Root apical meristem diversity in extant lycophytes and implications for root origins

Root apical meristem (RAM) organization in lycophytes could be a key to understanding the early evolution of roots, but this topic has been insufficiently explored. We examined the RAM organization of lycophytes in terms of cell division activities and anatomies, and compared RAMs among vascular plants. RAMs of 13 species of lycophytes were semi-thin-sectioned and observed under a light microscope. Furthermore, the frequency of cell division in the RAM of species was analyzed using thymidine analogs. RAMs of lycophytes exhibited four organization types: type I (Lycopodium and Diphasiastrum), II (Huperzia and Lycopodiella), III (Isoetes) and RAM with apical cell (Selaginella). The type I RAM found in Lycopodium had a region with a very low cell division frequency, reminiscent of the quiescent center (QC) in angiosperm roots. This is the first clear indication that a QC-like region is present in nonseed plants. At least four types of RAM are present in extant lycophytes, suggesting that RAM organization is more diverse than expected. Our results support the paleobotanical hypothesis that roots evolved several times in lycophytes, as well as in euphyllophytes.

Sampling design and required sample size for evaluating contamination levels of 137Cs in Japanese fir needles in a mixed deciduous forest stand in Fukushima, Japan

We estimated the sample size (the number of samples) required to evaluate the concentration of radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) in Japanese fir (Abies firma Sieb. & Zucc.), 5 years after the outbreak of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident. We investigated the spatial structure of the contamination levels in this species growing in a mixed deciduous broadleaf and evergreen coniferous forest stand. We sampled 40 saplings with a tree height of 150 cm-250 cm in a Fukushima forest community. The results showed that: (1) there was no correlation between the ¹³⁷Cs concentration in needles and soil, and (2) the difference in the spatial distribution pattern of ¹³⁷Cs concentration between needles and soil suggest that the contribution of root uptake to ¹³⁷Cs in new needles of this species may be minor in the 5 years after the radionuclides were released into the atmosphere. The concentration of ¹³⁷Cs in needles showed a strong positive spatial autocorrelation in the distance class from 0 to 2.5 m, suggesting that the statistical analysis of data should consider spatial autocorrelation in the case of an assessment of the radioactive contamination of forest trees. According to our sample size analysis, a sample size of seven trees was required to determine the mean contamination level within an error in the means of no more than 10%. This required sample size may be feasible for most sites.

INTERNATIONAL STANDARDS ON FOOD AND ENVIRONMENTAL RADIOACTIVITY MEASUREMENT FOR RADIOLOGICAL PROTECTION: STATUS AND PERSPECTIVES

Radiological protection is a matter of concern for members of the public and thus national authorities are more likely to trust the quality of radioactivity data provided by accredited laboratories using common standards. Normative approach based on international standards aims to ensure the accuracy or validity of the test result through calibrations and measurements traceable to the International System of Units. This approach guarantees that radioactivity test results on the same types of samples are comparable over time and space as well as between different testing laboratories. Today, testing laboratories involved in radioactivity measurement have a set of more than 150 international standards to help them perform their work. Most of them are published by the International Standardization Organization (ISO) and the International Electrotechnical Commission (IEC). This paper reviews the most essential ISO standards that give guidance to testing laboratories at different stages from sampling planning to the transmission of the test report to their customers, summarizes recent activities and achievements and present the perspectives on new standards under development by the ISO Working Groups dealing with radioactivity measurement in connection with radiological protection.

Psychological and endocrine factors and pain after mastectomy

BACKGROUND

This prospective study was designed to examine the associations of demographic, clinical, psychological and neuroendocrine factors with acute and chronic post-operative pain following partial mastectomy.

METHODS

Sixty-four female patients scheduled for partial mastectomy were enrolled. Pre-operative anxiety/depression was assessed, using the Hospital Anxiety and Depression Scale (HADS). Pre-operative 24-h urinary cortisol levels were measured 2 days before surgery. Post-operative pain was examined using a visual analog scale (VAS) for acute pain on 0-2 post-operative day (POD), and a short-form McGill Pain Questionnaire for chronic pain at 6 months after surgery. In the last 29 subjects, post-operative 24-h urinary cortisol levels were also measured on 0 POD and were subjected to correlation analysis.

RESULTS

Multivariate logistic regression analysis revealed that lower pre-operative cortisol secretion and greater pre-operative anxiety were significantly associated with an increased risk of moderate to severe acute post-operative pain [Odds Ratio (95% Confidence Interval); 0.96 (0.92-0.98), and 1.24 (1.04-1.54)], and that patients with greater pre-operative anxiety and moderate to severe acute pain were more likely to develop chronic post-operative pain [OR (95% CI); 1.63 (1.23-2.40), and 5.07 (1.30-24.6)]. Correlational analysis demonstrated that the post-operative cortisol level was inversely correlated with pre-operative anxiety and the intensity of acute post-operative pain (r = -0.40, p < 0.05, and r = -0.50, p < 0.01), but not with the intensity of chronic pain.

CONCLUSIONS

This study confirms that pre-operative anxiety is associated with both acute and chronic post-operative pain after partial mastectomy. It also suggests that lower perioperative cortisol secretion might be associated with greater acute post-operative pain.

SIGNIFICANCE

Although the associations between psychological stress/stress hormone levels and chronic post-operative pain remain to be determined, pre-operative psychological stress and perioperative cortisol levels are correlated with acute post-operative pain.

Applicability of MIL-101(Fe) as a cathode of lithium ion batteries

MIL-101(Fe) was investigated as a cathode material of lithium ion batteries. A battery test reveals that MIL-101(Fe) shows a charge and discharge capacitance of 110 mA h g⁻¹.

In Vivo optical coherence tomography visualization of intraplaque neovascularization at the site of coronary vasospasm: a case report

Background

Coronary plaques in patients with coronary vasospastic angina have been characterized by diffuse intima-media thickening with homogeneous fibrous tissue, without confluent necrotic tissue. However, coronary vasospasm can trigger coronary thrombosis, and may play an important role in the pathogenesis of acute coronary syndromes, though the precise morphological mechanisms underlying this process remain unclear.

Case presentation

A 43-year-old man with a history of multivessel coronary vasospastic angina had been treated with long-acting diltiazem and fluvastatin since 2004. Eleven years later, following 1 month of medication nonadherence, he experienced recurrence of rest angina and myocardial infarction, with elevated high-sensitivity troponin T. An emergency coronary angiogram demonstrated no de novo lesions, and the current episode was diagnosed as intractable sustained coronary spasm-induced anterior myocardial infarction. Optical coherence tomography imaging revealed the coronary plaque with homogeneous high-intensity signal, and a clearly visualized intraplaque neovascular microchannel (NVMC) network.

Conclusions

Neovascularization within a coronary atheroma is known to accelerate coronary atherosclerosis. The current case with coronary vasospastic angina highlights the role of NVMC formation in this process.

Electronic supplementary material

The online version of this article (doi:10.1186/s12872-016-0408-y) contains supplementary material, which is available to authorized users.

Network meta-analysis of protocol-driven care and laparoscopic surgery for colorectal cancer

BACKGROUND

Laparoscopic approaches and standardized recovery protocols have reduced morbidity following colorectal cancer surgery. As the optimal regimen remains inconclusive, a network meta-analysis was undertaken of treatments for the development of postoperative complications and mortality.

METHODS

MEDLINE, Embase, trial registries and related reviews were searched for randomized trials comparing laparoscopic and open surgery within protocol-driven or conventional perioperative care for colorectal cancer resection, with complications as a defined endpoint. Relative odds ratios (ORs) for postoperative complications and mortality were estimated for aggregated data.

RESULTS

Forty trials reporting on 11 516 randomized patients were included with the network. Open surgery within conventional perioperative care was the index for comparison. The OR relating to complications was 0·77 (95 per cent c.i. 0·65 to 0·91) for laparoscopic surgery within conventional care, 0·69 (0·48 to 0·99) for open surgery within protocol-driven care, and 0·43 (0·28 to 0·67) for laparoscopic surgery within protocol-driven care. Sensitivity analyses excluding trials of low rectal cancer and those with a high risk of bias did not affect the treatment estimates. Meta-analyses demonstrated that mortality risk was unaffected by perioperative strategy.

CONCLUSION

Laparoscopic surgery combined with protocol-driven care reduces colorectal cancer surgery complications, but not mortality. The reduction in complications with protocol-driven care is greater for open surgery than for laparoscopic approaches. Registration number: CRD42015017850 (https://www.crd.york.ac.uk/PROSPERO).

Spatial variation in the (137)Cs inventory in soils in a mixed deciduous forest in Fukushima, Japan

The spatial variation of the radiocesium inventory in forest soil was studied c.a. 44 km northwest of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, Japan. This study focuses on the effects of canopy interception and downward transfer from the forest canopy to the forest floor via stemflow and throughfall. We established a study plot (400 m(2)) in the canopy layer of a secondary mixed deciduous forest dominated by Japanese oak (Quercus crispula) and Japanese fir (Abies firma), in August and November 2014. Soil was sampled from 0 to 5 cm depth and (137)Cs was measured under the canopy using a 2-m grid and also at the tree trunk bases. We divided the study plot into the five different types of subplot according to the canopy projection areas and the tree species for the analysis. The geometric mean and coefficient of variation of the (137)Cs inventory were 202 kBq m(-2) and 0.11 (0.52 in the arithmetic coefficient of variation), respectively. Within the forest, the variation in the (137)Cs inventory under trees was larger than in crown gap areas. The large spatial variation may be attributed to canopy interception of the initial deposition and downward transfer of radiocesium via stemflow and throughfall.

Three-day regimen of oseltamivir for postexposure prophylaxis of influenza in wards

Inpatients who had been in close contact with patients with influenza were given oseltamivir [75mg capsules once daily for adults or 2mg/kg (maximum of 75mg) once daily for children] for three days as postexposure prophylaxis (PEP). The index patients with influenza were prescribed a neuraminidase inhibitor and were discharged immediately or transferred to isolation rooms. The protective efficacy of oseltamivir for three days was 93% overall [95% confidence interval (CI) 53-99%; P=0.023] and 94% for influenza A (95% CI 61-99%; P=0.017), which is comparable to that of seven- to 10-day regimens of oseltamivir as PEP.

Monocyte and Basophil Counts as Predictors of Neutrophil Count Recovery in Patients with Thiamazole-Induced Agranulocytosis

Purpose: Thiamazole (MMI) is frequently used for the treatment of Graves' disease, but it occasionally induces agranulocytosis at the beginning of the treatment. To date, the predictive factors of recovery from MMI-induced agranulocytosis remain unclear. The primary aim of this study was to evaluate the predictive factor of the recovery time from MMI-induced agranulocytosis. Method: This was a retrospective cohort study performed in a university hospital and a thyroid hospital. We included 27 Japanese patients with Graves' disease with MMI-induced agranulocytosis diagnosed during follow-up. All patients were administrated recombinant human granulocyte colony-stimulating factor daily until they had a neutrophil count>1 000/μL, which was defined as recovery. The predictive factors associated with recovery time were estimated using multivariable regression analysis. Results: At the onset of agranulocytosis, the median administration period of MMI was 33 days, the average white blood cell count was 1 896/μL, and the median neutrophil count was 22/μL. The median recovery time was 4 days. Stepwise multivariate regression analysis identified the monocyte and basophil counts to be significant predictors of MMI-induced agranulocytosis. Conclusion: Patients with agranulocytosis and decreased monocyte and basophil counts at onset may recover late and require careful treatment.

Occult fetomaternal hemorrhage in women with pathological placenta with respect to permeability

AIM

Women with pre-eclampsia (PE), placenta previa (PP), placental abruption (PA), and placental mesenchymal dysplasia (PMD) have been described as having placental permeability dysfunction. This study was performed to determine whether occult fetomaternal hemorrhage (FMH) is common in women with such complications and in women with non-reassuring fetal status.

METHODS

Forty-one antenatal and 39 postnatal blood samples were obtained from 46 women, including 11 with placental permeability dysfunction (5, 3, 2, and 1 with PE, PP, PA, and PMD, respectively) and 35 controls without such complications. To estimate the amount of fetal red blood cells, flow cytometry was performed using the fetal cell count system with two antibodies against fetal hemoglobin and carbonic anhydrase and the β-γ system with two monoclonal antibodies against hemoglobin β-chain and hemoglobin γ-chain. A diagnosis of FMH was made when the fraction size of the isolated cell population on scatter plots expressing fetal hemoglobin alone or hemoglobin γ-chain alone accounted for ≥0.02% of the total cell population on scatter plots.

RESULTS

FMH was identified in five women, including one each with PE, PA, PP, PMD, and no complications. Thus, the prevalence rate of FMH was significantly higher in women with complications than in controls (36% [4/11] vs 2.9% [1/35], respectively, P =  0.009). The FMH occurrence rate did not differ between women with and without non-reassuring fetal status (7.7% [1/13] vs 12% [4/33], respectively, P =  1.000).

CONCLUSION

The risk of fetal red blood cells trafficking into the maternal circulation may be increased in women complicated with PE, PA, PP, and PMD.