Measurement of the inclusive electron neutrino charged current cross section on carbon with the T2K near detector

The T2K off-axis near detector ND280 is used to make the first differential cross-section measurements of electron neutrino charged current interactions at energies ∼1  GeV as a function of electron momentum, electron scattering angle, and four-momentum transfer of the interaction. The total flux-averaged ν(e) charged current cross section on carbon is measured to be ⟨σ⟩(ϕ)=1.11±0.10(stat)±0.18(syst)×10⁻³⁸ cm²/nucleon. The differential and total cross-section measurements agree with the predictions of two leading neutrino interaction generators, NEUT and GENIE. The NEUT prediction is 1.23×10⁻³⁸ cm²/nucleon and the GENIE prediction is 1.08×10⁻³⁸ cm²/nucleon. The total ν(e) charged current cross-section result is also in agreement with data from the Gargamelle experiment.

Ubiquilin-1 immunoreactivity is concentrated on Hirano bodies and dystrophic neurites in Alzheimer's disease brains

AIMS

Ubiquilin-1 acts as an adaptor protein that mediates the translocation of polyubiquitinated proteins to the proteasome for degradation. Although previous studies suggested a key role of ubiquilin-1 in the pathogenesis of Alzheimer's disease (AD), a direct relationship between ubiquilin-1 and Hirano bodies in AD brains remains unknown.

METHODS

By immunohistochemistry, we studied ubiquilin-1 and ubiquilin-2 expression in the frontal cortex and the hippocampus of six AD and 13 control cases.

RESULTS

Numerous Hirano bodies, accumulated in the hippocampal CA1 region of AD brains, expressed intense immunoreactivity for ubiquilin-1. They were much less frequently found in control brains. However, Hirano bodies did not express a panel of markers for proteasome, autophagosome or pathogenic proteins, such as ubiquilin-2, ubiquitin, p62, LC3, beclin-1, HDAC6, paired helical filament (PHF)-tau, protein-disulphide isomerase (PDI) and phosphorylated TDP-43, but some of them expressed C9orf72. Ubiquilin-1-immunoreactive deposits were classified into four distinct morphologies, such as rod-shaped structures characteristic of Hirano bodies, dystrophic neurites contacting senile plaques, fragmented structures accumulated in the lesions affected with severe neuronal loss, and thread-shaped structures located mainly in the molecular layer of the hippocampus.

CONCLUSIONS

Ubiquilin-1 immunoreactivity is concentrated on Hirano bodies and dystrophic neurites in AD brains, suggesting that aberrant expression of ubiquilin-1 serves as one of pathological hallmarks of AD.

Search for nucleon decay via n→ν[over ¯]π0 and p→ν[over ¯]π+ in Super-Kamiokande

We present the results of searches for nucleon decay via n→ν[over ¯]π0 and p→ν[over ¯]π+ using data from a combined 172.8  kt·yr exposure of Super-Kamiokande-I,-II, and-III. We set lower limits on the partial lifetime for each of these modes: τn→ν[over ¯]π0>1.1×10(33) years and τp→ν[over ¯]π+>3.9×10(32) years at a 90% confidence level.

Search for trilepton nucleon decay via p→e+νν and p→μ+νν in the Super-Kamiokande experiment

The trilepton nucleon decay modes p→e+νν and p→μ+νν violate |Δ(B-L)| by two units. Using data from a 273.4 kt yr exposure of Super-Kamiokande a search for these decays yields a fit consistent with no signal. Accordingly, lower limits on the partial lifetimes of τp→e+νν>1.7×10(32) years and τp→μ+νν>2.2×10(32) years at a 90% confidence level are obtained. These limits can constrain Grand Unified Theories which allow for such processes.

The dynamics of herpesvirus reactivations during and after severe drug eruptions: their relation to the clinical phenotype and therapeutic outcome

Background

Drug‐induced hypersensitivity syndrome/drug rash with eosinophilia and systemic symptoms (DIHS/DRESS) and Stevens–Johnson syndrome (SJS)/toxic epidermal necrolysis (TEN) represent contrasting poles of severe drug eruptions, and sequential reactivations of several herpesviruses have exclusively been demonstrated in the former. No previous studies, however, were extended beyond the acute stage. We sought to investigate whether herpesvirus reactivations could also be observed in SJS/TEN and beyond the acute stage of both diseases.

Methods

Patients with SJS (n = 16), SJS/TEN overlap (n = 2), TEN (n = 10), and DIHS/DRESS (n = 34) were enrolled. We performed a retrospective analysis of Epstein–Barr virus (EBV), human herpesvirus 6 (HHV‐6), and cytomegalovirus (CMV) DNA loads sequentially determined by real‐time polymerase chain reaction during a 2‐year period after onset.

Results

Persistently increased EBV loads were detected in SJS during the acute stage and long after resolution, but not in others. In contrast, high HHV‐6 loads were exclusively detected in DIHS/DRESS during the acute stage. The dynamics of herpesvirus reactivation varied in DIHS/DRESS according to the use of systemic corticosteroids: While EBV loads were higher in patients not receiving systemic corticosteroids, CMV and HHV‐6 loads were higher in those receiving them.

Conclusions

Distinct patterns of herpesvirus reactivation according to the pathological phenotype and to the use of systemic corticosteroids were observed during the acute stage and follow‐up period, which may contribute, at least in part, to the difference in the clinical manifestations and long‐term outcomes. Systemic corticosteroids during the acute stage may improve the outcomes in DIHS/DRESS.

Precise measurement of the neutrino mixing parameter θ23 from muon neutrino disappearance in an off-axis beam

New data from the T2K neutrino oscillation experiment produce the most precise measurement of the neutrino mixing parameter θ23. Using an off-axis neutrino beam with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV and a data set corresponding to 6.57×10(20) protons on target, T2K has fit the energy-dependent νμ oscillation probability to determine oscillation parameters. The 68% confidence limit on sin(2)(θ23) is 0.514(-0.056)(+0.055) (0.511±0.055), assuming normal (inverted) mass hierarchy. The best-fit mass-squared splitting for normal hierarchy is Δm32(2)=(2.51±0.10)×10(-3)  eV(2)/c(4) (inverted hierarchy: Δm13(2)=(2.48±0.10)×10(-3)  eV(2)/c(4)). Adding a model of multinucleon interactions that affect neutrino energy reconstruction is found to produce only small biases in neutrino oscillation parameter extraction at current levels of statistical uncertainty.

Search for dinucleon decay into kaons in Super-Kamiokande

A search for the dinucleon decay pp → K+ K+ has been performed using 91.6  kton·yr data from Super-Kamiokande-I. This decay provides a sensitive probe of the R-parity-violating parameter λ112''. A boosted decision tree analysis found no signal candidates in the data. The expected background was 0.28±0.19 atmospheric neutrino induced events and the estimated signal detection efficiency was 12.6%±3.2%. A lower limit of 1.7×10(32)  years has been placed on the partial lifetime of the decay O16 → C14K+ K+ at 90% C.L. A corresponding upper limit of 7.8×10(-9) has been placed on the parameter λ112''.

First indication of terrestrial matter effects on solar neutrino oscillation

We report an indication that the elastic scattering rate of solar B8 neutrinos with electrons in the Super-Kamiokande detector is larger when the neutrinos pass through Earth during nighttime. We determine the day-night asymmetry, defined as the difference of the average day rate and average night rate divided by the average of those two rates, to be [-3.2 ± 1.1(stat) ± 0.5(syst)]%, which deviates from zero by 2.7 σ. Since the elastic scattering process is mostly sensitive to electron-flavored solar neutrinos, a nonzero day-night asymmetry implies that the flavor oscillations of solar neutrinos are affected by the presence of matter within the neutrinos' flight path. Super-Kamiokande's day-night asymmetry is consistent with neutrino oscillations for 4 × 10(-5)  eV(2) ≤ Δm 2(21) ≤ 7 × 10(-5) eV(2) and large mixing values of θ12, at the 68% C.L.

An empirical model for gas phase acidity and basicity estimation

Gas phase acidity and basicity estimation models have been developed for acidic and basic functional groups of amino acid side-chains and also for a number of small organic molecules. The acidic functional groups include aliphatic and aromatic alcohol, and aliphatic and aromatic carboxylic acid, and the basic functional groups include aliphatic, aromatic and hetero-aromatic amines, and also pyridino-, pyrazolo- and imidazolo-groupings. The models are described in terms of a linear combination of descriptors that highly influence reactivity at the reaction centres of the functional groups. In order to describe the chemical environments of the deprotonating and protonating sites, atomic descriptors such as the effective atomic electronegativity and effective atomic polarizability of the atoms in the reaction field and the electrostatic potentials at the reaction sites have been introduced. The coefficient of determination (r(2)) of each model is above 0.8, apart from the imidazole model. The models are readily applicable, ranging from simple organic molecules to proteins.

Observation of electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam

The T2K experiment has observed electron neutrino appearance in a muon neutrino beam produced 295 km from the Super-Kamiokande detector with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV. A total of 28 electron neutrino events were detected with an energy distribution consistent with an appearance signal, corresponding to a significance of 7.3σ when compared to 4.92±0.55 expected background events. In the Pontecorvo-Maki-Nakagawa-Sakata mixing model, the electron neutrino appearance signal depends on several parameters including three mixing angles θ12, θ23, θ13, a mass difference Δm(32)(2) and a CP violating phase δ(CP). In this neutrino oscillation scenario, assuming |Δm(32)(2)|=2.4×10(-3)  eV(2), sin(2)θ(23)=0.5, and Δm322>0 (Δm(32)(2)<0), a best-fit value of sin(2)2θ(13)=0.140(-0.032)(+0.038) (0.170(-0.037)(+0.045)) is obtained at δ(CP)=0. When combining the result with the current best knowledge of oscillation parameters including the world average value of θ(13) from reactor experiments, some values of δ(CP) are disfavored at the 90% C.L.

Abstract P3-06-20: The correlation between body mass index (BMI) and breast cancer in both premenopausal and menopausal women in Okinawa

Introduction

Much of the longevity advantage in Okinawa is thought to be related to a healthy lifestyle including traditional foods which is low in calories and dense in nutrition. However, dietary change since World War II has been largely deleterious, with younger Okinawan people developing a higher risk of obesity and other chronic disease risk factors than older Okinawan people. In addition, breast cancer incidence and mortality are gradually increasing in Okinawa. Therefore we examined the correlation between BMI and breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women in Okinawa.

Methods

The cases were 3422 female breast cancer patients without any previous breast cancer history, and the control subjects were 5622 women, who initially visited Nahanishi Clinic Okinawa in Okinawa, Japan, between May 1996 and March 2013. The median ages were 53 years old (21-99) in the breast cancer group and 44 years old (18-90) in the control group. Based on the World Health Organization classification, 25≤BMI&lt;30 is considered as overweight and 30≤BMI as obesity. We examined the association between BMI and breast cancer risk by odds ratio. In addition, we also stratified and examined the BMI according to menstruation and age by student t test.

Results

Table.1 summarized the results of the association between BMI and breast cancer risk.

Association between BMI and breast cancer risk. CancerControlP ValueOdds[95%CI]All patients34225622  Overweght10201028p&lt;0.0011.89 [1.72-2.10]Obesity285253p&lt;0.0011.93[1.62-2.30]Overweight+Obesity13051281p&lt;0.0012.09[1.90-2.29]Premenopausal    Overweight146498p = 0.0021.37[1.12-1.67]Obesity44141p = 0.0641.41[0.99-1.99]Overweight+Obesity190639p&lt;0.0011.42[1.18-1.70]Postmenopausal    Overweight618527p&lt;0.0011.59[1.38-1.83]Obesity179112p&lt;0.0011.96[1.54-2.51]

Being overweight, or obese, increased the odds of breast cancer, as well as these put together, in the postmenopausal group (p&lt;0.001, respectively). As for the premenopausal group, being overweight and also overweight grouped with obese increased the odds of breast cancer significantly (p = 0.002 and p&lt;0.001, respectively) and a tendency was detected in the obese (p = 0.064). Table.2 summarized the results of BMI according to menstruation and age.

BMI according to menstruation and age CancerControlp valueTotal24.3±4.122.7±3.8p&lt;0.001Premenopausal22.9±3.922.1±3.7p&lt;0.001Postmenopausal25.4±4.123.9±3.7p&lt;0.001Year&lt;3021.1±0.520.7±0.1p = 0.53930≤year&lt;4022.5±3.921.7±3.6p&lt;0.00140≤year&lt;5023.2±3.822.7±3.5p&lt;0.00150≤year&lt;6024.6±0.123.7±6.1p&lt;0.00160≤year&lt;7025.5±3.924.5±3.8p&lt;0.00170≤25.7±4.224.7±3.5p&lt;0.001

The BMI of the breast cancer group were statistically higher than that of the control group in those over 30 years old, and in the pre and post menopausal (p&lt;0.001, respectively).

Conclusion

The results of this study suggested that weight gain and consequently being overweight or obese might increase the odds for breast cancer in both premenopausal and postmenopausal women ages over 30 years old in Okinawa.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P3-06-20.

Abstract P3-05-16: Quantitative diagnostic technology for HER2 positive breast cancer by molecular imaging: The potential predictive factor of anti-HER2 therapy

Background: Anti-HER2 therapy contributes to improvement of the clinical outcome in HER2-positive patients. However, current studies have reported the resistance to trastuzumab. To diagnose HER2 expression level, immunohistochemical (IHC) method with 3,3’-diaminobenzidine (IHC-DAB) staining is widely used, but is not quantitative and classifies tumors into only 4 categories. Additionally, the epitopes of trastuzumab and most antibodies used for IHC-DAB are different. These problems might induce a gap between diagnostics and therapeutic efficacy. To improve the method for cancer patients’ HER2 status, we developed a novel IHC method with trastuzumab conjugated with fluorescent nano-particles quantum dots (QDs) by single-particle imaging using tissue samples from patients with clinical information.

Methods: We prepared two kinds of QD-conjugated antibody complexes for IHC with QDs (IHC-QD). One was a QD-conjugated trastuzumab, the other was a QD-conjugated human IgG for control. We performed the several steps of antigen-antibody reaction by two kinds of QD-conjugated antibody probes for 37 human breast cancer specimens. The QD signal reflected HER2 expression level was observed by the optical system that consisted of an epi-fluorescent microscope with EM-CCD camera.

Results: We successfully obtained the images of only QDs signal by the image analyses, and calculated the number of QD particles in a cell and defined it as IHC-QD score that reflects the level of HER2 protein expression in cancer cells. In comparing IHC-QD scores with IHC-DAB scores, cases with a score of 0 and 1 by IHC-DAB had low scores of IHC-QD (0.01-0.67), being in narrow range. On the other hand, those with a score of 2 varied widely, with IHC-QD scores of 0.06 to 16.98, and those with a score of 3 also varied, from 0.18 to 18.81. In some of the sample with IHC-DAB score of 2 and 3, the binding of trastuzumab to these cancer cells is very weak although they are candidate for trastuzumab therapy in present HER2 diagnostic criteria. In comparison between FISH and IHC-QD scores, the straight-line approximation curve shows that both quantitative scores, FISH (0.96-8.76) and IHC-QD (0.01-18.81) are well correlated (R = 0.83, p&lt;0.001). In analyzing the therapeutic efficacy in 14 metastatic breast cancers treated with trastuzumab according to IHC-QD or FISH or IHC-DAB scores, IHC-QD score was correlated with time to progression (TTP) more than FISH and IHC-DAB scores.

Table 1Diagnostic methodsPatient numberTime to progression, median(range)P valueIHC-DAB  0.207Score 236 (3-9) Score 31112 (3-60) FISH  0.577Low score712 (5-60) High score79 (3-52) IHC-QD  0.094Low score76 (3-60) High score724 (3-52) Comparison between IHC-QD or FISH or IHC-DAB and the therapeutic efficacy with trastuzumab

Althogh the sample size was small, this result suggests that the IHC-QD score has a potential role as predictive factor for trastuzumab therapy.

Conclusion: We performed the precisely quantitative IHC using trastuzumab-conjugated QDs and single-particle imaging analysis, and propose using IHC-QD as a predictive factor for trastuzumab therapy. This new diagnostic method would be expected to contribute to the development of a therapeutic strategy.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P3-05-16.

Abstract P5-09-10: Androgen receptor signal acquired oncogenic role in aromatase inhibitor resistant model of breast cancer cell

Aromatase inhibitors (AI) are the common treatment for postmenopausal estrogen receptor (ER) positive breast cancer. However, not a few of these patients acquire resistance to AI.To investigate this molecular mechanism of resistance, we have established several breast cancer cell lines as AI resistant models. Recently, we reported on AD-EDR cells (androgen metabolite-dependent and estrogen depletion resistant cells) derived from MCF-7, in which ER activity depends on one of androgen metabolite, 5a-androstane-3β, 17β-diol (3βdiol).

It is supposed that tumor heterogeneity contributes to the acquired resistance to drugs.To examine this diversity, we established another AI resistant model derived from T-47D, to compare characters of these AI resistant models from different parents. Then, we found that the androgen receptor (AR) signal acquired oncogenic role in this model in contrast to AD-EDR cells established from MCF-7.

We cultured ER positive breast cancer cells, T47D-TE8, stably transfected with ERE-GFP reporter into T47D, under estrogen-depleted and androgen-supplemented conditions for more than three months, simulating the AI treatment, and established estrogen deprivation-resistant cells (TE8-EDR cells).

TE8-EDR cells had little ERE-GFP activity and proliferation response to estrogen though estrogen stimulated proliferation of parental T47D-TE8. The mRNA for ER and progesterone receptor was hardly detected in TE8-EDR cells. These results suggested that they had lost the ER-mediated pathway of growth. On the contrary, Dihydrotestosterone (DHT) increased growth of T47D-TE8 cells, while it was more remarkable in TE8-EDR, and this proliferative effect was reduced by AR antagonist, bicalutamide. The mRNA expressions of AR and its target gene, PSA, were extremely increased in TE8-EDR cells. These results indicated that TE8-EDR enhanced AR-regulated pathway for growth.

Increased AR expression was presumed to be one of the factors elevating AR activity. To identify other elements enhancing AR-mediated signal, we compared the gene expression of TE8-EDR cells with that of T47D-TE8 by microarray analysis. The outcome showed that the expression of some well-known androgen-related genes were increased in TE8-EDR cells. Among these genes, we focused on DDC (L-dopa decarboxylase) which has been reported as one of the AR coactivator, and its overexpression increase proliferative effect in prostate cancer cell lines.By real-time RT-PCR, we confirmed that the mRNA expression of DDC in TE8-EDR was higher over one-hundred fold than T47D-TE8. In addition, DHT-induced proliferation was cancelled by DDC inhibitor, NSD-1015.

This study suggests that TE8-EDR cells shift their growth pathway from ER to AR signal, and the AR activity is enhanced by high-expression of DDC. Whereas, MCF7-derived AD-EDR cells still depends on ER signal for their proliferation. So far, few studies have shown the proliferative effects of androgen as AI resistant mechanism. Our results provide new mechanism of acquired AI-resistance in breast cancer. Moreover, the fact that the character of AI resistant models varied with their parent cells supports the hypothesis that tumor heterogeneity contributes to diversify the mechanism of acquired resistance to hormonal therapy.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P5-09-10.

Abstract P2-03-02: A non-invasive modality the US virtual touch tissue quantification (VTTQ) for evaluation of breast cancer

Introduction

Acoustic radiation force impulse (ARFI) imaging is a newly developed ultrasound-based modality which could evaluate the wave propagation speed and tissue stiffness more precisely and objectively. ARFI does not require any external compression, and so even in deep tissues could, provide complementary information to conventional ultrasound (US), potentially improving the characterization of tissue and focal lesions. The generated waves can provide quantification of the shear wave velocity, termed Virtual Touch Tissue Quantification (VTTQ). VTTQ is an intrinsic and reproducible property of the tissue, and this tissue quantification could provide objective and reproducible data. This is the first study to evaluate the biological features of breast tissues using newly developed non-invasive diagnostic system VTTQ.

Methods

180 patients including 115 invasive ductal carcinoma (IDC), 30 ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS), 4 mucinous carcinoma, 7 invasive lobular carcinoma (ILC), 8 fibroadenoma (FA), 12 fibrocystic change (FCC) and 4 intraductal papilloma were studied at Nahanishi Clinic Okinawa. We first compared results of VTTQ according to each histological subtype, and determined the optimal cutoff values for VTTQ to distinguish benign from malignant tissues using the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) method. In addition, we also examined the correlation between VTTQ velocities and Ki-67, estrogen receptor (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR) or human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2) in the cases of IDC using the linear regression analyses and Student's t test.

Results

There were statistically significant differences of VTTQ velocities between IDC and DCIS (P = 0.003), mucinous carcinoma (P = 0.009), FA (P&lt;0.001), papilloma (P&lt;0.001) or FCC (P&lt;0.001). There were significant differences between DCIS and FA (P = 0.016), papilloma (P&lt;0.001) or FCC (P&lt;0.001). Significant differences were also detected between mucinous carcinoma and papilloma (P&lt;0.001) or FCC (P = 0.003), between ILC and papilloma (P = 0.012) or FCC (P = 0.003) and between FA and papilloma (P = 0.030). VTTQ velocities were statistically higher in malignant cases than in benign cases (p&lt;0.05, respectively) and the best cutoff value for the VTTQ velocity which could differentiate benign from malignant cases was 2.89 m/second. There were statistically significant correlations between VTTQ velocity and Ki-67 labeling index (r = 0.338, r2 = 0.114 and P&lt;0.001), and significant inverse correlations between VTTQ and ER (r = -0.311, r2 = 0.097 and P&lt;0.001) or PgR (r = -0.361, r2 = 0.131 and P&lt;0.001) status of IDC. There was also a significant differences of the average velocities between HER2 positive (6.39±1.44 m/second) and negative (4.43±1.41 m/second) cases (P&lt;0.001).

Conclusion

VTTQ was valuable for examination of breast cancer pathology in a non-invasive fashion. The results still could suggest the value of VTTQ examination in the clinical management of breast cancer patients. VTTQ has huge potential for examining axillary lymph node status instead of sentinel lymph node biopsy, and examining the responsiveness of neoadjuvant chemotherapy in midcourse evaluation without invasive biopsy.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2013;73(24 Suppl): Abstract nr P2-03-02.

Measurement of neutrino oscillation parameters from muon neutrino disappearance with an off-axis beam

The T2K Collaboration reports a precision measurement of muon neutrino disappearance with an off-axis neutrino beam with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV. Near detector measurements are used to constrain the neutrino flux and cross section parameters. The Super-Kamiokande far detector, which is 295 km downstream of the neutrino production target, collected data corresponding to 3.01×10(20) protons on target. In the absence of neutrino oscillations, 205±17 (syst) events are expected to be detected while only 58 muon neutrino event candidates are observed. A fit to the neutrino rate and energy spectrum, assuming three neutrino flavors and normal mass hierarchy yields a best-fit mixing angle sin2(θ23)=0.514±0.082 and mass splitting |Δm(32)(2)|=2.44(-0.15)(+0.17)×10(-3) eV2/c4. Our result corresponds to the maximal oscillation disappearance probability.