Quality of palliative radiotherapy assessed using quality indicators: a multicenter survey†.

We sought to identify potential evidence-practice gaps in palliative radiotherapy using quality indicators (QIs), previously developed using a modified Delphi method. Seven QIs were used to assess the quality of radiotherapy for bone metastases (BoM) and brain metastases (BrM). Compliance rate was calculated as the percentage of patients for whom recommended medical care was conducted.

Comparison of pain-relieving effects by number of irradiations, through propensity score matching and the international consensus endpoint.

Background: Palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases utilizes various dose fractionation schedules. The pain-relieving effects of a single fraction (SF) and multiple fractions (MF) are largely debated due to the difficulty in matching patients' backgrounds and in assessing the effectiveness of pain relief. This study aimed to compare the pain-relieving effects of SF and MF palliative radiotherapy for bone metastases using propensity score matching and the international consensus endpoint (ICE).

Entomopathogenic fungus -based bioinsecticide suppresses severity of powdery mildews of vegetables by inducing the plant defense responses.

The entomopathogenic fungus is used commercially as a microbial insecticides against a wide range of agricultural insect pests. Some strains of protect the plants from pathogens, but the underlying mechanisms are largely unknown. Here, we found that prophylactic sprays of commercial bioinsecticide Botanigard on cucumber, tomato, and strawberry plants suppressed the severity of economically damaging powdery mildews.

Increased Interleukin-36β Expression Promotes Angiogenesis in Japanese Atopic Dermatitis.

While atopic dermatitis (AD) is considered as a T helper 2 (Th2)-centered disease, an increase in other types of inflammatory cytokines is also noted in AD and they may also contribute to the development of the disease. Recently, the efficacy of an anti-IL-36 receptor antibody in AD was demonstrated in a clinical trial. Although there have been several reports on IL-36α and IL-36γ expression and function in AD, IL-36β has been barely studied.

A Novel Medium for Isolating Two Japanese Species in the Species Complex and a Dipstick DNA Chromatography Assay for Species Identification and Trichothecene Typing.

Members of the species complex ( complex) are the primary pathogens that cause Fusarium head blight in wheat and barley. complex members grow poorly on -selective media, such as Komada and Fo-G2, that have also been used for the isolation of other species. Therefore, Komada medium was modified as FG medium for the isolation of complex members.

Identification of a Novel Haplotype of from Japan.

was described first as a pathogen of wheat (tan spot) in Japan in the 1920s, but, since then, no reports on race structure or its effectors in Japan have been published. In this study, 10 single-spore isolates of were collected from bread wheat in Japan. These isolates were evaluated for virulence on four differential wheat genotypes and tested for the presence/absence of the effector-encoding genes, and , in multiplex PCR assays.

[Determination of Allyl Isothiocyanate in Mustard and Horseradish Extracts by Single Reference GC and HPLC Based on Relative Molar Sensitivities].

The main component of the Mustard and Horseradish extracts, which are used as natural food additives in Japan, is allyl isothiocyanate (AITC). The determination of AITC using GC-FID is the official method employed in the quality control assessments for these products. In this method, a commercially available AITC reagent is used as a calibrant.

The utility of a deep learning-based algorithm for bone scintigraphy in patient with prostate cancer.

Objective: Bone scintigraphy has often been used to evaluate bone metastases. Its functionality is evident in detecting bone metastasis in patients with malignant tumor including prostate cancer, as appropriate treatment and prognosis are dependent on the presence and degree of bone metastasis. The development of a deep learning-based algorithm in the field of information processing has been remarkable in recent years.

Rigorous monitoring of a large-scale marine stock enhancement program demonstrates the need for comprehensive management of fisheries and nursery habitat.

Release of captively-bred individuals into the wild is one of the most popular tools in fisheries, forestry, and wildlife management, and introgression of hatchery-reared animals into wild populations is of global concern. However, research and monitoring of impacts on wild populations are generally lacking, and the benefit of hatcheries for long-term fisheries and conservation goals is unclear. Using spatio-temporal genetic monitoring and a four-dacade time series of catch data, we quantified the effects on the size and genetic diversity of wild populations of one of the world's largest marine stock enhancement programs-the red sea bream (Pagrus major) in Kagoshima Bay, Japan.

Relative molar sensitivities of carnosol and carnosic acid with respect to diphenylamine allow accurate quantification of antioxidants in rosemary extract.

We have been developing a high-performance liquid chromatography/photodiode array (HPLC/PDA) employing relative molar sensitivities (RMSs) and adopted it to the accurate quantification of carnosol (CL) and carnosic acid (CA) which are the antioxidants in rosemary extract. The method requires no references of CL or CA and instead uses RMSs with respect to diphenylamine (DPA) whose certified reference material is available from a reagent manufacturer. The molar and response ratios of the analytes to the reference in an artificial mixture of them were determined using H-quantitative nuclear magnetic resonance spectroscopy (H-qNMR) and HPLC/PDA at a wavelength of 284 nm under isocratic condition, respectively, and then RMSs were calculated to be 0.

Noninvasive estimation of quantitative myocardial blood flow with Tc-99m MIBI by a compartment model analysis in rat.

Background: We aimed to investigate the use of dynamic cardiac planar images to estimate myocardial blood flow (MBF) by a compartment model analysis using time-to-peak (TP) map and compared it by the microsphere technique in rat. Positron emission tomography is considered the gold standard method, but is not available everywhere. By contrast, although myocardial perfusion imaging (MPI) with single-photon tracers is more widely available, it may be difficult to obtain adequate region of interest (ROI) settings.

A novel iterative modified bicubic interpolation method enables high-contrast and high-resolution image generation for F-18 FDG-PET.

Positron emission tomography (PET) has become a useful and important technique in oncology. However, spatial resolution of PET is not high; therefore, small abnormalities can sometimes be overlooked with PET. To address this problem, we devised a novel algorithm, iterative modified bicubic interpolation method (IMBIM).

Inter- and intra-observer reproducibility of quantitative analysis for FP-CIT SPECT in patients with DLB.

Background: Dopamine transporter single photon emission CT (DAT-SPECT) is useful in the evaluation of dementia with Lewy bodies (DLB). The specific binding ratio (SBR) is an index to measure DAT density. However, poorly reproducible cases are occasionally experienced in clinical practice.

SUV navigator enables rapid [F]-FDG PET/CT image interpretation compared with 2D ROI and 3D VOI evaluations.

Purpose: Positron emission tomography (PET) and the maximum standardized uptake value (SUV) is a useful technique for assessing malignant tumors. Measurements of SUV in multiple lesions per patient frequently require many time-consuming procedures. To address this issue, we designed a novel interface named SUV Navigator (SUVnavi), and the purpose of this study was to investigate its utility.

Asteltoxins from the Entomopathogenic Fungus Pochonia bulbillosa 8-H-28.

New asteltoxins C (3) and D (4) were found in the extract of the entomopathogenic fungus Pochonia bulbillosa 8-H-28. Compound 2, which was spectroscopically identical with the known asteltoxin B, was isolated, and structural analysis led to a revision of the structure of asteltoxin B. Compounds 2 and 4 have a novel tricyclic ring system connected to a dienyl α-pyrone structure.

A new cell line from the fat body of Spodoptera litura (Lepidoptera, Noctuidae) and detection of lysozyme activity release upon immune stimulation.

A new cell line, designated NIAS-SL64, was established from the fat body of the fifth instar larvae of the common cutworm Spodoptera litura. NIAS-SL64 cells grew as spindle-shaped and non-adherent cells in the insect-specific cell culture medium MGM-450 supplemented with 10% fetal bovine serum. Criterions for the establishment of the NIAS-SL64 cell line is spindle shape and length (30~90 μm) stabilized after 100 passages.

Stent deformation: an experimental study of coronary ostial stenting.

Objectives: To investigate stent deformation by torsional stress after implantation at the ostium of a model coronary artery.

Background: Little is known about coronary stent deformation, especially the association between stent design and deformation at the coronary ostium. Recent reports have suggested that mechanical factors are important for stent restenosis.

Products of anti-CD3/anti-CD28 activated lymphocytes induce differentiation and maturation of dendritic cells and have adjuvant-like activity in vitro and in vivo.

Dendritic cells (DC) orchestrate immune responses under direction of cytokines/chemokines in their microenvironment. To investigate the influence of that generated during T cell activation, we stimulated peripheral blood mononuclear cells (PBMC) with anti-CD3 and anti-CD28 coated beads and tested cell-free culture supernatants (lymphocyte conditioned medium, LCM) for cytokine/chemokine composition and biologic activity. LCM contained a battery of mediators important in the biology of myeloid (mDC) and plasmacytoid (pDC) DC.

Synthesis of bone formation deriving biosilanes.

Six silane coupling agents having amide group (biosilanes) were synthesized with the aim to construct the material surface that allows cells to be compatible with it without their destruction. These agents were expected to make a soft landing to cytoplasm through the hydrogen bonding between their amide groups and cells. Evaluations of cell affinity using glass substrates modified with the synthesized biosilanes revealed that many cells remain on the modified glass plate.

Statistics on deliveries of mothers with epilepsy at Yokohama City University Hospital.

Purpose: To survey and summarize the treatment of pregnant women with epilepsy and to obtain data for the improvement of daily treatment regimens.

Methods: We reviewed medical records of 36 deliveries of 25 mothers with epilepsy at Yokohama City University Hospital from September 1991 to December 2000 and statistically compared the differences in drug-taking profiles, complications during pregnancy, types of delivery, and complications at delivery between the epilepsy group and a control group (656 total deliveries after 22 weeks except for epilepsy cases in 1991 and 1992 at Yokohama City University Hospital).

Results: Of the 25 mothers with epilepsy, three with idiopathic generalized epilepsy, 12 were symptomatic for partial epilepsy.

Transperineal high-dose-rate interstitial radiation therapy in the management of gynecologic malignancies.

Background: High-dose-rate interstitial radiation therapy is a newly introduced modality, and its role in the management of gynecologic malignancies remains to be studied. Clinical experience in high-dose-rate interstitial radiation therapy was retrospectively investigated.

Patients And Methods: Eight patients with primary and nine with recurrent gynecologic malignancies underwent high-dose-rate interstitial radiation therapy with/without external-beam irradiation.