Isolation of new indole alkaloid triglucoside from the aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla.

Uncaria rhynchophylla (Miq.) Miq. (Rubiaceae) is widely used as a botanical raw material for traditional Japanese and Chinese medicines. However, not all of its potentially bioactive constituents have been isolated and characterized. Herein, one new indole alkaloid triglucoside (1), nine known alkaloids (2-10) and thirteen known non-alkaloids (11-23) were isolated from the aqueous extract of Uncaria rhynchophylla hook and structurally characterized 1H and 13C NMR and high-resolution electrospray ionization mass spectrometry. The absolute configurations of isolated compounds (1, 2 and 3) were determined by the X-ray diffraction analysis of their single crystals obtained using a micro-drop crystallization technique. This technique allows single crystals to be obtained from samples as small as 50 µg, thus providing detailed structural information even on minor constituents and enabling the accurate quality monitoring of botanical raw materials more accurately.

Impact of Locoregional Therapies for Brain Lesions on Survival in Patients With Non-small Cell Lung Cancer With Multiple Extrathoracic Metastases.

BACKGROUND/AIM: The treatment of brain metastases in patients with non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) typically involves surgery, irradiation, and chemotherapy (single or combination therapy). However, the impact of these therapies on the survival of patients with NSCLC with multiple extrathoracic metastases has not yet been determined. Therefore, in the present study, we examined the prognostic effect of multimodal treatment for brain metastases in patients with NSCLC with multiple extrathoracic metastases in the absence of driver mutations. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Patients with NSCLC with multiple extrathoracic metastases (including at least one brain metastasis), who visited Saitama Medical Center, Saitama Medical University from January 1, 2010 to December 31, 2016, were enrolled in this study; follow-up was conducted until December 31, 2021. RESULTS: A total of 56 patients were enrolled, including 12 and 44 patients with single and multiple brain metastases, respectively. The median overall survival (OS) for all patients was 4.9 months, and did not differ significantly between patients with single and multiple brain metastases (3.0 vs. 4.9 months, respectively). The selection of locoregional treatment for brain metastases did not depend on Karnofsky performance status (p=0.0862). Among patients with multiple brain metastases, the OS for those who underwent craniotomy followed by whole brain radiation therapy (WBRT), those who received only WBRT, and those treated without locoregional therapy was 47.7, 3.9, and 15.9 months, respectively (p=0.00382). CONCLUSION: Surgical resection followed by radiation therapy is an effective treatment option for brain metastases in patients with multiple metastases. However, WBRT alone did not improve prognosis.

Inguinal Lymphadenopathy After Renal Transplantation Leading to the Diagnosis of Prostate Cancer: A Case Report.

It is extremely rare for a patient with prostate cancer (PCa) to have palpable lymph nodes at the initial presentation. In fact, only 4 case reports of palpable superficial lymph nodes at the first visit led to the diagnosis of PCa. Moreover, no such cases are reported in kidney transplantation (KT) patients. A 72-year-old man who started hemodialysis due to diabetic nephropathy was referred to our hospital for a KT in 2018. Before the KT, he had a negative screen for cancer, including PCa. The postoperative course was good. He felt a lump in the left inguinal region three years after the KT. A computed tomography scan revealed abdominal and left inguinal lymphadenopathy, which was consistent with a post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. However, a biopsy of an inguinal lymph node revealed adenocarcinoma with positive prostate-specific antigen (PSA) staining, suggesting lymph node metastasis of PCa. The blood PSA level was 1674.23 ng/mL. A prostate biopsy was performed, the pathologic diagnosis of which was PCa, with a Gleason score of 10. In conclusion, even though the standardized incidence ratio of PCa is not known to increase in KT patients, PCa should be included in the differential diagnosis, along with the possibility of post-transplant lymphoproliferative disorder. We also suggest the importance of regular screening for malignant tumors after organ transplantation.

Laparoscopic Surgery for Pheochromocytoma in Hemodialysis Patients.

Objectives: We analyzed the clinical outcomes of laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytomas in hemodialysis compared with nonhemodialysis patients. Methods: Fifty-seven patients (7 hemodialysis and 50 nonhemodialysis) were included in the study. We analyzed the differences in clinical parameters and outcomes between the hemodialysis patient groups and nonhemodialysis patient groups as well as identified predictors for an intraoperative hypertensive spike. Results: The increasing intravascular volume before surgery in hemodialysis patients made perioperative hemodynamic management safer. No significant difference in clinical parameters between the two groups was observed except for the length of hospitalization that was significantly longer in the hemodialysis patients (9 vs. 6 days, P=0.005). An increase in systolic blood pressure at CO2 insufflation was an independent predictor of a hypertensive spike with a cutoff value of 22.5 mmHg (odds ratio 1.038, 95% confidence interval 1.012-1.078). Conclusion: Laparoscopic adrenalectomy for pheochromocytomas in hemodialysis was safe and feasible. An increase in systolic blood pressure at CO2 insufflation was a predictor of the intraoperative hypertensive spike. The research in this manuscript is not registered. This is a retrospective study.

Nintedanib induces gene expression changes in the lung of induced-rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease mice.

Nintedanib is a multi-tyrosine kinase inhibitor widely used to treat progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases because it slows the reduction in forced vital capacity. However, the prognosis for patients treated with nintedanib remains poor. To improve nintedanib treatment, we examined the effects of nintedanib on gene expression in the lungs of induced-rheumatoid arthritis-associated interstitial lung disease model mice, which develop rheumatoid arthritis and subsequent pulmonary fibrosis. Using next-generation sequencing, we identified 27 upregulated and 130 downregulated genes in the lungs of these mice after treatment with nintedanib. The differentially expressed genes included mucin 5B and heat shock protein 70 family genes, which are related to interstitial lung diseases, as well as genes associated with extracellular components, particularly the myocardial architecture, suggesting unanticipated effects of nintedanib. Of the genes upregulated in the nintedanib-treated lung, expression of regulatory factor X2, which is suspected to be involved in cilia movement, and bone morphogenetic protein receptor type 2, which is involved in the pathology of pulmonary hypertension, was detected by immunohistochemistry and RNA in situ hybridization in peripheral airway epithelium and alveolar cells. Thus, the present findings indicate a set of genes whose expression alteration potentially underlies the effects of nintedanib on pulmonary fibrosis. It is expected that these findings will contribute to the development of improved nintedanib strategies for the treatment of progressive fibrosing interstitial lung diseases.

Laser-driven neutron source and nuclear resonance absorption imaging at ILE, Osaka University: review.

Here, we present an overview on the recent progress in the development of the laser-driven neutron source (LDNS) and nuclear resonance absorption (NRA) imaging at the Institute of Laser Engineering (ILE), Osaka University. The LDNS is unique because the number of neutrons per micro pulse is very large, and the source size and the pulse width are small. Consequently, extensive research and development of LDNSs is going on around the world. In this paper, a typical neutron generation process by the laser-driven ion beam, called the pitcher-catcher scheme, is described. The characteristics of the LDNS are compared with those of the accelerator-driven neutron source (ADNS), and unique application of the LDNS, such as NRA imaging, is presented. In the LDNS, NRA imaging is possible with a relatively short beam line in comparison with that of the ADNS since the neutron pulse width and the source size of the LDNS are small. Future prospects in research and development of NRA imaging with the LDNS at ILE Osaka University are also described.

Initial rapidity of tumor growth as a prognostic factor for the therapeutic effect of immune-checkpoint inhibitors in patients with non-small cell lung cancer: evaluation for linear and non-linear correlation.

BACKGROUND: Immune-checkpoint inhibitors (ICIs) have been increasingly used for non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) treatment in recent years. Although insufficient, the rate of programmed death-ligand 1 expression has been adopted as a predictor of ICI efficacy. We evaluated tumor growth rate as a clinically easy-to-use predictor of the therapeutic effect of ICIs. METHODS: This study is a single-institution retrospective study in Japan. NSCLC patients treated with nivolumab, pembrolizumab, or atezolizumab at Saitama Medical Center from January 1, 2016 to December 31, 2018 were enrolled, and followed until December 31, 2020. We defined and calculated the initial rapidity of tumor progression (IRP) as: the increase in the sum of the diameters of intrathoracic tumors and lymph nodes on two series of chest computed tomography (CT) scans (one obtained at an initial checkup and the other obtained immediately before the first treatment) divided by the number of days between these CT scans. Two coefficients were calculated: the maximal information coefficient (MIC) between IRP and time to treatment failure (TTF) using the Python package with minepy library, and the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient. RESULTS: A total of 55 patients (median age, 70 years; 47 men) were enrolled. The median TTF with ICIs was 126 days, and four patients continued to receive ICI treatment at the end of the follow-up. The MIC between IRP and TTF was 0.302 with weak correlation, and the Spearman's rank correlation coefficient was -0.347 (P=0.00938). CONCLUSIONS: The initial tumor growth rate had a negative linear correlation with the therapeutic effect of ICIs.

Significance of preoperative screening of deep vein thrombosis and its indications for patients undergoing urological surgery.

PURPOSE: Preoperative deep vein thrombosis (pre-DVT) is a risk of symptomatic venous thromboembolism (VTE) and a serious postoperative surgical complication. However, little is known about pre-DVT in patients undergoing surgery. This study aimed to investigate the incidence and screening criteria of pre-DVT in patients undergoing urological surgery. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Between 2015 and 2017, 320 patients admitted to our hospital for urological surgery were included in this retrospective study. All patients underwent preoperative D-dimer testing. Patients with elevated D-dimer (≥1.0 µg/mL) levels underwent lower-limb compression ultrasonography (CUS). Clinical parameters were analyzed as predictors of pre-DVT, and modest cutoff value of D-dimer to predict pre-DVT were evaluated. RESULTS: Of 320 patients, preoperative elevated D-dimer levels and DVT were found in 81 (25.3%) and 20 (6.3%) patients, respectively. The positive predictive value (PPV) was 24.7% (20/81). ROC curve analysis revealed a cutoff D-dimer level of 1.8 µg/mL, yielding a PPV of 40.7% for pre-DVT among patients with elevated D-dimer levels. Preoperative DVT was detected in 16 (7.6%, n=210) patients with malignancy, 3 (5.7%, n=53) with adrenal tumors, and in 1 (1.8%, n=57) kidney donor. An age of >70 years was significantly associated with risk for pre-DVT (odds ratio, 2.81; 95% confidence interval, 1.12-7.19; p=0.0270). During a postoperative follow-up period of 90 days, no patient developed symptomatic VTE. CONCLUSIONS: The incidence of pre-DVT was 6.3% in patients undergoing urological surgery. Elderly patients and/or a cutoff D-dimer level of 1.8 µg/mL might be good indications for pre-DVT screening by CUS.

Gender differences in plasma pharmacokinetics and hepatic metabolism of geissoschizine methyl ether from Uncaria hook in rats.

ETHNOPHARMACOLOGICAL RELEVANCE: Geissoschizine methyl ether (GM), an indole alkaloid from Uncaria hook, is an active ingredient in the traditional Japanese Kampo medicine yokukansan, which is used to treat neurosis, insomnia, irritability, and night crying in children. AIM OF THE STUDY: Recent our pharmacokinetic studies suggested that there may be gender differences in the plasma concentrations of GM in rats, but not in humans. However, the details of this difference remain unverified. The purpose of this study was to clarify the reasons for the gender differences in rats. MATERIALS AND METHODS: GM plasma pharmacokinetics was compared in male and female rats orally administered yokukansan (4 g/kg). To confirm the involvement of cytochrome P450 (CYP) in GM liver metabolism, GM was incubated with male and female rat liver S9 fraction in the absence or presence of 1-aminobenzotriazole (a nonspecific CYP inhibitor). CYP isoforms involved in GM metabolism were estimated using recombinant rat CYP isoforms and anti-rat CYP antibodies. RESULTS: The maximum GM plasma concentrations were significantly higher in female than in male rats. When GM was incubated with rat liver S9 fractions, GM reduction was more striking in male S9 (69.3%) than that in female S9 (10.0%) and was completely blocked with nonspecific CYP inhibitor 1-aminobenzotriazole. Screening experiments using recombinant rat cytochrome P450 (CYP) isoforms showed that CYP1A1, CYP2C6, CYP2C11, CYP2D1, and CYP3A2 were involved in GM metabolism. Of these CYP isoforms, the use of anti-rat CYP antibodies indicated that male-dependent CYP2C11 and CYP3A2 were predominantly involved in the liver microsomal GM metabolism with gender differences. CONCLUSIONS: These results suggest that the cause of gender differences in plasma GM pharmacokinetics in rats is most likely because of male-dependent CYP2C11 and CYP3A2, and provide also useful information to further evaluate the pharmacological and toxicological effects in future. This study is the first to demonstrate that the gender differences in plasma GM pharmacokinetics in rats are caused by the gender-dependent metabolism of GM.

Functional inhibition of heat shock protein 70 by VER-155008 suppresses pleural mesothelioma cell proliferation via an autophagy mechanism.

BACKGROUND: Pleural mesothelioma, a devastating asbestos-associated malignancy, urgently requires a novel effective therapy. Heat shock protein 70 (HSP70), which is synthesized in the cell response to protein damage, is expected to be a new target for antitumor treatment. In addition to its well-known protein refolding function, HSP70 regulates cell proliferation through different pathways, including PI3K/AKT/mTOR, and autophagy in malignant cells. In this study, we attempted to clarify the effects of VER-155008, an HSP70 inhibitor, on pleural mesothelioma. METHODS: Human pleural mesothelioma cell lines 211H, H2452 and H28 were cultured with VER-155008, and protein expression, cell proliferation, colony formation, cell cycle, synergistic effect with cisplatin, and autophagy induction were analyzed. RESULTS: In mesothelioma cell lines, VER-155008 (5.0 µM or more) inhibited cell growth and colony formation, accompanied by G1 cell cycle arrest. According to western blot analysis, VER-155008 reduced p-AKT expression. However, VER-155008 failed to show a synergistic effect with cisplatin on cell growth. Mesothelioma cells transfected with the novel plasmid pMRX-IP-GFP-LC3-RFP-LC3ΔG, which was developed for the quantitative and statistical estimation of macroautophagy, showed enhanced macroautophagy upon treatment with VER-155008 and gefitinib which is an EGFR-tyrosine kinase inhibitor. In addition, fetal bovine serum deprivation induced macroautophagy was further enhanced by VER-155008. CONCLUSIONS: On the basis of these results, functional HSP70 inhibition by VER-155008 suppressed cell growth in pleural mesothelioma cells, accompanied by enhanced macroautophagy. HSP70 inhibition is thus expected to become a new strategy for treating mesothelioma. KEY POINTS: Significant findings of the study In pleural mesothelioma cells, inhibition of HSP70 function by VER-155008 suppressed cell proliferation accompanied by induction of autophagy which was synergistically enhanced under the starvation condition, whereas gefitinib, an EGFR-TKI, did not show the same synergistic effect in autophagy. What this study adds The inhibition of HSP70 induced autophagy and suppressed cell proliferation in mesothelioma cells.

Successful Kidney Transplantation Alone With Severe Left Ventricular Systolic Dysfunction of Ejection Fraction 14%: A Case Report.

It is well known that correction of uremia by kidney transplantation alone (KTA) improves left ventricular systolic dysfunction (LVSD). However, for kidney transplant candidates with extremely severe LVSD, KTA is considered to be contraindicated because of the high risk of peri-operative management. We report a case of successful kidney transplantation with severe LVSD with an ejection fraction (EF) of 14% and low systolic blood pressure (SBP) of approximately 65 to 80 mm Hg. In this case, in spite of an extremely low EF and SBP, functional capacity was assessed using metabolic equivalents (METs) and showed a level of almost 4. The operation was performed carefully, considering the cardiac, operative, and anesthetic risks. No surgical complications occurred, and the patient received intensive care during the peri-operative period. His postoperative course was almost favorable, and he was discharged on postoperative day 29. The present report concludes that evaluation of METs may expand the indication for KTA in patients with extremely severe LVSD.

Oncological outcome of neoadjuvant low-dose estramustine plus LHRH agonist/antagonist followed by extended radical prostatectomy for Japanese patients with high-risk localized prostate cancer: a prospective single-arm study.

BACKGROUND: Patients with advanced high-risk prostate cancer (PCa) are prone to have worse pathological diagnoses of positive surgical margins and/or lymph node invasion, resulting in early biochemical recurrence (BCR) despite having undergone radical prostatectomy (RP). Therefore, it is controversial whether patients with high-risk PCa should undergo RP. The purpose of this study was to evaluate the efficacy of neoadjuvant chemohormonal therapy (NAC) followed by "extended" RP. METHODS: A total of 87 patients with high-risk PCa prospectively underwent extended RP after NAC; most of the patients underwent 6 months of estramustine phosphate (EMP) 140 mg twice daily, along with a luteinizing hormone-releasing hormone agonist/antagonist. We developed our surgical technique to reduce the rate of positive surgical margins. We aimed to approach the muscle layer of the rectum by dissecting the mesorectal fascia and continuing the dissection through the mesorectum until the muscle layer of the rectum was exposed. RESULTS: More than 1 year had elapsed after surgery in all 86 patients, with a median follow-up period of 37.7 months. The 3-year BCR-free survival was 74.9%. Multivariate Cox-regression analysis revealed that a positive core ratio of 50% or greater and pathological stage of pT3 or greater were independent predictors for BCR. About 17 of 23 cases received salvage androgen deprivation therapy and concurrent external beam radiotherapy, and showed no progression after the salvage therapies. CONCLUSIONS: NAC concordant with extended RP is feasible and might provide good cancer control for patients with high-risk PCa.

Kidney transplantation with concomitant simple nephrectomy by thoracoabdominal approach for patients with huge autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD): A case report.

Autosomal dominant polycystic kidney disease (ADPKD) is a common inherited kidney disease with growing multiple cyst formation. We report here a huge ADPKD case of kidney transplantation concomitant with simple nephrectomy through thoracoabdominal approach that allows surgeons to manipulate the renal vessels, the adrenal grand, the trigonal ligament, and the lower pole of the kidney under the wide operative field. Because of the direct recognition of the surgical anatomy, it might be safe and feasible for simple nephrectomy in huge ADPKD patients undergoing concomitant kidney transplantation despite of the wide skin incision required by this approach.

Vascular Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome with a Novel Missense Mutation in COL3A1: A Man in His 50s with Aortic Dissection after Interventional Treatment for Hemothorax as the First Manifestation.

Type III collagen is the major protein in the walls of blood vessels and hollow organs; it is decreased in patients with vascular Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS). A 52-year-old man was admitted for severe back pain, and right hemothorax was suspected by chest computed tomography. Immediately after embolization for bleeding bronchial artery, aortic dissection occurred and was treated conservatively in the intensive-care unit. Vascular EDS with a mutation of COL3A1 cDNA (c.3175G>A) was diagnosed. When vascular EDS is suspected, the patient should be treated prophylactically, and a genetic examination should be performed to confirm the diagnosis.

Validation of prognostic impact of number of extrathoracic metastases according to the eighth TNM classification: a single-institution retrospective study in Japan.

BACKGROUND: In the eighth edition of the TNM classification of lung cancer, the M1b and M1c descriptors are newly defined by the number of extrathoracic metastases. To verify the prognostic value of these descriptors in Japan, we reclassified our cases and re-evaluated prognosis in M1b and M1c patients. METHODS: All non-small cell lung cancer (NSCLC) patients with extrathoracic metastases who visited Saitama Medical Center from 2010 to 2016 were evaluated, divided according to the eighth edition of the TNM classification criteria into two groups (M1b, patients with single extrathoracic metastasis, and M1c, patients with multiple extrathoracic metastases), and followed up until December 31, 2017. Survival time analysis was performed using the Kaplan-Meier method, and between-group differences in overall survival time (OS) were evaluated by the log-rank test. RESULTS: A total of 231 NSCLC patients were divided into 57 patients with M1b and 174 with M1c. Median OS was 15.2 months (95% confidence interval [CI]: 9.3-19.9) and 7.3 months (95% CI 5.7-10.7) for M1b and M1c, respectively, with no significant between-group difference (P = 0.239). However, after excluding patients with epidermal growth factor receptor (EGFR) mutation or echinoderm microtubule-associated protein-like 4 and anaplastic lymphoma kinase (EML4-ALK) fusion gene, median OS was 12.9 months (95% CI 7.2-19.9) for M1b and 5.4 months (95% CI 3.8-6.3) for M1c, respectively, showing a significant difference (P = 0.029). CONCLUSIONS: The effect of therapy directed toward EGFR mutation or EML4-ALK fusion gene might obscure the significant prognostic difference between M1b and M1c.

Anatomical Variations of the Left Renal Vein During Laparoscopic Donor Nephrectomy.

OBJECTIVES: The aim of this study is to investigate the outcome of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy with vascular anomalies of the left renal vein. PATIENTS AND METHODS: Between August 2010 and September 2018, a total of 120 laparoscopic donor nephrectomies were performed at Kagoshima University. Among them, we experienced 7 cases of donors with anomalous left renal vein (circumaortic left renal vein n = 5, retroaortic left renal vein n = 1, left renal vein drainage into hemiazygos vein n = 1). We analyzed the following clinical outcomes: pneumoperitoneum time, estimated blood loss, warm ischemia time, length of hospital stay, and serum creatinine level of 1 month after surgery for evaluating the safety of laparoscopic donor nephrectomy. RESULTS: Among the 7 cases, 3 cases underwent transperitoneal approach, and 4 cases underwent retroperitoneal approach. The median pneumoperitoneum time was 168 (108-191) minutes. The median estimated blood loss was 90 (23-170) mL, and no donor required a blood transfusion. Median warm ischemia time was 4 (3-7) minutes. Length of hospital stay was 7 (6-9) days, and no readmission occurred. Median serum creatinine level of 1 month after surgery was 1.19 (0.84-1.74) mg/dL. Kidneys were transplanted successfully, and none of recipients required dialysis. CONCLUSIONS: Laparoscopic donor nephrectomy was safe for donors with an anomalous left renal vein. Preoperative recognition of anomalous left renal vein in computed tomography is important for avoiding hemorrhagic complication.

Long-term desensitization for ABO-incompatible living related kidney transplantation recipients with high refractory and rebound anti-blood type antibody: case report.

BACKGROUND: ABO-incompatible living related kidney transplantation (ABO-iLKT) has increased the possibilities for kidney transplantation in patients with end stage renal disease. Due to advancements in immunosuppressive agents and the identification of immunological conditions following ABO-iLKT, this transplantation technique has achieved the same success rate as ABO-compatible LKT. However, some patients continue to generate anti-blood type antibodies, despite conventional immunosuppressant treatment. CASE PRESENTATION: A 60-year-old man was referred to our hospital for kidney transplantation. The proposed transplant was ABO incompatible, from a donor with blood-type A to a recipient with blood-type O. The recipient's anti-A blood-type IgG antibody titer was measured at 4096-fold dilution. Following desensitization therapy, including mycophenolate mofetil (MMF) 750 mg/day for 3 months, intravenous Rituximab 200 mg, and two sessions of double filtration plasmapheresis, the anti-A blood-type IgG antibody titer decreased to only 516-fold dilution and did not meet our target of less than 128-fold dilution. MMF was thus continued for an additional 4 months and four additional sessions of plasmapheresis were undertaken. Following these interventions, antibody titers decreased to 128-fold dilution and ABO-iLKT was performed. Following transplant, antibody-mediated rejection was not observed and renal function was preserved. However, a post-operative renal biopsy 1.5 months later showed evidence of T-cell-mediated rejection IB. The patient was treated with steroids, with no increase in serum creatinine. CONCLUSION: Our findings suggest that the long-term single MMF desensitization therapy could be a suitable option for ABO-iLKT with high refractory and rebound anti-blood type antibody. Further studies are required to establish the optimal immunosuppression regimen to control B cell- mediated immunity in ABO-iLKT.

Note: A Laue crystal imager for high energy quasi-monochromatic x-ray.

A newly designed transmission type x-ray Laue imager for tens of keV hard x-rays is reported. Compared with the traditional reflection type x-ray crystal imager, the transmission geometry produces a much better image quality for high energy hard x-rays. This system was assessed via a calibration experiment performed at the SPring8 synchrotron radiation facility. With a Ta x-ray fluorescer, the mono-energetic x-ray at 70 keV from the synchrotron radiation was converted to an isotropically emitted Ta K-shell source at 57.5 keV and 65 keV. A tungsten pinhole array was employed as the test object, and clear images of the pinholes with a magnification of ∼5 were acquired. These images exhibited superior quality in the dispersion plane. As an extension of this work, a slit-free full-spectral Laue imager is proposed for high resolution hard x-ray imaging.

Magnetized fast isochoric laser heating for efficient creation of ultra-high-energy-density states.

Fast isochoric heating of a pre-compressed plasma core with a high-intensity short-pulse laser is an attractive and alternative approach to create ultra-high-energy-density states like those found in inertial confinement fusion (ICF) ignition sparks. Laser-produced relativistic electron beam (REB) deposits a part of kinetic energy in the core, and then the heated region becomes the hot spark to trigger the ignition. However, due to the inherent large angular spread of the produced REB, only a small portion of the REB collides with the core. Here, we demonstrate a factor-of-two enhancement of laser-to-core energy coupling with the magnetized fast isochoric heating. The method employs a magnetic field of hundreds of Tesla that is applied to the transport region from the REB generation zone to the core which results in guiding the REB along the magnetic field lines to the core. This scheme may provide more efficient energy coupling compared to the conventional ICF scheme.