"Invisible" radioactive cesium atoms revealed: Pollucite inclusion in cesium-rich microparticles (CsMPs) from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Understanding radioactive Cs contamination has been a central issue at Fukushima Daiichi and other nuclear legacy sites; however, atomic-scale characterization of radioactive Cs in environmental samples has never been achieved. Here we report, for the first time, the direct imaging of radioactive Cs atoms using high-resolution high-angle annular dark-field scanning transmission electron microscopy (HAADF-STEM). In Cs-rich microparticles collected from Japan, we document inclusions that contain 27 - 36 wt% of Cs (reported as CsO) in a zeolite: pollucite.

Occurrence of radioactive cesium-rich micro-particles (CsMPs) in a school building located 2.8 km south-west of the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant.

Radioactive Cs-rich microparticles (CsMPs) released from the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant (FDNPP) are a potential health risk through inhalation. Little has been documented on the occurrence of CsMPs, particularly their occurrence inside buildings. In this study, we quantitatively analyze the distribution and number of CsMPs in indoor dust samples collected from an elementary school located 2.

Volatilization of BC control rods in Fukushima Daiichi nuclear reactors during meltdown: B-Li isotopic signatures in cesium-rich microparticles.

Boron carbide control rods remain in the fuel debris of the damaged reactors in the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant, potentially preventing re-criticality; however, the state and stability of the control rods remain unknown. Sensitive high-resolution ion microprobe analyses have revealed B-Li isotopic signatures in radioactive Cs-rich microparticles (CsMPs) that formed by volatilization and condensation of Si-oxides during the meltdowns. The CsMPs contain 1518-6733 mg kg of B and 11.

Structural significance of residues 158-160 in the H3N2 hemagglutnin globular head: A computational study with implications in viral evolution and infection.

Influenza A H3N2 has been linked to annual outbreaks within the human population attributable to continuous structural changes. H3N2 HA contains well identified antigenic sites and receptor-binding sites (RBS) that are possibly correlated to viral evolution and infection. However, the structural significance of amino acid residues associated with both viral evolution and infection were not fully demonstrated.

The Influence of Pre-Analytical Factors on the Analysis of Circulating MicroRNA.

Background: MicroRNAs (miRNA) are expected as useful biomarkers for various diseases. We studied the pre-analytical factors causing variation in the analysis of miRNA.

Material And Methods: Blood samples were collected from 25 healthy subjects.

[Standardization of Plasma Preparation for MicroRNA Analysis: Influences of High Speed Centrifugation and Membrane Filtration].

MicroRNAs (miRNA) are non-coding small RNAs. Exosomes carry extracellular miRNAs in plasma and other body fluids. Levels of plasma miRNAs show disease-specific changes.

Effect of minerals on accumulation of Cs by fungus Saccaromyces cerevisiae.

The accumulation of Cs by unicellular fungus of Saccharomyces cerevisiae in the presence of minerals has been studied to elucidate the role of microorganisms in the migration of radioactive Cs in the environment. Two different types of experiments were employed: experiments using stable Cs to examine the effect of a carbon source on the accumulation of Cs, and accumulation experiments of radioactive Cs from agar medium containing (137)Cs and zeolite, vermiculite, phlogopite, smectite, mica, or illite as mineral supplements. In the former type of experiments, the Cs-accumulated cells were analyzed by scanning electron microscopy equipped with energy dispersive X-ray analysis (SEM-EDS).

Imatinib induces demethylation of miR-203 gene: an epigenetic mechanism of anti-tumor effect of imatinib.

MicroRNA (miRNA) is an important regulator of cellular proliferation, differentiation and death. Leukemia-specific signature of miRNAs suggests that epigenetic dysregulation of miRNAs is important for leukemogenesis. We focused on the role of DNA methylation of miR-203 which targets BCR-ABL1 mRNA.

Sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis of long duration mimicking spinal progressive muscular atrophy exists: additional autopsy case with a clinical course of 19 years.

This report concerns an autopsy case of sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) clinically diagnosed as having spinal progressive muscular atrophy (SPMA). The patient was a Japanese woman without hereditary burden. She developed muscle weakness in the distal part of the right upper extremity at age 52, followed by muscle weakness in the left upper extremity and lower extremities at age 54 and 64, respectively.

alpha-Smooth muscle actin immunoreactivity may change in nature in interlobular fibrosis of the pancreas in patients with congenital biliary dilatation.

Pancreatic fibrosis in patients with congenital biliary dilatation (CBD) or choledochal cyst was studied to determine why biliary pancreatitis seldom progresses to chronic pancreatitis/more progressive state. Pancreatic collagenization in eight patients (three adults with pancreatoduodenectomy and five children with biopsy of the pancreas performed when excising the cyst) with CBD was evaluated histopathologically and immunohistochemically. Interlobular and periductal fibrosis with both collagen Type I and Type III immunoreactivities was found in six out of eight cases and in all four cases in which the pancreatic duct was included, respectively.

Sporadic amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with circumscribed temporal atrophy: a report of an autopsy case without dementia and with ubiquitinated intraneuronal inclusions.

This report concerns an autopsy case of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with circumscribed temporal atrophy. The patient was a Japanese woman without hereditary burden who was 71-year-old at the time of death. She developed dysarthria and gait disturbance at age 69, followed by dysphagia.

A case of primary leiomyoma of the liver in a patient without evidence of immunosuppression.

A 31-year-old Japanese male was admitted to our hospital for investigation of an asymptomatic nodular lesion of the liver detected by abdominal ultrasonography (US) during a routine medical examination. Computed tomography (CT) revealed a single, hypovascular mass 35 mm in diameter, within the left lobe of the liver. The tumor demonstrated hypointensity on T1-weighted, and hyperintensity on T2-weighted magnetic resonance (MR) imaging.

Constant involvement of the Betz cells and pyramidal tract in amyotrophic lateral sclerosis with dementia: a clinicopathological study of eight autopsy cases.

We investigated clinicopathologically pyramidal signs, including hyperreflexia, Babinski sign, and spasticity, and the involvement of the primary motor cortex and pyramidal tract, in eight Japanese autopsy cases of amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS) with dementia. Pyramidal signs were observed in seven (88%) of the eight autopsy cases. Hyperreflexia and Babinski sign were evident in seven (88%) and three (38%) patients, respectively, but spasticity was not observed in any of the eight patients.

Effects of pulsed ultrasound on development and glucose uptake of preimplantation mouse embryos.

The effects of pulsed ultrasound (US) on early mouse embryos were investigated. Two-cell embryos contained in oviducts were irradiated to US (1.875 MHz with an I (SPTA) of 2.

Effect of high amniotic fluid pressure on fetal circulation.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the effects of high amniotic fluid pressure (AFP) created by amnioinfusion on fetal circulation. Five pregnant goats whose fetuses had a mean gestational age of 131 +/- 2 days (term 145 days) were used. After a 30 minute control period, 1500 ml of warm saline was infused to the amniotic cavity over a period of 30 minutes.

The cerebellar and thalamic degeneration in Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy.

We report a male autopsy case of Fukuyama-type congenital muscular dystrophy (FCMD), with unusual neuropathological findings. The patient was a Japanese man aged 26 years at the time of death. He had shown severe psychomotor retardation and muscular dystrophy since early infancy, and was diagnosed as having FCMD at the age of 5 years.

Differential effect of exogenous human chorionic gonadotrophin on progesterone production from normal or malfunctioning corpus luteum.

To examine whether luteal phase defect is, in part, causally related to insufficient gonadotrophin stimulation, we compared the relation of the increment of serum progesterone concentrations in response to human chorionic gonadotrophin (HCG) with its basal level at mid-luteal phase. Thirty-eight naturally cycling infertile women aged between 27-41 years old were evaluated for hormonal responses to HCG injection at the mid-luteal phase. We measured luteinizing hormone (LH), follicle stimulating hormone (FSH), oestradiol and progesterone concentrations, before and 1, 2 and 3 h after the administration of HCG (5000 IU, i.

Distribution of cerebellar cortical lesions in multiple system atrophy: a topographic neuropathological study of three autopsy cases in Japan.

We investigated neuropathologically the distribution of the cerebellar cortical lesions in three Japanese autopsy cases of multiple system atrophy (MSA) using hemisphere specimens. The lesions were classified as mild, moderate or severe. The distribution of cerebellar cortical lesions in all three cases were uniform: the cerebellar cortical lesions were more conspicuous in the vermis than in the hemisphere.

Fetal circulatory responses during maternal bleeding.

The purpose of this study was to investigate the fetal circulatory responses during maternal hemorrhage. Five pregnant goats with fetuses with a mean gestational age of 132 +/- 2 days were used. The maternal blood was withdrawn at 350 ml/h for 2 hours (e.

[Comparison of fetal circulatory responses during maternal bleeding and fetal bleeding].

The purpose of this study was to compare the fetal circulatory responses during maternal hemorrhage and fetal hemorrhage. Four pregnant goats, gestational age 131 +/- 7 days for the fetal hemorrhage and 5 goats, 132 +/- 2 days (term 145 days) for the maternal hemorrhage were used. The amounts of hemorrhage were 700ml per 2 hours for the maternal hemorrhage and 40ml per 2 hours for the fetal hemorrhage.

Pancreatic fibrosis in patients with chronic alcohol abuse: correlation with alcoholic pancreatitis.

Objectives: To investigate the incidence and histological features of pancreatic fibrosis, including chronic alcoholic pancreatitis, in patients with a history of chronic alcohol abuse.

Methods: Forty-six autopsy cases of alcoholic dependence syndrome, 53 cases of chronic alcoholism, and 30 cases of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis were studied histopathologically.

Results: Fibrosis was seen in 33 of 46 cases of alcoholic dependence syndrome, 20 of 53 cases of chronic alcoholism, and all 30 cases of chronic alcoholic pancreatitis.

[A 64-year-old man with recurrent blurred vision and an abdominal mass].

We report a 64-year-old man with recurrent bouts of blurred vision who died after developing an abdominal mass. He was well until June of 1985 when he was 59-years-old when he had an acute onset of loss of vision in his right eye. He was treated by prednisolone with a complete remission.