Combined Analysis of Neutrino and Antineutrino Oscillations at T2K

T2K reports its first results in the search for CP violation in neutrino oscillations using appearance and disappearance channels for neutrino- and antineutrino-mode beams. The data include all runs from January 2010 to May 2016 and comprise 7.482×10^{20} protons on target in neutrino mode, which yielded in the far detector 32 e-like and 135  μ-like events, and 7.471×10^{20} protons on target in antineutrino mode, which yielded 4 e-like and 66  μ-like events. Reactor measurements of sin^{2}2θ_{13} have been used as an additional constraint. The one-dimensional confidence interval at 90% for the phase δ_{CP} spans the range (-3.13, -0.39) for normal mass ordering. The CP conservation hypothesis (δ_{CP}=0, π) is excluded at 90% C.L.

Regional Variations in the Incidence of Rotavirus Hospitalization in Children Living in Defined Regions of Akita and Kyoto Prefectures, Japan

Variable incidence rates of rotavirus gastroenteritis hospitalizations have been reported in Japan. However, it is not known whether the observed regional differences were due to the real difference in the occurrence of severe disease or other causes. This study aimed to determine the incidence rates of rotavirus hospitalization among children aged <5 years in the Yuri district in Akita prefecture and the Nantan district in Kyoto prefecture between March 2012 and February 2013. During this period, rotavirus vaccine uptake rates were equally low in both regions. All specimens were evaluated using the standardized case definition, severity scores, and the same assays. There were 44 rotavirus cases (44%) among 101 acute gastroenteritis-related hospitalizations in the Yuri district with a catchment population of 3,853, and 18 rotavirus cases (47%) among 38 acute gastroenteritis-related hospitalizations in the Nantan district with a catchment population of 5,128. While the severity score at the time of the hospitalizations was 11 in both hospitals, the incidence rates in Akita and Kyoto were 11.7 (95% confidence interval [CI]: 8.5-15.6) and 3.9 (95% CI: 2.1-5.5) per 1,000 child-years, respectively. Thus, there was a real difference in the occurrence rate of severe rotavirus infections between the 2 regions.

ASP2409, A Next-Generation CTLA4-Ig, Versus Belatacept in Renal Allograft Survival in Cynomolgus Monkeys

Belatacept is the first costimulatory blockade agent approved for maintenance immunosuppression in kidney transplant recipients. Clinical results have indicated that belatacept is associated with superior renal function and improved metabolic profile; however, higher incidence of acute rejection and posttransplant lymphoproliferative disorder are the shortcomings of this agent. In this study, ASP2409, a new cytotoxic T-lymphocyte associated protein 4-immunoglobulin possessing 14-fold higher in vitro CD86 binding affinity than belatacept, was tested for renal allograft survival in cynomolgus monkeys. ASP2409 monotherapy dose-dependently prolonged renal allograft survival. Low-dose ASP2409 in combination with a subtherapeutic dose of tacrolimus showed much longer median survival time than monotherapy. Similar allograft survival results were observed in regimens based on high-dose ASP2409, belatacept, and therapeutic-dose tacrolimus. The results of renal allograft histopathology with high-dose ASP2409-based regimens were not inferior to the belatacept-based regimen. Moreover, higher frequencies of FoxP3-positive regulatory T cells in renal allografts were observed in ASP2409- and belatacept-based regimens compared with tacrolimus-based regimens. No serious side effects related to ASP2409 administration were found during the study. These data suggest that ASP2409 is a promising candidate for calcineurin inhibitor-sparing or -avoidance regimens.

Effects of Aerobic and Resistance Training Combined with Fortified Milk on Muscle Mass, Muscle Strength, and Physical Performance in Older Adults: A Randomized Controlled Trial

OBJECTIVES

Fortified milk and resistance training (RT) increase muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older adults, but it remains unclear whether RT combined with aerobic training (AT) would have stronger effects on these outcomes. The purpose of this study was to examine the effects of aerobic and resistance training (ART) combined with fortified milk consumption on muscle mass, muscle strength, and physical performance in older adults.

DESIGN

Open-labeled randomized controlled trial.

SETTING

University of Tsukuba.

PARTICIPANTS

Fifty-six older adults aged 65-79.

INTERVENTION

Participants were randomly allocated into resistance training (RT + fortified milk, n = 28) and aerobic and resistance training (ART + fortified milk, n = 28) groups. All participants attended supervised exercise programs twice a week at University of Tsukuba and ingested fortified milk every day for 12 weeks. Skeletal muscle index ([SMI]: appendicular lean mass/height2) was assessed using dual-energy X-ray absorptiometry as a muscle mass measure. One-repetition maximum strength was measured using four kinds of resistance training machines (chest press, leg extension, leg curl, and leg press) as muscle strength measures. Sit-to-stand and arm curl tests were also assessed as physical performance measures.

MEASUREMENTS

The primary measurements were muscle mass and strength. The secondary outcomes were physical performance, blood samples, habitual diet, habitual physical activity, and medication use.

RESULTS

Although the muscle strength and physical performance measures significantly improved in both groups, SMI significantly improved in only the RT group. There was no significant difference in the change in SMI and muscle strength measures between the two groups. However, the change in sit-to-stand and arm curl measures in the ART group were significantly higher than those in the RT group.

CONCLUSIONS

These results suggest that AT before RT combined with fortified milk consumption has similar effects on skeletal muscle mass and strength compared with RT alone, but it may be a more useful strategy to improve physical performance in older adults. Although the mechanism of our intervention is uncertain, our program would be an effective prevention for sarcopenia in older adults.

Measurement of Coherent π^{+} Production in Low Energy Neutrino-Carbon Scattering

We report the first measurement of the flux-averaged cross section for charged current coherent π^{+} production on carbon for neutrino energies less than 1.5 GeV, and with a restriction on the final state phase space volume in the T2K near detector, ND280. Comparisons are made with predictions from the Rein-Sehgal coherent production model and the model by Alvarez-Ruso et al., the latter representing the first implementation of an instance of the new class of microscopic coherent models in a neutrino interaction Monte Carlo event generator. We observe a clear event excess above background, disagreeing with the null results reported by K2K and SciBooNE in a similar neutrino energy region. The measured flux-averaged cross sections are below those predicted by both the Rein-Sehgal and Alvarez-Ruso et al.

Effect of Pimobendan in Dogs with Preclinical Myxomatous Mitral Valve Disease and Cardiomegaly: The EPIC Study-A Randomized Clinical Trial

Background

Pimobendan is effective in treatment of dogs with congestive heart failure (CHF) secondary to myxomatous mitral valve disease (MMVD). Its effect on dogs before the onset of CHF is unknown.

Hypothesis/Objectives

Administration of pimobendan (0.4–0.6 mg/kg/d in divided doses) to dogs with increased heart size secondary to preclinical MMVD, not receiving other cardiovascular medications, will delay the onset of signs of CHF, cardiac‐related death, or euthanasia.

Animals

360 client‐owned dogs with MMVD with left atrial‐to‐aortic ratio ≥1.6, normalized left ventricular internal diameter in diastole ≥1.7, and vertebral heart sum >10.5.

Methods

Prospective, randomized, placebo‐controlled, blinded, multicenter clinical trial. Primary outcome variable was time to a composite of the onset of CHF, cardiac‐related death, or euthanasia.

Results

Median time to primary endpoint was 1228 days (95% CI: 856–NA) in the pimobendan group and 766 days (95% CI: 667–875) in the placebo group (P = .0038). Hazard ratio for the pimobendan group was 0.64 (95% CI: 0.47–0.87) compared with the placebo group. The benefit persisted after adjustment for other variables. Adverse events were not different between treatment groups. Dogs in the pimobendan group lived longer (median survival time was 1059 days (95% CI: 952–NA) in the pimobendan group and 902 days (95% CI: 747–1061) in the placebo group) (P = .012).

Conclusions and Clinical Importance

Administration of pimobendan to dogs with MMVD and echocardiographic and radiographic evidence of cardiomegaly results in prolongation of preclinical period and is safe and well tolerated. Prolongation of preclinical period by approximately 15 months represents substantial clinical benefit.

Measurement of Muon Antineutrino Oscillations with an Accelerator-Produced Off-Axis Beam

T2K reports its first measurements of the parameters governing the disappearance of ν[over ¯]_{μ} in an off-axis beam due to flavor change induced by neutrino oscillations. The quasimonochromatic ν[over ¯]_{μ} beam, produced with a peak energy of 0.6 GeV at J-PARC, is observed at the far detector Super-Kamiokande, 295 km away, where the ν[over ¯]_{μ} survival probability is expected to be minimal. Using a data set corresponding to 4.01×10^{20} protons on target, 34 fully contained μ-like events were observed. The best-fit oscillation parameters are sin^{2}(θ[over ¯]_{23})=0.45 and |Δm[over ¯]_{32}^{2}|=2.51×10^{-3}  eV^{2} with 68% confidence intervals of 0.38-0.64 and 2.26-2.80×10^{-3}  eV^{2}, respectively. These results are in agreement with existing antineutrino parameter measurements and also with the ν_{μ} disappearance parameters measured by T2K.

Genetic analysis of human rotavirus C: The appearance of Indian-Bangladeshi strain in Far East Asian countries

Rotaviruses C (RVCs) circulate worldwide as an enteric pathogen in both humans and animals. Most studies of their genetic diversity focus on the VP7 and VP4 genes, but the complete genomes of 18 human RVCs have been described in independent studies. The genetic background of the Far East Asian RVCs is different than other human RVCs that were found in India and Bangladesh. Recently, a RVC detected in 2010 in South Korea had genetic background similar to the Indian-Bangladeshi RVCs. This study was undertaken to determine the whole genome of eight Japanese RVCs detected in 2005-2012, and to compare them with other human and animal global RVCs to better understand the genetic background of contemporary Far East Asian RVC. By phylogenetic analysis, the human RVCs appeared to be distinct from animal RVCs. Among human RVCs, three lineage constellations had prolonged circulation. The genetic background of the Far East Asian RVC was distinguished from Indian-Bangladeshi RVC as reported earlier. However, we found one Japanese RVC in 2012 that carried the genetic background of Indian-Bangladeshi RVC, whereas the remaining seven Japanese RVCs carried the typical genetic background of Far East Asian RVC. This is the first report of the Indian-Bangladeshi RVC in Japan. With that observation and the reassortment event of human RVCs in Hungary, our study indicates that the RVCs are spreading from one region to another.

Quiet T1-Weighted Pointwise Encoding Time Reduction with Radial Acquisition for Assessing Myelination in the Pediatric Brain

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

T1-weighted pointwise encoding time reduction with radial acquisition (PETRA) sequences require limited gradient activity and allow quiet scanning. We aimed to assess the usefulness of PETRA in pediatric brain imaging.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

We included consecutive pediatric patients who underwent both MPRAGE and PETRA. The contrast-to-noise and contrast ratios between WM and GM were compared in the cerebellar WM, internal capsule, and corpus callosum. The degree of myelination was rated by using 4-point scales at each of these locations plus the subcortical WM in the anterior frontal, anterior temporal, and posterior occipital lobes. Two radiologists made all assessments, and the intra- and interrater agreement was calculated by using intraclass correlation coefficients. Acoustic noise on MPRAGE and PETRA was measured.

RESULTS

We included 56 patients 5 days to 14 years of age (mean age, 36.6 months) who underwent both MPRAGE and PETRA. The contrast-to-noise and contrast ratios for PETRA were significantly higher than those for MPRAGE (P < .05), excluding the signal ratio for cerebellar WM. Excellent intra- and interrater agreement were obtained for myelination at all locations except the cerebellar WM. The acoustic noise on PETRA (58.2 dB[A]) was much lower than that on MPRAGE (87.4 dB[A]).

CONCLUSIONS

PETRA generally showed better objective imaging quality without a difference in subjective image-quality evaluation and produced much less acoustic noise compared with MPRAGE. We conclude that PETRA can substitute for MPRAGE in pediatric brain imaging.

Sympathetic hyper-excitation in obesity and pulmonary hypertension: physiological relevance to the 'obesity paradox'

BACKGROUND

Within the lung, sympathetic nerve activity (SNA) has an important role in facilitating pulmonary vasodilation. As SNA is elevated in obesity, we aimed to assess the impact of sympathetic hyper-excitation on pulmonary vascular homeostasis in obesity, and its potential role in ameliorating the severity of pulmonary hypertension (PH); the well-documented 'obesity paradox' phenomenon.

METHODS

Zucker obese and lean rats were exposed to normoxia or chronic hypoxia (CH-10% O2) for 2 weeks. Subsequently, pulmonary SNA (pSNA) was recorded (electrophysiology), or the pulmonary microcirculation was visualized using Synchrotron microangiography. Acute hypoxic pulmonary vasoconstriction (HPV) was assessed before and after blockade of β1-adrenergic receptors (ARs) (atenolol, 3 mg kg(-1)) and β1+β2-adrenergic (propranolol, 2 mg kg(-1)).

RESULTS

pSNA of normoxic obese rats was higher than lean counterparts (2.4 and 0.5 μV s, respectively). SNA was enhanced following the development of PH in lean rats, but more so in obese rats (1.7 and 6.8 μV s, respectively). The magnitude of HPV was similar for all groups (for example, ~20% constriction of the 200-300 μm vessels). Although β-blockade did not modify HPV in lean rats, it significantly augmented the HPV in normoxic obese rats (β1 and β2 blockade), and more so in obese rats with PH (β2-blockade alone). Western blots showed, while the expression of pulmonary β1-ARs was similar for all rats, the expression of β2-ARs was downregulated in obesity and PH.

CONCLUSIONS

This study suggests that sympathetic hyper-excitation in obesity may have an important role in constraining the severity of PH and, thus, contribute in part to the 'obesity paradox' in PH.