An extremely energetic cosmic ray observed by a surface detector array

Cosmic rays are energetic charged particles from extraterrestrial sources, with the highest-energy events thought to come from extragalactic sources. Their arrival is infrequent, so detection requires instruments with large collecting areas. In this work, we report the detection of an extremely energetic particle recorded by the surface detector array of the Telescope Array experiment. We calculate the particle's energy as [Formula: see text] (~40 joules). Its arrival direction points back to a void in the large-scale structure of the Universe. Possible explanations include a large deflection by the foreground magnetic field, an unidentified source in the local extragalactic neighborhood, or an incomplete knowledge of particle physics.

Breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography: a comparison of diagnostic accuracy

OBJECTIVE

Our aim was to compare the ability of radiologists to detect breast cancers using one-view breast tomosynthesis (BT) and two-view digital mammography (DM) in an enriched population of diseased patients and benign and/or healthy patients.

METHODS

All participants gave informed consent. The BT and DM examinations were performed with about the same average glandular dose to the breast. The study population comprised patients with subtle signs of malignancy seen on DM and/or ultrasonography. Ground truth was established by pathology, needle biopsy and/or by 1-year follow-up by mammography, which retrospectively resulted in 89 diseased breasts (1 breast per patient) with 95 malignant lesions and 96 healthy or benign breasts. Two experienced radiologists, who were not participants in the study, determined the locations of the malignant lesions. Five radiologists, experienced in mammography, interpreted the cases independently in a free-response study. The data were analysed by the receiver operating characteristic (ROC) and jackknife alternative free-response ROC (JAFROC) methods, regarding both readers and cases as random effects.

RESULTS

The diagnostic accuracy of BT was significantly better than that of DM (JAFROC: p=0.0031, ROC: p=0.0415). The average sensitivity of BT was higher than that of DM (∼90% vs ∼79%; 95% confidence interval of difference: 0.036, 0.108) while the average false-positive fraction was not significantly different (95% confidence interval of difference: -0.117, 0.010).

CONCLUSION

The diagnostic accuracy of BT was superior to DM in an enriched population.

The diagnostic accuracy of dual-view digital mammography, single-view breast tomosynthesis and a dual-view combination of breast tomosynthesis and digital mammography in a free-response observer performance study

The purpose of the present study was to compare the diagnostic accuracy of dual-view digital mammography (DM), single-view breast tomosynthesis (BT) and BT combined with the opposite DM view. Patients with subtle lesions were selected to undergo BT examinations. Two radiologists who are non-participants in the study and have experience in using DM and BT determined the locations and extents of lesions in the images. Five expert mammographers interpreted the cases using the free-response paradigm. The task was to mark and rate clinically reportable findings suspicious for malignancy and clinically relevant benign findings. The marks were scored with reference to the outlined regions into lesion localization or non-lesion localization, and analysed by the jackknife alternative free-response receiver operating characteristic method. The analysis yielded statistically significant differences between the combined modality and dual-view DM (p < 0.05). No differences were found between single-view BT and dual-view DM or between single-view BT and the combined modality.

Fibre type-specific expression patterns of myosin heavy chain genes in adult torafugu Takifugu rubripes muscles

Comprehensive in silico studies, based on the total fugu genome database, which was the first to appear in fish, revealed that torafugu Takifugu rubripes contains 20 sarcomeric myosin heavy chain (MYH) genes (MYH genes) (Ikeda et al., 2007). The present study was undertaken to identify MYH genes that would be expressed in adult muscles. In total, seven MYH genes were found by screening cDNA clone libraries constructed from fast, slow and cardiac muscles. Three MYH genes, fast-type MYH(M86-1), slow-type MYH(M8248) and slow/cardiac-type MYH(M880), were cloned exclusively from fast, slow and cardiac muscles, respectively. Northern blot hybridization substantiated their specific expression, with the exception of MYH(M880). In contrast, transcripts of fast-type MYH(M2528-1) and MYH(M1034) were found in both fast and slow muscles as revealed by cDNA clone library and northern blot techniques. This result was supported by in situ hybridization analysis using specific RNA probes, where transcripts of fast-type MYH(M2528-1) were expressed in fast fibres with small diameters as well as in fibres of superficial slow muscle with large diameters adjacent to fast muscle. Transcripts of fast-type MYH(M86-1) were expressed in all fast fibres with different diameters, whereas transcripts of slow-type MYH(M8248) were restricted to fibres with small diameters located in a superficial part of slow muscle. Interestingly, histochemical analyses showed that fast fibres with small diameters and slow fibres with large diameters both contained acid-stable myofibrillar ATPase, suggesting that these fibres have similar functions, possibly in the generation of muscle fibres irrespective of their fibre types.

Trousseau's syndrome associated with tissue factor produced by pulmonary adenocarcinoma

The case history is presented of a patient with Trousseau's syndrome in which tissue factor originating from lung cancer appeared responsible for recurrent DVT/PE. This is thought to be the first such case to be reported.

Tyropeptins A and B, new proteasome inhibitors produced by Kitasatospora sp. MK993-dF2. II. Structure determination and synthesis

The structures of tyropeptins A and B, new proteasome inhibitors produced by Kitasatospora sp. MK993-dF2, were determined by analysis of various NMR experiments. The 1H and 13C NMR of tyropeptins were complicated due to the presence of an aldehyde group. Therefore, tyropeptins were converted to their alcohols by sodium borohydride. These alcohol derivatives gave assignable NMR spectra. The stereochemistry of tyropeptins were determined by analysis of acid hydrolysis products from tyropeptins, and further confirmed by the total synthesis. The structures of tyropeptins A and B were found to be isovaleryl-L-tyrosyl-L-valyl-DL-tyrosinal and n-butyryl-L-tyrosyl-L-leucyl-DL-tyrosinal, respectively.

Changes of activity inducing chromosomal aberrations and transformations of chlorinated humic acid

The change of the toxicity of chlorinated water after chlorine injection was examined. For the measurement of toxicity, chromosomal aberration test and transforming test were carried out as indexes to initiating activity and to promoting activity in the carcinogenesis process, respectively. Activity inducing chromosomal aberrations of chlorinated humic acid gradually decreased with time after chlorination. In contrast, activity inducing transformations measured by the two-stage assay gradually increased. Thus, the toxicity that decreases or increases is present in chlorinated water. Furthermore, activity inducing transformations measured by the non-two-stage assay gradually decreased. This direction of change was reverse to that of activity inducing transformations by the two-stage assay and consistent with that of activity inducing chromosomal aberrations. It is speculated that the main reason of decreasing activity inducing transformations by the non-two-stage assay is because initiating activity detected as activity inducing chromosomal aberrations in chlorinated water decreases drastically. Directions of changes of total organic halogen and carbonyl group were qualitatively consistent with that of activity inducing chromosomal aberrations. Directions of changes of chloroform and dichloroacetic acid were qualitatively consistent with that of activity inducing transformations by the two-stage assay. Findings of this study suggest that further research is necessary to compare carcinogenicity of tap water near water purification plant and distant tap water.

Identification of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotypes by multiplex PCR

Oligonucleotide primers specific for gene clusters involved in the biosynthesis of serotype-specific polysaccharide antigens were designed to identify Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotypes a to e using the multiplex PCR. This method may be useful for serotype-specific genotyping rapidly and directly from clinical samples containing various organisms.

[Hydronephrosis caused spontaneous evacuation of many small calculi in a caliceal diverticulum: a case report]

We experienced a curious case that hydronephrosis had caused spontaneous evacuation of calculi in a caliceal diverticulum. A 50-year-old woman was visited to our department complaining of right lower abdominal pain. Several right ureteral stones, right hydronephrosis and a great numbers of small round-shaped calculi in a right caliceal diverticulum were diagnosed. Many of the calculi moved from the diverticulum to ureter, and were evacuated spontaneously. The month after, the right hydronephrosis had already subsided and almost all of the calculi had disappeared. It was supposed that a hydronephrosis had widened the narrow channel between the diverticulum and the calyx and enabled the small calculi to pass through. Recent reports show that effectiveness of ESWL for symptomatic caliceal diverticular calculi is doubtful, because the narrow channel hinders the passage of stone fragments. However, this case suggests that an artificial hydronephrosis created by retrograde occlusion ureteral balloon catheter may lead to good drainage of gravel and better stone-free rate of caliceal diverticular calculi treated by ESWL.

Mechanical evaluation of a bio-active bone cement for total hip arthroplasty

A new bio-active bone cement, known as CAP, has been developed as an alternative to acrylic bone cement. CAP has improved mechanical properties, with a high modulus that is over five times that of PMMA. The effects of this high modulus are examined by finite element analysis, when the CAP is used in place of PMMA to fix the femoral component in total hip prostheses. The results show a higher tensile stress of 8.76 MPa in the CAP cement, compared with 1.99 MPa in the PMMA cement. However, it is also shown that CAP has a superior fatigue strength of approximately 40 MPa, obtained from a cyclic loading test.

Apolipoprotein E genotype and the risk of recurrent lobar intracerebral hemorrhage

BACKGROUND

Recurrent lobar intracerebral hemorrhage is the hallmark of cerebral amyloid angiopathy. The factors that predispose patients to early recurrence of lobar hemorrhage are unknown. One candidate is the apolipoprotein E gene, since both the epsilon2 and the epsilon4 alleles of apolipoprotein E appear to be associated with the severity of amyloid angiopathy.

METHODS

We performed a prospective, longitudinal study of consecutive elderly patients who survived a lobar intracerebral hemorrhage. The patients were followed for recurrent hemorrhagic stroke by interviews at six-month intervals and reviews of medical records and computed tomographic scans.

RESULTS

Nineteen of 71 enrolled patients had recurrent hemorrhages during a mean follow-up period of 23.9+/-14.8 months, yielding a 2-year cumulative rate of recurrence of 21 percent. The apolipoprotein E genotype was significantly associated with the risk of recurrence. Carriers of the epsilon2 or epsilon4 allele had a two-year rate of recurrence of 28 percent, as compared with only 10 percent for patients with the common apolipoprotein E epsilon3/epsilon3 genotype (risk ratio, 3.8; 95 percent confidence interval, 1.2 to 11.6; P=0.01). Early recurrence occurred in eight patients, four of whom had the uncommon epsilon2/epsilon4 genotype. Also at increased risk for recurrence were patients with a history of hemorrhagic stroke before entry into the study (two-year recurrence, 61 percent; risk ratio, 6.4; 95 percent confidence interval, 2.2 to 18.5; P<0.001).

CONCLUSIONS

The apolipoprotein E genotype can identify patients with lobar intracerebral hemorrhage who are at highest risk for early recurrence. This finding makes possible both the provision of prognostic information to patients with lobar hemorrhage and a method of targeting and assessing potential strategies for prevention.

Decatromicins A and B, new antibiotics produced by Actinomadura sp. MK73-NF4. II. Structure determination

The structures of decatromicins A and B that strongly inhibit the growth of MRSA were elucidated by the analysis of various NMR experiments. The planar structure was determined by 1H, 13C, COSY, HMQC and HMBC NMR spectra. The relative configuration of aglycone was elucidated by NOESY experiments and the absolute structure was determined by application of the modified Mosher's method. The absolute structure of glycosyl moiety was determined by X-ray analysis of the O-(p-bromobenzoyl) derivative.

Carnosine stimulates vimentin expression in cultured rat fibroblasts

Two-dimensional electrophoretic gel profiles were compared between rat 3Y1 fibroblasts cultured in the presence and absence of 30 mM L-carnosine (beta-alanyl-L-histidine) for one week without any replenishment of medium. While a number of cellular proteins changed their expression levels by the addition of carnosine, we identified one of the most prominently varied proteins as vimentin. Immunoblot analysis with anti-vimentin antibody demonstrated that the vimentin levels increased about 2-fold after one-week culture in the presence of carnosine. We also confirmed that the increase of vimentin expression was dependent on the concentration of carnosine added to the medium. Moreover, when cultured cells were stained with anti-vimentin antibody and observed by light microscopy, most cells grown in the presence of carnosine were found to have markedly developed vimentin filaments. The increase of vimentin expression was also observed by adding with carnosine related dipeptides, N-acetylcarnosine and anserine.

Effect of isoleucine on toxin production by Clostridium difficile in a defined medium

Supplementation of a carbohydrate-free minimal medium with a high level (100 mM) of histidine, methionine, valine, isoleucine, proline and leucine, in particular isoleucine, markedly increased toxin production by Clostridium difficile VPI 10463. The effect of isoleucine was further examined. Increasing the concentration of isoleucine from 20 to 100 mM remarkably increased toxin production, while bacterial growth decreased gradually. Amino acid analysis of the culture revealed that, at 100 mM isoleucine, consumption of isoleucine was remarkably increased. During the incubation period when toxin titers increased markedly but bacterial growth was declining, isoleucine, leucine and cysteine were taken up preferentially and alanine and cystathionine, which were not found at 1 mM isoleucine, were produced in large quantities. These findings suggest that isoleucine may play an important role in toxin production by C. difficile and that alanine and cystathionine production may be co-regulated with the toxin production in the absence of fermentable carbohydrates.

[Bilateral renal vein thrombosis extending into the inferior vena cava associated with nephrotic syndrome: a case report]

We present a case of bilateral renal vein thrombosis extending into the inferior vena cava associated with nephrotic syndrome. A 55-year-old Japanese woman who had complained of severe median lumbago for 4 months was referred to our department because of bilateral renal vein thrombosis extending into the inferior vena cava demonstrated on CT. Investigations confirmed the diagnosis of nephrotic syndrome. Although treatments using interventional radiology had been planned, she died suddenly probably owing to pulmonary embolism before the commencement of the treatments.

Selective deoxygenation and O-methylation of benanomicin A: synthesis of 9-deoxy-, 9-O-methyl- and 14-O-methylbenanomicin A

The selective modifications of phenolic hydroxy groups in the chromophore of benanomicin A are described. Hydride reduction of 9-O-tosylate with sodium borohydride/nickel chloride led to 9-deoxybenanomicin A. Methylation of 1-O-diphenylmethylbenanomicin A diphenylmethyl ester with sodium hydride/iodomethane gave 9-O-methyl derivative and with Hünig's base/diazotrimethylsilylmethane afforded the 14-O-methyl derivative. These compounds showed the diminished activity against fungi.

A synthetic approach to benanomicin A. 2. Synthesis of the substituted 5,6-dihydrobenzo[a]naphthacenequinone

The key intermediate tri-substituted alpha-tetralone (8) has been synthesized, either via tandem Michael addition-Dieckmann condensation reaction between dienolate and methyl crotonate in a low yield or via Barton's radical decarboxylation of diester (9) without 4-dimethylaminopyridine in 75% yield, and applied to the synthesis of the substituted 5,6-dihydrobenzo[a]naphthacenequinone.

A synthetic approach to benanomicin A. 1. Synthesis of 5,6-dihydrobenzo[a]naphthacenequinone

5,6-Dihydrobenzo[a]naphthacenequinone has been constructed by Diels-Alder reaction of an outer-ring diene with a naphthoquinone regioselectively. Similarly, the 14-hydroxy-5,6-dihydrobenzo[a]naphthacenequinone (13) has also been synthesized via the reaction of vinylketene acetal (11) with naphthoquinone.

Heliquinomycin, a new inhibitor of DNA helicase, produced by Streptomyces sp. MJ929-SF2 II. Structure determination of heliquinomycin

The structure of heliquinomycin which was isolated from the culture broth of Streptomyces sp. MJ929-SF2 was studied by NMR spectroscopies, X-ray crystallographic analysis and degradation experiments. Heliquinomycin is the first member of glycosylated rubromycins and griseorhodins group antibiotics.

Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans serotype b-specific polysaccharide antigen stimulates production of chemotactic factors and inflammatory cytokines by human monocytes

Serotype b-specific polysaccharide antigen (SPA) was extracted from whole cells of Actinobacillus actinomycetemcomitans Y4 by autoclaving and purified by chromatography on DEAE-Sephadex A-25 and Sephacryl S-300. SPA induced the release of monocyte and leukocyte chemotactic factors by human monocytes. Polymyxin B had almost no effect on the release of monocyte chemotactic factor, but a monoclonal antibody against SPA markedly inhibited it. Human monocytes stimulated with SPA exhibited the increased mRNA expression of monocyte chemoattractant protein 1 (MCP-1) and a neutrophil chemotactic factor, interleukin-8 (IL-8). On the other hand, SPA induced the release of IL-1, IL-6, and tumor necrosis factor (TNF) and enhanced the expression of IL-1alpha, IL-1beta, IL-6, and TNF alpha (TNF-alpha) mRNAs. Human monocytes expressed MCP-1 and IL-8 mRNAs when stimulated by human recombinant IL-1alpha, I1-1beta, IL-6, and TNF-alpha, suggesting that these inflammatory cytokines induced by SPA might participate in the production of chemotactic factors in human monocytes.

[Squamous cell carcinoma of the renal pelvis associated with renal stones in a patient with chronic renal failure: a case report and a review of the Japanese literature]

A case of squamous cell carcinoma of the left renal pelvis associated with chronic renal failure on hemodialysis is reported. The patient, a 59-year-old man, had undergone bilateral nephrolithotomy, in 1966, followed by right ureterolithotomy and bilateral percutaneous nephrolithotripsy, but residual stones existed. He suffered from left flak pain and fever, and computed tomography (CT) and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed left perirenal abscess in July 1994. Percutaneous drainage and antibacterial chemotherapy were performed, but his symptoms did not improve. Three months later, CT and MRI revealed a mass in the left perirenal space and destruction of the 12th thoracic vertebra, which were considered to be infectious changes. On November 9, 1994, left nephrectomy was performed. Histopathological diagnosis was moderately differentiated squamous cell carcinoma, grade 2, INF-gamma, pT4, pR1, pL0 and pV1. In spite of irradiation therapy, he died on January 19, 1995.

[Treatment and prognosis of renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava]

Out of 173 patients with renal cell carcinoma diagnosed at our department between January 1984 and December 1994, 9 (5.2%) had an inferior vena caval tumor thrombus. They consisted of 6 men and 3 women between 43 and 74 years old with a mean age of 59.8 years. The tumors were on the right and left sides in 5 and 4 patients, respectively. According to the Novick's classification, 2, 1, 4 and 2 patients had level 1 (perirenal), level 2 (infrahepatic), level 3 (intrahepatic) and level 4 (suprahepatic) tumors, respectively. Five patients without distant metastases underwent nephrectomy and removal of the vena caval tumor thrombus. Although renal tumors and vena caval tumor thrombi were completely resected in all of the 5, 4 died of disease within 3 years. Only 1 patient without tumor invasion into the inferior vena caval wall survived over 5 years without disease. Since surgical treatment is the sole radical method for renal cell carcinoma, surgery is recommended for the patients even with a vena caval tumor thrombus unless there are metastases.

[A case of renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava in a long-term hemodialysis patient]

We report a case of left renal cell carcinoma extending into the inferior vena cava associated with the acquired cystic disease of the kidney (ACDK). The patient was a 46-year-old man, who had been treated with hemodialysis for 12 years. In November 1992, ACDK was observed on computed tomography (CT) for routine check up, but no tumorous lesions were detected. He noticed bleeding from the urethra in May 1994. CT and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed left renal tumor with intrahepatic vena caval tumor thrombus. There were no findings of distant metastasis. Left radical nephrectomy and partial removal of vena cava were performed. Histopathologically, renal cell carcinoma, pT3b, pN0, stage III was diagnosed.

Colovesical fistula due to sigmoid colon diverticulitis: a case report

We present a case of colovesical fistula due to sigmoid colon diverticulitis. A 63-year-old woman was referred to our department with the complaints of dysuria, turbid and foul smelling urine. She was treated twice for acute cystitis at the referral hospitals. A diagnosis of colovesical fistula was confirmed on barium enema. She underwent partial resection of sigmoid colon with primary anastomosis and partial cystectomy with repair of bladder wall and covered with omentum. Retrograde cytography taken on the 20th post-operative day revealed no leakage of contrast medium. She was asymptomatic at 3 months of follow-up.

Synthesis of 2''-amino-2''-deoxyarbekacin and its analogs having potent activity against methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus

Based on our studies on the enzymatic modifications of arbekacin by methicillin-resistant Staphylococcus aureus (MRSA), replacement of the 2''-hydroxyl group by an amino group in arbekacin was designed to synthesize derivatives that would be active against MRSA. 2''-Amino-2''-deoxyarbekacin and five analogs were synthesized starting from dibekacin. Among them, 2''-amino-2''-deoxyarbekacin and the 5-epiamino analog showed excellent antibacterial activities against not only MRSA but also Gram-negative bacteria including Pseudomonas, and lower toxicities than arbekacin.

[A case of infected renal cyst: the usefulness of magnetic resonance imaging for preoperative diagnosis]

A 22-year-old woman was admitted to our hospital with complaints of fever and left flank and back pain. Laboratory examinations showed leukocytosis and high C-reactive protein level. On the upper pole of the left kidney, two renal cysts were disclosed by ultrasonography and computerized tomography. A simple renal cyst and an infected renal cyst could be distinguished by magnetic resonance images (MRI), because the infected renal cyst was less intense than the simple renal cyst on T2 weighted MRI. Percutaneous puncture and drainage of the cyst were performed under the guidance of ultrasonography. Bacterial culture of the infected cyst fluid was positive for E. coli. Two months after treatment, computerized tomography showed no evidence of recurrence of the infected renal cyst.

Synthesis and activity of potent 3-(isoxazolidin-5-yl)- and 3-(isoxazolidinium-5-yl)cephalosporins

The syntheses and in vitro antibacterial activities of 3-(isoxazolidin-5-yl)- and 3-(isoxazolidinium-5-yl)cephalosporins are described. 1,3-Dipolar cycloaddition of 3-vinylcephalosporin with nitrone gave diastereomeric isomers of 3-(isoxazolidin-5-yl)cephalosporin. The antibacterial activities of 3'-(S)-isomers were superior to those of 3'-(R)-isomers. The quaternarization of isoxazolidine ring increased the antibacterial activity. Among them, compound 10b with a hydroxyimino group in the C-7 side chain showed potent activities against staphylococci and compound 10f with an N-hydroxypyridone exhibited an excellent antipseudomonal activity.

Synthesis and activity of 3-(isoxazolin-5-yl)- and 3-(isoxazol-4-yl)cephalosporins

The 1,3-dipolar cycloaddition of nitrile oxide with 3-vinylcephalosporin provided diastereomeric isomers of 3-(isoxazolin-5-yl)cephalosporin. Cycloaddition of nitrile oxide with 3-(dimethylamino-vinyl)cephalosporin gave 3-(isoxazol-4-yl)cephalosporin. These semisynthetic cephalosporins with an aminothiazole in the C-7 side chain showed moderate antibacterial activities.