performed in these IL mixtures. The proportion of propoxy cellulose exceeded 2.5 after 24 h.

Monte Carlo modeling of a 60Co MRI-guided radiotherapy system on Geant4 and experimental verification of dose calculation under a magnetic field of 0.35 T

Our purpose was to establish the commissioning procedure of Monte Carlo modeling on a magnetic resonance imaging-guided radiotherapy system (MRIdian, Viewray Inc.) under a magnetic field of 0.345 T through experimental measurements. To do this, we sought (i) to assess the depth-dose and lateral profiles generated by the Geant4 using either EBT3 film or the BJR-25 data; (ii) to assess the calculation accuracy under a magnetic field of 0.345 T. The radius of the electron trajectory caused by the electron return effect (ERE) in a vacuum was obtained both by the Geant4 and the theoretical methods. The surface dose on the phantom was calculated and compared with that obtained from the film measurements. The dose distribution in a phantom having two air gaps was calculated and measured with EBT 3 film. (i) The difference of depth-dose profile generated by the Geant4 from the BJR-25 data was 0.0 ± 0.8% and 0.3 ± 1.5% for field sizes of 4.5 and 27.3 cm2, respectively. Lateral dose profiles generated by Geant4 agreed well with those generated from the EBT3 film data. (ii) The radius of the electron trajectory generated by Geant4 agreed well with the theoretical values. A maximum of ~50% reduction of the surface dose under a magnetic field of 0.345 T was observed due to elimination of the electron contamination caused by the magnetic field, as determined by both the film measurements and the Geant4. Changes in the dose distributions in the air gaps caused by the ERE were observed on the Geant4 and in the film measurements. Gamma analysis (3%/3 mm) showed a pass rate of 95.1%. Commissioning procedures for the MRI-guided radiotherapy system on the Geant4 were established, and we concluded that the Geant4 had provided high calculation accuracy under a magnetic field of 0.345 T.