The frequency of snowline-region planets from four-years of OGLE-MOA-Wise second-generation microlensing.

We present a statistical analysis of the first four seasons from a "second-generation" microlensing survey for extrasolar planets, consisting of near-continuous time coverage of 8 deg2 of the Galactic bulge by the OGLE, MOA, and Wise microlensing surveys. During this period, 224 microlensing events were observed by all three groups. Over 12% of the events showed a deviation from single-lens microlensing, and for ~1/3 of those the anomaly is likely caused by a planetary companion. For each of the 224 events we have performed numerical ray-tracing simulations to calculate the detection efficiency of possible companions as a function of companion-to-host mass ratio and separation. Accounting for the detection efficiency, we find that 55 - 22 + 34 % of microlensed stars host a snowline planet. Moreover, we find that Neptunes-mass planets are ~ 10 times more common than Jupiter-mass planets. The companion-to-host mass ratio distribution shows a deficit at q ~ 10-2, separating the distribution into two companion populations, analogous to the stellar-companion and planet populations, seen in radial-velocity surveys around solar-like stars. Our survey, however, which probes mainly lower-mass stars, suggests a minimum in the distribution in the super-Jupiter mass range, and a relatively high occurrence of brown-dwarf companions.

Dietary intake of the flower extracts of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) inhibited compound 48/80-induced itch-scratch responses in mice.

The antipruritic effects of the diets containing German chamomile on the compound 48/80-induced scratching in ddY mice were examined. Since it is reported that an injection of compound 48/80, but not histamine, induced scratching behaviour due to itch but not to pain in ddY mice (Kuraishi et al., 1995), compound 48/80-induced scratching in ddY mice seems to be a suitable parameter for evaluating antipruritic agents independent of histamine receptor antagonism. In the mice fed the diet containing 1.2 w/w % of the ethyl acetate extract of dried flower of German chamomile (Matricaria recutita L.) for 11 days, the compound 48/80-induced scratching behaviour was significantly suppressed. The ethyl acetate extract of German chamomile dose dependently suppressed compound 48/80-induced scratching without affecting body weight increase. The ethyl acetate fraction of the ethanol extract and the ethanol extract of hot water extraction residue of German chamomile flower also showed strong inhibition on the compound 48/80-induced scratching. The inhibitory effects of the dietary intake of the German chamomile extracts on compound 48/80-induced itch-scratch response were comparable to oxatomide (10 mg/kg, p.o.), an anti-allergic agent.

Basic study of an agent for reinforcement of near-infrared fluorescence on tumor tissue.

BACKGROUND AND AIMS: An indocyanine green derivative (ICG-sulfo-OSu) and agents for reinforcement of infrared fluorescence, which can be used as an infrared fluorescent labeling substance suitable for detection of microlesions by an IR fluorescence endoscope, have been developed. The study aims were to confirm the ability of a reinforcement agent, as well as imaging processing, to intensify fluorescence from the labeled antibody on immunohistochemical staining. SUBJECTS AND METHODS: ICG-sulfo-OSu-labeled MUC1 antibody and an IR fluorescence imaging system were employed in the present study. Paraffin sections of gastric cancer were stained with anti-MUC1 antibody by the avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex method. Among the positive specimens, three cases were used for IR imaging analysis. Octylglucoside was used as a reinforcement agent. RESULTS: The incubation of paraffin sections with ICG-sulfo-OSu-labeled MUC1 antibody resulted in positive staining of the tumor sites by an IR fluorescence imaging system, and the intensity of fluorescence was increased depending on the concentration of octylglucoside and grade of imaging processing. CONCLUSION: A reinforcement agent, and image processing, intensify a labeled antibody excitable by infrared fluorescence in tumor sections and can generate a strong enough fluorescent signal to detect small cancers when examined with an infrared fluorescence endoscope.

Detection of human gastric cancer in resected specimens using a novel infrared fluorescent anti-human carcinoembryonic antigen antibody with an infrared fluorescence endoscope in vitro.

BACKGROUND AND STUDY AIMS: An indocyanine green derivative (ICG-sulfo-OSu) that can be used as an infrared fluorescent labeling substance suitable for detecting microlesions with an infrared fluorescence endoscope has been developed. The aims of the present study were to develop an infrared fluorescence endoscope and to demonstrate its usefulness in detecting cancerous tissue using an antibody coupled with ICG-sulfo-OSu. MATERIALS AND METHODS: ICG-sulfo-OSu-labeled mouse anti-human carcinoembryonic antigen (CEA) antibody and an infrared fluorescence endoscope were used in this study. Biopsy specimens of gastric cancer were stained with anti-CEA antibody using the avidin-biotinylated peroxidase complex method. The positive specimens used for the infrared imaging analysis were freshly resected stomachs from three patients. RESULTS: Treatment of freshly resected stomach specimens with ICG-sulfo-OSu-labeled-anti-CEA antibody complex resulted in positive staining of the tumor sites on infrared fluorescence endoscopy, and the infrared fluorescent images correlated well with the tumor sites. CONCLUSIONS: An anti-CEA antibody with affinity for cancerous lesions and labeled with ICG-sulfo-OSu can therefore be imaged using this infrared fluorescence endoscope. Specific antibodies tagged with ICG-sulfo-OSu can label cancer cells and can generate a strong enough fluorescent signal to detect small cancers when examined with an infrared fluorescence endoscope.

Development of agents for reinforcement of fluorescence on near-infrared ray excitation for immunohistological staining.

Fluorescence intensity of indocyanine green (ICG) derivative (ICG-sulfo-OSu) was too low for its use to detect microlesions. Therefore, we examined the effects of reinforcement agents on ICG-sulfo-OSu labeled antibodies. Solutions of distearoylphosphatic acid sodium salt (DSPA) and octylglucoside (OG) in physiological phosphate buffered saline (PBS) were found to increase the intensity of fluorescence of ICG-sulfo-OSu labeled antibodies, with shift in the fluorescence peak wavelength from 804 to 821 nm.