Hitomi X-ray studies of Giant Radio Pulses from the Crab pulsar.

To search for giant X-ray pulses correlated with the giant radio pulses (GRPs) from the Crab pulsar, we performed a simultaneous observation of the Crab pulsar with the X-ray satellite Hitomi in the 2 - 300 keV band and the Kashima NICT radio observatory in the 1.4 - 1.7 GHz band with a net exposure of about 2 ks on 25 March 2016, just before the loss of the Hitomi mission.

The effects of gene disruption of Kre6-like proteins on the phenotype of β-glucan-producing Aureobasidium pullulans.

Killer toxin resistant 6 (Kre6) and its paralog, suppressor of Kre null 1 (Skn1), are thought to be involved in the biosynthesis of cell wall β-(1 → 6)-D-glucan in baker's yeast, Saccharomyces cerevisiae. The Δkre6Δskn1 mutant of S. cerevisiae and other fungi shows severe growth defects due to the failure to synthesize normal cell walls.

Chromosomal abnormality variation detected by G-banding is associated with prognosis of diffuse large B-cell lymphoma treated by R-CHOP-based therapy.

Diffuse large B-cell lymphoma (DLBCL), which is the most prevalent disease subtype of non-Hodgkin lymphoma, is highly heterogeneous in terms of cytogenetic and molecular features. This study retrospectively investigated the clinical impact of G-banding-defined chromosomal abnormality on treatment outcomes of DLBCL in the era of rituximab-containing immunochemotherapy. Of 181 patients who were diagnosed with DLBCL and treated with R-CHOP or an R-CHOP-like regimen between January 2006 and April 2014, metaphase spreads were evaluable for G-banding in 120.

Jelly containing composite based on α-glucosyl stevia and polyvinylpyrrolidone: Improved dissolution property of curcumin.

Curcumin (CUR) solutions prepared with α-glucosyl stevia (Stevia-G) and polyvinylpyrrolidone K-30 (PVP) by evaporation method showed 11,000-fold higher solubility compared to CUR alone. Tri-component formulations of CUR/Stevia-G/PVP in aqueous solution showed improved CUR stability for precipitation-triggering conditions of CUR, such as aqueous dilution and temperature changes. Fluorescence study with CUR and pyrene indicated that Stevia-G/PVP mixed solutions produce a more hydrophilic microenvironment around their molecules with increasing PVP concentration compared to Stevia-G solution alone.

An adult-onset case of chronic active Epstein-Barr virus infection with fulminant clinical course.

A 56-year-old Japanese male with chronic active Epstein-Barr virus (EBV) infection (CAEBV) who developed systemic gamma-delta T-cell lymphoproliferative disease (LPD) is reported. Although immune cooling therapy was effective, he died of sudden and severe hypoxia and anemia soon after the initiation of cytotoxic chemotherapy that had been previously recommended. There might remain a difficulty to control fulminant adult-onset CAEBV.

Pomalidomide with or without dexamethasone for relapsed/refractory multiple myeloma in Japan: a retrospective analysis by the Kansai Myeloma Forum.

Determinants of the efficacy and safety of pomalidomide (POM) monotherapy or POM plus dexamethasone (DEX) (POM/DEX) for relapsed and refractory multiple myeloma (RRMM) were examined retrospectively in a real-world clinical practice setting in Japan. The subjects were 108 patients registered with the Kansai Myeloma Forum, who were treated with either POM or POM/DEX. Of these, 79 (73%), 73 (68%), and 58 (54%) were resistant to bortezomib (BTZ), lenalidomide (LEN), and both BTZ and LEN, respectively.

Surgery for Hepatocellular Carcinoma in Patients with Child-Pugh B Cirrhosis: Hepatic Resection Versus Living Donor Liver Transplantation.

Background: Liver transplantation has been established as the optimal treatment for hepatocellular carcinoma in cirrhotic patients, but hepatic resection is also effective in patients with well-preserved liver function. Determining the suitable surgical treatment for patients with Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis is a more difficult challenge.

Methods: We retrospectively compared the results of hepatic resection and living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma in 137 patients with Child-Pugh class B cirrhosis.

Evaluation of Trace Elements in Augmentation of Statin-Induced Cytotoxicity in Uremic Serum-Exposed Human Rhabdomyosarcoma Cells.

Patients with end-stage kidney disease (ESKD) are at higher risk for rhabdomyolysis induced by statin than patients with normal kidney function. Previously, we showed that this increase in the severity of statin-induced rhabdomyolysis was partly due to uremic toxins. However, changes in the quantity of various trace elements in ESKD patients likely contribute as well.

Epicardial 15-MHz Echocardiography for Effective Repair of Coronary Arteriovenous Fistula.

In the era of catheter intervention, the surgical repair of coronary arteriovenous fistula needs to be free from residual shunt. Intraoperative epicardial 15-MHz echocardiography helps to find the residual shunt after ligation or obliteration of anomalous vessels. Here we report our method of the echo-assisted surgical repair of coronary arteriovenous fistula in 7 adult patients.

Adapting Local Features for Face Detection in Thermal Image.

A thermal camera captures the temperature distribution of a scene as a thermal image. In thermal images, facial appearances of different people under different lighting conditions are similar. This is because facial temperature distribution is generally constant and not affected by lighting condition.

Clinical Outcomes of Living Liver Transplantation According to the Presence of Sarcopenia as Defined by Skeletal Muscle Mass, Hand Grip, and Gait Speed.

Background: Sarcopenia is an independent predictor of death after living-donor liver transplantation (LDLT). However, the ability of the Asian Working Group for Sarcopenia criteria for sarcopenia (defined as reduced skeletal muscle mass plus low muscle strength) to predict surgical outcomes in patients who have undergone LDLT has not been determined.

Methods: This study prospectively enrolled 366 patients who underwent LDLT at Kyushu University Hospital.

Identification and initial characterization of novel neural immediate early genes possibly differentially contributing to foraging-related learning and memory processes in the honeybee.

Despite possessing a limited number of neurones compared to vertebrates, honeybees show remarkable learning and memory performance, an example being 'dance communication'. In this phenomenon, foraging honeybees learn the location of a newly discovered food source and transmit the information to nestmates by symbolic abdomen vibrating behaviour, leading to navigation of nestmates to the new food source. As an initial step toward understanding the detailed molecular mechanisms underlying the sophisticated learning and memory performance of the honeybee, we focused on the neural immediate early genes (IEGs), which are specific genes quickly transcribed after neural activity without de novo protein synthesis.

Living donor liver transplantation for hepatocellular carcinoma: results of prospective patient selection by Kyushu University Criteria in 7 years.

Background: Expanding patient selection beyond the Milan criteria in living donor liver transplantation (LDLT) for hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) has long been a matter for debate. We have used the Kyushu University Criteria - maximum tumor diameter <5 cm or des-γ-carboxy prothrombin <300 mAU/ml - in LDLT for HCC since June 2007. The aim of the present study was to present the results of our prospective patient selection by Kyushu University Criteria and to confirm whether or not our criteria were justified.

Simultaneous assessment of blood coagulation and hematocrit levels in dielectric blood coagulometry.

Background: In a whole blood coagulation test, the concentration of any in vitro diagnostic agent in plasma is dependent on the hematocrit level but its impact on the test result is unknown.

Objective: The aim of this work was to clarify the effects of reagent concentration, particularly Ca2+, and to find a method for hematocrit estimation compatible with the coagulation test.

Methods: Whole blood coagulation tests by dielectric blood coagulometry (DBCM) and rotational thromboelastometry were performed with various concentrations of Ca2+ or on samples with different hematocrit levels.

Elevenin regulates the body color through a G protein-coupled receptor NlA42 in the brown planthopper Nilaparvata lugens.

The neuropeptide elevenin and similar neuropeptide precursors are common in some invertebrates but their physiological function in most species has not been explored. The brown planthopper, Nilaparvata lugens (Stål) has an elevenin-like peptide and a G protein-coupled receptor (GPCR) NlA42 that is homologous to the elevenin receptor of the annelid Platynereis dumerilii. RNA interference (RNAi)-mediated knockdown of either Nl-elevenin or the NlA42 gene resulted in cuticle melanization.

Prognostic Significance of Preoperative Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) Score in Patients Undergoing Hepatic Resection for Hepatocellular Carcinoma.

Background: The Controlling Nutritional Status (CONUT) score is an objective tool widely used to assess nutritional status in patients with inflammatory disease, chronic heart failure, and chronic liver disease. The relationship between CONUT score and prognosis in patients who have undergone hepatic resection, however, has not been evaluated.

Methods: Data were retrospectively collected for 357 consecutive patients with hepatocellular carcinoma (HCC) who had undergone hepatic resection with curative intent between January 2004 and December 2015.

Transcriptome Analysis of Skin from SMP30/GNL Knockout Mice Reveals the Effect of Ascorbic Acid Deficiency on Skin and Hair.

Background/aim: Senescence marker protein-30/gluconolactonase knockout mice (SMP-30/GNL-KO) are a very useful model for clarifying the involvement of vitamin C (VC) in aging-related diseases. In this study, the effects of VC deficiency on skin and hair growth were investigated using SMP-30/GNL-KO mice by RNA sequencing.

Materials And Methods: SMP-30/GNL-KO mice were given water containing 1.

Transcriptome analyses of taste organoids reveal multiple pathways involved in taste cell generation.

Taste cells undergo constant turnover throughout life; however, the molecular mechanisms governing taste cell generation are not well understood. Using RNA-Seq, we systematically surveyed the transcriptome landscape of taste organoids at different stages of growth. Our data show the staged expression of a variety of genes and identify multiple signaling pathways underlying taste cell differentiation and taste stem/progenitor cell proliferation.

New predictor of aortic enlargement in uncomplicated type B aortic dissection based on elliptic Fourier analysis.

Objectives: This study aimed to re-examine the conventional predictive factors for dissected aortic enlargement, such as the aortic and false lumen diameter and to consider whether the morphological elements of the dissected aorta could be predictors by quantifying the 'shape' of the true lumen based on elliptic Fourier analysis.

Methods: A total of 80 patients with uncomplicated type B aortic dissection were included. The patients were divided into 'Enlargement group' and 'No Change group.

Graft reduction using a powered stapler in pediatric living donor liver transplantation.

Large-for-size syndrome is defined by inadequate tissue oxygenation, which results in vascular complications and graft compression after abdominal closure in living donor liver transplantation recipients. An accurate graft reduction that matches the optimal liver volume for the recipient is essential. We herein initially present the feasibility and safety of graft reduction using a powered stapler to obtain an optimal graft size.

The prognostic impact of programmed cell death ligand 1 and human leukocyte antigen class I in pancreatic cancer.

Pancreatic ductal adenocarcinoma (PDA) is associated with an immunosuppressive tumor-microenvironment (TME) that supports the growth of tumors and mediates tumors enabling evasion of the immune system. Expression of programmed cell death ligand 1 (PD-L1) and loss of human leukocyte antigen (HLA) class I on tumor cells are methods by which tumors escape immunosurveillance. We examined immune cell infiltration, the expression of PD-L1 and HLA class I by PDA cells, and the correlation between these immunological factors and clinical prognosis.