Study on the relationship between the dispersal of wild boar (Sus scrofa) and the associated variability of Cesium-137 concentrations in its muscle Post-Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident

After the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) accident in 2011, the wild boar (Sus scrofa) population within the Fukushima Evacuation Zone (FEZ) increased substantially in size and distribution. This growing population and their potential dispersal from the FEZ, where they are exposed to high levels of radionuclides, into the surrounding landscape underscores the need to better understand boar movement patterns in order to establish policies for managing shipping restrictions for boar meat and develop management strategies. In this study, we quantified the genetic population structure of boar in and around Fukushima prefecture using sequence data of the mitochondrial DNA control region and MIG-seq analysis using 348 boar samples to clarify boar dispersal patterns. Among boar samples, seven Asian haplotypes and one European haplotype were detected. The European haplotype originated from hybridization between domestic pigs and native boar in the evacuation zone after the accident and was detected in 15 samples across a broad geographic area. Our MIG-seq analysis revealed genetic structure of boar was significantly different between boar inhabiting the eastern (including FEZ. i.e., East clade) and western (i.e., West clade) regions in Fukushima prefecture. In addition, we investigated the relationships between boar dispersal and Cesium (Cs)-137 activity concentrations in boar muscle using MIG-seq genetic data in Nihonmatsu city, located in the central-northern region of Fukushima. High Cs-137 activity concentrations, exceeding 1000 Bq/kg, in boar muscle had a significantly high probability of belonging to the East clade within localized regions. Thus, our results provide evidence of the spatial scale of dispersal of individuals or offspring of boar from the FEZ. Results of this research also indicate that dispersal of individuals between areas with different Cs-137 contamination levels is one of the biggest factors contributing to variation in Cs-137 activity concentration in boar muscle within localized regions.

V180I genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease: Severe degeneration of the inferior olivary nucleus in an autopsied patient with identification of the M2T prion strain

Genetic Creutzfeldt-Jakob disease (gCJD) with a V180I mutation (V180I gCJD) is the most common type of gCJD in Japan, characterized by an older age at onset, slower progression, and moderate to severe cortical degeneration with spongiform changes and sparing of the brainstem and cerebellum. Degeneration of the inferior olivary nucleus (IO) is rarely observed in patients with CJD but is known to occur in fatal familial insomnia (FFI) and MM2-thalamic-type sporadic CJD (sCJD-MM2T) involving type 2 prion protein (M2T prion). Here we report on an 81-year-old Japanese woman who initially developed depressive symptoms followed by progressive cognitive impairment, myoclonus, and hallucinations and died after a clinical course of 23 months. Insomnia was not evident. Genetic analysis of the prion protein (PrP) identified a V180I mutation with methionine/valine heterozygosity at codon 129. Pathologic analysis demonstrated extensive spongiform degeneration, neuronal loss in the cortices, and weak synaptic-type PrP deposition. Except for IO degeneration, the clinicopathologic features and Western blotting PrP band pattern were compatible with those of previously reported V180I gCJD cases. Quantitative analysis revealed that the neuronal density of the IO, especially in the dorsal area, was considerably reduced to the same extent as that of a patient with sCJD-MM2T but preserved in other patients with V180I gCJD and sCJD-MM1 (this patient, 2.3 ± 0.53/mm2 ; a patient with sCJD-MM2T, 4.2 ± 2; a patient with V180I gCJD, 60.5 ± 9.3; and a patient with sCJD-MM1, 84.5 ± 17.9). Use of the protein misfolding cyclic amplification (PMCA) method confirmed the presence of the M2T prion strain, suggesting that the latter might be associated with IO degeneration in V180I gCJD. Autopsy studies are necessary to better understand the nature of CJD, since even if patients present with the common clinical picture, pathologic analysis might provide new insights, as was the case here.

[An autopsied patient with palatal tremor and fatal bilateral vocal cord abduction paralysis associated with bilateral cerebellar dentate nucleus infarction]

A 74-year-old male patient developed multiple infarcts of the brainstem and cerebellum, followed 14 months later by palatal tremor and bilateral vocal cord abduction paralysis, resulting in death due to type 2 respiratory failure. Pathologic analysis revealed old infarcts extending from the bilateral cerebellar cortices to the dentate nucleus, being more extensive on the right side, accompanied by Wallerian degeneration involving the left red nucleus, right central tegmentum tract, and inferior cerebellar peduncle, followed by pseudohypertrophy of the bilateral inferior olivary nuclei. These lesions, involving the Guillain-Mollaret triangle, may have been responsible for the palatal tremor. On the other hand, there were no evident causative lesions for the vocal cord abduction, including any in the nucleus ambiguus or posterior cricoarytenoid muscles. In this case it is possible that the dysfunction responsible for the palatal tremor may have affected the pathway from the central tegmentum tract, which is part of the Guillain-Mollaret triangle, to the vagus nerve arising from the nucleus ambiguus, which plays a role in vocal cord abduction, thus affecting the vocal cords and resulting in abduction paralysis.

Spinocerebellar ataxia type 17-digenic TBP/STUB1 disease: neuropathologic features of an autopsied patient

Spinocerebellar ataxia (SCA) type 17-digenic TBP/STUB1 disease (SCA17-DI) has been recently segregated from SCA17, caused by digenic inheritance of two gene mutations - intermediate polyglutamine-encoding CAG/CAA repeat expansions (polyQ) in TBP (TBP_41 - 49) and STUB1 heterozygosity - the former being associated with SCA17, and the latter with SCA48 and SCAR16 (autosomal recessive). In SCA17, most patients carry intermediate TBP_41 - 49 alleles but show incomplete penetrance, and the missing heritability can be explained by a new entity whereby TBP_41 - 49 requires the STUB1 variant to be symptomatic. The STUB1 gene encodes the chaperone-associated E3 ubiquitin ligase (CHIP) involved in ubiquitin-mediated proteasomal control of protein homeostasis. However, reports of the neuropathology are limited and role of STUB1 mutations in SCA17-DI remain unknown. Here we report the clinicopathologic features of identical twin siblings, one of whom was autopsied and was found to carry an intermediate allele (41 and 38 CAG/CAA repeats) in TBP and a heterozygous missense mutation in STUB1 (p.P243L). These patients developed autosomal recessive Huntington's disease-like symptoms. Brain MRI showed diffuse atrophy of the cerebellum and T2WI revealed hyperintense lesions in the basal ganglia and periventricular deep white matter. The brain histopathology of the patient shared features characteristic of SCA17, such as degeneration of the cerebellar cortex and caudate nucleus, and presence of 1C2-positive neurons. Here we show that mutant CHIP fails to generate the polyubiquitin chain due to disrupted folding of the entire U box domain, thereby affecting the E3 activity of CHIP. When encountering patients with cerebellar ataxia, especially those with Huntington's disease-like symptoms, genetic testing for STUB1 as well as TBP should be conducted for diagnosis of SCA17-DI, even in cases of sporadic or autosomal recessive inheritance.

Involvement of the Thalamus, Hippocampus, and Brainstem in Hypsarrhythmia of West Syndrome: Simultaneous Recordings of Electroencephalography and fMRI Study

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

West syndrome is a developmental and epileptic encephalopathy characterized by epileptic spasms, neurodevelopmental regression, and a specific EEG pattern called hypsarrhythmia. Our aim was to investigate the brain activities related to hypsarrhythmia at onset and focal epileptiform discharges in the remote period in children with West syndrome using simultaneous electroencephalography and fMRI recordings.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Fourteen children with West syndrome underwent simultaneous electroencephalography and fMRI at the onset of West syndrome. Statistically significant blood oxygen level-dependent responses related to hypsarrhythmia were analyzed using an event-related design of 4 hemodynamic response functions with peaks at 3, 5, 7, and 9 seconds after the onset of each event. Six of 14 children had focal epileptiform discharges after treatment and underwent simultaneous electroencephalography and fMRI from 12 to 25 months of age.

RESULTS

At onset, positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses were seen in the brainstem (14/14 patients), thalami (13/14), basal ganglia (13/14), and hippocampi (13/14), in addition to multiple cerebral cortices. Group analysis using hemodynamic response functions with peaks at 3, 5, and 7 seconds showed positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses in the brainstem, thalamus, and hippocampus, while positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses in multiple cerebral cortices were seen using hemodynamic response functions with peaks at 5 and 7 seconds. In the remote period, 3 of 6 children had focal epileptiform discharge-related positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses in the thalamus, hippocampus, and brainstem.

CONCLUSIONS

Positive blood oxygen level-dependent responses with hypsarrhythmia appeared in the brainstem, thalamus, and hippocampus on earlier hemodynamic response functions than the cerebral cortices, suggesting the propagation of epileptogenic activities from the deep brain structures to the neocortices. Activation of the hippocampus, thalamus, and brainstem was still seen in half of the patients with focal epileptiform discharges after adrenocorticotropic hormone therapy.

Low cerebrospinal fluid-to-plasma ratios of orally administered lenalidomide mediated by its low cell membrane permeability in patients with hematologic malignancies

Lenalidomide is a synthetic analog of thalidomide formed by the removal of one keto group (plus the addition of an amino group); it has anti-tumor activities beneficial for the treatment of hematologic malignancies. However, lenalidomide distribution to brain in animal models is reportedly low compared with that of thalidomide. The aim of this study was to evaluate plasma and cerebrospinal fluid concentrations of lenalidomide in three patients with malignant hematologic malignancies. Lenalidomide was detected in plasma from the three Japanese patients 1.5 h following oral administration of 20 mg lenalidomide using liquid chromatography/mass spectrometry, despite the in vitro gastrointestinal permeability of lenalidomide being low. Clinically observed cerebrospinal fluid-to-plasma ratios of lenalidomide were low (1.3-2.4%). Observed influx permeability values for lenalidomide in monkey blood-brain barrier model and human placental cell systems were one order of magnitude lower than those of thalidomide and another second-generation drug, pomalidomide along with a positive permeability control, caffeine. Because of the low cell-barrier permeability of lenalidomide demonstrated in in vitro assays, clinically relevant pharmacokinetic profiles of lenalidomide resulted in low penetrability from plasma into cerebrospinal fluid in patients with hematologic malignancies. Lenalidomide is conclusively suggested to expert its favorable immunomodulatory effects via systemic exposures in the patients.

Radiocesium-bearing microparticles cause a large variation in 137Cs activity concentration in the aquatic insect Stenopsyche marmorata (Tricoptera: Stenopsychidae) in the Ota River, Fukushima, Japan

After the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant accident in Japan, freshwater ecosystems near the site remained contaminated by radiocesium (RCs). Clarifying RCs concentrations in aquatic insects is crucial because fishes consume these insects that transfer RCs into freshwater ecosystems. As aquatic insects are usually measured for radioactivity in bulk samples of several tens of insects, variation in RCs concentration among individuals is not captured. In this study, we investigated the variability in 137Cs activity concentration in individual aquatic insects in detritivorous caddisfly (Stenopsyche marmorata) and carnivorous dobsonfly (Protohermes grandis) larvae from the Ota River, Fukushima. Caddisfly larvae showed sporadically higher radioactivity in 4 of the 46 caddisfly larvae, whereas no such outliers were observed in 45 dobsonfly larvae. Autoradiography and scanning electron microscopy analyses confirmed that these caddisfly larvae samples contained radiocesium-bearing microparticles (CsMPs), which are insoluble Cs-bearing silicate glass particles. CsMPs were also found in potential food sources of caddisfly larvae, such as periphyton and drifting particulate organic matter, indicating that larvae may ingest CsMPs along with food particles of similar size. Although CsMP distribution and uptake by organisms in freshwater ecosystems is relatively unknown, our study demonstrates that CsMPs can be taken up by aquatic insects.

Genetic Population Structure of Wild Boars (Sus scrofa) in Fukushima Prefecture

Simple Summary

After the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear power plant accident, a highly contaminated area with radionuclide appeared and was designated a difficult-to-return zone (DRZ). After that, the increase in number of wild boars (Sus scrofa) has been pronounced in DRZ, and the spread of highly contaminated wild boars into other areas is cause for concern. Understanding the population structure based on the genetic diversity of wild boars in Fukushima provides important information for the management of the animals. In this study, we carried out MIG-seq analysis to clarify the dispersal and gene flow of the local wild boar population and uncover the genetic population boundary in Fukushima. We obtained 328 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from 179 wild boars. Based on STRUCTURE analysis, we found significant genetic differences between groups of wild boars inhabiting in the east and west, divided by the Abukuma River. Since the urbanized area is concentrated along the Abukuma River in Fukushima, both the Abukuma River and the urbanized area are likely to interfere in the migration and dispersal of wild boars. Furthermore, our results indicate that the population in the western area was established by the migration from other neighboring prefectures rather than by that from the eastern group of Fukushima Prefecture.

Abstract

We aimed to reveal the dispersal and gene flow of the local wild boar (Sus scrofa) population and find their genetic boundary in Fukushima Prefecture. After the nuclear incident in 2011, the land was considered a difficult-to-return zone, and the increase in the number of wild boars was pronounced. To provide an effective management strategy for the wild boar population, we used multiplexed inter-simple sequence repeat genotyping by sequencing (MIG-seq) and clarified the genetic structure of wild boars. We obtained 328 single-nucleotide polymorphisms from 179 samples. STRUCTURE analysis showed that the most likely number of population cluster was K = 2. Molecular analysis of variance showed significant genetic differences between groups of wild boars inhabiting in the east and west across the Abukuma River. The migration rate from the eastern population to the western population is higher than in the reverse case based on BayesAss analysis. Our study indicates that both the Abukuma River and anthropogenic urbanization along the river may affect the migration of wild boars and the population in western was established mainly by the migration from other neighboring prefectures.

Long Spinal Cord Lesions Caused by Venous Congestive Myelopathy Associated with Intravascular Large B-cell Lymphoma

Intravascular large B-cell lymphoma (IVLBCL) is a subtype of B-cell lymphoma, characterized by lymphoma cell proliferation within small blood vessels. We herein describe a rare case with long spinal cord lesions caused by venous congestive myelopathy associated with IVLBCL. An 81-year-old man presented with paraplegia of the lower limbs and sensory disturbances. Magnetic resonance imaging revealed intramedullary longitudinal T2-hyperintensity lesions in the thoracic cords. The patient died three months after disease onset, and a neuropathological analysis revealed predominantly atypical B-lymphocytes located sparsely in the veins of the spinal cord. IVLBCL should be considered in the differential diagnoses of long spinal cord lesions.

Candesartan prevents arteriopathy progression in cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy model

Cerebral small vessel disease (CSVD) causes dementia and gait disturbance due to arteriopathy. Cerebral autosomal recessive arteriopathy with subcortical infarcts and leukoencephalopathy (CARASIL) is a hereditary form of CSVD caused by loss of high-temperature requirement A1 (HTRA1) serine protease activity. In CARASIL, arteriopathy causes intimal thickening, smooth muscle cell (SMC) degeneration, elastic lamina splitting, and vasodilation. The molecular mechanisms were proposed to involve the accumulation of matrisome proteins as substrates or abnormalities in transforming growth factor β (TGF-β) signaling. Here, we show that HTRA1-/- mice exhibited features of CARASIL-associated arteriopathy: intimal thickening, abnormal elastic lamina, and vasodilation. In addition, the mice exhibited reduced distensibility of the cerebral arteries and blood flow in the cerebral cortex. In the thickened intima, matrisome proteins, including the hub protein fibronectin (FN) and latent TGF-β binding protein 4 (LTBP-4), which are substrates of HTRA1, accumulated. Candesartan treatment alleviated matrisome protein accumulation and normalized the vascular distensibility and cerebral blood flow. Furthermore, candesartan reduced the mRNA expression of Fn1, Ltbp-4, and Adamtsl2, which are involved in forming the extracellular matrix network. Our results indicate that these accumulated matrisome proteins may be potential therapeutic targets for arteriopathy in CARASIL.

Prediction of permeability across intestinal cell monolayers for 219 disparate chemicals using in vitro experimental coefficients in a pH gradient system and in silico analyses by trivariate linear regressions and machine learning

For medicines, the apparent membrane permeability coefficients (P_app) across human colorectal carcinoma cell line (Caco-2) monolayers under a pH gradient generally correlate with the fraction absorbed after oral intake. Furthermore, the in vitro P_app values of 29 industrial chemicals were found to have an inverse association with their reported no-observed effect levels for hepatotoxicity in rats. In the current study, we expanded our influx permeability predictions for the 90 previously investigated chemicals to both influx and efflux permeability predictions for 207 diverse primary compounds, along with those for 23 secondary compounds. Trivariate linear regression analysis found that the observed influx and efflux logP_app values determined by in vitro experiments significantly correlated with molecular weights and the octanol-water distribution coefficients at apical and basal pH levels (pH 6.0 and 7.4, respectively) (apical to basal, r = 0.76, n = 198; and basal to apical, r = 0.77, n = 202); the distribution coefficients were estimated in silico. Further, prediction accuracy was enhanced by applying a light gradient boosting machine learning system (LightGBM) to estimate influx and efflux logP_app values that incorporated 17 and 19 in silico chemical descriptors (r = 0.83-0.84, p < 0.001). The determination in vitro and/or prediction in silico of permeability coefficients across intestinal cell monolayers of a diverse range of industrial chemicals/food components/medicines could contribute to the safety evaluations of oral intakes of general chemicals in humans. Such new alternative methods could also reduce the need for animal testing during toxicity assessment.

Effects of 137Cs contamination after the TEPCO Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station accident on food and habitat of wild boar in Fukushima Prefecture

After the Tokyo Electric Power Company Fukushima Dai-ichi Nuclear Power Station accident, wild boar was found to have greater radiocesium (¹³⁷Cs) activity concentrations in their bodies than other wild animals in Japan; however, the reason for this remains unknown. To understand the mechanism of ¹³⁷Cs transfer from the environment to wild boar, and the factors that affect variation in ¹³⁷Cs contamination in wild boar, we sampled muscle and stomach contents from wild boar captured in Fukushima Prefecture and analyzed the relationships among ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in muscle tissue and in the stomach contents, ¹³⁷Cs ground deposition at capture sites, and wild boar food habits. Significant positive relationships were observed among ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in muscle and stomach contents, as well as ¹³⁷Cs deposition density at capture sites. These results suggest that ¹³⁷Cs is transferred from the environment to plant and animal materials consumed by wild boar, and then from these foods to the bodies of wild boar through digestion. However, no correlation was observed between ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in stomach contents and the presence of any particular food item in stomachs of wild boar, including mushrooms. These findings suggest mushrooms and underground food items, which were found to affect ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in wild animals in Europe, were not important contributors to high levels of ¹³⁷Cs contamination in Japanese wild animals.

Perioperative intravenous contrast administration and the incidence of acute kidney injury after major gastrointestinal surgery: prospective, multicentre cohort study

BACKGROUND

This study aimed to determine the impact of preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast for CT and the risk of developing postoperative acute kidney injury (AKI) in patients undergoing major gastrointestinal surgery.

METHODS

This prospective, multicentre cohort study included adults undergoing gastrointestinal resection, stoma reversal or liver resection. Both elective and emergency procedures were included. Preoperative exposure to intravenous contrast was defined as exposure to contrast administered for the purposes of CT up to 7 days before surgery. The primary endpoint was the rate of AKI within 7 days. Propensity score-matched models were adjusted for patient, disease and operative variables. In a sensitivity analysis, a propensity score-matched model explored the association between preoperative exposure to contrast and AKI in the first 48 h after surgery.

RESULTS

A total of 5378 patients were included across 173 centres. Overall, 1249 patients (23·2 per cent) received intravenous contrast. The overall rate of AKI within 7 days of surgery was 13·4 per cent (718 of 5378). In the propensity score-matched model, preoperative exposure to contrast was not associated with AKI within 7 days (odds ratio (OR) 0·95, 95 per cent c.i. 0·73 to 1·21; P = 0·669). The sensitivity analysis showed no association between preoperative contrast administration and AKI within 48 h after operation (OR 1·09, 0·84 to 1·41; P = 0·498).

CONCLUSION

There was no association between preoperative intravenous contrast administered for CT up to 7 days before surgery and postoperative AKI. Risk of contrast-induced nephropathy should not be used as a reason to avoid contrast-enhanced CT.

Relationship between radiocaesium in muscle and physicochemical fractions of radiocaesium in the stomach of wild boar

After the accident at the TEPCO Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant in 2011, it became important to study radiation dynamics, assess internal radiation exposure and specify factors affecting radionuclide variation in wildlife. Therefore, it is necessary to investigate which physicochemical fractions of radiocaesium (¹³⁷Cs) are absorbed from ingested material in species with high activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs, such as wild boar. This study analysed the physicochemical fractions of ¹³⁷Cs in the stomach contents of wild boar to evaluate the transfer from ingested food to muscle. The ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in muscle showed a significantly positive relationship with the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in the exchangeable fraction, and the sum of the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in the exchangeable and bound to organic matter fractions. Seasonal variations were also found in the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentration in the exchangeable fraction, and the sum of the ¹³⁷Cs activity concentrations in the exchangeable and bound to organic matter fractions. These findings suggest that the proportions of the physicochemical fractions of ¹³⁷Cs in the exchangeable and bound to organic matter fractions in the stomach contents are important factors affecting the increases and seasonal dynamics of the activity concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in wild boar muscle.

Retinal Vasculopathy With Cerebral Leukodystrophy: Clinicopathologic Features of an Autopsied Patient With a Heterozygous TREX 1 Mutation

Retinal vasculopathy with cerebral leukodystrophy (RVCL) is an autosomal-dominant disorder involving the cerebral, retinal, renal, and other systemic microvessels due to frameshift mutations in the TREX1 gene. Under physiological conditions, the TREX1 protein is localized in the cellular cytoplasm and perinuclear area, but translocates into the nucleus in response to oxidative DNA damage. It has been speculated that aberrant localization of the protein may be associated with systemic microangiopathy in patients with RVCL. However, cellular expression of TREX1 in the brain and visceral organs of patients with RVCL has been unclear. Here, we report the clinicopathologic features of an autopsied patient with a heterozygous T249fs mutation in TREX1. The patient showed the clinical phenotype of vasculopathy with retinopathy, nephropathy, and stroke. CT with contrast enhancement demonstrated a tumorous lesion in the subcortical white matter. Histologically, the lesion consisted of confluent foci of necrosis with calcification and fibrous thickening of small vessel walls. TREX1 immunohistochemistry demonstrated positivity in the nuclei of cells in the CNS and visceral organs, indicating aberrant localization of the truncated protein, and the expression was remarkable in oligodendrocytes within the lesion, suggesting possible involvement of the protein in the pathomechanism of vasculopathy leading to white matter degeneration.

P3648Plasma glutamate are increased in non-smoker patients with vasospastic angina pectoris and associated with plasma cystine and antioxidant capacity

Background

Endothelial dysfunction of the coronary arteries caused by oxidative stress plays an important role in the pathogenesis of vasospastic angina pectoris (VSAP). Glutamate, a non-essential amino acid, exerts endothelial dysfunction by oxidative stress production through N-methyl-D-aspartate receptor activation. Besides oxidative stress, decrease of antioxidant may be responsible for endothelial dysfunction. Glutathione (GSH), an important antioxidant, is synthesized from imported cystine through the cystine/glutamate antiporter system (XC-) in association with the export of glutamate. Glutamate also competitively inhibits cystine import into the endothelial cells through the XC-leading to GSH depletion. Thus the extracellular glutamate and cystine are crucial for the intracellular redox status. However, it remains unclear whether glutamate and/or cystine are implicated in the pathogenesis of VSAP. As smoking induces powerful oxidant stresses in the whole body, we investigated plasma glutamate, cystine, oxidative stress markers and antioxidant capacity in non-smoker patients with VSAP.

Methods and results

Sixty-two consecutive non-smoker patients suspected having VSAP were performed coronary angiograms (CAG). Forty-nine patients who did not show any significant coronary stenosis (<50%) were performed the intracoronary acetylcholine provocation test. Patients were categorized into the VSAP-positive group (n=27) and the VSAP-negative group (n=22) on the basis of test results. Blood samples were collected from the femoral sheath before the CAG. Plasma glutamate, cystine, nitrotyrosine (NT), reactive oxygen metabolites (d-ROMs) and biological antioxidant potential (BAP) were measured. The levels of plasma glutamate and cystine in the VSAP-positive group were significantly higher than those in the VSAP-negative group (59.8±25.7 vs 43.5±18.7 nmol/L, p=0.0054, and 35.3±14.2 nmol/L vs 25.2±9.1 nmol/L, p=0.0018, respectively). The levels of plasma glutamate showed significant and positive association with the levels of plasma cystine (r=0.40, p=0.005). There were no significant differences in the levels of NT and d-ROMs as oxidative stress markers, and BAP as an antioxidant capacity between the two groups, respectively. However, the levels of plasma glutamate showed significant and negative association with BAP values (r=−0.3, p=0.038).

Conclusions

Plasma levels of glutamate were increased in non-smoker patients with VSAP and positively associated with plasma cystine levels and negatively associated with antioxidant capacity, suggesting that plasma glutamate modulate plasma cystine levels and antioxidant capacity through the XC- inhibition, and could be a novel risk factor of VSAP.

Dramatic response of BRAF V600E-mutant epithelioid glioblastoma to combination therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitor: establishment and xenograft of a cell line to predict clinical efficacy

Epithelioid glioblastoma is a rare aggressive variant of glioblastoma (GBM) characterized by a dismal prognosis of about 6 months and frequent leptomeningeal dissemination. A recent study has revealed that 50% of epithelioid GBMs harbor three genetic alterations - BRAF V600E mutation, TERT promoter mutations, and homozygous deletions of CDKN2A/2B. Emerging evidence support the effectiveness of targeted therapies for brain tumors with BRAF V600E mutation. Here we describe a dramatic radiographical response to combined therapy with BRAF and MEK inhibitors in a patient with epithelioid GBM harboring BRAF V600E mutation, characterized by thick spinal dissemination. From relapsed tumor procured at autopsy, we established a cell line retaining the BRAF V600E mutation, TERT promoter mutation and CDKN2A/2B loss. Intracranial implantation of these cells into mice resulted in tumors closely resembling the original, characterized by epithelioid tumor cells and dissemination, and invasion into the perivascular spaces. We then confirmed the efficacy of treatment with BRAF and MEK inhibitor both in vitro and in vivo. Epithelioid GBM with BRAF V600E mutation can be considered a good treatment indication for precision medicine, and this patient-derived cell line should be useful for prediction of the tumor response and clarification of its biological characteristics.

Monitoring 137Cs concentrations in bird species occupying different ecological niches; game birds and raptors in Fukushima Prefecture

This study was conducted to assess radiocesium accumulation in birds after the accident at Tokyo Electric Power Company's Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Station in 2011, with a particular focus on ¹³⁷Cs, which has a long physical half-life. Results of ¹³⁷Cs monitoring in four game bird species including two pheasant species and two duck species (copper pheasant, green pheasant, spot-billed duck and mallard) were assessed in Fukushima Prefecture. We also obtained samples from rescued raptors that died during treatment or rehabilitation at the Wildlife Symbiosis Centre in Fukushima Prefecture because of severe injury. We measured the muscle concentrations of ¹³⁷Cs in four of these raptor species (black kite, northern goshawk, peregrine falcon and ural owl). Comparison of the two pheasant species showed that the copper pheasants inhabiting forested areas had higher ¹³⁷Cs concentrations in muscle (Bq/kg, fresh mass) than the green pheasants inhabiting mountainous areas near human habitation (i.e., Satoyama). No clear tendencies were observed in ¹³⁷Cs concentration in muscle of copper pheasants over time, but a tendency to decrease was observed in green pheasants over time. The difference in tendencies between species may be attributable to differences in their food habits and its ¹³⁷Cs concentration, and also differences in the situation of ¹³⁷Cs accumulation in their habitat. No significant differences were observed in ¹³⁷Cs concentration in muscle between the resident spot-billed duck and migratory mallard because of the comparatively short biological of effective half-life of radiocesium. Analysis of ¹³⁷Cs concentration in muscle of raptor revealed that the concentration was similar to, or lower than, those of pheasants and ducks.