Experimental implementation of assisted quantum adiabatic passage in a single spin

Quantum adiabatic passages can be greatly accelerated by a suitable control field, called a counter-diabatic field, which varies during the scan through resonance. Here, we implement this technique on the electron spin of a single nitrogen-vacancy center in diamond. We demonstrate two versions of this scheme. The first follows closely the procedure originally proposed by Demirplak and Rice [J. Phys. Chem. A 107, 9937 (2003)]. In the second scheme, we use a control field whose amplitude is constant but whose phase varies with time. This version, which we call the rapid-scan approach, allows an even faster passage through resonance and therefore makes it applicable also for systems with shorter decoherence times.

An artery accompanying the sciatic nerve (arteria comitans nervi ischiadici) and the position of the hip joint: a comparative histological study using chick, mouse, and human foetal specimens

Birds and reptiles always carry a long and thick artery accompanying the sciatic nerve (i.e., the sciatic artery), whereas mammals do not. We attempted to demonstrate a difference in courses of the nerve and artery in fetuses in relation with the hip joint posture. Eight mid-term human fetuses (15-18 weeks), five mouse fetuses (E18) and five chick embryos (11 days after incubation) were examined histologically. Thin feeding arteries in the sciatic nerve were consistently observed in human fetuses in spite of the long, inferiorly curved course of the nerve around the ischium. The tissue around the human sciatic nerve was not so tight because of the medial and inferior shift of the nerve away from the hip joint. The fetal hip joint position differed among the species, being highly flexed in humans and almost at right angle flexion in mice and chicks. Because of deep adduction of the hip joint in the mouse, the knee was located near the midline of the body. The mouse sciatic nerve ran through the tight tissue along the head of the femur, whereas the chick nerve ran through the loose space even in the gluteal region. In birds, evolution of the pelvis including the hip joint without adduction seemed to make the arterial development possible. In mammals, highly flexed or adducted hip joint seemed to be one of the disturbing factors against development of the long and thick artery. A slight change in posture may cause significant arterial variation.

Association study of genetic variants on chromosome 7q31 with susceptibility to normal tension glaucoma in a Japanese population

The caveolin 1 to caveolin 2 (CAV1-CAV2) gene region on chromosome 7q31 has been reported to be associated with susceptibility to primary open angle glaucoma (POAG) and normal tension glaucoma (NTG) in previous studies. We investigated whether genetic variants in the CAV1-CAV2 region are associated with NTG in Japanese patients. Two hundred and ninety-two Japanese patients with NTG and 352 Japanese healthy controls were recruited. We genotyped three single-nucleotide polymorphisms; that is, rs1052990, rs4236601, and rs7795356, in the CAV1-CAV2 gene region and assessed the allelic diversity among cases and controls. The frequency of the minor allele (G) of rs1052990 was significantly decreased in NTG cases compared with controls (P=0.014, OR=0.71), whereas NTG or POAG cases had a significantly higher frequency of the allele than controls in previous studies. Conversely, rs7795356 did not show any significant association with NTG cases, and rs4236601 was monomorphic in the Japanese study population. Our findings did not correspond with previous positive results, suggesting that CAV1-CAV2 variants studied in the present study are not important risk factors for NTG susceptibility in all populations. Further studies are needed to elucidate the possible contribution of the CAV1-CAV2 region to the development of glaucoma.

Combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy for central nervous system germ cell tumors: preliminary results of a Phase II study of the Japanese Pediatric Brain Tumor Study Group

The authors conducted a multiinstitutional phase II study to establish a postsurgical combined chemotherapy and radiation therapy regimen for patients with primary germ cell tumors of the brain. After surgical debulking of the tumor and histological verification, patients were divided into three therapeutic groups: good prognosis, intermediate prognosis, and poor prognosis. Patients received two kinds of chemotherapy (three courses) prior to receiving radiation therapy: carboplatin-etoposide combination ([CARB-VP]: carboplatin 450 mg/m(2) on Day 1, etoposide 150 mg/m(2) on Days 1-3) or ifosphamide-cisplatin-etoposide combination ([ICE]: ifosphamide 900 mg/m(2), cisplatin 20 mg/m(2), and etoposide 60 mg/m(2) on Days 1-5). Patients in the good prognosis group (those with germinomas) were treated with CARB-VP followed by local radiation therapy (24 Gy). Patients in the intermediate prognosis group received CARB-VP followed by local radiation therapy (50 Gy); they received five additional chemotherapy treatments. Patients in the poor prognosis group received ICE followed by whole craniospinal radiation therapy; they also received five additional chemotherapy treatments. Eighty-two patients were evaluated. For the 56 patients with germinomas, a 93% rate of complete remission after treatment was achieved. The remission rate was 76% for 21 patients in the intermediate prognosis group, and no recurrence was detected during a median follow-up period of 2.6 years. In the group of five patients with poor prognosis, the disease in three patients progressed during chemotherapy or radiation therapy and they died within 6 months. There were no serious complications in the surviving patients. The authors found their treatment protocols to be currently effective for patients with germinomas and those with an intermediate prognosis.

Abstract PD06-02: Standardized Assessment of Ki-67 Using Virtual Slides and Automated Analyzer for Breast Cancer Patients: Comparison of Automated and Central/Local Pathology Assessment

Background: Ki-67 is useful in determining the effect of hormonal therapy and also as a prognostic factor. However, the method for its evaluation has not been standardized, and the results vary depending on the assessment by pathologists. We reported that the discordance rate of Ki-67 in preoperative core needle biopsy and the surgical specimens was higher than that of other biological markers, and this was considered to be due to the discrepancies in the evaluation methods (SABCS 2011). In this report, we reviewed the possibility of introducing an automated analyzer by comparing the diagnosis made by local pathologists and reassessment by central review to standardize the evaluation method for Ki-67.

Subjects and Method: Of the 354 cases of primary breast cancer that had their first operation from October 2008 to March 2012, 225 cases that had preoperative core needle biopsy at Tokyo-West Tokushukai Hospital were selected as the subjects of this study. Cases with ductal carcinoma in situ (DCIS) and cases with neoadjuvant chemotherapy were excluded. A cut-off value of 20% was used for Ki-67 positive criteria. The concordance rates of estrogen receptors (ER), progesterone receptor (PgR), human epidermal growth factor receptor 2 (HER2), and Ki-67 by local pathologists were reviewed, and in cases of non-matching Ki-67, tumor diameter (≈ heterogeneity) and operative method (≈ condition of formalin fixation) were studied. Next, non-matching cases (∼ to October 2011) were reassessed both by central review and by an automated analyzer (Ventana Digital Pathology) using virtual slides, and the results were studied and compared with the evaluation by local pathologists. The Wilcoxon-t test was used to review the p value for statistical analysis. Parameters such as tumor diameter, operative method were analyzed by χ2 analysis.

Results: The concordance rate of Ki-67 in preoperative core needle biopsy and surgical specimens was 76.9% in 225 cases of local pathology assessment from October 2008 to March 2012. This rate was significantly lower (p < 0.001) than that of ER (95.6%), PgR (88.0%), and HER2 (91.5%). In non-matching cases, no difference was observed in tumor diameter and operative method. Reassessment of the 39 cases of non-matching Ki-67 to October 2011 using central review and an automated analyzer resulted in matching 27 cases (94.8%) and 32 (96.3%) out of 39 cases, respectively.

Conclusion: The concordance rate of Ki-67 in preoperative core needle biopsy and surgical specimens was lower compared with other biological markers. However, they were nearly equal with reassessment using central review and an automated analyzer. Clinical application of Ki-67 and its standardization are challenging due to variable counting methods and measurement sites. Conducting central reviews in general clinical facilities is difficult, but introducing an automated analyzer with a Ki-67 labeling index is shown to achieve that goal.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr PD06-02.

Abstract P1-15-11: The Kampo medicine Goshajinkigan prevents docetaxel-related peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer patients

Background: Although taxanes have become a key chemotherapeutic drug in breast cancer treatment. Taxanes inhibit the growth of cancer cells by disrupting the functioning of their microtubules; however, the microtubules of nerve cells are also affected by this process, which can cause neurological disorders. The Kampo medicine Goshajinkigan (GJG) is a traditional Japanese medicine that is used for the treatment of several neurological symptoms including pain and numbness, GJG is comprised of 10 herbs, each of which contains numerous active ingredients. Recently, GJG has been reported to prevent anticancer drug-induced peripheral neuropathy in colorectal cancer. We performed the present prospective randomized study to confirm the effects of GJG and mecobalamin (B12) against docetaxel (DOC)-associated peripheral neurotoxicity in breast cancer patients.

Patients and method: Between May 2007 and April 2011, 60 breast cancer patients were treated with DOC. Thirty-three patients (GJG group) received oral administration of 7.5 g/day GJG and 27 patients (B12 group) received oral administration of 1500 μg/day B12. The patients were treated with TC (75mg/m2 docetaxel and 600 mg/m2 cyclophosphamide) every 3 weeks for 4 cycles, docetaxel alone (100mg/m2) every 3 weeks for 4 cycles, and XT (900mg/m2 capecitabine administered orally twice a day on days 1–14 plus 60 mg/m2 docetaxel) every 3 weeks for 6 cycles. Peripheral neuropathy was evaluated during every course according to DEB-NTC (Neurotoxicity Criteria of Debiopharm), Common Terminology Criteria for Adverse Events (NCI-CTC) ver.3.0, and a visual analogue scale (VAS).

Results: The median age of the GJG group was 58 years old (35 to 70 years old), the B12 group was 55 years old (33 to 69 years old), and they were all females. For the regimens, in the GJG group, TC, DOC only, and XT were administered in 19 cases, 13 cases and 1 case, respectively. In the B12 group, they were 15 cases, 11 cases and 12 cases, respectively. The cumulative dose of DOC was 338.5 mg/m2 in the GJG group, and 340 mg/m2 in the B12 group. Peripheral neuropathy occurred significantly less frequently in the GJG group (39.3%) than the B12 group (88.9%) (p < 0.01). In the GJG group, grade 1 DEB-NTC was observed in 2 cases, grade 2 in 5 cases and grade 3 in 5 cases. Grade 1 NCI-CTC was observed in 7 cases, grade 2 in 6 cases. In the B12 group, grades 1, 2 and 3 DEB-NTC were observed in one case, 12 cases and 12 cases, respectively; and grades 1, 2 and 3 NCI-CTC were observed in 11 cases, 12 cases and one case. The mean VAS scores for numbness after chemotherapy were 2.7 in the GJG group and 4.9 in the B12 group (p < 0.01). The incidence of grade 2/3 peripheral neuropathy was lower in the GJG group than the B12 group. Peripheral neuropathy was significantly controlled in the GJG group.

Conclusion: The present study is the first prospective control study to prove the efficacy of GJG against docetaxel-induced peripheral neuropathy in breast cancer patients. Our findings suggest that DOC-associated peripheral neurotoxicity can be suppressed by the administration of GJG. It will be necessary to confirm the usefulness of GJG in larger prospective studies.

Citation Information: Cancer Res 2012;72(24 Suppl):Abstract nr P1-15-11.

Bovine oviductal epithelial cells: their cell culture and applications in studies for reproductive biology

Epithelial cells of the mammalian oviduct play an important role in reproductive and developmental events that occur there. Oviductal epithelial cells from several mammalian species can be isolated and cultured in serum or serum-free medium in vitro and cell culture of bovine oviductal epithelial cells (BOEC) has been described by many investigators. Cultured BOEC show a wide variety of secretory activities and these secretory factors may influence early embryonic development or sperm function. Monolayer cultures of BOEC have been widely used for in vitro co-culture of bovine preimplantation embryos. The use of BOEC co-culture systems has improved embryonic development in nearly all the studies conducted. In addition, interaction of bovine spermatozoa with BOEC, in a similar manner to that observed for spermatozoa in vivo, induced specific changes in sperm capacitation and consequently improved the fertilizing capacity of bovine spermatozoa in vitro. Thus co-culture systems with BOEC may not only offer an excellent model for studying the mechanisms of capacitation and acrosome reaction of bovine spermatozoa but also provide a useful tool for the improvement of embryo development in vitro.

Total removal of huge chondrosarcoma of the skull base with facial nerve resection and reconstruction

Chondrosarcomas of the skull base are locally aggressive tumours, and radical surgical resection is often difficult because of involvement of important neural structures in the skull base. We report the successful total resection of a huge skull base chondrosarcoma extending both intra- and extracranially. The tumour involved the left mastoid process, entire petrous bone, jugular foramen, posterior fossa and the parapharyngeal space. Since the facial nerve in the fallopian canal was totally involved by the tumour, the nerve was sacrificed and reconstructed using a great auricular nerve graft. The removal of the tumour was radical and complete. The functional recovery of the reconstructed facial nerve was excellent. The patient has almost fully recovered from the other neurological symptoms and has been free of tumour recurrence for 4 years after surgery.

A serum-free culture system for efficient in vitro production of bovine blastocysts with improved viability after freezing and thawing

The aim of this study was to evaluate whether two completely serum-free media (IVMD101 and IVD101) could improve the yield and quality of bovine blastocysts from in vitro matured and fertilized oocytes. The media were evaluated in the presence (IVMD101) or absence (IVD101) of bovine cumulus/granulosa cell (BCGC) cocultures. The proportion of embryos developing to the blastocyst stage in IVMD101 medium with BCGC cocultures (36.5%) and IVD101 medium without BCGC cocultures (37.1%) was significantly higher than in serum-supplemented medium (TCM199 + 5% calf serum) with BCGC cocultures (25.1%). Furthermore, the mean cell numbers per blastocyst on Day 7 developed in IVMD101 medium (179.5 cells) and IVD101 medium (177.1 cells) were greater than in the serum-supplemented medium (145.7 cells). The survival rates of blastocysts derived in IVMD101 medium (73.3%) and IVD101 medium (60.0%) based on hatching after 72 h of post-thaw culture were superior to that of blastocysts derived in the serum-supplemented medium (48.1%). Under microscopic observation, bovine blastocysts derived in the serum-supplemented medium showed abundant lipid droplets, largely into the trophectoderm cells. This morphological difference may partly explain the sensitivity of serum-derived embryos after freezing and thawing. In conclusion, these new serum-free culture media are useful, not only to study the mechanisms of early embryogenesis, but also for mass production of good quality embryos for embryo transfer, cloning and transgenesis.

Development of a serum-free and heat-sterilizable medium and continuous high-density cell culture

We tried to establish a new serum-free and heat-sterilizable medium, based on our serum-free medium in which many lymphoblastoid cells and hybridoma could grow as well as in a conventional serum-containing medium.As is well-known, L-glutamine (L-Gln) is one of the most heat-labile but essential components for cell growth. As a substitute for L-Gln, dipeptide such as Gly-L-Gln or L-Ala-L-Gln, which was quite stable even after autoclaving, was found to be utilizable for mammalian cell growth. The L-Gln dipeptide-containing serum-free medium was quite stable in a solution even after storing at 37°C for 4 months. In the serum-free medium containing L-Ala-L-Gln, mouse hybridola could grow and produce more antibody than in RPMI 1640+10% FBS.It has been proved that BSA and transferrin, which are also heat-labile but essential for the growth of various cell lines, can be substituted by heat-stable alpha-cyclodextrin and cholesterol, and Fe-gluconate, respectively. Insulin has also proved to be heat stable in a solution of Fe-gluconate. We thus established a new serum-free medium, all the components of which could be heat-sterilizable.Moreover, by adding EGF and BSA but without the adhesion factor included in FBS, the serum-free medium was found to support a long-term serial culture of a human diploid fibroblast.Finally, with this auotoclavable serum-free medium in a perfusion culture apparatus, we were able to continuously cultivate a human lymphoblastoid cell line. The production rate of IgM was found to be markedly increased by feeding the serum-free medium enriched by glucose, bicarbonate, L-Cys, and approtinin. The cell density reached as high as 2×10(8)/ml in the serum-free medium. Although the working volume in the reactor was only 1 1, the rate of IgM production reached 480 mg/day.The new heat-sterilizable serum-free medium has several advantages, because L-Gln peptide is a heat-stable and available precursor of L-Gln.

TET2 is essential for survival and hematopoietic stem cell homeostasis

Ten-Eleven-Translocation 2 (TET2) is an enzyme that catalyzes the conversion of 5-methylcytosine into 5-hydroxymethylcytosine (5-hmC) and thereby alters the epigenetic state of DNA; somatic loss-of-function mutations of TET2 are frequently observed in patients with diverse myeloid malignancies. To study the function of TET2 in vivo, we analyzed Ayu17-449 (TET2(trap)) mice, in which a gene trap insertion in intron 2 of TET2 reduces TET2 mRNA levels to about 20% of that found in wild-type (WT) mice. TET2(trap/trap) mice were born at Mendelian frequency but died at a high rate by postnatal day 3, indicating the essential role of TET2 for survival. Loss of TET2 results in an increase in the number of hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs)/progenitors in the fetal liver, and TET2(trap/trap) HSCs exhibit an increased self-renewal ability in vivo. In competitive transplantation assays, TET2(trap/trap) HSCs possess a competitive growth advantage over WT HSCs. These data indicate that TET2 has a critical role in survival and HSC homeostasis.

Interspecies linkage analysis of mo, a Bombyx mori locus associated with mosaicism and gynandromorphism

The mo (hereditary mosaic) mutation is one of the most famous and interesting mutations of the silkworm, Bombyx mori. Females homozygous for mo generate mosaic and gynandromorphic offspring due to non-elimination of polar bodies and subsequent double fertilization events, irrespective of the genotype of the mated males. Although mo was first reported in 1927, the locus has not been mapped to linkage groups, as the mutation is unstable and appears to be sensitive to genetic background. In this study, linkage analysis of mo was performed using PCR-based markers on single nucleotide polymorphism linkage maps. Bombyx mandarina was used as the mating partner for the B. mori mo strain, as it is easier to identify polymorphic markers between B. mori and B. mandarina than within B. mori strains. Surprisingly, we identified two homozygous linkage groups (LGs) in all of the 12 B(1) (first backcross generation) moths that had deposited mosaic eggs. It was revealed that +( mo ) is located on the M chromosome of B. mandarina, which corresponds to two linkage groups of B. mori, LG 14 and 27. Based on further linkage analysis using B. mori as a mating partner, mo was mapped to LG 14. Additionally, we found that mo activity could be modified by a gene(s) on LG 17.

Serum PAI-1 is a novel predictor for response to pegylated interferon-α-2b plus ribavirin therapy in chronic hepatitis C virus infection

Obesity and insulin resistance have been reported as negative predictors for sustained virological response (SVR) in hepatitis C virus (HCV) genotype 1 infected patients treated with pegylated interferon-α plus ribavirin. They are also known to affect serum levels of several cytokines including adipocytokines. But the association between these cytokines and treatment outcome has not been fully elucidated. We examined pretreatment serum levels of 14 cytokines among 190 patients who were treated with pegylated interferon-α-2b plus ribavirin for chronic HCV-1b infection with high viral load (≥ 5 log IU/mL) and analyzed their contribution to treatment response. Plasminogen activator inhibitor-1 (PAI-1), vascular endothelial growth factor, and 11 clinical factors showed significant association with SVR in univariate logistic regression analysis. Four significant factors in multivariate analysis; serum PAI-1 (odds ratio [OR] = 15.42), body mass index (OR = 4.56), rs8099917 (OR = 4.95) and fibrosis stage (OR = 5.18) were identified as independent predictors. We constructed a simple and minimally invasive prediction score for SVR based on the presence of these factors except for fibrosis stage. The accuracy of this score was 73%, and was confirmed using an independent validation cohort consisting of 31 patients (68%). The strongest correlation was between PAI-1 level and platelet count (r = 0.38, P = 1.8 × 10(-7)), and PAI-1 level was inversely correlated with fibrosis stage. Serum PAI-1 is a novel predictor for the response to combination therapy against chronic HCV-1b infection and may be associated with liver fibrosis.

43 EFFECT OF VITRIFICATION AT GERMINAL VESICLE STAGE ON THE MITOCHONDRIAL AND CYTOSKELETAL INTEGRITY IN BOVINE OOCYTES

In the previous report, we demonstrated that bovine germinal vesicle (GV) stage oocytes vitrified using a nylon mesh holder showed an in vitro maturation rate to the metaphase II (MII) stage similar to that of fresh ones. However, cleavage and developmental rates of vitrified oocytes were low. Because mitochondria and the cytoskeleton are thought to have a central role in energy supply and cellular division in mammalian embryogenesis, it seems possible that alternation in their function in vitrified GV oocytes may contribute to subsequent lower cleavage and developmental rates. The oxygen consumption rate reflects the mitochondrial activity and its measurement may be an effective way for non-invasive evaluation of oocyte quality. In this study, to ascertain that altered mitochondrial functions and cytoskeleton may contribute to reduce the quality of oocytes after vitrification, we evaluated the distribution of active mitochondria and the cytoskeleton in vitrified oocytes. We also examined the relationship between oxygen consumption rate and the distribution of active mitochondria in vitrified oocytes. Bovine GV oocytes connected with cumulus cells were exposed to the cryoprotectant (EFS40) in a stepwise way and transferred onto a nylon mesh holder, followed by plunging them directly into liquid nitrogen. After warming, vitrified oocytes were allowed in vitro maturation. After denuding, matured oocytes were stained with a mitochondria-specific probe, rhodamine-123 and then oxygen consumption rate using an embryo respirometer (HV-403; Research Institute for Functional Peptides, Yamagata, Japan) was measured in each oocyte. According to morphological distribution of mitochondria, oocytes were classified as follows: type 1, uniform distribution; type 2, spotted distribution; and type 3, a weak fluorescence. The oxygen consumption rate of the fresh oocytes at the MII stage was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that of vitrified oocytes (5.24 and 4 × 1015 mol–1 s–1, respectively), although there was no difference between the fresh and vitrified groups at the GV stage (5.02 and 5.06 × 1015 mol–1 s–1, respectively). The oxygen consumption rates of type 1 oocytes in fresh and vitrified groups at the MII stage tended to be higher than those of type 2 and 3 oocytes (type 1, 5.29 and 5.27; type 2, 4.99 and 4.52; type 3, 4.77 and 4.48 × 1015 mol–1 s–1, respectively). In addition, the percentage of type 1 oocytes in the fresh group was significantly (P < 0.05) higher than that in the vitrified group (59.4 and 34.3%, respectively). The matured oocytes also were stained with α-tubulin monoclonal antibody or F-phalloidin independently to examine the morphological status of microtubules or microfilament. The rates of oocytes with abnormal microtubules and microfilament in the vitrified group were 29.7 and 43.5%, respectively, showing higher rates compared with corresponding fresh oocytes (9.8%; P < 0.05 and 25.0%; P = 0.21, respectively). These results suggested that the reduction of quality and subsequent developmental competence in vitrified oocytes might be related to damages of mitochondria and cytoskeleton.