Organ-contour-driven auto-matching algorithm in image-guided radiotherapy.

PURPOSE: This study aimed to demonstrate the potential clinical applicability of an organ-contour-driven auto-matching algorithm in image-guided radiotherapy. METHODS: This study included eleven consecutive patients with cervical cancer who underwent radiotherapy in 23 or 25 fractions. Daily and reference magnetic resonance images were converted into mesh models. A weight-based algorithm was implemented to optimize the distance between the mesh model vertices and surface of the reference model during the positioning process. Within the cost function, weight parameters were employed to prioritize specific organs for positioning. In this study, three scenarios with different weight parameters were prepared. The optimal translation and rotation values for the cervix and uterus were determined based on the calculated translations alone or in combination with rotations, with a rotation limit of ±3°. Subsequently, the coverage probabilities of the following two planning target volumes (PTV), an isotropic 5 mm and anisotropic margins derived from a previous study, were evaluated. RESULTS: The percentage of translations exceeding 10 mm varied from 9% to 18% depending on the scenario. For small PTV sizes, more than 80% of all fractions had a coverage of 80% or higher. In contrast, for large PTV sizes, more than 90% of all fractions had a coverage of 95% or higher. The difference between the median coverage with translational positioning alone and that with both translational and rotational positioning was 1% or less. CONCLUSION: This algorithm facilitates quantitative positioning by utilizing a cost function that prioritizes organs for positioning. Consequently, consistent displacement values were algorithmically generated. This study also revealed that the impact of rotational corrections, limited to ±3°, on PTV coverage was minimal.

Somatic GJA4 gain-of-function mutation in orbital cavernous venous malformations.

Orbital cavernous venous malformation (OCVM) is a sporadic vascular anomaly of uncertain etiology characterized by abnormally dilated vascular channels. Here, we identify a somatic missense mutation, c.121G > T (p.Gly41Cys) in GJA4, which encodes a transmembrane protein that is a component of gap junctions and hemichannels in the vascular system, in OCVM tissues from 25/26 (96.2%) individuals with OCVM. GJA4 expression was detected in OCVM tissue including endothelial cells and the stroma, through immunohistochemistry. Within OCVM tissue, the mutation allele frequency was higher in endothelial cell-enriched fractions obtained using magnetic-activated cell sorting. Whole-cell voltage clamp analysis in Xenopus oocytes revealed that GJA4 c.121G > T (p.Gly41Cys) is a gain-of-function mutation that leads to the formation of a hyperactive hemichannel. Overexpression of the mutant protein in human umbilical vein endothelial cells led to a loss of cellular integrity, which was rescued by carbenoxolone, a non-specific gap junction/hemichannel inhibitor. Our data suggest that GJA4 c.121G > T (p.Gly41Cys) is a potential driver gene mutation for OCVM. We propose that hyperactive hemichannel plays a role in the development of this vascular phenotype.

Is it time to modify the Japanese Uterine Cervical Cancer Guidelines to recommend a higher dose for radio-resistant tumors?

Compared with the European or the United States' uterine cervical cancer management guidelines, which aim to deliver >85 Gy EQD2 (the equivalent effective dose in 2 Gy per fraction) to the high-risk clinical target volume (CTVHR) D90 (minimal dose of 90% of the CTVHR), the dose goal of the corresponding Japanese guidelines does not recommend delivering such a high dose to the CTVHR D90. Subsequently, while the rate of late radiation-induced toxicities is reported to be much lower in the Japanese schedule, the local control rate is relatively inferior to that of clinical results reported by the IntErnational study on MRI-guided BRAchytherapy in CErvical cancer study (EMBRACE-I) in which the dose goal for CTVHR D90 was >85 Gy and showed >90% local control regardless of tumor stage. In daily clinical practice, patients with residual disease supposedly due to insufficient total dose delivery are occasionally referred to our hospital for the possibility of re-irradiation, which is not usually recommended because the risk of late severe radiation-induced toxicity is high. In this report, the authors hope to raise a discussion in our community about modifying our treatment guidelines to recommend a higher dose at least for patients with poor response.

Clinical significance of local control of primary tumour in definitive radiotherapy for scalp angiosarcomas.

INTRODUCTION: Scalp angiosarcoma is a rare and aggressive cancer. Definitive radiotherapy is a treatment option for localised scalp angiosarcoma patients. Although definitive surgical resection reportedly prolongs overall survival (OS), whether initial local treatment effect affects OS when definitive radiotherapy is administered is unclear. Therefore, this study analysed whether local recurrence within 6 months of irradiation correlates with OS and cancer-specific survival (CSS). Furthermore, how local control affects patients' quality of life was investigated. MATERIALS AND METHODS: Thirty-one localised scalp angiosarcoma patients who had received definitive radiotherapy at our institution between October 2010 and July 2021 were analysed retrospectively. The most commonly used dose fractionation was 70 Gy in 35 fractions (83.9%). Local recurrence within 6 months of radiotherapy and other clinical factors were examined in univariate and subsequent multivariate analyses for correlation with OS and CSS. RESULTS: The median follow-up period was 16 months (range, 6-45 months). Local recurrence was detected in 16 patients (51.6%), 12 of whom had recurrence within 6 months. In multivariate analyses, the presence of local recurrence within 6 months of radiotherapy was significantly associated with OS and CSS (p = 0.003, 0.0001, respectively). Ten of the 16 patients with local recurrence had severe symptoms such as bleeding, pain, difficulty opening the eye and malodour. CONCLUSIONS: The initial local treatment effect was significantly associated with OS and CSS after definitive radiotherapy. Furthermore, local recurrence after radiotherapy resulted in a variety of symptoms, including bleeding and pain, which reduced the patient's quality of life.

Effectiveness of mock scanners and preparation programs for successful magnetic resonance imaging: a systematic review and meta-analysis.

This review aimed to summarise the effectiveness of preparation programs for magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) in children using mock scanners and the success rates by systematically reviewing the current literature. We initially identified 67 articles using the search terms "MRI," "mock" and "child" on online databases. All studies involving a preparation programme for MRI on children ages 18 years or younger, healthy children and those with medical diagnoses were included. The authors extracted data on study design, participant data, details of the MRI protocol and the total numbers of patients who underwent preparation programs and were scanned while awake, without sedation or general anesthesia. Twenty-three studies were included in this review. Preparation programs included in-home and hospital/research facility components; these consisted of a mock scanner, explanatory booklets, recorded MRI scan sounds and other educational materials. The success rate of MRI after the preparation programme reported in each study ranged from 40% to 100%. When all participants from studies that specifically assessed the efficacy of preparation programs were combined, participants who underwent a preparation programme (n = 196) were more likely to complete a successful MRI than those who did not undergo a preparation programme (n = 263) (odds ratio [OR] = 1.98). Our results suggest that preparation programs may help reduce the risk of children failing MRI scans.

Three-dimensional assessment of interfractional cervical and uterine motions using daily magnetic resonance images to determine margins and timing of replanning.

PURPOSE: This study was conducted to determine the margins and timing of replanning by assessing the daily interfractional cervical and uterine motions using magnetic resonance (MR) images. METHODS: Eleven patients with cervical cancer, who underwent intensity-modulated radiotherapy (IMRT) in 23-25 fractions, were considered in this study. The daily and reference MR images were converted into three-dimensional (3D) shape models. Patient-specific anisotropic margins were calculated from the proximal 95% of vertices located outside the surface of the reference model. Population-based margins were defined as the 90th percentile values of the patient-specific margins. The expanded volume of interest (expVOI) for the cervix and uterus was generated by expanding the reference model based on the population-based margin to calculate the coverage for daily deformable mesh models. For comparison, expVOIconv was generated using conventional margins: right (R), left (L), anterior (A), posterior (P), superior (S), and inferior (I) were (5, 5, 15, 15, 10, 10) and (10, 10, 20, 20, 15, 15) mm for the cervix and uterus, respectively. Subsequently, a replanning scenario was developed based on the cervical volume change. ExpVOIini and expVOIreplan were generated before and after replanning, respectively. RESULTS: Population-based margins were (R, L, A, P, S, I) of (7, 7, 11, 6, 11, 8) and (14, 13, 27, 19, 15, 21) mm for the cervix and uterus, respectively. The timing of replanning was found to be the 16th fraction, and the volume of expVOIreplan decreased by >30% compared to that of expVOIini . However, margins cannot be reduced to ensure equivalent coverage after replanning. CONCLUSION: We determined the margins and timing of replanning through detailed daily analysis. The margins of the cervix were smaller than conventional margins in some directions, while the margins of the uterus were larger in almost all directions. A margin equivalent to that at the initial planning was required for replanning.

The IGF-Independent Role of IRS-2 in the Secretion of MMP-9 Enhances the Growth of Prostate Carcinoma Cell Line PC3.

Insulin receptor substrate-2 (IRS-2), a substrate of the insulin-like growth factor (IGF)-I receptor, is highly expressed in the prostate cancer cell line, PC3. We recently demonstrated that extracellular signal-regulated kinase (Erk1/2), a kinase downstream of IGF signaling, is activated in PC3 cells under serum starvation, and this activation can be inhibited by IRS-2 knockdown. Here, we observed that adding an IGF-I-neutralizing antibody to the culture medium inhibited the activation of Erk1/2. Suppression of Erk1/2 in IRS-2 knockdown cells was restored by the addition of a PC3 serum-free conditioned medium. In contrast, the IRS-2-silenced PC3 conditioned medium could not restore Erk1/2 activation, suggesting that IRS-2 promotes the secretion of proteins that activate the IGF signaling pathway. Furthermore, gelatin zymography analysis of the conditioned medium showed that matrix metalloproteinase-9 (MMP-9) was secreted extracellularly in an IRS-2 dependent manner when PC3 was cultured under serum starvation conditions. Moreover, MMP-9 knockdown suppressed Erk1/2 activation, DNA synthesis, and migratory activity. The IRS-2 levels were positively correlated with Gleason grade in human prostate cancer tissues. These data suggest that highly expressed IRS-2 activates IGF signaling by enabling the secretion of MMP-9, which is associated with hyperproliferation and malignancy of prostate cancer cell line, PC3.

Desulfoluna limicola sp. nov., a sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from sediment of a brackish lake.

A novel sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain ASN36T, was isolated from sediment of a brackish lake in Japan. Cells of strain ASN36T were not motile and rod-shaped, with length of 2.0-4.9 µm and width of 0.6-0.9 µm. Growth was observed at 5-35 °C with an optimum growth temperature of 25-30 °C. The pH range for growth was 6.6-8.8 with an optimum pH of 7.3. Major fatty acids were C16:1 ω7c and C16:0. Under sulfate-reducing conditions, strain ASN36T utilized lactate, malate, pyruvate, butyrate, ethanol, butanol, glycerol, yeast extract and H2/CO2 as growth substrate. Fermentative growth occurred on malate and pyruvate. The novel isolate used sulfate, sulfite and thiosulfate as electron acceptors. The genome of strain ASN36T is composed of a chromosome with length of 6.3 Mbp and G + C content of 55.1 mol%. Analyses of the 16S rRNA gene indicated that strain ASN36T is related to Desulfoluna species. Overall genome relatedness indices indicated that strain ASN36T does not belong to any existing species. In contrast to the closest relatives, strain ASN36T lacks genes for reductive dehalogenase required for organohalide respiration and does not use halogenated aromatics as electron acceptors. On the basis of its genomic and phenotypic properties, strain ASN36T (= DSM 111985 T = JCM 39257 T) is proposed as the type strain of a new species, Desulfoluna limicola sp. nov.

Pseudodesulfovibrio sediminis sp. nov., a mesophilic and neutrophilic sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from sediment of a brackish lake.

A novel mesophilic and neutrophilic sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain SF6T, was isolated from sediment of a brackish lake in Japan. Cells of strain SF6T were motile and rod-shaped with length of 1.2-2.5 µm and width of 0.6-0.9 µm. Growth was observed at 10-37 °C with an optimum growth temperature of 28 °C. The pH range for growth was 5.8-8.2 with an optimum pH of 7.0. The most predominant fatty acid was anteiso-C15:0. Under sulfate-reducing conditions, strain SF6T utilized lactate, ethanol and glucose as growth substrate. Chemolithoautotrophic growth on H2 was not observed, although H2 was used as electron donor. Fermentative growth occurred on pyruvate. As electron acceptor, sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate and nitrate supported heterotrophic growth of the strain. The complete genome of strain SF6T is composed of a circular chromosome with length of 3.8 Mbp and G+C content of 54 mol%. Analyses of the 16S rRNA gene and whole genome sequence indicated that strain SF6T belongs to the genus Pseudodesulfovibrio but distinct form all existing species in the genus. On the basis of its genomic and phenotypic properties, strain SF6T (= DSM111931T = NBRC 114895T) is proposed as the type strain of a new species, with name of Pseudodesulfovibrio sediminis sp. nov.

Desulfofustis limnaeus sp. nov., a freshwater sulfate-reducing bacterium isolated from marsh soil.

A novel sulfate-reducing bacterium, strain PPLLT, was isolated from marsh soil. Cells of strain PPLLT were rod-shaped with length of 1.5 µm and width of 0.7 µm. Growth was observed at 22-37 °C (optimum 35 °C) and pH 6.8-8.4 (optimum 7.3). Lactate, succinate, fumarate, formate and malate were utilized as electron donors for sulfate reduction. Fermentative growth was not observed on tested organic acids. Besides sulfate, sulfite, thiosulfate and elemental sulfur were utilized as electron acceptors. Hydrogen is used only in the presence acetate or yeast extract. The major fatty acid was C16:0. The complete genome of strain PPLLT was composed of a circular chromosome with length of 4.2 Mbp and G + C content of 57.7 mol%. Sequence analysis of the 16S rRNA gene showed that strain PPLLT was affiliated with the genus Desulfofustis in the family Desulfocapsaceae. On the basis of differences in the phylogenetic and phenotypic properties between the strain and the type strain of the genus Desulfofustis, strain PPLLT (DSM 110475T = JCM 39161T) is proposed as the type strain of a new species, with name of Desulfofustis limnaeus sp. nov.

Mapping associations between polygenic risks for childhood neuropsychiatric disorders, symptoms of attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, cognition, and the brain.

There are now large-scale data on which common genetic variants confer risk for attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Here, we use mediation analyses to explore how cognitive and neural features might explain the association between common variant (polygenic) risk for ADHD and its core symptoms. In total, 544 participants participated (mean 21 years, 212 (39%) with ADHD), most with cognitive assessments, neuroanatomic imaging, and imaging of white matter tract microstructure. We found that polygenic risk for ADHD was associated with symptoms of hyperactivity-impulsivity but not inattention. This association was mediated across multiple PRS thresholds by white matter microstructure, specifically by axial diffusivity of the right corona radiata, (maximum indirect effect ß = -0.034 (CI: -0.065 to -0.01), by thickness of the left dorsomedial prefrontal (ß = -0.029; CI: -0.061 to -0.0047) and area of the right lateral temporal cortex (ß = 0.024; CI: 0.0034-0.054). In addition, modest serial mediation was found, mapping a pathway from polygenic risk, to white matter microstructure of the anterior corona radiata, then cognition (working memory, focused attention), and finally to hyperactivity-impulsivity (working memory ß = -0.014 (CI: -0.038 to -0.0026); focused attention ß = -0.011 (CI: -0.033 to -0.0017). These mediation pathways were diagnostically specific and were not found for polygenic risk for ASD or schizophrenia. In conclusion, using a deeply phenotyped cohort, we delineate a pathway from polygenic risk for ADHD to hyperactive-impulsive symptoms through white matter microstructure, cortical anatomy, and cognition.

The use of hyperbaric oxygen to treat actinic rectal fistula after SpaceOAR use and radiotherapy for prostate cancer: a case report.

BACKGROUND: In definitive radiation therapy for prostate cancer, the SpaceOAR® System, a hydrogel spacer, is widely used to decrease the irradiated dose and toxicity of rectum. On the other hand, periprostatic abscesses formation and rectal perforation are known as rare adverse effects of SpaceOAR. Nevertheless, there is a lack of reports clarifying the association between aggravation of abscesses and radiation therapy, and hyperbaric oxygen therapy (HBOT) is effective for a peri-SpaceOAR abscess and rectal perforation. CASE PRESENTATION: We report a case of a 78-year-old high-risk prostate cancer patient. After SpaceOAR insertion into the correct space, he started to receive external beam radiation therapy (EBRT). He developed a fever, perineal pain and frequent urination after the completion of EBRT, and the magnetic resonance imaging (MRI) revealed a peri-SpaceOAR abscess. Scheduled brachytherapy was postponed, administration of antibiotics and opioid via intravenous drip was commenced, and transperineal drainage was performed. After the alleviation of the abscess, additional EBRT instead of brachytherapy was performed with MRI-guided radiation therapy (MRgRT). On the last day of the MRgRT, perineal pain reoccurred, and MRI and colonoscopy detected the rectal perforation. He received an intravenous antibiotics drip and HBOT, and fully recovered from the rectal perforation. CONCLUSIONS: Our report indicates that EBRT can lead to a severe rectum complication by causing inflammation for patients with a peri-SpaceOAR abscess. Furthermore, HBOT was effective for the peri-SpaceOAR abscess and rectal perforation associated with EBRT.

A multicohort, longitudinal study of cerebellar development in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder.

BACKGROUND: The cerebellum supports many cognitive functions disrupted in attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Prior neuroanatomic studies have been often limited by small sample sizes, inconsistent findings, and a reliance on cross-sectional data, limiting inferences about cerebellar development. Here, we conduct a multicohort study using longitudinal data, to characterize cerebellar development. METHODS: Growth trajectories of the cerebellar vermis, hemispheres and white matter were estimated using piecewise linear regression from 1,656 youth; of whom 63% had longitudinal data, totaling 2,914 scans. Four cohorts participated, all contained childhood data (age 4-12 years); two had adolescent data (12-25 years). Growth parameters were combined using random-effects meta-analysis. RESULTS: Diagnostic differences in growth were confined to the corpus medullare (cerebellar white matter). Here, the ADHD group showed slower growth in early childhood compared to the typically developing group (left corpus medullare z = 2.49, p = .01; right z = 2.03, p = .04). This reversed in late childhood, with faster growth in ADHD in the left corpus medullare (z = 2.06, p = .04). Findings held when gender, intelligence, comorbidity, and psychostimulant medication were considered. DISCUSSION: Across four independent cohorts, containing predominately longitudinal data, we found diagnostic differences in the growth of cerebellar white matter. In ADHD, slower white matter growth in early childhood was followed by faster growth in late childhood. The findings are consistent with the concept of ADHD as a disorder of the brain's structural connections, formed partly by developing cortico-cerebellar white matter tracts.

Deficient neural activity subserving decision-making during reward waiting time in intertemporal choice in adult attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder.

AIM: Impulsivity, which significantly affects social adaptation, is an important target behavioral characteristic in interventions for attention-deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD). Typically, people are willing to wait longer to acquire greater rewards. Impulsivity in ADHD may be associated with brain dysfunction in decision-making involving waiting behavior under such situations. We tested the hypothesis that brain circuitry during a period of waiting (i.e., prior to the acquisition of reward) is altered in adults with ADHD. METHODS: The participants included 14 medication-free adults with ADHD and 16 healthy controls matched for age, sex, IQ, and handedness. The behavioral task had participants choose between a delayed, larger monetary reward and an immediate, smaller monetary reward, where the reward waiting time actually occurred during functional magnetic resonance imaging measurement. We tested for group differences in the contrast values of blood-oxygen-level dependent signals associated with the length of waiting time, calculated using the parametric modulation method. RESULTS: While the two groups did not differ in the time discounting rate, the delay-sensitive contrast values were significantly lower in the caudate and visual cortex in individuals with ADHD. The higher impulsivity scores were significantly associated with lower delay-sensitive contrast values in the caudate and visual cortex. CONCLUSION: These results suggest that deficient neural activity affects decision-making involving reward waiting time during intertemporal choice tasks, and provide an explanation for the basis of impulsivity in adult ADHD.

Urinary Excretion Contributes to Long-Lasting Blockade of Bladder Muscarinic Receptors by Imidafenacin: Effect of Bilateral Ureteral Ligation.

Imidafenacin is a potent and selective antagonist of M1 and M3 muscarinic receptors that is safe, efficacious, and well tolerated for controlling the symptoms of overactive bladder (OAB). However, the precise mechanisms responsible for the bladder-selective pharmacological effects of this agent remain unclear. The in vivo pharmacologic effects of imidafenacin result from receptor occupancy. Therefore, the present study was performed to characterize in vivo muscarinic receptor binding by tritium-labeled imidafenacin with high specific activity ([3H]imidafenacin) in the bladder and other tissues of mice, and to clarify the mechanisms underlying selective binding of imidafenacin to bladder muscarinic receptors. After intravenous injection of [3H]imidafenacin, its binding to muscarinic receptors in the bladder and other tissues of mice was assessed by a radioligand binding assay. [3H]Imidafenacin showed a significantly longer duration of binding to muscarinic receptors in the bladder than in other tissues, and muscarinic receptor binding of [3H]imidafenacin was markedly suppressed in the bladder alone after bilateral ligation of the ureters. After intravenous injection, the [3H]imidafenacin concentration was markedly higher in the urine than in the plasma, suggesting that urinary excretion may contribute significantly to the selective and long-lasting binding of imidafenacin to bladder muscarinic receptors. These findings suggest that the intravesicular concentration of an antimuscarinic agent and its active metabolites may have a substantial influence on its pharmacological effect and duration of action in patients with OAB. In addition, factors that modulate urine production may influence the efficacy and safety of antimuscarinic agents.

Characterizing prefrontal cortical activity during inhibition task in methamphetamine-associated psychosis versus schizophrenia: a multi-channel near-infrared spectroscopy study.

Methamphetamine abuse and dependence, frequently accompanied by schizophrenia-like psychotic symptoms [methamphetamine-associated psychosis (MAP)], is a serious public health problem worldwide. Few studies, however, have characterized brain dysfunction associated with MAP, nor investigated similarities and differences in brain dysfunction between MAP and schizophrenia. We compared prefrontal cortical activity associated with stop-signal inhibitory task in 21 patients with MAP, 14 patients with schizophrenia and 21 age- and gender-matched healthy controls using a 52-channel near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) system. Both the MAP and the schizophrenia groups showed significantly reduced activation in the bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex compared with controls; however, only the MAP group showed reduced activation in the frontopolar prefrontal cortex. The MAP group demonstrated significant positive correlations between task performance and hemodynamic responses in the bilateral ventrolateral, polar and left dorsolateral regions of the prefrontal cortex. The MAP and schizophrenia groups demonstrated a significant difference in the relationship of impulsivity to hemodynamic changes in the bilateral premotor cortex. These findings characterize similarities and differences in prefrontal cortical dysfunction between psychosis associated with methamphetamine and schizophrenia. The reduced hemodynamic changes in the bilateral ventrolateral prefrontal cortex suggest a common underlying pathophysiology of MAP and schizophrenia, whereas those in the frontopolar prefrontal cortex point to an impaired state that is either inherent or caused specifically by methamphetamine use.

Evaluation of ABCG2 and p63 expression in canine cornea and cultivated corneal epithelial cells.

OBJECTIVE: To examine the expressions of ABCG2 and p63 in canine corneal epithelia and to evaluate their significance in corneal regeneration. PROCEDURES: Canine corneal and limbal epithelial cells were obtained from five healthy beagle dogs. We analyzed the morphological properties of cultivated limbal and corneal epithelial cells. We compared the expressions of ABCG2 and p63 in the limbus and central cornea by immunohistochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR. We analyzed the expression of these markers in cultivated cells by immunocytochemistry and real-time quantitative PCR. RESULTS: The limbal epithelial cells were smaller and proliferated more rapidly than the corneal epithelial cells in primary cultures. The corneal cells failed to be subcultured, whereas the limbal cells could be subcultured with increasing cell size. ABCG2 was localized in the basal layer of the limbal epithelium, and p63 was widely detected in the entire corneal epithelia. ABCG2 expression was significantly higher, and p63 was slightly higher in the limbus compared with the central cornea. ABCG2 was detected only in limbal cells in primary culture, not in corneal cells or passaged limbal cells. p63 was detected in both limbal and corneal cells and decreased gradually in the limbal cells with the cell passages. CONCLUSIONS: ABCG2 was localized in canine limbal epithelial cells, and p63 was widely expressed in canine corneal epithelia. ABCG2 and p63 could prove to be useful markers in dogs for putative corneal epithelial stem cells and for corneal epithelial cell proliferation, respectively.

Genetic influences on prefrontal activation during a verbal fluency task in adults: a twin study based on multichannel near-infrared spectroscopy.

Near-infrared spectroscopy (NIRS) studies have reported that prefrontal hemodynamic dysfunction during executive function tasks may be a promising biomarker of psychiatric disorders, because its portability and noninvasiveness allow easy measurements in clinical settings. Here, we investigated the degree to which prefrontal NIRS signals are genetically determined. Using a 52-channel NIRS system, we monitored the oxy-hemoglobin (oxy-Hb) signal changes in 38 adult pairs of right-handed monozygotic (MZ) twins and 13 pairs of same-sex right-handed dizygotic (DZ) twins during a letter version of the verbal fluency task. Heritability was estimated based on a classical twin paradigm using structured equation modeling. Significant genetic influences were estimated in the right dorsolateral prefrontal cortex and left frontal pole. The degrees of heritability were 66% and 75% in the variances, respectively. This implies that the prefrontal hemodynamic dysfunction observed during an executive function task measured by NIRS may be an efficient endophenotype for large-scale imaging genetic studies in psychiatric disorders.