Dissipation-Based Quantum Sensing of Magnons with a Superconducting Qubit.

Hybrid quantum devices expand the tools and techniques available for quantum sensing in various fields. Here, we experimentally demonstrate quantum sensing of a steady-state magnon population in a magnetostatic mode of a ferrimagnetic crystal. Dispersively coupling the magnetostatic mode to a superconducting qubit allows for the detection of magnons using Ramsey interferometry with a sensitivity on the order of 10^{-3} magnons/sqrt[Hz]. The protocol is based on dissipation as dephasing via fluctuations in the magnetostatic mode reduces the qubit coherence proportionally to the number of magnons.

Nonclassical Photon Number Distribution in a Superconducting Cavity under a Squeezed Drive.

A superconducting qubit in the strong dispersive regime of circuit quantum electrodynamics is a powerful probe for microwave photons in a cavity mode. In this regime, a qubit excitation spectrum is split into multiple peaks, with each peak corresponding to an individual photon number in the cavity (discrete ac Stark shift). Here, we measure the qubit spectrum in a cavity that is driven continuously with a squeezed vacuum generated by a Josephson parametric amplifier. By fitting the obtained spectrum with a model which takes into account the finite qubit excitation power, we determine the photon number distribution, which reveals an even-odd photon number oscillation and quantitatively fulfills Klyshko's criterion for nonclassicality.

Interventions in the management of infection in the foot in diabetes: a systematic review.

The expert panel on diabetic foot infection (DFI) of the International Working Group on the Diabetic Foot conducted a systematic review seeking all published reports relating to any type of treatment for infection of the foot in persons with diabetes published as of 30 June 2014. This review, conducted with both PubMed and EMBASE, was used to update an earlier one undertaken on 30 June 2010 using the same search string. Eligible publications included those that had outcome measures reported for both a treated and a control population that were managed either at the same time, or as part of a before-and-after case design. We did not include studies that contained only information related to definition or diagnosis, but not treatment, of DFI. The current search identified just seven new articles meeting our criteria that were published since the 33 identified with the previous search, making a total of 40 articles from the world literature. The identified articles included 37 randomised controlled trials (RCTs) and three cohort studies with concurrent controls, and included studies on the use of surgical procedures, topical antiseptics, negative pressure wound therapy and hyperbaric oxygen. Among the studies were 15 RCTs that compared outcomes of treatment with new antibiotic preparations compared with a conventional therapy in the management of skin and soft tissue infection. In addition, 10 RCTs and 1 cohort study compared different treatments for osteomyelitis in the diabetic foot. Results of comparisons of different antibiotic regimens generally demonstrated that newly introduced antibiotic regimens appeared to be as effective as conventional therapy (and also more cost-effective in one study), but one study failed to demonstrate non-inferiority of a new antibiotic compared with that of a standard agent. Overall, the available literature was both limited in both the number of studies and the quality of their design. Thus, our systematic review revealed little evidence upon which to make recommendations for treatment of DFIs. There is a great need for further well-designed trials that will provide robust data upon which to make decisions about the most appropriate treatment of both skin and soft tissue infection and osteomyelitis in diabetic patients.

Cognitive and affective functions in Alzheimer's disease patients with metabolic syndrome.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: The influence of metabolic syndrome (MetS) on cognitive and affective functions in patients with Alzheimer's disease (AD) was examined. METHODS: A total of 570 AD patients were divided into two subgroups depending on waist circumference (WC) (normal versus achieving Japanese diagnostic criteria of MetS). Afterwards, the AD control subgroup was defined as those normal WC patients with no vascular risk factors (VRFs). The AD with MetS (AD-MetS) subgroup was defined as the MetS WC group who had two or more VRFs to qualify as having MetS. Cognitive and affective functions, insulin resistance, vascular endothelial function and white matter changes between AD-MetS and AD controls were compared. RESULTS: Scores on the Mini-Mental State Examination, Hasegawa Dementia Score-Revised, Frontal Assessment Battery and Montreal Cognitive Assessment were worse in the AD-MetS group than in AD controls, but the difference was not significant. Some analyses were conducted twice, once including all patients and once including only late-elderly patients. Scores on the Geriatric Depression Scale were found to be significantly higher for AD-MetS than for AD controls (all ages, late-elderly), as were those for apathy (late-elderly). Furthermore, both the homeostasis model assessment of insulin resistance and reactive hyperemia index scores were significantly worse in AD-MetS than in AD controls, whilst white matter changes showed a tendency to be worse. CONCLUSIONS: Greater cognitive and affective decline occurs in patients with AD-MetS than in those without. Further, insulin resistance and vascular endothelial dysfunction are strongly correlated with AD-MetS before pathological white matter changes can be observed.

'PrP systemic deposition disease': clinical and pathological characteristics of novel familial prion disease with 2-bp deletion in codon 178.

BACKGROUND AND PURPOSE: A novel TYPE of prion disease associated mainly with autonomic-sensory polyneuropathy was reported by us previously. METHODS: Here the autopsy pathology for patient 1 (the sister) and the clinical characteristics of her younger brother (patient 2) are newly reported. Polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis of the prion protein gene (PRNP) was performed on both patients and their father (normal control). RESULTS: Polymerase chain reaction based restriction fragment length polymorphism analysis revealed a 2-bp deletion (CT) in codon 178 that causes an additional variable 25 amino acids at the C terminal, from the mutation site to the premature stop codon at codon 203, in both patients 1 and 2 but not in their father. The autopsy of patient 1 showed remarkable prion protein (PrP) deposits in the sympathetic ganglion and peripheral nerves, correlated to her severe autonomic sensory failure. PrP deposits were also found in the central nervous system and peripheral organs such as the heart, lung, stomach, jejunum, ileum, colon, urinary bladder and adrenal gland. The symptoms and biopsy findings of patient 2 were nearly the same as those reported previously for patient 1. His cognitive function was well preserved, but autonomic functions were severely impaired. His biopsied samples showed PrP deposits in the sural nerve and nerve plexuses of the stomach and colon. CONCLUSION: The present unique 2-bp deletion (CT) in codon 178 induced a 'PrP systemic deposition disease' such as pan-autonomic failure, sensory neuropathy and mild cognitive impairment with a specific pathology.

Significance of Hypofractionated Radiotherapy in Postoperative Irradiation for Breast Cancer: An Asian Multi-institutional Prospective Study.

AIMS: There is a need for the adequate distribution of healthcare resources in Southeast Asia. Many countries in the region have more patients with advanced breast cancer who are eligible for postmastectomy radiotherapy (PMRT). Therefore, it is critical that hypofractionated PMRT is effective in most of these patients. This study investigated the significance of postoperative hypofractionated radiotherapy in patients with breast cancer, including advanced breast cancer, in these countries. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Eighteen facilities in 10 Asian countries participated in this prospective, interventional, single-arm study. The study included two independent regimens: hypofractionated whole-breast irradiation (WBI) for patients who had undergone breast-conserving surgery and hypofractionated PMRT for patients who had undergone total mastectomy at a dose of 43.2 Gy in 16 fractions. In the hypofractionated WBI group, patients with high-grade factors received additional 8.1 Gy boost irradiation sessions for the tumour bed in three fractions. RESULTS: Between February 2013 and October 2019, 227 and 222 patients were enrolled in the hypofractionated WBI and hypofractionated PMRT groups, respectively. The median follow-up periods in the hypofractionated WBI and hypofractionated PMRT groups were 61 and 60 months, respectively. The 5-year locoregional control rates were 98.9% (95% confidence interval 97.4-100.0) and 96.3% (95% confidence interval 93.2-99.4) in the hypofractionated WBI and hypofractionated PMRT groups, respectively. Regarding adverse events, grade 3 acute dermatitis was observed in 2.2% and 4.9% of patients in the hypofractionated WBI and hypofractionated PMRT groups, respectively. However, no other adverse events were observed. CONCLUSION: Although further follow-up is required, hypofractionated radiotherapy regimens for postoperative patients with breast cancer in East and Southeast Asian countries are effective and safe. In particular, the proven efficacy of hypofractionated PMRT indicates that more patients with advanced breast cancer can receive appropriate care in these countries. Hypofractionated WBI and hypofractionated PMRT are reasonable approaches that can contain cancer care costs in these countries. Long-term observation is required to validate our findings.

Orbital haematoma after orbital fracture repair using silicone, polytetrafluorethylene, and poly-L-lactic acid/hydroxyapatite implants.

The purpose of this paper was to report the incidence of orbital haematoma formation following the repair of orbital fractures with silicone, polytetrafluorethylene (PTFE), and poly-L-lactic acid/hydroxyapatite (PLLA/HA) implants. This retrospective review examined 234 patients (235 sides) who underwent repair of orbital wall fractures over a six-year period. Of these, 36 patients received a silicone sheet; 49 patients received a silicone sheet with superimposed PTFE implant; and 149 patients (150 sides) received PTFE with or without an underlying PLLA/HA implant. Orbital haematomas were documented in 13 out of 36 patients (36.1%) who underwent fracture repair with a silicone sheet; seven out of 49 patients (14.3%) who had a silicone sheet with a superimposed PTFE implant; and three out of 150 sides (2.0%) with PTFE with or without underlying PLLA/HA. The difference in incidence of orbital haematoma formation was significant among the groups (p < 0.001, Pearson's chi squared test). In the silicone sheet group, haematomas formed within two weeks of surgery in 11 patients (84.6%). In the silicone sheet with superimposed PTFE implant group, five patients (71.4%) developed orbital haematomas no earlier than after two weeks postoperatively. This study showed that the incidence of orbital haematoma formation following orbital fracture repair is different among the implant materials. The use of PTFE and PLLA/HA implants may minimise this complication.

Common variants at the GCK, GCKR, G6PC2-ABCB11 and MTNR1B loci are associated with fasting glucose in two Asian populations.

AIMS/HYPOTHESIS: To test fasting glucose association at four loci recently identified or verified by genome-wide association (GWA) studies of European populations, we performed a replication study in two Asian populations. METHODS: We genotyped five common variants previously reported in Europeans: rs1799884 (GCK), rs780094 (GCKR), rs560887 (G6PC2-ABCB11) and both rs1387153 and rs10830963 (MTNR1B) in the general Japanese (n = 4,813) and Sri Lankan (n = 2,319) populations. To identify novel variants, we further examined genetic associations near each locus by using GWA scan data on 776 non-diabetic Japanese samples. RESULTS: Fasting glucose association was replicated for the five single nucleotide polymorphisms (SNPs) at p < 0.05 (one-tailed test) in South Asians (Sri Lankan) as well as in East Asians (Japanese). In fine-mapping by GWA scan data, we identified in the G6PC2-ABCB11 region a novel SNP, rs3755157, with significant association in Japanese (p = 2.6 x 10(-8)) and Sri Lankan (p = 0.001) populations. The strength of association was more prominent at rs3755157 than that of the original SNP rs560887, with allelic heterogeneity detected between the SNPs. On analysing the cumulative effect of associated SNPs, we found the per-allele gradients (beta = 0.055 and 0.069 mmol/l in Japanese and Sri Lankans, respectively) to be almost equivalent to those reported in Europeans. CONCLUSIONS/INTERPRETATION: Fasting glucose association at four tested loci was proven to be replicable across ethnic groups. Despite this overall consistency, ethnic diversity in the pattern and strength of linkage disequilibrium certainly exists and can help to appreciably reduce potential causal variants after GWA studies.

A novel surgical strategy for the resection of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumours located close to the duodenal ampulla: a case report.

Although the optimal surgical procedure for the resection of duodenal gastrointestinal stromal tumours has not yet been characterised due to the low prevalence of these tumours and the anatomical complexity of the duodenopancreatic region, difficult surgical procedures such as pancreaticoduodenectomy are often proposed for stromal tumours located in the second portion of the duodenum. Our case report highlights a novel surgical strategy that can be implemented as an alternative to pancreaticoduodenectomy for such tumours close to the duodenal ampulla. A 70-year-old man incidentally diagnosed with a stromal tumour close to the duodenal ampulla in the second portion of the duodenum underwent local resection guided by an endoscopic nasobiliary drainage tube with primary closure. This tube was converted to a percutaneous trans-small intestinal biliary drainage tube during the procedure to prevent biliary leakage biliary stasis due to swelling of the duodenal ampulla. He also underwent a simple distal gastrectomy with Roux-en-Y reconstruction. This resulted in successful R0 resection. There were no procedure-related complications or post-surgery weight changes. Our simple novel surgical strategy may therefore be useful for avoiding pancreaticoduodenectomy and maintaining quality of life in patients with stromal tumours close to the duodenal ampulla.

Breaking the trade-off between fast control and long lifetime of a superconducting qubit.

The rapid development in designs and fabrication techniques of superconducting qubits has made coherence times of qubits longer. In the future, however, the radiative decay of a qubit into its control line will be a fundamental limitation, imposing a trade-off between fast control and long lifetime of the qubit. Here, we break this trade-off by strongly coupling another superconducting qubit along the control line. This second qubit, which we call "Josephson quantum filter" (JQF), prevents the first qubit from emitting microwave photons and thus suppresses its relaxation, while transmitting large-amplitude control microwave pulses due to the saturation of the quantum filter, enabling fast qubit control. This device functions as an automatic decoupler between a qubit and its control line and could help in the realization of a large-scale superconducting quantum processor by reducing the heating of the qubit environment and the crosstalk between qubits.

Prostate cancer detection: the value of performing an MRI before a biopsy.

BACKGROUND: In recent years, prostate-specific antigen (PSA) screening has been widely performed. As a result, patients who need to undergo a complete physical examination for an elevated PSA level have been rapidly increasing. Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) examination has previously been reported to be effective for the detection of prostate cancer. PURPOSE: To evaluate the detectability of prostate cancer by performing MRI before biopsy, and to evaluate the relationship between detectability with MRI and cancer location, Gleason score (GS), and tumor size. MATERIAL AND METHODS: MRI was performed at 1.5 Tesla in 122 consecutive patients before biopsy. The detectability of prostate cancer, including sensitivity and positive predictive value (PPV) of transrectal ultrasonography (TRUS), T2-weighted imaging (T2WI), diffusion-weighted imaging (DWI) (b=2000 s/mm(2)), apparent diffusion coefficient (ADC) map, and biopsy, was calculated using whole-mount section histopathology as a gold standard. In addition, the relationship between the detectability on each MRI sequence and factors such as cancer location (peripheral zone vs. transition zone), GS 5-10, short-axis diameter (< or =4 mm, 5-9 mm, > or =10 mm), and long-axis diameter (< or =9 mm, 10-19 mm, > or =20 mm) were also evaluated. RESULTS: The sensitivities of TRUS, T2WI, DWI, ADC map, and biopsy were 26.9%, 41.2%, 56.7%, 57.7%, and 75.1%, respectively, and the PPVs of those modalities were 73.0%, 83.0%, 86.4%, 87.2%, and 91.5%, respectively. There was no correlation between the sensitivity of each MRI sequence and cancer location. The sensitivity of each MRI sequence increased as GS and short- and long-axis diameters of cancer lesions increased. CONCLUSION: MRI before a biopsy has a high detectability of prostate cancer, particularly with tumor size of more than 5 mm in short-axis diameter or 10 mm in long-axis diameter.

Information-to-work conversion by Maxwell's demon in a superconducting circuit quantum electrodynamical system.

Information thermodynamics bridges information theory and statistical physics by connecting information content and entropy production through measurement and feedback control. Maxwell's demon is a hypothetical character that uses information about a system to reduce its entropy. Here we realize a Maxwell's demon acting on a superconducting quantum circuit. We implement quantum non-demolition projective measurement and feedback operation of a qubit and verify the generalized integral fluctuation theorem. We also evaluate the conversion efficiency from information gain to work in the feedback protocol. Our experiment constitutes a step toward experimental studies of quantum information thermodynamics in artificially made quantum machines.

Cancer and other causes of death among female beauticians.

A retrospective cohort study was done of the mortality between 1953 and 1977 among 7,736 Japanese female beauticians who were registered from 1948 to 1960 in Fukuoka Prefecture, Japan. Mortalities from tuberculosis, heart disease, accidents, and all causes were significantly decreased as compared with the mortalities of general population in the prefecture. Observed deaths from all cancers combined were almost equal to those expected (148 observed vs. 139.26 expected). Among site-specific cancers studied, only slightly increased mortality from stomach cancer was statistically significant (61 observed vs. 45.59 expected). No measurable excess mortality was observed for the other sites of cancer.

Cancer and other causes of death among leprosy patients.

A follow-up study was done on the mortality from 1956 to 1975 among 2,383 Japanese patients with leprosy who were admitted to a leprosarium in Japan. The leprosy was classified into two types: lepromatous and tuberculoid. Irrespective of the type of leprosy or the sex of leprosy patient, mortalities were increased from tuberculosis, pneumonia and bronchitis, nephritis and nephrosis, and from total causes. The suicide rate was high among female patients. Deaths from total malignant neoplasms were higher than expected among patients with lepromatous leprosy for both sexes (49 observed vs. 44.02 expected), whereas they were lower than expected among patients with tuberculoid leprosy (35 observed vs. 36.83 expected); however, the differences were not statistically significant. Mortalities from cancers of the cervix and the esophagus among females with lepromatous leprosy were significantly higher. The risk of lymphoreticular cancers was not increased.

Cigarette smoking, CYP1A1 MspI and GSTM1 genotypes, and colorectal adenomas.

Cigarette smoking has been related to increased risk of colorectal adenomas, but the underlying mechanisms are unknown. Genetic polymorphisms are known for enzymes involved in the activation of polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons and other tobacco-related carcinogens. Polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons are activated by cytochrome P4501A1 (CYP1A1) and detoxified by glutathione S-transferases. We investigated the relation of CYP1A1 MspI and GSTM1 genotypes to the risk of colorectal adenomas with special reference to interaction with cigarette smoking among 205 cases of colorectal adenomas and 220 controls with normal total colonoscopy in a male Japanese population. Cigarette smoking was strongly associated with increased risk of colorectal adenomas. Overall, neither the CYP1A1 MspI genotype nor the GSTM1 genotype was related to colorectal adenomas. A significant trend for increased risk of colorectal adenomas associated with smoking was observed for each of the CYP1A1 MspI genotypes, and the increasing trends did not differ by MspI genotype. The positive association between smoking and colorectal adenomas did not vary much with GSTM1 genotypes. Among former and current smokers, adenoma risk did not differ according to the combination of CYP1A1 MspI and GSTM1 genotypes. CYP1A1 MspI and GSTM1 genotypes do not seem to modify the risk of colorectal adenomas associated with cigarette smoking.

A prospective study on primary gastric stump cancer following partial gastrectomy for benign gastroduodenal diseases.

A prospective study was made on 3827 Japanese patients who had undergone partial gastrectomy for benign gastroduodenal diseases to examine whether they are at a high risk of mortality from primary gastric stump cancer (PGSC) and whether the risk is determined by the surgical procedure. The patients were followed up from the time of surgery (from 1948 to 1970) to June 30, 1981. Of 3,701 patients (96.7%), the vital status at the end of observation was determined, the total person-years at risk being 62,286.33. The observed deaths were compared with the expected deaths calculated from the mortality rates of Japan. An elapsed time of 10 years from operation to death was set not only to exclude possible recurrent, remaining, or multiple cancers but also to allow a certain latency period for the development of PGSC. The observed and expected deaths from PGSC were 11 and 52.85, respectively, the ratio being 0.21 (p less than 0.01). The ratios were uniformly less than 1 for both sexes and across three operative groups: Billroth I, Billroth II with Braun's anastomosis; or Billroth II without Braun's anastomosis. No difference was observed between the death rates from PGSC by operation type. The possible role of the postoperative nonphysiological (pathological) environment or duodenogastric reflux in gastric stump carcinogenesis was not detected in the present study.

[Extracorporeal membrane oxygenation for severe respiratory failure during thoracic aortic aneurysm repair].

We present a case of successful management for severe respiratory failure during thoracic aortic aneurysm repair by applying extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO). The patient was a 71-year-old man who was diagnosed as thoracic aortic aneurysm and coronary artery stenosis. Severe respiratory failure occurred during operation because of pulmonary hemorrhage, and it was difficult to wean from cardiopulmonary bypass. ECMO was provided for improvement of oxygenation and CO2 removal. Pulmonary hemorrhage was controlled by strict management of coagulation system, and ECMO was discontinued after improvement of oxygenation on the 4th postoperative day. It is considered that early application of ECMO was effective in this case.

Association of polymorphism in the NeuroD/BETA2 gene with type 1 diabetes in the Japanese.

NeuroD/BETA2, a transcription factor of the insulin gene, also plays an important role in the development of pancreatic beta-cells. Recently, the NeuroD/BETA2 gene has been mapped to the long arm of human chromosome 2 (2q32) where the IDDM7 gene has previously been mapped, implying its involvement in diabetes. To identify mutations in the NeuroD/BETA2 gene that may predispose patients to develop diabetes, we studied the gene in 50 Japanese subjects with diabetes (4 with type 1 and 46 with type 2) by the polymerase chain reaction (PCR) followed by single-strand conformation polymorphism and sequencing analyses. Further analysis was performed in 392 Japanese subjects (60 with type 1 and 158 with type 2 diabetes and 174 healthy control subjects) by mismatch PCR restriction fragment length polymorphism. We found a DNA polymorphism of the NeuroD/BETA2 gene. A nucleotide G-to-A transition results in the substitution of alanine to threonine at codon 45 (Ala45Thr). The frequencies of heterozygotes for the Ala45Thr variant were 9.8% in the control subjects, 9.5% in the patients with type 2 diabetes, and 25.0% in the patients with type 1 diabetes, a significant difference (P = 0.006). Because the variant of the NeuroD/BETA2 gene (Ala45Thr) is associated with type 1 but not type 2 diabetes, it may be implicated in the loss of pancreatic beta-cells in type 1 diabetes.