The first European woolly rhinoceros mitogenomes, retrieved from cave hyena coprolites, suggest long-term phylogeographic differentiation

The woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis) is an iconic species of the Eurasian Pleistocene megafauna, which was abundant in Eurasia in the Pleistocene until its demise beginning approximately 10 000 years ago. Despite the early recovery of several specimens from well-known European archaeological sites, including its type specimen (Blumenbach 1799), no genomes of European populations were available so far, and all available genomic data originated exclusively from Siberian populations. Using coprolites of cave hyenas (Crocuta crocuta spelea) recovered from Middle Palaeolithic layers of two caves in Germany (Bockstein-Loch and Hohlenstein-Stadel), we isolated and enriched predator and prey DNA to assemble the first European woolly rhinoceros mitogenomes, in addition to cave hyena mitogenomes. Both coprolite samples produced copious sequences assigned to C. crocuta (27% and 59% mitogenome coverage, respectively) and woolly rhinoceros (Coelodonta antiquitatis; 27% and 81% coverage, respectively). The sequences suggested considerable DNA degradation, which may limit the conclusions to be drawn; however, the mitogenomes of European woolly rhinoceros are genetically distinct from the Siberian woolly rhinoceros, and analyses of the more complete mitogenome suggest a split of the populations potentially coinciding with the earliest fossil records of woolly rhinoceros in Europe.

Expressions of PD-L1 and Nectin-4 in urothelial cancer patients treated with pembrolizumab

OBJECTIVES

Recently, the standard of care for advanced urothelial cancer (UC) has been changed by developing immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs). However, its response rate is limited to 20-30%. The identification of biomarkers to predict the therapeutic effects of ICIs is urgently needed. The present study explored the association between immunohistochemical biomarkers and clinical outcomes in UC patients treated with pembrolizumab.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

A total of 85 patients with UC who received pembrolizumab after chemotherapy from January 2018 to May 2020 were retrospectively reviewed. Tumor tissues were obtained for immunohistochemical study from 47 out of 85 patients. The protein expressions of PD-L1, WT1, Nectin-4, CD4, CD8, Foxp3, and CD68 in tumor cells and/or tumor infiltrating lymphocytes were immunohistochemically examined. The associations between protein expressions and overall survival (OS), progression-free survival (PFS), and disease control rate (DCR) were statistically analyzed.

RESULTS

Patients with positive PD-L1 in tumor cells showed significantly worse OS (Log-rank test: HR 5.146, p = 0.001, Cox regression analysis: HR 4.331, p = 0.014) and PFS (Log-rank test: HR 3.31. p = 0.022), along with significantly lower DCR (14.3%) compared to the PD-L1 negative patients (67.5%). In addition, patients with strong expression of Nectin-4 in tumor cells showed significantly higher DCR (100%) than the other patients (50%).

CONCLUSION

PD-L1 expression in tumor cells was associated with poor prognosis (OS and PFS) and low DCR. Interestingly, the strong expression of Nectin-4 was correlated with high DCR. PD-L1 and Nectin-4 expression in tumor cells could be prognostic biomarkers useful for pembrolizumab in patients with advanced UC.

Three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for canine aortic body tumour: 6 cases (2014-2019)

OBJECTIVE

To determine the feasibility of three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy for canine aortic body tumours.

MATERIALS AND METHODS

Medical records of dogs that had undergone three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy with presumptive diagnosis of aortic body tumour were reviewed for clinical characteristics, treatment modality and outcomes.

RESULTS

Eight dogs were diagnosed with aortic body tumour and were treated with three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. One dog had proliferation of a mass in the right atrium during treatment and died of respiratory distress. Another dog did not undergo follow-up CT to evaluate the treatment response due to the increased blood urea nitrogen values. The remaining 6 dogs were included in the case series. Radiotherapy was performed using a median dose per fraction of 7 Gy (3.3-7.14 Gy), a median of seven divided doses (7-15) and a total median dose of 49 Gy (45-50 Gy). The median number of CT scans during the follow-up period was 5 (range: 3-8 times). CT revealed acute side effects in four dogs-grade 1 effects related to the lung (n = 4) and skin (n = 2). Self-limiting or asymptomatic late side effects (grade 1 lung-related effect) were observed in three dogs. After therapy, one dog demonstrated a complete response, another demonstrated a partial response and the disease remained stable in four animals. The median follow-up period was 514.5 (235-1219) days. After three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy, the aortic body tumour reduced gradually over time without regrowth in all these 6 dogs.

CLINICAL SIGNIFICANCE

In this small case series, aortic body tumours responded to three-dimensional conformal radiation therapy. Transient and self-limiting side effects of the treatments were common. Further controlled studies are required to prove the effectiveness and the safety of this intervention.

Prognostic value of noninvasive combined anatomic/functional assessment by cardiac ct in patients with suspected coronary heart disease

Background

Noninvasive evaluation of patients with stable angina is preferable over invasive testing if it leads to similar patient outcome. The combination of coronary angiography and vasodilator challenge myocardial perfusion imaging by computed tomography allows fast, comprehensive assessment of patients with suspected coronary heart disease.

Purpose

To compare the long-term prognostic value of combined computed tomography angiography (CTA) and myocardial CT perfusion imaging (CTP) with invasive coronary angiography (ICA) and single photon emission tomography (SPECT) in patients with suspected hemodynamically significant coronary heart disease.

Methods

At 16 centres, 381 patients were followed for major adverse cardiac events (MACE) for the CORE320 study. All patients underwent coronary CTA, CTP, and SPECT before ICA. Prognostic performance according binary results (normal/abnormal) was assessed by 5-year major cardiovascular events (MACE) free survival and area under the receiver-operating-characteristic curve (AUC).

Results

Follow up beyond 2-years was available in 323 patients. MACE-free survival rate was greater among patients with normal combined CTA/CTP findings compared to ICA/SPECT: 85 vs. 80% (95% confidence interval [CI] for difference 0.1, 11.3) though event-free survival time was similar (4.54 vs. 4.37 years, 95% CI for difference: 0.03, 0.36). Abnormal results by combined CTA/CTP was associated with 3.83 years event-free survival vs. 3.66 years after abnormal combined ICA/SPECT (95% CI for difference: 0.05, 0.39, CI −1.0, 11.1) (Figure). Predicting MACE by AUC also was similar: 65 vs. 65 (difference 0.1; 95% CI: −4.6, 4.9). When MACE was restricted to death, myocardial infarction, or stroke, AUC for CTA/CTP was 66 vs. 61 by ICA/SPECT (difference 5.1; 95% CI: −7.1, 12.9).

Conclusions

Combined CTA/CTP yield similar 5-year prognostic performance as joined ICA/SPECT assessment in patients presenting with suspected coronary heart disease and thus may represent a fast, non-invasive alternative to the traditional diagnostic approach.

Figure 1. 5-year event-free survival

Funding Acknowledgement

Type of funding source: Public Institution(s). Main funding source(s): National Institutes of Health

Ocular Manifestations in Patients with Microscopic Polyangiitis

PURPOSE

To describe ocular manifestations in patients with microscopic polyangiitis.

METHODS

Two patients with microscopic polyangiitis complained of ocular symptoms and underwent ophthalmologic examinations.

RESULTS

An 83-year-old woman (Case 1) was diagnosed with microscopic polyangiitis, according to the general clinical findings and the presence of perinuclear pattern of antineutrophil cytoplasmic antibodies (P-ANCA). She had hypopyon iridocyclitis in the right eye and retinal cotton-wool spots in the left eye. The patient was treated with oral prednisolone and subconjunctival betamethasone. The hypopyon iridocyclitis and retinal cotton-wool spots responded. A 79-year-old man (Case 2) had bilateral scleritis. The diagnosis of microscopic polyangiitis was made based on general clinical findings and the presence of P-ANCA. Scleritis was reduced after corticosteroid treatment.

CONCLUSIONS

Ophthalmologists should be aware that hypopyon iridocyclitis, cotton-wool spot, and scleritis could occur in patients with microscopic polyangiitis.

Measurement of residual platelet thrombogenicity under arterial shear conditions in cerebrovascular disease patients receiving antiplatelet therapy

Essentials A consensus methodology for assessing the effects of antiplatelet agents has not been established. Measuring platelet thrombus formation (PTF) for evaluating antiplatelet effects was assessed. PTF differentially reflected antiplatelet effects compared to other tests. PTF may be associated with the severity of carotid or intracranial arterial stenosis. Click to hear a presentation on platelet function testing in the clinic by Gresele and colleagues

SUMMARY

Background A consensus methodology for assessing the effects of antiplatelet agents has not been established. Objective We investigated the usefulness of directly measuring platelet thrombus formation (PTF) using a microchip-based flow chamber system for evaluating antiplatelet therapy. Patients/Methods Platelet thrombus formation in the whole blood of 94 patients with ischemic cerebrovascular disease treated with clopidogrel and/or aspirin was measured in a flow chamber system at a shear rate of 1500 s(-1) and was compared with the results of assays for agonist-induced platelet aggregability, phosphorylation of vasodilator-stimulated phosphoprotein, platelet p-selectin expression (PS), and platelet-monocyte complexes. Results In all patients tested, area under the flow pressure curve (AUC10), which represents platelet thrombogenicity, showed weak correlation with platelet aggregation induced by either adenosine diphosphate or collagen. In addition, AUC10 was lower in patients treated with dual antiplatelet therapy (median 79.4) compared with patients treated with aspirin or clopidogrel alone (217.7 and 301.0, respectively), whereas the parameters evaluated by the other assays did not reflect the combined treatment efficacy. In clopidogrel monotherapy patients, AUC10 was associated with the severity of arterial stenosis (R(2) = 0.127, β = 1.25), and AUC10 and PS were higher in patients with severe carotid or intracranial arterial stenosis than in those with mild stenosis. Conclusions Platelet thrombus formation measurement using a flow-chamber system was useful for evaluating the efficacy of treatment with aspirin and clopidogrel, both alone and in combination. The present findings indicate that high residual platelet thrombogenicity in patients treated with clopidogrel may be associated with the severity of carotid or intracranial arterial stenosis.

Interleukin-6, interleukin-6 receptor gene variant, small-vessel disease and incident dementia

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Mixed neurogenerative and vascular dementia has emerged as the leading cause of dementia in the elderly. Inflammation is implicated in atherosclerosis, cerebral small-vessel disease (SVD) as well as cognitive impairment. However, longitudinal data on the predictive value of circulating inflammatory markers including gene variants and magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) findings in incident dementia are scarce. It was investigated whether circulating interleukin-6 (IL-6), C-reactive protein (CRP) and gene variants increase dementia risk.

METHODS

In a cohort of Japanese participants with vascular risk factors in an observational study from 2001, the association between baseline IL-6, CRP levels, gene variants [interleukin-6 receptor (IL-6R), rs2228145; IL-6, rs2097677; CRP, rs3093059] and incident all-cause dementia was evaluated. Baseline MRI was used to determine SVD (lacuna, white matter hyperintensities) and atrophy (medial-temporal lobe atrophy, bicaudate ratio). Cox proportional hazards analyses were performed for predictors of dementia, adjusting for age, sex, apolipoprotein Eε4, education, cerebrovascular events, vascular risk factors and MRI findings.

RESULTS

Of 803 subjects (mean 67.0 ± 8.5 years, males 59%), during a mean of 7.5 ± 3.2 years follow-up, 60 incident dementia patients (Alzheimer's disease 31; vascular dementia 17; mixed-type six; other six) were diagnosed. In multivariable analyses adjusted for age, sex, cerebrovascular events, MRI findings and IL-6R variant (rs2228145), IL-6 levels (relative risk 1.68, P = 0.048) or highest tertile (relative risk 2.38, P = 0.031) for all-cause dementia remained significant. Although subjects with rs2228145 carrier had significantly higher IL-6 levels, a significant association between rs2228145 and dementia was not observed. Conversely, CRP and remaining gene variants were not associated with dementia.

CONCLUSIONS

The deleterious effect of higher IL-6 on dementia remains consistent irrespective of conventional risk factors, MRI findings and IL-6R variant.

Serum high-molecular-weight adiponectin level and incident dementia in patients with vascular risk factors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The involvement of metabolic factors in the development of dementia has received much attention. However, previous studies have yielded conflicting results regarding how blood adipocytokine level impacts cognitive decline and dementia. This study aimed to clarify whether serum high-molecular-weight (HMW) adiponectin level is related to incident dementia.

METHODS

Data were from 466 patients (mean age 67.8 years, male 57%)--who had normal cognitive function and received brain magnetic resonance imaging--from amongst the 1106 patients in the Osaka Follow-up Study for Carotid Atherosclerosis, Part 2, a prospective cohort study of cardiovascular events and dementia amongst patients with vascular risk factors enrolled between 2001 and 2009. Baseline HMW adiponectin levels were measured using frozen serum. Dementia occurrence was examined in June 2013.

RESULTS

Serum HMW adiponectin level was 4.33 ± 2.95 μg/ml; the levels were lower in men than in women and negatively correlated with body mass index. During the follow-up period (median 6.9 years), 47 patients had incident dementia including Alzheimer's disease dementia (27), vascular dementia (13), mixed dementia (four), other dementia (three). Risks of dementia in patients with high versus low HMW adiponectin levels were almost identical (P = 0.689). No association was found between adiponectin levels and Alzheimer's disease dementia or vascular dementia in the whole group or amongst men and women separately.

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that serum HMW adiponectin level has little association with future dementia. Determination of metabolic factors involved in dementia requires evaluation of other biomarkers or parameters.

Pressure-induced valence crossover and novel metamagnetic behavior near the antiferromagnetic quantum phase transition of YbNi_{3}Ga_{9}

We report electrical resistivity, ac magnetic susceptibility, and x-ray absorption spectroscopy measurements of intermediate valence YbNi_{3}Ga_{9} under pressure and magnetic field. We have revealed a characteristic pressure-induced Yb valence crossover within the temperature-pressure phase diagram, and a first-order metamagnetic transition is found below P_{c}∼9  GPa where the system undergoes a pressure-induced antiferromagnetic transition. As a possible origin of the metamagnetic behavior, a critical valence fluctuation emerging near the critical point of the first-order valence transition is discussed on the basis of the temperature-field-pressure phase diagram.

Association between carotid stenosis or lacunar infarction and incident dementia in patients with vascular risk factors

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

The association between vascular risk factors and dementia is of interest. Several studies have shown that cerebral small vessel disease (SVD) is associated with dementia. However, the association between cerebral large vessel disease (LVD) and dementia has not been thoroughly examined.

METHODS

The Osaka Follow-up Study for Carotid Atherosclerosis, Part 2, was a prospective cohort study of cardiovascular events and dementia in which patients (n = 1106) with vascular risk factors underwent carotid ultrasound. Of these patients, 600 who had normal cognitive function were included and underwent brain magnetic resonance imaging. The presence of lacunar infarction and carotid stenosis served as markers for SVD and LVD, respectively.

RESULTS

Amongst 600 patients (mean 68 years, 57% men), 261 (44%) showed lacunar infarction and 94 (16%) showed carotid stenosis. During the follow-up period (median 8.0 years), 57 patients had incident dementia. Patients with carotid stenosis and lacunar infarction were significantly more likely to be diagnosed with dementia (log-rank test, P = 0.037 and P < 0.001, respectively). The association between lacunar infarction and dementia remained significant after adjusting for risk factors including stroke history, apolipoprotein E genotype and years of education (hazard ratio 2.64, 95% confidence interval 1.22-6.09). However, the presence of carotid stenosis was not associated with incident dementia after adjusting for age and sex (P = 0.477).

CONCLUSIONS

This study demonstrated that carotid stenosis had little association with dementia, but lacunar infarction had a significant association. The impact of SVD on dementia could be much greater than that of LVD.

Thyroid antibodies are associated with stenotic lesions in the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE

Several studies have reported moyamoya syndrome associated with thyroid disease, and the mechanism involved in this relationship is unknown. This study aimed to clarify the involvement of thyroid antibodies and thyroid function in intracranial arterial stenosis.

METHODS

The study included 30 patients <65 years of age with intracranial arterial steno-occlusion. Patients with definitive moyamoya disease were excluded. Thyroid function and thyroid antibody levels were evaluated. The steno-occlusive site and the presence of moyamoya vessels were evaluated using digital subtraction angiography. The characteristics of intracranial arterial lesions were compared between patients with and without elevated thyroid antibody levels, and between patients with increased thyroid function and those with normal thyroid function.

RESULTS

Five patients had increased thyroid function and seven had elevated thyroid antibody levels. Four were diagnosed with Graves' disease, 13 with atherosclerotic intracranial stenosis, two with intracranial arterial dissection, one with vasculitis syndrome and 10 with intracranial stenosis of unknown cause. All patients with Graves' disease and patients with elevated antithyroid peroxidase antibody levels had steno-occlusion in the terminal portion of the internal carotid arteries, whereas most of the patients with normal thyroid function or without elevated thyroid antibody levels had stenosis in the middle cerebral arteries.

CONCLUSIONS

In young and middle-aged patients, a lesion in the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery was associated with elevated thyroid antibody levels and increased thyroid function. Stenoses found in the terminal portion of the internal carotid artery and immune-mediated thyroid diseases may share a common background.

Physiological responses in Alpine skiers during on-snow training simulation in the cold

This study examined the physiological responses to cold stimulus during intermittent high-intensity exercise simulating on-snow alpine ski training. 7 male alpine skiers performed intermittent high-intensity exercises composed of 4 bouts of cycling exercise at 140% VO 2max intensity for 30 s with 10-min rests on a cycle ergometer in cold (1°C) and control (22°C) conditions. The subjects wore racing suits, middle layers and half pants designed for alpine skiers. Rectal temperature and mean skin temperature were lower in the cold condition than in the control condition (36.8 ± 0.5 vs. 37.1 ± 0.1°C and 28.4 ± 0.6 vs. 33.3 ± 0.6°C, respectively). Oxygen consumption during rests and the last 2 bouts of exercise was higher in the cold condition than in the control condition. Although plasma noradrenaline and serum triglyceride were higher in the cold condition than in the control condition, plasma glucose, adrenaline and serum glycerol were lower. Serum free fatty acid and plasma lactate concentrations did not differ significantly between the 2 conditions. These results indicate that a cold stimulus affects body temperature and energy metabolism and may lead to a decrease in exercise capacity in alpine skiers during on-snow training.

Common carotid intima-media thickness does not add to Framingham risk score in individuals with diabetes mellitus: the USE-IMT initiative

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS

The aim of this work was to investigate whether measurement of the mean common carotid intima-media thickness (CIMT) improves cardiovascular risk prediction in individuals with diabetes.

METHODS

We performed a subanalysis among 4,220 individuals with diabetes in a large ongoing individual participant data meta-analysis involving 56,194 subjects from 17 population-based cohorts worldwide. We first refitted the risk factors of the Framingham heart risk score on the individuals without previous cardiovascular disease (baseline model) and then expanded this model with the mean common CIMT (CIMT model). The absolute 10 year risk for developing a myocardial infarction or stroke was estimated from both models. In individuals with diabetes we compared discrimination and calibration of the two models. Reclassification of individuals with diabetes was based on allocation to another cardiovascular risk category when mean common CIMT was added.

RESULTS

During a median follow-up of 8.7 years, 684 first-time cardiovascular events occurred among the population with diabetes. The C statistic was 0.67 for the Framingham model and 0.68 for the CIMT model. The absolute 10 year risk for developing a myocardial infarction or stroke was 16% in both models. There was no net reclassification improvement with the addition of mean common CIMT (1.7%; 95% CI -1.8, 3.8). There were no differences in the results between men and women.

CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION

There is no improvement in risk prediction in individuals with diabetes when measurement of the mean common CIMT is added to the Framingham risk score. Therefore, this measurement is not recommended for improving individual cardiovascular risk stratification in individuals with diabetes.

Effect of duration of active or passive recovery on performance and muscle oxygenation during intermittent sprint cycling exercise

We compared the effect of recovery condition and durations on performance and muscle oxygenation during short-duration intermittent sprint exercise. 8 subjects performed a graded test and ten 5-s maximal sprints with 25-, 50-, and 100-s passive recovery (PR) or active recovery (AR) on a cycle ergometer. Peak power and percent decrease in power were determined. Oxygen uptake and blood lactate were measured during the sprint exercise. Oxyhemoglobin (O2Hb) and deoxyhemoglobin were measured using near-infrared spectroscopy. Peak power values were higher for PR than AR for the 25-s (2-9 sprints) and 50-s (2-6, 9, or 10 sprints) but not for the 100-s durations. Percentage decrease in peak power was lower for PR than AR in the 25-s (8.5±2.5 vs. 11.5±3.6%, P=0.008, ES=0.66) and 50-s (2.7±1.4 vs. 6.2±3.5%, P=0.007, ES=0.67) but not 100-s durations (2.1±1.3 vs. 3.1±2.6%, P>0.05). O2Hb variations were significantly higher for PR than AR for the 25-s and 50-s durations. AR was associated with reduced sprint performance and lower muscular reoxygenation. Performance was not affected over longer recovery durations regardless of recovery condition.

Design and performance of hybrid constructed wetland systems for high-content wastewater treatment in the cold climate of Hokkaido, northern Japan

The performance of six multistage hybrid constructed wetland systems was evaluated. The systems were designed to treat four kinds of high-content wastewater: dairy wastewater (three systems, average inflow content 2,400-5,000 mg·COD l(-1), 3-6 years of operation); pig farm wastewater, including liquid food washing wastewater (one system, 9,500 mg·COD l(-1), 3 years); potato starch processing wastewater (one system, 20,000-60,000 mg·COD l(-1), 3 years); and wastewater containing pig farm swine urine (one system, 6,600 mg·COD l(-1), 2.8 years) (COD = chemical oxygen demand). The systems contained three or four vertical (V) flow beds with self-priming siphons and surface partitions and no or one horizontal (H) flow bed (three to five beds). In some V flow beds, treated effluents were recirculated (Vr) through the inlet to improve performance. Mean annual temperature was 5-8 °C at all locations. To overcome clogging due to the high load in a cold climate, we applied a safety bypass structure and floating cover material to the V flow beds. Calculated average oxygen transfer rates (OTRs) increased proportionally with the influent load, and the OTR value was Vr > V> H. The relations of load-OTR, COD-ammonium, and a Arrhenius temperature-dependent equation enable the basic design of a reed bed system.

Magnetic Coulomb fields of monopoles in spin ice and their signatures in the internal field distribution

Fractionalization-the breaking up of an apparently indivisible microscopic degree of freedom-is one of the most counterintuitive phenomena in many-body physics. Here we study its most fundamental manifestation in spin ice, the only known fractionalized magnetic compound in 3D: we directly visualize the 1/r(2) magnetic Coulomb field of monopoles that emerge as the atomic magnetic dipoles fractionalize. We analyze the internal magnetic field distribution, relevant for local experimental probes. In particular, we present new zero-field NMR measurements that exhibit excellent agreement with the calculated line shapes, noting that this experimental technique can in principle measure directly the monopole density in spin ice. The distribution of field strengths is captured by a simple analytical form that exhibits a low density of low-field sites-in apparent disagreement with reported muon spin rotation results. Counterintuitively, the density of low-field locations decreases as the local ferromagnetic correlations imposed by the ice rules weaken.

Prospective evaluation of corrected QT intervals and arrhythmias after exposure to epirubicin, cyclophosphamide, and 5-fluorouracil in women with breast cancer

BACKGROUND

Corrected QT (QTc) interval prolongation can induce fatal arrhythmias such as torsade de pointes.

PATIENTS AND METHODS

To assess the characteristics of QTc intervals and arrhythmias in women with early breast cancer who received FEC100 adjuvant chemotherapy, electrocardiograms (ECGs) were recorded before and after each chemotherapy. Associations between QTc interval prolongation and single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) of potassium channel genes were also investigated.

RESULTS

A total of 131 ECG records were obtained in 34 patients who received 153 cycles of FEC100. QTc intervals could be measured in 127 records. There was a significant trend toward QTc interval prolongation after each treatment, persisting through four cycles of chemotherapy (P < 0.001). Median QTc interval prolongations were 13, 11, 18, and 14 ms in the first through fourth cycles of chemotherapy, respectively. QTc intervals differed significantly between cycles 1 and 4 before treatment as well as after treatment (P < 0.05). A single supraventricular premature contraction was noted in 3 (2.3%) of the 131 cycles in 2 (5.9%) of the 34 patients. There was no significant association between QTc interval prolongation and SNPs of potassium channel genes.

CONCLUSION

This prospective study confirmed that FEC100 is associated with significant QTc interval prolongation in women with early breast cancer.

Ehrlichia canis infection in two dogs that emigrated from endemic areas

Two dogs, emigrated from Zambia and China to Japan, were diagnosed with Ehrlichia canis infection. Both cases had thrombocytopenia, non-regenerative anemia, and hypergloblinemia with polyclonal gammopathy. Case 1 had ataxia of the hind limbs. Severe meningitis was revealed by magnetic resonance imaging examination. Intracytoplasmic inclusions were observed in mononuclear cells of cerebrospinal fluid. Case 2 had a history of bilateral epistaxis, and severe pancytopenia was noticed in complete blood count. Diagnosis was finally achieved by nested polymerase chain reaction and sequence analysis. Thus, even in non-endemic areas, E. canis infection should be included in the differential diagnosis of clinically ill dogs that emigrated from endemic areas.

Long non-coding RNA ANRIL is required for the PRC2 recruitment to and silencing of p15(INK4B) tumor suppressor gene

A 42 kb region on human chromosome 9p21 encodes for three distinct tumor suppressors, p16(INK4A), p14(ARF) and p15(INK4B), and is altered in an estimated 30-40% of human tumors. The expression of the INK4A-ARF-INK4B gene cluster is silenced by polycomb during normal cell growth and is activated by oncogenic insults and during aging. How the polycomb is recruited to repress this gene cluster is unclear. Here, we show that expression of oncogenic Ras, which stimulates the expression of p15(INK4B) and p16(INK4A), but not p14(ARF), inhibits the expression of ANRIL (antisense non-coding RNA in the INK4 locus), a 3.8 kb-long non-coding RNA expressed in the opposite direction from INK4A-ARF-INK4B. We show that the p15(INK4B) locus is bound by SUZ12, a component of polycomb repression complex 2 (PRC2), and is H3K27-trimethylated. Notably, depletion of ANRIL disrupts the SUZ12 binding to the p15(INK4B) locus, increases the expression of p15(INK4B), but not p16(INK4A) or p14(ARF), and inhibits cellular proliferation. Finally, RNA immunoprecipitation demonstrates that ANRIL binds to SUZ12 in vivo. Collectively, these results suggest a model in which ANRIL binds to and recruits PRC2 to repress the expression of p15(INK4B) locus.

Quantification of lumen stenoses with known dimensions by conventional angiography and computed tomography: implications of using conventional angiography as gold standard

BACKGROUND

Quantitative coronary angiography (QCA) has inherent limitations for displaying complex vascular anatomy, yet it remains the gold standard for stenosis quantification.

OBJECTIVE

To investigate the accuracy of stenosis assessment by multi-detector computed tomography (MDCT) and QCA compared to known dimensions.

METHODS

Nineteen acrylic coronary vessel phantoms with precisely drilled stenoses of mild (25%), moderate (50%) and severe (75%) grade were studied with 64-slice MDCT and digital flat panel angiography. Fifty-seven stenoses of circular and non-circular shape were imaged with simulated cardiac motion (60 bpm). Image acquisition was optimised for both imaging modalities, and stenoses were quantified by blinded expert readers using electronic callipers (for MDCT) or lumen contour detection software (for QCA).

RESULTS

Average difference between true and measured per cent diameter stenosis for QCA was similar compared to MDCT: 7 (+/-6)% vs 7 (+/-5)% (p=0.78). While QCA performed better than MDCT in stenoses with circular lumen (mean error 4 (+/-3)% vs 7 (+/-6)%, p<0.01), MDCT was superior to QCA for evaluating stenoses with non-circular geometry (mean error 10 (+/-7)% vs 7 (+/-5)%, p<0.05). In such lesions, QCA underestimated the true diameter stenosis by >20% in 9 of 27 (33%) vs 1 of 29 (3%) in lumen with circular geometry.

CONCLUSIONS

QCA often underestimates diameter stenoses in lumen with non-circular geometry. Compared to QCA, MDCT yields mildly greater measurement errors in perfectly circular lumen but performs better in non-circular lesions. These findings have implications for using QCA as the gold standard for stenosis quantification by MDCT.

Serum inflammatory proteins and frontal lobe dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular risk factors

BACKGROUND

Recent studies have shown that the levels of circulating inflammatory markers are associated with cognitive decline and cerebral small-vessel disease. Frontal lobe dysfunction is believed to be a relatively characteristic neuropsychological symptom in vascular cognitive impairment caused by cerebral small-vessel disease. The purpose of this study was to investigate whether the levels of serum inflammatory markers are associated with frontal lobe dysfunction, particularly executive dysfunction.

METHODS

Between January 2003 and September 2007, 388 patients who had one or more atherosclerotic risk factors and subsequently underwent brain MRI and neuropsychological testing including mini-mental state examination (MMSE), frontal assessment battery (FAB), and modified Stroop test were enrolled in this study. We evaluated the effect of serum levels of inflammatory markers and white matter lesions on frontal lobe function.

RESULTS

The FAB score was negatively correlated with serum inflammatory marker levels (hsCRP; r = -0.170, IL-6; r = -0.143, IL-18; r = -0.175) and white matter lesions. In the modified Stroop test, interference measure was positively correlated with the levels of hsCRP (r = -0.198), and IL-18 (r = -0.152), and white matter lesions. However, the MMSE score was not correlated with either inflammatory marker levels. The association between hsCRP and FAB score or interference measure remained significant when controlling for other confounding factors and MRI findings.

CONCLUSIONS

The circulating level of hsCRP is associated with frontal lobe dysfunction in patients with cardiovascular risk factors independent of white matter lesions in brain MRI.

BUB3 that dissociates from BUB1 activates caspase-independent mitotic death (CIMD)

The cell death mechanism that prevents aneuploidy caused by a failure of the spindle checkpoint has recently emerged as an important regulatory paradigm. We previously identified a new type of mitotic cell death, termed caspase-independent mitotic death (CIMD), which is induced during early mitosis by partial BUB1 (a spindle checkpoint protein) depletion and defects in kinetochore-microtubule attachment. In this study, we have shown that survived cells that escape CIMD have abnormal nuclei, and we have determined the molecular mechanism by which BUB1 depletion activates CIMD. The BUB3 protein (a BUB1 interactor and a spindle checkpoint protein) interacts with p73 (a homolog of p53), specifically in cells wherein CIMD occurs. The BUB3 protein that is freed from BUB1 associates with p73 on which Y99 is phosphorylated by c-Abl tyrosine kinase, resulting in the activation of CIMD. These results strongly support the hypothesis that CIMD is the cell death mechanism protecting cells from aneuploidy by inducing the death of cells prone to substantial chromosome missegregation.

Spontaneous formation of a superconducting and antiferromagnetic hybrid state in SrFe2As2 under high pressure

We report a novel superconducting (SC) and antiferromagnetic (AF) hybrid state in SrFe(2)As(2) revealed by (75)As nuclear magnetic resonance (NMR) experiments on a single crystal under highly hydrostatic pressure up to 7 GPa. The NMR spectra at 5.4 GPa indicate simultaneous development of the SC and AF orders below 30 K. The nuclear spin-lattice relaxation rate in the SC domains shows a substantial residual density of states, suggesting proximity effects due to the spontaneous formation of a nanoscale SC-AF hybrid structure. This entangled behavior is a remarkable example of a self-organized heterogeneous structure in a clean system.

[Relationship between pleural indentation on computed tomography scans and pleural invasion in small peripheral lung cancer of 2 cm in size or less]

Eighty-six cases of small peripheral lung cancer without contact with the chest wall on computed tomography (CT) scans were studied on the presence of radiological pleural indentation and pathological pleural invasion. Twenty-three tumors in 44 cases with pleural indentation were found to reach the pleura histologically, but only one in 42 cases without pleural indentation. There is a high possibility of pleural invasion or contact with the pleura in small lung cancers with pleural indentation. There was no relationship between the presence of pleural indentation and the tumor/chest wall distance on CT scans. Pleural indentations were more frequently seen in small adenocarcinomas of low ground-glass opacity (GGO) ratio or Noguchi's type C. Small lung nodules with pleural indentation had better be removed as early as possible because of the possibility of pleural invasion and pleural dissemination.

Fbw7 promotes ubiquitin-dependent degradation of c-Myb: involvement of GSK3-mediated phosphorylation of Thr-572 in mouse c-Myb

Expression of oncoprotein c-Myb oscillates during hematopoiesis and hematological malignancies. Its quantity is not only regulated through transcriptional control but also through the ubiquitin-proteasome pathway, accompanied by phosphorylation, although the mechanisms are poorly understood. In this report, we tried to identify an E3 ubiquitin ligase, which targets c-Myb for ubiquitin-dependent degradation. We found that an F-box protein, Fbw7, interacted with c-Myb, which is mutated in numerous cancers. Fbw7 facilitated ubiquitylation and degradation of c-Myb in intact cells. Moreover, depletion of Fbw7 by RNA interference delayed turnover and increased the abundance of c-Myb in myeloid leukemia cells concomitantly, and suppressed the transcriptional level of gamma-globin, which receives transcriptional repression from c-Myb. In addition, we analysed sites required for both ubiquitylation and degradation of c-Myb. We found that Thr-572 is critical for Fbw7-mediated ubiquitylation in mouse c-Myb using site-directed mutagenesis. Fbw7 recognized the phosphorylation of Thr-572, which was mediated by glycogen synthase kinase 3 (GSK3). In consequence, the c-Myb protein was markedly stabilized by the substitution of Thr-572 to Ala. These observations suggest that SCF(Fbw7) ubiquitin ligase regulates phosphorylation-dependent degradation of c-Myb protein.